Kol had found her on her way to the compound and escorted her there like she was a child, she had to make a mental note to talk to Klaus about the insufferable eyes on her at all times, she knew it came from a place of love and concern but it drove her crazy.

Klaus was already at the compound with Rebekah and Marcel, she was not ready for the fight that was about to break out amongst them and her sour mood did not leave much room for compassion; as soon as she walked in, the hybrid was beside her and scanning over her features for any potential wounds or harm that could have been inflicted on her.

"I'm fine, Nik," she smiled at his concern for her all over again, he did cheer her up on some level but not enough.

"Good, so it wouldn't be insensitive of me to call you reckless again then would it?" He spat, his eyes locking onto hers with a look of distain.

"In the sense that I'm safe and healthy, no, it wouldn't be insensitive but considering I'm a human being with feelings, then yes it would be," she argued, her hand smoothing along his arms and reassuring him.

"Why must you worry me so?" He said rhetorically but she would answer regardless.

"Maybe I like watching you squirm," he smirked at her words and instantly calmed, she was quite the fighter this morning and he enjoyed it.

"If your mood doesn't improve soon then I fear for all our lives," he quipped, continuing in the taunting between them.

"Oh sweetheart, you're the only one that should be fearful," she flashed him a smirk before walking further into the compound and sat at the table with Marcel; Davina had come running down the stairs when she heard her arrive and pulled her into a hug.

"I'm glad you're here, Marcel won't let me leave again and a friendly, non-vampire face is just what I need," she said as she sat down beside her, ready for a normal conversation and interaction.

"What the hell, Elena?" Marcel interrupted abruptly, his hand pressed against his forehead out of frustration; Klaus had heard his outburst and was instantly behind her, his hands pressed into the back of her chair and watching him cautiously, "you hurt one of my guys, E, they're family."

"He tried to kill a witch, Marcel, what was I supposed to do? Let her die?" She couldn't face another argument, it was barely noon and she had already had a morning from hell, "I would have done the same thing to a witch trying to kill a vampire too."

"The vampires and witches in the Quarter have a long history of war and bloodshed, they're not going to agree to peace until we meet with them and discuss terms, and you snapping their necks for them isn't going to help them agree to it," he pushed further, her mood turning even more south.

"Exactly why we can't keep fighting and killing each other, the war has lasted long enough and I'm not going to pick sides, you chose me to lead in the unification and that's what I'm doing, we're not killing each other anymore, so get your vampires in line and stop them from killing witches," her mood had turned to rage and she found her voice becoming louder and louder the more he pushed her, "I simply disarmed him and sent him back to you, I could have killed him in a heartbeat but I didn't because I believe in this unity, if I see anyone, witch or vampire, attacking each other then I will do the same thing."

"But you don't get to make those decisions, Elena, you're supposed to talk with us first," he barked back.

"So should I have asked them nicely to stop whilst I call you? Maybe give him a motivating speech as to why he shouldn't kill?" She argued back, her temper now in control as she kicked out her chair and pressed her hands into the table; he followed her movement and stood leaned over and directly at eye level with her, "I had to think fast and all I wanted was to see a young witch go home to her mother, who would have been heartbroken if her only daughter had been murdered."

A strong gust of wind blew into the compound and blasted against the drinks cabinet, smashing every bottle and glass within it in an almighty crash; Elena took a deep breath and composed herself, breaking the magic surrounding her.

"I'm sorry," she sat down, a small sigh escaping her lips, "I'm in quite a sour mood today."

"Me too," Marcel smiled as he too sat down, "I didn't mean to come down on you so hard, I guess I'm just not used to being the only one in this city that's looking out for us, I saw your move as an attack and nothing else, forgive me?"

"Of course, it'll take some adjusting but I will make sure everyone feels safe in the quarter soon, just have my back until then, don't fight me."

"Always, E," he nodded his head and she instantly relaxed in her chair.

"Anyway, let me tell you all about my morning," she sat back, her conversation aimed at Klaus, Marcel and Davina.

Elena informed them of her visit with Kimberly and everything that had been said between them; Klaus and Marcel weren't too pleased, but they decided against taking it out on her, her mood was starting to lift and they didn't want to poke at it again.

"The witches are still dictating, they expect us to wait around for their offer of a peace meeting, when all we are doing is allowing them time to plot against us," Klaus offered his opinion for the table.

"I know trust isn't your forte, Nik but we have to see what happens, we have no choice, if you attack them straight after the awakening ritual and the treaty between the wolves then you're showing we can't be trusted, and not to mention the affect it will have on the balance," Elena countered, they both looked to Marcel who was to be the tie breaker in this decision.

"I agree with Elena, we'll wait them out but be prepared for any attack they may inflict," Marcel spoke diplomatically, "but if we hear nothing from them in the next couple of days then I'll send word."

"Fine by me," Elena lifted her shoulders and smiled, anything to get out of this.

Klaus nodded his head in agreement, he was never one for discussions and peace and he was struggling with it immensely but he had to at least try, if anything he was doing it for Elena.

"Great, anything else up for discussion?" Marcel asked.

"Maybe one thing," Elena's face turned solemn as she thought more about it, "The Soul Eaters, they haven't made a move in days, it's starting to worry me, maybe we should go the church and see if they're still there?"

"They're not, I checked myself, the barrier is down and the basement is empty, tourists have been visiting and there has been no attacks," Klaus shared and she became furious.

"You went in there alone? What were you thinking?" She spoke frustratedly.

"I was thinking I would check on our enemies, see what they're up too," he smirked, his gaze shifting from Marcel to her.

"You could have been killed, why wouldn't you at least tell me?"

"Because, Elena, you would have disapproved, attempted to stop me and I would have had to deal with the brunt of your mood when I did it anyway," his face was filled with amusement and snark but she wasn't going to let it bother her.

"They're probably just rebuilding their strength, you hurt them pretty bad during the ritual and the balance is tipping against them, I'll send out a patrol of night walkers and see if we can find them but if not, I say we don't push it, if they attack, we are completely unprepared," Marcel offered the facts and brought there almost argument to an end.

"Then we should get prepared," she turned her gaze to Klaus, who actually looked like he agreed with her in this, "inform the vampires, make them aware of their power, me and Davina will hit the grimoires and see what we can find and I'll warn the werewolves and ask for a patrol in the bayou when they have settled over the river."

"Sounds good," Marcel agreed, a wide grin appearing on his lips, "you're killing it, E, you're a natural leader."

"Thank you," she half smiled, feeling confident and confused at how this had became her life, basically a politician.

Marcel left the room and she turned to face Klaus, "have you seen Elijah today?"

"He said he had errands to run early this morning and he wouldn't return until the evening," she knew he was going to say something along those lines but she was still saddened by his absence.

"Okay," she pursed her lips together before standing, "I'm going to head back home, I'm beat."

"Kol should be waiting outside to drive you home."

"Klaus-"

"Just humour me please, Elena? I need to know you're safe."

"Fine but it has to stop soon, I need some privacy," she spun on her heel and exited the compound, and low and behold, Kol was sat in his jeep waiting for her; she rolled her eyes and climbed into the passenger seat.

"Taxi service," he mused and flashed a playful grin, "where to now, luv?"

"Actually, take me to Rousseau's, I'd like a drink alone," she said, putting emphasis on the word alone; he obliged and drove her to the bar, he hung back and didn't go in with her but Klaus had him on Elena duty today so he couldn't truly leave her.

As she walked in, she saw Cami behind the bar and gave her a slight wave, she was happy to see a friendly face; she sat down on the bar stool and Cami had her scotch on the rocks already in the works.

"Thanks, Cami," Elena instantly took a large swig and placed it back down in front of her, her eyes lingering on the swirling liquid inside the glass.

"Is everything okay, Elena?" She asked emphatically before leaning on the bar in front of her.

"Yeah, I guess, just been a long day already," she took another sip and turned her attention to the blonde in front of her.

"Want to talk about it?" She said, before grasping the bottle and pouring her a top up.

"The last thing you want is for a miserable girl to start laying her all her problems on you, trust me."

"We're friends, right?" Cami said.

"Of course!"

"Then that's what friends do," she grabbed a glass and poured herself a small shot before walking around the bar and taking a seat on the stool beside her, "so, spill."

Elena was warmed by her compassion, how much she cared about the people around her and how her smile never wavered, she had an amazing energy around her and she could feel it, "I wouldn't even know where to begin."

"How about at the start? I've got all day, it's not like this place is exactly booming," she chuckled lightly as the pair of them glanced around the empty bar.

"Remember when we came in last time and I told you we had an important presentation?" Cami nodded her head at her words and Elena continued, "so it went well but I ended up getting a sort of promotion, if you will, and I'm starting to regret accepting it, it's a lot of work, so many people to take care off and look out for, a lot of dull meetings and far too much politics for me but I'm the only one that can do it, so I'm stuck."

"Trust me, I get it, I'm not exactly doing the job I dream about," she tried to emphasise.

"Yeah but yours is temporary, once you get your degree, you're out of here, I'll be doing this forever," she knocked back the entire shot of scotch at the thought of it.

Cami had listened to her intently and saw how much this was bothering her and it didn't seem right, "everyone hates their job, Elena but I think this is something more, what is it about the job that you really hate?"

Elena pondered on her words and she knew she was right but she couldn't tell her directly what the issue was so she threw a lot of metaphors in her explanations, "so, with this job, let's just say I got a huge pay rise, so much power and it's a lot to handle and I can't deal with it."

"It takes time to learn, give yourself a minute to adjust, you're a smart woman, you got this," Cami knew there was still something more so she pried a bit more, she knew once Elena told her the truth, she would feel better and see clarity, "so what's the real issue with this job?"

Elena spread a defeated smile on her lips at her persistence, a huff of air exhaling from her nose before she took a sip of her drink once again, "all of this is stopping me from being with the man I want to be with."

"Elijah?" She queried.

"Your guess is correct," she held her glass out towards Cami and she tapped hers against it, "you're good!"

"So you like him, huh?" She said as she took a sip of her drink, trying to keep the conversation more casual than therapeutic, this was her friend, after all.

"You have no idea," she spoke quite lowly, her sadness overwhelming her.

"I saw the way he looked at you the other night, when no-one else was looking, he would just gaze at you, there is no doubt he likes you too."

"I know," she smiled, her words warming her and lifting her spirits, "but with everything going on, it doesn't seem fair to involve him in the mess that is my life."

"If he likes you as much as his face say he does, then your mess is his too, Elena, if there's one thing I've learnt when it comes to opening up to someone else, don't push them away, it's rare when you find someone that devoted and if you like them back, your problems become each others."

"Speaking from experience?" She asked, her curiosity overcoming her.

"You're good too," Cami mused.

"I guess you're right, I just wish it wasn't so complicated, I don't want him to get hurt."

All off a sudden, the bar door swung open and crashed against the wall; Elena and Cami gasped at the unexpected fright and instantly stood to there feet, "Cami, you need to get out of here."

One-by-one five hooded men walked in, there heads where down and they stood in a line, there hands behind there backs and they remained silent.

"No way am I leaving you alone, I'm calling the police," Cami panicked slightly and went to dash to the phone but one of them stopped her by flicking his wrist and hurling the phone across the bar; Cami screamed and went to grab Elena.

"Run, Cami!" Elena exclaimed as she stood in front of her, protecting her from them.

They started chanting under their breath, their heads still low and Elena couldn't see their faces; she raised her hand and put a barrier around her and Cami.

The bar began to shake as if there was a hurricane and the bottles and glasses all smashed to the floor, along with the art on the wall and the windows, there was glass everywhere but it wasn't getting through her barrier.

Using her free hand, Elena held it out straight in front of her and sent them hurling back into the wall, taking the opportunity, she screamed out, "Kol!"

He was there within a flash and tried to reach Elena but he bounced of her barrier; whilst they scrambled to her feet, she lowered it momentarily to let him in, "get Cami out of here and call Klaus."

"I'm under strict orders to protect you," Kol said, as he flashed towards the man who tried to chant and snapped his neck with ease.

"Just get her out of here," Elena yelled and he nodded his head, grabbing Cami by the elbow and removing her from the room; she put her barrier back up when they tried to hurl a ball of energy at her, it just about caught the barrier.

She extended the fingers on her spare hand and put all of her force into it, she turned it slowly, watching as the remaining men grasped at there throat; all the air was starting to leave their lungs and they couldn't breath, they panicked as they tried to breath but one more swift turn of her hand and they all suffocated, there bodies dropping to the floor.

Klaus entered the bar within seconds and she breathed a sigh of relief, her arms instantly wrapping around him; he pulled her into a tight embrace and placed his hand on the back of her head, "thank god you're safe."

"I'm glad you're here," her head rested against his chest and she started to compose herself, she was freaked at the thought of killing someone with her magic, she hadn't done that before.

"You could have saved me one," he smirked, causing a small chuckle to escape her lips as they separated from each other.

"Who are they?" She asked, as they turned to face the now deceased bodies; Klaus bent down and removed one of the hoods from his face, revealing a just a normal looking human.

"Warlocks," he said, his frustration apparent, "they're mercenaries, witches for hire, if you will."

"Someone sent them after me?" Elena's lips parted slightly.

"three guesses who," Klaus continued to inspect the body, he searched their pockets, jackets and through any of there other belongings but it revealed nothing.

"Hey, what's that?" Elena said as Klaus rummaged through the hoody pockets, it moved the collar slightly and revealed a tattoo on his neck, after checking on the others, all three of them had the same one; he took out his phone and snapped a quick picture of it before standing to his feet and taking a hold of Elena.

"Let's go, I'll get Marcel to send his lackeys to clean this up."

"I need to find Cami, she was here, she saw everything and I need to know she's okay," Elena said with a tone full of worry.

"I already told Kol to take her back to the house."

Elena nodded her head and wrapped her arm around his stomach, he disappeared them from the bar and headed back to the plantation; she was nervous to see Cami, she really liked her and didn't want their friendship jeopardised.

Once they returned, Elena ran straight into the living room and saw Cami standing as far back as she could from Rebekah and Kol; she was terrified, everything she knew about the world had just completely changed and she knew how that felt.

"Elena, what is going on?" She asked frantically as the new witch approached her, "who were those guys at the bar?"

"Do you want me to lie or tell you the truth?" She said, allowing her the option to leave and keep her life the same.

"Tell me the truth," she spoke abruptly.

"They were warlocks, they were sent to kill me, I'm sorry you had to see that," Elena gave her an apologetic look, one filled with regret.

Cami started laughing nervously, she was a therapist at heart and believed that Elena was probably crazy, "you're joking, right?"

Elena just shook her head slowly and looked her straight in the eye, Cami's laughing ceased and she became even more scared, "are you all warlocks too?" She asked nervously.

"Vampire," Kol stated, a small smirk appearing on his lips.

Rebekah followed suit and raised her hand slightly, "vampire."

"Hybrid," Klaus mused, enjoying the antics and playing along.

Elena just rolled her eyes and shrugged slightly, "witch/doppelganger."

Cami's eyes widened as her gaze bounced around the room, a nervous grin appeared on her lips, "you're all crazy, I seriously suggest therapy and maybe a year with the Tibetan monks."

"Been there, done that, they didn't taste particularly special," Klaus smirked maliciously, a small chuckle escaping his and Kol's lips.

"Enough, Klaus!" She spat, before turning her attention to Cami, "come on, I'll get you a drink and answer any questions you have."

Elena shoved past Klaus and knocked him slightly, his amusement only heightened though when she grabbed the liquor bottle and put a barrier around the kitchen so she and Cami could be alone.

They sat together for about an hour, Elena told her as much as she could without putting her in danger too much, just that the existence of supernatural creatures was true and that New Orleans was rife with it; she explained how good the witches are and that her and her family meant her no harm and she could see Cami was overwhelmed by it.

Once she called Cami a taxi and sent her home to process, she returned to the living room, she had a mass amount of guilt for telling her about the supernatural world, no-one should have to deal with that unless absolutely necessary.

"How is she?" Rebekah asked when she saw Elena return.

"She'll be fine, she's tough," Elena answered, her guilt still apparent on her features.

"So, Nik's little warrior here took out four warlocks all by herself today," Kol shared, a smirk on his face as he offered her a drink and held out his glass towards her.

"Kol, no," she shook her head and took the drink from his hand, laughter erupting from Rebekah at her shut down and they stood together.

"I love you, brother but you are extremely annoying," Elena laughed at Rebekah's words and they clinked their glasses together, their gaze never leaving Kol.

"I'm offended, hurt even," he spoke sarcastically, his amusement growing.

Suddenly, the front door flew open and Elijah appeared in the hallway; his eyes instantly on Elena and he blurred in front of her, "I heard about the attack from Marcel, are you alright?"

The three siblings all furrowed their brow at his sudden outburst and looked amongst each other; this wasn't like Elijah to act so erratically, he was usually more calculated and collected.

Just as she was about to speak, she felt their eyes on them, staring curiously as they continued to interact; Elena just shook her head disapprovingly and placed her hand on his arm, "come with me."

She walked into the kitchen and he was close behind her, she put her barrier around the kitchen for some privacy and closed the door; she leaned against the kitchen counter, a small breath exhaling from her lips, "I'm fine, all we know is someone sent warlocks to kill me in Rousseau's."

"Warlocks?" He reiterated, his concern etched into his facial features; he tried so hard to not be so transparent with his worry but he had feared for her life, "What happened?"

"I handled it," she said, the images flashing back into her memory from earlier.

"I'm truly sorry for not being here to protect you," he said, his voice breaking slightly and his face softening.

"Don't worry about it, I handled it, witch now, remember?" She forced a smile, her words coming off as more cold than anything else.

"You're angry with me," he observed, watching her as she started moving around the kitchen and pottering around.

"Nope."

"Clearly," he spoke sarcastically as she walked past him, grabbing the mugs from the dish rack and putting them away in the cupboard, "Elena, stop and talk to me."

She slammed the kitchen drawer shut and turned to face him, her temper apparent, "you wanna talk? Fine! When I woke up this morning, you were just gone, I looked everywhere for you on a run this morning and I thought you'd just left, I didn't know if or when you would return and today I've been intercepted by the witches, forced into another vampire meeting by myself and attacked by warlocks and the whole time I was just waiting for you to turn up an-"

Elijah was in front of her in a flash and he pulled her into a passionate kiss, his arm slipping her around her waist and holding her closer; she slid her arms around his neck and reciprocated, pouring her passion and urgency into the kiss. She pulled him back for a long moment, her fingers still entangled in his hair as she spoke, "you're not getting off the hook that easy."

"I expect a lot of torment," he smirked on her lips as he used his speed to grab her waist, lifting her onto the counter and smashing his lips against hers once again; a small gasp escaped by his sudden contact and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him in closer to her.

A seductive breath caught his lips as he squeezed at her thigh, smoothing his hand up it forcefully and resting it on her hip; he lifted her off the counter and used his speed to press her against the wall on the opposite side of the room.

The house began to shake, her emotions where building up inside her again and her magic couldn't handle it but she fought it off as long as she could, she slipped her hands over his shoulders beneath his blazer and pulled it off of him, her fingers now squeezing and smoothing over his sculpted arms.

A frenzy started within her and her insides were on fire but her magic matched her emotions and the kitchen started to tremble harder, the cabinet doors flew open and kitchenware began to fly out, crashing onto the floor and breaking there moment.

Elena rested her head on his forehead and placed her hands on his cheeks, leaving small kisses on his lips, she pulled her face away from his, he lifted her off the counter but kept her pressed against him; they where further interrupted by his siblings banging on the door and yelling, she could only assume the magic spread out there too.

"I'm sorry, Elijah," she separated from him and grabbed his blazer from the floor, handing it to him and allowing her eyes to linger for another moment before she dropped the barrier.

They all stormed in through the door the second it had dropped but they stopped dead in there tracks when they felt the tension and Rebekah was the first to speak up, "what happened? The whole just shook, we thought it was an earthquake."

"I'm not sure, it just happened," she lied, forcing a smile and putting a fictitious wall of happiness around her.

"Something must have happened," Klaus spoke as he stood in between his brother and Elena.

"I don't know, I just put up the barrier and it went crazy," she shrugged before walking to the door, "oh and thank you for the concern, Elijah but I'm fine, see what you can find out about the warlocks."

"Of course, I'm sure my siblings won't mind helping me, you have nothing to be concerned about," Elijah's cold and calculating demeanour returned and she hoped they didn't raise suspicion; she exited the kitchen and headed straight for her room, burying herself within her duvet.