Its bright at first nothing but pure whiteness until the picture comes into view. She's standing in the middle of her bedroom. At least she thinks that's where she is. The room looked much different. The walls painted a bright pink with silver henna marks around the edges. She takes in the smaller white furniture before looking back to her bedroom. Its closed but she steps forward running her fingers down the bright yellow raincoat hanging on the hooks. It's way too small to belong to Elena. She jumps back when she hears a child's laughter from downstairs. She quickly opens her door a name she's never heard coming from her mouth.
"I'm down here, mommy!" Elena feels her heart jump in excitement before she quickly makes her way down the stairs towards the voice. "Come on, Mommy!" The child laughs making Elena's smile brighten.
"Where?" she asked only making the laughter grow louder. She turns the corner into the living room to see a small girl standing in the corner. She has her back to Elena. Blonde curls pulled back into a red ribbon. She can't be older than four or five. Slowly she takes a step towards her reaching her hand out. Right before she's about to touch her the child vanishes. The house grows dark and the paint is peeling off the walls. The furniture is covered in dust. She looked around the house calling for the little girl again. She doesn't hear her laughter or tiny footsteps. She screams again for the girl as she makes her way into the kitchen. Then she's swallowed in darkness. She screams looking around the darkness for any sign of anything. Anyone.
"Elena." She jumps looking in the direction the voice came from.
"Mommy." She quickly looks down to see the small girl clinging to her. Her arms wrapped around Elena's waist. Her face buried in Elena's stomach.
"It's okay." Elena whispers brushing her fingers through the girl's blonde curls. She kneels down pulling the child closer to her.
"You don't know what it is, Elena." She snaps her head around at the sound of Caroline's voice. It's nothing but darkness. She tightens her hold on the girl cradling her hand to her chest.
"Just end it, Elena." She snaps her head in another direction at the sound of Stefan's voice. She shakes her head feeling the girl slipping through her fingers. She looked down to find a bundle of blankets pulled to her chest. She slowly pulls back the cloth to see an infant inside. Elena looks over the baby's face see the rosey cheeks and doe eyes.
"It's not yours Elena, It's Klaus." Damon yells making her shake her head.
"She's mine. Leave me alone!" She yells cradling the child to her chest.
"Kill it, Elena!" They all yell making her tighten her hold. She feels the blanket become empty. She pulls it away to find it covered it blood. She drops the blanket finding her hands covered with blood. She shakes her head pushing herself away from the blanket.
"No!"
She sat up in the bed with a gasp holding her hands to her chest. Her hands instantly going to her stomach feeling the slight bump. She released a sigh of relief before reaching up to touch her cheeks. She had been crying. With a shakey hand, she pushes the hair from her face. Her hands are shaking from the fear and panic of her dream. It had felt so real. She tells herself looking around the room. She releases a sigh falling back on the bed.
She wonders when a night will come when she doesn't have a bad dream. Nightmares filled with death and loneliness. The sound of her phone vibrating inside the nightstand makes her jump. She quickly leans over and pulls the drawer open. She answers it seeing that it's Bonnie calling her.
"Hey." Elena yawns sitting up in the bed.
"It's about time you turned your phone back on." Her witch said into the phone. Elena can hear some shuffling in the background.
"Yeah, I turned it on lastnight and put it away." Elena explained pushing the covers off her legs and heading into the bathroom.
"So?" Bonnie asked as Elena looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes are red from sleepiness and tears. She puts Bonnie on speaker before turning the facet on.
"So what?" Elena asked splashing some water on her face.
"How was first night in the devil's house?" Bonnie asked as if it was the most obvious thing she'd ever said. Elena quickly clicked the phone off speaker and closed the door. She finds herself frowning at Bonnie's use of words. As if Klaus as the devil was hurtful.
"Uh- It was okay I guess. I really didn't see much of him after he showed me my room." Elena told her turning off the sink. She brushed her fingers down the marble counter taking in the feel of it.
"Oh I guess that doesn't sound too bad." Elena nodded before looking around the bathroom. You have no idea. "Well I was thinking I could drop off your mixture this morning since you forgot it last night and we can ride to school together." A groan escaped Elena's mouth, she had completely forgotten about school. There was no way she was going to deal with her friends there. Her 'friends' questioning her about where she was or try to talk to her about the compulsion. She didn't have time for that when she needed to focus her mind of Jeremy. She still hadn't heard from him and all would say was he was fine other than still angry about her lying to him. But Bonnie still told her it would be best if she didn't come near him in case it set him off again. Which meant she needed to stay away or her brother would try to kill her again
"I don't think school is in the cards for me today." She sighed walking out the bathroom towards her bag. She should probably get dressed.
"Yeah, I forgot to mention they stopped by after you left."
"What'd they say?" Elena asked lifting her bag on to the bed.
"Asked me where you were. Elena, they have this potion, I guess you could say, that is supposed to break compulsion." Elena's eyes widened at the information. That wasn't possible. The only way anyone would break compulsion was becoming a vampire. "A witch in New Orleans gave it to them. But we don't know what it actually is. It could be dangerous for the baby for all we know."
As much as Elena wanted to say she trusted them enough that they wouldn't do that, she couldn't. They would be trying to trick her into getting rid of the baby by just proving a point that she wasn't compelled. She bit down on her lip picking the bag with her fingers.
"Yeah you're right. As much as I want to prove to them I'm not compelled I'm not putting the baby at risk." Elena said tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
"I'll try to find out everything I can about it." Bonnie said before more shuffling was heard over the phone. "I have to go; I'll drop the mixture off after school. Bye Elena."
"Bye." She clicked off the phone before sitting it down on the bed. She took a deep breath before grabbing some clothes. She quickly changed before heading out the door. She checked the time before putting her phone in her pocket incase Bonnie called. It was only 7:34 in the morning. Only nine hours until Bonnie got there.
Slowly, she walked down the hall feeling slightly nervous. She felt awkward for having cried in front of him last night. He was all about strength and there she was looking so weak. Last night she had figured out that the only reason he had been somewhat kind to her was pity. He had pitied the crying girl in some way. She came to a complete stop at the bottom of the stairs. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to do there all day. She didn't even know her way around the house. The only areas she knew were the areas opened during the ball. She poked her head into the sitting room expecting to see Klaus in there. The room was empty. She cocked an eyebrow stepping back out the room. Surely, he could hear her walking around the house. Either he wasn't there or he was ignoring her. She rolled her eyes knowing it was probably the second one.
Her eyes drifted to the hall behind the stairs. She found herself walking down it her fingers brushing against the walls. She hoped the other originals weren't home or any of the hybrids. She had heard Caroline mention some things about them but really didn't pay much attention. She stopped in front of a sliding door.
Her head drifting around to look for anyone before she placed her hand on the door. She slid it open slightly before looking inside. Her attention shot to the figure standing in the center of the room. His back was to her as he painted something. She found herself watching him his strokes of the brush. She leaned against the door watching him in the silence. He looked almost peaceful. Calm. Like in some way, when he was painting it was his happy place. If he had a happy place. She jumped bumping her head on the door when he spoke.
"I can hear your heartbeat, Elena." She cleared her throat before pushing the door open.
"Right." She said rubbing her forehead and stepping into the room. Now she could get a better view of all the art work in the room. She looked in awe looking around dropping her hand from her forehead. She felt his eyes on her as she walked along the table brushing her fingertips along the sketches. She remembered Caroline mentioning the drawing he had drawn of her. She bit down the slight jealously at the thought. Why would she be jealous? So what he liked Caroline and enjoyed drawing her.
She probably wasn't supposed to be in there. The door was closed for a reason. She looked up from the table quickly removing her hand. He was still watching her with his hand still holding the brush up against the canvas. She felt so awkward once again. Out of place. She shifted on her feet before crossing her arms over her chest as he turned back to finish what he working on.
"Did you need anything?" He asked looking at her from the corner of his eye before turning back to focus on his work. He didn't sound mad about her being in there nor did he tell her to get out. Which she knew he would if he wanted her out. She shrugged her shoulders before turning her attention to the table.
"Not really. I was just looking around." She explained slowly picking up on the sketches. It was of nothing but a tree. A single tree sitting in the middle of the paper. She found herself tracing the branches with her finger. She did it softly not wanting to smug the led marks. A small smile crept up on her lips. Jeremy was an artist too but his work always held some kind of darkness to it. It surprised her a bit that Klaus's work held light in a way.
Her thoughts drifted to the thought of her child. Would he or she be about to draw like their father or uncle? She couldn't help herself from imagining Jeremy sitting at a desk with her child sitting next to him as he showed her how. Or the thought of Klaus painting as their child stood beside him watching him work. She shook her head placing the sketch down before looking over her shoulder at him.
"So?" She asked stepping away from the table and crossing her arms once again. She slightly lifted her hand pointing to the artwork. "What's this for?"
"It's a piece for the winter festival." He told her as she looked over it. It wasn't much yet meaning he must have just started working on it.
"What's it going to be?" She asked looking at him from the corner of her eye.
"I'm not quite sure yet." He told her making her nod. She had forgotten about the winter themed party. Honestly, she had no desire to go. All her friends were surely going to be there. "Stefan called me this morning." Her eyes snapped to him at the name. She could make out the hint of amusement on his features. "Don't worry, love, it had nothing to do with you." She let out a sigh of relief at the information. She did not want them knowing where she was yet. "It concerned your brother."
"Jeremy? What about him? Is he okay?" She asked rushed making him chuckle at her before placing the brush down and turning towards her.
"I'm sure he's fine. It was more on the lines of the hunter's mark. We thought it'd be best if he started working on it once again." He offered making her narrow her eyes at him.
"No. He's trying to kill me! If he kills more vampires it's more likely he'll get deeper into this mess." She demanded raising her eyebrows to prove her point. "I know you all want the cure but I want my brother to stay my brother!"
"Yes, Elena, we know." He sighed a little aggravated by her. "But the witch is working on that little problem. We need to start working on finding this cure."
"No we don't." She argued not really seeing why they didn't get why she didn't want this.
"They have moved your brother to your family's lake house to begin his training." He explained answering her earlier question before turning back to his painting.
"That means I can go home." She mumbled to herself. Jeremy wasn't there. That meant she could go home.
"Yes so the Salvatores can find you much easier." He chuckled making her snap her attention back to him. He was right. If she went home there was no stopping them from forcing her to drink that stuff Bonnie was talking about. Plus she wouldn't be able to protect herself there alone. But then again she didn't need protection from anyone. For once in her life nobody was out to get her in general. Her baby yes but not her.
"Yeah forgot about that." She mumbled before walking around and pulling herself on the stool. "So Bonnie told me something this morning about them." She started tilting her head to look at his face. "She said they had some kind of potion or whatever that breaks compulsion." He watched him smile slightly before dropping his brush again.
"I didn't compel you, love, and I think we both know that." He chuckled before wiggling his eyebrows in a wicked way. Elena wiped at her face trying to find her blush.
"I know you didn't." She whispered from behind her hand. "And I'd drink it to prove I wasn't, if I know it wouldn't hurt the baby." She looked up to see him studying her. His head slightly tilted and his eyes narrowed. He was looking over her face making her swallow nervously. "What?"
"How are you so sure I didn't compel you after I found out about the baby?" He asked making shift in her seat. She didn't expect him to ask her that.
"Because… well… I knew about the baby first and wanted it before you knew anything about our baby so I guess I just know you didn't." She explained with a slight shrug. She answered the question the best she could. She rubbed her arm shifting in her seat. She looked over his expression. He was being unreadable again as if he was taking in her words. She jumped when a pounding sound came from another room. She jumped off the chair unconsciously taking a step towards him.
"It's the eldest Salvatore." Klaus explained keeping his eyes on her. "He knows you're here."
"Wha- How?" Elena asked looking to the direction of the door.
"Let's go find out shall we?" He offered giving her a smirk. She rolled her eyes before heading for the door. She stopped in the center of the room between the stairs and front door. She thought about running up the stairs to hide but resisted the urge. She watched Klaus open the door before Damon barged in looking directly at her.
"Are you kidding me Elena? Coming here of all places?" He asked making a move to grab her upper arm. Klaus caught his wrist before pushing his arm away from Elena. Apparently he did not like him trying to touch her.
"Easy, Salvatore." Klaus threatened standing beside Elena now.
"How did you find me?" She asked really wanting to know. She knew Bonnie would never tell him.
"It wasn't that hard, Elena." He demanded narrowing his eyes slightly at her and the hybrid. "You need to come back to Bonnies."
"No. I'm not going anywhere near any of you. You want me to get rid of my baby! You think the only reason I even consider keeping it is because I'm compelled? Which I'm not!" She snapped harshly. Her fist clenched at her sides. "I am not going back so you can keep trying to talk me into drinking that stupid potion that you believe has the power to 'fix' my compulsion. For all I know it could hurt my baby!"
"I never said you were! That was all Caroline and Stefan!" Damon demanded making her crease her eyebrows in confusion.
"What?" She asked looking over his face.
"They are the ones with the crazy idea of the compulsion. I'm the one who said there was no way you were compelled. He didn't need compulsion for you to want the baby." He demanded making her features soften. Damon believed her. She let out a groan sitting down on the stairs. She covered her face with her hands before letting out a frustrated groan. She had no idea what to think. It could be another trick for all she knew. Just like Caroline being okay with the pregnancy. She moved her hands pushing her hair from her face. Her eyes darted between the two men before they landed on Damon.
"So you'd be okay with me not drinking it?" She asked searching his blue eyes for his thoughts.
"Yes." He told her before kneeling down in front of her. He placed his hands on her knees. For some reason she felt uncomfortable. Usually she got a feeling of safety and familiarly. But it felt wrong. She quickly stood up moving away from his touch. She shifted her gaze to Klaus for a moment before turning back to Damon who was now standing.
"I'm assuming Caroline told you about the watch. What do you think of that? Do you think the same thing as Caroline? That my baby is evil and is going to end up killing me?" She asked tilting her head to study his expression.
"Elena-"
"Answer the question. Do you think the same thing that Caroline does?" She asked with a snappy tone. She honestly wanted to know what Damon thought of the situation.
"I don't know what I think Elena." He told her making her sigh. She nodded crossing her arms over her chest.
"And Stefan?" She choked out the name her throat feeling dry. "What does he think?"
"What do you think he thinks?" He asked making her swallow. She knew what he thought. He wanted to protect her so bad he'd come up with anything. She looked up offering him a sad smile.
"So that settles that." She said trying her best to found sarcastically. She could still feel the ache her chest when she remembered thee look on Stefan's face when he found out about the baby. He would be hurt for a while. And while he was hurt he would always go against the baby. Making up excuses to protect her in some way. She blew out some air from her lungs before looking at Damon. "I want you to tell him something for me." She waited for Damon to nod before continuing. "Tell him he needs to stop making up excuses for me. I did what I did. I wasn't forced. I wasn't compelled. I did it myself. I am sorry I hurt everyone and him but I am not sorry for my baby." She looked at Klaus before turning back to Damon. "No matter who it's father is, I will always be it's mother. It isn't Klaus's baby. It isn't my baby. It's me and Klaus's baby. And he needs to understand that."
"I'll try Elena but it's hard to get through to him when it comes to this." Damon told her before stepping forward and placing his hands on her shoulders. She got the same feeling against but instead she didn't step away. He rubbed her shoulder with his thumbs in comforting way. "I want you to know that no matter what happens I'll be here for you." She softly smiled reaching one of her hands up to touch his on her shoulders.
"Thank you, Damon." She whispered before he leaned forward and placed his lips to her forehead. It was long before when she got a warm feeling when it came to Damon but now it was just brotherly and friendly. She pulled back allowing him to head for the door. She shut the door behind him before placing her forehead against it. Stefan. She wished she could just get him to understand.
"One Salvatore down, one to go." She snapped her attention to the hybrid behind her giving her dark smile. She creased her eyebrows stepping away from the door.
"What does that mean?" She asked with slight hostility.
"It must be a Petrova feature. The need to have a Salvatore on each arm." He tells her with a growl. She stepped back as if the words had hit her. "Or better yet, a pair of brothers on each arm."
"that's not true. I am not like that. They mean a lot to me." She demanded clinching her fist at her sides.
"Oh I believe it is, love." He hissed before turning and walking into the sitting room. She wasn't letting him go so easily. She charged after him her eyes narrowed and fist clenched.
"It's not true. Maybe for Katherine and your original Petrova but the rule doesn't apply to me. For all I care I don't care if I have either of them on my arm." She snapped fiercely. She was tired of every one telling her that she needed a Salvatore. She didn't. She didn't care if either of them were on her arm at this point. Yes, she cared for them and loved them. But she hadn't been in love with a Salvatore in a very long time.
"Yet, you are begging for Stefan to forgive your mistake."
"My child is not a mistake!" She yelled stomping her foot. "And I am not begging him for anything!" She didn't stand down when he moved in front of her glaring down at her with his meanest glare. They had come so far and once again they were standing toe to toe. As always. She should have known this was how it would end. They would always argue. It was who they were. She didn't stand down and he didn't either. He loved to feed her fire and watch it burn.
"I beg to differ, love. You can't stand the thought of your precious Salvatore hating you. After all this is over, you'll end up just like Katherine. Begging for him to love you again." She didn't realize what she had done until the slap echoed in her ears. Her palm of her hand stung from the blow. But she didn't dare show him that she had hurt herself by hitting him.
"I am nothing like Katherine." She hissed through clenched teeth. She gasped when he yanked her closer by her wrist. She fought against his hold knowing she wouldn't escape it. Her back was pushed against the wall and he lifted her arms above her head pinning them above her head. She struggled against his grip as he glared down at her. His eyes flashing gold and he flared his teeth at her. She didn't dare back down and held her head high. He growled pushing her further up the wall. A chill ran down her spine but she didn't show her worriedness at all. He wouldn't hurt her, would he? His grip was becoming almost painful as he held her there.
His face only inches from her hers. She continued to glare up at him. He shifted making her flinch and brace herself for a hit. His temper had gotten the better of him. She knew she must have really pissed him off by hitting him. Seconds ticked by and it never came. Slowly she opened her eyes to see him looking down at her. His features had softened and she slowly turned her head to look at him. Regret written all over his face. He slowly looked over her face making her swallow. She felt her stomach flutter when his eyes landed on her lips. Was he about to kiss her? That was all she could think about as his breathe hit her lips.
They were so close. His body flush against hers. His nose almost brushing against hers. She felt her breath hitch when he moved slightly closer. Softly, she closed her eyes waiting for his lips to touch hers. But it never came. Instead she felt him release her wrist and his body leave hers. She quickly opened her eyes to find the room empty. He was gone. She let out a shaky breath before touching her fingertips to her lips. He was about to kiss her. And she was about to let him.
Sighing, she pushed the hair from her face. She could not let that happen again. What was wrong with her She had almost let Klaus kiss her. She shook her head before biting down on her lip. She could not let herself be in that again. She could not be letting Klaus almost kiss her and wanting him to. Klaus of all people. She released the breathe from her lungs as she pushed the hair from her face. Get yourself together Elena.
.
.
.
Several hours later, and still no sight of the hybrid. Elena sat in the bathrub. Her finger tips brushing against the bubbles. The smell of the sweet oils going up her nose relaxing her. She loved Bonnie's new herbs. They kept her relaxed and feeling calm. The witch had stopped by earlier that day giving her what she needed before heading off to help the other gilbert. She was so glad to hear that Jeremy was getting help for his little problem. Little problem seemed much better to say than 'trying to kill your sister and her unborn child.' Elena sighed ducking her head underwater.
She couldn't get what happened with Klaus out of her head. He had almost kissed her today. And would have let him too. She was so bothered why that. How could she be okay with him kissing her? It was Klaus! Her enemy. She shook her head. He wasn't really her enemy anymore now was he? He was more of… She wasn't sure what to call him. He wasn't her friend. Was he? No she couldn't classify him as a friend. She groaned before surfacing.
She caught sight of something out of the corner of her eye and she nearly let out a scream. She quickly covered herself looking up at the hybrid. He smirked at her as she fought to keep everything covered.
"It's not like I haven't seen it before love." He chuckled making her slightly blush. She rolled her eyes before sitting up.
"Yeah probably on the other two doppelgangers right?" She asked sarcastically before narrowing her eyes at him. "Do you mind?" She said motioning for him to turn around. He shrugged before turning his back to her. Why must he choose to show himself again when I'm naked and in the shower? And he doesn't even look bothered. She thought wrapping her towel around herself. She expected him to be a little awkward around her naked form after the almost kiss earlier. But he wasn't. She on the other hand. Was nervous. Her heart was pounding and chills were making their way over her body. She sighed before wiping the mirror off to see him looking at her once again. She felt heat pool in her stomach when he ran his eyes down her body. No emotions showing in his eyes. She tightened her grip on the towel as she swallowed the lump in her throat. She could not show she was nervous. Not now. Not ever. Or that she was slightly turned on by the hybrid. Hormones. She told herself shutting down any sexual thoughts containing the man.
"What was it you needed?" She asked looking through her bag for her brush. She was very comfortable about him being there.
"You, of course, Elena." He smirked making her attention snap up to look at him. She nearly lost her head at the comment. "You are needed downstairs. The eldest Salvatore is here to speak to you." She swallowed the lump in her throat slowly letting out a sigh of relief.
"I'll be down in a minute." She mumbled not trusting her voice very well. She watched him walk out before leaning her back against the wall. She was in trouble.