Chapter 18: The Midnight Storm
Thunder cracked violently above Mystic Falls.
But what was happening wasn't natural.
The clouds clashed with fury, as if the heavens themselves sensed what was coming.
The Salvatore house was engulfed in eerie silence.
Inside, Klaus, Damon, Stefan, Alexander, and Bonnie had gathered in what had become known as the "war room"—an old library transformed into a base filled with maps, magical components, and centuries-old weapons.
Bonnie whispered, her fingers trembling over a binding spell:
"They're coming… Kol didn't just bring Kai. There are others with him now. Werewolves… witches… and vampires. He's built an army."
Alexander growled, his anger glinting in his eyes with deadly coldness:
"Let them all come… I want them."
Klaus stepped toward him cautiously:
"No, you don't want all of them… what you want is Kol. Just like I do."
Alexander replied with a steely gaze:
"Then let's take him together."
And in that moment, a rare flash of grim camaraderie passed between them.
Damon was readying a crossbow, loading it with a wooden stake:
"You two ready for the long-awaited family reunion?"
Stefan said nothing, but his eyes burned with a rare darkness.
Bonnie looked at them all and said:
"If they breach the house's barriers—"
Alexander cut her off firmly:
"They won't. We're taking the fight outside."
He strode confidently to the doors and opened them, stepping onto the porch.
The storm was screaming… savage winds like a beast unchained, and lightning tearing the sky as if heralding a hellish battle.
In the yard before the Salvatore mansion, the shadows began to take shape—men and women.
Dozens of them.
Kol Mikaelson stood at the front, his face calm… almost enjoying the sight.
"Brother…" he called, his voice echoing through the air. "And the bastard… I brought friends."
Kai appeared beside him, swaying with a sly smile and a bloody knife in hand.
"Hey again!" he waved mockingly. "Miss me?"
Klaus stepped forward steadily:
"You've crossed a line, Kol."
Kol replied, his tone dripping with venom:
"You crossed it when you killed her."
Alexander's eyes flared red with a sudden flash:
"She was the price of the curse I bear. You want someone to blame? Blame me."
Kol said, his eyes narrowing like a wolf ready to strike:
"I do. You're the one who took her… who spilled her blood.
And now, I'll spill all of yours, one by one."
There was no time for more words.
Alexander shot forward like a bullet from a gun.
The army moved in response.
And… the war began.
The ground became utter chaos.
Klaus transformed into a savage beast, tearing through werewolves with his fangs and fury, his roar echoing through the hills.
Damon fought with his cunning style, weaving brutally between vampires, like the fight was a dance he'd mastered long ago.
As for Stefan, the Ripper had returned… with black eyes and bloodstained lips, ripping throats with demonic madness.
And Alexander…
He was a storm.
Tearing hearts, crushing necks, fire blazing in his soul, and death in his grip.
The curse was gone… but the pain remained.
Every punch from him was centuries of rage channeled into muscle and bone.
He carved a path through the battlefield… seeking Kol.
And Kol… was waiting.
When they finally met in the center of the fight, Kol held two daggers soaked in vervain and wolfsbane.
Alexander smiled and said:
"Let's end this."
Kol screamed and lunged.
They collided like giants from ancient legends.
Every blow cracked the air.
Every strike shook the earth.
Kol plunged a dagger into Alexander's side, and Alexander retaliated with a punch that nearly shattered Kol's bones.
Nearby, Kai was casting deadly spells like fireworks, nearly hitting Bonnie, but Stefan brought him down, fangs out, growling fiercely.
Klaus stood among three corpses, his hands dripping with blood.
He looked up… and saw them.
Alexander and Kol.
Still standing… still fighting.
But Alexander was beginning to falter.
Kol drove a dagger into Alexander's thigh, then the other between his ribs.
Blood gushed out, and Alexander staggered.
Kol sneered:
"You'll die like she did."
Alexander's eyes blazed with burning fire.
"No."
He grabbed Kol by the throat and lifted him high, screaming, his power exploding, the soul of Ash within him igniting like a lightning flash.
"I die standing."
Then he slammed Kol into the ground so hard the earth shook and a crater formed from the impact.
Kol coughed blood…
But smiled.
"You're just like me…" he whispered. "Broken."
Alexander raised his fist…
And stopped.
Not out of mercy.
But because Kai… was behind Kol, spell ready.
Before Alexander could move, Kai unleashed a magical wave.
The blast struck his chest, launching him through two trees, and he hit the ground hard.
Bonnie screamed.
Klaus roared and charged like a hurricane.
Damon and Stefan ran to the motionless Alexander on the ground…
But his fingers moved.
And he opened his eyes.
And whispered with bleeding lips:
"Round two…"
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