It would have been easier if my parents could be compelled. Mom cried off and on for the last hour and my dad barely said a word to anyone. Mom pelted me with question after question, a box of Kleenex in hand, trying to derail my mysterious plans.

Where will you go?

What about school?

When will you be back?

How will you protect yourself?

Which, in truth, she was right to be concerned. And yet it came down to one thing. Was it worth Klaus coming here and ending the Inex Coven. I told her I would come back, and I would.

Eventually.

Before we left Morena said that all mystical beings would be drawn to me. My magic would be like a beacon, even though I wouldn't quite be able to control it. Klaus would only be the first in a long line of individuals who would want a taste. At least that was how everyone made it sound. If he were out of the picture, which was Elijah's goal, then I would be safe. More importantly, my family would be safe. A lingering thought nagged at me though. How long would I be safe until the next vampire, or witch, or whatever decided they wanted me.

I traced my fingers over the worn leather cover of Sirene's grimoire. The wrinkled pages whispered to me. While my body called for sleep, my mind would not quiet. It was like being born and seeing everything for the first time, except this time I was cognizant of all the changes around me. Everything had a new sheen. Before I left, I could feel my parents' energies, Morena's too.

Even Elijah sent off waves of energy that I could not decipher just yet. I kept all this information to myself. I wasn't sure whether vampires were keen to having others clued into their essence. My gut told me my silence was golden for now.

"You should try to get some rest. I don't expect the next few days will be easy on you." Elijah spoke for the first time in several hours.

I leant my head against the window, "I'll sleep when we get there. Which is where exactly?"

In all the craziness of the day, I never asked. I peeked at the time, realizing it was almost midnight. My stomach grumbled and my bladder felt dangerously close to exploding. Since we left Eelry, Elijah had made no stops and from the way he stayed laser-focused on the roads he had no intentions to do so.

"Grove Hill, Virginia." Elijah told me.

"Okay," I gave him my full attention, "What's there?"

"Nothing. It's the town over that I am interested in. Mystic Falls." He spoke with extreme calculation.

I fought a smile, "Are you always this vague?"

"Not intentionally," Elijah gripped the steering wheel, "Have you ever heard of the moonstone?"

I cleared my brain fog and reiterated what little information I held on the subject, "It's a gemstone needed to break a curse. Vampires can walk in the sun; wolves don't have to turn every full moon. I think that's the gist of it."

Pleased with himself, Elijah was quick to correct me, "That's what Klaus and I wanted everyone to think."

I lifted away from the window, "What do you mean?"

"The moonstone is a vital component of the ritual that will awaken my brother's werewolf curse." Elijah unveiled the truth.

In everything that I read over the years, nothing ever came close to getting the information straight from the source. "Is that possible?" I thought of the implications that could mean for vampires and werewolves alike. As Klaus was such a threat now only as an original vampire, I didn't want to think about the destruction he could cause as a cross between that of a vampire and a werewolf.

Was there ever such a creature?

"About as possible as a witch with limitless power." Elijah quipped.

I grunted, "I don't know if that's how I would describe myself," then I fully understood what Elijah had said. Thinking aloud, I said, "Wait a second, you're born with the werewolf gene, Lycanthropy. And even then, it's inactive unless triggered."

Elijah cracked a smile, "You have done your reading."

"So then do you have the same gene?" I couldn't help but ask. I didn't know why Elijah was sharing this information with me, maybe he felt the same ease of trust that I did. But, I was also aware that he could clam up at any second and I needed to satisfy my curiosity before then.

Elijah shook his head, "My mother had an affair resulting in the birth of Niklaus."

I quickly gained the sense that there was a lot to the Mikaelson family and after a millennium's worth of tales I knew this car ride wouldn't be enough to uncover all the details. No text I studied or story I heard ever remotely touched on this subject.

I bit the inside of my cheek ready to push my luck, "We've only known each other for going on, oh, about fourteen hours now. All of this information feels...personal"

Elijah licked his lips, "Just three hours ago, I laid on top of you Ceres, felt your blood passing through me."

My face grew hot at his words and the gruffness of his voice.

Sensing my embarrassment, Elijah deviated, "Furthermore, Morena trusts you and I trust her. It is a safe assumption that what you and I discuss is for our ears only, yes?"

I couldn't describe it, not well anyway, the sense of contentment I gained from Elijah. I felt safe near him and inexplicably I knew he was honorable. There was no way I could fully grasp what I was getting myself into, but I believed him when he said he would protect me.

"Yes." I avowed.

"Good," he pressed on, "Klaus has grown paranoid in the last few years and is a bit of recluse these days. If he hears that the moonstone is in Mystic Falls, I assume he will make his way there."

I crossed my arms over my chest, "I thought this was all to avoid Klaus. Why are we going to the town he could come to?"

Elijah clenched his jaw, "It is a risk, but I am taking precautions. That is why you will be in Grove Hill. Only I and a select few will know you are there."

I stayed quiet.

"If successful, during the ritual Klaus will undergo a transformation and will be at his most vulnerable, an opportunity that will never come again. That is when I will attack." Elijah's eyes were downcast for a moment.

My tone gentle, I asked, "What did he do to you?"

Elijah sneered, "What has he not done? He has ruined any possibility of happiness every chance he has gotten. Driven by his own greed, he is thoughtless in his actions. He has rid me of my siblings so that I may never find them again."

The hurt in Elijah's tone made my heart ache. I could feel his misery as if it were my own. Only just now could I even begin to sympathize with his grief, but I would see my parents again. I didn't have any siblings though. I imagine if I were closer to those in the coven, perhaps then I would be able to better understand Elijah. From his forlorn attitude, he lost all hope.

He sat up straighter, "Either way, Niklaus' actions have gone unpunished for long enough."

I folded my hands in my lap, the sourness in my gut fading away, "I will help you in any way that I can."

Appeased by my words, Elijah's shoulders relaxed, "Thank you Ceres. Now, if you do not plan to sleep for the rest of the ride, I believe we have much to discuss. Do you know very much about doppelgängers?"

OoOoOo

I couldn't think straight, too many names and bits of information crashing in my head: the Petrova doppelgängers, werewolves, Katherine Pierce, Elena Gilbert, the Salvatore brothers. The crash course history lesson from Elijah was my tipping point for the evening. I grossly underestimated what Mystic Falls had to offer. I was stepping into a world that was more likely to kill me than not.

"You are exhausted." Elijah commented while I rummaged through the refrigerator. I grabbed a tiny container of strawberry yogurt and lazily peeled off the foil top. Somehow the onslaught of information Elijah slammed me with killed my appetite.

I leaned against the granite countertop. The house in Grove Hill was an old Victorian two-story that was nicely kept. I could tell the house didn't experience much in terms of company. While everything was immaculate and up to date, it was too pristine. More ready for a catalogue than actual inhabiting. At least Elijah had the kitchen fully stocked and according to him, I would have a private bathroom and bedroom.

"I'll sleep soon." I told him. Thankfully I cleaned up before we hit the road and would be able to skip a shower. But, thinking of the blood spatter during the ritual made me feel grimy all over again.

Elijah reached out to me, his hand cupping my shoulder. My eyes darted to the carving on his wrist. How had I not noticed earlier? Time slowed as the mark beckoned me. Without hesitation, my fingers ghosted over the engraving. The skin flamed beneath my touch and then the visions came.

A scene of Elijah with his rich brunette hair braided wearing a white tunic surrounded by who I could only assume were his siblings came into my mind. It was as if I was standing there. I could feel the heat of the fire and hear the crickets chirping. We were in a village during nightfall. The sister playfully shoved one of their brothers. I didn't know names, and this was the first time I had seen their faces. One of the brothers whittled a piece of wood, a miniature horse in his hands. Elijah displayed a smile and let out a laugh I could never imagine coming from him.

He was happy.

Elijah grabbed my hand, interrupting the connection. I swayed on my feet, my hand going to his chest.

"Ceres?" He craned his neck to look down at me.

"You didn't heal." I motioned to the mark. To make my point, I lifted my wrist too, showing him my matching scar.

Elijah pressed his lips together. He moved away from me, the muscles in his neck and shoulders tensing. As his walls went up, his aura became bleaker until I had an empty feeling inside of me.

"No. I didn't."

"Has that ever happened before?" I lowered my gaze, unsure of what just occurred between us.

"No. Not since I became a vampire," He acknowledged, before saying, "Your eyes during…did you see something?"

I knew his brothers and sisters were a sore subject. I just couldn't bring myself to lie to him.

I nodded, "You with your family a long time ago."

Elijah scowled, his eyes growing cloudy. I waited for his response. But he didn't say anything. Instead, he left the kitchen, apparently not too pleased by what I saw. The air left the room with him.

Then I felt like I had most of my life.

Alone.

OoOoOo

This chapter was a little bit more of a filler/info dump to set up the story for Mystic Falls. We're starting in early/mid-season two of TVD. I'm really excited for Ceres to meet everyone. I can't wait to share what kind of trouble she gets into….

(I am contemplating posting on AO3. I have only read fics on there, not posted and the site seems a little bit more daunting...)