Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters.

New Orleans was hot. The air was thick with humidity and the night sky was cloudy. It seemed as though a summer storm would be coming through to clear everything out.

Sweat beaded at her temples on her ride from the airport. She would have been excited to see more of the world if she wasn't coming under dire circumstances. She compelled her way onto the next flight to New Orleans and a few hours later she was there. The highway took her into the heart of the city and at night it was a beautiful view. She passed the football stadium and the business district once they were down on street level.

Once her phone service picked back up after landing, she listened to her messages, which included one from Matt telling her he hadn't been able to get touch with Rebekah. She'd have to go it alone then.

The taxi was taking her to Bourbon St. That's all she knew of New Orleans and the French Quarter. She was going to start there as the French Quarter was where Rebekah last told Matt she was during her visit for Katherine's death.

The taxi driver handed the carryon bag to her and she spun around, looking at all of the neon lights. The smell of alcohol and humans was overwhelming. Crowds swarmed around her as she was the only thing not moving. All of the buildings were tall. Residences were on the top and businesses were on the bottom. Intricate iron railings and colorful paint decorated the nicest of them. Music poured out of open windows. She saw brick courtyards through fences with elaborate water fountains in the center. Tourist shops, strip clubs, restaurants, and bars lined Bourbon Street. It was a mix of elegance and decadence.

She made her way into a bar to get out of the crowds. It was just as loud inside as it was outside. The sights, sounds, and colors were overwhelming. Setting down her bag in the quietest spot she could find, she glared at some guys who tried to approach her. This was not a social visit.

Now that she was there, she picked up her phone to call him, Klaus Mikaelson. She hated that she would have to go through him, but if they couldn't find Rebekah on their own, her brother was the next best option, personal feelings aside.

It rang and rang. She was jostled from behind and realized she was supposed to be leaving a message.

"Klaus. Call me back. Please."

That was it.

Instead of waiting for him to return her call, she wandered. She thought of asking around, but that was hit or miss. They might know The Originals, but they could also be long gone by now. They also tended to attract the wrong kind of attention if Mystic Falls was any indication.

She found hotel accommodations on the edge of the French Quarter. It looked safe and was quiet. Obtaining a room wasn't an issue, despite the late hour. Once in her room, she paced and made some notes on things she needed to do.

Her goal was to find Rebekah and bring her back to Mystic Falls and Jefferson to deal with the vampires. Rebekah could talk to them as they sounded like they descended from her. She could also agree to not give up any information on them. Rebekah was involved in the search for the cure after all and completing the hunter's mark was a necessary part of it. Being an Original, she could also compel them if necessary.

Caroline called to check in.

"Elena, how are you?"

"I've been better, Care, but at least we know who they're after if we don't know who they are. I wanted to keep this from Jeremy, but Alaric agreed he needs to know what's going on. He's doing ok. Matt and Tyler are sticking with him." She sighed. "If these vampires want revenge for Kol's death, what can we do? Apologize? Hide Jeremy forever?"

Spine stiffening, Caroline knew they needed to fix this. Things were getting worse, not better. She couldn't afford to show weakness though. She was the strong one and they would get through this. She let her conviction enter her voice.

"I'm going to get Rebekah."

She didn't want any more deaths, humans or vampires, if she could help it. She would protect her friends, but the violence never ended.

"Wait a minute. Can you look at my address book on my desk?" She couldn't believe she forgot about it. "Can you read me Klaus' address?"

She had invited him to her graduation after all and had his New Orleans address. She sent the announcement to his Mystic Falls home, but she received the forwarding address information from the postal service and updated her address book with it. She wouldn't have to wait for him to call. It was her best lead. She'd go to his home and even better, maybe Rebekah would be there and she wouldn't have to see him.

Elena found it and would text it over as soon as she hung up. They both asked the other to be careful and agreed to call back the next day.

Deciding it would be better to get this over with, she quickly cleaned up and headed out to Klaus' home. While she wasn't city-savvy, she decided to walk since it didn't look very far according to the map on her phone. She kept aware of her surroundings. There were plenty of tourists in their loud clothes. It was certainly lively for after midnight. It became a little more residential as she got closer.

It was a quiet gray building, but very imposing. Marching up to the front door, which was covered in black bunting, she knocked vigorously.

Nothing.

She tried again and she eventually heard some shuffling behind the door before it opened.

"Can I help you?"

"Yes. I'm here to see Rebekah."

"Rebekah is not here."

He tried to close the door, but she shoved her foot it in before it did.

"You're Elijah, right?"

His eyes narrowed.

"Are you sure she's not here? Do you want to check again?"

She couldn't afford to get into a fight with the Original she didn't know at all, but she was here to protect her friends and for them she'd do just about anything.

"I advise you to remove yourself from this property. Rebekah is not here. Goodnight."

As he tried to shut the door again, she blurted out, "Klaus. Is Klaus here?"

"What is your name?" he sneered.

"Caroline. Caroline Forbes."

"Miss Forbes," he advised sternly," "Of Mystic Falls, yes? Vampires are not welcome in the French Quarter. I suggest you go home for your own safety."

He closed the door in her face.

"Tell him I was here," she yelled out.

She also wanted to tell him it wasn't safe at home either. That was the problem.

That didn't go quite as planned, but she wasn't giving up. What did he mean about vampires not being welcome? Where did the French Quarter begin and end? Was she supposed to know?

She was even more wary as she made her way back to her hotel after a quick stop in a park to find some animals to snack on. She didn't feel any eyes on her, but something didn't feel right about being there. She brushed it off as being related to possibly seeing Klaus again.

Elijah Mikaelson debated whether to report Miss Forbes' visit to his brother. He vaguely remembered her from the ball his mother held at their home. She was Klaus' guest. They had more important things to deal with than the residents of Mystic Falls. They also didn't need her presence in New Orleans as a distraction. If he hadn't convinced her to leave and he wasn't sure he had, maybe Klaus could get through to her.

Klaus picked up on the first ring, stepping away from the table.

"Niklaus, we had a visitor."

"That you couldn't handle?" he scoffed. "Witch, vampire, or werewolf this time, Elijah?"

"Vampire and one which I think you need to speak with. We're at war and she needs to leave."

"Stop with the riddles, brother."

"Caroline Forbes was just at our door asking for Rebekah and then you."

Klaus was stunned. Caroline was going to be part of his future, but she didn't fit into his present, not while everyone nearest to him was in danger.

He stepped even further from the table, not wanting to be overheard even more.

Until the Guerrera werewolves were eliminated and his mother stopped interfering with the witches, no one was safe. He had already sent off his daughter for her protection. He would make sure the same was true for Caroline.

"She called earlier. I'll take care of this."

"Trouble, Klaus?" Marcel asked from the chair next to him as he returned to his seat.

"Nothing I can't handle." He leaned forward in his seat. "Where were we? Ah yes. Tell me again how many vampires remain."

After the disastrous turn of events with Genevieve and the witches attempting to kill Hope and the werewolves with Elijah's unknowing help killing the majority of the vampire population, he was in planning mode. While he himself had worked to give the Crescent werewolves some additional power, planning on using their allegiance to dominate the city, they instead joined with the Guerrera werewolves. Once again he had been stabbed in the back and it burned. There was no parity or equity, nor was anyone under this thumb. The werewolves were in charge and their betrayal would lead to bloodshed and revenge.

Additionally, Davina's coven had been mostly decimated during the attempted murder of Hope. However, with Genevieve's death, the final Harvest girl was resurrected. She had no mentors though and was weak. Davina was the lone witch power in the city. Marcel remained friendly with her and was also rustling up any of the vampires who escaped the failed attempt to take out The Originals.

Marcel and Klaus were temporarily aligned. Both wanted the werewolves under their control along with the city. Neither had discussed who would run the city after that matter was resolved. Marcel was the key to using Davina. He couldn't trust Marcel, but he wasn't ready to dispatch him either.

They talked numbers and allies. Klaus had contingency plans in place, but with so many enemies coming at once it was best to have many options. Marcel was going to broker a deal between Klaus and Davina. He needed the moonlight rings' power broken and untied from himself. Klaus was prepared to supply Davina with some of his blood in case Marcel or any vampires, including Josh, were bitten in return. He was suspicious of what Davina would do with the blood of course. It was a lesson he learned the hard way, but there were no other powerful witches he could turn to.

Once Marcel left the bar, he picked up his phone to listen to Caroline's voicemail again. He hadn't want to give too much information to Marcel and stopping their conversation to deal with Caroline would stand out.

It was certainly unusual for her to call after their tryst in the woods when he promised to keep his distance, but he figured she was calling on behalf of her little friends and he wasn't interested. Listening again though, she didn't immediately speak on the recording and he could hear some familiar sounds…the sounds of New Orleans.

Finding her wasn't difficult, she used her own name. Rookie mistake. He really could teach her so much.

Oddly, Caroline slept really well. Her mind was racing too much to fall asleep at first despite her exhaustion and she was restless, but at a certain point her mind cleared and she felt settled, safe even. She fell into a deep, comforting sleep.

The whir of the air conditioning woke her up the following morning and her lids fluttered to let in the streaming sunlight. Reaching for her phone, there were no new messages.

She rolled over to get prepared for the day, but she wasn't prepared for what greeted her.

"Hello, Caroline."

"Klaus."

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Finally, right?

Anyone still with me?