𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐄, Stefan and Damon

Chapter 6

Why am I worrying about Mikael? He should be well out of my mind by now. He's dead. Gone. Never to be seen again. Still, I have this lingering feeling that I'll never get rid of that asshole and that me killing him will never be enough. Gods know how many times I've seen witches get resurrected, even if it goes against their fundamental beliefs.

"Let's get you over," Stefan crooned in my ear, running his hands down my sides. I giggled, letting him pick me up into his strong arms. My face flushed pink as he kissed my cheek. "You're so cute when you get all flustered."

"No," I denied playfully as we made our way back into the dining room. Plates of food were ready for us, already being set out by someone. It could have been our compelled house maids or Nik, we'll never know. "The food looks great, Nik."

"See, someone appreciates it," Nik almost huffed, looking over at our sister, who simply rolled her eyes as she took her seat. Sometimes I wonder with the two of them. They're both confusing. I think Rebekah expects to have the same relationship that Nik and I have, but Nik and I know what we share is special. He... we both went through the same things as children and bonded over that. Rebekah has gone against him to help herself many times and Nik knows that. He may have forgiven her but he'll never forget. With him being as damn paranoid as he is... I doubt he'll ever get past it enough to form a bond like ours with any of our siblings.

Perhaps Henrik will get the closest, he hasn't done anything and mostly plays video games with Jer.

"Wonderful," Davina said cheerily as she sat down next to Kol. Thankfully she wasn't deprived of all knowledge relating to mates and how they work, or else I would be having another harsh conversation with my son. Even if she's a bit behind magically, I should be able to help her catch up. Hell, Kol should be able to help as well.

"Are we all going to play nice happy family over here or are we going to talk about the real reason why we're having this dinner?" Laurel questions, taking a bite out of her food. Finn gave her a confused look but stayed quiet. He's been in a coffin for 900 years, I can't blame him for not understanding our very, very weird relationship with Marcel. He's my son, but he's never met Finn. "Pass the salt please."

As always, Henrik arrived late into the dining room, looking just as confused as Finn. He's been dead but he could see... where was he during our years here...? Doing some exploring of his own in the great beyond?

"And baby brother is late for dinner," Rebekah snarked at him, eyes narrowing as Jeremy made his way into the room. "With the boyfriend as well."

"He's not my boyfriend!" They said at the same time before taking a seat next to each other. Kol and Damon couldn't hold back their snorts. The two of them have a bet with Stefan and Rebekah. Are they gay or are they not, that is the question. I would have betted them as well if I hadn't been downstairs helping Kai with his spells. Damn them for leaving me out on the bet.

"We should get back to why Striddy decided that it would be nice to have him over," Nik said with clear disdain for the situation I'd put him in. "After all, Marcel seems to be back from the dead and bringing the French Quarter into authoritarian ruin."

"Politics at the table, really?" Henrik says.

"Yes, politics at the table little brother," Kol says with a chuckle. "Marcel has made himself into a dictator. Not what we taught him, I'm sure. Even I wouldn't do what he's doing. Then again, I used to be a witch myself, so I sympathize with the people whose lives and livelihoods he's ruined due to his tyranny." Okay, so now the debate is getting heated. I shouldn't have expected anything otherwise, but one can have hope for civility. "Honestly Marcel, did you really think that they would work with you on anything. I don't even know why little Davina has taken a liking to you. I never did."

"Okay, okay, let's be civil," I tried to say, only to have them completely disregard me. I felt Elijah tense from the other side of the table as he chose to stay quiet for now.

"The witches don't work with me they work for me-"

"And that's the problem, Marcel!" Kol exclaims. "You can't expect a group like that to work for anybody but themselves. I would know best! Your mother would know best when it comes to how tricky witches are. They hate you. You've repressed their traditions that they cling on to and soon enough you'll have an uprising on your hands. An uprising means that humans find out about us and God knows what could happen to my family. Sorry to break it to you, but what you're doing just won't work in the favor of anyone. Vampires can't be allowed this much power because they'll abuse it. We've seen this before and it doesn't end well."

"I hate to say it, but my little brother is right," Elijah says with a sigh. "Witches are a fickle people with superstitions and generational trauma, which makes them volatile. When they feel threatened or abused, they attack. Maybe not now, maybe not next week, but at some point they will break your forces and take back the city. This place was not meant for ruling, it was meant for governance, honor, civility, and prosperity. You have given none of these vital things, hence your obvious incompetence. Despite your upbringing you have not gained the rights to the throne of which you sit, making you a mere figurehead for what could be."

"Wow, the man of morals," Marcel huffs.

"Throwing tantrums is not something I've done since I was a toddler, yes," he retorted. Damon and I exchanged a look before we continued to listen in as if this were some TV show. "Whether you like it or not you are not fit for any throne, big or small, golden or bronze. I will not let you play politics with people's lives, especially when you have been taught better by my family. To forget all of our teachings is to put a stain on my name and every other Mikaelson at this table. What you do affects this family."

"If I'm really a part of this family, why don't any of you act like it." Nik was clearly fighting back the urge to roll his eyes at the impending tantrum our son was about to have. We've dealt with the same behavior for so many years that we sense the tension as it starts to break down. "Everyone else at this table gets to make decisions-"

"That is not true in the slightest," Elijah cuts him off. "Henrik and Jeremy make no decisions regarding this family. Rebekah does not make decisions. There are very few people who have gained the ability to make decisions around here. Myself, your mother, father, Kol, and Kai make the majority of the choices and changes in the house. When it comes to children or witches the heretics do things on their own with the help of Caroline. This is a group effort, but not everyone has authority."

"We are not claiming to be a democracy," Nik says. "Never once did we say that everyone gets a choice in what they do. Free will only gets you so far when you don't know what the bloody hell you're doing. This family may be a social unit but at the moment we have groups that need structure, discipline. For the most part we are a people, not a dictatorship."

Nik had a good point there. We may be family, but our family needs something to do, people to look up to for answers. That doesn't mean that we don't argue or do things that we don't want blindly, but it means we have faith that our plans will work out for the better of everyone. We're supposed to be on the throne, supporting each group, but now Marcel has gotten it into his head that one person can figure it out all on their lonesome. That never works. It ends in a power grab or anarchy.

"The fact of the matter is that is no game." Elijah takes a sip of his blood. "This is a matter of life or death. Thankfully we are both."