AUTHOR'S NOTE: So how'd everybody like that last bit hmmmm? ;-) Things are getting interesting. Keeping this note short so you guys can just enjoy the story!

DISCLAIMER: No I don't own Elijah, Elena, or anything to do with that which is The Vampire Diaries series. This is just my version of it. ;-)

Bound By Blood

~Previously in Bound By Blood~

Grimacing, Elena smiled bitterly for a second before looking into his eyes. "Esther didn't plan on me figuring this part out."

"Figuring what out?" Rebeckah butted in, her curiosity getting the best of her.

Keeping her eyes on Elijah, Elena answered her by whispering, "If you die... I die."

Chapter 5 - You Have My Word

If he was being quite honest, Elijah was stunned to the point of being speechless.

"E-Elijah?" Elena prompted nervously, watching the Original's face for any reaction. It had to have been at least 5 minutes since anyone had spoken. Since she'd revealed the catch in Esther's spell. Part of it anyways, she thought bitterly. Glancing at Rebeckah, she realized both Original's were in a total state of shock at her small revelation. Worrying her lip between her teeth, she wasn't sure what to say. "Rebeckah?" She called softly, sighing in relief when the blonde's head finally snapped up to meet her eyes looking confused. Tilting her head to the side, Elena motioned to Elijah, silently asking for her help.

Brows furrowed, Rebeckah glanced at her brother upon Elena's request and immediately understood the girl's concern. Elijah wasn't moving at all. He wasn't even breathing, which while it wasn't necessary for them to do so to survive anymore, Rebeckah knew her brother had always maintained that small aspect of life functions to try and stay somewhat closer to humanity. For him to be so still, it truly worried her.

Walking up to him, Rebeckah grasped his shoulder. Elijah? Feeling him tense slightly, she squeezed his shoulder gently. Brother, what's wrong?

She can't be serious, he thought back, staring both at Elena and nothing at the same time. There were very few things in life that surprised him anymore. Looking at Elena, Elijah just couldn't wrap his head around what she'd told them. He didn't want to believe her life was tied to theirs. Rebeckah, she can't be serious about that... Can she?

Ask her, Elijah. We won't know anything until then. You need to do something though because you're scaring the poor girl half to death, she thought in reply, watching as his eyes finally came back into focus at her words. Releasing his shoulder, she took a deep breath to try to ease her own nerves about the situation. They were running out of time, but they needed to know what Elena meant.

Grasping Rebeckah's hand briefly, Elijah smiled at her. "Thank you, sister," he murmured gratefully.

She weakly nodded back. You're my brother, Elijah. Family takes care of each other.

Nodding again, he forced back his own concerns and reminded himself there were bigger problems to worry about. His family was in danger, and being the eldest it was his job to protect them. Especially his sister. They might not all always see eye to eye, but Elijah knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that his brothers would raise hell were anything to happen to Rebeckah. She was their balance for a thousand years. They couldn't lose each other.

Facing Elena once more, he felt a pang of guilt at the expression on her face. She'd gone pale and kept nervously shifting her gaze between Rebeckah and himself. She looks so scared, he thought before confusion crept in. Why now? She's known her life was at risk before and yet it's only now the panic sets in. Surely she's not afraid of us.

Stepping forward slowly, he watched her eyes lock on him as the rest of her went still. "Elena, I... I'm not quite sure what you're saying," he admitted gently, not wanting to startle her.

Her mouth twitched in a sad smile before she looked down. "My life is tied to the lives of your siblings and yourself, Elijah. If your family dies... I cease to exist," she whispered, crossing her arms protectively over her chest.

"How is that even possible?" Rebeckah asked, giving Elijah time to think as he studied Elena's expression. When she looked up at him again, he could see it in her eyes. The one thing none of them had ever considered.

"Because her bloodline created us," he muttered, feeling rage start to course through him again. How could Esther be so cruel? Elena was an innocent. He might not know the extent of the spell, but he knew Esther was breaking the one belief that the witches held above all else. Protect the innocent. Killing Elena even indirectly was abolishing that and it made him feel empty and numb to think he had once called that woman his mother. That woman was not his mother. That woman wasn't even human anymore. She had no feelings.

Gulping, Elena meekly nodded her head. "Correct, Elijah. When Esther said she needed my blood, the blood of the Doppelgänger," she spat out bitterly, before continuing, "To bind your lives together, something didn't feel right. Then I remembered what you both told me of your family's history and of how you were turned. Like you said Elijah, the Doppelgänger was created as a fail safe. It wasn't just for Klaus like we originally thought...," she paused before meeting his stare. "It was for all of you."

"So if we aren't alive, then you..." Elijah couldn't say it, but he didn't have to when Elena did it for him.

"Then I no longer exist because the Doppelgänger isn't necessary," she finished, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. It just... It didn't seem important in the grand scheme of everything going on," she murmured, totally flooring the Original siblings.

Glancing sideways, Elijah saw Rebeckah's eyebrows had shot straight into her hairline in shock. When she looked at him, they shared a look of utter bewilderment. Sure, Rebeckah didn't exactly get along with Elena, but she did respect the girl's determination to protect those whom she cared about. For her to think so little of herself though... It didn't make sense. How could her life being in danger not be important?

Before either of them could say anything, Elena shook her head and said, "The rest can wait. We don't have time for it. Elijah, you have to go now if you want to have any chance at stopping Esther."

"Elena, I-," he tried to speak, but she wouldn't let him.

"No! There's no time! I have one thing to ask of you and then you have to go," she said, frantically grabbing the lapels of his coat. Feeling him tense up, Elena realized what she was doing and went to release him when his hands came up to grip hers.

Searching her eyes, Elijah held her steady as her breathing settled. She was scared. He could see it clear as day, but there was also pain. So much pain. The spark he'd always seen in her eyes was fading into ash. The Elena Gilbert he'd come to know all this time was disappearing and that... That unsettled the Original the most. It also made the guilt he felt over what had been done to her increase tenfold. "Name it," he rasped out.

Biting her lip, Elena closed her eyes, inhaling deeply to still her thoughts. I'm sorry everyone. Opening her eyes, she set her jaw and looked from Rebeckah, who was admittedly looking quite perplexed and stressed, back to Elijah who was giving off the ever calm and together vibe again. "If you're unable to find a way to stop Esther before she finishes the spell tonight, Elijah... I want your word that you'll kill me before it happens."

Eyes widening, Elijah tightened his grip on her hands briefly. "Elena, that's not going to be necessary. Surely, you don't want tha-"

"Gilbert, you can't be serious!" Rebeckah snapped, disbelieving what the girl was asking of her brother. She knew she was being rude, but this was insane!

"I do want this and I am serious," she bit out glaring at Rebeckah, and cutting them off abruptly before either of them could try to change her mind. It almost reminded Elijah of the old Elena and gave him pause. When she turned towards him, he could see that part of the girl he knew was still there. Even if that part was wanting to die, the real Elena was still in her. "I don't want to just disappear, Elijah. If things go sideways tonight, I want to die on my terms. I want you to be the one to do it. My life might be short and it might be insignificant, but it's still a life, Elijah! My life," she choked out, trying to hold the tears at bay once more.

Opening his mouth, Elijah tried to think of something to say. Anything to change her mind. "Elena, we'll find a way-"

Her jaw trembling, Elena frowned and shook her head in determination. "No, Elijah, you don't know that. None of us do!" she snapped, angrily gritting her teeth. "I'd rather die early and cause the ones I love temporary pain, than die from the spell and have no record of my life ever happening! If you don't succeed tonight, I die anyways. We all do. If you kill me, I'll die knowing my existence still meant something to someone. Even if only for a little while," she sighed weakly, letting her gaze fall to where their joined hands were resting between them. "Please, Elijah, just give me this one thing. Please."

Jaw clenching, Elijah closed his eyes feeling older than he ever had in the last thousand years and forced himself to swallow past the lump in his throat. It was unthinkable. She couldn't possibly want this! His mind was in turmoil, trying to deny what he knew to be true. Elena might not be the same girl he met all those months ago, but her mind still worked all the same. When she set her mind to what she thought was right, there was no turning back. Worst of all, his family had been the reason for her suffering. His family had done this to the kind, strong, brave young woman he'd met in that abandoned house. He had no right to deny her this one request. Not after everything he'd done to her and failed to do for her in the past. If this was what she wanted, then Elijah would grant her that one moment of peace.

Grip tightening on her hands, Elijah released one hand to grasp her chin. Slowly lifting her face, he trailed his eyes over her features. Her long, straight chocolate brown hair, her olive skin, but most importantly her deep dark brown eyes that revealed everything one had to know about her. Everything that was Elena. She saw herself as just another copy. He saw one of the strongest people he'd ever known, who was just on the verge of breaking.

Forcing himself to move, he nodded briefly and staring in her eyes, Elijah whispered, "You have my word."