The next update. Enjoy! A Thank you to Senema for her beta and her always constructive critic and tips. All remaining mistakes are my own.
Chapter 19
As Elijah had predicted to Clint, Natasha und Steve, who had told the others everything, the agents left town and moved on. Out of caution, he had some of his people follow them unobtrusively to get the confirmation that they really had left, which he got.
After Elijah told them this, the next day T'Challa drove with Tajo and Okoye to their plane to see if the route to Wakanda was clear for them.
When they were back at the mansion three hours later, T'Challa asked one of the staff, if he could speak with Elijah. The staff member went away for a few minutes and when she came back, she brought him to a closed door in Elijah's wing.
T'Challa politely knocked at the door and after he got the invite to enter, entered Elijah's study. "Can we talk?"
"Of course, T'Challa. Please, take a seat!" Elijah leaned back.
"I think we can leave tomorrow", said T'Challa and sat down. He was pleased that they could finally leave, because there were too many responsibilities waiting for him at home, not the smallest among them the preparations for his official accession to the throne of Wakanda.
"This is good news for everyone", replied Elijah calmly.
"Yes, Okoye is already telling the others." T'Challa looked around curiously. This was the first time he saw Elijah's study; it hadn't been part of the tour when Elijah showed them the house. What immediately struck him were the many books. "Are there books among them you haven't read?"
Elijah chuckled. "I have actually read them all."
He got up, went to a glass case, opened it and carefully took out a book, which he gave to T'Challa. He saw immediately that it was a Bible, a very old one. He gasped. "Is this an original Gutenberg Bible?"
"Yes it is and probably one of the best preserved examples still in existence today." Elijah smiled proudly. "Johannes Gutenberg was a very interesting man, we were friends. This one was among the first copies printed and a gift from him."
T'Challa opened it reverently and saw that there was a long dedication written inside, but he couldn't read the old-fashioned handwriting in Old High German. "What does it say?"
"To my friend Elijah, thank you for believing in me and supporting me. I could never have done it without you." Elijah translated it readily and smirked. "Of course, this is only an approximate and abridged translation, at that time in the past the language was a lot more flowery and extravagant."
T'Challa closed it gently and handed it back to Elijah, who immediately put it back in the glass case. "Thank you, Elijah." He looked at the books with a completely different appreciation now. "How many of these are first editions and signed by the writer?"
"A lot", Elijah admitted, shrugging. "I have always been interested in knowledge, in learning about other cultures." For a second there was an unbelievable tiredness in his eyes. "Sometimes the decades pass so slowly while on the other hand everything changes so quickly. For me, books belong to the few things that remain unchanged."
T'Challa swallowed in dismay. This glimpse into the mind of such an old being was something special, and also kind of tragic. "Are you aging at all?"
"No, I'm immortal, but of course I can be killed. But there isn't much that can do that", Elijah admitted. "And immortality can be so boring sometimes."
"So you look for projects to keep you busy, whether it's something like the Gutenberg Bible or people", T'Challa astutely concluded.
"Projects are easy and unfortunately always over too quickly but people remain fascinating", Elijah said honestly. "However, I must admit that I have seldom come across such interesting humans as Clint or Wanda."
"Do they know that?" T'Challa asked uncertainly. "That they are a remedy against your boredom?"
"I think they do." Elijah seemed impassive. "Clint is a very perceptive man and he knows more about me than any normal person has known about me in centuries. And what's even rarer, he accepts me for who I am without fear.
And as far as Wanda is concerned, I feel a certain protectiveness towards her, she touches my heart." Now Elijah looked slightly abashed. "It's a very rare reaction for me unless it involves my family or my lovers."
T'Challa looked thoughtful. "So you involve yourself in their life?"
Elijah shrugged and asked instead, "What did you find out at your plane?"
T'Challa took the hint that this topic was for Elijah closed and accepted it. That had already been more answers than he had expected. "The satellites are aimed at the next search area, and the search patterns of the helicopters and airplanes have also shifted." He shrugged. "The coasts are also not so closely guarded anymore; Tajo has found plenty of safe flight passages for us. Can we stay until tomorrow and then leave in the night?"
"Yes, of course, I think that's the most sensible thing to do", agrees Elijah. "There are still enough strangers around. I bet there are a few agents among them just waiting for you to emerge from hiding too quickly once the obvious pursuers are gone."
"In any case, I want to thank you for hosting us. I know you only did it because of Clint and Wanda." T'Challa pulled out a phone and pushed it across the table towards Elijah, who picked it up and looked curiously at T'Challa. "This is a Wakanda made phone. There is nobody, who can crack its encryption so all your conversations will be completely secure." T'Challa smiled slightly. "This way you can stay in touch with Clint and Wanda without fear of betraying yourself or them."
"This is a very generous gift, thank you." Elijah swallowed. "I have to admit I wanted to stay in touch with them but didn't know how."
"You're welcome. And should you ever need help…" T'Challa shrugged. "Wakanda owes you a debt of honour, and it's important for me to show my appreciation."
Elijah smiled inscrutably. "If you ever come across something that you don't understand and that has nothing to do with aliens, you can also contact me. I've seen plenty of strange things in my thousand years. Even if I don't know about it or can help you, there's a good chance I can put you on the right track."
T'Challa frowned slightly. "Thanks, but is there even anything other than aliens that is responsible for strange happenings?"
Elijah chuckled softly. "You would be very surprised." He stood and held out his hand to T'Challa. "It was a pleasure to meet you. Maybe we'll see each other again sometime."
T'Challa took the hand and shook it. "I can only return the sentiment. Oh yes, there is one more thing. Tajo asked if he could speak to you too."
"He's welcome to come. I wanted to talk to him about your departure anyway," Elijah replied.
"To influence his memory that he can't find his way back here or know where this place is", T'Challa said a little uneasily.
"As we agreed beforehand", Elijah said calmly.
T'Challa sighed. "As we had agreed", he repeated. With a last nod to Elijah, he left the study to go to Tajo.
Tajo was a little nervous as he approached the closed door. While he had seen Elijah from time to time during his stay here, they had hardly exchanged a private word apart from greetings.
He knocked and heard Elijah asking him to come in in a volume that a normal human on the outside wouldn't have heard. As a vampire, Tajo didn't have that problem; he stepped inside.
"Hello, Tajo", Elijah greeted him and eyed him seriously. "Sit down. Are you hungry?"
"No thanks, after my return I first went to my room and ate there", Tajo answered truthfully.
"Are you feeling comfortable here or did you have problems that I should know about?" Elijah asked politely.
"No, everything is alright. You and your people were very hospitable." Tajo hesitated. "Everyone is cautious around me, but none of them are hostile. I've had very different experiences with witches."
"Who hasn't", murmured Elijah. "T'Challa said you wanted to see me. What can I do for you?"
Tajo took a deep breath as he gathered all his courage. "I wanted to ask you to send a message from me to this Marcel."
Elijah raised an eyebrow before narrowing his eyes. "Wouldn't it be safer for you if he didn't know about your existence?"
"No, I want him to know about me", Tajo answered hoarsely.
"What's your message?" Elijah asked softly.
"That he's a bastard and that one day I'll take my revenge for ruining my life. It may take a few decades, but I'll make sure he never destroys anyone else's life ever again like he did mine. He better start looking over his shoulder."
Tajo felt better after saying those words. Ever since Elijah had told him, what his fate would have been if he had died in New Orleans, this had bothered him.
A smile played around Elijah's lips, but it was neither condescending nor amused. In fact, he gave the impression that he liked what he was hearing. "If Marcel were here now, he would tell you that I've destroyed a lot more lives than he has."
"Maybe, but not mine", Tajo growled. "I don't care what you have done before. And if it weren't for you, we'd be in government hands by now." He looked upset. "Especially the thought of Wanda being locked up again makes me sick."
He had befriended Wanda, who had even promised to keep his secret. Of course, she had known immediately that he was also a vampire.
"I'll take your message to him", Elijah promised, smirking. "To be honest, I'm looking forward to seeing his face when he realizes that there will be consequences for his actions. When you're ready, just let me know so I can watch." He looked very entertained. "By the way, Marcel is 200 years older than you, so you should think of a good battle plan beforehand." Now Elijah's grin grew even more wicked. "Are you still in touch with Damon?"
Tajo felt quite unnerved by Elijah's grin and nodded nervously. "He gave me his phone number in case I have more questions."
"Then get some tips from him on how to deal with older vampires and defeat them. He's an expert in this and has even outmanoeuvred me and Niklaus." Elijah chuckled. "Say hello to him for me, but perhaps you better do it at the end of the conversation."
"I will do that", Tajo assured him, still quite uncertain.
"Relax, I won't hurt you." Elijah eyed him thoughtfully. "We still have a few points to clarify."
"You want to erase my memory of where this place is", Tajo said calmly.
"It's necessary, yes", Elijah said. "Not only for my safety and that of my people, but also for yours. You'd better keep quiet about the fact that we met. If word gets out that you know me, you could become a target for my enemies."
Tajo swallowed uneasily. "I will keep quiet", he promised.
Now it was Elijah's turn to hesitate. "There's something else we should also discuss."
"What then?" Tajo asked curiously.
"I want you to take care of Clint, Laura, the kids and Wanda for me and protect them if the need arises. Your skills as a vampire would be a surprise to any enemy that makes it to Wakanda." Elijah looked at him questioningly. "Or would that represent a conflict of loyalties for you?"
Tajo shook his head. "No, that isn't a conflict for me. T'Challa promised them protection and safety, plus I like Wanda."
"Yes, I know you have become quite good friends." Elijah looked pensive.
Tajo wasn't surprised that Elijah knew about this. He could imagine, there wasn't much that escaped his attention. However, he felt that there was something else, Elijah wanted from him. "There's something else you want from me, right?"
Elijah bowed his head. "Yes, there is, you are very observant. I would like you to inform me if anything unusual should happen and you think my presence could be useful. But it is important that you smuggle me into the country without notifying T'Challa."
Tajo's eyes widened. "Okay, that's already more of a conflict of loyalties."
"I can imagine that." Elijah looked bewildered. "I don't even know exactly why I'm asking you for this. Call it a gut feeling!"
Tajo looked down and thought about it. "You could compel me to do it", he finally said uncomfortably.
"Yes, I could, but I don't want to." Elijah looked serious. "You have loyalty and I admire this. Ultimately we have the same goals, keep the people we care about safe. And I feel, I could be a trump card that nobody expects." He chuckled softly. "And I don't have to tell you that an Original's fighting prowess can tip the scales and be very decisive when push comes to shove."
Tajo shook his head. No, Elijah really didn't have to tell him that. "I have to think about it", he finally said.
"And you will get the time for it." Elijah smiled wryly as he picked up the phone that T'Challa had given him and showed it to Tajo. "And you don't have to worry that anyone can eavesdrop on us. I'll give you the number. Think about it and when the time is right and it will be necessary, you can call me."
"I will do that", Tajo promised. To be honest, he was quite surprised that T'Challa had given Elijah technology from Wakanda.
"Okay, now look at me!" Elijah commanded and Tajo obeyed. "Once the plane takes off, you will forget about any landscape features that might lead you back to this place. You will forget everything that you have read or seen that can help you with finding this place."
"I'll forget everything", Tajo repeated dazedly.
"As soon as you no longer need the data from the navigation computer, you will also delete this data in such a way that nobody can ever recover it", Elijah said urgently.
"I'll erase everything", said Tajo.
"I will allow you to remember my compulsion, so that you know which memories I have taken from you", Elijah elaborated.
Tajo was relieved. Of course, he also knew that if Elijah wanted to, he could make him believe anything he wanted and he would never know. "Thank you. It's easier to take when you know why you don't have memories of something."
Elijah got up. "It was interesting to meet you. I expect you will go far if you survive."
He stretched out his hand and Tajo took it. "Thank you. Elijah. I don't want to keep you any longer. I'll see you tomorrow at our departure."
"Yes, see you tomorrow", Elijah replied calmly.
Tajo left the study and although he wasn't afraid of Elijah in that sense, he was still happy to leave unscathed.