The Doppelgänger Mikaelson

"What's happening?"

Mikael's sharp voice cut through the tension. "Enough with the questions, boy," he snapped, shooting a warning glance at Niklaus, who bristled but wisely held his tongue. Mikael's piercing gaze shifted back to Ivar, curiosity glinting in his eyes as he stepped closer. He tilted his head slightly, his usually cold demeanor softened with intrigue. "What happened to your hair and eyes?" he asked, his voice steady but probing, the warrior in him noticing every detail of the transformation.

The room went still.

Rebekah, who had been kneeling beside Ivar moments ago, now stood frozen, her wide blue eyes flicking to his face. "His hair," she murmured under her breath, almost to herself. "It's brown… and his eyes—"

"Green," Kol finished, his usual sarcasm giving way to awe as he leaned casually against the wall, though his dark eyes were alert. He rubbed his chin, a sly smirk tugging at his lips as he added, "Well, this is new."

Elijah, ever the composed one, took a measured step forward, his brows knitting together as he examined Ivar closely. His hands clasped behind his back, but there was an edge of unease in his usually calm posture. "This… is unlike any spell or effect I've seen before," he said, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity.

Before anyone could respond, Esther stepped forward from the shadows of the room, her movements deliberate, her face unreadable. Her dark gaze swept over Ivar, and for the first time, a flicker of uncertainty crossed her features. She reached out, her fingers trembling slightly as she motioned toward him, but she stopped short, her hand hovering in the air.

"This isn't the result of any spell," she said, her voice low but firm, laced with something between caution and wonder. Her eyes searched his as though trying to unravel a mystery. "Nor is it an effect of what we've done."

Ivar frowned at her words, his lips pressing into a thin line. His green eyes narrowed, sharp and unyielding, and his jaw tightened. "Ask your friend Ayanna," he said bluntly, the weight of his words landing like a blow. His tone carried a hint of disdain, his gaze fixed on his mother with a mixture of mistrust and indifference.

Esther recoiled slightly, her mouth opening as if to retort, but no words came. She stared at him, stunned by his defiance.

Without another word, Ivar pushed himself off the ground, his movements fluid and deliberate. The strength coursing through his veins was undeniable, his muscles coiling with newfound power. He flexed his hands experimentally, marveling at how easily his body obeyed. His senses flared to life—he could hear the faintest rustle of fabric as Rebekah shifted, the uneven heartbeat of the girl he had fed from moments ago, even the subtle creak of the wooden beams above.

He turned abruptly, his movements swift, a blur even to those in the room. "I need to test this," he declared, his voice steady and resolute. His gaze swept over his siblings, lingering for a moment on Henrik, who stood near the corner of the room, his small frame dwarfed by the others.

Henrik looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes, his youthful features etched with both fear and fascination. The sight struck Ivar like a blow to the chest. He'll never grow up, Ivar realized bitterly. His lips twitched into a rueful smirk as the thought crossed his mind: Henrik will never get laid. Ever.

Niklaus stepped forward, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You're not going alone," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "If we've all changed, I'd like to see what this new existence has to offer."

Rebekah nodded quickly, her blonde hair swaying as she stepped closer. "I agree. If this is who we are now, we need to understand it—together."

Kol clapped his hands together, his grin widening. "Finally! Something exciting for once. Let's see what kind of trouble we can get into."

Even Elijah, who usually hesitated to indulge in impulsive actions, gave a small nod, his expression contemplative. "Understanding our abilities is paramount," he said quietly. "But we must exercise caution."

Mikael, who had been silent until now, raised a hand to silence the growing enthusiasm. "Be careful," he warned, his tone low but commanding. His sharp eyes swept over each of them, lingering on Niklaus longer than the others. "Do not let the people know of your existence—our existence. This power must remain hidden for now." With that, he turned on his heel, his broad shoulders stiff as he strode out of the room, the echo of his boots fading into the distance.

Esther watched him go, her expression unreadable. She turned her gaze to her children, her lips pressed tightly together. With this, she thought to herself, her mind swirling with schemes, the deal with Dahlia —my sister—becomes null and void.

Ivar caught the flicker of something dark in his mother's expression, but he didn't comment. Instead, he looked at his siblings, his green eyes gleaming with determination. "Let's see what these bodies can do." His words hung in the air for a moment before he strode toward the door, his movements confident, his siblings close behind.

As the group disappeared into the night, Esther remained behind, her gaze fixed on the door, her thoughts clouded with plans, doubts, and the faintest trace of fear.