Chapter Sixteen: I Go Astral Hopping Like A Rabbit Ghost
When Max teleported to his attic, he had many things on his mind, and many things to plan for.
For one thing, for Hope to be born, Klaus needed to unlock his hybrid nature, which meant Elena needed to die eventually as she had in canon. That couldn't be allowed to be changed.
Additionally, the death of a werewolf, a witch and a vampire is still required. For the werewolf and witch, Max didn't mind sacrificing himself; he was both plus a phoenix, so he wouldn't stay dead for long. The experience would most likely activate his phoenix side. While, for the vampire, instead of allowing Jenna to die, Max could resurrect a tomb vampire and use them or just convince Elijah to join Klaus, or, at least, help out — Both were viable options, and both were do-able.
He still needed to create more hax for himself, too. Maybe, he should create a talisman to enhance his base level magic? He had a few ideas for creating such an artifact – He just needed some special materials for the more powerful talisman ideas he had. As for a weapon, he has always been into swords, so maybe he'll create a katana of sorts…?
'I also want to create my own coven,' Max thought privately. 'I already have a few ideas about who I want in it. And if those elemental spirits were right — if I really am becoming one of them — then whether I'm manifesting Logomancy or Adaptive Magic in this world won't matter much. Either way, I should be able to share my magic with others. I definitely want Kai Parker and his younger siblings, Luke and Liv, in my coven. For the future's sake, Jo is a requirement, and convincing them shouldn't be too hard; after all, the Gemini Coven is doomed to die out in canon, and I don't need that coven beyond a handful of its members anyway. The real problem will be keeping Kai from killing Luke, Liv, or Jo — and making sure they actually want to join me willingly. That way, I won't have to deal with the fallout of stealing members from existing covens… not that I'd be an easy target anyway. Or perhaps,' he mused, 'I should just wait until Luke and Liv die — resurrect them once their coven is gone — and harness their collective power myself. Maybe I could even give it to Kai… and Lucas. Both are exceptionally powerful in their own right.'
At some level of conscience, Max sensed he was stepping into downright supervillainou territory, with the way he was thinking. However, at the same time, considering the world he was in, he sure as hell didn't want to be a hero. He actually intended to claim what he wanted, regardless of morality to begin with, especially since he knew that goody-two-shoes often get walked over in this verse — And most other verses, thereof. His cousin, Bonnie Bennett, was a prime example of that, as the show had everyone walk over her. He had absolutely no intentions of receiving the Bonnie Bennett treatment whatsoever.
Julie Plec ain't messing up his story, not if he has anything to say about it.
'I sensed Elijah's presence in town a little over three weeks ago,' Max thought privately, pausing in step. 'I've already scheduled a meet-up with the Original vampire. Thank gods I'm beginning to become a legendary warlock. I doubt I'd have as much sway had I not began having a powerful witch's reputation. I intend to talk with the vampire, make a deal to get his mother's repertoire. Esther Mikaelson, though a ripe woman, was a powerful witch, and her spells would broaden my own repertoire even more.'
Max walked over to the shelf, pulling off 6 gemstones: a Sapphire gemstone, a light blue Lapis Lazuli gemstone, a chunk of iron black Obsidian, a gemstone of violet Amethyst, a gemstone of easy green Jade and a chunk of Emerald.
'There are many other witches I do still intend to join my coven. Vincent Griffith and his wife, Eva Sinclaire, are powerful witches in their own right. Physically, Yusuf isn't really my type, so there's no chance of mixing business with pleasure,' Max thought, looking over and around all 6 gemstones. 'That said, Vincent is an incredibly talented combat witch and his wife is immensely gifted in magic in general. Right about now, Vincent should be leaving the Tremé coven, no doubt, his wife captured in that ward for wayward witches after getting caught using black magic. I'll cure her of her madness and cleanse her of dark magic's influence on her to convince Vincent to join my coven — And, if he needs more convincing, I'll also bring back his newborn child.
'I also intend to have Silas join, but I'll have to be careful. Qetsiyah wants my help to kill him and I've already offered to do so — And she's already a paranoid and petty woman, so I can't afford to be clumsy. One mistake, one misstep in execution, and I'll have a 2,000+ year old witch at my throat. I need to be meticulous in how I get Silas to join my coven, but I'm betting, with my intellect and desire for the evil psychic, I'll end up coming up with something. I just need time.'
As Max eyed the emerald, he began considering who else to recruit into his coven.
'Bonnie and Kaleb are a given with Grams being a possibility by default. Father is a member of the Bennett coven, however, as a man, he will never attain a truly high placement within the coven, so I'm sure I can convince him to join,' Max considered. 'There are Bennetts all over the world, not just his line or Grams'. I know there's like 5 other main branch Bennett lineages out there in the world, all of them are in-line to carry on the Bennett line and inherit coven leadership, so recruiting Bonnie and Father to my coven won't be detrimental to my heritage at all.
'Mother, on the other hand….isn't an option, sadly. To be able to make own coven, I'll need her to inherit and control the Westphall coven for as long as possible, so recruiting her is counter productive. Yeah, not an option.
'Miss Aubrey…I'm not too sure if she would join me. She may be my first magic instructor, hired by my mother to teach me Westphall magics, but she is still a member of the Westphall coven, no matter how small her branch of the family is. If she does join me, however, then I won't complain — The more, the merrier, I suppose.
'I do need to bring back Luka Martin. He will make a fine addition to my coven. Perhaps I'll use bringing back his father as an incentive to join me? I mean, Luka was definitely a snack to behold; I can see how Bonnie crushed on him. Still, it wasn't cool how he used Bonnie to get the moonstone. I'll have to talk to him about that, the bastard.
'Davina Claire…I want her in my coven, but I don't want her to steal Kol from me. I doubt she'd be able to, but I do remember that she ended up with Kol in The Originals. I'll have her join me if she wants, but I am definitely keeping those two apart — She's too powerful a witch not to,' Max decided, shaking his head to clear himself from his daze.
Sighing heavily, Max drew a magic circle with 6 points on the ground in white chalk, going over it with salt. He placed all 6 special stones at each of these points before stepping into the center of the seventh circle, hands out before him like he was trying to catch water.
In-taking a breath, as if contemplating heavily his next actions, Max weighed the chant he was about to speak. Deciding it just, he closed his eyes, pulling a pocket knife from his pocket, and, after cutting a deep gash on his palm, he watched a steady stream of blood drip down into the wooden bowl at his feet inside the circle.
Then, he began chanting:
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"Lespri yo ak tè, koute volonte mwen — ini sis wòch sa yo an yon sèl esans."
"Pa san mwen premye — fòs mwen ap monte twa san fwa."
"Nan liy san mwen, monte san kenz pousan — epi pou Bennett ak Westphall, leve swasant-kenz pousan."
"etulosba si gnidnib eht ym drow yB."
"ytilaer setirwerht dluohturt dna — hturt semoceb kaeps I tahW."
[Logomancy/Creole/Latin to English Translation:
"Spirits and earth, hear my will — unite these six stones into a single essence."
"By my blood first — my strength shall rise three hundredfold."
"In my bloodline, rise one hundred and fifteen percent — and for the Bennett and Westphall kin, rise seventy-five percent."
"By my word the binding is absolute."
"What I speak becomes truth — and truth should rewrite reality."
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Midway through the chant, the 6 gemstones lit on fire, alongside the blood in the bowl at Max's feet. Within no time, the 5 gemstones were nothing and the bowl of blood was only full of ashes.
And, hovering above Max's palms, was the most breathtakingly beautiful stone he had ever seen: Base obsidian black with two sets of green veins and two sets of blue veins — Both creating a tree-like design to the tone that looked to be merged with living lightning coming from within it. There was a faint crimson-orange and amethyst-violet aura to its other glowing colors. The stone itself was the shape of a stereotypical crystal, if a bit more on the round-ish side, easily the size of a small to medium-sized cup. It radiated pure, magical power on a scale Max has yet to notice from another magical artifact; even the Moonstone didn't radiate this much power.
[Reference Image]:
The stone itself radiated an almost divine level of power on its own — The moment it landed on Max's palm, his usually invisible eye tattoo Psi had gifted to him — it glowed a brilliant silvery-grey, and, suddenly, he found himself seeing all the individuals he wanted to see in his coven — And then some.
First, he saw himself before Kol on the Other Side, watching him watch himself from the outside of his own body. Kol, who had been awed evidently by Max's creation, noticed Max's second presence. Eyes widening before a fond smile overtaking his face, Kol walked up to Max, his hand reaching Max's face. And this time he didn't need to pretend to feel Kol's warmth.
Because they touched, which briefly surprised the both of them, before Kol smiled. "My little witch. Always finding ways to surprise and impress. I can't wait to claim you as my own."
At the mention of Kol's intentions, Max felt a shiver run down his spine — but he wasn't cold. The excitement was enough to feel his heartbeat quicken in his physical body despite being in a soul form.
But, when he finally got the nerves to respond, he found his environment change.
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He stood before a familiar house, with a surprised Kai Parker shocked to see someone.
"It's you?" Kai smirked, tilting his head curiously.
"Kai… I don't think we have much time. I intend to come for you soon," Max rushed out, causing Kai to nod, grasping his words. "If I don't get to you in 2 months, there's a pit in rural Georgia — it connects worlds! Use it. Just promise me to keep Jo, Liv, and Lucas alive. Promise me. Future events require their survival."
Kai seemed to contemplate this before nodding. "I can go after the others in the Coven, right?"
"Yes," Max said, smirking. "Make those bastards pay."
This seemed to convince Kai, who agreed.
"If I can't make it to you, and you have to use the pit, I'll be in Mystic Falls, Virginia," Max admitted. "I want you in my coven. The Gemini don't know what they're doing, forcing you, but in my coven, I can promise you I will give you what they failed to — power, family, community. I— Crap! I'm being pulled back!" Max tried, as his form began shifting. "Remember, Mystic Falls, Virginia. Ask for Maximus Bennett."
Then, he was transported to the next setting, failing to notice the 3 magic-induced stones he had previously gifted to Kai on the shelf.
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Next, Max found himself before a startled Vincent, who, previously, had been eating dinner. "Who are you?" he was on his feet fast, defensively readying himself to defend himself.
"I can cure your wife of her ailments and bring back your unborn child," Max rushed out, raising a finger to quickly quiet the older warlock. "I don't have much time before I'm pulled away, so please, questions when we officially meet."
Vincent processed this, swallowed heavily before releasing a heavy breath. "I assume you want something in return."
A statement. A fact.
"I'm building a coven and want you in it," Max admitted. "That's all. I will begin the chant now. When I succeed, your wife will be how she was before dark magic affected her, a lot more resistant to its pull, too. Mystic Falls, Virginia. Remember it."
"I will," Vincent nodded.
"Good," Max nodded his head, readying himself for a chant.
"dne ssendam," he chanted."kaerb cigam krad. Nruter efil. Evil dna elohw eb — dlihcdna rehtoM."
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Translation: "Madness ends. Dark magic breaks. Life returns. Mother and child — be whole and alive."
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"Did you— did you do it?" Vincent asked, curiously sounding just as hopeful.
"Yes, I di—," Max began, nodding, but a pulling of his soul cut him off. "Dang, that was fast. Remember: Mystic Falls, Virginia."
Vincent nodded once, and Max vanished from the setting.
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Next, Max found himself in a dark, lightless cave, before the stonified body of the immortal traveler, Silas. And, though it was dark, Max's wolf senses allowed him to see perfectly in the near complete darkness. He saw the petrificated body of the witch he wanted in his coven. He also felt a psychic presence there, only it was hidden, even from his eyes.
'This probing…,' Max pondered. 'Silas, perhaps? Interesting….'.
With that, Max let his soul traverse onward, going to his next and final target.
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The final place Max found himself was in a dingy motel room, before a completely nude traveler, Markos, who, looking to have just gotten out of the shower, had an impressive physique.
'Gods, that bronze tan should be an illegal shade,' Max thought to himself. 'Especially to a body like that…'.
"You know, it's rude to ogle others in astral form," the Traveller's voice sounded like fine aged wine, bringing Max back from his dirty thoughts, and he locked gazes with the honey-eyed elder warlock. "Who are you?"
"A powerful warlock who knows how to rewrite your curse, and the curse of your people," Max said, getting straight to the point, causing Markos to pause from drying his hair. He seemed to raise a brow, both curiously and urging Max to continue. "I can't remove it. Yet. I doubt anyone can at this point — At least, for now. But I can change its bindings and its 'terms of contract' in a way."
"How?" Markos asked, after a minute, taking an intriguing step forward and Max had to mentally keep himself from admiring the man's package, body and, god, that chest is not science, is it? "Hey, eyes up here. I know I'm beautiful, but I'm going to need you to focus," the man smirked when Max refocused on his honey-brown eyes. "Now, how can you do something not even I, a traveler, am able to do?"
"My magic…is a form of magic…I call it 'Adaptive Magic," Max swallowed, doing his best to maintain eye contact with the man, quelling his internal urge to look downward, as the man began changing into casual clothes, all the while Markos' expression was a mix of amusement and intrigue. "It basically adapts magic to my will within certain limits."
"Why do you offer me this?" Markos narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "What do you get out of it?"
"You," Max said, bold, once covering the pants-clad, shirtless traveler, who, flabbergasted by his boldness, dropped the shirt in his hands as he looked his way. "I want you. As mine. Oh, and for and yours to join my coven. That's all."
"That's…all? That's all you want from me? To join your coven? And you can alter my people's curse?" Markos sounded incredulous. 'For the price itself, the tradeoff doesn't come close to any viable deal on his end. Do we get access to this supposedly incredible power via joining his coven? Also, it still doesn't seem fair, if he does, indeed, find himself able to wield such power. But, then again, if the price of getting rid of this god's awful curse is to join hands with a witch full of such lifeforce energy, is there really a bad end of the stick for us? At the very least, it's more beneficial for us than for him ... .And, obviously, there's also the way he's looking at me, like I'm a snack…I don't mind being objectified, but it's like he really wants to eat me! He's not bad looking, though…In fact, one might argue he could be a supermodel… And then there's the possibility that we may be able to settle down soon…'. "And you are certain that is all you want in this? There's no ulterior motive?"
Max merely nodded, amused after hearing the Traveler's entire thought process.
Even without the stone in his hand(in his physical body), his psychic abilities were already growing since getting the tattoo. Already, he could read the minds of anyone within 115 mile radius of his presence, either astralogically(in astral form) or physiologically(in body). He predicted that, if he steadily held the stone a couple more weeks, he'll be able to see into the minds of everyone within the state of Virginia(both Virginias, btw), and, within 2 months, the entire eastern seaboard of the US. By six months, he predicts his psychic powers would allow him to see into the minds of all of North America, and, by a year's time, the entire western hemisphere.
But that's for future Max to deal with. Right now, he wanted this Traveler to join him, and he was certain he would be able to get him to do so.
"And…when you say you…want me…I'm assuming…as a mate?" Markos asked for clarification.
"So long as you're okay with sharing me, that is my offer," Max teased.
'If all I have to do to get rid of my people's curse…or get it adjusted… is bind myself to a young man such as this, is there really such a thing as a bad deal?' Markos eyes darkened at his words and the thoughts going through his head, his gaze heavy with lust, before he shook himself from such thoughts. "I'll…talk it over with the others, but I am…willing to share you, if it means freedom, a home for my people and a place of settlement without risk of setting off apocalyptic disasters."
Max was about to speak when he felt the familiar pull once again. "I am… being pulled back to my body. We'll meet again. When we do, I expect an answer."
Makos nodded and Max vanished.
Max appeared in his attic once more, his silver, glowing tattoo returning to his normal. Transparent hue of his skin.
"Whoa," he murmured, eyeing the stone in his hands. "That was insane."
'I still need to create a weapon for myself, bring back Kal, make sure Hope is born and bring back Luka,' Max pondered. 'Furthermore, I only saw the witches with the highest potential of joining my coven. What about the vampires or werewolves I want in my pack? Jackson was highly underrated, under-utilized and underappreciated in The Originals. Josh and Aiden definitely deserved a better fate and Landon without his werewolf brother is just unthinkable. Lucien is someone I want for myself— As is Sebastion, who's early introduction won't really affect the plot overall. Ben would be a good addition as would Jed.
'All these vampires and werewolves will need a place to stay— And I will need to come up with a source of blood that won't attract too much attention as well as a forest-like area that wolves can go to unprovoked and undisturbed. For the witch community, I can build around the manor. For the other two communities, I'll probably have to create a private dimension or a layer of reality only accessible to them. To do this, maybe I should create my psychic realm…? Or, perhaps, begin practicing otherworldly magic aside from just Logomancy.'
After all, the very essence of Adaptive Magic is the ability to use any magic in existence— Period. And, in terms of potential, Max had yet to fully utilize his talents true power. What he didn't know was that he hadn't even yet reached the surface of his potential. In fact, he wasn't even close to touching it.
What he did know— what he suspected— was that some of his perks were immensely overpowered.
'The R.O.B. said he gave me a 9/10 Charm rating? Max thought deeply. Yet everyone I've met so far seems to become more instantly intrigued by me, attracted to me in some cases, then aggressive. Is that my charm ability at work? If so, I need to know if my 9/10 by human standards… or godly standards…?'
Max shook his head to clear his thoughts. He checked his phone— 12:32 PM. It was afternoon.
"I need to bring back Kol tomorrow," Max muttered, and, as if summoned by his words, the Original willy one appeared in Max's vision. "Of course you were listening in, Kol."
"How could I not, my little witch?" Kol's voice was smooth like silk, the way he murmured the word 'my' causing Max's body to react in a physical way hee had only experienced 4 other times — And 2 of those times were by Kol himself.
The realization caused his stomach to do the thing — You know the one.
"I… I need to focus," shaking himself free from the daze, Max forced himself to focus. "What I intend to do has never been done before. I would much prefer you physically able before your brother enters city limits— And not, you know, ceasing to be by a spellcast gone wrong."
"I believe in you," Kol urged. "You will succeed my little witch. You have yet to let me down."
Thanking the ghost, Max teleported to his car, intending to head to the store. There were supplies he intended to buy. He knew that, when he returned, he would be undoing an Original vampire.
He also knew that he had another meeting to get to before he could do that, and, this time, with an Original who had a tendency to wear suits and smile like a saint, but is actually a devil in disguise — But Kol didn't need to know that.