Like Real People Do ⋆˙⟡ Mikaelson Brothers

chapter 1

⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☾ ◯ ☽₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆

Elara Graham lay sprawled on her bed, listlessly flipping through the glossy pages of Vogue. Boredom gnawed at her, amplified by the loneliness of her recent move to Mystic Falls. With a dramatic sigh, she rolled onto her back, her long brunette hair fanning out around her like a silken halo. If she were honest with herself, she didn't want to be here at all. All her life she had been relentlessly bombarded with visions of supernatural beings and endless drama, most of which seemed to converge right here in Mystic Falls, with New Orleans coming in a close second. The only reason she was here was because the old ladies in her head were telling her she needed to be here. They assured her that people here would be less prying then in Florida. Elara had nearly rolled her eyes at that, she assumed the ladies were lying, (usually they were) but lucky for them she needed something here. Sheila Bennet's grimoire. How she would get that, well, she hadn't figured that part out yet. She just knew she had to stay away from any supernatural creature, and never let them find out what she was. Elara knew how seers were treated, and what happened to them if they overused their powers.

But, other than the constant threat of vampires and werewolves finding out what she was and using her for their will, she was enjoying Mystic Falls... from the confines of her neighborhood. Elara was not risking bumping into any of the 'main characters' of her visions on unnecessary outings, she'd watch them from afar, making sure none of them got close to her or her mother. A sudden wave of dread washed over her as she remembered that she was starting school the next day-at Mystic Falls High School. Grabbing her stuffed wolf, she pressed it over her face and let out a muffled scream of frustration. How could she have forgotten? Almost all her recent visions had centered around that very school, and now she was willingly walking into the heart of it. Sitting up, Elara stared blankly at the wall, her mind racing to devise a strategy to avoid any encounters with the school's resident supernaturals. She briefly wondered why there wasn't on-campus security given the amount of shady activities, but that was a secondary concern.Elara groaned in annoyance, why did her life have to be so complicated.

A ringing sound from her alarm clock brought the girl back to reality, and she sighed, resigning herself to the task at hand-waking her mother. Slowly, she extricated herself from the comfort of her bed and made her way downstairs into a small bedroom. The girl stood by her mother, Eliza's bed for a few seconds, taking in the permanent grimace on her face, there was no time when the older woman wasn't in pain. Lovingly, she brushed her mother's hair away from her forehead, committing every detail of her features to memory. They were often told how alike they looked, both possessing long black hair, delicate facial features, even matching moles; the one difference being Elara's eyes-those she had inherited from her father.

With as much gentleness as the girl could muster, she softly roused her mother. "Momma, it's time to wake up," she whispered, not wanting to startle her. The woman awoke with a jolt, quickly dissolving into hysterics. Elara soothed her with gentle pats and whispered comforts until she calmed. Smiling tenderly, she took her mother's hand, helping her out of bed. The woman only hummed in acknowledgement, her eyes staring off into space.

An hour passed before Elara finished bathing her mother. She now sat quietly, watching her mother pick at her food, meticulously avoiding the vegetables on her plate. "Momma, you need to eat your vegetables. They're good for you," she urged. With a sigh of exasperation, her mother angrily stabbed a piece of broccoli, barely chewing it before swallowing. Elara's scowl deepened with worry. "Chew your food properly, Momma, or you might choke," she admonished gently, as her mother huffed in response.