First of all, thank you again to everyone who is following this story. I apologise for any typos; spell and grammar checking my own writing is something I am not good at. I've written a story outline, which I didn't have before, so hopefully I wont go on any weird tangents that don't follow the main body of the story. There should be about 9 or so chapters, and I hope to have them up pretty regularly. There's nothing worse than finding a story and getting to the end of it, only to find it isn't finished and hasn't been updated in months (or years! Which has happened to me).

Chapter 3

Present Day - New Orleans

"Why do you think we're here?"

Marcel wasn't sure how to respond. Davina was his secret weapon, they had been keeping each other safe for more than a year. Marcel had been keeping her from the witches who would harm her, and in return she had been telling him when the covens were performing magic. He schooled his face back to an impassive mask, and asked, "Who are you?"

The witch and her vampire companion smiled slightly, and the witch replied, "My name is Bonnie. This is my friend Caroline." The blonde vampire, Caroline, gave a small wave as she was introduced. Caroline was a surprise to Marcel. She seemed to be quite young for a vampire, but very in control. Perhaps it is a facade, he thought, and she is using this witch to attempt a coup to take over New Orleans. She continued to drink her champagne, the second glass beside her remaining clean and empty.

"Waiting for someone, cher?" He asked, nodding at her glass, moving to neutral ground in an effort to regroup his scattered thoughts. Hopefully Davina was safe. She was the strongest witch he had ever met, and he had known many. She would have called him if something had happened.

"Hmm, yes, my boyfriend," Caroline responded. "Would you care to join us, Marcel? We're very interested in how you became the King of the Quarter. I would love to hear it from the horse's mouth, so to speak."

Bonnie nodded in agreement with her friend, "Please, join us Marcel." He heard some steel come into her voice, telling him it was not an option to refuse her, but that maybe she would enjoy it if he tried. If she had the power to harm Davina, she was not to be underestimated. Perhaps he could smooth things over with her, he thought, and turned on his thousand watt smile.

"So really, you inherited your position from your adoptive father-slash-sire?" Caroline asked.

"Inherited, yes, but I have improved on his style of ruling. The city is run by vampires; we keep the witches and wolves in check, and in return we have peace." His smile was still in place, but it was getting harder and harder to pretend to be unaffected by their questions. It seemed to him as though they knew the answers already, and were toying with him.

"You keep the witches in check," Bonnie repeated. "I'm not so sure that's your job, Marcel. After all, vampires are an abomination brought about by a witch, surely its our job to keep you in check?" Bonnie and Caroline were enjoying winding Marcel up. After all, he didn't know they agreed with him when it came to this city's witches. Who thought murdering four girls for little better a reason than ancestor worship was a good idea? Jayne-Anne and Davina's coven, that's who. Not that they were ever going to have that option again, Bonnie thought.

Caroline subtlety looked for Stefan as she gestured to the blonde waitress for another bottle of champagne. Her alcohol tolerance was high, but Klaus better turn up soon, or he would ruin her reunion plans. She saw Stefan was still by the pool table, a look of concentration on his face as he studiously ignored what was happening at their table. She took her phone out under the table and sent him a quick text, I assume you're paying attention to our conversation, so if it turns bad, go get Klaus. Don't respond, it will look suspicious.

She turned back to Marcel, her Miss Mystic Falls smile in place as she said, "If your minions would like to join us, I'm sure we can get a bigger table." She gestured around the bar, and four vampires turned to look toward Marcel for guidance. He waved them over, unsure what the blonde vampire was up to.

Stefan felt his phone vibrate in his back pocket. Making sure to keep listening in on Caroline and Bonnie's conversation, he fished out his phone and checked the message. As if I would ever run to Klaus for help. I would let Bekah know, he thought, and she could get Klaus. He and Klaus were friends again, and he was even okay with Kol. If they knew he left Caroline and Bonnie in danger, he didn't know which of the two would kill him more painfully, or more slowly. Besides, he could handle Marcel and a it wasn't like Bonnie or Caroline were defenseless. Klaus trained with Caroline, and Bonnie was more than charged with magic after what she had done earlier today.

He continued to line up his shot, aimed, and missed. Again. He didn't know what was happening, or why none of the balls would sink, and it was frustrating him to no end. Every time he thought he had it lined up perfectly, it veered slightly to the left just before it should have sunk.

Stefan heard Caroline, and looked up to see four vampires looking at Marcel. He took a chance with a return text, despite her warning. Smart, Care. I count four as backup. Somehow I doubt we will need Klaus.

The door to the bar opened, and a man in a three piece suit walked in. His short, dark hair was perfectly coiffed, and the midnight blue of his suit was complemented by the stark white of his open collared shirt. He walked over to the table everyone was sitting at, and stood with a hand in his pocket. "Am I late, Caroline?"

Bonnie had a small smile on her face as Caroline squealed and jumped out of her chair to engulf Elijah in a hug, which he grudgingly returned. As Caroline sat back down, Elijah followed her, nodding at Bonnie. "Miss Bennett. You're looking well. Might I be so bold in thinking your new living arrangements are agreeing with you?"

Caroline playfully slapped at his arm, "You're early Elijah! You were supposed to be a surprise!"

"I daresay that I will still be a surprise, whether I arrived early or late. They are not expecting me. May I?" He nodded toward the bottle of champagne Caroline was drinking, and the empty glass beside her. She smiled in permission, and poured him a glass. "Marcellus, I was unaware until recently that you were still alive. To your good fortune." He tilted his glass in a toast toward Marcel, before taking a sip.

Marcel, who had until that point been watching Elijah interact with Bonnie and Caroline with slightly nervous fascination, focused his eyes on Elijah and smiled. "Well, some people are better at survival than others. You should know that better than anyone." Inside, Marcel was sweating. Caroline had been saving that glass for her boyfriend, and now Elijah was drinking from it. This situation was worse than he thought, and escalating into something he wasn't sure how to deal with. He was not willing to hand his city over to an Original; they had left New Orleans, and they had left him.