"Right, okay so… twins. That's… that's amazing." I was starting to hyperventilate. I'd been struggling with the thought of screwing up one person's life, now I had to deal with the prospect of ruining two? I was rocking back and forth on my seat, staring at the paper.

"Elena?" Sophie asked softly, clearly concerned by my state.

"I can't breathe…" It felt like I had a knot in my throat. I could feel the air going in but it was like it got stuck before it reached my lungs.

"Lay down, ground yourself." Sophie carefully laid me on my side and rubbed my back. "Take your time."

I focused on trying to slow my breathing and stopping the panic that was threatening to consume me.

"I can't do this."

"Elena, don't say that. You'll be a great mom. I know it seems scary, especially with all the weirdness that's involved but I'm sure all new moms get scared. When my sister got pregnant, she was terrified. But she loves her daughter and she loves getting that opportunity." She stroked my hair gently, trying to calm me. "You can't panic. Not yet. When they turn into teenagers, then you can."

I let out a nervous laugh. I wasn't sure I was going to make it through the pregnancy let alone the eighteen years that would follow!

"There's… more that I learnt if you want to hear it… I don't want to overwhelm you though."

"Go ahead, I'm already gone."

"Okay, so it seems that the infants have some control over your actions. For example, the blood cravings."

"Figured that much. I don't tend to go around licking blood off kitchen floors of my own accord."

"Yes well, I think those twinges you told me about are also caused by them. And I mean on purpose, not because something's wrong with them. Do you remember when they happened?"

"ummm… first one was at the place they used to live… I had one when I fought with Kol…"

"That's what I thought. Witches can sense one another. It's something to do with our shared blood. So when those twinges happen, it's probably the children sensing what they want… which is their family."

"Does this mean I have to make up with them?"

"No. But just be prepared for them to voice their opinion."

"Okay so they can pilot my body to get blood and they can used it to tell me off for not being nice to their father or uncle."

"Pretty much. However there is a perk. Obviously you get some of the vampire qualities, turns out you can also access the witch side."

"I can do magic?"

"Yeah. Well, kind of. First borns of witch bloodlines have immense power. And Esther's bloodline was pretty strong to begin with. Twins are also amazing powerful. In fact, there's a coven in Oregon who only use a twin as their leader. They do this crazy ceremony… I'm getting off topic."

"Right… what does this mean?" I was getting more nervous the more she spoke.

"It means that you basically have a nuclear bomb of untapped magical energy inside your womb."

"That… doesn't sound like a good thing."

"You've never used magic before and you now have access to all this power. So I know it sounds quite scary, but you do need to use it. The temptation might be to hide from it but magic is like a living thing. It wants to be used. Don't try anything too fancy, just a few simple things now and then. Although, not in the French quarter."

"Okay… Is there any other side effects that might happen?"

"Not that I can detect. I don't think you're likely to turn into a wolf anytime soon, if that's what you're concerned about."

"So there's wolf blood in there…?"

"No, I just meant… it was a joke. I wasn't able to determine the parentage so I have no idea if there's wolf blood in the mix."

"Well if I feel the need to howl at the moon, I'll let you know." I sat up, feeling somewhat calmer but still very nervous. "Any idea where I should start with the magic stuff?"

"Avoid hexes or any magic that involves blood and sacrifice. Try locator spells, lighting candles, things like that. Obviously don't get too attached to the power since it's going to disappear when you give birth."

"Okay…" I got to my feet. "Thank you for your help Sophie." I turned to leave, but hesitated. "Are you going to tell the other witches?"

"That there's two rather than one…? I kind of have to…. They're my coven."

"Please, just not yet? Give me a few days to get used to it before I have to put up with a city full of witches circulating even more rumours about me?"

"I can do that."

"Thanks."

We left the cemetery and went our separate ways. It was like I was half asleep, unaware of where I was going or what was I doing. Twins… how could I do this? One baby was hard enough but two? I was practically a kid myself, how could I take care of two small breakable people?

I reached the compound and drifted towards the stairs. I heard someone call my name and I stopped, looking back.

"Are you alright Elena?" Marcel asked.

"Yes… I'm fine…"

"Good. You've seemed a little… off."

"I've just had a lot on my mind. Umm… have you thought about the witch situation? Letting them practice on occasion?"

"I'm still considering it. But speaking of them, I was informed of a spike of magical activity in Lafayette Cemetery not too long ago."

"The cemetery? Oh, yes, I was there actually. It was just a few of the kids messing around. I'll remind the elders of the rules, I'm sorry I didn't intervene at the time."

"It's alright. You're only human after all. Next time you plan to go to one of the witch areas, take someone with you."

"It was a bit of an unscheduled trip. In future I will." I scampered off up the stairs, into my room and locked the door. I sat on my bed and my hand went into my pocket, finding Kol's ring. I turned it over in my hand. I felt one of my stomach twinges, not as painful as before, just a light nudge really. I looked down at my stomach.

"Okay, I get the message." I strip of cloth, threaded it through the loop of the ring and went to the balcony. I tied the ring to the fence around the balcony, making sure that the knot was secure so that it wouldn't fall off. I just hoped Kol would see it and understand what I was doing.

I locked my door securely. I was apologizing, but that didn't mean I was ready to talk.

I spent the next several days keeping busy. I read through all of Elijah's journals and letters, made numerous trips (albeit very brief trips) to the plantation house in search of more information. I tried to avoid most of the witches, although I saw Sophie fairly regularly at Rousseau's since it was neutral ground. The city had been getting ready for Mardi Gras and it was nice to spend my free time wandering the streets, looking at the preparation.

I'd seen no sign of Kol or Rebekah in the time, but the ring had disappeared from my balcony so I knew they were around. I did feel a little better now that I knew Kol wasn't going to burst into flames.

I'd had no new side effects from the pregnancy which was a relief. Despite what Sophie had said, I was still slightly concerned that I might start howling at the moon or turn into a wolf. I didn't want to do that, it looked very painful. The cravings hadn't subsided, in fact they'd been steadily growing, although I'd been ignoring them as best I could. I'd continued to tie myself to the bed at night so that my children couldn't send me off hunting for blood bags while I was asleep. Marcel had made no mention of the dead vampire. I didn't know if he'd caught the culprit or if he'd given up. I hoped he'd given up. Either way, things seemed more positive. Not everything had improved but I was learning to handle things.

On the day Mardi Gras started, the compound was a buzz of excitement. Marcel had placed a temporary lift on his magic ban until the end of the festival and I was up early to visit the witches and inform them. All of the vampires seemed excited. By this point I'd gotten to know a few of them and that morning they'd all made me promise that I would join in the festivities in the evening, since they knew that I was more than likely to hide away given the opportunity. I agreed to show my face, even if it was only a brief time.

I headed out, let Agnes know and was on my way back when something occurred to me. Given that magic was currently allowed and I had, as Sophie called it, a nuclear bomb of magic inside me, I figured it might be a good idea to have a little practice. I'd found a few spells jotted down on a scrap of paper in the plantation house. They were a bit advanced for me but they gave me a sense of what I needed to do. I went back to the compound and gathered what I could. It wasn't hard to find a few candle and some other odds and ends.

I sat down on the floor and cleared some space. I placed a candle in front of my and concentrated. I wasn't sure how the best way to do this was. I wished I'd asked Bonnie more about her magic. Well, hindsight is twenty twenty. I concentrated as hard as I could, straining until I thought my eyes would pop out. Nothing happened.

I sighed and decided to try a different tact. I closed my eyes and relaxed. I imagined a warmth filling me. There was a hiss and then the smell of burning. I peeked out and almost laughed in delight at the sight of the candle flame dancing in front of me. I blew it out and tried again, this time keeping my eyes open. It took a moment before the wick caught and lit up. I grinned and lined up the other candles in a row. I raised my hand and slowly waved it over the candles. Nothing. I took a deep breath, refusing to get frustrated. I repeated the action, concentrating on the warm feeling and the image of fire in my mind. One by one they flared into life. I let out a hoot of delight. Yes! I could magic, this was awesome!

I spent the rest of the day trying various spells. I didn't attempt anything too difficult, just things I thought might come in handy. I'd discovered a fairly simple privacy spell which I thought was useful, but I wasn't entirely sure if it was working. I tested it out by playing music and leaving the room to see if I could hear it. I couldn't, so I figured it was working. I just hoped it actually worked when I tried to do it properly. By the time night fell, I felt exhausted. I decided to take a break and head down to the street where I could hear sounds of celebration.

I left the compound and let myself mingle with the excited crowd. I found a spot and leant against a wall, preferring to watch rather than participate. I felt a slight growling in my stomach and I frowned, trying to ignore it. Not now, please. It was only brief and it faded almost as soon as it had started so I decided not to worry about it. The music was loud and I caught sight of Thierry playing his trumpet at one point. I wandered down the street, exploring the festivities.

I wasn't sure how but I found myself away from the main street and in a smaller street, away from the action. The growling in my stomach was back and I felt my mouth watering as the cravings started up. I gritted my teeth. A stab of pain in my stomach, a hungry twist of my guts, had me doubled over and I slipped off the pavement, crashing to the floor.

"Ow." My ankle hurt. I rubbed it lightly, frowning.

"Hey, you okay?" I looked up and saw a guy stumbling down the road towards me.

"Yeah, I twisted my ankle."

The man came over and stopped, squinting in the darkness at me. I felt a sharp dagger of pain in my stomach.

"You sure?"

"I'm fine." I managed to get to my feet, half leaning on the wall for support. The man stepped closer. He was so close that I could smell him. Beer, sweat and the deep scent of the blood that was running through his veins.

I couldn't resist.

I moved faster than I knew was possible, seizing the man. I shoved him against the wall, imbued with an unnatural strength. My blunt teeth found their way to his throat and I bit down hard until I felt the skin give and blood flooded my mouth. I suppressed a moan. This was it, this was what I needed, what I'd been craving all those nights. This was better than bagged blood or a few drops of blood from a scraped knee. This was warm, fresh, filled with vitality that flowed down my throat and brought me alive. I drank deep, pressing the man harder against the wall. It was fantastic. Every drop that I swallowed was like a revelation. I felt like our souls were merging, as if I was consuming his very essence.

I pulled back, gasping like a swimmer starved of air. I felt drunk, dizzy with delight. The man's head was slumped, eyes half closed. I stroked his cheek.

"Thank you…"

I released him and he slipped to the floor. I looked at him, dazed from the blood. Part of my mind registered that I should do something, that I shouldn't leave him like that but I wasn't really aware. I knew I should feel horrified at what I had done and I was sure I would in the morning but for now, it just felt right. I had needed this. For the first time in weeks, I felt good. Warm, happy, completely full, no longer craving more or different.

I knelt down and murmured in his ear.

"Forget me…"

He turned his head slightly, looking me in the eye. I gripped his chin lightly, maintaining the eye contact.

"You will forget me."

"I will forget you…"

"Good." I smiled, got to my feet and headed back to the crowded streets.