First thing I want to say is that Tatia isn't betraying Marcel. She can be just as paranoid as the Original family so she does have people who report only to her. She also has a thing about families.
I share a history with the first family of vampires, the Originals. 300 years ago, I watched them help build New Orleans. 100 Years ago, they fled and now they've returned to find a city at war.
I walked into the French Quarter to see it set ablaze. I looked ahead and watched as my target walked away with his two siblings and I knew two coffins holding his last two brothers would soon be following them. I turned to the Opera house where the fire started and walked in to see a man about to burn. I walked up to him and pulled out a knife and released him from his flaming death before walking out supporting him.
He smirked before suddenly turning while swinging the branch he was holding so fast that it sliced right through Jane-Anne's neck and she immediately began to gag on her own blood.
The vampire Marcel and I lead an army against a coven of desperate witches. Marcel and I have had our army taking vervain to protect them against any compulsion Klaus and his siblings may try, but we have an advantage.
Rebekah immediately went to Elijah's coffin and opened it to find her brother inside. Without moving a muscle, Davina magically propelled Rebekah across the room, slamming her against the walls several times before sending her flying through a door which shut behind her.
We hold their brother captive with the aide of a young, powerful witch. Now, to protect those we've come to care for we have to play the ultimate chess game against the greatest villains.
In the compound, Marcel was being fitted for a suit by a tailor while Thierry and I sat nearby.
"Damn, I do look good in a suit." Marcel smirked.
"You act as through you forgot." I said making Thierry chuckle before looking back at the TV. They were showing photos of Josh and his friend, Tina, so people could keep an eye out for them.
"My guy at the docks is gonna come forward as an eyewitness, say he saw those two drunkenly fall into the Mississippi. They'll be dredging for weeks. No one will come looking around here." Thierry told us.
"That's good, considering one's dead in a dumpster behind the county morgue, and the other one is a vampire now." Marcel said.
"Is there any other news?" I asked him before the tailor pricked her finger on a pin as she hemed Marcel's pants.
"Ow!"
"Allow me, darling." Marcel knelt down and reached for her hand before gently sucking the drop of blood on her finger.
"One thing- I sent four nightwalkers to look into a werewolf sighting in the Quarter. I haven't heard from them since." he told us. My informant had told me what happened to the four nightwalkers.
"That makes ten dead nightwalkers in the last week. You think the werewolves are back in town trying to start some trouble?" Marcel asked.
"They know better than to challenge us." I reminded him.
"Look," Thierry started hesitantly. "I know you and Klaus are friends, but the fact is, since the Originals showed up—"
[Before Thierry can continue, Klaus arrives and enters the room]
"Oh, come now, Thierry." Klaus said interrupting Thierry as he entered the room. "You're not still upset about that little, toxic werewolf bite I gave you, are you? I thought we were at bygones."
"I see you've given him free rein of your compound now, too." Thierry said to us annoyed.
"Yes. Well, seeing as my family and I lived here- built the place, in fact—-" Klaus started.
"Boys, boys. Please." I said looking at the two of them. They stopped arguing and looked to me. "Better."
"You both know the drill. Thierry's our guy, inner circle. Klaus is our old-time friend and my sire. He's also a guest here. Peace, all right? All right." Marcel told them before turning to Klaus. "What you need, my brother?"
"I'm afraid my sister Rebekah is insisting I demand Elijah's return. She's quite worked up about it." Klaus sighed.
"I'll say." Marcel agreed.
"We're not gonna have three Originals walking around town, are we?" Thierry scoffed. "Half our guys think the sister killed the nightwalkers."
"Is that an accusation?" Klaus asked him coldly.
"Eh."
"Against an Original?" Klaus went to storm Thierry, who looked to be ready for a confrontation, but I intervened before they could get violent.
"Gentlemen!" I nearly shouted at them. "I believe Marcel said something about peace." I said giving Thierry a pointed look. Marcel stepped down from his stool and turned to Klaus.
"Come on. Walk with me." Marcel told him and Klaus allowed himself to be led away with a smug look on his face.
"Control yourself, Thierry." I ordered before following Marcel and Klaus out of one of the rooms on the second level overlooking the courtyard.
"You inner circle man lacks a sense of humor." Klaus told us unamused as we made our way to the courtyard.
"He's a little overprotective, but loyal to a fault. I saved his life back in the '40s, found him dying of a war wound outside a VA hospital. He'd kill for me and die for me. Plus, that boy can play the trumpet like you would not believe. Maybe I'll see if he can play a little tonight at the party. You're coming, right?" Marcel asked turning to him.
"How can I miss my chance to meet the city councilman as he accepts your gigantic charitable donation?" Klaus asked him making him laugh.
"Oh, he's a schmuck, but he lets us do our thing in exchange for certain community services, like keeping our fangs out of the locals." Marcel told him before hesitating. "Listen, about your brother... I would love to help you out, but Thierry is right. My guys are on edge. They see the Original family moving in, vampires dying? It makes them nervous. If I hand Elijah back now, it might give the wrong impression about who's really in charge here. You know what I mean?" I could see Klaus was clearly angered by this response, but he maintained a cool face before smiling.
"You understand- I had to ask."
"Marcel we need to be careful tonight." I told him as we watched the finishing touches being made to the compound.
"Why? Because we didn't give Klaus what he wanted? You need to relax more." he told me and I gave him a look.
"We didn't give both Klaus and Rebekah what they wanted. And if history has seen anything it's that the Mikaelsons will do everything in their power to not only get what they want, but also for their family. And what they want is their family." I reminded him.
"Don't worry. I know all of Klaus tricks. He can't pull a fast one on us." he tried reassuring me.
"I still think you need to be careful tonight." I told him.
"So what do you suggest?" he sighed. I knew he was humoring me but I wan't in the mood for it.
"Expect anything." I told him. "Rebekah will do anything to get her brother back so we need guys on her. Klaus wants power so we also need to make sure we are ready for a fight if need be." Marcel looked down at the party preparations and nodded.
"Consider it done, My Queen." he told me bowing to me slightly.
"Marcel." I said warningly. "Do not take anything for granted tonight."
"Go get ready. I'll handle things here." he told me before stepping away from me. I shook my head and sighed before going to my own room. My room had once been Elijah's room and no one was allowed inside. I even had a witch place a boundary spell on it to make sure no one could enter without my invitation.
"Amanda." a woman with dirty blonde hair pulled back in a braid framing blue eyes appeared behind me. "I want double the guard. Get the nightwalkers on it." I ordered. Amanda was from my sire line and while she kept me on my toes. She was the first vampire I'd turned and she'd joined me here in New Orleans when I'd called her.
"I assume Marcel didn't listen to your advice." she said.
"He seems to think Klaus will behave himself." I said looking back over the balcony. "He forgets what Klaus is like when it comes to family."
"It'll be taken care of." Amanda told me before leaving and I walked into my room.
I stood next to Klaus and Marcel watching Thierry playing his trumpet in the courtyard as various vampires milled around in preparation for the party.
"You're right. He's good." Klaus admitted.
"Right? Music man, I call him. Ladies love him, but he's spoken for. He knocks around with this pretty little witch. Says he loves her, but I don't know." Marcel told him.
"Your brightest soldier is fraternizing with your enemy, and you don't care?" Klaus asked skeptically.
"Well, of course I care, but Thierry is a grown man. He makes his own choices, and I get some good intel. Besides, he's not gonna do anything to jeopardize what we're doing here. I mean, check this out-— a vampire hosting a ritzy charity event? We have a community here. No one's gonna mess that up." Marcel assured him.
"Still... You don't want the witches to get too bold, given that a witch's tip about a werewolf in town led to the disappearance of your nightwalkers. I'm sure you've considered the possibility that it could've been a trap." Klaus told us and I shared a look with Marcel. We hadn't considered that scenario. We'd considered Klaus and Rebekah, maybe even a rogue human trying to rid the city, but not the witches. Not with us still caring for Davina.
"Well, maybe I'll send a little message." Marcel said before looking back to Thierry. "Thierry! Take a team of nightwalkers to the Cauldron tonight, do a little rousting... Oh, and Thierry? Make it nasty." I watched Thierry make a face before nodding in consent.
Before the party I had someone drive me to Saint Anne's Church. I was dolled up in my gala outfit, a strapless, mermaid style dress that was so light a blue it was nearly white. My dress hugged my body until it hit my knees and fell loosely to trail behind me. My hair was done up in an intricate bun my purple gloss matching the blue and purple shadow that covered my eyes. I blue heels clicked on the floor as I walked up the stairs and knocked on Davina's open door. She looked up at me and grinned.
"Wow! Tatia you look gorgeous." she told me moving from her easel.
"Thank you sweetheart." I said hugging her. "I brought you the supplies you asked for."
"That's the only reason you came here?" she asked me and I laughed lightly.
"Sometimes you are too perceptive for your age." I told her before looking to Elijah's coffin. "How's your progress going?"
"I'm still working on some ideas." she told me and I looked to her for a moment. "You never finished your story."
"My story?" I asked her confused going to sit on the bed.
"The story of Elijah and Tatia." she told me and I shook my head.
"Why do you want to know that story so bad?" I asked her.
"I just want to know more about you and Marcel. I've been up here for 8 months and when you started telling me that story I realized I didn't really know you guys." she told me.
"A vampires history is a long story. And it's covered in blood and death." I told her. "Are you sure you want to know that side of us?"
"Don't I already?" she asked me and I thought about it for a moment.
"All right." I nodded. "After the party, I'll start telling you the story of Elijah and Tatia." I hugged her again before kissing her forehead. She smiled up at me and I returned it before leaving for the party.
When I got back to the party, it was in full swing. The atmosphere was wild and dark and I glanced around at the vampires surrounding the perimeter. Not as many as I'd wanted, but they would have to do.
"Tatia." I looked up to see Marcel on the balcony and I made my way up to him. "You look lovely tonight."
"As opposed to every other night." I teased making him laugh. "Thank you." I saw Marcel look down and frown at what he saw. I turned to see the brave bartender, Cami. "What's she doing here?"
"What I want to know is why she's taking to Rebekah and Klaus." he told me.
"Don't forget what I told you." I reminded him.
"Klaus wouldn't try anything in this crowd." he told me.
"The size of the crowd means nothing." I told him. "Its been 100 years since you and I last dealt with him. We don't know what he'd do anymore."
"Stop worrying and relax." he told me smiling before going into the courtyard. I sighed before following him.
I mingled with people between dancing with both humans and vampires alike.
"So what is this party for anyway?" one of the party-goers asked me and I laughed lightly at the question.
"The faithful is looking for Saint Anne's Church to reopen its doors and the mayor is wanting to fix up one of the local parks." I told him.
"Saint Anne's wants to reopen its doors? After the massacre?" one of them asked.
"This entire city was rebuilt after a massacre the night of the great fire. If this city can make such a beautiful comeback, then don't you think one church can to the same?" I asked him.
"But it was less than a year ago." a women reminded me.
"New Orleans was rebuilt almost immediately it'd been burned down." I informed her. "These last few months have been given to the families to mourn the loss of the loved ones."
"Well aren't you the history buff." one of the women teased. More like mocked, but I just smiled at her.
"I'm good with history, yes. But I also like knowing interesting facts about the places I live." I told him.
"And how many places have you lived?" one of the men asked.
"Several." I told them.
"Every time I see you at one of these things you're alone. Do you have a man you're secreting around the Quarter?" a woman asked me.
"I've only ever been in love with two men in my life, and neither are in the picture." I told her with a smile. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Marcel force Thierry up the balcony. "If you'll excuse me for a moment." I followed the men up the stairs.
"What the hell happened?" I asked them.
"Thierry killed another vampire." Marcel told me and I looked to Thierry shaking my head.
"No." I denied, but the look on his face told me everything.
"I want to hear your side of it." Marcel ordered Thierry furiously.
"Hey, Marcel, come on—" Thierry pleaded with him.
"Your version. Go." Marcel ordered.
"We were tossing the Cauldron. This guy, some nightwalker, he attacked Katie for no reason." Thierry told us.
"His name was Max." I told him.
"I turned him, and as far as reasons go, he doesn't need one. She was a witch. He was a vampire. Now? He's dead." Marcel told him.
"I didn't mean for it to happen." Thierry told him desperately.
"You broke my most important rule. Damn it, T. How long we been friends? Seventy years? I turned you into something that would never die. I gave you a gift." Marcel reminded him.
"And I have been loyal to you and Tatia all this time, and I still am. I'm still your friend. I swear, that hasn't changed." Thierry told him.
"We know that Thierry, but you went too far tonight." I reminded him and he looked down. Josh approached us and pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to Marcel.
"We found this at his girl's place." Marcel opened the folded paper and I took a deep breath once I saw the components of a certain complicated spell written out.
"Still our friend, huh? That's funny, because it looks to me like that little witch of yours got her hands on a spell that we keep locked away." Marcel told Thierry even angrier then before.
"Marcel, I have never seen that." Thierry told him frantic.
"Shut up. I see on your hand, you still have the daylight ring I gave you. So, what would you need with the recipe for making new ones? Unless maybe you and Katie were gonna go off and start a little kingdom of your own?" Marcel asked him.
"Marcel, no!" Thierry told us confused.
"Here's a lesson in friendship- friends don't lie to us, they don't break our rules, and they do not steal what is ours." Marcel told him. Marcel, realizing he was losing his temper, turned his back to Thierry to take a deep calming breath before turning back to him, his eyes full of rage. "For the crime of murdering one of his own, I sentence Thierry Vanchure to one hundred years in the Garden. Tatia, do you have an opposing punishment?" I looked to Thierry and his eyes were begging me to help him.
"No. The punishment fits the crime."
I walked outside with Marcel and the other men walking Thierry to the Garden. We heard chanting and turned to see Katie, Thierry's girlfriend, coming towards us chanting her spell.
"Donn moi se la vroh kondu feh aila ra donn toi moi. Donn moi. Salacku tusdeh do. Vala."
"Katie, no!" Thierry called to her. She waved her arm and a lamp light exploded before we all grabbed our heads and fell down, in pain. Marcel and I began to rise, but Katie smashed another light with magic forcing us down once again. Marcel began to rise again, but Katie used magic to break his bones, and he fell shouting in pain. Suddenly, Katie's spell seemed to lessen and I was able to rise again.
"You're here to save your man. Well, come on, little girl!" Marcel growled as he ran to attack Katie, but she halted him with magic and he groaned as he fell to his knees.
"Katie, you need to stop this now! How do you think Thierry's going to be in 100 years knowing he's the reason you are dead." I told her. She just used her magic to bring me down again with Thierry yelling at her to stop.
"Die, you sons of a bitch." Katie said raising a stake above her head.
"No! Katie! Don't!" Thierry shouted at her desperately. Before Katie could kill Marcel, Klaus swooped in and snapped her neck. She died as Klaus dropped her body carelessly to the ground. Once she was dead, her spell had been lifted and Thierry crawled over to Katie's body. I rose and watched as he cradled her body.
"No. Katie. No, no, no, no." He sobbed and I saw Marcel catch Klaus' eye and nod in appreciation.
In the Garden, Thierry stood chained to a wall looking down at the ground with Marcel and I standing in front of him, still dressed in our gala attire. Marcel was still furious with his friend.
"Just tell me this- was she worth it?" Marcel told him.
"I loved her." Thierry told us.
"Then it was." I told him before Marcel drove an iron stake into Thierry's gut making him groan in pain. Another man appeared, and Marcel handed him the wooden mallet.
"Seal him up... and let him rot." Marcel ordered. The man began to lay bricks over wet cement, clearly intending to build a wall to encase Thierry. He wasn't the first to suffer this fate, and he wont be the last.
Marcel and I walked into Davina's room to see her kneeling at Elijah's open casket. She turned to see us and ran towards us, giving us a hug.
"You're okay! I was so worried." Davina told us.
"Thank you. Whatever you did, I felt it. You helped us." he told her.
"It was the old ones, wasn't it?" Davina asked.
"Actually, Klaus is the one that saved me tonight. I'm gonna make things right, starting off by giving him his brother back." Marcel said moving towards Elijah's head.
"No!" she told him furiously.
"Davina, we have to do the right thing." I told her.
"No!" she told us shaking her head. "You said the old ones were dangerous. I won't give him back until I know how to kill them."