Chapter 22: Dealing with Witches

Mystic Falls: Salvatore Boarding House

[Rebekah's POV]

I notice Charlie standing by the door. He watches everyone interact with each other. He hardly says anything. When he does speak it's with purpose and succinct. I really want to know what he is thinking. I walk over to him. "What do you see when you watch this group?"

He looks at me and nods to the breakfast table. "I see the bonds of family trying to reassert themselves. Your family is tentative due to the crimes done in the past. The lies are still keeping you from being a functional family. I see there is a strong bond of love between you even though you have differences with one another. It will take work and concessions for your family to be truly reunited. Each of you will have to accept new members into the family and one 'older' member, for everyone to heal."

I look over at the room trying to see it from his point of view. I sigh. "You are telling me to be patient, let go of my anger and then go with the flow?"

"That sums it up nicely. Why does my opinion matter to you?"

"I'm not fully sure of all of the reasons. Some of them are: you are truthful, observant of other people's behavior, you don't make hasty decisions and you are patient, not acting until you are sure what you need to do. The reason that matters is I trust you."

He nods at me, "I can work with that. Anything else you would like to know?"

I smile up at him, "not at the moment." I stand by his side watching my family interact at the breakfast table and try to see it from his perspective.

[Freya's POV]

"Damon, I think there is more going on here than just Silas, Esther and Mikael. This place is steeped in magic. Most of Mystic Falls has a dark feel to the magic here. The Witches only acknowledge Vampires, Immortals, Werewolves and Doppelgangers as supernaturals. All of which are tied together through specific magical acts by witches that created them. They fail to take into account other schools of magic. Leylock is only one example. If we can discover the source of this 'darkness' we can overcome the mistakes of the past and create a better place to live for all of us." Damon looks at her with his brow furrowed.

[Damon's POV]

"Is it possible that other schools of magic are cloaked here or deliberately 'spelled' not to be active here? This is getting way too far into conspiracy theory territory." Damon runs his hands through his hair and looks at Bella. "I am so tempted to take you and run."

She looks up at him, "if not for family, I would let you."

He glances up to the rest of the family gathered around the table. "Bella and I are expecting our first child. I just ask that we keep this information restricted to the 'family' here in the house currently.

Everyone acknowledges my request for discretion affirmatively.

"I will inform Stefan about our newest edition to the family later. I propose to let him in on the Leylock secret once he experiences it for himself." He glances significantly at Pete.

"Hey what did I do?" Pete looks around at all of us laughing at him.

Charlotte looks at him, "it's not what you did but what you will do."

[Elijah's POV]

Everyone sobers up when I point out, "The dark magic here would have to be very old magic, older than Silas. Damon your theory has some merit. I can contact some of my associates in Europe and see if they know of anything about the magic here in the Southeastern part of the U.S."

[Elżbieta's POV]

"I haven't come across anything in my research. I can dig deeper, if you think it will help us."

[Sage's POV]

"I will check with my friends in the orient. They are more familiar with other types of magic." Finn squeezes her hand in support.

[Niklaus POV]

I see why my family is so enamored with Leylock magic. This school of magic is not tied to the witchcraft practiced by my Mother. It is not tied down to spell books, ingredients and chanting. I really want to get together with them and explore options of what we can do. "I like the thought of being able to bring Henrik back to us and permanently bind Esther and Mikael to the 'Other Side'. Do we have any more information about how we can accomplish this goal?"

[Kol's POV]

"Nik we are working on it. I think we need to visit the caves here in Mystic Falls again and add protection runes next to ours for our newest family members. I have a feeling we will need all the help we can get."

[Damon's POV]

"The witches have spelled the caves to prevent entry by vampires. I think they wanted to hide the history of the Originals."

[Niklaus POV]

"I would bet Esther had something to do with that." Everyone looks up when the front door opens.

[Stefan's POV]

Damon looks up at me, "Care for some breakfast brother? There is plenty to go around. Since you have decided to join us I would like to introduce our guests: Elżbieta, Charlie, Finn, Sage, and Angela. They are all new faces to you." I nod to all of the folks at the dining room table, "Good morning, welcome to our home."

I hide my surprise that Jasper, Charlotte and Peter are not 'cold ones' anymore. I don't know what magic changed them. I'm not sure I want to know, magic that powerful is dangerous.

I join them at the table for breakfast. I am not going to rock this boat. I really hope Damon knows what he is doing.

[Esther's POV]

Who is the new woman in Elijah's life, Niklaus is seen with a blond woman, and a redhead is with Finn? Since when have they decided to include others that are not 'family'.

My spells are not working correctly. Something or someone is interfering. I will take care of them as soon as I release Mikael. I still need doppelganger blood for those spells. Since Niklaus has removed his curse maybe he has some stashed in the Mansion.

Niklaus needs to answer to me. I walk up to the Salvatore Boarding House and demand: "Niklaus show yourself. We need to talk." He opens the door and the rest of the family is standing behind him. "Hello mother."

"Niklaus, why is everyone staying here and not at the Mansion?"

The blond woman steps in front of him. I can sense another powerful witch.

"Niklaus and family are staying with me. I am Freya the daughter you gave away to Dahlia. My family have decided to join me the eldest sibling instead of dealing with you."

"You gave me away because it was the price to cure your infertility. You changed my brothers and sister into the 'Original Vampires' due to Mikael's demands. You are nothing but a blight to this family. You only bring darkness into the lives of the people you claim to love. Go away we do not need or want you. Heed this warning we are protected by a different kind of magic. We will not hesitate to use it against you if need be."

Every one of her children turn their backs to her and enter the house closing the door behind them.

[Kol's POV]

After Freya confronts our mother, I port everyone to the cave that contains our protection runes. Freya and I along with Damon, Bella, Charlie, Sage, Elżbieta, Jasper, Charlotte and Peter use our Leylock affinities to add protection runes for our newest family members.

Freya adds a witch spell cleansing agent to Mikael and Esther's runes. "This will help block some of the negative energy that they generate."

[Bonnie's POV]

My phone chimes with Stefan's number. "Hey, what can I do for you?"

"I want to warn you that the 'Originals' are staying with Damon. I think that Freya one of the members there is a practicing witch. Don't go over there unless you need to. Caroline isn't invited back there. Damon's wife banned her from the house for taking Damon's possessions without permission and being disrespectful."

"Thanks for the information and the warning." He disconnects the call.