Chapter 35: Arrangements & Contingencies

Whitlock Ranch, Texas

[Damon's POV]

I am watching my wife sleep. Her soft snores are soothing. Bella is almost to the point of giving birth any moment. So any sleep is a good thing. I have my hand on her side. Every now and then one of the babies pokes out a foot or elbow. I lean over to kiss my wife's tummy and get bumped on the nose for my trouble. "Soon, you will have your freedom soon. Just let you mom sleep for a few more hours." I get a soft bump back for my comment. They are going to be feisty like my Bella.

Angela will not be far behind by the looks of her baby bump. Sage is staying with us until after the babies are born. She has delivered several babies over the centuries. Both Elijah and are I staying here with them. Niklaus agreed to stay here with Caroline, since she really wants to be here for the births. The rest of the family drew straws to see who was going to Louisiana.

[Charlie's POV]

I have been dreaming about the Hollow. A specific line of Mediterranean Witch (Travelers) magic created: the first immortals, the doppelgangers and the vampires. Qetsiyah using this type of magic created a dimension called the 'Other Side'. Another line of Witch magic in the Americas created werewolves and birthed the Hollow. The two types of magic were merged when Esther and Ansel produced Niklaus. Over the last thousand years a balance of magic between the factions developed. Proof that these two magical schools are closely related is that werewolves upon death are relegated to the 'Other Side' also. The magic that created the Cold Ones is not part of the equation that I am contemplating. Another entirely different line of Witches created the Cold Ones.

The Hollow absorbs Witch and Werewolf magic becoming more and more powerful. This plane of existence cannot support the Hollow. I am afraid the one person that has all of the three types of magic; witch/werewolf/vampire due to his bloodlines will be sacrificed to end the Hollow. I cannot see how Niklaus will be able to avoid this fate. Caroline is expecting. So their children will be hybrids also. We need to figure out a way to allow Niklaus to confront the Hollow but stay alive for his family. One thing in his favor is that he is a Leylock. I wonder if we can use the amulets blessed by the Guardians for the fight with the Hollow will work with this battle also? I need to make sure Niklaus has one of the amulets. After we neutralize the dark shard fragment we can concentrate on the Hollow. Before we leave for New Orleans I need to have a private chat with Nik.

[Charlotte's POV]

Our team of twelve are headed just south of Thibodaux Louisiana to deal with the 'Dark' shard consists of six representing the witches: Bonnie, Henrik, Freya, Silas, Amara and Jacob. The six representing the Leylocks are: Charlie, Rebekah, Kol, Jasper, Peter and I. We will be close to New Orleans but far enough away to avoid direct contact with the nine covens of New Orleans. Their covens will be busy trying to protect New Orleans from several concurrent events: the rise of 'the Hollow', hurricane Karla in the Gulf of Mexico and the botched Harvest ceremony. If we do encounter any of them we are well represented with witches in our family.

The problem with the shard is that it has blocked Leyline energy at that hub too. There is a lot of Leyline energy there that needs to be utilized. Hopefully we can channel that Leyline energy once the shard is shielded using various schools of magic to contain it. That is the current debate going on within the family.

[Jasper's POV]

Maria has been way to quiet. She is plotting something. Her army keeps increasing. I am not being paranoid, I just know the bitch. She is still hiding from Aro, so I don't think she would do anything to bring attention to her activities. She would need someone powerful and an expert strategist. Stefan and Vladimir are always looking to cause Aro to fail as a leader. Caius wouldn't be that stupid to go up against Aro, not as long as Marcus is there. We are well protected from the Volturi. I just don't want to have to fight a battle with Maria with all the other conflicts going on.

I don't think anyone would want to mess with our family at this stage. Although I am cautious, with two expecting mothers about to give birth we don't need Maria's type of complication. Cold Ones are an arrogant lot. I don't think she would align with witches or regular vampires. Either faction has a deep hatred for Cold Ones.

I pull Charlotte aside. "Maria is probably up to something. I think we need to call a family meeting about moving everyone not going to Louisiana to the shelter of the caverns or to another safer location."

"Go ahead and call a family meeting.

Caverns near the Ranch TX

[Charlie's POV]

The entire family is gathered for this meeting. "We need to discuss 'the Hollow' and the links to magic that culminate in Niklaus. The Werewolves were created through the same magic that created 'the Hollow', witch magic. Niklaus has all three magical heritages flowing in his 'blood': Witch, Werewolf and Vampire. He will be the prime target of 'the Hollow'. This will also give him the ability to destroy 'the Hollow' once and for all. Something 'the Hollow' isn't counting on is Nik is a Leylock, a kind of magic that is immune to 'her' magic. Confronting 'the Hollow' will take all of us and our talents to neutral this evil once and for all. I have a hunch that we will not be the only schools of magic working for this elimination. I would like everyone with the 'Astral' talent to see what steps we need to do to insure Niklaus safety and the steps needed to banish 'the Hollow' permanently. I am also concerned that Caroline being pregnant at this time and her twins can be a possible target of 'the Hollow' also."

[Caroline's POV]

Jasper asks, "Who is going to relocate while the rest of the family splits up to deal with the Dark shard? Maria is building up a Cold One army; she has sent spies to our location. None of them have been able to report back to her so far. I don't feel that it is safe here for our expectant mothers with part of the family being away in Louisiana. Please raise your hands if you don't plan to join us on our trip to diffuse the Dark shard?"

Niklaus, Elijah, Angela, Bella, Sage, Elżbieta, Finn, Sarah, Enzo, Damon and I raise our hands. "Can we just move to one of the families holdings in another state temporarily and then we can meet up again after the Dark shard is diffused?"

Nik speaks up, "We have a Chalet in Switzerland; it is large enough to accommodate everyone. We can just port there and meet up with everyone in Mystic Falls after the Dark shard is neutralized. It will be close to New Orleans but not directly in the line of fire as far as 'the Hollow' is concerned."

"I will call Stefan and let him know family will be back in Mystic Falls and get him to prepare the rooms for us, after the meeting." Damon responds.

"Please form a circle and hold hands: we need to channel our energy to determine what is going on with the Dark shard and what we need to do to help diffuse the storm off the coast of Louisiana." Charlotte requests.

The Dark shard is the main source of dark energy that is generating hurricane Karla. It is another source of dissonance for the failed 'Harvest' ritual of the New Orleans covens. The Hollow is pulling energy from the Dark shard to enslave the children of the witches for her own twisted purpose. The Strix dark coven is also pulling energy from the shard for their magic as well.

I blink after that information is loaded into my brain. "I can see why it is imperative for us to limit the Dark shards power now."

Charlie passes out amulets for everyone that will be working Leylock energy to diffuse the Dark shard. "These are needed for our current task. Niklaus when we return to the Salvatore Boarding House. I am going to give you my amulet until we can defeat the Hollow. I feel that you will need its protection." Nik nods back.

I see a glimmer of tears in Nik's eyes. I walk over and pull him into a hug. He hugs me back. We don't say a word. I think he is finally feeling like he is a part of a family: a very large eccentric one.

Jasper calls an end to the meeting and everyone ports back to the Hacienda to gather a few things before porting to Switzerland and Louisiana.