Merciful - TVD [2]

11

In the tunnels that were connected to the Lockwood Cellar, Elena and Alaric made their way through. Alaric shined his flashlight in front of him to make sure they were going the right way, "So, the Lockwoods really have no idea that these tunnels are underneath their property?" Elena asked Alaric curiously.

"Careful where you shine that thing. Bats hate the light." Alaric commented jokingly.

Elena's eyes widened when she heard his words, "Wait, what?"

Just then, Damon and Mallory secretly came up from behind her and whispered, "Elena!"

Once Elena heard her name being called, she quickly turned around, "Boo!" Damon said as Elena jumped in fright.

Elena gasped as she roughly hit him in the chest, "God, Damon!"

"You're such a scaredy-cat!" Mallory laughed at her as Alaric turned to face them with a content look, not bothering to seem fazed by Mallory and Damon's immaturity. It was totally unpredictable since he was used to it.

"Just ignore him. That's what I do." Alaric suggested and Elena sighed before looking back over at Damon and Mallory.

"So, you two really can't get in?" She asked them curiously.

Damon shook his head, "No. Seems even the ancient Lockwoods were anti-vampire." He informed her as he walked past her and Elena gave him a confused look when Mallory did the same.

"What do you mean, ancient?" She asked as she turned her body around to face him again.

Damon gestured as he stared at Elena, "See for yourself."

The group walked further until they got to their set location in the tunnels, "Well, this is as far as we get to go." Mallory commented as Elena and Alaric entered the chamber that no vampires were allowed to enter.

Elena shined her flashlight forward to see numerous drawings carved into the walls, "What is all this?" She asked the three other confused.

"Well, as far as I can tell, it's a story. In simple, archaeological terms, it's a really, really old story," Alaric explained as he pointed to a portion of the wall, "That right there, is the moon cycle. A man, a wolf."

Elena stared at the drawing closely before coming to a realization, "A werewolf." She announced.

"Yeah, it's the 'Lockwood Diaries: Pictionary-Style.'" Damon remarked from his spot beside Mallory just outside the chamber.

Elena stared at the drawing one more time before looking back over at Alaric, "I don't understand. I thought the Lockwoods came here with the Original Founders in the 1860s." She asked him confused.

"I don't know. Maybe the Lockwoods did, but according to this wall, these werewolves have been here a lot longer than that." Alaric replied.

"How long?" Elena questioned curiously.

"Long," Damon answered, "It gets better. Show her, Ric."

Alaric placed his backpack down before walking over to another section of the drawing, "Names. They're not native. They're written in Runic, a Viking script."

"Vikings?" Elena asked as her eyes widened in shock.

Alaric shined his flashlight on two words that were right neat each other, "These names here, I translated them and it reads Niklaus."

"Klaus," Elena repeated quietly.

"And Elijah...and Rebekah." Alaric continued.

"These are the names of the Original Family?" Elena asked shocked.