The Mikaelsons
"Look at them," Klaus muttered lowly - watching from afar as the members of the Coven of the Quarter shuffle into the church.
"You must be on your best behavior, Niklaus," Elijah started, "One of those people may be the end to your suffering. We cannot have them seeing your true personality too soon… it could ruin everything."
"My brother: the comedian," Klaus replied. But neither brother laughed or even broke a smile.
"What if none of them agree to help?" Rebekah piped up from her space leaned against the wall, arms folded over her chest.
"Then for the next two hundred years I'll continue to be the light of your life, dear sister," Klaus glowered at her before the three pushed on across the street.
The Coven
With her Coven, Anna shuffled into the church with her coven members. They filled the first three pews on the right side of the aisle. Anna looked over to see Marcel, the vampire, and a few of his cohorts sparsely occupying the first few aisles on the left side.
Their Supreme, Vincent, took his place upon the first step in front of their pews. He seemed tense and displeased, his foot unconsciously tapping against the marble floors creating a rhythmic tap tap tap amidst the silence.
Marcel, on the other hand, seemed amused. He lounged against the first pew, arms stretched out with a smile almost as wide. Anna looked around for other clues as to why they were attending a council with the vampires but received none. That was until Marcel finally rose from his seat to join Vincent in the front of the church. Marcel nodded to Vincent and he addressed his coven: "Thank-you for joining me here today… I know you all are busy with your lives and your practice but welcome to the second council of its kind…"
Anna and the others looked around, particularly at some of the older members of the coven to see if there was any type of recognition as to what they were about to experience. But no one seemed to know. Anna could feel the confusion from her fellow members permeate the air.
Vincent drew on, "You know Marcel – our vampire liaison," Vincent was clearly less than pleased but remained professional, "He will be overseeing the meeting here, keeping us honest," in tone – the remark should've been in jest but Vincent's face gave no look of humor.
Marcel nodded, "I will be sure to watch ya'll… but I'm not the one who has called for your attention," he then waved his hand forward to someone behind them.
Turning their heads, the coven became aware of three figures standing at the back of the church. Upon Marcel's prodding, only one stepped forward and walked the length of the aisle. Another vampire. As he swept passed the final front rows, Anna's empathy switched itself on and she suddenly felt winded. She hid her feeling and calmly regained her own breath and worked to push the other's emotions from her head. Roxanne nudged her lightly with her elbow, "You all right?" she whispered. Anna gave a nod – telling her friend not to worry.
This blonde vampire took his place at the front of the church, taking a stand behind the podium and leaning down with both hands. He gave one dark look to the back of the church before he started, "Witches…" he began looking out at the coven's side, "I do not know any of you but I have stood before this council once before… nearly two hundred years ago…"
Anna furrowed her brow and stole a glance to Roxanne next to her who showed just as much understanding as she did.
"A little more than two hundred years ago… my family and I got into an altercation with your coven; the events regrettable – turning out less than desirable for your family…" his apology was covered with a smirk that seemed to naturally pull at his lips, "But not to worry…. your ancestors made sure I did not get away clean. For the past two hundred years I have been unable to eat without experiencing a great deal of pain & agony. Drinking blood only brings misery," his smirk slowly disappeared and his look turned dark again. He scanned the crowd and his eyes swept past Anna's. Her guard fell again and his emotions hit hers. This time her filter was unable to handle the dose of feeling she took in and she lurched forward and gripped the pew in front of her as if someone had just punched her in the gut.
Roxanne leaned forward quickly, placing a hand on her back, "What is it?"
The coven began to shift; Anna had grabbed their attention. Even Marcel and the other vampire's eyes had fallen to her.
"Nothing…" Anna whispered breathlessly, trying to push herself back into her upright position, realizing her eyes were glistening with tears. It felt as if her insides had begun to tear each other apart.
At the podium; the vampire leaned up, watching her interruption.
Vincent brought the attention back to the front, "You will have to excuse Anna – our empath…. She still works to control her power," he seemed vaguely annoyed, "Ask what you need." He looked to the vampire.
Klaus gave a defiant pause before he addressed the witches again, "I will ask of you witches again – someone to break the curse that your ancestors have place upon me. I assure you – I have suffered long and hard for my sins," there was no remorse in his words, "And I think any sensible human could agree that two hundred years is long enough."
Vincent looked out at his coven, "We will take your plea into consideration, Klaus," he said, "If any of my members decide it is within them to help you – we will be in touch," but there was no true desire in Vincent's eyes to help or to let any of his members step forward.
Klaus pursed his lips and walked out from behind the podium. He slowly sauntered down the steps and back into the aisle, clearly displeased. He paused next to Anna's aisle, "Don't cry, love," he addressed her, getting a look into her eyes. After a moment's connection his smirk returned and he disappeared down the aisle and the three from the back of the church were gone.
"You can send your coven's decision through me when you've had time," Marcel looked back to Vincent.
"We don't need time," Vincent replied shortly. Marcel held his hands up in friendly defense and then he and his cohorts were gone.
One of the coven members raised their hands, "Why could we not just end his misery all together – he obviously hurt our ancestors and this coven enough to deserve such a punishment… why prolong the inevitable?"
Vincent seemed pleased with the response but called for his coven to rise, "We can discuss anything further on our own time," he glanced around as if checking for any members of the supernaturals still lingering.
Anna and Roxanne let the others pass them first. "What was that all about?" Roxanne asked. She knew of her friend's empathic tendencies but she'd never witnessed such a reaction.
Anna could finally breathe again since the vampire had left, "I'm not sure," she dried her eyes, "It was strange… I could feel his suffering," she put a hand to her stomach where she had just felt her insides tear at each other, "But… that wasn't the weirdest part…" she explained to her friend in a hushed whisper, "After we made eye contact the first time… it was like he knew… he knew what I could feel… he knew how to send it to me… he knew how to make me feel what he wanted… that's never happened before…"
"Not exactly a genius, is he? He wants our help but then he pours his feelings of misery and suffering onto one of us? Why would we help him?" Roxanne asked as she helped her friend stand.
Anna looked at her friend as they stood. Roxanne paused and dropped Anna's hand, "You're not…"
"You didn't feel what I did… if our coven had cause to kill him they should've done it two hundred years ago… he may not be Mother Theresa but that Klaus had a point… two hundred years is enough… with what he was feeling… I'm not sure how he's still standing… We're not monsters, Roxanne…"
Roxanne sighed, "You might be Mother Theresa…" she led her friend from the pew with her hands on her shoulders and they exited the church, "Why don't we go get a drink…sleep on it …and we can talk about it tomorrow when that vampire isn't shoving his personal baggage down your throat? You might feel differently…"
Anna sighed, "All right," she agreed slowly. "Lead the way."