Chapter 40: Playing Chess

Lucien stood outside of the Strix mansion checking his phone. Tristan had insisted that they should meet together to talk about the sire war. Yes, he had been working with him but that didn't mean he still had ulterior motives. He wasn't going to let Tristan take Klaus down because who said he would just put him to sleep. It would make more sense to just erase his line completely and Lucien would be damned if he would let that happen.

When a vampire told him he could come in, he was less than thrilled. He had never been accepted in nor did he want to. And the hatred between the vampires was clear that you could cut it with a knife. Tristan had been sitting in front of a large window with a glass of blood in his hand. He smiled when he saw Lucien come in and offered him the chair next to him. He asked for the other vampire to bring him a glass as well.

"It's a beautiful view, isn't it? I didn't think New Orleans could be this good looking, the Quarter isn't much to take in"

"What do you need to talk to me about?" Lucien quickly asked which got a quiet laugh from Tristan.

"I just want to discuss everything. How is the girl doing, Elyse is it?"

Once Tristan looked back towards the window, Lucien slyly slipped his phone in his jacket pocket. Once the other vampire stepped in, he quickly shifted his hand to his collar as if he were just fixing it. He accepted the glass of blood then turned Tristan's way.

"I think she's taking a liking in a vampire so that plan is going as followed"

The plan wasn't for Elyse to actually fall in love with Caleb. It seemed like both parties didn't mind that they were seeing each other regularly but that may have worked due to Violet and Lucien getting along. Of course Lucien was playing both sides with one another not knowing.

"Good, my sister should be arriving shortly so I have a feeling Niklaus will want to show up sometime soon. I think we should take Elijah down first"

"Wouldn't Rebekah be the easiest to take down? Aya could simply take her on or you could even lure her in a trap with the King of the Quarter. I think taking her out first then Elijah and lastly Nik"

Lucien shifted in the chair and drank a good portion of the blood. Once Tristan stood up, he made sure he moved in a better way and careful not to hit his phone in his pocket. Truth be told, he wouldn't let anything happen to Klaus. Taking the other Originals out of the way still would make matters worse but he only concern was for his sire. He really didn't want to go after any of them but he had to sound if he did. Violet really trusted his word on it and he knew she wouldn't hesitate to try and kill him if he betrayed her. Tristan thought things over and shook his head.

"Elijah goes first, that will cause a deep rift between them. I believe you have Miss Badeaux in place, am I correct?"

Lucien didn't say anything at first which caught Tristan's gaze. He placed the blood on the side table and stood up as well. He walked towards the window looking out before turning to him.

"Not exactly but I've got her good enough. I know showing up startled her enough that it will cause damage to the relationship she is in. I know her strengths and weaknesses"

"Correct, Marcel Gerard who has no idea what we are trying to accomplish" Tristan grabbed his glass of blood and held it out to him. "Your anagapesis for that girl is completely nonexistent so I have faith that this will be easier than we all think. The Strix are prepared against the younger vampires if there is some sort of uprising. I'll send Aya to the compound and order her to give Marcel information on Elijah. Cheers to taking out our sires"

Lucien smirked and grabbed his glass as well. Their glasses clicked together and each drank the rest of the blood. Tristan dismissed him and Lucien was relieved that it was over. He could hold his poker face well but his exit was long overdue. Stepping outside and into his car, he slipped the phone out and stopped the recording. Driving away and dialing Violet's number, he knew she would have to hear the conversation.

Violet was rushing down the stairs of the compound to go meet Lucien. She was trying to sneak out just in case she had to go stroll along the Quarter or do God knows what else. She was curious on what dirt he dug up and she wanted to know then and there. Right as she was slipping on her jacket, she heard the footsteps approach the balcony.

"Isn't it a little early for you to be gone so soon?"

Marcel gripped the railing and leaned over slightly. Violet turned around and offered him a smile. "I just thought I'd go pick up some coffee and beignets and I'll be right back in bed"

She hadn't told him that she had secretly been meeting with Lucien for the last week. She wanted to get enough information first before she would jump to any sort of conclusion. Violet knew Lucien better than Marcel did so it would be easier to take his word without him knowing. Besides, since she hardly knew anything about the Strix, this was her way of getting back at him.

"Why is it that you are always leaving when I'm stepping in or I'm leaving right when you come in?"

"I'm good at leaving, it's my specialty"

Violet blew him a kiss with her hand and proceeded on her way. Before she got out the gate, Aya stepped in to her disapproval. Marcel trailed his gaze to her and she ignored Violet and just looked at him. Narrowing her eyes, she glared and crossed her arms, Lucien could wait.

"It seems like you look good in a suit and without one as well" Glancing at Violet, Aya smirked and moved towards the stairs. Marcel backed away and approached her, Violet practically knocked him over as she zipped upstairs. Once she returned, she tossed him a shirt and sat on a stair. She didn't care if Aya didn't want her there; she wanted to know what was going on now.

"Tristan has a little favor for you to do, if you wouldn't mind of course"

Aya pulled out a piece of paper from her side bag she carried. She handed Marcel the paper and he looked it over. "We need this to create a weapon to fight against the Originals with. I know you already know about the war and we need this to craft the perfect weapon. Of course it wouldn't kill them but it will put them in a deep coma for quite a while. If you ever find this, please give it to us"

Violet perked up to see what was on the piece of paper. She blinked remembering it but she couldn't figure out where. After it dawned on her, she realized it was the same little thing Marcel gave her to give to Freya from the witches. She hoped neither of them batted an eyelash as Marcel didn't mention to her that he had seen it.

"And while we wait for the item to be placed in our hands, we have a certain weapon that will take an Original down at the moment. Tristan wants you to bring Elijah to New Orleans"

Marcel didn't say a word for a moment then looked up from the paper. "I can't do that, I don't even know where he is"

"I know their sister Freya would have a way to contact them. He wants you to stake Elijah with this" Aya dug in the bag once more and pulled out a crafty stake. Violet stood when she seen in but Marcel made a motion for her not to go down the stairs. It wasn't like the stake was for them but it was still a caution mostly if it had to do with the Originals.

"If you stake him, it will bring Klaus and Rebekah back into the city. We could do the same to them until we get the weapon created. Once the stake is made and once they go into their sleep, it will end the sire line war as we hope. Tristan decided on Elijah so do what you need to bring him here"

She tucked the stake back in her bag and offered them a smile. She waved quickly and proceeded on her way out. Violet walked down and waited a few minutes before saying anything just in case Aya was still present where she would hear.

"Is it safe to say I told you so?"

Marcel folded the paper before looking at her. "What am I going to tell Freya? If Elijah has to be here, the only good excuse is Mikael is here but I don't see how this is going to work"

"Well first off, you are not calling Elijah here. I don't understand what's with you and the Strix, but you are the King of this city, not some lap dog of theirs. If they want him, they get him themselves. You don't even know about the stake, how do we know they won't kill an Original? They are from Elijah's sire line so if they decided to stake Klaus which could permanently kill him, there we go. Sorry, but I'd rather wage war with them than die from a stake in a sire line"

She brushed past him shaking her head heavily. Violet didn't understand why Marcel was trying to fit in with the Strix. He had handled New Orleans for almost 100 years and never had an issue and he sure as hell didn't back down to any other vampires. It was only getting worse for them and worse than she initially thought. If time came to it, she'd take the city away from him if he put it in the wrong hands…And it already seemed like he had.