The Original Queen

Chapter 22

Allison stood in the backyard with Lydia as the crescent's pack's curse was siphoned and they were able to live another month in their human forms instead of their wolf forms.

Haley stood beside her, watching Jackson and the Pack with a keen eye "What progress has been made with the curse?" she asked, getting right to the point.

"Not much yet, I had to wait almost a month to get another meeting with the regent of the Nine Covens. Once I speak with her I can deal with the witch who cast the curse, get the reversal spell from her. But things will be moving quickly soon and I might have to wait another month to get it done" Allison told her, keeping an eye on everyone.

Haley glared at her "Shouldn't breaking the curse be a priority?" she asked judgementally.

Allison raised an eyebrow and looked at her as if she lacked intelligence "No, we have a temporary solution to your pack's curse. Getting back control of the quarter is the priority. Then maybe your pack can leave the bayou and go to the city. You could stop living your lives in hiding" she said, her voice sharp.

Jackson stepped up to them "She's right Haley, getting rid of Marcel is more important. We've been wolves for years now and even without lifting the curse they have given us our freedom back" he said, wrapping an arm around his mate, hoping to calm her.

Haley huffed but Jackson ignored it and turned directly to Allison "I was hesitant about working with you for obvious reasons but you've helped our pack more than you had to, You've let parents go home to their children, brothers and sisters reunite, and you've brought back together lovers and mates. We can never thank you enough" he said sincerely.

Allison nodded acceptingly "Thank you, it was the right thing to do. We just ask for peace once this is all done" she said, hoping that this version of Jackson would be the one to stick around.

Jackson nodded "Done, you've done so much for us it would be disgraceful for us to work against you now. I...I can't say I'm happy that 14 of my pack members became hybrids but that was their choice and they seem content with it" he said, his eyes wandering to the hybrids who were mingling with their family and friends.

"I'm sure some of them regret it after Elijah's gotten to them. He trains all of the pack and he expects excellence" she said with a small smile, it grew when she saw a few of the hybrids huff in agreement.

Haley raised her eyebrow "Elijah does the training? Not Klaus?" she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Allison shook her head "While Nik is Alpha he doesn't have the patience for training. He believes they are strong and capable enough as hybrids but Elijah's not as confident. While they know how to fight with their wolf strength they need to learn how to use their new vampire capabilities to their advantage. If one of them went up against an older vampire they will need to use more than their new capabilities to beat them" Allison explained.

Jackson nodded "It's smart, they've spent most of their time in wolf form" he said, giving her a look of respect.

"Exactly, they need to learn to fight anything they will come up against and they will be going up against some formidable opponents in the coming years. Elijah's also incredibly protective of me right now since I'm pregnant" Allison said, letting the slight exasperation leak into her voice.

Jackson smirks "I can't say I blame him. If my mate were pregnant with my child I would be protective as well" he said casually, stiffening when Haley turned to him with a raised eyebrow.

Allison snickered at the awkward moment and left the lovebirds to it.

~~~~~~~~

"I did not expect to be meeting with you so soon, especially as you have yet to take control of the city" Josephine said, her eyes shrewd as she looked at Allison.

Allison had come alone to this meeting, well, and her designated hybrid bodyguards. One of them was standing in the corner of the room while the other three were stationed outside the building, keeping an eye out for any surprise attacks.

"Yes well I figured I would inform you before kidnapping one of your witches" she said casually, taking a sip of her tea that Josephine had provided.

"That is a good choice, I would have taken that as forfeiting our agreement, and I still may depending on your answer, why are you going to kidnap one of my witches?" she asked, her eyes narrowed, the magic snapping around her angrily.

Allison wasn't phased "Because this particular witch has been body hopping within your covens for three hundred years. Taking over the lives of your young witches for centuries" she explained, knowing the witches would not take Celeste's actions kindly.

Josephine's magic snapped angrily around her as her indignation grew "You are sure of this?" she asked carefully, enraged at the thought of young witches's bodies stolen for centuries.

Allison nodded "Yes, Celeste Dubois has been stealing the bodies of your covens since the 1800's. Currently she's in that witch Sabine, if you allow me to I can trap her in a mortal body. Once I have a counter curse from her I will happily hand her over to your covens for her crimes" She offered, hoping Josephine would accept.

Josephine raised a brow "And this comes free of charge?" she asked pointedly, knowing better than to trust on blind faith.

Allison smirked "Not exactly, in exchange I want your assurance that once the harvest is complete Davina Clair will be allowed to leave New Orleans unimpeded" she said sharply.

Josephine looked at her in surprise "You've been in contact with Davina Clair?" she asked carefully.

Allison nodded "Yes, she's agreed to go through the ritual if she is allowed to leave unimpeded afterward. She's a scared girl and she wants nothing to do with her old coven after their betrayal" she said, the disdain or their actions obvious in her voice.

Josephine shifted uncomfortably in her seat "I did not give my approval for the ritual or the way it was handled. If Davina goes through with the ritual she is free to make any choice for herself. If she meets resistance I will handle it" she said, her eyes showing her regret.

Allison raised an eyebrow "Is it often the covens undermine you? She asked pointedly.

Josephine narrowed her eyes "The inner workings of my covens do not concern you" she said, her voice making it clear that she would not be discussing this with an outsider.

Allison raised her hands in surrender "Fine fine. Are we in agreement? In exchange for handling your body snatcher and handing her over to you Davina will be allowed to leave the city?" she asked poitnedly. Allowing the change of subject to happen. In all fairness if she started poking her nose into our business we would probably kill her...

Josephine nodded "We have an agreement" she said as she stood, making her dismissal clear.

Allison stood as well "There was one other thing I wished to mention, the witch Katie has been sleeping with the enemy, she gives information to the vampires. She's dating Marcel's right hand man, the one with the stupid hat" she said casually as she dusted off her pants.

Josephine's eyes widened slightly before she covered her emotions and nodded "Thank you for informing me, I will deal with it" she said, her words holding an edge of warning to them.