Prologue:
Mystic Falls, Virginia
The pencil moved expertly over the sketchbook, drawing the familiar face of his little brother. He added the details with special care, never stopping or pausing his movements while the one of the vampire's in his service was giving him a report. Considering his next sentence, it had been a good thing he had chosen to hold the meeting close to the quarry, the solitude ensuring that his mother would not overhear.
"Finally, there are rumors that an Original Vampire has been living somewhere in California."
His hand stopped in the middle of the final stroke. Slowly he lifted his gaze from his sketch to the vampire in front of him. "California?" Niklaus repeated carefully, an old longing and some regret raising inside of him at the thought of of his runaway sibling.
"The rumors themselves are around 16 years old but we're combing through the area anyway." The vampire was smart enough to tag on the last bit, probably sensing the danger he was in.
Niklaus did snarl at that. His brothers actions had hurt then and it still hurt now, 94 years later. There was a lot he had thought to do to make it up to him, because no matter what, it had been his own actions that forced his brother away, but making it up to him required finding Mieczyslaw first.
"Find him then bring the information to me immediately." He ordered, returning his attention to his previous tasks, waiting until the vampire was out of earshot.
Elijah Mikaelson heard his phone ring from across the room and moved to answer it, putting the book down on the coffee table to his side.
"Spell some sage, don't want anyone hearing about our Mischief." the voice on the other end said causing the usually unflappable original to freeze. The only one to ever be referred to as Mischief was their younger brother and it had been a nickname their parents hadn't known about.
"Very well." Elijah replied before hanging up, his younger brother seemed nervous. Understandable really, Nik and Mieczyslaw didn't leave matters on a good note. Putting the phone in his jacket pocket, he walked down to the living room, extending his hearing to locate his mother in her own room, far away from the living room.
He payed no attention to his siblings as Rebekah looked up from her magazine, Kol from his phone and Finn from his book, instead gathering some sage and burning it while sitting down and grabbing his own book.
The other three originals followed his que, all of them going back to their previous activities, but keeping an ear out for Niklaus who came in about an hour later. Their mother oblivious to her children's actions and discussion.
"There are 16 year old rumors about an Original Vampire somewhere in California. My vampires have gone to check it, see if there's any truth to them." Elijah could almost taste their collective excitement and hope. They'd been searching for him for nearly a century now.
"16 years?" Rebekah asked incredulously, the sentiment echoed on all of their faces as Niklaus grimaced but nodded.
"How do we know he's still there?" Kol followed, being entirely serious and knowing not to joke about this particular topic.
"We don't." Niklaus sighed, Mischief had always been good at hide and seek when they were kids but this really was taking it to another level. The thought seemed to be shared between all the siblings as they traded looks of fond annoyance and pride.
"We may have found Mischief." The sentiment was echoed by Finn and excited looks were exchanged between the siblings as well as an unspoken agreement to leave their mother out of it. If she found out, then the entire ruse they had been working on for close to a century would be for nothing.