The O'Connell's

The Rosè Coven Part 2

Lilly poured her heart out, recounting the tumultuous events of the past few years to her aunt Alice while Cami remained outside the office, still texting Klaus, who remained outside.

"My dear niece, I'm so sorry you had to go through all this without your family," sympathized Alice.

Lilly nodded, expressing gratitude, "Thank you, but I'm okay now. Cami has been my anchor, like a mother to me ever since she saved me."

Alice, though seemingly sympathetic, couldn't fully embrace the idea of Cami as family. "Dear, she is not your real family. You don't share the same blood," she remarked.

"Family isn't always about sharing the same blood; you can choose," Lilly responded with conviction.

"And who told you that?" questioned Alice.

"It's just an observation I made," Lilly replied, her mind drifting to the insights Klaus had shared during their car ride about his life in New Orleans, particularly his encounter with Marcel.

Alice, considering Lilly's well-being, suggested, "For now, you can stay here at the academy, and Camille can go back to New Orleans."

Lilly, unwavering, countered, "No. If I'm staying here, then Cami will, too."

Alice, trying to be practical, pointed out, "Sweetheart, this is a school for children, not fully grown adults."

"Then I'll leave with her," Lilly asserted, balancing her stubbornness with a desire not to be overly rude.

Alice sighed, placing her hand on Lilly's, "Lilly, it's safer with me. Your aunt."

"But Cami has protected me for the past week. I'm safe with her too," Lilly argued.

"When you're with her, you don't have an entire coven looking out for you," reasoned Alice.

"You're right," Lilly admitted reluctantly.

Alice smiled at her niece, but her expression quickly shifted. "I don't have a coven, but I do have people who look out for me, who love me," Lilly asserted.

Sarcastically, Alice questioned, "Like who? Cami and her little boyfriend?"

"Actually, yes. Her boyfriend, you may know him. His name's Klaus," Lilly revealed, aware of Alice's fear of Klaus and strategically using it to convince her to let Cami stay.

"Niklaus? As in Klaus Mikaelson?" Alice's scepticism was evident.

"Yeah, and he cares about me," Lilly affirmed.

Alice laughed dismissively, "Klaus Mikaelson doesn't care about anyone. He's a murderer, and you should be afraid of him. If you're not, you're a fool."

Lilly, standing her ground, responded defiantly, "I guess that makes me a fool then."

"You can not trust him. Are you listening to me?" Alice's concern turned into a stern warning.

"I'm not listening to you. I trust Klaus, more than you, at least," Lilly defiantly declared.

"Shut your mouth, you stubborn, foolish little girl. Klaus Mikaelson is the reason your mother is dead and is the reason you ended up in a basement," Alice snapped.

"No, you are the reason my mother is dead," Lilly shot back, her words cutting through the charged atmosphere.

Alice, her face contorted with anger, warned sternly, "I never want to hear those words come out of your mouth again."

Lilly remained silent, offering no response.

"Do you understand me!" Alice demanded, her voice piercing through the tension.