CHAPTER NINETEEN | GIVE 'EM HELL, KID

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ONE OF THE HARDEST DAYS HAD FALLEN UPON THEM— CAMI AND DAVINA'S FUNERALS. The Evans girl made an appearance at Cami's Irish Wake, which was painstakingly planned by Hayley, and then headed to the cemetery for Davina's. She wanted to have the chance to say goodbye to both of her friends, and that was her intention for going to Davina's wake. 

"Say not in grief, that she is no more, but be thankful that she ever was. And, though she was taken far too soon, may her enduring light show us a way through this darkness." Vincent spoke as he carefully lit a few candles. "Let us mourn because we cannot move on until we do. And, though the pain, at times, seem more than we can bear, make no mistake, we will move on. Yeah, even now the words of Ecclesiasticus are ringing in my ears. They're saying, Vengeance as a lion, shall lie in wait for them."

"You shouldn't be here, Riley." Marcel spoke suddenly. The Evans girl finally appeared a short distance behind them, after remaining out of sight for so long. 

"She was my friend. I just want the chance to be able to say goodbye to her." The girl innocently answered back. 

Vincent shook his head in disbelief whilst a small scoff left his lips. "If it wasn't for your damn family, we wouldn't be saying goodbye at all!" 

Riley's attention finally moved to Kol. "Please." She looked it him with pleading eyes and she could see how badly he was breaking. Begrudgingly, Kol nodded, much to the distain of everyone else. 

Once Riley took her place at Kol's side, Josh stepped forward to speak. "A while ago, forever ago, I told Davina a story about my first boyfriend but what I didn't tell her was that I'd never shared that story with anyone else. She was like a sister and a best friend and I loved her." Josh whimpered softly. "I wish that— uh—" After getting choked up, he took a step backward.

All eyes averted to Kol, who could barely contain himself. "I'm sorry. I can't." He apologised, voice breaking as he looked to Riley. "Go ahead."

"Um—" Riley hesitantly took a few word after a small encouraging smile from Kol. "Davina was the first friend I made when I came to New Orleans. She reminded me a lot of myself when I was younger. She was headstrong, passionate, and one hell of a fighter. She fought for what was right and she knew exactly what she wanted and she wouldn't stop until she got it." The girl sighed, brushing a tear from her cheek. "And, I can't tell you how sorry I am." Vincent and Marcel didn't bother to look at Riley as she stepped back beside Kol. 

Marcel pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, but after a moment, he folded it back up and placed it in his jacket. "Words aren't any good. The Mikaelsons need to answer for this. I'm gonna make them answer." He placed his palm against Davina's tomb. "I promise."

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After Davina's wake, Riley returned to the compound. As she wandered into the courtyard, she was met with Elijah. He noticed the devastation on her face the minute her eyes met his and she sped into his hold. He wrapped his arms delicately around her for a moment before they finally headed upstairs to check on the progress Freya had made.

"Anything?" Elijah asked. 

"There's too many pieces. Every time I get close to seeing something, it all just fades away." An exasperated Freya sighed. She was trying to find out whether or not the prophecy still stood since Lucien was dead.

Elijah comfortingly place his hand on Freya's shoulder, but in doing so, the pair were exposed to visions. Both siblings stared at each other, bewildered. "What was that?" Riley asked.

"I'm not quite sure." Elijah breathed out as he held his hand out toward Freya. "Finish it." The Mikaleson gripped his hand tightly and the pair were exposed to more visions. However, they were clearer this time. "What the hell did I just see?"

"Vincent told me he found a way to extract the serum from Aurora." Freya lifted herself up and started down the staircase with Elijah and Riley following close behind. "I was busy at the time, but if Vincent did steal the serum. If he... if he gave it to Marcel—"

"Oh, my God. At Davina's wake he said he was going to make us answer for what happened to her. Perhaps this is what he meant." Riley whispered fearfully while Freya disappeared to see if the serum was still inside Aurora. "Elijah. Everything we've done—"

"It's okay." He told her with a confident tone as he pulled his phone from his pocket. "Niklaus, where are you? Call me." 

"The serum." Freya joined the couple back in the courtyard. "There's no trace of it in her. We need to warn Klaus."

Elijah lifted his phone up with a defeatist look. "He's not answering."

"Elijah, the power I stole from the Ancestors, it was enough to deal with Lucien, but that power's faded. If Marcel takes that serum and becomes the beast foretold in the prophecy, I won't be able to stop him."

"Locate Niklaus, I'll find Marcel." As Elijah turned to leave, Riley sped in front of him. "Riley—"

"—You should just let me come with you, because the longer you stand here and argue with me, the more time you waste."

"Noted. Let's go."

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Freya managed to locate Marcel and it wasn't long before Elijah and Riley arrived at the location. Both he and Klaus were engaged in a conversation on top of a bridge overlooking the falls. "Gentlemen, are we interrupting something?" Elijah furrowed his brows. "Step aside, Niklaus."

"This is a private conversation." Irritably, Klaus strode toward Elijah and Riley. "Your concerns can wait." 

"Klaus, just listen to us—" 

"—Same Mikaelson drama." Marcel scoffed. "One of you is trying to make peace, the other one is eyeing me like I'm a rabid dog."

"Well, then tell me our concerns are unfounded, Marcellus."

"Oh, what? I got to prove myself? To you?" He irritably snapped, narrowing his eyes toward Elijah. "Davina was like a daughter to me and you condemned her to a fate worse than death. So, how is it my job to prove myself to you?"

"All right, that's enough. Both of you." The Hybrid glanced between his brother, and the boy he cared for like a son. 

"I remember what you said at Davina's wake." Riley interrupted again, causing Klaus' brows to knit together with confusion. "So, where is it, Marcel?" 

"What? This?" He pulled the serum out from his inner jacket pocket as Klaus' eyes widened. 

"What the hell is that?" 

"That, my dear brother, is a wicked little gift from our friend, Vincent." 

"I guess he figured better me than Aurora." Marcel shrugged. "And now that I got it, I can't help but think, why not take it? I mean, loyalty never got me anywhere. And, the only thing you respond to is a show of force."

"Marcellus, end this foolishness right now." Klaus desperately tried to make him see sense.

"Or else, what?" He challenged. "I mean, I'm family, right? Why would this little serum have to change anything, other than the simple fact that I would be your equal?" He noticed Klaus' face fall. "Oh, yeah. I figured you could never live with that."

"You hand it over right now and I will forgive this act of defiance as a moment of weakness brought on by your grief."

"Oh, that's funny. I thought you came here asking for my forgiveness. But you like it better this way, don't you? Me owing you. And all that pretty fairy tale about me being part of the family? That only works if you're in control." Marcel's eyes moved to Riley. "I mean, look what you did to her. Compelling me to kill her, just to make her something more powerful— something you could use. Klaus Mikaelson— smiling down like a benevolent king. Showing mercy to all his subjects. But you still have to be the king, don't you? The thing about kings, though. Eventually, they all fall, even you, Klaus."

"Please, Marcel, just give me the serum." Riley extended her hand toward him.

"I'm not giving you a damn thing!"

"I can't allow you the means to destroy my family."

"Your family. Right!" Marcel pointed directly at Klaus with a scoff. "Thank you."

"Klaus, Marcel will betray us. I saw it with my own eyes." 

Marcel was seemingly perplexed by Elijah's comment. "I will betray you? I asked, begged for your help, and you left Davina to rot. You put down Lucien because he was coming for you, for your family. But, the thing is, you made Lucien. You turned him, taught him and then abandoned him. And then you blamed Lucien because it's always somebody else's fault. But, maybe you were the villains in his story. After all, that is the Mikaelson way, right? Kill, main, torture, all in the name of family. Always and forever. I used to admire that vow. It gave me back the thing that had been beaten out of me. Faith in those you love. I was a fool. Always and forever is just an excuse to do whatever the hell you want. Maybe it's time someone put an end to that."

"You are treading very close to a dangerous decision." Elijah whispered quietly. "I'm asking you to choose wisely."

"Fair enough." Marcel went to drink the serum but Klaus sped toward him in an attempt to stop him. However, Marcel simply swatted Klaus away with ease. "You can't stop me, Klaus."

"I only meant to keep you from crossing a line you would most certainly regret."

"No. You meant to keep your precious upper-hand! Don't you get it? Whatever I had to do, Klaus, I will find a way to hurt you. You will never be safe, not as long as I am alive. You can call me family all you want, I am done being your friend! From this day forward, I am nothing less than your worst—"

Riley couldn't believe what had happened until it was too late. A gasp of anguish left Marcel's lips before he stumbled aside and his body fell off the bridge, into the sea below. All that remained was Elijah stood in Marcel's place, holding his heart within his hand. 

"No!" Klaus roared in horror. With tears in his eyes, he rushed to the railings to watch Marcel's dead body fall into the water, then he turned back to Elijah. "The current took him."

"Niklaus, I saw Freya's vision."

Klaus looked away from his brother in shame. "What did you do? I could've talked him down. I could've—"

"You could've what?" Elijah interrupted abruptly. Riley remained silent, not daring to intervene. "You could've watched our family's extinction at the hands of Marcel Gerard."

"He was one of us!"

"Yes, he was. But, think about it, Klaus. Marcel was friend and family. And, because of what happened to Davina— he was foe. Probably the most dangerous one you would have ever faced because he knew us. All of us." The Evans girl explained. "I hate what has happened here. I hate that Marcel's dead, but Elijah's only intent was to protect his family."

Elijah nodded in agreement. He swallowed thickly and shook his head. "I had no choice." 

With furrowed brows, Klaus took a step closer to Elijah. "Do you really believe that?" With that, he walked away.

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