[KNOW THY ENEMY]

wherever the wind blows.

"WHAT DOES THAT even mean?" Spencer asked as the three stared down at the golden ancient-looking amulet that lay in the hollowed-out book in Jonas's apartment and the note. Juliette furrowed her brows at the note, incantatio amplificus. That was literally just gibberish.

Juliette huffed as she roughly placed the book on the table, rubbing her temples in frustration. Jonas had told her to find this amulet before he died, but he did not tell her what it was for. He also did not mention this note and what it meant.

"Great, this is just so great," Juliette grumbled as she groaned into her hands, leaning against the table. She was very frustrated by this whole thing. She had no clue what was going on and it was so confusing. She was quite literally going insane and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

"Hey, it's okay, we will figure it out." Harlee comforted, rubbing the blonde's back, She and Spencer shared a look of concern for Juliette. "We will help.''

Juliette scoffed, "Will we though? I've been going around and around in circles trying to figure everything out and it all makes no sense! I genuinely don't know how much more I can handle.'' She said as tears brimmed her eyes slightly as she covered her face again, shaking her head for being so stupid. How could she not figure out what was happening?

Harlee and Spencer glance at each other, both concerned for Juliette but not knowing what to do either. Spencer stepped closer to the blonde. "Juliette, we don't know what's going on either but we're going to stick by you until we do. We're here to help." He spoke softly, his calm voice soothing the girl's nerves just a little bit. He gently pulled her hands away from her face as he held her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"Everything's going to be okay. We're here for you and we both will not stop until this is figured out."

Juliette smiled slightly, nodding her head as she listened, taking in Spencer's words. "You have way too much on your plate J, I don't know how you do this every day," Harlee added.

Juliette also did not know how she did it. She spent most of her time worrying about Elena and this whole sacrifice situation plus her ever-growing family issues, she barely ever got the time to stop and worry about herself.

And she was so worried,

Her life was literally falling apart right in front of her and there was nothing she could do.

'I don't even know myself. I usually ignore all my issues and focus on Elena's, her's is much worse than mine." The blonde replied, shrugged her shoulders as she wiped a few stray tears off her cheeks.

"See that's what we're not going to do anymore. I get that she's your sister and you feel, as the oldest, that you should only worry about her problems, but you can't keep neglecting yourself anymore, J." The pixie-haired witch spoke, pointing her finger at the blonde. "You're issues cannot be overlooked anymore because you think Elena's are 'more important' You've just found out you're a witch who's having these weird dreams with a totally sexy original vampire, and you're also hearing voices and get those headaches very often. You are not allowed to ignore this anymore."

"Jeez Harlee, way to lay it on." Spencer chuckled, gently elbowing his twin sister as he and Juliette stared at her for her outburst.

"Yeah, felt like my mother was just resurrected for a minute," Juliette added, chuckling slightly as Harlee rolled her eyes.

"Joke all you want, but Juliette Aurora Gilbert, I will be watching you."

"Okay relax."

✧✧✧✧

    AFTER GETTING SCOLDED by Harlee and comforted by Spencer, Juliette was at the Salvatore's with Elena, Damon and Stefan. Apparently, John invited Isobel into the Gilbert's house because she now wants to act as a 'concerned mother' so that's amazing.

Apparently, word got out about the doppelgänger and Isobel wants to help keep Elena safe by offering her a safe house. Elena of course did not accept because who would?

Juliette flopped onto the couch next to Elena as she propped her feet on the coffee table, only for Damon to kick them off. The blonde scoffed as she sat up straight instead, twirling her hair in between her fingers.

Elena spoke from next to her, "Do you really think that Isobel's telling the truth that word's gotten out about the doppelgänger?" She asked, fear lacing her voice as she spoke. It was clear that even though she did not trust Isobel, she was still scared.

Stefan sighed as he took her hands into his, 'Look, I don't trust a word that she says, but I think we'd be stupid to ignore the warning." He replied, his usual serious look on his face. Juliette hummed in agreement, it was the best thing to do, even though they knew they could not trust Isobel or John, this was serious.

"You know, you should just stay here. It's better for us to keep an eye on you." Damon suggested as he poured a glass of bourbon, however, Juliette took it from his hand and started drinking it. The vampire sighed and glared at her, the blonde smiled innocently at him before he made another one for himself.

Stefan furrowed his brows as he looked at his brother, "What, in the house that any vampire can enter? No. Her house is safer." He reasoned.

Damon sighed "Well, then we'll stay there."

"Erm no thanks. I don't want you weirdos in my house." Juliette spoke, sipping from her drink. Stefan and Elena gave her a look as Damon smirked at her.

"We will be snuggle buddies," he teased as he sat next to her, wrapping his arms over her shoulders. "It's like your dreams are coming true."

The blonde rolled her eyes as she glanced at Damon, "I'd rather die than share a bed with you again. You're a blanket hogger."

"No way, I am no-"

"Guys," Elena warned as she glared at Damon and Juliette. The blonde sighed and rolled her eyes at her sister. Once again she was being bossed around by a teenager. How dare the attention come of the Elena Gilbert for even a minuscule of a second. Juliette and Damon share a look of annoyance before turning back to Elena.

"So is that the plan? Neither of you will let me out of your sight again?' Elena questioned, annoyance evident in her tone.

Juliette scoffed as she spoke. "Let me know when you come up with a better one." She muttered, pissed off Elena was even arguing this one. The amount of times Elena has planned a suicide mission was ridiculous, and Juliette did not want her to add to the list.

Elena rolled your eyes at her sister, as she sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Fine. Then one of you 2 bodyguards is gonna have to come with me to the Lockwood luncheon."

"That'd be me," Stefan replied, smiling softly at Elena.

"Not me. I have witch stuff to attend to with Bonnie and Juju." Damon said, smirking at Juliette, who was not particularly happy about going with him.

"Does that mean that you're taking her to the..." Elena started but was shushed by Damon as he pointed to his ear just as Katherine walked into the library.

The doppelgänger smirked as she leaned against the couch, "Don't get quiet on my account. If you have a plan to combat the impending vampire doom, please do tell." she said, looking between the four who glared at her.

"Seriously, what is the plan to get us out of this mess, hmm? I delivered you a moonstone, a werewolf, and the dagger to lure and kill Klaus, and right now all you have is a moonstone. Or so you tell me." Katherine pesters.

Damon smirked as he raised his brow at the vampire, "No, we have it." he replied, looking like he was proud of his hiding spot for the moonstone.

It was a terrible hiding spot.

Katherine looked hopeful as she spoke, "Where is it?"

"It's in a very safe place."

"Like we would tell you," Juliette scoffed as she stood up from the couch, having enough of everyone for one day.

"I'm going home to have a nap, bye weirdos." The blonde announced as she left the library without any goodbyes.

She had about two hours until she had to meet up with Damon and Bonnie to go to the spot where the witches were massacred and harness ancient dead witch power.

Fun!

She barely got any sleep last night so she was exhausted, her dream with Elijah telling her she was a witch forced her to stay awake for half the night. So she was going home to have a quick nap.

Not to see Elijah or anything.... definitely not.

Shut up.

✧✧✧✧

SERAPHINA, 1001, AD

I had spent days helping Esther prepare the spell to make her children immortal, using my magic to bind the spell together.

With each step I helped with, Esther promised to help me flee my family's wrath, she said they were coming for me, she felt it. I was petrified but stuck with her, unknowing of the fact she would be the reason for my downfall.

One night, I was setting up a fire as we had finished with the spell for her children, forging them into immortal beings who feed on the blood of humans. Powerful, and unkillable beings.

I had placed the last of the firewood into the blazing fire when I heard voices and footsteps getting closer to Esther's agreed spot. I did not recognise the voices to be from Esther or her husband, Mikeal.

I felt my heart stop when I saw my mother step out from the forest, with a group of people from my town. I stumbled back as soon as I saw they had pitchforks, swords bows and arrows.

But then, I saw Esther step out and stand next to my mother.

She had betrayed me.

- Seraphina Gilbert.

✧✧✧✧

JULIETTE SIGHED AS she placed the grimoire on her bedside table, exhaustion overwhelming her as she settled comfortably into bed. Her mind reeled over what she had read.

Esther, Elijah's mother, had betrayed Seraphina even though she helped create the spell that made them into vampires.

Damn, she sounds like a bitch.

The blonde sunk into her pillow, bringing the blanket up to her chin as she closed her eyes, letting her exhaustion take over her.

✧✧✧✧

JULIETTE WOKE UP in the same forest as she did last time, wearing the same dress from whatever time period she was in. The blonde stood up as she wiped the grass and mud from her dress.

"Isn't it a bit early for you to be asleep?" She heard his voice speak from behind her as she glanced over her shoulder, grinning at the sight of Elijah standing directly behind her.

She turned to face him and took a few steps closer, "Well, I was up all night after what you told me, so I think I'm allowed a nap." Juliette replied, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Right, I apologise for telling you so abruptly. That dream was the first time I've seen you since I was daggered by your sister, and I didn't know when I would see you again." He spoke, his hand coming up to brush a strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingers dancing over her soft pale skin, the mere touch sending a shiver down both of their spines.

He sighed as he stared longingly into her eyes, "I didn't want to leave you with nothing, I've already left you in the dark for far too long."

"You have." The blonde mumbled as she stared up at him, her voice quiet and breathy. She took another step closer to him, being inches away from him.

Elijah cupped her cheek, his thumb softly caressing her skin. "How are you finding it?" he asked gently, his other hand landing on her hip as he drew circles over her dress with his fingers.

"What? That I'm a witch? Oh great, taking it quite well." Juliette replied, sarcasm dripping from her tongue. She most definitely was not having a great time with this life-changing news.

Elijah sighed as he smiled sympathetically at her. "I'm sorry this is happening, I probably picked the wrong time to tell you."

"You couldn't have picked a worse time." Juliette chuckled as she flatted out Elijah's shirt as she inched closer to him. "I am very grateful you did tell me though, I just wish I had the time to just focus on myself, you know?" She sighed.

"Everything always has to be on Elena and I know she's going through a lot right now but, I feel like, and I hate that I do, that, they would just focus on me for once, you know?" She spoke, pursing her lips. "That probably sounds so selfish-"

Elijah gently shook his head, sliding his hand down her sides, his fingers tracing the curve of her hip. "It's not selfish at all, you have so, so much going on Juli, I'm surprised you're not more focused on your issues more."

The blonde shrugs.

"You need to be."

"I know, I know, Elijah. I'm aware."

The original smiled down at Juliette, his thumb caressing her cheek. "I have a question," he whispers, his lips inches away from the blondes, he was fighting the urge to connect them.

Juliette hummed, sighing as she looked up at him, "What?" she whispered back, her eyes darting to his lips as she connected their foreheads gently.

"Can I kiss you?"

FUCK YESSSS

I need to calm down.

The sides of Juliette's lips curled up as her breath hitched in her throat. The blonde nodded her head gently as her heart beat aggressively against her chest, nearly pounding out of her chest.

Elijah's lips brushed against Juliette and he was so, so close to connecting them until a guttural scream interrupted them. Juliette flinched as her head snapped in the direction of the scream.

"What was that?" Elijah asked, stepping towards the direction as he held Juliette's hand.

"A scream?"

Elijah glared at her.

She just shrugged.

"Thank you Captain Obvious."

✧✧✧✧

HIII POOKIES!!!

I am so so so so so so so so so so so sorry I haven't updated in so long. I had exams and school and everything was just way too much in my life so I barely had any time to write and I am apologise for that!!

Thank you to the ones who stayed patient!!

It means so much to me <33

Anyway, i hope you like this chapter, probably not my best work but im slowly getting back into it!

I'll see you in the next one!!!

Byeeeee

6/01/25