Lust, Betrayal and Belonging
Chapter Seven
Elijah felt a rush of panic and anxiety, something he had not felt for little over a hundred years. He wanted her to break the silence and say something, even though for some reason he felt almost better having admitted this to her he wanted to take it back as well.
Katherine didn't know what to say, the overwhelming need to run from this all to real and serious situation was making her head ache. In the last few hours she'd been granted freedom, offered help by those she had many times over used for her own selfish gain, and been faced with someone she had only just been told had cared for her. A dangerous, powerful vampire from the original family who now stood mere feet from her voicing confessions that spun her rounds in circles and confused her to no end.
It was so much, too much! She felt as if she were drowning with each new thing she learnt, if she hadn't had to juggle her emotions on top of everything else maybe she would've been strong enough to handle it all, but she knew that was not the case as her vision began to fade and his face vanished leaving darkness.
Elijah barely caught her as she started to fall, he'd had to snap out of his thoughts when he saw her faint in front of him and had he been human he would not have reached her in time. He effortlessly lifted her up in his arms without thinking and deposited her gently onto the bed.
For a vampire to faint from nothing other than stress was not a sight he had ever been faced with. It in itself confirmed that the torment of having her emotions back was very real.
As he let himself stand back and look down at her he became aware of someone entering the room. He allowed his face to return to one of indifference before turning to face the intruder.
Damon hadn't really known what he would be faced with when he walked into the room Katherine currently occupied, even more mystified that his ex was passed out on the bed while Elijah looked down at her.
He still couldn't understand the change that had taken over the original vampire when he'd first come face to face with Katherine. He knew he hadn't been jumping to conclusions when Elijah had played her white knight and had stepped between Katherine and himself when he'd confronted her no more than half an hour ago.
He brought up that subject to Stefan and Elena before heading back to the room, Stefan seemed just as confused while Elena's face showed that she knew something but wouldn't reveal it.
Before he'd left them Elena had pleaded with him to not do anything to her vampire doppelganger, a plea his brother repeated as he walked away.
He was aware of Elijah watching him silently and met his unwavering stare with his own.
"She seems to have fainted again" Elijah spoke as he strode past Damon and sat casually on the only seat in the room.
Damon gave Elijah a look of humoured disbelief, one eyebrow rising with doubt. He made his way over to the bed and stood where Elijah had just been as he looked down at her.
"You can never be to sure what isn't a act with Katherine" he laughed coldly.
Elijah didn't feel it necessary to reply. With Katherine unconscious he felt more himself and in control of his emotions, it had been a mistake to admit what he had to her, and he would not let others see that he'd allowed her to bring forth such a reaction from him.
Damon clenched his fists as he felt the want to let his fingers caress her face, all he wanted was to be alone with her and yet Elijah didn't seem in a rush to leave.
"You can go now" Damon said as casually as possible, "I'll watch over her till she wakes and I'm sure you have a lot to go over with Stefan before we face your hybrid brother tonight".
He turned back to look down at Katherine, not bothering to wait and see how Elijah reacted.
Elijah knew the words for what they were, a silent message that he wished to be alone with her, and yet as controlled as he felt he also felt more determined to watch over Katherine now that she was helpless while asleep.
"No need" Elijah replied dispassionately, "We have more than enough time and I've gone over everything already with your brother".
Damon barely contained a growl as he felt anger and frustration. He had one purpose right now and he would not rest till he saw it through, Elijah be damned.
He had never been able to bury his past with Katherine, and now that she could no longer hide behind a cold calculating emotionless mask he was determined to confront her and gain the closure he needed to finally be done with her for good.
Refusing to back down or leave he made his way to the end of the bed and sat himself down on it letting his hand rest mere inches from her legs. He smirked when he saw Elijah's jaw tighten; he wasn't fooled by Elijah's cold distant act, or his carefully worn expressions. But as much as he felt pleasure in invoking such a reaction he also felt jealous rage flow through him knowing that Elijah whether he knew it or not wanted Katherine.
Just as he stretched his legs out to find a more comfortable position he felt one of her legs brush against his arm as she started to stir awake.
He turned slightly and watched as she slowly opened her eyes and put a hand to her head as if it pained her. She paused mid-stroke as she became aware of her surroundings, and finally settled her gaze on Damon.
He didn't miss the panicked look she had when she quickly jerked her legs away from his and sat up as she searched for Elijah, Damon barely managed to bite back a savage growl when he saw the relief she wasn't quick enough to hide when she'd found Elijah sitting in his chair watching her.
That she was scared of him and obviously felt safe with Elijah tore at him deep and he gritted his teeth as he felt his self-control start to slip.
He'd come here to get what he needed so he could cut whatever strings still tied him to her, and yet within seconds of her waking he felt a need to claim her as his and attack Elijah?
