Chapter 10

'Everything comes back to him. How can you not think that he had something to do with this?' Chiara yelled after Elijah as he indifferently continued to look in some old books by the shelf.

'Leave my brother alone?' Rebekah called from the sofa.

'Leave him alone? He probably ruined everything and made Angie a killer. Perhaps it is an advice you should give him.'

'He has no interest in it, Angie. Elijah is right; it doesn't give sense.' Esther replied.

'So this all is just a coincidence?'

'I don't think that he is directly involved.'

'I don't care what you think.'

'That is not really a nice way to speak to my mother, darling?' Kol smiled from the door. 'Trouble in paradise', he continued laughingly.

'She is blaming Klaus for being behind her friend's disappearance.' Collin said.

'Klaus did that?'

'We don't think so. It doesn't give sense.' Rebekah reminded for the fifth time.

'We should at least ask him.'

'We will; after the ball.' Esther promised

'The ball?' Chiara's voice changed drastically.

'Yes, we are having a ball. We are inviting everyone to start over. I want us to be able to settle here without hostility.'

'Have you met your children?'

'I want us to start over.'

'I got that part, but you didn't answer me.'

'You should have a dress ready for Friday.'

'A dress? I don't do dresses. Have you seen me? I can't do pretty. No, I think I will just lock myself in and wait for it to end.'

'That does sound like a good plan, mother.' Rebekah smiled.

'I want you to come. It is important. I will help you. I will bring Angie back. You just need to trust me.'

'If I have to wear a dress, the price is too high.'

'It is important.' Esther smiled and then left without saying anything else.

She turned around and pushed Elijah book down as she said, 'Elijah, Help me. I can't do this. I hate buying dresses, and I don't understand what is pretty and what is not. I can't do this.'

Elijah smiled as he thought that he had never seen her so dreadfully. It was as if she was about to fight a battle. 'Don't laugh at me. Help me, please.' Chiara said in panic.

'I will figure something out.'

She wasn't sure what it meant but she had decided to leave it to him. She did, however, suspect that she was going to the ball, and that putted her in a very bad mood; but she managed to stay quite. Despite Klaus appearance and smart comments, Chiara never mentioned Marcel. She watched him with angry eyes but always managed to stay calm. Elijah continuously reminded her that they had promised to help her, and it would only be decent to trust them at least once. It was hard to argue against it despite the high stakes. Friday was the worst day of them all. She stood up too early, and the panic overwhelmed her. She stayed in her room in hope that she would be forgotten, but she was proven wrong soon enough. There were three knockings on the door and was followed by Elijah's voice, 'May I come in?'

'Of course' she sighed.

He had a packet in his hand, which he gave to her. 'I have brought you this dress. It is from our collection. I think you would like it.'

Chiara took it with shaky hands but when she opened it, her mouth dropped. It was beautiful, dark-green dress with black sleeves and a black belt with a small diamante in the middle. It was elegant, unique and hard not to love. 'I take it you liked it.' Elijah said. Chiara was speechless, so Elijah smiled and left. Chiara stared at the dress, and for the first time in her life, she felt excited about getting dressed up. She couldn't help to think that Angie would be happy.

The guest had arrived. Among them were familiar faces. Matt, Damon, Stefan and many of the people she had done magic tricks with. They all looked stunning, and Chiara couldn't make herself to go down. 'Is something wrong?' Esther asked from behind her. 'People are going to watch me if I go down.'

'You are a magician. You should be used to that.'

'Usually, I am not in a beautiful dress, which I can't justify.'

'I had never expected that you were so insecure.'

'Only, when I am not in my comfortable zone'

'You look great.'

'Thank you. For everything, I mean: For protecting me, helping me with Angie...and this outfit.'

'It is my pleasure. However, I would be much happier if you would go down too.' She smiled mischievously as she walked down. Chiara watched her and then after come heavy breathings, she walked down. In the beginning she felt that she had overacted as people did not seem to notice her at all. She tried rush down but then eyes began to look at her. The first was Elijah. As she walked down, he observed her with amazement. The dress complemented her brown skin and features, and her hair was curled and loosely set up. The make-up was a bit dark but highlighted her brown eyes and unusual lips. The next to notice was Kol, who couldn't stop staring. At first it was hard to recognize her, but soon a small smile appeared on his face as he walked closer to the stairs. The third and fourth was Damon and Stefan, who exchanged a look when they recognized her. Suddenly, she felt that everyone was looking at her, and she just wanted to disappear into the crowd. However, it became too difficult when Kol stood in her way. 'You look absolutely stunning.' Kol said and handed her a glass of Champaign. 'I don't drink, Kol' She replied briefly. He putted the glass away as he stepped closer, 'I would like to have a dance.'

'I won't.'

'I wasn't asking.' He took her hand and pulled her closer.

'I think this will have to wait, Kol. She has already promised me a dance.' Elijah said as he took her other hand and pulled her away. Chiara decided that she would rather dance with Elijah than Kol, and so she walked with him. 'I can't dance.' She said as he held her hand and put the other hand on her back. 'I will lead.' He merely replied. For a moment they just danced in silence and tried to ignore the people around them. Elijah was better to do that than Chiara as she continually looked around. 'You look very beautiful.' He said with his charming accent and calm tone. Chiara suddenly stared at him. Her brown eyes were more beautiful than usual. 'Thank you' she felt her cheek turn red and tried to distract her by saying, 'I can thank you for that. You brought it to me.'

'Yes. I believed that it would suite you, but I think that you have made it more beautiful.'

Chiara blushed again as she swallowed nervously. Elijah smiled, 'I had never thought that you were the kind of person who would colour.'

'I don't colour, I am coloured.' She said in hope to save her image, but Elijah's smile made it hard to not smile with him. She suddenly felt comfortable in the dress despite the intense moment. Soon the surroundings didn't matter and Chiara managed to only look and think about Elijah. He was protecting her, and she felt safe with him. 'I am not used to this version of you.'

'I am not use to be in these kinds of clothes. I prefer my shirt and trouser. At least I can hide some tricks in them.'

'You must really love magic.'

'It is the best thing I know.'

'Why is that?'

'Have you ever seen a child's face after magic tricks? They light up like a Christmas tree. These tricks might not be real but their impact is big. The amazement of someone when she suddenly sees her card in her glass or when someone finds a rose in his pocket is beyond excitement. You won't understand but for a moment you can actually make people think that this is real. That the world is bigger than what the eyes can see. A child can look at his parents face and say, I told you. Being a magician is about more than fooling people. It is about making them humble.'

'Is that why you started at the age of five?' Elijah asked

'Ironic, I started to be bigger than everybody else. I was a very proud child, and I wanted to be better than everybody else.'

'What changed?'

'I realized that my pride hurt people.'

'Why does it matter so much to you?'

'Because as I grew older many people hurt me; I know how it feels so how can I do that to others?'

'You care too much about others.'

I know. It has become hard for me to find balance. I don't know where to draw the line.

Elijah observed her for a moment again. 'I would believe that there are some people, who are not worth forgiving. I am sure you think that way about my brothers.'

'I don't know. I mean yes, maybe right now, I find it very hard to forgive them.'

'But would you ever be able to?'

'I don't know.'

'How can you not know?'

'I think that if other people were in their place, they might do the same. Maybe you, Kol and even Klaus are not that different from us. I might think that it would be easier if Klaus was dead but I would never be able to be the one who stabbed him.'

'He would stab you in a second.'

'I know that but that is what makes me different; it makes me better.'

The silence returned, 'I have tried to find your friend.'

'What? Did you find anything?'

'I am not sure yet, but there might be something. I will tell you as soon as I know.'

'Where did you find her?'

'You told us that she lost her parents in a car accident. You also said that her humanity switch was on when she left you, right?'

'Yes, it was. She was crying and feeling guilty. I am sure of it.'

'Few days ago, a car drove off a bridge but the people were saved miraculously. The car landed in the water but the parents and their one child was found on the grass.'

'Angie might have saved them. She always asked why no one had saved her parents. It could be her.' Chiara exclaimed.

'I thought so. I have asked some people to look around.'

She suddenly let go off his hand to hug him tightly 'Thank you so much, Elijah.' She cried. It only took few seconds before she realized what she was doing, and then she pushed herself back with an awkward smile, 'I am sorry. I just became too excited.' Elijah just smiled and then calmly said, 'I would like to have some fresh air. Would you care to join me?'

She smiled in respond and walked with him to the balcony. It was a starry night, when Chiara came out, she couldn't help to smile. 'Angie and I always used to sit outside when the night was like this.' He smiled but Chiara suddenly felt like she was talking about a lover. She turned around to face him and asked, 'I don't understand why you are helping me?'

He took some steps closer, and Chiara was almost pressed back to the railing. 'I wanted to help.' His arms were placed on railing but they trapped Chiara in his embrace. He began to breathe heavily as he continued to come closer. He began to caress her with his right hand. 'I believe that you are a person worth helping.' Their lips almost met, 'you have had quite an impact on me. I am not sure why.'

'Elijah...' Chiara was not able to finish her sentence as Elijah took the last step, and gave her one gentle kiss. It was brief but it left quite an impact, as she was not even able to open her eyes when it was over. His hand moved up to her neck, and he pulled her closer to kiss her again. Another gentle kiss was left on her lips, and the impact was greater, Even the voice of Damon couldn't break it. 'Are you kidding me?' he complained. Elijah was the only one who bothered to look at him. 'Can I help you?'

'I need to talk to Chiara.'

Chiara finally looked at him, 'sure... I will be right there.'

'You can stay right here. I will go inside.' Elijah said and left. Damon turned his annoyed gaze toward Chiara. 'How can you kiss that idiot?'

'He is not an idiot.'

'He is just like the others.'

'Don't take this the wrong way, but I won't trust your judgement. I have already helped you. '

She began to walk pass him but he grabbed her hand, 'You can't trust him.'

'But I can trust you?' she said as she pulled her hand away from him.

'He betrayed us. He will do anything for his family.'

'What do you mean?'

'He was suppose to kill Klaus after the sacrifice instead he saved his ass to be reunited with his family. He betrayed us. Jeremy almost died for this.'

'He loves his family. I know that.'

'Well, then you also know that he will forget all his promises to save his family. You can't trust him.' Damon stared at her for while but when she didn't reply, he walked away and left her in doubt and anger.