Chapter 51: Future Takes Four years into the future
Country Estate near Charlotte NC
[Freya's POV]
"Isa, why are you so calm? Dahlia has Henri!"
"Think about it: Dahlia's magic won't work on him. All of his supernatural friends are always around him. Do you really think she will have a chance to harm him in any way? Besides he has his gift to take on other magical gifts briefly and that will always work in his favor. I expect my son to return home within a few days, if that long." She smiles at me.
I frown deep in thought for a few minutes; then I grin wickedly. "Oh I am so experiencing schadenfreude."
Isa winks at me, "I know, right?"
I nod.
Dahlia's Lair
[Melora Whitefeather's POV]
I motion to Henri. He grins at me and walks over to the white oak tree I am hiding behind. "Quiet, don't say anything." He nods at me.
"I am going to summon all of your Fae friends to join this party." He looks worried for a moment. "All of them will be fine. Dahlia's magic doesn't work on them. They are from a different family of magic." He grins back at me. I will do anything to protect the other half of my soul. Dahlia doesn't know what she has done by taking my Henri away from his family. She needs to be reminded that there are other kinds of magic existing in the world that are more exponentially powerful than hers.
[Dahlia's POV]
Why did I insist on enforcing the first born agreement with every generation was a good idea? Freya is free; some kind of magic is protecting her. The same magic protects Henrik Charles, none of my punishments work. I know this magic is so familiar but I can't channel it. Every time I try to get him to use Expression magic, he laughs at me and breaks one of my dark objects.
The first day he was here all of the stored potion bottles broke, causing an explosion in the potions room. It will take a month with my magic to clean up the mess.
Yesterday there were leprechauns infesting the entirety of my workshop and the woods surrounding my lair. They have set up camp. Whole families have moved in.
Today the roof of my home collapsed, rain soaking whole book cases of my grimoires. It will take weeks to dry them out.
The foundation stones for the channeling circle are cracked and a sugar maple tree is growing in the middle. It looks to be over a hundred years old.
Gnomes are rampant in the garden, refusing to allow me to collect herbal components for my spells.
My spells keep misfiring. I can feel my powers diminishing. The witch spirits on the Other Side are laughing at me.
To hell with the principle of using first born offspring to enhance my magic; I am returning the brat. I will no longer claim the right of the first born. I pick up my cell phone, amazed it is still working. "Kol this is your aunt. I need you to pick up your nephew in Mystic Falls by the graveyard. I will make it worth your while. Meet me there in an hour." I put three of my remaining dark objects and an intact grimoire in a leather satchel.
Graveyard Mystic Falls VA
[Kol's POV]
I refuse Dahlia's offer of the dark objects. I pick up my nephew and hug him: relieved that he wasn't harmed in any way. I promise Henri, "I'll get you home soon."
I look at my Aunt, "Choose a different magical path before darkness consumes you." I place Henri on my shoulders and walk away. Henri's laughter echoes.
Dahlia huffs, "What does he know about magic?"
Six years into the Future
New Orleans Mansion: Downstairs Study
[Caroline's POV]
I am mentally cussing at my physician for prescribing bedrest for the remainder of this pregnancy. My little Nicola Elizabeth isn't making things any easier. I wish she would choose a different rib to kick. I pick up random books scattered on the coffee table. I don't understand why anyone would let Nik read this one.
I call up to Isa who is standing on the landing, "Why did you give Nik that Carnegie book? What the hell are you thinking?"
"He's already read Sun Tzu's The Art of War, and Machiavelli's, The Prince. In order for him to be the king behind the scenes of New Orleans or wherever we end up, he needs hone his manipulation skills." She explains as she walks down the stairs.
"Isa what nefarious plot are you coming up with?" I narrow my eyes suspiciously.
"Niklaus needs to be the arbitrator for the factions. Someone they can eventually trust to keep the balance. He will be the King of New Orleans behind the scenes or whatever factions we encounter in the future. He will feel in power and control of what is happening in his city. In New Orleans, he has the connection to the wolves through Hayley and Hope, the vampires and hybrids through Marcel, the humans through Cami and his witch consultant is Freya, and if needed me for Elven matters. The factions will have someone to vent to, so hostilities don't build up into full out fighting or heaven forbid one faction gets majority control. This premise applies to wherever we settle down. We just have to convince him to work behind the scenes."
I give her a contemplative look. "You are evil. Plotting to keep Nik occupied, so he can't stir up trouble or invite unpleasant ramifications from his current actions."
Isa smiles back at me, "You just now figured that out?"
I stick my tongue out at my sister in law. "We won't be bored with you around at least."
Isa laughs, "I am raising three children: I need to be ahead of the game."
A/N: I am marking this story complete. I want to thank all of you for joining this journey with me. I treasure all of your comments along the way. If you want future takes let me know your ideas and I will see if the characters want to cooperate. Until next time – Mel.
