The forest clearing was eerie, the air thick with tension as Damon, Stefan, Elena, and Alaric arrived at the sacrifice site. The scene before them made their hearts sink.
Jenna sat on the ground inside a circle, a blood bag in her hands. Her face was pale, her expression empty, but her fangs betrayed what had been done to her. She was now a vampire.
Alaric froze, his jaw tightening as he stared at Jenna. The anger and hatred in his eyes were palpable, his fists clenched at his sides.
Not far away, Tyler lay unconscious on the ground, his body limp like a discarded puppet. Jenna's lifeless expression and Tyler's state made the grim reality of the situation all the more unbearable.
The Originals were scattered throughout the clearing, their presence dominating the scene. Klaus stood near Freya, his face alight with a triumphant smile as Freya worked on the spell. Finn and Elijah stood on a high point, watching everything unfold like detached overseers.
Henrik was now in his original body, standing confidently not far from Ivar and Alyssa. He looked completely at ease, as if he owned the place.
Before anyone could move, Rebekah appeared in a blur, her hand gripping Stefan's arm like a vice. With one swift motion, she slammed him into a nearby tree, pinning him there.
"Well, well, well," she sneered, her face inches from his. "Rude of you not to come looking for me after all these years, Stefan."
Stefan blinked, confusion flashing across his face. "Who are you?"
Rebekah froze, her grip faltering for a moment. Her eyes flicked to Klaus, who was smirking, clearly amused.
"You don't remember me?" she asked, her voice quieter now, tinged with frustration.
"No," Stefan replied flatly, his face blank.
Rebekah stepped back, her expression twisting into disgust as she turned her attention to Elena. "Of course. You'd fall for her," she spat. "I thought you'd be more like Ivar. Strong. Ruthless. But you're just another Elijah… or worse, Klaus." Her lip curled. "At least Klaus learned his lesson."
Klaus's smirk widened, clearly enjoying her frustration.
"Relax, sister," came a smooth voice from behind. Kol appeared, leaning casually against a tree as if this were all a game to him. "Let's just get it over with, shall we?"
Rebekah shot him a glare but didn't respond.
Damon stepped forward, his eyes locked on Klaus. "Let her go," he growled, pointing at Jenna.
Klaus raised an eyebrow, clearly unbothered. "And why would I do that? She's part of the ritual. Just like Elena, just like Tyler."
Damon clenched his fists, but Stefan's voice stopped him from doing anything rash.
"Damon," Stefan said quietly, his tone firm. "Not yet."
Klaus chuckled, turning his back to them and focusing on Freya. "See? Even your brother understands how pointless this is."
Elena's voice broke through the tension, shaky but defiant. "You don't have to do this. Please, Klaus. There has to be another way."
Klaus didn't even turn around. "You're mistaken, love. There's no other way. And frankly, I wouldn't take it even if there were."
Freya glanced at Klaus, her expression unreadable. "The spell is almost ready," she said quietly.
Henrik grinned, stepping forward. "Then let's not waste any more time."
Damon's patience snapped. He lunged at Henrik, but before he could land a blow, Henrik caught him by the throat and slammed him to the ground.
"You Originals really love to hear yourselves talk," Damon spat, his voice strained as Henrik's grip tightened.
Henrik smirked, leaning in close. "And you love to rush into fights you can't win."
With a flick of his wrist, Henrik sent Damon flying across the clearing. He crashed into a tree with a grunt, crumpling to the ground.
"Stop it!" Elena cried, tears streaming down her face.
Ivar, who had been silent until now, stepped forward, his expression calm but cold. "Enough stalling," he said, his voice commanding. "Let's finish this."
Klaus nodded, his excitement palpable. "Finally."
Stefan and Alaric exchanged a glance, both knowing their options were limited. The Originals had the upper hand, and any move they made could mean more lives lost.
Rebekah, still glaring at Stefan, finally turned away and joined her brothers near Freya. "Let's get this over with," she muttered, clearly annoyed.
Kol smirked. "That's the spirit, sister."
Klaus turned to Elena, his gaze sharp. "Come forward, love. Your place is waiting," he said, motioning to the empty circle in front of Freya.
Elena hesitated, fear evident in her eyes, but Stefan stepped forward, placing himself between her and the circle. "Take me instead," he said firmly, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.
Klaus tilted his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. "You? Oh no, Stefan. You and I have unfinished business. We've got plenty of catching up to do." With that, Klaus turned away, clearly uninterested in further discussion.
Ivar, standing near Jenna, glanced at her. His face betrayed no emotion, but he seemed to be weighing something in his mind. After a moment, he stepped back, letting things unfold without interfering.
Before anyone could react, Alaric moved forward. "Then take me," he said, his voice strong. "Let Jenna go."
Klaus sighed, clearly growing impatient. "Oh, for heaven's sake, enough of this noble nonsense. I don't have time for your heroics." He waved dismissively at Alaric before nodding to Freya. "Start the spell."
But just as Freya raised her hands, Ivar's voice cut through the tension. "Wait."
Everyone turned to look at him, confusion and suspicion mingling on their faces. Klaus raised an eyebrow, his tone uncharacteristically respectful. "And why, dear Ivar, should we wait?"
Ivar gestured to the edge of the clearing. "Use her," he said simply.
All eyes followed his hand, and there, emerging from the shadows, was a stray vampire. She looked disoriented and scared, her clothes torn, and her eyes darting around as if she had no idea what she'd walked into.
"What is this?" Klaus asked, glancing at Ivar.
Caroline appeared behind the vampire, her face tense. "I brought her," she said, her voice tight. "A vampire for one of ours."
Ivar nodded toward Jenna. "The deal was fair. One vampire for one of your own. I kept my word."
Klaus studied Ivar for a moment before letting out a sharp laugh. "Well, aren't you full of surprises?" He turned to Freya. "Replace her," he ordered, nodding toward Jenna.
Freya hesitated but obeyed. In a matter of moments, Jenna was freed, and the stray vampire was placed in the circle instead. Jenna stumbled forward, her body weak and trembling, but Alaric was there to catch her.
Caroline, however, wasn't done. "What about Tyler?" she demanded, her voice trembling with both fear and determination.
Ivar turned to her, his gaze cold. "Don't bite off more than you can chew, little vampire," he said evenly. "The deal was one vampire for one of yours. And I've honored it."
Caroline clenched her fists but said nothing, knowing she was out of options. She glanced at Tyler's still form, her heart sinking, but there was nothing more she could do.
Klaus clapped his hands together, clearly ready to move on. "Good. Now that the distractions are dealt with, let's finish this." He motioned to Freya again.
Freya resumed her spell, her voice rising as ancient words filled the clearing. The Originals closed ranks, their attention focused on the ritual, leaving Damon, Stefan, Elena, Alaric, and Caroline to watch helplessly as the night's horrors unfolded.