On My Own | Hale - TVD/TO/TW [4]

48 | Until the End

Holding Jackson up by the waist, Lexi walks in front of her brothers as they enter Elijah's study to find Hayley pacing the length of the room. As Jackson groans and detaches himself from Lexi, Hayley hugs him tightly.

"Thank god you're alive!" She exclaims as Elijah comes into the room. "Thank you."

"I'm fine too, thanks for asking," Klaus says as he saunters in, leaning against the doorframe.

Hayley helps Jackson to the couch, adjusting his hair so he can see. "What about the stones?" She asks as Elijah and Lexi settle in front of her.

"Scattered across the bed of the Mississippi, I'd imagine," Lexi sighs. "I should have gone with you and Oliver, Jackson. Marcel never would have stood a chance otherwise."

Both brothers send her a look which she ignores. "Marcel's not a fool," Klaus sighs. "He knows an empowered werewolf army would mean the end of vampires in New Orleans. The explosion is his way of saying he means to prevent that. For all the good it'll do him."

"Well, it did him pretty damn well, didn't it?" Hayley snaps.

"This is my fault," Jackson sighs as he nurses his bleeding shoulder. "I'll find a way to fix it."

Hayley clicks her tongue. "No, Jack, you're hurt. No one's blaming you."

Lexi kneels before the werewolf, waiting for his permission. He hesitantly nods before she places her palm over his bent shoulder, popping it back into place. Before the pain can register in his mind, black veins snake up Lexi's arms.

"I'm blaming him," Klaus says with an insincere frown. "Those stones will be hard to replace. Fortunately, I always have a backup plan."

"I thought Genevieve was your backup plan," Lexi says as she crosses her arms.

Klaus clenches his jaw. "That was before Rebekah shared your little secret. Genevieve will do the spell, end of story."

"You must be joking," Lexi scoffs as she glances at Elijah. "Tell him he's wrong."

"He is correct. You would be better suited for protecting Hayley," Elijah replies.

"I am not weak."

"Yes, you are," Klaus snaps. "My decision has been made. Try not to anger yourself, sister."

As he walks out with Elijah in tow, Hayley hesitantly stands beside a furious Lexi. "Next time I see Rebekah, she'll leave with a bruised face," Lexi mutters.

"What are they talking about?" Hayley asks as she and Lexi follow the brothers. "Why can't you do the spell."

"I can—"

"But she won't!" Klaus yells over his shoulder.

Lexi rolls her eyes but frowns when she sees the group of humans in the compound. "You can't seriously mean her," Lexi exclaims as she sneers at Francesca Correa. "She's a gangster."

"I see her more as a means of procuring rare items at short notice," Klaus replies. "Greetings, Ms. Correa! I see you've brought company."

She smiles at the two brothers, her gaze bouncing off of the women. "These are my brothers. I always include them in delicate business matters. Fellas, meet Mr. Mikaelson."

Lexi stands before Hayley, keeping the wolf away from the others. She narrows her eyes at the briefcase in one of the men's hands as if sensing the stones within.

"Please, call me Klaus," Klaus says with a grin. "All my friends do."

"As do his enemies," Lexi whispers under her breath.