AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey all! Wow you guys definitely liked that last chapter! Have a treat for you since I never post this fast. You get this new chapter today! :-) Sure you all are chomping at the bit to find out just what exactly happened to Elena. Don't worry it will all be explained in due time. ;-) The actual Elejah relationship isn't happening quite yet, but is coming up. There's things they have to work through first.

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~

Looking down at the girl, no, young woman, in his arms, he couldn't let his mind go to what he would have to do if they failed. There were many things Elijah had done in his life that he regretted doing, that he felt guilt and sadness over. He wouldn't add taking Elena's life to that list. Even if he'd only be around minutes longer than she, the guilt of such an act would kill him before the spell ever had a chance. The only way to ensure that they'd all be coming out of this alive was to not lose this fight. The cost was too great.

They could not fail.

Chapter 11 - Break The Chain

Walking up to the old witch house from the forest, Damon and Stefan debated their options. "You know, if we were to let Esther finish the spell, it'd be bye bye Original family and you'd have your revenge on Klaus," Damon suggested cheerily, watching his brother's face. "There'd be minor collateral damage... Sort of."

Sighing, Stefan forced down any reaction. "Elena would give her own life to save her friends, Damon. Regardless of what I want, I know that's not minor collateral damage to you. Besides... If we don't do this..."

"Elena dies anyway," Damon muttered as his eyes darkened. "You know she'll never forgive us for what we're about to do, right?"

Stefan swallowed thickly and crossed his arms. "That's a risk we'll have to take brother. You ready for this?"

Chuckling, Damon shook his head before straightening his jacket. "Not a chance in hell, but we know what will happen if we don't." Taking a deep breath, he glanced around before moving quickly past the trees to the unoccupied side of the house. "Let's get this over with."

Stalking through the trees, Kol was snapping every little twig in his path. "I can't believe that we're having to do this." He knew he was sulking, but the pain, anger, and utter betrayal he was dealing with weren't really inspiring him to do much else. Klaus grabbed his shoulder and brought him to a halt. Turning to look at his older brother, Kol was stunned when Klaus pulled him into a hug. "Nik, what the-"

"Breathe, Kol. Take a breath and focus," Klaus ordered, gripping his brother tightly. "I know you're hurting, we all are, but right now I need you to stay focused. Our siblings are counting on us to be there. We can't let them down."

Growling, Kol's hands clenched into fists. Jerking back, he glared at Klaus. "What about our other brother, Nik? Finn's not counting on us to be there. He's counting on sending all of us to an eternal grave!"

Klaus frowned slightly at the reminder before shaking it off. Elijah was trusting him to get them there. He wouldn't let his brother down this time. "We'll deal with Finn after we've dealt with Esther and stopped this bloody spell. We can't very well deal with him if we're all dead now can we?"

"I suppose not," Kol muttered, dropping another snapped tree branch on the ground. The rage clearing for a moment, he ran a hand through his messy hair. "When did our lives get so screwed up, Nik? When did our own Mother become our worst enemy?" Watching his brother's face, he knew Klaus didn't have any better of an answer for him then he could think of himself, but he had to try and find some logic to it.

Swinging an arm across his little brother's shoulders, Klaus led him through the trees. "About a thousand years ago, Kol. Now let's go make sure we can have a thousand more to make things right again."

Bonnie and Abby jerked their heads up when they felt another pulse go through the air. Bonnie went to ask her mom what was going on, but Finn's yelling stopped her. "They're coming, Mother!"

Shaking her head, Esther stepped into the circle. "The moon isn't high enough. Go inside. Quickly!"

Glancing at Abby, Bonnie nodded her head and as they made it to the steps, she finally got the chance to question her mother. "What is going on? What was that out there? Why were we the only ones to feel it?!"

Leading Bonnie inside Abby could only shrug her shoulders. "I wish I knew, Bonnie. I've been around magic my whole life, but it still surprises me at every turn." Biting her lip, she turned towards her daughter. "What I do know, is that something doesn't feel right about this. Any of this. Esther's the one casting this spell, and the best I can figure is that the spirits are trying to warn us about whatever is going to happen. What..." she paused before steadying herself. "What or who did that energy feel like to you out there?" Watching Bonnie's expression, Abby knew the minute she figured it out.

"Grams! It felt like Grams, but how is that even possible? She was supposed to have crossed over by now!" Bonnie yelled, her emotions getting the best of her.

Abby went to speak, but stopped and was staring over Bonnie's shoulder. "Sheila..."

Spinning around Bonnie felt tears welling up in her eyes. "Grams... Why? How are you here?"

Gently smiling at them both, Grams reached out to touch Bonnie's face. "No more tears, baby, there's no time for it. I'm here because you need to know the truth about what's happening. Both of you do."

"Sheila, what ritual is Esther doing exactly?" Abby asked cautiously, feeling her gut twist in anxiety again. She knew something wasn't right. Seeing the sadness in Sheila's eyes only confirmed it for her. "It's not only going to kill the Original family... Is it?"

Shaking her head, Sheila exhaled heavily. "I'm afraid not, dear ones. There's a bit of a catch that Esther left out. A sacrifice she knew you wouldn't be willing to make."

"What? Grams, what are you saying? What sacrifice?" Bonnie had seen the dread filling Abby's face and looking at her Grams, it was there as well. When Grams remained silent, Bonnie felt her heart rate skyrocket. "What sacrifice?!"

Knowing she had to tell them, Sheila Bennett had never felt more helpless than she did right now. "The spell that Esther cast that night at the Ball did more than bind the Mikaelson's lives together, baby. If she completes the ritual tonight, it will kill them, but..."

"But what?" Bonnie snapped, tired of the dancing around.

"But it will kill Elena as well," Stefan said from behind them as Damon and himself made their presence known. Leaning against the wall, they nodded at Sheila. She knew why they were here and they knew she wouldn't be able to stop them even if she wanted to. All she could do was be there for support. It was the only way to end this madness. There must always be a balance.

Feeling the air leave her body, Bonnie felt like she'd been punched in the stomach. "No... No, you're lying! Esther promised this would be the end of all the violence!" she yelled, unable to believe him. Looking at Damon, then Abby, and finally back to Grams, Bonnie felt panic rising in her. "It's not true. It can't be true. Right? Elena will be fine won't she? Grams?"

Frowning, Sheila shook her head. "I'm afraid not, Bonnie. If that woman is able to complete this spell, it will end some of the violence, but Elena will die. She won't... Her existence will be completely erased."

Furious that she'd been tricked, Bonnie struggled to keep her magic in check. "Then how do we stop her? Tell me what to do and I'll do it!"

Sadness filling her eyes again, Sheila shook her head. "You can't do anything, Bonnie. Neither of you can. She's channeling your magic already, and there's no way you can stop her."

"What! No! There has to be something we can do! Elena can't die because of this!" Bonnie cried, sparks flickering around the room as she started to lose control.

Damon and Stefan glanced at each other when the building started to rattle. "Think now is a good time to step in?" Damon quipped to his brother who just shook his head in annoyance. Stefan walked over and grabbed Bonnie's shoulders

"Bonnie. Bonnie, look at me! We can save Elena, alright? Just calm down," he instructed, watching the room start to settle before meeting her baffled stare.

"Stefan, what are you talking about? You heard Grams. There's nothing we can do. It's too late," she choked out weakly.

Crossing his arms, Damon decided to break the news to them. He knew Sheila and Stefan wouldn't be able to do it. Like ripping off a bandaid, he thought to himself before thinking how stupid that saying was given the severity of the situation. "There's nothing you can do," he clarified as he walked up next to Stefan. "She never said that about the two of us," he pointed out gesturing between Stefan and himself.

Scrunching her eyebrows, Bonnie was confused, but weary when she saw the look in Stefan's eyes. "What do you mean? You have a way to stop Esther?"

"Yep!" Damon confirmed cheerfully, before he grew serious again. "It's not too complicated really. We just have to break the chain of the magic," he explained, not able to bring himself to say it outright.

"Break the chain? The only way to do that is-," Abby stopped when she finally understood what they were saying. "Oh god."

Stefan sighed and nodded. "One of you has to die," he muttered.

At that point, Bonnie's world just stopped completely. "Oh."