𝐀𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘 ⚜️ ELIJAH MIKAELSON

[ The Sisters ]

CHAPTER 23
[ New Orleans, 2012 ]

The air in the pool room of the Davilla Estate hung heavy with tension. The dim light from the overhead chandeliers reflected off the rippling water of the pool, casting eerie shadows upon the stone walls. Klaus and Elijah floated lifelessly in the water, their bodies still, their faces pale as death. The sisters stood around them, with Davina at the helm.

Marcel stepped into the room, his gaze immediately drawn to the two Original vampires. A knot tightened in his stomach as he approached Aya, who was stood at the far end of the pool, overseeing the spell.

Georgia stood frozen at the threshold of the pool room, her eyes fixed on Davina as the young witch continued the incantation with unwavering focus. The sight of Klaus and Elijah, almost lifeless in the water, made her stomach twist in horror. Every instinct screamed at her to intervene, to stop it before it was too late but she wouldn't be stopping just anyone, she would be stopping Davina.

The most logical thing to do would be to stop Aya, but hundreds of strix would line up after her. They each had a shared goal, one they were willing to fight for. She wanted to protect Elijah, Klaus, Marcel and everyone else she held dear, but she couldn't ignore the nagging feeling of hypocrisy that swirled within her. Davina was ultimately doing this to bring Kol back, she had been committed to the task for almost a year now, she was finally bearing the fruits of her labour. However, the price Davina and everyone else would pay if Aya succeeded in taking out the brothers was slowly beginning to outweigh Davinas need to bring him back. But Georgia had sworn she would not be the one to take that opportunity from her sister, even if it meant losing the one she loved.

"Any problems?" Marcel's voice trembled with a nervousness he could not fully disguise as he caught up with Aya. Georgia trailed behind him, her eyes nervously flickering towards Elijah's unconscious body.

Aya didn't turn to him at first. Her eyes remained fixed on the pool, her lips slightly parted as she watched the ritual unfold. It was as though she could already taste victory, the power they were about to seize. Only when she spoke did she finally acknowledge him, her voice steady and resolute.

"No. We're nearly there. After today, one man's recklessness will no longer weigh on the shoulders of his sires. Thousands of vampires across the world will be freed from the tyranny of the Originals."

She turned toward them then, a faint and empty smile softening her features. "I'm really glad you're here, Marcel." Her hand reached out to rest on his chest, her fingers lingering against the fabric of his shirt. She was speaking to Marcel, but her eyes lingered over Georgia for longer than they should have. Almost as if Aya believed that she had won.

Marcel forced a smile, but the unease in his gut refused to settle. He placed his hand over hers, trying to project a calm he didn't feel.

"Stay close by when it happens," she added, her voice low but insistent. Georgia bit her lip in order to suppress her anger. She knew this wasn't a rare act of kindness from Aya - she wanted Marcel around to test Davina's work.

"I'm not going anywhere," Marcel muttered, the words leaving his lips more stiffly than he'd intended. His smile remained on his face, but it was more a mask than a reflection of his true feelings as he considered the true meaning of Aya's words.

She walked away, leaving them to stand by the pool. As soon as she was out of sight, Marcels façade crumbled. His heart pounded in his chest as he moved swiftly toward Davina, who was still at the edge of the pool, her hands poised above the water as she poured the red liquid into the depths. The other Sisters stood in silent unison, their eyes closed in concentration.