A/N: I'm getting back into the groove of this, so I'd classify myself as fairly new here. Let me know your thoughts (nicely). I've been working hard on this story, trying to capture the pairing. Enjoy!
She had promised him to tell him what his mother had said to her. She gave him her word. So, what was she supposed to do now? Could she really tell him all of this? Elena knew if she did, her chances of getting rid of Klaus would vanish. Elijah and all of rest of the original siblings (except for Finn, maybe) would do everything in their power to stop Esther. And that included killing their own mother. And Esther was their last hope.
Picking up her dress, Elena continued to walk through the large hallways, listening to her heels click against the white marble floor. Everything in the Mikelson mansion was pristine. The white walls and gold trim, the shining marble floor. Elena felt empty inside.
Could she really allow Esther to do what she wanted? The idea of getting rid of her own children was baffling to say the least. While she was giving them what they wanted – a way to get rid of Klaus – it was also taking lives, ones that she cared about. Was that worth the price?
Elena stayed in her thoughts walking slowly down the hall. Her dress glittered against the light of the main room. Once more fixing the glove that she had pulled off earlier to give Esther some of her blood, she approached the balcony of the main staircase. Could she go through with it?
After all of this time she'd finally be able to get rid of Klaus for good. She could live a Klaus free life. He had caused her so much pain and loss. His existence was a threat to her family and herself. He had killed her loved ones.
But yet in doing so would mean no more Elijah. No more Rebekah even. And while she didn't know Kol or Finn, she felt they still deserved a chance to live.
She watched as the party continued in full swing below her, listening to the chatter and laughter. Off in the distance, was Mayor Lockwood chatting both animatedly and happy with people. From there, not too far of a distance away was Matt and Rebekah. He was smiling at her, making the blonde vampire almost blush. Elena felt happy for the pair. Her ex deserved happiness, even if it was with a supernatural creature. And Rebekah deserved to have a boy who could love her like Matt was capable of. Maybe for once her friend could finally have someone that wanted the things in life that he wanted for them when they were a couple.
Klaus was talking with Caroline by the bottom of the staircase banister. He was smiling and charming her with a story as he watched Caroline's face light up. Elena smiled. While her best friend wouldn't admit it, the bad hybrid had captivated her attention. Caroline chatted and laughed alongside Klaus. It comforted Elena at the way the hybrid made Caroline smile.
Her gaze moved to Stefan, brooding in the corner watching everyone. He was so different now with his emotions off, yet he still respected her in some way. He had gone along with plans of hers that made sense, and for that – while she no longer felt she was in love with him – she respected.
And then there was Elijah. He was talking with some girl in a red dress who was clearly flirting with him in the crowd of people. Watching as the townsperson flung her hair behind her shoulder, Elena had noted that she also puffed her chest out so that Elijah could get a better look at her breasts. While he took no mind to her actions, seeming actually disinterested in such moves, there was a twinge of jealousy Elena felt rising in her own chest. She halfheartedly wished to be the one to capture the original's attention. He spoke with such ease and grace with everyone; she reminisced about the way he would take care with her, watch her when he thought she wasn't looking, and always give her his undivided attention.
Thoughts of the previous interactions with his mother came back to her and suddenly she was glad his attention was elsewhere. Feeling slightly sick, she shook off the feelings and moved to rejoin the party.
Picking up her dress once more to walk down the grand stairs, Elena searched through the crowd. Maybe she could just go. Maybe she would be able to slip away from the crowd. She didn't owe anyone anything. It was a cold-hearted thought, but in truth, it had crossed her mind. Taking in a breath, she stopped in the middle of the crowded floor and braced herself. Stay or go? It was now or never.
"So how was my mother?" a voice calmly asked her in her ear. Elena took in a sharp breath and begrudgingly turned back to look back him. So, he had found her. Swallowing, she was glad his stare was momentarily preoccupied elsewhere, watching as Esther conspired with Finn on the staircase.
"Intense," Elena answered nervously.
Elijah glanced over at her after hearing the quiver in her voice. He felt a twinge of guilt for asking for such great and possibly dangerous information out of the girl. He and Elena had a very complicated relationship and he could tell she was trying to be strong and not show her distress. "And for what reason did she need to speak with you in private?"
Waiters came by with glasses of champagne, pausing between them for the pair to take. Grabbing both for the two of them, he took the glasses from the waiter's tray and set one in her gloved hand as she stared away from him.
"Elena," Elijah called politely, waiting for the human to look at him.
Esther stood on the grand stairs watching from afar as her son stood in front of the doppelgänger. He was waiting for an exchange of words to happen between them and Esther could guess its concerns. Giving Elena a knowing look, she waited, as if to signal, your move.
"Elena," Esther's voice rang out to her as she mixed the solvent with the doppelgänger blood. Elena slipped her black satin glove back on and swiftly went to leave the room. She didn't want to be there any longer than she had to be.
"If you tell anyone about this– especially my children-" The words made Elena slow. "I will make sure to have you killed. There is no place I won't find you. Do not betray me."
Elena sucked in a breath and looked down at the finger she had given Esther for her blood.
"I mean what I said, Elena. My children are abominations. I cannot let them continue to exist."
Filled with regret, Elena stood there with her back to the mother. She could feel Esther's eyes boring into her. It wasn't the death threat which bothered Elena, rather it was the sinking feeling of betrayal she felt for hurting Elijah and the rest of the original siblings. Collecting herself, she didn't dare look back at the original witch as she pushed her shoulders back and continued through the heavy set of doors and back out into the hallway.
"Elena," Elijah called for a second time, watching as her stare was captivated by his mother. He put a hand on her arm for reassurance breaking her out of her reverie. He spoke to her again, clear and with caution in his voice. "Should I be concerned about my mother's intentions?"
She opened her mouth to speak but was afraid of what she wanted to come out. Should she lie to him? Could she tell him what she had done? If she did…but…no-…this was Elijah. The man she cared about. She trusted him. Could she really let him die?
Sneaking one last glance over at Esther, she observed how Finn was right by her side, staring at the pair as well.
"She just wanted to apologize," Elena said looking down at her glass of tainted champagne. She swallowed hard feeling the waves of intimidation hit her.
Elijah stared at her intensely, seeking out more information, "…for trying to have me killed." She said it in a tone that she hoped Elijah would pick up on, but she was having no such luck.
"So, it's true, then?" He stepped closer to her, staring down at her and making her breath catch in her throat. "She's forgiven Klaus?" Elena blinked a few times feeling rattled. Elijah had looked happy at such news, cracking the smallest of joyous smiles. She had rarely seen such happy emotions on his face. Guilt plagued her and she felt horrible for Elijah. She wasn't sure if she could keep up such a lie, but with both Esther and Finn staring at her, she wasn't sure what she could possibly do to keep them both safe.
Staring in his eyes, attempting to ignore her own heart beat in her ears, she forced herself to say the words she knew Esther and Finn were looking to hear. "It's true."
The fake smile she was trying to plaster on her face couldn't quite reach her eyes and she was hoping he would notice. He knew her. Couldn't he see this?
Elena was starting to feel sick at her own words. She wanted nothing more to exclaim the opposite now, no matter the cost of her own life. But she knew how powerful Esther was. She couldn't risk her loved ones, or Elijah getting hurt without first trying to please the mother and make her believe Elena would go along with this.
Elijah stared at her, seeing something was off with her. Her heart was beating furiously, a tell of lies. But why would she lie? He wondered. Now he wasn't sure what to believe.
The dinging of a metal utensil against a champagne glass tore Elijah's attention on Elena.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen," Esther called to the crowd. "Waiters are coming around with champagne."
Elena swallowed hard as she watched everyone take new glasses. She realized just what choice she had to make. Now she had to just figure out how to successfully make sure he wouldn't drink the tainted champagne.
"I invite you all to join me in raising a glass."
Moving her hand slowly off her gown, Elena took Elijah's free hand and held it in hers, squeezing it tight. She didn't dare look at him, for worry his mother was watching, but she knew he was staring at her.
"It provides me with no greater joy than to see my family back together as one," Esther announced to the crowd. "I'd like to thank you all for being a part of this spectacular evening." Catching eyes with Elena, Esther stared down at her and made the slightest of nods to the doppelganger. "Cheers."
"Cheers," the crowd echoed making Elena's head go fuzzy.
"Cheers," Elijah said turning back to face her with a smile. He clinked their glasses together and she stared at it. Her eyes flashed down briefly to the entwined hands and she was begging every creature in the possible universe to stop this. Please, please, don't, Elena internally begged Elijah. She could feel Esther's gaze sweep to her other children, watching as they all drank the cocktail.
Elena couldn't think. Her brain and body were filled with panic. She watched as he raised his glass closer towards his face, waiting and watching her do the same. This couldn't be happening. Staring at the glass, her heart pounded. If she went back…if she stopped this, she would be signing her own death certificate. Not to mention leave a large doorway open for her loved ones to be caught in the crossfires. But if she didn't stop this…could she live with herself? Could she let the man she has come to value, and all the ones he loved and continued to fight for, die?
I can't, she panicked.
Taking his glass from his hands, she reached up her other hand which was clutching her own and placed it against his chest for leverage as she closed her lips against his.
Dumping his drink out as softly as she could on the floor next to them, Elena went to break the kiss, only to be surprised. Shock had dissipated from his body and he kissed her back. He was kissing her – and not a kiss, but rather, giving her many kisses. Pulling her closer, their lips continued to collide with one another. She felt her body softly mold against his as he moved, wrapping his arms around her slender waist.
As much as she thoroughly enjoyed the kiss and shocking rush of excitement at his reciprocating response, she pulled back, fluttering her eyes open down at the floor. She could feel the powerful stares of the crowd burning her skin and her feelings of uncomfortableness were showing to say the least. Glancing at the mess on the floor, she noted how very close it was to getting Elijah's shoes wet. Luck be with her though, it had puddled next to him instead, laying unconsumed on the floor.
She had done it.
"I-I have to go-…" Elena quickly noted, coming to a full realization what she repercussions were about to follow. Reluctantly pushing herself out of his arms, she went to set her drink on the waiter's tray to scurry off. As she did, she came to a realization. She couldn't leave anything behind. Esther could possibly use this. Acting quickly, Elena pretended to spill her drink once more. Knocking the drink down as she began to take her leave, the liquid splattered all over the tray and down to the floor. She knew she was making even more of a scene, but she couldn't let that deter her. She had to protect them all. "I'm so sorry," she apologized to the waiter, stepping back to avoid the mess.
Your move, she noted, returning Esther's glare with force. She knew the older woman comprehended exactly what she had done and why. She decided to interfere. So, she was against them, Esther thought to herself. Elena Gilbert has no idea what she has done.