Prologue

Kingdom of Hungary, 1110

Niklaus grunted before slowly opening his eyes. His head hurt like hell. How much had he drunk last night? He rolled on his side, ready to call for a servant, when he noticed that he wasn't alone. There was someone lying beside him. Some tavern wench probably. He sighed and glanced at the female, but he frowned as he recognized her. Julia. Rebekah's servant girl. She was lying on her back naked and bloody. Lifeless. What… Then he realized that there was a third person on the bed. Elijah. He was sleeping on Julia's other side.

"Elijah!" Niklaus growled. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"What?" his brother murmured, blinking his blue eyes.

"What are you doing in my chamber?" Niklaus snapped.

Elijah was fully awake when he saw Julia. His eyes widened.

"What…" He paused, looking more confused than ever before. "Why am I naked?"

Niklaus was just about to say something mocking when he realized that he was naked as well. So was Julia. How… What had happened? He couldn't remember.

"Alright…" Niklaus murmured. "Alright… Can you remember anything about last night?"

Elijah shook his head; he was staring at the dead girl. Great.

"No," Elijah muttered. "I wouldn't do something like this."

"Well, apparently you did," Niklaus huffed. "We did."

Elijah pressed his lips together and looked at his brother.

"What did we do?"

The truth was that Niklaus had no idea. He couldn't remember anything.

"Does it really matter? Let's just get rid of her and forget this whole thing…"

"I am afraid it won't be that easy," a female voice suddenly said. "Not this time."

Niklaus was on his feet immediately. How the hell hadn't he noticed the old woman standing in front of the fireplace?

"Who the hell are you?" he snarled.

The woman smiled coldly.

"I am justice. For years I have been looking for you and now I finally found you."

"How nice for you," Niklaus snorted and zoomed towards the woman when the sudden pain forced him on his knees.

"Hey!" Elijah shouted. "I am warning you…"

A second later he also dropped on his knees.

"Wait for your turn," the woman stated coldly. "I will start with your brother."

Niklaus felt like his head was about to explode, but he forced himself to concentrate.

"What do you want?" he snarled.

The woman looked at him icily.

"Justice. You killed my daughter."

Oh great.

"Her name was Iliana," the woman continued. "Can you remember her?"

"No, I have never met anyone by that name…" Niklaus started, but the pain forced him to stop.

"You met her in Bulgaria," the woman continued icily. "She was a beautiful young woman with dark hair and emerald eyes. She was engaged when you seduced her with your lies and abandoned her."

What? Niklaus had never been in Bulgaria.

"No, you are mistaken, I have never…"

"You are Niklaus Mikaelson, are you not?" the woman stated coldly. "The bloodsucking demon."

"Yes, I am, but I have never met your daughter," Niklaus hissed through the pain. "I have never been in Bulgaria…"

"Liar!" the woman shouted. "My other daughter told me everything about you and your family." The woman paused and glanced at Elijah. "About your brother who pretended to be a noble man and yet he did nothing to stop you. My precious Iliana is dead now because you destroyed her. She took her own life because of you!"

"It wasn't me…"

"Silence!" The woman walked over to Niklaus and looked him in the eyes. "Perhaps I cannot kill you, but no need to worry, I have a much more suitable punishment in mind."

She moved next to the bed and looked at Julia.

"This dear girl will be your punishment."

"You did this," Elijah growled.

The woman smiled.

"I added a little something in your wine last night, yes, but I didn't do this to her. You did. Both of you. And because of that, you will both suffer for the rest of your miserable existence." She paused and touched Julia's cheek. "Come on, dear, open your eyes. Time to wake up and play."