The Masquerade Gala - The Abbatoir.

Tonight reminded Elena of the yearly Masquerade ball she used to attend at the Lockwood Mansion. Mostly, it brought back the memory of Katherine and her impersonation of her to obtain the moonstone, but it ultimately lead to plotting her death, although no-one was aware she had linked herself to Elena and she felt every injury they inflicted upon her.

It ended with Katherine locked in the tomb with the moonstone, and Tyler unlocked his werewolf gene. Eventful, to say the least.

She knew this would be different though, this wasn't a party for teenagers, there wouldn't be any cheap beer or plans for sneaking in the alcohol when Carol Lockwood wasn't watching. No, this was a ritzy vampire event and hopefully the last step in the plan to return Elijah.

Elena walked into the compound, sporting a black dress with lace sleeves and an intricate appliqué corset bodice, it was skin tight and fell to her knees. She matched it with a pair of black strappy heels and a masquerade mask.

As she took a few steps inside, Klaus appeared beside her with two glasses of champagne and offered his arm. She took it and they continued to walk inside, completely on alert.

"We're all set," he said in a hushed tone, as he offered her the champagne and she took it, eyes still scanning the area, "Sophie is with Katie as we speak, preparing the bait and awaiting Rebekah's arrival."

"Got it," Elena said, taking a sip of her champagne and giving a small wave to Rebekah. She turned to face Klaus, unlinking her arm and they clinked glasses together, "I'll go find Marcel."

"Might I add, dear Elena, you look stunning," his words were complimentary but his eyes looked sinister, the usual malicious demeanour that occurs during a scheme.

Klaus really was the epitome of a beast, a predator stalking his prey and firm in his territory. The compound was once his home, he knew every inch of it and this was the start in the battle to reclaim it, mark it as his own and return his family to it.

His animalistic instincts told him to keep Elena close, like she was an enemy wolf trying to stalk onto what was his. But he knew he had to approach her differently, more sneaky and inconspicuous in his attacks, she was the heartless creature that held nothing dear, was there anything more dangerous than that? Besides him, there was not.

"Did you just say something nice to me?" She raised her eyebrow and smirked, offering a slight look of disgust, "Please, go back to threatening mine and my once loved one's lives repeatedly? And make it creative."

She was surprised by his response, a grin and a laugh and he raised his eyebrows at her in an amused manner.

"My creativity knows no bounds, Miss. Gilbert, but refrain from making a scene, this is a formal event, after all."

"Fine, since it's the proper procedure," she held her hand out towards him, "thank you, for your rather disgustingly kind comment and you do, in fact, look good yourself."

There was no denying that.

He took her hand, grazing his lips on her knuckles and tapping a featherlight kiss on her skin, "your etiquette is on point, as always."

"And your manipulation tactics are as predictable as ever," she rolled her eyes, giving only a nod of her head before spinning on her heel and joining with Rebekah at the bar. A few minutes later, Klaus returned and they were all equally on edge.

She ordered a scotch and leaned her back against the bar, watching the cities wealth mingle around her in the most tasteful way they knew how. She kept a close eyes on the vampires that hovered around the room and were acting as the security of the event and she made a mental note of the numbers.

"You came," Marcel said, appearing beside her and grasping her hand, he placed a soft kiss on the back of her palm and she watched him in interest, "you look beautiful."

Urgh, she wanted to hurl.

But instead, she plastered the twinkliest smile she could muster on her lips and allowed her eyes to sparkle, "And you look rather dashing."

"How about that dance?" He pointed his hand towards the dance floor and he was all charm, flair and sophistication.

"Maybe just one," they shared in a quick smile before she allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor. One hand went onto her lower back and the other was held up together as he lead her in a slow dance.

'Come raise the dead, I'm dreaming of the end,

Hallucinate, the tables are turning, and life was everything you said'

The intricate workings of a plan had to be handled gently, one small mistake could see the whole scheme fall apart. Her detachment to her humanity made her more aware of her surroundings, the many heartbeats in the room that thumped along to the beat and she was even more aware of the eyes that watched her. The vampires that were trying to ensure their Kings safety, the piercing daggers she felt from Klaus and his lack of trust in her and the brown hues that looked upon her from Marcel.

"What do you think of the party?" He asked, as he lead her a few steps and swayed with her.

"I've been to worse," Elena said with a smirk and he twirled her slowly and brought her back into him, "you're a good dancer."

"I've got a good partner," He was smooth, just as calculating as she was but he was far more relaxed than her. He played the game well, he was just a different type of player, he was less deceptive than her and more willing to use vulnerability as a weapon. He was political, soft spoken and open, until he had to attack. Then the King would command his army.

"Well, aren't you smooth?" She said with a sprightly tone of voice and a chuckle. She leaned in towards his neck, hovering her lips near his ear and whispering, "I could be a very good partner, not just on the dance floor."

"Is that so?" His voice changed, more softer and pensive, and she heard the slightest skip in his heartbeat when she whispered to him.

"Think about it," she separated from him, ending their dance and tapping a quick kiss on his cheek, "thank you for the dance."

"The pleasure was all mine."

Returning to the bar, she stood beside Rebekah and Klaus and ordered a large scotch. The Original Sister looked at her with a look of distaste and Elena laughed, "What?"

"That was devious," Rebekah commented. Her disapproval only manifesting from the affections that she once, still did, held for Marcel.

"And?" She popped her eyebrows, giving a light shake of her head and draining her glass in one quick motion, she gestured for a refill from the bartender and she sipped this one, "it'll serve its purpose."

Camille walked into the compound next, a beauty in white and Elena raised her eyebrows, she sniggered and looked to Rebekah, "did you invite her? And you claim I'm devious."

"What better way to distract Marcel than to put his very human new girl in a room chock full of vampires?" Rebekah said, tilting her head and displaying her wickedness in her eyes.

"And everyone says your brother is the diabolical one," Elena said as she flashed her gaze to the hybrid and they shared in a particularly mischievous smile.

"He's the more obviously sinister one, it's the ones that hide it well that they need to be concerned about."

"Oh, Rebekah Mikaelson, you're delightfully wicked," The Original Vampire flashed her a knowing look at her words, before striding towards Cami.

Elena was aware of her connection to Marcel, it spanned over centuries and although she offered Camille up as a distraction, she also invited her through the act of jealously. It was obvious, painstakingly so. But Elena thought it would be fun to watch it all unfold.

She watched with a silent hilarity as Klaus approached the pair and diffused the situation. Each one of them - Rebekah, Marcel, Cami and Klaus- with their hidden affections and agendas reminded her of the teen drama she had been subjected to during her years in high school and she found it funny that it could extend to even the oldest of vampires.

Rebekah had stormed off and went to the bar, a face filled with a beautiful rage as she ordered a drink. Marcel appeared next to her, a smug look on his face as he riled up the Original and Elena couldn't help but listen in.

"You trying to be cute, inviting her here?" Marcel spoke, completely unimpressed but amused all the same.

"I think she's darling. I can tell you fancy her pure heart. Perhaps I'll feed it to you?" Her voice indicated evil intent but beneath the surface was the complete opposite.

"Hmm," He paused to look at her with a glistening smile, "Jealousy looks good on you, Bekah."

Elena laughed ever so slightly on the rim of her glass before taking a sip. She continued to watch as Marcel approached Cami and offered her a dance and Rebekah watched with a piercing stare.

If looks could kill, Rebekah would end Marcel mercilessly.

"It's rude to eavesdrop, Elena," Klaus appeared beside her, back resting against the bar

"Yes, but it's hardly the worst of my sins,"

"Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall," Klaus dramatically quoted Shakespeare with malevolence etched into his facial features and a glint in his eye that only highlighted the cold abyss that lay within them.

"The devil can cite scripture for his purpose," she retorted, aware of the fact that everything Klaus did was for his own purposes, his power hungry and fear inducing intentions that become twisted in the lines between good and evil.

He turned to look at her, slightly impressed by her Shakespearean knowledge and standing up straight from the bar.

"Then, how about a dance with the devil?" He held out his hand towards her with a menacing smile and a darkness radiating from him.

"God, no," she was quick to respond in the most cold and blank way she could, "I feel like I've been dancing with this particular devil for a year now and it's becoming tedious."

"Let's make it interesting then," he raised his eyebrows, watching her carefully as she contemplated, delving into her mind for a reason as to why she should allow herself to become just another pawn in the Mikaelson family. Hardly any served her own purposes.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, trying to read him through the toughened exterior he had spent a thousand years building before taking his hand, allowing her fingers to wrap around his as he lead her out onto the dance floor, "I hope you can live up to the task, I become bored very easily."

"Like I said, my creativity knows no bounds," he said, as he reached the centre of the floor and slid his arm around her waist, planting it firmly on her lower back, "besides, it's very rare I fail."

She drew in a sharp breath when he pulled her into him, it was a completely different way than she was used too, normally they would be in a heated argument or about to attack, "there's a first time for everything, Klaus."

They were still under attack but in a different type of battle, one were the hits were more verbal and intimate and it was a classic technique to catch your enemies in a state of vulnerability, more open to manipulation and danger. Much like Katherine did to her enemies, subdue them with her wiles and promise for eternity. But Elena wasn't Katherine and she didn't have a single vulnerability to exploit.

'Every time I close my eyes,

it's like a dark paradise,

No one compares to you,

I'm scared that you, won't be waiting on the other side.'

She smoothed her hand over his shoulder and their hands joined and raised into position. He lead her in a slow dance, each step more meticulous than the last and every word was spoken with careful consideration.

"I hope you're not trying to get a rise out of me, Mr. Mikaelson, you'll be sorely disappointed," cold, distant, and filled with abhorrence.

"Now, why would I do that?"

"A sense of control over the doppelgänger without a soul," neither of them refused to break eye contact, to flicker away for even a second as if it would be an act of submission to the other, "it must infuriate you that I can't be so easily swayed like I used too."

"I will admit, you were much easier to get in line when I could threaten someone you love," the grip he had of her hand tightened ever so slightly more, just to keep up the intimidation, "but there is always other ways to secure compliance."

"And what do you seek to gain with my compliance?"

"Perhaps just a formidable ally, you have proven yourself to be a lot more useful in your emotionless state," he stalked her eyes, seeing only the glimmer of darkness and nothing he could read into. It was frustrating, "I rather enjoy it, it's entertaining."

"No, there's something else, isn't there?" She pried, riling him up in a different way, anything to spark the reaction she needed to see, "Don't tell me, the hybrid who murdered me is actually starting to feel something besides hate?"

"Hardly," he grinned, as if he shouldn't give her the satisfaction of even one fleeting emotion, even if it is just pure hate, "but I can't deny that I am intrigued."

"I can't imagine what that looks like on the Original Hybrid," another carefully placed move and she smoothed her hand around his shoulder, landing it on the nape of his neck and edging herself closer, "but I may consider to see it as an advantage. After all, what else could a Petrova garner, if not intrigue?"

"Your lineage is hardly the reason I allow you to remain within my city."

"It's the only reason," and she meant it.

On some level, he knew it to be true. That was his only connection to her, the blood of her ancestor that bound his curse a thousand years ago and the blood that pumped through her veins was the one that broke it. It was deep, ran through the centuries, just as her ancestors did before her but yet, she was the one that remained strong in her position, right here, in front of him. He could kill her, so easily, all it would take was one forceful punch through her chest but yet, she seemed untouchable.

For however long he deemed it so, anyway.

"We'll see just how long it takes for that Petrova fire to burn you completely," her words were close to a whisper, like the white oak grazing across his skin and it ignited his rage.

His hand pressed harder into her lower back, like the weight of a thousand bricks and she crashed into him like they fell on her. His hand tightened around hers and he was close, dangerously so.

His lip curled up into the smallest of scowls, and in one swift motion, he dipped her and her arms swung loosely around his neck as he hovered over her, holding her in his arms as if he was the one that was securing her safety. But all it would take is for him to let go and she would come crashing down, metaphorically and physically. Her death being completely controlled by him.

"I'll remind you of what I am capable of, Elena, I will kill you mercilessly if you ever become a threat," cold, distant, menacing, everything she saw in him in Mystic Falls came to the surface.

But she wasn't the same girl from Mystic Falls that he had come to know and she wouldn't back down so easily. Not anymore.

"And I'll remind you," she tightened her arms, bringing him closer and she spoke the words that he knew to be painfully true as he brought her back up, "no, you won't."

Oh, what a dangerous game they were playing.

Like a game of chess, each word and move made against each other was strategical, well thought out and intelligent. After all, they were smart. Smarter than they would care to showcase to each other but who would fall first?

King or Queen?

She heard the thumping of feet from a group of people nearing the compound, they both turned to look as Diego walked in, a look of horror on his face and he approached Marcel. He visibly shifted from the relaxed state he was in with Cami to an enraged King when he saw Thierry enter.

"And it begins..." Klaus said with a smirk and they turned their overly close faces to glance at each other, sharing in a look of wicked excitement.

Marcel had just finished scolding Thierry and setting forth his punishment for breaking the most important law he had: never kill another vampire. He was sentenced to one hundred years in the garden for his crimes and that sounded like a fate worse than death.

Rebekah had left to meet with Sophie at Lafayette Cemetery, it was time to start the locator spell.

Klaus and Elena watched from the first floor window as the inner circle dragged Thierry out into the street but Marcel noticed the group of nightwalkers that had been instructed to keep watch on the party had shifted their gaze, looking down the street as Katie approached and she started chanting.

Desperately, Thierry screamed out to her but she only wanted to save him, the love of her life and soulmate and she ignored him, "Katie, no!"

She chanted louder, extending her arms out and bringing the entire inner circle, including Marcel to his knees and a street lamp shattered when she waved her arm towards him.

"Like clockwork," Klaus said, and she glanced up to him with a smirk.

Katie waved her arm again and another lamp light explodes; all the vampires clutched. at their heads, falling down in pain. But Marcel alone stood back up to face Katie, but she smashed another light with magic and Marcel goes down again.

Elena watched as the scene started to unfold, Katie's magic was strong, it brought down the entire group of vampires and they were powerless against her. She was breaking Marcel's bones, inflicting the aneurysm spell onto the vampires and causing a state of disarray in the street.

Like magic, Marcel rose back onto his feet again and he growled as he ran to attack Katie, but she halted him with magic, and he groaned as he fell to his knees.

Katie lifted a wooden stake above Marcel's head, eyes filled with rage and her heart broken for Thierry, "Die, you son of a bitch."

Just as she went to bring the stake down and embed it in his heart, Klaus sped onto the street and snapped her neck in an instant. Katie was dead. He carelessly dropped her body to the floor and the magic came to an end.

Seconds later, Elena blurred onto the street and knelt down beside Marcel. She wrapped her arm around his back and used her free hand to help him onto his feet. He looked at Klaus and gave him a nod of appreciation before turning to look at Elena.

"Are you alright?" She asked, allowing her hand to linger on the top of his arm for comfort. He was in a state of vulnerability and she was the shoulder he needed to lean on in that moment, the face he saw when he had feared for his life and it would etch into his memory.

"Yeah, thank you," he said, before turning to look at Klaus, "both of you."

They stayed at the party for a while longer, the compound had all but emptied and there wasn't another soul in sight. Marcel and his vampires had all gone to the garden to bury Thierry, leaving him for one hundred years to starve and desiccate until his punishment was fulfilled.

There was a bottle of scotch between Elena and Klaus and they were relishing in the victory of the night.

"You done well tonight, sweetheart," he held his drink out towards and she tapped hers against it.

"Don't get used to it," she retorted, much to his amusement.

"I wouldn't dream of it, don't particularly care too."

She looked at the liquid in her glass, staring pensively as it swirled around slowly before bouncing her gaze back onto Klaus, "I did have fun today though, Mikaelson drama or not."

She allowed him the satisfaction of one comment that wasn't filled with manipulation or trying to garner control and he enjoyed it, confirmed by the smirk that curled on his lip.

"The drama is only just beginning, love."

"Exactly why I'm out of here, The second we get Elijah back, there will be an Elena shaped hole in your wall," she said amusingly, bringing her glass to her lips and taking a sip of her drink.

"Much to my relief," there wasn't a doubt in his face, "you're insufferable."

"Must be all the trauma," not that she cared but she enjoyed pushing his buttons, "you know, from being sacrificed and all."

"Oh, ouch," he said quite abruptly, the amusement apparent in his face as well as the sarcasm in his smirk and and he pressed his hand onto his right peck, "your words wound me."

"But that's just not true, nothing can hurt the mighty Klaus, right?"

"As sure as I am that nothing can hurt the heartless doppelganger without her humanity switched on?"

"Well, would you look at that? Something we can agree on."

They clinked their glasses again.

Marcel walked into the compound, a face filled with sorrow and an anger in his step that can only be caused by being betrayed by one of his closest friends. Elena looked to Klaus and he gave her a nod of his head.

She walked towards the King, face filled with fake empathy and placed her hand on his arm, "I'm gonna get going but I am sorry about Thierry. If you need anything, call me, I'm here if you need me."

He locked his eyes on hers, searching for the deceit or betrayal that should linger within them, she was with the Mikaelson's, after all. But he saw none, only a twinkle and a look of compassion within her features.

She remembered how she used to wear that look so well, as if it was ingrained in every skin cell and nerve that crept across her face and it was like muscle memory, so easy to wear at will.

"Thanks, Elena."

"I'll see you later."

She vanished.

The Plantation.

Elena returned to the house a couple of hours later, she went to Rousseau's for a drink and a snack before she finally decided to face the fireworks between Rebekah and Klaus.

She had no intentions of coming between two warring siblings, a force stronger than any tornado and it was only heightened by their vampirism and the fact they had a thousand years worth of resentment and pain between them.

She closed the door shut, hearing the siblings in the middle of the argument, she had hoped they would be done by now but life was never that easy. She rolled her eyes and went into the main room, heading for the liquor cabinet and a glass.

"Sophie trusted you. I trusted you! Against all my better instincts," Rebekah yelled, the hurt in her voice apparent and she looked in disbelief as Elena walked right past them without so much as a word, "and you, Elena, how could you go along with this?"

She poured out the scotch into her glass, gaze unwavering from the liquid as she forced herself to get through this fight without feeling the need to hurl, "it was the better plan, Bekah," voice as blank as ever.

"Better plan?" She reiterated in shock, "and since when did you and my brother start plotting schemes together, anyway? I thought you hated him."

"Hate would imply emotion, Rebekah, and you know what I think about those," she said with a smirk, taking a quick sip of scotch, "the plan was better, Marcel trusts us."

"I expect this from her, brother," she paused to throw her arm towards her and point a forceful finger at Elena, "she is completely detached, but what about you, hm? What could your excuse possib-"

"Wake up, Rebekah-- the witches are on no one's side but their own. This girl, Davina? That's all they want, and when they have her, what do you think happens then, a truce? Of course not. They will use Davina's power against all of us," he argued.

"Even if you're right, the plan was to find Elijah, and you've failed us." She sounded more hurt than angry, like she had been let down by Klaus one too many times and she was tired of it.

"You always did lack faith. By protecting Marcel, I've cemented his trust, so much so that he's agreed to return Elijah to us. And when the time is right, when he has told me everything I need to know about Davina, I will have her for myself."

"Wait," Elena interjected, taking a few steps closer towards them, "He's giving Elijah back? The plan worked?"

"Yes, Elena, it did."

"Good," she said with a smile, before heading towards the exit of the main room, "good talk, guys, I'm gonna go celebrate," she vanished from the plantation and headed straight to Rousseau's.

"I have all the faith in the world that you'll get what you want, Nik. You always do, no matter what it costs the rest of us...

You disgust me."

A/N: Hey, guys! Hope you're all enjoying my fic, review and let me know what you think, should I continue?

I'm loving writing Marcel and Elena together, especially in her humanity-less state.

And I can just see Elena and Hayley being a force of nature, if they should ever become close. I'm having fun with this one!

This will eventually simmer down with following the episodes, I just have to establish certain things within the story first, like Elena's integration into New Orleans and Elijah's return, for example. Should I continue to write like this or go more non-canon, introduce a side threat to Elena, maybe? Let me know!

The song lyrics used in this chapter are from the episode, they are:

Lana Del Ray - Dark Paradise.

Rachel Rabin - Raise The Dead.

Thanks, guys! Happy reading.