Chapter 11:


It took them longer to get everyone settled at the safe house than they planned. Oona and Damon had to take everyone by their houses to get their things. Then they had to make sure the security system was functioning and the whole torturing Damon about whether they'd invite him in part, while amusing, added more time.

"Well, that went far better than I expected." Damon looked over at Oona as he drove the van. "I thought there'd be much more 'why do we have to stay at the safe house' whining. That whole 'get Ric onboard first and have him explain it to the rest of them' thing was brilliant."

Oona smirked at him. "I do have my moments."

"Oh, yes, you do." Damon's leer was something to behold.

She chuckled. "Not now, we have work to do, my dear."

They drove, without speaking much, for over an hour. As they got closer to warehouse district outside Richmond Oona picked up on a scent. "Do you smell that?"

"No m'dear," he said pointing to his nose. "Not as attuned as you, but please lead the way."

Oona directed them to a large warehouse near the airport. Damon slowed the van and they took in the place. One roaming security officer, some cameras, chain link fence, and a couple of Dobermans seemed to round out the security.

"This should not be any problem." Oona said wickedly. "Pull up to the gate. I believe this kind security guard wants to let us in."

"You have such a way with people." Damon said. He was so enjoying the whole aspect of breaking in.

"Once we get in be quick and disarm the cameras while I deal with the pups." She handed him gloves. "Leave no trace."

They pulled the van up and the security officer stepped outside the gate. Once the guard came to the window Oona compelled him to open the gate and get in the van. Under compulsion, he gave her the remote to open the large truck entrance and they pulled in. Oona squeezed the guard's neck until he was unconscious and pulled him out of the van. Damon moved quickly and disarmed the video surveillance while she then moved quickly out of the van and subdued the dogs. Damon took in her work and this new knowledge that hybrids could apparently compel dogs.

With security dealt with Oona tipped her head up to take in the scents. Damon did the same in an opposite direction. "This way," he said.

The moved down a long corridor filled with crates until they stopped in front of a large cedar container. Damon picked the lock and pushed the door open. When they looked inside their eyes widened in shock. There were five coffins in the container.

Oona shook her head as she took it in. "They're all here." She gasped.

Damon was equally stunned. "You didn't know?"

"No, but it makes sense – very Klaus." She regained her composure quickly.

She walked into the container and inhaled deeply. She came down to the lower casket on the left. "Elijah is here, I believe, but would you mind checking?" She asked this as she turned and moved back out.

Damon pulled open the coffin and saw Elijah. "Yup, it's him. Do you want to take any of the others?"

Oona kept her back turned to him. She thought of her mother lying in one of the coffins…then her mind turned to her supposed father and other siblings. "No, leave them. I am glad we brought the van. We couldn't have awakened him here – he cannot know where the rest of them are. …Perhaps later - but certainly not now. Damon, please tell no one."

Damon heard the plea in her voice. "Of course," He said gently.

He lifted Elijah out of the coffin and placed him in the wood container they brought with them. They wanted to leave things seemingly untouched if Klaus kept track. Damon closed the container and she opened the back of the van for him to put Elijah in. While Damon slid the box in, Oona closed the door to the large cedar container. She slipped the lock into the clasp and pushed it closed.

When she turned around, Damon was watching her. "You okay?"

She opened the van door and slid back into the passenger's seat. "Let's go," was her reply.

They drove out of the warehouse and Oona tossed the remote out the window once they cleared the gate. They drove in silence for some time, before Damon said jokingly. "That Klaus, he's a real freak. He built a traveling family crypt to cart your family around in and left them all just outside Mystic Falls. Strange dude."

"Yes indeed." Oona appreciate his attempt, but was still processing that her whole family was in the traveling crypt.

Damon did not speak for a while after that. He could feel her tension and gave her time to work through it.

Late that night, they pulled into the drive of the boardinghouse and drove into the garage. Oona got out of the car and went into the house. Damon let her go and he took Elijah down to the basement and locked him in the cell.

When Damon came upstairs he found Oona in the parlor standing by the fireplace. She was finishing off a glass of whiskey. Damon walked to the liquor cabinet and pulled down the bottle of whiskey and grabbed himself a glass. He walked towards Oona with the bottle, "Need another?"

She held out her glass to him. "Please."

He poured her another glass and filled his own before putting the bottle on the mantle. He took her hand and guided her to the couch and pulled her to sit next to him. She leaned into him and sighed.

"It was hard to leave my Mother there." She said. "My Father, on the other hand can stay there to rot as far as I am concerned."

Damon understood her feelings. They had bonded long ago over a love of their mothers and despising their fathers.

"We can go get her if you want." Damon suggested.

"No, the past should stay in the past. Besides she would want to free the rest of them too and that cannot happen."

"There were five children?" Damon asked. The stories of the Originals varied in the number of the first family.

"Yes. Elijah was the eldest, and then came me. Klaus was third, then Joshua and Michael." Oona remembered.

"You were the only girl?"

"Yes, hence the convent," Oona said bitterly. "Though I was stronger than my brothers, even Klaus - always a problem for men."

"Not for me." Damon dipped his head to her face when he said this. "I've always enjoyed being dominated - in the right situation. Very sexy."

He waggled his eyes at her. He didn't want to push her for much more information tonight. He thought a distraction was in order.

She rolled her eyes. "Shouldn't we get the others and prepare to wake Elijah? We told Elena we let her know when we returned so she could be present."

Damon scrunched his nose and shook his head. "Nah, it's late and I think Elijah can rot a few more hours. Elena could use the sleep and I have other things in mind for us."

"Far be it from me to stand in the way." She longed to be close to him and appreciated the distraction. She drank the rest of her whiskey.

Damon scooped her up in his arms and practically flew up to his room. He dropped her gently on the bed and disappeared into the bathroom. She heard the running water of the tub. She stripped off her clothes and followed in behind him. A hot bath with Damon was just what she needed.