A/N: I am so so so so sorry that it has taken me this long to update! Summer is truly when I have my busiest schedule, and I've also been working on other writing projects. I apologize completely. I hope to keep up with updates much better now. I still know exactly where this story is going.

Chapter 54

"Elijah?" AJ asked with fear in her voice as she watched him quickly snatch up his shirt and put it back on properly, tucking it into his dress pants. There was a scowl on his face. A very scary one. "Elijah, who is it?"

He shook his head. "Just stay here," he said gruffly.

AJ, of course, didn't listen to him. She hopped off the counter and followed him to the front door. He gave her a disapproving look. "I said—"

She held up a hand. "I know what you said. But if you're going to kill someone, I at least want to know who it is just in case it's… someone I know," she said, trying to sound reasonable. She had a pretty good idea who it was and why Elena would tell him where to find them. Her stomach was tied up in anxious knots. He was forever doing stupid things.

Elijah sighed. "You will not want to see this," he warned, trying to get her to leave him to deal with it. He knew it probably wouldn't do any good—she was stubborn.

She held her chin up. "Which is why I'll probably stop it."

Elijah's eyes grew dark once more as the doorbell rang yet again. "I do not understand why you always try to protect him," he said. Then turned and opened the door with his vampire-speed, giving Lucas a death glare that had been enough to make some people faint on the spot many years ago. He was sure it was still as intense as ever.

AJ stared at him, still shocked that he was there even though she'd suspected it was him all along. His arm was in a sling, held close to his side, and he had a few stitches by his left eyebrow, but that was all the damage done by their accident when they hit the car. He was shifting from foot to foot, obviously trying his best to keep eye contact with Elijah, but he was squirming under the pressure of it. AJ could see him gulp.

Elijah shook his head slowly and threateningly. "Boy. I told you I would kill you if you ever tried speaking with her again. Was I not clear enough?" Elijah slowly advanced on Lucas, making the boy back up onto the porch more.

It took Lucas a few seconds to recover. He cleared his throat. "Uhm—Elijah," he began, looking from his feet to Elijah's hard eyes, "I just came to—"

"You have no right being anywhere near her," Elijah interrupted bitterly, his hands clenched at his sides from boiling anger, "Obviously you haven't yet learned that lesson. I suppose that means its time—"

"Just let him speak, Elijah," AJ said quietly from the doorway, but with conviction. Elijah turned to look at AJ unhappily, and she met his gaze. "Please." She, in no way, had any feelings for Lucas. None at all—she actually very much disliked him. But she could see he came out here for a reason and pitied him. And she really didn't want to see Elijah rip his heart out.

"Then speak," Elijah turned back towards Lucas, the coldness still in his voice as he raised a challenging eyebrow.

"Yes—sir," Lucas said, still struggling to find his words. "I just—I wanted to apologize. To you, and to AJ. I know you won't let me talk to her alone," Elijah growled at this, but Lucas turned his gaze to AJ, "but I just wanted to tell you, A, that I was wrong. Elijah," Lucas gestured sheepishly at him, "is good for you. I can see that—he takes care of you. He protects you. I—I never did any of that. So I'm sorry," he said genuinely. AJ nodded, but that was all. She still pitied him. Lucas turned his attention to Elijah now, with just the smallest bit of confidence that was cracking every second he felt the weight of Elijah's stare on him. "And I'm sorry for the things I said to you—and for interfering with… things." Lucas looked back down at his feet, seemingly finished with his little speech.

Elijah still stared coldly at him until AJ nudged him in the side and gave him a pointed look. He returned the look acidly, but took in a breath, trying to calm himself, and nodded. "Fine."

AJ almost laughed out loud at his abrupt attempt to accept an apology. But she guessed a 'fine' was better than a bloody heart lying on the ground. She still gave Elijah a chastising look, which he ignored.

AJ looked back at Lucas curiously. "You knew it was dangerous to come and say that. Why did you?"

He met her eyes sadly. "I didn't want to leave things the way I did. I told you before—I've changed. I'm not the person I used to be, and I don't ever want to be that person again."

AJ nodded with understanding. Elijah was still clenching his fists, keeping himself from breaking the boy's neck, just barely. AJ noticed after a moment, so she stepped out the door and in front of Elijah. He tensed even more.

"I think you'd better go, now, Lucas," she said in a warning tone. She wasn't sure how much longer Elijah would contain his anger.

He nodded, still looking at her sadly. "I will. I just wanted you to know I was sorry. Goodbye, AJ."

She watched as he left, getting into a car she'd never seen before. It was silent between her and Elijah until he was down the drive and out of sight.

"You should have let me do what was proper, AJ," Elijah said angrily, but she could tell it wasn't directed at her.

"You think killing him for apologizing is proper?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don't know. It would have been if I weren't with…" he trailed off and sighed again.

"If you weren't with me," she stated, understanding.

He nodded, his eyes cast down. "Is that so horrible of me?"

She thought about it for a moment. "I don't think so. You had different ways before we were together—I know that. And so did I. But I take it as a compliment that you see it wouldn't be the proper thing to do now."

He still didn't bring his eyes up; he just stared at the lawn. "Doesn't that make me like him, though? The fact that I used to be one way, but now I'm not?"

She shook her head confidently. "Elijah, I know you've done bad things. I know that. But you and Lucas are not the same—not at all. I love you, and I know you love me. You'd never hurt me. He did. See the difference?"

He looked at her, his eyes holding nothing but love. "You puzzle me," he said simply.

She laughed out loud, smiling widely. "I could say the same about you."

He smiled slightly before pulling her close and kissing her. But this time it was interrupted by the ring of her cell phone in her back pocket.

AJ groaned, annoyed. Elijah looked at her with his lips pulled up just a fraction on the sides, amused.

She pulled out the phone and checked caller ID, like she taught herself to do after Lucas called one too many times. But this number wasn't put in her phone—it was unfamiliar to her. She looked at it, confused.

"Who is it?" Elijah asked curiously.

She shook her head, "I have no idea."

AJ answered it and held it to her ear. "Hello?"

"AJ, darling, so wonderful to hear your voice," his smooth voice poured through the phone, and she could hear the smirk she was certain he was wearing wherever he was.

Her eyes went wide and Elijah looked at her, alarmed. "Klaus," she stated calmly, proud of herself for the ability, "How did you get this number?"

Klaus laughed. "You act as if I don't live in this day and age, Warrior. I have my ways."

She stared at Elijah, seeing him become angry again. It didn't seem that the day would go all that well anymore. She could tell it was probably going to be one of those days when she just couldn't catch a break. Like yesterday. And the day before that. She was starting to notice a trend.

"What do you want?"

Klaus sighed dramatically. Vampires. "I would like to propose a meeting," he said, his accent sounding smooth and wonderful, enunciating just the right part of the words he spoke. She pushed that thought out of her head. Focusing wasn't something easy to do with him on her mind, but she had to do just that, or things could go badly.

"A meeting for what?" she asked cautiously.

"Oh don't act that way, Warrior. It's simply a meeting. I'm afraid we never finished our talk last night," he said casually.

Her eyebrows furrowed together. "Yes, and why was that? You sure left in a hurry."

"I suppose you'll have to come to the meeting if you're really that curious," he said a little wickedly.

She laughed now, genuinely. "Yeah, because I'm that stupid."

"Warrior," Klaus said very seriously, a complete reverse in his tone, "I am being civil to you. I suggest you give me the same courtesy. This time I've decided not to take you against your will. But you will come, and I will allow you to leave when we're through."

AJ was a little speechless for a moment. It didn't really sound like it wasn't against her will, even if he wouldn't be kidnapping her. She saw Elijah shaking his head with a scowl.

"I take your silence as agreeing. Go tonight to the cemetery near the school. Come alone—I will know if you aren't. I look forward to seeing you," he said, and she could once again hear the smirk in his voice. Then he hung up.

"Don't think for even a second that you're going, AJ," Elijah said as soon as heard the call end, fuming. He wanted it to be the night of the sacrifice. He wanted to rip his brother's heart out for taunting the girl that belonged to him. For playing these little games with her. He wasn't sure what Klaus had planned for the night, but he wouldn't allow her within a mile of him.

AJ walked back through the front door slowly, thinking. Elijah was on her heels, but she didn't notice. She desperately wanted to know why Klaus had left her the way he had. Part of her needed to know, needed to understand the look he gave her. She just couldn't put it together on her own. And both parts of her were equally curious. But her common sense said it would be downright stupid to actually comply and go to the cemetery to meet Klaus. She couldn't know what he had planned or what it was he specifically wanted to talk about—other than trying to convince her to join him, as usual. But what would happen if she didn't go?

The intuitive in her said that nothing good would happen. If anything, the complete opposite of 'good' could be used. She had to go. She knew it. It was just a matter of convincing Elijah, now.

"Elijah," she said carefully as she navigated her way back to the living room, "Can we just talk about—"

"There is nothing to talk about," he stated with a tone of definiteness as he used his vampire-speed to stand in front of her with his arms crossed, blocking her from walking any further. Weeks ago, AJ would have thought that maybe, just maybe, it would be inexorable to convince him. Now, she knew other ways.

"Elijah," she said lightly, reaching out to pull his arms uncrossed but he stepped away. It seemed he knew where she was headed. She sighed and pouted. "Not fair."

He raised an eyebrow, but a scowl was still on his face. "That's not fair of you. AJ, you will not be permitted to go. That's that."

AJ cast her eyes to the floor, but still shook her head with conviction. "Elijah, I have to. If I don't, there will be consequences. You know Klaus better than anyone—so you know that."

Elijah stared at her hard, his gaze boring into hers. But she could see the slight sway on his decisiveness. She knew she had to pounce on that bit of doubt while she had the chance.

"What if I don't show and he does decide to just take me again? Or what if he took one of my friends instead?" she voiced, throwing out all the doubting questions she could think of. "Elijah, please understand that I can't let anything happen to them. Not a thing—I wouldn't be able to live with myself. And you heard Klaus. He'll let me return on my own freewill—he isn't taking me again. Not if I show up tonight."

Elijah still didn't say anything; he stood as still as a statue, his eyes dark and intimidating. He shoulders—held high with the once complete belief that he wouldn't allow this—dropped ever so slightly. Hope flared in AJ's heart.

"I understand that you value your friends' lives more than your own, AJ, but it's not the same for me. I'd choose your life over theirs without a moment's hesitation." He looked at her apologetically, and she felt all hope diminish. "You aren't going, even if I have to stay by your side and keep him from you until the sacrifice."

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