The worries of what happened to Cara still hunt Michael as he continues to wash his face with water from a crafted bowl outside an abandoned warehouse.
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The darkness of the abandoned warehouse seemed to press in on Michael as he walked slowly through the empty halls, his boot heels echoing ominously with each step. Seventy two years ago, he had imprisoned his Beloved brother Magnus here, sealing him away in a motionless slumber for what he called punishment.
But times had changed, and a new threat had emerged—one Michael knew he could not face alone.
He came at last to the hidden cellar where Magnus unconscious body lay trapped in a wooden coffin within the spell of the magical dagger. Taking a breath to steady his nerves, Michael reached out and gripped the hilt. With a flick of his wrist, he pulled it free.
For a long moment, nothing happened.
Then Magnus gasped and his eyes flew open, flashing vivid red in the low light. He surged upwards with inhuman speed, fingers curled into claws as ancient instincts took over upon awakening.
Michael stood his ground calmly. "Peace, brother. The days of our feud are past."
Magnus froze, taking in Michael's familiar face. Recognition dawned, followed swiftly by anger and confusion.
"You..why have you woken me!?"
Michael met his gaze steadily.
"I have need of your strength once more. Our Sisters have been taken, and a new threat has arisen—one that even I may not defeat alone. You know how fast I am to take out anything that opposes as a threat to me?"
Magnus scowled, still disoriented from his long forced slumber.
"What threat could be so terrifying to you that you seek my assistance?"
"The witches have conspired together against our family,they have begun targeting our sire line, capturing the old and strong to use in dark rituals meant to strip us of our powers. And if they succeed it would be the end of our existence"
For the first time, unease flickered in Magnus's eyes at such a prospect. He glanced down at the dagger still gripped in Michael's hand.
"You freed me of your own will, without coercion. Why?"
Michael sighed. "For centuries we have been divided. But our bond of blood is stronger and still runs deeper than any feud.Together, our strength is unmatched. Alone...there is a chance we both could fail. And I will not preside over the extinction of our family name. So If you will aid me, brother, swear to do so without treachery or demand for payment. This is a matter of survival, not power games between us."
Stefan was silent a long moment at once he knew the game Michael was trying to play, but decided to ignore it for now he nodded once.
"For the Sisters and our kind, I will fight at your side, brother. But this changes nothing between us—the moment the threat is ended...…." Magnus paused for a moment as he started at Michael hate in his heart.
Michael sheathed the dagger. As he stared back at Magnus, he knew his brother wasn't someone to mess with as he always does whatever he says.
"Come, there is much to discuss and plan ere nightfall. The witches ritual would start any moment from now."
He held out a hand offering a sachet containing blood. After a moment's hesitation, Magnus grasped it—and immediately sinking his fangs into it like he was having a fight with it.
Michael watched as his brother violently drank the blood, as if it was a human he surly would have drained all the blood from his body.
"Ahhh!", Magnus lifted his head as he released a long breath he has been holding.
"What year is it?" Magnus asked as he stood up and wiped his lips with the back of his hand.
"It's 2013 Magnus, you have been gone for seventy two years" Michael said and handed a small napkin.
"Well it appears that the almighty Michael can't defeat his enemies without the help of his baby brother" Magnus mocked.
Michael said nothing both rolled his eyes and sighed "you can stay here and talk for all I care, but time is not in our favour"
Magnus laughed as he walked towards Michael. "Let's go shall we?"
together they strode from the shadows of the past into an uncertain future. Blood called to blood, whether in battle or betrayal. Only time would tell what path their reunion would take.
Michael and Magnus emerged from the warehouse into the fading light of dusk. Though half a century lay between them, their supernatural senses were as sharp as ever, and both vampires paused to scan their surroundings cautiously.
"The Hunters have eyes and ears everywhere," Michael said grimly. "We must be on our guard until we can rally our forces. Come, my safe house is this way."
The brothers sped through the shadows with inhuman speed, blurring past the sleepy suburbs on the outskirts of town. Within moments they had arrived - a nondescript ranch home in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by whispering pines.
Inside, Michael began pulling maps and journals from hidden compartments. "Tell me what you know of the Witch," Magnus demanded, pacing restlessly. Despite their truce, old animosity still simmered beneath the surface.
Michael eyed him coolly. "Her name is Rhea. A descendant of one of the oldest lines of witches in New Orleans. For years she has studied the dark arts, seeking to increase her power. Now it seems she believes manipulating vampires in rituals will achieve it."
"How foolish of her to threaten our family," Magnus sneered.
"Do not underestimate her brother. Her magic is formidable."
Michael spread a map across the table, weighted with daggers at each corner. "The witches have secured four strongholds where they are keeping captives. Here, here, here and here." His voice was flat, devoid of emotion, but Magnus sensed his brother's concern ran deep.
"We will need an army to assault them all simultaneously,"
Magnus mused, studying the map. A plan began to form. "Luckily, I know where we may find willing allies. But it will not be easy to sway them to our cause again after so long apart."
Michael met his eyes. For the first time, tentative hope kindled there that their race might survive this threat. "Then we had best get started. The night grows short, and our sisters' lives hang in the balance."
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Seconds have turned to minutes and minutes into hours, as Michael made his way to the Red moon pack to check how Cara was doing. Not because he wanted to only know how she was doing but his gut instinct didn't trust the wolves being around her.
As Cara's condition stabilized under the elder healer's skilled ministrations, Michael and Tyler remained locked in a vigil at her bedside as they watched her hopefully waiting for a slight movement from her. Night bled into dawn's rosy light beyond the bayou's longhouse walls.
It was then that Magnus came striding in looking for Michael.
The very moment Magnus stepped into the compound his nose picked up and unpleasant smell, opening the door a strong gust of wind blew as he slowly walked inside the building, he quietly observed his surroundings as he couldn't find any living souls but he could pick up heartbeats of about a dozen of werewolves.
Magnus smile. "To whom it may concern, you are making a grave mistake if you think you can beat me,… but you can't."
Immediately he was surrounded by five wolves.
"What makes you think all five of you can stop me?" Magnus said as he started unbuckling his suit.
Not long after more wolves appeared followed my another group.
"Now I'm guessing this is all of you?, gentle men let the fun begin" Magnus said opening his arms, offering the crowd to make their first Move.
Two wolfs sprung out and held his hands from behind but they were no match for the arrogant vampire as Magnus in one swift move snapped their neck and threw them against the walls like they were nothing.
"Anyone wishes to join them?" He boasted, turning around and looking at them, waiting for another challenger.
With rage they all pounced on Magnus, he wasn't a vampire for nothing he fought his way through but for every one he took down it got replaced with two more.
"Enough!!!"
Tyler shouts from a distance as he made his way through the hallway into the very place Magnus had just turned into a fight club.
"It seems quite to me that you are their leader?" Magnus quoted as he lifted his fangs from the neck of the body in his arm, leaving the lifeless corpse to drop on the floor.
"To what do I owe this visit" Tyler said calmly as he wasn't trying to cause any more fighting in his home.
"I'm here for my brother, and I'm leaving here with him."
"Forgive my brother arrogance" Michael said cutting Tyler off before he speaks.
Magnus who's always alert to threats facing his family. Took in the scene with a glance, he always knew how much his big brother hated the wolves, but right before his very eyes there was his brother standing side by side with a wolf- "there would be time for questions later. What news brings you here?." Michael asked.
"Our scouts report movements among the nightwalker tribes. It seems rumors has spread of the witches act for power."
Michael met his eyes with a flicker of hope. "Did they rallied to our cause?"
Magnus sighed. "Some, but not all. Old grudges still fester, and dominance plays are ever afoot even in darkness' midst. I've canvassed our allies - we must make our way to Borden hills, where the children of Morrigan hold sway."
Tyler broke his grim silence. "The War Wolves will stand with you. My healers vow the girl will recover her strength. And when she wakes..." He let the threat hang.
Michael knew the cards Tyler was playing but decided to play along.
Michael nodded. "With the Weres and Nightwalkers united, our hand is strengthened. But the vampires of bordon hills cooperation will be hardest won - they trusts no outsiders, and the Morrigan's power is not to be trifled with."
Michael moved closer, clasping Magnus' forearm. "You've ever been our best diplomat. If any can sway the fae, it is you. Take Isabelle - between your wits and her charm, perhaps a bargain can be struck."
As the brothers planned, Tyler gazed became dismally as he couldn't stop thinking about Cara wellbeing. His thoughts ran deep as he searched his brain looking for a reason that made her body glow with such magnificent light no one has ever seen before. Not wanting to waste much time he let the vampires be as he mad his way back to where Cara's body was laying.
the brothers began laying the foundations that would either be the end of the witches or the extinction of their family and their entire bloodlines. Time would tell which path the fates had chosen for them.