(A/N):
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Crack~ Crack~
The air cracked like glass when the ritual reached its end.
Aponi's eyes widened for just a heartbeat,
Then her lips parted into a wide, wicked grin.
"____"
She could feel it—
Like a current rushing through her veins—
The barrier protecting the Salvatore School had shattered.
The protective wards that Alaric and the witches had labored over for years were nothing now but smoke and whispers.
Aponi felt the pull immediately,
Like a compass pointing her toward destiny.
Every creature bound to Malivore would feel it too.
They would know.
The school was no longer a sanctuary—
It was an open battlefield.
Her body rippled, bones cracking and reforming as dark fur burst from her skin.
Within seconds she stood on four legs, her lupine form looming in the moonlight, amber eyes burning like molten gold.
Growl~
"____"
With a low growl of satisfaction,
She padded toward the school grounds,
Each step deliberate and silent.
The campus was unnervingly still.
Night cloaked the hallways,
The windows glowing faintly from scattered lanterns and ward lights that now flickered like dying stars.
Students slept peacefully,
Oblivious to the storm walking in on padded paws.
Aponi followed the invisible pull, her instincts sharpening as the trail narrowed.
Rafale's room.
The source.
The heart of the ritual's power.
Her plan was crystalline in her mind:
Kill the boy before dawn, leave just enough evidence to frame Alaric Saltzman,
And watch as the fragile loyalties around Landon shattered.
Confused and betrayed,
Landon would have no one left to turn to—
Except her.
With the Malivore Dagger in hand and the boy under her influence,
Victory would belong to her and her master.
She stopped just outside Rafale's door,
Claws pressing against the wood.
A low growl rumbled from her throat, though her eyes gleamed with hunger and anticipation.
Growl~
"All I need now…"
She thought as her tail flicked once,
"…is execution."
The moment of truth had come.
Creak~
The door creaked open without resistance—
Unlocked, almost inviting.
Aponi narrowed her wolfish eyes, suspicion flickering for a brief moment.
The air inside pulsed with an eerie green glow, bathing the walls in shifting, unnatural light.
It clung to her fur, raising every hair along her spine.
She padded across the threshold, nose twitching, claws scratching against the wooden floorboards.
The instant her paw touched the center of the room,
The glow surged.
A hum filled the air, sharp and resonant, vibrating against her ribs.
Then—
Snap.
A barrier erupted around her in a perfect sphere, shimmering like molten glass.
The sudden force threw her off-balance, her claws scraping against the floor.
Her ears flattened,
A growl tearing from her throat as she spun, hackles raised.
'What—?!'
The thought snarled through her mind as realization dawned.
She lunged for the window, muscles bunching, her body a blur of black fur and fury.
But as she struck the air,
It rippled like disturbed water—
Then slammed her back with brutal force.
"____"
She hit the ground with a yelp, skidding across the floorboards.
Her eyes darted, wild and furious.
The barrier wasn't just a cage—
It was alive.
Every attempt to move too close to the edges made the air shimmer, pulse, and push her back with violent rejection.
Breath ragged, she bared her fangs,
Pacing like a trapped predator.
The room still glowed green, brighter now, as though feeding on her presence.
For the first time, doubt clawed its way into her chest.
'This wasn't the ritual's success…'
Her mind hissed.
'…this was a snare.'
And someone had baited it perfectly—
With her as the prey.
A slow, deliberate clap echoed in the room.
Once, twice—
Mocking.
Clap~ Clap~
Clap~ Clap~
"____"
Aponi's ears perked, her sharp eyes snapping toward the sound.
The door she had stepped through moments ago swung wider,
And shadows stretched as three figures entered.
"____"
"____"
"____"
The first was a man with a devilish smirk, his hands lazily coming together in applause.
Smirk~
Klaus Mikaelson.
His presence filled the room like a predator scenting another predator—
Amusement gleaming in his eyes,
But danger coiled just beneath the surface.
Behind him walked Damon Salvatore,
His expression sharp and calculating.
Unlike Klaus's casual arrogance,
Damon's gaze was cold, vigilant, drinking in the sight of the wolf caught inside the barrier.
Every muscle in his frame screamed tension,
Ready to strike if she made one wrong move.
And then… Rafale.
He lingered at the back, face pale, lips pressed tight.
His eyes flicked from the snarling Aponi to the glowing green barrier that pulsed around her.
Fear—
And guilt—
Clung to him like a second skin.
Klaus's grin widened.
Grin~
"Well, well,"
He drawled, voice dripping with satisfaction.
"The little wolf thought she was the hunter. Turns out, she's the prize in the cage."
Before Aponi could snap back, more footsteps sounded.
Caroline, blonde hair glinting in the eerie glow, slipped in with her usual poise.
Beside her came Bonnie Bennett, her dark eyes lit with grim focus, hands faintly shimmering with residual magic.
And finally,
Freya Mikaelson entered—
Her expression tight, wary, a mirror of reluctant duty rather than joy.
Aponi's gaze locked on Freya,
And for the first time, her snarl faltered.
Freya exhaled, stepping forward, her voice low but firm.
"I didn't plan to be a part of this,"
She admitted, her gaze flicking to Klaus, then Damon.
"But when I heard rumors about my brother tangling himself with the Salvatores again…"
Her jaw tightened.
"I came. I thought I could stop it. Instead…"
She gestured at the glowing barrier,
"…I walked right into their plan."
Bonnie moved to stand at her side, her magic thrumming in the air like a second heartbeat.
Together, the two witches' combined power made the barrier shimmer stronger.
"You're not going anywhere,"
Bonnie said flatly, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Aponi, caught in the green glow,
Let out a low growl that reverberated through the walls.
Growl~
Her claws scraped the floor as she paced the confines of her prison,
Her golden eyes locked on each of them in turn.
But in that moment—
Between Klaus's grin,
Damon's watchful stance, and the twin witches bracing the spell—
One truth burned clear in her mind.
Aponi's sneer deepened as she tilted her head, golden wolf eyes glowing faintly in the dim green light.
"Even caught in your little trap,"
She said coolly, her voice laced with contempt,
"This place will not remain safe for long. You've already made it a beacon. You might've caught me… but you cannot stop what's coming."
Klaus's grin didn't faltered for the briefest moment before he masked it with his usual cocky smirk.
"Big words for a wolf in a cage. You'll find I don't take kindly to riddles. So why don't you save us the theatrics and tell me—who sent you?"
Aponi let out a low chuckle, her fangs glinting.
Chuckle~
"You think I serve someone? No… you don't understand. This ritual was only the beginning. From tonight, every creature tied to ritual will feel the call. They'll come here—one by one. And when they do…"
Her gaze flickered deliberately toward Rafael,
Who stood nervously by the wall,
"…this boy, your school, your family—it'll all burn."
Damon stepped forward, jaw tight, eyes flashing dangerously.
"____"
"Cute speech. But here's the thing—you just admitted you're working for Malivore right? Which means we've got every reason to put you down before you cause more trouble."
Aponi only laughed in his face, shaking her head.
"Oh... you knew about Malivore... huh... Try it, human. Kill me, and my death will only quicken what's already set in motion. The floodgates are open. And when the tide comes, none of you will be ready."
Caroline's expression hardened, protective instinct sparking in her eyes as she moved subtly in front of Rafael.
"____"
"____"
Bonnie's fingers twitched, magical energy ready at a moment's notice,
While Freya's eyes narrowed, silently calculating what part of Aponi's words held truth and what was bluff.
Klaus's smirk returned,
But this time it carried a dangerous edge.
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping low, sharp as a blade.
"Then you'd better pray, little wolf… that I find you more useful alive than dead. Because if I don't—your prophecy ends with you."
The barrier pulsed faintly around them,
Aponi's smile never wavering as tension coiled thick in the air.
Aponi's lips curled into a victorious smile, her golden eyes blazing with satisfaction.
She thought she had planted fear, that her words had already taken root.
But Klaus… Klaus only chuckled.
Low, amused, cruel.
Chuckle~
"Ah… look at you, basking in your triumph,"
He drawled, circling her slowly like a predator toying with prey.
"You really thought we'd sit here and let your little ritual wreak havoc unchecked? Hate to disappoint you, love, but that ritual of yours—"
He snapped his fingers sharply,
"—it's broken."
Aponi's smile faltered, confusion flickering across her face.
Klaus leaned in, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
"At best, it'll flicker for five minutes. And its reach? Pathetic. Barely a ripple beyond these walls of school."
Her breath caught—
"____"
Just enough to betray the crack in her confidence.
She tried to mask it, tilting her head defiantly, but the twitch of her jaw told another story.
"You're lying,"
She hissed, though her tone carried less conviction now.
"Am I?"
Klaus sneered, gesturing lazily toward Freya, whose spell sigils still glowed faintly on the floor.
"My sister dismantled it before it even had a chance to take root. Whatever message you hoped to send…"
He spread his hands mockingly,
"…fizzled out the moment you stepped through the door."
Damon smirked, folding his arms.
Smirk~
"Guess your big scary prophecy just got downgraded to a dud firecracker."
Aponi's eyes narrowed, fury flickering beneath her façade.
"____"
The victorious smile was gone now, replaced by a clenched jaw and a twitching snarl.
Caroline's voice cut in, calm but edged with steel.
"So maybe you should start telling the truth—before you lose whatever little value you had left."
The barrier around the room pulsed once more,
The green glow dimming like a candle on its last breath,
Leaving Aponi standing amidst the collapse of her own false confidence.
Aponi's gaze swept the room, the crumbling of her plan burning like acid in her veins.
Then her eyes landed on Rafael—
Young, wide-eyed, still shaken from being pulled into her scheme.
Hatred twisted her face.
"You ruined everything,"
She spat, her voice dropping into a guttural snarl.
Before anyone could react, her bones cracked, skin rippling as coarse fur burst forth.
Within a heartbeat, the wolf was there—
Fangs bared, claws slicing the air as she lunged straight at Rafael's throat.
"Raf—!"
Landon shouted, frozen between terror and fury.
But she never made it.
Klaus moved faster than sight.
His hand shot out, slamming her mid-lunge into the floorboards with a bone-rattling crash.
The ground shook under the force, dust spiraling upward.
She writhed, snarling, claws tearing at the floor.
But Klaus didn't flinch.
He pinned her effortlessly with one arm,
His grip like iron pressing into the back of her neck.
His eyes burned gold, the wolf flickering through, primal and merciless.
"You dare,"
Klaus growled, his voice dripping with venom,
Growl~
"to raise a claw in my presence?"
The words weren't shouted—
They were low, rumbling, almost intimate in their promise of violence.
That made them all the more terrifying.
Aponi snapped her jaws, struggling with rabid desperation,
"____"
But Klaus didn't even bother to shift fully.
His human form held her wolf down as if she were nothing more than a feral pup.
"____"
Rafael, pale and trembling, locked eyes with him.
Damon smirked darkly from the sidelines.
Smirk~
"And here I thought this was gonna be a fair fight."
Klaus pressed harder, his glowing eyes meeting Aponi's.
"You should pray someone here convinces me you're worth keeping alive."
Aponi thrashed beneath Klaus's hand, claws gouging deep grooves into the floor,
But no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't break free.
Rage boiled in her chest, but frustration bled into it.
'This wasn't how it was supposed to end.'
Her mind flashed back to Malivore's voice—
Seductive, commanding, promising.
"Do this for me, and your family will be freed. Fail me… and they remain mine forever."
Her golden eyes flicked up at Klaus,
Burning with hatred, but beneath that fire was the raw edge of despair.
"____"
Klaus only pressed harder, unyielding, his wolf's dominance keeping her pinned as though she were nothing more than prey.
"Pathetic,"
He muttered coldly.
Before Aponi could snap back, a firm voice cut through the room.
"Enough."
Freya stepped forward.
With a flick of her wrist, intricate sigils sparked into the air, swirling around Aponi like a net of starlight.
"Somnus."
The spell hit her square in the chest.
Aponi's body jerked, the fight draining out of her limbs as if her strength had been ripped away.
Her snarls slowed to whimpers, her eyes fluttering as the magic overwhelmed her.
Her last sight was Klaus's glowing gaze staring her down,
Before the darkness swallowed her whole.
She collapsed, unconscious, the room falling into silence except for the rasp of everyone's breathing.
"____"
"____"
"____"
Freya lowered her hands, exhaling sharply.
"That will hold her—for now."
Klaus released her, rising slowly, his eyes still burning faintly with the wolf as he looked down at the subdued Aponi.
Damon let out a low whistle.
Whistle~
"Well… she won't be getting back up anytime soon."
Freya let out a long sigh, her shoulders easing now that the danger had passed.
Sigh!
"____"
She glanced at Klaus, her sharp eyes softening only slightly.
"I won't be staying,"
She said, dusting her hands as the spell's glow faded.
"Jojo called me earlier—he says a new case has surfaced, and he asked if I'd take part."
Klaus arched a brow.
"And naturally, you said yes."
Freya gave a faint smirk.
Smirk~
"Of course I did. Hope will be coming with me… along with Inadu, Jojo, Lizzie, and Josie. They wanted to tag along."
Klaus's jaw tightened as Freya turned to leave.
His voice cut through the silence, low and edged with steel.
"You expect me to stand by while you drag my daughter into danger?"
Freya halted, glancing back over her shoulder.
"This isn't just your daughter we're talking about, Niklaus. Hope is a Mikaelson. She's powerful—more than either of us ever were at her age. She deserves the chance to choose how to use it."
Klaus's expression darkened at the mention of Hope leaving,
"____"
But he said nothing.
His jaw tightened, though his eyes betrayed the storm brewing inside.
Freya caught it but pressed on.
"The others will be returning to Forks. since its been days they came to New Orleans."
Klaus's gaze dropped briefly to the unconscious Aponi sprawled on the floor before lifting back to Freya.
"And what of her?"
Freya gave a dismissive wave.
"Bind her. Question her later. She's Malivore's pawn, nothing more. But I have a feeling she knows far less than you think."
With that, she straightened, her tone firm.
"We leave at dawn."
The room grew still, the tension of battles fought and wars yet to come hanging heavy in the air.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N):
Thanks for reading the chapter!
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