Chapter 6.
Previously on The Oncoming Storm
Roxanna gasped, looking at the small tree, "Is that..?"
"Yes. Of course, it is not the original, but I saved enough of it to begin to grow a new one." Elijah smiled, "You like it?"
"Of course I like it!" Roxanna replied, throwing her arms around Elijah's neck and kissing him, "I thought it was lost forever after it burnt."
"Fine. I'll see you when you finish protecting the precious doppelganger."
"I really am sorry. I promise I'll make it up to you." Elijah replied, kissing Roxanna before speeding off through the woods.
"It is not just him, though! Rebekah is so desperate to be human, she bends to every whim of Matt's. Nikky is so desperate for Caroline's affections, he would do anything for her, even go against me. Even you, Kol, you are so restrained in this town. You are The Originals; it is about time this town showed you all some respect." Roxanna snarled, her eyes and hair both now black as the night.
Kol put his hands either side of Roxanna's cheekbones, "Oh, my dear Xanna, they will. Not like this though, remember how painful it was when they took it away? I do not want to see you hurt like that again. We will show them our true full power, we will make them pay for all their misdeeds, but not like this. You need to be careful."
"You needed me? Not Elijah, or Klaus, or even Rebekah? You needed, me?" Kol smirked.
"Do not get so ahead of yourself, Kol. I needed someone, anyone, to help me." Roxanna retorted, "Now tell me; how did you know?"
"I don't know what to tell you, Xanna. It was just pure coincidence, you really are reading too much into it."
Elijah sighed, now understanding the main problem. Of course Roxanna had gotten angry; she was scared, she was vulnerable and most of all, she was insecure. She was always so strong and resilient, that Elijah sometimes forgot that deep down she was still the fragile young girl he had first met. Elijah knelt down in front of her, holding both her hands and looking up at her. Roxanna looked down at Elijah, confused.
"The doppelgangers mean nothing to me anymore; they haven't since I first set eyes on you. My Roxanna, I love you. No one else, but you." Elijah told her, leaning forward to kiss her hip and stomach. "After Niklaus put you in the coma, I vowed never to forgive him. He took my family, yes, but I never thought he would take you. I stood beside your coffin for 6 months; I came back every month to check on you. I was a shell of a man without you, Roxanna."
"And what do you want?" Kol replied, suddenly standing directly in front of Roxanna, trapping her against the kitchen counter.
"I want the same. I want to be able to control it again." Roxanna replied, after pausing for a second. "I want to be able to look into the eyes of those who aided Nik's death, watch the pain as I torture them and not lose control. I want to be able to drag it out until they beg for death."
Kol chuckled, "There she is. I look forward to seeing you in action again soon."
Roxanna walked into the Mystic Grill, dressed in dark blue jeans, a flowery top and converse sneakers. She had spoken to Elijah earlier, and had agreed to meet at the Grill that afternoon. Right now, the Grill wasn't too busy, although Roxanna could see Damon Salvatore sitting at the bar nursing a drink. After ordering her own, Roxanna sat down in a booth, and people watched, particularly Damon. He didn't seem his usual self; he seemed subdued, lonely. Thinking back, Roxanna remembered Elijah telling her about Damon's friend, Alaric, being used by his mother, and inevitably dying. Perhaps that was what had Damon so unusually restrained.
It wasn't long after Roxanna had gotten her second drink, when Damon was approached. Roxanna sat, with her feet resting on the seat opposite her and watched the Sherriff walk up to Damon, holding a paper. Although Roxanna was certain that Damon could sense the woman nearing him, he made no move to acknowledge her, until she was right beside him.
"That seat's taken." Damon told the Sherriff.
Sherriff Forbes threw the paper down in front of Damon, and moved to his other side, letting him read the headline. Roxana watched and listened intently, wondering what the eldest Salvatore had done wrong now. Sherriff Forbes looked agitated, and Roxanna delighted in knowing that she was going to get a show with her drink; something to hang over Damon's head.
"'Faulty gas line leads to tragic explosion at Young Farm.'" Damon read out loud, "Really?"
"Better then, 'Town Council blown up. Police have no suspects.'" Sherriff Forbes snapped back, "Unless the perpetrator is right next to me."
Damon glanced at Sherriff Forbes, "Seriously, stop looking at me like that, Liz. If I was going to kill 12 people, I wouldn't blow them up; I'd have a dinner party."
Roxanna sniggered, she was sure that Damon had not said that for effect, he was being serious. Elijah had told her about the incident at the Salvatore Boarding House when he himself had been neutralised by the brothers. Just one more thing that Roxanna would make them pay for.
"The explosion was sparked from inside. This wasn't an accident." Sherriff Forbes continued.
"You say that like it's a bad thing." Damon replied, sipping his drink.
Roxanna was pulled away from their conversation, when the door to the Mystic Grill opened, sending a shiver through her entire body. A wave of uncertainty, a thick sense of dread filled her senses, but she had no idea why. A tanned man entered the Grill, and looked around. He saw Roxanna and stared at her, his eyes narrowing before moving on.
"Council's dead, Liz. I see that as a win." Damon said, as Roxanna focused back on their conversation.
"I've known some of the council since I was a kid- they were my friends." Sherriff Forbes replied, as Roxanna noticed the man move towards her and Damon.
"Well, your friends tried to kill your daughter." Damon easily commented, just as the man got to them, "Who's the new guy?"
Roxanna was glad Damon had asked; she wanted to know too, there was something very strange about this man. Roxanna couldn't figure it out, and she hated not knowing things. The unease that this man made her feel was not a good sign at all, Roxanna would need all the information she could get on this man.
"Excuse me, Sheriff. Hi, um, I was wondering if I could speak to you for a minute about the explosion at the Young Farm." The mysterious man said.
"I'm sorry, Mr..." Sherriff Forbes asked.
"Oh, Connor Jordan." He asked, holding out a gloved hand for her to shake.
Roxanna furrowed her brows. There was something sinister about this man, and she wouldn't stop until she had found out what it was. After being with the Mikealson Family for so long, she wasn't used to feeling like she was being preyed. She was supposed to be the top predator.
"Are you with the insurance investigators?" Sheriff Forbes asked him.
"No, no. I'm more of an independent contractor. Can we speak in private?"
"Sure."
"Thanks." Connor replied, walking away.
Sherriff Forbes looked at Damon one last time before following Connor. Roxanna watched Connor as he walked away, only to find him watching her. She quickly looked away; his glance was much too intense, too knowing for her liking. Roxanna watched as Damon returned to his drink, almost as if nothing had happened, and reflected on the conversation she had just heard.
Someone had blown up half of the Council members, from inside of the house. Sheriff Forbes had thought it was Damon, who had obviously denied it, but was he lying? From what Roxanna had been told, the Council had been breached by Alaric; they could have been a threat to the supernatural in Mystic Falls. Damon did seem like someone to make rash decisions, without really thinking things through. Especially now, with everything going on in this small town; one opposing team being taken down would seem like a good thing.
It wasn't long until the door to the Grill opened, and Elena walked in. Roxanna grinned and got herself comfortable; she was hoping this would be more entertaining than Damon's talk to the Sheriff. Roxanna could see that Elena wasn't happy, and she hoped that she would cause a scene here with Damon. It was just not Damon's day, Roxanna thought with a snigger.
"Did you do it?" Elena began, going to sit down.
"That seat's taken." Damon repeated his line to Sheriff Forbes.
"But no one is here." Elena retorted, confused.
"Well, I'm going to pretend like there's someone there, because the alternative is just too damn depressing." Damon replied, as Elena moved to his other side and sat down.
"Did you set off the explosion that killed the town council?" Roxanna smiled, Elena certainly didn't beat around the bush.
"Am I wearing my 'I Blew Up The Council' t- shirt? Why does everyone keep asking me that?"
"Did you?" Elena pressed.
"No. Anything else?"
For a moment, Elena hesitated, "Yes, something's wrong. I can't keep any of the animal blood down."
Roxanna scoffed. She had hoped Elena would have put up more of a fight on the council matter. The animal blood though, Roxanna didn't understand why any new vampire, or any vampire at all, would try to torture themselves like that. It seemed that Damon had the same idea.
"Well, there's a shock."
"I think I need your help."
Damon sighed, "Well, of course you do. Pick your meal. You've got Asian fusion, Mexican. What about some good old American comfort food?"
"No. No. No, human blood." Elena interrupted. "Stefan's right, I have to at least try to get through this without hurting anyone."
Roxanna rolled her eyes. Of course Elena was only trying the veggie diet for Stefan. Damon was right though, she needed more. Roxanna watched as Damon downed the rest of his drink and stood up, telling Elena to go with him. When she hesitated, Damon grabbed her arm and dragged her along with him. Intrigued, Roxanna got up and quietly followed them. Damon had led Elena into a bathroom and locked the door. On the other side, Roxanna stood silently listening.
"What are you doing?" Elena's voice asked.
"Giving you what you need. Drink." Damon replied, the scent of blood hitting Roxanna.
"What?"
"You're a new vampire, Elena. You need warm blood, from the vein. Maybe this will do the trick. Or not." Damon explained. "But just, don't tell Stefan."
"Why not?"
"Because blood sharing is kind of personal."
Roxanna gasped at Damon's words. Blood sharing? He couldn't possibly be thinking about doing that.
"What do you mean, personal?" Elena asked, hesitant.
"Just drink."
After that the pair were silent. Roxanna stood, frozen; she couldn't believe that Damon had the audacity to blood share with his brother's girlfriend. She would be absolutely furious if Elijah had ever done that with anyone but her. As her phone begun to vibrate in her pocket, Roxanna smiled at a realisation. She now had something incredible to hold over Damon. She walked away from the bathroom and answered her phone.
"Roxanna, where are you?" Elijah's worried voice asked.
"I'm at the Grill. Where are you?"
Roxanna heard the click of the call being disconnected and frowned at her phone. Moments later, arms wound themselves around her waist, and she felt lips pressed against her neck. She smiled, obviously Elijah was already hear when he rang. She laced her fingers through his and leant back against him.
"Well, hello. We'll have to be quick; my boyfriend is looking for me." She whispered, with a smirk.
"Very funny, dear." Elijah replied, turning her round to face him, "What have you been doing today?"
"Getting to know the locals, I've got some interesting information about Damon Salvatore and the doppelganger. There's is something else that I need to talk to you about, but later- away from eavesdroppers."
"Of course. First though, let's sit down." Elijah pulled her to the seat. "I feel bad, I have been neglecting you."
"No. You have been wonderful. You have made it so much easier for me." Roxanna paused, "Although, if I said it did not frustrate me when you run to the doppelgangers aid, I'd be lying."
"I understand your dislike for Elena. However, it is Niklaus' fault that she has been dragged into this world, and by extension, mine."
"Elijah, your siblings shortcomings are not your own. You cannot take responsibility for all their misdeeds."
Elijah looked down, holding Roxanna's hand. He was the oldest, of course he was responsible. He should hold his family together, keep them on the right track, not let them lose themselves too much. After all, wasn't that why he had stayed with Klaus searching for a way to break his curse, isn't that what he had meant by, 'Always and Forever'? Did he not turn his back on killing Klaus when he transitioned, to reunite his family? Was his love for his family not the reason Roxanna had been in a coma for 80 years?
"Elijah, for as long as I have known you, you have cleaned up all of your sibling's messes. Surely, now it is the time to make them do it on their own, make them finally grow up." Roxanna said, softly. "They have to learn they cannot depend on you when they mess up. It has been like that for too long, nothing good comes from that."
"Well, one good thing did come from it." Elijah smiled, "You."
Roxanna laughed, "Are you suggesting I was a mess to be cleaned up?"
"Well, I was not going to say it." Elijah smiled and shrugged.
Roxanna giggled and hit Elijah's hand. She loved it when she shared moments like this with Elijah. At times things could be so intense, it was nice when they could act as a normal human couple with light hearted conversations. Roxanna smiled and stood up, holding Elijah's hands and pulling him up with her.
She led him through the door of the Mystic Grill and across the road onto the green. The pair walked hand in hand around Mystic Falls, joking with each other until they arrived at a small park near the Lockwood Mansion. Roxanna smiled up at Elijah who laughed, knowing what she was planning on doing. He watched as Roxanna sped into the park and began negotiating the monkey bars.
England, 1686.
Elijah was watching Roxanna and his sister in the gardens from his balcony. They had all been together now for a few months; summer would end soon, so the girls were making the most of the time they had left to enjoy the gardens. As he heard the girl's laughter, he couldn't help a nagging feeling in his stomach. Rebekah and Roxanna were in a playground, with a slide, swing and roundabout set. This mansion must have been home to a child. Elijah hoped that his youngest brother had not killed the child to get this castle.
"Your brother is so uptight. Always watching, never joining the fun." He heard Roxanna say to Rebekah.
"Elijah is the oldest. He can have fun; he just likes to be responsible."
"He is nothing like Kol, they look similar, but they have completely different personalities."
Elijah stiffened at Roxanna's remark; it struck him deeply that Roxanna would compare him to his brother. He knew that if was with them now, he would be able to see the slight tinge of pink shading Roxanna's cheeks; the same blush she got whenever she spoke to either of the siblings.
"Kol has a similar personality to Nik." Rebekah replied.
"No. Niklaus is frightening. I could never imagine him in here, or Elijah."
Elijah frowned; did this young girl believe he did not know how to have fun? Well, he would show her. Smiling to himself, he jumped over the side of his balcony and walked toward the two girls.
"Elijah! Elijah!" Roxanna's voice bought Elijah out of his memories, "Eli!"
Elijah quickly sped to Roxanna, who was hidden behind a bush watching the Lockwood Mansion. She motioned for him to join her and be quiet. Elijah knelt beside her, his hand resting on her back, watching a man, who was standing at the door to the Lockwood Mansion.
"That man was in the Mystic Grill earlier today. His name is Connor Jordan. There is something different to him, I don't like it Elijah. It feels horrible."
"What is he holding?" Elijah asked, looking closer to Connor, "A gun. Roxanna, we need to leave."
"No. There are people in that house."
Roxanna crept closer to the house slowly, before Elijah grasped her hand and pulled her back to him.
"You cannot help them."
The pair watched as Connor and Caroline Forbes spoke at the door; Connor really wanted to know about the Council deaths. As Tyler walked down the stairs, Elijah grabbed Roxanna and held her lightly against his chest, trapped in his arms. Roxanna struggled against his hold, as Connor shook Tyler's hand and pulled the gun out, shooting him.
"Tyler! Oh, my god! Tyler! Tyler!" the pair heard Caroline scream.
"No! Nik!" Roxanna screamed, as Connor disappeared, "Elijah let me go!"
"Calm down, Roxanna." Elijah told her, stroking her arms, "You cannot go in there; they will know something is wrong."
"But, he is hurt."
"He is a Hybrid. He will be fine." Elijah held her closer, stopping her from moving. "Look, he is fine, he's gone."
Roxanna looked up at Elijah's words; it was true. Tyler had run from the house, leaving Carol and Caroline alone in the bloody foyer. Elijah held Roxanna for a while longer, letting the girl calm down. They needed to find out who this man was and why he was in Mystic Falls attacking Hybrids.
"I need to find him." Roxanna mumbled.
"I know. I will find him out more about Connor." Elijah replied.
Elijah kissed the top of Roxanna's head before they both went opposite ways. Suddenly, Elijah stopped and turned back to Roxanna.
"Roxanna," He called, "Earlier, in the Grill, you called me your boyfriend."
Roxanna turned to look at him, "Yes."
"Do you not think it is a little juvenile?" Elijah asked, moving closer to Roxanna as she did the same.
"What would you prefer for me to call you?"
"Perhaps, fiancé?"
Roxanna smirked, "Really?"
Elijah just nodded in response, prompting Roxanna to throw her arms around his neck and kiss him, then pull back and walk away.
"Try again, Elijah." She called over her shoulder.
Elijah laughed; he should have known that Roxanna would not let him get away without a grand gesture. He could remember when she was human, the late night conversations they had. Roxanna loved romance; she had her dream life planned out, long before the Originals arrived in her life. Elijah sighed, no matter how happy he made her, no matter how nice the life they led; it was never what Roxanna had wanted.
England, 1687.
"I like the winter." Roxanna spoke from Elijah's balcony. "The long nights, the powerful storms."
Elijah wrapped his arms around Roxanna's waist, covering her in a blanket. She leant back against him, almost unconsciously. Elijah knew why; she felt bad, she did not want to upset anyone. Elijah did not want to upset anyone either, but she was something entirely different, he had known it since they first met. Elijah would never leave Roxanna.
"You will catch your death if you continue standing in the storms."
Roxanna turned in Elijah's arms and smiled up at him, "You would never let that happen."
No, he wouldn't. He would always make sure Roxanna was safe, that she was happy, nothing would change that.
"Besides, I have too many things to do."
"Oh? Like what?" Elijah asked, picking her up in his arms, letting her legs wrap around him and moving them to the bed.
"I would love to see more of the world. Get married, have children. Find a home that will be just mine and my families; somewhere in the countryside; away from evils, away from poverty, away from death." Roxanna began, curling into Elijah's side still cocooned in the blanket.
"I would live somewhere peaceful, a small house, but surrounded by field and nature, with a stream running by. There would be somewhere for me to keep horses; our children could learn to ride. Our wedding would be at night, in summer, under the stars; simple, just family and closest friends. Our children would be able to run around all day, without any fear. Life would be peaceful, easy... slow."
Elijah glanced down at Roxanna as she stopped talking, to see her breathing softly, her eyes closed. He pulled her closer, stroking his fingers down her arm as she dreamt of the life she had told him. Elijah couldn't help but watch her; he had noticed how her speech had ended with 'our' children, 'our' wedding. He didn't have to delve into her unconscious mind to know he was part of the future she saw.
Roxanna ran through the woods, following the scent of Tyler's blood. She eventually found him groaning on the forest floor. Immediately, she knelt beside him, and pushed his hands away as he clumsily tried to get the bullets out of his chest. She carefully placed her hands over his chest and focused on the wooden bullets.
"Nik, this may hurt a little."
He placed his hands on her knees and squeezed them hard as she pulled out the wooden bullets. The pair looked down at the bullets, recognising them immediately. They both sighed, and Roxanna fell into his arms.
"Why did you do it?" Roxanna asked, "You could have gotten seriously hurt."
"It's what Tyler would have done."
"When are you coming back, Nikky?"
"It won't be long; I just have a few things to do."
"Promise me, Nik." Roxanna pulled back, "Promise me."
Roxanna held out her hand, her fingers apart, and Klaus put his fingers through hers, "I promise."
(EDIT)
