Marin sat at her desk, her eyes roaming over the worn, yellowing pages of her grimoire. It had been far too long since she had even touched it. Centuries really. Ever since she had left her old life behind, she had not touched the craft. She had only read up on it. The only spells she had ever used were to help Bonnie and on occasion to help Lucy. But other than that, everyone in old life thought she was dead.
And that was how she wanted it to stay.
Dead to the spirits and to her family, as well as the man she had been running from.
If he was still alive, she thought to herself. She wouldn't be surprised with Mikael had met his demise some centuries back. She shook her head. Taking down Mikael would be a mission. A suicidal one, but a mission nonetheless. She often wondered, had he ever caught a glimpse of his children, of his son Henrik in this modern world, would he still a crazed vampire hunter hellbent on killing his family? She wondered if Esther was roaming the land of the living. Possibly not.
He would probably turn the boy and corrupt him into helping him kill his siblings.
She could only pray he had died. Mikael was a very prideful man; in both his human and undead lives. Image was everything to him.
"Wow you look like you're about to pop a few brain cells there," she looked up from her grimoire at the sight of Braeden smiling at her. The younger woman took a seat in the chair in front of Marin's desk and crossed her arms over her chest. "So what's with the look?"
"I was thinking," the older woman said frowning when Braeden snorted at her answer. "Why is that so hard to believe?"
"Well," Breaden began with a shrug. "You're not one to just think Marin. Something has to be bothering you and the look you have on your face tells me that you've got something serious on your mind. Do you want to talk about it?"
Marin just sighed. "It had to do with Klaus."
Braeden nodded. "Alright, so it had to do with your old flame."
Marin blinked and then leaned back in her seat. "Brae, what do you know of a wolf's connection to a wolf?"
"Well as far as I know, they are connected through nature. They both serve it and try to keep the balance or whatever it is you are always spurting out," the young warrior said as she recalled all the lessons she had dozed off on. "Why?"
"Wolves and witches share a much more powerful bond than that," Marin said as she closed her grimoire and folded her hands on top of the cover. She could feel the power just licking at the surface of her palms. "For example, you and Isaac are friends correct?"
Braeden smiled softly at the mention of her friend. "Yes we are, but I'm not a witch. Hell I'm hardly a druid," she explained.
"You're magical," Marin said. "As I was saying, wolves and witches have a connection. It can manifest into anything; from devotion to friendship or if the connection that strong, it could turn into love. You and Isaac are friends, you saved his life and he and his wolf connect with you. It's the same thing with Bonnie and Tyler or Klaus and I. We're all connected in some way."
Braden titled her head to the side. "You're mated to him." she said not even trying to beat around the bush. "You and Klaus I mean."
"I never said that."
"Your eyes are telling me another story," Braeden said and sat up. "Emily I'm not an idiot. I've known you since I was in diapers. You raised me, so you don't think I never saw how you got sad turning a full moon or how every time we heard a wolf howl, your eyes would get all misty and you'd want to cry. You guys are mates, it would explain why you never tried to date when I was young. You don't want to be unfaithful to him."
Marin shook her head. "When did you get so smart?"
"I always was," she smirked.
New Orleans. Of all the places Klaus could set up shop to run a vampire colony, he decided to do it in New Orleans. Kol wasn't sure if his brother was idiot or he was just that power hungry. He was just going to go with he was both. It would do his mind some good as he, Tyler, Caroline and Bonnie walked the streets of the city. Caroline tagged along because she wanted to make sure Bonnie was okay and because she didn't trust Kol at all. She wasn't happy to learn that he was alive or that he and Bonnie were together but the blonde would just have to get used to it.
"We're not going to find him that easy," Caroline said. "I mean who is going to just up and tell us where Klaus is."
Bonnie stopped in front of a bar, Tyler's head snapping in the same direction and they shared a glance before Bonnie took a step inside. "We don't have to look far," Tyler said to the other two supernaturals. They followed Bonnie inside and found Klaus at the bar. He was conversing with an attractive black man who they all knew was a vampire. Kol knew who he was instantly and he walked up to Bonnie, wrapping an arm around her waist.
She smiled and the four walked towards him.
"Nik," Bonnie called and the blonde man paused mid sentence. His eyes turned to the group of four. He saw his brother, whom he had seen being set ablaze from the stake in his heart, he was his two Betas, one of whom brought back his brother and he saw Caroline, a woman he thought could distract him from the constant ache for his deceased mate.
"Bonnie," he said rising from his seat. "Tyler."
The two Betas smiled and he walked over, closing the space between them and the three embraced. Once they separated, Nik continued. "What are you all doing here?"
"We came looking for you."
"Did you miss us Nik?" Kol asked walking up to the trio. The hybrid took his brother into his arms, hugging him tight. He had not been there when Kol was resurrected. He had heard of it and had thanked Bonnie shortly after she had done it.
"I missed you all," he whispered into his brother's clothing. "And don't take this the wrong way, I'm happy to see you all, but what are you doing here?"
Bonnie nodded, getting right to business. "We need you to come with us to California."
He frowned. "And why would I leave this city?"
Tyler frowned. "Well for one, we need you. We're two Betas without their Alpha. There is only so much that we can do without you."
Klaus frowned. "Then you both can come live here with me."
"I don't think it will be that simple Nik," Kol said. "They have lives back in Mystic Falls."
Caroline bit her lip. "Come on Klaus, it can't be that hard to just come with us."
Klaus shook his head. "I can be king here," he said throwing out his arms. "I can do whatever I want. Why could possibly be in California for me?"
"Emily," Bonnie said. She watched his form still. "Emily is there."
"She died," Klaus said.
"No she didn't," Bonnie said stepping towards him. "She's there Nik."
Kol looked between his lover and his brother. He could see the friendship there. The caring and understanding they shared. Klaus looked at her, "How can you be so certain?"
"Ayanna wouldn't lie to you."
He sighed. "I'll come, but only to see if this is true."
Bonnie nodded. "Alright."