The Originals: Family Is Power

Blood is Thicker Than Water

My oldest brother dragged me through the woods of the bayou by my hair. No matter how hard I struggled against his hold, he only pulled me harder. Whatever he did to my brain put a hold on my magic. I can't access it. Cecil dragged me all the way to an abandoned house deep in the bayou, well at least I thought it was abandoned. Outside, it looked like no one had lived in it for decades.

Inside, however, there are signs of life. Candles litter the entire house and so do bowls of blood. Cecil put shackles on my wrists and hung the chains above me, leaving me to swing from them. Thankfully, my feet still touch the ground, so I can stand to alleviate the pain, but the shackles have spellwork etched into them, draining me of my strength. Somewhere in the forest, I lost my phone, so that's no longer an option for me.

Since my dear older brother left me in this room, which has nothing in it, he hasn't come back, but from the scents in the house, I know this is where my family has been holed up. I would've thought that they would've been in the lyceé with Esther, but I guess not. I've been hanging from the chains for hours. The sun has already risen, the light shining through the boarded-up windows into the room. If Klaus hasn't found Mikael yet, then he will soon.

But before I can think of that, I need to figure out how I'm going to get out of here. I didn't know Esther had brought my family back as witches. If they had just been werewolves, then I could get out of here easily once I found my way out of the shackles. But my brothers are witches, which means that I'll have to fight with everything I have. Looking up, I tug on the chains, testing their strength.

"Don't bother, darling," my mother walks in, "they were made to hold you." I turn my head towards her and almost growl.

"Let me go," I hiss at her.

"In due time," she promises, walking towards me, "but first, there are things we need to discuss."

"I have nothing to say to you," I snarl. The pain in my head flares up and I can't stop the groans that escape me.

"Then perhaps you will shut up long enough to listen." The pain stops and I look towards the door, finding Cecil and Augustus.

Augustus also has dark hair, but his eyes are green. He stands taller than Cecil, his shoulders broader, his body thicker. However, what throws me off is his expression. He's looking at me with what I believe to be sympathy. This is a change. If there was one thing I always remembered about Augustus, it was his sinister grin as he held me down for Cecil. Why in hell is he choosing to be sympathetic now?

"Cecil," my mother says, "violence isn't always necessary."

"Cordelia doesn't know any better," Cecil tells her, "violence is how you get her to yield." I growl loudly, my mother actually having the sense to look afraid.

"I will tear you to pieces," I promise them, "when Klaus finds me, we both will."

"Klaus isn't looking for you, Cordelia, I can assure you of that," my mother says, "and neither is Elijah. Esther has him locked up in his own mind."

"What?" For once, my mother has my complete attention. Esther has Elijah? Where's Oliver?

"They're not going to find you," Cecil sneers, "no one is going to find you. You are going to remain here with us where you will rot for an eternity."

"That's enough, Cecil," my mother snaps at him, "go find Will and Henry. Send them out." Cecil turns to grin at me before he leaves the room, slamming the door behind him. My mother sighs before she turns to Augustus. "It's time," she says.

"Time for what," I demand.

She turns to me with a smile, "you need to be purified, Cordelia."