Poison & Wine – Chapter X

~ * • ° • ° • * ~

"I'm still upset you left me hanging," Jenna said to Andy. The doppelganger sighed and looked over at her with a frown. Her aunt was referring to the previous night when Andy and Caroline had been kidnapped. By the time, Andy made it home, she found Jenna asleep on the couch, with empty Chinese containers. She had forgotten of their plans and profusely apologized this morning. Her punishment for that and "losing" her phone was to accompany Jenna to the Historical Society's Tea Party.

"I'm still upset you ate my Chinese," Andy replied as they got out of the car. The event was being held at the Lockwood mansion. Andy donned a royal blue dress and brown flats, another punishment decided by Jenna. She wrapped her arms around her waist as they walked toward the mansion.

"Next time don't play me," Jenna teased, playfully nudging her. "I would make plans with you tonight but I'm scared of getting my heart broken again."

Andy flipped her off with a smile. "What is this even for?"

"For that historian Elijah," Jenna replied, causing Andy to look over at her in surprise. "He's writing a book on Mystic Falls, Andy. Carol wants to give him a proper welcome."

Andy remembered her conversation with Elena yesterday. Jenna needed to know, but Andy didn't want to spring it on her just before this event. "Hey, Jen?"

"Mhm?" Jenna hummed.

"Can we do dinner tonight? Just me and you? Maybe Elena and Jeremy if they're not busy. And Alaric, if he wants. I think it'd be nice," Andy explained. Jenna looked at her in slight worry. "Nothing to worry about, okay? Just feel like it's been a while since we had a night."

"Of course, Andy. Are you sure everything's okay?" She asked as they came to a stop at the front doors.

"Yeah, don't worry! Really, it's okay," Andy assured before she walked into the mansion. There was already a decent amount of people here and Andy glanced around for any familiar faces she might find. Her gaze jumped to Carol before slipping who she was speaking to.

Elijah.

Andy sucked in a breath as she noticed him. He looked handsome in his three-piece suit, his brown hair styled in the same curtain look as usual. She glanced over his angular features, wondering just how old he really was. If he was an Original, he had been around for much longer than Stefan and Damon combined.

Just then, Elijah's hazel brown eyes found hers. The two stared at one another for a long moment before Andy's attention was diverted.

"Your first time seeing him?" Jenna asked.

"Huh?" Andy questioned, turning to look at her aunt.

"That's Elijah, the historian? I figured you spoke to him about the files since you asked for his number," Jenna explained.

"Oh, yeah," Andy murmured, glancing back to see he was looking back at Carol. She wondered if he was listening to their conversation at this moment or if he was truly paying to Carol. Not that he would have any reason to listen in on her and Jenna's conversation.

"You weren't too rude to him, were you?"

"No, of course not," She replied. "I simply let him know that the files were not to be harmed. Don't worry, Jen. I'm not always an embarrassment."

"You're not an embarrassment, kid," Jenna said, slinging an arm around her shoulders and directing them to the refreshments table. "But I did want to thank you for not making me come to this alone. Even if you abandoned me last night, it's pretty cool of you to hang out with your crazy aunt for one day."

"You're my favorite aunt so obviously, I'm going to hang with you. Besides we all know I have no life outside school and work," Andy noted as she poured herself a glass of tea. Jenna chuckled with a shake of her head and took a sip of her own glass. Turning to glance around the room, Andy noticed someone else who had just arrived. Her nose crinkled at seeing Damon walk in. "You have got to be kidding me."

Jenna turned to see what Andy had been looking at and sighed. "Of course he's here. Hold this I'll be right back."

"Jenna—" Andy started but her aunt had already made a beeline for Damon. Andy smiled small as she watched her aunt charging to tell Damon off. She watched with satisfying until another woman approached them and kissed Damn on the lips. Andy froze up for a moment, watching as the two pulled away from the kiss and smiled.

Feeling a rush of anger and hurt, Andy sat the glasses she was holding down and went to go find the bathroom. She was beginning to feel dizzy and just needed to get away from Damon. She wasn't jealous as much as she thought; no instead she felt bad for the woman. She wasn't sure why she was hurt by seeing Damon kiss someone else. She had never been with him and yet what he had done to her the other night, she still cared enough about him to be hurt by seeing him "move on."

As she made her way to the bathroom, she passed by Carol and Elijah. She didn't even notice them until Carol stepped in her way and pulled her into a hug.

"Andy! I'm so glad you could come," Carol said as she pulled away from the hug. "I know you haven't gone to one of these in a while but I think it's good for you. I've been so busy I feel like we haven't been able to actually speak in a while."

Andy smiled small at the woman. The two had always been on friendly terms since she dated Tyler. Andy was just glad that she seemed to be doing well despite everything going on. She did wonder how much Carol knew about the supernatural though, especially with her son being a werewolf. "It's good to see you too, Carol. It has been a while. I guess I've been busy with work."

Andy swayed on her feet slightly, feeling suddenly sick to her stomach. However, Carol wasn't going to let her escape so easily. "Oh, where are my manners! Elijah, this is Andrea Gilbert. She may be able to help you as well. Her mother was into local history and I believe some of it rubbed off on her. Andy, this is Elijah Smith, the historian writing on Mystic Falls."

"Nice to meet you," Andy said quickly, her eyes darting to him as she got a stomach cramp. She put a hand on her stomach and did her best to look at him evenly, but Elijah watched her in slight concern.

"You as well," Elijah said, glancing her over. "Are you feeling well, Andrea?"

"Uh, yeah, I'm just a little… little light-headed," Andy answered.

"Maybe a drink would make you feel better?" Andy stiffened at the voice. Damon walked up and stopped next to her, looking at her in concern as well. "I hear the tea is delicious and this is a Tea Party."

Andy did her best to hide her contempt but was certain she was scowling at him. "I'm sorry, Carol, I need to go. Excuse me," She turned away from them and started to walk toward the bathrooms. As she did, she suddenly felt as if her dress was wet. She looked down and nearly fell over when she saw the red that was beginning to soak the front of it and was even dripping down onto the ground. Her arm began aching and she looked to see that the exact place she had been shot was now open and bleeding.

Rushing into the bathroom, Andy collapsed onto the ground gasping. She lifted her dress to see that the bullet wound had reopened on her stomach. Her hand was aching, the same hand Brady had shot her in, and she found that it was now bleeding as well. But wasn't vampire blood supposed to leave you healed? She had drunk Caroline's blood for sure, so why wasn't she okay now?

Suddenly Andy was throwing up on the floor and all of it was red. She wasn't sure how this was going to be explained to Carol Lockwood that one of her spotless bathrooms had blood and vomit all over it. She glanced around in a haze for her phone only to remember she hadn't gotten a replacement yet. She was supposed to go after the party to get another one. She had no way to contact anyone to send in help, even if she did Elena was at the lake house with Stefan. Her only hope was that Damon would come help her, and even then, she didn't want to see him. However, she couldn't afford to be picky now.

"Andrea," She looked up to hear the voice on the other side of the door.

"No, don't come—" Before she could even finish her sentence, Elijah had opened the door and was staring at her crumpled figure on the ground surrounded by blood and throw up. Seductive as always, Andy thought dryly as she looked up at him with a mix of worry, fear, and embarrassment at her current state. "I'm fine—"

"I smell your blood, Andrea," He didn't hesitate in walking over to her and biting into his wrist to offer her blood. She had stared in awe for a moment at his vampire face despite only catching a brief glance.

"No, I drank blood already," Andy turned her head and wanted to throw up at the sight. "The werewolves… they shot me and Caroline gave me her blood right after it happened but this… I was healed up."

Elijah looked at her in concern before he ripped a piece of his shirt off and ordered her to press it against her wound. Then, he swept her up in his arms. "Elijah, I-I'm fine! You're getting your suit dirty," She protested as she tried to squirm but it only made her wounds hurt and caused her to wince in pain.

"Stop protesting. You're coming with me," He said sternly.

"But the party—"

"The party can wait," He replied. "Now close your eyes or you'll get dizzy."

She did as he commanded and suddenly felt the rush of wind against her face. When it stopped, she found herself being put into a car by him. "Elijah, really, I can get someone else to help me," She continued as he sped around to the driver's side.

"I promised your sister I wouldn't allow her loved ones come to any harm. Where would I be if I don't uphold that?" Elijah said, giving her a look that told her that this was the end of the argument. She remained silent as he presumably called Jonas and told him to be ready in five minutes and to have his medical utensils ready. Once he was done, he glanced her over as he sped down the road. "How are you feeling?"

"Dizzy," She admitted, closing her eyes and leaning her head back.

"Don't fall asleep," He ordered.

"It's going to be hard when you're acting like this is Crazy Taxi," She pointed out. There was a moment of silence before Andy spoke up again. "Carol isn't going to be happy when she notices the guest of honor has left. She puts a lot of stock into those events."

"There are more important things than a tea party, Andrea," He reminded her. She opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him.

"Am I needed for the sacrifice?" She asked him.

He looked over at her, a flash of amusement in his eyes. "You're profusely bleeding in my front seat and you want to know if you are going to be a part of the sacrifice?"

"It would be a nice 'fuck you' to Klaus if he needs both doppelgangers and travels this way to find out one was taken out by a bullet," Andy stated with a dry smile. "And then maybe he'd leave my family alone."

"He wouldn't… Forgive me, it's not a topic we should discuss while you're in this state," He glanced down at her dress. "I will find you other clothes once you are patched up."

"It's fine, really. Talking about him isn't making me tired. He wouldn't, what?"

Elijah was quiet for a moment before speaking up again. "He wouldn't leave your family alone even if you weren't alive and needed for the sacrifice. He would make certain he kept track of your line, make sure that Elena married and had children. Then he would wait for the next set of doppelgängers. He isn't a patient man, but if he needed to wait another few years he would."

"And he wouldn't hesitate to hurt any of Elena's loved ones," Andy sighed. "Well, you're certainly the best option we all have, even if I don't entirely trust you." He looked over at her with a raised eyebrow. "Hey, this could just be you kidnapping me. You were going to take us when Rose and Trevor offered us up. Maybe you see this as an easy way to get ahold of a doppelganger."

"If I wanted to kidnap you, I would have already, Andrea," Elijah pointed out. "Your friends, while strong and loyal, are nothing compared to me in a battle."

"I believe you," Andy leaned her head back and held the cloth to her wound. "I'll buy you another suit."

"You will do no such thing."

"Then I guess I'll have my own expensive suit."

Elijah glanced over at her in amusement. "You would certainly make one look good."

Andy felt her cheeks heat up. She was glad for once that she was hurt so she could use that as her excuse. "Damn right I would. I would make even you jealous," She said, earning another amused look from him. "Where are you taking me?"

"To Jonas. I assume you remember him," He responded.

She nodded and groaned in pain. "It hurts so much more today…"

"That's because you're not in shock," He noted.

"Thanks for sending Jonas last night," She replied, her voice becoming soft as she felt herself starting to fall asleep. Elijah immediately pressed further down on the gas. She groaned, feeling as if she was going to throw up again.

"I should've dealt with it myself but… Well, I was out of town," He admitted, reaching over and putting a comforting hand over hers. "You need to stay awake, Andrea. We are almost there."

She sat forward and began vomiting blood again. If she wasn't feeling as if she was on death's doorstep, she would have been mortified. However, she had different concerns now.

The car came to an abrupt stop, almost sending Andy forward but his arm stopped her from lurching forward. Her door was opened and Elijah scooped her up in his arms, ordering her to close her eyes. She felt the wind against her face as he ran. When they stopped, she kept her eyes closed, feeling herself slowly falling asleep.

"What happened?" She heard Jonas asking as she was laid down on a soft surface.

"Her body didn't accept the vampire blood," Elijah replied.

"Jen… Jenna…" Andy opened her eyes and fought to look at Elijah, but her vision was beginning to blur. "She needs to know…"

"Sh, Andrea… I'll make sure she knows you're safe," Elijah murmured to her. She leaned her head back and groaned as she felt Jonas checking her wounds. Feeling exhaustion take over her body, she fell limp with Elijah being the last thing she saw.

~ * • ° • ° • * ~