Disclaimer: Still don't own anything you recognize
Damon and Stefan stood in the living room. Elena was locked in the cellar. For days she had been deprived of blood and the brothers were trying to figure out their next move in their plan to get Elena to turn her emotions back on.
"She's the calmest desiccating vampire I've ever seen. I remember when you starved me down there for three days, I would've wept at your feet for an orange peel" Damon huffed.
"Look, she's not going to beg for blood. Begging means desperation, emotion. She's still in no-humanity zone" Stefan replied.
"How hungry does she have to be before we can torture some feelings back into her?" Damon asked.
"A lot hungrier than she is now, apparently" Stefan.
"So what are we supposed to do in the meantime?" Damon asked.
"Maybe I can provide a little excitement" Katherine spoke suddenly walking in.
"Katherine" Stefan sighed.
"The one and only... sort of. So, when's the 'Welcome Home' party?" she asked as she poured herself a drink.
"Wow, look who went and got bold. Last time I checked, Klaus was plotting your eternal demise" Damon glared.
"Well, it doesn't matter anymore, because Klaus is gone" she smiled.
"Wait, what do you mean he's gone?" Stefan frowned.
"Let's just say that werewolf girl, Hayley, turned out to be just the thing we needed to get Klaus out of our lives- for good" Katherine smirked.
Hayley Marshall sat at a deserted bar in the middle of the day in New Orleans. She was currently going through papers and was deep in thought.
"Third time in here this week" Jane Anne spoke.
"I'm obsessed with the gumbo, Jane-Anne" Hayley smiled.
"You know, ladies in the 9th ward say my sister, Sophie, bleeds a piece of her soul into every dish" Jane Anne glancing across the room where Sophie was.
"I asked around the Quarter about my family..." Hayley began.
"And?" Jane Anne asked.
"Nothing. Zero. I can't find a single person who remembers them" Hayley sighed.
"Because, Hayley, people like you were run out of here years ago" Jane Anne replied.
"What do you mean, people like me?" Hayley frowned. Jane Anne walked around the bar to the other side to sit beside Hayley. She set down a map on the bar.
"In the bayou, they call the werewolves "Roux-Ga-Roux". She circled a point on the map. "You head out there, you'll find what you're looking for. Be careful. It's the last place you'd ever want to go."
Hayley took the map, nodding and smiled. She got up to leave the bar and as she was leaving Dia was walking in. Jane Anne and Sophie exchanged glances. Sophie could see the strand of Hayley's hair in her sister's hand.
"Hey Hayley! How's everything on the family front" Dia asked her. Dia had remembered Hayley briefly as a friend of Tyler's and the two of them had run into each other, while Hayley searched for her family.
"I think I might have a new lead, so wish me luck" Hayley smiled.
"Good luck" Dia said as Hayley left the bar.
"Well there's the future college student" Sophie came out smiling and cleaning her hands with a cloth. Dia had just finished visiting Tulane. For the past few days Jane Anne and Sophie had been showing Dia around the city, while she told them of her life in Mystic Falls, but left out the parts regarding her involvement with Elijah or the rest of the originals. However, she couldn't help but feel like they were hiding something from her.
"What'd you think of Tulane?" Jane Anne asked.
"I liked it a lot" Dia replied. "It has everything I want in a school. I think it's going to come down to here and NYU."
"Well I'd be a bit partial to you staying here, but that's just me" Sophie smirked.
"You have two great options, I'm sure you'll figure it out and until you do you know you're more than welcome to stay here with us" Jane Anne told her.
"You guys have been great I don't want to overstay my welcome" Dia sighed.
"Nonsense" Jane Anne replied. You're Sophie's sister and Sophie is my sister which makes you family, so you're staying."
"Okay" Dia laughed. Dia began to go through her bag of all of the information packets. Jane Anne and Sophie looked at one another. Dia then heard something.
"We need to tell her" Jane Anne thought. "She'll be in danger if we don't and Sophie did just find her."
"What do you need to tell me?" Dia looked up. Jane Anne's eyes went wide. "I forgot to mention I'm a bit telepathic, but I try not to use it too much."
"We need to tell her Jane Anne. She needs to know. Marcel could find out about her and try to take her" Sophie spoke.
"There's something we've been keeping from you Dia" Jane Anne began.
Jane Anne, Sophie, and Dia walked through a cemetery later that night. Everything that they told Dia was still going through her mind. Maybe she shouldn't have ever come to New Orleans. A vampire named Marcel controlled the quarter. He had forced the witches to stop practicing magic. However, Sophie found a way to end his reign.
"This is insane" Dia said.
"Don't do it. Please. What if I'm wrong about her?" Sophie pleaded.
"That's the beauty of you- you're never wrong. She's the only way we're going to get to Klaus" Jane Anne explained.
"Klaus?" Dia frowned.
"He's an original vampire" Jane Anne told her. "He's our only way to end this."
"I've heard of him" Dia nodded.
"Can we get someone else to do the spell?" Sophie asked.
"Who? Half the witches don't believe you, the other half are too scared" Jane Anne replied.
"Because they know we're gonna get caught, Jane-Anne" Sophie replied.
"We don't have any other options, Sophie" Jane Anne said as Sophie had tears in her eyes. "You need to protect Dia from Marcel. Now go. You know what you need to do."
Rebekah and Elijah stood around in their home. The both of them had just learned that Klaus had left to go to New Orleans because witches were conspiring against him.
"New Orleans? What the hell is Klaus doing there?" Rebekah exclaimed.
"Evidently there are witches conspiring against him. So, knowing our brother, this was a mission to silence and slaughter" Elijah explained to his sister.
"Well, the French Quarter witches are not a lot to be trifled with. You don't suppose they've found a way to kill him once and for all, do you?" she asked smirking.
"Rebekah, in the name of our family, you might try to dial down your glee" Elijah looked at her.
"What family? We're three distrustful acquaintances who happen to share a bloodline. I, for one, hope they've found a way to make that traitorous bastard rot" Rebekah huffed as Elijah began to leave the room. "Where are you going?"
"To find out who's making a move against our brother. And then I'll either stop them... or I'll help them, depending on my mood" Elijah replied.
Klaus walked into a bar. After a discussion with a witch, he learned that Marcel was running New Orleans. Marcel was an old friend. He looked up and saw an African American man doing karaoke in the bar.
"Thank you" Marcel spoke as he finished the song.. He jumped off the stage and joined a few of his companions.
"You killed it, man" his friend replied. Marcel stopped. He sensed something familiar. He looked over and saw Klaus.
"Klaus" he spoke.
"Marcel" Klaus replied.
"Must be a hundred years since that nasty business with your papa" Marcel told him.
"Has it been that long?" Klaus frowned as the two men approached each other slowly.
"The way I recall it, he ran you outta town. Left a trail of dead vampires in his wake" Marcel said.
"And yet how fortunate you managed to survive. My father, I'm afraid, I recently incinerated to dust" Klaus smirked. Marcel companions suddenly appeared behind him.
"Well, if I'd known you were coming back in town, if I had a heads-up—" Marcel began.
"What, Marcel? What would you have done?" Klaus sneered.
"I'd have thrown you a damn parade" Marcel said. Suddenly his face turned into a wide grin and he laughed. Klaus did the same and the two men embraced. Marcel drew back and placed both hands on either side of Klaus's neck.
"Niklaus Mikaelson. My mentor, my savior, my sire. Let's get you a drink" Marcel said happily.
Marcel poured a drink for Klaus, with a few of Marcel's companions close by.
"It is good to see you" Marcel smiled.
"It's good to be home. Although please tell me the current state of Bourbon Street is not your doing" Klaus smirked.
"Something's got to draw in the out-of-towners, otherwise we'd all go hungry" Marcel laughed.
Klaus looked over at one of the vampires in the doorway. "I see your friends are daywalkers" he raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, yeah, I shared the secret of your daylight ring with a few buddies. Just the inner circle, though- the family" Marcel explained.
"Tell me: how did you find a witch willing to make daylight rings?" Klaus asked.
"I got the witches around here wrapped around my finger" Marcel smiled.
Klaus chuckled. "Is that so? I'm looking for a witch by the name of Jane-Anne Deveraux. Has some business with me "he explained. Marcel looked at one of his cohorts.
"You're looking for Jane-Anne? You probably ought to come with me" Marcel said standing up and laughing. "Ha-ha, show time!"
Out on the street, Marcel and Klaus walked. Vampires were jumping from rooftops and car alarms were going off.
"Oh, how's your family?" Marcel asked.
"Ah, forget 'em. If your blood relations let you down, you make your own, eh? You taught me that. And what's mine is yours, as always. Even my nightwalkers, the riff-raff" Marcel said indicating the vampires all over the street.
"They're hardly subtle, are they?" Klaus commented
"It's the Quarter. Ain't no such thing as subtle, baby" Marcel smiled. He whistled and the crowd cheers. One of the vampires brought Jane Anne forward.
" Jane-Anne Deveraux! Give it up for Jane-Anne! Come on, let's hear it!" Marcel shouted. 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 walked back to Klaus. "Was that convincing? I studied law back in the '50s. Hold that thought" he turned his attention back to Jane Anne "Seriously Jane, tick-tock. You know the drill. How do you plead?"
"I didn't do anything" she sneered. The crowd laughed quietly.
"Mm, 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? 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 snapped.
Marcel smiled. "I'll tell you what. I'll give you one more chance..." He walked away from her then suddenly swung a branch that had been in his hand and sliced open Jane Anne's neck.
"Or not" Marcel shrugged. Jane Anne fell to the ground as the crowd cheered. Klaus looked at Macel in anger.
"What was that?" he demanded.
"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"
"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 said.
Klaus stood quietly for a moment. "Well, whatever it was, doesn't matter anymore, does it?" he smiled.
"Good, good. Then let's eat, 'cause all that spilled blood makes me hungry, ha-ha!" Marcel smiled. He walked off leaving Klaus alone. He walked over to one of Marcel's companions.
"Hey, Thierry, isn't it? Any more Deveraux witches where she came from?" he asked.
Sophie stood in the kitchen chopping vegetables. Her cheeks were stained with tears. Dia walked in and looked at her sadly. She walked over to her and hugged her sister tightly as she cried.
"It'll be alright" Dia whispered.
Sophie pulled away and nodded. "I'm just glad I still have you" she smiled slightly. "Can you go into the fridge and get me some more peppers?" Dia nodded then and walked away. Sophie then turned around and behind her stood a man. She knew exactly who it was.
"You're Klaus" she gasped.
"I am. And you're upset. Sophie, isn't it? I assume this is because of what I just witnessed with your sister on the corner of Royal and St. Ann?" Klaus asked.
"Did you enjoy the show?" she spat.
"It was a little melodramatic for my tastes. What did your sister want with me? Why did Marcel kill her?" Klaus demanded. He stopped for a moment. He heard another heartbeat in the room. He quickly sped and grabbed the person and threw them against the wall. Klaus's eyes went wide.
"Dia?" he frowned. "Why are you here? Please don't tell me you're apart of this."
"She's not!" Sophie spoke. "Leave her out of this, please don't hurt her she's all I have left." Klaus looked at Sophie and then Dia and frowned. He looked at the two of them back and forth and then it hit him.
"I wasn't aware that you had relatives in New Orleans Dia, let alone a sister" Klaus smirked. He left go of her.
"I didn't know either Klaus" Dia replied. "I came to meet Sophie and visit Tulane. That's it."
Klaus looked at her closely. "He doesn't know you're here does it?" Dia shook her head.
Sophie frowned in confusion. How did she know Klaus? She went to speak but then noticed a few men arriving at the bar.
"I see you brought friends" Sophie huffed. Klaus turned to look at the men and then back at Sophie.
"They're not with me" Klaus replied.
"They're with Marcel. That's all that matters. I know you built this town, but this is his town now. He killed my sister because she broke the rules. So I talk to you in front of them, I'm next" Sophie spat before walking away. Klaus looked over at Dia. He could tell she was worried. Probably worried that he would let Elijah know where she was.
"I won't tell him love" Klaus looked at her. "I promise." Dia mouthed a 'thank you' and went to go look for Sophie. Sophie stood in a back room pacing back and forth.
"How do you know Klaus?" she demanded looking at Dia. "You're not spying for him are you?"
"Sophie no" Dia began. "Klaus was in Mystic Falls. I had no clue about any of this until I came here. I came here because I found out about you. I wanted to meet my sister."
Tears fell down from Sophie's eyes. She ran over and hugged Dia. "I'm sorry. I know you didn't know a thing about everything. I'm just upset. "
"It's okay" Dia told her.
"He seemed to know you pretty well" Sophie said pulling away.
"I was involved with one of his brothers" Dia said uncomfortably. "Look we can talk about this later. Get some fresh air. I'll look after everything for a minute."
Sophie walked outside and stood at the side of the restaurant. She walked down a few stairs and stopped at a small table. It was covered with lit candles. Her eyes became filled with tears, as she began to tend to the candles on the table. Suddenly the door that was open, behind her swung shut with a bang. Sophie jumped as someone sped around her. She turned around to see no one behind her. Turning around she saw one of the men who walked into the bar in front of her.
"The doors work, you know" she snapped.
"You're doing magic?" a voice said behind her.
Sophie turned around. "I'm praying to my dead sister. Go ahead, pay your respects." She turned around and the second vampire sped in front of her.
"Don't make this a thing, Sophie. The hybrid was looking for Jane-Anne- Marcel wants to know why" one of them said.
"Oh, that sounds like witch business. I'd say ask her yourself, but I guess you can't, seeing as Marcel killed her" she sneered. She turned her back and the first vampire was about to attack her from behind when he suddenly disappeared. Sophie and the remaining vampire looked up. A loud smack was heard. A heart oozing blood had hit the ground. The second vampire glared at Sophie before he was thrown against the brick building where a stake protruded his chest. Sophie saw a man in a suit straightening his coat, his hand bloody.
"I'm Elijah. You heard of me?" he looked at Sophie.
Sophie nodded nervously. "Yes."
"So, why don't you tell me what business your family has with my brother?" he asked. The door to the restaurant swung open.
"Sophie are you alright" he heard a voice say. Elijah knew that voice. He turned and saw Dia standing at the top of the steps.
"Dia what are you doing here?" Elijah asked.
"That's none of your concern Elijah" Dia replied walking to Sophie. "Leave her alone Elijah."
"She has information. The witches here are up to something regarding Klaus. This is not your concern" Elijah replied.
"It does when it involves my sister" Dia glared at him. Elijah frowned and looked between the two of them. They did look somewhat alike.
"I see the resemblance" he said after a moment. "Although you know I prefer you over anyone Dia."
"Wait" Sophie spoke. "Please don't tell me this is the original you were involved with."
"Oh we were quite involved" Elijah smirked. "She's my fiancé."
"Ex-fiance" Dia shot back.
"That remains to be seen" Elijah replied.
"You've gotten cocky" Dia glared. Elijah sped over close to her. He noticed Dia tense up. He smirked and leaned down to whisper in her ear.
"You of all people know what I can do with my cock and as I recall you enjoyed every single moment of it" he looked at her smirking. Even in the darkness he could tell she was a deep red.
"I need to talk to my sister" Sophie said grabbing Dia. "Alone."
"Of course" Elijah smiled.
"No listening either" Dia spoke.
Sophie led Dia to the end of the alleyway and turned to her. "When you told me you were involved with an original I didn't expect it to be Klaus's brother. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't think it was important" Dia replied. Fresh tears began to fall down her cheek. "Because he broke my heart. I didn't tell you because it hurts to talk about him. I wanted a fresh start. That's why I came to look at Tulane. NYU is looking pretty good right now though." Sophie hugged her for a moment and then pulled away.
"Can he be trusted Dia with this" Sophie looked at her sister. "You know how important this is."
Dia stood there quietly for a moment. She had to put aside her personal feelings. "He can be trusted. He's honorable. He won't go back on his word."
There you have it! This is the last update for 2013. More will follow next year. I hope to have this story done sometime next week! Thanks for all the reviews thus far. Let's see if we can get more reviews than Blinding! Read and review!