The Causes Of Destiny - Elijah Mikaelson

Chapter Eight: The Feast of Blessings

The streets of New Orleans buzzed with excitement as the sun set over the French Quarter. The annual Feast of the Blessings was in full swing—a celebration of prosperity and unity among the supernatural factions of the city. Every year, witches, vampires, and werewolves put aside their differences to gather for one night of supposed peace, but the air was thick with tension. It was a fragile truce, one that could shatter at any moment.

Lily walked with James toward the heart of the celebration, feeling a mix of excitement and unease. The streets were lined with vibrant colors, lanterns lighting up the night, and crowds of people—supernatural and human alike—moved about, caught in the festivity. James had insisted on bringing her here tonight, despite the growing unrest in the city.

"This feast," James explained as they walked through the lively streets, "is meant to remind everyone of what's at stake. It's supposed to symbolize the balance between the supernatural factions. But in reality, it's more of a show."

Lily looked around, unsure of how to feel about the gathering. The past few days had been overwhelming, and she still didn't fully understand her place in this world. After all, just days ago, she'd been living a relatively normal life, only to be thrown into a city full of secrets—her own included.

"Why did you bring me here, James?" Lily asked, her voice low. "This doesn't seem like the kind of place where I should be."

James gave her a small smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "You've spent your whole life being kept away from this world. I thought it was time you saw it for what it really is. Besides, I wanted you to experience the feast at least once before things... change."

Lily furrowed her brow. "Before what changes?"

James glanced around, clearly on edge. "Nothing, just... enjoy the night. For now, it's safe."

The atmosphere grew thicker as they reached the main square, where an elaborate party was in full swing. Witches were casting minor spells in the air, lighting up the skies with shimmering colors. Vampires stood off to the side, their gazes watchful, as if waiting for something to go wrong. Werewolves lingered near the edges, their expressions a mix of wariness and distrust.

Lily felt a shiver run down her spine. She could sense the underlying danger here, even though the surface appeared festive. Everyone was pretending, but no one trusted anyone. She scanned the crowd, wondering if anyone recognized her—wondering if they could see the truth she didn't fully understand about herself.

Suddenly, she spotted a familiar figure across the square, standing with a group of vampires. It was Elijah. He was speaking with Klaus, his posture tense but controlled, as always. There was an intensity in their conversation that sent a ripple of unease through the air. Lily couldn't hear what they were discussing, but from the looks on their faces, it wasn't good.

James noticed her staring. "That's Elijah," he said, following her gaze. "And Klaus. They're at the center of everything that happens in this city."

"I've met Elijah," Lily said quietly, recalling their tense conversation from days before. "He warned me about... everything."

James nodded. "He's one of the few you can trust in a place like this. But Klaus... he's dangerous."

Before Lily could respond, the crowd seemed to shift. The mood in the square suddenly darkened, and the festive music that had been playing in the background grew fainter, drowned out by murmurs and whispers. Something was happening.

"Stay close," James warned, his voice tense.

Across the square, Lily saw a group of werewolves approaching the center of the party, their leader Jackson at the front. Behind him walked a woman with sharp eyes and a stern expression—someone Lily didn't recognize. The vampires tensed as the werewolves closed in, and a sense of impending danger settled over the crowd.

Suddenly, Klaus stepped forward, a mocking smile on his face as he addressed Jackson and his group. "Well, well. It seems the Crescent wolves have come to join the festivities," Klaus said, his voice dripping with condescension. "How delightful."

Jackson didn't take the bait. "We're here for the feast, just like everyone else. We don't want any trouble."

Klaus's grin widened. "Trouble? Why would there be trouble? This is a night of peace, after all." His words were laced with sarcasm.

The tension was palpable now. Elijah, standing next to Klaus, looked like he was about to intervene, but before he could say anything, one of Klaus's vampires—Diego—stepped forward, his fangs bared.

"We don't trust wolves at our parties," Diego growled, his eyes locked on Jackson. "Especially not tonight."

The air seemed to thrum with danger. Lily's heart raced as she watched the standoff unfold. She could feel the magic in the air crackling, as if the very city was holding its breath.

Before anyone could react, Diego lunged at Jackson, his vampire speed catching the werewolf off guard. The crowd erupted into chaos as people scattered, and a vicious fight broke out between the vampires and the werewolves. Spells flew through the air as witches tried to break up the brawl, but the violence only escalated.

"Lily, we have to go!" James grabbed her arm, pulling her away from the center of the chaos.

"But Elijah—" Lily protested, glancing back at where Elijah was now stepping between Jackson and Diego, trying to stop the fight. His calm demeanor barely concealed the anger bubbling beneath the surface.

"Forget Elijah," James snapped, his voice full of urgency. "This isn't our fight."

Lily allowed James to pull her away from the square, but her mind was racing. The supernatural world she had only just begun to understand was spiraling into chaos right before her eyes. She could feel the tension in the air—the fragile alliances were crumbling, and the city was on the brink of war.

As they turned a corner, moving farther from the fight, Lily couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The Feast of Blessings, meant to celebrate unity, had only revealed the fractures within the supernatural factions. And somehow, she was connected to all of it—whether she wanted to be or not.

Finally, they reached the edge of the French Quarter, where the sounds of the fight were distant but still echoed in the night. James stopped, catching his breath as he looked at her with a serious expression.

"Lily, things are about to get worse," he said quietly. "You need to be careful. You're more involved in this than you know."

Lily swallowed hard, her thoughts spinning. "What do you mean?"

James hesitated before answering. "The witches, the vampires, the werewolves... they all have their own agendas. And if they find out who you really are—what you really are—they'll try to use you for their own purposes."

Lily's blood ran cold. "What am I, James?"

James looked away, as if struggling with the answer. "I... I can't tell you. Not yet."

Lily stared at him, frustration bubbling up inside her. "Why won't anyone tell me the truth?"

Before James could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps made them both turn. Out of the shadows stepped Ross, his face grim as he approached them.

"We need to talk," Ross said, his voice low. "Now."

Lily's heart pounded in her chest. Whatever was coming next, she knew it would change everything.