Chapter 005: Life Goes On

Months have passed since Sienna first met the Original family and became a vampire. The first few weeks were rough – searching for a witch to make her a daylight ring, learning to use compulsion and feed without killing, not to mention the adjustment to her overstimulating senses and intense emotions.

Kol still couldn't stand her – he was still nursing his wounded pride and holding a hefty grudge for it. Klaus frequently teased him about it too, which didn't help the situation any. At one point, Sienna swallowed her pride and tried to make amends – but the truth was, Sienna fought Kol in self-defense and didn't owe him any apology for defending herself. She certainly wasn't going to beg for his acceptance, and Kol made it abundantly clear that a mutual understanding could not be reached, so she did the next best thing – she ignored it. She talked to him regularly, made jokes playfully, and tried to help him whenever she could. Eventually, she theorized, with a limitless lifetime before them, he would let it go. He had to eventually, right?

Rebekah, on the other hand, was a fast friend. She and Sienna hit it off from the beginning – it was as if they could never run out of things to talk about. Sharing stories, experiences, opinions, and ideas, they were always on the same wavelength. When challenged, managed, or disrespected, they always had each other's back – which was a new, refreshing feeling for them both.

Before meeting the Mikaelsons, Sienna's life had been incredibly isolated, and she had never experienced the joys of real friendship. But with Rebekah, friendship evolved into something deeper, more meaningful than she could have ever imagined. She already considered Rebekah a sister in every sense of the word.

Klaus, on the other hand, was a conundrum wrapped in an enigma. He was arrogant and shameless, yet spontaneous and fun. She could tell he was much smarter and more cunning than he let on, and stronger by the way his siblings revered him, but she could see his inner child in every reaction – playful, vengeful, happy and hurt, all at the same time, all of the time. She couldn't begin to imagine how overwhelming it must feel to be him. It was as if the most beautiful storm consumed his heart and clouded his mind at all times, and yet… he leveraged that and made it a strength. She admired him for that.

He was watchful of her, and sometimes it was as if he was looking straight through her. There were some days she was sure he wanted to be closer to her, and other days he had no trust in her. He would flirt with her – little comments, touches, and winks that would make her heart race and bring a fiery blush to her cheeks – but she could never tell how serious he was being. If he just liked to make her squirm, or if there was something more to it. Not knowing was frustrating – she didn't know if she should feel warm and happy or embarrassed and manipulated every time he made her heart skip a beat, every time he made her feel beautiful and important. So, just to be safe, she continued to roll her eyes and respond lightheartedly.

Elijah, the epitome of patience and thoughtfulness, had been a pillar of support since she became a vampire. He'd taken on the responsibility of getting her a daylight ring – a beautiful, round, ruby solitaire with gold leaf accidents. Her first and only piece of jewelry, and she loved it.

Even before she had the ring, Elijah bore the burden of ensuring her survival. He arranged for carriages to transport her during the day, provided cloaks to shield her from the sun, and on one occasion, after an altercation with an uncompellable innkeeper led to their abrupt eviction mid-day, he selflessly slipped his daylight ring onto her finger, exposing himself to the lethal rays of the sun until they found cover.

Sienna recalled watching his charcoal face spark and simmer in the shadows, a harrowing pain she couldn't even begin to imagine. He assured her that it wouldn't kill him, that he'd be fine soon enough. And he was. But that knowledge didn't alleviate the immense guilt that weighed on her. She would have given anything to trade places with him, to bear that pain in his stead. After all, she was well-acquainted with the burden of pain, much less so with the experience of someone willingly enduring pain for her sake.

Elijah taught her how to feed without causing fear or harm, how to compel others without leaving lasting damage, and how to manage her heightened senses and control her thirst. These lessons were personal and often intimate, and even though Sienna knew they were just tasks on his to-do list, she found herself enjoying every moment with him.

He was the perfect gentleman and a remarkable teacher, and she had come to consider him a dear friend. She couldn't deny the attraction she felt towards him either. There were moments when she thought he might feel the same connection, but she told herself she knew better. His protective instincts were driven by a sense of responsibility towards her, whether that was born from his attempt to keep a broken promise or because he had sired her, she couldn't be sure. But regardless, Sienna reveled in the safety and comfort he provided. Never before had anyone made her feel so safe – it was an unfamiliar yet welcome feeling that she never wanted to end.

All in all, life was good — better than it had ever been. It was hard to believe how much had changed in such a short time. They were now living in a quaint castle by the sea, acquired effortlessly through compulsion. Maids cleaned their rooms, cooks prepared round-the-clock meals for Rory, and seamstresses and tailors mended their clothes — all tasks that Sienna had spent her life doing were now someone else's responsibility, leaving her with an abundance of free time she didn't quite know what to do with.

Rory had a full schedule as well. His mornings were spent with a tutor, his afternoons with a coach, and his evenings surrounded by more toys than he knew what to do with. At night, when Sienna tucked him into bed, he'd eagerly share the highlights of his day, all the new things he'd learned, and the kindness he'd received. His constant smile and frequent laughter were music to her ears, filling the halls with joy.

In her wildest dreams, Sienna never could have imagined a life so magnificent, filled with so much love and joy. And yet, here they were.