New Beginning

by GeekOfManyForms

Unlike her twin sister, Elena, Elara Gilbert never quite fit in. Heck, how could she when this was at least the 50th time she'd relived her teenage years? Cursed by a sorceress a thousand years ago, Elara is stuck in an infinite loop of birth, life, and death, dying on her 18th birthday in each lifetime. Her curse is inevitable, and there is no escaping what's to come.

33. Chapter 33

*A/N: Hello all! Im sorry for the long wait, but with Covid, a lot has been going on. I look forward to your reviews; please let me know what you think and how you thought the long-awaited reunion went. This chapter has been edited by my beta Casey.*

"What's going on?"

Tyler took hold of my elbow and led me to the porch swing. He incessantly pressed on my shoulder blade, and I sat down, clicking my tongue in irritation. Mason was leaning up against the railing, hands tucked away in the pockets of his worn blue jeans, trying to appear casual. Even if his rigid jaw and tight shoulders weren't enough to dispel the act, his constant wide wandering eyes would have done the trick. The hair on the back of my neck bristled, my body shivering as a cold chill slipped down my spine. I wrapped my arms around myself and focused on the Lockwood's.

Tyler sat down next to me, throwing his arm over the back of the swing. His frantic eyes locked with mine, and I could practically taste his fear on the air.

"We have a serious problem," he said.

I tilted my head, trying to ignore my sinking stomach, and gently placed my hand on his stiff arm — squeezing it reassuringly. "I kinda got that. Are you gonna tell me what it is? Or are we gonna play twenty questions? Cause I gotta tell ya, that's one of my least favorite games," I tutted, my brow twitching.

Tyler yanked his arm from the swing, jolting us backward, his lip curling. "This is no time for your jokes. We haven't even slept yet, Ellie. I'm a little on edge. Don't push me," he snarled.

A strange fire ignited within me at his blatant disrespect. I felt an urgent need to put him in his place. The only time I had ever felt anything similar was when I'd been challenged by a witch of lesser station. Twisting my head, index finger lifted, I leaned closer — brushing the hair behind my ear. "Excuse me? I don't think I heard you right. I understand you're tired, but you will watch the way you speak to me, Tyler." I sternly said.

It was automatic the way he remembered himself. His body curved into a submissive bow as he lowered his head, a muffled whimper spilling from his lips. I cocked my brow, wiggling my finger expectantly. "I think you owe me an apology."

Tyler closed his eyes and released a quiet sigh. "I'm sorry, El. You're right; I was an ass. I'm just exhausted. Coming home to find my house has been taken over was a bit of a surprise," he said through gritted teeth.

I frowned, and my body automatically leaned away, the swing creaking beneath me. I felt my heart skip a beat, my skin tingling uneasily. My body was throwing off warning singles, but I pushed it down, annoyed. I reminded myself that my emotions were off right now. That had to be what it was. Right?

I was sure whatever had happened at the Lockwoods wouldn't end up being as bad as they thought. I could handle it. Mason pushed himself off the porch and bent forward, taking hold of the rusted chain. He pulled the swing toward him, leaning down, his face inches from mine. I could smell his tainted morning breath and tried to keep the grimace from my face. I looked up at him and noticed — with the sun enhancing his features — exactly how pale he really was. His skin appeared sickly and paper-thin. The nearly purplish bags under his eyes accentuated the exhaustion he carried, and I felt terrible for not noticing the toll the night before had taken on the both of them. It was just like me to get caught up in little things that had nothing to do with what really mattered. I was still carrying stress from the reminder of William, and it had blinded me to all else. I had acted carelessly, and there was no excuse for it.

"We really need you to listen, Elara. Things have changed, and we need you. You made promises to us both, and now is the time to make good on them, little Alpha," Mason said.

His grip tightened, and the chain protested, groaning dangerously. I firmly planted my feet on the porch and scooted forward, placing my hand a few inches below his. He called me Alpha. I had expected as much after his former pack had pledged their loyalty to me, but without the Lockwoods confirming it, I had still been unsure. Yet, as his pleading eyes looked down at me, I felt that same heady protective instinct snap into place, like a puzzle piece finally finding its home. They were my responsibility now.

"I intend to keep every promise, Mason. Just tell me exactly what happened, and I'll handle it," I said without wavering.

Mason smirked bitterly, his gaze flickering over my steadfast face. He took a deep gulp of breath as he released the swing and stepped back. He straightened his posture, lowering his gaze and sucking on his teeth, bitter smirk still in place. "I don't think you'll be able to handle things so easily this time."

I squeaked indignantly, my nose wrinkling in distaste. I was about to remind them just why underestimating me was such a bad idea when Mason threw back his head, raising a calming hand. "That's not what I mean, Elara. Tyler and I both know what you're capable of, but under these circumstances, I think your past will end up being more of a hindrance than a help. At least for a while. In the end, as you said, I think it'll all turn out okay." Running his hand down his lined face, he sighed. "At least I hope so," he wearily finished.

My protests caught in my throat, and it felt like I could no longer contain oxygen. My body was rejecting what my mind had been quick to figure out. My hands began to tremble, my vision flickering in and out. I reached out to grasp hold of something steady, hoping it would calm me and felt a warm and slightly sweaty hand take hold of mine. I could hear panicked voices but couldn't make out their words. Everything was jumbled; my mind could only focus on what Mason had said. There was only one reason my past would become a hindrance. Niklaus was here.

Sucking in a jagged breath, I intertwined my fingers with the person I had become attached to, urgently pulling them forward. With widened eyes, I stared at Tyler, cupping his face with my other hand. "Who is at your house, Tyler. Who!" I said, the volume of my voice rising.

Tyler removed my palm from his face, with a sad sort of smile, one full of pity. In a moment of shocking anger, I wanted to claw the expression from his face. Still, the moment was fleeting as he brought my knuckles to his lips, kissing them — his warm breath tickling my skin.

"You know who, Ellie bean. He has taken the master bedroom, and my mother has moved all her things into the guest. He must have compelled her. She won't hear a word against him," he looked up at me, gauging my reaction, but I held my breath — unable to move, let alone breathe. "I know you said he was a dick, but I kinda thought you were over-exaggerating. He took my parent's room. He controls the house like it's his. I mean, what an asshole," Tyler said, his eyes narrowing.

I released a rush of breath, snorting, and fell into a giggle. I sucked in my bottom lip, trying to stop the hysterical laughter that wanted to bloom at the Lockwoods' affronted expressions. Tyler released me, standing up and joining Mason. I covered my mouth and shook my head in amusement.

"I'm sorry, really, but you thought I over-exaggerated when I told you the thousand-year-old Original Hybrid was a dick? Oh, Tyler, you have no clue how big of an asshole he can be. Taking over your house is such a small thing. I know it blows, but he likes the very best, and I guess he thought Lockwood manor would give him what he needed while he's here," I said, smiling despite trying not to.

Mason placed his hand on the banister, shaking his head. "We can't just let him take over our life. We have to protect Carol. It's your job to make sure our family is safe now," he said, straightening and pointing an accusatory finger in my direction.

I calmly stood, shoving down my wild emotions. I had to show them I could be what they needed. A strong, confident Alpha. "What did you expect would happen once he became your Alpha? I explained his personality to you before you agreed to become Hybrids. I didn't lie to either of you. He isn't easy to be around. He can be the absolute worst kind of ass, but he is your best bet at a better life. I can and will help you keep your family safe. Right now, I'm positive he is only using her to get information and a place to live. She will be okay. Once I am in any sort of position to help, I will make sure he stops," I said.

Mason stared me down, his attention fiercely focused on my firm stance and feigned confidence. I only hoped he bought the act. I wanted to keep my fear and uncertainty hidden. He glanced about the near-empty street beyond the porch and ran his fingers through his messy hair, stepping closer to me. "You need to understand, I may feel the Alpha pull around you, but trust is earned. This is my family on the line, and your record-breaking love life and insane past better not get them killed."

Mason's jaw twitched as he looked down at me, likely expecting to be reprimanded for his cheek. A loud bang from across the street interrupted our standoff, drawing my attention. It was my least favorite nosey neighbor. I watched as she finished locking her front door. I flashed her a sarcastic wave when I noticed her casually glance our way, narrowed eyes judgely taking in Mason's proximity to me. His brow raised as I leaned in closer, tossing my hair dramatically and placing a flirty hand on his shoulder. I could hear Tyler snort under his breath and bit my lower lip as she released a scandalized gasp. I could hear her car door slam shut and then tires squealing against the pavement as she burst from her driveway, speeding down the road. I would probably hear about this from Jenna later. She would no doubt receive a 'worried' phone call about my relationship with older men. The laughter fell from my face as I looked into Mason's heavy blue eyes.

"I understand I need to earn your trust. I hope that protecting your family during the weeks leading up to the sacrifice will be the precursor to proving I am up to the task. I will not forget my duties to you and yours, Mason," I sincerely promised.

Mason laid his palm atop my hand and softly smiled down at me. My attention was caught by the blonde stubble growing on his cheeks, making him appear years older than he was, and I wanted to hand him a razor. "Just do right by my family and take care of the Originals. You're our only hope at peace, Ellie," he sighed, patting my hand and stepping away.

I turned around, placing my hands on my hips. Tyler was casually swinging, head lazily lolling back, arms crossed over his chest. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. "So what's the plan, partner," he said, in another terrible attempt at a southern accent. He dropped his head forward, meeting my gaze with an awkward grin.

I placed my hands on my face, shaking my head. "Ugh, you really are shit at accents, Ty," I said.

Mason grimaced, plopping down on the swing and slapping Tyler in the stomach. "Never do that again. You bring shame to our family!"

Tyler lurched forward, his hands on his stomach, and his face turned a deep red. He gasped out, moaning in pain. I placed my knuckles on my cheek, leaning my head against them as I watched Tyler wheeze dramatically, forehead on his knees. When it looked like he was about to launch into a counter-attack, I clapped my hands together, drawing their attention. "Okay, children, enough play!" Both men glared at me, blue and brown eyes flashing dangerously, and I cocked my hip, tapping my foot as they settled into their seats. "If you're ready now, I will tell you what I plan to do."

Mason leaned forward, his elbow propped on his knee, and nodded eagerly. I took a steadying breath and linked my fingers together, placing my palms against my stomach. I knew at some point I would start shaking with the nerves I was barely suppressing and didn't want it to be easily noticeable.

"Okay then…well um…as you said, Mason, my involvement at the moment would probably be more trouble than it's worth. If Nik sees me right now, he could very well go into a fit of confused rage, and that would be no good for anyone. I think the best bet would be for us to have a middle man….and who better than his own brother?" I said, shrugging, my interlocked hands trembling.

Tyler's knee bounced as he thought over my words. Mason propped his elbow on the armrest, his head resting on his palm as he stared across the lawn.

"Listen, I know it feels like you're trading one Original for another, but we can trust Elijah to handle it. In the end, it will be better for everyone if Nik hears the truth about my sister from his brother and me. When he has had time to adjust, Elena and I can present ourselves and go over the plans for the ritual. If I just randomly show up and yell 'Surprise, I've been alive all this time,' he will most likely try to off me again. It's too much to throw at him, or anyone for that matter, all at once. I'm surprised the Salvatores handled it so well," I said.

The plan was starting to feel right — even to myself — the longer I discussed it. I could still see the doubt on their faces and decided to push forward. I needed to set everything straight - within my own mind anyway. "All I need to do is alert everyone that Nik is in town and to keep their distance. Alaric will deal with Jenna and Jeremy. I can have Elena stay at home with me, and the Salvatores will remain at the Boarding house. I will speak to Elijah. I'm sure he can easily set up a meeting with Nik. He'll set things straight. I'm not saying it'll be easy or even go smoothly, but I truly believe it's our safest bet. I think both of you should stay at the Wolf house until I can speak with Nik. If you meet face to face, he will know that you are werewolves with an Alpha. That will bring up too many questions we are not ready to answer," I said, running my sweaty hands down my shirt.

Mason stood, approaching me with a stiff stance. "It seems I was wrong. You do have a plan, and everyone is accounted for. Just make sure you don't forget who you're up against. There's no room for error here. One mistake, and we're all dead," he said.

I swallowed roughly, the thickness in my throat as noticeable as the weight of his words. "I know, and I won't. I've known what they are capable of for far longer than most."

Mason nodded, apparently appeased by my unease and willingness to admit fault in my adopted family. He motioned for Tyler to join him and glanced one more time at me, a grimace of distaste pulling at his lips. His shoulders drooped as he released a deep agitated sigh. "The Wolf house?" he questioned.

I grinned unapologetically, bouncing on my heels. "Yeah! It's the house Elijah bought for our pack. It's just outside of town. You'll see a dirt road through the woods about a mile from Wickery Bridge. Follow it, and it'll lead you to the house. There are plenty of rooms, so just choose an empty one. I'll call ahead and alert them that you're coming," I said, smiling broadly at Mason's unease.

Mason and Tyler both shuffled their feet, eyes averted anxiously, and I froze — taken aback by their sudden docile behavior. Werewolf mannerisms were still so new to me. I kicked at the side of Mason's shoe, and he slowly glanced up, his eyes skirting the edge of my face.

"Do you perhaps have a question?" I said, hoping I was right.

Mason fidgeted and casually glanced at Tyler, who scratched at his neck, a strange vulnerability in his eyes.

"Who is in charge at 'Wolf' house? Cause...while you're not around...someone will have to keep everyone in line. You have to have a Beta. It's pack law," Mason said.

With curiosity, I watched the two uneasy men before me, crossing my arms. They were both acting out of sorts, anxiously shifting their weight from leg to leg, faces pinched. "Actually, I knew that," I said, raising my finger triumphantly and bringing it to rest under my chin, a small grin of pride painted on my lips. "Elijah and I spoke of pack law when he took all of us to the house. When I figured out I'd need a second in command — I decided while I had the opportunity — to choose my Beta." I said.

Tyler nervously bounced his leg, the unfasted buckle on his black combat boots clinking against the porch. He hid his hands in his back pocket and took a small step away from his uncle. Mason inhaled sharply, shoulders quivering, and briefly glanced at Tyler — taking in the space between them with furrowed brows. My skin prickled with nerves; they were both awaiting my choice, and they both wanted to be my Beta. Well shit.

I stepped in front of Tyler, picking at the torn skin around my thumbnail. "Tyler, you are one of my best friends. I know that you are strong enough, in more ways than one, to handle such a responsibility — but you're still so young."

Tyler's jaw tightened, and I could tell he was fighting to stay silent. "I was given more responsibility than any child should ever be given. When I was your age, I had been taught magic that could successfully tear apart whole villages. That type of life is not something I would wish on anyone. I want you to enjoy your life. You already have more to bear than most," I said, leaning down and tilting my head so that I could assess his downcast expression.

His face was etched with disappointment, eyes clamped shut. He turned his head away, nodding stiffly, and I sighed, patting his shoulder. He would eventually understand. I looked over at Mason and straightened my posture, walking closer to his unmoving form. "Mason, I know that I really should have asked before making my choice, and I am sorry for that. But you know the pack, and have proven time and again what you would do for the people you care about. I think you will make a strong and brave second in command."

Mason's cheeks darkened, turning him an attractive shade of scarlet. He rotated his shoulders, standing straighter. I hated to burst his bubble, but I felt I needed to add a warning to my praise. I knew soon I would do something that he would either disagree with or misunderstand. I wanted to make sure he knew that trying to take the pack and use them against me would be a terrible idea. He'd proven he could be a loose cannon. He had already tried to go up against me at one point and had almost taken away two people I care about. If he tried to go up against me again, I wouldn't give him a second chance.

"Just know that I've made sure that the pack can contact me at any time. You are my second, my Beta, but that does not mean I'm giving you free rein. The rules I have in place will remain in effect as long as I am alive. If you break any of them, without an excellent reason, then you will lose your place in this pack — along with your life," I sternly warned.

Mason was quick to nod, wide tired eyes racing over my face. He bowed his head, tilting it submissively to the side as he lowered to his knees. He placed his palms on his thighs and sat silently at my feet. I frantically glanced around. My hands were frozen above him, unsure what I was supposed to do. Thankfully the street was empty, and apart from Tyler, no one was around to witness Mason's submission. I lowered myself in front of him, placing my hand on his shoulder.

"Um, thank you for this proof of your loyalty, but you forget, there isn't much I can do to honor it," I said.

Tyler leaned down, brushing the hair from my ear, and I could feel his heated breath on my skin. "You're supposed to scent him, El," he irritably huffed.

My mouth fell open, and I yanked my head away, eyes widening almost painfully. How the hell was I supposed to do that? I don't have the scent of a wolf. I could hear Mason shift uncomfortably in front of me and felt like a complete failure. Someone really needed to write a manual on how to be an Alpha. 'The Alpha guide for dummies.'

Lifting my hands on either side of his scruffy face, I flexed my fingers, my shoulders rising and falling as I searched my mind for what to do. Finally, I just decided to go for it. What could possibly go wrong? I couldn't feel more useless than I already did. Moving in closer, I placed my nose against his collarbone, running it up and across his jugular. He smelt like wet earth, sweat, and the crisp early morning air.

Okay, well, that's not so bad.

His skin pebbled, goosebumps rising across his flesh. I heard him release a faint gasp and his body shuddered beneath my touch. I pulled away, quickly glancing up at Tyler, biting my lower lip uneasily. Tyler was awkwardly standing on the top porch step, his eyes averted, scanning the empty street.

Clearing my throat noisily, I stood, wiping off my knees. "I really hope that's what I was supposed to do. Otherwise, I kinda just assaulted you," I said.

Mason's head was lowered, eyes squeezed shut as he ran his fingers over his neck. Patting my legs, I stepped backward, allowing Mason room. Shakily he stood, meeting my gaze, eyes glossy. "Yeah, you did fine. The other wolves will know that you've officially named me your Beta," he said, voice thick.

I avoided looking at his neck, where his fingers continued to trail along his jugular, and instead watched Tyler — who avoided us both. My cheeks heated, mortification scorching through me. Offhandedly, I gently kicked the banister beside me as my mind raced, searching for a way out of this forest of awkwardness.

"How will they know? I don't exactly have the scent of a wolf...or whatever," I said, waving my hand around and squinting my eyes in confusion.

Tyler huffed, shaking his head, and looked at me with a roll of his eyes. "When has anything about you ever followed the rules? They will know. You don't smell like a normal human, Ellie; you've always held a different scent. Since you've become an Alpha, your scent just means more." he said, shrugging.

No matter how many times I've discussed my newfound gifts with Elijah, or the pack, none of it's made sense to me. There were so many holes. How the hell could a witch become an Alpha? But I knew when to save things for another time. My checklist was long for a reason.

"Okay then...whatever." I lifted my hand, brushing away the confusion, and turned toward them both. "It's safe now, for the both of you, to head to 'Wolf' house. I want you and the pack to remain there until I tell you otherwise. It will be a direct order from me. Do not listen to anyone else," I firmly said, fiddling with my bracelet as I stared Mason down.

Mason stood rigidly tall, folding his arms across his chest. "Of course, little Alpha. Tyler and I will take care of the pack while you handle the Originals," he said.

I shot him a quick nod and motioned toward Tyler. "Go now. I have a lot to prepare, and Elena will be home shortly. I'm actually surprised Jenna hasn't been out here to check on me yet," I said, shooting the door an anxious glance.

Mason started to usher Tyler down the porch steps but was stopped as he twisted around, swatting at his uncle's tenacious grip. "I should stay here with you, Elara. I wouldn't even have to leave the house; you and Jenna shouldn't be here alone. He could show up at any time," he said.

Mason grabbed onto his shoulder, and Tyler pulled away, prying his shirt from his uncle's fingertips. Mason growled, his tense eyes narrowed, and stood taller. I could sense where this was going. Tyler was already disobeying a direct command from his Alpha. I would have to do something about his attitude, friend, or not. He had to learn how to behave among a pack. My shoulders stiff, I bolted forward. My hand rose immediately to meet Mason's cautioning growl — a deep vibration that I could feel unpleasantly in the tip of my toes. I found that the connection I had to my pack was hair raising. I bypassed Mason, patting him on the chest, and he instantly relaxed, his body melting. I stood in front of my earnest friend, rubbing a circle against my forehead.

"Tyler, you have to understand something. I am always going to be your friend. I love that you are loyal and want to protect my family and me, but you also need to remember that certain things will be different now. I'm not just your friend anymore. I have a responsibility to you as your Alpha. And as your Alpha, I demand respect as well as your loyalty. We….," I pointed at Mason and then circled around to myself. "are your pack leaders. When we give you an order — as long as it doesn't mean your death or some equally horrific outcome — we expect you to listen and follow it," I said.

The sound of a deep rumbling engine broke the tension. I glanced over Tyler's shoulder, closing my eyes against the sight of the light blue Chevy Camaro pulling into my driveway. Of course, just what I needed. Tyler slowly turned around and scoffed, throwing up his arms in defeat. "Of course," he said through clenched teeth.

Damon shut off his car and gracefully slipped out. A dark look consumed his expression as he tilted his head, deep blue eyes locking with mine. Tyler knocked his knuckles against my shoulder, drawing my attention.

"Look, you're right, Ellie, and I'm sorry. It's just hard to leave you all alone to face shit like this," he said, motioning toward a smirking Damon Salvatore.

I bent forward, laying my head on his shoulder, and exhaled deeply. "Yeah, I can understand that."

"Aww, would you take a look at this? Soooo sweet," Damon said, his tone acidic as he sauntered closer, hands in his jacket pockets.

Mason stepped in front of me, momentarily blocking my view, and bared his teeth in warning. "Back off, vampire!"

I could hear the gravel crunch in the driveway and froze, spine-tingling in fear. I shoved my finger in Mason's chest as I stepped around him. "Shut up! You need to remember where we are!" I hissed.

Pushing Mason behind me, I released a relieved breath at the sight of Stefan helping Elena from his car. Spinning on my heel, I glanced around for witnesses before I felt my eyes blaze with anger.

"We are in public! This is no place to lash out at one another." I jotted my thumb in Damon's direction. "I cannot help what he does, but you are a part of my pack, and I will not have this sort of careless behavior attributed to anything I have a part in. I don't wish to fight with hunters, so can we please keep this shit out of the public eye," I said.

Mason bowed his head, his fingers rushing through his hair. "Your right; I'm sorry," he said.

Damon chuckled, taking a measured step forward to lean over my shoulder. I could feel a strand of his dark hair brush against my cheek. "Look at you taking charge. Do they let you tame them in the bedroom too, Elandra?" he asked a sharp edge to his voice.

I could hear rushed footsteps on the walkway and stepped forward, covertly rubbing away the tingle on my cheek. "I don't have time for this today, Damon. In fact, none of us do," I said, turning to catch Elena's eye.

The pink tint to her cheeks faded, and her steps quicked as she came to stand in front of me. She was holding onto the hem of her shirt like a lifeline, her knuckles turning a pale white. "He's here, isn't he?" she mumbled, and it was just enough to set the vampires among us into a frenzied panic.

Stefan rushed forward, his feet kicking up clumps of grass in his haste, and took hold of Elena's elbow — yanking her back toward his car. Her breath left her lungs in a startled gasp, her chestnut hair falling into her eyes as she was pulled backward — more ragdoll than a girl. Damon was right on their heels, hovering behind her, a grave and haunted expression growing on his face — like ripples in the water. I felt my right eye twitch, and a flash of heat started to grow up my spine. My patience was quickly waning. They hadn't even allowed me to explain or even answer her damn question. What if she had been wrong? They could be freaking out like this for no reason. It was ridiculous. Mason and Tyler flanked me on each side, and I was grateful for their support. I headed forward, taking hold of my sister's arm. Careful of Stefan's grip on her, I pulled her toward me, pressing her back against my chest. My bones ached, and my skin tingled as a wicked sparkle flickered to life across my skin. I wrapped my blue-tinted hands around her upper arms and felt my pulse beat-heavy against her skin. The color grew, rising up her arms, and soon, she was almost glowing. Her skin flickered like blue firelight.

Stefan released a surprised cry of pain, hastily dropping her elbow and stepping away — his palm sizzling. He held his hand close to his chest, heated eyes murderous. Damon circled us like a lion as he approached Stefan, never taking his eyes off of Elena.

"This is insane, Elandra. If he is here, then we need to get her out of Mystic Falls," Stefan snarled, shaking out his hand.

The flesh was the tender pink color of newly healed skin. Elena pressed herself closer to me. She made sure my hands remained on her arms as she did. She inhaled sharply as the clouds above us parted, and a ray of sunlight kissed her skin. The blue shimmer that flickered across her flesh was just enough of a reminder to ward off the Salvatores.

"You didn't give Elena or me a chance to speak before you both took over. That's not right, Stefan; that's not love," I said.

Tyler feigned a cough into his fisted hand somewhere beside me. "Obsession," he barked out, clearing his throat dramatically as he patted his chest. "Oh, gosh sorry, man. Allergies."

Mason chuckled, hiding his smile behind his hand. He shrugged unapologetically when I shot them both a glare. "What? He's not wrong," he said.

Elena looked between Mason and Stefan. It was like watching dawn break across her face — in the form of painful realization. "They're right, Stefan. This isn't healthy. If this is ever going to work between us, then you need to give me space. I have to know that you're going to accept my decisions. I understand you're scared for me and that you want to protect me, but this is my life. What I need from you is to be there when I ask you to be," she said.

Damon groaned, angrily lifting his hands into the air. "This is nuts! You want us to let you make your own decisions? Well, then you need to show us you're actually capable of that. The only decisions you've been making here lately are the ones she wants you to make," he said, throwing his arms out towards me.

Mason took a threatening step toward Damon, and I stopped him with a small frown and the shake of my head. They couldn't step forward every time Damon lashed out. We'd never get anything done. Elena's face flushed, and she lunged forward, the veins in her neck bulging. My fingers dug into the skin of her arms as I tried to keep a hold of her.

"What the hell do you know, Damon? You haven't made a good decision in years. You have no right to judge my choices! I never asked you to be here, acting as my shield and armor. Every decision I've made since Elara and I got kidnaped has been my own. I'm doing what is best for the people most important to me. We both are. You're just too scared and ignorant to see that. Don't stand here and act like you have any right to make my decisions," she said, her breath leaving her in small gasps.

Damon's face shifted, eyes darkening, and he turned his head away — sucking in big gulps of air to control his temper. It was a surprising development.

"Elena, me and Damon aren't the only ones worried about you. Think of Jeremy," Stefan urged, and his expression morphed, turning into something akin to sorrow.

Elena sobbed, her body falling limp, and I clung to her. I could see a spark of triumph light up Stefan's hazel eyes, and my blood turned cold. He was using our brother as a pawn in his game to win Elena over, and there was nothing I could do. If I tried to tell her, warn her of what he was doing, they would say it was because I wanted to use her for the ritual. Elena's lips trembled, and to my complete and utter shock, she wiped roughly at her bloodshot eyes — releasing a bitter laugh. "I know what Jeremy believes. He made that pretty clear. He is confused. All this supernatural crap has been a lot to take in, and finding out about Elara's curse couldn't have helped. I think that turning against her was easier than the thought of what it would be like to lose her." Elena brushed away the hair that had become stuck to her wet cheeks, wiping her nose on her jacket sleeve, and glared, jutting out her chin in defiance. "But for you to try to use that….well, it's pretty eye-opening. I am tired of both of you trying to destroy my family. I lost my parents, and now I find out some dead witch is trying to take my sister. I can promise you it's not going to happen. I will do whatever it takes — work with whomever I have to — to keep my family safe and together." Elena said, glancing between Damon and Stefan.

She pried my fingers from her arm, and I stepped away, releasing her from my protective grasp. Mason and Tyler circled, taking opposite sides — creating a barrier between the Salvatores and us.

"Elena, that's not what I was trying to do. I just wanted you to remember that Jeremy needs you. If you go through with this crazy plan, then you're going to get yourself killed. What then, huh? Who will Jeremy have to protect him? Elara won't be around much longer; he will be left all alone," Stefan said, taking a few tentative steps closer.

Mason moved forward, crossing his arms and blocking his path. Damon's eyes flashed, black veins growing on his face, and his lips pulled back in a snarl. Flexing his shoulders, he rushed toward Tyler — who hadn't noticed he had left himself vulnerable. Within a fraction of a second, Damon had thrown out my previous warning. He stood in front of Tyler and wrapped his hand around his throat, turning toward me with a triumphant smile, his fangs gleaming in the sunlight. Tyler coughed, clawing at Damon's hand, eyes bulging. Damon squeezed until Tyler's knees buckled, his face turning a dangerous shade of maroon. I knew what he was trying to do, and before Mason could react, I turned toward him, bringing myself to my full height.

"Do not move! Stay with Elena," I said.

Mason's body shook, his hands fisted beside him as he lowered himself into a crouch, but obediently remained in front of Elena. This would be my first test as their Alpha, and I could not fail. Damon had put me in a position I never wanted to be in, to choose between two groups of people I cared for. Calmly, I stepped in front of Mason, my face blank. Pushing down my fear and regret, I turned my head, taking in Stefan's shocked face. He made no move to interfere, and I felt anger burn away some of my guilt. With a flick of my fingers, I hid everything away, all my shame and pain, and focused on one thing — a reminder of their betrayal. Anger would get me through this.

The sickening snap of bones breaking rang in my ears, and Stefan fell to the ground, a silent scream building on his lips. He turned on his side, removing the weight from his broken knees, and continued to cry out in silence.

Damon's face fell, anguished shock replacing his usual cocky mask. His eyes widened with fury, and his grip on Tyler loosened.

"I don't want to do this. Despite your constant attitudes and hate-filled glares, I still care for you both, but Tyler is my friend and responsibility. Drop him, so I don't have to continue breaking your brother," I said, my voice cracking.

I could hear Elena crying, her tears coming in deep, gut-wrenching sobs, but I couldn't stop. I had to protect my friend and pack. Damon had brought this on Stefan and himself. Damon glared at me, his fingers digging into Tyler's skin, and smirked.

"You won't hurt him. Elena would never forgive you, and without her, your perfect Hybrid has no one for his ritual," he said.

The smile on his face spelled victory, and his grip on Tyler tightened. I hated what he was making me do. Closing my eyes, I lifted my hand, squeezing my palm shut with a pained grimace. I could hear the shattering of bone and felt bile rise in my throat. Stefan was still silenced, so his screams were for visual effect alone. I kept my head turned, eyes still closed against the cries of my sister and the picture of agony I was sure my former brother made. I opened my eyes and stepped closer to Damon. His face was ashen, eyes downcast.

"Do you still want to test me, Damon? You know I will do whatever it takes to protect what's mine. You both have severed ties with me. You've proven that you no longer consider yourselves mine. So maybe it's time for me to do the same," I shakily said.

Damons grip faltered, and Tyler slumped to the ground, gasping for air, spittle flying. I jerked my head toward his slumped form, and Mason and Elena rushed forward — pulling him to his feet. I kept my eyes on Damon as I snapped my fingers, releasing Stefan. "After all these years, I am sorry it ended up this way. I never wanted to hurt the two of you," I said.

Damons gaze roamed my face, his chest rocking as he rapidly inhaled. He glanced behind me, watching Mason and Elena carry Tyler to the porch. "So that's it then? We're enemies," he said.

It wasn't a question. It was a heady statement, a fact. He wasn't giving me the chance to prove my loyalty, nor was he fighting for me. Some things never changed. A single tear slipped from my eyes, and I looked away. I watched Elena fuss over Tyler as Mason hovered behind her — one eye always focused on me. I felt Damon shift and glanced back at him. With a brief hint of the old affection he once held for me, he placed his hand on my face, running his thumb over my cheek. His lips curled as he chuckled, eyes sparkling.

"With our history, I guess this was the only logical next step in our relationship. From friends to lovers, to enemies," he said.

I lowered my eyes from his face, fighting back the tears. Sniffling, I tried to laugh, a sob escaping my throat instead. "Yeah, why is it we never do anything the easy way?" I said.

With one final brush across my cheek, he released me, taking a step back. "Where is the fun in that?" he said.

I could see Stefan standing near the porch, his skin paler than usual, and winced. Damon stepped around me and headed toward his brother. Nervously gripping onto my shirt, I sidestepped the Salvatores, bounding up the porch steps.

"Are you okay?" I asked, lowering myself near Tyler.

A slowly healing purple handprint was visible on his neck, and I felt the sting of white-hot anger. "Yeah, I'm good. Thanks, for…ya know...not letting me die. I know how hard that must have been for you," he said.

Snorting, I gently slapped his arm. "Yeah, it was, but not so hard that I'd let my friend die. I take care of what's mine," I said.

Someone cleared their throat, and I stood, wiping off my knees. Turning around, I found Stefan staring up at me, his hazel eyes hard and filled with unmistakable and vast accusations. I quickly averted my eyes and folded my arms across my chest. "We still have a lot to discuss, Elara," he said.

I squeezed my eyes shut, taking a step away as if I could run from his harsh use of my current name. "You're right, Stefan, we do have things we need to discuss, but it's not going to be near as time-consuming as you assume. What Elena and I need from you is simple: remain at the Boarding house until Elijah can handle Nik," I said, shrugging.

Elena stepped forward, her lips pursed, nodding along as though she had been a part of the plan the whole time. "So, you are going to have Elijah handle the big reveal then?" I turned toward her and loosened my posture, fiddling with my bracelet. I hadn't thought of what I'd do if Elena hated the plan. She brushed her hair behind her ear. "Smart; at least he's invincible. Our very own Superman," she said, smirking.

I snorted, rolling my eyes as I tried to keep my mind from envisioning Elijah in a skin-tight super suit. "Superman wasn't exactly invincible." I barely kept from wincing as I avoided the many eyes glued to my face. I wasn't about to tell them Elijah and the others had their own versions of Kryptonite. "But yeah, you get the gist of the plan," I uneasily said, eyes downcast.

Elena rubbed her arms, nodding, and rotated her weight from leg to leg. "Okay. I think it's a good plan. We keep everyone away until Elijah can get us a meeting. Then we sit down with Klaus and tell him the truth about the ritual. He can't possibly ignore it - once he realizes we have inside info. Not to mention we'll have you," she said, smiling smugly.

I weakly nodded; I didn't want to ruin her optimism. I folded my arms, taking in the sour faces of the Salvatores, and leaned up against the door, propping my foot up behind me. They so obviously disagreed with Elena. To an extent, I couldn't help but understand. She was putting a lot of faith in my past with Niklaus. Even I had my doubts that he would be willing to put a stopper on his anger and see reason. Stefan groaned, lowering his chin, and ran his hand across the back of his neck — chuckling sarcastically.

"Elara, you can't seriously think this is a good idea? You're leaving our fate — Elena's fate — to the hopes that two Originals, two brothers, can stow away their family drama long enough to actually talk. You have to see why this plan is hard for me to get behind?" he said.

I tilted my head, frowning. He was right; the plan had flaws, but I still thought it was our best shot. I pushed myself off the door and focused on Stefan. "Your right. There is a huge chance this will blow up in our face, but what other choice do we have?" Stefan opened his mouth to speak, a cocksure scowl twisting his typically attractive features, and I raised a brow — swiftly cutting him off with a stern expression. "I know exactly what you're going to say, Stefan. You and Damon seem to think you know what's best. So why don't we walk through your plan?"

Damon stepped up onto the porch, a dark look coming over his face. I chose to ignore his tall frame and kept my attention on Stefan. "Let's just say we take Elena, toss her in a burlap sack, and make a run for it?" I brushed the hair out of my eyes and mimed throwing a heavy sack over my shoulder, bending my knee as I threw my head from side to side and acted like I was about to bolt for the border. Elena giggled and dropped her head, using her hair to shield her face. "Then what, huh? How do you plan to protect everyone else from Nik's wrath? Because I can promise you, he will rip through this town without an ounce of mercy — and he'll start with anyone Elena loves first. You can't protect everyone, Stefan, and even if you could, there's no hiding from him," I said.

I hated being the bearer of bad news, but he had to see reason. Stefan rubbed at his eyes, shaking his head. "There has to be another way. There is always another way. She doesn't have to die," he said.

This time Tyler stepped forward, studying Stefan carefully. "How many times has Elara told you that Elena will come out of the ritual alive? You need to pull the stick outta your ass and listen to her. Has she been wrong about anything else? No. So why are you and your brother being such assholes now?" he said.

Damon growled in warning, and Tyler smirked mockingly. "What? Can't handle the truth, big man?"

Damon took a quick step toward him, and Mason pulled Tyler back, his eyes narrowed and shoulders tense. Sighing heavily, I lifted my hands.

"Listen, I've explained this 'till I'm blue in the face. Elena will come out of the ritual alive."

Damon ran his tongue over his bottom lip, a sneer of disbelief painted on his face, and laughed bitterly. Ignoring him, I pushed on.

"If it makes you doubtful Debbies sleep easier, just remember that she has to come out of this alive. Nik's ritual will be incomplete without her," I said, cocking my brow and flashing them both a mocking sneer.

If they honestly believed I was using my sister to help Nik, then it had to make them feel better to know she had to live to satisfy him. Damon adjusted his jacket, running his hands down the leather agitatedly, and placed one foot on the porch step, turning back to lean toward me. "Just know, if she doesn't come out of this alive, then you won't have to wait on your curse to activate," he said, his blue eyes fiercely combing my face.

My breathing hitched, and I felt a sharp pang in my chest. I guess he was really taking this enemy's thing seriously. I bit my lip and lifted my hand, patting him on the cheek. He yanked his head back, taking a swift step off the porch, his hands clenched. Curiously, I watched as he bolted toward his car, his head slumped.

"I wouldn't expect anything less from an enemy, Mr. Salvatore," I dispassionately said.

His steps slowed at my words, but he never turned back. Stefan came up beside me and hesitantly glanced at Elena. "Damon and I will remain at the Boarding house for now. What will you tell Jeremy and Jenna?" he asked.

Elena perked up, trying to appear less nervous than she really was. Still, it was apparent she was curious to know my answer.

"I planned to have Alaric take Jenna to his place tonight and tell Jeremy to stay with Bonnie. Caroline can take care of Matt. They will all be sufficiently safe," I said.

Stefan looked over my shoulder at Mason and Tyler, bobbing his head in their direction. "And them? Are you going to have them stay at Lockwood Manor?" he asked.

I looked down at my feet, toeing the porch nervously. "No, they are going to stay with some friends. Carol and the manor should be avoided right now," I said.

I wasn't ready to reveal the pack to the Salvatores. I didn't trust them to act reasonably. I had no doubt that Damon would go off and do something stupid, and I wouldn't blame my wolves for trying to protect themselves if he attacked unprovoked.

"Friends? Why do I feel like you're keeping things from us again, Elara?" he said, releasing a long-drawn-out sigh.

Unconcerned, I shrugged, looking down at my nails. I didn't feel bad keeping the wolves hidden. They were mine to protect, and I could no longer trust Damon and Stefan. They had proven that on more than one occasion. "There are things that I don't plan to share with people I know I can't trust, Stefan? Mason and Tyler's friends have nothing to do with the ritual or Elena, so don't worry. They are my concern, and I am more than capable of handling it," I said.

Stefan pinched the bridge of his nose, frowning, he took one last look over his shoulder at Elena. She was having a quiet conversation on the porch swing with Mason, twisting a strand of hair around her thin pale finger, mindless of the attention on her. "If there is one thing that you accomplish in this life, Elara, let it be this: protect her. She doesn't deserve what your family has brought her. She is pure and good. Do right by her," he said, pulling his eyes away from Elena.

I felt a hollow pit growing in my chest and folded my arms around myself. I couldn't stop the selfish thoughts growing in my mind. When would the story stop being about the Petrova's? I nodded sharply, my fingernails digging into my arms. "Of course, I'll protect her; she's my sister. But try to remember that many didn't deserve the fate The Norns placed upon them. Elena isn't the only victim here, no matter how hard you try to make her out to be," I said.

Stefans face twisted with confusion, and he lifted a questioning brow. I patted him on the arm, unwilling to explain further, and stepped away. Mason's head lifted at my approach, and he glanced behind me at Stefan's retreating form.

"Everything okay?" he asked.

Patting Elena on the shoulder, I waited for her to scoot over before I took a seat beside my new Beta. "As good as it can be. They are going to head back to the Boarding house. I want you and Tyler to head out, okay? I need to call Elijah and set things in motion," I said.

Elena was nervously scratching at the swing's armrest, her gaze glued to her knees. Mason was quick to nod and rose from his seat, sending us swinging backward, and Elena was jolted from her thoughts, her breath catching in her throat in surprise. With a gentle laugh, Mason smiled down at her. "Breathe, Elena. Your sisters got this. She won't let anything happen to you or your family and friends," he assuredly said.

Elena took a deep, shaky breath and leaned back, smiling weakly — her tight white-knuckled grip on the chain dispelling the appearance of calm. Mason chuckled and shrugged his shoulder casually.

"You tried at least," he said, blue eyes crinkled.

Elena snorted, laying her head back with a groan. I placed my hand on her knee and motioned Mason toward Tyler — who was waiting at his truck. With a wave of his hand, Mason headed down the porch steps. I turned toward Elena, squeezing her knee. "You ready for this?" I said.

Elena lowered her chin, meeting my hesitant gaze. "I don't think I will ever answer that question with a yes. If you ever hear me saying I'm excited to set up a meeting with a vampire/werewolf Hybrid who wants to kill me, have me committed," she said, blinking owlishly.

I clamped my mouth shut against the laugh that wanted to escape and shook my head fiercely.

"But of course, straight to the asylum with you. You'd fit right in. Can you imagine the psychiatrist's face when you told him about our life?" I said.

Elena's face lifted, and she leaned forward, dropping her head on my shoulder — laughing heartily. "Oh my gosh, they would think I'm the looniest loon in the bin. It would be almost as good as when Sam and Dean got themselves admitted on Supernatural," she said.

I wrapped my arms around her and snuggled my face into her smooth dark hair. "I love you. You're such a closet nerd." I said, smiling.

After a few quiet moments of peace, Elena pulled away and rose to her feet. Holding out her hand, her expression hardening into something I had only ever seen in times of battle. "It's time, Ellie," she said.

I took her warm hand, mirroring her expression. I was proud of her. "You're right. Let's do this," I said.

Elena sequestered herself away in her room after sending Jenna off with Alaric to call Jeremy and Bonnie. At the same time, I took to alerting Caroline and Matt. It hadn't ended up being as awful as I assumed. Caroline had decided she would keep an eye on Matt until she knew he was safely tucked away in his house for the night. After that, she planned to spend the rest of her time with Stefan and Damon. She was still sufficiently pissed at them both, but there was safety in numbers. That being said, she was more than a little upset that Elena and I had decided to meet up with Niklaus and Elijah alone. It had taken some convincing, just as it had with the Salvatores, but soon she had understood my reasoning. Once I was finished making sure the people we loved were all hidden away, as best as they could be, I called Elijah. The phone rang almost ominously, the blaring tone a countdown to a meet up I knew I wasn't entirely ready for. My grip on the phone was vice-like, and my hand trembled when the line finally clicked — the answering voice was calm and elegant.

"Hello?" Elijah said.

I swallowed the thick tension building in my throat before I shakily stumbled through my words. "I-Its time. He's here," I said, shuffling my feet nervously.

A static sigh filtered through the line, and I stayed silent, allowing him a moment to process. I anxiously scraped my nail across the back of my phone case, awaiting his response.

"I expected as much. Last I'd heard, he had been on the move. Where is he now?" he said, the calm tone to his voice quickly changing to stern and assertive.

I kicked at the rug, flipping up the edge as I leaned against the back of the couch. "Apparently, he has taken up residence at Lockwood Manor. Mason and Tyler stopped by this morning to let me know. Luckily they found out before meeting him face to face. They came home to find Carol moving her things out of the master suite," I said.

Elijah hummed noncommittally, and I could hear the distant sound of him giving orders to someone. "What is your plan, Lannie?"

Crossing my ankles, I glanced at the stairs, wondering how Elena's conversation was going. I couldn't imagine Jeremy was making things easy.

"Well, I doubt it would be smart for me to just show up on the Lockwoods doorstep, throw up a peace sign and say, "Hey, it's me, welcome to Mystic Falls." I don't think that would go over too well. I figured I'd have you go to him and explain. What do you think?" I asked, wincing.

A deeply amused chuckle lifted my anxiety, and I exhaled gratefully. "I think that's better than yours and the rest of Mystic Falls' early demise. I assumed that would be your plan. You've never been particularly suicidal. I sent Jonas to set up a meeting. Niklaus will likely ask me to join him shortly," he said.

My stomach turned, and fear crept up my spine as I felt my anxiety rise again. "Be careful, brother," I warned.

The dial tone sang, a low steady hum, and I ended the call — turning to find Rebekah's wide, fearful blue eyes sealed on my nervous state. I jumped in surprise, my heart rate accelerating. I closed my eyes, placing my hand on my chest. I took a deep breath to calm myself.

"You know this isn't going to end well, don't you. Nik knows Elijah is here. He thinks he's turned against him," she said, placing her hands on her neck, her expression turning haunted.

I glanced down at my phone, my skin prickling. Had I just sent Elijah to be daggered? "What do we do, Bekah? I didn't know? I thought I had planned everything out perfectly. How did Nik know he was here?" I said, my voice rising with panic.

Rebekah turned, moving into the living room, her jeweled dressed swishing against her thighs. She stood in front of the window, and her translucent form shimmered as the sunlight poured right through her. She lifted her hand out beside her, looking down at the soft, buttery beam of light that pierced her. Closing her eyes, she turned away from the imagery. "I don't want this for Elijah." She looked into my eyes with a pleading expression. "I know we can't be sure it'll happen — as it has never happened to any of the others before, but it's still a chance I don't want to take." She patted her chest, eyes swelling with tears. "This may seem better than near eternal sleep, Elandra, but truthfully — I cannot say it is," she said.

I watched her mournfully, guilt mounting. I couldn't be sure, but I had always felt her...curse...was somehow my fault. "Oh B-Bekah, I am so sorry," I tearfully said.

I took quick, deliberate steps forward and placed my hands near her face, hovering close to her wet cheeks. "I will not allow any of our siblings to suffer this fate." I released a quick, steady breath and rotated my shoulders, shaking away some of the stress. "Go to Elijah, watch over him. Come to me if anything happens. We will protect him together," I said.

Where anything to do with Niklaus was concerned, my confidence was shaky at best, but I could do this for Rebekah and the others. Rebekah wiped the wet tracks from her face and took a deep calming breath, smiling with mock confidence.

"Of course we will, sister. Who else will keep them in line?" she said, scoffing lightly.

I laughed and bobbed my head, satisfied with her acceptance. I took a seat on the couch and stared up at her as she patted down her dress, taking a moment to prepare herself. "I'll be off then. Keep an eye out for my return," she said.

Without another word, she vanished, leaving behind no evidence she had ever been there. I leaned forward, taking my head in my hands, and released a deep, shuddering sigh. My body shook as I started to sob, gasping for breath. I hadn't given myself even a moment to take everything in since the Lockwoods had shown up, turning my world upside down. I grasped onto my hair, tugging at the roots as I cried, scared of what was to come. The stairs creaked behind me, and I sat back, rushing to wipe my face and nose. I sniffled quietly and felt a warm, firm hand on my shoulder.

"It's okay, Ellie. You don't have to hide from me," Elena said.

I glanced up at her, a watery smile all the response I could give. My eyes and nose burned, and I sighed, lifting my feet to curl up in the corner of the couch. Elena came around the side and sat down beside me.

"Everyone is so worried about how scary this must be for me, but no one has even bothered to ask how you feel. I can't even imagine what must be going through your heart and head," she said, twisting to face me.

Fumbling with a loose string on the pillow behind me, I stared at my sister's concerned face. "What I'm feeling right now is...well, more than I care to go into. I have waited for centuries to see Nik again. Still, now that the time is finally here, I-I don't even know what I'm going to say to him," I said, throwing my hands up in frustration.

I could feel my cheeks burning with shame and embarrassment and covered them with my hands, closing my eyes. Elena pried my palms from my face, squeezing them reassuringly.

"That's perfectly reasonable. Your life has been insane, El. You've been through so much. No one expects you to be perfect and have it all together. Take this one step, one moment, at a time," she said.

Sniffing self consciously, I smiled, circling the top of her hand with my thumb. "Thanks, Lena. You're being so kind, and you'll never know what it means to me," I said.

Elena leaned close and pulled me into a gentle hug. A shift in the room caught my eye, and I pulled away, squinting in confusion. Rebekah was standing in the corner of the room, her ash veined face scrunched up in despair. She crumbled to her knees, placing her hands on her chest.

"He did it, Elandra; he daggered him. There was nothing I could do. There wouldn't have been enough time to get you. We failed," she cried.

I stood, heedlessly rushing over. I lowered myself in front of her, my hand hovering above her head. "No, Bekah, maybe if you show me...maybe I can still do something." Pulling back, I placed my hand on my forehead, my gaze rushing around the room fruitlessly. I looked back down at her, putting my palms flat against my thighs. I took a moment to calm myself and looked into her eyes. "I need to know exactly what happened. To be able to help, I can't go into this blind, Rebekah. You have to take me there. Show me what happened," I said.

Elena stepped up behind me, clearing her throat awkwardly. "Um, Elara. What exactly are you doing? There...there isn't anyone there," she said, pointing at the seemingly empty air in front of me.

I glanced over my shoulder, nudging her next to me with my head. "Sit and be quiet. I can't do this if I'm distracted. It's incredibly difficult magic. And, you're wrong; there is someone with us, you just can't see her." Elena fumbled to her knees and pulled her legs beneath her, mouth gaping open like a shocked fish. I brushed her surprise away with the flick of my hand. "It's a part of being a witch. Sometimes we can see spirits. Mine just happen to be very...special," I said, blinking rapidly through the end of my explanation.

Rebekah turned up in her nose with distaste, her blue eyes squinting disdainfully. "She really is the worst doppelganger to date. Sorry, but it's true," she sniffed, ignoring my glare.

I shook my hands out in front of me. "Okay, enough! I need silence," I said, the tension bleeding into my tone.

I hesitantly leaned forward, placing my hands on either side of Rebekah's temple. I hovered as close as possible and closed my eyes. "Take me there. Start at the beginning; from the moment you appeared. I have to see what happened so that I know what needs to be done to fix it," I said.

I could feel her mind fumble, indistinguishable memories flashing past my eyes as fast as Autumn leaves on a breeze. Then she stopped, her mind shaking as she fixated on a single point in time. The memory was fuzzy at first, like a video that hadn't finished buffering. Still, the longer she focused — the harder she pushed herself to remember — the more apparent it became. In a sudden burst of color, she pulled me forward, yanking my mind into hers. I stumbled as I adjusted to the new atmosphere. Rebekah's subconscious was different from my own, and I felt off-kilter. Her mind was like a deep and fathomless ocean. There was a raw and unhealed pit of darkness and pain that I was not accustomed to. Rebekah had not been taught as I had, the ways to build and manage your mind — so everything was a screaming chaotic mess. I had made mine to be like a vast library, where I could bury parts of myself in the many volumes that occupied the shelves lining the layers of my subconscious. It was the perfect way to keep going without being weighed down by the terrible parts of my past the way Rebekah was. I had worked very hard at perfecting my internal library.

Her memory pulsed, beating against my skull sickeningly, until I found I was looking through Rebekah's blurry eyes at the sitting room in Lockwood Manor. For a moment, I thought it was empty until her focus turned to the dark brown chair situated directly in front of the east window. The cushy high back chair hid most of the man that was comfortably seated. His familiar dirty blonde hair was the only part of him that was easily visible. My mind cried out in pain and longing, and the connection flickered, the focus wavering as if to remind me to remain calm. I wanted to move forward, to catch a glimpse of his face, but apparently, that wasn't something Rebekah had done, so I was stuck standing just behind him. A knock sounded on the door beside us, and a young, beautiful dark-skinned woman entered. My mind hummed with annoyance at her skin tight red dress and plump, glossy lips, curled up in a smirk, as she glanced over at Niklaus.

"He's here. Should I bring him in?" she said.

Niklaus placed his elbow down on the armrest, and it almost felt like he was taunting me with one small piece of him at a time. He turned his head slightly to glance at the woman.

"Show him in," he tonelessly said with a careful nod.

With a tilt of her head, she left, leaving the door open behind her. Niklaus remained silent as he waited for her return; the only sound in the room came from the fire's crackling. The woman was only gone for a moment before the tapping of her jet black high heeled shoes alerted me to her imminent return. This time she wasn't alone. Elijah was gracefully following behind her, his hands hidden away in the pockets of his crisp oxford blue suit. His hair fell in his eyes as he lowered his head, entering the room with his eyes downcast. I was reminded again how much I really hated his hair cut.

The woman stepped to the side, folding her arms and revealing an ample view of her cleavage — the smirk still present on her overly glossed lips. Elijah pulled his hands from his pockets and walked over to the chair occupied by his brother. At Elijah's approach, Niklaus stood, a wicked smile accentuating the dimples in his cheeks. My attention was immediately fixated, and I greedily soaked him in. The last time I'd seen him was when Katherine had escaped the ritual, and it hadn't been a happy reunion. His hair was shorter but hadn't lost the slight curl that he shared with Rebekah. It suited him. I was surprised to find I didn't miss his long hair as much as I thought I would. Slight blonde stubble lined his sharp jaw, and I couldn't help the sudden urge to scrape my nails along his chin. He had a white button-up shirt on, with the top three buttons left undone, paired with a fitted black jacket. As he turned, I noticed he wore a set of beaded necklaces - a simple crucifix dangled in the middle, which sparked my interest immensely. His blue eyes flashed dangerously as he stared Elijah down. I could feel Rebekah's fear spike.

"Hello brother, what a pleasant surprise this is," he said, gesturing toward the chair facing him.

Elijah sighed wearily as he unbuttoned his suit jacket. He sat down, his eyes never leaving Niklaus's as he crossed his legs. With the unnerving smile never falling from his face, Niklaus took his seat, snapping his fingers. A door to my left swung open, and a tall blonde woman entered the room carrying a silver tray of refreshments, crystal tumblers of thick red liquid. Her small pale wrist had been hastily bandaged, and I felt a stir of nausea.

"I'm sure that by now you know why I'm in Mystic Falls," Elijah said, taking a glass from the tray.

Niklaus took his own glass — neither man acknowledging the woman, and she quickly made her exit. Rebekah's ethereal body moved forward, and I was rewarded with a better view. Niklaus ran his finger along his quirked upper lip.

"Ah, yes, it's not hard to guess why you're here. Though I can't help but wonder what your plan is?" he said, leaning forward, glass dangling from his fingertips.

Elijah calmly sat his glass down on the table beside him. "I didn't come here to fight with you, Niklaus, nor do I intend to stop you from completing the ritual. I came here to help you. There are certain...developments that you aren't unaware of," he said.

Niklaus scoffed, and his grip on his glass tightened dangerously. "I know everything I need to about the ritual, and you're paltry admits at sidetracking me will not work, brother. I have been trapped for far too long. Your weak heart will not get in my way. How easy it must have been for her pretty face to turn you against me," he said.

Elijah stood, shaking his head in disbelief. "No one has turned me against you. There is much that you do not understand. This town has given us more than just the doppelganger," Elijah said.

Niklaus sneered, an angry and hurt expression darkening his eyes. "Yes, I've been told that my moonstone used to be owned by the Lockwoods. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you, Elijah?" he said, standing to his feet and taking a measured step forward.

A crinkle of surprise appeared between Elijah's brow, and I felt a spark of shame, not Rebekah's own, darken her mind. I hadn't even thought to warn him. Carol must have mentioned the moonstone. Of course, she would have seen it at some point. Disgust grew on Niklaus's face, and he turned his head, gazing at the fire.

"This…" he vaguely gestured around in anger, his lips curling with hate. "...is why I cannot trust anyone. Always and forever never seems to last very long, does it," he scoffed.

I wanted to step forward, to reveal myself, but I felt as heavy as lead and remembered I wasn't really here. This was Rebekah's memory, and all I could do was sit by and watch — all the while feeling her pain and regret as I waited for it to end. Elijah stared incredulously at Niklaus, blinking in confusion.

"You are mistaken. I was brought here because of the doppelganger, yes, but I planned to tell you she was here. I am not your enemy Klaus," he said.

With an angry growl, Niklaus launched his glass across the room, where it shattered into tiny pieces - the red liquid running down the wall in mismatched shapes. "Liar! You've wanted revenge since the day I revealed that I buried our siblings at sea. You're a fool if you think I will allow you to take my doppelganger," Niklaus angrily declared.

Elijah raised his hand, the confusion still evident on his face. "If you would just let me explain—"

"Explain? Explain what, brother? That you came here to Mystic Falls so that you could destroy any chance I have at breaking my curse?" Niklaus chuckled darkly, black veins spreading out under his eyes. "Your anger and jealousy know no bounds. Do you think I don't know that it was you and your witch who used Elandra's voice to taunt me?" he growled.

Elijah's confusion cleared, and he snarled, taking a massive step forward. "I have never once used Elandra against you. You know she has always been off-limits," he said.

Niklaus scowled, baring his teeth in anger, and bitterly laughed. "You have always been angry that she chose me and not you. She may have thought your heart belonged solely to Tatia, but we both know you had quite the soft spot for what belonged to me!" Niklaus spat, face red with fury.

Shock and confusion whirled through my mind, and Rebekah's memory flickered in a warning. Elijah snarled, speeding forward to collide with Niklaus. He wrapped his hands around his collar. "How dare you! I never once tried to come between you and Elandra — despite my feelings on the matter. She is family, and I love her. You are a fool. I never tried to taunt you with your past. The fact that you won't give me five minutes of your time to explain proves what I once told her — you never deserved her," he said, releasing Niklaus with a disgusted grimace.

Niklaus stumbled backward, adjusting his shirt with a hateful sneer. "She never needed your love, Elijah. She had mine…"

Elijah sighed, running a hand down his face, and turned away — glancing out the window. "You weren't the only one to love and lose her, brother — we all did." Elijah brushed down his jacket, clearing his throat. With apparent uncertainty, he slowly turned back around. "But things can be different now. There is something you should know— "

Niklaus silenced his next words with the point of a dagger. Elijah gasped, grabbing hold of Niklaus's wrist, eyes filled with complete shock and betrayal. As Elijah's greying body started to collapse, Niklaus lowered him to the floor. I felt Rebekah's invisible form shiver with grief and allowed my own to cover me like a thick blanket.

"You'll soon be reunited with our siblings, brother," Niklaus whispered, standing to his feet.

With a snap of his fingers, the woman in the tight red dress entered the room, sparing Elijah's body only a brief emotionless glance. "Yes?" she asked.

Niklaus sat down, picking up Elijah's still full glass, and took a heady gulp before answering. "Bring Elijah's coffin here and place him inside. I'll take him to join the others later," he casually said, finger tracing his bottom lip.

The woman nodded and quickly left, leaving Niklaus alone with Elijah's 'corpse.' He glanced down at his brother's body and sighed. "Whatever you were trying to tell me won't matter in the end. I will still break my curse. No one will stop me," he said.

The room started to fade, and there was a sharp tug as I was shot back to reality. Well defined colors blurred my vision, and finally, I felt wrapped in a solid foundation again. I swayed, my vision flickering as I adjusted to my body and the bright living room light that was stinging my eyes. My stomach churned, and I felt Elena grasping onto my arms and pulling me into a seated position. I swatted her away and wiped the unattractive drool from my cheeks—a fun side effect of technically leaving my body absent and zombified.

"What happened? Are you okay? I thought you had, like, gone into a coma or something. I was about to call 911, or Stefan and Damon, or...I don't even know!"

Elena screeched, her nails digging into my arm.

I placed my head between my legs and took a long gulp of air, my lungs burning with the haste of it. I felt like I was going to be sick — for more than one reason. Some of what Niklaus had said left me rattled and confused. There was no way Elijah had ever felt anything but brotherly love for me. I refused to believe it. Niklaus was just paranoid. Now that was a well-known fact. Elena poked my arm, clearing her throat obnoxiously.

"Are you alive or brain dead after whatever you just did? Cause I gotta say, this lack of information thing kinda sucks," she said, huffing.

Laying my cheek on my knee, I looked up at her, rolling my eyes. "Well, now you can relate to the way Jer felt. It sucks, doesn't it?"

Elena scoffed, sitting back on her legs and angrily crossing her arms. "What the hell?"

Wearily sighing, I winced, sitting up. "Your right, that was low. I'm sorry. We don't have time to be rehashing old arguments," I said.

Elena unfolded her arms with a shrug, waving away my apology. With a soft smile, I turned to where I had last left Rebekah. She was still sitting in front of me, grey skin ashen, her blue eyes red and watery. I scooted forward, my throat thick and stomach heavy with the burden that was our family.

"What can we do?" she asked?

Licking my lips, I swallowed roughly. There were limits to what I could do, especially at times like this. I couldn't afford to weaken myself.

"I-I am not sure, Bekah. If I tried to travel to him, I could find myself coming face to face with Niklaus or one of his minions. I cannot guarantee the room I appear in is empty, and even if I get lucky, I will come back weak and useless for at least the next twenty-four hours. But I don't know, maybe there's something else I can do..." I said, hopelessly grasping at straws.

Tears started to well in Rebekah's eyes, and I ran my fingers through my hair, guilt, and fear leaking through my resolve. "I'll do it. It'll work out and, um, I am sure Elijah can take care of Elena just fine on his own…" I said, my voice breaking.

Rebekah wiped her eyes, shaking her head, curls flying. "No, no, you won't. For one thing, Elijah would never forgive us. For another, I can't take the chance of losing you — that I would never forgive myself for. Niklaus is likely on his way here; there's no time," she sadly said, confirming my own thoughts.

Elena tapped her foot, quietly humming an offbeat tune to catch my attention. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw her freighted gaze. She was holding the edge of the curtain, her cheeks quickly losing color, bottom lip caught between her teeth. Standing, Rebekah and I headed forward. Elena pulled back the edge of the curtain, her handshaking. "Look," she said.

I stepped behind her, moving her hair out of my way so that I could look over her shoulder. Rebekah sighed behind me, a deep agitated sigh of annoyance. Niklaus was standing on the sidewalk in front of our house. His hands rested atop our fence, head tilted to the side — a sly smile on his face.

"So that's him? The man you've loved for over a thousand years. He's cute..." Elena mumbled.

I looked down at her head, brow cocked, and chose to ignore her comment. Closing my eyes, I lifted my head toward the ceiling, praying to the Gods for strength. I patted Elena's shoulder and stepped around Rebekah, my hands on the back of my neck.

"Okay, so this is it. This is actually happening," I whispered, more to myself than Elena or Rebekah.

Elena released the curtain and glanced around, rubbing her arms. She pointed to her ear. "Can he hear us?" she said, nose wrinkling.

Rebekah chuckled humorously. "He would love this; he isn't even in the room, and she is freaked out." Eerily she walked over to Elena and scowled, glancing back at me with a roll of her eyes. "As if warding the house wasn't one of the first things you did as soon as vampires showed up." she scoffed.

I crossed my arms and shot her an unamused look before I turned to Elena, shaking my head. "No, no one can hear us. I spelled the house a while back."

Turning back to Rebekah, I smiled. "Beks, it's not like she knows that. She only recently remembered I can use magic. Give her a break. Who knows, maybe when we pull that dagger out of you, you two will be pals," I said, my smile growing into a smirk.

Rebekah stuck out her tongue, gagging dramatically. "Friends with a Petrova? Yeah, that'll happen the day I welcome a piece of White Oak to the chest," she said.

Elena's brows furrowed, and she cocked her head to the side. "Who the hell are you talking to? And what dagger?" she asked.

Before I could consider answering her, there was a sharp knock on the front door, and Elena released a startled gasp. "Shit, Shit! What do we do?" she said, shaking her hands out beside her in a panicked frenzy.

Rebekah stepped in front of me, her blue eyes wide, and pointed toward the stairs. "Hide! You should both hide. At least until we can figure out a way to wake Elijah. He was your only safe bet. Niklaus will kill you, Elandra," she said, a firm promise in her words.

I lowered my hand above her shoulder and shook my head. "I can't hide anymore, Bekah. This is the way it is meant to be. I have to do this for both Niklaus and Elena," I said.

Rebekah fisted her hands, her face scrunched up in anger. "Dammit, Elandra! What about you, huh? This doesn't have to be the way it ends," she breathlessly said.

I looked at her bright eyes and heated face, at the way her body was tense as if ready to launch into battle, and I felt my eyes burn — tears stinging the corners. She was so prepared to fight for me. "Thank you for loving me, and you're right. This doesn't have to be the end," I said.

Another earth-shattering bang rang in my ears, and I looked at Elena. "Answer the door but don't let him in yet," I said.

Elena unsteadily walked to the door, and I followed her, Rebekah gliding behind me. It took her a moment to gain enough courage, her hand clasping and unclasping around the doorknob. Still, finally, Elena took a deep breath and cracked open the door, peeking her head out. I pressed myself against the wall, hiding just out of view, and felt my lungs burn with the need to breathe.

"Hello? Can I help you?" Elena meekly asked.

"Well, aren't you something? I've come to retrieve you, little Petrova," Niklaus said.

Elena shuffled her feet, her grip on the door tightening, and inhaled sharply. "Um, I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about. My name is Elena Gilbert," she tried. "I think you have the wrong house."

Niklaus chuckled darkly, and Elena reflexively leaned back. "Oh no, love, you know exactly what I'm talking about. I believe you've met my rather charming brother. I'm sure he regaled you with our whole sordid tale during his attempt to save your life," he said.

Elena took hold of the door with both hands to steady herself and laid her head against it, releasing an exasperated sigh. "Your right; Elijah told me your story, but it wasn't him who told me about the ritual. I'm sorry to tell you this, but you're outta the loop. There is something so much bigger than me in Mystic Falls," she said.

Niklaus let out a frustrated growl, and Elena jumped, the door wobbling in her grasp. "I am so sick of the games. Invite me in, now!" he snarled.

Elena took a shaky breath and glanced over her shoulder, catching my eye. I could feel Rebekah hovering behind me, her body quivering with freight. I tried to ignore her in an attempt to control my own fear. I took a deep breath and tried to stop my hands from trembling by wrapping them around my stomach. With a terrified nod, I stepped into the middle of the hallway, eyes planted on my feet as Elena turned back around.

"How about I just show you what I mean? This is probably what we should have done from the beginning, but we were afraid of your reaction. Apparently, it wasn't great the last time," she said, pushing the door open and stepping off to the side.

To my shock, there was complete silence; the air was still, not a whisper of surprise or anger, and for a moment, I thought that maybe Elena was still blocking his view. The silence was just enough to make me feel brave enough to glance up, and that's when I realized nothing was okay. Niklaus was standing frozen on the doorstep, his eyes locked onto my still form. There was no emotion on his face, and I felt my heart stutter. I searched him, hoping to find something, even anger, but there was nothing. Then I met his eyes. I had seen so many different emotions directed at me from those blue eyes: love, happiness, sadness, anger - at one point when he had thought me a doppelganger, even disgust, but now as he stared at me with a cold hatred, I had only ever seen him use on his worst enemies, I could say I had never expected this. My mouth fell open in an attempt to speak, but words failed me, and I floundered in the heat of his hate. Elena stared, her head snapping between us, and I glanced at her — begging for any help she could offer. With sad eyes, she held out her hand, gesturing toward me.

"This is my fraternal twin sister, Elara," she weakly said.

Niklaus's face twisted, his expressionless demeanor changing into one of pure agonized fury. He slammed into the barrier barring him from entering the house, fruitlessly banging his fists against the invisible wall. "How dare you use her face! I will rip you apart!" he screamed, teeth bared and face fully transformed.

Elena stepped away from the door, coming to stand beside me, her brown eyes fearfully wide. She looked at me in pure shock, and I warily rubbed the bridge of my nose. With a furrow between her brows, Elena looked back at the door. Niklaus was still beating at the barrier, snarling as he screamed obscenities. "Oh my God, you can't be serious!" she turned back to me and motioned at his freak out. "He can't be serious? What does he think we did, replicate the movie Face Off or something? It's so obviously you," she said.

Niklaus stopped pounding away at the barrier and took a deep breath, laughing mirthlessly. "Elandra died over a thousand years ago. My mother and father had her burned for witchcraft. That-" he placed a finger against the barrier, glaring at me with malice. "-is either another doppelganger or a witch with a death wish. It doesn't really matter which. I will kill you either way," he said, glaring at me with pure hatred.

Elena scoffed, crossing her arms with distaste, and I shot her a warning glare. "What? He is ridiculous. Even if you were a doppelganger, why would that automatically earn you a death sentence? It's insane; he's insane!" she said, shoving her finger in Niklaus's direction.

Niklaus slammed his palms against the barrier, and I jumped, my eyes narrowing in on his satisfied smile. "No one ever said he wasn't, Lena. I believe Lijah and I both warned you that his anger was something to behold," I said, holding out my hands toward him as if to demonstrate my point.

Niklaus sneered, turning his head. "So this is what my brother planned to tell me. You were meant to distract me from the ritual." His lips turned up in a casual smile as he crossed his arms, leaning up against the door frame. "I'm almost disappointed in him. I can't believe he thought this would work. I would have thought the little servant girl would put him off the idea," he said, chuckling.

My stomach rolled, and I felt a sharp pain in my neck at the reminder. I hated it when my past lives came back to haunt me. Elena winced on my behalf, and I saw her jaw tick as she fought back an apparent tirade. I stepped forward, tilting my head as I took in his face. His expression shifted at my approach, and I could see his hesitancy and discomfort. I knew my appearance had changed a lot since I had last known him, much in the same way his had, but at the core of things, I was still me. It couldn't be any easier for him to see me again than it was for me to see him, and that was what kept me moving forward.

"Nik, I am sorry that this is being thrown at you when you already have so much to deal with, but it is me, and I need you to see that," I said. I stood in front of the barrier and let him take me in. His blue eyes traced my face before traveling down my body as if memorizing me, and I remained still, allowing the judgment. "I can explain how, I can explain everything," I said.

Niklaus's eyes fell from my body, and he placed his hands on the door frame, pushing himself away from me. "If you're really, Elandra, then let me in," he said.

I knew inviting him inside would be a mistake; I could tell just by his body language that he still didn't believe me, but I didn't have any other choice. He would never give me a chance to explain. I had to get the worst over with. I felt Rebekah's presence at my side and heard her rushed breath in my ear.

"Don't do it, Elandra. He will kill you," she begged.

I spared a look back at Elena, filling my eyes with a plea for forgiveness, and placed my hand on my chest. "I don't have another choice," I said, looking back at Niklaus. "Come inside, Nik."

I felt him long before I saw him, his large calloused hands wrapping tightly around my throat. My breath left my lungs as he sped us across the room. My body roughly collided with the wall, and a cry of pain tried to crawl up my throat but never found its way as my airway was cut off by his tight grip. I dug my fingernails into his wrists, my eyes bulging out as I stared into his eyes, but there was nothing there for me to grasp onto, no love or compassion. It was like there never had been. My mind was failing me as images flashed past my blurry vision. Elena, Jeremy, Jenna, Caroline, Matt, Tyler. So many people I had been unable to save. It was over, and here I was, dying at the hands of the man I loved, yet again. I could hear panicked cries and blinked, coming back to myself for a moment as Elena flew forward, slapping at Niklaus' shoulders and back.

"Stop, you're killing her. You're killing Elandra! She isn't a doppelganger. Please, stop. It's my sister, please," she cried.

Niklaus's grip on me faltered, and I took in a quick rattled breath of air, my throat burning with hot firey pain. He pressed his hand against my chest and pushed me into the wall so that I couldn't attempt to escape and glanced over at Elena with exasperation. "Look, I am a bit busy right now, little Petrova. I don't have time for your nonsense," he said.

With a quick movement that my eyes barely registered, he flung Elena across the room. Her body slammed into the back of the couch, her head snapping forward, and I whimpered. He lowered his head, looking back down at me, and brushed the hair from my face.

"Oh, don't worry, I would never hurt her; I need her. She'll be fine. Now, where were we?" he said, wrapping his fingers around my neck.

I felt my windpipe close off again and gasped for air, tears falling from my eyes. My vision started to blur, but I saw a flicker appear behind Niklaus's shoulder before I faded utterly. My mind started to clear again, and I focused on the image of Rebekah.

"Dammit, Elandra, stay with us! Stay. You have to show him who you are. Are you a witch, or aren't you!?" she cried out.

I looked up at Niklaus and pulled my hands from his wrists. With the remainder of my strength, I placed my hands on his temples, closing my eyes. Warm empty darkness surrounded me, and I felt the pain in my neck fade completely as confusion, wonder, and anger filled my mind. Still, I ignored the emotions that I knew didn't actually belong to me. Instead, I focused on pulling Niklaus into a memory I knew he couldn't deny belonged to Elandra Rioult. The darkness flickered, and we started falling, the air around us stiff and unyielding. The darkness gave way to blinking lights as we were cocooned by an array of memories. They sped by too quickly to actually make out anything but brief glimpses of faces, some smiling, crying, laughing. There were too many to distinguish one person from another, and I quickly got bored. The speed at which we were traveling started to slow, and I closed my eyes. My body jolted, and I felt warm wet earth beneath me. I felt around beside me, pulling up chunks of grass. Sunlight poured through my eyelids, and I slowly squinted, opening my eyes. I lifted my hand, dropping the dirt beside me, and shielded my vision. The sky was a clear bright blue, and I stood to my feet, glancing around in accomplished amazement. Taking a deep breath, I touched my temple, smiling triumphantly.

"Where the hell am I, witch?"

Spinning on my heel, I turned to find Niklaus standing a few feet away, looking down at his seemingly human form. "What did you do to me?" he shakily said.

It took me a second to come to terms with his appearance. It had been so long since I had allowed myself to linger on these memories. Yet here he stood, shoulder-length partially braided hair, long sleeve white shirt and black vest, amulet around his neck. It was like nothing had ever happened, no vampire or immortality curse. I shook it off and stepped forward, only then realizing I had also reverted to my original appearance. I lifted my heavy grey dress and continued toward him, brushing my braided red hair over one shoulder.

"I brought you to a moment in our past, my memory of it at least. Don't worry about what's happening on the outside. Time passes slower out there. You'll still be killing me, and I'll still be dying when we are ready to return," I said.

Niklaus angrily rushed toward me, his pace slow and human, he paused, looking down at himself in shock. I smiled, satisfied by his pure surprise. "Oh yeah, in my memory, at this point in time, you're human." I used air quotes and wiggled my nose. "So this-" I gestured toward his body. "-version of you will be too. I mean as human as you ever were," I said, laughing.

Niklaus glared at me, rolling his eyes at my joke, and turned up his nose, picking at his clothes and hair. "Send us back now. This will convince me of nothing. You could have very easily taken us into my mind," he said.

Reaching out, I took his wrist, ignoring his loud snarl of protest. "There is no way you'll believe that after I take you through my day — Elandras day. We will be able to see everything I did, every person I spoke to. Things you could have never known. Then we will watch the end of it, and believe me, it's not something I want to relive, but it's something you have to see. Only then will you understand and believe who I am," I said.

Niklaus yanked his wrist from my grasp. "What are you talking about?" he dangerously asked, blue eyes crinkling with discomfort.

My face twisted, and I reached out for him again. He took a step away, and I saw the moment his belief started to waver. He glanced around us, truly taking in our surroundings, and his shoulders shook as he took in a sharp breath. "No. I won't do it. You can't be her. You died," he said, teeth bared as he stepped forward.

He took hold of my shoulders and leaned forward, placing his nose on my neck. He took in a deep, shuddering breath and his whole body deflated as he gently shoved me away. "No.." he defeatedly repeated.

I wiped the tears from my eyes and held out my hand. "Let me show you the truth, Nik," I said.

Avoiding my eyes, he stepped around me, his shoulders slumped. "Show me what she did to you," he icily said.

I briefly closed my eyes and followed him. Of course, he would figure it out without much prompting. After all, he suffered from his own curse at the hands of Esther Mikaelson.