Reincarnated as Elijah Mikaelson: A Power Beyond Klaus

Chapter 5: Playing the Long Game

The witches. Sophie Deveraux's coven was growing bolder by the day, their magic weaving through New Orleans like an invisible spider's web. It wasn't just dangerous—it was downright annoying.

Every time I walked into the French Quarter, it felt like they were testing me, throwing little not detectable spells at the air just to see if I'd flinch. Spoiler alert: I didn't. But I could feel their power growing, and that meant I had to stay ahead of the game.

The problem? Staying ahead of witches required information, and information didn't come cheap.

So there I was, back in my study, surrounded by old books and ancient artifacts, trying to piece together the puzzle. Klaus had already mocked me twice for "wasting time with dusty tomes," and Rebekah had stopped by to deliver her usual mix of wit and exasperation.

"Still brooding, Elijah?" she asked, leaning against the doorframe.

"Strategizing," I corrected, not looking up from the page I was reading. "There's a difference."

She rolled her eyes. "Well, while you're busy strategizing, Niklaus is out there antagonizing half the city. Again."

Shocking. "And what would you have me do, Rebekah? Follow him around like a chaperone?"

Her lips curled into a smirk. "Well, someone has to keep him in line."

I closed the book with a sigh, finally looking up at her. "If you're finished, I do have work to do."

Rebekah huffed and left, muttering something about me being "impossible."

The thing about dealing with witches is that you can't just outmuscle them. You have to outthink them, anticipate their moves, and, most importantly, know when to strike. That's why I'd been tracking Sophie's movements, using my magic to map out the web of her coven's influence.

I'd already pinpointed several key locations:

A small apothecary where her coven gathered to perform minor rituals. A warehouse on the edge of the Quarter that housed some of their more dangerous artifacts. A hidden sanctuary where Sophie herself seemed to spend most of her time.

Each location was a potential target, but I couldn't just storm in without a plan. That's where my tracking magic came in handy.

With a bit of focus, I could pinpoint the movements of Sophie and her coven, staying one step ahead of their schemes. It wasn't a perfect system—they were crafty, and their wards made things tricky—but it was enough to give me an edge.

But here's the real kicker: I wasn't just tracking Sophie for fun. I was looking for something specific—an artifact rumored to amplify magic to an unimaginable degree. If Sophie got her hands on it, we'd be in trouble. If I got it first? Well, let's just say the odds would shift dramatically in my favor.

The artifact was said to be hidden in one of the coven's secret locations, and it was my job to find it before they did.

Why was I risking everything for a magical trinket? Because in this world, power wasn't just about strength—it was about control.

By the time I'd mapped out the coven's network and formulated a plan, it was late. The estate was quiet, the only sound the faint crackle of the fireplace. I sat back in my chair, closing my eyes for a moment.

"One step at a time," I thought. "First, find the artifact. Then, deal with Sophie. And maybe, just maybe, keep Klaus from blowing everything up in the process."

It wasn't exactly a glamorous life, but it was mine.

And for now, that was enough.