"Let's get this fight started." Niklaus said.
It didn't take much for all of them to get ready for fight after the last statement that Niklaus made at the family table.
Mikael stood against the wall in the living room and the rest of the family stood against the opposite wall.
"Esther, have you prepared everything for the fight? I mean, people would be flying all over the place and the noise producing now onwards would be bothering to outsiders."
Esther smiled and said,
"I have already made arrangements so that this house is completely invisible to everyone out there and each citizen of New Orleans have completely forgotten about this house and everyone residing in it. (Mikael chuckled) And as long as noise is concerned, I have also made the walls of this house complete soundproof."
"That's very impressive but I don't think anyone is quite happy with it. I mean, Elijah's Dani must've forgotten about him. (Elijah frowned in concern) But that's okay, considering Elijah won't be standing still after tonight so it's all good. (Breathes deeply) So tell me, who's the first one to…"
"Incendia maxima." Esther murmured instantly.
Her spell lead to a raving fire being lit on Mikael. And almost everywhere around him.
Everyone stood straight as Mikael was in raging fumes. They had a hunch that this would not end anything. This would only make him go madder and crazier. No sooner than a few seconds, all of them saw Mikael as he stepped outside the flames. And just like that, he was no longer getting affected by the flames. Not a single burn could be seen on his face or anywhere. He had an evil smirk on his face that scared off everyone. They thought it was the end for all of them. If that raging fire couldn't do anything to this face then how would they do anything else for Mikael to die?
"You thought some flames would be it for me?"
Esther smiled wickedly and replied,
"No. But it gave me time to garner enough power, for this…"
Then all of a sudden, Mikael's feet started to float above. No sooner than that, he was floating up in the air. Mikael looked at Esther having that smile of her, that wicked smile. She raised her right arm vertically and so did Mikael's left hand. It was in the air too.
Esther clenched her first and just then, Mikael's left hand was removed violently. Mikael shouted in pain as blood gushed out of his now dismembered shoulder. She then raised her left arm and Mikael's right arm was raised up in the air again. She clenched her left palm and then Mikael's right hand tore apart as well.
No one could believe what was happening. What they were getting tormented from, was just getting slaughtered.
Esther then joined her straight arms while Mikael's insides were getting tangled and then, she energetically divided her arms in opposite arms.
As she did that, Mikael's body from head to feet tore apart in equal halves. The pieces of Mikael were lying on the floor.
It was very hard to believe that the person with whom they were sharing a table not ten minutes ago was just down there in pieces. No one knew it would be that easy or that Esther would be able to single handedly destroy Mikael. It seemed very easy. Almost too easy to be true.
And just then, they all heard footsteps.
And what walked out of the shadows struck them and freaked them. They were all in utter shock and terror. Esther was blank.
They could all see Mikael standing in front of them carrying that same mischievous smile but now, with even more cruelty.
"Ah.... Must've been so relieving."
Before Esther could speak a syllable, Mikael rushed to her and snapped her neck. Everyone gasped onto that. They were already speechless seeing Mikael coming back from the dead. This just finished all their hope on having a chance at this. Because while Esther was out, the protection spell she had on them broke too. And though she'd be standing again in no less than a quick while, it is still enough for Mikael to mercilessly destroy them.
"Your mother, she is a strong one. A feisty one but she can't think of someone being a step ahead than herself. (starts to walk towards them) I was like this too. Didn't think I would need anyone's help or that anyone would be stronger or wiser than me. Maybe this is why I lost the last time. I was unprepared and now I am more than enough to take all of you out for a thousand times."
Just then Mikael ran. He was nowhere to be seen. They could all feel him though. He was close to them. He was just invisible to the naked eye. They'd hear those sounds of quick wave of air.
Swish Swish
They could also time to time hear fast footsteps.
It took them no time to realize he was running around them but so fast they couldn't even see him. They were horrified now. Mikael could come out of nowhere all of a sudden and could tear them into pieces. This was not what they had in their head when they all arrived in New Orleans. They didn't expect to be so helpless so soon in the fight. If any one of them knew that they would not stand a chance so easily, they would not have come.
Klaus closed his eyes and took deep breaths. Others while being scared for their life and their loved ones waiting for them, when noticed Klaus doing this figured that he is making himself coming to terms with his end. But Klaus was focusing on those whiffs. Those faint whispers of running. He'd realize those whiffs were getting closer. A little louder. Just then, almost immediately, Klaus gathered all the strength he had at the moment and held Mikael who now appeared out of nowhere, confusion on his face was thrown off at a corner by Klaus.
Everyone were bedazzled after witnessing this. How did he do that?
Mikael got up and smiled, rather impressed,
"Heightened senses and hearing, isn't it? (Everyone looked at Klaus but he kept looking at Mikael because he knew what was coming now)
"I feel that's the only good thing coming out of you being a dog. I am impressed. Here I thought I would come after your heads one by one starting from you, Niklaus, but you have rather posed a challenge in front of me. And now I have to respect that. If anything happens now onwards to any one of you just know it's all on Niklaus.
Elijah ran as fast as he could and grabbed Mikael's feet and swung him on to the roof. The roof cracked because of this. Mikael was face flat on the floor now and this was their chance to finish this once and for all. Finn grabbed the neck and was about to twist it when Mikael grabbed him by the knee and lifted him up and smashed him on the floor. Few of the tiles completely shattered and Finn passed out.
They couldn't believe their eyes. For years and all the battles they have fought, never have they once passed out. Vampires passing out was itself an extreme but one of the originals to pass out was beyond any vampire's imagination.
The oldest out of them is down and now they realize it is possible very much now that without Esther and Finn, five of them most probably might not get out of this alive.
Rebekah all this time didn't do much. Most of the time she watched as her family fought each other. She started losing hope once Esther was down, no more magic on their side. She watched as Finn tried to snap Mikael but he was down as well.
She then watched Elijah making his turn to face Mikael to which, Mikael just raised his arm up in the air due to which Elijah was in air too. Mikael then swung Elijah straight to the wall. Elijah was now down as well. She lost all her hope when Niklaus in rage towards Elijah's defeat, ran towards Mikael and Mikael so effortlessly grabbed Niklaus by the neck and smashed him in the floor. After that, Mikael snapped Niklaus' head. She then thought of something.
"Why didn't you kill him?" Henrik spoke first. Rebekah had the same thought.
"You had the chance."
Mikael smiled and said,
"That is because I have a preposition for you three."
Rebekah, Henrik and Kol looked at each other mysteriously and then at
Mikael's wicked smile.
Klaus opened his eyes. He sat up, still feeling the pain in his neck. Which is unusual considering he had never felt it once he woke up from snapped neck. He found himself alone in the room. The same room where they all were fighting just moments ago.
'Did father kill everyone and saved me for the last?', he thought.
"This is quite a funny situation now, isn't it?"
Niklaus heard a familiar female voice. A voice he adored, one of the specials. He turned to see the same familiar face.
"Hi Klaus."
"Camille?...."
"What kind of preposition are you talking about father?" Kol asked.
"Well, you three, I think are the most clear-headed ones out of you all. So, I thought why not you three help this situation get easier?" Mikael replied.
"Speak clearly father, what is it now that you have in mind?" Rebekah asked in firm voice.
Klaus was shocked and confused, barely able to understand the situation.
"Wha—What are you doing? Here, what are you doing here?"
"Klaus, where are you taking about? We are here, at your house? It's not the first time I am here." Camille said jokingly.
Klaus snickers a little at the thought of that night but then resumes back to being confused,
"How did you get in? I mean, where is everyone?"
"Come on. There's loads to unpack in very little time. So let's go."
"Go, where? (Klaus gets up and asks) Camille, where are we going?"
"You'll understand soon. Come on." They start walking out.
"What? You want us to do what?" Kol asked completely shocked.
"Well it's either that or be killed after Niklaus dies. Besides not wanting to be dead, deep down you three don't want him to die irrespective of what he's done."
"No but how can we say that it would work?" Henrik asked.
"Are you seriously asking that? You really want to do that to your brother?!" Rebekah showed her dismay.
"Sis, it was just a question and…."
"And what? You really thought we'd go through with this?" Kol interrupted.
"He's literally asking us to…."
"I know what he's asking us to do. I know how it works."
"Oh, you do? Because it doesn't seem like…"
"Boys!" Mikael shouted. "Quiet. Firstly, it would work that's of no doubt. Secondly, don't you think he deserves it?"
He looks at the two boys and then looks at Rebekah who still looked highly unsure.
"Rebakah, think and answer."
Klaus and Camille were about to enter a room. It was pitch black. Upon the first step, Klaus looked up and suddenly it was his old house. His old hut made of grass and mud. The one where he grew up. The one he left because of Mikael. There was a little crowd at the center and he could hear Esther's screams and shouts. They both walked towards the crowd and saw Esther giving birth.
"What is happening? How come we were at the house and now we are here? Who is getting birthed?"
"Obviously you're just blessed with looks. This is all happening in your head. You are still passed out. (Towards Esther) And this, you'll soon know."
After a couple minutes of shouts and agony, the baby was out and it was a boy. Esther seemed young. Mikael took the baby in his arms and tears formed in his eyes.
"This baby boy is a testament of our love. Even with just six months, he is still so strong and healthy. He is a unique one, reminds me of Freya. He is a little warmer and redder. (Esther nervously smiled) He will be the best out of the people. Always a winner. Wouldn't you, Niklaus?" Klaus was shocked. He just witnessed his birth. Not only that, he saw his father showing love towards him. For the longest time, he didn't remember any sort of care or affection from Mikael. Seeing Mikael naming him meant so much to him.
"So your father did love you believe it or not. It seems as if he felt the love even stronger than he felt for Finn or Elijah." Camille said.
They continued their walk along a straight path. There came instances of young Klaus or Niklaus at the time failing to eat properly, being not active very much or not having the best hunting skills.
"But as you remember, eventually it all turned to disappointment and after your transformation, he gave all the hatred a reason. Before that, it was just pointless and baseless animosity. With time and with your transformations, that hate turned to disgust and eventually malice. And according to him, he justifiably treated you accordingly (they walked across Klaus' thrashes given by Mikael in that cave) even though he knew what he was doing was wrong."
"Okay, Camille!" Niklaus showed his distraught.
"I am well aware of all this. There's no reason for me to be having this dream. Why can't I wake up?"
"Does your neck still hurt? (Klaus nods) Well there's your answer."
"I don't understand. It never takes this much of time. To any other vampire let alone me. What is going on!"
"I don't know Klaus. I am not even real! Now come on! There's still so much more to look at."
"Like what? What new am I going to see? I know everything. I have lived everything."
"No. You don't know everything. Not about anyone other than yourself.
(Klaus is confused) Come on."
"Are we done thinking?" Mikael asked to the three after a few minutes since they last spoke.
"Or are we just trying to convince we aren't doing anything wrong. Because all he has done is (to Rebekah) took our loved ones from us, (to Kol) never prioritized you and (to Henrik) never took you seriously. Why should you fight against your lives for someone who never did anything for you when you can do this and go back to your life. Back to your loved ones."
Suddenly Mikael felt his waist being held. He was suddenly lifted on the air and was thrown at the wall. Finn had woken up and he was furious. Eager to end this as soon as possible.
Before any one of them could make the next move, Henrik stepped in front of Finn.
"Listen brother."
"Henrik, me and Kol will grab his arms and legs, you snap his head."
"Brother, listen. Father has a preposition for us." Henrik informed in a calm voice.
"What do you mean a preposition? What's he saying?" Finn asked with annoy and intrigue.
Klaus and Camille walked into another room. Klaus could hear
Rebekah's whimpers from a few steps back from the entrance. They
saw what was happening. How young Rebekah, the same one who left their little hut with others, was roaming around the room, crying helplessly. She was walking around the room, taking circles, sitting in the corners; wailing, then getting back up and crying again.
"Okay I don't exactly fancy seeing my dear sister crying. Maybe that's why I don't know about this. And why are we seeing her cry for the past five minutes?"
"It's not been five minutes. (Klaus seemed confused) Look at the window."
Klaus looked at the window. Seasons were changing instantly. There was snowfall, then strong sunshine, then spring, then falling of leaves. Everything was the same in the room except the window.
"Years are passing by at an instant Klaus. Seasons are changing, years are passing but Rebekah is just crying. All these years, she is just crying without any help."
"Cut it out now. I haven't tortured her this much."
"Klaus, how many times have you daggered her? And for how long?"
Klaus inhaled deeply,
"I threw them all away…"
"Yes, but after how many times you used it on her?" Klaus remained silent.
"You killed each one of her lover so mercilessly, so brutally and some even in front of her. And why? Because you thought they were a misfit for your sister. And if she didn't understand you, or came up with questions you couldn't answer, you daggered her for years. (They both looked at distraught young Rebekah roaming aimlessly) It's been a century now. She has been crying for a century. Ever since you left that hut, she has been nothing but sad." Klaus starts to walk away.
"Where are you doing? We still have more centuries to see."
"We don't have time now, do we? I think I have an idea of what's going to happen in the remaining centuries. Come on." Klaus replied annoyed but clearly with a heavy voice."
"Are we seriously going through with this?" Finn asked everyone.
"Why? You'd rather die? Because he just so easily pinned you down for quite some time. It's no difficult of a task for him to detach your head." Kol commented.
"He's our brother. Deranged but still, a brother." Finn tried to reason.
"Then go and suit yourself with father." Henrik said.
"Brother, don't you have anything to go back to? Anything or perhaps anyone? Because all the remaining of us have one and we'd really like to go back to them and move on from this finally."
Finn immediately thought of Emma. That young waitress. Maybe he could tell his long stories to her. Or just anything.
"I just think he doesn't deserve this."
"No." Rebekah said. "No, he doesn't. (She gulps down) He deserves way worse. But, we can't do that to him, so why not this." Finn remains silent.
"So it was just centuries of ignorance to Kol? That's it?" Klaus asked Camille after going through another room.
"Not just that. He never felt he was of any importance to any of you. To anyone of your family. You never did anything for him."
"We know we have been ignorant towards him. His problems just seemed not that important."
"You have been aware of this and still continue to do it anyway. How do you think that toll takes on Kol? Knowing that you all purposely sideline him because you feel his problems to be fickle and uninteresting. And for centuries. It could shatter anyone Klaus. That's why he is done with all of you. He just wants to live his life."
"Everyone wants to live their life. Even me too. It's Mikael who is not letting us."
"And who they blame it all for? (Klaus shakes his head in disbelief) Okay, this one is the last room."
"Mother?...." Klaus wondered.
"Klaus, you all have wronged your mother? Why should you be the only one to go through her grief? Her story all this time? And besides, we have time only for one person's grief and that is not enough for your mother."
"Then who?..." Klaus wondered.
They both entered the last room. In there, they saw baby Henrik and young Klaus holding him in his arms. Both had a smile on their faces.
"Henrik? What problem he has with me? I have sensed a sort of coldness from him. But I reckoned it was all because I let him go. There's more to it?" Camille didn't answer him and instead looked at the young Niklaus and baby Henrik in front of him.
"From a very young age, Henrik idolized you. Never put anyone before you, not even your father. Even he didn't know he placed you in such a pedestal. Maybe you were available to play with him more than others when he was little. Because Mikael took others for hunting more than he took you. And slowly your bond with him grew stronger. He felt he could share anything with you and that you would make everything right."
"Which I did. I never did anything to him." Klaus retorted.
"The night before you killed The Order, he came to you with a request.
Do you remember that?"
Klaus thought for a while but he couldn't remember.
"Look."
They both looked ahead. In front of them, was now young Henrik standing with built Klaus.
"Brother Nik," Henrik is nervous.
"It's been 20 years since we fled from Father. And in all those years and before that, I have listened to everything you have said. Without any doubt or complain. Now I ask you only one thing. Just one. I would really like if you would somehow find a witch and delink Kollen before we go on with killing The Order."
"Why do you want that?" The then Klaus asked.
"It's not that difficult brother, if you just…."
"I am well aware of its simplicity. But why do you want him to be delinked?"
"I don't want him to die, Nik."
"Why? Who is he?"
Henrik hesitates,
"I—he… um—Kollen, well, he is a great friend of mine."
Then Klaus chortles,
"Friend? Brother, you have centuries to live. You're going to make plenty of friends. Calm down."
"Brother….he means a lot to me." Henrik managed to say in a suppressed voice.
"Oh." Then Klaus starts to realize what Henrik means.
Then he mumbled to himself,
"And I was an abomination?" but he didn't realize it was loud enough for Henrik to hear that.
He then said to Henrik,
"Don't be so needy. Even Elijah is leaving Josephine because he knows if we leave even one of them, we could put ourselves in danger. So you should do the same and prepare for tomorrow. (Henrik smiled bitterly) Okay? (Henrik nods) Great. Get some rest." And then he leaves.
Both Klaus and Camille witnessed everything. "Henrik knew he was different. But he didn't feel bad about it ever. You, the one he looked upto all his life not only made him feel bad about himself but also called him an abomination. And that to not on his face. What happened to him next is no surprise."
Klaus looked ahead and now there was two Henrik. Being the same age but still being two. Everything seemed exactly same except their expressions. The one who was talking was not showing any emotion but the other one had sadness and a little anger.
"Is that his inner self?"
"You're not that stupid now. With time of course, as you did with others, you also neglected him. You changed your ideologies but you never considered him as one of your own. You always looked at him as a kid and never let him be a part of any discussion or decision. Always ignoring him. He kept a straight face but inside, he was tortured."
Henrik as days gone by, kept up with everything. Had a smile but inner side was screaming and getting furious with time. There came a point where the smile seemed fantastically fake and the rage incredibly dangerous and real.
"There came a point where he was fed up. Tired of living with you, having to spend another minute being ignored and unimportant. By that time, Kol had already left. He didn't want to talk to you or with Elijah." They both looked ahead and they saw Rebekah sitting on her bed. Henrik enters and sat beside her.
"I am sorry about Marcel."
"Well, at least he's not dead."
"How do you do it? How do you still manage to focus on the good?
After all these years how do you get to be so jolly?"
"It takes a lot of effort Henrik. A lot. It's tiring."
"Rebekah, why are you still here? Klaus does nothing but make your life a living hell. And Elijah just supports him no matter what. I mean we ran away from a person who was a dictator and now Klaus itself behaves as a dictator and does to his and my life as he pleases. If we left father, why are we here with him?"
"It would break him Henrik. That's why."
"What about all the times he broke you. Or me or Kol. I don't know about you but I can't keep on ignoring all of it. I have enough shit to deal with already. You are okay to lose your loved ones for him. I am not."
"I am not okay to lose my loved ones! You can't fathom the amount of times I have cried over it."
"Cry? Really? Why not standing up for yourself? Why not do something? You were fine to give up Christopher, I wasn't! I asked for Kollen and he declined it in a second. Rebekah, he was my first love.
Christopher wasn't yours, Josephine wasn't Elijah's. But Kollen, he was my first love and Klaus just flipped it off like anything. Like it was nothing for him. My feelings, my emotions were nothing to him; I, wasn't anything to him. And after all these years, I know I am still not anything for him. (inhales deeply) I have to go Rebekah. To somewhere quiet. Somewhere I am valued. And I know soon enough, you're going to do the same."
And Henrik leaves the room.
"I didn't hear this."
Klaus said. "I didn't hear all this. If I had, I'd go to him at that instant and just told him how wrong he is."
"How come you didn't hear? Where were you?" Camille asked.
"I must have been at the club or somewhere, I don't know."
"When Henrik told you he's leaving, you said that you expected it. Why? Didn't you notice his sadness or anger or being upset. (Klaus nods) And that made him…."
"That made him feel more shitty. I looked at him but I didn't see him properly. I have not been a good brother right? To anyone?"
"Mikael, this is a very sick preposition." Esther examined.
"After hitting me that brick with your magic, you are now calling me sick."
"Mother it's the only way." Kol said.
"We can't kill him. This is the only way to live our life without his drama."
"Are you all seriously considering this? (She looked at everyone and they nodded) Finn? Even you?"
"Mother we don't have any other choice. I mean I want to live. And so do others. And they want to so, let them."
"If he wakes up, he's going to be more agonized and harmful." Esther warned.
"Then, we'll make sure he doesn't wake up."
Henrik said. "We have to do it before Elijah wakes up. He's never going to listen. Once we do it, we can hide him and then talk to him then. (To
Mikael) Where's the dagger?"
"What is going on? Why am I having this self-reflective kind of dream? Why now? What is the point of all this? Why you?" Klaus asked.
"Klaus, I don't have all the answers. I am just a part of your brain.
Maybe we're having this dream now because everyone blamed you for their failed life, then you saw your mother, Finn and Elijah almost getting killed for you. And facing Mikael was there the whole time. All these may have lead to this. (Klaus frowns) I am here, because you wanted me to be a psychiatrist right? And don't you think this is a little therapeutic? I have guided you to stray onto a different path last time as well. When you didn't feed on me when I slept, that was a change you did because of me. And now I am again here changing your path."
"Changing how? What path?"
"Klaus, I showed you all this to make you realize why everyone is like this because of you. To show you where you were wrong so that you can correct yourself and make up for it. Talk to your father, try and if not, fuck him but your siblings, they love you. It's because of you that they have forgotten it and it's gonna be you that could remind them. (Klaus nods) Your neck is fine now. You have to wake up. Go." "Yeah, um—thank you. (Camille nods) When will I see you again?"
"Whenver it may be, soon or later, I hope it'll be real." Klaus smiles and walks away.
"Are you sure this dagger would work?" Rebekah asked.
"No doubt. It's powdered with white oak to double the power." Mikael answered.
"White Oak? How is that even possible? Didn't we…."
"I had a thought that you would. That's why I got my own specimen from The Order and I planted it. I have multiple oak trees with me."
"You had it this whole time. And you still didn't kill us when you easily could have." Esther says. "Mikael, after all these years, I still can't understand you."
"Me neither." Mikael mumbles.
"Okay, the dagger should go straight to the heart for it to work."
"What is happening?"
They all heard a voice. Someone's whom they wished wouldn't wake up. But he did.
"Is that a dagger I see?" Elijah asks in confusion.
Kol and Finn look at one another and nod.
Suddenly they rush upto him where Finn holds the hands and Kol holds his neck.
"Apologies Elijah, we don't want you asking you up now."
"What is going on? Where is my strength?" Elijah had so many questions.
"I am sorry dear." Esther said. "I have to do this."
"Mother, what…." Elijah was interrupted.
"Elijah?" They all looked at where the voice came. It was Kluas. He had woken up. "Wha—"
All of a sudden Rebekah rushed to him and daggered him in the heart. Elijah shouted but his head was snapped immediately.
Klaus watched how his sister just mercilessly daggered him and had remorse or regret in her eyes. She looked a little bit satisfied.
Klaus' color skin color started to fade and veins popped up on his face and hands. His entire body had drained out of blood. He was still very much in shock and pain. Not from the dagger, but pain from Rebekah and everyone who looked they were enjoying it. They had wanted this. For a long time it seemed.
But all this instead of making him sad, made him raged up. Even though bloodless, he could still feel his urge to smash all of their heads and drink their blood. He swore to himself that he'd avenge this before eventually passing out.
Everyone was relieved. They all had their smiles on.
"Guess I better pack my bags." Kol said.
"Yeah, I should call Paul as well." Rebekah said with a happy tone.
"I should probably hide the body before Elijah wakes up." Henrik said.
"Kol, care to give me a hand?"
Kol couldn't believe Henrik asked him to help. He obviously couldn't say no.
When all of them were about to exit, Esther said,
"You did it, Mikael. (Mikael seemed happy but concerned) I had my doubts but you did it. You said you'd tear this family apart and you did. Today, my children put one of their own to a forever sleep. You made them do it when you could have easily done it. (To everyone) I think you should think twice before celebrating. You just daggered Klaus. A hybrid. (To Mikael) You may be the oldest vampire (back to everyone) but he is a centuries old vampire and, a wolf. You think you have done a great job daggering him but if he wakes up, it's going to be your death day. I saw the rage in his eyes not you. It was full of hatred and nothing else. For each and every one of you. Elijah will not rest until he wakes Klaus. With Mikael, you had a chance to live, but with Klaus and his resentment, you all have just dug your own grave. So you can go now to your lives but with the fear of him coming after you anyday."
Esther said this and left while everyone remained stone cold. Even Mikael.
---Future---
Rebekah and Henrik are hiding in a closet. They are covered in blood.
They are so scared that they can't even speak.
"We shouldn't have daggered Klaus. Now look at this." Henrik cries.
"Shh, be quiet! He'll hear you." Rebekah said.
"It was stupid of us to consider Father's preposition. We are dead sis…"
"Henrik, listen…."
Suddenly both of them hear a low growling and both of them gets complete scared and silent. The growling is getting louder and louder.
Suddenly the door gets shattered and Rebekah and Henrik scream while Klaus as wolf pounces on them.