AN: Less comedy, more drama again. I'm not entirely happy with this chapter and may rewrite it later. Let me know what you think.
Chapter 23: Stir-crazy.
(Last chapter was Monday the 7th of December 2009, this is Wednesday the 9th)
Jules were watching the Boarding House from a distance. She had been doing it for days, patiently waiting for an opportunity, but the house was crawling with blood suckers. She could feel it even a 150 yards away.
All that kept her going now after losing almost her entire pack, was the thought of revenge. Over the Salvatore brothers and over that Original, Elijah.
The bond between members of a werewolf pack was strong. They looked out for each other, fought for each other and avenged each other.
At first, she had thought she could move on, go back to Florida and maybe start a new pack. But she had been unable to persuade Tyler to go with her. After he had found out that Elena had to die to break the sun and moon curse, not to mention the entire affair with Caroline, he had practically shunned her.
There was nothing left for her now. Not here, not in Florida. Nothing except vengeance.
And she would get it.
She crouched down, clutching a wooden stake in her hand and keeping her eyes trained on the entrance to the Boarding House.
Sooner or later, they would make a mistake. Sooner or later, there would be an opening and she would jump at it.
(Break)
Darwin was sitting in the kitchen, eating oatmeal with soy milk. It was horribly bland. Normally, he put bananas in it, but no one had done any shopping for days. Elena and Andie was staying at their own homes and Alaric was pretty much on a liquid diet, consisting mainly of bourbon and vodka. In fact, Damon had hid away the more expensive bottles, but Alaric didn't seem to care.
He could hear the rest of the house hold waking up and going about their morning business. He could hear Damon and Stefan talking quietly on their way down the stairs, and Rebekah hammering on a door and yelling for Kol to get out of the shower. He had ripped the mixer tap straight out of the wall in their own room in an angry fit after being showered in cold water. Not that it really mattered all that much to a vampire, but Kol claimed that it was a matter of principle. Now, he could've used the shower in one of the empty rooms, but why not take this opportunity to annoy the Hell out of Rebekah?
Darwin heard someone enter the kitchen, but did not look up and offered no greeting.
"Good morning."
He didn't answer, just kept eating slowly.
"You're still not talking to me, I see."
He heard the fridge being opened and closed. Then a bottle of blood was placed beside his plate. He ignored it and still, he said nothing.
There was a long moment of silence.
Then there was a movement in the corner of his eye, and then his chair was turned quite suddenly.
"Hey!" His spoon clattered to the floor. "I was eating!"
Elijah was kneeling in front of him, probably to seem as unintimidating as possible. Darwin searched his face, but there was no anger, not even annoyance.
"Look, you have every right to be mad at me, but this is ridiculous ..."
Darwin folded his arms over his chest, meaning to seem angry, but somehow it became defensive instead. "So, now I'm ridiculous?"
"No, you're not, but sometimes you do ridiculous things, "Elijah explained patiently, "which is exactly why I had this spell put on you in the first place."
"What happened to 'I can't tell you what to do'?"
"I'm not going to let you get yourself killed."
"What about Kol? He does ridiculous things, too, "Darwin pointed out, "Why haven't you had him imprisoned?"
"Kol is as indestructable as anyone can be, but you are not."
Darwin looked at him for several seconds, feeling a bit of the frustration that had been gnawing at him for the last couple of days evaporate. He unfolded his arms and let them hang at his sides instead. "I am not a child and I don't like being treated as one."
Elijah gave him a small smile, clearly relieved that Darwin's resentment was lessening. "I never thought you were, but you are reckless and you are vulnerable. You need to think, North Star."
"Well, I guess I shouldn't be mad at you, "Darwin conceded, frowning, "At least it shows you care."
"So, truce?"
"Alright, "Darwin wasn't ready to completely forgive him, but enough to give him a slight smile. He turned his chair, grabbing the bottle of blood from the table.
"Kol, you little bastard! I am going to rip you limb from limb!"
Darwin and Elijah both looked up in alarm. If it had been Rebekah screaming, they would have ignored it, but it wasn't.
It was Finn.
Kol came speeding down the stairs and into the kitchen, too fast to stop himself in time. He slammed his head into the top cabinet, falling flat on his back. He sat up, looking dizzy and rubbing his forehead. "Ow, my head!"
"Ow, my pride.., "Darwin added drily.
"What did you do, Kol? "Elijah asked tiredly.
Finn came into the kitchen, his presence filling the room like a thundercloud. He was in sweat pants and a tshirt, the top of the shirt and his hair dripping wet.
Kol gave a cry of horror ... or glee, Darwin could not tell which, jumping to his feet and placing himself behind Elijah.
"Ah, "Darwin had been woken enough times by having water splashed in his face to know what had happened.
"Come on, Finn, it was just a bit of fun, "Kol tried to placate Finn without much success.
"I didn't think it were funny when we were human and I don't think it's funny now, "Finn sounded absolutely livid, "This time I'm going to kill you!"
Stefan, Damon, Alaric and Rebekah all came shuffling into the kitchen to see, what was going on. Alaric was sober for once and Rebekah was stroking Claws, looking a bit too pleased with the entire situation.
"Finn, calm yourself, "Elijah ordered, trying to break through his brother's temper, which rarely showed itself, but was impressive when it did, "It's Kol. You know how he is. We're all restless and on edge."
"I have the day off, "Alaric remarked, "Why don't we all go to the Grill, when you've taken the kids to school? You know; play some darts, have a couple of drinks."
"What about me? "Darwin interjected. "I can't leave."
"I'll stay here with you, "Elijah said, "The rest of you will go."
"I am not going out with .., "Finn began, but Elijah interrupted him.
"You are going, Finn."
(Break)
The five of them stumbled into the Grill at noon. Stefan was at school and would be joining them later.
Damon and Alaric immediately took their usual seats at the bar, Kol and Rebekah set up a game of pool, arguing heatedly about who should go first, and Finn ordered coffee and sat down at an empty table.
"So, what's new with you and Jenna? "Damon asked, turning slightly in his chair to look at Alaric.
"Nothing yet, "Alaric sighed, "she said she needed some time to think. But the wait is making me a nervous wreck."
"Not to mention a raging alcoholic."
Alaric laughed humourlessly. "That, too."
"So, what are you hoping for?"
"I don't know, "Alaric admitted, "Just getting an answer would suffice right now, I guess."
"And the kid?"
"Well, I'm not that young, anymore, "Alaric shrugged, "And I always wanted to have children. In my first marriage it was Isobel that didn't. Maybe the time is right."
"Maybe, "Damon took a sip of his drink.
"But one thing is sure; I'm not lying to her anymore, "he stated adamantly, "Next time I see her, I'll tell her the truth."
"Right, "Damon reached out and put his hand on the back of Alaric's neck, "Just remember that no matter, what happens, I'm here for you, buddy."
Alaric shook his head. "We are way too sober for that kind of talk."
"Yes, "Damon removed his hand, "Let's have ten more rounds and then I'll try again."
(Break)
Elijah was sitting in the Boarding House's Library with his eyes closed. It was blissfully quiet. He could vaguely hear the cleaning lady walking around and dusting in the parlour, but that was it.
No sound of Rebekah and Kol shouting at each other, no sound of Darwin stomping angrily through the house, and no sound of Finn turning the tv up too loud in an attempt to drown out the other noise.
Darwin was working on an essay in his room. Apparently, he hadn't forgiven Elijah enough to spend time with him, but Elijah didn't mind. It was good to have a couple of hours to himself.
He opened his eyes, looking into the hall through the open doorway. He would have to call a carpenter to put a new door in. Darwin had completely destroyed the old in his rage. He glanced at his watch. 4.30. It could wait until tomorrow.
And suddenly the peace shattered, along with one of the windows. Pieces of glass flew through the room, along with splintered wood.
A figure crouched on the floor in the middle of the room, slowly rising to its feet.
Elijah got up as well, feeling more curious than worried.
It was a young, blonde woman, her hair and clothes dirty and in disorder. She looked familiar, but for a moment he could not remember where he had seen her before. Then he caught the scent of wolf.
Of course.
"Jules, "he said, slowly, "I wasn't exactly expecting you."
She smiled, but it looked more like a sneer. Her hand was gripping an oak stake hard enough to turn her knuckles white.
He started to circle her, warily keeping his distance, as the look in her eyes wasn't exactly sane.
"Why are you here?"
"To get even." Her voice sounded hoarse and unused.
He stopped circling her, when he had his back to the doorway to the hall. "In case you don't know; you cannot kill me. I suggest you get out of here, before you lose your head. Literally."
Her eyes narrowed and she gripped the stake even harder. "I want to see you suffer."
"That will never happen."
"No?" She stared at him for a couple of seconds longer, then without a warning she threw her stake. It sailed past him, grazing his arm.
He didn't quite understand the triumphant look on her face, until he heard a gasp behind him and turned around.
Darwin was standing in the doorway, his eyes widened in surprise. The stake was protruding from his chest at the exact spot where his heart would be. He looked down at the stake, then back up at Elijah.
He whispered two word: "Father, please ..."
And then he fell.
(Break)
Kol had been about to throw the dart at the board, but suddenly stopped and frowned. "Did you feel something, Rebekah?"
She looked around in the Grill. "When?"
Kol seemed frozen. "Just now. Did you feel ... cold?"
"We are vampires, Kol, we don't feel cold."
He blinked in confusion a couple of times. "That's the thing."
"Are you alright, Kol, "she went over to him, putting her hand on his shoulder.
He shook his head. "Fine. I guess it was nothing."
(Break)
Elijah watched Darwin crumple to the floor and his mind went blank. From somewhere far away from him came the sound of a derisive laughter.
Something so vulnerable. Something so precious ...
And then there was rage. Red, hot boiling rage that swarmed his chest and went straight to his brain like a drug.
Before he knew what he was doing, he slammed Jules against the wall with a grip around her neck that drew blood and her head smacked into the wall hard enough that her skull cracked.
But she was still concious and laughing.
His hand went into her chest almost on its own accord and gripped her heart and still, she was laughing, but now also choking on her own blood.
It ended far too quickly. He ripped out her heart and tore off her head at the same time. The soulless body slipped to the floor, leaving a trail of blood on the wall.
He looked down at the remains, feeling the rage draining and leaving his mind far too clear.
Darwin.
"No no, "he went to the small, lifeless body laying in the doorway. He kneeled down beside him, pulling out the stake, as if that could somehow magically ondo the horrible act. He lifted Darwin's head and shoulders from the ground, tears blurring his vision.
He ran his bloody fingers through the boy's short hair and then he just held him for awhile, letting his grief consume him. It gnawed at his soul and it twisted his heart.
He didn't know how long had passed, when he finally were able to blink the last tears away and see Darwin's face clearly.
And then he noticed, that something was off.
He didn't know if his grief made him hallucinate, but Darwin's face was smooth and his expression peaceful. His skin was pale, but not grey and no veins were showing.
"Darwin?" He shook him gently. "Can you hear me?"
And then there was a low groan and those impossibly dark eyes sprang open and locked on his own.
A small, apologetic smile. "God, I hate when that happens."
AN: I actually wasn't planning on giving you that last part, but hey, why not?