Chapter title comes from "You Choose" by Stateless.
They're now in another country, Elena is sure of that much. The border security guard is quickly compelled and congenially waves them through the security check, holding a vicious looking dog back by its strained leash. Maggie, across from her, glances over with feigned casualness, but Elena sees the fear underneath.
This could all go horrifically, lethally wrong.
Elena wishes they were back in her room and laughing again.
The drive is completed in near silence, and it's long. They travel through small towns and she's struck by how much it looks like home in some ways – homes and woods and cars – perhaps a little more worn and a little dated. Everything seems to have a thin layer of dust, but it seems so similar.
It makes her wonder about the rest of the world, about other countries and places...what if they're all like this?
Her gaze sweeps from the passing landscape to the man seated in the front passenger seat, via the rear view mirror. He watches out the window but seems to be in another place, from the thoughtful expression on his face.
He's seen the world, seen centuries of it, and the concept suddenly leaves her marveling.
Back in Mystic Falls, after their talk in which he'd divulged all of that life-altering information, she had been amazed by the man who lived by such strong morals, who tried to keep to his word, regardless of cost. She understood who he was but had, for the most part, taken it at face value.
Now she's considering just how much he's seen of humanity – to see the best and worst of humanity, time in and time out...she'd be jaded, if it were her. She is already, in some ways. While she hasn't seen a lot of the world (until now), she's world-weary, no longer as trusting. As much as she wants (and hopes) to see the best in people, she tries to guard herself for the worst.
The fact that he is who he is, still and now, speaks volumes.
'Forever and always', he'd written, and meant it in many ways.
Sensing that he is being watched, Elijah remains completely still, but looks in the mirror and sees her. She offers him a small smile, and while he doesn't exactly return it, his gaze softens slightly. It's reassuring, as he's meant it to be.
"I would suggest taking your vervain now," suggests Elijah, twisting around to address the three women. Elena makes quick work of passing the LaFortes their own vials.
Bree holds hers up, and offers her daughter and her foster daughter a grimace that is supposed to be a smile.
"Cheers," she says with false bravado, and they clink their little glasses together before knocking them back. They pull over on the side of the road, and Elena opens her door to throw the glass into the underbrush.
Woods give way to sparse homes and then they grow more frequent until those are replaced by streetlamps and then the dense population of a small city. Elijah directs the driver to a parking garage.
"Mags, stay as close to the vehicle as possible," says Elena, lowly, as they all unbuckle, and Bree murmurs her agreement. If it were just her confronting Klaus, then there would be no need for an escape strategy, but Maggie needs to be kept safe, and if that means throwing her in the SUV and hightailing it out of there, she'll do it.
"Excellent plan," praises the vampire in the front seat, quietly. He's scanning their surroundings through the windows with the same intense alertness that Elena feels in the moment. The garage entrance is too far for anyone who is not a vampire to run. The empty, echoing space of the garage is too empty for anything to be readily available that could be used as a weapon.
There are two men standing by a side door, and when they all start to exit the vehicle, the pair slowly wander over, taking their time, eying them in a way that makes Elena's skin crawl. Beside her, Bree's got Maggie's hand in a white-knuckled grip.
"Weren't told to expect a third girl," says one of the men in heavily accented English. There's a feral glint in his eye that's got nothing to do with the darkening veins on his face. His gait because more predatory, and he draws himself up to appear larger as he approaches.
Perhaps, when she was younger, when vampires were still recently discovered to be real to her, this behavior would be frightening (she knows it would be, actually), but now?
She's gone toe-to-toe with the oldest, most horrible and vicious of vampires the world over, and lived to tell the tale.
Something she's noticed about vampires is that the older they get, the more their clothing seems more like a costume, as if they only wear it to play a part. The new ones still wear clothing they are comfortable in – the styles they grew up in and feel familiar with. This vamp is totally at home in those baggy jeans and rhinestone decorated button-down.
He's a baby vampire trying to intimidate her with physical size and power.
Elena find there's a giggle bubbling up in her throat, and it takes a lot of control but she doesn't let it escape. She's either going mental or she's a little more badass than she thought.
Maybe 'Buffy' is close to the truth.
"She's the girl's protection," explains Elijah as he steps forward, "and that is a statement, not a challenge; if you would be so kind as to escort us to see my brother, I am sure we would all like to move this along."
"Gotta check you all over," says Thug #2. They could be twins.
"Precautions," elaborates Thug #1.
And by that, they mean a pat down.
Thug #2 goes to reach for Maggie. Instantly, Elena feels the prickle beneath her skin, but before anyone can so much as blink, Elijah has darted in front of them men in a blur of movement.
"No one is to touch the girl," he says, warningly. "That was what we agreed upon."
Elijah is a good foot shorter than either of the man-shaped boulders, but as they stare one another down, he seems to tower over him. Once more he's the terrifying, aloof and regal figure she first met, capable of decimating whatever or whoever is in his way.
And she knows that should it come to that, he will add that name and face to his list of regrets.
"He could tear out your heart without a second thought," she voices, helpfully. "Just a suggestion, I'd listen to him."
Drawn shoulders relax slightly, but Elijah continues to stand stock still until the other vampire (hybrid, she thinks, judging by the cockiness) steps back.
For her assistance, she's the lucky person who gets to be patted down. Indignation and accompanying rage twists her stomach as she's told to put her hands against the front of their SUV, as if she were being arrested. Elena bites the inside of her cheek and stares directly ahead as one of the thugs does a more than thorough search.
She can't bring attention to herself, and even the slightest protest right now could mark her as a target of curiosity.
Asking for Bree or Maggie to kill the fucker with their brains is in that same vein of 'drawing unwanted attention', and Klaus is not above petty revenge for the sake of revenge, so she keeps quiet.
Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Elijah move, discretely and carefully, to stand between the LaFortes and the unoccupied vampire, and while that is more than enough to suffice, there's a blazing anger hidden in his face. He waits until she makes full eye contact with him to shift his furious gaze to the person who is currently manhandling her.
He's a marked man – or vampire. Unbidden, a memory of someone's heart being torn out plays out, followed by Trevor losing his head. The small, nearly imperceptible twitch of her head is the closest action she can do at the moment that implies furiously shaking it from side to side. It's enough, but for the duration of her pat down, a muscle in his jaw twitches.
The thug who is acting as voyeur finally tells the other one (now more intimately acquainted with Elena than she'd ever want – when this is over, she's going to bathe in Purell and then, when this is all over, she'll find the nearest sharp and wooden object and introduce the guy to it) that Klaus is expecting them, and Elena is allowed to join Bree and Maggie, whose clammy hand reaches out and latches on to hers.
She wants to cry and she wants to scream but she keeps it inside, bottled up. If she needs that energy, that anger later, wasting it now won't help her.
Elijah brushes past them -"Later," he promises, and she feels no guilt – to proceed them into the room, but only by two steps – enough space for him to turn and defend them if needed.
Elena moves herself back by half a step to protect their backs.
They are led through the fire door in the corner of the parking lot, and it turns out to be an access door for a nightclub.
Black chandeliers accented with red rhinestones hang from the ceiling, and the walls appear to be papered with black velvet damask on a gray background, everything metal is a highly-polished silver, and in the raised lounge area that looks out over the dance floor (currently being mopped, but where they step, their feet seem to stick to the floor), white leather couches are accented with red pillows.
The damask pattern is far too dramatic, as are the large black-and-white photographs of scantily-clad young people with fangs and bright red lips and pupils. A brooding looking boy with thick eyebrows and a prominent pout is clutching a dead-eyed young woman with stringy black hair in the largest of these photographs, and its black Baroque frame is splattered in red. It's hard to make out due to the high contrast of the photo, but it seems the girl is holding an apple, but someone forgot to color it red.
It's like the decorator took their cues from the Twilight merchandise section of Hot Topic.
Sprawled like a king on the center most couch in the lounge area is Klaus, a cheerful, satisfied look on his face. He barely acknowledges their entrance, lazily finishing a conversation with an enraptured (compelled to be so, she's not sure) man who is perched near him. Only when it's finished does he push himself off of couch and waves for the two thugs to escort them up the steps.
"Brother," Klaus greets the man warmly, then takes hold of the offered hand in a familiar shake before he pulls Elijah in for an embrace. For his part, Elijah seems to return the action with matched affection. "I am happy that you've come."
"Think nothing of it, Nicklaus," says Elijah with more somber tones. "When I heard of your plans to resurrect Tatia, I started to make preparations."
"It means a lot to me, your help," responds Klaus and he looks beyond his sibling's shoulder to look over the three women. "Your Bennett has her own protection detail, I see." The belittling tone is not hard to pick up on.
Maggie shrinks back, but Bree, suddenly trying to stand tall, puts a hand at her daughter's back and forces her to stay between them. Elena moves in slightly, and they're now nearly shoulder to shoulder.
"Precautions the family took even before I introduced myself to them," says Elijah. "However, please know that all aspects of the spell that are necessary and in my possession are being handled with the utmost care."
Klaus nods. "All that we are now missing is the Doppelganger's blood...It was my suspicion, based upon what Rebekah told me, that the 'lovely Elena' might have been with you. So sad to see that's not the case."
There is something in the delivery of the words that leads her to believe there is more to them than she knows. Elena knows her heart is already beating wildly, but she's tried to mentally prepare herself, and prays her heart doesn't skip a beat as she watches Elijah be scrutinized closely by his hybrid half-brother.
She wishes that she could see his face, but she can tell by his posture and the pause before speaking that Elijah seems to choosing his words carefully. "After she went out of the town in the spring, I have not-"
Klaus cuts him off with a surprised bark of laughter. "Dryden! Oh, it's been years since I heard Dryden." He puts an arm around his brother's shoulders and they turn, moving towards the three women. "Quite well played, too. But she is not worth such verses, brother, you've no need to be the 'victim for mankind' – how dramatic. I have a way to draw her out, no worries."
He ignores, almost completely, Bree and Elena on either side of Maggie, zeroing in on her. "And you must be our other Bennett witch," Klaus declares, and juts out his hand. "Margaret, correct?"
Hesitantly, Maggie nods and takes up the offered hand, but instead of shaking it, Klaus dips low and kisses it; he gives the girl a once over as he does, inspecting her for signs of neglect, and stands back up. Elena feels her skin crawl, and takes the moment of distraction to look around for signs of Lucy. "Thank you for assisting us, Margaret, no doubt you want to know your mother is safe."
"Where is she?" she asks, the tremble of her voice betraying her emotions. "I thought she'd be here."
A feigned sheepish expression spreads on Klaus' features. "Perhaps I misspoke earlier in my conversation with my brother: I asked that we meet and provide one another signs that we were caring for you and your mother appropriately." He gestures to her. "I've seen that you are safe and sound, and will demonstrate the same for my part."
He pulls out his phone and holds it up for all of them to see. Lucy is on the screen, the fact that it is a video is given away by the ambient noises, tinny and soft, coming from the phone. She barely moves, sitting stiffly in a chair. The moment the phone is held in a way that she can see who is on the other end, she leans forward in her seat, eyes widening.
"Maggie?"
"Mom!" the young woman cries, but Elena and Bree hold her back. "Mom, are you okay?"
The screen swivels shakily and Rebekah appears, an false smile on her lips. "I take my role as hostess quite seriously," she answers, sarcasm dripping acidic from her tone. Another move and Lucy is back on the screen, swallowing thickly, eyes wide and open.
"Sweetie, are you okay?" asks Bree, voice suddenly filled with an eerie calm. "We're all safe over on this end."
Lucy seems to relax slightly, eyelids closing for a moment and she takes a shuddering, relieved breath. "Yes," she says quietly. "Yes, I'm fine."
Elena feels as if their family is on display, but knows there's no way to grant them privacy.
"We'll see you soon, alright? Everything will be alright."
Lucy nods, and her eyes are shining with tears. "Okay...oka-I love you, all of you."
Maggie goes to open her mouth and respond, but Klaus disconnects the call and pockets the phone. The younger LaForte woman stares at his jacket pocket hungrily, and Elena grabs her arm, giving a dismissive shake of her head.
"See?" says Klaus, congenially. "We each have a role in this; as long as we all keep to them, the other won't forget what part they are to play, and we shall all part on happy terms."
It's a total lie, and Elena knows it.
He pats Elijah on the back. "I might need your help with housing something, brother. A rather large crate is going to be waiting back at your home. I'm sure you'll find space for it somewhere in that big, drafty place of yours. Just keep the contents safe and bring them when it's time."
"Of course," the other Original vampire replies, quickly.
"Well," sighs Klaus as he claps his hands together dramatically. "I'd say this went well, don't you agree? We'll keep in touch, and keep an eye out for the Doppelganger, and the big night will be here before we know it. If you'll excuse me, ladies, the owner of this establishment was just about to let me do a little browsing of her wait staff for a quick snack."
They're being dismissed, and they start to hurry along back to the exit, but Elijah calls his brother's name. He moves forward in a blur and stands beside his brother, and they have a quick conversation, so quiet that the two vampires on either side of the women seem to be straining to hear what they mutter lowly. At the conversation's end, Klaus nods.
Elena feels panic in her gut when she sees the gleeful glint to his eye.
"Of course, brother; by all means, do as you must."
And then they are back on their way to the vehicle, where their driver still stands; upon seeing them, he flicks his cigarette to the ground. Elijah brings up the rear, his back stiff and a look of fiery resolve on his face, and when they reach the SUV, he quickly barks something to the driver. The man throws the door open and all but picks Maggie up to throw her in the van, and reaches for Bree to do the same, but the older LaForte is a little more prepared, and shouts for him to let go of her.
You never forget the sound. It stays with you.
There's a wet noise, and a crunch, and by the time Elena's whips her head around as she's being pushed into the SUV, she sees it.
Maggie is screaming.
Crumpled on the ground is the hybrid who had so clearly enjoyed getting to pat her down, and above him, Elijah holds his heart, dripping. He moves, ever so slightly, so that he's facing her, and shows her the organ.
In his action there's no pride, but there's no remorse. Just...anger. Just anger and something dark and Elena knows then, when all she can do is discretely incline her head in acknowledgment (not approving, not fearful), that there's something a little dark about her, too.
At that same moment, she sees the other thug advance on him, pulling a stake out of his jacket, and even though she knows it can't truly harm Elijah, she finds herself shouting, and there's a burning beneath her skin, a fury she's only felt a few times, and as it seems to engulf her, she knows what is about to come.
The hybrid doesn't make it closer than seven paces, despite his speed. He seems to bounce off of some barrier around Elijah, and when he starts to stumble backward, he goes up in flames. Actual, painful, destructive flames. They're brighter than they ought to be, she seems to absentmindedly notice.
Arms wrap around her waist and yank her onto the seat.
"Honey get in the car," says Bree, unnecessarily. She's shaken and it's obvious, but she hauls Elena against her one side and Maggie against the other and holds on tightly to them for the duration of the ride.
Elena has just set someone on fire. Someone who is currently screaming, a sound that's muffled once Elijah gets in the car and the large vehicle is rapidly turned around and they exit the garage.
"It's going to be okay," Bree keeps saying, and Elena suddenly feels exhausted. She lets Bree's words wash over her, lets the herself slump back into the seat.
Elijah makes eye contact with her in the rear view mirror once more, just as her own are starting to slide shut.
The fear that causes Maggie to sob softly, that makes Bree's heart beat rapidly in the chest she's slumped against, that triggers a twitch in the driver's eye...it's not in Elijah, nor is there pride.
She sees recognition.
She sees acceptance.
She sees a regret but it's so very complicated she cannot try to hold it up to the light right now.
(She's starting to feel these things herself.)
Sleep steals her away and she does not fight.