A/N: I'm sorry for the long wait. I hope you enjoy the chapter.
I apologize for any mistakes. I'm sure there are some but I wanted to get this posted.
Flashbacks are in italics.
I do not own anything but my own twist to the plot.
Marcel led Klaus around the Abattoir it was filled with vampires and tourists. They stood on a balcony overlooking the party. Marcel's vampires fed ravenously on the humans, who screamed in terror but those same screams were drowned out by the pulsing music.
"This is how I keep my guys happy: the occasional, all-you-can-eat buffet. My night-walkers love it. I've got 'em working hard, trying to earn one of these daylight rings." he flashed the ring on his hand. "They deserve to blow off a little steam. My day-walkers, the trusted few – they just like the party."
Klaus's eyes scanned the floor below for Caroline but couldn't spot her. "I don't see your mother."
Marcel grimaced. "She's not one for frenzied feeding." Caroline hated these parties, the tourist being drained. It was something she argued about but knew was necessary to keep his men happy. But it didn't mean she had to be there for it. She usually headed out for the night on the town with Silvi. "These kinds of parties aren't her thing."
"You mean she's not one for the vampires feeding off innocents humans," Klaus said knowingly. "As I recall she loved parties." He paused noting the crest engraved on the wall. An 'M' with a coiled serpent wrapping around it. Klaus frowned but said nothing about it. "It's quite an operation. Tell me – what about the victims? Seems like a lot of graves to dig."
"Can't kill 'em all. Too many folks go missing, tourism drops. So, we heal them with a little vamp blood, erase their memory, send them on their way – no muss, no fuss." Marcel turned to him. "It's also a compromise with Caroline. It settles her conscious when so many people aren't being killed by the nightwalkers."
"I'm impressed," Klaus admitted. And that did sound like Caroline. She always did care deeply for others.
"Nothing I didn't learn from you back in the day." Replied Marcel with ease.
"Marcel." One of Marcel's inner circle, Thierry, the same one Klaus had bitten.
"'Sup, Thierry?" Marcel asked him.
"Six of our guys were killed in a bar outside of the Quarter. Night-walkers. No one saw who."
Klaus looked away as Marcel received the news of his nightwalkers deaths.
Rebekah drove down the road in her red convertible; checking her appearance in the rearview mirror, wiping a drop of blood from her cheek, smiling pleased with herself and kept on driving.
Rebekah parked in front of the Mikaelson mansion, talking into her phone as she got out of her car. "Elijah, if not answering your phone is part of your clever plan to get me back to this godforsaken city, then well done. I'm here, and I'm worried. Now pick up before I kick in your bloody door." She walked up the front steps, opening the door, entering the home.
"Elijah, are you here?" She walked further in when she received no answer. "Elijah?" She frowned if Elijah wasn't answering his phone and he wasn't here like he said he would be then Klaus had to have done something, and knowing him he probably had Elijah daggered in a box somewhere.
"Klaus!" she shouted, walking through the house. "Get out here and tell me what you've done with our brother, you narcissistic, backstabbing wanker!"
A pair of doors was thrown open and Klaus strode into the room. "Enough with all the shouting. Little sister, I should have known. I assume the six dead vampires were your doing?"
"They were very rude." She claimed. "Trying to victimize a poor, innocent girl just trying to find her way to the Quarter. So sorry, were they friends of yours? Oh, that's right, you don't have any friends."
"I do have friends. I have Marcel. You remember him, don't you?" Klaus smirked. "Yes, of course, you do."
"Elijah told me all about him not being dead." She returned his smirk with one of her own. "And Caroline."
"He fancies himself the 'King of the Quarter' now, and he has these rules about killing vampires." He pointedly ignored the mention of Caroline. "It'll be fun to see what sort of punishment he comes up with for you."
"I don't care about Marcel or his rules. Elijah isn't responding to any of my calls. What did you do to him?" She demanded accusingly.
"Perhaps he's on holiday... or taking a long autumn nap upstairs," Klaus smirked at her, taking a seat on a cushioned bench against the wall, lounging back. "Well, go on. Take a look around. You remember this house as well as I."
Rebekah went to leave the room in search of the brother she considered the good one but turned back to Klaus. "I remember everything."
NEW ORLEANS, 1820
"Rebekah, it's not a good idea." Caroline shook her head with a frown.
"Why not?" Rebekah demanded. "You and Klaus are happy. I want to be happy too."
"You know what Klaus is like about of all his siblings. You're his little sister and he doesn't believe anyone is good enough for you." Caroline reminded.
"So what? I'm supposed to spend an eternity alone?" Rebekah crossed her arms.
"I am just warning you what can happen if you go to him about this." Caroline took Rebekah's hand in hers. "I love your brother but I know his flaws and I accept them. And I'm telling you he won't like this."
"He'll just have to come around," Rebekah stated stubbornly.
Caroline sighed to herself, knowing Rebekah wasn't going to listen, she gave Rebekah's hand a squeeze before releasing it. She hoped things went the way Rebekah wanted them to but she seriously doubted it would.
"I remember how the drunken fool of a governor hid away all of our vampire sins in exchange for gold. I remember the lavish parties the governor threw as if to impress you." Rebekah told Klaus, remembering back to their early days in New Orleans.
New Orleans, 1820
Rebekah walked through the doorway into a room filled with people dressed in their finery for one of its many parties for the elites of the city. They nodded at Rebekah as she passed.
Rebekah watched Klaus as he whispered something into Caroline's ear, his arms sliding around her waist, tugging her back into him. Caroline pressed her head back against his shoulder with a quiet laugh, her left arm lifting to tangle in his curls before turning in his arms with a smile and pulling him into the room.
Rebekah turned her attention to the young man, the governor's son, Emil, at her side, kissing him chastely.
"I remember finding a moment of affection with the governor's son, Emil. And I remember that even Elijah was happy. I remember that for once you were happy. Of course, that was because you had Caroline." Rebekah stated.
NEW ORLEANS, 1820
Upstairs, Elijah kissed a dark-skinned woman while further down the hall Klaus had Caroline pressed against a couch, his hand sneaking beneath her dress, gripping her thigh, his mouth sucking at her neck, she clutched at him, her own fangs buried in his shoulder where she had pulled on his tunic bearing flesh of his neck to her.
Blood sharing was something Klaus and Caroline took part in all the time, the feeling, the pleasure they took from drinking from one another and intimate affair they enjoyed to indulge in.
"Your brother and sister-in-law can't keep their hands to themselves." said the woman to Elijah as Caroline let out a moan that could be heard from where they were. "It's quite indecent."
Elijah let out a groan. "Niklaus, there is no hope for you, is there?" he looked at them. "If you're so intent on your current activities I suggest you find a room."
Klaus lifted off his wife with a grin, slipping his hand out from beneath her dress as she slowly sat up, running a hand through her blonde curls, pushing them back. "I have no control when it comes to such beauty being in the palm of my hands." He tugged Caroline to his side, his fingers trailing up along her arm.
Caroline fisted his shirt in her hands. "I wouldn't have it any other way." she leaned forward to place a sucking kiss his neck, earning a groan from Klaus.
Elijah was seconds away from pulling them apart to make sure they didn't end up fucking right there where anyone could see such inappropriate scandalous behavior.
"Are we interrupting?" Rebekah asked, joining them, Emil on her arm.
"Yes." Klaus stated as Caroline pulled her mouth from his skin at the sound of Rebekah's voice, releasing the grip she had on his shirt.
"No." Elijah said.
"Not if we get a room, you won't be." Caroline's hand slid down his stomach past the waist of his trousers and placed her hand on his leg, high up his thigh.
Rebekah's nose scrunched up, but in all honesty, she was used to Klaus and Rebekah constantly having their hands all over each other. So instead she focused on Elijah. "Dearest Elijah. You've only ever wished happiness for me. Emil and I are in love. Please, let me turn him."
Klaus let out a chuckle as he squeezed his wife's hand on his thigh. The number of times Rebekah claimed to be in love was a long list even he couldn't keep up with.
Elijah ignored his brother. "Rebekah, the governor has graciously agreed to hide a lot of our... indiscretions. It would not do to turn his son into one of us."
"Please. For me." Rebekah pleaded, hoping to sway him.
"It's not going to happen, Sister," Klaus smirked up at her. "If we turned every man you dropped your knickers for, then human beings would cease to exist and we'd have no bloody food."
Caroline's hand clamped down on his thigh and he grunted pulling her hand away from him. "Bloody hell, woman!"
Caroline glared at him her mood drastically changed, not agreeing with the way he spoke to Rebekah. "Be nice to your sister."
Klaus snorted in response and opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by Emil. "How dare you, sir! You would do well to treat –"
Klaus was up in an instant, grabbing Emil by the neck and forcibly walking him down the hallway.
"Klaus," Caroline said warningly.
"Brother –" Elijah called out, hoping he would listen.
"Niklaus!" Rebekah shouted distressed.
"Niklaus, wait!" called out Elijah, knowing what Klaus was about to do.
"NO!" Rebekah shouted.
"Klaus Mikaelson, don't you dare!" Caroline warned, sounding like a threat.
Klaus ignored them all, forcing down the urge to listen to his wife and instead tossed Emil over the balcony.
Emil fell several stories, his body landing below with a sickening crack, killing the young man instantly.
Rebekah turned to Elijah sobbing into his chest as he held her in an effort to comfort her.
Caroline stalked forward, glancing over the balcony, seeing Emil's broken body below in a pool of his own blood. She whirled back around to glare at her husband, and shoved him hard in the chest, he stumbled back just an inch, glaring.
"Why can't you let Rebekah be happy?" She demanded.
"I would have never allowed her to turn him." he stated, reaching for her.
She evaded his touch. "You didn't have to kill him. I swear some days I just want to strangle you with my own hands." She pushed past him, moving toward Rebekah. "Bekah." she placed her hand on the girl's back. "C'mon, let's go."
Rebekah turned to Caroline, eyes wet with tears, letting her sister-in-law lead her away.
"Why do you enjoy angering the women in your life?" Elijah shook his head, he would never understand his brother.
"Caroline's anger will pass," Klaus said dismissively, she would forgive him. She always did. One of the things he loved so damn much about her was that she looked for the good in people no matter how dark or evil they may be. And she had looked for the best in him from the day he met her and that was something that hadn't change in all their centuries together.
"Well, he wasn't good enough for you." Klaus stated, pulling Rebekah from her reverie.
"No one was ever good enough for me, Nik, you made sure of that," Rebekah responded, her voice tainted with bitterness. "Now where is Elijah?"
Before Klaus could answer his phone started buzzing, he looked at the screen seeing his son's name flashing across the screen. He stood, brushing past her to the door.
Rebekah turned around frowning after him. "Where are you going?"
"It appears the night is not quite over, yet. I'm off for another drink with Marcel." And if he was lucky perhaps Caroline would be there this time.
"Elijah told me about your plan to take apart Marcel's empire piece by piece. I don't remember it involving you two drinking New Orleans dry together." Rebekah stated with ire.
"I know you don't have many friends, Rebekah, but what some friends do when they get together is they drink. And when they drink, they tell secrets." he responded condescendingly. "Marcel has somehow found a way to control the entirety of witches in the Quarter, and I aim to uncover the 'how' so I might take it for myself. Finding Elijah didn't make my to-do list today." Klaus turned walking to the door but paused turning on his heel back to Rebekah. 'Oh, and welcome home, little sister." He told her with a smirk before taking his leave, the door shutting behind him.
Rebekah turned on the spot, contemplating what he said. She looked around the house, deciding she was going to have to search this house inch by inch until she found out what her evil brother did to her good one.
Rebekah walked down a spiral case, remembering how the Governor had a lot of secret rooms and these stairs led you to his favorite.
Seconds later she arrived in a dusty, cobwebbed cellar room, the coffins lined up in the room caught her attention. The same coffins Klaus would keep her, and their brothers in whenever he was feeling vindictive which was most of the time and daggered them.
She recognized her own coffin but did not see Elijah's and concluded that Klaus must have had him stashed elsewhere.
Rebekah frowned all she wanted to do was find Elijah and leave get as far from Klaus and this city, she moved deeper into the lower floor, continuing her search in hopes that she would find Elijah.
Sophie was scrubbing a table inside the Gumbo restaurant, Rousseau's when the doors slammed shut suddenly, the sound of a whoosh of a vampire running whispering in her ear but the vampire itself remained unseen. She walked cautiously, listening for further sounds. "Hello?" she called out and received only silence. "Seriously, Marcel? Trying to scare me? I had nothing to do with the attack on your guys last night!"
Some hanging pots started moving behind Sophie, as though a wind has passed through them, and she whirled around. She walked toward them slowly, grabbing up a butcher knife, which she lifted in time for Rebekah to appear suddenly, grabbing her raised, knife-wielding arm.
"Sophie Deveraux." said Rebekah. "My brother, Elijah, told me about you. Know who I am?"
"Yeah, I know."
Rebekah released her grip. "Then you know we need to talk."
Rebekah and Sophie walked among the burial vaults of the cemetery.
"So, if I had to guess, knowing Klaus's history, Elijah has a dagger in his chest. It's a magical object, you're a witch. Do a locator spell, locate the dagger, locate Elijah." Rebekah told her
"I can't use magic." Sophie informed her. "It's punishable by death – Marcel's rules."
"Marcel?" Rebekah repeated. "What do you think I'm going to do to you if you don't give me what I want?"
"Not much. I've been linked, so anything you do to me, you do to Caroline."
"Caroline?" Rebekah repeated. "She's a vampire."
"And vampires who are not originals can still die." Sophie looked at her significantly.
Rebekah glared darkly at her. Her history with Caroline had become complicated at best. While she had been relieved that a woman she thought of as a sister was not dead it did not mean the issues they had in the past were erased.
And she was sure if she did something that resulted in Caroline's death both Marcel and Klaus would be looking for a way to replicate what white oak stakes did to Originals. "Right," said Rebekah. "Lucky for you I'm not keen on being hunted down, otherwise I'd break your neck right here. How did Marcel get so bloody powerful, anyway? He wasn't like this when I left a hundred years ago. I know he has Caroline but it's not like she's an original."
"Marcel has a way to tell whenever there's magic done in the Quarter. The 'how' isn't relevant." Sophie responded.
"I'll tell you what's not bloody relevant – a coven of witches who can't do magic. Here's an idea: move away." Rebekah snarked. Why stay in a town ruled by vampires trapped beneath Marcel's thumb.
"We practice ancestral magic. This cemetery is filled with the remains of our witch ancestors. Without access to them, we're powerless." Sophie explained the witches and her plight. "If we run, we're leaving our legacy behind – our home, our family."
"Well, family's overrated." Rebekah scoffed. "Look at me. I'm back in a city that's given me nothing but heartache, looking for a brother who's hell-bent on reuniting our family, something I could care less about."
"I find that hard to believe. You're here, aren't you?" asked Sophie.
"I'm here for Elijah. The instant I find him, I'm gone. He was the one who idiotically believed that Caroline is Niklaus' redemption. And now he's missing, probably at the hands of Klaus himself." said Rebekah. "And you were foolish enough to believe that Elijah could convince Klaus to go against Marcel and Caroline when everyone who matters knows that they have a history."
"Klaus sired Marcel and Caroline was his lover for centuries. I'm aware." Sophie responded.
"You don't understand. Marcel is not just some guy that Klaus turned into a vampire. Klaus loved him like a son." she shook her head. "And Caroline wasn't just some lover. She was his wife. For six hundred years."
NEW ORLEANS, 1820
The Mikaelson's were part of the funeral procession for the Governor's son, Emli, dressed all in black, following behind a horse-drawn carriage.
"I was there the day that Klaus and Caroline met Marcel." Rebekah told Sophie. "We were burying Emil, the governor's only son... or so we thought."
"Turns out the governor had another son, from a mother that he owned." said Rebekah.
NEW ORLEANS, 1820
A man on a horse whipped a young black boy, the boy screamed out in pain with each lash to his back.
Caroline had stopped at the cry of pain, glancing back over her shoulder, her eyes widening when she saw a young child being whipped. She turned around stepping away from the procession.
Anger surged through her. No child should be treated that way.
She didn't care about the color of his skin, no child, no human, should be lashed, again and again, beaten while they were down. She took a step forward, wanting to kill the man on the horse.
She wanted to take the whip from him and see how he liked to be whipped, she wanted to hurt him, she wanted to feel his bones crushed beneath her hands. She wanted to kill him. But before she could take another step forward, she felt herself being yanked back, a hand wrapping around her waist, her back pressed against a familiar chest and her husband's voice in her ear. "Wait, Caroline."
Caroline froze unsure of what he wanted to wait for but she trusted him, she stilled, relaxing in his arms even as her anger coursed through her on the young boy's behalf.
The boy, fell to his knees in pain, he reached for an apple on the ground his hand wrapping around it, he whirled around and threw it at the man with the whip, a fierce look of hatred in his eyes.
Infuriated, the man wound up for another lashing, Caroline reacted immediately pushing Klaus's arm away and moved to shield the boy at the same time Klaus grabbed a rock from the ground and hurled it with vampire strength at the man; it hit him dead in the forehead, killing him instantly his body falling off the horse to the ground.
Rebekah and Elijah watch as Klaus approached the boy and Caroline seemed to be hovering over him in concern.
Caroline knelt in front of the boy, uncaring if her dress got dirty, brushing her blond hair back with one hand, and reaching out with her other, she settled it on the boy's shoulder. "Are you okay?"
The boy stared at her in surprise. He nodded. "I am fine, Ma'am."
"What is your name?" Klaus inquired standing just beside his wife.
"Don't got one. Mama wouldn't name me till I turned ten, 'case the fever took me... then it took her." the boy responded, and Caroline's heart filled with compassion for the boy to lose his mother so young.
Klaus crouched down beside his wife getting on the boy's level. "You're a survivor, and survivors need names. How about Marcellus?"
"Marcellus?" the boy repeated.
"It comes from Mars, the god of war, and it means 'little warrior'." Klaus stood up and held his hand out to the boy.
The boy hesitated, looking at Caroline, she smiled gently at him, standing up and nodding at him in encouragement.
The boy only hesitating a moment longer, something about the blonde that made him believe he could trust them, he smiled, taking Klaus's hand, rising to his feet. Caroline wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulder, offering Klaus a pleased smile.
Elijah and Rebekah watched the entire exchange with surprise. "Perhaps there is hope for our brother, afterall." Elijah commented.
PRESENT DAY
"Klaus saw himself in the boy. He remembered how our father used to beat him. He, too, was the bastard child of a man who saw him as nothing but a beast. And Caroline, when she loves she gives it everything inside of her and Marcel, he became her son from the day they met. Caroline had never loved anyone the way she loved Klaus yet she chose to stay at Marcel's side knowing we were out there. If that doesn't tell you how much she loves Marcel than I don't know what will. Your plan to turn her against him will never work. And that is why your plan will fail. All you've done is brought back together a broken family."
Rebekah sent Sophie a look one that said that Sophie had no idea what she has done, leaving behind a stunned Sophie.
Marcel was sitting at the bar, drinking when Klaus walked in.
"Well, this is a far cry from last night's party." He noticed Cami sitting at the bar, writing. "Ah, in pursuit of the bartender from "Rousseau's", I see."
"She's a work in progress." said Marcel.
"And yet here you are, pining over her when you should be eating her for lunch. Oh, she must be special." Klaus commented. "What does your mother think of her?"
Klaus remembered how protective Caroline was of Marcel. She had not been happy when she found out about Marcel and Rebekah. She believed Rebekah would move on to another and break Marcel's heart something she was very much against.
Marcel gave a snort. "She's not fond of her but I'm a grown man."
Besides, he didn't get involved in his mother's love life and he expected the same of her. So far it's worked out well.
"Anyway, business first." Said Marcel, changing the subject. "The coroner called. He's got my number in case any dead tourists show up."
"Let me guess – dead tourists with a stamp on the hand and vampire blood in their veins?" asked Klaus knowingly.
"It happens. Someone takes a drunken tumble off a balcony, or into the Mississippi... And today I got two of them to deal with." said Marcel.
Klaus rose from his seat when he saw Cami start gathering her things, preparing to leave. "Excuse me, love." he stopped her as she was leaving. "What's that you're studying?"
"Abnormal psychology." she answered with a polite smile.
"Abnormal psychology, well. Perhaps you could help me diagnose my friend over here." Klaus told her. "He's been a little bit depressed, can't keep his mind off a girl. He tells me she's a queen, fit for a king. I think he should cut his losses and move on. What's your professional opinion?"
"Be a nice guy, and maybe the opportunity will present itself some day." She told Marcel.
"How about tonight, nine o'clock?" asked Marcel. "I'll meet you right here?"
"I'll take it under consideration." she told him before leaving.
"Mm, harsh." Marcel commented, not used to being brushed off so easily.
"I daresay I've lost my touch. Or you've lost yours." Klaus shared a smile with his son.
Marcel took a sip of his drink. "I'm going to say you definitely lost your touch after all Caroline won't even talk to you."
Klaus's smile faded. "Perhaps you could help with that since you and she are so close."
"I could." Marcel nodded. "But I'm not going to. I rather like having a good relationship with her, she's not too happy about all the time I'm spending with you as it is."
Klaus forced a smile. "The pains of being the child of a broken home."
"Something like that," responded Marcel, sipping his drink.
"Speaking of your mother, what is she up to today?" Klaus inquired.
"No, I'm not about to get in the middle of what is going on with the two of you or not going on as it were." Marcel shook his head.
"Marcellus." It was rare when Klaus called him by his full name. "I'm trying to get my wife back and it would be helpful if you weren't against me on the matter."
"Just how does one go about winning their wife back when they left them behind?" Marcel responded, earning himself a murderous glare but he didn't flinch.
Klaus jaw clenched, biting back harsh words in reply to Marcel.
Hayley moved through the quarter trying her best to be discreet as she asked questions about the wolves, she spotted a small shop and strolled inside.
"You're going to have to come back tomorrow." A young woman with caramel skin told her. " I'm just closing up."
"I just have a few questions. Certainly, you wouldn't mind sparing just a few minutes." Hayley responded, putting on a fake smile.
"Fine." The woman said after a moment. "You have five minutes."
"Your a witch, right?" asked Hayley, stepping further into the shop.
The woman walked around the counter, looking at her carefully before finally responding. "And you're a werewolf. You shouldn't be in the Quarter. You'll get yourself killed."
"Sometimes you don't have a choice." Said Hayley. "I wanted to ask about the werewolves of the Quarter?"
Katie's lips thinned. "You really got a death wish, asking about werewolves around here."
"I'm just looking for some answers." Hayley looked at her with what she hoped was her best pleading look.
"You won't always like the answers you receive."
Hayley fought off a sigh. "I'm willing to take that risk."
Katie eyed her closely for a moment. "The wolves were run out of the Quarter a long time ago but there are sightings of them out in the bayou. You want answers, you need to go there and to the ones who ran them out of town to begin with."
"And who might that be."
"Caroline Forbes and Marcel Gerald."
"You take me to the nicest places," Klaus commented as Marcel had taken him to a garage.
Thierry and Diego opened the doors of a van. Two young kids by the names of Tina and Josh were sitting up in the back having just came back to life and both were in transition.
"Welcome to the land of the newly dead. I won't waste your time." Marcel looked at Thierry. "I trust you filled them in?"
"To be honest, not much in the way of potential here," Thierry informed him.
"Yeah, well, I just lost six night-walkers. I got holes to fill." Responded Marcel, he wasn't feeling too picky at the moment. "I'll keep this quick. That itch you feel? That's the need to feed coming on strong, a hunger for human blood. Drink it – you're a vampire. Don't – you die. Again. This time for good. Right here in a body bag." He looked at Klaus. "Hey, what do you think, cute dorky girl or gay best friend?"
"Dealer's choice," said Klaus.
"Dealer's choice, okay." Marcel showed them a coin. "Whoever picks up this coin gets to live forever. The other one dies." He laid down the coin between the two young people. "Go!"
The male looked at the girl and she didn't hesitate to grab up the coin.
"Damn girl!" Marcel laughed. "I said, damn!"
"How could you!?" The male looked at her in complete and utter betrayal.
"Get over it, Josh." The girl snapped at him, not the least bit remorseful. "It's not like I had a choice. You would've done the same thing, but you're such a little – "
Marcel had heard enough and snapped the girl's neck. "Let her die in cold storage." He lookedto Klaus. "Got a thing about people who betray their own friends. C'mon. Let's go for a ride."
Rebekah watched from a balcony above as Klaus loaded Josh into the car, Marcel was talking on his cell phone.
The scene before her made her recall a memory of the two of them.
"Attack au Fer! Now counter-parry. A hit! Palpable hit." Klaus called out orders as a young Marcel practiced fencing with Rebekah.
"I'm gonna marry you someday." Marcel declared.
"I would never marry someone who couldn't best me in a duel," Rebekah told him with a smile.
"You're too old for him anyway." Caroline stepped forward her hand landing on Marcel's back.
Rebekah glared at that. "Are you calling me old, sister?"
Caroline shot her a grin. "Don't worry, Becca, you're still beautiful."
"Flatterer." Rebekah accused with a smile.
Caroline smiled before focusing her attention back to Marcel.
"You did well. You are really starting to improve." she complimented.
"Do you really think so, Caroline?" Marcel asked, looking up at her with a look of hope.
"I do." Caroline smiled. "You are learning quick."
"Another lesson?" asked Rebekah.
A later memory hit Rebekah and even more powerful than the last.
An adult Marcel and Rebekah were dueling, the sexual tension between them thick in the air. He backed her into a corner and they removed their fencing masks. Marcel moved in to kiss her when Klaus appeared suddenly and he and Rebekah stepped back from one another as if burned.
Rebekah was standing on a balcony when Marcel found her, pulling her from her memories of past long ago. If she was honest with herself she was waiting for him.
"Rebekah Mikaelson. Come to teach me another lesson? Last time I saw you, Royal Street was burning and you all were fleeing from the city from your daddy."
"I thought you were dead," said Rebekah. "I thought both you and Caroline were dead."
"You never looked back to find out." Marcel was unmoved. "Why are you here?"
"Elijah," she answered. "I think Klaus has done something to him."
"Stop. Stop right there." Marcel told her, holding a hand up. "If there is one thing I learned about you Mikaelsons, it's don't get in the middle of family feuding. Doesn't end well."
1830s
"There is nothing going on between us. I swear it, on my life." Marcel swore.
"Your life means something to me," Klaus told him, anger seeping into his next words. "Give me the privilege of honesty or that will cease to be the case."
"I like her. And I think it's mutual, but I haven't done anything about it. I wouldn't, not –"
"And you won't." Klaus cut him off. "I love my sister, but she lacks fortune when it comes to men. They come and go for her, but I am the constant. She's my family."
"You said I was family." Marcel reminded. "I have begged you to turn me into a vampire."
"And I told you, I will turn you when you're ready. You go near Rebekah again, and you never will be." Klaus threatened.
"That's not just your choice to make."
Klaus and Marcel turned to see Caroline standing there with a somewhat unreadable expression.
"Caroline." Klaus started. "You know how I feel about him and Rebekah."
"This isn't about you, Nik," Caroline stated firmly. "You think I want them together? I don't."
"Caroline-" Marcel protested.
"I wasn't finished speaking." Caroline cut him off but with no anger.
"I can't trust that she won't break your heart. I love Rebekah, I do but she falls in and out of love so easily. I would hate for you to have your heart broken if that were to happen with you." She glanced from him then to her husband. "But who you choose to be with, who you to choose to open your heart to is up to you and no one else."
Klaus jaw clenched in disagreement with his wife's words.
Caroline stepped forward, gripping Marcel's hands in her own. "And you are family," she said firmly, sincerely.
Marcel's eyes softened. "Mother."
"I may not always agree with your choices, sweetheart, but I am always here, I am always on your side and if being a vampire is what you want then I promise you," she gave his hands a squeeze. "I will turn you myself if I have to, just not right now. Okay?" She couldn't imagine living for an eternity without her son. Her life was only exactly as it was meant to be if she had both her men at her side. Her husband, Klaus and her son, Marcel. That was all that she needed to live a perfect eternity.
Marcel nodded. "Okay, mother." He smiled softly at her, squeezing her hands back.
"Even after all you've achieved, you're still scared of him," said Rebekah in wonder.
"I'm not scared of anyone." Marcel proclaimed.
"You say you don't get in the middle of family feuding but there's was a time you and Caroline were both a part of this family." reminded Rebekah.
"Not anymore," he replied unapologetically. "And I know for a fact Caroline would agree with me."
"If I find out you or Caroline know where Elijah is, you needn't fear Klaus – I'll kill the both of you myself," Rebekah promised.
Marcel stepped forward his gaze hard. "Don't threaten Caroline or you might not like the results. You Mikaelson's aren't the only ones willing to go to bat for family. I wouldn't make an enemy out of me if I were you."
Rebekah met his gaze, surprise flickering across her own.
Marcel forced a smile once he knew his message had gotten across, "Nostalgia's a blast and all, but I can't help you. It was nice seeing you, though. Good luck finding what you're looking for." he turned, jumping off the balcony.
Marcel walks into a bar in the Quarter, his eyes scanning the place until he spotted just who he was looking for. Klaus was seated at the bar, drinking.
"I know that face – woman trouble," Klaus said when Marcel joined him.
"You're a dick, you know that? Why didn't you tell me your sister's back in town?" Marcel wanted to know.
"Well, I thought it would be more amusing for you to find out for yourself," Klaus responded.
"Is there anything else that I need to know?" asked Marcel.
"Only that she's grown considerably more insane in the last century," Klaus smirked.
"Or maybe that it was her who killed my guys?" Marcel countered.
"Doubtful," said Klaus dryly. "Unless that biker bar is frequented by small-town, high school quarterbacks, I can't imagine she'd be interested."
Marcel's phone started ringing and he answered it. "Yeah?"
Klaus listened in with his vampire hearing while keeping an uninterested expression.
"Just got a tip – someone saw a werewolf in Bienville Park."
"Get a couple night-walkers to run it down. Bring me back its head." Marcel ordered before hanging up.
"Well, I guess that solves the mystery of the murdered riffraff. At least my sister's in the clear." Said Klaus.
"About that." started Marcel, getting up to leave. "I don't have time for Mikaelson family drama. You're my guest – keep your sister in line."
"I'd have a greater chance of draining the Mississippi with a straw!" Klaus responded with a raised voice, calling after Marcel's retreating back.
Caroline had heard from Marcel that Rebekah was in town when he called her just a little while ago but she was still surprised when she caught sight of her walking down one of the many streets of the French Quarter. "Rebekah Mikaelson."
She watched as the other blonde's steps faltered and she turned around slowly. "Caroline."
"Still, sticking by Klaus's side I see."
"What makes you say that?" Rebekah's eyes narrowed defensively.
"The fact that your both here in New Orleans, kinda speaks for itself," Caroline stated.
"Well, you're wrong, I'm not here for him." Rebekah took a step toward her. "I'm looking for Elijah."
"Hmm." Caroline nodded. "Isn't that the same thing? Where Klaus is the two of you are never far behind."
"Is that so?" asked Rebekah. "Then you won't have any problem with telling me where my brother is?"
"I'm pretty sure Klaus is hitting the town with my son." Caroline replied easily.
"Not that brother," Rebekah said impatiently. "Elijah. I want to know where Elijah is?"
"I wouldn't know, haven't seen him," Caroline replied disinterestedly.
"Don't lie to me," Rebekah warned. "I don't think you need to be reminded of my vicious streak."
"All you Mikaelson's have a vicious streak and vague threats have no effect on me." Caroline raised her chin defiantly. "You want to find Elijah than you should talk to Klaus." she turned on her heel, turning to go but pausing. "Oh and one more thing, Bekah, steer clear of my son. The last thing we need is yet another Mikaelson back in his life."
Rebekah sped in front of her but Caroline didn't so much as flinch. "You are a Mikaelson or have you forgotten that? Perhaps you need a little reminding."
Caroline met her challenge stepping forward, her jaw squaring, eyes hard. "I haven't been a Mikaelson in a very long time. Perhaps you're the one who needs reminding of that not me. I stopped being a Mikaelson the night, you, Elijah and Klaus fled the city without looking back to see if Marcel and I were even alive." Caroline pushed past her, intentionally shoving into her shoulder as she did so. "Do us all a favor and take Klaus and leave town."
Rebekah whirled around, glaring after her. "What about Elijah?"
"What about him?" Caroline steps didn't falter as she called back. "He's your concern. Not mine."
Rebekah watched her go, a little dumbfounded. This Caroline was much different than the one she knew, less caring and more hardened. How much had the last two hundred years changed her?
She didn't know and she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to either.
Rebekah moved through the Quarter when she caught the sounds of a struggle, she followed the noise to Bienville Park where she saw a dark hair girl fighting off two vampires.
"Werewolves aren't welcome in the Quarter." One of the two vampires declared.
Werewolf? The only werewolf she knew was in the Quarter was the one Elijah had told her about. Rebekah sped onto the scene, snapping the neck of one and ripping the heart out from the other.
"Who the hell are you?" The girl demanded, eyes flashing yellow.
"You must be the werewolf girl, working with the witches and my brothers," Rebekah said, knowingly looking at the girl's yellow eyes. "Rebekah Mikaelson."
"You're Klaus and Elijah's sister." She said in surprise. "I'm Hayley."
"I don't really care who you are," Rebekah told her. "I care about what you can tell me. When is the last time you saw my brother, Elijah?"
Klaus threw the final body onto a small pile in the front courtyard of the plantation house while he berated Rebekah and Hayley for their behavior. Why did they have to complicate things when they were complicated enough as it were.
"What the hell were you even doing in the Quarter, Haley? The witches should have you on a leash," he yelled at the wolf girl that Rebekah had brought back with her after saving said wolf's life. "Werewolves are banned in the Quarter. I had a plan, and your little nighttime stroll put it all in peril!"
Rebekah was used to his rants and tantrums and half ignored him, she noticed one of the vampires in the pile of bodies moving, still alive and step forward with the intention of finishing him off.
"Leave him!" Klaus snapped angrily, stopping her, no longer focusing his attention on Hayley. "You've done enough, don't you think? Leaving a trail of bodies like a roadmap to my door?"
"If I hadn't overheard this lot bragging about werewolf heads, everyone here would be screwed. And don't give me that crap about having a plan. You've had all the time in the world to execute a plan, and no one's seen you do a damn thing!" Rebekah snapped, she wasn't going to stand here and listen to him ridicule her. "Elijah made a deal to take out Marcel and help you get Caroline back in a misguided hope that it could save you from your selfish, rotten self. But you obviously don't give a damn about Elijah or anyone but yourself, because what have you done to honor his deal."
"I have done everything." Klaus countered defensively. "Let me spell it out for you, shall I? From the day I arrived, Marcel and Caroline have not trusted me. From day one, Marcel's had his vampires ingest toxic vervain which, as you know, little sister, protects them from my mind control."
"I needed a spy, someone on the inside with me who Marcel would never suspect. So, I created a Day Zero and got there first. Marcel had just lost six vampires, thanks to your little murder spree, and he needed new recruits. So, I made the new one mine, before he'd had even a drop of vervain." Klaus began listing off everything he has done so far since being in New Orleans.
"But we all know the real way to a man is through his heart, so…" He had compelled the local bartender, Cami, to give Marcel a chance, learn anything she can and report back to him. "I compel his little human to give him a chance and relay everything back to me."
Klaus snatched the moving vampire from the pile of bodies like he was nothing more than a ragdoll. "And this one – I'm gonna drain him of vervain, compel him to believe his mates found religion and moved to Utah so that he can explain to Marcel why he lost three more vampires tonight." He dragged the vampire into the house and Rebekah and Hayley followed him inside.
"Does anyone have any more questions?" He asked, dropping the vampire and shoving him away, the vampire laid motionless feet away. "No? Good, because I have a question. Hayley, what were you doing in the bloody French Quarter in the first place?" When Hayley said nothing, he felt his anger rising. "Answer me!"
"I'm tired of being cooped up in the swamps. I wanted to just see the city for a bit."
Klaus ran forward, slamming her into the wall his hand, wrapped tightly around her throat. "Are you fucking stupid?! This isn't the time for you to be taking a stroll in the city."
Hayley gasped for breath, her nails clawing at his hand trying to pull him off her.
"Nik! NIK!" Rebekah shouted at him, she ran at him to try and pry him off the wolf but Klaus pushed her away with his free hand.
"Back off, Rebekah!" He snapped angrily, veins traveling beneath his eyes. He turned back to Hayley, his hand tightened around her throat,
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Rebekah demanded. "I thought you didn't care about anything but your full of bullshit. You care more than your willing to admit to anyone even to yourself."
In annoyance he released Hayley and she coughed and spluttered as he whirled around to Rebekah. "Don't be delusional Rebekah. I don't care about anything."
Rebekah gave him a reproachful look. "Yes, you do. You care about Caroline. Everything you have been doing has been for her. Your reaction to Hayley being in the Quarter? You don't want her ruining your plans on taking back the city and getting your wife back." When Klaus said nothing, staring back at her with a clenched jaw. "It's okay to care. It's okay to want back what you lost. That's all Elijah was trying to do. He wanted you to care. All he's ever wanted was for you to care. It's all we've ever wanted."
Klaus looking away from his sister and shot Hayley a look. "Leave get back to the witches. If you mess up my plans I'll kill you myself."
Hayley glared rubbing at her neck before rushing out of the house.
Klaus's angry expression faded once she was gone, and reeling from being confronted with his feelings, he sunk down on the stairs.
Rebekah watched him for a moment before slowly taking a seat beside him.
"I gave Elijah to Marcel," he admitted a moment later.
"What?" Rebekah asked, looking at him in disbelief.
"Marcel was nervous. It's bad enough one Original returned to town, but two? His crew was getting antsy. He wanted Elijah gone, so... I gave him a peace offering."
"You bartered our brother?" Rebekah didn't know why she was so surprised. Klaus had done far worse things but this was Elijah they were talking about. How could Klaus do this to him?
"I have a plan. Gain Marcel's trust, dismantle his empire, honor Elijah's wish that our family be reunited. And more importantly get my wife back." Klaus said without remorse, his eyes hardening over as he locked gazes with Rebekah's betrayed one. "I am executing that plan the only way I know how. If you don't like it, there's the door. See if I care." he rose, walking out of the room without a backward glance.
Rebekah let out a breath, leaning back, shoulders slumping. How was she supposed to leave now? She couldn't. She couldn't leave Elijah in the hands of Marcel.
Rebekah sat on the back porch, staring out at the night, her mind drifted to what she had found when she had been looking for Elijah. She reached beneath her chair and stared down at the white oak daggers that Klaus loved to use on her so much.
She wasn't worried Klaus would come upon her and see that she had found his stash of daggers. He had left not long after he revealed that he had given Elijah to Marcel.
She didn't know why her brothers had such a hold on her. Klaus in particular. No matter the betrayal she always found herself being drawn back into his actions, his orbit.
She had spent the last thousand years with him but she couldn't do it anymore but deciding to quit someone who has always been apart of your life was like losing a part of yourself. But sometimes her hate for Klaus was just… so powerful. Emil wasn't the only boyfriend of hers that Klaus had killed. He did it again and again and every time she found someone to care about.
She used to watch him with Caroline and she would be so envious. She saw how her brother would burn down an entire city if Caroline so much as asked him to, how what Caroline wanted, needed, matter more to him than what he wanted. It was the only time Klaus wasn't selfish.
And all she had wanted was someone to love her the way Caroline was loved but Klaus just kept killing any chance she found at being happy until she just stopped falling in love. Klaus had always said he was protecting her from her mistakes, that no one was ever good enough for her, his little sister. At least until one day someone was.
1830s
Marcel approached Rebekah in the courtyard where they usually practiced their fencing.
"How was the river?" asked Rebekah.
"It was cool…" Marcel's eyes took her in. "sweet."
Rebekah rose, feeling nervous as he drew closer, trying her hardest not to allow herself to be distracted by his shirtless chest. "I should go inside –"
Marcel blocked her way when she tried to leave and backed her against the wall. Rebekah stared up at him with desire. Marcel ducked his head down kissing her passionately, and Rebekah return it, clutching at him, but after a moment she pushed him away, coming to her senses. "My brother will kill you," Rebekah warned with worry. She wasn't worried about herself, but for Marcel. She feared what Klaus would do to him.
"Then I'll die smiling." He pressed his mouth back to Rebekah's, it barely lasted more than a moment before he was pulled roughly away from her, his back colliding into the wall and he was faced with his father's wrath.
"Did I not warn you?" Klaus shouted, fencing sword in hand.
Rebekah felt fear coursed through her. "Klaus, I beg of you! He is not like any other. You saw it in him from the very first day." She all but pleaded, hoping she convince him to spare Marcel. "You saved him, protected him... you raised him. You cannot kill him."
Rebekah laid a hand on Klaus' sword arm, which dropped slowly.
Marcel sighed in relief as the sword clattered to the ground.
"You are right. I cannot." Klaus said hollowly.
Rebekah felt relief hit her followed by a sharp pain in her chest as Klaus drove a dagger through her heart.
"But you, dear sister, need a lesson in what you can and cannot take from me." Klaus stated coldly, his jaw clenched.
Marcel watched, horrified, frozen as Rebekah weakened anddesicated in Klaus' arms.
With the daggers in her possession, she had nothing to fear from Klaus. She could do whatever it took to get Elijah back from Marcel without fear that Klaus would dagger her next.
She smiled slowly to herself. She would keep the daggers and she would free Elijah from Marcel's grasp.
Marcel joined Cami at a table with a bottle of wine at his favorite bar in the Quarter. The place was empty save for the two of them. "I sent everyone home for the night. I am your humble host."
"Oh... okay." Cami smiled impressed. "Extra points for flair."
"And the night's just started." He grinned. "What made you decide to come?"
"Everyone deserves a chance," she responded with an open smile.
Suddenly the doors of the restaurant swung wide open and Rebekah burst inside. "You lied to me. Where's my brother?" She demanded.
"Hello to you, too. Cami, Rebekah – Rebekah, Cami." Marcel made the necessary introductions, his eyes narrowing in annoyance at the interruption.
"I see you still have a thing for blondes." Rebekah snarked, eyeing Cami distastefully.
An affronted look came across Cami's face and she rose from her seat. "Hey–"
Rebekah grabbed Marcel by the neck and vamp sped him across the room, slamming him against the wall. "Tell me where Elijah is!"
"What the hell is going on?" Cami demanded, alarmed, her heart beating quickly in her chest.
"Tell me where he is or I will kill you!" Rebekah threatened viciously. She didn't care what history they shared. She wasn't leaving without Elijah.
Marcel merely looked at Rebekah, and for a moment she saw a memory from the past.
A shared passionate kiss between the two of them.
Marcel had deliberately sent her the memory.
"No, you won't," he said confidently.
Slowly, Rebekah backed off, releasing him. Maybe, she did care for their shared history after all. Some things were hard to let go. "Perhaps you're right." A moment of tense silence past between them before Rebekah sped over to the blonde, grabbing Cami, pinning her against the wall by her throat. "But I will kill her."
"Let her go." Marcel stepped forward, guarded, jaw clenching angrily. "You won. I'll take you to see Elijah."
Rebekah waited another moment before releasing Cami.
Cami gasped for air clutching her throat, her heart beating in fear, looking appalled. "What the hell are you people?"
"Shh, it's okay." Marcel gently took her by the shoulders, catching her gaze and compelling her. "Go home, forget all this, and just know that I will make it up to you. I promise." He released her turning to Rebekah. "You wanna see Elijah? Fine. Follow me."
Rebekah followed him out of the restaurant, leaving Cami alone.
Marcel had led Rebekah to an old church and led her up to the attic opening the door and walking into the room.
Rebekah stood in the doorway but when she spotted Elijah's coffin, she stepped forward but much to her surprise she couldn't pass the threshold, a magical barrier keeping her out. "Invite me in."
"Gotta ask the lady of the house." Marcel gave a crooked smile. "Davina, come on out, sweetheart."
A young dark-haired girl entered into her view, moving to stand at Marcel's side.
"Invite her in." Marcel told Davina.
"Come in." Davina said, trusting Marcel completely.
Rebekah entered the room, walking over to Elijah's coffin, she opened it to find her brother inside. She reached for the dagger buried in his chest and started to pull it out.
"I wouldn't do that." Davina cautioned.
Rebekah, magically compelled, her movements not her own, shoved the dagger back in.
"Who the hell are you?" Rebekah demanded.
"Davina," she answered. "She's an old one, isn't she?" she asked Marcel without looking away from Rebekah.
"Yeah. Rebekah is an Original, which means she can't be killed."
"She doesn't seem very nice," Davina commented, eyeing Rebekah.
"She can be…" Marcel allowed. "but she hasn't been very nice to me tonight."
"Then I'm afraid it's time for you to leave," Davina told Rebekah, the look in her eyes becoming hard. Without moving a muscle, Davina magically propelled Rebekah across the room, slamming her against one wall and then another one several times before finally sending her through a door, it swung shut behind her with a deafening slam.
NEW ORLEANS, 1887
Rebekah awoke, her hair styled in the 1830s fashion, she sat up on the bed, her eyes wide.
"Well, it's about time," Klaus said from nearby where he was seated at a table twirling the silver dagger with its point balanced on the tabletop. "I was bored waiting... but I did so want to see your face, and it is, indeed, priceless."
"You bastard." Rebekah seethed in betrayal. "What day is it?"
"Sunday," he answered.
"I have been daggered for a whole week? Marcel – what have you done to him?" she demanded, she knew he had to be alive there was no way Caroline would have let Klaus kill him.
"It's 1887, Rebekah. You've been daggered for 52 years." Klaus answered, his eyes had a dark look but his lips pulled into a smirk.
"What?" asked Rebekah, eyes widened, face falling in disbelief. That couldn't be possible?
"And don't worry about Marcel. You and I both know Caroline would never forgive me if I was to dispose of him the way I have your past lovers. And he is my son." said Klaus his smirk fading into something dark. "I presented him with a choice: he could choose to undagger you and live out the rest of his human days with you, or–"
"No." Rebekah said in immediate denial. Marcel wouldn't.
Klaus continued as if she hadn't spoken. "I could turn him instead, as he's always wanted, in exchange for giving you up."
"No." Rebekah repeated shaking her head in denial. "He wouldn't do that to me."
"Oh, but he did," Klaus smirked as the door opened and Marcel entered the room bearing a lit candle. He looked at Rebekah, expressionless.
Rebekah felt the betrayal hit her hard, her eyes filling with tears, she shut them tightly, devastated.
NEW ORLEANS, PRESENT DAY
"Make that Two Tequila's David," Caroline called to the bartender leaning on the bartop.
"Coming right up, Beautiful." The male bartender, David, called back in his British accent.
Caroline leaned over the bar as he turned to make the drinks, checking him out until she heard a throat clearing, she pulled back turning back around to see Silvi, giving her a knowing look. "What, he's looking good tonight."
"David is always looking great," Silvi replied, glancing at the man in question, he was tall, broad shoulder and incredibly fit, his shirt clinging to the muscle of his biceps, his jeans fit perfectly to his legs, and his ass looked amazing in them.
"He does, doesn't he?" Caroline glanced over her shoulder at him, his perfectly chiseled jaw, covered in light stubble and the blue of his cerulean eyes and his perfectly tanned skinned and sandy blonde curls.
"You know I find it very telling that he has similar traits to your old flame that blew into town," Silvi said leadingly.
"I don't." Caroline shot her a glare. "They have nothing in common."
"Really? Because I'm seeing a lot of similarities." Continued Silvi with a grin. "Blue eyes, sandy blonde curls, stubble and let's not forget hot British accents."
Caroline glared. "They are nothing alike. David is kind and loyal and caring and he doesn't expect things just because he thinks he some special gift to the world."
"I'm sensing some underlining issues. How come you never mention him before?" Silvi referred to Klaus.
"Because he doesn't matter. He's the past. I don't care to think of anyone who I have no use for when I deserve someone who would fight for me." Caroline responded.
"Say the word and I'll fight for you anytime." David set the two shots in front of her. "On the house."
Caroline grinned. "So sweet."
"I try." he grinned. "We still on for tonight?"
Caroline leaned forward, grasping his face in between her hands and pressed her mouth to his in a heated kiss.
David groaned gripping the bartop, his mouth moving with her's until she pulled away.
"We'll meet up after your shift," she promised.
David grinned. "I'm counting down the minutes."
"Alright, you two are sickeningly sweet, time to go." declared Silvi before downing her shot.
Caroline barely had time to down her own shot before Silvi was dragging her out of her favorite bar. "Hey, why are we leaving?"
"I want the details on this ex of yours." Silvi linked their arms as they walked down the sidewalk. "And I don't believe its a good idea for your current flame to be over-hearing us discussing the old one."
"I don't see what it matters, it's not like David and I are serious." Caroline dismissed.
"Does he know that cause he looks at you like you hung the stars in the sky." Silvi sassed.
Caroline opened her mouth then shut it, clicking her tongue. "He knows I don't do the whole commitment thing. I told him the first time anything ever happened between us."
"Clearly you did once, since you're married." Silvi reminded.
"I don't need you to remind me of that." Caroline shot her a glare.
"Or maybe you do since you've never mentioned him to me before," Silvi argued.
"My relationship with Klaus was over long before I met you." Caroline retorted. "It was in the past where I would like it to stay."
"Well, I don't think he agrees." Said Silvi as she spotted Klaus turning down the corner street. "Especially since the very sight of you has him freezing in place."
"What?" Caroline looked across the road and saw Klaus, she looked skyward groaning. "Why can't he just leave already?"
"Maybe because he's still in love with you?" Silvi suggested.
"Doubtful." Caroline snarked. "You don't leave someone you claim to love behind. It doesn't matter our relationship is over and done with." she started pulling them down the sidewalk intent on ignoring Klaus entirely.
"Just because a relationship is over doesn't mean you stopped loving them," argued Silvi.
"No, but sometimes their actions kill the love you had for them and nothing they say or do can change that." Caroline retorted.
"You loved me once." Klaus's voice sounded from just behind them. "You can love me again."
Caroline stopped abruptly, she unlinked her arms with Silvi, whirling around to glare at him. "It's rude to listen to a conversation you are not a part of."
"Since I was the topic of conversation I figured why not put my two cents in," Klaus stated, he stepped forward, glancing at Caroline's companion. "Klaus Mikaelson, Caroline's husband and you are?"
"She's none of your business." Caroline stepped protectively in front of Silvi. Most People, vampire, witch or human that came in contact with Klaus usually ended up dead and she wasn't about to let that happen with Silvi. "Head back to the compound, I'll meet you there." She told Silvi not looking away from Klaus, her tone left no room for an argument.
Silvi looked between the two but after seeing the defensive way she stood, she nodded, squeezing Caroline's arm. "I'll see you in a bit."
Caroline watched her disappear into the throng of people walking the streets before turning back to Klaus, crossing her arms.
"Really?" Klaus stepped forward. "Do you think I'm going to go around killing your friends? What good would that do?"
"What do you want, Klaus?"
"In your good graces," he answered easily.
Caroline scoffed. "Fat chance of that happening. You should just cut your losses."
"No." He shook his head. "I won't just give up on you. You think your love for me is dead but-"
Caroline uncrossed her arms, taking a step forward, just inches between them, she glared. "I don't think. I know. The love I feel for you is dead." She watched as a look of pain shown in his eyes before they steeled over and he clenched his jaw. It gave her a feeling of triumph being able to hurt him with something as simple as a few well placed harsh words.
"I got you to fall in love with me before I can do it again," Klaus vowed.
"I was human then and I'm nothing like that girl I was." Caroline retorted.
"Then let me get to know the woman you've become." Klaus stepped forward, closing the last remaining distance between them, his eyes peering into her own, practically pleading with her.
Caroline frowned back at him. "Why?" She was so different from the person she used to be, the wife that Klaus left behind. She didn't see the point. It would not change anything.
"So I can prove to you that it doesn't matter how much you've changed from the woman who was my wife, I will love any and every version of you." Klaus's hand reached out, reaching for her hands to clasp in his own, his hand tightening around hers when she didn't immediately pull away. "There is not a single version of you that I couldn't love."
Caroline found herself swept up in his sweet words, and intense blue gaze, her hand warm in his hold.
"I want to show you that what we have is stronger than the time we spent apart."
His words had her yanking her hand back from him, standing taller as she stepped back, her anger brimming just beneath the surface, her eyes steeling over. "Time that we spent apart because of you. You can claim to love me all you want but when it mattered you abandoned me to save your own skin. That is not love."
"That's not how it happened, I thou-"
"I don't care." Caroline cut him off. "You left. You let me go the second you left Marcel and me to die. Anything you have to say on the matter is meaningless and I don't want to hear it."
"If you just let me explain-"
"There's nothing for you to explain," Caroline said abruptly. "I get that you're sticking around and you're reconnecting with Marcel and if he wants you back in his life that's his choice but I don't want you back in mine and there is nothing you can say or do that will change my mind. We were done a long time ago, our relationship belongs in the past. Let it stay there."
Caroline didn't wait for a response, she turned on her heel and sped away.
Klaus looked down at her departure, her words still ringing in his head. He looked back, clenching his jaw. He was going to get through to her one way or another.
He thought back to that fucking night when he thought he lost her. When he left thinking she was dead. If he could only get her to see that night from his perspective, from his side, he was sure he could get her to forgive him or at the very least let her walls down and let him back in her heart.
Rebekah awakened on a bed in a room that was all too familiar to her.
"Welcome back, Rebekah." Marcel stood at the end of the bed. "You were out for quite a while."
"Where am I? How'd I get here?" Rebekah asked, casting her eyes about the room.
"You upset Davina. I'm glad you two finally got to meet. Now you know what you're dealing with." There was pride in his voice when he spoke of the young girl.
"Is this my old room?" asked Rebekah in surprise.
"Oh, it's mine now. Just like this town is mine, Davina's mine, Caroline's mine, and Elijah is mine until I feel like giving him back. What was once yours, what was once your brother's – it's now mine." Marcel turned walking toward the door but turned back to Rebekah at the last second. "And don't ever touch Cami again."
Klaus set his pencil aside and glanced down at the sketch in his hand he just finished, sitting behind his desk in his study.
Marcel sat on a throne a goblet in one hand and standing to his right, looking regal was Caroline, her hair falling around her shoulders, her expression closed off, eyes void of any warmth.
He made Marcel everything that he is. He treated him like a son. And when his father chased him and his family, Rebekah, and Elijah, from New Orleans a hundred years ago, he believed Marcel was killed. He had believed Caroline had died at Mikael's hands.
It was Elijah who had told him he saw Mikael kill Caroline, he had believed his brother. The very thought of seeing Caroline lifeless had filled him with such horror, he couldn't bear it. He knew it would break him and he would never recover. He left without seeing her dead body for himself. Something he had come to regret.
Elijah had gotten it wrong and maybe if he had gone to see her for himself, he would have found out that Mikael hadn't killed her and he wouldn't have left her behind. He wouldn't have spent the last two hundred years without his wife thinking she was lost to him. And Caroline wouldn't hate him now.
He had mourned both his wife and son. Yet, when he returned, he found not only had they survived, but Marcel had thrived and Caroline was not the Caroline he remembered. Instead of seeking him out, instead of sticking together as a family, as one, Marcel made a choice to take everything his family had built and made it his own and Caroline stayed at his side, Caroline helped him.
Now, Marcel was living in his home, he was sleeping in their beds all with Caroline's approval. That 'M' Marcel stamped everywhere... it was not for 'Marcel'. It was for 'Mikaelson'.
Klaus wanted it all back. His Home, his city. And more importantly his Caroline and if he has to push Marcel out to get it, then that's exactly what he was going to do.
He tore the sketch down the middle, separating the images of Marcel and Caroline. He crumbled the image of Marcel and placed the image of Caroline away in his desk.
A moment later he was hurrying down the stairs, only to meet Rebekah as she entered the house, slamming the door shut behind her. "You were right. The girl, Cami – she's the key. Marcel likes her, and because of that I got to see the secret weapon of his that you've been going on about."
"Well, don't stand on ceremony. What is it?" He waved his hand impatiently.
"It's not a 'what', it's a 'who'. A girl, Davina." Rebekah corrected. "She can't be more than sixteen, and I have never felt power like that."
"A witch," said Klaus.
"She's not just any witch, she's something I've never seen before, something beyond powerful, and now because of you she has Elijah." she looked at him in anger. "Who knows what she could do to him."
Klaus's jaw clenched. "Where is she?"
Rebekah opened her mouth to answer but shut it stopping, looking confounded she tried to think of it but it was like her mind was blocked. "That clever bitch. I don't know."
"What's wrong?" asked Klaus.
"She wiped my memory of the location." Rebekah snapped angrily. "Marcel possesses a weapon bigger and more powerful than an Original, and you handed our brother to him! How many times will Elijah forgive you? How long until his hope for your redemption finally dies?"
"I did what I had to do! Marcel took our home!" Klaus snapped back at her. He took his Caroline.
"And our home is worthless without family," Rebekah stressed. "I am finding Elijah – whatever it takes. Are you going to help me?"
"Whatever it takes." Klaus echoed in agreement.
Marcel entered the attic of the church; Davina was drawing at her easel, Caroline was seated on her bed. "What exactly is that supposed to be, D?" Caroline wondered, she couldn't really make out what Davina was sketching, it was dark and shaded.
"I'm not sure," Davina responded, she turned to Marcel as he drew closer.
"I'm sorry about that unpleasantness." he apologized.
"What was Rebekah even doing here?" Caroline didn't want any of the Mikaelson's near her.
"She doesn't scare me. None of them do." Davina declared strongly.
"I didn't think they would, honey," said Marcel, he loved her bravery but in all honesty, the Mikaelson's snooping around had him more worried than he wanted to admit. "But, the thing is, it seems like they're here to stay."
Caroline looked at Davina, worried. She knew Davina was powerful but not being cautious or wary of a Mikaelson was foolish.
"They don't belong here," Davina stated, eyes hardening with resolve.
"Might be kinda tough to convince them of that... which is why I need to ask you for a favor. I'm gonna need you to figure out how we kill an Original." Marcel told her.
"Kill an Original?" Caroline stood from the bed. "If you do that, Marcel, you're asking for war."
Marcel nodded expression grave. "I know but you said it yourself, you don't want Klaus here, you don't want him in your life."
"I want them out of the city, I didn't say to kill them," Caroline stressed. She wanted Klaus gone and even Rebekah and Elijah but she didn't want to have to resort to killing them.
"Not a single one of them cared about what happened to us when they fled the city why should we care about them?" Marcel responded. "If they cared a damn about us they wouldn't have left us behind."
Caroline's eyes hardened with the reminder. Her son had a point. She would have never left them behind but it was exactly what they had done to her and Marcel. "If this is what think you have to do than do it."
"And you'll stand with me?" Marcel hated that he felt he had to ask but he knew what it was like to love a Mikaelson. It was all consuming and went against all logic. And even when you told yourself you felt that love was dead it had a way of resurrecting and bleeding to the surface.
Caroline's eyes softened and she reached up cupping his jaw in a motherly gesture. "I'll always stand with you. Your enemies are my enemies. Anyone who comes after you in any capacity will have me to deal with and I can promise you it won't be pretty."
Marcel heard the conviction in her every word, setting his mind at ease, internally rolling his eyes at himself for ever doubting Caroline for even a second. He nodded slowly, taking his mother's hand and squeezing it affectionately.
Davina watched them, feeling envious that Marcel had a mother that would sooner die than let anything happen to him. She realized she must have let out a noise because Caroline turned to her, reaching out and wrapping her hand around hers.
"That goes for you too, Davina. The Mikaelsons may be family but so are the three of us and I will strike down anyone who comes after either one of you." Caroline promised.
Davina's lips pulled into a thankful smile. She may not have had a mother who would fight for her but she had Marcel and she had Caroline and that was enough.
Caroline smiled at both Marcel and Davina before bringing her hands together. "With that said," she turned back to Marcel. "You said let's find a way to kill an Original?"
"I did." Marcel nodded, glad to see that Caroline seemed to be on board.
Caroline looked at Davina. "Are you up for it?"
"I can do it," Davina said confidently.
Caroline looked at Marcel. "You're sure this is what you want to do?"
"It's what I have to do," Marcel said gravely, he had to protect his town, his guys, his family. Davina and Caroline.
"Then we'll do this together." Caroline declared, even though she knew there would be no turning back once they killed one of the Mikaelsons.
There was history there with the Originals, with Klaus that could never be forgotten or unwritten but her loyalties were to herself and her son, and now Davina, not the Mikaelson's. Not Klaus. Not anymore.
A/N: I want to apologize again for the long wait but hopefully the length of the chapter made up for that. Secondly, for those who might be concerned about Caroline's involvement with David. This is a slowburn but I promise Klaroline is endgame.