Hello again! I hope you guys liked the last chapter! This one is another long one, (it's a three-in-one) but Elijah is going to offer up just a little bit more info on Val's family. Let's just say, the Mikaelson's and the Rodriguez's have a very long history, and it is NOT pleasant by any means necessary. There's also still some grudges being held, (as you'll see in how Elijah and Val interact).
I hope you guys like it, don't forget to vote in the comments!
The soft sound of her car's engine and the smell of her coffee were the main things keeping Val sane, if she was being one-hundred percent honest.
Her training session had been particularly harsh this morning; last night's nightmare had really shaken her. As she went to turn the wheel, her eyes flashes to her right hand, her first set of knuckles wrapped in a protective dressing. Underneath, red, angry, and broken skin was still healing from how hard she'd punched the bag this morning, hitting it so hard it split her skin even through her wraps. I really need to buy gloves, she chided herself mentally as she parked the car in the driveway.
Getting out of her car, she double-checked that it was locked before stepping up to the door, her heeled boots clicking softly against the pavement. The sun felt warm today, leaving her in an off-shoulder red shirt and some jeans. She couldn't have been happier, it felt so good to see the leaves beginning to come back.
The huntress raised her hand, but before she could knock, the door swung open. Damon stood there, his intense blue eyes staring at her.
"Well, look who decided to show up. Morning, peanut." He greeted sardonically, and she returned it with a tight, sarcastic smile.
"So, what couldn't wait?" She asked, entering the home. As Damon shut the door behind him, he grimaced.
"Are you armed?"
"Um, yeah, always."
"Well," he paused, looking down the hallway and back to her. "Just don't start shooting until Stefan and I give you the all clear, ok?" Without waiting for her response, he began walking towards the parlor, and Val stared after him, her mouth half-open from when she'd started to speak.
"Wait, what?" Now concerned, she followed the eldest Salvatore, her fingers twitching. Who was in here? Katherine? John? She wasn't sure who she least preferred at this point.
But as the huntress entered, her eyes fell on a familiar figure. The woman who had been involved in Elena's kidnapping and what had nearly been hers and the Salvatore's murders was standing there, staring at her in surprise.
"Wow, a Rodriguez." She commented, "I guess you've really got it all in this town."
Val only turned to Damon, eyebrows pinching together. "Explain."
"So, what do we know about this Slater guy?" Val asked from her spot in the backseat, fiddling with her crucifix. The rubies were deceptively cold, but she could still remember the searing, burning, intense heat that had come from them last night.
What had that been about?
"He's the somebody I got in contact with to get in contact with Elijah." Rose explained as she drove, "He's low on the totem pole, but he's on it, which I guess is a start."
"And aside from being super old and super strong, what do we know about Klaus?"
"Not much, I always thought the guy was a myth." Damon piped up from the passenger seat as they drove through Richmond, "But from what I've heard, fact or fiction, he sounds like a major problem."
They eventually drove into a parking garage, Rose now safely shaded from the sun's rays. As Val exited the car, Damon looked around, slightly impressed.
"Back entrance; how convenient."
"That's the point," Rose quipped sarcastically, "we can't all have little daylight rings."
Damon wiggled his ring hand mockingly as Val joined them. It was a little annoying how much taller they both were; even in the tallest heels she owned, Val didn't break five-foot-four. Reflexively, she dropped her necklace into her shirt; it was clearly a well-known piece of jewelry, and she wasn't sure she wanted to be recognized by anyone just yet.
"How do you know this Slater guy's even here?" Damon asked Rose doubtfully, and the vampire rolled her eyes.
"I called him. He's here, he's always here." She reassured them, and Damon cast Val a glance before responding.
"Good."
One second they were by her, and the next Damon had Rose pinned to a pillar, a hand wrapped around her throat.
"Just one thing; if you are setting me up in anyway, or try to get pipsqueak here killed, I will rip your heart out, and shove it down your throat." He threatened in a deceptively light tone, "It's something I'm very good at."
Rose's jaw set angrily and Val was suddenly on the ground, her back meeting the asphalt as the air rushed from her body. Groaning, she sat up, rubbing her shoulder as she saw Rose now had Damon pinned to the car, his arm twisted behind him painfully with his chest pressed against the metal.
"I'm older than you, and stronger." She threatened darkly, eyes blazing, "Don't get on my bad side."
She finally released him right as Val had drawn her gun, and Damon turned, holding a hand up to his partner as Rose spoke again, her voice softer this time.
"You can trust me."
Eventually, they entered through a glass door to see a café in front of them, bright sunlight coming through an all-glass wall. As Rose entered the rays, Val surged forward reflexively, grabbing her arm as Damon spoke.
"Woah, wait, what about the…" he trailed off seeing Rose's skin already lit up by the sun. The female vampire looked over at Val, amused, as the huntress let go of her arm. Rose shook her head as she took off her jacket.
"Double-paned and tempered; UV rays can't penetrate." She explained, and Val looked over at the glass, actually pretty impressed. "You see the appeal now?"
"That, and the free wifi." Another voice joked, and they all looked over to see a young man, probably around Damon's age, with brown hair and brown eyes. Rose smiled at him, looking relieved, and they both went in to hug each other, exchanging soft greetings.
"How are you?" Rose asked casually as they pulled away, and the man, Slater, smiled, nodding.
"Good. I saw you come, what are you doing here?"
Rose hummed, mouth setting in a small frown. "It's a long story. But I want you to meet-"
"Damon Salvatore." Slater interrupted, and both Damon and Val stared at him with wide eyes as he spoke. "Turned 1864, Mystic Falls, by Katherine Pierce, aka Katerina Petrova." His gaze turned to Val, narrowing slightly in confusion. "You, I don't know, but you look really familiar, have we met?"
Val's mind instantly flew to the possible hundreds of her distant relatives that he could have known and she pressed her lips together, shaking her head. "Nope, sorry."
He shrugged, then turned back to Rose, his face practically glowing in excitement. "So, was I right? What I told you about the tomb under the church is true?"
"Yes, you were right." Rose confirmed somewhat awkwardly, "Thank you for the tip."
Damon looked down at Val and they both cocked an eyebrow. Who is this guy?
Slater then turned to Damon and stuck a hand out, "It's nice to meet you, both of you!" Damon stared at Rose with a flinty look on his face as he shook hands, and Val gave him a firm, short shake before dropping it; not particularly wanting him to smell the human on her. His face started to drop as nerves took over. "Maybe." He turned back to Rose, now looking suspicious. "What's going on, Rose? Where's Trevor?"
At the mention of the vampire that Elijah had apparently beheaded, the huntress looked away, running a hand through her hair. Damon also pursed his lips and looked around as Rose's face dropped, sorrow beginning to leak back into her features. It was then that Val realized what that must be like; you're with someone for five-hundred-plus years, and suddenly, they're just gone. She'd only known her youngest sibling a maximum of three years, and if something ever happened to Alex, she might throw herself out a window, literally.
The situation appeared to call for some coffee, so they all put in some orders. Val was still tired after last night's debacle and ordered some espresso. As they sat waiting, Slater seemed to be in disbelief that Elijah was gone.
"And you're sure Elijah's dead?" He asked Damon for about the fifth time. The blue-eyed vampire mocked a thoughtful look, then confirmed.
"Beyond dead."
Unconsciously, Val's hand flew up to her crucifix and fiddled with it; she could've sworn she'd felt it heat up for the smallest millisecond, but when she touched it, it was cold.
"Trevor was a good man," Slater told them as they retrieved their orders and sat at a table, "he helped me with my dissertation on sexual deviance in the Baroque period."
Val had absolutely no idea what that meant, as history had never been a favorite subject of hers, (something that she now wished she could go back and change) but kept quiet as Rose spoke up.
"Slater's been in college since '74." She informed them, and Val's lips parted in shock.
That's a lot of homework.
"Yep, when I was turned. I got eighteen degrees, three masters, and four PhD's." He said proudly, and Val felt a little embarrassed that all she had was some AP high school credit and an EMT-B license.
"The point?" Damon asked, sounding bored, and Val's foot shot out, hitting his ankle harshly. He flinched, scowling at her, but she glared right back as Slater responded.
"Exactly, what is the point? What should I be doing with my eternity?" He asked, smile tightening into something that looked forced and unpleasant. "If you have an answer, please, enlighten me."
"I'm sorry," Val spoke up, placing a hand on Damon's wrist briefly, "He didn't mean to offend you; we actually need your help." She accentuated the word as she turned back to shoot Damon a dirty look that said, shut up if you can't be nice.
"She's right," Rose jumped in, "if someone needed to get in touch with Klaus, how would they do it?"
Slater stared at them like they were stupid. "Craigslist."
"Really?" Damon sounded doubtful, raising an eyebrow in a deadpan look as Val brought her espresso to her lips, suppressing a moan of relief as it passed down her throat. Slater nodded.
"Seriously. I respond to a personal add that gets sent to somebody who knows somebody who knows Elijah, who's dead." He shrugged, "And that's where my connection ends."
This Originals thing is complicated, Val thought, annoyed. She sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose as Damon narrowed his eyes, his mind clearly going a million miles an hour.
At that point, she left to use the bathroom. As she washed her hands, her eyes raised and looked in the mirror, wincing at the dark circles under her amber-colored eyes.
I'm going to bed at seven-thirty, she thought dryly as she left the bathroom. Her foot hit the tiled floor, and it happened.
That familiar breeze swept over her skin, that little compass in her mind whirring, then pointing right outside the window. Danger, danger, danger, it whispered softly, and her eyes lifted.
They had only landed on the figure outside the window, too far away to see properly, when she saw him lift his hand, and her eyes widened, "Guys-!"
CRASH!
Instinctively, Val's hands flew over her head and she dove backwards, hitting the floor. Painful, excruciating screams filled the air, and the smell of burning flesh slammed into her nose.
Shit, Rose! The huntress was back on her feet in an instant, bolting towards the two vampires she'd came with. Slater was long gone, but Val snatched up Rose's jacket and swamped it over her skin as she lay screaming on the ground.
"Let's go!" Damon yelled, the two of them supporting the whimpering vampire as everyone started bolting out the backdoor. It was pandemonium, injured vampires shoving and shouting as they desperately attempted to escaped, and as they entered the parking garage, Rose stumbled. Damon swept her up into his arms, nodding at the car. "Pipsqueak, go, get it started!" He shouted, and she snatched the keys from Rose's jacket, taking off like a shot for the car. She jumped in, turning the engine over as Damon put Rose safely in the backseat, taking her jacket off her head.
"Who was behind that?" He demanded, and Val turned around in her seat to see Rose's skin slowly beginning to grow back.
"I don't know," she choked out, her whimpering beginning to die down. Val looked around, searching for a familiar brunette head and blue sweater.
"Where's Slater?" She questioned suspiciously, but Rose shook her head violently.
"No, it wasn't him, he's a good guy, he would have never betrayed me." She denied vehemently, and Val and Damon's eyes met briefly before he turned back to the other vampire.
"Then who was it?" He asked, but Rose looked up at him, her eyes filling with tears.
"It's Klaus!" She cried, "Don't you understand?!" She began to sob, looking more and more terrified by the second, "I'm dead, we're all dead!"
Finally, the duo realized there was nothing else they could get out of her. Val turned around and started backing out of the parking spot as Damon jumped in the passenger seat, and one glance at him told her the exact same thought was running through his head.
Who the hell were they dealing with?
NEXT EPISODE: THE SACRIFICE
The loud bass thumped in Val's ears in perfect sync to her sneakers slapping the asphalt. The cool morning air whooshed in and out of her lungs as she ran, passing the large oak tree to let her know she only had half a mile till home.
It had been days since she'd heard anything about the custody hearing, and she was getting antsy. She'd already contacted Liza, Gil, and the social worker, but none of them had any new information. It was frustrating, to say the least, and every day that her siblings weren't with her, she grew even more anxious. Of course, she'd actually tried to reach out to Esperanza, but her mother wasn't stupid. She ignored any and all attempts and had even gone so far as to ask the social worker to refrain from giving out any contact information to her eldest child. The actions of the abusive, selfish woman only furthered Val's anger, and she felt her speed pick up a little at the thought of it.
What the hell was she telling Alex and Hector?
Finally, she reached her door, and screeched to a halt, bending over to put her hands on her knees as she panted, chest heaving. She glanced down at her watch and noticed a small victory; her time had improved by almost a whole forty seconds.
Danger, danger, danger…
Val's spine straightened like a ruler and she whirled, searching for the intruder that had been watching her. She'd felt eyes on her, she knew she had. But the streets around her were empty, the pale rays of the early sun beginning to brighten everything around her. She was the only one on the street, but she could hear the sound of cars starting, dogs barking, voices shouting as everyone woke up around her. She looked over the street one final time, but then sighed, heading back into her apartment for stretching.
I've officially lost my mind.
Of course, it wasn't enough to fully distract her, and she continued her routine that day in a frustrated loop as she got to the school and started on the mountain of paperwork waiting for her there. It took forever, but the try-out packets were finally all digitally scanned. She stood from her desk, looking over Joe who was still holding a pen in one hand and one girls report card in the other.
"You good, Joe?" She asked, and he looked up, brown eyes magnified almost to a comical level by his new glasses.
"Yeah, you go ahead, Val." He shooed her away with his pen, "Go enjoy some free time at home; you look like you need a nap."
She smiled and bid him a good-bye as she walked out, but the day wasn't out yet. Her phone went off as she got to her car, and she glanced at it before answering. "Damon?"
"So, I might be able to lower the tomb spell long enough for you to grab the moonstone and get out of there." Bonnie announced. They were all in a circle in the boarding house, Val was leaning back against the table with all the alcohol as she listened in on the plan.
"How? It took both you and your grams last time, and look what happened to her." Jeremy reminded her gently, but Bonnie only shook her head.
"I'm aware of what happened," she told him, "but I've learned a few new things."
The huntress watched the group around her, mind flowing. Was this a good idea? Really? Even weak, wasn't Katherine over four hundred years older than Stefan and Damon?
"Bonnie," Jeremy started, but Bonnie turned away from him.
"How will you get it?" She asked Stefan, cutting off the teen.
"She hasn't been feeding, so that means she's weaker." Stefan explained, nodding to Damon, "We're not."
The witch looked over at Val, both sets of brown eyes narrowing in doubt. "You wouldn't be underestimating her, would you?"
"It's a plan," Damon scoffed, "is it perfect? No. But then again, what plan is?"
"I could get it!" Jeremy spoke up, fiddling with his ring. "I got my ring, I can get in, get out, no spells necessary."
"Gee, thanks!" Damon mocked, swirling his glass of bourbon, "you sixteen-year-old child? Why didn't we think of that?" He looked over at Val, then back to Jeremy. "Why are you even here? We've already got one hunter, don't need two."
"Shut up, Damon, he's trying to help." Val snapped, getting a little sick of his attitude. What was up with him today?
"Maybe I can help better the plan." Bonnie offered, pulling the attention off Jeremy. "Do you have anything that belongs to Katherine?"
Stefan left the room and came back with a photo, the photo of Katherine that Val had first seen all those months ago. Bonne took it, nodding in thanks before placing it in a bowl. Sprinkling some water on it, she took a deep breath before the bowl lit on fire.
Val jumped a little, (Still not used to that) as they watched. The dark-haired witch stood over the flames, chanting softly in Latin. Damon spoke up from his spot by Val.
"What'll this do?" He sounded doubtful, as he always did.
"I can turn the metal to ash." Bonnie responded softly, eyes still closed, face tight in concentration. "I'll blow the ashes on her, it'll incapacitate her for a minute or two. Long enough for you to get the stone and get out."
Val was already driving over to the tomb Damon called her again, his voice a cross between frantic and royally pissed.
"Please tell me you're almost here."
"Yeah, why, what happened?"
"I need your help. Stefan and Bonnie can handle Katherine, but I need help with something, and Rick is busy, so I need someone else I can trust to help me get the job done."
Val hesitated before answering.
"What?"
It was a swanky apartment, but Slater's dead body with a stake in it kind of ruined the whole aesthetic. To avoid her footsteps alerting anyone, Damon quietly carried her, whooshing them to a backroom where the huntress could hear familiar voice speaking. Finally, the stopped, standing shoulder to shoulder, Elena's back to them. A girl with dark hair looked at them and her eyes widened; upon seeing this, the doppelganger turned and gasped.
"What are you doing here?" She cried, looking guilty. Val crossed her arms and shook some hair out of her face as Damon responded, voice furious.
"What are you doing here?"
Rose entered the room, looking just slightly regretful. Elena rounded on her, "You called them?"
"Actually, I called him, looks like she also cares about your wellbeing." Rose stared at her, "I'm sorry, Elena."
"You said you understood!" The teen protested, but Damon cut her off.
"She lied."
Val stepped forward, eyes blazing. "Are you insane? 'Lena, do you have any idea what you've just done?"
The brunette opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by an annoyingly high, excited voice.
"Damon Salvatore?!" The dark-haired girl cried, and Val scoffed, looking at Rose.
"Please get rid of her." She begged, and the vampire nodded, grabbing the girls arm and dragging her away as she stared at Damon, face starstruck.
"We're leaving." Damon told Elena darkly as Val paced behind them, running a hand through her short black waves as the girl protested.
"No, I'm staying-"
"You do not get to make decisions anymore!" Damon practically snarled, stepping even closer, and for all his talk of having his 'switch' off, Val could see the anger and the fear in his eyes. He wasn't mad that she was being stupid, he was mad that she'd tried to willingly get herself killed, and therefore leave him and Stefan.
"When have I ever made a decision, Damon?" Elena shot back, her shoulders tensing. "You and Stefan do that for me!"
Val opened her mouth to defend the brothers, then shut it, grimacing. A) She didn't really want to touch that, and B) The girl had a point.
"Who's going to save your life while you're out making decisions?" Damon mocked, but Elena's voice dropped into a furious, low tone.
"You're not listening to me, Damon, I don't want to be saved. Not if it means that-" her voice broke, and she swallowed. "Not if it means that Klaus will kill everyone that I love."
The huntress stepped forward, but she didn't even have time to open her mouth to reassure the girl that no one would be dying before Damon snapped.
"Get your ass out that door before I throw you over my shoulder and carry you out myself." He threatened, and Val spoke up now.
"Damon, hey, that's enough." She reached out to grab Elena's arm, but she swung her fist, attempting to hit the vampire right in the jaw. Of course, the vampire caught it, giving her fist a light, warning squeeze.
"Don't ever, do that again." He warned, stressing each word differently before he swung her fist down, stalking away from the pair.
Elena sat next to Val, looking guilty, but refusing to speak to the woman. Whether she was angry, pouting, or disappointed, the huntress couldn't be sure, but attempts to coax words out of her had been unsuccessful. Finally, the bedroom doors swung open.
"Time to go. Alice is sound asleep and won't remember a moment of this horrible, stupid day." Damon told them, annoyed, but right as Val stood, the front door busted open.
She turned, ready to shoot a stake into her hand as three men stormed into the room.
"We're here to meet the doppelganger." The man in front said, and Val realized they were facing three vampires.
Two vampires and a huntress vs. three vampires, that could work ok.
"Thank you for coming," Elena started, stepping forward, but Val grabbed the girls arm, pushing her behind she and Damon as the huntress stood next to him.
"There's nothing here for you." The eldest Salvatore warned them, and Val's stake shot into her right hand, her fingers twirling it deftly into a new position.
But the day just kept getting better. The vampire at the back suddenly shouted in pain, and fell forward onto the ground, body going limp.
And standing behind him: Elijah.
The groups eyes widened and Val muttered, "Are you fucking serious?"
Rose didn't even stick around, at the sight of the older vampire, she was gone faster than Val could blink. The remaining three were too distracted by the presence of the very old and dangerous man in front of them to really protest, anyway.
"I killed you." Damon protested, "You were dead."
"For centuries now." Elijah agreed, looking thoroughly unimpressed before turning back to the remaining two vamps. "Who are you?"
"Who are you?"
"I'm Elijah."
At the sound of the name, both men turned visibly skittish. "We-we were going to bring her to you." The first one said, pointing to Elena. "For Klaus; she's the doppelganger. I don't know how she exists, but she does."
Elijah stared at them for several seconds before speaking. "Does anyone else know that you're here?"
"No."
"Well, then, you have been incredibly helpful." Both his hands shot out, plunging into their chests. He ripped outwards, their hearts not clutched in his fists. Their bodies thumped loudly to the ground, and he dropped their hearts, his eyes still trained on the trio.
Val stepped forward, stake ready, but he only met her eyes briefly before he was gone, speeding out of the room. After several beats of extremely shocked and confused silence, Val spoke up.
"Ok, seriously, what the hell was going on?"
NEXT EPISODE: BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON
Val knocked twice before entering the house, knowing that Elena, at least, was definitely home. Jenna was off playing private tour guide to some writer interested in their town, and Val would have laughed at her friend's misfortune; if, of course, she hadn't been guilted into helping her sort through documents with him that night.
"¡Buenos días!" She called cheerfully, walking into the kitchen with her several Tupperware containers of food. If the suicidal teen was going to be on house arrest, she might as well be eating good.
Damon, Elena, and Jeremy all looked up from their spot in the living room as the huntress entered; Jeremy's eyes zeroing in on the containers.
"Please tell me you brought enchiladas." He nearly begged, and Val chuckled.
"Yep, red ones, your favorites. Knock yourself out." She encouraged before Damon's phone started ringing. He showed her the screen.
"It's Rick." He informed before answering, "Yeah?"
There was muffled murmuring on the other end, and he beckoned Val over aggressively, putting the phone on speaker so she could listen while the siblings warmed up the food.
"She's here, Rick."
"Ok, so, the sheriff just officially declared Mason Lockwood a missing person."
Val let her head fall back, scowling in irritation as Damon responded. Well, the hits just kept coming, didn't they?
"Why?"
"Some girl from Florida showed up on the Lockwood's doorstep looking for Mason."
"Girl? What girl?" Val asked.
"I don't know, but she's sure got everyone in a tizzy." Rick responded lowly, and the pair glanced at each other before looking back at the phone.
"Where are you?"
"I'm at the Grill."
"We're on our way."
Hanging up, Val jingled her keys to show she was driving, and he nodded at her before turning back to the siblings, who were now setting their plates on the coffee table.
"Change of plans, you babysit." He instructed Jeremy, "We gotta go meet Rick at the Grill." As they started walking out, he turned back to Elena, "Hey, you should get out, enjoy the sun. Oh, wait." He smiled mockingly, "You can't."
Without hesitating, Elena grabbed a pillow and flung it at the vampire, the pair laughing as they both dodged it before walking off.
"Is that her?" Val asked, sitting next to Rick. A tan, blonde woman was talking to Matt, no doubt asking about Tyler.
"Yep." Rick confirmed, not taking his eyes off of their suspect. Damon joined them, soon, sitting on Rick's other side.
"Oooo, Mason's mystery woman." He speculated, and Rick turned to him.
"Where is Mason, by the way?"
"Decomposing in his truck."
Val rolled her eyes, muttering, "Classy," before asking, "So, do we think she's a werewolf?"
"No idea." Damon responded grimly, "but I do have a way of testing it out." Reaching into his pocket, he showed the pair. "Woflsbane."
"Alright, so how do we get it in her drink?" Rick asked, but right then, Val's phone buzzed. She glanced at it, then cursed out loud in Spanish.
"I completely forgot, I had to meet Jenna to help her with that small town author thingy." She told them, grabbing her bag and standing. Both men immediately began protesting.
"What-but we're the three musketeers!" Damon pouted, and she honestly couldn't tell if he was kidding or not. Turning to Rick, she tilted her head.
"Please, don't let him talk you into doing something stupid." She stressed, before ruffling both of their heads, throwing a "Bye, boys!" over her shoulder as she walked out, the two protesting and fixing their hair.
At the house, she noticed that there was no other car in the driveway, and hoped she was on time; she didn't know if leaving Elena and Jenna in the house with some rando was a good idea. She knocked before entering, looking around in confusion at the empty living room.
"Hello? Jen?" She called out, and that's when it happened again.
Danger, danger, danger…
"Jenna?" Now feeling frantic, she started walking to the kitchen, "Jen-"
"Val!"
The huntress nearly pulled her gun out at the sound of the blonde's voice, but managed to stop herself. Turning around, she pressed a hand to her chest and closed her eyes, breathing deeply as Jenna stared at her.
"You ok?"
"Yeah, I just, uh," she looked around, suddenly feeling out of breath. "Nothing." Taking a deep breathe, she turned around, smiling. "So, how about this little research project-thing, huh?"
Jenna suddenly smiled and leaned in. "Well, he's actually pretty cute, and he's been asking about you a lot." She told her friend, wiggling her eyebrows. "And he's really got that sexy, older gentleman vibe."
Val cocked an eyebrow at her friend, "Ok." The blonde laughed, beckoning her to follow.
Walking into the kitchen, she reached into her bag and started pulling out her notebook. Not watching where she was going, she slammed hard into a broad chest. She started to fall back, but two hands shot out and grabbed her arms, steadying her. Laughing breathlessly, she turned towards her savior.
"Oh, I'm so sor-" Her words died in her throat and all the blood drained from her face when she saw who she was looking at.
Elijah smiled down at her, brown eyes looking just a little menacing, as he held her arms, the two of them standing close enough for their chests to touch.
"Don't worry about it." He told her casually, then squeezed her arms slightly before letting go.
"Elijah, this is my friend I told about; Val, this is Elijah." Jenna introduced them from her spot at the table, looking rather please with herself. The dark-haired girl shot her friend a tight smile as Elijah spoke.
"Yes, she's told me you occasionally help out with party planning and such." The vampire told her pleasantly, and Val took several steps backwards, feeling much better once there was more space between them. "I hope it's not too much trouble."
Val shook her head, flashing him a smile. "Of course not, no trouble at all." They stared at each other for a second, silent threats lingering between the two, before Val set her bag on a chair. "Hey, Jen, I'm just gonna run to the bathroom before we start, ok?"
Without waiting for a response, she walked past the chair, quietly slipping her phone out and into her sleeve and ignoring Elijah's gaze that was burning into the back of her skull. She walked calmly around the corner, stopping on the landing, and looked one more time down the hall before starting to dial Damon's number.
She was just about to press the call button when a hand shot out, grabbing her wrist. Without skipping a beat, she slammed her other fist towards Elijah's face, but he caught that, too, and shoved it away harshly, causing her to lose her footing. She stumbled, and he turned her without letting go of her wrist and twisted her arm behind her, slamming her quietly, (but none too pleasantly) chest-first into the wall, his own pressed against her back.
"You son of a bitch," she hissed, trying to turn, but the pressure on her arm stopped her.
"I have to admit, I'm not disappointed." His breath tickled her ear, and she flinched, struggling harder. "When I saw the crucifix, I thought for sure you were just some foolish girl who found it somewhere, but it's true. You are a Rodriguez."
"Yeah, and you're hurting my arm. Now that we're past the obvious, how about you let me go and tell me what the fuck you think you're doing in this house." She spat at him, struggling to keep her voice down. A soft chuckle made his chest vibrate.
"Ah, the famous Rodriguez temper. Though, I must say, you're much more tame than the last relative of yours I met."
She stopped cold, her stomach dropping to her feet. "You know my family?"
"I knew your family, trust me, the ancestor I knew is long gone by now. He was much older than your great-great-grandfather, that's for sure." Pausing, she felt him shift a little before he spoke again, lower. "Now, I'm going to let you go, because I want to test something. But make no mistake, if you attempt to harm me again, Jenna and Jeremy will be the ones who suffer."
The pressure on her body released, and she pushed herself off the wall, whirling around so fast her hair would have whipped him the face if it had been longer. He was too close again, and she pressed into the wall, trying to keep distance between them.
"What the hell do you want to test?"
"Just a couple of things." He said mysteriously, then, without warning, he grabbed at her the necklace.
She reached up to shove him off, but didn't get the chance. He let out a half-grunt, half-muffled scream and dropped the crucifix as he'd been burned. And, upon, looking at his hand, she saw that he had. His entire hand was blistered and angry, even charred in some places, as if he'd just attempted to grab onto molten gold. His hand began to heal as he panted, then he turned to her again. His brown eyes stared dead into hers, and he spoke.
"Take off the necklace."
She knew what he was trying to do, and decided to respond accordingly.
"Go fuck yourself."
He smirked, then stepped back. Val took a deep breath, grateful for the increase in space as he looked her up and down.
"I guess I shouldn't be surprised." He told her mysteriously, and though he was smirking, Val could tell he was extremely displeased. "There is one more thing to test, however…"
The second he started leaning towards her neck, the stake shot out of her sleeve and she pressed it against his chest, her eyes blazing. "This may not kill you, but it'll hurt like a bitch, and it'll give me time to get Jenna and Elena to safety. Don't even think about it."
He paused, watching her carefully, before stepping back with his hands up in an 'I surrender' position. Val waited until he'd put enough space between them, then put it away, glaring at him.
"So, now my question. Why the hell are you here?"
That same infuriating smile came across his face, and he only pressed a finger to his lips before walking off down the hall; she heard him begin to speak to Jenna, and she scowled.
Damn it.
She took a deep breath, casting a glance at the stairs and wishing she could run up there to warn Elena. But she knew the second she did, Elijah would be on her ass like a shark, and then they'd all be in trouble.
She pushed her shoulders back and tilted her chin up, chest hardening in determination.
Fine. We'll play that way.
She walked into the kitchen, smiling. "Sorry about that. So," she sat down, looking at Jenna, "what have you got so far?"
She eventually ended up helping Jenna with the boxes under the stairs, which she greatly appreciated. Elijah kept staring at her, and it was even worse than John's gaze; it freaked her the hell out, and made her pretty uncomfortable.
Footsteps coming down the stairs made her heart jump, and at the sight of Elena, she was on her feet, walking towards the teen.
"Hey, 'Lena!" She greeted, and was about to drag the teen back upstairs, but Jenna stopped them both.
"Oh, perfect, right on time." She told her niece, and practically threw a box in the girls arms. Val put a hand on her back to steady her.
"What are you doing?" Elena asked, looking down at the box in confusion.
"Going through your mom's old files from the historical society." She sat back on her heels and looked up at them. "I got roped into helping Mrs. Lockwood, and then I dragged Val with me."
Elena turned to the huntress, narrowing her eyes in confusion at the slightly panicked look on her face.
"And by roped, I mean very excited to participate." Jenna suddenly announced, standing and shutting the door.
The sight of Elijah made the teen jump and gasp, and Val had to grab the box to keep her from dropping it.
"Hey, I'm Elijah." He greeted casually, and the teen turned to Val in horror. She only nodded, lips pursed as Jenna grabbed the box from them.
"Elijah's doing research on Mystic Falls." She told her niece, and the vampire approached Elena, getting a little too close for comfort, and the huntress stepped forward, her gaze hardening.
He glanced at her before sticking his hand out. Hesitating, the teen finally shook it before pulling it back as fast as she could.
"It's a pleasure." He told the brunette, looking back and forth between the girls before Jenna came back.
"So, you know, you're welcome to stay and run through this stuff, or Elena, Val and I could help you load it into your car." She offered, but Elijah only shrugged.
"Yeah, or I could have someone come pick it up tomorrow."
"Also a good plan." Jenna agreed, smiling. "Here, I'll show you out."
"Thank you so much for inviting me into your home, Jenna," Elijah said, stressing the word inviting as he walked by the girls, "oh, and Elena?"
They both turned as he smiled at the brunette, "I hope to see you again sometime soon." He smiled like the Cheshire cat at Val. "You too, Valentina."
The two started for the stairs, the huntress putting Elena in front of her purposefully as they watched Jenna lead the man outside. Once the door was shut, she turned, grabbing Elena's arm.
"Go, go, go," she muttered urgently, the two of them rushing up the steps. Finally, they stopped outside of Jeremy's room, and Elena began knocking frantically, Val watching the stairs behind them. A flash of movement caught the corner of her eye, and she turned just in time to see Elijah standing by the door.
She opened her mouth to warn Jeremy, as did Elena, but there was pressure on her arm and the world spun out of focus at a dizzying speed. Next thing she knew, she was back in a similar situation wit her back pressed against Elijah's chest, his hand pressed firmly over her mouth and the other squeezing her arm.
Elena stared in horror when the door suddenly opened, and Val heard Jeremy ask, "Hey, what's up?"
Elijah's shook his head, his chin barely brushing the top of Val's hair. Elena turned away from them to look at Jeremy, stuttering.
"Um, Jenna was just asking me to, uh, get you to help her with the boxes." She finally got out, and the huntress froze, going rigid as the teen walked away from them. He didn't noticed, though, his back always turned as he headed down the stairs.
The trio sat perfectly still, holding their breath until the front door shut. The vampire's hold on Val loosened, and she shoved away from him, eyes practically shooting flames.
"A wise choice." He told them, but Elena wasn't having it.
"What do you want?" She growled, and he looked behind the pair to Elena's room.
"Why don't we speak some place more private?"
Once inside, Val shut the door behind her and joined the teen, standing slightly in front of her as Elijah sat on the window seat.
"Forgive the intrusion, I mean your family no harm." He reassured the girls, but Val only glared.
"Could've fooled me." She growled, and he tilted his head at her.
"Why did you kill those vampires who tried to take me?" Elena asked, standing straight.
"Because I didn't want you to be taken."
Both girls stopped, staring at him in confusion and shock as he continued.
"Klaus is the most feared and hated of the Originals, but those that fear him are desperate for his approval. If word gets out that the doppelganger exists, they'll be a line of eager vampires waiting to take you to him and I can't have that."
"And you're saying that's not your main goal?" Val asked cynically. She didn't know who this guy was, and something didn't sit right with her about him. Every time she was in his presence she just felt…off.
"Let's just say my 'main goal' is not to break the curse." He told them, and Val wanted to groan. Again with the fucking loaded words and double meanings.
"So, what is your goal?"
"Klaus' obsession has made him paranoid, he's a recluse. He trusts only those in his immediate circle."
"Like you?"
His face tightened at the accusation, and he shook his head. "Not anymore."
Val tilted her head, her lips parting before she let out a breathy laugh. "Dios mio; you don't even know where he is, do you?"
Elijah paused, not saying anything, but that was enough of an answer for the two.
"So, you're trying to use me to draw him out." Elena concluded, crossing her arms.
"Well, in order to do that, I need you to stay put and stop trying to get yourself killed." He chastised the girl, standing and Val snorted.
"Says the guy who tried to kidnap her." She accused, placing her hands on her hips. The vampire opened his mouth to say something, but Elena spoke up again.
"How do I know you're telling the truth?"
"Well, if I wasn't being truthful, all your family would be dead, I'd have drained Valentina completely dry, and I'd be taking you to Klaus right now." He said bluntly, and Val's lips curled into a snarl at the threat. "Instead, I'm here, and I'm prepared to offer you a deal."
That got both of their attention. Elena unfolded her arms, stepping forward. "What kind of deal?"
"Do nothing." Elijah told her as he started looking through a book on her dresser. "Stop fighting, live your life, and when the time is right, you and I draw Klaus out together, and your friends remain unharmed." He looked over his shoulder, gesturing to Val with a frown, "Even the huntress."
Val smirked at him tightly as Elena spoke again, taking another brave step forward.
"And then what?"
"And then I kill him."
Val raised her eyebrows, walking forward to stand next to the girl.
"Just like that?"
"Just like that." He confirmed. "I'm a man of my word, Elena, I make a deal, I keep a deal."
"And just how exactly do you plan on keeping everybody safe?" Val asked, barely even convinced.
"You have a friend, Bonnie, is it? She seems to possess the gift of magic. I have friends with similar gifts."
"You know witches."
He nodded. "Together, we can protect everybody that matters to you." He promised. Then, he stepped forward. Reflexively, Val also did, stopping him from getting any closer to the teen. He shot her an irritated glance before looking back at the teen, his face softening. "Do we have a deal?"
Elena hesitated, and for a second, Val actually thought she was going to turn him down. But then she spoke, her voice hard. "I need you to do one more thing for me."
Val turned to the girl, but upon seeing her face, she smiled, knowing exactly what she was talking about as Elijah spoke.
"We're negotiating now?" He asked, sounding amused, and she looked back at the old vampire, a devious smile pulling at her lips.
"So, I'm guessing you know about the tomb?"
She had just pulled into her parking lot when Elena called her; Stefan was free. She smiled brightly, wishing the two of them a happy reunion before getting out of her car, head pounding. She needed some Tylenol, cuddles with Freddie, and the Office.
She had only walked halfway up the walk when she stopped, shoulders tensing. Turning, she glared at Elijah. The vampire stood at the end of the walkway, watching her carefully.
"Has anybody ever told you that you're extremely creepy?" She asked, folding her arms. He chuckled humorlessly, folding his hands in front of him.
"Well, I guess it makes sense that you don't like me; it's in your DNA, after all."
"Yeah, you mentioned my ancestor tried to kill you." She taunted, "Pity he never succeeded."
"You're right, it is. Especially after I ripped his heart from his chest."
Her gun was in her hand in half-a-second, pointed directly at him. "You've got some serious balls, talking about my family like that."
"Oh, you haven't seen anything yet, Valentina. So, listen carefully. I promised Elena to protect the ones she cares about, and you are most definitely on that list. As much as it pains me, I will adhere to the deal we've made, as I consider myself an honorable man."
She gave a derisive snort, but he continued as if she hadn't spoke.
"However, I see you possess many of the traditional Rodriguez attributes. Impulsive, temperamental, a horrible habit of inserting yourself where you're not wanted-"
"I'm sorry, is there a point to this, or do you just enjoy insulting people you don't know?"
"My point is this: stay out of my way. You may be strong, Valentina, but I am miles above you and I will kill you if you attempt to sabotage my plan here." He smiled, adjusting his suit jacket. "Have a pleasant evening with your dog; he's eager to see you again."
And then he was gone.
Awww, look at Val and Damon, actually learning to tolerate each other.
So many questions, I'm sure you have. Like:
Why is Val's necklace so sensitive to Elijah?
Why does she just have this sudden, inherent dislike for him? (Other than the fact he tried to kidnap a teenager)
Why does he really seem to hate her?
Why did he kill her ancestor?
How is her family tied to his? (I'll give you a hint: It's not romantic in anyway.)
I guess y'all will have to wait till next time!