"Hey, D." He smiled when he opened the door and saw his young charge painting a picture. He couldn't see what she was working on, but she seemed very focused on it.
"Marcel!"
The petite, dark haired teen raced across the room and launched herself into his arms and he caught her.
"I thought you might not make it today."
Her happiness and relief at seeing him cut through him and he felt guilty for leaving her for as long as he had. Damn the business side of things, if it made Davina feel like she wasn't important to him.
"You know I'll see you whenever I can and I'll rearrange things so I can visit you more if you want me to." Marcel wrapped his arms tightly around her slim body.
Pressing his face into her shoulder, he allowed to relax just a little. Davina was still here and she was alive. The witches hadn't found her yet.
"No. Yes, I get lonely, but you're keeping me safe, so it's okay."
"Did you do anything interesting?" Marcel asked
"Not really." Davina pulled away, turning her back on him.
The way she said it had the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. She was hiding something from him.
"D? What's going on?"
"I don't know."
"Tell me." He caught her shoulders and gently turned her to face him. "Davina. Please. What's wrong?"
Davina pulled away and walked towards her easel, her head bowed.
"Something's changed. I just can't-"
All at once, Davina collapsed and it was only his super human speed that kept her from hitting the floor. Scooping her into his arms, Marcel lifted her gently into his arms and laid her on the bed.
As Davina lay silent and still, Marcel sat beside her, her hand in his.
What made this happen? If she hadn't been a little off, for her, before she collapsed, he would have been tempted to risk it and bring a doctor up to see her, a compellable doctor, of course, but a doctor nonetheless. If she didn't wake up soon, he would do something, but for now, he would remain beside her.
Davina thrashed suddenly, her back arching almost inhumanly, and then she went still, so still that if he didn't have vampire hearing and knew her heart still beat, he would be concerned.
After a long moment, Davina jerked awake, sitting up with a gasp.
"The one death gave back, the waves of the boat that carries her will shape the centuries. The one who bears the face of the ages, from whose bloodline the vampires sprang forth, she alone challenges the stars and all above, defying the fates to lengthen the threads of those who were meant to be cut." Davina drew a sharp breath, relaxing into his arms. She looked up at him, her blue eyes wide, a mix between fearful and hopeful.
"'The one who bears the face of the ages,'" Marcel quoted slowly as he helped her to her feet. "Can you draw her?"
"I think I already did," Davina said, and walked over to her easel. Spinning it around, she showed him the picture she'd been working on earlier.
When he saw it, Marcel felt a chill going down his spine. He knew that face. The face of the Petrova doppelganger. Klaus drilled that face into his head for centuries. The woman whose blood anyone who knew what it could do would hunt her down. What was she doing coming to New Orleans?
"Can you find her?" Marcel asked.
"I think so."
With that, Davina set about doing a locator spell, and Marcel relaxed a little. She seemed to be recovered from her episode and happier than she'd been since he'd brought her to the attic.
Finally Davina straightened and said, "She's traveling right now, but once she stops, I'll give you an exact location."
"D. Can she help you?"
"Yes. I can feel the ancestors bowing to her."
"What makes you say that?"
"Because power in the city is shifting like crazy. They're afraid of her and yet, hopeful of her presence here. They want her help. I'd say all the witches can feel it, whether they're in the French Quarter or not."
"With what?"
"I don't know." Davina shook her head. "I just know they're desperate."
For the first time since saving Davina from being slaughtered by her coven, Marcel felt hope. Was it possible he could keep the girl he'd come to think of as a daughter alive? Could he actually do it? If this prophesy was anything to go by, the doppelganger might just be the path he was looking for in order for Davina to avoid the death her coven had planned for her.
When he walked up to the mansion that had been the scene of his childhood torment, Marcel fought back the urge to run. Even now, centuries later, he hated this place. If it wasn't considered a historical landmark, he would have lobbied to have it torn down as soon as he'd gained enough influence in the city.
What was she doing here though? Only the Originals had any interest in this place, unless she was involved with them, which was likely, considering Klaus's obsession with the face she possessed.
Taking a deep breath to still his nerves, he knocked on the door.
Moments later, the doppelganger opened the door. The smile she gave him told him she wasn't angry to see him. In fact, she seemed almost happy.
Her reaction startled him. What was going on? Had he just walked into a trap?
His nostrils flared and he thought he caught the faint scent of the Originals on her, particularly Elijah, but there was only one heartbeat within the house besides the woman in front of him. No, wait. The woman in front of him was pregnant, with twins. And there was a similar heartbeat from near the other person in the house.
"Marcel, I presume. Elijah described you very well."
"I am."
"Don't worry about Hayley. She'll be staying in her room for a while. Morning sickness is kicking her ass at the moment."
She he was right, she was involved with the Originals and her pregnancy protected the women from reprisals that would harm them or the children they carried.
"I've been waiting for you. Won't you come in? We've got a lot to talk about." She stepped out of the way, allowing him to step passed her.
"You know my name, but I don't know yours, so I'm at a disadvantage, I'm afraid." He took her invitation as he spoke.
"Elena Gilbert, though in less than a year, I'll be Elena Mikalson, hopefully." She led the way through the foyer.
"Elijah?" Marcel guessed.
What was it about that guy that made a woman like her fall? Should he warn her about him? Tell her what he was actually like? He'd trusted him and Elijah had ended up turning on him, only wanting him because he neededt he distraction."
"I suppose you would know his scent, all things considered." Elena acknowledged, her face still relaxed.
She wasn't the least bit afraid of him, which spoke to the power Davina seemed to believe she wielded. Elijah wasn't anywhere around and she was still completely at ease.
"What does he think about your pregnancy?"
Elena smiled softly, a secret sort of smile, and she cradled her belly. When she lifted her left hand, he noticed the engagement ring encircling her ring finger. Elijah was truly going to marry this woman and he trusted her enough to be able to take care of herself while away from him that he was nowhere near her
"I see how it is."
Knowing Elijah, it was likely either a long discussed IVF, or he'd fallen fast and hard for a pregnant girl who needed his help. Though he couldn't imagine what this woman would need help with. So, IVF seemed the most likely.
Something about her made him wonder if even with how long he'd lived with Elijah, maybe he'd misjudged him? But how could he be, considering he'd lived with him for over a century.
"So, you need my help."
That chink he'd seen in her armor about Elijah and her babies was gone and she was all business once more, though something about the way she cut him off told him there was far more to the story than she was willing to share, but he decided not to push his luck and force it from her. Trying that would ruin any chance he had of saving Davina, so he held his tongue.
"I do," Marcel admitted.
If it wasn't for Davina, he wouldn't have bowed so quickly, revealed his cards right away. But his adopted daughter's well being mattered more to him than his pride.
"I have to admit, that I need yours as well." Elena sat down on a couch in the drawing room and motioned for him to take the one across from her. "So, let's make a deal."
A tendril of fear coiled down his spine. If she was anything like Elijah, the price he'd pay would be steep. But he pushed that fear away. Davina's life was more important than anything she could demand of him.
"What do you have in mind?"
"You want help with saving your little witch friend. I can save her."
"At what price."
"Bring me Sabine Laurent. I think it's time the Crescent wolves were freed. Those who caused trouble are no longer an issue, so those being punished didn't pay the price, don't you agree?"
"I think you mean Sophie Devereaux."
What the hell did Sabine have to do with anything? Maybe she didn't know what she was talking about? If that was the case, maybe she wasn't the hope that Davina thought she was.
"No. Bring me Sabine. She has what I need. Brynne wasn't who you thought she was."
"What makes you think I'll comply."
Her mentioning Byrnne shook him and now he knew. This woman was every bit the powerful witch Davina told him she was. Elena Gilbert could save his adopted daughter, even if she was sleeping with Elijah, and she seemed willing too, even if the price was a little steep.
"You're a Mikaleson, raised by them, loved by them. You have their mentality. Davina means everything to you. If you want to save her, you'll bring me Sabine. And she'll be more than willing to help us, if you tell her that I know her secret and I'll destroy her if she doesn't comply." Elena's voice turned to steel by the end.
Marcel quelled a little inside in response, but he fought to remain composed. This was about Davina, not his own fears of powerful witches. If he did his part, she would save save Davina. Free the wolves was a small price to pay to save Davina, because they knew he had the means to bring them down again.
"Marcel, I'm not an enemy, I promise. I do want to help you save Davina, but Hayley, she wants her family back. She's pregnant and alone, aside from Klaus, but even having a supportive baby daddy doesn't take the place of family."
"Wait, Klaus is her baby's father?"
"He can procreate now that he's broken his curse and no, he's not my babies' father." Elena cut him off again. "But Hayley, right now, all she has is us and we try, but it doesn't take the place of her pack. A pregnant wolf needs her pack at their strongest in order for her to feel safe and secure.
Marcel sat there frozen by what he was hearing.
"Klaus is a vampire, but he was born a werewolf and sometimes, nature finds a loophole. He is Hayley's daughter's father and he tries, but Hayley still feels exposed. So, please, for her, for the princess of the Crescent pack come home, do this."
Hearing that this was for the baby he'd saved so long ago, it changed something in him.
"She'll owe you."
"I'll do it," he found himself saying, his throat tight. "I'll help Andrea."
"Her name is Hayley now."
"Hayley. For Hayley's sake, and because it's the price you're demanding to save Davina, I'll do it."
"For the record, the Mikalsons want to com home, but they'll stay in Baton Rogue if you demand it. We aren't here to fight you. They want to come home and Hayley wants her family. They'll come back, only with your permission." Elena smiled softly. "When Rebekah learned you were alive still, I swear, if Finn hadn't held her back, she would have run the whole way here."
"I'm still king."
"As long as they can live in The Abattoir, I think we can work with that."
"I can agree to these terms."
"Good. Now bring me Sabine, and if it helps, I can save the others too, including Monique."
With that, Marcel ran as fast as he could towards Rousseau's. If anyone would know where to find Sabine, it would be Sophie. She'd do anything to bring her niece back and this was something he could use.
