The Other Mikaelson- Book 3 (On hold)

Chapter XIV

"Elijah, chill," Keira said. She and Elijah were sitting at a restaurant booth, waiting for Rebekah and Hope. Elijah was eyeing one of the bartenders suspiciously, when his phone rang. He was about to answer, when a waitress came out and he ignored it. Poor Hayley.

"Tell me," Elijah said, compelling the waitress. "has there been anyone out of the ordinary today?"

"Just you," Keira muttered. The waitress shook her head and went to pour the two coffee, before accidentally spilling some on Keira's wrist. The coffee was pretty hot, and Keira yelped, retracting her hand.

The waitress looked guilty. "Oh, I am so sorry, let me-"

"It's alright," Keira said. "Thank you."

The waitress left, and Keira turned to Elijah.

"What is going on with you?" she asked.

Elijah continued to eye the bartender. "I'll be right back," he said.

"Elijah-" when she spoke, he had already disappeared. He came back again a few minutes later, and they continued waiting until nightfall. Keira, although, was extremely suspicious upon noticing the blood on Elijah's sleeve.

After waiting half a day, Rebekah walked into the restaurant holding a baby carrier. Keira immediately stood up, and hugged her when she got to the booth. Rebekah set Hope down on the table, and Elijah smiled warmly at the infant.

Keira smiled and looked down at her niece, before picking her up. "Look at you. So big. So perfect."

Rebekah smiled. "And you, sister. Back to being a witch, I see."

Keira looked at Rebekah. "I can't imagine the joy of spending every day with her. It's..."

"...Quite lovely," Rebekah finished her sentence. "It feels so human."

"Yes... some would argue the most human of experiences," Elijah said quietly. Keira looked between Rebekah and Elijah, indicating panic to her sister.

"I know I have to give her back to Hayley when the time is right. But, she's made me realize how much I want that child of my own... that I know I can't have," Rebekah sighed, looking at the blood Elijah was covering on his sleeve with concern.

"It's a lovely dream. Unfortunately, it's one that's just beyond our reach, considering the curse of our existence."

"Seems Esther's attacking with her usual fervor," Rebekah said, concerned for both her brother and mother's intentions.

"Yes, Mother tortured me for days with memories I thought I'd buried long ago," Elijah licked his lips nervously. "Then, she made an offer... to make us all mortal again," Rebekah looked stunned. "You see, sister, Mother believes that by placing us in new bodies, we can then reclaim some kind of... purity. We can begin families of our own again. And, I have to confess, Rebekah... this invitation, however cruel in delivery, had a certain... appeal."

Elijah noticed Rebekah's concern, unaware his sisters knew of the blood.

"You needn't worry. We're safe," he said. Rebekah eyed her sister.

"Oh," Keira said, grabbing Hope's blanket. "Looks like this one can use a diaper change."

She and Rebekah walked away from Elijah, noticing a smear of blood on the counter when passing into the bathroom. The waitress looked completely oblivious... it appeared answers were not the only thing Elijah compelled out of her. When Rebekah pushed open the kitchen doors, Keira immediately covered Hope's eyes with the blanket. Bloody bodies were scattered around the room.

After changing Hope's diaper, turning the sink on and having a secret conversation, Rebekah and Keira walked back out into the table. Rebekah put the baby back in her carrier, but she whined.

"Well, she is all sorted, and ready for an adventure! Aren't you, my love?" Rebekah said, smiling down at her.

Elijah caressed Hope's cheek. "It's difficult to believe we were this innocent once," he sighed. "We mustn't let the world ever hurt her."

"You're right," Keira eyed Rebekah. "We mustn't. Suurentaa."

Elijah's neck snapped, and he fell to the floor unconscious. Rebekah sighed, looking overwhelmed, and they promptly left the restaurant.

Later on, when they were a safe distance away from the restaurant, Rebekah called Klaus.

"Nik, it's me. Something's wrong. Elijah slaughtered a dozen people, whose only sin was their terrible taste in food. I mean, when have you known him to kill when he could otherwise compel? It's the kind of act that will draw our mother's attention," she said. Klaus sighed in horror.

"Her torture must have affected him more deeply than I'd realized. Where is he now?"

"I broke his neck to keep her safe, but we have no clue what to do next," Keira said.

Klaus thought for a moment before responding. "Do you recall where we dined the Christmas after we fled Mikael?" he asked.

"Of course," Keira said.

"Go there. Now."

"Bekah, go to the Arkansas house," Keira said, getting into the back seat of Rebekah's car to stay with Hope while the elder sister drove. "How's the Kol-Finn situation going? Please tell me that if you decided to kill one, you chose Finn."

Klaus chuckled. "I believe Kol might prove an ally. Finn, on the other hand, might be required to return to his long-time home."

Keira paused. "You don't mean mother's estate, do you."

"Not one bit," Klaus smiled. Keira hung up with a smirk, almost able to hear Finn screaming from the horrors of coffins from hundreds of miles away. 

Later, at the safe house, Rebekah and Keira were arguing over decorations when they returned inside, finding Elijah awake by the fireplace.

"Well, isn't this place rather nice!" Rebekah said. "Nik must have compelled a wine-lover to keep it up, because I found a 2005 bordot! Fancy a sip?"

"I appreciate the sentiment, Rebekah, but I do recognize when I'm being handled with kid gloves," Elijah replied, clearly annoyed.

Keira rolled her eyes and sighed. "How are you feeling?"

"Patronized," Elijah said, looking between his sisters. "I am here to protect you."

"I know you mean to, Elijah-"

"And yet, you find it necessary to render me unconscious before bringing me here?"

"Well, you weren't yourself! And I needed to get us out of that diner. What happened back there?"

"I don't know. Niklaus sent me to protect you two and Hope. My job is to keep you safe."

"Well, I'm not sure killing twenty innocent chefs is considered protection."

Elijah scoffed, before walking off.