Part 5

"'Look,' said the little bear. 'We found our way back home. We're safe now.'"

Faith sighed sleepily and curled up against Elijah's chest. Her little body felt warm. Elijah enjoyed reading to her, she was such a sweet child. His daughter. The first person who had ever loved him unconditionally. He doubted that he deserved her love, but he was more than grateful for it. For so long he had been alone, grieving for his family. She was the first light in his life for decades. She made him smile. Who knew that such a tiny person could hold that kind of power over him? She had wrapped him completely around her little finger. His precious little girl.

"Daddy?" she murmured sleepily.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Did you make sure there's no boogeyman under my bed?"

"Of course I did," Elijah replied smiling. "I also looked into the closet, no boogeyman there either."

"Are you stronger than a boogeyman?"

"Yes, I am. There's nothing my little girl has to be afraid of, I'm going to always protect you."

Elijah meant it, more than he had ever meant anything. He would have done anything for her. Just like any father would.


Dear Elijah

This is a lucky day for you and your family. I was planning to kill you all, but then I got a call from that lovely daughter of yours. She was willing to do anything to save her dear daddy and I was feeling generous, so I accepted her offer. I must say that she tasted delicious and I don't believe I've ever popped a sweeter cherry. But no need to worry, she loved every moment, you should have heard how she moaned. You can thank me for making your little girl a woman.

Best wishes

Lucien

Elijah couldn't move. The only thought in his mind was Faith. His little Faith. His sweet innocent daughter. Lucien had touched her. Hurt her. Forced her to… Elijah couldn't even form that thought. This couldn't be true. This had to be some kind of a sick game. Lucien was lying. He had to be.

"Elijah?" Kol's voice said, but Elijah barely registered his presence. Both he and Niklaus had seen the box. Elijah refused to look at it. Yet he picked up Faith's scent. He had seen her panties and the sheet. He knew what had happened to her. It was too much; he couldn't handle it.

"Elijah, she's here."

Elijah still couldn't move, not even when Faith entered the living room.

"Hey," she said nervously. "What…"

She didn't finish her sentence as she noticed the box. Elijah didn't have to look at her in order to sense her terror. Her heart was beating like a drum.

"Dad? I… I…"

It took a moment before Elijah found his voice.

"Tell me it's not true," he pleaded, although he already knew it was. "Tell me you didn't…"

"It's alright," she tried to calm him. That wasn't right, she certainly shouldn't have to worry about his feelings right now. He was her father, he should have been able to look after her, not the other way around. "I'm fine, I swear…"

"Are you out of your bloody mind?" Niklaus cut in. "You made a deal with Lucien?!"

"For you," she piped pleadingly. "For all of you. I wanted you to be safe…"

That was all Elijah could take. Someone had hurt his little girl. She had let that bastard hurt her in order to protect Elijah. No. No, he should have protected her. He had failed her in the worst possible way. No. There was no way in hell he would let Lucien get away with it. Elijah stood up, filled with rage.

"That bastard is dead."

"No!" Faith cried out, moving in front of Elijah. "Dad, listen to me…"

"He hurt you!" Elijah snarled. "I'm going to rip his heart out!"

"Stop it!" Faith shouted. "I'm not going to let you get yourself killed!"

"She's right, Elijah," Niklaus stated. "You can't just attack Lucien without a plan, not when he can kill you…"

"He hurt my daughter!" Elijah growled.

"I know and he's going to pay for it, but right now you need to calm yourself…"

Elijah was done listening to this, he was just about to zoom out when Faith pounced on him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.

"Dad, please," she pleaded and burst into tears. "I can't lose you, I can't. Please don't go."

Her tears cut him like a knife and his need to comfort her overruled his rage.

"Please, dad, I need you. Don't leave me."

"No, no, don't cry, sweetheart," he murmured, feeling helpless. "I'm right here."

"Don't leave me," she sobbed.

"I won't, I'm right here."

"What's going on?" Hayley's voice asked.

"Not a good time, wolf girl," Kol replied to her.

"Elijah? Are you okay?"

"He's not," Kol snapped. "Give him a freaking moment."

Elijah was struggling to pull himself together, he needed to be alone with his daughter.

"Could you all excuse us, please," he stated as calmly as he could.

"Of course," Freya replied.

Faith didn't let go of Elijah, not even when everyone else had left the room.

"It's alright, sweetheart," Elijah assured, gently rubbing his daughter's back. "You can let go; I'm not going anywhere."

"Do you promise?"

Elijah's heart ached to hear her shattered voice; he was ashamed of himself for causing her more distress.

"Yes, Faith, I promise."

She still hesitated for a moment before letting go of him. Tears were coursing down her cheeks, Elijah wiped them off gently with his thumbs.

"It's alright, sweetheart."

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I only wanted you and our family to be safe, I didn't mean to upset you."

Her words were like a knife in Elijah's heart. Again, he was deeply ashamed of his selfishness.

"No, no, don't apologize. I…" He paused, forcing himself to block his feelings out. Her wellbeing was all that mattered right now. "Are you alright? Physically?"

She bowed her head and nodded.

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure? Did he…"

"No," she assured. "He wasn't… rough or anything like that."

Elijah had to struggle to stay calm.

"Alright. Are you hurting right now, do you need blood?"

"No, I'm fine. He…gave me his blood."

They were both quiet for a while before Elijah managed to continue.

"You should have never…"

"It was my choice," she cut in firmly. "Are you saying that you wouldn't do anything to save my life?"

"That's not the same thing," Elijah murmured tensely. "I'm your father…"

"And I'm your daughter," she argued stubbornly. "You're my family. I love you and I would do anything for you. That's what families do."

All Elijah saw in his daughter's eyes was unconditional love. It brought tears to his eyes; he certainly didn't deserve her love.

"Faith…"

"I love you, dad," she said. "I can't lose you, so I need you to promise me you won't get yourself killed."

Elijah tensed.

"What he did to you…"

"It was my choice," she cut in firmly. "I chose to save my family and I don't regret it. Please, stay with me. I need you."

Elijah was quiet for a long while before he finally nodded. He wasn't going to cause his daughter any more distress, not after everything she had been through. Lucien would pay for what he had done to Faith, but not today.