Chapter 4: Posturing and Threats

*****The Next Day*****

Buffy was in the family room (what she called the parlor), sitting on Elijah's lap (her favorite place to sit), listening to Freya and Willow tell her how they were planning to raise Kol from the dead.

Klaus came into the room. "How could you be so foolish?" he said to Buffy, clearly annoyed.

"I don't know. How can I be?" Buffy asked with a smug grin. She knew why he was upset. Cami suggested that she tell the brothers what she'd done, but this was so much more fun.

"Don't give me that cheeky grin!" Klaus scolded.

"Niklaus, I suggest you watch your manners and tell us what's got you so upset," Elijah chided.

Buffy kissed his cheek, loving how protective he was even if it was unnecessary. She'd been handling ego-bound vamps before she could drive. Klaus was predictable once you got to know him.

"Your girl took Camille, my frail and very human counselor, to Lucien's apartment and accused him of being a serial killer. Then she attacked him and told him she was a vampire slayer!" Klaus exclaimed, giving her an accusing look.

Willow grinned in approval. "Nice!" she said.

Klaus glared at the witch. "It is not nice! Lucien did not need to know how formidable she was! You've let him know about one of our weapons! He will now be on guard!" Klaus complained.

Buffy jumped up and stood in front of Klaus. "First of all, I am not your weapon. I am a vampire slayer. Second of all, I kill evil things. If Lucien is an evil thing, I'll kill him. Sacred duty and all. But since I am involved with your brother, that makes you family. However, I won't be used in your quest for power," Buffy said coldly.

"I didn't seek out Lucien. He came here with this warning," Klaus pointed out.

"If Lucien is going around killing people in this city like Cami suspects, I will take care of him. I don't care what your relationship with him is," Buffy said in warning.

Klaus tried to keep his temper. He hated anyone making threats to him even if they were someone he admired and cared about. However, he knew that he didn't want to piss off the slayer. She would kill Lucien before he found out exactly what the vampire was up to. He would then find himself against Elijah and Willow as they would inevitably align with Buffy.

"Lucien may be killing people—I don't really care. What I care about is what he's up to. He's always planning something. I promise you—this is just the beginning," Klaus warned.

"Maybe so," Buffy said with a shrug. "But he's now on notice. You are not without allies—allies that could care less about him."

"You are a very stubborn, maddening woman!" Klaus announced.

"Calm down, Niklaus. Buffy has a point. It hurts nothing to let Lucien know that you have powerful friends he knows nothing about," Elijah said.

"But he can find out, I'm sure," Willow pointed out. "Buffy's a legend in supernatural circles."

"Let him find out," Elijah said. "Maybe he and the sire lines will relax when they realize that we couldn't be safer."

"I hope you're right," Klaus said, not convinced but unable to argue further.

Buffy's phone dinged, and she got Cami's text. Elijah saw her grimace.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Ah, well, Cami says that she is watching Detective Kinney bring Lucien in for questioning," Buffy shared.

"Damn it!" Klaus fumed. "You know that she is now marked and so is this detective."

"He's a friend of Vincent's," Buffy said. "He's a good guy, but he's not read into the supernatural."

"Maybe you should compel him to not look at Lucien. Safer that way," Willow advised.

"I will put down Lucien and end any threat to Camille," Klaus said, heading out.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Willow asked.

"If you like," Klaus said with a shrug. "No showing off your powers, though. Let's keep some surprises from my enemies."

"I'll be good," Willow promised, eager to be a part of the action.

***** A Short Time Later*****

Marcel had assembled all his guys. "As long as the serial killer's on the loose, the cops are gonna be all over the place. So no snacking on tourist and don't even think about going near the locals," Marcel warned.

"What are we supposed to eat? Puppies and bunnies?" a guy grumbled.

Marcel turned to Josh. "Josh, see if you can contact our blood bank contacts. Work it out with everyone," he said.

"Sure thing," Josh said.

"Keep all your guys in line," Marcel told them. "The Mikaelsons are on this. All we gotta do is ride this out, and we'll be back in business in no time."

"Somehow, I seriously doubt that," a voice said. Marcel looked and saw a very attractive dark-skinned woman make her way through the guys. "Things will get worse before they get better, but I can help with that."

"I don't know who you are, but you have definitely walked into the wrong place," Marcel said to her.

"I'm Aya," she said.

Marcel smiled. "Marcel Gerard."

"Now are you going to be rude or offer me a drink?" Aya asked.

"I don't have time for this. Get rid of her guys," Marcel ordered.

"I heard you were more hospitable than this. That's too bad," she said.

A fight broke out. In no time, she'd put down all his guys. However, she didn't rip out any hearts, so Marcel wasn't too upset, mostly intrigued.

"I'm not leaving until I deliver the offer that I've been instructed to bring to you," she said.

Marcel stepped up, taking up the challenge. He attacked; she easily reflected. They fought for a few minutes. Aya smiled. It took a bit of exertion on her part before she managed to contain him.

"I must say that I'm impressed. I'm three times your age, and yet you still held your own," Aya said, giving him an admiring look.

"That's me. I never know when to quit," Marcel said with a boast.

"I suspect we could go at this for some time, but as you probably want to keep your reputation in tact with this motley crew, how about we go elsewhere so that I can give you my message?" Aya suggested.

Marcel took her into his private room in the back. A short time later, Elijah came in.

"What happened here?" Elijah asked Josh as he saw all the bodies. Some were beginning to stir.

"Some ancient vamp named Aya said she wanted to talk to Marcel. When he wasn't down with that, she slapped us all around. He went in the back to talk to her," Josh explained.

Elijah stood outside the room and heard Aya's attempt to bring Marcel to her side.

"Marcel Gerard, you were turned by an Original, yet you made yourself into your own image. You built a vampire community on ash, and the city has thrived under your rule," she said. "Let us help you return New Orleans to what it should be with you as its king."

"That's a great sales pitch," Marcel said, impressed. "Just one thing. Who is us?"

"The oldest society of vampires the world has ever known," she replied. "We call ourselves the Strix."

Elijah stepped in the room and spoke. "Quiet the prestigious organization. Responsible for countless wars, numerous plagues and assassinations," he said with disdain.

"You have to break the rules if you want to build a new world," Aya said. She smiled at Elijah. "Hello, Elijah. It's been a while."

"You two know each other?" Marcel asked.

"I sired her," Elijah explained. He knew that her presence here wasn't a good sign. He moved quickly to grab a hold of her, deciding on whether or not he should kill her.

"You dare attack me after what you did?" she asked angrily.

"What are you doing here?" Elijah asked her coldly. "I know you're not alone." His arm went around her neck, holding her in place.

Suddenly, several vampires Marcel didn't know came out of the woodworks. One stocky built man with sandy blonde hair, smiled and stepped forward.

"Elijah, it's been a long time," he said.

Elijah gave him a cold glance. "Tristan," he acknowledged. He increased the pressure around Aya's neck, causing her to gag.

Marcel looked at Elijah. There was a whole group of vamps to take out. "I go left, you go right?" he suggested.

Tristan grinned. "It's been ages since I've enjoyed a good scrap, but that's not why I'm here," he said. He looked at his men. "Mr. Mikaelson and I need the room. Please leave us." They all dispersed.

"Elijah, the entire sire line, your life, is in danger," Tristan warned. "You need to hear what I have to say."

Elijah released Aya and straightened the sleeves of his jacket. "You waltz into my city with your group of sycophants flaunting news of a threat, all the while your lapdog Aya is conspiring with Marcellus," he said coldly.

"Conspiring? How grandiose," Aya said with a smirk.

"Who has the flair for the dramatic now?" Tristan asked. "Our business with Marcel has nothing to do with the larger issue at hand. He is just a possible recruit."

"The larger issue?" Elijah prodded.

"You've no doubt heard of the war between the sire lines?" Tristan inquired. "Well, as it happens, your line, my Strix, have wreaked all kinds of havoc on Lucien's line and his interest. He now seeks to put us down and destroy you and your line."

"I am not worried about Lucien," Elijah said unconcerned.

"Maybe he won't seek to end your threat by attacking you directly," Tristan said. "Instead, he'll use you someone else. Someone like Niklaus."

"You think Niklaus would choose Lucien over his own family?" Elijah asked in amusement. How little they understood about his family.

"Well, from what I hear, he tortured Marcel, killed your paramour, cursed the mother of his child all as a means to defeat his enemy," Tristan said.

"That's true," Marcel said.

"How long before Lucien is in his ear, convincing him to get rid of you?" Tristan pointed out.

"I wouldn't worry too much about Lucien," Elijah said. "As we speak, Klaus is on his way to get rid of him."

"You have to stop him," Tristan warned.

"And why would I do that?"

"My seer believes that Lucien has a weapon that is capable of destroying you," Tristan shared.

"Really?" Elijah asked.

"Since I don't have it and my sister doesn't have it, it's logical to conclude that Lucien has it," Tristan said.

"Unless he's bluffing," Marcel suggested.

"If your brother kills him too soon, we'll never know," Tristan said.

*****Police Station*****

Klaus made his way into the police station, compelling any who would stop him. Willow followed behind him.

Klaus saw red when he spotted Cami behind the glass talking with Lucien with only the human cop to protect her. Did the blasted woman not see how much danger she was in? However, he knew that he could not show Lucien what she meant to him.

"Ah, I see you've made new friends already," Klaus said, coming into the room.

"Hey, you can't come in here!" Detective Kinney exclaimed.

"Oh, but I can," Klaus said. He moved fast, compelling the clever detective. "Forget your inquiry into Lucien Castle. You are convinced that the killer is a drifter and has already left town. When there's no more murders, this will be confirmed. Leave us." Then he looked at Cami. "You, too."

Cami opened her mouth to protest. When she saw Willow give a slight shake of her head, she didn't argue and turned to go.

After the detective and Cami left, Klaus looked at Lucien. "As soon as I kill you, there will be no more murders," he said.

"How quickly you suspect me!" Lucien said, giving him a hurt look. He took note of the redhead with Klaus but said nothing to her. Time for her later.

"I don't care what game you play or why. I'm just not as patient as my slayer friend. I'd soon as kill you as wait for proof of your nefarious deeds," Klaus said.

"I must say, Niklaus, I am impressed. And surprised. How did you get a vampire slayer to side with your family?" Lucien asked. "I have heard some incredible tales of her. Surely, they aren't all true?"

Klaus shrugged. "I know not what all is true or not concerning her. I just know that Elijah fancies her," he said, downplaying her importance. "She does what she will. No one, not even I, can control or compel her. Her presence is a game changer."

"Maybe," Lucien acknowledged. "Yet it doesn't change the fact that the sire lines are at war, and that someone here is setting me up because they know I would defend you with my life. To kill you is to kill me."

"What you proposing then? That Tristan is behind those murders?" Klaus asked.

"Of course. Think about it. How easy it is to frame me and draw your ire," Lucien said. "We have always been stronger together."

Klaus thought about it and glanced at Willow. She shrugged. "I don't believe him, but I haven't met this Tristan," she said.

"Consider yourself lucky," Klaus said. "He's an insufferable, arrogant twit."

His phone rang. "It is Elijah," he said as he answered.

"Hold off on killing Lucien," Elijah said. "He may be of use yet."

*****The Next Morning*****

Willow was accompanying Hayley and Jackson to the farmer's market. She promised Freya she would pick up some herbs she needed. They were pushing Hope in a stroller. Buffy was sleeping in as she spent the night strategizing with Klaus and Elijah on how to defeat the sire lines. Rebekah warned that Aurora would be in town soon. Then things would really go to seed. Willow was enjoying the political intrigue that these magically created vamps brought to the table. It was so different than what the Scoobies had always fought against. With them, things were always cut and dry. Even scrambling for position in the slayer line didn't involve such intrigue. Normally, slayers just went with the direct assault and challenge of their competition. The stronger slayer moved up a spot.

The Mikaelsons, though, were always plotting and conspiring. It was so entertaining, and just what she needed to get her out of the dark place she'd been in since breaking up with Kennedy.

She was humming and looking at herbs when suddenly arms came around her holding her. Before she could utter a word of power, a cloth was put over her face. There was an icky smell—then nothing.

*****To Be Continued*****

I know there are still several out there reading this. I hope you care enough to give me a review. How do you think Willow and Buffy would handle the sire lines? Disclaimer: Some dialogue was taken directly from the episode and was not from my brain.