Chapter 1

Impossible

The Lafayette Cemetery

Elijah followed the young witch called Sophie Deveraux, he was unsure of what to expect. What was going on in New Orleans? For some reason the witches had lured Klaus here and apparently Marcel, who was now ruling the city was somehow controlling the witches. None of that sounded good to Elijah, especially since he couldn't find his brother. Sophie walked through the gates and Elijah tried to follow her, but he was being stopped by an invisible wall.

"This is sacred ground, which means vampires have to be invited in," Sophie said. "But since I'm desperate, come on in."

Elijah frowned and took a step ahead.

"We can talk freely here," Sophie continued and marched past few very old tombstones.

"Then I suggest you start talking," Elijah replied. "What did your sister want with Niklaus?"

Sophie stopped walking in front of a crypt and turned to face Elijah.

"Isn't it obvious? We have a vampire problem and we need help. Marcel has an army backing him. The witches have been trying to fight back. We haven't had much luck, until my sister Jane-Anne met a girl. She was passing through the Quarter."

Elijah expected Sophie to continue, but she didn't.

"What does this girl has to do with anything?" Elijah finally asked.

"Well… I would say she has a lot to do with everything. And I think you know her."

Elijah's eyebrows furrowed.

"What?"

Sophie turned towards a larger crypt.

"Bring her out!"

Four women came out of the crypt, Elijah's eyes widened as he recognized one of them. The young woman who had beautiful pale blue eyes, light brown hair and the warmest smile Elijah had ever seen. Now she looked very frightened and she had wrapped her arms tightly around her.

"Cate?" he murmured disbelievingly. "What… What is this, why is she here?"

"Elijah?" she gasped when she noticed him. "What's going on?"

Elijah pressed his lips together and turned his eyes to Sophie.

"Start talking," he demanded. "Why is she here?"

Sophie crossed her arms and glanced at Cate.

"Tell him."

Cate was still staring at Elijah, she looked beyond confused.

"Why is she here?" Elijah repeated, this time his tone of voice was warning. He had no idea what was going on here, but he certainly wasn't going to let Sophie and her friends to drag an innocent girl into this. Cate didn't have anything to do with any of this. She and Elijah had shared a bed once couple of months ago, but she didn't even know what he really was.

"She's pregnant," Sophie stated calmly.

Elijah's eyes narrowed.

"That makes your actions even more despicable, you think you can use her as some kind of leverage? You'll let her go right now; she has nothing to do with this."

"She does," Sophie argued. "You're the father. She's carrying your child."

Elijah stared at her disbelievingly for a moment before he managed to reply.

"That's impossible," he snorted. "I don't know what kind of game you're trying to play here, but I can assure you that…"

"It's true," Sophie cut in. "Ask her."

Elijah looked at Cate who was still staring at him. He could see the fear and confusion in her eyes. Well, he couldn't really blame her. He raised his hands in surrender as he slowly walked over to her.

"Cate," he said as calmingly as he could. "Are you alright?"

"No," she murmured tensely. "I want to know what's going on here. Why… Are these people your friends?"

"No," Elijah replied. "Have they hurt you?"

"Not really, but they kidnapped me. What do they want?"

Elijah pressed his lips together and looked at her stomach. She was wearing an oversized sweater, but he could tell that she really was pregnant.

"Alright… Everything is going to be fine, I'll get you out of here," he assured. "Just tell them who the father of your child is."

She tensed and lowered her head.

"Cate? It's alright, just tell them his name."

"It's you," Sophie stated. "Believe me, we're sure. My sister wouldn't have sacrificed her life if she wouldn't have been sure."

"Cate?" Elijah said, ignoring Sophie. Obviously he couldn't be the father; that was impossible. "Tell me. Please."

Slowly she looked up and wrapped her arms around her.

"You're the father," she said quietly.

"No, that's not possible. As I told you, I can't have children."

"It seems that you can," Sophie argued. "We're not exactly sure how this is possible, but it is. She's carrying your child."

Elijah shook his head.

"No, that's not…"

"Compel her if you don't believe me," Sophie stated. "There's no vervain in her system."

Cate's eyes widened in fear.

"What?" No, please, don't…"

"It's alright," Elijah said softly as he looked into her eyes. He needed to know. "Who is the father of your child?"

"You," she replied mechanically.

"Are you absolutely sure?"

"Yes."

"Isn't there any other option?"

"No."

She blinked her eyes when Elijah turned away. How… How was this possible?

"What… What did you do to me?" she murmured.

"I'm sorry," he managed to say. "I needed to know. I…"

She backed away when he tried to move closer.

"Don't touch me."

"Cate, I'm sorry, I would never hurt you."

She didn't say anything, he could sense her fear.

"I'm taking her with me," he stated icily.

Sophie shook her head.

"I'm sorry, but we can't let you do that, not yet. We need your help."

"With what exactly?"

"We want to run Marcel and his vampires out of town. Klaus is the key. Everything Marcel knows about being a vampire, he learned from Klaus. Marcel trusts him, looks up to him. He won't see the betrayal coming."

Elijah's eyes narrowed.

"I'm sure you're aware my brother Niklaus doesn't like to be told what to do."

Sophie nodded.

"That's why I brought you here. Convince Klaus to help us and no harm will come to her or the child."

"That sounds remarkably like blackmail," Elijah stated icily.

"Like I said, I'm desperate," Sophie replied. "Her life is linked to mine, so I wouldn't try to take her from here by force if I were you. Convince Klaus to help us and you'll have her and the child."