Written In Blood

Chapter Twenty Six.

The year: 1887
Location: Washington DC.

After almost twenty three years of travelling and following leads, Rayna had ended up back in the States. She was on a mission to find a Doppelganger before Niklaus.
She was in Washington to go to the Library of Congress.
She found herself in the rare books section, and whispered an incantation which brought all books that could be of use to her, slightly out of their spot on the shelf, allowing her to see them and pick them out.
Once she had gathered her findings, she sat in a dimly-lit corner and began her long reading session. 

After ten straight hours of reading, one of the librarians came into view, telling the visitors that the day was over and that the library was closing.
"Time to go, miss. Don't worry about any books you're not using, I'll have someone tidy those for you." He smiled, holding up his oil lamp to see her better.
"I think I'd like to stay the night. I won't be done for quite some time." Rayna said, remaining seated.
The librarian looked confused.
"I'm sorry miss. That won't be possible."
After a long day of reading, Rayna was feeling rather irritable.
She waved her hand and instantly, the librarian's feet slid across the floorboards at some speed towards the Heretic, leaving him in shock.
She looked him in the eye as she compelled him.
"Go and tell the security guards that I shan't be leaving tonight. You're allowing me to stay here as I am under instruction from higher power."
"Yes miss. Stay as long as you like, of course." The librarian smiled before turning and leaving her in the light of her own oil lamp. 

It was five more hours before she found a lead that made her a little uneasy. If this lead were real, Niklaus was further ahead of her in this search than she could ever have imagined. Meanwhile, Niklaus was actually following a not-so-similar path, finding himself taking a break from his Doppelganger search to undagger Rebekah during their century-long stay in New Orleans – the closest thing to a proper home they'd had since they turned.
He sat in a chair next to her bed as he waited for her to awaken, twiddling the dagger between his fingers and the table next to him.
The Original sister woke up with a start.
"Well it's about time... I was bored waiting. But I did so want to see your face, and it is, indeed, priceless." He smirked.
"You bastard." Rebekah sneered. "What day is it?"
"Sunday." Niklaus replied, simply.
"I have been daggered for a whole week?!" Rebekah raised her voice before realising someone missing – her love.
"Marcel – what have you done to him?"
Niklaus chuckled. "It's 1887, Rebekah. You've been daggered for fifty seven years."
His sister couldn't believe it. "What?"
"And don't worry about Marcel. I presented him with a choice: He could choose to undagger you and live out the rest of his human days with you, or-"
"No..." Rebekah gasped, interrupting her brother with her realisation, tears pricking her eyes.
"-I could turn him instead, as he's always wanted, in exchange for giving you up." Niklaus continued.
"No. He wouldn't do that to me." Rebekah's eyes glassed over more.
Niklaus gave his evil smirk. "Oh, but he did."
With that, a handsome, dark skinned man walked in, bearing a candle, glancing at Rebekah with an expressionless face.
Rebekah closed her eyes tight in disbelief and devastation. 

Rayna had left the hotel she was staying in, all of her things being loaded onto a carriage.
She was heading for New Orleans.
"Travelling alone, miss?" The carriage driver asked.
"Yes, I shall be." She replied.
"It's a long trip for anyone, miss – especially a young lady like yourself." The driver raised an eyebrow.
Rayna grew quickly irritated.
"I'm not sure that's any of your concern, driver." She retorted.
"Yes miss, my apologies. I was simply saying."
"Do I have to pay extra for your silence?" Rayna raised an eyebrow.
"Sorry miss..." The driver replied bashfully as he backed away.
"No. Come here." Rayna said, sternly.
The driver approached her once more.
"You're not going to remember this." The Heretic compelled.
With that, her face changed and she bore her fangs and grabbed the man's arm, lifting his sleeve.
She bit into him and drank until she was done, then bit into her own wrist.
"Drink this." She instructed.
The driver did as asked and Rayna watched as his wrist healed.
"Now go and be ready to leave. We have a long journey ahead of us." 

Back in New Orleans, things were only just becoming civil between the Original brothers and their sister.
To help her integrate back into society, Elijah had offered to take Rebekah to the Opera house, to which she happily obliged. But it wasn't long before another run in with his former love.
Only a few days after Elijah and Rebekah visited the opera, Rayna found her way into town.
The day after her arrival, Rayna found herself walking through the French Quarter, taking in the sights.
"Now there's a sight I wasn't expecting today." A voice behind her spoke up.
She spun around, seeing Elijah standing in the middle of the path.
"Elijah!" She smiled, running to his embrace. "I was hoping I'd see you here."
Elijah smiled. "Is that why you're here? Business or pleasure?"
"Business, actually. I'm just hoping your brother isn't here." Rayna replied.
"Yes, Niklaus is here." He confirmed.
Rayna sighed, heavily. "Damn it."
"May I ask why?" The Original raised an eyebrow.
"I'm following a lead on finding a human Doppelganger." Elijah was surprised by the Heretic's response.
"What sort of lead brought you here?" He asked.
"Wouldn't you like to know." Rayna smirked.
Elijah sighed with a smile. "I know this town. I might be able to help."
"I was reading a book in the Library of Congress just last week, when I found out that it was in Ancient Greece that the first Doppelganger existed. Rumour has it; a descendent of the woman who cast the spell to make said Doppelganger immortal resides in New Orleans. She's not technically a witch; they're a form of witch known as Travellers. The entire Petrova line are also Travellers." Rayna explained.
Elijah took her words in.
"Interesting..." He replied.
"Do you think you could help?"
"I'll keep an ear out for you." Elijah nodded. "Where will I find you if I hear anything?"
"I'll be staying in the Hotel Le Marais." Rayna told him.
"I'll see you later."
Elijah stayed stood where he was as he watched the Heretic walk down the street, sighing to himself.
After all these centuries, he stilled loved her... 

That night, Rayna laid awake in her bed, staring up at the ceiling, thinking about what exactly she was going to do with the Doppelganger when she found her.
Keep her safe or simply kill her?
But her thoughts were interrupted by her emotions.
Elijah's face popped into her head and she couldn't shake the thought of what could've been.
Then she began to think of Damon and the exact same question.
"What if?" She whispered to herself.