Hey everyone! I just wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude to all of you who are still hooked on this story and eagerly awaiting the next chapter. Your support means the world to me! I do my best to release a fresh chapter every month, although I wish I could do it more frequently. Unfortunately, my schedule is quite tight, and there are times when I find solace in reading your incredible stories instead of working on my own. Thank you for understanding!
Like always, please leave a comment. Your comments provide the interaction and encouragement that this "author" requires to keep the storytelling going.
Thank you again!
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The midnight-hued waters of the sinkhole glistened in the sun's rays.
Phemonoe glanced at Klaus, her eyes filled with encouragement, and inquired, "Are you ready?" He responded with a small nod.
As her hands reached for the sky, she unleashed a captivating chant that resonated through the cave.
"En to Sofon Munon legestei uk ethelei kai ethelei Zinos Onoma. Nomos ke voulei paithesthe enos. Tafton kosmon ute 'tis theon ute anthropon epiesen, al in aei estin ke estai pir aeizoon aptomenon metra aposvennimenos metra. "
Despite his rusty knowledge of ancient Greek, Klaus was able to grasp words and understand their significance. She was summoning the mighty Zeus and the eternal flame.
"The wise is one only. It is unwilling and willing to be called by the name of Zeus.1
And it is law, too, to obey the counsel of one. 2
This cosmos was not made by gods or men, but always was, and is, and ever shall be ever-living fire."3
Phemonoe's voice reverberated: "All things are composed of fire, and into fire they are again resolved; further, all things come about by destiny, and existent things are brought into harmony by the clash of opposing currents; again, all things are filled with souls and divinities." 4
It was time. Her left hand, previously reaching up towards the sky and the light, now retreated in search of Klaus's hand.
Whatever power the priestess had set in motion made Klaus realize just how small and fleeting his own power truly was. As their eyes meet, his hand hesitantly reaches out for hers. With a gentle tug, she beckons him to join her, leading the way as they step into the cool embrace of the water.
The instant her feet touched the water's surface, the sun's rays ceased to exist as individual streams of light, merging into a singular, blinding glow that enveloped everything around her.
Klaus and Phemonoe glided through the water, their bodies descending further into the depths. A brilliant light emanated from below, setting the still waters ablaze with a blinding glow. The once dark midnight blue hue transformed into a cascade of fiery colors, as orange, red, and gold hues intertwined in a mesmerizing dance.
Klaus suddenly realized that Noe's hand was no longer within his grasp. The oracle's physical form had transformed into a radiant light, merging seamlessly with the ethereal water flame enveloping them. In that moment, he sensed his own supernatural energy beginning to dissipate from his being.
The icy current that once ran through his lifeless veins now made room for the gentle flow of life-giving blood. His heart, beating with renewed vigor, echoed the cadence of a human pulse, occasionally skipping a beat. As he submerged himself in the watery flame, every muscle in his body surrendered to a state of complete relaxation.
As he drifted towards the blazing inferno, he could feel his eyelids growing heavy. Suddenly, an unseen energy infiltrated his thoughts, causing a torrent of memories to surge through his mind like a raging river. The fire seemed to possess an uncanny ability to delve even deeper, unearthing his innermost emotions, fears, and regrets. It was as if the flames had the power to unlock every hidden corner of his soul, leaving him exposed and vulnerable.
Overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the experience, Klaus found himself on the verge of collapse. The relentless invasion showed no signs of relenting; it was determined to strip away every layer of deception and lay bare the truth of his existence. The weight of a thousand years of destruction and chaos bore down upon him, threatening to shatter his very being. Every action, every choice he had made now returned with a vengeance, tearing at his core with an unimaginable force. At that moment, Klaus realized that he could no longer escape the consequences of his past, for they had come back to haunt him with a ferocity that could not be denied.
That was the moment that he heard the echos of Alexis's voice.
"Drink deep, but beware.
What you broke is past repair.
All your oaths you betray, your sacred vows you sever.
And now you see that nothing lasts for always and forever
Three yet remain; two already crossed
Yet in one year's time, you'll all be lost.
As your family is undone
You will seed the beast that is to come."
In a sudden flip of fate, the pieces of the puzzle finally clicked together: Lucien had been in cahoots with the ancestors all along. With their dark assistance, he transformed into an upgraded hybrid, his bite now capable of taking down even an original vampire. His first victim was Finn. While rejecting the man himself, Aurora takes the second serum that Lucien offers. Lucien launched a revenge attack, biting Camille. Klaus felt his heart shatter as she took her final breath in his arms. The ancestors played a cruel trick on Kol, manipulating him into ending Davina's life, only for Elijah and Freya to sacrifice her soul in the ancestral plane to gain the power needed to defeat Lucien. Marcel, consumed by grief for the young witch, drinks the serum Vincent extracted from Aurora's body. Elijah, unable to accept Marcel's threat against the Mikaelson family, kills him, and as the dominoes fall, Marcel emerges as the prophesied monster destined to bring about their downfall. While Marcel attacks Elijah and Kol with his lethal bite, Freya finds herself poisoned, and Rebekah is still suffering the effects of Strix's curse.
Hayley and Hope escape the city with his siblings sealed away in coffins, their lives intertwined with his own, as he is left imprisoned like a savage beast in a shadowy dungeon, subjected to torment by his adopted son. The ominous prophecy coming true: "What you broke is past repair." When the bonds of his family are severed and they are all at their greatest vulnerability, the Hollow will descend upon them with ferocity, unlike anything they have ever faced before. The stage was set for a showdown, where the sins of the past would come back to haunt them all.
Klaus's long course of life was strewn with chaos and death. While he and his siblings were usually the ones on the offensive, the future he foresaw showed a different story—one where they would become the victims. The looming threat of their black-clad enemy left no room for escape for the Mikaelson family. Throughout the span of a millennium, they engaged in a deadly dance with this relentless foe, sacrificing countless lives in exchange for their own survival. Despite their unwavering defiance, death would eventually claim their souls, one by one. As the prophecy is ominously fulfilled, it will give birth to Inadu and seal the fate of the Mikaelson bloodline, leading to their ultimate demise.
Klaus's screams echoed through the air, escaping his lips uncontrollably. The image of Elijah and himself killing each other with the white oak stake. Flashed in his mind. He could feel it as the white oak pierced his heart, causing an indescribable pain that consumed his entire being. With each passing moment, he could feel his life force slowly fading away. As his eyes locked with Elijah's, Klaus watched life slip from his brother's eyes.
And suddenly, darkness enveloped everything. His hands began to feel burned, and another clear image began to appear in his mind. Centuries ago, within the very confines of this temple, his hands clasped onto an age-old locket. The touch of the bronze artifact had ignited an intense burning sensation, yet it was the anguish etched upon the priestess's face as she witnessed his attempt to steal the ancient jewel that inflicted the deepest pain upon him. As swiftly as the burning in his palms had materialized, it vanished, and then a fleeting remembrance of emerald eyes flashed in his mind. An overwhelming burst of blinding light engulfed him, and the next moment, the world around him plunged into complete darkness. The relentless attack on his mind had finally subsided, taking with it any connection he had to the realm of the living.
As the sinkhole transitioned from being bathed in golden light to being illuminated by natural daylight, the sun started to dip below the horizon, casting scarce light into the depths. The once-glistening waters began to darken, and a noticeable chill filled the air as their temperature dropped.
Two figures clad in pristine white garments drifted effortlessly. Phemonoe and Klaus, their bodies seemingly weightless, lay peacefully on the surface. Slowly, the oracle stirred, her eyes fluttering open as she inhaled a long, rejuvenating breath. Her hand reached out, searching for the man who floated beside her.
The remnants of her celestial strength were harnessed to draw Klaus and her own form towards the stone platform. Then everything went dark again.
As Klaus desperately gasped for air, the water that had invaded his lungs seared like fire. Reacting on pure instinct, he swiftly rolled onto his side, expelling every last drop of the suffocating liquid through violent coughs. He had never experienced such overwhelming fatigue before, not even after Elijah removed Papa Tunde's blade from his chest or when Cami pulled out the white oak stake from his heart.
His veins were parched, and his throat scratched with dryness, aching for blood. The insatiable thirst consumed him, causing his inner beast to stir at the pulsing vein within reach. In an instant, his fangs protruded, and his eyes gleamed a menacing yellow. A cry of agony broke free as he struggled to subdue the ravenous famine awakening inside him. Desperately, he reached for his friend's hand, the chill of her icy skin providing the anchor he needed to quell his bloodlust.
Moving slightly, he attuned his senses to the sound of her heartbeat. He seemed to be in a stable state. "It's time to wake up, Noe." His voice came out raspy and parched. He extended his hands to massage her wrists, urging the blood to circulate.
The priestess slowly opened her eyes and saw the man's concerned face hovering over her. "You seem really worried," she remarked softly. A glimmer of relief flashed in his eyes as she spoke, "Don't fret; I'll keep your secret safe." Her voice sounded weak, but a small smile painted her face as she added, "Just promise me we won't have to go through that again."
The hybrid assured, "Reliving that experience is not on my bucket list, love," in a raspy voice, collapsing beside the woman's body, and they both drifted off to sleep. The temperature fluctuation jolted Phemonoe's consciousness, causing her to shake the man beside her. With a stressed tone, she exclaimed, "I hope I don't have to carry you!"
Klaus's eyes flickered open. "I can walk, but I'll need blood soon," he stated in a hoarse voice, lacking his usual playful tone.
Helping each other, they rose to their feet and retraced their steps. Phemonoe effortlessly ignited all the torches lining the tunnel walls with a simple gesture. The warmth emanating from the torches helped alleviate the oppressive humidity, making their movements more fluid. Despite feeling drained, they persevered, pushing through the dense and unsettling atmosphere, driven by the urgency to return before Klaus's thirst for blood became insatiable.
As they stepped back into the comforting embrace of the temple's interior, Noe released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. The crackling fire in the brazier cast a cozy warmth over the room, a welcome relief for both of them. The immediate priority was shedding their soaked wraps, with Noe handing Klaus a large towel and his clothes before excusing herself to change. The hybrid slipped into his pants and t-shirt and laid down on one of the Greek couches positioned around the brazier. His throat burned as his body craved blood.
Noe changed into her morning clothes and returned, holding two cups in her hands. "It's not blood, but it will help you regain some energy," she said, offering the hot drink.
She positioned herself opposite him and delicately raised her cup to her mouth, savoring every sip with voracious gulps. "It's astonishing how fragile my mortal form can be," she mused, her voice filled with a mix of awe and disbelief. "And to think that I've managed to walk back into the temple is truly beyond comprehension."
Despite her human appearance, Noe's body harbored extraordinary powers that strained against its fragile confines. To protect herself, she adorned her form with precious jewels that doubled as protective shields, containing a portion of her formidable strength. Every few decades, she would undergo a reanimation ritual, a necessary process to mend the toll that time took on her mortal vessel. Over time, Phemonoe had mastered the art of living as a human, learning to wield her powers with finesse and avoiding any unnecessary strain on her delicate frame.
But such rituals were always exhausting. Especially when she was meant to be a transport container to unite the everlasting fire with an original vampire. Klaus was much more than that; he was the first hybrid, the strongest supernatural being, had existed for a millennium, and was the product and carrier of the most extraordinary magic.
As the warm elixir began to work and refuel some of her lost strength, she looked up at Klaus. The grey color was starting to leave his skin. But he still looked ill and weak.
She approached him and sat down beside him. Her right hand reached out to his mouth. "My blood, although human, has a trace of my divine essence. It is strong, so try to drink as little as possible." Klaus looked at her and nodded in understanding.
The moment he took her wrist into his mouth, a wave of her scent enveloped his senses. With a swift and precise movement, his fangs punctured the ulnar artery, releasing a surge of her rich, crimson blood. As the liquid essence flowed down his throat, an electrifying sensation coursed through his entire being, awakening a primal energy that surged through every cell. It was an overwhelming wave of power that pushed him to the brink of overload. It was as if he had tapped into an ancient force that pulsed within him.
His fangs retracted very quickly. The blood in her vein was unlike anything he had tasted so far. There was no need for excess; a little more would shatter the euphoria and plunge him into sickness.
He used his tongue to clean the residue from her wrist and cupped her palm with his hand, holding it tightly to stop the bleeding.
"Thank you," he said simply because there wasn't anything else to say. He felt grateful for what Noe had done for him so far. She nodded in understanding.
Klaus brought up the need to discuss the visions he had witnessed in the lake. But Noe had a different opinion. "Let's head back to civilization for this chat. I'm hungry, so how about treating me to dinner? It's the least you can do," she suggested. Her voice seemed steady but weaker than before, and Klaus made the connection between the drink she had and the blood she provided. She tried to keep her voice light and humorous as she said, "And honey, you'll have to carry me to the car; I really can't muster up the strength to walk down 800 meters of a mountainside."
Klaus scooped her up in his arms and vampspeeded them to the car.
He gently placed her on the ground and opened the door for her. Phemonoe got into the passenger seat and fastened her seat belt. "If you don't mind, I'm going to close my eyes for a bit," she said. Klaus grabbed his cell phone and rang up his butler. "Prepare for dinner guests. We'll be arriving in an hour." He instructed before settling in the driver's seat.
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1. Clement of Alexandria, Stromata, V 116, (32), ΕΝ ΤΟ ΣΟΦΟΝ ΜΟΥΝΟΝ ΛΕΓΕΣΘΑΙ ΟΥΚ ΕΘΕΛΕΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΘΕΛΕΙ ΖΗΝΟΣ ΟΝΟΜΑ
2. Clement of Alexandria, Stromata, V 116, (33) ΝΟΜΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΒΟΥΛΗΙ ΠΕΙΘΕΣΘΑΙ ΕΝΟΣ.
Heraclitus B30 Tαύτον κόσμον οὔτε τις θεῶν οὔτε ἀνθρώπων ἐποίησεν, ἀλλ᾽ ἦν ἀεὶ καὶ ἔστιν καὶ ἔσται πῦρ ἀείζωον ἁπτόμενον μέτρα καὶ ἀποσβεννύμενον μέτρα.
Laertius, book IX, (7) ἐκ πυρὸς τὰ πάντα συνεστάναι καὶ εἰς τοῦτο ἀναλύεσθαι· πάντα δὲ γίνεσθαι καθ' εἱμαρμένην καὶ διὰ τῆς ἐναντιοδρομίας ἡρμόσθαι τὰ ὄντα· καὶ πάντα ψυχῶν εἶναι καὶ δαιμόνων πλήρη.