Sweat glistened on Maya's skin under the mage lights in the ceiling of the training room, and her movements were slower and more laboured than usual. She was still tired from the intense spellwork the day before. But not tired enough to calm her still volatile emotions; the memory of Damon and how close to death he had been the night before, combined with not knowing what was happening or if her family were safe, constantly pushed them into turmoil. Takeshi seemed to be attempting to push her until she was too exhausted to move, or he was trying to keep her occupied enough not to stress out and blow up the room.

She had sparred several times with Takeshi, practicing with all the weapons he had taught her to use so far, before he'd shifted her onto the training dummies and instructed her to practice her kicks and punches while he watched on, offering the occasional correction. With fierce determination in her eyes, she unleashed a flurry of powerful punches and precise kicks, each strike landing with a resounding thud that reverberated through the gym.

Her muscles rippled with each movement, the controlled power and grace evident in every strike. The sound of her fists and feet connecting with the padded dummies created a rhythm, a testament to her relentless energy and focus.

"You're telegraphing your moves. Stop putting as much weight on your feet right before you kick," Takeshi called from where he was standing. "Remember, if you're in your head, you're not in the fight."

As Maya continued her relentless assault on the dummies, the gym door creaked open. Caroline and Tyler stepped inside, pausing at the entrance, and taking in the scene before them. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and the sound of exertion. Their eyes were drawn to Maya, her movements a blur of controlled violence, each strike executed with deadly precision. They both knew Maya had been learning different martial arts for the last two years, but it was still shocking to them to see the usually cheerful fourteen-year-old wailing on a training dummy so hard that the wood was creaking.

Takeshi turned his gaze from Maya to the two of them, giving a nod of acknowledgment.

"Okay. Take a break, Maya. Five minutes of warm-down stretches, then get a drink and something to eat before we start practicing the forms with the naginata again."

Maya sent one last temper-fuelled kick at the dummy before nodding and following his instructions. She sent a glance over at Caroline and Tyler, clearly desperate to know what was happening at home, but she knew better than to not follow Takeshi's directions.

The two of them spoke quietly to Takeshi for a moment as she began by stretching her arms above her head, handing him a note that he quickly perused before nodding, saying something else and inclining his head in her direction. The two of them wandered over, worry in their eyes.

"Hey, Cosmo," Caroline greeted, trying to infuse some warmth into her voice despite the underlying tension.

"Do you know what's happening back home? Is everyone okay?" Maya demanded, continuing to stretch out her tired and slightly sore muscles.

Caroline exchanged a look with Tyler before answering. "Everyone's working on it. They have a plan to deal with John Gilbert and the Council. They've got a lot of help, and we're to stay here and out of the way until it's resolved."

Maya jutted her jaw out stubbornly.

"I could help," she insisted.

"Not with this one," Tyler replied, shaking his head. "It's too dangerous."

"It's not just you, Cosmo," Caroline added, seeing the mounting protest in her eyes. "We're not allowed to help either. We've both been told to stay here till it's resolved. Bonnie too, if it's not ended before she finishes classes for the day."

Maya's eyes flashed with frustration.

"But I can do something! I can fight, I can use my magic."

Caroline pulled her into a hug, which was quickly joined by Tyler.

"I know you want to help. We want to help too, but if everyone's too busy worrying about us, they'll be distracted and they could get hurt, or worse."

"They need to know we're safe, you're safe." Tyler added, "That way they can do what needs to be done."

Takeshi rejoined them, handing Maya a bottle of water.

"Alright, enough of a break. Let's get back to it."

Maya nodded, taking a long drink of water before shaking out her limbs, and going to fetch her naginata from the weapons rack against the wall.

You two want to learn or just watch?" Takeshi asked Caroline and Tyler.

They exchanged glances again, before Tyler shrugged.

"Sure, why not?"

Caroline groaned but nodded, knowing he'd never let her live it down if she refused. Takeshi smirked, and led them over to the same weapons rack, picking out a naginata for each of them, before lifting his own out.

"Alright then, this is the first form." He instructed, moving the polearm slowly so that they could follow along.

Maya's movements, despite her fatigue, were smooth and precise in comparison to theirs. Being a vampire and a werewolf didn't automatically give you martial arts knowledge or good fighting techniques, despite what the makers of 'Buffy the vampire Slayer' seemed to think.

Rebekah wasn't sure how she'd ended up being the one to stay behind with their unconscious mother while her siblings went off to put their risky plan into action, but she knew she didn't like it. She paced up and down the room, telling herself it was anger that made her do so, and not worry. Himiko, lounging casually—or at least making it appear so—in a chair by the window, watched her pace without saying a word.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows, the slow traversing of the sun across the sky marking the passing of time. Esther lay motionless on the bed, her breathing shallow but steady. Rebekah glanced at her mother's still form, frustration bubbling inside her.

"I should be out there," she muttered to herself, her voice echoing softly in the quiet room. "I should be helping them, not babysitting."

She shook her head and stopped pacing for a moment, looking out the window and checking the position of the sun. Her instructions were clear: if she hadn't heard from her siblings before the sun began to set, she was to take their mother and go to the Academy with Himiko. She didn't like it, but she would do it. No way would she let Maya grow up alone if the worst happened to the rest of the family.

Himiko finally spoke, her voice calm and measured.

"You're not just babysitting, Rebekah. You're ensuring that if things go wrong, there will still be someone there for Maya. That she will still have family."

Rebekah sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly.

"I know. It just feels... wrong. Sitting here, waiting."

Himiko nodded, understanding.

"Patience is one of the hardest things to practice, especially when loved ones are in danger. But sometimes, it's the most important thing we can do."

Rebekah resumed her pacing, her mind racing with what-ifs. The minutes ticked by the room filled with the quiet sounds of Esther's breathing and Rebekah's restless footsteps. The sun continued its slow journey across the sky, each passing moment heightening Rebekah's anxiety.

Finally, unable to contain her frustration any longer, Rebekah turned to Himiko.

"How can you be so calm?"

Himiko shrugged slightly, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Years of practice. And a belief that worrying doesn't change the outcome. It just makes the waiting harder."

Rebekah opened her mouth to retort but was interrupted by a faint groan from the bed. She rushed over, her heart pounding.

"Mother?"

Esther's eyelids fluttered, and she let out another faint groan. Rebekah gently took her mother's hand, leaning in closer.

"Mother, can you hear me?"

Esther's eyes slowly opened, and she looked up at Rebekah with a weak, but relieved expression.

"Rebekah?" she whispered; her voice barely audible.

Rebekah heard Himiko moving but didn't look over to see what she was doing, keeping her attention on her mother. Emotions surged through her – relief, anger, fear, sorrow – despite knowing her mother had been used and controlled by Lillith these past few weeks it was hard to set aside the past thousand years and the anger that had built up from what she had done to them all that time ago.

"Mother just rest for a moment."

Esther shook her head, trying to push herself up.

"No, I need to help… You're in danger, all of you."

Rebekah gently pressed her mother back against the pillows.

"They're handling it, Mother. They have a plan."

"John Gilbert has a white oak stake."

Despite Elijah's conjecture as to that possibility, Rebekah hadn't allowed herself to think of it, but hearing her mother say the words out loud, sent a jolt of terror through her veins.

"They have –"

"Rebekah listen." Her mother said sternly, in a tone she remembered well from her childhood, when mother used that tone, you did as you were told without argument. "They both wanted him to be difficult to kill, I couldn't tie his life to the white oak like I did for you and your siblings, but there had to be a loophole, a way to kill him."

"Yes, we know, Kol and Elijah surmised as much."

"They thought I would tie his life to Lillith, she didn't seem to realise I had a small amount of freedom, I couldn't go against her directly, but I had some leeway to act for myself, she never realised, not even after the Ball."

"What are you saying?"

"I linked John Gilbert to the doppelganger. If she dies, so will he."

Kol and Klaus both did a quick investigation of the cattle ranch they suspected the Council to be holed up on. The ranch stretched out before them, a sprawling expanse of rugged land dotted with clusters of trees and vast, open fields. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows, giving the area an eerie, almost haunted feel. Liz had been the one who'd directed them here, mentioning an Emergency Plan the Council had devised in case the town became inundated by vampires, just as it had in 1864. The ranch had been chosen for its remote location, far from prying eyes, yet still close enough to the town for the Council to act swiftly if needed.

The two of them made sure to remain undetected for the moment, merely trying to gauge how many people were present and if John Gilbert was among them, before returning to Aradia and the others. They moved like shadows, their footsteps silent on the dusty ground, eyes sharp and ears keen.

"I counted twelve heartbeats inside the house," Kol stated quietly, his voice barely more than a whisper as they crouched behind a thicket.

"There are four vampires inside the barn, and eight human heartbeats," Klaus added, his tone equally hushed. "Two belong to those standing guard outside; the other six are inside."

The barn loomed in the distance, a weathered structure with peeling paint and sagging doors, its windows dark and foreboding. The faint rustle of hay and the low murmurs of conversation occasionally drifted out, carried on the breeze.

"Any sign of John Gilbert?" Aradia questioned, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the surroundings for any clues.

They both shook their heads, frustration evident in their expressions. It was possible he was one of the vampire heartbeats they'd detected inside the barn, but as they hadn't been able to get close enough to look without risking detection, they couldn't say for certain.

"We take the barn first," Selene said decisively, her eyes glinting with determination. "If John Gilbert is in there, we take him down as planned, free any hostages, and then move in on the house to deal with the Council members."

The group nodded in agreement, tension crackling in the air around them. They prepared to move, each one steeling themselves for the imminent confrontation. The sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting an ominous orange glow over the ranch as they readied themselves for the fight ahead.

The Grill, usually a haven of laughter and warmth, was now a scene of chaos and brutality. Tables lay overturned, glass shattered across the floor, reflecting the dim light from the overhead fixtures. The air was thick with the acrid scent of blood and vervain. They'd found John Gilbert; they could only hope the plan would work.

Enzo and Maggie were bound to chairs with chains enough to hold even an Original, captive. White cloths tied around their mouths spoke of recent torture, the burns underneath evidence of vervain's cruel touch. Jenna and Ric, though similarly incapacitated, were held with handcuffs. Stefan hung from a chain affixed to the ceiling, his shirt in tatters, his torso a canvas of burns, cuts, and bruises—John Gilbert's handiwork. Of Lexi and Lee, there was no sign.

Damon and Harper burst through the door, a coordinated blur of motion. They each seized one of John's arms, leveraging the element of surprise. John's eyes widened for a fraction of a second before narrowing in anger. With a snarl, he shoved them off with a surge of unnatural strength, sending Harper sprawling across the room with a sickening crack as his spine broke. Harper crumpled to the ground, temporarily dead.

Damon lunged, fury etched across his face, but John was ready. He met Damon's attack with brutal efficiency, twisting his neck with a swift motion. Damon collapsed, lifeless.

Elijah and Mason took their place, moving with deadly precision, a lethal dance of coordinated strikes and feints. Finn, fuelled by rage, charged forward with a roar, his hand plunging into John's chest. John's eyes flashed with pain, but he rallied, planting a powerful kick into Finn's abdomen, sending him crashing into the wall with a bone-rattling impact.

Rose-Marie unrelenting, darted forward. The room erupted into a chaotic blur of fists and fangs, each move calculated, each blow devastating. John, moved with uncanny speed and strength, the product of relentless preparation and a deep-seated vendetta. He parried and countered with precision his movements preternatural.

John grabbed Mason by the throat, his grip like iron. With a savage twist, he snapped Mason's neck, dropping him like a marionette with its strings cut. Rose charged, eyes blazing with fury, but John met her onslaught head-on. Their clash was brutal, a whirlwind of violence that ended with Rose unconscious on the floor, blood trickling from her mouth.

Elijah, the noble warrior, fought with the grace and precision of a seasoned combatant. His strikes were controlled, each movement deliberate. But even he could not withstand John's relentless assault. John's fist connected with Elijah's jaw, followed by a knee to his stomach, and finally, a crushing blow to his head that sent him sprawling.

John turned his attention to Finn, the only one left conscious. Finn, battered but unbowed, growled with defiance. John's eyes gleamed with triumph as he raised a wooden stake, aiming for Finn's heart.

Rebekah didn't bother to knock on the door of the Gilbert House; she'd been invited in; thus, entry was hers whenever she wanted it. Himiko followed her in through the broken door, fierce determination etched into her frame.

"What -?" Miranda Gilbert looked up in shock as the door slammed against the wall from their violent entrance. Her eyes widened as she saw the intruders.

Rebekah imagined Jeremy might have reacted similarly if he'd been capable of it, but the blood-soaked cloth pressed against his head suggested otherwise.

"Where's Elena?" Rebekah demanded, her voice cold and urgent.

"Rebekah?" Matt came out of the kitchen, a bag of frozen peas in hand, confusion and concern etched on his face. "What's going on? What are you doing here?"

"Where is Elena?" Rebekah asked again, ignoring Matt's question, her voice growing more insistent.

"She's upstairs in her room. She still hasn't woken up," Matt replied reluctantly.

Rebekah nodded to Himiko, signalling her to explain the situation to the bewildered humans. She reached the top of the stairs just as Miranda's scream of denial echoed through the house. Rebekah forced back the mixed emotions it brought with it. She was doing this to save her family—no, to save every vampire in the world.

They couldn't be certain how many people that was, but even if it was only zero-point-one percent of the global population, as Aradia had estimated, that was still almost seven million people. And as the saying went, the needs of the many outweighed the needs of the few. She didn't like Elena, but even if she had, she would still do what was necessary to save her family. One person versus seven million. It was an easy decision to make.

Elena lay on her bed, fast asleep, when Rebekah entered her room. She looked peaceful, almost angelic, unaware of the storm brewing around her.

Rebekah hesitated for a moment, considering the gravity of her actions. She still had no idea whether Elena had agreed to be part of the plan to make John an enhanced Original. She supposed it no longer really mattered.

With a final, resolute twist, she snapped Elena's neck. Swift and painless.

With a strength born of desperation, Finn grabbed hold of the stake, struggling to stop it from penetrating into his chest any further than it had already done so. They'd gone into this confidant that two Originals, a hybrid, and two vampires would be more than enough to hold John Gilbert down long enough for Maddox to desiccate him. How wrong they'd been.

John had taken them all down like it was nothing.

Finn had to wonder what mother's spell had entailed to make him this strong. An Original he may be, but Finn and Elijah were as well, and a thousand years old on top of that. So how was John Gilbert so much stronger than them. Maybe Lillith had done something to mother's spell, some addition to make him strong enough to kill them.

As the stake pressed down another increment, Finn cried out in pain, summoning every ounce of his remaining strength to push back against John Gilbert, even knowing it was likely hopeless. But to his surprise, his push sent John flying back. Finn, stunned but quick to act, tossed the stake aside and roared, charging at John with renewed vigour. All he needed to do was keep a hand on John's heart long enough for Maddox's spell to take effect.

Before he could make contact, John stumbled and fell to the ground.

"What's happening?" Finn gasped, staring at John in disbelief.

"What's happening?" John echoed, confusion and fear mingling in his eyes.

Grey veins began to creep across John's body, a clear sign that he was dying. The only explanation was that their mother had awakened and instructed Rebekah on how to kill him. Finn watched, breath held, until he was certain the man was dead. The once formidable John Gilbert lay lifeless, his unnatural strength and speed now gone.

Finn, feeling the weight of relief and exhaustion, began to free the others.

It was over.

John Gilbert hadn't been in the barn. Instead, the six heartbeats they'd heard inside had belonged to those who had been out of reach when first alerted to the issue. The barn, a gloomy structure with its faded red paint and weather-beaten boards, with each former stall converted into a cage, held the four aurors assigned to deputy positions by Selene, as well as Lexi, Lee, Anna, and Pearl, and finally Jonas and Luka Martin. Dust motes danced in the slanted beams of light filtering through the gaps in the barn's walls, casting an eerie glow over the grim scene.

The task had been straightforward for Kol and Klaus. They moved with lethal precision, dispatching the two human deputies standing guard outside without raising an alarm. The guards fell silently, their eyes wide with shock as the life drained from them. Inside, the air was thick with the smell of hay and the coppery tang of blood. Kol and Klaus quickly located the makeshift cells where their allies were held captive, their footsteps muffled by the straw-covered floor.

With deft hands, they unlocked the cells, freeing those who had been imprisoned. Lexi, Lee, Anna, and Pearl emerged first, their expressions a mix of relief and steely determination. Jonas and Luka Martin followed, looking haggard but resolute. A sense of urgency propelled them; there was no time to waste.

Their next target was the house, where the Council members were believed to be holed up. The house loomed in the distance, a large, imposing structure that seemed to radiate malevolence. Just as they were readying themselves for the assault, an explosion erupted from the building. The shockwave tore through the air, a deafening roar that shattered the stillness of the evening. Flames and debris shot skyward as the entire house disintegrated in a violent blast.

The force of the explosion hurled them to the ground. Kol and Klaus hit the dirt hard, the impact knocking the breath from their lungs. The air was thick with dust and smoke, making it difficult to see or breathe. Shards of wood and fragments of brick rained down around them, clattering against the ground like deadly hailstones. For a moment, everything was chaos—a cacophony of noise and confusion.

As the dust began to settle, Kol and Klaus struggled to their feet, ears ringing and bodies aching. The house was now a smouldering ruin, flames licking hungrily at the remnants of the structure. They exchanged a grim look, the reality of their situation sinking in. The Council members had chosen to destroy themselves rather than be captured.

With the hostages freed and the house obliterated, their focus shifted. Kol and Klaus could only hope that the group who had gone to the Grill had managed to take down John Gilbert. The mission had taken an unexpected turn, and now they had to regroup and reassess their strategy in the face of this explosive setback.