MJ and Cami both opted to nap for the rest of the journey. And, it still wasn't long enough. The diner had been outside the city, meaning the only part they could genuinely relax during was the shortest section of the journey. They were both safe now. They were in New Orleans. They had two Originals with them, both on edge and ready for a fight after having basically shown up at the end of the fight.

They could sleep.

Sleep until they were parked and forced to face the reality of a vibrant city.

Full of supernatural.

Full of people who'd need an explanation.

MJ was a little less groggy than Cami, taking another two sips of the witch blood before bolting into the house, grinning, taking in the space. The Compound may have been a big house, and she may not always love big houses, but its more open plan was perfect for her new skills. Far less likely to run into walls when there weren't many.

Cami was walking behind, calling Marcel, more likely to be answered than Klaus or Kol's, Elijah on that side of the river.

Klaus spotted one of the housekeepers coming to greet them, "Laura!"

"Nik..." Kol was giving him a look.

"Time for an evaluation," Klaus presented the woman to her, "We know you successfully fed off Camille."

Something MJ was sure he'd tell her off for doing once they were in private.

"Let us see if you can do it again."

"No," MJ crossed her arms, "I need enchanted blood."

"To survive," Klaus agreed, "But as a snack..."

MJ curled her lips in.

Miranda said she wasn't 'allergic' to it.

He wasn't wrong.

And The Compound was a safe enough environment. Miranda's blood meant her mind was relatively clear – less likely to lose control...and the vein had tasted better. Drinking Cami's blood had felt nicer than the blood bags. They were good too. And MJ wanted to stay on them, but she also knew Klaus would keep pushing her to feed until she showed him she could.

And Kol probably wanted to see it, given his preference for a live source.

"...Okay," She approached Laura cautiously, "Do you mind if I take a bite?"

"It's what we pay her for," Klaus reminded her.

"I know," MJ shot him a quick glare before focusing on the housekeeper, "I wasn't asking you."

Laura smiled, pushing her hair to the side, "Of course."

It felt dirty.

They were compelled to do whatever the people in the house needed them to do, which meant she couldn't actually say no, and MJ hated it.

"Mira," Klaus prompted, "You can have your moral conundrum once you've eaten."

MJ swallowed.

"We won't let you go wrong, darling."

"It's okay," Laura twirled her hair entirely out of the way, "I'm fine with it."

MJ could feel her face changing, the heartbeat clear in her ear.

She didn't want to be controlled by that type of thing; she didn't want to be able to feel veins under her face at the mere idea of drinking someone's blood.

She'd been able to pull away from Cami, but she was still learning.

MJ didn't know how to stop her body from reacting, and she wouldn't figure it out unless she tried, forcing herself into the woman's personal space, a hand on one side of her neck as she bared her fangs.

The moment they made contact with her neck, she pushed back.

"Nope!"

"Mira," Kol was ready to jump in, "You need to feed."

"I know," She sighed, taking Laura's hand, "The neck just feels weird."

When Sam had been in the same situation, he'd had a similar set of reactions, and MJ had told him to drink from the wrist instead. So that's what she was going to do too. Far less hesitation, standing a normal distance away from her, using her now heightened senses to listen to the heartbeat as she cut through the skin.

She could hear Cami talking in the foyer too.

It was incredibly distracting, especially since her brain automatically wanted to think about it, but a tug on her shoulder stopped her from drifting off.

Kol, non-verbally telling her to stop.

As MJ lifted her head, blood on her lips, Klaus collided with a wall, a fuming Marcel pinning him there.

"You said you'd stopped!"

Seemed they'd all had a conversation about him feeding her blood behind her back.

MJ was there in an instant, yanking Marcel's arm back, accidentally sending him flying through the air, colliding with the next-floor balcony before falling back to the ground in front of Elijah. The elder original waiting in the foyer, watching the display of strength, body semi-frozen.

"Sorry," MJ whispered, looking at her hands.

Her face felt funny, fangs still out.

"Once again," Kol sighed happily, "I'm enamoured by your beauty."

She closed her eyes and took a breath, face back to human.

"You should've let me finish my sentence!" Cami looked between Marcel and Elijah.

They'd run over the moment the words 'MJ's a vampire' left her mouth.

"It wasn't him."

Klaus brushed himself down.

Everyone slowly turned to Kol.

Even if MJ's turning was the obvious future, they'd expected some kind of heads up. Plys, they all knew MJ didn't plan on turning until the witches had their shit in order enough to survive without her.

"Yes. Me," Kol poured a glass of bourbon, "I did this."

He pondered his own thought.

"At the wedding I wasn't even allowed to attend."

A glass lifted to the side as his head tilted.

"Due to dissent between the groom and my last name."

A quick sip.

"I crashed it and murdered her to prove why he should accept our relationship."

"The wedding was a disaster," MJ summed up, "And instead of retelling the story like six times, can we get Freya and Rebekah here?"

Elijah scanned her slowly, "You're awfully calm for someone who has just lost what was once their entire life."

MJ simply snapped her fingers, every light in the room flickering, Laura's bloody wrist healing.

"...Or not."

THE HERETIC:
Red Has Always Been Her Colour

Freya had taken Hope on a walk, handing her over to Laura to get them both out of the room the moment she saw Elijah cleaning Klaus's blood off of his hands and MJ sipping from a glass filled with the liquid as Kol set up a display of candles for a projection spell.

As MJ chanted, Eva's body appeared inside the circle, taking in the sight of everyone gathered together.

The Mikaelson Clan, minus Hayley plus Camille.

"A war summoning, I assume?" Rebekah sounded unimpressed, "What's happened?"

MJ's eyes kept moving. Even if most of them were vampires, their hearts still beat. Then there were the people working to keep the house clean and fully stocked with blood and food. And Hope. A tiny noise clawing at her head, breath picking up, fingers starting to shake. Scratching in something.

"Mira," Kol was behind her, voice soft, intertwining his fingers with hers to still them, "You're with us?"

She'd zoned out, everyone staring at her as she shook off the weight of the situation.

"Yeah, I'm..." She looked at Rebekah and Freya's confused faces, "Give me a minute."

She was going to be okay.

She'd been living with witch-crazy her whole goddamn life.

The feeling of vampire stress was nothing compared to the screams of death she'd started performing during her senior year. No chance. And, with one long breath in, MJ was letting go of Kol's hand. She was okay. She would be okay. She knew how to stop the desiccation, meaning she was immortal and would be fine.

"What's going on?" Rebekah noted the glass of blood, "No."

MJ nodded.

Freya frowned, "But you just performed magic."

Stepping nearer to the projection, MJ closed her eyes, letting the metallic taste in her mouth bring the fangs out, hand lifting up to show a flame dancing around her fingers. A mock fireball paired with dark eyes craving the liquid they'd been drinking for centuries.

"Ric's wedding was a bit of a disaster movie," She spoke through the teeth, then let everything slip away, back to human, "The guy who mentally tortured me escaped his prison cell and murdered me."

"How is that even possible?" Marcel protested, "You're untouchable right now."

"He siphoned my magic."

"He didn't just siphon your magic, MJ," Camille mumbled, "He siphoned you, suffocated you, siphoned you again, stepped on your throat, then killed you – in front of your suicidal father figure after murdering the bride and most of the guests."

Silence.

"One way to get it all out," MJ rubbed her forehead, "Thanks, Camille."

The woman looked away, "Sorry."

Klaus was watching her carefully after her earlier moment.

"They need to know the gravity of the situation."

MJ had enough PTSD from being alive, and the same person who triggered a lot of it had successfully murdered her. Cami had every right to be concerned about what that might do to her friend now she had even more heightened reactions and a chance to downplay in front of everyone.

"He knew about my witchy protection. He found a way around it," MJ stressed the main point, "And he killed me as part of some twisted punishment-forgiveness fantasy."

"But you had blood in your system," Elijah's look was aimed at Klaus.

"I didn't feed it to her."

"We know you have been."

"I stopped when Mira asked me to."

The glare off didn't help anything.

"Kol's the one who drinks from her. Ask him."

"Dude!"

"And, I repeat," Kol was less annoyed by the line of defence, "I wasn't there."

Meaning he must've fed it to her before they left – which would've been pushing it time-wise.

"And – not that it's any of your business, but I haven't fed on her since she un-daggered me."

An awkward silence.

It was an odd thing to make a room awkward, but it just did.

It got him in the clear, though.

"Regardless of you both stopping," Rebekah looked at Elijah nervously, "Mystic Falls means Klaus's line."

If they'd been worried about MJ's position on matters when it came to them-versus-Klaus before, the prospect of her life being tied to his only made that worse.

"Actually," MJ sat on a table in the courtyard, "It isn't."

Everyone's head shot towards her, Rebekah's projected form trying to step forward.

"It's Ric's."

"How is that possible?" Rebekah shook her head, "He died without ever seeing you."

"But," MJ swung her legs a little, "At Graduation, when all the ghosts were living, he spent the Ceremony making blood bags for me."

She'd asked him too, and he hadn't had anything better to do.

"Kol's blood still had magic in it when he died."

Kol straightened up, "It did?"

"Yeah."

Another pause.

"The vial you gave me after your mother drove me insane," She admitted awkwardly, "I hadn't needed anymore that day, so I'd preserved it."

His features softened, "You did?"

"Of course I did," She felt somewhat embarrassed, "Who knew when I'd need healing."

Kol's eyes turned softer.

"You two are the only people on the planet who wouldn't find that creepy," Marcel was just staring at them, "You carried his blood around? For, like, a year?"

"My friends had just killed the only person who'd ever loved me romantically," MJ defended, "It's well-established I don't do grief healthily. And! You don't get to judge me, Mr-Leaves-Rebekah's-Room-Untouched-In-Case-She-Comes-Back-Despite-How-I've-Let-Her-Think-I'm-Dead-For-The-Past-Century."

He shut up.

"I don't just carry it around for fun," She specified, "I don't have samples from Elijah or Rebekah. How do you think I find them?"

"That checks," Rebekah bobbed her head, "The point?"

"I wanted to work out why it still had magic, but I only had one of Kol's...I didn't want to waste it," MJ was cursing herself for not using it at the wedding, "I was using Ric's to get a better grasp of the sire-line whenever I got free time."

They were all quiet.

"Basically," She focused on Freya and Marcel, "Alaric Saltzman is someone who took me in a few years back. A vampire hunter."

Marcel knew about him, but not his name.

"Esther hijacked his mind to turn him evil, creating a new version of the vampirism spell. The previously indestructible stake was made for him in the hopes he'd kill off all vampires by staking her children."

Freya rolled her eyes, "She really is a bastion of motherhood."

She'd managed to die saving them, which was something.

"His immortal life was tied to my friend's mortal one," MJ felt the need to add, "But he came back from the dead, still an Original Vampire, and she was also a vampire."

"...So how do you kill him?" Freya asked, "All spells have a loophole."

"He's already cured."

More and more shocked silence.

"But since I'd preserved all that blood, the magic in those vials still checks out."

Clearly.

"Last night, I did some tests," MJ had rambled at anyone who'd listen, "My vampire blood does not have the same linking spell that is in all of my friends.."

"You're out of the circuit," Marcel realised what she was saying, "You don't have a sire-line to protect."

"I would've had Ric's, but turning human shattered any link between the blood and him."

Which was interesting.

"I checked to see if I was tied to the human he'd been linked to, and I'm not."

For the first time, MJ's fate no longer felt tied to Elena.

"That connection broke when they both died, and it wasn't reformed when they came back. Her mortality was its key, and she wasn't mortal."

Back then, anyway.

"Which means," Rebekah smiled, "If I took the cure, my sire-line would be free too."

MJ nodded.

Klaus and Elijah were scowling, eyes still fixed on each other.

Marcel was rubbing his face, "Am I the only one still confused about the magic?"

MJ managed a laugh, "It's a siphoner thing."

"She's a hybrid," Klaus said proudly.

"And we all know how talented you are at managing them," Elijah added bluntly, "From your massacre to the fact Mira trained Samu to your complete disregard towards the mother of your child."

"Elijah," MJ smiled falsely at him, "Can we not make my literal death about Hayley?"

Silence.

"The man who tormented me?" She nodded rapidly, "He smothered me to death because he knew it was my biggest fear – a hand literally in my mouth while his foot crushed my throat. Not to mention the searing pain as he siphoned at the same time. Creating a new loophole in nature."

New to them, anyway.

"But, yes. Please. Let's talk about Hayley and Klaus!"

He lowered his head slightly.

"The vampirism spell binds to the body, turning into a store of magic," Kol repeated the explanation they'd established in the car, "Meaning siphoners gain a natural store. Witch-Vampire hybrids."

"I can't be staked, already tested, which was a wolf benefit," MJ fiddled with her fingers, "I can walk in the sun without a daylight ring. I can be compelled, but I can also siphon compulsion. Then, the problematic part."

Everyone was focused on every word.

"I need supernatural blood."

Rebekah frowned, "What?"

"Floare magic requires magical blood. Floare heretics?" MJ stared at her hands, "If I take human blood, I need it every half hour. I was desiccating and everything."

Cami's had lasted most of the night, but she didn't want to think about that.

Cami was a friend.

Not her primary food supply.

"If I drink the blood of a supernatural creature, I'm good to go."

Exchanged looks.

"And who knows what else is different," She waved her hand, "I'll figure it out."

Marcel shifted, "The witches..."

"Cannot know," MJ nodded to Cami, who gave her a supportive smile, "But I still need it."

A true apex predator.

Not because she was just powerful, but because her food source was the other powerful creatures. Witch, vampire, and wolf alike. All something she would crave when weak, despite spending her life trying to be their biggest ally. Giving them even more of a reason to fear her than ever before.

The thing Mikael had created, turning himself into the vampire who drank from vampires.

The vampires in New York feeding on Floare for their power.

It felt unfair.

A cosmic joke.

But...she was a siphoner.

Meant to consume the magic of everyone around her.

As much as MJ hated it, it made so much sense, especially when her Floare side was factored in.

"We'll sort something out," Marcel's mind was already racing to figure out a way to do it subtly.

A nicer quiet.

She'd assumed he'd be the person to help her, and he was planning to.

Not fearing, just helping.

"I am technically a full witch now...so...if Freya wouldn't mind," MJ needed to test something, "I'd like to find out if I can be channelled?"

Freya smiled softly at her, "Of course."

They joined hands, eyes closing, MJ letting her chant quietly, feeling a tingle start in her fingers. Magic move between their bodies. Warmth spread up her arms and into her face, jumping along her neck and smoothing the roots of her hair like a soothing massage. The wind started to swirl around them, flying through the ivy growing up the stair railing of the compound, confirming the theory true.

Her hands were released, MJ instantly clapping in excitement, eyes sparkling.

"Oh my god!" She jumped in her spot, "Oh my god."

No more getting cut out of coven activities.

"I can be channelled!"

A positive realisation.

Elijah smiled, "Which means you can be Regent."

And her buzz was killed.

"Shit."

"That's a good thing," He raised an eyebrow, "You can replace Davina."

"You can't just remove a Regent," MJ started to get nervous, "Not unless they die."

Well, no –

"Or, they do something to get removed from power themselves. Piss off the elders enough to get them to shun her."

"Which means," Marcel went where her mind had, "Davina's now gonna be scared outta her mind that you'll overthrow her."

"I'll..." MJ and she may be in a bad place, but she didn't want to do that, "I need to tell the witches."

"You need a rest," Cami shook her head, "Take a week off."

"I can't," She did want to, "Not until I've told the witches – and I have elder duties, and – "

"You died, MJ," Kol put it simply, "You can delegate for a few days."

"Take time to sit down," Cami insisted, "Get used to it."

MJ shifted.

"Process the fact you died."

"I'm over that part."

"You literally just described how traumatising it was.

"Because Elijah was being an ass!" MJ justified, "I have things to do."

Marcel nodded in agreement, "You're gonna have to get used to the constant noise of the city."

"I like the noise," She reminded them, "It means I'm not alone."

A shift spread through the room.

MJ had been through a lot in the past two years, from the hell that was her senior year to a pretty decent one following it – one that had ended with Esther traumatising her with spirits and her brother driving her to suicide. Then, she'd been trapped in a prison world, depressed, going slightly insane from silence as her body refused to accept help from Bonnie and Damon. Mentally tortured. Lost her spleen. Had her body pulled apart by insects whenever she used Floare magic (which was her instinct to do).

She'd finally escaped that, had to watch Kol almost die, like a failure when it came to Bonnie, and Cassie, been shunned by her friend, then literally died, in the way that scared her the most.

"I'm not leaving you alone again," Kol declared, "Ever."

"Oh no," Rebekah's voice went up, "Stalker Kol! Time to get the daggers out?"

"Bekah – "

"Kidding!" Her expression was bored, "But you can't just play guard dog forever."

"I can."

"But you won't," MJ tilted her head, "I will give you four days of following me around."

He pouted.

"We talked about this after the hex."

"..."

"I left the state to avoid overbearing behaviour towards you. Do you wanna do that?"

"Okay," He accepted, "Four days, then I'll consider it."

"And you'll let me talk to the witches alone."

"Do you really need to handle them today?" Cami pleaded.

"Yes."

"She'll take the hour off," Klaus decided, "I still need to finish my story."

MJ perked up at that, "Yes."

"What story?" Rebekah folded her arms.

"How we settled in France," Kol answered.

She relaxed, "Oh."

"Mira knows Maci Roux."

Rebekah laughed, "Seriously?"

"She was the vampire who made me realise not all of you sucked," MJ confirmed.

"Selene?" Marcel followed their lead.

No one wanted to bring MJ down.

They didn't know her humanity couldn't turn off, and, regardless.

Who needs a Debbie-Downer after they've been killed?

"Selene," MJ nodded, "I assume you met her at some point?"

"She lived in this house for a few years," Klaus revealed, "Would show up to try and pull the dagger out of Kol when she was bored with her life.

MJ spun to face the vampire, "You didn't mention that?"

"I said she was a friend," He shrugged teasingly, "She's the reason I was let out in 1901."

"Then she scarpered and left you to be punished."

"Not entirely true," Kol defended, "She was helping me with the dagger."

MJ smiled at the thought.

"Tried to talk me into leaving with her after someone – "

A pointed look at Elijah.

"Told her everyone involved was going to end up dead."

"That wasn't my exact phrasing," The eldest mused.

"Your phrasing made her scarper."

"I have a way with words."

"I don't think the question is what he told her," Klaus's eyes moved to Elijah too, "More, how he convinced her to abandon you, given her affections towards you both."

Elijah rolled his eyes, "Mira had already mentioned that they had some familiarity."

When Klaus had been desiccated by Bonnie, it had come up.

"I was just about to get to how we met her," Klaus was enjoying the slightly uncomfortable look on Elijah's face.

"Shared affection?" MJ asked.

Kol flicked his hand dismissively, "Purely platonic."

"No thanks to you," Elijah didn't let him have it, "You had no respect for boundaries."

"I just liked seeing how agitated you'd get when she left my quarters in the early hours."

"As much as I'm sure we'd all love to relive those fun family memories," Rebekah's sarcasm was evident, "And Kol being the man whore he is."

"It's not my fault I got all the good genes, Bekah."

"I have a bed I'd like to sleep in," She was 'human' now, "If you need any tips?"

"I'll call," MJ's catchphrase for the coming months, "I'll be fine once we work out how strong I am."

Another nervous round of looks was exchanged, MJ deciding to take charge.

"If you don't mind," She didn't let herself look at Klaus, "Marcel."

A shift.

"I feel like you should help me get used to all this – "

Klaus and Kol started to protest.

"Punching an Original and seeing what happens is a dumb plan."

They had to give her that.

"I will let you help. But," MJ sent Marcel a pleading look, "Marcel will be in charge of the basics."

"Of course," He gave her a friendly smile, "Whatever you need."

"But I will be involved," Klaus frowned.

"Everyone will be involved."

After a moment of silence, "Fine."

She looked to Kol.

"I'm in charge of all the fun bits," He elected, "And all your random two in the morning questions."

"Obviously."

"Now that's sorted," Rebekah smiled at her, "Call me for a catch-up later?"

"Duh."

She waved a hand, cutting the connection.

"You wanna start today?" Marcel checked.

"Tonight," She nodded, "It's a Saturday night."

And she'd gotten the entire weekend off work for the wedding.

"Perfect chaos to throw me into – and it means I can see the witches in the morning."

"Okay," He started to think, "We'll start small; I'll set up the gym."

MJ laughed, "I don't need defence lessons."

"'How durable is a witch-hybrid' lessons."

MJ's eyes gleamed, "YES!"

"You're not going to just throw things at her?" Cami raised a dubious eyebrow, "Are you?"

"Can you?"

"MJ!"

"I have all these data points from wolf-vampire hybrid tests I did with Tyler."

Her way of avoiding class following Ric's death.

"We can do side-by-sides!"

Kol was laughing at her excitement.

"I was just gonna see how hard you can punch," Marcel reasoned, "But sure...I guess I can just throw things at you?"

"Marcel!" Cami gave him a look.

"If she wants it!"

"I really do."

Cami faltered at her big eyes, "Be safe."

"As much as I can be."

"Okay."

"If you don't mind," Elijah spoke carefully, "I would like to be a silent observer."

MJ gave him a look.

"I will not get involved," He put a hand up, "My mouth will not open unless you speak to me – but it seems highly unsafe to send you off without some type of security."

Since she'd already chucked Marcel into a wall without much struggle.

"Fine."

Kol would be coming too, but if Elijah wanted to watch, saying no wouldn't stop him.

"I'll start prepping things," Marcel nodded to the door.

MJ then looked at Cami, "You deserve a day off after staring down a sociopath."

Cami laughed awkwardly.

"You were amazing."

"I did the bare minimum."

"Kai would've killed you," MJ held her look, "Thank you."

Cami shrugged, exhaustion clear on her face, "It's you, MJ."

MJ forced herself to really hear the phrase.

"I wasn't about to leave you alone there."

Her lips curled in.

It was hard to remember how many people were willing to do things for her. Who thought she was worth doing things for. Tyler literally dying for her should've been a wake-up call, but it had just made her feel guilty. A death tended to do that, the extreme, that no one should have to go through, but still –

MJ didn't need to feel guilty about being loved.

MJ deserved to be loved.

She wasn't hard to love.

"No chance."

"Drinks once you've had a nap?"

"Drinks once you're Marcel-Approved," She decided, "I'm sleeping through all of tomorrow."

"Fair enough," MJ had no problem with that, "Find Vincent..."

"Should I keep this hush?"

She nodded gratefully, "I wanna tell all the witches at once."

"See you later," Cami headed out with Marcel.

Freya, Elijah, Klaus, Kol and MJ were left in the house.

There was a noise in MJ's ears.

The scuttling from before...

She jolted up, eyes big and grinning.

"M - "

She was gone and back in a flash, a cage sitting on her lap, a very awake mouse squeaking up at her in panic from the sudden movement.

"Hello, Basil," She stuck her finger in, letting him nibble the nail before looking at the group, "This is what I needed."

A tiny little life that she'd managed to save, nuzzling its soft fur along her pad.

Something that wasn't as risky as Hope.

MJ wanted to stop random bursts of superspeed before she tried picking up Hope.

"I want another pet."

"Let's see how the cravings go first," Kol pointed out, "And you already have Josh."

"He's my flatmate. I want a cat."

"He's close enough."

MJ have him a look, Kol grinning in response.

"And you won't try to eat him."

"I'm less likely to eat a cat," She lifted her head, "No magical blood."

Kol had to give her that, watching as MJ made a face at the cage.

"I'd never feed off you Basil - Never!"

Basil squeaked in agreement.

"With my hour off," MJ looked to Klaus, beaming face, "Story!"

He couldn't not grin at the expression, "Okay."

Kol flopped onto the courtyard sofa, MJ a moment behind him, legs resting over his again, letting him pull her closer, head resting on his shoulder. It was clear he was trying not to lose it over the idea of her dying without him, so MJ would happily let him be clingy for a little.

Basil was slowly pulled out of his cage, letting MJ hold him as he curled against her chest.

While she'd never advise anyone else let a mouse out, he'd been very well trained while she'd been in Mystic Falls. And he seemed very aware that MJ had saved him, meaning he was always on extra good behaviour around her - Kol adamant he only went on midnight exercise trips when she wasn't there to be woken up.

Freya took a seat too, always happy to learn more about her family history, Elijah lingering in the back, carefully listening to Klaus's version of the event. Both he and Kol were prepared to correct details, but the elder of the two was also interested in whether or not his brother had realised there was something off about their departure from France yet.

"The man we decided to spare was called Lucien," Klaus gestured to Elijah, "I've explained the vote to keep him alive and impersonate nobles."

"Which means you're at the part where we arrived at the castle in their clothes," He continued.

1002

Lucien led the family into a large entrance hall, Rebekah happily wearing the blue dress she'd liked, nerves almost giving them away. They were all looking around at the lavish jewellery of the other guests and the interior design of the place they could potentially call home, finding it hard not to feel out of place considering they'd lived in huts in the forest as humans.

As Lucien walked them forwards, explaining the rules they needed to follow.

"There. The Count de Martel?" He pointed to a man on a throne, "You address him as 'Your Grace.'"

The first instruction.

"All the other nobles as 'My Lord.'"

Then he went to a tip rather than a rule.

"And, when speaking to The Count, you should speak of hunting. He loves his horse and his hounds."

The Mikaelson's did have some knowledge of that, at the very least.

"And," Lucien sent Rebekah a regretful look, "Bow deep, Lady Rebekah. The Count relishes a...healthy cleavage."

She looked like she might be sick, fearful and disgusted, just managing a nod.

Then Lucien noticed another problem.

Finn, Kol, and Klaus were all looking up, captivated by the designs of the ceiling.

And by how high up it was.

"For God's sake," He was panicking too, "Stop looking up!"

His last act was to brush a stray hair back into Kol's ponytail.

"Touch me again," His smile made the threat worse, "And I'll tear your arm straight off."

"Behave, Kol," Finn scolded, "Or I'll bury you in the ground to rot."

"This isn't going to work," Rebekah was getting paler by the second, "Is it?"

"Just speak as we practised," Lucien marched them forward, "And know that you look lovely, my lady."

She smiled at him in appreciation.

Klaus turned to whisper to Elijah, "Are you worried, brother?"

"We're placing our lives in the hands of a stranger, Niklaus," Elijah had voted against it for a reason.

They were forced to go silent as they reached the platform, holding the throne and the Count above the guests.

"Lucien," The man complained, "You were sent to fetch the Count de Guise."

"Indisposed, my Grace," He paused awkwardly, "Gout."

A version of joint pain was one way to cover up a murder.

Lucien then gestured to the family instead, stepping aside, "May I present his children?"

The Count looked doubtful.

"The Lords Finn, Niklaus, Elijah, and Kol," He pointed, watching how they each bowed their heads before landing on Rebekah, "Also, the lovely Lady Rebekah."

The Count stood up, walking slightly forward to inspect them.

"Your father never mentioned you to me in all our dealings."

The siblings subtly glanced at each other, Elijah taking the lead.

"Yes, Your Grace. Do forgive us," He started, "Father was forever distant with his travels, and we were largely raised by servants."

A believable lie.

"However, I do know that Father would consider it a glorious honour that we should be introduced to society by your noble hand," He finished with a bow, "Your Grace."

Finished with sucking up.

"Your Grace," Klaus walked forward too, "I look forward to hearing tales of your hunting escapades."

He then motioned to Rebekah.

"May I present our sister?"

Rebekah gulped before putting on the biggest smile she could manage, "Rebekah de Guise de Rockfort Francais."

They'd all practised saying the name a few times.

As she finished it, she bowed deeply, her mother's necklace dangling forward.

The Count smiled at the sight.

"Charmed," She added sweetly.

He nodded for them to be welcome, everyone able to relax, Klaus sending a grateful smile to the relieved Lucien.

June 2013

"Rebekah showed a little skin, you repeated the phrase 'your grace', and that was all it took?" MJ was baffled, Basil's nose butting into her knuckle, "I guess there was no ID system back then – but still!"

Klaus found her reaction amusing, "There were a few other factors at play that night, wouldn't you say, Elijah?"

"There's no need to be so pointed," Elijah faced Freya and MJ, "The party was being held for a reason, and once that reason arrived, nobody spared us a second thought."

Freya followed, "And that reason was?"

"Marceline Roux."

MJ's phone felt heavy in her pocket.

They'd had a few reunions post-New York, but while Pri and the others kept in decent contact with her, Marceline had just liked reappearing in MJ's life when she least expected it. She'd saved her from a few sticky situations, and MJ had chosen never to ask if the woman was watching her or if it was pure coincidence.

"Marceline was..." Elijah was deliberately not looking at Klaus, "Special. Especially around those parts."

"The daughter of a French Royal," Kol clarified, Basil's tail twitching, "And an Arabian King."

MJ stilled, "What?"

"The Middle East was quite the force in that era," Elijah summarised, "Her father was a King of one of the Dynasties there, mother...well, from the Roux Family."

MJ had never learnt about any of that information.

"She spent most of her life travelling between the two lands," He smiled a little, "Near the end of her stay in Europe, her path crossed with our family."

"This woman," Freya was the most out of the loop, "She's a vampire now?"

Elijah nodded, "The first person I turned."

Kol coughed, again making Basil jump slightly.

"The first person I offered to turn," He corrected, "The person I like to think of as my first sire."

"And," MJ gave context for her relationship, "She ran New York while I lived there."

"So you met her."

"Her blood turned my friend," MJ gave the short version, "She kept an eye on us."

Freya nodded.

"Maci's arrival was exactly what we needed to disappear into the crowds," Kol got back to the story, "And later, her association with us was part of how we were so easily accepted."

1002

Lucien was standing on one side of the room, Klaus approaching him with a drink.

"You've proven to be an immense help."

"Oh. Of course," Lucien replied, semi-playfully, "My lord."

"Though," Klaus had a few questions, "I must say, you don't seem at all disturbed about leading us into your master's home."

Lucien glanced at The Count, happily talking to Elijah while Rebekah and Kol were milling about.

Finn enjoying access to human food.

They'd attracted some attention, people asking for introductions, and though they were able to keep the act up, it was like they were walking on eggshells. Waiting for one of them to mess u. All giving Kol looks, thinking it would be him considering his inability to keep his opinions or behaviour in check.

In reality, he happily sipped on wine, planning who to eat later.

Rebekah was the one willing to talk to too many strangers, starting to struggle to keep track of her story.

"My master is a cruel drunkard who torments his minions for sport," Lucien summarised, "Beggars who seek supper. Vassals who cannot pay a debt...like my own father."

Klaus nodded in understanding, "Ah."

"All these gentile folk," Lucien's voice became bitter, "Behind their silks and jewels are slavers. Killers."

He shook his head in disgust.

"Whatever evil you are, you walk among greater evil still."

Klaus couldn't help but be impressed by the passion, looking curiously at the man's fixed expression.

"What do I care if you kill the lot of them?"

Around them, people started to whisper, standing still to turn and give a pair attention.

A woman and a man in the entranceway to the room.

Klaus felt his eyes catch on the woman; pale skin, red hair, and shining eyes.

"Who are they?"

"Oh," Lucien lost the hate, "The Count's children."

The pair started to walk through the parting crowd.

"Lord Tristan and Lady Aurora."

"She is exquisite."

Aurora's head turned, meeting Klaus's taken look.

"Ah, yes," Lucien covered up his own stare, "As her brother is wicked. Might I suggest you avoid them completely?"

"But would she really be a threat," Klaus countered, "Even to one like me?"

"The Lady Aurora doesn't need teeth to tear a man's soul out," Lucien responded, "One only needs to stare in her eyes to be lost."

Klaus chuckled, "Ah."

As they watched, they were clearly enamoured, Klaus from a look, Lucien from history within the castle. But, as Aurora reached out to start a conversation with Rebekah, confused about her identity, a scream filled the room. A young woman lunging into sight, wrestling free of two guards attempting to pull her back.

"You crusty botch of nature!" A strangely accented female voice rang out, turning the hall silent, "Remove your foul hands from me immediately!"

As the guard just tightened his grip, she slammed her foot into the top of his, causing a cry out and stumble back, his friend lurching forward, halted by her murderous glare.

...A glare...

No matter how hard he tried to move forward and keep her captive, he couldn't, everyone watching thinking that it was out of fear, not an invisible force she was emitting at him.

"If one more person tries to manhandle me," She yanked a torch handle for the wall, "I will have this home burnt to the ground."

Everyone single eye was on her as she wielded it wildly.

The woman was soaked, dark hair reaching her shoulders, mattered, feint-once-perfect curls dripping on her back. She wore a black cloak trying to keep her body warm, protecting the long bright blue chiffon dress beneath it from the drenching, skin smooth – tawny-coloured, far warmer than those around her. That was especially noticeable given how it contrasted the majority of people the Mikaelson's had met in the new land they'd taken residency in.

Eyebrows thicker than the crowd she was surrounded by, curved perfectly above her cutting brown gaze.

With the guards frozen in their spot, she turned on her heel, looking through the crowd.

"Count De Martel."

He was rushing forward to greet her.

"Not only do you demand my father send me to you, suppling a carriage that broke down on the journey, and a squire who vomited on my shoes – "

Which explained the fact her feet were bare and muddy beneath the dress.

"But you don't even greet me at the gates like a gentleman!"

The torch was lifted higher.

"Forcing me to deal with you new guards," She gestured to the men, "Who are cream-faced loons with an obvious inability to value anyone of a slight difference, in need of house training like stray dogs!"

"Lady Roux – "

"Your Royal Highness," She corrected him, "Considering my position is above yours."

Silence.

The man was straightening up slowly.

Planning his next words carefully – trying not to glare at the bluntness.

"And if I was being pedantic, you'd be on your knees," She hissed, "Calling me Your Royal Highness, Foreign Princess, Excellency – given that I am the current Ambassador – and if I was in a right mood!"

Which she was.

"I would also force you to say Future Custodian of The Two Holy Mosques. Since it is my title to wear," She paused, "Then, and only then, would you be allowed to speak my name."

She was fuming, the torch ready to whack someone.

"Your men pulled me from my carriage spouting profanities about my imposture status," She held her head high, marching into the room to stare him down, "Claiming me to be a spy or an assassin based on my appearance."

She chucked the torch to the floor, a different servant rushing with a bucket of water to put it out.

"Then," She raised her volume, "As they dragged me through the mud – "

Not a good move.

"They yelled for your other guards to dump scalding water on my head, hoping to confuse me so they could lock me in the dungeon!"

A few people were snickering at the rant.

"But, nevertheless," A fake smile, "You wished me here."

Her sarcastic attitude had others intrigued.

"So I am."

After a moment, The Count yielded, bowing his head.

"Greetings, Your Royal Highness, Foreign Princess, Excel – "

"Gods," She cringed, "You don't actually have to say that mouthful."

Hand dismissing.

"I was making a point."

He lifted his head, completing the bow, "Marceline Roux."

Everyone could see the way the guards were panicking at the realisation they'd well and truly screwed up.

"I apologise for your mistreatment. They shall be dealt with shortly."

"You are the one who did not prep them. Clearly new here."

A ripple went through the servants.

"And, you failed to greet me yourself. Servants are a reflection of the owner. So you will be the one 'dealt with' shortly."

He was trying not to glare again.

"I will temper my rage if they manage to successfully carry my belonging to my room."

As a finger untied her cloak, one of the guards was tripping forward to catch it before it hit the floor.

"I have no desire to make this evening last longer than it already will. Show me to my quarters later."

Marceline pulled a pin out of the left sleeve of her dress, three others holding it together. Her cloak had clearly been thick, the edges of her dress the only place showing signs of the struggle she'd just experienced. Then, she twisted her wet hair up, the damp baby hairs curling, managing to frame her face almost beautifully.

Like someone who'd completed a relaxing afternoon swim.

Not someone who'd be scolded like a prisoner after a hell journey.

With her hair out of the way, Marceline put on a charming smile, addressing the room with a far warmer tone, the out-of-country accent barely there now she'd calmed down, matching all of theirs.

Trained.

Performative.

"Should we begin the feast?"

"As you wish," The Count bowed his head again, "Princess."

The people began to migrate out of the main hall, Lucien motioning for the Mikaelsons to follow him, The Count's two children approaching Marceline, the man linking arms with her, both muttering apologies.

"For the next portion of the evening," Lucien had vaguely explained the event, "Remember the order of cutlery – "

Kol ignored the list he was about to start spewing, "Who is she?"

"A daughter of the Saffarid Dynasty," He tried not to sound too annoyed by the interruption, "Princess Maci Elia Ninee Khalaf."

Lucien recited her real name perfectly, clear familiarity with it.

"Though, when she's in her mother's care, the court prefers to use Marceline Roux."

Maci Khalaf.

"Her last name."

"What does all that blabbering mean?" Rebekah pulled a face, "Saffarid?"

"Arabia," He didn't know what geography they possessed yet, "Her mother was captured while visiting Italy, returned to the court with a child. "

He didn't know the details of the politics.

"Now...she acts as a potential bridge between worlds."

"She clearly detests it here," Elijah noted.

"She detests The Count," Lucien corrected, "Far fonder of commoners."

JUNE 2013

"The Saffarid Dynasty?" MJ checked.

Kol nodded.

"They lost their land in 1003," MJ excelled at world history, "Was that because..."

"She left them," Elijah confirmed, "They might not have fallen if she'd stayed."

"Oh my god," She was fangirling a little, "Imagine having that much power over history!"

"Mira," Klaus gave her a look, "You created hybrids."

"She collapsed an Empire!"

Klaus looked gobsmacked by MJ's quick dismissal, "By running away!"

"She didn't run," Elijah countered, "She chose a life for herself."

"That you talked her into."

"I didn't talk her into anything."

"No," He nodded falsely, "You just happened to be at her wedding."

Something typical for vampires with mortal lovers?

"Where her husband-to-be just happened to drop dead after 'killing' her, your sword in him."

"Niklaus," Elijah sighed, "I was waiting for the ceremony to begin when the 'murder-suicide' was announced."

"The weapon?"

"I gifted it to her," He defended, "A momento of her time with us."

"Back up," MJ's hands were up, "Details."

"The history books will say," Kol's eyes were pointed at the ceiling, "That the man she was engaged to was abusive. Killing her when she tried to back out of the marriage."

MJ narrowed her eyes.

"Then himself. Out of guilt and fear of punishment."

"And what actually happened?"

"Elijah finally succeeded in talking her into transitioning," Klaus answered, "And, together they framed the man - "

"He was brutish and abusive," Kol clarified.

"And I had nothing to do with it," Elijah repeated, "I was simply there. And probably acted as a visual reminder of the choice she could make to free herself."

"Something she'd always wanted to be," Kol added, MJ watching his amused smile, "She hated her role, hated the fighting, and hated having to marry someone to end it."

"Indeed."

MJ watched the half-argument, enjoying the calmness of it.

"Hang on," She pointed at Elijah, "All this alluding made me think you hooked up with her."

Elijah didn't deny it.

"But you'd just lost Tatia."

"I had," He admitted, "My memories had also been somewhat altered by my mother."

Something he hadn't even realised until now.

"And...it wasn't exactly love. More," He paused for phrasing, "Mutual entertainment."

"Classy," Freya commented, so MJ didn't have to.

Elijah smiled, "Lina would never allow me to truly love her."

MJ liked the odd familiarity and softness he said, 'Lina.'

"If there was a war she could end," Freya sat up, "Why was she in France? Not her home?"

"Her family was complicated," Elijah was careful with the information, "Two of her half-brothers had joined the people fighting their father, the other two too young to be involved. Despite her 'questionable' lineage, her father held her highly, awarding her the Ambassador title offered by the surrounding territories."

Who would ever think a woman would be a useful spy?

"And her mother wanted her in France anyway, learning the things she'd learnt."

"She was less than impressed by it," Kol mused, "Had a far better understanding of the world than any of the people in that court ever did."

"An understanding we somewhat lacked," Elijah finished.

"Which drew you to her," Freya assumed.

"Yes."

"I mean," MJ shrugged, "The Middle Ages was the Golden Age of Science for the Middle East. They were miles ahead of Europe."

"Another reason why she was there," Elijah nodded, "The Count thought hosting her made him seem cultured, trying to weasel his way into her mother's family's good graces."

"Let's not forget the potential marriage," Kol added, kissing the air, "That was her favourite part of being there."

"Her favourite part was Elijah's desire to help her delay it," Klaus countered.

"Ah yes," Elijah grinned, "The desire he had to marry his son off to her in order to rise above the station of a Count."

There was a cry overhead.

Hope's.

Klaus was gone in an instant, and MJ had a text from Marcel, claiming he was ready to start.

And that she needed to be in activewear.

She called out a goodbye while rushing through her drawers in the magic room, placing Basil back in his cage and on the table.

MJ had been in the St Anne's fight club a few times since its start, occasionally popping in to do a locator spell or deliver some specialist herbs. But wandering in, officially one of the vampires, two Originals behind her, acting like a shadow, felt different.

The walk there had been weird too.

She'd phoned Josh to try and keep herself calm, telling him she was back from the wedding, that she had some important things to catch him up on, but that she'd be out until late, and he didn't need to worry. He'd been at Jackson Square, taking his weekly moment of silence for Aiden, so she'd left him to it.

Hanging up on Josh just forced her back to the busy street, Elijah a few paces behind her.

MJ kept stumbling, and eventually, Kol put a hand on her back.

"Tune them out by focusing on mine."

"I'm not listening to the heartbeats."

Initially, it had been that.

The heartbeats merged with the yelling, the street music and the rushing about that was Saturday Night in the city – but MJ had found something else to focus on. As much as she was tempted to bite into a tourist, experimenting with the different ways blood could taste and give in to all her desires, there was something else in her ear.

"Then what are you listening to?" Elijah stepped in line with them.

"There's a couple at the takeaway around the corner debating whether or not to break up," She admitted, "I'm eavesdropping."

Elijah fought off a smile, shaking his head.

"What?" She defended, "He cheated on her with two people, so she set a small fire in his apartment."

"Mira – "

"If I don't listen to them, I will bite someone."

"But – "

"Is Mr-Read-My-Phone-While-Daggered about to lecture me on boundaries?"

He looked up, "You're never going to let me forget that, are you?"

"Nope."

Kol blinked, "He did what?"

"Tell you later," She let her hand rest in his, squeezing.

"You're doing incredibly well," He assured her.

"Because you are the best assessor for her transition?"

"Yes." He glared, "I am."

Locked in another stare-off, Elijah sighed and started walking again.

He didn't need to say anything for the pair of them to know what he was probably thinking.

Kol was going to lead her astray.

MJ just kissed his cheek, causing him to smile down at her, rather than scowl after his brother, before starting to walk. She did like all the noise, definitely more than she liked the quiet. A million times more than pure horror she'd felt when in the Prison World version of the town.

But it was tough.

MJ had always been sensitive, a history of being overwhelmed, but she also trusted herself to be okay.

"Okay," Marcel and she were standing in the boxing ring, "I got your notebook."

She'd summoned it for him.

"You wanna science this, then we'll science this."

She pushed up on her feet cutely, "Thank you."

"And we're not gonna hit anywhere near everything today."

"That would probably be impossible."

"Those runs we go on, we're upping to twice a week," He pointed the book at her, "We'll cover jumping in them, and it'll give you a chance to get some of the energy out."

"She'll do that with me," Kol was sitting on a table outside the chain mail of the ring.

"Fine," Marcel rolled his eyes, "She can practise with me, but I'll let you cover it."

"Oh my god!" She'd forgotten about that, "How high is too high?"

Marcel carefully glanced at Elijah, "The way you asked makes me nervous."

"I like heights!" She reasoned, "I wanna jump off stuff."

"Yeah, okay. Your boyfriend can handle your lack of personal safety," He started to smile, "We'll cover long-distance speed."

"Oh!" She shot a hand into the air like she was in a classroom, "I'm not good at speed."

"You're not good at speed?"

"As in," She tilted her head and reappeared at the cage door, "I didn't mean to do that."

"...You didn't mean to do that?"

"As in," She turned, walking as she talked, "I went to pace, but then I started thinking about my wordsinstead ofmylegsandthen I – "

"MJ!" Marcel stopped her.

She blinked, not facing him, "Spoke at super-speed?"

"Little bit," He had to laugh, "I mean, I could understand you, but we're gonna have to work on it for everyday life."

"Yeah," She turned to look at him, a little dejected, "Literally none of my friends had that problem."

"And are any of your friends as smart as you?"

It felt bad to say no, but that was the answer.

"Exactly."

"You're always thinking fifty miles ahead of everyone, MJ," Kol pointed out, "Now your body can move that fifty miles while you do it."

MJ pulled on the bottom of her shirt awkwardly.

"We'll do some reaction and awareness stuff till it stops," Marcel didn't sound the slightest bit concerned.

Both of their calm attitudes did help her relax a little.

"But again, that'll need more than an evening, so we're gonna focus on strength."

She nodded.

He tossed the notebook over the chains, Elijah catching it.

"If he's playing observer, he can record," Marcel then picked up two sticks from the edge, handing them to her, "Kol can time."

Kol looked ready to protest with something like, 'you don't tell me what to do.' Then he saw the stopwatch Marcel was referring to, grinning as he picked it up and immediately started playing with the buttons.

He'd never really seen one before, never needing one.

MJ was giggling at the constant beeping that came with his fiddling.

"If the pair of you aren't able to concentrate together..." Elijah half threatened.

The couple stared at each other, had a non-verbal communication through eyebrow movement, then put their smiles away to answer with, "We can."

"And we can do this," Marcel motioned to the 'weapons', "Properly now."

And MJ's smile was back.

Both Marcel and Elijah were a little taken aback with how quickly she adapted to vampire combat, the first sticks breaking ridiculously quick, having to be spelled back together, then reinforced as they started it up again. Building a rhythm, where MJ had to try and hit him. She did so gleefully, Kol suggesting places for her to attack cheerfully from the sidelines.

It stopped when Marcel actually looked dazed.

"Sorry!"

"It's okay," He rubbed the spot she'd hit on his face, "Let's lose the middle man."

He wanted to correct her technique, but again, MJ had been doing fight stuff for a good few years.

She'd been taught the basics in New York, learnt how to actually use weapons in Chicago, and she hadn't exactly gone back. Especially since her sparring buddy had ended up being Tyler, a werewolf, then a hybrid. Plus Jeremy, the three of them tagging in together.

The first main lesson she actually needed was strength restriction.

How to move so that if a human punched you (a bar fight rather than a faction war), you didn't break their hand on impact, rolling with the attack.

Which led to how to hit at different levels.

That was where MJ met her problem.

She'd grown into someone who didn't start fights, but when she was hit, she hit back harder.

The 'villains' of her life had always wanted her to learn that lesson, some, like Mary Porter and Kai Parker, literally telling her to be stronger.

To give in to her worst instincts.

They'd started simple, punching bags, then pads, then throwing things so she didn't just skewer everything she could vaguely fling out in public. Once she'd finally managed to stop breaking things, Marcel talked her into an actual fight. No pads, just gloves on both of them. There'd been an initial hesitation since MJ didn't have any real inclination to just punch him in the face, but then he'd gotten it started, and everything had jumped from zero to a hundred in under a minute.

Their light punches, dodges, and swipes were interrupted by a comment about killing her mum, one MJ knew wasn't true, yet she'd seen red and basically charged.

Luckily, her unreliability with speed stopped him from getting his teeth knocked out, Marcel vamping away before she could make contact, watching how she automatically stilled and took a breath.

"Anger control is decent," He said to Elijah.

"Decent?" MJ questioned, "One comment and I was gone."

She panting, a little red-faced from the constant action, two hours spent getting her to hit weak enough to pass as a human.

"But you also stopped yourself," He came back over, "And no fangs came out."

MJ considered that, swallowing to clear her dry throat.

"Family is a trigger," He added, "That's something to note and something we can work on."

Her dad.

She needed to tell her dad.

MJ would have to be invited into his house now, and she wasn't sure she should let him until she was one hundred per cent okay.

Then again, when were vampires ever one hundred per cent okay.

Invited in...

Her building.

It was in her name, but now it was in no one's, and she didn't like that, and she couldn't let it stay that way. And – and Ric's apartment in Mystic Falls, and Ty's house –

"Mira," Kol's voice sounded stressed, "Still with us."

MJ glanced around.

She was no longer in the boxing ring, the chain wall broken, a hole in it, her standing on the opposite side of the break, closer to Elijah, Kol having vamped up to get in her way.

"Sorry."

"You don't need to apologise," Marcel kept his calm, "You're learning."

"I should be better," She'd helped so many people do it, "I know what I'm meant to be doing."

"Hey," He disapproved, "Don't do that to yourself."

"Do what?"

"Let whatever perfectionist mentality you have take over."

She sighed.

"MJ – "

"I wanna be good at this."

"And you are," He stressed, "We've been doing this for what? Three and half hours now?"

Two hours of strength stuff, an hour and a half of warm-ups and other small tests Elijah had taken notes about.

"You haven't asked about blood once," Kol pointed out, "Have you even thought about it?"

MJ pulled a face, "...No...actually."

"Which is good," Marcel motioned for her to come back inside the ring, "You're clearly way stronger than a baby vampire. We know hybrids are. You've fed from the vein twice without freaking out, and you shut your anger down in a few seconds."

She let herself nod.

"If speed is your biggest problem, that's a really good thing."

She breathed out a little.

"And the punching stuff?" He pointed to the bags she'd broken, "I'm teaching you how to reign it in because you don't need to be taught all the things my guys usually do – which is also good."

"You're sure?"

"There's nothing wrong with being strong," Kol said easily, "Life's more fun when you are."

Klaus and Katherine were the people who'd spent a lot of time trying to show her that...and before her first death, MJ had gotten really good at using her power.

"Still – "

"No," Marcel picked up the broken fence piece, "Just because you're used to finding stuff easy doesn't mean your bad at this."

"Hold up," She frowned, "I don't find things easy."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I've always been smart, but I work," She'd spent her life working, "I work to stay on top. And to get better – so don't, for even a second, imply that I'm good because I find things easy. That it's natural instead of nearly nine years of non-stop effort. On my own."

Her heart was pumping.

"Nothing has ever been easy for me."

Silence.

She took a breath.

Anger and exhaustion were the only thing on her mind, dialled up –

"Sorry."

"You don't need to apologise this much," Marcel repeated, "But just because you do work doesn't take away from my point. You operate like failing equals death."

"Because it does."

"Sometimes, yeah," He wasn't going to deny that, "But that's because of the situation, not you. You're not failing right now, MJ. No one's gonna die if you don't click with everything in a day."

Hearing Marcel say it sent a shiver through her body.

"You're not allowed to have that attitude anymore either," He spoke clearly, "You're one of my vamps, I'm gonna train you just like I train them, and you're not gonna kill anyone you don't want to."

She looked down.

He was claiming her as one of his vampires...

She didn't know how the other vampires would feel about a hybrid considering their usual distaste towards them, but Marcel wanted her. A faction – a group of people she could belong to instead of being the little siphoner on the outside.

She'd vamp-sped forward to give him a hug, a pause before he returned it.

Marcel's eye had jumped to Kol's unhappy face before he carefully rubbed her back, letting her hide in his arms for a second.

Then they separated.

"Idea," Kol had glanced away to stare elsewhere, "We can do a grading system."

MJ considered it.

"That'd kind of defeat the purpose," Marcel shook his head, "Of teaching her that it's not a pass or fail situation."

"Except, Marcellus," Kol pointed his stopwatch at MJ, "She very much likes the opportunity to do well in a controlled ranking system. It puts progress in perspective."

From grades to how her goals were set in therapy

"And she'd never be the bottom of the class," He grinned, "Because people like Klaus and I exist to bring the 'good vampire' 'grade boundary' down."

MJ giggled; Elijah confused, "When did you become so versed in High School terminology?"

"I was dead and stuck in Mystic Falls for a year," He shrugged, "Sometimes I eavesdropped on the High School for some history catch-up."

Since the plan had always been to bring him back.

"They reward people with shiny sashes - I know that cos I watched her get one."

MJ perked up, "Can I get a sash?"

Marcel blinked twice, processing the odd look of excitement on her face.

"It's not about passing or failing," She agreed, "But a grading system gives me something to aim for. And it means I can be top of the class – I'm really good at being at the top of a class."

"We will get you a sash to go with your valedictorian one," Kol decided, "Reward you for working hard."

MJ laughed, "I like really like that plan."

"Then I guess we'll do it," Marcel sighed, shaking his head to hide his smile, "Now, can you fix my ring?"

She waved her hand; it was like the damage had never been done.

"And tell me what got you jittery."

"The apartment," She felt weird saying it, "I need to get it in someone's name, then get them to invite Josh and I..."

She moved slightly to the left, skidding as she managed to catch herself.

"Question," MJ was talking to the three vampires in the room, "Can you give people entry to a house over the phone."

They both considered it.

"No idea," Marcel admitted.

"We never bother signing the lease to someone," Elijah added.

"Which is incredibly unsafe," MJ grinned falsely at him, "Especially when there's an infant daughter of the most hated vampire on the planet in the house."

"...You might have a point."

"I always have a point," She pulled out her phone, "My name is on quite a few pieces of property, which means I need to get all the deeds changed."

"That's something you can do tomorrow," Marcel confiscated her phone, tossing it over the wire to Kol, "We're heading out to see how you handle public events and compulsion."

"Okay."

First, Marcel and MJ needed to shower and change; Davina's attic still had working water since her room had been left untouched.

Passing through, MJ swore it seemed somewhat lived in.

She knew Kol had given Davina the keys to her old place. Her having her old place didn't really bother her; MJ's belongings all moved out, only leaving furniture for her to make her own. MJ hoped the dust pattern was from Davina collecting things, not alternating where she slept.

Until Davina started talking to her again, MJ couldn't do anything about it.

The group of four left the church to return to the streets.

"How'd you end up turning people then?" MJ prompted, still waiting to hear the train of thought, "How'd you go from a Princess getting mistreated to feeding people blood."

"Well, Lina's role was..." Elijah walked, almost happy to be talking about the time, "Did you know she was a witch before she turned?"

"Not before Kol told me."

At the time, it had been a bit of a WTF moment, considering the number of times Marceline had praised witches and tried to talk MJ into starting magic again. It all made so much more sense with the context.

"I was the first to know," Her boyfriend boasted, Marcel trailing a little behind them, checking his phone, "We spent a lot of time together."

She smiled at the idea of Kol having a friend of sorts.

However, she had a few questions about why Kol didn't talk about her that much. Even if he didn't talk about his past much, he referred to Dinah as his friend – his primary friend. Surely Marceline would've been higher on his list?

It was a question for when they were alone.

"Elijah used to be quite jealous."

She laughed.

"I never knew you and Selene were together," Marcel commented to the elder one.

"That's because her continued presence in our lives was not based on me," Elijah had a glint in his eye that MJ had missed, "We became close. People stopped questioning our station in the court."

"But something went wrong," MJ could only assume.

"There was one day that started the descent of madness."

MJ grinned at the over-dramatic tone.

"Why do I feel like I'm somehow going to get blamed for this?" Kol fake thought about it.

"Because it was entirely your fault we were caught?"

"It wasn't entirely!" He scoffed, "Majorly – sure. But not entirely! And I wouldn't have been half as sloppy if Maci hadn't dared me to do things."

"She got you caught by Mikael?" MJ filled in the blanks.

"That night isn't the one I was referring to," Elijah spoke before Kol could, "It was a sunny day. A summer feast held in an attempt to impress the Foreign Princess."

He began to paint the word picture.

"Music played, the entire court gathering to take in the sun...It was a time when our family finally began to find happiness again," He explained, "Well...everyone has their own take on happiness. Klaus was enamoured with the sister, Aurora."

Which explained the dramatic car stop.

"And he'd made a friend in the servant, Lucien."

She was taking mental notes on the names.

"I was settling into Tristan's good graces, spending most of my evenings talking with Maci to learn about her land and their secrets, as well as accepting any knowledge she would spare about Europe to help us blend."

She'd spent her life assimilating between two cultures, the best person to learn from.

"Rebekah loved being treated like a lady of the court. Finn befriended Tristan too, and Kol..."

"I drank to my heart's desire in the local village."

Marcel's hands were in his pockets, "Happiness indeed."

"Bloodshed and mayhem," He shrugged.

"And this celebration," MJ kept them on topic, "That triggered some disaster?"

"The Count was never that present, leaving most duties to his arrogant son, Tristan, and that feast was meant to put his daughter on display for courting, as well as present Tristan as a suitable man for Marceline."

"Which I assume you put a stop to?"

He smiled slyly.

"Um," Kol waved a hand, "This is my part of the story."

1002

Tables had been set up, covered in platters of fruit and cheese, a collection of women kneeling on the grass, Maci and Aurora among them, watching the men chucking axes at a wooden circle propped up several metres away. Tristan and Elijah were the two competing for the top spot, people clapping with each hit target.

Klaus, however, sat in a chair, whittling a horse figurine from a block of wood.

As Tristan's axe faltered, Elijah's landed perfectly in the centre, cracking the board slightly as more people clapped, but when both men looked towards the woman on the grass, Maci was lying back, looking at the sky.

A servant announced that it was over, cueing her to get up and move towards the food, ignoring the step towards her they'd made.

Elijah faltered, pretending he'd only been walking over to talk to his sister.

Tristan did the same, only to find his sister not paying attention either, smiling at Lucien across the yard.

Lucien, then Klaus.

Maci watched how they all moved, counting faces and waiting for their eyes to leave her completely. Then, and only then, she retreated into the castle, turning one corner and coming face to face with a sight she didn't want to see.

"It's midday!" She scolded as Kol pulled his head back, "Have some decency."

He turned to face her, blood dripping down his chin.

One of the court ladies was giggling against a wall, her dress half undone, one of his hands up the skirt, and a large bite on her neck.

Kol looked between the two, contemplating his options, "And to think, I was looking for an excuse to taste you – "

"Move," Maci shoved him aside, putting a hand on the woman's head and one over her neck, lightly starting to chant.

Kol went still.

She faltered slightly, correcting some of her pronunciation and then falling back into a rhythm.

After a few minutes, the woman was healed.

"That should've wiped her memory," She bit her cheek.

The woman was looking at Kol, blushing, realigning her skirt and rushing away, trying to make herself look presentable again like the pair weren't even standing there.

They took that as confirmation the spell had worked.

Maci took him in again.

She sighed sympathetically.

Her long red dress sleeve was lifted up, "Wipe the blood off then."

Kol was staring at it, incredibly confused.

"Fake-Last-Name-Number-Whatever?"

He accepted the offer, "I'm still going to kill you."

"You can try," She smiled at the threat, "But how exactly are you gonna cover it up?"

"Elijah has rules," He stated bluntly, clearly irritated by the phrase, "We cannot leave anyone alive who has seen us as we are."

"Awe," Marceline teased, "You follow the rules?"

He straightened up, "It's him stopping me from ripping your throat out right now."

"Scared of your big brother?"

"Hardly!"

"Prove it," She challenged, "Take a bite."

His fangs came out.

Then, he hit the floor and cried out.

"I'm a witch, love; you're not about to get anywhere."

His face returned to normal, and she let him back on his feet.

Instantly, Kol slammed her into a wall at super speed, a hand around her throat, choking it, "You want to test me, little witch."

"Iiqaf."

He flinched back, sunlight from the open door burning his skin.

"Enchanted ring," She noted, "Good to know."

They were left staring at each other.

"It's not got a crest on it, so it's not a family memento, yet none of you are ever seen without them."

The implication she'd been watching them for a while.

"I came to help," Maci took a cautious step closer to him, "You're the only one missing from the luncheon, and eventually someone will notice – especially if a lady in waiting then turns up dead."

He was frowning.

"I'm hardly an enemy to whatever you are."

Kol tilted his head, "How long have you known?"

"From the moment Elijah made contact with my hand," She waved it dismissively, "I could sense dark magic."

"And you want to help?"

"I'm a witch," She repeated, "Well –that's not what they call it in my homeland, but it is here."

He slowly started to smile.

"We serve nature," She shrugged, "Any creature allowed to walk on this earth is part of nature."

Kol let his grin show, "The Princess becomes the servant to the likes of me."

"If you try ordering me about, I'll set you on fire," She assured him, "But stopping you from starting a supernatural hunt is in both of our best interests."

"What if I don't want to stop?" He stepped a little too close for comfort, "What if I want to see how many people they're willing to burn until they figure out it's me."

She didn't back away, "Niklaus shows love to Aurora...Rebekah is fascinated by it too..."

Kol didn't like the way she was looking at him.

"Why do you act with so little care?"

"Why should I care about silly-humans?"

She accepted the answer, bobbing her head, "Interesting."

"...Interesting?"

"So you can't walk in the sun without a spell on your family rings," She pushed around him, listing, "You need blood – what else?"

June 2013

"That was the first moment of inconvenience that day," Elijah moved them onto a busier street, Marcel and him watching for her reaction to the crowd, but MJ was fixed on the story.

"That wasn't an inconvenience," Kol felt compelled to justify it all, "That was the end of my boredom in that place."

"The first witch you meet instantly accepted you as part of the natural world?" MJ questioned, "I swear it's like society un-does progress every few decades."

"Maci was hardly a voice for all witches," Elijah reminded her, "She was focused on discovering what was out there rather than preserving what she knew. And Kol was definitely one of her little experiments."

"Which means?" MJ looked to Kol.

"We spent the rest of the day together," He shrugged, "She performed spells for me in exchange for seeing the range of my abilities."

"Such as?"

"Seeing how long I could stand in the sun without a ring on before I was temporarily 'dead.'"

MJ would've laughed if she didn't have a terrible association between Kol and burning.

"Strength, speed – she had me collecting things from different shops in the town," He admitted, almost embarrassed, "Stabbing me with anything she could get her hands on."

"And you let that happen?" Marcel raised an eyebrow, "It just sounds like she tortured you."

"Torture's only tortured if it's none consensual. The rest of the time, it's – "

"I don't need to know the end of that sentence."

"I found it quite fun."

"To be fair," MJ and him exchanged a knowing look.

They'd had enough conversations about his humanity that day.

Kol bobbed his head, "That was probably it."

The two other vampires were staring at them, waiting for an explanation.

MJ looped their arms and continued walking, "The rest of the story?"

"While we were sneaking around," He spoke to force the pair to follow, "The rest of my family were causing a more public mess. Hence, why the fallout is not solely my fault."

"Klaus had been caught with The Count's daughter," Elijah took over, "Except, Lucien had been blamed for it since he'd been the one to find them, Klaus slipping away before anyone else did."

Marcel made a noise, "Not good."

"He was chained up in the basement and whipped for it by her brother."

MJ found it weird to think about a time when the Mikaelsons weren't the ones doing the whipping, and from before they hadn't been rich and privileged.

"It was a week and a half before Klaus and I could find him, trying to help."