Chapter 30

Chapter 30

First moves

We arrived back at my home, all the tomb vampires were now waiting there, nervous expressions on all but Pearl's faces. In total, there looked to be over forty of them, most being younger vampires, with only a handful being ancient, Pearl, her daughter and three others being the ones to have passed that five-hundred-year mark. The rest were at least two hundred years old, most falling between two hundred and fifty and three hundred years old. It was truly not a bad group of vampires, and with training and discipline, they could become a formidable ****. Unfortunately for them, the one vampire they tried to fight was an original, so they stood no actual chance.

"Alexandria, take Bonnie and her grandmother to get some rest", I said to her. With a nod, she left, taking both witches with her. "Why are we here"? one of the vampires spoke up, breaking their silence. "Because the world has changed since you were sealed away, you need help to integrate back into society. I also see potential in you, that is the reason I held back against you all, instead of just killing you outright," I answered, watching as the reality that I held back hit them. They, of course, knew I was far beyond them in terms of power, but they probably thought I had gone all out. I had not even used any of my more supernatural powers, allowing just my strength and skills to overwhelm them.

"I guess that you wish to stay here in Mystic Falls, too stay here and claim your rightful place at the top of the food chain". "Yes, that is right. What is it that you want from us"? It was Pearl who spoke up this time. "What I want from you is loyalty, for you to abide by my rules, for you to work with me to make a place for vampires in this town," I answered quickly, leaving out the fact that I wanted to expand far past this town. "What if we don't?" one of the other vampires asked, annoyance filling his voice. "Then you will have exactly two options: leave, never set foot on the lands under my control, or you will die", I stated, not trying to hide my intentions.

"But your loyalty will not be for nought, I notice a lack of daylight rings on your fingers. I can allow you to walk in the sun, I can make you daylight rings. The sun will not have control over you, I ask from you for this is loyalty" I said, allowing them to think on my words.

After a few moments of thinking, they all seemed to agree, and Pearl spoke, "We will follow you, we won't break your rules, that is a promise" Pearl spoke again. Good, I knew she would be smart enough to understand that siding with me would be good for them all.

"Now that that is settled, you need to find a place to stay. I am sure Anna already has a place in mind", I said, thankful we had reached an agreement. "I don't know if there is an abandoned mansion outside of town," Anna said, confirming my thoughts. "Good, I should warn you, many of the townspeople are under the effects of vervain. I have a plan to stop that, but until then, you may have to venture outside of town for food. Make sure, though, that you don't kill anyone; the last thing we need is to bring attention to ourselves. Anna, I trust you to help them start to get used to the modern world," I said, to which Anna nodded, agreeing to what I said. "You should leave then, before the sun rises" I said, watching as they left. It was still a few hours until the sun would rise but I heard no argument from them.

I turned and looked upon those still left in the room, Elena, Caroline, Rose and Lexi, all wearing different expressions. "You're just letting them go"? Caroline questioned. "Yes, they did not do anything to deserve ****, they will be more useful alive than dead",, I state,d, leaving no room for questioning. "What now?" Elena asked me, with worry on her face. "Now you and Caroline will go home, Rose will take you both, just to make sure no vampire is a threat. I will make sure Bonnie's grandmother is taken care of".

They left after that leaving just me and Lexi in the room. "Care to begin the plan, to destroy the vervaIn" I ask, a smile grew on my face. "Now, after everything that has happened tonight. Sure, let's do it then," she agreed.

We left travelling quickly through the night, a heavy rain beating down on us both. We arrived at the Salvatore boarding house within a short amount of time, the house engulfed in darkness. "Where do you think the vervain is" I asked Lexi. "The basement, it would make the most sense" she answered. Agreeing I crept soundlessly to a window, seeing the fireplace near the door that descended to the basement. Casting an invisibility spell on us both, I approached the house before focusing on the fireplace. Unlit logs lay in it, and in one moment, my magic burst them into flame.

Looking at the flames I started to pull on them, my control over fire allowing me to turn the small flames into a large fireball that began to consume all around it. Stepping back I watched as the fire grew rapidly, my magic making it flow like water, covering the entire room in minutes, before it started on the rest of the house.

The flames spread all around the building, yet I knew this would not be enough, I needed to make sure the vervain was destroyed. I walked forward and with a push the wall caved in, trying to step inside I found myself blocked. The magic barrier that stopped us from entering a house without an invitation still stood. So I pulled on the flames, hoping that it would destroy the building enough so I could enter. It took another ten minutes before I tried again. Stepping through the hole I had made, I found no barrier, so I continued forward.

The flame consumed me, yet I did not burn, my resistance to fire giving me enough time to achieve what I needed to. I walked forward, the fire giving me strength and comfort. Arriving at the door, I started pushing against it, the thick metal door giving way as the hinges and lock snapped like twigs before my strength. Walking down the stairs, I pulled the flames behind me, filling the untouched basement. It did not take too long until I finally found what I was looking for, dozens of vervain plants filling one of the rooms. With a single pull, the flames filled the room, consuming the vervain, as though it were made of paper. I stood watching, making sure every plant was consumed before turning leaving the house to be consumed in white fire.

Walking out I saw the still invisible form of Lexi, seeing through the spell I had cast. Her eyes met my form, still covered in flames, my skin still unblemished and I saw her eyes widen in surprise at my state. "How are you not dead? Fire is one of the most effective weapons against vampires. Is that one of the strengths of originals?" she asked, her eyes still wide in surprise. "No, my siblings are still just as **** to fire, it is a gift only I possess" I explained before beckoning her forward. "The vervain is destroyed, we should leave this place", I said while both extinguishing the flames and conjuring new clothes for myself. I turned and, with Lexi at my side, started heading home, just as the sirens of fire engines cut through the night.

"What next, then, Asmund?" Lexi asked. "We stick to the plan, we give it a week or two before starting to compel our way into the local council. We get rid of the mayor as he is immune to compulsion thanks to him being a werewolf. Then we start increasing our power in the area, finally we properly install my rules and start building up the number of vampires in the area," I explain, going over the plan again. "What is my role in this? You said you would deal with the mayor," she asked. "You will help by compelling the humans that know of us, you will also help me with the more bloodthirsty vampires, your control is something that may be taught to others. Once that is all done, well, I may one day leave this town, perhaps only for a short amount of time, and I would need someone to keep the peace here ." I said. I watched a slight shock appear on her face at the last bit, obviously surprised that I would put so much trust in her.

We got back home quickly, looking over to where the Salvatore house once stood, the night sky was still lit up by an orange glow. A shame that the building had to be burnt down, it was a necessary sacrifice, to lessen the suspicion that would be caused by just destroying the vervain.

We were met by Alexandria and Bonnie when we walked into the house. I looked at Alexandria and she seemed to guess what my question would be. "She is getting better, I fed her my blood that should be enough to stop her from dying," she said, explaining what condition Bonnie's grandmother was in. "Good, Bonnie, you may take another of the guest rooms for as long as needed, you do need to get some rest," I said. The young witch looked thankful at that, the day had taken its toll on her. After thanking us, she left to get some sleep, leaving just me, Alexandria and Lexi, not for long though, as Rose returned not long after.

The first main threat in Mystic Falls had been dealt with, recruited to my side. Though I was not so naive as to think they would all be loyal, a few would probably plot to overthrow me; if that did happen, I would not hesitate to make an example of them.

The first part of my plan to gain control over Mystic Falls had also gone smoothly. Destroying their supply of vervain, but it was just the beginning, I would still have to undermine the founding families' efforts and maybe even turn them against each other. Though that would have to wait, it would take at least a week for the vervain to leave the systems of those that consumed it only then could I strike. For no, I would wait; one week was nothing in the grand scheme of things after all.