A/N: Hey there! Thanks for all the great reviews, and sorry if there were multiple alerts for this chapter, I went a little technologically ditzy for a moment!
So FYI, Jeremy doesn't have his "I see dead people" drama in my story! I'm also messing with Hybrid and Originals lore; in my story, the Originals are susceptible to sunlight, and a Hybrid retains vampire features - You will see what I mean :)
I have also started myself an Elejah playlist, featuring songs I think relate to this ship, and i thought I'd mention a few each chapter. This week's songs are "She is My Sin" by Nightwish, and "Fleurs du Mal" by Sarah Brightman. :)
Lastly but not least, I own nothing! Although I may soon be in possession of a homemade Elijah doll, courtesy of my twitter friend Jaymarie6, who, coincidentally, is my inspiration for the character Jay, is the one to thank for speedy updates ;) Feel free to find her, and me, BonGarland, on twitter!
Elena ushered Jacqueline in behind Damon, shutting the door quickly against the torrential downpour outside. Gesturing towards the living room, she went to grab a towel from the linen closet.
Entering the living room, Elena handed the towel to the female vampire now seated on the sofa, who smiled gratefully, and then perched herself on the arm of a nearby chair. Damon had already helped himself to Alaric's scotch, tossing back a generous amount and pacing the room.
"So, what is this all about, and why are you two here at three o'clock in the morning?" Elena questioned, folding her arms and raising a brow at Damon.
Jacqueline, who had been attempting to towel her hair dry, tossed the towel to the side and removed her sodden sweater. Combing her fingers through her wet hair, she sighed and looked at Elena.
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, and I know we haven't met, but I simply figured we would need as much time as possible to prepare for the return of Klaus." She let that sink in, rising and beginning to pace just as agitatedly as Damon.
Elena stared at Jacqueline, her mouth falling open. Unfolding her arms, she stood.
"What do you mean? He got what he wanted, I'm by all rights DEAD, and my aunt Jenna IS dead. What more could he want with Mystic Falls?" Elena cried, her voice growing louder and more upset as she spoke.
"What's going on?" a sleepy voice asked.
Turning towards the sound, Elena spotted Jeremy traipsing down the stairs, dressed only in sweatpants and rubbing his eyes. Catching sight of Jacqueline, he reddened slightly and folded his arms across his chest.
"So what's with the 3 AM club meeting?" Jeremy demanded, echoing Elena's earlier sentiments.
Jacqueline cleared her throat delicately. "As I was saying, Klaus will soon be on his way back to Mystic Falls. This is mainly...well, nearly all my fault. He is after me, and while I wasn't in Mystic Falls, I was near enough that I know he'll look here, once his followers report to him. A few of them saw and nearly caught me tonight. Luckily, Damon was around and helped me, then gave me directions here." As Jacqueline rubbed her forearm absently, Elena spotted a rapidly-healing wound marring the white skin.
Tucking her hands into the pockets of her jeans, Jacqueline circled the living room like a caged animal. Running a hand through her hair, she continued, "I am currently in possession of something Klaus wants back very badly. I have spent the past few weeks guarding it, and ensuring only those who must know, know that I have it..."
The girl was obviously anxious, and Elena sought to comfort her before she went further. Moving to the doorway, she asked if anyone wanted a drink. Jeremy opted for coca, Jacqueline for tea, and Damon poured more scotch for himself.
With the beverages prepare, Elena returned to the living room, placing a steaming mug in front of Jacqueline, who had seated herself again, and another at a place for Jeremy, who had run upstairs for a shirt.
When Jeremy returned, Jacqueline gave a small smile, but Elena could see how hard she was gripping her mug.
"I'm sorry I'm so horrid at getting to the point," Jacqueline murmured ruefully, "Klaus simply terrifies me, and I feel like he can hear me." At this, she glanced around quickly.
Tactful as always, Damon snapped, "He can't, it's 3 AM, and there are humans here who need sleep, so could you please try to get to that point?"
"I have Klaus' sunlight protection," blurted Jacqueline.
There was silence for a moment, and then Jeremy scratched his head and spoke. "Does that even matter at this point? Didn't our aunt DIE so he wouldn't need that anymore?"
"There are no books on hybrid lore, and you can't exactly google how to kill Klaus, but I have been informed of a few possible vulnerabilites," explained Jacqueline, pulling out a fine gold chain, on which hung an ancient-looking pendulum. Words of Latin were inscribed upon it.
"This," she continued, "is one of those. Though his hybrid state has bolstered the werewolf and vampire within him, he retains a weakness from both. He cannot travel in the daylight right now...he has not been able to for several weeks, without this. My sire procured it, and entrusted it to me."
"Why can't one of his witch allies just spellbind something else for him?" asked Elena.
"A very old, VERY powerful witch made this, recently, to accommodate his hybrid change. I don't know specifics, but I do know it killed that witch," said Jacqueline, "And we don't believe he's found another capable of that magic yet. That brings me to another reason he's returning."
"Oh goody," muttered Damon, "A buy-one-get-one-free special on potentially apocalyptic news!"
Casting him a sharp look, Elena gestured for Jacqueline to continue.
"You are friends with Bonnie Bennett, I believe?" When Elena nodded, Jacqueline did as well. "Word of her prowess in harnessing the power of the burial ground has spread. We believe Klaus wishes to sway Bonnie to his side, so even if he gets this talisman back, he won't need to worry about a similar problem in the future."
"I guess the fact he tried to kill her hasn't been taken into account." Damon smirked, tossing back more scotch. Jeremy fidgeted, and Elena's brow furrowed.
"It is in our best interest that Bonnie goes underground, but you, Elena, I was hoping you would accompany me on a bit of a journey...Although there really isn't another option," Jacqueline murmured.
"What do you mean Jacqueline?" Elena was puzzled.
"As a doppelganger, you possess abilities you know nothing of. Abilities I have been told could be used against Klaus. And I must keep moving, with his talisman. He also must not know you are still alive; my plan kills at least two birds with one stone. And please, call me Jay." Here, the beautiful vampire smiled widely, and a little
of the fear left her eyes. "I do so hate the name my mother gave me."
Elena awoke with a start as the car swerved slightly. They had been on the road for days now.
"Bunny in the road," explained Damon. "I don't think Vampire Barbie would approve of me hitting Thumper!"
Elena chuckled, and stretched. Looking out the window, she didn't recognize any of the terrain. It was all rolling, golden hills as far as the eye could see. "Where are we?"
"Montana, big sky country." It was Jay who spoke, turning in the passenger's seat to look at Elena. "We figure Klaus will scour the east coast, everywhere you have connections. And who has connections in Montana?" She giggled lightly, and Elena couldn't help but notice how prettily Jay did anything, thinking again how unlucky the girl was to be burdened with such a duty.
"Not that we're stopping in Montana for any good amount of time," said Damon, "It's too easy to notice strangers where there aren't many people. Our goal is Washington."
"But we are stopping...there!" Jay cut in, pointing at an upcoming exit. A road sign indicated they had come to Billings, Montana.
When they pulled into the nicest hotel around, Elena raised a brow.
"Weren't we trying to go unnoticed?" She asked, getting out of the car and looking around.
"Oh, if it were up to me, we'd be at the seedy, wild west-themed dump down the street, partying it up with a bunch of wasted cowgirls! At least I would be...We're not calling the shots. Or footing the bill, which works out..." Damon trailed off as he went around to the trunk of the car.
Jay motioned to Elena. "We'll just go in and check in, shall we?"
After giving some fake names and a bit of compulsion to obtain a key card, Jay led Elena up a flight of stairs and down a long, silent hallway. Stopping at a door at the very end of the hallway, near an exit door which, Jay explained, was simply extra security, Elena was let into a (thankfully) single-bed room. She didn't feel like sharing with anyone after spending days in a car with her companions.
"Our rooms are all near each other, and you can use the hotel phone to reach us if you need to, since we, you know, confiscated your phone and all," said Jay, with a wink.
Elena nodded her thanks, and dropped her purse on the bed, sitting next to it.
"Go ahead and rest for a few hours, I'll bring you something to eat later, then hopefully we'll be able to meet the other half of our rendezvous party!" Jay said, closing the door as she left.
After a nap, hot shower, and a pretty decent-tasting burger and fries, Elena was feeling refreshed, and ready to know who they were meeting.
By now it was about seven o'clock in the evening, and Elena was definitely getting impatient. She had scrolled through the tv channels, stared out the window, and touched up her hair and makeup. Finally, Jay poked her head in the door and asked Elena to come with her.
Meeting Damon in the hallway, who complained loudly of a distinct lack of drunken cowgirls around, they ventured down to the lobby.
As they entered, a woman rose from a chair and came forward. With shoulder-length blonde hair and twinkling blue eyes, Elena liked her at first sight. She grinned as they made eye contact, and the girl dashed forward to shake her hand jovially.
"You must be Elena! Lovely to meet you, I'm Rachel!" she gushed. Turning to Jay, she gave her a massive hug. "Hey buddy, you still toting that fugly coin-on-a-string around?"
Jay hushed her, and turned to Elena. "She's a witch," she whispered, "and also my best friend. You and me seem to be a little similar in that department!"
Elena grinned, agreeing. She missed Bonnie dreadfully, but with these girls around, she figured she'd never feel too down.
Rachel was now sporting a mean pout, fiercely scrutinizing their trio. Jay put a slim hand on her hip and glared. "It's rude to stare," she scolded Rachel.
"I know, I'm sorry, but why did Elena get such luck in the traveling companions department?" Rachel demanded, her gaze skimming over Jay and landing on Damon. She fluttered her lashes and leered. "He looks like he knows how to have fun. Does anyone know who I had to travel with?"
"Do tell," purred Damon, "I bet they had lots of fun!" He was staring seductively right back at Rachel.
Jay inserted herself between them, hands raised. "Hands off team members folks, we are all here for a serious reason!" Rachel frowned, then sighed, raising her hands in the air in a placating gesture. Damon put his hands in his pockets and nodded.
"And by the way dude," complained Rachel, "you have noidea. I had to ride with one of the biggest buzzkills ever; hell, he was probably the first one ever! The only animated conversation we had was about Armani suits!"
"Sounds like Stefan, right up to the part about suits!" Damon grinned, elbowing Elena lightly. She frowned.
Rachel, taking no notice, huffed loudly and gestured to the other of the lobby, where a man appeared to be closely surveying a large picture on the wall, featuring what else, but more golden hills and cattle. Elena froze. She recognized the suit-clad man, even from behind.
As Rachel led their group towards a secluded corner to talk, Elena's heart was stuck in her throat. Could she manage even a civil "hello"?
Upon reaching them, the man brushed a bit of hair away from his face, and nodded his head courteously.
"Fancy meeting you all here," he murmured. "Howdy, Elena."
Oblivious to Damon offering a surprisingly warm greeting (he had obviously been filled in on more than her), Elena could only stare, her face twisting into a scowl.
"I believe you're still searching for that term...It's O-M-G," he offered politely.
Elena's anger found her voice for her. "Elijah."
What did you guys think? All feedback will be considered, let me know how Elena should deal with Elijah being back, what shenanigans the gang should get up to when they get to Washington. Anyone have predictions? Read and review, thanks a million! xoxo Bon