That time again! Sorry for the delay and like always thanks for the support. Much appreciated for everything guys.

Chasing An Outcome

Chapter 4: Bitter Confrontations and Warm Reunions

"Marcel?" Hayley murmured. There was something in his appearance that rubbed her the wrong way. He looked devoid of any emotions. The expression he wore was completely empty. Like that of a man who'd lost everything.

Klaus approached him slowly. He knew this would be coming and even so, he wasn't prepared for it.

Marcel balled his hands. "You took her away. You've taken the only family I've ever had."

"Don't!" Klaus shouted in desperation. "Don't say you don't have family!" First Kol and now Marcel? No. He couldn't lose them. "I took you in. I took you in and treated you like you were my own blood! You were a son to me!"

"Don't fuck with me!" He yelled. "The only semblance of family I had was her and you've taken her away from me!"

"Marcel," Elijah cut in, standing in front of Klaus. "If you have any problems it is me who you should take them up with. Niklaus did not have any part in it."

"Problems?" Marcel repeated incredulously. "I have a little more than a problem Elijah!"

"You don't understand Marcel; Freya didn't finish the spell!" Klaus said.

"Am I supposed to believe you! You're only trying to save face! What you don't know is that we tried to bring her back but we were unable to! That means either you completed your spell or the ancestors got to her. And you know what? None of those are appealing to me."

"But she didn't complete the spell," He tried reasoning once more. "Something must've went wrong."

"It's not about completing the spell or not Klaus. It's the fact that she was going to do it!"

"We only did what we needed to do Marcel. Our family was in danger." Elijah added.

"Your family is always in some kind of danger! Instead of solving it yourselves you have to drag everyone into it! You guys practically made Lucien into what he is! Let me tell you, today has sure done a lot to finally open my eyes."

Elijah frowned. "What are you saying?"

"Answer me this, would you have gone through with the spell if it had been Rebekah in that circle?" The silence only infuriated him. "Yeah, didn't think so. Because anyone outside of your family may as well be dirt under your boots, am I right!? And that includes Cami as well."

"I'll overlook your comment because of the grief you are feeling," Klaus said dangerously. "But I assure you that you are treading on some mighty thin ice. Therefore I suggest you watch your tone."

"You enjoy that don't you Klaus? Having me on strings? You love knowing that I'm inferior to you; that you can beat me down without repercussions. The only reason you kept me around was so that you could mold me however you saw fit, just like Lucien. And now it must kill you to know that a guy like him is superior to you."

"Your emotions are clouding your judgement right now Marcellus." Klaus replied while attempting to remain composed. "Let's not do something we'll regret."

"I'm afraid we're beyond that by now. In fact, I think we're done talking."

Elijah stepped closer. "Use your head. You are not able to fight us. Please just stand down Marcel."

"Wrong." Marcel stated as his eyes began glowing red, double fangs appearing on his mouth. "I am done being your family's little pet."

Klaus' eyes widened at the sight. "What have you done!?"

Freya cast a look to where Aurora's body was; her blood ran cold and a shiver ran up her spine when it harshly sunk in. "You've taken the serum haven't you?"

"I told Kol I'd make you pay for what you've done." He regarded her with a menacing glare. "Unlike you, I intend on keeping my word."

"I'm the one who decided on doing it!" Elijah quickly said, fear washing over him. "It was me who forced Freya into going through with it. Neither her, nor Niklaus had any part in it. "

"What are you doing Elijah?" Freya said.

But he ignored her. "Initially Niklaus told me to look for another method, but when I realized there wasn't... I took matters into my own hand. If you seek vengeance than your target should be me!"

"Killing you would have sufficed. But since I don't expect the rest of you to stand idly by it looks like I'll just be killing all of you. Next I'm going to kill Lucien."

"Marcel what's gotten into you? Do you even hear yourself!?" Hayley yelled, deciding it was time to stop being silent. "Can't you see that your actions are no better than what you're accusing Elijah of! This is senseless murder!"

"Then what the hell do you want me to do, huh!?" He barked. "I have nothing left in me but this Hayley! Or do you expect me to just sit by while they go on their merry way?" His eyes darkened. "Did you let Tristan off the hook after he killed Jackson? No, you didn't. After putting him in an endless cycle of torture you went on a murder spree and killed several of my Strix. So don't you fucking dare defend them!"

The unnaturally cruel words spoken by someone she'd accepted as a friend rendered her speechless. She'd lost him. His decision was made and there was no talking him out of it.

"Think for one second!" Klaus yelled. "Look at what you've done to yourself! At what you're trying to do! Remember that Davina has tried to kill this family on more than one—"

In a flash Marcel sent Klaus crashing through the wall with a punch. "I said we're done talking. Let's see how good your immortality is after I've torn you limb from limb, and buried your heart beneath my boot."

Elijah quickly went on the offensive but his arm was caught before he'd made contact. Marcel then swung him against the wall as if he were made of feathers, shattering it on impact.

Freya attempted putting him under an aneurysm but he snapped out of it much too easily. The next thing she knew she was lifted off the ground, his hand wrapped around her throat.

"You lying bitch," He growled. "I'm going to tear you to pieces!"

Complete fear consumed her. All she could focus on was his eyes, the hatred in them, it shook her to her core. Never had she witnessed this cold expression on him or anyone else. "Marcel..." She gasped, but her arms were going limp. It was getting increasingly difficult to breathe.

Hayley used the opportunity to land a kick on Marcel's waist, successfully knocking him back and causing Freya to fall to the floor and attempt to breathe. She quickly helped her up and turned to Kol who was on his knees, frozen on his spot. "Kol! If you don't do something we're all going to die! Stand up and fight!"

Kol's body was rooted to the ground. His own feelings conflicted. Should he help kill the man who was family to the woman he loved? Or help the family that killed the woman he loved? "I- I don't..." What should he do?

At that moment Klaus and Elijah came to. They both attempted to fight Marcel but they were no match, he possessed the same power as Lucien. Once again they were thrown aside, skidding painfully along the concrete floor.

"Please Marcel!" Hayley pleaded. "You know for sure that Davina wouldn't have wanted this! Neither would Cami!"

"Cami would've wanted Davina to live!" Marcel retorted. "But they're gone now. And I tried doing it the nice way Hayley, the proper way. I really did. But all that got me was a world of hell! No more."

He began making his way towards them.

"...Marcel!"

Abruptly Marcel stopped dead in his tracks. He could hear his own heart thumping wildly against his chest. His head turned to scan the area, wondering if he'd completely given into his madness. Because surely that couldn't be her calling out to him.

He looked and looked only to find it empty. His gaze then settled on Freya. "Is this some damn trick! Is there no shame in you at all!?"

Confused faces all fell on Freya who was equally as lost as them. "I'm- I'm not doing anything."

"Marcel!"

There was no mistaking it. There was absolutely no mistaking it. How was he hearing this?

Klaus eyed him cautiously. He looked... like he'd just seen a ghost.

"Davina...?" Marcel managed to get out. Then, without warning, he disappeared from the compound.

"Stop the car!" Davina hastily said after they'd finally gotten through the mini traffic.

Vincent complied and pulled over to the side of the road.

Davina immediately jumped out the car. She didn't know how, but she could almost sense him. Tears were already forming in the corners of her eyes.

Before she knew it a rapid force collided into her, lifting her off the ground. Arms wrapped around her while her hands pressed against a familiar chest. She had never experienced vampire speed like this. It was rough and the wind was pounding against her, and yet, it felt so wonderful at the same time. He was running blindly though and only stopped when she gripped the fabric of his shirt.

They came to a halt by the alley of some random bar. The impact from being in such speed causing them to break apart from one another. It took a few seconds for the dizziness to leave the two of them. She figured he wasn't aware he could run at that pace, no doubt the serum he'd taken had upgraded him.

They were now eye to eye. And suddenly time froze. Everything seemed to gradually disappear, the sounds of cars and people, the concrete wall of the bar, the smell of alcohol, everything. It was like standing in a pure white empty room.

Marcel was breathing hard. And he approached her slowly, as if he thought this could be some cruel trick, some cruel illusion. If it was an illusion it was a pretty damn good one. His hands clenched tightly while his body trembled.

But then she spoke. Softly. Like how she'd spoken to him when she found out Cami had died.

"Marcel."

The remaining distance was extinguished at enhanced vampire speed. His arms were around her once more. It wasn't a soft or delicate embrace, but a fierce, tight one. Tears escaped him as he felt her fingers grip the back of his jacket just as fiercely. Cries of anguish left his body before he realized he was outright sobbing.

This was real.

He was holding her.

Somehow he pulled her closer, terrified that she'd be swallowed by the ground if he dared release her. And he finally found his voice, choosing to say something that he was ruthlessly prevented from saying hours before.

"I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you..." He repeated it over and over again so that it could be engraved into her heart. So that his words could be drilled into her mind, never to be forgotten.

Davina was in a similar state. Several of her emotions were bursting onto the surface making it difficult to tell which she was feeling. The scent of his cologne -that she never really cared for- was evident beneath the smell of blood, dust, and concrete. And she relished it. She relished the warmth he emitted; she relished the sound of his beating heart. "I love you Marcel. I love you so, so much."

"Never again will we be separated," He declared while resting his head atop her hair. "Never again will I be put in a situation where I'm unable to protect you."

"Marcel," She muttered against his chest.

"Nothing, nobody, will ever take you away from me." His eyes narrowed as he spoke with resolution. "This I swear to you."

They remained in their embrace, remained in the only tranquil moment they'd gotten in a very long time. It felt like centuries had gone by since they'd held onto one another like this. Evidently both had been left terrified by the fact that they'd been so close to never seeing each other ever again. They felt torn to think that the helplessness they felt back at the compound, could've really been their last memory together.

Davina pulled away but remained in his hold. "I have so much to tell you. But we need to regroup with Vincent. There's something I need to do now."

... ... …. …. ... ... ... …. …. ... ... ... ….

"So this guy, is your father?" Marcel asked after Davina had told him all that had occurred. Apparently a man named Nathan was Davina's true father. He didn't know how to feel about that. "And he helped you while you were together?"

"Yeah. And I have to bring him back. Nathan told me where exactly he buried one of his belongings. I'm going to use that to figure out where his body is buried."

"You will be doing just that," Vincent added from his seat. "We're almost there."

"Do you like fishing?"

"What?" Davina blinked. Nathan had been so quiet and now he just pops out with a completely random question?

"I didn't say anything." Marcel responded.

"Fishing, do you like fishing?"

"Never gone fishing in my whole life."

Marcel raised a brow. "Huh?"

"Oh, sorry," Davina apologized sheepishly. "Me and Nathan are sort of linked allowing us to communicate at will. Only I can hear him though. He may not look it but he's a pretty strong witch."

"I've just been thinking about the boring bonding activities we could do when I'm back. Would you like to try fishing? Or how about hiking? Wait, are you too old for bike riding? No, that can't be. There's no such thing as being too old to bike. What do you think?"

"We can do these later, jeez. Focus Nathan." She furrowed her brows when he didn't reply. "Nathan?"

By now Marcel and Vincent had glanced over to her, worried frowns decorating their faces.

"Nathan!"

"Damn it! They've found me! I'm going to try and lose them. Now what would be a good time to find my body Davina. No pressure."

He couldn't cover his panicked tone making the worry increase tenfold. She turned to Vincent. "Step on it Vincent! The ancestors have found Nathan!"

Vincent floored it and sped passed a few red lights. It got them from point A to point B though. "Let's move it!"

Davina went over to the tree he'd said to look for. It took time due to the darkened skies but she managed to pinpoint it. Quickly she kneeled down and began digging through the dirt, ignoring the beating her nails took in the process. "I got it!"

"I'm afraid that's as far as you go chaps."

The three turned to see Lucien coming into view. His deadly smirk plastered on his face.

"I've gotten word that there was some commotion going around. Turns out its only a few insects." Lucien said before shrugging. "Now it's up to me to take out the trash. My priority is the Mikaelsons but they won't open their door, now I wonder why? Seems you lot are stirring some trouble for the ancestors so, yeah, time to take the bins out."

"What are you man? Their errand boy now!?" Vincent snapped. "They're using you!"

"Oh I have to kindly disagree. It's merely a case of 'I scratch your back and you scratch mine'." Lucien added, unfazed by the angered tone. "Or are you just projecting, eh Vincent? Poor lad." He gave a long stare at Davina. "And you, didn't that lunatic of a boyfriend kill you? Pitiful man. If you want something done you have to do it yourself. Guess I have to do the honors."

"Davina," Marcel began, placing a hand on her trembling shoulder. "There's something you have to do isn't there? I don't fully understand. But the chance to save your father, who never abandoned you, should not be something you should allow to pass you by."

"Marcel," She said softly. She could tell he was having a hard time dealing with this. It certainly was a whole lot for him to digest. All this time he'd been the closest thing to a father for her.

"Go to him. And bring him back. I'll be right with you."

"Please, Marcel," Her body shook even more when she noticed Lucien's blood red eyes. She put her hand on top of his. "Don't die." He was immortal. He couldn't die. Right? If only she'd listened more to the details about the serum he took.

"I told you already D," He smirked, squeezing her shoulder gently. "Nothing will ever separate us again. So go, there's no time to waste. And go, knowing this, I will protect you. I promise you this."

"Come on Davina," Vincent urged while tugging her along. "We have to move."

"Chat's over!" Lucien said before charging towards her.

Marcel caught the fist, stunning him; and even more so when his eyes glowed the same red and double fangs popped out. "I won't let you touch her!" He landed a blow right to Lucien's face, sending him flying. His gaze returned to hers. "Go Davina!"

Vincent had to almost physically drag her away from the scenery. "He can handle himself!" He grabbed her arm and headed toward the car, immediately starting it once inside. "Alright Davina, you need to start that locator spell! In the back seat, my pack should be there, all you need is in there!"

"What? You want me to do the spell here? In the car?"

"There isn't any more time! You wanted me to stop treating you like a kid didn't you Davina? Well this is me not treating you like one!"

Davina looked towards the back of the car and sure enough there was a knapsack in the seat. He was right. She couldn't keep being weak. Releasing her seat belt she jumped to the back and began pulling the map out.

"Nathan, are you still with me?"

"That supposed to be a trick question? You know I'm with you."

She noticed how he was trying to remain composed for her sake. "Hang on just a little while longer. I swear I'm going to save you!"

"I have faith in you Davina."

"Here goes nothing!"

To say that concentrating while on a moving car, with worry plaguing her, was difficult would be an understatement. A big one. Even so she managed. There was a little black powder outlining a circle on the map; she had to focus really hard to make sure the powder stayed in place. "I know where to go!"

Kol was tapping his fingers on the table getting increasingly irritated. "Bloody hell! Did you find her or not!?"

"I'm trying," Freya answered weakly. Normally a locator spell was something she could do in her sleep, but she was still reeling from the events that had taken place barely ten minutes ago.

"Try harder!"

"Calm down Kol." Klaus ordered.

"Fuck off and don't tell me what to do!" Kol replied, in no mood to deal with him. "Davina is somewhere out there! And had Freya done what she was supposed to have done in the first place none of us would even be in this mess!"

"I have it," Freya stated and pointed to the map, an object was moving slowly across it. "She's on the move, no doubt in a car. And she's... with Vincent?"

"I'm going," Kol said, heading for the exit. He tossed Freya a look over his shoulder. "You continue the spell. Call me and tell me what route she's taking."

"I'll be going as well," Klaus told the group after Kol had left. "Someone has to look out for him. Freya keep me updated with the directions."

Hayley nodded. "Right, I've got your back."

"No," Klaus cut her off. "You need to stay here."

"Have you lost your mind? Klaus, Lucien is out there waiting for one of us to step out. Going it alone is suicide!"

"I won't be alone I'll be with Kol. There's no time to argue." He said before laying his hand behind her neck and leaning close, ensuring that she saw the urgency behind his eyes. "I am entrusting you with Hope should anything happen. Watch over her."

There was a pause of only a few seconds in which Hayley was bombarded by several thoughts at once. She felt angry at him for using Hope to justify his potential suicide mission; she felt helpless by the mere thought of having to stay put while he went out on said potential suicide mission; but, above all, there was a sort of peace welling up at the fact that he finally acknowledged her as being able to take care of Hope. Now he knew that she was just as much as parental figure to Hope as he was.

He was gone in a flash, leaving her with Elijah, Freya, and a knocked out Rebekah. God she wished Rebekah could just wake up. The air was too incredibly tense and awkward for her liking. She needed a damn drink.

Which was what she opted on. Not even bothering for a glass she simply popped the whiskey open and took a chug.

"Hayley."

Her heart skipped a beat. It was Elijah.

"What do you want Elijah?"

"You're avoiding eye contact."

She didn't miss his dejected tone. Rolling her eyes she finally looked at him. "What did you expect? Look, with everything going on right now I would rather we just didn't do this."

"I didn't have a choice Hayley," Elijah continued, desperate to get her to understand. "I had to act fast."

"But look what happened? Klaus and I are fine, we're here. Rebekah's here as well."

"How could I have known?" He added while getting close.

Hayley responded by stepping back. "I'm sorry Elijah. I just need some time. Right now all I can think of is the fact that Davina's alive and Kol and Klaus are out trying to find her. I don't even know if I should be worried about them bumping into Lucien or Marcel. Outside has become a complete war zone. So we'll deal with this later." With that she brushed passed him, failing to catch his devastated expression.

Author's Notes

Clock is ticking now! But Kol and Klaus are entering the battlefield.