Salvatore Boarding House
Dorinda was definitely one to stay in the shadow of her family members, and here she was doing it again. She'd spent almost her entire time here at Elijah's side, and she'd decided she needed to take some time by herself. Especially since she'd realized that they weren't here to fetch the doppelgänger for Klaus, they were here to protect her from him. Dorinda wasn't a necessarily bad person, but she always took her father's side. This would be one of those times.
So she took it upon herself to seek out the Salvatores, finding out from a very cute, easily compelled, bartender where the brothers called home. As she approaches the boarding house, she almost found herself eager to talk with Stefan. Cute bartender boy filled her in a bit on his time in town over the last few months. As Dorinda walks quietly into the house, narrowly missing a leaving dirty blonde-haired woman with a tight white scarf, she overhears the latter half of a phone conversation with Stefan and what sounded like the other brother she'd met in the abandoned house: Damon.
"Well," Damon starts. "I heard it from Sheriff Forbes, who heard it from a very distraught Carol Lockwood, thus, ending our werewolf chapter, bringing us to..." There was a pause, and Dorinda took that time to peer around the corner, frowning as she saw Damon handling a dagger. Of course, she recognized it immediately. It belonged to her family.
Dorinda hides behind the wall again and pushes her hair behind her ear, tuning in to the brothers' conversation. "...killing Elijah." At Stefan's words, Dorinda just frowns. She knew it was impossible. Or did they expect the dagger to do the deed?
"Exactly."
"Well, it's not going to be easy. He's crafty."
"Well, I've got a crafty little dagger."
"He's an Original. We don't know what all that encompasses."
"Oh, trust me, Stefan. I'm gonna dot all my t's. I don't want any surprises."
"Wow, Damon, tell me you're actually gonna be careful for once?"
"Yes, Stefan, I've become you. How tragic for both of us. Got to run. I've a murder to plan. Busy day."
As Damon hangs up, Dorinda moves from behind the wall, leaning against the door frame to get a full view of the man. "No surprises, huh?" She walks over to him, only smiling as he seems to grow somewhat more tense. "You know, you should really have a human with a deed to this place. It's far too easy for any vampire to just waltz right in."
Damon just scoffs lightly. "Well, most other vampires don't live long enough to realize how stupid that decision is."
"Is that a threat, Mr. Salvatore?" Dorinda lets her voice take on a teasing, seductive voice, which only cause more of a grin to grace Damon's face. In an instant, he has her pinned to the wall by the entryway, Dorinda grunting as the door frame connects with her spine.
"What are you, Elijah's pet? From what I can tell, you never leave his side." Dorinda laughs derisively.
"As if. We're more like... family. We keep an eye out for each other." She looks down at his arm still against her chest and decides to turn the tables. She quickly turns them around, slamming Damon forcefully into the same wall and pressing her arm against his throat. "Don't think for a second that I'll hesitate to rip your beating heart from your chest. You think you're stronger than me? I have centuries on you, Damon." She hesitates a moment before stepping away from him and crossing her arms over her chest. "I overheard your conversation with your brother. Killing Elijah? Not a smart move. But..."
Dorinda sighs deeply and bites her lip, weighing her words. She needed Elena for herself, and that meant double-crossing Elijah. She didn't like the idea, but she needed to help her father. And if that meant working with the Salvatores and letting them believe that daggering Elijah would kill him, how much choice did she have? "I'll help."
Damon creases his brows ever so slightly. "You just said he's family and now you want to betray him? I don't buy it."
"Look... Yes, he's family, but he's not perfect. He won't hesitate to kill who he has to get what he wants, and I don't like that. People are people, not toys. Not something to use just for your own personal gain." Damon seems to weigh her words and she decides to throw in one last lie to get her into the circle. "Let me help and... I'll help you take down Klaus too."
Mystic Grill
Somehow, Dorinda's words were enough to convince Damon to give her a shot, so she went with him to the Mystic Grill to meet with a man, Alaric Saltzman. Damon had given Dorinda the CliffsNotes explanation of the man on their ride over: history teacher by day, vampire hunter by night, et cetera. So now here she sat next to Alaric, with Damon and the blonde from earlier, a woman named Andie, sitting across from them.
"Other than your lecture on the history of Mystic Falls, did you get anything out of Elijah?" Damon asks curiously before taking a sip of his drink.
Alaric sighs. "No, it was boring." He takes a pause, seeming a little put off. "Of course, Jenna thinks he's charming."
"You sounded jealous," Damon teases before looking at Andie. "Sound a bit jealous?"
"Kinda do," she adds with a smile and a nod.
"Maybe we shouldn't talk about this here," Alaric says somewhat quietly, glancing at Andie.
"Andie?" Damon asks with creased eyebrows. "She's been compelled not to divulge my secrets. Haven't you?" He turns to look at her kissing her softly as she murmurs a quiet sound of agreement with his words.
"Mmm. My lips are sealed." Andie seemed entirely enthralled by Damon.
Alaric stares at them in disgust, and Dorinda scrunches up her nose. "I could not be any more grossed out."
Andie looks at Alaric and Dorinda with a smirk, while Damon looks down at the table, seeming lost in thought. "I just need the right opportunity." Elijah and Jenna chose that moment to walk into the Grill and Damon smiles. "Ah, there's Jenna with her new boyfriend." He waves to them as if inviting them over. "Hi."
"Hey, guys," Jenna greets as they approach the table.
"So I hear you two had quite a meeting of historical minds today."
"Yeah, I guess you could say that."
Alaric, seeming uncomfortable, immediately tries to leave. "Well, as much as I'd like to continue this, I, uh, I've got papers to grade." He puts down some money and starts to get up from the table.
"No, you know what?" Andie says after a moment. "We should continue this. Let's have a dinner party."
Damon considers this and looks at Andie. "Ooh, my girl. Full of good ideas." He turns his attention back to the group. "I'll be happy to host. Say tonight. Maybe?"
"It's good for me. Jenna?"
"I don't know if tonight works-" Alaric tries to start, but Jenna quickly interrupts.
"Yeah, I'm free." The two share a glance before Elijah decides to finally speak up.
"It'd be a pleasure." He looks at Dorinda then, who nods.
"I guess we're having a dinner party." She quickly downs her drink and lets out a quiet smile while Damon smiles.
"Great."
Salvatore Boarding House
Dorinda hated this. She, of course, found herself unnecessarily explaining to Elijah why she was with Damon, but he didn't mind. She was paranoid, knowing the repercussions of double-crossing her own family could get her killed. Always and Forever was what they believed in, and here she was backstabbing one of the only people that cared about her. One of the only people that protected her.
As they approach the boarding house, she tries desperately to calm her nerves. She didn't want to seem nervous in front of Elijah or he instantly would become suspicious. Dorinda was dressed in a simple red dress with capped shoulders and that went to her knees. She needed to at least make the appearance that she was trying, because to Elijah, this was an attempt to win over Damon and Alaric's trust.
She raises her hand to the knocker and knocks twice before stepping back to stand beside her uncle, who was dressed in one of his nicer suits. He had far too many suits, but he had several for different occasions. This wasn't one of his casual suits, but it wasn't formal either. Black slacks and a black suit jacket with a simple blue button up underneath. He stood with one hand in his pocket, the other hanging freely. Dorinda admired his patience. It was a trait she severely lacked.
After what felt like an eternity, but was really only moments, Damon opens the door, greeting the two with a smile. "Good evening," Elijah greets, returning the smile.
"Thank you for coming. Please," Damon says before motioning inside, "come in."
"Just one moment." Elijah taps on the door frame and ponders his words before looking back at Damon. "Can I just say that if you have less than honorable intentions about how this evening is going to proceed, I suggest you reconsider."
Damon seems to spare a quick glance at Dorinda before shaking his head. "No, nothing, nothing dishonorable. Just getting to know you."
"Hmm. Well, that's good." Elijah and Dorinda step inside a few paces before turning back to face Damon. "Because, you know, although Elena and I have this deal, if you so much as make a move to cross me, I'll kill you and I'll kill everyone in this house. Are we clear?"
Damon pauses a moment. "Crystal."
Elijah sees Jenna and smiles as he approaches her. "Jenna. Wonderful to see you again. How are you?"
Dorinda and Damon share a weary look before he shuts the door. They soon all go into the dining room, where Dorinda is greeted with an unfamiliar face.
"I don't believe we've met," he says before extending a hand to Dorinda. "John Gilbert."
"Dorinda... Mitchell," she greets, searching for a false last name to use. "It's a pleasure."
As the group eats, Jenna starts to spout out some historical facts Elijah had apparently mentioned to her earlier in the day, and they all, save for Dorinda and Alaric, start to discuss the truths and myths behind Elijah's words. Damon mentions something about drinks, and soon all are rising to their feet.
"The gentlemen should take their drinks in the study," Andie suggest, sharing an occasional glance at Damon.
"I have to say the food was almost as wonderful as the company," Elijah compliments, which causes Andie to smile.
"I like you." Damon and Elijah walk to the library and Jenna starts to collect some plates before handing them off to John.
"Here you are, gentleman," Jenna says distastefully, "make yourself useful. Hmm?" John takes the plates and walks off without a word while Alaric comes up behind her to try and help.
Andie and Dorinda take themselves into the kitchen to start washing up the dishes, Dorinda occasionally looking Andie over, as if studying her. "So just how much of you has he compelled? I mean, do you really like him, or has he compelled that too?"
Andie shakes her head. "He can be a nice guy when he wants to be. He just needs someone to be patient with him. That's all."
"Hmm." She continues washing in silence, looking up as Alaric enters, looking concerned. "What's going on?" Alaric raises a finger to his lips to signal her to keep it down, before he looks at Andie.
"I need your help." He shoots a glare at Dorinda before walking out with Andie. She rolls her eyes and returns to the dining room where Jenna and John were talking. Jenna seems stressed, but Dorinda didn't want to overstep. Jenna pours Dorinda a cup of coffee, who utters a small thanks before Jenna does so for John as well. Elijah and Andie enter the room, Elijah taking a seat at the table, where fresh plates have been set.
Jenna offers an apologetic smile. "Sorry, guys, dessert is taking longer than I thought. I usually just unwrap food." She nods and leaves, Dorinda quickly following her.
"Here, let me help," she offers, smiling at Jenna. "So, you and Alaric, huh? He seems like a nice guy."
Jenna nods and checks on the dessert before looking back at Dorinda. "He is. I just... I can't help but feel like he's not being completely honest with me. You know?"
Dorinda nods. "Relationships are impossible if there isn't honesty. My family has always instilled that in me. Without honesty, you can't trust anyone. Not a partner, not a friend. Not even your own family." She frowns a little at her own words, knowing things were going to get worse for her if Damon undaggered Elijah. She hears a muffled scream and knows she needs to distract Jenna. Dorinda steps towards her, "accidentally" spilling her coffee down her dress. "Damn."
Jenna widens her eyes slightly. "I'm so sorry." She grabs a towel from off the counter and tries to help dry her off. "Here, let me help."
Dorinda shakes her head. "Actually, it's fine. I'm gonna take off. I feel like I've overstayed. Besides, I'm sure Elijah's ready to go home too. And since I'm his ride, well..." She shrugs and Jenna hugs her gently, surprising Dorinda.
"I'm so glad you and Elijah came. And you know you're welcome to come over any time you want while you're in town. Maybe you and Elijah can give me a little more history on the town."
Dorinda nods and smiles. "I'd like that." She walks away and towards the door, before suddenly feeling Elijah rushing with her outside and to the treeline. They soon stop and Elijah looks at her with fury. She notices the blood on his shirt and tries to feign surprise, but it seems to only make her angrier.
"You knew about this?" He asks, his voice a mixture of hurt and anger. Dorinda takes a step back and puts a hand up defensively.
"Elijah. Please. You have to understand. I-I can't let you stop Klaus. You know how much he wants to break this curse, and if that means that Elena has to die, then so be it." Dorinda looks at him pleadingly, trembling slightly where she stood. She was screwed, and she knew it. She'd destroyed the strongest thing they had: trust. And Elijah was big on trust. "Please." But her words fell on deaf ears, she realized, as he suddenly snaps her neck, her world going dark.
Gilbert Lake House
When Dorinda finally comes to, she was in Elijah's grip, standing before the doorway of a lake house, where the front door had stood only moments before, but was broken down not far from the entrance.
"You know," Elijah says calmly, dropping Dorinda to the ground by the entryway, "I might not be able to enter this house...But I'm a very patient man. I'll wait you out. And," he adds pushing Dorinda towards the doorway, "you can take her with you. She's made it very clear whose side she's on." Dorinda swallows and exhales shakily, looking down at the ground. He wouldn't forgive her for this. Not anytime soon.
Elena slowly walks out from wherever she'd been hiding, glancing from Dorinda to Elijah. "They shouldn't have done what they did."
"The deal is off."
"I'm renegotiating."
Elijah takes a step forward. "You have nothing left to negotiate with."
There is a moment's silence before Elena pulls out a knife. Elijah simply looks amused. "I'd like to see you lure Klaus into Mystic Falls after the doppelgänger bleeds to death."
"Stefan won't let you die."
"No, he won't. He'll feed me his blood to heal me, and then I'll kill myself and become a vampire, just like Katherine did." Elijah is silent, clearly trying to decide if Elena was being serious, or just trying to scare him into an agreement. "So unless you want that to happen again, promise me the same as before...promise me...You won't harm anyone that I love. Even if they've harmed you."
Elijah smiles slightly, staying quiet a moment before speaking again. "I'm sorry, Elena." He looks at her for a moment, adjusting his stance. Dorinda takes this time to slowly try and back away. As curious as she was to see how this ended, she needed to get away. Elijah glares at her for a moment, causing her to stop in her tracks. He turns his attention to Elena. "I'm going to have to call your bluff."
Elena breathes out slowly before pointing the knife to her stomach. Elijah watches her, unsure of what she will do, and Dorinda couldn't help but feel fear at the sight. She couldn't let the doppelgänger die. She needed her. For Klaus. Elena looks up at Elijah and stabs herself in the stomach, screaming in pain and falling to the floor.
"No!" Elijah rushes towards the door, but stops at the threshold, seeing as how he hadn't been invited in. He was helpless. He couldn't just heal her and take her, or whatever Dorinda figured he had planned. Elena drops the knife on the floor and clutches her stomach. "Yes. Yes, you can have your deal. Let me heal you."
"Give me your word!" Elena demands through the pain.
Elijah hesitates a moment. "I give you my word." It was enough for Elena. She limps outside and into Elijah's arms, but not a moment later she stabs him with the silver dagger and Elijah falls to the ground, dead. Elena falls to the ground as well, weak from the blood loss. Stefan immediately rushes out of the house, bites his wrist, and feeds Elena his blood, placing his chin on the top of her head.
Dorinda couldn't help but let a tear fall as she watched the scene unravel, still shaking and knowing that things would still be worse once Elijah was awake once more. Damon walks out and stands in the doorway, glancing at Dorinda and narrowing his eyes before he looks back at Stefan and Elena. Stefan cradles Elena's face in his hands and they both look at Damon.
"Little tip," Damon says, watching Elijah, as if worried he would wake. "Don't pull the dagger out." He returns his gaze to Dorinda and walks over to her. "And you." Dorinda starts to move away from him slowly, scrambling to her feet.
"Don't." She swallows the lump that had formed in her throat and takes another step backwards. "I get that you don't trust me. But if I had been lying, Elena wouldn't be alive right now. Please. I... I don't mean any harm." Damon seems to weigh her words before glancing at Stefan, as if to get his approval. When he turns to look back at Dorinda, however, she was already gone.
Salvatore Boarding House
Dorinda waited until Stefan had left to return to the lake house and Damon to finally come up from the cellar. At the sight of Dorinda, he lets out a sigh. "You kept Jenna busy long enough for us to do what we needed to do. And Alaric would appreciate that, I think." He takes a step towards her and frowns. "You let Stefan heal Elena instead of killing her yourself, which I'm sure Stefan and Elena both appreciate." He continues walking towards her, stopping right in front of her. "But me? I still don't trust you. I think you're hiding something, and I'm going to find out what."
Dorinda shakes her head and scoffs. "Jesus, I must just be radiating bad vibes. Elijah didn't trust me, but for good reason. And you don't trust me because of Elijah. But I promise you, I'm nothing like him. Elijah's selfish. He looks out for him, he does what's best for him. Me? I see right through him. I've been around him long enough to know that while he may honor his word, he does so only to see it through, and then he'll kill whomever he feels like." She takes a step towards Damon, the two closer than Damon was probably comfortable with.
"And you expect me to believe that you'll just continue to betray Elijah and risk your life against Klaus, why? Because you have better morals than an Original?" Damon shakes his head. "I don't buy it." He starts to walk past her, but she grabs his wrist, spinning him around in frustration.
"I. Am. Not. Elijah." The two stare at each other deeply for a moment, both seething with anger and clearly distrusting the other. And in that moment of tension, Dorinda grabs Damon's waist and pulls him close, crashing her lips into his. He hesitates before returning the kiss, rushing them into the nearest wall and knocking a painting down. She moans softly as he starts to kiss down her neck before she meets his lips once more.
Dorinda rushes them to the couch, pinning him down for a brief moment before Damon flips them over. He rips the back of her dress, her zipper tearing and the fabric slipping off of her shoulders. She reaches up to lace her fingers into his hair, sliding a leg up between his legs and letting him kiss her a minute before vamp-speeding away, standing next to the other couch. She wipes her smudged lipstick from under her lip and smiles. "To be continued. I have a few things I need to do." She grabs a paper from the stand where the alcohol stood, jotting something down before handing it to Damon. "My number. Call me." With that, she winks and vamp-speeds out of the boarding house.
Ta-Da! A little Damon and Dorinda action to get things a little interesting. I don't plan on keeping things this way, of course. I fully intend to send her either in Matt's direction or in Stefan's. I haven't decided which yet, but I'm leaning more towards Stefan.
Comment your thoughts!