The real party II

He wasn't moving and his gaze didn't indicate a thing about his reaction.

She'd expected for him to be shocked, the last time they'd seen each other he'd ripped Tyler's heart out of his chest. To see her coming to him was probably the last thing he'd expected.

The other thing was that she was still grinding up against Marcel. She'd expected him to have a bit of a reaction to that. She giggled at the thought, keeping her gaze locked with his.

If he was as smart as she gave him credit for, he should have guessed that she turned it off already, so she no longer held that card.

Suddenly, Marcel stilled.

"Wait here, I'm gonna get back to you in a second," he whispered in her ear and she turned towards him, raising her eyebrows while smirking at him.

Then, he let go of her and made his way through the dancing people, towards Klaus.

Yes, it made sense that they knew each other. If Marcel was what he claimed – the infamous king of New Orleans – Klaus would have his business with him. What exactly that business was, well that was still to be figured out. Either they were allies or enemies.

Marcel placed his arm around Klaus shoulder, a wide, friendly grin on his face.

She retreated back to the bar and tuned into the conversation.

"I see you've made it back to the party."

Klaus turned towards him, an icy expression on his face. She could feel the tension between the both of them from across the room. Marcel's face had changed, too. Even though the smile was still wide on his face she could see the hardness in his eyes.

Suddenly, a smirk spread on Klaus'. "Well, it's not one until I show up so you should be grateful, mate."

Marcel broke out in laughter. Then he leaned in closer, fixing his now friendly eyes fixed on Klaus.

"Actually, I was having a pretty good time before. You won't believe what I found today."

Klaus raised his eyebrows, smirking at Marcel. "You don't say."

"A pretty little thing," Marcel elaborated, "Yet so much more than that."

Klaus chuckled, closing his eyes. Then, suddenly he had his eyes fixed on hers.

She couldn't read anything in them, again.

"Is that so?" he asked and Marcel turned to look at her for a moment, then back to Klaus.

Klaus looked back at Marcel, his lips curled up in a snarl, but then they formed a menacing smirk.

"Why don't you introduce me, then?"

Marcel chuckled, licked his lips and then fixed his gaze back on Klaus'.

"All right, all right, but," he pulled Klaus in again, "She's my plaything."

Klaus' face froze and his jaw clenched.

He looked like he was about to rip out Marcel's heart.

He smiled again, but every sense of false friendliness was gone.

"All right," he said, raising his eyebrows and then, in one a little too fast motion, ripped himself out of Marcel's grasp.

Marcel laughed and the both of them walked up to Caroline.

So far Klaus hadn't let on anything about the fact that he knew her. Which could have several reasons but she was pretty sure they could be reduced to one word: Marcel.

They were definitely more on the enemy than the ally side.

Why hadn't Klaus killed him yet?

She decided that, if Klaus decided to continue this game of pretense, she would play along. She didn't know enough to make rash decisions yet. Also, this could be of use later.

Excitement spread in her chest. This was gonna be fun.

She pulled out another cigarette and lit it as the both of them arrived at the bar.

She took a drag and then exhaled into Klaus' direction, her gaze fixed on his.

He raised his eyebrows.

Marcel put his arm around her shoulder, grinning at her.

"May I introduce you to Klaus – the hybrid, you might have heard of him."

She raised her eyebrows, smiling. "I might."

Klaus smirked.

"Caroline," she said, holding out her hand towards him. He took it, grasping it a little too tightly. She returned the favor, burying one of her nails in his palm.

He didn't even flinch and then they let go again.

Marcel laughed, freeing her of his embrace. "All right, I'm gonna get us a drink." He turned towards the bar and waved at the bartender.

Caroline took a drag of her cigarette, cocking her head to the side as she kept her gaze locked with Klaus'.

"So you're the hybrid, huh?" she asked, chuckling. "Now, how did that happen?"

If he wanted to play this game she was gonna play it right.

He scoffed. "Long story for another time, love," he answered, taking the glass Marcel offered to him.

Caroline took hers, smiling innocently at Marcel.

"You've got famous friends, I see."

Marcel laughed again, raising his eyebrows at her. "I am famous, darling."

She laughed, taking a sip of her drink. "Too bad I'm not a groupie."

Klaus raised the drink to his lips, smirking and shaking his head.

"Well, you're obviously suicidal."

She raised her eyebrows at him, taking another drag of her cigarette. "The opposite, actually. It seems you're a bad judge of character."

He scoffed, downing the rest of his drink. Then he banged the empty glass down on the counter, locking his eyes with hers in a dangerous glare. She smirked at him.

He turned to look at Marcel.

"She's got a sharp tongue."

Marcel laughed, drinking a little of his drink but almost imperceptibly moving closer to Caroline. She chuckled. Marcel was acting protective over her – towards Klaus. This was just too good. "Well, that's what I like about her."

Caroline almost broke out in laughter. Holy shit, this was just precious.

Klaus, licked his lips, obviously of another opinion. She saw his jaw clench.

"Well, I'm most definitely no damsel in distress in need of saving." She accentuated the last words carefully, smirking at Klaus mirthfully.

"And I'm too smart to be seduced by any of you."

Marcel chuckled while Klaus fist was clenching. He glowered at her, his anger now nearly bubbling to the surface.

She was laughing internally. She lowered her head, smirking at Marcel.

"Now, you promised me a party, " she said, letting the cigarette bud fall to the floor, then she leaned in, placing her hand on his chest. "And I think I have just the idea."

She turned towards Klaus, an evil glint in her eyes.

"I wanna see you kill something. The both of you."

A frown spread on his face and for a second she saw shock in his eyes. Oh, this was hilarious.

Marcel raised his eyebrows, placing his hand on her hip.

"But you already had your share," he said, chuckling darkly.

She turned back towards him, batting her lashes. "Oh, but sometimes I just like to lean back and watch."

Marcel licked his lips, a glint of excitement in his eyes. She saw Klaus tense up even more.

He took a deep breath.

"I won't be commanded around," he said, glowering at her. "Least of all by a little girl who's a little out of her league tonight."

She chuckled, leaning back into Marcel's chest.

"Too bad," she said, locking her gaze with his. "I guess it'll be only Marcel, then?" She turned her head upwards, towards Marcel who was looking down at her with a wide smirk on his face.

"You don't think I'm out of my league, do you?"

He just chuckled.

Then he leaned in towards her ear. "All right."

He let go of her and walked up to a guy, dancing on the side.

She smirked at Klaus and then leaned back on the bar. Klaus looked at her, an angry and questioning expression on his face, letting the pretense fall for a moment. She raised her eyebrows and her lips formed a menacing smirk. Then she turned away to look at Marcel who was now standing in the middle of the room, the guy by his side.

He raised his hand to his mouth, producing a long loud whistle. Immediately everyone in the room stilled and the music stopped. A wide grin spread on his face.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, placing his arm around the guys shoulders.

"This is James," he said, looking at Caroline for a moment and then back to the crowd. "You know James. James is a nice guy."

James looked up at him, gulping, visibly scared.

"At least I thought he was a nice guy, but," he said, a feigned innocent look in his eyes. Then he fixed his gaze on James, all friendliness falling from his face, replaced by an icy glare.

"He took something from me."

The room was dead silent, everyone stared at Marcel and James.

"Now James, you know there are rules. Very easy to follow actually. I'm a good king, a friendly king," he elaborated, taking a step back and raising his arms in a gesture to accentuate his words.

"Marcel, I don't know-"

Marcel's face fell again, then a wide, friendly smirk spread on it again.

"Who said you could talk?" He moved in again, placing his hand on James' shoulder. "You see, it's easy. I ask you something, you answer. I talk, you stay silent. Got that?" he asked.

James just stared at him like a deer in the headlights. "Got that?" Marcel repeated.

"Y-yes," James answered, his voice shaky.

Marcel smiled at him. "Good," he said, raising his eyebrows appreciatively.

Then he turned his head to look around the crowd.

"James here is a bit slow. But I think he got it now, what do you think?"

A few people jeered and Marcel smirked, turning back to James, his hand still heavy on his shoulder.

"Good," he said, smiling.

Then, suddenly, he flashed forward, burying his fangs in James' neck. James gasped, his eyes widening in fear as he tried to push Marcel away. The crowd was hollering now, cheering Marcel on. James struggled, shrieking in pain as Marcel sucked at his neck furiously.

Then, James slowly stopped moving, his eyes falling shut and his body going limb.

Finally, Marcel's head snapped back, eyes half shut, blood dripping down on his chin. He locked his gaze with Klaus who just stood there, staring at him. Then he moved his hands up to James' neck and broke it in a single twist, letting his body fall to the grown.

The crowd cheered again, some of them clapping, others hollering.

Marcel stood in the middle of the room, opening up his arms, a wide grin on his face.

"Free drinks for everybody tonight!" he shouted and the crowd cheered again as the music started, louder now.

Caroline laughed as Marcel returned, a cocky smirk on his lips.

Klaus seemed more tense than before. She let her gaze wander between the both of them. God, this was such an interesting dynamic. She could have so much fun with these two, the possibilities played out in her head and she shook her head, downing the rest of her drink.

"So you're the king of vigilante justice?" she asked.

Marcel placed her hand on her hip, pulling her in, a wide smirk on his face. There was still blood on his chin. She licked her lips, her gaze delving to Klaus for a second.

He was staring at her. His hands were still clenched to fists. How much would it take to make him explode?

She leaned in a little, her gaze fixed on Marcel's lips.

Suddenly, Klaus moved. He gripped a girl (a blonde one) and slammed her into the wall, sinking his fangs in her neck. She shrieked. The party around them continued as Marcel and Caroline turned towards the scene. He sucked furiously, violently. The girl's widened eyes met Caroline and for a second the scene reminded her of what had gone down in Elena's living room back then.

The girl was out. Then, Klaus drew back and in one fast motion buried his hand in her chest, ripping out her heart and letting the body fall to the floor.

He turned around, his gaze fixed on Caroline, blood splattered all around his mouth. She gasped. She'd never seen him like this. To say it was a turn on was an understatement.

This was the Klaus she had come here for, the one she had thought about last night.

He walked up to them, staring her down until he arrived. Then he turned his head towards Marcel, a dead serious expression still plastered on his face.

Marcel chuckled. "Hey there, buddy. Calm down."

In a motion too quick to follow he had his hand placed on Marcel's shoulder, grasping onto it a little too tightly. A menacing smirk spread on his face.

"Why, mate? I was just a little thirsty."

She saw a small flash of concern flash through Marcel's eyes. Then it was replaced by an icy look.

The two of them kept standing like that, staring at each other.

Caroline chuckled, shaking her head. What a pair.

"Alright, guys," she said, "Thank you for heeding my request."

Both of them turned around to look at her, the tension broken for a moment. Marcel licked his lips.

"I'll be back tomorrow," she said, smirking at them and then turned on her heels and left.

When she arrived at what was now her apartment (she could definitely do better), she dropped the keys on the counter and slipped out of her heels.

She was glad that she had disposed of the body earlier, otherwise it would be starting to smell by now. She fixed herself a glass of water.

When she turned around Klaus was standing behind her, in the middle of the living room, his face again painted by an unreadable expression.

She smiled at him. "And here I was thinking you hadn't gotten the hint."