The doorbell of the Wilder's home rang out, shattering the afternoon silence. Esther, with a warm smile, made her way to the door and swung it open. Annie stood on the porch, accompanied by a young, familiar face — Tyler.
"Hey, Esther!" Annie exclaimed.
Tyler stepped forward. "Hi, Aunt Esther! Is Uncle Elijah here?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Esther's face lit up as she hugged Tyler tightly. "Of course, sweetie! He's downstairs. Come on in!" She led Tyler into the living room, with Annie following closely behind.
As they entered, Georgina stepped downstairs, her eyes scanning the room. She paused, taken aback by the unfamiliar face. Annie quickly intervened.
"Tyler, this is Georgina, Elijah's girlfriend," Annie said, her voice smooth.
Georgina's cheeks flushed as she smiled and extended her hand. "Hi, Tyler. Nice to meet you."
Tyler shook her hand, his eyes wide with admiration. "You're gorgeous, Georgina! Uncle Elijah has great taste!"
Georgina laughed, her blush deepening. "Thank you, Tyler. That's very sweet of you."
Just then, Elijah emerged from the basement, a broad smile spreading across his face. "Tyler! My man. It's so great to see you." He swept Tyler into a bear hug, lifting him off the ground.
Tyler laughed, hugging Elijah back tightly. "Uncle Elijah. I've missed you so much."
Georgina's curiosity got the better of her. "Wait, why are you calling Elijah 'uncle' when you seem… older?" she asked, her brow furrowed, confused.
Tyler chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I'm a distant cousin, but not from their century," he said, pausing for a bit.
Annie intervened, "Tyler is a 500-year-old vampire, and he's a Wilder too," Annie explained, her voice matter-of-fact.
Georgina's eyes widened as understanding dawned. "Oh," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Tyler smiled, seeming to relax now that the truth was out. "I was born and raised in Oakdale, and this house… it's mine. Or at least, it was," he said, his eyes clouding over with memories. "I left town a long time ago, but Annie called me and told me about Benjamin. She said he's going on a rampage, and they need all the help they can get to stop him."
Georgina's expression turned serious. "We could use all the help we can get," she said, her voice firm.
Elijah smiled, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thanks again for coming, Tyler. We appreciate it."
Tyler waved his hand dismissively. "What's family if I can't come and help?" He sat down, relaxing on the couch cushions. "I hope Mr. Bill Bar is still functioning. I've got an old friend to meet."
Annie nodded. "It's still going strong. You can catch up with your friend later."
Georgina's expression turned serious. "We need to figure out how to help Bonnie. Benjamin's messed with her head."
Elijah nodded thoughtfully. "I'm working on something. I'm trying to infuse vervain into a wristband that Georgina can give to Bonnie later today."
Tyler's eyes lit up with interest. "A vervain wristband? That's clever."
Elijah leaned forward, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. "The vervain will help block Benjamin's compulsion. Once Bonnie is wearing the wristband, she should be able to think more clearly and make her own decisions again."
Esther's eyes sparkled with determination. "We need to find a way to bring Benjamin down. I've already cleaned out an extra room in the basement. We can lock him down there and help him remember the good times – love, family, happiness. That might help bring back his humanity."
Annie leaned forward, her brow furrowed. "So, what's the plan to make that happen?"
Tyler smiled, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Leave that to me and Elijah. We'll work on it."
Elijah nodded, his expression serious. "I texted Benjamin earlier this morning. We're supposed to meet at Mr. Bill's Bar tonight. Hopefully, he'll show up."
Esther turned to Georgina. "Once Elijah finishes the wristband, we'll head over to Bonnie's place."
Annie frowned, looking left out. "I don't want to just sit around doing nothing."
Elijah smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Who said you'd be left out? You're coming with me to meet Benjamin."
Annie's face lit up with a smile. "Really? Thanks, Elijah."
The darkness outside seemed to press in around Elijah and Annie as they stepped into Mr. Bill's Bar. The warm glow of the bar's lights enveloped them, and they spotted Benjamin already seated at the counter, chatting with Mr. Bill over a drink.
As they approached, Benjamin caught sight of them and said, "You're late."
Elijah didn't respond, instead sliding onto the stool to Benjamin's left. Annie took the stool to Benjamin's right, her eyes scanning the bar before settling on Mr. Bill.
"What can I get you?" Mr. Bill asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in Annie's youthful appearance.
"Same with what he is having."
"How old are you, sweetheart?" Mr. Bill asked, his tone a little too curious.
Benjamin's eyes flashed with irritation. "Just give her the damn drink."
Mr. Bill raised an eyebrow but poured Annie a drink nonetheless. He also served Elijah a drink before backing away, his eyes lingering on the trio.
Elijah's eyes locked onto Mr. Bill's, and he held out his hand, his voice low and compelling. "Why don't you go find something else to do, Mr. Bill? We'd like some privacy."
Mr. Bill's eyes glazed over, and he nodded, wandering off to the other end of the bar.
Benjamin's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking between Elijah and Annie. "So, what's this meeting all about?"
Annie's voice was low and mysterious. "We want to talk."
"It's always the talk," Benjamin said, his voice laced with disappointment. "I thought you wanted to see me and have some fun. Not just sit around and talk."
Benjamin turned to Elijah, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "I always go out to have fun, not to talk."
Elijah smiled, playing along. "Okay, what kind of fun can we have?"
Benjamin's gaze swept the bar, his eyes scanning the patrons. "Pick one," he said, his voice low and husky. "Someone we can… feast on."
Elijah glanced at Annie, exchanging a knowing look. They needed to play along, to see where Benjamin's twisted game would lead. Elijah turned back to the bar, his eyes scanning the crowd. He pointed to an old man, hunched over his drink, his eyes sunken with despair.
But Benjamin shook his head. "No, I want something fresher. Something sweeter."
His eyes landed on a young woman, sitting alone at a table, her nose buried in a book. "She's perfect," Benjamin said, his voice dripping with anticipation. "Young, fresh… her blood would be exquisite."
Elijah nodded, still playing along. "I agree. So, how do we do this?"
Benjamin's smile grew wider. "Annie should do us the honor."
Annie looked at Elijah, who gave her a subtle nod. She stood up, her movements fluid, and walked over to the young woman.
"We should go outside and… feast," Elijah said, trying to steer Benjamin away from the bar.
But Benjamin shook his head. "No, we'll do it here. In the bar. Where everyone can see." Benjamin's eyes gleamed with nostalgia. "Don't you miss the good old days, Elijah? When we'd feast on humans and have the best nights of our lives?"
Elijah's smile was tinged with sadness. "That was the Elijah you knew, Ben. I'm changed now. I care more about humans."
Benjamin's smile grew wider. "How long will you care for, Elijah? Forever?"
Elijah remained silent, his eyes locked on Benjamin's.
Benjamin's voice dripped with contempt. "You want to protect them, people who are so much weaker than us, people whose blood we need to survive."
Elijah's voice was low and urgent. "I know a part of you knows what you're doing is wrong, Ben."
Benjamin's laughter was cold and mirthless. "Let me remind you of something, Elijah. I have no humanity left. No feelings, no emotions. And I like it that way. I'm glad to be free of all that weakness."
Annie returned with the young woman, who looked confused and disoriented. Elijah's eyes narrowed. "You didn't compel her?"
Annie's gaze locked onto Benjamin's, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Isn't it more fun this way? I decided not to compel her."
Benjamin's smile grew wider. "You see, that's what I like about Annie. She understands the game. She understands how to hunt."
Annie's cheeks flushed with pleasure at Benjamin's praise. Benjamin's eyes gleamed with excitement as he turned to Elijah. "Now, Elijah, would you do me the honor?"
Elijah slid off his stool, his movements were fluid and deliberate. He walked over to the girl, his eyes locked on hers. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice low and husky. "This will hurt."
The girl's confusion gave way to fear as Elijah's face began to transform. His eyes turned golden, his skin pale, and his fangs lengthened. He dipped his fangs into her neck, and she cried out, but her scream was silenced by Elijah's compulsion.
Benjamin watched, a smile spreading across his face. Once Elijah finished feeding, he removed his mouth from the girl's neck and looked at Benjamin. Benjamin's gaze flicked to Annie, signaling her turn.
Annie launched herself at the girl, her fangs sinking into the same spot Elijah had fed from. The girl's eyes were wide with terror as she watched Annie feed.
When Annie finished, Benjamin rose from his stool, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He transformed, his fangs lengthening, and took the girl's hand. He sucked her blood from her wrist, the girl's eyes fixed on him.
As Benjamin fed, he backed away from the bar, unaware of the new arrival. Tyler walked into Mr. Bill's Bar, his eyes scanning the room, his gaze locking onto the gruesome scene unfolding before him.
Annie and Elijah caught sight of Tyler and nodded subtly, signaling that their plan was in motion. Tyler sprang into action, zooming towards Benjamin with supernatural speed.
"Do you miss me, Uncle Ben?" Tyler asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm, as he staked Benjamin from behind.
Benjamin's eyes widened in shock as he felt the stake pierce his heart. He stopped sucking the girl's blood and turned to face Tyler, his voice barely above a whisper. "Ty…"
Benjamin's gaze shifted to Annie and Elijah, his eyes filled with a mix of shock, anger, and betrayal. He realized too late that he had been tricked.
Before Benjamin could make any move in his weakened state, Elijah twisted his neck with a swift and deadly motion. Benjamin's lifeless body slumped to the ground, his eyes frozen in a permanent stare.