The Red Queen | Lucien Castle & Tristan de Martel

Chapter 20

Germany was peaceful.

Vivalda had missed the freedom that came with it. There was no aggravation there, no having to see Klaus make dumb decisions and watch him excuse Marcel over and over again, letting him live when he ought to have been executed long ago. There was no fussing over the witches, who in the past month, had left Hayley well enough alone.

The baby was growing, slowly and steadily, and giving Hayley morning sickness that she was learning to wash away with an herbal mixture that Kol recommended. The Crescents had been cured at the next full moon, and everyone was apparently getting along swimmingly. The wolves doted on Hayley, and already considered her their savior. Those from out of state kept flocking in to witness the miracle pregnancy, which worried Vivalda but delighted Hayley.

Elijah was handling peace negotiations around the Quarter while Klaus entertained himself with Genevieve. If there was one thing Elijah and Vivalda agreed on during those few weeks, it was that Klaus was being an absolute idiot. She couldn't necessarily blame him; Genevieve was very attractive, but how could he so easily forget that she was the reason Rebekah's treachery was exposed? Genevieve was still an enemy. He wasn't gaining any advantages by sleeping with her. And it seemed Hayley had grown to see the Compound as so hostile, that she was now staying in the Bayou with Eve.

Davina was back in her attic, but taking lessons daily with the witches. According to Elijah, the other two Harvest Girls weren't being very welcoming. They blamed Davina for their problems, and it seemed the girl's only friend was Joshua Rosza, one of Marcel's vampires currently on Klaus's hit list because he'd led him into Marcel and Rebekah's trap a few weeks prior. Vivalda wasn't sure why Klaus made such a big deal about it; he'd compelled Josh and hadn't kept a good enough eye on him. Of course Davina removed the compulsion and put him back on Marcel's side. Honestly, it was like he didn't know anything about inserting a mole in a group.

Vivalda tried to stay out of it. She spent her days training with Aya and Antonella. Afternoons chatting with Aurora or Kol, whoever was available. And the evenings she filled with sinful fun in Lucien's apartment, where Tristan never missed a date.

"You're a very good influence on him," noted Aurora, passing Vivalda a cup of tea. "I was beginning to think he'd always look sullen. And then you come along and like magic, he remembers that smiling is, in fact, possible for him to do."

Vivalda grinned. "I'm sure it wasn't that bad every other decade."

"Oh, but it was. No matter, he's in great spirits and so am I." She tapped her arm affectionately. "I appreciate your apology, darling, but you really needn't."

"I do," said Vivalda. "I don't know if you'll ever get one out of Elijah and like I told your brother, I am still complicit. They are my family, I have to take responsibility for their actions."

"Well, according to a thousand years of experience, that's all you ever do! You're the only one that owns up to their behavior! That's not right, is it? You must stop apologizing for what they do. Besides, I've had my time to come to terms with it. I still think of what we could have had, but how much better would my life have been, really? Would Niklaus have still loved me after a century together? Two centuries? I would see the way you'd come to stay with us every chance you got and I thought to myself, if Vivalda Mikaelson cannot tolerate being around them, why would I? Rebekah and I were close but if she is jealous of you–" she cleared her throat, "as I say that, I realize it sounds insensitive but I do not mean that in a bad way at all–"

"I get what you mean," said Vivalda. "I think, at least. You and Rebekah are much more similar in the things you like and let's not be shy about admitting your beauty standards and hers are far different than mine. She would see you as more of a competitor than a sister."