Two days later.
The Compound.
Everyone had been on edge, panic was running high in the compound and there seemed to be a new battle daily. The dynamics of family had been tested, each sibling faced with the fear of Elena still in her sleep state and they often took it out on each other. But they kept reminding themselves, that's what siblings are for.
Klaus ensured that there was always someone present in the house, that she would never be left alone for even a moment and that she was taken care of. Hayley had been there the most, looking after her like only a sister could. With the help of Rebekah, they managed to get her cleaned up, mainly out of the torn clothes and washed down with a cloth to remove the blood from her skin but it was enough.
They were on their way to face their next battle, one that had been a challenge to complete. They had to consecrate the bones of their mother onto New Orleans soil and finish the harvest. Davina had been haemorrhaging magic, the power she took in from her fallen friends was set to destroy the city and they had to act.
Everyone had to be present, even Hayley, her child was a living descendant of Esther and the only way she could be consecrated as a New Orleanian witch.
They were in the cemetery, Sophie lead the Harvest and Davina went willingly. She was going to die regardless and Klaus found her decision to be honourable, she didn't want to destroy the city with her. That didn't make witnessing a young girl be murdered for power any easier. He may be a heartless monster but it was barbaric.
He watched as Marcel carried her into the cemetery, rain falling down around them like blankets, that seemed to make the entire situation more grim. He was a man broken, watching as Davina approached Sophie, -the new and acting Elder of the French Quarter coven- and she blessed the blade of the dagger in fire.
"Do you believe in the harvest?"
"I believe."
Without hesitation, Sophie slid the blade across her throat, blood seeped from the wound and both Rebekah and Hayley looked away in shock. Davina slowly fell back, gasping what few breaths she had left as she landed in Marcel's arms.
Just as the light emitted through her body, her power sinking back into the earth and ready to reclaim by the witches of New Orleans, she took her last breath...
And Elena breathed her first.
The Compound - Elena.
A loud gasp burst through her lips and Elena darted up into a sitting position. Her hand instantly went around her throat, she felt a burning sensation irritate through her entire airway and she was panicked. Barely recognised where she was. The last thing she remembered was being carried out of the warehouse by Klaus.
Oh god, Klaus - was he still alive? Did Davina do the ritual to kill the Original Family?
She didn't know how long she had been unconscious for and the panic was about to set in. She had to think logically, but she couldn't. She had a ravenous and seemingly unending hunger and she couldn't keep her thoughts straight. Her memories kept flashing back to the warehouse, how Davina had cursed her to the doppelgänger blood once again and almost killed her in that ritual.
She heard a crash downstairs, a growl, another crash of furniture being hurled across the room and she recognised that growl anywhere. Her eyes darkened, veins creeping down her cheeks and she raced from the room, seemingly faster than she had ever ran before and she stopped dead at the balcony.
All logic escaped her when she saw Marcel, seemingly distraught and hurt, but she only saw red, only saw the man that snapped her neck, took her to her death, forced Davina to funnel magic through her that was so strong, it reinstated her doppelganger heritage. As he hurled another chair across the room, she sped towards him, his face a look of shock horror as she grabbed his neck and slammed his back onto the floor.
"Elena, sto-"
She barely let him get a word in as she connected her foot to his ribs, kicking him across the room and he barrel-rolled onto the floor. In the blur of vampire speed, she picked up one of the splintered chair legs and jumped onto his waist.
"Elena," Klaus emerged from behind her, stood in the doorway of the compound and for a second, she froze, his voice had been soft, barely a whisper, reassuring and surprised.
But she was mad with a pursuit of revenge and in that second Klaus distracted her, Marcel got the upper hand, he pushed her off of him and sped back onto his feet. She felt faster though, stronger, particularly psychotic and she leapt for him, fist connecting with his face just like Alaric had taught her and she brought him back onto the ground with a kick to the stomach.
She found herself stuck on his waist again, stake raised and lowered within a second. Just an inch away from his heart, revenge almost satisfied but Klaus had grabbed her by the waist from behind and lifted her away from him in a flash.
"No!" She yelled, fighting against his hold and watching as Marcel stood back onto his feet, "let me go!"
"Elena, sweetheart, you have to calm down," he tried to talk between her fightback but she was strong, fuelled by revenge and clearly starving, "Leave him be!"
She stopped dead, froze at his words and her eyes narrowed as she pulled his arms from her waist and turned to face him. She gave the most scolding of looks he had ever received from her and he pursed his lips together, "'Leave him be?'" She reiterated in a shout.
"Not tonig-"
"Why isn't he already dead?" She was still yelling, vampire features still prominent on her face and he cupped her cheeks, only for his hands to be swatted away like that of a nuisance fly, "I thought you'd be..." she paused and turned to face Marcel, the pieces attempting to come together in her mind, "You didn't..."
Marcel's eyes widened ever so slightly and she knew, in that moment, he didn't tell Klaus a thing about the ritual. She drew in a slow breath, using every ounce of willpower she had to settle her composure and return her face to normal.
"You thought I would be, what?" Klaus grasped her hand, pulling at her gently so she was turned to face him and he kept a hold of her hand, "Marcel didn't, what? Talk to me Elena."
"What does it matter?" She spat back, pulling her hand away from his hold and vanishing herself from the compound.
Bourbon Street.
Elena was blank, like that of a fresh and crisp sheet of paper, floating in the wind and carrying her down Bourbon Street. She was consumed by an insatiable hunger, one that had already saw to the death of three unknowing strangers but her starvation only grew.
She couldn't feel anger or hurt, her emotions were lost now more than ever but there was still something that was niggling away at her - not a feeling but more of a burden, a lingering sense of betrayal and uncertainty.
She had been cursed again, her blood activated and its doppelgänger properties awakened, the consequences of this unknown to her. Besides the ritual Davina had intended to do kill The Originals, witches could use her blood again to complete powerful spells and in a city filled with witches, that made her uneasy. But above all else, Klaus could sire hybrids again. Something that was probably going to tip them out of balance.
She was hidden away between two buildings, covered in the anonymity of the darkness as she claimed her fourth victim of the night. Her teeth sunk into his neck, drawing blood at a slower rate. She relished in this one, he was young, delectable, wild, everything that resonated with her and he was curbing her appetite quite a bit.
That was, until she felt the tight grip of a pair of hands, clutching at each of her shoulders and ripping her away from him. Her back collided with the wall opposite, it had been gentler than that of Klaus' and when she saw Elijah, that explained it.
"Elena," his voice was soft, face a picture of surprise and relief, "You're awake."
"You're observant," she batted away his hands and stood from the wall, bringing herself that touch closer to him, "what can I do for you, Elijah?"
They had been so close to restoring her humanity, he knew it, he saw it, the glimmer of emotion in her eyes after they spent time together at the bayou. But that flicker of light had all but vanished, she was as cold as an ice queen, distant and bloodthirsty. He resented Marcel for the kidnapping, for torturing her, for making her close off more than she ever had done before and he was saddened.
"I'm here to take you home, Elena," he attempted to trail his fingers along her cheek but she held her own hand up to stop him.
"The next person that attempts to touch me is going to regret it," she warned, scolded even, as she began to walk out from the alley, "I don't want to go home just yet, I've spent the last two days asleep, I saw the date on the newspaper and apparently, I have a lot of catching up to do."
He sped in front of her, stopping her short in her tracks and he extended his hand out in front of her, "I'll take you for a drink."
"What's the catch?" She raised an eyebrow, a wicked smile spread on her lips that he hadn't seen for a short while and she eyed his hand carefully.
"No catch, we have some catching up to do," the only way he was going to make her see reason, appeal to the side of her that was more prominent. She was stuck in a darkened state, she needed those cravings sated and he couldn't allow her to murder her way through the French Quarter to do it. He had to be smarter than that, "come on."
She rolled her eyes and smiled, taking his hand and allowing him to speed her down the street to Rousseau's.
He ordered the usual bottle of scotch and filled up two glasses, they clinked them together before knocking it back, draining the entire contents in one and refilling.
"And here I thought you wouldn't be able to keep up," Elena quipped, taking another large sip and she could feel her thirst dwindle, "I'm surprised."
"I'm full of surprises," she found that to be alluring, a side to him that she hadn't seen before. She couldn't even recall a time they had been out together, just at a bar with a bottle of scotch, their relationship had always been a more serious one, "I'm glad you're back."
"Yep," she popped the 'p' dramatically, before emptying the rest of the scotch down her throat and continuing to pour another one, "I'm not going to talk about it, Elijah."
"That's quite alright, considering Davina is dead, I hardly think we have to discuss it," he baited her, it was obvious, she was smart enough to read through that but it still surprised her all the same.
"She is?" She tilted her head to the side and a small smile curled up on her lip, "Do I want to know how?"
"We completed the harvest tonight, she was sacrificed but didn't return," he finished off the remainder of his scotch, the image of the ritual still burning fresh in his mind.
"Wait, tonight?" Her brow furrowed, completely disregarding Davina's death, "What time?"
"Around 8pm, why?" He mirrored her confusion.
"That's the time I woke up," she looked away for a long moment, the pieces coming together once again, "she must have put me in a sleep spell, that little witch!"
Elijah poured two more drinks out, she was unravelling in the worst ways and stuck in a state of contemplation.
"Elena, you have to tell me what happened," he pried, he couldn't help himself, he never could but she was far from compliant tonight.
"No," she drank more, "it doesn't matter."
"It matters to me, you have to tell me what they did to you," he shifted on the bar stool to face her completely and she flinched slightly as he neared her. He had a way of getting under her skin, he always did, it was the way he looked at her, that made her feel important and recognised, "Let me fix this."
"It's not a big deal, okay?" She grabbed the bottle and decided against class by drinking it straight from the neck, "I was tortured a bit, made to sleep for two days, whatever, not important."
God, she couldn't tell him...
...She couldn't tell anyone.
"Elena-"
"Stop pushing, Elijah, I don't want to talk about it," her eyes gave all the warning he needed to relent and he took another sip of drink. She pursed her lips together, her mind racing and her irritation heightening, she needed to think and she couldn't do it here, "I can't do this, not tonight, not with you, take me back."
So he did.
The Compound.
Elijah had dropped her off but didn't stay, he was riled up, Elena had got to him more than he wanted to admit and he had quite a bit of frustration to vent. Perfect for her.
She walked in to an empty courtyard, the bottle of scotch from the bar in one hand and her jacket in the other. She stopped in the centre of the courtyard, glancing around slowly at the walls, looking at the paintings, the furniture, inspecting the broken chairs that lay strewn about the floor and she felt empty.
She took a large sip of the scotch once again and headed for the stereo, she turned the volume crank right the way up and just hit 'play'. She assumed it was one of Rebekah's CDs, it was at least twenty years old and she hadn't listened to the likes of Beyoncé in a long time but it worked in drowning out the silence.
She fell back onto the sofa over the arm rest and lay staring at the ceiling, it was higher than she remembered -or maybe she just never noticed- but the compound seemed overwhelming larger than usual, but she knew it was just that of her burden crushing her once again. The burden of her blood, the havoc it could wreak if the witches got a hold of it... If Klaus found out.
She didn't know where to turn, she felt like a horse trapped between two bales of hay. Stuck in a state of indecision but both options were just as enticing. Stay or leave. Both options had their merits, as much as she hated to admit it, this place, this family, they had a hold of her. But that would all change once they learn of what happened to her. The positive to leaving, she wouldn't have to be forced to endure that.
"Elena," Klaus' voice from the balcony overlooking her brought her back to reality and he came sweeping down, shutting off the stereo and standing beside the couch, "you're back."
"I was bored."
"And you thought this was more entertaining than a stroll through Bourbon Street?" He smirked wickedly - that was met well, that side of him that relished in the torment of others, it was entertaining.
"No, but after you sent your brother out to find me, the night took a turn for the worse," She raised her eyebrow and shot him a look of disapproval before taking another sip from the bottle.
"He told you?"
"I'm not an idiot, Klaus, he didn't have to tell me, it was obvious."
"My mistake," he knelt down beside her, bringing himself to her eye level, "I shall refrain from sending my brother next time."
"I would have much preferred your company, we could have had a wickedly spectacular night," she couldn't help herself, she had a newfound love for her old games.
"I thought you were angry with me, you left quite abruptly," he pried, he knew very well Elena couldn't feel angry but there something holding her back, something she wasn't sharing and he had to know.
"Angry? No, of course not," she quickly shot him down, "surprised, perhaps - but I don't want to talk about it."
"Very well then."
Just as Klaus rose into a standing position and took a few steps away, she reached out and grasped his hand. She didn't know why she did it, she was thinking about it, saw it in her mind and just like her brain was without a filter, she did it.
"Stay," they were both as unreadable as the other, facial expressions completely blank but she couldn't deny that she enjoyed being in his presence. The only one that truly understood the inner workings of a tormented soul, "have a drink."
He looked to her hand, thought about how easy it was for her to reach out to him - how easy it was for him to do as she wished. Although it was simple, taking a seat beside her, staying for however long she needed, it was still the most complicated move he had ever made. Their relationship was many things but easy wasn't one of them.
There wasn't much talking, more drinking and silent contemplation. Enough words had been said, Elena didn't want to talk, she just wanted someone to be there, even if she didn't recognise it herself. Klaus could do that, just share a bottle, be a presence as equally as dark as hers and allow them to connect.
It felt right.
The next morning, after Elena had readied herself for the day, sporting a pair of black skinny jeans, a navy blue t-shirt and strappy heels to match, she went straight to the kitchen for her daily fix of caffeine.
There was a pot already made and like she did everyday, she opened up the cabinet with the snacks in -the only place where a vampire doesn't need to look- and behind all the boxes and packets, there was a tied-up bunch of vervain hidden away at the back. She did this everyday but this morning, it burnt more, her body had become used to ingesting it after the months spent here, yet drained once and she was right back at the start. She washed it down with a large sip of coffee and cleared her throat until the sting vanished.
"I hardly think you need to torture yourself with the daily vervain dose anymore, love," Klaus appeared in the doorway, watching with a smirk, "You don't trust us?"
She picked up her mug and walked through the kitchen towards the exit, in passing she offered the fakest of smiles and neared her lips to his cheek, "I don't trust your moods."
"My moods?" He followed her out into the courtyard, astonished, "and what of your temper tantrum last night? You left a trail of bodies down Bourbon street."
"Well, forgive me for being hungry," she spun to face him for a brief second and spoke in a slow twirl, "I was tortured for over a day."
"Elena, Marcel and the vampires are on their way for a meeting I called," he said, "I think it best you leave until it's over."
She froze, stopped dead in her tracks and turned to face him with a maliciously amused look, "wait, so he kidnaps me, tortures me and I'm the one that has to leave? I live here!"
She was like a woman scorned and as unreachable as she was, Klaus knew he screwed up - shouldn't have told her to leave, shouldn't have made her feel dismissed and that this home wasn't hers either. The way she froze so abruptly, if she had her emotions switched on, he'd be convinced she was hurt.
"Elena-"
"I couldn't care less about Marcel," she remained as indifferent as ever, "All is forgiven, right? What does it matter that the heartless doppelganger was tortured? I'm alive, he used me to get back at you, eye for an eye, and now everything is back to normal."
"No, Elena!" He sped towards her, closing the distance between them, "you were asleep for two days, you didn't se-"
"Stop pretending that you care," she pushed him back, he went further than she had anticipated and he growled ever so quietly, "I get it, I'm useful, good for this family and the mundane fight for this ridiculous city, I don't know why I expected anything more from this family."
Just as she turned around to leave, he appeared in front of her and grabbed onto the top of her arms. She'd clearly triggered him, his temper went unchecked and he was trying to make her see in all the wrong ways, "Stop turning your back on me!"
"Stop touching me!" She yelled, eyes flashing black as she pushed him back again, "you don't get to touch me, not anymore."
He drew in a sharp breath and took a stumbled step back - something else for her to overanalyse at a later date. But just as she was about to let herself unleash upon him, she heard the all too familiar steps of the one person that seemed to do well in taming her, come rushing down the stairs and land herself between them both.
"You both have to stop!" Hayley exasperated, hands held out flat between them, and of course, Elena halted, "Why are you fighting again? I thought we were past this."
"What does it matter?" She simply rolled her eyes and spun on her heel, storming back into the kitchen and she slammed the door shut behind her.
She grabbed one of the more expensive bottles of scotch from his personal stash and filled a glass. It helped to curb her hunger and cravings, as well as settle her tormented mind whilst she pondered why she was so explosive, why she couldn't bear to be near Klaus.
She couldn't make sense of it. No, she wasn't angry, not hurt or frustrated but she was still so bothered by him, that she felt only the urge to inflict pain on him. Maybe on some level, she wanted him to understand how much pain she had been forced to endure, to make him realise just how unimportant she felt in the grand scheme of family and this twisted hold it had of her.
There was also the fact that her blood was going to change everything, the family would change, Klaus will change and she'll just be the immortal and endless supply of doppelgänger blood to make hybrids. That's all she will be, a bloodbag.
She heard the door open behind her and Hayley sauntered in, taking a space beside her and offering only a kind smile, "I'm glad you're finally back!"
"Everyone keeps saying that," she was unconvinced, bored, drinking far more than she should be considering the time of day, "But I'm relieved to see you and little one are safe."
"We're tough," She flashed Elena a smirk, which she appreciated.
"I know."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Hayley sighed.
"No, not particularly," she stood from the counter and headed towards the exit, "maybe later, okay?"
"I'll hold you to it."
Elena smiled, first of its kind since she had awoken and headed back towards the courtyard. She heard the bustling of the vampires and proceeded to enter, leaning against the arch that connected to the courtyard. Klaus was nowhere to be found but she saw Marcel climb down the stairs with a bottle in his hand and sat down at the table.
"Hey, Marcel, maybe you know what's going on. Klaus ordered us to meet here, and now he's a no-show," Diego asked, after approaching him at the table.
"What do you want from me? It's a new regime. Get used to it," he was frustrated and upset, all she did was roll her eyes and take a sip of drink. He avoided eye contact, barely flashed her a glance once he noticed she was there and she relished in the fact she could lord this over him.
He didn't tell Klaus about the ritual for a reason, she could tell he was scared of the consequences of her having the doppelgänger blood returned to her and since Davina's demise, he had no way of ending the Mikaelson's and taking the city back. All she had to do was tell Klaus about his ploy and he would be dead in an instant. But having leverage was better.
Klaus walked into the compound, Thierry at his side and everyone seemed to light up at his appearance, "Dearest brethren, your attention, please. No doubt, you're all surprised to see Thierry Vanchure, who's supposed to be rotting in the Garden for the crime of killing one of our own, and I personally decided to issue him with a pardon. I hope you'll all welcome home Thierry."
Diego and Thierry hugged briefly, before he joined back into the group of inner circle vampires and they all welcomed him back with open arms. Elena was bored already.
She strolled through the courtyard, glass to lips once again before she was brought to a sudden stop by Diego appearing in front of her, "Hey, Elena, it's good to see you."
"Hey," she smiled, somewhat forced, "I'm not staying."
"You should, come on," he pointed his head towards the sofa and she reluctantly agreed to sit in on the meeting. She joined with the others, Diego by her side on the sofa and some of the daywalkers lingered around her and they started chatting away. She could have swore she knew their names, remembered them telling her, but the knowledge had all but faded.
"And how do you two know each other?" Klaus approached, eyebrows raised.
"Are you my keeper now all of a sudden?" She rolled her eyes and shot him a disapproving look.
"Elena," his voice was that of a warning and, god, did she want to stand up to him, fight back and refuse to give him the satisfaction of her yielding but now wasn't the time for a fight.
"We drink, Klaus, most nights at Rousseau's, did you think I wouldn't run into at least one vampire during one of my parties?"
"And she can party," Diego confirmed, a light blast of chuckling emitting from the vampires surrounding her.
"You're quite the social butterfly these days, aren't you?"
"Always have been, I can be quite a lot of fun when I'm not being used in pointless battles," he glared at her for that, "I met this lot months ago, made me consider joining when Marcel invited me to be a daywalker," she smirked, satisfied in watching as both Klaus and Marcel snapped their lines of sights onto her with wide eyes, "Oh, he didn't tell you? It's a good thing I turned him down then, I clearly chose the right side to be on."
It went tense and she enjoyed it, sunk into the chaos she was about to cause between friends and ignite the fire once again. She sped from the sofa and sat on the table Marcel was perched under and he leaned back suddenly, concern etched into his facial features, "I suppose I could tell him-"
His look of fear was enough.
"Enough, Elena," Klaus appeared in front of her, eyes warning. He didn't understand how she had returned to such a cold and distant state, she was emotionless, shouldn't care about her kidnapping or the torture, yet she was seemingly taking it hard, "whatever you-"
Elijah suddenly blew into the compound and stood between them, the two opposing forces that could see the compound shook during just one of their fights and halted them, "Elena, might you come with me to find Rebekah? I could use the help."
"No," she flickered her gaze to him for a mere moment before fixating back onto Klaus, "I'm having more fun here."
"Yes but your mood is less than favourable and I would like to see our home intact for the foreseeable future," he smiled, that wicked smile she couldn't seem to resist and she stepped down from the table.
"Fine, but we're going for a drink," she popped her eyebrows and stood beside him, gazes locked.
"Once we find Rebekah, I'll take you anywhere," he slipped his arm around her waist and lead her to the exit, she wasn't keen on touch at that present time but she allowed it, just to see the riled up look plastered on the hybrids face.
The French Quarter.
After they found Rebekah, Elijah had attempted to convince her to stop in her mission to provoke Klaus further. She explained it was her doing that convinced her brother to release Thierry and show mercy, an act that would be well received by the vampires that he needed to garner favour with. But it was only to have someone on her side who hated Klaus and knew about the witches.
They discussed the harvest, how the power from four powerful witches just seemingly vanished and Rebekah had intended on finding out who took off with it. She wanted to make an ally of this person, someone to stand by her against Klaus. Elijah was far from approving.
He urged her to cease in her petty attacks against their family and ask that she support them. This was refused, almost instantly, and she left.
It wasn't long after, that Elijah received a call from Klaus about their latest threat surfacing and ordered they return to the compound. She was reluctant at first, had no interest in delving straight back into Mikaelson drama but she decided one last fight would give her the closure she needed to leave, once and for all.
Papa Tunde.
Powerful warlock, practiced in the use of sacrificial magic, returned from the dead to end the Mikaelson's and restore the French Quarter coven back to power.
He channelled the power of his victims by use of his symbol, the mark he carved onto their foreheads as an offering to the ancestors for power. Klaus was lead to believe that this was the work of an upstart, a copycat in pursuit of power over the city and when the inner circle refused to stand by him in the fight, he ventured out to handle it himself.
They had been with Hayley, discussing the pictures Davina drew of Celeste and trying to figure out what part his past lover had to play in all this but kept drawing a blank.
Panic started to set in when Elijah had attempted to call Rebekah several times and only received her voicemail.
"Rebekah is not answering her calls," Elijah said, his brow furrowed.
"I'm not surprised, she's pretty tired of Mikaelson drama and after the lecture this morning, she likely won't talk to you," she took her phone out of her pocket and dialled her number, "Let me try."
"You worried about whoever killed those daywalkers still being out there," Hayley chimed in, her mind racing also.
"She's not answering," Elena pursed her lips together, sliding her phone back into her pocket and joining back into the circle.
"Frankly, I'm worried that she had something to do with this. She's very displeased with Niklaus, perhaps even conspiring with others."
Elena followed Elijah's line of sight, noticing that Thierry was in attendance and drinking alone at the table. They both side-eyed each other before approaching and he seemed to startle easy.
"Thierry, is it?" Elijah asked.
"That's right," he seemed down, nervous and it made Elijah more concerned.
"My sister is rather fond of you. Strange, she's not typically drawn to unremarkable men. Would you care to explain your sudden magnetism?"
"I don't know what you're--"
It wasn't that often Elena got to see the collected Original Vampire become annoyed, impatient even, as he took Thierry by the throat and pushed him against the wall, Elena at his side almost instantly as he began to threaten, "You can either tell me what you know, or I can distribute tiny pieces of you throughout the Quarter."
Thierry sighed, relenting, "She asked me to keep an eye out on witch stuff. I found something, and when I showed her, we were jumped by some guy. He desiccated her with his touch."
"Like a coward, you left her," he pressed his lips together out of anger and squeezed tighter at his life source.
"I'm sure Rebekah is going to be pleased when she returns," Elena shook her head slightly, she almost felt sorry for Thierry, The Original Sister was not one to cross or disappoint, she could only imagine the repercussions she was going to take.
"What was I supposed to do, fight some warlock that took out an Original?"
"Where was this, exactly?" Elena asked, before an argument broke out.
"The docks, warehouse 57. I was just doing what she asked. You cannot tell Klaus about this."
Elijah waited a moment, staring at him in disbelief before snapping his neck effortlessly and allowing his body to drop to the floor.
"I shall take that into consideration," they flashed each other a smirk before heading towards the exit of the compound.
"I'm coming with you," Hayley followed behind, worried.
"Hayley, no," Elena quickly halted her, her urge to protect creeping to the surface, "It's dangerous, we don't know what we're walking into."
"No. Stay here. The compound is safe," Elijah agreed.
"Rebekah is in trouble. I'm going."
Elena paused, turning to face Elijah for a long moment before he simply shook his head, with a very noticeable sigh and he spoke, "We can handle this, Hayley, you can't put yourself in danger"
They vanished from the compound, leaving a very angry and pregnant werewolf behind as they headed for the docks.
The Docks - Warehouse 57.
They found Rebekah.
Elena had never seen anything like it, her knowledge of witchcraft was growing but to see her in a sacrificial ritual, it was disconcerting. It brought back a flood of memories to the night she was sacrificed, how she was held in a circle of fire, forced to watch as Jenna and Jules were killed in front of her.
Rebekah couldn't die though, she was being used as an endless battery of power for Papa Tunde to channel. And she was powerful. Made only more apparent by his attack on Klaus and Marcel at Rousseau's. He was indestructible and sought only revenge, a son for a son but as indifferent as Elena was to Klaus, she wouldn't see him die.
"You're not listening. We cannot enter the circle. There's some kind of confinement spell... If I can't remove her, we can't break the link," Elijah had called Sophie, the only witch the knowledge to free Rebekah and he was desperate, panicked even.
"It's a convoluted spell. It's like a witch's recipe. You can spoil the balance by adding a more potent ingredient. A mystical binding agent. I don't know, volcanic ash, rock salt... anything up to and including eye of newt."
A mystical binding agent.
Oh god.
She had a choice to make - to keep her secret or save Rebekah.
Did she really have a choice?
"What about the blood of a doppelganger?" She nervously spoke, her heart racing that touch faster by the secret now revealed.
"So, that'll work in 500 years when another of you is born, providing you somehow have a child. You're dead, Elena," Sophie was filled with confusion but Elena snatched the phone from Elijah and hung up without responding.
Elijah watched in a state of disbelief as Elena sunk her fangs into her wrist and allowed her blood to fall onto the barrier. It sunk into the salt and the magic dropped, confirming the theory that Davina had, in fact, successfully restored her blood's mystical properties.
He waved his hand across the space that held the barrier and he could pass through it. He turned to look at Elena and she averted her gaze, instantly heading to Rebekah's side and trying to wake her.
"Elena-"
"And this is why I'm leaving tonight," she cut him short, watching as his face changed completely at her announcement and he looked disappointed, sad even.
"We have to talk about this."
"Not now, Elijah, just get Rebekah."
He paused for a long moment and after noting how serious and distant she was, he obliged, picked up Rebekah but just before he attempted to speed away, Elena placed her hand on his arm and stopped him, "You can't tell him, Elijah, ever. You have to promise me?"
"I promise."
They vanished.
The Compound.
After Rebekah fed and healed, they found her in the French Quarter, threatening Thierry and venting her frustration upon him. She was tired of being betrayed, left behind and punished for trying to subdue her brother.
Elijah scolded her for her actions against the family, for conspiring still, even in despite of her failed attempt at an alliance with the inner circle vampire. Elijah supported Klaus, offered his counsel and his aid in ruling the city. But the hybrid was growing more powerful everyday and Rebekah wanted to stop him, to be allowed to love and be free from his tyranny.
Once they finally arrived back at the compound, they saw Klaus, stood atop the balcony, overlooking the vampire faction of New Orleans and about to give a speech.
But he was momentarily distracted by her, watching as Elena climbed the stairs and he could feel the distance between them. Even as she glanced at him in passing and their eyes met for a brief moment, something felt different, colder and he didn't understand it. Hated it.
She went to her bedroom, grabbed a suitcase from the closet and started rummaging through her drawers and removing her clothes, all whilst listening to Klaus give his speech in the background.
"Not long ago, you all united against me. You failed. Since then, in my benevolence, I have wiped the slate clean. Yet, it seems clear you think that I am the one who needs to earn your respect, your loyalty. You're mistaken. It is you who must prove yourselves to me. Our community is under attack. I require soldiers. I need warriors, not cowards. Each of you has a decision to make. You either fight alongside me or you leave now."
She was folding shirts, shoving them inside the compartment and darting around her room with speed as she gathered her things. She heard Thierry respond next and he was ballsy - she had to admit that, at least.
"We don't owe you anything. If staying in the Quarter means living under your rule, I'd just as soon get the hell out."
She packed some more and listened in as some of the vampires left the compound. She had expected more to leave but by the sounds of it, there was still a large enough group out there that could be considered as an army.
-w-
A short while later, when Elena had almost finished packing and the compound started to empty, she heard the thump of heavy footsteps ascend the staircase and approach her door.
"Elena..." Klaus called out, as he swung open her door and stopped short in the threshold when he saw her, suitcase open and almost packed, and she didn't even bat an eyelash his way, "What are you doing?"
"I'm leaving, Klaus," She responded, heading to her open drawers and pulling out the last of her t-shirts and dropping them in the case.
She couldn't look at him, refused too, even though it felt like they were still in a battle -the war between them that started then second she arrived in New Orleans- he still had a way of taming her with the eyes that looked upon her so keenly, like the wolf would to the raven, and if he had so much as a glimmer of disappointment in his features, she'd probably crack.
"What happened, Elena? Why are you leaving?" He took a few steps inside, grasping her arm and stopping her from packing.
"This city happened!" She pulled her arm away almost instantly and took a step back, gazes locked, "This family happened, you happened! I never should have came here in the first place."
He had a look of shock horror on his face, mixed with the defeat of protecting her and failing, as well as a bunch of other emotions she didn't care for. But he almost instantly clamped up and inhaled a sharp breath.
"Fine, then go," He was close to a yell but it was only their to mask his conflicting feelings, ones he didn't understand, nor wanted too, considering she was just another person that left him behind, "See if I care!
He stormed out of the compound, each of his steps were thunderous and although anger was the apparent emotion, he was hurt, disappointed by her sudden departure and colder demeanour since her awakening.
Minutes after Klaus' abrupt exit, she heard Hayley walking with haste down the corridor and she rolled her eyes as she entered.
"Elena, what is going on? Why are you leaving?" Hayley tried next and she was stubborn, likely wouldn't allow her to leave without a fight.
"I'm sure you heard what I just said to Klaus, I shouldn't have came here in the first place. This city has been nothing but bad for me and don't even get me started on this family, they care for nothing but their own selfish agendas!"
"Is that what you think?" Hayley exclaimed, arms folded, "That we don't care about you? That Klaus doesn't care about you?"
She drew in a quick breath when she mentioned his name but quickly suppressed it and zipped up her suitcase, she walked through her room and in passing, she gave only a blank look to Hayley, "It doesn't matter anymore, I don't care."
She walked through the house, the sound of her heels reverberating through the halls as she strode through the compound. She was clearly irritated, possibly annoyed at the entire situation but Hayley followed her out anyway.
"This is about Marcel, isn't it?" She argued, her fightback impressive as she chased her through the corridor, "you think we did nothing against him for hurting you!"
"Enough, Hayley," she stomped her way down the stairs and ignored the werewolf, "you're being tedious and boring."
Just as she reached the exit, Elijah suddenly appeared in front of her and stopped her, taking a hold of her arms and looking her dead in the eye, "Stop, Elena, you have to listen to us."
"No," she broke his hold with a swift motion of her arm and tried to speed around him. It was futile, he stopped her once again by grabbing her waist and bringing her back inside in a blur.
Hayley approached her, arms folded and relentless, "Elijah nearly tore through the entire coven to find Sabine and threaten her for a locator spell, I had the wolf that's been watching me look for you in the Bayou, Klaus ordered the entire city to look for you before he went on a rampage, ripped through half his vampire subjects to get to Marcel-"
"Stop!" Every word was jabbing through her like a sharp blade, it was torture - even to see them fight for her with such fervour was enough to make her crack just that tiniest bit. She tried to free herself from Elijah's hold of her waist but he only held on tighter.
"No," Elijah used his free hand to grasp the nape of her neck, he was trying to offer comfort and attempting to show her what she meant to the family but she was fighting back, hard, "You're not leaving, not until you listen."
"He came for you, Elena, the second Marcel told him where you were," Hayley continued on, her voice filled with a loud and unfiltered passion, "the whole time you were asleep, he made sure there was always someone at your side, you were never alone and whilst fighting to protect the city, we tried to find a way to wake you up, did everything we could."
"No," she shook her head repeatedly, refusing to listen, adamant on not looking either of them in the eye, "Please, stop!"
"He almost killed Marcel, 'Lena but then Davina went missing, he was mad with rage, we knew he had a plan to use Tim to find her but he poisoned them, killed them, most likely for you... Elijah saved Davina because of her magic but she was meant to remain here as a source of power but Klaus still wanted to see her dead."
She didn't want to believe they did so much for her, that he did so much, she couldn't - no, it didn't make sense. He hated her, the games they played, there was no care there, no urge to protect, it just was.
The Wolf and The Raven...
No, The Hybrid and The Doppelgänger - brought together by blood, the blood she possessed once again. The blood that would see the end of them all.
The Hybrid and The Doppelgänger,
The Wolf and The Raven -
No.
No.
No.
"Enough!" She practically growled, eyes glistening black as she pushed Elijah back. But she couldn't stop him, he came back forcefully, hands wrapped around the nape of her neck and she started to soften ever so slightly.
"We care about you, Elena, this entire family cares about you, do you really not see that?" Elijah couldn't see her leave, not without knowing how important she was - he was always the one that made her feel important. Most of the time, he didn't even realise he was doing it.
"We lov-"
"Stop!" She refused to relent, even as Elijah brought her into a tight embrace and Hayley enveloped her arms around them. She tried to free herself but she couldn't use force, not with the pregnant wolf near.
"We love you," Elijah smoothed his hand over her hair, entangling his fingers in her locks and she was completely taken aback, there was far too much affection aimed at her and she relented. She clutched at the lapel on Elijah's blazer and sunk.
"God, we love you, 'Lena," Hayley held onto tighter and Elena used her free arm to slide it around her shoulders. It was tedious but she even had to admit to herself, it wasn't so boring or awful being held every so often.
"It won't work, you know," She flashed them both a small smirk, "I won't flip the switch."
"We dont care, we just can't lose you either," Hayley brought them all in tighter, accomplished in the fact that they managed to tame the heartless doppelgänger in her vindictive state.
"I don't want to stay, I can't stay, I'm doing it to protect you all," she sighed, pulling her head back from Elijah's chest to look at them both, "Elijah, you saw what happened, if he finds out-"
"Wait, what did I miss?" Hayley interjected, brow furrowed, as she glanced between them both. Elijah looking as concerned as ever and even Elena had a disconcerted look.
"We need to talk, guys."