Chapter 18: New York

Elena watched with her arms crossed over her chest as Damon carefully placed her sister into the passenger side of his car. She felt like her entire body was made of lead while she gazed at the sight of her sleeping sister. Her heart was like a stone weighing heavily in her chest. While they had successfully killed Elijah, the cost had been great. They were hoping with Serena's memory of Elijah gone, that whatever had connected the two of them would no longer put Serena's life in danger.

"She can't stay here. She can't stay in Mystic Falls." Elena muttered when she felt Stefan walk up beside her. If Serena stayed in Mystic Falls there was a chance Klaus would find her, and the whole point of taking her memories would have been for nothing. Whatever Serena was, it was still a mystery to them. No one had any real idea what being a Fae meant for her.

"I know." Stefan agreed. The last thing they needed was for Klaus to get his hands on Serena. "Damon and I have that covered. We're going to send her to New York. Damon has a flat there that she can stay at. She'll be safe, I promise."

Elena shivered. "We're going to need to tell Jenna something." Her heart was breaking. This all felt so wrong. They were betraying Serena's trust. But she wouldn't take it back, as long as her sister was safe, alive, she didn't care. Serena wasn't going to be used as a bargaining chip, not for her.

"Damon and I can take care of it." Elena knew Stefan wasn't fairing much better. He felt sick knowing what they had done to Serena, but he knew it had to be done.

They watched as Damon unceremoniously dropped Elijah into the back of his trunk, dagger still embedded in the Original vampire's chest. Both Elena and Stefan could tell Damon wasn't doing well. Damon and Serena had always been close. Damon had always felt it was his duty to keep their younger sister safe, but this, this had to be killing him. He had been the one to pull the trigger, the one to compel her. The one who took everything away.

"She's going to hate us." Elena pointed out as the trunk slammed close. All three of them grew quiet at the comment and the air grew still. Elena was right, she was going to hate them.

~New York~

New York city was overwhelmingly large and full of people. There was a constant buzz of activity and never a quiet moment to be heard. Yet, as I walked down the busy street, I've never felt more lonely in my entire life. No friends, no family. Just me and the strangers I walked past on my way to school.

It made me wonder why I even agreed to living in the big city in the first place. I missed Mystic Falls. I missed my family. I missed the trees and the quiet moments in the woods surrounded by nature. Here, everything was loud and I felt so closed in under the shadows of the giant building.

I kept my head down and focused on getting to school, when I felt my phone begin to buzz in my coat pocket. I pulled my phone out and answered, "Hello?"

"Hey, just checking up on you. How's the big apple?" Hearing Jenna's voice had a soft smile gracing my face as I continued my walk down the busy street. I had been accepted to attend the school of the arts in New York. It was like a stepping stone for University. Jenna had agreed to let me go as long as I stayed in constant contact with her and so far only two days in I had kept my word.

"It's big, that's for sure." I commented as I walked down the street. "Lonely." I admitted as well.

"I know. But you'll make friends in no time. I'm sure of it." As much as I wanted to believe Jennas words, I just couldn't. I was different. The new kid, the quiet one with the strange looks. Even here, in a place so big and full of people, I felt like I was an outcast.

"Thanks, Jenna." My stomach swirled with a sickness that hasn't gone away since I arrived in New York. "I'll call you tomorrow, okay. I've got to get to class."

"Alright. Remember to take care of yourself." I promised her I would do that and hung up the phone with a goodbye. I stood still on the sidewalk, just outside of the school and stared down at my phone. I could feel my emotions welling up inside of me. I took a deep breath and focused on keeping my tears at bay. I wanted to go home, but I had promised Jenna I would give this a shot. The school wasn't an easy one to get into, so I was lucky to be able to attend.

When classes ended for the day, I made my way back down the street towards the flat Damon Salvatore had so graciously allowed me to stay in while I attended school. Damon was the older brother to Elena's boyfriend, Stefan. I didn't really know the brothers well, but Damon had insisted I use the flat since it was empty, and I agreed. Housing in the city was expensive and the school didn't offer any help in that department. Elena had been the one to make the suggestion in the first place.

My steps slightly faltered when my thoughts traveled to my sister. Elena hasn't called me or even texted me since I left Mystic Falls. It made me wonder if she was mad at me for leaving. The two of us had never been this far apart from one another and something had seemed off with her when I left. She didn't look like her normal Elena self. She was my twin sister and yet, she didn't look the slightest bit happy for me. It made me wonder just what was going on with her. She wasn't one to keep secrets from me, but that only had me thinking the worst of the situation. Maybe the reason she was so upset was because I left.

"Hey, Serena! Wait up!" A voice shouted and I stopped walking to glance over my shoulder, back towards the direction of the school. I noticed a boy from class waving me down as he made his way towards me. Henry, I think his name was, stopped before me slightly out of breath. "Hey, Some of the others from Mr. Jones' class are going to get dinner. I was wondering if you'd like to come with, you know, since you're new to the city and all."

Henry was a charming boy with messy dark brown hair and light brown eyes that bordered on being hazel in color. He was more on the lanky side, but his height was a part of his charming look.

"Oh, no thank you." I declined the invitation and Henry frowned. "Sorry, it's just that I have a lot of homework." It was a lame excuse, but I really didn't feel up to socializing. I gave him a weak wave and turned back around and continued to make my way back to the flat.

"Hold up, wait, Serena." Henry quickly stepped in front of me and blocked my path. While I knew he probably didn't mean to, the action made my stomach flip in panic. I did my best to act like he hadn't set off alarm bells within me and trigger a flight or fight reaction. "Listen, I know you're new to the city and it's all a bit awkward and scary. Trust me, I know. I was the new kid once too. But I promise, it will get easier."

I gave the boy in front me a strained smile. "Thanks, Henry, but I think I'll just head home for today." I didn't give him the chance to say anything else before I slipped around him and quickened my pace down the street. I didn't want to make friends. I didn't want to socialize. I wanted to go home.

~Mystic Falls~

Katherine knew she was in trouble. Isobel had betrayed her, no doubt she had been compelled by Klaus, but still. Now here she was, compelled and stuck in the small town's history teachers apartment. With said history teacher being possessed by the one vampire she didn't want to be anywhere near.

"Oh! Who is this guy, Safari Sam?" Klaus complained as he looked through Alaric's closet. He pulled out two different shirts and held them up for Katherine to see. "Okay, bad, or badder?" He asked as he shifted between the two shirts.

"The dark colors suit you better." Katherine answered honestly. She knew she was going to have to be careful. She was going to have to pick her words wisely. Keep him from catching onto what she was hiding. If she could stay one step ahead of him, she may have a chance to get out of this alive.

"Oh, thank you, honey." Klaus in Alaric's body changed into the shirt. "Okay, pop quiz. The dagger and white ash are in the Salvatore's possession, correct?"

"The dagger was used to kill Elijah." Katherine pointed out. "You'll find him in the basement of the Salvatore house."

"Okay, that dagger needs to stay exactly where it is." Klaus explained to the other vampire. "The last thing I need to do is resurrect Elijah. Oh, that guy is a buzzkill."

"Don't forget you're on the outs with your girlfriend Jenna." Katherine reminded the Original vampire.

"Right. Elena's aunt. For all the lies about Isobel. What else?" He asked as he stepped up to the frozen vampire.

"That's it." Katherine promised.

Klaus zeroed in on Katherine and gently caressed her face. Katherine tried not to show the fear she felt, but that was hard to do as she let her emotions slip through the façade. "Oh, so jumpy."

"Please, just kill me. I've told you everything that I know." Katherine hoped that she was pulling off her bluff. He couldn't know. He couldn't find out about the card she was holding up her sleeves, not right now.

"You see, I believe that you believe that, but what would you not know?" He asked. "What could they be keeping from you? Hmm? Anything?" He leaned in close and looked the vampire directly in the eyes. "Tell me."

"They were trying to see if Bonnie could find a way to kill an Original without a dagger." Katherine admitted.

"Bonnie, the best friend? I thought you said she didn't have her powers anymore." Klaus pointed out.

"She doesn't or didn't." Katherine started to explain. "I don't know. You kidnapped me, remember? I'm kinda out of the loop."

"Well, we'll have to get to the bottom of that." Klaus decided.

"Please, just kill me, Klaus, and be done with it." Katherine begged.

"And show you kindness?" Klaus asked back with a smirk. "I've searched for you for over five hundred years. Your death is going to last at least half that long." Klaus reached into his pocket and pulled out a pocket knife. He opened it up before holding it out towards Katherine. "I want you to take this knife… And stab yourself."

Katherine swallowed the lump growing in the throat and slowly reached out for the knife. She knew she had no choice. She could feel her body fighting against the compulsion, but in the end, it was useless. She plunged the knife into her thigh and winced at the pain.

"Now take it out." Klaus ordered. Katherine pulled the knife out and brushed the blood away from the wound as it healed. "Now while I'm gone, I want you to do that over and over and over again and if you get bored, switch legs."

"Where are you going?" Katherine asked with a wince.

"I'm gonna go lay my eyes on my precious doppelgänger." Klaus announced. He leaned down and laid a gentle kiss on her forehead. Katherine held her breath and prayed he didn't notice her flinch. "Oh, don't look so glum, Katerina. The fun is just beginning. Again."

As soon as Klaus left, Katherine felt the need to stab herself. She winced as the blade slipped into her skin. While it hurt, a part of her was happy for the distraction. He didn't know. He didn't know about Serena, and she was hoping it would stay that way. Katherines plan for survival all weighed on keeping the Fae a secret from Klaus for as long as possible. If the vampire really had any attachment to the Fae girl, then she was going to use that.

~New York~

I avoided Henry the next day and hoped he wouldn't keep up his pursuit of being my friend. My plan was to make it through the rest of this school year and then beg my Aunt to let me go back home to Mystic Falls. I didn't want to lay any roots down here, that just didn't feel right to me. Nothing about being here felt right to me. There was a constant sickness making its home in my stomach that just wouldn't go away. But what was worse, was the ache in my chest.

I rubbed at the spot just above my heart and winced. The ache had followed me here from Mystic Falls, and while at first I was going to tell Jenna about it, I decided against it. Something didn't feel right. Nothing was making sense to me and all the pain and aches were only a small part of it.

My mostly silent walk back to the flat was interrupted by my phone ringing. Today had been a half day and it was still considered morning when we had been dismissed. I pulled the device from my pocket and smiled at the name lighting up my screen. "Hey." I answered with a smile.

"Hey! How are you doing?" Carolines bubbly voice had my stomach loosening up it's constant tightness. "Are you eating? Is it cold? Oh wait, have you gone to see the empire state building yet!?"

I let out a laugh at her list of questions. "No, I haven't actually done any sight seeing." I admitted. Caroline, Jenna, and Jeremy have been the only ones to call me and check in on me while I've been in New York. Caroline and Jeremy had been against the move, but they didn't have a whole lot of say. The decision was made at the very last minute and I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye to Caroline in person. "How are you doing? How's normal boring life in Mystic Falls?"

"Oh, well, you know. Normal and boring." Caroline let out a strained laugh and I raised a brow at her words. "I mean, it's just that last night was the decade's dance and you're all the way in New York and you weren't able to come and see my amazing Jackie outfit." This time I let out a louder laugh at her words. She also laughed and let out a sigh before continuing. "I guess I just don't like the fact that you're so far away. And knowing you, you probably aren't making any friends and staying cooped up in the flat."

"I'm fine, Caroline, I promise." It was a lie and I had a feeling the blond on the other side of the phone knew that, but I continued on anyway. "It's just that it's a big city and I'm not used to this kind of environment. There's just so many people and it's so busy. I'm not exactly a fan." The air just felt so thick and everything about New York was so constricting to me.

"I wish you could come home." Caroline muttered. I let out a sigh in agreement.

"Me too." I whispered back. "But it's fine. I'm fine." I did my best to sound convincing. I didn't want Caroline being bummed out for the dance and knew she was no doubt going to overthink this whole situation. "I'll call you later, okay?"

"Alright, fine. Be careful, Serena." Caroline hung up after I reassured her that I was being careful. While talking to Caroline had helped ease some of the stress I had been feeling, it wasn't enough to push the feeling back completely. Tears welled up in my eyes and I did my best to wipe them away before they could roll down my cheeks.

"Hey, Serena, you alright?" I felt my heart jump and I looked up to find Henry standing in front of me. He had startled me and I did my best to pull myself together. I hadn't been expecting to run into anyone from the school this close to the flat. The last thing I wanted was for someone to know where I lived. No roots, I thought to myself.

"Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." I put my phone back in the pocket of my coat. Henry didn't look very convinced by my words, but I hoped the boy would drop it and I could continue on my way.

Henry frowned before opening his mouth. "You know, there's a great pizza place just two blocks from here." He pointed his thumb over his shoulder. "Why don't you come get something to eat with me? You can tell me all about your hometown. Maybe that will help you feel less homesick."

"How do you know I'm home sick?" I asked in a small voice and Henry sent me a charming smile as he shrugged his shoulders.

"I've been there. My mom and I moved here from California. I had no friends. No family, besides my mom. I was pretty much aloner." He explained. My shoulders slumped. So he knew the feeling pretty well then. "So how about it? Let's go get some food."

I thought about it as the two of us stood in the middle of the sidewalk. People continued to walk around us, as if the two of us didn't even exist. "Okay." I nodded my head and the smile on Henry's face grew. I don't know why I agreed to the suggestion, maybe it was the pit of loneliness that's been getting bigger and bigger within my chest, or the ache that's been accompanying it, but for whatever reason, talking with Henry that evening helped, but only in that moment. I knew that the second I was once again alone in the flat, I would feel the waves of disappointment and loneliness come crashing back down upon me.

~Mystic Falls~

Elena sat on the dirt floor in the cell below the boarding house with her knees pulled up to her chest. The dagger that had once been buried inside of Elijah's chest, was now resting in her hands. She didn't see any other option. If she undaggered Elijah and convinced him to be on her side and make a deal with her, then maybe they would have a chance against Klaus. She was running out of options and she knew that in the end, to save everyone, she was going to have to die.

Last night had been a turning point for her. With Bonnie having to fake her own death and Klaus using Alaric's body to parade around in, she was feeling desperate. But what was worse, was the constant heavy feeling of guilt that was constantly weighing her down, making her feel like her body was made of lead. Elena knew it was because of what they did to Serena, what they forced on her. While her sister was now safe in New York, they had still stolen from her the one thing she treasured most in her life, her memories. Something she would no doubt hate them forever for.

Elijah gasped suddenly, breaking the silence that had filled the room and Elena quickly shuffled over so she was leaning over him. "Elijah?" The Original vampire's eyes shot open and he stared up at her.

"Katerina!" He hissed out as his body readjusted to being alive. Elena leaned back as the vampire contorted and groaned in pain as his spine practically snapped off the ground.

"Elijah it's me." Elena started as the vampire shifted. "It's Elena." She tried her best to get through to the vampire, but the Originals mind was currently caught somewhere in the past.

"Oh my god." He groaned out as his back bent at an odd angle. He closed his eyes for a moment before they snapped back open. "I cant- I cant breathe!" He shouted out in pain. "What's happening to me?" Elijah stood suddenly and crashed into the wall. "I can't. I can't be in this house."

"You're not invited in." Elena pointed out as realization came over her. The boarding house was now in her name and she hadn't invited him in.

"Then get me out of here." Elijah ordered with a hiss. His body slammed against another wall before the vampire was able to flash out of the cell door. The vampire stumbled and fell against the stairs as he forced his withering body to escape the confines of the boarding house. Elena did her best to chase after the Original vampire and hoped the Salvatore brothers had not heard the commotion. Elijah then stumbled out the front door. He stood in the sun and regained his composure before turning to face the girl who had betrayed him. "What happened?" He asked as he rushed Elena but was stopped by an invisible barrier.

"Shhh!" Elena hushed the vampire and pointed up to indicate that Stefan and Damon were still in the house. "I'll tell you. Not here. Can I trust you?" She whispered as quietly as she could.

"Can I trust you?" Elijah whispered back with a glare.

Elena held out the dagger that killed him and carefully reached it out towards him. Elijah took the hilt of the blade and pulled it out of Elena's hands. The Original vampire looked it over before glancing back at the doppelgӓnger.

He held up a single finger before whispering. "One more thing." He mouthed. "Where is Serena?" Elena felt dread filled her gut at the question. This wasn't going to end well. Elena knew that if she wanted Elijah on her side, she was going to have to find a way to explain where Serena was and how she got there.

"I'll tell you." She promised the vampire. "Just not right now, and not here." Elijah narrowed his gaze at the doppelgӓnger, but nodded his head nonetheless. Elena let out a sigh of relief before glancing behind her down the hall. She knew she was betraying their trust, but she was willing to do whatever it took to protect the people she loved.

With her shoulders squared, Elena moved to leave the safety of the boarding house and led the Original vampire to her car. This had to work.

~New York~

"You didn't have to pay for my food, you know." I commented as Henry and I walked out of the pizza place with our slices in hand. "I have my own money."

Henry shrugged his shoulders at my words. "It wouldn't have been the gentlemanly thing to do." He smirked at me and I rolled my eyes. Henry really was a charming boy, there was no doubt about that, but for some reason, I felt strange walking beside him as I ate the food he paid for. This was all so strangely intimate, and that made me feel uncomfortable. "So, tell me about your home town."

This time it was my turn to shrug my shoulders. "It's a small town. One of those places where almost everyone knows each other. It's small, but it's home." My voice lowered and I stared down at the sidewalk. "It has this charm to it that most small towns have. It's surrounded by trees. During the fall, the leaves turn such beautiful colors. It's almost magical." I did my best to describe my hometown. "My sister and her friends would often drag me to the town's only restaurant and we would eat and hear the gossip of the day." I smiled sadly at the memory of our back to school dinner.

"Sounds like a really nice place, this Mystic Falls." Henry spoke up. My smile widened a little and I let out a breathy sigh.

"Yeah, it's home." I found myself walking down memory lane as I thought back on my home. "Sometimes Damon would walk with me through town before the sun would set."

"Damon?" Henry's questioning tone pulled me out of my thoughts and I found myself stopping and titling my head in confusion.

"I mean, Jeremy, my brother." I muttered out. "I don't know why I said Damon." I honestly didn't know what I meant by the statement at all. It was like I was trying to remember something that didn't really happen. It's not like I knew Damon all that well. "Any ways, yeah. It's a nice place and I do really miss it."

"It sounds great. I can see why you don't really like the city so much. Mystic Falls sounds like quite the enchanting little town." Henry smiled down at me before tossing his empty plate in the trash as we walked past a dumpster blocking an alley entrance.

I glanced down at my half eaten pizza and took another bite of it. A sudden gasp escaped my lips as I swallowed down my food. My hand flew up to my chest and rubbed at the spot just above my heart. The ache I had been feeling for the last couple of days was gone.

"Hey, you okay?" Henry stood in front of me as I regained my breath.

"I, uh, yeah. I'm okay. Heartburn." I muttered before pulling my hand away from my chest. The ache had been a constant since the day I left Mystic Falls. I didn't bother telling Jenna about the pain, hoping that if I ignored it it would just go away. But it hadn't, not until right now. It made me wonder, what had changed?

~Mystic Falls~

"Welcome back." Elijah spoke up from beside the fireplace inside the Lockwoods mansion. The Original vampire had commandeered the Lockwood home after being awakened from death and had allowed Elena to take care of whatever personal business it was she needed to attend to.

Elena walked closer to the vampire and stood in front of him. "Tell me. What is Klaus's curse?" Elena had learned from Elijah earlier that the curse of the sun and moon was fake. Something Klaus and him had made up. It made her feel sick. All this time it had been a ruse. Elijah gestured for Elena to take a seat and the dark haired girl took off her jacket before complying.

"My family was quite close, but Klaus and my father did not get on too well. When we became vampires, we discovered the truth." Elijah explained. "Klaus was not my father's son. My mother had been unfaithful many years before. This was her darkest secret. Klaus is from a different bloodline. Of course when my father discovered this, he hunted down and killed my mother's lover and his entire family. Not realizing, of course, that he was igniting a war between species that rages until this day." Elijah left some details out about the happenings of the past. But he told the parts Elena would need to hear to put the story together. She didn't need to know the part her sister once played in the lives of the Original vampire family.

"A war between the species?" Elena asked when Elijah finished explaining his family's history.

"The vampires." He paused. "And the werewolves."

"So Klaus' real father was from a werewolf bloodline? What does that make Klaus? A werewolf? Or a vampire?" Elena questioned.

"He's both." Elijah answered. "A hybrid would be deadlier than any werewolf or vampire. Nature would not stand for such an imbalance of power. Therefore the witches, the servants of nature, saw to it that my brother's werewolf side would become dormant."

"That's the curse that Klaus wants to break?" Elena asked the vampire. Everything was coming to light now.

"He wants to trigger that part of him that's a werewolf. If allowed, Klaus would sire his own bloodline. He'd build his own race. Endangering not just vampires, but everyone." Elijah finished.

"But you helped him?" Elena pointed out. Elijah frowned.

"I helped him because I loved him." He explained. Elijah thought back to a time when all of them were truly happy, a time when she made them truly happy. When they were a family. "That's changed. Now he must die."

While Elena believed his words, Elijah could not. The thought of killing his brother left a bad taste in his mouth. While he couldn't deny that Niklaus had changed, Elijah knew he wouldn't be able to take him away from her.

"We have the dagger now. We can stop him." Elena pointed out. She felt real relief knowing that they might just have an actual chance at killing Klaus. Then everyone would be safe, including her sister.

Elijah frowned at her words. "When a werewolf is wounded by silver, it heals. An Original can't be killed by anything but white oak ash on a silver dagger. So you see the conundrum. The dagger does not work."

Elena felt her heart sink. "What, are you saying that Klaus can't be killed?" No, that couldn't be true.

"There's one way to kill any supernatural species." Elijah spoke up. "At the hands of the servants of nature themselves."

"A witch." Elena breathed out. "If they can channel that much power. But it would kill them." Elena once again felt at the end of her rope. She wasn't about to sacrifice Bonnie's life to kill Klaus.

"The curse must be broken during the full moon. When Klaus is in transition." Elijah explained. "That's when he'll be at his most vulnerable. A witch with enough power, can kill Klaus."

Elena fidgeted for a moment. "What if I told you that I knew a witch that could channel that much power?" Elena felt her heart pound within her chest.

"Then I would tell you there's one more thing that you should know." Elijah started. "I argued with Klaus over trying to find a way to keep Katerina alive."

Elijah stood with his brother in the study of the large castle they were currently occupying. "The full moon is tomorrow, brother. After all these centuries, it is finally time." Klaus spoke up. The fire from the fireplace lit the room with it's warm glow.

"I have been to see the witches. They believe they may have found a way to spare the doppelgӓnger." Elijah spoke up. His brother frowned and shook his head.

"What does it matter if she lives or not?" He muttered. "She's a means to an end that is all."

Elijah frowned at his brother's words. He has changed much in the time since her death. But Elijah still stayed beside him. "What, she should die for your gain?"

"She is human. Her life means nothing." Klaus admitted and Elijah shook his head.

"I beg you to consider this." Elijah pleaded against the unnecessary death.

"Are you so foolish as to care for her?" Klaus bit back as betrayal lit a fire in his eyes. Elijah knew what his brother was thinking as he looked at him. But that was not the case.

"Of course not." Elijah spoke truthfully. His heart belonged to one who was no longer with them. His brother approached him and looked him in the eye.

"Love is a vampire's greatest weakness, and we are not weak, Elijah." Klaus hissed out at his brother. "We do not feel, and we do not care."

Elijah frowned at his brother's words. "We did once." He spoke up. His mind wandered back to a time that felt so long ago. Snow white hair and ruby colored eyes filled his thoughts. Elijah glanced at the painting hanging above the fireplace. It paled in comparison to the real thing, but it did well to remind the brothers of what they had lost.

"Too many lifetimes ago to matter." Klaus whispered as he took thought back to a time where his heart was full. "Tell the witches not to bother. The sacrifice will happen as planned."

"You found a way to save the life of the doppelgӓnger?" Elena asked in disbelief.

"Yes, Elena. I did. But unfortunately, Katerina took matters into her own hands first." Elijah pointed out. "I believe you already know how that played out."

Elena frowned at his words. "You cared about her, didn't you?" She asked.

"No." Elijah admitted and Elena's eyes went wide. "She reminded me of someone from my life as a human. She reminded me of Serena." Elena stared at the vampire in shock as he held out her jacket to her. "Come." Elijah walked out of the room as soon as Elena grasped the fabric in her hands.

The drive to the Salvatore house was a quiet one. When they arrived Elena invited the Original vampire inside. Unfortunately the Salvatore brothers were not prepared to entertain visitors as they crashed into one another. Elena shouted at them and both stopped their fight to look at her and the vampire she had invited into their home.

"Now you've invited him in?" Damon growled out in frustration. He was doing everything he could to keep this girl safe and she just kept putting herself right back into the crossfire.

"Elijah and I have made a deal." Elena explained to the vampire brothers.

"Really?" Damon raised a suspicious brow at the two of them before eyeing Elijah.

"The two of you will come to no harm at my hands. I only ask for two things in return." Elijah explained to them.

"What?" Damon shot back.

"An apology." Elijah stated first and foremost.

"A what?" Damon blanched at the words coming from the man's mouth.

Stefan stepped up and looked Elijah in the eyes while his brother glared at him. "I'm sorry for the part that I played in your death. I was protecting Elena. I will always protect Elena."

"I understand." Elijah was being truthful in his words. He understood wanting to protect someone he loved.

Everyone glanced over at Damon who stood glaring at Elijah. "The sacrifice is going to happen, Damon." Elena started. "Bonnie will be able to kill Klaus without hurting herself and Elijah knows how to save my life. I told you I'd find another way. And I did."

"Is that true?" Damon looked over at Elijah.

"It is." The vampire admitted. Damon's eyes went back to Elena.

"And you're trusting him?" He asked her.

"I am." Elena said truthfully.

"And the second part of your terms?" Damon asked the Original. Elijah's eyes narrowed and he sent Damon a look.

"Tell me where Serena is." He demanded. Damon's face fell for a moment before he sent a glare back at the much stronger vampire.

"You can go to hell." Damon stated before marching out of the room.

Stefan let out a sigh as Damon disappeared from the room. "We sent Serena out of town. We thought it would be safer for her that way." He admitted. Elijah raised a brow at the younger Salvatore brother.

"We'll call her to come back home, but only after Klaus is dead." Elena spoke up.

Elijah didn't like that. He didn't like that Serena was gone. In fact it sent an unsteady rage flowing through his veins at the idea that they had sent her away, no doubt against her will. Elijah knew she wouldn't have just left Mystic Falls without putting up a fight. She was still young and had yet to come fully into her bloodline. She did not have the means to protect herself against a vampire. But things would be different soon. After the full moon he would have her, and never again will they be torn apart from one another. He would be certain of that.

~New York~

After tossing my half eaten pizza away, and telling Henry that I wasn't feeling well, I told him that I would see him tomorrow in class and made my way back towards the flat. The sudden disappearance of the ache in my chest left me feeling confused, and slightly worried. Something didn't feel right, like I was forgetting something important.

When I got back to the flat I checked the stove and the two sinks, just to make sure. But nothing seemed out of place. Everything was where I had left them. My duffel bag sat half empty at the foot of the bed. The flat screen tv was off and nothing in the flat looked to be missing or broken, so no signs of a break in. Yet the feeling didn't go away.

I tried taking a long hot shower and changed into a clean pair of sweats. While searching my duffel back for a comfy t-shirt to wear to bed, I pulled out a black long sleeved shirt I couldn't ever remember seeing before. I held the mysterious piece of clothing close to my nose and sniffed it. It smelled like leather and mens cologne. I knew right away from the scent that it wasn't Jeremys and I wondered where the shirt had come from.

Something about it seemed familiar and without much thought to it, I pulled the shirt over my head and covered the soft sports bra I was wearing over my chest. It was big due to it obviously being a mens shirt. But I kept it on. Something about it put me at ease.

After turning out all the lights and pulling the blankets back off the bed, I settled in for the night. I faced the windows that made up the entire east wall and stared out into the night sky. The city lights made it hard to see any stars, but the full moon was still able to cast her eerie light through the glass. I stared at the shining rock in the sky. My heart fluttered in my chest and I slowly felt myself succumbing to sleep.

"No. No. No. No!" My screams filled the darkness around me as pure terror gripped at my heart. "What have you done! Kol! Bekah! Get up, please, get up!"

"I did what I had to do to keep my family safe." A voice spoke and I searched the darkness for any sign of them.

"Finn! Answer me! Please, Finn!" I called out as sobs shook my entire body. I was so scared. Why was I so scared? "Finn! Nik! Oh my God, please! Answer me!" Tears ran hot down my face as I searched the dark for any sign of those who I was calling out to.

"I was desperate." The voice spoke up again and I shook my head at it's words. "I wanted my children to be safe."

"No, no you killed them." I spat out and gritted my teeth as rage and desperation came over me. "You killed them!"

"No. I did something far worse." The voice continued to explain. "I turned them into monsters."

"Elijah!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, as loud as I could, as the darkness sank in around me.

"Elijah!" I sprung up from the comfort of my bed as fear filled my stomach and I was left gasping for breath. My heart was left racing as I tried my best to get a hold of my frantic thoughts. The dream teetered on the edge of my mind as I did my best to remember what it was exactly I had dreamed of.

Dawn was just peeking up over the city's buildings, telling me that it was still early. I collapsed back onto the bed as my breathing evened out. My heart was still left pounding in my chest and my thoughts were no better. "It was just a nightmare." I muttered to myself as I placed two fingers against my temples and gently messaged them. "Just a nightmare." There was no way I was falling back asleep after that and decided it was a better idea to get ready for the day instead.

Turned out it was nearly six in the morning. I cringed at the early hour and made the bed back up. I had somehow kicked the blankets off sometime in the night and practically destroyed the sheets with my tossing and turning. After making the bed I took a quick shower and got ready. I decided it was a coffee kind of morning as a yawn forced it's way past my lips. The flat had a fancy coffee machine that I put to work after dressing for the day. I thought about taking a sick day and having Jenna call the school, but honestly, the last thing I wanted was to be left alone with my thoughts. At least school would provide a distraction.

That nightmare had left a dark encompassing feeling in my mind. I felt like I was once again missing something. It was like an itch in the back of my mind just begging for me to scratch it. But every time I reached out towards it, it would escape my grasp. I was forgetting something important, I just didn't know what that thing was.

I left the flat at my normal time and walked down my normal route to school. I was distracted during my entire walk and hadn't even noticed I had arrived at the school until someone shouting my name pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Hey, Serena!" I turned my head up and saw Henry waving me down. "Hey there, whoa, you don't look so good." I frowned at Henry's words and titled my head. "Are you getting sick? Maybe you should head home for the day?" He looked genuinely concerned for my health, but I waved him off.

"I'm fine. I just didn't sleep well last night." I wasn't exactly lying, but Henry didn't need to know that. Whatever was going on inside of me, that was my problem.

"If you say so." Henry shrugged his shoulders and I turned back towards the school's front doors. I stared at the building for a second as I suddenly remembered something. I pulled my cell phone out of my coat pocket and unlocked it's screen. No missed calls. I frowned at the screen. "Everything okay?" Henry asked.

"My Aunt usually calls me on my walk here." I quietly explained. "But she didn't call today." Jenna had made it very clear to me that she was going to be in constant contact with me and we had agreed that my walk to class was the perfect time to talk. So when I realized I hadn't received her normal call, I felt that itch get worse. "She must have been busy." I put my phone back in my pocket and started for the school doors. Henry stayed beside me but said nothing as we walked into the school.

It was during second period when the teacher received a call in the middle of class. "Serena Gilbert." My head perked and I looked towards the front of the class where the teacher stood. "The principal wants to see you in his office. Take your things with you."

I gathered up my bag and stood from my desk. I knew I wasn't in any sort of trouble, but that didn't stop the feeling of absolute dread from filling my stomach. Something was wrong, I just knew it.

My walk to the principal's office was a quiet one since class was still in session. I could practically hear my heart thundering in my chest as I walked into the front office. There the secretary lifted her head from whatever files were resting on her desk to look at me. "She's waiting inside for you, sweetie." I nodded my head at the woman and walked up to the door. I had taken full notice of the sad look the woman gave me and I swallowed down the lump growing in my throat as I opened the door to the principal's office.

The principal sat behind her desk with her hands folded across the top of it. "Close the door and have a seat." Her voice was calm, but not stern or harsh. I did as she asked and took a seat before her desk. She frowned at me and I could see the pity in her brown orbs. My stomach flipped and I held my breath as she opened her mouth. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, Miss. Gilbert. But your Aunt was in an accident last night." Her words filtered in through my ears as my chest constricted tightly. "She didn't make it. I'm so sorry for your loss."

The air trapped in my lungs came out in whoosh as her words buried themselves within my brain. Jenna was gone. It felt like someone had reached inside of my chest and was squeezing my heart. Jenna was dead... Jenna was dead.

A/N: Oh boy. This chapter hurts, maybe even more then the next chapter to come. This one hurts because having to write Serena as a lost, normal, human hurts to do. But don't worry, this wont be forever and in the next chapter things really hit the fan.

Post days are Mondays. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a review. Thank you to everyone who have favorited and followed this story, and thank you for all the amazing reviews. i am so happy you guys are liking this story.

Stay safe everyone.