Force of Gravity • NM

•27•

The morning of the full moon, Klaus stormed into the Mikaelson study, his eyes scanning the shelves and tabletops. His stomach dropped as he noticed the absence of the daggers and the pouch of white oak ash. His gaze swept the room until it landed on the space where his most cherished paintings—those of his human days—had once hung. They were gone.

"Who dares?....Naira? no..." he growled under his breath, his fury bubbling to the surface.

He strode into the parlor where his siblings were gathered, Elijah nursing a glass of bourbon and Kol lounging on the couch. Rebekah was flipping through a magazine, though her eyes flicked up as Klaus entered.

"We have a problem," Klaus said, his voice tight with anger. "The daggers, the white oak ash... and some of my paintings—gone."

Rebekah sat up straight, concern flashing across her face. "What? Who would do such a thing?"

"Someone broke into my study last night," Klaus continued. "And Elijah—didn't you say you saw Naira there?"

Elijah set his glass down, his face unreadable. "I did. She was with someone, though I couldn't make out who. It was dark."

Kol laughed sharply. "The little Salvatore thief? Why would she need daggers and ash? Planning to stab us all in our sleep?"

Rebekah frowned, shooting Kol a glare. "Don't be ridiculous, Kol. Naira wouldn't do that... would she?"

Klaus's jaw clenched, his paranoia and anger blinding him to reason. "Why else would she take them? She must be plotting something. Maybe she was using her innocence to gain our trust all along!"

Klaus and his siblings didn't wait long to storm the Salvatore estate. The door was flung open before Damon even had a chance to answer, and the Mikaelsons filed in like a storm cloud.

"What's this about?" Damon asked, lounging casually by the fireplace, but the tension in his stance betrayed him.

Klaus pointed a finger at Naira, who had just descended the stairs. "You. Where are the daggers and the white oak ash?"

Naira blinked, taken aback. "What? Why would I have those?"

"Don't play innocent," Klaus snapped. "Elijah saw you in my study last night. And now they're gone!"

Damon stepped in front of Naira protectively. "Alright, hybrid, calm down. You're barking up the wrong tree. My sister isn't some thief."

Elijah's voice was calm but firm. "Naira, I did sense another presence with you. If not you, then who? Answer truthfully."

Naira's face paled as she glanced at Stefan, who avoided her gaze. She had sworn him to secrecy, and he wasn't about to betray her now.

"I don't have your daggers," she said softly, her voice shaking. "And I didn't steal anything."

Kol scoffed. "Then where are they, hmm? Did they just sprout legs and walk away?"

Rebekah's hurt expression was the worst of all. "Naira, we trusted you."

The weight of their suspicion crushed her, tears welling up in her eyes. "I can't believe you think I'd betray you like this," she whispered, her voice breaking.

Without another word, she turned and ran out the door, leaving everyone in stunned silence.

Naira slammed the cabin door behind her, her chest heaving as she let the tears fall freely. How could they think so little of her? The Mikaelsons, her friends—her family—believed she'd betrayed them.

But she didn't have time to wallow. Wiping her tears, she set to work. The grimoires she had painstakingly collected were spread across the table, their pages illuminated by the soft glow of candlelight. Her plan was risky, dangerous even, but it was the only way to protect the people she cared about.

"I'll prove them wrong," she whispered, her voice trembling but determined.

Meanwhile, the Mikaelsons prepared for their confrontation with Esther. Bonnie had spent the day gathering her strength, her confidence bolstered by Damon and Elena's unwavering support.

Klaus's mind, however, was elsewhere. Despite his anger, he couldn't shake the pang of guilt that gnawed at him. Naira's tears haunted him, her words echoing in his mind.

Elijah placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Focus, Niklaus. Esther is the greater threat here. We can unravel the truth about Naira later."

At the witches' cottage, Esther stood waiting, her calm demeanor masking the storm of power brewing within her. Finn stood at her side, his expression unreadable.

"Mother," Elijah greeted her, his tone icy. "We've come to stop you."

"Stop me?" Esther said, her voice smooth as silk. "I only wish to bring balance to this world."

"Balance by killing us?" Rebekah spat.

Esther's smile didn't falter. "You are an affront to nature, my children. Your deaths will restore the order I disrupted long ago."

As the siblings faced their mother, Klaus's mind wandered once again to Naira. Was she truly capable of betraying them? Or was there something else at play?

Kol, noticing Klaus's distraction, muttered, "Focus, Nik. This isn't the time to moon over your girl."

But Klaus couldn't shake the unease that settled in his chest, a feeling that would only grow as the night unfolded.