20

                                    

                                          
I got a call from Katherine on the road.
"Hey Katie cat." I smirked.
"What is wrong with you? A little heads up would've been nice."
"I guess you found out." I laughed.
"That Nadia is my daughter, who totally hates me. Yeah, I did."
"Oh, come on. I put a protection spell on you, so you weren't really in any danger."
"I hate you."
"You love me."
"Who are you?" Nadia took Katherine's phone.
"She's a Mikaelson. Klaus's older sister."
"There's another? And you're friends with her?"
"She's different. Been dead in a box for nine centuries. So she's practically brand new to the world."
"Very funny, Katherine. Anyways you two have fun, playing mommy and daughter."
"Say hi to Amira from me."
"Tell her I say hi back." Amira said, before I even said a word.
"She says hi back."
                          
Amira, Jenna and I made our way back home. I dropped the two of them at the mansion before heading to my new apartment and bringing in the boxes of magical objects into my new apartment. Decorating could wait another day, but moving my grimoires and magical objects couldn't.
When I was finished, I drove back to the plantation.
"Hello?" I called. Amira and Jenna both came towards me and took an arm as though to lead me out of the house again
"You don't want to be in there. Trust me." Amira said, seriously.
"What is it this time?" I frowned, taking my arms back and following the sounds of the argument. Niklaus and Rebekah were at each other's throats, yelling. "Enough with the shouting. The two of you."
"Amity. You're back."
"What did I miss?"
"Good, you're here. Perhaps you can talk some sense into our maniac of a brother."
"What happened?"
"Nik bit Elijah and left him to suffer in the bayou."
"He bit Elijah?"
"Werewolf bite."
"Niklaus!" 
"Stay out of this, sister." He said. I rolled my eyes, before walking towards him. I put my hands on the sides of his head.
"Revelare." I said and I was transported into his mind. He and Elijah were walking through the woods. Nik started to sniff the air.
"Have you found her scent?" Elijah asked.
"No, but I found someone else's. This vehicle reeks of someone I thought I was rid of... Tyler Lockwood." Nik snarled. 
The scene changed. Niklaus was walking through the woods, without Elijah this time, when he heard Tyler's voice. "Hayley! Don't make this harder than it has to be! Give up now... I'll end it quick." 
"Quite an offer! Though, not one I'll be extending to you."
"Klaus."
"Hello, Tyler. You look well! I aim to change that. Threatening a pregnant girl in order to exact revenge against me? I never expected you to sink so low! I admit, I'm impressed!"
Again, the scene changed. Niklaus was still without Elijah as he stood over a body. Elijah and Hayley appeared and walked over to him. "There you are! I see you've found our wandering stray. Perhaps you could shed some light on the situation. This appears to be a hybrid."
"His name was Dwayne." Hayley said defensively.
"Well, whoever it was, I didn't sire him. Any idea how that's possible?" Nik asked.
"As if you didn't know!" Hayley stomped towards him, but Elijah held her back protectively.
"Ahhh, well, aren't you two fast friends? Oh, come on, then. What kind of horrible accusation have you conspired to levy against me?"
"Tyler Lockwood brought Hayley here to test a theory. That the blood of her child could be used to sire hybrids. He claims that you knew that. Furthermore, that you intended to use this knowledge to build an army."
"And, of course, you assume it's true. I mean, why else would I show interest in my own flesh and blood? A heartbroken little crybaby points his finger at me, and my own brother falls in line, eager to believe it! How quickly you believe the worst, especially when it comes from her."
"Oh, spare me your indignation. When have you ever demonstrated any kind of concern towards Hayley or her child, beyond your own selfish pursuits? And what was it you once said to me? 'Every king needs an heir!' "
"My big brother. So, you doubt my intentions? Well, I can't say I'm surprised, standing next to the noble Elijah, how can I be anything but the lesser brother? A liar, a manipulator, a bastard. That's all I am to you, isn't it? And Rebekah. And, judging by the way Hayley hangs on your every word, it's clear she feels the same way." Nik paused, getting more upset, as he spoke. "No doubt my own child will as well."
"Brother, if-"
"You've said all that needs to be said, brother." He stepped back and held his arms out in defeat. "I'll play the role I've been given." He turned as though to walk away, but instead, turned back quickly and vamp-sped over to Elijah, before biting him savagely on the neck. Hayley screamed in horror and ran over to him.
I took my hands off Nik's head, and slapped him. He hung his head. "I know. I'm a disappointment."
"Shut up, Niklaus!" I burst out. "Yes, Elijah was wrong to turn on you. Believe me, I understand, but he is your brother. So enough with the bloody self pity. You're not hopeless and a lost cause and any other adjective you'd use to describe yourself. Esther slept with the werewolf, and sure by definition that makes you a bastard, but we went twenty five years not knowing her crimes. And even if we had known, that does not make you less of a brother. So stop using that word to degrade yourself. Nik, you are our brother. So stop with the whining. We all care about you. Got it?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Now let's go."
"Go where."
"Go to the brother who's suffering from delusions and mother of your baby who you left alone with him."
"They'll make their own way back."
"Elijah can't tell the difference between reality right now. If you won't do it for them, do it for your child."
"Fine, but you're staying here."
"Excuse me?"
"Amity, you're practically nine months pregnant. Am I to bring you with me to a swamp, when you could give birth any second?"
"Without me between the two of you, I doubt you'll be helping Elijah. Just give me some of your blood, I'll go heal Elijah and we can all come back and have some sort of intervention between the two of you."
"I'm not healing Elijah. He deserves to feel some minor discomfort."
"Use a passive aggressive approach. Not a werewolf bite. Besides, did you forget that Hayley's with him?"
"Then let's collect Hayley."
"And leave Elijah alone?"
"More or less."
"No, Niklaus. So get off your arse and get to the car."
"He's right. You shouldn't be trudging through the bayou." Amira looked concerned.
"Actually being active is a good thing during pregnancy." I looked expectantly at Jenna. "Right?" Nik looked at her too, and she shook her head.
"You can keep me out of this. This doesn't seem to have anything to do with her pregnancy, and I'd rather not be in the middle of an argument between the two of you." She held her hands up in defence.
"Amity, I just left Tyler Lockwood foaming in the bayou. I doubt he's hanging around, but Elijah can protect Hayley."
"I can protect myself. Remember?"
"I'll go with him." Amira said. "You can stay here. Okay?"