3.
Elijah was driving them back to the compound watching Elena from the corner of his eye. She had not said a word since she left Davinas attic. He decided that he would drive them around for a bit to get her to talk to him. He grabbed her hand while it was resting on the center console.
"Lovely, what is wrong? You have not told me what Davina said."
She put on a fake smile, "It's nothing really. She just said when you are changed by an original these are the side effects. It should go away in about month."
He could hear her heartbeat skip, he knew when she was lying. He knew when she was human and he knew know. He decided to let it go for the time being but he would find out soon.
"If you are sure." He said letting her hand go causing her to let out a barely audible groan.
"Are we almost back yet?"
"Yes, I have to go pick up Hayley in the bayou before we go back."
She rolled her eyes, "Great."
"Elena, is there a reason you seem to not like her?" This made her think, shit I need to get ahold of my emotions.
"No, Im just tired." She gave a sad smile
They pulled up to this old dingy looking cabin where they saw Hayley talking to a man with longer brown hair and scruff in jeans and a flannel. He was cute she thought, definitely no Elijah but handsome. They got out and walked over to them. Hayley walked over to them with the man.
"Hey did you guys figure it out?" Hayley questioned.
Elena nodded her head, "Yeah, its just a side effect from being sired by an original it'll go away soon."
She smiled like that pleased her. "So Elena, this is Jackson he is the alpha to the crescents." He put his hand out to shake hers. She quickly put back on her smile and embraced his hand. "Nice to meet you!"
Elijah let out in inaudible growl when they shook hands. Elena was pretty sure she was the only one that heard it. Why would he growl like that. She looked between the two of them and could feel dislike and jealously rolling off of Elijah towards this man. She looked at him lifted one eyebrow at him., as if saying really?
Elijah squinted his eyes at her trying to feel what she was feeling, and he could feel nothing. But she could feel everything he was, strange. There was way more than what she told him, and he was going to figure it out sooner rather than later.
"Its so pretty out here, peaceful." Elena said looking out at the river.
Jackson came to stand by her and said ,"I could show you around the Bayou if you would like?"
Elijah came up behind her, "We must really be going." he said in a serious tone.
Elena looked over to Hayley, "Actually you and Hayley haven't spend much time together all day, I have taken enough of your time."
She looked over to Jackson,"I would love that." He smiled and nodded, "Ill make sure I get you back in one piece."
She could feel that Elijah was angry and he knew she could feel it radiating off of his body in waves. There was no way in hell she was going to get in a car with both of them without crying.
Hayley walked over to Elijah and grabbed his hand in hers and kissed him, "She'll be fine, Jack will make sure she is safe."
—
ELENA POV
I was sitting on the end of the dock with my barefeet dangling in the water looking at the sun setting. It was truly breathtaking. I could hear Jackson coming up behind me getting ready to sit down beside me. He sets something down beside him with a loud thump.
"Here, you like you could use one." He said twisting the cap off of a beer." I laugh, "I usually drink bourbon."
"Yeah most of your kind does but we are in my neck of the woods now." He said hitting my shoulder with his causing me to laugh. I take a big swig of the beer and let out a huff of breath.
"You know I am pretty perceptive, and I can tell something is bothering you. Wanna talk about it?" He says nicely.
"Yeah, I do but I don't trust people easily and I don't even know you. Sorry" I say sincerely.
"I get it, you have closed yourself off from friendship and love because you have been burned. You have friend in me, I haven't had many either but you need to know something about us wolfs, we are loyal." He said still drinking.
I thought about about he said, he is right but he also is friends or whatever with Hayley but I could tell he wasn't that type of person.
"It's Elijah." I huffed out. He raised an eyebrow at me.
"I thought as much, what is with that guy that everybody loves?" He pondered out loud. I chuckle, "Its not just that, if I tell you something you have to promise not to tell anybody, especially Hayley."
"As long as it dosent put her life in danger, you have my word." I nodded, "Its not that, Elijah unknowingly turned me and I have had problem with feeding, when I start I can't stop. I can feel his emotions and I can feel when he is far or near from me. He took me to see Davina and she told me that I was his mate, and to complete the mating ritual he has to feed from me."
Jackson looks at me sadly and nods, "And what happens if its not completed?"
"I die in a month."
"So when you told Hayley that it was nothing and would go away in a month, you meant you?" He said a little louder.
"Yeah."
"Why? Why would you do that? I can tell he cares about you."
"Yes, he does care about me but love no. He loves her, and he didn't ask for this. I wont force him into something he didn't want in the first place. I died when I drown in the car crash. Thats when my life should have ended."
He looked at me sadly, "You just don't want to tell him? Damnit, I promised I wouldn't say anything but you are a nice beautiful woman. You have so much to live for."
His words were touching me, "You have been so kind to me, maybe we can be friends until then?" He huffs out, "Of course, but that doesn't mean I like this choice you have made." He hugs me.
"Do you love her?" He chuckled, " I was wondering when you gunna ask."
"Yes, I do love her, she was supposed to be my wife before she was taken as a baby. It was an arranged marriage by our parents, but I have always loved her."
I couldn't help but laugh at the irony causing him to laugh right there with me, "Wow look at us. Cheers to heartbreak, its a bitch!" I say.
As I say this it starts to pour down rain so bad you couldn't even see your own hand. He yells over that rain, "Come on, we'll wait it out in my cabin." I shake my head yes at him even though Im pretty sure he can't see me. He grabs my wrist to follow him. We run into his cabin and shut the door. I stay on the door mat inside as I don't want to drip everywhere. He walks into a little room, and comes back out with a flannel and boxers. "This is all I have Im afraid, you can put these on and ill put on a fire to get your clothes dry."
"Okay, thank you." I say nicely.
I walk into his room, it is very homey. Log cabin bed and log night stand. I quickly change into his clothes and carry my soaking wet clothes including my undergarments back out to put next to the fire.
He walks up to me after I put my clothes up to dry, holding a huge wool blanket. I think he doesn't know I don't get cold. But It makes me feel more comfortable. He sits down next to me on the couch and hands me bottle of bourbon, making me chuckle.
"So what do you guys do for fun out here?" I ask not seeing a T.V or anything the cabin.
"Drink and spent most of our time outside. Play the occasional board game on rainy days."
"Is that right?"I smile. "You have cards? We could play war?"
"I have cards, I also have a cribbage board if you know how to play?"
"Are you kidding?! I love that game I haven't played since my parents were alive." I say cursing myself or drinking to much. Luckily he didn't say anything but stood up to get them and dealt out the cards.
As we played we drank and drank and opened up to each other about our lives. He told me how Marcel cursed them in their wolf forms. "He sounds like a dick! Thats terrible! How could somebody do that? That is so cruel." I say sadly. He smiles, "You are very compassionate for a vampire, you know."
I smile, "That's what Elijah said he liked most about me. I think he is afraid I lost that when I became what I am. I have this hunger and I can't stop once I start and it scares me. I don't want to be like that." He puts his hands on my shoulders, "Hey, You can do it, you just need help."
"Yeah well it won't matter if I learn to control it, Ill be dead in a month."
He was looking in my eyes, "Elijah is an idiot."
"So is Hayley."
We just stared at each other and his lips pushed against mine. He was pulling the blanket off of me, putting his hands on my bare hips. I groaned into his mouth. I pull him away from me for a moment. "You love her." I say. "You love him." He says back. "I need this just as much as you do." He says. I couldn't help but agree. "I know you aren't her but you are beautiful Elena. You are kind, and selfless. If you are going to go through with this silly plan of yours, at least let me let you feel cared about." I feel a tear coming out my eyes. I pull him back to me kissing him drunkly. I wouldn't regret this come morning. I found a friend in Jackson Kenner, and if this the closet we both ever get to love then so be it. We tear each others clothes off and let our bodies become one on his couch.
—
ELENA POV
I woke up with the moon shinning on me. I could feel Jackson's arms wrapped around my waist. I get up to go over to my clothes and get my phone. I saw that its was 3 a.m. Damnit! I go to put my now dry clothes on. I can hear Jackson laughing behind me.
"See something you like?" I say smiling.
He turns his head to the side, "Of course I do."
"Can you take me back to the Compound, Im sure they won't be happy if Im not there come morning. I am Klaus' blood bag, he would hate to misplace me." I say.
This caused Jackson to growl, "I can't stand him!" I shake me head, "Yeah join the club." He puts his clothes on and walks over to me and gives me a small chaste kiss on the mouth. I can feel black veins starting to show. It takes everything I have in me to pull away. He can see I am trying to push it down. "Hey it's okay." He tries to reassure me.
"You don't get it! I am unstoppable once I start. I need to get back. I don't want to hurt you."
"I can hold my own, hey why don't I put some blood in a cup for you while I drive back. The key is taking deep breaths." I could tell he was sincere.
"Okay but only once we get close." He walks in his kitchen to get a cup and a knife for the road.
We drive for about 45 mins before we are almost there. I am about to lose control. "Hey listen, once I give you this blood walk straight in there to the fridge and get some blood bags okay." He says. We pull up the the door, he gives me a hug. "We are friends, Elena if you ever need anything don't hesitate to ask. You are part of my pack now okay." I nod letting a tear fall again. He takes the knife and slices his hand letting it drip in my cup. My vampire face is showing full force, I can't hold it anymore. I grab the cup and run inside hearing Jackson leaving. I gulp down the cup in one go. As I am walking to the kitchen, I can see Elijah sitting in the chair waiting for me.
"What do you want Elijah?" I say.
He flashes over to me and smells me and growls, "Why do you smell like Jackson?"
"Because I was with him all day."
"No you Smell like him."
"Thats none of your business."
"It most certainly is my business, Elena!"
"NO, It ISNT! You have Hayley!" I scream back not meaning to betray my emotions. He widens his eyes. "Is that what this is, are you jealous of her?" He asks quietly.
"No." I can smell him I crave his blood maybe I can just have a taste, the bond wouldn't be complete if he doesn't drink mine. So maybe just a little of his will help my cravings. Its like the demon part of me takes over and I walk up to him putting my hands on the lapels of his suit. My vampire face showing and before he or I realize whats going on, I bite into his neck letting his blood drip down my throat. He tastes like what I imagine sweet ambrosia tastes like. He tastes like sin. I can hear him moan, causing me to moan.
He snaps out of it, "Elena, stop." I can hear him but I can't stop. I can feel arosual coming off of him driving me crazy. I sure he can smell mine as well. "ELENA! ENOUGH!" He yells, and pushes me away. I realize what I have done and look at him with his blood dripping down my chin. I run up to my room and fall into the bed and cry. Why does he consume me so? I love him, I have never loved anybody as I love him. I can hear him walking in the room. He sits down next me running his fingers up and down my back.
"Lovely, what is going on? I know you weren't truthful to me earlier about whatever this is between us."
I shake my head trying to get my crying under control. "I can't tell you, Elijah. Please respect that. I promise you that it doesn't effect you in anyway. I told you everything will go back to normal in a month."
"Damnit, Elena you cannot tell me not to worry about it. I care about you. I need to know!"
"I can't okay, it would disrupt everything. I told Jackson as much." This made him mad,
"So you decide to tell Jackson, but not me and then decide it would be a good idea to sleep with him." I roll my eyes, "Why do you care who I do? I trust him, he will respect my choices."
"You hurt me Elena." He says quietly. Did I just hear him right? I hurt him?
I sit up pointing my finger in face, "I hurt you? I HURT YOU? You have no idea what hurt feels like. Tell me did you come back and sleep with her tonight?"
He looks down at his lap not wanting to answer the question. "Do you feel anything after I fed on you?" He nodded his head, " I can but I also know its not permanent like yours." I put his hand up to my heart and look at him, "What do you you feel?" He closes his eyes to feel he gasps and looks at me. "Love."
"I love you, you idiot." I stood up getting off of the bed to go take a shower, "Please give me some space, Elijah." I say closing the door behind me.
