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Chapter Text

The sun filtered through the cracks in the stone circle, illuminating the symbols carved onto the scattered parchments.

Qetsiyah, her face radiant with pure joy, held the crystal vial, its contents shimmering with a pulsating light. Beside her, Silas, her fiancé, watched, his eyes filled with false adoration.

Today was the day. The day their love would become eternal.

"The potion is ready, my love," Qetsiyah whispered, her voice full of unwavering devotion. "So our souls may intertwine forever, beyond death. A life without end, for an infinite love."

Silas nodded, a deceitful smile on his lips.

He took the vial, his gaze drifting towards the discreet shadow of Amara, Qetsiyah's maid and best friend, though they called each other soul sisters.

Silas's heart pounded with a dark obsession for Amara, an obsession he had confessed to her days before, only to be brutally rejected.

He had felt humiliated and had then used his magic to erase the memory of that confession. However, the memory of her refusal haunted him.

He wanted Amara, and he would have her.

The next day, seizing a moment when they were alone, Silas approached Amara. His face was a mask of feigned concern.

"Amara, I need to speak to you. It's urgent. It's about Qetsiyah."

He led her aside, away from prying eyes. There, he pulled out a second vial, identical to Qetsiyah's, but filled with treacherous intent.

"Amara, I love you. I don't care about Qetsiyah. You and I are destined to be together. We will be, thanks to me. We will be beyond death, Amara. I know you don't love me now my love, but eternity is long. You'll eventually understand. You'll eventually love me."

Before she could react, he forced the liquid down her throat, a mix of metallic taste and pure power.

Amara collapsed, her body wracked with spasms as immortality anchored itself within her. The shock was so profound that it shattered Silas's amnesia spell.

Memories flooded back in violent waves : the confession, the rejection, the erasure of her memory, and now this eternal damnation. Pain and horror were etched on her face.

As soon as she could, Amara ran away from him to Qetsiyah, tears streaming down her face, her voice broken by sobs.

"He lied to me, Qetsiyah ! He lied to you ! He played with my memories."

She recounted everything : Silas's betrayal, the violation of their friendship, her forced immortality.

"He... he told me he loved me !"

Qetsiyah's rage matched her betrayed love. Her heart ached for Amara, for their friendship, and for her own defiled innocence.

Vengeance became a cold flame within her.

"We will make him pay, Amara." Qetsiyah declared, her voice trembling with new determination. "We will make him regret it. I swear it to you."

They concocted a plan.

XXXXXXXXX

Whether Silas wanted it or not, Qetsiyah was just as powerful as him, and their marriage would still take place.

So, the day of Qetsiyah and Silas's wedding arrived.

The air was tense, charged with a hidden anticipation. Amara, her heart heavy but her gaze resolute, lured Silas away from the crowd of guests.

She led him into the woods, to a secret place, an ancient stone circle bathed in primal magic.

"I have something to show you, Silas. I’m sorry for my reaction before. Will you please follow me ?" Amara whispered, her voice strangely soft, alluring.

Silas, blinded by his desire and trust, followed her. He didn't see Qetsiyah's shadow, lurking behind the trees.

The moment Silas stepped into the circle, Qetsiyah's magic exploded.

It manifested in a blinding flash, and Silas, trapped, was turned to stone, his body frozen in an expression of pure horror, his eyes still open, forever condemned to contemplate his own madness.

With the help of the Travelers loyal to Qetsiyah, they transported him to an isolated cave, a secret place where he would be sealed away and hidden from all.

Months passed, and the bitterness of vengeance mingled with a new horror.

Amara became increasingly pale, her eyes hollow, her laughter often replaced by nervous tremors.

One day, she came to Qetsiyah, despair in her eyes.

"Qetsiyah, sister, I'm going mad." she whispered, her hands clasped tightly. "Silas haunts me. In my dreams, he's always there. His spirit pursues me, tortures me. I can't live like this anymore. I want peace. I want... to die."

Qetsiyah's heart broke anew.

After all Amara had endured, seeing her suffer so was unbearable. With immense pain, she created a cure for immortality, a potion that would end her soul sister's suffering.

Amara drank it without hesitation, her last breath a sigh of relief. Qetsiyah, in tears, granted Amara eternal rest.

It was then that Qetsiyah made her final decision. She couldn't let Silas rest in peace, not even in his stone prison.

She used the remaining power of her bond with him and the stolen potion to make Silas the Anchor to the Other Side.

Silas's petrified body would become the link, the point of no return for all dead supernatural creatures, trapping them in an eternal purgatory.

However, Qetsiyah didn't know that Silas, even in stone form, had one last card to play.

Before his petrification, he had managed to infiltrate the minds of certain Travelers, witches from their coven who had remained loyal to him.

When Qetsiyah made Silas the Anchor, these Travelers, manipulated and fanaticized, turned against her. They sought to kill her, but Qetsiyah, endowed with fierce power and determination, managed to escape.

In her flight, driven by vengeance and the desire to destroy Silas once and for all, Qetsiyah created the Brotherhood of the Five. These formidable vampire hunters, marked with supernatural strength and a thirst for blood, had the mission of completing a mystic map.

This map, once complete, would lead her to the Anchor and thus to Silas.

But the Travelers, under Silas's silent influence, watched. They hunted and eliminated the members of the Brotherhood, century after century, before they could accomplish their quest, thus perpetuating an ancient war in the shadows.

And so, generations passed, Amara's blood discreetly flowing in the veins of a lineage of women who, unknowingly, held the key to an ancient war.
Each century, a new Amara was born, a doppelgänger, a perfect replica of the original, destined to awaken the shadows of the past.

XXXXXXX

For Katerina Petrova, existence was nothing but an endless torture.

Just like Tatia before her, Katerina was a doppelgänger of Amara, and this striking resemblance carried an ancestral curse. From her earliest childhood, she was too tormented by the spirit of Silas.

Night after night, he would infiltrate her dreams, a phantom, obsessive lover, swearing eternal love. These visions were initially confused, then as she grew, the face became clearer, the voice more insistent, more terrifying.

She saw him only as a suffocating presence, a toxic obsession that relentlessly pursued her.

The burden of this legacy was all the heavier because her own father, a descendant of a lineage of Travelers, was obsessed with the idea that his daughter and Silas were destined to be together.

He saw Katerina as the key to his ancestor's liberation, a twisted vision of prophecy that gnawed at the young woman. Katerina, for her part, wanted only one thing : to die.

To die to escape Silas, her father, and this destiny she didn't understand but that terrified her.

It was in this despair that she finally fled her home in Bulgaria, leaving behind a life of pressure and fear. She sought refuge, but above all, a way to free herself.

The rumor of an ancient curse, of a sacrificial ritual capable of breaking the doppelgänger's destiny, caught her attention. The name of Klaus Mikaelson, the Original Hybrid, resonated like a promise of an end.

Katerina then made the boldest decision of her life : she would voluntarily sacrifice herself to Klaus, hoping that her death would break not only the hybrid's curse, but also the link with Silas.

However, fate, once again, had other plans.

Kol Mikaelson, already a scholar of dark arts and an expert in witchcraft, knew about Silas's existence and the doppelgänger lineage. He and his brother, Elijah, the noble and pragmatic Original, took pity on her.

( Well, Elijah did. Kol was just curious.)

Klaus, eager to break his curse, was reluctant to let Katerina escape death. But Kol and Elijah managed to convince him. They gave Katerina a potion, one that would bring her back to life after the sacrifice, before transforming her into a vampire, condemning her to an immortality she hadn't chosen, but which, ironically, freed her from Silas's burden in her dreams.

Katerina, renamed Katherine Pierce, became a creature of the night, strong, fast, and incredibly resilient. Her relationship with Elijah developed. For years, they were inseparable, their travels across the world cementing a deep and complex love.

Elijah represented stability, protection, a refuge away from the madness of the Travelers and the shadows of the past.

Together, Katherine and Kol embarked on a dark but necessary mission : they exterminated Katherine's entire family in Bulgaria. Every Traveler descendant who could have attempted to bring back Silas was eliminated, thus cutting off the roots of her father's lineage.

Yet, Katherine's peace was short-lived. Elijah's unwavering loyalty to his family, particularly to Klaus, became a crack in their relationship. The breaking point came when Elijah allowed Klaus to dagger Kol and put him in a coffin.

For Katherine, it was proof that Elijah would always let his brother dictate their lives, even at the expense of those he truly loved. Their relationship crumbled, broken by conflicting loyalties and Elijah's inability to choose between love and family.

Katherine found herself alone again, adrift, her forced resilience masking a deep solitude. It was then that she met Damon Salvatore.

Damon, freshly disinherited by his father Giuseppe because he refused to become a doctor, was traveling the world, seeking meaning in his existence. An immediate and profound friendship formed between them.

Damon, with his sarcastic humour and free spirit, was a breath of fresh air for Katherine. He made her laugh, made her feel alive in a way Elijah could no longer offer.

When she offered to turn him into a vampire, Damon accepted. But he set a condition : he had to see his brother, Stefan, first.

It was then that terror seized Katherine. Upon meeting Stefan, she saw it. The face. The face of the man who had haunted her dreams for centuries, the face of Silas. The resemblance was so striking it took her breath away.

The fear she thought she had buried resurfaced with devastating force.

Stefan's presence, the visual embodiment of her torment, was unbearable. She couldn't stay. She had to flee, once again. Without explanation, she announced her immediate departure. But in a gesture of loyalty to Damon, or perhaps subtle revenge against Silas, she left her friend a vial of her blood.

Stefan, who had fallen blindly in love with Katherine at their first meeting, discovered the vial of blood. He convinced his brother to share its contents with him. That night, the Salvatore brothers were killed by their father, Giuseppe, who shot them.

Katherine's blood did its work.

They awoke, transformed, forever linked to the woman who had fled the doppelgänger of one of them. Katherine, for her part, was already far away, continuing her endless flight, the specter of Silas and his doubles always at her heels.

XXXXXXXX

For Caroline Forbes, Mystic Falls High School wasn't just a place of learning; it was her kingdom.

Far beyond simple popularity, Caroline exuded a magnetic aura that seemed to literally draw everyone to her. Her blonde hair, always perfectly styled, her slender figure, and her radiant smile were only part of the equation.

It was her very presence, a vibrant and irresistible energy, that made her the undisputed center of attention. When Caroline spoke, heads turned. When she laughed, the people around her felt lighter.

And when she proposed an idea, it was rare for it not to be adopted with enthusiasm.

Unconsciously, students, teachers, even the town's shopkeepers, were drawn to her, without truly understanding why.

"She's just great. I feel happy next to her." they would say, "She always says the right thing, she always does the right thing."

These words had become a sort of unofficial mantra around Caroline.

She was the president of every conceivable committee, the undisputed queen of the cheerleading squad whose every move was executed with unparalleled precision and grace.

Caroline was the first to raise her hand to organize the prom, the most dedicated to charity work, the confidante everyone turned to.

Her enthusiasm was contagious, her determination, unshakeable. She embodied the ideal American perfect girl, and no one could have ever guessed the weight she carried within her.

For beneath that bright and perfect facade, a shadow persisted, dark and insistent.

Twice a month, without fail, Caroline was assailed by dreams.

Not simple teenage nightmares about forgotten homework or a missed date, but strangely vivid dreams. These dreams were from another world, another time.
They were populated by a man of strange beauty, who pursued her relentlessly through dreamlike landscapes, from ancient forests to stone ruins.

This man, whose face remained blurry but whose presence was overwhelming, swore eternal love, a devouring obsession that chilled Caroline's blood.

He called her « Amara », a name she didn't know and which sent shivers down her spine.

These dreams were not new. They had haunted her since she was a very small girl.

At first, as a child, she had perceived them as bizarre fairy tales, nighttime stories where a prince pursued her with disproportionate passion. It was strange, yes, but without real danger.

She would sometimes wake up nervously laughing, sometimes cuddling against her mother, seeking the comfort of a familiar world.

But as she grew older, as childhood left her, the dreams transformed. The man was no longer a prince, but a disturbing entity.

A monster.

His declarations of eternal love, once almost cute in a child's mind, had become suffocating, possessive, downright toxic.

Their pursuits, once games, had become relentless hunts.

There were no more laughs or rosy cheeks upon waking. Only a pounding heart and the persistent sensation of Silas's presence on her skin, impossible to remove.
She felt a strange connection, an unbreakable bond with him, which she couldn't sever even in the deepest sleep.

But to this connection was now added a visceral disgust, a primal fear.
After these encounters, she would wake up in a cold sweat, her heart hammering against her ribs, the fear present, like a spiderweb on her skin.

She tried to shake off this feeling of terror, to ignore it, to dismiss it as mere fantasies linked to her overworked mind.

She never spoke to anyone about it, never.

Not to her mother, who would undoubtedly have sent her to a sleep specialist. Not to Elena, her heartbroken but always empathetic best friend, nor to Bonnie, her mysterious and intuitive friend.

She didn't want anyone to think she was strange, crazy, or worse.
These dreams were her own secret, a burden she carried alone, an invisible mark that set her apart from everyone else.

XXXXXXXX

In this universe, Elena Gilbert was a rather plain, almost insignificant girl.
Easily forgettable. Just another teenage girl.

She was certain of it : if she weren't friends with Caroline and Bonnie, no one would ever notice she was there.

Since she was little, Elena had always been quiet, preferring to observe the world rather than plunge headfirst into it.

And this tendency had worsened since the death of her parents, Grayson and Miranda Gilbert, killed in a car accident by a drunk driver.

Well, adoptive parents.

Biologically, she was Grayson's niece, but she wasn't supposed to know that until she was eighteen. Unfortunately, fate had other plans.

Her biological mother, Isobel, had come to the funeral. A strange figure in mourning, a woman she didn't know who revealed a devastating truth : Elena was the product of a youthful mistake between Isobel and John, Grayson's brother.

Elena had been devastated by this revelation. She hadn't said anything to her brother, Jeremy, or her friends. This heavy, shameful secret weighed on her shoulders.

Only her aunt Jenna knew, and even though Jenna kept repeating that her parents loved her deeply, that they didn't care that she wasn't biologically theirs, Elena couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by her insecurities.

This feeling of being « not enough » of being a living lie, had taken root in her.
Isobel wanted to get to know her daughter, but Elena wasn't sure she could face her.

How could she look into the eyes of the woman who had abandoned her and made her a secret ?

Elena didn't know and didn't want to think about it.

Today was the first day of school. A new year, new attempts to find some semblance of normalcy.

Bonnie was supposed to pick her up, and they would both meet Caroline for breakfast in the school parking lot.

It was an unchangeable tradition, a small comforting ritual in the chaos of her life.

As she said goodbye to Jenna, whose worried gaze followed her, Elena opened the car door to Bonnie's car. Her other best friend gave her a big smile, her usual enthusiasm cutting through Elena's gloom.

"Hey, Elena ! Ready for another school year massacre ?" Bonnie chimed, music blasting, a contagious energy radiating from her.

Elena let out a small laugh, the first of the day.

"As much as I can be. Are we late ? Caroline's going to have a fit if her pancakes get cold."

"Relax, we've got time." Bonnie replied, starting the car. "And don't worry about Caroline, she's so invested in back-to-school, she's probably already planned the graduation ceremony."

The drive was short, filled with Bonnie's chatter and Elena's thoughts.

They arrived in the high school parking lot, already crowded with excited, noisy students. And in the midst of all that joyful chaos, there was their friend.

Caroline was already there, radiant, a true force of nature. She was the center of attention, as always.

She held a wicker basket from which wafted a delicious smell of maple syrup.

"Finally ! You took your sweet time." Caroline greeted them with a brilliant smile, but without the slightest hint of annoyance. "I have warm pancakes, blueberry muffins, and fresh juices. Who wants to start ?"

Elena slid into the passenger seat of Caroline's car, while Bonnie took the back seat, and the three friends began their improvised breakfast, a moment of respite in the back-to-school hustle.

Caroline, true to herself, organized the distribution, making sure everyone got their share.

After devouring her pancakes, Caroline glanced at her watch.

"Alright, girls, I have to go. I have a committee meeting at the student office for the Halloween dance preparations. I already have some amazing decoration ideas ! See you in class, okay ? I'll leave you the keys."

Without waiting for an answer, Caroline slammed the car door and walked away quickly, her blonde silhouette rapidly blending into the growing crowd.

Caroline's magnetism was such that even her departure left a void, an almost palpable silence for Elena and Bonnie.

Elena and Bonnie stayed for a moment, engrossed in their breakfast, chatting about everything and nothing.

Later, they entered the school building, walking towards their class.
It was then that Bonnie gestured with her chin towards a distant figure, a new student who stood a little apart, hands in his pockets, observing the commotion.

"Wow." Bonnie murmured, her eyes sparkling. "Look at that guy. He looks super hot from behind. My intuition says Seattle and a romance novel gaze."

Elena followed her gaze, smiling softly. The man was tall, with an athletic build and a dark aura.

He was new, that was certain.

Her attention was soon diverted, however. A few meters away, she spotted Jeremy. Her brother. He was sneaking towards the boys' bathroom, his eyes red, his face marked by too familiar distress.

Drugs. Again.

A knot of rage and worry formed in Elena's throat. Without a word, she opened the car door and followed him, determined to confront him.

Jeremy, who had locked himself in the bathroom, jumped when she opened the door.

"Jeremy, what are you doing ? Your eyes are red !" her voice was a mix of reproach and fear.

Jeremy looked up at her, a bitter defiance in his gaze.

"What do you think ? Leave me alone, Elena. I don't care what you think !" He shrugged contemptuously. "Mind your own business !"

The confrontation was brief and painful. Elena felt her heart tighten, her breath short, powerless in the face of her brother's downward spiral. He turned his back on her, leaving her alone in the cold, impersonal bathroom.

As she stepped out, eyes welling up, her heart heavy from the failed confrontation, Elena bumped into someone.

She looked up, ready to apologize, and her gaze met that of the man Bonnie had noticed earlier.

The new guy.

His eyes were a deep green, filled with unexpected kindness. His smile was soft, almost shy.

The world stopped.

All her worries, her insecurities, the argument with Jeremy, everything flew away, replaced by a novel sensation of warmth.

In that suspended moment, Elena Gilbert fell in love at first sight.

XXXXXXXX

The creak of rusty hinges was the only clock in the hell of Augustine.

For Damon Salvatore, the years stretched out, a slow torment of hunger, torture, and forced resignation. Captured by the Augustine Society, a secret organization run by the Whitmore family, he was just a subject. A vampire to be studied, dissected, and broken, all to understand the secrets of his immortality so they could exploit or destroy them.

Five long years, from 1953 to 1958, had passed in the darkness and pain of his cell.

Then there was Enzo. Lorenzo St. John. Another vampire, imprisoned there for even longer.

At first, their interactions were limited to whispers through the bars, glances exchanged in the little light that filtered in. But isolation, shared suffering, and a desperate need for connection wove an unexpected bond between them.

A deep friendship that, over endless days and nights, morphed into something more powerful, more essential : love.

Amidst the barbarity of Augustine, they found comfort, a reason to cling to their broken humanity.

Their daily lives were dictated by hunger. The Augustine staff gave them only a minuscule amount of blood each day, just enough to keep them alive, to prevent desiccation, but never enough to give them the strength to break free.

Their bodies were weak, but their spirits, nourished by their love and desire for freedom, remained intact.

Enzo and Damon spent months concocting a plan. A simple, but brutal, plan. They would play « Rock-Paper-Scissors ». The winner would get the larger share of the other's blood rations for an entire year. The loser would suffer, but the winner would become strong enough to break his chains and escape. The idea was to escape together.

Damon won.

For an entire year, six out of seven days, he drank Enzo's share of blood. Every sip was painful, a momentary betrayal of their pact, but also the promise of their freedom.

Enzo suffered ; his skin grew paler, his eyes more sunken, but he endured, his gaze fixed on their goal, on the hope Damon represented. Damon, meanwhile, felt his strength returning, a raw power he'd forgotten, accumulating in his muscles and bones.

New Year's Day, 1958, arrived. A date chosen for a demonstration of vampire abilities. The Augustine scientists, draped in their white coats, observed Damon with clinical detachment.

They didn't see the cold glint in his eyes, the spark of rage accumulated over five years. At Enzo's signal, a barely perceptible wink, Damon put his plan into action.
The first thing he did was break his own bones.

Sinister cracks echoed in the room as he twisted his limbs, freeing himself from his restraints. The pain was intense, but the fury was stronger. He lunged at the guards and scientists, a whirlwind of unleashed violence.

Screams filled the room, bodies fell. Damon, his face streaked with blood, massacred them, his thirst for vengeance satiated with ruthless brutality.
But in the chaos, a lamp was knocked over, and a fire erupted. The flames, small at first, began to lick at the walls, spreading rapidly.

Damon rushed to Enzo's cage.

"Enzo ! I'm getting you out of here !"

The bars of Enzo's cage were coated with verveine , a burning barrier for a vampire. Damon gripped the bars, the verbena gnawing at his skin. Excruciating pain shot through him, but he gritted his teeth, his muscles tensed.

He pulled and pulled, feeling his skin burn away, scorching scars forming on the palms of his hands—indelible marks of his sacrifice.

"Damon, no !" Enzo cried, seeing the flesh of his love tearing.

"We're getting out of here, together !" Damon growled, ignoring the pain.

The flames were now licking the floor, sparks flying. He finally felt the bars give way, the verveine tearing. He grabbed Enzo, pulling him out of the cage, away from the devouring heat.

Both, scarred but free, fled the hell of Augustine, leaving behind carnage and raging flames. The escape had been a success. But the vengeance had only just begun.

For years, Damon and Enzo hunted and killed the descendants of the Whitmore family. Each generation, they left only one survivor, an heir to carry on the name and the fear. A ruthless cycle of vengeance, so that the Whitmores would never forget the atrocities they had committed.

Their scars, physical and emotional, were the price of their freedom and the mark of their unwavering love.

Now that the fiercest thirst for vengeance had somewhat subsided, and they had found a certain calm, Damon had a new idea. He wanted to introduce Enzo to his brother, Stefan.

He had talked so much about him, about their past, about the promise of eternity he had made him.

It was time to return to Mystic Falls. Together, Damon and Enzo set off, oblivious to the complexities and dangers that the return of the last Salvatore would bring to their hometown, and to the heir of Amara's shadow.

XXXXXXXX

Decades.

Stefan Salvatore had spent decades hunting Katherine Pierce, his lost love and, he believed, the embodiment of his destiny.

Since that fateful night when Katherine's blood had turned him and his brother Damon into vampires, his quest had never ceased. He had traveled across continents, searching for the slightest rumor, the tiniest clue of her presence. The love he bore her, which he thought eternal, had morphed into a silent obsession, a burden he carried with every new dawn.

Just like his predecessors. He had seen humans born and die, incredible inventions come to light, but he had never found Katherine. Mystic Falls, his hometown, was just another stop in his long, solitary wandering. He had returned, drawn by distant memories, but with no real expectation of seeing her there.

Yet, as he enrolled in high school, a familiar routine and a perfect disguise for a vampire seeking anonymity, fate struck. Amidst the tumult of the first day of school, a face caught his eye.

A face he knew, he had hunted, he had loved... or so he believed. His usually melancholic green eyes widened.

It was her. Or at least, a perfect copy.

Caroline Forbes.

Stefan stopped dead, his breath caught, his heart (which no longer beat) seemingly tightening in his chest. His vampire senses, sharpened by decades of experience, told him this young woman was human. And yet... the same eyes, the same nose shape, the same full lips.

The resemblance was striking, unsettling, almost supernatural. She was Katherine's spitting image. But there was something different about Caroline. A light, a vivacity, a joy for life that Katherine had never truly seemed to possess.

He watched her for a moment, captivated despite himself. Caroline laughed, surrounded by her friends, an aura of adoration enveloping her. She was the center of attention, a shining star in the Mystic Falls universe.

Stefan, accustomed to discretion and solitude, was astonished by the natural magnetism she exuded. People seemed irresistibly drawn to her, without even knowing why. It was a phenomenon he had never observed with Katherine during their brief encounter.

The echo of the past resonated within him. This girl was an exact copy.

But how ?

Stefan knew nothing of the ancient legends. He knew nothing of Silas or Amara. He knew only one thing : Caroline Forbes's presence in Mystic Falls was no coincidence.

Unfortunately for him, she was a key piece of a much larger puzzle than he could ever imagine.

Stefan knew he had to get closer to her. Not for love, not for the obsession he had had for Katherine, but to understand her.

Who was she ?

He decided to enroll in the same year as her, to attend her classes, to observe her. He had to be vigilant, to protect her from the shadow of Katherine's past, and from the supernatural forces that, he was sure, would be drawn to her.

The following week, the first big party of the year took place at the town falls, a local tradition to celebrate the end of summer.

Music pulsed, lights twinkled through the trees, and the crowd of teenagers laughed and had fun. Stefan was there, observing, scanning for Caroline, when a timid hand rested on his arm.

It was Elena Gilbert, her smile hesitant, her soft brown eyes filled with obvious warmth.

"Hi Stefan," she began, her voice barely audible above the noise. "I... I was wondering if you wanted... to dance ?"

Stefan felt a pang.

Elena was a good person, sweet and kind, and he had definitely noticed the way she looked at him. The way she lit up in his presence. But his mind was preoccupied with Caroline, with the mystery she represented, with her unsettling resemblance to Katherine. He couldn't give her false hope.

He offered her a gentle smile, tinged with a sadness he tried to hide.

"Elena, you're really kind. But... I'm sorry. My heart already belongs to someone else."

He paused, his eyes briefly drifting to where he had last seen Caroline.
Elena's shoulders drooped slightly, but she forced a brave smile.

"Oh. I understand. It's... Caroline, isn't it ?"

Stefan didn't deny it. He could only offer a small nod, the weight of his words heavy on him.

"Well, I... I wish you good luck then." Elena murmured, her voice broken by emotion.

She turned on her heel and walked away quickly, blending into the crowd. Stefan felt bad for her, but he knew he had done the right thing.

He resumed his visual search for Caroline, and found her shortly after, a little apart from the hustle, talking with Bonnie. He approached, his heart filled with a strange excitement.

"Caroline." he said, his voice soft but firm. "I wanted to talk to you for a moment."

Caroline turned, her usually radiant smile freezing slightly. She seemed uncomfortable, almost nervous.

"Oh, Stefan. Uh, yes. But... Elena's looking for me. I have to go."

She shot a furtive glance at Bonnie, who raised an inquiring eyebrow, then she walked away quickly, leaving Bonnie puzzled and Stefan disappointed.

His presence seemed to push her away.

Barely had she disappeared into the crowd when a piercing scream tore through the air. A cry of horror. Then, another, closer.

The music stopped.

The crowd froze, then began to panic.

"A wild animal !" someone screamed.

Stefan rushed forward. On the damp, dark grass, Vicki Donovan lay. Her throat was torn open, blood spreading across the fabric of her dress, a gruesome sight that chilled the crowd to the bone. It was the work of a vampire. Not an animal attack.

Without hesitation, Stefan used his vampire speed, an invisible blur to human eyes. He darted into the forest, following the trail of fresh blood, his instinct guiding him toward the culprit.

He knew he had to stop them before they caused more casualties. He plunged deep beneath the trees, the moon barely piercing the dense foliage.

Then, he saw her.

An adolescent, of Asian appearance, her face barely lit by the moon, her dark eyes fixed on him. She was clearly a vampire, and her demeanor was strangely calm, almost expectant.

"Good evening, Stefan." she said, her voice soft but full of unsettling familiarity.

Stefan froze.

"Who are you ?" he demanded, his senses on high alert, his mind trying to identify this new threat.

A slight smile touched her lips. "I'm Annabelle Zhu. You can call me Anna." Her gaze intensified. "I'm a very good friend of Katherine. You and I have a lot to talk about."

Chapter Text

Stefan had spent the previous weeks trying to get closer to Caroline.

Since he couldn’t have her love, he desperately wanted her friendship. He wanted to get to know her, but the approach was difficult.

For some reason he didn't know, she always seemed uncomfortable in his presence. Even though they now exchanged a few phrases, polite greetings, and smiles, it was difficult for him to say for sure if she liked him or not.

According to his friend Lexi, who had met Caroline last month, he should just leave it alone. But it was impossible for him. He felt too drawn, too attached to her to do so.

Caroline Forbes was the sun, and Stefan the poor planet that couldn't help but orbit around her.

He sighed, his mind elsewhere, as he stopped in the driveway leading to Caroline's front door.

Two months earlier, he had met Annabelle Zhu, a vampire older than him, who had apparently lived in Mystic Falls with her mother long before he and his brother were turned.

Anna had told him she was a good friend of Katherine and had recounted a terrifying story : the night Katherine was supposed to leave Mystic Falls, members of the town's founding families had gathered all the vampires there and imprisoned them in a tomb under the cemetery.

According to Anna, her mother Pearl, her friend Harper, and Katherine were all locked in that crypt.

The only people capable of freeing them were the Bennett witches. Unfortunately for Anna, those particular witches hated vampires.

Yet she expected Stefan to be able to convince Bonnie Bennett, Caroline's friend, to open the tomb.

The problem was that, even if he and Caroline were now more than acquaintances, he wasn't sure Bonnie would agree to do it for him.

Gathering his courage, he rang Caroline's doorbell.

She opened it, a smile on her face, but a little surprised.

"Oh, hi, Stefan. How can I help you ?" she asked, her usual vivacity slightly dulled.

"Hello, Caroline. Actually, I'd like to speak with you about something. Can I come in ?"

She hesitated for a moment, then let him in.

Stefan entered and headed towards the living room, Caroline following close behind. Bonnie and Elena were both sitting on the sofa, in front of the television where a movie was paused.

Stefan offered them a quick greeting, to which they both replied, a little curious.

Caroline invited him to sit down, then she herself sat back down next to Bonnie and Elena.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about ?"

Stefan took a deep breath. "Listen, I know we're not close, but I need to ask you a favor."

The three girls looked at him, visibly intrigued.

Caroline asked, "What favor ?"

"I'm going to be honest with you, Caroline... I'm not human."

Elena raised an incredulous eyebrow. "Really ?"

Bonnie let out a small chuckle, while Caroline gave Stefan an awkward smile, as if she thought he was joking.

"I assure you it's the truth."

Before their astonished eyes, black veins appeared around his, and his teeth, no his fangs lengthened. The transformation was quick and disturbing.

The girls, panicking, immediately stood up. Caroline yelled something about garlic in the kitchen, and Elena grabbed a nail clipper from the coffee table, ready to use it as a makeshift weapon.

Stefan returned to his human appearance and tried to reassure them, raising his hands.

"I'm not here to harm you. I swear ! I only drink animal blood."

It took him several minutes to calm them down, their hearts pounding, but they flatly refused to sit back down near him. They looked at him like a wild beast, an unpredictable threat.

Stefan then turned to Bonnie.

"Actually, the truth is I really need Bonnie's help."

Bonnie, visibly skeptical and still in shock, asked : "My help ?"

He nodded.

"You're a witch, Bonnie. A Bennett witch. I need your help to free a friend of mine."

Caroline and Elena turned to Bonnie, visibly surprised and caught off guard.

"Me ? A witch ?" Bonnie stammered, incredulous.

"Yes, Bonnie. Look, I know it's unbelievable, but I really need your help. There's an innocent person locked up against their will."

Caroline narrowed her eyes, her suspicion growing. "Who is this person ?"

Stefan softened his tone, his eyes filled with a faraway glint. "It's Katherine, the woman I love."

Elena gave him a surprised look, a hint of unexpected jealousy.

Stefan continued, ignoring her reaction.

"I know you don't trust me right now, and I completely understand." He paused and then continued, "Bonnie, I knew your ancestor, Emily Bennett. My brother, Damon, and her were good friends. She was also a witch."

Elena briefly interrupted him.

"You have a brother ? Is he the one who did that to Vicki ?"

Stefan shook his head, visibly annoyed by Elena's interruption.

"Listen, Bonnie, if you don't believe what I'm saying, ask your grandmother, Sheila. She's also a witch. And my brother Damon is mentioned in Emily's journal. For years, he took care of her children and grandchildren after she died at the stake."

Bonnie blinked, visibly troubled by the information.

Caroline spoke firmly, taking control of the situation.

"Okay, I think that's enough for today, Stefan. You'd better go home."

Stefan nodded, a last hope in his eyes.

"If you ever want to know more, come to the boarding house. All three of you can come, if you want. Goodbye."

He stood up and left the house, leaving the three friends in shock from his revelations.

XXXXXXXX

The night was dark and heavy with foreboding.

Mystic Falls Cemetery, usually peaceful, was filled with palpable tension. In the center, the sealed entrance to the vampire tomb loomed, intimidating. Candles flickered, casting dancing shadows on tense faces.

Bonnie Bennett, her forehead beaded with sweat, stood before the ancient stone door, hands outstretched. Beside her, her grandmother, Sheila Bennett, her face lined with age and wisdom, guided her in a low, firm voice, helping her channel the incredible power of the Bennett witches.

Magic swirled around them, a raw, ancient energy.

Caroline Forbes and Elena Gilbert were also there, standing slightly back, their eyes fixed on Bonnie, their best friends.

They had come to support her, to be present, even if they didn't fully comprehend the magnitude of what was about to happen.

A little further away, in the shadow of the trees, Anna watched, her gaze fixed on the tomb, feverish impatience in her eyes. Beside her, Stefan Salvatore waited, his heart full of agonizing anxiety.

He didn't know it yet, but he had been trapped by Anna. She had convinced him that Katherine, his lost love, was imprisoned within those walls.

Thus, hope and anguish devoured Stefan.

The stone rumbled, trembled, and with a deafening sound, the tomb's entrance opened onto a gaping darkness, exhaling a gust of cold, stale air.

"The spell is broken." Sheila announced, her voice hoarse but full of authority. "But it won't last. You only have a few minutes. Afterward, the tomb will close and seal again."

Before the last word left Sheila's lips, Anna lunged, her gaze briefly settling on Caroline.

A flash of panic crossed her eyes.

"She's coming with us !" Anna cried, reaching out to her. "I don't trust you, witches. If you close the tomb and I'm still in there, I'll be trapped forever ! I’ll take her. If you try anything I’ll break her pretty neck."

Stefan instinctively intervened, placing himself between Anna and Caroline.

"No, Anna. She's not coming. She has nothing to do with this."

But Anna didn't listen. She tried to push past Stefan, her desire to retrieve her mother making her reckless. It was then that an arrow whistled through the air, not to wound, but to warn.

It struck the ground, just in front of Anna's feet, a trickle of verbena dripping from its tip.

"No."

Elena's voice was surprisingly firm, full of a new and unexpected authority, her gaze fixed on Anna. She had fierce determination, a powerful protective instinct that had just awakened.

Bonnie, feeling time slipping away, raised her voice : "You only have three minutes left, Anna. So instead of trying to argue with us, you'd better hurry. You too Stefan."

With a grunt of frustration and a dark look at Elena, Anna retreated. She didn't have time to argue.

She rushed into the tomb, a swift shadow in the darkness, immediately followed by Stefan.

Moments later, Anna emerged, pulling a pale, haggard woman behind her : Pearl, her mother, and a young man, Harper.

Stefan, his heart pounding, his eyes desperately searching for a familiar silhouette in the darkness of the tomb, stepped forward.

"Katherine ? Katherine ? Where are you ?"

Disappointment struck him like a punch. He quickly emerged from the tomb, heartbroken.

Anna stood before him, looking contrite, but her dark eyes gleamed with cold resolution.

"I'm sorry, Stefan. But you were the only one who could convince the witches to do this. You would have never helped me free my mother and Harper if you knew Katherine wasn't here. It was the only way."

Rage and betrayal consumed Stefan.

Not only was Katherine not there, but he had been a pawn in Anna's plan. He felt like a fool.

With an expression of fury, he used his vampire speed and vanished into the night, leaving Caroline and her friends with Anna and her family.

Without another word, Sheila and Bonnie focused again, their hands joining. A flash of blue light burst forth, and the heavy stone door rumbled one last time, closing over the tomb, sealing its secrets and the dangers it still contained.

Caroline, Elena, and Bonnie, breathless, regrouped.

As the tension subsided, exhaustion hit Bonnie hard. The three friends, accompanied by Sheila, returned to Bonnie's house, the silence of the journey filled with the weight of the events.

The next morning, a sad reality awaited them.

Elena was the first to get up, and passing by Sheila's bedroom, she noticed the door was ajar. She peeked in and found Sheila peacefully lying in her bed.

Unfortunately, the powerful witch was no more.

Her body, exhausted by the colossal spell she had cast to open the tomb, had finally given up.

Sheila Bennett had died in her sleep, leaving behind an immense void and a new witch.

Bonnie would now have to face the power of her legacy and the dangers of Mystic Falls alone.

XXXXXXXXX

Just a few days had passed since Sheila Bennett's funeral.

Bonnie, overwhelmed by the loss of her grandmother and the pressure of her new powers, had decided to leave town, explaining that she needed space for the time being.

Reluctantly, Caroline and Elena had let their friend go, knowing that Bonnie needed to grieve alone.

Since Bonnie's departure, several strange attacks had been reported in town. Elena and Caroline were certain they were vampires. After all, the victims were first drained of their blood before being carelessly abandoned in the most unusual places, like the forest or the roadside.

They had both investigated and discovered that after Sheila's death, the spell holding the vampires in the tomb had broken. There were now a bunch of enraged and hungry vampires in town. They had tried to find Stefan to help them, but he had been untraceable since his flight from the cemetery.

And there was no way in hell they would ask Pearl or Anna for help.

Elena particularly hated the daughter, as the vampire had a strange and unhealthy fascination for Jeremy, her brother.

Today, as often these past few days, the two girls were heading to the Salvatore Boarding House, once again looking for Stefan.

Elena entered first, while Caroline was gathering some things from her car. Elena walked towards the living room when she heard strange noises.

Perhaps was it Stefan ?

She frowned and approached, coming face to face with a scene that, for many years, would be a source of immense embarrassment.

In front of her, two men were passionately kissing.

One of them, with jet-black hair and piercing blue eyes, turned to give her a confused look, but tinged with a hint of curiosity.

Elena, flushed with embarrassment, quickly stammered.

"I... I... uh... I'm sorry. Sorry for interrupting..."

It was at that moment that Caroline entered, her hands full of cleaning supplies, obstructing her view.

She walked past Elena without even noticing the two half-naked men on the living room sofa.

"Damn it, Elena, you could at least help me. I know it doesn't look like it, but cleaning supplies are pretty heavy. I know you're not thrilled about cleaning the boarding house, but it's getting really disgusting. And with Stefan off the radar, we don't really have a choice."

"Uh, Caroline ?" Elena called, her voice strained.

"What ?" She screamed from the kitchen.

"Come here, please."

Caroline returned from the kitchen and finally noticed Damon and Enzo watching her, Damon with more intense fascination.

Damon used his vampire speed to approach Caroline, his face split by a genuine smile.

"Katherine ? Is that you ?"

"Oh, wow. That's really... no. I'm Caroline. Nice to meet you." she replied, visibly uncomfortable with the sudden closeness and the question.

Enzo, his eyes narrowed with amused curiosity, stepped forward too.

"The spitting image, isn't she, darling ?"

Damon smiled at him and turned to Caroline. "Damon Salvatore," he introduced himself, his gaze sweeping over her figure. "You're human..."

Caroline smiled awkwardly. "Yes, last I checked."

Elena asked. "Are you Stefan's brother ?"

Damon nodded.

"Yes." He pointed to Enzo. "And this is Lorenzo St. John, my husband."

Enzo winked at them. "Hello, ladies."

Damon turned to Elena. "Are you friends with my brother ? Where is he ?"

Elena bit her lip. "We don't know... We've been looking for him for several days now, but no luck."

"We think the tomb vampires might have something to do with it." Caroline added.

"The tomb vampires ? The ones Emily locked up ?" Damon frowned.

Caroline nodded.

"Yes. We think it's revenge since he's the son of one of the founding families from back then. They were freed by our friend Bonnie. She's a Bennett witch."

"Why would she do such a thing ?" Enzo, curious, asked.

Elena, with a melancholic look, told them.

"We wanted to help Stefan find Katherine."

Damon gave them a confused look, an incredulous laugh escaping his lips.

"So why open the tomb ? I know Kate wasn't in there. Last I saw her, she was in Boston, at our wedding."

"What ?!" Caroline and Elena exclaimed at the same time, shock written on their faces.

Damon sighed, amused by their reaction.

"You know what, I think it's best if you tell us everything from the beginning."

The two girls exchanged a perplexed look. Then, Caroline took a deep breath and began.

"Alright. It all started on the first day of school..."

XXXXXXXXX

Caroline's head pounded like a drum.

Fuzzy memories came running : a brutal hand, the metallic smell of blood, a vampire's fangs and then blackness.

She opened her eyes with effort.

The room was dimly lit, smelling of dust and old wood. Her wrists and ankles were bound, but not so tightly as to cause pain. She lay on a worn sofa, in what appeared to be a very old house.

A man stood slightly apart, his left hand in his pockets, the other, touching his face, a finger in his mouth, biting his thumb nail with obvious nervousness. It was the man from the ball.

Trevor.

He seemed more afraid than she was.

"Where am I ? What do you want ?" Caroline demanded, her voice hoarse.

Fear gripped her, but her cheerleading training and her own resilience pushed her to demand answers.

Trevor looked up, startled, then softened slightly.

"Don't worry, Caroline. You're safe. Almost. He... he's coming."

"Who's coming ?"

A click echoed.

An elegant figure appeared in the doorway, a noble-looking man, dressed in an impeccable suit, exuding an aura of calm yet absolute power.

Caroline had never seen a being so majestic, nor so terrifying.

Trevor fell to his knees, pleading, trembling all over.

"Elijah ! I beg you ! I have the doppelgänger. Caroline Forbes ! She's here. I found her. I brought you Katherine’s perfect replica !"

Elijah didn't flinch.

His deep brown eyes swept over Trevor with thinly veiled disgust, before settling on Caroline, assessing her with intense curiosity.

"Trevor, we have an old history. A history of betrayal."

"I know, I know !" Trevor whimpered, his face livid. "I made a mistake. I tried to... to defend myself. But I brought you this. It's her ! The doppelgänger ! My forgiveness !"

Elijah's gaze remained cold.

"I remember your attempted rape of Katerina. A violent man, Trevor, does not deserve to live."

His speed was blinding. In a fraction of a second, he was behind Trevor, and his arm came down. A dry sound, a tearing crack. Trevor's body fell heavily to the floor, lifeless, his face frozen in an expression of ultimate terror.

Caroline stifled a scream.

Her eyes widened, her heart pounding in her chest. Elijah had just killed the vampire, without flinching, with glacial dignity.

Elijah turned to her, his expression calm again, as if the murder had been a mere formality. He approached, his steps measured.

Caroline stiffened, expecting the worst. But he leaned down and delicately untied her bonds.

"Miss Forbes," he said in a deep voice. "I beg your pardon for this... inconvenience."

He extended his hand, and from his palm, he dropped a thin, elegant business card.

"We will keep in touch." His smile was tiny, almost imperceptible. "You are free to leave."

Caroline, still in shock, seized the card. She understood nothing, but she wanted only one thing : to escape.

She stood up, her legs trembling, and darted out of the house, without a backward glance.

In Mystic Falls, panic grew.

Bonnie had returned that morning, for the end-of-year ball.

When Caroline hadn't answered their calls and hadn't shown up to the ball's after-party, Elena and Stefan (who had been freed from the tomb vampires thanks to the combined efforts of Caroline, Damon, Elena, and Enzo) knew something was wrong.

They rushed to the sheriff's office, to Elizabeth Forbes, Caroline's mother.

"Sheriff. Caroline is missing. We think vampires are involved." Elena said, her voice trembling.

Stefan took over.

"Sheriff Forbes, I know you know vampires exist. This might sound unbelievable, but I am a vampire and yes, I can walk in the sun. Bonnie... Bonnie is a witch. She's our only way to find Caroline."

Liz looked at them with disbelief, then her gaze settled on Bonnie, who slowly nodded.

The sheriff had seen strange things in Mystic Falls, and of course she knew about vampires, like the rest of the founding families, but the police officer in her mind and her mother's heart clashed.

However, the urgency of finding Caroline won out.

"Witches ? And now you're telling me Caroline is nowhere in town ?" Liz exclaimed, her voice full of frustration. She sighed then continued. "If what you say is true, if Bonnie can find her, then do it ! The rest, we'll worry about later."

Bonnie immediately set to work.

She closed her eyes, her concentration intense. Objects in the room trembled slightly. Fuzzy images of an old dwelling, a familiar aura, Caroline's fear, flooded her mind.

"I see her..." Bonnie murmured. "It's an old abandoned house, about an hour from here. There's a large dead oak tree in front of it."

Elena, Stefan, and unexpectedly, Damon immediately left.

The tension was palpable in the car. No one spoke, each focused on the objective.

They finally arrived, recognizing Bonnie's description. The old house stood darkly in the night.

But outside, on the porch, stood Caroline, visibly shaken, but alive.

Elena was the first to react. She got out of the car running, tears in her eyes.

"Caroline!"

She hugged her tightly, immense relief washing over her. Caroline clung to her, sobbing.

"Elena... Oh my God, Elena... It was horrible !"

She began to recount, words tumbling out, interspersed with tears.

"There was this guy... this vampire, Trevor... he took me. He said I was... the doppelgänger... He said I was special... And then... and then Elijah arrived."

She shivered.

"He killed Trevor. Right in front of me. Just like that. He said Trevor was violent, that he didn't deserve to live. That he had tried to... that he had tried to rape Katherine..." She whispered the last part, visibly disgusted.

Caroline, with a trembling hand, pulled out the elegant business card Elijah had given her. "He gave me this. He said we'd keep in touch."

She raised her blue eyes to Elena, tears still there.

"I remember what you said about doppelgängers, Damon. I know why I dream about that scary man. But... all of this... it's really starting to scare me, Elena."

Elena hugged her tighter, offering comforting silence.

Damon approached, his face grave, a hint of annoyance mixed with concern.

"This man... His name was Elijah Smith... or Mikaelson maybe ?"

Caroline, drying her tears with the back of her hand, handed the card to Damon.

He took it, his eyes reading the printed name : Elijah Smith.

Damon clenched his jaw, an expression of deep anger settling on his face.

"Damn it !" He turned to Stefan and exhaled before addressing Caroline. "I need to contact your twin."

Elena looked at him, eyes wide.

"Her twin ? Are you talking about who I think you are ?"

Damon slowly nodded, a dark premonition in his gaze.

"Yes. It's time for you to meet Katherine in person."

XXXXXXXX

The first time Klaus Mikaelson met Caroline Forbes in person, she was asleep.

He looked at her and couldn't help but notice the differences between her and Katherine.

Caroline had long, very long eyelashes. Her skin was smooth and warm. Her mouth pink and full. And as Klaus ran his fingers through her long blonde hair, he couldn't help but compare it to spun gold.

Klaus wouldn't admit it to himself, but he had loved two women who wore that face.

Tatia, he had loved her when he was just a boy, convinced she was the love of his life. But decades later, he understood she was just a mistake.

With Katerina (or Katherine as she preferred these days), he thought he would find a soulmate in her. Like him, she was fleeing the man she had called her father. But this love he had for her was once again a mistake. He never confessed it to her because she loved his brother, Elijah.

Ahhh, Elijah.

Klaus sketched an ironic smile.

His older brother had played with fire. He thought he could exchange Rebekah and Kol for sweet Caroline's blood, needed to make hybrids.

But unfortunately for Elijah, Klaus was far more intelligent. And now, he had his brother daggered in a coffin and his doppelgänger with him on his private jet, heading to Tokyo.

A few hours later, when Caroline woke up, Klaus was still watching her, fascinated.

"Good morning, love."

Caroline frowned before looking around, visibly disoriented. She was lying on a luxurious seat, the hum of the engines indicating she was in flight.

"Oh no. Have I been kidnapped again ? At this rate, Mom will never let me out without a tracker !"

Klaus smiled, amused by her composure.

"I'm sorry to hear I'm causing you trouble, love. But I couldn't afford to wait another 500 years for the next doppelgänger."

Caroline blinked, sudden recognition in her eyes. "You're Klaus. The Original Hybrid."

Klaus smiled broadly. "That is right."

"Where's Elijah ? Katherine ? My friends ?"

Klaus shrugged, then motioned to an unseen flight attendant to bring him a drink.

"Let's just say my brother is taking a well-deserved rest. As for your friends, they're safe and sound back in your hometown."

"Okay. Great. So you mean you daggered Elijah like the rest of your siblings ?"

Klaus accepted the glass of bourbon the attendant handed him, never taking his eyes off her.

"I see my dear brother has said quite a bit."

Caroline shrugged and sat up in her seat. "So... where are we going ? Just so you know, I have some pretty persistent friends. They won't stop looking for me. And my mom's the sheriff, so I guess my face will be all over the news soon."

Klaus smiled softly.

"Don't worry, love. I won't hurt you. Quite the opposite..."

Caroline gave an ironic smile.

"Says the guy who has me on his private jet heading who-knows-where. I know you want my blood, but it'll be on my terms."

Klaus raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by her audacity.

"Really ?"

Caroline flashed a shark-like grin, all traces of fear replaced by fierce determination.

"The thing about having vampires and a witch in your inner circle, Klaus, is that you prepare for all eventualities. Especially when you're Caroline Forbes."

She leaned closer, her eyes piercing, and whispered in his ear.

"Every day since I found out about you, I've been drinking a vial of vampire blood. There's a spell placed on my body, courtesy of my friend Bonnie. If I'm more than 36 hours away from Mystic Falls, my heart will stop beating, and I'll be in transition."

She leaned back, offering him a sweet, victorious smile.

"You're going to want to tell your pilot to turn around if you don't want to wait another 482 years for the next doppelgänger."

Klaus looked at her, incredulous, visibly surprised by her cunning, before a fascinated smile spread across his lips.

The audacity of this young woman was unexpected and utterly charming.

"You said you'd give me blood on your terms, love ?"

Caroline nodded, looking delighted.

"Yes ! But first, I want a sandwich. Then, we'll talk."

XXXXXXXX

At the Gilbert residence, nestled in Elena's arms, Rebekah felt safe, her body warm against hers.

She watched her girlfriend, who was dozing beside her on the bed, and moved closer, holding her tighter.

Elena hummed softly, opening her eyes. "What's wrong, Bekah ? You can’t sleep ?"

"I'm worried, Elena." Rebekah whispered, her voice barely audible.

"About what ?" Elena asked.

"Silas. The Travelers. Death. Your death."

Elena gently sat up, her body slightly tense. She kissed Rebekah's forehead.

"Baby. I've spent the last few months taking down vampires and eliminating that group of Silas fanatics. Believe me when I say I want this to end quickly."

"I know. I know. But..."

"But what, Bekah ?" Elena asked softly, caressing Rebekah's cheek. "I'm one of the Five. I don't have a choice. If we don't get rid of Silas, not only will he continue to torment Caroline, but the Travelers will try to kidnap her and kill me every chance they get."

Rebekah looked down.

Elena placed her hand on Rebekah's chin, making her look up.

"I know you're worried. But it's hunt or be hunted. And I refuse to hide from anyone."

Rebekah offered a small smile, teasing her.

"I know. After all, you're the one who threatened to decapitate Nik when he and Caroline started dating."

Elena blushed.

"I know, it wasn't my smartest moment, but it was worth it."

Rebekah chuckled softly and kissed Elena.

"I love you. Promise me that no matter what Qetsiyah says, you and Caroline will be careful. I have a feeling all that woman wants is to destroy Silas, even if it means you and Caroline get hurt."

Elena kissed her back tenderly.

"I love you too, and I promise. Katherine and Kol will be there, so don't worry. I know your brother is really eager to get back to Bonnie."

Rebekah raised her eyebrows, curious. "Bonnie ?"

Elena smiled mischievously.

"He likes her. He's been trying to ask her out for weeks, but he always ends up running away. Caroline and I have a betting pool on it."

Rebekah's eyes sparkled at the information, and she could already imagine a thousand ways to tease her brother in the coming days.

The threat of Silas was still there, but for now, in Elena's arms, a little normality and love were enough.

XXXXXXXXX

The New Orleans sun shone with joyful intensity on the new façade of the Forbes Academy.

Today was the big day : the inauguration of the school for the young and gifted, the culmination of months of hard work, complex negotiations, and a bold vision.

After all the debacle with Aunt Dahlia and the discovery of Freya, the hidden sister, it seemed the Mikaelsons and their allies had finally found some peace.

The Academy was, of course, was the first step.

Caroline had envisioned it after becoming pregnant with the twins. She quickly realized that their children, Hope and Henrik, were not like others.

Confirmed tribrids, they had the potential to change everything, and they would need to be surrounded by other supernatural beings like themselves to flourish safely.

That's when Caroline had the idea to create a specific school for supernatural creatures, nestled in the heart of New Orleans, her husband's undisputed kingdom.

She had enlisted her friends and family in the adventure.

Elijah, to his immense pleasure and with a keen sense of dignity, had been appointed the school's director and history teacher.

Kol, always eccentric but incredibly talented, had become the supernatural history and chemistry teacher.

(That boy loved blowing things up in the lab.)

Elena, with her organizational skills and experience with the Five, was the personal defense, survival, and biology teacher.

Enzo and Damon, with their sharp minds and shadowy pasts, taught strategy, mental self-defense, and mathematics.

And of course, Bonnie, now a witch of formidable power, was the magic and witchcraft teacher.

Caroline had even managed to convince Qetsiyah herself to erect an impenetrable magical barrier around the school, guaranteeing the safety of all its occupants.

Everything was perfect.

However, today, in the Mikaelson family's private apartments within the Academy, excitement was at its peak.

"Love ?" Klaus's husky voice echoed in their bedroom.

He held their five-year-old children, Hope and Henrik, by the hand.
The twins, miniature versions of their parents, looked at their mother with eager eyes.

"Ready ? We're going to be late for your grand inauguration."

Caroline frantically searched through a dresser drawer, her back turned.

"Just a minute, I can't find my notes for the speech. I can't miss this !"

Klaus rolled his eyes with an amused smile. He approached, pointing his chin at the bed where a bright pink satchel, which she herself had chosen for the occasion, sat.

"It's right there, my heart. Just where you left it."

"Oh." Caroline blushed, a giggle escaping her lips. She grabbed the satchel. "Okay, let's go ! I can't believe this day is finally here."

She took one of Hope's hands and squeezed it, then put her arm around Klaus's waist, smiling at him with pure, contagious joy.

Together, the Mikaelson family, founders of this new era, left the room.

Outside, the laughter of other children already resonated, promising a future where supernatural beings could grow, learn, and love, safe from the chaos of the world.

The Forbes Academy was not just a school; it was the promise of a new beginning, forged by the courage, love, and perseverance of a former prom queen who had become the architect of a better world.