The house was large and old but well cared for. Ivy clung to one of the walls, creeping up and threatening to ensnare the windows in its grasp. From inside, the faint strains of violin music could be heard.
A forest surrounded the house, a single break between the trees connecting the house to the road. It was late and thick clouds blotted out any moonlight that might have alleviated the darkness. Inside the house, lights burned illuminating the building and casting an eerie glow across the grass.
A few miles away, the grass sloped upwards to the road. A tree, uprooted by the fierce winds that battered the world around it, lay splintered on the tarmac. A car was overturned on the bank, glass shattered and scattered across the grass, metal dented. Splashed across the nearby leaves were patches of red.
One of the doors was open and a man with thick dark hair was half hanging out. Blood dripped from a gash in his forehead where his head had made contact with the windshield. In the passenger seat was a pretty young woman with long brown hair. Her eyes were closed, her body limp in her seat. The man groaned and his hand fumbled for his seatbelt, his head turning to look over at the woman.
"Miranda…? Miranda!" His voice turned from confusion to panic as the woman remained unresponsive. He tried to move but his body struggled to respond and every movement sent pain through his system, threatening to overwhelm him. He ignored it, more focused on his wife than his own suffering.
His hand searched for his phone. He had to find help. He tried to move his legs but found them pinned by the dented metal. He let out a strangled cry, in a combination of frustration and pain.
There was a sharp crunch and the sound of metal bending. The pressure on his legs disappeared and he found himself torn from the car. He blinked, dazed, staring up at the inky black sky. A figure stepped into his field of vision, a statuesque woman with a cascade of golden blonde curls.
"Are you an angel…?" he asked weakly.
The woman knelt down and touched his cheek lightly, a kind smile played across her lips. A cold laugh came from somewhere behind his head.
"Far from it. In fact, she might just be the devil," said a soft voice that sent a shudder through his body.
The man reached up and grasped for the woman's hand.
"My wife…"
"She's dead," said the woman. "And soon, so will you be. You'll be reunited with her."
The man smiled slightly. The pain had gone, replaced by a warm numbness that permeated every part of his body.
"No!" he said suddenly, struggling to sit up.
"You can't fight it," said the woman. "It will only make it more painful."
"No… my… my…"
"Relax… it'll be over soon, I promise."
"Elena… Elena…"
"You'll be with her soon."
He could see there were more gathered around him. In addition to the woman, there were two men, all dressed in somewhat old fashioned attire. One was blonde, the other dark haired. The dark haired man was crouched beside him, holding his arm to his mouth. He lifted his head to look at the man on the ground, blood dripping down his chin.
"V…vampire…"
He made as if to move but the blonde man darted forward, grabbing his head and twisting sharply. The man went limp.
The young man at his wrist released his hold, a look of disgust coming onto his face.
"What did you do that for Klaus? You know it only tastes good while they're alive."
"Shut up Kol. Just be grateful we've got something to eat at all. Besides, it's bad manners to play with your food."
Kol got to his feet and gave the man's body a kick, scowling. The group turned to the trees, ready to leave when the woman paused.
"Rebekah?" Klaus asked, looking over at her. "What is it? We can't risk being exposed very long."
"Something feels wrong…"
A sudden piercing cry emanated from the car, a fearful infant crying out for something comforting. Kol moved first, darting back to the car. He pulled a baby from the backseat.
"Road snack?"
"I doubt you'd get much more than a drop from that," chimed in Klaus.
Rebekah snatched the child from him, cradling her against her chest. Her brothers frowned, watching her.
"What are you doing Rebekah?"
"We can't leave her here."
"We can't take her with us. She'll slow us down."
"Then we'll go slower." She looked at her brothers with a look of such intense fury that they knew better than to argue with her. She reached back into the car and found a baby bag tucked under one of the seats. She thrust it into Kol's arms. "Make yourself useful."
She strode off before any of them could speak, heading through the trees to the house. The violin music was still playing. Kol and Klaus, who had caught up with their sister during the journey, followed her into the house.
"ELIJAH! I SWEAR TO GOD IF YOU DO NOT STOP WITH THAT DAMN VIOLIN I WILL SHOVE IT DOWN YOUR THROAT," snarled Kol.
The baby let out a cry at the sudden noise and Rebekah glared at her brother. The music stopped abruptly and a tall man in a suit appeared on the stairs.
"Is that…?"
"Yes. Rebekah has decided she has a maternal side. Joy," said Klaus.
Rebekah smiled, cradling the infant.
"Elena. Her name is Elena."