Simple Secrets || N. Mikaelson

~19~

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New Orleans - 2013

~Five Months Later~

Heels clip-clopped along the sidewalk, brown hair bundled up into a high ponytail as nimble fingers worked to adjust and straighten the white blouse she wore. 

Talia Monroe's dark eyes roamed over the tourist-filled streets of New Orleans, her mind dancing from thought to thought. 

It was night and crowded and the air was filled with the smell of spicy foods and the sound of jazz. Her hand lifted, popping a few buttons of her blouse and then moving downwards, tugging her jeans further up her hips to accentuate her waist and ass. 

A few people glanced her way, but it wasn't the people that mattered as her gaze drew upwards, catching sight of a certain someone resting uneasily against the balcony above. Lifting her fingers in a wave, Talia smiled charismatically at Elijah. 

He waved, dark eyes narrowing slightly. 

Her hips swayed side-to-side as she moved into Rousseau's, a bar and restaurant right on the corner of a street called Bourbon and another street who's name she didn't quite like as much. 

Sliding into a seat at the bar, her dark gaze flitted over to the dark-skinned man on her left. Marcel Gerard, Klaus's son . . . of sorts. 

He was talking to someone that was wearing a silly cap in a low, yet, serious tone before the man left and Marcel was alone. 

Talia busied herself with reading the menu behind the bar, her brown eyes narrowed slightly. "Hi, I haven't seen you around." His voice was deep but warm, something about it reminding her of chestnuts and hot coffee. "I'm Marcel."

The Companion peered over at him, her lips pulling into a flashy smile. "Talia, I'm new in town. I just arrived last night, actually." 

"A tourist or. . ." he trailed off, his eyebrows raising to let her fill in the suggested blank. 

Crossing her legs, Talia lifted her hand, toying with her pony-tail. "Not sure yet, I was getting antsy in this small town a few states away. Had to go somewhere more . . . adventurous." 

Marcel laughed, taking a swig of the beer in-front of him. "An adventurer? How's intriguing." His head tilted, his smile wide and flirtatious and Talia merely chuckled. 

Her dark eyes moved back to the menu and then returned to the vampire. "I'm a curious person. I like danger. Speaking of, you order for me." She rested her elbow on the bar, resting her chin in her hand and leaning forward so she was closer to him. "Surprise me, Marcel."

"You're not afraid to say what you want," he teased lightly and looked up at the menu, "I like that." His head bobbed before he turned to the blonde bartender. "One Sex in the Driveway, please."

He winked at Talia and she couldn't help the bubbly laugh from escaping her lips. "Neither are you. Ditto." 

The duo continued their flirting game for awhile longer, even after the bartender brought over the bright blue drink. 

When Talia had finished with it, she felt quite tipsy, making her next moves quite easy to do. 

"So, what do you say? Should we move this somewhere else?" Her voice was light and airy, hand resting on Marcel's bicep with a large smile plastered easily across her face. 

Marcel laughed deeply, his arm wrapping around her waist. "Let's."

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