"The family is a haven in a heartless world"

-Christopher Lasch

The sleek black car squealed to a stop in front of Elijah. He looked up in irritation expecting to find Niklaus or Rebekah. Either of which he would be more than happy to neutralize for a few hours by snapping their neck. Since leaving Mystic Falls his irritation with his siblings had escalated to new heights. But imagine the Original's surprise when instead of a blonde headed man or woman with cruel blue eyes he found a redhead with soft brown eyes. The same eyes he had seen on Finn for a thousand years. She was smiling happily. Shock coursed through Elijah's veins.

"Amaranth, what are you doing here?"

Her smile faltered. "You don't seem happy to see me."

Elijah stood slowly. "It isn't that. I'm just… shocked. Last I heard you were somewhere in Florida."

"That's a two way street, Uncle. Last I heard you were in Mystic Falls with our family." Amaranth wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "I had one hell of a time trying to find you, Elijah. You cover your tracks well."

"So do you."

Her smile came back, far brighter than before. "I learn from the best." Elijah slowly hugged her back before pulling away. There was a nagging in the back of his mind. Amaranth did her best to hide from Klaus and (by default) the rest of the family. He only knew of her whereabouts through Sage when she was in a sharing mood.

Amaranth stepped away sensing his heart wasn't in the hug. "You want to know why I sought you out. I need you Elijah. I need your help."

"For?"

Her eyes darkened with blood lust. "Do you know what happened to my mother and father? Do you know what that doppelganger bitch and her pathetic friends did to them?" Elijah said nothing. "Well?" She prompted.

"I'm afraid I don't." Elijah eyed the locket around her throat, the gold chain winking dangerously in the afternoon sunlight. He reached and opened it up. A painted likeness of Finn stared at him from the right side. On the left was a similarly painted one of Sage. Elijah recognized it as the work of Rembrandt immediately. He still remembered how Amaranth came about getting it.

It was a cold, rainy day in Italy. Amaranth, Elijah, and Kol were sitting in front of a delightfully cheery fire talking and playing cards. Kol and Amaranth shared a sly look. Both had the idea of victory in their minds. Both could taste the sweetness on their tongues.

How nice for them to have hope, Elijah though with a smile. He showed his hands and watched as disbelief shadowed his family members faces. Amaranth threw down her card with a growl of disapproval. Kol frowned, lines creasing his forehead. They both quickly got over it though when Niklaus walked in the door of their home loaded down with packages.

He tossed them under the Christmas tree with an unhappy grumble. "Every where I went the townspeople handed me gifts to bring back to their precious orphan." Despite the bitterness of his town Elijah knew Niklaus didn't really mind. The hybrid enjoyed Amaranth getting so much attention. He felt it made up for what he had done to Finn and said to Sage.

Kol pulled Amaranth onto his lap. "You must have these people bewitched. Are you sure you are not a witch instead of a vampire?" He tickled her, relishing in the happy giggle he brought forth from her pink lips. "Well, my little Sorceress?"

Amaranth turned around to face him. "I'm not a witch!" She protested in an innocent twelve-year old voice. "I'm a vampire!" She held up her hands like claws as her fangs extended and black veins came up around her darkened, bloody eyes. Slowly, her face shifted back to normal.

Elijah laughed. "Yes my love, you are indeed a vampire. A most terrifying one at that." He picked her up and swung her around, causing her to squeal in delight. "Which present shall you open tonight."

She smiled. "It is Christmas Eve! I must have forgotten." The playful look in her eyes gave her away. Elijah put her down so she could go pick out her present.

Amaranth completely ignored the bigger packages, wanting to save them for the morning. There were several medium sized ones that she wanted to wait to open like the others. A small rectangular gift wrapped in blood red paper caught her eye. She quickly tore into it gasping when an oval locket was in front of her. There was something written on the back in French.

"To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune. To lose both looks like carelessness." Confusion knitted her eyebrows together. Elijah, Kol, and Niklaus shared looks with each other. They knew the meaning of the words. Most likely it was a form of revenge for Sage. Amaranth slowly opened the necklace and gasped. Tears filled her eyes.

"Look, it's Mother and Father." She handed Elijah the locket for inspection. Sure enough there were two small painted portraits inside. "There's a card." Like the necklace she handed it to Elijah. "Read." She commanded.

Elijah cleared his throat and began. "My dearest child, if things wouldn't have gone the way they did you and I would be long dead. It pains be to be so blunt with you, but it is the truth. Abomination or not we are still alive and together. Perhaps I am not physically with you nor is your father…" Elijah hesitated here. "But please know that you will forever be my beautiful vampire child and I along with Finn will always care for and love you. Happy Christmas, all my love, Mother."

Amaranth looked up. "Is that it?"

Elijah nodded his head, not trusting his voice. That was the first time since Rebekah being staked that he felt a burning hatred for Klaus and for himself. They had taken Amaranth from Sage and Finn. Practically ripped the girl from her parents arms. Elijah could never forgive himself for that.

Elijah frowned and let the necklace go. "I'm sorry about-"

Amaranth held up a hand. "I wish I could say I understand, but I don't. However, I do forgive the three of you." She peered at him through thick eyelashes. "Shall we go?" She gestured to the car.

"Where are we going?"

"Back to Mystic Falls." Her voice was smooth and slow like honey. "Mother wants me to go."

"You've spoken with her then." He said in shock, opening the back door. Amaranth clambered in pulling Elijah with her. A human male sat in the front seat. Judging from the dazed, spacey expression on him Elijah knew he was compelled. Amaranth grabbed his chin, pulling his face so he could look at her.

"They are dead Elijah." Her words were filled with hate. It was a tone no one would ever believe could come from the sweet little girl in front of him. But Elijah knew better. If the situation called for it Amaranth could be a complete demon. "Killed by the Scooby gang."

Elijah grinned at the pop culture reference. It was a very accurate description of Elena Gilbert and her friends. Always running around trying to save the day. Then it hit him like a ton of bricks.

"You've spoken with her ghost."

Amaranth nodded. "And Father's. Did you know when an Original dies their entire bloodline does too? But I digress. If Mother hadn't of told me herself I would have eventually found out you know. Not the bloodline thing, but the my parents are dead thing. I want revenge. Above all I want no one else in my family harmed. If it requires murdering the whole town so be it. The Scooby gang is going to pay starting with the Donovan boy."

She settled back into the seat. "Phillip, will you please take my uncle and I to Mystic Falls. We have some business to attend to."

Phillip nodded and put the car into drive. Elijah shut his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. He owed Amaranth so much, but if it came to killing Elena he wouldn't be the one to do that. She reminded him too much of the things he had valued as a human. He told her as much when he left. He wouldn't be lifting a finger against her. Amaranth had to know that, but he had the feeling she didn't have an exact plan yet. Like Klaus, she was out for blood for the time being.

"Still seeing ghosts I assume." Elijah watched his niece rummage through her camo messenger bag. Her hands just needed something to do. It was nice to know that some things didn't change. It was nice to know she could still be a jittery young girl.

"You know I never stopped. By the way, Mikael says hello."

Elijah chuckled.

A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed. I just put this story up and then bam! I had three reviews! Again, thank you, and I hope all of you enjoyed this chapter ;)