𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 - the king of the quarter

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𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐀 𝐇𝐀𝐃 finally returned back to the abattoir, what was waiting for her and what had transpired in her absence didn't necessarily shock her, no; she was more surprised that it had happened so soon.

Marcel caught her arm as she wandered in and told her of what he and Rebekah had tried to do. They had set a trap for Klaus, over one hundred day and nightwalkers pitted against Klaus. And still, they failed. Klaus reigned supreme, of course he did. He was not only an original vampire, but the original hybrid. They had been utterly stupid to think they could beat him.

As it turned out, Klaus laid down a coin and told the crowd of vampires that the one to pick the coin up and hold it within their grasp, would be spared from his wrath, and when the going got tough, it was Marcel who swiped it from the ground.

Klaus had spared him, but in turn, New Orleans was now his once again.

Ophelia had retreated to her room and in a bout of tiredness, flung her body onto her bed, rucksack and jacket falling to the ground. It hadn't taken long for Klaus to wander into the building, and after a short conversation with Marcel, he approached Ophelia's bedroom, courteous enough to knock and wait for her word to enter.

Ophelia looked up as the original hybrid strolled inside with a small and self-assured smile on his plump lips. It was obvious that he was more than proud of himself for regaining the reigns of the city. "Hello, love. I heard you had quite the hand in helping my brother recover from his bite. Another cure for werewolf venom."

Ophelia shrugged lightly, "I wouldn't say that, I helped him as his fever was dropping, probably spared him of another half an hour of pain. Oh-" the siphon paused as she turned to face him, a genuine smile on her face, "- congratulations, I hear you're the King of the Quarter."

"Thank you." his thanks sounded like he was questioning her, startled even, wondering why on earth she had been thanking him for taking the city from Marcel's tight grasp, "I believe we have some things to discuss."

Ophelia could take a guess at what the hybrid wanted to say; there was no doubt that he would want her abilities on her side, no doubt that if she said no -not that she would- Davina would be used as a bargaining chip. She had told the man that she would help him recover his brother, that was done. But now, he was in charge of the city, and annoyingly enough she actually enjoyed the hybrids company, as well as his other family members.

The siphon shifted on her bed and leaned back against the regal, white headboard before gesturing for the man to take a seat, "Go on."

Klaus scanned his eyes around the room. He could remember the room from his previous time at the abattoir; it was the piano room. It's once cream and brown walls were now white with gold accents. The furniture matching perfectly. Her bed was opposite the door and tucked up against the wall, accents of pink and blue with the cushions and blankets that smothered the bed. Between the bed and the door that led to the balcony was a small, white nightstand that held a peony scented candle, a stack of books and her phone.

To the left, next to the door that led to her bathroom stood a large white wardrobe with mirrors on the doors. Opposite that was the vanity, lights surrounded the mirror and beauty products littered the surface of the white wooden piece as well as a sewing matching, clearly the siphon not only dressed in beautiful outfits but also created them. The centerpiece of the room was the piano, it didn't match the room at all. Everything was white and bright, the piano was the old one his family had owned, the one Elijah used to play.

It was well kept, not a single chip or mark in the old mahogany wood, and the keys were immaculate despite the hours Ophelia had put into playing, though the top did have an array of stray papers; sheet music and sketches of outfits.

Klaus made his way towards the piano, twisting the stool and taking a seat as he addressed the siphon, "You've proven to be a rather reliable ally. You've helped save Hayley's life, and the life of my child twice now. With the Quarter under my rule, Davina will be moving here, I'll be speaking with Marcel later. You'll be exempt from punishment if you use your magic."

Now that wasn't quite what she had anticipated. She had assumed the man would request her powers but restrict her magic, but clearly she had proven herself enough to be trusted with her abilities. The thought of freely using magic made her skin buzz as if electricity danced just beneath the surface. She had managed to keep herself alive with just her siphoning alone and the thought of practicing magic freely for the first time in her entire life...

"Love?" Klaus called out as Ophelia stared into space.

Ophelia blinked and cleared her throat as she moved off the bed, a pillow tumbling after her, and took the spot at the foot of the bed, directly opposite the hybrid, "I can use magic?"

"You can. I do hope that you'll continue to aid me if needed... your abilities are quite fascinating."

Her whiskey-colored eyes latched on to her hands, staring at them before flickering back to the blonde man who watched in mild amusement. He could see the excitement and relief on her face.

"Let me know when I can help," she spoke with a smile, something she seemed to be doing rather frequently. Her stoic mask that usually rested upon her features had rarely been present since she had involved herself in the Mikaelson drama.

The hybrid offered a lopsided grin as he rose to his feet and tucked the stool back where he had pulled it from, his fingers drifting over the keys, unable to remember the song's his older brother would play before speaking over his shoulder as he headed for the door, "I hope that you'll join us for a meeting downstairs, I'm sure Hayley would appreciate the company. We start in ten minutes."

With that, Klaus took his leave and closed the door behind him, leaving behind the room filled with fond memories and leaving Ophelia behind in silence. The clock on the wall ticked a few times before Ophelia finally stood and made her way to the vanity to brush out her nest that had frizzed on her mission in the bayou.

With her annoyingly long tendrils of brunette hair thoroughly brushed, she shed her clothes from her body, relishing in the breeze that brushed against her skin and threw them in the direction of her bathroom before pulling out a pair of black leggings, an oversized pastel purple jumper and a pair of black platformed trainers. It was a meeting, to which she assumed Klaus would brag of his new position and do little else, what was there to dress for? That, and if things went her way, she wouldn't be leaving the abattoir, a peaceful day of nothing was on her mind.

Her dark eyes drifted towards the clock and with a light sigh, she grabbed her phone from her nightstand and slid it into the pocket on the front of her sweater and made her way out of the room and towards whatever Klaus had planned.

The table in the center of the compound was lined candles that flickered with even the tiniest of breezes, a pristine table cloth elegantly hung from the table and barely even brushed the ground, and of course, the table was covered in a vast array of glorious foods.

Ophelia eyed those who already occupied the seats, Klaus was at the head of the table, of course and offered the woman a nod as she approached. Hayley was sat at the opposite end, her head resting on her knees and she looked about ready to either punch the hybrid or fall asleep. Marcel and Diego also sat at the table; Marcel gave a look of acknowledgment whilst Diego acted as if she didn't exist. Some of the vampires hadn't taken to the siphon, after all, with a lingering touch she could desiccate them and her attitude didn't help her either. Not that she cared.

There was one chair free, right by Hayley. The siphon slumped into the chair, leaning against the cushion on the back of the chair as she shared a small eye roll with Hayley. Neither of the two particularly wanted to be there to hear Klaus boast of his victory but at least they had one another's company at least.

All attention was directed towards the mighty hybrid as he held up his glass and tapped it with a fork. Not that he necessarily needed to gain any attention, the room was utterly silent, everyone was waiting for the moment it was over and they could leave.

"Let us begin with a toast to our shared gift: immortality." he spared a small wink towards Ophelia who openly rolled her eyes, "After a thousand years, one might expect life to be less keenly felt, for its beauties and its sorrows do diminish with time. But, as vampires, we feel more deeply than humans could possibly imagine."

Ophelia trailed her eyes towards the group of waiter and waitresses dressed in black and white as Klaus gestures them to join the table, "Insatiable need, exquisite pain..." the waiters and waitresses bring knives to their wrists, slicing through the delicate skin and allowing blood to fall from the wounds and into the vampire's empty glasses. "Our victories, and our defeats."

The siphon blinked and rose her own glass towards her lips, smooth champagne sliding down her throat as Klaus smirked towards Marcel on the word 'defeats', making sure to rub his victory in once more, not that Ophelia could blame him. It was his home, and he had managed to gain control of it once again.

Klaus rose his glass once more, holding it out to his audience in a toast, "To my city, my home again. May the blood never cease to flow..."

"...and the party never ends!" Marcel finished with an out of place smile, his blood-filled glass tilted towards the new king. Ophelia rose a brow at the man, she knew Marcel, he wasn't one to give up. The reason he had picked up the coin was to spare his vampires which he supposed was commendable. He saved his people. But he was the one to have put them in danger in the first place, and for what, so he could control the city that Klaus and his family had built? "To New Orleans."

"To New Orleans!"

Everyone around the table joined together in chorus, everybody except Hayley and Ophelia who silently sipped at their drinks, beginning to wonder why they were there. Ophelia had already offered her congratulations to the king of the Quarter and in return, he had told her of their deal; she would help if required and she would be allowed to practice with magic. There was nothing else to discuss.

"I understand that some of you may have questions regarding the recent change in leadership, and I invited you here tonight to assure you that you are not defeated." Klaus began, his deep blue eyes ghosting over each of the vampires at the table, "No, my intentions moving forward are to celebrate what we have. What Marcel, in fact, took and built for this true community of vampires."

"What about them?" Diego's every annoying voice shattered the conversation and grated at Ophelia's head, spare her, she didn't like the man, there was little else she could say. The vampire had what seemed to be a mild scowl... perhaps a look of disgust as he pointed a finger towards both Hayley and Ophelia. "The wolf and whatever she is."

Ophelia swallowed the mouthful of champagne and rolled her dark-brown eyes as she offered Hayley a sarcastic grin, "All class that one."

Klaus chuckled at the woman's comment and upon seeing the anger flare in Diego's face he interrupted, "Had you'd let me finish, Diego, you would know that there is, of course, one further matter I would like to address." The hybrid slowly strolled his way towards the woman and took a place behind Hayley. "As many of you know, the girl is carrying my child. Consequently, I trust you will all pay her the appropriate respect."

Ophelia watched from the corner of her eye as Klaus then moved behind her, a hand clamping down on her shoulder that made her grit her teeth. "As for this one, well, she's become quite the family friend, haven't you, love?" He grinned as she looked up to him with a less than impressed expression. "Ophelia here has been helping my family quite a lot these past few days, and as a thank you, because I am a man who rewards those who are loyal, she will remain here at the abattoir, free to do as she wishes."

The vampires around the table each settled their eyes onto the siphon who inwardly sighed. Now each of them knew she had been helping the Mikaelsons behind Marcel's back, brilliant. Now she certainly was glad that it was Klaus who was in charge.

"I understand that some of you are concerned by this vicious rumor that I intend to use the blood of our child to create hybrids. I assure you I do not." the original continued, sighing in frustration as Hayley muttered 'Father of the year.' beneath her breath, "It appears I will have to earn your trust. Very well. We'll eliminate the root of your anxiety. You see, how I can I sire any hybrids if there are no more werewolves alive in the Bayou to turn?"

Hayley's head snapped up from the plate she had been absently staring at. "What? Klaus, no!" she had finally found remnants of her family and now, without having been able to even speak to them or get to know them, Klaus was willing to let the vampires of the quarter destroy them all.

Ophelia could hear the desperation in Hayley's voice and she felt for the woman. The look of pure and utter heartbreak was then directed towards the siphon and in that moment, she knew that she'd be making a trek out to the bayou... again.

"So-- eat, drink, and be merry. And, tomorrow, I suggest you have yourselves a little wolf hunt. Go ahead, have fun. Kill them all!"

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Shortly after Klaus and a majority of the other vampires had left the table, Marcel's dark gaze fell to Ophelia. His face seemed disappointed, his tone filled with betrayal, "Lia, you were helping them, all this time?"

"I was helping them get their brother back. I did nothing that harmed you, nor Davina. Then I helped Hayley and her baby because some of the witches that were under your control linked themselves to her and threatened her life." The siphon shrugged lightly as she took another sip of champagne, "So, yes, I was. I told you from the very beginning that I'd help you and Davina, and I did. But that's done now, Davina wants to fight and I'm not taking that choice from her, you shouldn't either."

"I'm trying to keep her safe, Ophelia. She's just a kid!"

"She is. But she is smarter and stronger than any of the vampires in your charge... were in your charge. It's time for her to live her life Marcel; have you even told her that Agnes is dead, huh? The only reason she was being kept locked in a dusty attic is gone, and yet she's still there. So tell me, Marcel-" Ophelia lowered her voice as she vacated her chair and stepped closer to the vampire, "What is she to you? Just a weapon?"

Marcel scoffed as he hopped to his feet and stared directly into the siphon's eyes, "You know I care about her."

"Sure. But the question is, do you care about her enough to let her truly be happy, to let her go and no longer use her for her powers? The longer you lie to her, the more that 'trust' is going to be broken, the more you'll break her. Good luck, Marcel."

Ophelia had been waiting for the moment that Marcel would come and confront her about her involvement with the Mikaelson's, she was certain that he had suspected it prior to the dinner with Klaus; she hadn't exactly tried to keep it secret. But whilst Marcel could sit and feel as betrayed as he like, he had, in a way, betrayed Davina. Agnes was dead.

The only living elder was gone and no longer posed a threat to the young witch, so why hadn't Marcel told her?

Ophelia had originally planned to weasel her way into the Mikaelson's world, gain their trust and use that to keep Davina safe, she was doing something for the young girl. Of course, somewhere along the line, Ophelia had genuinely begun to care for the Mikaelson's and the wolf they cared for, but that only made it better.

They trusted her, and against her better knowledge, she somewhat trusted them. Rebekah was just a girl in need of a friend, one that her family wouldn't kill or berate her for. Klaus had made a deal with her, and though Elijah was considered the 'noble one', she knew Klaus wouldn't break their deal. She'd help him whenever he needed it. Hayley was just someone who was in a rough position and Ophelia felt for the girl. She was a headstrong woman and the siphon actually enjoyed that about the young wolf.

As for Elijah, well she trusted him the most. Perhaps because he was simply trying to save Hayley and his niece, or because they had spent the most time together... but of course, though it made her skin itch, she had trusted him with a sliver of her past; that wasn't something she did, ever.

It was odd to her that she still had the capability to let somebody into her life.

The siphon had returned to her room shortly after the small argument with Marcel, collapsing onto her bed as she awaited the knock from Hayley that was sure to come.

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04-11-2020