The Other Mikaelson- Book 2

Chapter XXI

Keira and Elijah walked through the quarter, recounting recent events.

"Now, you may doubt him, but today, I saw Niklaus demonstrate mercy towards an enemy. Tell me that's not progress," Elijah said proudly.

Keira smirked. "Please, Elijah. Who do you think convinced Klaus to let Thierry out?"

Elijah paused. "Why would you do such a thing?"

"Because, despite Klaus' reprieve, Thierry despises him. I like that about Thierry. I also like that he used to date a witch, so he knows about French Quarter covens. Maybe he can lead me to whoever stole off with the Harvest magic."

"Keira, we are all devastated by the outcome of this ritual," Elijah replied.

"That's just it. There was no outcome. We both know that power like that doesn't just vanish. I say someone stole it. I'd like to know who, and then I'd like to make an ally out of them."

"To what end, exactly?"

"I'm tired of being threatened and controlled by our tyrant brother. If you want to stop a bully, you need the power to stand up to them."

"I expect such behavior from Niklaus. It's so very disappointing when it comes from you, Keira."

"Oh, don't play the disappointment card. It doesn't work on me."

"Do you not see that, in his way, he's making an effort here? He's invited us back into our family home. He yearns for our family to be reunited."

"Yes. He's in a brilliant mood now, but for how long? It's his trick, Elijah. He lulls you into a false sense of camaraderie and kinship, and then he turns on you like a snake. I fall for it every time and wind up with a dagger in my chest for my trouble. No more."

"I believe that he is approaching some semblance of peace here. Leadership may, in fact, be a good thing for him. Now, sister, please, I ask you, if you cannot support him, then at least do nothing to provoke him. We need to have faith in him."

"I stopped having faith in him decades ago. Makes it so much less disappointing when he doesn't come through."

Keira left Elijah to contemplate this to go back to Thierry's warehouse, where the vampire was.

"Used to run things down here for Marcel. Thought you'd like to see what I found before Klaus did," he said.

Keira smirked. "Not a day out of the Garden, and you're already proving yourself useful."

"We made a deal, and if it screws things for your brother, I'm all for it. Though, to be honest, this stuff makes my skin crawl. I've never seen anything like this," Thierry replied, seeing a circle of salt, animal bones inside, and unlit candles placed around it.

"I have seen this... a long time ago. Somebody is copycatting a very dangerous witch. They draw their power from sacrifice," Keira said.

"I just don't understand why someone would leave it here for us to find."

Keira's eyes widened in realization. "Unless they wanted it to be found."

Papa Tunde appeared in the shadows behind him. Keira stared in shock and horror.

"No..." 

"Who is that?" Thierry asked.

"Mademoiselle Mikaelson," Tunde said.

"That's not possible," Keira muttered.

"Sure, it is, chére. It's magic."

"Thierry, run," Keira ordered.

"What? But-"

"I already told you, I'm not my brother! I don't endanger my allies. Now, this witch can not kill me, but he will kill you. Go!" Keira said. She rushed towards the witch in an attempt to kill him, but he grabbed her by the throat.

"Symbole du masque et de l'ombre, embrace-toi. Embrace-toi. Symbole du masque et de l'ombre, embrace-toi. Embrace-toi. Symbole du masque et de l'ombre, embrace-toi. Embrace-toi. Symbole du masque et de l'ombre, embrace-toi," Tunde chanted. Keira screamed in pain as he carved an ancestral symbol on her head with his blade, and she began to desiccate. Thierry, terrified, left. Then the Original fell to the ground, grey, as the witch began channeling from her vampirism.

~~~~

Rebekah walked into the courtyard, holding her phone, and finding Elijah and Hayley. "Our sister is not answering my calls."

"Well, that's worrying," Elijah replied.

"You worried about whoever killed those daywalkers still being out there?" Hayley asked.

"Frankly, I'm worried that she had something to do with this. She's very displeased with Niklaus, perhaps even conspiring with others," Elijah said. Then Thierry appeared, looking panicked. "Thierry, is it?"

"That's right," the non original replied.

"My sister is rather fond of you. Strange, she's not typically drawn to unremarkable men. Or any men. Would you care to explain your sudden magnetism?" Elijah asked.

"I don't know what you're-"

Elijah, annoyed, cut him off, grabbed him by the neck, and pushed him against the wall.

"You can either tell me what you know, or I can distribute tiny pieces of you throughout the Quarter," he told Thierry.

Thierry sighed. "She asked me to keep an eye out on witch stuff. I found something, and when I showed her, we were jumped by some guy. He desiccated her with his touch."

Elijah looked angry. "And, like a coward, you left her?"

"She told me to go! And what was I supposed to do, fight some warlock that took out an Original?"

"Where was this, exactly?"

"The docks, warehouse 57. I was just doing what she asked. You cannot tell Klaus about this," Thierry said. Elijah paused, before snapping his neck and dropping him.

"I shall take that into consideration," he said.

"I'm coming with you," Hayley said, seeming worried.

"No. Stay here. The compound is safe."

"Keira's in trouble. I'm going."

Elijah paused again. "Do not leave my sight. Understand?"

Hayley nodded, and they left. At the dock, Elijah was on the phone with Sophie, and found his sister desiccated in a circle of salt.

"Keira!" he exclaimed. He tried to enter the circle, but was stopped by a boundary spell.

"What's happening?" Hayley asked.

"Some kind of boundary spell. Someone is channeling her. Typically, it's a lethal process, but because she's an Original, she can't die. Instead, she's an endless source of power," Elijah replied

"So what are we supposed to do?"

"You have to get her out of there."

"Just get her out, now!" Sophie said from the phone.

"You're not listening. We cannot enter the circle. There's some kind of confinement spell... If I can't remove her, we can't break the link," Elijah replied.

"It's a convoluted spell. It's like a witch's recipe. You can spoil the balance by adding a more potent ingredient. A mystical binding agent. I don't know, volcanic ash, rock salt... anything up to and including eye of newt," said Sophie.

"What about the blood of a witch?" Elijah asked.

"Do you have the blood of a witch?"

Elijah turned to Hayley. "I need a favor."

Hayley sighed. "The baby. She's a quarter witch."

Elijah nodded, and Hayley extended her wrist. Elijah bit it, and held it over the circle. As the blood fell over the boundary line, it started to fizzle and deteriorate. Elijah entered, picked up his sister, and then grabbed Hayley's hand and sped away with the girls.