The return to Castle de Martel carried a different weight now. Freya rode with Mikael, her presence both foreign and familiar, while the others maintained their formation with practiced ease.
"I spy our humble abode," Kol announced with his characteristic grin as the towers emerged through the morning mist. "Though I must say, sister, we've acquired better accommodations since your... extended absence."
"Kol," Elijah admonished, though his lips twitched slightly. "Perhaps we should focus on how to explain Freya's sudden appearance."
"Oh yes, because 'we rescued our long-lost sister from our wicked aunt's magical slumber' will go over splendidly with the nobility," Klaus drawled, though his eyes kept scanning the horizon with predatory awareness.
"You all make everything needlessly complex," Kol interjected with his characteristic smirk, lounging lazily in his saddle. "Have we forgotten our rather useful ability to make people believe whatever we wish?"
"Now where would the entertainment be in that?" Vali's response carried that dangerous playfulness that always made his siblings slightly wary.
"Besides, little brother, excessive compulsion rather makes things rather dull, doesn't it?"
"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Kol's eyes gleamed with wicked delight, his grin widening. "The possibilities are endless when you're creative enough with it."
Vali chuckled. Kol has always been the only one unbothered and even supportive when it came to his more playful yet still cruel nature. It is why they are each other's favorites.
Freya's laugh was warm, carrying none of the bitterness her imprisonment might have justified.
"I've watched you all for so long - your schemes, your battles, your loves." Her knowing glance at Klaus made him shift uncomfortably. "Though seeing you in person is... quite different."
"Speaking of seeing things," Finn interjected, his usual solemnity lightened by genuine joy at his sister's return, "I believe our welcome party approaches."
Indeed, figures had emerged at the castle gates. Rebekah stood front and center, practically vibrating with anticipation, while Henrik bounced on his toes beside her.
The de Martels maintained their noble composure slightly behind, though Aurora's eyes immediately sought Klaus with poorly concealed longing.
"Sister!" Henrik cry shattered any pretense of dignity as they dismounted. He launched himself at Freya, who caught him with a laugh. "I have so many questions! Rebekah's been helping me and I have been practicing magic, and-"
"Perhaps let her breathe first, Henrik," Elijah suggested diplomatically, though his own smile betrayed his joy.
"Oh, let them be, brother," Kol grinned. "It's not every day we retrieve a sister from magical imprisonment. Though I must say," he turned to Freya with scholarly interest, "your containment spell was fascinating. The temporal mechanics alone-"
"Really, Kol?" Klaus interrupted. "Now?"
Their banter died as Vali suddenly stiffened, the mark on his arm flaring crimson. His black eyes narrowed as he scanned the horizon with dangerous intent.
"She knows," he stated, his voice carrying that perfect calm that usually preceded violence.
Freya's expression hardened. "Dahlia was always going to realize eventually. Her power-"
"Is nothing compared to what we've become," Vali cut her off, though not unkindly.
"Wonderful," Klaus muttered. "Another all-powerful witch with a grudge. Exactly what we needed."
"At least it's not mother this time," Kol offered cheerfully, earning several glares.
"If I may suggest," Elijah stepped forward, ever the strategist, "perhaps we should move this discussion inside. The walls have fewer ears than the courtyard."
"Always so proper, Elijah," Freya smiled, linking her arm with his. "But you're right. We have much to discuss - and not just about Dahlia."
As they moved toward the castle entrance, Aurora stepped forward. "My lord," she addressed Klaus softly, "welcome home." The weight of meaning in those three words made his expression soften.
"Lovely reunions all around," Kol commented, "but might I suggest we focus on the vengeful witch likely heading our way? Not that I'm complaining - it's been dreadfully dull here lately."
"Your definition of 'dull' concerns me, brother," Finn remarked dryly.
Vali watched his siblings with quiet amusement as they entered the castle, but his mind was already calculating. The mark pulsed steadily, almost eagerly, at the prospect of facing Dahlia's power.
"I assume you have a plan?" Elijah asked quietly, falling into step beside him.
"Several," Vali replied, his black eyes gleaming. "Though I doubt we'll need more than one. After all," his smile turned sharp, "we've already faced an angel's judgment. What's one more witch?"
"A witch who held our sister captive for centuries," Finn reminded him, though there was no criticism in his voice - only careful consideration.
"And now she faces something far worse than a mere witch," Vali stated simply. The mark pulsed in agreement, its crimson light briefly illuminating the corridor.
Freya, who had been listening while accepting embraces from Rebekah and Henrik, turned to them with knowing eyes. "Dahlia's power is vast," she cautioned, "but it's built on stolen strength. Yours," she looked directly at Vali, "is something else entirely. Something she won't understand until it's too late."
"Speaking of understanding," Kol interjected with his characteristic grin, "perhaps we should actually discuss how exactly we're explaining our suddenly appearing sister to the nobility? Not that I'm opposed to simply compelling the lot of them, but-"
"Let them wonder," Vali cut him off, though his tone carried dark amusement. "Let them whisper and speculate. It will make what comes next all the more interesting."
"Brother," Elijah sighed, "not everything needs to be a game."
"Doesn't it?" Vali's smile was pure predator. "After all, we have eternity to play."
------------------------------------------
The castle's great hall had been prepared for their return, fires blazing in massive hearths while servants scurried about with barely concealed curiosity. Tatia waited at the head of the main table, her presence commanding despite her relaxed pose.
"Welcome home," she greeted them, her eyes finding Vali's first before moving to Freya with genuine warmth. "Sister. I've heard so much about you."
"And I've watched you tame what others thought untameable," Freya replied with a knowing smile, glancing between Tatia and Vali. "Though seeing it in person is quite different."
"Speaking of seeing things," Aurora interjected smoothly, having followed them inside, "perhaps we should discuss how to present this rather sudden family reunion to the court? The nobles are already buzzing with questions."
"As I already said, let them buzz," Vali said dismissively, though his black eyes gleamed with dark amusement. "Their speculation will provide entertainment enough."
"Brother," Elijah sighed, "we still need some form of explanation. The Count will expect-"
"The Count will believe whatever we wish him to believe," Kol interrupted cheerfully. "Though I must say, the possibilities for creative storytelling are endless."
"Perhaps," Freya suggested, settling into a chair with natural grace, "we simply tell a version of the truth. A long-lost sister, separated by tragedy in childhood, finally reunited through faithful searching." Her smile turned sharp. "After all, the best lies contain seeds of truth."
"Now that," Vali approved, "sounds like proper entertainment."
The servants brought wine and food, though none of the siblings paid much attention to either. Freya watched with quiet amusement as Henrik practically bounced in his seat, barely containing his eagerness to discuss magic with her.
"You must tell me everything," he burst out finally, unable to hold back any longer. "The temporal magic in your prison alone-"
"Let's not call it a prison," Mikael interrupted softly, his hand tightening on his goblet. The pain in his voice made everyone pause.
"Of course," Freya agreed smoothly, covering their father's hand with her own. "Though Henrik is right - there's much to discuss about magic. I've watched you both grow stronger," she included Rebekah in her glance, "and I have so much to teach you."
"Wonderful," Klaus drawled, though his tone held no real bite. "More witchcraft in the family. As if we weren't conspicuous enough."
"Says the hybrid who can't go a day without dramatically brooding on some balcony," Kol quipped, earning a glare from his brother and a poorly hidden smile from Aurora.
"Speaking of conspicuous," Elijah interjected, ever focused on practicalities, "we should discuss our next moves carefully. The scholars' disappearance has already raised questions among certain circles."
"Questions that will soon be forgotten," Vali stated with casual certainty, the mark pulsing softly on his arm. "After all, we have more interesting games to play now."
"Games?" Tatia asked, though her smile suggested she already knew the answer.
"The nobility thinks they know power," Vali's black eyes gleamed as he looked around at his assembled family. "They think they understand influence, control, dominion. But they've never seen anything like what we're about to become."
"Always so dramatic, brother," Kol grinned, raising his goblet. "Though I must admit, I do love how you think."
"Speaking of interesting games," Finn spoke up, his tone serious, "there's a more pressing matter we need to discuss." He glanced meaningfully at Freya. "The curse Qetsiyah and her followers placed upon us."
The atmosphere in the room shifted immediately, playful banter giving way to focused intensity. Even the servants seemed to sense the change, quietly withdrawing from the hall.
"Ah yes," Freya's expression grew thoughtful. "I witnessed that through the waters - their attempt to bind you with nature's wrath. Though," her eyes found Vali, "they clearly didn't understand what they were truly facing."
"The curse builds in power the longer we remain in one place," Elijah explained, though from her expression, she already knew this. "Moving frequently has delayed its full manifestation, but-"
"But that's hardly a permanent solution," Freya finished. "Especially not for what you're building here." She leaned forward, her voice dropping lower. "The curse is... unusual. It's not just about location or time - it's about reality itself."
"Explain," Vali commanded softly, the mark pulsing with interest.
"Qetsiyah tried to bind you to nature's law," Freya began, her hands moving as if weaving invisible threads.
"But she didn't account for the mark's influence. When Vali rejected her vision in the waters, he didn't just deny a possible future - he rejected nature's authority over him entirely."
"And how exactly does explaining what we already know help break this curse?" Klaus asked, irritation edging into his voice.
"Understanding the foundation is necessary before discussing its destruction," Freya replied smoothly, a hint of steel beneath her gentle tone. "If you'll allow me to continue..."
"Perhaps, brother," Finn interjected with quiet authority, "we should hear everything before passing judgment. After all, none of us have witnessed these magics as Freya has."
"The curse," Freya began, her voice carrying ancient knowledge, "I have had a lot of time to research it and question those who were willing to aid, and eventually found out this. To break the curse a sacrificial ritual is required.
Qetsiyah used your blood," she looked at Tatia, "when you were vulnerable after Ayana's failed attempt. The blood that Vali had collected for his own purposes was laced with magic hidden so well, even he was unable to see it.
She twisted the blood, alongside nature's power, to create very particular conditions for the curse to make the breaking of it near impossible."
"What kind of conditions?" Elijah asked, though Vali's expression suggested he was already calculating costs.
"Four doppelgangers," Freya began, " - representing the elements that bind the curse. A werewolf for the moon's power, a vampire for the sun's strength, and a Bennett witch, whose bloodline carries Qetsiyah's own power. Sacrificed on the altar of the cursed, as he then after finally, gifts himself death."
"Gifts himself death?" Elijah's voice sharpened. "You mean-"
"She means me," Vali stated calmly, though the mark pulsed with dangerous interest. "How... predictable of Qetsiyah."
"These doppelgangers," Vali questioned, his black eyes gleaming with calculation, "do they specifically need to be of the Petrova line?"
"No," Freya answered, her expression thoughtful. "The ritual requires four doppelgangers, but their bloodline origin doesn't matter. They simply need to be nature's attempts at balance against immortality."
"Wait," Klaus interrupted, his voice unusually sharp. "We need to retrace our steps for a moment. You're talking about Vali dying - sacrificing himself. And we're just going to gloss over that?"
"Well, technically I'd be the most qualified for death," Vali smirked darkly. "I do have the most experience with it, after all."
"This isn't a joke, Vali!" Klaus slammed his hands on the table, genuine emotion breaking through his usual facades.
"No matter how many times we're at odds, no matter how often we clash - you're still my brother. My beloved older brother who's protected me since I was a child. And you're sitting here making jokes about your own death?"
The mark pulsed softly as Vali's expression shifted, his dark humor giving way to something more serious. "Qetsiyah is a fool," he stated simply.
"She thought that because I'm truly immortal, death would be impossible for me - making her requirement the perfect lock on her curse. But she's operating under a fundamental misunderstanding."
"What misunderstanding?" Elijah asked quietly.
"The Mark doesn't make me unable to die," Vali explained, his black eyes gleaming. "It makes death unable to hold me. I can die a thousand times, but I'll always return. That's what makes me truly immortal - not an inability to die, but an inability to stay dead."
The silence that followed Vali's revelation was heavy with understanding.
"So when you die," Kol began, his scholar's mind already racing with possibilities, "the curse would technically be fulfilled, but-"
"But I would simply return," Vali finished, a predatory smile spreading across his face. "Qetsiyah, in all her power and wisdom, created a requirement she thought impossible to fulfill. Instead, she made it laughably simple."
"Simple?" Finn questioned. "Brother, we're still talking about your death."
"Death is hardly the worst thing I've experienced," Vali replied dismissively. "Though I must admit, I do appreciate the concern, Niklaus," he added, his tone softening slightly as he looked at his still-troubled brother.
"The real challenge," Elijah interjected, ever practical even as relief colored his voice, "will be gathering the other requirements. Four doppelgangers, a werewolf, a vampire, and a Bennett witch."
"I've already taken care of the Petrova line," Vali stated, his voice carrying that perfect certainty that made even his siblings pause.
"When it comes to that bloodline, I made certain arrangements. Tatia's aunt is protected by her entire village - all of them compelled to guard her with their lives."
His black eyes gleamed as he continued, "I even compelled her to find someone she truly loves, to marry and have children with. And if she cannot find love, then to choose someone who can protect her and her future bloodline best. The compulsion was... quite thorough."
"Always thinking ahead, brother," Kol grinned appreciatively.
"As for Silas's doppelgangers," Vali's smile turned sharp, "I'll handle that personally."
"These doppelgangers," Elijah questioned thoughtfully, "do they need to be human when sacrificed?"
Freya's brow furrowed in concentration as she considered the magical theory. "No... not all of them. The ritual requires two to be human - their mortal blood representing nature's balance. But the other two could be something else entirely."
"Well, that makes things considerably easier," Kol grinned, leaning forward excitedly. "We can turn two of them into vampires once we find them.
After all, nature only creates a new doppelganger after the previous one dies - and vampirism is a rather effective way to prevent that particular inconvenience."
"The Bennett witch might prove the most challenging to acquire," Finn observed. "Their bloodline is notoriously well-protected."
"Leave that to me," Freya interjected, a knowing smile playing at her lips. "I observed quite a bit during my time in the waters. I know exactly where to find one."
"One question," Klaus spoke up, his tactical mind working through the possibilities. "What if we can't find Silas's bloodline? Two human doppelgangers would be difficult to maintain - we don't even know what truly defines 'human' in this context.
Would someone who has been dead for centuries then revived still count as purely human, or would they be considered a supernatural entity?"
"In such a case we'll simply use one of mine." Vali's responded with a smile.
"I too will have doppelgangers, eventually. After all," the mark pulsed on his arm, "I am far more immortal than either Silas or his beloved Amara ever were. Nature will try even harder to balance my existence."
"But how?" Rebekah questioned, her brow furrowed. "None of us can have children now. How would you have doppelgangers?"
"Actually," Mikael spoke up, his voice carrying the weight of long-held secrets, "there might be an answer to that. I've maintained contact with my brothers in the old world."
The siblings - except Vali - turned to him in surprise as he continued, "When my mother and I fled to the new world, it wasn't just chance or simple migration.
My father had a vision - he saw something coming, something that would destroy our bloodline if we remained united. He ordered us to separate, to spread across different lands to ensure our survival."
"You never told us this," Finn said quietly.
"There was never a reason to," Mikael replied. "But now..." he glanced at Vali, "now it seems my father's foresight might serve a greater purpose than even he intended."
"Tell us more about this vision," Elijah prompted, ever the strategist. "What exactly did your father see?"
"He saw a great darkness," Mikael replied, his voice heavy with memory. "But not the kind we'd expect.
He saw our bloodline becoming too powerful if concentrated in one place. He believed that by separating us, by spreading the blood thin across different lands, we could avoid drawing too much attention from forces beyond our understanding."
"Forces like Qetsiyah," Kol mused thoughtfully. "Though I doubt even he could have foreseen what we'd become."
"My youngest brother, Erik, settled in the mountains to the east," Mikael continued. "While Harald took to the western shores. They would have had families by now, bloodlines of their own..."
"Which means," Vali's smile was sharp, "potential vessels for nature's attempts at balance. After all, they share our blood, even if distantly."
"And since they're removed from our immediate line," Freya added, understanding dawning in her eyes, "Dahlia would not go after them."
"So we have three possible bloodlines to work with," Elijah summarized. "The Petrova line, which you've already secured, Silas's line which you'll handle personally, and Father's family in the old world who your line will descend from."
"Now that we know what needs to be done, I suggest we plan how to approach the fulfillment of this ritual. " Elijah continued, his strategic mind already mapping out their approach.
"Some of us should travel to the old world to seek out Father's brothers, while others pursue Silas's line and the Bennett witch."
"I know where to find a Bennett witch line," Freya added. "Through the waters, I saw one that would be perfect for our purpose - powerful enough to matter, but not so well-protected as their main line."
"When it comes to dividing our forces, I believe Vali and Tatia should pursue Silas's since he seems to know something we don't." Klaus suggested with a pointed look.
"Oh, little brother, you hurt me. You don't trust me on my own?" Vali questioned with a mock hurt look, hand on his heart.
Niklaus scoffed, "Brother, the last time we let you handle something alone, you ended up making a fallen angel bleed. Some supervision might be warranted."
"Your lack of faith wounds me," Vali replied with mock offense. "Though I suppose you have a point. Tatia's presence does tend to... moderate my more creative impulses."
"That's one way of putting it," Elijah muttered, earning a sharp smile from Tatia.
"Father," Klaus continued, turning to Mikael, "you should lead the search for your brothers in the old world. Take Finn and Elijah with you - their diplomatic skills might prove useful in navigating whatever territories your family now controls."
"And what of the Bennett witch?" Rebekah asked.
"I'll handle that," Freya stated confidently. "Though I'd like Henrik and Kol with me - their magical knowledge could prove invaluable."
"Which leaves me to help keep our new home secure," Rebekah concluded, glancing at the de Martels. "Someone needs to maintain our position here while you're all gallivanting across the world."
"And what of the werewolf and vampire sacrifices?" Finn questioned.
"Those will be the easiest to acquire," Kol grinned. "After all, we can make vampires at will, and werewolves..." his smile turned sharp, "well, they're not exactly rare in these parts."
"Then we have the beginnings of a plan," Elijah summarized. "Though the details will need to be carefully arranged."
"Indeed, but before that something more important should be handled first." Vali spoke up, his tone shifting to something more serious, "A matter of equal, if not greater importance." His black eyes found Freya. "Your mortality."
The room fell silent as the implications sank in. They'd been so focused on breaking the curse, they'd almost forgotten that their newly recovered sister was still bound by mortal constraints.
"Ah," Freya began, seeing his expectant look, she immediately understood and smiled. "You want me to use Dahlia's spell."
"You know it?" Vali questioned, though his tone suggested he'd already known the answer.
"Of course. I watched her perform it countless times, binding others to her for their power." Freya's expression darkened with memory. "Though I never thought I'd consider using it myself."
"Then link yourself to me," Vali stated simply. "Draw your life force from my immortality. The mark's power is virtually infinite, ever growing so long as evil exists - it can easily sustain your eternal youth without any cost to either of us."
"That... could work," Freya said slowly, her mind working through the magical theory. "The mark's power is different from Dahlia's stolen strength. It's pure, endless..." Her eyes widened with sudden understanding.
"And since the strength is so great, there would be no need for century-long slumbers to maintain it."
"You'd be truly immortal," Kol added excitedly, his scholar's mind racing with possibilities. "Not just eternally young, but protected by the mark's power itself."
"Is it safe?" Mikael questioned, his protective instincts flaring. "Linking to something as powerful as the mark..."
"Safer than remaining mortal," Vali replied, his tone brooking no argument. "Besides, I protect what's mine. The mark will recognize her as family - as something to be preserved rather than destroyed."
"It would also solve another potential problem," Elijah observed thoughtfully. "Any enemies who might think to use Freya's mortality against us would find themselves sorely disappointed."
"Well then," Freya smiled, rising from her seat with newfound purpose, "shall we begin? The sooner we perform this linking, the sooner we can focus on breaking Qetsiyah's curse."
"Wait," Henrik spoke up suddenly, his young voice carrying the weight of serious consideration. "There's something we haven't thought about. The sacrificial ritual, when Vali dies... if Freya is linked to him, wouldn't that mean she would die too?"
The room fell silent as this implication sank in. Even Vali's expression showed appreciation for his youngest brother's insight.
"Clever observation, little brother," Vali said, his black eyes gleaming with approval. "But you're forgetting one crucial detail - timing.
Doppelgangers need at least half a millennium to be born, sometimes longer. The ritual won't take place for approximately a millennium, perhaps more."
His smile turned sharp as he continued, "By then, we'll have had plenty of time to devise a solution for that particular complication. After all," the mark pulsed on his arm, "we have eternity to plan."
"And you're certain about that timeframe?" Elijah questioned.
"Nature requires time to create its duplicates," Freya confirmed. "Even with three potential bloodlines to work with, we'll need centuries before we have enough doppelgangers for the ritual."
"With everything discussed, I believe we should proceed," Freya continued "The linking spell isn't complex - not compared to what we've already achieved today. Though," she glanced around the great hall, "we should perhaps move somewhere more private."
"My chambers," Vali suggested, the mark pulsing steadily. "They're already warded against prying eyes, thanks to our scholarly friends' previous attempts at surveillance."
"I'm coming too," Henrik declared, practically bouncing with excitement at the prospect of witnessing such magic. "I want to see how the spell works!"
"As am I," Kol added, his interest evident. "An immortality spell that allows one to keep their magic-"
"We're all coming," Klaus interrupted firmly. "If we're binding our sister to Vali's immortality, we should all be present."
"Always so dramatic, Niklaus," Vali smirked, though his tone held genuine affection. "Though I suppose it's fitting - our family united for one more ritual."
"Hopefully this one with less death than the last," Finn remarked dryly, earning several pointed looks.
"Well," Freya smiled, linking her arm with Vali's as they moved toward the door, "shall we begin?"
--------------------------------------
(Author note: Hello everyone! Hope you all enjoyed this chapter!
How did you find the discussion?
Was it interesting?
Though before anything I wish to clarify, that even though a doppelganger of Vali will be born, they won't have the Mark, or any variation of its abilities.
Well, that's everything, do please comment and review.
I appreciate the ones I've been getting, but I'm starting to get demotivated.
There's only been 1 review since the rewrite and the comments have not went past 10 when not including my responses.
I wonder if I should take a break and let more readers join before I write more chapters.
So yeah, I hope you enjoyed,
Bye!)