The Originals Are Coming

Ivar stepped into the room, his piercing gaze sweeping over everyone present. The atmosphere grew heavy, almost suffocating, as if the very air recognized his presence. He looked at Elena first, his sharp features softening just slightly. "I'm sorry," he said simply, his voice deep and smooth, carrying a weight that made it impossible not to listen. "Let me introduce myself—I am Ivar Mikaelson."

Elena blinked, her fear momentarily replaced by confusion. "Mikaelson?" she echoed. Her eyes narrowed as she studied his face. "You… you look like Stefan. Are you a shapeshifter or something?"

That broke the tension for a moment. Ivar laughed, a low, rich sound that carried no malice but plenty of amusement. "A shapeshifter?" he repeated, shaking his head. "No. And don't insult me like that again. Those creatures are vile."

Rose, still on her knees, snorted, unable to hold back her disdain. "Idiot," she muttered under her breath, throwing a quick glance at Elena. "Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"

Trevor, meanwhile, was pale as a ghost. His hands trembled as he clutched the doorframe for support. "He came himself," he whispered, more to himself than anyone else. "This… this can't be good."

Ivar's smile vanished as he turned his attention to Rose and Trevor. His gaze bore into them, making them shrink under its intensity. "I am their God," he said, his tone calm but absolute. "And yet, you two thought it wise to meddle in my family's affairs."

Rose swallowed hard, not daring to meet his eyes. Trevor, on the other hand, looked like he was seconds away from fainting. "We… we didn't know," he stammered, his voice cracking. "We thought—"

"You thought wrong," Ivar cut him off, his voice dropping to a dangerous low. "You thought you could hand over the Petrova doppelgänger and escape my brother's wrath. But now, your fate lies with me."

Elena, still tied to the chair, glanced between them, her fear growing with every word. "Wait, what's going on? Why does everyone keep talking about me like I'm some… object?"

Ivar turned his gaze back to Elena, his tone oddly calm. "You're not an object," he said, almost like he was correcting a child. "You're more like… an ingredient. Being the doppelgänger means your blood holds certain properties. And I need it for something." His expression darkened slightly. "Whether or not these fools hand you over to my younger brother, I couldn't care less."

Before Elena could react, Ivar blurred into motion. One second, he was across the room; the next, he was right in front of her. She gasped, barely able to process what was happening as he grabbed her arm with a firm but almost gentle grip.

"This won't take long," he said matter-of-factly. With a quick motion, he nicked her skin, just enough for a thin line of blood to well up. Before it could drip, he raised his hand, and the blood floated upward, defying gravity. It swirled in the air for a moment before condensing into a small vial that appeared in his hand. Ivar capped it effortlessly and stepped back. "There. Done."

Elena was too stunned to speak, her heart pounding in her chest. She stared at the small cut on her arm, barely feeling the sting, then back at Ivar. "You… what did you do?"

Ivar ignored her, his attention shifting to Trevor. His expression hardened into something cold, merciless. "Well," he began, his voice calm but laced with finality, "I suppose I can forgive Rose. She wasn't the one responsible for Katerina's escape. She was just loyal to you as a friend. And that's something I admire."

Rose's eyes widened, her trembling hands clutching the floor beneath her. "Lord Ivar… thank you," she whispered shakily, tears spilling down her cheeks.

Ivar's gaze didn't leave Trevor. "But you… you betrayed my family. And that's something I don't forgive." He stepped closer, his tone dropping into something colder. "Don't you dare think about trespassing against us again… in this life or the next."

Before anyone could react, Trevor let out a strangled gasp. His body convulsed, and then, in an instant, he burst into pieces. Blood splattered across the walls, the floor, and everyone in the room. Rose screamed, falling into hysterical sobs, while Elena froze in her chair, her face pale as she tried to process what had just happened.

Ivar turned away, brushing the blood off his sleeve as if it were an inconvenience. Without a second glance at either of them, he began walking toward the door. "Enjoy tg3 rest of your night," he said over his shoulder, his tone completely indifferent.

The room was left in silence, save for Rose's quiet sobs and the faint sound of blood dripping onto the floor. Elena, shaking, looked at Rose, then at the door Ivar had just exited, her mind racing. Who-or what-had she just encountered?

Elena's voice shook as she broke the tense silence. "Who the hell was that?" she asked, her wide eyes locked on Rose.

Rose wiped her face with a trembling hand, her gaze fixed on the floor. "Someone you don't ever want to mess with," she muttered. She hesitated, then glanced at Elena. "And from what I can see, Stefan… is his doppelgänger."

Elena's breath hitched, confusion swirling with fear. "What does that even mean?"

Rose didn't answer immediately. Instead, she moved toward Elena and began untying her. "We don't have time for a history lesson," she said hurriedly. "You need to—"

Before she could finish, a gust of wind signaled someone's arrival, and the Salvatore brothers appeared. Damon wasted no time, vamp-speeding to Rose and slamming her against the wall. "What the hell did you do to her?" he snarled, his grip tight on her throat.

"Damon, stop!" Stefan yelled as he rushed to Elena, quickly checking her over for injuries. "Are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine," Elena stammered, still dazed.

Rose glared at Damon, struggling against his grip. "Let me go, you idiot! I'm not your enemy. Not right now, at least!"

Damon narrowed his eyes but loosened his hold slightly. "Not exactly convincing, lady."

Rose pushed his hand off her neck and straightened, rubbing the sore spot. "Listen to me. You need to make a choice. Either prepare to die, run for your lives, or hand Elena over."

Stefan turned sharply, his expression hard. "What are you talking about?"

Rose's voice dropped, her tone grim. "The Originals are coming. And the most dangerous of them all… he's already here."

Elena felt her stomach drop as Damon's cocky demeanor faltered. Stefan's face hardened further, the weight of Rose's words sinking in.

"Who's already here?" Stefan demanded, stepping closer to Rose.

Rose met his gaze, her expression filled with a mix of fear and urgency. "Ivar Mikaelson."

The room went deathly silent. Even Damon, for once, had no sarcastic remark. Elena's heart pounded as she whispered, "Who is he?"

Rose shook her head. "The one person you pray never notices you. And now, thanks to your blood, you're on his radar."