After resurrecting Qetsiyah, I dumped her with Pearl for the moment while I reflected on things. Sheila was a bomb waiting to explode. The same woman who would risk soul destruction for her granddaughter when Bonnie overstepped one too many times.
Fear and wariness are good motivators. Perhaps it was her obliviousness to my mental prowess that allowed her the facade of civility. My recent massacre served to eliminate those who continuously targeted me as well as those who aided them. In my pillaging, I came across a rather interesting piece of information in their minds.
Dahlia is coming and she knows what I'm capable of. While she wouldn't be too much of a problem, the matter of how she knows is another story. My home is warded against prying eyes from the other side so the only way they'd know is from someone else who knew.
Sheila.
At this risk of sounding like the hypocrite that I am, I had to take action. While it's a shame that Sheila had to go, I could easily explain Qetsiyah and her appearance as Sheila wanting to try something new. With Sheila's memories, Qetsiyah shouldn't have any problem acting the part.
I moved my eyes to the bag of materials Sheila had procured for me as well as the other ones she planned to use against me. An ascendant, someone's been in contact with the Gemini coven recently. Admittedly, I don't have anything in my arsenal that would help me escape from a prison world so I'll give her props for that.
It was a genius plan. A vial of heavily poisoned vampire blood and a prison world to lock me in. That works on the assumption that I would lose access to magic upon transition, something I'm not willing to test anytime soon. With my theatrics in and power play seen from Sheila's memories, Qetsiyah would know the razor's edge she now walked on.
Speaking of ancient witches, another reason for her revival other than my amusement is her mind. I excel at recreating types of magic but her mind for spell crafting is one I want to see at work. I'm thrilled to see what she can produce when she isn't hung up on killing her two thousand year old ex.
Now comes the big question, what next? Other than the whole Originals and Dahlia issues coming along of course. I remember it like it was just yesterday, my first day here, afraid to leave the house for days. Days I spent preparing myself to not be cannon fodder. Now, I'm on the other end of the stick, with all the power and more questions than answers.
I don't believe in the whole 'great power and great responsibility' crap but there has to be something, anything. I could sit back and watch this clusterfuck of a world play out but what would be the point?
Could it be that my running around, my machinations are an attempt to distract me from a simple truth that I've known for a long time? I have no goals, no aspirations. Nothing but a magical closet filled with the achievements of others.
In the past I'd filled that void with debauchery and here I've filled it with supernatural warfare. What a life I live. Am I having an existential crisis? Looking at the bottle of whiskey I'd conjured during my confrontation with Sheila, half empty, I concluded that I was.
Where's master Splinter or general Iroh when you need a therapist?
-[Dahlia]-
Nature is upset to say the least. It was expected, out of all those who had worked against it for millennia, none had succeeded to this extent. Nathan was indeed a prize worth collecting. It spoke lengths that at the same time Nature's turmoil made itself known, the spirits who had guided her here were oddly silent.
Perhaps intimidation wouldn't work on the boy. She could only imagine what she could do with that power, she would no longer need to sleep for a century. Her immortality spell was a delicate thing. Unlike that of her sister or the original it was derived from, this didn't pervert nature by turning her into something else.
While asleep for a century, magic kept her young and magic was also accumulated. In the one year that she was awake, the accumulated magic kept her from truly dying, immortal until her next slumber.
Perhaps that would be her bargaining chip, a deal that would benefit them both. After all, who would turn down immortality?
-[Elijah Mikaelson]-
Immortality, the greatest gift, yet the greatest curse depending on which end of the spectrum one chose to view it. He'd seen it as a learning experience. In his millennia alive, he witnessed the rise and fall of empires with his very eyes. He'd watched his brother tear a few down as well.
In that time, they'd made a vast number of enemies, many of which were still alive till this day. Yet, their greatest enemy was of their own blood. Their father, who has, for centuries, chased him and his siblings throughout the world.
Mikael.
In 1919, he stayed behind to delay their father in New Orleans, allowing Klaus and Rebekah a chance to escape only to find out years later that he had daggered her for whatever new rationale he had come up with.
Rebekah, along with the rest of his daggered siblings, were gone courtesy of Klaus and his white oak. He couldn't let that stand. Once, he fought for his brother's redemption, now he fought to end him. Though, that was easier said than done.
"Penny for your thoughts." A young voice said, catching his attention.
His head turned immediately to see who it was that was able to sneak up on him. Sat in the chair across the table was a young boy he had no recollection of. Yet, there was recognition in his eyes. The boy knew of him.
-[Nathan]-
I quickly realized that when I'm motivated enough, I can do a lot of things. It was only a matter of apparating to countries I thought I could find Elijah and spreading my senses all around.
After my encounter with Mikael, I have a feel for what original vampires feel like. It didn't take long to track Elijah to a high end cafe in Paris. Not all that surprising but my sudden appearance startled him.
"And who might you be?" Elijah asked, cautious and curious.
"Someone looking for advice from a person with your extended life experience. I'd look for Klaus but I don't think that would be productive." I said, my words catching him by surprise.
It's true, I could have found Klaus a long time ago. I simply put it off so I wouldn't have to feel what I'm currently feeling.
"Intriguing. You know of my family, of my brother, yet you are not afraid." Elijah mused.
"No offense but I don't scare easily. If I thought I was in danger, we wouldn't be having this conversation at all." I murmured, watching his brows rise in what appeared to be interest. "Elijah Mikaelson, the noble brother, the honorable one. I'm just here to talk, and possibly drink myself to stupor."
I discreetly manifested another bottle of whiskey as well as two glasses. Elijah's face was one of pure confusion as they settled on me.
"You're a witch, one of a very high caliber it appears. Tell me, what advice is it that you seek from me?" He asked, quickly composing himself. There was a short pause before I spoke.
"How do you do it?"
"I beg your pardon."
"You're a nigh unkillable immortal vampire, one of the most powerful creatures of this world. You've lived for a thousand years. With all that power and knowledge, what is that one thing that drives you to keep going?" I asked, taking a sip of my drink.
He was visibly processing my words. "That is a complicated question with a simple answer. Though I doubt my answer would help you."
At my urging look, he continued. "Family, that is the basis of my continued existence. My siblings and I shared a bond, always and forever, one that ensured that no matter how much time may pass, we will always be there for one another. Make no mistake, my siblings had their less than favorable aspects but we remained bonded. For a time I believed that my purpose was to be the caretaker, the one who held us together but sometimes, family disappoints."
There was a pause before he continued speaking.
"I cannot give you the answer you're looking for. That is something you must discover for yourself."
"I envy you." I started after a moment, to his confusion. "You claim to have no answer yet you speak with such conviction. You have something you want, a goal you're walking towards. Though it was given by a manner of circumstance, it's still something worth looking forward to. I don't have that."
"All the power in the world and I'm left with the dilemma of indecision, of stagnation. Tell me, how do I truly live when I'm one bad day away from inflicting cataclysm to avoid coming to terms with my own loatheful existence?"
Elijah was silent for a moment, scrutinizing me. "Like I said, I cannot give you any answers lest I lead you astray. I suggest you give yourself time. Take a step back and look from a different perspective. In my experience, you find answers in the place you least expect it."
Is that so? How many other perspectives can a nerd from another world with magical powers have? I could only take another swig of the cup as I reflected on his words.