Summary : the Salvatore brothers are too late. Elijah succeeds in his plan to kidnap Elena and hold her hostage to bait Klaus into his trap. Yet despite this girl's infuriating stubbornness and his proclaimed thirst for revenge, Elijah finds his resolve slipping. Meanwhile, as friends scramble to the rescue, more unexpected feelings begin to blossom.

Pairings: Elejah, Klaroline, [possible Donnie, Stexie]

First Vampire Diaries fanfic! Enjoy!


Elena hears the footsteps on the stairs and turns. Preceding her trembling captors Rose and Trevor, a stranger walks forward onto the balcony. Impeccably groomed and dressed in a dark suit, the man goes rigid when he sees her. Dark eyes rove over her, and before Elena can blink a rush of air brings the man inches from her face. She takes a startled step back, but he only draws nearer.

This must be Elijah, she realizes with a sinking feeling. The man who's going to kill me.

She can feel herself trembling from head to toe, but she forces herself to remain still as he leans forward, his eyes intent on her face. The precious few inches separating them disappear, and for one horrifying moment it looks like he's about to kiss her. But at the last second he tilts his head ever so slightly and lowers his lips to skim against the base of her neck. Elena shivers as she hears him pull in a slow breath through his nose. When he draws back, a mixture of surprise, suspicion, and something she can't define flickers behind his eyes.

"Human," he murmurs. Rose and Trevor shuffle with nervousness behind him as he continues. "It's impossible."

Elena swallows hard when those cold brown eyes return to her. He gives her a sort of half smile, and in a deceptively kind voice addresses her for the first time:

"Hello there."

Elena's too petrified to even move. There's something about this man, something ancient and frightening, darker and colder than anything she's ever faced before. He turns.

"Well, we have a long journey ahead of us. We should be going."

Raw fear takes hold of her, and before she can stop herself she hears her voice cracking with a terrified plea to Rose.

"Please, don't let him take me!"

Rose's eyes slide away from hers, and she almost looks guilty. But the other vampire doesn't move. Elijah nods to her. "One last piece of business and we're done."

He turns toward Trevor.

The younger vampire swallows. "I've waited so long for this day, Elijah. I'm truly—" his lower lip trembles, "—very sorry."

"Oh no," says Elijah, hands folded behind his back as he circles him like a piece of prey. "Your apology's not necessary."

"Yes," Trevor insists. "Yes, it is. You trusted me with Katerina and I failed you."

"Oh yes, you are the guilty one," Elijah amends. "And Rose aided you because she was loyal to you, thatnow I honor." He comes to a stop before Trevor, his back to Elena. "Where was your loyalty?"

"I beg your forgiveness," Trevor pleads.

"So granted."

The ghost of a smile begins on Trevor's lips, and then Elijah moves so fast that Elena has no time to blink. He whirls on the spot, arm whipping out, and Trevor's head sails across the room in a spray of blood. The headless body sinks to the ground as Rose screams.

Elena claps a hand over her mouth to keep herself from crying out, too.

"You!" Rose sobs, starting forward.

"Don't, Rose," says Elijah. "Now that you are free."

Rose clutches the banister, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Come." Elijah extends a bloodied hand to Elena, which she stares at in horror.

"But what about the moonstone?"

He pauses. "What do you know about the moonstone?"

"I know that you need it," she replies. "And I know where it is."

He arcs an eyebrow in amusement. "Yes?"

She fights to meet his gaze. "I can help you get it."

"Tell me where it is."

"It doesn't work that way."

Elijah purses his lips to hold back an incredulous laugh. "Are you negotiating with me?"

He glances back at Rose, who has regained her composure enough to ground out, "It's the first I've heard of it."

Elijah returns his gaze to Elena, and his eyes narrow. He takes a step forward and touches a finger to her necklace. Her breath catches.

"What is this vervain doing around your neck?" With one sharp tug, he snaps the chain and tosses away her only chance at salvation. Elena tries to look away from his compulsive gaze but he grabs her by the back of the neck and forces her to meet his eyes.

"Tell me where the moonstone is."

An awful, yet familiar feeling of eerie calm settles over her. "In the tomb underneath the church ruins," she hears herself say.

"What is it doing there?"

"It's with Katherine."

"Interesting."

A crash, a thud, and the splintering of glass from upstairs. Elijah's eyes snap up.

"Time to be going."

"No, wait—"

His arms snake around her waist in a rush of wind, everything's gone.


Minutes later, Damon and Stefan crash into the main hall. They're met with a wild-eyed Rose, who's breathing hard with tears tracking down her cheeks.

"What…" Stefan starts.

"You're too late," the vampire whispers. "She's gone."