The door barely closes before Stefan speaks.

“You came fast. Good.”

“What’s wrong?” you ask.

Then you see her.

“Katherine?”

The girl looks just as confused as you feel. “Why does everyone keep calling me that?”

Stefan exhales slowly. “Her name’s Elena.”

You study her—same face, but none of the edge. No games.

“She’s human,” Stefan adds.

Damon shifts near the doorway. “And that’s the problem.”

You turn to him. “Problem how?”

Stefan hesitates. “There’s someone looking for Katherine.”

Damon cuts in, blunt. “Not Katherine. Her.”

Elena swallows. “His name is Klaus.”

You blink. “I don’t know who that is.”

Damon’s mouth tightens. “That’s because you’ve been lucky.”

Stefan meets your eyes. “Klaus is an original. He’s dangerous. And he believes Elena is something she isn’t.”

A beat.

“And if he comes to Mystic Falls,” Damon says quietly, “people don’t just get hurt. They disappear.”

The room goes still.

Stefan’s voice is firm. “That’s why we called you.”