"Well... it's time for planning," I said as I walked to the center of the room where my entire family was gathered.
The clan I built with my own hands, brought together with all my strength… and my blood family on my mother's side.
They were all there—Grandma, Abby, Bonnie, Caroline, Jeremy, Slater, Anna, and Pearl. And finally, Katherine, who, due to trauma, now had the mental state of a 7-year-old, along with Amara and Enzo.
"As you may know from what the witches' spirits were planning... to exterminate all vampires in the world," I said, remembering the conversation we had when I was turned into a vampire. "All vampires are linked to the Originals... if one Original dies, they all die."
My words confirmed what some already suspected—especially the vampires.
"The fact that I was turned before the point my blood family and I had planned was also part of the spirits' plan," I continued, noticing the anger in my grandmother's, Bonnie's, and Abby's eyes. "Since I am the son of an Original, I am also an Original… and for them, I have to die as well. And if I died as a human, I would come back as a vampire."
Everyone responded with looks and words of support.
"Also, Esther Mikaelson—formerly Hanzen—has returned, and I'm sure she's planning something to kill her children," I continued, laying out fact after fact. "That includes me, her grandson. And since I'm someone who very much cares about staying alive… I say we stop her."
The silence that fell over the room wasn't doubt… it was understanding. Everyone there knew this wasn't just another supernatural problem—this was the kind of war that erased entire bloodlines from history.
I took a deep breath, feeling every gaze on me.
"But attacking head-on is exactly what they want…" I continued, crossing my arms and pacing slowly in the center of the circle. "The spirits, Esther… they count on impulsive reactions. On fear."
Grandma was the first to speak, her voice firm as always: "So you want to play their game better than they do?"
A small smile formed on my lips.
"Exactly."
Bonnie tilted her head slightly, already understanding before I explained: "You have a plan…"
"I do." I stopped, looking at each of them. "And it starts with us no longer being prey."
Caroline let out a breath, clearly tense: "And what does that mean in practice?"
"It means," I said, gesturing toward Bonnie, Abby, and Grandma, "that the witches here will work together to create a spiritual barrier. Something that hides us from the spirits. They can't kill what they can't find… or reach."
Abby frowned: "That's going to take a lot of magic. And time."
"Then we buy time," I replied, turning to Jeremy and Enzo. "You two dig up anything about ancient rituals tied to Esther. She always repeats patterns… we just need to figure out which one."
Enzo smirked: "I like that part. Hunting secrets."
Jeremy simply nodded, already focused.
"And the Originals?" Pearl asked calmly, though concern was clear in her voice. "If they fall… we all fall."
My expression darkened slightly.
"I'll handle that."
Anna stepped forward: "Alone?"
I shook my head slowly.
"Not alone… we'll split into groups. One group goes to the ball, the other searches for ways to neutralize Esther."
A murmur spread through the room.
"That's dangerous," Bonnie said firmly. "Even for you."
"I know," I replied without hesitation. "But I'm the variable they don't control. Son of an Original… I can create conflict within the Original family."
Katherine, sitting in the corner hugging her knees, looked up with that fragile innocence: "Are you going to get hurt…?"
The simple question hit harder than any threat.
I walked over and crouched in front of her.
"I won't let anything happen to me… or to you," I said softly. "That's a promise."
Amara watched in silence, as if she could see beyond what was being said. Slater, on the other hand, looked restless, absorbing every detail.
I stood again.
"And there's one more thing…" I said, drawing everyone's attention. "I have permission from my mother to exterminate these spirits, even if I don't have permission to kill Esther directly… she wants me to learn how to resolve things through dialogue."
The air in the room shifted.
It wasn't just tension anymore… it was something heavier.
Grandma narrowed her eyes. "Permission… from your mother? The ancestor allowed you to kill the dead?"
"Yes. She is the goddess of the Other Side—the place where supernatural spirits go," I said, with pride in my mother's domain. "These spirits became traitors the moment they showed urgency to me—the prince. Even if they're more discreet than those responsible for my death and transformation, my mother already knows about them. And while she hasn't punished them like the others… she won't protect them either."
The weight of my words wasn't new to anyone there… not anymore.
They knew who I was.
They knew what ran through my veins… and what awaited me on the Other Side.
Even so, when I finished speaking, silence followed—not from shock, but from calculation.
I took a breath, scanning each of them.
"The spirits aren't just against us…" I continued. "They're against the crown. Against my mother. Against the balance that holds everything together."
Grandma nodded slowly. "So this isn't just our war…"
"No," I replied. "It's a rebellion."
Bonnie crossed her arms thoughtfully: "And rebellions don't happen without leadership… someone's behind this."
"Or something," Abby added.
I nodded slightly.
"Whoever it is… made a mistake," I said calmly. "Messing with me wasn't the problem… messing with me as who I am was."
Enzo smirked: "Prince pride… nice to see."
I ignored him.
"My mother made it clear… she won't protect them," I continued. "That doesn't mean she'll act for me… it means the field is clear."
Jeremy frowned: "So the responsibility falls entirely on you."
"As always."
I paced slowly again.
"They're going to act at the ball. There's no better place… energy, important people, the Originals gathered…" I paused. "It's the perfect stage."
Caroline nodded: "So the ball group observes and interferes if needed."
"And provokes," I added. "We need the Original family to enter conflict… but not to the point of total rupture."
Anna tilted her head: "Controlled imbalance…"
"Exactly."
I turned back to the witches.
"Meanwhile, you start the ritual to isolate the spirits. Nothing abrupt… I don't want them to notice right away."
Abby nodded: "A gradual weakening…"
"Until they can't touch this plane without paying a price," I finished.
Grandma watched me closely. "And when they realize they're being cornered?"
A faint smile appeared.
"They'll panic."
Jeremy exhaled: "And panicked spirits are dangerous."
"They're predictable," I corrected.
Silence again—but now aligned.
I stopped in the center once more.
"There's one more thing you all need to understand…" I said more quietly. "I'm not just protecting us."
I looked at Bonnie, then Grandma… then everyone.
"I'm protecting my kingdom."
That wasn't new—but saying it out loud changed everything.
"These spirits betrayed the natural order," I continued. "And I won't let that stand… not as her son… and not as the one who will inherit all of this one day."
Enzo crossed his arms: "So this isn't just strategy… it's politics."
"It's power."
I looked at everyone one last time.
"So remember this… at the ball, we observe, manipulate, and test. Outside it, we cut the spirits off at the root."
I tilted my head slightly.
"And when they make their final move…"
A pause.
A cold smile.
"I end it."
"Now… Vampire, you're still there, right?" I leaned in, looking directly at Katherine.
"Affirmative. My Katherine is not yet in a condition to remain stable on her own," the vampire replied. Her posture shifted completely—she seemed larger somehow.
"I need you to take over for the ball," I said with a sigh. "Can you use vampire magic?"
"Affirmative… I am the source of my Katherine's vampire magic," the voice answered mechanically. "However, I cannot allow my Katherine to go somewhere so dangerous."
"Relax… we'll protect her," I said, serious now. "I promise nothing will happen to Katherine."
"Affirmative. I will assist," the vampire said, nodding.
"Good. The ball group will be… me, Caroline, Katherine, Bonnie, Pearl, Amara, and Enzo," I declared, pointing to each of them as they stepped forward. "The others will stay behind, researching how to weaken the spirits and putting it into action."
Finally, the day of the ball arrived. We all dressed in our finest clothes and headed there. When we reached the entrance, Katherine's inner vampire and Amara opened the doors, making everyone turn to look…