save my soul : k.m.

between two brothers - chapter 10

The sun was setting by the time Astrid had grown fed up with waiting for the witch. She was sat in the back of her SUV with Nik leaning on the side, playing with the Papa Tunde blade. 'As much as Terrebone Parish is lovely when the sun sets, it seems your witch is unreliable.' Nik looked behind his shoulder at his wife as he spoke and she facepalmed.

'If he takes five more minutes then I'm finding him. I can smell him already.'

'Well let's go then!' Klaus cheered at his wife's keen sense of smell and turned round to face her, taking his back off the car and leaning on it with his elbows instead. Astrid laughed at him, 'You're that determined to murder your mother in law?'

'Anything in your name, love.. you know that.'

Astrid seemed to have drifted off distracted and her face hardened. 'What is it?' Nik looked worried, looking behind him into the forest before looking back at her.

'It's Davina.' Astrid's voice was low. Usually no one could tell the difference but Klaus could hear the fear in her voice. The two looked at each other in realisation.

'That means Mikael.'

The Claire Family Cabin.

Davina shuddered upon hearing Klaus's voice call for her in the forest, assuming that Astrid was with him. 'Kaleb?' She whispered and he came into the room as she spoke again, 'Help me.' Kol gulped knowing that he had dispelled the bracelet that was keeping Mikael under wraps. 'Sure thing.'

He sat on the floor in front of her and linked hands with Davina as they began to chant, cloaking themselves from the two hybrids.

The Forest.

The moon shone down on the pair as Astrid instinctively grabbed Klaus's hand. Her heart was racing at the possibility of facing her father in law once again and Klaus could hear it as he moved a low hanging branch out the way. 'If Mikael is here I want you to run.' Klaus stated and Astrid stopped in her tracks, 'Why?'

He knew that she would protest and sighed, 'I'm not loosing you again Astrid. This is like deja vu for me. You're following me into the fire again.' Klaus's expressed his thoughts and Astrid smiled at her husband's attempt of communication. 'I'll be fine. Plus you know I take my vows seriously. I meant it when I said till death do us part.'

'Just please be careful.'

...

'Davina?! Come on love I'm not mad. I just want to talk'

Astrid found the cabin first, it's warm amber lights guiding her as she tried to parent a witch. An invisible Mikael stood inside, his ears pricking at the sound of the woman he tried and failed to murder a century ago. 'Davina! Let me out!' Mikael ordered the teenager and she ignored him. The husband and wife came up to the windows and peeked inside. 'Davina? Kaleb?'

'Love, look here.'

Astrid turned to see Nik looking at a staff that was leaning up against the front door and she eyed it, the Mikaelson clan symbol was carved into the top of it and she gulped. The sight of such a symbol made her lose enthusiasm knowing that Mikael was the only member of the clan that was that keen to keep hold of the name. 'It seems our chances of getting your daughter out safely without facing daddy dearest are formidably low.' Nik stood rigorous and Astrid glared at him, 'She's not my bloody daughter.'

He smiled slightly before getting an idea in a tempestuous moment and walking back into the forest, Astrid looked alarmed as she followed him to see him pick up a large log. 'Nik no. Davina and Kaleb are in there.'

'Yes. Two people who seem to be willingly working with the man who's tried to murder the both of us on multiple occasions.'

'Look, Astrid. The boy won't even listen to you.'

Kaleb/Kol had knocked Davina out cold and let Mikael out. The Viking Vampire stood proud on the porch, a firm uncompromising grip on the white oak stake. 'Mikael'

'Hello Astrid.' He shone a bloodthirsty grin before looking at Klaus, 'Hello Niklaus. It seems the time has come. Perhaps I should murder your wife first so I can watch you cry like the vermin you are before I end your pathetic existence'

'Says the bloke who couldn't even stake me correctly the first time. Leave, Mikael.' Astrid's eyes grew amber by the end of her order with a low grumble escaping her lips and her father in law laughed, 'You command with such valour, daughter. Such a shame you married such a weakling. I might have actually been proud to call you daughter.'

'Such this and such that. All these words and no actions. Go on, Mikael. Make your first move.' Nik provoked him and Mikael sniggered, 'Oh boy, gladly.'

Mikael lunged towards Astrid straight away, wanting to make do on his plan and finish off unfinished business as she vamped out the way and kicked him to the ground with a icy face. He looked up at her with an immoral smile as he flipped off the floor and back to his feet.

Davina stopped chanting for a moment when she heard Astrid get punched and Kaleb opened his eyes too, 'You alright?'

'My bracelet, it's not working.' She began to panic and stood up, 'I have to help her.' Kaleb stood up and Davina looked round to him confused 'No. You don't.' The witch blew a powder into Davina's face and she passed out cold. Astrid had indeed punched Mikael in the jaw after he jumped on her but Klaus got involved anyway, roaring barbarically. 'Don't touch my wife!' and Astrid couldn't help but smile. In that moment, Astrid stood still and Mikael used the opportunity to throw the white oak stake in Astrid's direction.

'No!'

Klaus screamed but Mikael missed, the wood being lodged into her arm instead and pinning her against a tree. She winced in pain and laughed, 'Missed again, arsehole.' Klaus saw red and jumped on his stepfather, punching him again and again in the face and pulling the Tunde blade out of his jacket. Mikael fought his fate but the 'bastard son' won in the end. The Tunde blade sunk into his chest and Nik stumbled backwards, processing what just happened before running over to his wife who was struggling to get the stake out.

She cried in pain at the hole in her arm and Nik's heart was racing, 'I'm here love, you're alright.' He thought for a moment before coming up with a plan. 'Right, look at me Astrid. Look at me.'

The hybrid looked up from her wound with tears in her eyes as Klaus stroked her hair, 'I'm going to pull this out in a moment, love okay? Just keep looking at me.'

Astrid nodded with her mouth agape and a tear fell from Nik's eye. He took a couple of shallow breaths before yanking the stake out and Astrid shrieked, falling into his arms as she healed and Klaus grabbed hold of her instantly. The pair stumbled back for a moment and Astrid composed herself when the wound healed.

'You alright?' Klaus still had his hand tangled in her hair as she looked up from his chest. 'I'm alright, Nik. I guess you were right after all.' Klaus laughed to himself as she stood up, noticing instantly when Kaleb / Kol peaked around the doorway. 'Oi! You bastard! Didn't want to help me out huh?!'

Astrid called out into the cabin and Klaus tried to pull her away. She shook her head, 'Nik I'll be fine. Get Mr. shit aim into the car and I'll be back out in a minute. I love you.' They kissed briefly and Nik told her he loved her before walking over to Mikael's comatose body and Astrid couldn't help herself. She jogged over quick and spat on him before smiling and running into the cabin.

When she saw Davina unconscious, she grabbed Kaleb by the throat and pushed him against the wooden wall. 'What did you do?'

'She'll wake up. I promise she'll wake up.' Kaleb/Kol put his hands up in surrender as his face slowly grew red and she asked, 'Wake her up before I go into your head and find a way myself.'

'Astrid listen to me, you don't want to do that. You really don't want to do that.' Kaleb/Kol begged and Astrid laughed, 'Oh darling, I think I do.'

She grabbed both sides of his scalp and travelled into his head, seeing Kol's memories instead of Kalebs'. She saw the lavish Mikaelson dinner parties they would throw, the daggerings and the night they were turned. But the main thing she saw was her face. Over and over again throughout the different centuries. Her smile seemed to be etched into his mind and her eyes were shocked when she pulled away.

'Kol?'