Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay, I've been busy with a bunch of Christmas preparations and my health decided to act up, so I've found myself short on time. I'm not super happy with this chapter... But everything is about to take a different turn from here on, so I suppose that's something!


Disclaimer: I don't own The Vampire Diaries


When the music stopped, Elena wasn't back. Damon pulled away from me and ignored me shaking my head at him. I caught Stefan's eye from where he stood, and he started walking after Damon with a grim look on his face.

Then, Elena came out above the stairs in her black dress and Damon stopped.

I took a shaky breath. Well, that was one crisis averted. Gathering my dress, I walked up behind Damon. ''She seems fine,'' I said to his back.

''Yeah,'' Damon replied without turning around, and then he walked off. I sighed and tried to come to terms with that he'd probably be mad at me about this for a while. He should be mad at me. I was, but kept hoping that it had been worth it. And the only one who knew was Elena, but there was no sight of her.

Finding a black dress in a lit room with white walls was a lot harder than it sounds. Everywhere I looked, there was a man in a dark suit or a woman in a dark blue or grey dress, and they all moved around. A woman I'd never seen before looked at me funny, and I realised that I'd stared her down a few times already.

Then everybody stopped moving, and I thought I was finally going to make some progress, until I too heard the clink of someone proposing a toast. Everyone was facing the staircase again. My eyes went to where they were all looking, and saw Esther positioned above all of us, alone.

She had a smile on her face as she spoke. ''Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.'' Her voice was smooth, with the hint of an accent different from both Elijah's and Klaus'. In her hand, she had a glass of something sparkling and pink. ''Waiters are coming around with champagne. I invite you all to join me in raising a glass. It provides me with no greater joy then to see my family back together as one. I'd like to thank you all for being part of this spectacular evening. Cheers!''

I couldn't put my finger on it. Something about her words was off.

Suddenly, her eyes went to mine and I was unable to look away until she did.

The drink in my hand remained untouched, but I didn't realise why until everyone around me had taken a sip. Something in me refused to drink it. Not that I thought it would be poison, but my gut was screaming that there was something wrong with it.


I scoured the room for Elena. My gaze swept over the people there, for the first time this night getting a good look at them. Carol Lockwood was there, so were several others from the Founder's Council. A few teachers from school... and then a bunch of people I'd never seen before.

Slowly making my way through the crowd, I kept my head up and eyes peeled for any glimpse of long dark hair or dress. All of a sudden, someone who was a lot taller than me and dressed in black came in my way, and I had to stop before I bumped into him.

''Well, hello there.''

It was one of the brothers, I didn't know his name. He looked young, with brown hair and a wide smile on his face. His eyes were dark, like Elijah's, but a different kind of dark. The way he was looking at me sent shivers down my spine, and not the good kind.

''I'm Kol,'' he said. ''Kol Mikaelson.''

''Evangeline,'' I said slowly. In my mind, I went over all the possibilities for him wanting to talk to me; because right now, I was pretty sure no Original engaged in small talk that didn't lead to anything useful for them.

''Beautiful name,'' he complimented, ''for a beautiful woman.''

''Thank you,'' I hesitated. That kind of talk could mean anything. Either he was a flirt, or he used it to initiate something else. ''I was actually looking for my friend-''

''I saw you before,'' He smiled, but it was the kind of smile you didn't feel comfortable around. ''Dancing with my dear brother. Might I say, what a terrific dancer you are.''

By now, I was leaning towards the flirt, but it was hard to tell. If he knew anything about dancing and was honest he wouldn't say I was a great dancer. He gave off a vibe that I wanted to stay well clear of. ''Kol, was it?'' I asked in a futile attempt to gain some sort of power over this conversation. ''I'm sorry, but I have somewhere to be.''

He was different from his brothers. Cheekier. Scarier. I didn't know how to deal with him.

''Kol,'' Elijah's voice rang from my right. He stepped up beside me.

Kol looked between the both of us, an amused smile playing on his lips. ''Sorry, brother. I didn't realise she was spoken for.''

I glanced at Elijah. He kept a straight face while looking at his brother.

Kol held his hand out. ''It was lovely to meet you, Evangeline.'' He placed a kiss on my gloved hand, eyes wandering to Elijah.

''You'll have to excuse my brother,'' Elijah said after Kol had gone. ''He has little respect for boundaries.''

''I figured as much,'' I replied, watching his retreating back. Then my eyes went to the staircase again, where Esther had been just moments ago. I bit on my bottom lip, frowning. If it was her who had put something in the drink; why would she, and what was it?

''Something's upsetting you. Kol?'' Elijah spoke next to me.

''No,'' I shook my head. ''No, that was nothing. I don't know. I just have this feeling...''

''What feeling?''

''I can't explain it...'' I said. ''And I don't know if I should, if I stir something up...''

''Evangeline,'' he began, and I reluctantly turned to him. ''If you know something – please tell me.''

My foot tapped nervously against the floor. People were moving, everywhere, and I had to focus to not to let anything in.

''It's my mother, isn't it?''

So he knew something was up. He obviously knew his mother. I didn't. But I knew to trust my gut. When I met his eyes there was something in them that made me feel extra hesitant to lie.

''Look, I don't know exactly what it is,'' I said. ''But there was something about her speech- it just didn't sit right.''

I watched Elijah's face as he looked at the place on the staircase his mother had stood. He looked perfectly calm, and there was not telling what was going on in his head. I debated whether or not to tell him about the drink. I didn't know what was wrong with it, or why someone would want to tamper with it in the first place.

''I have to go attend to something,'' he said suddenly, and turned his head slightly to look at me.

''Okay,'' I replied, puzzled as to why he sounded, yet again, like he had to explain himself to me. He offered me an apologetic smile before he left; and just like everyone like him, he had the ability to disappear seamlessly into a crowd. And so, my chance to tell him about the drink was gone. Maybe he was off to talk to his mother. He clearly sensed something was up, why would he even mention her otherwise?

A flash of something in the corner of my eye caught my attention. Finally, Elena.

She was moving at the back of the room, like she had just come out the hallway. ''Elena,'' I called out softly, walking towards her, and when she saw me she gestured me over with her hand.

''I think it's time we go home,'' she said as soon as I reached her.

I looked her up and down, trying to find out why she sounded so distraught. Her dress was whole, gloves still on, and her hair looked just like Caroline had left it.

''You okay?'' I asked worriedly.

I saw how she forced the smile on her face. ''Yeah, just tired.''


Elena was quiet on the way home. Not that she was otherwise unusually talkative, but something was wrong. This whole evening had been wrong. From my experience, when someone said they were ''just tired'', they weren't just tired. There was almost always something else.

It had been as much a pain as when getting there to squeeze into her car in our dresses, but it worked. Elena was at the wheel. When I looked over at her, she stared ahead sadly, barely checking the mirrors.

We stopped in front of my house, and it was clear that she wanted to say something.

She looked past me out the window. ''Is your mum home?''

I looked at her with a frown. Something was really bothering her. ''No, she's working.''

Elena nodded thoughtfully. ''Can I come in? I... I have to tell you something.''

I heard the rustle of her dress behind me when I walked to the door. Once we were inside, I reached out and turned the light on. I had barely turned around to ask her what it was she wanted to say before I heard her blurt it out.

''Esther wants to kill them. All of them.''

I froze. Then I slowly turned around. She was staring down at the floor, rubbing her arms up and down.

''What?'' My words came out in almost nothing but a whisper.

Elena's eyes flickered up to mine. ''She's linked them together,'' she said. ''If one dies, all of them does.''

The words were repeating over and over in my mind, and I still couldn't make any sense of them. Like they didn't mean anything. Like they couldn't mean anything. My eyes darted from her to the floor, to the clothes up on hangers, to the staircase, and then back to Elena again.

Her shoulders hunched and she seemed afraid to meet my eyes. That's when it struck me. She was ashamed. Why was she ashamed?

''H-how?'' I managed to get out.

Elena picked at the edge of her glove. I waited. Whatever she was going to say was obviously hard to say, and that didn't ease my anxiety. My heart was pounding loudly in my chest as I waited.

''She needed my blood,'' Elena finally said. ''She said she would help us kill Klaus, and-

''You gave her your blood,'' I stated.

Elena groaned and hid her face in her hands. ''Yes.

That's when I realised. The drink. Esther had her children drink something laced with Elena's blood. That's why I reacted to it. And Elena... Elena gave her blood to do it? Did she want all of them dead? I hadn't thought she did. Not everyone. She'd felt so bad after daggering Rebekah. And her and Elijah were obviously on talking terms.

''You gave her your blood,'' I said again, worry growing in me by the second. ''Just like that?''

My breathing quickened. I rubbed my temples, trying to understand, trying to get rid of the heat building up in me.

Elena dropped her arms to her sides. ''I didn't think-''

''That's right you didn't think!'' I burst out.

Elena looked shocked, swaying on her feet. She hadn't expected me to yell. I don't think I had, either. My mouth hung open in surprise.

''I didn't know you cared so much,'' she said quietly.

''Me either.''

In my mind, I recalled the time when I'd seen Elijah all withered and lifeless. He hadn't even been dead then. This time, he would be dead dead. And the thought of that just felt wrong. So wrong.

''I want to make this right,'' Elena said. ''I owe Elijah that much.''

Looking up, I still saw my friend. But I also saw my friend who made a stupid, reckless mistake right after I'd trusted her completely. Nothing was supposed to go wrong. She was just supposed to talk to Esther, not willingly give up her blood for Esther to conjure up some curse or whatnot to kill all of them.

It was good that she regretted it. But I used my powers on Damon for her to get the chance to talk to Esther. Talk to her. Not what she did.

''I- I think you should go,'' I said mumbling, brushing down my dress and keeping my eyes off her. ''Yeah, you should go.''

''Ev-'' I heard the rustle of her dress when she moved, and saw her stop mid step before I looked away again.

I sighed. ''No, just... I'll talk to you later.''

She looked so sad when I looked up at her. But, with a strained smile on her lips, she turned around and left. From outside, I could hear her car starting up and soon the sound of it was gone. I put my hand on my forehead and took a deep breath.

Why did I care? Sure, I cared about pretty much everyone given they weren't completely horrible, but this was... different.

Stefan and Damon had probably done countless of awful things. That didn't stop me from being friends with them, as they were today. The same had to go for Elijah, right? We were... I didn't want to call it friends; but more than acquaintances, like I'd told Rebekah.

Just that, I thought, and tried to push aside the feeling I'd gotten when I danced with him.


Getting out of the dress was harder than getting into it. Caroline had helped me with the zipper, this time I had to bend my arm what felt like almost all the way round to reach it.

I shuddered when I stepped out of it. On my bed, there was a pile of laundry my mum must've put there. I grabbed an oversized sweater and a pair of sweatpants. Putting them on was going to feel like wrapping myself in a warm blanket, or so I thought. I was still shivering.

It had to be the nerves. This night had been... overwhelming. Only going back to that place had been strange. And the dance...

Snuggling up on the bed, I rested my chin on my knees and hugged them tight. When I closed my eyes images of the night flashed by. The lights. The music. Everyone dancing. The feeling of dancing close to Elijah.

I opened my eyes quickly.

The following hour I spent doing whatever I could come up with to push those images out of my head. It only worked somewhat.

Until the doorbell rang.

Every step towards the door had me wondering who it could be. It was really late by now. Had something happened after we left? They would've called me or something in that case... right?

I kept as much distance as I could between myself and the door when I opened it, but as soon as my eyes fell upon Elijah standing comfortably on our porch, a few steps back from the doorway, I relaxed and let the door glide open.

''May I come in?'' he asked. He was still in the same clothes.

I pulled at the sleeves of my sweatshirt when a gust of cold air hit me from outside. ''Okay.''

The cold stayed when the door closed. I shivered, rubbing my arms up and down for warmth.

Elijah was completely unbothered, his hair still impeccable, his suit without a stain or crinkle. He looked thoughtfully at the threshold before he stepped over it. Why, I didn't know. He already had free access, so to speak.

He closed the door quietly behind him. It felt like the difference between us had never been clearer; me in baggy clothes and him still dressed up.

''I need to ask you something,'' he said, catching my gaze and not letting go.

The hallway felt like it was getting smaller. I shifted on my feet. ''Sure.''

''Tonight,'' he began. ''Elena went to see my mother.''

A chill ran down my spine. He knew. He had to know.

He looked calm, but his eyes were stormy, discontent, when he continued. ''And when she told me of their conversation, she lied.''

I leaned against the wall, looking down at my feet. ''Why did you come here?'' I asked, focusing my gaze at my toes that were starting to turn purple.

''Because I-'' he paused. ''I thought you of all people might spare me the lies.''

''You know I suck at lying,'' I said and curling my toes to get the blood flowing. I finally looked up at him. His face was as usual, very difficult to read. But his eyes, his eyes were getting easier.

''That's not why I came.''

I sighed. How was I supposed to tell him? His own mother wanted to kill him. His own mother.

My voice came out in a whisper. ''Elijah...''

Pushing away from the walls on my heels, I went over what I could say, how I could say it. There wasn't any way of sugarcoating it, I supposed, because no matter the reason Esther wanted this – and I didn't know that reason – it was still awful.

''There was something in the drink. She wants...'' I tried, but I couldn't get the words out. ''She-''

Something in Elijah's stance changed. ''She wants to kill us,'' he realised, his voice breathy. His eyes darkened. Turning his head slightly, he mouthed something I couldn't make out.

Was he hurt? I didn't know the relationship he had with his mother, but it had to hurt finding out she wanted her children dead. Frowning at his face contorting, even if only for a split of a second, I wished I could do something.

''What are you going to do?'' I asked him, when he didn't say anything for a while.

He walked towards me quickly, and stopped right in front me. I flinched, not because I was scared, but by reflex. His eyes were dark, angry. No, not angry. Frustrated, maybe.

''Hey,'' I said, and without even thinking lifted my hand up and touched his arm. The fabric in his suit was coarse beneath my fingers.

''I... I don't-'' I struggled forming sentences. What could I possibly say to make anything better? That there had to be a way out of it? Confess to him that I didn't want him to die?

Elijah placed his hands on my arms, gently. I didn't flinch.

''I have to go,'' he said. ''Forgive me.''

Then he was gone.

I was left in the hallway facing a closed door, with a faint breeze in my hair. My lip quivered when I wondered if this was the last time I was going to see him.

When was it going to happen? I had no idea. Someone had to know. Bonnie, maybe? But, when I tried calling her there was no reply. Same with every other number I tried. No one was answering. My thumb lingered over Elena's name in my phone. No matter what had happened between me and her earlier, I had to tell her about this. On my way up the stairs, I sent her a text saying that Elijah knew about Esther's plans. It was the right thing to do.


I had a rough time getting sleep that night. I twisted and turned, thoughts keeping me from going past a disturbed slumber into proper sleep. Every now and then I jolted awake, sweating, thinking that it might've happened. That they were all dead.

I had to have slept at least a few hours, because I woke up tired and drowsy, with a slight headache, just before the clock turned seven.

Rolling over, I checked my phone. No messages. I dropped my head onto the pillow with a groan. If they hadn't replied, something must be wrong. At least Elena. But maybe I hurt her more than I realised...

In one quick motion I pushed myself out of bed, ignoring the cutting sensation in my head, and threw on some clothes. The door to my mother's room was closed when I passed it, meaning the car was free. She'd be sleeping for a few more hours.

I left her a note on the fridge saying I'd taken the car, and grabbed an apple on my way out, even though I doubted I'd get the appetite to eat it.


Elena wasn't at her house when I checked, and if she was she didn't open. So, I decided to try the Salvatore's. On my way there, my fingers were drumming ceaselessly against the wheel. I glanced at the apple that lay untouched next to me, still not wanting to eat it.

I still didn't agree with what Elena had done, but now, when the initial chock had gone, I felt like I needed to talk to her. Sort out what really happened.

When I got to the front door, Damon opened it before I'd even raised my hand to knock.

''Is Elena here?'' I asked.

''No,'' he said, and I immediately sensed that he knew, too.

I shut the door behind me and followed Damon into the closest living room. ''She told you?''

Damon went over to a serving cart and poured himself a glass of whiskey. ''Let us know after she dropped you off last night,'' he said, bringing the glass to his lips.

I let out an exasperated sigh. ''This was a bad idea. I shouldn't have- she shouldn't just have given her blood like that.''

''What are you talking about?'' he said. ''This is a good thing. We'll finally be rid of them, once and for all. They're way overdue.''

His words cut me. Like being stabbed with an ice cold knife.

''I didn't... I don't-''

Damon studied me with a serious look on his face. ''Ev, that's what has to be done.''

Very rarely did he use any version of my first name. He wanted to convince me that this was the right thing to do, and I knew he was sure that it was. But I wasn't. Clasping my hands over my head, I turned on my heels and walked away from him. I needed space to think.

I gasped when he all of a sudden stood right in front of me. ''I can't let you run off and tell him,'' Damon said.

''He already knows,'' I said angrily, stepping to the side to get past him, but he mirrored my movements. ''He knew something was wrong at the ball.''

''And you're telling us that now?'' Damon scowled.

I crossed my arms, and mumbled: ''He came and saw me.''

''He came and saw you?'' Damon echoed angrily.

Before I had time to react I realised that his anger was rubbing off on me. And I was past shutting him out.

I threw my hands up. ''I am sick and tired of all this scheming! It's not fair for them all to die.''

Damon's mouth was in a thin line. ''So now you're playing both sides? Just because you've got a crush on a guy-'' By the last part he was shouting and leaning towards me with his fists clenched.

''I don't have a crush on him!'' I shouted back, shaking with anger. ''And I'm not playing both sides!''

Damon glared at me. ''Really?''

I glared right back. He thought I was playing? This was dead serious. I was breathing hard and struggling to keep it under control. I was just... I was so angry.

Suddenly Stefan was in the room with us. He was calm, but he wasn't calm enough for me to cool down.

''Have any of you heard from Elena?'' he asked.

''No!'' we both snapped in unison.

Stefan looked down at his hands. ''She's not answering her phone.''

Damon was able to walk away faster than me. ''You, go home,'' he said and pointed at me.

I didn't think, I was just too angry, wanting to get out of there and maybe throw my fist into something, so I complied.

''Pff- Fine!'' I huffed.

I was raging. Without even thinking about controlling myself, I was high on both mine and Damon's anger, shaking, wanting to scream his head off to try and make him understand – I was just tired of these endless plans of killing and death that never seemed to stop.

I slammed the door behind me when I left. Not that I meant to, I just did. Every fibre in my being was buzzing, boiling. I stomped towards the car and threw the car door open. The keys wouldn't go in the ignition the first few times I tried, because my hands wouldn't stop shaking. The thought that maybe I shouldn't get in the car and drive like this crossed my mind, but only for a second. Then it was gone, and I drove away.

Tears were forming in my eyes, clouding my vision. I didn't care what Damon said. He took the idea of killing too easily.

The car skidded when I cut a corner too tightly and glided on the loose gravel. With one hand, I wiped my face, then leaving wet marks on the steering wheel.

My heart jumped in my throat and it was pure instinct that made me put my foot on the break. I shot forward in my seat, the seatbelt pressing hard against my chest.

It wasn't a person. It wasn't even a wild animal. An old branch had dropped from one of the trees onto the road. It wasn't even that big.

I stared ahead blankly, pulse racing.

God. What was I doing? This had to be the stupidest, most-

''Ugh,'' I groaned, placing my hand over my sore chest.

This was exactly the thing I couldn't let happen. Getting riled up by Damon, letting go of the barrier basically making my emotions free real estate. It was all on me, and I couldn't let it happen. For my sake, and everyone else's.

I wiped a stray tear running down my cheek. Almost hitting a small piece of wood seemed to have given me enough of a chock to snap out of most of the anger.

I tentatively placed my hands on the steering wheel, finding a little relief in the cold surface against my heated skin. Then I pressed down the clutch, put in the gear and let the car take me home, much steadier this time.


As soon as I got home, I went straight up to my room and sat down next to the bed. I had my knees up, and I stared at my hands on top of them, turning them around, folding the fingers and unfolding the fingers.

I was never getting in a car that upset again. Never.

I looked at the stuff in my room, trying to redirect my thoughts. Books. Stray pieces of paper. Then my eyes fell upon the notebook I'd brought to the library when I went to look up Madeleine. I rose to get it and then sat back down, stretching my legs out in front of me.

Looking through my notes, there weren't much there besides things like her date of birth and her marriage. She'd had a brother. When I'd looked in the archives, I only started from her name and then went forward in time.

I reached out and grabbed my laptop from the desk, placing it on top of the notebook in my lap. Maybe looking up her brother on the internet would be a dead end. But I could try. Starting with his last name, which I figured was the same as Madeleine's, I typed in Moreau, New Orleans, and grave in the search tab. I figured there had to be one of those find-a-grave-sites, somewhere, that might have some information about births, or deaths.

Most results weren't relevant. I did another search, but changed New Orleans to Lafayette. Klaus had said that's where Madeleine had gone. My eyes skimmed the list of sites, and suddenly stopped at one.

Henry James Moreau.

Dead and buried in 1900. Born 1875. Madeleine had been born in 1879. She'd married her husband in 1901 and met Klaus in 1899... it was adding up really well. But to be completely sure, I'd have to go by the library one more time.

I stared at the dates. He had been so young. Practically my age. Not that I knew what it was like having a brother or sister, but I could imagine the pain Madeleine would have felt. Thankfully, only imagine.

After jotting down the stuff about Henry in the notebook, I leaned back against the bed and suddenly the thought passed through my mind. A headstone, with Henry's name on it. Me in front of it.

A soft knock on the door surprised me. I flinched, then realised that I had completely forgotten that my mum was home.

''Honey?'' she called softly, cracking the door open and peeking in.

When she saw me, she smiled and joined me cross-legged on the floor. She gently nudged my shoulder with hers. ''How you doing, kiddo?''

I raised my eyebrows. ''Kiddo?''

''I haven't called you that in a while,'' she shrugged. ''Thought I'd try it out.''

Letting out a low chuckle, I nudged her back. ''Sure.''

She tilted her head. ''You seem a little down.''

''There's just a lot going on,'' I replied, picking at the pages in the book. She knew me too well.

Mum shifted next to me. ''You want to talk about it?''

''No,'' I shook my head. ''Not really.''

''Okay.'' She leaned in and gave me a sideways hug.

The top corner of one of the pages ripped when I fiddled with it. Lafayette wasn't so far away. Not on the other side of the country.

''Have you ever been to Lafayette?'' I asked suddenly, staring down at the ripped page. The imagined image of a grave I'd never seen before popped back into my head.

My mother took a deep, thoughtful, breath. ''Mm, no. I almost went to New Orleans once, but we cancelled that trip when your dad broke his leg.''

I hummed, sitting up straighter as the side of the bed started to dig in uncomfortably in my back.

''Why, you thinking about going?''

I guess I was. Maybe one day.

''I think it might do you some good,'' she continued. ''It's not that far, you'd just need one night at a hotel if you go by car.''

I looked up and met her eyes. Her familiar grey eyes. It was almost like looking in a mirror, sometimes. She still thought she was holding me back.

''There's so much world out there, honey,'' she said, stroking my cheek tenderly . ''I want you to see it. As long as it's something you'd want.''

I smiled as best I could. ''Yeah...''

She'd never been the one to hold me back. It had been due to circumstances, people needing help – none of which I'd ever seen as something hindering. We did what we had to do. Right now, the only thing holding me back was me.