"What the hell happened?" Klaus Mikaelson ran to rescue Marcel Gerard, who was in Rebekah Mikaelson's arms.
"He was attacked, probably by some old vampires. According to Marcel, they called themselves the Nobility," Rebekah replied quickly as she helped place Marcel on the couch.
"Nobility?" Elijah Mikaelson asked, confused. "I've never heard of them."
"I have," Kol Mikaelson replied with a smile.
"Hello, brother," Elijah smiled at Kol. "Could you explain who these Nobles are?"
"They're a highly organized group of vampires who make sure vampires don't end up in the media," Kol answered indifferently.
"How did we not know about this?" Klaus snarled.
"Because they're very good at hiding and staying away from us," Kol replied with a dry laugh. "I only found out because my adorable nephew manipulated me into killing quite a few of them."
"Nik did?" Rebekah asked in surprise. "How did our nephew know about this group and we didn't?"
"Why would my son use you to kill these Nobles?" Klaus roared again. "He could have asked me. I would have done it gladly."
"Well, in case you forgot, the boy's mother is a Bennett," Kol emphasized the Bennett part now that he knew who Nik's mother was—even Kol feared her. "The Nobles have some conflicts with them."
"Then that also applies to our nephew," Elijah said with concern. "I'm afraid to think these Nobles didn't like learning that a new Mikaelson was born on the Bennett side and tried something against our nephew, and the boy held a grudge."
Klaus grew agitated.
"Those bastards tried something against my son?" His eyes turned yellow and veins spread across his face.
"Calm down, idiot. The Nobles aren't stupid," Kol replied calmly. "From what I researched, the boy is the son of the leader of the Bennett clan in Greece. He's only in America because he's half vampire and his mother didn't want him near the more radical groups, but she's very overprotective of him."
"He once said no one would dare mess with him," Rebekah replied with a surprised sigh. "I didn't imagine his mother was that powerful."
You don't know half of it, sister, Kol thought, still surprised by the truths he had heard from his nephew.
"But how the hell did Klaus manage to sleep with the leader of the Bennett clan?" Rebekah said indignantly. "They're super closed off."
Klaus slowly turned toward his sister, offended and furious at the same time.
"First of all, I did not sleep with anyone."
Rebekah rolled her eyes.
"Oh, of course. It must have been a diplomatic ritual."
Kol let out a short laugh.
"I admit I'd also like to know how that happened. Because from the little I found out, the boy's mother is no ordinary Bennett."
Klaus frowned.
"You keep talking as if you know something. Then talk."
Kol crossed his arms, savoring the attention.
"I know fragments. Nothing more. She leads an ancient branch of the Bennetts in Greece. Extremely closed off. Extremely powerful. Extremely paranoid."
"Paranoia seems sensible when dealing with our family," Elijah commented.
"She also keeps Nik away from radical factions, hunters, opportunistic clans, and any vampire with too much ambition," Kol continued. "In other words, half the planet."
Rebekah narrowed her eyes.
"And the other half is us."
Kol smiled.
"Exactly."
Klaus seemed torn between pride and irritation.
"He never talked about her."
"Maybe because you tried to kill him in your first conversations," Rebekah said dryly.
"Once."
"Three times," Elijah corrected.
Before Klaus could reply, Marcel groaned unconsciously on the couch. Silence returned heavily.
Elijah looked at Kol.
"You said Nik used you to kill some of those Nobles."
Kol nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"Then it's obvious," Rebekah said. "They came after him. Marcel was just a message."
Klaus bared his fangs.
"If they touched something of mine to threaten my son, I'll tear them apart."
Kol let out a nasal laugh.
"You really only listen to half of what I say."
Everyone stared at him.
Kol's eyes lost some of their mockery.
"The Nobles don't work like that. They're not impulsively vengeful. They like to see themselves as police for our species."
Elijah frowned.
"Explain."
"They clean up messes. Eliminate vampires who attract too much attention. Cover up scandals. Control outbreaks. Keep humans ignorant." Kol shrugged. "They think they're heroes."
Rebekah looked at Marcel, unconscious.
"...Marcel."
Kol spread his arms theatrically.
"There is no vampire more attention-seeking in this city. Self-proclaimed king, his own army, public rules, constant wars, endless drama."
"I like him unconscious," Klaus muttered.
"So you think Marcel was the real target?" Elijah asked.
"Not just Marcel." Kol walked to the window. "They know the Originals are in New Orleans. They know that changes everything."
Klaus narrowed his eyes.
"And?"
"And they attacked Marcel to test boundaries." Kol turned around. "They want to see if you react. If you protect the city. If you start a war. If you still care."
Rebekah crossed her arms.
"A test."
"An elegant provocation," Elijah concluded.
Klaus stood still for a moment, then smiled dangerously.
"Then we'll respond."
Kol arched an eyebrow.
"With irrational violence? What a surprise."
"No," Klaus said, low and threatening. "With something worse."
Everyone looked at him.
Klaus stared at Marcel unconscious on the couch.
"We'll wake him up... and make him act as if nothing happened."
Kol blinked.
"...That is truly cruel."
Rebekah smiled for the first time.
"I like the plan."
Elijah sighed.
"I hate when his plans make sense."
--++---
That's exactly what they did. They used compulsion on Marcel and made him leave, acting as if nothing had happened.
But no attacks came.
Kol went out for a while and leaned against a wall.
"I heard your conversation that day. Who would've thought a Bennett would demand our executions?" Shadows formed on the walls and Elara emerged from them.
"Well, he said you're irritating creatures," Kol commented jokingly. "But can you control the shadow element too?"
"Of course. I was the one who discovered vampire magic. Obviously I mastered all the elements," Elara replied proudly.
"He's not wrong. Especially as Persephone's son, he really must hate us," Elara said, looking at the sky as she embraced Kol. "If it weren't for irritating vampires like you and your brothers, we wouldn't have to be so irritating."
She kissed the corner of Kol's lips.
"And it's your fault for not showing us vampire magic," Kol replied irritably. "I spent a millennium without magic, and wait—you know Persephone?"
"Know is too strong a word. I know she exists," Elara answered indifferently. "It's more like knowing she's responsible for solving things when gods get involved, and we have a talent for irritating them, which must irritate Persephone a lot."
"Wait, you knew about gods?" Kol was even more surprised. "How did I not know?"
"You didn't even know vampires had magic less than a year ago," Elara laughed, and Kol made an anguished face.
Kol narrowed his eyes at Elara.
"No. Start over."
She arched an eyebrow.
"Bossy."
"That's unfair." He crossed his arms. "I only joined you recently."
Elara let out a low laugh.
"Fair enough."
She approached slowly.
"You knew the Nobles. But you didn't know the real reason they exist."
Kol fell silent. That was answer enough.
She continued:
"When I gathered them, they weren't called Nobles. They were simply useful vampires. Discreet. Intelligent. Tired of idiots drawing attention and dragging everyone into unnecessary wars."
Kol smiled crookedly.
"So from the start it was an anti-Klaus club."
"In part."
"Offensive. Continue."
Elara leaned a shoulder against the wall.
"At the time, I'd already discovered the supernatural world was much bigger than you imagined. Humans, vampires, witches, and werewolves are only the surface."
Kol nodded slowly.
"I know that now."
"At that time, I learned something more important." She looked at Kol. "When one of the three factions invades someone else's territory, breaks an ancient pact, awakens something buried, or offends the wrong power... the complaints rise upward."
"To Persephone."
"To Persephone."
The name came out almost like a warning.
Kol noticed the change in her expression.
"You really fear that woman."
"I fear the burden she carries."
Elara took a deep breath.
"She is treated as the leader of the three factions before the rest of the supernatural world. Not internal queen. External representative. If vampires do something stupid in the land of gods, if witches poke demons, if werewolves cross ancient borders... it's up to her to negotiate, contain, or punish."
Kol let out a low whistle.
"Ungrateful job."
"Horrible."
She continued:
"So I created a group to reduce damage. Vampires policing vampires. I taught them vampire magic and made the group grow."
Kol laughed.
"A surprisingly sensible idea coming from you."
"I was a dreamer."
"And where did it go wrong?"
Elara looked at him as if the answer were obvious.
"Ego, vanity, hunger for hierarchy, ridiculous rituals, pompous titles..."
Kol burst out laughing.
"That explains so much."
"At first it was good, but later the Nobles began creating factions inside the organization and new leaders arose, and I started losing control."
Kol thought for a moment.
"And they started causing problems and eventually irritated gods who went crying to Persephone. Yes, you're right, the boy has reasons to hate you."
She smiled sideways.
"To him, the Nobles are vampires creating extra work for his mother."
Kol began laughing loudly.
"The boy manipulated me into exterminating an organization because they were overloading his mother."
"Yes, but look on the bright side—you killed all my political opponents, so now I have control again." Elara smiled and kissed Kol again. "Thank you."
Kol wiped away a tear from laughing so hard.
"And I helped without knowing half the motivation."
"You helped because he manipulated your ego."
Kol pointed a finger.
"False."
She waited.
Kol lowered the finger.
"...Partially true."
Elara stepped closer and touched his face.
"He inherited her sense of duty."
"I think the boy is lazy and doesn't want it falling on him if his mother decides to retire."
"And the pleasure of provoking from the Mikaelson brothers."
Kol smiled proudly.
"So I was the one who contributed the best part."
"You were the one who contributed the most important part."
Kol pulled her by the waist.
"You still stay here anyway."
She leaned near his ear.
"Because someone has to watch recurring disasters."
Kol laughed.
"But did you feel that?" Kol said, looking around.
"Two great magical powers. One is greater than mine when I was a witch, and it seems to belong to a very powerful, though very young witch," Elara answered, evaluating the mana in the air. "And the other feels almost demonic, but it seems very well hidden. It won't appear anytime soon."