"she licks blood off her fingers
and she looks like divine absolution.
careful, meleager; this is your sport
but she's not playing a game.
do not think
you are safe because
you love her.
do not think
she will not stain her mouth red
with your blood too."
~Maddie C., Atalanta~
...
Marcella's day started off like any of the ones before. Normal. The sun shone in through her window, the birds chirped in tree next to her bedroom. It had the making for a typical, lovely, but boring day. The only thing on her agended was to run down to the Grill to pay Vicki for the work she did for her dance recital. No scheming to be done, or plans to be made. Everything was in order now all that was left to do was wait.
Mikeal would be arriving soon. She could feel in in her bones, buzzing under her skin. The warning. Telling her to take her loved ones and get the hell out of dodge. Marcella ignored the feeling as she had been for the last few days and threw herself out of bed.
Tying her wild hair up as she walks, she had no plans today. Marcella listens to the house as she gets dressed, determining her mother sisters lively state. Liz was gone, by the lack of noise from her room and the lack of her distinct getting ready sounds. She frowned slightly, biting her lip. These days it felt like she never got to see the woman who was her mother. It was her own doing she supposed.
Caroline was in her room fighting with a pair of shoes from the sound of it. Marcella sighed, she did not want to get roped into that. She finished her own morning routine quickly stopping by the kitchen to grab a piece of toast before heading out. She'd meet Caroline for dinner later.
Right now she had errands to run. Mainly stopping by the boarding house to get an actual sustaining bite to eat and then popping in to check on Niklaus. She hadn't heard from him in like two days and that was entirely to long in her opinion. Didn't he know he needed to constantly check in? Obviously Marcella worried about him.
Blood first. And then Niklaus.
Also she was curious, she hadn't gotten to meet the oldest brother yet. Marcella thought Finn would be interesting. Oh and Sage, the red head should be there too. The blonde girl couldn't wait.
"Do I even want to know what has you smiling so manically this morning?" Damon greets her at the front door. Marcella just grins kissing his cheek as she passes. She's not answering that.
He should know.
"Do you want to get lunch with me later? I need to stop by the grill and pay Vicki for the pictures." Marcella asks while fixing them both coffee and then getting herself a blood bag. Damon accepts the cup he's handed brow raised.
"When have I ever turned you down for lunch?" Marcella giggles, he never did. Damon takes a sip and rolls his eyes.
This girl.
"Cool meet me there around twelve thirty ish, I'm going over to check on Nik in a little bit but I'll be done by then." Damon just shook his head, he sometimes wondered what went through hers. She did realize that the other half of their awesome trio was a supered powered hybrid. Not some house puppy she could just cuddle whenever she wanted too.
Although he doubted it would stop her.
Marcella finished her breakfast and then headed out she'd text him closer to lunch time. The ride to the Mikaelson manor from the boarding house wasn't that far. She probably could have just walked, it wouldn't have killed her. But Marcella always liked the serenity of driving her car down old country roads. It was a quick trip and then she was putting her car in park and taking the keys out of the enition.
She hops up the grand stairwell taking the steps two at a time. Marcella was worried about her hybrid who should have called her by now. Instead of knock because honestly who really expected her too she pushed the front door open. Waltzing into the front foyer as if she owned the house.
"Niklaus!" She yells loudly, obnoxiously. No longer in the mood to play games. The house is alive with the sounds of the dead. Elijah based on the sounds of his steps is somewhere upstairs, there are two unfamiliar heartbeats in the kitchen and they freeze at the sound of her voice.
The last sound is heavy steps down stairs, irritated gate, amused chuckles alerting her to the simple truth that it was all a farce. Marcella grinned as she met his gaze. "You aren't answering your phone." She scold playfully, shaking her head jutting her hip and putting both hands on her side. Klaus just laughs at her.
Obviously, he didn't seem to care how serious of an offense that was. "I've been a bit busy sweetheart." Is the only defense he just rolls her eyes, pointing a finger at him. That was a lame excuse. Busy her butt.
"Unless your being busy included growing back two arms you could have picked up the phone. I was worried." Marcella tells him as she takes a step towards him linking her arm through his. He rolls his eyes.
"What are you doing here sweetheart?" Marcella scrunches her nose at him. She just told him, surely he didn't need it spelt out.
"I don't like being ignored. Now entertain me, Damon is busy and I need entertainment. I've been so bored." She practically whines, like a child. Klaus snickers at her obnoxious tone, at her perfected act.
But he knew better. What she wanted wasn't entertainment but a distraction.
"Have you met Finn yet?" He questions knowing that was something else she wanted. Marcella grinned like a hyena. Bingo.
"I have not yet had the pleasure."
Well then, what a perfect opportunity to get back at his brother. Finn would surely be surprised by her. Elijah and Rebekah certainly had been. Thinking about his other favored blonde brought up a new discussion he'd been meaning to have with Marcella. He supposed it would have to wait, since they were almost to the kitchen when Finn and Sage seemed to stay. When not in Finn's room that was.
Marcella lets his arm go and skips happily the rest of the way. As if a child in a candy store whose mother had just given her permission to get whatever she wanted. He didn't understand that girl sometimes, just like he didn't always understand his younger brother. Oh the whims of almost sociopaths.
He watches with heavy amusement as Marcella skips right over to Finn and holds out her hand. Smiling like sunshine, eyes bright and happy. "Hiya! It's nice to finally meet you. I am Marcella." Finn looks at him first as if he is unsure despite the fact they all know that he'd been eavesdropping. Klaus rolls his eyes but he does nod.
Marcella wouldn't bite. Most likely.
Finn cautiously takes the offered hand not one to forget his manners. Sage eyes her warily, this was the girl Damon had told her about. Somehow she had expected someone more threatening and less cute. Marcella keeps smiling oblivious to whatever they're both thinking. "Hello, I am Finn." The oldest does introduce himself.
She just nods, because of course she already knew that but it was polite to allow someone the opportunity. Well this could have gone worse. Marcella then turns her attention to the redhead and she smiles just as vibrantly at the woman.
"And you must be Sage, It's nice to meet you as well. Damon had nothing but awesome things to say." And she trusted Damon's judgement of character pretty well. He was usually right about people. Katherine aside because he was blinded by love and that hadn't been his fault.
Sage offers her an uncertain smile and nods. "Damon had awesome things to say about you as well." Marcella grins triumphantly. That was nice of him. What a good friend. She claps her hands together giddily.
This was going great.
…
She stood firm. There was no other way to stand. She had to be absolutely sure of her decision here. Because once it was made she couldn't take it back, that would be it. Elena chewed at the inside of her cheek.
Rose had said the hunter wouldn't hurt anyone in town other than Klaus. He would be a threat to her family. But it was still dangerous. Mikael was a fierce man, he couldn't be predictable.
Did she really want to condemn someone to die?
Elena nodded her head to herself. She knew they didn't really have a choice. Klaus was a problem, he was a threat to her, to her family. He had to be stopped.
She still didn't know what they were going to do about the psychopath Marcella had become. One thing at a time. Elena hopes that once Klaus was out of the picture things would go back to normal. That Marcella would return to herself.
Stop being a monster.
If only Elena knew that waking mikael would make it a lot worse. Maybe she would have changed her mind on the matter. Maybe she wouldn't have made such a harsh choice. But Elena didn't really know Marcella that well so how could she know that Marcella was a fierce protector.
That she was only a monster when someone threatened her people, her family.
Elena would learn eventually. But for now. In this moment she lived contently in her ignorance.
Stefan stood by the door, the old world woman at his side. He watched his girlfriend contemplate. Watched as she processed. "Elena everything is going to be fine. We will be back by tomorrow. Don't worry." She bit her lip but reluctantly nodded her head.
"Be safe. Both of you." Rose merely scoffed at the sentiment. There was nothing safe about what they were about to do.
Worried was something they all should have been more of.
…
Noon came around swiftly after her entertaining morning of hanging out with her hybrid and his siblings. Niklaus and her finally talked about why Rebekah had stayed in New Orleans. He had been surprised to learn that Marcel was still alive. That the vampire he considered to be his son had trived, that New Orleans was thriving under his rule. Klaus had been reluctantly happy. They didn't really talk about Rebekah after that other than Marcella letting him know that she did stay in touch via text and such.
It would have to do for now.
Marcella shifted her attention to one of her favorite people. Vicki Donovan. Admittedly an odd choice, but Marcella always loved dark tragic things and Vicki has been a rather tragic thing. Also the blonde loved seeing the results of her hard work.
Vicki Donovan was still alive, still human. That was a win.
"Hey Mace." Vicki greets as Marcella comes to sit at the bar, why the older teen was working and not at school was something she'd try not to think about. Kelly Donovan was a useless individual and a rather poor excuse of a mother.
"Hi Vic! I have the money for my pictures!" She tells her cheerily digging out the sealed envelope from her bag. The older teen rolled her eyes.
"I told you that you didn't owe me for those." Vicki tries and Marcella just waves her hand dismissively smile still in place.
"Nonsense, you did a great job. I can't not pay for them, it would be a crime." Marcella hands over the envelope and Vicki just rolls her eyes. Accepting the money.
She doesn't know why she thought that she'd be able to get away with it. Marcella was a rather predictable girl and she loved helping people. Making sure they got what was their due.
"How's your mom? Matt told me she'd been sick." Marcella tried to keep her grimace off her face. The lie that had been told. She hated lying.
"She's better, honestly I hardly see her. Always working. How are you guys? Have you decided what you are gonna do for college?" Marcella made herself comfortable at the bar since that was apparently where Vicki's section was. She smiled her thanks when the brunette handed her a glass of water.
Vicki made a face at the mention of college. She didn't know what she was going to do about it. The older teen knew what she wanted to do, but she couldn't just go and leave her brother. With no way to really support himself. It wouldn't be fair. She shrugged and could swear Marcella sighed sadly in return.
"You could start some classes online if you're worried about leaving." She muses thoughtfully. Absentmindedly tapping her fingers along the side of the glass. Unusually high strung.
For Vicki it was easy to see. Unlike the rest of her brothers gaggle of friends the older girl had actually paid attention to the youngest girl. Vicki knee a lot about Marcella just from observing her over the years. And she also knew that no matter how nice the blonde was, there was fire under her skin coursing through her bones. That once breached, it would be a raging blaze incapable of being put out.
She wondered what had Marcella in such a state. So obviously distracted. Vicki never one to shy away from asking hard questions went ahead and asked her. Bluntly, straight to the point. Marcella never liked the skirting around problems.
"Alright, what's wrong with you. You've been ever so slightly distracted since you walked in here. What's going on?" And Marcella smiled, that beautiful innocent smile of her that was anything but. She tucked a fly away curl behind her ear.
"Just have a lot on my plate right now. Nothing to worry about." And it wasn't a lie, Vicki always knew when she was being lied too. But it wasn't the right truth. She frowned at the younger girl who hoped out of her chair.
Turning on her heal, blindly she steps away from the bar waving over her shoulder. Not at all paying attention to her surroundings. Marcella knocks right into another person.
Hard.
Rough. Calloused hands steady her. In her chest her heart does hurdles as she looks up. Into the face of a man she really hadn't wanted to just run into. Into blue eyes so deep they remind her of the dark parts of the ocean. Of depths unreachable. Parts unknown.
She blinks, once, then twice as if maybe it will clear her vision and he'll have been a illusion. But it's not the case and there he still stands. Staring down at her if she is truly fascinating.
Marcella didn't like the look in his eyes one bit.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" She exclaimed, playing the role of scattered brain child well. Marcella sheepishly rubs the back of her head, smile bashfully.
The man takes a moment to respond. He shakes his head. "No, pardon me child.-" there is a pause and then. "I'm sorry but you have to most peculiar eyes."
Her smile falls and she narrows her eyes in return. He knew who she was. How? Surely he hadn't been up that long. How did he already know?
"So I've been told. Excuse me sir, again sorry for running into you but I have to go." Marcella tried to step around him but he grabbed her wrist. He didn't care about making a scene for the all of three people in the bar.
Didn't care about the look of it.
Marcella bit her lip.
"Tell him I'm here. That if he's a man he'll face me before more people have to die." He drops her wrist. She walks away with more dignity than he'd expected. If he'd been paying full attention he'd have realized his mistake.
Except Mikael was only focused on the one thing. Killing his son. So he didn't notice the fire in herhis eyes, he didn't see her bones turn to steal. Mikael thought she'd be an easy piece to intimidate. A baby, easily pliable for his purpose.
"He's not the one you need to worry about, darlin'" She muttered, lifting her head up glancing at him half heartedly. Maybe she should have been afraid, but his threats bored her. Marcella texted Damon quickly as she walked out of the grill.
Change of plans. Meet me at the manor.
…
Damon would have been meeting Marcella for lunch right now. Ordering delicious cheesy fries and such. Listening to her tell wild stories or plotting madly depending on her mood. He would have already left for the grill except.
Except Roman Wealcan showed up at his front door rather unexpectedly and just invited himself in. Damon eyed the Greek descendant cautiously. He never got good vibes from either of Marcella favorite dance partners.
Ancient dark auras radiated off of them both. Beings that just imitated power. It was always startling. To feel such power from people who looked so unassuming.
Roman smirked at the raven haired vampire Marcella had claimed. He drew the bourbon glass he'd poured himself to his lips. Watching the vampire react with amused eyes.
"Isadora was a fae Queen once, I myself used to be a god." He muses thoughtlessly trying for a reaction. Roman had a purpose for his visit but he needed to make sure the raven haired male could handle it.
Marcella's soul was on the line.
Damon to his credit doesn't really respond to that. He doesn't show that the admittance bothers him at all. Good on the younger man Roman thinks coyly. The former god takes another sip from his glass staring intently at the male. Would he be a good enough protector for his small friend?
Could he trust the raven haired male to take care of her?
It was soon time for him to move on, him and Isadora both. They had work to do elsewhere. With other lost souls. Tiring business it was. Eternity, was a long time. Roman sets the glass down, finished, no longer needing the prop.
Yes, this vampire he would trust.
"If that's all you came by to say I'm supposed to meet Marcella soon and I'm sure you know how much she likes being kept waiting." Damon says a hint of mirth in his tone, gaze level, obviously he really didn't care about what Roman had said.
Good for him.
Roman rolls his eyes. "Check your phone Damon Salvatore. A storm in blowing your way, protect her." And then he's gone. No turning to leave, no walking away. Just gone.
Damon eyes the empty spot warily. He shakes his head. No he wouldn't concern himself with things so obviously beyond his knowledge. His understanding. The last warning from the man rings in his ears. Because he's heard that warning before.
A storm was coming.
But it was the last bit that sent chills up his spine. Reverberating deep in his core.
Protect her.
As if he ever had any choice otherwise.
XOXOX
Sorry for the wait for this chapter, as you all know from my last author note I've been suffering a bout of writer's block. Which to say the least has been a little upsetting since I know everything that is going to happen in the next like ten chapters. We will be getting awake Kol within the next 3-5 chapter, this time I swear it's the truth. It's going to come to a point for Marcella that she needs him to be awake.
So there is that to look forward too. I have some dark stuff planned for the next two-ish chapters. Warning people are about to die(probably) most likely. Which may or may not be a good thing.
Also if you were curious Roman and Isadora look like the Orpheus and Eurydice actors from the live recording of Hadestown.
On another note I want to thank everyone who has stuck with this story despite all my terrible grammar mistakes and such. Thank you guys for baring with me and ignoring them for the most part.
I would also like to say on that note that as a writer as much as I love you guys' reviews what I do not love is constant criticism on the errors and pointing them out to me in a review. I get it, there are mistakes, I am fully aware that I am not the best when it comes to grammar all the time. That's on me. If it really bothers you or you are trying to be helpful PM me, that is a much more appreciative manner to reach me and let me know about my mistakes. Beta'ing the chapters in reviews is not okay with me and if it's guest reviews I'll more than likely delete them. Usually it wouldn't bother me but anonymously pointing out my mistakes is not a very uplifting thing for me, for any author. So just so you know how I personally feel on the matter.
Anyway…
Thank you so much for your continued support. The kind words and helpful reviews really inspire me to keep writing this fanfic. I'm so glad that you guys are still liking my story. Thanks a million. Really! You are all amazing and I am so lucky to have you all reading my work. I never imagined something I wrote would be this well received. Thank you so much!
I hope that you all have a wonderful day!
Sincerely, La'Rae