*A/N: Hello ya'all, I really hope you enjoy this chapter because it was a lot harder to write than I thought it was gonna be. I think the grief totally drained me of inspiration. I have a couple of review questions to answer. Some of you wanted to know if I planned to continue with the plot of VD after Elara's story was complete or if I planned to just jump straight into The Originals. Well, I wanted to of course introduce a few of the plot points that happen in TVD, like Kai, Enzo, and Silas, but I plan to do it a bit differently. Elara will of course be in New Orleans handling her own drama but as we all know, Elena and the others will still need her help. As for Elara's backstory: William, etc, I plan to go into that in the next book, since you all have decided you want one. There will also be some more of it in this one as well. Don't worry, she will definitely be learning about what happened to her son, as will all of you. The Originals plot will be bits and pieces with loads of my own mixed in. I hope you all like those ideas and this latest chapter. As always, please leave a review! This chapter is unedited. *

Oxygen filled my lungs in a startled gasp and I shot up in bed, lifting myself by the elbow. My chestnut hair fell into my eyes as I lowered my head, taking deep breaths. I looked around and my nervous energy subsided the moment I recognized the different pieces of furniture that established I was in my room. My brain struggled to process those last few memories that still lingered, reminding me that what I had gone through was not a dream but reality. Slowly, I slid my legs off the bed, furrowing my brows with mild annoyance. I was alone with no one around to watch over me. I had just died, I would have at least expected my sister to be at my side. The sheer pink curtains in my room were drawn but I could see that the sun had yet to rise. Whatever plan B had been, it had worked perfectly.

Standing to my feet, my legs shook violently, my entire body protesting the movement. I extended my arms to steady my balance and headed toward the door. My fingers gripped the knob and I tried for a moment to turn it, but I didn't seem to have enough strength in my hand. I laid my forehead against the door and placed my palm flat against the surface, patting gently.

"Ellie? I'm awake. Hello?" I said, my voice cracking.

I was met with silence for a few minutes until a loud rustling erupted directly across the hall. I smiled, knowing instantly that the noise was coming from Elara's room. She must have needed to change or make a quick call. It was just like her to not want to disturb me. I could hear rustling, like shoes on the carpet, and stepped backward. The knob wiggled before the door swung open to reveal the ashen face of Stefan Salvatore. I was surprised by his lackluster appearance. His hair was flat and lifeless, obviously lacking its usual ounce of gel. His eyes and nose were puffy and hued in red, and his clothes were wrinkled and spotted with dirt and mud. I backed away, crossing my arms with narrowed eyes. He stood in the middle of my doorway and lowered his hazel eyes. "You're awake, that's good," he simply stated.

My stomach dipped at his strange behavior, there was no relief, surprise, or awkwardness about him, just thick exhaustion bordering on shame. It left me feeling oddly sick and completely terrified. I glanced behind him, hoping to see Elara or even Jeremy, but there was no one else. Where was everybody? I stepped closer but Stefan immediately matched my movements, blocking my way. The hair on my arms stood on end.

"Stefan, get out of the way. You can see, I'm fine, just as we said I would be. I'm ready to see my family now. I'm sure Elara has a lot on her plate and could use the help," I said through gritted teeth.

Stefan winced, his expression crumpling with pain, and he turned his head away, refusing to meet my gaze. I felt sick. Something was wrong and he was trying to hide it from me. "Stefan, what are you doing?" I said, my tone was hostile.

Stefan swallowed deeply, and he kept his eyes focused on the floor. His Adam's apple bobbed as he tried to control his emotions to speak. "It's-it's…she…I'm so sorry, Elena. We didn't know, we didn't know," he cried, reaching out helplessly.

I watched him with confusion as he stood in front of me, tears gathering in his eyes, continuing to stutter apologies. It was as if he was begging for some sort of forgiveness or comfort, and I didn't understand enough about what was going on to offer him either. The longer I replayed his words in my head, the sicker I felt.

With more strength than I possessed since awakening, I shoved into him, scratching at his chest. "Let me through! I need to see her. Let me through!" I screeched.

Stefan held onto my wrists, lifting my arms into the air and maneuvering me back into my room. As I fought to claw his face into minced meat, I couldn't imagine hating anyone more. "Show me my sister, Stefan, or so help me God I will kill you!" I snarled.

He pressed my wrists into my chest and shoved me onto the bed, sadly shaking his head. "You're not ready, Elena. You just woke up. You need to regain your strength; you couldn't even open your door."

I glared up at him and placed my hands, palms down, onto the bed, and heaved myself up, never breaking eye contact. "You don't own me. Take me to my sister," I said.

Placing his palms against his forehead, he brushed his hair back with aggravation, ruffling the lopsided strands. "No. I can't do that. You-your not ready for that yet," he reiterated, his voice cracking. He closed his eyes, turning away.

With a sigh, my gaze shot to the door. I felt my stomach topple again but I ignored it. "Elara!" I shouted, hoping to see her righteous red hair appear in the doorway.

Stefan grimaced, tilting away shamefaced. My breathing accelerated the longer I was left alone with him. Elara had never failed to rescue me when I needed her the most, and Stefan's earlier stuttered words hit me again full force.

"Ellie!" I shouted, stepping around Stefan. "Ellie?" I weakly called.

Stefan sped in front of me, hands up as the single for me to stop my progression. I was officially done with his act of 'protection'. "Leave me alone, Stefan," I said, my tone acidic.

Stefan's mouth opened to speak but before he could, another voice came from the hallway. "Leave her alone. She has every right to know what happened. It's her decision to make, not yours"

I looked over Stefan's shoulder to find Jeremy standing just outside my door. His face was pale and his watery brown eyes were rimmed in red. He clamped his shaking hands closed and nudged his head at me. "Come on, Elena. She's in her room," he said.

Relief rushed through me and I stumbled toward him, a small smile lifting my lips, but it faltered the closer I came to my brother. Just like Stefan, Jeremy refused to meet my eyes, he simply turned and headed to Elara's room, his head slumped.

A lump grew in my throat and I felt a weight appear in my stomach. My skin grew clammy as I made the journey through my sister's bedroom door. Every light in her room was on and alarm bells went off in my head. Elara preferred less light because less light meant fewer migraines. My vision adjusted to the new environment, and I was shocked to see her room filled with people.

Bonnie sat at Elara's vanity, her Grimore propped upon its surface. Grams stood behind her, leaning over her shoulder. Her eyes were raking the pages of the Grimoire, her wrinkled face lined with stress. All of Elara's things were pushed to the floor, and I felt a moment of irrational anger.

The sound of pitiful crying distracted me, and I turned my head to find Caroline sitting on the floor at the foot of Elara's bed, her back to the mattress. Her legs were held against her chest and she was rocking back and forth, tears flowing from her blue eyes. Her pale face was patched with red, her nose dripping snot that she either didn't notice or hardly cared to wipe away. Sitting stonily next to her, was Matt. He stared endlessly into space, his hand lying atop her shoulder, fingers digging into her skin.

My body trembled as I glanced around the room. There was a part of me that knew what I would find if I simply lifted my head, lowering my gaze onto the bed that everyone seemed to be circling, but I couldn't, not yet. I felt a hand rest on my arm and turned to see Jeremy, his haunted expression brought tears to my eyes. He tilted his head toward the window, and I turned to find Aunt Jenna and Alaric, their backs to us. I could hear her firing off questions, her voice lined with devastation, and rushed forward.

"What do you mean she took part in a fucking ritual? How could you not tell me about something like that, Ric? These kids are my responsibility; this is my family!" she said, her voice straining as she yelled.

Aunt Jenna held a hand to her chest and her body rocked with stressed heaves of air. I grabbed her arm, following her to the floor as she collapsed to her knees. I gathered her into my arms and she took hold of me, her face was the picture of grief as she cried against my chest. Her muffled words were barely intelligible. "Oh…Ellie…why...no!"

My mouth hung open, my throat dry as I attempted to tell her why we had done what we had; I wanted to explain why I had thought it a good idea to keep her in the dark, but nothing came out.

"I-I can't find anything. Grams, did you?" a small voice asked.

I looked over to see Bonnie holding her hands out beside the Grimoire, her eyes wide. Grams took a solid step back, her head shaking with deep sadness. "No, child. I'm sorry but there is nothing we can do. She is gone," she said.

At the finality in her words, I felt my world collapse around me. No longer could I hide from what was happening. I gripped Alaric's arm and pushed Aunt Jenna into his embrace, shakily standing to my feet. As I stood, I finally noticed the person sitting on the edge of Elara's bed, it was Damon. A wave of deep-seated anger rose in me and I ran forward, shoving him away. After what he had done, why was he here? He fell to the side without a fight, his body tumbling off the edge. He landed in a heap of leather on the floor, his head resting against the bedside table. His hair was a ruffled mess and his skin was patchy. He laid his elbow atop his knee and stared off into the distance with dead eyes.

I gave him no more of my attention, instead, turning back to my sister. She was lying atop her covers in the same blue jeans and black v-neck t-shirt that she had on earlier in the day. Her hands were clasped together against her stomach, and her normally wild green eyes were gently closed, lashes kissing her skin. Her curly red hair was fanned out around her like a halo. I touched her cheek, surprised by the cool temperature of her skin. It was as pale as it normally appeared, but her cheeks were missing their normal pink glow.

Though she appeared to be sleeping, her chest remained still. I gasped out a pained cry, falling beside her in an inelegant heap. I took hold of her shoulders and gently shook, a frantic sob spilling from my lips. "Ellie, Ellie bean p-please wake up. You promised everything was gonna be okay; you promised!" I practically screamed.

I soft gasp caught my attention and I briefly looked down at Damon. He brought his hands up to cover his face, his entire body trembling. I glanced behind me to look at the others, my expression twisting with confusion. "What happened?" I asked.

Stefan stepped up from the corner and lifted his head, gaze focused on the wall behind me. "She fell after you did." He swallowed audibly before he continued, "Elijah said she…she was forced to take your place after Damon gave you his blood. It was the only way you'd come back."

The breath left my lungs in a fevered rush. She took my place; she gave her life for mine. Oh, Elara. I shook my head violently. "No, no, they wouldn't allow her to do that. Elijah wouldn't let her die. There has to be something," I said with determination.

Stefan's face twisted with sympathy and I felt a sense of hatred toward him. What did he know? Elara had repeatedly done the impossible. Had they ever believed in her, no? "Elena, Bonnie looked. There is no way to bring back the dead, it isn't possible. Elandra knew she was gonna die, she just went on her terms," he said.

I felt my hands screw into fists and turned away, glancing toward the window at the early morning sky. If the sun was only now rising, that meant Klaus had just become human again. I exhaled, my churning stomach calming. His not being here made sense. He and Elijah would come, and when they did, they would save her. I placed my hand atop Elara's and scooted next to her. I leaned against the headboard. "Elara has yet to fail me. I will not fail her when she needs me most. They will come, and when they do, they will know what needs to be done," I resolutely said.

Bonnie grimly shook her head and I could see Jeremy's shoulders quiver as he roughly exhaled. Caroline's deep shuddering cries spilled from the end of the bed and I knew she was in a universe of pain. Stefan's gaze kept teetering around me and the lifeless body of Elara, but his eyes never really found either of us. I scanned the room's inhabitants and could easily see that most of them simply believed I was grieving. They were not taking me seriously

"Anyone who thinks Elara is gone needs to leave. She does not need that kind of negativity around her. Most of the people in this room have treated Ellie like the enemy for the last few months. Why you're crying over her body now defies reason," I spat, running my fingers through Elara's hair.

The silence in the room was deafening but I didn't let it bother me, I simply kept my eyes on Elara's face. "Who the fuck has been mistreating my niece?" Aunt Jenna said, her tone laced with venom.

I looked up, meeting her fiery gaze, and released a tired sigh. "Did Alaric fill you in on all of the supernatural drama that is a part of Mystic Falls and our family in general?" At that, Aunt Jenna nodded, her glare now directed at her boyfriend. "Well, with all that Elara is, and has been, a lot of people seem to believe that she wanted to hand me over on a silver platter to her former family."

Aunt Jenna scoffed, rolling her eyes at the ridiculousness, and I nodded in agreement. "There was also a point in time where someone started to believe that she had somehow been implanted into this family by mistake and that she never belonged." I narrowed my eyes, fingers twitching as I continued to play with Elaras's hair. "She couldn't have possibly just been, ya know, reincarnated. No, it had to be an elaborate conspiracy!" I said, hatefully glaring over at Jeremy.

Aunt Jenna caught my look and turned toward Jeremy, her arms crossed over her chest, her bloodshot eyes narrowed. "Jeremy Gilbert! You best tell me Elena is mistaken because if you open your mouth and tell me you told your sister that she didn't belong in this family, I just might beat you to a pulp!

Jeremy's face paled further, which I thought impossible on anyone not dead, and he ran his hand down his face. Bonnie winced, and her dark green eyes squinted with sympathy. I felt a part of me depart from her. This was not the time to be mooning over your boyfriend. He deserved to be called out for the way he had treated our sister, and here she was, feeling sympathy for him. Where was Elara's sympathy?

"I'm sorry Aunt Jenna, I was so confused. I found out about all the lies and then Elara sat me down to tell me she planned to up and die on her next birthday. I lost it. I got so angry that all I could do was protect what I felt I had left: Elena," he said, his eyes crazed and gleaming with tears. "I took all my anger out on Ellie," he cried, dropping to his knees, head in his hands.

Aunt Jenna stepped forward, lowering down next to him, her expression filled with compassionate understanding. She had suffered through her fair share of regret. There were words left unspoken between her and our mother, and I was sure she couldn't help but see the similarities. "I can understand your anger, I only just found out about all the craziness that your sisters are involved in. Am I angry, yes? Will I push them away? Hell no! They are family, Jeremy, regardless of the part they take in the world outside of ours," she said, smacking him on the forehead with the back of her hand.

Jeremy's head fell back and his eyes widened, his mouth dropping open in shock. He blinked a few times and glared at Aunt Jenna. "Ow! That hurt," he said, rubbing his forehead.

Aunt Jenna shrugged, her face was stern and unforgiving. "How do you think Elara felt? It's no less than you deserve, Jer," she simply said.

Jeremy's face fell, and he laid his head against the wall behind him, closing his eyes in an attempt to fight whatever his mind was envisioning. Bonnie stood, guiding Grams onto the stool in her stead, and stepped up in front of Jeremy and Aunt Jenna, hands hidden in her back pockets. "Look, I know Jeremy and Elara had their fights but I'm sure she understood that he was going through something. She wouldn't want you guys to tear into him now. He's devastated enough as it is," she said.

There was a hushed murmuring at the foot of the bed and before I could speak up, the air rustled, the curtains swishing around in a light breeze. Bonnie's hair ruffled, and she was lifted off her feet, her body colliding with the wall behind her.

Caroline stood rigid in the space Bonnie had left behind, her face lined with black veins, sharp-pointed teeth bared in fury. I fearfully watched as Grams stood, her hands twitching at her side. Bonnie turned over on the floor, moaning in pain, and looked over at Grams, shaking her head. With a defiant glare, Grams scrunched up her nose and headed toward the door.

"This is your mess, Bonnie. With Elara gone, I have no place here," she said, leaving the room.

What had Elara gotten herself into with the Bennets? I felt my chest ache when I realized I couldn't ask her. Bonnie stared at the empty doorway, her eyes wide with surprise. Caroline's chest heaved as she rotated her shoulders and started to scream. She bent over, hands on her knees as her body gave way to grief. She cried, tears falling from her eyes in pained hiccups.

"What do you know of Ellie and what she would have wanted? You were always on Elena's side; you never chose Elara." Caroline's red-painted finger sliced through the air like a dagger. "When it wasn't Elena, it was Jeremy. She tried to be your friend Bonnie, but you never cared enough to accept her offers. Don't start acting as if you care now. I was her friend and she was mine…she was mine," Caroline said, her words were guttural and clouded.

Matt stood, his stride slow as he approached. Gently, he wrapped his arms around Carolines' middle, pulling her into his chest. He rocked her back and forth as she attempted to collect herself. I wiped at my burning eyes, holding onto Elara's cold hand. It took all my might to ignore her altered body temperature.

Bonnie sat up, pulling herself from the floor. She rolled her neck around with a grimace. Glaring at Caroline with heated emerald eyes, her expression twisted into one of outrage. "I cared about Elara just as much as you did. Just because we didn't wear matching charm bracelets, didn't mean we weren't friends. I don't need pretty little gifts to prove my friendship, Caroline," Bonnie quipped, her lips pulling into a hateful smirk.

Caroline snarled, placing her hands on Matt's arm ready to push him away and launch herself at Bonnie. Her skin darkened and Matt began to loosen his grip. With a sigh of saddened annoyance, Stefan stepped forward, his hands raised. "Cool it! Do you honestly think Elara would appreciate this kind of behavior? She would be pissed! She loved the both of you, even when you were assholes…the same goes for all of us," Stefan said, rubbing the back of his head guiltily.

Aunt Jenna released a sad sort of laugh, wiping her nose with the heel of her hand as she sat down beside Jeremy. "Yeah, she was certainly the forgiving type."

Caroline chuckled joylessly and Matt tightened his hold, his touch gentle and comforting. "I never understood how she continued to forgive some of you," she said rather harshly.

Elara had been the type to take on everyone's burdens without hesitation, no matter the effect it had on her. I felt terrible that I had been a part of throwing so much abuse at my sister through the years. Bonnie shot Caroline a heated glare and crossed her arms petulantly.

"She was certainly kind-hearted, our Ellie," Jenna said, a croak in her throat.

Caroline sniffled, her hands covering her mouth as she gasped, and Matt grimaced, reaching out to pat her arm in an attempt at comfort. A half-mad snickering grew in the air, and I turned to look at Damon, worry slithering down my spine. He had both of his hands covering his face and his fingertips grasped onto his raven hair like a lifeline. His snicker grew into a strained belt of laughter, and my skin prickled with unease.

"What does any of this matter now? She's gone! Are pretty little words gonna bring her back?" he yelled, ripping his hands from his face, strands of his hair falling to the floor like feathers. His eyes were stained with red and darkness was overtaking his pale skin. Standing to his feet, his hand shot out beside him and he gestured toward Elara with a glare for the room's occupants. "Go ahead, tell her how we all fucked up! Tell her how wrong we were and that if we could go back and believe her, we would." He looked down at Elara and his red eyes glistened. "Oh look, it didn't matter. She's still fucking dead. Just like last time," he spat.

My hatred for him grew as he screamed, his teeth bared threateningly and I felt the need to spear him with that hatred. "And just like last time, it's partially your fault," I said.

Jeremy made to take a step forward, but Bonnie rushed ahead, pressing her body against his in an attempt to stop him. Damon's body stilled and his face flushed with fury. His chest vibrated as his breathing exhilarated. His full lips spread out across his fangs in a snarl, and his shoulders slumped, his body bowing as he readied to lunge at me. I prepared for the impact, but in a rush of breath, he was lifted off his feet, his legs dangling in the empty air. His head fell back as he was tossed across the room. He landed in a heap atop Elara's fluffy white bean bag chairs, and I huffed, disappointed by the soft landing.

I turned to find Elijah and the Martins in the doorway, Klaus standing behind them, sheathed by fury. Jonas stepped into the room, his hand still raised out in front of him, eyes glued to Damon. Elijah followed, journeying toward the bed. He lifted his hand and swiftly unclasped the button of his suit jacket, leaning over Elara's body. With the back of his cupped hand, he grazed the side of her cheek. His eyes narrowed as he took in her face, and he stepped back, looking around the room. "How long has Elena been awake," he asked.

Aunt Jenna looked up at him with wide eyes, her jaw working overtime as she tried to speak. "About an hour," Jeremy answered, gaze planted on the floor.

I could hear a low whisper from the other side of the room and vaguely heard a croaky question that brought a small smile to my face. Elara would have loved it. "Which one was Ellie banging? The sharp-dressed one or the one who looks like a starving artist?" Caroline mumbled, her head turned toward Stefan.

I winced at the disrespect, hearing Elara as the voice of caution in my head. Elijah ignored Jeremy's disregard and Caroline's question, and nodded, something hidden in the depths of his brown eyes. His expression shifted from its practiced passivity to immense guilt the moment a guttural cry of suffering rang through the air. I turned my focus to Klaus, who was edging into the room. Each step appeared as difficult as a trudge through molasses. He lowered to his knees next to the bed, his blue crystalline eyes watery and wide with panic. His gaze ran along Elara's body and he lifted his shaking hands, his fingers flexing against the air.

"E-Elijah, how did this happen?" he asked his tone a roar of agonized fury. Caroline's muffled cry was the background melody to Klaus's meltdown, and I felt the pain in the room seep into my skin.

Elijah stepped up behind Klaus and placed his hand on his shoulder, a useless comfort. "She wanted to ensure you had all you ever wanted, brother. Is creating Hybrids not the most important thing to you?" he asked, his tone lilting with a reprimand.

Klaus snarled, his head swiftly turning to catch the fierce light of anger shining in his brother's eyes. He stood to his feet in a swift breeze and appeared directly in front of Elijah, staring him down, eyes glowing. I gasped, shocked by the change in Klaus's appearance. For the first time, we were able to see the wolf. I could honestly say it scared me shitless. His eyes were shining a deep golden amber and his snarl revealed vampiric teeth bared as a shining beacon of warning. I noticed with intrigued shock that, unlike regular vampires, Klaus had two elongated bottom canines, like that of a wolf.

"How dare you claim that I love anything more than I love Elandra. She was my everything." Klaus lowered his head, his amber eyes filled with turmoil. He looked down at Elara, his chest heaving. The muscles in his neck protruded as he screamed in his fury. "I did everything I was told! This is not the end," he swore, backing away on unsteady feet, hand swiping through the air to mark his declaration.

I began to feel faint the longer he spoke, realizing that he had no clue how to help my sister.

"Had you not proclaimed your constant need for Hybrids maybe Elandra would not have felt the need to sacrifice herself," Elijah ruthlessly stated.

Klaus spun on his heel, his eyes narrowed with contempt. "Do not lay this at my feet, brother. Had you for once told her no, she would still be alive. It could be a century or more before I find her again."

Caroline released a puff of breath, her shoulders rocking as she exhaled. She wiped at her face, shaking her head. "And I thought I had family drama!" Matt placed a hand on his forehead, his pale face taut with stress. Bonnie lightly chuckled, her green eyes wide.

I sat forward with a speed that rattled my neck and looked between the two Originals. I shook my head in disbelief. "No! There's nothing you can do? How, with all of your knowledge and years spent on this earth, can you not know how to save her?"

Bonnie held her hands against her chest, her shoulders slumped and Stefan watched me with saddened eyes. Klaus's back stiffened and he turned to me, his face filled with vexation. "Little doppelganger, I do not have the patience for your questions. It seems we were played for fools last night, and I lost something dear in the process. I do not feel like catering to a Petrova."

My mouth fell open in shocked anger and I released Elara's hand, scooting to the edge of the bed. I stood, my nose wrinkled with displeasure. I glared up at him, ready to put his patience to the test but fell back onto the bed, hit by a stiff rush of air. My lashes fluttered in confusion and I blinked rapidly, a flash of black having left behind an imprint on my vision. Damon stood directly in front of Klaus, toe to toe with the Hybrid. The skin around Damon's eyes was streaked with dark veins, and I could see a deep hatred brewing in his cyan eyes. It was an intense hatred I had never seen him harbor before.

Caroline took hold of Matt's arm and maneuvered him toward the corner of the room, closer to the bed. Bonnie leaned against the wall behind Jeremy and Jenna, her hands held out in front of her. Stefan took a step closer to his brother, face pinched with worry.

"Damon!" he warned.

Damon spared his brother a half-crazed smile and turned back to the Hybrid. "I find it convenient that Elandra always gave you everything you wanted. What did she get in return, death? Now you're free of her again. Ya know, I've wondered about this whole reincarnation curse." Damon glanced around the room, holding out his hands. It was as if he was gathering an audience. He brought his arms back to his sides and poked Klaus in the chest with a cocky tilt of his head. "She is essentially immortal, so your family gets one hell of a shield every few centuries. When you find her, Elandra uses her magic to grant your every wish. All you have to do is make her believe you love her," he said, his lips wet with saliva as he yelled out his accusations.

Aunt Jenna gasped in shock, her fierce accusatory gaze searching the Originals, awaiting a response. She wasn't aware of Damon's constant ridiculous accusations. Caroline huffed, crossing her arms and turning away from Damon's display, her blue eyes glacial. Elijah stepped up behind Klaus, his flawless skin flushed with indignation.

Stefan joined Damon at his side, his jaw tight. The wrinkles between his furrowed brows were an easy tell that he didn't want to be there, but he was nothing if not loyal.

Klaus lifted his hand, curling his fingers to stop Elijah's heated advance. I was surprised when he listened, stepping off to the side to stand silently, like a trained predator. Damon stared at Klaus with a celebratory smile, and I noticed the way he had cornered them. He stood in the center of the room, his back covered by all of Elara's friends and family.

Klaus and Elijah stood alone with only the Martins. As I looked on, I felt a strange moment of clarity. This was the perfect picture of my sister's life; two sides of the same coin. I looked back at Elara, her pale body lying silently atop the covers, and felt the need to step in. There was no way she would want her family fighting, no matter how she had felt about the Salvatores in the end. I stood to my feet and stepped in between the two supernatural entities. I raised my hands and singled for both temperamental men to remain calm, smiling meekly.

"Listen, I know that emotions are running high right now, but that does not mean we start battling in the middle of Elara's room. She would hate that. Everyone here means the world to her, no matter how much we may dislike one another," I said.

Stefan lowered his head, a flicker of guilt passing across his face as he nodded in agreement. Klaus adjusted his posture, crossing his arms and releasing a snort of disbelief. Elijah, a hand in his pocket, simply stood unyielding at his brother's side. His eyes held an unreachable ocean of anger. Klaus focused intensely on Damon, reminiscent of a beast of prey, and ran his pink tongue along his bottom lip. In a moment that left me feeling guilt-induced anxiety, I felt my throat dry.

"I am merely here for Elandra's body. At the moment, your Salvatores are of no concern to me," Klaus said.

A rush of knee-buckling fear left me swaying back and forth, and I felt the stomach-churning sensation of being on a seesaw. I turned to the Original, my face raw with emotion. "Excuse me? You cannot take my sister! I have to figure out how to bring her back."

Jeremy stood, Aunt Jenna, joining him, gripping onto his arm. Her face and neck were flushed and her expression was inflamed with animosity. "Like hell, you're taking my sister, bloodsucker! She is going to be buried with her real fucking family!" Jeremy spat, his face twisted with rage, lashes wet with guilt-ridden tears. Bonnie pulled away from the wall and placed her hand on Jeremy's arm, green eyes rounding when he yanked his arm away in a huff of annoyed breath.

"You can't just take her!" Caroline hollered, pulling from Matt. Her face was scrunched up in disbelief.

Fear flooded me, and I took a step closer to Jeremy, that internal voice of warning from earlier ringing in my ears; It still sounded like Elara. Damon scoffed, shaking his head condescendingly. His tone remained victorious when he spoke. "See! This is what I've been warning you and your sister about. You can't trust them. They only care about themselves."

Stefan tried to step in front of his brother but was pushed aside by the freight train equivalent of a breeze as Elijah sped forward, wrapping his fingers around Damon's neck. He slowly lifted him, leaving his feet dangling five inches off the floor. He bared his teeth, his fangs inches from Damon's face, and snarled in a show of anger and dominion.

Aunt Jenna tried to step forward, confused and terrified by the powerful display, but Jeremy wrapped his arms around her middle, pulling her away. Bonnie stood in front of them both, her arms held out like a shield. Alaric kept his gaze lowered, his expression pained as he stepped closer to Aunt Jenna. He started to whisper calming words into her ear and rubbed her arms gently.

Damon struggled, his hands clasping uselessly at his neck, where Elijah held tightly, the skin reddening around the edges. Klaus sauntered closer, his calm gaze falling onto Damon without care.

"I believe Elandra warned you of what would happen if you didn't learn to control your mouth." He turned his head to look at the others, his expression cool and disinterested. If I hadn't seen the lines of misery around his eyes, I would have bought the act. "I understand that you care for my fiance, but the fact is, she has belonged to my family far longer than she has yours. Therefore, we reserve the right to lay her to rest. I have buried her on this land once before, and I will do so again." he stated. His voice was a frozen imitation of a human being. I could sense he was at the end of his rope. Elijah looked over at his brother, his hard gaze softening momentarily, and I realized my assessment had been correct.

Jeremy stepped forward, his eyes filled with fire, and I turned to my brother, holding up my hand.

"Jeremy! Elara will still be buried here in Mystic Falls, what's the difference? I know you want her by mom and dad, but she is their family too, can we not make an exception?" I said, the ache in my chest returning at full force.

This is not a conversation that I wanted to have…ever. Jeremy wobbled on weak feet, and Aunt Jenna held him tight. "I can't do this right now!" he said, standing straight and rushing toward the door.

Aunt Jenna and Alaric swiftly followed after him. I looked on in exhaustion, ready to follow after my family, but instead, turned to Damon, who was still being held by Elijah. Stefan stepped forward, his demeanor bordering on plastic. He bowed his head, lowering his hands against the air in a calming manner.

"I ask that you release my brother. He is grieving and does not have control of his emotions. He's lashing out; I'm sure you both can understand that" he said.

Caroline rolled her cold blue eyes and pushed past Matt, coming to stand beside Stefan. "Excuse me, did you just use Elara, the same person Damon has been treating no better than gum on his shoe, to excuse his behavior. The same behavior he's had for over a hundred years? Cause if you are, I have to call bullshit! His many issues are all on him," Caroline said, snapping her fingers. She snootily bopped her head, tapping her foot in annoyance.

Klaus's lips twitched, and he looked down at his feet, his neck and shoulders slumping as if an invisible weight had overtaken his body.

Bonnie shrugged, tilting her head in agreement, but she kept her mouth shut.

"Caroline, as much as I love your fierce loyalty this time I have to agree with Stefan," I said, to the shock of most of the room's occupants.

Caroline scoffed, her pink lips pursing, astonished by my perceived betrayal. She crossed her arms over her chest, her blonde hair bouncing in her anger.

Klaus chuckled darkly as he turned to take me in, his shoulders flexing as he widened his arms. "Ah, what a surprise, a Gilbert standing between death and a Salvatore. I have to say, I am beginning to tire of the martyr act, little love," he said.

A smile dripping with blood and pain pulled at Damon's lips, and I rushed to take it away. My eyes narrowed with hatred. "I have no love left for the Salvatores."

A gasp of agonized bewilderment came from Damons' side, and I chose to ignore it. I was not ready for a battle with my ex. I looked at Caroline and shared a weak smile built on painful understanding.

"I only meant that I understand Damon is grieving. He may not have treated Elara right, but he did love her; in his own fucked up way. Let everything else go for now. It's what Ellie would want," I said.

Damon's brows shuffled, his face twisting in confusion, and I enjoyed the way his lips pulled down in a deep frown. Elijah lowered him back to the floor, his fingers flexing, thumb pressing roughly against Damon's larynx. His lips pursed in resentment before he released him entirely. Damon shuffled backward and bent over, coughing as he gasped. Blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth, and he roughly wiped it away with the palm of his hand. I took him in, still feeling the same confusion I always did when I looked at him.

"This is the last time I will ever help you, Damon. Keep that in mind the next time you decide to open your mouth." I ran my eyes down his body and scrunched up my nose. "What Elara saw in you, I'll never know."

Bonnie's hand flew to her mouth and she gasped, her green eyes wide. "Elena!"

I rolled my eyes at her shock and kept my focus on the vampire in front of me, staring him down as his face began to change, his anger getting the better of him.

Stefan swiftly stepped in front of him, placing a hand on his chest. "Don't, we need to leave!"

Klaus ambled next to me, his expression on the edge of careful control, but his eyes were specked with amber. "I think that would be best. The doppelganger is under my family's protection, and as she stated, you no longer play a part in her life. With Elandra gone, you have no place here." he said, his jaw flexing with anger.

Damon looked past us, his gaze falling on the bed, and his shoulders shuddered. He only spared Klaus one more spiteful glare before he sped away, the window swinging in his wake.

Elijah took over as Klaus walked away, his pace sedate and almost lost as he approached the bed, taking a seat beside Elara. Caroline took hold of Matt's hand and drug him to the other side of the bed. They stood silently, grim frowns on their faces. I couldn't help but notice the way Caroline watched Klaus with sad curious eyes.

Elijah stepped in front of Stefan, blocking his view. "There is nothing left for you here. It's time you go," he said.

Stefan turned to me, searching for a reason to stay, but I simply placed a hand on Elijah's arm, turning my head. Elijah looked down at my hand, his brown eyes squinted in surprise, but I kept my hand pressed against his arm, ignoring the vampire in front of us. I didn't have any designs on the suited Original. Had a developed a crush? Yeah. Did I think I stood a shot? Absolutely not. I wasn't a fool, I knew whose face I wore. It would be impossible to fit into their family, let alone steal Elijah's heart; he had already given it to two of my ancestors.

Stefan stumbled, his face a broken-hearted mask. With the lifting of his foot, he was gone, following in his older brother's footsteps. Elijah stepped away, an expression of confusion still evident, and stepped behind Klaus.

I stood at the foot of the bed, feeling as lost as Klaus had appeared. "What do we do next?" I asked, my voice cracking.

Elijah looked up, his breath catching in his throat. "Niklaus and I will take her home, to our family burial grounds. It's still hidden deep in the woods. It's where she was originally placed," he said.

Klaus ran his fingertips along her chin and in a rush of air, he was standing beside his brother, his mouth agape and tears in his eyes. His entire body trembled, hands clasping and unclasping as he stood stock-still. His eyes darkened to amber, and with a burst of air, he was gone, only an indent in the sheets to show he had ever been there.

Elijah sighed, his focus intently captured by Elara's body. "I shouldn't have taken the chance, Niklaus was right, I should have told her no," he said, his tone a whisper. "We will return in a few hours." With that, he sped away, following after Klaus.

I sat in the spot Klaus had left behind, and took hold of Elara's hand, tears slipping from my eyes. Things would never be the same.

Standing with my foot pressed against the wall, I leaned back and watched with tired eyes as my family mourned me. Had I known I would be stuck in limbo, I probably would have chosen a different form of resurrection magic.

I rubbed my cold hands together and tilted my head as Elena cried, my hand held against her chest. Watching both sides of my family scream and battle one another had not been a fun way to start the day.

"You're lucky they didn't take you to be buried. That gives that potion a few more hours to work," Rebekah said, stepping up next to me, flapper dress swishing against her gray thighs.

Seeing my sister face to face, on the other hand, had been a nice bonus. Taking her hand, I placed my head on her shoulder. "Yeah, that's one thing I've never had to do; I would rather keep it that way," I said, shivering at the idea of being buried alive.

"Have you figured out why it's taking so long?" she asked, her blonde curls tickling my cheek as she pulled away.

I looked at my idle body and scrunched up my face, unease slithering down my chilled spine.

I turned and stared into Rebekah's dull blue eyes and nodded. "My guess is the potion is fighting against the curse. I am so close to my next birthday that the curse wants to claim me early but the resurrection potion is working just as fast to bring me back. It's a battle between two very different types of magic."

Rebekah winced, her veiny skin puckering discomfitingly. "So what now?" she fearfully asked.

"I wait. I can do nothing from where I am. I just have to hope for the best."

Rebekah's face pinched and she snarled, smacking my arm with all her might. I gasped, rubbing my skin with a wrinkled nose. "What the hell, Bekah!?" I exclaimed.

Rebekah pointed at the door with a firm finger, her face scrunched up in agonized fury. "My brother is out there mourning you! He needs you, Ellie, and you left him knowing you might not return. How could you do that?" she yelled.

I felt a shame, unlike anything I had felt before, and twisted away, lowering my head. "Niklaus would have never been happy, not until he broke his curse. This was the only way." I said.

Rebekah huffed, her tone exasperated. "No, you just think you have to give up every iota of happiness. Your curse has conditioned you to be a goddamn doormat! Stop it, Elandra; fight for what you want!" she said.

My eyes burned at her words and I felt my chest heat with guilt and humiliation, but most of all love. I turned to look at my sister, her blue eyes were fierce in her anger and determination. "You're right. I am so sorry. This is the last time I lay down and die…literally." I said, laughing.

Rebekah chuckled and I wrapped my arms around her, smiling at the feeling. How I had missed her. "I'm serious though Bekah, I really am exhausted by all the loss. I want to win this time, I mean, there's gotta be a way right?" I asked, my voice weak.

Rebekah placed her palms atop my cheeks, her face filled with strength. "There is always another way." Her eyes ran over my face and a spark lit her up from within. A wide smile grew on her lips and her chest rose as she inhaled deeply. "Thank the Gods."

I moved my trapped head to the side, confused by her words until I felt a deep comforting warmth radiate across my skin. She released me, stepping back to give me space. "Take care of my brothers, Elandra, and wake me up soon, will you?" she asked, grinning.

I looked down at my hands and quickly noticed that my pale lifeless skin was beginning to shade a healthy pink. I looked back up at Rebekah and let my newfound determination glow across my face. "I will see you very soon, sister."

Her blue eyes were the last thing I saw before I opened my eyes to a new beginning.