The sun hung low on the horizon, painting the Virginia sky in streaks of amber and gold as the Impala and Land Rover crossed into Mystic Falls town limits.
A wooden sign welcomed visitors with elegant script and the town's founding date: 1860.
In the Land Rover's passenger seat, Lucien studied the landscape as it transformed from rural highway to meticulously maintained streets.
The dragon scale in his pocket felt warm against his thigh, a reminder of their narrow escape just hours earlier.
"So this is it," Dean commented from behind the wheel, taking in the picturesque town square as they approached. "Doesn't look like much."
"That's the point," Trevor replied, eyes constantly scanning their surroundings. "Places like this survive by appearing unremarkable."
Lucien understood what Trevor meant. To casual observation, Mystic Falls was the quintessential small American town – charming Victorian buildings surrounding a pristine central square,
American flags fluttering from lampposts, and flower baskets hanging from ornate streetlights.
But something felt... off.
He couldn't quite place it until he noticed the flowers in those hanging baskets – perfect blooms that shouldn't be in season, identical in size and arrangement.
The town square grass was impossibly even, as if each blade had been individually measured and cut.
And the shadows – they seemed deeper than they should be, pooling in corners and beneath benches despite the golden evening light.
"We'll be staying at the Salvatore Boarding House," Trevor explained as they followed the Impala through town. "I've arranged it through contacts."
"Salvatore?" Dean questioned. "Like founding family Salvatore you talked about earlier?"
Trevor nodded. "The current caretaker, Zach, is... sympathetic to hunters. It's private, defensible, and off the main roads."
"And our dad?" Lucien asked, thinking of his father still unconscious in the Impala's backseat.
"The house has a ground floor bedroom that will work for his recovery," Trevor assured him. "Zach's been briefed on our needs."
They turned onto a long driveway flanked by ancient oak trees, their branches forming a natural archway.
At the end stood the boarding house – a massive structure of red brick and dark wood that looked like it had grown from the very earth beneath it rather than been built by human hands.
"Wow," Dean muttered as they parked. "Guess the Salvatores weren't hurting for cash."
Sam emerged from the Impala, stretching his long limbs after hours of driving. "How's Dad?" Lucien asked, approaching his older brother.
"Stable," Sam replied, voice low. "Still unconscious, but his vitals are good."
The front door opened, revealing a man in his late thirties with dark hair and a cautious expression. "You must be Trevor's friends," he said, stepping onto the porch. "I'm Zach Salvatore."
Zach's eyes darted briefly to certain corners of the porch as he spoke, a movement so subtle most would miss it. Lucien didn't.
"Thank you for having us," Sam said, extending his hand. "I'm Sam Winchester. That's my brother Dean, and our younger brother Lucien."
"Our father's in the car," Dean added. "He needs medical attention."
Zach nodded. "I've prepared the east room for him. It has everything you'll need – hospital bed, space for equipment."
"Hospital bed?" Dean questioned.
"Trevor mentioned your father was injured," Zach explained smoothly. "The east room was set up years ago when my uncle was ill. It's been maintained."
As they carried John inside, Lucien noticed how perfectly the doorways accommodated the makeshift stretcher they'd fashioned.
Almost as if they'd been designed with exactly this purpose in mind.
The boarding house interior was a study in controlled chaos – beautiful antique furniture arranged among stacks of books and curious artifacts. Family photographs lined the walls, showing generations of Salvatores in formal poses.
One floorboard creaked hollowly beneath Lucien's foot as they moved through the foyer. He paused, sensing something beneath – a space, perhaps a room – but Dean's voice pulled him forward.
"This way, Lu. Help me with the bags."
They settled John in the east room, which indeed contained a hospital-grade bed and medical equipment that looked both modern and well-maintained.
"This is... very thorough," Sam commented as he set up John's IV.
"My family believes in being prepared," Zach replied with a tight smile.
While Sam and Dean tended to John, Lucien observed Zach and Trevor having a quiet conversation by the door.
Their words seemed casual, but certain phrases carried unusual emphasis.
"The usual room arrangements should work," Zach was saying.
"Perfect. We appreciate your traditional hospitality," Trevor responded, absently touching a small pendant partially visible beneath his shirt collar.
"Town's been quiet lately," Zach continued. "Though the Council's been meeting more frequently than usual."
Trevor nodded as if this meant something significant. "We'll keep a low profile."
Lucien filed the exchange away to think about later as Dean approached, clapping a hand on his shoulder.
"This place is something else," Dean commented. "Like stepping into a time capsule."
"It's been in my family for generations," Zach explained, overhearing. "We preserve what matters."
------------------------
Sleep eluded Lucien that night.
The boarding house creaked and settled around him, each sound amplified in the unfamiliar darkness. After tossing and turning for hours, he finally gave up, slipping from his bed to explore.
He slept a lot in the car anyway after that Dragon fight - still crazy to think about by the way.
Fighting a fucking dragon and all that.
The hallways were illuminated only by moonlight streaming through tall windows, casting elongated shadows across the hardwood floors.
Lucien moved silently, letting his senses guide his steps to avoid creaking boards. Sensing with his abilities that everyone was truly asleep inside the mansion.
He found the library on the second floor – a magnificent room with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a massive stone fireplace.
Moonlight provided just enough illumination to read the spines as he ran his fingers along the shelves.
Most were standard texts – classics, history books, scientific volumes – but one section held local histories of Mystic Falls.
Lucien selected one - letting the Force guide him.
He had long since felt the Fates promise come true, and his senses towards the future have been basically blocked completely, besides he reasons when in true extreme danger.
Though even then, it did not mean the Force couldn't guide him towards interesting things,
The Book is titled "Founding Families: A Complete History." Lucien took it and settled into a leather armchair.
The book seemed comprehensive, detailing the town's establishment by five founding families – the Salvatores, Lockwoods, Fells, Forbes, and Gilberts.
Lucien paused at a passage about the town's founding in 1860:
"The five families established Mystic Falls as a beacon of civilization in the wilderness, bringing order and prosperity to the region through their collective vision and industry."
A footnote marked with an asterisk directed to the bottom of the page:
*See "The Covenant of Founders," private collection, Lockwood estate archives. Access by Council permission only.
Another section detailed a mysterious period in 1882:
"The winter of 1882 saw unprecedented challenges to the town's prosperity, resulting in the Renewal Accord among the founding families."
The footnote here was even more cryptic:
*Reference "Bloodline Preservation Protocols," Council archives, Section VII. Fell family records contain supplementary documentation on participant selection criteria.
The years 1912-1913 were dismissed in a single paragraph that mentioned only "civic improvements" and "strengthened community bonds" following "regrettable incidents involving transient elements." No specific events were detailed, though the paragraph ended with another footnote:
*Complete accounts sealed by Council vote, April 1913. See "Purification Measures," Forbes family records, restricted access.
A smaller, leather-bound volume caught his attention next – "Mystic Falls Annual Celebrations."
The book was older than the history text, its pages yellowed and fragile. A red silk ribbon marked a chapter on "Founder's Day," which Lucien carefully turned to.
The chapter began innocuously enough, describing parades and speeches, but soon delved into requirements that seemed excessive for a simple town festival:
"Participation Requirements for Founding Family Representatives:
1. Must be of direct bloodline descent (maternal lineage acceptable only if paternal line is extinct)
2. Must have undergone Verification Ceremony at age sixteen (see Appendix C for preparation rituals)
3. Must wear family sigil concealed beneath formal attire
4. Must contribute family-specific offerings to the Renewal Repository no fewer than seven days before the celebration
5. Must abstain from specific substances for 27 days prior to the ceremony (see individual family guidelines)"
A handwritten note in the margin, in faded ink, added: "Remember 1933 incident – Forbes girl failed preparation. Consequences severe."
This had Lucien raise an eyebrow, especially at the bold letter use.
The footnotes themselves were all very strange - like they were added into the book.
They appeared to be just for more detail and references, but...
'Consequences severe?' Lucien thought to himself. 'What'd they do to the girl? Banned her from ever attending again or something? Quite harsh.'
Either way he decided to continue reading. It was kind of interesting.
This place was after all quite the prominent place as both a supernatural nexus, and the fact it was the main place the Vampire Diaries show took place in.
He did wonder though what all those footnotes purposes were. They felt more like symbolisms, leads to something else.
'Kind of like a... message?'
Lucien's eyes narrowed at this. He had been researching and reasoning ways people could leave signs to things or messages in journals and books - trying to see if Samuel Colt did any of it in his own journal.
He hasn't been too lucky with that one, but for some reason him feel like there was something deeper put into this.
He wasn't sure though.
He decided to continue reading.
The section on public participation was equally strange:
"Town Resident Participation Guidelines:
1. Non-founding families may attend public ceremonies but must wear identification markers (subtle, as not to cause alarm)
2. All residents must submit to the Blessing at town square entrance
3. No resident may leave celebration grounds between sunset and midnight
4. Children under seven must be accompanied by blood relatives only, no exceptions
5. Visitors must be personally vouched for by founding family member and wear visitor's token at all times"
The chapter continued with detailed diagrams showing precise arrangements for the five founding families during key moments of the celebration – positions that formed a perfect pentagram when connected, though this geometric pattern was never explicitly mentioned in the text.
This made both of Lucien's eyebrows raise up higher.
A final section titled "Private Ceremonies" was frustratingly vague:
"Following public festivities, Council members and verified bloodline representatives will proceed to Founder's Hall for the Remembrance and Renewal.
Attendance is mandatory. Absence without Council dispensation will result in family censure and possible Bloodline Review.
The Offering Sequence must be performed exactly as established in 1862, with modifications only as approved unanimously by Council vote.
See 'The Covenant of Founders' for complete ritual requirements and consequences of improper execution."
As he replaced the books, moonlight streamed through the library windows, creating an unusual prismatic effect that scattered tiny rainbows across the floor.
Lucien approached, studying the glass. It appeared normal, yet the light behaved strangely when passing through it.
Moving to a window overlooking the town, Lucien observed the quiet streets below. A police cruiser moved slowly down Main Street – normal nighttime patrol.
Yet he noticed how the officer, presumably Sheriff Forbes based on Trevor's earlier comments, slowed near certain houses while completely ignoring others.
More curious was the behavior of the few pedestrians still out. Despite the empty streets, not one person crossed the town square diagonally.
Each walker, without exception, followed the perimeter paths, even when it clearly lengthened their journey.
'This place is quite... Bizarre. An effect of its supernatural nature perhaps? This world is far more supernatural than the shows I know, so its quite possible... But even then, there has to be a reason why things are affected this way. I wonder...' Lucien thought to himself.
After an hour of observation, Lucien returned to his room, throwing himself onto the bed, to try and sleep again.
---------------------------
"Eggs up!" Dean announced the next morning, sliding a plate in front of Lucien at the boarding house's massive kitchen table.
Sam entered, looking tired but relieved. "Dad's fever broke overnight. He's still unconscious, but his vitals are improving."
"That's something, at least," Dean said, returning to the stove where more breakfast sizzled.
Zach arrived carrying a basket of fresh produce. "Morning. Thought you might appreciate some local offerings. These came from the Fell farm yesterday."
The tomatoes and berries were exceptional – bursting with flavor that spoke of rich soil and careful cultivation. Good, but not suspiciously so.
"So what's the plan?" Sam asked, addressing Trevor who sat nursing a cup of black coffee.
"We maintain a low profile," Trevor replied. "I need to make contact with local resources, get a better understanding of the current situation."
"Lucien," Trevor began after finishing a bite, fixing the youngest Winchester with a serious look. "While we're here, you need to be... careful. This town has eyes everywhere, and we don't want to attract attention."
Lucien got the unspoken message - don't use your abilities unless absolutely necessary.
Of course, Lucien wasn't a fool. He had already decided this himself before Trevor even mentioned it.
Though what was annoying though, was the big amount of magical energy permeating through the entire town - made accurate sensing quite... difficult.
After breakfast, Zach suggested they explore the town. "It'll reinforce your cover story – visiting family friends taking in the local sights."
"I'll stay with John," Trevor decided. "You three go ahead."
-----------------------
Mystic Falls by daylight was even more picturesque than it had appeared the previous evening.
The town square boasted manicured lawns and flowering trees, with benches positioned at aesthetically perfect intervals.
Lucien noticed security cameras mounted discreetly on lampposts. Their positioning suggested traffic monitoring, yet their angles covered the square completely, leaving no blind spots.
"Let's check out the local watering hole," Dean suggested, nodding toward a building with a sign reading "Mystic Grill."
Inside, the restaurant had the comfortable, lived-in feel of a place where locals gathered. A few curious glances greeted their entrance – strangers in a small town always attracted attention – but nothing hostile.
"Welcome to Mystic Grill," a teenage boy with blonde hair greeted them, clearing a recently vacated table. "Just passing through?"
"Visiting family friends, the Salvatores actually," Dean replied smoothly, giving an inch to later take a mile in info. "I'm Dean, these are my brothers Sam and Lucien."
"Matt Donovan," the boy introduced himself. He looked about thirteen, wearing an apron that suggested he worked here. "Staying long?"
"Depends on our dad's recovery," Sam explained. "He's been ill."
Matt nodded sympathetically. "Sorry to hear that. My mom gets sick a lot too. That's why I help out here after school – bills don't pay themselves."
As Matt took their order, Lucien studied the restaurant's other patrons.
Normal small-town folk having lunch, nothing unusual except perhaps how they unconsciously maintained specific distances from each other, as if following an unwritten rule about personal space.
"So what's fun around here?" Dean asked easily - ever the social one - when Matt returned with their drinks.
"Not much for teenagers," Matt admitted. "School, sports, hanging out at the Grill. My friends and I sometimes swim at the quarry in summer."
"Friends?" Sam prompted.
"Yeah, Elena, Bonnie, Caroline," Matt listed, a slight blush appearing when he mentioned the first name. "Known them forever. Caroline's mom is the sheriff, actually."
'Elena...' Lucien thought to himself. He did of course remember the doppelganger. The human girl who would eventually become the center of a storm.
Hunted by Klaus and various other beings who want her blood for their sickening rituals.
He honestly knew he needed to do something about that when the time came.
What kind of self-respecting Hunter would he be if he didn't protect an innocent little girl from monsters?
While thinking all this, as if summoned by her mention, a blonde woman in a sheriff's uniform entered the Grill, her gaze immediately finding the unfamiliar faces.
"Speak of the devil," Matt murmured, stepping back as she approached.
"Welcome to Mystic Falls," she said, extending her hand. "Sheriff Elizabeth Forbes. We don't get many visitors this time of year."
"Dean Winchester," Dean introduced himself, shaking her hand. "My brothers Sam and Lucien. We're staying with our friend Zach at the boarding house while our father recovers from surgery."
The sheriff's posture relaxed slightly at the mention of Zach. "Friends of the Salvatores? Zach's a valued member of our community."
While Dean chatted with the sheriff, Lucien's attention was drawn to a framed map of Mystic Falls hanging on the wall.
It appeared ordinary except for certain areas that seemed deliberately left blank – not marked as parks or buildings, just empty spaces.
"Mayor coming in," Matt whispered as he passed, nodding toward the door.
A well-dressed man in his late forties entered, radiating authority. His eyes scanned the restaurant, noting the sheriff's conversation with strangers. He approached with a politician's smile.
"Richard Lockwood," he introduced himself. "Town mayor. Always pleased to meet friends."
Lucien internally took note of how he called them friends. They had introduced themselves as friends of the Salvatores, not the Lockwoods.
This could intentionally or unintentionally mean quite the close relations with the Salvatores that they are essentially like "family."
He could be looking too much into it though, the guy could just be being friendly.
Though that didn't feel really possible for some reason.
'Am I being paranoid?' Lucien internally asked himself after a moment. 'I've been constantly analysing everything since we got here, when there hasn't been anything clearly worth being fearful of...'
"Enjoying our little town?" he asked.
"It's charming," Sam replied. "Very... well-maintained."
"We take pride in preservation," Mayor Lockwood said. "History matters in Mystic Falls."
His gaze turned towards Lucien. "And what do you think of our town, young man?"
Lucien met the mayor's eyes, trying to look past the politician's smile. "It feels like nowhere else I've been," he answered truthfully.
"Perceptive," Lockwood nodded, seeming pleased with the response. "How long will you be staying with Zach?"
"Depends on our father's recovery," Dean interjected. "He's had some health complications."
"Nothing serious, I hope?" The question sounded concerned, but Lucien doubted there was any truth to it.
The man just... didn't feel like the type.
His instincts just told him so - not the Force, but his other instincts.
He's never been one to not trust them, present and former life.
"Just needs rest," Sam said smoothly. "The doctors recommended a quiet environment."
Sheriff Forbes, who had remained silent during the exchange, checked her watch. "I should get back to the station. Mayor, don't forget the council meeting this evening."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Lockwood replied, then turned back to the Winchesters. "If you're interested in local history, the Founder's Hall museum is open Tuesday through Saturday. My wife Carol oversees it personally."
"We'll have to check it out," Dean said with a polite smile.
As the mayor and sheriff departed together, Lucien noticed how other patrons subtly tracked their movement, conversations pausing momentarily until the door closed behind them.
"Important people around here," Matt commented as he returned to clear their plates. "Mayor Lockwood runs pretty much everything in town."
"And the sheriff?" Sam asked casually.
"Sheriff Forbes? She's okay. Tough but fair." Matt lowered his voice slightly. "Her daughter Caroline's in my class. Says her mom's barely home these days - always at meetings or patrols."
"Sounds like a dedicated officer," Dean remarked.
Matt shrugged. "I guess. Town's been weird lately. More patrols, more meetings." He glanced around, then added, "My mom says it's like this every few years. Some kind of cycle."
"Cycle?" Lucien asked.
"Yeah, you know. Extra security, founding families getting all secretive. Usually happens before Founder's Day." Matt straightened suddenly, as if realizing he was saying too much. "Anyway, can I get you guys anything else?"
After declining dessert and paying their bill, they stepped back into the sunlight of the town square.
"We should head back," Sam suggested. "Check on Dad."
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(Author note: Hello everyone! Hope you all liked the chapter.
Do tell me how you found this chapter.
What do you think, is Lucien being paranoid? Is Mystic Falls just a bit weird because of it being a supernatural nexus is all?
I'm interested in hearing your thoughts.
Well, I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)