Chapter 14: House Of The Rising Sun

Date: November 2, 2019

Characters: Bonnie, Marie, Klaus, Marcel, & Davina

A/N: I listened to both Nina Simone and The Animal's version of House of the Rising Sun. I also listened to I Put A Spell On You by Nina Simone if you want to listen while/before you read.

Klaus didn't have the patience to negotiate. Threats, violence, and murder was his preferred method of getting people to do what he wanted. He didn't have time to traipse through the bayou to look for rare ingredients for Marie, but it was necessary to get her to agree to meet with them. Now he had to figure out how to get Marcel to comply. Marcel was smart so compulsion was off the table. He doubted Bonnie would be okay with him torturing the boy and to be honest, Klaus didn't want to. He had raised Marcel from a little boy until he came of age so Marcel was family. Klaus could threaten him all day long but at the end of the day, for the most part, it was only threats. A dagger wouldn't work on him so Klaus would have to get creative when it came to him.

Bereft of ideas, Klaus resorted to the unconventional method of knocking on Marcel's door. When it opened, Klaus didn't waste any time. He stormed inside without a welcome, pleased when nothing blocked his entrance. The house was no longer in Bonnie's name it seemed.

"What are you doing here, Klaus," Marcel didn't have time for the hybrid, nor his shenanigans.

"I've spent the better part of my day plodding through Louisiana's finest bayou looking for twigs and berries, all because your girlfriend wants me to get you and Marie in a room together so that you both don't murder each other. I am no longer in the mood for any of you. Get your shit together and meet me in the car, and get me a shirt." As Klaus spoke, Marcel took the time to give him a once over. His Henley was torn at the sleeves, his boots and jeans were muddied and his hair was all out of sort. Marcel bit back a laugh. He too was not presentable. He'd just woken up and only wore a pair of briefs.

"And if I don't?" It was in Marcel's nature to challenge Klaus at every turn.

"If you don't, I'm sending Bonnie after you."

Marcel got dressed immediately.

Marcel and Klaus stood outside in the alley behind Rousseau's. They were to meet in the back of the bar. It was the only place Marie would agree to meet that wasn't her diner; a place Marcel wouldn't be caught dead in.

"Just let it be known that if she makes any sudden movements, I'm snapping her fucking neck." Marcel was in no mood to deal with Marie and her nastiness. The two of them have had it out for one another since Marcel took over the city. Killing her coven sisters was the catalyst. Marcel was ready for her to strike at a moment's notice.

"That defeats the entire purpose of this meeting, Marcel." Marcel glanced down to find Bonnie walking up to stand between him and Klaus. Marcel ignored the feeling he got, knowing Bonnie was close and also ignored the way Klaus looked at her. Now was not the time to assert dominance.

"What do you hope to accomplish with this meeting? Marie is bullheaded. She's not going to listen to anything we have to say."

"I have to try. If she doesn't then I'll cross that bridge when I get to it." In truth, Bonnie wasn't sure of anything. She didn't know if she'd come out of this on top but she had to try something different if she wanted different results.

"She's in there already," Klaus informed. Bonnie took a deep breath before making the first step to go inside. Klaus opened the door for her to walk inside and chuckled as he sidestepped Marcel, letting the door close in his face. Marcel growled as he snatched the door open and walked inside. Bonnie rolled her eyes.

"Cool it, you two." Bonnie wasn't in the mood for their pettiness. She wanted to get this over with.

They walked through the back of the bar and up a set of stairs where the lounge was. It was where most supernaturals held their 'meetings' safely. They were met with Marie sitting on one of the sofas with a drink in hand. The music blared as the supernatural community partied below.

"A witch, a hybrid, and a vampire walk into a bar. Where have I heard this joke before?" Her eyes remained trained on Marcel, squinted into thin slits of venom laced glares.

"Marie…" Bonnie's tone was that of a school teacher trying to get her students to behave.

"I had to get at least one in, Chere'." Marie took a sip of her drink. Klaus caught a waitress as she was leaving. He ordered a round of drinks and instructed her to keep them coming. They were going to need it.

"Let's get this over with, please," Marcel pleaded. He wasn't sure how many of Marie's quips he could withstand before using her neck as a chew toy.

"I want to know what it will take to keep the two of you from destroying yourselves and this city in the process." Bonnie wasted no time jumping in with both feet. "As much as I try to wiggle my way out of this, I'm kind of caught in the middle and I don't want to be. Marie, you made it clear that I shouldn't interfere and I don't want to but I also can't let you kill Marcel. I'm sorry." Bonnie noticed the look on Marie's face. It almost made her want to recant her last statement. "I appreciate everything you've ever done for me from the moment I step foot in this city. I could never repay you for that. Nevertheless, just as much as you helped me, so did Marcel; it would be remiss of me not to intervene." After Bonnie spoke her piece, she relaxed a little and waited for either one of them to comment.

Marie was not pleased. She figured the meeting would correspond with her desire to kill Marcel. She had hoped that by giving Bonnie the ammunition, the young girl would have taken Marcel out herself. She underestimated Marcel's hold on Bonnie. She would not do it again.

"Marie has been trying to kill me ever since I took over the city and even more so since I banned magic from the quarter last year; maybe she should answer this one. If she agrees to leave me the hell alone, I'll back off."

"If you lift the ban and relinquish control over this city, I might. But you still have to pay for killing my sisters."

"If you all quit slaughtering children, maybe I will."

Marie rolled her eyes. "Don't act like you're so high and mighty. Did Davina tell you that her death was only temporary? That she'd be resurrected?"

"Yes, but you guys lied to her about how they'd die. They didn't expect to get their throats cut. You lied to them so she freaked the fuck out. Who wouldn't? Do you seriously think I'm going to try to convince her to, 'die for a little while'? She can't trust any of you anymore so why should she trust that she'd come back?" Marie scoffed.

Bonnie was thankful for the interruption when the waitress brought their drinks. She desperately needed one. "So you were okay with the Harvest?" Bonnie couldn't wrap her mind around this. "I'm sorry but, Marie how can you be okay with that but choose to be upset about the witches he killed?"

"Because, Bonnie, the witches he killed are dead forever. Abigail, Monique, and Cassie would be resurrected once the harvest is complete. Now we're stuck in limbo and if we don't complete it soon, our magic is lost forever. Davina must die. That's the only way I'll let this go."

Marcel knew better than to trust that Marie would simply 'let things go'. The woman could hold a grudge better than Klaus. Almost. Bonnie finished another drink, making it her third.

"Okay so, Marie wants the ban lifted, and Marcel to relinquish his power… and Davina dead." Bonnie sighed. "Can we start with one of those, Marcel?" Marcel glanced at Bonnie, his jaw set. She quietly pleaded with her eyes and Marcel looked away.

"I can lift the ban. That's it. If anyone makes a move against me, they are fair game. I don't care who it is or which coven they belong to." It pained him to give in but saw a moment of opportunity. Davina no longer had access to Bonnie's power so he was going to have to lift the ban eventually.

Bonnie breathed a sigh of relief before turning to Marie. "Can you agree not to kill him? At least give us time to work out the rest later, much later?" Marie glared at Marcel with her arms folded. She cut her eyes over to Bonnie and rolled her eyes.

"Fine. I won't kill him… this year. But, I want you to take care of their families," Marie bargained, then added, "all of the families."

"I'll take care of your coven, but I will not award the rest of those child murderers. They can go to hell."

"Marcel." Bonnie was not in the mood. They were finally making progress and she didn't want to piss Marie off more than she already has.

"Fair enough; Bonnie can make sure the rest of them are taken care of," Marie said with a sinister smirk. If Bonnie wanted to advocate for Marcel, she could help clean up his mess. The two women stared each other down. Bonnie couldn't say she saw that one coming but she asked for it. She lifted both brows and gave in begrudgingly.

"Not a problem, Marie. But in return, I want you to find your own way to complete the harvest, without killing Davina." Bonnie smirked when the smile on Marie's face dropped. She wasn't naughty by nature but being around New Orlean's wrecking crew (present party included), she had to learn very quickly to play the game.

"Bitch." Though Marie was angry, she had to admit that she was proud of the woman Bonnie had become. Still, she did not plan to go quietly into the night.

"I love you too, Marie." Bonnie stood to her feet and made to leave. "Enjoy the rest of your night," she called over her shoulder. Marcel and Klaus followed suit.

Once outside, Bonnie was able to breathe correctly. The tension in the room was suffocating and her nerves were on end. She needed another drink.

"I must say, that went better than expected, Love. Don't be foolish to think that she's going to take all of this lightly. As far as she's concerned, we're on his side now." Klaus said, eyeing Marcel.

"Which means, we're her enemy," Bonnie finished. She was dreading the outcome but expected this would happen. It was easy to offend Marie.

"The exact shit I didn't want to happen," Klaus was annoyed but would eventually work around it. Having Marie as an enemy was no easy feat but in the end, her blood was red just like the rest of his enemies.

"Just make sure you don't let your guard down around her, Bonnie. I mean it. There's a reason she survived for over 200 years. To live that long you have to get used to getting your hands dirty and hers are filthy. She's conniving and cunning. Don't trust her. Period." The seriousness in Marcel's tone made Bonnie take heed.

"Marie won't touch her," Klaus assured. Marcel and Bonnie thought they imagined the possessiveness in his tone.

"Still, she's crafty," Marcel countered, eyeing Klaus suspiciously. Bonnie thought about telling Marcel about the deal she and Klaus made with each other but thought against it. Men were still men, even if they were immortal. She didn't want to flatter herself but she had a feeling Marcel wouldn't be pleased about it; jealous even.

"Let's put all this shit behind us for the night. It's late and unlike you two, I need to sleep or shit will get ugly."

Klaus didn't need to be told twice. He needed a shower and blood, not in any particular order. Marcel and Bonnie watched as he hopped in his G-Wagon and sped out of the parking lot. Bonnie chuckled at his childish attitude.

"He's pissed because Marie sent him on a scavenger hunt like one of her minions," Bonnie explained. Marcel grinned.

"That explains it," he replied. "Hey, you mind giving me a ride back to the crib? Asshole was my ride here." Marcel didn't live that far away. He could speed home quicker than Bonnie could make it out of the alley but Marcel wasn't ready to leave her side just yet. Seeing her the day before certified how much he truly missed her. Bonnie smirked, knowing exactly what he was up to. She was drunk and horny and masturbating in the house with Klaus around to eavesdrop was out of the question.

"Is this your way of getting me to come back to your place, Sir?" Marcel grinned and shrugged.

"I neither confirm nor deny," he offered. With a bite of her lips, she backed away from him and made her way to where she parked. Marcel stood behind her and watched her walk away for a few seconds before following.

He was too busy watching her assets to see the figure walking towards Bonnie just ahead. Before he or Bonnie could react, the figure extended their hand and blew into it, sending a white powder directly into Bonnie's face. The world around her went black and silent as her body went limp.

"Fuck, Bonnie!" Marcel sped over to Bonnie just as the figure vanished into thin air. Her body fell against his and he cupped the back of her head to support it. He listened for a heartbeat and relaxed a tad when he realized she was still alive. He glanced around for signs of anyone before scooping her up into her arms and speeding back to his place.

Klaus was barely home and out of his jeans when his phone began to ring. Whoever it was would have to wait. He flipped his ringer on silent before heading to his closet to pick out something to wear. Settling on an all-black ensemble, his next stop was the shower. With things in the city heating up, he was making moves to move to his former home located in the Quarter, The Abattoir. It was currently owned by Marcel even though he didn't live in it, but Klaus planned to take it over. The home he currently occupied was the home The Mikaelsons owned before they built the French Quarter and while it was special to him, the location no longer served him. Upon his arrival, he needed seclusion, now, he needed to be in the heart of things.

As he showered, he strategized on what his next course of action would be. He needed to figure out Marie's alliance before he decided if she was still an asset or a liability. Based upon the tension between her and Bonnie, he would guess liability, but she could prove to be useful, still.

It was when he stepped out of the shower that he felt a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach. His movement stilled as he listened for any signs of an intruder. Dead silence. Instinctively, he got dressed in record time and checked his phone. Five missed calls from Marcel. He wasn't sure how he knew but whatever the reason he called, had to have been Bonnie related. Klaus called Marcel back. He answered on the first ring.

"Get to my place, now," was all Marcel said before hanging up immediately. Klaus didn't like the tone in Marcel's voice. If he didn't know any better, he sounded afraid. Klaus didn't waste any time. He was back in his truck in a flash. He would have to feed later when he figured out what the fuck is going on.

The closer Klaus got to the quarter, the worse the feeling in his belly became. Nervousness wasn't a feeling he often felt but it was prevalent at the moment. Something was wrong with Bonnie. He didn't have time to dwell on how he knew, he simply did. The moment he pulled up to Marcel's place, he killed the engine and sped inside, noting that the front door was wide open. What he saw, he wasn't prepared for.

"What the fuck happened?!" At the sight of an unconscious Bonnie, Klaus released a guttural growl. He shot Marcel an accusatory look as he flashed over to the couch she laid on.

"Hey, cut that shit out. Someone walked up on her as she was leaving and blew some fucking dust in her face. They disappeared before I could see who it was. I called you because I don't know what the fuck this is and I need you to keep watch while I go get Davina."

"You mean the same leech that was draining Bonnie of her powers? I left her alone with you for five minutes, Marcel, and already someone got the jump on her. Was it Marie?" Klaus was ready to kill everyone. Marcel was pissed.

"Don't come in here pointing fingers! I don't have time for that shit. She's been with me two years before you showed up without incident, so if you want to blame anyone for this, blame yourself. You and your family bring chaos with you everywhere you go." The two men squared off for a moment before Klaus cut his eyes over to Bonnie.

"Go get your witch, I don't have time for a measuring contest." Marcel grabbed his keys and made his way out of the house. Klaus stood over Bonnie's unconscious frame, eyeing her for any discomfort. She seemed peaceful for the most part but knew that she could very easily be tormented in her dreams. The thought of someone harming her pissed him off to the highest extent.

"When we made this deal, Bonnie, I didn't think you'd cash in this quickly." He wasn't sure if Bonnie could hear him or not. "I will find who did this to you, Love," Klaus vowed. Whoever was responsible would not know another day of peace for as long as they lived, and he would make sure they lived as long as possible.

Klaus moved to take her jacket and heels off before picking her up and carrying her to the room closest to the living room. Inside was a bed in what looked like a guest room. He gently laid her down and checked each window, making sure they were secure before closing the blinds. He left the room when he heard a phone vibrate. It was located in Bonnie's jacket pocket. The name on the screen read Caroline. Klaus had almost forgotten that he owed the young blonde for kicking his ass when he was already down.

"Bonnie?" Klaus only listened. "Hello? Bonnie, are you there? I think something is wrong with your phone. Can you hear me? I can't hear you."

"I hear you perfectly fine, Love." The hairs on the back of Caroline's neck stood at attention as terror engulfed her.

"Why are you answering Bonnie's phone?!" Caroline's voice shook with fear and anger. "If you did something to her, I swear to God Klaus I'll kill you and me too." Klaus chuckled.

"Of course, you can't live without me, literally," Klaus reminded.

"Where is Bonnie?!" Caroline was worried for her friend.

"She's asleep, may I take a message?"

"Klaus, I swear to GOD—" Klaus hung up the phone before she could threaten him properly. He probably shouldn't have answered but pride got the best of him. Caroline continued to blow up Bonnie's phone. To his petty satisfaction, he declined each call. He was about to turn it off for good when Damon's name flashed on the screen. The fact that Damon was even saved in Bonnie's phone pissed him off.

"Bonnie?"

"Guess again, Lad."

"…Klaus…" The mere sound of Klaus's voice sent Damon into a fury. "What did you do to her?" The accusation in Damon's voice pissed him off even more.

"It's a little too late to give a damn, don't you think?" Klaus did nothing to ease their minds. They were far removed from Bonnie's life; the needed to squirm for a little while, to realize how horrible they were to her.

"Oh, and you think you care more about her than we do? Fuck you, Klaus! Put Bonnie on the phone. NOW!"

"I advise you to watch your tone, Damon before you end up like your girlfriend." Klaus smiled when the line fell silent.

"I'm going to enjoy the look on your face once I end you, once and for all," Damon threatened. Klaus chuckled into the line. He didn't care about Damon nor his feelings. As far as he was concerned Damon was a snarky bacterium.

"I don't think Bonnie would take kindly to that; she's on my side now."

"Not by choice! Whatever you did to her, I will figure it out. I'll be the least of your worries." Klaus did not take kindly to his threat.

"I did nothing to her! She came to me because she had no one else to turn to; you can blame yourself for that." He wasn't wrong, technically. "You all turned your backs on her and I became her night in shining armor," Klaus teased, making a mental note to find Damon and kill him whenever he got a chance. It wasn't enough to break his spirit, he'd have to break his neck as well.

Damon had nothing to rebuttal Klaus's claims and it angered him.

"Cat got your tongue?" Klaus chuckled before growing more serious. "I assume you're somewhere within the city. The moment I see you, I will pull your heart straight from your chest, Stefan too. Stay away from Bonnie. She's mine."

The line went dead.

The moment they arrived at Marcel's, Davina could sense Klaus and Bonnie's immense power emanating from the house. Davina shivered as she walked up the driveway toward the front steps.

"I promise he won't hurt you, Davina," Marcel assured; he wasn't entirely sure if he could keep that promise, but he would die trying. Davina nodded and glanced around before entering the home. It wasn't what she expected. It felt, homey.

"There you are, let's get on with it. Fix her," Klaus demanded. Davina gave an icy glare, similar to Bonnie's; witches were so indignant.

"I have to figure out what kind of spell she's under first," The way she glared at him made Klaus wonder for a moment if she was on to him. His guilt was growing each day.

Marcel glanced around the living room, then at Klaus. "Where is she?"

Klaus hefted his chin and motioned for the two of them to follow him to the bedroom. Inside, Bonnie laid in the center of the bed in the same condition Marcel left her in. Her heartbeat was strong and steady, which kept him from panicking. Marcel moved to Bonnie's side and sat on the edge of the bed near the headboard.

"I tried giving her my blood earlier but it didn't work, of course," Marcel informed Davina.

"That usually only works for physical wounds. Spells are trickier. We have to figure out who did it and what kind of spell they used before I can reverse it. Do you know who would want to harm her?"

"Heaven only knows the answer to that! Marcel's done a lovely job of pissing off half the city; It could be anyone. Perhaps it's one of the twenty-seven families he destroyed." Klaus made it clear who he blamed for this. Even if it wasn't his fault, Marcel was an easy target.

"He's right," Marcel muttered. During the drive to St. Anne's church and back, all Marcel could do was blame himself. He knew in his heart that the attack on Bonnie was related to the witches and the harvest ritual. "That's the only thing that makes sense." Davina stared at Bonnie's unconscious form. Even incapacitated, she could still feel the immense power coming from her.

"Her magic is fighting whatever this is so we have a little time. In the meantime, I need you both to find out what this person's motive is. It's obvious they want her alive. We have to figure out what they want." Davina looked at Marcel and Klaus.

"I guess that's where we come in," Marcel observed, standing to his feet. He didn't want to leave Bonnie alone but he also wanted to turn New Orleans upside down to find out who did this to her.

"I'm not leaving her with this witch," Klaus defied.

"And I'm not leaving you alone with Davina," Marcel didn't trust Klaus as far as he could throw him. It would only take one wrong word from Davina and her heart would be ripped from her body.

"Both of you leave before I cast a spell that forces you out of here," Davina countered. The two men looked at her before standing to their feet. Klaus stood before Davina and leaned in close.

"If you try anything with her, I'll bleed you dry," he threatened. Bonnie couldn't die again. She still hadn't gotten over being dead. She displayed false bravado, but every night he heard her awakening to yet another nightmare. Even if he brought her back the next time, he wasn't sure if she would survive death a second time.

"Out," Davina demanded; though, Klaus heard the way her heart skipped a beat. The two men sped out of the house.