Secret Bloodline

The First Son

"Oh my God..." Camila whispers.

"That name... I've heard it before," Zayn says.

Lauren steps forward, placing herself in front of Camila as her daggers slide out from hidden sheathes.

"Because he was turned by The First Vampire just like Niklaus. He's The First Son and Niklaus's brother," Lauren says.

Elijah bares his fangs at the mention of his brother's name. "You know nothing, whelp. Nothing," Elijah says.

"Call me that again and I'll break you in half, old man," Lauren says.

Elijah's men swivel to aim their crossbows right at Lauren.

"Try it," Elijah says.

"Give me the order, Grand Cleric. I'll kill them here and now," The Order of Dawn commander says.

Elijah flashes a very handsome smile and says, "Hold on, soldier. I can take them myself."

Shawn glances at Camila uneasily. "So if he's as close to The First Vampire as Niklaus... Does that mean he's crazy powerful?" Shawn asks.

"More than you can imagine. Now step away from the Tree of Eternal Life or I'll strike you down," Elijah says.

Camila glances at Zayn who nods as they all step away.

"I don't understand. The head of the Order of Dawn... The vampire hunters... Is a vampire. But rumors said Niklaus killed you," Camila says.

"A lie I created," Elijah says.

"How could you betray your kind like this? How could you kill so many of us?" Lauren speaks.

"I'm not one of you! You're the spawn of Niklaus! Abominations just like him!" Elijah yells.

"Hey, I'm not the spawn of that freak," Shawn says.

"Oh, you are. When Katerina died, there were only two vampires, Niklaus and I... And I never turned anyone. Every last one of your blight is his spawn," Elijah says.

"Even if that's-"

"Enough! You came into my home. My domain. You desecrate this place. You stand before me... Monsters cloaked in human skin," Elijah says.

Shawn growls and unsheathes his sword but Zayn puts his arm out to stop him.

With a deep breath, Camila steps forward. "Elijah... I'm human. Someone you're trying to protect, right? So tell me, how have you survived so long? If you're a vampire, doesn't that mean you need to drink blood to survive?" Camila speaks.

Elijah scoffs at the question. "Living off the blood of others... Such a disgusting means of existence," Elijah says.

"You still do it though," Lauren says.

"Only the bare minimum, donated by the willing. I drink small doses every week. I kept changing my appearance when a certain time came to keep my cover," Elijah says.

"But aren't you always hungry?" Zayn asks.

"Yes, but I learned to ignore it. To control it instead of letting it control me," Elijah says.

"So how did you start the Order of Dawn?" Camila asks.

Elijah is quiet for a moment, his eyes lingering on the Tree of Eternal Life.

"I was the first disciple of Katerina. The first vampire to be turned. I was her advisor. Her strategist. Her right hand. I served many years at her side as faithful and foolish as a mutt. I believed she could accomplish great things. But I was wrong. All she accomplished was bloodshed and strife, cruelty and misery. So many killed... So many. She went mad with power. Mad with grief. All she cared about was herself... Her ascension. I came to understand what she was. What we are. And I had to end it," Elijah explains.