Life on the Town:
"So, let me get this straight," Beth said confused, but still happy. Klaus grinned at her as they walked down the streets of New Orleans. After hearing from Klaus that morning that there was a witch that was plotting against him, he decided to make the most of the trip and bring her along, not wanting to leave her there alone, even if Elijah was there. There was a unspoken agreement not to talk about the confession from the night before, at least until they figured out who wanted to hurt Klaus. "We're going to go see a bunch of fake witches to pick out the real ones?"
Klaus chuckled, pulling her along so as not to get lost in the crowd. "That's the plan, love. The other 'witches' are just for the tourists, you know, the ones that aren't exactly aware of the supernatural." He smirked and she laughed. This place was basically a supernatural hot bed. He was happy to be able to show her it.
"I just can't believe we're really here. Kol once told me about this place, that you guys settled here for a few years. It's so cool." She smiled looking around. Klaus smiled looking at her, happy that she seemed to be enjoying herself as much as he was. He was happy to get her out of Mystic Falls, she seemed better here. He could finally show her something other than that small town. She deserved better.
"Come along, love." He grinned guiding over to where the witches were setting up to tell fortunes. He walked over to a woman's table, who immediately started packing up when she saw him. He chuckled as he took a seat and Beth took one next to him. "Good afternoon. Time for one more?" He asked.
"I have nothing to say to you." She told him coldly. It was obvious she knew who he was. That was clear, but Beth didn't understand why they were so worried. Witches did have a reason to fear Klaus, but she looked experienced and good easily put him down and run.
Klaus chuckled, amused. "Oh, now that's not very amiable, is it? You don't even know me." He reminded her. The woman scoffed at that. Any witch could spot him from a mile away.
"I know what you are. Half vampire, half beast. You're the hybrid."
He smiled at that. He enjoyed when people knew him and they quaked in fear. "I'm the Original hybrid, actually," He corrected her and Beth rolled her eyes. "But that's a long story for another time. I'm looking for someone, a witch. Perhaps you might be able to help me find her. Jane-Anne Deveraux."
The woman visibly reacted to that name. "Sorry, I don't know." She claimed.
Klaus leaned in a little with a small smile on his face. "Well, now that's a fib isn't it?" He took the woman's hand in his own, still smiling. "Now, you see, I know that you're a true witch amongst this sea of poseurs , so enough with the fabrications. I've quite a temper." He chuckled, threateningly.
She pulled her hand back quickly. "Witches don't talk out of school in the Quarter. The vampire won't allow it. Those are the rules. I don't break Marcel's rules." She told him. Beth saw Klaus' face visibly darken at the name.
She looked at them curiously. "Who's Marcel?"
"Marcel's rules?" Klaus asked her. He chuckled. "Where do you suppose I find Marcel?"
xxxxx
Klaus and Beth soon made their way to a bar, where she immediately saw a man on stage. He was tall, handsome, looked to be about in his twenties, but she could tell right off that he was a vampire, probably a powerful one if this was Marcel. "He likes to make an impression doesn't he?" She muttered over to Klaus who was looking at him. He seemed really tense. He kept her close, and away from anyone else. He didn't trust anyone here.
He got off the stage and went over to his friends to take a drink, however he could sense Klaus there and turned to face him and Elizabeth. "Klaus." He greeted him. The hybrid took a step forwards towards him.
"Marcel."
He took a step forwards, as well. "Must be a hundred years since that nasty business with your papa." Beth could visibly see that bringing up Mikael made Klaus tense.
"Has it been that long?" He asked.
"The ray I recall it, he ran you out of town. Left a trail of dead vampires in his wake." He reminded him. Obviously Mikael didn't exactly like town. She knew that he would've done anything to kill Klaus.
Klaus chuckled. "And yet how fortunate you managed to survive. My father, I'm afraid, I recently incinerated to dust." He informed him, but it sounded more aggressive than just telling him,. Apparently, his friends thought so too because they all stood up, and it appeared to be more than the ones who were with him because others in the restaurant stood up.
Marcel took another step forwards towards him, giving the guys okay to stay calm. "Well, if I'd known you were coming back in town, if I had a heads-up..."
"What, Marcel?" He asked him, getting combative. They were head to head now. Obviously, showing that they were both the alpha male. Beth wanted to roll her eyes at the testosterone between them, actually, but knew that Klaus knew what he was doing. "What would you have done?" He asked him.
They both just stared at each other, before Marcel answered him. "I would've thrown you a damn parade." Finally he broke out into a grin and laughed with Klaus as they hugged, obviously having known each other. He pulled back grabbing the side of Klaus' neck. "Niklaus Mikaelson. My mentor, my savior, my sire." He chuckled pulling him alone. "Let's get you a drink and your girl too. Any friend of yours is friend of mine." He winked over at her as she followed.
She rolled her eyes, but Klaus just pulled her along. He made sure she was by his side a few minutes later when they were sitting with Marcel in a private back room. Marcel was his greatest protege but that's why he was worried. "It is good to see you." The handsome young vampire said to him, as he poured them all a drink. He glanced over at Elizabeth with a grin. "Especially when you bring such beautiful woman."
Beth rolled her eyes at him as Klaus laughed. "Don't try it, Marcel, Elizabeth is immune to such impish charms."
She smiled at him and took her drink. "That's right." She agreed. Klaus glanced at the drink then at her and she threw the drink back swallowing it down, as it burned her throat but she resisted the urge to cough. Marcel laughed and clapped his hands.
"A girl who can hold her liquor, you're okay in my book."
Klaus grinned at her. "I have missed home as well, although please tell me that the current state of Bourbon Street is not your doing." He told him with a teasing frown.
He chuckled. "Something's go to draw in the out of towners, otherwise we'd all go hungry." He winked at Elizabeth, making Klaus wrap an arm around her. She tried not to look surprised because even she knew that Klaus was a bit tense about her being around Marcel.
Klaus glanced at his friends that were around the door, obviously for protection. Klaus was curious as he turned back around to Marcel. "I see that your friends are day walkers." He noticed by their rings on their fingers that are similar to the ones he and his family had.
"Yeah yeah, I shared the secret of your daylight ring with a few buddies. Just the inner circle though, you know the family." He smiled as he took another shot.
Klaus chuckled and leaned in a little. "Tell me. How did you find a witch willing to make daylight rings?" He asked him. There weren't a lot of witches that helped random vampires. They were either threatened or bribed and that only worked on a very small percent of them. He knew that from experience.
"I got the witches around here wrapped around my finger."
Klaus grinned. He didn't exactly want to reveal that Elizabeth was a witch, even to his protege. "Is that so? I'm looking for a witch by the name of Jane-Anne Deverauz. Has some business with me."
He glanced at one his friends. "You're looking for Jane-Anne? You guys probably ought to come with me." He stood up and laughed looking at his friends. "Ha-Ha, showtime!" They all left the room to head outside and Marcel's friends followed him. They were inside so long that Beth didn't realize that it was already dark.
Marcel smiled as they went outside and started walking. "Oh, how's your family?" He asked turning to his own mentor. Klaus scoffed, he could've laughed at that. He barely had a family left, most of them left and he only had Elizabeth that stood by him.
"Those who live hate me more than ever."
Marcel shrugged it off. "Ah forget them. If your blood relations let you down, you make your own, right? You taught me that." He tapped his chest before gesturing to the city. "What's mine is yours, as always, you can even share with your girl. Even my nightwalkers, the riff-raff." He chuckled as he looked at vampires jumping from the rooftops.
"Aren't they afraid of being seen?" She asked Marcel, who glanced at her grinning.
"Yes, they're hardly subtle, are they?" He asked him. Klaus looked at Beth, worried. Part of him wanted to send her back to the hotel, until he talked to the witch, but seeing how the vampires seemed to roam the city freely he wanted her close by. He wasn't sure how Marcel would react to Elizabeth having magic.
"It's the Quarter, ain't no such thing as subtle, baby." He winked at her. Beth felt slightly caged as all the vampires flocked around Marcel, but she felt safer with Klaus by her side. Klaus and Beth followed as Marcel whistled getting his guys to follow him. Everyone started cheering as they came to a stop. Beth froze seeing a vampire bring the witch, Jane-Anne forward to them.
"Jane-Anne Deveraux!" He announced her name grinning. "Give it up for Jane Anne! Come on, let's hear it!: He told the crowd as they continued to cheer. "Jane-Anne Deveraux, you have been accused of the practice of witchcraft beyond the bounds of the rules set forth, and enforced, by me. How do you plead?" He quickly turned to Klaus. "Was that convincing? I studied law back in the 50's. Hold that thought. Seriously, J, tick tock. You know the drill. How do you plead?"
"I didn't do anything." She insisted, being stubborn. Beth gave her credit, she wasn't going to beg for mercy. Most witches were too stubborn and too proud to ever do that, especially to a vampire. Klaus saw how uncomfortable she was, and felt like something bad was going to happen.
Marcel obviously didn't believe her. 'That's a lie. You know it, I know it and you hate that I know it. It drives you witches crazy that I'm aware of your every move. That you can't do magic in this town without getting caught. So, why don't we just cut to the chase, huh? You tell me what magic you're brewing. I mean, tell me. I'll grant you leniency. Hey, I am, after all, a merciful man." He chuckled as the crowed muttered. Jane-Anne scoffed, disgusted at him.
Klaus knew his protege and knew he wasn't going to like her answer. "Elizabeth, go." He whispered inside the young witch's ear. She looked up confused. He tried to pull her away from the crowd, but it was packed. "Just get out of here."
"I'm not leaving you." She said just as quietly so only he could hear. She wasn't going to take off, even if he was just trying to protect her.
"Rot in hell, monster." Jane-Anne spat at him
Marcel smiled, dangerously. 'I'll tell you what. I'll give you one more chance..." He walked away, but than swung the branch he had been holding so fast that it sliced open her neck and she gagged as the blood spilled out. Beth gasped and Klaus kept her close, trying to give her some comfort. "Or not." She fell to the floor dead as the crowd cheered. Beth felt disgusted seeing them do that. Every inch of her ached as seeing a fallen witch.
"Hey, it's okay. Go wait for me by the car." Klaus murmured in her ears, handing her the keys. "It's alright, sweetheart. I'll be right there, okay? Just don't move." He knew that Marcel wouldn't dare send anyone after her, to try and hurt her. She nodded and they split up, as she numbly before walking away to the car, trying to keep down her lunch.
