It took three days for Damon to fully heal and get the Vervain out of his system. During which time, Lexi and Lee had Stefan getting used to his new diet of human and animal blood. Galgo had stuck to the twins most of the time since he knew them. Otherwise, the vampires at the Boarding house rarely saw each other.
Not until the twins came over.
Zheko and Echo had gone over the files they stole from Augustine, and it was revealed that several more labs and clinics had been built all over the country. With a few overseas. In the list of clinics, personnel information was also found. One such clinic had been operating in New Orleans since the 1980s. Zheko shook his head, "This one has been operating right under Marcel's nose. He's going to be pissed."
Echo picked up the list her twin was reviewing, "Maybe it's time he is informed. But we can't do it. We're only human." Zheko hummed in agreement, "We could ask Lexi if she would relay the information?" Echo closed the file and handed it back, "Worth a shot."
The twins made their way to the Salvatore Boarding house to speak with the vampires. When they knocked Galgo had opened the door, "Hello, my friends. It's good to see you." Echo smiled, "It's good to see you too. Are the others here? We have something to discuss." Galgo nodded and opened the door wider to allow them in.
They followed Galgo to the sitting room where the others were. Damon is sitting in an armchair in front of the fireplace with a drink in his hand. He had positioned himself in a way he could see everybody and the exits clearly. Making sure nobody could sneak up on him again. Stefan was reading a book on one of the couches, while Lexi and Lee were lounging on the other couch.
Damon was the first to hear the twins come in but made no move to greet them. He was still too paranoid. He did, however, sit up straighter when he saw Echo for the first time. Damon could see the resemblance to Katherine, but Echo also looked different. Her hair and eyes were a dead give away that she was not Katherine, as well as the slight differences with the rest of her body. If Katherine and Echo were to stand next to each other, they couldn't be mistaken for identical twins.
Everyone else turned to the twins as they fully entered the room. "Hey, everyone," Echo greeted the vampires. "Echo? Zheko? What brings you by?" Stefan put his book down and stood facing the twins. The twins look at each other before Zheko clears his throat, "We went through the files from the lab. And found something pretty disturbing. Well, more disturbing than what we saw."
"Oh?" Stefan crossed his arms and waited for the twins to continue. Echo took over, "Yeah. It appears the docs were engineering something that would devastate the world populace starting with vampires." Zheko handed Stefan the file, "It seems they isolated the gene in Damon's blood that causes a vampire to become a Ripper. Stefan, being a Ripper is genetic. Using the gene, a virus was engineered which would cause vampires to become cannibalistic and only sated after feeding from other vampires."
The room could see the file shaking in Stefan's hands. "It's genetic," Stefan whispered as read the words the twins stated. Lexi and Damon were at Stefan's side in a flash. Lexi took the file while Damon tried to calm his brother. Lexi read through the file, "The virus is in the final testing phase for bloodborne transference. And the second testing phase for airborne."
Zheko got everyone's attention again, "We found the listings for the other labs locations. One of which is in New Orleans. If the virus were to be released there, it won't be long before it's worldwide." Lexi and Lee nodded. Lexi handed the file to Zheko, "I know the vampire that runs the French Quarter. I was passing through in 1974 and had a run-in with the so-called king. He let me go as long as I didn't come back. But I think it would be best if myself and Lee go talk to him."
"I'll go with you. Maybe I can stay there for a bit to get used to being a vampire," Galgo suggested. The twins were going to tell him to stay but Galgo shook his head, "No, this is better. Plus I could help take down Augustine." Echo sighed, "Okay. We made copies of the files for you to have." Zheko handed his backpack with the file copies and a vial of the virus in a case to Lexi, "I'm sure they're going to want to see proof."
Stefan came out of his shock, "Should I go?" Echo shook her head, "No. Neither you or Damon should go. Can't risk you two being captured…again. Lexi, Lee, and Galgo and whoever else they recruit will handle it." Echo turned to Galgo, "We will be on standby should you need us." Galgo nodded. He knew if he was captured again, the twins would get him out. They had each other's backs.
Lee scoffed, "What about us? Are we just chopped Liver?" Zheko snickered, "Not at all. I'm pretty sure when the New Orleans' vampires realize this was happening in their city, they'll be pissed as well as embarrassed." "Marcel will want to get rid of the lab just for that alone," Lexi agreed. So, after a few more words back and forth, Lexi, Lee, and Galgo get ready to leave after making sure Stefan will continue his diet with Damon's help.
Echo had noticed Damon kept staring and shaking his head. She sighed, "It's freaky, isn't it? How much I look like her." Damon flashed in front of her causing Echo to stumble but he caught her. Damon had a tight grip on her upper arms, "Do not mention that bitch in my presence again." "Why? Damon, what happened?" Stefan came over to the two of them to pull his brother away from Echo.
Damon went over to the drink cart and refilled his forgotten glass. Taking a drink before he spoke, "I saw her. On New Year's Eve 1983. I was in my cage in the center of the dance floor like every New Year's and I saw Katherine strolling in as the head doctor's plus one. She saw me and didn't even blink, just kept dancing the night away. I called out to her and she pretended to not know me! That was when I lost all hope of escaping." Damon finished his glass and went to his room.
"What a bitch! No wonder he can't bear to look at me," Echo shook her head before looking at Stefan, "You going to be okay?" Stefan ran a hand through his hero hair, "Yeah, I think so. I'm going to check on Damon." "Okay, we'll see ourselves out. If you need anything just give us a call," Echo smiled then the twins left.
Once home, the twins talked to Aunt Jenna about driving to Richmond that weekend. When asked why, they told her they were going to speak with one of their vampire contacts. Aunt Jenna didn't ask for details because she was still coming to terms with the supernatural existing.
Meanwhile, in New Orleans, the trio of vampires arrived at the bar Marcel is known to frequent. Lexi turns to her companions, "Let me do the talking." "Better make it quick, Lexi. Before I rip your heart out," A voice said from behind Lexi. She turns and smiles innocently, "Marcel. Good to see you." Marcel rolled his eyes, "Cut the crap. Why are you back in my city?"
Galgo stepped forward, "It's important or we wouldn't be here." Marcel narrowed his eyes, "And you are?" Galgo smiled and held out his hand to shake, "The name's Galgo. Newly turned vampire and former Augustine prisoner." Marcel reluctantly shook his hand, "Augustine?"
Lexi cleared her throat bringing the attention back to her, "That's why we're here." She went on to explain what happened at Whitmore House, Damon's rescue, and the Ripper virus. By the time she was done and had shown the proof every vampire in the bar was paying attention.
To say Marcel was pissed would be an understatement, "Thierry, Diego, gather a team. We're taking this Augustine down." He turned back to Lexi, "You're still not welcome in my city. After this lab is destroyed, I want you three out of New Orleans." Lexi and Lee agreed. Galgo moved to stand in front of Marcel, "I'd like to stay." Marcel looked at Lexi, "Is he with you?" Lexi shrugged, "We met him a few days ago when I went to help Stefan." Marcel turned to Galgo, "You can stay, but there are rules to follow. Lexi didn't and that got her banned from ever stepping foot in my city. I'm making an exception for this occasion only."
Thierry was the one to find the lab first. It was disguised as a medical clinic in the French Quarter. The clinic was closed for the night but there was activity in the back of the building. He watched as two men dragged an unconscious woman into the building. Thierry's eyes widened when he recognized the woman as a vampire Marcel turned earlier in the week. He sped away before he was noticed and called Marcel. They planned to break in later that night.
Before the break in, Marcel had a separate team of vampires and a few witches he trusted go after the Augustine doctors living in New Orleans. The witches were shocked to find out what was going on. Normally, vampires and witches hate each other, but the threat of this virus is worse than a turf war. A bloody turf war, but a turf war nonetheless.
In the span of a few hours, every Augustine doctor in NOLA was killed. Marcel's team along with Lexi, Lee, and Galgo ambushed the lab. When they entered the building, their eyes and skin started burning. Through watery eyes not as bad as everyone else, Galgo pushed forward. Marcel and Lexi recovered just as quickly, followed by the rest of their team.
Augustine personnel were on alert when the door crashed open. Armed with guns loaded with either vervain darts or wooden bullets, they opened fire. Marcel watched as Diego was shot in the abdomen, and another vampire shot in the chest. Both dropping but only Diego was still alive as he pulled the wooden bullet out of his stomach.
Galgo pushed through the pain with a bullet lodged in his shoulder, twisting the neck of the armed man in front of him then continued to the next. He could see Marcel, Lexi, and Lee were keeping up with him, killing the humans as they pushed further into the building. It was Lee who entered the lab first. He was caught off guard by the man hiding behind the door and got a stake to the back.
Before the man could pull the stake out and try again, Lexi punched through his chest holding his heart. Then she dropped the body to check on Lee. When he stood without being assisted, Lexi moved to the metal table in the lab. She was undoing the straps of the vampire's ankles when Lexi was attacked by the strapped down vampire. The ravenous vampire viciously bit into Lexi's neck causing Lexi to scream.
By this point, Marcel and Thierry had come into the lab. Marcel rushed to Lexi and pulled the vampire off of her before ripping her head off. Lexi gripped her bleeding neck, and slumped to the floor. As the wound healed she felt a hunger she never knew before. Lee tried to help his girlfriend up but she backed away from him.
It was then that it dawned on everyone. Lexi had been infected by the virus. She could feel her hunger for blood getting worse, Lexi tried to joke about the situation, "Now, I know how Stefan feels." But the joke fell flat. Lee tried to get closer so he could comfort Lexi but she wouldn't let anyone near her. "Lexi. We can fix this. There's got to be something we could do. A cure somewhere?" Lee cried.
Lexi shook her head, "We can't risk this virus spreading." She didn't want to die but she was coming to terms with the fact it was the only way. Lee wanted to argue. Lock her up until a cure could be found or produced. There has to be something he could do. But before Lee could voice his argument, Lexi rushed forward and bit him. She tried to resist the urge to attack and drain every vampire in the lab but couldn't any longer. Marcel and Theirry took action and ripped both their heads off. It was the only way.
Galgo had surveyed the lab for any evidence of the virus. He had found several vials and microscope slides containing the virus and vampire blood. Galgo reviewed the research, "The virus is in the final testing phase for airborne. Any longer and we would have been infected regardless." He informed everyone in the lab. Galgo was trying not to think about the vampires that had been killed. He knew however, he was going to have a difficult conversation with Stefan soon. Something he was not looking forward to.
The vials and research were carefully stored and transported to a waiting vehicle. Then the lab and clinic were set on fire. Destroying everything else and burning the dead, infected vampires. Marcel gathered what was left of his team, including Galgo, and left back to the compound.
Back with the twins in Mystic Falls, they had gathered everything needed to meet with Slater. But first, they wanted to check on the Salvatore brothers. Galgo had spoken with Stefan about Lexi and Lee, and Echo wanted to make sure Stefan was alright.
The atmosphere of the Boarding house was heavy. Even Damon felt bad about what happened to Lexi. The twins arriving was a welcomed distraction. Stefan and Damon were informed of the twins' plans and wanted to tag along. So, the four of them piled in Aunt Jenna's borrowed car and headed for Richmond.
The cafe was pretty busy when they arrived but the twins spotted Slater easily. He was seated in front of the large storefront windows on his laptop. Echo reached Slater's table first, "You're Slater, right?" Slater looked up from his laptop and had to do a double-take, "Um, yeah. Do I know you?" He was shocked to see who he thought was Katerina Petrova standing before him.
Echo smiled, "No, but we know of you. I'm Echo. This is my twin Zheko, and our friends…" Echo is cut off by Slater, "Damon and Stefan Salvatore, turned in 1864 by Katherine Pierce." Slater watched as Damon's face showed disgust for their sire while Stefan's face was blank.
The four joined Slater at his table. Damon asked the question on everyone's mind, "How are you not burning in the sun?" Slater smiled and knocked on the window, "Double-paned, UV tempered." Stefan looked around the shop and saw other vampires enjoying the sun rays while sipping their drinks. What none of them saw was two older vampires staring at Echo. One of which took out her phone and took a picture of Echo to send to her contacts, hoping to bargain for their freedom.
Zheko placed his backpack on the table, "We came to see you to deliver a message." Slater was intrigued, "What message?" Zheko brought out a copy of the Augustine file, "We came across a shady organization of humans experimenting on vampires. Echo and I thought with your connections word could be spread about what they are doing."
Slater was looking over the file with disgust, "Man, this is inhumane. What the hell?" He closed the file, "So, you want me to send out an alert to be on the lookout?" Echo nodded, "Pretty much. The lab in New Orleans was taken out already, but there's so many more. If word got out about these labs, they could be taken down before they enact their master plan of wiping out the supernatural. Starting with vampires."
The four of them left shortly after that. Not realizing two vampires observing their every move. The woman had already sent Echo's picture to her contacts with a message, "We found her." It won't be long until a certain Originals get the message. As well as a message regarding the Augustine Society.
The twins and Stefan were back at school the following week. Echo was at her locker when Caroline and Bonnie walked up mid-conversation. Caroline was telling Bonnie about seeing Romeo and Juliet play in theaters with her boyfriend on their latest date, "I mean what is Juliet without her Romeo?" "Alive," Echo closed her locker as Bonnie giggled. "Oh, ha ha ha, very funny," Caroline remarked. Bonnie turned to Echo, "So how was your weekend?"
Come lunchtime, the idea Echo had was festering in her head. She started whistling as Zheko came to their table, "Ooh Da La Lee? Really? What are you plotting?" Echo grinned, "I think we should visit a tomb and wake somebody. Tell him about his eldest daughter." Zheko sat there slack jawed, "Are you crazy?" Echo just gives her twin a look. Zheko sighs, "Never mind stupid question. When?" "This weekend. We need vampire blood though," Echo answered.
AN: I'm making a big change in the next chapter. The new history teacher will arrive in the next chapter too. Trying to not let this story get boring or dragged out. Please let me know how I'm doing.