Obelisk the Tormentor loomed over the battlefield, its massive blue form casting shadows over the other holographic monsters.
Across the table, Elijah Mikaelson maintained his perfect posture, not a wrinkle in his tailored suit despite having spent the last hour engaged in what he would normally consider a frivolous activity.
His dark eyes studied the field with the same intensity he might apply to a genuine battlefield.
"Your move has left you rather exposed, Elijah," Lucien remarked, leaning forward with elbows on the table. "Slifer may be a 'god' card, but even they have weaknesses."
Elijah's lips curved into a subtle smile. "I find it curious that a game ostensibly designed for children contains such complex strategic elements. The Egyptians would be quite intrigued by this modern interpretation of their deities."
"You've actually met ancient Egyptians?" Lucien's eyes widened with genuine curiosity.
"Several," Elijah replied, adjusting his cufflink. "Though I doubt they would have approved of reducing their pantheon to collectible cards."
From her position on the chaise lounge, Katherine watched with amused interest. "Are you stalling because you know you're going to lose, Elijah?"
Kol, who had been circling the table like a shark, laughed. "Our noble brother doesn't lose. He simply allows others to experience the satisfaction of victory occasionally."
Rebekah rolled her eyes but remained focused on the game.
The creatures' forms hovered above the table – tangible enough to appear solid, yet clearly illusionary in their perfect detail and occasional shimmer when light passed through them.
"I believe it's my turn," Lucien said, drawing a card with a flourish. His eyes lit up as he could now do what he wanted - the card drawn not being the point. "Finally, now the real fun begins."
"I do hope you're not about to employ some obscure rule to circumvent proper strategy," Elijah remarked dryly.
"Nothing obscure about this." Lucien stated. "I sacrifice my two Blue-Eyes White Dragons to activate Obelisk's special ability."
The twin dragons on Lucien's side of the field roared – a sound that seemed to vibrate the very air despite being merely illusion – before dissolving into streams of brilliant white light. The light flowed upward, pouring into Obelisk's eyes like liquid moonlight.
"When two monsters are sacrificed to Obelisk," Lucien explained, his voice taking on a theatrical quality, "his force becomes infinite. Able to wipe out your entire field!"
Elijah raised an eyebrow. "Infinite? That seems rather excessive."
The blue god's form began to change, crimson energy spreading from its core outward through its massive limbs. The red glow concentrated in its fists, forming pulsing orbs of power that grew with each passing second.
"In war, Elijah, there is no such thing as excessive force – only victory or defeat," Lucien said.
Obelisk drew back its glowing fist and then thrust forward. The holographic attack tore through Slifer the Sky Dragon, Dark Magician, and Dark Magician Girl simultaneously.
The monsters shattered like glass, fragments dissolving into motes of light that scattered across the table.
A counter displaying Elijah's life points dropped from 2100 to 0 in an instant.
"And that's game," Lucien declared, unable to suppress his grin.
Kol began clapping slowly. "Bested by a child at a children's card game. How the mighty have fallen, brother."
"This was my first experience with this particular game," Elijah replied calmly, straightening his already immaculate tie. "I find no shame in losing while learning."
"He cheated."
All heads turned toward the doorway where Klaus stood, arms crossed, leaning against the frame.
Lucien's expression immediately shifted from triumph to indignation. "I did not! What exactly did I do that constitutes cheating?"
Klaus pushed himself from the doorway and approached the table, examining the field with surprising familiarity. "The effect you used is the anime version, not the real card's effect."
A moment of stunned silence followed.
"Since when do you watch anime?" Lucien asked, genuine surprise evident in his voice.
A slow smile spread across Klaus's face as he shrugged, crossing his arms. "As an immortal with nothing but time on my hands, not trying new things when they're neither harmful nor revolting would be a disgrace."
Lucien quickly recovered, reaching for the Obelisk card and holding it up. "I specifically asked the servants for cards with the anime effects. Elijah also played with Slifer's anime abilities. We both agreed to these rules before starting, so technically, there was no cheating."
"The boy makes a valid point," Elijah conceded.
Finn, who had been observing from against the wall with crossed arms and thinly veiled disdain, finally stepped forward.
The sound of his boots against the hardwood floor seemed to punctuate the silence that followed.
"When does this farce end?" he asked, his voice cutting through the room's atmosphere like a blade. "The boy is clearly well-rested after his fainting spell. It is time for the deal to be done."
His eyes shifted to Rebekah. "I look forward to seeing how the boy breaks the fertility curse that has plagued us for centuries."
The playful mood evaporated instantly. Everyone's gaze turned toward Finn, then shifted between Lucien and Rebekah.
It indeed was time for the fulfillment of the deal.
For, a full day had passed since Lucien had summoned Vader.
-----------------------
Flashback:
The previous evening
"My Master."
Vader's mechanized voice echoed through the room as he knelt before Lucien. The Originals stood frozen in the doorway, witnessing something... fascinating.
Lucien was heaving, his shirt soaked with sweat, face pale with exhaustion. The ritual had demanded more than he'd anticipated. His legs began to buckle beneath him.
In an instant, Vader moved, catching Lucien before he could hit the floor. The dark figure held the boy with surprising gentleness, one knee still touching the ground.
"My Master..." Vader repeated, concern somehow evident despite the expressionless mask.
"Just... let me catch my breath," Lucien managed between gasps. "Creating your body and maintaining it... it's taking quite a toll."
Katherine took a step forward, but Klaus held out an arm, stopping her.
This was a moment to observe, not interrupt.
Suddenly, Lucien's eyes rolled back, consciousness slipping away for just a moment before he jerked back to awareness.
That brief lapse was enough – Vader's form immediately began to destabilize, armor breaking apart into embers of red and black flame that swirled upward like disturbed ashes.
"Wait! I'm not finished yet!" Lucien cried out, panic flashing across his features.
With desperate speed, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the dragon scale – the one he got when he killed Dracula's pet dragon.
With a swiftness, he thrust the scale into the dispersing flames and shadow, then released it, as he then closed his fist, with the Force, pushing all the embers towards the scale.
A brilliant red light erupted from the point of contact, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. When the glow subsided, Vader was gone. In his place, lying on the floor before Lucien, was a card.
The image depicted Vader, Lucien's Qareen, composed of intertwining black and red flames and shadows.
Lucien's hands trembled as he reached for the card, staring at it with a mixture of relief and disappointment. Before he could speak, his eyes rolled back once more, and he collapsed completely.
Katherine and Rebekah moved in unison, vamp speed bringing them to his side before he hit the ground.
----------------------
Present day
A slow smile spread across Lucien's face as he met Finn's gaze. "You're right. I'm full of energy and the contract has already been set on the parchment." He stood, gathering his cards with casual confidence. "Let's go."
Without waiting for the others, Lucien walked out of the room and headed toward the mansion's rear doors.
The Originals exchanged glances before following at varying paces.
-----------------------
The expansive grounds that surrounded the Mikaelson mansion stretched out before them – less a garden than a private park, with manicured sections giving way to more natural landscapes.
Lucien strode toward an open field area, his steps light.
A blur of tawny fur suddenly bounded across the lawn.
Leo, Lucien's lion, tackled the boy playfully, nearly knocking him over. Instead of fear, Lucien laughed as the massive predator nuzzled against him, purring with a rumble that could be felt several feet away.
"Yes, I missed you too," Lucien said, scratching behind the lion's ears as though it were a house cat.
Klaus arrived first, stopping at the edge of the field to observe the scene. Elijah joined him moments later, standing precisely at his brother's side.
"The boy is trying quite hard, isn't he?" Elijah commented quietly as they watched Lucien with the lion.
Klaus remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Rebekah, Finn, and Kol continued past them, approaching Lucien directly.
"He had quite the... nightmares during his fainting episode, nightmares that you, yourself have confirmed to be... frequent." Elijah continued, studying his brother for any reaction.
When Klaus still offered no response, Elijah turned to face him fully.
"What is the boy's story, Niklaus? You most definitely know." His voice lowered further. "During dinner days ago, you eluded to him never being able to have peace."
Elijah's mind flashed back to the moment when Klaus had grabbed Lucien's wrist, turning his palm upward to reveal the jaguar mark.
Whatever that mark meant, it clearly connected to the boy's mysterious past.
Klaus continued to ignore him, walking forward to join the others. Elijah remained standing alone for a silent moment, his brows slightly furrowing before he finally followed.
By the time everyone had gathered, they formed a loose semicircle in the open field.
Leo stood protectively beside Katherine, while Rebekah and Lucien faced each other with several feet between them.
The other Originals positioned themselves as observers to what was about to unfold.
A long moment of silence passed, broken only by the distant call of birds and the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze.
"I think it's time to start," Lucien finally said, his voice carrying clearly in the open space.
He stepped forward, closing the distance between himself and Rebekah.
Lucien could sense her emotions – her excitement at the possibility of regaining what had been taken from her a millennium ago, yet dread at what the process might entail.
"Try not to embarrass us with your screaming, little sister," Klaus called out mockingly. "Pain is temporary, after all."
Though his words seemed cruel, everyone present understood the underlying message – Klaus was warning Rebekah to prepare herself for pain, his concern disguised as derision.
"Don't worry," Lucien said with surprising casualness. "Last time was... an experience is the word for it, I suppose. Besides, then I had to break the Hybrid Curse, one linked to the moon itself. That's a lot harder than this one."
He stopped an arm's length from Rebekah. "This one can be... easy.."
He raised his hand toward her. "May I?"
Rebekah nodded, gracefully lowering herself to one knee before him.
Lucien gently placed his palm on her shoulder. He closed his eyes, activating the domain he had prepared earlier.
Rather than spending ten minutes establishing the requirements in the moment, he had already completed the preparatory work, allowing for immediate activation.
For an instant, Lucien's palm glowed red against Rebekah's shoulder. A shock of pain coursed through her body – not the agony she had braced herself for, but sharp enough to elicit a gasp from her lips.
After a long moment, Lucien stepped back and withdrew his hand, placing it behind his back.
"Done," he announced with a cheerful smile.
Rebekah looked up at him in confusion "D- Done?" She stammered for a moment in shock. "Are you sure?" she asked as she rose to her feet.
Lucien simply nodded. "Again, the curse is nothing compared to the Hybrid curse, which took a lot out of me. This one is small in comparison."
A slow mischievous smile spread across his face as he regarded the Original vampire. "I'm looking forward to your service," he said, referencing her new role as his protector for the next century.
Without another word, he turned and began walking back toward the mansion, leaving the Originals to take in what had just happened.
Wondering what to do now.
--------------------
(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter.
Do tell me how you found it.
Yeah, I wasn't gonna make a big deal of the fertility curse - Lucien after all broke it quite casually when doing it for Klaus, having done it as a bonus, despite how hard the Hybrid One was.
Oh yeah, do tell me how you liked Lucien and Elijah's duel, I had fun imagining and writing it.
I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)