Chapter 6: Banshee's Wail
Banshee Attack — Two days later, French Quarter
The thick, humid air of the French Quarter was a character in itself, clinging to Adam's skin like a shroud. The scent of beignets and chicory coffee usually brought a sense of comfort, but today it was cut with the sharp, acrid tang of ozone and fear. A high, piercing shriek ripped through the soundscape, shattering a storefront window and sending a flock of pigeons scattering in a panicked storm of feathers. Adam's head snapped up, his instincts screaming at him. The sound, a banshee's wail, was a direct assault on his senses, a raw, supernatural chord that vibrated through his very bones.
"Screechy diva," Adam muttered under his breath, his hands already moving toward his card deck. "Time for a little sound check."
His eyes darted to Hope, who stood beside him, her face a mask of fierce concentration. She was already muttering a counter-spell, a low, melodic hum that seemed to absorb some of the banshee's destructive cry. A chill ran down Adam's spine as he felt the banshee's attention shift. It wasn't just targeting the city; it was targeting him, or more specifically, the well of magical energy he carried. It was drawn to the system.
"Hope, get back!" Adam yelled, pulling a card from his deck. He didn't have time to imprint a new one. He'd have to use what he had. He held up a pre-filled Strength Card, its edges glowing with a soft, steady light.
"You're holding up, Adam. Why 'wolf' for Dad?" Hope shouted over the din, her brow furrowed in concern. "Take this." She pressed a folded wad of cash into his hand. "$100,000. It's not a gift; it's a loan."
Adam didn't have to look at it to know what it meant—100 precious coins. He felt a wave of gratitude and a pang of guilt. He had so many unrepaid debts, a tangled web of supernatural IOU's, but the system was a hungry beast. "Wolf Klaus for comedy, Hope. Elijah's the classy Original. Thanks for the cash, I'll pay you back. Someday."
The banshee's form shimmered, a wisp of gray smoke and despair. It lunged, its scream intensifying to a physical force. Adam braced himself, a cold, calculated calm washing over him. "My strength card, smash this screamer!" he roared, a surge of adrenaline pushing him forward. He poured 100 MP into the card, feeling the familiar, draining pull. He'd need to sleep for seventeen hours to recover it all, but there was no other choice. This was a battle for survival and for the system's coins.
"Sold me strength, mortal?" a voice drawled from behind him. Kol Mikaelson, leaning against a lamppost with an amused smirk on his face, was holding out a single, glittering coin. "I do believe a copy of that would be rather useful. I have pranks to outdo."
Adam didn't hesitate. He pulled out an empty card, imprinted a copy of the Strength Card, and handed it to Kol in a single fluid motion. The card had three uses, but Adam had a feeling Kol would get a lifetime of mischief out of it. Kol's one coin clinked against Adam's small, growing pile, a sweet, satisfying sound. Freya was already there, her hands moving with graceful purpose, weaving a powerful containment spell around the banshee. The creature shrieked, a sound of pure frustration, as the magical cage began to tighten around it.
"Caught the screechy diva, didn't we?" Kol chuckled, making a show of inspecting his new card. The moment the banshee was fully encased, Adam felt a pulse of energy from the system. [ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: BANSHEE DEFEATED. REWARD: 75 COINS, 1 EMPTY CARD, TRAP SPELL CARD (PRE-FILLED, 3 USES).]
"I'm going to have to make a list of all the things that have tried to kill me," Adam mused, sliding the new cards into his deck. "The banshee's going right to the top, above that rogue dryad who just wanted to nap."
Hope's laughter was a welcome balm. "You're a magnet for weird, Adam. But you handle it."
"With style, and a healthy dose of greed," Adam added, patting his coin pouch. He was getting closer to his goal. The banshee's defeat was just one more step on the path to becoming strong enough to protect Hope and himself. He'd spend every last coin he had if it meant he could keep her safe. The thought of Elijah's return was a powerful motivator, a promise of an ally who understood the delicate dance between power and responsibility. He just needed more coins. Always more coins.
Freya's Bond — Same night, Mikaelson compound
The Mikaelson compound was a different world from the chaotic streets of the French Quarter. The air was heavy with the scent of old wood, candle wax, and the subtle, floral notes of Freya's spells. Hope sat with her Aunt Freya in the grand library, the fire crackling in the hearth, casting long, dancing shadows on the walls. The banshee's scream felt like a distant, bad dream here.
"You're a brave one, Adam," Freya said, her voice soft and full of genuine admiration. She placed a hand on his shoulder, a small, knowing smile on her face. "Not many people would have run toward that kind of danger." She pulled a small, delicate coin from her pocket and placed it in his hand, along with another stack of crisp bills. "$100,000. For your bravery. Don't worry about paying it back, just use it wisely."
Hope watched the exchange, a warmth spreading through her chest. It was a testament to how much Adam had become a part of their chaotic, tangled family. He had a way of cutting through the ancient rivalries and resentments, of seeing the Mikaelsons for what they were—a group of damaged people who loved each other fiercely.
"You're bringing us together, Adam," Hope said, a genuine smile on her face. "You and your crazy pranks. I've never seen Aunt Freya so relaxed."
Adam's inner monologue buzzed with a mix of gratitude and calculation. "1,700 MP spent, 300 to Level 3. That's my next goal. 720 MP sleep. This loan will help. Freya's giving me more than just money; she's giving me a chance to get stronger, faster." He looked at Freya, his expression a mix of genuine respect and his usual flippant humor. "Wolf Klaus was just a laugh, Freya. You're the one who keeps this family from tearing itself apart."
A low chuckle came from the shadows. Klaus, with a smirk on his face, stepped into the light. "Screechy diva, Kol? I'll dagger you and hang you up as a coat rack."
Kol, who had been inspecting his new Strength Card, grinned unapologetically. "Brother, please. I've already outdone you. That creature screamed with the raw emotion of a thousand broken hearts, and Adam here captured it in a card. A true artist, this one."
Freya just shook her head, a smile playing on her lips. "This family is hopeless," she said with a fond sigh, but her eyes, when she looked at Hope and Adam, were full of warmth and hope. Hope felt a deep sense of belonging, a feeling she hadn't known in a long time. Adam was a strange, coin-obsessed puzzle piece, but he fit. He had a way of making even the most dramatic Mikaelson moments feel a little lighter. She wasn't just watching him save people; she was watching him save her family. And that, in Hope's book, was the greatest magic of all.
Squad Check-In — Next morning, phone call to school
The call to the Salvatore School was a mix of business and banter, a daily ritual that anchored Adam to his other life. He was on the phone, walking through the bustling New Orleans streets, the morning sun already baking the pavement. The city had a different feel in the daylight, the night's chaos a distant memory. The morning air smelled of stale coffee and a faint, lingering sweetness from the French Quarter's bakeries.
"So, you're saying a banshee, Hope's family, and you're still not Level 3?" Stephanie's voice crackled through the phone, a playful teasing lilt in her tone. "Sounds like you're slacking, Stiels."
"I'm not slacking, I'm strategizing," Adam retorted, a grin on his face. He'd already done the calculations. "1,700 MP spent, 300 to Level 3. It's a grind. And a banshee is a pain. All that screeching and no coins to show for it."
"No free cards for the squad?" Penelope's voice was a low, mocking hum on the other end. "Greedy, as ever. You've forgotten your friends."
"I sold the trap card to Kaleb for a coin," Adam said, a hint of pride in his voice. "He's going to use it to prank MG, I'm sure. Besides, you'd think I was made of coins. It's a tough market out there." He was getting better at this, at the balancing act of being a hero and a businessman. The system's rules were harsh, but they were a challenge, and Adam had always liked a good challenge.
"Wolf Klaus? Hilarious," Stephanie said, a burst of laughter on the other end. "You should do a whole series. 'A Wolf in the City.' I'd pay for that."
"It was a one-time thing for comedy. Elijah's the real deal," Adam said, a strange mix of loyalty and respect in his voice. "I'm saving my best material for when he gets back."
Penelope's sigh was audible. "You're a weird one, Stiels. Always talking about money and pranks, even when you're saving the world. It's like a superpower in itself."
"You've got no idea," Adam muttered to himself, a small, knowing smile on his face. He'd already made a mental note of the new debts and the new coins. He was a walking ledger, a human accounting system. It was both a curse and a blessing. He was in this for the coins, yes, but he was also in it for the adventure, and for the people he was starting to care about. The bonds he was forming, the alliances he was making, they were worth more than all the gold in the world. He just couldn't tell them that. Not yet. He had to keep up the facade of the coin-obsessed hero. It was his greatest trick yet. He would get the money for Elijah, one coin at a time. The mission was clear, the path was set, and he was ready for whatever came next.
The conversation ended with Stephanie's dramatic howl, mocking Klaus, and Penelope's snickers, which gave Adam the small emotional boost he needed. He was one step closer. The next thing on his to-do list? Find a way to bring Elijah back. And that was going to cost a lot of coins.
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