A/N: I'm not too sure about this chapter but it's been forever since I updated this story. I hope the chapter doesn't completely suck. However, there are some Klaroline moment that I enjoyed writing. Anyway, I apologize for any mistakes and hope you like the chapter.
Warning: There's light smut in this with Caroline and a guy who is not Klaus. If that bothers you feel free to skip the last of the chapter
Klaus sat at his desk in his study, riffling through some old parchments.
"I cannot believe you disposed of those vampires without me," Rebekah complained, arms crossed over her chest. "You know how I love to set things on fire."
"Was I supposed to leave them in the front yard to rot?" Klaus didn't even bother looking at her. "Besides, they were my responsibility. They attacked the helpless wolf girl."
"Oh, I am so moved by your newfound sense of responsibility to a werewolf you don't even know," Rebekah said sarcastically.
"I have zero responsibility to her." he didn't care what happened to the wolf. "She is simply a means to an end. If I can benefit from a werewolf presence in the Quarter then so be it. That is her only use to me."
"Enough about how everyone is nothing but a pawn on your chess board. What about Elijah?" Rebekah demanded. "What are our plans?"
"Well, that depends what plan you mean, dear sister. My plan for global domination, or your plan to find love in a cruel, cruel world?"
Rebekah snatched up a pencil from the desk beside her in a flash and threw it at him. Klaus caught inches from his face just before it could impale him.
"Tsk, tsk." He smirked at her. Twirling the pencil between his fingers.
"What's the plan to get Elijah back from Marcel ?" Rebekah insisted, frowning. "It's hard to believe that he and Caroline are our enemies now."
"Well, firstly, Marcel is not my mortal enemy—he's my son, albeit one who is unaware that I'm trying to sabotage his hold over the supernatural community of the French Quarter, and win back his mother but a son nonetheless. Secondly, Caroline is not my enemy. She has never been an enemy to me and she never will be. She is my wife." Klaus said strongly. "And thirdly, I daggered Elijah in order to gain Marcel's trust. If I had known he would place our brother in the hands of a particularly nasty teenage witch, I certainly would have weighed my options a bit differently. And fourthly, sister, please." he dropped the pencil onto the desk.
"I know the plan isn't just to simply ask Marcel for Elijah back." Rebekah insisted. "What diabolical back up plan do you have in the works."
"War," Klaus smirked folding his hands together, his eyes shining with mirth.
Marcel stood getting fitted for his suit, accompanied by Thierry and Caroline was seated in a chair, flipping through a clipboard.
"Damn, I do look good in a suit," he said, looking at himself through a mirror.
Thierry chuckled.
"You always do," Caroline didn't bother looking up from her clipboard.
"Have you been fitted for your dress?" Marcel asked glancing at his mother curiously.
She looked up from her book. "The party is tonight. Of course, I have a dress already and I look amazing in it."
Marcel grinned. "I'm sure you do. Are you bringing David?"
"Are you bringing that bartender?" Caroline asked avoiding the question.
"Her name's Cami," Marcel told her pointedly.
"I don't much care what her name is." As far as Caroline was concerned no one was good enough for her boy. Especially not some human bartender.
Marcel shook his head, he knew her protectiveness came from a good place. "You didn't answer my question."
"Depends rather or not Klaus will be there or not," Caroline responded. "I'm not about to get him on Klaus's radar." She could always just show up at his place later. He wouldn't mind.
Thierry turned to the television when it caught his focus showing photos of a girl, Tina McGreevy and a guy, Joshua Rosza. "My guy at the docks is gonna come forward as an eyewitness, saying he saw those two drunkenly fall into the Mississippi. They'll be dredging for weeks. No one will come looking around here."
"That's good, considering one's dead in a dumpster behind the county morgue and the other one is a vampire now," Marcel commented. "Anything else?"
"Ow!" The Tailor exclaimed suddenly, having accidentally pricked her finger with her needle, drawing blood.
"Allow me, darling." Marcel crouched down, taking her finger into his mouth, cleaning it of blood.
Caroline raised one perfect eyebrow at him before returning to her clipboard and the extensive guest list.
"One thing. I sent 4 nightwalkers to look into a werewolf sighting in the Quarter. I haven't heard from them since." said Thierry.
"That makes 10 dead nightwalkers in the last week. You think the werewolves are back in town trying to start some trouble?" Marcel wondered.
Caroline scoffed. "I don't think it's a coincidence that our nightwalkers started dropping like flies right after Klaus arrives in town."
"Now, now, love. I know you're angry with me but that's no reason to throw around false accusations." Klaus' voice sounded announcing his arrival.
Caroline dropped her clipboard to her lap, scowling. "What are you doing here?"
"I want to see my son." He responded.
Caroline scoffed. "Like I would believe that was your only reason for being here."
"Well, the more obvious reason for being here is you."
Caroline glared, she rose from her seat and move toward her son. "I'll see you tonight. Don't let him drag you into trouble." she leaned up kissing his cheek before brushing coldly past Klaus.
Klaus turned watching her go.
"I see you've given him free rein of your compound now, too," Thierry said to Marcel making his opinion on the matter evident.
Klaus turned back at his comment, he stepped toward Thierry aggressively. "Yes. Well, seeing as my family and I lived here, built the place, in fact—"
"All right. Come on." Marcel stepped in between them. "You both know the drill. Thierry's my guy, inner circle. Klaus is my old-time friend and he was like a father to me. He's also a guest here. Peace, all right? All right." he focused his attention more on Klaus. "What do you need?"
"I'm afraid my sister Rebekah is insisting I demand Elijah's return. She's quite worked up about it." Klaus stated.
"I'll say," Marcel replied remembering his encounter with her in the Quarter.
"We're not gonna have Three Originals walking around town, are we?" Theirry hated that they were here. "Half our guys think the sister killed the nightwalkers."
"Is that an accusation against an Original?" Klaus demanded at Theirry's audacity to accuse him when he was right there.
"Eh." Thierry shrugged, he stood straighter as Klaus stormed over toward him, he was ready for a confrontation, he wasn't going to back down just because he was Klaus Mikaelson.
However, Marcel interceded not wanting things to escalate further. "What did I say about peace?" he reminded looking from Klaus to Theirry and back to Klaus. "Come on," he said to Klaus. "Walk with me."
Klaus sent Thierry a smug smile as he allowed Marcel to steer him out of the room.
"Your inner circle man lacks a sense of humor," Klaus commented as they walked out along the balcony of the building.
"He's a little overprotective but loyal to a fault. I saved his life back in the forties, found him dying of a war wound outside a VA hospital. He'd kill for me and die for me." Marcel stated. He trusted Thierry more than he did most. "Plus, that boy can play the trumpet like you would not believe. Maybe I'll see if he can play a little tonight at the party. You're coming, right?
"How can I miss my chance to meet the city councilman as he accepts your gigantic charitable donation?" Klaus responded almost mockingly.
"Oh, he's a schmuck," Marcel said dismissively. "but he lets us do our thing in exchange for certain community services, like keeping our fangs out of the locals."
"I know your mother is planning this party but will she be attending?" Klaus asked him tentatively.
Marcel looked at him consideringly for a moment. "She'll be there, however, I can't promise she'll be very welcoming to you."
"If I gave up so easily on your mother we never would have been together," Klaus responded, remembering a time when he first met his beautiful Caroline and she had wanted nothing to do with the strange man who had taken a sudden interest in her.
Marcel had been told the story of how his mother met Klaus when he was still just a boy. However, he imagined it would be a whole lot harder the second time around for Klaus to win Caroline over. "Listen, about your brother... I would love to help you out, but Thierry is right. My guys are on edge. They see the Original family moving in, vampires dying, it makes them nervous. If I hand Elijah back now, it might give the wrong impression about who's really in charge here. You know what I mean?"
Klaus nodded, forcing a smile. "You understand I had to ask."
"No, that needs to be moved more to the left," Caroline ordered. "My left not your left." She resisted to her eyes in annoyances.
"Bossy as usual."
Caroline turned scowling. "Don't you ever leave."
"You want me to leave?" asked Klaus.
"Yes." was Caroline's immediate response.
"Then come with me." Klaus stepped forward. "Hell, I'd leave New Orleans if you would just come with me." He wanted New Orleans but he wanted Caroline more.
Marcel could have it as long as he got Caroline.
Caroline scoffed. "I would never leave town with you."
"Then I'll be sticking around indefinitely," Klaus responded.
Caroline groaned turning away from him calling out to a vampire across the room. "Hey, Jesse, make sure the bar is stocked."
"Will you have a date to tonight's events?" Klaus asked moving around, placing himself back in her sights.
"If that is your way of asking to be my plus one the answer is a firm 'No.'" She glared up at him.
"That still doesn't answer the question." Klaus persisted.
"It's none of your business if I do or not!" she snapped.
Klaus's eyes narrowed. "As long as there's something between us it is my business."
"But there isn't anything between us anymore." Caroline countered defiantly.
Klaus stepped into her personal space, looming over her, his hand reached out, his thumb brushing across her jaw. "There is always going to be something between us as long as you feel something for me."
Caroline suppressed a shiver at his touch, her eyes hardening. "The only thing I feel for you is hate."
Klaus cupped her cheek, his other hand reaching out to grip her shoulder, and pulled her close until she was pressed against him. "There's a very thin line between love and hate, love."
Caroline glared. "Maybe but there's hate then there's hate and I hate you. If you just left, vanished, disappeared, I wouldn't even blink. I could care less what happens to you or your family so tell me where is the love in that?"
Klaus's hands fell away, her harsh words and scornful look searing into him like a flame licking at his skin, leaving its mark.
Caroline pushed away from him, thinking, finally she had gotten through to him. "The sooner you let go of the past and move on the better because I already have."
Klaus watched her turn, walking away from him, a tightening in his chest, feeling the gap, the distance between them grow deeper and deeper with every harsh word, every scornful look shared between them.
Rebekah walked through the Quarter, her cell pressed to her ear. "Niklaus, for the love of Mary Magdalene, how long does it take to ask a simple question?" Rebekah demanded impatiently.
"Much longer than you'd think, considering the answer was, as expected, "no". Marcel's man, Thierry, is suspicious." Klaus informed her. "He thinks you killed 10 nightwalkers."
"Well, that's a lie. I only killed 8." Rebekah replied like that made all the difference. "Should I make Thierry the ninth?"
"Marcel is playing friendly. Caroline is being scornful. We can't kill the favorite son, or Marcel will catch onto us and it'll be just another thing my wife will hold against me."
"So, war it is, then," said Rebekah knowingly.
"Indeed. Do you know what to do with the witch?" Klaus asked.
"I believe I do," said Rebekah.
"Good. You manage Sophie Deveraux. I'll take care of the next step." Klaus hung up and turned to the newly turned vampire Joshua who had been keeping an eye on Klaus's vampire hostage he had in his cellar. "I ordered you to drain him of blood. What's taking so long?"
"Sorry. I'm not, like, medieval torture expert guy." Joshua felt absurd even having to apologize for not being evil enough for Klaus's liking
Klaus snatched up a pitchfork and ran the vampire through with it, the vampire groaned in pain, his head falling back before falling down to his chest.
Joshua grimaced. "What did he do to you, anyway?"
"It's not about what he did." he pulled the pitchfork from his body. "It's about what he's going to do when we're done here, which is whatever I want him to, just like you." he turned, locking eyes with Josh, compelling him. "For example, drive this through his torso." he handed the weapon over.
Joshua accepted it and immediately impaled the vampire once again. "That is crazy." Josh's eyes widened. "I didn't want to do it, but I did it anyway."
"It's called mind compulsion. Vampires can compel humans. Originals, like my siblings and I, can also compel vampires, and no one can compel Originals." Klaus explained. "You following?"
Joshua nodded.
"Good." Klaus continued, he didn't have the time nor the patience to have to explain it twice. "That is how a brand-new nightwalker such as yourself is here doing my bidding with no one the wiser."
Joshua brow furrowed. "But I never had my guts drained out of me." he pointed out.
"Yes. That, young Joshua, is because I got to you before you had even a drop of herbal vervain in your system. You see, it prevents compulsion." Klaus told him. "Marcel has had his whole crew taking it since I returned to town, and that is why our friend here needs to be bled dry of it, so I can compel him to follow my every command. And with my brother currently in captivity awaiting rescue, we can't afford to be gentle about it, can we?" Klaus ripped the pitchfork from the vampire and ran him through again, twisting it.
The vampire groaned lowly in pain, head hanging in defeat.
Rebekah waited outside the French Quarter shop, Jardin Gris, impatiently at the sound of approaching footsteps she turned to greet the late arrival. "Oh, so glad you could make it. Elijah only lies daggered and rotting whilst you dilly-dally."
"You're lucky I came at all." Sophie countered, glaring. "What do you want?"
"Hayley was attacked last night by Marcel's crew because somebody told him there was a werewolf in the Quarter. She only made one stop." Rebekah gaze drifted pointedly to the storefront they were in front of. "Whoever saw her here ratted her out. Watch and learn."
Rebekah turned, walking into the shop like she owned it. Sophie reluctantly followed her.
A young woman emerged from the back room carrying a box. "Hey, Soph." she greeted catching sight of the brunette witch.
"Hey, Katie." Sophie returned slightly distracted as she watched Rebekah touching an item hanging in the shop.
The woman, Katie, looked toward Rebekah not recognizing her for the dangerous Original she was. "That's filled with marigold—great for attracting the opposite sex. It would look awesome on you."
"I very seriously doubt that." Rebekah scoffed and she had no problem attracting men. "Tell me do you make it a habit of talking with werewolves or turning them in for that matter?"
"Werewolves?" Katie repeated. "Why would you want to know about werewolves? There are no wolves in the Quarter."
Rebekah spun around, speeding in front of Katie grabbing her by the throat. "Please do not play dumb with me." She slammed her down against a table.
Katie gasped was cut off by Rebekah's tight grip on her throat.
"Rebekah!" Sophie exclaimed.
"I just answered some werewolf girls questions. That's all. She's the only werewolf in the Quarter. I warned her it wasn't a good place for her."
"Are you lying to me, Katie? I suggest you answer my question honestly." Rebekah tightened her hand around her throat.
"Sophie—" Katie choked out, a plea for help.
"Just answer the question, Katie, please." Sophie urged.
"Yes. I told someone, but you don't understand. I—I love him." Katie gasped.
Rebekah threw Katie down to the floor violently, lifting her foot she placed the heel of her stiletto directly over Katie's throat threateningly. "And tell me, who is this vampire Romeo of yours?" when Katie said nothing Rebekah's eyes narrowed. "Shall I count to 3?"
Klaus pulled the pitchfork out of the vampire and handed it to Joshua. "Be quick about it. I have an army to build, and one compelled minion does not an army make."
His phone buzzed in his pocket and he fished it out, answering it. "Well?"
"You were right about the traitor," Rebekah informed him. "Luckily, she's just a kid and she doesn't know anything about us and what we're up to. Do you want to hear the part that's gonna please you the most?"
"Oh, do tell," Klaus smirked, interested in what new information Rebekah had for him.
"She's in love with someone in Marcel's inner circle. Guess who it is?"
Klaus could hear the smirk in his sister's voice.
"Right-hand-man type, favors silly caps?" Klaus ventured a guess.
"Two points for you." Rebekah quipped. "Thierry is fraternizing with the enemy."
"Well, that means he just unwittingly became the key to our entire plan," Klaus responded, thoughts whirling on all the ways he could use this to his advantage.
"I told you you'd be pleased," said Rebekah, proud of what she had managed to find out.
"Oh, to be young and in love in a city where witches and vampires are at war," Klaus smirked, something a mix of dark and mischievous all at once. "How very tragic."
"Are you out of your mind?" Sophie demanded, looking at Rebekah and Klaus like they were crazy. "No way."
The three were in the Mikaelson study. Rebekah and Klaus had come up with a plan to find Elijah without Marcel and Caroline being any the wiser.
"It's very simple. We need you to perform a teeny, tiny locator spell to help us find our brother." Rebekah said simply. It wasn't like they were asking for a whole lot. Just one little locator spell.
"Witches who practice magic in this town get caught, and they get killed." Sophie glared. It was why her sister has been killed.
"Yes, about that." Klaus narrowed his eyes accusingly on the witch. "It seems you left out a crucial detail when we made our deal—Marcel's secret weapon, the way he knows when a witch is using magic."
"Girl about yay high, cute as a button, anger issues," said Rebekah, describing what she could recall of the young witch.
Sophie's eyes widened. "Davina? Where have you seen her?"
"I don't know. The little brat erased my memory right after she threw me out a window with her bloody mind." Rebekah glared at the memory of a teenage girl handling her so easily.
"Let me cut to the chase." Klaus cut in growing impatient. "Davina has Elijah. You witches, I assume, want to get Davina away from Marcel. We don't know where she is. Ergo, we need magic."
"Davina would sense it," Sophie said in rejection to their plan.
"Unless, of course, another witch—say, a traitor to the cause, Katie for example—was to perform much more powerful magic at the same time. That would create a smokescreen, concealing your very small spell from Davina." Klaus explained the plan.
"Katie doesn't deserve to die." Sophie protested.
"Sophie Deveraux." Klaus angrily slammed his hands on the table, standing up, glaring at the witch in annoyance. "You're in no position to be so principled. You can't win a war without a few strategic losses, no matter how regrettable they may be. How many times have the vampires been one step ahead, known something they shouldn't? Your sister, executed in the public square for practicing magic, who knew she'd be caught? Did she even attempt to flee?"
"She was caught hiding in a cargo hold of a freighter before it set sail down the Mississippi," replied Sophie, her jaw clenching.
"And who, pray tell, of Marcel's valued inner circle manages his business at the docks?" asked Klaus leadingly.
Sophie looked at them, her gaze hardening as she reluctantly answered. "Katie's boyfriend, Thierry." she sighed in agreement, feeling like she was already going to regret this. "Who's going to make Marcel and Caroline stay out of this?"
"Well, Cami will keep Caroline distracted," Klaus stated. "If I know her like I know do, she won't be too fond of her simply because of Marcel's interest in her and I will keep Marcel busy in the meantime as to not raise suspicion."
"Sounds like a great plan," Sophie muttered sarcastically, glaring at the two Originals who looked rather pleased with themselves.
Klaus looked down from the courtyard balcony with Marcel as Thierry played his trumpet in the courtyard.
"You're right," Klaus admitted. "He's good."
"Right?" Marcel grinned. "Music man, I call him. Ladies love him, but he's spoken for. He knocks around with this pretty little witch, says he loves her, but I don't know."
"Your brightest soldier is fraternizing with your enemy, and you don't care," Klaus commented, letting his tone take on a more judgmental note.
"Well, of course, I care, but Thierry is a grown man. He makes his own choices, and I get some good intel." Marcel responded, not to mention he trusted Thierry. "Besides, he's not gonna do anything to jeopardize what we're doing here. I mean, check this out—a vampire hosting a ritzy charity event. We have a community here. No one's gonna mess that up."
"Still... You don't want the witches to get too bold, given that a witch's tip about a werewolf in town led to the disappearance of your nightwalkers. I'm sure you've considered the possibility that it could've been a trap." Klaus reasoned, wanting to plant the seed of doubt.
"Well, maybe I'll send a little message," said Marcel. "Thierry!" he called down to his friend. "Take a team of nightwalkers to the Cauldron tonight, do a little rousting... Oh, and Thierry? Make it nasty."
Thierry's eyes slid to Klaus accusingly but he nodded.
Klaus resisted the urge to smirk until Caroline walked into the courtyard with the same woman she was always with when he saw her. Tanned skin, dark hair, green eyes, curvy. "Who is that always with Caroline?"
"That would be Silvi. She Caroline's closest friend and confidant." Marcel answered. "Caroline turned her in the 1920s, took her under her wing, the two have been inseparable ever since."
Klaus tilted his head watching as Caroline laughed at something the brunette said and as if sensing his gaze, he could see Caroline tense just moments before she turned, looking up at him, meeting his gaze head-on.
Caroline's lips tugged into a scowl at the sight of him, she turned to Silvi. "Wait, here."
Caroline made her way up the stairs and walked up to Marcel, greeted him by kissing his cheek. "What are you two discussing so seriously that has Thierry displeased?"
"Just planning a little rousting for the witch Cauldron," Marcel answered. "Sending a little message."
"Uh-huh." she turned to Klaus. "Don't you have anywhere else to be or can I expect your new past time is corrupting my son to do your bidding?"
"I was just advising him how to keep his people in line and his hold on the city intact," Klaus responded with false innocence.
"He doesn't need your advice." Caroline scoffed. "He knows what he's doing."
Klaus chose to ignore her words. "It never hurts to have a little help from someone who's been around for 1000 years."
Caroline glared. "He has help from me, I may not be a thousand years old like you but I have enough years that he doesn't need advice from you and if he was smart like I know him to be he wouldn't listen to single a word you say."
"Alright," Marcel cut in gently, seeing how just seeing Klaus seemed to upset her. "Did you and Silvi have a good time? Diego said you were getting her a dress for tonight's event?"
Caroline's eyes softened when she turned her gaze back to her son. "Yes, well, I can't have my plus one lacking in proper attire." She cast another glare to Klaus before focusing on Marcel. "Don't let him talk you into doing something you'll regret."
"Of course," Marcel responded.
"Good." Caroline turned, patting his arm and then called to Silvi. "Let's retire to my room, I have a necklace that is going to look great with that dress."
Klaus' eyes followed her as she faded from sight with the other woman, he sighed, turning back to his son. "Being on the wrong side of your mother is never pleasant."
Marcel snorted. "Try being the one stuck in the middle between the two of you. It's tiring."
Klaus eyes slowly looked to the direction Caroline went, sighing to himself again. Hopefully, when he saw her at the party tonight he'd be able to make some kind of leeway with her.
Any kind of progress would be welcomed. Hell, he would be happy to just get one smile from her instead of her constant glares and biting words.
When Rebekah walked into Rousseau's zeroing in on her target immediately. The blonde bartender was more than happy to listen to her problems like any cliche bartender. Rebekah barely refrained from rolling her eyes. What Marcel saw in the plain Jane human she didn't know.
"And so then I moved back here to be closer to my brothers because—let's face it—family's important, right, Camille?" She was careful to keep her fake smile in place.
"Cami." The other woman corrected. "I have to change this name tag. Drunk guys keep hitting on me in French. You sure you haven't been in here before?" Cami gaze looked at Rebekah, traveling over her features. "Your face looks so familiar."
"You must have seen me out and about." Rebekah dismissed. "Aren't you dating Marcel Gerard? He's a pal of mine... sort of. I heard he had a crush on the blonde bartender at Rousseau's."
"I would hardly call it dating." Cami denied with a barely-there smile. "He's wooing me... sort of. I don't know. I mean, he's very charming, which probably means I should run for the hills."
"I'm kind of in an on-again/off-again thing myself at the moment," Rebekah confessed, fighting her annoyance of just hearing Cami talk about Marcel.
"Those are the worst, aren't they?" asked Cami conversationally. "The ones you can't shake, even though you know better, and you always know better?"
"I like you, Cami." The lie came easily to Rebekah as she offered up another false smile. "Most girls have the unfortunate tendency of being whiny little twits."
"Thanks…" Cami's brow furrowed. "I think."
"Hey, I'm supposed to go to this posh charity thing thrown by this philanthropist tonight. He's a bit of a Gatsby, throws a mean party. Any interest?" asked Rebekah with false friendliness.
Cami smiled noncommittally, shrugging.
Rebekah watched the blonde carefully, eyes narrowing. Cami better go or they were going to have to find another way to keep Marcel and Caroline distracted.
Klaus sat at his desk sifting through some papers when his phone started buzzing next to him, Rebekah's name flashing across the screen. He answered it; placing his phone against his ear. "Little sister."
"Well, brother, I believe I've made certain Marcel will be properly distracted tonight," Rebekah informed him.
"Good. That just leaves Caroline." Klaus responded.
"She's your wife," Rebekah stated. "I'll leave that to you. I did my bit. What are you doing to ensure Elijah's safe return?"
"Currently, I'm preparing insurance against the tender-hearted," Klaus said in answer to her question.
"Meaning?" Asked Rebekah inquiringly.
"We need proper motivation for Katie to cast a powerful spell tonight. I'm creating that motivation. Marcel has ordered a rousting of the witches." he informed her.
Vampires jump from the balconies causing mayhem as they tore through the shops in the Cauldron, the sound of witches screams filling the air.
"And I, in turn, have arranged for things to go tragically wrong," Klaus spoke.
"You understand what you're to do?" Klaus stood in front of the vampire he had strung up in his cellar and the vampire nodded.
"Good," Klaus answered.
Josh stood off to the side, watching the exchange easily.
Back at the Cauldron, vampires continue to upturn tables and destroy things while witches screamed in fear.
Thierry snuck away from nightwalkers through a backdoor into Jardin Gris.
Katie ran to him when she caught sight of him, throwing her arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his only to pull back seconds later. "Hey! What's happening out there?"
"Oh, it's Klaus." he turned away from her to a shelf of glass jars, trinkets, and herbs. "He's convinced Marcel that the witches are planning to make a move against him. Marcel wants us to send a message…" he knocked over some of the shelves sending them crashing and looking at her apologetically. "And if he thought I was playing favorites because I'm in love with a witch—"
"Say that again." Katie interrupted stunned and happy to hear him say he loved her.
"I love you, Katie," he repeated sincerely with feeling. "And all this is gonna be okay, I promise."
"Marcel may not be concerned with Thierry's romantic entanglements..." Klaus mused.
Thierry walked out of the Jardin Gris, bumping into the same vampire that Klaus held captive in his cellar, torturing, draining him of vervain and compelled.
"I already got that one," Thierry told the vampire, walking away.
The vampire, however, didn't listen and went into the shop anyway.
Klaus leaned back in his chair as his desk, speaking into his phone. "But there are other crimes which he'll be less inclined to so easily forgive…"
Thierry heard a scream from inside the Jardin Gris and turned to see the vampire dragging Katie outside, biting into her neck as she screamed, crying out.
"Leave her alone!" Thierry shouted, running toward her. "Get off!" He threw the vampire across the courtyard; making him smash into a table.
Thierry ran over to him, grabbing a broken table leg, and used it as a stake, driving it through the vampire's heart, killing him.
The courtyard fell silent, the other vampires circle around the scene of the crime, Thierry looked around, realizing what he had just done. He had broken one of Marcel's rules.
"Killing a vampire, for example," Klaus spoke into the phone leadingly. "That would be unforgivable. If Katie hopes to save her one true love from Marcel's punishment, well, a rescue mission like that will require something positively magical. But then... what's worth dying for, if not love?" his lips pulled into a smirk.
At the Cauldron, Katie stared at Thierry, horrified, and Thierry himself looked like he knew the consequences would be dire for him once Marcel learned what he had done.
Rebekah and Klaus entered the party, arm in arm, taking in the dark, wild atmosphere. Acrobats perform, dancers handle exotic animals, and confetti fell glittering upon the party guests.
"Well, this certainly is a fitting backdrop for tonight's events, I must say," Klaus commented, he didn't really want to think about how upset Caroline would be when her hard work for arranging tonight's events was ruined.
Rebekah and Klaus spotted Cami as she entered the party, wearing white angel's wings and a vintage white beaded dress. Rebekah and Klaus both were pleased with her arrival.
"What made you think of using her to distract Marcel?" Klaus asked looking away from Cami and scanning the crowd in search of Caroline.
He couldn't spot her but he did notice her friend Silvi at the bar.
"What better way to distract Marcel than to put his very human, new girl in a room chock full of vampires?" Rebekah responded, crossing the courtyard to greet Cami. "Hello, darling. You look precious."
Caroline's eyes had narrowed when she saw Cami walk in. "Did you invite her tonight?"
"No," Marcel answered from beside her. "But she's here so please try and be nice."
Caroline turned her gaze to him. "You want me to be nice to someone I don't even like?"
"You just don't like her because of my interest in her." Marcel shot her a knowing look. "You don't like anyone I'm interested in."
"That's because they are not good enough for you," Caroline responded.
"You don't even know her," Marcel responded. "How can you possibly know that?"
"Because no one will ever be good enough for my son," Caroline said with absolute certainty.
Marcel gave an amused chuckle, leaning over to press a quick kiss to her cheek. "I love you, too, Mom."
Caroline shot him a smile patting his cheek affectionately before turning her gaze back down below watching as Cami seemed to stare transfixed at Klaus.
"C'mon, I rather Rebekah didn't corrupt Cami." Marcel headed down the stairs, linking arms with his mother.
"To corrupt someone, they have to be innocent and I doubt your new girl is as innocent as you want to believe," Caroline said earning her a look from Marcel but she didn't care. He wanted her to be nice, fine but she had her opinions and she wasn't in the habit of keeping them to herself.
"This party is ridiculous, but I think I.." Cami trailed off lowly. "with this dress." she locked eyes with Klaus, staring at him a moment and nodding toward him. "Is he the infamous on-again/off-again?" Cami asked Rebekah.
Klaus approached them and answered before Rebekah could. "He's the brother, actually."
"You clean up pretty well." Cami complimented.
"Well, don't be fooled, love." Klaus' lips tugged up into a smirk. "I'm the devil in disguise."
"You two chit-chat. I need booze." Rebekah ditched them heading for the bar.
"Shall we?" asked Klaus.
"Okay." Cami agreed and Klaus offer his arm to her and she accepted it with a smile.
"Scotch, please," Rebekah ordered when she reached the bar.
Marcel approached Rebekah at the bar, Caroline on his arm and she sighed at the sight of them. Not wanting to deal with either of them separated let alone the two of them together.
"You trying to be cute, inviting her here?" Marcel demanded as Caroline moved away from him to lean against the bar, motioning for the bartender for two more scotches.
"I think she's darling. I can tell you fancy her pure heart. Perhaps I'll feed it to you." Rebekah responded.
"Now, there's a thought," Caroline said accepting the scotches earning a glare from Marcel.
"I take it you're not fond of her?" Rebekah asked Caroline.
"You can say that." Caroline turned her gaze to Rebekah nodding at her. "'Bekah." she turned, her eyes scanning the bar and landing on Silvi talking to a group of men in suits.
"Hmm. Jealousy looks good on you, Bekah." Marcel commented, moving closer to her.
Caroline glanced out the corner of her eye and resisted the urge to sigh. Marcel and Rebekah were a roller coaster, she had hoped her son had learned from the past but watching them together she wasn't so sure. "If you'll excuse me." she headed toward her friend.
"Where have you been?" Silvi asked waving the men away.
"Around." Caroline sipped at her scotch. "I see you're working your charm already."
Silvi grinned. "I can't help it if men take notice when a beautiful woman is in the room."
Caroline laughed. "Men can't help but notice beautiful women."
"Speaking of men I see that Klaus is here," Silvi commented. "With the bartender no less. How do you feel about that?"
Caroline's eyes narrowed on her friend. "Is this your way of trying to find out if I have any lingering feelings for Klaus because I refuse to talk more about him?"
"Nooo." Silvi dragged the word out unable to keep a straight face and Caroline snorted.
"I don't care if she takes an interest in him but if she hurts Marcel she will regret it."
"Always such a mama bear. You do know he's a grown man, right?"
"I'm aware but he'll always be my son first," Caroline responded unapologetically, her eyes sliding back toward Rebekah and Marcel.
Across the courtyard, Cami watched Rebekah with Marcel, looking uncertain.
"The guy of hers Rebekah was talking about... I'm sensing that would be Marcel." She commented.
"I wouldn't worry about it. Ancient history." Klaus told her.
"And what of the other blonde?" she wondered. "They're always together."
Klaus laughed out loud, the thought of Caroline and Marcel absurd.
"What's so funny?" Cami asked.
"There is nothing romantic between Caroline and Marcel," he assured her.
"How can you be so sure?" Cami wondered. "I mean, she's beautiful and he's charming and they're always at each other's side."
"For one their family and secondly, Caroline is my wife."
Cami eyes widened. "I wasn't aware you were married."
Klaus gave a wry smile. "She seems to forget it herself. It's complicated."
"It sounds it." Cami shook her head ruefully. "I'm beginning to think your sister is a bit of a bitch."
Klaus laughed. "It's as though she invented the term."
Cami gazed at Klaus, being drawn in by the sound of his laugh.
However his focus wasn't on her, he saw Marcel getting ready to approach them, his eyes on Cami. "Listen. Pardon me for a moment." he excused himself, walking away from her.
"Cami." Marcel greeted, flashing her his charming smile.
"Hey. Killer party," she commented in return.
"Oh, it's more of a work thing. And all the credit goes to Caroline." Marcel dismissed. "I would've invited you—"
"Oh, no." Cami interrupted with a small smile. "We've been on one date. No explanation necessary. You do your thing, I'll entertain myself."
"What, leave you alone, looking the way you do?" He grinned, widely looking her over with appreciation. "Hell with that."
Caroline was in the middle of talking to one of the city officials when she felt Silvi tug on her arm, she turned questioning eyes on her.
"Incoming." Silvi nodded to her right and she turned to see Klaus approaching her.
Caroline sighed. "Silvi would you mind taking Mr. Sawyer to get a drink and taking over explaining why it's good for not only the city but all of New Orleans to maintain an arrangement that benefits us all."
Silvi smiled charmingly at Mr. Sawyer her hand smoothing up and down his arm and flashing one of her irresistible smiles. "I'd love to, it helps that the company leaves nothing to be desired."
Flattered and enchanted by Silvi Mr. Sawyer offered his arm to her. "Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you look tonight,"
"Yes, but it never hurts to hear it again." Silvi looked up at him from beneath dark lashes.
Caroline watched Silvi lead Mr. Sawyer over to the bar just in time for Klaus to reach her. "It looks like Marcel stole your date." she glanced toward her son where he was talking to the bartender who she didn't believe was worth the time her son was so set on spending with her.
Klaus's gaze narrowed. "She's not my date."
Caroline hummed uncaringly turning her focus on Marcel watching as he pulled Cami into his arms for a dance.
"I see you don't have one either." Klaus pointed out, stepping closer to her. "Let me buy you a drink."
"No." Caroline shot him a glare before walking away from him, wanting distance between them.
Klaus watched her go, his hands clenching in frustration. God, that woman drove him crazy when she wouldn't even spend two minutes in his company.
Caroline couldn't help the scowl that graced her beautiful features watching Marcel dance with Cami. She firmly believed he could do better than the bartender and getting mix up with your average human in this city was a disaster waiting to happen.
She didn't want him getting hurt, but it was his life and he could make his own choices. There was only so much she could do to protect his heart especially when he was so insistent in giving it to those who don't deserve it, who didn't deserve his affection.
She felt him at her back before she heard his voice, always so aware when he was near. Guess that was what 800 years of being with someone would do for you.
"Always so protective over him after all this time, love? Don't you think it's about time you let him live his life."
Caroline glared at him over her shoulder. "I do let him live his life. He makes his own choices but that doesn't mean I have to approve or like them. And secondly, you're one to talk. You were the same way with Rebekah and I'm willing to bet you still are that way about her."
Klaus knew she was right and chose not to comment further. "Dance with me."
Caroline shot him a glare. "Dancing with you is the last thing I want to do."
Klaus rolled his eyes and wrapped his arm around her waist. "It's just one dance."
Caroline grumbled as he pulled her out onto the dance floor, placing his hand on her lower back, pushing her against his body, until there was barely any space between them. Caroline reluctantly set her hand on his shoulder, her other hand clasp in his, fingers intertwining. "Last I check there's no need to dance this close."
Klaus leaned in his lips brushing against the shell of her ear. "We always used to dance this close."
Caroline pulled back, glaring. "That was then, this is now."
Klaus hummed, his eyes looking into hers with a challenge. "I don't see you pulling away. You want to be close to me just as much as I want to be close to you."
Caroline scoffed. "Keep telling yourself that." her eyes looked past him to her son. Now that they were on the dance floor she could see his every expression as he talked to Camille and she was determined to read his every expression just to see how serious he was about the bartender.
Their voices drifted over to her, distracted with listening, she didn't protest when Klaus's hand slid slow on her hip, his fingers flexing against her, digging into the thin fabric of her dress.
"I thought you said you were in community work." Cami looked at Marcel inquiringly.
"Community fundraising. Throw a party, folks open their wallets. No one throws a better party than Caroline and no one is more charming than me. It's kind of our thing." he said. "Guess I'm what you call a necessary evil."
"Caroline?" Cami repeated. "You're almost always together." she paused, staring up at him. "I'm not stepping on any toes here am I?"
Marcel gave a laugh. "While it's true Caroline and I are together a lot it's not in the sense you're thinking. Caroline, she's my family. She's like a..mo-" he paused, hesitated and then said. "Sister. She's like a sister to me."
Marcel had been so close to revealing how he saw Caroline as his mother, but Cami would never be able to truly understand that. Not when Caroline looked even younger than her by a few years.
"Like she could step on my toes." Caroline scoffed, the very thought of her son like that enough to make bile turn in her stomach and the thought of someone choosing the bartender over her was laughable. "Like any man in his right mind would choose her over me."
"Is that your dislike for her talking or are you just that self-assured about yourself?" Klaus said, eyes shining in amusement with her obvious dislike.
"Both." Her eyes returned to him. "Are you saying you would choose someone like her over me?"
Klaus's hand on her hip tightened before it slid up her back over her shoulder slowly over her neck until he was cupping her jaw, his fingers buried in her blonde hair, his thumb sliding against her cheek. "I would never choose anyone over you. No one."
Caroline stared into his eyes drawn in by the intense blue gaze, the passion in his words and how sincere and honest he sounded, she faltered for a moment, her body leaning into his, her hand tightening on his shoulder. "Klaus."
Klaus's gaze drifted to her mouth and his thumb swipe over her bottom lip.
The touch of his thumb to her mouth was like a shock to her system, she pulled back, his hand falling from her face with the action. "Don't. You don't get to look at me like that. You don't get to say things like that to me anymore and you certainly don't get to touch me like that."
Klaus clenched his jaw, his eyes darkening. "Do I at least get to finish this dance?" Klaus figured he pushed her enough as it was but he had got a glimpse of what he needed to know.
He needed to know if he still had the effect on her that she clearly had on him and he got his answer. The way she said his name, how her body leaned into his, how her gaze was captured by his own. Her body's reaction to his. She could deny there being nothing left between them all she wanted but it was nothing but a lie.
It was more apparent to him than ever that what was between them was still there and always would be.
Caroline hesitated but after a moment she grabbed his hand and set it on her waist, continuing to move with him, she avoided his gaze by turning her focus back to observing her son.
"And Rebekah, she's one of your donors?" Cami questioned Marcel uncertainly.
"She's an old friend," Marcel answered.
"Can't be that old," said Cami. "She looks younger than me."
"You'd be surprised," Marcel told her. "I was a kid when I met her. Enough about her. I just want to be right here with you."
Diego walked into the courtyard, expression grave, he saw Caroline first dancing with Klaus and then Marcel with Cami, barely any space between either of the pairs.
Diego moved toward Marcel, whispering quietly into his ear.
Caroline frowned as she watched Marcel's expression changed from charming to tense in a moment's notice.
Marcel turned his head, eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on Thierry, and he clenched his jaw, barely containing his anger. "Excuse me," he told Cami not waiting for her response and walking over to Thierry.
Caroline watched as he grabbed Thierry by the throat, forcefully pushing him away from the main party. She pulled away from Klaus, not bothering saying a word to him, followed closely behind by Diego as they rejoined Marcel who was in the middle of berating Thierry.
"What the hell did you do?" Marcel demanded.
"Marcel," Caroline laid her hand on his arm, casting a glance over her shoulder where she could see Klaus and Cami watching them. "You're making a scene. I'm sure that's not something you want."
Marcel released Thierry, taking a step back.
Klaus smiled, watching the display sure his dance with Caroline came to an abrupt end but his plan was coming along as intended.
Cami watched with a disquiet expression, feeling uneasy.
"I know you think he's a monster." Katie cried to Sophie from inside a candlelit chamber.
"It doesn't matter what I think. Thierry killed another vampire. He broke Marcel's biggest rule." said Sophie, she ignored her guilt for the part she was playing in tonight's chain of events. Events that had yet to fully transpire. "You'll never see him again... unless we do something."
'"We"?" Katie repeated, looking at her in confusion.
"I want to save our people. You want to save Thierry. There's only one way we can do both." Sophie told her.
A little while later, Katie and Sophie sat out in the cemetery, arranging items for the ritual they needed.
"You ready?" Sophie asked her.
Katie answered by beginning to sprinkle sand over their tableau.
Davina had been fast asleep in her bed, when suddenly the whispers got louder, she could feel the magic in the Quarter, she thrashed for a moment before her eyes snapped open. "Marcel. Something's coming."
She rose from the bed walking over to her easel and started to draw madly, for several moments before abruptly stopping. "Magic."
Marcel had moved Thierry and his day walkers to the balcony so they could talk more privately without so many prying eyes watching them due to Caroline's urging.
"I want to hear your side of it," Marcel said, his voice held a hard edge.
"Hey, Marcel, come on-"
"Your version." Marcel cut off his protest. "Go."
Caroline set a hand on Thierry's arm. "Thierry, just tell us what happened."
Thierry nodded at her, looking from her to Marcel. "We were tossing the Cauldron. This guy, some nightwalker, he attacked Katie for no reason."
Caroline brow furrowed, she could almost picture how everything unfolded, in Thierry's eyes he was protecting his girl.
"His name was Max." Marcel ground out angrily. "I turned him, and as far as reasons go, he doesn't need one. She was a witch. He was a vampire. Now he's dead."
Caroline frowned, she didn't believe it was as black and white as her son made it sound. If never was when matters of the heart were involved. She glanced over the balcony, her eyes first landing on Cami, she looked past her to Klaus who stared up at them with a look in his eyes she was familiar with, one where everything he wanted to happen was coming along just as he planned.
She frowned deeper, suspicion nagging at her as she turned back to look at Thierry.
"I didn't mean for it to happen," said Thierry, it was just when he saw Katie in danger all he saw was red. He had to keep her safe.
"You broke my most important rule. Damn it, T." Marcel cursed, frustration growing. "How long we been friends, 70 years? I turned you into something that would never die. I gave you a gift."
"And I have been loyal to you all this time, and I still am." Thierry defended. "I'm still your friend, Marcel. I swear, that hasn't changed."
"Marcel." Caroline waited for Marcel to look at her. "Listen to him. He thought he was protecting the woman he loved."
"I know that but that doesn't excuse what he did," Marcel argued. "It doesn't change anything."
"He isn't wrong though," Caroline argued. "Thierry has always been loyal. That has to count for something."
Loyalty was a hard thing to find and Caroline didn't believe it should be just thrown away over one, emotion-fueled mistake.
Cami looked on in apprehension.
"Are you all right?" Klaus appeared at her side.
"He's got a temper, doesn't he?" she turned away from the balcony. "I guess this is the moment I remember I know better." she shook her head, disappointed in herself and walked away.
Klaus didn't have to turn to know that Joshua had walked up behind him. He reached into his coats inner pocket, withdrawing a folded piece of paper and handed it to Joshua, who pocketed it and walked away to do as he was instructed.
Klaus watched the balcony as Joshua appeared next to Marcel, handing him the slip of folded paper.
"We found this at his girl's place," Josh informed him.
Marcel looked at the paper before holding it out to Caroline. "You were saying?"
Caroline took the paper her eyes narrowing when she realized it was the daylight ring spell.
Marcel turned back to Thierry glaring. "Still my friend, huh? That's funny because it looks to me like that little witch of yours got her hands on a spell that Caroline and I keep locked away."
None of this made sense. How did Thierry even get his hands on it? Something about all this just felt off.
"Marcel, I have never seen that." Thierry protested, eyes wide.
"Shut up." Marcel snapped. "I see on your hand, you still have the daylight ring I gave you. So what would you need with the recipe for making new ones? Unless maybe you and Katie were gonna go off and start a little kingdom of your own?"
"Marcel, no." Thierry denied shaking his head.
"Here's a lesson in friendship. Friends don't lie to me, they don't break my rules, and they do not steal what is mine." Marcel said angrily. He turned away from him, taking a moment to breathe and compose himself. He looked at his mother, seeing how conflicted she look and he didn't have to ask to know she was more than hesitant to punish Thierry.
He reached out, gently taking her arm and pulling her close. "I can't let this slide."
Caroline shook her head, the spell gripped tightly in her hands. "I don't think everything is how it looks. I think you need to consider everything before making a decision."
"I have," Marcel argued. "I can't show leniency. It'll make me look weak. He has to pay for his betrayal."
Caroline pressed her lips tightly together. She didn't like this. Not one bit.
Marcel dropped his hand from her arm and turned back to Thierry. "For the crime of murdering one of his own, I sentence Thierry Vanchure to 100 years in the Garden."
Caroline blew out a breath, casting a sympathetic look toward Thierry. She couldn't shake off the feeling of how wrong this was. Her eyes drifted over the balcony. Eyes narrowing when she saw Klaus smiling up at them, her focus narrowed down to him and she heard him murmur. "And it begins…"
She clenched her jaw. He was behind this. She was sure of it. She knew he couldn't be trusted and she was right.
Sophie preparing her locator spell in the cemetery feeling a presence she looked up and saw Rebekah had shown up.
"You're doing the right thing," Rebekah assured her. "It's the only way to find Elijah."
Sophie took a deep breath, steeling herself. "I'm doing what I have to do." she started chanting and Rebekah fell silent.
Marcel grabbed his mother's arm and pulled her off to the side. "I need you to keep an eye on Cami for me while I take care of this."
Caroline glared. "Yeah, I do not want to spend any amount of time with her."
"Please," Marcel asked of her, his eyes pleading.
"I hate that look," Caroline grumbled. "You have been using it on me since you were just a boy. Fine."
Marcel nodded and kissed her cheek in thanks as he headed out with his vampires, leading Thierry out of the party.
Caroline started searching around for Cami, growing frustrated when she was unable to find the human? Had she already taken off?
Caroline spotted Silvi at the bar nursing a drink and approached her. "Have you seen that blonde bartender?"
Silvi motioned to the blonde guy behind the bar.
"No, I meant the one that caught Marcel's attention?" Caroline clarified.
"Oh, that one." Silvi nodded, sipping at her drink. "I saw her leave about 5-10 minutes ago."
Caroline nodded. Okay, so she didn't have to keep the woman occupied at all. She looked to the door debating whether she should head out and meet back up with Marcel.
"Hey, what was going on up there with Thierry? Did he really kill one of our own?" Silvi asked, placing her glass on the bar top, growing serious.
Caroline paused, looking around to see no one seemed to be paying attention to them and she moved closer to Silvi, talking quietly to Silvi explaining what had happened and her reservations about punishing Thierry because there had to be more they weren't aware of and she was sure Klaus was behind it.
Marcel and his men led Thierry out of the party and onto the street, a small crowd of the New Orleans vampires had gathered just outside.
Katie walked down the street, approaching the vampires, expression angry as she chanted.
Davina could feel more magic in the air and sketch frantically across her easel.
Thierry's eyes widened in panic when he saw his girlfriend. "Katie, no!"
"Like clockwork," said Klaus, watching from a window above smirking, waiting for events to unfold.
Katie waved her arm and a lamp's light exploded; all the vampires grab at their heads, falling down in pain.
Davina's drawing became more clear the more magic Katie used as she sketched the woman who was attacking the vampires.
Marcel alone rose back up pushing through the pain to face Katie.
Katie angry at the sight of him used more of her magic, another light exploded as she continued her advance and Marcel went down again, pain rippling through his skull.
Sophie continued to chant, concentrating hard.
"Hurry," Rebekah told her feeling a sense of urgency.
Marcel rose again despite the pain he felt in his skull, but Katie used her magic to break his bones, and he fell again, collapsing to the asphalt, shouting in pain.
"NO!" Davina shouted from her room. She lifted her hands slowly.
Marcel rose again and Katie looked at him astonished. How did he keep getting up?
"You're here to save your man. Well, come on, little girl!" Marcel taunted, feeling the strength of Davina's magic flowing through him. He growled, rushing to attack her.
Katie reacted quickly halting him with her magic before he could lay a hand on her, he fell to the ground groaning.
Davina fell to the floor, a sense of panic filling her. "Caroline!"
She concentrated hard, trying to transfer what she was feeling to Caroline to warn her.
Caroline halted her steps stunned by the sudden feeling of panic followed by a flash of Marcel in trouble. "No, Marcel!"
She sped off, desperation tearing at her heart. She had to get there. She had to protect him.
Katie lifted a wooden stake above Marcel. "Die, you son of a bitch."
"No! Katie! Don't!" Thierry shouted in horror.
The stake came down and Marcel couldn't up but suddenly there was a flash of blonde hair.
Caroline grunted as the stake pierced her skin at the same time she plunged her hand into Katie's chest, her hand wrapping around the witch's heart.
"No, Caroline!" Marcel shouted in panic.
A roar sound from nearby and suddenly Katie was being yanked back, the motion yanked her way from Caroline but she gripped the witch's heart in her hand as Katie fell to the ground.
Caroline stared at Klaus in surprise, letting Katie's heart drop to the ground.
In the cemetery, Sophie stopped her chants abruptly. "Something's wrong. Katie's magic stopped," she said looking conflicted for only a moment before pushing it away. "I can keep going."
"You can't. She'll sense it." Rebekah protested.
"No. I can find Davina. I just need another moment." Sophie insisted stubbornly.
Rebekah snatched the paper with black sand on top of it that Sophie was using and threw it aside away from the witch. "You may be willing to die to get your witch back, but if anything happens to Caroline, Klaus will kill anyone and everyone, he'll tear every soul in New Orleans apart until there is nothing left. Including his own family. Rescuing Elijah will be for nothing if he thinks Klaus can no longer be saved or if we're all dead. It's over. We failed."
Klaus stared at Caroline, the fear of losing her still coursing through his body. He grabbed her arms. "Sweetheart, are you alright?" he reached for the stake embedded just above her heart.
Caroline could hear the concern and worry in his voice, but she didn't care for it. How convenient of him to show up? At this exact moment?
Caroline knocked his hands away from her before his fingers could even graze the stake, taking a step back. "I don't want your concern."
Klaus brow furrowed in confusion by her harsh glare, her expression one of suspicion.
He had planned this, Caroline was sure of it but she didn't know why. If she hadn't step in would he have let Katie kill their son? Had he fallen so far to allow death to take Marcel?
"Mother!" Marcel scrambled to his feet, no longer feeling Katie's magic, his hand gripped her shoulder, turning her around to him, his eyes widening to see the stake deeply embedded in her shoulder, mere inches from her heart. His eyes snapped back to hers, realizing how close she had come to dying.
Caroline saw the fear in his eyes. "Hey, I'm okay," she reached for the stake, fingers curling around the wood and yanked it out, dropping it carelessly. "See, I'm fine." she placed a reassuring hand on Marcel's shoulder.
Marcel shook his head. "That was close. Too close. You shouldn't have done that."
"You were in danger. That was all that mattered." Caroline answered. Her son needed her, she had to protect him and she did.
Marcel shook his head again, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around her, needing to reassure himself that she was fine, that she was okay.
Caroline wrapped her arms around him, knowing she had scared him. She smoothed her hand up and down his back, just like she did when he was just a boy on the rare occasions when he had been scared.
"You scared me," Marcel admitted quietly, pulling back from her.
"I know," Caroline murmur moving her hand back to his shoulder and squeezing. "I'm sorry."
Klaus watched as Caroline pulled Marcel into another comforting hug and he felt his stomach twist in jealousy. The easy affection between them. The way Caroline accepted his concern and the way she was so open with Marcel, nothing but loving and caring.
Marcel took comfort with his arms wrapped around his mother, relieved that she was fine no matter how close he came to losing Caroline she was still here.
The sounds of Thierry's voice had them both pulling apart from the familial embrace toward the man as he crawled toward Katie, breaking down.
"No. Katie." Thierry reached her body. "No, no, no, no." he sobbed over her dead body, cradling her to him, rocking back and forth.
Marcel turned finally catching Klaus's eyes and nodded at him, grateful that he had been there to lend a hand. He would hate to think where he would be if Katie's stake had struck home in Caroline's chest. How lost he would be with his mother's death.
Marcel stood across from Thierry, he was chained to a wall in the underground bricked room, that Marcel like to refer as the Garden. "Just tell me this. Was she worth it?" asked Marcel, glaring.
"I loved her, " he answered grief-stricken.
Marcel nodded slowly, his jaw clenching right before he drove an iron stake into Thierry's gut. Thierry groaned out in pain.
Another man appeared, and Marcel handed him a wooden mallet. "Seal him up... and let him rot." He instructed.
The man started to lay bricks over wet cement, clearly intending to build a wall to encase Thierry. A prison of his own making.
He wasn't the first to be sealed down there and he wouldn't be the last, the tunnel was filled with vampires that had met the same fate.
The courtyard was deserted as the party crowd had henced cleared out.
Klaus, Caroline, and Marcel stood alone on the balcony. Caroline overlooked the courtyard as Marcel and Klaus clinked their drinks against each other.
Marcel downed his drink. "How much did Cami see?"
"She just saw an argument, mate," Klaus assured him. "It's nothing you can't fix. You really like her, don't you?"
"God, I hope not." Caroline groaned.
Marcel nudged her shoulder with his. "We talked about this."
Caroline pursed her lips in response.
"I like that she's not a part of any of this," Marcel admitted. "Sometimes it's good to see the world the way the humans do."
"I am sorry about Thierry, you know? I can tell he was a good friend."
Caroline resisted the urge to scoff, not believing Klaus for a second as she cast him a doubtful look.
"I made him what he was," said Marcel and shook his head. "Obviously, my trust was misplaced."
"Yes, it was." Caroline stared straight at Klaus and he caught her gaze, having the feeling that she was not talking about Thierry.
Klaus tore his gaze away from her. "Doesn't make it easier."
"You were there for us tonight. I guess I owe you one." Marcel admitted, turning to him. "You asked for your brother back. Seems like the least I can do."
Klaus gave the smallest of nods.
Marcel nodded back, he reached out squeezing his mother's hand and kissed her cheek as he turned and left, leaving just Caroline and Klaus.
Klaus waited till he knew Marcel was gone before moving closer to Caroline, grabbing her hand, he stared hard into her eyes. "What the hell were you thinking getting in front of that stake? How could you have been so willing to die?!"
Caroline wrenched her hand out of his grasp. "I was thinking of saving my son. When you love someone you're willing to die for them because their life means more to than your own."
"No one's life means more than yours, Caroline! You could have been killed!" snapped Klaus. "A little lower and that stake would have pierced your heart and we wouldn't be having this conversation!"
"And whose fault would that have been?!" Caroline challenged. "You were behind everything that happened tonight!"
Klaus's expression flickered as he took a step back from her. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes, you do." she scoffed, taking a step toward him and shoving him against the balcony. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. I don't know what your end game was tonight but I know you set everything in motion. You convince Marcel to send vampires to the Cauldron, you were watching everything with Thierry unfold like it was a damn movie. It's pretty convenient that Thierry so happened to have that spell and the fact that you were there on the street tonight. It's all too much of a coincidence. I know you were behind all of it. If there's anyone Marcel shouldn't have put his trust in, it's you."
Klaus gave a taunting smirk, his eyes cold. "Easy there love, your starting to sound like me with your paranoia and conspiracy theories."
"You may have Marcel fooled but not me." Caroline's eyes flashed. "I don't care what the hell you're up to but you almost got my son killed tonight. If any harm comes to him because of your actions I will personally make you suffer."
She gave him one last shove before brushing past him, down the steps to the courtyard and out of the compound.
Klaus watched her go, clenching his jaw. It was like every time he felt like he was making a step forward with her, in reality, it was two more steps back.
Klaus walked in, his eyes scanning for someone in particular until they landed on the blonde drinking alone at the bar, he walked forward sliding into the seat next to her. "Cami-"
"Don't even try it." Cami cut him off. "I get the bro code. You're here to smooth things over for your friend. It's very nice of you, but—"
"But you've been hurt before, and you aren't taking any more chances." Said Klaus knowingly.
"Something like that," Cami admitted, looking to him in surprise. "The guy I saw tonight—not the guy I thought he was. And if he can turn on a dime like that—"
"Sounds like more than just a broken heart. Someone broke your trust." Klaus looked at her closely.
Cami felt her heart skip a beat at his gaze, she swallowed, and slowly leaned in.
"Don't." his tone was sharp like a blade. "I'm only interested in one woman and that woman is not you."
Cami swallowed again, looking down as her face red hot with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, I thought-"
"You thought wrong," Klaus said sharply, his jaw clenching, he motioned for the bartender to pour him a shot and downed it as soon as it was put in front of him. "A long time ago, I saw this girl, she was everything I wasn't. She was kind, compassionate, understanding. She had this light about her that drew me in like a month to a flame and she had this innocence that was completely untouched. I was in awe of her mere existence, her true beauty and I have never been mesmerized like that again in my entire life."
Cami looked back up her embarrassment forgotten as his words captured her. "You must really love her."
Klaus looked at her. "No one has ever left their mark on me the way she did."
"What happened to her?" Cami wondered. "Are you still together?" She knew Caroline was his wife but if she was the woman he spoke of wouldn't they still be together. Maybe this woman was the reason things with his wife didn't work out.
"No, but I aim to change that. I came back to this town and found that my wife was here and I fully intend to get her back, no other woman could ever hope to hold a candle to her."
Okay, so Caroline and woman were the same person, Cami thought disheartened. There went that theory.
"Now enough about me," Klaus said, getting back to business. "I wanted to talk to you about Marcel, I need you to give him another chance."
"No," Cami shook her head, still reeling to learn that he was a married man and Caroline, his wife, was the woman he spoke of. "I can't."
"You will." his voice changed, locking eyes with her with the intent to compel her. "You went to Marcel's. You danced. You feel badly that he had a row with his friend, but otherwise, all you remember is that it was perfect."
Klaus stepped into his home the sound of someone playing music filling the air. He spotted Rebekah at the piano.
Rebekah sat up straighter, moving her fingers off the keys. "Well, tonight was an epic failure."
"On the contrary, sister. I'll have to disagree, everything didn't go as planned but everything worked out."
"Are you mad?" Rebekah demanded. "Katie died before Sophie could complete the spell."
"Oh, I'm well aware. I had a hand in her death even if Caroline ripped her heart out." He gave a careless shrug as if to say what can you do.
"You what?" Rebekah said in disbelief.
"There's no way our little suicide witch wasn't gonna try and take out Marcel with her." Klaus's expression darkened. "I hadn't counted on Caroline stepping in front of him to save his life, I had planned on saving his life by killing Katie, it didn't work out how I planned completely but the result was the same, I now have Marcel exactly where I want him."
"Sophie trusted you." Rebekah accused looking at him in betrayal, a look he was rather familiar with from her. "I trusted you against all my better instincts."
"Wake up, Rebekah. The witches are on no one side but their own. This girl, Davina? That's all they want, and when they have her, what do you think happens then? A truce? Of course not. They will use Davina's power against all of us. " Klaus said, speaking down to her, wanting his sister to stop being so naive.
"Even if you're right, the plan was to find Elijah, and you've failed us." Rebekah accused angrily.
"You always did lack faith," said Klaus dismissively. "By protecting Marcel, I've cemented his trust, so much so that he's agreed to return Elijah to us. Only Caroline is suspicious but I can work around that. And when the time is right, when Marcel has told me everything I need to know about Davina, I will have her for myself and I will take my wife back."
"I have all the faith in the world that you'll get what you want, Nik." Rebekah stood up slowly, moving around the piano. "You always do, no matter what cost there is to the rest of us. You disgust me." she took one last sip of her bourbon and set the glass on the piano top and pushed past him, judgment and blame coming off her in waves.
Klaus clenched his jaw, but he couldn't afford to care about her opinions.
The sound of a door opening had Davina looking up from where she was kneeling next to Elijah's open casket. Her eyes widened, a relieved smile appearing when she saw Marcel walk in. She got to her feet, running to close the distance between them, throwing her arms around him. "You're okay! I was so worried." she pulled back her smile, faltering. "Caroline?"
"She's fine." he was quick to assure her. "I'm sure she'll be here any minute." he paused, gripping her by the shoulders. "Thank you. Whatever you did, I felt it. You helped me."
"It was the old ones, wasn't it?" asked Davina.
"Actually, Klaus helped saved me tonight," Marcel told her. "I'm gonna make things right, starting off by giving him his brother back." he moved toward Klaus's coffin.
Davina stepped in his path. "No."
"What?" Marcel looked at her bewildered. "Davina—"
"No. You said the old ones were dangerous. I won't give him back until I know how to kill them." Davina stated defiantly.
"And you shouldn't." Caroline walked into the attic.
Davina's face lit up. "Caroline!"
Caroline stopped in front of her, taking her by the hands. "Thank you for warning me that my son was in trouble. I hate to think what could have happened otherwise."
Davina nodded. "I would never let any harm come to you or Marcel if I can help it."
Caroline smiled. "The feelings mutual," she squeezed her hand before turning to face Marcel. "Klaus does not get what he wants."
"Caroline, he was there for us tonight." Marcel protested. "Doing this for him is the least we could do."
"No, it's not. He orchestrated everything tonight." Caroline gritted out. "And in doing so he almost got you killed."
"Caroline, I think you might be projecting your anger for him into something that-"
"I'm not projecting anything," Caroline argued. "I know he was behind tonight, I don't why but he is up to something and we need to find out what. Don't let your past with him blind you to what is happening now."
"I think you're letting your feelings blind you into believing he's out to hurt us," Marcel said carefully.
"Because he is!" she exclaimed. "You almost died tonight!"
"No," Marcel frowned. "You did. I never want you stepping in front of a stake for me again."
"What?" Davina looked at Caroline worriedly.
"I'm fine." Caroline offered her a comforting smile. "It missed my heart."
"Barely," Marcel argued, his eyes flickered to where he could still see the stain of blood against her skin. "It was close. Too close. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if you would have died because of me."
Caroline's eyes softened and she placed a motherly hand to his cheek. "Not because of you. For you. It's a mother's job to always, always put her child first. It's never a question of choice to save someone you love at the cost of yourself. And that is what I did tonight. I just acted because your life is more important to me than my own."
Marcel placed his hand over her's, affection and warmth in his eyes.
Davina felt her chest tightened, watching their exchange wishing her mother had felt that way about her instead her mother was ready to watch her die.
She felt Caroline's hand wrap around her own, tugging the girl into her side, she turned her head and pressed a kiss to her hair. "That goes for you, too. Your life means more to me than you could ever know."
The tightness in Davina's chest lessened as a sudden warmth filled her and she leaned in toward Caroline, a smile unbidden on her lips.
Caroline let her hand far away from Marcel's face. "I will always put the two of you first, you don't have to like it but you will accept it."
Marcel nodded and smiled slightly, before Caroline he had grown up without a family but from the moment he met her he knew what it was to have someone care about you unselfishly and unconditionally and Caroline never once faltered in her love for him and he brought Davina that same warm sense of family. Because that was what the three of them were.
They were family.
Rebekah walked down a street in the Quarter, she still wore her gown though her hair was slightly disheveled. She caught sight of Marcel and quickly turned the other way but he stood in her path. "You're following me." she accused.
He walked toward her and Rebekah took a step back for every step he took until her back was pressed against a storefront.
Marcel pressed in close to her. "Maybe you're just in my way."
Rebekah stared up at him, her breath caught in her throat, his body almost brushing against hers.
Marcel could see the want in her eyes as he searched her face, abruptly he turned and walked away.
Rebekah exhaled slowly, shutting her eyes, trying to push down the sudden emotion his closeness had brought on.
Sophie waved a smoking bundle of herbs over Katie's body, preparing her for her final rites. Witches gathered around her, including the old witch Agnes and Sophie friend, Sabine.
"I told you no good would come from this unholy alliance of yours," Agnes said in disapproval.
"At least I'm doing something," Sophie responded, she stood and turned to Agnes challengingly. "What about you?"
"Do you really think connecting ourselves to the Originals will do us any good?" Agnes stepped forward, jaw clenching. "It makes us no better than the vampires we're fighting against."
Murmurs of agreement echoed through the witches and Sophie felt a wave of uneasiness.
Caroline walked up the familiar path of the suburban area of New Orleans, it wasn't too far from the pier.
She closed her fist and rapped on the door and waited. She didn't have to wait long because moments later the door was being pulled open, her eyes took David in wearing nothing but a pair of black sweats that hung dangerously low on his hips.
"Hey," David opened his door wider, stepping back without a word. "I didn't think I'd be seeing you tonight."
"Are you complaining?" Caroline asked, stepping into his home.
"Definitely not." David closed the door behind her, turning around to take her in. "You look amazing in that dress."
"Thank you," she stepped forward her hands landing low on his hips, her thumb brushing his bare skin. "You look great with your shirt off."
David chuckled brushing her hair back over her shoulder and the smile on his face faded almost instantly when he saw the tear in her dress and the blood against her skin. "What happened?"
"Things got a little out of hand at the party." Caroline dismissed. "Look I don't want to talk about it I just really want to forget tonight."
David nodded. "I can help with that," he slipped his hand beneath the strap of her dress, tugging it down her arm, and dipped his head, his tongue stroking across the dried blood on her skin, clearing it away.
Caroline's hand slid behind his neck, fingers curling into his hair, she gave a silent sigh at the feel of his tongue licking her skin at the top of her breast.
She tugged at his hair until he lifted his head and crashed her lips against his.
David's wasted no time in deepening the kiss, stroking his tongue against hers, his hand moved restlessly over her body, he reached behind her looking for the zipper on her dress and pulled it down, tugging at the fabric once it loosened until it poured at her feet.
He ripped his mouth from hers, panting, his eyes drifting down her body, her breast bare the only thing covering her was a scrap of black lace. "Bloody hell, your gorgeous woman."
Caroline laughed, he made it sound like a bad thing and it was flattering to her ego, she slid a hand down his chest to his waist and slipped her hand beneath the waistband of his pants, finding him already hard. "Are you saying that because you want sex?"
David slipped his thumb beneath the sides of her underwear and tugged them down her legs making her lose contact with him. "I'm saying your gorgeous because you are and I can't imagine any man who is lucky enough to have caught your attention not want you. Somedays, being with you is all I think about."
Caroline pushed impatiently at his pants as she kicked her dress and underwear away from her feet. "Then stop thinking about it and do it."
David shoved his pants down quickly, then reached for her, arms banding around her back and lifted her, hiking her up against his body.
Caroline wrapped her legs around his waist and wrapped one arm around his shoulder, the other slipped between them, grabbing his erection and positioning him at her entrance, locking eyes with him, she slid down, her mouth parting at the feeling of him inside her.
"Fuck," David cursed, pressing her tightly against the wall, his hands moving to slam against it, palms flat, hips jerking upward feeling her wrapping around every inch of him. "You're perfect."
Caroline moaned as he started thrusting into her hard and fast, she buried her face in his neck, her fangs dropping, she grazed her teeth against his flesh, right before she sank her teeth into him, his blood filling her mouth as he filled her.
"Caroline." David groaned in pleasure, hips jerking against hers.
Caroline mind blanked out as she lost herself in David, forgetting the last couple of hours, letting him distract her from everything she wanted to forget.
And it worked. For now.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Reviews are encouraged!