26

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In 1850, Elias aimed to colonize the yet-undiscovered Mystic Falls. Upon arrival, they found the Bennett witches, who had fled to the area. Elias offered them protection against both supernatural threats and the era's prevalent slavery in return for their service and allegiance. After some hesitation, the Bennett witches agreed, valuing the safety and freedom Elias promised.

Elias expended much of his power to uphold the promise of protection to the Bennett witches. Despite the cost, the outcome was fruitful. He successfully unified the Bennett witches with his coven and pack, driven by a personal motive. He wanted to protect the Bennett witches as a tribute to his mother, Ayana.

Elias took a decisive step to secure the future of Mystic Falls and its inhabitants by purchasing the land and the surrounding areas. He then entrusted the deeds to his coven, ensuring that the territory would be under the guardianship and control of those aligned with his vision and commitment to protection. With this strategic move, he fortified the safety and autonomy of the community he helped build.

Having solidified this legacy, Elias left Mystic Falls and returned to his family. When questioned about his whereabouts or the nature of his recent endeavors, he remained enigmatic, not disclosing the full extent of his actions or the new alliance he had fostered. 

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Ten years later, Elias and two witches approached a large steamboat. Inside, it was eerily quiet. Elias told the witches to stay behind as he investigated. Soon, he heard a woman's desperate voice. 

"Please, keep it from Lilly," she begged.Julian's voice was cold and threatening. "Don't worry, you won't be telling anyone," he sneered before striking Valerie. 

Fearful for herself and her unborn child, Valerie begged for mercy. Julian, however, launched into a bitter tirade, "You think you can ruin my plans? This child changes nothing; your pregnancy changes nothing." He made his way towards Valerie, attempting to attack her once again, but Elias vamped in and ripped out Julain's heart. 

Valarie looked up at him and whispered " S..Stefan" 

Elias looked at her and said, "You got the wrong person, but I'm here to help." 

He went to her and bit into his wrist, feeding it to Valerie and healing her, then knocked her out. Not wanting more complaints, he put her into his arms and walked out of the boat, but not before having one of the witches light it on fire. 

 Looking at the unconscious Valerie, Elias listened carefully and could hear a little heartbeat in her, beating like a hummingbird. He had accomplished his goal for the day. Elias placed Valerie on the floor, watching his coven do their magic. 

They chanted, " Magi some et immortalis. Binde oss. tem dormet et animam suam coniungat illi." he bit into his wrist once again, letting his blood drip onto her forehead; he watched as the blood melded into her skin, leaving a mark on her forehead. The spell was simple but effective. It had two purposes: to put Valerie into a protective sleep for her and her baby's safety and to link her life to his, keeping her safe from aging or diseases. 

Elias didn't have the time to take care of Valerie, so he picked her up from the floor, tucked her into a coffin, and left her in the care of the Spellman witches, he quickly have them their good bye's and left. 

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Elias, feeling bored and missing the excitement his siblings brought, decided to remove the daggers from Rebekah and Kol. Stealthily, he hid the daggers away with Finn's, then returned with a fresh victim, eagerly anticipating the revival of his siblings. He slit the person's hand, allowing the blood to drip into Rebekah's and Kol's mouths. As they latched onto the wrist, they drained the victim dry.

As they came to, Elias exclaimed with a mixture of relief and excitement, "Finally, you're both awake!"

Kol, disoriented, stood up and inquired, "How long was I daggered for?"

Elias casually replied, "100 years, give or take." He then turned to Rebekah, adding, "And you, a couple of decades."

With a mischievous glint, Elias looked at them and asked, "Now, who wants to cause some chaos?"

While Finn was preoccupied and Niklaus was lost in his latest romantic conquest, Elijah was engrossed in writing what he insisted on calling his journals, much to Elias's amusement, who referred to them teasingly as diaries. Unperturbed by Elijah's preferences, Elias gathered his recently awakened siblings for an outing.

As they sneaked out, Elias glanced at Rebekah and Kol, his eyes gleaming with a predatory red hue and veins pulsating under his eyes. Are you guys feeling a bit hungry?" he asked, a knowing smirk on his face.

They ventured to a nearby village, quaint and unsuspecting. Sensing an opportunity for mischief and indulgence, Elias proposed a challenge to Kol and Rebekah, "Let's see who can claim the most tonight," turning their hunt into a twisted game.

The trio launched into a frenzied hunt, swiftly moving through the village and draining the villagers. Kol, with wild laughter, claimed victim after victim. Rebekah hunted cruelly while Elias moved with a commanding presence.

As they finished, Kol boasted with a wide grin, "Count them; I've surely taken the most tonight!"

Rebekah, wiping her mouth, retorted, "Quality over quantity, dear brother."

"Don't be jealous, sister," Kol teased with a smirk.

Rebekah rolled her eyes, ignoring him. She turned to Elias, her expression changing to one of inquiry. "What are you doing?"

"Burning the village to the ground," Elias replied calmly, preparing to set the place ablaze. "Mikael is still after us. I don't like leaving any loose ends."

Upon their return, Niklaus, furious about their escapade, lunged towards Elias. However, Finn intervened before he could land a blow, swiftly taking Niklaus down. Elias laughed at the sight, his gaze meeting Niklaus's enraged one.

"Enjoy dealing with both of them," Elias taunted, referring to the awakened siblings. "And also, I hid their daggers. Enjoy finding them," he added with a mischievous smirk.

With that, Elias quickly used his vampire speed, taking Finn along with him, leaving a fuming Niklaus behind to deal with the aftermath of their night out.

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As time passed, Elias settled into a life he found contentment in. Unable to find the hidden daggers, Niklaus eventually gave up the search, though not without frequent snide remarks. Years of separation melted away when Josaphine reentered Elias's life, much to his surprise. He had thought her long gone, but she was very much alive.

Together, they made their way to New Orleans, claiming it as their territory. Following the successful model he established in Mystic Falls, Elias discreetly sent members of his coven to integrate with the local witch community.

As the years passed, Elias and his family ruled New Orleans like royalty, with Niklaus demanding obedience and punishing those who defied him. The dynamic changed when Niklaus empathized with Marcel, a young slave, and decided to adopt him. However, Marcel struggled to fit in and was often isolated. Elias noticed this and felt sympathy for the boy, who was only 12 and out of his depth in his new family's intense and dangerous world.

Elias noticed Marcel sitting alone, his posture tense and eyes wary. Walking over, he tried to ease into the conversation.

"Marcel, isn't it? Must be quite the change for you," Elias said, trying to sound friendly.

Marcel glanced up, a flicker of unease passing his features. "Yeah, it's... different," he replied hesitantly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Elias crouched to be at eye level, noticing the boy's discomfort. "It can be a lot, I know. This place, these people," he gestured vaguely around, "it's overwhelming even for the best of us."

Marcel shifted uneasily, clearly not used to this kind of attention. "I guess so," he murmured, not meeting Elias's eyes.

"Are you hungry?" Elias asked, noticing Marcel's tentative nod. He reached out, gently guiding the boy towards the kitchen.

As Elias started to wash his hands, he noticed Marcel's curious gaze fixed on him. "Why don't you wash up too? We can do something together. It'll be good to learn," Elias suggested, offering a warm smile.

Marcel hesitated, then slowly moved to the sink. "I've never really cooked before," he admitted, a bit embarrassed.

Elias chuckled softly, "Well, today's as good a day as any to start. Come on, I'll teach you. It's one of the many skills you'll find useful here."

As they began preparing the meal together, the kitchen filled with the sounds of chopping and sizzling, and Marcel gradually became more at ease.

Elias guided him through each step. "Now, hold the knife like this. That's it; careful with your fingers," he instructed.

Marcel concentrated on the task, slowly gaining confidence. "Like this?" he asked, looking up at Elias for approval.

"Exactly like that. You're a natural," Elias encouraged with a smile.

Marcel couldn't help but smile back, feeling a bit of pride. "What are we making?"

"A simple stew. It's hearty and easy to make. A good starting point for any chef," Elias explained, stirring the pot.

As they continued, Marcel became more talkative. "Where did you learn to cook like this?"

"My mother taught me a long time ago," Elias shared a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

"That's nice," Marcel said softly, thinking of his past. "I never really had anyone to teach me things like this."

"Well, you do now," Elias said, placing a comforting hand on Marcel's shoulder. "And we'll ensure you learn all you need to, not just cooking."

After they finished their meal, Elias noticed Marcel's tiredness. The day had worn on, and it was getting late.

"You must be exhausted. Let's get you to bed," Elias suggested, seeing the weary look in Marcel's eyes.

He led Marcel to his room, settling him in comfortably. Before leaving, Elias placed a glass of water on the nightstand, ensuring Marcel had everything he needed.

"Sleep well," Elias said softly, offering a reassuring smile. "Good night, Marcel."

When Elias returned to his room, he was greeted by a smiling Finn.

"Why the smile?" Elias asked, mirroring the grin on Finn's face.

Finn's eyes shone with a touch of warmth. "I saw you with Marcel. The boy hasn't opened up to anyone yet, but you managed to reach him," he said.

"I'd be careful, though," Finn cautioned, a hint of seriousness in his tone. "Klaus is known to get jealous."

Without another word, he climbed into bed, finding comfort in Finn's arms as they settled in for the night.

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FOLLOW, VOTE, COMMENT 

This is the Start of Elias and Marcel's beautiful Father-Son relationship, and it isn't the only character he'll take under his wing and adopt.