Bellatrix Mikaelson (The Originals S1)

Chapter 40

ST. ANNE'S CHURCH
[Father Kieran, Bella and Elijah have gathered a meeting for the various supernatural and human factions to settle on an agreement, including witch (Lydia) and Diego to represent the witches and the vampires, respectively.]
"Who is she?" Asked Layla.
"Head of witches faction. She came back to city after hearing about harvest and war." Said Bella.
"Where is Celeste?" Asked Layla.
"She is in hiding. She knew if we found her we would kill her, so would witches. To finish Harvest they needed her death." Said Bella. Layla nodded.
Kieran: St. Anne's has long been neutral ground in our city. So, it's only fitting that we gather in this chamber at the behest of Mikaelsons to bring harmony to this place we call home. Thank you all for coming.
"Wasn't he ill?" Asked Layla.
"He still is. He's using last sanity he has left." Said Bella.
Bella: Yes, thank you for coming. And welcome. [Bella holds up a signed document.] These are the rules of the city according to Marcel Gerard. [He tears the document in half] Which, of course, no longer apply, because we're in charge.
Marcel glares at them.
Diego: You said that if we came along, that we would get to run things by ourselves. Never mentioned anything about making yourself kings.
Bella: Well, you were each selected to represent your own communities. In our honor, however, any issues that arise between factions, it will come to us.
Elijah: Now, we are all responsible for the current chaos in the city. However, you have one very, very simple choice ahead of you here: you can all play nicely together, or you can leave.
"We are good team." Said Bella to Elijah. Elijah nodded.
[At the summit, everyone is arguing over Elijah and Bella's new terms.]
Diego: [shouting] This is our city, too! We should be able to go wherever the hell we want!
Lydia: [yelling over Diego's shouts] We would consider it an act of war!
Kieran: [looking agitated and pale] We're getting nowhere. You vile creatures cannot agree.
"See? He is still ill." Said Bella.
Elijah: [shouts them all into silence] Father, calm yourself, please. [He lowers his voice] Thank you. Now returning to the issue of boundaries, you will all heed to the following-- [Their discussion is interrupted by Hayley, who has just crashed the meeting.]
Hayley: --Are you serious? You're dividing up the city, and the werewolves don't even get a say?
Diego: [angrily stands up and points at Hayley] What the hell is she doing here?
Elijah: Diego, sit. We are not dividing the city. We're establishing boundaries--
Hayley: No, Elijah! There is not gonna be a peace if the werewolves are excluded. They want a seat at the table. [Diego and witch both scoff] And if they don't get one, I can guarantee that you will all regret it. [The leaders all begin to argue again, and Elijah pulls Hayley aside to talk to her privately.]
Elijah: Do you have any idea what it took just to get those people in one room together?
Hayley: No, actually, I don't! Because I didn't even know what you were doing out here until someone else told me. Tell me something, Elijah. Did you leave the werewolves out because of me?
Bella rolled her eyes.
Elijah: I excluded them because they no longer reside in the French Quarter. My immediate concern is to end the mounting conflict here. Now, I can assure you once this treaty is solidified, it will expand to include your people.
Hayley: And until then, I should tell them what? Sit? Stay? Roll over?
Elijah: [shouts] I would prefer that you remove yourself from the process all together! [Hayley glares at him, and Elijah realizes that he was rude. His demeanor becomes softer.]
Elijah: Hayley, are you absolutely certain that you shouldn't return to the compound?
Bella: No, Elijah, you were right. Isn't Jackson the alpha? Let him deal with it. You are pregnant. It isn't allowed for pregnants to partipicate in wars! Goooood! You are the worst pregnant ever!
Klaus pointed at Bella.
Hayley: My pack...
Bella: You can fight for whoever the fuck you want after you pop out my niece, but while you are pregnant stay out of danger! It's not only your life now, Hayley. It's your baby's, too and you are puting her in danger.
People decided to do smart thing and not get involved in their argument.
[Hayley turns to Elijah.]
Hayley: The wolves deserve a voice. Give them one. You know it's the right thing to do. [Hayley heads back to the Bayou, leaving Elijah and Bella to consider her argument.]
ROUSSEAU'S
[Elijah and Bella are meeting with Francesca Correa at the bar.]
Francessca: Mr. Mikaelson. Ms. Mikaelson.
Elijah: Ms. Correa.
Francesca: Please, call me Francesca.
Everyone, who knows what she did, glares at her.
Bella: We can dispense with any formalities, Ms. Correa. I know exactly who you are. You own the Palace Royale Casino. You're one of the city's leading philanthropists. And-- according to my sources-- you're the matriarch to a rather sizable drug trafficking empire. So, why are we here?
Francesca: Whatever you may think of me, my family's been a part of the human faction for years, which makes me uniquely qualified to take Father Kieran's place. You'll deal with me from now on.
Elijah: Are you giving us a mandate?
Francesca: No. [She laughs] I'm giving you an ally. I want peace just as much as you do. My lifestyle, which I enjoy very much, depends on it.
Bella: Yes, I can see you're highly motivated.
Francesca: You know, I should mention-- I've already spoken to the city's new mayor and the chief of police and other interested parties, and I have their blessing. I think you'll find it beneficial to have me on your side, even if it's just to prevent my less civil brethren from lashing out in ways that could prove painful to you. [She smiles fakely] Have a good night.
Bella: I don't like her. There is something off about her.
"I told you so." Said Bella. Elijah rolled his eyes.
MIKAELSON COMPOUND
[Klaus is on his balcony, looking out at the city, before returning to his room, grabbing a paintbrush, and returning to his artwork. He finds Elijah standing in front of his painting.]
Klaus: Not a fan of cerulean blue?
Elijah: Not a fan of your continued indifference.
Klaus: Well, it's difficult trying to unite a community that has a history of mutual loathing.
Elijah: Spare me the platitudes, Niklaus.
Klaus: A perspective, then? If you want peace, you must begin with the werewolves. A hundred years ago, they had a run at ruling this city. As of late, all they've had is time to watch their enemies tear down that legacy.
Hayley nodded.
Elijah: All the more reason why their enemies are reluctant to bring them to the table.
Klaus: Take a page from Bienville, brother. [He squeezes his shoulder] If the table's the obstacle, remove it. [He pours them both drinks] Do you recall in 1720, the Governor's desperation to secure our help to build the cities first levees? We sat with him, and refused his offer, and so, he plied us with wine, with corseted women, and with raucous camaraderie until he had his yes.
"Niklaus Mikaelson, you slimy snake." Said Bella and nudged him. Klaus chuckled.
Elijah: [smiles] Are you suggesting that I throw a party? [Elijah and Klaus toast each other and drink. Meanwhile, music starts to play in the background.]
Music: Laissez les bon temps rouler!
FACTION PARTY-- MIKAELSON COMPOUND
[Elija and Bella have thrown an impromptu party at the compound, where all the factions can come celebrate together and mingle. Lydia enters with Davina, Abigail, and Monique in tow. Diego and the other vampires are drinking together when they see Jackson, Hayley, Oliver and the other werewolves entering the party. Klaus, Bella and Elijah look at the party from the balcony.]
Elijah: I'm impressed, brother.
Klaus: Yes.
Bella: Now if we can just keep them from tearing one another to shreds.
Klaus: Well, then for your sake, here's to a spectacularly boring evening.
"Arsehole." Muttered Bella.
[Everyone is mingling at the party. Diego and some other vampires pass Jackson and Oliver.]
Diego: What's up, little man? [He purposely bumps into Jackson, which enrages Oliver.]
Jackson: [to Oliver] He's not even worth it. [Elijah goes to follow after Jackson, sensing hostility brewing, but Francesca distracts him.]
Francesca: Since you're preoccupied, I'll intuit your flattering compliment. [She smiles] Thank you, I think I look stunning, too.
Kol and Bella look at each other and make disgusted faces.
Elijah: [follows after Francesca] I trust you've spent as much time fortifying alliances as you clearly have selecting that dress.
Some snorted.
Francesca: So you do notice me. And, yes, I've already settled the dispute over the docks. I pacified the witches with an increased share in cemetery tours, and I've given the Crescents a Welcome- Back-to-Humanity gift in the form of $100 chips to my casino. So, I think I deserve some champagne, don't you? [Elijah grabs a glass of champagne off a passing hostess, but when she grabs for it, he pulls it away.]
Elijah: Ahh. You know, in light of Kieran's deteriorating condition, the others have acquiesced to your proposal. You will represent the human Faction until he's ready to resume.
Francesca: [takes the glass from him] Then, I suggest we make the most of our limited time together. [Elijah sees Hayley enter the party, and stares at her.]
"You are so in love." Said Layla. Bella and Kol nodded.
[Davina sees Oliver from across the room and smiles at him. He smiles back at her. Diego watches this happen, and angrily chugs his drink. Bella notices his mood and intervenes.]
Bella: Diego. You will be polite and welcoming.
Diego: Yeah, see, his people killed my whole family. My sister bled out on the floor right next to me. The only reason I'm standing here is because Marcel came along and turned me before I bled out, too. So, I'm telling you right now-- I cannot be polite and welcoming to that.
Bella: Diego, i understand your anger. I really do. I have lost my little brother to wolf attack back then when i was human.
Klaus looked down. Bella sighted.
"I didn't mean it like that. Hear the whole thing." Said Bella.
Diego: Than how can you act like nothing happened?
Bella: I'm not, but i accepted fact that it was an accident. Don't get me wrong, At first, i hated them, too, but than i found out my brother- Niklaus was one of them.
Klaus looked away.
Diego: More reason to hate them. [Bella gave him migrane.]
Bella: My brother isn't perfect, he's far from it, but don't ever speak down on him around me. Got it? [Frustrated Diego nodded.]
Klaus smiled.
Bella: Back to the story, when i found out my brother was werewolf. I realised it isn't their choice, Diego. Like it wasn't my choice to become vampire. They didn't kill my brother or your sister on purpose. They just couldn't control it. Like sometimes we lose control over our hunger. I'm sure it would have happened to you when you were newly turned. [Diego nodded guiltily] Than you know how it feels to not be able to be in charge of your own body. They have to go through that every month. Every bone in their body breaks and they lose control every single month. It's called curse for a reason, darling.
Hayley looked down.
Diego: To activate curse you have to kill someone, what do you have to say about that?
Bella: Most of them did it as an accident. And don't pretend you are innocent. I'm pretty sure you have killed more people than any of the werewolves here.
"Thank you." Said Hayley. Bella smiled and nodded.