Power of Artemis

Hybrids

"There you are! I see you've found our wandering stray. Perhaps you could shed some light on the situation. This-- [kicks the body over]-- appears to be a hybrid." Nik exclaims not even noticing Hayley as a hybrid.

"His name was Dwayne." I tell him walking over to him.

"Well, whoever it was, I didn't sire him. Any idea how that's possible?" He asks slightly annoyed.

"As if you didn't know!" Hayley stomps over to him but Elijah holds her back and stands in front of her to protect her.

"Ahhh, well, aren't you two fast friends? Oh, come on, then. What kind of horrible accusation have you conspired to levy against me?" Nik says clearly unamused.

"Tyler Lockwood brought Artemis here to test a theory. [Klaus nods at him to continue] That the blood of her child could be used to sire hybrids. He claims that you knew that. Furthermore, that you intended to use this knowledge to build an army." Elijah tells him and Nik becomes hurt.

"And, of course, you assume it's true. I mean, why else would I show interest in my own flesh and blood? A heartbroken little crybaby points his finger at me, and my own brother falls in line, eager to believe it! How quickly you believe the worst, especially when it comes from her." Nik says hurt and angry pointing at Hayley.

"Oh, spare me your indignation. When have you ever demonstrated any kind of concern towards Artemis or her child, beyond your own selfish pursuits? And what was it you once said to me? "Every king needs an heir!" Elijah says clearly getting pissed off.

"My big brother. So, you doubt my intentions? Well, I can't say I'm surprised, standing next to the noble Elijah, how can I be anything but the lesser brother? A liar, a manipulator, a bastard." Nik says staring at him as he slowly approaches Elijah.

"That's all I am to you, isn't it? And Rebekah. And, judging by the way Hayley hangs on your every word, it's clear she feels the same way!No doubt my child will as well."

"Brother, if--" Elijah says more kindly Nik speeds over to him grabbing his shoulder.

"You've said all that needs to be said, brother. [He steps back a few steps and holds his arms out in defeat] I'll play the role I've been given." Nik say turning to walk away but turns back quickly vamping over to Elijah biting him on the neck.He wipes his mouth with his hand.

"You two enjoy each other's company. I am going to take my fiance home. You'll have much to bond over, once the hallucinations and dementia set in. Consider that bite to be my parting gift to you both." He smirks and grabs my hand as we walk away leaving them in the bayou. We get home and I automatically kiss him making him smile.

"I know you did not know my love." I tell him and he nods. The next morning Nik put up breakfast. He bites into the wrist of a woman putting some of her blood into cups for us.

"Have you spoken to our good friend Marcel today?" Nik asks Rebekah who sat across from me. Nik stands behind me.

"No, should I have?" She asks back and I narrow my eyes at her as she plays with her cup.

"He's been mysteriously silent-- avoiding me, some might say. I thought perhaps he may have whispered reasons into your ear. Along with all of those sweet nothings." Nik smirks finishing the cup and handing it to me.

"If I see him, I'll be sure to ask if he's still sore at you." She says looking at Nik as he sits down in the chair next to me.

"Let me give a voice to that look in your eyes. [He starts mocking her] "My saintly noble brother lies writhing in agony in the Bayou, victim of my bastard brother's bite, when just one or two drops of his blood would ease his pain." Nik says getting slightly hurt at the word bastard.

"On the contrary, Nik, I am simply enjoying my breaky, waiting for Elijah's healthy return." She smirks at him being quite weird

"Oh, come on Rebekah, you've been giving me the devil's eye all morning. Out with it!" He exclaims getting slightly annoyed.

"Perhaps I'm concerned that if I voice my opinion about what you did to Elijah, I will end up on the wrong side of your toxic hybrid teeth." Rebekah glares at Nik and he hits the table pointing at her.

"Poppycock! I would never bite you. Elijah made some very offensive accusations about my intentions towards my child. He deserves a day or two of discomfort. Besides, you know my preferred method of punishment for your indiscretions is the dagger." Nik says and looks at her analyzing her as she smirks and stands up.

"There is something fundamentally wrong with you." She says meanly leaning on the table. She walks out of the room. I turn to Nik trying to comfort him.

"It is okay love. There is nothing wrong with you. You are perfect the way you are." I smile at him giving him a kiss on the cheek accidentally getting some blood on him. I chuckle.

"Oops." I exclaim with a smile and I clean it off him as he smirks. Nik and I sit in the study with Cami typing for Nik's memoir. He drinks some bourbon as he speaks and Cami types.

"They have all forsaken me. My siblings are as deceitful in disease just as my parents ever were. Accusing me of using my baby for my own gain, trusting others before their own blood." Nik starts talking and she types. He walks back and forth getting really mad.

"Would a laptop kill you?" Cami asks tired and frustrated.

"That typewriter was good enough for Hemingway." I tell her with a smirk.

"I see the resemblance. Booze and random acts of violence." She says and Nik points at her mad.

"Elijah and Rebekah have cut to the quick with their vicious lies about me. And all I've done is tried to win this battle of wills over Marcel's control of the Quarter in order to reclaim our home. [He looks at Cami, who has stopped working] Type, please!" Nik tells her and rolls his eyes.

"What's the point? You just repeat the same thing over and over again. Rebekah's out to get you. Elijah's out to get you. Is there anyone who isn't plotting your downfall? I doubt you trust your own reflection." She claims and I roll my eyes.

"You know, if the daggers weren't missing, I would put one in each of their hearts. Rid myself of the burden of my siblings for a couple of centuries." He then tells her taking a drink of his bourbon getting super annoyed. He smirks and looks at Cami as she starts to speak.

"Look at you! Repeating the same destructive cycles over and over again. You are the architect of your own unhappiness!" Cami says and he slowly losing his smirk slightly hurt.

"I don't remember him asking for your advice." I growl at her slightly pissed off.

"Oh, really? So, of all the people in New Orleans, you choose someone with a masters in psychology to record your life story. You're over a thousand years old. Pretty damn sure you know how to type. The truth is, you compelled me to come here because you have no one else to talk to, and you want to be understood. Then, you compel me to forget everything as soon as I leave your presence because you are too scared to trust." Cami exclaims.

"I'm scared of nothing." He says walking towards her. Nik picks up a sheet of paper on the desk next to Cami and examines it. It has an elaborate circular symbol written on it.

"What is this?" Nik asks and I stand up to look at it more closely.

"It's an ancient mystical plot I'm using to destroy you. [Nik looks at her, clearly frustrated, and she rolls her eyes] Relax, it's a tattoo design." She tells him with a slight smile.

"Draw on your own time." He tells her handing it to her. She stands up pissed off.

"This is my time. You steal it from me!" She tells me and she angrily packs up her things and storms out of the room. Later that night Nik and I walk into the courtyard of the Abattoir. We look around to see no one.