Balance.

chapter two.

So sorry for the delay for this chapter, but I hope you enjoy! xx

"Be safe, and if anything happens contact us." Leora warned Alaric, her voice sharp and stern. The two gave an unspoken agreement through their eyes before Elijah hugged his daughter goodbye. Esme hugged him back tightly. Leora walked over and gave Esme a short hug.

"I don't see why I don't get to go." Ingrid pouted, her arms crossed over her chest and an annoyed expression written across her face. Esme smiled lightly before reaching out and hugging her.

"You're about to start some very important stuff in your studies, you need to stay." Leora spoke up from behind them. Esme ignored her, already having made up her mind, and looked at her little sister.

"I'll call you all the time, and I'll see you before you know it." She kissed her on the cheek before picking up her bags and waving goodbye for the last time before walking out to Alaric's truck.

The ride to Aaron felt longer than normal. It took around 12 hours, but when she was a kid it felt like nothing. Maybe she was just nervous, but she had every right to be. It had been years since she visited there, and it felt like that was another world ago. Things have changed since she was a kid.

"Okay, I may or may not have a different plan than normal." Alaric said, scratching his head.

"What do you mean?"

"Around two years ago I began tutoring a young boy named Fyn. His family was rather wealthy, and to save transportation efforts, they offered to let me rent their guest house. So that's where you'll be staying." Alaric explained. Esme let out a breathe. She was scared to go back to his old house because so much had happened, and she didn't know if she could handle it. She was thankful to not have to face it.

"That's fine." She laughed. Alaric, reading her face, knew what she as thinking. He remembered Alex, and how much they loved each other. She remembered the night that Esme returned, and he remembered them crying over her older brother Jeremiah.

Not much longer, they pulled into a long driveway. Esme saw a rather large stone house, surrounded by gardens and fountains. People fluttered around the garden, trimming the hedges and watering the flowers. There was a long cobblestone driveway that split in two, one circling in front of the large house and another that continued behind the house. Alaric pulled in to a two story building behind the main house.

"This is it." Alaric presented, unbuckling his seatbelt and stepping out of the truck. Esme followed him as he grabbed their bags and carried them into the foyer. Inside the house, the ceilings were high, the walls were crisp white with a beautiful chandelier in the center. Large mirrors and grand paintings were decorating the walls. Potted plants covered the marble counter in the middle of the room.

"Wow," Esme admired "This is beautiful"

"Let me show you your room." Alaric beamed, sitting his bag down and grabbing hers. Esme followed behind him down a long hallway before coming to what seemed a living room. There was a marble round staircase inside it, and she went behind him up it. Finally he stopped at a room on the end of the hall. Alaric pushed open the double doors, showcasing the large dark-wooded bed, covered in bright red comforters, black pillows, and fuzzy, white, throw blankets. Beautifully crafted furniture was spread across the room, with a rocking chair in the corner.

"Will it do?" Alaric laughed at her expression.

"Of course! This is amazing." She said dreamily, falling on the fluffy bed.

"Get ready, dinner in the main house is in an hour." He said walking out the doorway, but turning back to look towards her "Oh, and Iliana is a shopper, so I believed she filled the wardrobe up. Dress nice."