Chapter 39: Southwestern Winds & New Arrival

Whitlock Ranch TX

[Elżbieta's POV]

Jasper requested information about missing persons along the Texas/Mexican border. I extended my search into New Mexico, Nevada, California and Arizona. I am getting staggering numbers. I don't understand how many people can be missing and no red flags going up in the human law enforcement community.

I extend my search to military weapons testing and/or disposal sites in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. If Maria has that extensive of a 'Cold One' army that I think she is forming: we need to be prepared to use the 'human' means option to take it out. I am looking for ordinance disposal sites and weapons testing sites.

I piggy back on some of the signals going back and forth between weather and other satellites and the computers processing the data: with reference to the southwestern states. I really don't like the data I'm getting back.

I call out, "Jaz you need to see the data. We have a big problem. Maria and her crew are building an army in the hundreds."

[Jasper's POV]

I port into the room with the computers. Elżbieta's data is alarming. I put in the call to have everyone meet here. Charlotte answers her phone. "Angela is in labor. A few of us will have to stay in Mystic Falls. Those that are available will port within the next four hours."

Charlie, Henrik and Rebekah port into the meeting room. "Jaz we will be looking to see if there are any shard fragments in New Mexico. We will be looking for what Maria is really planning. The next thing to check on is how much the Volturi know about this situation and if they have any plans to take care of it." Rebekah contemplates our next steps aloud.

"I want to check on the Leylines and see if there are any dark shards interfering with the hubs in other parts of Texas and Arizona also. We can use the hubs energy to get rid of Maria and her army." Charlie adds to our game plan.

Mystic Falls: Salvatore Boarding House

[Elijah's POV]

Angela has a grip on my hand that if I wasn't an Original I would have broken bones. She insists that I be here for the arrival of my heir. I just wish I could take some of the pain away, but she insisted on a 'natural' birth. She did receive an epidural. I also managed to get her to take a few drops of my blood. Sage is helping her with her breathing and timing her contractions.

Thank god the baby's head is crowning. A few more pushes and I am pulled over to catch my son as he slides into my hands. I look up at Angela with tears in my eyes. I am still in shock over the thought: I am a father. Angela tiredly grins at me "let me see Isaac Sten our son." I place the baby on her chest and hold her up slightly so she can cradle him while Sage takes care of cutting the chord and the afterbirth. She lifts our son out of Angela's arms. "I need to take care of a few things for him and I will hand him back."

Sage looks at us as she places the swaddled baby back in Angela's arms, "I'll give you a few minutes. Then I have to help Angela clean up and prep for nursing this little one." I look up at her silently giving my thanks for her help. She smiles as she leaves the room for a few minutes. I lean down to kiss Angela on her forehead, "Thank you for our little miracle." Angela looks up from our son and smiles at me.

Sage enters the room and hands Isaac over to me. "We need a few minutes to get situated. So you have a little daddy time with him." She smiles at me handing my son over to me along with a diaper bag. "I'll call you back in when Angela is ready for him."

Mystic Falls: Mikaelson Mansion

[Niklaus POV]

Stefan and Vladimir are two of the oldest Cold Ones that I have ever met. They showed up on our doorstep this morning. They are concerned about Maria's army and the talented hybrids and Cold Ones with talent that she is creating.

I pull out my cellphone and warn Charlotte via text: that the members of the family that have the 'Astral' ability need to take shelter in the caves away from prying ears: to check on Maria's army and what strategies do we need to take to defeat her army? Is it possible that Maria has access to Dark Shard magic? Also do we need to include the Volturi in our actions against the army she is building?

A note floats down onto the coffee table in front of me.

We are on it. Freya, Jasper and Elżbieta are working on it too. Good luck with the creepy duo. See you soon.—Charlotte

Whitlock Ranch TX

[Charlie's POV]

We have found four more dark shards: one in New Mexico, Arizona, California and the tip end of Nevada. So we have to neutralize these as our first priority. It will give the family a little more time to gather information on how to defeat Maria's Army. I am uneasy with the appearance of Stefan and Vladimir in Mystic Falls. It means that the Volturi have lost governing control over the Cold Ones. The Volturi should have been monitoring this situation before it got this far out of control. They are the ones that are supposed to take the lead in bringing Maria's Army down. We may have to force them to take action.

I am reviewing Elżbieta's numbers. Maria is a crafty strategist. She is hiding her numbers by having camps in four states. The Volturi have to confront her. I will check with Charlotte and the others with the 'Astral' affinity. We may have to find a way to port 'the Guard' to a central point to draw Maria out for this confrontation. We also need a way to contact other 'Cold Ones' to prepare them for Maria's Army. It's not going to be easy to stay undetected and defeat them without gaining the attention of human law enforcement or the military community. What kind of 'natural' disaster could cover this kind of battle?