Youth ☽ ☾ Klena

18.

A/N Another long chapter for you all. This one was originally something completely different and this chapter is actually what I originally intended to be the introduction to the main chapter but it was about 1700 words to long XD Enjoy the chapter!

A year later and Elena was sixteen and there was no reason for the ritual not to take place. The moonstone had been stolen from Damon's soap dish by Klaus himself when they had gone over to their living space, some hovel on the edge of the town. Klaus had been surprised by the lack of grandeur but didn't mention it- he was glad to see them living poorly, miserably even. The brothers were stuck with each other after all.

Elena had grown albeit not much. She was still shorter than Klaus but that didn't stop her from opposing order on the household. She had grown into herself and was confident in who she was. She hadn't regretted her decision to go through the ritual and as Klaus drew further away, Elijah grew closer to the girl. The searched extensively for a cure but, so far, had come up with nothing.

It was clear the Klaus was jealous of the pair but he never made a move to change the situation. Klaus had his tantrums but he also had his sulks. It was surprising that even after a thousand years, a man could still act like a toddler.

Elena still had school but she worked around her schedule and had even gone so far as to invite Chloe and Nicole to her house to make sure she wasn't only working. The two girls had loved the house and despite being timid of the three adults, they soon grew close too. Rebekah was in love with Nicole as they shared an enjoyment in fashion and makeup- Nicole would learn a lot from Rebekah. And it was clear the Chloe had peaked Elijah's interest when she had loved sport. She surely didn't look like it. She was short with a thin frame and wasn't exactly packed with muscle yet you could say she was the best at many of the school sports. Elijah was curious as to how her body managed to even do it and there was nothing that could deter Elijah from his course if he wanted to know something, no matter how mundane. Elena, as her friends talked to the now teenage-like adults, went to Klaus who was looking down at them on the balcony.

'This is Klaus!' She had called out, just to draw attention to Klaus- to annoy him.

'Really, Elena. You need to stop.' Elijah had sighed, quietly but the whole room heard.

'I did nothing wrong!' She had replied, calling for Nicole and Chloe to follow her to her room.

A day later and the house was quiet and preparations for the ritual were in place. Elijah had a phial that could save Elena but the chances were slim and they were still searching for a cure, thinking that the phial was almost no better than having nothing.

Klaus had remained in the shadows of the whole scenario. He was pulling away from Elena and everyone was letting it happen, knowing there was a very high chance that Elena could die. Although, Rebekah and Elijah were, if anything, becoming closer to Elena to compensate that.

Rebekah had begun helping them search for a cure and despite Klaus' distance, he did give his input on specific occasions.

'It's the full moon tonight.' Elijah sighed, cleaning his fists that rested on the table. Elena turned to him, the room empty apart for the two of them, and gave him a curious look. 'That means the ritual must happen tonight.' Elena's head turned sharply back to the phial on the table.

'Is this my only hope?' She asked, her body shaking slightly in fear. Elijah nodded solemnly and said nothing more.

'We have everything else for the ritual. The vampire and werewolf, per your request, are even willing. Although, I hardly see how that's any better.' Elena shrugged the comment off and left the room, her body still shaking.