New Orleans – Present Day, Midnight
Some moments back
Barry with Oliver following close behind walked through the French Quarter like a shadow with weight. Crowds parted unconsciously, a low ripple of magic nudging instincts even the vampires present in the crowd couldn't feel.
In the heart of the city — Marcel's compound, buzzing with vampires, jazz, and arrogance.
Two guards stepped forward, flashing fangs.
*Vampire 1:* " Stop it, no one goes beyond this line unless they are one of us and you don't look to be one of us
*Vampire 2:* "No appointment. No entry."
The witch didn't speak. He waved a hand — gently.
Both vampires froze mid-step, pupils dilated, bodies locked.
He passed through the gates as if they'd opened for him.
The witch says while glancing back. "What was the point of acting tough when you ain't worth shit"
> "Head out Oliver, I'll wait for Marcel in his home"
—
Marcel's Compound – Party space
Inside, the man sits upon the head sit of a table filled with foods, bloodbags, and whiskey, as he is surrounded by vamps while Marcel stood in anger towards him.
He didn't look surprised either.
*Marcel:* "You must have a death wish cause you walk through my front door like you own the place and attack my guys. Either you're powerful… or suicidal but I just feel you're stupid"
The room fell silent as Marcel took a seat, across from Barry at the head of a long table lined with maps, relics, and blood bags.
Marcel poured himself a drink, eyes never leaving the man cloaked in magic.
*Witch (smiling faintly):* "Neither of the latter. I consider myself to be informed and in the know."
"You got some guts little witch, i just hope you can back it up cause when I'm done with you" - Marcel says as his fangs begin to show and eyes begin darkening.
*Witch (smiling mockingly):* " why not listen to what I have to say first before you try to end me, I doubt you can but you're welcome to try though. I promise not to kill you"
Marcel narrowed his eyes. "Name?"
> *Witch:* "You can call me Allen."
A lie — or maybe the closest thing to truth. Whichever it is, I will make him pay if he can't satisfy me ~ Marcel thought. "Wait, you're the heir to the Allen empire then?"
Barry started his pitch with a sheepish grin: " Didn't know my folks where that popular. Either way, you can restrain the witches and you have control of the vampires in this city , But not the city itself. Not its bones. Not its blood. That's where I come in."
Marcel raised an eyebrow. "You're offering help?"
*Barry:* " I can provide a steady supply of daylight rings for you and your vamps all while giving you that which you want most".
He says while observing the thoughtful Marcel, after all he needs the rings but as they say - strike while the iron is jot.
*Barry:* "I will give you leverage. I know what the Ancestors fear. What witches whisper in locked circles. I know where your enemies sleep and how to keep them suppressed"
He pulled out a small orb — glowing faintly with stormlight. Marcel flinched. It pulsed like a heartbeat.
*Barry:* "And I know how to weaken the spell anchoring New Orleans to the dead at will."
Marcel stood slowly. "Alright… you've got my attention."
*Barry (smirking):* "Then we're already allies. You just didn't know it yet."
Marcel:* "You're not just another witch playing dress-up. You knew about the Ancestors... and that orb you pulled? That wasn't no toy now, was it?."
*Barry:* "It's a fragment of Ley Storm essence, condensed energy drawn from beneath the French Quarter. It pulses in tune with the magical lines that connect to the magic here..."
Marcel's smile faded. "So what do you want?"
*Barry:* "Not power. Influence. Access. I want a seat at your table — silently. I work from the shadows. I pull strings, plant seeds, erase threats… and you get the crown, unchallenged."
Marcel:"Why me?"
*Barry:* "Because Klaus is a chaotic idiot, Elijah is an idiot who feels he has order when he sometimes doesn't. But you? You are the city. You bleed for it. You fight for it and that's rare."
Marcel leaned forward. "And what's in it for you?"
*Barry:* "Control, Secrecy, and Safety. I have plans and for that I need a place outside the reach of my folks, if you will— things you haven't even heard of. If I help you keep this empire... you help me anchor myself here. With protection, discretion, and silence."
Marcel studied him, eyes narrowing.
*Marcel:* "And if I say no?"
*Barry (smiling darkly):* "Then I will leave... and the next time a vampire steps onto sacred grounds, it won't be my issue".
The orb pulsed, and for a second, the compound's lights flickered.
Then Marcel chuckled.
*Marcel:* "You're cocky, I'll give you that. Fine. You get your seat — no tricks, no power plays behind my back. But one betrayal, one crack, one reason and I will put you down. Deal?"
Barry extended a hand — even while his ring glows faintly gold.
*Barry:* "A deal sealed in intent."
Marcel hesitated — then shook his hands.
*Marcel:* "Welcome to the Quarter, Solen."
As Barry rose and walked toward the door, his voice drifted back:
*Barry:* "Thank you, Marcel. Now… let me show you where the first body will drop"
—
*Later, watching from the rooftops...*
> *Barry (in thought):* "Marcel is a useful piece. Brave. Smart. Dangerous. But sometimes foolhardy well that's to be expected, he hasn't faced any major setback yet, I'll be back soon."
Ting ting- cellphone ringing.
*Barry:* "Holla, Oliver. So what's so important to call me now?"
Oliver sighs over the phone while saying." Boss, Slater is dead. He was killed in his apartment, no witnesses and no knew what happened which is weird cause even the guard said no one say anything."
> " I just felt you should know about this".
(1st pov) - Looks like Elijah is on move, he is in for trouble for such a stupid act as this ohh he really is in for it. Also I should check on Caroline, after all it has been a while since I talked with her.
"I am on my way there Oliver, tell them to clear the way and make sure to drop my sign leaf at Slater's grave."
*Marcel:* " Are you done with your business, let's go now".
"Yeah I am coming, let's go"
Some few moments later - Outside of the New Orleans Central Graveyard.
(Marcel pov) - *Marcel:* "So what now, only witches can go in there or do you have a plan"
Barry laughs while bringing the orb out. "In the face of power, none of that really matters. That's what I want you to see".
Marcel: "So what does this thing do?"
*Barry:* "Watch."
Barry stood in front of the gates, releasing the glowing storm orb, allowing it to float beside him.
He whispered a chant in an ancient tongue. The orb pulsed — first white, then violet, then a blinding silver. The air grew heavy. And the ground hummed as faint runes lit up.
Suddenly — silence, nothing but silence.
The ancestral magic was snuffed out — not broken, but muted, like a voice cut off mid-scream. Marcel felt it in his bones.
Marcel (wide-eyed): "You just killed the protective magic?"
*Barry:* "Suppressed it. The orb nullifies active enchantments by overloading them with stormlight essence — raw, unaligned magic. Even the dead can't fight that."
*Barry:* "The guards are down, let's go in.", he says while walking confidently towards to the center of the graveyard, where he spots a witch.
*witch 1:* " what are you doing here, this is sacred ground and you Marcel Gerald, you are not welcomed here" Snap, a sound comes into ear as the witch's neck is snapped.
"Wow, that was eye-opening alright"
*Barry:* " Nothing too impressive, just a flick here and there."
> "But did you notice it? In the presence of this orb, no magic that involves channeling or drawing ancestral power will work. So this should serve as proof right. Catch"
He throws the orb to me,as I raise my hand to catch it. And with it in my hands I can feel the pulsing strength in it.
"So how does it work exactly."
*Barry:* " To use it properly you will need a witch but since you don't have that, then you will need your guys to draw certain rune signs in whatever location you want and once the runes are up"
> " You can then use the codes that I will tell you to control it at will".
"Nice, doing business with you then". Marcel says while shaking hands with his new powerful friend.
*Barry:* " Indeed, now if you will excuse I have somewhere to be".
With a wave of his hand, Barry vanishes into the air leaving a light smell of sage in the air. Destination - Slater's grave.