Millennium | Kol Mikaelson

Chapter 29

They were on high alert.

Lucien had gone to speak to the two brothers again, to encourage them to be cautious. Catalina had moved through the city, trying to find any Strix vampires that could lead her to where Tristan was hiding.

"It has to be within the borders of the city," she muttered to herself as she sat in one of the bars, looking over the map of New Orleans where she'd been marking dead ends, and potential places to look. "Grandiose but also not in a place that's too obvious."

She nodded at the bartender as another drink was placed before her. She reached for it, but another hand swiped out, taking it before she could. When she turned her head, Catalina was met with a face she wished she'd mutilated beyond recognition centuries ago.

"Aya," said Catalina coldly as the woman drank, staring at her blankly. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Because you're not stupid," said Aya flatly. "You knew I'd come to find you, not Tristan."

"I'd prefer to never see either of you again. Alas, that doesn't seem to be possible. What do you want?"

Aya's eyes flickered over the map. "Trying to pinpoint our headquarters? I'll take you to them, and save you the work. After all, I've heard that you're going to be offering us quite a bit of help."

Catalina caught Aya's arm before she could grab the map, yanking her closer and sneering in her face, "I suggest you stop touching what's mine unless you want me to tear your arms off."

Aya smirked. "Do that, and there will be no alliance. How will the Mikaelsons take it when they learn you're going to give us the last piece of the puzzle? I suspect even Kol would see you in a different light."

Catalina let go of her, and Aya got to her feet. "Follow me," said the younger vampire. "Tristan has already met with Elijah. He'll want to see you next."

Catalina reluctantly folded her map up, paying her tab before walking behind the vampire, who led her to a limousine parked outside. The compelled driver opened the door for them, and the two women climbed in. Shortly after, the car began to move.

"Who did you come to see here?" asked Catalina, gesturing to the space around her. "This is Algiers, not the French Quarter. I don't suppose you came solely to find me. You're here to recruit someone, and I just happened to be in the area."

Aya smirked. "I suppose that wouldn't have escaped your notice. There is a vampire here who The Strix have found an interest in."

"Let me guess. Marcel Gerard. He's the only vampire I know who lives in Algiers. The oldest out of his little crew. The only one in this city aside from our group who was turned directly by an Original."

"You can imagine Elijah was displeased when he learned that The Strix wanted Marcel."

"Well, you're practically trying to infiltrate the Mikaelson family with that. I wouldn't take kindly to it, either."

Aya crossed her legs. "And yet, you're part of the Mikaelson family, aren't you? And he didn't care as much when we tried to recruit you."

"Let's be honest, Aya," said Catalina, leaning closer to her. "You're recruiting Marcel because you hate me. And because you think you can fuck him. You're just going to use him. If he even makes it past the trial. They're worried because he's so young compared to the rest of you. With me... well, they knew I could handle myself. How's your hip, by the way? I seem to remember breaking it before you got lucky and had me pulled off of you. Still bitter, are you? That you couldn't recruit me and couldn't beat me, either. I know you wanted to celebrate after I died. Oh, but Tristan shut you down, didn't he? And you hated it."