Chapter 14 - A Deal With The Devil
FIONA'S POINT OF VIEW:
You know in the morning when you first start to wake up, when you start to emerge from oblivion, when you begin to hear noises and see the sunlight through your eyelids, that transition between sleep and consciousness, but you aren't the slightest bit coherent? That's what I was currently experiencing. I was aware of a noise in my room, but I wasn't awake enough to move my body. I was disoriented as I fought to open my eyes; I think I'd been having a bad dream. I hadn't gotten a decent night's rest since Elijah had been daggered. I finally forced my eyes to open and jolted at the sight a living nightmare standing at the foot of my bed.
"What are you doing?" I asked, startled.
Klaus' eyes flicked to me. "You're awake," he said.
"I barely slept," I said, sitting up in my bed. "Every time I close my eyes all I see is Elijah's face."
"You hardly know him, and yet you miss him. What is it about my brother that always inspires instant admiration?" Klaus inquired with the slightest hint of envy.
I shrugged. "He was kind to me," I said. "Even before he knew I was family, from the moment he met me, he was kind."
Klaus looked at me and pursed his lips before turning away in emotional frustration. It was odd, I hadn't expected him to have that sort of reaction. I hadn't expected to wake with him in my room either. I noticed that he held one of the empty bottles of poison I'd bought at the voodoo shop yesterday.
"Hey," I said. "What did you come in here for?"
"I wanted to know what herbs you used in your attempt to kill yourself," Klaus said.
"The three that are poisonous to the respective supernatural races," I told him. "I thought maybe I could overload my system by consuming them all together."
Klaus set the empty bottle back on the table. "Obviously they didn't work."
"No, they didn't," I sighed, dropping my gaze.
"Do you wish they had?" he asked.
I thought about it before answering. "Honestly, I don't know. What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Do you wish it had worked? Do you wish I was dead?" I questioned.
He didn't answer. He appeared to be deep in thought. He stared at the floor, then quickly glanced at me, resumed staring at the floor, then looked at me again. For once, his icy blue eyes weren't sharp with rage, they almost seemed to relay… guilt?
"Let's say I do," Klaus said. "What of it?"
"Then you're exactly the monster I think you are," I said.
"And if I'm relieved the poison failed?" he wondered.
"Then I'd say there's hope for you and I," I said. "So which case is it?"
Klaus paused before speaking. "I don't know what I think."
"I suppose that's something," I said. Not too long ago Klaus would have happily killed me himself. That still wasn't entirely out of the realm of possibility now.
Klaus rolled his eyes. "I see Elijah's foolish sentimentality has rubbed off on you."
"Or maybe I've just found a reason to hope for your redemption like Elijah," I said.
Klaus scowled; he hated the subject. He found it ridiculous and condescending. I'd clearly struck a nerve, and I needed to backpedal, fast. I brought up the first topic that came to mind.
"This whole thing with Marcel, the deal you have with the witches, trying to take him down, take what's his; Elijah told me you once loved each other like family. What happened?" I asked.
"I made Marcel everything that he is. I treated him like a son, and when my father chased me and my family from New Orleans a hundred years ago, we believed Marcel was killed, we each mourned him in our own way. Yet when I returned, I found not only had he survived, he had thrived. Instead of seeking us out, instead of sticking together as one, he made a choice to take everything my family had built and make it his own. Now he is living in our home, he is sleeping in our beds. That 'M' he stamps everywhere, it's not for Marcel. It's for Mikaelson," he emphasized. "I want it all back, and if I have to push him out to get it, if I have to keep Rebekah and Elijah in their coffins, if I have to force you into using your power for my purposes, then that's exactly what I'll do."
"And I thought it was too early for baleful manipulation," I sneered. "I guess not."
"If you cooperate then I won't have to manipulate you," he said.
I sighed, rubbing my temples, knowing I would regret asking. "What is it you want me to do?"
Klaus moved to my bedside, leaning toward me until he was only an intimidating eight inches away from my face. "Swear your allegiance to me. Use your power to help me defeat Marcel and take back the city."
"Why should I do anything for you?" I challenged.
"Because if you don't, I will show you things worse than death," Klaus threatened.
"Ah, there's that infamous ultimatum again. You know, one would think a demon such as yourself would have a little more creativity," I jabbed.
"Manipulation it is," Klaus said. "Remember that your fate becomes Elijah's also. Your choices influence my mood, and wouldn't it be a shame if Elijah lost his life because of your bad attitude?"
A chill ran down my spine as I remembered what Klaus had said to me the night before. The only thing that had stopped me from walking out the door was my concern for Elijah's safety. Klaus hadn't hesitated in daggering his brother, and I didn't want to take any chances when it came to my uncle's life. It appeared that Klaus cared more about New Orleans than he did his own brother. That statement was heartbreaking considering how committed Elijah was to Klaus. I sighed, I had no choice but to be Klaus' tribrid sidekick.
"I don't know how useful my power will be to you," I began. "The ancestors despise you, and when they find out about my service to you… You've seen how they've weakened me."
"How do we get rid of the ancestors' hold over your magic?" Klaus asked.
"I don't know, I'm trying to figure out a way, but I don't know enough about ancestral magic. It's like I have the brain of a genius but don't know how to form a thought."
Klaus smirked. "You do realize you just likened yourself to a dimwit."
"What I mean is that I'm untrained, but I possess more power than you could possibly imagine. I'm not even sure how strong I actually am. If I can't control my magic, then trying to use a big burst of it could go tragically wrong," I said.
"Well how do you learn control of your power, then?" Klaus asked somewhat impatiently.
I gave him a withering look. "I had a witch mentor back in Mystic Falls, but since we aren't going home Elijah was beginning to teach me how to control it; he claims he was Esther's most studious pupil. My first lesson was to not use it whatsoever, to let it build up to the point of wanting to burst out and still hold it in. Elijah wanted me to feel the extent of the power that I possess, to know just how much damage I could do if I failed to keep my grip. I released a good part of it trying to fight my way out of Sophie's boundary spell, fight against all of the witch ancestors, so it's not as grueling of a task anymore. Elijah had a plan to help me learn control, but I don't know what the rest of it was."
"I thought the restriction from using your power was a punishment for disobedience," Klaus said.
"I did too at first, and that was definitely part of it, but I also realized that it was a means of exercising restraint, as well as keeping Marcel in the dark about me since he apparently has a way of knowing when magic is used in the Quarter," I explained.
"That he does," Klaus acknowledged thoughtfully. Klaus was scheming; I could see the gears in his mind turning. My stomach became uneasy as surely his plan involved me. I did my best to not look scared as I waited to hear his brilliant, undoubtedly diabolical stratagem.
"I'd like to make a deal with you, Fiona," he said, his eyes dancing with satisfaction at the plan he'd just formulated.
"I don't make deals with the devil," I said tightly.
He smiled amusedly at my response. "I think you'll want to consider this particular proposition," he said. "It's more like a trade, really."
"I thought I didn't have anything of worth to you," I said.
"You don't. However, you do possess powerful magic, something I will never be able to harness myself. Here's the deal; you perform a little witchy spell and find the weapon that Marcel uses to control the witches of the Quarter, and in exchange - if you are successful, that is - I will give Elijah back to you," Klaus bargained.
My interest piqued at the mention of Elijah. I studied Klaus with a critical eye, interpreting his body language, reading his facial expressions, and mulling over his words to determine if he was being forthright. I didn't trust him, not for a second, but if there was even a chance that he would keep his word and give Elijah back, then I had to try.
"All right, I'll do it," I agreed. "But you'd better stay true to your word."
Uncovering Marcel's secret weapon in a city this large without the use of magic was a tall order. I would have to rely on my instincts alone to find the weapon, which seemed next to impossible since I didn't know what exactly to look for. It would be time-consuming, to say the least, and I would have to work carefully to go undetected. Marcel had eyes everywhere, and if any one of his minions spotted me getting close to it, I would have to abort.
I bounced nervously in my seat as Klaus drove into the Quarter. He wasn't exactly the posterboy for the virtue of patience, and if I couldn't discover Marcel's weapon in a timely manner, I was afraid my malicious father would torment Elijah to encourage me to complete the task. My mind was reeling as I tried to form some sort of strategy for finding the weapon; I didn't know where to start. I assumed it had to be a trinket of the magical type - and a powerful one at that - to be able to catch a witch enacting a spell anywhere in the city. As a witch myself I could sense magic, but magic was tangible in every part of New Orleans. It was in the people, in the soil, in the shops… Magic was everywhere, yet it was forbidden.
I closed my eyes and focused, feeling for anything that could possibly be relative to the weapon. I felt for extreme manifests of magic, talismans, enchanted objects, but found nothing. I opened my eyes and saw we were approaching the Abattoir. If Marcel possessed the key to the kingdom, he would want to keep it close by. He spent a lot of his time here, but I sensed nothing of mystical significance. I groaned aloud; this was hopeless.
"Klaus, we're just wasting time. I don't really even know what to look for. If we want a chance at finding that weapon, I need to talk to Marcel. All I need is the tiniest clue and I'll find it," I said.
Klaus stiffened. "I don't like the idea of the two of you talking. If he figures out who you are… Well, let's just say it'd be more trouble than it's worth."
"I'll speak prudently," I assured him. "I won't say anything that could possibly identify me as a Mikaelson. If he asks, I'll say I don't know who you are."
"Everyone knows who I am," Klaus countered.
"Presumptuous narcissist," I muttered under my breath.
"I heard that."
"Okay, if he asks, I'll say I've heard of the Originals, especially the great and terrible Klaus Mikaelson, but have never come into contact with them," I said.
"Now that's believable," he accepted. "I guess we're off to the karaoke bar."
"You better ditch me here and I'll foot it the rest of the way," I said. "We don't want his henchmen to see me with you."
Klaus smirked. "There isn't much to you, but you are a quick study, I'll give you that."
I rolled my eyes and got out of the car. The karaoke bar that Marcel frequented was only about a mile away from the Abattoir. I enjoyed the walk through the city, but it seemed too short as my stomach twisted when I arrived at the bar. I saw Marcel sitting alone at a table, running the city from his cellphone. I shook off the trepidation and gathered the courage to go inside. I approached Marcel confidently, but cautiously. A couple of his guys eyed me curiously but appeared to not take me as a threat to their monarch. Marcel looked up and grinned widely at the sight of me.
"Hey Fiona!" he greeted warmly in his smooth voice.
"Hi Marcel," I said with a smile. "I hope you don't mind."
"No, please, sit down." He gestured to the bench across from himself. "I'm glad you decided to come find me. Tell me, how are you liking the city?"
I knew what he was really asking. "You've created a beautiful society here."
He nodded. "I appreciate the compliment. You could be part of it, the society."
I smiled politely. "As I said before, I'm only visiting."
"You'd be free to come and go as you please," Marcel enticed.
"And how would that benefit you?" I asked. "Isn't the point of an army to stay and serve you?"
"I think you've got the wrong impression, Fiona. My folks are loyal to me because they want to be, not by force. I'm a leader, not a dictator. My "army" as you call it are my friends, I value their companionship," he said.
"I see. Some of today's world leaders would do well to take a page out of your book," I said. "Anyway, after we met the other night, you said you'd like to discuss a few things."
"I like to know who's in town," he said. "But right now I'm more concerned with how I can convince you to stay. I would really like to call you a friend, Fiona."
"You hardly know me."
"I know a warrior when I see one. It'd be an honor to have you join my team," Marcel flattered.
"You think I'm a warrior? Have you forgotten how your guys almost tore me to shreds last night? I'm not sure I could fight my way out of a wet paper bag," I said innocently.
"I'm sorry for what happened. I think they thought you were a witch at first, but regardless they should have left you alone. I have a strict rule about kids. No matter who they are, my guys aren't to lay a hand on them," Marcel explained. "You look older than you are, and if you weren't a kid they would have been doing their job correctly."
"It's compassionate of you to protect the children, even if they're werewolves or witches," I commended.
Marcel sighed. "I wasn't treated right as a kid. Nobody should have to feel the way I did."
He must've been referring to his time as a slave. According to Elijah, Klaus had been good to Marcel once, loving him like a son. I briefly wondered what Marcel's life was like after Klaus took him under his wing. I wondered if Klaus had actually cared for Marcel like a good parent would. I wanted so badly to ask, but obviously I couldn't. I decided to continue the conversation about the happenings of the supernatural side of New Orleans.
"I mean no offense, but the witches of the Quarter seem suppressed by your rule. I've heard they're not allowed to use magic of any kind," I said.
"Are you an advocate for the witches?" Marcel inquired.
"Not even close," I said wryly. "Frankly they haven't been very nice to me, the couple times I've encountered them. I get why you need to have them under control, I'm just mildly curious as to how you do it."
Marcel chuckled. "Here is where my lips are sealed. Not even my inner circle knows how I do it. Sorry Darlin', but I can't share that particular secret with you."
"I don't mean to pry," I said. "Look, you offered me a place with you, and I'm not saying no, I just want to know who it is I'm aligning with and make sure the empire won't crumble because I don't want to end up in the middle of that."
Marcel cocked his head in contemplation. "Fair enough. You deserve to know the foundation of control is sturdy," he agreed. "Besides, she'll appreciate a friend her own age."
"She?" I was absolutely intrigued now.
Marcel bit his lip. "How do you feel about going to church?"
"Well, vampires having a bad reaction to holy water is only a myth, so I guess that's all right."
Marcel laughed. "Good one. Let's go then."
We walked several blocks to St. Anne's church. It wasn't as breathtaking as the cathedral in Jackson Square, but it was still beautiful. I wasn't sure whether or not I believed in God, but I'd always appreciated churches, felt safe in them. One of my favorite childhood memories was touring St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City with my mother. Not only did it hold architectural beauty, but to the people who believed, it was a place to commune with the God they loved.
I noticed the street in front of the church was empty, not a car in sight. I found it odd, churches typically had bible studies or other events going on, but no one was here. It was a little eerie, especially since I also felt the presence of dark magic, the kind reaped from a blood sacrifice. My heart sank; a church should be the last place for dark magic to exist. It was meant to be a sanctuary, not a slaughterhouse.
"Why is no one here?" I asked Marcel as we walked inside.
"Take a look around," he said solemnly.
I glanced around the sanctuary. The wooden pews were dusty, and the altar looked like it hadn't been touched in weeks. The statues were unpolished, and hymnal books were scattered everywhere. I noticed dried blood on the walls and floor. I shivered as I took in the huge bloodstain on the altar, along with shards of glass of what once must've been a sculpture.
"What happened?" I whispered, my hand covering my mouth.
"A massacre," Marcel said sadly. "Nine seminary students were beheaded by one of their own, who then killed himself. It was brutal, and a large percentage of the congregation was present when it went down."
"That's awful," I said, a lump in my throat. "Why would an aspiring priest do that?"
"He was hexed by a witch," Marcel said. "And that's only part of the reason why I had to get control over them. This town is their home too, I know that, but too many of them are pushing the limits. They're becoming insidious and cruel."
"I'm afraid I initially misjudged you. You're a good man, Marcel," I said earnestly.
He gave a nod. "I try my best. Now come on, follow me upstairs."
I followed him up the narrow staircase to the attic. It was a bit drafty, I pulled my jacket tighter around myself. Marcel walked to the end of the hallway and shoved open a wooden door. He walked right on through and I tried to follow him but instead smacked right into an invisible boundary. Smooth, I know.
"Slight problem," I said dryly.
"Hold on one second," Marcel said before disappearing from my view. He returned with a young girl who looked to be about the same age as me. "Davina, this is Fiona. Fiona, Davina."
"Hello," I said. "Would you care to invite me in?"
She nodded. "Come in," she said in her light, tinkling voice.
I stepped just inside the doorway. I didn't want to invade her personal space, she seemed a bit shy. Her shyness didn't match her aura though, not at all. She was a witch, and I sensed that she harnessed immense power. She felt four times stronger than the other witches I had met in the Quarter. Clearly she was something special, but how she was the key to Marcel's empire, I wasn't quite getting.
"It's nice to meet you, Davina," I greeted politely.
"Likewise."
"Marcel tells me you're able to know when a witch in the Quarter uses magic. I hope you don't mind my curiosity," I said, treading carefully.
She looked to Marcel. "Can I tell her?"
"Whatever you feel comfortable with, Honey," Marcel told her.
"I'm connected to every witch in the Quarter who practices ancestral magic. When that power from our ancestors gets used, I know about it. I'm also stronger than the others…" she trailed off.
I could tell from her tone of voice that there was much more to the story, but I was afraid Marcel would catch on if I started asking too many questions. "It must be nice, knowing you're the strongest."
"Actually it makes me a target," Davina said dismally. "I'm not supposed to have this much power. The witches want me back so they can fix that."
"But you don't want to go back to them," I surmised.
"Marcel keeps me safe," Davina said, admiring her protector. "The witches would do terrible things if they got their hands on me."
"So you lock yourself away in this attic?"
"I don't have a choice," she said. "After the time of the reaping passes, it will all be over and I'll be free, but until then I need to stay hidden."
"The reaping?" I inquired.
She glanced around nervously. "I don't want to talk anymore." She grabbed onto Marcel's arm.
"Okay, I'm sorry if I crossed a line, Davina," I apologized. "I need to be going, but I'll come back soon, if you'll have me. You must become lonely up here, and I'm a really good friend."
She smiled. "I'd like that."
I returned the smile. "All right. I'll see you soon," I said, looking at Marcel to be dismissed.
He nodded. "See you around, Fiona."
I wore out the soles of my shoes speeding back to the plantation to inform Klaus of all I'd just learned. The deal was to uncover Marcel's secret to controlling the witches in exchange for undaggering Elijah, and I'd done just that. Klaus would be pleased with the intel I gathered and would return Elijah to the land of the living. The thought plastered a huge smile on my face; I would be seeing Elijah today.
I'd taken a shortcut through the woods to the house, so when I got there I was covered with dirt and debris from top to toe. I was trembling with excitement at the success of my endeavor and what that meant. Two hours ago, finding Marcel's secret weapon seemed far out of reach, but I had accomplished the mission, and my reward was Elijah. He would be so proud of me for not giving up, for helping Klaus even though he was manipulating me, for being the better person. I couldn't wait to be held in my uncle's comforting arms again.
"Klaus!" I shouted as soon as I got in the door.
He flew down the stairs and skidded to a halt right in front of me. "Your voice is shrill enough to wake the dead."
"I found the secret weapon you've been going on about," I informed him.
"Well don't stand on ceremony," Klaus griped impatiently. "What is it?"
"It's not a what, it's a who," I revealed. "This girl, Davina, she looks to be the same age as me. She's a witch, but I've never felt power like that from a single being. It's like she has an extra supply of magic. She's a powerhouse."
"Is she stronger than you?" Klaus asked.
"No, I doubt it, but I'm out of practice and lately the ancestors have been having a ball tampering with my power. If they're on her side, I might not be able to beat her."
Klaus growled. "Young, old, dead, or alive witches are a pain in the ass."
"Hey now, you better be excluding present company," I said.
"Oh no, you are most definitely included," he said.
"So, what now?" I asked.
Klaus ignored my question and passed me on his way to the door. "Where are you going?"
"The night is not over yet. I'm off for another drink with Marcel," Klaus said.
"I know about your plan to take apart Marcel's empire piece by piece. I don't remember it involving you two drinking New Orleans dry together," I said irritably. "I did what you asked, now take that dagger out of Elijah's chest!"
"I know you don't have any friends, Fiona, but what some friends do when they get together is they drink, and when they drink, they share secrets. Marcel has somehow found a way to control the entirety of witches in the Quarter and I aim to uncover the how so I might take it for myself," he said. "Undaggering Elijah didn't make my to-do list today."
"What do you mean 'uncover the how?'" I demanded angrily. "I found that out for you! A witch is how!"
"You and I both know that no ordinary witch can know when any witch in a given area uses magic. I want to know what makes this Davina so special, and why she is loyal to Marcel. As long as he has her, I have no advantage thanks to the ancestors causing your magical deficiency. Hell, I'm not even confident I could trust you even if you weren't magically inept, so until I get what I want, Elijah stays where he is, as he is."
"You used me!" I hollered at Klaus. "We made a deal, you said you'd do your part if I was successful doing mine, which I was. Why the one-eighty?"
"I don't have to explain myself to you," he said.
Tears pricked in my eyes. "You're right, you don't. Yesterday you said that if I didn't like your plan I could see myself out the door. Well, I'm walking."
I didn't bother to close the door behind myself before running off into the night.
KLAUS' POINT OF VIEW:
I watched in displeasure as Fiona fled into the trees. I didn't care to deal with a whiny teenager on top of all the other matters I was currently concerned with. Marcel's weapon to control the witches was more involuted than I'd originally anticipated, being it was a person rather than an object. I needed to know everything I possibly could about this Davina before trying to steal her away from Marcel. Fiona had only uncovered the tip of the iceberg, which wasn't good enough. The fact that she had at least found the key to Marcel's control over the witches was not lost on me, I did intend to reward her for her work, however if I pulled the dagger out right now, Elijah would get in the way of my quest to take Davina for myself. He was too compassionate for the war that was about to erupt in the French Quarter.
I tried calling Fiona as I drove to the bar Marcel wanted to meet at, but she refused to pick up. She was quite the grudge holder when she wanted to be. I was irked that I didn't know her location or what she was up to, but I decided the more pressing matter was Marcel's powerful little witch. If I chased after Fiona every time she ran away from me, I'd never get anything done.
"Everything okay?" Marcel asked, slightly amused as I irritably shoved my phone back into my pocket.
"Oh, just the usual. Temperamental sister," I fibbed. "So where's your informant?"
"Thomas? He's out sniffing around," Marcel said. "Grab a drink, then we'll chase him down."
I became smug; he'd said exactly what I'd hoped he would. "I suppose it will give us a chance to talk things over. Such as the young witch you have hidden away. She must get so bored."
Marcel shook his head as he refilled his glass. "You never stop, do you?"
"You never answer, do you?" I came back.
"I won't even ask how you found out, but why are you so curious about Davina?"
"If I had a sixteen-year-old all-powerful witch at my beckon call, you would wonder about her too," I said, smirking. If only he knew…
"You're never gonna get her," Marcel said with finality.
"Okay, okay," I said. "I'll ask the harmless questions then. How did you meet her?"
Marcel went on to tell me about something the witches did every three centuries or so called a harvest ritual. The witches' bond to their ancestors weakened with time, and therefore a great sacrifice needed to be made in order for them to keep their connection. The idea was that the magic of four chosen witches would be released back into the earth and their power would be restored. It was a "you reap what you sow" concept. The girls had been lied to about how the ritual worked, thus causing them to fight for their lives. Marcel hadn't gotten there in time; three of the girls were dead, and Davina was next. He observed that she was a fighter and decided to help her. They fled the scene, leaving the ritual incomplete. Now the witches were doing everything they could to get her back before their window of opportunity passed, and their magic would drain away for good.
"She's been stuck in that church attic for eight months," Marcel said, clinking his glass against mine for what must be our twentieth drink. "She's like a daughter to me, I hate that she can't have a life."
"I could protect her," I offered. "Motivated by her agreement to wield her power for my purposes, of course."
Marcel slammed a fist down on the counter. "Don't you even…"
"Relax, mate. No need to get all worked up about it," I said.
"You taught me to protect what's mine. You will not take Davina from me, end of story," he said angrily.
"An immutable law of nature is the strong always take from the weak," I stated.
"Oh if you're so strong you wouldn't have run away from New Orleans like a little bitch all those years ago," he taunted.
"You've been playing king with a bunch of children for too long," I said, standing swiftly. "Don't mistake me for one of your nightwalker lackeys; I can take Davina anytime I like."
Marcel jumped up from his chair too, his hands clenched into fists. "Are we gonna have a bar brawl?"
"We'll have to have a row another time," I said icily. "Unfortunately I have other matters to attend to at the moment. Besides, there's too many people in here. What would human faction think if they saw the peacemaking vampire king of the city play bloody knuckles with an Original? Surely you don't want to tarnish your cordial reputation."
Marcel was irate, a low growl sounding from deep inside his chest. "First you steal my girl Cami away, fine, I can find a new queen, but Davina is my family. There was a time when family meant everything to you, but now, Klaus, you're a parasite."
I smirked. "So they keep telling me." I turned on my heel and exited the bar.
I'd finally discovered Marcel's weakness, his secret witch, the key to my plan. He would do anything to keep Davina safe; it would be no challenge to run him out of town. All I had to do was manipulate Davina into siding with me until Fiona regained full control of her power, threaten to kill her if Marcel refused to forfeit his rule, and finally force his army to serve me. If they chose to stay loyal to the de facto leader, then I would kill every last one of them. Marcel could choose to fight against me, but whatever he tried, I would take this city right out from under him.
My former protege had been pissed when he'd found out I'd taken a liking to Cami, and I was counting on him making a move to get her back in the future, but right now he was more concerned about my interest in Davina. I hadn't officially declared war against him yet, but I believed he had an inkling that I was plotting for battle. He was confident that his reign was secure, that I couldn't win, that Davina's powers made him invincible. Presently that was true, but once I got the witch either on my side or out of the way, he would be left defenseless.
Unfortunately, until I was able to get my hands on something that would serve as leverage over Davina, I would need Fiona in order to get to her. It seemed to me that Marcel was becoming fond of my little tribrid offspring, and before too long he would begin to confide in her his secret plans and allow her to grow closer with his beloved Davina. Fiona would be cross with me until she was reunited with Elijah and since I couldn't free him from the dagger right now, I would just have to force Fiona to submit to me. The threat to drive a white oak stake through Elijah's heart if she didn't cooperate seemed to be effective, but I was bored of continuing the same means of manipulation. I would have to get creative because Fiona didn't really care about much else besides her uncle. Perhaps with time a new weakness would be revealed and I could have a little bit of fun.
As I strode through the Quarter I kept up the incessant phone calling. Fiona continued to ignore me, and I was becoming very unsettled. What on earth was the little welp up to? I couldn't pick up any sort of a trail, but I also wasn't putting much effort into the hunt yet. It may be that she needed to blow off some steam, to gain control over her anger towards me, but I was suspicious she was up to something that would cause trouble for me. She could be a very vengeful little thing. I rang her again for the hundredth time and received no answer. My phone battery was running low and clearly she wasn't going to pick up. She was probably hiding somewhere trying to figure out how to free herself from the restriction the witch ancestors had placed on her magic so she could conspire against me. I was worried she'd use magic and Marcel would catch her, find her out. If Marcel knew I was keeping this big a secret from him, I would lose his trust and would no longer be able to dismantle his empire from the inside.
A dozen more possible scenarios ran through my mind and the paranoia became overpowering. I needed a reprieve from it, and the only person who had ever provided any ounce of relief was the lovely Cami, the brave bartender. She was still under my compulsion, she still served as a spy, but her intelligent mind was all that I was currently after. I made sure the street was empty before jumping onto her apartment balcony from the sidewalk outside the building. The glass balcony doors were open, the sheer white curtains blowing in and out with the wind. She was standing at her dresser with her back to the door taking off her jewelry. Cami stared into the mirror, running her fingers through her bouncy blonde curls. Her full, pink lips parted as she gasped at the sight of my reflection. She whirled around gracefully to face me, her wide green eyes as enchanting as always.
"Klaus," Cami greeted, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"I've had quite a night," I told her. "May I come in?"
"This is super weird, but come in," she allowed.
"You have a lovely flat," I complimented.
"How did you find out where I live?" she asked, then something clicked in her mind and she answered her own question. "Oh right, you're a vampire-werewolf hybrid, what can't you do?"
I smirked. "Well, the word 'impossible' doesn't seem to exist in my vocabulary."
She rolled her eyes. "You say you've had an eventful night," Cami began. "Did something happen with your daughter?"
I sighed. "We had an argument."
"She's a teenage girl, arguments come with the territory," Cami said.
"This was the first argument that didn't end in physical violence or verbal punches," I said.
"Well that's a good thing, isn't it?" she inquired.
"It's new," I said.
"What were the two of you arguing about?" Cami asked. "What happened?"
"Fiona is upset because I didn't keep my word. She wants Elijah back, and I do intend to take the dagger out eventually, but first I needed to handle a few matters concerning Marcel. Apparently, the girl lacks the virtue of patience because she stomped out the door without another word. Now I don't know where she is or what she's up to," I explained.
"Well she has every reason to be upset. You didn't keep your promise," Cami said.
"That's not the whole story!" I insisted. "I do intend to fulfill my end of the deal, but after what Fiona discovered, I had to address the situation immediately. Time was of the essence here! Elijah can wait."
"No he can't, not for her," Cami said. "Maybe you do have a valid reason for not following through right away, but the truth is that you didn't do what you said you would. Fiona took a chance in trusting you, and you blew it."
"So what do I do now?" I asked.
"You could wait for her to come home and explain why you had to delay Elijah's return," Cami suggested. "Although, she'll probably only forgive you if Elijah's alive and well right in front of her when you explain, otherwise your words won't mean anything."
Bloody hell was I going to wait for the little tribrid to return home. "Give me Plan B."
Cami sighed. "Or you could scour the Quarter until you find her, convince her to go home and talk it out with you. Whatever you do, don't get angry and do not make a scene."
"What? Little old me?" I smiled innocently.
Cami blinked a couple times. "Don't do that crooked smile thing. I can't think straight when you look at me like that."
"That's kind of the idea, Love," I teased.
"I'm too smart to be seduced by you," she said, heightening her posture and folding her arms across her chest.
I smiled. "That's why I like you."
Camille's brilliant green orbs locked with my icy blue eyes. She looked into them deeply as if searching for my soul. I desired to know what was going through her beautiful mind. Her eyes wandered down several inches to my lips, then flicked back up to meet my gaze. She had the face of an angel, the body of a goddess, and a mind made to perfection. We leaned closer together, our bodies brushing up against one another. I lifted a hand and gently caressed her cheek. She pressed against my hand as I did, and closed her eyes contently as I ran my fingers through her hair, tucking a lock behind her ear. My fingers trailed along the side of her neck, my touch resulting in a shiver as she reacted to the sensation. Cami slipped her hands underneath my shirt and traveled up my torso, stopping at the center. My skin felt to be on fire where she touched me, and I craved more. Keeping one hand gently curled around the side of her face, I placed the other on the small of her back. I lowered my head until my mouth was even with hers. I could feel her breath against my lips. I made to kiss her, but of course that was when my phone rang. We instantly pulled away from each other.
Bloody hell.
"Is that your daughter?" Cami asked.
"No," I answered with a tone of disgust. "It's Marcel."
A/N: So, a little bit of an abrupt ending, but I felt like this chapter was becoming too lengthy. Anyway, hello, welcome back, and let's chat. Klaus and Camille were getting a little steamy there for a minute. Klaus may be having a difficult time with his and Fiona's relationship, however he seems to be unable to resist connecting with Cami. What do you guys think? Also, what are your thoughts on Klaus and Fiona in the beginning of the chapter? And about Marcel and Davina coming into the story? Typical Klaus didn't do as he said in giving Elijah back after Fiona did what Klaus asked her to, so how do you think Fiona will retaliate? Will she be patient? Will she cause trouble for Klaus? Leave a review letting me know what your thoughts, questions, and other feedback on the chapter; it is greatly appreciated. Thank you to everyone who left a review previously, and I hope to continue hearing from you. Be sure to follow/favorite as well so you don't miss when a new chapter goes up. Thanks for reading! :)