Force of Gravity • NM

•60•

A low mist rolled across the cracked earth outside the forgotten asylum. The building loomed like a relic out of time its rusted gates groaned in protest as Damon kicked them open with typical flair. A line of runes carved into the stone walls flickered faintly, as though responding to the living presence near them.

Bonnie shivered, her fingers outstretched toward the wall. "There's magic here. Old. Heavy. Like something that was never meant to be disturbed."

Elijah, in his dark tailored coat, stepped up beside her. "We should proceed with caution. If Freya is indeed here, then whatever spell conceals her is one Dahlia herself wove."

"I'm sorry, did you say Dahlia as in 'evil sister who strikes Faustian bargains and steals firstborns'?" Caroline's voice cut in, laced with disbelief and sarcasm.

Kai, unusually quiet, ran his fingers along a glowing sigil burned into the floor. His voice dropped. "These... these are death-binding marks. The Gemini used something like this to keep dangerous spirits asleep. But this? This is... worse."

"Worse how?" Damon asked, arms crossed.

"It's not just binding," Kai murmured. "It's suppressing memory, identity, blood. Like she was erased, but not quite. If we screw this up... we could lose her completely."

Elijah entered a chamber with a crumbling cradle and walls lined with Old Norse - rows of scrawled symbols and diagrams. He paused, fingers brushing an old leather-bound journal.

He flipped the pages slowly. "This is her diary. Freya's. She's been reaching out. In dreams... through magic. And someone's been listening."

Suddenly, the illusion cracked like a mirror - runic barriers crumbled, light seeping from the seams. Inside the sealed chamber, Freya lay on a stone bed surrounded by binding circles.

She looked peaceful, too peaceful.

Bonnie began the chant, with Kai and Elijah flanking her. Damon, grumbling but compliant, placed his hand over the spell-marked slab.

Light surged. Freya's body arched, magic tearing around her like a hurricane. And then 

A gasp. A choked breath.

Freya Mikaelson's eyes snapped open.

She flung a blast of defensive magic, sending Damon flying and nearly knocking Kai out cold.

"Who are you?" she barked, hair wild, magic crackling in the air.

Elijah stepped forward, voice unshaken. "Freya. Sister. I am Elijah Mikaelson. We are your family."

Her gaze faltered. "Elijah... Finn?"

"Safe," Elijah nodded. "And waiting."

Bonnie's voice was soft. "You've been asleep for so long. But you're not alone anymore."

Freya, blinking rapidly, looked between them. "Then she'll come. She always comes..."

Her voice trailed off. The birds outside stopped singing.

A light filtered through half-drawn curtains as Naira blinked awake. Her body ached, her mind a fog of dreams and fire, but what startled her more was the weight beside her.

Tiny arms. A baby's sigh.

Henry was curled into her side, blanket half kicked off, holding one of her fingers like it was a lifeline.

Across the room, slumped in a chair with arms folded across his chest, sat Klaus Mikaelson. His head leaned slightly against the doorframe, his jaw tight even in sleep. But he was there. Watching.

"You didn't have to stay," Naira whispered, barely louder than a breath.

Without opening his eyes, Klaus muttered, "You were screaming in your sleep and nearly lit the entire forest on fire. You're lucky I only stayed."

Naira gave a half-smile despite herself, gently kissed the top of Henry's head. The boy stirred slightly, mumbling something that sounded suspiciously like "pancakes."

Klaus sighed, already moving toward the door. "Come, little  witch. The spawn awakens soon. I suggest coffee. Or whiskey."

Later, while Henry played in the back garden, Klaus leaned against the railing, watching her from the corner of his eye. Naira, barefoot, was drawing sigils across the walls with crushed herbs and ash, her hands glowing faintly green. Ivy slithered from the ground, wrapping around her ankles like vines responding to her heartbeat.

Klaus stared a moment too long.

When her eyes met his, he looked away sharply. "That spell had better hold. I'm not in the mood to fight ravens and withered aunts."

Naira just grinned.

Moments later, on the kids request-  Henry was bounding across the grass with Klaus chasing after him slowly, dramatically, like he could catch him but didn't want to just yet.

"You can't catch me!" Henry squealed, holding a flower crown made of weeds and wild violets.

"Oh, is that so?" Klaus called, narrowing his eyes. "I'll have you know I was faster than lightning in 1492."

"You're old!" Henry laughed.

Klaus halted. "Excuse me?"

"You said 14-something," Henry said, puffing out his chest. "That's old."

Klaus raised a brow, then darted forward in a blur scooping the boy up with one arm and spinning him. Henry screamed in delight. "Old and dangerous, little monster."

Naira stood in the doorway, arms crossed, just watching them.

She didn't say anything.

Didn't need to.

The smile on her lips said it all.

Klaus glanced over as he set Henry down and straightened up. "If you're here to mock me for indulging the child, don't. He already bruised my ego."
"Unnecessary," he muttered, brushing a piece of grass from his coat. "He's... family."

Naira tilted her head. "And me?"

Klaus looked at her then. Really looked. His eyes flicked over her face like he was searching for a foothold in a war he couldn't name.

"I haven't decided," he said finally.

A beat.

Then Henry tugged on Klaus's hand, holding up a crumpled little flower crown. "It's for Aunty Ni."

Klaus scoffed, but when the boy wasn't looking, he tucked one into his coat pocket.

In a forest clearing miles away, petals from dead flowers burst open, blooming violently under moonlight. Ravens perched in trees tilted their heads unnaturally, their eyes rolling white like smoke.

Dahlia opened her eyes.

She felt it, the bloodline snap. The girl was awake.

Back at the safe house, Rebekah all but threw herself out of the car, Stefan catching her elbow as she sprinted to the door.

"Nik!" she yelled. "It's us!"

Kol appeared behind her, grinning. "Come now, brother! The fun arrives now!"

Inside, Klaus opened the door just as Henry shrieked with delight. "Mama!"

Rebekah sank to her knees as her son barreled into her. Stefan followed, eyes soft. He knelt and picked Henry up.

"You remember me?" he whispered.

Henry nodded. "Duh! papa!!."

The room went still for a second until Kol barked out, "Well, I've seen worse reunions."

Naira laughed. Even Klaus cracked a grin.

Esther watched from the shadows tethered to Bonnie and Naira's spell, invisible to all heard.

"She knows," she whispered. "Dahlia will come."

Rebekah turned, still holding Henry. "Then we'll be ready."