Taking The Fight To Them

Alyssa stood on the edge of the woods, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her frown deepening as she stared into the darkening sky. The air felt heavier, and a strange energy crackled around them. She could feel it in her bones.

"They're here," she muttered, her voice low but laced with frustration.

Ivar, standing a few feet away, glanced at her, his sharp eyes narrowing. He felt it too—the unmistakable presence of beings far more powerful than most of the creatures in Mystic Falls. Turning to her, he asked, "Are you sure they're the ones who sealed you when you first came here?"

Alyssa nodded stiffly, her jaw clenched. She raised her hand, showing him the ring on her finger—a seemingly simple piece of jewelry, except now it glowed fiercely, pulsing with a menacing red light. "The Vade Maecum Infernal doesn't lie," she said, her tone sharp. "It's out for blood."

Ivar sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "There's no need for violence, Alyssa," he said, though his tone carried little conviction. "We'll see why they're here first. If it comes to a fight, then fine, we'll give them one. But let's not jump straight to it."

Alyssa scoffed, lowering her hand. "Tell that to the Vade Maecum Infernal," she snapped before turning on her heel and stalking off.

Ivar watched her go, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He knew her well enough to see through her sharp words and cold exterior. She might be acting calm, but she was just as eager for a fight as the cursed relic she wore. She just wouldn't admit it outright.

Shaking his head, Ivar chuckled to himself. "She's as bloodthirsty as that damn ring," he muttered. He let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair as he looked back up at the sky. The energy was growing stronger, closer.

"Time to call my namesake," he said under his breath, a glint of amusement in his eyes as he followed Alyssa's path. He didn't need to say it, but he already knew how this would end. There was no avoiding it—not with beings like this descending on Mystic Falls. Still, he figured he'd go through the motions. For now.

Inside the Salvatore boarding house, the Guardians were gathered in the grand living room, their voices low but serious as they discussed strategies. The air was tense, the weight of what was coming hanging over them like a storm cloud. Elizabeth stood at the head of the room, her expression calm as she listened to the others.

The door creaked open, and Stefan strolled in, his hands in his pockets. He glanced around the room, his eyes landing on Elizabeth. "So," he said casually, "what's your vendetta against the Originals? What did they do to piss you all off?"

Elizabeth looked at him, her face softening. "It's not about vendettas, Stefan," she said simply. "I'm here to protect my daughters. That's all."

Ryannen, standing near the fireplace, frowned and turned to Elizabeth, her tone sharp. "What do you mean, you have nothing against them?" she snapped. "The Originals are the reason these vile creatures roam the earth in the first place! They disrupted the balance of nature, and we're trying to fix it."

Elizabeth sighed but didn't respond immediately. She seemed tired of the argument, her gaze dropping to the floor for a moment.

Stefan stepped forward, his eyes blazing. "Nature was trying to handle it just fine by giving these creatures weaknesses. But you—you're saying you don't have anything against the Originals? That's not protecting your daughters, Elizabeth. That's just… hating them."

Idola, leaning against the wall, crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. Her voice was calm but pointed. "So whose side are you on, Stefan?" she asked, cutting through the tension. "Are you with us or with them?"

Stefan smirked, his usual calm demeanor barely masking his amusement. "I'm on my own side," he said simply. He gave them a slight nod and turned, walking out of the room without another word.

The silence that followed was thick, the tension between Elizabeth and the other Guardians still lingering. Elizabeth let out a quiet sigh, but she said nothing as the discussion continued.

The tension in the Salvatore boarding house was palpable as everyone gathered in the main hall. The Guardians were all there, their expressions a mix of determination and unease. Alongside them stood Elena, Katherine, Jenna, Alaric, Damon, and Caroline, each trying to process the weight of what was coming. It wasn't often that this many powerful personalities were crammed into one room, and it showed.

Katherine leaned casually against a bookshelf, her arms crossed as she watched the others with a smug grin. "So, what's the grand plan?" she asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "We storm their castle, wave some fancy weapons, and hope for the best?"

Damon smirked, sipping his bourbon from a crystal glass. "She's not wrong," he quipped. "Do we even know what we're walking into? Or are we just throwing a party and hoping the Originals RSVP?"

Caroline shot him a glare, her hands on her hips. "This isn't a joke, Damon," she snapped. "If we don't stop them now, who knows what kind of damage they'll do next?"

Jenna, standing beside Alaric, frowned. "Caroline's right. We need a solid plan, not just... winging it."

Idola stepped forward, her sharp gaze sweeping over the room. "The plan is simple," she said firmly. "We take the fight to them before they can bring it to us. The Originals have been hiding behind their power for far too long. It's time they face what they've created."

Elena, standing near the doorway, frowned. "But how? They're almost impossible to kill, and we don't even know where they're hiding."

Ryannen, her arms crossed and her expression as sharp as ever, spoke up. "We know enough. The Mikaelsons aren't subtle. We've tracked them to a manor on the edge of town. That's where they've been regrouping."

Katherine snorted. "Of course they're in a manor. Can't ever just stay in a normal house like the rest of us."

Elizabeth ignored her, stepping closer to the center of the room. "We have weapons," she said calmly. "Weapons forged with the very essence of nature itself. They can hurt the Originals, maybe even kill them if we strike hard enough."

Mylea nodded, her face grim. "And we've got the White Oak stakes," she added. "They're our best shot at taking them out for good."

Damon raised an eyebrow. "And what about Klaus?" he asked. "He's not exactly the type to go down without a fight."

Elizabeth's expression hardened. "Then we fight," she said simply.

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of her words sinking in.

Caroline finally spoke, her voice quieter. "What about everyone else? What happens if we lose?"

Idola's gaze softened, just slightly. "We won't lose," she said. "Because we can't afford to."

Elena exchanged a glance with Katherine, who rolled her eyes but said nothing. Jenna reached for Alaric's hand, her fingers tightening around his.

Damon broke the silence with a sigh, downing the rest of his drink. "Well, this sounds like a terrible idea," he said, setting the glass down. "But what the hell. Let's do it."

Katherine smirked. "You always did have a flair for the dramatic, Damon."

As the group began to finalize their plans, the tension in the room slowly shifted. They were scared, yes, but they were also ready. It was clear that no matter what happened, they were going to face it together.