Chapter 35

The silence that followed his mother's words hung in the air like a heavy fog, suffocating in its gravity. Erik's mind churned, the weight of everything he had just learned settling on his shoulders like a boulder. Noxia wasn't just some rogue witch out for revenge. She was the first-born of a bloodline twisted by dark magic, a being whose very existence threatened the delicate balance of everything Erik had fought to protect.

His fingers curled into fists as he turned toward the window, staring out at the sprawling city of New Orleans, bathed in the soft glow of the evening lights. The city was vibrant, alive with energy, yet it felt like the calm before the storm. The world was teetering on the edge, and Erik knew that if he didn't act soon, everything would come crashing down around him.

He couldn't afford to be slow anymore. Noxia wasn't just hunting him—she was hunting his legacy, his bloodline, and his power. Everything he had worked for, everything he had built, was at risk of being torn apart by the very woman he was supposed to protect. It was ironic, in a twisted way. But Erik wasn't a man who believed in irony; he believed in power. And in his world, power was everything.

"I need to find her," Erik said, his voice firm and resolute. He couldn't afford to waste any more time. "We can't keep playing this game of hide and seek."

Esther stepped closer, her eyes narrowing in thought. "You won't find her the way you think, Erik. Noxia is playing a much larger game, one that's been in motion for centuries. You can't defeat her by simply hunting her down. She's already far ahead of you."

Erik turned to face her, his expression hardening. "Then what do you suggest? Sit back and wait for her to strike first?"

"I'm not saying to do nothing," Esther said quickly. "But you need to understand the nature of the game she's playing. Noxia has been preparing for this moment her entire life. She knows the power that runs through the Mikaelson bloodline. She knows how to manipulate it. And right now, she's not after you. Not yet, at least. She's after your power—the very essence of your being."

Erik's brow furrowed. "What does that mean? What does she want with my power?"

Esther's gaze shifted, as if she were seeing something beyond the room, beyond the present moment. "She believes that by merging your bloodline with hers—by taking what was once denied to her—she will unlock a power greater than anything either of us can imagine. It's not just magic, Erik. It's the very essence of immortality. The key to breaking every chain, to bending the world to her will. And she's willing to destroy everything to get it."

The weight of her words settled like a stone in Erik's chest. Noxia wasn't just seeking revenge or power. She wanted to become something else—something beyond the natural order, something even the Mikaelsons had never dared to dream of. And Erik knew, deep down, that if she succeeded, there would be no stopping her. No stopping the chaos she would unleash on the world.

"But how does she intend to do this?" Erik asked, his voice growing cold with suspicion. "How does she plan to merge our bloodlines?"

Esther's lips pressed into a thin line. "That's the part I've yet to uncover. But I have a feeling it has to do with the ritual that binds our family's power—the very spell that made us immortal in the first place. Noxia believes that if she can find the missing piece—the key to unlocking that magic—she will have access to everything the Mikaelsons were meant to be."

Erik's stomach churned. The thought of Noxia tapping into the same power that had kept him and his family alive for centuries was a horrifying one. He had always known that there was something greater at play, something beyond their understanding of magic and immortality. But now, he was beginning to realize the true cost of that power. It wasn't just a blessing—it was a curse, one that had the potential to destroy everything they had built.

"I can't let her do this," Erik said, his voice barely above a whisper, as though saying the words out loud made them more real. "I won't let her destroy everything."

Esther studied him for a moment, her gaze soft but resolute. "You don't have a choice in the matter, Erik. Not if she's already ahead of us. The only way to stop her is to find out what she's planning—and to do it quickly. You must find a way to get ahead of her."

Erik nodded, his mind already working furiously. He couldn't waste time with emotions, with the weight of his family's history. There was a task at hand—a task that only he could complete. If he was going to protect everything he held dear, he needed to think like Noxia, to understand her every move, to anticipate her next step before she made it.

But that would require more than just brute force. It would require cunning, patience, and a deep understanding of the magic they both wielded.

"I'll find her," Erik said, a fierce determination in his voice. "And when I do, I'll make sure she never gets what she wants."

Hours later, Erik stood in the heart of the mansion, the echoes of his conversation with Esther still fresh in his mind. He had to be careful. Noxia was powerful, but she wasn't invincible. And as long as he had the Mikaelson bloodline running through his veins, there was still a chance to stop her.

His thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. He turned, and there stood Astrid, her blonde hair tousled from the wind outside, her green eyes filled with concern.

"Erik," she said softly, stepping inside. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with your mother."

Erik's gaze softened as he took in the sight of her. She had always been strong, but now, with the power coursing through her veins, there was a strength to her that was almost otherworldly. He had seen her grow into something more than just a woman—she was becoming a force of nature in her own right.

"You heard, did you?" Erik replied, his voice a little rougher than he intended.

Astrid stepped closer, her eyes searching his face. "I know this is difficult. But you don't have to do this alone. We're in this together. You're not the only one with power, Erik. I may not have the same magic you do, but I'll fight beside you. We'll fight beside you."

Erik felt a surge of gratitude at her words, but something deeper stirred within him. He had known from the moment they met that their bond went beyond just love—it was something that transcended time and space. Astrid was his equal in every sense of the word.

And together, they would face whatever Noxia had in store for the