a/n: in case people haven't seen my announcements I'm crazy busy atm, but I'm so excited for the next chapter that I'm trying to get it out soon!!

(Friendly reminder, ways to motivate writers to update isn't to spam message, it's to comment and engage with published chapters!!) Love you all, Bea xx

Aurora DeMartel was in an old junkyard, listening to a song she once loved playing through the abandoned train car she'd found safety in. Enjoying how it felt warm. That it seemed to have sprung to life just for her. That trains were a place one could simply sit in and be taken to where they needed to be, gazing at the world through a window, air breathable, intimate closeness few other vehicles replicated.

"I can see why my brother liked you," She sensed her visitor, "Such the strong, silent type."

"This isn't silence, Aurora," Aya stood stiffly, a witch behind her, "It's patience."

Staring at how the woman wafted through the space.

"Give me what's in your hand," Her eyes on the gun, "And I'll give you what you want."

Aurora faced her slowly.

Light pink lips twitching.

"Aurora – "

"What I want, Aya, I have."

An amused smile across her face.

"A weapon that can kill the unkillable," Aurora stressed, "And make the Mikaelsons suffer nearly as much as they've made me suffer."

"Unfortunately," Aya stepped closer, "Elijah is one of your targets. And my sire."

Entirely unsettled.

"If you kill him, I die too."

"As would my brother," Aurora reasoned, "Who drowns endlessly at the bottom of the ocean."

Facing the woman sternly.

"Killing Elijah is the only mercy I can offer him, Aya."

"What if there was another way? "Aya softened her tone, "Help me sever the link between the Originals and their sire lines."

Aurora's chin lifted.

"And I'll show it to you."

"The last I heard," Aurora placed the gun on a table, "Your witches were at a dead end."

"A night ago, MiMi Pasare came through."

"She's betrayed the family?"

"She believes in good causes," Aya's turn to smile slyly, "She performed a test run. It succeeded."

"And The Mikaelson's are simply letting her?"

"Ah yes," Aya mused, "My second offer to you."

Aurora sat at the vanity table in the train car.

"Do you know how I was able to find you?"

"A coven of powerful witches."

"Because Klaus Mikaelson was indisposed."

Stillness.

"The Pethane witches have one goal. They do not care about us or Klaus, meaning they did not hesitate to put him into a weakened state for one of their spells. Perfectly stealable by us."

Aurora stared at her in the mirror, "Where is he?"

"He and MiMi Pasare are at Davilla," Aya nodded, "He is being prepared for the spell as we speak. Meaning, I only need one thing from you."

Aurora gently cut a lock of her own hair, "When this is over, Aya."

Lifting it out.

"We should be better friends."

"When this is over," Aya took it, "We can be anything we want."

Aurora watched how she handed it to the witch escorting her.

"Now," Aya gestured to a nice sear, "Come and lie over here."

"What will happen?" Aurora didn't stand, "The Pethane may not like Klaus, but I am assuming they did not hand over one of their own to you?"

"They took one of my witches," Aya dismissed, "I take one of theirs."

"And she gave up the spell?"

"The Sisters are currently working on it," Aya admitted, "She is also unconscious."

Aurora finally stood.

"Cynthia will guide you," Aya gestured to the witch.

"This had better work."

"Close your eyes," Aya simply instructed.

Watching as Cynthia pulled out a vial, dropping the strands of hair into it.

"Lo Cosu Om A Din La Chambre."

Aya watched as Aurora's body slumped against the comfier chair.

"Lo Cosu Om A Din La Chambre.

Entering their next stage to keep the Mikaelson's scrambling.

THE WITCHES
A Streetcar Named Desire

Freya was pacing behind a sofa in the study, trying to understand a collection of information Elijah had just revealed to her. They'd both taken a moment to change and shower, the next day hitting with a speed no one appreciated as MJ and Klaus remained missing.

"You daggered Rebekah?"

He was incredibly still.

"And you're just telling me now!?"

"She sacrificed herself to protect us," Elijah stressed, "And, to protect her, I'll tell Niklaus and Kol – and I'm telling you."

She clicked her teeth.

"No one would have known Rebekah's whereabouts if Aurora had taken my life."

"The prophecy says you three will be felled by friend, family, and foe," Freya recited, "Rebekah was fallen by family. That leaves friend and foe."

He let himself lean against the desk.

"You and Klaus have a lot of foes."

He glowered.

"Thankfully," Freya forced a smile, "Not many friends."

"Meet Stefan Salvatore," Kol walked into the room, a vampire in tow, "Old friend of Nik's."

Elijah tilted his head back, shooting Kol a 'you have to be kidding me look,' while Stefan simply glanced about the house.

"And a trickle-down sire-ling."

Freya just looked confused.

"Long story," Kol forced a smile, "Stefan!"

He faced the man, gesturing back.

"Meet Freya," He clapped with each word, "The brand-new older sister."

Pointing up.

"Longer story."

"Caroline caught me up," Stefan nodded to her, "Nice to meet you?"

"He needs a favour," Kol declared.

"An old 'friend' of Nik's?" Freya repeated, "Did you say?"

"Depends on your definition of the word," Stefan winced, "I'm MJ's friend."

Freya's lips pursed.

"Very happy to help the search for them both, though."

As Kol opened his mouth to speak, he felt a flush of heat, turning from the group to shift towards the nearest window, Stefan hesitating at the sight.

"Brother," Elijah clapped his shoulder, "Why don't we get you something to drink?"

"Great idea," Kol tried not to wince too obviously, "If you don't mind lending him a hand, Freya."

She raised a curious look.

"Third shelf, second cabinet in. MJ's room," He sped up as his stomach started to turn, "Little blue book – somewhere in there's a spell he needs – "

Vomit rushed through his throat, Kol vamping out of the room before he could throw up over the floor, landing it into the sink instead.

Stefan listened after him, spinning to Elijah.

Only to be met by a calm and put-together smile.

"You need magical assistance," Freya said, not missing a beat, as Kol continued to throw up, "Assuming."

"Rayna Cruz?" He looked between the pair, "Got stabbed by her."

Elijah sighed even louder, "Tracking magic."

Catching Freya up.

"He'll need something to block the wound."

"Perfect," Freya rubbed her tired eyes, "One moment."

Using the balcony to go to MJ and Kol's room, Elijah rushed to find Kol leaving the bathroom.

"You're getting worse."

"How exciting for us all!"

Elijah grimaced.

"The vein seems to be lasting me longer," Kol pointed out, "Still threw up, but no desiccation."

"Laura is somewhere in the house."

"Kitchen," Kol could just about hear, "One moment."

"You shouldn't have brought him here," Elijah walked after him, "Whatever point you wanted to make – "

"Stefan is not the problem," Kol dismissed, "Assuming Freya's pointed question means you've been talking about the prophecy?"

"You said you believed in it, too."

"I believe in the gift. Not this specific one," He slid down the stair rail, "But if you are so determined to find foe amongst friends, does Maci not already tick that box for us?"

Elijah stopped on the stairs.

"Or Marcel?"

"Meaning?"

"'Fall' doesn't have to mean die."

One brother on the ground floor, one clinging to height.

"It can simply mean crossed. Taken down – physically or emotionally, or momentarily."

"...My sire line."

"Marcel, Maci, and MJ are all now in the clear," He reasoned, "They are friends who have crossed you in a way that causes a fall from grace."

Having lost some of his protectors.

"The pair of them more, as they also decided to lie to everyone about what they were up to, including lying to MJ."

If she was being honest in her rapid fire update before Clio arrived.

"And stealing Jackson's heart."

"A cover," Elijah reminded him, "Marcel is the least of our troubles."

"They would have no idea the real ingredient was even tied to hearts if not for him."

"If Mira had not corrected it – "

"To get it back! For Hayley!" Kol felt his insides tugging, "Still masking the spell they'd actually need to do any damage to us."

"I had a similar thought."

The drop in tension left Kol confused.

"Aurora needs to be the priority," He reasoned, "Niklaus and Mira could survive hell alone. Together? With the number of people focused on finding her?"

Was that better or worse than him only focusing Freya on Klaus?

Focusing on neither of them.

Leaving them to MJ's potential rescue squad.

"Aurora is out there. With the last of The White Oak."

And clearly ready to kill them.

"On the off-chance they recreate the spell," He had to consider it, "She needs to die first. The weapon returned to us before they can do anything with the freedom."

"Slight problem," Clio appeared from the foyer, "She and Aya are working together."

Both Elijah and Kol charged at the sound of her voice, only for her to materialise behind them, closer to the stairs.

"I am not here to fight!"

"Then you shouldn't have vanished with two of our family," Kol glared.

"I am trying to restore Mira," Clio reminded him, "The hybrid ground the spell!"

"And," Elijah tugged on his suit jacket, "Why do I have a feeling you no longer know where they are?"

Clio curled her lip in.

"What's going on?" Freya was rushing out, Stefan behind her.

Zoning in on the woman.

"You."

"Aya and The Strix have avoided me, and I them," Clio's voice was tight, "Our business in this city is unrelated, so why engage with each other?"

"Oh," Kol laughed, "I'm going to murder you."

"We finished our spell," Clio defended, "She did not appreciate my involvement with Davina's freedom. After we had left Niklaus and Mira to resolve their issues, they found our new base."

Able to use the moments Davina had removed the handcuffs pre-ritual to tune into her exact location.

"And took them."

The Pethane having cleared out.

"The rest of my coven view this petty fighting as irrelevant to us."

Meant to be dealing with the cracks in their magic rippling out from MJ's issues.

"But I will not leave my family in danger."

Kol attacked faster than he'd ever moved before, "You talk of family?"

Pinning her to the stair railing.

"Leaving her to – "

"I do not see the future while awake! And the glimpses I already saw – "

"You have common sense!" He whacked her spine unnaturally hard into the metal, "This is – "

Elijah intervened, yanking Kol away so Clio could click her neck back, hands running up to ensure no permanent damage was done.

"They'll kill her!"

"They need to get the spell first," Elijah reminded him, "That gives us a window of opportunity."

"Okay," Stefan leaned over the balcony, "Maybe I should've asked more questions?"

"Mira found a way to break the sire line."

Stefan stilled.

"My sires now have her and Klaus," Elijah explained, "And are probably trying to kill him while extracting the spell from her mind to free themselves."

"And to my understanding," Clio's eyes were pinned on the darkness under Kol's eyes, "They are working with Aurora."

Kol went to attack again, only for Elijah to stand in the middle.

"Not to placate," His mind was racing, "But this is Mira."

"You don't just get into MJ's mind," Stefan spoke, "She has it on lockdown after everything."

"Unless something else happened," Elijah looked back to Clio.

"I cannot see while awake," She hissed, "I don't enjoy this situation."

"But nothing you've seen previously helps?" Kol mocked.

"Time is not simple," She dismissed, "We do not see things linearly – and we see everything. You think I can always just hone in on her?"

She was shaking.

"You think I wouldn't spend every second watching my family if I had control over it?"

Kol breathed slowly, "I think you would have more care, and not perform a Floare ritual on a pregnant descendant."

"Mira's already pregnant?"

Kol shifted, "Thought you might've sensed it..."

"MJ's pregnant?" Stefan repeated.

"Potentially," Elijah answered, "Yet to be confirmed."

"She said already," Freya pointed out, "Already?"

The space was quiet enough to hear a pin drop, eyes pinned on the out-of-time witch.

"I know of a child."

"Did she..." Stefan's eyes cautiously on Kol, "...How?"

"Witchy interference," Kol glared, "She didn't cheat on me."

"There's more to it than that," Clio murmured.

Kol pointed sharply, "What do you know?"

"No one path is set," She spoke slowly, "But certain impacts of power cannot be avoided."

"Impacts of power?"

"Nature must find balance one way or another," Clio reminded them, "And right now? The past few years have destroyed more than it has created."

"So Mira creates a baby?" Kol followed, "That's ridiculous."

"Is it?"

The siblings looked at each other, trying to guess their thoughts, but not on the right wavelength. Annoying Kol with the realisation that he and Klaus had been able to read what the other was thinking after their recent team-ups.

"I am breaking duty by interfering here," Clio used the confusion, "But I am not leaving her to The Strix's games."

"If your troupe think you're breaking duty," Kol forced himself to calm, "You won't have access to your full power."

"How do you think you landed a hit?"

And why she'd wasted time coming to them at all.

"I am a powerful Aonso witch in my own right, but being Aonso also means my power is fluctuating based on whatever is interfering with Mira."

"You could lose your place for breaking code."

"Seems only fair," Her eyes fell to the floor, "Considering it is somewhat my fault we're in this situation."

"MJ is pregnant," Stefan looked like his world was exploding, "And Klaus might die?"

Luckily, Elijah's phone rang.

"Hayley," He quickly answered, "You have news?"

"Sam does," She was holding the phone between them.

"Pri does," Sam corrected, "She just texted."

"Maci has woken up?" Elijah forced his tone dry, "And wishes for an audience?"

"She's been looking for MJ with the rest of us," He didn't take the bait, "Aya asked her to pass on a message."

"That is?" Kol prompted.

"Aurora would like to arrange a trade," He explained, "The old abandoned rail park?"

A beep as Hayley texted the address.

"Elijah shows. And they give MJ back."

Kol tensed.

"With a fun little P.S." Sam's tone was dark, "She has wolf venom in her system."

Everyone froze.

"No indication of how long it's been there."

"Mira can siphon the bite," Elijah responded, "How is that..."

He began to think, looking to Kol.

"She is nothing if not a planner."

"What do you mean?"

"She can siphon the bite," He repeated, "Why not use that unless it is part of a longer play?"

"Are you suggesting MJ is leaving herself poisoned?"

"Sounds like something she'd do," Stefan had to admit.

The two wolves on the other line paused, "Hello?"

"Mystic Falls friend of MJ."

"Cool," Sam just rolled with it, "And yeah. She might. But they have rabid hybrids in their basement; who knows what state she's in."

"We have a maximum of forty-eight hours," Elijah reasoned, "Assume thirty-six for if she has had it since she went missing."

The previous night.

"Meaning we have thirty-six hours to kill Aurora, retrieve the White Oak, and destroy The Strix," He listed, "Before her mind is weak enough to enter. Mira claimed to have a plan."

A pointed comment at Kol.

"To be buying us time – this is that time."

"Or," Kol's fists clenched, "You waste just under two days while I march in there and – "

"Not in your current state."

"My current state – "

"You wish to potentially ruin her plan?"

"Maybe you all enjoy these little hero episodes she does," Kol narrowed his eyes, "But Mira's best plans have never been based in leaving her to suffer."

"The original near-miss fall of Klaus Mikaelson?"

"She didn't go in planning to kill him!" Kol argued, "She realised no one was going to save her, so she planned a way to save everyone!"

He'd eventually gotten a full play-by-play out of her.

"She used her situation. She didn't create it."

Ice in his bones.

"I refused to leave her to feel that way ever again."

Stefan looked guiltily, "I'm in."

"You need to be masked," Kol shut down, "Before you get all of us marked by a hunter."

"This has to be a trap," Hayley hated to say, "Right?"

"Maybe," Sam half-agreed, "But I don't care if it means getting MJ back."

"If Aurora's going to the train yard," Hayley considered, "Do we send a group of us to Davilla to scope out if MJ's actually there? You said the tunnels were all connected, so if she's been left with their hybrids, we could slip them out while you guys buy us time?"

"We're all assuming the bite isn't from Klaus," Kol spoke lowly, "You say you left them to talk."

Referencing Clio.

"He was not pleased with her."

They'd been heading to a friend-implosion for a while.

"And we all know how he gets."

Everyone considered it.

"It would explain how she was weak enough to be taken by them, to begin with," Kol's only reason to doubt Clio's story, "If you left her conscious, there is no way she'd let Aya overpower her."

"For now," Elijah gripped the phone tightly, "If you are so adamant, this is not her scheme."

"She would've sent a note," Kol reasoned, "Or some kind of sign."

"We will go to the trade," He decided.

"Elijah!" Freya protested.

"If it is a trap, we will be ready," He didn't want people marching into the Davilla Estate, "And if Mira is there, we get an estimate of what happened."

"And how long we have," Hayley shifted, "Elijah – "

"We will figure it out," He was talking to all of them, "They will both be fine."

"Mira sets up your downfall," Freya spoke carefully, "But we use you to rescue her?"

"If it means no one else can cast that spell," Elijah reminded her, "Might as well give her a chance to explain herself."

Kol didn't like that, and he could tell by the sound coming from Sam, the hybrid didn't like it either.

"We're all on the same side here," Hayley spoke, "We still don't know what caused MJ to look into the spell."

"Caroline gave birth," Kol spoke flatly.

His skin itched, hunger embedded in his stomach.

"She went to Mystic Falls," He didn't look up at Stefan, "And was faced with the fact they are now treating her with respect while we are draining her dry."

Glaring at the centre of the room.

"Meaning she could not, in good conscience, leave the sire line untouched."

"But she didn't break the whole thing," Hayley pointed out carefully, "She didn't actually do the bad thing? Right?"

"Right," Sam agreed.

Kol's eyes were on Elijah, then Freya, the elder brother letting himself nod.

"This comes from Maci," Elijah decided, "Aya asked her to talk MJ into it. She hijacked Aya's plan for her own selfish want."

"So we're going to do the exchange?" Sam checked.

"A version of it," Elijah mused, "As strong as The Sisters are, I highly doubt they have a spell capable of overpowering me so easily."

~***~

MJ could feel the coldness in the air, sending shivers across her body as the damp stone floor became familiar. It wasn't a regular chill. Not some natural response to being near something dripped in water, but an energy radiating from the creatures around her. Body left in the front of a room, surrounded by five people fighting every instinct to attack her.

The one who'd caved, driving teeth across her arm, starting at her wrist and pulled off by her elbow, now outlined in a prison of runes to keep him back.

Keep him smashing himself into the walls.

Howling for freedom and the sweet release of death.

The stinging up MJ's arm was nothing compared to the twisting agony across her back, blood dripping from both wounds, sticking to her skin, and staining the pallet of grey created by the lack of light in the basement. Location far too familiar. The bodies were either too tired to fight or flinching desperately at every sound overhead like it might be an escape.

Mary Porter's house.

The medical basement in Mystic Falls.

That damned room in Chicago that Maci's mercenary had swept her out of, no Maci this time. No Sofya. No idea if Maci had even recovered from the spell as MJ's mind raced, trying to think through every wording that might set her free. Unable to focus, her brain rammed into a drinks mixer every time she tried to push up, the hot flushes screaming through her body until every shadow seemed to have two outlines in shades of red and green.

Her throat closed up, turning to sandpaper as her own blood felt like a tap she needed to drain dry. Knowing that doing so would only make those flushes worse. Turn the lines into real hallucinations – so sick of hallucinations.

If MJ saw one more hallucin –

"Adhuc Aperta Mente."

She screamed, sweat forming across her skin as two of The Sisters chanted.

"Adhuc Aperta Mente."

Her body twisting as she tried to move.

Senses acting on a loop.

Each time they tried to force her mind open, her instinct was to fight, unable to siphon the wolf venom or compulsion out of her system, another pain infliction spell hitting. Each scream tore at the minds of her cellmates. Ears able to hear their half-transformed claws scratch at the walls and chains, torn between caving to their instincts and fighting what The Sisters wanted from them.

Limp and weak wolves.

Hybrids.

Unable to do everything as their faux transformations made their demon-of-the-night instincts tear at their natural being.

"Adhuc Aperta Mente."

Mind.

Magic.

MJ felt her eyes roll back, shoving her nails into her shoulders, pain the only thing she could hold onto as they tried to ply their way into her memories. Her mind. Her ability to think around everything.

"Adhuc Aperta Mente."

Magic.

Siphoning –

Compulsion.

"Adhuc Aperta Mente."

The most powerful thing about MJ had always been her mind.

"Adhuc Aperta Mente."

Forcing her fingers out of her skin, weakly able to trail the digits up to her face, the drops of blood on her lips taunting release.

Freedom.

Landing on her temple.

"Adhuc Aperta Mente."

Focus.

Focus MJ.

Inhala. Exhala.

"Adhuc Aperta Mente."

Her scream doubled, The Sisters only gleaming, unable to realise that the way she cradled her skull was not incoming weakness. How dare Klaus put her in that position. How dare he treat her like that – it was not the same. As stressed or upset as he was, how dare –

'Unable to siphon.'

Not unable to spell cast.

"Adhuc Aperta Mente."

Davina had used magic to remove Josh's compulsion.

Not compulsion.

Pure agonising pain as something tied to your brain was ripped off like a raw and bleeding infected band-aid.

"Adhuc Aperta Mente."

Letting her brain fall into that part of her mind she'd been training to keep at bay.

The lava inside her when she let herself get mad.

Thinking about Klaus, claiming to be so against when she'd requested compulsion, to leave her so defenceless – to take away the only thing that could keep them all safe.

"Adhuc Aperta Mente."

How fucking dare he?

"Adhuc Aperta Mente."

The pain in her temples, cracking her skull open again and again, was nothing compared to the whirlwind of emotions. Every nerve inside of her was slowly being set on fire. Thinking through Klaus shoving her into the ground – thinking of him refusing – using Carol's death to justify it all – talking about something that he knew was so important –

"Adhuc Aperta Mente."

He wanted her to keep him safe, but he'd put her through this?

"Adhuc Aperta Mente."

It was too early, and the sky was dark despite the number of footsteps milling around the abandoned and half-broken train cars. No sun in the sky, but no stars either. Daytime was only approaching, marking the end of their insanity night of searching for the two most powerful creatures on the planet.

"You should have stayed behind," Elijah murmured.

"And leave you to handle Mira's fate?"

"I would be far more concerned for Niklaus's reaction to her choices," His eyes stayed forward, "To me, she has simply 'got even.'"

Kol almost wanted to laugh.

Scanning the site's walkways, he found it too similar to the cemetery for his liking.

Unknown lurkers waiting in every shadow.

"I snap her neck – she breaks one of the largest sections of my sire line."

"They are not the same thing."

"Indeed," Elijah gleamed, "She survived my indiscretion – I may not survive hers."

"Comments like that," Kol forced a smile, "Are precisely why I'm here."

Elijah rolled his eyes, "I would not suggest it if I were not concerned."

"Your concern is as fickle as my loyalty to our family."

"You two took your time," Sam was waiting for them.

"Where is young-Pria," Elijah glanced around, "Fearing wrath?"

"Helping Josh," He crossed his arms, "We went back to the tunnel entrance that should have led to Davilla – magic's all over it. They're checking for a potential second one."

"Abigail's going to check the original one out with a few of the pack for protection," Hayley appeared from a different path, "See if she can break their seals."

"Meaning no one is now tracking power?" Elijah frowned, "Able to confirm either of their locations?"

"Rhea is," Kol had been updated, "Though her map keeps lighting on fire. Waiting for a few friends to lend her a hand to overpower, or drain, that."

"Where's The Pethane?" Sam prompted.

"Dealing with Stefan Salvatore," Kol answered, "He needs magic healing."

"Did I hear 'Mystical Hunter' correctly on that call?"

"You did."

Hayley and Sam shared a look.

"A vampire one this time," Kol assured them, "And it's being dealt with."

"Starting to think this hybrid hype is a little overrated," Sam glanced about, "All these hunters meant for one species, and we're here stuck on all the hit lists."

"If they have Klaus and MJ," Hayley shifted, "And they're supposedly trying to make hybrids..."

"Guess Klaus'll finally be finding out about them," Sam pointed out.

"Or potentially used to make more," Elijah grimaced, "And we still do not have any definite reason for their interest."

"MJ got something," Sam wasn't blinking when looking at the older one, "Vina mentioned she was quizzing and confusing them while in Davilla."

Elijah raised an eyebrow.

"Apparently, there's something off about their intel."

"Meaning?"

"No idea," Sam smiled, "Guess you'll have to save MJ and ask her yourself."

Kol bit back his laugh.

"Since that is what we're here to do."

Elijah looked unphased, "Obviously."

"No one arrived since we got here," Hayley kept them on topic, "Meaning they're already here or trying to jump us once we get to the carriage they marked in the text."

"You guys go straight there," Sam suggested, "We keep checking the area?"

"Might as well," Elijah didn't like the plan.

Not only sending them ahead but being there at all.

Still, as everyone around the family seemed to unite in MJ's absence, that united force seemed to view him as the enemy, ignoring his suggested plan. Not that it had been a fully formed plan. But still. He did not need to give their family any more people to worry about by pushing back, especially if the united-MJ force was how they located Klaus.

Leaving the brothers to keep walking, Elijah's ear on edge.

Hearing music coming from a spot as Hayley opened the door.

Pausing.

"What are you doing?" Kol glared.

"You can't..." Elijah focused on his brother, "Are you listening?"

Kol frowned, "Yes."

"Are you sure?"

Kol blinked slowly, swallowing nervously.

"When you and Klaus went to Camille," Elijah scanned him, "Vincent's boundary spell faltered around you."

"Momentarily."

"Do you have any idea what is happening to you?" He had to ask, "This seems like more than some simple hex or curse."

They'd reached a carriage on the far side of the sight, a broken metal fence on the left, stretching into a tired and old field of nothing. The sky was much clearer, oddly beautiful around the abandoned carts. Items so out of time, found in the few green areas left in the large city, hidden, almost like it was made for vampires longing for an era they were forced to leave behind.

"Kol – "

"I think," Kol breathed out slowly, "The stone used on me is meant to tear a witch spirit to pieces."

They couldn't hear anyone around them.

"I am no witch spirit."

"Part of you is," Elijah scanned the area, "Part of you lived as one for nearly a year quite recently."

Kol winced, "And I think that's what's been latched on to."

"Is it trying to kill you so it can reach that spirit?"

"I have no idea," He admitted, "I think it's trying to strip my vampirism."

Which would explain the side effects.

"Because then I would be a living witch."

Elijah froze.

"And possessable."

They knew the weapon could affect the living through the woman MJ had met.

"Which seems to be the goal for the dead currently."

"Is that possible?" Elijah frowned, "The cure – "

"It isn't," He rubbed his wrists together, "Hence why I seem to be stuck in a cycle of it affecting me before my vampirism remembers it cannot just be taken away."

That meeting with Cami showed a lot of things.

Since then, they'd been running around and only dealing with the consequences of his situation, so it felt more like the magic remembering it was meant to be screwing with him rather than the order he'd described it. But Kol had been able to creep through a barrier to keep vampires out.

Then, it remembered what he was.

"Hence I am happy to leave it as a problem for a later date."

Kol had always been one for self-preservation. It was one of his defining qualities. The issue with that? It was hard to think about self-preservation when MJ was missing.

And confirmed pregnant.

He was taking Clio's wording as a confirmation.

Pregnant 'already.'

Knowing of 'a' child.

That sentence smacked Kol in the face. 'A' child didn't have to mean his. And it didn't seem to imply the present moment.

Was Clio implying that MJ was meant to have a child as a heretic but that it wasn't meant to have happened this soon? That it wasn't meant to be his? That they were meant to separate? Or –

"Lucien's prophet," Elijah's voice sounded a million miles away, "She revealed Mira's ties to the Bennett family."

"Mira technically already knew that."

"And said," Elijah spoke carefully, "Soon to complete the circle."

Kol's thoughts were silenced.

"Ruiz, Bennett, soon to complete – "

"And what?" Kol shrugged, "Our family completes that circle how?"

A beat.

"Don't answer that – I realise – "

"Most of our mother's spells were started by Ayana."

"Now returned to her descendant," Kol finished the thought, "This is all ridiculous – "

"Gentleman," Aya interrupted them.

She stepped out of the cart they'd been staring at despite neither of them being able to hear her. The two sisters on her left and right proved an explanation for that, both Mikaelson's frowning. Unsure if that meant they'd revealed critical information carelessly or if they might have been occupied doing something else.

Hayley and Sam's footsteps were no longer in Elijah's ears either.

Trying not to assume the worst and think of them knocked out somewhere.

"Gentlemen."

"Where is MJ?"

"Nice to see you being so amenable," Aya revealed the white oak gun from her coat pocket, "I was expecting more of a fight."

"I am getting incredibly tired of having that vile weapon pointed at me," Elijah gleamed, "Creator destroyed by his own creation."

"You could say there's a certain poetry to that," Kol mused.

"Indeed," Elijah just walked forward, "Shoot me, and you die."

"For now," Aya matched his smug expression, "For all you know, we are willing to return MiMi Pasare because we have already acquired the spell from her mind."

"Something tells me you haven't, though," Kol gestured, "If MJ was really here, you'd be taunting us with her."

"Implying Nikalus was somehow in a worse state," Elijah agreed, "Instead?"

No Mira Jung in sight.

"Meaning," Kol tutted, "No spell for you."

"You think I would lie?"

"Yes."

"Step inside and see for yourself," She moved away from the cart entrance, "A simple trade."

The thing to get them there.

"You stay with your beloved," She turned the gun on Kol, "Elijah leaves with us of his own free will."

The hair on Kol's neck stood up, looking at the two witches behind her.

"Or is this another standoff with false pretences?"

"You tell us."

"What do I have to hide?" Aya's hand was steady, "You know my goal. You know what I have."

"You have no reason to free Klaus."

Kol let himself move, watching how the barrel trailed him, holding himself on the first step into the carriage. Eyes locked with Elijah as he did so. Then, to The Sisters. Lastly, to the heap in the corner of the room, face covered beneath a cloak, the smell of blood hitting him like a truck he hadn't been able to smell outside.

Instantly rushing to pull the top back.

MJ's unconscious face beneath it, back bleeding, a mark on her arm implying fangs as green puss leaked from the edges.

"Kol?"

"She's in here," He rushed to pull the cloak off, going to feed her his wrist.

Only to be forced to stop again.

The same problem he'd had with Freya.

He didn't know what was happening with his body and feeding blood to MJ? On top of a werewolf bite. Every moment she'd awoken him without hesitation, whether through letting him feed or siphoning his cursed hallucinations away like it was nothing, felt like bricks cracked against his spine.

About to grab her and run.

Only for the cart door to slam shut.

"Elijah!"

"Lo Cosu Om A Din La Chambre."

Kol scooped her up, only for the face to change, blue eyes and pale white skin replacing the familiar warmth of MJ's features, shoving him back, hand up and rippling out pain.

"Lo Cosu Om A Din La Chambre."

The spell far too familiar.

"Lo Cosu Om A Din La Chambre."

"I am not doing that again," Kol groaned, pushing against the wall of the carriage, "You – "

Muscles seizing, only eased by his teeth hitting the witch's neck, her scream reaching every corner of the railyard, Kol jolting back in panic.

A scream too familiar.

MJ's scream.

The witch collapsed to the floor, alive, panting and desperately attempting to reach for the door.

"Menen Kounya A."

Forced to change her spell.

"Menen Kou."

The sharp grip on Kol's neck was slower than normal, letting him feel its hesitation as it tried to snap his neck in half, only slowed by his own hands moving to do the same. Vampire quickness that left his stomach lurching, the woman dead in his hands.

Not MJ.

It wasn't MJ.

A cruel allusion – a desperate attempt to slow him down and spare her life.

Acting like it would do anything other than turn the rage in his blood steaming red as he kicked the door to the train carriage down, finding the same two witches and Aya flinching at his returned presence, Elijah collapsed on the floor.

Kol no longer cared that he could see two of everything or that his neck was still trying to break. Some version of a simple spell meant to bring more pain, only enabling its caster to be killed.

"Lo Cosu Om A Din La Chambre."

Aya was gone, Elijah with her, her witches stilling in panic.

Kol's hand found the neck of the first one, fingers slicing through it like French weaponry, an axe leaving her headless, hand ripping her heart for security. Turning to the second in a blur. The only thing in his mouth profanities and blood.

They thought they could trick him?

Did they think they could play him MJ's scream?

MJ's scream.

Desperate and piercing and injured and created from something –

There was only one way they could've gotten the sound – they had not only taken her, but they were torturing her, and Kol could give less of a shit that they'd walked away with Elijah. The Strix couldn't hurt her. The Sisters could. The women before him were torturing MJ, recording the sound to make their schemes more believable –

His throat –

Her blood –

The room had smelt of Flaore Blood – the beat of her heartbeat – his beat – his –

Nothing in the world was in focus, the echo of sounds leaving him to rip whatever was in his hands to pieces, blood staining any skin it touched until it was one with him. Controlling him. MJ. MJ was bleeding, and alone, and hurt, and he – he – he –

"Kol!" Sam was there in a second, Hayley just behind him, "Dude – "

The second witch was nothing but parts on the floor, yet he was slicing up her forearms, swaying with the breeze –

"Kol..." Sam approached cautiously, "Kol."

Finally letting the destroyed corpse go.

"You with us?"

"...They're hurting her."

"We'll stop them – "

Kol's hand was around his neck next, lifting him off the floor and slamming him straight into the carriage used to trick him, the scream still on loop, only for Hayley to yank him back, the sound of a heavy thump in her wake.

Sam instantly moved to press a foot into the lump, "Look."

Kol forced himself to blink as Hayley carefully let go of his collar, staring at Lucien Castle.

"Where's Elijah?" She asked.

"Davilla."

Hayley's eyes went wide, "You let them – "

"He'll be fine," Kol was monotone, "They put him in a Chambre De Chasse."

"Kol – " Lucien was cut off by The Original ripping his tongue out.

Wrists and feet bound to keep him from getting away, neck promptly snapped.

"They're torturing MJ," Kol announced, "Klaus and Elijah will be fine in their nice little mental prison – and she's getting tortured."

Hayley and Sam's expression quickly matches his.

"For them – because she's trying to keep that damn spell to herself," He picked Lucien up, "And they're going to act like she's a bloody traitor to the family."

As Sam went to talk, Kol started to sway again, the adrenaline wearing off.

Letting Lucien drop as he closed his eyes, pinching his arm like that might stop the pain.

Elijah's words in his ears about his current state.

MJ's scream.

"Kol," Sam glanced at him, "This witch stuff – "

"Witch stuff?" Hayley scanned him.

"Kol."

"It'll be fine," Kol didn't throw up, "Small bursts of interference slowing me down."

Sam didn't like how quickly colour was returning to his face, "You sure?"

Blood covered his face.

"If you need – "

"I have a theory to test," He decided, "See how long it takes 'the vein' to be booted out."

The edge in his eyes was something both had heard about.

Stories of the Kol Mikaelson you feared.

The blood-covered soul Klaus Mikaelson even feared.

"Unless you wish to continue dilly-dallying while your friend screams in agony?"

~***~

Stefan had taken his shirt off, sitting on the table in the study as they dealt with the bleeding x-shaped wound on his chest. Each time Freya tried to stop the flow, it suddenly grew stronger, magic rippling through his body. Creating a careful mix as Clio handed her ingredients she'd collected from MJ's room – rare ingredients.

"So, um," Stefan couldn't help but feel awkward, "Just full disclosure."

Talking to Freya.

"I dated your sister once."

"While that seems like a great story," Freya laughed, grinding herbs together, "A mystical vampire stabbed you with her magic sword?"

"And, when you kill her," Clio finally spoke, "She regenerates."

"Any mystical information we might need?"

"Her father was one of The Five," She actually answered, "She gathered a group of Sharman to take his mystical abilities, make them even stronger, and live an extended life. Unable to rest until those she's marked are dead."

"So, no matter how far I run," Stefan nodded, "This wound acts as a beacon, drawing her to me."

Clio pulled two things out and placed them on the table as Freya finished mixing the paste and applied it to his chest.

"I guess you could say it's been a rough week."

"I can't cure the wound," Freya watched Clio, "But this paste should mask the signal."

"You've done it correctly," Clio had provided the spell Kol implied MJ had, "Let it dry, and you'll be able to travel freely."

"And that?" Stefan eyed up the two small sashes she'd revealed, "They do?"

"Paste comes off," Clio sighed, pointing to the first one, "This should last a few more showers until you track down more."

Stefan let his head nod.

"The second?" She pressed the package into his hand, "Might free you."

Freya raised an eyebrow.

"The wound will still be there, but this?" Clio let go, "If used correctly, it can be turned into quite the powerful tranquilliser. Needs to be in a liquid form; you cannot simply swallow it, but it should dampen all her abilities for quite a few years."

Stefan looked at her eyes.

"If you are trying to work out trust by searching for signs of my younger relation," She closed the ingredients box, "I would remind you that her brother almost destroyed all of you."

Stefan swallowed.

"Make choices yourself. Not through seeking comfort."

Stefan's lips twitched, "Noted."

"Meaning you can head off," Freya repeated.

Stefan pulled on his shirt, "If MJ's in danger – "

"Mira will be fine," Freya glanced. "Quite a few things are troubling The Mikaelsons currently."

"Okay," Stefan could accept that, "But..."

A quick wince.

"Is she happy?"

Freya's eyebrows arched.

"She's, um...MJ's never been good at being open about stuff," He rubbed his pockets, "We know she's talked about how happy she is..."

Clio drifted slightly to force Freya to focus only on him.

"I know Kol would do anything for her," He couldn't deny that, "But...that earlier conversation?"

The snippets he'd been able to understand.

"Being here? New Orleans was all she ever wanted."

They'd sat in that city, and she'd finally talked about her feelings.

Calling him out for not caring enough about her.

Revealing that she thought she was at the bottom of the pyramid of importance.

"Being with people who put her first," He stressed, "MJ is the most loyal – the smartest – "

Shaking his head.

"The best."

Freya let her eyes find safety in the ingredients box.

"The MJ I know wouldn't do anything to hurt the people she loves. And she's made it so clear how much she loves everyone here – and I...I just need to know she's happy."

"She is adored."

He let himself look at the odd sadness in the stranger's eyes.

"By both members of my family," Freya continued, "And the people you hear searching frantically for her."

"There's a difference between being needed and being loved."

Freya's eyes jumped back to his face.

"Look," Stefan half-pleaded, "I know you guys want me gone."

"It's the safest – "

"But, in the past, I've really let MJ go through it," He rubbed his neck, "I'm not going anywhere 'til I know she's okay."

Before Freya could respond, noise filled The Compound: a group of footsteps, someone being chucked into the sofa, and then a rush of air. A new voice joining the cohort. Marcel, instantly pacing, watching as Lucien started to wake up, Hayley tossing him a blood bag and untying him, while Kol took one for himself, carefully dripping it into his mouth.

"And he shows up!" Kol goaded.

"I've been showing all night," Marcel defended, scanning the elder's messy state, "Why do you think this shit was able to happen?"

Sam sighed, "He was searching for MJ."

"And yet?" Kol faced him, "She was under his roof, screaming her lungs out."

"I've been through Davilla," Marcel defended, "She isn't there."

Hayley gave him a look, "But?"

"Klaus is."

"Which explains why you show up now," She scoffed, "Need to save your own skin. Guess what, people working with Aya – "

"I had no idea Aya was gonna take Klaus and Elijah down!" He defended, "And, regardless – "

Gesturing to Lucien, downing blood on the couch.

"Why the hell are we suddenly trusting this guy?"

Sam had texted him what Lucien had muttered to them while Elijah and Kol had been with Aya. What had kept them so occupied.

"He's the one who ran off with Aurora the first chance he got."

"You can hardly fault a man for following his heart," Lucien spoke weakly, "Yet, the moment she started raving about firing white oak into Klaus, well..."

Kol stilled slightly.

Staring at the blood.

Letting the bag slowly drop from his lips, leaving it on the side table.

"Words were said, hearts broken, veins drained."

"And you're one to talk about trust," Hayley wasn't looking away from Marcel, "Who was it that handed my dead husband's heart to the people that helped murder him?"

"I was trying to save MJ!"

"Only for her to destroy that cover story instantly," Hayley ranted, "Knowing it was wrong!"

"You two called me here," He gestured to the hybrids, "If you've got a plan, get to it. Because I'm not gonna stand here and let you guys yell at me for thinking on my feet."

"It's elementary," Kol answered, "We storm the coven house, burn up their hybrid basement, take MJ to safety, and maybe rescue my brothers if we have some spare time."

"Aya has the white oak," Marcel reminded him, "You go, you're dead."

"I don't – "

"Or they shoot Elijah or Klaus," Marcel continued, "Easy for the hybrid rescue squad to wanna roll with this plan; they're not sired to anyone. I'd quite like to not die today!"

"Either way, we die today," Lucien spoke up, "Aya knows that taking both brothers will lead to an attack."

Kol narrowed his eyes at the red liquid in the abandoned bag.

At the candles behind it.

Lit, the sky still too dark to imply daytime.

"The Sisters will be doing everything in their power to extract a version of the spell from MiMi Pasare – Aya will also know that any information she gives could be a trap."

Kol closed his eyes.

The point he'd made to Elijah.

It wasn't the vampirism working, the magic trying to stop it.

"She will let the witches cast the spell in the limited window she knows she has. She will test to see if it worked by shooting Klaus, assuming it won't."

The magic was working, the vampirism causing the problems as it got amped up too much to stop that, then dropped back down, like some twisted rollercoaster, trapped to the confines of his body.

"It's a win-win for her," Lucien continued, "The Sisters succeed in getting a spell out of MJ? We all live. If your witch was able to manipulate them while being their prisoner?"

Something MJ often did.

"Aya's eliminated the rival sire line. Including me."

"His prophecy witch," Hayley remembered, "Said she saw Klaus die and his entire sire line burn."

"And MJ said that prophecy was stupid," Sam reminded them, "Let's not rush into something here."

Kol's eyes were still shut.

Two fingers tapping the wood of the high table he stood by.

Trying to focus on the tugging in his gut that he'd been labelling as sickness.

"Especially if Kol's the one who actually might just get shot here," Sam stressed, "They have no reason not to shoot him on sight."

"As much as I appreciate the thought," Kol caved, turning back to the room, "I don't care."

"As your friend, I do."

Kol paused.

"As MJ's, I care even more," Sam waved a hand, "You're not dying on her twice."

"I would quite like to not die at all!" Lucien interrupted, "And you fools may not believe in the gift, but Alexis was talented beyond her years. And she watched us fall."

A phrase that seemed to echo.

"Watched us burn."

Footsteps overhead.

"Every soul Klaus ever turned – they did not take him for fun. They took him to test on," He spoke sharply, "And we two will die for it."

"Make that all three," Stefan was heading down the stairs, "Can I be included yet?"

A sarcastic comment for Kol as Freya and Clio followed behind.

"Or am I expected to just sit back as MJ's in danger, and my life might end?"

"I have a question for you," Kol pointed to Clio, "Not just a question."

Clio walked to meet him in the centre of the room.

"Zítisi mia profiteía."

As the words left Kol's mouth, every light in the room went out, Clio's eyes flashing purple, an intrigued smile flickering across her lips.

"You may have lost access to the bank of power your people give you by coming here," He acknowledged, "But they cannot simply rip all rituals from you. Not informally."

Her power was limited, but the base abilities were still there.

"So," Kol lifted his arms to the side, "Zítisi mia profiteía."

The room was tainted in a purple shade at the repeated phrase, their audience cold and confused, watching each other, Freya drifting closer to him.

"For those of you who don't speak Greek," Kol smiled, "I'm formally requesting a prophecy – technically, she cannot say no."

"Are you sure?" Clio lifted her chin, "I cannot deny the request, but I cannot promise you will hear what you wish."

Kol considered it.

"Even if you ask directly about his prophecy, there are many answers it may give you that are not what you want."

His lips became a thin line.

"And, you can only use that rite once a century," Clio clicked her thumb, "Is this what you want to waste it on?"

A dusting of frost was forming across the stone floor.

"What you want your fate to be based on?"

Kol swallowed.

"Everyone wishes to know the future until they cannot unknow it."

His expression darkened.

"Do you wish to fall into the trap the rest of your family have?"

"Why don't you want me to?"

"I want you to remember that the timeline is ever-changing," She lifted one shoulder, "I do not know which one we are in. I cannot even promise you that your response will be relevant to the one we are in."

"Alexis could," Lucien stood.

"And she was a mere desperate imitation of what I am," Her cold purple glare targeted him, "Making great declarations to strike fear and control the weak."

He didn't look away.

"How kind of you to identify yourself as that so proudly."

"Can't you tell us what options seem to speak to you the most?" Sam suggested, "Or, what timeline you might've seen before you woke up and left the constant surveillance? Or, like probability, are there not overlapping details in a few of them – cos, I've seen enough movies where that's a – "

"I saw the far future," She clarified, "I saw my blood happy. I saw the child – sometimes two – sometimes only the boy."

Kol felt like his spine was being chopped in half.

"I saw her making many great sacrifices."

"As in sacrificing herself?" Stefan caught on to the wording, "Or sacrificing others?"

"Which do you think?"

"I don't wanna think either?"

"I saw many people in this room dead," Clio's gaze passed over them, "I saw attention given to a force that was merely a distraction. A puppet being used by spirits who will meet their demise shortly after their creations own."

Ice in the air, Kol rubbing up his forearms as he realised the odd chill he'd felt at the cemetery had been something inside of him sensing magic. To stop Klaus from hitting the barrier. When The Sister had arrived to start messing with them – something inside him tuned in.

"When, at any second," Clio continued, "That person could save themselves by simply stopping the quest before any transformation is complete."

"Is this what Davina's seeing right now?" Sam whispered.

"Hardly," Clio's tone softened, "She is only being cleansed. Her mind will be spared the pain of trying to look in every direction at once."

The purple was draining from the walls.

"Because that is what prophecy is," she reminded them. "It is an art form, seeing how every unique choice could change everything at every second. Knowing none of it may happen, or all of it will somehow happen, but at different points, without any anticipation."

"A puppet," Freya had been listening closely, "One of the friend, foe, or family?"

"You did not call on the rite," Clio faced her, "I do not have to answer that."

Glancing back at Kol.

"Do you wish to continue?"

"No," Kol's voice was quiet.

He hadn't drunk from Alexis.

MJ didn't believe in prophecy.

Even if he was fighting every instinct to back up her stance, he couldn't just cave.

No matter how much he wanted an idea of what would happen, could he waste a century of potential by giving in? By locking them on that timeline by asking about it? Could he back down from what made them 'them?' Believing in choice. In choosing each other, over and over.

"I do," Freya crossed her arms, "If I say the phrase, I can ask for a prophecy?"

"Yes."

"Freya," Hayley shook her head, "We're wasting time."

"If she can tell us – "

"After," Hayley reasoned, oddly pale, looking around the room like she'd officially hit her limit with supernatural crazy, "MJ's magic still isn't fixed?"

"I have a list of moments that might have caused the issue. I simply need to reverse each one until something clicks."

"Then she's not going anywhere," Hayley decided, "While MJ, Klaus, and Elijah might die."

As Kol stepped back, the world officially returned to normal, the sudden burst of noise showing that they'd all lost the ability to hear heartbeats and breath, and the world, and hadn't even noticed. Not until it came back. Not until they were all itching at their skin like a new layer had been added while they'd been out.

Forcing them into action.

To shed the skin by moving before it shredded them.

"This is the house," Marcel revealed blueprints, laying them down, then backing away, checking his phone, "The second page is the tunnel system."

Kol and Sam shared a look.

"But The Sisters added protection magic."

"We noticed," Sam stretched back, "The Witches are working on it."

"Are these access tunnels?" Stefan looked at the first page. "They're not the city ones, but they'll still take us to the back rooms."

Lucien glanced at where he pointed, "Hmm."

"What?" Stefan taunted, "Worried about getting a little dirt on your thousand-dollar shoes?"

"Actually," Lucien straightened up, "I'll be doing most of the heavy lifting since the vampires we're facing are, what?"

Inspecting him right back.

"Seven times your age?"

Looking to The Original present.

"And Kol can't go given the white – "

"I'm going."

Lucien glanced at Marcel, "Is this really the best help we can get?"

"I know MJ likes to find a psychopathic European vampire each month," Stefan crossed his arms, "But her standards seem to be getting lower."

Hayley just about caught her laugh, Kol's glare intensifying.

"And, no offence," He glanced from Kol to Lucien, "But they've all died pretty quick, too. So don't really wanna leave my fate in your hands."

"I'd be offended," Kol mused, "If I didn't agree with you about his uselessness."

"I'm simply enjoying the implication that MiMi Pasare picked me," Lucien gloated, "Knew she'd come around eventually."

Stefan pulled a face, "People actually call her that?"

"It's so annoying," Sam groaned back, "And really pisses her off."

"Not to kill the plan before it's formed," Marcel slipped his phone away, "But we're not getting those bodies back."

"Because?"

"Strix from all over the world are flying in," He revealed, "Pri's dealing with an influx of people messaging Maci about whether it's true that there's a way to be free."

"And she is telling them that it's not," Hayley's hands went to her hips, "Right?"

"Says she's telling people loyal to Maci that they're free but lying to all the rest."

"Pria Yadav is not all-knowing," Lucien's eyes were on Clio, "Any truth allows the information to trickle back to Aya."

"Do you not trust Maci?" Kol called out, "That she would have flagged who is trustworthy?"

Silence.

"Because she is your biggest defender, and if we aren't to trust her judgement – "

"Pria and she clash over her judgement of me."

"And the last time I checked," Freya's arms were crossed, "She's started to doubt him too."

"I am not the enemy here!" He sighed, "I am the solution."

"Regardless," Marcel's voice was low, "Enough people have already flown in. Guarding every entrance and exit."

"You're their leader," Lucien jabbed, "Call a meeting."

"Schedule a retreat," Kol suggested sarcastically, "A nice little spa."

"And we stake them while their eyes are covered with cucumber."

"I do that," Marcel stood, "Aya has no problem staging a coup."

"What was the point of letting you take over," Kol complained, "If it wasn't going to mean anything?"

"It means I can still walk in and out," Marcel reminded him, "If MJ is somewhere in there – "

"She has to be," Sam reasoned.

"Separate from Mira," Freya's expression was shifting, "As long as Klaus and Elijah are in the Chambre De Chasse, they are vulnerable. Breaking them out should be the priority."

Kol spun on his heel to face her.

"We know they are there. We know Aya has White Oak – sorry to be blunt, Kol," She put a hand on the coffee table, "But they will not kill MJ until they have the spell. We cannot say the same about Klaus."

A stare-off.

"A rescue is only one part if they are in a Chambre," Her fingers wrapped around her necklace, "I can wake them up if I have a strong enough power source."

Hayley was looking between the siblings.

"Lucien," Freya gave him a look, "I would channel Finn – "

Kol scoffed, "Let me guess, he's on team 'let our brothers perish?'"

"I'll channel Lucien," Freya looked away from him, "The older the vampire, the better the battery."

"And we buy you some time?" Hayley followed, "Keep The Strix occupied?"

"Force The Sisters to choose between maintaining the Chambre or saving their vampires," Freya nodded, "Marcel, if you think the worker's entrance is a way to go in."

"Let me get this straight," Sam waved a hand, "We're changing plans to just waking Klaus and Elijah up?"

Watching Kol's fists clench.

"But we're still gonna run in there to play distraction and potentially get ourselves killed?"

"Would you rather watch Josh die as Klaus is murdered in his sleep?"

"I'd rather your family just give up the sire line," Sam crossed his arms, "If I'm being perfectly honest."

A shift through the room.

"I'd rather not be scared shit-less that they're about to rip MJ's heart out," He ranted, "And I'd rather not have to put up with most of you."

None of them had slept.

"But if I try and leave right now, my body won't let me because I'm still fucking sire bonded to an actual toddler who would like to see her father again."

"We're not just playing distraction," Hayley agreed, "We go looking for MJ."

"Now they've caught on to our tricks," Kol mused, "Just because you see MJ doesn't mean it is MJ."

"She's definitely in Davilla," Rhea was in the foyer, "Hi – so!"

Lifting a crystal Kol recognised.

"Breakthrough?"

Everyone faced her.

"A group of us were able to project to her," She rushed closer in, "It's not technically tracking, but it's something."

"And where were you?"

"Some basement," Rhea looked oddly pale, "With, like, I'm assuming werewolves, 'cos their eyes were all gold."

Sam sent Kol a look as The Original almost laughed in annoyance.

"They wouldn't," Marcel muttered, "Letting her get bit by one is one thing, keeping her down there – "

"I think we're past assuming Aya's not willing to go that low," Hayley clenched her jaw, "Or do we all want to remember the state I was in quite recently?"

Once again, it seemed like everyone was against each other.

The MJ-peace fading fast.

"Two-pronged attack," Stefan spoke, "There's enough people here to split into groups."

Hayley calmed, nodding, "Marcel, you go play your little part."

Marcel gritted his teeth.

"Get us inside."

"Kol and I can get MJ," Stefan reasoned, "You two – "

Sam and Hayley.

"Get Klaus and Elijah, or cause whatever distraction we want."

"No offence," Kol huffed, "But I hardly think we should send you into the room of rabid hybrid failures."

"I'll go," Sam agreed, "Klaus is your sire. Someone who needs to care about that should be looking for him."

"But – "

"It makes sense, dude."

"Actually," Kol looked at Rhea, "Now we have confirmation on the specifics..."

His eyes drifted to Clio, the woman raising an eyebrow.

"As someone whose father was a Traveller..."

She let out a tight laugh.

"...How many magic removal spells do you know?"

"What do you have in mind?"

"Davina and I used a spell to neutralise the magic in the white oak stake – from a distance," He recalled, "St James lacks any magic because of a variation MJ created that doesn't kill vampires. Could you use a map, some projection magic, and some neutralisation magic, to temporarily deactivate any spells in Davilla Estate?"

Clio straightened up, "Theoretically."

"How tired are the covens?" Kol asked Rhea.

"Our elder is currently a hostage," She wiped her forehead, "And not in a good state."

Hence her shaken appearance.

"Kol..."

"Somewhat aware," His hammering heart did not need any more information, "If you get anyone still awake?"

"We'll block the magic."

"If we're creating a new spell here," Freya thought, "I can write mine into it. Go into the Chambre – weakening The Sisters and their defences won't be easy."

"Agreed," Kol mulled, "And The Ancestors won't be on our side."

"We'll still need a battery of sorts," Freya agreed.

"Are you kidding?" Lucien interrupted, "Kol, you're going to take the toddlers and tackle The Strix while I sit here holding hands with the leftover sister?"

Everyone seemed to just nod.

"You must be jok – "

Freya flicked her wrist, and he fell onto the sofa, neck snapped.

"Huh," Stefan bobbed his head, "Fun."

"I work better with quiet."

"Can I just outline this one last time," Marcel was running his hands over his head, "The covens are gonna make The Sisters powerless, Freya – you're gonna try and break the Chambre De Chasse in case that doesn't work."

"Two magical fights to manage will keep their witches pretty occupied," Kol tried to not seem too on edge, still coated in blood, "While you return to Aya, playing along with breaking the sire line."

"We find MJ," Sam nodded to Kol and himself.

"We'll keep The Strix occupied," Hayley finished, motioning to Stefan.

"And just how are you two," Marcel didn't know what to do, "Gonna keep one hundred of the world's most ancient vampires occupied?"

"Well," Stefan still didn't look too happy, "There could be another way."

Kol raised an eyebrow.

"Get me through the front door," He pulled on his shirt neckline, "And none of you let the woman wielding a sword land a hit on you."

Slowly, everyone started to nod.

"Kol," Sam fidgeted, "What happens if they knock you out?"

"Meaning?"

"Yeah, we know Elijah and Klaus are there for a spell," He glanced at Freya, "But we know Originals can be channelled to boost a witch's power."

"They can't use me if we deactivate magic in the area," Kol was looking at Clio again, "Happy to supervise – "

"I wish to remind these vampires why one should not cross a Floare."