Chapter 20

The weight of the room was palpable as Erik and Astrid stood before his siblings. The tension crackled in the air like a storm about to break. Klaus, ever the skeptic, was the first to speak, his voice cold and laced with impatience.

"So, what's this 'new threat' you're speaking of?" Klaus asked, his eyes narrowed, studying Erik as if trying to gauge whether his elder brother was simply playing one of his games or speaking the truth.

Erik's gaze held steady as he spoke. "I don't have all the answers yet, but I know that whatever we faced, it wasn't just a rogue magic user or a vengeful spirit. It was something far older, something with a purpose."

He turned his attention to Elijah, who stood silently, his arms crossed over his chest, the brooding weight of centuries-old wisdom apparent in his gaze. "The figure we faced spoke of a grand design. A plan that had already been set in motion before we even knew it."

Elijah's expression darkened, a flicker of concern passing through his sharp eyes. "A design? And you believe this design involves us?"

"I do," Erik replied, his voice firm. "It spoke of my role in it. And that's why I need to speak to all of you. We need to prepare for what's coming."

Rebekah, who had remained mostly silent, stepped forward, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Why wouldn't you tell us earlier, Erik?" she asked, her voice softer than her usual biting tone. "Why wait until now?"

Erik took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the room, landing on each of his siblings in turn. He could see the fear behind their bravado, the uncertainty that always seemed to hover just beneath the surface. After all these centuries, they were still bound by their family's curse, by the choices of their parents. But Erik had long since accepted that their fate was intertwined, and they would either face the future together or be torn apart by the forces beyond their control.

"I didn't fully understand it," he admitted. "The figure we fought, it wasn't just trying to kill us—it was trying to break something. Something much larger. It mentioned Dahlia, and I can't help but think her deal with our mother is somehow connected to this."

At the mention of Dahlia, an eerie silence fell over the room. Klaus' eyes flashed with barely contained rage, the thought of his aunt, the woman who had torn their family apart, still a raw wound in his heart. Elijah, on the other hand, seemed to be processing the information carefully, his mind always working in the background, weighing the possibilities.

"What exactly are you suggesting, Erik?" Klaus asked, his voice low and tinged with something dangerous.

Erik met his gaze, unflinching. "I'm saying that we're part of something far bigger than we realize. This isn't just about us, or Dahlia, or even our parents. This is about power—ancient power—and it's been set in motion because of the deal our mother made."

Rebekah scoffed, stepping away from Erik, her arms crossed defensively. "We've heard these kinds of stories before. You know as well as I do that our family is cursed. But what does that have to do with whatever it is you're talking about?"

Erik could sense her skepticism, but he also knew that beneath the surface, Rebekah, like the others, feared the unknown. They had all suffered at the hands of their family's past, and the thought of facing another impossible challenge stirred old wounds.

"What I'm saying is this: We're not just dealing with our family's curse," Erik explained, his voice steady, though the weight of what he was saying hung heavily in the air. "We're dealing with something that predates even Dahlia. Something that has been manipulating the flow of our lives for generations. And if we don't figure out what it is—and how to stop it—then everything we've ever known could be destroyed."

There was a long pause as his siblings absorbed the weight of his words. Finally, Klaus spoke again, his tone measured but still dripping with mistrust.

"And you think you can stop this? You, Erik? You've always been the one to play the hero. But this—this is different."

"I know," Erik replied, his voice unwavering. "But I can't do it alone. That's why I need all of you."

For a brief moment, the room was silent, each of them contemplating what Erik had said. It was Elijah who spoke next, his voice calm, but his eyes filled with determination.

"We'll need to learn more," Elijah said, stepping forward. "We need to understand who or what is behind this. And what role we're meant to play in it."

Erik nodded in agreement, a sense of purpose settling within him. It had been a long time since he had felt a true connection to his family—since he had believed they could stand united. But now, with the gravity of the situation weighing on them all, he knew that this was their only chance.

Klaus uncrossed his arms, his gaze lingering on Erik for a moment longer. "Fine," Klaus muttered, his voice almost resigned. "But don't expect me to be a part of some grand family reunion. I'll help when it suits me."

Rebekah shook her head, a faint smile crossing her lips. "Always so dramatic, Klaus."

The tension in the room eased slightly, but Erik knew it was far from over. There were still so many unknowns. They had won one battle, but there were countless others to come. The figure had mentioned that Erik was a part of a larger design, and now that Erik had spoken of it, the other Mikaelsons had to confront it too. It would mean confronting their past, their choices, and perhaps even the truths they had been running from for centuries.

"Well, now that we've gotten that out of the way," Erik said, his voice finally taking on a more pragmatic tone, "there's one thing I know for sure. We need to find Dahlia. And we need to figure out how her deal with our mother fits into all of this. Because if she's involved, then we're all in danger."

His words hung in the air, and for a moment, no one spoke. But as the silence stretched, Erik could feel the shift. The Mikaelsons had been through so much, but this was different. They had all learned how to survive on their own, but now they had to face their greatest challenge yet: not just their enemies, but the very fabric of their destiny.

And Erik would see it through. Whatever it took.