Written In Blood

Chapter Twenty Seven.

It wasn't long before Niklaus learned of Rayna's appearance in the French Quarter. But 'why' was the question on his mind.
So he sought her out to ask her himself.
Rayna was sat in a café close to her hotel, sipping her lemon tea.
"Ah, there you are. I've been looking for you." Niklaus smiled his signature smug smile as he stood at the chair opposite the Heretic.
"What may I do for you, Niklaus?" Rayna raised an eyebrow, a smirk on her face as she placed her teacup back onto its saucer.
"Just welcoming the newest resident to my town." Niklaus shrugged. "Staying long?"
"I'm not sure yet. Depends on the hospitality."
"Well how has New Orleans been treating you so far?" Niklaus asked, beckoning to ask her permission to take the seat in front of her.
She nodded. "It hasn't been too terrible; considering it was built by a few blood thirsty Vampires."
Niklaus and Rayna shared a chuckle.
"You should stay with us if you don't know how long you're staying. Heaven knows Rebekah would love to see you." "I might." Rayna smirked, taking another sip of tea. 

Back at the Mikaelson mansion, Rayna found herself in awe of the size of it all.
"Why does it always seem to make me speechless at the size and magnificence of your homes, Niklaus?" Rayna chuckled, standing a distance down the driveway to take it all in.
"I'm not sure. But wait until you see the rest." Niklaus smirked.
He led her inside, where they found Elijah in the sitting room, fiddling with the keys on their grand piano.
He looked up to see his younger brother and former love and smiled.
"Good morning, Rayna." He said.
"Good morning, Elijah. How's your playing?" The Heretic asked, gesturing to the piano.
"Not so rusty. Yours?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Allow me." She smirked, walking over to him.
Elijah moved from the piano stool.
Rayna replaced him and ran her fingertips over the keys, feeling the music already.
The piano was perfect.
She began to play her favourite; Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven.
Elijah smiled as he propped himself up with the piano, knowing exactly what she was playing.
Niklaus watched on as the only noise coming from the entire house was Rayna's playing.
"Stunning, as always, my dear. But why not play something original? Something that comes from your heart. I do so love to watch you do that." Elijah suggested once she was done.
Rayna thought with a small smile on her lips for a moment.
She chose a C minor chord to start off with on her left hand and let the music flow from there.
Her tune left both Mikaelson brothers feeling sad, but whole at the same time. This tune represented Rayna perfectly. After everything she'd been through and all her years of travelling alone, this piece of music was her story to tell to whomever she pleased.
Elijah and Niklaus both felt themselves recalling the same moment.
The day Elijah told Rayna he loved her.
But the two felt it in entirely different ways.
For Elijah, it was the day he finally felt happy; like everything had fallen into place. But it was also the beginning of the end for he and her as he recalled the day she switched off her humanity to stop the pain of losing Niklaus.
For the younger brother, the day Elijah told her he loved her was sad. He only wished he'd gotten there first. And he remembered leaving them both to find who he was and escape the walking, talking, agonising reminder that he wasn't quick enough to tell her how he felt. 

Just as Rayna finished her piece, Marcel appeared at the entrance to the sitting room.
"I didn't think that'd be Elijah. It was simply too beautiful." He smiled.
Rayna looked up at him and nodded her thanks.
Elijah sniffed away his emotions and snapped out of his light daze.
"Rayna, this is Marcel. He is Niklaus' protégé." He gave a small smile.
"I prefer the term 'friend'." Niklaus corrected.
Rayna stood and approached the Vampire.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Marcel." She smiled, holding out her hand.
He smiled, took a small bow and kissed her hand, softly.
"The pleasure is all mine, I assure you." He said. "Elijah speaks of you often, especially now you're in town."
Rayna glanced back at Elijah, who seemed rather bashful all of a sudden.
"Oh, he does, does he?" She smirked.
Marcel and Elijah chuckled.
"Rayna, my dear. Would you care to join me in the library for some research on your being here?" Elijah asked.
Rayna nodded. "Certainly." 

Once in the library, Rayna spelled the room, so that no prying ears would hear of their conversation.
"I assume by your intent to talk privately that you've found something of use to me." Rayna turned back to Elijah, who had taken a seat in one of the brown leather armchairs.
"I might have." Rayna gave a look to Elijah, telling him to continue when he didn't. "There is an Elder Witch who I've spoken with. She won't talk to me about anything in detail, as Niklaus is my brother and, understandably, she believes that I am helping him to break the curse, but she has said that she will speak with you."
Rayna raised an eyebrow. "So when will that be?"
"Tomorrow night. She thought it both fitting and rather amusing that we speak on a full moon." Elijah sighed.
"And downright dangerous..." The Heretic put her weight onto her right foot, folding her arms over her chest.