A/N: my plans for the evening were cancelled so I had nothing better to do then write and post this chapter early. It's only a short one but I thought that's better then no chapter. The next one will (hopefully) be very long.
Elijah had actually hired a limo. We were all a bit stunned at that. Jenna had been fluttering around but she was going to the dance with Rick, in his car so she waved goodbye to us. I wished I could just keep her safe at home until this was all over but I knew I couldn't.
So I reluctantly waved at her and got in the car. Elijah took the opportunity to give us a lecture and warning us not to screw up or he'd kill us (well, he didn't say that but he implied it). I couldn't help the shiver that ran through me. Tonight was my last night, the last night I'd ever have. Elijah, seeming to sense my morbid thoughts, took my hand and kissed it.
We reached the Lockwood mansion and went in. The place was buzzing. Caroline dragged Tyler off to dance and Bonnie went to get a drink with Jeremy.
"Would you like to dance?" Elijah asked, smiling. I nodded. It was my last night alive, I had to make the most of it. He swept me onto the dance floor, holding me close to him.
"Where did you learn to dance?" I asked as he twirled me effortlessly.
"I dated a Russian ballerina for a few decades"
"huh"
"I broke it off when I found her with a werewolf"
"Let me guess, you kill them both?"
"Yes, then I returned to Klaus. That was when I was still in his favour"
"I find it hard to believe that he looks like a teenager but he's the oldest person alive"
"I never said he was the oldest person alive" I stared at him. I thought Klaus was the original vampire, which would make it that he was the oldest person alive.
"Well, he's older then you" I said "but he looks like a kid"
I find that offensive Elena.
I stiffened automatically at the voice. Elijah noticed and pulled me closer to him, wrapping an arm around me.
"It's okay" I felt a tear on my cheek, shaking my head.
"No it isn't" Elijah looked around, found and exit and pulled me outside. I sat down on the damp grass. Elijah sat next to me.
"You're having second thoughts?" he guessed. I nodded. He sighed and hugged me. "It's okay Elena. As I said, I'm sure there's another way"
"I'm not afraid of dying Elijah. I just…I don't want to loose you"
"I'll be fine" he said, misunderstanding.
"No, I mean, I don't want this to end. The time I've spent with you…well, it may not have been the happiest but it's probably the best. Do you know what I mean?" he didn't reply, not with words. Instead he cupped my face in his hand and kissed me, hard. I gasped against his mouth. His tongue slipped into my mouth, and danced with mine. He pulled away suddenly.
"Elena. I swear, I will do everything I can to keep you alive"
"no. don't make promises you can't keep. Just promise me, that you'll look after my family, my friends when I'm gone" I pleaded. He nodded, not speaking.
Elijah's POV
Elena looked beautiful tonight in her white dress. It reminded me of a wedding dress and I felt a sudden pang of longing at the idea. I wished Elena and I could be together, forever. But she had her destiny, to be sacrificed at my hands. For years I'd been planning on how to kill Klaus, now the opportunity was here and…I wasn't sure if I wanted to anymore.
Pull yourself together! You're a vampire! She's a human! She's worthless.
That's what I tried to tell myself, unsuccessfully. As much as I'd tried to fight it, I did have feelings for Elena. I hadn't wanted them to develop because to me, the destruction of Klaus would come first but now I was beginning to wonder if this was a mistake. Perhaps I should just give up, take Elena now and run.
I stared at her. Her eyes were troubled, her face resigned. She knew what she had to do and would do it.
I stood up and led Elena back in. Klaus was standing, talking to a curvaceous redhead. When he saw me, he raised his glass in acknowledgement.
Tonight's the night Elijah. Elena will be mine. There's nothing you can do.
I snarled. There had to be another way. There had to.
Elena's POV
We wandered through the crowds.
"Would you like a drink?" Elijah asked.
"Please" he disappeared briefly. I leant against the wall. I could see Damon dancing with Rose (A/N: Rose never got killed in this one). He smiled at me as he passed. My view was suddenly cut off by a tall figure. I looked up. Of course…Klaus.
"Elena"
"Klaus"
"Would you like to dance?"
"Don't you have a date of your own?"
"No. I don't feel the need. I could have any of the girls in this room in an instant, if I desired"
"Then go play with them"
"But it's you I desire Elena" he said, flashing me his white teeth.
"Go on desiring. I won't dance"
Yes you will.
I felt myself rising to my feet unwillingly. I glared at him and he smiled sweetly back, offering me his arm. I saw Elijah approaching with my drink and gave him a desperate look. He was at my side in an instant.
"What do you want?"
"A dance. Just a dance"
"Hmm… well go find a different partner. Elena's mine"
"Surely she can be shared?" I disliked the way they discussed me like a piece of meat. I tried to move to Elijah's side but Klaus gripped my arm.
"Let go of her" Elijah growled, noticing Klaus's nails digging into my soft skin. Tiny rivulets of blood began to flow.
"Come on Elijah. You wouldn't want to make a scene"
Not yet anyway…
I turned to Elijah who looked furiously. He couldn't fight Klaus. He couldn't win.
"Just one dance" I said to Klaus.
"Elena…" Elijah began.
"I'll be fine" I whispered, kissing his cheek. I followed Klaus to the dance floor. He spun me slowly, pushing my body closer to his then really necessary.
"You are a letch" I muttered.
"But an attractive one"
"Are you always this cocky?" I asked. He spun me again.
"Always" he said, leaning forward to whisper in my ear. His mouth trailed down my neck, coming to rest on my pulse point.
"Imagine Elena. Just one moment. You'd be mine forever" his hand rested on my neck, holding it still. I grabbed at his hand but he dug his nails into my neck. I felt his fangs pressing against my skin. Suddenly he was pulled away.
"You said one dance" said Elijah. I let out a deep breath as Elijah pulled me away. He dragged me out into the empty hall. I could tell by the way his hand gripped my arm, the furious set of his face that he was mad at what I'd done.
"Elijah! Stop!" I said. He spun around and pressed me against the wall.
"That was really stupid Elena" he snarled.
"If I hadn't done that, you would have done something even stupider" I growled back "Now let go of me!" his grip lessened but he still held me against the wall. He kissed my neck, his fangs grazing my skin and making me shiver.
"If you ever try something like that again, I will kill you" he whispered. I closed my eyes. Somewhere a clock struck twelve. My eyes flew open, my head jerking in the direction of the sound. Elijah looked too. When he looked back at me, I met his eye squarely.
"I don't think you'll get the chance" he nodded and took my hand. We walked back through the ballroom, heading for the open doors. We didn't do anything to attract the other's attention but one by one they dropped what they were doing and began to follow us. Elijah had warned me that I'd have to act afraid, unsure of what was happening. As far as Klaus knew, I had no idea about their plan. I was supposed to think Elijah was a good guy.
As soon as we were a distance from the building, I began.
"Where are we going?" I asked, looking around.
"Follow me" Elijah growled. I actually felt a spike of fear in me. He looked so…dangerous.
"Elijah?" he pulled me along, tugging so furiously that I thought my arm would be wrenched from the socket.
"Elijah? Elijah, stop!" I cried. He turned to me, his face contorted into a feral snarl. I tried to escape and he grabbed me by the hair, eyes boring into mine.
"Be still" he snarled. His compulsion had no effect but the venomous tone of his voice did. He pulled my neck to the side and bit me. I screamed in genuine pain. The world began to spin, then turned black.
A/N: DUN DUN DUH! Not as short as I'd originally intended. I would have finished this earlier but I was stress baking.
