Splitting Our Odds Into Evens

This is how it feels.

"I've been meaning to have a conversation with you guys," Marcel started as he sat across Elijah and Klaus. "I was skeptical about this, but surprisingly, Kol pushed me to. And I will."

Klaus leaned forward, eyebrows perked in curiosity. "What is it that you dare to tell us, Marcellus?" Meanwhile, Elijah looked at him with a cocked brow and a stern face. Marcel was not Elijah's biggest fan, and vice versa.

Marcel sighed, running a hand over his face. He went straight to the point. "I want to marry your sister. I want to spend eternity with her." The brothers' eyes widened, but that didn't stop Marcel. "I love her so much, and whether I get y'all's blessing or not, I am going to make Rebekah my wife. Therefore, I ask. Klaus. Elijah. May I get your blessings to marry Rebekah?"

Klaus and Elijah sat there in silence as they processed what Marcel said. And honestly, the only words that stuck with them were: Rebekah, wife, and blessings. All of which scared the absolute crap out of them. But not just them, Marcel too. He knew that marrying Rebekah meant he would have to throw his pride aside and finally make peace with her brothers, as hard as it seemed.

Elijah stood up in the blink of an eye. "Over my dead body," he bellowed, his lips pressed thin.

Klaus stood up as well to calm Elijah down. "Brother, let's just take a moment to think about this," he said, which confused Marcel. Did they not get the memo when he said he was marrying Rebekah with or without their blessings?

Elijah didn't care for what Klaus said but shared his own piece. "You have taken so much from us, Marcellus. Because of you, we have more enemies than we can count. You ruined our chance at a fresh start. I refuse to let you ruin my sister's life."

Marcel stood up and scoffed. "Ruin your sister's life? Remember when Rebekah went away for a good month? Didn't call. Didn't text. Didn't even bother to visit? Last time I checked, it was because of you two. Y'all were so angry at the fact that she could love another man other than her brothers, who treated her like crap her entire life that you pushed her away. You made her choose, Elijah," he said. And he wasn't lying. Rebekah just wanted love, and all her brothers did was make fun of her for it—specifically, Klaus. Marcel raised a pointed finger in Elijah's face, his lips twisted in a scowl. "And don't you dare say that I'm the reason all of New Orleans hates your family. You guys made your own damn enemies."

The two stood in front of each other, silently challenging one another.

Elijah pushed Marcel, and Klaus stepped in front of him before Marcel could retaliate. "Peace is due. This war that we continue will only bring our family apart," he said.

Marcel sucked his teeth, whipping his hand. "Man, I don't want to be a part of your family. Like I said, I'm only doing this for Rebekah."

Klaus took offense to that. He stepped back, and a smirk crept on his face. "Is that so?" he questioned. The smirk dropped as quickly as it came. "I saved you from your bastard of a father," he continued. "Surely, one can say I saved your life."

Marcel's expression darkened as he leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to an evil whisper, "Saved me? You didn't save me, Klaus—you created me, shaped me into your perfect little puppet. But let me tell you something, both of you," he added, his eyes flicking towards the older brother, "the only reason your sister still has a chance at happiness is because I'm the one man who won't abandon her as her pathetic, self-righteous brothers did. So, maybe instead of worrying about me ruining Rebekah's life, you should worry about your failure to protect her truly."

The words hung in the air like a chandelier, Marcel's pointed stare daring Elijah to make a move.

Elijah's eyes flared with fury, his jaw clenching so tightly it seemed like it might shatter. In a heartbeat, he lunged at Marcel, his hand outstretched, ready to grab him by the throat. But Klaus moved faster before he could make contact, catching Elijah's arm in a firm grip.