Saving Lies

She wasn't sure what to think. Killing Klaus was a priority, he was dangerous and evil, and having Rebeka die along with him was unfortunate but not regrettable, she was also a loose cannon; one that wanted her dead. But Elijah…

Elena made her way down the staircase and back into the packed ballroom. She had promised him she would tell him what Esther had wanted with her. Promised to tell the truth. Glancing around the room she found Elijah with ease, their eyes locked. She watched as he began to sift through the crowd towards her, his face a stony mask. She kept her face absent of emotion, mirroring him, and tried not to let any of the guilt or sadness she felt for what she was about to do slip. Meeting him half way they stood within the mass of guests.

"How was my mother?" He was still looking at her, seemingly refusing to be the first to break contact. She wanted desperately to look away, to not have to lie right to his face, but she held his gaze.

"Intense." Elena said hesitantly.

"And should I be worried?" She could feel her heart speed up, and her chest tighten at his question. She prayed to God that all the people there would prevent him from hearing it.

"No, she just wanted to meet me." Elena was almost shocked at how natural she sounded. When had she gotten so comfortable with lying? "She just wants you all to be together again." In death, she added silently. She watched his reaction, but she couldn't tell what he was thinking.

The chatter in the room hushed and at last they broke eye contact. Looking up to the balcony they watched as Esther appeared. She bid the guests welcome, thanked them for coming, and proposed a toast.

Elena's eyes swept the room moving from each of the Originals, watching as they drank to their own death. She looked back at Elijah. He raised his glass.

"Cheers," he gave her a small smile. He lifted his glass to his lips. Elena's hand shot out grasping his wrist firmly, stopping him. A look of shock and puzzlement crossing his features, sentiments that Elena herself shared. She released his wrist at once, pulling it back as though she had been burned. Her eyes were wide, eyebrows knit. She had no idea why she had stopped him. Taking a step back, she could feel that her mask was crumbling.

Turning quickly she pushed through the crowed and out into an empty hallway. She walked as fast as she could, not really knowing where she was going. All she wanted to do was get away. She didn't want to have to explain anything to him, didn't want to have to tell him she had lied about Esther not being a threat. In the back of her mind she knew it didn't matter how far away she got, he would easily catch her.

She turned a corner at the end of the hall only to be greeted by Elijah. His face was hard and his eyes slightly narrowed. He wanted answers. She was about to take a step back, about to try to get away; a helpless endeavor she knew. But she didn't have the chance to even try. She felt his hand grip her upper arm and the wood of the wall dig into her back as he held her in place.

"Elena," Elijah's voice was dark, and the dim light in the hallway cast a dark shadow across his face. She tried to hold her own, to keep the fear out of her face, to slow her rapid heartbeat. His eyes bore into hers, it was almost painful. "You lied to me."

"Yes," she turned her head away from, avoiding his harsh gaze. "I did." He said nothing, waiting for her, giving her a chance to tell the truth this time. She swallowed. "I didn't lie when I said she wanted you all to be together. The champagne had a spell on it that would have bound you all together so that if one of you were to die…" She didn't have to finish.

"She wanted to undo the evil she had created." Elijah didn't sound angry, in fact his tone was devoid of emotions. Elena still couldn't look at him.

"Yes," she replied softly. "And she's not wrong." She said with conviction turning her face back to him, but keeping her eyes away from his, focusing instead on the collar of his crisp white dress shirt. "Klaus needs to die."

There was silence between them as though he were considering her words. Distantly she heard the hum of the ball still going jus down the hall from them. The silence dragged on, and she ignored the slight discomfort she felt as his hand still held her upper arm in a vice grip and the wall bit into her back. Her mind drifted, and she wondered whether Esther had seen what she had done, if she knew that she had betrayed her. She wondered what would happen to her now that she had crossed the original witch.

"Why did you stop me?" Elijah's words brought her back to reality. Her eyes flicked up and their eyes met. She couldn't look away.

"What?" For a moment she wasn't sure what he was asking. When it sunk in she realized she hadn't given it much thought, she wasn't sure it necessarily had any deep meaning. He was her friend, well sort of.

"Elena?" His voice was soft and he loosened his grip on her arm. "Why?"

"Because," she started "I don't want you to die." She finished lamely. Her mind was racing trying to find some kind of answer, not just for him but also for herself. For some reason their temperamental friendship as a reason just didn't cut it.

"You said my mother was right," Elijah reminded her. "You said Klaus needed to die." She wondered whether his voice had always been that deep, that soft. He had a questioning and almost gentle expression, and yet she could feel something akin to fear bubbling up inside of her.

"I did." She conceded. She'd barley got the words out. "But…" She stopped short. Running away seemed to be the best option now, but an impossible one when Elijah was concerned. But she really didn't like where this was going. She didn't want to have this conversation, didn't want to answer him.

"But?" He seemed genuinely curious, his tone and expression were not in anyway leading. Elena felt her fear morphing into indignation, anger. She took a deep breath, and looked him straight in the eyes.

"I like you okay?" Elena answered hotly. "I like you a lot. You're my friend, and I didn't want you to die. As much as I want Klaus dead I'm not willing to let you die in the process!"

She had barley finished her rant when his lips were on hers, his hands moved to her shoulders and almost of their own accord her hands slipped around his neck. She wasn't sure how long they'd been kissing but when they broke apart she was gasping for breath. Their eyes were locked, and for once she could read his expression with ease.

A million thoughts raced through her brain. One specifically stuck out. What the hell had she just done?

AoooooooN

Thanks for reading!

Any comments and criticism would be much appreciated! I'd like to know whether I write these two in character or not for future stories.