It had taken Klaus the better part of the afternoon to find where Marcel and his vampires liked to congregate. A combination of discrete questions and compulsion had led him and Tyler to a bar, windows boarded from the inside. No doubt it was a way to ensure the safety of those vampires unlucky enough to be without daylight rings.
Entering together, every eye in the bar turned toward the two newcomers. Klaus didn't react, though Tyler tensed at the scrutiny. Instead he led them both to the bar, gesturing for Tyler to take a seat on the stoop beside him. Before they could order, one of the bolder vampires stepped forward, leaning toward Tyler slightly.
"Looks like we've got a stray here. Anyone tell you we don't allow your kind?" Werewolf, obviously. There was something off about the scent, but still enough for the vampire to determine Tyler was different.
Turning to face the foolishly brave interloper, Klaus' hand settled on Tyler's shoulder, preventing him from turning. The time would undoubtedly come when he would want to loose the hybrid but this confrontation wasn't about Tyler. Klaus needed to re-assert his dominance and obviously Marcel had been too lax with his followers.
"Two actually," he grinned, letting his eyes glint gold. "But we're a bit more than strays. At least I am." The vampire started forward and in a flash Klaus had him up against the opposite wall, arm pressed to his throat and fangs out. "Not very welcoming of you," he hissed. "I thought I'd taught Marcel better."
That sentence took everyone in the bar off-guard. For a moment, the dropping of a pin would have been audible. Then Klaus slowly released his prey, backing up. "Does he not even mention me? I'm hurt." The words were slightly mocking, eyes flashing.
A second vampire spoke then. Tall with dark hair and a newsboy cap settled firmly on his head, keen eyes studied Klaus. "Maybe he does," he offered. "But you didn't exactly introduce yourself."
Fangs had slid back in while cooler heads prevailed. "Did I not? How rude of me. I must have been distracted by the threat to my friend." Lips parted in a devilish grin. "Klaus Mikaelson." Oh how he enjoyed the fear that always seemed to wash over faces when they realized who he was.
"Do tell Marcel I've been looking for him. I'm certain we'll find each other soon enough. Tyler." Klaus all but snapped his fingers, summoning the lad to go. "Bit of a tip for next time? Careful when picking a fight. You're not the big fishes you imagine yourselves to be." The next moment he and Tyler were gone out the door. Best to leave then.
"Go back to the house," Klaus ordered, once they were far enough away that he didn't need to worry about prying ears. "Be sure you're not followed." Tone left no room for argument. He was sure Tyler had questions but Klaus wasn't really in the mood to answer any. He'd send the lad home and wait for Marcel on his own. The less the former student knew about Klaus' plans, hybrids and all, the better.
He stayed in New Orleans past the sunset, settling on a balcony overlooking Bourbon Street. With the lights twinkling and revelers below it was a true party, a scene Klaus had been familiar with once upon a time.
Smirk tilted his lips upward as he noticed a band of vampires pressing through the crowd. Obviously they were looking for someone. And had found him. As Klaus leaned forward, the movement had caught the leader's attention. In a flash he was beside Klaus on the balcony, the same newsboy-hatted vampire he'd delivered a message to earlier.
"Marcel wants to see you."
"Marcel knows I am not inclined to take orders. You should realized that as well…" It was obvious he was fishing for a name. And he was given it, however begrudging the name sounded.
"Thierry." There was a brief hesitation before this Thierry's head inclined slightly. "Marcel wanted to invite you to meet with him."
"Better." The lad was a quick learner, Klaus would give him that. "I'm inclined to accept such a lovely invitation. Tonight, I'm assuming? Lead the way."
TVDTOTVDTOTVDTOTVDTOTVDTO
Klaus' mood did not improve overly as Thierry and Marcel's gang of miscreants guided him to their meeting place. It was familiar, how could it not be? His family's old home, the carved M still plainly visible for those who knew where to look. Marcellus was sending him a message then. A message Klaus was disinclined to hear.
"Niklaus MIkaelson." The voice came from above, Marcel looking down from the balcony. There may have been a smile on his face but the warmth didn't quite reach his rich brown eyes. Each was sizing the other up, the tension in the air plainly visible to those around.
"Marcellus."
"Come in, make yourself at home." The nerve made his former teacher fume, though of course Klaus bit back a strong reaction for now. Or bit it back as well as he could at any rate.
"You certainly have." He didn't wait for an invitation. Escort shrugged off, Klaus climbed the steps to the second floor. He and Marcel had quite a lot to discuss and Klaus really didn't wish to air any grievances quite so publicly. There would be eavesdroppers, undoubtedly, but hopefully they would be distracted by the merriment below.
Marcel looked less than pleased to be so called out in front of his followers but he wasn't stupid. Klaus Mikaelson needed to be dealt with carefully. Otherwise he would strike before Marcel had the chance to react. 'What brings you to town?" The younger vampire queried, showing him into the study and shutting the door behind them. "I thought you'd forgotten about this place long ago."
"Nostalgia." Klaus leaned against the railing. He usually kept his cards close. With Elena that was doubly true. "Imagine my surprise to learn young Marcellus had taken up rule in my absence. And you even have the witches in line." Keen eyes studied him. "However did you manage that?"
"It's just Marcel now." And he remained nonplussed by Klaus' digs. He had taken up rule in New Orleans, ever since previous kings had abandoned it. And him. "And I have my ways." His old teacher had drilled the rules of the game into his head quite well. Never reveal anything too easily. It just gave enemies that much more information in their quest to destroy.
"But it seems like you've been busy as well. When did you start hanging around with werewolves?" Obviously his field mice had reported back.
"Tyler isn't a werewolf actually." Not really. He was a hybrid now.
"But he's not a vampire."
Klaus wouldn't respond to that. Instead he changed the subject. It was something that didn't go completely unnoticed by Marcel. "Really you should teach your lads to be more careful with whom they pick fights."
Marcel leaned back against the balcony railing, his arms crossing. "I'll keep that in mind," he answered evenly. "But what can I do for you while you're in town? Quick stop on the way to somewhere else?"
"Actually I'll be here for quite some time," Klaus corrected, eyes full of a silent warning. "Time to put roots down again."
"Let me know. What's mine is yours." But Marcel wouldn't just go handing the reins back to Klaus. He'd done quite well ruling the city by himself for the past ninety years. Klaus' involvement wasn't needed or appreciated. "In the meantime, some refreshment?"
"Thank you, Marcellus. That would be most kind." And would give Klaus a chance to study the way things worked amongst Marcel's established hierarchy. He'd find weakness as he always did and strike.
Both straightened, but out of the corner of his eye Klaus saw Marcel stiffen. His own head turned, following the other man's gaze. Rebekah. Lord only knew how she'd found her way there but Klaus didn't doubt she knew exactly what she was doing.
"Full blown Original invasion, hmm?" Marcel was doing his best to keep his tone level but Klaus had known him we enough, once upon a time, to still read him quite well. Nervous, both at the thought of seeing his one-time fame and also at the thought that Klaus might be trying to stage a coup. But there was defiance as well. He wouldn't go down without a fight. Not that Klaus expected any less.
"Two is hardy an invasion," he returned, offering Marcel a mischievous grin. "And it is only two."
"Where's Elijah?"
"With the rest of our family. A reunion of sorts," came the calm reply. "You seem to be overdue for a reunion of your own, Marcellus. Why not go say hello?"
Marcel wouldn't ask what Elijah had done to draw his brother's ire. In fact he doubted Klaus would tell him, even were he to have the gall to ask. But he couldn't help grinning at the suggestion. "You know she'd probably unleash that temper of hers."
"Well you never know unless you try." A wink as Klaus slipped away, all but jogging down the stairs. He needed a brief word with his sister before her decades-old rendition of star-crossed lovers got in the mix. Smile faded as he strode toward her, voice low but full of urgency.
"What are you doing here, sister?"
"I was bored of playing nursemaid," she answered bluntly. "I needed to escape for a few hours. Don't worry, Tyler and Stefan are both there." One of them was compelled to obey Klaus, the other they'd already discovered had no impulse except to do whatever would make his sire happy
Before Klaus could say anything else however, he heard a voice behind him. "And who is this Stefan?" Marcel always had overheard more than Klaus liked.
"Another of my brother's strays," Rebekah answered tartly.
"Or yours," said brother returned. "You were very fond of him once upon a time." If looks could kill, Klaus would have been dead a thousand times over.
Marcel glanced between the two siblings, interest rising with every word. "And when was this?" He questioned. Klaus' smirk only widened. Jealousy was such an unbecoming feature. In anyone. He turned, leaving the two lovebirds alone for a bit as he explored the party more fully.
"It's been ninety years, does it matter?" Never mind that she'd been in a box for most of that time, carted from place to place by her brother. "Either way, he's not anymore and you don't have any interest anymore."
"I don't?" Marcel's voice was low, eyes locked on Rebekah's as he leaned in. For her part, she didn't move. Didn't pull back or do anything to stop whatever spell he'd cast on her. But as her eyelids began to flutter, her gaze dropping to regard those familiar full lips, he suddenly veered to one side, mouth pausing by her ear. "No, I guess you're right. I don't." Obviously pride had been hurt enough during their escape from the city. Rebekah and her brothers had left him to die with no thought at all. That she'd so quickly moved on to and then past someone else only served to drive that point home.
Her own pride pricked, Rebekah drew back, eyes flashing. "Good. I'd hate to think you were pining so. Enjoy your party, Marcel. I can see myself out."
He sighed, watching her go. He'd known that would provoke her, but Marcel could perhaps be forgiven for not wanting to tumble right back into bed with an Original. Especially one who forgot him so easily.
"Never mind her," Klaus' voice caught his attention once more, the man having made his way back to the newly free vampire. "Petty little thing. Ignore her. Tell me more about yourself…and what I've missed…"