𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡'𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲, 𝑘𝑙𝑎𝑢𝑠 𝑚𝑖𝑘𝑎𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑜𝑛

18. chaos in first class

Klaus leaned back in the front seat, eyes on the road but clearly amused by her flailing commentary. "Curiosity can be... valuable," he said, voice light, as if teasing, though there was a sharpness beneath the surface.

Aurora groaned dramatically, throwing her hands into the air. "Valuable? Valuable? I feel like I'm about to jump headfirst into a... a hurricane made of werewolves and vampires! How is that valuable?" She shot a glance at Stefan, who shook his head ever so slightly, lips pressed in a thin line. He clearly wanted to tell her to stop, but her energy was relentless, unstoppable, and... maybe he secretly found it a little comforting.

Klaus's grin widened, though he didn't respond directly. Aurora rolled her eyes at him. "Unhelpful. Completely unhelpful. And yes, I know I'm speaking to the world's most dangerous hybrid, thank you for the reminder. But seriously. Where's the manual for this adventure?"

By the time they reached the jet, Aurora's heart was hammering, partly from nerves, partly from the thrill, and partly because she didn't want to leave everything behind. The tarmac stretched endlessly beneath the bright sun, a sterile canvas for what she feared would be a chaotic painting of the next weeks.

Stefan opened the door first, giving her the small, protective nod that said more than words ever could. Aurora felt a pang in her chest as she stepped onto the metal steps, a fleeting thought flaring in her mind: I won't get to hug them again. Not now. Not like I want to. She swallowed hard and held her head high, forcing her usual sparkle into her expression.

Klaus strode past her with that effortless ease that always made her feel like she was slightly off balance. "After you," he said smoothly, and Aurora's stomach fluttered—not with fear this time, but with the curious mixture of exasperation and a strange admiration she felt around him. She waved her hands dramatically as she entered the cabin. "You're lucky I like chaos, because clearly, this is a chaos sandwich, and I'm the top layer!"

Stefan sighed, shaking his head, but there was a faint smile tugging at his lips. Aurora's commentary didn't bother him; if anything, it kept her grounded, kept her alive in a way that words alone couldn't. He followed her in, making sure she had her seatbelt fastened properly, just a subtle act of reassurance in the world of absolute uncertainty.

The cabin was luxurious, gleaming with polished wood, cream leather seats, and sleek, modern panels. Aurora's eyes widened despite herself. She tried to keep her voice steady as she whispered to Stefan, "Well... at least if we're going to chaos, it's going to be fancy chaos."

Stefan chuckled softly, the sound rare and comforting. "Try to enjoy it," he said, eyes glancing toward Klaus, who was already settling into his seat with an imperious grace.

Aurora rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath as she fastened herself in. "Enjoy it... right. That's easy to do when you're thinking about leaving everyone you love behind, about jumping into the unknown, and about trying not to die. Super easy." She paused, closing her eyes briefly.

Klaus's voice broke through again, casual but firm. "We're ready to depart."

Aurora's eyes snapped open. She swallowed hard, suddenly realizing just how real this was. Her stomach twisted with nerves and a lingering sadness. She was leaving, stepping onto the first flight of what might be weeks, maybe longer, of uncertainty. Her friends, her family, the little routines of home—all behind her.

Her hands clenched the armrests, and she whispered, more to herself than anyone else, "I'll be okay... I can do this."

The jet engines roared to life, and the luxury cabin hummed with energy. Aurora pressed her forehead lightly against the cool window, staring at the fading streets of Mystic Falls. She felt the weight of all she was leaving behind, the bittersweet ache of goodbye she couldn't voice, and the impossible mixture of fear and anticipation for what lay ahead.