Chapter 36
Marcel couldn't blink the idiocy of the vampire in front of him. He felt a headache coming on as the night-walker began to sputter about how Camille hadn't been around for a few days. He knew he should have put his daywalker in charge, even at night, when his night-walkers should have been able to handle it. Where was she? At first, her job said she had taken a few a day off. It wasn't until last night that they found out that Camille had put in her two-week notice.
She had left New Orleans without a word.
"Her family is in the city!" Marcel roared, "where else would she go?"
Marcel fought the urge to smirk as the night-walkers took several steps back. His sire had many flaws, but Niklaus Mikaelson had taught him a few useful things. One was that to be feared provided you with power. Yet he also learned from the hybrid's mistakes. Marcel knew that if his vampires only feared him, it would leave him at a disadvantage when someone tried to take the city.
Marcel would never hand over this city to anyone.
"M-My apologies, Marcel" The vampire bowed so low the man could have kissed the black man on his feet.
"Get up," Marcel ordered, "I am not a cruel king, am I?"
The man's eyes widened as he turned towards his fellow night-walkers, who all took a step back. No one would help him now. Marcel hid a laugh as the man shook his head, unable to voice it out loud.
"Now, I can't blame you if Camille decided to move, can I?"
The vampire answered hesitantly, "Uh.. no, sir?"
Marcel grinned, "that's right."
The man heaved in relief. "I do have high expectations, however. I've given you a great gift, the gift of immortality! Now, all that I ask is that you follow my rules and orders as they come down the ranks. Is that too much to ask?"
"No, sir," His vampires all murmured.
"That's right. Now, what is your name again?" Marcel asked the still wary vampire.
"Don, sir."
"Don, I want you to find out who she's been talking to. Go to her school, find out about her classes, find out where she went," Marcel ordered.
"Yes, sir" The vampire bowed once Marcel finally get him go.
As the vampire walked off, and the rest of his gang scattered into the night. The night was young and there were tourists to condemn, Marcel smirked as he saw a gangly young man with dark short-hair.
Tonight, was definitely going to be a fun night.
Marcel quickly left the old Mikaelson dwelling that he had taken for himself and walked the familiar streets of New Orleans. He watched as his night walkers prowled along the city streets.
He gave them all the occasional nod, as he turned towards the familiar street of the abandoned church. Looking up he could see the flash of light in the window. The dark-skinned vampire grinned; the little witch was waiting for him.
New Orleans witches had always been bold. Confident in their skills and the powers of their ancestors. Yet they grew cocky, too sure of their right this land that they lay their ancestors in. The city had been a haven for supernatural creatures alike for almost as long as the young country had been alive. The witches forgot that.
They cursed his kind, first it was a witch that created them in the bloody first place. Then because one of their own had witnessed more bloodshed than she would have liked, changed the balance, now they have a problem with it despite it was a witches' fault in the first place. Witches, Marcel scoffed ready to judge when it was their own abilities that gave way to the creation of what they hate so much.
Then they tried to usurp the careful balance they had.
Marcel would never allow the vampires to be anything but free so he worked with the baddest witches he could entangle with to get the wolves in line. Then he began to pull the witches. Yet it was only recently in the last few months he obtained a tool they had foolishly allowed him his hands.
Witches, Marcel scoffed.
How could they do that to their own children? Offering them up to deaths door in exchange for the power to destroy the vampires. All because a dead witch suggested it. Marcel wanted to roll his eyes if there was a devious witchy plot somewhere it was within the dead ancestry. They were up to something.
And the key to it was loyal to Marcel.
They shouldn't have attacked their own children. He had one rule that he kept from his days as an honorary Mikaelson. Horribly, murderous, insecure nutjobs they may be but never had a single one of them actually hurt a child.
Davina, a sixteen-year-old witch was as much a child as a ten-year-old in his time so aware of what responsibilities awaited her yet nowhere near ready. If it had been during his childhood, Davina would have been considered a young woman, an adult.
Yet Marcel knew better. He knew that the times treated children far better than their ancestors did. Allowed them to be treated like children longer, something Marcel actually agreed with.
"Do you have it?" The tiny brunette jumped to meet him at the door of her room in the church's attic.
Marcel smiled, "Hello to you too Davina."
XX
"OUCH! Caroline stop! Okay! I am going!" Rebekah's voice could be heard from outside the door. Niklaus could hear his sister's grumblings about pushy pregnant women earning a low chuckle from his fellow trapped siblings Kol and Finn.
"Your little blonde does have spunk" Kol mused thoughtfully, "Are you sure you wish to keep her?"
"Kol? Nik? Finn?" Rebekah's voice narrowed as she was gently pushed across the threshold by the perky blonde menace.
"Welcome to your jailhouse, dear sister" Kol joyfully welcomed sarcastically waving his hands into the air as if he were a male cheerleader.
Their sister turned towards Caroline who leaned against the threshold with a smile, "Caroline? Why are you trying to trap every Mikaelson into a room?"
"Caroline? Have you seen any of my siblings? It's been far too quiet t" Elijah's voice could be heard from the foyer.
Caroline's smile widened, "Up here Elijah."
Rebekah turned to look at her brother's, "Has she refused to answer you as well?"
"My lovely partner in crime has decided against alerting me to her devious plan" Niklaus sighed, "you can try to alert Elijah but I suspect she had help from the Bennett witch who is set to arrive shortly."
"Caroline why are you?" There was a shuffle and Elijah made the mistake as the rest of his brothers, in trying to see what the matter was yet not trying to harm the blonde. All Caroline had to do was sidestep him and he was across the threshold and stuck with the rest of them.
"Caroline?" Elijah's voice was confused.
"Sorry, Elijah but you Mikealson's didn't leave me much of a choice. I can't exactly chase you now can i?"
"I rather think Nik would love that-OW! Bekah!" Kol whined rubbing his head glaring at his sister who glowered at him.
Elijah let out a sigh turning towards Niklaus, expectantly. "Yes, brother?" Niklaus drolled out with his characteristic girn in place despite being trapped with his siblings.
"What did you do?"
"You ask that as if I was supposed to have done something?"
"Don't give Nik so much credit. He was the one who couldn't- OWW! Finn that was hardly a friendly blow!" Kol cried narrowing his eyes at his eldest brother. "You just got back into town how did you get into this mess?"
"Little Caroline knows who to ask for help" Sage's voice echoed into the room drawing the eye of the irritated Mikaelsons.
"Sage" Finn sighed as his siblings all growled at her. The redhead smirked, "I do think Caroline will be my favorite in-law."
"What do the two of you bloody want?" Rebekah demanded, "I have a date to keep tonight."
"I just want to know what you lot have been keeping from me" Caroline informed them taking extra care to look straight at Niklaus who looked the picture of innocence. Which no one in the room was fooled by, but the bastard couldn't help himself. The man was Loki personified.
Ironic now that Caroline thought about it.
"He has to be the inspiration for that" Caroline muttered to herself unknowingly saying it allowed. The others all twirked their lips, "Who was the inspiration for what, love?" Kol drawled out with a cheesy grin.
"What? I no I was muttering out loud again wasn't I?" Caroline turned to Sage who laughed from her spot beside the blonde.
"I'm afraid so" The redhead smirked, "care to share your ramblings?"
"After I find out what Niklaus has been trying to keep so hush hush for the past few days."
Elijah and Finn sighed, "you still have not bothered to tell her?" Elijah demanded of his brother.
"No. He's been on a blood bender" Caroline snapped, "As if I can't recognize the smell of blood as a human. Here I thought he was handling this well!"
"I am handling it!" Niklaus growled. "We didn't all grow up in happy family's love,"
Rebekah and Sage both winced knowing that was the last thing he should have said. The human narrowed her blue eyes in rage, taking a single step closer to the father of her child.
"Excuse me?" She snarled giving them a chance to take his words back.
"You heard me love," Niklaus's tone wasn't particularly malicious but it was filled with anger. "The Mikelsons don't have a happy a family history. You know this what makes you think their lives would be any different?"
Caroline gaped, "Instead of talking about your fears when they popped up you went on a bender? Niklaus!"
Rebekah snorted, "you knew who he was."
Caroline rolled her eyes, "He managed not to murder an entire pack of hybrids for me. Yet he can't handle the idea of fatherhood! Don't you dare think I didn't notice the use of pural. Niklaus what are you not telling me? Are you planning on knocking me up again or am I carrying a fucking litter?"
Finn coughed so hard that Sage entered the room fully to pat her lover on the back. "There there Finn, take a breath. Vampires needs to breath too you know."
Kol was pratically shaking in his seat, "Oh how I wish I had popcorn."
"Or a camera' Rebekah grinned completely ignoring the glares of their elder siblings.
"Shut up" Caroline snapped at the two before focusing her attention towards her lover. "Niklaus why did you imply multiple children?"
"Because your bloody hell pregnant with four of them!"
Caroline gasped pressing her hands to her mouth, "four?"
Niklaus leaned his head against the wall, "congratulations love, you get four in one go."
"Niklaus" Elijah warned, "I wouldn't-" Only to be interrupted by Caroline who stepped closer towards his brother stopping until her boots were up against the soles of his chairs.
"Don't bother Elijah. You're brother wants to throw himself a pity party."
Kol and Rebekah laughed while Elijah and Finn held back smiles as Niklaus raised a brow "A pity party love? Do you think so low of me?"
"I think your unused to feeling scared. Instead of talking about it like a normal family yours likes to massacre a few thousand people instead."
"Technically it was a hundred last time we engaged in a family bender" Kol supplied helpfully as Sage whacked him on the head.
"Hit Kol on the Heady day, aka HKH day is not until NEXT MONTH" Kol whined.
Caroline crossed her arms, "what else?"
"There is nothing else, love. Nothing that you need to worry about" Niklaus answered. His siblings all shared a look, even they know the damage those words would have. Rebekah quietly wondered to herself if Caroline would try to castrate her brother. By the sparkle in the blonde's blue eyes, Rebekah thought it was likely.
"Then I guess you won't care to know who is behind Marcel's control of your beloved city. I would have told you before but we got side tracked" Caroline looked back at Niklaus, "now would you like to change your answer?"
"You first love" Niklaus gritted, hating that he had been outmanuvered by a former baby vampire. A gorgeous, intelligent baby vampire that he thought the world of. Yet it didn't stop his pride from being wounded.
"I think not. You bring me to your city keep me trapped in a fucking plantation out in the damn bayou. Then we find out I'm pregnant and you last all of what twelve hours before you have a pity-party massacre for yourself all the while keeping me from so-called danger. I already know about Marcel, Nik. I also know how he is controlling the witches and that Hayley Marshall the previous baby mama of the Mikaelson clan has family here. I've lived this life before remember."
"Not as a human" Niklaus growled.
"That doesn't mean my knowledge, what I do remember couldn't help you. Save you a lot of headaches like the fact I know you must have figured out it was Marcel that dealt with Hayley's family, taking advantage of their internal conflicts. Her entire family was wiped out except for Hayley, because of your no children rule."
"You mean Marcellus" Elijah supplied.
"I've never known a Mikaelson to harm a child. Marcellus grew up among you it was you that taught him that particular value" Caroline dismissed, "I can't say I know much about New Orleans but I do know about Hayley and I do know that Marcel was the one who saved Davina."
"Davina?"
"The sole surviving Harvest Witch. The original conspricacy created by your mother but she has not been buried here this time around."
"So an unknown enemy" Elijah frowned.
"I also know that originally your family faced a family member, that is when you meet Freya. It turns out alright but I don't know if we can assume the same outcome" Caroline bite her lip in worry.
"We will protect you and the children Caroline" Rebekah vowed, " I don't care who it is. The only family that matters are those who are standing in this bloody room."
Caroline looked over to Niklaus who looked up at her from his spot on the ground, "Come here sweetheart" he commanded gruffly. Opening his arms as she immediately went into his arms sitting down in his lap. Her feet sliding over allowing her to sit comfortably in his lap.
"I'm sorry I over reacted. I don't like the fact you are so vulnerable. The fact that you've told me everything you know about what happens since we return to New Orleans it's disturbing. Especially as we can't be sure it will come out the same" He grudgingly admits in front of his family.
The fact that each and every one of his siblings were silent and looking on the ground told him that they respected at least some privacy. While he would prefer to be unmanned in private, Caroline would never allow them to go free just so he could save face.
Caroline sighed, "it worries me too. I know how this all ends. I know that you've faced trial after trail to keep Hope safe yet in the end it took you sacrificing your life to keep her safe. Don't you think that scares me?"
"Brother" Finn spoke up, the first in a long time. Caroline and Niklaus turned their attentions towards the eldest Mikaelson sibling.
"This time is different our family is one. Whole in a way it never was before. While I can't say we are firmly informed of what is to come or will come. This family has never gone down without a fight. And this time we have four tiny lives to fight for."
Caroline touched her stomach, "I barely handled being a magical incubator for twins. Now I've been magically incubated with double!"
Niklaus chuckled softly kissing the blonde on the side of her head, "you'll be fine love. Elijah bought you an entire hospital. But we really do need to know more about what you know about our current situation."
"From what I recall…" Caroline began.
XX
"Turn off that racket!" Katherine complained from her place in the passenger seat. Her brown eyes threatened bodily harm against the radio. The vampire stared down at the blonde-haired small town pretty boy with what Matt could only assume was a promise of a very painful death.
Matt raised his brow at the brunette, "you know suddenly I see the resemblance between you and Elena."
Katherine hissed as Bonnie giggled from the back seat, "you take that back!"
"I call it as I see it" Matt grinned his boyish grin while taking his eyes towards the back for millisecond, "you okay back there Bonbon?"
"I feel safer than you right now Matt" Bonnie laughed as Katherine turned in her seat and glowered at the witch.
"Country is god awful" Katherine whined softly throwing Matt her patiented sad girl gaze.
"You know that is not going to work. Elena tried the same thing" Matt shook his head focusing back on the road.
"At least she didn't fail" Bonnie snickered at Katherine.
"Doppelganger charm seems to wear thin when exposed to multiple clones" Katherine mused crossing her arms, "unfortunately for you all of our charm was wasted in Elena. The goody-two shoes got herself exiled because she couldn't handle being a bloody vampire."
"Watch it" Bonnie warned, "that is still one of best friends you are talking about."
Katherine shrugged, "some friend. Agreeing to drink from another friend for selfish reasons? It's not like she needed it to bloody survive." Before she could say another word her phone pinged alerting everyone in the car to her phone.
"You have a friend?" Matt asked in shock.
Katherine rolled her eyes, "Ha Ha Ha. It's Nadia." Ignoring the curious looks the doppelganger vampire read the text her daughter sent.
Katherine,
You have two traveler's tailing you. They believe you have Silas.
Be careful
-Nadia
"Fan-fucking-tastic" Katherine leaned her head back against the head cushion of the passenger seat. "Hey Pretty boy, have you noticed the same car following us for a while?"
Matt looked into his rearview mirror, sure enough the same pick-up truck he noticed an hour out of town was behind them. " Red truck. I saw it an hour ago right behind us."
"Looks like we will need your help little witch, how do you feel about vehicular homicide?"
"Katherine no killing" Matt scolded.
"They won't leave us alone otherwise. Unless you want to bring the bastards straight to your very human friend."
XX
Klaus refused to say anything as his brothers walked with him into Roussau's the establishment that Marcel had messaged him for their meeting. It had taken another two hours, after informing Caroline of the curse on Hayley's biological wolf pack before the little devil allowed the original family free of their trappings.
Two hours and 30 minutes of being trapped with his siblings without blood. The woman was trying to bloody well kill him. It didn't help that Kol kept sniggering at Niklaus's failure to seduce his way out of the imprisonment.
The smirk on Sage's face was annoying enough. Now he had to deal with Kol's constant sniggering as Finn and Elijah ignored his attempts at encouraging them to caujal Nik along with him.
"Kol leave Niklaus alone unless you prefer to be daggered for another hundred years" Finn warned.
"That's the best part! He can't my favorite sister-in-law has them! Caroline isn't the daggering type" Kol cheered.
Niklaus narrowed his eyes at his siblings. Perhaps it was time to negotiate those daggers back. They had finally reached Roussaus's, Marcel stood up from his table by the window.
"The Mikaelson's! You brought your brothers, good. Kol long time no see" Marcel grinned at the youngest male Mikaelson.
"Marcel meet our brother Finn, the eldest Mikaelson" Niklaus slapped his brother on the back pulling Finn to his side.
Marcel looked Finn up and down a laugh escaping him, "Finn Mikaelson as I live and breath. I never thought I'd see you walking the earth."
Finn didn't crack a smile, "neither did I."
Niklaus rolled his eyes patting his brother on the back, "nonsense. Your my brother of course I would un-dagger you."
"Nine hundred years, brother" Finn deadpanned.
Niklaus shrugged, "What's nine hundred years among family?"
Finn's eyes turned dark, as his veins began to come out. Just like Niklaus knew he would dear old Marcellus stepped in, "Hey now. I understand there is a lot of family drama but not out in my city."
"Of course, Marcellus" Elijah demurred, his eyes glinting at the suspicious look in Marcel's eye.
"Now I take it you had some news you wanted to share, Klaus?"
"Nothing in particular but I was curious about the wolves. Particularly the Crescent clan, that ran wild in these parts. Whatever happened to them?"
Marcel's face hardened, "They wanted more than we were willing to give and I found a loophole."
"You mean a witch" Kol interrupted, " haven't we taught you anything Marcellus? Never leave a trace."
"I don't know what you mean."
"We mean the M's all around the city, the young werewolf child you let live and the fact you have a witch in your pocket strong enough to make the witches sing your tune. At least for now" Elijah answered. "You've done a dangerous thing Marcel tampering with the balance in New Orleans."
"As if you can talk you all ran the second daddy came calling."
"We didn't come here to fight" Finn interrupted before Niklaus could speak. He and Elijah kept a firm grip on both Kol and Niklaus.
"I see there are two noble Mikaelsons" Marcel commented eyeing Finn, his expression kept neutral. Every vampire knew Marcel was giving him a through look over, was he worth the trouble?
"I have a date to get home to." Finn insisted, " I'd rather not tell Sage we cannot go out because my brother's decided to murder his son's little gang."
"Don't be such a worry wort, brother" Niklaus teased, "Marcellus, as a gesture of good will I feel I need to inform you of a human among my party. A human who is in my family's protection, unfortunately she also brings with her a few vampires and a witch companion who come to ensure her safety."
Marcel nodded, " a human pet? When I knew you to share Klaus."
"I don't but she happens to be more of a family friend rather than a personal pet" Klaus felt the words like acid on his tongue. It had to be done for Caroline's safety. He would ensure that nothing would come to harm her.
"Our sister is particuarlly insistent on this manner" Elijah interjected. Marcel's eyes glazed over slightly.
Klaus smirked, they got him.
XX
Camille sat in her office's comfortable chair as her client, Elena Gilbert sat across the room on a plush couch. The dirty blonde wrote down a few notes as the brunette kept talking about the recent deaths of her loved ones. Camille's heart went out to her. The brunette's life has been nothing short of one tragedy after another.
It made her curious as to why no one had suggested therapy until now. Elena has had a handful of sessions by now, as the summer months have come to a close. "Can you tell me how the recent deaths have affected your other relationships?"
Elena looked down interwining her fingers together. The two sat in companionable silence as Camille waited for Elena to answer her question. A small part of her reminded herself to make a phone call later that day. Camille furrowed her brow, where did that thought come form? She had just had her weekly check-in session with her uncle.
There was no one else for her to speak to. Camille shrugged it off, it must have been a broken stray thought. It happened on occasion. Nothing to be concerned about. Elena licked her lips, alerting Camille that the brunette would be speaking shortly. It unnerved her how everything Elena did almost appeared to be sexually appealing. The blonde therapist was sure it was unconscious on the girl's part. Almost as if it was a compulsive act.
She had seen the way Elena acted with the two men who escorted into her therapy sessions. "Elena?"
"Ever since my parent's died, then again with every death I fear I've pulled away from my friends."
"That's perfectly normal but we need those who love us around us while we grief. Do you still talk to them?"
"Of course," Elena quickly assured, "but I'm afraid I've been a poor friend for years. More selfish than not I would say."
"Then perhaps it's time we consider reaching out to them."