Kindred (The Hybrid and The Wolf - Book 2)

4. Girl in New Orleans

Marcel walked into St. Anne's Church, finding it in disorder with blood staining the floor.

Klaus: (voiceover) "Over the course of my life, I've encountered no shortage of those who would presume to speak of good and evil."

Davina was in the attic, kneeling next to Elijah's coffin, looking at his desiccated form. She reached forward to pull the dagger out of his chest, looking it over.

Klaus: (voiceover) "Such terms mean nothing. People do what is in their best interest, regardless of who gets hurt."

Marcel walked into the attic.

Davina stabbed Elijah with the dagger again.

~*~*~

Klaus was looking at the painting he saw an artist create the night he returned to New Orleans. "Is it evil to take what one wants, to satisfy hunger even if doing so will cause another's suffering? What some would call evil, I believe to be an appropriate response to a harsh and unfair world."

Cami was standing behind him. "No offense, but I'm not sure I follow why you've invited me here."

Klaus turned to face her. "Because I enjoy your company and I sense you have the capacity for understanding someone of my complexity. You see, I returned to New Orleans to investigate a threat posed against me. What I found was a young woman, pregnant, in need of protection. My brother, always the do-gooder, tried to manipulate me into helping her. He thought it might redeem me. Trouble is, I've since learned of another young woman, a girl really, one with vast potential, held in captivity by a tyrant. I want to help both of these women. Protect one and free the other. So, tell me, Cami, does that sound evil to you?"

"I don't believe in evil as a diagnosis," Cami told him. "I think you have unstable personal relationships, stress-related paranoia, chronic anger issues, fear of abandonment. I think you could benefit from talking to someone professionally."

Klaus smiled. "I think I prefer to talk to you. So, I'm going to offer you a job." He sat down. "As my stenographer."

"Okay, what are we writing?" Cami asked.

"My memoirs, of course," Klaus answered. "Someone should know my story and it will give us time to discuss other riveting subjects, like your handsome suitor Marcel."

"Excuse me, my private life is--" Cami started.

Klaus cut her off. "Your private life is, as it turns out, essential to my plans. You see, Marcel wants you and because of that, he will trust you, which serves me." He stood. "The thing is the French Quarter is on the verge of war. On the one side, there's me and on the other, Marcel, along with a very powerful witch and an army of vampires."

"What?" Cami asked, fearful.

Klaus rushed closer to compel her. "You're frightened. Don't be."

As the compulsion took effect, Cami furrowed her brows in astonishment. "I'm not scared anymore. That's amazing. How did you--?"

"It's called compulsion," Klaus told her. "It's a neat bit of vampire trickery. I'll tell you all about it, But first, let's talk a little more about Marcel."

Klaus walked into his study and sat down.

Cami looked at him.

~*~*~

Nina, Hayley, Rebekah and Agnes were sitting in the living room.