"Who's that?" Audrey whispered in Mira's ear, and she held her daughter in her arms, pointing forward. "Is that daddy?"

   Mira instantly cooed, her small eyes widening as she caught sight of her father, who was working out using one of the punching bags. Elijah had left early that morning, making the use the new gym inside St. Anne's to take out his frustrations of everything going on. Noticing the two, Elijah smiled as he stopped kicking at the bag, using a towel to wipe his face as he walked over to them. 

   "And what are you two doing here?" He raised a brow, taking Mira as she reached her hands out to him. "Hi sweetheart." The little girl cooed happily, making his smile grow as she touched his cheek with her hand, taking it and gently kissing it multiple times. 

   Audrey smiled herself as she watched them, before she pulled a card from her pocket and held it up. "This came." She told him, before clearing her throat and looking at what it said. "You are cordially invited to an evening of exquisite excess. The Davilla Estate, 7041 St.Charles Avenue. Midnight. I do hope you can come, old chum. Signed, Tristan."

   A frown appeared as he took the card, reading what was on it. "Tristan" He mumbled, as he read through the details.

   "Mhm." Audrey hummed with a nod, as she gently took Mira from him. Mira comfortably rested her head against her mothers shoulder, her hand gripping onto small clumps of her shirt as she closed her eyes. "Hayley said she and Jackson will watch Mira for us."

   "Good. It's probably best we attend." He looked up at her thoughtfully. "I feel there's more behind this then meets the eye."

   "Wouldn't surprise me." She made a face. "Something about Tristan didn't sit right the other day."

   "No, I know the feeling." He nodded in agreement, before he let his smile reappear, kissing her forehead. "That can be worried about tonight. Right now, however," He began, glancing at Mira who was falling asleep against her mother. "I'd rather focus my attention on my two favorite people in the world."

   "I like the sound of that." Audrey whispered, kissing him softly.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   Once Mira was dropped off at Hayley and Jackson's apartment, easily settled into the playpen beside her cousin, Audrey and Elijah focused on the evening ahead of them. Though, not having Mira with them constantly was taking some getting used to, as she'd always been with one or both of them over the last few months. Even when Freya would watch her and Hope, one of them was usually very close by or back within an hour of being gone. Though they both knew she was in good hands, it didn't stop them from missing their daughter.  Once they were both ready, the couple made their way to the Davilla estate, where the party was already in full swing. 

   All the guests were in gowns and suits, accompanied by beautiful masquerade masks. There was burlesque dancers performing, all of them dressed in 1920's flapper dresses, and an array of other performers scattered around, all the servers dressed smartly and in white masks. The paused in the doorway as they took it all in, and it didn't take long for most of the eyes in the ballroom to land on them. 

   "Well, exquisite was definitely one way to describe this." Audrey muttered, as they looked around at what could only be described as a show of grandeur. She raised a brow at the stares they were receiving, glancing at Elijah. "Are they all your sireline?"

   He nodded with a slight grimace as he took her hand, leading her out to dance. "Most of them, tragically, yes." He told her. "You see, Audrey, I wanted to assemble minds curious about the world and eager to improve it, along with the time and circumstance to do so. My desire was to create an elite brotherhood devoted to a new, better civilization. It was naive. Eventually, I was forced to abandon them once I realized I'd cultivated a legion of ego-maniacal sociopaths." 

   "And from there, Tristan just grew it." She realized.

   "Mhm." He hummed, as he spun her under his arm, and gently pulling her into his chest. "If I have mentioned it already, you look stunning, my love."

   A smile twitched onto her lips, her eyes glancing down at the gold gown she was wearing. With Hayley's help, she'd pick it out from the wide range of dresses in Rebekah's old closet, which they both knew she had no problem with either of them borrowing. She'd gone put a center parting in her hair and down it up an elegant bun, doing her makeup bolder than normal. The only jewelry she wore was her engagement ring and her daylight ring, and a simple pair of dangling silver earrings. She knew this was an event she needed to dress up for, so she'd put in the best effort that she could. 

   "It makes a change from my usual style lately. Mom clothes." She mused.

   Elijah chuckled, pressing a kiss to her forehead as they danced, until he noticed the way that her smile dipped slightly. "I know." He mumbled honestly. "I'm missing her too."

   "She's only with Hayley and Jackson for the night and I feel guilty." She sighed. "I'm overreacting, aren't I?"

   "Of course not." Elijah shook his head firmly, giving her a look. "It's just more evidence of you being the amazing mother I already know you are to our daughter." He said wholeheartedly. "And that she truly already has us both wrapped around her little finger."

   Audrey's smile reappeared as she giggled. "Was that ever really in question?"

   "No." He chuckled, his hand moving from under her chin to rest gently on her cheek as he pulled her into a kiss.

   After a moment, the two pulled apart and continued the dance, until Audrey paused. Her eyes fell on a familiar face across the room, who stood beside Aya. "What is Marcel doing here?"

   Elijah turned and looked where she was, Marcel's head turning across the room to look back, as he felt both of their eyes on him. "I should have known." He said quietly.

   "What?" The Gilbert girl frowned in concern.

   "This isn't a party." He breathed out. "It's an initiation."

   At that moment, a group of serves hold trays of champagne walk into the ballroom and line up, tapping butter knives carefully to glasses to gather everyone's attention. As everyone looks in that direction, Tristan walks in in front of the servers, clearing his throat as he began to address everyone. "Distinguished friends, welcome." He began with a polite nod. "It's so rare that we are able to come together like this to revel for one night in the true company of equals. Now, I'd like to take a moment to welcome a very special guest-- Marcel Gerard."

   The audience began to applaud as Marcel stepped forward, nodding in acknowledgment. "Thank you, I'm honored. Thank you."

   "Of course." Tristan continues with a smile. "Before we tell Marcel all of our secrets, there's one small piece of business to which we must attend. We must determine his worth."

   The Gerard vampire looked confused. "That's funny..." He trailed off, giving Tristan a look. "I seem to recall you being the one knocking on my door."

   Despite this, the smile and look of amusement remained on Tristan's face. "You'll notice, Mr. Gerard, that over the course of the evening, someone has managed to take something quite dear to you...your daylight ring." Looking down at his hand, Marcel notices his daylight ring is truly gone like he said.

   "What the hell is going on?" Audrey whispered to Elijah in disbelief, but Elijah doesn't say anything, keeping his hand resting on her arm as his eyes never left Tristan.

   "The test is quite simple." Tristan began to explain. "First, you need to deduce the identity of the thief. Then, you are simply to take back what is yours... although, I doubt the prize will be easily relinquished. After all, despite our refinement, we're still a rather violent bunch." He admits, Marcel swallowed nervously but kept up his composure. "In victory, you become one of us. In failure, you meet your death. You have a few hours until dawn. I wish you the best of luck."

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   After the announcement of Marcel's challenge, Elijah and Audrey left the dance floor and made their way toward the bar, both of them uneasy about the current situation. Audrey glanced around the room of vampires, and her worry only grew as she took them all in.

   "How is Marcel meant to beat one of them?" She asked in disbelief. "These vampires have to be centuries older than him."

   "With guile, courage, perhaps a bit of trickery." Tristan's voice cut in, not giving Elijah the chance to respond. The couple both looked at him, as he stood in front of them, looking rather neutral about the obvious death match he'd created. "Admittedly, it's a long shot, but then, sometimes the new candidates surprise us." Gently, Tristan took Audrey's hand and kissed the top of it, earning a unimpressed look from the Gilbert girl. "I must say, you look phenomenal this evening."

   "Must you say? I don't care." Audrey stated bluntly, turning away to get herself a glass of champagne.

   Elijah smirked, withholding the urge to snicker as Tristan simply brushed the comment. "Elijah." He turned his attention to his sire. "When I sent your invitation, I didn't dare think you'd come. Tell me-- as our founder and patriarch, what do you make of our latest candidate?"

   "Well, let me see, Marcel..." He mused sarcastically. "He's arrogant. He's stubborn. Prone to self-aggrandizement. He should fit in perfectly." 

   "If he survives." Tristan added, earning a glare from Audrey. He noticed instantly, making a smile twitch onto his lips. "I take it Mr. Gerard is a friend of yours?"

   "We're friends." Audrey nodded, narrowing her eyes on him. "Even if we weren't, I don't much like bullies."

   "A bully?" He repeated with a chuckle. "My dear, you barely know me. Allow me to remedy that, and, in doing so, I can explain our methods." He said, holding his hand out to her to dance. Both Audrey and Elijah looked at his hand warily, glancing at one another before back at Tristan. "Please, just one dance." The de Martel man said, looking at Elijah. "If it's not an intrusion."

    Elijah glanced at his love again, who turned back to the bar and downed her drink, letting out a sigh as she rolled her eyes. "Why, of course." Elijah smiled falsely, watching Audrey reluctantly took Tristan's hand, walking out to the dance floor with him. 

   "I'm glad you came, Audrey." Tristan admitted to her, as the two began to dance together. "Like it or not, when one refers to the Mikaelsons, they're referring to you, as well. Tonight will allow you to make up your own mind about our organization."

   The Gilbert girl raised a brow at him. "You think killing Marcel is going to give me the best impression?"

   "I think tonight, you'll bear witness to the truth." He told  her honestly. "At the very least, you cannot call us liars." She still looked at him skeptically, thought Tristan kept a confident aura to him. "There are few novelties left in the world, especially to us. A creature such as you is certainly among them?"

   "And what creature might that be?" She narrowed her eyes.

   "A doppelganger, of course. The doppelganger that wasn't meant to be, soulmates to an Original vampire." He let out, his eyes scanning her with a mixed look. "Now a vampire, and before you turned, you bared a vampires child which is impossible. You, Audrey Gilbert, are one of a kind. And, a true beauty, at that." He spun her out and under his arm, before pulling her back in and close to his chest, gazing at her softly. 

   Audrey looked at him with a look of discomfort, but before anymore could be said, loud laughter filled the air. All eyes turned toward the door, watching as Klaus and Lucien drunkenly stumbled into the room, girls dressed in different Halloween costumes on their arms. Klaus let out a drunken wolf howl, smirking at the girl dressed in a nurses costume, who hung off his arm. "I'm ready for my medication."

   Lucien snickered at that, his eyes glancing around the room, and he pulled a face. "My God, it's a room full of Elijah's."

   "I had that exact same nightmare once!" Klaus let out, as he threw his arms around the girls shoulders. 

   As the group burst out laughing, Lucien turned to the girl dressed up in a fuchsia pink costume. "Go grab us a drink, love." He slurred. "Feel free to fetch one for yourself."

   "One for me, please!" Klaus slurred as she walked away. "And one for her, and her, and her..."

   Tristan frowned unhappily, leaning into Audrey's ear. "I'm sorry. Please excuse me." He whispered before he walked toward the group, giving them a patronizing smile. "You should, uh, move along. You're not welcome here."

   "Oh. Oh, okay. We're-we're not welcome here..." Klaus plucked a champagne flute from a nearby servers tray before walking up to Tristan. "Or maybe you should move along before I make you cry in front of all your little friends! Hahaha!"

   Tristan just looked amused. "My concern is for your companions. They appear out of sorts without a shiny pole to writhe upon."

   "Ohhhhhh, he's suggesting you're exotic dancers!" Lucien chuckled at their lady friends. "Which, to him, is an insult--" He gestures towards the burlesque dancers. "--If not hypocritical. But, don't take it personally, love. He finds all work demeaning. The only dignified way to accumulate wealth is by birth." He smiles at Tristan and leans forward, tapping the de Martel man on the end of the nose. "Boop." He teased, making Klaus laugh once again. "Isn't that right, Tristan? Hmm?"

   "Niklaus." Elijah interrupted, stepping in before it could go further.

   Klaus spun around to look at his brother in an ungraceful manner. "What is it?"

   "Oh, you're hammered. " Elijah mused, rolling his eyes. "Which should come as very little surprise to anyone here, but it does hamper the festivities somewhat. So, could I recommend that you find the nearest exit." 

   "Just..."

   "Yes, and could you take your playthings with you, too?" Elijah nodded patiently.

   Klaus stared his older brother for a long moment, before he shoved his champagne glass into his hand, and staggered further into the ballroom. "You know, I used to find it insulting that I was barred from your special little club. But now, I realize that I lack the flexibility to become a member-- I could never get my head far enough up my own ass." Taking a dramatic bow as he and Lucien chuckled, he then took the champagne glass back again and downed the contents, pulling a face as he finished it. "Cheap." He sighed, before turning back to Lucien and their friends. "Come on. Let's go. This party's dead anyway."  They all turn and leave, laughing and howling loudly as they do so.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   Despite the interruption that occurred, the night continued on as planned once the group had left. Marcel managed to pass Tristan's little test, after requiring a little outside help from Hayley, who gave him a wolf bite when he asked. He used it to his advantage, so as he fought the man who had had his stolen daylight ring, he became infected with it when the man bit him. Tristan welcomed him into the Strix after that, but Marcel was left less than impressed by what had happened. 

   No one in the compound got any sleep that night, after they found out Lucien's seer had been poisoned, who they'd invaded the Strix party to save. Before she died, she managed to give Elijah, Audrey, and Hayley another glimpse at the future visions, after she claimed she witness Klaus die and his sireline burn alongside him. 

   Still in her dress from the party, Audrey smiled softly, as she laid Mira down in her crib. Mira was still fast asleep, just like she was when she picked her up from Hayley and Jackson, wearing a pumpkin baby grow. Hayley thought it would be nice to do something for the girls to celebrate Halloween, even if it was just dressing them in matching outfits for the evening. 

   "Is she alright?" Elijah asked softly, as he wrapped his arms around Audrey's waist from behind.

   "Perfect." She whispered with a smile. "She's probably going to be out a few more hours." She glanced up over her shoulder at him. "Which means we should probably get some rest while we can."

   Elijah pressed a kiss to her temple, his hands rubbing her arms gently. "I like that idea." He mused, and raised a brow at her. "So, what did you think of Tristan de Martel after last night?"

   "He was...something." She said with a flat look, before tilting her head. "He seemed like he was missing something, though. Like he was incomplete without it."

   Elijah nodded at that, knowing what she meant. "He has a sister, Aurora. To be perfectly frank with you, I'm surprised that he's without her. His devotion to her is absolutely pathological. It's dangerous."

   "Hmm." She hummed at that. "So is her not being here a good or bad thing?"

   "I don't know." He admitted. "Which is worrying." After a moment, he just shook his head and pecked her lips softly, wanting to push those thoughts away for the moment. "Come." He laced their fingers together. "Let's sleep until she wakes up."

So, long time no see. I never meant for this chapter to take as long as it did, but a lot has been happening. Some of you might know that I got a job, as I posted abut it on my message board...it went so well, I quit after three days. The entire thing was a mess, and I was stressed out more than ever about it. So when I got offered a job elsewhere, I took it. I should be starting there soon, but until I get an official starting date, my focus is hopefully going to be on updating this as much as I can.

I have also officially passed my second year of university, which is exciting. I get to start my final year in October, then become a creative writing graduate. Which is very exciting to me. 

I've missed updating a lot, and writing for Audrey and Elijah. Once I start working, updates won't just stop again. I'm going to be working off an update schedule, so you don't have to wait over a month again for a new chapter. Thank you to everyone that has been patient with me, and hopefully, people have stuck around to read this new chapter. I know it could be better, but the next few updates will be longer and have more to them, I promise. 

That being said, I hope you all enjoyed!