Dispersora | Klaus Mikaelson

Chapter 4

December 25, 1914

Everything soon went to hell.

She knew better than anyone how often conflicts broke out between the Mikaelsons themselves. Still, she had never anticipated they would reach the level they did in 1914.

Kol had his witches, Klaus had his. Somehow, it became a silly competition between brothers. The younger Mikaelson was up to something, she knew it. Klaus had been attempting to find out what it was. Soon, the witches of the city split themselves up, picking sides. Those loyal to Kol and eager to fulfill whatever his vision was were eager to take his side. The ones who thought the winning team was best (or who were too afraid to break their loyalty to Klaus) remained with the elder brother.

Elijah and Rebekah, like Yara, hated the way the conflict made the household a minefield. Klaus had enlisted Marcel's help in figuring out what Kol was up to. He even gave Yara 'permission' to speak with him to see if she could worm the information out of him. She, Elijah, and Rebekah all refused to get involved if Kol didn't actually hurt any of them. If Kol had done anything to Marcel, Yara would have retaliated. But since he didn't, she tried not to let it bother her. She simply avoided him as much as she could.

On Christmas day, it seemed, Klaus had had it with him.

Marcel had come to her just a day prior to say proudly that he and Klaus had taken from Kol a large diamond he'd acquired from the Dowager Fauline Cottage. They didn't know why Kol needed it, but they definitely didn't plan on giving it back. Yara tried to ignore the conflict, just wishing to get through the Christmas party. It was their first major gala in many years. When Marcel had been a boy, they'd never held them. Yara often didn't attend. In the recent years since she and Klaus made their relationship public, her attendance became a requirement.

"Excuse me," she told a blonde witch in a blue dress, waiting by the Christmas tree. "Are you here with Kol?"

"I am," the woman said. "And you are–?"

"Yara," she said, holding out her hand. "A vampire, Klaus's partner."

"Oh, how lovely," she said, smiling. "I like your dress."

"Thank you," said Yara, side-eyeing Klaus, who was wiggling his eyebrows at her from the balcony, having said very clearly that she ought to wear this specific green dress so that he could rip it off of her that night.

"Hello," said Rebekah, popping in and motioning to Yara that it was time for the family picture. "A word of advice," she told the blonde witch, "a witch as lovely as you has no business dating Kol."

The witch laughed lightly. "Oh, it's not really a date."

Rebekah patted her arm reassuringly before ushering Yara away. "You can do better."

They arranged themselves on the staircase, with Yara at the bottom, Marcel above her, and following in sequence, Rebekah, Klaus, Kol, and Elijah. Klaus tapped his glass with a knife to get the attention of the party attendees.

"As you know," he said, "when the Mikaelsons arrived in Louisiana, we brought with us the tradition of holiday bonfire season. Now, we invite you chosen few to join us in our family's own tradition of writing wishes for each other and burning them for luck. The holidays are a time for celebrating family, and friends." He looked down at Marcel and Yara, winking, then turned up to Kol, who narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "It is especially gratifying in times when treachery runs deep. To know you have someone you can trust. A toast, to you, my sister."

"To Rebekah!" called the guests.

Yara immediately grabbed onto Marcel's arm, sensing something was wrong. Kol tried to dash away, but Elijah caught him, yanking his arms behind his back.