-England 1492-
On the bridge near the tower of London. Elijah Mikelson was staring at the flowing waters. He and his family would have to leave soon because of his failure. Katerina had escaped and despite his best efforts to find her these last few days he had failed.
As he was about to head back to the castle where his family was most like awaiting his return. He saw someone standing on the railings of the bridge holding the lamp post and looking down. It seemed he was not the only one feeling burdened tonight.
It was a young man wearing a somewhat dirty white shirt and black pants with beat-up brown shoes. He was a peasant. And clearly not British or at least not purely, with his brown skin, his silky pitch black hair, and those violet eyes that stared at him as the young man that seemed to be 20 or perhaps 21 heard him slowly approaching, which was strange. He was not rusty in the art of the hunt and although the young man was not prey he knew how to approach someone without being detected.
With his hands behind his back, Elijah continued to approach as his curiosity demanded some closure.
"What burdens you so young man"
Seconds pass, but he receives no answer. The man's gaze continued to pierce him. Just as he was about to open his mouth. The young man finally responded.
"If you had to choose between, taking your own life or having your life taken from you. What choice do you take?"
Elijah was somewhat perplexed. Not just by the question but by the hint of French he heard in the young man's accent. Nevertheless, he pondered the question for a while before answering.
"It's all about control. In one scenario it is your choice. On the other it is made for you...correct"
The young man raised a brow. But then he answered.
"Qui. But that does not answer my question."
Elijah got closer before stopping two meters away from the young man.
"My father would say one is a coward's way out. A warrior must be strong and brave. He must die with honor. He would pick the first but...he would enter a battle he knew he could not win, that way his honor was preserved and his life ended in a way he controlled. I didn't agree with him on many things. But honour is one of the few things we somewhat agreed on"
The young man looked down at the river again, then returned his gaze to Elijah.
"I...killed a man this evening. And if the city guards are even remotely capable I will be executed soon. Before that time comes I make my decision. Would you like to head my story?"
Elijah's curiosity increased even more. He'd been so busy looking for Katerina that he had no time for local happenings. He took a seat on the railing and patted the area beside him.
The young slowly calmed down."You won't stop me when the time comes?" he asked somewhat cautiously.
"I will not deprive you of your right to choose. You have my word"
The young man sat down beside Elijah.
"I believe you...for some reason"
He took a deep breath.
"My mother's name was Rosalie Valet. She came here from The Kindom of Franch, from a city called Bordeaux. But there was a plague and she had to leave. I might have family left there..but the odds that they survived the Black Death are slim. Even if they did how could a peasant like me afford it?
She found work as a maid for the Corvinus family. But seeing as how I look you can imagine how pretty she was."
Elijah could. The boy had a foreign look that was quite appealing. He could see how women with similar features would stir the lust of men.
"The head of the house Duke Johnathan Convinus took notice of her beauty and laid with her. Promised her the world, a place by his side, and a better future. He lied of course as he was already married to a woman known for her jealousy. Lady Cersie Corvinus. A month later I was born. She expected him to take care of me but...all she received were looks of disgust, words that besmirch her true nature...My Mother was no HARLOT"
He took a deep breath to calm down from the outburst.
"Apologies. I did not intend to raise my voice"
Elijah raised his hand in a placating manner.
"Nonsense you have every right."
The young man sported a small smile. An improvement over the face of despair he had earlier.
"My birth did not make things better. But my mom stayed and worked...for me. The lady of the house made her time their hell...but she still stayed. The other maids made her do extra work...she still stayed. She has me read books from the library. I never understood the point of it. Until she told me she was still seeing...that man in private and he promised...yet again that she and I could have a better life. That I had royal blood and was meant for better things."
The young man ran his finger through his hair and sighed.
"I love my mom, but she was quite gullible. More years passed I read books and learned to clean and cook to help my mom. Watched the guars trained and copied what they did...because for a while I believed as well that things would change...and they did...just-just not for the better."
Tears began to leak down his face. Elijah rested a hand on the boy's shoulder. At first, he flinched but then he accepted it.
"The Queen found out?"
"Yes...that was two years ago on my 18th birthday no less my mom was poisoned...an accent they said...they why was that woman smiling with such glee, why did no one mourn her beside me...WHY DID HE DO NOTHING"
His breaths were raspy. He used his sleeves to wipe his tears.
"Because no cared. The simple truth is she loved him, he lusted after her. She believed his lies, my mother trusted people too much. Those people no those monsters in there did not deserve such trust. But the law is on the side of the rich and justice...well justice is whatever they say it is."
Elijah narrowed his brows.
"But you couldn't let it end like that? You stayed, didn't you? You wore a mask and smiled at her killers? A smile so convincing you fooled yourself. How long did you wait before the moment arrived?"
The young man's eyes widened at how easily this man arrived at that conclusion. How did he know? Who was this stranger? Was he here to kill him...no, he would have done so already.
With a sigh, he finally answered.
"One year, two months. But it was in steps. I found out the Madam had the maid poison her. So I seduced her, by playing the part of a character I read of in a book. It took four months but it worked. Then I started rumors about her sleeping around. She didn't believe I was the one spreading them after all I would be in trouble. So she turned her attention to the other staff, they were tortured but she found nothing. As for...him well he grew distant from her even more so than before. I realized certain species were in play so I sewed seeds of discord.
I became ht ahead butler six months ago, which gave me access to many areas of the house. He knew I knew he was my father and tried to feed me similar lies to the ones he fed my mother. I smiled, nodded along, and gained his trust. He had me spy on his wife. Ask me to "verify the authenticity of the rumors". I remember chuckling internally at the time. After that, I just "provided" some evidence. Then a month ago he killed her my guess would be strangulation to stabbing, a crime of passion after all. He said she was cursed and died of a heart attack and wouldn't let anyone see the body. Not even their son and daughter eleven-year-old twins."
He suddenly got up and walked forward gazing at the fog forming above the river. He then turns to face Elijah.
"Him...I killed him slowly. I knew which herbs to use to paralyze him but still have him feel the pain. I made him watch as I cut him slowly, careful not to knit a blood vessel and have him bleed out. The torture would have lasted longer but his eyes...the way they begged for mercy, the way they asked my WHY. As is he didn't know."
He sighed again as his fingers raked through his hair.
"Now here I am. Hours later hollow. My mother avenged and yet."
"You feel no better. You fell empty. Because there is nothing left to do."
"Yes, life no longer has meaning. However, if I kill myself then all her sacrifice...who will remember her? But I won't allow these people the satisfaction of taking my life.
How pathetic I am"
Elijah stood up and placed a hand on the young man's shoulder.
"No pathetic would have been letting them live. You're strong, for the patience required to live in the den of snakes that claimed your mother's life required a strength of character not many possess. What you need to do now is propose. And I can give you one. But...you must forget your old life hear. I can grant you life anew. You hate humans, who can blame you you've seen the worst of them. I shall make you something more. All you have to do is take my hand and I shall do the rest."
The you man's gaze became perplexed. He could feel this man was being honest. He just knew. Again he always could tell what people were feeling if they were honest or deceitful.
"What is your name monsieur?"
"My name is Elijah Mikelson and you?"
"My name is Sebastien Valet, I never sullied myself with that man's name. And this name my mother gave and the name she had shall be the only remnants of my life here...what now"
"Now-now you die"
.................................................................................Was just reminiscing about how much I loved The Original and most of Vampire Diaries...except Elena, hate that B****.
Anywho wanted to write a fanfic about it and see how it goes. The verse is larger than the two series could cover, if you read the books you know what I mean. I'll focus mostly on the series, with a slash of the books here and there. Also no it's not a boy love book why on earth would I ever write one? I mean If I was paid but I wasn't so no never.