After we showered, Elijah excused himself to go freshen up. I assumed that meant finding a new shirt that was not shredded in half. I went to my bedroom and changed into a rose gold satin nightgown, with a black lace trim on the bodice. It flowed to my knees and was incredibly comfortable. I had to admit, Rebekah did have an eye for clothing. Which is why I didn't mind when she chose all of my outfits for me. I made up my bed and pulled out one of my favorite novels, Weathering Heights. I often read it around this time of year, when we were nearing the holidays. As I read, I couldn't help but think on my family, Jeremy. I wondered how he had been doing and I felt tears well up inside of me. I missed him more than I cared to admit. Being here with the originals, it hadn't been a total nightmare. It definitely wasn't perfect, but it was less horrid than I assumed it would be. Especially since Elijah...
I thought back on the previous night, Klaus. His brother, mother, and father all betrayed him. They seeked out his destruction as if his existence was a nuisance on this world. He may not be a stellar person, but he had some traits that I'm coming to see as good. He had it rough growing up; and even though that is no excuse towards his behavior, I understood. He was a talented artist with daddy issues. Last I checked there were millions of people out there with those same traits. All vampires had their demons right? Am I really justifying Klaus' behavior? What is wrong with me...
I shook my head and cleared my thoughts, closing my book. Standing up, I decided to take advantage of Klaus' new found gratefulness. I walked to his bedroom and opened the door. As I peered inside, I saw Klaus, shirtless and painting on a canvas. I realized in that moment, that I probably should have knocked. I was just so used to walking in... "Can I help you Elena?" His voice pulled me from my thoughts and I sighed taking a step forward.
"Yes actually-" before I could finish my sentence, I took notice of his painting. It was incredible. He was using oil on canvas, the image itself was a dark forest view with a lone person to the side. The painting brought on the feeling of sadness, loneliness and sorrow. I briefly wondered if Klaus didn't display his emotions in his eyes, but rather in his art. He turned to me, but my gaze didn't waver from the painting.
"You like?" The way he spoke was not his usual cocky tone. He was genuinely curious, and even a little humble in his question. I could feel his eyes on me as I stood there speechless. "Elena?" He sounded worried and I finally pried my eyes from his painting to meet his gaze.
"Yes," I answered his question and he smiled softly. "I-I um," I cleared my throat remembering why I came in here. "I want to call my brother," I told Klaus seriously. He raised his eyebrows at me and tilted his head. I prayed that he let me, that he didn't taunt me with the idea.
"Why should I let you do that?" Klaus smirked, his expression returning to its usual arrogant form. I crossed my arms and glared at the hybrid, challenging him. If he wanted an answer, I would give him one.
"I saved your life, I saved you from your brother. Now, I want to call mine," I told him, keeping my tone calm. If I displayed any weakness, Klaus would turn down my request. He narrowed his eyes at me, reading me. My heart was pounding against my chest, giving way to my nerves. I cursed my inability to control my racing heart.
Klaus seemed to take notice and his smirk grew, "five minutes," He pulled out his phone. "You are to talk to him in here, and if Damon or Stephan so much as talks on the other end, I will rip this phone from your hands. Do you understand me?" I nodded, my hands trembling slightly as I reached for his phone. I took it and moved to the bed, sitting down and dialing Jeremy's number.
As it rang, I felt my heart accelerate. I hadn't talked to him in so long, I wondered if he knew where I disappeared to. Had Damon called him and told him? "Hello?" Jeremy's voice brought the tears to the surface and they fell down my face.
"Jeremy..." My voice cracked. Klaus watched as I fell apart at the sound of my brothers voice. I wondered if he cared that I was upset. Why did it matter to me what he thought?
"Elena! Oh my God! We have been looking everywhere for you! Are you okay?"
"Wait, we?" I asked wondering what he meant. "Jeremy your not... I thought you were in Denver..." I felt my heart fall into the pit of my stomach. He was supposed to be safe, far away from Mystic Falls.
"Damon brought me home. He told me you were kidnapped by Klaus, are you okay!? Where are you I'm coming-"
"No." I looked into the hybrids eyes, "No don't. I'm lucky enough to get five minutes to talk to you. Don't piss him off Jeremy. Just...leave it."
"Leave it!? You're kidding me right!?" Jeremy was getting angry, I could hear it in his voice. I looked down and took a deep breath.
"Jeremy I just need you to be safe. Away from it all...Don't tell Damon I called, please..." The sound of rustling could be heard on the other end and I scrunched my eyebrows, "Jeremy?"
"Where are you, I'm on my way," Damon's voice echoed in my ear and I paled. The phone was ripped from my hand and I felt the tears fall out in thicker waves. Klaus put the phone on speaker and I shook my head. This wasn't going to end well...
"Sorry Damon," Klaus smirked looking down at me. "No can do," He teased the Salvatore on the other end. "Elena is a bit preoccupied at the moment, in my bed..." I blushed and rolled my eyes. What he said wasn't a lie, I was in his bed...
"Klaus..." Damon's voice was deadly, murderous. I hoped his anger didn't affect Jeremy. He had snapped my brothers neck out of anger before. What if one day, Jeremy wasn't wearing his ring? "If you don't let her go I'll-"
"You'll what?" Klaus interrupted Damon. "Don't make threats you cannot follow through on mr. Salvatore. I allowed Elena to talk to her brother, not you. If you care about her at all, I would hand the phone back to the Gilbert boy."
There was a long pause at the other end. I wondered for a moment if Damon hung up. That thought quickly faded away as Jeremy spoke into the phone. "Elena?" Jeremy's voice brought a wave of relief to me and I let out a sigh.
"Jeremy... I told you..." I sniffled and took the phone back from Klaus. He watched amused as I talked to my brother.
"I know, I'm sorry..." he sighed. "Are you really okay?"
"I mean, its not that great being around them..." I smirked as Klaus raised his eyebrows at me. "However, it isn't torture either. I might be here against my will, but Im not being tortured or maimed...I'll be okay... Don't worry about me okay Jeremy?"
"I can't just not worry about you Elena."
"You'll have to learn to let go... I doubt we will be seeing one another any time soon. I just need you to be okay and to stay safe. Stay away from Damon and Stephan, they will only cause trouble. Focus on school, get those grades up... Apply for college...Maybe a nice art school, I know how much you love to draw." Klaus seemed to tilt his head at this fact, probably wondering if I shared similar interests as my brother.
"Elena, why are you speaking like this is the last time we are ever going to talk?" I smiled softly, though I knew he couldn't see.
"Because it might, I don't know... I love you Jer," I sighed.
"I love you too Elena... Stay safe..." He trailed off.
"I will..." I nodded and hung up the phone. I looked up at Klaus and wiped away the tears. He sighed and took back his phone.
"It won't be the last time you talk to him Elena," Klaus told me and I stood up shaking my head. I looked into his deep blue eyes and chewed on my bottom lip.
"It might," I smiled softly. "Finn almost killed me, who knows what your mother is going to do when she finds me..." I trailed off, admitting for the first time that I was actually scared. I had thought about the consequences of my actions the night of the ball, and none of the scenarios ended with a happily ever after.
"I won't let my mother hurt you," He cupped my cheeks in his hands, and I blushed under his gaze. I grabbed his hands, removing them from my face, holding on to them. I sighed and shook my head turning away from the hybrid, towards the door. Elijah stood on the other end and I swallowed hard, wondering how long he had been there watching. I hoped he didn't read too much into the display between me and Klaus. Klaus was merely trying to comfort me, a failed attempt.
"Neither of you said you'd let Finn hurt me," I told them both honestly. "And yet..." I trailed off, brushing past the hybrid. "I'm going to bed... goodnight." I smiled softly at Elijah as I approached him. I took his hand in mine and squeezed it lightly, in a friendly manner. I knew Klaus was too arrogant to read too much into it, though Elijah knew well the display was more. I walked back to my room and closed the door behind me. I crawled into bed and fell into an uncomfortable slumber.
My muscles ached under the light of the moon, preparing for the worst. I tugged at the chains that binded me to the familiar oak tree. The forest around me was familiar, now that I had more time to look around. It was the swamps, where Klaus had taken me. I searched around, seeking out more wolves. I wondered if I was alone out here, or if more wolves also awaited their transformation.
The first bone to break was my shoulder, it shifted and shattered as I fell to the cold ground. I dug my nails into the dirt and leaves screaming as my bones shifted. My spine was next, expanding and shifting into position. I whimpered as I curled into a ball, my body heating up into a fiery passion. Sweat poured from my body, trying to cool off my burning flesh. The heat was so excruciating that I thought I would black out, but I never did. My ankles stretched and pulled as if the pain of all my growth spurts were put into one second. I screamed out, praying to a God I wasn't sure could hear. I wanted the pain to stop.
I yanked at the chains with all my might though it was no use. Whatever was holding me would not budge. My wrists burned as the bindings pressed against my skin. My flesh pealed away before my eyes, in ways I've only seen before with vampires and vervain. "Elena," a familiar feminine voice echoed in the trees and I narrowed my eyes searching for the source. "This is your fault..." a horrid laugh followed suit.
"What did I do!?" I shouted as my wrists cracked. I screamed out in pain, wishing it would just end. "What did I..." I trailed off as my chest convulsed inside of me. My ribs cracked and shattered and the pain shot through me. I could no longer breathe the pain was so bad.
"You killed him..." the voice echoed and I cried into the night. I sobbed against the dirt, feeling my heart break at the news. I had killed someone...the guilt was destroying me more than the transformation was.
"I didn't mean to kill him! please make it stop!" I cried out and my other shoulder shattered and shifted. I cried out and my hands turned into paws. My eyes burned and I could now see through the darkened forest. I felt fangs pierce through my gums and I scratched at my face. I couldn't take it, I couldn't take it anymore!
"Elena..."
"Please stop!" I shouted at the voice. "I'm so sorry! please make the pain stop!"
"Elena!"
I cried out, sitting up in bed. Hands held me steady as I panted, still caught in my dreams. I cried into the warm body that held me, sobbing as I trembled beneath the originals grip. "Elena..." Klaus spoke softly, carefully. "Elena, are you okay?" I shook my head and sobbed into his chest, the guilt still consuming me in all my entirety. I had killed his brother, I had helped kill his brother. "shh," Klaus whispered sweet nothings in my ear as he rocked me. I felt my body relax in his embrace, and I moved my gaze to meet his.
"What..." I looked over at my door, seeing it was closed. I wasn't in Klaus' room why did he come in here? "Why are you in here?" I asked sniffling.
"I heard you screaming, I figured it was another nightmare," He whispered to me. I nodded understanding and I blushed under his gaze. The darkness of the room did nothing to hide the brightness of the blue in his eyes.
"I'm sorry..." I felt a tear fall down my cheek and he reached up to wipe it away, caressing me. I leaned into him, finding comfort in the way he soothed me.
"Was it the same dream?" I nodded not wanting to go into detail about it. It was essentially the same, only this time, a voice was reminding me of the horrid truth. "You turned into a wolf?" I nodded again closing my eyes and resting my head against his chest. He continued to rock me as we fell into peaceful silence. I relaxed under his touch and let him trace circles on my arm.
"I killed him..." I mumbled against him. He chuckled lightly and rested his chin on the top of my head.
"No, Elena, I killed him," Klaus told me seriously. "You saved me..."
"By sentencing your brother to death..." my voice cracked as my chest pained in memory. He pulled me tighter against his body, my pain radiating through me. "What's wrong with me...?"
"You just feel too deeply Elena, you're too compassionate..." the hybrid spoke honestly and I nodded listening. "You let your emotions consume you, in ways I've never seen a human do."
"I'd make an awful vampire," I joked and he laughed.
"Yes, you would. I'd have to compel you to turn off your emotions..." an awful, wonderful idea plagued my thoughts and I looked to Klaus.
"Can you do that to me now? Compel me to not feel?" I pleaded with my eyes, nearly begging him to do it. The idea was wonderful, so wonderful and awful all at the same time.
He looked down upon me sadly, his eyes finally displaying a shred of emotion. "No," he shook his head, his words filled with so much depth. "Your compassion is who you are Elena, I would never take away your soul. I'm not a monster..." I smiled softly and sighed defeated.
"Can you just hold me then? Until I fall back asleep?" I asked, trying to not sound so pathetic. He nodded and we laid down. I rested my head on his torso as he wrapped his arm around me. I couldn't help but nuzzle into his warm embrace. My mind drifted as I felt my body relax. Klaus continued to trace soothing circles on my arm as I focused on my breathing. Soon, my body relaxed enough for me to fall into a dreamless sleep.