Face of the Dead (TVD/TO)

Chapter 28: Deal with a Witch?

"So let me get this straight. The tree that you burned to ash over a thousand years ago, still has wood laying around some where in Mystic Falls." Henrik recounts as he and his two siblings that remained in Mystic Falls stood in the living space in the mansion.

"Yes and we need your help to find the remaining wood of it." Klaus says.

"Just a slight problem, Nik. I can't find multiple pieces of white oak with nothing to go off on and the white ash you have will do nothing." The witch claims and rubs his temple with his fingers. After relaxing his already stress mind, Henrik thinks of possible ways to help protect his family.

"Listen I can't exactly help by magically locating the white oak but I'll find other ways around it. Whilst I'm doing that, do try to find Finn faster i need his blood to unbind all of you from mother's spell before those stupid Salvatore's try something."

The Mikaelson witch grabbed his jacket from one of the wooden chairs and headed out the door.

~~~~~~~

"Mayor Lockwood. Yeah I had called to check up on the progress of the sign." Alaric says as he entered his apartment.

Passing the threshold of the apartment, a loud ringing emitted from the phone. Causing Alaric to toss his phone down away from him fast.

The aftershock of ringing was still present in his ears as Mayor Lockwood kept saying his name through the phone. Though before Ric could reach for his phone, someone else had grabbed it.

"Sorry, I am going to have to call you back. The light just blew out when I flipped the switch." A voice matching to his own assured the other caller before ending the call.

Alaric looked up to see a tall ashy haired man holding his phone and behind him was none other than Henrik Mikaelson.

"Hey there, Alaric." Henrik waved at the vampire Hunter from the couch. Seemingly have made himself at home in the vampire hunter's home.

"Henrik?"

"I was hoping we could have a little chat about your little friends, Mr. Saltzman." The witch says before turning the other man. "Make sure no one bothers us, Asher."

Asher nodded and walked out of the apartment.

"Can we get to the point on why you-a thousand year old witch -broke into my apartment?" The vampire Hunter says.

"Straight to the point, I see. I wanna make a deal with you."

"A deal?"

"A deal." The witch confirmed before elaborating on said 'deal'. "A little birdie told me about you little homicidial alter ego. And so I thought to myself why not fix it."

"You want to fix my problem? Yeah I'm not buying it. You want something."

"I figured with last few deals my older brother made with those friends of yours might discourage you . However I'm willing to make a binding contract that'll protect both if not one of us if the other breaks it." Henrik says pulling out a scroll of parchment from his bag.

"Sounds a lot like making a deal with the Devil." Alaric says still not trusting it. "What do you get in this?"

"Will be determined though but as a placeholder. I was hoping for that ring of yours," The witch glanced at the Gilbert's ring Alaric had on.

"No way." Alaric moved his hand behind his back.

"I said as a placeholder. So you're more like pawning it until I think of a better way for you to pay me back." Henrik informed the man. "Once I do, I'll return the ring and go about my life as will you."

"And what happens if one of us breaks the deal?"

"If you break it, I keep the ring and healing stops. If I do it, the ring will return to you and get healed but you owe nothing. So-"

"There's always something in fine print. What is it?" Alaric was tempted but still didn't trust the witch.

"You're close with the Salvatore's and the doppelgänger. And they're up to something against my family. Against Nik, whatever they're up to you stop them." Henrik explains.

"After all Klaus did? Bonnie will find a way to help. I'm not making any deals with you."

"Wasn't really forcing you, though this isn't a once in a lifetime deal. You always can change your mind." Henrik says not fazed by his reply. "So until then I'll leave you to it."

The Mikaelson witch left the hunter's apartment without another word. Though a piece of paper was left with a phone number.
__________

"Wait hold up. You're telling me before Nik put Finn down for his 900 year nap, he had a girlfriend?" Henrik says in disbelief to Rebekah over the phone.

"Yes. Very surprising. Now we're you able to get anywhere?"

"Like I told Nik, can't get anywhere without nothing. And the ash isn't going to help." The witch reiterated. "Though I might. Might have a small gag for the doppelgänger and her friends if they happen to find out and in turn search for any remainder of wood."

"So? What's your gag?"

"I'm working on it. Though it does require the agreement a someone who close to them. But need not worry sister, I'll handle all of the finer details of my plan while you handle yours." Henrik assures before bidding farewell to her and ending the call.

Placing his phone on the table, the witch turned his head to the vampire who stood on the other side of the room of his apartment.

"Though I do think I am going to require your assistance Asher."
__________

The night hadn't gone as well as he'd hoped. His other self had tried to kill Elena after stabbing Meredith had it not been for Stefan temporarily killing my him.

Now back at his apartment, Alaric had taken a seat at this dinner table. Looking at the phone number Henrik left behind when he visited.

Sighing deeply in exhaustion, the vampire hunter inputted the number on his phone. Though he didn't hit the call button just yet.

It was either take Klaus' switch brother deal and pawn off his ring to be healed. Or continue as he is and hope that Bonnie could find another cure with the chance of him going on another killing spree.

Spending not any other moment thinking, Alaric hit the call button. Waiting as the call slowly connected.

"Mr. Saltzman, I presume." Henrik answered.

"I'll take the deal."

"Wise choice."

~~~~~~~

Very sorry for the long break. Had a bit of irl issues to deal with as well as writing and revising other fanfics. But I do hope to have a longer chapter for you soon.