𝐀𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘 ⚜️ ELIJAH MIKAELSON

[ The Liability ]

CHAPTER 28
[ New Orleans, 2013 ]

The tires of Elijah's sleek black car hummed against the pavement, the passing scenery blurring into streaks of green and gray as they sped toward their destination. Finn sat rigid in the passenger seat, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, the tension in his jaw visible as he stared out at the road ahead.

Elijah, ever composed, had one hand on the wheel while his other rested on the edge of his phone, which was balanced in a cradle on the dashboard. The device was set to loudspeaker, Kol's voice crackling through the car's Bluetooth system.

"Georgia's good at this, I'll give her that," Kol said, the sound of shuffling papers and muttered incantations filling the background. "But don't tell her I said so. It'll go straight to her head."

"Noted," Elijah replied dryly, his tone carrying only the faintest edge of humor. "How are they progressing?"

"They're faster than I expected," Kol admitted. "Though that could be Davina's influence. She's a quick study, but Georgia.... She's much more powerful than I remember."

Finn let out a sharp exhale, his skepticism evident. "If they're so capable, why aren't we hearing results yet?"

"Patience, dear brother," Kol shot back, his tone laced with mockery. "It's not every day one casts a spell to unravel cloaking magic designed by the regent of New Orleans. You could at least pretend to be grateful someone's doing the heavy lifting."

Elijah cast a sidelong glance at Finn, his voice measured as he intervened. "Kol, focus. Do you have anything yet?"

Before Kol could reply, Davina's voice rang out faintly in the background. "Got it!"

"What did she say?" Finn asked sharply, leaning forward as if the gesture would help him hear better.

"Hold your bloody horses," Kol muttered, his voice muffled as he relayed the information. "Davina says the spell is complete. Georgia's just checking the map."

A beat of silence followed, broken only by the faint sound of a map being unrolled and murmured incantations. Then, Georgia's voice came through the line, clear and resolute. "Virginia? Somewhere called Mystic Falls."

Both Elijah and Finn exchanged a startled glance, their expressions tightening.

"Mystic Falls?" Finn repeated, his tone incredulous. "Why there?"

"Hang on," Kol interrupted, setting the phone down. "You're sure about this, Georgia?"

"Positive," she replied, her voice steady but tinged with urgency. "Lucien, Freya, and Vincent—they're all there."

The car fell silent for a moment, the significance of the location settling over them like a heavy fog.

"Mystic Falls," Elijah murmured, his hands tightening on the wheel.

The Claire sisters shared confused glances as each of the brothers seemed deep in thought at this revelation. Georgia broke the silence first, her curiosity outweighing her hesitance.

"Mystic Falls?," she repeated slowly, her brow furrowing. "What is it about that place that's gotten all of you so... rattled?"

Kol was the first to answer, though his usual sarcasm was subdued. "It's not just a place, darling. It's the place." He gestured vaguely, his expression a mix of nostalgia and irritation. "The birthplace of the horror story that is the original vampires. The very spot where we transitioned from normal humans into... well, what we are now."

Davina frowned, tilting her head toward him. "You became vampires there?"

"Not exactly," Elijah interjected, his voice calm but carrying a weight of memory. "We became something far more profound—and cursed. Mystic Falls is where the spell was cast to make us immortal. It's where our mother ensured that death would never find us... at a cost."