The Vampire Diaries: Bastard Line of Delgallo

After finishing his shower, Leon steps out of the guest bathroom, feeling the cool air of the house brush against his skin. He's already dressed in a simple, dark shirt and pants, his hair still damp as he walks into the living room. But when he sees Jenna, sitting on the couch, a strange tension hangs in the air between them. She's waiting for him, but something is undeniably off.

Her gaze locks with his, and for a fleeting moment, she hesitates, unsure of how to address the awkwardness that lingers between them from their earlier encounter. Her mind is undoubtedly racing, but Leon doesn't give her a chance to speak.

He stops in the doorway, his eyes narrowing slightly. There's a shift in him, an almost palpable change in his aura. It's subtle, but it's there—a cold, calculating edge to his presence that wasn't there before. He isn't the man she saw moments ago. There's something darker, more controlled in his demeanor now. Something that sends a shiver down her spine.

Jenna opens her mouth, her lips trembling as she starts to speak, the words catching in her throat. She wants to bring up the bathroom incident, to address the confusion and the unsettling feelings it stirred in her. But before she can get a word out, Leon raises a hand, his expression still unreadable, and mutters a few low words in an ancient language.

The air around her thickens with magic, and Jenna's body grows heavy. The words die in her mouth as a sudden wave of drowsiness washes over her. Her eyelids flutter, her vision blurring as her limbs turn to lead. Leon watches impassively, his power locking her in place as her consciousness fades into oblivion.

She collapses back against the couch, her body limp, as Leon steps toward her, his movements precise and methodical. He briefly looks at her, his expression betraying no emotion, before turning and walking toward the door, where Katerina is waiting.

Katerina stands there, looking every bit as fierce as she did earlier, her curiosity piqued. Leon's presence is enough to leave a ripple in the air around her, the intensity of his magic still lingering in the atmosphere. He approaches her, his gaze steady and unwavering.

"You want to get back at the Salvatore brothers?" Leon asks, his voice smooth, laced with the kind of certainty that only someone in his position could hold.

A wicked grin spreads across Katerina's face, and her eyes glint with something dangerous—something that feels like the calm before a storm. She looks at Leon, eager, hungry for a chance at revenge.

"What do you have in mind?" she asks, the excitement evident in her voice.

Leon chuckles darkly, stepping closer. "We'll make them wish they'd never crossed us."

Meanwhile, across town, Elena finds herself trapped in a cabin hidden deep in the woods outside of Mystic Falls. Vanessa's grip on her is relentless, and she's bound and gagged, trapped in a dark room that smells of old wood and something colder. There's a quiet desperation in Elena's eyes, but her fate feels uncertain in the hands of her captor. Vanessa remains distant, cold, her plans for Elena still unclear but undoubtedly part of something far darker.

Back at the Salvatore boarding house, Katerina arrives with Elena's personal belongings in tow. Her purse, phone, keys, even wearing her jewelry and clothes—everything that Elena would have. Her movements are relaxed, smooth, held to the highest standard by the weight of a thousand commands to make her the greatest actress of the century.

 The Bracelet of Obedience that Leon holds had made him the master and she a tool of his vengeance. With him keeping her in check, preventing her from acting on her true nature, Leon had confidence in her performance.

She steps into the house, her eyes focused as she walks straight to Stefan, who stands by the door, his eyes lighting up in confusion as she approaches.

"Katerina?" he asks, brow furrowing in confusion, but he doesn't seem to register anything unusual about her presence, the sudden change in her demeanor. The Bracelet has her acting like Elena, making her the perfect imposter.

Katerina looks confused.

"She's in the tomb. Right, Stefan?" she asked.

"About that." he began, "Apparently, the only way to undo an original compulsion is for them to die."

"And Elijah was daggered." Katerina tacked on like the perfect Doppelganger.

"Hey, hey, hey, let's forget about her. She is more afraid of Klaus than any of us. For now, we're allies." Stefan explained.

Katerina sighed and nodded with acceptance. And as Stefan caught sight of Elena's necklace, all further doubt was washed away.

Meanwhile, Leon is not done yet. He has more plans, more people to manipulate. He lingers in the shadows, watching as Stefan accepts Katerina without hesitation, as the pieces of his game continue to fall into place.

With Damon still unaware, Leon focuses on him next. He knows exactly how to lure Damon out, how to pull on the strings of his mind. He waits, savoring the moment before playing with Damon's thoughts, making him doubt everything he holds dear.

When Damon finally arrives, confusion in his eyes, Leon is ready. The instant Damon looks his way, Leon's spell takes hold, and with a flick of his wrist, he snaps Damon's neck, leaving the vampire limp and lifeless in the middle of the room.

Leon mutters a few words under his breath, and with his magic, he hides Damon's body, erasing his presence from the house entirely. The room feels strangely empty as he turns to leave, a smug grin curling on his lips. Everything is falling perfectly into place.

__________________________

The evening in the Salvatore boarding house is uncomfortably peaceful. The flicker of the television casts a muted glow across the room, and the soft sound of the movie playing on the screen offers a temporary distraction from the chaos that is still lurking beneath the surface. Stefan and Elena—or, more accurately, Katerina, who is playing the part so convincingly—sit side by side on the couch, watching a light-hearted rom-com, though neither of them is truly absorbed in the story.

Katerina's posture is perfect, every movement and gesture designed to mirror Elena's ease. She's trying, perhaps too hard, to emulate the woman she's impersonating. But beneath the surface, her mind is sharp, calculating, always thinking a few steps ahead. Stefan glances at her from time to time, sensing something is off but unable to pinpoint what it is. 

Katerina's gaze flickers toward Stefan as she breaks the silence, her voice smooth and casual. "Jenna's still at the Delgallo house," she says, casually glancing over at him. "She's taking things better than you might think, though… I think she's trying to distract herself from everything happening around her. It's tough, but she's managing."

Stefan nods quietly, but there's a furrow in his brow, as if trying to push away the concern gnawing at him.

"I spoke with Bonnie," Katerina continues, her voice cool and controlled, her eyes scanning the room as if she were carefully choosing her words. "She's been looking for Vanessa—seeking out a way to regain her magic. I wonder what she'll do when she finds her. You know how Bonnie can be when she's determined."

Stefan looks over at her, his brow furrowing slightly at the mention of Bonnie. "Bonnie," he repeats, nodding slowly. "She's always been… impulsive. If she's seeking Vanessa out, she's probably going to try to make some kind of deal, right?" 

He sighs, frustration leaking into his voice. "It's hard to know what'll happen with her. But Bonnie is strong. She'll find a way."

Katerina's lips curve upward in the slightest of smiles, genuine. "She will. She always does," she agrees, her voice silky, but the undertones hint at something else—a calculation. Her eyes shift to Stefan then, the conversation turning to another topic entirely, one that's been on her mind for some time. "Speaking of people who are hard to predict," she begins, her voice quieter, the words deliberately chosen. "What about Leon?"

Stefan stiffens slightly at the mention of the name, though he tries to mask his reaction. Leon is a name Stefan has only heard in passing, associated with power, danger, and a tangled web of history that he knows little about. But something in the way Katerina speaks of him causes unease to prick at the back of his mind.

Katerina shifts on the couch, facing Stefan with a slightly more intense gaze. "Once Leon comes back to town and hears about the incident with Vanessa, what do you plan to do? He's not exactly someone you want to cross, is he?"

Stefan exhales slowly, his fingers tightening slightly around the remote. He has no personal history with Leon, but he knows enough to understand that this is a man not easily controlled. His instincts tell him to be careful, but he also knows that Mystic Falls is full of complicated players.

"I don't know Leon personally," Stefan admits, his voice steady despite the flicker of concern in his eyes. " I can't pretend to know his intentions, but I think we'll need to focus on keeping the peace. Maybe we can find a way to make amends with him, bring him into the fold, help him settle into Mystic Falls. If he feels he has a stake here, maybe he won't be as inclined to cause chaos."

Katerina tilts her head slightly, studying him, but she remains concerned and rubs Stefan's arm to bring him comfort.

"Forget it." She says "Let's just relax."

Suddenly, Stefan realizes what's bothering him, Damon isn't around. 

"Have you seen Damon?" Stefan asks.

Katerina shakes her and the front door is blown open.

"Finally!" Leon sings as he walks in, "You finally noticed your brother missing. Vanessa told me you two were rather close, I guess she was wrong."

"Leon…" Stefan guessed.

"Leon Alphonz Bellatunde Delgallo." he informed Stefan.

Stefan moved Katerina behind him and she accepted his protection wholeheartedly.Leon chuckled when he saw this. Stefan really was pathetic.

"Before I begin. You should know, I merely planned to come to town, stay awhile then move on once the sun and moon ritual was over. But you couldn't let that happen."

"Look…"

Crack!

Stefan dropped and Leon yawned. A moment later, Restraining Rod and Chains appeared from his ring. To Katerina, it looked like it had come from thin air. But Leon was in possession of a ring from china. And Interspatial Ring, while many considered this thing myth, Leon understood the history of the world and was pleasantly surprised when the little trinket worked.

 The Restraining Rod and Chains on the other hand is an ancient artifact that was crafted by ancient Egyptians from an unknown wood, engraved with ancient symbols. Combined, the rod and chain were made to suppress anything supernatural and was powerful enough to effectively restrain an Original Hybrid

"Don't look so shocked," he said, "The revenge has just started. And I'll need you to pick up the pieces later. So we have to get this done."

Leon made a quick call then tucked his phone away. Katerina had already taken Stefan to the room and restrained him. 

"Take good care of Damon will you. When he wakes he'll be very rattled. Just let him know that you saved his life. And remember, we don't have any relation. When the time comes, I'll protect you from Klaus." Leon was confident in his words.

"How?" She needed assurance.

Leon spoke with a devious smirk, "I know where his father is. And he takes his parental role very seriously."

"He…"

"Has been hunting Niklaus for a thousand years." Leon finished, shooing her away.

For once, Katerina had sliver faith in a man for the first time since her father destroyed it. It was different from the years she spent with Stefan in the 1800's. She always knew he was just a young man. All the while, Leon was more of man, an unshakable pillar in her eyes. As cunning as she is, but all the more powerful than she would ever be.

A moment later, Katerina vanished with a swoosh. She found Damon, put him in the car and took him on a trip. And what concerned her the most was that he was perfectly fine, but he wouldn't wake up.

______________________

Somewhere outside of Mystic Falls

The cabin was eerily silent, save for the occasional crackling of the fire and the wind pressing against the wooden walls. Hours had passed—maybe more. Elena had lost track of time. She sat on the cold floor, her wrists bound, her mind a battlefield of frustration and helplessness. No one had come for her yet. No Stefan. No Damon. The weight of abandonment settled deep in her chest.

Across from her, Vanessa paced. The flickering light of the fire cast long shadows over her face, highlighting the tension in her jaw, the sharp focus in her eyes. She hadn't spoken much since bringing Elena here. But now, something in her posture shifted. She exhaled, slow and controlled, and finally turned to face her captive.

"You think of me as the villain," Vanessa said, her voice smooth, measured. "But you're wrong. The world isn't just black and white, Elena." She moved closer, crouching so their eyes were level. "I'm not your enemy, not really. And Damon… he isn't mine."

Elena flinched at the mention of his name. A fresh wave of guilt and anger crashed over her. Damon had attacked Vanessa—there was no denying that. But hearing her say it so plainly, without rage, unnerved her.

Vanessa leaned back on her heels, studying Elena's expression. "You don't understand, do you? People change. Alliances shift. There are no forever enemies. I learned that the hard way."

She stood again, folding her arms as if bracing herself. "Leon taught me that." Her gaze drifted past Elena as if she could see something beyond these walls, something lost in time. "I met him at Duke. I was just another student back then, eager, ambitious, but blind. I thought magic was something to be feared, something unnatural." She huffed a small, ironic laugh. "Leon changed that. He had this way of looking at the world—like everything was connected, like magic wasn't some curse but a gift."

A wistful look softened her features. "He saw something in me, something I had buried deep. And for the first time, I let myself see it too. We started dreaming, and planning. A family. A coven. We wanted to build something real, something lasting. Mystic Falls…" She trailed off, shaking her head. "It was supposed to be the perfect place. A town full of people who could understand, who could be part of something greater."

The warmth in her voice turned to ice. "But then came the chaos. The bloodshed. The recklessness." She turned her gaze back to Elena, and the intensity in her eyes made Elena's breath hitch. "Damon was a force of destruction. And you—you let him run free."

Elena's stomach clenched. She shook her head, her voice hoarse. "You can't put this on me."

Vanessa tilted her head. "Can't I?" She crouched again, closer this time. "You had power over him. You were the only one who could reach him, and keep him in check. But you didn't. You let him be the monster when you should have made him better." Her words were laced with quiet accusations, piercing deeper than anger ever could.

Elena swallowed hard, but the weight of Vanessa's words settled on her shoulders, heavy and suffocating. She wanted to deny it, to fight back, but deep down, a part of her wondered if Vanessa was right.

Vanessa stood, exhaling slowly. "I didn't bring you here to hurt you, Elena. I brought you here because I needed you to understand. The choices we make—the ones we allow others to make—they shape everything." Her expression hardened. "You may not have wielded the dagger, but you let the blade be drawn."

She turned away then, leaving Elena alone with the silence, the cold, and the unbearable truth sinking into her bones.

____________________

The road out of town

Damon woke with a start, his breath ragged, his head pounding. The dim glow of passing headlights flickered across his face, and the rhythmic hum of tires on the road filled his ears. Panic surged through him. He was in a car. Moving.

His body reacted before his mind could catch up—his hands fumbled for the door handle, desperate to escape.

"Damon!" Katerina's sharp voice cut through his panic.

The car lurched as she swerved to the side of the road, tires skidding against gravel. She barely had the car in park before he threw the door open, stumbling out into the cool night air.

Katerina was on him in an instant, gripping his wrist. "Calm down!"

He jerked his arm away, his breath coming in sharp gasps. "Where is Leon?" His voice cracked, laced with fear.

Katerina folded her arms. "Relax, Damon. I saved you when Leon was too busy peeing on a tree."

Damon blinked, his panic momentarily interrupted by sheer confusion. And then, realization struck like a dagger to his gut. "Stefan," he rasped, the urgency flooding back. "I have to go back for Stefan."

Katerina's grip tightened on his arm. "You don't know where the witches died, how to harness the power, and Klaus is coming to kill everyone. Do you really want to go back?"

Damon's chest rose and fell with rapid breaths. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. He could remember every moment of torture, he could still feel the shadow of pain in places around his body. He shook his head, his voice barely a whisper. "The things he did to me…" His voice wavered, his eyes glistening.

Katerina stiffened. The sight of Damon—always so composed, so arrogant—crumbling before her sent an unexpected chill through her.

"He...I can't let Stefan go through that," Damon continued, his voice raw with emotion.

Katerina swallowed hard. "We will die there, Damon."

Damon met her gaze, his expression resolute despite the fear still trembling in his eyes. "I know where the witches died. Help me, and we'll help you get free of Klaus."

Katerina gave in as she always planned to. But, Damon had no idea how late he was to save his brother.

_____________________

The door to the cabin creaked open, and Leon stepped inside. The moment his eyes landed on Elena, bound and weary on the cold floor, he sighed. He moved with an air of calm authority, kneeling before her and untying the restraints with gentle fingers.

"I never wanted this," Leon said, his voice steady, almost soothing. "All I ever wanted was peace. To settle here without conflict, without bloodshed."

Elena rubbed her wrists, swallowing hard. "Then let me go."

Leon's lips curved into a small, almost sad smile. "I will. And I'll even forgive Damon—once. But only if we come to an understanding. No more chaos, no more recklessness. Vanessa and I plan to build something here, and I won't watch it crumble."

Elena met his gaze, searching for deception but finding only sincerity. Finally, she nodded. "Agreed."

Leon stood, offering her his hand. "Then let's take you home. I'm sure those boys are beside themselves looking for you."

Elena was finally free of her bonds. Leon took her hand and muttered words foreign to her. She stumbled into his arms. After gathering her bearing she laughed it off as being a little clumsy.

Sometime later, Vanessa, Elena, and Leon arrived at the Gilbert. As they stepped outside into the cool night air, Vanessa following closely behind, the sight of two figures standing near Elena's house froze them in their tracks. Jenna and Isobel.

Jenna's wide, horrified eyes locked onto Elena, then flickered to Leon and Vanessa. "What is this?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Isobel smirked, her gaze dark with knowing. "Looks like it's time for another family revelation."

Elena's stomach twisted. She could see it—the breaking of Jenna's heart before it even happened.

At the same time, Damon had finally arrived home and rushed into the house as he saw the front door blown from its hinges. He called out frantically for his brother. When he found him, Stefan had been tortured and strung up. The bed was a mess.

Stefan lifted his head weakly, speaking to Damon as a broken man. When Katerina stepped into the room, Stefan couldn't hold it anymore. He saw her as Elena and began to sob. 

"I'm so sorry," he repeated over and over.

Damon was shaken, and then he began to worry about Elena. He shook his brother with fury and shouted at him to tell him what had happened to Elena.

"She…" Stefan struggled, "She…"

"She, what, Stefan?" Damon roared.

"She gave herself to him to protect me" he cracked and Damon looked mortified.

"He took her…in front of me." he whispered, Damon, stumbling back, "I watched her dissolve and change beneath him. And it's all my fault."

Stefan could only sob.

Katerina watched and laughed internally as she continued to pretend as if she didn't know a thing.

Stefan's phone then buzzed and Katerina picked up to read a text.

Damon sped over and snatched the phone. It quickly slipped through his grasp and hit the floor as his face went deathly pale.

With Stefan too weak to move, Katerina remembered Leon's words about her picking up the pieces. With a devious smirk, she spoke the text aloud.

"Let it go, Stefan," she began. Elena's fine with it. She texted that she's with Leon now. She wants you to know he isn't as bad as you thought, and everything will be okay. He even promised to let Damon go this time. She gave herself up to protect you both."

The Salvatore Brothers like catatonic patients and Katerina committed this moment to memory. The day that both brothers were thoroughly mind fucked.