K I N G • KLAUS MIKAELSON [1]

ordinary people

RIVER moved quietly through the darkness, Elena and Alaric close behind as they moved through the tunnel.

"So, the Lockwood's really have no idea that these tunnels are underneath their property?" Elena wondered.

"Careful where you shine that thing" River teased "Bats hate the light"

"Wait, what?" Elena paused warily.

River smirked as he felt Damon sneak up behind them.

"Elena!" Damon whispered.

Elena turned.

"Boo!" Damon scared the girl.

Elena jumped, gasping and grabbing at her heart in fright.

"Ah! God, Damon!" Elena scolded.

"Scaredy-cat" River teased, Damon smirking.

"Just ignore him" Alaric advised "That's what I do"

"So, you really can't get in?" Elena asked.

"No" Damon confirmed "Seems even the ancient Lockwoods were anti-vampire"

"What do you mean, ancient?" Elena asked.

"See for yourself" Damon spoke, extending his arm forwards.

They moved further into the caves, Damon stopping as he reached the barrier that prevented him from entering, the non-vampires able to move into the cave, observing the drawings that lined the walls.

"What is all this?" River questioned.

"Well, as far as I can tell, it's a story" Alaric explained "In simple, archeological terms, it's a really, really old story"

Alaric pointed towards some of the drawings.

"That right there, is the moon cycle" Alaric pointed out, pointing to another "A man, a wolf"

"A werewolf" River stated.

"Yeah, it's The Lockwood Diaries: Pictionary-Style" Damon teased.

"I don't understand. I thought the Lockwoods came here with the Original Founders in the 1860s" Elena furrowed her eyebrows.

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

"How long?" River wondered.

Long" Damon replied "It gets better, show them, Ric"

"Names" Alaric shined his torch along a series of symbols "They're not native, they're written in Runic, a Viking script"

"Vikings?" Elena gasped.

This name here, I translated it and it reads-" Alaric began.

"Niklaus" River interrupted, his fingers tracing the letters.