The dinner table is set, and Marcel's closest people are gathered. Riya is seated beside Klaus. Klaus taps his cup with a fork, calling for everyone's attention.
"Let us begin with a toast to our shared gift: immortality. After a thousand years, one might expect life to be less keenly felt, for its beauties and its sorrows do diminish with time. But, as vampires, we feel more deeply than humans could possibly imagine," said Klaus, his eyes scanning the table.
Riya, sitting quietly with a glass of juice placed before her, frowns as she notices her drink. She looks at Klaus, who winks at her amusingly.
"Insatiable need, exquisite pain," said Klaus, gesturing toward the waiters as they join the table.
"Dad, seriously? Juice?" asked Riya, shaking her head, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"You're not quite ready for what's in our cups just yet," Klaus told her with a soft chuckle, winking again.
Riya sighs, sipping her juice as she listens.
"Our victories, and our defeats," Klaus said, locking eyes with Marcel.
"...To my city, my home again. May the blood never cease to flow," said Klaus, raising his glass.
"...And the party never end!" said Marcel, joining the toast.
"To New Orleans," said Diego, raising his glass high.
"To New Orleans," repeated Klaus, his voice proud.
"New Orleans," they all said, clinking their glasses.
Klaus looks at the gathered vampires and speaks again.
"I understand that some of you may have questions regarding the recent change in leadership, and I invited you here tonight to assure you that you are not defeated. No, my intentions moving forward are to celebrate what we have. What Marcel, in fact, took and built for this true community of vampires," Klaus told them, his tone smooth but authoritative.
"What about her? The wolf," asked Diego, pointing toward Hayley.
Klaus raises an eyebrow, taking a step toward Hayley. Riya's gaze shifts to her father, curious.
"Had you'd let me finish, Diego, you would know that there is, of course, one further matter I would like to address," Klaus said, walking toward Hayley. "As many of you know, the girl is carrying my child. Consequently, I trust you will all pay her the appropriate respect," Klaus continued, his voice calm but firm.
Riya's eyes widen in surprise at the sudden shift in conversation but she stays silent.
"Father of the year," said Hayley, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"It appears I will have to earn your trust," Klaus told the gathered vampires, ignoring Hayley's comment. "Very well, we'll eliminate the root of your anxiety. You see, how can I sire any hybrids if there are no more werewolves alive in the bayou to turn?" Klaus said, his voice deadly calm.
"Dad, wait, what?" said Riya, her shock evident, though she doesn't dare challenge him further.
"What? Klaus, no!" shouted Hayley, standing abruptly.
Klaus ignores Hayley, walking away from the table.
"So—eat, drink, and be merry. And, tomorrow, I suggest you have yourselves a little wolf hunt. Go ahead, have fun. Kill them all," Klaus said, his tone cold as he leaned down and kissed Riya's forehead before striding away.
Klaus smirked as he walked away, leaving the vampires to process his chilling words.
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𝓤𝓝𝓕𝓞𝓡𝓣𝓤𝓝𝓐𝓣𝓔, 𝓣𝓗𝓔 𝓞𝓡𝓘𝓖𝓘𝓝𝓐𝓛𝓢
FanfictionRiya Smith is a 17-year-old girl living in New Orleans, completely unaware of her supernatural lineage. Her mother, Sara Smith, was a powerful witch who had a brief but intense relationship with Klaus Mikaelson. When Sara discovered she was pregnant...
