What? A new story, a new chapter! I know I know, it's been like years buuuuttt I had a lot of issues and now I'm back and ready to write again!
I moved this story to the Originals section of fanfic if you guys were wondering where it is.
As always, I do not own Vampire Diaries or the Originals! Read, review, and enjoy!
Chapter One
Cassie lugged her bag into her tiny studio that the organization set up for her. She was due to meet Marcel at his home in a few hours. She decided to take a shower and freshen up before heading over there. Dawning her usual garb of jeans, a long sleeve shirt, and boots, she grabbed her bag and headed out.
She slipped into the entryway of the compound and grimaced. There was clearly a party here last night. Which meant that their humans out there running around with vampire blood in their system.
"Cassie Gilbert" She heard her name, "as I live and breathe"
Cassie raised an eyebrow, "you do neither of those things, Marcel," she countered.
Marcel laughed and launched himself off of the banister to the second floor where he was standing. "That's true but I am glad you are here"
"You ask, I come, I'm simple like that" Cassie replied.
Marcel laughed, "I wanted the best"
"What's going on here Marcel?" Cassie asked.
Marcel looked around the compound for a second, "take a walk with me" he said.
One Week Later
Cassie stepped into Rousseau's, a place that was quickly becoming her favorite place to sit and think.
"That's the third day this week, you've chosen to come here," Jane-Anne said noticing Cassie at the bar.
"I like it here," she confessed, "plus the gumbo is amazing"
Jane-Anne laughed, "I'll let the cook know," she asked.
Cassie looked around the bar; it was empty except the three of them. "Can I ask a question?" she asked Jane-Anne.
Jane-Anne looked at her with suspicion but nodded anyway.
"Why stay here?" Cassie asked, "Why not move away?"
Jane-Anne shot a look to Sophie in the back and then looked at Cassie "our magic is tied to the ancestors if we leave we lose our magic." She answered.
"But you can't practice magic" Cassie countered, "why risk your life for something that you can't do. Marcel won't allow magic to be practiced."
"Not yet," She said and then walked away.
Cassie took the hint and dropped a twenty on the bar and left the sisters. She smiled as she heard the music hit her ears. New Orleans was a city all its own. She had been here a few times, always on business with Marcel. The first time they had met she was a brand new hunter, from there anytime he had an issue he always requested Cassie. They had a friendship and mutual understanding. Cassie didn't always like how Marcel ran the city, but as long as people weren't dying she kept her mouth shut.
The reason that Marcel called her this time, however, she happened to agree with. Children were dying, and that never sat right with Cassie.
Someone bumped Cassie on the street, mumbling a quick sorry she took a left and headed down an alley to get to her apartment.
Cassie stopped and she felt the electricity in the air that meant a spell was happening. She turned and faced the two strangers that were walking towards her. "Listen, " she said as a piercing sound went through her skull. Cassie did her best to stay upright.
"We need her" she heard one of them say right as Cassie collapsed.
Beep Beep Beep
Cassie groaned at the sound of her alarm ringing through the bedroom. She smacked it with her hand as she sat up. "Fuck" she mumbled as her head started to pound. "I don't even remember drinking that much." She moaned as she padded to her bathroom.
She opened her bottle of the hangover cure, a birthday gift from Mason, and took a swallow. Cassie closed her eyes and paused for a moment as the pounding in her head receded. Cassie grabbed a pair of black skinny jeans, a red Razorback tank, and her boots and ran out of the door to meet Marcel.
Cassie grimaced as she stepped into the bar. She definitely had too much to drink last night.
Spotting Thierry and Diego at the bar she headed there, Marcel was on the stage singing to everyone. "How long has this been happening?" she asked as she approached the boys.
"Thierry stood up and gave her his seat, "only a few songs" he answered.
Cassie nodded and the trio waited as Marcel finished his rendition of How Do You Like Me Now. "At least he's good" Cassie commented as she waved down the bartender. Ordering a coke for her and another scotch for Thierry.
"Here ya go," she said handing Thierry his drink.
"Thank, Cas" he replied.
Cassie nodded to him and went to turn back to the bar when she stopped. "Nik?" she breathed out. Her heart jumped and she stood up to go talk to him. When she stopped, Klaus wasn't looking at her, he was staring at Marcel.
"Klaus" Marcel said as he walked over to him.
"Marcel" Klaus countered.
"Must be a hundred years since that nasty business with your papa"
"Has it been that long?" Klaus asked.
Cassie took another step closer to the two of them, ready to intervene.
"The way I recall it, he ran you outta town. Left a trail of dead vampires in his wake." Marcel said.
"And yet how fortunate you managed to survive. My father, I'm afraid, I recently incinerated to dust." Klaus countered.
Cassie smiled, "I believe I recently incinerated your father," she piped in.
Klaus finally met eye contact with Cassie, "Cassandra" he said glancing at Marcel, and "I didn't know that you were here."
Cassie shrugged as she stepped closer to the two of them, "I go where they send me," she said hoping that Klaus got the message.
"Glad that we can skip introductions," Marcel said, "Let's get a drink"
The three of them headed to the side room, Cassie felt Nik's hand on the small of her back as they walked in. Nik slid her seat out and had her seated before he sat down. "How do you guys know each other?" Marcel asked with a smile.
"The same way I know you," Cassie said, "my job"
Everyone was looking at each other before Klaus started, "I'm looking for a witch by the name of Jane-Anne Deveraux. Has some business with me"
"Jane-Anne?" Cassie asked.
Marcel laughed, "Well then you probably oughta come with me. Jane-Anne has some actions to answer for."
Cassie sighed, "This is where I leave you." She said.
"You're not coming love?" Klaus asked.
She met Klaus's eyes and felt those feelings stirring inside her, "I don't want to be apart of what happens next" she said softly before leaving the boys.
Klaus watched her leave before turning to face Marcel, "work huh?" he asked.
"That's a story for a later time," Klaus said, "We have a witch to find."
Klaus was furious, not only had Marcel killed Jane-Anne but now Sophie Deveraux wasn't talking to him. He had no leads on who was plotting against him and he couldn't keep his mind from drifting to Cassie. How cruel was it that they were back together again, seemingly on the same side. He still couldn't explain what happened that night, that fateful night that tore the two of them apart. It just happened.
"Evening Elijah" he called out, sensing his elder brother.
"Niklaus" Elijah replied.
"What an entirely unwelcome surprise" Klaus quipped as he turned to face Elijah.
"And what an entirely unsurprising welcome." Elijah retorted. "Come with me"
"I'm not coming anywhere," Klaus informed Elijah "Not until I find out who is conspiring against me"
"I believe I just found that for you"
Klaus followed Elijah through the cemetery, his irritation growing with each step he took.
They descended the steps into a crypt and saw Sophie standing there.
"Sophie Deveraux. What is this?" Klaus asked.
"He's all yours," Elijah said.
"You know you're famous in this town? Witches tell bedtime stories about the powerful vampire Klaus. We know Marcel was nothing but an orphaned street rat until you made him what he is. And now he's out of control. He does what he wants. He kills whom he wants. I'm gonna stop him... And you're gonna help me" Sophie informed Klaus.
"This is why you brought me here?" Klaus asked his brother?
"Hear her out" Elijah cautioned.
"I don't need to hear her out. I assure you, love, there is not a thing on this earth that will matter enough for me to waste even 30 more seconds of my time" Klaus decreed as he turned to leave.
"Not even that doppelganger who's been hanging around Marcel?" Sophie countered.
The atmosphere thickens with tension as Klaus turned to face Sophie. "Excuse Me," he asked.
"I've linked her to me, anything that happens to me happens to, and I'm willing to die to get you to pay attention." Sophie threatened.
Klaus growled before he stormed past Elijah and out of the crypt.
"Nowhere is he going?" Sophie asked Elijah,
"I suppose that he is going to check on that doppelganger you so casually threatened" Elijah informed her.
"That's not all we have," Sophie said, "Bring her out."
"Cassandra!" Nik cried out.
Cassie jumped and opened the door to her apartment. "Nik?" she asked, peeking down the empty hallway. She saw Nik round the corner to her hallway.
"Cassandra" he yelled again as he tried to enter her studio. Cassie blinked and tried to decipher what she heard in his tone.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"What is your true purpose here?" he growled.
"My true?" Cassie asked, then stopped. "Come in"
Klaus stepped in and shut the door. That moment gave Cassie a chance to realize she was in a pair of sleep shorts with her sports bra and one of Nik's long sleeve shirts she still had.
"What's going on?" Cassie asked as she pulled the sleeves down over her hands.
"The witches," Nik said, stopping he looked at Cassie "I will not be manipulated, why are you here?"
"Manip-? Klaus, I'm here because there is something going on with the witches," Cassie explained. Klaus took a step forward, towards her.
"And I suppose that it was a coincidence, that they sent you here" he retorted.
"No," Cassie said, "This is a witch problem and witches are something that I am familiar with and studied. I was sent here because I'm qualified." Klaus remained quiet. "Plus I was here before you" Cassie snapped. "If anything you coming to New Orleans is what needs to be questioned"
Tension slid out of Klaus's shoulders. "What did you say?"
Confusion laced Cassie's tone, "I said you showing up is what's suspicious"
Klaus took a breath, "The witches are plotting against Marcel, not me" he began, "they want to use me to do it. By using someone against me."
The light clicked on for Cassie.
"And I was already here. The fastest way to get you here" she began
"Was to say that they were plotting against me" Klaus finished.
Another pause came before Cassie bit the bullet and asked what she was dreading, "Nik, why did you come here?"
Klaus turned his head sideways, to avoid Cassie's eyes. He began to respond when a hiss from Cassie stopped him.
"What the-?" Cassie asked as her left palm started to sting. She pulled the shirt sleeve back and Klaus took her palm. The tang of blood stung the air as the middle of her palm started to open up. Cassie let out a cry of pain before Klaus reacted. He pulled Cassie into his chest and zoomed away with her before anything else could happen.
The city sped past Cassie until Klaus brought them to some form of crypt. The stopped and Klaus lets go of Cassie as he stormed towards someone. Cassie who was still disorientated stumbled until a hand grasped her arm. Cassie looked up and saw Elijah there she raised her eyebrows in confusion.
"Enough" Klaus roared, "Your point has been made"
Cassie saw that Klaus was yelling at Sophie, who had a bloodied knife in her right hand. Elijah also noticed this and took Cassie's bleeding palm. He slid his handkerchief out of his pocket.
"You needed to see how serious we are" Sophie replied.
Cassie looked around the room at the mention of we. Elijah and Klaus were clearly on the same side, this time. Sophie was the leader of the witches. To the side of the crypt, there was another witch Cassie had seen around the city, Sabine if her memory served. And another female, a brunette. Cassie was pretty sure she had seen her in Mystic Fall with Tyler, which would make her a werewolf, which made her an unknown factor in this situation.
"We have tried and failed too many times for you to not understand how serious we are," Sophie said.
Cassie's head shot towards Sophie. "What have you tired?" she asked.
Elijah finished tying her hand and gave it back to her. Sophie shot a look at Cassie and Klaus took the moment to grab the knife from Sophie. Sophie pointed at the brunette. "She is the last of the Labonair line, a powerful line. The ancestors were sure that combining two such powerful bloodlines would create a loophole, a miracle."
Cassie looked at Klaus, then the brunette.
"But" Sophie continued "our magic influencing the merging of the ended up negating it. Making the witch's life sacrifice not worth it. So for it, the witch's claim the wolf."
"What?" the wolf asked.
"The girl is coming with us" Elijah stated, "Her life will not be forfeit for your failure"
"What loophole?" Cassie asked, "What miracle were you hoping to create."
"A child" Sophie replied.
Cassie's heart hurt, a physical pain went through her chest. She resisted the urge to rub her chest by staring at Sophie. The burning on her cheeks was from Klaus staring at her, not her anger and hurt.
"Now, to try again, you are linked to me." Sophie instructed, "Jane-Anne died for performing this magic."
Klaus opened his mouth but Cassie raised her injured hand to silence him. "Let me get all of this straight, you thought that having Nik and" she pointed at the wolf.
"Hayley" Hayley replied.
"Hayley, together you could create a child. Use the two of them to force Nik to take down Marcel. That failed so you decided to use his ex-girlfriend, whose relationship was destroyed because of your magic." Cassie continued.
Sophie stepped up to Cassie, "the fact that you still call him Nik, and that he ran off to see if you were ok proves us right."
Cassie closed the rest of the space between them. "Well let me shed some light for you. You seem prepared to die for your cause. Well so am I, the problem is that I'm the only person who can help. Not Nik, me. So now you've played your hand let me show you mine. I will let you guys rot here in your crypts hiding before I allow you to practice magic again. I will use every last breath that I have to make sure that the price for you to be special isn't paid. So go, back to your coven and tell them that by threatening me, and those that I care about was the wrong move. Go back to your coven and tell them you failed," She growled out before Cassie turned around and left the crypt and the people in it without a second look.
Klaus chuckled and Sophie looked at her, "she might be willing to die, but are you willing to let her?" she asked, trying to gain some form of upper hand.
Klaus glowered and sped off.
Elijah walked over to Hayley and offered his hand before they too left.
Cassie found herself sitting on an empty bench, her feet propped on the bench as she curled in on herself. There were so many thoughts running through her, so many emotions that she didn't want to think about. Hayley, the idea of a child, Klaus, her relationship, where she stood on that anyway. She sighed as a painter started to paint in front of her. She got lost in watching the painter's strokes; something she felt was so peaceful when she would watch Nik.
She felt a jacket being placed on her and a few seconds later Klaus sat next to her.
"What are you thinking?" she asked.
"One hundred years ago, my family built this city, my father ran us out and in our place, Marcel has built this city and it has thrived. He has power over the witches, he ran the wolves out. And everyone keeps giving me rules to follow. I'm sick of it, and I want to be king. I want to kill every witch who dares to think that putting you in trouble is a way to control me." Klaus explained, and then he turned to face Cassie who had turned to face him.
"You raised Marcel correct?" she asked.
"As a son" Klaus confirmed, "and he is a friend, my brother."
"Klaus" Cassie began, "when you raise someone, you only hope is that their life is better than yours. That they will not face any of the hardships that you have. And you've done that. You took Marcel from someone who was beating him, and gave him a home, gave him an education and look at what he has done with that."
"He has love, respect, a family here," Klaus said.
"And you want to take it away? After all of the work, he has put in making this city his home. You know who that sounds like right?" Cassie said.
Klaus's eyes hardened, "why can't you be happy for the man you raised?" Cassie asked.
"I'm jealous," he said, "of how easy it is for him"
Cassie laughed, "Nik I've been here enough to see all of the politics that Marcel has had to deal with, and I know you enough to know that you would hate It." she said.
"So what am I to do?" Klaus asked, "Sit here while he has all the power, do the witches bidding?"
"No," Cassie said, "We need to address that but not tonight. And as for power, yes. Come be with your friend, your family. And enjoy the perks without the hassle. And if this is something that you want. There are a million other cities that you can build a kingdom."
Klaus rested his forehead on Cassie's "will you help?" he asked.
Cassie cupped his cheek "of course" she replied.
The two didn't move, "is this the wrong time to mention it?" Klaus asked.
Cassie gulped "there is such much going on with that," she said.
"Are you with him?" Klaus asked.
"No," Cassie said.
"Good" Klaus purred as he grabbed her and kissed her.
AN: I guess I should have mentioned it before the chapter but this is the third in the series and I personally think that you need to read the other two before this one.
Also, Hayley's not pregnant! I got so many people asking for Hayley to not be pregnant and I was so happy to finally get this done!
Leave your thoughts below, these first couple chapters are going to be a lot of setting up the series.