Chapter 21

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

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A Day Before the Confrontation

Caroline Forbes' POV

We've been stymied every time we try to make headway. And Kol... Kol is a different breed altogether. Unlike his siblings, he doesn't play with measured restraint. He moves from zero to a hundred in seconds, and he enjoys toppling the careful games we and the Originals are oh-so-delicately setting up.

And, of course, Elena had to play the martyr. She went to the one woman crazy enough to curse her own children. Now, who knows what Esther will do with Elena's blood?

I could already picture Damon being subjected to some kind of gruesome torture. The thought sends a dark thrill through me, and I hate how much my inner monster revels in it.

As the group discusses how to retrieve Damon, Elena speaks up, her voice filled with misplaced confidence.

"We'll bargain with Elijah again. He respects family; he'll listen."

Yeah, right. That's worked so well for us before. It feels like we're hurtling toward disaster at breakneck speed. Like watching a truck veer into oncoming traffic—you know the collision is inevitable, but you can't look away.

A knock at the door breaks my grim thoughts. Stefan, the broody vampire who started this mess, goes to open it. And who walks in? Esther Mikaelson. Because things weren't already bad enough.

Esther stands there, serene and commanding, like chaos incarnate. She barely acknowledges any of us before turning to Elena.

"Invite my son, Finn, inside," she says.

Elena hesitates but finally relents.

"Come in, Finn."

And just like that, we're staring at the battlefield lines: Team Originals, Team Elena, and Team Esther, who seems to be here solely to create as much destruction as possible.

Esther's voice is smooth, but there's venom underneath.

"It saddens me that my son, Niklaus, has become such a monster. Even I fear him now."

Of course, she fears him. Klaus thrives on fear. The guy puts terror into a thousand-year-old witch—he's a nightmare personified.

Finn moves forward, carrying a metal box like some grotesque peace offering. He places it on the table, and Esther chants a spell. The box opens, and what spills out is enough to make me gag.

First, two legs. Then, two arms. Severed, jagged, grotesque. And finally... Damon's head.

Finn pulls the head out by its dark, blood-matted hair, his torso dangling limply behind. Damon doesn't make a sound, but his eyes... His eyes scream of unspeakable torment.

The room erupts in gasps, wails, and horrified silence. But me? A jolt of something wicked rushes through me. Thrill. Elation. And for one terrifying second, I smile.

I force myself to wipe the expression off my face before anyone notices. Everyone's too focused on Damon to see my slip.

Esther's voice cuts through the chaos.

"You can feed him blood now. He'll be able to move soon. Though I doubt he'll find the experience pleasant."

Elena breaks down, clutching Damon's mutilated body, her cries grating on my ears. As I watch her sob over the man who raped and abused me, a question claws at the edges of my mind: Why am I loyal to her?

How can I stand by this girl who loves a man that ruined me? A man who twisted my life into his personal game?

Esther, unbothered by the drama, gestures at Damon's severed limbs like pieces of a macabre puzzle.

"Fit them back together," she says. "Feed him, and he'll heal in minutes."

Elena struggles to regain her composure as she starts barking orders.

"We'll distract Klaus and Kol. Caroline, you'll handle Klaus. Bonnie, you distract Kol. I'll—"

I cut her off, incredulous.

"Wait, hold up. You want me to distract Klaus? The thousand-year-old hybrid who can snap me like a twig? Are you insane?"

Elena glares at me, her tear-streaked face hardening.

"You'll do it because we don't have a choice. And Bonnie will handle Kol. Elijah says he's attracted to witches. It'll work."

I laugh bitterly.

"Oh, sure. Let's just throw me and Bonnie to two homicidal maniacs. I'm sure they won't see through it. And when your brilliant plan inevitably fails, I'm sure Klaus will just forgive me. Definitely won't kill me on the spot."

Bonnie's voice is quiet but firm.

"If it's what we need to do to stop them, I'll do it."

Of course, Bonnie would. She always does the dirty work. And somehow, she survives. I don't know whether to admire her or pity her.

Meanwhile, I'm left trying to suppress the simmering rage and fear bubbling inside me. Klaus and Kol aren't just monsters—they're chaos given form. And we're about to throw ourselves right into the storm.

The next day, as I enter the Mystic Grill, I spot Klaus and Kol drinking together. The sight makes me realize that Bonnie must have failed. As I walk in, careful not to alert them, Klaus calls out to me.

"Caroline, love," he says with that all-too-familiar smirk.

"Care for a drink?" he asks.

Kol looks at Klaus and me with an amused expression, raising his glass.

"Yes, Caroline, join us," he adds, still grinning as he looks back at Klaus and laughs.

I raise an eyebrow, daringly, "Hmm... I'd rather die of thirst, thank you."

I turn to leave as I came in, but Klaus follows me after a moment, and Kol heads in the other direction.

Klaus catches up, his voice smooth. "How have you been, love?"

I glance at him, irritated. "You can take your million-dollar bracelets and beautiful paintings back and take a hint," I snap, trying to ignore the tension.

He looks at me with a slight hurt expression. "Love, I thought we were over that little spat. Come on, get to know me. I dare you."

I hesitate, but he notices it and smirks, adding, "And don't you owe me a question from the night of the ball?"

I sigh and sit down, crossing my arms. He looks at me knowingly.

"Then ask your question," I say, settling onto a nearby bench.

He stares deeply into my eyes. "I want to ask about you—your hopes, your dreams, and everything you've ever wanted in life."

I let out a small laugh, but when I look into his eyes, I see that he genuinely means it.

"I'm too smart to be seduced by you," I reply, raising an eyebrow.

He drops his voice to a softer, more charming tone. "And that's why I like you, love."

Just then, we hear Elena scream, "Stop!"

When we rush to the source of the scream, it's a massacre. "Is that Dr. Fell's body?" I murmur, noticing the chaos. Klaus's eyes darken, though there's a trace of amusement in them.

I step forward to support Elena, but Klaus holds me back.

"It's not good to spook my brother at the moment," Klaus warns, his grip tight. "She was part of the plan, whatever it is, and right now... mercy isn't in the cards."

Just then, Elijah arrives, sees the scene, and heads straight for Kol.

"Kol, the Bennetts weren't found," Elijah says, his tone cold.

Kol laughs boisterously, clearly unbothered. "Don't worry, Elijah. If Mother thinks she can use the Bennett magic to undo us, she's in for a surprise. Anyway, let's go meet her. As for this little vampire..." he sneers, looking over at a terrified figure, "...I'm going to finish him."

"No, Kol," Elijah warns, his voice stern.

Kol suddenly turns and looks at him, then shifts his gaze to Elena, and finally back to Elijah. His expression shifts, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"Very well," Kol says. "You can choose whether Elena becomes our blood slave for the rest of her mortal life. She should consent to this, of course. I'll make it happen now... or I'll just kill her savior and get rid of the nuisance I've been forced to bear. This is the last time. Next time she meddles with our family, anyone who knows the name Elena Gilbert won't be so fortunate."

He gestures toward Elena, his voice cold. "What do you say, dopplewhore? Unlike my brother, my deals should be upheld. Otherwise, I'll show you what a real monster is."

Kol begins chanting in an ancient, guttural language, his voice steady and commanding as he slices his palm. Blood drips, and he presses it against Elena's, causing the air to thrum with an eerie energy. The chant intensifies, each word pulling the magic tighter.

"Vinculum sanguinem, vinculum animae, unum et aeternum, ligavit nos, ligavit vos."

(The blood binds, the soul binds, one and eternal, it has bound us, it has bound you.)

The words ripple through the room, the magic pulsing, and Elena's breath quickens, the weight of the spell settling on her like a heavy cloak. The ritual is nearing its peak, and the tension is palpable.

"Fiat vinculum, fiat sanguis, in aeternum, sub lege nostra."

(May the bond be made, may the blood flow, forever, under our law.)

The final words cut through the air like a blade, the magic snapping into place as their hands remain joined, a visible aura of energy swirling around them. Kol's eyes gleam as he watches the blood oath seal.

"Answer me, Elena Gilbert sister of Jeremy Gilbert" he commands, his voice colder now, "Will you give your blood willingly?"

Elena hesitates for a moment with true fear in her eyes as she hears her brother name but nods reluctantly.

"Good," Kol says, nodding as the magic is sealed.

"Shall we?" Kol asks Klaus and Elijah, a wicked smile forming on his lips. Without waiting for a reply, he turns and walks out with them, leaving me standing there with a mix of dread and disbelief.

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Do tell me if there are any mistake since i have some free time today so trying to write more chapters

Attributes

acts as a focus

Agony Amplification: Each strike intensifies the target's pain, overwhelming their senses with searing agony.

Activation Phrase: "Skadi's Wrath."

Wound Corruption: Prevents supernatural healing, leaving injuries raw and festering.

Activation Phrase: "Loki's Bane."

Soul Suppression: Weakens supernatural beings, disrupting their abilities and severing their connection to magical energies.

Activation Phrase: "Fenrir's Bite."

I am thinking whether to add this or not

Chaos Pulse: Unleashes a wave of dark energy that disorients and scatters enemies, sowing terror and confusion.

Activation Phrase: "Hel's Chains."

Blood Link: Draws strength from enemies' spilled blood, enhancing Kol's endurance and fury during prolonged combat.

Activation Phrase: "Odin's Tribute."

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