Chapter 9: New Information

Whitlock Ranch, Texas

[Damon's POV]

There is something seriously wrong about Mystic Falls. It is the Mecca for the supernatural crazies. I am not letting my mate be endangered because Stefan can't leave due to his attachment to the current doppelganger.

[Charlotte's POV]

I knock on Damon and Bella's door. "Damon, can I talk to you for a few minutes?"

[Damon's POV]

I glance over at my sleeping wife. I have a few minutes or so to spare. "I'll meet you in the den."

[Charlotte's POV]

"Damon I ran across some information doing research on the supernatural, looking for Leylock information in various journals: the topic was doppelgangers. I was curious so I kept reading. In an old journal dating before the Revolutionary War, it mentioned there can be a set born every generation; one male and one female. There was a sketch in the journal. One looked exactly like Stefan and the other looked like Elena. I didn't put the information together until I saw both of them in the same room. According to the journal they are always attracted to the other no matter their current relationships. Elena looks just like Katherine Pierce."

[Damon's POV]

"Of course they would meet up in the capital of Witchy, Mystic Falls VA. So basically doppelgangers are a supernatural subspecies of human. What kind of purpose does that achieve? "

"The journal didn't say."

I walk over and hug Charlotte, "Thanks, any information we gather will probably help out later."

Charlotte leaves to check on Pete. Unknown caller chimes on my cell.

"Damon Salvatore, what's up?"

"I am Elżbieta Kowalski, my half-brother was known as Slater. He was murdered a few weeks ago. I am investigating his death. Your name came up as a possible source of information. I want to know why someone killed my brother. I am willing to share information for information about my brother. I have access to all of his data and my own."

"What kind of information are you willing to share?"

"I have a file on Leylock energies and powers."

This may or may not pan out as an information exchange. If something happened to Stefan I would want to know. "Your brother knew too much. I went to him to get information about the Originals, Elena the current doppelganger was going to be a sacrifice in the lifting of the "Sun/Moon" curse on Klaus. We needed to find out information. He was the go to for information on how to contact Elijah. When Elena went to see him after my visit he was already dead. He knew she was a doppelganger and that drew unwanted attention from an Original that promised protection for the doppelganger, Slater's life to preserve hers."

"Thank you for the information and your honesty. I will send you copies of the data that I have gathered so far. I think you will find some of it useful. Use the email that I have written down on a note in the journal on top to contact me. The package will arrive at the Whitlock Ranch in three hours." She hung up before I could thank her.

Not long after the phone call a FedEx truck arrives to drop off the box she promised. I open it and on top is an old journal, with European binding, leather cover, gold embossed letters in with the owners Initials and a dedication on the first page written in Latin. Thank god the rest is in English. My Latin is very rusty.

I find a note and a thumb drive. The note has her email address and her initials, with the warning for my eyes only. She sent a summary sheet with the following information about Leylocks. The woman is phenomenal with information, an awesome ally and a dangerous foe. I hope she stays safe and doesn't gain too much attention, like her half-brother.

The information Elżbieta sent is fascinating. Her summary of Leyline Magic includes the following: Leylocks have instinctual use of Leyline energy: knowledge of desired effect, amount of energy to be expended, and more control gained with practice.

Anyone with affinity Leyline energy to can use it once trained. Ley energy builds up like a capacitor and needs to be discharged periodically. A Leylock has inherent ability for truth detection: with practice can sense the degree of falsehood and intent. The more experienced the better the detection. Leylocks can infuse quartz stones with ability to detect truth for non-Leylocks. The stones also shield the user from lie detection/true nature detection. Inherent ability to read situations/acute attention to detail with other individuals; Leylocks are often accused of being mind-readers.

They can teleport along Ley lines once learned. The planet has an energy grid similar to acupuncture on the human body; with certain points being more or less energetic. Leylocks help maintain the balance of energy. They have the ability to sense changes to Earth energy: large storms, earthquakes, volcanic activity changes, weather events, astral events, etc.

They have a natural immunity to Ley Magic (automatic self-defense). With training they have the ability to change Cold Ones into regular vampires, painlessly. This last one shocks me: it shouldn't I know witches.

[Charlotte's POV]

Damon asked me to read the summary from the box. The line where we can change into regular vampires stuns me. We always assumed that our DNA was altered in our change into crystalized creatures. This information says our Human DNA is still intact, well enough for us to change into a regular type of vampire. I wonder what the process is like. I cringe at the thought of painful process to become a cold one. This says we can make the conversion painlessly. Even though Pete and I feed on criminals and Jasper feeds on wildlife; being able to feed without taking a life is very appealing to all three of us. "Damon, can we make it a priority to research the ability to change into regular vampires?"

He looks up from his examination of the journal. "I was looking for the passage in here. Yes, we can make this a priority."

[Damon's POV]

I hear a vehicle approaching the house, with a very expensive engine. Fuck. I throw my bourbon glass across the room. I can't get away from doppelganger bullshit to save my life. Bella hears the shattering glass and comes to see what's wrong. I feel her arms slide around me pulling me into her, a comforting embrace. "What's going on?"

"I believe you are about to meet your first Original Vampire."

A black Mercedes pulls up in the circular driveway. A tall dark haired man in a business suit gets out of the car; he straightens his tie before approaching the house. "Bella you are about to meet Elijah Mikaelson."

I open the door after the first knock. "Elijah, don't tell me Elena sent you."

He smirks, "the lovely Elena seems to be upset about your marital status."

"You didn't come all the way out here to talk to me about Elena. You want to meet up with Elżbieta Kowalski. Plus you want to meet my wife and find out what we know about Leylock energy."

"Bella, I would like you to meet Elijah Mikaelson. Elijah, this is my wife Isabella Swan Salvatore."

She holds out her hand and Elijah kisses the back of it, smarmy bastard.

"I'm pleased to meet you; can I offer you some tea and fresh scones?"

"I would enjoy a cup of tea."

Bella leads him towards the kitchen. Places a basket filled with tea and tisane packets on the table. She places a tray with cups and a teapot filled with hot water and a basket of blueberry scones onto the table within reach. "Charlotte made the scones this morning."

"What brought you here Elijah?" Bella asks.

"I wanted to meet the woman that married Damon. He was fond of the current doppelganger and then we find out he married someone else. I admit to curiosity and the desire for knowledge about Leylocks."

"Added to that he wanted to meet me;" a woman standing six feet tall in flats is standing in our doorway. She has long braid of red hair and hazel green eyes. She has the build of a professional athlete. "I am Elżbieta Kowalski, Slater's half-sister."

"Damon informed you that I killed your brother?"

"He did. I want to broker a deal with you. I want you to guarantee my safety and in exchange I will provide free consulting services. I do not blame you for Slater's death. I only wanted to find out who killed my brother. Your reason to do so was to protect family and the current doppelganger. I cannot fault your reasons."

I look Elijah in the eye. "I would want to know who killed Stefan, if our positions were reversed."

Elijah nods at me.

"I accept your deal Ms. Kowalski." Elijah sips his tea. "I want to know more about Leylock energy."

If I could have removed Bella from the room I would have. Charlotte, Pete and Jasper have gone to the caves to experiment with Charlotte to see if she can work Air energy.

Bella walks up to Elijah and hands him a polished round rock. He looks up at her inquiring with a lift of his left eyebrow. "It is a truth stone. The range is limited to the depth of a small room. It reacts to deception. A mild social fib will barely warm the stone. An outright fabrication meant to deceive will bring the temperature up to almost a sunburn level. I want you to keep it on you. We are not being deceptive. But you have no reason to believe us; this will help earn your trust." She walks over and pours some hot water in a cup to brew her tea, then sits down at the kitchen table next to me.

"Can I have one of those also?" Elżbieta asks.

Bella pulls another stone out her pocket and hands it to her. I hear Pete's pickup truck pulling up to the back door leading to the kitchen.

[Jasper's POV]

In the middle of doing exercises to see if Charlotte has an affinity for Air: she blanks out for a vision, which causes the dust devil she created to diffuse. "We need to get to the house quickly. We have two uninvited guests."

"Is there any danger to Damon or Bella?"

"No immediate danger, just a visit from an Original Vampire named Elijah."

Pete and I exchange a glance. This is not good. We all pile into the pickup and head for the house.