Just re-read the last few chapters and realized I said Rafael and Landon couldn't swim and then in the next chapter I make Rafael the best swimmer at the lake? Excuse me while I jump off a cliff lol. Sorry for the inconsistencies and I'm probably not going to change that chapter any time soon so let's just pretend that Rafael couldn't swim before but it turned out that he was a prodigy and took it up pretty easily.

Chapter 98

Marcel stood outside the library listening intently to the conversation happening inside. Klaus and Elijah sheltered themselves inside right after dinner, leaving him, Kol, and Rebekah to put the children to bed. Oliver was the only one who actually needed to be tucked in. While Rebekah was busy tucking the boy in, Marcel decided to spy on his father and figure out what exactly Klaus was trying to keep from him. His plan was devastated by the sounds of pen scribbling on paper instead of whispers.

"The punishment for eavesdropping on private conversations isn't as bad as the punishment for lying..."

Marcel jumped at the sound of Kol's voice echoing down the staircase.

The older Mikaelson gave a wily smirk as he watched his intrepid young friend.

"But it's still no picnic."

Marcel took a step away from the door in the hopes that his voice wouldn't carry into the room as he growled, "Aren't you curious about what's going on in there?"

"Not even a little bit." Kol strolled downstairs with a yawn. "In fact, I hope they figure it out on their own and we never have to get involved."

Marcel scoffed. "You're such a coward."

"Not a coward," Kol smirked. "I just don't enjoy fighting with my brothers as much as you apparently do."

"I like to know what's going on around me."

Kol spun around and tapped his finger to his forehead. "That's your problem. You're still thinking like the man in charge. Whatever's going on, I say let Nik and Elijah handle it."

As Kol got closer to the front door, Marcel asked, "Where are you going?"

Without looking back at him, Kol said, "Out."

Marcel's flashed from the library to the front door before Kol could grab the handle.

They narrowed their eyes at each other, both knowing exactly what the other was thinking.

"I'm coming," said Marcel.

With barely a nudge, Kol used his 1000-year-old strength to move Marcel to the side. "Why? So you can 'scold' her for throwing a party?"

"Yes." Marcell bit, wrapping his hand around Kol's wrist, pausing him before he touched the handle. "She's filling a room with strangers and making herself a target for whichever else of this family's many enemies has snuck into the city."

"Davina's a big girl, mate. She can take care of herself. Besides," With a bit more vampiric speed and agility, Kol freed himself from Marcel's clutch. "There's no way Nik is gonna let you leave here anyway."

Marcel's nose flared at the truth. "I don't need Klaus's permission to protect D when I need to."

"Oy yea? Then why're you tryna sneak out behind me? Why not go tell ya dear 'ol dad you're gone first."

Marcel's eyebrows furrowed deeply at Kol's insinuation. "Fine," He growled, "Maybe I am trying to keep this from Klaus because I know he'll freak out. I'll be gone and back before he even gets out of his little meeting with Elijah."

"He'll know," Kol quirked an eyebrow. "Because I'll tell him."

Marcel's jaw tightened his eyes widened at Kol's cavalier announcement. He was too shocked to speak but his face said it all.

Rolling his eyes, Kol continued, "Nik would be livid if I brought you along. Sure he'll be ticked that I left without telling him, he always is, but but he knows no matter what's out there. I'll be able to defend myself against it. But you, his precious Marcellus, are half of his entire world. If I took you from Almighty Nik's protection, it might literally kill him, and he might literally kill me."

"Coward," Marcel hissed again.

"Elijah's got a cane," Kol quickly retorted. "You ever been caned?" Kol took Marcel's silent glare as a no. "Me either. But I'm sure it's about as fun as the switch and I'd rather go another few hundred years before I feel that again."

Marcel couldn't help but snarl his nose and growl, "You're a damn coward."

Stepping so close to Marcel that their chests were nearly flush, Kol grumbled, "You're trying goad me but it won't work. Stand down. Now. Or I'll call Klaus."

Marcel stared intensely into Kol's eyes, almost as if threatening his old friend to try to move him.

Then, to Kol's surprise, Marcel stepped aside. "Fine. Go."

Kol stared dubiously at Marcel. "What are you thinking?"

"Nothing that should concern you."

"And yet I'm very concerned."

Kol and Marcel jumped at the sudden rap on the door. They were so focused on each other that they didn't feel the magical presence seeping through the door until that moment.

Kol pushed past Marcel and opened the door to see his eldest sister standing before them with Vincent Griffith at her side.

"Sister," Kol said a bit uneasy by his sister's furrowed brows. "What are you doing here?"

Without warning, Freya reached up and smacked the back of Kol's head. "Compelling Marcel?" she stated plainly. "Seriously?"

Kol rubbed the back of his head as he said, "It wasn't that serious."

"It was serious enough for Klaus to call me out here to fix any other compulsion you might have done."

Marcel's eyes widened at the announcement. "They brought you here to get in my head?"

Freya's eyes narrowed at the phrasing of Marcel's question. "They called me here to clear you of any other compulsions Kol might have done."

"There was no other compulsion," Marcel insisted.

"You couldn't possibly know that."

All four of them turned to see Klaus standing in the library door, leaning against the frame as he glared at his youngest brother.

"Kol could've compelled you to forget anything he said to you."

Kol blushed at his brother's accusation and turned his gaze shamefully to the floor.

Taking notice of the witch at his sister's side, Klaus said, "I wasn't aware we agreed to share the location of this cabin with just anyone."

Freya strolled past Kol and Marcel, ushering Vincent in beside her. "Don't worry," she said half facetiously. "I made him promise to keep it a secret."

Klaus narrowed his eyes at her. As much as he trusted Vincent for certain duties in his Kingdom, particularly responsibilities involving the witch factions, he knew Vincent's loyalties laid with the witches. If another war arose, having someone as powerful as Vincent know the location of his family's safe house would be a problem.

"He's been helping me take care of that...problem I told you about on the phone," said Freya.

Niklaus's curiosity rose. "Where is it?"

"The trunk of the car."

Klaus nodded. "Let's take care of Marcellus first, and then we'll look into it."

"Stop talking about me like I'm not here," Marcel gowled. "What's this thing you're talking about?"

"The only thing you need to be concerned about right now is breaking whatever compulsions you might have."

Marcel's jaw clenched. The last thing he wanted was Klaus or any of his siblings rooting around in his head. He couldn't let Klaus discover his plan to sneak out to Davina's party.

"I told you, I'm fine."

"Marcellus."

Ice shot down Marcel's back at the sight of Elijah stepping into view beside his Hybrid brother.

"This is not a matter up for debate. In here. Now."

Marcel was prepared to continue the argument when Kol suddenly sighed and said, "Let's just get this over with."

Marcel cut his eyes at Kol. They both knew there weren't any other compulsions. There wasn't even the initial compulsion to begin with. If Freya was allowed in his head she'd see that and immediately know they were lying about lying.

Still, Kol stood confidently before his siblings, motioning for Marcel to follow him to the library.

"Let's go," Kol swung his arm. "They want proof I'm not keeping some horrible secret from them, then let's prove it to them."

"We trust you, brother," said Freya, buying Kol's act quicker than he expected.

Kol pointed at Klaus and Elijah still standing in the doorway. "They don't. That's why they called you. "

Klaus was silent, eyeing Kol for several endless seconds as if he wasn't sure if he should believe him or not.

"They both seem rather confident that Marcel is under no further compulsions, bother," said Elijah, his voice low as if speaking only to Niklaus. "Their insistence makes me rather inclined to believe the. What do you think?"

Klaus was silent for seconds more. Then, in a deep growl, he said, "Kol. Know what will happen if you are lying to me. Swear that you're not...and I will believe you."

Without hesitation, Kol responded, "I swear to you, brother. Marcel is plagued by no further compulsions from me."

With a huff, Klaus accepted his brother's word. "Fine." Fanning his hand towards the stairs, he said, "Check on the children, please."

"Rebekah is taking care of the children," Marcel bit. "What's in the trunk?"

Klaus cut his eyes at his stubborn son. Before he could respond to his son, Elijah moved swiftly in front of the library door.

"Vincent, I do apologize for my sister bringing you to witness our family in our most unrefined form," said Elijah, his words dripping with sauve. "Please give us a moment to discuss this in private." Stepping aside to offer Vincent a way to the library, Elijah continued, "There's a fully stocked minibar inside. Please help yourself."

Vincent waved off Elijah's request. "I'd rather wait outside with the car that brought me here, if you don't mind. Never know when you'd have to make a quick getaway from a Mikaelson spat."

Elija smirked. "Of course."

As soon as Vincent was out of the cabin, Elijah strolled closer to Marcel.

"You seem to have a lot on your mind, Marcellus. Care to speak it now before you do or say anything that would cause you to be embarrassed in front of Vincent?"

Marcel bit his lip, shame burning the back of his neck as he suddenly felt at a loss for words.

"You look nervous," Elijah noted aloud.

Releasing his lip, Marcel said, "Because I know what you're going to do when I tell you what's on my mind."

"I swear I will do nothing more than listen and respond accordingly."

Marcel rolled his eyes and muttered, "Respond with that cane you have?"

Kol burned with anger and shame as Marcel revealed that they'd been discussing the cane.

"Are you planning to put yourself in danger again?" Elijah asked without missing a beat.

"I...deserve to know what's going on."

Elijah's eyes narrowed, noting that Marcel avoided answering his question.

"And you will," said Klaus, joining his family's small circle. "Once we know what's going on and have a plan to deal with it."

"I want to be a part of making that plan. I-"

Marcel paused as he sensed the presence of someone standing at the top of the staircase.

All eyes followed his to see Izzy staring down at them.

"May we help you?" Klaus asked callously.

A chill shot down Izzy's back, suddenly remembering that she was an outsider in this family.

"I was just...wondering..." she looked to Elijah finding his eyes warmer than the others. "There's a party in Algiers tonight. I was wondering...if I could go?"

Izzy got the exact mix of emotions that she expected. Dubious silence from Klause and Freya. Wide-eyed shock from Kol and Marcel. And a stoic, yet intense glare from Elijah.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, dear Izzy," Elijah started. "But I do believe your grounding isn't over until tomorrow."

"I know but I was hoping you would make an exception since we're gonna be stuck in this cabin for the next three weeks and that's basically like being grounded anyway."

"We brought you here for your own protection. Why would you think I would allow you to go to some asinine party."

"But-"

"No buts, Izzy," he bit. "I said no and that's final."

Izzy's fists clenched at her sides as she stared daggers at Elijah and they both knew that if she wasn't wearing her bracelet in that moment she'd experience a bout of accidental magic that would tear through the room.

Instead, she spun around a stomped away.

Elijah shook his head at the girl's response but let her go in peace.

"How soft you've become when it is your teenage ward with the attitude," Klaus said with a smirk.

Elijah couldn't meet his brother's eyes, knowing he was right. "Marcellus," Elijah turned his attention back to his nephew. "As we were saying-"

"Actually," Marcel suddenly interrupted. "It's okay. You're right. I need to focus on what's most important right now. Excuse me, I'm going to go check on Oliver."

Klaus and Elijah lost all semblance of ease as they watched Marcel walk towards the steps. The man had never given into them so quickly when he was of the mind to disagree.

"I should go check on him...checking on Oliver," said Kol to their further confusion before darting up the stairs.

"They're up to something." Freya said what was on both brothers' minds."

"Yes," Elijah stated.

And Klaus finished, "But what?"

-M-

Izzy laid in bed staring up at the ceiling, blood still boiling at Elijah turning down her request to go to the party. It would be fun to go to a party and be a regular teenager for once, away from all the children in the cabin. But she knew exactly what Haley and Elijah would do if they found her out in the city when they said it wasn't safe.

"If you're caught breaking any of our rules with your friends, you will be punished in front of them."

Izzy swallowed the lump that formed in her throat at the thought. She didn't have many friends - really, she didn't have any friends, not like Hope had friends - but the idea of being punished in front of her peers was terrifying enough.

"That was stupid of you."

Izzy turned to see Finn standing casually in front of the closed door. She hadn't even heard the Original sneak in.

"Asking for permission when you knew they were just going to say no." He tutted.

Looking back up to the ceiling, Izzy said, "Stop eavesdropping on me, you little creep."

Finn's face burned at her claim. "I wasn't eavesdropping. But I thought we had a plan to sneak out together. You going around blabbing about parties is bound to make my brothers suspicious."

"I asked Elijah about the party because I hoped he would say yes and let me use the car so I didn't have to Lewis and Clark my way back to the city. We'll be gross before we even get to the party."

"Sure," Finn said mockingly. "That's it. I'm sure it had nothing to do with you craving Elijah's approval."

Izzy sat up, cutting her eyes at Finn with enough fury to burn him from ear to ear.

"I-I..." He coughed into his hand, clearing his cracking voice. "I'm just saying...in this family, you only ask permission when you know the answer will be 'yes'. Otherwise..." He opened the door and glanced down the hall to make sure the coast was clear before saying, "The better choice is always-"

"To beg for forgiveness."

Finn smirked as Izzy finished his sentence.

Izzy thought about the way Elijah embarrassed her downstairs. Treating her like a child that didn't know how to take care of herself like she hadn't already been doing it for years before she met them. She only agreed to come to the cabin because she didn't want to cause dissent while everything else was going on. But if she didn't need the Mikaelsons' protection.

Her eyes fell back down to the bracelet on her wrist. I guess...I kinda do until I get this thing off.

She glanced up at Finn. "Fine. Get me through the forest and to Algiers in one piece and I'll vouch for you to get into the party."

Finn nodded his agreement with a wily smirk that rivaled his younger brother's. Izzy knew he must've had some ulterior motive for wanting to get into that party so bad but a part of her didn't want to know.

Also sorry for the very late (almost 4 months?!)chapter. Hopefully I'll have the next one up sooner than that.