Audrey was a mess. She was silently torturing herself as she walked along side the three Mikaelson brothers. Elijah noticed something off about the human girl and lightly grabbed her hand. "I know you're worried, but we'll take care of everything and as for your friends," Elijah paused shooting Audrey a small smile. "If they're really your friends they'll understand," Audrey smiled up at Elijah and squeezed his hand before dropping it. Klaus glared at his brother but said nothing. Finally they all reached the witch house. Esther was standing in the middle of a pentagram with her eldest son, Finn.

"My sons. Come forward," She announced as the Mikaelson brothers approached.

"Stay beside me, mother," Finn said protectively.

"It's okay, they can't enter," Esther assured. Kol walked over to the pentagram but the torches around it began to flare and he was thrown back.

"That's lovely. We're stuck out here, while the favorite son plays sacrificial lamb. How pathetic you are, Finn," Kol growled at his older brother.

"Be quiet, Kol. Your brother knows virtue you cannot even imagine," Esther spat.

"Whatever you think of us, killing your own children will be an atrocity," Elijah said menacingly.

"My only regret is that I did not let you die a thousand years ago," Esther replied calmly.

"What about Audrey? She's linked to Niklaus, remember? You'd be killing an innocent, mother," Elijah tried to reason. "She has done nothing wrong here!"

"Elijah, always the gallant one. Audrey will die with Niklaus but it is only collateral damage. Nature will understand," Esther said sure of herself.

"Enough," Klaus growled furiously. "All this talk is boring me. End this now, mother, or I'll send you back to hell," Esther shook her head at her son.

"For a thousand years, I've been forced to watch you. Felt the pain of every victim, suffered while you shed blood. Even you, Elijah, with your claim to nobility, you're no better. All of you. You're a curse on this Earth. Stretched out over generations. If you've come to plead for your life, I'm sorry, you've wasted your time," Esther explained. No one said anything after Esther's explanation, but something kept bothering Audrey the more she thought about it.

"Why did you make me Klaus's soulmate if you planned to kill him all along?" Audrey asked courageously.

"Niklaus was meant to meet you before he knew about Elena, which he did, but he took your memories of him away. After he made his appearance and motives known to your friends, they made sure to keep you away from him. I made you his soulmate so he wouldn't kill Elena and break the curse. My son is capable of horrible things but he wouldn't hurt his soulmate or anyone she loves. I made sure of that," Esther answered. "If he hadn't taken your memories away the bond would've began much sooner and the curse I put on him never would've been broken,"

"You think some pathetic human girl would stop Nik from accomplishing the one thing he's wanted for so long?" Kol asked his mother humorously.

"You'd be surprise what love can do to someone, Kol. You of all people should know this," Esther sneered back. Audrey glanced at the youngest brother and saw his smug expression change to an angry one. Audrey moved closer to Klaus for comfort. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close to him. Everyone waited for Esther to complete the spell, but suddenly she tensed up.

"No! Sisters! Do not abandon me!" She yelled in panic.

"Mother!" Finn shouted and pulled his mother to him protectively. The torches around the pentagram flared up again causing everyone to cower back. After a moment the torches die out. Elijah, Kol, Klaus, and Audrey all stood around in shock to see Esther and Finn gone. A weight of relief fell over everyone. They would all live another day.

"What happened?" Audrey asked after the shock subsided.

"The Salvatore brothers did their job," Elijah sighed.

-

Klaus and Audrey were walking down her street when she stopped in her tracks. Klaus stopped too and turned to look at her. "They're gonna hate me now,"

"You don't know that," Klaus tried assuring her, but she shook her head at him.

"I do though. They're going to hate me because they'll see me as a complication to their plan," Audrey explained. "They've wanted you dead since you tried killing Elena at the sacrifice and took Stefan hostage," Audrey looked up at Klaus with watery eyes. "I don't know what to do anymore, Klaus. All of this is so messed up," Klaus gave her a softened expression and pulled her into his arms.

"I promise you, it will all get better," Klaus muttered into her hair. Audrey smiled and hugged him tighter. Their bond made comforting each other easier. After a few minutes they pulled away. "Want me to walk you home? If they kick you out you can just come stay with me,"

"Wow! A true act of kindness," Audrey teased causing Klaus to roll his eyes. "I think you walking me home might make things worse, Casanova. No offense,"

"True," Klaus agreed with a smirk. "I'll keep a safe distance away so they won't see me, alright?"

"Okay, deal," Audrey smiled. When they finally reached the Gilbert house, Klaus hid while Audrey hesitantly walked inside her home. As expected, Damon, Stefan, and Elena were all waiting for her. "By the looks on all of your faces, I take it Damon shared the news?"

"Actually, Rebekah told me," Elena sneered. "Why didn't you tell any of us?!"

"Why? So I could be judged and hated by all of my friends and family?" Audrey asked sarcastically.

"We could've figured something out! Bonnie can try to find a way to break this-," Elena started.

"You don't get it! I was literally created for Klaus. Our souls are linked as one now. I don't think Bonnie can fix this," Audrey explained. She was on the verge of tearing her hair out.

"Wait, are you actually accepting this?" Stefan accused, shooting up from the couch.

"I'm destined to be with Klaus. Even if I fight him now we'll eventually be together someday down the road," Audrey answered vaguely. "I'm not saying I forgive him or anything-,"

"Really because that's what it sounds like," Damon spat.

"Why are you all ganging up on me? You think I wanted this? You think I want to be soulmates with the man who killed my Aunt and tried to kill my sister? Not to mention he turned Stefan into a monster and has ruined all of my friend's lives in one way or another," Audrey grumbled. "I know it's messed up and wrong but nothing can be changed now,"

"Wow. You really are brainwashed. What, is this soulmate bond like a sire bond or something?" Damon argued. Audrey looked at him with shock. "How could you do this to all of us? Fall for the enemy,"

"Did you not just hear a word I said?!" Audrey practically screeched at him. "Besides, you're one to talk. You slept with Rebekah!"

"Yeah, but I'm not in love with her," Damon shot back.

"Because of you we can't kill Klaus now," Elena blurted out without thinking. Everyone got quiet and Audrey felt tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I'm so sorry that I'm such an inconvenience. This is all my fault apparently," Audrey said calmly but she was full of anger. She turned to walk out of her house but she stopped before she reached the door. "I never blamed you when everyone died because of you. I never blamed you when bad things happened because you had to survive," Audrey pulled the front door open. "I guess I should've resented you like everyone else, but I figured that's not what sisters do," With that being said she walked out and slammed the door. She couldn't believe her friends turned their backs on her like that. Klaus sped in front of her once she reached the sidewalk. "How much of that did you hear?" She sniffled.

"All of it," Klaus answered softly. She nodded and looked down. Klaus grabbed her chin and raised her head to look at him. He wiped her tears away and smiled at her. "They're stupid to hate you for something you can't control,"

"Thank you," Audrey sighed smiling at him. Klaus nodded and leaned down to kiss her cheek. When he pulled back Audrey was blushing furiously. Klaus smirked and grabbed her waist. Before she knew it, they were standing in Klaus's living room. When Elijah turned around to face his brother he was shocked to see Audrey with him.

"Audrey, what a surprise," Elijah smiled kindly.

"Yeah, I know. I'm not really welcomed at my house anymore," Audrey said sheepishly.

"Why?" Elijah asked curiously. When Audrey looked down the answer came to him. "They're really blaming her for this?!"

"They basically told her that she was an inconvenience now," Klaus growled.

"That's absurd," Elijah stated while shaking his head with disappointment.

"I'm not surprised," Rebekah announced, popping in the room. "The Salvatore brothers are stupid and Elena is a backstabbing bitch," Audrey just kept quiet. Klaus grabbed her hand and squeezed it lightly.

"Maybe we should just drop the subject," Klaus said to his siblings. He looked back at his soulmate and smiled. "I'll show you to your room," Audrey looked up at him and nodded. Klaus pulled Audrey into the main room and led her up the stairs. They zigzagged through hallways until they reached a room. Klaus opened the door for her and Audrey nearly stopped breathing at the sight. The room was huge. The bed was massive and the whole design of the room was Victorian. On the back wall there was a white double door that led to a balcony. Audrey was in love.

"This is...amazing," Audrey sighed wistfully.

"I'm glad you think so," Klaus chuckled. He leaned against the doorframe and watched as his beautiful soulmate took in her new bedroom. They smile she wore warmed his heart. When Audrey was happy so was he. He was coming to the conclusion that he would do anything to see her smile or hear her laugh. "The bathroom is over there and I'll have Rebekah bring you some clothes. Oh and my room is next door in case you need anything else,"

"Okay," Audrey replied happily. Klaus was about to leave her alone but she stopped him. "Klaus wait," He turned back around to face her. "Thank you again for everything," It felt weird to hear someone thanking him sincerely.

"It's no big deal. It's what soulmates are for, right?" Klaus joked.

"Right," She giggled. He gave her one last look before leaving and returning to where his siblings were. When he walked into the living room he was greeted with knowing smiles. "What?"

"In all of our years together I've never seen you so...selfless," Rebekah answered. "I think this soulmate bond is the best thing to happen to you, Nik,"

"You make it sound like I'm going weak or something," Klaus frowned. No matter how much he cared for Audrey, his pride would always trump his feelings.

"Love doesn't make you weak, brother," Elijah said. "It can make you strong. It gives you something to fight for. Audrey is a remarkable girl too. You're lucky to be blessed with someone like her as a soulmate," Klaus knew Elijah was right but hearing the word love slightly scared him. Klaus had never been foolish enough to truly love anyone. It frightened him more than being alone. But he knew that falling in love with Audrey was inevitable. He just hoped he would know how to love her like she deserved.