❛ ACT I ❜
-ˋˏ chapter fifteen ˎˊ-

1857, Paris, France

ELIJAH MIKAELSON SAT quietly by himself at a table for three on a terrace outside one of the most extravagant restaurants the city of love had to offer, eyes watching the people below.

He had the view of the famous Eiffel tower in front of him, glimmering in lights and standing tall, yet his attention was not on the structure. But instead on a man and a women sitting together on a park bench just below him.

The woman wore the gentleman's coat whilst laughing queitly to something he whispered to her, both humans gazing at each other fondly.

Elijah released a deep sigh, feeling the hole in his chest grow as he watched the happy couple walk away and down the street.

It's been half a century since Elijah discovered his soulmate bond and yet he hasn't found her. It was frustrating and sad at the same time for him. Watching others be happy and content with their partner made the original feel even more lonely than he did before he found out. He felt like maybe the witch was wrong and he was waiting for a ghost.

What was interesting to him was ever since he knew about her, any thoughts of a relationship that wasn't with her seemed pointless to him. Unlike before where he had been in love with others.

But they all seem like dust in the sky now that Elijah knows about her.

To his right, the voices of his siblings bickering could be heard approaching but Elijah was still in deep thought.

"We're finally here Rebekah so stop your bloody whining." Klaus grumbled, dressed in a fancy suit.

Rebekah glared at her brother before facing Elijah, not noticing how distracted he was. "Apologies for being late brother, someone-" She glanced at Klaus. "-had to change his attire last minute. Like it would improve anything." She insulted and sat down.

Klaus rolled his eyes and sat down next to the blonde and across from Elijah. "Well dear sister, some of us actually care about how we look in public." He eyed her dress before smirking.

Rebekah's glare hardened, offended since it was her favorite dress. She turned to her older brother for support but realized he didn't hear a thing they said from the look in his eyes.

Rebekah was familiar with the faraway expression Elijah would have over the years since she was able to read him well. It made her frown and place her hand gently on his, watching his attention shift to her.

Elijah cleared his throat and sat up straighter. "What happened now?" He asked referring to the argument he knew his siblings were probably having.

Klaus and Rebekah shared a look and decided to not talk about what they knew their brother was thinking of.

Klaus scoffed. "Rebekah can't accept that she's not the one people stare at when entering a room."

Rebekah glared at him and Elijah sighed, knowing their dinner was going to be a long one.

Later that night, Elijah opened his bedroom door when someone knocked and smiled at his younger sister.

"Sister, what do I owe the pleasure?"

Rebekah waltzed inside and sat on the couch near the window and patted the space next to her. Elijah sighed heavily, knowing what she wanted to talk about.

"I'm fine, Rebekah." He shook his head, dismissing her silent request and walking towards his desk.

"Don't be like that Elijah, I'm doing this because I care about you. And because I do, I'm saying this from love." She stood up and crossed her arms. "Be bloody patient. She's not going to come anytime soon, the past 50 years have proved that. She'll come when she needs too. The more you expect the less you'll receive."

Elijah continued to shake his head and turned to her with a neutral expression, but the sorrow was clear in his eyes.

"I wish we never went to that witch."

"You don't mean that."

"Yes I do." Elijah said and Rebekah was taken back at his tone. "I've wasted these years pining over someone I haven't met or might never meet. I was ridiculous to believe that my soul was bonded to another, after everything I've done." He ran his hand through his hair and tugged on it out of frustration.

Rebekah frowned and was in front of her older brother in a blink of an eye, gently grasping his clenched fists. "Everything you did was for this family, Elijah. You, more than anybody, deserves someone to love them unconditionally, other than your little sister. Ignore that voice in your head that makes you believe that you're not worthy of someone. All my life you've stuck by my decisions on love despite Niklaus. Now I'm telling you that I'm doing the same. "

Elijah listened to her and his shoulders become less tense at her careful words.

Rebekah was the only Mikaelson who fully believed that Elijah had the soulmate bond. Niklaus only thought of it as something to taunt his brother with, Kol ( despite his interest and knowledge in witchcraft ) scoffed at the thought. Finn doesn't know anything because of the silent agreement the siblings had to keep him locked away. Elijah was constantly in a battle with himself over it, never really having a clear opinion on it.

"Maybe it's best she doesn't exist, Rebekah. Everything this family touches, what I touch, is ruined."

Elijah appreciated his sister's attempts but tonight wasn't the night he trusted her words.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The Lockwood estate was truly beautiful, Sofia thought as she gazed at the large glistening pond only a few feet away from her. She stood, with crossed arms and a straight back, feet planted firmly on the deck of the gazebo tucked away near the water feature.

Sofia remembers when she was thirteen, she and Leo posed in the same structure she stood in as Miranda Gilbert beamed at them with a camera, capturing their excited, youthful smiles for memories. The Lockwoods held a small get together for the founding families and of course she brought her best friend as her plus one.

The vampire looked to her left at the spot her mother stood almost six years ago and almost smiled. But the tension residing between herself and the original vampire with her, reminded Sofia as to why he brought her away from the main house.

Elijah stayed a distance from the woman, noticing how tense she was in his presence. He didn't want to make the situation more uncomfortable and stayed in his place on the opposite side of the gazebo. Her back was towards him, the brunette not sparing him a glance.

Sofia stared blankly at the view whilst Elijah stared hopelessly at her.

Questions gawned at their minds but neither made a sound, either too stubborn or cautious.

After another minute of silence, the man cleared his throat, watching as Sofia merely turned her head slightly in his direction. For Sofia, it was difficult not to meet his eyes and start speaking her mind. She wasn't sure if that would end with her pounding his chest in anger or remaining a cold distance away.

"I'm sorry."

Sofia frowned slightly, turning to face him and she met his regretful eyes with confusion.

She wasn't expecting an apology this soon.

Elijah stood with his hands in his pockets, his posture as perfect as ever and eyes no longer shutting her out but letting her see just how much he wanted to talk and be near her. Her distance pained him and this only confirmed Sofia's thoughts that she, now more than ever, wanted answers for.

Sofia looked at him expectantly and he took a step closer. "I'm sorry about that night. I immediately thought you were aware of Damon's plan and acted without thinking." He paused. "But I have lived a thousand years and I have been betrayed by people that were much closer than you and I. Getting stabbed in the back is more common in my life than one would think." Elijah said with an almost bitter tone.

Sofia watched him with narrowed eyes and took a step closer too."I can see what you're saying Elijah and I'm sorry you've been betrayed so many times before that you've become paranoid." She copied his pause, titling her head. "But I would have thought someone as good as reading people as you are would know if I was acting when I was around you."

She looked at him pointingly. "I did warn Elena after you left and Damon and Stefan knew you were coming." She took a step closer and waited for Elijah to meet her eyes before continuing. "You need to know, Elijah, that when it comes to my loved ones there isn't anything I wouldn't do."

Elijah couldn't tell if she was subtly threatening or warning him. He stared into her eyes, reading her.

There was something bothering her mind and Sofia knew Elijah was starting to piece the puzzle together. It didn't help that his curious gaze made her fingers instinctively ghost over her birthmark under her shirt. That was what made the original snap out of his trance and look at her in shock.

"How?" He took fast steps towards her, any space he tried to give her was gone after he realized.

Sofia gasped at his advances and her back met the wood of the gazebo after she stepped away, hands gripping it as his eyes looked through her intensely. Her body was on fire despite him being two feet away and it was because of her nervous she was.

Because of her movement, her loose hair fell into her eye line and she quickly tucked both pieces away behind her ears and stood up straighter to seem more confident; she wasn't.

"How what Elijah?" She played the innocent card.

His eyes flickered between hers. "How do you know?"

"So it's true then?" She countered, fingers still gripping the wood. "You and I.."

Her voice trailed off nervously and Elijah stayed silent, answering her question without words.

Sofia inhaled sharply and her doe eyes widened. It was true.

She knew it was true, Bonnie did the spell and everything but Sofia has repressed the idea so much since then that now when Elijah confirmed it, it was only truly hitting home.

Soulmates exist, she is one. He is one, they're soulmates.

Sofia felt her breathing become uneven as different questions and thoughts raced each other to grasp her.

It made so much sense. Sofia was never a girl who instantly felt attracted to someone else and was interested in them. It took her a bit of effort to show interest. But when Elijah showed up in her life, what she thought she knew about herself went out the window. He made her feel things she wasn't familiar with. Longing, warmth, a genuine connection.

She ignored her feelings at first but they became so overwhelming that it was hard to pretend anymore. When Elijah was daggered, it became easier since he wasn't around to make her stomach erupt in butterflies. But now that he's here, in front of her. There's so much tension that Sofia didn't know how to react.

The wood under her touch has started to crack and splinter from the pressure she applied and Elijah noticed and immediately took action.

He took her tense hands in his, bringing them together and covering his own around hers. Her unfocused eyes zeroed in on his and watched him gently kiss her thumb that was sticking out, keeping eye contact. Like a wave, her anxiety washed away and was taken by a peaceful feeling.

A feeling only he could bring.

They stayed like that, foot to foot and hands connected, staring at one another silently but a thousand words was passed through their eyes. Sofia was breathing normally again and her hands were limp in his large ones, basking in the warmth they provided.

"We're soulmates." She whispered, but it sounded like she was stating it more to herself than him.

Elijah nodded, gauging her facial expressions. "Yes, we are. We have been for a thousand years, Sofia."

At those words, the women removed her hands from his and used them to almost cover herself when she crossed her arms, the look of shock not fading from her expression. "A thousand years? Elijah I wasn't even born - this doesn't making any sense! Soulmates-"

"I know, I know." He emphasized and reached his hand out to gently grasp her jaw, turning her to face him after she scoffed the other way. "I will explain everything and answer all your questions right now."

Sofia stared back for another moment and nodded, half in a trance from the sparks igniting all over her jaw from his touch. This only messed with her head more.

Seeing her calm down, Elijah stepped away from her since he still believed she didn't want him near her.

Sofia sighed at the loss of contact but played it off by sitting down on the bench in the gazebo that faced the mansion and the lake. Elijah sat down but made sure that there was space between them.

Sofia had the urge to bring her knees to her chest and wrap her arms around herself but decided to instead turn her body towards Elijah with one leg under her. She played with her daylight ring before looking up at Elijah, only to find him looking at her already.

"What are soulmate exactly? I mean, I know - I know the general definition but I'm guessing there's a supernatural one too." Sofia said and Elijah nodded.

"I need to start at the beginning. Soulmates didn't always exist just like vampires or werewolves. They were created by witches a long time ago. It's unknown on their purpose but... you and I are the first ones to exist."

Sofia was shocked even more. She was one of the first soulmates? Why her?

"Now I need to ask a question." Elijah said, studying her. Sofia nodded. "How did you find out that we are soulmates?"

She sighed. "Well, when you were daggered I started to desiccate too." Elijah's eyes widen and panic flickered across his face but she quickly carried on. "I'm okay now since you're un-daggered. But it was obvious I was connected to you. I had my suspicions but then the night Luca died his father made me see these visions."

"Of what?" Elijah asked, curious.

"Um." Sofia tried to remember. "There was a grimoire and alot of blood, fire, vampires and the letter 'M', which I think symbolizes something. I just don't know what." She shrugged.

Elijah's eyebrows furrowed and he looked down at this ring before showing it to her. "Did it look like this?"

Sofia gasped. It was identical to the vision."Yes, exactly. What is it?"

"My family crest."

She raised her eyebrows. "The Mikaelson family crest is the letter 'M' with a snake? Creative."

Elijah chuckled. "While I didn't pick it."

Sofia raised an eyebrow before continuing. "I went to Bonnie for help. She preformed this spell that would tell me if the soulmate bond was in my blood. It worked, obviously." She fiddled with her fingers. "My turn. Tell me more about the bond."

"No one knows who created the soulmate bond but since it's so rare it can be very powerful. In the sense of a source. Just like witches sometimes use the engery from other supernaturals, they can use our bond's to amplify their magic since it is old magic. We were born with the bond." He told her what he knew.

"That's what you meant when you said we've been soulmates for a thousand years. You were born with it first." Sofia exclaimed and he nodded at her. "Wow." She exhaled.

It was a lot to take in.

"Do you want me to stop?" Elijah asked, noticing how the life changing information was making her fidget with her ring more.

"No, I need to know this." She shook her head. "When did you find out?"

"1798, August the 31st." Elijah gave her the smallest smile.

She raised her eyebrows. "You remember the exact date?"

He shrugged. "It was an important day."

Sofia felt warm at his sentimental words. Her chest vibrated with a rare feeling she couldn't describe. He remembered the day he found out about her?

"I had these....visions too." He didn't say 'dreams' in case that made her uncomfortable. "Of you. But your face was blurred. My family and I had a trusted witch do a few spells and she told us that I had the soulmate bond."

Sofia frowned. "Your family knows?"

"Yes, my sister Rebekah was the most excited." He smiled.

Sofia felt lighter when he smiled at her, he rarely did the action. Then she asked slowly. "Why did you keep this from me?"

It was a question with an obvious answer.

Elijah let out a quiet breath before looking at her watching him patiently. "I was selfish, I am selfish." He corrected, earning a curious look back. "I knew if I told you sooner you would think I'm lying and not have given us a chance. I wanted you to at least get to know me and be around me first before you decide if you wanted this. I would never force you to want this, Sofia."

The woman was taken back by how genuine he was. He really cared about what she wanted. What she thought. It made Sofia look at him in a new light. But this made a new question rise as well. Did she want this? She knows any girl would look at her like she's crazy for even thinking about it. She had a soulmate, what's better than that?

But Sofia didn't want to answer yet "Did you ever....give up?" She asked instead and titled her head. She could tell Elijah was disappointed she didn't answer is indirect question. "It's just, that was so long ago." She added.

"I did, many times. I struggled with the idea of having a soulmate. Someone who's made for me, it didn't seem right." He stared at his open palms, focusing on them.

Sofia frowned. "Why didn't it seem right? Do you not believe in love?" She asked innocently.

Elijah laughed softly, taking her back a bit. "I've fallen in love before, Sofia. But I knew this was different. A soulmate - it's someone meant for you. I don't believe I deserve such a great thing." He looked up at her, smiling gently at her, taking in her delicate expression. "I don't deserve you."

Sofia couldnt ignore how her heart stuttered. It was either because he said he's been in love before or the way he was currently looking at her. It hurt her and this was scary because it meant the bond was growing. Her feelings were growing.

"Elijah.. " She trailed off, not knowing what to say. She thought for a moment and hesitated.

She placed her hand on his softly and Elijah tensed at the unfamiliar touch. Her touch. She was so gentle and her skin felt like silk over his. Skin that has been tainted with blood.

But he relaxed when he met her eyes, not trying to hide how surprised he was.

"Everyone deserves great things Elijah, and I'm sure whatever you've done to make you think you don't were things done for love. You smile at the mention of your sister and I remember you fondly talking about your siblings in your car that night. You care about them. Someone who has the ability to love others deserves the same in return." She said tenderly, determined to make him hear her words.

Sofia didn't know what compelled her to try and convince Elijah that he deserved a soulmate. She didn't even notice that the anger she spent so much energy trying to hide no longer bubbled at the surface, waiting to explode. It vanished like it was never there. Just being with Elijah, Sofia's emotions shift and her worries and fears can no longer reach her.

It scares her

Sofia removed her hand from Elijah's and stood up, suddenly feeling like what's she's doing was a crime. Like Damon would catch her in the act.

Elijah noticed her change in behavior and sighed loudly, looking down at his hands. "You're scared." He stated it like a fact.

When all he got was silence, Elijah looked up and watched Sofia's hands tremble, her eyes clouded with a million thoughts all at once. He stood up and took a step closer and Sofia exhaled loudly with her hands tucked in her arms.

"Yes I'm scared Elijah." Sofia said, reluctantly meeting his deep eyes. "At first I thought it was just a silly crush, and it should have stayed just that! But now we're something so much bigger and dangerous."

Elijah felt his chest become ten times lighter at her sublte confession. She just admitted to feeling something towards him. But then he heard 'dangerous', and the weight returned and crushed his chest.

His eyes turned serious and he gently placed his hands on both her arms. "Sofia did something happen?" He asked lowly and Sofia felt a shiver go down her spine at the lethal venom beneath his words.

"No I didn't mean it like that." She told him, looking down.

"I meant that us doing whatever were doing right now is bad because my family and friends won't be exactly supportive - most of them. And I know I shouldn't care about what other people think when it comes to what I want but they are my everything Elijah and I can't bear the thought of them not trusting me or hating me. They're all I've known and it's scary- "

"Shh." Elijah brought the woman into his arms after seeing how worried she got the more she talked. He felt Sofia hesitate but then melt in his warm embrace and warp her arms around his waist and lay her head onto his chest. Elijah's one arm circled her shoulders and his other hand was in her hair, chin resting on her head.

Sofia felt at peace, like nothing bad could reach her as long as she was in Elijah Mikaelson' arms. It was a foreign feeling but a comforting one none the less.

"You must think I'm weak." Sofia whispered, eyes closed and head resting where his heart is. It wasn't beating.

"I think no such thing."

"You're lying."

Elijah chuckled when he saw the adorable tiny frown on her lips once she pulled her head back, body still comfortably in his arms

"I'm serious. You aren't weak Sofia. I know you've taken care of your family since the night you were turned. I know you would endure torture if it meant your loved ones were out of harms way. And I know you'd sacrifice your happiness if it meant your family and friends were happy. Those aren't actions of someone weak. They're actions of someone selfless, strong and unbreakable." Elijah smiled down at her."I admire that about you."

Sofia's eyes widen slightly at his words, no one has ever said she was unbreakable. It made her feel like she actually was. Like she's starting to be after all the loss and tradegy.

A small smile appeared on her face. She locked eyes with him after they slightly drifted down to his lips.
"Is that the only thing you admire about me?" She dared to ask.

His dark eyes looked at her lips before meeting hers again and Sofia could see the desire and longing swirling in them. Emotions her own eyes were no doubt betraying her and showing too.

"It's one of many." He answered, voice deep and above a whisper.

If Sofia wasn't so entranced on the man before her she wouldn't have heard his answer. She felt his arm slowly drop down to her waist, large hand holding her hip firmly. His other hand was still in her hair and he never once broke eye contact.

Then they both started to lean in and soon enough they were breathing the same air from how close they are. Sofia met his eyes again shyly and Elijah smiled at her, making all the butterflies in her stomach dance.

But she knew she couldn't. At least not now. And Elijah knew this too. They were connected after all.

Before Sofia could even tell him she didn't think it was the right time with everything going on, Elijah carresed her cheek delicately and kissed her forehead making Sofia close her eyes at the feeling of his lips on her skin.

"I have waited for you for centuries Sofia and I can wait many more if it means I could finally call you mine - respectfully of course." He whispered into her skin, and she felt him smile into her skin.

How can he possibly think he doesn't deserve her?

He was so understanding that it just slapped Sofia in the face more knowing she's holding herself back. She didn't think it was right to kiss now because Sofia knew that once they did, it was game over. She would officially be in between her loyalties and her heart.

There was no use denying it anymore. Sofia wanted to know everything about the original. She wanted to know the real him, who was under the scary yet calm man many have grown to fear.

Sofia was his soulmate, their souls intertwined together for eternity.

It was terrifying, but in a good sense.

The sound of gravel crunching caught the vampires' attention and they both looked towards the house to see Elena's car pulling up.

Sofia sighed, back to reality unfortunately.

They pulled away from each other and Sofia missed his warmth but the smile he gave her and the kiss on her knuckles brought it back.

"I won't reveal anything until you're comfortable, Sofia." Elijah assured her, holding her hand.

Sofia nodded gratefully. "Thank you Elijah." Her eyes softened. "For understanding."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"You know, my family was quite close." Elijah told the two sisters, Elena on the couch and Sofia leaning against the doorframe. "But Klaus and my father did not get on too well. When we became vampires, we discovered the truth. Klaus was not my father's son. My mother had been unfaithful many years before and this was her darkest secret."

Elijah's eyes flickered to Sofia, who was listening intently. She wanted to know about his family, even the parts he may not be proud of.

They've been acting like their moment in the gazebo earlier never happened and Elena didn't expect a thing. She just noticed that things weren't as tense as before.

She also told her older sister that Jenna was really shaken up but at least now she knows the truth. She's at the Salvatores, in the guest bedroom thinking things over. Sofia was beyond nervous to see her.

"Klaus is from a different bloodline." Sofia stated and he nodded.

"Of course when my father discovered this he hunted down and killed my mother's lover and his entire family. Not realizing that he was igniting a war between species that rages until this day."

"A war between species?" Elena questioned.

"The vampires and the werewolves." Elijah revealed.

The sisters looked at each other in shock. Everything fell into place.

Sofia pushed herself off the frame. "So Klaus is from a werewolf bloodline. Does that mean he's a werewolf or a vampire?" She asked, stopping behind her sister. She was scared for the answer.

"He's both." Elijah said softly.

Elena opened her mouth in horror and Sofia placed her hands on her face. This just made their situation worse. He's a hybrid?

Elijah read her mind. "A hybrid wound be deadlier than any werewolf or vampire. Nature would not stand for such an imbalance of power." Elijah walked closer to the door. "Therefore the witches, the servants of nature, saw to it that my brother's werewolf side would become dormant."

Elena turned to the man. "That's the curse that Klaus wants to break?"

"He wants to trigger his werewolf side. If allowed, Klaus would sire his own bloodline. He'd build his own race...endangering not just vampires but everyone." Elijah said solemnly.

"But you helped him." Sofia stepped forward, not understanding why Elijah would want this.

"I helped him because I loved him." Elijah sighed. "That's changed now. He must die."

Sofia stayed silent at his words. She didn't fully believe him. Elijah can't just not love his brother anymore after centuries by his side. It wasn't possible to her.

"We have the dagger. We can stop him." Elena said hopefully, not wanting to believe that Klaus will overpower them.

"When a werewolf is wounded by silver, it heals. An Original can't be killed by anything but white oak ash on a silver dagger. So you see the conundrum?"

"The dagger is useless. Great!" Sofia scoffed, crossing her arms. "So what? Your brother can't be killed?" She looked at Elijah, upset.

He shook his head. "There's one way to kill any supernatural species." He looked at Elena. "At the hands of the servants of nature themselves."

"A witch." Elena realized before frowning.

"No way." Sofia said, walking to her sister's side. "Challenging that much power will kill Bonnie." She said pointingly to Elijah, knowing he meant their friend.

"The curse must be broken during a full moon when Klaus is in transition. That's when he'll be at his most vulnerable." He stepped closer to the hesitant sisters. "A witch with enough power can kill Klaus."

Elena and Sofia looked at each other. Neither wanted to bring Bonnie into this more than she was already.

"There's one more thing you should know." Elijah added after noticing the silent conversation between the sisters. "When Katerina was the doppelgänger needed for the ritual, I discovered a way to stop her death."

Sofia perked up at this. "You did?" She asked hopefully.

Elijah sighed regretfully. "Unfortunately Katerina took matters into her own hands first. I believe you two already know how that played out."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Entering the boarding house with Elijah and Elena behind her, Sofia heard a crash come from the library and she sped there in panic.

Damon and Stefan were wrestling each other and growling, knocking over things and almost falling into the fire like idiots. Sofia sped towards them and grabbed Damon's ear, twisting it to make him let go of Stefan who was in a headlock.

She didn't know what they were fighting over but she knows Damon threw the first hit.

"Ow!" Damon groaned but stood by her obediently, glaring at his brother just as Elijah and Elena walked in. "Why aren't you pulling Stefan's ear?" Damon scoffed and she finally let him go

"Because I know you started it."

"You weren't even here!" Damon protested. "And try picking up your phone once in a while. I didn't know where you were!" He looked at the other two that entered. "Now you've invited him in?" Damon glared at Elijah.

"Elijah and I renewed the terms of our deal." Elena told the brothers calmy.

"Really?" Damon asked sarcastically.

"The two of you will come to no harm at my hands." Elijah reassured them stiffly, eyeing Damon and Sofia before walking closer. "I only ask for one thing in return."

"What?" Damon immediately asked.

"An apology."

Sofia sighed, yeah that's not going to happen. She knows Damon is too prideful.

"A what?" Damon cringed, looking at his best friend. "Is he serious right now?"

Sofia rolled her eyes and shoved his shoulder. "Just do it."

Like expected Stefan stepped forward first and sighed. He looked Elijah in the eyes. "I'm sorry for the part that I played in your death." He looked towards his girlfriend. "I was protecting Elena. I'll always protect Elena."

"I understand." Elijah accepted, subtly looking at Sofia who looked at him as well.

Everyone turned to Damon, who stood stubbornly with his arms crossed next to Sofia. The vampire shook his head with an angry glare.

Elena sighed. "The sacrifice is going to happen Damon. Bonnie will kill Klaus without hurting herself and Elijah knows how to save my life." She titled her head. "I told you that I'd find another way. And I did."

Damon stared at Elijah suspiciously before turning to Sofia. "It that true?"

"Yeah." Sofia nodded but raised in eyebrow in Elijah's direction. "He just hasn't revealed how yet." She said pointingly.

Damon scoffed again. "And you two are trusting him?" He asked the girls.

"We are." They replied simultaneously.

"You can all go to hell." Damon said, making sure to look at his brother before storming off.

That was expected.

"He's angry with me right now." Stefan told Elijah, not wanting to loose the alliance. "But he'll come around."

"Eventually." Sofia added tiredly. She knew Damon was too angry to be comforted so she let him leave. Besides, she needed to talk to Jenna.

Stefan nodded in agreement before tapping Sofia's arm. "Jenna's in the first bedroom on the right." He informed her, knowing she hasn't spoken to her aunt yet.

"Thanks Stefan. For saving her earlier." Sofia smiled before walking up the stairs and leaving to finally talk to Jenna.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Taking a deep breath, Sofia knocked firmly on the large oak door. It was silent for a few seconds before Jenna called out a 'come in'.

Sofia opened the door and smiled gently at her shaken up aunt. The older woman sat in one of two armchairs in front of the doors leading to a balcony. Jenna's eyes were puffy and red as she looked up.

"Sofia?" Jenna sat up from her slouching position.

"Hey Aunt J." Sofia closed the door behind her before taking the seat opposite Jenna. A silence fell over them, and Sofia frowned at how exhausted her aunt looked. "Jenna when did you last sleep?"

Jenna scoffed at the idea of sleep. "So, you knew too, huh? About vampires, werewolves and witches." Jenna shook her head "It's all so crazy. I mean, Elena told me everything two hours ago and I'm still struggling to believe it's real."

"And that's normal Jenna, this is all crazy." Sofia slid off the chair, so she was in front of her upset aunt on her knees. She grabbed Jenna's hand to comfort her. "I'm so sorry that we kept it from you. But Jenna you have no idea about how dangerous this all is. We just wanted-"

"To protect me, yeah I know." Jenna said, remembering her younger niece's words. "But Annie I'm the guardian. I'm supposed to protect you and Elena and Jeremy. Your parents trusted me to take care of you three." Her green eyes welled up with fresh tears and she dropped her head in both her hands in shame. "I failed them, and I failed you."

Sofia's heart broke and her own eyes filled with tears, never wanting to have to hear Jenna say she'd fail them.

"No, no, no Jenna look at me." Sofia begged, removing Jenna's hands from her face and making her crying aunt look her in the eyes. "You haven't failed us or mom and dad. They were so right to trust you because you care about and love us so much. No one else could ever do what you did, Aunt J. You stuck by us and let us cry to you without asking for anything in return." She reached up to wipe Jenna's cheeks. "You were our light in the darkness, and I can't have you thinking you failed us. You saved us Jenna."

Sofia meant every word. The Gilbert siblings were so lost after the car crash. Sofia had just become a vampire so her grief, guilt, anger and despair was magnified. It pained her to have to stay away from her family during the transition but the knowledge that Jenna was looking after her little siblings gave the vampire a sliver of comfort.

The pitying stares and the isolation they all experienced when Miranda and Grayson died was exhausting. Just knowing that Aunt Jenna was still there and would never leave them reminded the siblings that they weren't alone in the times they couldn't even comfort each other.

Jenna cried harder and fell to her knees so she could hug Sofia. "You got it wrong Sof; you kids were my light in my darkness." She pulled away with a watery but warm smile, wiping Sofia's wet cheeks. "What would I do without you, huh? My little angel."

Jenna kissed Sofia's forehead and the younger woman chuckled. "I'm just glad I finally know everything so now I can actually protect you."

"Well we have a group of supernaturals so you won't have to do much." Sofia told her because she really didn't want Jenna involved in all the danger they create and put themselves in. Jeremy already ignored her pleas so Jenna was her last hope.

"Oh right." Jenna shook her head in disbelief. "I can't believe everyone is something. Bonnie's a witch, Elena's a doppelgänger, Alaric is a vampire hunter and Stefan, Damon and Caroline are vampires." She chuckled dryly. "That's still a shocker."

Sofia gupled. It's now or never.

Maybe not? Sofia was really scared to tell her aunt. But it needed to be done. Jenna knows about Elena being a doppelgänger and she's handling it.

But being a copy of another person and being dead and drinking blood is two extremely different things Sofia.

"Sofia?" Jenna stroked her niece's cold cheek, noticing her worries.

"Jenna." Sofia whispered in defeat, shoulders slumping. She dreads this.

"What is it sweetheart?" Jenna sat down properly in front of the vampire, holding her hand. Sofia hesitated. "I can handle it."

Sofia inhaled a shaky breath and looked her aunt in the eye, trying to look strong. Because she knew this would break her aunt a bit and one of them had to stay intact.

"That night when the car crashed.." Sofia felt Jenna's hand stiffen. "And Elena and I survived. People said it was a miracle that I was moving since I had no heart beat."

"Annie.." Jenna whispered, confused on why she was bringing up the crash so randomly.

Sofia squeezed Jenna's hand. "It wasn't a miracle Jenna. I died that night. I was dead." She swallowed.
"I am dead. I'm a vampire."

Jenna's eyes widen in horror and shock, her hands leaving Sofia's and covering her mouth. Tears appeared again but Jenna didn't let them fall as she stared at her niece.

Her dead niece.

"W-What?" Jenna asked, struggling to understand. "No-No. You're not d-dead. You're alive. You're right - right in front of me!" Jenna cupped Sofia's cheeks in denial. "Not my Annie.."

Sofia's face crumbled, not being able to stay strong when her aunt looked at her like she was a broken vase that needed fixing.

"Jenna please listen." She took her aunt's trembling hands in hers. "Stefan fed me his blood before my heart gave in and that made me a vampire. I was in transition and I couldn't be near you guys because of the bloodlust."

Jenna sobbed harder at that word.

"So that's why -"

"Why you went camping." Jenna pieced together, remembering when she got that phone call from Sofia telling her she needed to get away to grieve. At the time Jenna thought it was weird because she knew Sofia would want to be far from her siblings. "But you weren't camping.."

Sofia shook her head, gripping Jenna's hand for dear life but not breaking it. "No. I was at the Salvatores. In this boarding house learning control and how to use my vampire abilities."

Jenna listened through the tears and the heartbreak. She couldn't believe her ears. Sofia died. Her niece died and she didn't even know about it. Jenna's heart ached thinking about what Sofia went through all alone. Her sweet girl. All the woman could keep picturing was Sofia when she was younger. Full of life and so excited for the small things in life. It hurt Jenna to know that girl is gone.

But she wasn't, Jenna tried to remember. Sofia was sitting right in front of her, holding her hands and comforting her. She always does that. Comforts and cares others, neglecting herself. Becoming a vampire doesn't mean Jenna lost her niece, a piece of her yes, but not everything. There's still that light in Sofia and Jenna was so grateful for it.

Sofia was shocked when her aunt suddenly hugged her tightly, squeezing her like she'd disappear. After a moment she returned the hug much more gently than Jenna, waiting in anticipation for the blowup.

When she told her siblings it was different because they shared her trauma. Elena felt guilty and angry and Sofia remembers holding her little sister as she cried. It wasn't her fault, Sofia told her, because it was the truth. She never blamed Elena. Her sister came to terms with the truth quickly and stuck closer to Sofia from then on out.

Then with Jeremy - he was silent. It was scary because she expected alot of anger from her brother. But he just sat there, staring at his older sister. He told her he needed a minute to himself and it was only a day later when he hugged her and told her he loved her no matter what. But still even now Sofia sensed the on and off shock from him.

Jenna pulled away after a good three minutes, sniffing and wiping her eyes. Sofia reached onto the small coffee table next to them and handed Jenna two tissues. Her aunt smiled at her before quickly wiping all wetness from her face.

"Are you okay?" Sofia asked gently, still not understanding Jenna's reaction yet. It went from disbelief to understanding so quickly.

Jenna chuckled dryly. "You're asking me that when it's you here who went through it."

"I care about what you think Jenna." Sofia said, hesitating to say her next words. "So, what do you think?"

Jenna laughed softly again at her blunt question. "I think you're the toughest person I know. And I love you Annie."

Sofia beamed in relief and she sat up straighter. "You don't care that I'm a vampire?"

"It will take some getting use to, like everything else.." She squeezed Sofia's hand. "But I don't care that you're a vampire. You're still my Annie." Jenna reached up and messed with Sofia's neat hair.

The vampire let out a huge and loud sigh of relief. "You have no idea how long I wanted to tell you. I'm so happy you're okay."

Jenna hummed, looking at her niece' hand and seeing her pretty blue ring. She lifted the specific hand up. "This is your daylight ring?"

Sofia nodded, secretly thanking her sister for telling Jenna the rest of the supernatural things.

Jenna titled her head with a small playful smile. "It's cute, can I borrow it sometime?"

"Do you want me to burn in the sun?"

"Nevermind, I'll just buy a similar one at Walmart."

Sofia laughed, feeling like an invisible weight as been lifted from her shoulders.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

AUTHOR'S NOTE

I'm baaack!

Odd question : if Sofia was really in the show, would you guys ship her with Elijah? If not, who else?

Anyways, good news! Just like I promised I've written Act 1 completely and will be updating everyday!

Thank you for reading and for waiting sooo long!

Please vote!!!