"I'LL TAKE ONE BEEF SANDWICH..." Aurelia spoke slowly as she read out her food of choice from the menu. "With a good amount of beef, please." She quickly added, her eyes going up to the perky and sweet waitress in front of her. "And a cup, or two."

"One beef sandwich..." The waitress messily jotted the order down, before pausing and looking up at Aurelia in slight confusion. "Did you say a cup?" She blinked several times in complete disbelief.

"Preferably with a lid." Aurelia was completely unfazed.

"Uh..." The waitress nodded slowly and unsurely, before turning around and walking away. Aurelia let out a chuckle as she watched to slightly older woman lift her arm to scratch her head through her black locks. She then shook her head, continuing to let out soft and subtle laughs.

Her momentary amusement came to an end with a familiar ring from the cuboid on the table, which began to violently vibrate next to her forearm. She ceased her laughs and pursed her lips as she looked at the caller-ID of her ringing phone, before taking it in her hands and swiping right. She heaved a sigh, letting one hand run through her blonde hair as she anticipated shrill pitches to hurt her ears.

"AURELIA!" A grimace made its way onto her pretty features at the sound of her sister screaming into the phone. She didn't expect any less; Rebekah Mikaelson had just woken up in the 21st century, after about ninety full years in a coffin. It was no thanks to the vampire's biological half-brother, Klaus. He had used those special daggers that Aurelia never fully understood and stabbed his special vampire family, just as he always did if they were burdens or just irritating.

"Rebekah," She began with a loud sigh. "Don't yell into a phone, it makes even vampires go deaf." She could hear a loud and obviously exaggerated scoff from the other end of the line. "What did you want?"

"You?" The answer came out as more of a question than a statement, making Aurelia furrow her eyebrows together. "Do not tell me that you don't know."

"Uh..." Aurelia's eyes shot over to the same waitress she interacted with, coming back with her beef sandwich and two cups. "Depends on what I do or don't know about." She continued, her words coming out slowly. "If it's the fact that you've done something stupid, I probably don't know and don't care. If it's something important, I might know and care." She smiled politely at the waitress as she watched her order be set on the table. "Thank you." She said sweetly, before clearing her throat and holding the woman's wrist to stop her from leaving. "Would you do me another favor?"

"Who are you talking to?"

"Shut up. I'm hungry and I don't want to go through with the trouble of a missing person." Aurelia hissed through the phone, making the waitress' eyes bulge out of their sockets in horror of what she just heard. "Well shit, look what you just did, 'Bekah." She looked at the name tag on the uniform, before making eye-contact with her. "Carrie, sweetie," She smiled innocently when she saw Carrie's eyes dilate slightly in comparison to her own, considering Carrie was the victim and she was the perpetrator. "Calm down, shut up, and listen to me." Carrie instantly obliged in her trance, and Aurelia released her grip on her wrist when she was sure she got it done well. Nevertheless, her eyes remained on the black-haired woman, even as she dug her hand into her pocket and pulled out a small and cute pocket knife. She then placed on the table and gestured towards it. "Cut your radial artery and pour your blood here," She took one of the two cups and placed it at the edge of the table. "In this cup."

"Sadistic much?" At that point, she forgot she was on the phone. "I thought you were a saint, my dear sister."

"A saint, maybe... I'm not exactly killing people anymore. I'll let her fill up the cup and put a lid on, then I'll give her my blood so she can heal." She explained, her eyes on Carrie's wrist, where a red line was made visible where the knife had been. Thick droplets of blood spilled over her skin, before travelling down and falling into the white, opaque cup from her skin. "There you go. Just fill it until I tell you to stop." She turned her attention back to the phone and began to speak Rebekah again. "You haven't referred to me as your dear sister since before you were daggered." She observed with a cunning smile. "And you never do. I get it, I'm six centuries younger, not even biologically related to you. I'm just someone you picked up along the way, like Marcellus." She began to drawl on deliberately, just as she did when she had to get something out of the naïve and indecisive millennium-old vampire.

"The ball tonight." It was like Rebekah knew her tactic and gave up almost instantly. "The four men are out, meaning we have the mansion to ourselves. Time to play dress up." Aurelia nearly rolled her eyes, but stopped half way through when she replayed Rebekah's sentence in her mind.

"Four? And what ball?"

"Niklaus, Elijah, Finn and Kol?" Aurelia's lips parted in surprised at her eyebrows visibly arched. "I was woken up by Damon and Elijah last night, and so were Kol, Finn, and Mum." The last word caused Aurelia to incredulously exclaim, and then keep quiet as she looked around for any turned heads in the venue. "What?"

"I assumed it was only you when you called last night, Rebekah!" She cried. "You spoke as if only you were daggered and confronted Klaus!" She referred to the point where Rebekah and Elijah had caused a bit of a mishap with Stefan and Damon Salvatore at a dinner they had. What was beyond her was why her sister decided against revealing to her that three other Originals had been woken up. "And why is your mother awake too?!"

"It...just happened." At the moment, Aurelia looked at the cup that was still getting filled with Carrie's blood, before raising her arm up to signal for the woman to stop. She then took the knife from her hands and slit her own wrist, letting a large volume of blood fall into the second cup.

"Take this and drink it, then forget this ever happened." She ordered and then continued to speak to Rebekah. "I have one question, sister."

"Which is?"

"You're not stupid, are you?" She asked harshly. "You know about Kol's lovestruck heart, right? He was in love with me before he was daggered, and you don't exactly have conscious thoughts when you're dead." She found her sister completely baffling at that point.

"You can just...reject his advances, 'Lia! Come on, you're really going to choose running away from Kol over dressing up for a prestigious ball with me?" Aurelia's hand went up to her nose to pinch the bridge in irritation, ignoring Rebekah's incessant pleas for some time with her sister. "Aurelia!"

"I have predetermined obligations—"

"You can meet Caroline later, at the ball! Come on, you've seen your generations-removed-great niece a million times than you've seen me." Rebekah's pout popped up in her mind, causing her to groan softly.

"Fine, fine," She obliged with a sigh. "Kol's out of the house, right? I'm in no mood to play Hermia and Demetrius from A Midsummer Night's Dream." She could hear another sassy scoff from Rebekah at her reference, because holding back a chuckle. "What? The play doesn't enhance our situation at all, it's perfect to describe it."

"Ten minutes." The line was dead after that.

"Perfect." Aurelia's sarcasm left her lips in an attempt to let out some of her frustration; she wasn't in the mood for drama, she had had enough reunions in the past months; reunions that were memorable, but enough to make her want to tear her head off.

She wrapped her fingers around the covered cup with a huff and took a sip out of the red straw, before closing her eyes and sighing in content.

"YOU GOT A CUP OF BLOOD and left none for me?" Rebekah's tone was unsurprised and yet full of hurt; however, Aurelia had a hint that it wasn't genuine.

"Don't be dramatic; you feed on three people a day." She chaffed, her voice holding a bored and tired tone. "By the way, you never told me what this apparent "ball" was for, 'Bekah." She added on, hoping to get a good answer.

"Well, now that all of our family has awoken and come together- Me, Kol, Finn, and Mum- or that the rest decided to be in the same place at the same time- you, Elijah, and Nik- we decided to celebrate it, in the tradition, fancy gala way." Aurelia blinked a few times in disbelief.

"I walked all the way here and had to be careful to avoid Klaus and company, and you want me to meet Kol tonight." She complained with pursed lips; throwing the cup she was holding into Rebekah's hands.

"Not my fault." Aurelia shot the Original Vampire a glare at her brief defense, making the latter raise her hands in surrender. "I mean, I may have called you here, but it's you who chooses not to give my brother a chance." She spoke facts, causing Aurelia to roll her eyes and frown at the statement in defeat. "Really, what reason do you have to avoid him?" Aurelia shrugged at the question truthfully, making Rebekah cringe visibly.

"What?" The younger vampire began to climb the stairs of the large mansion. "I just don't know about it... it could cause complications with you all." Her words were vague and left much to be desired, especially for a woman similar to Rebekah.

"As in?"

"Let me put it in this way," Aurelia began, turning around on the steps to look down at the blonde. "I was adopted by you as a sister, when I was fifteen years old. You four- Elijah, Niklaus, Kol, and you- have known me as a blooming teenager. Kol loved me from the start, on and off, all while he's supposed to be my—"

"He never agreed to looking at you as a sister, 'Lia." Rebekah cut her off without hesitation. "Come on, imagine the power you two would have." Aurelia shook her head and held up her hand to dismiss the older vampire, before turning back around to get to the top of the stairs. "Aurelia!"

"Rebekah!" She mocked without looking back. "I'm not in the mood to try anything out with anyone."

"...is it because of Stefan Salvatore?" The question made Aurelia stop in her tracks and grab the railing next to her harshly, causing Rebekah to nod slightly in understanding and triumph. "Don't tell me that you haven't moved on from that man." Aurelia forced a breath of disbelief and annoyance, continuing her way up the stairs.

"I moved on one and a half centuries ago."

"Then why don't you date another person?!" Rebekah exclaimed. "You haven't been involved with anyone in the longest time, from what Elijah and Klaus tell me." A pause, and Aurelia took the opportunity to speak, but she was beat to it. "And one-night stands do not even come close to what I'm talking about. You've done and bedded people, but I know you." When Aurelia spun around and looked at her sister as she waited for her to come to the top of the steps, she saw a knowing expression on her face. "If you don't give Kol a chance, I'm just going to assume you're one of those... people that get too attached."

A gasp left the younger's lips. "I am not!"

"Then give my brother a chance, sweetie." A frustrated groan left Aurelia's lips as she turned to walk towards her room. As she opened the door and was about to shut it behind Rebekah, she heard the latter's voice slowly speak. "What's in that?"

Aurelia's eyes left the door handle and reached the middle of her soft bed, a large part of her room in the Mikaelson Manor. There sat a box, each horizontal edge as long as the length of her elbow from the tip of her longest finger. "You didn't put it there?"

"Why would I ask you if I did?"

"Oh," Was the only word that left Aurelia's tinted red lips, before she walked past Rebekah to her bed and reached out for the box. "It's not too heavy, but..." She shook the box gently. "I'm still not sure about its contents." She then set it on her thighs and placed her hands on the lid, pulling it upwards and throwing it to her side.

Her eyebrows arched high in surprise. "Oh sweet heavens, that's beautiful." Rebekah's astoundment was clear in her voice as she saw the gorgeous material that was neatly folded and placed in the black box. Aurelia then looked at Rebekah, making sure her grey-blue eyes met with Rebekah's baby blue orbs. "Who gave it to you, though?"

Aurelia huffed and gently took the delicate gift out of the box, attempting to look for any sign the sender left. "There's a card..." She observed, picking up a card the size of her hand. The writing was in calligraphy, and scarily familiar to her. It was satisfying to look at, an element of handwriting she had always appreciated. "To my dearest." She read out loud, slightly confused. "Maybe there's writing at the—" As she swiftly flipped the card over between her fingers and glanced at the lines, she forced a chuckle of shock. "Darling Aurelia, I hope you find my gift worth wearing to tonight's little ball. Eternally yours, Kol." Aurelia let out a laugh as she finished reading the little letter in her hands, before looking back up at a dreamy Rebekah.

"Ready to give the man a chance?"

LETTING HER HANDS FALL from her earlobe, Aurelia gently patted down her dress to reduce any excessive fluffing. She took a good look at her figure in the full length mirror that was in front of her and reflected the almost unrealistic gown she had been gifted from her admirer.

It was fancy, elegant and unique. The material was made of silk, and had straight folds covering half of the sweetheart neckline, which extended to her waist. The decorations consisted of more folds, straight and curved. The silk and another translucent cloth were sewed to form curves that ran down towards the left side, due to the bundle of cloth sitting at the left end of her waist. Gold thread was embroidered into the dress, a perfect color to go with the dark navy blue base.

Her makeup was more prominent and bolder than it usually was, with a visible gradient of a pearl white at the inner corner of her eyes. The light and delicate shade progressed to a matching navy blue shade, which ended at a colour just above black. Her cheeks were left as they were; she never would apply makeup products like blush. Her lips stood out more so than ever with a dark red hue that enhanced her full lips. Her jewelry was something simple: navy blue stones that were perfectly fit together with small gold embellishments on her ears and collarbones. Her rings were the same, however; they were the type of rings to go with anything she wore. Her wavy blonde locks were completely up, but had a few strands falling on her cheekbones.

"Wow," She whispered to herself with a small smile. "He really has wonderful taste." She slowly spun around and looked at the dress in admiration, before adjusting it for the last time. That was when her phone rang on the table next to her, making her look at Caroline's name on the ID.

"Aurelia! I'm right outside the venue!" Caroline's bright voice dripped with optimism and sweetness as usual. "Where are you? I'm waiting!" Aurelia hummed, forgetting that she didn't mention her whereabouts to her niece.

"I'm, uh... inside the venue." She replied, earning a gasp. "Just waiting on the right time go down and greet guests."

"Then now's the perfect time! I haven't seen you in days, and it's a great idea to meet up right now." The bubbly blonde was quite obviously excited, a quality that never failed to amuse Aurelia. "Please? I won't have to run from Klaus."

"I could very well use a partner to be with while running away from Kol."

"Wait, what?! He's awake, too?" Aurelia slowly nodded even though she knew Caroline wouldn't see her. "Wouldn't Stefan be jealous?"

"Stefan Salvatore, for the millionth time, is off the wagon and doesn't feel shit, Caroline." She cleared out. "Besides, one and a half centuries is enough to get over someone, with or without abrupt separation." She let out a soft sigh. "He and Damon are just attending to protect the doppel- Elena." She had to restrain herself from dehumanizing the doppelganger by calling her a doppelganger. She had met Elena Gilbert weeks ago; the brunette was a sweet soul that had unwillingly been caught up in some doppelganger trouble that had been set off by one Katherine Pierce.

Katherine was just someone Aurelia hated to no end, someone who had lasted long enough to be the bane of her existence for centuries; of course it had taken and would take time to warm up to an exact look-alike of her. Although Katherine and Elena's personalities were polar opposites, Aurelia always saw Katherine's face in Elena, and Katherine's situation in Elena's situation. It was like history repeated itself with the two. Not only did they share the same face, they both had Damon and Stefan Salvatore wrapped around their little fingers at some point; Katherine for just a few months with foul play and an intention of simple use for the brothers, and Elena for over a year with no intention to harm. Not only that, but Damon was once again the brother after the girl, with Elena being involved with Stefan just as Katherine was.

However, the relationship didn't matter, Stefan Salvatore was still off the wagon, wasn't he?

"Stefan's been acting differently nowadays, Aurelia." Caroline stated. "He's...showing a bit of the real Stefan, the one you fell in love with way back when." Aurelia bit her lip at the sudden revelation, careful not to ruin her lipstick. "Yes, him and Elena are in a complicated place because they seem in love, but I'm telling you this because you shouldn't be shocked if you're trapped between Kol and Stefan. They're both in love or have been in love with you at some point, and have abruptly been lost or lost you."

Closing her eyes, Aurelia placed a hand on her forehead in slight exasperation. "Stefan doesn't love me, Caroline. I'm sure he doesn't. He has Elena, she's much better than I am, and we can't just continue from where we left off, even if he turns it back on." She paused, giving her words some thought. "Given, I appeared at a time he was suppressing his emotions, and probably have stirred something. Yes, that's a possibility, but I literally have no intention of starting anything back up with him. Or Kol, for that matter."

"So, single?"

"Single." Aurelia repeated with a cute laugh at the way Caroline slowly spoke. "I'll see you downstairs, Care." As she set down her phone, she saw Rebekah at the doorway. "What?"

"Why do you care so much for that wretched blonde when she and her little gang," Rebekah said, referring to people like Elena, Stefan, and Damon. "Are so hell-bent on getting rid of us?"

"Caroline is my sister's descendant." Aurelia answered. "I love the both of you just the same, and I have history with the Salvatore brothers. I'll do what I have to when they actually try to kill one of us." She spoke firmly, hiding her conflicted mind for the umpteenth time.

She cared about her family, the Originals for the longest time. However her blood relation with Caroline and her history with Stefan and Damon were enough to make her think. Unless war had started, she wouldn't do much.

She enjoyed watching drama unfold anyway.

AURELIA'S EYES FELL UPON the first floor of the mansion where guests