Chapter 12

Beatrix had been about to levitate Elijah when Klaus ran in.

There was a brief moment when all she and her sire could do was stare at each other. Then, his eyes widened, and he stepped back, pointing at her. "No," he said, his voice shaking. "Esther— that's quite enough— I've had enough of your games and your lies!"

"Klaus," Beatrix said gently. "Klaus— it's not an illusion. It's me!"

"No!" he said. "Let— let him go— you promised me Elijah's safe return." He turned around, as if speaking to someone that Beatrix couldn't see. "Or, was that a lie, just like that ghoulish atrocity outside claiming to be my father, back from the dead? Now this? Now her?"

An older woman (who definitely did not look like the Esther Mikaelson that Beatrix had seen in Elijah's memories) stepped into the lycée, smiling at Klaus, and nodding to Beatrix. "My son," she said. "Your father's return is real. I pulled him from the Other Side before it collapsed, left him in the Bayou to join the wolves. And, I used the execution of one of his own to draw him here, where I knew he'd find you."

"To what end?" snarled Klaus. "Besides my torment?"

"I brought him here to be the father you never had," the woman said softly. "To teach you to be the man you always longed to be. Once you are remade as a werewolf, you can join him."

"His return changes nothing!" spat Klaus as he stormed toward the woman.

"It changes everything," she insisted. "It is my gift to you, Niklaus. This offer is your last chance at salvation. Reject me now, and you will live out your endless days unloved and alone. Do not refuse me out of some ancient spite—"

"Not spite! Hatred. A pure and perfect hatred that's greater now than the day I first took your life!"

The woman glared between her son and Beatrix, as if expecting the Heretic to say something. "Why, after all I've done to explain to you, why must you persist—"

Klaus lunged forward and seized the woman in a choke hold, slamming her head back against the stone wall. "BECAUSE YOU CAME FOR MY CHILD!" he roared. "MY DAUGHTER! YOUR OWN BLOOD!"

"You— don't— understand," wheezed the woman.

"MY CHILD!"

"N-Niklaus— I— had to!" She lifted two fingers, making Klaus grunt as his nose started to bleed. Beatrix stood and wove her own fingers, eliciting a cry from the woman as her fingers cracked, and her hand dropped to the side. Klaus didn't dare look at the Heretic, rather, he gripped the woman's throat harder, and she whimpered in pain.

"You declared war when you came after my family," he sneered in her face. "And, for that, I will make you suffer as only I can." He smirked, glaring down at her. "After all, I am my mother's son."

He dropped her harshly, and went over to Elijah, picking him up and refusing still to look at Beatrix, carrying his brother out of the building.

"Klaus," she said, following closely behind. "Klaus— I'm not an illusion. I'm really here!"

"You died in the Opera House," he spat. "Marcel was conscious but you were not. He never— never mentioned you getting out!"

"I'll explain, I promise, Klaus," she said desperately. "Just let me—"

He let Elijah's body fall, and sped toward her, gripping her throat instead and holding her in the air. She choked and squirmed in his grasp, kicking her legs desperately. "P-Please— please—"

"You are not Beatrix La Salle," he said in a deadly whisper. "Beatrix is dead."

"I'm not— not—" she gasped, feeling her eyes pool with tears. She managed to grasp onto Klaus's arm, siphoning in an attempt to weaken his hold.

When she did, his eyes widened and he dropped her, causing her to hit the ground with a loud thump. Immediately, he lunged forward and pulled her back up, grasping her face roughly to stare at it. "Not possible," he mumbled. "You can't be..."

She gave him a lopsided smile, still struggling to catch her breath. "Hi, Nik," she whispered hoarsely.

_

When they arrived at the Mikaelson compound, Beatrix and Klaus deposited Elijah on his bed. He was breathing erratically, sweating profusely, and he was rigid as though he was having some sort of terrible dream.

"Your mother put a curse on him— trapped him in his mind," said Beatrix as Hayley came into the room. "Let me try and siphon it out."

She placed her hands on his head, and the two hybrids watched as her hands began to glow in their usual dim honey-colored light. However, she soon leapt back, wincing. "Not going to work," she said.

"My turn," said Klaus. He sat down on a chair beside his brother, looking down with a significant amount of concern in his brows. "I know you are locked in battle... however deep in your mind our mother has set the stage. Hear my voice." Elijah twitched, but did not wake. "Our mother thinks she will win because she has left you alone, but you are not alone. Let me in."

He raised his hands and put one on his head, one on his chest, apparently trying to get into his mind. Elijah's body seized up. "Klaus," Beatrix said warningly.

"Let me help end whatever torment she has forced upon you," Klaus said, ignoring her as he kept trying. With every twitch Elijah gave, more blood began to pour out of Klaus's nose.

Hayley had clearly had enough. She ripped Klaus off. "What the hell are you doing?" she demanded.

Klaus did not answer immediately. He panted lightly, trying to catch his breath. Beatrix awkwardly held up a cloth to wipe his nose for him. "I'm trying to enter Elijah's thoughts to wake him," he said. "But Esther's locked me out."

Hayley let go of him and moved toward Elijah. "Is this rash a side effect of the witchy acid trip he's on?" she asked, gesturing to a flower petal-shaped wound on his neck, which neither Klaus or Beatrix had noticed before.

Klaus frowned and leaned in to examine it. "I haven't seen this since I was a child. Mikael would return home from battle more blindly temperamental than usual, and our mother would use the petals of a rare merlock orchid to put him to sleep. She would mend his mind with a spell, and then wake him with the roots of the same plant..... If she has access to it now, then maybe it also grows in the bayou. Beatrix— stay here with Elijah. Do what you can to ease his pain. Hayley, mind the fort and your wolves."

Hayley rolled her eyes. "I'd rather rip your mother's head off."

This made Klaus look almost livid. "Both of you— stay clear of her. Hayley, she already got to you once. What would happen if Elijah were to wake and find you both victims of her madness?"

Hayley stepped back quite reluctantly. "I won't go after her. I promise."

"Good," said Klaus, glancing at Beatrix before walking out the door. Hayley sat beside Elijah, stroking his hair. "I've learned a few things from your mother," she whispered in his ear. "I won't go after her. I'll go after everything that she loves."

Beatrix shifted awkwardly on the balls of her feet, watching the exchange. It pained her to think that Hayley and Elijah had most certainly had some sort of chemistry. But what did she expect? It'd been ninety three years since Elijah last saw her.

Hayley left soon after, and Beatrix attempted to siphon a bit more, her hands flat on his chest. A low hum resonated from her lips, trying to focus all the negative energy into herself. After all, her tolerance to it was much much higher than anyone else's. It seemed it might work, because Elijah stopped twitching, but her hands burned once more, and she was forced to let go.

"I don't know if you can hear me," she said, taking his hand normally. "I'd like to think you can. Your mother didn't know I was still alive. She could have blocked Klaus out, but not me. I really... wouldn't know. I don't know if my magic is as good as Esther's. You wouldn't be proud to know that I immersed myself into darker magic recently. Being stuck with a sociopath for eighteen years... really does wonders on your brain."

Elijah, of course, was silent. His lips twitched, and she grabbed another cloth before wiping his sweaty face down. She tenderly slid the rag over the wound on his neck, then pressed her fingers to it, siphoning directly from there. This hurt more, and her hand immediately withdrew itself back.

"Anyway... I can't wait to find out what's been going on with you all lately," she said. "Someone told me you caused quite a bit of trouble in Mystic Falls. Nice town, for the most part. But when I went, it was empty." She clasped her hands together. "Um... I became a doctor, you know. I should probably go back to school soon. I was an OB-GYN. I helped babies be born. I didn't have my magic at the time, so I couldn't magically heal them. But I was good at it. I saved a lot of mothers and their children. I think you'd have liked to see that side of me."

She let her knuckles graze down his cheek. "I was remembering, too, the poem I showed you all those years ago. I wonder if you remember it. I never gave it a title..." she traced her finger delicately through his hair, sighing. "You haven't changed a bit, Elijah. Though... I do recall your hairstyle to have been quite different. Let's see, what else... I haven't practiced the violin in so long, but I remember the tunes you taught me. I still play piano. The person I was with in the prison world always liked that, even if he wouldn't admit it."

She then bit her lip. "I see the way Hayley looks at you. And I wonder... I wonder if you know how lucky you are to have someone like that in your life. She's brilliant. She's everything I could have wanted for you and for Klaus. I... I spent so long imagining the day I'd get to be in your arms again. The day I'd get to kiss you once more. But... I don't think that's going to happen now. And... that's okay, even if... if it pains me to lose you. We can start fresh. After all, you and I were friends first. It hurts to think that I might have to temporarily or permanently let you go. She's better, and if you want her, and she wants you, then you should be together. I sense things are more complicated, but I want the best for you, Elijah."

After that, she was silent.

It wasn't until hours later that Klaus came back. By then, Beatrix was fairly exhausted. She had remained by Elijah's side. Didn't eat or sleep, even when she heard voices downstairs. Whenever he'd start twitching again, she'd siphon what she could, but it was only weakening her more.

"I have it," Klaus said. She stood immediately, taking the poultice from him and smearing it quickly on Elijah's neck.

"He'll wake soon," she said, patting Klaus on the back as he sat beside his brother. "Talk to him, ease him out of it. I... I should go clean up."

"Your old room is still available," said Klaus. "If... you would like to stay."

"You're sure you want me around again?" she said with a more teasing air.

"Well, I'll need a witch on my side, won't I?" he said. It sounded like he was teasing as well, but he looked almost ashamed.

"Are you okay?" she asked him quietly.

"Don't concern yourself with me," he said quickly. "Please, go freshen up. Let yourself relax. You look... drained. My... condolences that you were sucked into work right after your arrival."

Beatrix offered him a small smile and left.

She walked back through the hallways of the house, finding that her room was just as it had been nearly a century ago. Her bed, in the center, messy as she had left it the day they'd gone to the Opera House. Her closet still contained outfits that were in fashion just before the 1920s. Dead plants by the window, and dust over every furniture's surface.

This was, at least, a simple fix. She wove her hands in a circular motion as she walked around, mumbling quietly and watching as things began to fix themselves. The plants sprang back up, green as ever. The dust vanished, as did the bedsheets. A few more waves, and she'd sealed the cracks on the walls and the ceiling. The mirror was clean again.

"The clothes, I'll donate," she said, going to the closet and quickly realizing that the only things she wanted to preserve were her more elegant dresses. She sorted through other simpler outfits that she could keep for now, until she got herself a wardrobe and money, for starters.

Moments later, she was in her bathtub again, relaxing. She let the bubbles flow around her body and leaned her head back, allowing her hair to get damp. She lay there for what felt like many blissful hours, but it was probably less than forty minutes. She then got up and showered properly, before putting on some of her old clothes. She definitely felt out of place in them. 2012 and her outfit did not mesh well together.

But she didn't do anything about it. She couldn't just rush out to get clothes before going to see Elijah. Therefore, she dried her hair quickly and put her shoes back on before walking out and back to Elijah's room.

She found him alone. He was buttoning up a dress jacket, and staring at his hands, which appeared to be shaking. He drew a deep breath and covered his hand, putting it down, then wiped his brow and went to sit down on his bed. Slowly, Beatrix opened his door. "'Lijah?"

He whirled to face her, his eyes wide. "No—" he said quickly, holding his head. "No more— no—"

She sped forward and caught his hands. "Elijah, it's me. It's really me. I'm not in your head. I'm real. Here— feel this." She cupped his cheeks, daring to squeeze them a bit, grazing her fingers under his jaw.

There was a terrible moment when she thought he was going to throw her across the room. She'd seen that look in his eyes before. Esther had opened up some dark memories and he was dissociating. He was trembling like he was resisting the urge to toss her into oblivion.

"Darling," she whispered when he averted his gaze, his hands still shaking. "It's me. It's Itza. I'm here. I'm alive."

"You mentioned before that you have a different name," said Elijah one evening when he'd been playing piano while Beatrix flopped on his bed, reading a book. "I wonder, what is it?"

A playful smile etched on her face. "Well, it's Mayan. My mother's name was more Aztec, but I was her last little connection to the coven she abandoned. More of her... complexion, you know, compared to that of my father. I was born out in the bayou. She used the water to guide her and protect her when she'd given birth to me. She named me Itza, meaning sorceress of water."

"Itza." The name danced off his lips, and he stood, coming closer to her. "It's a beautiful name."

"And it's a secret," she said when he closed the book for her. "Only you can call me that."

The vulnerability, the truth, it was a strange thing to both but they had found solace in each other. They'd ventured into each other's memories, exploring the darkest parts of each other because they trusted the other to know the full extent of their past. Beatrix, up to date, was the only person who'd ever been behind the red door with Elijah. Though he shut it quickly and had chosen not to speak of it ever again, there was a great mutual sense of understanding that came when both opened up.

He had kissed her, that night, for the first time. He'd taken her face gently in his hands and brought his mouth to hers without an ounce of hesitation. They'd embraced and made love and woken in the morning looking giddy and reliving the memory in their heads.

Elijah looked back slowly, before bringing his hands to cup her face. Another frightening instant where his grip tightened as though he might snap her neck or worse— rip her throat out with his teeth. But the shaking subsided, and he moved his hands to her hair, then her neck, down her arms, taking her hands in his and examining them.

"It's unreal," he whispered. "But, how—?"

"That's a lot to explain and I'd rather only do it once," she said with a slight laugh. "When Marcel and Hayley return, I'll tell you all. We'll have to relay the message to Rebekah eventually, as well."

He pulled her into his arms, hugging her so tightly she felt she might explode. But she didn't mind. She trailed her own limbs around his back, rubbing it as she buried her face in his neck.

"I missed you," she whispered.

"I thought you were dead," he mumbled. "Kol— he said that you were not. But he had no proof. He just had a hunch. Rebekah and I refused to listen to him, we thought he was just grieving because we had just told him the truth when he was awakened. Klaus did not wish to speak of it. I believe my brother felt guilty."

"It wasn't his fault," she sighed. "He knows that. It wasn't your fault either. Nor Marcel's, nor Rebekah's. I heard Klaus killed Mikael."

Elijah hesitated to answer. "Yes... he did manage to kill him, but he is back now."

"What?" she gasped. "No— Esther didn't bring him back, did she?"

"He came back on his own. I do not know if my mother is yet aware that he is here. He has fled for now, but he will return. I know it."

"I would have done him away for good, if I hadn't been trapped," she sighed. "I had a plan and everything. One of the Bennett witches did him in, apparently." She then stopped. "Elijah... did you happen to hear anything I said, earlier?"

He winced. "No. It appears I have no recollection of that. I was... indisposed. I apologize."

Well, shit. It would be harder to tell him everything to his face. Especially if it involved confronting him about whether he and Hayley had had a spark or not.

"It's alright," said Beatrix quickly. "It was just a silly little run down of memories. Those should be intact, so there is no need to repeat myself."

Elijah did not seem to believe her fully, but did not question it. He pulled away from her, and brought her hand to his mouth, kissing the back of it. "It is good to see you, regardless, Itza," he said gently. "I never thought I'd behold that face again if not in my dreams. I wonder... Marcellus did not tell us he got you out."

"Likely because I disappeared. He must not have wanted to get your hopes up. I'm just glad that you're all still alive. I admit I went a little berserk when I heard Kol and Finn were killed, but if they're back now as witches, there is hope to restore both of them."

"You'd need to resort to dark arts," he noted. "That would be unwise."

"I'm not sure about that. My birthright is black magic— it's what my mother took in to escape her coven, and she was carrying it inside her when she birthed me. I have never dared to tap into the Ancestral realm that my blood goes to— I wouldn't even have dared to tap into that of the Lafayette Cemetery. I am not sure I'd like to bring out my heritage much further. But I do suspect, at least, that dark magic won't harm me as it would other witches."

Elijah didn't seem to like this. "The piano key," he said sternly. "Where is it?"

"I don't know. It is likely in a thrift store or back on some random piano now. All my belongings from where I was staying were definitely trashed."

"You'll be staying here?" he inquired.

"If you'll allow me to, then yes."

"You will require a lot," he stated. "A phone, to communicate. Clothes. Money."

"I'll take care of all that, I promise," she said. "Don't worry about me. I'll settle in nicely. I'm sure Marcel will be willing to teach me about this new world. After all, I taught him before."

There was a cough, and the two looked to see Klaus leaning against a chair. He nodded to Beatrix and faced his brother. "How do you feel?"

"The worst has passed," said the Original. "Though, I suspect the nightmares are far from over. I can expect Beatrix will be useful there."

Klaus's lips curled upward. "Well, gather your strength. After the message I sent Mother tonight, I expect hell-fire to rain upon us imminently."

Elijah disconnected himself from the Heretic and moved toward Klaus. "We need to make a move before she strikes."

"Well, actually, moves were made while you were sleeping," came the voice of Marcel as he and Hayley walked into the room. The hybrid smiled. "It's good to see you vertical," she said to Elijah. "Marcel and I each left a gift for you in the ballroom. You're welcome."

Elijah gestured Klaus toward the door, and both brothers followed Hayley out. Marcel waited for Beatrix, and tapped her on the shoulder as they went down to the ballroom.

The two figures suspended from the balcony by their wrists featuring what appeared to be enchanted manacles were unfamiliar to Beatrix. But somehow, she knew exactly who they were, especially when the younger male looked down at Klaus. "Kidnapping? That's a rather unpleasant way to begin a family reunion!"

Klaus grinned up at them. "Well, wait until you see how we end it! But first..." he turned to the Heretic and beckoned her to take the open floor in front of them. "You have some explaining to do."