CHAPTER 33: GRETA'S RETURN
POV: Alen
One week of deceptive normalcy settled over Salvatore School like bandage applied to wounds that required surgical intervention. Students attended classes with forced enthusiasm while faculty maintained careful surveillance, everyone pretending the Dark Josie crisis had been aberration rather than warning about corruption that could emerge from desperation amplified by supernatural power.
Alen sat in Advanced Spell Theory, half-listening to Professor Vardemus explain theoretical applications while his phone buzzed with encrypted message that made protective wards hum with sudden tension. Klaus Mikaelson's name appeared on screen followed by words that carried weight of cosmic responsibility.
"Greta's been located. New Orleans. Come armed."
The simple communication contained multitudes—ancient vampire cult leader resurging from dimensional shadows, ritualistic evil preparing for escalation that would threaten everything they'd built toward stability and family protection. Greta Sienna represented opportunity wrapped in necessity, villainous soul qualified for harvesting while serving larger purpose of preventing supernatural catastrophe.
"Third resurrection coin within reach. Greta's ancient, powerful, unambiguously evil by any measure. Her soul could complete the set—Stefan already claimed, two more resurrections available for future emergencies."
Hope noticed his expression shifting toward tactical assessment that suggested immediate departure from comfortable academic routine. "Bad news?"
"Klaus wants us in New Orleans." Alen showed her the message while mind raced through implications and opportunities. "Greta's making her move."
Hope's face cycled through emotions—recognition of threat, family obligation, understanding that peaceful interlude was ending. "We leave tonight."
"Hope's right," Josie announced, surprising everyone including herself. "I'm coming too."
"Josie? Wanting to face combat after everything that happened with the Mora Miserium? That's unexpected but potentially valuable. She owes redemption arc to everyone she hurt during corruption, and Mikaelson crisis provides opportunity for meaningful contribution."
"Jo, you don't have to—" Alen began, but Josie cut him off with determination that spoke of genuine transformation rather than residual arrogance.
"I owe Hope's family. They helped save me from myself. Let me help save them."
POV: Alen
New Orleans at midnight felt like supernatural nexus charged with ancient power, jazz music floating through French Quarter streets while protective wards thrummed with energy that spoke of Original vampire presence. Klaus greeted them at compound entrance with expression mixing paternal concern and predatory anticipation.
"Greta's gathered enough sacrifices to awaken the Old Blood," he announced without preamble, words carrying apocalyptic weight that made protective magic pulse with distressed resonance. "Vampires from before my family. If she succeeds, even we're vulnerable."
"Old Blood. Vampires predating Original creation, ancient creatures whose power exceeds contemporary understanding. If Greta awakens them, supernatural balance shifts toward chaos that could destroy everything we've built."
Rebekah materialized with vampire speed, elegant movements carrying thousand years of combat experience. "She has a location—ancient crypt beneath the city. Ritual chamber designed for massive sacrifice, enough space for army of cultists."
Freya joined them with magical assessment that painted tactical picture in stark terms. "We assault tonight. Delay gives her time to complete awakening process, and three ancient vampires are already stirring. Once fully conscious, they'll be nearly impossible to contain."
"I owe Hope's family," Josie repeated, addressing Klaus directly while supernatural courage overcame rational fear. "Let me help."
Klaus studied her with predatory intensity that made enhanced senses scream danger warnings. "The little witch who recently tried to remake reality? Interesting. What makes you think you're ready for war against forces that predate civilization?"
"Because I know what corruption feels like from inside," Josie replied with honesty that cut through supernatural posturing. "Greta's using dark magic that will consume her eventually. I can recognize the signs, maybe exploit the weaknesses."
Klaus smiled with expression that mixed approval and threat in equal measure. "Keep my daughter safe," he said to Alen, voice carrying authority that made protective wards pulse with increased intensity, "or your fancy powers won't save you from my displeasure."
"That's the plan, sir," Alen replied, meaning it completely.
POV: Alen
The underground crypt stretched beneath New Orleans like cathedral dedicated to death worship, Gothic architecture carved from living stone while sacrificial altars gleamed with fresh blood. Dozens of cultists moved through ritual preparations with fanatic efficiency while three ancient vampires stirred from millennia of enforced slumber.
"They're stronger than Originals. Power that predates modern supernatural understanding, abilities refined through ages of accumulated experience. If all three achieve full consciousness, this becomes war rather than rescue mission."
Battle erupted with mythological intensity—Klaus and Rebekah engaging ancient vampires with combat techniques refined through thousand years of warfare, supernatural strength meeting primordial power in clashes that sent shock waves through reinforced stone. Freya disrupted ritual components with precise spell-crafting while Hope shifted into full tribrid form.
Alen coordinated tactical response with enhanced abilities flowing like water through combat situation. He siphoned ritual magic mid-casting, disrupted containment circles with spell-crafted force barriers, used Word of Command to freeze cultists in place.
"KNEEL!"
Twenty fanatics collapsed immediately, reality bending to accommodate cosmic authority while Alen's throat burned with familiar pain. The Word of Command remained devastating against normal opponents, though ancient vampires proved more resistant to absolute imperative.
Josie fought alongside with redemption driving enhanced performance, dark magic understanding translating into tactical advantage against corrupted opponents. She siphoned cult magic while crafting spells that disrupted ancient awakening process, proving herself essential rather than burden.
"She's changed. Genuinely transformed by Mora Miserium experience into someone who understands power's true cost. The corruption taught her restraint more effectively than any lecture could."
Alen and Hope tag-teamed the nearest ancient vampire—Hope's physical assault combining with his supernatural siphoning to overwhelm millennia of accumulated power. Her claws found structural weak points while he drained magical enhancements that made the creature nearly invulnerable.
Combined assault proved effective—ancient vampire reduced to ash while Hope delivered killing blow that ended threat that had terrorized civilizations before Mystic Falls existed. Two ancients remained, but momentum had shifted toward survival rather than apocalypse.
POV: Alen
Alen found Greta attempting escape through ritual chamber's hidden passages, cult leader recognizing that ancient awakening had failed while tactical retreat offered possibility of future resurrection attempts. She turned with expression mixing fanatic determination and rational fear.
"You're coming with me," Alen announced, blocking her path while enhanced abilities prepared for confrontation that had been building since New Orleans revelations.
"For what? Prison?" Greta laughed with sound that carried centuries of accumulated cruelty. "No earthly authority can contain what I've become."
"Justice," Alen replied simply.
She attacked with dark magic amplified by ancient artifacts, spells that should have overwhelmed teenage siphoner despite enhanced abilities. But Alen absorbed her assault effortlessly, cosmic power dwarfing traditional magical understanding while systematic siphoning left her increasingly defenseless.
"Centuries of experience versus overwhelming supernatural enhancement. She's powerful but operates within normal magical limitations. I've transcended those boundaries through cosmic intervention and systematic ability development."
"SLEEP!"
The Word of Command detonated through stone chamber with absolute authority, reality bending to accommodate imperative that made ancient consciousness submit to teenage will. Greta collapsed unconscious while Alen stood over her prone form, cosmic justice reduced to simple execution.
Klaus arrived with expression mixing approval and curiosity, thousand-year predator recognizing efficient elimination of supernatural threat. "Kill her. She's earned it."
Alen hesitated—this represented his third harvest, but performing soul extraction in front of witnesses required explanation that couldn't reveal resurrection coin purpose. Hope appeared beside Klaus with understanding that transcended rational explanation.
"Do what's necessary," she said quietly, tribrid nature recognizing that some threats required permanent elimination.
Alen drove spelled stake through Greta's heart with enhanced strength behind killing blow, ancient cult leader reduced to ash that scattered across ritual chamber. Klaus raised eyebrow with expression suggesting respect for efficient problem resolution.
"She'd escape any prison," Alen said, providing justification that satisfied supernatural pragmatism. "Death is the only certainty."
Klaus nodded with understanding born from millennium of necessary executions. "Efficient. I approve."
POV: Alen
Bodies cleared, ritual stopped, ancient vampires contained or destroyed—tactical victory that prevented supernatural catastrophe while providing opportunity for cosmic responsibility advancement. Alen approached Klaus with request that required careful handling.
"Could I have privacy with Greta's remains? Personal ritual for ensuring complete elimination."
Klaus studied him with predatory intelligence that missed nothing, thousand years of survival instincts cataloging details that might prove significant later. "Interesting request. What kind of ritual?"
"Family magic. Saltzman techniques for preventing resurrection through spiritual anchoring." The lie emerged smoothly, enhanced by partial truth that made deception more sustainable. "Want to ensure she can't return even if cultists attempt revival."
"Half-truth wrapped in necessity. Klaus doesn't need to know about soul harvesting, but preventing Greta's return serves everyone's interests. Sometimes the best lies contain enough truth to satisfy supernatural scrutiny."
Klaus granted privacy with gesture that suggested understanding without complete comprehension, ancient predator recognizing that some magical practices required solitude even if specific purposes remained mysterious.
Alone with Greta's ashes, Alen began twelve-hour harvest ritual that would be worse than previous extractions—ancient soul fighting extraction with power amplified by centuries of accumulated evil, corruption that would assault his consciousness through memories of children tortured for ritualistic pleasure.
"Third coin. Stefan already claimed, two more resurrections available for people I love. Caroline's husband, Hope's choice, cosmic currency that can rewrite tragedy through application of justice that exceeds earthly law."
The ritual commenced with familiar agony while golden light erupted from enhanced systems, soul extraction beginning process that would test every limitation he'd ever accepted as inevitable.
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