Dragon's Keeper

Chapter 31

~Previously on Dragon's Keeper~

"I found this in the Picayune newspaper archives from 1919." She hands another sheet of paper to Kieran. "Look at this photo." On the picture, Marcel, Klaus and a few other persons can be seen. Cami and Father Kieran exchange confused glances. "Those men, I know them. I know both of them." She concludes.

FRENCH QUARTER, THE ABATTOIR YARD

A dinner table is set up in the yard and Marcel's closest people are gathered around it. Klaus calls for everyone's attention to give a speech by tapping his cup with a fork. "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." Klaus starts and gestures toward a group of waiters and waitresses to have them join them at the table, one for each guest. "Insatiable need, exquisite pain..." The servants slit their wrists with knives, filling the cups with blood for the vampires. "Our victories, and our defeats." Klaus says as he looks at Marcel.

FLASHBACK--MARCEL'S MEMORY

"You can't afford your wounded pride. With Klaus in control of your empire, you need to give him what he craves most: loyalty. Or, at least, the illusion of it." Rebekah states. "I ambushed him, tried to bury him alive. He's not gonna trust me." Marcel says. "He will, because he wants your allegiance. Speaking from my experience, I know that if you play the part, all is forgiven. But, if you give him any reason to doubt you, he will strike back." Rebekah says. She takes Marcel's hand in her own. "Make me a promise, Marcel. You will do whatever it takes to stay alive." She finishes.

PRESENT DAY, DINNER AT THE ABBATOIR

"...To my city, my home again. May the blood never cease to flow..." Klaus says. "... and the party never end!" Marcel finishes.

DIEGO'S MEMORY

"I just don't get it, man. We would've stayed with you to the end." Diego says. "Letting you do that would have been letting you die, and you're still my people. Now, just follow my lead. Trust me, it ain't over yet." Marcel says.

PRESENT DAY, DINNER AT THE ABBATOIR

Diego raises his glass. "To New Orleans!" He says. "To New Orleans!" Klaus joins. "New Orleans." Everyone else in the room joining in. They all drink. "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 starts. "What about her?" Diego cuts off and points toward MayBeth. "The wolf, vampire, witch, whatever she is." He finishes. "Had you'd let me finish, Diego, you would know that there is, of course, one further matter I would like to address." Klaus says. He walks over to the other end of the table where MayBeth sits and put a hand on her shoulder. "As many of you know, this girl is my lover and is carrying our child. Consequently, I trust you will all pay her the appropriate respect. However, I understand that some of you are concerned by this vicious rumor that I intend to use the blood of our child to create hybrids. I assure you I do not." Klaus states. Maybeth smiles a little. "Father of the year." She says. "It appears I will have to earn your trust. Very well, we'll eliminate the root of your anxiety. You see, how I can I sire any hybrids if there are no more werewolves alive in the bayou to turn?" Klaus says. "What? Nik, no!" Maybeth says worried for the wolves. Klaus ignores Maybeth. "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 finishes.