Is Enzo the Augustine Vampire?

We’ve heard a lot about the Augustine vampire, aka the vamp the super secret Augustine Society is covering up murders for in The Vampire Diaries Season 5 — but we’ve yet to meet him. Now, we have a fitting new candidate for speculation in Enzo (Michael Malarkey), an old friend of Damon’s who will be appearing in Season 5, Episode 9 (“The Cell”). Here’s what we know so far…

As Deadline reported in October, Michael Malarkey will have a major recurring role throughout Season 5 of TVD as a charming-yet-tortured figure from Damon’s past named Enzo. At the time of the casting announcement, we knew nothing of this Augustine vampire. Now, we know that he killed Megan, Elena and Caroline’s roomie, and he has some sort of connection to the secret society operating on the Whitmore campus. Could Enzo be the vamp in question? With a past connection to Damon, it certainly implies he has been around long enough to team up with some super secret society.

Does Enzo have a connection to the Augustine Society? It would seem so, judging by this promotional photo for Episode 9 (the December 5th episode in which Enzo will first appear). In it, we see Enzo and Elena strapped down onto medical tables in what looks like some kind of laboratory. We wouldn’t be surprised if Dr. Wes Maxfield, aka the Augustine Society’s chief mad scientist, was lurking somewhere in the background.

If Enzo is the Augustine Vampire, does that mean he is willingly strapped down on that table, or is he just another of Dr. Wes’ unwilling lab rats? We got the impression that the Augustine Vampire had some sort of deal with the Augustine Society and the relative freedom to do what he wants, but maybe we’re wrong? And how does Elena tie into all of this? She doesn’t look particularly concerned in the promo pic. Has she volunteered for one of Dr. Wes’ crazy experiments, too?

Do you think Enzo is the Augustine Vampire? How does he know Damon? Why are he and Elena strapped down? Share your theories in the comments below!

MEET THE MYSTERIOUS DR. MAXFIELD

SPOILER ALERT

Someone on the college campus is covering up a murder Whitmore vampire and have a pretty good idea who it is.

This week on The Vampire Diaries , viewers will meet the mysterious Dr. Wesley Maxfuield ( Rick Cosnett ), a brilliant teacher who clearly hiding a dark and dangerous secret. Caroline and Elena suspect about his teacher and confirmed even more when his partner Jesse ( Kendrick Sampson ) shares some interesting facts .

"It may be an idiot ," said Cosnett to TVGuide.com about his character for a visit to the set of the series. " There is a side that will be revealed and it is not as nice as everyone would like ."

Cosnett admits that it happened too long before starting up Maxfield and his true motives are revealed . (Hint : think of the Founders Council line ) . " Elena and Caroline are coming into my world, and are beginning to discover parts of Dr. Maxfield " says Cosnett . " He thinks a lot about the human condition and the dichotomy between good and evil ."

Interview with Rick Cosnett

Costner plays Dr. Maxfield, the mysterious new professor of Elena and Caroline, who seems to hide many secrets.

Who will play THE NEW AND MYSTERIOUS TEACHER?

SPOILER ALERT

The Vampire Diaries has hired Rick Cosnett newcomer Australian actor to play the new enemy of Caroline and Elena.

Dr. Maxfield is a brilliant teacher at Whitmore College and after meeting him, Caroline and Elena begin to think that is hiding a dark secret and dangerous. If we go by some of the earlier masters series (ahem, Alaric and Shane), we're guessing that Maxfield is fully ratio that vampires lurk in the city.