Motion

It was just before dawn in Mystic Falls, casting long shadows through the morning mist. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, laced with something darker—blood, magic, the remnants of battle. The border of the town, once a place of quiet stillness, had become a battlefield where the supernatural met its reckoning.

Leon stood at the treeline, the cold morning air brushing against his skin as he traced a finger along the hilt of Tunde's blade. Its weight was familiar, grounding—power seated bone. The Bone short sword was sheathed behind his waist.

Leon peered out calmly, only three people knew the origins of this vampiric plague —Alice, Vanessa, and himself. But on the outside, they looked like an infestation rolling through town. 

Leon, however, could plot the vampire sighting and attacks on a map and find that they all surround one place —the Salvatore Boarding House. 

Behind him, Greta adjusted her grip on Alexander's sword, the ancient hunter's weapon humming softly, as if stirred awake by the energy Leon had awakened within it. It was another item collected during his time in the prison world.

Lucy rolled an enchanted Buddhist bell between her fingers, the faintest chime sending ripples of magic through the crisp morning air.

Chase Langley stood slightly apart, arms crossed, his breath visible in the chill. His sharp eyes missed nothing.

Beyond them, the enemy lurked in the fading dark—feral vampires, reckless and multiplying in numbers that threatened the delicate balance of Mystic Falls. These weren't the ones who masqueraded as human, who played by rules. These were the kind that needed to be put down.

Leon turned to the others, his voice low but firm. "We don't waste energy. Use what you need, no more. Efficiency in magic is the key to survival."

Lucy smirked, the golden light of morning catching in her eyes. "And what about style?"

Leon arched an eyebrow. "If you have the luxury for it, you're not working hard enough."

A rustle in the underbrush shattered the morning quiet. Two vampires lunged from the shadows, their eyes glowing, their teeth bared. Greta moved first, the hunter's blade flashing in the pale light as she met the charge. The first vampire barely had time to react before steel cut through flesh and bone with unnatural ease, crumbling it to a withering corpse as its head rolled.

Lucy lifted the bell, its metal pulsing with the energy Leon had infused into it. A flick of her wrist, a single chime—inaudible to the human ear but devastating in its frequency. The second vampire staggered, clutching its head as unseen forces shattered its senses. Greta was already there, her sword striking true.

Chase let out a low whistle. "Remind me never to underestimate Mystic Falls witches."

Leon barely acknowledged the comment. He was already moving forward, the bone sword in his free hand humming with stored power. More vampires emerged, drawn by the scent of blood, the promise of a fight. But this time, Leon didn't wait. He raised his left hand, Qetsiyah's talisman catching the first rays of sunlight.

The air crackled. His voice, low and commanding, wove the spell into existence. The nearest vampire convulsed mid-step, its body twisting unnaturally as unseen forces crushed it from the inside out. A flick of his wrist severed the spell, and the creature collapsed.

Greta and Lucy exchanged a glance before pressing forward. The battle was swift, methodical. Every strike had purpose, every spell cast with precision. By the time the last vampire fell, the early morning silence returned, as if the earth itself had swallowed the violence whole.

Leon turned to the group, his expression unreadable. "That," he said, "is how you hunt."

Lucy wiped a speck of blood from her cheek, her grin sharp. "Not bad for a lesson."

Chase stepped forward, gaze shifting from the battlefield to Leon. "Watching you fight, it's clear—Mystic Falls witches shouldn't just be scholars. They should be warriors."

Leon regarded him for a long moment before nodding slightly. "Perhaps. But power without control is a liability. If they're to learn, they must also learn discipline."

Greta sheathed the hunter's blade at her side. "Then let's start with sacrificial magic. The key is storing it properly—not just burning through it."

Leon smirked. "Exactly. The difference between an amateur and a master is knowing how to keep what you take." He lifted Qetsiyah's talisman. "You want power? You trap it. You store it. You make it a part of you."

Lucy held up the bell, rolling it between her fingers. "Bond with it until channeling its magic is effortless."

Leon nodded approvingly. "Create your own talisman. One that is yours and yours alone."

Chase exhaled, glancing down at his hands, as if weighing the knowledge just shared. "This town has no idea what's coming," he murmured.

Leon's smirk deepened. "No," he agreed. "But they will."

"Say, Chase, where is the Langley Family from again," Greta asked.

"My grandparents moved us to Mystic Falls from Chance Harbor, but our family is originally from here," he explained.

"Mmm" Leon hummed.

Chance Harbor felt so familiar to him, yet he couldn't put his finger on why.

__________________________

The morning air was crisp as Greta and Leon Delgallo ascended the steps of the Lockwood Manor, their boots echoing against the stone. The mansion loomed over them, a stark reminder that Mystic Falls had always been run by the powerful—supernatural or otherwise.

A butler opened the door before they could knock, his expression unreadable. "The Mayor is expecting you."

Carol Lockwood sat at her desk, perfectly composed despite the severed vampire heads placed in front of her. The burlap sack sagged under their weight, its gruesome contents leaving a faint stain on the polished mahogany. Her fingers curled around the armrest of her chair as she exhaled sharply through her nose.

"Do you always have to bring proof?"

Leon smirked. "If we didn't, you might start wondering whether you're paying us for nothing."

Carol's jaw tightened. "You expect more money."

Greta leaned forward. "The situation is escalating. We need more resources to keep up."

Carol scoffed. "This town has hunters. The Council is more than capable of handling threats."

Leon chuckled, shaking his head. "Hunters? They're reckless. Witches are the only ones who can actually contain what's coming."

Carol's gaze flickered between them. She wasn't a fool; she knew the truth in his words. But she also had to maintain control.

"The town's budget isn't infinite," she said carefully. "If you want more money, you bring more than heads. You bring results."

Leon's smirk deepened. "We already are. And as long as you pay, we'll keep Mystic Falls from burning."

Carol leaned back, considering. "Fine. But there's no increase in price. And if the situation gets worse, I expect you to handle it."

Leon tilted his head. "That's the idea."

Carol gestured to the door. "Then we're done here."

Greta exhaled sharply as they left. "We should've pushed harder."

Leon smirked. "We pushed just enough."

As she headed off to regroup for the next hunt, Leon had another stop to make.

Mystic Falls Hospital was always quiet in the early morning, the night shift winding down, the halls still bathed in fluorescent light. Leon strode through them with purpose, ignoring the curious glances from passing nurses. He found Dr. Meredith Fell in her office, half-buried in patient files, a coffee in hand.

She barely looked up. "If this is about an injury, I'm off-duty."

Leon closed the door behind him. "Oh, I'm not here for a check-up."

That got her attention. Meredith's eyes flickered up to meet his, cautious. "Mr. Delgallo."

He smirked. "Dr. Fell."

She set her coffee down. "What do you want?"

Leon leaned against the desk, watching her. "I know how you keep your patients alive."

Meredith's expression didn't change, but he caught the subtle way her fingers twitched—just slightly—before she folded her hands together. "I'm a doctor. That's my job."

Leon chuckled. "Sure. But most doctors don't have a steady supply of vampire blood."

Her silence was answer enough.

"I'm not with the Council," Leon continued. "I don't care about your little… side practice. In fact, I think it's quite useful."

Meredith's voice was measured. "Then what do you want?"

Leon reached into his coat and pulled out a glass vial. The dark, thick liquid inside caught the dim light, unmistakably crimson. Vampire blood.

Meredith's eyes sharpened.

"You're running low, aren't you?" Leon mused. "That's the problem with a secret business like yours. Can't exactly put in an order at the blood bank."

Her jaw tightened. "And you're offering… what? A partnership?"

Leon smirked. "I wouldn't call it that. You get what you need. I get paid."

Meredith leaned back, studying him. "And if I refuse?"

Leon rolled the vial between his fingers. "Then I find someone else who will pay."

She exhaled through her nose, a slow, measured breath. "How much?"

Leon's smile widened.

"Now we're talking."

_____________________

The sacred circle of the coven meeting thrummed with quiet anticipation. The flickering glow of enchanted lanterns cast wavering shadows along the stone walls of the underground chamber, where the most powerful witches of Mystic Falls had assembled

Leon Delgallo stood at the center, his dark eyes scanning the gathered elders. These were not mere practitioners of magic; they were the backbone of the coven, the keepers of knowledge and the guardians of their people. Each bore the weight of centuries of wisdom, yet for all their power, they looked to him now—to the man who had brought them a vision of strength and purpose.

He exhaled slowly before speaking, his voice low yet commanding.

"The time has come to rebuild." His words resonated through the chamber, each syllable deliberate. "For too long, witches have been fractured, divided, forced into hiding while others wield power without consequence. That ends now."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the elders, but Leon raised a hand, silencing them.

"The site of the witches that came before us—the burial ground of our fallen kin—will be the heart of our rebirth. I will build the Conclave atop it, anchoring our magic to those who came before us. From there, we expand outward, solidifying our presence in Mystic Falls."

Among the elders, Rowena Delgallo, newly arrived from New Orleans, watched him with sharp, knowing eyes. Though her hair had long since turned silver, her presence commanded the room. "You intend to disturb sacred ground?" she asked, her tone not accusatory, but probing.

Leon met her gaze evenly. "No," he said. "I intend to honor it. The power that lingers there is waiting to be harnessed, not left to decay. We will not desecrate our past—we will build upon it, ensuring our future."

A rumble of consideration spread through the elders. Elder Edward Evergreen, his amber eyes gleaming with curiosity, nodded. "And the structure itself? How will it serve the coven?"

Leon took a step forward, his presence magnetic. "The Conclave will be more than a meeting place. It will be the epicenter of our power. The elders will govern and guide. Our strongest witches will stand as sentinels, defending what we build. And those who have yet to reach their full potential will learn, train, and contribute."

A murmur of intrigue spread through the chamber. Even the most cautious among them could not deny the ambition of his vision.

Elder Lucile Evergreen, regal and sharp-eyed, leaned forward. "You speak of duty and obligation, Leon. But what of those who refuse?"

Leon's gaze darkened, but his voice remained even. "Then they will have no place among us. A coven is a family, and families thrive on unity. Those who wish to be part of our future will commit to it."

Silence settled over the chamber, heavy with unspoken truths.

Finally, Elder Annabeth Langley inclined her head. "I saw what you showed us at the bonfire," she admitted. "The vision of our people—united, unshaken, no longer at the mercy of those who would see us weakened. I believe in your intent."

One by one, the elders voiced their support. Some were cautious, others resolute, but none could deny the necessity of what Leon was proposing.

But as the voices quieted, Leon's expression shifted. The firelight flickered in his eyes, and for a moment, something colder lurked beneath the surface.

"There is one more matter we must address," he said, his tone sharpening. "A threat that cannot be ignored."

The air in the chamber shifted instantly, the warmth of discussion giving way to the chill of impending danger. The elders watched him carefully, sensing the weight of his words.

"What is it?" Lucy Bennett asked.

Leon let the silence stretch before he spoke.

"The Gemini Coven."

A flicker of recognition passed through the room. The name carried weight, history, and—most importantly—fear.

"I've kept this to myself for long enough," Leon admitted. "But if we are to prepare, you must know the truth. The Gemini held me prisoner. They sought to break me, to control me. And yet—I escaped."

A collective breath was drawn. The tension in the room mounted like a gathering storm.

"They do not know how, they do not know when—but they will soon learn. And when they do, they will come." His voice hardened. "With the revival of a coven in Mystic Falls, with three powerful bloodlines—the Delgallo, the Bennett, and the Evergreen—gathering in one place, it is only a matter of time before the Gemini take notice."

Elder Edward's jaw clenched. "They are dangerous," he acknowledged. "But why tell us this now?"

Leon's lips curled into a grim smile.

"Because I won't allow complacency to weaken us. This town has seen many battles, but the one that is coming will be unlike any other. The Gemini are not just powerful—they are calculated. If we are not ready when they arrive, we will be eradicated before we ever have the chance to rise."

A heavy stillness settled over the chamber. These witches were no strangers to war, but the weight of Leon's warning settled in their bones.

Elder Lucile finally broke the silence. "Then we prepare," she declared. "We build, we train, and when they come—we make them regret ever thinking they could control us."

Leon's smirk returned, this time laced with something lethal.

"Now that is exactly the kind of response I was hoping for."