My Sunshine | Camille O'Connell

(21) Reigning Pain in New Orleans | Part 2

I was awoken by a gasp. My deep gasp of breath after returning to the land of the living.

I died. I hate when I do that.

I look at my surroundings. We're still in the same room in the compound. With bodies littering the floor. At least it's quiet now.

I spoke too soon as I see Marcellus pacing while shouting in frustration. "Dammit, dammit, dammit!" His anger reaches a peak and he flips a table.

"A little softer please, Marcellus? Regeneration's a bitch on the body." I ask groggily.

He abandons the table as he points a finger at my brother. "This is on you! Now that you're in charge, these are your guys laying dead. Your guys. You're gonna run this city, that better mean something to you, otherwise no one worth a damn is gonna follow you. No one!" I start clapping in joy.

"Well said, sweetie." The vampire quickly abandons Klaus to help me get to my feet.

Klaus smirks. "I was beginning to worry about you. I don't think I could've taken any more of this differential nonsense. I mean, clearly I underestimated the faction. That won't happen again. I should've listened to you and allowed Talia to do her job. But, tell me-now that we've arrived to this point, now that they have come into our home, visited this upon our people... How would you counsel me to respond?" He knows the answer. Marcel knows the answer. I know the answer.

Once again, he gets his way.

An evil smile rises on Marcel's face. "Let's go kill them all."

"Lovely." I remove myself from Marcellus, swaying a bit, but find myself able to stand on my own. "I'll meet you at the church in an hour."

"Where are you going?" Klaus asks incredulously.

"None of your fucking business." I seethe as I march out of the compound.

I need to calm down.

And I know one person who has become an expert at helping me do that.

><><><><

I'm not a stalker like my brother, so when I arrived at Rousseau's and found she was nowhere to be seen and some friends said she was staying home, I didn't know where to go.

However, if there's anything to take from this week, it's that I, along with my siblings, am a massive hypocrite.

Her apartment was close by, and I decided to approach this slowly.

'You're showing up to her home unannounced. Might as well use the window since you're already crossing into Klaus territory.'

I'm not my brother. I'm a Mikaelson. Still fucked up, but not as much.

I gave a timid knock on her door and waited for an answer. When she opened the door, I was floored by what I saw.

My sunshine looked sick, like she hasn't been sleeping, and she wouldn't stop shaking. "Uncle Kieran? Is that you?" What happened to her?

I know compulsion isn't easy, but I've never seen it drive anyone to this.

I became flustered. "Um, not exactly."

Her eyes widen. "Talia?" How does she always remember me? I doubt Klaus is specifying, 'forget everything except my sister.'

"Yeah. It's me, sunshine. May I come in?" I ask tentatively, not wanting to scare her.

She nods slowly. "Sure, come in." My face heats up as I move closer to her vicinity. "Not that I'm upset about seeing you, but is there a reason you're here?"