Chapter 21: Fancy dinners and strange new faces

Elle wrapped her arms tight around her as she sat on the fabric couch, a slight shiver wracking her body. This was a strange new time, and it was terrifyingly unfamiliar. She gazed around the luxurious furnishings with watering eyes, not recognising some of the settings. It was a strange new world, and she didn't know if she would be brave enough to get through it whatsoever.

Soft footsteps alerted her to another presence. "Here," a strange looking glass filled with what appeared to be water was held in front of her face, and Elle took it with trembling hands as the elder brother moved around and took a seat opposite her. "Just water. Niklaus has gone to procure some modern looking, and more suitable, clothes for you. How is it that you are alive once more, Ellevira?"

She looked at him with glassed over eyes. "I do not remember," she whispered, hands shaking even as she held the glass in a tight grasp. "I remember a light in the eternal darkness I had been living in," she looked away, not wishing anyone to see the beads of moisture that was beginning to leave her eyes. "I went into it, and I honestly thought I had found peace from that hatred and coldness in that unbearable dark, but I then found myself fighting for something as simple as breath in what I now know to be one of those coffins."

He regarded her with interest, listening to her as she spoke. "I remember, faintly, someone being above me before everything went dark again. And then I woke up in some witchcraft created hell that your brother kept me prisoner in with a menace of a guard of his, and well, apparently, according to your bastard brother, I was discovered, kidnapped all over again by one of his enemies, and then, here we are. I was found along with you and your other siblings, apparently." She retorted, taking a drink from the glass she held in her shaking hands.

A small smirk appeared on his face before he sighed, leaning back in the chair. "Niklaus never did take well to the thought of someone taking you, Ellevira. I'm quite honestly surprised he hasn't murdered those who took you." He confessed just as loud footsteps approached, the hybrid in question storming through the double doors to the lounge. "Still plenty time for such." Klaus stated, a small bag in his hands. He held it out to Elle. "Clothes. My hybrid got some in what would appear to be your size. Take a shower or bath or whatever you women do, then get dressed. We'll be hosting a dinner tonight, and I for one would rather you look more presentable than in a nightgown." He ordered.

Elle looked at him with wide eyes. "I do not wish to attend such with you," she stated defiantly and he sighed unhappily. "Elle, I would rather not have to argue with you. You are going to attend this dinner and show the Salvatore's that nothing they do bothers you. If they think it does, they will no doubt attempt to steal you from me once more!" He snapped.

She scowled angrily. "I will not wear clothes that make me look like some tavern harlot, thank you. The clothes women wear today would make both my mothers turn in their graves. I don't want to attend anything, especially with those who held me captive in that awful darkness for goodness knows how long. I don't even want to breathe the same air as them." She hissed.

It was Elijah who gave a sigh and both arguing individuals turned to look at him. "Allow us this one time, Ellevira. You indulge us this once, and then we can talk about everything else." He reasoned and she swallowed before sighing herself. "Fine, I suppose I can, but just this once. I do not wish to do this though, and yet, even after I have been dead for centuries, I'm not allowed something as simple as peace. But first things first, what is a shower?"

MvM

This was heaven if there ever was such a thing. Blissfully hot water rained down on her face from the shower nozzle. When it had been shown to her, her curiosity had been peaked and she gave a echoing sigh, her eyes closed as she placed a hand on wall, steadying herself. It was glorious to have such hot water soothing her aching muscles. She had already used the liquid that was akin to soap to cleanse herself of the blood that had long caked and crusted itself to her skin. It had turned red once more, even after centuries long years, and it had vanished down a hole in the tiled floor.

Elle opened her eyes, droplets of water clinging to her thick dark lashes. What did she owe them for them to persuade her into this joke of a dinner? She didn't owe them anything! And yet, here she was, readying herself for some ridiculous dinner. She pressed the large silver button he had said would turn off the water, and to her amazement, it did. This era was a strange yet enchantingly wonderful one, other than the attire that was of course. She was going to look like a harlot.

She grabbed a furred blanket from the wall, wrapping it around herself before going to open the door, startling herself as she did and almost dropping the furred cloth as she saw him sitting on the large plush bed that was in there. Her eyes were wide as she realised her near bare state. "What are you doing?" She demanded and he smirked slyly. "Elijah has gone to deliver our dinner invitation. I came to see if you needed assistance in dressing yourself. This era of clothing can be quite tediously confusing."

And yet, for some reason, she didn't believe him. "I'm sure I will manage." She stated sarcastically, walking over to the bag that was on the bed beside him. She rummaged through it, frowning as she came across an unfamiliar piece that was attached to something else. She held it up with a raised brow and looked at him suspiciously. "What is this?" She demanded.

He smirked wider. "Those would be this centuries undergarments, sweetheart. And would you look at that, I even remembered your favourite colour was blue!"

Elle glowered at him angrily before she seized the lower garments. "I think I can guess what to do with these, but what the hell is the other garment for?" She pressed and he chuckled. "I'm sure you can guess, love. And considering I'm a gentleman and all, I'll even turn around so I don't see you put them on." He stated before turning around, and taking the chance that he wouldn't turn back around, she quickly slipped on the underwear that was easy to put on, but she grimaced as she came to the other piece.

She sighed, holding it to her chest before she swallowed her pride and the fact she knew she had played right into his hands. "I need your help." She said through gritted teeth, eyes like blue fire as she glared at the window in front of her. She could hear that infuriating smirk in his voice as he turned around, fingers clasping the straps together with ease. "But of course, Elle. I knew it would be so confusing."

She waited until she was certain he had done it and then turned around, trying not to grimace at the tightness of the garment. "What do you want from me?" She hissed and he chuckled once more. "I want us to talk without you making those judgemental yet beautiful blue eyes at me, sweetheart. We talked so well in that dream I created inside your pretty little head. I must admit though, my hybrid does have good taste. You look ravishing in those undergarments, sweetheart. Its a shame you now hate me or we could be having a lot of fun right now." He whispered, the hair on her arms standing up.

It was difficult not to know what he was referring to as her cheeks pinked. "Yes, it is, isn't it. Well, just think about this then; if you hadn't of murdered my mother, we certainly would be having a lot of fun, but you did, and now I'm off limits to you until I decide when, not you, and it won't be for a while, a long while if we're adding time into it. You stole my innocence and you still think I will crawl back to, and I won't, Niklaus." She stated firmly.

He hummed under his breath. "We'll see, sweetheart. I can be quite convincing, as you well know. I'll wait forever if I have to, and yet something tells me that I won't have to." He sighed deeply before standing. "I'll send one of my female hybrids to assist you in making yourself presentable. I'm sure you want to look like the lady you were born as," he stated before striding from the room and shutting the door, leaving her speechless with his arrogance.

MvM

A short and sharp knock alerted them to others, and Elijah opened it, giving a slight smirk as he saw the two brothers on the other side. "Niklaus, our guests have arrived." He called, allowing the two brothers into his home, shutting the door behind them. Klaus gave a wide grin as he noticed the other brother who had came along too. "Damon, Stefan." He greeted also. "Elijah tells me you seek an audience. Very bold." He mocked. "Lets discuss the terms of our agreement like civilised men, shall we?"

Damon noticed the extra chair at the table. "Whose the extra chair for then? Unless you suck at math, I count four of us, not a fifth." He stated and that brought a wide grin to the hybrids face. "Oh, of course, where are my manners? We're forgetting our guest of honour, aren't we Elijah, although I do believe you've met her before, no?"

A clicking of heels alerted them to another and Klaus got up, rounding a corner before coming back with Elle on his arm, she not looking to pleased to be there and her blue eyes narrowed irritably as she saw the two other vampires in the entrance. Klaus smirked as he gestured for her to take a seat, which she did. "I do believe you've met, haven't you? Elle, meet Damon and Stefan Salvatore."

Elijah sighed before walking past the two brothers. "Its better to indulge him." He muttered.

Stefan walked forward, a snarky smile on his face. "I didn't come here to eat, Klaus. In fact, I didn't want to come here at all, but, I was told I had to, cos you would hear us out." He stated with a pointed look at his older brother.

Klaus gave a short chuckle. "Well we can sit and eat, or I can reach down your throats and pull out your insides," he countered, taking a seat beside Elle who grimaced at his words. "The choice is yours, and well, let us remember that there is a lady in our presence." And that made her grimace deepen more.

MvM

Elle pushed her food around her plate, and apparently she wasn't the only one for the youngest Salvatore brother wasn't eating, instead reclining in his chair with a look that could only be described as the one a child had during a tantrum. Klaus noticed. "Lost your appetite?" He taunted before glancing towards the raven haired woman beside him. "You too sweetheart?"

A none too pleased sigh echoed from her ruby red lips. "I don't dine with those I hate, and well, I don't dine with those who kept me a prisoner inside my own mind for goodness knows how long." She grumbled and he sighed, giving her a pointed look. "You agreed to be civil, sweetheart, and you haven't eaten properly in well, lets just say centuries for you didn't eat for days if I remember correctly." He pointed out.

She sighed again before picking up her fork once more and stabbing it into a piece of beef before placing it into her mouth, swallowing it and then giving him a sarcastic smile. "Feel better now?" She drawled and he gave an amused smirk, turning back to what the two brothers were talking about. "Isn't this nice? The five of us dining together; such a treat. This what you had in mind when you pulled the dagger out of my brother?"

"Well, you know how I felt about you, so I figured the more, the merrier." Damon answered with a sarcastic wink to Elijah, causing both Originals to smirk.

"Well, Elijah and I have had our fair share of quarrels over the centuries but we always make it through." Klaus countered and Stefan seized the chance to dig a little more. "Kind of like you and Rebekah, right? Where is she, by the way? Last I checked, she was still daggered because you were afraid to face her."

Klaus smirked over his wine glass. "If you're referring to the fact that Rebekah knows I killed our mother, I've already come clean to Elijah." The brother in question glanced at the hybrid. Damon glanced at his. "Hey Stef, remember when you killed Dad?" He retorted. "Might want to dial down the judgement until desert."

Stefan gave a falsely pleasant smile of his own. "We're here to make a deal, Damon. Doesn't mean we have to kiss his ass for seven courses."

"I'm just saying we have a long evening ahead of us, so pace yourself."

MvM

This was dreadfully boring, and yet, Elle mused, she knew it was about to get a hell of a lot worse as the night went on.

Damon glanced at the solemn raven haired woman. "So, Elle, was it?" He inquired, knowing full well what her name was but just wanting to see if it would engage her in some sort of conversation since she had only spoken once that night. "I heard from a little birdie that you came back from the dead."

A sculptured dark brow raised. "Is that so?" She answered. "You know fine well who I am considering you kept me prisoner inside my mind. What do you really want?" She stated with a façade of a smile and he gave a sly grin of his own. "Just wondering what makes you so special that you were kept with an Original for centuries." He replied innocently.

Klaus gave a chuckle at that. "Well, that is a tale, isn't it Elijah?"

The brother in question chuckled himself, taking a sip of his blood infused wine. "It is indeed, but considering she was once your lover, Niklaus, perhaps you would be better suited to tell such a tale?" He countered and Elle grimaced. "Did you have to use the word lover?" She grumbled, placing her knife and fork on her now clean plate.

Klaus smirked. "What would you prefer, love? There are a few words to describe what we once were."

Elle turned her glower towards him. "How about a mistake, hm?" She retorted, the black haired vampire across the table hissing under his breath. "Ouch. So, what is this tale then? Elena gave a few juicy details from your sister, but no more than that." He drawled, settling his gaze on the woman across the table. "Come on, is it that private?"

She hummed, leaning back in her chair. "I didn't even want to be here, much less give you the woeful tale of my life. Its bad enough I was in bed with a monster, much less at a dinner table with him in an era in which women dress like prostitutes. I'm not some tavern harlot, and yet look at me now, eating at a table with people I cannot stand." She hissed, her rich English accent seeping into her words.

Damon grinned. "So you're English then? Should have guessed that." He waved his fork in her direction and she scowled. "Perhaps I am, perhaps I am not. It is no concern of yours." She countered with a pleasant smile, though scorn laid behind it.

Elijah decided to change the subject and glanced at Stefan. "Stefan, where is the lovely Elena tonight?" The vampire gave a sarcastic response. "I don't know- ask Damon." He replied, Klaus giving a loud laugh in response. Elijah looked at him pointedly and his brother grinned. "Oh, you've missed so much. Uh, trouble in paradise?"

Stefan scowled. "One more word about Elena and uh, this dinners over." He stated and Damon stepped in also. "Its probably best to keep Elena in the "do not discuss" pile." He added. Klaus smirked. "You're probably right, its just the uh, allure of the Petrova doppelgänger. Its still so strong. What do you say, brother? Shall we tell them about Tatia?"

Elijah gave a short chuckle. "Now, why should we discuss matters long since resolved?" He answered back and Klaus chuckled. "Giving their shared affections for both Katerina and Elena, I think our guests might be curious to learn about the originator of the Petrova line." He countered and Damon backed him up. "Well, we're not going anywhere Elijah, please, do tell."

The Original in question settled back in his chair. "When our family first settled here, there was a girl names Tatia. She was an exquisite beauty. Every boy of age desired to be with her, to be her suitor even though she had a child by another man and none loved her more than Niklaus." He stated, the hybrid in question speaking up. "Oh, I would say there was one who loved her at least as much." He countered.

"Wait a minute, so, you both loved the same, girl?" Stefan jested. Elijah smirked. "Our mother was a very powerful witch. She sought to end our feud over Tatia, so she took her, and Klaus and I would later learn that it was Tatia's blood that we consumed in the wine on the night where our mother performed a spell which turned us into vampires." Klaus gave a smirk at that as Elijah continued to speak. "Tatia wouldn't make a decision between the two of us, so for a time, Niklaus and I grew estranged. Harsh words were traded, and it even came to blows, didn't we, brother?" He asked.

The hybrid leaned forward a little. "And in the end we recognised the sacred bond of family." He finished as Elijah raised his glass. "Family above all."

MvM

"So, why don't we move this evening along and discuss the terms of this proposal?" Elijah commented taking a drink of his blood infused red wine.

Damon answered. "Its very simple. Klaus gets his coffin back, and in exchange, he, and the Original extended family, leave Mystic Falls forever. Me, Stefan and Elena live happily ever after, and no grudges." He explained.

Elijah glanced at Klaus. "Deal sounds fair brother."

Klaus clenched his jaw. "I don't think you understand. Elena's doppelgänger blood ensures that I will always have more hybrids to fight those that oppose me." He looked at Damon. "I will never leave her behind." He got up suddenly with his wine glass. "Say I do leave her behind under your protection... What then? How long before one of you turns her into a vampire? Or worse, how long before she dies, caught between your feuding? Each one of you truly believes you can protect her, and that is simply a delusion. Gentlemen, the worst thing for Elena Gilbert is the two of you."

MvM

Elle grimaced at the feeding going on beside her, ignoring it. She looked up though as Stefan rose form the table. "Well, I guess the only reason you agreed to this evening was to drive a wedge between me and my brother," he accused, facing him as Klaus dropped the woman behind her, the dull thud making her cringe.

The hybrid shook his head. "Oh no, you're doing that well enough on your own because of Elena, you'll lose your brother and you'll have only yourself to blame." He finished just as the elder brother, both of them in fact, walked into the room. "What do you say, Klaus? Time for you to put something on the table." He ordered. "We've made our offer, now you counter."

"Okay," Klaus began. "I offer Elena's future happiness. You see, what she needs right now is to be rid of you lot and to fall in love with a human... maybe that nice football player, you know that blonde one?" He said, looking up at Elijah. Damon frowned. "Donovan?" He asked in disbelief. "Really?"

Klaus nodded simply, seriously. "Yeah, why not? They'll marry, live a long and fruitful life and pop out a perfect family." He stated and Stefan smirked sarcastically. "And continue the Petrova bloodline, and every few hundred years you'll have a new doppelgänger to drain and never have to worry about hybrids, right?"

"Consider it a small return on my investment in her wellbeing. See, after you hand me back the coffin, I'll ensure her safety for the rest of her natural life. You know its what's best for her." He replied knowingly, getting to his feet with a smirk. "So, what do you say, Stefan? Do we have a deal?"

The younger brother walked to where Klaus was, a sarcastic pleasant smile on his face. He placed his hand in his, before smiling smugly. "Sorry Klaus, but uh, no deal." He replied.

The response he got was instantaneous. Klaus broke the arm attached to the hand he still grasped, and then one of his legs also before placing Stefan's hand in the lit fireplace. Elle watched with horrified, wide eyes as the vampire screamed as the flames burned his flesh. Damon attempted to rush forward but Elijah moved faster, holding him up against the wall. "Now, bring me the coffin before I burn him alive." He ordered.

Clenching his jaw, Damon left, Elijah going along with him par Klaus's orders, leaving Elle fixed to her chair with horrified yet curious eyes on what was next.

MvM

"Go ahead and kill me," Stefan snapped. "I know you'll do it when he brings the coffin."

Klaus pulled up and from the fire in an instant. "You really have given up haven't you?" He taunted, eyes wide with malicious excitement. "Where's the fight, huh? Where's the ripper?" He taunted once more, Stefan shoving him back just as Klaus noticed Elijah walking back into the room, one of the serving ladies at his side holding a tray. "Elijah, why haven't you left yet?"

The elder brother grinned. "Where are your manners, brother? You forgot desert." He replied, lifting the cloth off of the tray to reveal two of the silver oak ass daggers. Klaus recoiled in horror, Elle standing as she realised what they meant and moving to the wall that was the furthest from them. Danger was coming, she could sense it, and she didn't like the feel of it in the slightest.

And sure enough, in walked Kol, a man she knew well from the time in which she hadn't awakened in this time. He walked forward with a devilish smile that she recognised as being no doubt a trait of all the siblings she had thus met so far. She watched as Klaus backed away a little. "Kol..." He trailed off and the younger brothers smirk widened. "Long time brother."

She watched as like the cowardly bastard he was, Klaus attempted to flee only to be stopped by a man whom she had never laid eyes on before, but by his clothing, she knew in an instant that he predated her death by at least a few centuries. She had been dead for five, so how long had he been daggered for as such? Seven centuries, eight perhaps, even more? It hurt her mind to think of such.

After the man plunged a dagger through his hand, he attempted to flee the other way, only to be stopped too by a familiar blonde who she knew well and didn't necessarily get along with, or see eye to eye with either for that matter. She stabbed him with what appeared to be a third dagger, and she heard her say something about how it was for their mother. Huh. So their mother was that important that having slaughtered two of hers didn't or wasn't as important? So that was how it was...

Kol grabbed him and Elijah looked at the two outsider brothers. "You're free to go. This is family business."

Upon hearing that, Elle moved towards the door also but a voice stopped her. "I don't think so, Ellevira. You stay here, for considering you were with us for centuries, I guess that just qualifies you as family." And here she thought things couldn't have gotten worse, and with a soft sigh, she turned around.

MvM

Rebekah walked across the room, her heels clicking on the linoleum floor. "I like what you've done with the place Nik." She commented before throwing a glass vase at a painting across the room, it shattering and glass raining down upon the floor. Elle grimaced from her position beside Elijah, he having told her to come there lest her want her last sight to be the one she was having now, and rather than test his patience, she had done so.

"I wanted to be for all of us." Klaus attempted in a soft voice. "A place we could call home, a place we could all be a family." He tried. "None of us would ever have to be alone again."

Elijah glanced around his other siblings. "And we won't." He stated, Rebekah taking over. "We're leaving you, Nik, right after I kill that Doppelgänger wench, and then you will be alone, always and forever."

Rage sparked deep within him and he shot to his feet. "If you run, I will hunt all of you down." He hissed and Elijah took a step forward. "Then you'll become everything you hate; our father."

"I'M THE HYBRID!" Klaus roared, motioning to himself. "I CAN'T BE KILLED! I have nothing to fear from any of you." He gave a short laugh and Elijah countered that he would when they had that coffin.

The door opened behind them, startling them, and Klaus gave a soft gasp as he saw his mother, a woman whose heart he had tore out over a thousand years ago. Esther walked forward, coming to a stop in front of him and commanding him to look at her, giving him a look that made him shake before her as he thought he knew why she was here. "You're here to kill me." He whispered when she asked him why she was here.

She shook her head. "Niklaus, you are my son." She replied, as though she was appalled with his answer. "And I am here to forgive you." She finished.

Esther looked at her other children also, and Elle who was standing behind Elijah with him having pulled her over there. "I want us to be a family again."