A/N: This chapter is up a little later than I intended. Because when I finished work today I was rather angry and now that anger has turned to sadness which has led to me not being very productive.

The door open and Rebekah swept into the room. At first glance she seemed like her normal self but as I looked closer I noticed that she seemed slightly disheveled, something very rare for her.

"So imagine my surprise when I get a phone call from my older brother, who last I heard was drinking himself to death in the French Quarter, to say that not only has he just seen my supposedly dead sister but that she has also apparently turned into a crazy vampire killer who stole his daylight ring and tried to burn him to death."

"Surprise. And yes it's true, although I'm sure that when Kol told you this he failed to mention that he was stalking me at the time?"

"He did not. But that's not important right now."

"Oh? What is?" She stared at me.

"Elena, I never thought I'd see you again!"

"Well that tends to happen when you leave someone." She frowned.

"Elena, why are you being like this? This is a happy thing, we found you!"

"I wasn't lost Rebekah. I was left."

"We thought you were dead! Klaus said…" I looked at her, eyebrow raised. "I don't know about the others but Kol and I didn't abandon you. We thought you were dead and when Klaus dragged us away we fought him to go back. He daggered us before we could do anything. We would never abandon you. We love you."

Every part of me longed to hug her, to apologize for the misunderstanding and leave with her right now. But I couldn't. I couldn't let them know…

"Okay, I believe you. It doesn't change anything. I'm not coming back. I have a life here. I'm happy."

"Tell that to your face."

"Please Rebekah, just go? I… seeing you all is too painful. Please, just let me get on with reclaiming my life." I turned away. I heard the creak of the bed as she sat down and her hand rested on my leg.

"They all miss you. Kol's been a mess. Elijah and Finn have turned into recluses. When I saw them last, they weren't eating. They'd just… given up. On everything. And I can see that you're doing the same thing. Maybe not in the same way but you're not the girl you were. The girl we care about. That girl would never push away the people she loves."

"Where does Klaus fit into this equation?"

"I don't know. I've not spoken to him since that night. I refuse to." That surprised me. Rebekah had remained unflinchingly loyal throughout everything that Klaus had done to her. Yet I was the reason she turned against him?

"You shouldn't throw away a part of your life over me."

"Look who's talking. You've done nothing but throw away your life."

"I'm not throwing it away. I'm starting a new life. One that doesn't have room for your family or its baggage."

"Elena…"

"NO. I'm done. I'll tell you what I told Kol. Leave me alone. Don't call me, don't talk me. I don't want to see you, I don't want to hear from you. I just want to be left alone."

I got up and went to the door, holding it open for her. She got up but didn't move to the door.

"Don't do this. We're your family."

"No. You were my family. But you were right Rebekah, I've changed. I'm not that girl anymore. That girl died that night. Go back to mourning her and forget about me." I gestured at the door. After a moment she went out into the hallway and turned to look at me.

"We're here. When you change your mind."

I closed the door sharply. I waited until I heard Rebekah's footsteps receding down the corridor before letting out an enraged cry and dropping to the floor. I rested my head on my knees, tears forming in the corners of my eyes. I wiped them away angrily. No. New me, no more tears for them. I'd made a vow to be stronger than this and I was going to stick to it.

The temptation to hide in my room and sulk was incredibly tempting, particularly now that I knew both Kol and Rebekah were in the area. But that would be admitting that they'd gotten to me and I didn't want to do that. I decided to go out and get some air. Maybe it would clear my head.

I left the compound and set off with a purposeful stride that disguised my internal uncertainty. I wasn't sure where I was heading but my feet seemed to. They guided me away from the quarter to a plantation. It took me a minute to recognize it and when I did, I stopped abruptly. This was the house Mikael had held me. It looked different in some way that I didn't really understand. I felt a sense of foreboding, a feeling of being unwelcome, like the land itself didn't want me here and was warning me back. I hesitated for a moment before crossing the gate and walking onto the drive. I headed to the house but changed direction at the last minute and instead went into the grounds surrounding it.

I wandered into the apple orchard beside the house and came to the spot where it had happened. The trees stirred in the wind and it sounded like they were whispering secrets to me. I knelt in the ground and ran my hand over the dirt. Even now, so long after, there were traces of ash from the fire that night. A bowl lay discarded in the dirt, the interior permanently blackened. I had thought that being here would stir something in me but it didn't. I picked up the bowl, turning it over in my hand.

I felt a stab of pain in my heart and I closed my eyes, whimpering as I waited for it to pass. When I opened my eyes, the sky was dark. I frowned and got to my feet. A fire was burning in front of me and I could hear howling nearby. I followed the sound through the dark trees. Something ran past me. My eyes widened as I realized that I was looking at myself.

The other me ran, looking around desperately for something. A white stake was clutched in my hand. It began to sink in what was going on. This was the night that everything had happened. I bit my lip, unsure whether to follow my other self or head towards the sound of fighting. After a moments thought, I went towards the howling.

Mikael had Kol pinned to the floor by his throat. Wolves were biting him savagely and Elijah was trying to pull his father away. Mikael reared up suddenly, letting out a cry of pain. His hands went to his chest and he stumbled back. Everything stopped and stared. He stiffened and fell to the floor, body shaking furiously. His skin glowed and smouldered as unseen fire consumed him. The wolves dispersed quickly after a nod from Klaus.

"What happened…?" Rebekah asked hesitantly.

"I think… I think he's dead," Elijah replied. He looked around. "Where is Elena?"

"I saw her run that way… She can't have gone far," Finn said, starting after me. Klaus reached out and placed a hand on his chest, stopping him.

"No."

"What?"

"No. We need to leave."

"But…" Everyone was staring at him, confused.

"Elena is dead."

"We don't know that!" Rebekah protested.

"Mikael keeled over dead. We can't feel Elena anymore. She must have killed herself to kill him. We're leaving."

"Even if she is dead, we can't just leave her out here. We should take her home," Elijah said, his tone suggesting that he couldn't quite believe what was happening. A wind blew through the trees and I noticed that Klaus shifted uncomfortably, the gesture small enough to be missed by anyone who wasn't paying attention.

"No. We are leaving right now." He turned and started walking away. After a few paces he realized that no one was following and turned back. "Come on."

"No, Klaus we're not leaving her."

"Rebekah. Come here. Now."

"NO!" Klaus growled and darted forward, a silver dagger in his hand. I turned away so I didn't have to look. I heard the others shouting behind me but I ignored it and retraced my steps until I found where the other me had gone. She was under a tree, half propped up against the trunk. One arm hung down at her side, the stake lay discarded on the ground. Blood ran down her naked chest, pooling around her. Even though I knew I couldn't do anything, I felt myself reaching out. I pulled back at the last second and instead knelt beside her. Her eyes were half open, staring out vacantly and her lips moved silently.

A muffled growl came from the bushes and I looked over to see a wolf emerge. It came to her side and sniffed. My past self let out a soft groan, body slumping down further. Ash and some stray embers floated over from the fire and landed on her skin. Her hand twitched, her fingers lightly clawing at the ground. A few drops of rain began to fall from the sky, running down her forehead and across the curve of her nose, giving the illusion that she was crying. Her mouth continued to move and even though I couldn't hear what she said, I knew the words.

By water and wood, by air and earth, blood as offering, grant me rebirth.

Two more wolves joined the first. They looked at one another before gathering at her side. One gently pressed its nose into the palm of her hand. She whimpered softly and entwined her fingers in its fur. Her eyes seemed to become more focused, sliding over to look at the animal. It sat back, locking eyes with her and something akin to understanding passed between them.

The wolf let out a yelp and reared back. The other wolves gathered around and carefully gripped her legs in their mouths and began to drag her away. The rain was falling heavier now. It mixed with the blood that stained the base of the tree and soaked into the ground.

I opened my eyes. I was back in the present. Or at least, I thought it was the present. I wasn't really sure of anything these days. It was raining here too, heavier than in my vision. My clothes were already soaked through. In the distance, I heard a faint peal of thunder. I dropped the bowl and got to my feet. I shouldn't be here.

I knew I should leave. Visions weren't normal, not even for me and the prospect of another out of body experience like that one was scary. But for some reason, I couldn't find it in myself to leave yet. I headed towards the house instead. My hand faltered in the front door. There was a flash of lightning above my head and a roar of thunder. I squeaked and twisted the knob, my fear vanishing in my desire to escape the oncoming downpour. I was sort of half thinking, half hoping that it would be locked but it swung open easily. I went inside. It was eerily quiet. Everything was as we'd left it that day. I guess no one came out here. I mean, why would they?

I went up to the room that had been mine during my stay, leaving a trail of damp footprints as I walked. I grabbed a towel from the bathroom, stripped off and dried myself. I found some clean clothes and hung my damp ones up to dry. The rain was lashing at the windows and the prospect of walking back to the quarter in this weather didn't appeal. I perched on the bed, unsure of what to do with myself.

I decided to have a look in some of the other rooms. I'd looked around briefly before during my incarceration here but I'd not really been looking in any detail, I'd just been trying to find people.

I wandered into one of the bedrooms. The furniture was covered with dust sheets and there were a few stray leaves that had found their way in. I removed the sheets to examine what was beneath. A trunk at the foot of a large bed drew my attention. I tried to open it but it was locked. I frowned and set about searching for the key. It took a while but I eventually found it in a drawer in a desk in another room, a study by the looks of it. There was something warm and familiar about it, the way it was decorated maybe.

I returned to the bedroom and unlocked the trunk. It was full of papers, some loose and others bundled together. There was a small box at the bottom, black with gold clasps. I opened it and found an old violin inside, carefully wrapped in velvet. I wasn't sure why but I felt that these items were important to have. I had no idea who this house belonged to but I knew that a lot of witches used places that had power. Maybe Mikael had picked this place because it was special?

I sifted through the contents of the box. They looked very old, the papers were yellowing and curling at the edge. I gathered them up and put them in my bag. After a moment's hesitation, I took the violin as well.

I left the trunk and went over to the bookcase. The books in it were all first editions and once again I had that sense of familiarity as I ran my fingers along the spines. The bottom shelf were different. I could tell even without pulling them out that they were journals. I hesitated, unsure if I should touch them or not. I knew how personal a journal could be. I wouldn't want someone reading mine…

But then, if they were here, whoever had owned them clearly didn't want them anymore. After another moment's hesitation, I pulled one out. They were bound in brown leather with an ornate gold M on the cover. I slipped them into my bag as well, being careful not to crumple the letters. I was beginning to feel a little on edge. I felt like I was plundering the tomb of someone long dead. This was like… desecration.

The house creaked around me and I heard another roll of thunder. Once again I felt that feeling that I shouldn't be here. This time it was accompanied by a twinge in my stomach. I was slightly concerned that might lead to another strange vision thing so I decided it might be a good idea to actually listen to my gut this time and leave. I headed downstairs towards the door. The creaking grew louder and the windows rattled. I peeked out, trying to work out if the storm was moving away. It appeared to be dying down so I decided to risk it. I left my clothes behind, clutched my bag and hurried out of the house.