Back in Mystic Falls

31. Travelers

No pairing

Abe Hiltman's Former Hut

Mystic Falls, Virginia

August 1855

Elijah put an arm around Marcel to calm him. As a young vampire, his temper was still combustible and Elijah was not quite sure what was going on here amidst these wolves. Their number one priority was to find out what happened to Niklaus and get him healed. They were in front of this run down shack staring at an older woman in a dirty cloak.

"Your name is Ilayda, madam? I am Elijah Mikaelson. This is my nephew, Marcellus. Pleased to make your acquaintance. May we sit down and speak quietly? My brother has been accosted and we are much overwrought ourselves. I see you may have similar issues?" Elijah spoke calmly. He looked much overdressed around this seemingly simple people. The old woman wore a dark cloak and the others were in little better than rags.

Dragonir, the large man, who was clearly a werewolf growled, "Yes, we are in the midst of a family quarrel. Let us sit over here in this small clearing." Dragonir dragged a large tree stump over and the other sat down on various barrels. The older woman, Ilayda, alone stood alert.

Elijah kept a hand on Marcel as they sat on a makeshift bench made out of a dead tree. Hayley sat on Elijah's right.

"You are wolves? So am I," Hayley said, taking a deep breath. "I am also new to this town and we welcome you. I have found much kindness among the townsfolk. This is a good place, but we cannot help if we do not know what is happening here."

Marcel grumbled, "I cannot be apart of this charade."

"Marcellus," Elijah warned in a stern tone. "Listen, please."

Croiá, the younger girl with strawberry blond hair, and an air of lightness and mirth about her smiled. "We were looking for our other brother. He ran off after another fight. He has a bit of a temper. Like our eldest brother."

Elijah smiled at the lovely girl. "I understand, Miss. I have a brother like that also. Sadly, he is now indisposed. It seems he ran into some trouble with a witch perhaps?"

The older woman growled, "That one. I should have guessed. He is something I have never seen before. What is he?"

"So you are the witch who brought down Niklaus?" Elijah said, putting a tighter hand on Marcel.

Halina, the middle sister, grabbed the blond. "Dearing, what happened out there? Croiá, you are in a pile of trouble. You best be quick about it."

Croiá blushed. "We found the trail of our youngest brother. He was...cursed and has not been himself of late. I fear that he attacked an old man. The man found us and healed the man, but Ilayda just put him to sleep as we could not trust that he was not hunting us. We just meant to get away."

"Why would someone be hunting you?" Marcel asked.

"It tis a long story," Dragonir said. "But our brother is a good fellow. He just needs a firm hand, after his curse, like my sister said he has not been himself. This is not the first time we lost track of him. Halina only attacked you to protect him. Our apologies. We wish no one any harm. We just want to live peacefully and in safety."

"If you wish to make amends, please heal my brother, lady," Elijah said, speaking with emotion. "We cannot have him in this sleeping spell. He is much loved and much needed."

Ilayda grimaced, "I can undo the spell. But it will cost you."

"We could slaughter all of you before you even knew what hit you," Marcel shouted, rising. Elijah stood and sat him back down.