Power of Artemis

Faction Party

Later that night I go to the compound and stand with Elijah and Niklaus looking over the faction party. Genevieve enters with Davina, Abigail, and Monique in tow as Diego and the other vampires are drinking together. I notice their eyes land on Jackson, Hayley, Oliver and the other werewolves entering the party. Klaus and Elijah look at the party from the balcony.

"I'm impressed, brother." Elijah says. I put my head on my hand letting my elbow rest on the balcony.

"Yes." Niklaus says.

"Now if I can just keep them from tearing one another to shreds." Elijah says.

"Well, then for your sake, here's to a spectacularly boring evening." He says. Everyone is mingling at the party. Diego and some other vampires pass Jackson and Oliver. I bolt up and speed down there next to them.

"What's up, little man?" Diego asks. He purposely bumps into Jackson, which enrages Oliver.

"He's not even worth it." Jackson says being the nice person he is. Elijah goes to follow after Jackson, sensing hostility brewing, but Francesca distracts him. Davina sees Oliver from across the room and smiles at him. He smiles back at her. Diego watches this happen, and angrily chugs his drink. Elijah notices his mood and intervenes.

"Diego. You will be polite and welcoming." Elijah tells him and I stand next to Oliver listening in.

"Yeah, see, his people killed my whole family. My sister bled out on the floor right next to me. The only reason I'm standing here is because Marcel came along and turned me before I bled out, too. So, I'm telling you right now-- I cannot be polite and welcoming to that." Diego says and Oliver looks at me questioning what they are saying. I grab his shoulder and let him in my mind so he can listen.

"Diego, I understand your anger. However, there are certain overtures that need to be made, if we are to find a degree of peace."Elijah leaves him and approaches Jackson.

"Welcome to my home." He tells Jackson.

"I wouldn't be here if Hayley and Artemis hadn't forced the issue." Jackson tells him.

"Yes. It's rather unlikely that you'll experience an outpouring of kind sentiment here. The vampires in particular view you as... well, barbaric." Elijah informs him and I nod at Oliver's questioning look.

"Hayley tells me that this peace treaty is important to you." Jackson comments.

"Yes, it certainly is. So much so, in fact, that if anyone threatened to dismantle what I'm building here, I'd destroy everything they hold dear. [He smiles] Have a wonderful evening." Elijah says and Klaus is on the balcony overlooking the party when Genevieve finds him. I decide to not interfere with that conversation seeing as I am still hurt. I look around to see Jackson walking upstairs and Klaus follows Jackson into one of the upstairs studies.

" I will be right back good luck with these assholes." I smile at him and he smiles back walking away as I speed up the stairs.

"Niklaus you better not do anything mean to him." I say walking in.

" I was just about to say I'm so glad you accepted my invitation." Klaus says and I narrow my eyes at him.

"So, is this where the great Klaus Mikaelson says something poignant, and snaps my neck?" Jackson asks with a smirk.

"He better not." I mutter.

"I'm not here to kill you. I'm here to offer you a gift." Klaus says and I look at him.

"Out of the kindness of your vampire heart?" Jackson jokes.

"Our hearts are more similar than you might realize. You see, long before I evolved, mine beat as a werewolf. I know your power. I know your burden. I'm here to take the latter away." Klaus tells him.

"You want to make me a hybrid? I put my pack first, and I'm not gonna let anything compromise my family line, especially becoming some bloodthirsty vampire parasite." Jackson exclaims.

"That pride, that sense of loyalty? Well, that's exactly why I haven't snapped your neck yet." Klaus says.

"Well, if you're not gonna kill me, then what the hell do you want?" Jackson asks and I sigh shaking my head.

"Only to give you back the city that was taken from you. How is that for poignant?" Klaus asks.

"Why would I trust someone who's conspiring behind his own brother's back and cheating on his fiancé?" He asks looking at me.

"I'm not trying to undermine Elijah's venture. I'm supporting his vision. Vampires destroy life to survive, witches are only as powerful as their dead, but the werewolves have thrived because their strength comes from family unity. The safety of that unity is what I want for my unborn child. The painful truth is, vampires are the antithesis of unity." Klaus tells him gesturing to my belly.

"So, what, after a thousand years, you're finally ready to embrace the other half of your family tree? Maybe the other half doesn't want you." Jackson says.

"Oh, they will once they return to the Quarter." Klaus pushes past Jackson to grab a wooden box from his desk. Jackson becomes curious.

"You got a plan to back that up?" Jackson asks. Klaus pulls out Cary's ring from the box.

"My mother was a very powerful witch. I watched her craft all manner of magical items, but her most prized possession was this ring. I hadn't seen it for 1,000 years, and then it turned up hanging around the neck of a werewolf-- a direct descendant of my biological father. I believe she gave him this ring as a way of freeing him." Klaus tells him.

"How so?" He asks.

"Daylight rings shield vampires from the sun. So, why not a moonlight ring to protect werewolves from the curse? Think about it! No more breaking bones, no more losing control to the beast within." I say understanding now.

"What do I have to do?" Jackson asks convinced and I leave them to talk about it now knowing klaus will not hurt him. I go downstairs and not even a minute later Elijah walks up to me.