Chapter 24: Ounce of Prevention

Mystic Falls High School

[Kol's POV]

It's a clear Monday morning, Henrik, Angela and Bella exit the Escalade getting their backpacks out from the back when Bonnie walks up to Henrik, in her cheerleading outfit. "Henrik have you tried out for track?"

Henri blinks; I lean over and whisper in his ear, "Browse on Track and Field Sports. She wants you to spend time with you after school between her cheerleading responsibilities." He grins back at me. "See you later Kol, thanks."

I am keeping a close eye on them. Esther or Dahlia could show up at any time. I really hope we can do something about our families' two egocentric witches. I wouldn't put it past either one of them with having plans to snatch Angela and/or Bella to use against us. I will be watching the school today, from the roof. I can hook into the schools internet and view their security cams from my laptop. I really like the new 'human' gadgets we can use now. I also check my protection amulet that Freya and Charlie spelled for me. It will prevent me from being magically detected while I keep watch over the younger members of our family. It also has some other handy spells on it too.

[Bella's POV]

Angela giggles at the reaction I'm getting due to my 'makeover'. One jock walked into a closed class door. Caroline's jaw dropped in shock. I slightly take offense at that reaction. I didn't dress badly before. At least I haven't been wearing any of my standard Fork's outfits. Bonnie glances over at me. "Bella you're looking good today," she smiles.

I nod, "Thanks Bonnie."

I am wearing the outfit Rebekah picked out for me today: a long sleeved black silk form fitting dress with a cowl neck with an attached slightly flared burgundy skirt starting at my hip ending just above my knees. It hugs my curves in all the right places according to Damon. Both he and Bekah made sure that I wore burgundy colored fish net hose and knee high black boots to complete the outfit. They want others to notice my 'makeover'. Damon just wants to ruffle Caroline's feathers, due to her clothes comment when I met her at the Grille. I am wearing the new amulet on a gold chain that Freya gave me this morning. It is my only seen accessory. I have my wedding ring that has lapis lazuli as one of its stones that was spelled by Freya worn on a chain under my dress. So I have two forms of 'magical' protection on, so does Angela and Henri.

[Esther's POV]

I have been watching Kol and my other children for a few days now. Henrik is back from the other side. I'm not sure what magic they used to bring him back. Dahlia is somewhere in Mystic Falls. I need a distraction so I can grab one of the girls Kol drove to school today. I have been posing as the school nurse for the last few days. I have to be in uniform it helps as a disguise, fortunately no one has needed the nurses' services.

I know the layout of the school now and I was able to formulate a plan to get the girl. Members of the schools janitorial staff like to talk about their jobs. It only takes a question here and there to figure out what are some of the systems weaknesses are. It will be easy to take out their electronics by taking out the main transformer to the school. It will create the distraction I need. The time it takes for for the backup generator to kick in I will have grabbed the girl.

They will be distracted by the track meet today. Henrik tried out and got a spot to run the 3K race this afternoon. I can grab the girl then while he is running in the race and my children are distracted.

[Angela's POV]

Bella and I walk into the entrance to the women's bathroom on the lower level of the stadium. We decided to use the facilities before it starts to get crowded. Just after we enter the bathroom the lights flicker and go dark. I turn around to say something to Bella and she is gone. I pull out my cellphone and press Damon's icon. "Damon someone grabbed Bella. I am in the women's bathroom on the lower right side of the stadium. She was right behind me when the lights went out."

"Thanks Angela! I will find her."

I exit the restroom, hurrying to find out what happened. I catch the scent of Dahlias and feel faint.

[Kol's POV]

"Damn, Esther pulled a fast one on me. I caught her scent after she grabbed the girls. Blowing out the schools transformer is a human move that I wasn't expecting. "Freya, Esther got the girls."

"She wasn't the only one. She got Bella and Dahlia got Angela. Angela is in the cave with the runes. Dahlia didn't hurt her. Don't confront her on your own. Everyone should be there within the hour. She won't hurt Angela. She is just puzzled that Angela isn't a witch. She wants to get Esther's attention. That is the only reason why she nabbed Angela. She knows Angela is a magical being just not what type. That will keep her safe from anything Dahlia would want to do."

"I'll meet you and the rest of the family at the entrance to the cave."

Mystic Falls: Mikaelson Mansion

[Freya's POV]

The amulets are working as intended. Esther grabbed Bella and Dahlia snatched Angela. I concentrate on my amulet. Esther has taken her to the burned out mansion on the Maxwell property. I concentrate again: Dahlia and Angela are underground caverns near the Cave of Runes. I grab my cell phone. "Damon, Esther has taken Bella to the old Maxwell mansion. I am on my way there." I grab my car keys as I wait for Kol to pick up. "Dahlia is headed to the cave with our runes with Angela. She is setting a trap for Esther. Don't go into the cave. This scenario between the sisters needs to play out, with a few surprises of our own."

Kol sounds frustrated, "I will stay out of the cave as long as Dahlia doesn't do anything drastic."

"Angela is protected. Dahlia will be baffled, which will work in our favor. Bella was snatched also. Esther has her at the Maxwell plantation. The witches there will not be happy. Bella is not a witch. I am headed there to confront Esther. She is the more unstable of the sisters. Damon is blocked from going in, I'm not."

Old Maxwell Plantation

Damon is sitting on the hood of his car staring at the burned out Mansion. "This is as far as I can get to Bella."

"She will be fine. Esther managed to piss off all the witches in the mansion by bringing a non-witch into their abode. They won't help my mother. Let me go talk to the ghosts. I think they will help me contain Esther, so we can take her to the Cave of Runes."

He tilts his head. "You have something planned?"

"It is time for the two sisters to be dealt with. This familial 'war' has to be stopped."

[Bella's POV]

I wake up on a cold hard floor in a burned out building. I hear whispers. I think I'm at the 'old' Maxwell Plantation house that Damon told me stories about. There is an older woman pacing back and forth muttering back at the voices. "How was I supposed to know she isn't a witch? She has magic in her blood."

I pretend to be still asleep. The faint female voices are telling Esther to take me and leave. They don't want her to come back here. She has broken their rules. I hear someone coming down the steps.

"Esther, you have messed with the wrong people."

Esther's eyes widen as she looks at my rescuer. Freya is pissed.

"Freya!"

"Hello mother, you just kidnapped your great granddaughter a few generations removed. Yes, she has magic in her blood and it is much stronger than any witches. Dahlia is back. It's time for the both of you to deal with your issues, without involving anyone else."

"I created the vampires, they must all be destroyed. You can't stop me!"

"Vampires have a place in this world; just as witches do. They serve the greater good in their own way. The natural order has adapted to their existence over the last thousand years. You have failed to adapt, due to your inattention to what is going on in the world as you slept. You were too obsessed with your 'mission' that you did not witness the changes to our planet. There are seven billion humans alive today. Your little crusade would be detrimental to the current balance."

"Dahlia is looking for you. She is in the cave with our family runes waiting for you. Your sins are catching up with you mother."

I walk over to Bella and help her to her feet. I port us back to where Damon's car is parked. Damon turns and rushes over to where we are. He takes Bella into his arms. He is checking her over for any injuries. She smiles at him. "I'm fine. I am still a little woozy from whatever drug Esther jabbed into me."

He glances back at me. "Thank you for bringing her out of there."

"You are welcome. I need to port Esther to the cave with our Runes. Bella I will need for you to be there in about an hour. Your magic will be needed to neutralize the sisters."

Bella nods. "We will be there." Damon helps her into the car. I know he isn't happy with what Bella needs to do, but her magic will be needed to contain the sisters.

I pull my phone out of my pocket. "Charlie we need to meet at the cave with our families runes in about an hour. Can you call Elijah; he will get the rest of the family there too?" Charlie confirms he will be there with the rest of the family.