To Love and Die

Bourbon Street

I had Leocan take me to New Orleans. It had always felt like a second home, apart from Mystic Falls. I wondered now if it was because of what had happened here? Hope's birth, the curse, the creation of my birth. I laughed as I grabbed the whole bottle of bourbon. I had my father's taste it seemed. "What is a pretty young..." the man's voice trailed off as he realized I was not in the mood. He was a vampire and when he saw my eyes flash he let me be. Leocan had been sent to fetch Hope. I needed her right now. 'Hope is caught up right now.' Since I had ascended, my bond with Leocan had developed greatly. We could communicate via mindlink now. I laughed. She was a mated she-wolf. What an idiot these fools here was. Love didn't exist, it was only made to break hearts and souls. Leocan knew when I didn't answer to leave me be. He knew I was in no real danger. I got up and walked out of the bar with my bourbon bottle. It was almost empty and I had just started to get a buzz. I made my way toward the bench in front of the Mikaelson mansion. This was the spot that Elijah and Niklaus had died, together. I sat down on the bench and raised my bottle. "To good men and even greater demons," I said before taking a swig. "Men can do that to you," a voice said. I turned my head to look at the face of the stranger. She was about twenty years old, long blonde hair and blue eyes. "Yeah, tell me about it," I muttered. "Bad break up?" she asked. I laughed. "Let's just say that the first one left me for a best friend, the second one walked out, and the third one hates me," I said. She scowled for a minute. "Three strikes, I'm out," I said looking at her face now. "Wow, cool contacts," she said seeing my face. "Those are real," I said. She raised her eyebrows in surprise. I stood up. My time here was over, it was time to return home. "Nice to meet you, I got to get going," I said. "What's the rush? Somewhere you have to be?" she asked. I narrowed my eyes. "You're a witch," I said. She looked like she had been caught red-handed. "One just coming into her powers and scared. What's your name?" I asked. "How do you know..." she trailed off. "My name is Trixie Claire," she said softly. I stood frozen. "You need to come with me. I know you don't understand but I want you to meet a member of your family, your only blood relative alive," I said. Davena would be elated. She looked at me with scared eyes as I led her down an alleyway. I looked around to make sure no one was watching and then I grabbed her hands. "Shut your eyes and don't open them. You'll get sick," I said. She shut her eyes and I thought of the school. We were there before anyone could blink. "You can open them now," I said. She opened her eyes and stood there shocked.

"Who is this Artemis?" Ric asked. I had been caught. "Ric, where is Davena?" I asked. Ric frowned. "Right here," she said. Kol stood beside Davena, hand in hand. "Davena Claire, meet Trixie Claire, a newly made witch from New Orleans," I said. Trixie stared at Davena. "That's not possible, I'm the only one left," Davena whispered. Trixie made her way closer to Davena. She reached in her pocket and brought out a picture which she handed to Davena. The girl stared at the picture for a few moments and then she grabbed Trixie's hand and they left the group without saying a word. "Well, a new student," Ric commented. He turned to look at me. "What happened up there?" he asked. I sighed. "Ric, I have broken two bonds and my third is partially severed, can I not explain everything?" I asked. He frowned. "Your third?" he asked. I sank to the ground and brought my knees to my chest. Ric sat down beside me and pulled me to his chest. "I'm a mate, given from the Fates, to a God that doesn't want me," I whimpered. Tears came down my cheeks and the smell of bourbon on my breath was hideous. "A God?" Ric asked. I could tell he was stunned. "Hades," I whispered. Ric tensed. "Out of all the Gods..." he was cut off. "I suggest you let her go mortal, or I'll take your soul now," a deep voice said from behind us. My whole body came alive at his voice. Goosebumps raised on every surface of my body. Ric let go of me slowly, but he didn't move away. "What has happened?" Hades asked moving closer. I could tell Ric was scared, but he stood his ground. "You're an idiot. Can you not tell that she is in this state because of you?" Ric asked. It stunned Hades that a mere mortal would speak to him like this. "I suggest you..." he was about to say something else when I stood up. I had let the tears dry on my face and I reached a hand toward Ric. "Thanks Ric. I needed that. I'm good now," I said. Ric stood to his feet and I got ready to walk toward the school. "Alaric," Hades said. I didn't stop. "She's young, but she is more than capable of taking care of herself. You need to see how much she has been through that most wouldn't survive. She severed two mating bonds within hours apart and from what I hear, the third is partially gone," Ric said looking at the God. Hades stood there with his jaw locked. "You wouldn't understand," Hades said. Ric laughed. "I lost Isobel, Jenna, Meredith, and Jo," Ric said. Hades frowned. "I have seen these. I do not know who they were to you though," he said. "Isobel was my first wife, she left me to become a vampire. Jenna was my girlfriend, Artemis' great aunt. She was killed in a spell to break a curse. Meredith used me and then left and married another man. And Jo, she was a witch. We had twin daughters and while she was pregnant, her twin brother killed her. The coven of witches transferred our girls to Caroline, a vampire who had them and helped me raise them," Ric explained. I had stopped to listen. "Damon, Artemis' father is like a brother to me, that makes Artemis my niece," Ric said. Hades stood there, soaking in every word. "Maybe you do understand. Persephone was the only love I've ever had. When she left me the last time, she left me for good. Then the next thing I knew, she was gone," Hades said. "I won't put myself through that again," he said crossing his arms. Ric shook his head. "Just because Persephone didn't want you, doesn't mean Artemis won't. She is special. You have no idea how much," Ric said. "She is not only a Goddess, but she is a tribreed as well," Ric commented. Hades raised his eyebrows. I snapped my fingers and a full bottle of bourbon appeared. "Ric, don't tell anyone I've arrived back yet. I think I'm gonna go visit Stefan," I said. I didn't wait to hear anything else. What I did hear was Hades' growl at the mention of a male name. "Stefan is Damon's dead brother, her uncle. Where do you think her middle name came from?" Ric asked scoffing. "Looks like I'll be staying here for a little while. I can't stay away from for long. Where is she headed? I need to make sure she is safe," Hades said. Ric laughed. "Mystic Falls Cemetery, if your powers work anything like hers does, all you have to do is think of her and you'll be there. But, warning, don't disturb her when she is talking with Stefan, somehow, he can communicate with her," he said. Hades raised his brows. "The Fates really done me a favor with this one. They already gave her some of my power," he said running his hand through his hair. Ric laughed and walked away, leaving the God to get around on his own.