A/N: Four chapters! I'm on a role. This one is a bit shorter but I didn't want to cram it with stuff. That's for the next chapter… lots to happen then.

I made it to season 3 and Lucien is absolutely perfect for what I have planned for my sequel...

I returned to the house. The wolves were still in the courtyard although had spread out a bit now and were curled up in various corners. When I entered, they lifted their heads and a few padded over to greet me.

"Hello there." I gently stroked the nearest one. "You guys aren't as scary as you pretend to be." The wolf gave an aggravated huff. I rolled my eyes. "Yes, yes, I know, you're a big scary monster."

"Who's a big scary monster?" said Rebekah, coming down the stairs. She stepped on the tail of one of the wolves at the bottom and it yelped, snapping at her. "Oh shush or I'll turn you into a coat."

"You should be nicer to them Rebekah. They're trying to protect your nieces." The offended wolf limped over to me and I patted him. "Stop being so dramatic she stepped on your tail not your leg."

"While that may be true, they're still rather large and in the way. And we have no idea who they actually are or why they've grown quite so attached to you."

"They're friends. That's enough for now." I shooed them away and sat on the bench by the stairs. Rebekah came over and joined me.

"How was your little trip out?"

"Pleasant. Got a little sun, saw a few friends. It was almost like being normal."

"Normal is overrated in my opinion." I smiled and nudged her.

"Did Elijah completely freak out?"

"A little bit. But that's to be expected. You do have a habit of vanishing when you go for walks. It'll take time for him to adjust and calm down."

I looked at Rebekah and felt a warm rush of love. I reached over and wrapped my arms around her. She hugged me back.

"I missed you sister."

"I missed you too. Life is so much more interesting with you around."

I laughed softly and nudged her again.

"Are the girls okay?"

"Yeah. They're going to be incredibly spoiled. I don't think they've been put down all day."

"I'm glad they're happy."

"Are you?"

"I think so. And right now I am going to go to my room, relax, enjoy the feeling and put on one of my favourite films."

"Enjoy. I am going to go and get drunk somewhere."

"Have fun." We parted, her heading out and me heading upstairs. I paused at the nursery and peaked in. Kol was in the rocking chair, reading softly to one of the twins. He didn't seem to notice me, didn't pause in his reading and I didn't want to disturb him.

I went to my room and paused. The wolf that I'd recognized was sitting on the bed and now that I looked at him I realized why I had recognized him. He was the one who'd come to me the night before I'd been taken.

"Hello again." I came over and sat on the bed. "Who are you? I thought you were Klaus but I know that's not true now." He whined and stretched. "Okay Mr Mystery. You can keep your secrets. But you are not hogging my bed. Budge over so I can lie down."

The wolf moved to the side, leaving my space to lie down. I got comfy and he immediately snuggled up.

"Getting awfully familiar there, aren't you?" I ran my fingers through his fur. "Well I hope you like the film A Little Princess because that is what I am watching tonight." He didn't make any noise so I put the film on, turned out the light and lit a few candles before settling down once more. The wolf rested its head on its paws and turned its head towards the screen.

I lost myself in the film, one that I'd loved since I was little. I felt comforted by the familiarity of it. The wolf whined softly beside me. I glanced over at him.

"You alright?" He whined again, shifting restlessly on the bed. I sat up slowly, concerned.

Suddenly, all the candles in the room went out and my laptop switched off, plunging the room into darkness. I bolted to my feet and looked around. The curtains blew sharply. The wolf snarled and got to his feet, moving to my side.

"I'm guessing we should get out of here…" He made a noise that I took as agreement and I hurried to the door. There was a click. I tried the handle and it refused to move. "This is getting worse by the second."

The wolf snarled and backed into the corner. I took a deep breath and kneeled.

"It's okay. Don't get scared." I stroked him gently. "It'll be okay." He licked my hand and gently butted his head against my leg. I got up and turned to face the room. "Whoever is doing this, please show yourself."

Nothing moved. I sighed.

"Look, I was actually quite enjoying myself and you're really cutting into my me time. So I'd appreciate if we could get this over with?"

The sound of whispering filled the room, like it was filled with many people. The voices grew louder and louder until they were at a deafening volume. I covered my ears with my hands, groaning in pain. For a moment I saw the figures of many people filling the room and the voices merged into one.

As quickly as it had started, it stopped. The candles flared back into life and now there was a lone figure stood in the middle of the room. It was dark but I could make out a few details. It was a woman in a black dress with long blonde hair. She was facing away from me, looking out of the window.

"Hello…?" She turned slowly and smiled.

"Hello there my dear."

"Who are you?" The wolf growled. "Easy boy…"

"Your friend does not like me."

"Good observation. Neither do I especially. You've locked me in my bedroom and screwed up my evening with your witchy voodoo. So I suggest you give us a reason to like you."

"So brave. Considering you no longer have your powers."

"I don't need powers. I'm strong enough on my own. Now, enough stalling. Who are you?"

"My name is Esther. I assume you've heard of me?" I stared blankly at her. "No? I would have thought my children would have told you all manner of untruths about me." It clicked.

"You're the mother."

"That I am."

"I have to congratulate you. You really did manage to raise a little band of psychopaths."

"Yet you continue to associate yourself with them. If they are so monstrous, why wouldn't you distance yourself from them?"

"I have issues." I folded my arms. "What do you want? Last I checked you were dead. And you have decided to spend your afterlife haunting… me?"

"You've drawn a lot of attention. The other side is buzzing with talk of you. The doppelganger who managed to tame the feared Mikaelson siblings, end the life of Mikael, the vampire who hunts vampires, and break the laws of nature by bearing not one but two vampire children."

"I'm nothing if not interesting."

"And now it appears you are attempting to become queen of the city, uniting vampires, witches and werewolves as one. How noble."

"I just want my children to be safe. I'm sure you of all people can understand the lengths a mother will go to."

"I certainly can."

"Although, so far I haven't sold any of my children to the devil for my own needs."

"You speak of Dahlia."

"Unless you have another psychotic sibling I should be concerned about? I do hope she's not planning to pay me a ghostly visit anytime soon?"

"My dear sister is not amongst us."

"Oh. Great. I thought burning was supposed to kill witches. Maybe next time I should tie her to a stake."

"Dahlia is immortal."

"Everyone is these days. It's not a big deal. Anyone can die."

"Well said. Yet fire is not the way to dispatch Dahlia."

"Well I know that now. But at the time all I had was a candle and a really strong desire to get away."

"If we had known that you would interpret our message as a means of ending her, we would have sent something more effective."

"You lit the candle?"

"I cannot take credit for that one specifically. That was cast by another deceased witch who haunts the halls of the hospital where you were being held."

"Will she also be dropping in for a visit? Because this one has been oh so fun." She ignored my sarcasm.

"The candle was meant simply as a sign for you to retain hope. That you were not alone."

"Next time, send me a knife."

"I see why my sons are so enamoured with you. You're such a bloodthirsty little thing."

"I didn't used to be like this."

"No… you are very much a creature of my childrens' creation. I see them written across your face."

"Okay I've reached my quota of cryptic conversation for the day. Tell me what you want Esther."

"I simply wanted to ensure that the mother of my grandchildren was being adequately taken care of. And remind her that she has friends in high places."

"Thanks. But I have enough trouble with my living friends. If you want to help me, tell me how to kill Dahlia and make sure she stays dead."

"I cannot."

"Helpful."

"You are young. You lack patience. I will tell you what you need to know in time. Dahlia was weakened by your attack and that will buy you time to learn what you need to know."

"And in the meantime you're just going to… what? Float there? Spy on me? Be my spirit guide?"

"I will be with you. As will all of us. When you need us, we will come to your aid." She moved towards me until she was only an inch away. "But know this Elena. The life you have chosen will be far from easy. Happiness is not a right, it is a gift, one that must be hard fought to gain. And you will have to sacrifice much if you want it."

The lights went out for a second, relighting after a moment. The film turned back on. Esther was gone.