"I still think this is a bad idea." Audrey shook her head as she joined Klaus overlooking the courtyard, where everything was being setup for the evening ahead.

   "I don't see the problem." Klaus shrugged, glancing at her with a confident smirk.

   "You never do." Audrey shot back bluntly. "And in most of those cases, those plans come back to bite us in the ass later."

   With Marcel indefinitely contained downstairs in the dungeon, they'd decided to use this to their advantage. They were throwing a party to celebrate a truce between the Mikaelsons and Marcel, one advertised as being thrown by both parties involved, though Marcel wouldn't truly be in attendance. With most members of the cities factions going to be in attendance, it gave them an opportunity to pick out those in league with the Hollow, and find out exactly what they knew before taking care of the issue.

   While the three Mikaelson siblings had faith in the plan, Audrey wasn't as onboard. It felt like there were too many things that could go wrong, especially as there would be people who knew Marcel wasn't in on this truce charade. Vincent and Josh more than anyone. Not to mention, the idea of having any of the Hollows followers stepping foot inside the compound made her feel uneasy. 

   "All will go according to plan." The Mikaelson hybrid assured her. "Getting us one step closer to putting this dreadful business behind us for good."

   The Gilbert girl still just gave him a look, as Hayley walked into the courtyard, furrowing her brow as she looked up at the pair. "We were heading out, and now we're throwing a party? I see."

   "One that will be attended by New Orleans most influential creatures." Klaus informed with a nod.

   Hayley raised a brow as she crossed her arms. "You do realize everyone hates you?"

   "I pointed that out already." Audrey told her. "It doesn't work."

   "They love Marcel." Klaus pointed out to the pair. "And as the invite states, he is the co-host. Tonight we celebrate our truce."

   The Marshall-Kenner woman glanced at Audrey, looking for confirmation she was hearing all of this correctly. Audrey resisted the urge to snicker as she nodded, starting to make her way downstairs. "So you're throwing a fake party, in honor of a fake truce, and your guest of honor is in a dungeon?" She questioned skeptically.

   "Marcel's attendance would only complicate matters." Klaus said as he followed Audrey downstairs. "Besides I'll have my hands full weeding out those in league with the Hollow."

   Hayley just shook her head as he began to make sure everything was being setup correctly. "Have fun with that. Hope and Mira are with Mary." She looked at Audrey, stopping her before she could ask. "They're both fine. I doubt they'll have time to think of us any of us, Mary's keeping them busy and happy." She told her, which put Audrey's mind at ease. "I'm just here for Freya."

   "What do you need of her?" Klaus questioned.

   "Just a favor." She answered cryptically, causing him to turn and raise his brows at her.

   "She's at Rousseau's." Audrey told her, earning a grateful smile from Hayley before she left.  Klaus looked at her in annoyance, and Audrey merely rolled her eyes at him. "She'll tell us when she's ready. She's more than earned your trust already, Nik. Leave her alone to do what she needs to do." 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

    Audrey glanced at her reflection in the mirror and checked herself over, before she made her out of the her and Elijah's room, walking to where she saw Elijah and Klaus stood overlooking the party happening below. Like they'd anticipated, the party was successful in bringing all of the influential people of New Orleans together, though it was clear they were all skeptical about the peace between Marcel and the Mikaelsons. While Audrey still wasn't sure about the plan, she was putting the effort in for the night ahead of them, knowing they all needed to be on board to pull this off.

   "You seem confident." Elijah looked at his brother, recognizing the look on his face. 

   "Well, Vincent is an expert, powerful witch, motivated to expose evil and protect his flock." He mused, their eyes spotting the Griffith witch wandering through the crowd of guests with a narrowed expression. "Besides, he knows if this doesn't work, we'll be forced to kill everyone here." Vincent glanced up at the three with a certain look, discreetly nodding over to one of the guests. "Him. Bloke by the stairs."

   "Hold it." Audrey blocked his path as he turned to go handle it. 

   "Niklaus." Elijah warned. "Remember the deal we made."

   "Well, if you two want first crack at our foe, be my guest." He gave in, his eyes spotting someone looking up at him from the crowd. "I spy a lady in need of my accompaniment."

   "I don't know if we should be concerned or not about his motives there." Audrey made a face as they watched him go. 

   "Whatever it is, I'm sure he has it under control." Elijah said, wrapping an arm around her waist as he nodded to Vincent. "And while he handles that, let us figure out exactly what these sycophants want." He gently grazed his fingers against her cheek, as they made their way toward the lounge. "I must say, you look...ravishing this evening, my love." He spoke in a low voice, leaning closer to her ear as he pressed kisses to her neck.

   A smirk twitched at the corners of her lips, placing her fingers under his chin and lifting his head up to press her lips onto his. "We need to focus." She whispered as she slowly pulled away. "That doesn't help me focus."

   "You're right." He gave in with a reluctant nod, gently resting his forehead against hers. "However, we shall put our full focus on continuing this moment later."

   His promise made her smirk grow, snaking her arms around his neck as he held her close to his chest, the two making the most of the privacy they had until it was interrupted.

   "Our esteemed hosts." The man, Dominic, spoke as he gestured to them with wide arms, two men following behind on either side of him. "Vincent tells me you requested a private audience."

   "Private, yes. Yet you brought these two fascinating neanderthals." Elijah commented, glancing between the two brutish men guarding him.

   Dominic simply smiled, unfazed. "Well, given your reputation, one can never be too careful."

   "Not unless you have something to worry about." Vincent pointed out as he looked at him. "Which you do, because you're the high priest of the Hollow."

   "You seem to have made up your mind about me." The high priest tilted his head as he looked back at Vincent, a hard look in his eyes. "Not really fair. After all, you're the one who allowed the Hollow into this world. See, your Ancestors were the only thing holding it back. And when you severed that link, you allowed it to go free. And it has been feeding and growing in power ever since. See, I wonder if it will want to show you its appreciation." A devilish look appeared on his face, seeing the Griffith man growing more tense with his words. "Perhaps by letting you see your dead wife."

   Those words were all it took to making Vincent snap, clenching his fist and punching Dominic across the face hard. The couple quickly rushed and snapped the necks of the bodyguards before they could intervene, watching as the two men began to try and tear the other apart with their magic, making blood pour from each of their noses at the amount of power they were trying to use.

   "Vincent." Audrey pushed him back to snap him out of it. "Vincent! Enough!"

   "That'll be all. Both of you." Elijah ordered as he stepped in front of the pair, forcing them both to drop their spells. "Leave us." He gave the Griffith witch a look, who glared heavily toward Dominic before he left. "Sit down." He told Dominic, pulling the handkerchief from his pocket and handing it to him. Dominic took it and sat down on the couch, using it to wipe the blood from his busted lip. "Let's start again."

   "Let's get straight to the point, shall we?" Audrey crossed her arms as she looked at Dominic. "Tell us what it wants."

   "Well, the Hollow has lain dormant for a long time." He answered. "It needs to feed."

   "The poor dear." The Original drawled sarcastically, pouring himself a drink. "You know, I understand it has a penchant for innocent children."

   "Only as hors d'oeuvres." He corrected. "It prefers the power channeled by the death of someone like you. Old, ancient, imbued with magic. But it needn't feed on you, your brother, your daughter or niece or anyone else you care about. Marcel Gerard will do nicely." 

   Elijah raised a brow at that. "Why would I give you Marcel Gerard?"

   "As patriarch, I'm sure you'll make the right decision on your family's behalf." He rose to his feet as he spoke. "But in the meantime, I'll take Vincent Griffith as a show of good faith. Marcel was business, but Vincent is personal. He turned his back on the Hollow once, and now it's rather angry."

   "The Hollow destroyed his family." The Gilbert vampire reminded. "I'd say he's well within his right to hate the thing."

   "She's right." Elijah agreed, his eyes studying the man in front of them with an unreadable expression. "And unfortunately, if I betray Vincent the covens will declare war on my family."

   "Well, at least with the covens, it's a fight that you have a chance at winning." He pointed out as his stance on the matter remained unchanged. "Regardless, my terms are set: Vincent now, Marcel later, and your family will be spared. What do you say, Elijah? Do we have a deal?"

   "I must say, it's a compelling offer." Elijah nodded as he walked past him. "Murder in exchange for clemency. If only I could believe that you would uphold your end of the bargain."

   Dominic scoffed slightly, looking almost impressed. "You're even more perceptive than your reputation suggests."

   " I grew up on a Viking farm. I'm familiar with the scent of fertilizer." He gave him a look. "I won't ask you again. What does it want?"

   "Why, freedom, of course." He stated like it was obvious. "A spirit cannot manifest the true depths of its power. But when it's once again made flesh..."

   Audrey scoffed as she stared at him in disbelief. "You really think we'd do anything to help or allow you to resurrect this thing?"

   "My offer... was a courtesy." He looked amused as he looked between the soulmates. "The Hollow will take what it wants. Vincent and Marcel will be ours regardless, but if you insult us further, we will take your entire family. Including your precious daughter. Do you still doubt our power?" He challenged, seeing the pair stiffen at the mention of their child. "Well, you shouldn't. As you will soon find out, we came here tonight for one thing. And we already have it. The Hollow will not be stopped."

   Elijah said nothing as he smashed the glass he held into Dominic's head, gripping him tightly by the throat as he dragged him out onto the balcony, overlooking all the guests below. "Ladies and gentlemen... " He began, causing the music to stop and all eyes to look up at them. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have here an errand boy of the Hollow." He announced, pushing his head into the metal railing as he choked. "A disciple of the very darkness that threatens to devour our city, your loved ones... and mine. Now, whether or not you despise us, my family will do everything in its power... to remove this scourge from New Orleans. I recommend you do the same... or else." Lifting Dominic over the railing, he plunged his hand into his chest and ripped out his heart, before letting his body drop to the ground as everyone gasped.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   The party swiftly came to end after Dominic's death, none of the guests wanting to stick around any longer. When the compound was empty again, Klaus looked at the blood now staining the ground of the courtyard, and it was easy to see he was far from impressed with how the evening had ended. 

   "Did you retrieve all of the weapons?" Elijah asked his younger brother, who'd been with Vincent most of the evening.

   Learning from Sofya that the Hollow had created a weapon against them, the thorns of a rosebush created with Marcel's blood, he'd been busy collecting them from the hands of anyone who had them. "Well, I don't know." He looked up at him, tilting his head. "Let's confirm with Dominic, shall we? Oh, wait, we can't. His corpse is currently burning in a dumpster. I try to avoid bloodshed, you become the town executioner."

   "Let me handle this." Elijah spoke calmly.

   Klaus just stared at him. "Why exactly should I do that?"

   "Hope." Was all he said in response.

   "Mira idolizes you just as much as Hope idolizes Klaus." Audrey turned to Elijah, making him look down. "Both of you need to be careful about how this is handled, especially with them around."

   "And it's precisely because of Hope that I have to assert my involvement. So, brother..." The Mikaelson hybrid stepped to his older brother. "Tell me what you know."

   Elijah let out a deep sigh as he gave in. "This thing wants to be reborn. This morning, Vincent said that whenever it resurfaces, it does so in four distinct locations. I can't tell why."

   "It's looking for something." Hayley answered knowingly as she walked in, holding up an old jawbone in her hand. "Four things, by the sound of it. And I'm pretty sure that I have one of them. My parents were killed protecting this from one of the Hollow's followers."

   "We've seen this time and time again." Klaus spoke grimly. "When a witch wishes to be reborn, its remains are required to complete the spell. You've just found a piece of our enemy."

   "Great." Audrey nodded, running her finger through her hair. "So we've got one. Who has the other three?"

   "Dominic." A look of realization dawned on Elijah. "Dominic said that he had found something here."

   Hayley made a face. "What? There's just, like, a bag of bones laying around that I didn't know about?"

   Klaus's face fell as he realized what it was. "No. But there is one." He mumbled as he made his way upstairs to the study, the three following behind him.

   "Papa Tunde's blade." Audrey let out as it clicked, as Klaus quickly headed to the wall safe.

   He nodded as put in the combination, opening the door to reveal the blade was gone. "Dominic's death was a distraction."

   "They used our own deception against us." Elijah let out.

   "This thing has followers everywhere." Hayley said as she looked at them. "They've infiltrated the entire city. If they get to the other bones before we do..."

   "Then they may well try to raise this monstrosity. And it will come for us all."

Dominic should have known better than to threaten Mira, it's as simple as that. Of course Elijah was going to kill him after that. Audrey would have if he didn't. The next chapter should be up later tonight or tomorrow, I've got some fun plans for it which I hope you'll like.

I hope you all enjoyed!