I'm in the Bayou with Hayley and Eve who I just met told me she's helping Hayley with contractions.
I sit beside Hayley in a wooden chair holding her hand and for a werewolf her grip is tight.
Eve: That's it. Inhale and release.
Hayley: I guess this means no epidural, huh? You sure I can't do this thing in, say, a hospital? The place with the doctors and the drugs?
I look at Eve: I totally agree.
Eve: Honey, the werewolves have been having babies out here since before you guys were born. Stop worrying.
Hayley: Okay. Then what, Eve? I don't even know what it's like to have a mother, let alone be one.
I slightly nod agreeing with her.
Eve: Trust me, when the time comes, you'll know exactly what to do.
Hayley: I hope so. As fun as it is to image Klaus changing dirty diapers, I'm pretty sure that I'll be doing this alone.
I laugh at the thought of Klaus changing diapers.
Eve: I somehow doubt that.
I smile at Hayley: I plan on staying longer than I should. You got the pack and me.
Then Elijah comes in and we all look at him.
Elijah: Pardon the interruption. I wonder if I might have a quick word with the conspirators of a supposed uprising.
Hayley and I make our way outside to see Jackson and Oliver waiting for us. Then Elijah begins to talk about some things I don't even know about.
Elijah: You're making a grave mistake.
Oliver: So, you're just worried about us. Is that it?
Jackson: Look, Elijah. We know all about your brother's reputation, but if there is even a chance that these rings can help us take control of our curse --
Oliver: -- Our gift --
Jackson: --Then, honestly, we don't care what he's really after. Won't have to.
Elijah: I see. There are those in the Quarter who will consider this a great provocation.
Oliver: Apparently, most of them see us breathing the same way.
Elijah looks at Hayley: You signed a pledge, and you looked me in the eye as you did so.
Hayley: We don't want a fight, Elijah. We just want a better life.
Elijah: Allegiance with my brother will guarantee you anything but that.
I look at Hayley: What rings.
Jackson: It'll help control our cu-gift. I was going to surprise you. You wouldn't have to change anymore.
I smile at the thought then look at Elijah: Sorry Eli.
Then all of a sudden we hear the sound of a motorbike approaching.
Jackson: What the hell?
I stand back as I watch Elijah and Jackson walk up to the man on the bike.
MAN: Which one of you is in charge?
JACKSON: Who's asking?
Somethings not right with the man it's just a feeling I have. Hayley and I start to walk up and then BOOM. An explosion. I'm thrown back by it and when your Angel Gilbert or a Gilbert period you have no luck. I land in a pile of fucking wood and there two sticks that went through my back and stuck in my stomach. One is grazing my heart.
I try and sit up but I groan and lay back down. Every time I try and sit up the one closer to my heart try's and pierce it. I hear Elijah talking to Hayley after using my hearing.
Hayley did you see Angel.
I sit up a bit and scream: HAYLEY. ELIJAH.
I hear rushing footsteps and a gasp.
I fall back: Elijah. I-I it's going to pierce my heart if I sit up. I'm going to die.
Hayley: It's not sticking out from your stomach.
Elijah rolls his sleeves up after taking his jacket off. Uh oh he's going to get down and dirty.
Elijah bends down next to me and looks me in the eyes: Listen. I'm gonna have to put my hand in your chest.
My eyes become wide and I move a little bit to much: Okay but there's two. Of them.
He points to my right side and I nod he makes his way on top of me sitting hovering above my waist.
Elijah: Close your eyes.
I mumble: Like that will make a difference.
Hayley bends down and holds my hand as I close my eyes.
Elijah: Ready.
I nod vigorously and then he shoves his hand into my stomach and I open my eyes and groan and cry out and then I feel him grab the stick and take it from my back and out from my stomach. I gasp as he takes the bloody stick out.
Elijah looks me in the eye: One more. Try and stay still.
I nod and then he shoves his hand were my heart is and I scream out in pain as he moves his hand next to it. He moves the stick in my body and once it's far enough away he takes it out slowly. He then throws it to the ground.
I sit up feeling myself heal slowly.
Elijah: Are you okay now.
I nod: Yeah.
Hayley and Elijah both help me up.
I look at the rest of the camp and people still need help: Elijah. Help them.
He looks like he's about to say something but looks at Hayley and she nods at him and eventually he runs over to help people.
I look over to see an angry Oliver.
I look at Hayley: I have a feeling Marcel did this.
Hayley: Well that's where we're going.
Oliver throws a trashcan: Oh! Argh! Vampires. They don't even have the guts to do their own dirty work themselves. I mean, why bother when you can just compel some poor son-of-a-bitch to do it for you? I say we hit them back! Hard.
Hayley runs over to him: Stay here, Oliver. I need you to look after everyone until we get back.
Oliver looks between us: Where the hell are you two going?
I step up next to Hayley: If this was vampires, I'm pretty sure that I can guess who gave the order. Were gonna go find Marcel.
She grabs a tree branch from the ground and breaks it in half before leaving. I walk after her.
<<<>>>
I'm in Hayley's car as she speaks to Elijah. I listen in on the conversation.
Elijah: Hayley.
Hayley: Angel and I have to take care of something. We'll be back as soon as we can.
Elijah: Where are you? Angel I know your listening.
I roll my eyes and lay my head against the window.
HAYLEY: Elijah, I'm fine. Angel's Fine Just take care of our pack while we're gone, please?
Hayley hangs up on Elijah. As I laugh at the conversation.
Angel: We're bad ass we don't need no protection.
Hayley: Agreed.
We make our way to the vampire hideout and barge in.
Diego stands up looking at Hayley.
Diego: You done got some nerve coming up in here, mama.
Hayley knocks Diego flat on his back and he jumps back up and growls at her. I get ready to attack but Hayley pushes him up against a wall and shoves a stake into his chest.
I raise an eyebrow impresses: And I thought I was going to be the muscle.
Hayley: Someone attacked our pack in the Bayou this morning, and since I don't see any genius mastermind-types around here... Why don't you just tell me where Marcel is, and we can both get on with our day, huh?
Diego groans and fights against Hayley so I vamp speed and push him harder into the wall.
Hayley: You think I'm playing? There were families out there.
Diego: He used to keep a place. 1917 Patterson. If he's still around, he'll be there.
Hayley rips the stake out of his chest and I let him go and we both walk out.
<<<>>>
We find ourselves outside some kind of warehouse. Hayley had me call Klaus to ask for some help.
Angel: Klaus where are you.
I think I just heard father Kieran threaten Klaus.
Angel: Is that father Kieran.
KLAUS: Yes but I'm in a bit of a situation here, love.
Angel: Somebody sent a suicide bomber out to the Bayou this morning.
Klaus: What? Where are you?
HAYLEY: I'm in the city with Hayley. The baby is fine along with her. I'm also fine. I figured an attack like that must have been Marcel. Hayley told me that He's hated the wolves for years, and after that stunt he pulled with the witches... So Hayley and I tracked him down. Thought you might like to help kick his ass for trying to blow us to kingdom come.
Klaus: Would you get him out of here now, please? Make sure he remembers nothing.
Who the hell is he talking too.
Klaus: Hey, listen. I assure you, once I am finished here, you will have my undivided attention. In the meantime, please stay out of trouble. Make sure Hayley does to.
I lie: You don't have to worry. Elijah is with us now. Bye.
I hang up and look at Hayley: Welp if you want something done you gotta do it by yourself.
Hayley: Great. Let's go.
We make our way up stairs to his loft and then we barge in Marcel smiles at us.
Marcel: Come on in. Have a seat. I'd offer you a drink, but...
He gestures to her baby bump and then he looks at me.
Marcel: And your underage.
I smirk: I'm 19...or 18. Whatever I'm still legal.
He nods: I see.
Hayley: Sweet pad.
He turns his attention to Hayley.
Marcel: Oh, it's just temporary. Friend hooked me up. Believe it or not, I still got a few of those kicking around. I need friends to keep me informed, to warn me when someone is coming looking to blame me for things that I didn't do.
He smiles at us. I just realized how attractive he is.
Marcel: For the record, you didn't have to work Diego like that. We are long overdue for a chat.
Hayley: You want to talk? Talk?
Marcel: Tough girl. You're a lot like your dad in that way.
I look at Hayley and she shows no emotion.
Marcel: Oh, yeah. I knew him. I knew your whole family.
He looks at me after saying that.
Marcel: In fact, if you knew them like I did, you'd know just how many enemies they have. Back in the nineties, it was the Crescent wolves who took over the city. Or, tried to. They lived to throw down, and they were good at it, too. They didn't care who they killed as long as they got more power.
Angel: So the Crescent curse was your way of stopping them. How heroic.
Marcel: It was either that or kill them all, and I'm not big on indiscriminate slaughter. See, I have this thing about kids.
Hayley: So I've heard.
I roll my eyes.
Marcel smirks at us: Oh, you did more than hear about it, Andréa Labonair.
He looks at me: Aleah Labonair.
Marcel: You're both living proof.
Marcel knows what happened to both of our parents.
Hayley: How long have you known who I am.
Marcel: I saw how interested you were in those Crescents. After your little family reunion out at the old plantation house, I started to put two and two together.
He looks at me: And as for you Mrs. I'm friends with Klaus I can do whatever I want. A witch she's dead but you asked about the Bayou and that Tyler friend of yours. So I decided to get a vamp to spy on you and we'll you turned yesterday.
Angel: Marcel tell me something did you kill our parents.
Marcel looks at Hayley: There was in-fighting among the wolves. Your folks were laying low. Somebody turned on them. I honestly don't know who. I got there afterwards, found you in your crib.
Angel: And for mine.
Marcel looks at me: There was a rumor that your mother killed your father. Your mother was a witch the strongest in her coven. In revenge a wolf from the pack killed your mother. By time I tried to find you and your siblings...
I frown: I have siblings yeah.
He nods: Yeah you did. I found your brother and you along with the other two were gone. No trace of you till now and as for your siblings still no trace. When your brother turned 10 you would be 8 I put him up for adoption. I made sure he found a good family. I kept tabs on him ever since. He was like a son to me but I couldn't raise him.
I roll my head and hear a little crack and I puff out.
Hayley: Give us one good reason why we should believe anything that you have to say.
Marcel: Believe whatever you want, but you were the last Labonair. I mean, could've been a lot of leverage for our side, but instead, I took you to Father Kieran. And kept Angel's brother.
Angel: Of you kept him who knew about him.
Marcel: Only Diego and Tierrey.
Marcel pulls out a duffle bag and hands it to me.
Hayley: What's that?
Marcel: Money, mostly. Stuff you both need to start over someplace safe. Whatever happened in the Bayou, I'm not your guy. But, the way things are going? Eventually, I might have to be.
Hayley: So this is your grand plan? Get us out of town, and Klaus and Elijah follow closely behind?
Marcel: I can't say that wouldn't be a positive side effect.
Angel: So why don't you leave and take your own damn advice.
Marcel: I was born here, Hayley.
Hayley: So was I.
Angel: I moved here when I was two.
Hayley walks away and I follow but Marcel stops us.
Marcel: Guy on the bike? The bomber? Word is, he had a gambling problem. Owed money to the casinos--more importantly, to the humans who run them. And Hayley? When things get bad, remember, I tried to get you clear of it again.
He looks at me: You too.
I just look back at him before walking out with Hayley on my tail.
<<<>>>
Hayley and I go back to the bayou and we walk up to Elijah as we hear Oliver yell some words of encouragement to the wolves.
Oliver: They are counting on our doubts. That's right! Yeah! They are counting on our fears! That's right! Right!
Hayley says to Elijah: You stayed.
Oliver: Come morning, they will know that we are not cowards.
Hayley: What's going on? What is he doing?
I look on at Oliver and see that he's going to start a war.
Oliver: We are not afraid!
Elijah: He's making a move for power in the wake of tragedy. He's not alone. There was another attack after you both left.
Hayley and Angel: What?
As Hayley runs into the shack I walk in and I see Jackson sitting near a dead Eve. I look on sadly as Hayley cry's.
Elijah VO: Jackson will need your help. They will want vengeance. Blood for blood. And, unfortunately, in troubled times, people do not look for the best. But rather the loudest.
Hayley cries and kisses Eve's hand before leaving the shack. I walk over to Eve and cover her dead cold hand with my hand and look at her sadly. I then remove my hand and walk out to find Hayley watching Oliver who's still riling up the rest of the wolves.
Oliver: Look, I know where I'm going. If any of you want to follow, hey, that's up to you. That's up to you!
I shake my head and whisper to Hayley.
Angel: He's gonna start a damn war that's not gonna end well for anyone.
____________________________
Got a little back story on Angel's family.
That's all I got to say basically