Beatrix felt better during the next few days, but everything quickly went to shit.

She missed Klaus. They had acted civil and casual despite it feeling so strange. She'd listened as Hayley told them about the Labonairs and The Hollow's jaw bone and how other families apparently had parts of its body. She had listened to Elijah explaining how he'd murdered four teenage witches for the Harvest ritual in order to restore the link with the Ancestors in hopes of defeating The Hollow. Beatrix had been calm and collected the entire time, even though she wanted to scream.

Hope had been the one that sensed something was off about the bone. Klaus had not been successful in destroying it, and one morning when they had come downstairs for breakfast, Hope had told them about how she could hear the voices of the Ancestors, telling her that she and Hayley were connected to it.

And so, they'd divided. Hayley and Klaus had gone off to St. Anne's Church to speak with the four Harvest girls. Meanwhile, Beatrix had accompanied Elijah to get Marcel so that they could accept one of the other bones from Alaric, who was bringing it from Mystic Falls after finding it in the Lockwood Mansion.

"Hope is remarkably in tune with magic," sighed Beatrix as they went up the elevator. "Were it not for her, we'd have had no idea that The Hollow was what was coming for us, or that the Labonairs have something to do with it. If it turns out we're actually related..."

"I expect that will make your bond with Hayley that much more special," said Elijah, though he seemed lost in thought.

"You and Hayley seemed tense this morning," observed Beatrix.

"She was not very amused with what I did to those witch girls. She has never really seen my darker side. She looked appalled."

Beatrix sighed. "You need to have a talk with her about that, soon."

"I fear she won't be very inclined to understanding. It was different with you. We'd known each other over half a century when I let you past the red door with me. That day... it was dedicated just to being vulnerable. You comforted me and comprehended everything you saw and heard. You did not judge me. Hayley..."

"She has never been a killer the way the rest of us were," Beatrix murmured. "I had killed before, many times, once you took me in there."

"Yes, but... you went in with such a gentle demeanor. You never once seemed disgusted with what we did. You always accepted our flaws but helped us be better. It was because of you that I gained control and suppressed all the memories."

They were silent the entire rest of the way, both feeling awkward. Unsure what to say.

Marcel was in his apartment with Sofya.

"I'm sure your men will find the bones," said Sofya reassuringly. "By compulsion or alternative forms of persuasion."

"Of course," answered Marcel. "Just takes time."

"Of which we have none," said Elijah. "We need to talk. If you wouldn't mind." He nodded to Sofya, who stepped off to the side.

"We're taking a little field trip," said Beatrix in a positive tone. "We're meeting an expert shortly. He'll be coming from Mystic Falls, carrying one of the bones and the means to find another. Between the four of us, we should have those remains by sundown."

Marcel nodded. "I have no problem going with you. But him— why should I trust you, Elijah? And for that matter, why would you trust me?"

Elijah shrugged. "I don't. But why should we let old grievances hinder our common goal? Here's a proposal." He brought a very fancy knife— the one Freya had made that could kill Marcel. "You come with us, I surrender the only weapon that can take your life."

Marcel was obviously intrigued. "Say less. But I'm driving. Where to?"

"Apparently, Jack's BBQ Shack," said Beatrix. "I think we've been there."

"Perfect," said Marcel, waving for them to follow him.

The ride was certainly awkward. Beatrix drummed her fingers on her thighs while she rode in the front seat, looking out at the scenery. Marcel had put on some gentle background music to avoid any conversation. Elijah hadn't fidgeted at all in the back seat.

They arrived at the restaurant and got out quickly. "Good thing we brought the German sports car," said Elijah casually as they stepped toward the entrance.

"Says the man in the five thousand dollar suit," muttered Marcel.

Elijah held up a finger. "Nine... if we're counting. I'm not a barbarian."

Marcel and Beatrix shared a look, raising their eyebrows.

"Your expert better pay off," said Marcel as they sat at one of the outdoor tables. "Otherwise, we're wasting time that we don't have."

"He will," promised Beatrix. "Alaric is really knowledgeable about all of this stuff. He isn't easily fooled."

"Alaric," mumbled Marcel. "The guy whose twins you delivered? And whose wedding you crashed?"

Beatrix nodded. "The very same. He's reliable."

"He better be."

Elijah chuckled as if this was funny. "And here I thought we were having a marvelous galactic adventure together."

Marcel made a face. "You think you're real cute, don't you? Yeah, the only reason that you invited me on on this little road trip is so you could play bodyguard."

"Baby-sitter," corrected Elijah.

"Hey," Beatrix said sternly. "Let's not—"

"You want to keep my power from falling into the hands of The Hollow, right?" asked Marcel. "Now, see, you're always working some angle to protect your family. At least Klaus is up front about it, but not you with your manners and your suits and your handkerchiefs."

Elijah was indifferent. "What do you want me to do? We're under threat."

"I know that, and I know how you handle threats. You made that clear when you tore my heart out five years ago. And just so we're clear now, there's no way I will ever forgive you for that."

"I don't expect you to. I certainly never forgave myself."

They looked at each other, as if they considered fighting it out.

"Alright, Elijah, why don't you be a dear and go get me a lemonade?" said Beatrix loudly. "And some chicken tenders."

"Gladly," said Elijah, going inside.

Marcel looked back at Beatrix. "Thanks. I really don't get why he had to come."

"Well, he heard I was going, and wanted to tag along. He knows Alaric."

"Not as well as you do, though."

"Er— Klaus kind of possessed Alaric's body, so to an extent, they kinda do. I haven't spoken that much to Alaric. I just kind of delivered his twins."

"That's a pretty big task. I—"

Her phone began to ring, and she looked down to see Alaric was calling her. She picked up. "Wow, I'm surprised you still have my number in your phone," she said. "I thought you deleted it."

"How am I supposed to delete the number of the lady who helped bring my daughters to this world? If I ever need a siphon doctor..."

"Lovely. Your voice sounds a bit strained. Were you running?"

"No, I actually blew up my car. Can you meet me on Route 59?"

"Sure," she said, not even questioning him. "Stay put."

She hung up as Elijah came out with her chicken tenders and lemonade. "Right on time," she said pleasantly. "We're going to meet Alaric down on Route 59."

She very gladly munched on her chicken tenders on the short drive there, offering one each to Marcel and Elijah, who accepted in order to avoid having to talk. They found Alaric covered in ash and dirt next to a flaming car.

"You're a total dad," observed Beatrix when she saw the type of car he had. "What happened?"

"Well," he said, "aside from forfeiting my lease, I blew up one of those vampire-witch combos when she tried to take the bone. Another Heretic."

"What?" said Beatrix in disbelief. "That's not possible. Last I heard, Valerie Tulle is the only Heretic left aside from me. I'm pretty sure one of us would be aware if there was another Heretic around. What did she look like?"

"Brunette, gorgeous, lace top. Black jacket, glowing blue eyes."

Marcel cursed. "Sofya. The Hollow's inside Sofya, probably using her."

"So she's a temporary Heretic," muttered Beatrix. "Fucking hell."

"We have to find a way to save her," said Marcel immediately.

"Or put her out of her misery," said Elijah.

Marcel glared at him. "I'm sorry. What? Did I hear that right? Oh, that's right. That is the Mikaelson way, isn't it? I mean, why try to save someone when you can just kill 'em?"

Alaric held his hands up. "Hey, I love a good grudge just as much as the next guy, but do you want to stand around whining about a missing finger bone, or do you want to talk about a ledger that points us to where the other bones might be?"

The two men were silent, and Alaric kept talking, "I studied the records, and I got a family name... Del Robles. Bloodline ends ten years ago, and according to the Lockwood records, somebody in that family is buried with one of those mystical bones."

"Where are they buried?" asked Beatrix.

"Black Clay Cemetery in the Tremé."

"That cemetery was redeployed," said Marcel. "Too much flooding. Now the bodies were moved to two separate locales... The Haves and the Have Nots."

"Del Robles— aristocracy," said Beatrix.

"Then their crypt would have been moved to St. Ailbhe Cemetery," said Marcel.

Alaric held his thumbs up. "Yeah, that sounds like fun, but on the way, can you drop me off at the ER? Thanks."

Beatrix and Alaric ended up in the backseat this time so that she could do some healing magic on the worst of the wounds before dropping him off at the ER, since he didn't want vampire blood. Aside from their conversation about what was hurting, the other two men didn't talk. It was awkward enough with the two of them in the front seat. To diffuse some tension, Alaric showed Beatrix some pictures of Josie and Lizzie in costumes.

After they dropped him off at the nearest ER, they sped to the St. Ailbhe Cemetery, and found the Del Robles crypt in one of the main buildings.

Beatrix stopped in front of the rusted doors and read the words carved in. "'Nuestro corazón siempre va a defender esta tierra.' Our hearts will always defend this land. That's a clue."

"Let's get to work, then," said Elijah as Marcel opened the doors.

Rather than breaking through several mounds of bones, they looked at the names for any sort of hint. Elijah was the one who found it. "Olivia Tierra Del Robles," he read on one of the markers. "Tierra, of course, means land. As in all the hearts will defend it."

Marcel nodded. "Watch yourself—" He punched into the stone of the crypt and tore it off, revealing a long bone by itself.

"Wow, a femur," said Beatrix, pulling it out and handing it to Marcel.

"Why did you do that?" Elijah asked immediately.

"Because it's the best strategy," answered Marcel. "You have one of the bones already. The smart play would be to keep them divided, yet still in the hands of an ally you trust. So I guess you're just gonna have to trust me, Elijah. Beatrix does."

But of course, Elijah wasn't about to do that so easily. He slammed Marcel into the nearest wall, holding Freya's knife to his neck.

"Seriously?" snapped Beatrix as she pulled Elijah off. "Just let him have it, for fuck's sake— he's not going to go hand it to Sofya."

"I don't have to trust anyone," Elijah spat to Marcel.

"Careful, Elijah," Marcel said lowly. "Your true colors are starting to show. Yeah... You may talk a big game, but when it comes down to it, you'll always be a poster boy for violence first. Always and forever."

"Let's get the hell out of here," Beatrix suggested. "Sofya had a headstart, and—"

They heard the sound of clapping, and turned back toward an angel statue near the window of the crypt. Sofya emerged from it. "Men and their silly posturing," she sighed, looking to Beatrix. "They should know better, shouldn't they? After all, your prize already belongs to me."

Marcel took a tentative step forward. "Sofya, I know you're still in there."

She nodded. "Yes, she is. Strong soul rattling around in a dying shell. But like all the rest of you, she's nothing compared to me. One last time. Give me what I seek."

"Why don't you come get it?" challenged Elijah.

"Fair enough," said The Hollow with a shrug. "So long as you're prepared to die."

She flicked her wrist and sent the three flying in different directions, crashing painfully into the stone around them. "Now, the game comes to an end," sighed The Hollow, heading for the femur, which now lay on the floor.

"Not just yet," came Hayley's voice. Beatrix struggled to get to her feet as she saw Hayley walking up. She took the knife from Elijah and cut into her palm, pushing the blood onto Sofya's skin, and making her recoil. "Hurts, huh? My blood?"

The Hollow laughed maliciously. "Whoever told you how to destroy me left a little something out. Trapping me requires the release of power. The kind you get when you sacrifice the life of an immortal. So tell me, which one of you will die to stop me? I'll make it easier— choose between you three. Beatrix here is to be my host. I won't stand for her death."

"No one is dying today," said Marcel in a strained voice. The impact had left him, Elijah, and Beatrix feeling weak, almost as if they were human again.

"Well then, I guess we're done," said The Hollow, flicking her wrist again and throwing Hayley back into the wall. She snatched up the femur and sped away before they could do anything.

Elijah managed to stand and pulled Hayley to her feet. "Are you okay?"

"I think someone's gonna die," Hayley panted. "Davina has Klaus."

"Damn it," coughed Beatrix as she clawed her way up. "What— what did you learn?"

"She's a Labonair," said Hayley breathlessly. "When she was first killed, she created the werewolf curse. She's been wanting to kill Hope and I because we are the key to destroying her. You're the perfect vessel for her because you're her blood, but you're not a Labonair. It all makes sense..."

"So Davina needs to conduct a sacrifice to put The Hollow down for good," mumbled Marcel.

Elijah looked very worried. "Davina will not hesitate."

"Let's get to her, then," said Marcel. "Link hands."

The instant they did, he sped them the entire way to St. Anne's Church. They entered as quietly as they could.

"You should wait here," whispered Hayley, beckoning Elijah to remain behind. "She still blames the Mikaelsons for what happened. You'll just make it worse."

He nodded and hung back as Beatrix and Marcel walked down the center aisle toward where Davina was standing over Klaus's unconscious body. He was trapped in a salt circle, which meant a boundary spell.

"Davina," said Marcel as they moved toward her.

"Don't try to stop me!" she said immediately. "If I don't kill Klaus, if I don't put down the Hollow, she'll come for all of you. She'll burn the entire city."

"Davina, please," said Beatrix, forcing herself not to look at Klaus. "There has to be another way."

Davina shook her head. "No. I was just waiting for the weapon, but now that you're here... I'm sorry. But you need to kill him, Marcel."

"No," he said firmly. "No, Davina, I won't."

"He's lived ten lifetimes!" she exclaimed. "That's more than enough!"

"He's Hope's father," pleaded Hayley desperately from behind them.

"She'll still have you," said Davina. "And she'll have Beatrix. If we don't stop The Hollow, then Hope will die. You can save her, Marcel. And everyone in New Orleans."

Elijah decided that he could no longer wait behind, and stepped forward into the light. "Stop this. This is about your grievances with me."

Davina didn't care about his presence. "This has nothing to do with you. This is about a sacrifice. One death for the greater good."

"Then take me," said Elijah, speeding up to her.

"Elijah, no!" cried Hayley in disbelief.

"If indeed there is no other way... then end this now," Elijah continued, ignoring Hayley.

"No, no, no!" Marcel said loudly. "Nobody's dying today."

Davina just frowned. "Then I'll do it myself."

She raised her hand and Beatrix, Hayley, and Elijah were forced to the ground, crying out in agony as their heads began to ache, as though Davina was making their brains hemorrhage. She flicked her wrist and Marcel was forced down, yelling loudly as his fangs were forced out, his venom dropping onto the tile floor.

"Davina, please!" cried Beatrix, trying to claw her way forward.

"You don't have to do this!" Hayley wailed.

"I'm sorry," said Davina as they all tried to protest against her, watching the venom sliding down the floor and toward an open wound created on Klaus's hand. "It's the only way."

"NO!"

The spell dropped on the four as Hope walked up, looking angry. "You promised to help, but you're not helping. You're hurting us, and I won't let you!"

It was the most impressive thing that Beatrix had ever seen her niece do. Without any words, she had burst out so much power, that Davina was knocked out of the mortal plane. The salt circle blew apart, and Beatrix's ears popped, as though the air pressure had changed. Seconds later, Klaus shot awake, and Hope ran to him, pulling him into a hug.

_

Beatrix went to pick Alaric up at the ER before bringing him to the Compound so that he could get one of the available cars and make his way back to Mystic Falls. She had left him briefly to go and check on Klaus, who was having a drink on the balcony.

"Are you alright?" she asked quietly.

"I'm not dead, love," he said bluntly. "I'm perfectly alright."

"Just because we're not together doesn't mean I don't care about you. The point is that I will always care about you."

"You continue to insist on it," he muttered. "It doesn't matter when The Hollow is defeated, Beatrix. There will always be a threat. And I will always end up putting you in harm's way. End this and just accept that."

"This is a one-fucking-sided breakup, Klaus! I don't want to be away from you!"

"What do I need to do? Threaten to pull your heart out again? How will you ever understand that I'm toxic? The way you act, one would think you want to be hurt. That you seek out pain and torment."

"But—"

"Do not argue!" he snapped, turning to face her. "You saw goodness in that siphon boy and in the end, he did not come through! He did not turn out to be the man you thought he was, during those intimate moments! We're all good at acting on falsehoods, love, don't be a fool! Just because we have moments where we act all proper doesn't mean we aren't ruthless. I am inherently bad, and that will not change! I will not change for you, no matter how hard you try. I will always be the big bad wolf Klaus Mikaelson. You should be with someone who you trust won't hurt you when he gets cross. I'm volatile. I'm evil. I'm barely a good enough father for my daughter, and she is my priority, not you. I cannot cope with a relationship, Beatrix— not now and not for several decades in the future."

She stared at him. "You should have just said that," she said quietly. "I never meant for you to feel pressured into being my boyfriend or anything."

"I do not want us to be an item, ever," he insisted. "Friends. That's what I want. No sleeping together. No romantic gestures. Bloody hell, Beatrix, I never took you out on a proper date in these past six years. All we did was go to bed with one another! How can you possibly want me, when you didn't get a proper taste of what kind of partner I would be, nowadays? I don't want to have this conversation again. We are finished."

She chose not to argue. She saw Alaric coming over and cleared her throat, walking toward him. "Nice seeing you again," she said. "Safe trip back."

She was headed to her room when Elijah caught her in the hall.

"Accompany me, if you would please," he said softly.

"Where to?" she asked.

"I am going to give this knife to Marcel. To do the right thing."

They took the long way. Rather than speeding there, Elijah chose to drive. They were silent at first, listening to the radio. But then, Beatrix let out a loud sigh.

"I'm never getting Klaus back, am I?" she murmured.

Elijah sighed and shook his head. "My brother is so concerned that he will lose you at the hands of our enemy, that he pushed you away instead, so that you were lost at his hand instead. It makes it easier to bear."

She leaned back into the seat. "Fucking fantastic."

"Hayley does not appear to be pleased with me, either. She was distraught that I offered myself up as a sacrifice to Davina, earlier. I haven't been able to speak with her about the red door yet. You, my dear Itza, are the only one who ever understands my way of thinking. You know how much sacrifice means to me, because you know me best. I didn't think it would cause her to feel this frustrated with me. I thought it made sense. Hope needs both her parents. One less uncle won't harm her."

Beatrix nodded. "Yeah... well, you saw how Klaus reacted when he found out what I proposed to Vincent. I think that after everything we went through before we got together, and what happened while we were together with Rayna Cruz and the Gemini Coven and me being trapped in the Compound... we want, more than anything, the best for others. We're used to sacrificing our happiness for other people. And we both love Hope so much. We would lay our lives down for her. We admitted to each other such deep feelings that we could never imagine anyone else feeling such devastation, so we let ourselves get hurt for the sake of those we love. It's what sets you apart from your siblings, Elijah. You are noble not because you don't have blood on your hands, but because you do it for family and not for fun. Because you own up to it and know that collateral damage will happen when you try to protect your loved ones."

He drummed his fingers against the steering wheel. "Thank you, for this," he murmured. "I think I need to tell that all to Hayley... if I can remember it in detail."

Beatrix chuckled. "Well, I can embed the memory into your brain, if it helps. Just be honest with her, the way you were with me. She's going to be there for you. You two have something special."

"Thank you," said Elijah again. "For not being judgmental. For offering advice. I do not deserve you."

"All I ask of you is that you don't hide things from her. She's a queen. You need to do your part and ensure she's well informed, so that she can do the same."

"Eventually," murmured Elijah once they reached the elevator and went up to Marcel's penthouse, "I think, perhaps, I can do the same with him. He may never forgive me, but I want him to know that I am, from the bottom of my soul, sorry for what I did to him."

"That's a good start," said Beatrix with a smile. "I'm proud of you, Elijah. You've been doing really well."

He smiled back at her as the elevator doors opened. They walked up the hall and found that the entrance of Marcel's penthouse was breached. The door was ajar, and the inside was dark. Elijah put a finger on his lips to indicate for her to be quiet as they stepped in, slowly.

How Beatrix wished they'd left rather than go in. The door slammed shut behind them, and she turned, seeing no one there. Next thing, she heard a loud grunt, and looked back to see Sofya had plunged a stake, wrapped in thorns, into Elijah's back.

"No!" she cried, staggering back fearfully as Sofya looked at her with a sadistic smile.

"Are you ready to die, Elijah?" she crooned as he collapsed on the floor. "Because I'm quite ready to live. And you, Beatrix La Salle, are going to make that happen."

"Never," said Beatrix, stumbling back to the door and trying desperately to open it. She knew her magic wouldn't work against The Hollow. "I won't help you!"

"Well, I wasn't going to ask for your permission either way," said The Hollow, flicking her wrists and snapping Beatrix's neck.