Caroline was in the bar having a drink with Amara, looking around.
"It's full of vampires here," Amara observed, glancing all around.
"Yeah, I noticed," Caroline Forbes replied, downing another glass and smiling. "Nothing to worry about."
The two kept talking and laughing when a guy approached them.
"Who are you?" he came in already asserting himself. "Only Marcel's vampires can use daylight jewelry here."
He looked at Caroline's ring and growled, then glanced at Amara.
"But damn, you two are hot," he licked his lips, and Amara looked at him with disgust before lifting her chin. "I love that Marcel would really like to meet you two better."
But Caroline's hand stopped her before she could mess with the vampire's mind.
"We're good," Caroline replied with a fake smile. "We're taken, so back off."
The vampire let out a low laugh, clearly not taking it seriously.
"Taken?" he tilted his head, stepping closer, invading their space. "That's never stopped anyone here."
Amara tightened her grip on the glass, the surface almost cracking under her fingers. Her eyes darkened for a moment—not from hunger, but from pure irritation.
Caroline noticed.
And that was a problem.
She turned her face calmly, still smiling, but now there was a clear warning in her eyes.
"Last chance," Caroline said, with dangerous sweetness. "Walk away."
The vampire showed his fangs.
Fatal mistake.
The next second, Caroline's smile vanished completely.
She stood up in a movement too fast for human eyes to follow and grabbed the guy by the collar, slamming him against the wall beside the bar. The impact made several glasses tremble.
But nothing seemed to change—everyone acted normal, not even noticing the shift. Amara made sure to create the illusion of normalcy for everyone.
"You really picked the wrong table today," Caroline murmured, her voice low but filled with threat.
Amara stood up right after, walking toward them with slow, elegant steps. Unlike Caroline, she hid nothing—her gaze was cold, almost bored… Walking with Nik had changed her attitude toward anyone who wasn't him or his family.
"May I?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
Caroline let out a small sigh.
"Don't kill him," she replied, loosening her grip just enough for Amara to act.
The vampire tried to react—he tried.
Amara held his face with one hand, and for a second, nothing happened…
Until his eyes glazed over.
The arrogant expression disappeared, replaced by complete emptiness.
"You will forget you saw us," Amara said calmly. "And you will leave."
"I… will forget… and leave…" he repeated like a broken puppet.
She let go.
The vampire turned and simply walked away, stumbling through the crowd.
The bar slowly returned to normal, as if nothing had happened—but now there was distance around the two of them.
No one came close.
Caroline sat back down, picking up her drink like it was just another ordinary night.
"You almost fried his brain," she commented, taking a sip.
Amara shrugged.
"He asked for it."
Caroline let out a short laugh.
"If that Marcel guy hears about this, we'll have company in five minutes."
Amara rested her elbow on the table, looking around with a slight smile.
"Good," she replied. "I'm starting to get bored."
Caroline raised an eyebrow.
"You… bored… in a bar full of dangerous vampires?"
Amara tilted her head, her smile growing subtly—and a bit unsettling.
"Dangerous?" she repeated. "I haven't seen any." Amara joked. "It's been a while since we went out alone without Nik or Katherine, we're not going to let some random vampire ruin it."
That's when a voice made them look over.
"How interesting… A vampire and a witch in my city." The man who had been singing stepped down from the stage. "But you know, magic is forbidden in my city."
"Ohh, so you're Marcel," Caroline said with disdain. "You should control your dogs' behavior, you know, so it doesn't become your responsibility."
"Is that a threat?" Marcel Gerard growled… He was still a bit shaken from the daily attacks.
"Of course not, it's advice," Caroline replied with a sweet smile. "Listen if you want."
"The witch will be punished," Marcel said, ignoring Caroline's provocation. "Magic is not allowed in the city."
'He's confusing you with a witch?' Caroline thought, using telepathy with Amara.
'Yes, I think he's never seen anything other than vampires, witches, or wolves,' Amara replied in the same way.
'Good,' Caroline answered mentally.
"And who's going to punish her?" Caroline asked, amused. "Who's the brave one?"
Caroline's face filled with veins and began to pale, very similar to Nik's, just slightly less monstrous.
Marcel stepped forward despite finding that true vampire face completely strange.
He showed his as well, and several other vampires stood up.
"You come into my city and still dare to challenge me?" Marcel growled, stepping forward. "I'll punish you too."
Caroline just laughed, turning her hand into black steel without anyone noticing, and when she was ready to massacre all the vampires—
"Marcel."
The voice called, and Klaus Mikaelson appeared behind Caroline and Amara.
"Father-in-law," Caroline joked.
"Klaus?" Marcel was so surprised he didn't even process what Caroline said.
"Caroline Forbes… I don't think violence is necessary today, why don't you step back?" Klaus spoke in a calm yet cold tone.
"No, this scary idiot said he was going to punish me and kill my friend," Caroline hugged Amara in a theatrical act, pretending to be scared. "I'm scared and my instincts say to beat up the bad guy."
"Caroline Forbes, in the name of the respect I have for my son, step back," Klaus, in a completely unpredictable action, asked rather than ordered. "I'll handle this, we don't need a massacre here."
Even Caroline widened her eyes—Klaus never asks, he orders and destroys those who don't obey.
That's when she realized Klaus hadn't spoken—he had only used common telepathy, very strong for someone who doesn't use vampire magic.
"Fine, but watch yourself," Caroline pointed at Marcel. "You got lucky today, there won't be a next time. Let's go, Amara."
She grabbed Amara's hand and started to leave.
"And where do you think you're going?" Marcel growled, trying to follow them, but Klaus stepped in front of him.
"Marcel, arrogant as always and you don't even thank me for saving your life," Klaus laughed at Marcel and then looked at him seriously. "What a surprise you're still alive."
"Are you threatening me?" when Marcel spoke, the other vampires began to show their vampire faces.
"No, I'm just stating the fact that the blonde is old enough to turn you into mush in two seconds," Klaus growled, remembering the habit of throwing enemies under fallen trees, "and she's very close to someone who likes to throw enemies under trees."
"Throwing under trees…" Marcel was in shock.
"Ohh, you've already met him?" Klaus laughed and placed a hand on Marcel's shoulder. "Don't worry, if you're alive, it means he's just playing with you."
"You know him?" Marcel asked, his eyes filled with anger. "You know that bastard?"
"I do," Klaus replied with a disguised proud smile. "Aside from my siblings, he's the only vampire who has ever cornered me to the point where defeat was a possibility. Seriously, the kid can fight."
Klaus brushed his hand over his chin, indicating he had taken a hit there.
"You were hit?" Marcel was completely stunned. To him, Klaus was invincible, even if his arrogance wouldn't let him say it out loud. "That's possible…?"
"Of course, any vampire over 800 years old can put up a good fight… You've just never had the experience of seeing other old vampires besides me and my family," Klaus didn't lie; in fact, any vampire over 800 years old could at least follow an Original's movements with their eyes. "But changing the subject… how are you still alive?"
His expression shifted back to anger and hostility the moment he saw that Caroline and Amara had left.
He didn't want to show the anger he felt toward Marcel… so that Nik wouldn't know and truly attack Marcel knowing Klaus wouldn't defend him.
Klaus Mikaelson's gaze turned completely cold the moment the bar doors closed behind Caroline Forbes and Amara.
Now… there was no need for theater.
He slowly turned his attention back to Marcel Gerard.
And this time—
It was personal.
"So," Klaus began, his voice low and controlled, "let's try this again… without distractions."
Marcel crossed his arms, holding his gaze.
"You walk into my city, interfere with my command… and still think you set the pace of this conversation?"
Klaus gave a small sideways smile.
"I don't think."
He took a step forward.
"I know."
The tension immediately increased.
Some vampires around instinctively stepped back, opening more space… as if the air had become too heavy to share.
Marcel didn't move.
"You always do this," he said, his tone harder now. "You show up, provoke… and expect everyone to just bow."
Klaus raised an eyebrow slightly.
"And you always confuse fear with respect."
The reply came fast.
It hit.
Marcel's jaw tightened.
"I built respect," he shot back. "Something you never understood."
Klaus let out a low laugh… almost disappointed.
"No," he corrected. "You built obedience."
He looked around—at the vampires, the bar, the territory.
"They follow you because they have to. Because they fear the consequences."
Then he looked back at Marcel.
"Not because they believe in you."
Silence.
Heavy.
Marcel stepped forward, invading Klaus's space this time.
"And you think you're different?"
Klaus didn't move.
Not even an inch.
"I don't need them to believe in me."
A pause.
"I need them to understand what happens if they don't."
The air seemed to vibrate with that.
Marcel let out a dry laugh.
"So that's it? The same old story? Fear, threats, destruction?"
Klaus tilted his head slightly.
"It works."
"It's weak," Marcel shot back immediately.
That made Klaus stop.
Truly stop.
A second of silence… before a slow smile appeared.
Dangerous.
"Weak?" he repeated, almost amused.
Marcel held his ground.
"You destroy everything you touch. Always have."
Klaus stepped closer.
Now close enough that only Marcel could clearly hear.
"And yet…" he murmured, "you're still here."
One second.
Two.
"Under my shadow."
That was the hit.
Marcel reacted quickly—pushing Klaus in the chest.
It wasn't a full attack.
But it wasn't restrained either.
Klaus didn't move.
He just looked down… at Marcel's hand on his chest… then slowly looked back at him.
Total silence in the bar.
"Careful," Klaus said, his voice lower now. "You're confusing tolerance with weakness."
Marcel pulled his hand back… but didn't step away.
"And you're confusing the past with current power," he shot back.
Klaus smiled.
This time… satisfied.
"Ah," he murmured. "There it is."
He took a step back, as if reassessing Marcel.
"Finally saying what you really think."
Marcel didn't answer.
But he didn't look away either.
Klaus slowly walked around him once more.
"You want to prove you don't need me," he said. "That you've moved on… that you built something greater."
He stopped beside Marcel.
"But here you are."
A pause.
"Reacting to every move I make."
Marcel turned his head sharply.
"I don't react to you."
Klaus raised an eyebrow.
"No?"
He gestured lightly around.
"Then all of this…" — the tense vampires, the silence, the atmosphere — "is a coincidence?"
Marcel fell silent for a second.
And that second…
Was enough.
Klaus smiled sideways.
A silent victory.
"Control, Marcel," he said, almost like advice now. "It's not about who shouts the loudest…"
He tilted his head slightly.
"…it's about who needs to shout less."
The entire bar seemed to hold its breath.
Marcel took a deep breath.
Trying to regain control.
"This is my city," he said again, firmer now. "And here… I make the rules."
Klaus stared at him for a long moment.
And then…
Gave a small nod.
"Then make better use of them."
Without warning, he turned his back.
But stopped before taking the first step.
"Because next time," Klaus added, without looking back, "I might not be here to stop you from making a mistake."
A pause.
Short.
Dangerous.
"And you've made many."
And then he left.
Leaving Marcel standing.
In the middle of his own territory.
Surrounded by his vampires.
Still in control.
But now—
With doubts that weren't there before.