Afterglow | S. Harrington

Prologue

July 1967

I control my breathing as the contractions get worse. I'm stalling. I wasn't able to convince Paul to let me leave so I did the one thing I promised myself I would never do.

I used my magic on him. I pretty much gave up magic once we got married. I've never told him about it, or my family history as the most powerful coven since the dawn of time.

Coming to New Orleans felt like a mistake at first. Freya has made me feel the most welcome of all the Mikaelson siblings. I think it's the witch in her.

I knew that coming here was the right thing to do. She is a Mikaelson by blood, she deserves to spend at least a couple days with her family before I take it away from her.

"You should be getting ready to push."

I look over my shoulder. Freya has been keeping a close eye on me. I think she's the most excited.

"You know.." I say. "When I imagined a child.. I didn't imagine any of this."

She walks closer, putting her hand on my stomach. A smile crosses her face.

"Do you have a name picked out?"

I nod. One contraction brings me down to my knees.

"She's coming.."

"You out!"

Rebekah pushes Klaus out of the room. She runs back over, helping Freya get me to the tub.

I remove all my clothes and get in. This is a rather unconventional birth but I can't be seen in a hospital.

"Push."

"I'm pushing!"

My breathing is erratic. I can't really focus on anything other than the pain.

Hours of pushing and screaming come swiftly as Rebekah holds my daughter. I slouch down in the water. It's grown cold but I don't care. 

"Oh.." Rebekah whispers. "Pretty girl."

She hands her to me in a wrapped pink blanket. I touch her cheek with my finger ever so gently.

"Let's get you up."

They help be up, putting a robe over my body. I look at Freya.

"Do you want to hold her?"

Freya nods. She walks over as I hand over my baby girl. She sways while looking at her. I can feel the love she is feeling.

I get out of the tub and put the robe on properly. I watch Freya.

"Elizabeth.. Freya Blackwood."

"Blackwood?" Freya stops. "What about-"

"It's for her own good, Sister."

Klaus appears. Freya and Rebekah shooed him away while I was pushing. I needed to stay focused.

"My daughter is safer away from us.. away from me."

"You can't be serious.." she says. "We only get to see her for a few days?"

I watch as Klaus grabs Elizabeth from Freya's arms. I've never seen him so soft. A look of love on his face. It's not right for her to grow up without her father. But it's the only right thing to do.

"I will do a spell so everyone thinks that Baby Mikaelson died."

"Evelyn, this isn't right."

"That little girl will inherit your enemies.. and she has a power that none of us understand." I say. "I will cast a protection spell over her.."

Freya looks around for help. The rest of the Mikaelson siblings have entered.

"Elijah.."

"She is right to do this."

"A mere protection spell will not protect her from what is to come!" She snaps. "She will need family!"

My family has a longstanding history with creating some of the most intricate and powerful of spells. I plan on using the one that takes so much magic, I'm willing to sacrifice my magic for it.

"It's not your choice."