Chapter 29:
Mari hadnt planned to run into Marcel Gerard. If anything, she wanted to avoid him for the rest of het life. However, after they bumped into one another on a downtown street, she somehow ended up being convinced to sit down for a drink with him.
"You dont have to be so nervous," Marcel told her from across the small bar table. He leaned forward on his elbows. "I told you I never wanted to hurt you. It was for the spell. I fed you my blood while you were unconscious. You would have come back after you died."
"That makes it worse somehow," Mari frowned. "You still tried to kill me, Marcel. I thought you and me would be friends. I could have used a friend."
Marcel looked away for a moment, dropping his head and sighing a little. She could tell he felt bad about it, at least a little. However, she wasn't the same timid doormat she used to be. She wouldnt forgive him just because he felt remorse.
"For so long, all I could think about was bringing Davina back. She is like a daughter to me, and Elijah and Freya took her away from me. They let her disappear to save their own skins. She was a kid. Shes still just a kid."
"I get it, Marcel," Mari told him, her hands fidgeting anxiously in her lap. Surely he wouldn't attack her in broad daylight. At least, she hoped he wouldnt, but she couldnt stop that feeling of fear in her gut. "What do you want from me?" Mari asked bravely, still running on the confidence she got from standing up to her mother.
"I guess I wanted to say sorry," Marcel shrugged, leaning back. His eyes met hers, and she quickly turned her gaze away. "Mari, Im not going to compel you. I have Davina back now. I dont have a reason to hurt you."
"Forgive me if that's not enough to make me trust you again," she muttered, keeping her eyes focused on the table.
"You're with Kol now," he said suddenly, as if that was the actual reason he wanted to talk. "Davina told me what happened. He left her for you. Klaus must be disappointed."
"He's not," Mari shifted uncomfortably. "Why does it matter to you?"
"Davina has cried a lot since Kol left."
"Well, she can't blame him," Mari sighed. "He wanted to go back to her, but his heart wasnt in it. Forcing himself to stay wouldve only hurt everyone involved even more. I hate that he hurt her, but he didnt deserve to be trapped."
"He wouldn't have been trapped," Marcel scoffed. "Davina let him go willingly. Because she understands. Now what I dont understand is how in the hell you think you can keep both of those monsters on a leash without them turning around and biting you."
Mari lifted her head to stare at him, brows furrowed.
"Why does my relationships with them matter to you?" She pushed back from the table. "My love life isn't your concern, Marcel."
"No, it's not. Im warning you as a friend from the past. Trying to be with both of them is going to get someone hurt. Maybe it'll be you. Maybe itll be one of them, but either way, it's inevitable." Marcel picked up the glass of whiskey in front of him, taking a sip. "They dont like each other enough to share a woman. Not to mention its a little messed up, don't you think? To sleep with two brothers."
"Do you still care about Klaus?" Mari asked, watching his expression for a reaction. Marcel paused, face twitching slightly. Mari let out a breath. "You do. You're worried about him. That's what this is." She smiled a little. "He's still family to you."
"He's nothing to me."
"Then why are you worried that he'll get hurt?"
"Im not worried."
"You are," Mari pushed. "You think Im going to choose Kol over him, and that it's going to break his heart." Marcel leaned forward again, incredibly close this time.
"You dont know what he's like when he gets betrayed," he whispered angrily. "He loses it, Mari. That compound will become a warzone. If you hurt him, all hell breaks loose. For some reason he actually fell for you. And you want Kol."
"I want them both," she shrugged her shoulders. "I wont pick one or the other. Id sooner just leave the compound like Elijah wants."
"Maybe you should." Marcel stood, then straightened his jacket. "You're going to either get hurt or do the hurting. Either way, this situation doesnt end well. I liked you, Mari. I still do. So take my advice or dont. Up to you." He left, then, and Mari couldnt help but wonder what he really cared about. What was it that really bothered him?
Kol noticed the pensive look on her face when she walked in. Something was obviously on her mind, but he didnt say anything. He felt as if he still had to earn that trust back that he lost when he left. It wasnt his place, for the moment, to pry.
"Rough day, love?" He called down to her from the railing abovethe courtyard. She looked up, blond curls falling back over her shoulder. She smiled a little, then fixed her glasses on her nose in a way that reminded him just how cute she was.
"Im fine," she lied, and he knew it would be stupid of him to push any further. Mari made her way towards the steps to join him upstairs, so he turned to her and leaned on the railing with his elbow. "Is Klaus home?"
"Not at the moment. He stepped out with Elijah on family business," Kola answered, keeping the bit of hurt that she caused by asking for Klaus immediately out of his expression. "I figured we could use some alone time anyways. Don't you agree, darling?"
Mari nodded slowly, "Okay. What did you have in mind?" He couldnt help himself anymore. He wanted that spot back in her heart again. He wanted to feel close.
"Anything you want," he told her, reaching up to brush her hair from her face, tucking it away behind her ear and resting his hand on her pale cheek. "Just say it, and that's what we'll do. Whatever I have to do to make you smile again."
"How about a movie?" She asked, leaning into his touch. She lifted a hand to lay it over his, though she made no move to remove his hand. "We can curl up in your bed and watch movies until Klaus gets home. Then maybe we can all get dinner together. Or something."
"Thats not a bad idea," he grinned. She reacted well to his touch, and that gave him much more confidence. Maybe she really had forgiven him, and all he had to do was forgive himself. Maybe things would be alright after all. He hoped so, oh how he hoped so.
"Okay, then," she grabbed his hand with both of hers, tugging him towards his bedroom. "Come on. Let's find a scary movie to rent."
"Why a scary one?"
"I like scary movies," she shrugged. "Plus, if I get scared, dont you want me to jump into your arms? Hide my face against your chest. Cling to you." She was bouncing on her heels, beaming now as she pulled him towards the bedroom, walking backwards so she could stare up at him. She was so cute like that, when she was happy about something.
"Well, when you explain it like that, I suppose that does sound quite lovely. Horror movie it is." Things felt good, for the first time since he left to be with Davina. She was letting him back in, and he was grateful for it. If she could love him as much or more than she loved Klaus, he would be happy, content. He just wanted her to love him.
Sorry this one is so short! Theres a lot thats going to happen in the next one and i wanted it to happen all together instead of starting it in this chapter. So next chapter will be long lol hope you enjoyed anyways! Thanks for reading :)