The motel room fell into heavy silence following Lucien's declaration.
Five words - "We need to split up" - still hung in the air like a physical presence, reshaping the atmosphere around them.
Dean was the first to break the silence, pushing away from the wall with a forceful movement. "Absolutely not," he said, "Not happening."
"Dean's right," John added, his voice final, "We stick together. That's how this family operates."
Lucien's gaze moved from his father to Dean, then to Sam, who was already frowning in thought. The jaguar mark on his palm throbbed, blood dripping steadily onto the carpet below.
"This isn't negotiable," Lucien replied, his voice quiet but firm. "Look around you. This mark is bleeding constantly. It's calling every supernatural creature within miles to our location."
"So we'll deal with them," Dean countered, stepping closer. "We're hunters. It's what we do."
"It's not just about the monsters," Lucien argued, gesturing toward Elena and Jeremy, who sat huddled together on one of the beds. "We have two traumatized kids who need protection. Kids who just lost their mother and whose father actually sacrificed one of them to ancient gods."
Elena flinched at his words, her arm tightening around Jeremy's shoulders.
"All the more reason to stay together," Sam interjected, leaning forward in his chair. "More protection for everyone."
Lucien shook his head. "You don't understand. This mark doesn't just attract normal monsters. It calls everything - vampires, werewolves, gods, demons. Things we can't fight, not all at once."
"We've faced worse odds," John said, crossing his arms.
"Have you?" Lucien challenged, meeting his father's gaze directly. "Have you faced five gods simultaneously? Or Dracula? Or a Valkyrie sent by Hela? Because I have fought only one of those things, and I nearly fucking died."
Katherine, who had been leaning against the wall near the connecting door to her room, finally spoke. "He's right. The mark is... pulling. Creating hunger specifically for him." She looked at John. "I'm still of course, ignoring and destroying it because I choose to. Weaker creatures like I already said won't have that control."
Dean's lip curled. "Of course you'd agree with splitting up. You get Lucien all to yourself."
Katherine's eyes flashed dangerously. "I'm dying of werewolf venom, Winchester. My priorities have shifted somewhat."
"Enough," John commanded, silencing the brewing argument. He turned to Lucien. "We'll go to Bobby's. Figure this out together."
"No," Lucien said firmly. "I won't bring this curse to Mom and Adam. I won't put them in danger."
"Then we'll find somewhere else," Sam suggested. "A safe house, somewhere remote."
Trevor, who had been observing silently from his position by the window, finally spoke. "There's no such thing as 'remote' from this kind of curse. It doesn't work that way."
"So what's your solution?" Dean demanded, turning to Lucien. "You and Katherine just wander off alone? A thirteen-year-old kid and a dying vampire against the world?"
"Better than putting all of you at risk," Lucien replied. "Katherine needs specialized care for the werewolf venom. You need to protect Elena and Jeremy."
"And who protects you?" John asked, his voice softer now.
Lucien's hand flexed, blood dripping faster as his emotions intensified. "I can protect myself."
"Like you did in Mystic Falls?" Dean challenged. "When your hand got bitten off?"
Lucien's expression hardened. "Low blow, Dean."
"But true," Dean pressed. "You're not invincible, Lu. None of us are. That's why we stick together."
"Dean's right," Sam added. "We can research this curse, find a way to break it or contain it."
"And how many of you die while we're researching?" Lucien countered. "How many monsters break through our defenses? How many innocent people get caught in the crossfire?"
The debate continued, voices rising and falling as each person presented their arguments. Lucien listened, his patience visibly thinning with each passing minute. Occasionally, he glanced at his watch, a detail that didn't escape John's notice.
"You're waiting for something," John observed during a momentary lull. "What is it?"
Lucien met his father's eyes steadily. "A taxi. It'll be here at 8:30."
The revelation landed like a physical blow. Dean's expression darkened with betrayal. "You already planned this. Before even talking to us."
"Because I knew this is how you'd react," Lucien replied, gesturing to the room at large.
"Of course this is how we'd react!" Dean exploded. "You're our brother! You don't get to just walk away!"
"I'm not walking away," Lucien said, his voice rising to match Dean's. "I'm trying to keep you alive!"
"By running off with a vampire we barely trust?" Dean shot back.
Katherine straightened at this, her eyes narrowing, angered. "I saved his life in that mirror realm, and got this to show for it," rolling up her sleeve, showing the bite, "Where were you?"
"Katherine," Lucien warned, sensing the conversation spiraling out of control.
Sam tried a different approach. "Lucien, we understand, okay. We get it. I'd probably want to do the same if I were you right now, but there are have to be other options we haven't explored. Bobby might know something about breaking curses like this. Please, Luci."
Lucien remained silent for a long moment, before his non-bloodied hand went through his hair in frustration, "I don't think you guys are getting it. I'm not just a danger because of the monsters." he began, causing Sam's brows to furrow, in confusion.
"I'm not safe from Hunters either." Lucien finished.
"What?" Dean asked, incredulous.
Lucien's gaze turned towards him, "How many hunters will come after me when they learn what's on me?" Lucien asked quietly. "How long before someone decides I'm too dangerous to live? Don't you realise how insane it is, that wherever I am, monsters will swarm like moths to a fire?"
A heavy silence followed this question.
"We wouldn't let that happen," John said firmly.
"You can't stop it," Lucien replied, his voice tinged with resignation. "Not forever."
Elena suddenly spoke up, her voice small but determined. "What if... what if I left instead? This is my fault anyway. If we hadn't been in Mystic Falls-" feeling immense guilt, not knowing what to do.
"No," Lucien interrupted gently. "None of this is your fault, Elena. You and Jeremy need protection more than anyone. Besides, it won't fix this anyway."
"Which is why we all stay together," John insisted, his tone making it clear the discussion was over.
Lucien checked his watch again. 8:25 AM. He looked around the room at his family, seeing that no matter what, they weren't budging, his expression shifted from frustration to resignation.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly, "but you're not giving me a choice."
Before anyone could react, Lucien raised one of his hands. The air in the room seemed to ripple, and suddenly John, Dean, Sam, and Trevor froze in place, expressions of shock forming on their faces.
Lucien's hand shook with not the effort of holding four grown men immobile with the Force - that was the easy part - but with using his powers against... his own family.
He moved quickly - trying not to think about it - to his bag, retrieving coils of rope he'd prepared earlier.
"Help me," he said to Katherine, who immediately moved to assist, her own weakness momentarily forgotten in the face of necessity.
Elena gasped, pulling Jeremy behind her protectively. "What are you doing?"
"What I have to," Lucien answered, his voice strained as he began binding John's hands and feet.
Dean's eyes blazed with fury as Lucien approached him next, but he couldn't break free from the Force hold. "Lucien, don't do this," he managed through clenched teeth.
"I'm sorry, Dean," Lucien said, genuinely regretful as he secured the knots. "I really am."
Sam was next, his expression more hurt than angry. "There's another way," he insisted as Lucien tied him. "We can figure this out together."
"Not this time," Lucien replied softly.
As he moved to Trevor, the Belmont spoke calmly despite his predicament. "The boy has guts, I'll give him that."
Lucien finished securing Trevor and gradually released his Force hold on all four men, allowing them to speak freely while remaining bound.
"You've lost your mind," Dean growled, straining against his restraints. "Untie us right now!"
"This isn't helping anyone, Lucien," Sam added more reasonably. "You're just putting yourself in more danger."
John remained ominously quiet, studying his son with an unreadable expression that somehow cut deeper than Dean's anger or Sam's disappointment.
Trevor cleared his throat. "If you're determined to go, at least take me with you," he said, his voice carrying unexpected emotion. "I joined you all to kill Dracula, anyway. I'm not part of the family kid, you don't need to protect me."
Lucien approached Trevor, his expression softening. "You haven't realized it yet, have you?" he asked gently. "Despite how short you've been with us, you've already risked your life, and helped us time and time again, without asking for anything back. You've already become part of this family."
Something flickered in Trevor's stoic expression at these words.
"I'm not leaving you behind because I don't think you can handle yourself," Lucien continued. "I just won't be responsible for your death."
"That's my choice to make," Trevor argued.
"Not today," Lucien replied firmly.
Elena stepped forward hesitantly, tears forming in her eyes. "Please don't go," she pleaded - a great part for the Winchesters, while another because... She can no longer imagine safety after what happened without him around. "Not because of us. We can figure something out."
Lucien turned to her, his expression gentle despite his resolve. "Elena, you're not safe with me," he said, raising his bleeding palm. "Not as long as I have this."
The sight of the jaguar and blood made Elena instantly flinch and look away, as bad memories returned.
Lucien internally grimanced at this, despite this being why he did it - but using her trauma against her to have her accept, and look past her feeling of safety with him was necessary,
"I don't understand," she whispered. "You saved me."
"I didn't." Lucien countered softly. "I failed. And I'm not going to fail again."
John finally broke his silence. "You're making a mistake," he said simply, his voice quiet but carrying immense weight.
Lucien met his father's gaze steadily. "Maybe. But it's my mistake to make."
Katherine checked her watch and nodded subtly to Lucien. She then did something unexpected, moving to her bag and retrieving a credit card, phone, and hotel stationery.
The room quieted as she wrote something down and placed the items on the table.
"This card accesses an untraceable account with several million dollars," she explained matter-of-factly. "The paper contains instructions for reaching one of my safe houses and contacts for legal documents."
She nodded toward Elena and Jeremy. "For the children. They'll need new identities."
Dean's expression shifted from anger to confusion at this uncharacteristic generosity.
"Why would you help them?" he asked suspiciously.
Katherine met his gaze briefly. "Consider it an investment in goodwill."
Lucien checked his watch again - 8:29 AM - and shouldered his backpack. He turned back to them.
"Take care of each other," he instructed gently. "Follow Katherine's notes. The safe house will protect you both until this is over."
"And when will that be?" Elena asked, her voice small.
"I don't know," Lucien admitted. "But I promise I'll find a way to end this curse."
He moved toward the door, Katherine following close behind. He paused, hand on the doorknob, and looked back at his bound family.
"This isn't goodbye," he said, his voice steady despite the emotion in his eyes. "Just necessary distance."
"Lucien," John called, a note of desperation creeping into his normally controlled voice. "Son, please reconsider."
For a moment, Lucien hesitated, the weight of his father's plea evident in his expression. Then he straightened his shoulders and opened the door.
"I'll contact you when it's safe," he promised. "Not before."
Katherine paused in the doorway, looking back at the unusual tableau. "I'll keep him safe," she said, surprising everyone with her sincerity.
"Like you kept youself safe?" Dean shot back, unable to help himself.
"Dean," Sam warned.
"How will you find the werewolf cure?" Sam asked, concern evident in his voice despite everything.
"We have ideas," Lucien answered vaguely, avoiding details that might be traced.
Trevor made one final plea. "Take me with you," he said, his voice betraying more emotion than intended. "You need someone who knows what they're doing."
Lucien shook his head, a sad smile crossing his features. "Take care of my family," he said instead, before he and Katherine stepped through the doorway.
The door closed behind them with a soft click that somehow felt as final as a thunderclap.
----------------------
Outside, the early morning air was cool and crisp, the parking lot nearly empty. Lucien took a deep breath, feeling the weight of what he'd just done settling on his shoulders.
Katherine studied his face, noting the toll the confrontation had taken. "Where are we going?" she asked, her voice unusually gentle.
Lucien shrugged, his exhaustion finally showing now that they were alone. "As far away from here as possible."
"That's not a plan," Katherine observed, raising an eyebrow. "Do you actually have one beyond dramatic exits?"
After a long silence, Lucien nodded slowly. "Yes. But I need you to trust me."
Something in Katherine's expression softened unexpectedly. She leaned down, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.
"I always will, my dear little god," she said with surprising tenderness.
Lucien looked away, flustered but hiding it well except for a slight coloring of his cheeks.
A taxi pulled up precisely at 8:30 AM, confirming Lucien's advance planning. They slid into the backseat, Katherine moving gracefully despite her weakened state.
"Where to?" the driver asked, glancing at them in the rearview mirror.
Katherine provided an address without hesitation, surprising Lucien.
As the taxi pulled away from the motel, he gave her a questioning look.
"It's a decent hotel far enough away to plan our next move properly," she explained. "Since you didn't plan this thing with me."
Lucien nodded, looking slightly abashed. "Sorry about that."
Katherine's lips curved into a genuine smile. "It's alright I suppose. You are the leader after all. Just listen to me when you don't know something."
"Of course," Lucien answered, "I'm neither arrogant nor stupid enough to think I know everything," he said his brows furrowing for a moment, as he put his chin on his palm, elbow against the window.
As the taxi turned onto the main road, Lucien looked back at the motel room window where his family remained.
The taxi turned a corner, and the motel disappeared from view.
------------------------
Inside the room, John Winchester worked methodically at the ropes binding his wrists, his expression grim with determination.
"How long?" Dean asked through clenched teeth.
"Ten minutes," John answered. "Maybe less."
Sam looked toward the door, conflict evident in his eyes. "And then what?"
John met his son's gaze, his voice resolute. "Then we find them. Both of them."
Trevor nodded in agreement, already planning their next move. "The kid's smart, but he's still that - a kid. They'll leave traces."
"They better," Dean muttered. "Because when I find them-"
"When we find them," John corrected, "we're going to help them. Whether they want it or not."
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(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter.
Do tell me how you found it.
So, Katherine and Lucien are now going seperate, do tell me what you think Lucien's plan is.
How will he get away from Dracula and get Klaus to not only give him his blood - but also have Klaus's curse broken, since so long Klaus's hybrid side is sealed, his blood is useless.
Will it all eventually come crashing down and Katherine just dying?
I'm interested in your thoughts.
I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)