Elena made her way back to her house. She figured she'd be alone, since the others were all staying at the boarding house the last she knew, but when she got inside, she found Jenna there.
"Elena, thank God," Jenna said before rushing to her niece's side and taking her into her arms.
"Aunt Jenna, I didn't think you'd be here," Elena said as she hugged her aunt.
Jenna pulled away after a moment. "Well, I figured it was okay to come home. We were only staying with Stefan and Damon because we were all worried about Klaus, but he got what he wanted when you agreed to leave with him. How are you here, by the way? He didn't let you go, did he?"
"Not exactly, but you don't have to worry about him," Elena said. At least she didn't think they had to worry about Klaus anymore. He seemed to only want her with him as some sort of loyalty to Lucifer. If Lucifer was willing to let her go, Klaus shouldn't care.
"Stefan mentioned that he talked to you, but that Klaus caught you on the phone. We were all worried," Jenna said.
Elena nodded. "Yeah, he wasn't happy, but he didn't do anything. He's not a threat to me anymore."
"You seem very sure about that," Jenna commented.
"I am. Klaus was friends with my biological father. He wanted me with him as some sort of way of protecting me. And I know how ironic that is, given that just a few days ago Klaus wanted to sacrifice me," Elena said. She wasn't sure how or why Klaus and Lucifer were friends, but she'd heard the respect in Klaus' and Elijah's voices when they spoke about or to Lucifer.
"What exactly did he think he was protecting you from?" Jenna asked. She had a hard time believing that Klaus wanted to protect her niece, but if he did, she couldn't see what Elena needed protection from.
"From all of you. He and Elijah are afraid you guys will all turn on me if you find out what I am and where I came from," Elena told her.
"Elena, I hope you know that that would never happen. I think I can understand where the originals are coming from, because the world is cruel, but there's nothing that could ever turn me against you. You're my niece, blood or not," Jenna said firmly.
Elena shuddered a bit. "You don't know what I am, Aunt Jenna. You don't know who my biological father is."
"And I don't need to. You could be related to the devil himself, and I wouldn't care."
Elena laughed at the accuracy of her aunt's statement.
"I gather that you've learned at least some of what you wanted to find out," she said.
Elena nodded. "I can't talk about it right now though. I met my biological father, and he asked me not to share the information I learned from him yet. He's afraid people will turn on me too. I know you won't, Jenna, but there are some that will. John will. Where is he anyway?"
"I don't know. He left the boarding house not long after you did. None of us have seen him since," Jenna explained.
"I shouldn't be surprised, I guess. He was only around because he thought he was my father. There was no reason to stay and support me after finding out he wasn't. It shouldn't bother me. I never even liked John," Elena said.
"Of course, it should bother you. Whether you liked him or not, he was always family to you. For months you thought he was your father. Even if you didn't treat him like that, it still would hurt that he'd just walk away," Jenna said. She had been pissed when John disappeared. She could understand him being upset that Isobel had lied to him, but Elena was still his family. She was still the girl raised as his niece. He should care what happened to her.
Elena shrugged. "It's probably for the best anyway. Like I said, he would have definitely turned on me. Others might too." She hadn't wanted to believe it, but finding out she was the Devil's daughter did change things. There were people who wouldn't see her the same. She definitely worried that Bonnie would be one of them. She wasn't sure her friend would be able to look past what she was. She hated most vampires because of what they were. Elena wasn't sure it would be any different with her.
"I find that hard to believe, but if you're right, you're better off without them. Anyone who would turn on you isn't a real friend. They can go to hell if they won't support you," Jenna said strongly.
"Even if Alaric is one of them?" Elena asked. She prayed Ric wouldn't turn on her, but she had to consider the possibility. He was a vampire hunter. He was another one that didn't do well with the supernatural. Although he was a little better than Bonnie. He was friends with Damon.
"Damn straight," Jenna said without missing a beat. "Anyone that would turn on you at the drop of a hat is not someone I want in my life. If he can't accept my niece, he can't be a part of my life."
"Thanks. Where is Ric anyway?"
"I sent him home. He means well, but he was kind of hovering. I needed a little bit of space," Jenna said.
In that moment, Elena realized that she had been so focused on herself that she hadn't considered her aunt's situation. Jenna had just recently been turned into a vampire, and she hadn't had time to adjust to it. So much had been happening all at once. "Jenna, I'm so sorry. I haven't stopped to think about what you've been going through."
Jenna waved off her apology. "No, Elena, don't apologize. You've been going through a lot in the last week. Actually, you've been going through a lot for months. You went from thinking you were about to be sacrificed to having supernatural powers. Of course, you were thinking about yourself."
"You just got supernatural powers too. You haven't had time to deal with the fact that you're now a vampire. How are you doing?" Elena asked.
"It's not easy, but I'm getting through it. Caroline and I have been talking a lot. She's been helping me get used to everything. She dropped off a bunch of blood bags for me. I've been trying to avoid a lot of human interaction. I even had Jeremy stay with Stefan and Damon a little longer, just in case," Jenna explained. She couldn't take the chance of accidentally hurting her nephew. Most of the time she was fine, but she didn't want to risk it.
"I'm so sorry this happened to you, Aunt Jenna," Elena said. She felt responsible for Jenna being turned. Her aunt was only turned to be used in a sacrifice with Elena. If it weren't for the fact that Klaus needed her dead, Jenna would be fine right now.
"Elena, this is not your fault. Besides, I'm okay. Being a vampire might not be what I expected or wanted, but I can live with it. We're both going to have to acclimate to a new normal. We can figure it out together," Jenna said with a smile.
Elena smiled back. "I'd really like that."
"Are you staying here tonight?" Jenna asked.
Elena shook her head. "I kind of gave the impression that I would go back to Klaus'. I think I should, at least for tonight."
Jenna wasn't exactly thrilled to hear that, but it was her niece's decision. If Elena believed that she was safe with these people, Jenna would have to trust her. "Are you going to see Stefan first?"
"No. Stefan will want to know everything that I found out, and I can't tell him that yet," Elena said. Not only had she agreed not to say anything, but she wasn't ready to tell anyone yet. She wasn't ready to face whatever they had to say about it. She had barely begun to deal with it herself. But she knew that Stefan would likely not respect that. He would try to push her to tell him everything. "By the way, thank you for not pushing me to tell you."
"I know you're going through a lot, Elena. You'll tell me what's going on when you're ready. Besides, it doesn't matter to me what you found out. Nothing you found out changes the fact that you're my niece and I love you. I would like to meet this man that's supposedly your biological father though. I want to know that you're safe around him," Jenna said firmly. She was still Elena's legal guardian and more importantly, she was still her aunt. She needed to know that she was safe. As it was, it was taking everything she had not to stop Elena from leaving tonight.
Elena nodded. "I'll do my best to make that happen, but I'm not sure when I can do it. In the meantime, will you do me a favor and call Stefan? I can't talk to him yet, but I need him to know that I'm okay."
"Of course, and I'll make sure he understands that you need some space."
"Thank you. I'm going to grab some clothes and then I'm gonna head out. Are you sure you're going to be okay here alone?" Elena asked.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Ric is calling about a dozen times a day anyway. And like I said, I'm in touch with Caroline. I only want you to worry about keeping yourself safe," Jenna said.
"I will," Elena promised before heading up towards her bedroom.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Klaus and Elijah walked back into the apartment to find Lucifer there by himself. "Where's Elena?" Klaus asked.
The words barely left Klaus' lips before Lucifer flashed over to him and grabbed him by the neck. His eyes were bright red as he lifted the younger being up off the ground.
Klaus latched onto the hand holding his neck. There were very few beings able to exert this type of power over him, but Lucifer was always one of them. He was barely able to speak his next words. "I didn't know."
"You tried to murder my child!" Lucifer snarled.
Elijah approached Lucifer, but was very careful not to intervene too much. "Lucifer, I know this isn't much of an excuse, but it is true that Niklaus did not know that Elena was your daughter. The moment he realized that, he did everything in his power to protect her."
"And you can consider that the only reason I don't test whether I have the ability to kill him!" Lucifer said before releasing his grip on the original's neck. He then watched as Klaus hit the ground hard. He honestly didn't know if he had the power to kill the originals. He'd never been tempted to try until now. The only thing he knew for sure was that he was more powerful than them.
"We would never disrespect you by intentionally trying to harm your daughter. Niklaus made a mistake," Elijah said.
"Not his first. Did your brother tell you that it was me that gave him the whereabouts of Katerina Petrova? He failed to mention that he intended to sacrifice her," Lucifer said while glaring daggers at the original still struggling on the floor. He never would have helped Niklaus if he'd known that. He didn't condone murder. He grudgingly accepted the fact that the originals did sometimes kill for their survival, but he didn't like it. This was different though. Niklaus had intended to use that girl as a sacrifice to end a curse.
Elijah glowered at his brother as he picked himself up off the ground. He hadn't known that. Niklaus never told him how he located Katerina. If he'd known his brother was going to do that, he would have stopped him. Trying to deceive Lucifer was never a good idea. "So that is how you managed to burn that particular bridge."
Klaus said nothing in response. He wouldn't admit it, but he knew that that had been a mistake. He had been desperate to get rid of his curse, but alienating Lucifer wasn't worth it.
Lucifer approached the younger original until their faces were inches apart. "If you ever try to harm Elena again, I will make it my life's mission to find a way to send you to hell. And I promise that your stay there will be far from pleasant."
"I have no intention of hurting her, Lucifer. I brought her here to protect her for you. I only wish to make up for my mistakes," Klaus said. He wouldn't deny that he saw this as an opportunity to get back into Lucifer's good graces.
"Good. You will start by aiding me in protecting Elena at all costs," Lucifer said. They were in a town riddled with vampires. He was not sure he would be able to protect her on his own.
"We will. But do you understand what that might mean?" Klaus asked. Protecting her might mean killing, something Lucifer was vehemently against.
"I do. If you must spill blood in order to protect her, so be it, but only as a last resort," Lucifer said. With the exception of Cain and his brother, Uriel, he had never taken part in killing, but this was his daughter. He would do what was necessary to keep her safe.
"Agreed. Where is she?" Klaus asked.
"She needed to clear her head, so she went for a walk. She will no longer be prohibited from doing what she wishes. I want her safe, but I will not impede her free will," Lucifer said.
"We understand," Elijah said before his brother could protest. "I assume you plan to remain here for now."
"Yes. I will have to arrange more suitable accommodations tomorrow," Lucifer said. He would obviously be staying in Mystic Falls for a while. He needed to be close to Elena, and he wasn't going to ask her to leave.
"Allow us to help you with that. We will need to do the same since we will apparently be staying for a while," Klaus said.
"Very well," Lucifer said before removing his suit coat. He placed it on the couch and sat down to wait for Elena to come back.