Cold War

Bonnie could have taken a cab, but there she was, walking again. Was she going to do this after every awkward Tyler encounter? Just start speed walking away? Of course not, I won't be seeing Tyler again. Whatever Marcel wanted with him, that was his business, as everything she had going on was hers. She had a very temperamental Original to deal with, and she wasn't about to sort out Tyler's Marcel drama for him. And there was really no reason for them to cross paths again, not if Marcel wanted to keep Tyler off of Klaus' radar.

Tyler had seemed genuine when he said he wouldn't tell Caroline about her, not that he could. Contacting Caroline would alert Klaus, but maybe not. Klaus was here in New Orleans, not sniffing after Caroline in Mystic Falls. Tyler's reason to remain radio silent was gone, but he'd said he wouldn't say anything. Since wiping his memories again was off the table, she had to put some faith in his word. But she was concerned.

"Bonnie!"

Marcel's voice had become annoyingly familiar to Bonnie since she'd gotten to New Orleans. Shaking her head slightly, she pretended not to hear him and kept walking. He wouldn't give up, she knew that much, but she hoped she'd aggravate him a little bit with her steady pace.

"Bonnie!" Slightly annoyed, mostly amused, still following.

She had to stop at a crosswalk and turned around, resigned to being caught up to. Marcel smiled at her stillness. "Didn't hear me calling you, huh?"

"Nope, sorry," she answered. "What do you want?"

"You left before I got the chance to talk to you.'

"That was intentional."

When the signal switched to walking, Marcel went with her. "It's been awhile since I've walked anywhere."

Bonnie didn't respond.

"I'd prefer to drive," he went on, "but I'm missing a driver." She remained silent, not even looking in Marcel's direction. "I'd known Campbell for fifteen years. He was a good guy."

Bonnie turned her head to look at him, glad for the barrier her sunglasses provided. "Who?"

"Okay, Bonnie," Marcel said breathily, with a smirk, "play dumb if you want."

"Don't know what you're talking about," she said, glancing from side to side before she started across the next street, toward the stop for the streetcar. She could see it in the distance, and she dug around in her bag for change as she stood near the post.

"I've got it," Marcel said, shuffling through his pockets.

"I didn't realize kings jangled," Bonnie said. How undignified.

"Apparently we do," Marcel said, counting out the amount as the streetcar came to a stop in front of them. When they climbed on, Marcel dropped the fare in for both of them and followed her to a pair of seats near the back.

"I thought you'd actually like seeing Tyler," Marcel said, as he sat down at her side. "He was very happy to see you."

Not once in the entire time they'd known each other had Tyler ever hugged her. She couldn't remember the last time Tyler had touched her. Well, he'd threatened her when Klaus was in his body, but that didn't seem like it should count. He'd been happy to see her, just as happy as he'd been to see her when he followed her from Turbulence, and he'd looked so dejected when she'd left the house that she almost felt bad for him.

You're alive, he'd said, his voice full of...something. Something so elated and so relieved and so-

Yeah, you're alive, Bonnie 2.0 said, let's keep it that way. You've got a good thing going. Don't fuck it up just because Tyler Lockwood puts on his sad face and seems to give a shit about you for five seconds.

"Since Campbell's gone," Marcel said, "maybe I'll start taking the streetcar more often."

Bonnie kept her gaze fixed out the window, at the road and the passing cars. It was a hot day, but there was a breeze that kept it from being unbearable. "Tyler doesn't have anything to do with this," she said, against her better judgment. "Don't hurt him." She could practically hear Bonnie 2.0's aggravated curses now.

Marcel shifted beside her, surprised by her declaration. "I won't. I like him."

Bonnie turned to look at him. "And how many people who you liked have you killed?"

"Not that many. In fact, I'm pretty sure you've killed more people I've liked than I have. Tyler's perfectly safe with me. He's under my protection now."

Bonnie 2.0 told her to accept that. It was good enough. Tyler wasn't exactly helpless. If things went south, he could at least put up a fight, but it wasn't Bonnie's job to fight for him. She was done fighting for other people.

"You could be perfectly safe with me, too," Marcel said, so suddenly it stunned Bonnie out of her thoughts.

But there it was. The Bennett witch willing to sell her magic. Hot commodity, powerful weapon, compliant tool. Marcel had a city full of witches who'd rise up and crush him if they ever got the chance, but Bonnie was the witch. Any witch was better than no witch at all, and a Bennett witch was better than all the rest. But she was with Klaus.

Bonnie shook her head slightly, trying not to laugh as Marcel continued. "You'd like it on my team," he said. "It would be nice, you've gotta admit, getting to work for a man you don't completely despise. I can provide you with the same things Klaus does: money, an apartment, whatever and whoever you desire, whenever you desire it."

"Who said I don't despise you?"

Marcel made a face, right eyebrow raised in amusement, lip curved upward into the slightest of smiles. If she gave it a few seconds it would transform into a full blown grin. She considered punching him. Setting him on fire on the streetcar wouldn't do, but punching him was fair. It probably wouldn't even make him angry. He'd just laugh, massaging his stinging jaw for a little while then he'd criticize her form and offer her some lessons on how to throw a real punch.

It seemed that no matter what she did, no matter what anyone did in their interactions with Marcel, he always walked away happy. The only time Bonnie had seen that go in the opposite direction was when Klaus was involved. He had a real talent for getting under Marcel's skin.

"Bonnie," Marcel said, leaning onto the seat in front of them, "actions speak louder than words, and your actions have been deafening." He wiggled his eyebrows at her. "There'll be a party at the house the day after tomorrow. I want to make Tyler feel at home."

"That's generous of you."

"I'm a generous guy," Marcel said. "Around the usual time. You're invited, as is Klaus. Pass along the message?" He reached up to tug on the rope above their heads, signaling his desire to disembark.

Klaus wouldn't go to Marcel's party. He'd given up on them within a week or two of their arrival, but he'd definitely send Bonnie just to keep an eye on things. Marcel knew that, too.

So much for not seeing Tyler again.

"If you change your mind about joining the team, you know where I am," he said, standing up as the streetcar came to a stop. "Enjoy the rest of your day, Bonnie." She watched him bound easily out of the car and onto the street, and she purposefully looked away from the window as he stood outside, smiling at her.

Three Months Ago

In an unexpected display of chivalry, Klaus held the door to the bar open for Bonnie, ushering her inside. She didn't thank him for it. Inside there was quite the gathered crowd, watching a man onstage perform. He was dark skinned and tall, wearing an incredibly tight t-shirt and jeans, walking up and down the small stage with a microphone in hand belting out the words to "How You Like Me Now?"

Karaoke.

Bonnie remembered a time when she used to like that, when she'd drag Elena and Caroline to the Grill for the monthly karaoke nights and insist on them singing with her. Caroline always went along with it with enthusiasm, but Elena always took some prodding though she gave in eventually.

No, Bonnie thought. Don't think about it. Thinking about Mystic Falls right now would only make her want to go back. The best course of action was to not think about it. Instead she thought of the sunny day and the relentless sun, the very enthusiastic cabbie who'd dropped them off at their current location (The Sainthood Bar & Grill) cheerily pointing out the landmarks they passed.

Klaus guided her over to the corner where they sat at the table to watch. "That's Marcel."

"Fun guy," Bonnie commented as Marcel went into the next verse, working the crowd as if they'd actually paid to watch him.

"Yes, the funnest," Klaus said, his tone loaded with disdain. He'd filled her in on a little bit on the flight. Now she knew that Klaus had his eye on a big prize, the city of New Orleans, which he expected to take from the man currently controlling it, former protégé Marcel who wasn't wound half as tight as Klaus was judging by this particular display.

"I don't see why you don't just kill him," Bonnie said. "Big bad Original hybrid can't take out a younger vampire?"

"I could," Klaus said, "but that wouldn't get me what I want. He's the King of New Orleans. He's got a lot of people in his corner. So far I have you and my brother."

Or so he said, but there had to be something else here that made Klaus want to be there, something more than just wanting to take New Orleans from its king. It seemed like quite a bit of trouble to go through just because he was jealous of Marcel's toys. Whatever it was, Klaus wasn't in a hurry to share it with Bonnie. But he would still be recruiting, looking for anyone who could be swung to his side. It shouldn't be too hard. Marcel might have been the King, but up against his much older sire, who was closer to being truly immortal than anyone else in this bar, he wouldn't hold up long. Self-preservation alone should be enough to draw some people to Klaus' cause.

"So why am I here?" Bonnie asked.

"You have to meet him," Klaus said. "We have some hoops to jump through."

"Hoops?"

"Hoops," Klaus confirmed. "It's a bit hard to notice at first, but Marcel has a tight grip on the magical community."

Bonnie lifted an eyebrow. Well here was something they hadn't covered on the flight where she'd fallen asleep after Klaus had finished with all his exposition. Surprisingly he hadn't bothered her until they'd landed then he'd shaken her awake. "What does that mean?"

"Witches aren't permitted to practice magic here."

"Permitted?"

"If they do, Marcel sees that they suffer for breaking his rules," Klaus says. "I caught a display myself when I was last here. It's all very dramatic."

"So just your style," Bonnie commented.

Klaus smiled. "I taught Marcel everything he knows."

Bonnie turned her head to watch Marcel finish up his little show, hopping off the stage to the cheers of the gathered crowd. "Did you teach him how to do that?"

Klaus leaned back in his seat. "He picked that up on his own." He raised an arm and called to Marcel who looked toward them, his smile only getting wider. Once he had a drink in his hand, he came over and grabbed a chair, turning it backwards so he could straddle it.

"You're back," he said, extending a hand to Klaus who shook it with an unusual amount of friendliness, his mouth spreading into a smile. He was a better actor than Bonnie had expected.

"That I am," Klaus said. "Do you know any other songs, Marcel?"

Marcel let out a lighthearted laugh. "It's a crowd pleaser. So how was that little town you told me about?"

"Still standing," Klaus said.

"Glad to hear it," Marcel said, swinging his head in Bonnie's direction. "Who's your friend?"

"Allow me to introduce Bonnie," Klaus said, nodding his head to her. "Bonnie Bennett."

Marcel's gaze flickered in understanding before he finished off his drink. "That's interesting," he said, licking his lips and setting the glass down where he passed it between his hands with lightning quick precision. "We haven't had the pleasure of hosting any your bloodline in the city for awhile."

"I wonder why," Bonnie said. The whole prohibiting magic thing probably wouldn't go over well with any Bennett witches. In fact she would have been a little disappointed to learn there were some of her bloodline, the one she kept being told was super powerful and super important, were in the city living in fear and denying their own birthright.

Like you have any room to talk, Bonnie 2.0 said bitterly, her voice like a hard slap to Bonnie's psyche.

No, she really didn't have any room to talk. She knew all about letting vampires have all the power.

Marcel took the chance to turn his dazzling smile Bonnie's way. "No wondering necessary."

"Bonnie's here because she's working with me," Klaus said.

"Really?" Marcel said, leaning back in his seat and glancing back and forth between the two of them. "I didn't think you got on that well with witches, Klaus."

"I get on with them much better than you do," Klaus said. The smile he shot in Marcel's direction wasn't as flawless as the last. She detected a hint of malice behind it, but If Marcel thought Klaus was being anything other than friendly, he didn't show it.

"You'd be surprised how well I can get along with witches," he said.

"When you're not keeping them from practicing magic, you mean?" Bonnie chimed.

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean," Marcel said, his dark eyes still stuck on her. His gaze dropped to her chest. Then lower. Bonnie rolled her eyes and looked pointedly to Klaus who either didn't notice or didn't care that Marcel was ogling her.

If Caroline were here, if she subtracted Marcel's connection to Klaus and the weird hold he had on the witches in New Orleans, she might tell Bonnie to go for it. Elena would shake her head slightly and roll her eyes and tell Bonnie to do whatever she wanted, no pressure, but she wouldn't deny that Marcel was good looking. A different good looking from the hometown heroes of Mystic Falls, the kind of attractive that had put spotlights on Damon and Stefan immediately, the kind of attractive that should be on the covers of magazines instead of sitting here talking to Bonnie and Klaus. Caroline and Elena would be having a field day. Bonnie reminded herself that they were now part of her past, a past she'd determined she wasn't going back to. All the boring looking boys of their class were even further behind. But that just made Bonnie think of Jeremy and how he hadn't been bland at all.

"That's good to hear," Klaus said, "because I need Bonnie practicing."

"Now's not the best time, or place, for negotiating," he said, glancing over his shoulder to the other patrons who were uninterested in their conversation. They were a blend of humans and vampires, though the humans were significantly greater in number and didn't appear to have any idea the kind of creatures they were drinking with this evening.

"So when?" Klaus said with a hint of menacing impatience.

He was so used to getting what he wanted. The fact that Marcel had yet to hand over his approval, written in his own bloody signature, was probably eating Klaus alive. Here was Marcel, the former student and Klaus the displaced and unnecessary teacher. Some respect was owed, of course, but Marcel was withholding and was unfazed by Klaus' annoyance. Anyone else would have hurried to cool down his simmering temper, but Marcel grabbed a napkin and pulled a pen from one of his pockets to write on it.

"I have a house in the Garden District," he said. "Meet me there tomorrow night. Let's say around nine? We'll have dinner, and we can discuss the conditions of your residency in the city, and I'll make you familiar with how things are done around here. At the end of this conversation, once I've gotten to know you better, I'll decide whether or not you'll be allowed to practice. Sound good?"

He slid the napkin across the table to Bonnie who didn't move to accept it. She stared down at his neat print, aware of his eyes on her.

"Is that really necessary?" Klaus asked, drawing Marcel's gaze away. "I can vouch for her."

"Klaus, I trust you," Marcel said, "but witches are complicated. If they weren't, we wouldn't be in our current position. I can't have any magic running around unchecked. All I'm asking for is a conversation. If I think I can trust her, then you've got yourself a practicing witch who won't have any problems from me."

"And if you can't trust me?" Bonnie asked.

"Then you'll be subject to the same rules as your fellow witches," Marcel said. "I'll be aware of all magic you perform and any prohibited magic will mean punishment."

Also known as death.

Bonnie wondered if any of those witches Marcel had under his thumb had ever tried to kill him. She was sure they had, but why had they failed?

She reached for the napkin. "I'll see you then."

Marcel's face relaxed into a smile. "Can't wait. Now excuse me. I've got business to handle." He called out to two men at the bar - one in a cowboy hat and dripping in jewelry and the other with long dreadlocks and a stoic expression - named Duke and Ronan, and they left the bar together.

"He'll try to sleep with you," Klaus said.

Bonnie cut her eyes to him, finding him practically glaring at her. "Try being the operative word."

Klaus chuckled lightly, the tension leaving his eyes instantly. "You can have sex with him if you'd like. You should have some fun. I know how trying faking your own death must have been for you."

Bonnie ignored the dig. "I didn't realize I needed your permission."

"You don't," he assured her. "I don't care what you do in your free time, Bonnie, as long as it has no effect on your loyalty to me. You can sleep with this entire city if you want to as long as you remember who brought you here. As long as you're available when I need you, as long as your allegiances lie with me, we're fine. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not hard to please."

"Good to know. How's the apartment hunt going?"

"Elijah already found one," Klaus said. "He's waiting for us there. He's assured me you'll find it acceptable. If you don't, we can make changes."

"Then let's go see it."

Present Day

Bonnie passed a jewelry store on her way back to the apartment, and she stopped to look through the window at the items on display, long strands of jewels, rings, necklaces, bracelets, various jewels that shone and glittered. She told herself to move on. She had plenty of jewelry back at the apartment, but she stayed where she was. Her second day in town Klaus had given her his credit card to use (just until he could set up a checking account for her) and told her to go get whatever she needed. The limit was so high he hadn't even bothered to tell her what it was, and even after she spent the whole day buying clothes, shoes and various accessories, she still hadn't reached it. She'd expected Klaus to come by and make some snide remark about her valiant attempt to put him into debt within a matter of hours, but he never commented. And her fairly large stipend was deposited every other Monday without a word of acknowledgement from Klaus.

"See something you like?" Klaus asked. He emerged from the passing people to join her at the window. She didn't even startle at his appearance. She'd gotten used to him coming out of nowhere to greet her, like they were old friends or something, like him showing up was a natural, and even welcome, occurrence. Maybe he was on some kind of schedule. Irritate Bonnie at noon, move onto Elijah at one, some unsuspecting woman on the street by two thirty and so on and so forth. Then start the cycle up again tomorrow

"That one," Bonnie said, pressing a finger to the glass, pinpointing an oval shaped ruby, on the smallish side but circled by glittering diamonds. She'd bought a black dress a few weeks ago that it would look perfect with.

She'd forgotten how easy it was to think about mundane thing like jewelry, back when she was in Mystic Falls and all she had time for was thinking about how to keep everyone alive. Even then she hadn't succeeded in staying alive herself. And she didn't even have any expensive pieces of jewelry to show for it.

"Pretty," Klaus commented dryly. "I saw you on the streetcar with Marcel. What did he want?"

Oh, nothing, she thought. He just wants to take this cold war we're engaged in a little further. He's got Tyler on his side now, the same Tyler you swore to rip to pieces, and now he wants me.

"The usual," she said.

"Flirting again?" Klaus said, putting his back to the glass and looking at the people passing them by.

"That's Marcel," Bonnie said. "Annoying, persistent, thinks too highly of himself for his own good, and he's truly confused at the concept of someone not wanting him around. Something he learned from you, I'm sure." He cracked a smile, and she turned away from the window as well, leaning against it at his side. "Any idea what he's planning?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing," Klaus said, fixing her with his cool stare. From what she could tell he didn't suspect that she knew anything important. It actually seemed like he was just asking. "You'd think you'd be able to turn his fascination with you into something helpful."

"You'd think that," she agreed. "He's having a party at the house the day after tomorrow. You're invited."

"I won't be going."

"I figured you wouldn't."

"But you will."

"I figured that, too."

"I have something I may require your help with," he said, "but that can wait."

"It can?"

"I'm still pondering alternatives," he said. "In the mean time, you focus on Marcel. Go to the party. Buy yourself something nice to wear. Perhaps that necklace you were admiring."

"Looks a little out of my price range."

"Even with what I'm paying you?" Klaus asked.

"I like to spend my money."

"Try saving it," he suggested.

"Interested in giving me an advance?"

"Not especially," he said, a smile teasing at his lips. He glanced down to his watch. "I have to go. If I don't see you before the party, do enjoy yourself, love."

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