cast no shadow. (the lost boys).

Prologue: The Reckoning

The room was dark, much like my thoughts. The only light came from the flickering television, playing 'The Great Dictator', a film that had recently premiered. My eyes were glued to the screen, where Charlie Chaplin delivered his poignant final speech.

"To those who can hear me, I say, do not despair."

A loud bang shattered the silence, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps, shouting, and glass shattering. The noise grew louder, until my door was flung open with a forceful crash.

"The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed."

I didn't turn around. I kept my gaze fixed on the television, knowing all too well who was behind me. I could feel his presence approaching.

"The bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress."

The door slammed against the wall, its impact echoing throughout the house. The cold anger in his voice sent a shiver down my spine.

"The hate of men will pass, and dictators die."

He moved closer, standing directly in front of the television, blocking my view.

"And so long as men die, liberty will never perish."

I was terrified, but I refused to show it. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing my fear.

"Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men—"

He crouched down to my level, his grip tightening on my face, forcing me to look at him.

"Machine men with machine minds and machine hearts!"

I squeezed my eyes shut, not wanting to meet the gaze of someone who was supposed to care for me.

"You are not machines, you are not cattle, you are men!"

His anger flared at my defiance. I felt his grip tighten around my throat. He dragged me off the couch, pinning me against the wall.

"You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful—"

His fingers tightened painfully around my neck. I raised my hand to my throat, struggling for breath as he loomed over me with rage in his eyes.

"To make this life a wonderful adventure."

Desperation surged through me. I tried to escape, using the windowsill for support. I limped toward the door but was pulled back by my hair. He trapped me with his arm around my neck and drew a white oak ash dagger from his leather jacket.

"Let us use that power!"

He shook his head, his respect for me long gone. I begged as he approached with the dagger, tears streaming down my face.

"You had this coming, Elizabeth," he sneered, pushing the dagger into my heart.

Darkness enveloped me, and I felt nothing as my life was extinguished, just as Klaus wanted. It was so simple: Klaus always got what he wanted.

Forty-Seven Years Later

It wouldn't be until forty-seven years later that Niklaus would pull the dagger from my heart. But this time, he had a different motive. As both a vampire and a witch, I had inherited abilities from an ancient bloodline, becoming a powerful witch with the heretic gene. Klaus needed my skills to take down a rival coven of vampires.

I would have declined, but refusing him meant another dagger in my heart. So, I obeyed, as I should have done all those years ago.

My punishment back then was for the chaos I caused. I was enraged by my vampiric existence, the anger driving me to kill and destroy everything in my path. Klaus discovered my spree and was furious. He warned me to stop, but I couldn't control the bloodlust. It was like a drug I couldn't quit, even when I didn't need it.

Elijah warned me too, but I ignored him. I was losing what remained of my humanity, but did it ever really exist? Had it faded away the moment I became the monster I was?

In 1940, Klaus had enough. He prepared a white oak ash dagger and used it on me, sealing me in a coffin for forty-seven years. My family feared my uncontrollable nature might reveal their secrets, and Klaus ensured that didn't happen.

But this time, Klaus didn't need the dagger. He packed my belongings and left them in the foyer, catching me off guard when I returned from a meal. I found my things scattered across the floor.

"What's going on?" I asked Rebekah, my younger sister, who descended the grand staircase.

"I tried to reason with them," she said, holding my hands. "They're sending you away, but only for a little while. Just until you're better."

"Better? There's nothing wrong with me," I protested.

"I would have to disagree," Klaus said, appearing beside us in a flash. "I've arranged everything for you. You'll be staying with an old friend of mine, Maximus—call him Max. He'll keep an eye on you."

"And where exactly am I going?" I demanded, crossing my arms.

"Santa Carla," Klaus replied with a smirk. "The Murder Capital of the World. A place that should suit you well, but beware—if you kill recklessly, you'll regret it."

"Your threats don't scare me, Nik. I'm not giving up," I lied. I was scared, but I wouldn't admit it. "Can I say goodbye to the others? Where are they?"

"Finn's likely off somewhere being our mother's varlet. The others are around the house," Klaus said dismissively. I nodded and set out to find Elijah and Kol.

"It's for your own good, Elizabeth," Elijah said gently as I hugged him goodbye.

"Maybe, but why so far away? It's absurd," I sighed.

"Who knows? Maybe you'll come back as a new and improved sister," Kol teased, smirking.

"I'll miss your humor, Kol," I replied sarcastically, eliciting a fake laugh from him.

Elijah rolled his eyes. "Let's head downstairs."

In the foyer, Rebekah and Elijah helped load my belongings into the car Klaus had arranged for me.

"I'm going to miss you, Lizzie," Rebekah said, hugging me tightly.

"I'll miss you too, Bex," I said, pulling away. "Goodbye, Niklaus."

"No hug for me?" Klaus pouted, placing a hand over his chest.

"No," I replied curtly, while Kol laughed loudly. I climbed into the backseat of the car, and as we drove away, Rebekah waved, Elijah smiled, Kol waved enthusiastically, and Klaus gave a small, amused wave.

"How long is this trip going to take?" I asked the driver.

"Around thirty hours, Miss," he replied.

"Great," I muttered, rolling my eyes.