Elena woke up completely and utterly alone in the dark hotel room. It didn't come as a shock when Jeremy ditched her, she had been expecting it.
Elena grabbed the note that Jeremy had left on the bed. She breathed in his scent, knowing that she wouldn't see him in, what could be, a very long time. Elena opened the letter, scanning over the words with her eyes.
'Elena, you know better than I do that this is for the best. Love, Jeremy.'
Elena sighed as she ran her hand over his words. She knew he was right, but she couldn't help but worry about him.
She doesn't know what she would do if she lost him.
Elena slowly got out of the bed and began to open the blinds, only stopping when she felt her skin burning. Elena hissed at the pain and quickly pulled her arm back.
How had she allowed herself to forget that she was now bound to the darkness, cursed to prey upon innocent people?
It wouldn't surprise her if she lost herself during the process, she only hoped someone would be there to stop her when it inevitably happens.
And it will happen.
She wonders what she had done to deserve a life like this, where something is always bound to go wrong.
Perhaps now she could finally set her life straight, she wasn't burdened by her old life anymore. For once she could forget all of the pain, the misery, and maybe she could forget her feelings for a certain Mikaelson.
Elena knew that wasn't possible, she knew for a fact that Klaus would be looking for her. He'd probably come at a moment when she's undeniably happy and drag her away, torture her for a few days, then he would end her sad, pathetic, life.
When night finally came Elena exited her room, suddenly aware of how hungry she was. Elena tensed up and urged herself to get out of the hotel that was filled with people.
It was as if the blood was calling to her, begging her to sink her fangs into someone and drink every last drop.
She successfully made it outside and quickly sped to the side of the building, exhaling shaky breaths while leaning against the wall.
"Hey, are you okay?" A woman asked, approaching her.
"St- stay away from me!" Elena yelled in a shaky voice.
"It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you." the woman assured, moving closer.
That's when Elena lost control. The blood lust was too much for her, she couldn't control herself any longer. Elena grabbed the woman's arm and bit down on her neck, ignoring her loud cries for help.
Elena let out a small moan as drank deeply from the woman. Little by little the woman stopped fighting her, she could hear the woman's heartbeat slow down, but Elena couldn't stop herself.
"You're about to kill her." a voice commented.
After not getting a response the man pulled Elena away from the woman before feeding the woman blood and compelling her to forget everything that happened.
"New to this?" The man questioned.
Elena looked at him wide-eyed, what she had done was finally sinking in.
"Oh God, what have I done?" Elena murmured, putting her hands on her head.
She finds it ironic how she could call on God in a moment like this.
"You haven't done anything wrong." he assures her.
"I- I almost killed-" Elena's voice breaks at the end.
"But you didn't." The man stated.
Elena brought her hands down and stared at her bloodied hands.
"It'll get easier." he commented.
"Will it?" Elena asked in a shaky voice, too shaken up to put on the mask of indifference she usually wears.
"How old are you?" The man asked, avoiding answering her previous question.
Elena was unsure if she should tell this man anything, it would be best to keep her identity hidden.
The man sighed, understanding that she wouldn't answer the question.
"Would you like to come with me? I can train you, teach you everything you need to know to survive in this world." The man offered.
"Yes." Elena answered knowing that she would be a fool to reject his offer.
Elena followed behind the man as he walked, she occasionally caught him looking back at her as if he was concerned about her getting lost.
He led her into a black car, opening the door for her to get in. Elena hesitates. She looks up at the sky realizing that the sun would come up soon. He seems to notice this and lets out a small laugh.
"Don't worry about that, you'll be fine. I installed tempered glass into the car before I got my daylight ring." The man explained.
Elena only nodded and got into the car. She looked out the window as he drove, flinching as the sun began to rise only to realize he wasn't lying, causing him to chuckle at her.
"Where are we going?" Elena asked after a while.
"New Orleans, I live there." The man answered.
"Vampires run everything there, all thanks to a man named Marcel Gerard." The man added a moment later.
"Do you know him, personally?" Elena asked.
"As personally as someone in the inner circle can get." The man replied.
"Inner circle?" Elena asked confusedly.
"Marcel's trusted men, if you ever reach that status you're rewarded with a daylight ring." The man informs.
"Oh." Elena responds, turning her attention back outside the window.
Owen parked the car and looked at Elena who had fallen asleep. He lightly shook Elena awake before getting out of the car, waiting for Elena to join him.
"I have to check in with Marcel." He told her.
Owen led her into the Abattoir, where Marcel was having a conversation with Diego. Marcel seemed to notice their presence because he stopped talking and looked at Owen.
"Am I interrupting?" Owen asked.
"No, not at all. We were just finishing up." Marcel replied.
Diego nodded his head before walking out of the room. Marcel paused and narrowed his eyes at Elena.
"Who's this?" Marcel asked.
"I found her on my way back, she's a new vampire. I offered to help her learn how to control her blood lust." Owen answered honestly.
Marcel stood up and approached Elena.
"What's your name?" Marcel asked.
Elena had no idea who this man was, for all she knew he could be working with Klaus.
Elena raised her chin to look at him in the eyes like she had done many times before.
"Does it matter?" Elena asked.
"Leave us." Marcel demanded, looking at Owen.
Owen nodded and walked out of the room.
Marcel sat back down on the leather couch signaling for Elena to join him.
"I'm giving you a chance, to be honest with me. Whatever situation you may be in I will help you, but only if you answer my questions." Marcel bargained.
Elena had a feeling she could trust the man in front of her, besides she needed all of the help she could get.
"My name is Elena Gilbert." Elena answered with a sigh.
"Why didn't you want to tell me your name?" Marcel asked.
"I'm running from someone." Elena admitted.
"Who?" Marcel asked.
"Klaus Mikaelson." Elena answered, confirming Marcel's suspensions.
"I thought your line ended with Katherine." Marcel stated.
"Many people did." Elena said vaguely.
"How do you know about Petrova doppelgangers?" Elena asked.
"I'm the one who is supposed to be asking the questions, but I'll answer yours. I was raised by the originals, mainly Klaus, so I heard about the Petrova doppelgangers quite often." Marcel explained, not missing the way Elena tensed up at the mention of Klaus's name.
"Are you going to-" Elena started only to be interrupted.
"No, I told you I would help you." Marcel assured.
Elena nodded and visibly relaxed.
"How'd you become a vampire?" Marcel asked.
Elena took a deep breath as she began to tell Marcel everything that happened, making sure not to leave out a single detail.
Marcel couldn't hide the fact that he was relieved Klaus hadn't completed the ritual, he was certain nothing good would come from that.
"How old are you?" Marcel asked.
"I'm 17." Elena responded.
Marcel grimaced at her young age. He loathed the fact that people could go around hurting innocent children.
"You're very strong if you can go through all of that and make it out in one piece. I'm sorry that happened to you, if you choose to stay here I assure you that I will try my damndest to make sure no harm comes to you." Marcel informed.
Had she really made it out in one piece?
"Thank you." Elena replied.
Elena watched Marcel with a sharp eye as he began to think over something. Marcel paused and looked Elena in the eye.
"I have someone I want you to meet." Marcel announced, standing up.
Authors note
Hey everyone, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! How do you feel about Elena being in New Orleans? Who do you think Marcel wants Elena to meet? Do you think Marcel is tricking Elena?