Chapter 9: Miracle in the Quarter

"Why in the bloody hell neither you or Kol ever mentioned this?" Klaus asked, growling softly and I rolled my eyes as I thanked the stewardess who handed me a glass of her blood.

"First, as soon as we arrived in Mystic Falls, we were sucked into this drama and Kol died, so there's that. Second, we were busy grieving and Silas was on our asses. Third, Marcel told us a complete different story but we kinda knew he was hiding something," I explained calmly.

"That flea!" Klaus growled. "I showed him kindness, gave him a roof and bed to sleep on and this-"

"You started to sound like my father," I said, chuckling and Klaus gave me his murderous glare.

"Right, you did…adopt him," I said. "Anyway, Marcel's version was that you three had to leave when Mikael found you and he continued building your empire."

"And why the hell is he plotting against me now? He knows I'm a hybrid and is nervous if I find out he's still alive? Is that why he's complotting with the witches?" Klaus huffed and I shrugged.

"I don't think the witches is plotting against you like Katherine had said. I think it's just to lure you there," I said thoughtfully. "Because the last time we were there, the witches and Marcel didn't get along."

"I supposed we'll see once we've arrived," Klaus said. "And if you'll excuse me, I spy myself a dessert," he said with a grin, unfastening his seatbelt and I rolled my eyes.


We found Marcel at a bar, singing on the stage and I watched as Klaus's face darkened. I turned to look around, seeing Marcel's right hand men, Diego and Thierry among the audience and a bunch of his daywalkers in the bar as well. I found myself nodding along to the beat to which Klaus glared and I rolled my eyes pointedly at him. Once he was done, everyone cheered and applauded and I touch Klaus's arm gently, before disappearing, well just for Klaus's grand entrance. I watched as Marcel froze, feeling the heat from Klaus's glare and turned to see Klaus.

"Klaus," Marcel breathed, his tone was unfriendly. Uh-oh.

"Marcel," Klaus growled, with returned hostility.

"Must be a hundred years since that nasty business with your papa," Marcel said calmly.

"Has it been that long?" Klaus asked, his voice tensed with anger.

"The way I recall it, he ran you outta town. Left a trail of dead vampires in his wake," Marcel said tauntingly.

"And yet how fortunate you managed to survive. My father, I'm afraid, I recently incinerated to dust." Marcel's vampires stood up, en garde.

"Well, if I'd known you were coming back in town, if I had a heads-up-"

"What, Marcel? What would you have done?" Klaus asked challengingly, stepping into Marcel's space threateningly.

"I'd have thrown you…a damn parade!" Marcel exclaimed and they laughed and hugged like a long lost brother.

"Niklaus Mikaelson. My mentor, my savior, my sire," Marcel beamed and I walked up to them.

"For a minute there I thought you two were going to kiss," I remarked in glee and Marcel grinned at me.

"Vanessa gorgeous, always a pleasure! Where's your maniac boyfriend?" he asked and I felt Klaus glancing at me, just to keep me in check.

"My brother killed him," I said with a shrug and Marcel's jaw dropped. "Shall we drink to you boys?" I asked, changing the topic and Marcel gestured us to empty seats as he fetched us the drinks.

"Be friendly," I muttered under my breath to Klaus to which he rolled his eyes at.

"It is good to see you," Marcel said excitedly as he returned and poured us a drink.

"It's good to be home. Although please tell me the current state of Bourbon Street is not your doing," Klaus said lightheartedly and Marcel chuckled.

"Something's gotta draw in the out-of-towners, otherwise we'd all go hungry," he explained.

"I see your friends are daywalkers," Klaus stated, peering at Marcel's lackeys that were guarding the door.

"Yeah, yeah, I shared the secret of your daylight ring with a few buddies. Just the inner circle, though – the family," he said in a hushed whisper.

"Tell me, how did you find a witch willing to make daylight rings?" Klaus asked and Marcel smirked.

"I got the witches around here wrapped around my finger," Marcel said and I raised an eyebrow.

"Really? The last time I was here, things were a little bit chaotic with the witches," I said and Marcel forced a smile on his face, his eyes warning me to not say anything else.

"They've been dealt with," he said.

"Well in that case, we have some business with one of the witches," I said.

"I'm looking for a witch by the name of Jane-Anne Deveraux," Klaus said.

"We went to the Rousseau's, she wasn't there," I added and Marcel smiled.

"You probably oughta come with me," he said before laughing as he got up. "Showtime!" he said ecstatically.


"Oh, how's your family?" Marcel asked as we walked through the streets of the French Quarter. His nightwalkers making chaos, whistling and whooping.

"Those who live hate me more than ever," Klaus said and I rolled my eyes.

"Ah, forget 'em. If your blood relations let you down, you make your own, eh? You taught me that," Marcel said glancing at me.

"Agreed. Blood family is overrated," I said in disgust.

"Because your brother killed your boyfriend?" Marcel asked.

"A story for another time, darling," I said and Marcel glanced at Klaus who shook his head.

"And what's mine is yours, as always. Even my nightwalkers, the riff-raff," Marcel cleared his throat and changed the topic. Klaus arched an eyebrow as he watched the nightwalkers jumped from rooftop to rooftop.

"They're hardly subtle, are they?" Klaus said in distaste.

"It's the Quarter. Ain't no such thing as subtle, baby," Marcel said smugly, grabbing a branch off a tree as he passed. Marcel whistled loudly and the crowd cheered. A vampire shoved Jane-Anne to the front, whose wrists were bound to a rope.

"Jane-Anne Deveraux! Give it up for Jane-Anne! Come on, let's hear it! Jane-Anne Deveraux, you have been accused of the practice of witchcraft beyond the bounds of the rules set forth, and enforced, by me. How do you plead?" Marcel's voice boomed as he spoke laywer-likely. "Was that convincing? I studied law back in the '50s. Hold that thought," he said to Klaus abruptly before focusing back to the witch. "Seriously Jane, tick-tock. You know the drill. How do you plead?"

"I didn't do anything," Jane-Anne said fearlessly, prompting the vampires surrounding her to laugh.

"Hmm, that's a lie. You know it, I know it, and you hate that I know it. It drives you witches crazy that I'm aware of your every move that you can't do magic in this town without getting caught. So, why don't we just cut to the chase, huh?" Marcel asked. Jane-Anne looked Klaus in the eye and Klaus tried to read her. "You tell me what magic you're brewing. I mean, tell me. I'll grant you leniency. Hey, I am, after all, a merciful man," Marcel said.

"Rot in hell, monster," Jane-Anne spat in disgust.

"'ll tell you what. I'll give you one more chance…" Marcel said with a smile as he walked away from the witch. Then he whipped the branch so fast that it slit her throat, and she started gurgling in her own blood. "Or not," Marcel sang and I glanced worriedly at Klaus who was looking disturbed at the sight of the dying witch. We stood there as the vampires cheered and I whipped my head when I heard Klaus growled.

"Klaus!" I barely even got to call him before he charged towards Marcel and turned him around.

"What was that?" Klaus growled.

"Hey, come walk with me. The witches aren't allowed to do magic here. She broke the rules," Marcel explained.

"I told you I wanted to talk to her," Klaus said, displeased.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I got caught up in the show. Those witches, they think that they still have power in this town. I have to show them that they don't. I never waste an opportunity for a show of force, another lesson that I learned from you. And besides, anything that you could've gotten outta her, I can find out for you, and I will. I promise," Marcel reassured Klaus and he finally nodded, satisfied.

"Well, whatever it was, doesn't matter anymore, does it?" Klaus said and Marcel grinned.

"Good, good. Then let's eat, because all that spilled blood makes me hungry!" he said, laughing and walking off with his lackeys. Klaus hanged back, waiting for me and I halted next to him, glancing at his face to try to see if he was still pissed or not.

"Any more Deveraux witches where she came from?" Klaus asked me quietly and I smirked.

"I know where her sister is. I'll take care of it, you go keep Marcel unsuspicious," I said and Klaus nodded. He grabbed my arm before I can leave and I arched an eyebrow questioningly.

"Stay out of trouble," he said and I rolled my eyes.

"You know I won't," I said with a playful grin and Klaus just sighed as I walked off, heading to Rousseau's.


I headed to the backdoor of the kitchen, to see Sophie lighting a few candles for her sister. Her cheeks were wet and her eyes glistened in tears as she sobbed silently.

"I'm sorry about your sister," I said quietly and Sophie whipped her head to me, fuming.

"I don't need your pity," she hissed, wiping her cheeks angrily.

"I'm not with Marcel. I'm here with Klaus. I need to know what business you and your sister have with him," I said firmly and she shook her head.

"I can't be seen talking to you or any of the Originals," she said.

"Marcel said you can't use your magic so I will scrape your teeth one by one and flay your skin if you do not answer me," I said threateningly.

"Were you always this nice?" Sophie grunted and I tightened my grip on her neck.

"The last time I was here, you killed three innocent girls," I hissed. "Forgive me if I forgot my manners."

"We asked for your help first! You and Kol! We contacted you first," she said and I released my hold on her neck, my grip was already loosened at the mention of Kol.

"You didn't get the memo? Kol's dead. What do you want from us?" I asked. The door suddenly was kicked opened and Marcel's nightwalkers walked in and I tilted my head to the side.

"Do you mind? Us girls are having a girly talk," I snapped.

"What are you doing with this witch?" The vampire asked.

"None of your business, darling. Besides, you'll be dead within a second," I said, crossing my arms. The vampires looked at me questioningly as I didn't even move a finger, but a second later, his friend was slammed to the ceiling and before he can react, he started choking and there was a hole in his chest. His body dropped with a thud onto the ground and behind him, stood Elijah.

"Elijah, fancy meeting you here," I said, smiling coyly.


Sophie explained everything to Elijah and I as we walked to the cemetery, where the werewolf girl Hayley was held captive by the witches. It was unbelievable but plausible nevertheless. I waited with Hayley and the witches as Elijah went ahead to fetch Klaus, leaving us in silence.

"Sophie Deveraux. What is this?" Klaus questioned, upon entering the mausoleum.

"He's all yours. Proceed," Elijah said calmly.

"You know you're famous in this town? Witches tell bedtime stories about the powerful vampire Klaus. We know Marcel was nothing but an orphan street rat, until you made him what he is. And now he's out of control. He does what he wants, he kills who he wants. I'm gonna stop him, and you're gonna help me," Sophie said firmly.

"This is why you brought me here?" Klaus asked, amused.

"You probably need to tone down that bossy tone of yours," I chimed in to Sophie and she glanced at me.

"Hear her out," Elijah said to Klaus.

"I don't need to hear her out. I assure you, love, there is not a thing on this earth that will matter enough for me to waste even thirty more seconds of my time. Elijah, what madness is this?" Klaus said impatiently when Hayley entered the mausoleum quietly.

"Klaus, you need to hear her out," Hayley said almost desperately.

"You're all out of your minds if you think some liquor-fueled, one-night stand-no offense, sweetheart-means a thing to me," Klaus said, laughing humourlessly.

"Marcel may be able to keep up from practicing real magic in this town, but as keepers of the balance we still know when nature has cooked up something new. For example, I have a special gift...of sensing when a girl is pregnant," Sophie explained. I watched as all amusement drained from Klaus's face.

"What?" Klaus asked, shocked.

"I know it's impossible," Hayley said.

"What are you saying?" Klaus asked, still in disbelief.

"Niklaus, the girl is carrying your child," Elijah said calmly.

"No. It's impossible. Vampires cannot procreate," Klaus argued.

"But werewolves can. Magic made you a vampire, but you were born a werewolf. You're the Original hybrid, the first of your kind, and this pregnancy is one of nature's loopholes," Sophie said.

"I've been with a thousand women over the past millennium," Klaus scowled.

"But you've only broken the curse and unlocked your werewolf side," I told him and he looked at me, searching for answers. He then shook his head and turned to Hayley.

"You've been with someone else! Admit it!" he shouted.

"Hey, I've spent days held captive in a freaking alligator bayou because they think that I'm carrying some magical miracle baby. Don't you think I would've fessed up if it wasn't yours?" Hayley raised her voice, angry at the accusation.

"My sister gave her life to perform the spell she needed to confirm this pregnancy. Because of Jane-Anne's sacrifice, the lives of this girl and her baby are now controlled by us," Sophie said and Elijah and I exchange looks. Hayley looked surprised and scared at the revelation. "If you don't help us take down Marcel, so help me, Hayley won't live long enough to see her first maternity dress."

"Wait, what?" Hayley asked, nervous.

"Enough of this. If you want Marcel dead, he's dead. I'll do it myself," Elijah stepped in but Sophie shook her head.

"No. We can't, not yet. We have a clear plan that we need to follow, and there are rules," Sophie said firmly.

"How dare you command me, threaten me, with what you wrongfully perceive to be my weaknesses. I won't hear any more lies!" Klaus said, his voice rising in irritation.

"Niklaus! Listen," Elijah said sternly, stopping Klaus in his tracks as he did as Elijah asked. We all stopped breathing and focused our hearing to the sound of heartbeats coming from Hayley. There were two separate heartbeats and I watched as Klaus's face changed into an unreadable expression.

"Kill her and the baby. What do I care?" he said coldly, before storming out of the mausoleum.


"Can you talk to Klaus?" Elijah asked, returning to the mausoleum with his brows furrowed.

"I supposed 'family is power' talk didn't work out, eh?" I asked and Elijah gave me a look and I chuckled.

"Well what makes you think an emotionless vampire convincing a merciless evil hybrid to save his own child can work out?" I drawled out my tone, tapping my chin as I pretended to think.

"Just go," Elijah said and I looked at him lazily before dragging out my feet to find Klaus. After walking forever down the streets I spotted him sitting alone on a bench, deep in his thoughts.

"So Elijah send you, huh?" Klaus asked as I approached him and I smiled, taking a seat next to him. "I supposed you're a better company than Elijah," he muttered, looking away from me. I made myself comfortable and after a long silence, I finally looked up at him.

"Penny for your thoughts?" I asked him. "Or maybe not. I already know what you're thinking," I said and he turned to me in surprise, eyebrow raised.

"Really?"

"You're not in disbelief like Elijah was when he first heard the news. You're…surprised. You never thought you would ever have your own child and suddenly, bam, miracle baby's cooking in that werewolf girl's oven," I said. "Never in a million years have you thought that you can ever be a father. And I know, you really want to be one. You want to be a better father than Mikael ever was," I said. I watched as Klaus's eyes glistened and I laid my head on his shoulder.

"Not everyone is blessed with this gift, Klaus. Not everyone is blessed with a miracle," I said softly. Klaus remained silent but I could feel him tearing up.

"That child is unfortunate to have me as a father," he said, his voice croaked a little and I shook my head, sitting straight up and looked at him. He teared away to hide his teary eyes but I placed a hand on his cheek firmly, so that he'd look at me.

"On the contrary, your child will have the fiercest and the most protective father on this Earth. And I know you will love him or her very, very much," I said and kissed his cheek. He bowed his head, trying to hide his smile.

"Well, my child will have her crazy Aunt Nessie to help me by my side, right?" he asked and I blinked, surprised.

"Of course," I said and laid my head back on Klaus's shoulder as my hand reached out to my chest, feeling the warmth spread inside me.

"You just have to let it in," Klaus said softly and I shook my head.

"I can feel the pain, edging in, just waiting to engulf me," I said and he nodded after a moment.

"Whatever you need, love. I'll be there," Klaus said and I hummed. We sat there in silence; the chilly night air soothed the storms brewing in our heads and hearts.


I stayed at the Plantation where Mikaelson had some properties left since their old residence had been taken over by Marcel and I was fine with it. Klaus had been plotting and Hayley had mostly remained in her room although she had complained about being cooped out, right after being held captive by the witches. But with the French Quarter being a vampire territory, it wasn't safe for her or the baby. And unfortunately for Elijah, he was being daggered again, a peace offering for Marcel from Klaus.

"Hello, how's my emotionless bitch of a sister doing?" I asked upon answering an unknown number and hearing my sister's voice.

"It's Katherine," she said.

"Oh, how's my emotionless bitch of my sister's doppelganger doing?" I rephrased and can literally see her rolling her eyes at me.

"It's important. Bonnie's going to drop the veil, and I thought you'd like to come home. Kol is very likely to make his appearance," she said and I froze.

"When?" I asked softly.

"Tonight," she said. "Thought you'd like to know and come back," she said.

"Thanks," I said after a while and hung up. I sat slowly on the edge of the bed, my head fuzzy and my heart was racing.

"I'm going to see Kol," I heard myself breathed and even as I heard myself saying that, I couldn't believe it. I grabbed my handbag and passport and dashed downstairs, already purchasing the first flight back to Virginia.

I need my own miracle, I thought as I took a deep breath, desperately wanting to see Kol.