{"id":194,"date":"2024-08-13T15:02:34","date_gmt":"2024-08-13T15:02:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=194"},"modified":"2024-08-13T15:04:48","modified_gmt":"2024-08-13T15:04:48","slug":"chapter-08","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/meekobuggy.com\/?page_id=194","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 08"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chapter 08<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

[The Abattoir, French Quarter, New Orleans. March 13rd, 2115. 2:50 pm]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

KJ was excited, his big brother Nick was coming to New Orleans, and he had missed him. Klaus thought it was adorable to see someone excited about a sibling returning, and it had been a very long time since he, himself, had been that excited to see his siblings again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebekah and Elijah were still out of town. Rebekah made a habit of checking in on the Mikaelson family line, being the doting aunt to some, hated by others. No doubt Elijah was doing the same, but in his way or maybe he wasn\u2019t even on the same continent anymore. Klaus could understand that his siblings wanted distance from him, that Bella and Kol filled the void, but on the other hand, it would have been nice to see them again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Nick coming to New Orleans worried him. Unlike the rest of the family – so far, Nick decided to do something entirely different with the powers given to him by his ancestors Bella and Kol. He had turned himself into some con man, a paranormal investigator, a magician or whatever. Working for the silly humans with their simple minds. Of course, Klaus knew a lot of those people as they worked in New Orleans too, but none was as powerful as Nick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least Nick wasn\u2019t going to go for regent of the covens. Sameen had asked their mutual friend about the possibility of Nick relocating, and the Machine had told her that the chances were slim. He had left his wife and son in Texas. After it had checked all the reasons why Nick would be in New Orleans and coming up with nothing, Klaus grew worried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With his line of work, Nick had acquired a lot of contacts with a lot of different witches, shamans and other supernatural beings and Klaus had been impressed by that. From what the Machine told them, Nick\u2019s list could rival their own. Nick would be a great asset to have on his side, in his army, but unfortunately, he was the first born of this generation and Klaus left those alone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was tempting, however, seeing as Nick had already produced one child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He and Sameen watched as KJ welcomed his sibling to the compound, they had allowed them to meet there, seeing as they were family after all. He was surprised that after hugging KJ, Nick immediately went straight for Klaus. \u201cWe need to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell hello to you too,\u201d Sam said as she casually sipped her coffee. \u201cLong time, no see\u2026 well never, to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nick smiled at her. \u201cHello, Sameen. Your lackeys have been keeping an eye on me so don\u2019t tell me you\u2019ve never seen my face.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sam shrugged and continued to drink her coffee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klaus expected as much that Nick only came to New Orleans to talk. \u201cIt must be pressing news that you wish to speak to me about,\u201d he said as he pointed to a chair. \u201cPlease, sit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nick did as Klaus told him to and sighed. \u201cI\u2019ve heard the news, and it\u2019s not good. While you\u2019ve been trying to make sure that your family didn\u2019t grow out of control like the rats that we are, other influential witch families have been growing out of proportion and are now making their way to New Orleans, to take over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat is it about New Orleans that they\u2019d like? Can\u2019t they leave us in peace?\u201d Sam asked. They had destroyed a few werewolf families over the last few months upon the New Orleans witches\u2019 request as they, too, were allowed to grow in numbers. But it was in their own territory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI suppose witches migrate, just as most vampires and werewolves do,\u201d Nick said as he helped himself to the coffee pot and poured the liquid into one of the other mugs on the table. \u201cHonestly, staying in one place for a long time is no fun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t one to really wander, why to start now?\u201d Klaus watched Nick like a hawk. Even though generations removed, he reminded him of his brother Kol. \u201cI suppose wanderlust is in your genes, with Kol being your ancestor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe all know that technically, we\u2019re not Mikaelsons and just carry the name,\u201d Nick snorted and shook his head. \u201cFor which we\u2019re grateful, of course. Your name opens a lot of doors in the supernatural community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat witches are going to make a play for New Orleans? My lieutenant already spoke of several families moving in from out of state, he and some of the Claire witches are keeping an eye on them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe worst of them all. The rabble rousers. Salem witches. The Bennetts,\u201d He replied mournfully. \u201cAnd you should know better than to trust Claire witches, especially with your history.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klaus sneered at that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not telling you what to do, just that you have to be careful. The Bennett witches want more power, they want access to the powers of the Regents and they want access to ancestral magic. For what reason? It\u2019s unclear as of now, but my guess is that they want to turn New Orleans into a safe haven for witches of all walks of life. New Orleans is isolated from the rest of the country, it makes sense.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNew Orleans is my town. They\u2019re not going to take it,\u201d he snapped. \u201cAs I said, we have it under control.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, you don\u2019t.\u201d Nick spat at him, not flinching at the hybrid as he sneered again and shifted in his seat. \u201cIf you truly want to keep your beloved city yours, I suggest you remove the new witches from your city to prevent dead vampires.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy do you care?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you care?\u201d He shot back at Klaus. \u201cYour city, you said. Do you want it to be run by witches or do you want to keep your delicate balance?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A vampire ground to a halt next to Nick, and he blinked before hugging him. \u201cBrother!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey Eddie,\u201d Nick smiled at him. \u201cWhat\u2019s the hurry?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKlaus, you need to come,\u201d Edward said to his boss. \u201cSomething\u2019s happened. Marcel—\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhatever it is, Marcel can deal with it,\u201d Klaus said to the young vampire. \u201cI was having a nice chat with your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMarcel\u2019s dead. A group of new witches tore him apart while we were heading back to his apartment in Algiers. I barely escaped.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nick simply smirked. \u201cTold ya.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[The Abattoir, French Quarter, New Orleans. May 25th, 2260. 5:32 am]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe turning Duke Remus Mikaelson, great great grandson of Bella and Kol, son of Nick, hadn\u2019t been such a great idea, but hindsight was always 20\/20, wasn\u2019t it? The young man had been trouble to begin with, but he\u2019d been looking for a good replacement for Marcel, who\u2019d been gone for 40 years now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was proving difficult to place his dear Marcel. His first attempt at replacing him had been KJ, who had been mentored by Marcel for a good few years, but the boy was still unpredictable, and he didn\u2019t seem to be able to gain the respect of the other vampires. Duke, however, was a trained fighter, and he was always getting into trouble with the police. To save his parents some more grief and headaches, Klaus had his vampires take Duke out of New York and turned him when he laid eyes on him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duke was a big fellow. Angry. Strong. Even stronger as a vampire. And for a good while, Duke served him well, until he found different interests. Until his anger consumed him and became a ripper. It took some time to get him out of that stage, and by then it was too late. James had put up the barrier and Duke wanted to take him out while he was being evicted from New Orleans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Granted, Klaus was pissed off beyond imagining when it happened, but he knew it had only been a matter of time. They had been killing too many Mikaelsons over the cause of a period and sooner or later someone would get pissed off about it. But, he also knew that it was only a matter of time before they could enter New Orleans again and wasn\u2019t too vengeful about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it was now months since it happened and getting back into New Orleans and killing James had become an obsession for young Duke. Even generations apart, Klaus could see Bella\u2019s determination in him and probably his arrogance, but instead of trying to keep things together like a real leader should, he was unraveling. Fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Sameen said as she watched Duke from her position. The vampire had rallied all of them together in the beautiful town square of Mystic Falls and was spewing nonsense again. This time he wanted to go after the few Bennett witches in Mystic Falls. \u201cBut if we wish to keep the peace in this town, he has to go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was never good to piss off witches. But the Bennett witches didn\u2019t have anything to do with what James Edward Mikaelson had done. Far from it, he had been of sound mind and true heart. The best intentions as possible. Of course, Klaus would have loved to slaughter some of Bonnie Bennett\u2019s descendants, they were all as equally annoying as the witch had been, but his Sameen was right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klaus watched as Sameen leapt up and ripped out Duke\u2019s heart in one quick movement. \u201cNow, listen up, you idiots,\u201d she said as she held his heart in her hand as the body dropped to the floor. \u201cWe will not retaliate by killing witches that didn\u2019t have anything to do with what happened to us in New Orleans. We\u2019re simply going to start a new life, here. If you do not want to stay here, you\u2019re more than welcome to leave and seek your fortune elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klaus blinked at that. He and Sameen had not agreed to that, but perhaps she was right. Mystic Falls was a small town after all, and if they wanted to play things safe, their numbers had to severely diminish. Maybe it would be better if they\u2019d go somewhere else for the time being. His hometown wouldn\u2019t fall off the face of the Earth any time soon, and maybe a change of scenery would be good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, he didn\u2019t want to stray too far from what he knew. \u201cRelocate to wherever you want, however, be aware that we can call upon you at a moment\u2019s notice, and we\u2019d like you to come back when we do. Have I made myself clear?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He saw some faces nod and then speed off. \u201cAnyone else wishes to leave?\u201d When no one spoke up, he let out a deep breath. \u201cThen let\u2019s move to our temporary location before the sun rises, seeing as most of you haven\u2019t earned your rings yet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Accessing current feeds]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

[The Abattoir, French Quarter, New Orleans. January 27th, 2311. 10:44 pm] <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella was stuffing her face when Kol and Klaus returned with the grimoires she had requested. They both didn\u2019t quite understand what had happened other than it involving the Ancestors and had made it their mission to ask Bella once she had calmed down somewhat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But even when stuffing her face, she was in a frenzy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBella, stop,\u201d Kol said as he put his pile of books on the table and moved to her to stop her from eating. \u201cTake a breath.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no time,\u201d she whined. \u201cI have 24 hours\u2026 21 hours left in this body. I can\u2019t fix the mess with the witches in a day; there\u2019s no way that even with your help that they\u2019re going to listen or heal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTough. You need to slow down. Otherwise you\u2019ll drive yourself crazy, and you\u2019re going to miss something,\u201d Kol lifted her up and turned her away from the books and the food. \u201cIt\u2019s great that you\u2019re buzzing with energy and that you\u2019re more than healthy for a day. You\u2019re so powered up on magic that you forget to tune it down, filter it. Don\u2019t allow it to take you over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She eyed him before letting out a loud burp. \u201cSorry, I ate too fast,\u201d she apologized and then sighed. \u201cYou\u2019re right. I suppose I could spare one hour. What do you want to do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want you to relax before you bring down the building,\u201d he said with a grin. \u201cYou need to take control over every sensation you\u2019re currently experiencing. Your fear, your anxiety, but also your hope and your wishes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh goodie,\u201d Sam remarked as she stood in the doorway. \u201cI just arrived at the right time to pull Klaus away from the boring shit.\u201d She then winked at Bella. \u201cGood to see you don\u2019t like to stay dead either, Bella.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klaus turned to his mate, surprised to see her in one piece and moved to her to kiss her. \u201cHow did it go? Did you learn anything?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sam sighed as she put her arms around Klaus\u2019 neck and pulled him out of Bella and Kol\u2019s room. \u201cI tried my best not to kill them; I suspect they were manipulated by Mandy like Bella had been, although some of them were quite content when they heard that Bella was dying. Something about the biggest mistake they ever made. I guess when people are desperate they don’t think correctly.” She jerked her head towards the room. “Divine witchy intervention?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klaus grumbled as he nodded his head. “I am not sure why she wanted us to get the grimoires. There could be a variety of reasons, but I’m sure that once Kol calms her down, she’ll tell us.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“You think we’re going to be up all night?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He smiled at that. “Given the limited time given by the ancestors, I suppose so.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sam groaned. “I need coffee.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klaus\u2019 head snapped to the entrance of the courtyard and was on the human before it could even blink. \u201cYou have some guts to walk through those doors,\u201d he said threatening, pushing the human against the gate. \u201cOld man.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, and as an old man, I expect to be treated as such,\u201d the man scowled, pushing Klaus away with his index finger. \u201cI come in peace, old man.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeace,\u201d Klaus huffed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey, I saw you at the witches when they asked me for their help,\u201d Sam said as she moved beside her mate. \u201cYou said your father was responsible for the barrier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duke nodded slowly. \u201cI\u2019m Duke Oliver Mikaelson, ma\u2019am, not to be confused with Duke Remus, who\u2019s been in your vampire army for years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klaus let out a grunt as Sam pushed herself between him and Duke. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sam nodded. \u201cI killed him 50 years ago for wanting to go after your father.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They had the Machine track all of the Mikaelsons for them because Klaus didn\u2019t mean to have any personal dealings with his extended family. There were so many of them, and it was hard to keep track, but the Machine had a great and expansive mind. She didn\u2019t forget. She told them who to kill – even though it was against her programming. Sam had reasoned with her, that it was important that they kept the amount of Mikaelsons to a bearable, tolerable, level, so there was less chance of them wanting to kill people. It was for the greater good that they were checked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The perimeters had been easy enough; every first-born survived and their children. Or, once technology started to take over, the Machine made sure that all the other lines were made infertile without them knowing about it. It wasn\u2019t ideal, but Klaus was a paranoid fucker, obsessive, even. She had begged the Machine – a machine – to do this so that Klaus wouldn\u2019t go crazy and obsessive about it all; she wanted him sane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For years, Sam had cursed Bella and Kol for making babies in the first place, but she could understand a basic human need to created clones of themselves. But, had Klaus eliminated everyone after Bella and Kol died, maybe they wouldn\u2019t be in this mess in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Sam didn\u2019t hold a grudge against Duke because of who his father was, Klaus was less inclined to let bygones be just that.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, well, good to be the only Duke then,\u201d Duke replied, focusing his attention to Sameen. \u201cI saw you leave the loft today. Do you trust them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood, you shouldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t trust you either.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Duke said with a slight smirk on his face before looking at Klaus, who looked as if he was eating himself from the inside. \u201cRelax, I have no witchy powers. I\u2019m not a vampire. I\u2019m not a werewolf. I\u2019m just an old geezer, and I\u2019m offering you my help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat could you possibly have to offer?\u201d Klaus demanded as he walked back into the courtyard. He had made the decision to keep the man alive as long as he gave them the information they could use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duke followed Klaus, undeterred with the other vampire following him. \u201cUnlike any of you, I know my family. At least what\u2019s left of it. I know the ones who are willing to change and the ones who want to use Bella to grab the regent position for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klaus couldn\u2019t help but sneer at that. \u201cYou could have warned Sameen about Mandy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMandy is a Claire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWas a Claire,\u201d Klaus pointed out. \u201cBut I suppose the word of her recent demise hasn\u2019t reached you yet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd your point? A Claire is a Claire. They\u2019ve been deviant little bitches for centuries.\u201d Duke stopped dead in his tracks. \u201cMandy\u2019s dead?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs you said, she was a deviant little wench,\u201d Klaus countered as he sat down in one of the chairs they had put in the courtyard for the vampires who were out all night protecting them. He wasn\u2019t inclined on taking Duke anywhere other than have him in the courtyard. \u201cWhile there is no doubt that your little witches had a hand in poisoning Bella to make sure she\u2019d be dead again after helping them with their problem – concerning the state of the witches, Mandy had other plans and managed to influence Bella in a different way,\u201d he explained and then a broad smile appeared on his face. \u201cSafe to say that Mandy\u2019s learnt her lesson after Bella confronted her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course, they\u2019re Mikaelsons. Even with the chip in their heads they are conniving little girls,\u201d Duke said as a matter of factly. \u201cHowever, they\u2019re not all that bad. There is some truth to their madness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSuch as?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe regent\u2019s insanity and the way the Bennett witches influence her. They have a handful of werewolves in their pocket too; she\u2019s well protected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd yet, Kol and Bella were able to walk on the Cemetery with ease.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause they\u2019re not there. They\u2019re hiding out near the Old Lakewood Golf Club, in one of the mansions on Lennox Boulevard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course they are. Why make it easy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duke smiled at that. \u201cSurely with a reputation like yours you already have a plan?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klaus didn\u2019t say anything. Their numbers had faltered, quickly, in the last few days. Every time he sent out a handful of vampires to go after some of the werewolves and chase them out of the quarter and back towards the Bayou and the Ninth Ward, only half of them returned if they were lucky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cScouting trip?\u201d Sam smiled brightly. \u201cMy friend and I are itching for one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBe careful. I\u2019d like to come with, but I don\u2019t want to leave this geezer alone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t kill him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI won\u2019t, I believe he\u2019s telling the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Sam smirked before running upstairs to get her things. \u201cA good old fashioned hunt is just what I need!\u201d She called out from upstairs before coming back down and kissed Klaus. \u201cSee you later. Have fun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[The Abattoir, French Quarter, New Orleans. January 28th, 2311. 12:21 am] <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once he had Bella somewhat centered and calm, Kol decided it was time to invite the rest of the family back so that Bella could explain her plan, what she was doing – or wanted to do anyway. She mentioned something along the lines of having a surprise for Sameen as well, but seeing as she was still trying to get eyes on the Regent and the Bennett witches, she wasn\u2019t there, and Bella was simply going to make it a big surprise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol hated it that Bella didn\u2019t want to share what it was. He hated secrets, especially when his wife had them. He liked it, though that she didn\u2019t want to leave him, that she wanted to stay and he suspected that her plan had something to do with it – and he liked it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you all fed and not going to rip off my head if I say things you don\u2019t like?\u201d Bella smirked as she looked at the vampires sitting at the table. She was sitting on top of it, surrounded by her books, just like old times. But in a different body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve strategically placed yourself in the middle of us; I\u2019m sure you have a nice little spell that will blow us all away if we so much attempt to drink from you,\u201d Klaus looked at his sister-in-law. \u201cBesides, when have we ever taken a bite out of you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella smirked. \u201cAugust 8th, 2050. From me and Kol.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve forgotten?\u201d She grinned. \u201cNina\u2019s kid had accidentally cursed you, and you had to drink from the both of us to cure you of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klaus huffed. \u201cI always thought it was an elaborate plot from you and Kol to experience what it felt like to be fed upon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAha! But you did drink from us!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd you tasted very nice, now, get on with it, your time is limited, if I remember correctly,\u201d Klaus said, apparently not amused. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYep, but it doesn\u2019t have to be,\u201d Bella said as she pointed at her books. \u201cLook, I love you guys, you\u2019re my family, but I also know how conniving you are and what you are capable of when you\u2019re bored.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI knew you were going to resurrect Kol eventually, despite his wishes,\u201d she smirked and pointed at her husband. \u201cI also knew that eventually, Kol would want me back. So, after he died, I spent most of my days doing research. It\u2019s one thing to resurrect an Original vampire; it\u2019s pretty straightforward magic. It needs a lot of power, sure, but it\u2019s pretty straight forward as your body doesn\u2019t age, even when they\u2019re ash.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t say it was straightforward,\u201d Klaus said, mumbling. \u201cIt cost me a lot of money to pay the right witch to do so. To find her, in the first place, someone who didn\u2019t have any ties to our lives, knowledge of who we are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt were a handful of ingredients and a spell or two, yes?\u201d Bella smiled at Klaus before sighing. \u201cAnyway, I left instructions with Hope, that, should the need arise, she\u2019d be able to resurrect me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHope?\u201d Klaus blinked. He hadn\u2019t seen his daughter in a very long time. Hope was like her mother, free spirited and doing whatever she pleased. He wouldn\u2019t be surprised if Hope lived among the werewolves in secret. \u201cWhy her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a powerful witch. She\u2019s a tribrid. She\u2019s a Mikaelson. Would you like me to continue?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLook, I want to extend my life so I can help the witches find their balance again, kick those other witches out and deal with the werewolves. Help you with it. I can\u2019t do that in this body. There\u2019s a time limit on this one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCuddles? You want to hijack a healthy body?\u201d Kol smiled hopeful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo. Well, yes, probably. If this fails. But I prefer to have my own back so that nobody else has to sacrifice themselves,\u201d Bella smiled at him. \u201cI died an old lady, but with these spells, I can rewind time for my bones and skin. Hopefully. I mean, I was old when I thought of this combination, and I was probably losing my mind.\u201d She ran a hand through her hair and sighed. \u201cIf this fails, you might have to find someone that\u2019s aesthetically pleasing, and we\u2019ll get me in that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elijah and Rebekah had remained quiet until now, but they had been listening intently. \u201cWon\u2019t the Ancestors be infuriated with you for cheating death?\u201d Elijah inquired. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course, but my daughter alerted me to the loophole. This body has 24 hours in full health. Everything else is me. So, this body. She never said anything about me jumping bodies or resurrecting myself. I figure that if I do it without casualties, I can get away with it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut dead is dead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot always,\u201d Bella said with a smirk. \u201cI\u2019ll deal with the consequences myself, but they need my help and by the time they want to sanction me for abuse of power, I\u2019ll have fulfilled my duties as a witch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol\u2019s smirk grew wide. \u201cAre you saying?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am, if you want me to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI do! Very much so!\u201d Kol got up from his seat and kissed her. \u201cYou are brilliant! What do you need?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella blinked when the door opened, and Hope walked in with a bag. \u201cGreetings family, I come bearing some old bones!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 [The Abattoir, French Quarter, New Orleans. January 28th, 2311. 12:34 am] <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHope,\u201d Klaus greeted her with a big smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFather,\u201d she unceremoniously dropped the bag holding Bella\u2019s bones to the floor and hugged him. \u201cGlad you have returned to New Orleans. Excuse the clothes and smell. Word travels slowly when you\u2019re wolfed out in the Bayou. I couldn\u2019t believe mother when she conveyed that she had been chased by vampires.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, how do you communicate?\u201d Kol smirked as he relaxed in his chair. \u201cGranted, it was fun to chase Hayley for sport.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hope huffed. She wasn\u2019t amused. \u201cI knew there was a reason I preferred the company of my pack,\u201d she countered before letting go of Klaus. \u201cSo,\u201d she said as she looked at Bella. \u201cYou\u2019re already resurrected? Damn it, I wanted to be all badass and surprise everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow did you know she was back?\u201d Elijah looked Hope over. She looked like her mother, with her dark features, but it was still clear that she was a Mikaelson. It felt good to see her again. He wished that the girl didn\u2019t look so bewildered and ill at ease among them, it would be great to catch up with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s none of your business, uncle,\u201d Hope snapped at him. \u201cYou and Aunt Rebekah have no right to know every single detail.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWatch your tongue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hope growled and waved her hand, shutting Elijah up, earning smiles from Kol, Klaus and Bella. \u201cWhere\u2019s Sam?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOut. She\u2019ll be back shortly,\u201d Klaus said pleasantly. \u201cI would love to have a proper reunion with you, Hope, but we\u2019re a little short on time. Bella was just about to tell us what she needed from us to help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll let the adults talk while I take a quick shower and grab some food. I\u2019m starving.\u201d Hope flashed a wolfish grin before running off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell. I suppose you won\u2019t have to dig me up\u2026\u201d Bella mused as she looked at the bag on the floor, a bone sticking out from it. \u201cGross.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPretty bones,\u201d Kol said as he picked up the bag and had a peek inside. \u201cBrittle bones. Are you sure you can fix that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll have to. There is no way I\u2019m going to walk around like a 95-year-old for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy not?\u201d he mused. \u201cSenior citizen discount forever!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause it\u2019s so wrong in so many ways,\u201d Bella shuddered as she handed Klaus a note. \u201cI need these things,\u201d she said before holding up another note for Kol, with more magical specialised ingredients. \u201cAnd you can get me that. Some of that is in a box in our playhouse, get me the entire box.\u201d She conjured a bucket and a spade and handed it over to Elijah. \u201cI need some hallowed ground from you. Not consecrated soil, but hallowed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Why?\u2019 he mouthed, still not able to speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause that spell needs to be done with as little interference as possible and if you take consecrated ground, the chances are that the Ancestors will interfere,\u201d Bella explained before looking at Rebekah. \u201cYou\u2019re staying here to watch over Hope and me until Sam gets back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI hope she has bitten off more than she can chew,\u201d Rebekah muttered, not particularly liking Sameen. It was one thing that Kol and Bella had taken her and Elijah\u2019s place next to Nik\u2019s side, but with Sameen\u2019s introduction? Sameen was even worse with holding a grudge and holding on to resentment than her brother was. \u201cI hope she chokes on it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klaus growled, but Bella was faster as she threw Rebekah against a wall. \u201cOut of respect to you and Elijah for what you\u2019ve done for me in the past, I won\u2019t cast you out. But you two better start playing nice and accept that you\u2019re on nearly everyone\u2019s shitlist before I make sure that the both of you are going to be in physical agony for the rest of your lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt won\u2019t stick when you die.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol huffed. \u201cDon\u2019t challenge her, you know she\u2019ll find a way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[The Abattoir, French Quarter, New Orleans. January 28th, 2311. 4:01 am] <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella knew that despite giving the notes to vampires, they\u2019d need several hours to get what she needed to do the spell. In the time that they were gone, she had moved her books and her bones to an empty room in the compound and had warded it against Ancestral magic and perhaps also Ancestral peekage. Hope helped her with that while she talked about her adventures as a wolf. The only thing that Hope had missed was human food. The raw diet made her sick to her stomach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella didn\u2019t understand why Hope, and all the other Crescent wolves, hadn\u2019t been ejected from New Orleans when the barrier went up, but Hope had a natural explanation; they had all been in their wolf form, therefore classifying as a werewolf and not a vampire. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAh, so here you are,\u201d Sam\u2019s voice sounded from behind them. When Bella turned around, she saw her standing casually against the doorpost. \u201cI love what you\u2019ve done with the place; it\u2019s very\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMagical?\u201d Hope snorted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, I was going for Feng Shui, but I suppose that works, too,\u201d she replied and then nodded at Hope. \u201cGood to see you again, Hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd you,\u201d Hope grinned. \u201cBella\u2019s already promised to cook us a big reunion dinner when we\u2019re done with this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, really?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYep!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can\u2019t wait. Where\u2019s Klaus?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s still out hunting down some ingredients we\u2019re going to need,\u201d Bella said as she looked up from her books with a smile. \u201cHow would you feel if I say that I can make you indestructible like Klaus? Would you like that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sam blinked at her and sucked in a breath. \u201cOh, I don\u2019t know\u2026 Can I think about it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure, that spell can wait.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you going to do it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella let out a breath and nodded. \u201cEventually, when I\u2019m done, yes. I thought long and hard about it when I was collecting all these spells because I like to believe that dead is dead, but the whole supernatural business makes it a bit of a weird thought. I think that eventually, Kol will move on when I\u2019m gone, but I\u2019m also sure that he wouldn\u2019t mind my company for the rest of his life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEspecially with Elijah and Rebekah\u2019s antics?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh yeah. Seems like Always and Forever ends for them after 1000 years,\u201d Bella muttered as she went over the books again to check if she was missing something. \u201cBut think about it, there\u2019s plenty of time. You\u2019re pretty indestructible already so\u2026 no rush.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe regent is very well protected, I doubt Klaus will want you to go by yourself to pay her a visit,\u201d Sam eventually said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not going alone. I never said I was going alone. I\u2019m not stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut you went alone to New Orleans to lower the barrier —-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t as if you lot could get in,\u201d Bella countered, turning around to face Sameen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd you went up against Mandy by yourself —-\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella smirked. \u201cNot by choice. I wasn\u2019t alone in that instance. Try again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was this fun trip to Italy where you went up against the Volturi all by yourself because you drugged me,\u201d Kol\u2019s voice sounded before he rounded the corner. \u201cYou could have been killed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCould have, but didn\u2019t. They shouldn\u2019t have pissed me off,\u201d Bella got to her feet and kissed him as a greeting. \u201cBesides, haven\u2019t I been a good girl since then?\u201d She batted her lashes at him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe jury\u2019s still out on that yet,\u201d he said with a snort and returned her kiss before handing her the bag with items and herbs she wanted him to pick up. \u201cNik not back yet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSoon, I think.\u201d She put her arms around him and hugged him tightly. \u201cAre you really okay with all this?\u201d She asked quietly as she looked up to him. \u201cMe sticking around for a bit longer?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol grinned. \u201cWell, as long as we can continue what we used to do\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUhuh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, Cuddles, you have no idea how much I want to kill you. The impatience is killing me, but alas, I shall have to wait for a little bit longer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, I\u2019m going to barf,\u201d Sam muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[The Abattoir, French Quarter, New Orleans. January 28th, 2311. 6:21 am] <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Ready?” Bella asked Hope after locking the door. She knew that Kol had wanted to be there when she would do her magic, but she was afraid that something would go wrong, and she’d end up hurting him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was just her and Hope as Bella could use all the magic she could get her hands on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Yeah,” Hope replied slightly hesitant. “Are you sure this is going to work?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Nope.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Okay. Great.” She stretched herself and sighed. “So whatever happens, don’t stop?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Scared?” Bella laughed as she covered her bones with the soil. “You’re a 300-year-old tribrid, this won’t be the worst thing you’ve experienced.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“No, but it is the most delicate spell I\u2019ve ever done. One wrong word or too fast and I will screw things up,\u201d Hope smiled. \u201cForgive me when I have some performance anxiety.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHope, I trust you,\u201d Bella said as she looked at the girl. \u201cI trust you. Now, let\u2019s kick ass.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right before Bella wanted to start on the spell, Hope\u2019s phone-like device went off. Bella was surprised that she already had one after being a wolf for so long and basically only just returned. \u201cSorry,\u201d Hope muttered as she picked up the phone. \u201cWho is this?\u201d Frowning at the phone, she put it on speaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI like the plan. It will work.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella blinked when she heard the voice and had to dig deep for any recognition. \u201cPeter?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd congratulations on making New Orleans open to us vamps again. We\u2019ll talk soon. I\u2019d wish you good luck, but you don\u2019t really need it.\u201d <\/em>And with that, the phone went dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFriend of yours?\u201d Hope said as she turned off the phone and put it back in her pocket. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom a very long time ago,\u201d Bella replied with a slight growl. He had disturbed the peace with his phone call, and she knew that he knew it. \u201cOkay, let\u2019s do this. No more interruptions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first step was to bring her body back, rebuild it with magic, make it flesh and blood again. She had dipped into the Dark Magic pool often enough, but necromancy required a lot of power. Then there was this whole balance of nature thing that reared its ugly head when performing something like this, but Bella figured that since her current body only had about 13 hours to go, it would balance out evenly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was weird to see that slowly, but surely, her old, wrinkled body appeared around the bones that were sticking out from the soil. The bones and earth shifted, the hum of powerful magic was all around her and Hope, their entire being breathing it in as if it was a lovely summer\u2019s day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can hear the heart beating,\u201d Hope muttered quietly. \u201cAre you sure it\u2019s just a shell?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUhuh,\u201d Bella said as she raised her old, naked, body from the soil and transferred it to the table with her magic. \u201cAre you sure it\u2019s fully functional?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh yeah, definitely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAwesome,\u201d Bella said with a grin before covering her body with a blanket. \u201cThat was the easy part.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan we take a break? I\u2019m a little woozy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Yeah, I suppose,” Bella said as she looked at Hope, who looked a little pale. “Eat something, I can do the rejuvenation spell by myself.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hope blinked at her. “Bella, we still have like 12 hours. It’s okay to take a break.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Yeah well, if this doesn’t work, we still need a couple hours for plan B so take a break. If you’re worried, send in Kol.” Bella said impatiently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hope smirked as she heard Bella’s heart beat even faster before leaving. Not soon after, Kol walked in. “Hope said you’re a little anxious,” he said before wrapping her into his arms. “Oh hey, you did it!” He said when his eyes fell upon Bella’s body. “Is it fully functional?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“You tell me,” she muttered as she took a deep breath and tried to relax. “Hope heard the heartbeat.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It’s a bit on the weak side, but yeah.” He kissed the top of her head and smiled. “Did you ever think you were going to do this one day before you came to New Orleans for the first time?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She huffed. “Of course not, I wasn’t even aware of my magic. In all honesty, this feels wrong. This goes against nature. I didn’t feel this conflicted when I did a similar spell on Jasper and Peter but —“<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“All parties involved were already dead.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Yeah, and technically, I died too. But I’m alive and… Ugh.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kol ruffled Bella\u2019s hair. \u201cGet out of your head, Cuddles. If the ancestors want to take away your magic for doing this, then so be it. You\u2019ll lose them anyway once you tell me I can feed you my blood and kill you. Nature is balanced. It\u2019ll all balance out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou just can\u2019t wait to kill me,\u201d she said with a slight chuckle before looking at herself. \u201cQuestion; what if I am unable to reverse time on myself? Would you still want me if I was in that body?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEw, no,\u201d Kol said, scrunching his nose in disgust. \u201cI\u2019d still love you, but no. I mean\u2026 look at my face, all perfect and handsome. Then look at\u2026 that. When the other body grew older I didn\u2019t mind much, but come on, either you reverse it or find yourself a new host body.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She narrowed her eyes on him before turning around, leaning against him and muttering a spell. She then reached into her pocket to reveal a tiny herb bag and set it on fire before throwing it at her body. She and Kol watched in fascination as the fire consumed her old body, turning it to ash. Along with the blanket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She allowed it to smoulder for a little under 80 seconds and then cast another spell to rebuild, crossing her fingers behind her back as she hoped it would work. The timing was going to be right. Bella wanted to look Kol\u2019s age, maybe a little younger, but not by much as she didn\u2019t want to be stuck in high school for the rest of her life. She wanted to be able to travel, to do fun things and not being confined. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She hated to be confined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWow, would you look at that,\u201d Kol said breathlessly, letting go of Bella and walked over to her old body. \u201cOh\u2026 yes,\u201d his voice sounded slightly constrained. \u201cYes. Absolutely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She tilted her head with an amused smile on her lips. \u201cWould you like some alone time?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan I?\u201d Kol looked up with an impish look on his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPervert.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAh, but you love me for it,\u201d he grinned as he grabbed another blanket and covered her up so that only her face was visible in case someone else would walk in and see her glorious body. It was all his, and he couldn\u2019t wait for her to be back in it. While the blonde hair was adorable, he preferred the looks of her original body. \u201cNow what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella shrugged as she crossed her arms over her chest. \u201cWait for Hope to have somewhat recharged so she can put me back in myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[The Abattoir, French Quarter, New Orleans. January 28th, 2311. 12:01 pm] <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCome on, Cuddles,\u201d Kol muttered as he once again rubbed her chest with his knuckles. Everything sounded as it should, her heartbeat had begun to steadily beat once she was inside of herself and he was on the verge of feeding her his blood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her body simply didn\u2019t want to warm up just yet. Maybe it was because of the spell Hope had used, a spell taught by Bella herself. It was an unusual one, why not go for the well-travelled path? If he hadn\u2019t been mistaken, part of the spell had been to anchor herself inside her body, not that anyone could pull her out without her consent or whatever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCome back to me or I will feed you my blood and kill you, so you have no choice but to come back,\u201d he growled. His impatience was getting the better of him. \u201cBecause I hate this. So you\u2019d better come back or else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShut up,\u201d Bella muttered as she rolled into him. \u201cI feel like I\u2019ve been hit by a truck.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, that\u2019s because you allowed a tribrid to perform the spell. Hope\u2019s terribly out of shape due to having spent the most time as a wolf,\u201d he said after letting out a breath of relief. \u201cShe has the finesse of an elephant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlay nice,\u201d she put her arm around him, her eyes still closed. \u201cI\u2019m back now, relax. No more time restraint. We can take our time now, rebuilding. And I\u2019m not going to see the Regent with a headache.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry. We have all the time in the world now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGo nap.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bella huffed as she opened her eyes to look up to him. \u201cFirst you want me to wake up, and now you want me to nap?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[The Abattoir, French Quarter, New Orleans. January 28th, 2311. 12:14 pm] <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe\u2019s awake, I heard them speak,\u201d Sam said as she threw her bag in the corner. While waiting for Bella\u2019s return, she had gone out again and did some target practice on the werewolves that were still roaming about and dared to show their faces in the French Quarter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood. No more unrest in the family and we can move forward on a united front,\u201d Klaus responded as he looked at his mate. \u201cDid you have fun, my love?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sam merely smirked before pulling Klaus with her to the bathroom. Once there, she turned on the water and undressed herself in front of him while she kept her eyes firmly fixed on him. \u201cWant to have some more fun?\u201d She asked in a velvety voice as she started to undress him as well. \u201cGet rid of some tension?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Klaus greedily kissed her, pushing her against the nearest wall. She had the right idea. Now that Bella was going to be with them for a much longer time, it was time to enjoy himself. At least a little. In the three days that they\u2019d been back in New Orleans, they had eliminated a lot of werewolves or caused them to flee out of the Quarter. Sure, they still had a lot to do to make sure that most of them left for better places while Bella and Kol would focus on the witches and their problems, but there was no pressure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reorganising the supernatural population took time. He had done this many times before, but this time it was going to be different. He was going to have Sam by his side. And Bella and Kol. Rebekah and Elijah were probably going to bugger off again, and he wasn\u2019t sure if his daughter would stick around long enough to help them. She liked being a wolf too much, and she wanted to be with her mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe, as a gesture of good faith, he could ask Bella to reverse the spell that Dahlia had cast for him, to reverse the curse on the Crescent wolves, or at least those who were still affected by it. Perhaps Elijah would take Hayley with him if he left again. Another worry less for Klaus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey,\u201d Sam poked him in the chest. \u201cThoughts with me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m all yours,\u201d Klaus smiled at her, discovering he was completely naked himself and allowed Sam to pull him into the cubicle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood, because I\u2019m going to take full advantage of your body, Mr. Mikaelson,\u201d she said with a wolfish grin. \u201cAnd you\u2019re going enjoy it and love it and then return the favor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you wish,\u201d he said, putting his arms around her before kissing her again, but blinked when she pushed him away. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, you\u2019re not allowed to touch me. Let\u2019s see how long you can last.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 08 [The Abattoir, French Quarter, New Orleans. March 13rd, 2115. 2:50 pm] KJ was excited, his big brother Nick was coming to New Orleans, and he had missed him. Klaus thought it was adorable to see someone excited about a sibling returning, and it had been a very long…<\/p>\n

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