His jaw tightened.
"How utterly frustrating it is," he continued, voice edged with quiet fury, "for the memories of Originals to be toyed with in such a manner when tampered with by forces even we cannot perceive."
He shook his head once and sharply.
"They said he was born of flame," Elijah went on. "With no parents. No lineage. He simply… came into existence. Even the witches did not know how. Only that he might be an amalgamation of thousands of souls."
A chill crept down Elena's spine as Elijah's gaze grew distant.
"They called him a hound of fire," he said softly. "A hound of Hell."
Elena's breath hitched. "A… hellhound? Those are real?"
Elijah looked at her. "No, Elena," he said quietly. "He is real. And he is the one and only of his kind. Unlike every other supernatural creature, he has no descendants. No progeny."
Elena's voice dropped to a whisper. "He's… all alone."
"Yes," Elijah replied. "He is." She hugged herself unconsciously. "And nature is… okay with that?"
Elijah considered the question. "According to the witches, yes. However, there were rumors, unfinished ones that he committed a taboo. Something that displeased nature itself. What it was, we never learned."
He paused, then added, "The witches did not seal his powers away after this transgression. Not because they forgave him but because they couldn't. He is stronger than them. And at the time… their ally."
Elena nodded slowly, absorbing it all.
"So this curse," she said at last, lifting her eyes to him. "The one placed on Klaus… that's what he wants to break, isn't it?"
"Yes," Elijah replied. "He wishes to awaken the werewolf within him fully. If allowed, Niklaus would sire his own bloodline. He would build a race of hybrids and endangering not only vampires, but everyone."
His expression hardened.
"I helped Niklaus because I loved him," Elijah said. "That has changed. Now, he must die."
"We have the dagger," Elena said quickly. "We can stop him."
Elijah stood once more. "When a werewolf is wounded by silver, it heals. An Original can only be killed by white oak ash on a silver dagger." He turned to face her fully. "And that, Elena, is the conundrum."
Her heart sank. "The dagger doesn't work."
Elijah nodded gravely.
Elena's voice trembled despite herself.
"What… are you saying? That Klaus can't be killed?"
Elijah fell silent, his gaze lifting toward nothing in particular, as though searching the past for something he wished he could forget.
"Michael once said," he began slowly, "that there are entities in existence capable of killing even us."
A faint, skeptical breath left him.
"To be honest, I do not fully believe that," Elijah admitted. "But what I do believe is that he is powerful, perhaps powerful enough to kill an Original if he so desired."
He lowered his eyes, meeting Elena's.
"But he never would," Elijah said with quiet certainty. "No matter what we become. No matter what we do."
Elena felt a chill at the conviction in his voice.
"Still," Elijah continued, his tone darkening, "there is another way to end any supernatural species."
Elena stiffened. "Another way?"
Elijah nodded once, "At the hands of the servants of nature itself."
"A witch if they can channel that much power. But it would kill them." Elena said
'Or at least that's what Bonnie told me when she decided to come clean' Elena thought.
"The curse must be broken during the full moon. When Klaus is in transition. That's when he'll be at his most vulnerable. A witch with enough power... can kill Klaus." Elijah replied
"What if I told you that I knew a witch that could channel that much power?" Elena asked
"Then I would tell you there's one more thing that you should know. Back when Niklaus wanted to sacrifice Katarina, I got in contact with some witches and a shaman and they found a way to create something that would resurrect the doppelganger." Elijah said
"You both found a way to save the life of the doppelgänger?" Elena asked in shock
"Yes, Elena. I did. But unfortunately, Katerina took matters into her own hands first. I believe you already know how that played out." Elijah said
"You cared about her, didn't you?" Elena asked
"It's a common mistake, I'm told. And it's one I won't make again." Elijah said.
Michael walked at an unhurried pace, hands tucked into the pockets of his coat, beside him, Cara matched his stride effortlessly, a knowing smirk playing on her lips.
"Don't think you can find one for me?" Michael asked casually, not even looking at her.
Cara's smirk widened. "There's nothing I cannot find, Lord Michael."
He stopped mid-step and looked at her like she'd just insulted his ancestry.
"Okay, serious question," Michael said, voice dripping with sarcasm, "if I asked you hypotheticallybfor the four hundredth time to stop calling me Lord, would that even register? Or is this like one of those customer support loops where I keep pressing zero and still don't get a human?"
"No," Cara replied instantly, utterly unapologetic.
Michael sighed. "Fantastic. No difference between you and Brandon at all. I'm surrounded by traitors."
She chuckled. "On a more relevant note, we've secured the shares you wanted from King Maker Development Inc. Quietly."
Michael raised a brow. "Oh? Is that so?"
A slow smile spread across his face. "Well, that's good news. Next item on the agenda, get a few of the others and take a look at their facilities."
He brought a hand to his chin, thoughtful. "I'm sensing… a rather urgent need for the liberation of the poor souls they've got locked up in there."
Cara frowned slightly. "Why not just destroy them?"
Michael gasped dramatically, clutching his chest.
"Destroy them?" he repeated, scandalized. "Cara, please. That would be terrible for the plot. The pacing would be off, the moral complexity would vanish, and the audience would riot."
She blinked. "The… audience?"
"Oh, don't worry your pretty little head," Michael waved it off. "You wouldn't understand."
He straightened. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a guest I've been burning to meet."
And just like that, he vanished.
Salvatore Boarding House
The sound of something shattering echoed through the house.
Michael reappeared in the hallway and sighed. "Ah. There we go again."
Another crash followed.
"The unmistakable sound of two brothers," he muttered, "fighting over a single woman."
Blurring into the living room, he found Stefan and Damon locked in combat with furnitures overturned.
Michael casually strolled to a chair, sat down, and crossed his legs.
"Oh, please," he said cheerfully. "Don't mind me. You can absolutely continue as you were."
Both brothers froze, staring at him.
As Damon snarled and Stefan tensed to rush forward again, Michael heard footsteps approaching.
'Oh man,' he thought. 'Why now?'
"Stop!" Elena shouted.
She entered the room alongside Elijah.
"What kept you so long?" Michael asked, then Elijah turned and smiled.
"Kan," Elijah said warmly. "Or is it Michael now?"
Michael returned the smile. "Well, I figured it was time for a change."
Elijah raised a brow. "Did you change your name just to scare Niklaus?"
Michael laughed as he stepped closer. "Believe it or not no. I just happened to take a name similar to his. Pure coincidence."
His eyes flicked over Elijah's suit. "I see you're into suits now."
They embraced briefly, an easy familiarity between them.
Pulling back, Elijah smirked. "And I see you still like those coats of yours."
Michael scoffed. "Hey, I'll have you know they're incredibly comfortable."
"Now you've invited him in?" Damon snapped, drawing everyone's attention as his glare locked onto Elena, "Elijah and I have renewed the terms of our deal," Elena replied evenly.
"Really?" Damon scoffed. Elijah stepped forward slightly. "The two of you will come to no harm at my hands. I ask only one thing in return."
"What?" Damon demanded.
"An apology."
"A what?" Damon echoed, stunned.
Michael had to bite back a laugh. 'Meme-worthy expression indeed,' he thought.
Stefan moved closer to Elijah and Elena. "I'm sorry for the part I played in your death. I was protecting Elena. I will always protect Elena."
Michael rolled his eyes. 'Ugh. Lover boy.'
"I understand," Elijah said calmly, seeing a reflection of himself in Stefan.
Elena turned to Damon, who stood rigid and silent. "The sacrifice is going to happen, Damon. Bonnie will be able to kill Klaus without hurting herself, and Elijah knows how to save my life. I told you I'd find another way and I did."
Damon looked to Elijah. "Is that true?"
"It is," Elijah answered.
Damon's gaze returned to Elena. "And you're trusting him?"
"I am."
Damon exhaled sharply, then turned to Michael. "And you're just going to allow this? My brother said you'd do anything to keep those you protect safe."
Michael met his stare without flinching. "And I will. Elena will survive. I always keep my promises."
"No," Damon said bitterly. "Not like this."
He looked around the room, eyes burning. "You can all go to hell."
With that, he stormed out.
Stefan watched him go, then glanced at Elijah. "He's angry with me right now. But he'll come around."
Before the tension could settle, Michael clapped his hands together lightly. "Well! On that emotionally devastating note, Jenna could bring in some cookies."
He looked at Elijah. "You should definitely try them. Life-changing. Possibly world-altering."
Elijah raised a brow. "You still behave like a teenager, despite your… considerable age."
Michael gasped dramatically. "Whoa, whoa, absolutely never mention my age."
He pointed a finger at Elijah. "That's how wars start."
[Alaric's apartment]
Kneeling in front of the box Greta was casting a spell with candles all around her, as Klaus/Alaric was standing next to the box. Katherine was looking at her, when Greta suddenly stopped and looked at Alaric who opened his eyes and looked at Katherine "Elena?" he asked before he collapsed
Greta opened the box, and Klaus walked out of it and looked at Alaric "Now that's more like it." Klaus said with a smirk on his face.
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