Chapter 30

Disclaimer : I Own Nothing

So, this is the Friday chapter I forgot to post because I was busy working on other fics and translating some Douluo fics—both for readers and to get inspiration for my own story.

Today's chapter will be posted after the weekly reset. If you reach the Powerstone goal by then, I'll post both Chapters 31 and 32 at the same time.

current powerstones 88/100 for the bons chap

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Klaus's POV

The night was dull. Predictable. A parade of forgettable faces waltzing through the gymnasium, clinging desperately to their fleeting youth, unaware that their very existence balanced on the edge of a knife.

And yet, as I stood amidst the hum of music and laughter, I found myself watching her.

Caroline.

She swayed in Tyler's arms, her golden curls catching the dim light, her laugh a melody sweeter than the insipid song playing through the speakers. She was trying—trying so very hard—to pretend. To ignore the monsters lurking in the shadows, to pretend this town wasn't a battleground and that she wasn't caught in the middle of it all.

Fascinating.

Tyler noticed me first. His body tensed, shoulders squaring like a good little soldier. Caroline felt the shift in him, following his gaze.

And then, those sharp blue eyes locked onto mine.

She exhaled softly. "What is it?"

Tyler bristled as I strode forward, a smirk tugging at my lips. "Where've you been, mate?"

His jaw clenched. "I just got back in town."

"How interesting." I tilted my head, letting the amusement flicker across my face. "I don't recall giving you permission to leave in the first place."

My gaze flicked to Caroline, watching as she stood between us, exasperation written all over her lovely features.

"You don't mind if I cut in, do you?"

"Yes!" she snapped before she could stop herself.

Tyler, of course, ever the obedient fool, muttered, "No, it's fine."

Caroline spun toward him with a glare. "Why do you always have to prove you're the alpha male?!"

I chuckled, low and amused. "I don't have to prove anything, love. I am the alpha male."

Extending a hand, I let the challenge settle between us. "Come on. One dance. I won't bite."

She hesitated.

Oh, she knew this was a mistake. I could see it in the slight parting of her lips, the flicker of defiance warring with something else. Something she didn't want to name.

And yet, she placed her hand in mine.

As I pulled her onto the dance floor, I leaned in just enough for my breath to ghost against her skin. "You would've loved the 1920s, Caroline. The girls were reckless, sexy, fun. They literally used to dance until they dropped."

She scoffed, unimpressed. "Hmpf, I don't suppose that ever happened to their dance partners."

I smirked. "You should be nicer to me. I'm leaving town tomorrow."

The slight hitch in her breath didn't escape me, though she masked it quickly with another scoff.

"Hmpf."

I studied her, taking in the stubborn tilt of her chin, the way her fingers curled slightly against mine. "I'd invite you to come with me," I murmured, my voice quieter now, softer, "but we both know you're not ready to accept my offer. Perhaps one day, in a year, or even in a century, you'll turn up at my door and let me show you what the world has to offer."

She rolled her eyes, but she couldn't hide the way my words unsettled her.

I released her hand, stepping back. And though I left the dance floor, I knew my absence would linger.

Just as she would linger with me.

The night had started as an utter waste of my time. A high school dance. Rebekah's ridiculous idea. And now, she was nowhere to be found. Typical.

I pressed the phone to my ear as I strode out of the gym. "Rebekah, call me back immediately. I only came to this ridiculous dance because you begged me to, and now you've disappeared."

I stopped. Something was wrong. A thin, glimmering line of salt stretched across the doorway, a spell humming in the air.

What. The. Bloody. Hell.

A presence behind me. I didn't bother turning. "What is this?"

Stefan's voice was laced with something close to satisfaction. "Your mother is back."

Of course she was.

The Classroom

Bonnie Bennett was chanting, candles flickering around her. Jeremy Gilbert, Jamie Whatever-His-Name-Was, and the Salvatores loitered like lost sheep.

Jamie, the expendable one, muttered, "She does this all the time, right?"

I narrowed my eyes. "What's taking so long?" My patience had already worn thin. "All boundary spells have a loophole."

The door banged open. Matt Donovan entered, face grim. "People are walking right out of the dance. Past the barrier."

Jeremy perked up. "Matt and I can leave. We can stop Esther ourselves."

Stefan shook his head. "It's suicide, Jeremy."

Suicide? No, no. Suicide was disappointing me.

I crossed the room in a blur, hand clamping around Jamie's throat. He flailed, uselessly.

"Now work your magic, witch," I ordered, tightening my grip, "or I'll start killing people you fancy."

Bonnie's eyes blazed. "Let him go!"

"Not until you get us out of here."

Stefan scoffed. "Don't be stupid, Klaus. Bonnie doesn't give a damn about us. The only reason she's even trying is because of Caroline and Tyler. You start killing people she cares about? She'll let us rot."

I held his gaze for a moment before shoving Jamie aside. He crumpled to the floor, coughing. Fine. I'd play nice—for now.

Mystic Falls Gymnasium

The air inside the gym was thick with frustration. Bonnie knelt on the wooden floor, sweat beading at her temple as she poured Jeremy Gilbert's blood onto the map. Nothing. The spell refused to take.

She swallowed hard and whispered another incantation.

Phasmatos Tribum Nas Ex Veras, Sequita Sanguines…

The blood remained still.

Damon exhaled loudly from behind me. "Well, that's just bloody fantastic."

Stefan, pacing near the bleachers, stopped mid-step. "Bonnie?"

"I don't—" Bonnie's voice wavered. "She's blocking me. I can't find them."

Of course, my mother had planned for this. The spell tethering us to this room held strong, binding us like animals in a cage while she worked her twisted magic.

"Esther shouldn't have this much power," I murmured, more to myself than anyone. "Not unless she's channeling something."

Bonnie paled. "A hotspot?"

The realization hit me. There was only one place she could be.

"Get the humans ready," I said, already pulling out my phone. "I know where she is."

Caroline frowned. "What are you—"

I ignored her, bringing the phone to my ear. Kol answered on the second ring, his tone lazy and amused.

"Brother, you do realize I'm in the middle of a rather spectacular evening?"

"There's no time for this." My voice was tight with impatience. "Mother's spell is holding strong, and Bonnie's failing."

Kol hummed as if this were an interesting puzzle rather than a life-or-death matter. "And you're calling me? Not Finn? Not Elijah?"

"Kol." I barely kept my irritation in check. "Now."

A pause, then a dramatic sigh. "Fine. But you owe me, Nik."

The line went dead. I tucked my phone away and glanced at Bonnie. "Try not to pass out before my brother arrives."

Salvatore Tomb

Candles flickered against the damp stone walls. Esther moved with quiet purpose, lighting the last wick before turning toward the bowl set before her. Elena trembled, her wide eyes darting between her best friend and the woman who sought to unmake all of us.

"Ric, this isn't you," she pleaded, her voice raw. "You don't want this."

Alaric's expression hardened, his features twisted with self-loathing. "You don't know who I am, Elena. You only know the weakest parts of me—the man who lost his way, befriending monsters instead of killing them."

"That's not true."

"They're all monsters. The blood of their victims is on my hands." His voice cracked. "Jenna's blood is on my hands."

Esther, ever patient, gestured toward Elena. "It is time."

Elena jerked away, stepping back toward the cold stone wall. "No. I won't do this. I won't help you." Her chin lifted in defiance. "You'll have to kill me."

Esther's lips curled into something like pity. "That won't be necessary."

With a flick of her wrist, Elena gasped as a sharp pain split through her palm. Blood welled, dripping down her fingers. Esther grasped her wrist, holding it over the bowl as the crimson liquid splashed into the dark mixture.

"Drink," Esther commanded Alaric. "And let it be done."

Elena's breath hitched. "No, Ric, please don't—"

Alaric's gaze locked onto hers, his face unreadable. Then, without hesitation, he lifted the bowl and drank deep.

A silence fell over the tomb, thick with finality.

Alaric exhaled sharply. "Is it finished?"

Esther's expression softened into something like reverence. "Not just yet."

She took the white oak stake in hand and drove it into his heart.

Elena screamed.

Mystic Falls Gymnasium

Kol strolled into the gymnasium as if he were arriving fashionably late to a party, his smirk lazy and unconcerned.

"Well, well," he drawled. "Niklaus in distress. Now there's a sight."

Stefan's patience snapped. "Can you just help?"

Kol sighed as if this were beneath him. "Oh, fine. But only because I can't stand watching someone botch magic so spectacularly."

Before Bonnie could retort, Kol flicked his wrist. The candles flared violently. The gym's walls trembled, and then—snap.

The spell shattered.

Bonnie gasped, nearly collapsing from the sudden release of pressure.

Kol smirked. "There. Was that so hard?"

I exhaled sharply. "Took you long enough."

Kol shrugged. "You interrupted my evening, Nik. I figured I'd take my time."

I smirked. "Well, your timing is impeccable. Now let's go clean up Mother's mess."

Old Cemetery

Alaric's body was unnervingly still, the white oak stake buried deep in his chest. Elena knelt beside him, shaking fingers wrapping around the weapon. With a deep breath, she pulled it free.

He gasped, his entire body jolting as his eyes snapped open.

Esther watched, serene. "He will wake as himself for a time. Say your goodbyes."

Elena rounded on her, furious. "You said you wanted to undo the evil you created, but this? This is just as evil."

Esther didn't flinch. "Alaric will never be what my children became. He has enough power to complete his task. And when it is done, he will die."

Elena's voice broke. "How, if he's immortal?"

Esther only smiled. "All you need to know is that, when this is over, vampires will be no more."

Elena's expression twisted. "You're no better than Klaus."

Esther met her gaze, unwavering. "Am I not? I desire a world where you and your loved ones will never suffer at the hands of vampires. Like your Aunt Jenna did."

Elena flinched, grief flashing across her face. "Don't you dare use Jenna as an excuse for what you've done."

Esther's gaze softened. "Take comfort knowing that she is at peace. Though made a vampire, she remained pure. She does not suffer in the place I was."

A twig snapped outside.

Esther turned just as Matt and Jeremy emerged from the trees, their weapons raised.

"Don't move," Matt warned, his rifle steady.

Jeremy's crossbow never wavered. "Where's Elena?"

Elena rushed outside. "Jeremy!"

Jeremy's eyes flicked to her. "Let her go."

Esther didn't even blink. "How foolish of you, to risk your lives for creatures who will turn on you."

She raised a hand.

Jeremy and Matt's bodies seized as their arms twisted—rifle and crossbow aimed directly at each other.

Jeremy's voice wavered. "Matt—drop your gun—"

Matt's eyes widened in panic. "I can't! I'm not controlling it!"

Elena's scream cut through the night. "Esther, stop it!"

Then—a blur of movement.

Alaric appeared behind Esther and drove the white oak stake through her back.

She stiffened, breath catching. Blood seeped through her dress as she turned her head, shock flickering in her fading eyes.

Alaric gasped, blinking rapidly. "Oh my god." His hands trembled as he patted his chest. "Where's my ring?" His panicked gaze flicked to Elena. "What the hell happened?"

Esther fell, her body collapsing to the dirt.

I stepped out from the shadows, Kol at my side, smirking.

"Well," I mused. "That's one problem solved."

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Kol MIkaelson Wild Original - 32 Chapters ch 33 and 34 are being edited

HP - 4 Chapters 5 and 6 being edited 

Daemon(SI) - 5 Chapters 6and 7 being edited

Klaus (SI) - 1 Chap

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