a/n: thanks for all of the reviews last chapter! I shall respond soon. And be warned that this chapter is definitely M+++ rated, so if you're under 18... you shouldn't be reading! On with the show...
Bonnie's eyes traveled over the grand foyer of the Mikaelson family mansion, and Elena didn't need to be psychic to sense the suspicion in her mood. But her friend remained silent, voicing no concerns until they entered the parlor.
"Really," she remarked under her breath. She stood in the center of the large room as one of only two humans. The rest were vampires, a tense crowd that never shared a room willingly. "If this doesn't seem like a setup... are you sure one of you isn't Silas?"
Klaus smirked, though he was similarly nonplussed. "Believe me, little witch, hosting you isn't my idea of a good time either."
"Enough," Elijah chided as he entered the room, his presence capturing everyone's attention. It filled Elena with a sense of pride that he still inherently commanded respect, despite everything that had happened. He was a natural born leader, and she found herself drawn to his elite status among vampires. But not everyone was expecting the elder Original.
"What's he doing here?" Caroline asked suspiciously.
"Oh, you mean Elena didn't even fill her best friends in on her new boyfriend?"
Damon's snarky tone barely concealed his anger. She sighed, crossing her arms. They hadn't had a spare second to talk yet, and he was practically baiting her into denying his accusation. To make matters worse, Bonnie and Caroline were staring at her as if she'd lost her mind. Everyone else watched curiously, waiting for the next jab to fly - even Matt, who was seated between his own pair of antagonistic blonde vampires. Everyone except Stefan, who was looking at the floor.
He knew, too, as Damon did. He'd probably gathered some semblance of what was unfolding when she couldn't explain why she hadn't left Elijah if he hadn't truly kidnapped her. But instead of retaliation there was a shocked, grim acceptance in his face. And Elena knew how bad it looked... not that she could deny any of it. She viewed it in a more romanticized light, of course, but it still wasn't anything she could defend. She didn't expect anyone else to get it. Only time would heal those rifts... and she hoped fate would grant her that time.
"That's not why we asked you to come here," Elena said, shifting uncomfortably under the sudden scrutiny but Caroline jumped to her feet, interrupting her.
"You and Elijah? Are you serious?" She let out an exasperated sigh. "What is it with you lately, hopping from guy to guy? What about Stefan?"
"Caroline-"
"There are bigger problems afoot than who Elena spends her time with," Elijah interjected. He was at Elena's side now, a physical barrier between the nuclear explosion Caroline sought to ignite. "Like Silas," he continued, pausing to shoot a pointed look at both Damon and a bristling Rebekah. "And yes. We are together. End of story. It's not open for debate or discussion tonight."
"You and those conniving Petrovas," Klaus muttered under his breath, but he held up his hands when Elijah fixed his icy stare upon him.
"Maybe not this second, but it is getting discussed later," Bonnie said. Her chin raised and Elijah didn't challenge her as he had the others. Elena recognized the grudging dynamic between them as a result of their tumultuous history. Bonnie's mother was a vampire because of the Originals (though Elena could argue that she had warned them about siding with Esther) and Elijah had escaped with Klaus the night of the sacrifice before Bonnie has a chance to destroy him. Her mistrust was apparent. Though Elijah had been acting in the best interest of his family in both instances (and all vampirekind), Bonnie didn't forget or forgive his indiscretions. It left Elena uneasy; the situation was already tense enough.
"God, enough squabbling - let's get on with it!" Rebekah groaned. "What's the deal with Silas now?"
"Not yet." Bonnie walked to the table behind the sofa, pulling a variety of supplies and a bowl from her purse. She placed a stalk of bound dried herbs in the center of the clay bowl and struck a match. Soon, the smell of sage permeated the air, and her low chanting could be heard. She fell silent after a few minutes and slowly opened her eyes. "There."
Damon's brows narrowed. "What's that all about? Are you trying to get us high?"
"No," she shot back. "It's a privacy spell...courtesy of Esther. That way Silas can't hear us." She glanced at Elena again. "You're sure he's not here?"
"Positive."
"And how do you know that?" Klaus countered.
"He has a connection with the doppelgängers." Elena paused, knowing the hybrid was intrigued. "We can see him. He can't hide his true self from us."
He didn't say anything, though he shifted as if he were trying to stretch a tight muscle. Trying to pretend it didn't bother him that Elena was more powerful than him in one important way. But she could see through the facade, and she felt compelled to continue on, to show how much precious knowledge she possessed.
"Did you know Tatia was a doppelgänger too? And that's the main reason your mother murdered her? Esther and Ayana wanted to prevent the apocalypse that we're now facing."
"I find that hard to believe," Klaus said, a forced smile on his face. "Mother hated her because of the wedge she drove between brothers. Just like Katerina, and just like you."
She shrugged nonchalantly. "Believe what you want. But Silas showed me the exact spot where she was murdered. Near the network of caves, the grassy forest where the wild horses were."
She could see Elijah focusing on the floor in her periphery, and her stomach suddenly twisted. In taunting his brother, she'd overlooked how intertwined their history was, and how hearing about Tatia's demise would affect him. She swallowed before continuing, trying to soften her stance.
"He knew Tatia was trying to reach him, to feed him and revive him. And then he would have used the cure to revive her. Silas's long lost love is the original... Petrova, I guess. Anastasia. And he needs the human reincarnation to take her place on the other side. Permanently."
"Well, it's unfortunate that he's out of luck, isn't it?" Rebekah smiled saccharinely, itching to move past the history that set her brothers into a dour mood. "Seeing as neither you nor Katherine are human anymore, and there won't be any more doppelgängers."
"I have to take the cure."
Elena gave the blonde Original an apologetic glance. She knew how much Rebekah longed to be human. The proof was sitting right next to her in the form of a wholesome high school senior. And she felt guilty that she'd previously professed no interest in being human, but that she was stealing the chance away from the one person who wanted it desperately all along. It was unfair.
"Once the veil is dropped, he will find her," she continued, "and we'll switch places before the veil goes back up."
"And you agreed to such a silly notion? You truly are suicidal." Rebekah eyes narrowed venomously. "All while breaking poor Elijah's heart again. Cruel girl."
"Hey," Matt broke in, but Elena was irritated. She was annoyed that she felt compassion for Rebekah seconds earlier just to have comparisons to her ancestors thrown back in her face.
"Do you think I would willingly agree to any of this? No! But if you took the cure, I can guarantee you'd be dead in twenty four hours." She ran her hand into her hair, taking a breath and lowering her voice, trying to reign in her anger. "If you all want to die, then be my guests. Because that's what he's promised if he doesn't get his way. And while I think we have a plan of how to stop him-" she glanced at Bonnie and Elijah - "I still don't see a way around taking the cure and dropping the veil."
"Wait, so instead of just dealing with Silas, we'll have all of types of supernatural bad guys to battle?" Damon exclaimed. "This is your brilliant plan?"
"There's not really another option. Believe me, I don't like it any more than you do. But they'll disappear once the veil goes back up," Bonnie said. "Once we trap Silas on the other side. We just have to fend them off until then."
"And you'll be human," Stefan remarked, watching Elena sadly.
She bit at the edge of her lip, nodding. She knew where his mind was wandering... it was supposed to be her, human again, with him. And instead everything had turned upside down.
"So somehow you're going to stay involved with Elijah while you're human?" Damon's expression was more pointed.
"We haven't figured that out yet," she said.
"It doesn't matter," Elijah said, though she didn't miss the split second of surprise in his gaze. "Nor is it truly your business, Damon. The more important issue at hand is Silas. And afterward, when everyone is safe... then Elena and I will discuss it. But for right now, we need to be sure we're all on the same page. Any slip ups could be deadly. Understand?"
Everyone nodded, some more reluctantly than others.
Klaus raised his hand, almost comically. "And, pray tell, when will this all be taking place? Just so I know when to expect the boogeyman or one of the hunters to pop out from under my bed?"
Rebekah bit her lip on a smirk but Elijah narrowed his gaze. "Tomorrow night, I imagine. Bonnie and Elena will be meeting him tomorrow morning to set this up. We assume he'll be anxious to carry this out."
"Alone?" Stefan asked.
"No, I'll be close by," Elijah answered. "But it would be foolish of him to harm either of them, otherwise he loses his opportunity."
Damon was shaking his head. "The last time we trusted your logic, Elena ended up dead."
"Aw, he still cares," Rebekah crooned.
"Jealousy isn't flattering on you," he retorted. He avoided Elena's gaze, instead glaring at Elijah. "All I'm saying is that there's a better chance of things working out if there's more than just *you* there to save the day."
"Fair enough," Elijah conceded. "Then I expect Niklaus and Rebekah to accompany me."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Damon said, shaking his head. "You can't keep us out of this."
"Or me," Caroline added, pushing her shoulders back to raise her stature.
Elijah's eyebrow arched as he exchanged an amused glance with Elena. He was finally encountering the resistance she'd met through every battle she'd faced. They could be annoying, but they were fiercely loyal, even when she was at her worst. She knew just how lucky she was.
"And you think that won't be at all suspicious?" he asked.
"Not really. Why wouldn't we want to be there to say goodbye? We've been there through thick and thin. And who knows... you might need us. These things have a way of not going as planned." Caroline shrugged, but her expression made it clear she wasn't to be argued with.
Elena sighed. "I don't want you guys to get hurt."
"No, no, that's fine," Klaus said. "I'd be happy to give up my spot for the fair Caroline." He sent a burning glance in the blonde's direction, sending a blush to her cheeks. "Besides, it sounds as if there will be enough ghosts to tangle with in Mystic Falls. Someone needs to keep watch." He smacked his hands upon his thighs before standing. "And now if you'll all excuse me... I have other matters to attend to."
"Wait!" Bonnie called but he was already out the door. She sighed, holding up the sage. "He broke the seal."
"That's fine," Caroline announced, straightening herself and shaking off her flustered demeanor. "We need to have our prom committee meeting anyway. At your house, Bonnie?"
"Yes," Bonnie agreed. She turned to Elena. "You're coming too, right? I told my dad you'd be spending the night."
"I'll catch up with you guys in a little bit. Promise," she added after seeing the wary glance they exchanged.
"Well, as much as I'd love to invite myself along, Matt and I have some studying to do. History, my favorite subject." Rebekah gave a smug smile, knowing she was getting under Caroline's skin. Matt gave Elena a quick hug before they departed, whispering, "It'll all work out," in her ear.
She just nodded as he pulled away, suddenly feeling close to tears. She thought of the moment he walked in to see Jeremy lying dead in his room, how panic-stricken Matt looked and she felt despite her denial. They had to make it past this, right? This couldn't be one of the last moments they spent together.
Her other friends followed close behind the blonde Original and the quarterback, Caroline no doubt concerned about his well-being - with a serving of jealousy on the side.
"Tomorrow night," Stefan said, interrupting Elena's thoughts. "We'll meet you here." Damon just stood silent, apparently feeling raw after all that was hashed out in the open.
Elena cleared her throat nervously. "Yeah, I'll see you guys then. And... thanks for coming. Really."
"You know we're always there for you, regardless what happens." Stefan's gaze was sincere, though Damon looked as if he was swallowing down some choice words.
"Thanks," she said again, this time more softly.
It felt too awkward to give Stefan a hug, especially in the present company and with how fresh the wounds were. She settled for walking them both to the door, where they all said goodbye.
And then it was just her and Elijah as she leaned against the doorframe.
"That went surprisingly okay," she said, giving him a weak smile.
He approached her, appearing more serene now that their guests had departed. He took her hand and pulled her forward to him, their lips meeting in a slow, unrushed kiss. She slid her arms around his neck, her body flush against his.
"Mmmmm," he groaned, as he pulled her hips against his. She could feel his arousal, and she let out a gasp when his lips moved to her neck.
"I need you," he whispered, breath tickling against her ear. "Now."
His mouth attacked hers again, this time like a man starved, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. In the next moment they were in his room, his foot kicking the door shut before her back hit the wall. His hips kept her pinned, and she felt his hand traveling up her shirt. He separated his mouth from hers and pulled it over her head, humming his appreciation for the black lacy bra she wore. His dark eyes were lit with desire and she shivered as he stared at her. She could tell tonight was all about base lust. She bit at her lip nervously, and he chuckled.
"Don't be shy, Elena," he crooned, his hand along her face and into her hair. Then he tore off the rest of her clothing and she found herself sitting in the middle of his bed, watching him undress. He drew his tie slowly through his hands, contemplating his next move.
In the next second, the world was dark as he tied the fabric around her eyes.
"Elijah," she protested.
"Just go with it," he murmured from behind her, and she felt sharp teeth against her shoulder. She moaned as his tongue ran over the nick and his lips smiled against her skin. Silky pillows cushioned her bare form as he found his way between her legs, his thumb rubbing against her button. Her back arched, but he focused his attention upwards again. Razor blades scraped against her nipple, causing her to cry out in a mix of pleasure-pain, and seconds later she felt his tongue running down her side until his mouth nestled against her femoral artery.
The sting of the bite caused her to close her legs against his head and as he drank from her, she thought she might come. She remembered how infuriated Stefan had been when she fed from Damon, and now she understood why.
Elijah must have sensed how close she was because he stopped just before the fireworks set off behind her eyes. His mouth met hers again, and she could taste her blood. She moaned against his mouth as his fingers found their way inside her, curling and twisting in and out. Elena ground back against him, her kisses becoming more intense, her teeth finally catching his bottom lip and drawing blood. He inhaled sharply, his hands still as she sucked against the cut. She cried out as he shifted and entered her roughly. The pace was set, frenetic, and she was close to falling apart as he hit the right angle, rubbing against her clit as he filled her to the hilt, then drawing back out again.
"God, Elijah, oh, God," she breathed, her hands pulling at him.
He bit down again on her shoulder in response and she lost it. She could only moan incoherently and barely catch her breath as she reached her climax. He slowed, pushing as far as he could, and she was momentarily blinded by the intensity. She wilted against the pillows as she came down, wiped out.
"We're not finished yet," he said, still inside her. He pulled the makeshift blindfold from her eyes and she could see the sheen of sweat over his flesh, his pale skin flushed with desire. Her heart stuttered in her chest as he leaned back, pulling her atop him. His fingers gripped her hips, moving her spent form up and down on his cock. He stirred inside her, sending mini aftershocks of electricity to her core.
"Mmmmm," she breathed as she started to pick up the tempo on her own.
"Yes," he hissed, his eyes fluttering shut and his groin thrusting up to meet hers. "Fuck me, Elena."
This crudeness wasn't what she expected from the Original beneath her. But it was a turn-on nonetheless, and she felt a little smug in bringing that side out of him. His mouth fell open as she rotated slightly before slamming down and she was rewarded by his hand finding its way between them to rub at her. She continued riding him, small gasps escaping her with each thrust, and her own lust ramped up. It wasn't long before she felt him tightening within her, and his fingers were bruising her flesh as he brought her down with more and more force.
"Jesus, Elena," he moaned, with a grunt, and she knew he was close.
In the next second, she was pinned against the headboard as Elijah met the final throes, his hands cupping her breasts and his mouth nuzzled against her neck. She started to come again when she felt him release inside of her and he pushed a few more times for her benefit, his body shuddering against her from over-sensitivity.
They both collapsed into the bed, spent, Elijah's mouth fused to hers. For a second she suspected he may be ready for another round, but he rolled to his back, his arm capturing her tightly and pulling her to face him. Elena drew the covers up around them and she caught him staring at her, half-serious and half-amused.
"What?" she asked self-consciously.
"That was spectacular," he smirked, tracing a finger down her arm.
She blushed but nodded. It was just as intense as their previous union, if not moreso. She could only imagine what else he kept under wraps for her to discover. He let out a sigh, his eyes more troubled.
"Elena, you..." He sighed again. "Do you intend to remain human after this is all over?"
She swallowed thickly, as though he'd been reading her mind. Her emotions were still all over the map, from moment to moment. One second she was certain she was meant to be with him for eternity, and then the next she wondered if she should sacrifice her love for him to follow a human path... the path she missed desperately. She feared losing him, but she also feared losing her second chance. And if something happened that they didn't stay together, and she gave up her chance...
"I don't know," she said honestly. "I mean, if I'm taking the cure... I don't know how I'll feel after that. It wasn't my choice to turn originally, but I know you want me to stay a vampire..."
"I want to turn you."
His gaze burned into her, and she drew in a shaky breath. He wanted her to be his, completely. No trace of Salvatore blood in her, or any ties to his brother's survival. And to be honest, if she were going to turn, Elena wanted it to be him who sired her. But to have the opportunity to live as a normal human... to pursue her dreams, her career, have children and her own family... Those were still regrets that haunted her.
She had meant what she told him in Chicago - she didn't want to live her whole life in the shadows. And everyone else assumed that once this was all over, she would stay human. Because to them, Elena Gilbert wasn't meant to be a vampire.
She still wasn't sure herself where she fit in.
"I love you," she said, running her hand along his jaw, but he looked down, disappointed that his plea wasn't enough to change her mind. "Elijah, I don't want to give you up. All I'm saying is, I need to think. I shouldn't be so quick to throw away the opportunity without really considering what I want my life to be. It's not a chance that I'll ever have again. I'm not saying that I won't choose you."
"But you aren't saying that you will." The room was filled with silence and she panicked inside, waiting for him to continue. He finally let out a defeated sigh. "And I'm not the kind of man that would force you to choose me over the path you want your life to take."
"But?" she said, expecting him to elaborate. Instead he sat up on the side of the bed, picking up his clothes from the floor.
"Once you're dressed, I'll bring you over to Bonnie's." He stood, not meeting her gaze.
"Elijah, we can't just leave it like this." She grabbed his hand, and he finally looked at her.
"I can't right now, Elena." She thought for a moment he was going to break down, but he collected himself enough to shake his head. "Just... spend the night with your friends, and then tomorrow we have to focus on Silas."
"Are you mad at me?" Her voice cracked and she knew it was a stupid question. He'd been anticipating eternity with her, pouring his heart out, and she was effectively trampling over it. This is why he was guarded, and she was just reinforcing his walls with her current behavior. But she couldn't lie... she couldn't make him think everything was going to be okay and then completely change her mind once she took the cure. She at least owed him honesty, however painful it was.
He didn't answer her, only giving her one last wounded glance before he left the room.