The Doppelgänger Mikaelson

The Mystic Grill buzzed with quiet energy, the hum of conversation blending with the clinking of glasses and faint music from the jukebox. Ivar pushed the door open, stepping inside with Alyssa trailing closely behind him. She looked around, her eyes darting from one table to another, taking in the cozy but lively atmosphere.

Ivar strode confidently to the bar, choosing a seat near the corner. He gestured for Alyssa to sit beside him, and she did, still glancing around curiously.

"This is where people come to… relax?" she asked, her voice low.

"Something like that," Ivar replied, leaning back in his chair. "Humans have their places to unwind. Even creatures like me appreciate a good drink every now and then."

She raised an eyebrow. "I didn't think vampires could even get drunk."

Ivar smirked but didn't answer. Before Alyssa could press him, Matt approached the bar, a towel slung over his shoulder. His eyes landed on Ivar, and he froze for a moment, his confusion evident.

"Uh… Stefan?" Matt asked hesitantly. "I didn't know you were back in town."

Ivar's expression didn't change. He looked up at Matt, his piercing gaze enough to make the younger man shift nervously. "I'm not Stefan," Ivar said simply, his tone cool but firm. "Now, get me your best drink."

Matt frowned, his confusion deepening. "What do you mean you're not Stefan? You look exactly like—"

"Just get me my drink," Ivar interrupted, his voice sharp but calm.

For a moment, Matt seemed to hesitate, but then his body stiffened, and he nodded, almost robotically. "Right away." He turned and walked off, moving with the mechanical precision of someone who wasn't entirely in control of themselves.

Alyssa turned to Ivar, her eyes wide. "What was that? Did you… do something to him?"

Ivar leaned back, a small smile playing on his lips. "Mind control," he said casually. "One of the many perks of being a vampire."

Alyssa's brow furrowed as she glanced at Matt, who was busy preparing Ivar's drink. "You can control people's minds? Just like that?"

"It's not hard," Ivar said with a shrug. "Humans are… malleable. A little push, and they'll do whatever you want."

She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "But why did he think you were someone else? This Stefan person?"

Ivar sighed, resting his elbows on the bar. "Because we look alike. Same face, same features."

Alyssa blinked, confused. "Are you twins?"

"No," Ivar said, shaking his head. "Not twins. More like… the same person. The shadows created to take his place, to die in the his stead if necessary."

Her mouth fell open slightly. "A shadow? What does that even mean?"

"It's a long story," Ivar replied, his tone dismissive but not unkind. "You'll understand in time. For now, just know that Stefan and I is a creation—a copy meant to live a life and die."

Alyssa sat back, her mind racing. "That's… a lot to take in."

Ivar smirked again, watching as Matt returned with a glass in hand. "Get used to it. This world is full of things you'll never understand. But that's part of the fun, isn't it?"

She didn't answer, still processing his words as Matt placed the drink in front of Ivar, his expression blank. Without a word, Matt turned and walked away, leaving Alyssa even more unsettled.

Ivar raised the glass to his lips, taking a slow sip. "Relax," he said, glancing at her. "You'll catch on soon enough."

As Ivar took another sip of his drink, he noticed the door to the Mystic Grill swing open again. Someone stepped inside, their presence immediately drawing Ivar's attention. The person's eyes flicked around the room before landing on Ivar, and a familiar smirk spread across their face.

"Brother," the figure called, walking toward Ivar with a confident stride.

Ivar sighed, rolling his eyes as he set his drink down. "Henrik," he muttered, leaning back in his chair. "I see you've possessed Tyler completely now."

Henrik, the youngest of the Mikaelson siblings, chuckled lightly as he reached Ivar's side. His eyes were gleaming with a mix of amusement and something darker. "I couldn't resist, Ivar. It's amusing, isn't it? How everyone is so desperate to save Elena. They don't even realize the danger they're in."

Ivar's expression darkened slightly, his gaze unwavering. "You're here to gloat, then? Watching everyone scramble while you sit back, pretending to be someone else?"

Henrik gave a playful shrug, but there was an undercurrent of something more serious in his voice. "Why not? It's fun to watch them flounder, especially when they think they have the upper hand. And with Tyler's body, they'll never see me coming."

Ivar leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "You've always been reckless, Henrik. You should be careful. Possessing someone like Tyler can only last so long. Eventually, they'll figure it out."

Henrik's smile faltered for a split second, but he quickly recovered. "I'm not worried. Tyler's not the problem, is he?" His tone became more pointed. "It's everyone else running around like chickens with their heads cut off, thinking they can protect Elena. It's almost laughable."

There was a brief silence between them, the air heavy with unspoken tension. Ivar regarded his brother for a moment, then finally sighed.

"You've always had a knack for stirring up chaos, Henrik. But don't forget who you're dealing with. I'm the oldest. I've seen things you wouldn't even dream of."

Henrik's playful demeanor shifted slightly, his gaze now tinged with something resembling respect, though it was quickly masked by his usual cockiness. "I know," he said quietly. "That's why I've always been so careful around you. You're not like the others."

Ivar's lips curled into a smirk. "Good. You should be. But that doesn't mean I'm going to let you do whatever you want, Henrik."

The younger brother held his hands up in mock surrender, though there was still a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Relax, big brother. I'm not here to cause trouble. Just wanted to see the show for myself. But it seems I've found you in the middle of it already."

Ivar raised an eyebrow, glancing at Alyssa, who was watching the interaction with wide eyes. "I'm sure you're well aware of the drama playing out in Mystic Falls right now. But maybe it's time to step back before you get caught up in it all."

Henrik's gaze flickered over to Alyssa, and he gave a small, curious nod. "Who's this?"

"A new arrival," Ivar said, not elaborating further. "She's still getting her bearings in this town."

Henrik smiled, his tone shifting back to a more teasing one. "Ah, a newcomer. Well, I'm sure I'll have the pleasure of meeting her properly soon enough." He turned back to Ivar. "But for now, I'll take my leave. I don't want to ruin all the fun you're having here. Besides, I'm sure there's more chaos to witness."

Ivar didn't answer, simply watching as Henrik turned and walked back toward the door. As Henrik left, Ivar let out a slow breath, leaning back in his chair again.

Alyssa, still trying to process everything, glanced at Ivar. "Is he always like that?"

Ivar smiled faintly, eyes watching the door Henrik had just walked through. "Always. And even when he's not causing chaos, he knows how to get under your skin."

Alyssa didn't seem convinced but said nothing more, choosing instead to focus on the growing unease in the air. Ivar's words, Henrik's presence, the tension surrounding Elena... it was all starting to make her realize just how dangerous and unpredictable this world truly was.

"Is there more to it, though? More than just Henrik messing with people?"

Ivar looked at her, a glimmer of something cold in his eyes. "Yes. But you'll see that soon enough."

A/N

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