A/N: Hi everyone. Happy Belated New Year! Thank you to those who followed/ favorited this story and who left reviews. I appreciated all of the feedback. I also took note that it is spelled Stefan, not Stephan. Oops. I really don't know why I thought it was spelled Stephan to begin with, and then it became a bad habit.

As always, I apologize for grammar/ spellings errors.

In the process of writing this chapter, the story started going in a direction that I didn't originally plan, so we'll all see what happens. Moreover, if some of you have trouble picturing what Sophia looks like, in my headcanon, she looks like Crystal Reed, and the aesthetic she had as Allison Argent in Teen Wolf. If you have your own headcanon, that's perfectly fine as well. Hope you enjoy!

I want to follow the lead of many other author's who apply trigger warnings and I apologize in advance if I have missed anything:

*Warning for Vampire Diaries canon typical violence, as well as a dubious consent/ a near sexual assault encounter warning.

Season 3: Black Dawn (Part 1)

The supernatural, the magical, and the mystical seemed to gravitate towards the aptly named small town of Mystic Falls, Virginia. Being a rather mystical being herself, Sophia Gilbert was no exception. In fact, this was her second life on these particular grounds, for the supernatural powers that be favored this plot of land long before the Salvatore brothers became enraptured by Katherine Pierce, and some 150 years later, enamored with Sophia's sister, Elena Gilbert. It was no coincidence that the Petrova doppelganger's themselves gravitated toward Mystic Falls. In fact, quite sometime before Katherine originally staked her claim in Mystic Falls when it was recently founded and enthralled the eligible and ineligible men alike, first came Tatia.

Not unlike her successors, Tatia captivated men and women both in the small village that would later be declared Mystic Falls. Among the men that were entranced by her were two brothers, Niklaus and Elijah Mikaelson.

The matriarch of the Mikaelson family had created a new species on this land, and Tatia would go on to be a key component in the creation of this species. Vampires. Esther Mikaelson's children were the first of their kind, and they were bestowed with gifts of speed, strength, and immortality.

The creation of vampirism was, in short, a reaction to the Mikaelson's neighbors, the werewolves, who had previously dominated the land.

In the midst of all these pivotal events, of which the aftershocks would still be felt in the centuries to come, was Sophia Gilbert. Or, as she was originally known by the Mikaelson's, Sofija Dahlgaard.

The powers that be, or destiny, sought to right a grievous wrong in regards to Sofija, for the same reasons doppelgangers would become natural occurrences found throughout time. The spell casted on her soul was an act against nature. Sofija, being an old soul, had the peculiar affliction of being reincarnated and reborn.

It would be an act of forced destiny that would steer her towards the path her natural lives would have taken. The law of surprise. Consequently, this transcendent law would always be in opposition against the unnatural twist of fate that had been cast on Sofija. In the end, the law of surprise demanded to be fulfilled.

The New World, 10th Century

Legends of the law of surprise were often shared by the lycanthrope elders in the small village where Mystic Falls will one day be built. This law was speculated to have originated from the wolf pack's homeland and was a custom said to be as old as humanity itself. Stories of this law were spread from the elders to their children, to the mortals they now shared their home with.

Ansel, the young alpha of what would come to be known as the North East Atlantic Pack, was greatly amused by the law of surprise, despite how the elders assured him it was true. Many of the younger werewolves coming into their own had the same attitude towards this perceived wives tale, which would eventually be lost to them not a century later.

Ansel spoke of the law of surprise to his lover, Esther. She found the concept mystifying, having never heard of anything like it during her training with Ayana, her mentor.

Years later, Esther would reflect nostalgically back to that rainy, windy night she had spent in her lover's arms. Long had the time past where she would secretly rendezvous with him when her husband left on extended hunting trips in an attempt to sublimate his grief over their firstborn daughter. Esther's thoughts would then turn to how her friend and mentor, Ayana, had foreseen that she was carrying her second and last daughter. Esther's mind was far away as she prepared for the birth of this new babe while caring for her youngest son. As she did, her older children ran around in front of their cottage, oblivious to their mother's deceptions and reflections.

"I claim the law of surprise," jested Tomas, a son of a close neighbor, as he helped up Niklaus Mikaelson after he tripped

"The law of surprise?" asked Niklaus, who had recently turned 5.

"What you find at home yet don't expect," Tomas elaborated when he was suddenly called back home by his father.

" 'Lijah, what's the law of surprise?" Niklaus would question his older brother later that night as he layered furs on the floor of the Mikaelson's home, preparing for bed. Merely only three years older than himself, at age 5 it always seemed to Niklaus that his older brother Elijah had all the answers. To Niklaus, Elijah was much more preferable than Fin, who in a more benign manner, had followed their parent's lead to calming and correcting the impulsive Niklaus.

"Where did you hear of that?" asked Esther, startled to hear Niklaus, in particular, ask about the law of surprise. Niklaus, who so looked like his father, Ansel.

"The wolf children run around claiming the law of surprise whenever they save each other from a tree branch," explained Fin, Esther's eldest son.

As Niklaus opened his mouth to repeat his question, his brother Elijah spoke up.

"When a man is saved by another, he is expected to offer his savior a boon in return for saving his life," patiently answered Elijah, parroting what a village elder had explained to him.

Niklaus nodded, brow furrowed, still perplexed towards the mechanics of this law of surprise.

One moon later, Niklaus sat with his back pressed to the tall oak tree behind him, his small body shaking with sobs. Every time he would begin to calm down, the thought of Elijah falling into the trapping pit came back to haunt him, as well as his father berating him.

Esther's husband, Mikael, had returned from an extended hunt that morning to find that his oldest sons had finished digging a deep trapping pit near their home to his specifications, and were finishing up implanting the sharpened wooden sticks located at the bottom of the pit.

Niklaus had felt unease at the thought of the trapping pit when Mikael had first discussed it with Esther prior to his hunt. He pictured the deer they had just caught that day falling into the pit, speared by the spikes that lay below, subjected to a cruel and gruesome death.

Niklaus had already learned at his young age to never share such imaginings and protestations with his father.

Fin had been located at the bottom of the pit, with their father surveying his work above ground. Despite himself, Niklaus was transfixed by Fins handiwork, at once engrossed and horrified by the trapping pit. He edged closer to the fringe of the pit, wanting a closer look.

"Careful Niklaus," said his brother, Elijah, suddenly from over his shoulder.

Niklaus jumped, startled, and his foot slipped towards the inside of the pit.

"Elijah!" Niklaus exclaimed and his brother pulled him back by the cuff of his shirt. Elijah laughed and ruffled Niklaus's hair.

"Enough Niklaus," intoned Mikael without looking in their direction.

Niklaus huffed. For his parents rarely acknowledged Elijah's antics, it was as if they willfully ignored them. With their eldest son, Fin, there was rarely a reason for their parents to express anger towards him.

Niklaus threw back his elbow towards Elijah's side, and Elijah wrapped his arm around Niklaus's neck and continued to ruffle his hair. This time it was Elijah whose foot slipped into the pit.

Time seemed to slow down for Mikael when he turned around in time to see Elijah nearly fall into the pit, almost taking Niklaus with him. Niklaus scrambled, his haphazard momentum propelling him and Elijah from falling in, and they collapsed onto the ground near the trench.

The right side of Niklaus's face was stamped red, and tender to touch. He sat huddled against an old oak tree, hugging his knees to his head. His father placed the blame squarely on him for nearly impaling himself and Elijah. Elijah tried to mitigate Mikael's rage towards Niklaus and explain that it was him that had endangered them, but Mikael wouldn't hear of it. He thundered at Elijah and Finn to go home, and the 8 and 11-year-old's cowered under Mikael's command.

His face tinged pink and eyes still swollen, Niklaus began to make his way back home an hour later. He went still after hearing the crack of a branch and looked around. A few trees away from him was a man, roughly the same build as his father, if a bit stockier, was nearby. Niklaus inaudibly gasped as he recognized the man Elijah had once singled out, saying he turned into one of the wolves during the full moon. Niklaus was fascinated with his lycanthrope neighbors, but at his parent's urging, stayed away and kept to his brothers.

Realizing he was staring for a moment too long, he began to turn away when his eyes fixated on how the man was on the path to the trapping pit he and Elijah had nearly fallen in that morning.

The man was steps away from falling in. Before his mind caught up to the situation at hand, Niklaus acted on instinct, and sprinted towards the man, knocking him to the side just in time to avoid falling into the dugout pit.

The man cursed and looked angrily at Niklaus. Yet, at the sight of the scrawny, bruised, and battered child, the man felt his ire wane and cool to bemusement.

Niklaus' heart thundered as he scrambled, once again, away from the trapping pit that was now carefully hidden under green and earthy foliage.

"My father and brothers built a trapping pit, if you kept walking-" Niklaus was unable to finish his thought, filled with horror at the man's potential fate.

A cool anger filled Haldor Dahlgaard's veins at the thought of such a careless death. He would not acknowledge the fear of nearly losing his life until he returned to his wife later that night.

In the meantime, Haldor eyed the blonde child with a new appreciation. The child's heroic actions placated his indignation.

"I owe you much gratitude boy," began Haldor.

Niklaus began to shake his head.

"I could not let you- you could have," Niklaus stuttered as he tried to shrug away the man's thanks.

Gingerly, Haldor began to stand up, and Niklaus followed his lead.

"I cannot let your actions go by unthanked. I and my wife do not have much to offer-" Haldor was once again cut off.

"Please, you need not offer anything," tried Niklaus, still in shock by the day's events. His family led a humble life, and he could not fathom why this adult would insist on thanking him.

"Boy, listen here," commanded Haldor as he bent his knee so could meet Niklaus's eyes.

Haldor's words and tone reminded Niklaus of his father, and he immediately straightened up and looked at the man with frightened eyes. To his surprise, the man's green-brown eyes were kind.

"You saved my life, and I am in your debt. I cannot offer you much," Haldor paused as he thought of what to gift the boy. He had seen first hand Mikael Mikaelson's treatment of his children and knew the boy did not have an easy home life. He did not want to gift the boy with something that may offend his parents. A thought came to him.

"I offer you the law of surprise," suggested Haldor, amused when the young boy's eyes lit up. All the children were oddly intrigued by the law of surprise.

"What you find at home yet don't expect," Niklaus said, echoing his brother's words.

An unnaturally warm breeze came their way as if acknowledging the boon that Haldor offered. Haldor felt a sudden uneasiness, and wondered what he had promised away. He immediately shrugged the thought away. The law of surprise was a fable, he merely offered it as a gesture of goodwill. In all likelihood, he had promised away the dinner his wife had prepared for him.

Haldor stood up.

"Your name, boy," Haldor said.

"Niklaus Mikaelson," Nik uttered quietly, the air still feeling heavy and otherworldly.

"I am Haldor Dahlgaard, and I promise you what I find at home yet don't expect," Haldor vowed.

The man and the young boy went their separate ways as they returned to the village, which was darkened as the sun continued to fall.

Niklaus returned to his family, their home filled with tense silence and careful words.

Haldor returned to a small, compact cottage on the other end of the village, where his young wife paced back and forth, wringing her hands.

A smile overcame Haldor's face at the sight of his wife, Sigrid.

The feeling of almost dying came back in full force, and before she had the chance to properly greet him, he had her in his arms and spun her in the air, peppering her face with kisses.

Sigrid laughed in surprise. Her husband was always prone to free affection, but something was different about him this evening. She took a deep breath, feeling this moment was as good as any to share with him what the village's healing woman, Ayana, told her.

"Haldor, I'm with child," Sigrid shared, her heart racing.

Haldor was overjoyed and would forget entirely of his promise to the youngest Mikaelson until the next morning.

Haldor and Sigrid Dahlgaard were a young, attractive couple who immediately drew the eyes of their neighbors when they were spotted walking through the village. They had been married a little over a year. Haldor was a deceptively fearsome man, with his brawny build, long brown hair, and wild, everchanging eyes. In truth, he was a benign, kind man despite what his imposing looks would have his neighbors think. His wife, Sigrid, was kissed by fire. Her hair was the color of the northern red oak tree's leaves in the autumn, and brown of eye. Despite her bold hair color, she was a counterintuitively reserved, quiet woman who kept to herself. For only Haldor could vouch for her astonishingly high temper, as rare as it was for it to erupt.

Sigrid quietly considered her husband far more beautiful to look upon than she, for she felt that she had rather plain features and it was her hair that caught the eye and confused others.

No, it had been her older brother who had inherited their mother's dark beauty. Her brother, Soren, who she missed dearly.

It was Soren who she thought of roughly nine months later as she gave birth to Sofija, her babe.

Sigrid and Haldor had been forewarned months before their daughter's birth that she would be a girl, and their only child, by the village's wise woman.

A moon after her birth, Haldor carried his daughter throughout the village in order to soothe her fussing and gift his wife with much-needed rest. He hadn't paid attention to where he was going when he suddenly found himself under the shade of the great white oak tree near the Mikaelsons home.

"C'mere boy," greeted Haldor enthusiastically when he spotted a bleary-eyed Niklaus. Young Niklaus had endured a night of Kol and Bekah, the youngest of the Mikaelsons, crying from a shared ailment well into the early morning.

Niklaus was startled as he placed the herbs he had been gathering in the satchel given to him by his mother.

The dark-haired babe in Haldor's arms, swaddled in a deep green blanket, caught his eyes.

"I want you to meet my daughter, Sofija," said Haldor brightly.

An unseasonably warm breeze engulfed them once again, as it had over eight months ago, causing Sofija to wake from her sleep.

Haldor was suddenly overcome by the compulsion to gift Niklaus with Sofija. Shaking his head at the odd notion, he found himself saying, "Hold out your arms boy, hold her while I pick some herbs for my dinner."

Niklaus wanted to protest, to offer to pick the herbs for Haldor, but he was perplexed by the babe who reminded him of his sister, despite her dark cap of hair.

Haldor, who saw Niklaus often caring for his younger sister at village gatherings, trusted the boy to hold Sofija for a quick moment.

He placed his daughter Niklaus's outstretched arms, which instinctively knew how to properly support the month old babe.

The air seemed to shift and shimmer as Niklaus held Sofija, who once again fell asleep in the young boy's arms while he rocked her as his mother taught him to do with Bekah. Haldor watched in shock, blinking quickly as the atmosphere went back normal seconds later.

Haldor's mind went back to the day after Niklaus had saved his life and had accepted the law of surprise for his efforts.

As Haldor wondered what to gift the boy, he spotted the healing, sea green gemstone his wife had been gifted by Ayana to pass on to him for aches around the full moon.

What I find at home yet don't expect, thought Haldor as he gifted the stone to Niklaus.

Halfway through Sigrid's pregnancy, Haldor had shared his near-death experience with Ansel, his alpha. It had been after the full moon, and the men had accompanied each other back to the village. An off look had entered Ansel's eye when Haldor mentioned Niklaus, but it left as soon as it appeared.

Haldor had been musing aloud how disarming it felt to find out his wife was with child on the day he nearly died.

"If the tales of the law of surprise are to be believed, your babe belongs to that boy," quipped Ansel as they began their trek to the village after reverting back to human form. In the many stories the elders had told, it was not uncommon for a babe to be gifted by way of law of surprise. Haldor and Ansel laughed at the absurdness of the notion.

The notion didn't seem as nonsensical as it did all those months now that his babe was in Niklaus's arms. A sudden panic and terror seized Haldor, but it would be many years still until he would come to terms with why this sensation overcame him at the sight of Niklaus Mikaelson. Surely, the law of surprise was only a fable. He quickly collected his herbs, his babe, and bid Niklaus a good day.

The spirits had been unusually silent on the night that Sofija Dahlgaard was born, but their presence remained with Ayana as she delivered the babe. As she cleaned young Sofija for her mother, Ayana was suddenly overwhelmed with a sense of contrition. It was then that the spirits spoke up. Tiny Sofija Dahlgaard was a paliá psychí. Ayana had not come across one before, and this would be the first and only time that the spirits would reveal such an identity to Ayana, along with how this was not Sofija's first journey into this world. Ayana knew better than to inform the babe's parents of what their daughter was. It was no longer the case where the birth of a paliá psychí was the cause for celebration, and the knowledge would only give them cause for confusion.

The birth of a paliá psychí was now an occurrence that was thought to be ignored, or, depending which side of the argument a witch's coven was on, the paliá psychí was to be protected. Ayana's family thought paliá psychí's were to be disregarded and unacknowledged. And yet, the spirits urged Ayana to bless the girl, to keep an eye on her.

Even more curious, the babe was wrapped in a shimmering silver cord that only Ayanna had the privilege of seeing. The first time she had seen such a thing was when she delivered Esther's long lost babe, Freya. Old family lore informed Ayana that the silver cord often signified that a parent had promised their child to another. Ayana did not share with Esther that she had this knowledge, and she would also not do so with the Dahlgaards. Whatever promises parents made on their child's behalf were no concern of hers.

What gave Ayanna cause for concern was a gold aura that emanated from the babe. It was unnatural, lurid, and overwhelmed the tiny body.

Ayanna would honor the spirits' wishes and keep an eye on Sofija Dahhlguard, if only for curiosity's sake.

Sigrid's soul ached as her daughter grew into her features. Her small daughter, who played and tumbled in the mud with the sons of the other men in her husband's pack. Her daughter was all knobby knees, sharp elbows, and a tangled mess of dark hair. Her delicate, impish features reminded Sigrid of someone she desperately missed.

Sigrid adored her oldest brother, and while she was heartbroken when he ran away with the beautiful nomad girl who so enchanted him, she knew it was for the best. Her brother had inherited their father's short, wiry build and their mother's delicate, fine features. The combination made him eerily, undeniably beautiful. But men were not meant to be beautiful, and so he was ostracized by his peers in the village. The women, while taken aback by his charm and quick-witted nature, ultimately deigned he was not fit to be a good husband.

Then came Polina.

A wild nomad girl who was nearly as lovely as her brother was, whose clan never stayed in one place for too long. Polina saw how her brother was not meant for this village and asked him to run away with her.

It was his eyes, mouth, and fine features that Sigrid saw on her daughter's face. Sigrid felt her heart tighten every time her daughter longingly wished to join her father on the full moon, still ignorant of the price of blood and pain that was required.

Sophia, who at such a young age, was prone to mercurial moods. But surely that was a symptom of being a child, Sigrid assured herself.

It was only when he was deep in his wine cups that Haldor would observe their daughter with solemn eyes, never telling his wife that he had struggled all his life to temper the wolf's combative spirit.

For the first five years of her existence, the Mikaelson children existed on the periphery of Sofija's life. The Mikaelson's kept to themselves, their growing family keeping them more than busy.

And Haldor Dahlgaard, for his part, steered his daughter away from the Viking family. From Niklaus. Of course, these actions were largely unaware to Haldor, his motivations were never quite coming into focus, and hidden in the back of his mind.

But the law of surprise was not to be ignored, and the forged connection of the silver cord could no longer be denied.

On the night of Samhain, after Sofija's fifth name day came to pass, did she and Niklaus cross paths.

She had been led away from the all-night celebration to appease the gods by the sight of a wild hare she had originally spotted earlier in the day. It had been perched on a patch of grass, its shape apparent in the firelight. Sofija yearned to befriend the rabbit. She wandered away from the neighbor her parents had tasked to keep an eye on her and walked into the darkness as the rabbit scurried away. Before she knew it, the hare had outrun her, the festivities were out of sight, and she had no way of knowing which was the way to return.

At the moment that Sofija had left the celebrations, one and ten years old Niklaus had been tasked by his mother to circle back to their home to ensure that his younger sister and brother, Rebekah and Kol, were still fast asleep.

He noticed that yards away, walking in a parallel path, was a young girl who appeared to be the same age as Bekah. But where his sister's hair was fine and fair, this girl's hair appeared to be a tangled mess of dark curls under the moonlight. Sofija. The name came to Niklaus as she disappeared into the shadows. Haldor Dahlgaards daughter. Haldor was always cordial to Niklaus when they crossed paths, which was few and far over the years. Worried for the kind man's daughter, Niklaus took after her. As he walked further in the forest, it became difficult to find where Sofija ended up, when the moonlight unexpectedly shone through the trees. A path created by silver light, a hint of a silver cord. A trick of the eyes, surely, concluded Niklaus before he fell asleep that night.

Sofija was scared. She had followed the rabbit into what seemed to be pure darkness. The trees she loved to climb now seemed ominous, and there was no sight of the night sky in sight, no stars and moonlight to offer guidance. Tears began to gather in her eyes as she turned this way and that, not sure what direction to take. She was startled when she heard the crack of leaves nearby and looked towards the intrusion.

"Who's there?" Sofija called out, sounding like the young, frightened girl she was.

"I-" Niklaus paused once he had the girl in sight, unsure of how to offer his help.

"I am Niklaus Mikaelson, I know your father," he settled on.

Moonlight had broken through the trees, allowing Sofija a glimpse of Niklaus's face. Her breath caught at the sudden ease she felt in his presence.

"I'm lost," Sofija sniffled as she finally gave way to tears.

Niklaus hesitantly walked closer to her and knelt on one knee a foot away from her. He had been practicing carving wooden knights with his father and had given his best one to Bekah when she was frightened of the storm one night. The one he now had in his pocket, his first attempt, was uneven, lacked the finer detailing of his best carving, and resembled a mushroom more than it did a knight.

"I promise, I will return you to your parents," vowed Niklaus.

The young child soothed the younger by offering her the mushroom knight, as it would later be affectionately named, as a token of his promise.

Niklaus had been taught by his father how to navigate the woods in the dark. Sofija was led back to her parents with the mushroom knight in one hand, and Niklaus's hand in the other.

Sofija caught sight of her mother first, her father busy with his friends tracking her down. Sigrid felt something in her chest loosen at the sight of her lost daughter that had finally returned to her arms. She effusively thanked the Mikaelson boy, who had blushed and fidgeted at her thanks. Since most of Sigrid's attention was directed toward her daughter, Niklaus was able to extricate himself from the situation before more of a spectacle could be made.

Haldor Dahlgaard knew at once who had found and returned his daughter when his wife attempted to describe the young boy, for she was unable to recall his features and only knew he was one of the Mikaelson children. His chest tightened.

Sofija would be besotted with her savior after that night. She would eagerly greet Niklaus when the sudden numerous opportunities presented themselves, blushing unabashedly all the while. The two ends of the silver cord had met, and the law of surprise was starting to come to fruition.

Sofija, whose burdened soul now had something to ground her in this life, unknowingly felt the full force of her father's debt and promise to Niklaus Mikaelson. She may have been his, but what was more, he was hers. The wolf in her, an intriguing presence that had been introduced to her in this life and would remain with her during her numerous others, saw an equal in Niklaus. A boy for now, but who would one day grow into a man powerful, willful, and stubborn enough to challenge the forced path she would be expected to follow. That much was apparent with how tempestuous and prideful his wolf was, even if Niklaus had yet to realize those aspects of himself.

It would not be fair to say that Niklaus denied his bond to Sofija. By her seventh name day, he had embraced her fixture in his life. She was a young girl who was taken with him, who was Bekah's best friend, who he went out of his way to protect and look out for. Another little sister, he had thought to himself.

By Sofija's three and tenth name day, adolescence had inflicted its wrath on Sofija. It magnified her attraction to Niklaus, while momentarily plummeting her deeply ingrained sense of self. Years of hunting and living a life filled with hardships had turned Niklaus into a lean warrior, roughly 6 years Sofija's senior. Sofija had found it difficult to carry a conversation with the then eight and ten year old Nik, who was kind about, if amused by, her infatuation. Remembering her as the babe he once held, as the young girl he once comforted as though she were his sister, and her daily presence in his life, had blinded him to the hints of the beautiful woman she would one day grow up to be.

At six and ten years of age, Sofija had taken a life, triggering her werewolf curse. By this point in time, her father was no longer with her to help guide her through the pain of turning and the fervent surge of emotions the wolf amplified in her. It was also during this time that fate finally caught up to Sofija in this life.

The allure of the doppelganger and the magical ties that bound Sofija to her worked at odds with the law of surprise, and the path Sofija wanted to forge for herself. As a consequence, the magic surrounding the doppelganger would serve as an obstruction to the forged destiny that bound Sofija and Niklaus.

At seven and ten years of age, Sofija had known the promise and hope of young love as well as the pain of great loss.

Before she could reach her eight and tenth name day, it would be time for her once again to greet death.

Present Day Mystic Falls

Sophia tormented herself for weeks by replaying her Aunt Jenna's death in her head. The one she was a witness to, anyway. It was needless and cruel and inhumane. It was invariably connected to Niklaus.

She hated the part of her that longed for his touch and presence, now that she knew what it felt like in this life. It made no sense. He had left town thinking both her aunt and her sister were dead at his hand. It made absolutely no sense that she would miss the hybrid bastard.

And yet, some part of her thought to afflict her with memories of the boy who came before the monster and recollections of a young girl's infatuation with him.

Her dreams were clear the instant she woke up, but within minutes the content of her dreams would begin to disappear. What stayed with her was what they made her feel.

Elena had been keeping tabs on Stefan and Klaus's whereabouts in the hopes of bringing back her boyfriend. It was a hopeless cause, in Sophia's opinion, but the information came in handy. It was how they knew that the hybrid and poor Stefan didn't have any intention of returning to Mystic Falls anytime soon.

"Sophie, get up," said her sister on the morning of their 18th birthday.

"Go away Elena," said Sophie, burrowing into her blankets.

Elena pulled her covers off the bed.

"It's our birthday, and you know Caroline isn't going to let us slide by without a party. The point of having a twin sister is that we shouldn't have to celebrate it alone."

"We're not twins," protested Sophia as she sat up.

"We're as good as," said Elena, a stubborn glint in her eye.

Sophia let up and let Elena pull her out of bed.

After making sure Jeremy got out of bed to go to work, Elena left to follow up on another Stefan sighting with Damon. Sophia meandered throughout the house in her pajamas, pondering the part of her that was triumphant that she had made it to 18. Given the increasing supernatural presence in Mystic Falls, she supposed it was a miracle that she hadn't died tragically yet, as was becoming typical of the Gilbert family. But she had the nagging feeling that wasn't it.

Sophia had admitted to her siblings, friends, and Damon that she was a recycled soul who likely led multiple lives. She also gave them the bullet points of what happened in the life that she had relived. They were understandably taken aback, but as far as her family was concerned, the bottom line was that she was still their sister and this information was admittedly low on the list of the revelations and events that had occurred this year. It stoked everyone's curiosity on what this information could mean to Klaus, but given that he left Sophia to her own devices in the wake of his destruction, they brushed it aside for the time being.

What she didn't tell her family about were the dreams. She had half a mind to keep a dream journal, but she was scared of how damning the information could potentially be should someone other than her read it. The dreams left her with a sense of comfort and intimacy that she hadn't yet known as Sophia Gilbert. If those feelings somehow stemmed from Klaus, then Sophia figured she was better off not knowing. In an effort to have someone validate her choices, she went to Hannah for her input. She had impulsively gone to Hannah's home on the last day of school, somehow managing to get there in one piece, considering she was still in the midst of her grief. Other than Bonnie, no one knew about the fellow old soul Sophia looked to as a mentor of sorts.

"They keep reoccurring Hannah. It's always the same ones. It's like someone in me wants to remember the good old times, except those times were over a thousand years ago and don't really apply now," ranted Sophia.

Hannah's gray eyes remained neutral as Sophia told her of the mixed feelings she had for the hybrid vampire who terrorized her family. She was the only person Sophia trusted this information with.

"You already know what I think. When you took that first potion, you opened a gateway to your other lives. Without another dose though, you aren't capable of knowing the entire story, just bits, and pieces," said the blonde.

Hannah was a firm believer in knowing the bigger picture, of having all the facts.

Sophia frowned at Hannah's words. She had yet to express her feelings out loud, but Hannah's solution to take the potion again and find out exactly what her past life wanted to tell her scared the hell out of her. Sophia was already intimately familiar with the part of her that was biased towards Klaus and she didn't want to encourage it.

"Whatever happened then doesn't matter now. I just got past my life with Katherine. I'm not going to suffer through weeks of second-hand trauma just to learn that I had a crush on a hunter back when people lived in caves, and that hunter just so happened to go on to be one of the first vampires ever, who in all likelihood probably killed me back then."

Hannah quirked an eyebrow. "I doubt your past life would be so fond of him if that's all that happened back then. And if our estimations about his age are right, it's doubtful you were living in a cave back then."

Lost in thought, time had eluded Sophia, and soon it was almost time for the party. Around 4, Caroline showed up with a dress and makeup.

"Really Care," huffed Sophia as closed her eyes to let Caroline do her makeup and style her hair. Sophia had been itching to cut it since Jenna's funeral. It didn't take a psychologist to guess why. Her life was in shambles, and the modicum of power she had over her appearance gave her something to be in control of. But Caroline begged her to wait until she was more clear-minded and to wait until after her birthday at the very least. The blonde vampire acted as if the state of Sophia's hair was a matter of life and death. Once upon a time, it was, in all fairness to Caroline. For the friend who checked in daily and kept the orphaned Gilbert's stocked with food and distracting gossip, Sophia acquiesced.

"Voilà" said the blonde as she presented Sophia to a mirror.

Caroline had fitted her in a too-short, yellow honeysuckle dress with shimmering accents and similarly shiny makeup. Her black hair was shaped to gently curl away from her face.

"You have outdone yourself, Caroline," smiled Sophia unwillingly, admiring her reflection.

"At least you've been outside enough this summer to get a decent tan," said Caroline approvingly as she glanced at Sophia's legs.

"Mind lighting this for me Matt," said Sophia as she took a seat by Matt in the den. He had just passed the joint he lit over to Jeremy.

Sophia had made a round of the party with Caroline while Elena was still getting ready upstairs, and she was already drained. As was precedent, Caroline had gone above and beyond with how large this party was, and the sheer amount of people exhausted Sophia who now sought refuge with her brother and the blonde quarterback.

"Harry from the kitchen sold it to you," asked Jeremy from where he sat in the armchair, eyebrows raised in disbelief. Sophia's main drug of choice at parties was alcohol, and in an attempt to get through the monotony that had once been characteristic of Mystic Falls, she could count on one hand the number of times she had gotten properly shit faced. Given the rampant amount of illicit parties the teenagers of a small town threw for a lack of anything better to do, her drinking was relatively modest. It was only when dealing with the trauma of her past life that she turned to weed, and berated herself for believing Caroline and Elena's campaign against stoners. There was never a hangover once her high had passed, and she was never so refreshed as when waking up from a nap after the drug had run its course.

"Please. I'm one of the birthday girls, it was free," smiled Sophia as Matt lit her joint.

She took a drag. "So, what's this information we don't wanna know?" questioned Sophia, eyeing her brother curiously.

She had overheard Matt ask Jeremy what sent him on his apparent downward spiral, and she was curious herself.

Jeremy was too vague for her liking as he shared how he felt he was seeing things he shouldn't be seeing, which may be a side effect of having been brought back from the dead by Bonnie.

Soon Matt left the siblings after Jeremy brushed away his troubles, and before she could get her brother to elaborate, Elena confronted them.

"Really Soph, you too," her sister asked.

"It's recreational Elena. It's no worse than drinking our weight in alcohol," rationalized Sophia as she tried to calm the brunette.

Elena huffed and began to walk away.

In hindsight, not the greatest way to talk down her sister who presented with the oddest streak of moral righteousness. Then again, it took one to know one, and Sophia knew she had the same streak herself. Yet, Elena's bias against weed baffled Sophia, who knew that if Jeremy had picked alcohol as his poison, Elena would have written it off as him blowing off steam.

"I should go after her," said Sophia as she stood up.

"Good luck," Jeremy said as she walked by him. Ultimately, Sophia knew that Elena was likely worried that Jeremy would succumb to numbing out the world 24/7 as he had after their parents died, but she felt reasonably confident that he wouldn't do that this time around.

"Really Sophie, you're spending your birthday in the stoner den?" asked Caroline who stood by the doorway. Elena had disappeared.

"Not the entire party," said Sophia sheepishly. She had lost sight of where Elena stormed off to.

"Come with me," said Caroline as she led Sophia over to the living room.

"Woah," giggled Sophia at the sense of lightheadedness she felt as Caroline whisked away from the den.

"Come on, druggie. Let's get you some sustenance," said the blonde as she led Sophia to a table filled with an assortment of chips and snacks.

"Ughh, can you believe Tyler is here with easy Sophie?" scoffed Caroline as she glanced over her shoulder.

"Pardon?" asked Sophia with a mouth full of chips.

"Not you, over there," clarified Caroline.

She nodded over to where Tyler was dancing with another cute blonde, Sophie Williams. Well, dancing was putting it mildly, the longer Sophia observed them.

"Oh, that Sophie," Sophia nodded exaggeratedly. Her eyelids suddenly felt very heavy.

Time began to allude Sophia. The 18-year-old furrowed her eyebrows as Caroline took a swig from a tequila bottle as they stood in the archway to the living room. When had Caroline gotten that bottle? And how long have they been staring at Tyler and blonde Sophie?

"Jeezus," gasped Sophia when she noticed Matt was suddenly right next to her.

Matt and Caroline proceed to talk to each other, or snipe depending on who was watching before Matt took himself out of the conversation. Sophia noticed Tyler approaching them out of the corner of her eye.

"I'll make sure he's okay," Sophia nodded slowly at Caroline, before catching up to Matt and hooking her elbow through his.

"I'm okay Sophie, but I think I'm gonna head out" smiled Matt humorlessly as he guided them to the front door.

"Well-" Sophia rapidly blinked as she tried to shake away the onslaught of fatigue that overcame her.

"You know what, I'll go with you.," suggested Sophia.

Jeremy came across Sophia and Matt as they stumbled through the makeshift parking lot outside the Salvatore manor as the pair tried and failed to find Matt's truck. Sophia internally sighed as her little brother suggested he drive the pair home considering Matt was in no shape to drive. She was not serving as an exemplary model for her brother as the oldest sister, but at least he wasn't the type to hold that sort of thing over her. Sophia shook her head as Matt gestured for her to take shotgun, and instead climbed into and collapsed in the backseat of the car. What she would give to be at home and in her bed.

Seconds later, Jeremy closed the door for her and then took his seat behind the wheel.

"What the- Vicki," said Jeremy in a shocked voice after he had buckled in.

Sophia found the energy to open her eyes and look at her upset brother, right as Matt got inside the car. Matt heard the same thing she did, but Jeremy denied saying Vicki's name and started the car. Her brother soon again lost his facade of calmness as he looked stunned at the sight before him. Matt turned his head to exchange a look of bemusement with Sophia.

"You know what, maybe we should just walk," said Jeremy, also turning to glance at Sophia nervously.

Once they got back to the Gilbert household, Sophia stayed with the boys long enough to inhale half a tub of strawberry ice cream.

"Please don't tell Elena and Mr. Saltzman what a bad example I am," said Matt with an expression of mock shame on his face.

"I'm right there with you man," Sophia nodded affirmatively, breaking out into a smile as Matt laughed and shook his head.

Jeremy snorted as he took another bite of ice cream. Soon after, Sophia excused herself to collapse in bed and finally go to sleep for the night.

"Elena, you can't be serious," questioned Sophie, watching in exasperation as Elena continued packing her bag.

Thanks to a tip from Tyler, Elena put together that there were good odds that Stefan (and in effect, Klaus), would be at the Smoky Mountains, and she wanted to get to him before the pair moved on again. Aware that tonight was the night of the full moon, and of Klaus's ultimate goal to sire fellow hybrids, Sophia was infuriated at the lengths Elena was willing to go to, and the danger she was putting herself in, to locate Stefan.

"This is the strongest lead I have, Sophie. I'll lose him again after tonight, I have to go," insisted Elena.

"You're right, I'm being unreasonable. You absolutely have to go to the mountainside where a pack of werewolves just happen to be gathering for the full moon," Sophia's voice oozed with derision about her sister's choices.

Elena stayed silent, not rising to the bait. After taking a breath, Sophia tried to appeal to Elena's rationality.

"I don't think you're thinking this through. Stefan is with Klaus to save Damon's life. What exactly do you think is going to happen when you see him? Or, better yet, what do you think Klaus would do if Stefan were to just up and abandon him like you would want him to?"

Sophia was at her wit's end. Yes, Stefan got the raw end of the deal and she felt for him, and she felt for Elena. But there was no scenario where Elena finally gets face time with Stefan that would end well.

She loves him, someone chimed in. Sophia huffed.

"I'm going with Ric, Sophie. You're not going to talk me out of it," said Elena as she finished tying her shoes.

"It's not just your safety that you're jeopardizing, you're also pulling Ric in with you. Nevermind that he's not exactly in the right frame of mind to be going on this expedition in the first place, he tried to set boundaries with us, and you're completely ignoring them because you know he's not going to let you put yourself in this incredibly dangerous situation on your own," Sophia hammered in, hoping to knock some sense into Elena. She failed.

Sophia had just finished preparing spaghetti for dinner when she heard the front door slam shut.

"Anyone home?" shouted Jeremy.

"In here," shouted Sophia.

"Hey, I just made some dinner. Feel free to grab a plate," she offered Jeremy. Once they were both settled at the table with their plates, Sophia began to bring up Elena's predicament.

"I have spent all afternoon worrying about Elena's suicide mission," she began as she twirled spaghetti on her fork when Jeremy cut in.

"Hey, do you remember what happened the night of your birthday party? Before we got home?"

"I vaguely remember you saying your dead ex-girlfriend's names, yes. I actually meant to talk to you about that but I got… sidetracked about other stuff," said Sophia, her mind going back to Elena who hadn't texted her back after two hours.

"I think I'm seeing ghosts," said Jeremy quickly.

Sophia blinked owlishly at him. She stayed silent as she pondered the reality of ghosts being thrown into the mix of their already outlandish lives. Sure, why not? she told herself glibly.

"I know it sounds crazy. But ever since Bonnie brought me back from the dead I've been seeing Anna and Vickie here and there," Jeremy elaborated.

"I'm sure Bonnie will be happy with that side effect," Sophia mused," Wait, have you told her?"

"Did I tell my girlfriend that I've been seeing ghosts of my dead ex-girlfriends? What do you think?" He asked dryly.

Jeremy went on to explain how he recruited Matt to help him summon Vickie, who had told Jeremy she needed help. At the time, Matt had changed his mind before he and Jeremy could go through with it. As luck would have it, that was when flushed Matt arrived at their doorstep with an apology and a 6 pack. Both teenage boys turned on the puppy dog eyes at Sophia. Cursing under her breath, Sophia told Matt she was up to speed on everything, grabbed a beer, and took a seat as Matt told Jeremy he was willing to try to reach out to Vicky again.

Sophia paused her drinking as Jeremy appeared to be talking to Vicky. Before he could answer Matt's question on what she wanted, the glass door to their backward shattered. Looking even more unsure than before, Jeremy looked at Sophia with a plea in his eyes, before turning to Matt.

"Matt, you should go," said Jeremy, a bleak look in his eyes.

Matt demanded to know what Vickie had said, but Jeremy wasn't willing to share. Sophia gently, but firmly, got a distraught Matt to leave the house. By the time she was done, Jeremy locked himself in his room and Elena had returned.

Sophia was still in the kitchen, polishing off a second beer when Ric appeared with duffel bags.

"Welcome home," she toasted, raising her bottle. As much as she wanted to respect Alaric's need to distance himself from the Gilberts, she was ultimately glad he was here to shoulder the burdens that were her family and their mystical woes. As much as Sophia herself didn't want to rock the boat with her own issues, and apparently a 1,000-year-old past, without her sobriety as a barrier, she admitted to herself that she was a ticking time bomb and it was only a matter of time before she went off. With any luck, it would be after high school graduation, and her family and friends would be well outside the blast radius.

"Given that you're at least as old as Katherine, I suppose I won't object to your choice of drink," he said as he opened a bottle for himself and took a seat across from her.

"That's not- that's not exactly how it works," Sophia said, unsure how to explain the reality of being an old soul. If Bonnie's family grimoire was to be believed, she was never meant to know about her other lives.

"As a history buff, I will pick your brain about this another time. Right now, I don't really have the mental wherewithal to..." Ric trailed off and looked at her morosely. Sophia nodded to him in understanding.

"I miss her too," Sophia said. And with that, they clinked their bottles and took a drink.

After the moment had passed, Sophia added, "I'm glad you're back. You taking the room this time?"

Ric had monopolized the couch for the last month and turned down every offer for him to sleep in the bedroom.

"I think I will," he said with the shadow of a smile as he made his way to the stairs.

Sophia cleared the bottles before going to the living room to collapse on the couch.

Soon after that, Damon was walking through the living room on his way to the front door.

"Actually using the front door, I see," Sophia commented, eyeing him warily. She hadn't heard him enter the house.

"No need to get your panties in a twist, Miss Sophie. Just checking in on Elena," he said as he walked out.

Although she wasn't a fan of the feelings that were brewing between her sister and the vampire, Sophia came to a grudging truce with Damon for the time being. He was a lesser evil, given the circumstances.

Damon had been most doubtful about Sophia being an old soul and was more inclined to believe she was indeed a confused doppelganger, although he did look mildly vindicated when Sophia shared how being an old soul may have made her resistant to compulsion. Even so, in the wake of his brother's bargain with the devil, and his guilty love of Elena, he let the matter be.

Sophia walked into her bedroom to see Elena laying on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Sophia laid down beside her, not disrupting the silence.

"Were you in love in your last life?" Elena asked softly.

"No, I wasn't," said Sophia, but her mind drifted to Nik.

Sophia didn't think she had been in anything close to love. Sure, she fooled around with boys because that's what girls her age did, and she wanted to see what all the drama was about. But all those interactions brought on a sort of muted satisfaction, nothing to be starry-eyed about. All the groping and stolen kisses ultimately didn't do much for her. In the aftermath of her parent's death, she pulled back from the dating scene entirely, and she was perfectly okay being on her own. She didn't feel like she was missing out on anything.

That was, until Niklaus bloody Mikaelson careened into this life.

Sophia squeezed her eyes shut, and did her best to evade her mind of the hybrid. When she opened them, she grabbed Elena's hand.

"You're crazy, and you shortened my lifespan by at least 10 years with having me worry about you trapezing among werewolf woods during the full moon. But I love you, and I'm here for you. " Sophia stated matter of factly.

Sophia let go of Elena's hand, and they sat up. Elena looked at her speculatively.

Elena began, "Damon…"

Before Sophia knew it, her sister jumped off into the deep end once again.

Elena had decided to wait to tell Sophia of her and Damon's trip to Chicago until after the fact. During said trip, they had risked Elena nearly being discovered by Klaus and had tried to get Stefan to return to Mystic Falls, with or without his consent. As Sophia, and probably anyone else who was paying attention had predicted, their plan went pear-shaped.

Elena learned from her heartbreaking talk with Stefan that Klaus continued to fail to make hybrids, which in all likelihood was because Elena's sacrifice didn't take. Moreover, Stefan racked up a body count that could take decades to come back from, if and when he got out from Klaus's thumb. Elena was numb by the time she and Damon returned, and after she explained everything to Sophia, the older sister refrained from chastising Elena and had felt it would have been gauche to say I told you so.

INTERLUDE: CHICAGO

Klaus's failure to create hybrids somehow brought them to Chicago, where Stefan had befriended the original siblings some 90 years ago, as he was recently allowed to remember.

Stefan now found himself back at Gloria's, a red-accented buzzling Speakeasy that he frequented in the 20s, though now more polished and modern with a dark backdrop.

Stefan struggled to remain relaxed as Gloria herself used the recently undaggered Rebekah Mikaelson to suss out where the original witch's necklace was in order to get in touch with the long dead witch herself. A necklace that was originally gifted to Rebekah, now possessed by Elena.

Klaus's sister was a piece of work, though it was difficult to take the threat she posed seriously with her big brother at her side to provide a horrifying juxtaposition.

After seeing what must have been visions of Elena with her friends, Gloria was sending them all away to gather herself in order to get a more clear view of the necklace, and who could blame her with the equally temperamental original vampires breathing down her neck. Before Klaus decided to grant her the time she needed, he got in one last question.

"Before I leave, Gloria, did you find anything about the other doppelganger?"

Stefan involuntarily raised an eyebrow at the mention of Sophia. He had only broached the topic once in all his time with Klaus, who evaded the question. The hybrid's tone at the time did not invite further conversations on the subject.

"Ah, yes, this other supposed doppelganger," the witch murmured as her eyes lightened with recognition.

"I managed to get in touch with spirits who were willing to talk, and they concluded that the occurrence of another doppelganger is highly unlikely. If I were a betting woman, and going by your description, I would say she's an old soul" said Gloria, glancing down at her spellbook.

"An old soul?" questioned Rebekah, who was studying her nails.

"A soul, the same exact soul, who is reborn multiple times," said Gloria. Something in the air shifted as the fair-haired siblings exchanged looks.

"How is it that I've never heard of such a being in over 1000 years, Gloria?" demanded Klaus.

"They're not uncommon, according to the spirits, but no witch has the means to determine exactly how many are walking among us. Older generations of witches, for reasons unknown to me, thought it was bad juju to mix palia psyches, or old souls to you, in with the world of magic. They even got into the habit of cloaking them in plain sight, to the point that the young things you recruit couldn't get a read on an old soul if she smacked them in the face." explained Gloria.

"Can they remember their past lives?" said Rebekah, straightening up, looking more alert.

"Generally speaking, no. They're not designed to. But sometimes, old instincts from past lives might leak through. I've heard of a spell to help them to relive their past lives, but most witches with that knowledge are hard-pressed to use it."

Stefan struggled to keep his muscles relaxed. Did Elena know what Sophia was? He would bet Sophia did, it always seemed to escape her mind that she was a doppelganger when the topic came up.

Rebekah looked transparently intrigued by the witch's words, and Klaus simply remained unnervingly at ease.

"Nik," breathed the female original," what are the odds -,"

"She is of no importance, Bekah," said Klaus dismissively as strode out of the bar, finally making his exit as his sister looked after him, affronted.

Stefan was a prisoner in his own body. He moaned in pain as Gloria continued to torture him for information on the necklace. On Elena. He gritted his teeth and pushed through it. Horror washed over him when he learned Gloria didn't need his confession to track down Elena, merely his essence. His spirit and it's connection to her.

"There's the girl with the necklace. You love her," said Gloria as she searched his memories. Gloria stepped away after she put together that the sacrifice hadn't gone according to plan, and the lengths Stefan had gone to protect Elena.

"Not to mention, there's the old soul to consider. Reborn as the doppelganger's sister. You should have heard the spirits go off about her. If they're right, she goes back far enough to provide a nice boost to the necklace and getting in touch with the original witch," Gloria contemplated.

"Well, this is creepy," observed Katherine, who was suddenly behind Gloria.

"So little Sophia's an old soul, huh? Crazy, but makes more sense than her being a doppelganger" said Katherine, standing in the way as Stefan cleaned up after Gloria's death.

Stefan sucked in a breath.

"You know what an old soul is?" he asked.

"I could never get a straight answer out of a witch, and my old pal Lucy left me with the impression she was a doppelganger. But that didn't add up." Katherine said, seemingly talking mostly to herself. Stefan faced away from her, but he could see in his mind the expression that must be on her face. Her mannerisms would match her tone, which was casual. But her eyes would be calculated.

"My plan doesn't involve Elena or Sophia, Whatever she is, it doesn't matter," deflected Stefan, not wanting to give the 500-year-old vampire any reason to target Elena's family in her quest to outmaneuver Klaus.

Stefan made up his mind. He shared with Katherine how he knew Klaus and Rebekah in the 20s, and how they were on the run for somebody. It turned out Katherine had heard rumors of this hunter that inspired terror in the hearts of these supposedly unkillable originals and wanted in on his plan to dispose of Klaus. Stefan shrugged her away, and with any luck, she would zero in on this information and leave Sophia, Elena, and Mystic Falls alone.

Mystic Falls

Sophia felt like she and Alaric were watching a slow-motion car crash as Elena and Damon flirted while making chili for the Lockwood party that day. She wanted to insist that the blue-eyed vampire vacate the premises, but she knew that as annoyed as Elena pretended to be about his presence, she was pleased that he was here. Damon provided a temporary band-aid to the situation at hand. Elena had touched on her mixed feelings for Damon the other night but had sidetracked the conversation before she could name exactly what she felt for him.

A part of Sophia observed Elena's interactions with the vampire with an almost clinical interest.

This is going off script, the voice said as Elena hip-checked Damon.

Jeremy's eyes called out for help as he hugged Bonnie, who had returned after visiting her dad's side of the family for the summer. Sophia had been wanting to call her friend and ask for her input on her brother's Ghost Whisperer abilities, but Jeremy had wanted to wait until Bonnie returned and he could tell her himself in person. Sophia eyed him sternly and raised an eyebrow, hoping he would follow up on his word soon.

Sophia was secretly pleased with how Caroline pressed Elena on her growing relationship with Damon and forcing the issue to the surface. As much as she wanted to be the one to question her sister, all that had gotten her was Elena not cluing her in on her life and death endeavors, such as the whole Chicago mess. And so, she had taken to waiting for Elena to come to her first when she was ready to talk.

The teenage girls talked over the boiling chili in Gilbert's sunny kitchen, when suddenly, Elena's necklace began to burn her. Sophia winced as she got a closer look. All four girls looked on in surprise as the necklace zapped shocks when Bonnie attempted to grab it.

Despite the drama going on with the necklace, all four girls still went to the Lockwoods potluck. Caroline continued to push the Damon issue on Elena while Bonnie tried to figure out what was going on with the necklace, which then began to float on its own.

"What is wrong with you?" Elena demanded after Damon snapped Ric's neck. Sophia felt shivers run down her spine at the look of frustration on his face. Shit was hitting the fan. Caroline's dad somehow found a way to resist compulsion and had turned up at the Lockwoods party, uninvited, his presence threatening the vampire community of Mystic Falls. At the back of her mind, Sophia wondered if her friend's dad was potentially an old soul. Meanwhile, Caroline wanted to talk her father down, while Damon simply wanted to kill him.

Later that night, Elena fumed over her blow up with Damon, who felt that Elena wanted him to replace the Stefan shaped whole in her life. He may not have been entirely wrong.

Before she knew it, school was starting up again. Her last year at Mystic Falls High. Go Timberwolves! Sophia thought dryly.

Sophia frowned at her cell phone, at the text from Elena.

Everyone's here already. Where are u?

It was senior prank night, and Sophia placated Elena and Caroline's campaign to make senior year memorable by agreeing to meet them after a much-needed nap. The bright side of her family and friends knowing that she was an old soul was that they knew it took extra effort on her part to calm her psyche after reliving a past life. While Elena and Caroline weren't especially huge fans of the pill and drug measures Sophia partook in, they did their best to respect her wishes. She had yet to let them in on the voices from other lives, and thankfully Bonnie knew to keep that to herself also.

Sophia let out a sigh as she walked up the stairs, on her way to Jeremy's room.

"Hey Jeremy, can you give me a ride to school so me and Elena don't have to drive home separately?" she yelled.

She frowned as she entered her brother's empty bedroom. She had just talked to him. Sophia suddenly had the feeling she was being watched, and the hair on her arms stood up on end.

"Hey Soph, I got back early from the prank night at the school," said the mildly pleasant voice of her sister.

Sophia, as casually as she could manage, steadied herself on Jeremy's dresser by the door and grasped a wooden stake hidden there.

"Not as fun as Caroline promised?" questioned Sophia as she turned around.

Sophia, suddenly and expediently, stuck the stake in Katherine's gut, as the vampire was suddenly behind her. She looked amazing, her brown hair curly and effortless looking. Katherine hissed, the veins in her face flashing as she pulled out the stake.

"Where'd you get this?" the vampire bit out as she threw the stake across the room.

"Ric insisted we keep them in every room of the house," said Sophia, glaring, "You got Jenna killed, and now you have my little brother. Where is Jeremy?"

"I feel like you're being a little unnecessarily hostile here, Soph. Is this really the way to say hi to an old friend?" said Katherine as she strutted to Jeremy's bed and sat down, gracefully folding one leg onto the other.

Sophia was beginning to see red.

"Where is my brother, Katerina?" Sophia snarled, speaking in Bulgarian for the first time since her encounter with Niklaus.

Suddenly Katherine was right before her.

"It's good to see you again, Sofia." she grinned, before smashing Sophia's head against the wall, once again.

Sophia blacked out.

Sophia wrinkled her nose, her eyes still closed, and her neck felt strained.

I've got to stop falling asleep in the living room, she thought as she felt herself slipping back into sleep.

"Why are you turning here?" she heard Elena ask from nearby.

Elena. Prank night. Katherine.

Sophia's eyes flew open as she jerked awake, taking in her surroundings.

She was in a compact car, asleep in a leather seat pressed against the window.

"Where am I?" she immediately questioned, startled to see Damon driving the car, apparently accompanying Katherine on whatever she was up to.

"Don't worry about it," said Katherine smoothly from the passenger seat. They were flying by trees and forestry scenery, the dark roads lit up under streetlight.

"What do you have to do with this Damon? And where's Jeremy?" Sophia asked again, a pounding headache starting up in her head.

Sophia felt her earlier dinner coming back up, and threw up in the car as Damon questioned, "What's Jeremy have to do with this?"

"Ugh," frowned Katherine, looking over her shoulder as Sophia heaved out her dinner.

"What the hell, Damon?" questioned Sophia as she sat up again, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Katherine said you have some sort of leverage against Klaus," said Damon, nonchalantly.

"She lied," Sophia said, frowning at Katherine who was smirking.

It was soon apparent to Sophia that Damon did not know much more about Katherine's machinations than she did, and Katherine continued to share no helpful answers. Nearly as aggravated with Katherine's nonanswers as she was, Damon pulled over at a rest stop.

"Why are we stopping?" Katherine ordered as she got out of the car.

"I thought we might want to stretch our legs, take a break from the sexual tension," Damon answered as he also stepped out.

Sophia gagged at them as she followed their lead and got out of the car, genuinely grateful that Damon had stopped. Damon requested that he and Katherine trade spots, but before Katherine could grasp the keys, he threw them into the woods. Sophia watched, staying unnaturally still as the battle of wills played out before her.

"We're not going anywhere until you spill your guts," Damon insisted.

Katherine scoffed and pulled out a necklace from her back pocket. Sophia squinted, trying to get a better look at it from where she stood, a wary distance from the volatile pair, as Damon inquired why Klaus would want Elena's necklace.

What would Klaus want with Elena's necklace, her thoughts echoed.

"Does it matter? He wants it, and I have it," Katherine answered, before turning her eyes to Sophia, "And I haven't even gotten to the best part. Sweet, innocent, old soul Sophie here is older than even me, Damon. Possibly goes as far back as Klaus," asserted Katherine.

Sophia felt her stomach roll.

"I heard from a little birdy that Sofija might have even met the original witch herself, the one who created Klaus," suggested Katherine.

Damon turned appraising eyes towards Sophia.

Self-preservation kicked in as Sophia took a deep breath and took stock of the situation. She was alone with two murderous vampires who on their own had racked up a high body count. She knew Katherine would continue to toy with her until she got what she wanted, but she probably wouldn't kill Sophia until the vampire figured out who exactly Sophia was to Klaus. Sophia also knew that on his best day, Damon was a chaotic good, and at his worst, a chaotic neutral. The time he indiscriminately killed Jeremy flashed in her mind. Still, he was ultimately on this road trip in the first place for Elena's sake. That hopefully meant he probably wouldn't be inclined to repeat the mistake of killing another one of Elena's siblings.

Sophia had observed that the best liers wove in the truth with the fiction, and did so herself. Frankly, she shared more truths than lies.

"Look, I can't deny that it's a possibility that I might have known the original witch. I don't know how old I technically am. But I've only ever taken a potion to relive one life. The one where I first met Katherine," said Sophia, looking stonily at the vampire herself.

Katherine smiled sweetly.

"I've tried to brush up on old souls on my way to Mystic Falls, and I have found zilch. So I guess we'll just have to take you at your word. But if what you've said is true, it's time to start drinking up," said Katherine as she strolled to the trunk of the car.

"According to Bonnie, old souls aren't meant to know about their other lives. It could give me a breakdown," asserted Sophia. Nevermind that Hannah had proven it could be done and was reasonably confident that Sophia could manage it. Sophia also knew at the back of her head, that to Katherine, Sophia's potential pain was nothing of consequence if it saved her own skin.

"So you brought Sophie to see what she knew about Klaus. Which is clearly nothing, or she would've been more helpful this summer. And unless you've brought a potion to help out with that...," Damon trailed off. As always, Sophia felt her hackles raise as they did when Damon called her Sophie, which was a name she preferred loved ones to call her. But Elena must've given him the details of what it took to relive a past life since he wasn't treating this revelation with his usual hostility.

"I brought her because Klaus wanted the necklace, and might have also used Sophia as a connection to get in touch with the original witch. But that's not all," said Katherine as she drew out the suspense.

After ensuring that Damon was willing to go along with her plan, Katherine opened the trunk of the car. Sophia seethed when she realized that Jeremy had been passed out in the trunk of the car the entire time.

"What did you do to him?" Sophia questioned as she inspected Jeremy. Damon had laid Jeremy on a wooden picnic table nearby. Sophia inspected him for any notable injuries, while attempting to keep a wary eye on Katherine.

Katherine ignored her and shared with Damon how her old friend Pearl knew of a vampire who knew how to kill Klaus. Damon pointed out how this was useless information since the only two beings who had access to this information were dead, Anna and Pearl. Sophia widened her eyes as she finally put Katherine's plan together. It was then Jeremy woke up.

Katherine pulled Sophia back to where she was standing, painfully twisting the teenage girl's wrist when she tried to resist.

"Don't get any funny ideas, Jeremy," Katherine threatened as she encased Sophia's wrist in a firm grip. Feeling Katherine's eyes on her, Sophia turned her head to meet her gaze.

"Your parents really did not do you any favors in your previous life, did they? You're passably pretty. Not a fan of the new haircut, however" sniped Katherine as she inspected Sophia's face.

Just the day before, Caroline had set up Sophia with her hairdresser who had cut Sophia's hair to her shoulders.

Her sister's evil doppelganger twin then shared how she found out that Jeremy was able to talk to ghosts. And more specifically, his ex-girlfriend Anna.

Sophia shouted when Damon smashed Jeremy's against the picnic table in order to get Anna to help them. Not personal, her ass.

After Anna was sufficiently incentivized, Jerermy told them about Mikael. A vampire who hunted vampires.

A wave of uneasiness overcame Sophia at the sound of that name.

Sophia pinched Jeremy after Damon left to go find the car keys. He had been yawning too much for her liking.

"Ow," Jeremy commented, looking at Sophia in confusion.

"Don't fall asleep, you might have a concussion," she worried, glaring at Katherine.

"Oh, stop pouting. He took one for the team," said Katherine, justifying her actions.

Sophia frowned as Katherine hesitated to give Damon his phone back after he returned. She looked resistant, and she was definitely hiding something.

As it turned out, Bonnie had texted Damon about Klaus crashing prank night. Sophia felt her heartbeat speed up. Elena.

Katherine tried to talk him out of leaving, to no avail.

"It'll be faster if it's just me," said Damon as he glanced at Sophia and handed her the car keys.

He instructed her and Jeremy to stay with Katherine so Anna could lead them to Mikael.

Sophia frowned as he sped away. For better or for worse, the erratic vampire could at least be counted out on to put Elena's safety first.

"So you're trying to get me to believe that you're completely useless when it comes to helpful information on Klaus," said Katherine, her voice laced with skepticism.

Sophia sat in the passenger seat as Katherine followed Jeremy's directions to a cemetery in Charlotte.

"I thought the first time I met Klaus was when I was your handmaiden 500 years ago," Sophia reiterated.

"Well, we both know that's not true," Katherine responded derisively.

It was thanks to a summer of practicing meditation that her heart didn't beat out of her chest at the mention of Klaus, who had alluded that he knew her 1,000 years ago. Not to mention her dreams.

Memories.

"Good times. You were much more accommodating then," Katherine said, mockingly wistful.

"Well, that was before you used me to throw Klaus off your trail," shared Sophia, wondering how it was possible she wanted to choke the person who was a carbon copy of her beloved sister. Belatedly, she found herself pondering how Stefan and Damon managed it.

"Well, it was you, or me-"

"And you chose you. We all know what makes you tick by now, Katherine," cut off Sophia. The sick thing was, with her past life so meshed with the present, Sophia could remember very vividly how much she used to admire Katherine, and the shock she felt over her cold deception.

"You know, you were my… her closest friend. She didn't even have the chance to fully comprehend what you did before Trefor, of all people, killed her," continued Sophia, unable to help herself. It felt easier to acknowledge her past self as an entirely different person.

"It was Trevor who killed you?" asked Katherine, surprised by this information.

Sophia decided to stop talking. No good could come from sharing with Katherine.

They finally reached the cemetery by Sunrise. Katherine was distrustful of Anna's directions, but Jeremy was relatively confident as they navigated the cemetery. Katherine flipped the lid off of the stone coffin at the back of the cemetery's largest mausoleum.

They all saw as Mikael's eyes flashed open.

Sophia and Jeremy and made the trip back to Mystic Falls in surprisingly comfortable silence, given the events that led to this impromptu road trip. Sophia felt jittery on the way back home. Katherine had opted to stay in the cemetery, staying to find out a way to wake up Mikeal who closed his eyes within seconds of opening them and had yet to wake up again.

Sophia was taken aback at the anger seeing Mikael had inspired in her. Seeing him brought back echoes of resentment and indignation, but for the life of her, she couldn't guess why.

The good news, Sophia would learn when she returned home, was that just name dropping Mikael had gotten Klaus to leave. The bad news was that he and his undaggered sister terrorized her friends and then some during senior prank night, finding out in the process that Elena's blood was necessary to make his hybrids. If Damon hadn't shown up, Klaus would've skipped town with Elena.

Sophia stood in the bumbling and busy parking lot of her high school as fellow students gathered around for their first day back. She would never tell anyone, but Sophia lamented that Niklaus had been here, had walked these halls, had been so close by, and that she had not been here to see him herself. During the summer, only when her exhaustion overcame her and her defenses were down, did she allow herself to think of the sense of safety that she felt being in his arms. And then, when she came to her senses, she wanted to retch. She would remind herself that that same night, he had brutally killed Aunt Jenna, and if he had had his way, Elena would be dead now too. He had terrorized her classmates and was willing to barter Tyler's life. He continued to further traumatize Elena and undo a lifetime of Stefan's hard work, she had learned. Her stomach ached at the jumbled feelings she was experiencing. Other than inquiring where she was, Elena said that Klaus had not mentioned Sophia the rest of the night, and had issued a gag order on Rebekah when the blonde wanted to learn more about Sophia.

All in all, senior year was not turning out to be what she, Elena, and their friends had envisioned. Bonnie was struggling with the fact that Jeremy was able to talk to his ghostly ex-girlfriends, Caroline was stuck on what it meant for Tyler to be a hybrid, and Elena was wallowing on how it was her and Stefan's anniversary. Entering the school their first day as seniors was a somber affair.

Sophia's eyes widened as she caught sight of Stefan slamming Ric into nearby lockers. While she had heard from Elena of this new development, it was another thing to see it. Klaus had commanded Stefan to stay in town and watch over her sister, not wanting an important ingredient to make hybrids to meet an untimely death.

"Shit," muttered Sophia as she was suddenly pulled by the back of her shirt onto the street curve. She was in the school parking lot, and was just about to walk over to her car when someone else speeded up, nearly hitting her as they left the school parking lot.

Sophia whirled around to see who had rescued her.

"Than-" Sophia gaped at Stefan who was right behind her. She instinctively took a step back as he smiled at her.

He stepped closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"How bout' I walk you to your car?" he asked rhetorically as he began to strongarm her across the parking lot.

Sophia swallowed audibly as she tried to summon the courage to ask him what his problem was.

"So here's the deal. Elena isn't the only one I was told to watch over. For some reason or another, Klaus told me to make sure you are protected as well. I can already tell I'm going to have my hands full with Elena, so I'm gonna need you to be the vigilant Gilbert and make my job easier for me. And that means looking both ways before crossing the street," Stefan explained. His disposition was amiable, but the firm grip around her shoulders suggested otherwise.

He opened her door for her after they reached her car.

"Why did Klaus ask you to watch me? And why-"

"Eh, I'm going to stop you there, that information is above my paygrade. He also said he didn't want anyone else knowing about your guard detail, so let's keep it quiet," Stefan continued.

"Have a safe day, Sophie. Make sure Elena doesn't do anything stupid while you're at it," Stefan said as he began to walk away.

Sophia had told Elena she didn't feel up to attending the back-to-school Bonfire this year, and Elena was a little too okay with that given how much she was a stickler for tradition. And so, Sophia called Caroline who was all too happy that Elena had decided to loop Sophia into the plan to subdue Stefan and hadn't agreed with Elena's wishes to leave Sophie out of it.

Anger coiled in Sophia as she drove to the Bonfire, not even sure what she was going to say to Elena when she saw her.

As it turned out, it would be her sister who saw her first. Elena spotted her in no time, a scolding look in her eyes.

"What are you doing here? I thought you said you weren't coming," Elena whispered-yelled, chugging the rest of her beer.

"Are you drunk? Was that your brilliant plan to-" Sophia aggressively whispered back.

"Shh," Elena hissed, glancing to her right. Across from where they were, Stefan was standing with a blonde girl whose back was towards them.

"Just- Just go back home. Please. I promise I'll tell you everything after. And watch out for-" Elena glanced over Stefan's way again, then met her eyes and mouthed 'Rebekah'.

Sophia stared down Elena before finally nodding, hoping her sister knew what she was doing.

A classmate of Sophia's tried to offer her beer on her way back to the car, but Sophia shrugged them off. As much as she wanted to take Elena with her, or tell her off for keeping her in the dark, she made peace with the fact that she couldn't do either without raising Stefan's suspicions.

Sophia couldn't place her finger on why, but she was on edge as she spotted her car. She had been driving on autopilot earlier and had parked in one of the high school's more reclusive parking lots out of habit. Someone had decided to park right next to her in the almost completely empty parking lot, and she cursed herself for not parking closer to everyone else. It wasn't until she was closer to her car, planning to unlock it from the passenger side, that she saw a guy who had been camouflaged by the broken streetlight.

"Well well well, if it isn't Sophie Gilbert. I haven't seen you since I graduated," he called out.

Sophia glanced up at the familiar voice. She met the brown eyes of Evan Montgomery, a senior who she had made out with at the end of her freshman year. It had also been the first time she got drunk, so it ended with her puking on his shoes and Tyler, of all people, telling Evan to back off.

"Evan? Hi," Sophia greeted, her voice friendly as she gave him a small smile. Her stomach was churning. Her 14-year-old self had been happily bewildered that Evan focused his attention on her out of all the girls he could have picked, and the beer she had drunk had left her feeling pleasantly light-headed and giggly. How he had taken her away from the safety of her sister and friends hadn't registered at the time. Tyler was aware of some unpleasant truths about Evan from their time on the football team together, which is why he kept an eye on Sophia when Evan was cornering her. The thought of what could have happened that night left her seething once she had gotten over the shock of it all.

Don't make him angry, a voice told her.

"Hey man, who are you talking to?" called out Chase Montgomery, Evan's little brother who was Sophia's age. He walked out from behind a shadowed tree, zipping up his pants as he walked over.

"Too much beer," he nodded at Sophia, looking up and down at her. She was regretting staying in her skirt, and wished she had changed into something warmer before leaving the house.

"Didn't little Sophia Gilbert here grow up good," Evan said with a predatory look in his eyes. With her attention going back and forth between the two brothers, Sophia didn't notice that Evan had edged his way closer to her.

You should have walked away right when you saw him, why did you stay? Sophia asked herself.

"Weren't you just telling me how Sophie and her friends didn't give you the time of day, Chase?" Evan nodded at the teenager in question.

Sophia tensed and glanced around her in the hopes that there was someone who could help. The parking lot was completely empty other than them, and Sophia glanced nervously at her car. She still hasn't fished her keys out of her bag.

She vaguely remembered Chase trying to get an incoherent Caroline into his bedroom at a party over a year ago after she had played beer pong on an empty stomach. By this point, more often than not, Sophia was the self-appointed designated driver. Matt had taken up some of the slack at the time and kept eye on Elena at parties, while Sophia focused on her other friends.

"Stay away from me," Sophia bit out, her eyes darting around as she backed away. Chase had stationed himself a few feet behind her and kept her from making a clean escape. Before she knew it, Even was suddenly on her. He turned her so that she was facing Chase, and held her wrist together from behind. He reeked of alcohol.

"C'mon Chase-"

A surge of adrenaline coursed through her. Sophia whipped her head back, head butting Evan. She tried to stomp on his feet, but he gripped her wrist tighter with both hands.

"You little bitch-"

A rush of air and suddenly she was free.

"I want to say men were more gentlemanly back in my day, but to be honest, it's always been a bit of a toss-up," said a woman with a haughty, refined accent.

Sophia turned her head and saw a blonde woman who she recognized as Rebekah. Not quite the young girl she vaguely remembered from her dreams. She was older, now more polished and modern, but still the same girl.

She was holding Evan up above her head by the neck.

"You will make no sound," the blonde commanded. She placed Evan back on his feet and looked at him as though she were judge, jury, and executioner. Rebekah spared a glance towards a hapless Sophia, and when she turned back towards Evan, she swiftly broke his right wrist.

Evan's face twisted in pain, but he couldn't say a thing.

"This is the least you deserve. Never speak to this girl again. Don't even look at her. Never force yourself on another girl ever again," said Rebekah before she took measures to ensure that Evan wouldn't remember what happened this night before tossing him roughly to the floor.

Chase must've been frozen in shock because he hadn't moved a muscle. The blonde vampire was suddenly in front of him and compelled the same commands, before ordering him and his brother to get out of her sight, and to walk home.

"Sophia Gilbert, I hear you're called these days," said Rebekah, who was now right in front of Sophia.

"Would you mind-" Rebekah paused as she studied Sophia's face. Sophia's heart was beating fast and she couldn't do much more than stare with wide eyes at the familiar face.

"Never mind. I'll drive, you just get in the car. I assume the keys somewhere in here," said the blonde as she grabbed Sophia's bag and found the keys.

Rebekah looked at Sophia, empathy in her eyes, and she grabbed one of Sophia's hands.

Bold blue eyes met dark onyx as Rebekah said "You're safe now. Those vile boys will never dare harm another girl again."

Rebekah made small talk as she drove.

"I suppose your sister and friends have told you about me by now," she said, her upper lip curling up in distaste.

Sophia shook her head, trying to get a grip on herself before she continued talking.

"Thank you for your help. He- I-" Sophia gulped. The shape of a long-forgotten memory pulsed at the back of her mind.

None of that right now, another voice told her as her headache suddenly lightened.

"No thanks needed, that man was foul. I debated turning him into a late dinner then and there, but I thought it uncouth with you still there. Not to mention I would be stuck with the cleanup and..." Rebekah trailed off and rolled her eyes.

"If you prefer, I'm not averse to finding him again and killing him," the blonde suggested casually, glancing sideways at Sophia.

Sophia placed her head against the window, lowering it just a bit so she could feel the cool air.

She now heard laughter in her head and remembered being gifted a daisy-chained bracelet. An old dream came back into focus.

"See what you're doing Nik, you're making Sofija feel unwelcomed" an adolescent Rebekah had shamelessly accused her older brother.

"We used to play in these woods all the time, didn't we Bekah?" Sophia questioned without thinking, hypnotized by the trees they sped by.

Rebekah opened and closed her mouth a few times before settling on looking stunned.

In no time at all, Rebekah had driven them to an empty diner just outside of Mystic Falls and compelled the waitstaff to let no one else inside. She had insisted on Sophia placing an order, and so Sophia requested a strawberry milkshake and a plate of fries.

"You haven't a very refined palette, do you?" the vampire questioned as she sipped the complimentary coffee they were provided. She made a face as she placed it back down.

"Now, down to business. You remember me, don't you?" Rebekah's eyes flickered with deep-seated vulnerability before she fixed her face into something more neutral and unforgiving.

"You know what I am?" Sophia questioned.

"Yes, an ultimately unhelpful witch confirmed you're something known as an old soul. You're not a replica, but an original. Unlike your trashy sister," the vampire confirmed, her eyes narrowed as she referenced Elena.

Sophia felt stuck and she didn't know how much to reveal. But it was Rebakah, and we haven't seen her in so long, the voice in her said.

Sophia was surprised at how conspicuous the other parts of her were willing to be, how willing they were to trust this particular Mikaelson. It was not unlike how she felt about Elena or her friends. Not even Niklaus had inspired this much transparency from her. Then again, his introduction in this life had included him killing someone beloved before her eyes, whereas Rebekah inspired somewhat more confidence for a potential friendship.

"I don't remember much about the life where I knew you. Just snippets. I know we were friends, and that I had a rather pathetic crush on your older brother. You know, the one who killed my aunt and wants my sister oncall as a blood donor," Sophia commented dryly.

At that moment, the waitress had placed her milkshake and fries on the table. Not able to help herself, Sophia began to eat the fries, her stomach letting out an embarrassing groan.

Sophia glanced up at Rebekah again.

"Care to fill in the blanks?" questioned Sophia.

"Not particularly. Do you know how many lives you lived?" Rebekah wondered.

"No. Meeting Katerina triggered… whispers… of my life with her. But I needed magical assistance from a witch to learn all of my memories from that life. It wasn't until after I officially met Ni… Klaus, that I began to recall the life where I first met him. And you, for that matter. The memories come to me in dreams. I usually don't remember them and it wasn't until I saw you again that a speck of memory came back clearly," Sophia shared.

Someone in her was very fond of the original vampire, despite how clearly Rebekah disliked Elena. And yet, it was difficult for Sophia not to overshare with the person who saved her.

"Well, this has been enlightening. You clearly know more than Nik thought," said Rebekah, taking a fry for herself and made an approving face as she ate it.

Sophia stiffened at the mention of Klaus, and Rebekah raised an eyebrow.

"Did you know that your brother ordered Stefan to protect me? And why?" Sophia questioned.

"Some protector he is," Rebekah scoffed, "But yes, I did know. Nik says he thinks it's suspicious how you're reborn alongside the doppelganger in every life thus far, but-" Rebekah tilted her head and examined Sophia once again.

"I know better," the blonde huffed.

Rebekah dropped off Sophia at home soon after dinner, the car ride home filled compatible silence.

Rebekah's questioning looks kept Sophia from walking up to her front door right away once she got home.

"Nik had Stefan teach me the finer points of how to use a cell phone, I believe they're called?" Rebekah said as she pulled her's out, focusing on it instead of meeting Sophia's eyes. The best one on the market, Sophia noticed.

On anyone else, the back and forth between being a homicidal apex predator and a vulnerable teenage girl would have been a cause for disconcert, but on Rebekah, Sophia found it weirdly endearing.

Sophia let the silence extend for a couple of extra seconds before she made her decision.

"We should exchange numbers," Sophia offered in what she hoped was an offhand manner.

"I don't… I don't know my number," Rebekah said in a low voice to herself, looking at her phone contemplatively

"May I?" Sophia asked as she held her hand out. After Rebekah placed the phone in Sophia's palm, Sophia put in her contact information and sent herself a text message. As she did, she couldn't help but notice Stefan and Nik were the female vampire's only other regular contacts.

Sophia quickly gave Rebekah her cell phone back before she could let herself dwell on what she had just done. She pulled her cell phone out and sent a text to her new contact.

Thank you.

Rebekah's lips quirked into a hint of a smile as she wished Sophia a good night.

Elena was still awake when Sophia walked into their room that night, in shock over nearly being set on fire by Vicki. She commiserated with her sister over how the plan to detox Stefan had once again failed. To give Elena credit, it almost could have worked had Vicky not gained corporal form and attempted to kill Elena. And as if they didn't have enough to worry about, someone on the other side had put Vicki up to it. If you counted the faulty advice given to Klaus via Bonnie on senior night, this was their second failed attempt on killing Elena.

Sophia stood in the town square with her siblings at yet another town festival to support Ric, whose boss was presenting for the Night of Illumination.

This town is ridiculous, thought Sophia, whose head was pounding with the beginnings of a major migraine. She thought she had managed to overcome the worst of them over the summer when she finally learned to meditate regularly, but a certain blonde original vampire had them acting up again.

Sophia stood away from them, leaning against a tree as she massaged the sides of her forehead. She squinted up ahead as she observed her brother. It looked as though Jeremy had made a grab for thin air with his hand.

Soon after the beginning ceremony, Sophia joined Ric, Jeremy, and Elena for a late lunch at their favorite cafe. Elena was fixated on some way to get in touch with Lexie, an old friend of Stefan's who Damon had killed. She wanted to use Jeremy to get in touch, but he was in the same boat as Sophia, who had never met her.

Elena had made it known to Jeremy that she was not a fan of him being in contact with Anna. On one hand, Sophia saw her point and could only imagine how much this whole thing was hurting Bonnie. And yet, she remembered close Jeremy had been to Anna, and how much her death had affected him. Now, he had the ability to speak to her.

Perhaps it wasn't the same situation, but what she would give to talk to Aunt Jenna again.

After Jeremy left to go use the bathroom, Stefan stopped by and took his seat. Sophia didn't have it in her to stomach his presence, so she excused herself to go home, saying she would meet up with them later.

"You're looking a little pale there Sophie, are you sure you should be walking home by yourself? Your sister, not so great with the looking of both ways when she crosses the street," said Stefan leaning back in his chair, smiling at Elena.

Sophia took in a deep breath.

"Ignore him, I'll be fine," she said, holding eye contact with Elena and Ric after they looked noticeably worried by Stefan's observations.

As Sophia walked away, she looked through her phone quickly, her eyes zeroing in on Rebekah's number. Since the night Rebekah had saved her, neither of the girls had reached out to each other. Sophia was sorely tempted to, but she refrained. With tensions rising, she felt lucky that none of her friends and family held it against her that she had known the original family however many centuries ago. With Katherine gone, Damon was the only to bring up the possibility of Sophia taking another dose of the memory potion so could relive another life. Fortunately for Sophia, her siblings and Bonnie were adamant it was not an option, and Caroline supported whatever Sophia felt was best. With everything going on, Sopha didn't think pursuing a friendship with Rebekah was the best option.

Under the misguided notion that fresh air and forestry scenery would clear her head, Sophia found herself with an increasingly pounding headache in the middle of the woods with a nearly dead phone battery.

"Christ," she murmured, holding a hand to her head as she wondered if the situation warranted reaching out to someone for help or if she could pull herself together long enough to get home. Her head became increasingly light headed, and her vision began clouding with dark dots.

Then there was a flash of black out of the corner of her eye. When she turned her head in it's direction, she saw something running through the trees. A… wolf? It was zipping through the trees too quick for her to get a better look. She experienced whiplash in an attempt to track the animal with her eyes. If she didn't know any better, she would have thought it was encircling her. Peaking through the trees, simultaneously too far and too close for comfort, were glowing eyes.

Everything had happened so fast, and the last thing Sopha saw before she collapsed were those yellow eyes.

"Wake up Sophia," an eerily familiar voice cajoled.

Sophia took her time waking up. She was way over this fainting in the middle of the forest bit, especially when there was no one around to catch her.

Don't think about that.

"I know you're awake," the distinctly female voice said, her tone patient.

The voice sounded like… but no, that wasn't possible.

Biting the bullet, Sophia opened her eyes and sat up slowly, and came face to face… with herself.

Sophia stilled as she saw a near mirror image of herself sitting with crossed legs against a tree a few feet away from her.

Her other self appeared to be the same age as her, and was dressed in a modest oat colored dress that went down to her ankles. Her dark hair curled in distinct waves that Sophia had long ago lost to heat damage, and Sophia was taken aback at how much younger her doppelganger looked without a stitch of makeup. Despite how sweet Sophia knew her face and demeanor came across to others, there was something... wild…. lurking underneath the surface of this other her that Sophia Gilbert herself did not possess.

"How… Who-" Sophia babbled, before stopping herself. It was Sofija she was seeing and talking to, she somehow intrinsically knew.

"I am you and you are me," Sofija stated matter of factly, her eyes impassive.

"There was a wolf," Sophia muttered to herself as she looked around once again.

"Come, we do not have much time," Sofija asserted as she stood up, looking at Sophia expectedly before walking further into the trees.

Sophia scrambled to stand up, stumbling in the process. She continued to cautiously look out for the wolf while catching up to Sofija's brisk pace.

"Stop! How is this happening? Why are you here?" Sophia demanded. Was she dreaming?

"From what I gather, the barrier between your plane and spirit plane has fallen, allowing me to talk to you," Sofija shared.

Sophia thought of all the weirdness the ghost drama had brought to Mystic Falls.

"But we are- we should be the same person. How is this possible?" Sophia asked.

"Your death was a traumatic event on this land. Magical blood was spilled. Sacred blood that consecrated these grounds," Sofija said, her back to Sophia, "It is true that palia psyches are not meant to know what has occured in their other lives, and for good reason. But that blood was our blood. And her blood. It calls out to us, and it is why the barriers between our lives have been weakened. I am an old memory, more than anything else. Given how you died here, and Esther imposing her wretched ways once again, it is truly important that you stop forsaking your past so old mistakes are not repeated," Sofijja finished strongly.

Sofija took deep breaths as she finished talking, and Sophia could see the rise and fall of her shoulders. Sophia turned the words over her head, and internal alarm bells went off. What was Sofija alluding to?

Sophia's mind was having a difficult time processing this information, and she appreciated Bonnie all the more for constantly having to deal with her spiritual ancestors. "Our blood and her blood. Do you mean Esther? Who is she? I don't even know where to begin on the whole consecrated thing and how this magical blood affects my memory. Are you the voice in my head?"

"No, not Esther's blood. Unfortunately. You'll find out in due time who she is, I should think she'll make herself known soon enough. And yes, I am an echo of a past life. The fallen barrier has allowed me to speak more plainly with you," Sofija answered.

So Sophia was, indeed, talking to herself. And she was annoyingly cryptic.

"You're very resistant to learning about your past, and I understand much of that has to do with-"

"Has to do with how, in the past, I had terrible taste in guys. I assume you're the one to blame for my fucked up crush on Klaus! And where did the damn wolf go!" Now Sophia was breathing hard, staring accusingly at Sofija, whose expression softened.

"I'll admit, he's not the same man he was. That was to be expected. But I am his and he is mine. That hasn't changed, even after all this time," Sofija said with finality, before resuming her walk.

What a load of bull, Sophia thought as she followed Sofija against her better judgement.

In all the chaos, Sophia noticed way later than she should have that they were on the Lockwood property. At the edge of the property, a hole was crudely dug above hollow ground.

"Long ago, wolves ran freely throughout this land. It was their home," Sofija said as she nodded for Sophia to go into the hole.

"You're kidding me," Sophia retorted, distracted from the situation at hand to further question Sofija on her werewolves comment. Sofija looked amused as she jumped into the whole, which admittedly did not look as deep as Sophia initially thought it was. While the darkness obscured her vision some, Sophia couldn't help but notice how gracefully Sophia landed, and felt performance anxiety.

In for a penny, in for a pound, Sophia thought as she jumped in. As predicted, her landing was less than graceful, but Sofjia was quick to steady her.

Underneath the Lockwood estate were caverns, and Sophia couldn't begin to guess how far they went.

"These caves used to protect the villagers when the wolves transformed under the full moon. This way," Sofija said, gesturing straight ahead.

Sophia was tempted to drag her hand along the cave wall for some sort of guidance, but she was scared of what her hands might touch.

Roughly 2o minutes later, by Sophia's estimate, they came to their destination.

The cavern had widened, and Sophia struggled to see what Sofija was gesturing at in the darkness.

Sophia could barely make out the cave drawings that were on the wall, and she opened her mouth to ask Sofija what they meant, when she felt Sofija grab her hand. Right before her eyes, some of the drawing suddenly had meaning.

"Remember that these don't tell the whole story, and are only a start," said Sofija, as her eyebrows furrowed, and she turned her head to the left. She reminded Sophia of her old cat who picked up and heard things before she or Elena did.

"I have so many questions," said Sophia with urgency, feeling their time was coming to an end.

Sofija smiled sadly.

"Nik was my family once, and you only have an idea of how much I have missed him. Rebekah as well. If nothing else, acknowledge that much," requested Sofija.

Sophia collapsed onto her knees as she felt a blinding headache overcome her. Sofija was gone.

"God, this is not happening," said a man's voice.

"What now?" another asked. Both sounded vaguely familiar.

"I can't get through. It's like I'm not. invited in. Wait," the first man demanded. Damon? Sophia wondered.

"I'm not stopping just cause you're stuck," the other said, "I'll let you know what I find. Looks like you're gonna have to trust me."

"Mason?" Sophia gasped, looking up as Jenna's old friend walked into the expanded cavern. Hadn't Damon killed him?

"Sophia?" he asked, equally surprised to see her.

"Sophia?!" Damon asked incredulously, then going on to say "You know what, I don't even care right now. What'd you find?"

Mason switched his lantern to his other hand before holding it out to Sophia to help her up. Once she was on her feet, he rolled his eyes in Damon's direction and smiled apologetically at her, and almost immediately, Sophia felt at ease in his presence. She smiled wanly in return, her vision still spotty.

He has that effect on people, she could almost hear Aunt Jenna say.

"I'm sorry for your loss. Jenna was the last person who deserved to get caught up in all this, much less how that bastard went about killing her," said Mason with quiet indignation.

He continued walking forward and held the much needed light up to the cave wall.

"It's in," Mason began, when he disappeared before Sophia's eyes, as Sofija had before him. His lantern crashed onto the floor, the glass shattering.

"No, no, no, no, no," Damon quietly muttered.

"Mason! Mason! Sophia, where'd he go? What's over there?" Damon urged.

Sophia took a breath, before walking in the direction Mason had come in through, where she had heard Damon call out from.

Sophia sat in the Lockwood cellar with Damon, massaging her head as the last of her headache subsided while he stared off into the abyss.

"You're here. It's about time," Damon stated as they heard footsteps entering the cellar.

"You didn't have anyone else to ca- Sophie?" Ric asked as he spotted her

"Found her in the caves. She was having another episode," Damon held his index finger horizontally towards his temple and twirled it, making a 'she's crazy' gesture.

"As always, Sophie here wasn't much help, and she's been very vague on how she got here in the first place. I'll leave the parenting to you," Damon continued.

Sophia had been on the verge of blacking out earlier, and he took pity on her and helped her up to the cellar. She shared that she thought she saw cave drawings down there, but Damon insisted on a second opinion on what she thought she had seen. She figured Damon wanted an excuse to reach out to Ric, who had been giving the ice-blue eyed vampire the cold shoulder ever since the neck snapping incident.

Damon made a lame apology to Ric, and the pair made amends, their bromance overcoming Damon's homicidal tendencies once again.

"How did you find that cave Sophia?" Ric asked on the drive back home, while Damon drove separately in his own car.

"Like Damon did. A ghost led me there. I think she was a werewolf who was killed by Klaus. She didn't give me much of a choice in the matter, and my phone died before I could read everyone's warning about the ghosts," Sophia said, the lie coming to her as she said it.

Ric seemed to buy it.

Exhaustion overcame Sophia as she stumbled into bed that night, still stunned by the day's event, and not completely sure they actually happened. Flashes of the day ran through her head, keeping her from falling asleep. The name Esther was at the forefront of her mind, and well as dwelling on how she once died here. Then there was how Sofija considered Niklaus' family to think about, which Sophia tried not to. She eventually succumbed to sleep, and the voices in her head stayed mercifully quiet.

The next day, Ric set out to work photographing the cave and developing the pictures while Sophia was caught up on the hijinks that ensued the day before. Jeremy was caught between a rock and a hard place, and had shared with Sophia how he seriously considered pursuing a relationship with Anna despite the obvious barrier separating them, and how much he hurt Bonnie at the end of it all. Sophia empathized as best she could with him, but she could see how what happened would be hard for his relationship with Bonnie to recover from.

On a slightly brighter note, with the help of Lexi, Elena had finally checked Stefan into vampire rehab, and he was currently imprisoned on Lockwood property.

The following morning Sophia tagged along with Elena, who wanted to stop by Ric's apartment. He had figured it was a safe enough place to set up the pictures he took of all cave drawings. Elena had visited him yesterday, and they had begun the process of decoding everything. Sophia had to stop herself from clarifying some of the drawings and from interpreting the ones they had trouble with, since the drawings had become significantly easier for her to read. Since Ric had managed to interpret most of them by himself, she didn't feel the need to reveal herself as a translator.

It was after school that day that Elena told her of her plan to go straight to the source, and get Rebekah to tell her how her family became vampires.

Sophia felt uneasy at the idea of Elena trying Rebekah's patience in this way, but Elena felt it was the best option. The whole 'killing Klaus' business made her feel nauseous if she thought about it too hard, and so she chose to focus on how he wanted to use her sister as his personal blood bag.

She almost called Hannah a dozen times that day, wanting to tell her of her discussion with her past self, but she already knew who Hannah would side with. Sophia was scared of what she would find out if she chose to relive another life.

The bottom line was that Klaus had to go. What happened between them was better left buried.

You're forgetting about Esther, the voice in her warned.

I can't deal with that now, Sophia thought. One thing at a time.

Sophia busied herself with college applications for the rest of the day, wanting a break from everything supernatural, as laughable as the thought of ever leaving Mystic Falls was at this point.

Elena arrived home late in the evening, more somber than triumphant. She recounted to Sophia what she had learned from Rebekah, as well as how it would not have been worth it for Sophia to relive that life. Elena said that all Rebekah had to say about Sofija was that she was a close family friend who distanced herself from the original family when they were turned into vampires, and had died young of some sort of malady that was going around back then.

Sophia knew this couldn't be the whole truth, but figured Rebekah must have been convincing enough when telling Elena this since her sister didn't seem keen on questioning the vampire's story.

Elena also learned the how and the why of the creation of the vampire species, which was protection against the werewolves.

These caves used to protect the villagers when the werewolves turned on the full moon, a voice echoed in her head.

Sophia waited for a mention of an Esther, and her silent question was answered. Esther was the original witch, Rebekah and Klaus's mother. Before Sophia had a chance to process what that meant, Elena told her how she learned it was actually Klaus who killed his own mother, and not Mikael like Rebekah was led to believe. Rebekah had been distraught at this uncovered information.

Many mixed feelings rose up in Sophia at this information, but they were drowned out by concern for an old friend.

Go to Rebekah, Sofija pleaded.

"I have to go," said Sophia, acting on instinct.

As she drove to the Salvatore house, Sophia honestly couldn't recall what she had said to Elena as an excuse for leaving.

It was easy to let herself in since the door was unlocked. Rebekah was crouched by the fireplace, fresh sobs causing her body to shake.

"Leave, Sophia," the blonde commanded, but there was no bite to her voice.

Sophia landed on her knees in front of her, waiting until Rebekah met her eyes before pulling her in for a hug.

"I'm so sorry Bekah," Sophia murmured, holding Rebekah tight.

The original vampire had stiffened up at first, before sinking into Sophia's embrace.

"Did you tell Elena the truth of who I was to your family?" Sophia asked hesitantly.

"Yes and no. You were much more than a family friend," Rebekah answered as she took a shot of whiskey before handing the bottle to Sophia. Both Salvatore brother's were curiously absent, and the two girls now sat on the couch after raiding the liquor cabinet.

Rebekah turned to meet Sophia's eyes.

"At first I wasn't meant to tell you of your past life because Nik made me promise. I will tell you if you truly want me to, but for your own peace of mind, you shouldn't ask."

Rebekah's eyes were inscrutable.

Sophia wanted to stay away from the homecoming dance. She had a feeling it was Sofija who was raging hell in her head with thumping heachaches and the same dreams she had had earlier in the summer. She felt dread at the thought of the plan to lure Klaus to his death.

She, likewise, originally planned on staying far and away from the Salvatore boarding house, wanting to avoid Mikael, a key factor in Klaus's death.

And then she received a phone call from Rebekah.

"I need a second opinion on my dress," the blonde requested.

"I thought Elena already helped you with that," Sophia said, eyeing the joint she rolled not 5 minutes earlier, courtesy of Jeremy.

"Please," Rebekah scoffed,"someone with taste."

"I'm not exactly a trendsetter, Bekah," Sophia argued.

It was purely thanks to Caroline that Sophia bothered to shop for clothes at all this year. The style cognizant blonde had replaced quite a few of Sophia's jeans with flared skirts and tights in an effort to differentiate her style from Elena's.

"You dress…cute. Perhaps a bit common, but we'll fix that in no time," Rebekah insisted.

A laugh bursted out of Sophia at Rebekah's reasoning, and suddenly her head felt lighter.

Alright, Sophia thought, I can take a hint.

"I'll be right there," Sophia agreed.

"Sofija Dahlgaard," said a man who sounded taken aback.

Sophia froze in the doorway at the sight of Mikael.

The amount of anger that filled her body was startling.

"Leave her alone, father. She's here to see me," said Rebekah, already dressed for homecoming. Rebekah grabbed her by the hand and pulled her upstairs and into her bedroom.

"My last name was Dahlgaard back then, huh," said Sophia. She felt wrecked. This was all wrong. That man should be nowhere near Niklaus.

When Sophia met Rebekah's curious eyes again, it offset a panic attack. Her heart was thrumming, and it felt difficult to get a proper breath in.

"I can't- we cant-" Sophia gasped.

"Shh," Rebekah said softly, covering Sophia's mouth with her hand. Rebekah side eyed the door warningly. This house was filled with vampires who could hear Sophia's doubts.

"Have you had any more memories?" the vampire asked.

"No, nothing beyond what I've told you. I don't know why I feel like this," Sophia said in a bleak whisper.

Nik was my family once, Sofija reminded her.

"I think I do," said Rebekah, her eyes filled with pity, "Maybe if we had… if he had found you sooner, things would be different. But trust me when I say you're better off without Niklaus, Sophia. He's caused you and your family nothing but grief in this life. He is not worthy of whatever second thoughts you find yourself having about him."

Sopha had the feeling Rebekah's words weren't just for her.

They sat on the bed in silence.

"I've noticed you've been warming up Elena," Sophia said.

Rebekah rolled her eyes. "I suppose she's not as awful as her predecessor. And she did help me pick out this dress."

"You look beautiful."

Rebekah smiled.

"I know. I admit, I was going to tempt you into going to the dance with me, but it may be for the best that you stay behind," Rebekah said, looking at her worriedly.

Sophia let out a breath and pulled a bottle of pills out of her bag, rattling it side to side.

"I think it may be best I spend the entire event asleep."

Rebekah walked Sophia to the door and hugged her as she said goodbye. Rebekah moved to break the embrace but Sophia held her close for a few extra seconds before letting go.

Sophia took note of the anguish in the fair haired vampire's eyes.

"Are you sure you're okay with- with everything that's going on, Bekah?"

Sophia immediately felt like trash. Of course Rebekah wasn't okay. Sure, Sophia may have known Klaus once upon a time a thousand years ago, but it was Rebekah who had actually been at her brother's side all that time. Or, for most of that time.

Rebekah hardened her eyes, and she smiled at Sophia. It did not feel genuine.

"I just want to enjoy my first high school dance and…" Rebekah trailed off.

"I'll be here first thing tomorrow to take you to the Grill and you can tell me everything about the dance," Sophia smiled, "It's tradition."

Sophia had began the drive back to her house when she received a call from Elena halfway through, asking her to come back.

Sophia re-entered the Salvatore house just as Damon walked down the stairs, carrying a tarp-covered body. Sophia thought she spotted locks of white blonde hair.

"Did you dagger Rebekah?" Sophia accused Damon, her hands tightening to fist.

"And kill myself in the process?" Damon scoffed.

"It was me, Sophie. I didn't want to risk any loose ends," said Elena, coming up behind Damon.

Sophia's conversation with Rebekah flashed in her mind. Her own anxiety and doubts over killing Klaus.

"She was the one who lured him here to his death. You wouldn't have gotten as far as you did without her," exclaimed Sophia as she stalked closer to Elena.

"I know Sophie," Elena said, looking at her wide eyes, " I didn't enjoy it, but it had to be done."

"What with the sudden loyalty to original Barbie, Soph," said Damon, eyeing her suspiciously.

"Rebekah saved Sophia from- she saved her, Damon," said Elena, looking at him warningly.

Elena turned back to her, and Sophia could see the guilt plain on her sister's face.

"I know you've become… friendly with her, Sophie. But can't you see where I was coming from. We're planning to kill her brother. There was every possibility she would have doubts," Elena pleaded, wanting her to understand.

Sophia shut her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Why did you want me to come back?" she asked, eyes still closed.

Elena wanted her to come back for moral support. All of their friends, and the Salvatore's, were going to be in close proximity to Klaus. Damon talked Elena into sitting out the makeshift homecoming in favor of replacing her with Katherine. Not wanting to be alone in the huge boarding house, Elena wanted Sophie there. As much as Sophia wanted to be snide and petty with her sister out of old loyalty to Rebekah, she swallowed her anger.

Since it looked like sleeping the night away, or smoking a joint, were no longer options in Elena's presence, Sophia settled for raiding the Salvatore's liquor cabinet once again. Soon, Sophia was lulled to sleep on the couch by the fireplace, where she felt Elena place a blanket on her.

Flashes of firelight and the smell of smoke and charred meat overwhelmed the air. Even with the village alight, the night sky shone with an abundance of stars that Sophia Gilbert would not have the pleasure of looking upon when it was her time.

"Don't you want to dance with me Sofija?" His voice was daring.

"Oh, I suppose you'll do." Her heart nearly beat out of her chest.

Sophia awoke to the sound of glass shattering against a wall, embers of her dream still with her.

"What-" Sophia called out, when she met Elena's eyes. Her sister looked over her shoulder at Sophia, her face bewildered. Standing a few feet in front of Elena, downing bourbon, was a defeated Damon.

Elena turned back towards Damon.

"How did this happen?" Her sister asked.

"We thought of everything, Elena. Klaus having hybrids. Mikael turning on us. We brought in Katherine so you weren't in danger. Anything that could have gone wrong, we were prepared," Damon said angrily.

Her ears ringing, Sophia listened on in shock as Elena questioned Stefan's motivation for saving Klaus from Mikael and Katherines's whereabouts.

Damon was a man on the verge. Sophia watched with trepidation as Elena cupped his face and told him everything would be alright, and how they would have to let go of Stefan for now.

Sophia remained still, staring at the broken glass. She didn't know what she felt.

The tension was cut by a phone call from Katherine and Elena turned back to her with shock on her face, as if she forgot Sophia was there. Sophia raised an eyebrow at Elena, who shook her head.

Sophia and Elena returned home that night, both numb. Even with her mixed feelings towards Niklaus, Sophia was overcome with worry of what was going to happen next. It seemed to shut out the voices for the being. Or so she thought, as she went to sleep.

It was Samhain, and Sofija was helping Rebekah and her mother clear up some of the mess made by the other villagers.

The normally dark village was lit up due to the large bonfire in the middle of the village. The smell of smoke and charred meat filled the air.

"Go on girls and enjoy the festivities, I can take care of everything from here," said Esther.

"Yes mother, come along Sofija," said Rebekah, pulling away Sofija before she could object.

"There's still such a mess," protested the dark haired girl.

"Oh will you just put on your mask and dance with me," demanded the blonde, pulling Sofija into the crowd of villagers.

Rebekah was in a pale dress that matched her hair, and her blue eyes were offset by her dark, ebony mask. Sofija's own dress was a bright yellow, and her mask was accented by the complimenting, fallen leaves.

Sofija laughed at the silly faces her friend was making and gave in, swaying and twirling with her to the music.

"Ugh," moaned Rebekah.

Sofija turned her head to see what had put off the blonde.

"No, don't look," protested Rebekah, but it was too late. Sofija turned just in time to catch Niklaus pressing an unwavering kiss on Tatia's lips.

"Poor Elijah," murmured the blonde, and Sofija gazed just beyond the young couple to see a figure who must have been Elijah, storming away from the crowd and excitement.

"She's so awful,"

"She's actually rather kind," counteracted Sofija, who tried and generally succeeded at keeping her envy of the doe eyed brunette at bay.

"If she was so kind, she would favor one brother," sniffed Rebekah, looking contemptuously at her older brother who had followed his dance partner away from the crowd.

"They both must really like her, to openly court a widow with a babe," said Sofija.

"Nearly every man in the village is willing to overlook her babe in favor of her other charms," frowned Bekah.

"I thought you pulled me away to dance, not to talk about Tatia," Sofija said in an effort to change the conversation. She grabbed her friend's hands and they began to dance again, the blonde laughing with Sofija.

"Bekah, mother needs your help prepping the herbs," said Nik, who was suddenly behind the brunette.

Sofija widened her eyes at her friend, who looked at her with a smirk.

"I'll go help you," offered Sofija, making desperate eye contact with Rebekah.

"No, it shouldn't take too long. Nik, please keep Sofija company until I return," asked Rebekah, who then began to make her way back to her mother.

Niklaus grabbed her hand and twirled her around before beginning to dance with her.

"Don't you want to dance with me, Sofija?" pouted the young man playfully as he lifted his mask off his face.

His eyes, a deep cobalt blue, reflected the flames from the fire.

"Oh, I suppose you'll do," said Sofija drolly, hoping her blush wasn't too present in the firelight.

"You know, there was a time where you preferred me to my little sister, what happened?"

Sofija opened her mouth and found herself asking, "Where's Tatia? I saw you dancing with her earlier."

"She left to go check on her babe. You haven't answered my question," said Niklaus pointedly.

"I don't favor Bekah," said Sofija, not able to meet his eyes. She heard him scoff.

She was forced to meet his gaze when Niklaus gripped her waist and pulled her in so close, their noses were nearly touching. Then he lifted her into the air as he spun her.

Sofija laughed as he placed her back down, placing her hands on his shoulders to steady herself.

Sofija's face ached at the force of her smile, and she felt invigorated under Niklaus's focused stare.

Then exchanged matching grins as they continued to dance, when Sofija caught sight of Tatia walking and conversing with Elijah.

Reminded of where Niklaus' affection truly lied, she felt foolish and broke away from him.

"I think I should go find Bekah," she said as Niklaus looked at her with confusion.

Sophia blinked slowly as she woke up. As she got ready for the day, she waited for her dream to fade away as they always did. This time, it didn't.

A/N: So, the concept of the "law of surprise" was borrowed from the Netflix series, The Witcher. I haven't had the chance to check out the books, so all my knowledge of the law of surprise came from the TV show, and I also used direct quotes from the Wiki page.

Some of the italicized dialogue was straight from show's episode (s).

Once again, thank you to those who followed/ favorited the story and to those who left reviews, I appreciated how thoughtful they were and I am trying to incorporate your advice. I had some technical issues with Grammerly, but I am working on it.