It was the day of the Unification ritual and everyone was on edge, Elena had informed the siblings of her plan and they managed to figure out a fail proof way of doing it; it was going to be a lot of work and she would need help from Davina but they should be able to do it. But first, they had to complete the unification ritual to restore the balance to an almost perfect equilibrium, the destruction of the Soul Eaters being the last step in restoring all steadiness.
The vampires and witches had been at the compound all morning preparing for the ritual, Elena was working with Davina and Kimberly to gather the necessary ingredients, study the spell and perfect everything. The biggest task was finding an ancient item to bind the spell, they couldn't use Celeste's necklace as that was used by Elena to channel the magic she needs to complete the spell, if the witches had anything then they weren't sharing and Elijah was all out of trinkets. Davina was charged with that task whilst Elena got to work on charming protective spells and putting in place a lot of offensive and defensive charms in the compound.
It was a lot of work.
So far, she had enhanced the barrier charm on the compound to stretch further out and make it almost impenetrable, there was many protective charms and blessings on different items scattered around the floors and she was in the process of a spelling a crystal to reflect all magic that would hit the barrier.
She was in Davina's study with a bunch of mystical aids and a spell book on the table in front of her, she had the crystal in the centre of a salt circle and candles scattered about, along with natural items such as herbs and a item that represented the elements, a small amount of her blood trickled on the crystal and she was wearing Celeste's necklace.
Rebekah had entered the study to check in on her, she stood on the opposite side of the table and watched as she performed the spell with ease.
"You're really getting the hang of your magic, aren't you?" She asked, a small smile curling up on her lips, "I still can't believe you're a witch, the same girl from Mystic Falls who had vampires on every shoulder, now doesn't need the protection."
The crystal began to levitate as she mumbled a chant under her breath, her hand hovered around it and a small light emerged from it before it fell back into the centre of the table, "I've definitely come a long way since Mystic Falls and I couldn't have done any of it with you or your family."
"Our family, Elena," she corrected, rubbing her hand along the top of her arm, "you're one of us, luv, always will be. In fact, you're the bloody best of us, you've changed us so much for the better that I couldn't imagine our family without you now."
"The feeling is mutual, Bekah, I've changed so much since I've been with you all and I'm actually in a place where I'm truly happy," she pulled the original vampire into a warm embrace.
"As are we," they released each other from their hug and Elena picked up the crystal, her and Rebekah returned to the courtyard and joined with the others; Kol had been working with Davina on finding a relic and Elena liked seeing them together, she seemed to make Kol happy.
Klaus and Elijah were strategising with Marcel and the vampires to concoct a plan to keep the compound safe and Rebekah was about to help Elena with the ritual spell but first, she had to get the charm in place. Holding the crystal in between her two palms, she slowly separated them and it began to hover, as she slowly lifted her hands, it went to the centre of the room just below the ceiling and it stuck in place. It spinning continuously indicated the spell was done correctly and activated.
"All done, if anyone tries to throw fire or dark energy balls then they'll get it right back," she walked over to the alter Kimberly and Anna were preparing and started to help, "what can we do?"
"The last step is to integrate the elemental items, we need to boil the holy water, light the sage in a small fire, bless the soil and trap a blast of pure air, once they've all been completed, they will activate and be ready for the ritual in a few hours," Elena nodded at her words and began doing the necessary steps, starting with the sage.
"So, the full moon tonight, I have a bad feeling about the Soul Eaters attacking," She spoke to Rebekah as she put the tied up bunch of sage into a bowl and held her hand over it, instantly lighting it in a small fire.
"Hopefully there's enough magic in here to stop them getting through, at least until we can complete the ritual," Rebekah removed the flaming bowl and put it aside on the table, she grabbed another one that was filled with earth and gave it to Elena.
"I hope so, there should be enough vampires to keep them in check and ensure no locals or tourists come near the compound until after the spell is complete," she said, as she picked up the bowl of earth and held it in two hands; she began to say a small prayer of blessing, her magic swirling the dirt slowly in a circular motion until it was finished.
"And Klaus' hybrids will be keeping an eye out, hopefully the ritual keeps them distracted and they avoid the bayou tonight, werewolves are our natural enemy but I wouldn't wish death upon them," she said as she continued to help with the spells, she took the blessed earth and put in on the opposite side of the table to the sage, moving the water to her centre and Elena began to spell it.
"I've done everything I possibly can to protect them against an attack, the crystals protect the houses, the talismans will put up a barrier whilst they are in wolf form and after tonight, once I know the unification is complete, I'll spell them moonlight rings so they'll possess their wolf powers at all times and be able to control their change during the full moon, they'll be safe," Elena spoke before focusing her mind onto the bowl of water, she waved her hand across the top of the bowl and it began to slowly start to simmer.
"Are you sure that's a good idea, 'Lena? They'll be strong, they could plot against us," Rebekah argued as she watched the water slowly come to a rolling boil and Elena ended the spell.
"Definitely, we would have a stronger allies within the packs, we wouldn't have to worry about them in wolf form and I can de-spell them just as quick," she said as she picked up the empty jar, her magic starting again and focusing on the air surrounding it, a mini tornardo started at the opening of the jar and swirled inside, the spell broken when she trapped it with the lid.
"I guess, it can't hurt, I suppose," she shrugged her shoulders lightly and watched as Elena placed the jar on the 4th corner of the salt circle, integrating the elements and sealing their power, ready to be channelled.
"The ritual is ready," she said with an accomplished smile and relief in her tone of voice; they went to join with Marcel, Klaus and Elijah, checking in on their progress with the strategising.
"How's it going?" Rebekah said as her and Elena sat down on the bench against the wall and turning their attention the guys.
"Almost done, I'm pretty confident in my guys to follow through but almighty hybrid here doesn't trust anybody and thinks they'll fail," Marcel sniped at Klaus, the pair of them shooting daggers at each other.
"My hybrids will serve best, they are sired to me and have to follow every order I give them, your vampires can be killed far easier and they will flee the second it becomes to hard, the hybrids should lead the attack," Klaus argued, much to Marcel's dismay; Elijah just rolled his eyes slightly at there incessant bickering and wondered how they ever get anything done.
"I agree with Klaus," Elena shrugged her shoulders and all eyes shot to her, "well, the hybrids are stronger and they have to obey, the vampires should want to listen to them, it's not exactly the same as facing a few witches, these have dark magic beyond measure and can kill within seconds."
"Agreed," Elijah and Rebekah said simultaneously, anything to put this disagreement to bed.
"And if your vampires are as loyal as they say they are, they'll follow your command to listen to my hybrids," Klaus finalised, he always had to get the last word in, even at the annoyance of others.
"Fine, I'll tell them the plan, get your hybrids here, we'll go over the strategy," Marcel spoke disapprovingly, his patience was tested and he left the group with a sour mood.
"He'll be fine soon, he's just worried about tonight," Elena said, before standing from the chair and going to his liquor cabinet beside the bench; she took out five glasses and poured a shot of bourbon for each of them, Kol appearing the second he heard the top pop.
"How do you know that?" Rebekah said as Elena began to hand out the glasses.
"I can feel his worry, I can feel all of you, remember?" She said with a small smirk, in reality, she hated that she could feel everyone's emotions, it felt like an invasion of privacy she could barely control on a good day and it took a toll on her, especially in crowded places if she wasn't constantly keeping it in check.
"Have I mentioned how delightful your gift is?" Klaus remarked with a tone filled with sarcasm; he took the glass from Elena and instantly downed it, she rolled her eyes slightly and poured him another one.
"I didn't ask for it," she defended herself, taking a small sip of her drink, "it's not like I enjoy feeling every single emotion from the most dysfunctional and mentally unstable hybrid in the family."
"Touché," he held out his glass towards her and she chuckled lightly, before clinking her glass against his and everyone joined in, holding their glasses against each other, "always and forever."
They repeated the vow that made their family unbreakable and tapped the glasses against each other, the clinking sound radiating across the entire compound and they all knocked back the shots.
A few hours had passed and the evening was drawing near, Elena and the siblings had remained sat at the bench with the bottle of liquor and Marcel and Davina had joined them. Everything was prepared, all that was left was to be together before they kicked up the storm and the Soul Eaters would attack.
They were talking, laughing and joking as they attempted to mask their anguish and concern at the upcoming ritual; the fear only heightening as they began to see the moon rise slowly in the sky, Elena took a deep breath and they all fell into a group embrace before it was time to start getting ready.
The werewolves from the packs that hadn't activated their curse began to walk through the compound gates and Elena quickly welcomed them, offering them food and drink that had been prepared by Marcel's vampires and they took themselves off to another part of the room. They seemed nervous, Elena had ensured their safety to the pack leaders but they where hardly ever around vampires and it was all new to them, not to mention the heightened feelings of the full moon getting to them, she thought it best to leave them be.
The witches followed next, they where dressed in formal witch robes and geared with mystical items that would enhance their power and protection; Davina was instantly beside her and Kimberly and she smiled as the leader witch held a chalice out towards her, "this would bind the spell and act as the symbol of our unification."
"Thank you," she said, before scurrying off to the altar table and placing it in the centre; Elena welcomed each of the leaders and the witches within their covens and walked with them over to the ritual place.
"Everything is ready," Elena smiled kindly, feeling completely proud and overwhelmed by the peace in the room; she was standing in circle with the leaders and Davina had joined them, they could all feel the power from within each other and they channelled each other.
Kimberly looked out of the window and the room surrounding her before completely changing her expression, "The moon is almost at its apex, we should begin."