Chapter Two:
Damon came down the stairs to the horrible sight of his little brother and his new boyfriend entangled on the chair in the living room.
"Ok children if we could control our hormones please until the adults have had breakfast that would be very much appreciated" he smirked while he strolled into the kitchen, he heard Stefan's sigh of annoyance and was just in time to see Klaus shoot him a deadly look while the two got up and straightened their clothes.
When he came in he stopped short seeing Elijah searching through his cupboards. His coat was placed over the counter and he wore a dark great shirt that was tucked into his black pants that fitted him perfectly outing his broad shoulders and chest while his rolled up sleeves showed his defined forearms that Damon had imagined tracing his fingertips over more than a few times. He cleared his throat to get the other mans attention and to stop his own ridiculous thoughts. Elijah turned and a smile lit his face
"Ah Damon you're up finally! I made coffee but I didn't know what to make for breakfast" he said looking worried.
"Klaus suggested cereal but I can't find any".
Damon couldn't help but let out a laugh at his expression "Don't worry I'm sticking with coffee. Besides I'd prefer to hear all about what you're here to tell me" he said smiling as he leaned against the counter.
"Well I'll actually tell you on the way since you're not hungry" said Elijah putting on his jacket and buttoning it as he made his way to the door. His movements were graceful and sure, he was used to being listened to at all times. So of course Damon got a huge kick out of doing the exact opposite.
"And where are we going?" he said not moving while trying to keep the smile out of his voice at Elijah's face when he turned around, surprised Damon hadn't followed.
"To the station; I want to get the records off Sherif Forbes of the victims ok? Now do stop being difficult and lets go"
When Damon still looked like he wasn't going to move Elijah said "Please?" and finally he gave in. Both men left through the back door and headed into town.
The sun was shining lighting up the whole town as they walked; they decided to take a short cut through the graveyard that was nearly deserted at this time of the morning. Elijah started to recount what his informant had told him the night before.
"Apparently the victims have something in common, their all locals. The girl who was killed last week was a Fell, one of the founding families and had lived here her whole life" finished Elijah while Damon walked by his side silently listening.
"Well it fits more with our theory that the killer is trying to send a message. Maybe he or she has a grudge against the town. God knows they deserve it with their history of vamp slaying and trying to purge the world of our evil" said Damon sarcastically staring at the ground.
Elijah looked at him out of the corner of his eye. Sometimes he wondered if anyone else but he knew that Damon wasn't the poster boy he pretended to be for vampirism. He had just accepted his lot in life and tried to make the best of it which Elijah admired greatly about him. However he wondered how he would have fared if he hadn't had a daylight ring that keeps him from burning in the sunlight or the determination to get Katherine back over the years.
No, he threw that thought away Damon was strong, he would have survived but he still had to try and stamp down the hallow feeling in his chest at the horrible thoughts of what if?
"Elijah?" said Damon practically shouting. "What?" said Elijah looking down at the pale hand placed on his own arm.
They both stood in the silent graveyard surrounded by overhanging trees and grey headstones without another soul in sight.
"You looked pretty bad there. What's wrong?" he asked looking concerned.
"Nothing I'm just contemplating the killers motives". "You look stressed. You know why don't we take a break tonight from rogue hunting and get a drink" before Elijah could protest Damon cut in "We'll spend the rest of the day researching and detecting. We'll even give the Hardy boys a run for their money ok? All work and no play makes something something, well you get the point." He finished giving a wolfy smile.
Elijah looked at the sky and back at Damon ire clear in his expression. He had practiced over the centuries his look that he was completely uninterested, (his poker face was legendary) when in fact the minute Damon had used that smile he would have said yes to anything. That smile could charm the world.
"Fine but only if we get some work done today, and then I shall grace you with my presence".
Damon laughed "I'm truly honoured".
"All right boys here you go" said Sherif Forbes taking a file out of a cabinet and sliding the drawer closed with her hip.
The Sherif, average height with short blonde hair, was a member of the council that had been set up way back when to protect the town from the supernatural also happened to be one of the few humans who knew the Salvators and Originals dirty little secret. That they in fact were the walking dead the council hated so much but over time they had formed a sort of alliance which kind of deemed them the good guys. That was until they ripped out someone's throat or did something particularly vampy. Then all bets were off. Damon had to admit it was weird to be toeing the lines with humans in the know. Normally his rule of thumb was to wipe the person's memory no matter what but circumstances hadn't allowed for that and the alliance did have its perks. Like now for instance when they needed information, it was pretty handy just walking in and asking for it instead of blanking out everyone's memory in the station while slipping into the office and taking the file.
"Thank you Sherif this is very much appreciated" said Elijah smiling broadly while he took her hand to kiss it briefly.
Ever the gentlemen thought Damon a little annoyed at the blush that had risen to the Sherif's cheeks. Didn't she know he was just old fashioned? Maybe he should place the thought in her head. Wait, what was he doing he thought shaking his head. He was acting ridiculous. It was the lack of blood. Besides his snack last night he hadn't fed probably in a few days and it was making him act odd that was all.
"Do you have any leads yet?" she asked directing her question to both men although she did seem to linger on Elijah a little longer.
"Not yet but we are getting closer" said Elijah reassuringly. "This is a bit trickier you understand. This towns list of enemies is extensive".
"I understand, well let me know if there is anything else I can do for you boys" she says as they left her office.
Three hours later found Damon and Elijah in the woods that surrounding the town with Elijah leaning coolly against an old willow inspecting the nails of one hand and his other in his pocket while Damon stood with one foot pressing down on another vampires sternum. The third vampire was about average height with dirty blonde hair and a slightly crooked nose as if he had broke it sometime before his turn. He was dressed as a hiker but his clothes were old and dirty a telltale sign he had most likely stolen them or had been living in these woods for some time. His fangs were bared in a snarl and he was very big but he was no match for Damon Elijah noticed. He was constantly surprised at the enemies his companion took on and usually beat even being as young as he was (by vampire standards of course.) It stirred something deep inside him something he hoped Damon never saw or else he'd have to say goodbye to their friendship for good. That was something he could not and would not do.
"Ok, I'm not going to let you up, and even if you somehow" Damon smirked here at the absurdity of it "got away from me well than my friend Elijah here would have your heart ripped out from your chest before you had time to raise a hand. I don't want to be cliché so there's not going to be a good cop bad cop routine I'm just going to beat the information out of you". Said Damon his voice was sarcastic but there was something deadly laced with each syllable.
The other vampire stared up, burning hatred in his eyes but there was also fear. "Good" said Damon menace radiating off him. The vampire actually looked around as if to call for help. Elijah had been able to tell from a glance that the man they had caught was a coward. That's why they had been so delighted with their find. Then happiness had laid way to annoyance when they found his mind had been blocked with witchcraft and they had had to get information the old fashioned way. Elijah watched the muscles in Damon's back as he prepared to deliver his blow, a smile tugging at his lips at how (without discussing it) Damon had taken up the position of executioner like he didn't want Elijah being in the fray. Something similar had happened during the battle when they fought by each other's sides and Damon had taken on double amount of their foes. It was refreshing for Elijah who other vampires normally hid behind. However he would have to show Damon's worry was unnecessary soon enough if this continued (and if he wasn't just imagining or being fanciful at the other mans motives) he wasn't made of glass.
Elijah snapped back to the real world with the scream of "Ok Ok, all I know is I was hired to live out here trying to go unnoticed while I gathered all the data I could about the founding families!"
"Who contacted you ?" demanded Damon picking the man up by his shirt collar and bring him face to face his blue wolf like piercing eyes narrowing with intent. "I... I don't know..." he stammered.
"Who?" demanded Damon again "Don't make me ask again".
"I honestly don't know. I picked up a payphone a couple of weeks ago when I was in Georgia and this guy asked did I want to make some cash and then gave me the details of the job. It sounded sweet so I took it. I leave all the information I collect in a brown envelope"
Elijah rolled his eyes at this. Did no one do anything original anymore?
"And then the next day I come back and my moneys in it with a note on what else I'm to find out" finished the vampire.
"Why you?" asked Damon "I don't know, I mean I have military training I guess from before I was turned as a spy so this is a piece of cake for me but I've never done reconnaissance for another vampire or since I became one."
"Well you're going to take us to where you make the exchange and then you're going to get the hell out of this town" said Damon dropping the man to his feet.
"Sure, fine I really don't want any trouble" he said beginning to walk. Elijah and Damon exchanged a glance.
So it seems they weren't just dealing with a rogue after all. They decided not to kill the man as it seemed a lot of effort for an errand boy. The bigger question that was at the forefront of their minds was who could possibly be going through this much trouble to kill off the founding families and how were they going to catch them. Elijah had to admit he enjoyed the excitement of the hunt and could tell Damon did too. He wondered though how much fun it would be without Damon because he had to admit the other man made it all seem much more exciting.