Fair warning, this chapter focuses on secondary characters. Who all likes the potential of Marcel and Cami, show of hands? *raises hand*. As always: no fowl, no harm. :-)

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"I never waste an opportunity for a show of force."

The karaoke bar is filling up as the night wears on, tourists and locals streaming in and out in an endless supply of fresh blood. Marcel has joined his inner circle near the stage where they pulled together three tables to make room for all of them.

Marcel sits at the head of the table, comfortably sprawled in his chair as he looks over his followers. He takes his time perusing the crowd, one arm braced casually behind him on the backrest of his chair. His lips are curled in a subtle, contemplative smile.

One of the day-walkers who talked to Rebekah keeps shooting furtive glances in Marcel's direction down the table. His fingers are wrapped loosely around a half-empty bottle of beer, peeling at the label with his thumb.

Marcel watches him intermittently for a few minutes. He can't help but grin every time the other man flinches to avert his gaze. Finally, Marcel slams his fist on the table and leans forward in his seat. "Spit it out, Jamie." He pins the younger vampire with his glare. "Whatever it is. Because it's starting to look like you've got a crush on me."

Jamie grabs his bottle more firmly and moves towards the head of the table towards Marcel. "I was just wondering if you knew the chicks at the bar earlier. You know, the two blondes?"

Marcel's brows furrow as he looks at Jamie. "Caroline and Rebekah?" His eyes narrow in suspicion. "Why?"

"I figured you might have Rebekah's number?" Jamie takes another drink from his bottle, looking uncomfortable. "I didn't get a chance to ask for it."

Marcel sits up straight, cocking his head to the side as he starts to play with the daylight ring on his finger. "You talked to Rebekah?"

Jamie nods, pulling up a chair to sit down. "Yeah, while you were at the bar with that other one, she and I were having a good time, doing shots and stuff. But then she got a phone call and tore out of here like a bat outta hell."

Marcel arches a brow, then leans forward in his seat to place one hand heavily on Jamie's arm. "And just what were you two love-birds talking about?"

The Deveraux's is filled to capacity by the time Marcel slips past the two large bouncers at the entrance doors that weren't there the night before. There's at least one new waitress among the crowd and a burly middle-aged guy has replaced the usual face behind the counter next to Cami.

Marcel subtly scans the newcomers' faces before he walks over to the bar and raises his hand to get Cami's attention.

Cami notices the movement and finishes up with the customer in front of her before she comes over to Marcel. "What will it be?"

"Bourbon," he says with a smile. "New coworker?" He raises one eyebrow in question and cocks his head in the direction of the other bartender.

Cami shrugs dismissively, but she glances quickly between the guy and the bouncers at the door. "We've had a few new hires."

Marcel hums in his throat as he watches Cami pour his drink. "I'm here to see your boss. Is she around?" he asks, already turning to face the back of the restaurant. His brows jump up when he sees that the screen doors to the kitchen are closed. "That's new," he drawls under his breath.

Cami ignores another customer in favor of wiping down the counter in front of Marcel. "She's in the kitchen with the new chef," she says before she leans closer. "Maybe you should come back some other day." The suggestion is accompanied by a pointed look under raised brows as Cami purses her lips.

Marcel swivels back around in his seat to pick up his glass. "And why would I do that?"

Cami's eyes flicker towards the other bartender again. "Because my shift's almost over and I'd like you to walk me home," she says bluntly.

Marcel's eyes narrow in suspicion but the smile on his face is full of charm. "Well, how could I ever refuse when you ask me like that?" He knocks back his drink and places the empty glass on the counter upside down.

A short while later they are ambling down one of the less crowded streets of the French Quarter away from Bourbon.

Marcel's hands are folded behind his back as he walks next to Cami, letting her set the pace. "So, what was that all about?" He cocks his head back in the direction of the Deveraux's.

Cami presses her lips together and shoves her hands into the front pockets of her tight jeans. "I'm not sure. But something's off." Her brows furrow deeply even as her shoulders roll in a casual shrug. "I think it'd be a good idea if you stayed away for a while."

Marcel arches an eyebrow as his lips twitch with an amused smile. "You think you can get rid of me that easily?"

"Look." Cami stops walking as she whirls around. "They have it in for you." She leans closer and lowers her voice. "I heard them talking about you in the kitchen."

His eyes widen in surprise before he schools his features into a blank mask. "Go on."

She sighs in exasperation and starts walking again. "The new chef is asking Sophie all sorts of questions about you." She shakes her head. "I'm surprised they didn't jump you the moment you walked in."

Marcel nods, his hands falling loosely to his sides. "That would explain a lot." He smiles as he casually moves one arm to wrap it around Cami's shoulder. "For example, why we're being followed."

Cami stumbles over her own steps as her eyes go wide but she recovers quickly, throwing Marcel's arm off her shoulder as she keeps walking. "Watch it pal!" she says loudly. Her body tenses up and her hands stay at her sides, balled into fists. "What did you get me into?" she whispers harshly.

He shrugs one shoulder as his head cocks to the side with a chagrined smile. "Sorry?" His chin jerks up at the sound of heavy boots landing on a metal dumpster in the alley a block behind them. Marcel's expression grows cold as his shoulders tense, ready for a fight. "Get ready to run."

"I don't think so." Cami keeps walking, her breathing becoming shallower as her eyes flit back and forth, scanning her surroundings. "I'm not some damsel you have to protect."

Marcel rolls his eyes. "You have no idea what you're dealing with." He turns around, placing himself between Cami and the footsteps he can hear coming towards them.

The guy that steps out of the darkness is tall, lean and looks pretty young. Shaggy dark hair hangs over his eyes, hiding them from view. He slowly walks towards them, shoulders hunched and hands curled loosely at his sides. "Are you Marcel?"

Marcel squares his shoulders and clenches his fists as he stares the other man down. "Who wants to know?"

The younger man smiles as he slowly raises his head and quickens his steps. "I thought so." He breaks into a run and launches himself at Marcel straight on.

Marcel crouches in preparation to dodge the obvious move and ready to counter it. His brows furrow at the confident look on the other guy's face.

His opponent grins as he leaps into the air. His body twists grotesquely, muscles and bones crunching as they shift in mid air, tearing denim and cotton as easily as paper.

Cami rears back with a scream as she watches the large black wolf collide with Marcel at full speed.

Marcel throws his arms up in defense as the animal knocks him to the ground. His fingers dig into the coarse fur at its neck, barely keeping the razor-sharp fangs away from his face.

The beast growls and snaps, drool dripping from its gaping maw. Its heavy paws push threateningly on Marcel's shoulders, claws digging in, forcibly keeping its prey down.

Marcel roars as he pushes the wolf off him. He throws the beast with all his strength, sending a hundred pounds of muscle and fur hurtling towards the nearest wall.

The animal hits the wall with a sickening crunch and a pained, broken yelp before it falls to the ground with a heavy thud.

Marcel quickly gets to his feet, shouting blindly over his shoulder. "Cami, run!" He whirls back around just in time to see the wolf get back on its feet.

Cami's eyes are wide with panic, but she jolts into motion, starting to run as fast as she can.

The wolf growls at Marcel before its head snaps up to stare past him. It pushes itself into a leaping run, tail rising high as it gives chase after Cami.

"Shit!" Marcel bursts into vampire speed. He throws himself on top of the wolf, grabbing for its legs. His fingers dig into fur and skin. They go down hard, Marcel landing on top.

As they hit the ground, the wolf shifts back into human form. In the blink of an eye, the dark haired man's fist connects with Marcel's jaw in a powerful punch, sending him reeling. The werewolf uses the split-second to dig his knees into the vampire's stomach and vault him up over his head.

Marcel comes crashing down on his back. The impact knocks the wind out of him, giving his opponent the chance to get on top.

The werewolf crouches over Marcel, pinning his body to the ground as he rains down punches with both fists.

Marcel dodges as much as he can. The first punch to the mouth splits his lip and his fangs drop as the veins around his eyes intensify. Marcel takes a few more hits to the face, trying to get his hands around his assailant's neck.

The werewolf is drunk with victory, laughing dementedly as he keeps landing punch after punch, alternating between his left and right fist. The unexpected blow of a two-by-four from behind snaps his head forward. His eyes go wide as his arms flail uselessly.

Marcel seizes the moment to wrap his fingers around the werewolf's head and snaps his neck with a fast, clean twist. He drops the naked body to the side and looks up at his unexpected ally. "Are you crazy?"

Cami is breathing heavily, still clutching the dirty two-by-four in one hand as she looks down at Marcel on the ground. "What the hell was that?" She tosses the wood aside where it lands with a clatter.

"Hybrid." Marcel growls under his breath before he pushes himself to his feet and brushes off the dirt. "They're a nasty kind of werewolf that gets to change shape whenever they want."

"Hybrid? Werewolves?" She shakes her head and laughs incredulously. "And what are you supposed to be?"she asks. "A vampire?"

Marcel wipes a hand over his split lip and spits out the blood in his mouth before he steps closer to the nearest street lamp. He sniffs and purposely puts his game-face on as he turns to look at Cami. "What do you think, cheri?" he asks with a smile, fangs gleaming in the light of the gas lamp above him.

Cami steps closer, shaking her head in denial even as she reaches up a hand towards his face. "Maybe you're just a freak with an exceptional dental plan?" She pokes the tip of one long incisor with her index finger, fascinated, until she pricks her skin. "Ow." She takes her finger back and sucks it into her mouth. "Or maybe not," she says around her mouthful.

Marcel looks back at her with a fond, but exasperated expression on his face. "I still don't know if you're just that brave, or really, really dumb."

Cami's eyes narrow. "I'll have you know, I'm currently working on my graduate degree in Psychology."

They spend the rest of the walk to Cami's apartment in silence. Marcel hangs back at the bottom of the steps as Cami jogs up to the door and unlocks it. "Do you want to-"

"No!" Marcel is right in front of her with a burst of vampire speed.

Cami shouts in surprise, stumbling backwards into her apartment as she gapes at him in confusion.

Marcel raises one hand and holds it out against the empty space between the doorposts. "No matter how old, or how powerful," he says quietly as he leans on the invisible barrier separating them. "A vampire can never enter a person's home without their invitation."

Cami's brows furrow as she steps closer to the door. She brings up her hand and places her palm flat against Marcel's. "Why are you telling me this?" Her eyes search his for an answer.

"Because I want you to be able to protect yourself from my kind," he says honestly, his hand still pressed firmly against the barrier. "And this is the best way to do it."

Cami nods in understanding and looks at their hands that seem to be touching. "And what's the best way to protect myself from a werewolf?" She looks back up at Marcel's face with a challenging smirk.

Marcel swallows thickly. His face is drawn tight in worry, his lips pressed together in an angry line. "There is none."

Cami snorts. "Come on, there has to be something. We were able to take out that guy-"

"No." Marcel shakes his head with an angry frown. "We were lucky he was young, dumb and showing off." He brings his other arm up to brace against the barrier above his head as he looks down at her sternly. "And he was alone. They usually travel in packs."

Cami pulls her hand back to cross her arms in front of her chest. She raises her chin defiantly, but a slight tremble in her voice gives her away. "That almost sounds like you're afraid of them."

Marcel's eyes narrow dangerously. "I'm not scared of a bunch of mangy mutts." He bangs his fist against the barrier and bows his head with a determined scowl. "I've driven them out of my city before, I can do it again." He straightens up and steps back from the barrier, hands dropping at his sides. "So, let me worry about them. You just make sure to stay safely out of the way."

A sour expression crosses Cami's face at the demand. "I don't react well to threats."

Marcel sighs and steps closer again. "I'm not threatening you. I'm asking you. For the sake of your safety, and my sanity."

Her eyes flicker back and forth, taking in his sincere expression before she nods. "I'll think about it."

"Good." Marcel grins confidently at her before he leans down to whisper confidentially. "It's okay to invite me in now."

Cami raises one eyebrow skeptically as she cocks her head to the side. She pretends to think about it for a second before she shakes her head. "Nah, I don't think so. But thanks for walking me home."

"What?" Marcel looks completely dumbfounded, his mouth hanging open in shock as he bounces off the barrier trying to reach after her. "Wait a minute, you-"

"Good night, Marcel," she says with a laugh as she closes the door in his face.

Marcel stares at the closed door with a stunned expression. Then he blinks, laughs and shakes his head. "Yeah, girl's got it bad for me." He chuckles to himself as he jogs down the steps and disappears into the night.