Chapter 1: The Arrival
The sounds of the St. Peter's nightlife filled the air. The bustling streets alone were enough to put off a young Derek Hale. To him, it was hard to believe that a place like this existed in the world. Up until now, all he had known was the forest covered landscape of Beacon Hills. He kept his ears open and his eyes peeled as he followed closely behind his sister Laura. She was the one who brought him here in the first place; she had told him that she had friends here in New Orleans that would help protect them.
"Who's this Marcel guy anyways, and why would he choose to help US?" Derek spat at the concrete as they walked.
Laura, who was relieved to hear her brother speak for the first time since they had left, turned around with a smile, "He's a friend. That's all that matters." She said, trying to feed hope into Derek. "Honestly, he's the best person we could go to in a situation like this. I hear he has this entire city wired,"
Derek analyzed the faces of the people passing by. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there was something different about these civilians. It must be the city he thought to himself. Their eyes didn't seem as innocent as the eyes of most of the residents of Beacon Hills. I guess, if you live in a shady part of town, you're bound to be shady person. He had been so lost in thought, that he didn't even notice his sister halt in front of him.
He ended up slamming right into her, nearly falling to the ground. For just a moment, he could've sworn that every head in the street had turned to look at him, but by the time he had regained balance, and looked up, everybody had seemed to go about with their business. Laura grabbed him by the arm and hoisted him back on his feet. "Were here," she mumbled. For the first time in three days, Laura had actually seemed scared. "Marcel said he'd meet us inside," her gaze at the building never broke.
"The Krazy Korner?" Derek questioned.
She nodded, "Don't judge a book by its cover, Derek," She finally looked at him, her eyes were a crimson red color, signaling that she was ready to use her abilities in case she needed them. "Watch your back," she said. It was strange how such a simple sentence could make Derek so uncomfortable.
"I thought you said he was a friend?"
"I did, but friends come and go, they're not the most trustworthy. The only people you can truly trust are your family," family, why did she have to bring it up? What family? He thought. Not even a week after the fire and Laura had begun talking about family again. Being the only two survivors of the Hale house fire, which killed everyone else in their family, Laura and Derek decided to flee Beacon Hills and take refuge somewhere else.
"You mean me?"
"Yes Derek, I mean you," she sighed, "and you have to start trusting me to, because I'm the Alpha now." She tried her best to make it sound like it was a choice that he could make, but sadly it wasn't. She took a moment to stare at the pavement, and weigh the consequences of her decision. She looked back up letting out a strong breath of confidence, as she marched across the street.
Derek fumbled to find the zipper on his green fleece sweater, trying to zip it up before he entered the building. The evening wind was bringing chills, and he didn't want to be cold if he had to leave in a hurry.
"My songs know what you did in the dark!" He screamed into the microphone. He held that last note for a while until the electric guitar and drums began to blast behind him. "So light em up-up-up, light em up-up-up" He looked so natural there on stage that it seemed insane to Derek that this was the same man Laura had been talking about earlier.
"That's Marcel!" He said in disbelief.
"Yup," Laura answered, locking eyes with the man on stage. He immediately noticed their red tint. She ended her subtle announcement of arrival, and proceeded to find a table away from the bar.
A few songs later Marcel jumped at the opportunity to take a break from his music, and introduce himself to the lovely young lady in red. He hurried to grab a seat across from Laura. "I'd recognize that sassy jaw anywhere," he began, "You must be Peter Hales daughter, Leah was it?" She sucked on her straw as her eyes acknowledged his presence.
"Laura," she corrected, "his niece,"
"And who might this be?" He turned his head to her brother.
The immediate eye contact startled the Derek, not knowing what else to do; he glared back at Marcel silently, folding his arms. "This is Derek, my brother."
"Grumpy one, isn't he?" Marcel jabbed
"He's been through a lot," Laura replied.
"So how is that old mutt Peter, I hope my friend's been keeping himself out of trouble,"
"He's dead." She stated bluntly. Derek tried his best to keep a stolid face, but he had to turn himself away from the conversation to do so.
Marcel's cocky attitude immediately depreciated into a somber frown. "I'm terribly sorry for your loss. What happened to him?"
"Coincidentally, that's exactly what we're here to discuss," Laura began, "The entire Hale family is being taken out, we believe by hunters. Derek and I came to New Orleans in order to find refuge, which I've been told is something you can give us." Derek had always been fascinated by how easily his sister could change character; she could always get right to business, without even beating around the bush.
"Well then, they were right," Marcel grinned, "I've got an empty apartment right on Orleans Street; I certainly wouldn't mind allowing a beautiful young lady, and her charming brother to stay there for a while," Derek rolled his eyes at Marcel's attempts to flirt; all he could do was hope that Laura was smarter than that.
"I'd love that." She smiled back, uncrossing her legs and standing up. Derek's eyes widened, and he almost choked on his drink. Had she really just made a deal with this obvious perv? She could sense his dismay, and sent him a look that said you better behave yourself.
Marcel swung the keys around on his fingertip as they walked down the street. "It actually has a lovely view of the St. Peter's Cathedral," he babbled. Derek tried his best to listen, but he couldn't help but notice the silhouettes of something following them along the rooftops. He pretended to pay attention to the conversation with Marcel, but there was something about the man that infuriated him.
"Its… wonderful." Laura sounded less than pleased. The old white building they had stopped at had an 'Apartment for lease' sign nailed to the side. Smiling, Marcel reached and yanked the metal plate clean out of the wood… with one hand. Any normal person wouldn't have noticed this move, for it was supernaturally quick. Derek had had enough of Marcel's games.
Pinning him to the wall of the apartment complex, Derek growled at Marcel, "What are you? I've smelt something funny ever since we set foot in this place." Immediately, bodies dropped from the sky landing on their feet, and ready to fight, in a semi-circle around Derek. Laura knew that she wasn't going to keep Derek out of the loop for much longer.
"Derek!" She roared.
"Calm, calm," Marcel sang, keeping his suave persona about him. "The boy is merely confused,"
Derek pushed Marcel harder into the wall, and the plywood began to crack under the force. How the hell is he so strong? Derek wondered. Any normal human would be screaming in pain. "I'm not confused. Obviously you're not a human," Marcel's men grabbed Derek, and restrained him, pulling him out into the street. A crowd began to appear around the scene.
Landing softly back on the ground, Marcel calmly swept the dirt off of his black leather jacket. "I can tell you haven't spent much time out of Beacon Hills,"
Laura pleaded fearfully, "Marcel, please don't hurt him-"
"Oh, honey, I wasn't going to hurt him. In fact, a congratulations is in order; I applaud your bravery to go against the unknown Derek, so I'm going to let you in on a little secret," he strolled up to a now kneeling Derek, and whispered in his ear, "Werewolves aren't the only supernatural beings that walk this earth."
Derek didn't respond, not even when Marcel ordered his men to release him; he just continued kneeling on the street with his head down. I couldn't even protect her here! Even when I surprised him! What kind of Beta am I?
Marcel turned to Laura and tossed her the keys to the apartment, "enjoy your stay in New Orleans," he chimed before rushing away as quick as lightning. The crowd followed Marcel's lead, and dispersed into the city. They were alone once again.