Chapter 21: 21.) Return
Authors note: Hey guys, sorry about the inconsistency with uploads. I generally just haven't had time to write or watch the episode to give me a roadmap. It's been home and sleep with showers and meals mixed in between.
I know it's an excuse. But it's the truth 🤷. Anyway, after this intro we pick up at season 4 episode 19 of the vampire diaries. I'll use this episode to transition into the New Orleans arc. I appreciate the support. Please enjoy the chapter.
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Zach
As I close in on Mystic Falls I think back over the last year and a half I've been away from it.
Much has changed. Both with me and the town. From my recollection, based on the tensions brewing in New Orleans lately, everything is about to come to the events of the originals story. The thing I've been waiting for.
Soon, the Deveraux sisters will perform magic to confirm Hayley's pregnancy. Costing the older one, Jane Anne her life. This is what drives the first season of the show. A couple months ago, Kyle and Katie reported the complete lockdown of witches within the Quarter.
We, the 'steel' or 'cobalt' pack as Katie dubbed us, have kept a low profile while living on the edge of New Orleans to remain in the loop. We hunt only far way from there to avoid the attention of the vampires.
I may be able to protect myself from a few of them at a time, but Marcel has a legitimate army. I'll need to bide my time until I can figure out a way to give the werewolves I deem fit moonlight rings.
While I could bite people, I have no desire to get to know them and make sure they aren't a psychopath that I'm giving superhuman abilities to.
I'm coming back to Mystic Falls to Begin planting seeds. I need the originals to be at least neutral toward me when they arrive in New Orleans. My plan is to take control of a pack or two of the wolves that come to see the miracle tribrid be born.
I remember the name of the stone used to create the rings. I always did. It was close to kryptonite. Black kyanite.
These give regular wolves the ability to control their wolf abilities while maintaining the functionality of their human form.
Hell, the Guerrera pack that went toe to toe with Marcels army overpowered them with the moonlight rings. This alone should give to an idea of their effectiveness.
I don't know why, but all my 'bitten' as I've begun to call them are able to completely control the transformation without it. I assume their connection to me is similar to the one Hayley had with the Crescent pack.
Speaking of packs, let's talk about the progress of mine.
Derek is bar none the strongest. His ability to fight just seems to be on a higher level than the others.
Kyle is best at being savage. Mean. He'll lure you in into making you think he's weak, only to strike when you least expect it.
Katie is a master of stealth. She often uses her wolf form. This allows her to be a variable that you must account for.
They've all progressed very well. I'm confident two of them could take on a vampire 500 years old easy. Afterall, it only takes one bite.
During our hunts, I've experimented. My blood does not heal the bite like Klaus. Interesting. I assume his vampire bloods healing property allows this.
I've also shown my betas how to do other things rather than rip vampires apart. Such as pain absorption. I took them to a cancer hospital for children. Even though we couldn't heal them, taking away some of their pain helped them cope and us remember what it was to be human.
I decided this was vital. For people who weren't born werewolves, the need to stay connected with something not related to that is important. Just look at Hayley in season 2, after becoming a hybrid she became a different version of herself. The same is true for my pack.
Thinking about them I remember how angry they became hearing that I was going to Mystic Falls alone.
"No way you're going to the oldest vampires den without backup!" Derek argued.
"I agree. It's been a bit since we hunted anyway. The storage is getting low." Kyle chipped in, his blue eyes flashing.
"Both of you calm down. Zach will be fine," Katie interjected.
I smiled at them. "Thank you Derek and Kyle for your concern. Thank you Katie for your confidence in me. I'm not going to stay there guys. A few days, week at most and I'm out of there. I just need to prepare for the originals eventual arrival in Ner Orleans."
"What do you mean?" Derek asked me.
"I mean it was them who turned it from a backwater penal colony into the thing it is today. No matter how the time passes, they will return just like they did to Mystic Falls."
I chuckle to myself atop my new Ducati. 'Say what you will about Kyle, but the kid is truly loaded.' I think passing by the sign.
'Welcome to Mystic Falls,' a smile comes to my face seeing the familiar scene in front of me. I think back to the time I saw this sign with Damon after waking up confused and scared.
Much has changed since then. I have changed. Not super noticeably, but come on, finding out you're Immortal is a very odd thing. The last year of my life has been filled with killing and running around as a wolf to completely integrate the instincts I feel as a full fledged wolf to manifest in myself as a human.
It's been incredibly enlightening to say the least. I can make any of my bitten do what I want. I've named such an ability the 'alpha call,' or 'alpha voice.'
I find myself quiet for long periods of time. Another trait I've picked up since entering my new life. Derek often tells me I'm a stone in human shape. While I always wave him off, I have to agree he's right. Almost my entire day is spent in my own headspace trying to come up with plans and counter plans to counter plans based on what I know is about to go down in the supernatural world.
Shaking off those thoughts I notice I've reached my destination. I smile and park the bike
I've driven all the way to the Grill. Kind of cliche, but I just want a drink. As soon as I walk in I'm hit with nostalgia. My nose remembers this smell like I came here only hours ago. My ears hearing the slight conversations amongst the patrons.
I reach the bar and to my joy there isn't anyone I know at the bar. Good. I use my alpha voice paired with my older appearance to ensure I don't have to give this girl my card. Pulling out a $100 bill I speak. "Excuse me, can I get some bourbon?" I say giving her a smile to charm my way into a bottle of alcohol.
She flushes and I hear her heart kick up in rhythm, "Of course sir." She says and hands me a bottle.
"Thank you," I say leaving the 100 and going to the last seat at the bar. A clear sign to stay away from me.
That all goes out the window about 15 minutes into my solo party.
I hear the door open, not an unusual thing given this is the central business of the town. What is unusual however, is the feeling I get when the patron walks into the room.
Not even standing in front of Elijah Mikaelson made my instincts fire off warning signs like this. I turn around instinctively when I hear an Accented Voice ask the bartender, "your best bourbon please."
"I'm sorry sir. But we're out of bourbon until the truck comes tomorrow. That gentleman in the corner just bought it." She said.
I didn't need confirmation as to who just walked into the bar. But I got it when I turned to see… Klaus Mikaelson.
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Authors note. Hey guys. I know it's not the longest chapter. But I needed to get something out. I hadn't even known it'd been 4-5 days that I hadn't posted.
Last transitional chapter. In truth I just need time to watch the series to give me a refresher. Just haven't had time.
Appreciate the interaction and opinions so far. Keep it up. Have a good one.