Mythology? Or Reality?

Around a millennia ago, in certain parts of the world, there were monsters, supernatural creatures other than the usual, werewolves, and vampires.

In Eastern Europe, where Kol's family was originally from, there was no monster more terrifying than Dragons.

For reasons unknown, they had an affinity for stealing "treasures", or shiny objects in general, so much so, that they burnt down entire villages for it.

On their own, no faction was any match for them, so an unholy alliance was formed. A witch, a werewolf, and a vampire. The triad.

The witch used black to combine the blood of the triad to create a Golem capable of consuming the Dragons.

This creature, the golem was spelled to have insatiable hunger. But this spell also made it unable to harm witches, werewolves or vampires, since he was created from their blood in the first place.

They named it, the eater of the dark, Malivore.

However, unknown to them, Malivore was much more powerful than they could ever dream.

It wasn't just a golem, but an entire dimension in itself.

The creatures it would consume would forever live inside it, and the more it consumed, the more it would evolve.

It was like an ever-growing black hole that could constantly get stronger forever, without limits.

And so, one day, when the Dragons returned to the villages they had burned down to collect treasure in their human form, Malivore was waiting for them.

Over the years, it took them inside itself one by one, eventually consuming the entire species, completely wiping out the Dragon kind.

To the surprise of the triad, Malivore didn't stop there. After the Dragons were gone, it kept eating every supernatural creature it could find, swallowing them into the endless space inside itself.

With each creature's DNA it absorbed, it evolved. Eventually, it became sentient. Aware.

Now it... No, HE, was now truly alive.

When the surrounding villages were cleared of all the monsters, the triad wanted to return him to his original state, back to being mud. They wanted to destroy him.

But he betrayed his creators.

He made a deal with all the humans he had saved, and they slew the triad who had created him, and therefore, were the only ones who could destroy him.

Then they set him free to wander the earth forever, to continue consuming anything that was not a witch, werewolf, or vampire, and in return for their help, Malivore would never consume humans.

Over time, like Adam in the Garden of Eden, he realized he was alone.

And since he could not procreate biologically, he tried to create instead, like he, himself was created.

He fashioned beings like him, his children, made from mud and a part of himself.

Unfortunately, all the children he fashioned were imperfect. None of them had his powers, all had weaknesses and all were sterile, unable to reproduce and continue his legacy.

So he kept trying. Over the years his attempts became more refined. Indistinguishable from humans.

As this was all happening, he had already consumed every creature he could and his food supply ran out.

As a result, he grew weak and vulnerable.

That was when the humans came back. The descendants of the original humans who had made a deal with him in the past.

They were now a secret society, calling themselves, the Triad. Couldn't even pick a different name!

The Triad betrayed him.

They paid witches to trap him, and to use black magic that dissolved him, returning him to his natural state, a black pit, which was also a gateway to the dimension inside Malivore, endless darkness that housed all the creatures he had ever consumed.

The spell they used had three locks that bounded Malivore into that state.

Once all three locks were released, Malivore would be free to walk the earth once again.

These three locks were all Nigh-Indestructible objects, but no one knew what they looked like.

Except, one of them was a knife that was inside, "The Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted".

This knife was kept in the artifact room inside a showcase, and there was no record of its supernatural origins. Except that it dated back to circa the 12th century.

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Even in the form of the black pit, Malivore kept trying to create more children in the dimension inside him.

This pit had the same properties as him. Throw somebody in and their memories were erased from existence, along with all the clues of them ever existing.

Then the secret society calling themselves the triad kept flourishing, within a few decades they grew into a business, the Triad industries.

In the beginning, they were doing some good. Keeping the world safe from all that was the supernatural.

But eventually, the power corrupted them.

The term, "Monsters" began to be used for whoever they didn't like. Whoever they wanted to be forgotten. Whoever was in their way to gain more power. Be it supernatural, or other humans.

On the other hand, as more and more humans were thrown in, Malivore absorbed enough of their genetic material to be able to reproduce.

He began to experiment. Mixing the genetic materials of other supernatural creatures with humans.

Eventually, he succeeded. In fact, very recently so.

Unknown to all, even to Landon Kirby himself, he was the son of Malivore.

Malivore had created him by combining the genetic material of a Phoenix, with humans.

Landon Kirby was an orphan. All his life, he went from foster homes to foster homes. Never really felt like he belonged anywhere.

Until he met his foster brother Rafael. They soon became best friends.

When Rafael activated his werewolf gene, he was taken in by the Salvatore Boarding School, but Landon himself was meant to be compelled to forget everything he had learned about the supernatural side of the world.

When MG's compulsion failed, Alaric and others thought that Landon had ingested vervain, a herb that could prevent a vampire's compulsion.

So they locked him up in the basement for the night. Waiting for the vervain to be digested and pass from his system.

Unfortunately, the vampire's compulsion was no telepathy. It couldn't work on supernatural creatures like Landon.

And Landon didn't want to just forget everything he had learned and leave.

In the morning, when MG tried to compel him again, Landon faked it. Pretending to be compelled.

Then instead of going home like he was supposed to, he stole the knife that was one of the locks to free Malivore and fled with it in his pocket.

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On the other hand, Kol let it all happen, because he needed it to.

Malivore might have been an apocalypse level monster for the people of this world, but for Kol, it was a blessing in disguise.

Malivore was a dimension in itself, one of the Nigh-Infinite proportions, not to mention the countless supernatural creatures that resided within it.

Kol needed Malivore for himself. But he couldn't have it unless it was first released from its seal and returned to being a golem from its form as the black pit.

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Hope didn't have many friends. Landon Kirby was one of her only friends.

So when he stole an artifact from their school and fled like some criminal, she felt betrayed.

So much so that she asked Josie to help her do a black magic spell to locate Landon.

He was found to be traveling on Route 29, near the state line, in a bus, while still carrying the knife in his pocket.

Kol yelled at Rafael, "Hey! You over there?".

Currently, Kol and Hope were about to get in the car to go find Landon, but they found Rafael doing something underneath the car.

Rafael slid back his mechanic creeper and looked up at them.

Then he spoke, "Hey!", and slid it forward again to continue doing whatever he was doing.

Kol asked again, "What do you think you're doing down there? We need this car.".

Rafael replied, "Adjusting the sway bar.", this time not even bothering to look up.

"Was it broken?", Hope asked.

"Clinngg!!", the sound of something breaking. Something metallic.

Then Rafael slid back his mechanic creeper and stood up.

And he spoke, "It is now!", while showing them a piece of sway bar that he had just removed.

Now they were speechless. They didn't know what to say.

Rafael continued, "You're going after Landon. If you want this car to work? Then I'm going with you.".

"Are you fucking kiddin' me! That's all you wanted? Wanted to come along so you took out the sway bar? You could've just asked!", Kol exclaimed.

Hearing this, Rafael got his hopes up.

"Really? So I can come?", he asked hopefully.

But Kol replied, "NO!", crushing his hopes.

"There's no way I'm letting you come now! You're going to stay back and think about what you've done.", Kol continued in a strick tone.

But Rafael wasn't going to listen. This was about Landon, his brother, his best friend.

He argued, "Yeah... I can't do that. Landon is my best friend. I need to come with you.".

Then Hope interjected, "Listen! You should stay out of it. Landon is a liar and a thief.".

"He took a stupid knife!", Rafael tried to defend Landon.

Then Kol spoke, "You DO know that I can just take that sway bar from you and fix it myself, right?".

Rafael replied, "Yeah! Sure you can!", then continued in an arrogant tone, "But that would imply that you can take it from me first!".

Kol and Hope looked at each other. If there was a limit to stupidity, this guy didn't know anything about it.

At this point, Kol was fed up, as he spoke, "Ok, that's it! I've had enough of this.".

Then he snapped his fingers and Rafael lost consciousness and fell on the driveway. A simple application of telepathy.

"Wow! You didn't even chant. Just like yesterday. You have to teach me how to do that.", Hope exclaimed excitedly.

"Oh! My! God! What did you do!", Alaric's voice came from behind them.

They turned around.

Alaric continued, "Rafael knows Landon best. He could've helped!", in an irritated tone.

"Should've told me that before. Now he's down for the count. That just leaves us.", Kol replied.

Then continued, "Get in Quickly! I'll fix the sway bar.", in an irritated tone.

Hearing this, Alaric asked, "Do you even know HOW to fix it? I doubt there were any cars in the fifteenth century.", in a skeptical tone.

"Don't worry, I've got this.", Kol reassured him.

Alaric replied, "OK! If you say so.".

Then Kol quickly fixed the sway bar with his telekinesis and then he, Alaric, and Hope headed off to Route 29.

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Currently, Kol, Hope, and Alaric were walking in the woods off Route 29.

Landon was somewhere nearby since this was the location that the witches found with their spell.

Hope commented while walking, "I don't know why he's still out here. He has a whole day's lead on us. He could be anywhere.".

Kol replied, "Maybe he got hungry! Can't exactly go to a restaurant after what happened on the bus. Living off the land wouldn't be such a bad idea.".

Kol was referring to the bus full of people found burnt alive, incinerated inside out.

This was the same bus that Landon took. It was found not long ago by the authorities, not much far from their current location.

Suddenly, "Wait! Did you hear that?", Kol stopped and asked.

Hope and Alaric stopped as well.

"Click!", the sound of a branch breaking.

"Someone's here.", Alaric spoke while looking around.

Kol spoke, "That way!", and started walking.

Leading the way for Alaric and Hope to follow.

They soon found a girl, crouching down beneath a tree.

As soon as she saw them, she stood up with a start.

Alaric tried to comfort her, "It's ok! I.. I'm not gonna hurt you.", while slowly walking forward.

There was a smell of smoke in the air around her, like she had been dipped in an ashtray. And her white clothes looked a little burnt up like she just walked out of the fire.

[Images]

"Were you on the bus? Can you tell us what happened?", Alaric asked.

"Is she a survivor?", Hope asked from the side.

But at this time, Kol grabbed Alaric's shoulder before he could continue walking, and spoke, "Alaric! I think you should get back.", while not taking his eyes off that girl.

"What are you on about? She needs help. I need to get her to the police so she can get some medical attention.", Alaric replied and tried to free himself.

So Kol didn't try to prevent him from being a good samaritan, "Ok!", he replied and let him go.

Then Alaric looked back at them and spoke, "Why don't you two go ahead? Don't engage without me.".

Then he spoke to Kol, "Take care of Hope. Make sure she doesn't do anything stupid.", with a nod.

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Eventually, Hope and Kol arrived at a wooden shack in the middle of the woods.

Landon was inside.

"He's there.", Hope spoke.

Since Alaric said to not engage, She was asking for permission to go in.

Kol replied, "Let's go!", and walked forward.

"Creeeak!", the sound of a door opening.

Kol opened the door of the wooden shack and walked inside.

Landon was crouching down in the corner. After hearing the sound of the door, he looked up at Kol.

Then he stood up with a start, and exclaimed, "Who are you! How did you find me?", in surprise.

Kol walked slowly, "You know there's a bus full of burned-up people? It's just on the road, not that far from here. How did you do that?", he spoke unhurriedly.

"THAT wasn't me!", Landon exclaimed.

At this point, Hope had already come inside as she asked, "Then who was it?", in an accusing tone.

But before Landon could say anything, "Corporis impetus.", she chanted a spell.

With a gesture of her hand, Landon's body lifted from the ground, "Slam!", and slammed on the wall of the shack.

"Where's the knife?", she asked with anger apparent in her tone.

Landon replied in panic, "I don't have it! I must've lost it when I ran.", while still being pasted on the wall.

Hope asked again, "After you burned down the bus?", with her voice raised, in an accusing tone.

"That wasn't me, I swear. I barely got out alive.", Landon tried to defend himself.

At this point, Kol spoke, "Hope, calm down!", trying to calm her down a bit.

But Hope was really angry now. Landon was one of her only friends, and she felt betrayed by what he had done.

She asked, "Last chance. Who was it?", as she walked forward towards Landon.

"There was this girl.", then Landon proceeded to explain what exactly happened on the bus.

After a while, Landon finished explaining his story.

Currently, Landon was sitting down on the ground as Kol and Hope were standing near him.

"I don't believe a word you're saying.", Hope yelled at Landon after listening to his absurd story.

"You have every right to be mad at me, but I am telling you the truth.", Landon replied in a fed-up voice.

"I think it makes sense. He's telling the truth.", Kol intervened.

"Seriously! You believe that a fire-breathing woman burned the bus alive?", Hope asked incredulously.

"Yes.", Kol replied in monotone.

"And Landon just happened to be spared?", she argued in an irritated tone.

"He ran.", Kol continued.

"And conveniently lost the knife on the way!", Hope continued in irritated sarcasm.

This time before Kol could reply, Landon spoke, "She kept coming at me like she was gonna take it from me. She was burning everything in her path...", but he was interrupted.

"Shut up!", Kol yelled.

Then he turned towards Hope and spoke, "He didn't lose the knife. It's still in his pocket.".

Hearing this, Landon exclaimed, "What are you talking about, I...", but he was again interrupted.

"I said, SHUT THE HELL UP!!", Kol yelled loudly.

Then Hope spoke angrily, "As expected from a liar! He hasn't given up...", but she was interrupted by the sound of the door opening.

"Creek!Boom!!", the door of the wooden shack slammed open.

Alaric hurriedly walked in and spoke, "There's a fire-breathing woman running through the woods.".

"I... knew it!", Kol exclaimed in excitement.

This was an unexpected reaction to this situation, so everyone looked at him strangely.

So he explained, "That fire-breathing woman is no woman. She's a Dragon. And they are very rare, even in my time.".

But Alaric outright denied it, "Dragon? Seriously? We don't have time for jokes Kol. Our bus refugee, is a pyromancer, not a Dragon, and we need to deal with it before this situation escalates.", he spoke seriously.

But Kol interrupted him, "No you idiot! That's why I tried to stop you before. I had my suspicions, but this confirms it. A pyromancer is still a human. Their heart still beats like a human, but hers didn't.".

Alaric argued, "But Dragons don't exist. I'm pretty sure they have never existed in ANY time. They are a myth, and they most certainly, don't look like normal people!", in irritated sarcasm.

Then Kol replied, "I know it makes no sense. Dragons should be extinct at this time. But that woman is certainly not a pyromancer. She's a Dragon! Don't forget. There was a time you would've said the same thing about vampires, yet here we are.".

Then after contemplating it a bit, "Sigh!", with a sigh, Alaric asked in irritated sarcasm, "Ok, fine! She's a human, Dragon! Now what?", still not fully believing it.

This time Hope asked the most obvious question, "No matter what she is, she's after the knife. What would a pyromancer, or a Dragon want with that knife?".

Kol replied, "Well, we CAN just ask.".

Alaric commented sarcastically, "Good idea! Except she doesn't seem to be all that cooperative.".

To this, Kol replied, "Oh she will!", and continued, "You see, there are two ways to deal with a Dragon.".

Alaric commented, "Allegedly.", in irritated sarcasm.

But Kol continued, "First is, the obvious, to kill them. And second... is to make them submit.", in a tone full of suspense.

Then they all looked at each other, not understanding what he meant, until Alaric asked, "And how do we do that?".

Kol replied, "I would rather just show you. Let's go outside.", then started walking towards the door of the shack to go outside.

The others followed with question marks written all over their faces.

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For the story to progress, the first episode still needs to happen as it did in the show, except for the ending.