Always and Forever

New Orleans

‘Over the course of my long life, I have become to believe that we are bound forever to those with whom we share blood. And we may not choose our family, their bond can be our greatest strength, or...our deepest regret. This unfortunate truth has haunted me for as long as I can recall.’

An abandoned ship is left in the middle of the sea.

“What do you make of that?” A random Frenchmen asks his companion.

“No banner; no flag. Floated in out of nowhere. A miracle ship.”

“Why is it just sitting out there?”

“Suppose we ought to find out.”

The men finally make it to the ship and enter the ship below deck. They walk down the ladder one by one holding up lanterns for light as water drips down. They brought a few other men with them. “Where the hell is everyone?” The second Frenchmen asks.

“Deserted. Which makes everything in the hold legally forfeit. Take what suits you.” He then points two coffins. “What do you make of that?” He nods his head, motioning to them. “Open it up.”

The second man hesitates slightly, but soon opens the coffin to reveal a daggered Kol. He looks over the body. “What the hell?!”

Suddenly a door is swung open and the men start to get attacked and disappear, but the second Frenchman can’t seem to see who’s doing the attacking. He looks around seeing he’s the last one left. He holds up his lantern to see who took his men.

“Hello.” A soft voice says from behind him.

The man turns around with his lantern up to face Rebekah. Her face was vamped up and her veins begin to disappear, as she wipes the blood off her lips with her handkerchief. “Lovely to see such a handsome face after a long journey. Can I eat him, brother.”

“I’d rather you didn’t.” Another voice speak up from the darkness.

The man spins around to face Elijah, who smiles at him slightly. “There’s no need to be afraid.” Elijah looks into the mans eyes. “And do exactly as I say. You will remember nothing.”

The man, as if a robot, repeats those words. “I will remember nothing.”

Elijah smiles again. “We’ve had a very long journey, wherein which, unfortunately, we lost all of our crew. Therefore, I will ask you kindly to transport our belongings to the shore.”

“What kind of hell demons are you?”

“We’re vampires, darling. The Original vampires: Rebekah, Elijah, our brothers Kol and Finn; may they rest in peace.” Rebekah speaks from behind the man.

“Are we saving the best for last?” A thick British accent speaks from above.

“And our half-brother, Niklaus. Ignore; he’s a beast.”

Klaus holds the first man’s dead body in his arms. His face is vamped up with blood all over his mouth and chin. He laughs slightly at Rebekah’s comment, before pushing the dead body to the ground, which falls below deck behind Rebekah with a loud thud. “We fled Europe and survived the seas. Would you rather I arrive hungry on the shores of our new homeland?”

“Niklaus, your manners are, as always, without equal. Sir, would you be so good as to tell us where it is that we have landed?”

“The French colony of Louisiana, off the shores of a town they have named New Orleans.”

“Thank you so much. Oh, I do recommend that you find yourself further assistance for the luggage. My sincere apologies.” Elijah brushes past the man.

The man is left to look around with his lantern to see all his men lying dead on the ground. Some against the wall, that are covered with their own blood. The walls have blood on them as well. All the men have been ‘rippered’.

~Years later~

Hayley was sitting at the bar as she looked at the bartender.

The bartender walks around. “Third time you’ve been in here this week.”

Hayley smiles a little. “I can’t help it, I’m obsessed with the gumbo, Jane-Anne.”

She smiles back. “The old ladies in the ninth ward say my younger sister, Sophie, bleeds a piece of her soul into every dish she makes.”

Hayley nods and looks down. “I asked around the whole quarter about my family.”

Jane-Anne looks at her as she cleans a glass. “And?”

Hayley sighs. “Nothing. Zero. I can’t find a single person who remembers my parents let alone my family.”

She breathes in and looks around. “Because Hayley, people like you were ran out of the quarter years ago.”

Hayley sits up and little. “What do you mean by, people like me?”

Jane-Anne leaned in closer. “In the Bayou, they call the werewolves, Roux-Ga-Roux. If you head out there, you’ll find what you’re looking for. But be careful, that’s the last place you’d ever want to go to.”

Soon, Jane-Anne stands in the cemetery with her sister. “Jane-Anne, please don’t do this. What if I’m wrong about her? Then what?”

“But that’s the beauty about you Sophie, you’re never wrong. She’s the only thing and way we’re gonna get to Klaus. If she’s not only his mate, but if what else you say about her is true.”

“Can’t we get someone else to do this spell?”

“And who would that be? Half the witches don’t believe you, and the other half are too scared.”

“Because they know we’re going to get caught doing magic, Jane-Anne.”

“We don’t have any other options, we’re running out of time. Now go, you know what you need to do.”

Hayley pulls up to the bayou and her car starts acting up, the engine smoking. “What the...uhhhh! You’ve got to be kidding me!” She climbs out of the car and takes her phone with her. “Hey, I’m looking for a tow service.”

A tour guide is leading a group of tourists through the Quarter. “Welcome to the dark side of New Orleans, a supernatural playground where the living can easily get lost, and the dead stick around to play.”

Klaus smiles and looks down, he’s been fighting off this itch for two days now. Ever since he arrived in New Orleans, he’s had this itch and feeling that there was something other than a witch here conspiring against him. And he was determined to find the cause of this itch and feeling.

Standing in Rebekah’s house back in Mystic Falls, Rebekah stands there with her arms crossed. “New Orleans? What the hell is he doing there?”

Elijah sighs. “Evidently, there are witches conspiring against him. So, knowing our lovely brother, this was a mission to silence and slaughter.”

“Well, I guess the French quarter witches are not a lot to be trifled with. You don’t suppose they’ve found a way to kill our bastard brother once and for all, do you?”

Elijah sighs and shakes his head. “Rebekah, in the name of our family, you might try to dial down your glee.”

“What bloody family, Elijah? We are three distrustful acquaintances who just happen to share a bloodline. I for one hope they’ve finally found a way to make that traitorous bastard rot.” She crosses her arms.

Klaus stands in the middle of a busy street, when he notices a woman, walking over to her, he smirks. “Good afternoon. Time for one more?”

The elder lady starts to pack up her stuff. “I’ve got nothing to say to you.”

He tilts his head to the side. “Oh, well that’s not very amiable, is it? You don’t even know me.”

“No, but I know what you are. Half-vampire, half-beast. You’re the hybrid.”

Klaus nods slightly. “I’m the original hybrid, actually, but that my dear, is a long story for another time.”

Rebekah walks into her foyer back in her house in Mystic Falls. “And where are you going, Elijah?”

Elijah walks past her. “To find out who’s making a move against our brother, and then...” he thinks for a moment. “I’ll either stop them, or I’ll help them. Depending on my mood.” He walks out of the mansion.

Klaus leans back in the chair. “I’m looking for someone. A witch of all people. Perhaps you might be able to help me find her. Jane-Anne Deveraux.”

She shakes her head. “Sorry. I don’t know.”

“Ahh, well, now that my dear, is a fib, isn’t it? Now, you see... I know that you’re a true witch sitting in this sea of poseurs. So, enough with the fabrications. I do have got quite a temper.”

“Witches don’t talk Outta School in the quarter. The vampire won’t allow it. Those are the rules, and I don’t break Marcel’s rules.”

“Marcel’s rules? Where do you suppose I might find Marcel?”

Marcel stands singing in the bar, when he stops singing, he walks over to the bar and looks at Klaus. “Klaus.”

Klaus looks up and smiles a little. “Marcel.”

“Must have been one hundred years since that nasty little business with you papa.” He crosses his arms.

“Has it really been that long?”

“Way I recall it, he ran you out of town. Left a trail of dead vampires in his wake.”

“And yet, how fortunate you were, managing to survive. My father, I’m afraid, I recently incinerated to dust.”

Marcel breathes out. “Well, if I’d known you were coming back in town, if I had a heads-up..”

Klaus steps forward, staring into his brown eyes. “What, Marcel? What would you have done?”

He smiles and puts his arm around Klaus. “I’d have thrown you a damn parade! Niklaus Mikaelson. My mentor, my savior, and my sire. Come, let’s get you a drink. It’s good to see you again.”

Klaus smiles. “It’s good to be home. But please tell me the current state of bourbon street is not your doing.”

Marcel throws his head back and laughs. “Something’s gotta draw the out-of-towners; otherwise, we’d all go hungry!”

Klaus smiles, then nods towards a group of guys. “I see your friends are day walkers.”

“Yeah, yeah, I shared the secret of your daylight rings with a few buddies. Just the inner circle though. The family.”

Klaus stares at him. “Tell me then, how did you find a witch just willing to make you daylight rings. They hate us.”

“Trust me, I got the witches in the French Quarter wrapped around my finger.”

“Is that so?” He turns and looks at his friend. “I’m looking for the witch by the name of Jane-Anne Deveraux. Has some business with me.”

“Looking for Jane-Anne? Then you probably should come with me.” He laughs again. “Showtime!”

Marcel and Klaus walk outside, as a crowd starts to gather. “Tell me, how’s the family?”

Klaus shrugs. “Those who live, hate me more than ever.”

Marcel waves his hand in the air. “Forget them. If your blood relations let you down, you can always make your own, huh? You taught me that, and what’s mine is yours, as always. Even my night walkers, the riff-raff.”

“They’re hardly subtle, aren’t they?” Klaus watches the other vampires gathering around.

“It’s the quarter, there ain’t no such thing as subtle, baby.” He grins as his mignons drag out Jane-Anne. “Jane-Anne Deveraux. Give it up for Jane-Anne. Come on Jane-Anne Deveraux, you my dear have been accused of the practice of magic beyond the bounds of the rules set forth and enforced by me. How do you plead?” He jumps back towards Klaus and leans in. “Oh, was that convincing? I studied law back in the fifties. It’s all I know.” He looks back up and walks towards the witch. “Seriously, J, tick tock. You know the drill, how do you plead?”

She rolls her eyes, and lays her tied hands in front of her. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Marcel tilts his head. “That’s a lie. You know it, I know it, and you witches hate that I know it. It drives you guys crazy that I’m aware of your every move. That you can’t do magic anymore in this town without getting caught. So, why don’t we just cut to the chase huh? You tell me what magic you’re brewing. Tell me. Maybe I’ll grant you leniency. Hey, I am after all, a merciful man.” He grabs a piece of rope like leaves from a tree.

“Rot in hell, monster.”

He bites his lip and inwardly groans. “I’ll tell you what, I’ll give you one more chance.” He shrugs. “Or not.” He swings the leaves around and slits her throat. He watches her face morph into shock, as her tied hands fly up to her neck, trying to stop the blood. Marcel walks away.

Klaus speeds in front of him. “What was that?”

He shrugs. “Hey, come walk with me. Witches aren’t allowed to do magic here. She broke the rules.”

Klaus sighs, growing furious. “I told you, I wanted to talk to her.”

“Hey, look I’m sorry. I got caught up in the show. Those witches, they think that they still have power in this town. I have to show them they don’t. I never waste an opportunity for a show of force. Another lesson I learned from you. Besides, anything that you could’ve gotten out of her, I can find out for you, and I will. I promise.”

Klaus thinks for a moment. “Well, whatever it was, doesn’t matter anymore, does it?” He smiles a little, the itch coming back, slightly stronger.

“Good.” He pats Klaus’s shoulders. “Then let’s eat, because seeing all that blood spilled made me hungry.” He walks away from Klaus.

Klaus stops one of Marcel’s minions. “Thierry isn’t it? Any more Deveraux witches where she came from?”

The crowd of witches stand, kneel and crouch sadly around the body of their fallen friend, Jane-Anne. Her body lies on the ground, blood staining her neck. Flowers and candles are spread around the corpse. Sophie sits near her sister, silent tears falling from her eyes. Her and all of the other witches look clearly depressed.

Elijah stands back near Sabine, watching everything. His face shows clear shock and sorrow. They stand a few meters away from everyone. “That’s Jane-Anne?Killed in public for anyone to find..”

Sabine sighs. “Only people that come around here are the witches. Now her sister has come to take her body.” She looks down. “Her spirit can’t fully rest until it’s been properly interred in the cemetery.”

Elijah looks down, then slowly up at her. “Please tell me that my brother had nothing to do with this.”

Sabine shakes her head. “No. Jane-Anne died because she was caught doing magic.”

He furrows his brows. “Wait, what do you mean she was caught doing magic?”

They both look up as they hear a loud whistle. Sabine looks panicked, she turns a little facing him. “You wanna know who killed Jane-Anne? You’re about to get front row seats at a glimpse of Marcel in action.”

“The vampire Marcel?”

Sabine looks at him. “Things have changed around here since your family left town. Marcel has changed.” She looks back towards the crowd as the vampires approach the witches. “I’m asking you, please stay hidden. If Marcel finds out that a witch had anything to do with luring the Originals back into town, my people will be slaughtered.”

Elijah speeds up to a spot on a balcony, and steps back so he’s now hidden in the shadows.

Marcel chuckles as he walks over to Sophie. “Well, well, well, what do we have here? I gotta say Sophie, this street isn’t proving to be the luckiest spot for your family tonight. Just a half an hour ago, we had to teach your sister a little lesson.”

Sophie looks up at him, slowly standing up. “We’re putting her to rest Marcel, just leave us alone.”

He waves his finger back and forth. “I never said you could move the body, matter of fact, I left her here for a reason; to send a message. If anybody is thinking of joining some kind of rebellion, my rules state that witches can’t practice magic in the French Quarter, and yet a little birdy informed me that your sister, Jane-Anne was cooking up something magically delicious. Oh, yeah. While I do have you here, quick Q&A. My old friend - the hybrid, Klaus - he just happened to show up out of the blue asking for, of all people, your sister, Jane-Anne. Any idea why?”

She rolls her tear filled eyes. “I don’t know. Witches don’t get involved in vampire business.”

“Hmm, that would be pretty stupid that’s for sure.” He walks up behind her. “Tell you what, why don’t you go back to the restaurant, cook up some of that famous gumbo, and keep those tourists happy.” He walks away. “Take her body.”

Sophie looks at him in shock. “What? No! Stop! Marcel!”

“I’m gonna hold her just in case maybe you remember why Klaus is here.”

Sophie struggles against the two vampires holding her. “Marcel please, her body won’t be at peace.”

He lifts up his hand and waves his finger. “Not my problem!”

Marcel walks away with the rest of his vampires and Jane-Anne’s body. While Elijah steps forward a little out of the shadows. Soon after the incident, Elijah is on the phone with Rebekah, who’s sitting in the bathtub, holding a glass of champagne in her left hand, and her phone up to her ear, in the other. “You mean to tell me, that after all these years, Marcel is alive and well?”

“Quite. Our brother seems to have wandered into a war zone. And I haven’t been able to find him. Marcel who Klaus sired and brought up beneath his own wing, now rules a menagerie of savage vampires running wild, killing in public for any human to come upon. Witches are held in subjugation. I doubt Niklaus had any idea what he was walking into.”

Rebekah jolts back into the conversation. “Sorry, what was that? I stopped paying attention at ‘our brother’.”

“Rebekah please-”

“Our hateful, traitorous bastard of a brother, who’s negated any sympathy I once had for him by his repeated efforts to ensure neither you nor I know happiness outside of his own selfish universe.”

“Always and forever, Rebekah, that is what we once swore to each other.”

She thinks for a second, then breathes out. “Consider this me calling take-backs.”

Elijah sighs. “Well, you’ve called take-backs dozens of times over the centuries and yet when our father found us and chased us from this very city...”

She narrows her eyes. “I may be old Elijah, but I’m not senile. I know very well I stuck by Klaus’s side and not three years later he stuck a silver dagger in my chest and sent me into a magical slumber for ninety years. Do you know why? Because I had the audacity to try and live my life on my own without him.”

“Enough. I believe our brother’s trouble, so whatever is going on between Marcel and the witches, it’s dire enough that they’d risk bringing the Originals back to town. The witches have lured him here, I’d like to know why.” He hangs up the phone, and now stands in front of Rousseau’s.

Sophie stands in the kitchen cooking, she wipes away her tears as she turns around, she stops when she sees Klaus standing there. “You’re Klaus.”

Uncrossing his arms from behind him, he steps forward. “I am, and you’re upset. Sophie, isn’t it? I assume this is because of what I just witnessed with your sister on the corner of Royal and St. Ann?”

She scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Did you enjoy the show?”

He shrugs stops slightly in front of her. “It was a little melodramatic for me. What did you sister want with me? Why did Marcel kill her?”

Sophie looks over his shoulder at the two men sitting at the bar. “I see you brought friends.” She nods her chin in their direction.

Klaus rolls his eyes. “They’re not with me.”

She looks back up at him. “They’re with Marcel. That’s all that matters to me, I know you built this town, but this is his town now.” She walks back to the island. “He killed my sister because she broke the rules. So, if I talk to you, in front of them. I’m next.”

Klaus walks out of the kitchen and towards the bar with the two men. “Are you two gentlemen following me?”

The taller man sits up and stares at Klaus. “Marcel said we’re your guides.”

Klaus lays a hand on both their shoulders. “Ah, he did, did he? Well, then, allow me to be exceedingly clear about one thing. If either of you follow me again, you’ll do so without the help of a spine.”

A blonde waitress walks over. “Sorry for the wait, but if you’re here for the gumbo, I hate to break your hearts, but we just ran out.”

Klaus pays no mind to the waitress. “Your oldest scotch for my two friends here love. Marcel wants to know what I’m up to, he can just ask me himself.”

Sophie walks out the back door, walking over to the small table full of candles. She picks up one that went out and relights it. “Oh, you got me into this mess Jane, give me the strength to get me out of it.” She looks up and behind her when she hears the door close. She stares at the two men who were following Klaus, were outside, one in front of her, the other behind her. “The doors work you know.” She motions to the door.

The man in front of her looks at the table. “You’re doing magic?”

Sophie glares, her anger rising in her. “I’m praying to my dead sister! Go ahead, pay your respects!”

The second vampire steps forward. “Don’t make this a thing Sophie. The hybrid was looking for Jane-Anne. Marcel wants to know why.”

“I’d say ask her yourself,” she hums a little. “But I guess you can’t seeing as Marcel killed her.”

The first vampire speeds up and grabs Sophie’s arms. But suddenly he disappears. Sophie looks around, clearly afraid. The second vampire looks around confused, when something falls to the ground behind them. They both jump and look towards the noise, moving closer. It’s the heart of the other vampire. The second vampires looks up, then turns around to attack Sophie but before he can reach her, he is also grabbed by a dark shadow. The vampire gets thrown at the wall, the dagger like sign is stuck in his chest. Elijah stands near Sophie, looking up at the dead vampire, cleaning his hand. “I’m Elijah. You heard of me?”

Sophie looks down, clearly in shock. “Y-yes.” She nods.

He walks towards her. “So, why don’t you tell me what business your family has with my brother.”

Sophie walks with Elijah towards the cemetery. Sophie opens the gate, emitting a squeak from the gates as she enters the cemetery. Elijah goes to step it, but is stop by the invisible barrier around the cemetery. He stops and looks up at Sophie. “This is sacred ground, which means vampires have to be invited in.” She watches his face turn into curiosity and annoyance. “But, since I’m desperate...come in.”

Elijah took a hesitant step into the cemetery, he walked in up to Sophie, following closely behind her.

“We can talk freely here.” She kept walking, her body slightly turned towards him.

“Then I do advice you start talking. Tell me what your sister wanted with Niklaus.” He stood behind her.

Sophie looks at him. “Isn’t it obvious? We have a huge vampire problem, and we need help. Marcel has an army backing him up, and the witches have been trying to fight back. We haven’t had much luck, until one night my sister Jane-Anne met a girl, a werewolf passing through the quarter from a small town in Virginia. She has a special connection to your brother.”

Elijah, now intrigued steps forward. “What kind of connection?”

She smiles a little. “Apparently, they spent some quality time together. One thing led to another, now this special werewolf girl, she’s pregnant. And the father of the child she’s carrying is your brother Klaus.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible. Especially when it comes to your brother Klaus. Think about it Elijah, they call him the hybrid, right?” She turns her head behind her and yells out. “Bring her out!”

A group of three witches stand around Hayley. Elijah’s eyes widen as he watches the wolf girl with immediate interest, however Hayley looks extremely confused and irritated. “Who the hell are you?” She eyes Elijah.

Elijah looks at Sophie. “Give us a moment, please.”

Hayley sits with her legs crossed on a bench, looking down at her hands.

“So, have they been holding you against your will?” He stops pacing to look down at her, the many candles in the room illuminating her features.

She scoffs a little, looking up at him through her lashes. “I guess you could say that.” She looks back at her hands. “They lured me out to the bayou and grabbed me. Then they did all these...weird witchy tests. Not that I understand how this happen. I mean, vampires are dead. You guys can’t have children!”

Elijah walks to the other end of the bench, beginning to sit next to her. “Perhaps, if you truly knew my brother’s story, it might explain how this is possible,” he tries to lay his hand on her temple. “Here, if I may.”

She recoils and eyes him. “What are you doing?”

He offers her a kind smile. “Relax. If you open your mind to me, I can show you.” He smiles again when she allows him to continue. He lays his hand on her temple, their eyes closing. “In the beginning, our family was like everyone else, human...A thousand years ago, now.”

“Come. Henrik. Our brothers are fighting again.” Rebekah calls out to her youngest brother as they start running towards Klaus and Elijah.

“And although our mother dabbled in the dark arts, we were actually just a normal family trying to survive in a time when it was proven quite difficult to do so. And, for the better or worse of times, we were happy.” He opens his eyes, staring down. “That is however, until one night, our youngest brother was killed by our village’s greatest threat.”

Klaus comes trudging back home from the woods, carrying Henrik’s body. “Mother!”

“Men that could transform into wolves during the full moon. Our family was devastated, none more that Niklaus himself. Desperate to protect her children, our mother forced by our father called upon her black magic to make us stronger.”

Mikael, holds the bleeding arm of a human in front of Rebekah, who is crying. “Drink!”

Rebekah leans down and drinks the blood.

“And thus, the first vampires were born. But with this speed, this strength, this immortality, came a terrible hunger. And no one felt this hunger more than Niklaus.”

Klaus stands in the woods and attack a human, feeding on him and until he accidentally kills him. The human falls to the ground, and Klaus stands there, blood on her mouth and chin.

“When he killed for the first time, we knew what he truly was.”

Klaus stands in confusion, when suddenly he falls to the ground, his leg cracking and breaking. He lets out a scream, crying.

Elijah and Mikael come running towards him. “Niklaus!” Elijah calls out to his brother, wanting to help.

“What is happening to me?” He cries out, his other leg breaking and bending.

Elijah tries to run to his brother, but his father holds him back. “Don’t boy!” They both stare at Klaus in horror.

“Father! It hurts!”

“He’s a beast, an abomination.” Mikael stares in horror as the screaming and crying stops.

Klaus’s head snaps up, revealing his glowing gold eyes, and the whites of his eyes black instead of red.

“He wasn’t just a vampire.”

Hayley stares off towards the ground, reality hitting her. “He was also a werewolf.” She continues when he nods. “That’s how the werewolf curse works. It isn’t activated until you take another life.”

“Niklaus was the result of an indiscretion our mother had hidden from us all. An affair, with a werewolf like yourself.”

Ester stands in front of a fire, throwing powder into the fire, casting a spell.

“Enraged by this betrayal, my father forced our mother to cast a spell that would suppress Klaus’s wolf side, denying him any true connection with his true self.

Mikael begins binding Klaus to a wooden cross, causing Klaus to wake up and start fighting. Mikael holds him down and glares at Elijah. “Elijah! Elijah, hold him down!”

Klaus turns to face his brother. “Brother, please! Don’t let them do this to me!”

Elijah stands there, clearly conflicted with what to do.

“Do it now, boy! Now!” Elijah helps his father and doesn’t look at Klaus until stares at him.

“Help me..” he stares at Elijah in pain.

Hayley leans forward. “Your dad was a dick.” She smiles when he chuckles. “I’m Hayley by the way,” she holds out her hand which he took and shook. “You should probably know my name if you’re going to tell me your whole life story. I mean, I know yours. Your family is legendary, you brother is a notorious psycho...who I slept with..” she looks at him, with a defeated looked. “Classic me.”

He shakes his head. “I can’t excuse his behavior, but you must understand, when our father hunted him -hunted us- for centuries, every time we found a moment of happiness, we were forced with no other choice but to flee. Even here, in New Orleans, where we were the happiest. Not long after Niklaus broke the spell holding him back from becoming a hybrid, he defeated our father. I thought that would make him happy.” He shakes his head. “He was angrier than ever. I wonder if perhaps you and this baby may be a way for my brother to find happiness. A way to save him from himself.”

Hayley begins to speak out about what he said about her, but Sophie walks into the vault and crosses her arms. “I’m glad you feel that way, because we need your help.”

“And what, precisely, is that you want and what does it have to do with this young woman?”

“We want to run Marcel and his vampires out of New Orleans.” She looks between the two of them. “Everything Marcel knows about being a vampire, he learned from Klaus. Marcel trusts him, looks up to him, and he won’t see the betrayal coming.”

“Yes, well, as I’m sure you’re aware, my brother Niklaus doesn’t like being told what to do in any situation.”

“That’s why I brought you here. Marcel drove the werewolves out decades ago. Do you honestly think he’s really going to welcome a hybrid baby to the neighborhood?” She watches as Hayley fidgets, her face falling and looking down. “Convince Klaus to help us, and no one has to know about the newest member of the Original family.”

Elijah stands up a little straighter. “That sounds remarkably like blackmail.”

She stands her ground. “Like I said, I’m desperate.”

Elijah smiles a little, trying his best to stay in control. “Well, then, I guess I have my work cut out for me, don’t I?”

Klaus walks into a party, looking around for Marcel. He grabs one of his goons arms and turns him around, glaring. “Where’s Marcel?”

The goon looks Klaus up and down. “Who the hell’s asking?”

He glares again, growing impatient. “I assume you’re joking.”

“Please, I only answer to Marcel.”

“Well, then in that case, perhaps you’ll answer to this. You’re aware that the bite of a werewolf can kill a vampire? Well, as you can see, I’m half werewolf, so I’m gonna ask you one more time! Where is Marcel?”

Marcel runs into the crowd and laughs a little, nervous. “H-hey, I’m right here. I’m right here. Easy now. Diego’s just looking out for me. Nobody harms my guys. Those are my rules.”

Klaus glares at him. “I don’t care for your rules, Marcel. I don’t need chaperones. Why are you having me followed?”

“Come here, I get it, huh? Show of force, you made your point now. Let it go, friend. For me.”

“Fine. Why don’t you show me what you’ve done with the places while you explain exactly what it is you’ve been up to in my town.”

“Follow me.” He leads him to a balcony on the third floor. “Look at that skyline. That there, that’s progress. More hotels, more tourists, more fresh blood. And the humans? I taught them to look the other way.”

He leans over the balcony railing. “And what of the witches? In my time, they were a force to be reckoned with, and now they live in fear. How do you know when they’re using magic?”

“Maybe I got a secret weapon, an ace up my sleeve, something that gives me complete control over all the magic in this town.”

Klaus looks at him. “Hmm. Is that a fact?”

“Might be. Or maybe I’m just bluffing.” He takes a small vial and takes it down.

Klaus watches in awe. “You take vervain?”

“Burns like a bitch, but I figured I might as well limit my list of things I’m vulnerable to.” He looks back out at the city. “Hey listen, don’t be mad about the chaperone thing. I told my guys to look out for you is all. That’s what we do here...look out for each other.” They both look down to see Camille walking alone. “Mmmmm. New blood.”

Klaus stares, his interest peaked. “The bartender, walking alone at night. She’s either really brave, or really dumb.”

“Let’s see. Brave, I let her live. Dumb, she’s dessert.” He places a hand on the railing and jumps over it, landing behind Camille. “You know, it’s not safe here alone.”

She turns around and crosses her arms. “You know, I have a black belt in karate.”

Klaus watches them and breathes in. “Evening, Elijah.”

Elijah stands in the corner, his hands in his pockets. “Niklaus.”

“What an entirely unwelcome surprise.”

“And what an entirely unsurprising welcome. Come with me.” He turns a little.

“I’m not going anywhere. Not until I find out who’s conspiring against me.”

“I believe I just found that out for you.” He watches as Klaus stands up a little, turning around to face him.

They soon enter the cemetery. “Elijah, what are we doing here?”

“You want to know what the witches have in store for you? Follow me.” He begins walking, Klaus following behind him. They enter a crypt, where Sophie is waiting for them.

Klaus stares in shock. “Sophie Deveraux. What exactly is this?”

Elijah stands off to the side. “He’s all yours. Proceed.”

Sophie uncrosses her arms. “You know you’re famous in this town? Witches tell bedtime stories about the powerful vampire Klaus. We know Marcel was nothing but an orphaned street rat until you made him. And now he’s out of control. He does what he wants. I’m going to stop him...and you’re going to help me.”

Klaus looks over at Elijah. “This is why you brought me here?”

“Just hear her out Niklaus.”

“I don’t need to hear her out. I assure you, love, there is not a thing on this earth that will matter enough for me to waste even thirty more seconds of my time.” He turns and stops when he watches as Hayley walks into the crypt. “Elijah, what madness is this?” He stares back at Hayley, feeling a sudden pull towards her, he felt weird ever since he walked into the cemetery.

“Klaus...” her voice breaks the silence. “You need to listen to them.” She also, was feeling the pull towards him.

“You’re all out of your mind if you think some liquor-fueled one-night stand...no offense, sweetheart...means a thing to me.”

Sophie rolls her eyes, growing annoyed. “Marcel may be able to keep us from practicing real magic in this town, but as keepers of the balance, we still know when nature has cooked up something new. For example, I have a special gift, of sensing when a girl is pregnant.”

Klaus turns and looks at her. His heart jumping at the news of this, but also shocked. “What?”

Hayley gulps, slightly scared. “I know. It’s impossible.”

“What exactly are you saying?”

Elijah standing there, witnessing the sparks between the two, finally speaks up. “Niklaus...The girl is carrying your child.”

“No. It’s impossible.”

“I said the same thing myself.” He looks at Klaus.

“This is a lie. You are all lying. Vampires cannot procreate.”

“But werewolves can.” Sophie speaks up behind him, causing him to close his eyes in annoyance. “Magic made you a vampire, but you were born a werewolf. You’re the original hybrid, the first of your kind, and this pregnancy is one of nature’s loopholes.”

Klaus storms towards Hayley, pointing a finger. “You’ve been with someone else! Admit it!”

Hayley raises her hand, hurt and annoyed at his response. “Hey! I’ve spent days held captive in a freaking alligator bayou because they think that I’m carrying some magical miracle baby. Don’t you think I would’ve fessed up if it wasn’t yours?”

Sophie breathes in. “My sister gave her life to perform the spell she needed to confirm this pregnancy. Because of Jane-Anne’s sacrifice, the lives of this girl and her baby are now controlled by us. We can keep them safe. Or we can kill them. If you don’t help us take down Marcel, so help me, Hayley won’t live long enough to see her first maternity dress.”

Hayley, and Elijah both stare in shock, Hayley’s stomach started to turn. “Wait, what?”

Klaus fights back the urge to kill them all now for threatening her and his child.

Elijah stands up, holding his hand up. “Enough of this. If you want Marcel dead, he’s dead. I’ll do it myself.”

“No. We can’t, not yet. We have a clear plan that we have to follow, and there are rules that need to be followed.”

Elijah stops, and turns to face Klaus, waiting for his reaction.

Klaus’s face switches between shock to anger. “How dare you command me, threaten me! With what you wrongfully perceive to be my weakness! I won’t hear anymore lies!” He begins to storm towards Hayley, ready to leave.

“Niklaus! Listen.”

Klaus stops just in front of Hayley, where he tunes into nothing but her lower abdomen, his eyes travel to her stomach, which she now has a hand on, her thumb gently stroking her stomach. His eyes squint a little, then grow wide by the second heartbeat other than Hayley’s, a soft yet fast second heartbeat. He looks back up at Hayley, who has a softer look on her face, her eyes brimming with tears as she looks at him hopeful. He looks at his brother, then the witches. “Kill her and the baby. What do I care?” He storms past Hayley, leaving the crypt, a pull on his heart, the instant regret settling into his heart.

Hayley raises her hand, turning to leave. “Screw this. I’m out of here!” She turns all the way, only to be stopped by two witches guarding the entrance.

Elijah steps forward. “No one touches the girl. I’ll fix this.” He leaves when Sophie nods. He soon finds Klaus walking fast through the city. “Niklaus.”

“It’s a trick Elijah.” He spits out, his head looking down.

“No brother, it’s a gift. It’s your chance - it’s our chance.”

“To do what brother?” He turns to look at Elijah, glaring.

“To start over. To take back everything we lost, everything that was taken from us by father. Niklaus, our own parents came to despise us. Our family was ruined - we were ruined. And since then, all that you have ever wanted -” he raises his hand, one finger pointing towards him. “All that we have ever wanted was a family.”

Klaus growls. “I will not be manipulated.” He turns away but stops when Elijah is now standing in front of him.

“So they’re manipulating you. So what? With them, this girl and her child -your child - live.”

“I’m gonna kill every last one of them.” He shoves Elijah back and turns away the other direction, only to be stopped once again by Elijah speeding in front of him, blocking him.

“And then what? Then you’ll return to Mystic Falls to resume your life as the hated one, as the evil hybrid? Is it so important to you that people quake with fear at the mention of your name?”

“People quake with fear because I have the power to make them afraid. What will this child offer me? Will it guarantee me power?”

“Family is power, Niklaus. Love, loyalty - that’s power. This is what we swore to each other a thousand years ago, before this life tore away what little humanity you had left, before ego, before your anger, before your paranoia created in this person before me as someone I can barely even recognize as my own brother. This is us, the Original family, and we remain together, always and forever. I am asking you to stay here. I will help you and I will stay with you. I will be your brother. We will build a home here together. So save this girl. Save your child.” He places his hand on Klaus’s shoulder.

Klaus stares at his brother in awe, as he brings his own hand to Elijah’s neck in a brotherly gesture. He leans in close and whispers. “No.” He shoves away from Elijah and storms off.

Back at the mausoleum, the witches stand around talking while Hayley stands in the corner, fidgeting with her fingers, her stomach churning. “Marcel and his vampires are out of control. Something clearly had to be done.” Sophie looks between Agnes and Sabine.

Agnes rolls her eyes. “And the solution was to bring in more vampires?”

“These aren’t just any vampires though, Agnes. These are the Originals.”

Agnes crosses her arms. “And what makes your think you can control the hybrid?”

Elijah stand near the entrance leaning against the wall. “She can’t. I’m not entirely certain I can either. But now that your coven has drawn his ire, I have one question; what’s preventing my brother from murdering you instead of helping you and cooperating?”

Sophie walks over to a voodoo doll and takes out a needle, showing it to him. She then sticks the needle into her palm.

Hayley jumps off the wall and yelps. “Ow!” She looks at her hand, Elijah looking as well, a drop of blood in her palm exactly where Sophie stabbed her hand. “What the hell!?”

Sophie gives a sarcastic look. “The spell my sister performed, the one that got her killed? Didn’t just confirm your pregnancy, it linked me to Hayley. So anything that happens to me, happens to her. Which means her life is in my hands. Klaus may not care about his own child or his mate, but it’s very clear what it and Hayley already mean to you. If I have to hurt Hayley - or worse - to ensure that I have your attention, I will.”

Hayley gaps at her shocked. “I’m sorry, mates? Is that why I’ve felt this strong connection towards him from the get go?” She leans back again when Sophie nods, shocked, trying to take this all in.

Elijah stands shocked as well, but also slightly amused by Sophie’s audacity. “You would dare threaten an Original?”

Sophie shakes her head, raising her shoulders. “I have nothing to lose.”

The grin on his face disappears.

“You have until midnight to get Klaus to change his mind and agree. To our terms.”

Klaus storms into the compound, loud music playing, people dancing, drinking, feeding. Vampires - including Marcel - are drinking and dancing as well. Elijah stands up top on a balcony, observing the scene play out.

Marcel stops Klaus and places a hand on his shoulder. “Hey, man, where’d you run off to?”

“You mean your minions aren’t still documenting my every move? Shocking.”

“Someone put you in a bad mood, come on. What can I do to help?”

“What you can do is tell me what this thing is you have with the witches.”

Marcel sighs. “And we’re back to that.”

“Yes, we’re back to that.”

“You know I owe you a lot Klaus, but I’m afraid I have to draw the line on this one. This is my business, and I control the witches in my town. Let’s just leave it at that.”

“Your town?” Klaus bites back.

“Damn straight.”

“That’s funny, because I remember when I left one hundred years ago, you were just a pathetic little scrapper still trembling from the lashes of the whips from those who would keep you down. And now look at you, - master of your domain, prince of the city.” He bites. The music stops, and the crowd begins to gather in, watching. “I’d like to know how.”

Marcel raises his arms. “Why? Jealous? Hey man, I get it. Three hundred years ago, you helped build a backwater penal colony into something great. You started it, but then you left. Actually, you ran from it. I saw it through. Look around. Vampires rule the city now. We don’t have to live in the shadows like rats. The locals know their place, they look the other way in fact. I got rid of the werewolves. I even found a way to shut down the witches. The blood never stops flowing and the party never ends. You wanna pass through? You wanna stay awhile? Fine, great. What’s mine is yours, but it is mine.” He shoves his hands into his own chest, exaggerating his phrase. “My home, my family, my rules.”

Klaus stares at him, amused. “And if someone were to break those rules?”

“They die.” He leans forward. “Mercy is for the weak, you taught me that too. And I’m not the prince of the Quarter, friend. I’m the king! Show me some respect.”

Klaus stands there, mouth gaped, as he takes this in for a few moments before he grabs one of Marcel’s men and pins him to a pillar, biting into his neck. Elijah from above steps forward a little, hands coming out of his pockets, mouth open. Klaus turns back to Marcel blood dripping from his mouth and chin and he begins to speak, a bored expression on his face. “Your friend will be dead by the weekend, which in term means I’ve broken one of your rules. And yet I cannot be killed. I am immortal. Who has the power now, friend?” They stand there, facing off, when Marcel says nothing after a moment, Klaus smiles around at the crowd, and leaves.

Outside, Elijah stands there walking, talking on the phone with Rebekah. “He’s willing to give up everything because of this.”

Rebekah stands in her living room, looking at her braid. “Come now Elijah, does that really surprise you?”

“I already see it. He’s spiraling. He’s lashing out in blind rage. You know, the last time I saw him like this, it lasted two centuries.”

“Then leave him to his temper tantrum and come home. With any luck this misadventure will allow us to reprieve from all his insanity.”

“He was so close Rebekah, when he heard the baby’s heartbeat, I could see it in his eyes. He...he wanted...he could almost taste happiness. And now his temper as destroyed it. Even if I was to return him to sanity, he just lost Marcel and his trust. So, I’m almost out of time to get the girl, now more than ever knowing she’s his mate and carrying his child.”

“Get her? Have you lost your mind Elijah? Are we running an orphanage now?”

“Say what you will about Niklaus, but on my life I’m not letting anything happen to that baby or Hayley.” He hangs up, heading off to find Marcel.

“Say what you will about Niklaus, but on my life I’m not letting anything happen to that baby or Hayley.” He hangs up, heading off to find Marcel.

Rebekah sighs and turns to face Katherine. “I’d give you the play-by-play, but you have the air of someone who’s been lurking and listening.”

Katherine crosses her arms. “He’ll come around. You know Elijah, he won’t stop until he convinced Klaus will do the right thing. There’s no doubt now, Klaus knows that not only is Hayley pregnant, she’s also his mate. Granted he probably knew from the beginning.”

“I know you consider yourself and expert in brotherly dynamics. But you don’t know my brothers half as well as you think you do.”

“You’re wrong. Klaus won’t be able to walk away from this. He and I are the same. We manipulate, we thirst for power, we control, we punish, but our actions are driven by one single place deep inside.”

“And what would that be?”

Katherine breathes out. “We’re alone. And we hate it. Tell Elijah to call me when he comes home. I’ll be waiting.” She turns and leaves.

Camille stands in a crowd, watching an artist paint, she looks at Klaus as he joins her. “The hundred dollar guy.”

“The brave bartender. Camille. That’s a French name.”

“It’s a grandma’s name. Please call me Cami. Amazing isn’t he?” She turns her attention back to the painting.

“And what do you suppose his story is?”

“He’s...” she pauses for a moment, thinking of the right words. “Angry. Dark. Doesn’t feel safe and doesn’t know what to do about it. He wishes he could control his demons instead of having his demons control him. He’s lost, alone. Or... maybe he just drank too much tonight. Sorry, overzealous psych major.”

“No. I think you’re probably right about the first one.” Klaus disappears.

Camille smiles a little, and turns towards him. “So...” But find she’s alone.

Marcel sits inside a bar, on his phone. “You find him, then you call me. Don’t worry. I know how to handle Klaus.”

Elijah appears before him, hands in his pocket. “Do you now? Please elaborate.”

Marcel looks up, breathing in. “Elijah Mikaelson.” His entourage of vampire bodyguards, all seated around the bar, rise up ready to protect. “No, I got this. It’s all good, relax boys.”

Elijah sits down, opposite of Marcel. “It’s time we have a little chat.” He looks up at him and smiles a little.

“Well, if you’re gonna talk, please talk now. I’ve got things to do.”

Elijah sets a napkin to the side, an amused look on his face. “Oh my, you’ve certainly grown confident over the last century, haven’t you?”

“Me? I’d say it’s you and your brother who got cocky, coming to my town like you own the place.”

“Well, we did own the place one. We were all quite happy here once as I recall. But we could never control those pesky witches of the French Quarter. How ever do you do it?”

“You know, your brother asked me the same question. I gave him the same answer; it’s my business. Everything in the Quarter is my business. Klaus comes into town all nice and friendly, then he starts looking down his nose at what I’ve done like it’s some cheap knock-off of one of his dumb paintings, then he gets pissed off like a little bitch and bites one of my guys.”

“Well,” he sits there, folding the napkin. “I do apologize for Klaus’s poor behavior. I assume you know that, that bite will kill your friend within a matter of days. Of course, Niklaus’s blood would cure him.”

Marcel looks up, his interest peaked. “What?”

“Yes, apparently the blood of the hybrid will cure a werewolf bite. Quite a handy little thing when one needs leverage in negotiation.”

“What kind of negotiations are we talking here?”

“Return the body of Jane-Anne. Allow her people to put her to rest.”

“What do you care about the witches?” He leans back in his seat.

Elijah’s eye twitches a little, smirking a little. “Well, that’s my business, now, isn’t it?”