Chapter 7
Egomaniacal sociopaths
New Orleans, the Duville Estate, present day
"You see, Hayley," Elijah started. "I'd wanted to assemble minds curious about the world and eager to improve it, along with time and circumstance to do so. My desire was to create an elite brotherhood devoted to a new, better civilization. It was naïve. Eventually I was forced to abandon them once I'd realized I'd cultivated a legion of egomaniacal sociopaths."
Hayley didn't say anything, she looked around cautiously. The whole room was full of ancient vampires, members of the Strix. They were all from Elijah's bloodline and he had once believed that they could make the world a better place. It had been centuries since he had last met most of them and it seemed that there were plenty of new members. Tristan had certainly been efficient.
Elijah wouldn't have accepted his invitation if he wouldn't need to know what Tristan was doing in New Orleans. They already had enough problems without the Strix. First Lucien had showed up, now Tristan. Elijah didn't like that at all. He still hadn't make peace with Niklaus and he wasn't sure how to forgive his brother this time. What Niklaus had done to Hayley and Gia… Freya had tried her best to fix things between her brothers, but Elijah hadn't been ready. He still wasn't and right now he needed to concentrate.
"So, where is this Tristan guy?" Hayley finally huffed. "I want to meet him for myself."
"I believe you will soon," Elijah replied, he had noticed the waitresses gathering in front of the stairs. They tapped their knives on the side of champagne glasses in order to get everyone's attention. And there was Tristan, walking down the stairs. He hadn't really changed at all. Seeing him made Elijah think about Ginna. He hadn't seen her since she and Finn had fled. Elijah had tried his hardest to look for her, but he hadn't succeeded. It had been a long time since any of his siblings had mentioned her name and Elijah hadn't even told Hayley about her.
"Distinguished friends," Tristan started when he was standing in the middle of the room. "Welcome. It's so rare that we are able to come together like this. To revel, for one night, in the company of true equals." He paused and raised his glass. "Now, I'd like to take a moment to welcome a very special guest, Mr. Marcel Gerard."
"What?" Hayley murmured.
Elijah tensed, what did Tristan think he was doing? And most of all, what was Marcel doing? Elijah saw him standing with Aya.
"Thank you," Marcel said as everyone applauded. "I'm honored, thank you."
"Of course, before we tell Marcel all of our secrets, there's one small piece of business to which we must first attend," Tristan said smiling. "We must determine his worth."
Marcel seemed confused, obviously he hadn't known about this little "twist".
"That's funny; I seem to recall you being the one knocking on my door."
Tristan seemed amused.
"You'll notice, Mr. Gerard, that over the course of the evening, someone has managed to take something quite dear to you. Your daylight ring."
Marcel looked at his hand, noticing that his ring was gone. Elijah sighed; Marcel had no idea what he had gotten himself into.
"The test is quite simple," Tristan continued. "First you need to deduce the identity of the thief. Then you are simply to take back what is yours. Although I doubt the prize will be easily relinquished. After all, despite our refinement, we're still a rather violent bunch. In victory, you become one of us. In failure, you meet your death."
Marcel frowned, but didn't say anything.
"You have a few hours until dawn," Tristan continued. "I wish you the best of luck."
Luck? Marcel would need much more than luck if he wanted to survive. Elijah sighed again; it seemed that he would have to ruin his favorite tuxedo.
"Elijah?" Hayley said.
He took her hand and led her to the bar counter.
"How is Marcel supposed to beat one of these vampires?"
"With guile, courage, perhaps a bit of trickery," Tristan's voice said before Elijah managed to reply.
Hayley and Elijah turned to look at him.
"Admittedly it's a long shot, but then, sometimes the new candidates surprise us." Tristan paused and looked at Hayley. "Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Tristan de Martel. And you must be the famous Hayley Marshall Kenner. Alpha to the Crescent Wolves." He paused again and kissed Hayley's hand. She yanked it away immediately, making Elijah smile. "Well, pleasure's all mine, I see," Tristan stated and looked at Elijah.
"When I sent your invitation, I didn't dare think you'd come."
Elijah smiled.
"Of course I came, I wouldn't have missed this. Now, what are you doing with Marcel Gerard?"
"I am always looking for new talents," Tristan replied. "I believe he has a lot to offer us, if he survives."
Hayley glared at him and crossed her arms.
"I take it Mr. Gerard is a friend of yours?"
"We're friends," Hayley replied. "And even if we weren't, I don't like bullies."
Tristan smiled.
"A bully? My dear, you barely know me."
Hayley took a threatening step towards him.
"First of all, I'm not your dear and second of all, I don't want to know you."
Tristan looked amused.
"I see."
He didn't have time to continue when the howling started. Elijah rolled his eyes when he saw Niklaus and Lucien entering the room with few half naked women.
"Greetings!" Lucien announced. "My God! It's a room full of Elijahs!"
"I had that exact same nightmare once," Niklaus chuckled.
"Go on, grab us a drink, love," Lucien told one of the women.
"One for me, and one for you and one for her and one for her… Tristan! Tristan! Come out, come out, wherever you are!"
"Excuse me," Tristan stated calmly and walked over to Niklaus and Lucien.
"You should move along. You're not welcome here."
Niklaus smirked.
"Right, okay, we're not welcome here…" He paused and burst into laughter. "Or maybe you should move along before I make you cry in front of all your little friends."
"Niklaus," a female voice suddenly said.
Elijah froze. That voice… It couldn't be. Elijah saw a woman marching towards Tristan, everyone made way for her. She was wearing an emerald evening gown and a lace mask. Her sandy blonde hair was down. Tristan smiled at her and kissed her hand.
"My dearest."
Both Niklaus and Elijah stared at her when she took her mask off. It was her. Ginna.
