persephone's orchard : k.m.

i have the advantage - chapter 32 part 2

The two sat in silence for a moment. Klaus almost felt proud of his wife for having such thoughts like this. As a Mikaelson, it's difficult to hold back on emotions like anger for it was always their weakness.

'And the little witch is in on this I assume?'

There it was. The vibrancy.

'Yes she is. I trust her Nik. She used to be one of them.' Astrid seemed to have to caught her breath. After a month it finally felt like her and her husband were fighting the same battle.

'Then I trust you, my darling.' He sat up, 'As always.'

...

Night had fallen on the Crescent City. The moon hung over the streets like a nightlight.

It was full.

The backstreets of the Quarter were predominantly meant for the supernatural though few tourists littered the roads, unaware of the trouble they would get into if they missed a step and ran into a hungry vampire. Astrid had begun to enjoy the nights lately, like she used too, the sky had stayed clear as of late and stars saluted their soldier as she marched into battle.

She wore a red trench coat that night, a deep and rich burgundy with a hood attached that currently covered her face as she kept her head down - walking in the middle of the road at a steady pace.

Goosebumps grew on her back as she overheard a rustle of footsteps behind her but chose not to show a reaction.

'Find him!'

The voice of a young woman made Astrid's ears prick up as she pulled her hood even further over her eyes.

'He can't of gone far! Retrieve the scroll!'

Another shouted. The scroll? What could that mean?

'Aya will kill us!'

And there it was.. the Strix were at it again.

If Astrid had looked up, she would've seen a plethora of Strix members jumping across roofs of unsuspecting NOLA locals, their own trench coats flying behind them as they attempted to appease their matriarch.

The hybrid was planning on staying out of it until she overheard a soldier on the phone, walking behind her slightly and clearly speaking to Aya herself.

'I know. I know. We will find Marcel eventually we just need time.'

She stopped in her tracks. Her eyes darted in his direction as her hands balled into fists, each ring creating friction against the other one. The vampire had stopped by now too, noticing the lone figure.

Astrid peaked over her shoulder quickly as the vampire squinted, trying to see the face in the shadow her hood created. The hybrid rose an eyebrow before vamping off.

'Are you joking?'

Astrid and Marcel had a lot more in common then what was actually admitted by any of the Mikaelsons. No matter how long she had stuck with her in-laws, she had spent a century with Marcellus.

One of these common attributes being admiration from the human locals.

The immortal matriarch sniffed out her son quickly, finding him staring out of a window with a smug grin as she looked down at her watch. She had to meet Madison at 12.00 am.

11.50 pm.

Astrid knocked on the door of the woman who let her son into her home and it was opened with a warm smile. 'Astrid! Hello deary', Henrietta Eloi was a small lady, frail in her appearance but always smiled the brightest, 'Come on in! I assume you're here for Marcel.'

'Yes, Mrs Eloi I am. Thank you.'

She'd already been invited in.

'Marcellus.' She smiled as the human left the room and he turned round, ready with a smart comeback until he saw the look in her eye, 'What the bloody hell did you do?'

'There's a competition for leadership of the Strix.'

'Your point?'

He held up a scroll with a smirk and her eyes widened, 'The Charter. Whoever holds the charter at midnight takes-' she took a deep inhale after processing, 'Whoever holds the charter at midnight takes leadership.'

Her son.

In league with the enemy.

Was he really acting?

'Oh don't tell me you've got an issue with that.' Marcel's cocky and overbearing tone made the hybrid grit her teeth.

'Marcellus!'

Here comes trouble.

'Ah look, Elijah's here now let's see how he feels about this.' Astrid smiled patronisingly before walking to the window, 'Hello brother! How are you on this fine evening?'

Elijah shook his head with a grin, 'Ah, Astrid. How did I know you'd get involved in this?'

'I guess you know me too well.' Astrid couldn't help but be coy, having realised she could practically decide who the new leader of the Strix was, considering she was the only vampire able to travel in and out of the house disregarding her overbearing and stubborn son.

'Now, Marcellus.' Elijah turned his head with a fire in his eye that often meant starting a fight, 'Come down here so we can settle this?'

'Never.'

'Ugh must both of you act like children?' Astrid huffed, 'Elijah, do you need help with this?'

'Yes please sister.'