Fated Marks

“Do I even have to tell you how horrible of an idea this is?” Rebekah said over the com she forced into my ear before we split up.

“Trust me when I say I know.” I mumbled as I stepped onto the brick pathway leading up to the front door. She was just a person who is just as scared if not more than I am of Hadrian. Of course Hadrian happens to actually care about her and dare I say even loves her…

“You didn’t even take a gun.” Rebekah said as I went up the last step to the door.

“I’m not going to need it, I have you.” I said as I raised my hand up to the iron doorknocker on the rustic wooden door.

I heard footsteps and some shuffling around before everything went quiet.

Wow, she was really going to pretend she wasn’t home…

“Delilah, It’s just me. I’m alone and unarmed. I want to talk.” I said.

“We both know it’s never just talking with you and your family.” She called out.

“I haven’t told him where you are.” I lied. Knowing Hadrian he was already on his way here or on his way to get what he needed to get here.

She still didn’t say anything.

“I know why you killed Javi.” I said. Things were still quiet until I heard more shuffling and the door opened.

“You get five minutes then you leave or I shoot.” She said opening the door the rest of the way so I could get inside.

“I’ve done more with less.” I said as I walked in. Delilah took the gun in her hand and tucked into the waistband of her pants. She closed the door and kept her eyes on me at all times. I looked around the room and noticed the rustic brick walls. The furniture was all second hand and wasn’t decorated at all. It was all the bare essentials. “I like your place, cozy.”

“You didn’t track me down for home decorating tips.” She said. “What do you want?”

“You know I’ve been looking for you for about eight months now, you didn’t make it easy to find you.” I said.

“That was the point.” She deadpanned.

“What happened, after the funeral? You and Hadrian were inseparable. Two peas in a pod. Why’d you leave?” I asked.

“None of your business.” She said.

“I want to help.” I said.

“You? Help me?” Delilah said laughing about it.

“We have a common enemy. Hadrian wants me dead. He killed your entire family, you ran away from him and from the goodbye message you left him I know you’re scared of him. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” I said.

“What help could you be to me?” She said.

“I’m the only person to ever outrun Hadrian.” I said.

“You call what you did outrunning him? In the past five years how many times has he found you?” Delilah retorted.

“And how many times did he lose me?” I said. “I found you from nonexistent leads and piecing together connections most people wouldn’t be able to figure out unless they knew what they were looking for. Using my mom’s and mine old compromised aliases? Really sloppy move.”

“It kept you and your brother away this long.” She said.

“Yet I’m standing in front of you right now.” I said. “I’ve been running for five years and it’s been hell so I know the past year was no picnic for you either. You’re not a runner, you’re used to being at the top of the food chain and having people run away from you not the other way around.”

“You can’t help me, you can’t even help yourself. Time’s up. Get out.” She said taking out her gun and pointing it at me before Rebekah pressed her gun against the back of Delilah’s head.

“She’s not the one out of time.” Rebekah said.

“I thought you said you were alone.” Delilah said.

“I know you, coming here alone would be suicide.” I said.

“I can handle you and the Mikaelson bitch by myse…” Delilah said before Rebekah shot her with a tranquilizer dart.

“She really does go on and on.” Rebekah said.

“The bad guy monologue is such a cliché.” I said bending down to check Delilah for weapons. I grabbed the gun out of her waistband along with a pocketknife she kept hidden in one of her boots.

“Let’s tie her up.” Rebekah said. “Every assassin I know has handcuffs or at the very least rope lying around somewhere.”

“Get everything you can find and then some. We can’t risk her waking up and getting away.” I said.

“Well I shot her with a horse tranquilizer so she’ll be asleep for a while.” Rebekah said.

“You want to take that chance?” I said.

“I’ll go look for something to tie her up with.” She said. “Have fun getting her onto that chair.”

“I’ll figure it out.” I said going to drag one of the kitchen chairs closer. I started giving Delilah one last check before grabbing her legs and pulling her away from the doorway. For someone who was in shape, Delilah was freaking heavy. I got her to sit up and then held her before trying to stand up. I wobbled a bit and I thought I had her…

“Hayley, there’s something you need to see.” Rebekah called out making me drop Delilah.

“Ouch.” I said grimacing at the loud thud she made when she hit the floor. Well, I finally got her back for that one time she slammed my head against the kitchen counter for not giving her the bigger room. I stepped over Delilah and went to go see what had Rebekah so freaked out.

“Beks, I don’t care what other kinky stuff Delilah had lying around as long as it holds her down…” I said before stepping into a room with blue walls and star decals hanging around but what really caught my attention was the crib in the middle of the room. Rebelah just stood next to it looking down.

“Please tell me it’s empty or that there’s just a sleeping puppy in there.” I said.

“Unless that puppy has ten finger and ten toes and happens to sleep with a pacifier in it’s mouth, I’m afraid not.” Rebekah said. I walked closer and looked down at the sleeping baby. It could see a faint resemblance to Delilah but mostly I just saw Hadrian and maybe a bit of mine as well.

“Let him sleep.” I said walking out of the nursery and going to the kitchen.

“Hayley.” Rebekah said walking after me.

“Rope or handcuffs Beks that’s all we need.” I said.

“Hayley.” She insisted. “Don’t you think we need to talk about the sleeping baby in the other room?”

“Not right now. First thing’s first. Making sure Delilah doesn’t get away, then we wake her up and get some answers.” I said opening a kitchen cabinet that ended up being where Delilah kept her weapons and other things stored. “Found it.”

I grabbed everything I needed and brought it into the living room. After a bit of a struggle we got her into the chair and strapped her down.

“Now what?” Rebekah asked.

“We recreate the morning of my thirteenth birthday.” I said going to the kitchen and grabbing the mop bucket and filling it with cold water. I walked back to the living room and dumped it all on Delilah.

“Ah!” She gasped waking up.

“Oh good you’re up. I think there’s something you need to tell me. And you may want to start talking fast considering your husband’s on his way here.” I said.

“What?!” She yelled starting to struggle against her restraints and making a racket that woke up the baby in the other room.

“I’ll get him.” Rebekah said.

“No! Don’t you dare touch him!” Delilah yelled.

“Hey.” I said sternly getting her attention. “We’re not him, we don’t hurt children.” With that I gave Rebekah a nod and she went to go take care of the baby. “So, I’m guessing the kid’s at least seven or eight months old?”

“Eight months next week.” Delilah said glaring at me.

“That’s why you left.” I said. “Guessing Hadrian didn’t want to be a Dad.”

“You don’t know anything. I loved your brother, I still do. The day I found out I was pregnant with Drogon was the happiest day of my…” Delilah started.

“I’m sorry, you named your kid Drogon?” I said.

“You really want to go there Calliope?” She retorted.

“Still better than Drogon.” I muttered.

“I wanted to be a mom. I wanted a family, a life with Hadrian.” She said and I started getting the chills at how much I could relate to her. “I thought Hadrian wanted the same thing but after your mom died he wasn’t the same man I fell in love with. He was consumed with hunting you down and getting revenge for leaving with all the money.”

“I didn’t keep any of it. I gave it all away.” I said.

“Of course you did.” She said annoyed. “We moved around a lot. Until finally Miami happened.”

“Chris Maison.” I said.

“You know about him?” She asked.

“Czech arms dealer, found dead in an alley. Police reported it as a mugging gone wrong but I recognized Hadrian’s work.” I said rubbing the back of my neck.

“We decided to go into the business for ourselves. I called in some of my contacts and I got us a meeting with Chris. Hadrian didn’t know he was my ex-fiance. When I told him he got jealous and controlling. He started planting trackers on me. He wouldn’t let me go to any business meetings or anywhere on my own. The one time I met with Chris he followed me and he was convinced I was having an affair. I couldn’t reason with him so he killed him. Two days later I found out I was pregnant. I told him and he told me I had to get rid of our baby. He didn’t want to raise another man’s baby. I wouldn’t do it so he said he’d just get rid of him after it was born so I ran.” Delilah said.

“You don’t need a DNA test to know that kid is Hadrian’s son. He’s practically his clone.” I said.

“You know him as well as I do, you know that once he sets his mind on something he won’t stop until he gets what he wants.” Delilah said.

“Little guy just needed a diaper change but I think he might be hungry.” Rebekah said walking in with little Drogon in her arms. He looked around with his red-rimmed eyes and he instantly focused his bright green eyes on me.

“There’s formula in the kitchen cabinet top shelf.” Delilah said.

“On it, Hayley hold him while I go warm up some water.” Rebekah said pushing the baby into my arms without giving me a chance to say no.

“You’re not going to let me go are you?” Delilah said.

“I can’t.” I said.

“I’m your bargaining chip.” She said figuring it out. “That’s why you were looking for me. You cut a deal.”

“No one outlives their usefulness.” I said repeating what I had heard many times growing up as my phone started ringing. I fumbled around taking it out of my pocket and recognizing the number immediately.

“Hello.” I said.

“Are you with her?” Hadrian demanded.

“Yeah.” I said before putting him on speaker. “You’re on speaker.”

“Lilah.” Hadrian said and Delilah struggled to hold back tears at the sound of his voice.

“Jay.” Delilah choked out.

“I’m coming baby.” He said.

“I’m sorry.” She cried.

“It’s okay, I’m going to make it all better. It’ll just be you and me. Just like old times.” He said.

“Hadrian please.” Delilah cried. “Our baby, Drogon.”

“Don’t talk to me about that bastard. He is nothing to me. I’ll do him a favor and take him out of his misery soon enough.” Hadrian said making Delilah cry.

“No… Please. Cal I’m begging you.” Delilah started.

“Calliope I’ll be there in two hours. Don;t let her or the bastard out of your sight.” He said. I looked at Delilah and then at the baby in my arms.

“There isn’t a baby here.” I said.

“What?!” Hadrian growled. And Delilah just looked at me with wide eyes.

“The nursery was empty. Delilah was the only one in the house.” I said looking at her.

“Ah!!” He yelled and we heard a crash. “I’m on my way.” He said before hanging up.

“Why did you do that?” Delilah cried.

“I don;t know. It just came out.” I said.

“What just happened?” Rebekah said walking in.

“He’s going to be here in two hours and he can’t find the baby or else he’ll kill him.” I said.

“Please Cal, please let us go.” Delilah cried.

“Hayley,” Rebekah said.

“He won’t stop. It doesn’t matter what we tell him we can’t reason with him. He wants the kid dead.” I said. “Beks, take him.”

“Okay, I needed to give him his bottle anyway.” Rebekah said taking him out of my arms.

“No, I mean take him, get in the car and get as far away from here as possible.” I said.

“What?! No!” Delilah shouted.

“You said it yourself, there is no reasoning with him. If he sees him, he will kill him.” I said.

“I won’t let you take him away from me, he’s my son!” Delilah cried.

“We’re not taking him away, not forever anyway.” I said. “Listen to me. You’re the only person besides my mom Hadrian ever showed any consideration for. If there is anyone who can talk him off the ledge and maybe even change his mind it’s you but until that happens Drogon is safer as far away from his father as possible. It’s temporary.”

“I promise he will be safe.” Rebekah said.

“Cal, swear to me on whatever it is in this world you love more than anything my son will be safe.” Delilah said.

“I’ll die before I let anything happen to my nephew.” I said. For some reason that was enough for Delilah to stop struggling and nod in agreement.

“There’s a diaper bag ready to go in the nursery and his car seat should be there too.” Delilah said.

“I got it.” Rebekah said heading to his room.

“What’s going to happen to me?” Delilah asked.

“I don’t know.” I said. This was not how I saw this going. I really thought I’d text her location and the photo to Hadrian and I’d be on a plane back to New York within the hour.

Rebekah came out with the diaper bag slung over her arm and holding the carrier with the baby already buckled in.

“Where do I go?” Rebekah asked.

“Safety in numbers.” I said.

“New York?” She asked.

“They’re out hunting a ghost.” I said.

“Home it is. Be careful.” She said.

“I’ll call when it’s over.” I said.

“If I don’t hear from you by tomorrow morning I’m coming back.” Rebekah said.

“If you don’t hear from me by the end of the day there isn’t going to be anything to come back for.” I said.

“I’ll be waiting.” Rebekah said and stopped in front of Delilah. “I won’t hurt your son. He’s an innocent child and children aren’t to blame for their parent’s mistakes but if you betray and hurt my sister you’re as good as dead. Understood?”

“I’m not the one you have to worry about it. You have leverage on me, I’m not taking any chances with my baby’s life.” Delilah said.

“Good to know.” Rebekah said before giving me one last look and walking out of the house.

“You trust her?” Delilah asked after she finally stopped crying.

“She’s family.” I said and she started laughing. “What’s so funny?”

“You’re family’s the reason we’re in this mess to begin with.” She said laughing.

“I did warn you.” I said.

“You did.” She said chuckling sadly.

“If you could go back and do it all over again would you change any of it?” I asked.

“No. I knew what I was getting myself into. I’m not perfect but I meant it when I said I was in this for better or for worse.” Delilah said.

“I think that meant you were supposed to stay with Hadrian for better and for worse no matter what.” I said.

“It’s a loose interpretation.” She said making me laugh. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” I asked.

“I don’t even know where to begin.” Delilah said.

“Well hindsight’s 20/20. We’ve all done things we regret and we have to learn to live with it.” I said subconsciously rubbing Natasha’s soulmark on my arm.

“He’s never going to change is he?” Delilah said.

“You want me to be honest or to try and make you feel better?” I asked.

“I see you haven’t lost your bluntness.” Delilah said.

“I’m a bad liar and I’m really bad at making small talk.” I said. “As far back as I can remember Hadrian’s wanted me dead. He made my life a living hell and no matter how far I ran he always found me. He understands logic when it’s convenient for him and the only person he cared about making happy was our mom. As much as I’d like to think people can change, Hadrian isn’t one of those people.”

“He’ll never accept Drogon. He can be a mirror image of him but that won’t change anything. He won’t get over the fact that his own son is like you.” Delilah said.

“Like me?” I asked.

“He has three soulmarks.” Delilah said.

“Wow… talk about irony.” I said.

“Or karma.” Delilah said.

“Or that.” I said laughing. “Can I ask you something?”

“Seeing as my life and that of my son’s is in your hands I don’t really have much of a choice do I?” She said.

“I know how to cover my tracks, I mean you met our mom, I learned from the best. Hadrian is a great soldier and knows how to get a job done but tracking and intel gathering is not his forte. How did he always find me?” I asked and Delilah paled.

“H-he didn’t.” Delilah said.

“Then who did?” I asked.

“Hadrian can’t be idle for too long. He needs something to keep him occupied and focused. After you left he tried to re-enlist but could not clear some of the cognitive tests, specifically the anger management assessment. He was unstable and lashed out on anything or anyone around him so I gave him something to focus on. I’d give him any leads or even rumors of where you could be. That was enough to get him back on track.” Delilah said.

“You were the one that sent him after me?” I said.

“I had to do something, he…” Delilah started trying to justify he actions.

“No, you don’t get to do that. You have no idea the hell I went through the past five years.” I said.

“I did what I had to do to stay alive and protect my son. He’s just a kid.” Delilah started.

“So was I! And that meant shit to you and that asshole!” I shouted. “Do you have any idea what it was like for me after he forced me to leave? Do you know what happened after the burial? Of course you don’t as long as it meant you were safe nothing else matters to you, you self-centered bitch. Have you ever had to pull yourself out of your mother’s grave after you were stabbed by your own brother? Do you know what it’s like to at age thirteen have to cauterize a stab wound with a curling iron because you couldn’t show up to a hospital? Do you know what it was like to live off whatever food you could scrounge up from dumpsters or whatever scraps of food other people on the streets were willing to share? To have to sleep under freeway overpasses or under a bridge in the middle of winter without anything to keep you warm except a torn long sleeved shirt and some jeans? Or what it was like when the first person in years to show you any kindness to be killed in the most brutal way I’ve ever seen anyone die just because they were nice to me and to have to be the one to find their body. Do you know how terrified I was to even try to make friends again after that because the thought of having to go through that again scared the crap out of me? Do you know what it’s like to feel like the best thing you could do for the world is die and at one point actually try because the only thing you brought the people you cared about was death and misery cause I do.”

“I’m sorry.” Delilah cried.

“Cut the shit. I’m not buying the crocodile tears you biblical whore. You care about your son and yourself but everything else is just collateral damage. I don’t know what Hadrian has planned for you and I honestly don’t care. You two deserve each other.” I said as the sound of a car engine started louder as it got closer to the house.

“Callie please. I’m sorry” Delilah cried.

“You should be.” I said turning around to look through the window. A black SUV with tinted windows was pulling up.

“I really am sorry Cal.” Delilah said and when I turned around she wasn’t tied up anymore. She grabbed me by my hair and slammed my head against the wall. I kicked back and hit one of her knees making her loose her grip on my hair. I smashed the heel of my boot into her toes making a crunching sound.

“Ah!” She shouted and I elbowed her in the throat like Natasha had taught me. Suddenly the door busted open and Hadrian and his lackeys came in. “You bitch!” Delilah yelled and lunged at me. She knocked me onto the ground and we rolled around for a while until there was a gunshot.

“What the fuck?!” Hadrian yelled. “You had one job! One!”

“She’s a trained assassin and I work with computers.” I said.

“Shut up!” He yelled. “Get her out of here.”

“What? No you said…” I started.

“Shut up brat.” Jesse said yanking my up by the arm before dragging me to the kitchen. I got thrown onto a chair and Gerald threw a wet towel at my face.

“Ow.” I said.

“Shut up.” They said.

I took the towel and pressed it to the cut on my forehead. I really hope this doesn’t lead to a concussion. That would be the icing on an already crappy day.

“The rest of the house is empty.” Rumlow said coming into the kitchen.

“Just like a I said. Can I go now?” I asked.

“No.” They all said.

“Can I at least get some ice for my elbow?” I asked feeling sore already. Jesse opened the freezer and pulled out an ice pack before throwing it at me.

“Ow.” I whined.

“Stop whining already.” Gerald said.

“Some of us aren’t used to fighting.” I said.

“Could have fooled me.” Jesse said with a chuckle. I raised my left hand and flipped him off.

“Calliope get your ass in here.” Hadrian said.

“Uh.” I groaned before getting up keeping the ice pack on my arm. I walked into the room and saw Delilah was sitting down on the chair except this time she wasn’t restrained.

“Where’s the kid?” Hadrian asked.

“The nursery was empt…Ah!” I gasped as he slammed me against the wall.

“I’m going to ask again. Where’s the kid?” Hadrian asked holding me by the neck.

“There wasn’t anyone else here. I saw her packing up to go and came in to stall until you got here. She was alone. We talked and I managed to tranq her. I tied her up but she managed to get free and that’s what you walked in on.” I said.

“Really?” Hadrian said.

“I told you. I lost the baby. The nursery hasn’t been used. I set it up months ago and I just can’t bear to go in there.” Delilah said.

“Hm well then.” Hadrian said letting me go and I collapsed on the ground gasping for air. He walked over to Delilah and kissed her. She hesitated for a bit before putting her arms around him and responding. He broke the kiss and leaned he forehead against hers before pressing his gun to her stomach and pulling the trigger twice.

“Wah!” I yelled surprised.

“H-had-ri-an” Delilah gasped.

“There’s dirty diapers in the trash bin in the nursery and there’s a prescription for children’s ear infection medication dated last week in your bathroom. If you’re going to lie make sure it adds up.” Hadrian said.

“P-please… Cal….” Delilah choked out.

“She’s not the one you should be begging to.” Hadrian said kneeling down next to her. “I love you baby, but you’ve pulled one over on me for the last time. Don’t worry, you’ll be seeing your bastard soon enough.”

“P-ple-se…. N-not… D-drogo….” Delilah choked out before finally she stopped and died.

“Find the kid.” Hadrian said standing up and grabbing a cloth to wipe his gun.

“T-the deal was for Delilah not…” I said.

“I don’t care! The deal’s changed. You have until the original deadline to find the kid of else the next person I shoot will be one of them.” He said squeezing my arms painfully tight but putting extra force on my soulmarks. “Get it done Calliope.” He said before letting go and walking out with his lackeys following after him.

I fell to the ground and just stared at Delilah’s dead body. Her dead eyes stared right at me and I cried. This was never going to end. I failed. Delilah was dead and chances are I was going to be catching up with her really soon. I grabbed my phone and pulled up my contacts. I scrolled down dialed the number.

“It’s Rebekah, I can’t answer right now leave a message and I’ll get back to you.” The recording played and then it beeped.

“Beks get to the compound, if you can avoid it don’t stop I’m heading there now.” I said barely holding back a sob.

I got up and swayed a bit before walking over to the couch. I grabbed the throw blanket and covered the body. I lit a candle Delilah had left on the coffee table before going to the kitchen. I turned on the gas from the stove before leaving. I was at a safe distance before the fire started and within minutes the cottage was up in flames.

I walked to the road and found a parking lot where I managed to steal a car to get into the Budapest. I booked a flight with only a short layover in Paris before getting another flight directly to New Orleans. I grabbed some clothes at one of the shops in the terminal and cleaned up in the restrooms before the boarding call. I squeezed into the black skinny jeans and white top before pulling on a warm tan wool coat.

It was very early morning when I landed. I took a quick cab ride to the French quarter before arriving at the compound. It was quiet and the gloomy sky just added the somber mood I was in.

I walked in and was greeted by Rebekah and Kol.

“Hayley?” Rebekah asked rocking the baby in her arms.

“It’s bad.” I said.

“What happened?“ Kol asked.

“Hadrian killed Delilah. He wants the baby and I don’t know what to do anymore.” I said utterly defeated.