Hello readers! I actually want to cry right now. There is only one more chapter after this and I can't wrap my head around that fact. So thank you for being here through my very spotty postings. I really appreciate all of you!
Happy reading!
"What the hell are you doing here?" Elizabeth asked as she closed the door behind her. She couldn't believe he was standing in front of her in the compound. She already had enough to worry about with the others being here she didn't have the patience to deal with him as well.
"I knew that this would be the best place to see you." Jax said causing Elizabeth to glare at him.
"What do you want?" She asked crossing her arms. Malakai stood there watching the two in confusion. He didn't understand why Jax was currently here. He didn't even know he was in town.
"When I found him, he said he had progress for you." Malakai said crossing his own arms.
"Kai, I need you to leave the room." Elizabeth said looking over at him. She knew that she couldn't have Malakai in the room while they discussed about the cures. He still had no idea about the deal she had made with him.
"I am no way in hell leaving you alone with him." Malakai said as he looked over at Jax. Jax only smirked as he watched the two.
"I'll be fine." She said with a nod. She took a deep breath and let it out. She knew the next words that were going to come out of her mouth were going to shock Malakai. "Jax is a part of plan Z."
Malakai looked at Elizabeth in shock. "You can't be serious." He said worried.
"She is serious." Jax said taking a step closer to the both of them. "And the two of us need to speak about things that you are not included in."
Malakai's glare at Jax would have made Elizabeth happy any other time. But at this moment Elizabeth needed to know what Jax was doing there. "I will explain everything later." Elizabeth said to Malakai. He stared at her for a moment wondering if he should even leave the room. But after Elizabeth's head tilt and pleading eyes, Malakai sighed and left the room.
"Is he the hybrid you are offering up to me if you fall back on your part of the deal?" Jax asked the moment the door was closed once more.
"Yes." Elizabeth said sighing. She knew that she never put any kind of details into the contract as to who she'd be giving up and she believed it was one of the reasons he was here. "Though it will never come to that. What is it that you want?"
Jax's smirk seemed to grow as he took another step towards her. "I have news, that's all. But if you'd like to go back to hosting a vampire party, it can definitely wait."
"What news do you have?" She asked watching him. "I'd rather get this over with before I change my mind and decide to serve you up as snack to my guests."
"And lose everything over that decision?" Jax laughed. "I doubt you'd actually do it."
"Just say whatever it is you've come to say Jax." Elizabeth said growing more irritated than she had been.
"We believe we've achieved your goal." He said watching her. He wanted to see how the words sank into her. He wanted to see her reaction. He wanted to see the realization come over her that her freedom was gone.
"Are you sure?" She asked. "What details can you give me that proves it works?" Elizabeth wanted to feel relief but she wasn't going to until she absolutely knew that there was proof.
"Well," Jax said as he sat on the desk that was separating them. He was slightly disappointed when he didn't see what he wanted. "The last vampire we had in stock had been injected with your venom about midnight. We observed the behavior as we usually do before injecting him with what we believe is the final antidote about two hours ago. The vampire improved in minutes, no signs of deteriorating or hallucinations. It was healing as much as it could without a blood source."
Elizabeth ran her hand through her hair as she listened to him. "I have to see it for myself." She said with a nod.
"Of course." Jax said with a smile. "When should I expect you by the warehouse?"
"Later today." She said with a nod. "Once I've managed to take care of my guests I'll be there."
"Good." He said as he stood up and began walking towards the door. "I'll see you soon, then."
Elizabeth didn't say anything as she watched him leave the room. The moment the door was closed she let out the breath she didn't know she had been holding.
"You've got to be kidding right?" Malakai asked as he walked back into the room
"Look, it needed to be done." She said as she ran her hand through her hair once more.
"What kind of deal did you make with him?" Malakai asked worried. He knew Elizabeth would have never gone to him willingly if it hadn't been the absolute last resort.
"A deal that would ensure that we both held our ends of it." She looked over at Malakai knowing what question he was going to ask next. "It was he'd get the cures for me and he'd get a new test subject. If I backed out in any way, two of my family members would be his."
"So you decided that it was best to put all of our lives at stake by making this deal?" He asked concerned. "Even Hopes?"
Elizabeth glared at him. "I did not put her in danger."
"Are you sure about that? Cause it sure seems like it from the sound of it." He was upset that Elizabeth hadn't talked to him about it. She had gone to the one person she hated without any help from him. "You brought him into this town and what if he followed you out to Hayley's? Have you been that careful to make sure that even he didn't have you followed?"
"None of you are in danger." She said as she sat down in a chair. "This was what I needed to do to get the cure for Elijah and Kol. Call it my motivation."
"And what happens when you change your mind?" He asked worried. "You are just going to willingly hand two of us over?
"I wont change my mind." She said shaking her head. She could never do that to them. It was why she was so specific in her contract. "You know how much this means to me. Getting that cure for them to wake up, I'd do anything for them."
"Is this what I think it means?" He asked sounding hopeful.
"That we get them back." She said with a small smile. A second later her eyes filled with tears. "It also means that things are going to change."
"How?" He asked confused as he saw the tears form.
"You know how I said that if he gets the cures for me, he gets a new test subject." She hated this. She didn't want anyone to know about what she was putting herself into to get the cures. But since Jax had made his presence known to Malakai it was hard to keep this all from him now. "That test subject is me."
Malakai looked at her for a moment as he put together what she had meant. "The vision of you at Whitmore." It earned a nod from Elizabeth. "How long until that happens?"
The question itself made the tears blur her vision for a moment before she blinked them away. "If what Jax said was true, soon." She wasn't going to tell him that it'd be tomorrow or even the next day. She didn't need him to be trying with everything he had to keep her from leaving.
"Liz," He said shaking his head as he stepped closer to her, bringing his hand up to her cheek to wipe the tears that fell. "How long have you known about this?" He wanted to understand it all. He wanted to know what was going through her mind about all of this.
"About eventually going to Jax?" She asked sighing. "I knew the night Freya put them in the spell. Jess had shown me visions of meeting with Jax. "
"And you didn't think to tell me about it?" He asked hurt. She used to be able to tell him anything and now it seemed that she was keeping more and more from him.
"I never knew when this was going to happen so soon, Kai." She said shaking her head. "For all I known at the time it could have taken ten years to get where we are now. I didn't ask Jess for the specifics like she wanted to give me. I wanted to keep myself in the dark about some things and when there was this constant deja vu about things, I knew I was right where I was supposed to be when it came to Jess's visions."
"What now?" He asked wanting to know what would happen next.
"First we'll have to take care of our guests upstairs since I need to leave for a while. And then I'll go check in with Jax to make sure his updates were accurate." She sighed slightly as she wiped at her eyes to get rid of the remaining evidence that she had let a few tears slip. "After that, I'll keep you updated. But Kai, I am asking you not to say anything about this to anyone. They don't need to worry about this. Not about me either."
Malakai sighed and nodded. "Okay. But you have to promise me you'll keep me in the loop now."
"I will." She said with a nod. She hoped that would be enough of an answer for him. She couldn't give him a full promise if she was just going to break it hours later.
"Alright." He nodded once more. "Let's clear out the party to get you where you need to be."
Elizabeth walked into the main area of the warehouse to find Jax and a few others standing in front of another vampire that was strapped down to a table. The sight had caused several images to pass through Elizabeth's head. They were images of herself in the same situation all those years ago. To think she'd be on the other end of it just for one more time scared her. The next time she was in this situation, she'd be on the receiving end once more.
"Ah, there she is." Jax said causing Elizabeth to shake her head slightly and continue walking forward to them.
"I see everything is ready." She said trying not to make it seem like she had been afraid. She was afraid of the possibilities. She was afraid that while Jax had said it worked that with her standing there, nothing would be as it should. She was also afraid that if it did work, the countdown until her freedom was gone would begin.
"Would you like me to inject the subject with the venom?" One of the assistance asked looking at Elizabeth.
"No." She said shaking her head. "In order for me to know this works, I need to bite them, not by injection."
"Isn't that the same though?" Jax asked looking at Elizabeth.
"No it isn't." She said shaking her head. "You've seen results by injections only. By bite we'll make sure it actually works." She said as she walked over to the vampire that was strapped down. Elizabeth could see that she was scared. "Don't worry," she said trying to comfort the vampire. 'If this works, it will only hurt for a few a little." Without another word from Elizabeth she leaned over and bit the vampire's arm. The scream that followed made Elizabeth pull away and wipe her mouth as she watched the vampire thrash around.
Elizabeth stepped back for a moment. Her eyes were on the vampire the whole time though. She wanted to make sure the venom was spreading as it should. After a half hour of standing there watching the vampire slowly began to deteriorate from the bite, Elizabeth held out her hand towards the assistant. Without hesitating, he placed the syringe with the antidote in her hand. Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth began walking towards the vampire once more. She held down her arm to make sure the Vampire wouldn't move as she began injecting the antidote into the wound. Once it was injected, Elizabeth stepped back once more.
This was it. This was either going to prove that it worked or that it had been nothing at all. With in a few minutes, Elizabeth had watched as the bite mark healed and the usual symptoms of her bite slowly faded. A sigh of relief passed Elizabeth's lips as she ran her hand through her hair.
"Satisfied?" Jax asked taking a step closer to her.
"I'll be satisfied once I know it works with Elijah." She said turning to face Jax. "Only then is this deal complete."
"Of course." Jax said with a nod. "I'd hate for it to all be for nothing if it didn't work for its sole purpose."
Elizabeth looked over at the assistant. "Please have two vials ready for travel with in the hour."
"Leaving so soon?" Jax asked. "Wouldn't you like to go celebrate before giving them the cure."
"No." She said shaking her head before looking at Jax as the assistant left to do as Elizabeth asked. "They've waited long enough."
"Why are you so eager to give up your freedom?" Jax asked. "If it had been anyone else, they would have partied it up or went off on a bender before giving it all up."
"I'm not like most vampires if you haven't noticed that." She said shaking her head. "I'd rather just get this all over with." Elizabeth turned and began making her way over to the office. She needed to collect a few things that she'd possibly need in case if they ever needed to make another cure.
Once the cures were safely packed away and ready for Elizabeth to take her leave, Jax stood in the room with a smile on his face. He was finally going to get what he wanted out of this. The whole time Elizabeth didn't say a single word to him or even look at him. She'd be stuck for him for a while. She didn't want to look at him or she thought she might kill him.
"Let's just hope it works." Elizabeth said out loud to herself as she collected everything together getting ready to leave.
"You saw it work with the vampire we just cured." Jax said as he watched Elizabeth.
"I know. But as I said before, our deal doesn't stand unless I see my bite mark fade from their skins and I see that they are awake." Elizabeth said never once bringing her eyes to the man. She just wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible and go do what she needed to.
"Of course, Liz." He said with a small smirk on his face. "I'm sure I'll be receiving a call once you are satisfied that it has in fact worked. Again."
Elizabeth stopped what she was doing and finally looked at Jax. She looked at him for a minute and watched as his smirk had grown. "I should just kill you." She said shaking her head and going back to packing the last few things.
"But you wont." He said with a shrug. "We both knows what happens if I die."
"Yeah." She said with a nod. She remembered that clearly. There was no way she was going to risk anyone else's life just for his death. Placing the bag strap over her shoulder she started to make her way towards the warehouse door.
"Remember Elizabeth, there is no way out from from this deal." Jax said and it caused Elizabeth to turn around and look at him for a moment before turning back and headed out the door.
Elizabeth found herself back in the compound. All the vampires that were there had cleared out some time ago. She was glad though. She'd hate to leave them all here with the possibility of the Mikaelsons coming back in the next day or so. Instead of leaving right to Hayley's after leaving the warehouse she came back here. She needed to do a few last minute things. Sitting at her desk, she pulled out a few pieces of paper and began writing away. In the middle of her writing, the knock at her door caused her to look up. She smiled once she seen Jess standing in the doorway.
"I've seen this before." Jess said and it caused Elizabeth to look down at the pages in front of her. "It is that time isn't it?" Jess asked as she entered the room.
Elizabeth nodded. "Yeah." She said putting her pen down for a moment. "I have the cures and I'll be heading to Hayley's shortly."
"Three years isn't so bad." Jess tried to make light of the situation.
Elizabeth shook her head as she remembered that night Jess had told her she would be tormented for three years. It made her also remember the question she had asked that night as well. She bit down on her lip for a moment before sighing. "And the outcome now?" She asked.
Jess sighed slightly. "Are you sure that is something you want to see?" She asked. Jess may have seen the way things would go for Elizabeth, she just wasn't sure if Elizabeth actually wanted to know what was waiting for her.
"It will prepare myself." Elizabeth said nodding. "I know there will be the torturing and endless pain, but I need to know what is going to happen at the end of those three years, Jess." There was a fear in Elizabeth that if her time there would change her in some way. Jax had plans and Elizabeth wanted to know how she would end up.
"If you are sure." Jess said walking over to Elizabeth and holding her hand out for her to take. Elizabeth eyed her hand for a moment before placing her hand in Jess's. From the moment her hand rested, the images flowed through Elizabeth.
Elizabeth heard herself scream from the pain as she was cut into and the laughter from Jax as he did so. She saw images of Hope standing off to the side as she sat in a cell wounded and falling apart. Elizabeth had been out in a city as she stood over a vampire that looked frightened as she had a devilish smirk on her face. A moment later she saw herself covered in blood as she stood next to Jax with the same smirk before she walked away and killed another vampire. Then there was a moment where Elizabeth saw herself surrounded by water as she was chained to the bottom. It was as if she was in a huge tank surrounded by people staring at her. Among those people she had caught a glimpse of Elijah with a worried face. The next image that passed though her mind was of Jax standing over her with his hand in her chest with Elijah watching as her heart was pulled out.
Elizabeth pulled her hand back quickly and stood up. She ran her hand through her hair as she walked over to the window. She was trying to process everything she had just seen. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to feel after all that. A part of her hated that she had even asked Jess to show her.
"You wanted to see." Jess said as she watched Elizabeth.
"I did." Elizabeth said as she looked out the window. She watched as people filled the streets enjoying themselves. "Thank you."
"Are you going to be okay, Liz?" Jess was worried about what this was going to do to Elizabeth now.
"I'll be fine." Elizabeth said with a slight nod. She took a deep breath before turning around and looking at Jess. "I should have known that one way or another I'd eventually get my heart ripped from my chest." Elizabeth clearly remembered the prophecy visions that were tied to Marcel before she had been the one to take the serum for herself. She was supposed to die at the hands of Marcel and now it seemed that Jax would be the one to do the honors.
"Are you sure this something you want to go through with still?" Jess asked knowing this wasn't at all Elizabeth wanted. "You could always take the cure to Lily and have her create a different one."
Elizabeth shook her head. "That would take more time. This is already done, Jess. There is no other way to do this." Elizabeth sighed as she sat back down and picked up the pen. She looked at the paper that had already had writing on it. "No matter how long I put it off, I end up there." She nodded slightly before looking at Jess with tears in her eyes. "I know I am already asking a lot from you, but when the time comes, help him."
Jess nodded and gave Elizabeth a small smile. "Of course. Is there anything I can help with before you leave?"
Elizabeth sighed. "This is all on me now." She said with a nod. "But please, if Veronica calls you for anything, talk to her or help her if she needs it."
"I will." Jess said as she walked over to Elizabeth and pulled her up into a hug. Elizabeth hugged her back as tears began to spill. "We'll get through this." Jess said not letting Elizabeth go just yet.
"Just make sure they are okay from time to time." Elizabeth said pulling away. "Please don't let him see that vision. I'd rather not have him know until it is time for him to know. And please let them know I miss them."
"You aren't saying the words." Jess noted.
Elizabeth shook her head. "Because saying them makes it all real and I'm not ready." She wasn't ready to say goodbye to Jess or anyone. She didn't want to because it would be to hard to go through with this. She looked back down at the letters that she started writing. "As soon as I am done with these and do one more thing, I'll be on my way to Hayley's. So take care of yourself okay?"
"Always." Jess said placing her hand on Elizabeth's shoulder, squeezing it slightly before letting go and walking away.
"I wasn't expecting you to be back so soon." Hayley said as she had opened the door to find Elizabeth standing there.
"Its been a rough day." Elizabeth said with a sigh. "I figured another visit was seriously needed." She lied. She didn't want to get Hayley's hopes up just yet. Elizabeth wanted to make sure the cure would work on them before she said anything.
"How are all the vampires that are out celebrating?" Hayley asked as she let Elizabeth in.
"The usual." Elizabeth said shaking her head. "This year they were only there for a few hours before I kicked them out."
"Really?" Hayley asked with a raised eyebrow. "From my understanding, you usually let them stay for a few days to celebrate. What was different this time?"
"I just wasn't in the mood to deal with them at all this year." Elizabeth said with shrug. "In fact I told them that I was more in a hunting mood and if they didn't get out of the city by night fall I'd hunt them down and use their heads to decorate the compound."
Hayley cringed slightly. "What pissed you off?"
Elizabeth shrugged. "I just wasn't in a party mood. And keeping up the whole facade is getting tiring. And all the talking of killing Elijah just wanted to make me rip their own hearts out. It also made me want to see him."
Hayley could see in Elizabeth that today had been tough for her. Even in her words she could hear how tired she was. "We'll he's in there waiting like always." She said giving Elizabeth a smile.
"Thanks." Elizabeth said returning the smile. "Where's Hope?"
"Sleeping." Hayley said with a nod. "Her visit wore her out today. I found her laying on a blanket in there when I went to go check in on her."
"Did you leave her in there?" Elizabeth asked with a raised brow.
"No, I brought her to her bed. That room is usually a lot cooler than the rest of the house." Hayley said with a slight shake of her head before tilting it towards the hallway "Go, it will be a nice surprise for him."
Elizabeth only nodded before making her way towards the basement door and making her way down stairs. With each step she took she could feel her heart beating faster. This was it. This was going to be the moment everything would change for her sense of freedom. She was doing this all because she loved the man that laid in one of the caskets that were now before her. There was no turning back now.