Chapter 7
A/N:Thank you for all the favorites,follows and reviews. I'm glad you all like the 's more of a stress relief for me to write,so if I can write a nice story for you all to enjoy,than I'm happy to. Also,so sorry about the long delay and how it's kind of short. Lots of things came up and gave me a bit of writer's block.
Lailah brushed a few clinging strands of dark brown hair away from her face,letting out a sigh as she looked toward the open window and the tree she had just scaled to get inside. She was startled out of her thoughts by her door being thrown open by a wide eyed Tyler,who looked down at her in surprise,his eyes glancing down at her attire in shock.
"You seriously tried to sneak into the house after hooking up with some guy?For three days!?"Tyler asked,his shocked expression morphing into a angered one,his arms crossed across his chest.
"Tyler,I wasn't hooking up with anyone."She said defensively, a blush staining her tan cheeks pink as she got up from the floor.
"Oh really. Then you just happen to arrive home through the window clothed in only a guy's shirt. Because that's completely normal."Tyler answered,eyeing her in disbelief.
"Okay,I know it looks strange but I was staying at a friend's house. My dress got ruined so he gave me his shirt to wear,nothing else to it. Oh and I'll be staying with said friend for a few days."Walking toward her closet,she pulled out her suitcase and placed it on the bed.
"You think I'm going to believe you when you say it's nothing between you two when you're going off to stay with some strange friend,who I've never met after being gone for three days."Tyler questioned angrily,a hurt and disappointed look in his brown eyes as he watched his cousin begin to pack her things. Lailah sighed heavily,halting her packing and setting the folded shirt in her hand on the bed before she pivoted on her heels to look at Tyler.
"I'm not leaving like Mason did,I'm always going to be there for you."Lailah said softly as she walked over to him,placing a reassuring hand on his broad shoulder. Her green eyes watched him carefully,silently pleading for him to understand,not being able to watch her older cousin be angry with her. Tyler remained silent though she could see his eyes softening at her gentle words.
"I will be going away for a few days but I promise to keep in touch. I'll be back before you even know I'm gone."She promised with a reassuring smile and a playful squeeze of his bicep. Walking back to her open suitcase,she picked up the folded clothes and returned to her packing.
"Just please be careful."Tyler relented after a few moments of tense silence between the two.
"I will,I promise."Lailah answered,a warm smile on her lips as she zipped the suitcase and set it on the floor. She sighed at the sight of her cousin,his arms crossed and his displeasure with her actions apparent on his face. Walking forward,she brought him into a hug and felt his tense muscles relax as he gave in and returned her affection. "I won't be gone long and I'll call every single day. I know you're worried about me Tyler,but I can handle myself."
"I know you can but you're like my little sister and as your honorary big brother,it's my job to protect you."He said with a gentle smile.
"Thank you for being there. I mean it,you and aunt Carol are all I have and I don't plan on losing that any time soon."She said,with teary eyes as she pulled back from the hug and grabbed her suitcase from the floor."Could you bring this downstairs and set it by the door? I'm going to change into something a little more appropriate." Tyler gave a soft smile before doing as was asked and bringing her suitcase downstairs. In the meantime,Lailah took out an emerald green,spaghetti strap blouse and some leather leggings to pair together as her outfit for today. Slipping on her shoes and jacket,she headed downstairs to meet Tyler by the door.
"Bye,Tyler. You take care of yourself and Aunt Carol,okay?"Lailah said with a gentle smile,concern evident in her green eyes.
"I promise Lailah. Now go before I change my mind."He answered with a playful smile. Lailah chuckled softly at his reply,bringing him into a tight hug once more before she released him and grabbed her bag from the floor. With one last glance back at her cousin,she departed from the family home and headed toward the parked car for her journey back to Elijah's. On the drive there,she thought about the decisions that had led her to be staying with a vampire in a town that rivaled Beacon Hills in supernatural creatures present. It was a great change to be able to freely show her werewolf side when around Elijah instead of having to hide that side of her while around her family and friends.
Finding the house,she parked Elijah's car in front and turned off the ignition. Sitting there,she took a moment to gaze around at the home before getting out and grabbing her things. Walking into the house,she was surprised to find the same man from last night speaking with Elijah in the living room.
"So,how was your visit?'She asked Elijah with a small smile,setting her bag on the couch.
"It went well."Elijah answered,his features calm though his eyes held surprise at her words.
"Well that's good. What is it you are planning to do next?'Lailah questioned curiously,the hint of a sly smile on her lips as she watched the men.
"Elijah,I agreed to work with you for my family's sake,but I never agreed to trust another vampire as well."The man said with a hardened face as he eyed Lailah.
"This girl is an associate of mine and when you agreed to work with me,you agreed to help anyone I tell you to."Elijah said with a calm tone though his eyes dared the man to question him. Seeing the silent warning in his eyes,the stranger decided to let it go and instead of pressing on the issue.
"You going to introduce me Elijah?"She asked teasingly,enjoying making the human squirm under her gaze.
"This is Jonas,a warlock who is helping me and Jonas this is Lailah."Elijah responded smoothly,seemingly unaffected by the tension in the room between the three,
"Now that that's over,what is it you have planned?'She asked Elijah,her posture changing to a more confident one. The wolf side of her relished in the feeling of confidence and power it gave her when Jonas avoided her gaze. She was hoping Elijah was planning on seeing Elena and she could get some revenge on the brunette that had left her for dead.
"I was thinking of paying a visit to the vampire named Slater,he is close to both Rose and Elena. I;m going to make an example out of him,letting them know I do not take kindly to people betraying me and that I will get Elena no matter what they try."He answered,fixing the cuffs of his suit jacket before gesturing for the three of them to leave. Lailah nodded and headed toward the door with the two men staying to speak in private about the plan that needed Jonas' magic. Before Lailah could disappear from sight,she stopped short when a thought hit her.
"Oh and Jonas,not a vampire."Lailah said over her shoulder with a predatory smile curving her lips as she made eye contact with him. With that said,the she-wolf opened the door and headed out into the fresh air to wait for the two men to join her. A few minutes later,Jonas and Elijah stepped out of the house and headed towards where she leant against the car.
"So,how are we going to get there?Car or run?"She asked teasingly,when she caught sight of them.
"I imagine it would be preferable to use the car rather than run there,but if you would like I can take Jonas there and you can follow along."Elijah answered,seeming to completely overlook the teasing tone she had used.
With a sigh,Lailah approached Elijah with a soft smile and gently patted his shoulder."Elijah,I was 're going to drive.I'm fast but not vampire fast."
"Well alright,it's settled."Elijah answered,walking toward the car with a nod of his head toward her. Lailah shook her head in disbelief at his gentlemanly attitude before slipping into the passenger's side of the car. It was a while before they arrived at what she assumed was Slater's home and parked there. Elijah got out of the car first,fixing his suit jacket and cuffs as he waited for the others in the car to join him on the doorstep. Without knocking,Elijah marched into the house,catching the lone vampire inside by surprise.
"Eli-Elijah. Wha-What are you doing here?"Slater stumbled over his words as he gazed at the older vampire in panic,his eyes widening alarmingly. Lailah stayed near the door as she watched the interaction between the original and the younger vampire. Her nose crinkled in distaste as she caught scent of the fear that oozed off of him,finding the sudden barrage of strong emotions uncomfortable.
"I have come to sort out some business concerning Rose and Elena. You seem to be the only thing that can get me through to them."Elijah replied with a sigh.
"Me? Um,if you would like I can probably tell them something but I really don't understand why you can't just see them yourself."
"They seem to like you better and I figure this message will be more meaningful coming from you than me."
"Alright,what's the message?"
"Call Rose and tell her that she needs the moonstone to break the curse with the help of a witch."
"But I thought the curse wasn't real."
"It may or may not be but I need them to take that moonstone to a witch. So,do as I say."Elijah said warningly,motioning for Slater to pick up the phone.
"Rose?"Slater asked tentatively after a few moments had passed.
"Yes, I took off, I'm sorry, I was freaking freaked."
"Look, I want no part in any of this but I did some digging."
"You can destroy the curse but you need the moonstone."
"Can your friend get the moonstone? You need it."
As Slater talked on the phone with Rose,Lailah tuned out the conversation and instead took a moment to gaze around the loft in admiration. Finding there was nothing interesting in the room,she turned her attention back to Slater as he ended the call.
"Very nicely done."Elijah said with a nod.
"Thanks, I have a degree in theater. How can you compel me? A vampire can't compel another vampire."Slater answered,his confusion mixing with alarm.
"I'm a special vampire."
"What,because you're an Original?"
"Hmm,now I want you to take this and drive it through your heart."Elijah said,handing Slater a wooden stake he held in his hand.
"But that would kill me forever."Slater said as he obediently took the stake from his hand and looked down at it.
"I know."Elijah answered,once more staring into his eyes as though he was putting Slater into a trance."But it's necessary." We watched as the younger vampire drove the stake through his heart and his graying corpse fell to the floor lifelessly.
"Was it,really?"Jonas asked as he rejoined the pair in the room.
"It had to be done. He delivered the message. Won't be long now."Elijah answered,looking up from the body to make eye contact with Jonas. Lailah avoided looking at the corpse,swallowing thickly as she tried to come to terms with the first death she had ever seen. With a heavy sigh,she looked over at Jonas' face.
"He's right. From what I gathered,the Salvatore brothers have the moonstone but they won't let Elena anywhere near it. But if they get the message that Elijah is willing to kill to get what he needs,Elena will want to talk."She said,seeing the doubt on Jonas' face.