Oh Maker of Mine
Chapter 4
OMN P.O.V
Now Rebekah was in place of Marcel's pacing. Elijah continued to finger the dagger. "Does this blade look familiar?" he asked her. Rebekah barely glanced at it. "Should I care?" he finally looked up. "You're bothered by something?" "And you're not? Why is Hayley here right now?" Elijah groaned, "I've explained. She's under our protection." Rebekah stopped pacing and glared at her eldest brother. "No, she's under your. Protection. Have you not thought for a second where we are? You haven't thought about when Zara wakes up?" Elijah caught on immediately. "She'll be restrained. She won't hurt an innocent girl-" "IF she loses control, Niklaus would be the only one able to stop her, and she just might go through him to rip that baby out of Hayley!" Elijah blinked. "I have faith those centuries apart have strengthened her emotionally when it comes to such matters." Niklaus groaning and tossing suddenly broke the conversation, but he didn't wake up. Ice blue eyes were back on brown instantaneously. "You're thinking rationally Elijah. For us females, especially situations like this. Emotions. Actions. None of it will be rational."
MARCEL'S P.O.V
I was 8, a slave. My father was Lord of the French Quarter, the mansion that lies near the beginning of Bourbon Street present day. Head slave. It was then; I met 10 year old Zariya LaBeau. She was travelling with her aunt Marie, the Voodoo queen disguised as medicine women and midwives. I remember my father being quite taken with Marie immediately and invited them to stay. They soon became lovers, and Zara became my guardian…confidant. Loyal best friends. Time flew, and then we were grownups. She was 20, I was 18. That's when everything changed…the Originals appeared on the grounds and was especially taken with the French Quarter. Marie tolerated werewolves, she would tell us stories about them. However, we knew nothing about vampires. Marie knew, and she said nothing although she was nowhere as inviting as my father. We, I and Zara were just getting back from an evening ride when we saw them. The scene was grand. Ground slaves were scurrying trying to prepare the guest house for the 3 whites who've just so happened to wander into the corridor. As my father called me towards them, I only noticed Rebekah. I nearly lost my tongue trying to say my own name around her. The blush I received let me know my future. Marie introduced Zara to them as "Zariya AnaNarei LaBeau." She gave a curtsy. Marie, we all watched at Niklaus rose to his feet and extended his hand to lift her by her chin so that their eyes met. He only saw her. That night, Marie tried to get Zara to leave with her and continue travelling the world. She refused. I assumed it was for my friendship, but I knew it was something more. I don't know what Marie said to her that night before she departed.
"Brings back loads of memories Marcel, thanks." Zara's signature husky voice came from behind them. Marcel turned slowly. As did Hayley. Neither of them smelled or heard her approach. Zara glances at Hayley's face, travelled to her large belly and back to her face. "Zara-" Marcel was stopped suddenly as she rocketed into his body with a hug who threw them both over the edge. Hayley stifled a scream before sounds of laughter rose from where they landed.
ZARA's P.o.V
"May I join you?" the accented voice of Niklaus nearly caused me to jolt forward. NiSai, my horse attempted to, had I not yanked his mane. I peered into the dark woods around me. "Where are you?" I questioned, and blinked. He appeared before me. NiSai began to tremble, his big nostrils flared. I dismounted, rubbing my horse fondly. "You've frightened him." I accused nowhere close to serious. Niklaus came forward slowly and stared at my horse, into his eyes. "Unintentionally, of course. I do apologize. Did I frighten you as well?" NiSai visibly relaxed and allowed Niklaus to rub his neck, his hand following mine. I was shocked. "NiSai doesn't tolerate males, even Marcel can barely get close." The smile he gave set off a sense of passion in my heart. "I'm closer to beasts than man. Perhaps he senses that."
OMN
This was the first of many nights Niklaus would approach Zara. Marcel was in his own world trying to get Rebekah's acknowledgment. Eventually…it happened. The day he was turned. Of course, Niklaus wasn't aware of the passion they had for each other. Before Marie left the French Quarter, she placed Celeste to change over Zara. Celeste was a powerful witch, but a witch she was with a growing power of voodoo. However, she had become infatuated with the eldest brother of the trio; leaving Zara to spend a majority of her time now in the woods with Niklaus. The day Marcel was turned was the beginning of the rise of vampires.
"18" Marcel was strapped. Arms splayed and legs. His back was being ripped into with the whip. Monton was furious –he'd caught Marcel attempting to speak with Rebekah who watched in the courtyard…along with everybody else. "19" the whip flashed again. The sound of it hitting flesh, breaking more skin, and become saturated with blood was overwhelming to some. Most the children covered their ears but couldn't cover their eyes. Monton ordered everyone to watch. "We should stop him," whispered Rebekah to Elijah. He disagreed. "We're guests in his house. His son has angered him. It is not our place." Rebekah fought to keep a straight face but with every lash she felt her control slip. There were 6 more to go. "20." Marcel finally screamed. It wasn't loud, but it was filled with intense agony. "What's going on?! Monton!" suddenly Zara was pushing her way through the crowd, followed closely by Niklaus. Celeste grabbed her arm. "He's being punished. Don't interfere!" Zara yanked away and as Monton raised the whip again, it struck nothing but air as Zara stood in front of Marcel's back. The crowd gave a simultaneous gasp of awe, fear, and excitement. A hand on Niklaus's shoulder prevented him from going forward. "I am punishing my son Zariya. Move out of the way." Zara could feel the warm blood under her feet from where it dripped from Marcel's broken back. Her voice was low and her eyes narrowed. "Punishment? 10 to 15 lashes sir, anything after that is torture." Monton's eyes flashed. "Zariya. Move or suffer the same punishment." A deep animalistic growl came from within the crowd. Nobody but Elijah saw Niklaus's eyes flash gold. Zara's jaw clenched as she leveled her gaze with Monton preparing for him to whip them both. "Zara…move…" Marcel whispered. Tears welled in her eyes, but after a couple seconds, she moved in front of Marcel and held his face in her hands. "What's the count?" he cocked a grin at her. "25." Zara swallowed hard, "Only 5 to go Cel, you with me?" "Only screamed once." Was a forced croak. Zara's tears began to fall. "You'll only scream once." The beating continued. "21." Pause. "22." Pause. "Don't tense, accept the pain. Let it flow thru you to me." She whispered. Marcel laxed. "23." Zara nearly screamed herself as her back split mentally whereas Marcel's did physically. Pause. "24." Their eyes locked. Pause. "25." Monton wrapped the whip around his shoulders and turned to the crowd. "I am Lord of this house, this city, and these woods. Disobey me and you will get punished as I see it. Behold my son, my flesh and blood an example to you. That no one is above reproach." Over his shoulder he addressed Zara. "Medicine girl. Take him down, bind is wounds. I expect you at my table tonight." The crowd began to part ways as Zara cut Marcel down, with shaking hands. "Tell those who want their children's lives spared to leave the city after dusk," muttered Niklaus to Rebekah in their native tongue, "What are your plans?" she asked, her eyes on Zara half dragging, half carrying a semi-conscious Marcel. Niklaus followed her gaze and noticed Zara's slight limp. His mind began working, but said nothing else as a plan formed in his mind.