sleeping beauty [the originals]

li.

Isla was happy.  

She was spending time with her father. She was learning about herself and her family. No one had died. Life was good. 

As they pulled over to the side of the road next to the compound, Isla felt on top of the world. 

Unfortunately, the rest of her family did not. The two walked in to see the two Mikaelson vampires and Hayley getting ready for the dinner with Esther. 

"She's not here?" Isla asked. Her brothers shook their heads.

"Not yet." Elijah answered. "Although she should be here soon." Isla sighed, folding her arms. She was certainly anxious to reunite with her mother. Especially considering the last few times she interacted with her. 

She quickly changed into a dress, because Elijah wanted them to dress formally for the dinner. Adair was going to stay upstairs unless they felt an extra person at the table was needed. When Isla got downstairs, Klaus and Elijah were arguing.

"You always did excel at diplomacy." Klaus observed. "Just know if she tries anything, I'll tear her new body to pieces." He looked up at his younger sister as he spoke. In return, Isla gave a small smile. It was nice knowing that they had each others' backs. 

The moment was soon ruined by a chuckle behind them. Isla turned around to see a man walking into the room. 

"You two haven't changed a bit." He spoke, keeping one arm behind his back. Isla quickly darted around the table so that she was standing next to her brothers. "Linens and silk can't disguise your pathetic self-loathing. And you..." He looked at Klaus. "Despite the arrogant facade, you're still the same paranoid little boy. Full of hate... and fear." He glanced over at the blonde. "Hello Isla." Isla folded her arms, unsure of who this man was. Elijah walked toward him. 

"Forgive me." He lit a candle with the match he was holding. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure." The man scoffed, bringing a hand to his chest.

"You mean you don't recognize me?" He sighed. "So much for the unbreakable bonds of family, huh? Always and forever indeed."

"It's been a long time..." Klaus muttered. "Finn." Isla's eyes widened. She was not expecting her oldest brother to make an appearance. And definitely not in another body. 

"Now that the introductions are out of the way..." Finn continued the conversation. "Let's eat." Isla warily sat down, followed by Klaus. Elijah and Finn were still standing as they were being poured a glass of wine. "What an aromatic Bordeaux." Finn commented. Klaus nodded.

"Well, it was a challenge to find a good pairing. What wine goes well with treachery?" Finn sat down, shaking his head.

"Don't pout, brother. Tonight is meant to be a happy occasion." The three looked at each other, confused, then back to Finn. 

"What exactly are we celebrating?" Elijah asked. 

"Why, my return, of course. Remember, I spent... 900 years, right... lying daggered in a box." Isla grimaced, taking a large gulp of her wine. This was not a conversation she wanted to be 100 percent sober for. "I'm rather enjoying this new body." Finn continued. "Strolling about your lovely city that, uh, you've made your home. But do tell me..." He turned his head to look at Klaus. "what'd I miss? Regale me with your contributions to society. Medicine? Philosophy? Art? Or have you two merely cut a path of destruction across time?" Klaus sighed.

"The last time we met, you were helping our mother try to annihilate the lot of us. Let's not throw stones in glass houses."

"Are we expecting another guest?" Elijah asked as he noticed an extra plate being set. He was obviously asking about Esther.

"Mother will sit at the head." Finn answered. "And as for the seat across from me, that's reserved for another of our clan. Care to wager an educated guess? I'll give you a hint. It's not the merman mother brought back to life." No one was answering. Isla looked up at the ceiling. "How about a paranoid one?" It seemed like Klaus knew who Finn was talking about. 

"There's no way Kol would listen to anything other than his ego." Finn shrugged.

"And yet our mother has made such a compelling argument that even he, the wildest of us Mikaelsons, has seen the error of his ways and accepted his new form with vigor. Change, dear brothers, is inevitable." Klaus scoffed.

"You would dare face us as a mortal. The only thing inevitable is your death." Before Isla could react, he grabbed a knife and flung it across the table. It landed in the chair reserved for their mother. Finn sighed, picking it out of the chair. 

"I suppose the honor of carving should go to the oldest." He looked back at the three. "We have much to discuss." Isla didn't like the way that sounded. 

A few minutes went by where the only sound was coming from Finn drinking his wine. "I'm rather enjoying my evening." He chuckled. 

"And I'd enjoy you getting to the point." Klaus retorted, obviously not amused. Finn set down his drink. 

"I had 900 years to learn to be patient. Although I am curious why you kept me daggered in a box for so long." Isla scoffed.

"You could ask mother the same question about me." She took another drink of her wine, ignoring the looks she was getting from her three older brothers. 

"You were daggered for being an ever simpering sycophant." Klaus announced. "Did mother bring you back from the dead so you could was her knickers?" Finn sneered.

"She raised me because I was treated unfairly. Cheated out of all but the smallest portion of my life. Elijah, I can understand such cruelty coming from him. But I always thought of you as being the compassionate one." 

Isla concerned herself with her food. "What did I do to deserve you turning your back on me? Were you afraid of Niklaus? Are you still?" He looked over at Isla, then to Klaus. "Or perhaps jealousy is why you kept me locked in a box. You coveted the duties of the eldest brother in which case, you had near a millennium to fix the problems of this family. And instead, produced nine centuries of failure." He placed his head in his hands to think. 

"You might reside, somewhat parasitically, I might add..." Elijah commented. "in another body, but let me assure you, in 900 years, your tedious sentiments remain quite the same." He leaned forward in his seat. "You see, Finn, like Father, you've always despised our supernatural existence. Father, of course, slaughtered and consumed his own whereas you, you became pretentious and dull, much like this meal. I will not ask you again. Where is mother?" 

"Oh, my darling son." Upon hearing her voice, Finn immediately stood up. Isla sank lower in her seat. Esther walked in, in the body of one of the harvest girls. "I've missed you too."