MOONS.
006. | ❛ a true beauty. ❜

Elijah is in the middle of his own workout at the new gym Marcel has set up at St. Anne's church, where he is vigorously punching and kicking a punching bag. After a moment, he gets so heated in his exercise that he punches the bag clear across the room, where it knocks over a bench press and hand-weights. When he turns around, he sees that Luna has entered the room with a small card in her hands. She addresses him with a mocking tone.

"Something the matter, Elijah? There's nothing you want to talk about? Like... The Strix?"

Elijah pulls out a towel and uses it to blot the sweat from his face. When he doesn't respond, Luna reads the black invitation in her hands aloud to him.

"I do hope that you can come, old chum. Signed, Tristan. Who the hell says chum anymore?"

She waves the invitation in the air and gives Elijah a look as he walks over to pluck the invite out of her hands to read it for himself.

"I was picking was on my way out when some vampire dropped it off."

Elijah continues to skim the invitation, which reads in full "You are cordially invited to an evening of exquisite excess. The Davilla Estate, 7041 St. Charles Avenue. Midnight," along with Tristan's personal note at the end that Luna read aloud.

"You care to fill me in?"

Elijah quietly says,"This isn't your concern."

Elijah starts to walk past Luna, but she grabs him by the arm and stops him.

"Oh, but it is."

Luna then vamp-speeds them both over to the cage, where she pins him to the chain-link wall by the throat.

"So, why don't you cut the protective macho crap and tell me what's going on. I'm part of this family too, Elijah. I thought you of all people would act like it."

Elijah, who looks surprised by her tenacity, spins them so he is now pinning Luna against the wall by her wrists

"So, what do you want to know?"

**********************

Hayley is in Rebekah's old room at the compound, where she's searching through a stack of clothes she's laid out on her bed for an outfit for The Strix's party and muttering to herself under her breath.

"Come on, Rebekah. You've gotta have something..."

Just then, Luna enters the room from behind her and smiles. She's already dressed in her sky blue dress though her hair still isn't fixed up yet.

"May I?" Luna insists

Luna searches through the pile of dresses until she finds a bright red taffeta gown with open shoulders and hands it to Hayley, who smiles sheepishly as she ducks into the attached bathroom to change into it.

"Thanks. I'd wear my own clothes, but..."

"...I don't usually lean towards formal wear."

Luna just gazes elsewhere while Hayley changes in her dress.

"Look Hayley, I'm sorry. For what happened with Klaus and Hope. I know that what I did was horrible but it's just Klaus is so...."

"It's the sire bond. Klaus turned you thus your faithful to him. " Hayley responds in a normal tone.

"I just hope that I can gain your trust again. I'm really repented of what I did."

"Well, this is just a small step in that direction." Hayley extends her hand out for a shake, Luna accepting. Elijah walks in and looks awkwardly at the two.

"Are you guys ready?"

"Just about. So... What exactly are we walking into tonight?"

"Only the most dangerous and influential congregation of vampires the world has ever known."

The Strix's party is in full swing, complete with formally-dressed members wearing masquerade masks and burlesque dancers dressed in the style of the flappers of the 1920s. There are humans in attendance as well, most of whom are being fed on by the various members of The Strix.

Hayley,Elijah,and Luna arrive to the party and stop in the doorway as they take in the environment. Their arrival seems to have generated a lot of attention, as many of the guests are staring at Elijah curiously, which unnerves Hayley and Luna

"Why are they all staring at you?" Luna whispers to him.

"I'm kind of a big deal around here."
Hayley's eyes widen in realization as they head toward the bar across the room.

"They're all part of your sireline."

"Most of them, tragically, yes. You see, ladies, I wanted to assemble minds curious about the world and eager to improve it, along with the time and circumstance to do so. My desire was to create an elite brotherhood devoted to a new, better civilization. It was naive. Eventually, I was forced to abandon them once I realized I'd cultivated a legion of ego-maniacal sociopaths."

Just then, a row of caterers with trays of champagne flutes walk into the room and tap their glasses with butter knives to get the attention of the party as Tristan, dressed in a fine suit, makes his arrival to the gathering known.

"This isn't a party. It's an initiation." Elijah informs us.

"Distinguished friends, welcome. It's so rare that we're able to come together like this to revel for one night in the company of true equals. Now, I'd like to take a moment to welcome a very special guest-- Marcel Gerard." Tristan introduces while Marcel takes a step forward and nods in acknowledgement as the crowd claps their hands in applause.

"Thank you. I'm honored. Thank you."

"Of course, before we tell Marcel all of our secrets, there's one small piece of business to which we must first attend. We must determine his worth."

"That's funny... I seem to recall you being the one knocking on my door."

"You'll notice, Mr. Gerard, that over the course of the evening, someone has managed to take something quite dear to you... Your daylight ring." Marcel looks down at his hand and realizes that his daylight ring has vanished from his right middle finger. He frowns worriedly, not knowing what to expect. While Hayley suddenly turns to Elijah and say quietly in his ear.

"What the hell is going on?"

Hayley looks shocked and worried at this sudden turn of events. But Elijah hold back her arm in a comforting manner while keeping his eyes on Tristan, as if telling her to wait and see what happens next.

"The test is quite simple. First, you need to deduce the identity of the thief. Then, you are simply to take back what is yours... Although, I doubt the prize will be easily relinquished. After all, despite our refinement, we're still a rather violent bunch. In victory, you become one of us. In failure, you meet your death. You have a few hours until dawn. I wish you the best of luck."

Luna heads to the bar in search of a way to ease the tensions of this night. Tristan appears behind Luna as she orders her drink.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Tristan de Martel, and you must be the famous Luna Davis, Member of The Crescent Wolves or as Klaus's new girlfriend. "

Tristan takes her had and kisses it gently, but Luna, not impressed, jerks her hand away after a moment, though it doesn't seem to faze him.

"The pleasure's all mine, I see."

Tristan holds out his hand in an invitation to dance, Luna looks wary about it which Tristan notices.

"Please. Just one dance..."

"If it's not an intrusion."

They look at each other for a long moment before Luna sighs and drinks the rest of her champagne before setting her glass on the bar, rolling her eyes while her back is turned to Tristan.

Luna reluctantly takes Tristan's offered hand and allows him to lead her onto the dance floor, where they begin to dance together

"I'm glad you came, Luna. Like it or not, when one refers to the Mikaelsons, they're referring to you, as well. Tonight will allow you to make up your own mind about our organization."

"And you think by killing my friend, you're gonna make the best impression?"

"I think tonight, you'll bear witness to the truth. At the very least, you cannot call us liars."

"There are few novelties left in the world, especially to us. A creature such as you is certainly among them"

"Yeah? And what kind of a creature might that be?" Luna narrows her eyes at him.

"A hybrid, of course. You, Luna Davis, are one of a kind. And, a true beauty, at that."

Luna looks uncomfortable at this comment, and Tristan spins her around before pulling her close, and she does her best to avoid eye contact with him.

"I'm sorry. Please excuse me." He whispers in her ear.