The Vampire Diaries: Bastard Line of Delgallo

The house was steeped in warmth, the air thick with the scent of butter sizzling in the pan and freshly brewed coffee. Morning sunlight spilled through the kitchen window, painting golden lines across the rustic wooden floors. The quiet hum of a jazz tune whispered from the old radio on the counter, blending with the soft clatter of dishes and the occasional bubbling of something simmering on the stove.

Leon sat at the small dining table, relaxed yet keenly observant. He watched Vanessa move about the kitchen, her white t-shirt clinging to her frame in all the right places, rising slightly every time she reached for something. The lace of her black panties peeked out from beneath the fabric, an intentional tease—or maybe just her usual effortless charm. Either way, Leon wasn't about to look away.

Vanessa smirked as she flipped the eggs, feeling his gaze. "You're staring."

"I'm thinking," Leon corrected, resting an elbow on the table. "Trying to decide how much you actually understand about what you're doing."

She turned, an amused arch to her brow. "You mean sacrificial magic?"

Leon nodded, fingers drumming idly on the table. "It's not just about offering blood or life to fuel a spell. That's the shallow understanding—the kind of thing desperate witches do without knowing the real mechanics. True sacrificial magic isn't about the act of killing. It's about what you take."

Vanessa leaned against the counter, coffee cup in hand, eyes locked onto him with interest. "Go on."

Leon sat back, arms crossed. "Sacrificing something ordinary—say, an animal—won't do much beyond feeding a ritual. You can use it to power wards, strengthen a spell's reach, or even add a little kick to an incantation. But it doesn't change you." He tilted his head. "Now, sacrificing something supernatural? That's where things shift."

Vanessa's lips curled. "Absorbing their power."

"Exactly." Leon's gaze was steady, measured. "A vampire, a werewolf, another witch—something that already possesses an enhanced form of existence. When you take their life, you're not just fueling a spell, you're channeling everything they were into yourself. Strength, speed, resilience… even their magic, if done right."

Vanessa set her cup down and sauntered toward him, her bare feet soundless against the hardwood floor. "And how long does that power last?"

Leon studied her, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. "Depends. If you do it the crude way—quick and messy—you'll get a temporary boost. Maybe a few hours, a day if you're lucky. But if you bind the sacrifice properly, integrate their essence into your own… it can be permanent."

Vanessa reached past him, plucking the salt shaker off the table, her body brushing his arm in a way that was hardly accidental. "And how do you stop it?"

Leon exhaled, amused. "Why? You planning on someone stopping you?"

She stirred the eggs lazily. "Just covering my bases."

He chuckled. "Sacrificial magic is fragile in its setup. The symbols—the ones made in blood—act as conduits, drawing and locking in the energy of the offering. Disrupt them, and the magic collapses. The spell dies before it can take hold." He leaned forward slightly, voice dropping lower. "And if someone strong enough interferes during the process? Well, let's just say it's not the witch who walks away with more power."

Vanessa turned, resting a hip against the counter, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "So, if I were to—hypothetically—take something… more potent, something stronger…?"

Leon met her gaze, unreadable. "Then you wouldn't just be playing with sacrificial magic." He reached for his coffee, taking a slow sip. "You'd be trying to rewrite the balance of power."

Vanessa considered that, twirling a lock of hair around her finger before flashing him a playful smile. "Sounds fun."

Leon shook his head, grinning despite himself. "For you, maybe. For everyone else? Not so much."

Vanessa twirled a strand of hair between her fingers, watching Leon carefully. "Speaking of rewriting the balance of power," she mused, "you're planning on using Mikael, aren't you?"

Leon didn't flinch, didn't even break eye contact as he took another slow sip of coffee. "And what if I am?"

Vanessa set her cup down and crossed her arms. "I want to hear you say it. I want to know exactly why you think it'll work."

Leon leaned back, tilting his head slightly. "Because I know it will." He set his cup down, fingers tracing the rim as he continued. "My grandfather, Alphonz Bellatunde Delgallo—better known as Papa Tunde—understood power in ways most witches could only dream of. He was a leader of the French Quarter Coven back in the early 20th century. And he was a master of sacrificial magic."

Vanessa smirked. "A family legacy, then?"

Leon chuckled. "Something like that." He shifted in his seat, his voice taking on the cadence of a teacher sharing a lesson. "Papa Tunde's magic worked by absorbing the life force of his victims. Witches, vampires, werewolves—it didn't matter. When he sacrificed them, he took their power, became their power. But there was a limitation. No matter how strong the offering, once they died, their energy was finite. A temporary boost—useful, but not sustainable."

Vanessa nodded slowly, piecing it together. "And that's where Mikael comes in."

Leon's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Original Vampires are different. Unlike regular vampires, werewolves, or witches, an Original cannot be killed by anything except a White Oak Stake. Which means…"

Vanessa's eyes darkened with understanding. "The sacrifice won't kill him."

"Exactly," Leon said. "Instead of death fueling the ritual, Mikael's immortality would make him an unlimited power source. The magic that would normally drain a sacrifice dry would only desiccate him, leaving him weak but very much alive. And as long as he exists in that state, I can channel his power indefinitely."

Vanessa let out a soft whistle. "A battery that never runs out."

Leon nodded. "An Original Vampire is the ideal offering. Sacrificing a normal vampire, a werewolf, or even a powerful witch would give me only a fraction of their strength for a limited time. But Mikael?" He exhaled, shaking his head. "With him, there's no expiration date. His power will be mine for as long as I keep him bound."

Vanessa tilted her head, amusement flickering in her gaze. "And here I thought you weren't a fan of shortcuts."

Leon grinned. "I'm not. This isn't a shortcut, Vanessa. This is strategy."

She stepped closer, resting a hand on the table as she peered at him. "And you're sure you can pull it off?"

Leon met her gaze, unwavering. "Papa Tunde did it before. I'm just perfecting it."

Vanessa chuckled, shaking her head. "You really are dangerous, Leon."

His smirk deepened. "Only if you get in my way."

Leon refrained from telling her anything further. She was none the wiser that only an idiot witch would let magic trickle away, that's why, Leon carried his bone blades, talismans that bound the magic gained from sacrifices.

'Keep proving your worth and I'll introduce you to a whole new world' he promised internally, watching Vanessa keenly.

_______________

Richmond, Virginia

Leon stepped out of the sleek black sedan, adjusting his coat as the cool Richmond air settled over him. The city hummed around him—cars rolling down the streets, pedestrians moving with purpose, and the distant sound of sirens echoing off the buildings. He had work to do here, but his mind was already drifting elsewhere. More specifically, to the sultry voice waiting for him on the other end of his phone.

He pressed the call button, bringing the phone to his ear. It barely rang twice before Vanessa's voice purred through the speaker.

"Took you long enough," she teased. "I was starting to think you forgot about me."

Leon smirked, stepping onto the sidewalk as he walked toward his destination. "Forget about you? Unlikely. I was just wondering how my eyes and ears were doing in Mystic Falls."

Vanessa let out a soft hum, the faint sound of an engine purring in the background. "Your eyes and ears are pulling up to the Gilbert house as we speak. Elena's not home yet, but Jenna and Alaric are inside."

Leon's smirk deepened. "Perfect. I trust you'll make a good first impression?"

Vanessa laughed softly. "Oh, don't worry. I'm charming when I want to be."

Leon hummed in amusement. "Charming isn't the word I'd use."

"Seductive?" she offered playfully.

"Dangerous," Leon corrected.

Vanessa grinned, stepping out of her car and walking toward the front porch. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

Leon chuckled. "Not at all. I rather enjoy it. But Jenna and Alaric? They might not be so easily smitten."

Vanessa knocked on the door, tilting her head. "Oh, please. Alaric's a man. I'll have him wrapped around my finger in under ten minutes."

Leon shook his head, amused. "And Jenna?"

Vanessa smirked. "That's where my real work begins."

Leon exhaled slowly. "Be careful, Vanessa."

She clicked her tongue. "You wound me, love. I always am."

Leon leaned against a brick wall, lowering his voice. "Just remember—this isn't a game. We need them to trust you."

Vanessa smiled as she heard footsteps approaching the door. "Oh, don't worry. By the time I'm done, they won't just trust me." She tossed her hair over her shoulder, her voice dropping into a silky promise.

"They'll love me."

Leon shook his head, amused. "We'll see about that. I trust you'll handle things?"

"Always." There was a pause, then a shift in her tone—silkier, more playful. "Now, about something more important…"

Leon arched a brow. "More important than our plans?"

"Mm-hmm." Vanessa's voice was liquid temptation. "Like how best to welcome you home when you get back."

Leon exhaled, slowing his steps. "Oh?"

"I've been thinking," she continued, her voice laced with a teasing warmth. "You've been working so hard. Maybe I should let you relax first. A slow night, just you and me… candlelight… something smooth playing in the background while I take very good care of you."

Leon chuckled, adjusting his grip on his phone. "You? Let me relax? That doesn't sound like you at all."

Vanessa laughed softly. "Fine. Maybe I start off gentle… then I make you work for it."

Leon smirked. "Now that sounds more like you."

"You know me so well," she purred. "Tell me, Leon… what's your preference? Would you rather I ease you into pleasure… or throw you straight into the fire?"

Leon's voice dropped an octave. "Who says I don't want both?"

Vanessa let out an appreciative hum. "Greedy."

"You love it."

"I do," she admitted, the sound of her car door clicking open in the background. "And you love how much I enjoy keeping you on edge."

Leon's grip on his phone tightened slightly. "You have a talent for it."

Vanessa let out a soft laugh. "And when you get home, I plan to use all my talents on you."

Leon glanced up at the Richmond skyline, already regretting how far away he was from her. "Then I'll have to make sure I don't stay away too long."

"See that you don't," Vanessa murmured. "I have so many plans for you."

Leon exhaled, shaking his head with a smirk. "And here I thought you were focused on the mission."

Vanessa laughed, her voice a sinful promise. "Oh, Leon. I am focused. I'm just really, really good at multitasking."

Leon let out a low chuckle. "Then keep your eyes on Mystic Falls, Vanessa. And when I get back… we'll put that multitasking to the test."

Vanessa grinned. "I'll be waiting."

The call ended, leaving Leon standing in the middle of Richmond, his body thrumming with anticipation. Business first. Then he'd claim his reward.

Slater's Suite – Richmond, Virginia

The door creaked open with the ease of a predator slipping into an unsuspecting den. Leon stepped inside, shutting it behind him as his eyes adjusted to the dim light filtering through the suite. It smelled of stale coffee and the faint metallic tang of blood—old, settled into the fibers of the carpet. He exhaled slowly, gaze sweeping the space before landing on Slater's lifeless body slumped over his desk.

Leon took a measured step forward. Slater had been an informant, a middleman with a penchant for knowing too much. A scholar of the undead, obsessed with cataloging them like rare specimens. And now, he was nothing more than a corpse.

Pity.

Leon moved toward the computer, tapping a finger against the keyboard. The screen flickered to life, prompting a password. He smirked.

"Kristen Stewart."

The familiarity was almost laughable. The soul inside him had once belonged to another world, one where this detail was merely fiction. But here? Here, it was knowledge. He typed in the password, and the screen unlocked, displaying a labyrinth of files—research on vampires, historical records, tracking notes, encrypted messages.

Leon scrolled through them, seeking something of worth. And then—

A sound.

A sharp intake of breath.

He turned his head slightly, sensing the presence before she even spoke.

Alice Condon.

She has long, somewhat wavy black hair and hazel eyes with heavy eyeliner around them. She wore dark red-pink lipstick and a sleeveless black tank-top. That dark haired beauty stood frozen near the entrance, her sharp Hazel eyes wide with alarm. She had just entered the suite, no doubt expecting to find her lover. Instead, she found an intruder rifling through his secrets.

She spun to run—

Only to hit an invisible barrier.

Leon smirked as she stumbled back, eyes darting to the door as if expecting it to open. It wouldn't. Not while his spell held.

"You're trapped," he said smoothly, watching the way her breath hitched.

She swallowed hard, her German accent slipping through in her panic. "Who are you?"

Leon tilted his head, regarding her like one would a specimen under a microscope. "That's not the question you should be asking, Alice." He leaned back against the desk, arms folding over his chest. "The real question is—why are you here?"

Alice's fingers twitched, her body still coiled like a frightened animal. "I—I live here," she said cautiously.

Leon chuckled. "No, you lived with him," he corrected, gesturing to Slater's body with a flick of his wrist. "And I know why you were with him."

Alice's lips parted, but no words came.

"You thought he would turn you." Leon's voice was laced with amusement. "Poor, naive girl. Did he ever actually promise you eternity, or was it just a hope you clung to?"

Alice stiffened, her jaw tightening.

Leon took a slow step toward her, his voice lowering. "You don't need to lie to me, Alice. I already know the truth. You've spent years studying vampires, dreaming about becoming one. But Slater? He was weak. He was never going to turn you. He was too busy playing librarian to ever take action."

Alice's expression flickered with something raw. Pain? Resentment?

Leon's smirk deepened. Good.

He reached for her chin, tilting her face up so she had no choice but to meet his gaze. "Tell me, Alice… do you still want it?"

Her breath hitched.

"You could leave here human," he continued, his voice like silk. "Or, you could prove yourself useful to me." He released her, stepping back as he studied her reaction. "Your choice."

Alice hesitated. Then, slowly, she straightened her spine.

"What do you want from me?"

Leon's smirk was pure satisfaction. "For now? Information. Everything Slater knew. Every contact, every encrypted message, every file." He gestured toward the computer. "And you? You'll be the one to organize it all. Mystic Falls is in desperate need of a librarian, don't you think?"

Alice's lips parted slightly, the realization setting in. He wasn't just letting her live—he was offering her something. A position. A purpose.

A chance.

She inhaled, steadied herself, then nodded.

Leon retrieved the hard drives, slipping them into his coat. With one last glance at Slater's lifeless body, he moved toward the door—this time, the barrier dissolving at his command.

"Come, Alice," he murmured.

She followed without hesitation, stepping into her new life.