Chapter 14

Caroline POV

Everything was quiet for a moment before everyone sat down again.

Instead of curled around me like he was before, Elijah sat forward in his seat, elbows on his knees and hands clasped together.

"Theres nothing to tell," he said quietly.

I scoffed. "Well we all know that's bullshit with the way she walked in wearing Tatias face and throwing herself at you like a bitch in heat," I said angrily.

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Nik spoke up. "She looks like Tatia because she is her doppelganger. Every 500 years a doppelganger is born to their family line. First was tatia, then Katerina and now there's a young girl in Mystic Falls wearing their face as well. She is how I broke my curse, since mother used Tatia's blood for the spell," he explained.

I nodded. He continued.

"500 years ago I was set to use Katerina to break my curse. She found out and thwarted that by finding someone to give her vampire blood and then she killed herself. Took me 500 years to forgive that and I'm not even sure I have," he grumbled the last part.

I gave him a look.

"Sorry, I digress. I set to woo her when she was human, hoping to lure her into a false sense of comfort. Turns out she had eyes on a different Mikaelson. And vice versa. Seems to be a trait of the doppleganger to pine for brothers," he finished, glancing to Elijah.

I waited for Elijah to pick up the story.

"Elijah?" I asked when he sat in silence.

"I'm not prepared to discuss this at the moment," he murmured.

"I believe I deserve some answers," I said, slightly offended that this is how he wanted this to go.

"You do not. You weren't here, Caroline! You had been dead in my mind for 500 years! You have no right to question the decisions I made then or the ones I choose to make now," he snapped.

I sat open mouthed staring at him, tears filling my eyes.

"Understood," I said, standing up from the couch.

"Caroline-" I heard Rebekah say

"No. No it's fine Bekah." I turned to Elijah. "I'm sorry my reappearance in your life has caused such a disturbance. You're right. You're free to make whatever choices you please. Just as I am," I said quietly.

I grabbed my jacket and walked towards the front door.

"Caroline, please be reasonable," Elijah said following me.

I turned. "I thought it was reasonable to ask for answers. I thought it was reasonable to get those answers, from a man who still calls me his wife , regarding the other woman in his life," I said, turning back to reach for the door, no longer able to hold back the tears.

"I'll he staying with Bess for a while. Don't try to contact me," I said, walking out the door.

Klaus POV

"Well done, brother," I said sarcastically

Elijah sighed. "Not now, Niklaus, please," he said head in his hands.

"Yes, now!" I yelled. "How dare you. How dare you speak to her as if she means nothing, treat her as if she means nothing!"

"You're really going to lecture me on how I talk to people? You?"

"Theres a difference. They aren't the love of my life or carrying my children," I spat.

Elijah lifted his head.

"I don't know what to do," he whispered.

I sighed and sat down with Bekah who remained silent. Her disapproval of Elijah was written on her face.

"Theres nothing to be done. There shouldn't even be a question about what to do. You choose Caroline and your children over Katherine fucking Pierce," Rebekah said.

"it's not that simple, Rebekah. I've loved Katerina for the last 500 years," he explained.

"Yes and you've loved Caroline for over a thousand. You have to ask yourself brother, who can you not bear to live without? Katerina or Caroline? Cause I'm telling you now, if you hurt her like that again, I'll dagger you without a second thought and leave you to rot," I said dangerously.

"And I'll let him," Rebekah said before she stood and walked out of the room, Nik following behind her.

I sat by myself on the parlor, until the daylight began to fade and dusk set in, thinking through decision I had to make. Caroline was the love of my life, true, but that was my human life. She didn't know this version of me and all the monstrous acts that lay behind the red door. Katerina only knew this version, knew all of my gruesome acts over the years and still accepted me, flaws and all. Would Caroline?

By the time it was dark, I had come to my conclusion. All that was left now was to see it through. And break my heart in the process.

Caroline POV

I walked out of the mansion, pretty much in shock of how events unfolded.

I followed directions towards the quarter knowing Mama Bess's place laid just beyond the border of it. I thought as I walked.

Elijah wasn't wrong. Not really. I had no right to react in any way towards how he chose to live his life after thinking I'd died. Did I expect him to be lonely for the rest of his days? To not seek companionship? No, I didn't. Those were unrealistic expectations. I didn't, however, expect him to fall in love with a women who wore the face of someone I despised, and, from what I could tell, even from our limited interaction, was just as much of a bitch as her ancestor.

I walked quickly through the french quarter, my mind all over the place, not exactly being watchful of where I was going, hoping my feet would just get me there.

That us until I ran into what felt like a brick wall and almost fell on my ass.

Would have too if the "wall" I ran into hadn't reached out a hand to steady me.

"Whoa. Steady there, sweetheart. Are you okay?" he asked in concern, checking to make sure there were no obvious injuries.

I looked up into brown eyes, set in a young looking face, dark skin and the widest whitest smile I'd seen in a long while.

"Um, I'm okay. I'm so sorry. I was lost in my thoughts and wasn't paying attention to where I was going, obviously, because I walked right into you, which I'm sure wasn't pleasant for you despite my small stature. And thankfully I didn't hurt the babies or else that's a whole different problem I'm not prepared to deal-" I rambled.

"Hey hey hey. Slow down," he laughed. "It's okay. No harm done. I'm stronger than I look," he smiled.

I laughed lightly. "Thank you. I'm Caroline, by the way," I said, holding my hand out to introduce myself.

He smiled another impossibly wide, warm smile and grasped my hand to shake it.

"Marcel Gerard, at your service," he said.

I took a step back in shock.

He frowned, dropping my hand.

"I know that face, that's the "I know who you are and want to kick you in the balls" face. I'm not a fan of that face," he grimaced.

"I-I've heard of you," I stuttered.

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Nothing good, I'm guessing," he muttered.

"I try to judge a person's character based on personal interaction not heresay," I said.

He smiled warmly.

"Im glad. So may I ask where you've heard of me?"

I smirked. "Come give, Auntie a hug," I said sarcastically.

He looked confused. "No offense, Miss Caroline but you're a little….let's say fair skinned to be my aunt," he laughed.

I laughed. "I'm unofficially a member of the Mikaelson family," I said softly, hoping I hadn't just sealed my fate.

He froze. "Oh," he whispered.

"If you're not busy, I'd like to get to know you, make my own assumptions about your character," I said, smiling sweetly.

He glanced at me shyly and nodded. "I think I'd like that," he said softly. "Where abouts are you headed?" he asked.

I froze. "Shit," I whispered.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Um, well, im kind of on way to….a witches house," I mumbled.

His eyebrows rose. "Okay," he said simply.

"Okay?" I asked

"Yeah. Listen my hatred towards witches is personal but it's well earned by them. Doesn't mean I include all of them in that," he explained.

"I think that's a story I'd like to hear more about. Mama Bess probably would too," I laughed. "She loves a good story."

"Ive heard of her," he said.

"yeah she's a different breed of witch, let me tell you " I laughed.

"Well then lead the way," he gestured.

We walked companionably through the quarter, not talking about anything serious and more about the sights to see in New Orleans.

We made it to Mama Bess's house when I remembered why I was here in the first place. I swallowed thickly. Marcel noticed.

"You okay, chere?" he asked, concerned.

I nodded and knocked.

Within moments Mama opened the door. She looked concerned when she saw me and shocked when she saw Marcel.

"Marcelus," she whispered. He looked at her confused.

"I'm sorry do I know you?" he asked

She nodded absently. "Come in, I'll explain it." She said to him.

She looked at me. "Caroline, mon petite maman, what's wrong?" she asked worriedly.

"I-I need a place to stay for a few days," I choked out.

She stepped out the door and wrapped me in a warm hug. "Come inside, both of you. We'll have a chat. Is that enough of an invite for you or do I need to speak your name?" she asked Marcel questioningly.

He smiled and stepped over the threshold. I followed and we entered Mama's home.

We sat at her table while she grabbed us some tea. When she returned, she sat the tray down and took her seat.

"So, I guess we should talk," Mama started.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt, but it's been bugging me since you opened the door. How do I know you? You look so familiar. I mean, I've heard of you, you're known for making some wicked charms, but I've never met you before," Marcel asked, thoroughly confused.

Mama Bess glanced at me.

"Go ahead. My problems will still be there when the day is done," I said, grabbing my tea and looking between the two of them.

Mama shifted uncomfortably.

"Well, lets just start by saying, I'm a lot older than I look," she laughed. "I was born in 1790," she glanced at Marcel. "Here, in New Orleans," she said quietly.

I was shocked. "I'm guessing the not aging thing is a witch thing? Because you don't look a day over 50 let alone 210," I asked.

She laughed. "Yes. As witches, there's a brew we can make regularly to halt our aging process. I halted mine for many years and a few decades ago I stopped taking it," she explained.

"Here. You were born here in 1790. 20 years before I was born," he asked, suddenly keen on hearing her answer.

She nodded.

"What's your name?" he asked tremulously.

"Bess," she said, suddenly looking nervous.

What in the world was going on?

"No, your real name," he asked impatient.

Bess waited a beat before responding.

"Elizabeth. Elizabeth…..Gerard," she said quietly.

Marcel dropped his tea cup, shattering it on the table and stood quickly.

"I knew it. I knew you looked familiar," he said, in shock, tears gathering in his eyes.

Mama Bess stood as well.

"Why? Why haven't you said anything? Why make me think I had no one?" he asked, the emotion in his voice heartbreaking.

"The governor shipped me away, just before he was killed. I had no idea what had happened to you, or your mama. I heard the governor was dead as were most of his slaves. I was halfway across the continent, I figured you'd suffered the same fate. By the time I made my way home finally it was 1919. Imagine my surprise to find the city burning," she explained.

"Burning?" I finally spoke up.

She turned to me. "Daddy Original caught up to his children here in 1919. Burned the place to ground," she told me.

I scoffed. "Yeah Mikael always was a grade A dick. Stabbed me in the stomach when he found out I was pregnant," I grumbled, quickly showing my scar.

"When he found out….what?" Marcel asked, thoroughly confused.

"I'll explain after, go on with your story," I waved them on.

"Marcellus, who do you think got you out of the opera house?" she asked, eyebrows raised in question.

"Oh my god. That was you," he gasped.

"My darling boy, I have never been far from you since I returned. It would have been a death sentence if anyone found out we were related. Ive been watching and protecting from a far. I was then, and you better believe I will be with what's coming," she said, walking up to him and grabbing his cheek.

He nodded, quickly swiping at the tears that escaped.

"So….how are you two related?" I finally asked the one question that was burning my tongue to get out.

"Auntie," he said sarcastically, referring to me. I laughed. "meet my other Auntie. Elizabeth Gerard. Also known as Mama Bess, apparently," he said sarcastically. "My mothers older sister."

"Holy shit," I whispered, shocked as hell.

Elijah POV

I knew what I had to do. I had no doubts anymore. I'm not the man I used to be anymore. Not even the man I was yesterday. And my decision was clear. I made my way to the door, and despite knowing who would answer, I knocked anyways. Hoping those few seconds before the door opened would help prepare me for what I was about to do.

Caroline POV

This was blowing my mind.

"I can't believe you guys are family! And you've finally found eachother," I said tremulously. "Ugh. Goddamn hormones," I laughed, swiping at my tears.

"Well since Auntie Bess were has pretty much adopted you, I guess that makes us family, eh, cuz?" Marcel laughed, throwing an arm over my shoulder. The three of us laughed.

We were about to sit back down when there was a knock at the door.

"Can you get that for me child? I have to clean up this mess my nephew made. Boy, you better come help me," she warned.

"Yes ma'am," he murmured.

I laughed. "Yeah, I'll get it," I said, walking to the door and opening to greet the visitor.

AN: don't shoot me. I've always hated cliff hangers but I just had to end it there lol

also, I'm a big Marcel fan so no way was I going to make him the big bad of new Orleans lol

Any guesses on what's coming next?