Through the Darkness

Chapter 3: Disorientation

Cami awoke to what sounded like dishes gently clinking together. As she struggled to open her eyes, the aroma of freshly brewed tea reached her senses. Slowly looking around, she realized that she was lying down on a couch inside the Mikaelson home. Freya was kneeling beside her, pouring her a cup of tea. She managed to sit up, but still felt as if her head wasn't quite right. Grunting at first, she then mumbled, "What happened?"

Freya handed her the hot tea. "Here. Try to drink this. It should make you feel better."

She carefully sipped the hot beverage, trying to recollect what had occurred before she passed out. "I was at the restaurant with Richard..."

"Who, unbeknownst to you, was sent to procure one of your dark objects – with or without your permission," Klaus proclaimed as he walked confidently into the room and sat in the chair opposite of her. Leaning forward, he studied her with great curiosity. "How are you feeling, Love?"

Shaking her head slightly, Cami responded, "Confused. So, Richard did this to me?"

"He informed me that it was a short-acting drug. I'd hardly call five hours short-acting, but at least you are finally awake."

"Must have been one of those date rape drugs," Cami said disdainfully.

Freya looked puzzled. "What is a date rape drug?"

Cami looked at Freya, remembering that she was still acclimating to the modern world after being asleep for so long. "Guys use it on their dates so they can take advantage of them while they're passed out."

"That's awful," Freya replied.

"It's a disgusting world we live in, dear Sister. Men take advantage of their women, seemingly harmless old friends abuse our trust, and ancient covens decide to come out of hiding to acquire long lost objects of power." Klaus got up and poured himself a drink. Cami noticed he had a great deal of energy and acted as if he knew something no one else did.

"Klaus, where is he?" She asked, already knowing what the answer would probably be.

"I'm afraid I had to kill him, Love. Sorry about that." He tried to hide his smirk, but he couldn't help feeling a bit gleeful that he rid Cami of that pathetic excuse for a man. The best part was being able to rub Madame Regina's nose in it by sending her his dead body.

"You just murdered one of my old friends...just like that! Wasn't there another way you could've..." Cami began, her voice raising in anger, but Klaus cut her off, in full defense mode.

"Forgive me for protecting what you hold dear! Had I not intervened, he would have stolen your key and all that your uncle worked so hard to protect would have been in the hands of some very dangerous witches! He was dead the moment he accepted the assignment from Madame Regina. I can assure you that I spared him days of endless torture."

Cami stared at him and realized that he was telling her the truth. "Thank you, for stopping him. So, who is this Madame Regina and what is it that she wanted from me?"

"She is the leader of the Green Serpent Guild, a coven of witches that have remained in hiding for centuries. I have been busy with Elijah in the library, trying to discover the reason she has decided to make such a bold move after so many years of silence. As you know, our original home was in Mystic Falls, Virginia. It has been a hotbed of activity as of late and Elijah has been keeping in touch with his contacts there. I believe I told you about the fall of "The Other Side," which contributed to my parents being resurrected. There are other abstract places in this world that exist. The only way to reach them is by the use of an Ascendant, which is a type of portal created by witches. The Gemini coven created one to send their son to a prison world for all eternity after he slaughtered his family. Two of my old friends managed to find their way to this prison world and allowed him to escape. I believe that your friend Richard was sent to retrieve a different kind of Ascendant from your collection. It is a mystery to me where this Ascendant leads, but I am definitely intrigued and want to know why Madame Regina wants it."