17 | TICK TOCK

24 hours before Klaus's infidelity...

The air had a sweet tinge to it and the sun was particularly bright on that very day. Anastázia was happily getting her monthly manicure and pedicure when she received a strange text from a strange woman she had only seen once before.

Stas looked down at her bright screen and read the message. "1440 Jasmine Drive, APT #1202, New Orleans, Louisiana. Now. - Cami..." She read aloud. The message was strangely giving Stas a vibe as a cry for help. Stas wasn't entirely sure how Camille, Niklaus' ex-lover, had gotten her number nor why she would call her out of all of her known siblings... but, Stas, with her newfound loyalty, felt the need to help her.

* * *

Anastázia found herself staring at Camille and Lucien after she had busted into the apartment Cami had sent her the address to. The three were all quite calm, despite the strange sense of urgency the message had. Stas looked around and eyed each person carefully, regaining her posture, for she had just broken down two perfect doors to enter the home spontaneously. "Someone called for me?" Stas feigned a chuckle to keep from looking like a fool for breaking down the doors to someone's apartment for no reason.

"I see you received my- excuse me, Camille's message." Lucien smiled devilishly at Stas.

Stas knitted her brows together in confusion. "You sent that text?" Stas scoffed.

Lucien shrugged and smile. "Why did you call me here?" Anastázia inquired.

"Because, Anastázia, you are far too difficult to capture unlike Miss Camille here," Lucien then proceed to life up a glass of an orange liquid, "mimosa?" He offered to the two girls.

"I only drink with friends, and unless this isn't abundantly clear, I don't like you." Camille growled at Lucien, her face rigid.

Stas stifled a cough, and slowly turned to begin to leave the strange situation. However, before she could even take one step towards the door, Lucien sped in front of her to stop her from leaving. "Later on, I hope you'll remember this all could've gone so much easier." Lucien told Cami and Stas.

Stas looked up at Lucien challengingly. "Later on, I hope you realize that you chose the wrong Mikaelson to call." Stas scoffed, crossing her arms fiercely.

Lucien smirked down at Anastázia and began to hum approvingly. "Detective Kinney, come on in and start cutting up the mirepoix." Lucien called out to someone.

Instantly, a reasonably dressed man appeared from a concealed room and carried in a wooden cutting board with ingredients laid out on it. "You compelled him?" Camille spat at Lucien, for she had recognized the man.

"What the hell is going on?" The detective asked frantically as he continued to walk without autonomy.

Lucien waved him off. "Why don't you focus on the cutting? We don't want you to lose any fingers while we talk... Did you know that Will's mother's side is full of chefs? He's going to make us his grandmother's grillades and grits." Lucien told as he place his hand on the small of Stas' back and led her over to his table.

"I took the liberty of texting your body friend Vincent on your behalf. After leaving police care, without incident, he believes you have a date with The Real Housewives at home in your PJs." Lucien informed Camille as he sat Stas down.

"The hell kinda point are you trying to make?" Came queried.

Lucien huffed. "Detective, do me a favor. Throw a blade at her pretty face?" Lucien indirectly ordered the poor human. The detective did as asked and instantly threw the knife at Camille face, however Lucien vamp sped and caught the knife and inch before it would pierced her head.

Camille gasped and flinched as she stared at the pointed weapon be held right in front of her face. "Now that I have your attention, my point is simple. I'm looking for a particular Dark Object. A small bronze medallion with runic markings. Since you're on vervain, I'm going to ask nicely that you help me find it amongst your things." Lucien point to the dozens of piled boxes that Stas hadn't noticed before.

"Should you refuse, the parlor tricks will get increasingly less fun. Carry on." Lucien told as he handed the knife back to the detective.

* * *

Stas continued to carefully watch Lucien as he spoke so eloquently and laced his trickery within his words. Although she wasn't quite sure why she was there, she knew one thing: Lucien was trying to impress her. He was showing so much dominance and his eyes seemed to keep lingering on her when she looked away. So, Stas found that as an opportunity to play her own little game as well.

* * *

Stas, the Detective and Lucien all sat and ate the meal the Detective had prepared as Camille rummaged through the mass of boxes filled with magical items. "I find the Cajun cuisine almost as delicious as their people. Well done, William." Lucien commented.

"If you think this is good, you should try eating with some locals in the French countryside." Stas played along as she ate.

"This is horrible, why are you acting so kindly to him?" Detective Kinney, or William as Stas had recently learned, eyed Stas in distaste.

Stas giggled then flashed her vampiric teeth and her glowing werewolf eyes at him, causing him to gulp worriedly. "The moment I have free will, I'm gonna use this knife, I'm gonna stab you in the heart." William threatened.

"You couldn't if you tried. You've been compelled to do everything he says. It's like hypnosis, vampires use it against humans to do their bidding." Cami sighed, scowling at Lucien.

William sat back in his chair, defeated. "We're using the V-word now? Great, might as well embrace this insanity." William scoffed.

"Did you not just see my fangs? My eyes? Lucy Lu's comments about eating people over here? I didn't know mortals were so ignorant." Stas snickered.

"Did you just call me Lucy Lu?" Lucien inquired.

Stas ignored Lucien and waited for William to respond. William simply rolled his eyes. "What else you gonna force us to do?" William asked Lucien.

"Well, Camille here consumes vervain so I can't force her to do anything and Anastázia is a vampire herself, so, unfortunately, I can't make her bow to my control either," Lucien spoke, receiving a disgusted glare from Stas, "but, in exchange for preventing future bloodshed, I'd ask that you find me that pretty little medallion." Lucien told.

Camille lazily picked up another object from a box. "Like I've told you, I've catalogued everything. What you're looking for is not here." Camille stated nonchalantly.

Lucien hit the table, annoyedly. "It's there, just hidden. Built into something else. Find it." Lucien barked at Camille.

"And then what?! Some shiny ornament helps you get your revenge on Klaus? Don't tell me this is all because he disallowed you from being with Stas over here?" Camille mocked, causing Lucien to shifted uncomfortably under Stas' recent glare.

"You're trying to kill my brother?" Stas growled, her eyes darkening into a rage she had only ever experienced once in her life before.

Lucien turned to Stas and narrowed his eyes back at her. "He stole 100 years from my life—" Lucien began but was interrupted by Stas rapidly grabbing his throats out of pure fury.

"Slice open- your- arcuate artery." Lucien manager to tell William. William quickly did so, and Camille rushed to his side.

Stas immediately let go of him and turned to try and help, but was stopped when she ran into an invisible barrier. Lucien cheekily raised up a dark object in his hand, waving it around so that Stas knew that it was he who had stopped her.

"Tick tock, Camille. William's only got so much time before he bleeds out." Lucien rubbed his neck as he returned to eating his meal.