The Good Daughter

Ten

"Leaving so soon?" It was the lackey.

"Do you have some kind of fixation on me or something?"

"Marcel's orders." He crossed his arms. "You're not giving me the slip again."

"Oh right, because last time, I became a ripper. I'll bet that was a super fun conversation."

Something flickered in his eyes.

Fear.

"I wonder, what'll happen when Elijah catches wind that you were what catapulted me over that edge. He's only spent the better part of my life trying to suppress the killer in me."

"He's not coming back. Not as long as we've got Klaus."

"You're fucking stupid if you think you've got one over on them." There was no crowd for me to slip into this time. "Mikaelsons always get revenge, this is merely a setback."

"Did you not see what happened back there? Klaus had his ass handed to him."

"Only because he made a deal with Marcel." I brushed past him anyway. "Point is, I'm not going to be here when a very pissed off Klaus shows face."

"Whatever." He sped in front of me. "You're staying."

"I'm older than you. Stronger, faster. Better." I stepped up to him. "You want to go toe to toe with me, darling, go right ahead. I'll have you remember whom I was raised by. Are you bold enough without your big bad boss to back you?"

His jaw clenching was the only indication I was getting to him. "I've faced down Klaus." His chin lifted.

"Big man. Does it make you feel important to be Marcel's lapdog?"

"He told me you were a brat."

"Not bad." I snapped his neck, stepping over his body. "Insult game needs a little work."

How had he found me in the first place? I left no trail... he'd been following me and I hadn't noticed. God. I needed to be more observant.

Really, the only one I had to worry about was Marcel. I wasn't even out of the city yet-

"First you give Freya the slip, or so she says," Marcel appeared, eyeing the unconscious lackey behind me. "Then you go and poke at Klaus enough that he gets so pissed off, tourists started notifying the police. He's been shouting your name for hours."

And of course he did. I rolled my eyes. "The binge happened. It's over, I'm fine and I have control. I want to leave."

"That's not happening." He crossed his arms.

"Please. Let me go. I- I need to see for myself what's happened to my brothers. You of all people should understand how shitty it is to have the Originals' full attention. Seven years ago, that's all it was. They threatened my friends, my boyfriend, and my brothers."

Hesitation.

That's all I wanted.

"Marcel. I'm not looking to leave forever, but I would like to be out on my own again. I can protect myself."

He watched me for a moment. "You have to call once a week."

I grinned. "Done."

"And a visit down here every month. I want to see that you're alive in person. None of that 'I forgot' bullshit you tried to pull a few decades ago."

"Any other demands?"

"No more snapping my guys' necks." His head dipped toward the lackey. "He's the one I trust the most. If I can't be there, he will."

"Am I getting checked on?"

"Depends on how dangerous you choose to live."

I pushed forward, wrapping my arms around him. "Thank you."

"I'll miss you, Princess." He returned the favor, dropping his chin atop my head. "I've got Klaus on lockdown. You won't have to worry about being hunted like last time."

This was it. My freedom. After so long, seven years, the time in Mystic Falls... I'd be able to actually breathe.

I stepped back, unable to contain the grin on my face. "My first stop is going to see what's happened to my brothers. Then I'll only resurface to let you know I'm alright. Just don't let New Orleans lose herself. The witches, the wolves, all of it."

His expression grew somber. "I know."

"I'm serious. I've walked the city, or the parts of it I could, seen the damage. There used to be peace. The only thing keeping everyone in line was the family. Now you have this power. Would it be so bad to follow in their footsteps just this once?"

His mouth opened, presumably to argue. His head whipped to the side, body collapsing to the ground.

Kol stood behind him. "You're lucky Elijah hasn't heard your little runaway plot. Or worse, Nik. Let's go."

How had he snuck up on Marcel?! Wasn't he supposed to be better now?

My stomach churned. "No, Kol."

"You can walk or I can snap your neck. Which would you prefer?"

"I spent nearly a decade in a box and for what?! I just want my freedom, please." Surely he would let me be. "Say you didn't find me, that my coffin was empty and it was clear I'd been gone a long time."

The lackey stirred, drawing his attention and I chose then to run.

There wasn't any point.

He'd caught me. "You should know better than to try and outrun one of us, darling."

Then darkness.