So... I'm just going to leave this here as I run away quickly.
Marcel leaned his hands against the iron balcony, one foot looped behind the other, as he exchanged looks with Klaus who stood apart from the group of bystanders. It was as if the human guest could sense the danger in the air and knew to keep their distance from what was about to unfold. Klaus has been back in New Orleans for several months now and this standoff was a long time coming. Klaus was never a man to share anything, least of all power and now he had a even more powerful vampire at his side. This little unassuming blonde was not going to be the dead of him. There was no doubt in Marcel's mind that tonight would end with bloodshed and it wouldn't only be his. Marcel moved his hands from their resting position on the railing to his suit pants pockets.
"It looks like my guest of honor has finally arrived." His eyes fixated on Caroline for a moment before returning to Klaus as his thousand watt smile burned bright, "I'm glad everyone could make it. I can't believe I overlooked that I never officially welcomed the Mikealson family back to my city. Now we have an even more beautiful resident that's joined us." Marcel grabbed a flute of champagne from a nearby table and raised it in toast, "To Caroline Forbes, what a treasure."
Marcel smiled into his glass after seeing the almost unnoticeable clench of Klaus' jaw and would have missed it without his vampire sight. Klaus moved a few steps towards the balcony,
"King Marcellus, God of War." Klaus' voice echoed off the walls with mockery as he fixed his hands behind his back. "Little Warrior... Or should I say Little Thief." Klaus smirk widened as Marcel's relaxed exterior cracked. "You seem to have made yourself quite cozy in my family home. A home in which you will no longer be living in. There was once a time when all creatures knew that the M that adorn these walls stood for Mikealson and you falsely passed it off as your own."
Murmurs from the unsuspecting guest cut the air of the ballroom.
"A lot of things have change since those days and I am certainly no thief. I can't steal what was left behind... Or should I say ran from." Marcel stood straight with his head held high. "Considering I was the one that sent word to Mikeal that you were in New Orleans, I would know."
The composed feature on Klaus' face slipped to form a deadly scowl and the smirk he wore faded. The remaining Mikealson siblings step forward almost in unison but Klaus raised one hand to hold them back. There was a tense moment of silence that passed between the two and Klaus broke the stare to look upon the room around him. Klaus stood singular in the center of the room and he couldn't help but notice the number of humans that left as more vampires surrounded him. The only bodies that accompanied him where his family that stood several feet behind him. Caroline stood just to the side of his siblings along with the Salvatore's. Klaus met her narrowed eyes with a quick smirk to show her his confidence before turning back to Marcel.
"When our family first returned to this city I was genuine at offering you to stay and rule with me in the city. If you refused, well I would have just sent you away to lick your wounds but the actions you have taken towards my family as well as Caroline are inexcusable. I suspect that after your little revelation, I won't be the only one after your throat."
"See that's your problem, Klaus. You still think of me as that slave you rescued from being beaten but I'm not. I'm King." Marcel's voice rose to a yell to emphasize his word. "I know you are here to kill me and I won't allow that to happen."
Marcel brought two fingers to his lips to let out a deep whistle. Vampires started filling the balcony passageways on all sides and dropped from the railings to stand along with the other vampires that circled Klaus. Cries from the remaining human guest could be heard as vampires drained their bodies of blood to strengthen themselves for battle. Marcel smile with confidence down at his sire as Klaus' eye filtered through the room.
"Even as a human you were always strong Marcellus." Klaus turned to address the vampire army, "But is he as strong as a thousand year old hybrid that can not be killed? I'm afraid not. If the vampires of New Orleans pledge your loyalty to the Original family, your ruler will never fall."
"If anyone wants to change sides go ahead and do so now. Pledge your loyalty to a man that would rather kill you then stand by your side." Marcel's gaze was piercing and his smug smile widen on his face as none of the vampires moved. "You can have all the brute strength in the world and live another millennium but you will never have what you crave. You can never have true loyalty because you never earn it. Klaus Mikealson takes everything and be damn what anyone else wants."
Klaus sneered at Marcel's words because they felt too real. In a thousand years he had never felt genuine loyalty, not even from his family. Klaus' anger was starting to rise and he had enough of Marcel's speeches. He raised his hand to the air and let them drop back down to his sides.
"Shall we end this then."
Marcel raised his hand towards his followers, smirk pulling at his lips, "Take 'em."
With hardly a seconds hesitation, three vampires flash towards Klaus with fangs dropped but they didn't get far. Both hands extended into the vampires chest to remove their hearts just as the third was at his feet. With Hybrid speed, Klaus' swiped his hand forward to remove the vampires head and his body slid lifeless to the floor. The blood from the fallen vampire splattered a line across his once perfect suit. The warm blood that seeped into his skin was invigorating and he only wanted more. Vampires jumping at him two at a time but it didn't matter because they were both dead before their gray bodies hit the ground, both of their hearts still dripped with blood in his hands.
"Come now there must be one strong soldier among you. Who thinks they can kill me." Klaus taunted the group before him and tossed the hearts to the side. "Perhaps it's best you didn't take my offer of loyalty. It seems I would end up killing you all regardless."
Vampires came at him left and right, angry and insulted as they landed their punches. Klaus let them have a few good hits to his ribs and one was even so brave as to bust his nose open letting blood drop down his own lips. This was what he wanted, what he was longing for. Blood. He was tired of playing by his brothers rules of being oblivious to what was surrounding them. If he had to take a few shattered bones to give Marcel his false sense of security then so be it. When people felt secure they made mistakes. One of Marcel's inner circle, Diego, ran at Klaus with full force to kick him square in the chest which sent his body slamming against the far wall. It gave the appearance that Klaus was nothing more than a weak rag doll. Klaus landed face down so the pathetic vampires that tried to attack couldn't see his face and he dropped a triumphant smirk. Marcel's army thought they really had him beat. The features on his face were schooled back to a stony exterior, rising to his knees and stood to face his enemies. Klaus gave a theatrical stagger as he stepped forward and the smile on Marcel's face was in full view. Klaus licked the blood from his lips as he spoke,
"Is that all you have for your evil sire. You should come down here to face me, Marcellus." Klaus popped his eyebrows up and down on his blood smeared face as he smiled, extending his bloody hand upwards towards Marcel. "Come on now. There's a good lad."
Marcel clenched his jaw while his breathing increased at his sire's playful tone and Klaus waited for his response. Marcel nodded his head upwards as a large chain swung from Klaus' left side to grab hold of his wrist, two steel hooks protruded from the ends. The hooks sliced through his skin, breaking through completely and the biting pain of wolfsbain spilled into his open flesh to make its effect more intense. Klaus couldn't suppress the low growl that left his throat, a warning to his enemies of the beast that lay hidden inside. A whoosh of air went past his shoulder but he anticipated the move as the chain wrapped around his right hand and was able to stop the hooks from breaking into his skin.
Across the room he overheard the angry voice of his Queen.
Caroline cringed after every blow and nearly flashed across the room to remove the heart of the vampire that sent Klaus flying to crash into a wall. She couldn't do that and just had to stand here along side everyone else to watch the scene unfold. Klaus had his plan to regain his throne, such a outdated term, and Caroline knew he had to assert his place as the leader. What would it look like if the King of the French Quarter had to be rescued from a group of vampires that weren't even half his age. If Caroline Forbes, a woman, went to save Klaus Mikealson in front of the entire French Quarter that would probably be worse for him than actually being dead. So Caroline was forced to stand nearly chewing apart her bottom lip and clenching her fists together to stop from using even an ounce of her mental ability. The clanking of chains pulled her from her musings and a growl bounced off each wall that left Klaus' throat. Caroline's stance twitched forward and she felt a strong hand on her arm that made her pause,
"I can't stand here any longer." Caroline kept her voice calm but it was laced with anger.
"Nik needs to prove his point." Rebekah mirrored her tone, "These sad excuses for vampires won't get far enough to kill him and even if they could that's why we're here. Don't forget there is a reason why vampire's cringe at just the mention of my brother's name."
Caroline wasn't completely convinced with Klaus's method but she understood the reasoning behind it. She turned back to Klaus' who was now kneeling on the floor with both hands extended to his side, two vampires on each side of him holding the chains. His head was hung so that Caroline couldn't see his face as the vampires kept on with the assault and Klaus finally broke his silence as a wooden stake was shoved in his shoulder blades, a loud yell left his lips. She inwardly pleaded with Klaus to fight back so she wouldn't have to see this anymore and by the looks on his siblings faces, they were thinking similar thoughts.
As if he could read her thoughts, his head slowly rose to take in her appearance and the concerned look on Caroline's face. His own blood trickled from his nose and lips. His suit was torn to shreds with his bleeding flesh exposed. Klaus sent her one of his confident smirks he used when he had the upper hand and his fists started to tighten around the chains. Without breaking eye contact with Caroline his eyes changed from coal black to the vibrant gold hue of Klaus' hybrid form. Caroline had only seen those eyes in much more intimate settings but the black veins that snaked underneath his eyes mixed with the tips of his double fangs were a different sight when it was mixed with the blood of his enemies. This was the Original Hybrid that everyone feared.
"Now this is the brother I have been waiting for." Kol spoke from a few feet away as he bounced on the balls of his feet and smiled like a child on Christmas.
The group of vampires froze in place as a deep growl broke over the room and all sound vanished. With full hybrid strength, Klaus slung his arms forward and sent the chains holding him back sailing forward along with the vampires attached. Klaus flashed to his feet to let his eyes roam over the stunned vampires and a dark chuckle fell from his lips. Klaus unraveled the chain around his right hand and swung it forward to catch the vampire that was previously holding it in the throat. One swift tug removed the vampires head from his body. Just as his body fell to the ground, Klaus gripped the chain with both hands this time and swung it forward at the remaining three vampires. The speed of the thick chain snapped the heads of two of the bodies while the third vampires throat was only grazed enough to send blood flowing down his neck. The vampires eyes widen while clutching it's throat and fell to his knees, the blood pooling at Klaus' feet. As if Marcel's army had a death wish, several flashed forward in unison but it couldn't slow the hybrid. His hands flowed past their rib cages like they were made of clay, taking the hearts with him.
Klaus bared his double fangs as he lunged at the first vampire in his sights and ripped it's throat apart while drinking the blood to regain strength again. Klaus released his fangs, head falling back as his tongue ran across his lower lip to remove his enemies blood. The once pristine white dress shirt was soaked red, blood flowing down his chest. With one kick, the limp body of the vampire cut through the air to land at the feet of his siblings. Kol grabbed the vampire by his throat and removed what was left of his arteries from his neck with his bare hands.
"Looks like were up." Kol extended a gentlemanly hand towards Bonnie but he was only given an eye roll as she turned towards the mass of vampires and stepped a few feet backwards. Bonnie kept her hands to her sides while her palms faced outwards and started her chant. This set a frenzy among the vampire army as bodies scattered around the room and distance screams of the few humans left could be heard. Vampires lunged for her to intercept the magic but Kol was nearby to stop their attacks and he was more than delighted. His vampire features were on full display as a hiss left his throat and he snapped the heads off two incoming vampires. Kol stepped forward to snap a vampires neck, making the spinal cord protrude from the newborns neck. There was so much unneeded force behind the kill that Caroline felt the blood splatter across the bottom half of her white dress. If there was ever a time someone doubted the ruthlessness of an Original family member, tonight was the night to be proved wrong.
Elena stood in a similar position that Caroline had a day ago, her back was to Bonnie with a wooden leg of a nearby table in her hand, keeping watch over the only human left alive in the room. A vampire flashed to Elena, a hand positioned towards her heart but she countered it in time and sent a blurred headbutt to her attacker. After decades spent with Damon and Stefan, the fighting skills they taught her were coming in useful. The man stumbled back for just a few seconds and that's all Elena needed to place the stake through his heart. Bonnie's chant increase with her hands raising higher in the air and the force of magic pulled the hearts straight from their bodies to fall with a symphony of thuds. Their bodies fell heartless to her feet one by one. The spell Bonnie casted took a great deal of energy, a small sway left her body but she regained her composure to start anew. The Salvatore brothers were also playing tag team as Stefan held a vampires arms back while Damon ripped the heart from his chest with a sadistic smirk. The brothers black and white suits now held the blood of the nameless vampires that surrounded them.
The moment Damon was distracted, two vampires stalked towards the girls but Caroline easily took them to their knees, their arms snapping backwards at the elbow. This gave Elena ample time to stake one and remove the heart from another. Caroline turned without waiting for the acknowledgement from Elena to inspect the room for the remaining group members. Elijah and Katherine where in their own battle position with Rebekah and Enzo in the form of a makeshift square. They started their own pile of bodies and Caroline moved to the group, taking the hearts of two vampires from behind as they went to attack Enzo.
"Glad you finally joined in, don't let us have all the fun." Enzo's smirked without looking at her as his stare bored into a scared vampires that was being held back by Rebekah, her fingers gripped tightly into the vampires scalp. With one final grin, Enzo swung his hand forward to slice the vampires neck from his body and Rebekah dropped the head with a smirk. Caroline asked the question that was plaguing her mind.
"Where's Klaus?"
Marcel stood stunned at what he was seeing as his vampire army fell one after another at the hands of the Hybrid. Some of them Marcel had known for over a century were now laying heartless or headless on the ground. Even after Marcel had lost dozens of good vampires in the fire, he still had nearly a hundred spread throughout his compound and outside. Marcel inspected all of the entrances and balcony exits but didn't see the group of people he was looking for. A growled rumbled his chest as he took out his phone. After several rings the line picked up and Marcel heard the voice on the other end.
"Get here. NOW." As Marcel hung up, he turn when he sensed another presence on the balcony with him
Bonnie stood before a group of vampires near the stairs as they fell to the floor in pain, gripping their skulls as if that would truly stop the aneurysm. She was about to stop their hearts when she felt the presence of magic in the room and her head jolted upwards toward the balcony. There stood a petite brunette witch with a mocking smirk on her face and Bonnie instantly recognized her as Celeste. With one final glance over her shoulder, Celeste moved away from the ledge and Bonnie twisted both her hands so that the vampires on their knees fell limp with snapped necks.
Kol stood a few feet with his fangs extended as he was about to rip apart the throat of a whimpering vampire in his hands when the fallen vampires caught his attention. He flashed forward and grabbed Bonnie's arm before she could ascend the stairs.
"Now where are you running off too, Darling?"
"I saw Celeste upstairs." Bonnie tried to pull her arm back but it was caught firmly in Kol's iron grip.
"If you run off and get yourself killed, I will be stuck in a box for the next few centuries and Nik won't be the one shoving the dagger in my heart." Kol wasn't budging an inch. He had started to grow fond of Caroline and if nothing else Nik was less of a prick when he was getting his needs met.
"Then follow along and stay out of my way. Keep your mouth shut, Kol, because she already hates your family." Kol released his grip on her arm as Bonnie grabbed the train of her dress to start up the stairs. Once at the top of the stair's Bonnie noticed a set of double doors that were left ajar and a dim light stream out into the hallway. They slowed their steps as closed in on the room and paused just outside.
"Heartbeat." Kol whispered while nodding his head towards the door and pushed it open. They both stood at the doorway to find the witch in question sitting on top of a wooden desk with her legs crossed.
"I knew you'd follow me." The two entered a room that looked like a library and Celeste smirked as she jumped down from the desk with her hands in her jacket pockets. "I am a bit surprised the Original followed you but no worries."
Celeste's hand went forward as Kol fell to his knees, grunting from the pain the witch was shooting through his head. Celeste removed her other hand from her pocket to reveal a white bone that was in the shape of a curved dagger and Kol's eyes went wide at the sight of it. He flash with what little strength he had left but as he landed on Celeste, his chest met the sharp tip of the blade. Kol could do nothing against the dagger except scream out in agony and his breathing increased. Even with her hand removed, the bone dagger slid farther and farther into his chest until it was no longer visible. Celeste shoved Kol's limp body off of hers, landing on his back with his eyelids froze open and his gaze fixated on the ceiling. Bonnie snapped out of her shock to stalk closer to Celeste to start her own attack but was cut short by her words.
"He's not dead, just immobilized. That dagger will keep him from moving while torturing him at the same time." Celeste fixated on Bonnie's face. "I can feel that you're a very powerful witch, young Bonnie. You can stand with me against the Mikealson's and you won't be harmed." Celeste turned her head to Kol's pale, limp body on the ground, blood dripping from the hole in the ribs were the bone dagger lay hidden.
"I understand you hate the Originals, trust me when I say I completely understand what you are going through. I've had family members die because of vampires but there are also good vampires that don't treat people like they're expendable." Bonnie pleaded.
"Like your friend Caroline? I was truthful when I told her that I didn't want to harm her and Marcel was the one that wanted to use her talents so Klaus couldn't. I have lived a long lifetime and the way to keep living is to form alliances with people. Powerful people."
"I won't allow you to use her." Bonnie's anger was bubbling to the surface. "Caroline's had enough people trying to exploit her."
"You say exploitation, I say teamwork. Unlike our ancestors, I don't hate the entire vampire race, just the bastard that killed me." Celeste paused with a small smile of nostalgia on her lips. "Elijah Mikealson was once the love of my life but it was the love of his family that was my own undoing. That will be your future someday if you don't fight." Celeste features turn serious at her next words. "Do you wish to lay your life down for these people? Vampires? You can't be blind to what they have done. What they will do to you at some point when you prove to be useless or a liability."
"I lay my life down for those I care about." Bonnie crept forward with her arms slowly rising towards Celeste with her palms facing out. Her lips mumbled a chant and Celeste narrowed her eyes towards the other witch. It appeared as if nothing was happening but a claustrophobic feeling dissipated through Celeste and she clawed at her clothing around her neck to try to release the feeling as her heart started to work overload, the pumping doubled painfully. Celeste eyes widened with rage as she let out a startling scream while her hand stretched out in front of her and back to her body. This action sent one of the large wooden bookcase that lined the walls to come tumbling down on Bonnie. It went faster than her human reflexes could react, knocking her off her feet to send her head smacked against the floor with a audible crack. She rolled her head to the side to clutch her skull and Bonnie already felt the seeping blood that painted her hand red. The action ended the spell that was protruding towards Celeste and she took much needed breaths to slow her heart rate.
"That was a clever spell, one you shouldn't know for someone your age but your still young. Do not mistake for a moment that you are more clever than I."
Celeste sauntered over toward the pile of rubble that scattered around Bonnie, the bookcase laid across her midsection and legs. While crouching down she removed a slender piece of wood that was stuck in Bonnie's leg and grasped her jaw with her hand. Bonnie tried shaking free but most of her energy was spent from attacking vampires downstairs and the pain her human body was taking from the bookcase.
"I have already completed a linking spell on the Mikealson family, all I needed for that was a bit of blood from one sibling and it connects all Originals together. I do however need all Original blood to complete a break in the sire link. I wanted us to stand together, we could have so much potential with your powers and my knowledge."
Commotion at the entrance caught Celeste attention. The Salvatore's and Elena stood frozen in place, a look of trauma on their faces. never sparing a glance at Kol laying lifeless on the floor. Elena was first to spring forward but met the invisible wall that block their entrance to the room.
"I will never help you so just kill me and get it over with." Bonnie sputter as her voice grew weaker and her vision started to blur from her head wound. She could vaguely hear Elena's desperate cries from just feet away.
Celeste's only response was a smug smirk as she raised her hand and sent the wood puncturing Bonnie's throat.
Author's Note:
So.. That just happened...Any thoughts? Who was Marcel talking too? Don't worry, you guys can guess but I'm not going to tell you (cue evil laugh).
Thanks to everyone that left me a great review last chapter and thanks to anyone that is still reading this out there, I hope I didn't loose too many people during the wait. This chapter isn't one of my longer ones and I know this one took awhile (about 3 weeks) but I didn't want to rush this chapter since we have a lot happening. It took a while for me to balance all the violence with the new info we got. When we return next chapter, we will pick back up with the party.
As always thanks for all the follows/favs/guests/reviews...
