-•-•-

As the orange-tinted light began to make its way through Remi's bedroom curtains, she couldn't help but hop out of bed and walk over to the balcony. For some reason she felt different than usual. The once overwhelming thump in her chest was gone and her shoulders no longer had the anxiety-induced stiffness. It was odd, it was foreign but she felt... calm. 

She threw on a pair of leggings and a green henley shirt and walked downstairs, immediately being greeted by Klaus who was in the kitchen reading a newspaper.

"Morning, Klaus," she said and the hybrid immediately raised his eyebrows and smirked.

"Good morning to you too, little witch," he said slowly, trying to figure out why the younger girl was so cheery all of a sudden.

She walked over to the industrial-sized refrigerator only to be greeted by nothing but a few moldy loaves of bread and rotten milk. Remi immediately shut the doors and held back a dry-heave.

"What in the hell is in that refrigerator?" she asked and shuddered at the thought of someone eating what's inside of that war zone.

"Definitely nothing worth consuming. It hasn't been restocked in a few decades," Elijah said as he walked over to the coffee pot and emptied a bloodbag into it.

Rebekah and Freya walked in immediately afterwards and Remi leaped up to hug them. "Bloody hell, who put rainbows in your Cheerios?" Rebekah asked let out a chuckle.

"Well obviously none of you guys did considering what you have in the fridge. I'm gonna go to the grocery store, anybody want anything?" Remi asked before realizing what she just said. "What am I saying, of course not. You guys drink blood 24/7."

"Hold your horses, Remi. You're not heading off into the quarter alone in the middle of the afternoon. This is peak day-walker hour and unless you want your head served on a platter, I strongly suggest you stay here in the safety of the abattoir," Klaus replied and dropped his newspaper on the counter.

"But since we killed Elizabeth hasn't everything been pretty peaceful?" Remi asked and furrowed her eyebrows at Klaus's wariness.

"Exactly, too peaceful for Niklaus' liking. I presume he thinks someone is planning our demise as we speak," Elijah said, monotone, as if he weren't surprised by his brother's attitude. After all, he had been by his side for centuries.

"She's not wrong, Nik. Even Marcel has been saying how quiet the Quarter has been. For once, all supernatural beings are getting along," Rebekah said and grabbed a bloodbag from where Elijah was standing.

"See? I won't be long, I just need some actual human food and I'll come right back. You can even time me. If I'm not back within 15 minutes, then you can- I don't know- kill whoever you want?" Remi offered as a compromise and shrugged her shoulders.

"I already do that anyways, love," Klaus replied and smirked. "Just give me a list and I will go and get it."

"Fine," Remi sighed and grabbed a pen and a piece of paper, scribbling down various items for Klaus to look for then handing it back to him.

"See, that wasn't too hard now was it?" he teased and sped out of the abattoir before Remi could respond.

Remi playfully rolled her eyes and leaned up against the edge of the counter. "How do you guys drink that stuff?" she asked with a scrunch of her nose while eyeing the large mugs filled to the brim with blood-coffee.

"I think we should be asking you the same thing," Freya replied humorously as she directed the younger witch's gaze towards a two week old five-hour-energy/chocolate milk combo. 

"Touché."

With their heightened hearing, the two vampires in the room sensed someone else's footsteps before he was even able to enter the room.

"Marcellus, to what do we owe the honor?" Elijah called out just as Marcel entered the kitchen. 

"What, I can't just stop by to see my favorite witch-kid?" he asked and placed a loose arm around Remi's shoulders.

"Oh, now you're really milking it. What's up, Marcel?" Remi giggled.

"Alright, hear me out. I need a favor," he answered, which sparked everyone's interest. The originals in the room perked their heads up and eyed Marcel suspiciously.

"Don't you have an entire army full of newbie vamps ready to follow your every command before stooping so low as to ask the Mikaelsons for help?" Rebekah asked incredulously, knowing first-hard the tainted history Marcel has with her family, herself included.

"Exactly. Which is precisely why I'm hoping you'll say yes so my ego isn't completely demolished," Marcel replied, monotone, as if knowing how desperate he sounded. Right there is when Klaus returned from his grocery shopping spree for the sixteen-year-old in front of him. Handing her the bags, he then turned his head towards his siblings and then towards Marcel, trying to decipher what conversation was taking place

In complete Remi-fashion, the girl was quick to offer her help to Marcel. "Sure, what do you need?"

"Wait just a moment, Remi," Klaus held up a finger, signaling for her to wait a moment. "What do we have here?" he asked and gestured toward Marcel.

"Marcel needs a favor," Freya said and rolled her eyes at her younger brother.

"Ah, yes. The mighty Marcellus needs something from his sire. Well then, what is it?" Klaus smirked, his ego instantaneously inflating twice its size.

Marcel simply shook his head. "It's one of my guys, a vamp I turned. There've been rumors going around that he's 'selling immortality' to the tourists, if you catch my drift."

"He's been turning tourists into vampires?" Remi replied as her eyes slightly widened and her lips parted. If there was one rule that all supernatural had mutually agreed on, it was to keep tourists out of the supernatural world so that no one else would get scared off. Tourist money keeps the government happy and in exchange, the undead have free reign over the city.

"And what do you want us to do about that?" Elijah asked in an attempt to speed up the conversation.

"Well, it wouldn't be you guys per sé..." Marcel trailed off and directing his eyes towards an unsuspecting Remi, casually biting into a piece of toast.

"You want to use her as bait?" Freya exclaimed, not believing that Marcel would be that reckless.

"If I, for one second, think that theres even a microscopic risk to Remi, then the whole thing is called off. I just want you four to throw a famous Mikaelson party and Remi here will be the innocent tourist just looking for some fun. If the jackass is in fact doing what I think he is, then I'll deal with it," Marcel replied seriously, knowing that Remi could stand up for herself if she needed to. 

After listening to what Marcel said, the originals turned their gazes towards Remi, as if asking her if she was up for it. "I'm in if you guys are," she said and shrugged her shoulders. Truth be told, she was slightly nervous, but if it was for Marcel then she would do it.

"Then it's settled. Tomorrow night at ten," Rebekah said and nodded in Marcel's direction.

"Perfect. I'll handle the invitations, you all just act Mikaelson-y," Marcel said finally and flashed out of the abattoir.

Remi creased her eyebrows. "So, what do we wear?"

-•-•-

As the quiet day came to a close, Remi found herself looking in the mirror in her room. A persistent pinching sensation prodded at her back-region and she was curious as to what the hell was on it. 

Remi stared in confusion as she contorted herself in front the mirror. her squirming came to a slow stop as the source of the pinching was clear. All she could do was stare at the tattoo-like branding across her back, faintly spelling out '17'. She knew what it meant; her father was looking for her. And he wasn't taking his time.

She seemed to be in a trance as she exited her room and walked barefoot down the corridor and finally to the room where all the Mikaelsons were gathered for some unknown reason. She quietly entered the room and their heads all turned towards her.

"Sweetheart, are you alright?" Rebekah asked as they all seemed to notice the daze she was in.

"No," she managed to squeak out, and then everything went black.

-•-•-

hey guys! sorry for the short chapters recently. I've just been a little overwhelmed with school starting back up again and also horseback riding. I'm really excited for the next few chapters :) the whole marcel-needing-a-favor thing was completely unplanned btw lol. I was just writing and all of a sudden that came out. I usually stick to a plan to idk how this is gonna play out but we'll see. see you all next time! :)

-charley