Disclaimer: I don't own the Vampire Diaries nor am I making any profit from this. Characters, etc. all belong to their respective owners.

A/N: So, this is actually intended to be a sequel to Pray for Rain. However, if you didn't read that one, you should be fine. There'll be some mentions of what happened in that fic, but nothing you shouldn't be able to infer or understand. This is going to vaguely follow what happens in season 1 of the Originals (I'm only on like episode 15, though), but I'm not sure how much. I already know there's certain things I'm refusing to touch with a 20 foot pole (like the baby plot. Sorry, I just still can't bring myself to like it).

Enjoy!

They reach New Orleans well into the night. By that time, Bonnie is more relieved to finally get out of the car.

"Welcome to New Orleans, darling," Kol says with a grin as he opens the passenger door for her. She smiles back as she forces her cramped muscles to move.

The first thing she notices is that the air is warm and practically buzzing with energy. The second thing she notices is that New Orleans had this strange mix of new and old. The French Quarter practically seemed like an ode to days past amidst a backdrop of modern skyscrapers.

"Can you feel it?" Kol asks her, a large hand on her back guiding her. "The whole place is practically dripping with magical and supernatural energy, isn't it?"

"Yeah…it's a strange feeling, but I think I like it so far," Bonnie admits with a smile.

Even though she literally just got here, she instantly understands why writers like Anne Rice use this city so often as a setting for their Gothic literature.

They enter the Palace Royale Hotel and Bonnie finds herself amazed by the beauty of it.

"This is definitely a far cry from that little studio apartment just outside of Mystic Falls," Bonnie tells Kol.

"Well, we have no reason to hide out anymore," Kol replies. "We actually used to own a large house in the heart of the French Quarter, but since I haven't been here in a hundred years, I'm not sure if it's still ours…"

A bell hop brings their bags to their suite and Bonnie lays back on the luxurious bed, sighing as her cramped muscles stretch out. She smiles as she feels Kol's weight on her and his lips pressing against hers.

"I say that we christen this room and then go out and see what the Quarter has in store of us," Kol whispers in between peppering her lips, face, and neck with kisses.

"Except, I have the feeling that when you get started, we won't be leaving for a while. Like days," Bonnie says with a small laugh that breaks into a sigh when Kol finds a particularly sensitive spot on her neck. "Okay, seriously, though," she says, pulling away from Kol. "I really wanna see some of New Orleans tonight."

Kol sighs, but stands up and pulls Bonnie up with him.

"Don't pout," she says, rolling her eyes at him. "I've barely ever been out of Virginia before and I'm excited." Pause. "Well, there was that trip to New York, but that was really more of a business trip because of the whole 'trying to get to the cure before Silas, or Elena, or Rebekah, or anybody' thing…"

"I am interested to see how things have changed," Kol admits, holding his arm out for her to take.

"Look at you suddenly being all gentlemanly," Bonnie teases as she loops her arm through Kol's. They make their way towards the lobby.

"Only to get you in bed later," he replies with a cheeky grin. Bonnie laughs and reaches over to smack his shoulder.

As they step outside, Bonnie can't help but feel a little awed. The whole city just seemed so…alive.

Full out parades were in the street, musicians, artists, psychics, and more lined the sidewalks. Crowds were happily drinking and dancing out in the sidewalks and streets.

"So, what do you think?" Kol asks.

"It's definitely different than little Mystic Falls," Bonnie replies with a smile, taking the sights in. "It seems very…free. How much has it changed from what you remember?"

"The buildings are mostly the same, although, they seem to serve different purposes now," he gestures towards a corner bar for example. "The lights are brighter, though, the people are a lot freer. Disease isn't as rampant, either. That yellow fever plague in 1905 really put a damper on things…although, that's something that's changed all over."

"Yay for modern technology and decent plumbing," Bonnie says dryly.

As they round a Kol, she feels Kol suddenly grab her and vamp-speed them into a dark corner.

"Wh—"

Kol shakes his head and places a finger against his lips to quiet her. His gaze, however, stays focused on the street.

Bonnie follows his gaze and sees a crowd starting to gather. She jumps slightly and Kol's grip tightens on her. Some of the people in the crowd were literally dropping down from balconies.

Vampires, Bonnie realizes. They must be vampires.

Still, though, she can't believe how…open they were being. Sure they could compel humans, but in a city so populated, shouldn't they be at least a little cautious?

She sees that one of them in particular appears to be in charge. He's a tall black man that walks with such an air of authority that one most definitely did not want to cross him if they could help him. She sees that he's also accompanied by…Klaus?

What the hell is Klaus doing here? Bonnie wonders.

Looking up at Kol again, she can see that he's just as confused as she is.

Focusing back on the street, she watches as a couple of vampires pull a woman to Klaus and the lead vampire. She's clearly afraid and her hands are bound in front of her with a thick white rope.

Bonnie moves forward, wanting to help her, but Kol's grip is firm and prevents her from doing so.

"Jane-Anne Deveraux," the lead vampire addresses her. "You have been accused of practicing witchcraft in the Quarter, a crime which is punishable by death as per the rules set in place and enforced by me. How do you plead?"

With a grin, he turns and says something to Klaus, but Bonnie can't catch what.

"Come on, Jane, tick-tock," the lead vampire says impatiently, turning back to the woman.

"I didn't do anything," the woman replies. Despite her obvious fear, her voice is even, determined, and defiant.

"That's a lie," the lead vampire replies. "You know you witches can't make a move without me knowing it and you all hate that I know it." Pause. "Now, how about instead of wasting our time with this little game, you tell me what you're brewing in that cauldron of yours? If you tell me, I might grant you leniency."

"Rot in hell, you monster," Jane-Anne spits.

The vampire just laughs before snapping forward, whipping something across Jane-Anne's throat, splitting it open. When he pulls back, Bonnie realizes it was a simply tree branch. Jane-Anne clutches at her throat, blood pouring from it, before collapsing on the street, dead.

Bonnie can't help the loud shriek of horror that Kol tries to muffle, but isn't too successful at. Despite the loud cheering from the crows, some vampires hear and turn their way.

Calmly, Kol steps out of the shadows, pulling Bonnie with him. Some of the vampires look at them menacingly, but Kol gives them a warning look, practically giving off an aura of danger.

"Kol," the lead vampire greets. Despite the wide smile on his face, it's clear that he's far from thrilled.

Wait, they know each other? She looks at the lead vampire and then at Kol, clearly confused.

"Marcel. You've certainly changed from the pathetic lackey that would follow my brother around everywhere…or have you?" Kol asks, looking over at Klaus with a bold grin.

"I can assure you that things have changed in New Orleans since you left a hundred years ago in a box."

"I don't have time for your usual arguments," Klaus growls, stepping in. "I was informed of a conspiracy against me involving Jane-Anne Deveraux and now that you've killed her, despite my explicitly telling you I wanted to speak with her…"

"Okay," Marcel says with a laugh, holding up his hands. "Why don't we all go inside for a drink and we can all talk?" He makes a motion with his hand and most of the vampires start to disperse.

"You're going to just leave here out here?" Bonnie half-whispers, looking at the body that now lay in the street.

"It sends a message," Marcel replies.

Bonnie presses her lips together in anger and she fully intends to send the vampire several waves of pain, but Kol leans down and whispers, "Don't. Not yet."

Despite everything in her screaming otherwise, she listens to Kol for now. He clearly knew this vampire and something in her is saying that things are a lot more complicated then they seemed. That's how it usually goes, anyway.

And that's how she finds herself seated in the corner of a bar with Kol, Klaus, and this new vampire.

A witch and three vampires walk into a bar…

"I'm Marcel. Marcel Gerard," he introduces himself to Bonnie as he pours a round of drinks. "And you are?"

Bonnie remains silent, glaring at him instead.

"Ah, well, I suppose I didn't exactly make the best first impression. Did I, Bonnie Bennett?"

Bonnie feels herself go cold and Kol stiffens beside her.

How the hell would he possibly know who I am?

"I keep tabs on everything going on in my city, witch."

"I'd choose my next words very, very carefully if I were you," Kol says ominously.

"To make this city run smoothly, I control everything. The humans, the vampires, the werewolves, and especially the witches," Marcel continues, seemingly not phased by Kol's threatening demeanor. "The werewolves have been banished to the bayou under the pain of death and the witches are forbidden from doing magic here, also under the pain of death." He gives Bonnie a pointed look.

"And how would you possibly know whether the witches are performing magic or not?" Klaus asks suspiciously.

"Let's just say I have a secret weapon."

Ominous silence falls upon the table and Bonnie's at a loss of what to say or think.

"You are all welcome here as my guests. But order must be maintained and my rules must be followed," Marcel tells them adamantly.

"And if we decide not to play by your so-called rules?" Kol asks with a strange little smile. Bonnie recognizes that as the look he gets when he's ready to either charm someone or kill them. And there was definitely not question of which he wants to do right now.

"Then you suffer the consequences."

"And what would the consequences be? Death?" Klaus asks, clearly amused. "Seeing as you can't kill either me or Kol and he's easily rip you about before you could every lay a hand on his dear little witch…"

"Klaus, you are my sire and me what I am. I will respect you as such," Marcel says stiffly. "But things have changed since you last left New Orleans to burn to the ground. This is now my city. I am the king you will respect me as such."

"Hmm, well we'll take this conversation under advisement," Kol says wryly. It's clear that he doesn't plan to think it over at all, though.

Klaus, on the other hand, looks positively murderous.

As Bonnie and Kol stand up to leave, she finds herself wanting to say something to Marcel. Something to let him know that he doesn't have the upper hand that he thinks he does. Not after all she's faced within the past couple years.

But perhaps it's better to let him think that he does have the upper hand. At least for now.

She and Kol step outside the bar. Looking down the street, she sees that they witch's body still lay there, but others have gathered to begin what looks like a vigil.

They make their way back to the hotel and Bonnie finds that the earlier excitement of having been in such a beautiful place has rapidly disappeared.

And here I honestly believed that Silas would have been the end of all my problems… she thinks as they enter their room.

"Come on, darling," Kol says, taking her by the wrist and guiding her into the bathroom.

He twist the tap of the bathtub on. She notices that the apparatus is large enough to fit at least ten grown people in.

She allows Kol to undress her and lead her into the tub. The water is a little hotter than she normally likes, but it still feels nice when it hits her skin. Kol settles in behind her, folding her into his arms until her back is pressed against his bare chest.

They sit there in silence for a few moments before Bonnie finally speaks up.

"We should have…we should've done something," she tells Kol quietly. "We just stood there and watched that witch get killed."

"I knew Marcel when he was just a child. Klaus raised him actually." Bonnie blinks in surprise, shifting at little to glance at Kol. The idea of Klaus actually raising anyone was kinda crazy and ridiculous to think about. "He always tried to make us all believe that he was fearless, but you could always see that he was a scared little boy. Even when he grew to adulthood," Kol continues. "But now…he truly seems to have no fear," he runs a hand up her bare arm. "Whatever this so-called weapon he has, we need to know what it is before we do anything. And we also need to know what Klaus is planning on doing as well."

His hand reaches her shoulder, then her neck, moving her hair to the other side of her neck, the wet ends clinging to her sin. He presses his lips against her pulse point, seductively sucking at it a little bit.

"And how many people are going to get killed in the meantime?" Bonnie asks, refusing to get distracted by Kol's ministrations.

"I don't care as long as you're safe."

Bonnie huffs and tries to break away from him, but he holds her to his chest tightly.

She's seen what happened when the Salvatores had taken the stance that nothing mattered but Elena and Bonnie certainly doesn't want anyone behaving like that on her behalf.

"Yeah, but I do," Bonnie insists firmly. "I care."

Kol sighs and drops his forehead down onto the crook of her neck.

"It's late and we have only just been New Orleans for a couple of hours," he says. "We can talk more about this in the morning." He spins her around so that she's now facing him.

Bonnie opens her mouth to protests, but Kol kisses her hard, swallowing her words. His hand then slips down to that special place between her thighs.

"You're trying to distract me again," Bonnie says breathlessly. She moans and brings her arms up from the water to clutch at his biceps as his thumb brushes teasingly against her clit. "I mean it, though, if this vampire is killing witches for practicing magic, I'm going to do something about it."

"I know," he replies. He sinks two fingers into her, causing her to cry out. Her fingers tangle in the hair at the nape of his neck and tug at the strands a bit. "And believe me, I no fan of that little whelp. But let's be smart about this, okay?"

Bonnie nods and moans as his fingers curl upwards in her and the pressure of his thumb increases on her clit. Just as she feels herself about to orgasm, he pulls away.

Then, he easily takes her by the hips and lifts her up to slide her back down on his throbbing erection.

She moves frantically against him, tugging at his hair. Her lips meet his, then fall against his cheek, and then eventually his neck. She can vaguely hear the water sloshing about in the bathtub, but she can't bring herself to care about the mess they were undoubtedly making.

Still, though, even as her pleasure builds into a crescendo, she can't help but wonder what she's gotten herself into.

A/N: So, for a long time I went back and forth as to whether I was really going to go through with this sequel because Pray for Rain ended on a high note, so a sequel wasn't absolutely necessary. In the end I decided to because I really felt like I had more story to tell with the Kennett dynamic I had set up in Pray for Rain…plus, I just have so many ideas of what to do with this because New Orleans has such a rich, fascinating history.

Anyway, thanks for reading and, as always, reviews are very much appreciated!