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The storm rolled in like an omen. Thunder snarled low across the Virginia horizon as dark clouds smeared across the sky, casting Mystic Falls in a cloak of unease. At the Salvatore boarding house, the brothers had gathered with Elena, Bonnie, Caroline, and Alaric. A call from Jenna had summoned them all, though she hadn't explained why—only that something was coming. Something ancient. Something powerful.
The air outside shimmered like heat, though the temperature had dropped. Damon opened the front door and found two figures waiting on the porch, silhouettes against the rain-soaked twilight. They did not knock. They did not speak. They simply waited, statues beneath the storm.
Elijah and Elisha Mikaelson.
Tailored to perfection, both men stood with the relaxed confidence of kings. Their presence was magnetic—elegant suits, pristine manners, and a regal aura that could chill blood. Their eyes held a mirrored sharpness, though Elijah's bore more warmth, and Elisha's radiated the cold precision of a winter blade. They moved in perfect synchronicity, reflections of one another—an echo from a time before myths had names.
"May we come in?" Elijah asked, voice rich and refined.
Damon blinked, uncertain. "Depends. Who the hell are you?"
Elisha smiled faintly. "Travelers. Seeking an old friend."
Stefan stepped forward, assessing the newcomers. The storm behind them intensified, thunder rolling like a warning. After a brief hesitation, Damon moved aside. "Well. Come on in, travelers."
The twins entered like dusk falling over daylight. Their gaze swept the room, taking in every detail. Elena tensed beside Stefan. Bonnie's fingers twitched, ready to draw on magic. Caroline frowned.
"You're vampires," Bonnie stated, tone low.
"Indeed," Elijah replied with a nod. "Though not quite like others you've encountered."
Elisha's lips curled slightly. "We do not feed on the innocent. Nor do we seek chaos. We only want what was taken from us."
"And what exactly was that?" Elena asked, voice steady.
"Our family," Elijah said simply.
Their eyes lingered on the old photographs and trinkets scattered throughout the room, remnants of human warmth. For a moment, silence blanketed them all.
—
Flashback — Year 1001 AD
The woods were thick and damp with dew. Young Klaus, no older than ten, lay crumpled at the base of a tree, his breath shallow and panicked. Above him, Mikael's wrath rained down—blows sharp and cruel. From the shadows, two teenage boys watched, hidden behind heavy branches and aching hearts.
Elijah's fists clenched, but Elisha held him back. "Not yet," he whispered.
"But he'll kill him," Elijah breathed.
"No. Not today. But soon, brother. Very soon."
It was the moment that bound them—witnessing pain and choosing protection. In that instant, the twins swore a vow that would shape their centuries: never again would they be powerless.
—
Back in the present, Bonnie's voice cut through the haze. "You're not just vampires, are you?"
Elisha arched a brow. "Very perceptive."
Elijah inclined his head. "We are something… more. But titles rarely matter. Actions do."
"You didn't tell us your names," Stefan said, eyes narrowing.
Elijah's gaze held steady. "You may call me Elijah."
"Elisha," the other added. "We're just… old friends keeping an eye on old places."
Caroline folded her arms. "And Mystic Falls is one of those places?"
Elijah looked to Elisha, who nodded slowly. "This town was built over the bones of memory. Of magic. Of blood. We simply kept one of its many houses."
"The mansion on the hill," Alaric murmured. "People say it's been there for centuries. No one's seen who owns it."
"Some myths are better left untouched," Elisha said.
The silence thickened. They had not lied—but they had not told the truth. Not yet. Not about their name. Not about their nature.
"Why now?" Damon finally asked. "Why show up here?"
Elijah stepped forward. "Because soon, someone you've tried to forget will return. Someone who will tear this fragile peace apart."
"Elijah," Elisha added, "we are here to prevent that. To ensure that when he rises, we will be ready."
"Who?" Elena whispered.
Elijah's voice darkened. "Klaus."
Gasps rippled through the room.
"But Klaus is a fairy tale," Bonnie said, voice trembling. "A cautionary tale for witches and vampires."
"No," Elisha said with steel. "He is real. And far worse than the stories suggest."
They turned, the moment closing.
"We will see you again," Elijah promised.
"And next time," Elisha added, "you may wish we had stayed legends."
The door shut behind them. Outside, the storm broke, thunder roaring like the ghost of an ancient vow.