Disclaimer: Not mine as much as I wish, borrowed & nurtured. A/N: Apologies for the delay, my muse has been non-existent. Hope you can forgive me. R&R x

Darkness Has a Name

5.

Josh glanced at the grumbling and shifting wolves, their haunting yellow eyes pierced his nerves.

His knowledge of spells was unsuitably miniscule compared to Master Kol's, and he knew whatever dark magic had been cast, it would be impossible to undo, but Davina relied on him.

"You owe me," he muttered to Davina, blowing the rain from his upper lip.

The words of a spell came to him like a bad rap song.

Davina grabbed his arm, a smile unravelling over her lips as the wolves' howls turned to groans, and Josh breathed a sigh of relief, pushing his shaking hands through his hair.

"You did it," Davina whispered. "I knew you could!"

Hayley writhed amongst the debris nearby; her brown hair remained as wild as her eyes.

"I'm going to murder Klaus," she hissed, getting to her feet.

Josh looked for Aiden beneath the ten or so other bodies entwined beside their queen. His heart pounded in nervous curiosity at seeing Aiden's true face.

Davina shot Josh a look to do something about the wolves' lack of wardrobe.

Moments later, Josh and Turnip pinned Kol's clothes to Davina's washing line, much to Calcifer's horror, and disdain, and offered them to the strangers.

A burly man with shaggy black hair and brooding eyes caught Katerina's attention when she emerged from the castle, a towel over her grey hair and black bags beneath her eyes.

"So cute," she noted, taking in every curve and muscle, despite Josh and Davina's embarrassment.

Davina turned her attention to Hayley, wondering how best to word Kol's plan.

Her kindness did have a price, one she hoped the wolves would be willing to accept, if only she could convince them.

"Where's my daughter?" Hayley grabbed a shirt and some shorts from the washing line.

"Hope's safe," Davina hesitated. "She's at the compound with Klaus."

Hayley pushed up her sleeves, and glanced at Jackson's frown, prompted to say.

"Safe? Klaus took Hope from me, and cursed my pack, what makes you think she's safe?"

Davina wiped the rain from her face, and held up her hand to explain.

"Kol Mikaelson told me Klaus cursed you to keep you safe, giving you heightened senses should Dahlia come for you. But Dahlia's life-force is linked to Klaus', she claims, to mentor Hope."

In the corner of her eye Davina saw Josh lifting a 21st century James Dean to his feet. She assumed by Josh's blushing smile, he had found his Prince Charming.

"Kol Mikaelson, I've heard, is worse than Klaus," Hayley commented, peering into Davina's soul.

Davina was reminded of Cami's shock when she first told her sister of her meeting with the wizard.

Hayley and her wolves assembled together, restless and angry.

There wasn't much time, if Davina were to convince Hayley, she'd have to try another tactic.

"Listen, we've a plan. Kol has a special dagger to stop Klaus' heart, and Dahlia's, giving us time to break her life-force from Klaus, and free Hope. The castle can take us to Kol, but we must hurry."

Hayley sighed, hands propped on her waist, then she sent Jackson a determined look.

"Don't," Jackson growled, grabbing her hand. "Don't even consider helping a man who cursed us, kidnapped your daughter, and had his evil Aunt hunt us almost to extinction."

There was a grumble of agreement from the rest of Hayley's pack.

Davina needed Hayley's answer.

"If it's any consolation, Klaus is willing to die to protect the people he loves," she pressed.

Hayley sent Davina a curious look.

Davina needed Hayley to understand her intended meaning.

"Fine," Jackson grumbled. "But don't expect me to behave like a gentleman if we meet face to face. I will defend you, and this pack, until death do us part."

Hayley received his lips to her hand, and smiled.

"I know you will," she said, kissing him softly.

Davina looked away, reminded of Kol, and blinked back tears.

Josh noticed, and squeezed her hand tight.

"If we are to help, we must leave now," he announced, giving Davina a reassuring look.

Josh noticed Katerina dancing around the bayou with the blanket still on her head, and Turnip, chasing after her with his umbrella, wilted, despite his 'cheerful' demeanour.

"I'll get her," Aiden muttered to Josh, with a smile.

Once Aiden had retrieved Katerina and returned her to the couch, he and Josh watched as half the wolves entered the black portal, intending to surprise Dahlia, and fight for their freedom.

Hayley and Jackson decided they would confront the compound, and Klaus, to free Hope, but the second they'd opened the door to the palace, several blob creatures escaped through.

"The Queen's henchmen!"

Jackson, Aiden and Josh pushed against the door to keep them at bay.

"How did they know?" Josh gritted his teeth, pushing with all his might.

"I suppose they've been guarding all exits…" Jackson frowned, glancing at Hayley.

"But the others…?" Aiden let his sentence fade, realization dawning on him.

Guilt shattered Davina's heart, and she ran to speak with Calcifer.

The fire demon shrunk a little, and looked at the portals in a worried manner.

"Kol is weak, I fear he is dying. We haven't much time," he whispered.

Davina picked up a dustpan, not caring about the pots and pans which clattered to the floor.

There was no time to clean up with their home being threatened.

"We'll have to improvise…" she said, scooping Calcifer up. "Hayley, turn the dial back to Green!"

Hayley clicked the dial over.

The door stopped rattling - the creatures, gone.

Jackson, Aiden and Josh stepped away from the door, relieved but confused.

"What will happen if you leave?" Davina said to Calcifer, scared to death, but filled with adrenaline.

"I don't know, I've never tried, but maybe you should let me go out last, to be on the safe side?"

Davina indicated for the others to leave the castle, then climbed the stairs and turned around, witnessing Josh's alarmed expression, one arm around Katerina's waist.

Davina sighed, surveying the others, and needing to explain herself should they think her mad.

"Dahlia senses magic when it's used, there's only a matter of time before her henchmen find us in the bayou. If we're to get to the palace safely, we have to break the connection to the portals."

"I believe you," Josh said.

Hayley and Jackson held hands, and gave their approval with a curt nod of their heads.

"It could take us days if we go by foot," Aiden queried.

"Calcifer, do you think you could rebuild the castle without Kol?" Davina asked.

"I'll do my best, but it all depends what happens now," the fire demon said.

Davina agreed, and held her breath.

When Calcifer left the door's archway, Kol's Moving Castle imploded, leaving the wanderers stranded in the bayou and the rain, with no hope of getting home.

"Well, it was worth a try, I guess," Josh shrugged, looking at Davina.

"Rain, rain!" Calcifer panicked, his arms sheltered his flaming head.

Davina had Turnip find a way inside the castle.

"What a wreck, wait til Kol sees what you've done with the place…" Calcifer muttered.

Davina cleared the hearth for Calcifer, feeling safer, now they'd started anew.

"It's all wet here, hurry!" Calcifer cried, as she ran to get him some timber to burn.

Once he'd settled, she called the others to join her.

Jackson paused by a small window, looking out at New Orleans' and the French quarter.

Josh cast a simple spell to dry Katerina's clothes, much to her amusement.

"Take us to Kol, Calcifer. I know you can do it…" Davina encouraged with a warm smile.

Calcifer shook his head, saddened.

"I need something of yours, I can't do it on my own."

"Like what?" Davina asked, she had nothing to give.

"How about your eyes?" Calcifer suggested.

Davina made a face, and ran her fingers through her plait, thinking hard.

"Will this do?" she asked, lifting her silvery hair.

She had no use for it: it only added to her ugliness.

Calcifer swallowed her plait with excitement.

Turnip shielded Katerina from the sparks and Hayley's mouth opened in awe.

Davina's plait had given the fire-demon an enormous amount of strength, returning the castle to life.

Steam whistled and screamed through the chimneys above them.

"Isn't this exciting?" Katerina trilled.

Davina watched the castle disengage from itself through a hole in the kitchen floor.

Wind blasted her youthful face, as the castle walked on two steel legs.

Every now and then the castle stopped and swayed, as though to gather its breath.

Excitement bubbled through her chest and she yelled Calcifer encouragement.

The fire-demon's energised voice rang out over Josh and Aiden's gasps.

"Imagine what I could have done with your eyes, or your heart?"

Aiden and Josh crumbled beside the hearth, clutching each other in trepidation.

Katerina dropped her towel onto the ground.

"That's it, I've found it!" she whispered, moving at a quickened pace.

Frozen to her spot, Davina watched Katerina dart toward the hearth.

"Kol's heart, it's mine!" the Witch of the Waste gestured.

Calcifer's confused expression haunted Davina, and her muscles seized up.

Katerina dug her hands into the coals and pulled Calcifer from the hearth.

"Put it back!" Davina yelled, afraid for their lives as the castle spluttered.

Katerina's gleeful expression changed instantly.

"Hot, it's hot!"

Calcifer's flames ignited Katerina's clothes.

Without thinking, Davina picked up a saucepan of water and threw it over Katerina's smoking flesh.

"No!" Josh yelled suddenly, but it was too late.

Katerina looked down at her blackened hands, and watched Calcifer fade into nothingness.

"What have I done?" Davina squeaked, dropping the saucepan with a clash.

The room swayed, and the floorboards splintered, dividing the castle into two.

Davina fell through the hole in the floor, plummeting into darkness.

Josh's terrified yell echoed after her.

Davina pulled herself from the debris with a heavy heart, and bruised ribs.

"I'm so sorry Calcifer," she whispered, wiping her wet eyes.

Davina couldn't see in front of her nose due to the thick smog. The pungent smell of sewage reminded her of the Wastes, and how her journey had begun.

"How could I be so stupid!" she hissed.

She took a few steps and crumbled, crying into her hands at everything she had lost.

Something nudged her hand: a cold, wet nose.

"Aiden? You transformed to survive the impact?" she said.

A weak blue light reflected off Aiden's wolf-pupils, confusing Davina.

"Calcifer?" she ventured.

Davina squinted at the ring, and the blue stone Kol had given her when they'd escaped the palace.

"Lead us to Kol," she ordered, speaking into the stone, as if it could hear her better.

Davina followed the light to the portal door which lent against the rock-face.

She tried the handle, and walked into the unknown without hesitation.

Aiden followed, wolf senses on high alert.

"It's our cottage," Davina breathed, noticing parchment paper, quills and an ink pot on the desk.

Aiden whimpered and scratched at the door to outside.

Davina couldn't hear the water mill.

She pushed open the door, hearing shells clatter on the breeze and followed Aiden through the long grass, noticing her tulips hadn't been planted yet.

Falling stars whooshed from the sky and danced across the surface of the lake.

Something was not right, and Davina studied her ring, surprised when the topaz jewel cracked and fell from her finger; lost in the grass and dirt.

A child laughed, his blue eyes shone in excitement as his elder brothers chased him.

Davina could see large shadows moving in the forest.

Aiden's ears pricked up in disbelief when several howls rang out.

Davina hid in the grass.

"It's a memory," she gasped to herself. "Of Kol's childhood," she added.

A blood-curdling scream shattered her surroundings.

Hairs on the back of her neck stood in anticipation, as she watched a teenage Klaus running through the marshes, carrying something in his arms – something small and floppy.

"Mother!" Klaus' anguished cries haunted Davina.

It was the boy she had seen laughing moments ago; his blue eyes were no longer bright, but dull, and his clothes were torn to shreds.

Kol dropped to his knees, and pressed his shaking hand against his youngest brother's cheek.

"Henrik?" he croaked.

The memory shifted, and Davina watched Kol standing in the marshes, alone.

The falling stars deafened her ears.

She watched Kol catch one in his cupped hands, holding it ever so gently, like a captured butterfly.

She listened to him whispering to the star, but could not decipher his words.

Kol brought the star to his mouth and swallowed it, much to Davina's shock.

A few minutes passed, and Kol retched, doubled over, hand on his heart.

There was a 'pop' and Davina watched in disbelief as Kol's heart ignited, and Calcifer appeared.

"I know how to help him," she whispered to a stunned Aiden.

The memory faded and the ground swallowed her up.

She called out to the young Kol and Calcifer.

"FIND ME IN THE FUTURE!" she cried, satisfied when Kol caught her eye.

Aiden led the way through the darkness, turning his head every few seconds to check on her.

"Sorry Aiden, I'm trying to hurry, I just can't seem to stop crying…" Davina sniffled.

They emerged from the portal door, returning to the waste lands, when the door disappeared.

It seemed a recurring thing, Davina thought, magic had started to fade from the world.

"Stay with me, Kol," she whispered.

Aiden transformed into his human self, and pointed ahead of him, with a surprised yell.

Davina had noticed the feathery creature and rushed at him.

"Kol, I'm sorry, did I come too late?" she said against his feathery chest. "I didn't mean for you to wait so long," she paused to touch the wizard's beak, looking for the man inside his bird-like eyes.

"What about Dahlia? Is she dead?" Aiden asked, looking between the two.

Kol's soulless black eyes locked onto Aiden's, and the creature nodded its head.

"I need you to take us to Calcifer, can you do that?" Davina asked. "I made a promise, once."

Kol landed on the castle's remains, letting Aiden and Davina climb from him before he collapsed.

His feathers disappeared after a gust of wind - malting the wizard, until he became human again.

"Is he dead?" Aiden worried.

Josh looked up at Aiden's voice, and a strangled cry escaped him. He leapt at Aiden, hugging his friend around the neck.

Hayley and Jackson watched as Davina glimpsed Calcifer in Katerina's scorched hands.

Davina's own heart twinged with guilt, but she knew how to heal it.

"Katerina, please give me Calcifer?"

The Witch of the Waste hid her cupped hands beneath her blanket.

"Don't know what you mean, I don't have it," she hissed, avoiding Davina's gaze.

"She won't give him to any of us," Josh said, sadly.

"Please?" Davina pressed in a gentle manner.

Katerina gave Davina an odd look.

"You really want it that badly?" she asked.

Davina nodded, and held out her palm.

"You better take good care of it," Katerina let Calcifer fall into Davina's hands.

"Thank you, you have a big heart," Davina whispered.

She looked down at a weakened Calcifer whose blue flames dwindled in her hands.

"If I give Kol back his heart, what will happen to you?" she asked the fire demon.

Josh and Aiden peered hopelessly at Kol, who hadn't moved from his landing position.

"I don't know, but you dumped water on us and we still survived," Calcifer murmured.

"I better try then," Davina whispered, kneeling beside Kol.

She pushed Calcifer into Kol's chest, watching the blue light disappear beneath her palms.

"Goodbye Calcifer," she murmured.

She brushed Kol's fringe from his eyes, noting his paled skin and sent Josh a shake of her head.

Something silver and shiny streaked from Kol's mouth.

"I'm alive!" Calcifer sang, darting into the clouds above.

Davina turned her worried expression back to the lifeless magician.

"What now?" Jackson asked the silent witnesses.

The two metal chicken legs the decapitated castle sat on, stooped, then broke.

Calcifer had taken what little magic they had left.

They flew down the hill at top speed.

"Hang on, don't let go!" Davina buried her chin against Kol's motionless chest.

She heard Josh, Aiden and Katerina's terrified cries behind her.

She glimpsed Hayley and Jackson in each other's arms.

Then Turnip, brave Turnip, tried to save them.

His pole wore down until the wood snapped, sending the scarecrow into Davina's arms.

"Are you alright? We'll get you a new pole," she said, lifting up Turnip's head.

He flopped in her arms and she realized, like Calcifer, Turnip's magic had disappeared.

"You saved us, Turnip," she kissed the top of his cushiony nose.

A wave of sadness washed over her at losing another friend.

Hayley and Jackson jumped when the scarecrow sprung to life.

Instead of a straw face, a man appeared beneath Turnip's bowler hat.

He bowed in a formal manner, surprising Davina and her friends.

"I'm Elijah, have you heard of me?" the man's black coat tails billowed in the wind.

Davina shook her head, although the name vaguely rang a bell.

"No matter, I'm from the neighbouring city, I've been cursed for years. They say a kiss from your true love breaks the spell…" the man smiled, "but, my true love I lost a century ago, and well, thank you Davina. Now that the curse is lifted, I must call off the war back home, and pray for peace."

"Don't take too long," Katerina took in Elijah's handsome jawline with a flirtatious smile.

Elijah tilted his bowler hat in charming way.

"I wonder who cursed our Turnip?" Katerina mused, blushing a little in the cheeks.

"If Darkness had a name, it would be Dahlia…" Josh muttered to Aiden.

He conjured a staff which would return Elijah to the palace should he tap the ground three times. He peered down at Kol, still worried for his master, who hadn't shown any signs of life.

Davina saw Hayley's pack waiting for them, and a child playing amongst their multi-coloured coats.

Hayley jumped from the plank, shouting Hope's name, with Jackson on her heels.

Kol groaned, lifting his head.

"I feel terrible…like there's a weight on my chest," the magician spluttered.

Josh breathed a relieved sigh.

"A heart is a heavy burden," Davina grinned.

Kol caressed her cheeks with his palm.

"Your hair is like starlight, Davina. You're beautiful," he murmured, seeing her true self.

Davina beamed, agreeing with him, there was only one Davina Claire.

"I love you," she said, finally accepting herself and her beauty.

A star floated from the sky, and landed in Davina's outstretched hand.

"You didn't have to come back, Calcifer," she said to the twinkling star.

"I kind of missed you guys, besides it looked like rain," Calcifer eyed the sky warily.

"Let's go home," Kol held out his hand, giving Hayley a kind smile. "Dahlia won't bother us again."

"What about Klaus?" Jackson pressed, glumly.

Kol waved his hand over his decapitated castle mending all the pieces, to Davina's dismay.

"His fate lies with Hayley," Kol said. "She alone, must decide."

"Will we ever know why?" Aiden asked, sitting by the bonfire, whilst Josh cooked breakfast.

"Why what?" Josh speared a sausage, wriggling the frypan of eggs and bacon to a hotter spot.

"Why we all were cursed? I mean, other than Dahlia being a power-hungry lunatic, that is."

Hope skipped into the garden, wearing a purple dress and a gold ribbon in her brunette bob.

She flicked her hand at Aiden, reversing his curse with a giggle.

"Must you do that!" Josh hissed when wolf-Aiden pinched the bacon from the pan.

Josh glared at Hope, reminding himself getting angry at his apprentice would not help matters.

"You know, if you're bored, I can think of a million chores you could help me with?"

Hope yawned, and turned the eggs to marshmallows.

"I'm counting to three, Hope, and by three, my boyfriend better be human, and those marshmallows, eggs," Josh threatened. "1,2,3."

Hope frowned. "Why must you be such party-pooper?"

She looked up at her Aunt Davina and Uncle Kol on the balcony, sharing a kiss.

Hope smiled, and clicked her fingers, setting off fireworks above them.

Josh massaged his temples, and human Aiden chuckled.

"It's not funny. I'm supposed to be teaching her how to be a responsible wizard…"

"She's just a kid. She's not doing any harm," Aiden kissed Josh's cheek.

"Yet," Josh muttered. "Who's to say, she won't follow in Katerina's footsteps if I fail?"

"You won't fail," Aiden said. "Now focus, you're burning the bacon."

Hayley turned to Klaus, aware of Dahlia's empty throne in the observatory.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she demanded, wiping the dagger on her jeans.

"What good would it have done?" Klaus muttered.

"I'd have understood, at least," she whispered. "Could have helped, even," she retorted.

Klaus dragged Dahlia's body into the garden, and pushed her body into a shallow grave.

"I had to make it believable," he sighed. "I was trying to protect you and Hope."

"Jackson thinks you're scum," Hayley muttered.

"And you?" Klaus paused, his foot on the shovel of dirt.

Hayley sighed, following him to the mound.

"Yes, and no," she muttered. "So, she's really dead then? It's over?"

Hayley waited for Klaus' confirmation and breathed a sigh of relief.

He chuckled, and she shoved him in the shoulder, laughing when he almost overbalanced.

"Oi, I am trying to bury my dead Aunt, here, I don't fancy falling in, thanks."

Hayley hid a smile behind her bloodied hands.

Klaus studied her, amused by the childish mischief in her eyes.

"What about Jackson?" he nodded towards the door.

Hayley's smile faded, reminding herself of how her decision could hurt either party, not to mention complicate feelings further.

She'd entered the castle on the same page as Jackson, willing to make Klaus suffer for what he did, but after discovering what Davina had said to be true, it was harder to pretend they were on the same page altogether.

"He's my partner, my best friend, but he knows you're going to be in my life, whether he likes it or not, and I guess, he always knew, what took me forever to realise, that I'm in love with you-"

Klaus threw his shovel aside, and Hayley gave him a shy smile, shrugging her shoulders.

"Jackson's not waiting for me at the door. He's gone."

"What did you say?" Klaus murmured, eyeing her closely.

Hayley sighed, trying to keep her nerves in check, and fumbling the words in her head.

"You heard me," she muttered.

Klaus grinned, inclining his head.

"You love me?" he repeated, cupping her flushed cheeks in his calloused hands.

"Yeah," Hayley murmured, glancing at his lips in anticipation.

He grinned, pulled her closer and kissed her, while Hayley let the dagger fall from her hand.

A/N: Happy 2017! There's a NYE party outside where they're playing live music and chugging down beers. I'm about to fall asleep on my keyboard – been a crazy year. Aimed to update my fics before now, but my muse wouldn't let me. R&R x