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 witch 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.

38. Chapter 38

*A/N: I apologize for the long wait. I won't bother you with excuses and I also won't tell you that I'll rush out the next chapter. I will do all I can to lessen the wait but sometimes life happens. I want to thank everyone who has left me such kind reviews, they do help me push the chapters out and it's nice to know people are still reading this fic. I have decided that I am going to try and make this story end at fifty chapters. I will continue with a second book if people decide they wish it, but this one should be complete at fifty chapters. I hope you like this chapter. Leave me a review of what you think. At this time this chapter has been edited by one of my betas.*

The early morning sun was blinding as I traversed around my room, picking up scattered clothes and tossing them in the hamper as I headed for the door. I always left a terrible mess to take care of in the mornings. My makeup was spread across the vanity and dirty clothes were dispersed all over the furniture and floor — a tornado leftover from the day before. I closed the door behind me as I finished up, and hurriedly moved down the stairs, turning toward the kitchen and following the wonderful aroma of coffee that had awoken me. Pushing open the door, I stepped inside and stumbled at the sight of Jeremy standing in front of the sink, rinsing out his coffee mug — backpack slung over one shoulder. Bonnie stood resolutely at his side and her nose crinkled at the sight of me, dislike pouring from her rigid posture. She squinted her olive-green eyes angrily, pursing her lips in disapproval. The sound of the water shutting off caught my attention and I turned my gaze back to Jeremy as he laid his mug in the sink. He ran his hands along his jeans to dry them and I took the quiet moment offered to gently scan him. Grimly, I observed his exhausted face. He had dark purple bags under his eyes and his hair was oily and unkempt. My shoulders slumped as I felt a mixture of pity and guilt. The door swung backward, smacking into me noisily, and I knew I was trapped. Jeremy turned, his eyes falling heavily onto mine. Reaching out, he took hold of Bonnie's elbow and pulled her to his side protectively. My chest ached at the distrust, but I swallowed down my sadness and lowered my gaze, forcing my feet to do my bidding. I moved further into the room, my stride slow and precise.

"I hope there is coffee left. I need it this morning," I said half-heartedly.

I refused to acknowledge my brother's hostility or the obvious stress in the air. Jeremy could continue his little hissy fit, but I would never act like he was the enemy; I loved him too much. Bonnie edged away, pulling Jeremy with her. With harsh amusement, I watched as she twisted around, forcing herself in front of him. She placed her hands on his chest and swiftly pushed him to the other side of the kitchen island — effectively using it as a shield. I bit my bottom lip painfully as I took a mug from the cabinet. With shaky hands, I filled it with steaming coffee and inhaled deeply, using the rich scent to feel more grounded, before I slowly turned, slamming a calm mask in place to hide the heart-wrenching betrayal I felt. With my gaze trained somewhere near my brother's knees, I took a heady gulp of coffee, wincing as it left a scalding trail down my throat — one I quickly focused on as I inhaled sharply.

"Elena told me she filled you in on everything that happened yesterday." I offered, glancing up.

I was discomforted by the sharp ticking of Jeremy's jaw and the obvious way he avoided the entire area of the kitchen in which I stood. Bonnie rubbed her hand along his arm soothingly, a gesture that left my right eye twitching. I tightly gripped onto my mug, using its heat to remain focused, and ran my tongue across my front teeth, choosing my words carefully. "I know you don't feel particularly comfortable around me at the moment, and I don't want to infringe on your boundaries, but I do want you to know that if there is ever anything that you feel Elena won't explain or help you with, you can come to me. I will always be there for you Jeremy," I stated firmly.

I nodded to myself, grateful that I had at least said my piece. I hadn't yelled or called him out — I had only done my part in reminding him that no matter what, I would always love him.

Jeremy exhaled shakily, and his expression lit up with a flash of skepticism I knew all too well. He reached down to take Bonnie's hand with quivering fingers. Lowering his head minutely, his shoulders slumped as he closed his eyes, almost physically avoiding his next chosen path.

"I will never need a thing from you. You need to realize you do not belong in this family; you never did. You were a mistake created by dark magic. The best thing you can do for Elena and the rest of us is to disappear," he said, his tone devoid of feeling. Without a backward glance, he pulled Bonnie out the door.

My hands shook and the tremors seemed to cascade through my entire body as I lowered my mug to the kitchen island. The glass clinked angrily against the ceramic countertop, shattering the heavy silence left in Jeremy's wake. Closing my eyes, I released an unsteady puff of air as I struggled to maintain my composure. Throughout the centuries, Jeremy wasn't the first family member who had turned against me, and sadly, I was sure he wouldn't be the last, but it never became easier to bear. The hate he somehow harbored for me contrasted bitterly in my mind. I could still see the bright-eyed child that used to stare at me with such love and devotion. I gripped the counter, pulling myself forward and away from the memory of his words. It wouldn't do me any good to dwell, his heart and mind are undoubtedly set. I ran my hand along the back of my neck, already feeling the stress build, and the day had only just begun. I moved into the living room, thankful to find it empty as I captured the final pieces of my composure. I leaned up against the back of the couch as I waited for Elena. Thankfully it only took her a few minutes to come bounding down the stairs, her backpack draped over one arm. Casually, I glanced down at it as she hopped off the last step. Nudging my head in her direction, I narrowed my eyes in confusion.

"Uh, what exactly do you intend to do with that? I doubt the Salvatores — or any of the wide-eyed Original family for that matter — will be in much of a teaching mood today," I quipped.

Elena's brows furrowed and she glanced at the door. "Aren't we going to school today? I thought the werebat was gonna call us when he was done figuring out if he believed us about his curse? That leaves us free to go to school. We've missed way too much," she said.

My mouth briefly fell open in amused shock, and I brought my fingers to the bridge of my nose. I released an exasperated breath and was surprised by the smile that worked its way onto my lips. I lifted my hand into the air and placed one finger at attention."Okay first, please never call him that again. If you expect us to survive this attempted team up then you have to keep your little jokes to yourself, at least for now."

I ignored her childish 'humph' of anger and the roll of her eyes as I raised a second finger. "Secondly, as for school, I'm sorry but we are gonna have to miss again. I'm sure if you call Caroline, she and Matty will pick up any missed work for us. We have a few loose ends to tie up," I said with a sigh.

Elena rolled her eyes and hung her bag off the end of the banister. "Oh come on! You can't be serious about all that coddling nonsense? He's a thousand years old and you're telling me he can't handle a harmless nickname? Dude needs to pull the crusty stick outta his ass," she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

I swatted her shoulder, shaking my head, laughter bubbling in my chest. I took her elbow and led her to the door, grabbing my keys and our purses as I went. "You're right; he is a thousand years old. So you must remember he has lived through all the periods that value respect. They don't quite understand or accept joking in the same way we do. Unless you're family, or a very close friend, they see it as a form of disrespect," I said, locking the door behind me.

Elena headed toward the car and tilted her head to one side, I could see a small frown pull at her brows as she shook her head in annoyed confusion. "But that makes no sense when you have someone like you to compare them to. You've obviously had an easier time adapting to the ways of each new period, and yet their ideals seem to be stuck in the time they were born in," she said.

Slipping into the car, I buckled myself in and turned toward her, shrugging. "That's easy. They've had a single life. They have never lost their memories and been forced to adjust to a new lifestyle or find a new sense of self. Even if they have lived through different points in history, it's been consecutive. I'm forced to adapt and essentially become a new person in each life before I remember who I once was. I will admit that it does make certain things easier for me because I'm not weighed down by the past. For Nik and his siblings, it's different; becoming vampires changed them considerably, but they still remember their childhood, and it is what defined them — as it does most people," I said.

Sitting back, Elena nodded thoughtfully, adjusting her seat belt. "That is a good point, I guess." Biting her lip, she tilted her head nervously and brushed her hair over one shoulder. With a heavy sigh, she glanced over at me. "I'm guessing our first stop of the day is the Boarding house?" she said.

Pulling out of our driveway, I nodded uneasily. "Sadly, yes. I'm about as eager as you are. If I could get away without a visit, I would. But we both know how that would go down. We need to remind them to play nice now that the town is inhabited by Originals, or else our plea of protection will be null and void," I said.

Elena groaned in annoyance, letting loose a huff of disbelieving laughter. "Yeah, like Damon will behave."

From the corner of my eye, I could see her shoot me an anxious glance, and her jaw twitched as she fought to remain silent.

Sighing irritably, I tapped the steering wheel. "Just spit it out, Lena," I said.

Elena turned her body to face me, her expression twisted with anxiety. "You do realize that if you don't head him off, Damon is going to get himself killed, right?"

I started tapping my left foot uneasily, narrowed eyes flashing in warning. Elena sat back, shrugging lightly, her lips twitching dispassionately. "Not that I care, but I know that deep down you do. I just thought I'd remind you that no matter what he says, or how he acts, he still has feelings for you. He isn't going to handle your relationship with Klaus well. His attitude now is proof enough of that," she exclaimed.

I took hold of the steering wheel tightly as I made a sharp right turn, and Elena squealed, her eyes widening. I felt a pang of guilt as I tilted my head toward her and caught the deep rotation of her shoulders as she inhaled sharply, trying to reign in her fear. I focused back on the road before I deigned to formulate a response.

"Elena, I appreciate your concern, I do, but I'm begging you to keep your mouth shut about my past with Damon. Whatever little bouts of nonsense he starts, I can handle. I'm sure it all stems from some form of territorial nonsense. Damon hates the idea of losing, but as bad as Damon can be, I can promise Niklaus is much, much worse. If he thinks that his claim is being challenged in any way, he will tear Damon apart. So please, keep your trap shut," I begged.

Elena lowered her chin and very slowly rolled her eyes skyward, her expression twisted into one of exhausted disbelief. "You cannot honestly believe that Damon only wants you because what...he's like a dog pissing on his favorite tree?" she asked, rubbing her forehead and shaking her head in puzzlement.

Sighing heavily, I grumbled at her attitude. If I didn't know any better, I would assume she wanted me to end up with Damon. "Damon isn't nearly as complicated as you want him to be. At one time, yes, he did love me but that was before he found Katherine and fell in love with her. After that, he became entrapped by the doppelganger curse. Now, he is consumed by the Petrova line. I'm not sure if he will ever be free of your ancestors, Elena, but what I do know is that while he loves you, there will never be room for me. I think he sees me as some sort of possession. Even though he no longer wants me, he doesn't like the idea of me with anyone else," I said in an almost defeated whisper.

Elena tutted, a crinkle forming at the edge of her lips as she scoffed. "The two of you are more alike than I realized; you're both in denial. Before too long you'll come to see that your past isn't as buried as you think. You're still angry about Katherine. You may act like you're over it, but you're not. I sorta feel bad for Damon; when you finally let him have it, it's gonna be bad," she said, a gust of laughter leaving her lips as we started to head up the Salvatores driveway.

I turned to look at her as I put the car in park a few feet from the front porch. I shut off the engine with more force than necessary and chipped a fingernail in the process. Grimacing slightly, I bit down on the half-attached nail. "Damon and I are through, Elena. I have waited for what feels like a lifetime for Niklaus. Believe me, with my circumstances being what they are, I know how ridiculous it is to consider even being in a relationship. But, if he will have me, I would be ecstatic to try again — for as long as we're able. Please stop bringing up Damon, this is all hard enough," I said.

My skin prickled, and I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Uneasily, I lifted my eyes to find Stefan planted immutable against the door frame, his bronze hair in disarray. His shirt was wrinkled and unevenly buttoned, and his pallid skin was proof that he hadn't fed for a few days. I tapped Elena on the shoulder and she turned to glance out her window. Her expression shifted into one of nervous discomfort as she took in Stefan's shambled appearance.

"Let's make this a quick visit, okay? Please, Ellie." Her misty eyes begged me to grant her mercy and I acquiesced with a heady nod. Turning from the window, she closed her eyes and her face scrunched up in discomfort. "He looks awful," she mumbled.

I tilted closer to Elena, even though it wouldn't matter — Stefan would still be able to hear our mumbled conversation — and snapped off my seat belt. I brushed the hair from her ear, my eyes briefly glancing toward the front porch, and an eavesdropping Stefan Salvatore. "Stay close to me, okay? Things are bound to get heated — and you're right, he doesn't look good," I said.

Elena paled, her trembling fingers resisting the move to undo her seatbelt. I pressed the release, smiling warmly in hopes to calm her. Elena exhaled a shaky breath and stepped out of the car. I followed swiftly and headed toward her, my gaze never falling from the sickly-looking vampire on the porch. Stefan's stride was deliberate as he ambled down the front steps, coming to meet us at the bottom. His gaze never wavered from Elena's face. It was as if he was memorizing her features...or searching for something he wasn't sure would be there the next time he saw her.

"Thank God, you're okay." he wheezed out, his expression softening. The worry lines nearly etched into his forehead disappeared as he leaned closer to Elena.

My stomach curled with nerves and I reached out, gently taking hold of her shirt and pulling her to my side in one swift motion. Stefan's head jolted upward and the calm demeanor he wore around Elena shifted. His brown eyes darkened to an inhuman ruby and black veins started to bubble to life under his skin, streaking out under his eyes like snakes. Lifting my hands in surrender, I meekly smiled, lowering my head submissively. I hadn't come here to fight; I felt I had done enough to Stefan the last time I'd seen him — courtesy of his brother.

"I am not going to hurt her. I only want to keep her safe. Look at yourself, Stef, you're not doing well. When was the last time you hunted?" I asked, nodding in his direction, then motioning with a flick of my fingers toward the woods behind us.

Grunting angrily, he moved closer, his shoulders flexing dominantly. His red-tinted eyes almost glowed as he stalked forward, lips pulled back in a ravenous snarl. His sharp pointed teeth were on full display as he stared me down. At this moment he was more like the Ripper of Monterey than Stefan Salvatore. Momentarily, my brain halted and the overly curious side of me took over. I couldn't help but wonder if that's exactly who his vampiric side was: the Ripper. Stefan had never taken the time to embrace being a vampire, he pushed down his instincts and chose instead to alter them. In doing so, when his vampiric nature finally took over, it was the altered version. It was always hungry, always angry, and it had no self-control — a Ripper. Reaching behind me, I pushed against Elena's stomach as I moved us backward and away from the advancing vampire.

"There's been no time for food. I'm a bit busy with other things, Elara." He glared down at me, his dark eyes like liquid pools of rage. "I won't let you keep her from me. I would never hurt her." he spat.

I could feel Elena hovering behind me, and in my peripheral, I could see her gaze was frantically darting between Stefan and the house, presumably searching for Damon. If I could openly speak, I would tell her that unfortunately, we were alone in this situation; Damon was not home. Later I was sure I would see the humor in the situation. The one time we wanted Damon around he was nowhere to be found. Elena's feet steadily crunched against the gravel and I hoped she was smart enough to not do anything rash. My sisterly instincts begged me to shield her with magic, but the part of me that was a witch, and had been around supernatural beings most of my life, knew that any sudden movements would set Stefan off. He was hanging on by a thin thread, and at the moment, was more animal than man. With my eyes downcast and head bowed, I inched closer, holding my palms pressed against the empty air to remind him that I was not a threat — and remained steadily at a safe and respectful distance.

"I have no intention of keeping her from you; I just want to make sure you're in control. You have to feed, Stefan. Afterward, you are free to speak with her. Trust me, please. I protected her as I said I would. I only want to do what is best for her and the people we love. I know you want the same. Will you help me keep her safe?" I asked.

Taking advantage of his vampiric side might be playing dirty but sometimes you have to play the cards you're dealt. Frankly, it's his fault. If I could finally get him to see reason by exploiting his vampiric nature, and its need to protect, then so be it. Releasing a deep growl, Stefan took a step forward and leaned down, pressing his nose against the side of my neck. From behind me, Elena let loose a rattly gasp, the air escaping her in short bursts. The scrapping of plastic and metal could be heard as she rustled with something, and I wanted to grind my teeth. Internally, I begged her to stay calm. More often than not, she forgets that I generally know what I'm doing — not counting my encounters with Niklaus.

"What do I get if you betray my trust?" Stefan asked, his nose traveling toward my clavicle.

My skin pebbled as he spoke, and his warm cinnamon-tainted breath created a trail of gooseflesh down my neck. My stomach twisted into knots and I wanted to retch, but I kept my body steady. "How about we agree that if I fail, you get to end my curse? Is that revenge enough for you, Ripper?" I asked, my eyes slowly rising to meet his.

It was a risk to use the nickname that Stefan despised with his entire being, but as I spoke to him in this altered state, something told me it was the right thing to do. Stefan guffawed, his fangs slowly retracting as he took a step back. His lips pulled up into a merry smile as he looked down at me. "You are truly surprising, Ellie. I accept your offer. I will go along with your plan for Elena, but if it goes wrong the price will be your head. And no Original will stop me," he said.

I squeezed my hand closed to steady the trembling of my fingers before I offered it out before me, nodding in acceptance. "Agreed," I said.

The altered version of Stefan smiled wickedly, and his hand gripped mine with supernatural force. I winced, much to his amusement. Releasing me, he took a deep breath, a huge sigh of contentment falling from his lips as he glanced over at Elena. With a mischievous wink, he closed his eyes, and his chest rose and fell rapidly for a moment, before he calmed, his skin returning to its pale, lifeless color. I put myself between him and Elena as he stumbled forward, his brown eyes popping open. A burst of color blossomed on his cheeks as he caught himself, his knees quaking for only a second before he stood tall again. His fearful and embarrassed gaze fell on a harbored Elena as he took a step backward. I turned slightly and placed my hand on Elena's shoulder, sure to keep one eye on Stefan as I spoke.

"Go inside and get yourself something to drink. I'm going to take care of Stefan then we'll both be in," I said, ushering her toward the porch.

Elena's nose wrinkled, her hand grasping onto something held tight against her chest. I clicked my tongue at her hesitation. "We'll be alright. Now go!" I demanded.

Elena lowered her hand to the side, and I could finally make out the shiny surface of her cellphone. My brow quivered in question, and with a sheepish frown, she placed it in her back pocket. "I'm not exactly worried about you. I-I may have overreacted earlier…" she whispered.

Before I could question her further, she darted toward the house, her head lowered and shoulders stiff. Shaking off the entire conversation, I turned to Stefan. "At least I know we don't have to worry about Damon setting her off. When is he due back?" I asked.

Stefan rubbed at the crease forming between his brows and relaxed his shoulders. "Any time now. He only went to the Grill to meet up with Ric," he said, a deep sigh leaving his sentence lilting.

I ignored the shifted air between us and looked toward the treeline. "We don't have time for you to go hunting. I have too much to discuss with you and Damon, and the day is already waning. I'd like to get this over with." I cocked one hip and thoughtfully tapped my foot. With a jolt of remembrance, my lips pulled wide and I smirked, snapping my fingers joyfully. "I do believe I still have a small supply of animal blood put away for you, in case of an emergency," I mused.

Stefan leaned back in surprise, and if the intense narrowing of his eyes was any indication, he was full of suspicion. "Why would you do that for me?" he asked.

Waving away his reaction, I extended my fisted hands, and as I twisted my wrists — opening my palms with a slight jerk — a black bag popped into existence, hanging heavily on my right arm. Blue sparks fell around us like confetti, and to my amusement, Stefan squealed in shock.

"Oh hush now! They are just magical sparks created by my signature, they can't hurt you." I reached into the bag, humming nonchalantly as I searched. I smiled in triumph as my nails scraped against metal. "Voila! I knew it was still here." Stefan's nose wrinkled as his face scrunched into a grimace. "Oh, wipe that disgusted expression off your face; the bottle is charmed to keep blood fresh." I grinned maniacally, shaking the jet-black bottle merrily. I gently tossed it to him and the sloshing of liquid-filled the silent air as the bottle passed between us. "There you go. Full and ready to devour," I said, snickering.

Stefan grumbled, snatching the bottle with agitation. His eyes were downcast as he turned away, unscrewing the lid hastily. "Thank you. I-I appreciate your continued help with...this," he all but whispered, jiggling the bottle to indicate his meaning.

I smiled in understanding and quickly made my way toward the house, not comfortable with being too close to him as he drank his fill. I found my way to the lounge and headed straight for the bar. Before my hand met glass, Elena stepped forward.

"I think not! It's eleven in the morning. There is no way I'm letting you become Damon," she said, her hand hovering above the bourbon.

My head fell back, a snarl of annoyance crawling up my throat. "Elenaaa! Why must you hound me? We have been through this. I am way too old to be mothered. You must realize how unlikely it is that I will suddenly become like Damon," I said.

With an uncaring shrug, Elena pointed to the couch, her brows furrowed and her stance unwavering. "Sit! You need a clear head for the discussion we're about to have," she said.

Narrowing my eyes, I stuck out my tongue, blowing the most unattractive raspberry I could muster. "You are such a killjoy," I said, plopping down on the sofa, my head crashing against the armrest as I pouted. "One drink will not make me a slobbering drunk, it'll just make the coming fight with Damon a little more bearable."

Elena crossed her arms, her expression unbelieving. "All I know is that you've been drinking earlier and earlier. You need to find a healthier outlet, Ellie. I'm your sister, your other half. It's my job to take care of you. You're always too worried about everyone and everything else to do it yourself," she said.

I sat up on my elbows, blowing errant strands of hair from my eyes. To keep the peace, I smiled meekly at her. "I appreciate that you are trying to take care of me. It's just a little hard to deal with. I'm used to handling things on my own," I said.

Elena patted my knees and I scooted over, allowing her room to sit beside me. "Well, you don't have to do that anymore. You have me, Caroline, and even the Originals. Please let us help you. Give us some of that weight you're carrying, we can handle it. It doesn't have to be so heavy," she said.

My throat felt thick and a not-so-subtle burn started in my nose. "Thank you," I said, croaking despite my desperate attempt to shield.

The front door creaked open and I quickly sat up, straightening my shirt. Elena smiled, wrapping an arm around me as we leaned forward, glancing toward the front hall. We watched uneasily as both Salvatores bolted inside. Stefan stepped in first, his skin hued with a distinct lively rose. He looked less dead than he had before, and I sighed with relief. He headed toward the bar and awkwardly sat the empty water bottle down beside the crystal decanters of liquor. Damon followed after his brother in a distinct wave of black, and I scanned him. He wore his usual leather jacket paired with a long-sleeve button-up in lavender and black jeans. His hair was, as always, a gorgeous ruffled mess. He appeared to be his normal cocky self.

Despite my attention being solely focused on the dark-haired man sauntering steadily into the middle of the room, I kept a small corner of my mind zeroed in on my sister, whose phone had started steadily buzzing. Elena's face heated, her eyes glazing over with a special sort of nervous energy — one I had only started seeing in her recently. Her hand slowly moved over the phone as she pressed it firmly into her thigh, in hopes to suppress the sound. I chuckled, amused by her paltry attempts to hide such a constant buzz from the ears of the supernatural. At the sound of my amusement, her eyes closed and she turned her head toward me, her lips pursed with trepidation.

"Ellie, I really should answer this, but when I do you are gonna be so pissed." My eyes screwed up in confusion and I could hear the distinct sound of shoes shuffling on the carpet as someone hurried forward, stopping a short distance in front of us. "I honestly didn't mean to overreact so badly but Stefan was all over you, and the first thing I thought to do was call him," she mumbled, surprise flashing in her eyes.

A deep heated voice filled the room and I winced at the volume. "Who the hell is she talking about? What have you started now, Elara?" Damon spat.

Ignoring Damon's venom, my gaze darted to Elena's phone and I quickly snatched it from her grasp, my stomach flipping at the number of missed calls. The one name I was not ready to see blinked across the screen — Elijah.

"You called 'Lijah? Oh, Elena, why?" I lowered my head dejectedly, my hand flexing around the phone.

Elena threw out her arm, gesturing toward the other side of the room. "He looked like he was gonna eat you! The only person I could think of was Elijah. I don't have Klaus' number yet, and even if I did, I doubt either of us want him here right now," she said.

Stefan grumbled, a distressed hiss of pain tumbling from his lips, but Elena ignored him, her fearful attention never wavering from me.

"Ouch, now that hurts my feelings, little doppelganger," a smooth accented voice said, sarcasm dripping from his words.

Damon turned swiftly, stepping to the side as I bolted from my seat, my body swaying as I tried to stay upright. Standing in the doorway were Niklaus, Elijah, and Rebekah(though still invisible to all but me). Rebekah waltzed over to the sofa and plopped down on the armrest, crossing her legs elegantly as she surveyed the room.

"Your sister knows how to create chaos, just like the rest of her kind. You need to teach her that one does not simply ignore a call from my brother after you reveal his family is in danger," she said, shooting Elena a glare of abhorrence.

A small part of me wanted to stand up for Elena, to explain that I understood her reasoning, but as the angry cyan eyes of the Original Hybrid bore into me — that part of me quickly died. Niklaus removed his coal-black coat, draping it over the back of one of the plushy armchairs. He adjusted the sleeves of his red henley, pulling them up over his elbows as he started to pace. Elijah casually walked along the edge of the room unbuttoning his dark gray suit jacket, his posture relaxed, but instinctively I knew it was as much an act as Rebekah's calm demeanor. My gaze darted back to where she sat on the armrest beside me, plucking at her flawless nails. If you looked close enough, you could see they were both fuming with a vengeful fire. It was easily visible in their eyes and tightly pinched lips. They reminded me of caged lions, slowly stalking around the recesses of their enclosure, just waiting for their moment to attack. My attention flickered between them, and I watched in amazement as they silently deferred to Niklaus. As scary as it was to witness firsthand, it was also fascinating. With barely controlled rage, Niklaus stopped in the middle of the room and glanced over at me warily. His eyes raked over my stiff form and when he found nothing concerning, his gaze turned to Elena.

"It seems you were under the assumption that Elandra required my brother's immediate assistance. Why is that?" Niklaus asked through clenched teeth.

I opened my mouth to speak but stopped when Niklaus raised his hand, clicking his tongue in obvious irritation. "I asked the doppelganger, love. You're not going to give me an honest answer, seeing as it has something to do with your precious Salvatores." I scoffed, placing my hands on my hips in outrage.

Rebekah giggled and her knee bounced merrily in my peripheral. Elena swallowed roughly and the muscle in her jaw twitched. Her eyes quickly darted to Stefan and back and I could easily tell it was an unconscious movement. Placing her hands against her stomach, she wobbled on unsteady feet as she stepped forward, opening her mouth to speak like a student presenter. I wasn't sure what it was about Niklaus that brought out her need to appear academically excellent, but it amused me greatly. Before Elena could release a single syllable, Damon chuckled mirthlessly, turned on his heel to stare at her incredulously, and pointed his thumb in Niklaus' direction. Niklaus shuddered as if Damon's voice sounded no different than nails on a chalkboard, and his face contorted with obvious hatred as he turned to stare at him.

"Are you seriously going to let him speak to you that way, Elena?" Damon asked, eyes rounded with surprise. Elena's expression glowed with irritation, her back straightening in outrage and she turned away from him, completely ignoring his existence.

Damons cheeks expanded as he blew out an angry puff of breath. "Oh, that's rich! It's like you have no identity beyond being his little sacrifice. I tried to tell you that this was the way things were going to play out. You never should have trusted he-"

With a snarl, Elena twisted around and stepped closer, angrily shoving Damon. In his shock, Damon almost lost his balance. "Would you shut up! I have told you so many times: stay out of our business! I don't care what he calls me. Elara knows what she is doing." Turning back to Niklaus she nudged her shoulder. "You were saying," she said.

Niklaus smiled in amusement, eyes shining at her attitude. "Exactly which of your Salvatores looked like he wanted to 'eat' my fiance?" he asked, his smile turning predatory as looked between the brothers.

With an air of reluctance, Elena rubbed at her face, exhaustion pouring from her. "It was a misunderstanding. I should have known Elara had things under control, but I panicked when things started to get heated," she said, her voice cracking with fear.

Rebekah laughed in annoyance, throwing a few loose curls over her shoulder. "I hope she knows her half-answers aren't going to work. My brother will get the truth one way or another. It's something he's very good at." Her eyes rose to meet mine and she frowned, her lips pulling down in an attractive pout. "I told you their disrespect was going to bite them in the ass," she said.

As callous as her words may be, her eyes held a deep sadness, a sadness that she knew I would understand completely. In our way, we both still cared for the Salvatores but the Mikaelsons had very little patience for those who hurt the people they loved. Damon smirked knowingly and I trembled in surprise as he haughtily came to hover at my side. He chuckled, his eyes sparkling with hateful humor as he lifted his hand, his fingers brushing a few of my curls from my shoulder. I glanced over at him, my mouth gaping open as I fought to speak. I wanted to warn him against what I knew would be monumental stupidity but I couldn't seem to form words.

"What exactly do you think you're gonna do, Hybrid? If I know Elandra like I think I do, then she made some sort of deal that protects the people she cares about. Which means you have no power here. Do you honestly think she would let you hurt me, or has she not told you who I am? She may have been your fiance over a thousand years ago, but she was mine a mere hundred and sixty years ago. It's not been long since she chose me. What makes you think she won't make that same choice again?" Damon taunted.

My body buzzed with fear as Niklaus' eyes flashed red, the surrounding skin pulsing with dark black veins. His jaw tightened with barely suppressed anger as he pursed his lips and ever so slightly lowered his head, rotating his shoulders, he raised his gaze back up to meet Damon's. Within a split second, Niklaus stood in front of Damon, his hand buried wrist deep in his chest. I stumbled backward, my fisted hands raised in shock as I watched the two of them with wide eyes. Damon gripped tightly onto Niklaus' wrist, his teeth clamped together in pained fury. The muscles in his neck flexed as he fought to keep his heart in his chest. His body swayed as he tried to remain upright. Blinking steadily, I bolted forward, only to be stopped by Elijah. Angrily, I pushed against his hard chest, but he held me tight, staring down at my horror-filled face, his expression controlled but eyes alight with warning. I grasped onto his forearms, my nails unforgiving as I focused on controlling my need to intervene. I could just make out Rebekah's ghostly form beside me and I turned my head, staring at her with hopelessness.

"Stay calm, let them have a go at each other. You know Niklaus couldn't let it slide, not after what he said. Don't intervene yet," she warned.

Damon laughed, his mouth bubbling with blood as he looked into Niklaus' eyes. "Is that doubt I see, Hybrid? Do you wonder how easy it would be for me to take your witch if I decided to? Or are you imagining how beautiful she would have looked pregnant with my children?" Damon asked, his expression erratic and crazed.

Niklaus glared down at Damon, his nostrils flared as he took deep lungfuls of air, the veins in his wrist bulging as his grip on Damon's heart tightened.

Stefan inched closer, his skin pale and eyes wide with panic. He raised his hands in surrender. "It was me; I threatened Elandra. I had not fed since Elena and I broke up and I lost control. If you're gonna kill anyone it should be me," he said.

Niklaus tilted his head, glancing over at Stefan with an amused smirk, his eyes glazed with fury. "Who's to say I can't kill you both?" he asked.

Elena whimpered, her eyes filling with fearful tears, and she turned to me, her hair whipping around in her haste. Her lips parted and the air escaped her lungs in a rush as she saw me trapped in Elijah's arms. She took a few steps backward until her legs hit the sofa, and she collapsed atop it in defeat.

"It's me you came here for, not Damon. Don't let his pride and arrogance earn him a death sentence. I'm sure he's learned his lesson," Stefan said, still advancing.

Elijah pushed me to the side and stuck out his arm, with a stern gaze he lifted a single finger as a warning for Stefan to stop his approach.

Niklaus looked down at Damon, his brows raised. "I do believe it is I who decides if what he said deserves death or not. My family and I do not usually allow such insolence to go unpunished, and punishments are not simply a slap on the wrist," he said.

Niklaus twisted his wrist and Damon cried out in pain. With a wicked smile, his eyes raked over Damon's distressed form, but as he continued to scan him, his shoulders slumped and his expression morphed into disgust. Briefly, he turned to look at me. I wasn't sure what he saw, but his expression shifted back to furious anger for only a moment before he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Turning back to Damon, his grip tightened again. Damon cried out in pain, and I knew it was time for me to step in before it went any further. I patted Elijah's arm and stepped out of reach. Reluctantly, he allowed me to move around him.

Hesitantly, I approached. "Nik, you've proved your point. I'm sure he realizes his mistake. He's young; they tend to be disrespectful. My past with Damon is just that, my past. Back then I didn't remember you until the very end. Besides, Damon proved how much our love meant to him when he chose Katerina. There is nothing between us now." I stepped closer and leaned up against him, pressing my lips against the shell of his ear. "It's always been you, Nik." Placing my hand atop his arm, I smiled against his ear as I left behind a featherlight kiss. "You have shown him where he stands, and you did make a deal with Elena, my love," I said, adding the long ago used endearment as a way to prove my chosen path.

Niklaus' face twisted with hatred as he looked down at Damon. "You would do well to remember how easily you were just bested. You are nothing." Niklaus placed his hand on Damon's shoulder and gently pulled him close, his eyes glowing red. "She is mine and always will be. It would be beneficial for you to learn some respect because the deal I made will only last so long — and I would be more than happy to end you," he spat, releasing Damon with a disgusted snarl.

I watched Damon fall gracelessly to the ground, but made no move to go to him, instead I stepped in front of Niklaus. With a wave of my hand, I felt my wrist dip and smiled up at Niklaus as I handed over a small white hand towel.

"Here, you're all gooey," I said, wrinkling my nose with disgust.

Niklaus took the towel and his lips curled with laughter. He glanced over at Stefan who was helping Damon to his feet, leaving behind a small pool of blood on the rug.

"I'm surprised you're not angry. I did just injure your former lover," Niklaus said, glancing over at me.

Rolling my eyes, I helped him pull his sleeves back down, tossing the dirty towel onto the bar. "As I said, what Damon and I had is in the past. He chose his path and I've chosen mine. I still care about him, yes, but only as a friend. He and his brother are a part of me and always will be. I cannot change that," I said.

With a heavy sigh, Nik placed his hand on the back of my neck, pulling me close. He kissed my forehead and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. Turning us towards Elena, he held out his other arm and twisted his wrist around loftily. "I thank you for calling my brother, little doppelganger. I'm happy to know Elandra has someone watching out for her. You've earned my gratitude, and because of that, I am willing to grant you a single favor," he said, grinning mischievously, one finger lifted as a reminder that his gratitude only extended so far.

Elena's forehead wrinkled and her lashes fluttered in surprise. Her gaze swiftly darted toward Stefan and I could feel Niklaus's shoulders tremble slightly as he tried to hide his arrogant sniggering. He knew keeping Stefan safe would be her first and only thought. There was no way I was going to allow her to waste such a gift — not when I knew Stefan would be fine. With an amused smile, I patted Niklaus on the chest and he took hold of my hand, running his thumb along my pulse point. Lowering his head, his chin slightly tucked, he looked down at me with a shy guilty smile.

"Nik, that's playing unfair. You and I both know that you have no plans to kill Stefan. I handled the situation and came out uninjured. There's no reason for her to ask for his safety." I turned my head to look at my sister. "Save your boon; something like that will undoubtedly come in handy later. There's no timetable," I said.

Niklaus rolled his eyes, grumbling irritably. "Fine, save it. I'm sure your vampires will anger me again shortly and you will require it," he said.

I giggled indulgently and turned to the others, smiling at Elijah who shook his head at Niklaus' pouting. "Elena and I had originally come over to tell the Salvatores about our discussion with the both of you, but now that you're here, it makes things a bit easier on us." I stepped into the center of the room, widening my arms and motioning toward Niklaus and Elijah, and then toward the Salvatore brothers. "Not that this is entirely necessary, but, y'know, manners and all that. So, Damon and Stefan Salvatore meet Niklaus and Elijah Mikaelson — better known as the Original Hybrid and the Honorable Original," I said, using bunny ear quotations for their nicknames and inhaling deeply. I stuck my tongue out in exhaustion afterward. "Wow, that was a lot! All of you have such big names."

Niklaus slowly shook his head at my antics, his gaze fixated on me. I was once again reminded of how much I needed Kol. On the couch, Elena giggled lowly and her face turned red when Elijah turned to look at her. She quickly glanced down at her lap, fumbling with her fingers and toeing at the rug aimlessly.

Rebekah growled, standing to her feet. "You better remind your sister that ALL of my brothers are off-limits. There is no way in hell we are dealing with another doppelganger," she spat, glaring down at an oblivious Elena.

With a nearly silent sigh, I closed my eyes, turning to the others. I would deal with Rebekah at a later date — when I wouldn't look insane to everyone but Elena. I turned to Damon and Stefan and nodded toward Elena. "As you both know we met with Niklaus yesterday and informed him of the little addition to his curse. We also let him know that Elena agreed to be a part of the ritual. On our end, we did ask for a few people to be kept safe — but that will only get those select few so far. You can't go around starting trouble," I said, eyeing them both warily.

Damon rolled his eyes, glaring over at the Original brothers. Stefan smacked his shoulder in warning. "So, what you're saying is they can go around shish kabobing us and we have to smile and be thankful 'tis but a flesh wound' and not death?" Damon asked, waving his hand around and turning his voice into a prim and embarrassing rendition of a British accent.

Slowly, I lifted my hands to cover my face, shaking my head with fatigue. Niklaus growled, baring his teeth, and the sharp canines flashed dangerously in the sprawling sunlight coming in from the window. "It looks like the doppelganger will need to beg for your life sooner than she expected!" he snarled.

Damon smirked, his expression taunting and Niklaus took a step forward, his hands balled into fists. At that, I moved between the two before things could continue to spiral. "Look, we aren't getting anywhere acting like children," I said, my fingers agitatedly working through my hair.

My gaze searched out Elijah for assistance, nails digging into my skin as I numbly rubbed at my neck. With an aggrieved sigh, he stepped forward, glaring heatedly at the Salvatores. Elijah brushed back his jacket as he turned to face Stefan, his expression stoic. "If you cannot silence your brother long enough for Elandra to finish what she is trying to convey, then I will gladly step aside and allow Niklaus to finish his lesson in respect," he said in warning.

Damon scoffed and I saw Elijah's eyes flash dangerously, but before he could make a move I decided to take action. The tendons in my wrist ached as my hand rose, a tangible spark of power traveling up my arm. Sharply, I twisted my shimmering fingers and with a simple snap, Damon was lifted off his feet. His mouth fell open in silent surprise as he flew backward at the flick of my wrist, landing safely — although rather harshly — in the armchair behind him. I moved closer, turning my palm over, and watched in satisfaction as his hands snapped down against the armrest — as if tied down by invisible ropes.

"You are going to sit there and listen! For once the only thing open will be your ears. I get that you have some sort of death wish, but there are still people who want you alive and while I'm around I'm not going to let you self-destruct," I said. His fingers flexed and his head pulled forward as he fought against the invisible bindings holding him in place. Silently he mouthed what I guessed was a few unsavory words and I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah I get it; Elandra is evil, she consorts with werewolves, Originals, and Hybrids, oh my! We've been through this and I tire of the same old routine."

Turning away, I looked at Stefan, my body slumping with exhaustion. "There, now we can have a civil conversation," I said.

Stefan glanced over at his brother, eyes heavy, and ran his hand along the back of his neck. His expression shone with gratitude but it was easy to see there was no way he would express it. Whether it be because of the Mikaelsons or all the recent unpleasantness between us, I wasn't sure. Whatever his reason, it didn't matter. I had no intention to mend fences anytime soon. He and Damon had done too much to forgive so easily. Niklaus came to stand beside me and placed a hand on the small of my back, running his fingers up my spine. Shivering pleasantly, I elbowed him gently, smiling despite the tension in the air. A slightly muffled thumping caught my attention and Niklaus chuckled, his eyes trained on a red-faced Damon. Furrowing my brows, I turned back to Stefan and the others shaking off their continued battling.

"Elena and I are simply waiting on Niklaus for final confirmation and then we plan to go from there. All we need you to do is stay out of trouble and not interfere. It's only a matter of waiting and preparing for the ritual," I said.

Niklaus glanced at Elena and me, his face bright and smile wide. "You'll both be happy to know that Greta confirmed your story. So I am more than happy to accept your little deal. As long as the doppelganger continues to go along with my plans for the ritual, your friends and family will remain safe," he said.

Elena narrowed her eyes, tapping her foot restlessly, and waved a circle around her body irritably. "Elena is more than happy to be your little blood sacrifice. However, Elara and I would like to sit down with you at some point to go over the details. I'd rather know exactly what's in store for me," she said, her gaze meaningfully darting to mine.

Subtly, I lowered my head in a semblance of a nod to ease her worries. She was concerned about figuring out a way to tell Niklaus that her blood was the key to his Hybrid's survival. She was impatient to set up a meeting with him. Placing my hand atop the side of my neck, I bit down on my tongue nervously. I was grateful that she was trying to take some of the pressure off of me but she had to learn to stop jumping straight into things. That wasn't the way to deal with the supernatural.

"Well Elena, I'm sure I can find the time to walk you through your death. I didn't expect you to be so morbid. You are proving to be quite interesting," Niklaus said, chuckling deviously.

Groaning in annoyance, I stepped away from Niklaus and took hold of Elena's arm. "How about Elena and I join you and Elijah for dinner tonight? It would allow us to go over plans for the ritual and also discuss what we wish with you?" I asked.

Niklaus smiled and his eyes lit up with excitement. "Sounds like a plan, love." Gracefully, he sauntered over to the armchair and grabbed his jacket off the back, tossing it over one arm. Turning on his heel, he looked at Elijah expectantly. "It looks like the ladies have things covered, brother. Why don't we see what the town has to offer?" he said.

Elijah twisted around to smoothly nod a farewell at Stefan before he stepped in front of Damon. Leaning forward, his expression twisted and his eyes danced along Damon's face with disgust.

"Remember our warnings. We do not offer second chances," he said.

Damon glared up at him, his nose wrinkled with dislike as he mouthed a few choice words. Elijah smirked and straightened, glancing over his shoulder at me. "If I were you I would prepare myself for the inevitable. It doesn't look like he learns from his mistakes," he said, heading toward the door.

Niklaus grinned, his eyes darkening as they fell on Damon. "Let us hope," he said.

Quickly, I waved my hands, brushing them toward the door. "Good Goddess, would you go! Let me handle the Salvatores. I promise Damon will not interfere with the ritual. Why don't you go find some cute girls at the Grill and compel yourselves a drink?" I laughed.

Elijah chuckled as he watched Niklaus' eyes widen and his cheeks color. With narrowed eyes, Niklaus stalked forward, his lips twisting into an attractive smirk. "You're the only cute girl I am interested in, love," Niklaus said, stepping closer, his fingers grazing my cheek.

With a sweet smile, I took hold of his chin with my fingertips and kissed his nose tenderly, reminiscent of all the small moments I used to share with him in the beginning. Niklaus was never shown much affection or intimacy, so I strived to give him that as often as I could.

"Good, but at the moment I'm a bit busy, so I won't begrudge you a little innocent fun," I said, winking.

With a chuckle that resembled a scoff as he exhaled with disbelief, Niklaus shook his head taking a step back. "You are a wonder, Elandra. Do stay out of trouble," he said, leaning down to kiss the side of my neck.

I trembled as his warm breath fanned across my skin and smelt the delicious scent of honey, I smiled at the million memories it elicited. "I'll do what I can. Have fun," I said, giggling at the smirk on his face as he took a heavy step backward, joining Elijah at the door. With a nod, they both left.

Closing my eyes, I sighed, turning around only to find Rebekah still hovering near Damon. "What are you going to do about him?" she asked, arms crossed.

What was I going to do? There was no easy way to deal with Damon. Either way, he would be pissed at me for using my magic against him, not to mention for taking Niklaus' side yet again. He would never admit it, but I knew him well enough to know that his pride was damaged. I rubbed my temple, and with a grimace, I walked over to Damon, and snapped my fingers. With a rush of air, he was on me, his hand wrapped around my neck, fingertips digging ruthlessly into my skin.

"Damon!" Elena screamed her hands in her hair.

Rebekah hovered at my side, her blue eyes as cold as ice. I struggled for a moment, my brain screaming for oxygen and reflexively my hand moved to grip his wrist helplessly. A small part of me was panicking and wanted to fight against Damon, but I pushed it to the back of my mind and calmed my body and rising magic. I released his wrist and simply stared up at him, tears pooling in my eyes as I gasped for air. Stefan rushed forward, his eyes wide with anger.

"Let her go, Damon. Do you not realize how stupid you're being? Do you want to die?" he asked.

Damon's hand flexed, and I took in a small burst of air, my lungs burning. Elena came up beside me and took hold of Damon's arm. "Let go of my sister right now or so help me God I will call Elijah, and this time I won't let Elara stop either of them from killing you," she said, her teeth clenched.

Rebekah stepped closer to Elena and nodded deeply, her lips taut and her expression surprised but glinting with intrigued approval. Damon glared over at Elena, his eyes darkening. With a furious snarl, he lifted me off my feet, my legs dangling in the empty air. "You think Elandra will do anything for me? You saw how she acted. You saw who she chose when it came down to it. "'It's always been you, Nik,'" he spat, mocking my voice as he recounted my words, his eyes devouring me with their anger.

Elena gripped his arm tightly, her knuckles turning white and she focused intently on his face. "Did you not hear what she said to you? She knew you would continue to push your luck and it would lead to your death. She did what she did to protect you from not only them but yourself. You're self-destructive when you are angry Damon. She doesn't want to see you dead because she cares about you. It may not be the way it used to be between you, but she still cares…" she cried.

Stefan stepped into his line of sight and glanced briefly at Elena. "She's right Damon. We may not agree with what Elandra is doing, but if it wasn't for her, you'd be dead right now. It wasn't Elena that saved you, despite what Klaus suggested," he said.

Damon scoffed, shaking his head with doubt, and pulled me close. "Do you truly still know your precious Hybrid, Elandra? It's been a thousand years, so much can change in that time. How do you know he'll even want this version of you once he gets to know you?" he asked, his lips twisting into a nasty smile.

His fingers loosened and I gasped for air, cool tears dripping off my chin. With a shaky hand, I brushed my fingers along his cheek. "Damon, I will always care about you, there is a part of my heart you will always own. I will do whatever I can to protect you, but if you keep this up there is nothing I'll be able to do to stop them from killing you," I croaked.

Damon jerked away from my tender touch and released me abruptly. I tumbled to my knees and Elena joined me on the floor, her heated glare trained on Damon. Disgustedly, he briefly looked down at us. "I won't get in your way, but I also won't allow your Original boyfriends to use any of us as their playthings," he said.

Elena helped me to my feet, her hands gently cupping my elbows to help steady me. "That's fair, right Elara?" she hastily asked.

I rubbed at the bruising skin on my neck and turned to Stefan with nervous eyes. "Neither of you will have to worry about breathing again let alone being playthings if Nik or Elijah see my neck. They will slaughter you both," I said, my voice still raw. "Would you mind?" I glanced down at his wrist with a grimace.

I was embarrassed to ask for help after everything we'd been through the last few weeks but thankfully Stefan simply nodded and lifted his wrist to his lips. I could hear Elena chuckle mirthlessly, and with a furrowed brow, glanced behind me to find her looking over at Damon expectantly. Before I could question her, Damon jolted forward, stepping in front of his brother.

"If you need to be healed I'll be the one to do it. I've told you before that you're my responsibility, not my brother's," he said, taking hold of my arm and pulling me forward.

He placed his hand on the back of my head as he bit into his wrist, the unhealthy crunch of skin, ligaments, and cartilage twisted my stomach. Pulling his bloodied wrist from his mouth, he placed it upon my lips and I gagged at the warm hasty pool of salty-sweet liquid. He tilted my head backward until I had ingested enough of his blood and yanked his wrist from my lips. Elena sighed, pulling me away and using her sleeve to wipe away the drying blood from my mouth.

"God, you don't have to be so damn rough. We all know you're possessive, but damn, you could at least try to not rip her head off," she said.

With a roll of his eyes, he turned to glance down at me, surveying the now healed skin of my neck. "Make sure you tell your boyfriend the conditions of us working together. I won't sit idly by while they treat us like animals," he growled.

Crossing my arms, I shook my head at him. "I would never let them disrespect you, Damon. You both should know that as long as none of my friends decide to actively hurt the Original family, then I will always protect you. You'll be treated with respect as long as you show it," I said.

With a tight jaw, Damon glanced between us both, his lips pursed in barely concealed anger. "Enjoy your dinner," he scoffed.

Turning around abruptly, he stalked from the room, his back straight and stiff as an arrow. Elena placed her hand on my arm in solidarity as Stefan, with a heavy nod, his shoulders drooping, followed behind him.

"Well, that could have gone worse," Elena muttered.

Laughing, I took her hand and dragged her out the door. We had a dinner to prepare for.