Elijah had me back by eight thirty that night. Before accompanying me to the door, he'd stared into my vessel's eyes as the car had settled around us. He had learned more of me during dinner, but still did not know what I was. Even so, he was reticent to use his compulsion upon me. Somehow, I had granted him a gift, the peace of which still lingered in his mind.

In the end, he escorted me to the door of the little house and bid me goodnight.

The mother had been waiting for my return and asked several pointed questions as soon as I stepped foot inside. How had we met? How old was he? Was I planning to see him again?

My answers had not pleased her. She had followed me to the vessel's room, insisting the whole way that Elijah was too old for me. And wasn't it too soon after my recent illness to think about dating anyone, anyway? My insistence that it hadn't been a date was ignored, and instead I endured an hour of the mother's lecturing.

I understood Sophia's vexation with her by the time she finally left me to change and go to bed.

But instead of sleeping I sat by the window and stared out, up at the stars, as I did every night. Only that night, I thought of Elijah.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ The Long Way Down ⋅.} ───── ⊰

He returned shortly after breakfast the next day.

Seated on the sofa and watching a Sunday morning sermon with the mother, I was not expecting to see him so soon. The mother reluctantly let him in, her face carved of stone. "Elijah," she said, voice flat.

"April. How nice to see you again," he said, voice smooth as he smiled for her.

The mother did not look impressed.

I stood and strode across the living room to join them at the door. "Hello, Elijah," I welcomed, sounding considerably warmer than the mother had.

His lips tilted upward. "Hello, Sophia."

"Is there something we can do for you?" the mother asked as she folded her arms across her chest.

Elijah's eyes continued to gleam with amusement. "Actually, I came to return this." From his pocket emerged a charm bracelet. "I found it this morning and figured it must be yours."

I blinked, having forgotten the vessel even wore it. Though, as the charms were gifts from her mother and several friends, it was very precious to Sophia. I held out my hand and said, "Thank you," as he placed it back in my palm.

"Of course," he replied, head tilting.

"Yes, that was very thoughtful," the mother grudgingly granted of Elijah.

His smile lifted a bit higher. "I'm on my way to survey some of the town's historical sites. It was hardly out of my way."

"A legion of angels reaches out for us!"

I stiffened. Slowly, I turned my head to see a new preacher was on the television. A man in his fifties who stood behind a podium, a background of a blue sky filled with clouds and heavenly light behind him as he reached out towards the audience.

Elijah and the mother's heads turned to follow me as I moved from the doorway to approach the television.

"Can you feel their divine presence?" The new preacher asked, spreading his hands before pointing to the camera. "And if you do, there's nothing to fear. Heck no! If the angels come a-knocking, you just let 'em on in and fill yourself up with their grace!"

"How—" I whispered.

"This is the Reverend Buddy Boyle in the Goin' for Glory hour wishing you a most blessed day. Amen."

The view of the Reverend Buddy faded into a commercial for the Blessing Channel's annual prayer drive.

My vessel's brows lifted as I wondered at what I had seen. Someone must have been listening.

Bartholomew controls one of the human's television channels, a voice echoed throughout the heavenly host. He prepares the way for more vessels.

He wishes to find Castiel, another voice added. We believe he may have something to do with the Fall.

Find Castiel.

Find Castiel!

CASTIEL!

"Sophie?"

I blinked, struggling to focus on the human and vampire now beside me, the former examining the vessel's countenance with fear. Not again, she thought once she saw my vessel's vacant-eyed stare while angelic voices rang with the command.

"I'm fine." I turned from her examination, concentrating on the Host as more information about Castiel's last known whereabouts were disseminated.

He was nowhere near Mystic Falls.

Relief stole over me. Castiel had caused the death of hundreds of our brothers and sisters. Apart from Lucifer himself, I was hard pressed to think of a more dangerous angel.

Even so, it was an order. I had to follow.

I looked to Elijah. "May I come with you?"

Elijah studied me quietly. "Touring historical sites?" he questioned, still searching my vessel's eyes as the mother had done. He was certain something had just happened to me, though he wasn't sure what. "I'm afraid it won't be very exciting."

"On the contrary." Touring meant roaming the town. "It sounds perfect."

"Sophia," the mother said, her tone censuring.

Lips pressing together, I struggled not to let my irritation show as I met the mother's displeased stare. Her concern over our age differences had gone from amusing to tiring. "I'll be fine," I told her shortly before meeting Elijah's gaze and leading him towards the door.

"Sophia," she warned as we strode to the door. Frustration had tightened her features as she watched me open the door. "We will talk about this, young lady."

My stare was just as unamused as her glare.

Elijah had an eyebrow cocked as he followed me out the door. As soon as it was shut, he said, "You risk punishment to visit a few sites of little importance?"

We reached his car, and as before, Elijah accompanied me to the passenger side so he could pull the door open for me. I looked up at him. "I have to get out." His head tilted, brow arching higher. Before lowering myself into the leather seat, I added, "And they're important to you."

His small smile made a reappearance before he pressed the door shut.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ The Long Way Down ⋅.} ───── ⊰

Jenna Sommers was a naturally upbeat woman with a friendly disposition wrapped up in a dry wit. Throughout the morning, she and Elijah got on very well with one another.

When she first sat in the car's passenger seat—I had moved to the back—she looked back at me with brows drawn together as she pulled her seatbelt on. "Hi," she said, before sending a questioning glance towards Elijah as he joined us.

"Miss Canning is a friend who's also interested in the history of the town," Elijah replied, voice smooth and unruffled.

"Oh. Cool." She grinned at me, still looking a little uncertain, before turning back towards the windshield as Elijah began backing out of the Gilbert driveway.

Half an hour later found the three of us walking along the human territory markers of several "older" properties. As they only dated back a century and a half, I didn't consider them very old. Elijah seemed to agree. Particularly as the two discussed the Fell family.

"The old Fell property actually starts just beyond that fence," Jenna said, eyes scanning a map she held in her hand.

Striding between us, Elijah stripped a fallen branch of its leaves as he replied, "Ah, the Fells. One of the Founding Families."

Jenna paused, lowering the map as she looked over at Elijah. "Why do you say it like that?"

Elijah, lips curled in amusement, replied, "My research showed me that this area," his hand stretched out to wave over the ground, "was actually settled almost two full centuries earlier. It was a migration of townsfolk from the northeast. Salem, to be precise."

Jenna's eyes rounded. "Massachusetts? As in the witch trials?"

Elijah nodded. "Which means the ever-lauded founding families… didn't actually found anything."

Jenna huffed a scoffing laugh. "Well," she said, gaze drifting back to the map, "I bet it was the men who made a big deal about being founders back in eighteen-sixty." She grinned as she added, "Men are very territorial."

But Elijah's sights were fixed on the approaching figure of another man. Alaric Saltzman. "Yes, they are," he replied as the Mystic Falls history teacher walked up the hill to join us.

Alaric was grinning, but something about it struck me as false. Perhaps I was getting better at reading human expressions.

Jenna's brows pressed together before she turned to Elijah and I. "Elijah, Sophia, this is my… friend. Alaric Saltzman."

"Yeah," Alaric said as he strode up to us. "I got your message about walking Elijah here through the old property lines. I thought I would tag along." Hands in his jacket's pockets, the bottom flared slightly as he spread them and shrugged. "You know, being a history buff and all." He smiled before setting sights on me. "You didn't mention Sophia would be here, too."

"Oh. Are you in Alaric's class, Sophia?" Jenna asked.

"Yes," I sighed.

Alaric smiled. "I'll have to give you some extra credit." I stared, unimpressed. His smile remained firmly in place, however, before his hands rose from his pockets and spread outwards. "Where to next?"

"I'm pretty curious about the freed slave property owners." Elijah looked to Jenna before adding, "You know, some say the descendants of the slaves are the true keepers of American history."

Alaric nodded with his fake, tight-lipped grin.

Jenna glanced between them before admitting, "Well, I only brought the surveys. I left that list in the car." She reached out and touched Elijah's arm before adding, "Just give me a sec," and started back for the Mercedes.

Alaric had turned to watch her go, and was just coming back around towards us when Elijah said, "Alaric Saltzman. You're one of those people on Elena's list of loved ones to protect."

Alaric's sights jumped to me, his brows pulling tightly together as confusion filled his gaze. Looking back at Elijah, he said, "So's Jenna."

Elijah blinked as he met Alaric's stare. "You don't have to be jealous." He gazed off into the distance before adding, "I don't really pursue younger women." The small smile made its reappearance as Elijah turned his head back towards Alaric, who simply stared, stone-faced, at him. "It's a joke, Ric, lighten up."

Alaric's brows jumped as he flatly said, "Right," and looked down.

Elijah patted him on the shoulder before striding past towards an approaching Jenna.

As his sights lifted, I found myself the subject of Alaric's stare once more.

I fixed a small smile to my vessel's lips before heading off after Elijah. The grass crunched behind me as Alaric followed.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ The Long Way Down ⋅.} ───── ⊰

We covered several wooded properties within the outskirts of Mystic Falls and, as I'd hoped, Castiel was not to be found at any of them. I dutifully reported this to the Heavenly Host as I sat in the back seat, riding with Elijah and Jenna to the Mystic Grill.

The Host was not surprised. They went on speculating on how Castiel had seemingly disappeared. But not before killing another angel.

Elijah opened the door for Jenna before reaching for mine, and then led us both into the crowded Grill. Alaric was already seated at a booth—across from the mysterious dark-haired vampire I'd seen the night I'd rescued Caroline. Another human woman sat beside him, a scarf wrapped around her neck.

The dark-haired man lifted his hand and greeted us with a "Hi."

"Hey, guys!" Jenna returned, smiling at the sight of Alaric.

The man smirked as we approached their table. Alaric moved over to give Jenna enough room to sit. "So I hear you two had quite a meeting of historical minds today."

Jenna adjusted her bag over her shoulder while Elijah smiled ever so slightly at the dark-haired man. "Yeah. I guess you could say that."

Alaric cut in. "As much as I'd like to continue this, I've got papers to grade."

The woman with the scarf disagreed with a "No. You know what? We should continue this." Her eyes lit up. "Let's have a dinner party."

The dark-haired vampire looked over at her. "Ooh. My girl." She smiled widely at his praise before he went on to say, "Full of good ideas." He looked back towards us, lifting a hand. "I'll be happy to host."

Elijah, however, was not smiling. His expression was blank as he stared down at the younger vampire.

The man went on. "Say tonight. Maybe?"

"It's good for me," the woman said. "Jenna?"

"I don't know if tonight works—" Alaric started.

But Jenna said, "Yeah. I'm free."

Alaric looked over at her. The two locked eyes, and I could see some sort of unspoken communication was taking place but with all the noise around me, couldn't hear their thoughts to discover what.

Elijah shrugged. "It'd be a pleasure."

The man grinned. "Great."

"Sister!"

Everyone in the Grill turned to find a man in his late forties with a considerable girth and a large bald spot standing in the doorway. Uncaring of the commotion, he hurried over to our table. Before anyone could get a word out, his face scrunched up and he burst into tears.

While the humans and vampires around me gaped, I grimaced. I could see the bright glow of another angel's grace stuffed into the homely little man. Conscious of the attention he attracted, I made to grab his arm to lead him out of the restaurant and to somewhere more private.

As soon as I was within arm's reach, I learned the angel in question was a cherub as his vessel's arms locked tight around me. The force of his hug as he lifted me off my feet and swung me side to side, bawling into my wig, would have crushed a human. And most cars.

"Oh, it's been awful! Just awful!" he hiccupped into the faux locks of blonde hair between great, heaving wails.

I knew better than to tell him to let go or to calm down. Might as well tell the sun not to burn. Instead, I used what mobility I still had to pat his vessel on the back.

I had not counted on Elijah's concern. "Is this man bothering you, Sophia?"

The cherub froze, finally dropping me as he turned to aim an affronted stare at Elijah. "Bothering—of all the—of course I'm not bothering her!"

But Elijah merely arched a brow before looking to me.

"He's not bothering me," I muttered, grabbing the cherub's arm and pulling him towards the door. "Just—give me a minute, please."

It wasn't just Alaric, Jenna, the woman, the blue-eyed vampire, and Elijah who watched me drag the sputtering cherub from the restaurant, but the rest of the Grill's patronage as well.

Thankfully, the cherub didn't try to fight being pulled out of the building. Instead, he was eager to follow, like a big, overweight, human-sized, balding puppy. I led him around the building's corner and down a set of concrete stairs into an alleyway.

Once we were away from the eyes of any humans, I dropped his arm and stared. "Who—"

"Yael," he said immediately.

I nodded and replied, "Charmeine."

Yael nodded back, big brown eyes staring beyond my vessel, seeing straight to my grace.

I glanced around again to make certain no humans were near before frowning at Yael. "You must be more careful, brother," I chided.

It was difficult to keep up my stern glare as Yael's entire vessel drooped into a miserable slump. "I know," he said sadly. "It's just—so good to see someone else."

I sighed, reaching out to pat his arm. "What's wrong, Yael?"

"Everything!" the little cherub cried, grace vibrating with tension. "Everything is wrong! I can't fly. I can't get home." He plucked at his vessel's brown knit sweater. "My vessel—I know I should be grateful to have found one, but it's so difficult. He's married! With two teenage children!" His eyes started to water. "It's awful. All the wife does is complain and insult me. The children are rude and loud. No one listens to a word I say. Not even the family's dog." Tears were running down his round face by the end. "I used to love humans. But after living as one of them for so many weeks—I hate them! I want nothing to do with another one ever again! Father help me, I wish I could smite that terrible, spiteful woman!"

I grimaced, reaching out to pat his arm again. "I'm sorry, brother."

"And then there's Raziel," he said with a scowl.

I blinked, recognizing the name. "Raziel? Of Anna's old garrison?"

Yael nodded. "Yes. He fell here, too." He sighed. "I sensed him and sought him out, but he was so mean."

"Mean?"

Yael rolled his eyes as he said, "You know soldiers. He's staked out the bridge. Been living under it like some kind of grumpy troll since the Fall." Yael shuffled on his feet before adding, "I tried to tell him he should take his vessel back home before someone notices it's missing, but Raziel won't hear of it." The little cherub became more agitated as he added, "He even threatened to stab me if I tried hugging him again!" His eyes grew round and watery. "I mean, who does that?!"

"I think everyone's been under a lot of stress, lately," I said lamely. "I wouldn't take it personally."

Yael harrumphed.

Before I could attempt to soothe his ruffled feathers, I sensed three souls approaching. We both looked up the stairs in time to see Elijah, the dark-haired vampire, and Alaric appear at the top landing. "Everything alright?" Alaric asked.

"Why do they keep asking that?" Yael asked, irritation tightening his vessel's voice as his grace flared.

"I'm fine," I assured the two vampires and the human. I looked back to Yael. "I will see you later."

Yael looked ready to burst into tears again. "What about Raziel? If he doesn't go home—"

"I will speak to him," I assured the little cherub.

His arms wrapped around me and pulled my vessel into another bone-crushing hug. I forced a smile up at the three incredulous men at the top of the stairs while Yael sniffled into my wig. "Oh, thank you! I didn't want to go back there." In a softer voice he admitted, "He frightens me."

I patted his back and said, "Do not worry. I'll see to the matter."

"Thank you, sister," he sniffed before releasing me.

Yael watched my retreat up the stairs with doleful eyes as I rejoined Elijah, Alaric, and the other vampire at the top.

"You know that man?" Alaric asked as they led me back towards the front of the Grill, where Jenna and the woman with the dark-haired vampire waited, concern tightening their expressions.

I forced a smile. "Yes. He is… family." The three men looked unconvinced, ironically. I didn't bother to try persuading them it was the truth, merely continued to keep up my smile.

As we rejoined the two human women, plans were made to return to the dark-haired vampire's house later that evening.

Elijah then dropped Jenna off at her house before taking me home.

This time, the ride was not entirely quiet. "Who was that man, Sophia?"

I blinked, diverting my gaze from the houses passing by outside the windows to Elijah's expressionless face. "Family. As I said."

"He called you sister." I remained silent as I stared at his profile. After a moment, his gaze left the road to slide to me. "Who is Raziel?"

I sighed. "Another member of my family."

Elijah hummed. "What business do you have with him?"

I returned to watching him silently.

Elijah's lips lifted at one corner as he turned onto the little blue house's cracked driveway. Shifting the car into park, he turned to me.

His pupils contracted to points. "Who was the man you spoke with at the Grill?"

I could feel the sudden intrusion of magic into my vessel's brain. It was attempting to coerce the mind to speak the truth. Of course, I was not my vessel's mind, so it had no effect on me. Still, I was intrigued at the ability.

Elijah waited several moments before blinking. She cannot be compelled, he realized. His gaze narrowed.

"I appreciate your concern for my wellbeing," I settled on saying after the silence grew thick and tense, "but its unnecessary." Amusement colored my next words. "Believe me, he couldn't hurt a fly."

Elijah continued to stare, his thoughts troubled.

I reached for the door's handle when he suddenly said, "I will pick you up at five thirty."

My brows drew tight as I turned back to meet his stare. "Tonight?"

"For Damon Salvatore's impromptu dinner party." One brow rose. "Unless I presume too much?"

"No," I said quietly.

He nodded. I pushed the Mercedes' door open and stepped out.

His sights remained fixed on me as I rounded the car and walked up to the door. Even as he backed out of the driveway, he watched me until the car rolled past the house.

Not even the mother's sour mood and stern words could damper the sudden sense of… anticipation.