Well, I guess with that taken care of, I won't have to deal with Mikael anytime soon — but I have no idea what to do about my siblings.
I sighed and paced back and forth inside the warehouse. Honestly, this wasn't the smartest move I was about to make.
The emotions that come with this body are making me far too sentimental. I don't like it.
It's bad enough how Jenna affects me. It's bad enough how my children affect me. It's bad enough that Elena and Jeremy — who aren't even mine — have this hold on me.
When I first arrived in this world inside an Original's body, my plan was simple: do whatever I wanted, go wild, crush anyone I didn't like, sleep around, live like a king with as many women as I pleased.
But look at me now. Married. Two kids. Trying to be a decent human being — and I'm not even human.
I breathed out and sighed. I'll figure this out when I'm calmer.
I got home. Jenna was already asleep. I peeked into my children's room, then Elena and Jeremy's, and saw they were fast asleep too.
I sat down on the sofa, opened a bottle of whiskey, and took a long drink straight from the bottle. Then I picked up my phone and sent Mary a message:
Come here.
It wasn't long before Mary and Alex were standing at my door.
"Sir Nik," they both said, sounding nervous. Probably the bottle in my hand and the way I'd summoned them.
Mary didn't come alone. That means Alex is going against my compulsion... Interesting. Is this what love looks like?
He's willing to defy absolute orders just to keep her safe.
"Sit down," I told them, stepping aside. "I don't know much about magic, but could you make it so my presence seems to vanish — and create other beings around the world that give off a signature just like mine? To throw people off?"
Mary gave me a strange look and exchanged a glance with Alex.
"It's possible. Are we talking about creating clones of you, or simply altering the appearance and magical signature of other people so they resemble you?" She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Creating a true clone of you would be impossible. Your biology and magic are far too unique and powerful — not to mention your resistance to magic borders on immunity."
As always, she's smarter than she looks. She understood exactly what I was going for.
"Alter the appearance and magical signature of other vampires," I said, thinking aloud. "Vampires from my bloodline already carry a signature similar to mine — a blend of my power and their own spiritual energy. What if we could suppress that personal spiritual energy?"
"But... that would kill them," Mary said, clearly alarmed. "Without their own spiritual energy, their bodies would be nothing but instinct and supernatural power. No consciousness — or if there is, they'd be shut down inside, no morals, no fear. They could expose the supernatural world to humanity."
Right. That's bad. Definitely bad.
"So what if we mask it instead?" I said thoughtfully. "Keep their own spiritual energy intact — just hide it. Make it so only my magical presence radiates from them."
"That could work," Mary said, considering. "But it would require a very specific ritual. We'd have to bypass the vampires' natural magical resistance — and that won't be easy."
"We'll pick younger vampires," I decided, standing up. "Newly turned vampires have weaker magical resistance. They'll be easier to affect. And we'll choose ones who already look somewhat like me."
"That sounds promising," Mary said, perking up. "A Polyjuice Potion lasts longer when the subject already shares physical similarities with you."
"But does the potion even work on vampires?" Alex asked, frowning.
"No one knows," Mary admitted, her enthusiasm fading. "It's never been tested."
"Then we'll find out. Just gather some vampires who look like me," I said, tapping my forehead. "We'll work out the rest."
"They have to be vampires sired directly by you," Mary added. "The further they are from your bloodline, the less of your signature they carry. It won't work on vampires several generations removed."
Great. Let's get to work.
Months later
I hunted down men who shared my appearance and sired twenty of them. Mary got to work with her wand and cast the spell.
Finally, our plan was complete. I stood outside my siblings' trailer and looked at the two vampires waiting there.
Both newly turned. Both criminals who had preyed on the defenseless.
"You know what to do." I pulled the daggers from both their chests, stepped back, and waited at a safe distance.
Three people...
It didn't take long for them to wake up.
"What the hell happened?" Kol was the first to come around. "I'm free."
"Where is Mikael?" The second voice was Rebekah, sounding frantic. "Oh God — Nik? Where is Nik?"
Eventually, everyone was awake: Finn, Rebekah, and Kol.
"Hello," said one of the vampires, drawing their attention.
"And who might you be?" Kol snarled.
"I bring a message from Klaus," the vampire said.
"Nik? Where is he? Is he all right?" Rebekah asked, her fear clear — fresh from the nightmare of Mikael hunting them.
"You have been disowned," the vampire announced. "Do not go looking for Klaus. He wants nothing to do with any of you. And Rebekah... Klaus forgives you for what you did in New Orleans, but he never wants to see your face again. If any of you ever show yourselves to him, he will dagger you and lock you away forever."
"How — how do you know that? How did Nik find out?" Rebekah screamed, tears spilling over. "Answer me!"
Time seemed to slow. She stepped forward, and all her brothers watched.
Then the vampire pulled a stake and drove it straight into the heart of the other. He fell instantly. Before anyone could react, he bit down hard on his own tongue, blood spilling from his mouth.
"No!" Rebekah shrieked, rushing forward and grabbing his arms before he could do more damage. "Tell me — where is Nik? Where is my brother?"
"Freedom at last," Kol said with a dry laugh, turning his back — then paused. "Though... it shouldn't have been him speaking for Nik. Something feels wrong. He has no right to decide this for us."
"Whatever," Finn muttered with a scowl.
"Answer me! Your tongue should have healed by now!" Rebekah was furious — until the vampire grinned and pulled open the collar of his shirt.
"Did Mikael do something to him? Tell me — answer me, damn it!"
Rebekah's eyes went wide. His skin was covered in festering bite marks — werewolf venom.
The vampire gave one last shudder and died in front of her, leaving her staring in horror.