Head-Spinning
It was quiet for a change. The past week had been nothing but peaceful and while it was a nice change of pace for everyone, Alex was beginning to become suspicious of what Klaus was up to. He hadn't made an appearance since Mikael killed Alaric and kicked him out of his body. Mikael had checked the apartment, and Klaus had disappeared. Elijah said that he wasn't able to find him either which meant he was intentionally holding off.
The next full moon was in a week. Klaus knew where Elena was, and there was almost nothing stopping him from swopping in and grabbing her. The moonstone was in the safe hands of Renee, James had sent it off for storage and safekeeping. Without the moonstone, he wouldn't be breaking the curse anytime soon.
The anticipation had Alex on edge. She was spending as much time as she could studying the desiccation spell making sure she was completely prepared. The human heart needed to complete the spell had been offered up by James, he had boasted about how he had complete faith in Alex not to kill him forever. It was planned that she would stop James' heart and then once Klaus was down, revive him. It was tricky but not impossible.
On the other side of things, Alex had come to terms with her feelings. She had spoken to Elena a handful of times about how everything had changed for her. Being around Elijah and hearing how he referred to vampires, but also how Elena encouraged her to see that vampires were still the same as they were when they were human, everything was simply heightened. Alex was terrified to actually say the words to Elijah himself but she could say the words to Elena without stuttering over them, and in her eyes that was progress.
Alex had spent a lot of time looking through Nadia's grimoire too. The book was old and worn and it appeared as if Nadia had also used the book as a diary. Alex found entries that talked about Elijah, the council, her family and even how she met Alex's grandfather. She hadn't had time to read them all or properly understand everything in the grimoire but being able to see the world through Nadia's eyes were opening hers too.
The way Nadia had seen the world was very different from the way Renee and the Council had taught her. Nadia spoke about acceptance and equality, whereas the Council had always declared that vampires were nothing but monsters.
Alex had never doubted that the work she had been doing was the wrong thing. The vampires she had killed were vicious and many had tried to kill her. A nagging sense of doubt had developed in the back of her mind, making her wonder if maybe the only reason that they had been so monstrous was that they were defending themselves. Was it possible that Alex was the monster in the story instead?
A bubble of laughter brought Alex from her brooding thoughts. Elena was downstairs with Caroline and Bonnie, they were getting prepared for the Founder's Day celebrations. The town had gone all out once again and Caroline being in every community that she could find, had dragged the girls in to help with setting up, costumes, food, the whole nine years. Caroline had attempted to volunteer Alex too but she had put her foot down. She didn't do dress up.
Alex listened for a moment and was surprised when she heard Elena say, "She is up in her room. At the end of the hall."
Alex wasn't expecting anyone. She climbed off her bed and opened the door to see Elijah climbing up the stairs. As usual, he was dressed in a very well fitted suit that only made him look that much more refined.
Since admitting to herself the attraction she held for Elijah, it seemed harder to keep her body from reacting to the sight of him. Trying to stay focused, Alex cleared her throat, smiled and said, "Elijah, what a nice surprise."
Elijah returned her smile with his handsome grin. "Would it be forward of me to say that the fact that my presences is something you now enjoy, pleases me greatly."
Alex felt her cheeks warms. Was he flirting with her? She bit her lip and shrugged her shoulders. Leaning against the door frame, she asked, "Any luck with finding Klaus?"
He shook his head. "No. He seems to have disappeared at the moment."
Alex huffed and turned back into her room. "I wish he would just reappear. Not knowing where he has me on edge." She crossed the room and dropped back onto her bed.
Elijah followed her in but stopped halfway. "It has us all on edge." His eyes seemed to assess the room.
Alex couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed about the teenage posters on the walls, and her mess of clothes and books thrown about the place. It also didn't help that her insides were gushing about the fact that he was standing in her room. She felt like a hormonal teenager again. "So if you aren't here about Klaus, why are you?" she asked, trying to stay on track.
Elijah smiled and looked down at his feet. He seemed almost shy. He said, "I spent the whole drive over here trying to think of a reason."
"You drive?" asked Alex.
He nodded. "Yes, frequently."
"You're a vampire. Why not run?"
"Running, while generally faster, can wrinkle my suit." Elijah snickered at himself, then said, "And I enjoy the act of driving. It's relaxing."
"Interesting." Alex smiled. Seeming him relaxed, enjoy to joke about his own sense of style was a nice change. "You came all this way to see me just because you could?" Alex wanted him to say yes.
"I seem to find myself enjoying your company. It reminds me of the fond moments I shared with Nadia," he said.
Alex's heart dropped. Her head went straight to the possible negative implications of her reminding him of her grandmother. He had told her on more than once occasion that they were only friends, but didn't mean that no feelings ever developed. It was possible that he had been entirely in love with Nadia but had never acted. Maybe all he saw when he looked at her was Nadia.
The thoughts were flying around and Alex was tempted to smack herself in the head so that she could try and calm down. It seemed to be a common occurrence lately, but she realised that hitting herself randomly would be a little strange. So instead she asked a question that she had been curious about. "Am I that much alike her?"
Elijah grinned and nodded. "In many ways, yes. You have the same short blonde hair, piercing eyes, and fierce temper. But unlike Nadia, you have a warmth that I can not help but wish to be wrapped in."
Alex froze. Her whole body flushed and tingled with a sudden need to wrap herself around him. He wanted to be around her, just like she did him.
Elijah's eyes went wide, and he seemed to blush.
Alex bit her lip and felt oddly proud that she was seeing an original vampire blush.
He said, "I am sorry, I don't know where that came from."
Alex smirked. "Don't be."
"I shouldn't even be saying this, you are already taken." Elijah turned and went to walk out of her room.
"I broke up with James," she said quickly.
Elijah stopped and turned around. "You did?"
Alex nodded. "It wasn't planned. I thought for a long time that I was in love with him." Alex stood from the bed and slowly walked over to him. "But once I came here I met a man. He is insightful, sweet, dedicated and very handsome." Alex bit her lip and stopped once she was standing directly in front of him.
Elijah cleared his throat. "He sounds like a nice person."
Alex nodded. "He is." Alex had no idea what she was about to do but she had to say it. Her body craved to reach out and take his hand, but she also wanted to yank his head down and kiss him. "Somehow, you managed to slip in and overwhelm everything else." The words came out as a whisper, but she knew that he heard.
Elijah's hand came up and gently caressed the side of her face. "In the thousand years that I have walked this earth, no one has ever captivated me, heart and soul, like you have." His fingers slid into her hair and gripped it softly. "My dreams are filled with your smile and every moment I'm awake, I want to be right here, next to you."
Alex let out a shaking breath. His words were so intense but they sent chills throughout her body. She reached up and cupped the back of his head and brought his lips to hers. Their lips barely touched in a sweet and chaste kiss. When neither of them pulled back, Alex pressed her lips harder against his and allowed herself to just feel.
Elijah let out a soft moan and slid his free arm around her waist. He pulled her flush against his body and let his fingers tug at her hair.
They only parted when Alex could no longer breathe. Her chest heaved and she smiled as he rested his forehead against hers. Both of them stood silently for a moment and let their heart rates slow.
Elijah gently placed a kiss to her forehead, he said, "You are absolutely captivating."
Alex grinned. Her heart fluttered at his words and all she wanted to do was bring me back in for another kiss. The first had left her utterly breathless and weak not in the knees but all over. "I never thought I would say this, but you have changed how I see everything. And I so desperately want this." She flexed her fingers against the grip she held around his neck.
"The vampire huntress and the original vampire, what a pair we would make?" Elijah's voice was teasing but sweet. His eyes flashed with the same desire she was sure filled hers.
"Hey Alex, do you know where my black and gold flats are?" Elena appeared behind them and Alex lept from Elijah's grasps surprised. Elena looked at them both, momentarily confused about their awkward stances but then smiled and winked at Alex. "Oh, sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt."
"You weren't interrupting," snapped Alex. She didn't even know why she was embarrassed, she had only kissed an original vampire. No big deal.
"Anyway, shoes?" Elena asked.
"You gave them to Caroline yesterday when she came to collect the centrepieces," said Alex. She waved her hands to shoo her from the room.
"Okay, thanks," Elena smirked and strode out of the room.
Alex closed the door after she had left and turned back around to face Elijah. He was moved further into her room and was now standing against the end of her bed. His face was unreadable to her. "I'm sorry about that."
Elijah shrugged. "It's okay."
"And I'm sorry I jumped away from you, I'm not really sure why I did that." Alex stood awkwardly and tried to calm down. This was all happening so quickly, it was only the other day that she hated vampires and had sworn to kill them all. Now she was sexually attracted to one, had made out with one, and was seriously considering a relationship with one.
"If you aren't ready for this, I understand," said Elijah.
Alex couldn't help but smile. "See, that right there is one of the reasons why I can't seem to escape you. You are so selfless and considerate of others. You barely knew me but when I was having a breakdown over killing someone, you made sure that I was able to make my way through it. Everything you do just calls to me. Every second I'm around you. I want to be close enough to feel you, smell you." Alex moved across the room to stand against his chest. She grabbed the edge of his jacket and leant her head against his forehead. "I want this, I do." She took a deep breath and looked up at him. "The thing is I have spent the last five years being trained and taught that you are the enemy. That nature wants you gone. That I should never, not ever, trust you. Yet here I am going against all of it and I fell like I'm stumbling and that I'm going to fall."
Elijah's hands came up to rest on her cheeks. His thumb gently stroked her face and he smiled. "I will catch you. No matter how far or hard, I won't let you hit the ground."
If she hadn't been overwhelmed by it all, she would have laughed at the cheesy line. Instead, she just smiled and stretched up to kiss Elijah again. This kiss was just as head-spinning as the last. Their lips moulded together and small gasps and moans of appreciation slipped from both of them.
Elijah pulled back this time. He said, "We can take this as slow as you like."
Alex nodded. "Thank you. Would it be okay if we just kept it between us? For now."
Elijah nodded. "Of course."
Alex pecked him on the lips again before sliding her hands down his chest and stepped back. She walked around her bed and grabbed her grandmother's grimoire. She smiled at it fondly and asked, "Can you tell me about Nadia?"
