Chapter 1
Turais Amaryllis Peverell-Black. But that wasn’t what the residents of Mystic Falls knew her as, no—to them, she was Ryle Potter.
And to Elijah Mikaelson–Ryle Potter was an unexpected factor. The first time he met her was when Rose and Trevor brought his attention to the latest human doppelganger. She distracted him while the other two young vampires helped Kath—Elena Gilbert escape. One of them shoved a piece of wood in his heart—how arrogant.
Ryle would have been of no importance had she not removed the piece of wood from his heart—he would have recovered in some time anyway though it was much appreciated. He thanked her but did not let his guard down–she was something powerful, Elijah could feel as much and, he decided he’d rather make a deal with her than threaten her to find Elena.
Or rather, that was the plan—until she opened that pretty little mouth and started speaking.
“Elijah Mikaelson, an Original”, her emerald eyes shined with amusement and a little bit of hope. “Brother of Klaus Mikaelson, the hybrid”.
Elijah’s eyes narrowed. And, he may have done something he’d regret if she did not whisper the last words with something too pure—emotions too deep and conflicted- seeping into her words as she said that name. “...and Kol”.
Before the noble Original could question her, the emotions, and vulnerability were wiped off her face as quickly as they came, and her wine-tinted lips were pulled into a smirk. “Let’s talk.”
She led him into one of the rooms of the old, abandoned house and made herself comfortable on a torn couch.
Elijah’s eyebrows rose upon seeing her clean and fix the couch with a simple wave of her hand—it had been a long time since he saw the magic of that kind…but, surely, she couldn’t be one of them, he was certain they were hunted to extinction long before vampires were even known to man.
“How is it, may I ask, that you know of my brothers? I can tell you are no vampire–and Kol was…well, no one has seen him in the last 200 or so years”, Elijah knew he should start by asking who she was, perhaps a little subtle threatening, a promise—gain an upper hand. But her mention of his youngest brother more than threw him off.
Ryle sighed in response, before getting off the couch and walking towards the door. “You should really have a talk with your brother. After knowing him for over a couple thousand years, one would think that you knew better than to believe everything Niklaus says in anger.”
And that was the last of him seeing the mysterious girl–he realized upon her exit that he had not caught her name– barely in her late teens until the night of the full moon.
-----
Ryle stood to a side, hidden in the shadows of the surrounding trees, her eyes focused on the hybrid performing the ritual–as if she was his guardian angel making sure everything goes correct, ever so ready to intervene at any sign of inconvenience.
Elijah was the first and the only one to notice her other than Klaus. However, Elijah had a mission to fulfill and pushed her presence to the back of his mind–and still kept an eye on her in case she did something to stop him.
The next events were an annoying blur of several revelations and emotions for Elijah, and he would guiltily admit that he had forgotten everything about her. Until he saw her again.
-----
It was two days later and Klaus had finally transformed back.
Elijah had spent the last two days covering up all the trials left by his brother and waited anxiously for the latter to return to his human form.
The morning Klaus woke up, Elijah had been a little further away and only noticed the exchange from afar—but everything about it raised a hundred questions in his head.
He saw her again, this time holding a pair of clothes over his brother’s head, laughing–her name he learned was Ryle Potter from Elena Gilbert who described her as a good friend who helped them at times but preferred to be by herself–apparently, she was closer to Damon Salvatore and Caroline Forbes as compared to the rest and he could not get any more information on her.
Klaus changed quickly and turned back to the girl, hugging her and going for a kiss on the cheek.
She pushed him away lightly, “Oh no you don’t. I am not getting blood all over my face again Mister”.
Klaus had an offended look before dissolving into laughter with his arms draped around her shoulder and waist. “I am a true hybrid now”.
“Aw, look at how happy you are about being a wittwe woof”, She mocked him in a baby voice with amusement and laughter evident in her eyes–Elijah noted how expressive they were. Elijah almost moved forward in panic– no one mocked his brother, he did not want to imagine the consequences this young girl with so much life ahead would face. But, Klaus’ reaction brought him to a halt in shock.
The big bad hybrid simply messed her hair and pushed his face against her cheek, getting blood all over her face, resulting in her giving a disgusting look and trying to push him away. He pulled back with a proud and self-satisfied smile. “How are you literally over a thousand years old and still so childish?”
“How is it you have literally died, seen what I am capable of, and still mock me”, Klaus retorted.
Both let out a laugh after glaring at each other for a few seconds at best.
Ryle sighs and pulls the vampire-werewolf into an embrace, wrapping her arms around him protectively, while he basks in her comfort.
Elijah had never seen his brother like that–so carefree, and young and happy. He lets out a breath he was not aware he was holding and the two break apart and look at him, slightly relaxing when they realize who was with them.
“Hello Elijah”, Ryle smiles. “Nice to see you again”.
“Brother”, Klaus drawls with a smirk.
“Ryle Potter, Niklaus”. Elijah nods in greeting.
Ryle turns towards the hybrid. “Well, I’ll see you later, don’t get in too much trouble, and think through what I said, ya?”
Klaus sighs. “Must you leave so soon? I only just got you back, Raisa”.
“We’ll meet again soon, Nicki”. Ryle laughs at the scowling hybrid–oh, how she loved calling him that.
Elijah felt like an intruder in the scene between the two unlikely allies and simply nods back when the Witch bids him farewell and disappears in a wrap.
Klaus turns to his brother. “So, you’ve met Riasa before?”
“Raisa?”, Elijah questions.
“I call her what I want. Well?”
“Once, in passing. How do you know of her?”
“We are old friends”, Klaus smiles. “Met her a few years ago in a ball. Wild little thing.”
“She knows Kol.”
The younger brother’s smile fades. “Well, that reminds me, I have a promise to fulfill, don’t I?”
Elijah wanted to question further, Klaus clearly knew something. But, for now, he wanted different answers. Perhaps, when he is reunited with his family he will ask Kol himself.
“Yes.”
-----
And ask Kol, he did.
Elijah once again forgot about the young Witch and his questions about her.
The third time he saw her, other than in passing, was the night his brother and he had dinner with the Salvatores. Elijah and Damon removed the daggers from his brothers and all chaos broke loose. Elijah had ordered the Salvatores to leave, stating it was a family business when he saw her again.
Kol was holding on to Klaus and Rebekah was about to stab him when she came out of nowhere and snatched Klaus away from the siblings, pushing him behind her.
“No offense guys, but can’t let anything happen to him, kinda made a promise, you see”, she stated with a small shrug and a half smile.
Elijah was about to step forward and intervene. He did not want the girl to be hurt—he didn’t know why he cared but at some point, her random arrivals and riddled answers had softened him to her. But his youngest brother beat him to it.
“Well, hello darling”, Kol walked towards her, arms stretched as if expecting a hug with a huge grin on his face. “So amazing to see you in person.”
Elijah and the others watched from the sidelines as it seemed like they all faded from existence the second the young girl looked at Kol. She froze. Her eyes wavered and moistened and her lips parted in shock. She blinked as if trying–hoping to confirm that what she was seeing was real.
“Kol…”
“Turais”, Kol’s posture relaxed at her—Elijah realized that his brother half expected disappointment, he thought that the young Witch wouldn’t recognize him and he was preparing for it. Something told the older vampire that nothing could’ve prepared Kol if she really didn’t recognize him.
“Raisa”. Klaus spoke from behind her, slowly stepping forward.
“Don’t, Nik”, Ryle interrupted. “I love you, you know that right? You are my best friend.”
She turned towards Kol–offering him a small smile, before facing the rest of the Originals. “And that is why I can’t let any of you hurt him. I know it's family business but–”
She looked at Elijah at that part but it was Kol that interjected. “You are my family”.
Ryle’s eyes widened at that. But, Kol continued. “He kept me in a coffin with a dagger through my heart. You were there. You saw what it’s like, my little Witch–”
“I know, Kol”, She sighed. “But..”
Elijah wondered what was going on. He could see the conflict in his youngest brother’s eyes. And, he could see Rebekah sighing from the corner, walking forward. “Rai”.
“Hey, Bekah”, Ryle offered a weak smile. “I know he hurt you. I am so sorry that I wasn’t able to stop it the second time– I searched for you, I swear. I didn’t know that Gilbert gave you to Nik”.
Rebekah could see the truth in those words. They all could.
Elijah exchanged confused looks with Fin. Something had happened— this one young witch– a core witch at that, if Elijah’s suspicions were correct– was somehow very important to not one but three of their siblings. Elijah could feel a headache coming and decided he would deal with that after he dealt with Niklaus.
Ryle’s eyes shot open. “I have to go.”
Kol’s eyebrows burrowed in confusion and Klaus turned to face her, the question almost out. Neither of the two nor Rebekah wanted her to leave.
“I know, I’ll see you guys again”, she assured. She turned towards the four recently un-daggered and offered a pleading look. Something about it hit Kol–it was clear on his face that the fact that she was practically begging didn’t sit right with the youngest brother just as her pleading so much on his behalf didn’t with the hybrid. “But…just please don’t hurt him”.
She took a step towards Kol, tentatively raising her hand and barely brushing his cheek–a real smile, full of love and adoration on her pale face. “Kol…”
No words left her mouth, but a light chuckle and Kol nodded back at her in understanding–as if he knew exactly what she was feeling, what she wanted to say, and he agreed. Elijah had a feeling that he actually did know exactly that.
She turned to face Elijah. “Hello again. We should really meet sometime without your brothers causing chaos. We might actually get along”.
“And Finn, it's nice to finally meet you. Kol spoke a lot about you. If you wanna get away from annoying siblings and learn about the latest, I am always up. Especially to exchange blackmail about your siblings. Though, I’d love to get to know you as well”.
“Bekah, my bestie. It's great seeing you again. Let’s go shopping. I have Nik’s card”.
After receiving smiles and nods from all the siblings (and Kol looking at her like she hung the moon and stars only for him), Ryle finally turned towards her best friend. “You are my best friend, Nik. That means I am always here for you. And I’ll put nothing above you. And, I fulfilled my side of the promise but something tells me it wasn’t you that completed yours.”
Klaus looked down. Elijah could see hurt in his brother’s eyes without any fury for perhaps the first time in forever–but it was gone too soon and replaced with determination. “Meet me? Tomorrow 2 AM?”
Ryle disappeared in a wrap after that much like she did the first two times they met and Elijah once again had to deal with Klaus and couldn’t talk to Kol. Perhaps, next time.