Elena stared at Elijah, her heart racing. "Why would you even want to help me?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion. "If you're still trying to help Klaus, why do you care what happens to me?"
Elijah sighed deeply, the faintest hint of weariness flashing across his usually composed face. He stepped back slightly, leaning against the edge of the table. "Because, Elena," he began, his tone softer now, "I've made mistakes. More than I can count. But there's one I regret above all others. And you… you remind me of her."
Elena frowned, confusion mingling with the tension in her chest. "Her? Who?"
"Tatia," Elijah said quietly, his eyes drifting to a spot on the wall as if lost in a memory. "She was the first. The woman who started it all—the origin of the doppelgänger line. She was… beautiful, kind, and full of life. But she didn't love me. She loved my brother." He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "It's a pattern, it seems."
Elena shifted uncomfortably, unsure how to respond. "What happened to her?"
Elijah hesitated for a moment, his usually steady gaze faltering. "I killed her," he admitted finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "Not out of jealousy, though I won't pretend I wasn't envious. It was… complicated. My family needed her blood for the curse that created us—the Originals. She gave it willingly, but…" He exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. "Her death was still on my hands."
Elena's eyes widened, her stomach twisting at the confession. "You killed her?" she repeated, her voice shaky. "And now you're here, telling me you want to help me? Why?"
Elijah's gaze snapped back to her, his expression grim. "Because I've carried the weight of that decision for a thousand years. Tatia didn't deserve what happened to her. Neither did Katerina, though she ran before understanding the full plan." His lips pressed into a thin line. "But you, Elena… you deserve better. This time, I can ensure a different outcome."
Elena's throat felt dry. "You think helping me will… what? Make up for what you did?"
"It's not about redemption," Elijah said, his voice steady again. "It's about doing what I can, when I can. You're caught in something much bigger than you should ever have been a part of. If there's a way to spare you the worst of it, I'll take it."
Elena crossed her arms, her mind racing as she processed his words. "And this is all about your conscience, then? Clearing your guilt?"
"Partly," Elijah admitted, his honesty catching her off guard.
Elena stared at him for a long moment, searching his face for any sign of deception. But there was none. Just a man haunted by his past and desperate to make things right.
"I don't know if I can trust you," she said finally, her voice quiet but firm.
"You don't have to," Elijah replied, his tone calm. "But you'll see soon enough that I'm not your enemy, Elena. I only ask that you think carefully about what's to come."
Before she could respond, Elijah straightened, his usual composed demeanor returning. "I'll leave you to it," he said, inclining his head slightly. "But remember—time is not on your side."
And with that, he turned and walked out, leaving Elena standing there, her mind a tangled mess of fear, anger, and questions she wasn't sure she wanted answered.
Few Weeks Later
Weeks passed, and Mystic Falls began to feel... different. It wasn't anything obvious, nothing anyone outside their circle would notice. But to Elena, Stefan, Damon, Caroline, and Bonnie, it was impossible to ignore.
The air felt heavier, like the town itself was holding its breath. Shadows seemed to linger longer, even in the brightest parts of the day. At night, the silence was unnerving, broken only by the occasional rustle of wind or the creak of old wood. It wasn't normal—not for Mystic Falls, not even for them.
Elena sat in the Salvatore living room one evening, her legs tucked under her as she stared into the fireplace. Stefan stood nearby, his arms crossed, a faint crease forming between his brows. Damon leaned against the doorway, a glass of bourbon in hand, his usual smug demeanor replaced by something much more serious.
"It's them," Bonnie said quietly, breaking the silence. She sat on the edge of the couch, her hands gripping the armrest tightly. "I can feel it. They're back."
Caroline, pacing near the window, stopped abruptly. "Who? The Originals?"
Bonnie nodded. "I don't know how many, but... they're here. I can feel their magic. It's old, powerful, and—" She hesitated, swallowing hard. "And it's everywhere."
Damon scoffed, though there was no humor in it. "Well, that's just great. Guess they couldn't stay gone for long, huh?"
"They're not here for a reunion," Stefan said, his voice low but firm. "They're here because of the sacrifice. It's almost time."
Elena's stomach turned at his words, her mind flashing to Elijah's warning weeks ago. "But... they're staying hidden?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"For now," Stefan said. "But that doesn't mean we're safe."
Bonnie's gaze dropped to her lap, her fingers fidgeting. "There's something else," she said hesitantly. "I—I think they brought... something with them."
Damon raised an eyebrow, stepping into the room. "Something like what? Another problem we don't need?"
Bonnie shook her head, her expression troubled. "Not something. Someone. There's... a coffin."
The room fell silent.
"A coffin?" Caroline repeated, her voice tinged with disbelief. "You're sure?"
Bonnie nodded. "I don't know who—or what—is inside it. But whatever it is, it's not just magic. It feels... wrong."
Damon ran a hand through his hair, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Great. So, not only do we have to deal with Klaus and his happy little family reunion, but now there's a mystery box with God knows what inside. This just keeps getting better."
Stefan ignored Damon's sarcasm, turning to Bonnie. "Can you figure out what's in it? Or who?"
Bonnie shook her head. "Not without getting closer. And that's... not exactly an option right now."
Elena rubbed her arms, trying to shake the chill that had settled over her. "They're here, in Mystic Falls," she said softly, more to herself than anyone else. "And they're waiting."
"Waiting for the right moment to make their move," Damon said grimly.
"Who said so?"