𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐑, the vampire diaries

00. the hour of the witch

WITCHING HOUR

pre-season 1.

Summer 2009.

In the quiet town of Mystic Falls, where shadows danced beneath the weight of ancient secrets, a new chapter was about to unfold. Daphne Blair stood at the edge of the forest, the wind whispering through the trees, carrying with it the echoes of her ancestors.

The Blair witches, hidden from prying eyes, had a lineage made tapestry woven with threads of power and secrecy. Each witch was born with a singular bond to one of the elemental forces: water, fire, earth, or wind—each embodying the essence of their element in both spirit and strength.

But amidst this powerful lineage, a child was foretold—a witch who would inherit the essence of all four elements. With each breath, she would harness the turbulent energy of storms, the ferocity of fire, the nurturing strength of the earth, and the boundless freedom of the wind.

Daphne Blair was born during a rare celestial alignment—this made her rare. Different among her kind—like any Blair witch born during a celestial event. Special although unknown to her or those around her. Her lineage pulsed within her veins, a symphony of strength and responsibility that both exhilarated and terrified her. As a child, she had decided to stay away from her powers, like any gifted child, she wanted to be normal like her friends. Play around without the lingering fear of making the winds create storms or fire.

But soon, when she finally turned sixteen and her afternoons were spent in Sheila Bennet's house, she came to an understanding of what it meant to be a witch. Of the true gift of her powers—the power that came with her lineage. And so, as the weight of destiny pressed upon her, she felt the pull of forces beyond her control.

The townsfolk spoke in hushed tones about the Blair witches, their fear mingling with admiration for centuries. Whispers of dark omens and ancient prophecies surrounded Daphne, hinting at the turmoil brewing in the supernatural realm.

A darkness loomed, one that sought to harness her power for its own malevolent ends.

With each flicker of firelight and the rustle of leaves, Daphne sensed the urgency of her calling. She was on the brink of discovering the true extent of her abilities, a journey that would lead her deep into the heart of Mystic Falls' mysteries.

"Daph! Come on!" Anthony Blair's voice echoed through the night, a joyous shout that mixed with the soft roar of the cascading falls behind him.

Anthony stood knee-deep in the shimmering water, moonlight glistening off his skin, illuminating the sharp angles of his face and the infectious excitement in his eyes. The air around him crackled with energy, charged with the ancient magic that flowed through the heart of their hometown.

"Right." Daphne inhaled deeply as she held herself from the trunk of a tree, the warmth of the summer night air filling her lungs, grounding her amidst the swirling anticipation. She felt the weight of her lineage—of both the magic and the legacy that accompanied it. The water beckoned like a siren, promising both challenge and exhilaration.

"Here I go." with a determined nod, she plunged beneath the surface, her body enveloped by the icy embrace of the falls. The water surged around her, swirling with echoes of whispered secrets and long-forgotten spells. As she submerged, the world above faded into a muffled blur, the twilight dimming into a dreamlike state.

Beneath the surface, the water was alive, pulsing with the energy of the approaching storm. She closed her eyes, allowing the chill to invigorate her, feeling every heartbeat reverberate through the water, a rhythm that mirrored the pulse of the universe. Daphne was ready to confront the surge of magic waiting for her, to dive deeper into the legacy that defined her—and perhaps even redefine it. For in the world of vampires, witches, and secrets, her story was just beginning.