A new chapter, enjoy! Tell me, how you like it.

A Thank you to Senema for taking the time to beta this chapter. Without her this story would be much harder to read.

Chapter 7

After a far too short and sleepless night, Vincent left his apartment to return to the church.

Yesterday, after his announcement that the Mikaelsons were on their way back to New Orleans, panic had broken out, which Vincent could understand far too well. They would be very angry after the last four years and their only thought would be Klaus's liberation.

The Originals had been dangerous enough to face when the witches had still possessed their full power. Now that they could barely use their magic and protect themselves, all witches were practically fair game and helplessly at their mercy.

There had been a lot of discussion about how to defend themselves but finally all witches had to admit that no matter their plans, they had no chance if the Mikaelsons wanted them dead.

Vincent was aware of the two vampires following him on Marcel's orders but he ignored them. Marcel claimed that they were there to protect him from the Originals. Vincent snorted disdainfully. Sure, to protect him, except they couldn't withstand the Originals any more than he could. Marcel had ordered him to be present tonight and these guards were supposed to ensure that he actually came.

Vincent walked through an alley when the footsteps of the vampires behind him suddenly stopped. He turned and saw the two vampires lying on the ground, their necks clearly broken.

Vincent swallowed. The only question now was which one of the Originals he was dealing with. He had never missed his magic so much. The church wasn't far away, maybe he could still reach it.

When he turned around, Elijah was standing in front of him and gave him a mocking smile. "Hello Vincent, you look quite tired. Did something rob you of your sleep?"

Vincent scowled but before he could answer, Elijah had grabbed him and Vincent felt his surroundings rapidly changing around him. Elijah was taking him somewhere at top speed and Vincent wondered uncomfortably what he wanted from him. As long as Klaus was still Marcel's prisoner, Elijah was the one in charge. What he wanted would happen; Vincent had no illusions about that.

Eventually the changing environment stopped and Vincent staggered before feeling Elijah grab his elbow to support him.

"Give yourself a moment, Vincent", he heard Freya's voice.

Vincent closed his eyes and took deep breaths until the dizziness stopped. When he opened his eyes again, he saw Freya first, who was eyeing him worriedly.

Beside her stood Hayley, arms crossed, narrowing her eyes at him. Vincent frowned, somehow her aura had changed; it felt much darker and more powerful to him.

Next, he looked at Kol, who sneered at him. As always when dealing with him, Vincent had the feeling that Kol considered him as his next meal.

As a smaller figure stepped out from behind Kol, Vincent's gaze drifted to her, then his eyes widened. "Davina?" he asked stunned.

Davina smiled at him. "Hello, Vincent", she greeted him quietly. Kol put an arm around her and she immediately leaned trustingly against him.

"How can that be?" Vincent whispered before staring at Freya. "How did you do that? The power required to bring someone back from the dead is immense."

Freya smirked. "Oh, Davina isn't the only one brought back. Besides her Camille, Finn and Hendrik are also alive again."

"Who is Henrik?" Vincent asked confused.

"Our youngest brother, dead for the last thousand years"; Elijah replied smiling. "Now we just have to free Niklaus and then we will be finally reunited after far too many years."

"Marcel won't give him to you", Vincent warned uneasily. Freya's and Elijah's answers disturbed him on many levels.

"I won't give him much of a choice", Elijah replied in a velvety tone.

"Four years ago he got the better of you and your family. Why should this time be different?" provoked Vincent. It wouldn't do him much good with Elijah to make a too compliant impression.

Elijah narrowed his eyes. The air around them got a few degrees colder and wind picked up for a moment. Which was a little odd since Vincent was inside a building. "I have to warn you, my tolerance for impudent replies and impertinence is lower than ever before, especially coming from witches."

Vincent shuddered without knowing why and now really concentrated on Elijah. His aura had always been frighteningly powerful but now it felt off the charts. Vincent frowned. No, it was even more than that, it felt lighter and darker at the same time. "What happened to you, Elijah?"

"Nothing that should concern you or that you need to know", Elijah replied coldly. "Will you also be present tonight?"

"Yes, Marcel ordered me to come", Vincent replied sullenly. He recognised a dismissal when he heard it and he didn't want to provoke Elijah further.

"Only you or will other witches be there too?" Elijah inquired.

"No, just me", Vincent replied curtly.

"You will bring the leaders of every New Orleans coven. I want them to bare witness." Elijah's voice was harsh.

"Witness to what?" Vincent asked, feeling increasingly uncomfortable in the presence of this different Elijah.

"You are asking way too many questions." Elijah watched him with unreadable eyes. "If they are not present, I will punish them and you. Do you understand me?"

"I don't take orders from you", Vincent snapped angrily.

"You have no choice. After all, you have lost the magic of the ancestors and can't defend yourself against me anymore. Either you do what I want or you will face the consequences." Elijah chuckled softly.

"How do you know about that?" Vincent was shocked. Elijah just smirked at him.

"Vincent, you should really comply with Elijah's request", Davina said nervously.

Vincent looked at her confused, this didn't sound like the Davina he knew. "It didn't sound like a request for me."

"Perhaps he could have worded it differently", Davina conceded. "Still, it's very important that all the heads of the covens are there tonight. It is better for everyone involved; I'm telling you this as a former regent."

Vincent noticed how her voice sounded oddly urgent. He blinked briefly, but then nodded. "All right, I'll bring them with me."

"A very smart decision", Elijah praised sardonically. "Now let me take you back. If Marcel should ask you where you've been, please tell him I'll see him tonight. I'm already looking forward to our rematch." He grabbed Vincent again and before Vincent knew it, he was back in the alley where the two vampires were still lying dead on the ground. With a final short nod, Elijah disappeared as quickly as he had come.

Vincent sighed. Mikaelsons, bloody nuisances! He really hadn't missed them and the trouble they could create in the past four years.

With one last disdainful look at the two vampires, Vincent made his way to the church. Although the confidence that Elijah displayed made him quite thoughtful. Elijah seemed very sure that he was now a match for Marcel. Vincent would have really loved to have a private chat with Davina to learn more about why that was the case.

xxxxx

Marcel looked around intently to make sure all of his vampires were in place and guarding the compound. He knew they could never stop the Originals, but at least he would get a warning when they launched their attack and killed his guards.

Marcel noticed Josh standing in a corner near the main entrance, looking rather nervous. Marcel sighed. It was a shame that Josh didn't have the guts to be truly ruthless, he was much too tender-hearted and decent for a vampire.

Marcel suddenly heard murmurs from the other vampires and saw Vincent come in with the heads of the covens and a young woman he didn't recognize. Marcel frowned. Why did they accompany Vincent? He hadn't ordered them here and usually the witches avoided going near him, especially now that they had lost all their magic. Curious, he went to Vincent, he had to ask him anyway who had attacked his vampires.

"Vincent, how nice that you could come", Marcel greeted Vincent mockingly. They both knew that Vincent wasn't here voluntarily. "What are they doing here? I didn't demand their presence."

Vincent and the other witches scowled and Marcel saw more than one clenched fist.

"Yes, but you're not the only one in New Orleans giving orders anymore." Now it was Vincent's turn to smirk. "By the way, I'm supposed to send you greetings from Elijah, he can't wait to get his rematch. It was he who wanted the other witches to be present, he wants them to bare witness."

"Witness to what?" Marcel asked annoyed.

"He didn't tell me but he seemed very sure that this time your fight will end differently", said Vincent softly.

"Well, I won't have mercy on him this time", Marcel replied through clenched teeth. He was looking forward to teaching Elijah a second lesson for this audacity. He would show him that Marcel was the strongest vampire in the world.

"Well, he didn't seem like he will have much mercy for you anymore either", Vincent replied laconically.

"Who else is with Elijah? Kol? Rebekah?" Marcel hesitated noticeable as he said her name.

"I haven't seen Rebekah, but Freya and Kol are here." Vincent hesitated. "Davina is with them too."

Marcel looked at him stunned. "Davina? I don't understand."

"And if it is true what Freya says, then Camille, Finn, and Hendrik were also brought back to live." Vincent looked nervous. "But I didn't see them."

"Davina and Camille are alive again?" Marcel asked in a hoarse voice. "How can that be?"

"I have no idea", Vincent freely admitted. "It's almost impossible to bring one person back from the dead, but four? The power necessary for this goes beyond any known scale to me. I've never heard anything about something like that."

Marcel swallowed. Ok, so the Originals had indeed managed to secure some serious magical support. "How is Davina? Is she alright?"

"Yes, I think so but she is back with Kol." Vincent shook his head disapprovingly. "She seems to be more solemn and a little subdued too."

"What did Elijah do to her?" Marcel asked alarmed.

"I'm not sure he did," Vincent reluctantly admitted. "But she clearly showed him far more respect than I've ever seen or thought possible."

"Who else have you seen?" Marcel clenched his fists before an idea struck him and he grinned wickedly. If he offered an exchange, surely Elijah would agree and then he would make him suffer. If Klaus thought he had it bad, he should see what Marcel would do to Elijah.

"Hayley was there too." Vincent frowned. "She and Elijah somehow feel different."

"How do you know that? Haven't you lost your magic?" Marcel seemed irritated.

"We've lost the power of the ancestors, but not our other abilities", Vincent explained condescendingly.

"You say they feel different. Is it possible that they learned to cast magic like a witch?" Marcel asked worried.

Vincent shook his head vehemently. "No, that's impossible. No vampire can use magic. We're not even sure yet if Hope can do it if she ever becomes a vampire, despite being called the Tribid."

"Hm, then I want to believe that. Who is she?" Marcel asked and nodded towards the unknown woman.

"This is Ivy. She insisted on coming too", Vincent replied, looking rather unhappy about it.

"The Oracle of Jackson Square?" Marcel said and clearly looked impressed at the young woman. "I've been trying to find you."

"I know, but I didn't want you to find me", Ivy explained, eyeing the vampire coolly.

"Well, now you're here and I have no intention of letting you go again." Marcel smiled cruelly.

Ivy chuckled. "Gone are the days when your will counts for anything in this town."

"What does this mean?" Marcel snapped at her harshly.

Ivy just smiled enigmatically and didn't answer, instead turning to face the main entrance.

Before Marcel could punish the witch for her insolence, four vampires led Klaus inside in chains. All of the vampires roared as the chain was secured to the ground and they threw rotten fruit and veg at Klaus.

Marcel laughed in amusement while Klaus didn't bat an eye. Again Marcel felt a certain uneasiness, this was rather uncharacteristic behaviour for Klaus, no threats, no promises of vengeance. He seemed like a man waiting for something.

As if on cue, the four vampires that Marcel had posted at the main entrance slid across the floor until they lay groaning at his feet.

Elijah with Hayley and Kol at his sides followed them, while Freya and Davina were right behind them. Behind them walked a man who also looked very familiar to Marcel. It was Aiden and when he stopped next to Josh, Josh didn't look the least bit surprised, instead he smiled at him.

Elijah tugged at the sleeves of his green suit and smiled. "Hello Marcellus, I came to free Niklaus."

Klaus started laughing out loud and the way he looked at his sireline's vampires made them flinch involuntarily.

"Then you're here in vain", Marcel replied haughtily. "I think this time I'll make you all my prisoners too instead."

Elijah chuckled, amused. "You can certainly try." He walked purposefully towards Klaus while the others stayed behind.

His vampires gave Marcel uncertain looks and he gestured for them to let him through. He would allow Elijah this last meeting but after that, there would be no more generosity on his part.

"Hello, brother", Elijah said softly and put a hand on Niklaus's neck. "I told you it wouldn't be long now."

"I never doubted you, brother", Klaus replied just as softly. "What do you think, can you free me from these chains?"

"Nothing easier than that", Elijah replied. He grabbed the chain and negated the spell that made the chain unbreakable even for Originals. "You can free yourself now."

Without hesitation, Klaus tore at the chains and they broke, as they were just normal steel now.

The vampires around them gasped loudly and took several steps back. A few of the smarter ones took this as an opportunity to flee, but they bounced off an invisible wall.

"No one will leave the compound unless I give permission", Elijah said in a loud voice. Around him, the vampires were muttering to each other. "We have a few scores to settle and I also promised Niklaus that he could take his revenge for the last four years."

"Surely you don't think I'll allow that", said Marcel and pushed his way through the crowd.

Elijah smiled coldly at him. "I don't need your permission, Marcellus."

"We'll see." Marcel attacked without hesitation, confident that he would triumph over Elijah again.

But suddenly a shadow moved between him and Elijah and before he could even react, Marcel, with a slap to his face, was thrown several meters across the room.

As he groggily straightened up, he saw Hayley standing slightly in front of Elijah. She looked at him coldly. "Nobody attacks my love!"

"Sorry for that, Marcellus, but she is very protective when it comes to surprise physical attacks before I can react myself." Elijah looked beyond amused as he took Hayley's hand. "Thank you, my dear."

"Anytime, my love", Hayley replied, still staring at Marcel, her eyes were darker than usual, almost black.

Marcel wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Where did Hayley get this strength from and how did Elijah manage to disable the magic in the chain? "Are you letting others fight your battles now, Elijah? Looks like the last four years have turned you into a coward."

Elijah shrugged, seeming rather indifferent to the insult. "I don't tell Hayley what to do."

"And I don't fight his battles. I just want everyone to watch you getting your ass kicked. Make room for them so that they can fight!" Hayley commanded aloud.

A large circle formed in which only Marcel and Elijah remained.

Hayley and Klaus went back to the others. Davina had motioned to Vincent and the other witches to come to her. Vincent thought that made more than sense since the Originals had two witches in full possession of their powers. There was a clear bubble around Klaus, Kol and Hayley, because none of the vampires wanted to be too close to them.

The vampires, who had been there four years ago expected a repeat, and that Marcel would easily defeat the Original.

Neither of them thought about the fact that Elijah of all people wasn't known for leaving anything to chance. And he never started fights without knowing full well that he could win them. Elijah had fought and lost to the Beast four years ago and knew of Marcel's abilities.

Seeing him now so confident should have been a red flag for everyone present, but they all took their reassurance from Marcel, who couldn't even imagine that he would ever be defeated now that he was the Beast.