In The Vampire Diaries universe, the Original vampires are the first and most powerful vampires in existence. They were created over 1000 years ago by the witch Esther, who used a powerful spell to turn her husband Mikael and their children into vampires in order to protect them from werewolves.
The Originals cannot be killed by conventional methods – stakes, sunlight, fire, decapitation etc. will only temporarily neutralize them. To permanently kill an Original vampire, you need to use a White Oak stake carved from an ancient White Oak tree, which is the source of their immortality.
However, ripping out their heart is another method that could potentially kill an Original for good. Let’s explore what exactly would happen if you ripped out the heart of an Original vampire:
They Would Momentarily Die
Ripping out the heart of an Original vampire would ‘kill’ them temporarily. Their body would desiccate and turn gray, appearing dead. This is because the heart contains vampire blood, which is what gives them their supernatural life force and ability to heal rapidly.
Without a heart pumping blood through their system, they cease to functionally live and their body shuts down. However, this death only lasts momentarily until the regenerative powers kick in.
They Would Quickly Revive
One of the key traits of Original vampires is their immortality and ability to self-heal very rapidly from any injury, no matter how severe. Even if you tore out their heart, they would revive within minutes.
The exception to this rule is if the heart was destroyed completely before they could revive. As long as some part of the heart remains to pump blood again, they will come back to life soon after having their heart ripped out due to their supernatural healing powers.
They’d Feel Excruciating Pain
Having your heart violently ripped from your chest would obviously cause massive trauma and excruciating pain, even for an Original vampire. In fact, the pain may be even more intense for them due to their heightened senses.
The moment of ‘death’ as their heart was torn out would likely not be painful since they’d lose consciousness instantly. However, when they revived, they would feel the echoes of extreme agony as their body repaired itself rapidly. The experience would be unimaginably torturous.
They’d Be Weakened Temporarily
Original vampires are severely weakened after reviving from such a grievous injury as having their heart destroyed. It takes time for them to heal fully and regain their strength, speed, and abilities.
They would be left in a very vulnerable state immediately after coming back to life since their regeneration is focused on repairing critical internal damage first. An Original would be weakened for at least several hours, if not days, after having their heart ripped out before making a full recovery.
It May Trigger Their Werewolf Gene
The Original vampires all carry a werewolf gene since their mother Esther used magic to suppress their abilities. Killing an Original vampire through extreme trauma may trigger the werewolf gene as a self-defense mechanism.
If their vampire abilities are compromised through having their heart destroyed, the dormant werewolf side could activate to ensure their survival. They may temporarily gain werewolf traits like increased strength and speed while healing.
They’d Be Ravenous For Blood
After being revived from such a devastating injury, an Original vampire would have an intense thirst for blood in order to fully heal and regain their strength. Their vampire instincts would take over, driving them to seek out and feed on human blood immediately.
The bloodlust would be difficult to control until they feed sufficiently to replenish the strength and power drained by the injury. Finding a quick source of blood would be the first instinct upon revival.
It May Send Them Into a Frenzy
The combination of excruciating pain, extreme weakness, and rabid hunger after having their heart ripped out could easily drive an Original vampire into a frenzied, bloodthirsty state.
When Original vampires are cornered or severely injured, their survival instincts kick in and can cause them to go on destructive rampages. Having their heart torn out may cause them to lash out viciously at anyone nearby in order to protect themselves while vulnerable.
Summary
Here is a quick summary of what would happen if you ripped out the heart of an Original vampire like Klaus, Elijah or Rebekah:
- They would temporarily die from the injury before quickly reviving.
- They would feel unspeakable pain when regenerating.
- They would initially be very weakened while healing.
- It may activate their werewolf gene as a defense mechanism.
- They would be gripped by a ravenous hunger for blood.
- They may enter an uncontrollable, frenzied state.
While ripping out their heart won’t permanently kill them, it would certainly be an extremely traumatic experience. The Original would be temporarily neutralized and left in sheer agony as their vampire healing ability brings them back from the brink of destruction. It would be a gruesome yet futile way to try to kill one of the most powerful immortal beings!
Conclusion
Ripping out the heart of an Original vampire like Klaus, Elijah or Rebekah would only incapacitate them briefly. Their supernatural healing powers would revive them within minutes, leaving them rabid with bloodlust and agony. While it wouldn’t kill them, it would severely weaken them as they recover from the traumatic injury.
In the end, only a White Oak stake has the power to permanently end the lives of these ancient and indestructible creatures. Ripping out their hearts simply puts them out of commission for a short while until their strength returns – and also leaves them ready to tear apart anyone in their path!