The first challenge was working out how to go about my task. If any of the brothers got wind of what was happening, I wouldn't get another chance.

Elijah had to be first. As much as I hated the thought, he was the most protective of the others and the most likely to notice if something was going on. Klaus next. He'd be the biggest threat. And if he realised… well, that was something I didn't want to think about.

Rebekah third, then Kol. Finn last. I wasn't sure what to do about Freya but I'd have to deal with that issue when it came up.

I tucked away the stakes and headed silently out into the hall. I could hear Kol in with the girls. I didn't want them to see any of this…

"You're really going to go through with this?" Of course Lucien had followed me. The manifestation, or whatever he was, persisted no matter how hard I tried to block him from my mind.

"I have to."

"Huh… seems stupid to me… "

I hesitated outside Elijah's room, trying to keep my resolution firm.

"I don't care what you think."

"I AM you Elena. I am what you think. And as I've said all along, you're always putting your trust in the wrong people…"

Protect the girls. That is the priority. Do what you need to.

I hardened my heart and went to Elijah's room, knocking lightly before letting myself in. He was sat on his bed, legs stretched out in front of him and neatly crossed at the ankles. He was reading but as I entered, he set it down on the bedside table.

"Elena. Can I help you?"

"Do I need a reason to see one of my family?" I said, climbing up onto the bed.

"Well last time I saw you, you were… distressed? Putting it mildly."

"Last time I saw you, you were having an argument in Shakespeare. Which is really sad." He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer.

"I admit things got out of hand. Things have been tense between us for a while. Your absence was difficult on all of us."

"I'm back now."

"Physically…"

"What do you mean?"

"You've not really been… here, Elena. I know you need time and we're trying… but… you flinch anytime one of us makes too much noise or moves too fast… you get this look in your eyes like you're somewhere else entirely… we're worried about you."

"I know…" I pressed my face into his chest, breathing in his smell. I ran a hand across the front of his shirt, memorizing the feeling of the crisp fabric underneath my fingers. I slowly began to unbutton it, letting my hand lightly brush against the bare skin of his chest. Elijah stiffened slightly and halted my hand.

"This wasn't what I meant. I know you've been struggling… you don't have to rush it to make me feel better."

For the girls. Do it for the girls.

"I want to do this," I assured him. I kissed him lightly, my lips brushing against his, opening up his shirt. I moved so I was straddling his waist and leaned forward, running my fingers over the curve of his cheekbones. "Close your eyes."

He did as I said. He had no reason not to.

I pulled the stag headed stake from my pocket, took a long slow breath through my nose and brought the point over his heart. Could I do this?

Yes.

I thrust the point down sharply, ramming it into his chest. Elijah's eyes flew open and his arm shot up, clasping on my wrist. I expected him to struggle but he just looked at me, sadness and betrayal clouding his beautiful eyes. I felt the crunch of bone and his skin began to grey.

"Why…?" he managed. His hand went limp and his body stilled beneath me. I sat there for a moment, looking down at the body beneath me. I wanted to cry or throw up but the other part of me, that dark secret part that I was only just beginning to understand, kept me in check.

You can't afford to slow down now. Someone could find him. You won't get another chance. Keep to the plan. Klaus next.

"Yes… yes…" it was all I could manage to say.

I got to my feet and headed to the door, glancing back once before I could stop myself.

FOCUS!

I forced myself forward, leaving Elijah's room and carefully shutting the door behind me to make as little noise as possible. I didn't want to draw any attention to myself if possible. I crossed the landing to Klaus' study and let myself in without knocking. I knew that if he was in there painting, he'd likely ignore any attempts at contact from anyone. He had a habit of getting absorbed in his work.

"Elena. You really need to stop running off…" Klaus said softly. He was stood by the window, looking out. He didn't sound angry, he seemed… worn out?

"I know. I need to face my issues… etc etc… I've heard it all from Cami. And Elijah. And Jackson. And everyone else."

"No, I meant that you need to stop running off when there are serial killers loose in the city. We don't want to lose you again. It's not safe out there."

"Klaus, this city is full of murderers. And I live with five of them. Come on."

I saw him roll his eyes in the reflection of the glass and moved closer towards him. He was acting strangely, not like the Klaus I knew at all.

"So says Elena, the poster child of stability…" Lucien hissed in my ear, making me grimace. Klaus caught sight of my expression and he turned to face me.

"I'm sorry for earlier."

"It's fine."

"No it's not."

"Klaus, you're a volatile person, I know that. It's just who you are."

"You know I would never hurt you… right?" he asked, closing the space between us and taking my hands in his. "Never. I promise."

"I know that Klaus." Even as I said the words, I felt that uncertainty in my stomach. This would have been so much easier if he was behaving in his usual boorish manner…

"I want you to know how much I love you Elena. You've become pretty much everything to this family… you make us better. And I know nothing about this has been easy for you." He traced shapes on the back of my hand with his long, deft fingers. A loose curl of hair hung down in front of his eyes. He looked younger somehow, more vulnerable than I'd seen him before.

"I know how you all feel about me Klaus." I told him. I felt tears stinging my eyes. He was never going to trust me again after this…

I wrapped my arms around him, drawing him close. He pressed his head into the crook of my neck, his warm breath stirring the hair that hung around my throat. I stroked his hair gently, cradling him lightly. His skin was hot under my fingers, his chin baring a light layer of stubble. He smelt of blood, paint, dirt and damp leaves.

"I know you will always do what you think is best. For me, for the girls, for the whole family. But you have trust sometimes I know what's best too."

"I know. You're more capable than we admit… but you're so young. And breakable."

"Exquisitely breakable…" Lucien whispered. I suppressed a shudder.

"I can take care of myself. And the girls."

"But you don't have to. You have us."

"Sometimes that's not enough. And I'm sorry…" Klaus pulled back slightly, frowning. I held tight, keeping our bodies almost flush with one another. His hands moved down my spine to the small of my back. "I'm really sorry."

I pulled the stake out and stabbed it into his chest, angling it upwards to reach his heart. He stiffened in my arms, going limp surprisingly fast. His legs crumpled beneath us and his weight fell on me. I held the pair of us up, lowering him slowly to the ground. His face seemed to judge me, even though I knew that was impossible. He wasn't conscious, he couldn't have an opinion…

"You are such an idiot Elena. You really think you can take care of yourself? You won't last a week without them looking after you."

"Why do you care?" I asked, turning to face Lucien.

"I don't. I just wish I got the chance to kill you myself. Especially with you making it so easy…"

"Look, I know this isn't the best way to do things but I need time to recover. They all keep saying it. And I can't do it if I have to deal with Klaus flying off the handle or the brothers fighting. I just need some time to be me. Just me."

"Most people would go on a holiday."

"Most people don't have my life," I told him before sweeping out of the room.

It took me the rest of the evening to stake each of the originals. Each time it was a little more difficult to push the stake in but at the same time, I felt a sense of relief. It was like I was shedding layers of thick, heavy clothing, leaving me standing naked and free.

I still wasn't sure what I was going to do about Freya. She'd been taking care of the girls after I pulled Kol out of the room to 'talk' and I knew it was only a matter of time before she found one of her siblings. That was one problem. The second was what to do with the bodies. I couldn't leave them lying around the house for anyone to find. The girls might see them. I knew that Klaus probably had the family coffins tucked somewhere around here. If I could find them, I could take a leaf out of his book and tuck them away for a while until I felt better. But… dragging five bodies across the house was probably not going to be an easy task. Particularly if I had to avoid Freya in the process.

I sighed and leant against a wall. It was times like this that I really wished I had Ansel around to talk to. Then again… he'd probably stop me. Maybe. Who knew?

If I dealt with Freya first… maybe I could convince her to help me?

I left Finn's bedroom and went to the twins' bedroom. Freya was reading to them, her voice soft and soothing. They were already half asleep so I waited for her to finish and gestured for her to come with me.

"You feeling any better Elena?" she asked as we walked down the corridor. "I've not seen much of you today."

"I've been… busy. Sorry… there's been a lot going on. Like… a lot a lot."

"Oh? Is this to do with this morning's death by Shakespeare?"

"No. Although that was the weirdest thing I've seen in a long time. Actually, I have a problem and I was hoping you could help me? And… I'm sorry that I always seem to need a favour when I talk to you."

"It's fine. I'm happy to help. After you got rid of Dahlia, I owe you."

"We're family. You don't owe me." I smiled and touched her hand. I liked Freya. I really didn't want to hurt her…

I took her to Elijah's room. I knew if she saw Finn she'd be more likely to freak out. She frowned as I opened the door.

"Why are we going in here? Elijah likes his space… I don't want to intrude."

"It's fine. Come on."

I led her inside. Her footsteps slowed as she approached the bed and then stopped entirely as she took in Elijah's greyed form.

"Elena what happened?" Her voice rose in pitch and I could hear the fear clearly.

"I staked him."

"Wh… what? Why?"

"I had to. And now, I need you to help me put him and the others in their coffins. So they're safe."

"The others…?" Her eyes widened. "You staked them all?"

"I had to. I need to make the city safe for my children and they wouldn't let me do that. So I've just… put them to sleep for a little bit."

"You're crazy. I knew that you were upset and struggling but this… this is beyond… I have to wake them up."

She took a step towards Elijah's body.

"No!" My voice was clear and sharp and as I spoke, I felt a strange heat in my fingertips. My veins seemed to flow with energy, electricity that reached every inch of my body. Freya stopped in her tracks. "You are not going to do that. Not until I say. Understand?"

She turned and looked at me. Her eyes had a slightly glazed quality, her pupils dilated.

"I… I understand."

"Now, help me get the bodies into the coffins."

She nodded and silently went over to Elijah. We lifted him up and carried him downstairs. It didn't surprise me that the coffins were tucked away in the basement. We placed Elijah in one and then returned for the others, sealing them inside one at a time. I found some padlocks and chains to secure the basement door to make sure no one could get in. Freya didn't speak the entire time we were working. I wasn't sure why she was helping when she was clearly against it but I decided not to question it.

Once we had finished and returned to the courtyard, she looked at me with cold eyes.

"You have some serious explaining to do."

A/N: I'M BACK BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE! I am very sorry for my extended hiatus but since my last update i have: written a novel, got a job, got a house and am finally beginning to be less depressed! i can't promise updates will be regular (especially as i have a holiday around europe in 2 weeks and then when i get back i'm moving into my new home) but i will try not to go so long next time. Famous last words...