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Dainty fingers glided across the piano keys, the tune soft and playful as Astrid leaned back in her chair, eyes closed. Fingers clenched around the thin neck of the glass, she found herself lost in the pleasant tune.
As soon as the fingers slipped, pressing the wrong key, Astrid's eyes snapped open.
Marcel blushed sheepishly as he retracted his hands.
"Sorry. I did the wrong note." Marcel apologised as Elijah, who was sat beside him on the piano bench, shook his head.
Placing her wine glass on the table, Astrid dismissed Marcel's disappointment as she clapped. "Beautiful, that was absolutely wonderful, Marcel. Such a talented special boy." She praised as Marcel blushed, shrugging off the compliments.
"Thanks mama." Despite how many times he called her mama, each time she was filled with pride and a warmth that she never wanted to lose.
Elijah smiled at Marcel, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Your mother is right Marcel, you did great. I'm extremely impressed with you. Shall we try again?" Elijah offered causing Marcel to nod.
As Marcel began practicing once more, Astrid sat back down, listening tentatively whilst her thoughts wondered. She couldn't recall feeling happier than she ever had for the past year or so.
The lost void in her chest had been filled with her enjoyment of motherhood, of doting and protecting Marcel as he was her own blood.
Marcel may not have been her true son by blood, but he was her son in so many different ways, and she loved him dearly.
Elijah had evidently become attached to Klaus, now spending a considerate amount of time schooling Klaus' 'ward'. Marcel was enjoying the tutoring sessions.
Elijah was schooling him in literature, history, art and music- which was Marcel's favourite.
Marcel was evidently beginning to look up to Elijah as he spent more and more time with the vampire, much to Klaus' annoyance.
Astrid worried deeply that Klaus' jealousy would once more consume them all, leaving behind pain and a mess, and she was doing all she could to prevent that from happening.
She'd reassured her husband that Marcel didn't think any less of him just because he was spending time with Elijah, but her husband was a difficult, possessive man.
...
Lounged back on the bed, brow arched in amusement, Astrid watched as Klaus hurried around the room, teeth ground together as he aimlessly searched the room for something.
He was beginning to grow impatient, muttering profanities under his breath before he pushed the chest draw closed.
The chest rattled as Nik slammed his hands down on the wood, causing Astrid to silently pull herself up from the bed. Eyes closed, back arched, Nik was exhaling deeply as Astrid placed a hand on his back.
"Nik, what's wrong?" Astrid questioned softly, hand rubbing the tense muscles beneath her fingers as Nik shook his head.
Astrid frowned. She doubted Nik was really getting so worked up over an item he couldn't find, she suspected it was to do with Marcel and Elijah. Leaning her head against his, she moved her hand to hold his as she leaned against his back.
"Nik, this is about Marcel and Elijah again, isn't it?" As soon as the words left her lips, Nik broke contact, inching around her as he moved to sit on the bed, pulling off his leather shoes.
Sneering, Klaus shook his head. "Don't speak of things you know nothing of, my love." He warned gently, clearly trying to keep his temper in check as Astrid crossed her arms.
Astrid reminded herself to keep calm. Her relationship with Nik had improved so much over the past year, she wasn't going to begin a volatile argument that would end up with Nik sulking for the next two weeks and her giving him the silent treatment.
Perhaps there was a time where she would have argued with Nik to be petty, but now Marcel was in the picture, Astrid didn't want to project their problems onto the young boy.
"Then tell me!" Astrid's voice broke as she huffed, rolling her eyes only to be met by Nik's silence.
He was somewhat hesitant as he licked his lips. "Love, please-"
Eyes softening, Astrid's arms fell to her side as she perched on the bed beside Nik, her fingers intertwining with his. "Nik, Marcel loves you. He sees you as his father, and him spending time with Elijah isn't going to make him love you any less, I promise." Astrid spoke softly.
Nik didn't respond, his mind elsewhere as he simply nodded.
"Don't limit the time he spends with Elijah because of your jealousy, Nik. Please. He enjoys Elijah's lessons; you should have seen how proud he was earlier to show me how he now can play a new tune on the piano." She continued as Nik frowned.
Little did Astrid know, the furthest thing from Nik's mind was Marcel's budding bond with Elijah, but instead the weapon that could be her downfall.
It was nowhere to be found, something which concerned Nik gravely.
He'd been so sure it was in a secure place; no one would have been able to find it due to the witch's spell, and yet it was gone.
There was only one original who he could confine in, one who knew more about witches than even himself. Kol. He'd be able to help.
He wasn't sure on who had taken the weapon, but he could wholeheartedly be sure that whoever had taken it, would be ripped apart, piece by piece.
