Return

The night had settled uneasily over Mystic Falls, casting long shadows that mirrored the town's growing fears. While the days passed with a semblance of normalcy, the nights were stained with blood. The recent string of brutal killings had sent a wave of terror through the community, driving the citizens indoors as soon as the sun dipped below the horizon. It was a fear that gripped the entire town, making even the most mundane evening stroll a distant memory.

In Mayor Lockwood's living room, the tension was palpable. The council members gathered, their faces etched with concern. Mayor Lockwood, usually composed, was pacing back and forth, his movements sharp and restless, reflecting the pressure mounting on him from all sides.

"We have to do something about these vampires," he said, his voice carrying the weight of desperation. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, the lines on his forehead deepening as he continued to pace. "They're becoming uncontrollable. The citizens are demanding action, and we can't keep stalling them."

Elizabeth Forbes, sitting with her back straight and arms crossed, exchanged a worried glance with Grayson Gilbert, who was seated beside her. Grayson, usually a man of few words, exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair as if searching for the right words.

"I hate to bring this up," Grayson began, his tone measured but heavy, "but I think our best bet lies with the same vampires who are terrorizing us." His gaze moved across the room, landing on each council member before continuing. "Which means we might have to resort to... extreme measures to get the other piece of the device from her."

Elizabeth nodded slowly, her lips pressed into a thin line. Her blue eyes were filled with a mix of resignation and resolve. "He's right," she said, her voice quieter but no less firm. "We might not have any other choice."

At that moment, Viktor, who had been standing near the back of the room, observing the exchange in silence, took a step forward. His presence was commanding, his posture relaxed yet authoritative. His piercing eyes locked onto Grayson's, searching for any hint of hesitation. "And what would those extreme measures be, if I may ask?" Viktor inquired, his tone calm but edged with a dangerous curiosity.

Grayson shifted in his seat, his jaw tightening slightly. He looked up at Viktor, the weight of the suggestion pressing on him. "We need to force Pearl's hand," Grayson replied, his voice steady but tinged with unease. "If she won't willingly give us the piece, we might have to... make her."

Elizabeth's expression darkened, her gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before she met Viktor's eyes again. "It's not something any of us want to do," she added, her voice softer, as if trying to justify the thought. "But if it means saving more lives, we have to consider it."

Mayor Lockwood stopped pacing, his eyes narrowing as he processed their words. He folded his arms across his chest, his brow furrowing in contemplation. The idea clearly troubled him, but the desperation in his eyes was unmistakable. "And how exactly do you propose we do that, Grayson?" he asked, his voice low, almost hesitant.

Grayson took a deep breath, the tension in the room thickening as he answered. "By using what she cares about most... her daughter."

Viktor's eyes glinted with a predatory light, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Ah, I see," he murmured, his voice silky smooth. "You intend to leverage her emotions against her. A risky move, but effective if done correctly."

The room fell into a heavy silence, each council member grappling with the moral implications of the plan. The unease was clear in their faces—tension lines around the eyes, clenched jaws, fingers tapping nervously against armrests.

Mayor Lockwood broke the silence, his voice laced with reluctant resolve. "We'll discuss the details later," he said, his tone final. "But if we go down this path, we need to be prepared for the consequences."

Viktor inclined his head slightly, acknowledging the decision with a cold, knowing smile. "Indeed. We wouldn't want things to get out of hand, now would we?"

As the council members exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of what they were planning hung heavy in the air. The decision had been made, but the cost was yet to be paid.

Elsewhere

The moon hung high in the sky, casting its pale light over the secluded clearing where a vampire had cornered his prey. The woman, trembling and wide-eyed, backed away until her spine pressed against the rough bark of a tree. The vampire, eyes dark with hunger, leaned in closer, his fangs extending as he prepared to sink them into her neck.

Just as the vampire was about to strike, a smooth, mocking voice broke the silence. "That's no way to treat a lady," the voice said, cutting through the tension like a knife.

The vampire froze, his fangs inches from the woman's throat. Slowly, he turned his head, his eyes narrowing as they landed on the figure who had spoken. It was a man, standing casually in the shadows at the edge of the clearing, his posture relaxed, hands in his pockets, as if he hadn't a care in the world.

The vampire's lips curled into a sneer, his grip on the woman tightening. "Come teach me the proper way to talk to a lady, then," he spat, his voice dripping with contempt.

The man chuckled, a low, amused sound that seemed to reverberate through the clearing. "I would have very much obliged," he said, his tone light and almost playful. "But you see, my sister wants to do it herself."

Before the vampire could fully process the words, a force like a sledgehammer struck him from the side. A hand grabbed his shoulder with a grip of iron, and in an instant, he was hurled through the air. He crashed into a tree with bone-shattering force, the trunk splintering under the impact.

The vampire groaned, disoriented but quick to recover. He scrambled to his feet, a snarl tearing from his throat as he glared at his assailant. But the figure that stepped out of the shadows—a woman, her blonde hair catching the moonlight—regarded him with cold, disdainful eyes. She looked at him as though he were nothing more than an insect, an annoyance beneath her notice.

"You were saying something about being taught how to treat a lady?" she asked, her voice sharp as glass. "Well, the first lesson is never to glare at one."

The vampire barely had time to blink before she moved, her form blurring as she vamp-sped towards him. In a heartbeat, she was in front of him, her hand plunging into his chest with brutal efficiency. His eyes widened in shock and pain as her fingers closed around his heart.

"Keep that in mind in your next life," she said coldly, and with a single, vicious tug, she ripped the heart from his chest.

The vampire's body went slack, his eyes glazing over as he crumpled to the ground, lifeless. The woman who had been his intended victim watched the scene in horror, her scream piercing the night air as she saw the bloody heart still clutched in the blonde woman's hand.

The man from the shadows moved quickly, his expression softening as he approached the terrified woman. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, his eyes locking with hers. "Shh," he whispered, a soothing smile playing on his lips. "I would have loved to have you for myself, but you're in luck tonight. My brother says never to eat from the people of Mystic Falls right now."

The woman's terrified expression began to relax as his compulsion took hold. Her body seemed to go limp, her eyes glassy as she stared up at him.

"You'll forget everything that happened tonight," he continued, his voice smooth and hypnotic. "You're going to go home, sleep, and wake up tomorrow like it's any other day."

She nodded slowly, her mind blank and obedient. Without another word, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the darkness of the night.

The man watched her go, his smile fading as he turned back to his sister. "Clean your mess, Rebekah," he said, his tone now laced with a mixture of annoyance and fondness.

Rebekah looked down at the lifeless vampire, her lip curling in disgust. With a flick of her wrist, she conjured a small fireball in the palm of her hand. The flames danced in her eyes as she tossed it onto the corpse, the fire quickly consuming it until nothing remained but ashes.

"Done," she said, dusting her hands off as if she had just finished a trivial task. "Now let's get out of here. It's time for some family reunion."

Kol grinned, his eyes glinting with a mix of excitement and mischief. "Couldn't agree more, sister. Let's go make it a night to remember."

With that, the two Originals vanished into the night, leaving behind nothing but the smoldering remains of the vampire who had dared cross their path.