This story follows Hektor Komnenos, Katherine's best friend from when Klaus wanted to sacrifice her. First he escaped the sacking of Constantinople with some very important cargo, then he befriends Katherine and she abandons him, then he steals the hearts of two famous Boleyn sisters, and at last he catches Katherine in modern times. AU. Katherine/OC/two kinda OC sisters.
Disclaimer:I don't own the Vampire Diaries, except Hektor and Alexander Komnenos, and John Amarantos.
Chapter 1: The old family secret
Head spinning, people screaming, chaos everywhere…Hektor had no idea what was happening. As he slowly came to his senses, he got up off the floor and went to his bedroom window. He saw the most terrifying thing anyone could wake up to. His precious Constantinople was under siege. He knew Byzantium was doomed to fall at the hands of the Ottomans, but he did not expect the day to come so soon.
He stood there in shock for a few seconds more until he heard a knock on his door.
"Hektor, its John! Are you in there? Open the door!" came the voice of John Amarantos, the family friend.
"John!" he said as he opened the door. "Where are my parents? Where is my brother?"
"I don't know, but we need to get out of here now! Hurry up!"
"Wait, let's go get some weapons just in case we need them!" he said as he headed to his father's personal weapons cache.
He eyed his grandfather's dagger, bastard sword and a short sword. He sheathed the dagger and short sword and gave the bastard sword to John.
His mind was going a mile a minute as he and John exited his house and ran into the streets of Constantinople.
John eyed him as he asked, "You do know how to use a sword properly, right Hektor?"
"Of course I do, John. My brother Alexander and I have been training with Koufrei for nearly two years."
"The blacksmith! You two have been training with a blacksmith? Let me guess, he has a secret training room in his smithy where he trains children?" John asked the rhetorical question angrily. Little did he know Koufrei actually did have a secret training room, but he did not train children, he trained soldiers. Why he hated Koufrei in the first place, by the way, was beyond Hektor's understanding.
"First of all he isn't only a blacksmith. He told Alexander and I that he learned some interesting sword techniques in a great Empire far east. His great-great-great-grandfather learned of the nation during his time as a Roman scout."
"Was he accompanying a merchant on the Silk Road? I can't think of any other reason for a Roman scout to go that far to the east."
Sometimes John's quick thinking astounded him, "Well actually he-"he started, but noticed an Ottoman closing in on them. John took the liberty to astound Hektor once more as he killed the Ottoman with ease.
"Let's discuss this after we get to safety. Hektor look! Is that the Emperor?"
It seemed as everyone wanted to amaze Hektor in one way or another. He could not believe that the Emperor himself would put his own life on the line to protect his people. No matter how talented with a sword the Emperor was he needed to be protected. As he and John ran toward the Emperor he wondered where his guards might be. Five more Ottomans neared the Emperor, but they were no match for him. It was clear that the Emperor had some secrets. Hektor studied the Emperor's moves. It seemed as his fighting-style was a combination of Roman Legion and the Oriental fighting-style Koufrei had taught him. He moved along the battlefield with such grace that it looked almost like they were in a play.
As soon as they were in hearing distance of the Emperor, Hektor stated," Your majesty were here to protect you! Head to safety!"
"Sorry men, but I will not cower in fear as these barbarians slaughter my people and burn my city. Fight along…quick get down!"
John managed to duck, but Hektor stood in shock as the throwing knife that had come from the Emperor himself whizzed by his left ear and embedded itself into an Ottoman's forehead.
"Boy didn't I tell you to get down? I could have killed you!" the Emperor asked angrily.
"Pardon me your majesty, it's just that I'm in shock of all that is happening." Hektor responded in an almost apologetic voice.
"It's fine, just listen to me next time. What are your names?" he asked.
"My name is Hektor Komnenos, son of Lazarus Komnenos your majesty. This is my father's longtime friend John Amarantos."
"Well Hektor Komnenos, it seems that I am not too late after all. Come follow me, it seems that Fate has something in store for you after all." He told Hektor as the three men headed towards the cathedral.
"Your Majesty?" He asked. What did the emperor mean by that? Did he think that Hektor wanted to retake the throne and restore the rule of the Komnenos clan? He learned from his father that their family used to be the ruling family in the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) in the years 1081AD to 1185AD. Ruling an empire was one of the last things he wanted to do.
"I'm sure you have a lot of questions young man, but as of right now let's just get inside the cathedral."
Hektor and John squabbled over what on earth the Emperor could be talking about, as they walked into a secret passage below the priest's altar. They walked along a big corridor under the cathedral, and banners with red crosses hung on opposite sides of the walls. The banners reminded Hektor of the type of cross the Templar Knights used and wore during the Crusades. Was the Emperor secretly a part of the Templars? What did he mean by 'Fate has something in store' for him? His questions and suspicions grew as they got to the end of the corridor and walked into another secret room hidden by a gigantic marble slab. The room was big, and there were armor pieces hanging from the walls on every side. There was chain mail, full-body heavy armor, light armor, long swords, scimitars, bastard swords, short swords, claymores, many daggers, and shields all with the same Red Cross. The thing that caught his eye, however, was a short sword that looked very much like his grandfather's sword.
"Your Majesty, why did you bring John and I to a secret room filled with Templar things?" Hektor asked .
"Well Hektor, your family along with John's, has always been a part of the Templars. Not officially part of us, but your two families are the most important non-Templar families we have been allied with. We have been allied with your families ever since the Komnenos' rise to power. Your family in particular, Hektor, gave the Templars the recipe for Greek-fire in return for partnership, friendship, and brotherhood, and protection. He gave us the recipe when we needed it the most, and we have been eternally grateful."
"Do you plan on executing us your majesty, now that Constantinople has fallen then?" Hektor interrupted.
"Hektor weren't you listening?" John said, "We are important, why on earth would they do such a thing?"
"I'm sorry if I made it sound that way Hektor, but your friend John is right. Why would we do that? No. We are here for quite the contrary really. Seeing as how the Ottomans will destroy this cathedral and build a Mosque in its place. We can't risk some weapons we have stored here. Along the weapons…"the Emperor explained as he grabbed a piece of parchment paper, "I'm giving you the recipe for Greek-fire you family gave us so long ago. That is the only one in the world we have found. We dared not make a replica over fear that the enemy would get their hands on it."
"Sire, so you are giving said weapons and the Greek-fire to Hektor and I to safeguard it. Am I right?"
"Yes indeed John. Speaking of the weapons, here we have John's family's short sword, this long sword, this saber, and my crusader sword."
"Is there any significance behind these swords your Majesty? What are their names?" asked John.
"Now, as I said before I know you two have a lot of questions, but I'm afraid that's all the time we have for chatter. That's why I've written it in this parchment. Here it explains everything I wish I had the time to tell both of you." The Emperor explained.
"But Sire if we have your sword, then what will you use?"
"Look around you. Young Hektor, what do we Byzantines always say?"
"There is always one more way to kill the enemy." He responded.
"Yes. Now with that, let's get out of here before the Ottomans discover this place."
With that, the three ran out of the secret room. They made sure to seal the rooms securely, however, as they did not want the Ottomans to get hold of that hall filled with secrets. When they exited the Cathedral, the Emperor and the two men went their separate ways. The two pondered on which door would hold the least amount of Ottomans. After some quick thinking they headed towards the west gate. John said that it was obvious that the Ottomans would first be coming through the waterway that split the city in two. Next they would take the smaller eastern side. Last the western side the river, where the Cathedral with the mysterious hall was located. As the two ran towards the western gate, Hektor's mind still went back to the first question he asked John today. Where were his parents and Alexander? Even after all that confusing information they received from the Emperor about the Crusader knights and whatnot, he just wanted to see his family one more time. Little did he know, his prayers had been answered.
As they came around the corner of a building John and Hektor stopped dead in their tracks. Hektor's parent were lying face down in a pool of blood. His thoughts were interrupted as John pointed out Alexander running their way from the five ottomans coming towards them. They gave Alexander the saber and the crusader sword. After swiftly killing the Ottomans and the three rejoicing that they weren't dead, they continued towards the western gate.
Just as John suspected, the road beyond the western gate showed no signs of Ottomans. As they neared the top of the hill, however, they came across a hooded man.
"So, the Komnenos clan still endures I see. We thought we had killed your lot. No matter, now you die." The hooded figure said.
Can any of you guess where I am going with this story? Where was Alexander and his parents? Will the three escape? Stay tuned boys and girls. Review and share your thoughts please.