Bound in the Shadows / TVD N.M

🦋~° 7 °~🦋

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Liora

After a great evening with Jeremy, filled with unexpected laughs and lightness I hadn't felt in ages, I returned to Alaric's apartment. Everything was ready for the spell. Nik was finally going to get back into his own body. And honestly, I was beyond tired of seeing Alaric's face. The guy might've been useful, but he wasn't Nik.

Nik paced back and forth across the living room, his impatience thick in the air, matching the restless energy buzzing in the pit of my stomach. This was it—Nik was about to be fully himself again. No more hiding behind someone else's face, no more temporary bodies. Elena, the Salvatores, and their little band of misfits had no idea what they were in for. Once Klaus was in his own body, the possibilities would be endless, and they weren't ready for any of it.

Just then, Maddox slipped in through the front door, leaving it slightly ajar as he surveyed the room. His sharp eyes scanned over the candles, herbs, and ancient symbols meticulously laid out. Everything was in place. Maddox, always calm and collected, nodded slightly as if that was all the confirmation we needed to begin.

Of course, Nik was never satisfied with mere gestures.

"Well, Maddox," Klaus's voice dripped with sarcasm, "good to see you've finally decided to join us. I trust my body isn't far behind?"

Maddox barely looked up, unfazed by Nik's sharp tone. "It's ready. I wouldn't be here otherwise."

I couldn't help but smirk. Nik's impatience was part of his charm—always demanding, never willing to let anything slip out of his control. As he spoke, a group of vampire lackeys entered the room, carrying a large casket. I liked to call them slaves to power—desperate for strength yet always falling short, forever obedient to someone more powerful.

The casket was set down, and for a moment, the tension hung thick in the air.

"Fine, let's get on with it then," Nik said, his eyes gleaming with a hunger that made my pulse quicken. "I've spent far too long trapped in this hunter's skin. It's time for the world to see who I truly am."

Maddox nodded, wasting no time as he moved to the ritual circle, preparing the final steps of the spell. I stepped back, standing at the edge of the room, watching the scene unfold. My eyes stayed locked on Nik as he finally settled into a chair, his confidence radiating even as he waited. Maddox began chanting, the words flowing in Latin as the room seemed to grow darker, the energy crackling with intensity.

Suddenly, Alaric's body—still possessed by Klaus—screamed, his voice filled with agony as the spell ripped through him. The sound echoed through the apartment, a chilling reminder of the power at play. And then, as quickly as it began, silence fell.

For a few heart-pounding seconds, everything remained still. Then, a loud click echoed from the casket. The lid slowly opened, creaking as it was pushed up... from the inside.

And there he was.

Niklaus, in his true form. His golden blonde hair fell perfectly into place, his piercing ocean-blue eyes catching the dim light as he stepped out of the casket. His movements were slow, confident, as though he was savoring the feeling of finally being back in his own skin. The sheer presence of him was overwhelming—he was Klaus again, not an echo hiding behind someone else.

I was so caught up in the sight of him—his every detail, his commanding presence—that I didn't even notice Alaric slumped in the chair. His body twitched briefly as consciousness flickered in his eyes. He managed to mutter weakly, confusion thick in his voice as he caught a glimpse of Katherine, who was still held captive by Klaus for her betrayal.