New Beginning

Chapter Thirty-Six

**Sorry, it took so long for me to update! Ive had a few real-life changes, so hopefully, the updates will come easier and quicker. My beta has yet to polish this, so any mistakes you catch are my own. Let me know what you think.**

I admitted to myself, as I paced in circles on the Lockwoods front porch, that I wasn't in top form. I attempted to head inside and wait patiently for Niklaus and his merry band of lackeys, but as soon as I tried to step past the threshold of the front door, it was as if I was magically barred entrance. The air was swept from my lungs and it felt impossible to breathe; my entire body was vibrating with panic. Thankfully Elena seemed to understand that although I was reluctant to reveal what had happened, it was a big deal, so she remained by my side — anxiously watching me pace. It wasn't hard to see that she wanted answers, but at the moment I wasn't in any frame of mind to supply them. I was grateful when she decided not to press me. While I paced, I tried to wrap my mind around the fact that Niklaus and Elijah had dug Esther up, deciding to carry her around like some rare collectible. Halfway through another round of pacing, my wonderfully treacherous brain switched trains of thought, supplying me with a brand new terrifying tidbit to chew on: maybe the other Mikaelsons were as blind to this information as I was? I stopped in my tracks, placing my head in my hands and groaning in frustration. Regardless, it was the absolute worst game of tempting fate. I was prevented from circling, and inevitably restarting my pacing, by Elijah's tight unforgiving grip on my upper shoulders. I wobbled on the heels of my feet, and reaching up, I used his biceps to brace myself. With a cocked brow, he stared down at me, his jaw set tight.

"Elandra, you need to calm yourself; mother cannot reach you. She has been dead for centuries and will remain so," he said.

I laid my forehead against his chest and my shoulders shook as I tried to keep my hysterics at bay. A chill spread down my spine as I exhaled through my nose. "I want to believe that Elijah but you didn't feel her magic, it's pulsing with life. She's just waiting for an opportunity...someone that she can manipulate into doing her bidding. I'm sure she has all the help she needs on the other side, she just has to wait for what she needs on this one," I said with conviction.

Elijah's eyes softened but I could see the disbelief in his gaze, whether that be because he truly wanted to believe we were all safe from his mother's interference, or because he didn't think there was any way she could find her way back from the other side — it didn't matter, what did was the fact that no one ever listened to me until it was too late. Gently gripping Elijah's jacket, I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to dig deep, searching for the courage I would need. I couldn't allow Esther to free herself, if she did, I did not doubt that this time she would take everything from me. If I couldn't get anyone to take my fears seriously, then I would handle the situation on my own, it's not like I wasn't used to doing just that. Flexing my fingers, I released Elijah, carefully brushing down his jacket with a small smile, and stepped back. I ran my fingers through the messy strands of my hair, biting the inside of my cheek to control the muscles in my face that wanted to reveal my internal panic. He scrutinized me uneasily, his head tilting to take in my feigned smile. His narrowed eyes probed my flittering gaze, and I patted his chest as I tried to casually search for a quick change of subject. The soft feel of material under my palm caught my attention, and I crossed my arms, a brighter smile overtaking my lips.

"Well, look at you." My gaze raked over Elijah as I took in his new attire. The suit he now wore was a classic black slim-fit design, with a freshly pressed white dress shirt underneath. He paired it with a dark merlot red tie to complement the look. "The former Mayor had taste — that's about the only good thing you'll ever hear me say about him," I said.