Vampire

The Salvatore Boarding House, or I guess, right now it was just the Salvatore House. Was a large sprawling estate. No wonder they'd eventually make the place into a school. The show couldn't do it justice, paved walkways, a fountain up at the front, trees framing the property. The house itself was made of sturdy dark wood and stone. It made my estate look like a cheap flat. 

I was ushered in by an aging servant, the inside was lit up with numerous gas lamps. I guess electricity wouldn't become a regular thing until later in the next century or so. My own house was lit up with the same gas light sources. 

I could already smell the numerous dishes the servants had prepared. Giuseppe and Lillian greeted me by the stairs. Damon and Stefan by their side, a look of recognition in their eyes once they saw me. 

"You have a lovely home Giuseppe, and the food smells delicious Lillian." 

"My family built this place from the ground up," Giuseppe started but was cut off when Lillian grabbed his arm. 

"I am sure you're famished Seth, come on. The servants helped me prepare the food." 

I nodded and followed the family into the dining hall, there on the large table was a feast. I had never seen so much food in my life. There was almost too much food for just four people, my suspicions were confirmed when another couple walked through the door. 

"Ah, I hope you don't mind Seth. I've invited Jonathan Gilbert and his son Dorian."  

"Not at all Giuseppe, I've met them before when I was running an errand in town." 

"Perfect, then there is no need for introductions." 

The Gilbert's nodded at me and entered the dining hall. Once we were seated and our plates piled with food the questions began. 

"No, I did not serve officially in the army. My father had served under Stonewall Jackson. The war spilled over to our farm and I volunteered to help the wounded." 

They had asked me more questions that I thankfully prepared answers for. As the night progressed the questions got more personal and interesting. Stefan and Damon had excused themselves. Jonathan Gilbert eventually asked me if I had a wife. 

"Unfortunately she passed away a year back. There had been some sort of animal attack, the damn thing had torn her throat out." 

There it was, I just cast the bait. Jonathan and Giuseppe looked at each other, before nodding. 

'And they took the bait, hook line and sinker.' 

"Seth, what we are about to discuss can not leave this room." 

Taking that as a cue Lillian led the servants to the reception area to give us some privacy. Jonathan stood up from his seat and pulled a flash from his coat. His son walked over to the end of the room, I assumed he probably had a revolver under his coat loaded with wooden bullets. 

"Seth, what do you know about the supernatural world?" 

"I have seen my fair share of strange happenings Giuseppe. Why do you ask?" 

Jonathan uncaps the flask and 'accidentally' knocks it over splashing some of the liquid on me. I recognized the smell instantly, vervain. 

'So they were going to test me, well? Time to butter it up.'

I dip a finger into the vervain and put my finger in my mouth.  

"This is a strange flavor of whiskey Jonathan, what is it?" 

Jonathan, Giuseppe and Dorian visibly relax. They share another look and nod before Jonathan begins to speak. 

"That was not whiskey, that was a pure vervain. If you had been one of them it would have burned you." 

'Here we go.' I thought before laying it on thick. "Them? What is the meaning of this?!" 

"Seth, calm yourself, it was merely a test. We apply it to everyone." 

'Bullshit.' "What test? What is going on here?!" 

"Seth, our world is being plagued by creatures of blood." 

"Giuseppe, that is preposterous?! Creatures of blood? So what? Like vampires?" 

"Yes Seth, Vampires. In fact I believe your wife was killed by one. Their victims often display signs of an animal attack as you put it. Throats torn out and blood drained from them." 

"Jonathan, do not be ridiculous. Vampires are just myths, scary stories to scare our children." 

They looked at each other again, it seemed that they bought my disbelieving traumatized husband act. 

"They are very real Mister Williamson, we captured one just the other day." 

I turned to Dorian feigning frustration and disbelief. 

"Then show me this proof that makes reasonable men believe in fairy tales." 

Giuseppe and Jonathan share a few hushed words, unfortunately for them I could still hear them. They had been comparing details about me and were contemplating on adding me to the council if they managed to 'convince' me. 

Dorian led me down a hall as Jonathan and Giuseppe followed closely behind. I could hear a draft in one of the walls revealing one of the hidden rooms in the house. In the show another of the rooms had been used to hide Zach Salvatores stash of vervain. Stopping I waited as Giuseppe pressed a hidden button and the door clicked open. 

"First vampires, now a hidden door in your house? Giuseppe, you need to explain to me why so many things are kept under wraps in this town." 

"This room contains some of the answers, once you step through the door you will become a part of our world. The only question is? Are you ready for this world Seth?" 

"If these answers lead me to who or whatever killed my wife, then I will gladly join you both in whatever it is you are doing in this town." 

Giuseppe nods and opens the door wide, Dorian and Jonathan step in and I follow them. Dorian begins to light the lamps along the wall. I could already see the large cage in the basement like room though. Inside the case was a man, skin pale, and laying on the floor motionless. 

"You took me here to see a dead body?" 

"Watch," Dorian takes his fathers flask and splashes some of the vervain on the vampire. "See its  skin starting to smoke?" 

"What the hell is that?" Feigning surprise I take a step back. 

"That," Giuseppe pulls out a stake and hands it to me. "Is a vampire, and you are going to kill it." 

Taking the wooden stake from him I step into the cage after Dorian opens the gate. Walking slowly to pretend like I was unsure of myself I observed the vampire. The guy must have been tortured, there were cuts and bloodstains on his clothes. The vampire's eyes snapped open and looked at me. His eyes flash over to the stake and I could see him struggle to move his body which remained still. Deciding to up the factor on my acting a bit more I turned to Dorian. 

"Hand me that flask," he hesitates before handing it to me. "If I'm going to kill a creature like this I need to be thorough." 

I opened the flash and dowsed the stake in vervain, making sure to make a show of splashing as much of the liquid on my hand as possible. Handing the flask back to Dorian I made sure they all saw my undamaged hand before I stepped back over to the vampire. Letting out a shout to feign anger I plunge the stake into the vampire's heart. The vampire screeched and immediately started to turn gray as veins began to appear on its skin. 

I reached under my coat and pulled out the hidden dagger that I kept. It was the knife I had liberated from the Mikaelsons village. Using the fourteen inch Viking seax I cut the vampire's head off with one swing. Giuseppe and Jonathan share a look of awe and surprise. I hand Dorian the head and re sheathed the seax in its hidden position across my back. Giuseppe offers me his hand when I step out of the cage. Shaking it he claps my shoulder. 

"Seth Williamson, welcome to the Founders Council."