Bonnie and I had decided to move my lessons into the garden room, determining that being surrounded by nature would strengthen our magic. It certainly did for mine. I was getting stronger, noticeably, little to no effort was needed to grow the plants or levitate a pen. She walked along the rows and rows of my little greenhouse, looking over the plants and trailing her fingertips over the leaves and petals. She stopped as she came to some Vervain I had tucked behind some Perennials, her large brown eyes looking to mine with curiosity as I watched her. "Vervain?" she mouthed, glancing past me towards the door.

I looked over my shoulder to see no one there, realizing she was merely checking. I nodded, lifting my wrist and tapping on the bracelet. "Adds a beauty to the room, doesn't it?" I asked aloud, leaving the question open for interpretation.

"What does the family think of your room?" she asked, obviously curious about the purple plant hidden behind the large flowers.

"They don't come in often," I replied, shrugging my shoulders and leading her to a small corner where there were two chairs and a small table. "I wanted to ask you something, Bonnie."

She sat across from me and raised her brows in expectation, folding her hands together in her lap. Waiting.

"Do you suppose there is any way you could research time travel? I want to go home."

She grinned and looked around the garden. "What? And leave all this?" She grinned, and I knew she was being coy. But the smile faded as she shook her head slowly, determining how to explain the situation. "I can't promise anything. Evelyn, time travel is considered impossible. Even with vampires and witches, but they're here and now. What you want...goes against the very nature of science."

Science? I cocked a brow at the word and shook my own head, dismissing the strange word. "Just, have a look? Anything, please?"

"I'll do what I can."

I thanked her and walked her to the door, saying goodbye and returning to the garden. Hours went by before I noticed I had still been undisturbed by the others, the darkening of the room the only tell I had of this thought. Rising from the ground near a rather stubborn shrub, I went into the adjoining kitchen to find something to eat. Kol and Rebekah were leaning against opposite counters, conversing quietly until I walked in and they went silent. Why did they always do that? Was I the topic of their secret meetings? "Excuse me, I didn't mean to intrude," I said quietly, walking between them with hunched shoulders to the fridge. Despite never having seen them eat human food, there was always leftovers inside.

"You'd think she'd be a little more helpful around the house with everything we've done for her."

"Bekah," Kol whispered harshly.

I felt my stomach drop from the guilt, shutting the door and bowing my head. No longer hungry, I glanced over my shoulder at her and fled the kitchen, holding back the tears that threatened to pour out. I didn't know my place, I was a prisoner here, so what was I supposed to do? Like the story Elijah read to me, I was trapped here surrounded by monsters, unsure of what to do with myself.

Elijah. Maybe he would be a comfort now. I found him sitting in the library with an ankle resting on his leg and his fingers pressed gently against his temple, a book in his lap and a drink in his free hand. How did he turn the pages? Unaware of my presence, he continued to read, lowering his hand from his temple to turn the page and returned to the position he was before. "I'm sure you have more important things to do than stare at me," he said, a smirk growing over his lips, his eyes glancing up to me. I blushed, walking to sit on the couch next to him. No longer interested in the book, he turned his head to regard me, the grin leaving as he took in my features. "What happened?" He set down his drink and the book face down on the table, the pages spread to mark his place.

My lip quivered to keep in the tears, a shaky breath leaving me in an attempt to calm the rising bubble of sadness. Now I felt stupid, feeling sorry for myself because his sister made a rude, albeit true, remark. "Its nothing, nevermind," I said, rising from the couch with the intention of leaving, when the feel of his hand on mine stopped me. I glanced down, feeling my heart beat rapidly in my chest. He pulled gently and I followed back down to the couch, biting my bottom lip gently. "I don't belong here." There, it was out now.

He readjusted himself so he was leaning forward, arm draped over the back of the couch and his fingers trailing over my bare arm. "You do belong here. Under my care," he said, causing another blush to creep across my face. "Now, tell me what happened."

Why was he so nice to me? What compelled him to treat me in such a way? No vampire pun intended. "I'm a leech," I said, and he smirked. "I'm sorry, there's a word I've heard I'm not familiar with that I mean. To take without giving in return?"

"Mooch," he corrected, nodding slowly as if understanding.

I nodded fervently, my red curls bouncing. "Lady Rebekah implied I wasn't earning my keep," I continued, looking down at my palms.

He was silent as he leaned back in thought, nodding slowly. "You'll have to excuse my sister's brash comment, she's merely jealous," he said.

"Of me?" How could she possibly be jealous of me?!

"She's no longer the only female in the house. Women from your time must have been competitive and catty, surely?"

I nodded, my thoughts going back to the woman who sent me here. Although that was more reasonable cause than just a little jealousy. "What do I do?" I asked, looking back up to him.

"Besides leaving the house, you are free to do as you wish. Bend to her will, or bend her to yours. My sister could use a lesson in humility," he said with a chuckle, leaning forward once more to tuck some hair behind my ear. His fingertips trailed over my cheek in that moment, a familiar heat rising to my face and I couldn't help but close my eyes. But just as soon as the hair was behind my ear, he withdrew, almost as of the touch pained him. "Whatever your choice, I'm sure Niklaus would be more than approving."

It was then I decided my magic could use some testing.