Ava's POV:
Damon filled me in on what was happening. Apparently, two vampires called Trevor and Rose - I remembered their names from the first doppelganger's story - had kidnapped Elena with the intent of handing her over to the Originals in exchange for their freedom. Elijah had arrived, killed Trevor, granted Rose her freedom and then Damon and Stefan had arrived. Damon told me that he'd staked Elijah - "You honestly thought that a simple stake to the heart would kill an Original, Damon?" - and everyone had returned home with the intent of living happily ever after, except for the fact that they now had to deal with the fact that Elena had to die to break the curse, but since they'd killed Elijah, they figured word wouldn't get out. Only Elijah had come back to life and must have been damn angry. Elena tried to give herself over to him in order to save her friends and family after Katherine - who turned out to be Katerina, the girl Elijah and Klaus had been searching for - had told her, her story. And so, that's where I came into the equation. Damon knew of my history with both of the brothers and thought I could be of some help.
"How do you kill an Original?" He asked me as we sat in his living room, both of us drinking from glasses filled with blood.
"I don't know, Damon. I've told you, I didn't even know that they were Originals before I ran away. Most of what I know about them I've learnt since."
"Well what do you know?" He asked me, raising his eyebrows at me.
I sighed, I hated talking about them with anyone. It reminded me of everything I'd lost. "I know that whilst Klaus is open about his motives, his brother is more reserved, but don't be fooled. He is just as bad as Klaus he just knows how to hide it. I also know that if you try and stand in Klaus' way, he'll punish you. He killed me when he felt that I was making his brother weak. He also attacked my cousin and compelled her to believe it was me because," I paused, why had Klaus done that? "I'm not exactly sure why he did it, actually. I guess he was bored or something."
"We need to find a way to kill Elijah. Him and Elena have made a deal, but I don't trust him. I mean, you were engaged to him, look where that got you."
I didn't answer, he was right. He'd taken everything from me. My life in every sense of the word. I bet he'd played the grieving fiancé perfectly after I'd gone missing. I bet no one had suspected that the reason I'd run away was because I'd caught him cheating on me with my sister-in-law.
"Do you still love him?"
I looked up, Damon was watching me. Some of the hurt must have spilled over and onto my face. I shook my head.
"It's been over 500 years, Damon. Of course not."
Abruptly, Damon stood up and pulled me up. "Come on, we're going to the grill."
"The where?"
"The grill. It's the most happening joint in town."
The grill, more commonly known as The Mystic Grill - people were so imaginative these days - was where most of the town seemed to hang out. I followed Damon inside and straight up to the bar. It was obvious he spent quite a bit of time here. He slid onto a barstool next to a man I didn't recognise. I took the stool on his other side.
"Who's your friend?" The man asked, turning. He glanced at me before fixing his eyes on Damon.
"Alaric Saltzman I'd like you to meet Ava-" He turned to me, "what name are you using these days?"
I rolled my eyes and pushed Damon out of the way. I extended my arm and offered my hand to the man named Alaric. "Ava Williams." I'd dropped the surname La Torre after I'd ran away. It wasn't a common name and was too distinguishable, so I'd adopted an English surname instead.
Alaric took my hand and shook it. "Nice to meet you."
I turned to the bartender and ordered myself a drink whilst Damon muttered "Ava has a history with Elijah. I figured we could use her as leverage."
I stared at Damon's back, he'd lured me here to use me as leverage?
"I hope, for your own sake, that was a joke, Damon." I snapped, snatching the drink from the bartender before he'd had time to set it down.
"Of course."
I took a swig from the liquid in my glass and winced slightly as it seared down my throat.
"So," I leaned forward so that I would be included in the conversation. "Do you actually have any kind of plan on how to safe Elena?" I asked.
"No. She insistent that we comply with this deal she's made with him." Damon replied grudgingly.
"But we don't think Elijah can be trusted." Alaric cut in. He obviously didn't think that I was up to speed on what was going on.
"Yeah, I got that."
"We just need to find some sort of weapon or a spell that can kill an Original. There must be something!" Damon exclaimed, setting down his empty glass. "Rick, you go find Bonnie, see if there's anything in Emily's grimoire whilst me and Ava-"
"Damon." Alaric suddenly said warningly. He was looking over his shoulder at the entrance to the grill. Both me and Damon followed his gaze. It was Elijah. He looked different to how I remembered him, but there was no mistaking. My reaction was different to Damon's: Damon sighed heavily and rolled his eyes, muttering "brilliant". I, on the other hand, blanched. A block of ice seemed to drop into my stomach and overwhelm my body. I had to get out of there.
Turning so I had my back to him, I got up off my stool. "I can't be here." I muttered to Damon, who looked at me with confusion. I don't think he had realised how scared of this man I was. I drained my glass of what little liquid it had left. I was about to get up when a familiar voice behind me caused me to freeze. His accent was different, but it was unmistakably him.
"Gentleman." Both Damon and Alaric turned to face him, both of them wearing resigned expressions. Damon gave him a bitter smile. "And who is your friend?"
I guessed he was referring to me. Slowly, I turned to face him. I supposed it was too much to hope that he wouldn't recognise me.
His expression went from utterly carefree to shocked in a mere second. His eyes widened as he took in my appearance. I supposed I looked I lot different now than when he'd last laid eyes on me.
"Ava?"
I stared at him for a long moment, unable to bring myself to reply. Finally, I tore my gaze away from his.
"You know what? I have to go. I'll call you, Damon." I gabbled without looking at any of them, pushing past Elijah and making my way rapidly through the grill. Once outside, I leant against the wall, breathing heavily. It was more than unnerving seeing him again after 500 years.
"Ava."
I jumped, Elijah was stood right beside me. Terrified that he was going to rip out my heart there and then, I pushed myself off the wall and began to walk away. This was no use, he followed me.
"Ava, please."
I stopped. It was strange, it sounded like he was pleading with me. I hadn't expected that. I'd expected anger, to say the least, for deserting him the night before our wedding.
I turned to face him. He was watching me with an expression that looked like it could have been hurt.
"I have nothing to say to you." I said shortly, feeling all the old emotions rising.
"I have plenty."
"I don't care." I replied angrily, striding away. It had been easy to forget how it felt when I'd seen him and Adeline together in my room, but now that he was here, it all came rushing back.
He caught me by the arm and pulled me around to face him. He was stronger than I was, so I had little choice.
"Was I not clear enough when I ran away? That was my way of saying 'I never want to see you again'." I snapped trying, to no avail, to pull my arm out of his grip.
"Allow me to explain myself."
"There's nothing to explain! Let. Me. Go."
"I can always make you listen to me."
I stopped trying to pull my arm from his grip. Original's could compel other vampires. He could make me do whatever he wanted.
"Fine." It wasn't like I had much choice. Either I agreed or he made me.