Reborn Life

Elena was extremely nervous as she was ushered into a room in the Mikaelson mansion to meet with Esther. She had absolutely no idea what the mother of vampirism would have to say to her, but it definitely worried her. However, if there was any chance that this woman could help with the problem of Klaus, she had to risk it, which was why she had Stefan deal with Damon, so that he couldn't stop her.

Esther had started off by telling Elena how she was able to come back from the dead with Bonnie's and her mother's help. She then told her it was possible for her to stop her children, which initially led Elena to believe that Esther was going to help them get rid of Klaus, however, the witches' next words proved otherwise.

"I'm certain the Bennett ancestors allowed me to come back because they believed I would end my children once and for all. They were wrong," Esther said.

"They were? But you just said…"

"That there was a way to stop what I created, and there is, however, I'm not going to use it. At least not yet. I believe there is another way to reign my children in, especially Niklaus," Esther said.

"How? And what does it have to do with me?" Elena asked.

"Oh, everything, my dear. You are the key. I told my children that I intend to reunite our family, and I do. That would be impossible without you," she said.

"Me? I don't understand," Elena said.

"You know of Niklaus' origins, yes?" Esther asked.

Elena nodded. "Elijah told me that he was the result of your affair with a werewolf. He said you cursed him after Mikael found out. That's why he needed me."

"I never intended for it to be you. I guess that was nature's way of punishing me yet again," Esther said.

"What?" Elena asked in confusion.

"I'm getting off track. I apologize. I have much to apologize to you for, given the burden you've been forced to bear and the one you will continue to bear. I don't suppose any of the others told you the story of my youngest child?" Esther asked.

"Yeah, Rebekah did. She said that your son was killed by a werewolf. That's why you decided to turn your kids into vampires," Elena said.

"Ah, yes, my sweet Henrik. What happened to him was truly awful, but I wasn't talking about him. Shortly after his death, I gave birth to one last child. I had a daughter. Mikael turned his rage on her mere days after her birth," Esther said.

Elena felt sick. She'd always known Mikael was a horrible person. Despite her feelings about Klaus, he didn't deserve the brutality that his own father inflicted on him just because he wasn't his biological son. But the idea of someone harming a defenseless newborn made him even more despicable. "Why? Why would he hurt his own baby?"

"Because she wasn't his. I'm afraid I don't always learn from my mistakes. See, I didn't become pregnant until after I performed the immortality spell," Esther said.

"That's how he knew it wasn't his child. Vampires can't have children because they're technically dead," Elena realized.

Esther gave the girl an impressed smile. "You are a very smart girl, Elena, though I would expect no less. Yes, that's how Mikael knew, and his anger over Niklaus was still very raw. I barely managed to keep him from killing him. When my daughter was born, I had no chance of it. He smothered her almost to death before I got there. When I got to her, there was barely any life left in her. Even if I could save her then, I knew Mikael would only do it again, so I cast a spell to allow her spirit to be reborn into another."

"Like reincarnation?" Elena asked.

"Sort of, but that's not entirely accurate. The spell put her spirit into the body of a living child. Her spirit took over the body while the other child's would be forced out," Esther explained.

"It killed the other child?" Elena asked in horror.

"Unfortunately, yes. I didn't imagine that that would be the outcome, but I also have no regrets, other than where my daughter ended up. I could not regret saving her life and getting the chance to have her back," Esther told her.

"I still don't understand what any of this has to do with me. Why are you telling me this?" Elena asked.

Esther smiled and took the young girl's hand. "Because, my dear Elena, it was the body of a Petrova doppelganger that my daughter was reborn into. I should've expected it. It would need to be a strong vessel for it to work.

Esther's words slowly started to register into Elena's brain. She realized that Esther had been speaking of her this whole time. She was the child that had been killed and reborn into another. But, no, it wasn't possible. That couldn't be possible. None of this was possible. "No."

"Try to remain calm, my dear," Esther said.

Elena yanked her hand free from the woman's grasp and scrambled to her feet. "No! This is crazy. You're freaking insane!"

"I will forgive that, as I know you're upset, but please watch how you speak," Esther said in a firm tone as she advanced on her a bit.

"Stay away from me!" Elena yelled before running for the door.

"Finn!" Esther called out to her eldest son, who was stationed right outside the door.

As soon as Elena got the door open, Finn grabbed her and trapped her in his arms. He then kicked the door closed behind him. "Shh. It's alright.

Elena tried to break free from Finn's arms, but they were like steel. She could barely struggle at all. "Let me go!"

Esther sighed as she stepped towards her children. "I'm afraid I foresaw this reaction. It's natural for you to be upset and to not want to believe it. So, Finn is going to take you to your room for the night. You'll find a change of clothes there. You can sleep and think of all that I've said. We'll speak again in the morning when you're able to think more calmly, and you can meet your siblings properly."

Elena's eyes widened in terror at her words. She intended to keep her prisoner here, in a house with her insane self and her homicidal children. No, she had to get out of there. She immediately renewed her useless struggles. "No! You can't keep me here! Let me go! Someone help me!"

Esther gently took her by the chin. "Shh. Shh. Listen to me carefully. No one can hear you right now because of the sage. Once Finn takes you from this room, every vampire in the house will hear you, including the two gentlemen you brought with you tonight. They are young and volatile and will attempt to interfere. Now, I have no desire to hurt them, but should they involve themselves into our family affairs, I will have no choice. Do you understand?"

Elena nodded after a minute. She understood perfectly well. She was being threatened. Either she behaved, or her friends would pay the price.

"That's my good girl. So, you are going to go quietly with Finn, and your friends will be told that you left the ball on your own accord," Esther said.

"They won't believe that," Elena said.

"It won't matter. They can't fight us. Now, as long as you do as you're told, no one will be hurt. Do we have a deal?" Esther asked.

"Yes," Elena said quietly. He didn't want to. She was terrified about what was going to happen to her in this house, but she didn't have any other option. She knew that fighting could very well cost Stefan and Damon their lives.

Esther nodded to Finn for him to take Elena away.

"Come," Finn said before pulling the young woman with him out of the room.