" I know you are locked in battle, however deep in your mind our mother has set the stage. Hear my voice." Klaus says to a sleeping Elijah. Quietly, I shake my head back and forth trying to dispel the red from my vision, covering my hand.Whilst Klaus continues to stare at his brother, I discreetly wipe my hand down the curtain, groaning when the blood stays glued to my hand.

Its like when you get nail varnish down your skin but you have ran out of nail varnish remover, and you feel like cutting your hand off just so you don't have to see it... No one else that dramatic?

"Our mother thinks she will win because she has left you alone, but you are not alone. Let me in." Klaus continues, leaning closer towards his brothers body. Soundlessly, Klaus places one hand on Elijah's head, the other on his chest and closes his eyes, leaving me to stare at him cluelessly.

" Let me help end whatever torment she has forced upon you." He says, his tone nearly as quiet as a whisper.

Raising my eyebrows, I pull Klaus away, noticing blood pouring from his nose.

"What are you doing?" I ask, catching the blood with my hand. With a pant, he finishes wiping the blood away from his nose, giving me his full attention.

" I'm trying to enter Elijah's thoughts to wake him." He says, disheartened. Feeling my heart clench at the sad tone to his voice, I peck his lips lightly, before pushing them more firmly against his. I bight his bottom lip lightly before pulling away.

"Esther's locked me out." He says, turning his gaze back to Elijah momentarily.

I stare at Elijah for a few seconds before addressing Klaus "What's the rash on his neck?" I question him.

" I haven't seen this since I was a child. Mikael would return home from battle more blindly temperamental than usual, and our mother would use the petals of a rare merlock orchid to put him to sleep. She would mend his mind with a spell, and then wake him with the roots of the same plant." Klaus says, a frown on his face as he stares at Elijah's body in detail.

" If she has access to it now, then maybe it also grows in the Bayou." He says, his tone lighting up with that of hope. I smile at his giddiness.

As he leaves the room to get everything ready, I stay behind a moment just staring at Elijah before casting my attention to my red hand. Soundlessly, I grab Elijah's old handkerchief, wiping Klaus's blood off of my hand, a frown growing across my face when I notice it's still covered in red.

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My hand rests warmly in Klaus's as the both of us walk through the forest, looking for Elijah's special flower. Although Klaus won't admit it, the love and care he holds for his brother is easy to see and deeply admirable.

"Isn't this lovely?" Klaus asks out of the blue, causing me to stare at him curiously. He pecks my forehead, whispering into my ear to stay where I am and not to say at him, I nod, though I don't know why.

"Stop following us,"He snaps at someone I am yet to see,". I have no intention of taking Esther's bargain, and no desire to be remade a mortal being. Now, kindly piss off. I'm in a hurry to help my real family."

Klaus turns back to me, ready to walk away before said voice calls out,"You seek the merlock orchid." The voice states, stopping Klaus still in his tracks.

"How did you know that?" He says, turning his back to me again as I remain still like he said.

Klaus turns around quickly once more to grab my hand and pull him towards him in a protective manner. "I saw you carry Elijah home last night. Who do you think used to find the orchid for your mother to put Mikael to sleep? Without my help, you could search forever."

My mother brought you back from the dead. My sense of strategy tells me that it wasn't to play a father-son game of hide and seek. " My eyes widen in confusion as I pull on Klaus's arm a bit, giving him a silent message, with no words spoken, he merely presses his lips against my ear.

The man, Klaus's Father, so I heard, stares at me curiously.

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"A thousand years estranged, and you choose to walk in silence? Surely you have questions for me." The man says, following behind us as I walk next to Klaus, trying to update my mind on what is going on. Silly hybrid doesn't explain anything to me ever... Silly hybrid.

Klaus sighs without stopping to look at the man. " Just one-- is there a way to cure Elijah without having to listen to the pointless ramblings of an old man?" I snort against my own will at his bluntness.

We walk in silence for a few moments before the man speaks up," She's your mate?" He asks, Klaus makes no move to confirm it, only pulling me closer towards his frame.

"You know, I used to tell myself that my real father must have had no idea I existed. Otherwise, he'd never leave me to suffer under Mikael." Klaus says, watching as his Father speeds his pace so that he can lead the way, I squeeze Klaus's hand in a comforting manner. He smiles at me appreciatively.

" Esther forbade from seeing you. So, I waited, knowing that one day, you would trigger your curse and need your real father. When that happened, Mikael found me first. I fought him for you."

" Yes, well, your grand declaration is just a few years too late." he replies sarcastically, his eyebrows furrowing. Aww- my baby is so much like me. Always has a savage remark up his sleeve.

"Now, you joke, but I know you've always felt a void in your life. I've watched you from beyond for centuries. You've travelled all corners of the world, seen monuments erected, feasted on the blood of the history's most extraordinary men, but you've never found true peace." Klaus rolls his eyes, coming to an abrupt stop and points his spare hand towards me.

"This nutter is my peace." He says, starting to walk again, a smile on his face as I kiss his cheek... We are so goals... Jealous? I would be to.

"The only moments of joy in your life, however fleeting, have been simple pleasures. As you climbed the Himalayas, as you tended to your horses, marrying your wife. Quiet days, teaching that boy Shakespeare--"

"Stop." Klaus says, growing overwhelmed.

"I said, stop! A millennium of observing me-- were your eyes closed as I slaughtered whole villages? Fed my way through thousands of innocents? Because, let's face it-- I have a tendency to play with my food." Klaus says, grabbing the man by the throat, removing his hand from my own.

"Klaus."I say in a warning tone. "Let him go." He turns his head to me, an annoyed look on his face.

He sighs, realising my persistent face before turning back to his Father.

"Have I made you proud, Father?" Klaus says,angrily pushing past his hurt Father and waling ahead of the both of us.

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"Is he always this mad?" Ansel asks me, watching Klaus as he walks in front of us.

I shrug my shoulders, my eyes also on Klaus as I think of a reply. "Most of the time." I say.

"I can hear you." He snaps over his shoulder as the ghost of a smile creeps across my face.

" Vervain. It's everywhere. My relentless mother has set a trap. "Klaus says with frustration as he stares at the plants.

" I'll retrieve the merlock for you." Ansel says with a smile on his face. Once again, I find my attention brought to my hand as the men converse, my eyes narrowing at the red liquid that covers it.

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The three of us sit around a burning fire, Klaus and I opposite Klaus's Father as he uses a knife to cut the orchids. No one talks as I rest my head on Klaus's lap, his fingers brushing through my hair, removing all of the knots and tangles. I hum quietly to my slef, the crackling of the fire being the only other sound made.

" I've always seen a blade to have a very different use." Klaus says, interrupting the almost silence.

" Mikael taught you to kill, Klaus-- but, you were born to create. Power lies in embracing your true nature." Ansel says, watching Klaus very carefully as I snuggle up against him, revelling in his warmth.

" You think I should accept my mother's offer? Sacrifice my vampirism? And then what? Become a florist?"Klaus asks incredulously, as I smile at his cuteness.

" You wouldn't be sacrificing anything. As a wolf, you'll be king to an entire species." Ansel says with a smile. Imagine Klaus as a florist, whistling happy tunes as he waters the flowers... I would definitely pay to see that.

"You would feel at true peace. And you'll be a better father." Ansel says as I frown, feeling Klaus's body warm up. That is something I have noticed about Klaus, when he gets mad, he gets warmer.

"I am no longer a father." Klaus says, standing up, holding me bridal style as I fight to keep my eyes open.

"When you were a boy, after each full moon, I would wake closer to your village, having been drawn to you in the night. Since I've been back, each month when I turn, I wake further from New Orleans. I know the call of my own blood, Klaus."The man pauses," I know your child is still alive.

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