SIX MONTHS LATER…

After Volterra, Eleanor moved from place to place – only staying somewhere for a few months before moving out. She'd been back to her hometown only once, just to see if her parents were okay and leave flowers on the graves of her best friends. Although she missed Alec, she couldn't face him. She couldn't let herself miss him too much since it was his fault Allison was dead. He made a promise to keep Allison under the protection of the Volturi, and he broke that promise. She'd never forgive him for what he had done, he'd taken away everyone and everything she'd ever loved; her family, her friends, her home... everything was gone and she was left with nothing.

Although, after she'd destroyed the Volturi coven several months beforehand, she had been approached by The Dacian coven in Romania and asked if she would like to join them since it was thanks to her that they were now back in power as the main enforcers of law, which she agreed. Now part of the Romanian coven, Eleanor was appointed one of the highest members next to Stefan and Vladimir, putting her in charge of almost the entire vampire world and due to this; she was often referred to as the "Queen of Vampires".

It was funny, one year ago; Eleanor's crowning achievement was being voted most likely to become famous and being class president two years running. And now, she was in charge of an entire species and she ruled over them with an iron fist.

Many covens came far and wide to both congratulate and to ask for demands from the new enforcers of the law, and they were treated with the utmost respect until they disrespected Eleanor, however, and God help anyone who disrespected the Queen. If Eleanor didn't get to them, Vladimir and Stefan definitely would.

Eleanor sat on her marble throne, her black dress contrasting perfectly with her porcelain skin. Her nails and lips were painted a dark red and her hair was tied back into tight braids to show of her dark blue earrings. Her coven sign was a ring that was placed on her ring finger, showing her complete dedication to the coven.

"We all know what you want, Sofia," Eleanor spat, walking slowly off her throne and towards Sofia. "If you think me unfit to rule, by all means, kill me. But you know in your heart that you and your coven don't have the strength or the numbers to take on me and my brothers."

Sofia's eyes narrowed, taking a step towards Eleanor so the pair was inches away from each other. "Using those empty threats mean nothing to me, Eleanor. You just can't admit it to yourself that you are weak – you're still haunted over Allison and you know it was your fault she died-"

Sofia didn't get to finish her sentence before Eleanor gave a nod to her guards who dragged Sofia away, kicking and screaming the whole way while Eleanor gave her a sarcastic smile and waved in her direction. Turning back to Stefan and Vladimir, Eleanor smirked. "That ought to show those bastards not to come here again. Now, if you'll excuse me gentlemen, I believe Sunny is waiting for me."

Eleanor gave Stefan and Vladimir a slight nod before leaving the throne room, the sound of her heeled boots echoing on the stone floor. Sofia mentioning Allison struck a chord somewhere inside of her and she would've killed her right then and there but she had to stop herself and go into queen mode – she didn't need to keep fighting for herself, she had other people to do that for her.

As she walked through one of the long corridors, she felt someone tap her on the shoulder, causing her to stop walking and turn around. Then she was met with those comforting red eyes she fell in love with. "Alec?"

Author's Note: QUEEN ELEANOR IS MY FUCKING ASTHETIC. I had to put in Sunny in there again bc Sqwad.

This is the end of Afterlife; thank you all so much for being with me on this journey and it's gonna be hard for me to move on from this story, Afterlife has pretty much been my life for a year and I don't want to say goodbye yet but all good things must come to an end.

Unfortunately, there will be no sequel to this story but you guys can speculate what would happen next, I don't really mind. Or if you'd want to continue it in your own stories, that's fine with me just let me know if you're doing it so I can read it and make sure you credit me since it's a bit mean not to do it. Or don't do either, I don't really care.

Hope to see you all in another story;

Lorna.