Chapter 4
{Two weeks later}
It was the day before Hope's birthday, and everyone came bearing gifts. Marcel enters the party, slowly walking towards a talkative Hope. She doesn't see him, and he's trying to surprise her and he fails. She turns around just before he scares her.
"Nice try! You know you can't sneak up on me".
He smiles genuinely. "I miss the old days hybrid, when you were only this tall." He uses his hand for measurement.
She rolls her eyes."You only miss it because you could actually scare me. I'll have you know I'm six now. Too old for surprises."
"Yeah I guess you're right. You're too old, too old infact for this". Marcel holds the present up, gently tucking it behind his back
"What is it?"
"No I think you're too old for this." He takes off running from her, hiding the gift.
"Give it to me!"
"You've gotta catch me and I don't think you're fast enough."
She chases him around the yard until he's finally cornered.
"Give it up Marcellus, it's over".
He turns around, raising his hands. "Fine here you go."
"Thank you Marcellus."
"I told you hybrid, it's Marcel!" He grabs her from behind tickling her, raising her high up in the air. She's kicking trying to get him to put her down.
Haley comes out on the deck, using her hand as a visor to shield the sun from her eyes.
"Hope time to say hi to your other guest."
"Sure mom just let me open my present."
"Not till tomorrow remember."
"Mom. pleeeeaaasseee".
"No. Now come on in."
She lets out a big huff. "Fine".
Marcel bends down to whisper in her ear. "It'll be waiting on your bed now go."
"Thank you Marcellus!"
"Hey!" she runs and he almost chases after her.
Elijah comes into view joining Marcel, handing him a drink. "Honestly Marcel do you think your little secret fell death on Hybrid ears."
"All I can do is hope. This is the busiest day in a mother's year. She won't notice another teddy bear on her bed."
Elijah smiles. "Perhaps she'll mix it up with the hundreds of others stuffed animals".
Marcel takes another sip ,eyeing Elijah over the rim of the cup. He's preparing to ask Elijah a question."So is Klaus around?"
"For what matter may I ask?" Then Elijah sips from his cup.
"Look Elijah-".
"Marcellus, if it has anything to do with the Quarter I suggest you keep it to yourself. Niklaus is on a bit of a time out. He's in a good place right now."
"You honestly think he's content?"
"Yes I do. Today is his daughter's celebration, he shouldn't be focusing on anything else."
"Elijah, I understand but-".
"Obviously you don't if you're still pleading to speak on the matter," he sets his cup on this table, " It's a birthday party Marcel, I suggest you sit down, eat some cake and enjoy the festivities. If Niklaus even hears one word of your nonsense, you'll be crawling back to the quarter without the great fortune of a spine," he hands him a triangular birthday hat, "enjoy the party."
This wasn't the first time Elijah warned him. Marcel never could get through to Elijah before, and still couldn't to this day. Marcel couldn't believe Klaus was happy, the guy couldn't go a week without threatening to kill someone. He needed Klaus the devious, blood lusted killer, not this knockoff he pretended to be.
He understood everything Elijah was saying, him wanting to protect his brother but he needed Klaus' help. There was nothing Elijah could say would change that
.
He goes in the kitchen figuring he'll have better luck with Haley. He follows her around the kitchen, as she pulls cupcakes from the stove."Marcel I can't help you with Klaus. He does what he wants, plus I'm not so sure I should be the best one to be asking."
She looks in a nearby cabinet for icing. "Where is it? Where is it?"
"Here." Marcel grabs it from a counter on his left.
"Haley I get that. I just want to know where he is so we can talk."
"I don't want Hope to hear, Klaus is out well, probably being Klaus and I have no idea if he'll grace us with his presence today . He was supposed to be bringing ice for the drinks."
Hope smiles and waves,and Marcel does it back .
"Haley-"
"Marcel grab those cupcakes, walk and talk."
He grabs them following her to the deck.
"What time did he leave?"
"I don't know and honestly, I don't care. If he doesn't get here soon I might just kill him myself."
They both stop when they see the scene in front of them.
A very bloody Klaus walks through the party. Silence blankets the backyard as he limps towards the house. Everyone can see him, unfortunately that includes the children..
Hope tries to go after her father, but Freya instantly grabs her up pulling her away from the scene.
Vincent grabs the other kids attention away. "Hey kids who want's to see a magic trick, they all run over to him cheering, hopefully forgetting the horror show that just happened.
Haley, Elijah and Marcel are right behind him.
They all wait for him, in his room as the faucet water coming to a halt.
He walks out of the bathroom shirtless, in search of a new clothing. He completely ignores his audience, casually opening the doors of his closet.
"Brother anything you'd like to share with the group?" Elijah ask, as he blocks the door.
"Not in particular brother, but of course you and everyone else will to try to pry it out of me, just one of your many annoying talents. Anything else?"
"Well, if you're all bloody that means someone hurt you and if they hurt you, you must have did something to piss them off . Did I miss anything?"
"Oh spare me your judgemental opinion Haley-
"Okay enough with you guys, I came here to speak to Klaus, I know this is important but so is what I have to say. Would you mind?"
Elijah sends menacing glares at Marcel.
"Marcel you can't be serious? Tell us what's going on."Elijah turns to Klaus.
"It doesn't look like he's in a sharing mood". Marcel says.
"But of course you are Marcel."
"Yeah I am".
Elijah turns to Klaus once more.
Klaus gestures for Haley and Elijah too leave. She gladly exits, Elijah's not too far off behind her. He slowly walks past Klaus,"We will talk about this later agreed".
"Of course." Klaus holds his hand out once more, politely asking him to give them a moment of privacy.
"I'll have to thank you for that later". Klaus walks back into the bathroom and Marcel follows.
"Yeah I've heard, babymama drama. Anyway I need your help. Some of my guys were bitten."
He tilts his head at Klaus in the mirror.
"You can stop with the uneasy staredown, It wasn't me I've have been too busy enjoying suburbia and all life's enjoyments that come with it."
Marcel's eye's are still questioning him, his involvement.
"What exactly would I have to gain from killing low life vampire's?"
"Good question,but if it wasn't you, then who in the quarter? Most of the crescent's deserted the bayou once jackson died".
"I don't know but I personally volunteer to help you find them, in exchange for a small favor."
"That is?"
He walks back into the room taking a seat"There's a body, behind the dumpster at Rousseas. I need you to get rid of it."
"What'd you do?"Just like he'd thought Klaus Michaelson hadn't changed,just was more secretive about what he did.
"No need to ask questions Marcel, if you want the werewolf who killed your men, they're as good as dead, so just as long as you get rid of that body."
"Done".