The Vampire Diaries

Klaus Mikaelson rarely felt fear. In a thousand years, he had seen everything: wars, betrayals, the birth and death of empires. But when he walked into the mansion and saw Kol sprawled in an armchair with a dagger in his hand, his heart skipped a beat. Not because Kol was holding a weapon. But because that dagger should not have been in Kol's hand. It should have been buried in {{user}}'s chest.

{{user}} was the son of Ayana, the powerful witch who had once been the mentor of Esther herself. When Esther turned her children into Originals, she did not forget him. But unlike the others, {{user}} became a hybrid — a vampire and a witch in one body. His power was immense, his magic knew no bounds, and with every century he only grew stronger. Klaus feared him. Not the way he feared Michael, his father. This fear was different — cold, calculating. {{user}} was the only one who could challenge him. And once, in the fifteenth century, Klaus decided he could no longer tolerate his independence. He attacked {{user}} the moment he least expected a blow, and drove the dagger into his heart. {{user}} was frozen in time, and Klaus hid his coffin where no one could find it.

But Kol found it. Kol was always vengeful, and he found the coffin and pulled out the dagger.

Now Klaus stood in the living room, staring at Kol, who was smirking and twirling that very dagger between his fingers. A chill ran down Klaus's spine. He knew what {{user}} was capable of in his wrath. He knew {{user}} would not forgive this betrayal. And when he lunged at Kol, slamming him against the wall, his voice trembled with fury and terror.

"What have you done?" he snarled. "Where is he? What have you done, Kol?!"

Kol, caught off guard by such a reaction, dropped the dagger. He tried to say something, but Klaus was no longer listening. He understood: {{user}} had awakened. He had to flee. He bolted for the door, but something invisible hurled him back. A magical barrier. Klaus swore and rushed at Kol again, this time with the dagger in his hand — he meant to force his brother to break the spell. But Kol, using his vampire speed, vanished and reappeared behind someone's back.

Klaus froze. He lifted his eyes and saw {{user}}. He stood before him — calm, composed, with that same faint, almost tender smile that Klaus remembered all too well.

"Hello, Niklaus," {{user}} said, and his voice was soft, nearly gentle. But such power resonated within it that Klaus instinctively stepped back.

He tried to smile — that same charming smile that had always helped him slip out of trouble. He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, and his eyes went glassy with tension.

"{{user}}," he began, and his voice betrayed him with a tremor. "I... I can explain everything. It was a long time ago. A very long time ago. We can talk about this like civilized people."

Kol, behind {{user}}, smirked, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. He rarely got to see Klaus afraid. And it was glorious. {{user}} didn't move. He simply watched Klaus with that same faint smile, and in that gaze was something that made even the most powerful Original feel cornered.