THE following morning, an elaborate breakfast had been set up in the dining room of the plantation house. Rebekah and Klaus sat across from each other at the table while Ingrid sat in one of the chairs directly next to Klaus. The table had a full spread of fruit and pastries.

Ingrid was eating happily from beside Klaus, who was standing by his chair and holding the bleeding wrist of one of the compelled waitresses over a glass. He looked at Rebekah in curiosity. "Have you spoken to our good friend Marcel today?"

Rebekah was sipping on her tea and played dumb. "No, should I have?"

"He's been mysteriously silent-- avoiding me, some might say. I thought perhaps he may have whispered reasons into your ear. Along with all of those sweet nothings." He responded with a small smirk and dismissed the waitress.

"If I see him, I'll be sure to ask if he's still sore at you." Rebekah responded with a spiteful expression.

Klaus sat down next to Ingrid and smiled at his sister. "Let me give a voice to that look in your eyes." He began mocking her. "My saintly noble brother lies writhing in agony in the Bayou, victim of my bastard brother's bite, when just one or two drops of his blood would ease his pain."

"Stop calling yourself a bastard, Niklaus." Ingrid commented with a stern look.

Rebekah looked over at him with a smile. "On the contrary, Nik, I am simply enjoying my brekkie, waiting for Elijah's healthy return."

Klaus rolled his eyes in aggravation and sighed, sitting forward in his chair. "Oh, come on Rebekah, you've been giving me the devil's eye all morning. Out with it"

"Perhaps I'm concerned that if I voice my opinion about what you did to Elijah, I will end up on the wrong side of your toxic hybrid teeth." Rebekah responded in a snarky tone. "You're both notorious for that. It's supposed to be your bark is worse than your bite. Not the other way around."

"Not for us." Ingrid remarked with a chuckle and gave the blonde a smirk.

Klaus flattened his lips into a tight line and slammed his hand against the table then pointed a finger at his sister. "Poppycock! I would never bite you." He insisted and Rebekah rolled her eyes with an amused smile. "Elijah made some very offensive accusations about my intentions towards my child. He deserves a day or two of discomfort. Besides, you know my preferred method of punishment for your indiscretions is the dagger."

Rebekah smirked as she stood up from her seat and leaned toward him. "There is something fundamentally wrong with you." She insulted before walking out of the room, leaving Klaus to stir in his feelings.

"Can we get through one bloody meal in this family without it ending in an argument or insults?" Ingrid remarked in annoyance then turned to Klaus in determination. "I would like to open the floor to discuss my ability to leave the house."

He turned to her with a grin and a raised eyebrow and nodded, motioning for her to proceed. She set her utensils down and folded her hands. "I understand the need to keep me safe and you think the best choice for that is to keep me in the house. Well, that has not stopped anyone from attempting to harm me." She remarked then held a finger up and pointed it at him. "I theorize that it's because they know I'll be in this house. If I left the house every so often, they would not know where I was."

Klaus nodded slowly while listening to her, a hand rested under his chin. "I'll think about it."

"Niklaus, I am not asking for permission." She replied in an unrelenting tone causing him to gape at her in shock. "We are married. There needn't be permission granted. I wanted us to come to a consensus as a team. We need to agree on it."

He sat there in silence, looking at her with an unreadable expression for a moment before nodding in agreement and reaching over to grab her hand. "Okay. You're right. I think it would be a good idea to that you be able to leave every once and awhile." He agreed then held a finger up when she began to grin. "But you have to always keep me updated on where you are. Deal?"

She smiled happily and nodded her head. "Deal."

Klaus had business to do with Marcel and he suggested that Ingrid come along so that she may formally apologize to him for the events that had unfolded yesterday. They entered the courtyard of the compound and Klaus looked around, searching for something.

Marcel was standing there and waiting for them. "Klaus." He greeted with a stern look then looked at her in surprise. "Ingrid."

"Hello, Marcellus." She greeted him back kindly and took a small step forward. "I wish to apologize for my discretions yesterday. I acted out of anger instead of reason. I should not have bitten you." She expressed in a genuine apologetic manner.

Marcel looked over at her, his face softening for a brief moment before becoming stern again. "I can't say I blame you. I brought Tyler into your house under false pretenses and for that I'm sorry."

"You are forgiven." She pardoned him and nodded her head with a smile.

"You've been avoiding my calls." Klaus responded to him, turning to him.

"Little pissed off lately." Marcel answered, looking between them.

"Apologies for my behavior can come later. You have something of mine. I want it back." Klaus informed him in a gruff tone.

Marcel pulled out the silver dagger from his jacket and held it up for him to see. "Sorry, but I can't do that." He instead held out the dagger to his side, and Rebekah entered the courtyard and took it from him.

Klaus looked both unamused and suspicious. "What is this?"

"Apologies for your behavior?" She questioned then scoffed, glaring at her brother. "You don't apologize, Nik. You just act. I've had enough. We have had enough."

Klaus smirked and walked toward them. "Look at you. Finally in possession of the one thing that can take you down. How does it feel?"

"Great." She sneered at him and Ingrid pursed her lips, tilting her head to the side that read: true.

Marcel brought his fingers to his mouth and whistled loudly and a dozen or two vampires came out of the woodwork to fill the balconies. Ingrid looked around with an unimpressed expression then looked at Rebekah with rage and hurt.

Klaus looked around and laughed sarcastically. "So this is it? The evil bastard Klaus has gone too far, must be punished. And by his own sibling, nonetheless. How positively biblical. And you, Marcel, is this--" He pointed at the vampires with a chuckle. "-- your idea of a hit? I taught you better than this paltry excuse for a take-down. Do you think you can subdue me with this!?" He bellowed, glaring at them all.

Marcel shook his head with a brief smile. "No. But I think I can with this." He whistled again and dozens more vampires appeared, surrounding them.

Rebekah walked forward and grabbed Ingrid by the elbow. The hybrid pushed off of her and growled. Marcel jerked his head to the side and three vampires walked over and began to restrain her with the help of himself and Rebekah. Each vampire holding down a limb while Rebekah held onto Ingrid's head, forcing her to watch the events about to unfold.

Klaus stormed toward them, his hands clenched into fists and his teeth gritted together. "Do not touch her!" He was then blocked by the army of vampires, unable to reach his wife.

The army then began to surround Klaus, who stood in the middle of the circle and spread his arms out at his sides. "Let's end this charade, shall we? Vampires of New Orleans! Do recall that I am an Original. A hybrid. I cannot be killed. Eternity is an awfully long time. How long, do you think, Marcel will stay in power? What if one of you lot were to release me, knowing I will be eternally in your debt? Oh, I would pity those of you who dared to cross me. I can assure you, your ends would be spectacular. To borrow a trick from an old friend--" He reached out his hand, which held a large gold coin. "--Whoever picks up this coin gets to live." He dropped the coin on the floor in front of him. "Now, which of you magnificent bastards wants to join me?"

"Anyone wants that coin, pledge allegiance to Klaus. Take it now. Go ahead. The choice is yours." Marcel advised, looking around at his army. No one moved, except for Klaus, who was slightly astonished that no one picks up the coin. Marcel looked at him, proud of the loyalty his minions had shown. "Take him." He ordered with a smirk.

Some of the vampires lunged for Klaus but he easily took them each out. However, when Klaus stretched his arms wide on either side, two other vampires wrapped his wrists in chains, binding him. They looked triumphant for a moment and began beating on Klaus.

Ingrid pushed the vampires off of her and watched in worry. "Niklaus!"

Rebekah grabbed ahold of her again before she could rush toward him and gaped at the pregnant woman in disbelief. "Are you from the loony bin? They'll kill your baby."

"Stop acting as though you care. My daughter needs her father and you are trying to take that away." Ingrid sneered furiously at her then watched as Klaus fell to his knees, blood pouring out from his mouth. "Look what you have done!"

Klaus then sat on his knees and looked up at her. The vampires held his hands up in the air and she began to watch with tears in her eyes. Rebekah watched in horror as they beat on her brother then took a step toward him when she noticed he had seemed to have given up.

However, he slowly lifted his head and met Ingrid's eyes and they both flashed golden-amber with deep and vicious veins surrounding their cheeks. He growled deeply and stared at his sister, who dropped the dagger to the ground and watched in terror.

He broke through his bonds then savagely bit and killed every vampire who came at him. Rebekah was paralyzed by fear as she watched Klaus quickly gain the upper-hand. Rebekah watched as Ingrid smirked with a laugh at their expense.

He stood in the doorway, both his and the other vampires' blood running down his chin. "Marcel! Come and finish this!" He screamed into the crowd then began to fight the vampires off again.

Marcel desperately rushed toward Klaus but Rebekah grabbed him, holding him back. "No! Take the coin!" She advised him frantically

"What?" He questioned her in confusion and shock.

"He won't stop until everyone is dead. And he will kill you too. End this. Pick up the coin!" Rebekah desperately convinced him them looked passed him, watching her brother slaughter everyone in his path.

"He will kill everyone." Ingrid remarked in a distant tone, watching her husband ripping apart the vampires with almost no effort.

Marcel considered this for a long moment before making a choice. "Enough!"

Suddenly, the room fell absolutely silent and the fighting stopped. Marcel picked up the coin off the ground and held it up for Klaus to see.

Klaus walked toward him with a bloody, amused smile. "Well, well, well. The great Marcel, self-proclaimed king of New Orleans, bowing before me."

Marcel glared up at him and threw the coin at Klaus' feet. "There. I hereby pledge my allegiance to you. You have the keys to my kingdom. It's yours." He said in a heartbroken manner and Klaus smiled gleefully.

The bodies of the vampires who died in battle had been covered in white shrouds and placed on the stone floor of a room off of the courtyard. Diego and several others poured vodka and bourbon over the bodies before taking swings out of the bottle. On the balcony, Marcel was watching them work then turned to see the couple sitting in a pair of chairs in the courtyard.

Ingrid had few rags and a bowl of warm water sitting next to her as she washed Klaus' face for any traces of blood. He smiled down at her and began to tease her. "You know, you didn't have to be so concerned for my well-being. I am indestructible."

She smacked him on the arm and glared up at him. "Stop being so arrogant. I love you and I will continue to worry about you for the rest of eternity." She replied affectionately and rinsed the rag out, turning the water pink.

He laughed wholeheartedly and kissed her on the forehead. "I love you." Then he held out his hand toward her. "Here. Let me help you."

She grabbed one of the other rags and soaked it in the water before handing it to him. He took it from her and began scrubbing his neck and hands clean while she scrubbed his face.

He noticed Marcel watching them and excused himself before walking toward the former King of New Orleans. "Looking at what you've wrought?"

Marcel sighed and looked down at his fallen soldiers. "Look, if you're gonna kill me, let's get this over with."

Klaus looked at him in confusion and shook his head. "Why would I kill you? You picked up the coin. There are rules of engagement in battle, Marcel. Without them, you'd have anarchy. I would, however, like to talk about accommodations. Your living quarters, for example. I believe they used to be mine."

"You want all this? Fine. It's yours. You can put me back on the street for all I care." Marcel replied in a sinple tone. "But let's make one thing clear-- You will never have this: loyalty. You can't buy it, you can't own it, you can't force it. It comes only out of love and respect for the people who believe in you. You taught me many things, Niklaus Mikaelson, but this I learned myself. And it is something that you will never know. Enjoy your kingdom." Marcel sneered then left Klaus alone on the balcony to watch as Diego lit a lighter and dropped it on the bodies, lighting them on fire.

The couple, along with Rebekah, returned to the plantation to get a few of their belongings. Elijah entered the living room with a weak Hayley following in tow. Ingrid looked at her with a smirk and walked toward them. "I see you survived. Kudos."

"Give her your blood, Ingrid." Elijah demanded in nonegotiable tone of voice.

She looked up at him with a smirk and tilted her head to the side. "Fine." She then bit down onto her wrist and held it out to Hayley, who looked at the blood dribbling down in starvation. Hayley rushed toward her and attached her lips to the wound, moaning lowly in delight. Ingrid sneered in disgust and pulled her wrist away. "That's quite enough."

Hayley yelled in pain and dropped to the ground. Elijah held onto her and glanced at her in concern. Hayley looked up at Ingrid, her eyes gold just like every other hybrid. Ingrid clapped her hands together and gave them a condescending smile. "Congratulations. There. You're a hybrid. Now run along." She remarked, waving her hands in a gesture for her to leave with a displeased face.

Klaus was looking out the window, twirling the silver dagger in his hands. Rebekah walked into the room, ready to face her fate. "Elijah's home. There's only one dagger. Which one of us will you be punishing today?"

"I contemplated a game of eenie-meenie-miney-moe." Klaus whispered slowly before speeding toward her, holding her in a headlock and pointing the dagger at her chin. "You betrayed me. My own sister!"

Elijah walked into the room with a scolding expression. "Niklaus, don't you dare!"

Klaus spun around to face him, pointing the dagger at Elijah. "Perhaps it should be you, brother! Accusing me with such disdain! You think me to be evil and no doubt my daughter will think the same! She will grow to hate me because you will fill her head with these presumptions!" He yelled emotionally, tears pooling in his eyes as he aggressively held the dagger out.

"Is that what it is? You are once again worried that you will be left behind? Has history taught you nothing? We don't abandon you, Nik, you drive us away!" Rebekah explained with tears of her own, shaking her head frantically.

Klaus lowered the dagger and let a tear escape by accident. "Is that so? What have I done lately, other than cooperate? I bow down to you, brother, to make up for daggering you. For the greater good of our plan to reclaim our home. Looked the other way, sister, while you repeat the same cycle with Marcel. Falling again for a man you shouldn't be with, while he controls the empire that we built! That he took! Now, I make no excuses for past sins. But in the one moment when you two could have chosen to stand by me-- to believe in me, to believe my intentions for my own child were pure-- you chose to stand against me, to side with my enemies. I wanted our home back. Now I have it. So, I'm going to live there with my wife and our child. And the two of you... you can stay here together and rot." He angrily shoved the dagger into Elijah's hands as he walked out of the room, leaving Rebekah and Elijah behind as they both looked guilty.

He left the house in a furious huff and Ingrid followed suit. He held the door to the car open for her and gestured for her to get in. She climbed into the car with an appreciative smile and he couldn't muster up on in return at that moment. He closed the door and looked up at the window, seeing that Rebekah and Elijah were watching them from upstairs. He gave them a hollow look before climbing in the car and speeding out of the driveway.

---
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