Chapter Thirty Six- and the next(: should be another up later after The Sun Also Rises episode that's finally showing tonight. Anywhoo, reviews very much loved! x

I woke up with a groan the next morning, my muscles aching like never before. Damn Klaus for passing this curse onto me...

Now the gate squeaked as it was unlocked and pushed open, footsteps accompanying it. I sighed. "Elijah?"

"Guess again." Damons voice said, dumping clothes onto my almost immobile form, but now I raised a hand and took them, my heart beating so fast, it felt like it was going to jump out my chest.

Now I went to pull myself up, and felt Damon grab me and help me up. Did this guy ever give up?

No. I'd known him way too long to think he'd ever start doing that.

"How are you feeling?" he asked me as I yanked the jeans and a shirt on. I laughed bitterly. "Peachy. Just peachy..." then he groaned. "Come on, stop being so damn-"

"Damon, I have a banging headache, and your nattering isn't helping one bit."

He shut up now, then I walked over to the door, but the lightning fast speed made my head spin and cause my knees to go from under me. But he was always there to catch me, everytime.

I just put my arms around his neck now, closing my eyes against his shoulder, letting him pick me up as I nodded off.

-ArBaN-

Once more I woke up, but in a very familiar room.

I sighed and raised a hand to my head- vervain and wolfsbane had done the trick, but damn it exhausted me out. No wonder Klaus was snapping and snarling at me to leave him alone while he slept it off. Sure, vervain and wolfsbane didn't affect Originals, so how it had affected him I would have loved to have known.

Now I sat up and stared around at Damons room- so damn overprotective of me. I'd told him to leave me alone, the works... yet he still cared for me.

God this wasn't happening...

The door opened now, and the vampire in question leaned in the doorway. "With us now?" he chuckled, folding his arms.

I was silent, then got up without another word and went to walk past him, but he held out his arm, blocking my exit. "What's with the silence?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

Now I pulled him aside and just stalked out.

"What the hell's your problem? Klaus get to you?"

Now I stopped and turned to him, and I could see his shock at my hostile expression- my time with Klaus had hardened me.

"Don't ever... mention his name." I hissed, turning to the front door and grabbing my shoes and yanking them on before walking out.

Elijah was waiting for me around the corner, making me stop dead. "Oh." I just said, then he spoke. "You shouldn't be so harsh on him, he does care for you... against all odds."

I rolled my eyes and just started walking past him. He continued talking as he stepped forwards beside me.

"You've changed." he said now and I growled a little. "What!"

"Exactly my point."

"Just drop it Elijah, I'm not in the mood."

"It would be alot easier if you just-"

"Ok Shrink (!) what do you want me to say? That I screwed up big time? Because I know I did!"

Elijah was silent, then said quietly. "Klaus should have told you."

"Don't-"

"Say his name, I know." But now he sighed. "He..."

I frowned now. "Huh?"

"He killed my family too."

Now I realized- there were other Originals other than just him and Klaus. Five more if I was being correct.

"I'm sorry..." I said quietly, never realizing this was the other reason Elijah hated his half-brother. "I never... knew." I now added, feeling so very guilty- was this what Klaus had been doing when he had "business to attend to?"

What if I could have prevented it-?

It was like Elijah could read my mind, for he sighed out. "Do not worry, it isn't your fault."

"But it feels like it is. I was with him the whole time..."

"Belle, forget this please."

I nodded in silence, then stopped and hugged him, taking him by suprise. "I'm sorry for the crap I've caused you..." I just said, trying not to shed a tear.

Elijah put his arms around me and just said. "It's fine. Truly..."

"What the hell do you still see in me?" I wondered aloud now, and he just said. "I see a beautiful young woman who cares too much about everyone and never thinks twice about herself."

"Your view is biased."

"Maybe, but I know you."

"Not well enough to know I'm a right manwhore."

"You have such a way with words."

"Pfft."

"I don't understand half the things you say now. The 21st century has you wrapped around its little finger."

"Like Facebook then."

"Facebook?"

I looked at his raised eyebrow, then just laughed. "Oh, let's not go thee then. We'll be Twittering on then."

"Yes... I'm going to ignore the last ten minuets."

"God you're so old fashioned..."

-ArBaN-

I left Elijah now, wherever he wanted to go for the rest of the afternoon was up to him.

I had other things on my mind...

As I walked into the Grill, I cast my eyes and ears around for a certain man and found him at the bar, tapping the side of his glass of Scotch with a vacant look upon his face.

He looked up now as I walked forwards and sat next to him.

"Look, I'm sorry." I just sighed, and he didn't say a single word. Damon raised his glass and took a swig, emptying it before speaking.

"Sorry hmm?" he just chuckled bitterly, then I groaned. "Damon..."

"I give up on you. Happy now?"

"No I'm not."

"Oh I thought you would be."

"Damon I'm sorry ok? It was all my fault. Klaus... I didn't even need persuading or compelling. The blame is all mine."

"Damn right it is."

I got up now, making him say. "Where are you going?"

"I'm leaving. I only came back to make sure you still had enough blood to stop that bite coming up again. There's a few months worth in the fridge, I'll send more when you run out."

"But I don't want you to leave."

Now I turned properly and frowned. "Huh? You've changed your tune. Why hmm?"

"Arianne you know I care for you. Hell, I'll even put up with Elijah hanging around if you stay."

"Sure..."

He rolled his eyes, then grabbed my arm and pulled me outside and around the back of the place.

"Look Arianne-" he groaned, then took me by suprise by kissing me for a moment. "I love you ok?"

I was silent, then shook my head. "I'm not doing this anymore Damon."

"Oh? Was I better in bed than Klaus then?"

"Shut up for once." I hissed, turning away. Damons sly little chuckle got on my nerves so very much sometimes.

-ArBaN-

I was stood in the bedroom of the place Elijah was staying for a day or two before he moved off once more. The rain outside the window was hammering against the glass panes, me watching in silence as the flash of lightning shot across the sky.

The door opened now as Elijah returned.

"Arianne?" he called, and I nodded and said. "In here,"

The footsteps approached me now, then he stood beside me as I sighed. "October 17th. Today was when I was changed."

"309 now then?"

"Plus my real age, so yep. I'm 328."

"I'm over a thousand."

"Show off."

"No I'm not, I'm just stating facts."

"AKA show off."

Elijah chuckled, the said. "You know Klaus will be looking for you."

I nodded. "I know... and I don't plan on letting the bastard find me"

"Are you still up for killing him?"

I was taken aback by that, then after a moment, I nodded. "Yes. Why?"

Elijah nodded. "I have a plan."