I just realized how short these chapters are. I apologize for anyone expecting actual book-length chapters. I am only able to write during my free time.

Chapter 4: A Second Meeting

Elijah strolled past the center of the town a few hours later. He'd made his rounds checking up on any noteworthy information. The founder's council continued to push their vampire hunting agenda, although Alaric's death had caused a halt to many of their plans. The sun peaked out behind a cloud just as Elijah rounded a quaint little park. He sat on a bench to ruminate these recent developments when he spotted a familiar face.

Evangeline sat on the grass a few feet away from a tree. Elijah watched in amusement as a squirrel hesitantly approached her hand and finally snatched a peanut from her palm. Evangeline smiled excitedly and turned to see if anyone else had noticed her small feat. Her eyes widened at the sight of Elijah, and it surprised him when she timidly rose to her feet and walked toward the bench.

The way she approached reminded Elijah of the squirrel and he laughed to himself. She sat beside him and smiled shyly. "Hello there," he offered politely.

Evangeline stared at the sidewalk. "So, Jeremy tells me you're one of the Originals."

He raised an eyebrow. "And yet I still know nothing of you. How did you come to be in company with the Gilbert family?"

Evangeline blushed, "Well, I just recently found out that Elena is my half-sister. Isobel Flemming was our mother."

Elijah's eyebrows furrowed. "That's impossible."

"Isn't everything?" she mused.

He pondered the reality of her statement when she turned to him curiously.

"Have you really lived a thousand years?" she asked innocently.

"I have been around for many centuries, yes."

"What do you remember about your life as a human?"

He hesitated as more people entered the park. "Perhaps we should take this conversation to a more private venue." Elijah stood and extended his hand to Evangeline. "Take a walk with me?"

Evangeline's heart stuttered as he pulled her up from the bench. They began following the course of the sidewalk but quickly diverted to an adjacent field. "I don't remember much about my childhood. Most of my human memories are those surrounding the events that led to our family's transformation."

"Hmm." Evangeline's curiosity couldn't be tamed. "Do you remember the activities you enjoyed, like fishing, or dancing, or sword fighting?"

Elijah stared intently as she questioned him, wondering at her motives. But he decided there was no harm in indulging such an innocent query. "Mostly I enjoyed hunting," he admitted truthfully, but then he turned the conversation back to Evangeline. "I take it you'd rather feed an animal than hunt one?" He smiled as he recalled the squirrel.

"Oh, well probably, I really don't know," she creased her eyebrows. "I've never been hunting. But I've been trying to feed that squirrel out of my hand for days. So, I suppose I felt mildly triumphant." She smiled to herself then turned to Elijah. "In the hundreds of years you've been alive, have you ever had a squirrel eat from your hand?"

Elijah laughed at the absurdity. "I'm a vampire. No animal would dare approach me like that."

Evangeline's face suddenly brightened. "Would you like to try?" She stared right into his eyes and beamed hopefully.

Elijah started to speak but paused at her hopeful eyes; then he sighed, "I see no harm in trying."

Her smile widened. Evangeline led him to a tree where they spotted a few squirrels digging around. The small creatures immediately scattered as the two of them drew near, but Evangeline wasn't deterred. "So, sit down a few feet away like this," she sat down on the grass, "so that the squirrels don't feel too threatened."

Elijah played along and sat beside her on the field.

"Now, stick your hand out like this," she laid her palm flat in the grass in front of her, "and don't move or speak."

"How long does this typically take?" he wondered as she scattered nuts into his hand.

Evangeline hesitated, "Well, it usually takes several minutes… but maybe we'll be lucky. Now stop talking."

They sat on the grass in silence as the squirrels observed them from the tree. After a few minutes some of the squirrels began to descend and creep toward the nuts, but they shied away from Elijah. He shook his head as every squirrel began to eat from Evangeline's hand.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"It's no more than I expected," he replied.

"Wait, don't give up yet. I'm going to try something." Evangeline lifted her hand, and the animals retreated to the tree trunk. Then she poured the contents of her palm into Elijah's and rested her hand on his shoulder.

The squirrels crept down again and tentatively made their way towards the spoils. As if there was some kind of barrier they all stopped short of his hand, but finally one of the younger squirrels inched closer painstakingly until he finally grabbed an almond.

"I don't believe it," Elijah murmured.

A few others each grabbed a nut at seeing the success of the younger squirrel, but they quickly retreated back up the tree.

Elijah stood and brushed off his hands. "I never would have thought it possible."

"Wasn't it awesome?" Evangeline rose to his side. "There's something about connecting with nature that is just incredible to me."

"Indeed, it was an… 'awesome' experience," He smirked. His phone beeped suddenly, and he frowned as he read the message. He turned to Evangeline apologetically, "I have another engagement I cannot miss, but this conversation was pleasantly illuminating. Would you care to walk again with me tomorrow?"

Again Evangeline's heart skipped a beat. "I'd like that very much."

Elijah nodded and disappeared into the woods, leaving Evangeline alone in the field. Suddenly the gravity of who she had just spent the afternoon with hit her. What am I doing? She grabbed her face in disbelief and hurriedly cut through the park toward the Gilbert house. She knew that pursuing her feelings would only end in disaster, but somehow she still couldn't wait for tomorrow.