Chapter 7: Elijah's Return
Resurrection Ritual — Week later, Mikaelson crypt
The air in the Mikaelson crypt was thick with the scent of old stone, damp earth, and a faint, metallic tang. Adam stood before the sarcophagus, a heavy, pre-filled Resurrection Card in his hand. Hope stood beside him, her face pale with a mix of anticipation and terror. This was it. The moment of truth.
"You're a madman, Adam," Klaus said from the back of the crypt, his voice low and laced with a mix of grudging admiration and suspicion. "Risking everything for this."
"It's not a risk if you've done the math," Adam said, his voice steady despite the tremor in his hands. He took a deep breath, the ancient air of the crypt filling his lungs. "The system says it'll work. And you're getting your brother back." He held the card up, the intricate runes etched into its surface glowing with a soft, pulsing light. "Resurrection card, Elijah's back!" he said, the words a mix of a command and a prayer.
The card flared to life, a blinding flash of white light that filled the crypt. The ground beneath them rumbled, and the air crackled with raw, untamed magic. When the light faded, a figure stood before them, a man in a perfectly tailored suit, his eyes opening slowly, a look of confusion and quiet dignity on his face. Elijah Mikaelson was back.
Hope didn't hesitate. A sob ripped from her throat and she ran, throwing herself into her uncle's arms. "Uncle Elijah… I missed you so much," she cried, her voice muffled against his suit.
Elijah's arms wrapped around her, a rare, gentle expression on his face. He looked at Adam over Hope's shoulder, a single, appreciative nod. "An honorable choice, Adam. Take the money." He gestured to a large duffel bag at the base of the sarcophagus. "Two hundred thousand dollars. I imagine you have a use for it."
Adam's inner monologue was a flurry of numbers and emotions. "Resurrection card, used and emptied. Strength card, one use left. Shield card gained. $200,000 from Elijah. This is the big leagues. I'm actually getting somewhere. He's the real deal, not a wolf."
"Wolf Klaus was for comedy," Adam explained, a wry grin on his face. "You, sir, are the classy Original. You deserve respect." He pulled out his last remaining Strength Card, imprinting a temporary copy. "Here, Klaus. For you." He handed it to him. "Just a small boost."
Klaus took the card, his brow furrowed in suspicion, but he held it. He flexed his arm, the strength flowing through him. "Still a wolf, just with a little more muscle," he grumbled, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips. Adam just winked. He had a feeling this was the start of a beautiful, financially beneficial partnership.
Family Reunion — Same night, compound
The air in the compound was charged with emotion. Tears fell freely as Elijah embraced his siblings, a family torn apart and now, slowly, being put back together. The joy was palpable, a stark contrast to the grim, haunted atmosphere that had hung over the compound since Elijah's death. Hope clung to her uncle, the years of pain and longing pouring out of her in a silent torrent.
"My family, I'm back for you," Elijah said, his voice thick with emotion. He looked at each of them, his eyes lingering on Klaus, a silent truce passing between the two brothers.
Adam, ever the pragmatic businessman, was already at work. He pulled out his new Shield Card, a soft, shimmering card with an image of a golden force field. "A little something for the family," he said to Freya, holding out a copy of the card. "One coin, returned empty. You can't put a price on protection."
"Greedy mortal, but you've earned it," Klaus said with a hint of a smile. "You've given me back my brother."
Freya took the card, her eyes twinkling. "You're full of surprises, Adam. Take it." She handed him a coin.
"1,700 MP spent, 300 for Level 3. 720 MP sleep," Adam muttered under his breath, already planning his next move. He turned to Rebekah, who stood slightly apart from the reunion, tears in her eyes. "Rebekah, a loan? Just a hundred thousand to help me get on my feet."
Rebekah, a mischievous glint in her eyes, laughed and handed him the money. "A coin vampire," she said, shaking her head. "A new kind of pest in New Orleans. But a useful one, it seems."
Adam just grinned. The reunion was a spectacle of raw emotion and ancient grudges, but he was a part of it now. He was the one who had made it possible, the one who had played the numbers and brought a family back from the brink. The system was more than just a tool for personal gain; it was a way to make a difference in this chaotic, supernatural world. It was a way to help Hope. And that, he knew, was priceless.
Squad Update — Next morning, phone call to school
The phone call with the Super Squad was a welcome return to normalcy, a break from the high-stakes drama of the Mikaelsons. Adam was sitting at a small cafe, a cup of coffee and a beignet in front of him. The sun was warm on his face, a pleasant contrast to the chill of the crypt.
"Elijah's back?" Stephanie's voice was full of surprised glee. "The suit-wearing Original? Wow. Hope must be thrilled."
"She's beside herself," Adam confirmed, a small smile on his face. "He's the real deal. All class, no growl." He sipped his coffee, enjoying the simple pleasure of a quiet morning. "And I got a bonus. Sold a strength card to MG for a coin. He's going to use it to impress Lizzie, I bet."
"No free cards? Greedy, Stiels," Penelope's voice was a familiar, teasing jab. "You're going to have a reputation for being the most stingy hero on the planet."
"I'm a businessman, Penelope. It's about smart investments. And the market for supernatural cards is hot right now," Adam said, a practiced ease in his voice. He was getting good at this. The constant need for coins and MP had made him a smooth talker. He had to be. His very existence depended on it.
"1,700 MP, 300 to Level 3," he calculated in his mind. "I'm so close. Just a little more. And then I can finally get a boost to my stats."
"Wolf Klaus for laughs, Elijah's the real deal," Stephanie said, mimicking his voice. "We're going to put that on a T-shirt. 'Adam Stiels: A Man, A Myth, A Card Dealer.'"
Adam laughed. They didn't get it. They couldn't. The system was his secret, his burden, and his power. But he was building a network of allies, a small army of friends and Originals who, unknowingly, were funding his ascension. He was a hero with a secret agenda, a knight in shining armor with a coin pouch to fill. And he was getting closer to his goal every day.
The conversation ended with Stephanie mimicking Elijah's dignified suit, a move that made Adam snicker. He finished his coffee, the warmth of the cup a reminder of the quiet, normal moments he was fighting to preserve. He was one step closer. The next thing on his to-do list? Find a way to defeat a mythical chimera that was supposedly on the loose at the school. And he had a feeling that would be another profitable venture.
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