Chapter 4

The plane was just as luxurious as the house. Stacked with food and of course blood, the plane had all an inhuman passenger could need. Elena could not recall a moment where she had seen Elijah and Klaus drink blood. Yes, Klaus had killed in front of her, including her, but never had she seen them actually drink blood.

"Welcome on board, Sirs and Ma'am. We will take off shortly; our flight attendants will come to see if you need anything and store away your belongings. The travel time should be 1.55 hours. I hope you enjoy the flight." Elena heard the captain speak.

A short, beautiful woman came to her. "Miss, would you like anything before we take off?"

"I could use a drink, to be honest. It's my first time on a plane." "Then I would recommend a tea, maybe some chamomile?" "Yes, thank you."

Klaus and Elijah were sitting across from her, both nose-deep in a book. Neither of them had really talked to her since last night. When she woke up, a suitcase had been sitting on a chair and Elijah had informed her that they would leave whenever she was ready. She hadn't even seen Klaus until the plane; he had driven separately.

Elijah turned to her. "You have never been on a plane?" "I have never even left the state, Elijah. Except a short trip to Georgia with Damon."

"Wow." "It's not that unusual."
"I know, it is just that there are so many beautiful places out there and it is a shame that you have not yet experienced any of them."

"I'm content with the way I lived."
"I am just saying that maybe this is a second chance for you to see something of the world."

"You're right."

On her way, she contemplated how her life had changed. She had wanted to die, but now she was on a private jet on the way to New Orleans to figure out why she wasn't dead. She was a tad excited. It was the place where Elijah and Klaus had spent most of their inhuman lives. Elena couldn't wait to see what the city had to offer.

The compound where Elijah and Klaus lived was just another example of their impeccable taste. It stood there all-powerful just as the brothers were and it symbolized all they had accomplished. Her room was big and openly spaced. It had an en-suite bathroom and a walk-in closet almost as big as the room itself. Elena didn't even own enough clothes to fill this room. The furniture was held in a light grey tone with white curtains and white bed sheets. It reminded her of the room she had already slept in at Klaus' house but it was a little less intense. She felt more comfortable in this room. A soft knock demanded her attention.

"Come in." Klaus stepped into the room with a full tray of food.

"I thought you might be hungry."

"Starving. I didn't realize I was until you mentioned food." He placed the tray on the desk and his eyes wandered outside, through the window. "If you need more, let me know." He was already on his way out again.

"Is this how it's going to go from now on?"

"What do you mean, love?" "You and I. You not talking to me; you have barely said a word to me."
"To be quite frank, I don't know how to handle this situation. I thought I would never see you again and I assume you did the same. And yet, here you stand right in front of me, I can hear your heartbeat, but none of it makes sense."
"Imagine how I feel. I was prepared to die, and I can't understand why I'm not. I'm scared."
"For the first time in my life, so am I. Only something very powerful could have brought you back this way. And then there is the thing with your supposed last night."
"I really can't get into that now."
"Do you regret it now?"
"Of course not. But that doesn't mean we will be together."
"I wasn't holding my breath, Elena. You're pure, I am not. You could never love me."

She could only look away. Elena didn't want to answer. She could never love the man Klaus was; not this man. But she also did not want to tell him that. He knew.

"Elena, look at me. It is okay; I knew even before that night, that we would never be together. Maybe in a different life we could have been something." "Klaus, please.."

Elena felt awful. She had seconds before she ran into the bathroom and emptied non-existent stomach content into the toilet. Klaus was there with her, holding back her hair. He had a wet cloth ready, when she was done.

"Thank you. I've been feeling weird all morning, it's probably the flight and my nerves."
"Possibly. Maybe eat something and then rest. Cora will see us tomorrow, she is currently in Baton Rouge but will fly in tonight."
"Alright." "Would you like Claire to fix you a bath?" "That sounds wonderful actually, but I can do it myself. I'm not used to so much help." "As you wish. But please, do not hesitate to ask her for help." "I appreciate it."

"I will come get you in the morning. There is a library down the hall should you want to read anything." Klaus left the room, leaving Elena to herself again. The hot bath soothed her stomach and relaxed her muscles. She didn't dare think about what would happen the next day.

She wasn't able to get her thoughts away from Klaus. Could he change? He was a man who always had a plan. Elena could not believe that he just came down here to figure out what was wrong with her. But she never really had a clue with him, not until it was too late.

The next morning came and Elena's nagging in her stomach just got bigger. She was so nervous to see Cora, she wasn't able to get down one bite. Klaus came knocking on her door when she was ready, as if he knew when she was, and they made their way downstairs, where Elijah was already waiting.

"Good morning, Elena." "Elijah," she nodded.

Cora's house was close to a cemetery, but it didn't feel unwelcome. Elena actually got less anxious the closer they got to the house. The fact that Klaus was sitting close to her helped too. It calmed her and her heartbeat went evenly. He guided her straight into the house, without knocking. But what had Elena expected.

Cora was already waiting for them.

"Hello darling. It's good to finally meet you. Klaus has already told me everything. A doppelgänger coming back from the dead after three weeks. You must be quite confused."
"Hello. There is no word for what I am. I'm anxious and nervous and confused all at the same time." "Well, let's get this sorted out. Follow me, you too, gentlemen."

Cora was absolutely beautiful. Her long, gray hair fell in curls down her back and she was wearing a dark blue dress with a light blue headband. There was a strong connection that Elena felt right away.

"Sit down over there. I will just go get some tea. Please, Klaus, Elijah, sit wherever."

With a cup of tea in her hands, Cora returned a few minutes later. She handed it to Elena. "Please, drink. It will open your mind to me. As for the two of you. Please be aware that as soon as the ritual starts, you can no longer speak. Any disruption could be fatal."

Taking a sip of the tea, Elena leaned back in the chair, closing her eyes.

"Now listen to me, Elena. Open your mind to me, let me see what is going on."

White fog started to cloud Elena's brain. She didn't see or hear anything around her. "Elena, can you hear me?" "I can." "Alright, I want you to think of the last moment right before you died."

Elena felt transported back to that moment. She was feeling sleepy, a lot of blood had already left her body. She could see herself getting paler. But something was pulling her away from the light, telling her to stop and live again.

"Very good, Elena. Now work your way towards the moment right before you woke up." It was harder to get there, the moment hadn't happened in her mind.

"Let me help you." The light got darker again, just as it had before she woke up. There was just darkness surrounding her, she was waiting for the moment she woke up. And then she heard him speak:

"I'm sorry, I won't let you die. I can't let us die, mommy."