The Vampire Diaries: Bastard Line of Delgallo

The night air was crisp as Jonas Martin and Leon stood on the porch, facing each other in the dim light. Crickets chirped in the background, a stark contrast to the tension thickening between them.

"I know about your daughter's situation," Leon said calmly, his eyes studying Jonas with an understanding that caught the warlock off guard. "You and I came to Mystic Falls for similar reasons."

Jonas narrowed his eyes. "And yet, here we are on opposite sides."

Leon took a step closer. "We don't have to be." His voice was even, persuasive. "Join me, Jonas. Together, we can make sure Greta is safe. We can change the tide."

Jonas shook his head, his fists clenching at his sides. "I can't let go of the pain, Leon. My son is dead. My daughter is lost. There's no peace for me in this."

His voice cracked slightly, but his conviction remained strong. He met Leon's gaze with unwavering resolve. "So here's my ultimatum—Elena or me."

Leon's expression hardened. Without hesitation, he replied, "Only the brothers know it, but Elena belongs to me. You can't have her."

Inside the house, Caroline had been listening, her ears catching every word. Her brow furrowed in confusion. She turned her head toward the Salvatore brothers, her gaze sharp and questioning.

Damon and Stefan both looked away, shame and rage flickering across their faces. Caroline's curiosity only grew. She needed answers, but now was not the time.

Elena, sensing the shift, turned to Caroline. "What's going on?"

Caroline hesitated before whispering, "Jonas gave Leon an ultimatum. Elena or him."

Elena's heart pounded in her chest, but she didn't falter. "Leon won't hand me over." Her voice was firm, resolute.

Caroline nodded, but the questions piling up in her mind remained unspoken.

Back outside, Leon's expression softened slightly. "I'll save Greta, Jonas. I'll take care of her. But I need Bonnie."

Jonas exhaled sharply, battling his inner turmoil. Finally, he gave a tight nod. "Fine. She gets her magic back."

Without hesitation, Jonas walked into the house and placed both of his hands on Bonnie's face and chanted under his breath. Power crackled in the air as Bonnie gasped. Energy surged through her veins, her magic returning in a flood of warmth and light.

But before the moment could settle, Vanessa moved.

With a swift, merciless strike, she drove the Los Muertos Blade into Jonas's chest. His eyes widened in shock as he staggered, blood spilling onto the floor of the Gilbert House.

Gasps filled the air. Everyone was frozen in horror.

Jonas collapsed, his body hitting the wooden floor with a dull thud.

Leon's gaze darkened, but he did not stop Vanessa. He turned away as she used her finger to draw her mark on Jonas's forehead, the power flowing from him to her.

"Let's go," Leon said.

And just like that, Leon and Vanessa vanished into the night, leaving chaos in their wake.

________________________

The next Day

Isobel stood before Alaric, her expression a complex mix of sorrow and determination. "I want you to know," she began, her voice trembling slightly, "I did love you, in my own way." 

Before Alaric could respond, Maddox emerged from the shadows, seizing him with a grip that brooked no resistance. As Alaric was dragged away, his eyes remained locked on Isobel's, a silent plea and a myriad of unspoken words passing between them.

At the Mystic Falls Historical Society meeting, the atmosphere was one of quiet reverence, attendees engrossed in discussions of the town's storied past. John Gilbert, seated near the front, was perusing old documents when a sudden hush fell over the room. Isobel had entered, her presence commanding immediate attention. Without a word, she approached John, and in a swift, brutal motion, ended his life. The room erupted into chaos, gasps and screams echoing as she turned her gaze to the back, where Katherine, disguised as Elena, sat beside Stefan. With a subtle nod, Isobel signaled, and in the blink of an eye, Katherine lunged at Stefan, injecting him with a syringe filled with vervain. As he slumped, unconscious, Katherine's features shimmered, revealing her true identity. The room's occupants, paralyzed by fear and confusion, could only watch as Isobel and Katherine made their exit.

Outside, under the cover of darkness, Isobel handed Katherine over to Maddox, who restrained her with practiced ease. 

"Our arrangement is complete," Isobel stated coldly, her earlier vulnerability replaced by steely resolve. Maddox nodded, leading Katherine away, her struggles futile against his supernatural strength.

With her tasks accomplished, Isobel turned her attention to Elena. She found her daughter waiting, confusion and betrayal evident in her eyes. 

"Come with me," Isobel instructed, her tone leaving no room for argument.

 They drove in silence to Grove Hill Cemetery, the car's engine the only sound piercing the night. Upon arrival, Isobel led Elena to a modest gravestone bearing her own name.

 "Your grandparents placed this here," she explained, her voice devoid of emotion. "When I disappeared, they needed closure, a place to mourn." 

Elena stared at the marker, her mind racing with questions, but before she could voice them, Isobel's phone rang.

Maddox's voice was terse on the other end. "It's done. Klaus's compulsion is lifted. You're free." 

A visible shudder ran through Isobel as she absorbed the words. "Thank you," she whispered, ending the call. 

Turning to Elena, she reached up, unclasping the lapis lazuli necklace that adorned her neck. 

"I'm sorry," she murmured, tears welling in her eyes. "For everything." 

Before Elena could react, Isobel stepped into the path of the rising sun. Her skin began to sizzle, smoke curling from her body as she was engulfed in flames. Elena screamed, reaching out, but it was too late. Within moments, Isobel was reduced to ash, the necklace falling to the ground, a poignant reminder of her tragic end.

Elena fell to her knees, sobs wracking her body as she grappled with the whirlwind of emotions: anger, sorrow, and a profound sense of loss for the mother she never truly knew.

______________

In the dim confines of Alaric's apartment, the air was thick with tension. Katherine awoke, her senses immediately on high alert. Across the room, she spotted Maddox, a formidable warlock, chanting in a language she couldn't decipher. Before her, Alaric sat motionless, his eyes vacant. Panic surged through her as she attempted to flee, but an unseen force held her in place. As the incantation reached its zenith, Alaric's body convulsed, then stilled. When his eyes opened, they bore a cold, ancient intelligence. A chilling smile curved his lips as he regarded Katherine.

"Hello, Katerina," he drawled, his voice laced with malevolence.

Katherine's breath caught. "Klaus," she whispered, realization dawning.

Meanwhile, across town, Leon moved stealthily through the Martin household. The recent deaths of Jonas and Luka had left the residence abandoned, a treasure trove of magical knowledge ripe for the taking. Leon meticulously gathered grimoires, scrolls, and artifacts, each pulsating with latent power. With a satisfied smirk, he secured them within an interspatial ring—a mystical storage device of ancient origins. By seizing these invaluable resources, he ensured that Bonnie Bennett would have no choice but to seek him out, her powers incomplete without the Martin family's legacy to complete her goals of harnessing the site of the witch massacre.

On April 12, 2010, the Mystic Grill buzzed with its usual patrons, unaware of the undercurrents of supernatural intrigue. At the bar, a young woman with striking features sipped her drink, her demeanor exuding a quiet confidence. Leon approached, his eyes locking onto hers.

"Greta Martin, I presume," he said smoothly, taking a seat beside her.

She arched an eyebrow, a hint of amusement playing on her lips. "And you are?"

"Someone who recognizes potential," Leon replied, his tone enigmatic. "I believe we have much to discuss."

As their conversation unfolded, the scene shifted to the high school. Students settled into their seats, murmurs of curiosity filling the space. At the desk stood Vanessa, her presence commanding attention.

"Good afternoon," she began, her voice resonating through the room. "Today, I happily reintroduce myself as Vanessa Delgallo."

Her smile said it and the rock on her finger ratified her words. The teenage boys groaned, each having the occasional wet dream about the hot literature teacher and the girls in the class swooned, some wishing to experience the same thing someday.

Vanessa refocused the class then began, "Today, we'll delve into 'The Literary Methods of Moral Efficacy.'"

The gang of mystic falls look at her with incredulous expressions. That had just watched her sacrifice a man in Elena's living room, now she is teaching future generations about morality.

But oddly enough, Vanessa noted hints of intrigue from only Bonnie and Elena, both of them have their own recent run ins with moral efficacy. As for Elena, Vanessa was crude but seemed to always say the right things. And she hated to admit that Jenna was completely safe knowing about the supernatural world and staying at the Delgallo house.

Bonnie on the other hand had been in a dilemma since the death of her grams and wanted to know the thoughts of a witch who seemed to be thriving in the supernatural world.

Vanessa's lecture wove through various narratives, dissecting how literature shapes and reflects moral compasses. Yet, beneath her scholarly exterior, Vanessa's mind wandered to Leon and their shared machinations. The delicate balance of power in Mystic Falls was shifting, and she intended to remain at the epicenter of its evolution.

As the day waned, the intertwined fates of these individuals edged closer to a convergence, each step bringing them nearer to an inevitable reckoning.