My suitcase was packed so tightly that I could barely zip it closed. After the ritual, I was leaving Eelry behind. Even though it was the only place I knew, it was time for me to leave. I had no idea where my next destination would be. I didn't know how long I would be gone or when I would come back. The Inex Coven didn't accept me for what I was or rather, what I could be. Even my own parents seemed to be afraid of me.

I turned towards the full body length mirror in the corner of my room. I looked like the same old Ceres. My dark brown hair hung in loose waves, cascading to the middle of my back. My round eyes were clear grey, almost silver, arguably my favorite feature. I always felt like my nose was too round for my face and my lips were a bit too plump. I wondered if I would look any different afterward.

Elijah appeared in the mirror, hovering in the doorway.

"Are they ready?" I asked his reflection.

"Just about," He responded, before taking a step further into my room, "You left rather abruptly before they could tell you about the ritual." I turned and walked to the edge of my bed, resting my hands on my suitcase.

I tugged on the zipper, before saying, "I just needed space from them."

"I understand. Family can be…difficult." Elijah appeared to speak from experience. I let out a breathy laugh and he pressed on.

"During the ritual, Morena will draw upon me for magic which will aid in breaking your metaphorical binds. My body will desiccate during this. Once your magic is back, I will feed from you. There is a chance that this could link us for lack of a better word."

None of this seemed to faze him. This was sacrificial magic, a type of magic not practiced by the Inex Coven. Furthermore, I didn't know how to feel about being connected to a virtual stranger, even if he was handsome and outwardly honorable.

"What will the link feel like?"

He shrugged, "I cannot say for certain. Morena thinks nothing. Any effects may only be temporary. As I said earlier, the prophecy is unclear."

My brow raised, "Why aren't you bothered by this?"

Elijah leered at me, "I have been alive a long time, Ceres. It takes more than something like this to shake me."

"And you are doing this all just to keep me from Klaus? I mean, no offense, but you don't even know me, yet you are going to help me. You'll be vulnerable. That requires a bit of trust." My gratefulness became overshadowed by my skepticism.

Not respecting any personal space, Elijah came to stand in front of me. He was close enough that if I reached out, I would be able to touch him.

"I feel I should tell you that my intentions are not entirely honorable. You see, I will protect you from Niklaus. In return, I need your help." Elijah's true objective sluggishly came into view.

"With what?"

"Killing him." Elijah declared.

My lips parted, "You want to kill your brother?"

Elijah's eyes dropped, "Want? No. I wish I didn't have to."

"Then why do you?" I tried to understand, but murder was not a conclusion that we jumped to in our coven. We lived a peaceful existence. Perhaps too serene.

But then, dad interrupted at the worst moment before I could get any answers. Elijah took a step back, creating a decent space between us.

"We're ready now." Dad announced.

Elijah left first, my dad staring him down until it was only the two of us. As I was about to walk out of the room, he grabbed my wrist. I stilled. His brown eyes were like cups of coffee, warm and inviting.

"Ceres, there's still time for you to change your mind. No one is making you do this." He gave it one last try to convince me to remain stagnant.

"I am."

OoOoOo

I laid in the middle of a salt circle. Symbols drawn with ash representing protection, power, and knowledge were drawn around me. My parents and two other women from our coven all joined hands. They knelt just outside of the ring at the upper part of the circle. With their heads hung low, they chanted quietly, gathering energy for what was to come. The only light came from the dozens of candles lit.

My nerves began to get the best of me. I had no idea what to expect, not really. Would this be painful? How would I feel in the aftermath? Then Elijah laid outside the circle, his body parallel to mine. He had taken off his suit jacket and now was in a white button-up with his sleeves rolled a quarter of the way.

We exchanged a look.

No going back now.

Morena then came into the room and the entire mood shifted. In her hand, she held a blade with the handle carved out of an animal bone. She wasted no time and leaned down to Elijah. Using the blade, she carved a symbol onto his wrist while whispering an incantation. Elijah didn't even flinch.

When she pulled away, he laid his arm down. The mark looked like a tiny arrow with smaller ticks down the shaft. His skin didn't heal. My brow furrowed. It was dark magic.

Morena set her sights on me, taking my hand in hers before flipping my palm upwards.

"Symbol du masque et de l'ombre, embrace-toi. Embrace-toi." She began to chant as she carved the same symbol onto my wrist. It was like a scalding hot fire poker trailing across my arm. I bit my lip until I drew blood, the metallic taste filling my mouth. This time as I looked over at Elijah, his eyes were closed, and the color had drained from his face.

She dropped my arm, the skin still burning. The room began to spin. I heard the hissing before I saw the snake. But my vision changed, everything came to me in fractured segments. My mother held the snake just below its head, while the reptile writhed in her grasp. It bared its fangs right as Morena slid the blade down its body. The blood splattered over me and Elijah. Morena took the reptile continuing to drain every drop over our bodies.

"Sanguis mali. Sanguis nobilis. Quam absolvet hanc meam." The group began to chant. As their voices grew, I became immobile. It felt like weights were being dropped on my body, one by one, and I was sinking.

"Quam absolvet hanc meam. Dimittere eam." They repeated over and over.

My entire body began to burn, my skin pulling so tight, I thought it would separate from my bones. Tiny slashes broke out across my skin, my blood mixing with the snake. I tried to scream but I couldn't. My heart slowed while my mind continued to struggle with the pain being inflicted upon my body.

The last thing I saw, or rather felt, was the blade being plunged into my abdomen.

OoOoOo

I blinked.

With a groan, I sat up. Luscious green grass surrounded me, the bluest sky hovered above. It was as if all the colors had come to life. I rose to my feet, my hands immediately going to my stomach. I expected blood, but as I lifted my shirt, my skin was undamaged. My eyes flickered over the etching on my wrist. The wound wasn't fresh though but fully healed scar tissue.

"You came." A little girl's voice came from across the clearing.

I swiveled. A row of swings were just a few feet from me. A little girl sat on the middle swing; the rest of the seats were empty. My eyes widened. It was me as a little girl, except not really. She wore the same white dress I had during the harvest festival when I was seven. Her eyes were nearly all white and her skin was practically translucent. I could see the veins throughout her body, thin blue lines beneath her skin.

"Where am I?" I kept my distance.

"Someplace safe. They were hurting you." My seven-year-old voice filled the air.

Even though I was thankful for the reprieve, I still said, "It's all part of the ceremony."

She snickered, "Don't worry. You'll go back soon."

I looked around, the absolute stillness settling on me. There were no sounds, just complete quiet. Maybe I was dead, or something close to it.

"Who are you?" I looked at the unnatural version of myself.

Her fingers tightened around the chain of the swing, "I don't have a name. I just look after you."

"Why do you look like me?"

The little girl offered me a ghostlike smile, "You would not be able to withstand my true form."

My instincts told me to flee, but there was nowhere to run to.

"Can I go back now?"

She let out a girly giggle that sent chills down my spine. She lifted her hand and flicked her wrist before pointing her first and second fingers at me. Golden weavings appeared out of thin air, surrounding me. The strands blocked my vision and began to dissolve against me.

"Glowing." The little girl murmured.

"What's happening?" I examined the threads landing on me.

The girl jumped off her seat, "You're almost free. But don't let them fool you. Your chains are still in place."

"Are you talking about the seals?"

She smiled, "Goodbye Ceres. Come visit me again, soon, okay?"

OoOoOo

When I opened my eyes, the room was hazy. Everyone except Morena continued to recite the incantation. Their eyes were closed, sweat breaking out on their faces. My mom's nose had been bleeding, but she didn't break.

"It's not over yet." Morena slipped the dagger into my hand.

Her eyes locked onto Elijah, and I instantly remembered what he had said in my bedroom. He needed to feed. I could feel the wetness on my shirt from where the blade had been, but the skin was completely closed. Still feeling a little hazy, like I just woke up out of the deepest sleep, I knelt beside Elijah.

He was completely immobile.

I made a tiny incision across my wrist, right above my new scar, before I lowered my arm

over Elijah's mouth. The candlelight dancing across his skin as crimson drops land on his pale, dead lips.

Before I knew what was happening, I was flat on my back again. Elijah pinned me to the ground; his head buried in the crook of my neck. His fangs sank into the delicate skin, and I gasped at the intrusion. My arms went around his back, holding him closer to me. I could feel every individual drop of blood leaving my skin.

I felt no pain.

My body began to hum, and my skin tingled with electricity.

Magic. Pleasure. Power.

My excitement overwhelmed my senses. All the windows shattered spraying glass everywhere. The chanting came to a stop as my dad pulled mom into his arms, shielding her from the shards.

The ritual was over.

I began to feel lightheaded right as Elijah retracted his fangs. He brought his head back. My blood coated his mouth, oozing down his chin. Then he smiled and an indescribable warmth filled me.

"Ceres," he whispered, "you have your magic."

OoOoOo

Thank you for reading! I swear we are getting closer to Mystic Falls :) I'm thinking I'm going to update weekly (or more if I can't help myself). I appreciate the follows/favorites. As always, reviews are welcome! I would love to know what you think...

flawsome4ever: I'm excited for her magic to start showing too! I have a lot of plans for Ceres :P

Skarsgardgurl: First off, I love your pen name. Secondly, thank you for being my beta reader ;) I'm glad Elijah is winning you over too.