The Original Ripper

Chapter 54: " I never felt guilty."

Layla was lying in the comfort of her bed in the apartment she was currently leasing when Wilhelm strutted in looking down at her with a sigh. "You know life would be much more enjoyable if you actually got a life." Layla suggested as Wilhelm made some coffee noticing Layla sit up and shift out of her bed.

"I have an eternity to get a life. But right now I just have to make sure you don't claw your face off or contact the hollow." Wilhelm pointed out.

"You know for a 1000 year old vampire you are surprisingly well adjusted and sane." Layla drawled out lazily taking the coffee taking a sip before she then held out her hand sending Wilhelm to sleep. Watching him fall a frown formed on her lips before she turned around seeing a ghost stand before her. Layla stepped forward following the cloud of grey surrounding the ghost. Following the dark cloud she ended up in an alley way. Feeling something powerful coming up behind her Layla snapped her gaze from behind her to see a vampire and went to hold up her hand but was grabbed by the neck Layla threw the vampire off her with her magic but saw a smirk which seemed familiar to her. "The hollow?" Layla found herself asking her eyes gazing over the vampiric body.

"You guessed right, you wanted to contact me, find out who I really was, here is your chance. Help me get back into my own body and I will give you anything you want." The hollow bargained with Layla who took a moment sternly watching the hollow. She took a moment thinking about her family, family above everything in her world and how that had led to everything that hurt her in her life. Layla then met the Hollow's gaze and a smirk formed on her lips feeling her confidence rushing back to her as she took a bold step forward.

"What do you need me to do?" Layla asked with a smirk.

"Get your body back to New Orleans, your better body. I want a body that can survive everything." The hollow ordered and Layla nodded in agreement.

"I'll get right on that as soon as I can. Anything else?" Layla asked.

"None for now, assemble your grimoires. What is it you want from me is the real question?" The hollow asked with a smirk inching closer to Layla who glanced nervously as the girl danced around her body. "You have power, eternal youth, beauty, intelligence, what else could you want?"

"I'm still trying to figure it out." Layla shared barely a whisper.

"You already know what you want you wouldn't have agreed otherwise." The hollow pointed out causing Layla to look away in shame.

"Lucien Castle." She whispered looking away from the hollow who howled with laughter.

"The great and legendary Layla Mikaelson, broken and pathetic pining over what she thought was love. You'll get the love of your life back. When you've done what I asked." The hollow ordered and Layla nodded turning away and walking out. As the night went on going through her grimoires a churning sensation filled her chest and suddenly a gnawing feeling clenched up around her thought. Layla let out a shattering scream as tears left her eyes and a sense of loss filled her heart. Feeling as though her whole world was shaken Layla stormed out of the storage unit and into her car driving off to Mikaelson compound. Storming in she saw Klaus and Freya standing there. They looked at her coldly only noticing her grief stricken face as flashes filled her mind. Layla ran over to Klaus.

"The hollow has Elijah." Layla whispered. Despite all their differences over the thousands of years, family had always been the one thing she never thought she'd lose again. After Finn, she never wanted them to die.

"Are you not working with the hollow?" Klaus retorted.

"Not to kill my family. I will help you however I can." Layla quivered clenching her jaw. The next morning Freya was standing with Hayley and Layla as Freya preformed a spell to try and find Elijah and where the hollow was keeping him.