Devils in The Details (Edited)

(Erik POV)

It has been a few hours since I gave my blood to Juliette. Effectively changing the first sired vampire from Lucien, who wouldn't be turned for a few months yet, to Juliette.

I still don't know if it was the right choice, but it is easier to enjoy my life again with her. I have been moving on from my first love. And even learning to forgive Elijah for what he did. With the help of Klaus, Rebekah, Lilly, and now Juliette, I feel like I won't hate him for our shared eternity. I hear a noise coming from the gardens entrance of the castle and see all 6 of my siblings. Klaus walking in with Rebekah and Elijah on either side on the side of Elijah is Lilly who is holding hands with him. On the other side of Rebekah is Kol and Finn is next to him.

They stop in front of me and Klaus says.

"I have been told by our sweet sister Rebekah that you think you found a way to break our curse."

I nod and tell them.

"Yes. Well, it wasn't me who thought of it, but I am the only one of us who has a shot of breaking this curse."

So, I tell them everything I plan to do and Finn the ever-distant but loveable brother of mine says.

"Are you positive it will work brother? Dealing with a soul is a dangerous thing, for any witch to do much less their own soul."

Lilly nudged Elijah who cleared his throat and said.

"What can we do to help?"

I glare at him for a long moment before sighing and saying.

"I just need you 6 to watch me.  I am going to meditate and try to find where the curse has taken root and siphon it away. I don't know how long this will take."

They all nod and I move to the center of the gardens. Sitting down and closing my eyes I feel throughout my body, and I can feel where my magic is.

(In Erik's mind's eye)

It's like a black hole in the center of my being, so I feel a little more. Until I find a part of my soul that has the feeling of a tortured beast being constantly restrained by chains made of black slime. To force it to stay separated from the rest of my soul. I can feel the pain and agony it is constantly going through. Being forced and torn away from the rest of my soul has tormented my wolf for the past year. I reach for my magic and connect it to the chains of black slime.

I feel all the agony that my wolf has gone through in this last year. It gets so bad with time that I screamed. While holding onto the black slime of chains with my magic. Trying as hard as possible to siphon it all away.

(Outside Erik's mind)

The 6 originals have been waiting in the gardens for Erik to finish what he is doing. When black slime-like blood started to leak from Erik's eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. He opened his mouth into a silent scream. The veins on his forehead and neck pulsing with the strain his body is under.

Elijah tensed up feeling a power coming from Erik. Only feeling it once. When Esther and Mikael cursed Erik and Klaus. So, Elijah grabbed Lilly and Rebekah, and then ran to the entrance of the gardens. With Finn, Kol, and Klaus behind him, they made it out of the gardens just as the silent scream became a blood-curdling scream of pain.

"AAGGHHHH."

And a magical pulse was forcefully released from Erik's body as he was raised into the air. All 6 of his siblings look out into the gardens and see a Crater of devastation.

Floating in the center of the now destroyed gardens is Erik whose eyes snapped open and looked right at Elijah just like when they were fighting each other. With golden yellow eyes with veins slithering under them on his lower eyelids. And like a puppet with its cords cut Erik crashed into the earth after his eyes became his normal green color and his skin started to turn into a grey stone-like color with thick black veins sticking throughout his whole body. His eyes closed and he desiccated before his siblings worried eyes.

(Erik's POV)

I am in the clearing that Tatia and I found, the same one I awoke in with her on my last day as a human, and the same one that I watched my brother kill her and released my own beast, against Elijahs. But over the grave I dug for Tatia, is a fully grown white oak tree. As I am looking at it behind me, I hear an exotic Greek accent say.

"It truly will become a beautiful Tree."

I turned around and saw a bald black man. Shorter than me by a few inches, in royal clothes fit for a king. Looking into his eyes I can almost feel like he knows what I am thinking. And he smirks at me.

"Yes, I can hear you, Erik... I must say you are a fascinating specimen... So focused on your family, but never able to stop anything that happens to them."

Looking at him I know exactly who he is. Getting a slightly shocked look from him.

"Cade the self-proclaimed devil."

He actually smiled and said.

"Self-proclaimed or not, I have been at this for a long.... long time... Before the first person to wear your face walked this Earth instead of sleeping in it."

I glare at him and ask.

"What do you want from me, Cade? Outside of killing for my family I have done no true sins, as of yet."

He smirks again, but I continue.

"And thousands have done the same throughout the history of this world."

He nodded and said.

"Like I said you are fascinating to me.... I came to know about your family through the pain, fear, and death they caused to their fellow villagers last year. And as I was watching the show, I saw you. The only one of them that wasn't killing. No.... you were working on a way to be with someone you loved... I felt a connection to you that made me take an interest in you. See I once-"

"Cared so deeply about the people of your village. So much so that you even used your gifts for their benefit. But when they found out what you were, they turned on you. Burned you alive, tied to a post and in your death, you released a psychic wave. That created a whole different plane of existence that you called hell and claimed all sinners to. I know."