A steady pounding pain that twisted its way from within Alex's head, down her neck and wound down her spine was what woke her from the deep level of blackness her mind had retreated to under the weight of the magic she had expended and the beating her body had taken.
She shifted slightly and heard the subtle sound of clanking metal against tile. Her eyes fluttered and struggled to open. When she was able to open her eyes partially she found herself on a grimy tile floor, spare light shimmering from a dull, dusty bulb in the ceiling showing her the chains restraining her to the floor.
Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes as her head ached and the light pierced her eyes. A strong coppery scent invaded her nose and she hesitated…something deep inside her knew that smell….
Her lids opened again and this time she looked around the room until her gaze landed on the horrifying source of the smell. She let out a whimper and sat up, crawling forward until her chains restrained her.
Elijah was hanging from the ceiling of the room, his wrists hanging limply in the manacles, blood streaming from the wounds at his wrists and another on his neck slowly oozed. His face was grey and his eyes were shut and Alex was terrified he was truly dead.
"Elijah" she whispered, stretching her hand until the manacle cut into her skin painfully. Gritting her teeth she called his name louder, "Elijah! Please, wake up!"
There was a scraping noise and she turned quickly, relief shooting through her when she saw Freya across the room. Her relief died when she saw that she too was chained.
"Freya! Oh god, I'm so sorry! Are you hurt? Shit, what do we do about Elijah? Oh fuck! Where's Hope?! Oh my god!" she rambled, once she started speaking unable to stop, thinking of everything that had gone wrong.
Freya crawled forward and made a sharp hand motion, "Alex! Calm yourself. We cannot escape from here if we do not work together. That man has Hope, is hurting my brother, and has trapped me and you and uses dark magic to prevent us from doing magic. If we plan on stopping him, we need to think!"
Alex nodded and wiped the few tears that had run down her cheeks away, sniffling. "Okay." Taking a deep breath she murmured, "What do you mean he's using dark magic to stop us from using our magic?"
Freya frowned, "The chains, they stop our power. Can't you feel it?"
Alex looked down at the chains and shook her head, "No, but I'm new to my powers, and I have to concentrate to use them. Maybe that's why."
Freya nodded slowly, "Perhaps." Her gaze turned to Elijah and darkened. "Do you see the pentagram painted behind him? Laurent is going to use Elijah's blood for a very powerful dark working. If he doesn't drain him first."
Alex shook her head, "We can't let him. I won't let Elijah die. I won't let any of us die or get hurt." She sat up more and her jaw tightened. "Tell me what to do."
Freya smiled faintly, approvingly. "These chains, can you break free? I have done it before, I may be able to again, but it will weaken me."
Alex looked uncertain but nodded, "I'll try." She looked up at Elijah and frowned, there was no way she would give up. Closing her eyes she took deep breaths and opened her mind, reaching out to her grams.
Grams? Are you there?
Almost instantly her grams replied.
Of course. No matter how strong that fool thinks he is, he can't get rid of me.
Alex smirked softly.
Good, because I need you. We all do, or an innocent child will die.
Over my dead body will that monster kill another innocent Alexandrine. Now, you must wait to free yourselves until he has come into the room. I will help you fight him. Last night you were foolish expending your powers as you did. Today, I will help you defeat him by guiding your power.
Alex sighed, even in death her grams was schooling her.
Okay grams. But we don't know when he's going to come into the room. It could take hours.
Nonsense. That vampire won't last much longer. He'll be back. For now, conserve your energy. Rest.
Alex felt her grams' reassuring presence recede slightly and sighed, opening her eyes. Looking across the room she found Freya watching her, eyes hopeful. Alex nodded, "Rest for now. He'll be back."
Freya raised a brow and leaned back against the wall, crossing her arms on her knees. Was it anyone else, she would think they were leaving her brother to bleed to death. Watching Alex however, she knew from the pain on her face that she was devastated and terrified for Elijah.
Alex curled against the wall and stared at Elijah, his form still, like a statue. His pallor was statue like as well, grey like granite, and she had a sick feeling in her stomach that he would never wake.
Hours passed in silent agony.
Freya slipped into an uneasy sleep.
Elijah remained still, his wounds bleeding steadily, the slow drip, drip, drip the only sound in the room other than the low buzz from the light bulb.
Alex stared at him with agonized eyes, her body aching from the beating she had taken, and the discomfort of being chained and unable to move more than a few feet. Her limbs trembled occasionally as she shifted, and she bit her lip to keep from groaning and waking Freya.
Her head was resting against the wall, her arms wrapped around her knees, contemplating how the fuck her life had ended up at this point, when the door at the other end of the room opened.
In an instant both Freya and Alex were alert, moving to crouch down, waiting for Laurent to enter the room.
When he did he grinned at them, bouncing Hope on his hip. "I'm so glad to see you all doing well. I thought it was time we had a chat." He drug a chair into the room and sat down, still holding Hope and smiled at her, bouncing her on his knee.
He looked over at Alex and his smile grew frosty. "You've been hard to track down. Apparently your family encouraged your travels abroad. I tracked you all around Europe, but was always a few steps behind. It seems your grandmother was protecting you from me, even from such a great distance."
Alex's heart leapt. Of course her grams had done such a wonderful thing.
Laurent smiled, "But eventually you came home! And your grandmother was dead. It should have been so easy to kill you." He scowled at her. "But behold! The little know it all has magic!" He laughed, "But barely able to use it. What a waste."
Alex couldn't contain her rage any longer. "Perhaps if you hadn't killed my grandparents I would have learned."
Laurent regarded her for a moment and then frowned. "I only killed your grandmother."
Alex laughed bitterly. "You idiot. Antoine was my grandfather. They had an affair, and my grandmother got pregnant. She used the coven to hide my mother's true parentage because it was the 1940's and people were assholes. Antoine knew, but they each went on to marry other people. Namely, your mom. Which makes you my half-uncle."
Laurent looked deeply troubled and then scoffed. "You're a liar. You and I look nothing alike."
Alex laughed at that. "Whatever helps you sleep at night psycho." She pushed her hair back from her face and Laurent's gaze fixed on the ring from her grandmother's trunk. His eyes narrowed and he stood, setting Hope on the chair before striding over to crouch down in front of her.
"That ring, let me see it" he demanded.
Alex frowned and tucked her hand into her lap. "Fuck you."
Laurent smiled grimly and made a fist, twisting it. Abruptly, Alex felt shooting pain in her skull, blinding her. She collapsed to the ground, crying out in pain. She felt Laurent twisting her hand out from beneath her and bending her fingers out to pull the ring off.
"Thank you" he murmured mockingly.
She heard him striding away and a moment later the pain began to recede, leaving her panting on the floor, sweat covering her face, a sick feeling in her stomach.
Wiping a hand across her face she leaned up on one arm and glared at him, "I will kill you."
Laurent smirked, "I doubt that."
He fingered the ring and held it up to the light, examining the markings on it for a long time until he turned back to her. "This ring was made by my father, why do you have it?" he demanded.
Alex shook her head, "You still don't understand. He made that for my mother, his daughter, because he expected her to have power. But whatever they did to hide her appearance must also have stripped her of her powers, or she just never had any, so my grams saved it. They were going to give it to you I expect, but you were like a mad dog, always wanting more power, not caring if you hurt people. So they kept it from you. It's mine now."
Laurent glared at her and strode over to slap her across the face hard enough to leave her with the taste of blood in her mouth and stars in her eyes. "Shut your mouth. My father loved me."
Alex laughed harshly, "Then why the hell did you kill him?!"
Laurent's face was dark, "Because he betrayed me. We were meant to rule the Quarter and he kowtowed to the vampires, and to the humans, making us weak."
Alex shook her head, "You're a goddamn fool. There's a truce now with the vampires, wolves and humans. They work together to keep the Quarter safe and at peace. No thanks to you."
Laurent lifted a hand again as though to strike her and hesitated, taking a breath. After a moment he smiled, shaking his head. "I think it's time to complete this spell."
Turning away he walked over to Elijah and ran his fingers through the blood on his chest, wetting them before beginning to draw on the ground at his feet. Alex couldn't see what he was doing, but she could feel it, and it was ugly, dark, and powerful.
Casting a worried look to Freya, she received a nod in return; Freya too could feel the magic.
Grams! We need to attack now!
Not yet my dear. If we cut off that spell now, the vampire will die for sure. That is not something you wish to see.
Alex groaned softly as Laurent continued the spell, her nerves taut with worry. Come on Elijah, wake up and rip his goddamn head off. Come on…please!
Apparently her message didn't go unheard because Elijah began to rouse, his limbs twitching, his head lolling, eyes twitching open slowly.
Alex gasped and lunged forward, "Elijah! Oh god, Elijah, please, can you hear me?" she called out.
Alex, forget the vampire, you need to attack now. The spell is complete. Attack now!
Grams I'm not free, these chains block my powers!
Oh, do they? Are you sure?
Her tone made Alex hesitate for just a moment before she raised her hands towards Laurent and opened her mind fully to her grams. Okay grams, let's kick some ass.
You got it kiddo.
Her grams began to chant in Latin and Alex watched in amazement as Laurent was seized by an invisible force and slammed against the wall, pinning him. Her chains fell to ashes and she stood.
The pain of the last day, of battle, of captivity, of weariness, all faded into the background as she stepped forward, her heart raging with the anger of a murdered coven and family. When she opened her mouth to speak, it was with the voices of those who had their justice stolen.
Power rang through the room with her words. "Laurent Laveau. You have profaned with magic. You have murdered and befouled our city. There is blood on your hands, on your family name, and a reckoning will be had."
Alex raised her hands and found that they burned with a blinding white light, "The ancestors condemn you to burn. You are cursed. Your body will not be consecrated. Your name shall be stricken from memory and record."
Laurent's face was a mask of terror as he tried to fight free of the magic binding him. Alex could feel his magic fighting hers, but knew this time, there would be no escape.
"Goodbye Laurent." She threw both balls of fire towards him and watched, stone faced, as the fire consumed him.
Laurent let out one high shriek and a moment later the fire burned brighter, and his body crumpled to the floor, burning.
Alex turned and looked to Freya, waving her hand and nodded in satisfaction as the chains dissolved. Freya got to her feet and ran to Hope, who was still sitting in the chair, watching Laurent burn.
Freya looked over Alex's shoulder with wide eyes. Alex turned and saw Elijah collapsed onto the tile floor in a pool of his own blood, his eyes black with hunger, fixated on her and Hope.
Alex reached back and touched Freya's arm gently, "Go. Take Hope and go."
Freya shook her head, "He'll kill you."
Alex shook her head and stepped forward, "No, he won't. We won't let him."
Freya stared at her. "Alex, what does that mean?"
"It means I'm strong enough to stop him. He won't kill me and I won't hurt him." Alex glanced over her shoulder, "Go Freya. Get Hope back to Klaus."
Freya looked at her and Elijah in fear and then nodded, holding Hope close. She turned and ran, pulling the door shut behind her. Alex sighed as the door shut.
Stepping forward she smiled softly at Elijah, "I'm glad to see you're not dead." Elijah stared at her, his eyes red and black with hunger, a low growl emanating from his chest.
Alex summoned a ball of fire into her hand and pointed to Laurent, who was still burning, though not as brightly. "Elijah, if you try to kill me, I will do the same thing to you. Do you understand me?"
He snarled at her.
Alex stepped closer; she was nearly a foot away now. God he looks so broken. Please, please Elijah, don't make me hurt you.
"Elijah, please, don't make me hurt you. Okay?" she murmured. She watched him stare up at her, his gaze locked on her throat and she reached a hand out slowly until it rested on his cheek. He didn't flinch, didn't move, just breathed.
She saw his jaw tick and a breath passed. His eyes closed and he ground out in a whisper, "I…will try."
Alex sank to her knees in relief and nodded, "I knew you were still there. Now, Elijah, drink."
His eyes flew open and stared at her for a moment. She saw a look of self-disgust pass over his face before the bloodlust reclaimed him and he moved in a blur, his jaw opening wide as he grasped her neck and dragged her towards him.
It was like no other pain she had ever felt before. Death by a thousand cuts…Christ that's just a start.
Alex groaned and felt herself growing weaker as Elijah fed, but held on, her arm around his shoulders, not sure if she was holding him up or holding onto him for support. Her eyelids fluttered as her body grew weaker, but she pushed back and forced herself to fight.
What's that pounding sound?...is that my heart?...Shit that's not good….
VAMPIRE. CEASE FEADING NOW.
Elijah pulled back abruptly at the shout from Alex's grandmother. He held Alex's limp body in his arms and stared at her in horror. He could hear her heartbeat, but it was weak.
"No, no, NO! Alex!" he shouted.
Vampire, if you don't want her to die, I suggest you get her out of here immediately and get her somewhere she can rest. She will need food, water, and sleep. And none of your blood.
Elijah nodded and gathered Alex in his arms, wiping his mouth off, flinching at the sight of her blood on his skin. He had sworn to never drink from her, and he had broken that and nearly killed her.
Shame tore at him.
Elijah carried Alex into the compound and was met by chaos. He could hear Klaus shouting at Freya, Hope crying and Rebekah in the fray. He moved quietly and carried Alex to his bedroom, setting her down gently in the tub, removing her clothes piece by piece, wincing at the sight of her blood, blood he had drawn.
He threw them violently at the trash can, sending it spinning across the room with a clatter. He sank down onto the toilet and scrubbed his face with his hands, agonizing heartbreak ripping him apart.
With a deep sigh he reached up and took a washcloth and wet it, kneeling down and wiping the blood from Alex's skin softly until she was clean. He lifted her easily from the tub and carried her to his bed, wrapped in one of his robes, and tucked her beneath the covers.
Sinking into a chair beside the bed he rested his face in his hands and contemplated how deeply fucked up his life was. Everything he treasured became sullied or broken by his touch.
His dark thoughts were disturbed by a knock at the door.
A dark curly head appeared around the door, Rebekah. "May I enter?" she asked softly.
Elijah nodded and waved a hand.
Rebekah quickly entered and shut the door behind her before walking over to her brother, resting her hand on his bare shoulder. "What the hell happened?" she asked quietly.
Elijah sighed, "We took Hope out to Hayley and Laurent attacked. I expected it honestly. But what I didn't expect was that he would over power a group of hybrids, me, Freya and Alex. He took us captive. He bled me until I was mad with hunger Rebekah. Then he put me into a sleep, and when I woke, he had Hope in the room."
Rebekah hissed in anger and Elijah nodded, "Alex attacked him, and it was incredible. Her grandmother and the coven cursed him, refusing to consecrate him. They burned him alive. But I was freed, and in a room full of prey."
He shook his head and stood abruptly, staring down at Alex. "She made Freya take Hope and stayed with me. Told me she would burn me too if I tried to kill her. I promised to try." He turned to look at Rebekah and her heart broke at the haunted look on his face.
"I swore I would never drink of her sister, and I nearly killed her, were it not for her grandmother forcing me to stop."
Rebekah stepped close and lay her hand on his arm, "Elijah, we have all harmed those we love. It is the true curse of being what we are. She knew what she was offering, and she will not be angry with you."
Elijah shook her hand off and shook his head violently, "No. I won't hurt her again."
Rebekah opened her mouth to speak again but Elijah cut her off, "Please go Rebekah."
She stared at him for a moment before nodding sadly and exiting quietly, leaving him to stand, staring down at Alex, still covered in a swirling mess of her blood and his. He stood there for hours, still as a statue, the sun streaming through the window casting his shadow to the floor, moving slowly until night fell.
Finally he moved and went to shower, watching as the water streamed red down the drain. Raising his hands he stared at the blood that washed away. If only it was truly that easy.
He remembered Alex's words, that there would be a reckoning for the blood on Laurent's hands, and shivered. His held vastly more blood, and now had hers. What would his reckoning be?
Across town the body of a young man who had died in a hit and run laid on the table of the morgue. His skin was pale in death, his lips purple, eyelids tinged blue.
Hours passed.
His fingers twitched.
His body jumped.
His eyes rolled and his chest heaved with breath.
He sat upright and looked around wildly holding his hands up inspecting himself.
Standing up from the table, he walked to the glass of the window and inspected his face, touching his cheekbones and brow softly. A smile spread across his full lips.
"Excellent."
Dark twisted fantasy, turned to reality.
AN: I loved, loved loved writing this chapter. I know it wasn't as long as the other one, but, just know, I've got good twisty plans for this story. MWAHAHA. Ahem...anyway! Songs that inspired this chapter are; "Blood On My Name-Brothers Bright" "Bones-MSMR" "Breath Me-SIA" "Heal-Tom Odell" So, listen to all of them while reading, they're all pretty bomb. Please review!
