The Original Family

Chapter Thirteen

I looked at each of the vampires sat around the dinner table Nik had someone set up in the courtyard. He had decided that after a day of moving in, even though the rest of our belongings would be arriving later today we should celebrate him taking leadership of New Orleans. I would feel better about it if Marcel wasn't sat on my left and the vampires around the table wasn't his most loyal friends who tried to take Nik down just over 24 hours ago. Caroline was sat across from me; Nik was at the head of the table in between us. She had the better seat as Stefan was on her other side. I turned to face Nik when he stood up tapping a fork against his glass. I blocked out his speech and pushed the waitress away who was about to split her wrist so her blood could be poured into my cup.

"To my city, my home again. May the blood never cease to flow..." I quickly raised my glass as everyone else did, tuning in to what Nik was saying. I had missed the entire speech.

"...and the party never end." Marcel finished Nik's sentence as he and Diego shared a look.

Diego raised his glass even higher. "To New Orleans." Nik repeated him and then everyone else did as well. I sipped my drink, narrowing my eyes at Marcel and Diego. They were up to something. "I understand that some of you may have questions regarding the recent change in leadership..."

"Well," I interrupted my brother, "I'll be happy to answer them while clearing a few things up." Nik sat down rolling his eyes. "We built this town, it was our home for a very long time. It was never Marcel's, he took it. But thank you for looking after it Marcellus." I smiled at him resisting the urge to smack him. "Just so we are clear my brother may have decided to spare you all but I on the other hand will tell you now." My face and tone lost any pleasantness. "My family is off limits, that goes for extended as well," I gestured to Stefan and Caroline, "should any of you come for them again it will be the last thing you all do. The vampire community here can always be remade."

"Thank you Ever." Nik spoke stopping me from saying anything else. "I trust that they know to pay Caroline and Stefan the appropriate respect." Smiling at Nik, I picked up my plate of food and after kissing cheek, left. With the tension, I could feel at the table it was better that I did.

_______

"You will not believe what Klaus has done!" Caroline shouted storming into my temporary bedroom not even an hour later. I didn't speak. My brother could have done a lot of things, all of which could have set her off. "He announced to the vampires that to get rid of any thoughts that he will use the baby's blood to create hybrids that they can kill the werewolves in the Bayou." I sighed, of course he did. "I mean come on. What was he thinking?" She started to pace back and forth.

"He was thinking that if people thought he would do it they will come for his child and the love of his life who is carrying said child. In order to keep them safe in New Orleans he should get rid of the problem. The problem being the werewolves in the Bayou. No werewolves, no hybrids." I responded. She stopped and looked at me shocked. "He did it to protect you." I finished. Apparently, she hadn't thought that to be the reason. She suddenly disappeared without another word and I went back to reading.

_______

"What are you doing here?" I said walking over the wolf I thought I had gotten rid of once and for all. She didn't say anything so I looked at Diego who was stopping her from entering.

"She wants to see Klaus." I raised an eye brow, my arms crossing.

"He has ordered for the wolves in the Bayou to be killed," the wolf snarled. She came closer to me just as Diego's neck was snapped and he was thrown into a wall. I glared at Elijah as two more vampires were thrown near me and Rebekah came into view.