"Since we've arrived in New Orleans, every single conversation among the Strix is about the Mikaelsons. Tristan has warned Elijah about the danger that surrounds his life and consequently his sireline, but the Original vampire refuses to believe or trust him. The Strix has members all around the globe, and many of them are in New Orleans due to the current situation of our sireline. But Tristan, as our leader, shares the real secrets only with a small selected group. He is trying to sell the "war between sirelines" story to Elijah, but what most Strix don't know is that he's working with the vampire that represents Klaus' sireline: Lucien Castle. The war between sirelines isn't really a thing, but the threat to Elijah's life was very real. Lucien has access to a very powerful psychic witch, who had a vision of the fall of the Mikaelson's siblings. She saw Elijah, Rebekah and Klaus Mikaelson and their entire sireline burning. The prophecy dictates that they will die within this year, so Lucien and Tristan's plan is literally to scare them into seclusion. To isolate themselves from everyone until the year passes and everyone is safe again. But if they keep being so stubborn and refusing to accept help, we'll have to take some extraordinary measures. Tristan has told me they know of a dark object that can be used to trap the Mikaelsons into a confined space, and if we must, we'll do it against their will, keeping them locked until the release becomes safe. Rebekah and Elijah Mikaelson can be left in a deep state of slumber using a special silver dagger soaked into white oak ash, and Klaus Mikaelson can be dissected with a strong spell. That way they won't feel any pain or agony while they're gone. A year for an Original Vampire is nothing, and if they weren't being so selfish they would lock themselves voluntarily, since there are thousands and thousands of vampires depending on their lives. But if they don't, we'll have no problem in executing our plan B."

Frankie finished writing in her journal and rested her back on the chair, staring at the ceiling. As confident as she was trying to be about everything, there were still many things that could go wrong on this plan. For starters, there was this alliance between Tristan and Lucien. Every story Tristan has told Frankie about him we're hostile, to say the least. Lucien was very ignorant and kept trying to seduce Tristan's sister, Aurora, even though he made perfectly clear that Aurora did not want anything to do with him. Frankie was afraid Lucien would betray Tristan at some point, but she hoped he knew how stupid that would be, since his sireline is at stake to, and the Strix are the ones with the means to end this threat. Then there was the worse problem: the Mikaelsons. They were freakishly strong, extremely resourceful and unpredictable. That last part being the scariest of all. Frankie would only feel safe when they were finally locked and isolated.

"May I interrupt your ceiling-staring?" Frankie turned her head and saw Tristan, standing at the doorstep of their room with a beautiful smile on his lips.

"I was just reflecting about the recent events of our crazy life, to say the least." Frankie said, walking to Tristan, taking him into the room and giving him a kiss. "I'm worried." She completed, with her arms around his neck.

"You have nothing to worry about, darling. I already told you that. We're still working on our option A, but you know about our plan B, and it won't fail." He squeezed her waist and started kissing her neck. She closed her eyes and felt her respiration become heavy. He was good. Maybe that's what a thousand years of experience does to you.

"Stop trying to distract me, Tristan." Frankie said, reluctantly pushing him away. "I want to know more about this dark object we're going to use to trap them. I want to see it."

"We are not in possession of it yet, but we know where it is, and Lucien will make sure we have it soon enough. Let the Sister handle the object, darling. It has its own magic, there's not much work to be done. You're far too powerful to be handling these little things." Tristan replied.

"I hate when you keep me out of important matters." Frankie said.

Tristan thought for a moment and finished. "If you really want to know more about the dark object, it's called the Serratura. The archives are with the Sisters."

"Ok, but -". Before Frankie could even complete her sentence, Tristan grabbed her. While enlacing her legs around his waist, he closed the door, pressing Frankie against it. His lips explored her mouth, her neck, her clavicle, her chest. On these moments, she forgot about everything else. Right now, the only thing that existed on her mind was Tristan. He was her lover, and right now, their bodies were merging together, becoming one.

Frankie was supported on one elbow and making circles on Tristan's chest, while they were in bed.

"I need to practice harder. With everything that's been going on I need to be better than my very best." Frankie started.

Tristan touched one side of her face, softly stroking her cheek. Frankie closed her eyes, simply enjoying his fondle. "Francine, you cannot be this hard on yourself." When he used her full name and looked at her like that, she knew she had to pay attention. "You are the strongest witch I have ever known. You were raised among a very powerful and traditional coven. You turned into a vampire and became a Strix witch. You have knowledge, resources, focus and power. You are a vampire, and I yet see you denying every impulse, every urge, in the name of strengthening yourself. You can't possibly be more dedicated than that, love. And I mean it when I say you don't need to."

Frankie didn't know what to say, so she just kissed him.

A few moments later, Tristan spoke. "I hate to ruin the moment, but I must assure everything is perfect for tonight's event. You'll find a gift to wear on your closet."

"You don't have to buy me clothes every time we go attend to an event." Frankie said.

"Well, somebody got to save you from your very questionable fashion sense". He replied, laughing.

"Now, that's just mean. And offensive." Frankie frowned with a fake display of wrath.

Frankie loved her perfect little cliché moments with Tristan, but their relationship was far from being a bed of roses. Tristan has lived for almost a thousand years. He's seen how low a person could get, and he'd played dirty many times himself. In the beginning of their relationship, she knew very little about him. As time went by, he started opening to Frankie about his past, but she knew there was still much he hadn't told her.

Frankie was very suspicious about his plan against the Mikaelsons. She knew how deeply Tristan resented them, so there was no way a year of painless reclusion was everything he had planned. Tristan used to say that sometimes there was honor in revenge, and Frankie could tell that was the kind of situation he was referring to. When she implied that he was keeping her out of important matters, he didn't deny it, simply telling Frankie to investigate the Serratura. She knew him well enough to know that was his way to fill her in, but she would like that he would just… talk to her. Spontaneously.

It was still early, so Frankie had time to look into the Strix archives. She collected everything there was on the Serratura – which wasn't much – and started reading. The Serratura was a dark object made by a Tremé witch on the early 17ths. It was carved in bronze, with the spell written in a hieroglyphic language.

During her years running from her coven, Frankie has learned how dark objects worked. Depending on its function, a dark object could require a lot of magic to be created. But after done, most of them just kept regenerating its own magic, so it would never grow weak. That's what makes dark objects eternal, and that's why Frankie could siphon from them. If she drew enough magic, disabling it, it would simply regenerate after a while. Some might take more time than others, but they couldn't be useless forever.

Like a shot, Frankie's heart started to race. The blood ran from her face. She read the page again to make sure she didn't misunderstand. After the Serratura were activated, it wouldn't allow any living thing to enter or leave the confined space. Ever. It wasn't temporary, it was permanent. Even a siphon wouldn't be able to suck the magic out of the dark object. It was so strong it would kill anyone who tried.

Suddenly, everything made sense to Frankie. Why Tristan was so calm. Why he was aligned with Lucien.

The plan against the Mikaelsons wasn't just about self-protection. It was about revenge.

Frankie could feel her body trembling. She was pacing, waiting for Tristan to enter their room. When he did and closed the door, she exploded.

"Tristan, what the hell? Why would you hide this huge thing from me? Who else knows? You, Lucien, Aya, your sister, the freaking Strix coven? I'm the only one you don't trust enough to tell?" Frankie was speaking loudly, but she didn't care.

Tristan widened his eyes for a moment. "I think we shouldn't be talking about this here, Francine." He said, referring to the fact that they were at the Strix compound.

"C'mon Tristan. You know I always keep burning sage. No one can hear us." She replied, pointing at the spelled plaint she invariably had. "Don't even try to deflect more than you already did."

"Francine, I didn't tell you because I knew that's how you would react. You're being childish. You think you understand how far the Mikaelsons can get to achieve what they want? You have no idea!" Tristan said. "I have to do this. For you, for Aurora, for the Strix. For me and for all I've lost because of them." At this point he was almost yelling, which was very rare for Tristan. He never loses it like this.

"Do you even hear what you're saying?" Frankie voiced with disbelief. "You're defending yourself from something I never condemned you for. I'm not mad at you because of what you're planning to do. I'm mad because you lied to me. Don't you know me? I never –"

Tristan interrupted her. "That's not –"

"No, you let me finish." Frankie spoke firmly. "I never judged you, Tristan. Not once. How can you trust Lucien Castle and not trust me? You claim you love me, but love is about trust. This is all you. I never gave you any reason for you to hide stuff from me. I can't take your misgiving anymore."

She could see the pain in Tristan eyes. "Frankie, please, that's not – "

"I don't want to hear it." She cut him and stormed out of the room.

It was almost time for the gala. Frankie's hair and make-up were already done. She opened her wardrobe and saw a beautiful dark-purple dress and a necklace with a rock she didn't recognize. She doubted she could ever select something so perfect to wear herself. If it wasn't for Tristan she would probably look like a dislocated crazy person. It wasn't that she couldn't wear nice clothes, but the Strix had a very high standard.

She dressed and looked at the sink table, where her sunlight bracelet was. It wasn't really spelled anymore, since she found a way to link her witch nature with her vampire essence and stop being weakened by the sun. But she still wore it, since it was a gift from Tristan. It became a reminder not just of his love, but also of how she moved from an insecure, afraid mess, to a strong, confident person. She was still mad at Tristan, but she put the bracelet on anyway.

Frankie wasn't really in the mood for a party, let alone for a freaking initiation ball. But she had to attend anyway. She was Tristan's partner, and their personal problems should not interfere on the social obligations.

Tristan entered the room and gave Frankie a soft smile. "You look beautiful, my dear."

"Thank you. You do not look very bad yourself." She replied, pouting.

"I know you're probably not very excited to go, but I hope we can just enjoy night and work on our matters later." He said, taking her hand.

"Of course." She agreed.

He offered his arm and she took it. "Just smile and go with it." He suggested.

"Always." She answered, causing him to smile.

It was time for the party. Or the bloodbath.

As Frankie and Tristan went downstairs, she took a first look at the party. It was perfect, obviously. Everyone was wearing masks, and she was holding one to her face, but at the first opportunity she got she would abandon it. It made her feel ridiculous.

A waiter offered them champagne and she denied it, but Tristan took one glass. While they entered the room, the music stopped, and everyone respectfully gathered around Frankie and Tristan, waiting for the welcome-speech. Frankie hated those moments. She wasn't a shy person, but this was too much exposure.

"Distinguish friends, welcome." Tristan started. "Is so rare that we're able to come together like this, to revel for one night, in the company of true equals." Frankie laughed internally. She knew, Tristan knew, and everyone knew, that they would never be true equals.

"Now, me and Francine would like to take a moment to welcome a very special guest: Mr. Marcel Gerard." Tristan toasted.

Marcel smile politely and thanked while everyone clapped.

"Of course, before we tell Marcel all of our secrets, there's one small piece of business to which we must first attend." Tristan continued.

Frankie gave a little smile. Oh boy, this Marcel guy has no idea what he just walked in to. She never had to go through an initiation ritual herself, but she attended to some, and she knew how brutal they could get.

There was a moment of silence and Marcel looked confused.

"We must determine his worth." Tristan said.

"That's funny, I seem to recall you being the one knocking on my door." Marcel intervened.

"You'll notice, Mr. Gerard, that over the course of the evening, someone has managed to take something quite dear to you. Your daylight ring."

Frankie heard Marcel's heart beating faster as he realized his ring was really gone.

"What the hell is going on?" She heard a woman say, and then realized Elijah Mikaelson was there. The girl was probably his wife or something.

"Francine, my dear, do you mind enlightening Mr. Gerard about the rules of tonight's event?" Tristan requested.

Of course he would make her speak.

Frankie walked towards Marcel and started, with a serious tone, never letting go of his eyes. "The test is quite simple. First, you need to deduce the identity of the thief. Then, you are simply to take back what is yours." She said.

Marcel looked around, seeming a little insecure. "I doubt the prize will be easily relinquished." Frankie continued.

Tristan agreed and declared. "Despite our refinement, we're still a rather violent bunch. In victory, you become one of us. In failure, you meet your death."

Frankie finished with the verdict. "You have a few hours till dawn. I wish you the best of luck."

The party restarted, and Frankie and Tristan went rounding, politely speaking with the guests. They also danced. Frankie thought initiations could be quite fun. Some of the candidates could be very surprising and smart. But the diplomatic burden that comes with being Tristan's partner was boring.

"Would you mind if I borrowed your date for a dance?" Mohinder asked, approaching them. Mohinder was a master of body fight. Since Frankie joined the Strix, he had started to teach her. She was billions of light-years from being as good as Tristan or Aya, for instance, but she was pretty good. Mohinder used to say to her that witchcraft was only a part of the fight. If she wanted to win, she would have to learn how to use her body.

"Only if she agrees." Tristan said, smiling at her.

"Of course, Mohinder." Frankie said, taking his arm.

"You look beautiful today, Francine" Mohinder said while they entered the dance floor.

"C'mon Mohinder. You know I prefer Frankie." She smiled. "I look like a Minion compared to you. You're way too tall."

"Your hardly look like those pesky little things." He replied. Mohinder had to put on a hard face to intimidate anyone who would dare attack the Strix, but he was actually very nice.

When he took her hand to start the dance, she felt it. He was passing her Marcel's ring. He looked at Frankie's eyes and she knew what she had to do. Frankie was the one to keep the ring and fight with Marcel, if he could guess it was with her. Frankie closed her eyes for a moment and murmured "Invisiqüe", and suddenly the ring was gone. If Marcel were observant enough to perceive that moment, he would know she was the one that had the ring.

They finished the dance and Frankie walked towards the bar.

"Do you have Tequila somewhere?" She asked the barman.

"Yes, ma'am." The barman replied, pouring her a dose.

She chugged fast and hoped no one had seen it. Drinking Tequila wasn't exactly appropriated at a gala. But if she was really going to fight Marcel, she would need it.

Frankie was nervous, she could feel it in her stomach, but she was confident. She was happy that Tristan trusted her enough to assign her that.

Suddenly, she realized Marcel was at the opposite side of the bar talking to Elijah Mikaelson. She couldn't help herself but to listen.

"I could have warned you." Elijah spoke.

"Look, I didn't tell you I was coming tonight because – "

"I wouldn't have allowed." Elijah cut Marcel. That line just reinforced Frankie's idea that Elijah was a very, very arrogant person.

"Yeah." Marcel agreed. "There is that word 'allowed'. You know, I thought I earned the right to be considered an equal. But that's not the way it works in your family. So it's time I consider my options. If nothing else the Strix are not interested in me as a side-kick."

"These options, as you described them, are a death sentence. I supposed I should have to intervene. It is a shame, I've had this tuxedo for a hundred years. He's proven far more reliable than you, Marcellus." Elijah said.

Frankie's heart skipped a bit. She could handle Marcel. But a thousand-years old Original vampire would put one hell of a fight.

"Relax, okay? I got this under control." Marcel told him, looking at Aya.

Frankie laughed a little, capping her mouth so she wouldn't spit any champagne. Yes, she drank Tequila and now she's drinking champagne. Alcohol is a bless.

"Do you?" Elijah questioned him.

"I hope so, this is a nice jacket." Marcel finished and left.

Frankie turned around and started observing the party. Tristan was dancing with Elijah's date. Now, she could sense something different about her. The girl was a werewolf. She must be the mother of Niklaus' child, the werewolf/vampire hybrid.

"Jealous much?" Elijah Mikaelson was standing by Frankie's side. She looked at him.

"It takes much more than that to make me jealous." Frankie answered, with a straight face.

Elijah smirked. "I didn't know your name was Francine. You were introduced to me as Frankie."

"Francine is my middle name. My first one is Leah. I don't know why Tristan introduced me with my nickname, it's unusual." Frankie shrugged.

"He was probably just marking territory with his vampire witch." He said.

Frankie rolled her eyes. "He wouldn't need to do that."

"Your devotion to him is surprising to me. Do you agree with this little initiation show he's putting?"

"I'm surprised that you are surprised. After all, the initiation ritual is written in the first document of the Strix' rules, and I'm aware that you were the one to write it." Frankie observed.

Elijah took a moment and then said. "When I idealized this group I never imagined that was what it would turn to be: An eternal fight to obtain more power, no matter what it costs."

"I don't need to agree with every single step the Strix make. They do what they got to do." Frankie said. Elijah was looking at her with a cynical smile.

"Being on the Strix comes with many advantages. It should also come with a price. You pay it or you're out. It's as simple as that." She continued.

"Somehow I doubt you really think like that." Elijah said. "How was your initiation?" He asked.

"What makes you think I had to go through one?" She answered with another question.

Elijah was about to say something, but they saw Tristan and the girl approaching.

"Thank you for the dance, Hayley Marshall-Kenner. It was a pleasure." The girl nodded, and Tristan extended his hand to Frankie. "Would you, love?"

"Are you ready to do this, my dear?" Tristan asked, holding Frankie's arms.

They were in their room, and she knew it was almost time to end the initiation process.

"I am. I really hope that doesn't go wrong."

"If you need, I will intervein. So will Aya and Mohinder and every other Strix present. Do be certain of that. But I highly doubt you'll need any help, love."

"Okay then. I really don't want to make fun of myself."

He smiled and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "You won't, my dear, I'm sure of it."

Tristan came back into the party to warn Marcel that his time was over, even though he was supposed to have another hour. Improvisation was in the essence. Marcel and Tristan walked into the ambient where the initiation was going to finish. Everyone who was at the party were there now. Frankie was in the back. She was short, so it wasn't hard for her to hide behind all those people.

"So, who took your ring?" Tristan asked. Everyone was gathered in a large circle. Tristan and Marcel were standing in the middle.

Marcel popped his head up and declared. "Aya took my ring."

"I'm sorry Marcel, but as I have already told you, your ring is not with me." Aya replied.

"Wait, wait. I didn't say you still have it. You passed it to my friend Mohinder over there."

Mohinder simply shook his head.

As Marcel realized he was wrong, his proud face fell apart. The room was in a pure silence.

Then he figured everything out. Frankie was the only person Mohinder had danced with during the party. He didn't socialize with anyone else.

"Mohinder passed the ring to your pretty little girlfriend, Francine." Marcel told Tristan.

Everyone that was standing in front of Frankie opened a passage, so she could join them.

Frankie walked into the circle without saying a word.

"I see you have changed." Marcel observed.

"Well, I couldn't exactly fight in a gala dress, could I?" Frankie replied.

"You're very tiny. How old are you?" He asked.

"I'm 20."

"For how long you have you been 20?"

"Three years."

Marcel laughed. "That's the best you have to offer? A tiny baby-vamp? Tristan, that's how you do a break up? You send your girl to die?"

He didn't know she was a hybrid. That was advantage.

"I wouldn't be so over-confident, Marcel." Frankie said, opening her empty hand for Marcel to see, and then making the ring visible again.

The smile vanished from Marcel's face. He obviously didn't know about the existence of vampire/witch hybrids.

Frankie took the chance and murmured a spell to lift a barrier between them and the rest. It was a risky move, since that would prevent anyone to come and help, but she didn't want Elijah to join the fight.

Marcel had seemed to recompose himself and made the first move. He tried to give her a punch, but she bent over and passed over him, kicking the back of his knee, making him fall. Mohinder had taught her how to use her small structure as advantage. Marcel turned around and hit her face with his elbow and kicked her in the belly, causing her to fall over the floor. When he was ready to punch her again, she grabbed his head with both hands and gave him an insufferable headache while siphoning, weakening Marcel. He screamed in pain but gathered enough strength to bite his wrist and shove it against her mouth. He kept her pressed against the floor with his arm on her throat. She was trying to fight back, but she still swallowed a lot of blood. Suddenly, she started choking. Marcel lets go of her and gets up, looking at the girl's body struggling to throw out the contaminated blood. The veins all over her body were trembling black, like a curse. He didn't look proud, he looked displeased.

Frankie tried to focus. She felt weakened, but she got up, staring at Marcel.

"What was this little trick of yours? You got werewolf venom from your hybrid friend?" Frankie asked, pointing at Hayley.

Marcel ignored her. Instead, he turned to the crowd watching them. "That's sick. You have no loyalty. Your leader, Tristan, sent the girlfriend he was parading around with not an hour ago, to death, and he does not look even a little displeased that she's going to die within the day. If that is what you have to offer, I'm not interest."

Tristan gave him a disdainful laugh. "Oh, Marcel. You can be certain that Francine will be just fine."

"What, you think you can get any near Klaus' blood? You wish." Marcel said.

Frankie then started laughing. She put her fangs out and her eyes turned red, with veins displayed all around it. She was filled with adrenaline. After all, she was a vampire. "Tell me, Marcel, why do you think werewolf venom is toxic to vampires? If injected into a human, it would hardly be fatal." She said.

Marcel couldn't see where she was trying to get but answered anyway. "The venom is magical. It was made to kill vampires."

"Well, you may have failed to realize it, but I'm not a usual vampire or a usual witch. My magic comes from other sources, like from my vampirism. If werewolf venom is just magic, why don't I just siphon it away?" Frankie said, speaking with irony. She placed her hand on the back of her neck. She knew that they could see the siphoning redness on her skin when she started to feel the venom turning into power on her system. It was so good, Frankie moaned, but she didn't even care. All she cared was that she had won.

When the siphoning was complete, she came back to look perfectly healthy, and Marcel seemed mesmerized. Frankie walked to him and lifted his sleeve, seeing the bite on his forearm. He was already sweating, as the werewolf venom begun to work. She stared at his eyes and started siphoning. When he looked down to his arm, the bite was completely healed.

She lowered the barrier and walked straight to Hayley. Frankie's eyes turned red whilst Hayley's turned yellow.

"I'm not scared of a little werewolf." Frankie declared, and then walked out of the room looking straight ahead.

She didn't want to talk with anyone. The only thing she needed now was blood.

Hey guys, i hope you liked this chapter! If you did, please leave a review! Follow me on twitter, my user is pipesmlean. I'll be working with weekly updates, so next Sunday there will be a new one.