Jonathan Gilbert's Journal

Journal Entry of Jonathan Gilbert

Date: September 18, 1864

The past few days have revealed troubling news in Mystic Falls, much of it centered around Giuseppe Salvatore's suspicions of Viktor Mikaelson and his family. Giuseppe, always a man governed by his instincts, seems convinced that Viktor is not merely one of us but something far more dangerous. His paranoia has grown to the point where he is ready to act on it, despite the lack of substantial evidence. Yet, there are oddities surrounding the Mikaelsons that we cannot ignore.

Giuseppe has grown insistent, claiming that Viktor and his family are vampires—or worse. His latest accusation, that the Mikaelsons are somehow aging slower than ordinary folk, has some truth to it. Though none of us have witnessed anything directly implicating Viktor, it is undeniable that he, his wife, his sister Freya, and even their young daughter Malia, seem to defy time. I, like the others, dismissed it initially, for no evidence surfaced of vampiric behavior. Vervain has had no effect on them, and neither have they shown the aversion to sunlight that vampires are known for. Still, Giuseppe remains firm in his belief, and I cannot shake the feeling that perhaps we should dig deeper into the matter.

Tonight, as the council gathered, Giuseppe once again shared his suspicions, this time with the sheriff, William Forbes, at his side. William, normally cautious, has found himself agreeing with Giuseppe's concerns. In light of recent events—strange deaths around town, with bodies drained of blood—William could no longer ignore the uneasy coincidences. He suspects the Mikaelsons as well.

As the council meeting progressed, tempers flared. Jacob Lockwood and Thomas Fell remained skeptical, trying to ground us in logic. They pointed out that vampires cannot have children, reminding us that Viktor has a daughter, Malia. However, Giuseppe's rage is blinding him to reason. He doesn't care for logic, only for ridding Mystic Falls of what he believes is a growing threat.

Despite the council's reluctance, William Forbes and Giuseppe have concocted a plan. Tomorrow night, Giuseppe will confront the Mikaelsons while William slips into their home unnoticed. If Giuseppe's suspicions are proven correct, we will not hesitate to act. We will end this threat, no matter how dire it becomes.

If Viktor and his family are indeed what Giuseppe claims, it could mean the difference between life and death for the people of Mystic Falls. The founders' council will protect this town at any cost, even if it means challenging the Mikaelsons—a family we once thought of as allies.

Giuseppe's determination is unmatched, but I fear his obsession with this hunt may lead us into dangerous territory. Still, we must see this through, for the sake of Mystic Falls and its future.

---

Date: September 19, 1864

What unfolded tonight was far beyond what any of us could have imagined.

William had successfully infiltrated the Mikaelsons' estate while Giuseppe approached Viktor directly. What he found confirmed our worst fears. Stefan and Damon—Giuseppe's own sons—were feeding on human blood, watched over by Viktor and Freya. The sight shattered any doubts we might have held. The Salvatore brothers have indeed become vampires, and they are under the protection of the Mikaelsons.

The moment Giuseppe witnessed this abomination, he was overcome with fury, vowing to destroy the creatures that his sons had become. In his blind rage, he aimed his musket at Stefan, ready to kill him. But before the shot could reach its target, Freya, with abilities unlike anything I've ever seen, intervened. She destroyed the bullet in midair, and not with any weapon. She used magic—conjuring power with her hands, deflecting the bullet and making it vanish into dust.

This was no vampire trick. Freya is something far worse than a vampire—something far more powerful.

Giuseppe, enraged and terrified, turned his weapon on her next, only to meet the same result. His attacks were useless against her. Then, in a chilling display, Freya conjured fire from thin air, using it to burn the corpses that had already fallen victim to Damon's hunger. The message was clear—she is not to be trifled with.

It was then that the Mikaelsons made their position known. Viktor, as calm as ever, addressed Giuseppe with cold calculation. He had no intention of hiding what they were any longer. Viktor handed his young daughter, Malia, to a woman named Qetsiyah, his wife, someone who had arrived without any of us realizing. She, too, bore a power unlike anything I had seen before.

As we gathered our forces to attack the Mikaelsons, it became clear that our efforts would be in vain. They are no ordinary vampires, and they have allies we know nothing about. Giuseppe's rage blinded him to the sheer magnitude of the situation. His instincts were correct about the Mikaelsons, but we are woefully unprepared for the battle ahead.

Mikaelson himself arrived shortly after, his presence as commanding as ever. He and his wife Esther now stand united with their children, facing off against Giuseppe and the rest of us. Despite the sheer numbers on our side, I cannot shake the feeling that we are walking into a slaughter.

This night will be the turning point for Mystic Falls. Whether it ends in victory or utter ruin, I cannot say. I only hope the founders are prepared for what they've unleashed.

---

Present Day - Grayson Gilbert

Grayson's hands trembled as he turned the final page of the journal. His mind reeled with the implications of what he'd just read. The journal, written by his ancestor Jonathan Gilbert, detailed events that had been kept secret for generations. The confrontation with the Mikaelsons, the truth about vampires—and now, with the Salvatore brothers back in Mystic Falls, history seemed to be repeating itself.

He couldn't deny it any longer. His town was once again at the mercy of vampires, just as it had been in the days of his ancestors. And now, with Damon and Stefan coming to his doorstep, the weight of Jonathan's words pressed heavily on his shoulders.

"They're vampires... they all are," Grayson muttered, the journal slipping from his trembling fingers as a cold realization gripped him.

---

The sound of a knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts, and within moments, the Salvatore brothers entered his home. The storm of history was coming for Mystic Falls once again.