Elena was watching in the doorway as her Daughter and Niece played games with Keelin and smiled slightly, happy to see her Daughter happy and all smiles. Tears formed in her eyes but she rapidly blinked them away and her fists clenched at her sides.
"Hey."Elena turned her head slightly to see Klaus standing next to her."We will get Elijah back, this I promise you."Klaus said gently.
"You're not one for making promises, Klaus, and honestly, even if you did make promises, you're obviously not good at keeping them."Elena said rather bluntly.
Klaus sighed before looking at his Daughter and Niece."Klaus, Elena,"Freya came to stand next to Elena, so that Elena was in between them."it's time."
"Your girlfriend seems nice for what it's worth."Freya looked over at Klaus, who glanced at her while Elena smiled slightly before taking their hands and teleported away as Astrid and Hope glanced in their direction and twin frowns appeared on their faces.
"I'm curious."Freya stated, drawing the Hollows' Followers attention to her and she walked towards them."Are you aware how pathetic it is, selling your soul to the Devil?"Freya said questionably but also jokingly at the same time, however if you heard her voice, you'd think she was serious.
Hayley, in Wolf Form, tackled the Witch while Elena appeared behind the Warlock and sunk her fangs into his neck, poisoning him with her venom while Hayley dragged the Witch outside, where Jackson was waiting for her with some clothes.
"What are you doing?"Elijah gasped out, looking up at his Sister and Mate, who had teared the man to shreds with her claws until he was nothing but clungs of meat and bone.
"You didn't think we were just gonna let you die?"Freya asked after checking what type of Barrier was being used to keep Elijah inside.
"No."Elijah exclaimed, his voice raspy as Freya bent down in front of him, pulling out the jar filled with the Cure."Freya, you have to leave now."Elijah begged Freya.
"Stop talking."Elena said, walking over to him."Save your strength."Hayley and Jackson came rushing inside.
"Can we break the barrier?"Hayley asked, looking between Elena and Elijah worriedly and looked at Freya for reassurance.
"It's old Magic."Freya stated, annoyed."We'll need time."
"How much time, exactly?"Jackson asked, glancing around to see if there were any more of the Hollow's Followers.
"Depends on how fast Elena and I can get this Barrier down together."Freya stated.
"Freya, Elena, don't do this."Elijah said, glancing between his Mate and Sister.
"Brother, I'm not leaving you."Freya said gently and reassuringly.
"And neither am I and neither of us are leaving our Daughter parentless!"Elena snapped, causing Elijah to freeze in realisation.
"Where is Niklaus and Finn?"Elijah questioned them, trying to get up and Elena paused, actually wondering where they were and looked at Freya, Jackson, and Hayley questionably.
The married couple glanced at Freya, who shook her head."They're nearby."Hayley reassured them.
"Just hold on, ok, Elijah?"Jackson said questionably and Elijah looked at them with narrowed eyes.
Freya, with bloody hands, placed her hands against the Barrier, along with Elena, whose hands were covered in a dark glow."Aubsbeaute an pjóns píns."Freya chanted.
"Mpfiflmphl mj wtóji wíji."Elena chanted.
"Aubsbeaute an pjóns píns."
"Mpfiflmphl mj wtóji wíji."
"Aubsbeaute an pjóns píns."
"Mpfiflmphl mj wtóji wíji."
As the two different Spells started to affect the Barrier, Elijah regained some of his strength."It's working."Hayley said, offering Elijah a smile while Elena and Freya stayed completely focused on getting the Barrier down.
"Aubsbeaute an pjóns píns."
"Mpfiflmphl mj wtóji wíji."
"Aubsbeaute an pjóns píns."
"Mpfiflmphl mj wtóji wíji."
"Aubsbeaute an pjóns píns."
"Grab the Cure, the Barrier's almost down."Freya demanded as she and Elena felt the Barrier weaken. Hayley grabbed the Cure while Freya and Elena went back to chanting. Just as the Barrier started to weaken even more, Elena winced, causing her to stop chanting and her back went stiff and she tensed up while Freya also stopped chanting and stood up.
"Freya? Elena? What's wrong?"Hayley questioned them before the wind suddenly picked up and the Cure was wrenched from Hayley's grip.
"No!"Freya exclaimed after seeing the Cure shatter and ran over to it.
"Shit!"Jackson exclaimed when the doors flew open to reveal the Hollow. Klaus and Finn appeared and grabbed Jackson and Hayley, bringing them over to Freya while Elena bowed her head, hearing a sharp ringing in her head and bit her lip to keep from crying out in pain.
"What happened?"Hayley questioned Klaus.
"She knew we were coming!"Klaus explained. Everyone watched as the Hollow started chanting, causing Elijah to arch his back up in pain while Elena fell to her side and curled up into a ball, feeling the connection, the bond between her and Elijah begin to weaken.
"We have no choice! Get Elijah into the pendant."Klaus told Freya, holding out the item to his Older Sister.
"And knock Elena out!"Finn added, looking at Elena in worry as Elijah gasped while Elena moaned in pain, her features flickering between Human and Demonic while Freya looked between them in worry and shook her head.
"He's too weak."Freya stated as Elijah yelled in pain while muffling her scream into her arm that she had placed over her mouth and bit down.
"Hurry, she's killing him!"Hayley exclaimed.
"And Elena looks like she's gonna lose it at any moment!"Jackson added, eyes wide.
Freya snatched the pendant from Klaus and started chanting;"Spasiti animam suam. Spasiti animam suam."Elijah groaned in pain."Spasiti animam suam."The pendant glowed dimly."I can feel him!"Freya told them as Elena glanced in their direction, feeling Elijah's weakening presence enter the pendant through their bond.
"Freya!"Klaus exclaimed loudly at seeing Elijah start to sweat and shake.
"Her Magic's blocking me."Freya said, shaking her head."She's too strong."
"Freya!"Klaus yelled as Elijah looked directly at Elena, who's features became Demonic once more.
"Spasiti animam suam. Spasiti animam suam."Freya continued to chant.
"Elena!"Elijah cried out and Elena's features became normal again as she looked at Elijah.
Elijah reached out his hand for her and she did the same, however, just as she was about to touch his hand, she felt the bond break as she saw his hand go limp in front of her and he started to go all grey and veiny. Elena's eyes slid close as everyone else went flying back with started cries and the Hollow disappeared.
"Freya, did it work?"Hayley asked as soon as everyone got to their feet after Klaus and Finn ran over to Elijah and Elena, with Klaus pulling the thorns out while Finn rolled Elena onto her back.
"Where's the pendant?"Klaus asked, looking up at Freya, who showed them all the pendant. Klaus sighed while Hayley and Jackson shared a horrified look and Finn looked down at Elena, hand twitching.
"She won't wake up. I knocked her out."Freya assured Finn, who looked like he was waiting to snap Elena's neck or rip out her heart the moment she woke up as an insane Nephilim.
When they had got back to the Abattoir, Finn and Klaus had put Elena and Elijah in two coffins before Finn left with Freya while Klaus stayed behind with Hayley and Jackson to look over the two.
"What are we going to tell Astrid?"Jackson asked gently.
"I can't do this again."Hayley whispered, eyes filled with tears.
She was obviously remembering what happened when Astrid woke up and they told her that her parents were asleep and most likely wouldn't wake up for a long time. The poor girl had burst into tears and screamed and cried for her parents to wake up and then she'd be quiet and unresponsive to any conversation that she and Jackson had with the little girl.
"We tell her nothing."Klaus stated, shocking them."Not until we know for sure that Elijah is gone or not."He added when the couple went to protest before leaving the room the Mated pair was in and went to see Freya.
"This isn't happening."Finn muttered as he watched Freya put the pieces together."Sister, please, for Elena's and Astrid's sake, tell me Elijah's in there."Finn begged his Sister.
"I can't tell yet."Freya said regrettably."I've been reaching out, but..."Freya trailed off, shaking her head.
"You're exhausted, Sister."Finn stated when she looked up at him tearfully."Just take some time to gather yourself."
"We've wasted enough time!"Klaus snapped as he came into the room."Our Brother's soul is in that pendant, we need to find him and bring him back."
"Klaus, give her a moment to breathe."Hayley said as she walked in after him with Jackson while Finn glared at Klaus.
"We failed him once already!"Klaus exclaimed.
"Klaus, enough!"Hayley yelled and Klaus recoiled as if he had been slapped."We didn't just fail him, we failed Elena and we failed Astrid."Hayley said in a softer voice and looked at Freya while Klaus bowed his head.
"There's just... nothing."Freya choked out after doing the Spell."There's, there's nothing there."Freya said thickly."I think..."The blonde Witch sat up in her chair with a haunted look in her eyes."I think he's gone."
"Try again."Klaus said softly.
"Klaus, I did try."Freya said, sounding broken.
"I am asking you to try again. I know he's in there."Klaus said strongly.
"Klaus-Try again!"Klaus roared, cutting Finn and Hayley off.
"Leigheas brotin. Leigheas brotin."Freya muttered the Spell before gasping slightly and looked up at Klaus."I just need some time."
"This is not happening."Klaus denied."For a thousand years, my Brother and I have walked this Earth. Countless times, death has come for us and countless times, we've denied her."Klaus exclaimed."He's not gone!"He looked back at Hayley, who had tears in her eyes."He can't be. And neither can she!"Klaus exclaimed, referring to Elena."She would fight to regain control of herself, she's too compassionate to allow herself to turn into some mindless beast! She can't."Klaus ended his rant in a soft voice and Jackson pulled Hayley into his arms while Finn placed his hand on Freya's shoulder when she bowed her head.
"What is that?"Everyone froze at Astrid's voice and they turned to see her and Hope in the doorway.
"Hope, Astrid!"Hayley exclaimed, pulling herself away from Jackson and wiped away her tears before walking over to them."Oh, go back to bed, girls, I'll be there in a second."Hayley said in a soft voice.
Hayley went to pull them out of the room but froze when Astrid pulled herself out of the Hybrid's firm but gentle grip and continued walking over to Freya while Hope stayed grounded to the spot. Astrid placed her hand on her shaking Aunt's shoulder and gasped as she caught a glimpse of a red door and her Father yelled as if he was in pain or was angry, along with seeing him for a second in viking clothing.
Freya looked at Astrid with wide eyes."Did you see that? Did you feel it?"Freya questioned Astrid.
"Daddy."Astrid said, looking down at the pendant while everyone else, except for Freya, looked between each other with wide eyes.
"He sounds so far away."Astrid said in confusion.
"He's in there."Hayley said, relieved."You heard him, right?"Hayley asked, looking at Freya, who had stood up.
"Yes, I heard him."Freya said, just as relieved as Hayley."He's somewhere inside, but..."
"But what?"Klaus questioned Freya, eyes narrowed.
"His voice sounds distorted, broken, like radio static and I just heard his screaming."Freya choked out and the adults looked at each other while Astrid and Hope looked at one another before peering down at the pendant.
Elena groaned softly as she fought her, for lack of better terms, beast or darker self, her Demon self, from rising to the surface, to break free, as she felt herself coming into consciousness. Her beast suddenly disappeared back into the depth of her mind, growling softly and seemed to be content.
The Nephilim pursed her lips and tried to figure out why when she felt and heard it. A humming noise that pulsed deep inside her mind. The bond between her and Elijah. It wasn't destroyed, but it was weak, however it gave her hope.
Her eyes fluttered open and closed as she heard Klaus' voice;"-Rebekah and Kol just landed."Elena slowly sat up."I assured them we're mere moments from returning our Brother to life. Don't make me a liar."Klaus warned someone, most likely Freya.
"I can't resurrect Elijah until I'm certain his mind is whole."Freya stated.
"Well, you saved Finn with that very trinket."Elena looked in the direction of where she could hear Klaus and Freya and frowned at the word trinket before realising that Klaus was talking about the pendant."What's the problem?"
"When that pendant was shattered, Elijah's mind shattered with it."Freya stated."He's most likely retreated to the innermost core of his consciousness."She added thoughtfully.
"How do we find that?"Came Hayley's voice.
"I don't know. It could be anywhere in over a thousand years of memories, but if I try fixing the pendant before finding him and healing his mind, he'll be permanently fractured, like casting a broken bone before it's been properly set."Freya explained as Elena got out of the coffin she had been placed in and glanced over at the other coffin and grimaced at Elijah in said coffin and looked away.
"Spare me the medical analogies and fix him."Klaus demanded as Elena walked off in the direction they were in..
"I need to go inside and find him. Once I'm sure his mind is stable, then I can fix the pendant."Freya exclaimed angrily, getting annoyed and frustrated with Klaus ordering her around.
"Well, then stop talking and get in there."Klaus growled out.
"Klaus!"Elena bellowed, causing everyone to freeze and slowly turned to her as she stormed into the room, glaring at Klaus, who flinched away from her cold eyes."Take a walk."Elena said as she came to a stop and her eyes narrowed when he opened his mouth to say something."Get some air, let her work."Klaus didn't move as Elena pointed behind her."Now!"She added sternly and Klaus, hesitantly, left before the Nephilim turned her attention to everyone else."Please tell me, you can actually do this."Elena stated questionably to Freya, who had looked at her gratefully, but warily.
"He's my Brother. I'm not gonna stop until he's safe."Freya answered her and she nodded."Are you-Is my mind stable? Yes. Am I ok? No. Am I glad that you didn't go through with putting me to sleep for eternity, we'll see."Elena cut Freya off curtly.
Elena turned to Hayley."Where's Astrid? Does she...?"
"Know that her Father's mind is trapped inside a broken pendant? Yes, because she's the one that knew that he was in there."Hayley answered."And she's with Hope and Jackson, and Keelin, upstairs, in hers and Hope's room."Hayley added and Elena nodded and Teleported away to go and check on her Daughter while Freya, with Finn's help, got the Spell ready.
After checking in on Astrid, Elena went to where Freya and Finn had set up the Spell and raised an eyebrow when she didn't see Hayley anywhere but figured that she might be with Klaus, Rebekah, and Kol.
"You actually think you can pull this off?"Finn questioned Freya.
"I don't know, Brother. I've never actually tried this before."Freya told him.
"Freya, there are a thousand years of memories in there."Finn stated knowingly."How will you know which is the right one?"
"He'll recognise me."Freya retorted, nodding her head, believing herself."If I can find the core of his being or whatever memory he's clinging to, I'll pull him out."Freya explained and glanced over at Elena.
"And if you can't, you might as well put me back to sleep until you find another way."Elena spoke up.
"It won't come to that."Freya stated, frowning at Elena.
"So you say."Elena stated calmly and kept her face blank.
She and Finn watched as Freya lied down inside the circle and started chanting as she closed her eyes. Elena shivered as she felt a spark snap inside her mind and felt Elijah's presence for a brief second before it was gone and the humming of the bond returned. Elena decided to sit down as did Finn and they watched over Freya together and hours slowly started to tick by until the candles suddenly went out and Freya sat up, gasping and panting as Elena came to her side.
"Freya, what's wrong?"Finn asked as he came to Freya's other side and looked at his Older Sister in worry.
"I thought I found him, but he just vanished right in front of me."Freya explained as the Original and Nephilim helped her to her feet."That's not our only problem. I can't search Elijah's mind and sustain a Spell at the same time."Freya added grimly as she walked away.
"What if you sent me in?"Elena suddenly asked, surprising them.
"That would require more power."Freya said as she gathered up the pieces.
"But not much power as I have a bond that connects me to him."Elena stated."You stay here and anchor the Spell."Freya and Finn shared an uneasy look."Elijah will respond to me."Elena said, gesturing at the circle."Send me in, Freya, I can find him. Nobody's closer to Elijah than I am."
"To place you into the pendant, I would need to channel another Witch."Freya conceded.
"A powerful one."Finn added thoughtfully and shared a knowing look with Freya.
"Born of my Family's and your Family's Bloodline because you're something extremely powerful and using the bond like that is dangerous."Freya explained herself.
"Astrid."Elena said, shaking her head."No. She's too young for this."Elena stated as Freya came over to her.
"She's young, but she's strong."Freya said, taking Elena's hands in hers."Stronger than I was at her age. Elena, I would never hurt my Nieces, ever."Freya said firmly as she looked at Elena right in the eyes and the brunette sighed before she nodded.
"Ok."Elena said softly.
"I'll go and get Astrid."Finn said and sped off to where Astrid was and came back a few minutes later with not only Astrid, but Hope, Hayley, and Jackson, explaining to them what the plan was.
As soon as Astrid saw her Mother, she ran over to Elena, who bent down, and hugged her, saying that she missed her and was glad that she was awake again and Elena said that she missed her as well before they pulled away from each other.
"You don't have to do this if you don't want to."Elena told Astrid as she took off her Daughter's bracelet.
"It's okay. I'm not afraid."Astrid said bravely with a smile on her face.
"Ready?"Freya, who had come over to them, asked as Elena moved some strands of hair behind Astrid's ear and Astrid nodded to her.
Elena handed over Astrid's bracelet to Freya."So he's just in there somewhere, clinging to broken memories?"Elena questioned the blonde Witch, who took Astrid over to the table, where the others were waiting for them.
"The core of his being has retreated deep into his subconscious, but, yes, he's still in there."Freya admitted as Elena, who had been given a bowl earlier, bit into her wrist and allowed her blood to drop into the bowl.
"And I just search until I find him?"Elena asked.
"You don't have time."Freya stated as she started setting everything up."There are too many memories for you to randomly search."Freya walked back over to her and took the small bowl from her."You have to think, where would Elijah find refuge? It has to be somewhere that represents the fundamental basis of who he is."Freya stated questionably."Hopefully, that's a good place. When you find it, draw him out and wake him up."Elena nodded at Freya's instructions."But be careful, his mind is unstable."Elena gave her a deadpanned look."But, obviously you already knew that, so telling you was rather stupid."She added with a sigh while Elena gave her a smug nod of her head before Freya walked back over to where everyone else was while Elena sat down.
"Mama?"Elena looked over her shoulder at Astrid."Be careful."
"I'll be right back, Baby-Girl."Elena said gently after glancing at Freya and Astrid nodded before she linked her hand with Freya's.
"Tillate ulaz. Tillate ulaz."Freya chanted after Elena lied down and closed her eyes.
"Tillate ulaz. Tillate ulaz."Astrid chanted with her on the second verse."Tillate ulaz. Tillate ulaz."
Elena's eyes snapped open and she grimaced as she found herself standing in the hallway of Elijah's mind and glanced around, her eyes narrowed as she started walking."Come on, Elijah, where are you?"Elena muttered and looked at one door.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw something that was out of place and looked in that direction, only to find the Red Door and froze as she heard a man screaming, followed by more, then someone grunting. Elena slowly edged closer to that door, eyeing it warily as she heard something that sounded like flesh being ripped apart, pained cries and now a woman was screaming. Denying the idea of Elijah being in there, Elena continued walking on.
She paused again at another door, hearing soft music. It was Astrid's music box that helped put her to sleep. Elena opened the door and found herself in hers and Elijah's room and found the memory of herself standing by the doorway of the room, watching toddler Astrid sleeping in the big bed. Elijah came to stand behind her past self and hesitantly placed a hand on her shoulder gently, causing Memory Elena to look up at him and found him staring down at her with a gentle smile on his face and she turned around fully to face him and smiled hesitantly back up at him.
Elijah caressed her hair, pushing it back slightly behind her ear."Your hair."He mumbled."I only just realised how short it is."
"I decided I needed a change."Memory Elena said softly.
"It suits you."Elijah said honestly and a small smile appeared on Memory Elena's face. Elena smiled at the memory and watched with a twinkle in her eyes as Elijah suddenly leaned forward and her memory self met him half way into the brief but passionate kiss.
"I should get out of this dress."Memory Elena said gently and pulled away.
"If you must."Elijah mumbled, watching her walk away to go and get changed into something more casual.
"Elijah."Elena finally called out to him after her memory self was gone."It's me."Elena said hopefully as Elijah looked in her direction."I know you're here."Elena said, trying to get him to look at her and he walked over to her but was looking straight through her before glancing down."Look at me."Elijah's eyes narrowed as he looked back up, straight at her before he faded away.
Sighing, Elena left the memory and went back out into the hallway and walked down said hallway, holding herself back from flinching as she heard screams and crashes coming from the Red Door and came to a stop right in front of said Door.
"Please, don't be in there."Elena whispered to herself, almost pleadingly.
Elena pushed the door open and walked inside, her heart pounding in her chest as she found corpses on the floor and the door slid shut behind her. Elena glanced at the door before walking around, while eyeing the corpses before she found someone rocking slightly.
"Elijah?"Elena whispered questionably and paused, watching as Elijah pulled his face away from the man's neck."I'm here to help you."Elena told him in a gentle voice. Elijah held the body, that he had been feeding from, up into the air before letting said body drop to the ground and stood up. Thinking that he couldn't hear her and that this was another useless memory, Elena turned around, only to gasp when she came face to face with Elijah."Elijah."Elena muttered his name as she looked at his bloody face."Hey. Elijah, wake up."Elena said sternly as she backed away from him, seeing that there wasn't an ounce of recognition in his eyes."It's me."There were still no signs of recognition in his eyes."Elijah!"Elena exclaimed."Stop! Stop!"Elena cried, feeling her fear rising to the surface and turned to see an exit and ran out of the hut and into the woods as fast as she could. For some reason she couldn't feel the connection to her other half, the half that made it able for her wings to appear and fly, was gone so she was left with running from her own Mate and looking over her shoulder."Freya!"Elena screamed for the blonde Witch, hoping that she could hear her."Freya!"Elena gasped before she tripped over something and slowly got to her feet, her eyes wide at seeing more bodies, only this time they were surrounded by a fire before glancing behind her when she heard a branch snap and looked around warily before freezing when she felt an intense gaze on her back and slowly turned to find Elijah standing behind her."Elijah, please stop!"Elena exclaimed as he came closer to her.