The Making of Marcellus
The night was still.
Heavy.
Like the world itself was waiting.
Marcel stood before us—
No longer the boy from the square.
A man.
Strong.
Loyal.
Ready.
"You've come far," I said, circling him slowly.
He didn't flinch.
Didn't look away.
"I'm ready," he said.
Good.
Because what came next—
Would change everything.
Step One — The Wolf
I stepped aside.
"Henrik."
He understood instantly.
Of course he did.
Henrik moved forward—
Eyes glowing faint crimson.
"You trust me?" he asked.
Marcel didn't hesitate.
"With my life."
Henrik smirked slightly.
"Good answer."
Then—
He bit.
Not savagely.
Deliberately.
The venom entered Marcel's system—
Fast.
Violent.
Marcel staggered—
Body reacting—
Changing.
Henrik steadied him.
"You'll survive," he said quietly.
A beat.
"You're stronger than most."
Good.
Because not everyone would have been.
Step Two — The Vampire
Time passed.
Hours.
Marcel didn't break.
Didn't die.
He endured.
That alone proved something.
Then—
I stepped forward.
Bit into my wrist.
Held it out.
"Drink."
He did.
Without hesitation.
Blood of the Tribrid entered him.
And that—
That was the moment everything changed.
I caught his neck.
And ended it.
Clean.
Final.
Rebirth
When he woke—
He gasped.
Eyes snapping open.
Veins dark.
Fangs descending.
Hunger—
Immediate.
Violent.
Aurora watched from the shadows.
"He's awake."
I handed him a goblet.
Human blood.
"Drink."
He didn't question it.
Didn't hesitate.
He drank—
And when it was done—
He stood.
Different.
Power radiated from him.
Not just vampire.
Not just wolf.
Something new.
The First
I studied him carefully.
Then smiled.
"Congratulations, Marcellus."
A pause.
"You are the first of your kind."
His brow furrowed slightly.
"What… am I?"
Henrik stepped beside him.
"You're mine first," he said.
A faint grin.
"Then his."
I nodded.
"A bitten wolf…"
A beat.
"…reborn as a vampire."
Marcel exhaled slowly.
Processing.
Understanding.
"Good," he said.
That made me smirk.
Very good.
The Confession
Rebekah had been watching.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Aurora noticed first.
"Something troubles you."
Rebekah hesitated.
"…Not trouble."
A breath.
"Truth."
Marcel stepped beside her.
Took her hand.
I raised a brow.
"This should be interesting."
"I love him," Rebekah said.
Kol nearly laughed.
Aurora didn't.
She watched.
Carefully.
Marcel didn't look away.
"I love her too."
Silence.
Then—
I sighed.
"Do you expect me to object?"
Rebekah blinked.
"…Yes."
Aurora smiled faintly.
"He does have a reputation."
I stepped forward.
Looked at Marcel.
Then at my sister.
"You chose each other."
A beat.
"Then I won't stand in your way."
Relief.
Immediate.
Real.
Good.
The Crown
I straightened.
Enough emotion.
"Now," I said.
"Something more important."
Marcel looked at me.
Focused.
Good.
"I'm leaving," I said.
A pause.
"And you—"
I stepped closer.
"—are staying."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"In charge?"
A faint smile.
"No."
A beat.
"In control."
That landed.
"You are King of New Orleans now."
Silence.
Then—
Understanding.
"I won't fail you," he said.
"I know."
Aurora stepped beside me.
"And we expect the city intact."
I smirked toward Rebekah.
"That includes you."
She rolled her eyes.
"I hate you."
Kol laughed.
"You really don't."
The Beginning of Rule
I turned toward the gates.
Then paused.
Looked back.
At Marcel.
At what he had become.
Not just a boy.
Not just a vampire.
Not just a wolf.
Something new.
Something mine.
"Rule well," I said quietly.
"When I return—"
A faint smile.
"We rule together."
Father and son.
And as we stepped into the night—
New Orleans wasn't just a city anymore.
It had a king.