Chapter 37: Plots, Plans and Siblings

Mystic Falls: Salvatore Boarding House

[Damon's POV]

I hear my brother enter the great hall behind me. I have been pacing in front of the fireplace with a glass of top shelf bourbon for the last forty five minutes. I am furious that Bernadette reminded me of my reckless past. I am no saint. But I'll be damned if my past actions come back to hurt Bella or my children. The only reason why I didn't kill the bitch is Niklaus got there first. Due to consequences that I am not privy to: Nik compelled her to report to her superior. Seems she is trying to serve two masters. Elijah didn't look pleased. I am counting on him to take care of the bitch.

I am restless. How many more indiscretions, past actions and vengeful acquaintances are going to come out of the woodwork when the Vampire community at large finds out we can procreate? Our children deserve to have a childhood unfettered by threats from our past.

I feel Bella before my senses catch up. She places her hand on the arm holding the glass of bourbon. "You only pull out that brand when you are worried." I put the glass down and lead her to the divan near the fireplace. "I am concerned about the past coming back to haunt us."

[Bella's POV]

My other half is upset and I'm not sure how to comfort him. Stefan isn't helping only sitting in one of the chairs next to the fireplace observing his brother. He could at least ask him what has agitated him this time. He looks at me for guidance. What the fuck? They really need to work out some of their issues. I won't have my babies caught up in the chaos that Stefan seems to invoke in his brother. My babies will have better examples growing up.

Stefan finally asks, "What happened to get you so worked up?"

I respond before Damon snarks back at him, "A woman named Bernadette, an employee of Elijah's showed up. Evidently she was also acquainted with Damon in the past. She made a vicious comment about me and Damon went full 'vamp mode' on her. Niklaus intervened and compelled her to report back to her 'other' employer that only he and Elijah boarded the plane back to the states."

Damon smirks at me, "full vamp mode"? I'll show you 'full vamp mode' later."

[Damon's POV]

I waggle my eyebrows at her. She raises one eyebrow, her way of saying 'bring it on'.

Stefan looks at me for a further explanation. "I took offense at her assumption that Bella was a 'fuck and feed'. Elijah wasn't happy with her showing up unexpectedly. Angela is pregnant. I am unhappy that she saw the babies being carried by other members of our family. The news that we can procreate can bring unwanted attention to the family from other supernaturals. Niklaus and Finn made sure that she can't say anything about our expanding family."

Stefan nods. He is finally getting the picture. We are part of a large quirky supernatural family that has its own kind of problems.

"Speaking of supernaturals, how is Elena doing?"

"Both Elena and Bonnie applied to Whitmore for the fall term. She wants me to join them on campus."

"Do you think that is wise? The Augustine's are there."

"I am working up the courage to tell her I'm not going to be joining them at Whitmore. I will also make a few suggestions for alternative colleges for us to attend."

Bella looks at me inquisitively. "They are the humans that are aware of the supernatural. I was their prisoner and experimental subject along with Alonzo St. John for a number of years." Bella's eyes widen in comprehension. "They don't know about Leylocks. We can protect family."

[Charlie's POV]

We are waiting for Elijah and Niklaus to finish up some business with the hybrids and Werewolves in Raleigh, before we call a full family meeting. I am not risking any of our family. The incident with Bernadette has everyone on edge. The babies must be protected at all costs and Angela is due to give birth at any time. Sage informed me that Bernadette will no longer be a problem. I know the Mikaelson's are ruthless. But I can't blame her for eliminating a problem that would have come back to haunt us at some point. I shake my head, what would Billy think about all this. I think he would be amused that I am up to my ass in the supernatural, just as much if more so than he is.

[Charlotte's POV]

Stefan Salvatore is being about as useful as tits on a bull. I am going to teach him how to care for his nieces, if he doesn't know already. Bella has been expressing milk to allow for the rest of us to be able to feed the girls if she is otherwise occupied. She knows that we want to be hands on with the newest and little additions to the family.

"Stefan this is your niece Marie Lillian." As soon as his arms wrap to take her: I put down the bottle on the coffee table in front of him. "She needs to be fed." I hand him a cloth diaper for a burp shield. He has done this before. He nods at me as he looks over Marie. He smiles up at me, "Thanks Charlotte."

"Don't thank me yet. You get to change her next diaper."

He just nods back at me. He is busy getting her to take the bottle. I put down her diaper bag next to him.

Raleigh NC: Mikaelson Mansion

[Elijah's POV]

I have called a meeting for this afternoon for some of my top aids and a few associates before we leave for Mystic Falls. I want everyone to think we are establishing a base of operations here. I want to make it clear that a repeat of the episode Bernadette staged doesn't happen anytime soon.

Tristian de Martel is still the leader of the Strix and he will be here for the meeting. I think I have a few surprises in store for them. He has Aya working on something. She will not be present for this meeting. Rebekah has filled me in on what needs to be said at this meeting and what some of the reactions will be. She warned me that Tristan cannot be trusted. They have come up with a bogus curse on our family. They are plotting make it come true. Thank god for Leylock abilities, this is not going to happen like they think it will.

I will sit in the morning meeting with Niklaus: he will be handling the problems associated with the werewolves. The hybrid packs are loyal to Niklaus and he has kept the Alpha's of the two packs informed on what is happening as soon as he knows.

Jackson Kendall arrived a few hours ago. He is the Alpha of the Crescent pack. He brought his mate Hayley and their baby daughter Hope with them. They have news about Kingmaker Industries: it is a large threat to their families and to the other werewolf packs. Several of the pack members have family in Louisiana and pack members are disappearing due to the wolf-hunters associated with Kingmaker. They are taking them for experimentation. No one knows if any of the werewolves taken survived.

Nik warns the Alphas to bring their families out of the state of Louisiana for their protection. He suggests the state of Texas. It will be far enough away from 'The Hollow'. The Alphas agree to move their families temporarily. Niklaus gives them contacts that will help them find jobs and housing for the relocated families. They give him all the information they have about 'The Hollow'. It was witch magic that birthed 'the Hollow' and she is the origin of the werewolf curse. Their legends say that the wild wolf packs helped to trap her and she cursed her people to be wolves on the Full Moon. The alphas thank Niklaus for his efforts to keep their families safe from Kingmaker and 'the Hollow'.

I leave the room to enter my study. As much as Niklaus would like to relocate to New Orleans: all of the Astral talents in the family warn us about the danger from 'the Hollow' if we attempt to relocate there. She is willing to kill all of us through her magic to return in a corporal body. If an Original dies so does his Sireline. We learned that when Mikael was killed as a vampire the first time.

I'm not sure what Tristan as leader of the Strix hopes to gain from this meeting. I think it's time we dealt with Tristian, Aurora and Lucien. I pull out my phone. "Charlotte, what have you seen about our three oldest sirelings?"

"It is a good thing that Niklaus is helping to relocate the Packs from Louisiana. Kingmaker is about to encounter the after effects of their experimentation. The Hybrids they create will kill everyone associated with Kingmaker. Lucien Castle will be the top of their list."

"Are you saying that the Hybrid will kill Tristian, Aurora and Lucien?"

"Yes, if they get the chance. You already know the hybrid: Marcel Gerrard." Charlotte states.

"Is there time to warn Marcel?"

"No. Events concerning him can't be altered at this point."

"What do I need to know?" Nik asks as he entered my study.

"Marcel is the next Vampire/Werewolf hybrid. He chooses to protect those he loves. He will kill Tristian and Aya. He is a member and already fought with the other challengers from the Strix. After he kills them, he will become their leader." Charlotte states.

I point out: "If he is willing to swallow the serum that will transform him into 'the Beast' to protect the vampires of New Orleans and everyone else he cares for. Then he will have to kill Lucien and Aurora also."

Charlotte cautions. "He will take those two out also. Be warned once changed his venom can kill an Original. We don't have an antidote yet. I'm not sure our Leylock abilities protect us from this."

"Thank you for the information we will see you at the family meeting, this afternoon."

[Rebekah's POV]

I am using my 'Astral' abilities to eavesdrop on Niklaus and Elijah talking about Marcel becoming 'the Beast'. I pick up my phone and call Elijah. "Please put your phone on conference. Both of you need to know this. Nik asks, "What is going on?"

Nik when you meet with Marcel in New Orleans give him a truth stone and explain what it can do. "Marcel will want to know why you abandoned him when we fled New Orleans. He thinks we abandoned him, making him clean up the mess after Mikael left. Nik you need to call him and meet with him. You need to explain that we left him behind to protect him from Mikael. He would have killed Marcel to spite us and because you loved him. Be open, honest and sincere when you speak to him Nik. It is the only way to mend your relationship."

"Elijah you need to let Niklaus handle this alone. You can observe but not interfere with the meeting. Just pick one of us with the 'Astral' talent and you will be able to hear the conversation and we can port there if Nik needs us."

"Nik tell Marcel I still love him, but as a brother. He can contact me to confirm what you have told him. I found my mate and he has already found his."

"If you guys are finished with all the wolf stuff, we have a family meeting to attend at the Salvatore Boarding house. See you soon."