Chapter 10:

Mari wanted to stay in her fancy hotel room forever. It was safe there, and for a solid week, there were no Mikaelsons at her door, no fangs in her skin. Part of her was disappointed and resented being lonely, and yet another part was glad that she wouldn't be in the middle of anything anymore. There was a bit of freedom in being cast out as his donor.

She had done her job anyway. Elijah cleared the debt her father owed, and she was removed from his clutches at the same time. Mari should have been happy with the outcome of the situation. However, when she laid in bed at night, staring out of the window at the bustling city, all she wanted was to be a part of something again. Isolation didn't suit her.

She left during the day this time and steered clear of any bars that vampires might be lurking in. Mari headed down to the quarter for some music and something to eat. There was a small cafe nestled into a corner, one she'd been to a few times before. They always had some form of live music, and that day was no different.

After settling down at one of the outside tables, she held her coffee in her hand and looked around. New Orleans during the day seemed so innocent and full of life. It still held , but it felt much safer when the sun was out.

"Excuse me," a smooth voice came from behind her. She turned slightly, looking up at the well built man standing there. "Is that seat taken?" For a brief moment, the part of her that was still crushing on Klaus wanted to tell him yes and let him move on. However, she had been alone for a week now, and some company might be nice.

"Uh, no. It's not." She pulled her warm mug a little closer to her body and offered a polite smile. The man sat down across from her. "Can I help you?"

"You might be able to." He sat down, then leaned forward on the table, catching her gaze. Suddenly, she couldn't look away. Her eyes were fixed on his, and she knew what it meant, what he was. "I need you to sit there and be quiet, Marigold. Don't move, and don't speak." Her body obeyed without her permission. "Nod if you understand."

She nodded.

"Good." The man leaned back in his chair and crossed his ankle over his knee. "My name is Marcel. I was a friend of Klaus for centuries. We were family. We were allies." Marcel took a deep breath. "Do you know what happened to Davina Claire?"

Mari nodded again.

"Kol Mikaelson murdered her. She died because she got caught up with them, and they sacrificed her to kill a man named Lucien. Someone they once used as a scapegoat. His life was hell because of them, and they were surprised when he returned for revenge, after surviving so long on the run from madman. They killed Davina, knowingly, to save their own family. She was young and innocent, much like you are, Marigold."

She wanted to correct him, to tell him it was Mari, not Marigold. She didn't like to be called that. Her lips, however, wouldn't move even if she wanted them to. She was trapped in her own body, her own head, stuck under his compulsion.

"You look like Cami. She was my friend, too, and she died because she got caught up in the Mikaelson drama. I loved them, and they're dead because of that family. They will never care about anyone else but themselves. No one is as important to a Mikaelson as a Mikaelson. Imagine my concern when I see a pretty young woman being sucked into that trap."

Mari's fingers twitched around her mug, wanting desperately to reach for her phone, to call Klaus or Kol or Elijah. Anyone that could come rescue her. His compulsion forced her to remain still, fixated in her seat with her hands gripping her coffee tightly.

"I think to myself, there has to be a better way. I promised to protect Davina. I promised to protect Cami and countless others that died because of them. Ive tried too hard to be the good guy, to be the noble one. I wanted to protect my people and the people of this city. I loved too hard, I cared too deeply. And now... Now that's all gone. I dont want to be the good guy anymore, Marigold. The good guy always finishes last."

Why did she attract vampires? Why did she ever think it would be a good idea to go to them for help? What this man, Marcel, said made an incredible amount of sense. She'd only been involved with them a little over a month and she was already in trouble more than once.

"I think they care enough about you to want to save you if they can," he said as if he was talking more to himself. "Excuse me while I make a phone call." As if she had a choice. Marcel sank down into his seat, pulling his cell pocket and punching in some number. He lifted it to his ear, then smirked over at Mari. "Hello, Niklaus. It's been awhile."

Mari wanted to cry out, wanted Klaus to hear her voice and run to her rescue. She wanted to go back to her little hotel room and never leave again. New Orleans wasn't safe for her anymore, and it never would be again.

"I don't want much really," Marcel answered. "I'm actually sitting here with Marigold. She's a lovely girl, Klaus. Reminds me a bit of Camille. Is she your new toy? Another woman to use and toss away when you don't need her anymore?" There was a pause, then Marcel chuckled. "Shes not a very good bargaining chip, is she? Considering she's just a blood donor. I think I'll just kill her and find another way to ruin you, then."

Her heart was thudding away in her chest, and it felt like this Marcel was squeezing it in his hand, ready to end her life at any given moment. She was completely at his mercy in that moment, and it terrified her.

"Oh, well in that case why don't you come get her? If she means that much." Mari was smart enough to see what Marcel was doing. If he wanted her dead, she'd be dead. He was testing her worth to Klaus. "Oh we're at the café with the little tables outside." He turned to look up at the sign as if he wasn't sure of the name. "We'll be waiting."

The phone clicked, and as soon as the call was over, Marcel stood up. He shoved his phone back into his pocket, then smoothed out the jacket he was wearing. It was a shame. For a moment there, she was disillusioned enough to think a handsome man wanted to talk to her because he thought she was cute or something. However, it was just another vampire.

"Hang tight, Mari. Klaus will be here soon. Tell him I said I'll be keeping an eye on you, alright? I know where you're staying now. Wherever you go, I'll find out. Your best bet is to keep away from them. If you don't matter to them, I can't use you." With that, he vanished. Mari was still stuck there, still unable to speak or move, though that didn't stop the tears from falling.

It didn't take long for Klaus to arrive, but he wasn't alone. Kol was walking right beside him, gaze fixed on Mari. She wanted to curl inwardly away from that gaze, that harsh stare and furrowed brow. If he didnt have such a handsome face, it would be ten times more frightening.

"Let's go," Kol said, taking Mari by the arm. He wasn't rough, just in a hurry. When he pulled her up from her seat, her coffee spilled onto her legs and her body went limp. She'd been instructed not to move, so she couldn't stand or walk on her own. More tears fell now. "Oh, bloody hell," Kol sighed, bending down to pick her up entirely. Both Klaus and Kol sped home, moving so fast that Mari had to close her eyes to keep them from hurting.

When they reached the compound, Kol set her down in one of the chairs in the courtyard. Klaus walked up to her, taking her small face in his hands and looking her dead in the eyes.

"You can move now. And speak. He no longer has control of you." It was a relief. Her body was responding again, and she no longer felt trapped by some unseen force. Her hands flew up to her face, hiding herself away as she began to cry softly. She never liked to cry in front of people. Mari didn't want to be the victim or make them think she was weak. The whole experience, and the looming fear of being stalked made it impossible to stop the tears.

"What did he want with you?" Kol asked her directly. She lowered her hands and looked up at him, then back to Klaus.

"Leverage. He wanted to know what I was worth, and if he could use me. He's been spying on me. He knows where I'm staying, and said he'd know wherever I go. I don't know what to do. What do I do, Klaus?" Her eyes fixated on the older brother, face riddled with desperation and fear.

"That stupid bastard wants to die," Kol seethed. "I know he was family once, Niklais, but I'm going to end him. Once and for all."

"No," Mari frowned. "No, no more death. Death follows your family around like some kind of contagious disease. You'll never make things better with more of it. The cycle has to end somewhere, and I won't be the reason you kill someone." She stood, gathering herself as best as she could. Kol had said before that Mari was only capable of being the victim, so she wanted to try and prove him wrong if possible.

"He's after our family, Mari," Klaus grimaced. "We don't have much of a choice."

"He could have killed me, and he didn't. I think he's hurting. He's suffering. Protect your family, but don't kill him because of me. I don't want to be the reason. I'll never forgive myself."

"Your heart is too big for you," Klaus said, noting something he'd noted once before. Marcel had to be stopped, but another day, at another time, when Mari wasn't involved anymore. "Leave it for now, Kol. Perhaps Mari has a point."

"Niklaus, you can't be serious."

"I said leave it," Klaus repeated himself, a little more stern than before. "Kol, I think it best for Mari to move back into the compound for awhile. Until the Marcel situation is solved."

"No," Mari said quickly, a little panicked. "No, I dont think that's a good idea, Klaus." She wanted to remind him of what they talked about before, the night he wanted to crawl into her bed with her. He shook his head.

"Your safety is more important than your feelings right now, Mari. I'll mind myself. You are not here to be a donor anymore. You're a guest." Kol stared at Klaus.

"You'll mind yourself, Niklaus? What does that mean?" Klaus figured honesty was the best approach this time since nothing took place between them.

"I visited Mari at the hotel she was staying in. You're not the only one who is lonely, Kol. I... pushed for something Mari didn't desire and she turned me away," he told him truthfully. Kol's gaze flicked to Mari's, and her cheeks were bright red and burning. He could hear her heart beating relentlessly inside of her. He was surprised. Klaus tried to get her into bed, but Mari refused. That surprised Kol, but also strangely pleased him.

"Take her to her room, Kol. Im going to find Elijah." Klaus let out a huff, then walked off. Mari watched him leave, wishing he'd taken her to the room instead. Kol's gaze was beating against her as soon as Klaus told the truth, and it didn't let up.

"Why?" Kol asked her. Mari looked up at him in confusion. "Why did you turn him down?" She dropped her gaze to the floor, then took a deep breath.

"That kind of thing... is not something I take lightly. I accept that he's not interested in me romantically, but if he's not, I can't... do that with him." She didnt want to have to explain this to Kol, considering the situations she'd been in with him before.

"Why do you only feel for him?" Kol pushed further. "Why did your infatuation choose him as its target? What was it that drew you to him?"

"Kol..."

"Tell me. I want to know."

"I..." she trailed off, lifting her gaze to look at him reluctantly. "He was kind to me. He was gentle. Klaus... It doesnt matter anymore Kol." She hugged her torso tightly with her arms. "Please, just let it go." When she turned to head back upstairs, Kol caught her by the arm. He pulled her back to him, meeting her lips with his.

He kissed her long and hard, holding her small frame against his tightly as he kissed her soft lips. Mari was stunned, dumbfounded. She had no idea why he was doing it, or what possessed him in that moment. The younger Mikaelson had always been playful and somewhat cruel with her. He was the one who asked that she be removed before. None of it made any sense.

"Forget Niklaus," Kol told her. "Forget him." Kol seemed to vanish then, leaving her standing there alone, one hand clutching at her chest and the other reaching up to touch her warm lips. What the hell was happening to her? What was she supposed to do now?