The love for my enemy

Chapter Four: The Hunt Begins

The tension in Mystic Falls was palpable. The rogue vampires were no longer lurking in the shadows. Over the next few days, reports of disappearances and attacks had doubled. It was clear Sebastian wasn’t wasting time, and neither was Klaus.

In the Mikaelson mansion, Klaus stood in front of a map of Mystic Falls, red pins marking the locations of every attack. Elijah leaned against the fireplace, watching his brother with mild curiosity.

“You’re obsessing,” Elijah remarked, sipping his bourbon.

Klaus didn’t look up. “If Sebastian thinks he can waltz into my town and threaten what’s mine, he’s in for a rude awakening.”

Elijah smirked. “And by ‘what’s mine,’ I assume you mean more than Mystic Falls?”

Klaus shot him a glare. “I don’t have time for your insinuations, Elijah.”

Before Elijah could respond, the doors burst open, and Arianna stormed in, a bundle of papers in her hands.

“Do you ever knock?” Klaus asked, exasperated.

“Do you ever give me a reason to?” she countered, dropping the papers onto the table. “I found something. Turns out, Sebastian’s been busy recruiting from nearby towns. These are police reports and missing persons cases that match the same M.O. as the attacks here.”

Elijah raised an eyebrow. “Impressive. You’ve been doing your homework.”

“Someone has to,” Arianna said, pointedly ignoring Klaus’s eye roll. “I also found something else.”

She spread out a page with a drawing of a dagger etched with runes.

“This is the weapon Sebastian’s after,” she said. “Apparently, it’s called the Blade of Thorns. According to legend, it was forged by a witch who hated vampires so much she created a weapon that could end them permanently—Originals included.”

“Convenient,” Klaus muttered.

“And it gets worse,” Arianna continued. “I think I know where it is.”

That got Klaus’s attention. “You do?”

“Yeah,” she said, tapping a spot on the map. “An old church just outside town. The place has been abandoned for decades, but according to some pretty creepy folklore, it’s where the witch who made the dagger was buried. If Sebastian knows about it, he’s probably headed there.”

Klaus studied the map, his mind racing. “Then we’ll intercept him. Elijah, gather our siblings. We may need reinforcements.”

“And me?” Arianna asked.

“You,” Klaus said, turning to her, “are staying here.”

Excuse me?” Arianna said, her voice rising. “After all the work I’ve done, you think I’m just going to sit this one out?”

“This isn’t up for debate,” Klaus said, his tone cold. “Sebastian is dangerous, and I won’t have you getting yourself killed.”

Arianna folded her arms. “Funny, I don’t remember asking for your permission.”

Klaus stepped closer, his blue eyes narrowing. “Don’t test me, love.”

“Don’t underestimate me, Klaus,” she shot back. “I’m coming, whether you like it or not.”

Elijah cleared his throat. “As much as I enjoy the two of you bickering, perhaps we should focus on the matter at hand. If Sebastian truly believes the dagger is in that church, we don’t have much time.”

Klaus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Fine,” he said finally, glaring at Arianna. “But stay close to me. If you so much as stub your toe, I’ll make you regret it.”

Arianna smirked. “Aw, you do care.”

“Let’s go,” Klaus muttered, brushing past her.

That night, the group arrived at the church. The crumbling building loomed in the darkness, its broken windows and overgrown vines giving it an ominous air.

“This place is straight out of a horror movie,” Arianna whispered, clutching a flashlight.

“Stay alert,” Klaus said, leading the way inside.

The air inside the church was cold and heavy, and the scent of damp earth filled their noses. The group moved cautiously, their footsteps echoing in the empty space.

“Are we sure this thing is even here?” Damon asked, staking out the perimeter.

better be,” Arianna muttered. “I didn’t spend all night digging through records for nothing.”

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the church, followed by a low growl.

“Looks like we’re not alone,” Elijah said calmly.

From the shadows emerged a group of vampires, their eyes glowing with hunger. At the center stood Sebastian, a smug smile on his face.

“Well, well,” he said, his voice dripping with mockery. “If it isn’t the mighty Klaus Mikaelson. And look—you brought your little human friend. How charming.”

Sebastian,” Klaus said, his voice low and dangerous. “Leave now, and I might let you live.”

Sebastian laughed. “Oh, Klaus. You always were good at jokes.”

With a flick of his wrist, Sebastian signaled his vampires to attack.

Chaos erupted as the two groups clashed. Klaus moved with deadly precision, taking down enemies with brutal efficiency, while Elijah fought with his usual calm grace.

Arianna, armed with a stake Klaus had reluctantly given her, found herself face-to-face with a snarling vampire.

“Uh, time out?” she tried, backing away.

The vampire lunged, but before it could reach her, Klaus appeared, ripping the vampire’s heart out in one swift motion.

“I told you to stay close,” he growled.

“I was handling it!” she protested.

“Clearly,” he said, shoving her behind him.

Meanwhile, Damon and Caroline were fighting off another wave of vampires near the altar, where a faint glow emanated from the ground.

“I think we found something!” Caroline called out.

Klaus turned, his eyes narrowing. “The dagger.”

Sebastian, noticing the glow as well, grinned. “And it’s mine.”

With a burst of speed, he bolted toward the altar, but Klaus intercepted him, their clash shaking the very walls of the church.

As the others fought off the remaining vampires, Arianna crept closer to the altar. The glow was coming from beneath a slab of stone.

“Don’t even think about it,” Damon said, spotting her.

“I’m not thinking,” she replied, already pulling at the stone.

With a groan, the slab shifted, revealing a small compartment—and inside it, the Blade of Thorns.

Arianna stared at the dagger, its dark surface etched with glowing runes.

Uh, guys?” she said, holding it up. “I think I found it.”

Every head turned to her, including Sebastian’s.

“Perfect,” he said, his grin widening. “Bring it to me, little human.”

Klaus growled, his eyes flashing with fury. “Touch her, and I’ll rip you apart.”

Sebastian smirked. “Then come and try.”