Elena focused her mocha coloured gaze on the tremendously enormous ship that was floating on the sea ahead of her. It had been almost two years since she had left Mystic Falls, abandoning her old life and everyone she had ever known. First her parents, then Jenna, Alaric and then Jeremy and Bonnie; she had lost everyone she had ever considered family. As for Stefan and Damon, they were better off without her; or that's that she thought. She had left either of them a short letter in which she explained why she needed a new beginning. She didn't want to be the girl who is surrounded by death anymore, the girl who only feels pain. She knew that Stefan and Damon would look for her and they wouldn't give up easily. But she could hide her tracks and she was moving around fast. She had forever to do whatever she wanted, to be whoever she wanted and to go wherever she wanted. She was currently in England; Southampton. The ship she was taking had New York as its destination; a place she had visited when she had her humanity off. She wanted to visit that amazing, beautiful city again, to create fresh, happy memories. With that thought in mind, a faint smile curved upon her slender, luscious brims as she followed the rest of the passengers towards the entrance of the ship, dragging her suitcase along with her; her suitcase filled with clothes and blood bags.
"Welcome to Aquatitanic! We sincerely hope you will enjoy your voyage…Miss. Watson." the receptionist said as he was handing Elena's ticket back to her along with the key to her cabin. Her fake identity was required in order to travel around freely, without having the fear of someone tracking her.
She flashed him a sly smile before taking hold of the handle of her suitcase again and carrying it up the stairs to the second deck of the large ship. It didn't take her long to find her cabin, number 208. She slid the key inside the lock and unlocked the door, stepping inside the small room. There was only one, single bed, a desk along with a wooden chair and a bathroom on the other side of the room. It wasn't much but it was comfortable enough for Elena for the few nights she would have to spend aboard. She placed her dark green suitcase on the chair and unfastened the zip that was holding it closed. Going through her tidily stuffed clothes, she finally found what she was looking for. She took a blood bag out and sat on the soft mattress of the bed. Her gaze remained focused upon the dark red liquid that was floating inside the small plastic bag she was holding; memories of her death, of her transformation, of her sire bond to Damon, of the days when she had flipped the switch, they all sneaked into her mind. Remembering was painful. She wanted to go back, to Damon, to Stefan, to Caroline, to Matt, to April, to her old life. But it was too late now. It was safer for them if she wasn't around. She couldn't have any more people dying because of her. The memories and those thoughts brought a few bitter tears to her chocolate brown eyes but she managed to blink them away before they were running down her cheeks. A soundless, sad sigh emerged out of her parted lips as she untapped the blood bag and brought her lips to the nozzle, slowly drawing blood out of the bag. The bitter, metallic taste filled up her mouth and ran down her throat, increasing her strength and consciousness, extending her vampire senses. She put her whole body upon the mattress now, after kicking off her shoes, and leaned her back against the wall, since the bed was placed next to it. . She fluttered her eyes shut and gave in to the intoxicating, satisfying taste of the dark red liquid that she was gulping down.
A few minutes passed until Elena had fully drunk down the contents of the blood bag. As she removed the nozzle from her bloody lips, she took in a deep, sharp breath and let it out again slowly. She glided her tongue along her bottom lip, to clean it from the last traces of blood, and she put the empty now blood bag back in her suitcase -she didn't want any maids to come in her cabin and see it-.
The ship had already taken off from the harbour; she could feel the machines working, intensely enough for the ship to move on a still low speed. She stretched her slender arms before standing up from the bed again. She tucked the cabin's key into the pocket of her jeans and walked out. Her previous trips had only been by plane, bus and car. It was actually the first time she was travelling by boat and she wanted to make the best out of it; but she also had to act as human as possible, so that she wouldn't bring any suspicions. She took the stairs to the 9th and highest deck; that deck had a large restaurant, a disco, a bookstore, a small market and a few business class cabins. But it wasn't the inside that Elena was interested in. She pushed the door to the outside part of the deck open and stepped out. The cold breeze immediately fell upon her facial features and blew her hair backwards. It was a completely new feeling for Elena; the strong wind, the smell of the sea. It was truly invigorating and refreshing. She approached the balusters that were placed on the edge all around the deck, separating the passengers from the dark, deep water of the sea. The height of the deck and the sight of the rough, untamed sea didn't bring any dizziness to Elena, as it happens to many people. Instead, she let her eyes fall closed and she stood still, using all her vampire senses in order to take in this unique, special moment. The wind tangling up in her brown hair, the voices of the other passengers around her coming to her ears, small drops of water that the wind brought up to splash on her face as the ship was slamming against the sea; it was all breath-taking and absorbing. Involuntarily, a sly, happy smile appeared on Elena's facial features; it had been a long time since she had smiled like that. Actually, she couldn't remember the last time she had. Pulling her brown leather jacket tighter around her body, she walked along the edge of the deck next to the balusters, her mocha oculars never leaving the rough, infinite sea. Soon she had reached the prow of the ship. The wind and the cold were stronger there; therefore no other passengers had chosen that place to rest during the voyage. "Even better." Elena thought, with the faint smile still plastered upon her face. She walked towards the end of the prow and grasped the balusters, her attention now focused straight ahead. No land was visible from the current location of the ship; only perpetual, dark water, with white spots on it due to the waves caused by the strong wind.
Elena's small hands slowly let go off of the balusters; she spread her arms widely open towards each side of her body, like waiting for a big hug. She tilted her head a few inches upwards, letting the wind blow her hair back immensely as her eyes were shut once more. Her vampire strength was enough to keep her still and unbothered against the strong wind. Her senses were working feverishly, exposing her excitement and ecstasy. The salty smell of the water was piercing through her nostrils and the cold breeze was brushing against her skin roughly; her mind was empty. No thoughts, no memories were able to interrupt this moment. Instead, it was the sound of a familiar voice that brought her down to earth again. Apparently more voyagers had decided to visit the prow.
"We have a deal, Mr. Johnson. He can start our business right away once I am back in New Orleans." Elena heard the familiar voice saying. It didn't take her long to recognise who it was. She withdrew her arms from being spread widely, letting them hang again next to each one of her slender sides. No smile was evident anymore on her features; instead, it was replaced by a deep, confused and concerned frown. She turned around and saw him; a few metres away from her upon the deck stood three men, all of them dressed in suits. But it was only one that Elena knew; Elijah Mikaelson. The first Original vampire she had met; also the only one she was getting along with. Her jaw had slightly dropped and her chocolate brown eyes were focused upon his suave figure, practically staring at him. No matter how hard she had tried, there was the ghost of Christmas past, standing almost right in front of her. He hadn't changed one bit. He must have realized someone was staring at him since his gaze briefly averted from the man he was talking to and momentarily met Elena's. She held her breath and swallowed thickly; no signs of recognition appeared on his face, though she knew. She knew that he had recognized her, how couldn't he? She clenched her fists until her joints became apparent on the back of her hand; her body was tense. She couldn't waste any time, Elijah could finish the conversation with those other men within seconds. She turned and walked away from the prow of the ship, leaving him behind her, though deep down she knew an encounter with him was unavoidable during the whole voyage, especially now that he had seen her. After having left everyone behind for two years, she was stuck on a ship with the Original vampire, Elijah Mikaelson.
