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Death's an old joke, but each individual encounters it anew.
Ivan Turgenev
Chapter Ten
Encounters
When Elena awoke, she was confused. She didn't remember going to bed and falling asleep, and most importantly, she did not remember Elijah getting changed and joining her in bed.
She wished she could remember falling asleep so comfortably in his arms.
Elena did not want to move from his embrace as he laid behind her, his body pressed protectively against her back, his forehead resting comfortably against the back of her head. She grasped onto his hand, which he had placed on her arm, when she felt him stir.
"Morning." He whispered into her neck, it was not something she had expecting coming from the Original, that had basically denied her entirely when it came to any form of closeness.
Finally, after all that work chipping away, his shields were down.
She wanted to pretend she was still sleeping, but she knew better than to try and lie to him, he would always know.
He always knew, whether her heart was beating or not.
"You compelled me, didn't you?" she accused, running her fingers gently against his.
"Yup." He grumbled, still unmoving, like a statue. "I had to make sure you slept."
Elena shook her head in defeat, she knew he would never make a habit of it, he thought that he was helping her naturally.
"You could have at least made it more pleasant." She smirked to herself, only speaking in a whisper.
Elijah was silent for a moment, as if contemplating what she meant.
"What do you mean?" he finally asked, "By dream walking?"
Elena nodded, his head now separate from hers.
"I expected you." She sounded disappointed.
"I apologize. I thought that allowing you to sleep would be best."
There's your problem Elijah, you think too damn much.
She smiled to herself.
Maybe one day he won't worry about me.
Elena wouldn't deny it, she felt as if he worried about her too much sometimes, but it was a different kind of worry. Where the Salvatores would get in her way, not allowing her to do the things she wanted to do, Elijah would let her go, but keep an eye if he felt there was a threat.
Thankfully, there was no comparing the brothers to this Original.
She rolled over to face him now, and tried her hardest to stare into his deep brown eyes, however, she was too distracted but his body, which she hadn't noticed until now. He was shirtless.
"You took my advice I see. "she said with another smile, penetrating his usual personal bubble (she felt that by spending the night so closely, they had passed that bridge already.) and pressed her forehead against his.
Elena wanted nothing more than to kiss him at this moment, but even in their own new level of comfort between each other, she still allowed her self conscious side take over.
He would only have me in my dreams. She thought sadly, a disdainful expression shadowing her face, which Elijah picked up on right away.
"Are you all right Elena?" he asked, wrapping his arm around her lower back, pulling her closer. He was enjoying this new level of comfort between them as well, where it was always something he wanted, and he would always cherish it, his feelings needed to be put aside for now.
"Did you not sleep well?"
Elena shook her head, realizing that not only was his hand relaxing on her bare skin (something that she never would have expected from him, being as old fashioned as he was.) under her shirt, but with his body pressed so closely against hers, the part where her skin was showing was also in contact with his chest.
Maybe this is too much. She thought, she wasn't ready to burn just yet after all, even if she did enjoy it. There was a…different sense of security about being so close to him.
It has to be a sire thing. She reasoned.
"No. I actually slept perfectly. I just…" she wanted to tell him that there was a part of her that wanted more, but still the smarter side of her knew that rushing the Original would only fail her miserably. "I just…don't want to move."
Then don't. Elijah had wanted to tell her, he almost did tell her, but he hotel phone rang, cutting him off.
"Noo…" Elena groaned, covering them both with the blankets.
Elijah laughed quietly to himself, removing the covers and rolled himself over Elena's body, making her body tremble, in order to reach the receiver.
Why must you tease? She thought with anxiety.
She watched him while he spoke on the phone, not listening to the actual conversation, but more…studying him and his movements and mannerisms. It was something she would catch him doing to her quite often.
He hung up not long after.
"Reminding us that 'Miss Penn's checkout is at ten am.' Miss Penn?" he asked, a smirk crossing the corner of his lips.
Elena returned the smile.
"I couldn't think of anything else!" she argued pushing him in the shoulder.
Elijah stood this time, rather than cause another moment between the two of them, and crossed the room to open the curtains to let the sun shine in as it rose. Doing so, gave the younger vampire a full view of his grace, something she had apparently taken for granted. While he walked ahead of her, her eyes trailed his body, never wanting to forget a single detail. Even in a pair of flannel sleep pants, the man was truly a god. Everything about him was flawless, from his broad shoulders, down past his toned abs where her eyes finally reached the 'v' point where his torso met his lower half.
How have I missed this? Elena wondered, turning away and biting her lip. She watched carefully out of the corner of her eye as Elijah slipped into the bathroom, turning on the shower.
Elena ran across the hall to where she had still kept her things. This was supposed to be her room, she knew, but what hotel management didn't know didn't hurt her right? She technically placed her name on all of the rooms on this floor, as a way to keep humans away.
She was also on her last few blood bags, she realized as she opened her small cooler. Subconsciously she hadn't planned for an extended trip apparently. She thought back to the last time Elijah had fed, then wondered how long an Original vampire could go without feeding.
Hopefully a while, she thought to herself, she would give him her blood if he needed it of course but she expected there to be more perks to being over a thousand years old. She couldn't recall him feeding the entire time he was helping her transition, and even though Elijah had cut her off in the end, in the beginning he was right by her side without being suffocating.
It had been so peaceful.
As she closed the door and began to cross the hallway, the elevator 'ding' caught her attention.
There isn't supposed to be anyone on this floor she wondered, confused.
Elena's thoughts began to race.
What if Klaus escaped? She wasn't given exact details of how they "took care of him"
What if he is here?
Panicked, the vampire ran into the other room, where Elijah was just getting out of the shower.
"Elena…what's wrong?" he asked, the Original could sense her panic from across the hall. One of the many benefits of being turned by the older vampire, so they said.
He hadn't had time to gather his clothes, so he stood before her, his body still emanating steam from the shower, in only a towel. Elena gaped for a moment, taking in the sight for permanent memory, and pushing the last one aside.
Seriously how did I miss out on this?
She shook the feeling, her body practically screaming in anticipation, and directed the Original.
"Get dressed." There was a sense of dread in her voice, but she wouldn't let her features show it, "We have company."
Klaus was officially taken care of, at least for now. Elijah hadn't told them what to do with him after that, and Bonnie wasn't sure what the best thing to do was. She wanted to kill him, but she didn't want to risk the lives of her loved ones.
For now though, he was one less thing they hadn't to worry about.
Stefan, however, spent most of his day home after the trip to Denver worrying about Elena. His friend was an entire days drive away…with an Original.
The thought made the younger Salvatore shiver.
"What bothers you now brother?" Damon asked, "This is a win for the good guys!" He noticed his brother's sullen expression, he could never be happy with the cards he was dealt.
Always brooding…
"This is about Elena isn't it?" he placed his hand on his shoulder, it was a supportive gesture, but Stefan only shook him off.
Damon had been fighting the urge to kill the Original since the first day he stepped foot into Mystic Falls, he has been pushing back those feelings of dread for that much longer.
Stefan was new to this dread, the threat of losing Elena had never occurred to him to be real before this.
His younger brother still hadn't responded to him, but Damon wouldn't stop there.
"Not tonight Stefan." He brought his brother to his feet. "Tonight, we drink, and regret our actions tomorrow!"
That night, the brothers arrived at the Grill, Stefan still carrying his brooding expression, while Damon tried to make up for both of them in exuberance. They were soon waved over by Caroline, who had an annoyed expression crossing her face.
As they approached her table, they saw one person they did not want to see.
"Kol." Damon grimaced, "Thought you would have left town by now."
The younger Original brother smiled, eyeing Stefan, who was glaring at him.
" I have…decided to stick around a bit longer." He was before Damon in a flash, "You see…me and Elijah's Gilbert girl became rather…close during her adventure to Denver." He spoke softly, but when he said his brother's name he made it a point to emphasize it and eye both brothers with distaste. "I just want to make sure they both make it back okay. You know, no complications right? I am not intruding am I?"
Kol took a step back, opening more space between him and the brothers before a fight broke out. He loved pushing their buttons.
"Well… you are. " Caroline spat, ignoring his obvious sarcasm.
Kol grinned in her direction, similar to the Cheshire Cat, and began to search the crowd of people hanging out at the bar.
"Funny…my brother isn't here yet. " His eyes fell on Stefan again, as if he could hear his insides about to pop. "He must be busy…you know…exploring his newest creation. Isn't that your doppelganger girl Stefan? I…can't seem to remember." Stefan stepped forward, his head looking like it may explode, but the Original kept on unafraid. "Every" he poked the younger Salvatore's shoulder in between each word " Single. Inch." Stefan went to slam him against the nearest wall, wishing that he had a stake, anything to shut this brother's trap, but Caroline stepped in between them.
"Kol…I am sure you have something better to do?" she glared at him, hoping he would just go away. Naturally that was unlikely with this brother. He loved to push people's buttons, and loved to start conflicts.
"You know, I can see why you two are both so smitten with her. She is absolutely delicious!" he peered around the blonde vampire and laughed as Damon growled a curse under his breath.
"Okay!" That is enough!" A female's voice came from behind them.
The group turned to see Rebekah walking towards them, her hair pulled to the side in a simple braid and she wore a simple blue dress with heels, yet she walked with a fierce sense of determination.
"Rebekah…" Damon eyes the Original sister, "You should have called."
"What are you doing here?" Caroline was done playing nice, regardless of Damon's feelings/
The girls glared at each other for a moment before Rebekah responded.
"Well…I came to speak with my brother. I was informed I had him to thank for my continued existence." Caroline rolled her eyes.
"And Elena too, " she reminded her with a smile.
"Ahh yes! How could I forget the backstabbing harlot who cannot seem to keep her legs closed, for not only the Salvatores, but Elijah as well." She made it a point to glare at Damon as she said this, and then her eyes travelled the group.
"Brother should be home soon Beckah. These fine gents told me he was leaving soon." Kol responded happily.
"The why isn't he answering his phone Kol?" I doubt the doppelganger can be that good." She laughed at her own joke, even though nobody else did.
"Well then, let us all have a drink shall we?" Kol sat in the nearest booth. "We can worry about Elijah later of course."
As Elijah threw his clothes on, Elena listened intently, trying to keep herself still. She could hear what must have been at least six heartbeats walking down the hall. By the way they were beating, they were not human.
Elijah soon joined her, and they listened in to find out what their uninvited guests were up to.
"Smells like blood in here." One of them said, his voice was hoarse and unfamiliar to both of the vampires.
"We'll get the jump on them. The other said, bringing Elena to a panic.
She was about to jump up and rush the door when Elijah placed a finger to his lips, and his other hand on hers.
Hybrids. Said his voice in her mind.
She looked to him, shocked for a moment.
How do you do that? She thought back emphasizing her expressions to show her discontent. How long have you been in my head?
It's an Original thing. Just a little trick we picked up. Only works on those we've turned. This is the first time. I wouldn't do that.
Elena knew what he meant by "I wouldn't do that". It wasn't like Elijah to invade her privacy.
She sighed in relief as they listened carefully. The hybrids had entered the room across the hall, the room Elena kept her things.
"Well…a vamp's been here." Another male voice spoke. This one seemed to have a slight accent. Nope…make that two. I can smell them both.
Elijah looked to Elena questioningly, with his head tilted to the side.
"Kol." She mouthed, when she realized he was no longer in physical contact with her, assuming that was what he needed in order to contact her through his mind, with a smile she thought about his reaction.
Was that a hint of jealousy?
The two remained against the wall listening as the hybrids searched Elena's room.
"Elena is here." Spoke a female hybrid now.
Tara? Elena wondered, she wasn't surprised that the girl she met close to a year ago had been out searching for her. She seemed to be a close companion to Klaus.
" You are sure? " said a different female voice, this one also had a strange accent.
"Positive. She stayed with Klaus until his brother killed her." Tara had responded sharply, Elena remembered that she wasn't there that day, but maybe she had been…and somehow gotten away.
There was some more shuffling as they searched her things, most likely looking for a hint of where she might be.
"We could just wait for her. She is only one vampire. It's not like we couldn't take her if she fought back." Spoke the gruff male hybrid. "Our orders are dead or alive, so we can have some fun first…right?"
Elena could feel Elijah's body tense.
Elena…we need to get you out of here. Elijah's voice rang in her mind again. He ran to the window, training not to get the hybrid's attention, while trying the windows. They were locked, and even though he could have forced them open, he wasn't sure if Elena's younger vampire body would be able to handle the four story drop.
He wasn't about to take the chance that she would land, injured on the ground, to be met by more hybrids before he got there.
Elena continued to listen; her mind was shooting between all different plans for escape. Only one seemed logical enough to her, and that was to fight their way out.
"You two wait here." Directed the woman with the accent. "We are going to search the other rooms. She is here, I can smell her."
Elena crinkled her nose and backed away from the door slowly, placing herself against the side wall and turning to see Elijah had already returned to her front. Leaning his head close to her ear, he whispered instead of speaking through her mind.
"We have to get you out of here." His breath was hot on her ear, but she pushed him back a step, offended for a moment, that feeling turned to anger soon after.
"No." she mouthed, not sure if she would be able to trust her tone.
Elijah shook his head in frustration. He knew the hybrids were after her, he was not about to risk her life for that.
"Do you not trust me?" he mouthed back, hurt. He reminisced about their silent conversation when Elena pulled the dagger out of his heart almost two years ago.
That was the day he opened up about his past.
Elena stared at him, almost in shock. Of course she had trusted him, why else would she put herself in such an awful position?
Why else would she be a vampire? After all, she knew Elijah was an honorable man, naturally he deserved her trust.
That didn't mean she had to listen to him though.
She smiled as she raised her hand to the door, giving it a loud bang.
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