The new chapter after almost three months, sorry for this but I wanted to finish my other story. Enjoy!
Been on sick leave this week and still feeling pretty miserable, so I could use a little pick-me-up. And as always I would love to hear your thoughts about the chapter.
Thank you to Senema for her beta, feedback and suggestions, which greatly improved this chapter. As always I changed a few things afterwards so any remaining errors are my own.
Chapter 14
After Rebekah had dropped off the bag at the police station, they'd taken the limo to uptown Los Angeles, where houses were getting bigger and more expensive.
"Vampires live here?" asked Linda amazed.
Rebekah chuckled. "Where else? A little tip, if you don't want anyone to notice you or be interested in certain eccentricities, move to an affluent residential area. Nobody wants to know their neighbours here and nobody cares if it gets a little louder."
"Rich people are very selfish", agreed Danny, who sat up front with the chauffeur to show him the way.
"Compel him not to leave the vehicle, this should be safe enough for him", Rebekah said when they finally arrived and parked in front of a big mansion.
"It's safe enough. Gwennie has made it a rule that chauffeurs and other staff are not to be bothered when visitors come", Danny replied calmly.
"Yes, that sounds like Gwennie", Rebekah said, amused.
They got out and the vampires outside gave them a scrutinising look. However, since Danny was with them, they let the unknown vampire and the human pass unmolested.
Linda could admit to herself that she was a little scared as she followed Rebekah into the big mansion.
Linda looked wide-eyed at the wild party that was going on. Vampires drank from humans but it didn't look like those were afraid or in pain.
"Don't worry, they are all here willingly", Danny said quietly. "They'll get blood afterwards and be as good as new. They are mostly the permanent partners of the respective vampire anyway."
Linda frowned. "Are these types of relationships between vampires and humans common?"
"It varies, but it always depends on the host of these kinds of parties", replied Rebekah, pushing through the crowd. "This is as safe and voluntary for humans as it can get. But of course there are other kinds of vampire parties and I would never take you there."
"Oh", Linda said weakly. However, she noticed that Danny remained right next to her and more than once prevented anyone from speaking to her.
Rebekah seemed to have forgotten about her at first glance, but it quickly became clear that this wasn't the case when a male vampire didn't let Danny stop him and brutally pushed him aside. He grabbed at Linda, who backed away in fear, but suddenly Rebekah stood between her and the vampire. Despite her high heels, she was almost a head shorter than the male vampire and much more petite.
"Leave her alone, she's under my protection", Rebekah said harshly.
"And who are you, blondie, that I should care about that", said the other vampire scornfully.
"Oh, simple as that, I'm Rebakah." With a casual movement far too quick for Linda to follow, Rebekah reached up and snapped the vampire's neck.
A large circle now formed around the small group and the music had stopped. The looks of the crowd were partly puzzled, partly annoyed, but no one made an aggressive move towards them.
Danny was standing next to Linda again, a reassuring hand on her arm. Rebekah had positioned herself protectively in front of the younger vampire and Linda.
Suddenly the crowd parted and a small, petite, black-haired woman with blue eyes walked through it. "What's going on here?" she asked imperiously.
"Hello, Gwennie", said Rebekah, grinning at the vampire she had sired long ago.
"Rebekah?" Gwennie stared at her, dumbfounded. "What are you doing in Los Angeles? Why didn't you let me know you were coming, then I could have thrown a real party for you."
Rebekah laughed. "I didn't know myself until this morning. We need to talk, Gwennie."
In the meantime, the male vampire had recovered from his short-lived death and got back on his feet. "She attacked me. You have to punish her, Gwennie."
Rebekah eyed him coolly. "You attacked my companions first. I would suggest you leave before I rip your heart out."
Gwennie looked back and forth between Rebekah and the vampire. "Is that true? Did you attack her companions?"
"The human is beautiful, I wanted to speak to her, but the Council's lapdog prevented me from doing so. I won't let a young vampire like him stop me." The vampire looked at Rebekah arrogantly. "Or you, blondie. You surprised me, you won't manage to do it again."
Rebekah straightened but before she could respond to the provocation, Gwennie intervened. "She's an Original, you idiot. She eats guys like you for breakfast."
The vampire backed away in fear and the crowd went deathly quiet as everyone stared at Rebekah, who was calmly looking at the crowd with a wicked grin.
Linda had to admit, she was surprised about the severe and unequivocal reaction prompted through the revelation of Rebekah's identity.
"Now that everyone knows who I am, I trust my companions will no longer be bothered while I'm having a private chat with Gwennie."
"Don't worry Rebekah." Gwennie surveyed the crowd coolly. "Anyone who dares, will answer not only to you but also to me. Music!" The music started again and the crowd dispersed.
Gwennie stared at the male vampire. "As for you, go away. Danny performs an important function with the Council on my behalf, so not only were you disrespectful to him, you were disrespectful to me as well. I'll think of a suitable punishment for you later."
The vampire slipped out cowed.
"Danny, stay with Linda and keep an eye on her", Rebekah said softly.
Gwennie gestured and two vampires walked towards her. "They're part of my court, they'll be on the lookout too." She looked at Linda. "I regret the incident."
"That's okay, it wasn't your fault", Linda replied, smiling uncertainly.
Rebekah and Gwennie left as the party slowly got going again. A couple of vampires came up to Linda and Danny. Danny, who knew them well, introduced them to Linda, which to her meant they were safe enough.
Nonetheless, Linda was careful not to reveal too much about herself. And whenever a vampire was too insistent on certain questions, Danny would step in and everyone would drop it.
Overall, Linda was enjoying herself and she could see for herself that in the end vampires weren't so different from humans either.
Rebekah and Gwennie returned after half an hour later. Rebekah looked pleased while Gwennie seemed shaken.
Gwennie cleared her throat. "Please listen to me!" The music stopped once more and everyone looked at her. "I want to inform you that all of the Originals except Kol are in Los Angeles right now."
Immediately chatter erupted and Linda could see that there was now a bunch of worried faces.
"Someone set a trap for Elijah Mikaelson and got him arrested for murder, he is currently in prison." Gwennie smiled wryly. "I don't think I need to tell anyone that this wasn't a particularly smart move of the person in question. Klaus is now in Los Angeles to find out, who's behind this and he's naturally not in the best of moods. And unfortunately there is now no one with him anymore, who can reason with him and stop him."
Linda saw the concern turn to panic and sheer fear.
"It looks like the Council, as well as werewolves and witches are involved in the plot. I was able to convince Rebekah that the vampire faction had nothing to do with it. We'll absolutely stay out of whatever will happen; and I don't need to tell you that something will happen. If the Originals want information, you will tell them anything they want to know or might be interested in learning. I have to end this party now, it is too important to pass this information on to everyone."
The guests murmured, but no one looked too unhappy that the party was over. Soon only Rebekah, Linda, Gwennie and Danny remained.
"Thank you Gwennie." Rebekah looked serious. "I don't have to tell you that if some vampires turn out to be involved, they won't survive this mistake."
Gwennie sighed. "I'm aware of that, but I'm not interested in messing with the Originals." She shuddered. "Leaving Elijah Mikaelson in prison is a recipe for disaster. I hope everything goes well at the bail hearing."
"I hope so, too." Rebekah looked at her watch. "If we hurry, we can get to the courthouse before Elijah." She hugged Gwennie. "I promise next time I'll call beforehand and then you can throw me a great party."
"Please do. Be careful of your heart, Rebekah. I don't like what you told me." Gwennie looked worried.
Rebekah sighed. "Me neither."
Gwennie looked at Danny. "You will accompany Rebekah and act as my liaison to the Originals. You can waive all your obligations to the Council."
Danny looked relieved. "Thank you Gwendolyne."
Gwennie walked them out to the limousine and waved after them when they left.
"So Gwennie didn't know about anything?" Linda asked curiously, when they had been driving for a few minutes.
"No, she immediately offered that I could compel her after I explained what was going on", Rebekah replied with relief. "Which I did, she's not involved."
"That's good", Danny said with relief.
"At least for the majority of the vampires", Rebekah said dryly. "You know there's a good chance that at least a few vampires are involved in the conspiracy."
"Yes I know." Danny looked distressed. "I just hope there aren't any friends of mine among them."
Linda patted his hand comfortingly. "Everything will be fine."
Danny smiled at her.
When they got to the courthouse, Elijah wasn't there yet. Linda just hoped he was okay. She couldn't wait to see him again.
xxxxx
As much as Elijah was happy about getting a bail hearing so soon, he didn't like having to appear in front of the judge in that hideous jumpsuit.
"Won't it make a bad impression and be disadvantageous for me if I appear like this in court?" Elijah asked worried.
Charlotte looked contemplative. "It's not exactly ideal", she admitted finally.
"Don't worry, Rebekah wanted to go to your hotel room and get you a fresh suit", Freya reassured her brother.
Elijah looked relieved and left the interrogation room with Freya and Charlotte, while Chloe and Dan followed.
As soon as he saw them, Sam's young partner came towards them with a bag. "A really hot blonde chick was here a while ago and left this for Elijah Mikaelson. I checked the bag; it's just a suit, underwear, a shirt and a tie."
"You are talking about my baby sister", said Elijah coolly, almost threatening, who didn't like it in the least when someone talked about Rebekah like that.
Freya shot Elijah a nervous look before taking the bag. "We're late, we should hurry."
Charlotte, noticing Freya's sudden nervousness, reacted at once. "Yes, we should. Elijah, I arranged for you an opportunity to freshen up and change your clothes at the courthouse."
"How many siblings do you actually have?" Chloe asked curiously, having overheard Elijah's comment.
"Two sisters and two brothers", Elijah answered softly. "I had two other brothers but they passed away a few years ago."
"Oh I'm sorry." Chloe was genuinely sympathetic.
Elijah smiled sadly. "Thank you Chloe."
"And what about your parents?" Chloe continued to ask.
"They're dead too", Elijah replied without sadness. "What's next?"
Chloe blinked a little at Elijah's indifferent reaction to the question about his parents, but then focused back on the matter at hand. "Dan and I will escort you to court since you're still under arrest."
They left the police station and arrived at the courthouse a few minutes later, where Rebekah was already waiting for him in front of the entrance with Linda and Danny. Chloe and Dan withdrew out of earshot so that the family could greet and chat privately.
Rebekah rushed towards him when she saw him and hugged him fiercely. "I was so worried about you, Elijah." She took a step back and looked him over carefully. "Are you ok?"
Elijah smiled at his sister. "I'm fine, Rebekah. Thanks for getting me a suit from my hotel room."
"You're welcome." Rebekah smirked as she took the time to comment on her brother's unusual getup. "I have to say that this jumpsuit suits you as well, albeit it is a rather unusual style for you. Be glad that Klaus or Kol don't see you in it."
"Not funny, Rebekah." Elijah glared at her playfully and Rebekah snickered.
Next, Elijah greeted Linda. "It's nice to see you again."
"Yes, I think so too." Linda smiled ruefully. "Although I now regret turning down your offer to bring me home."
"Don't worry", Elijah comforted her. "Whoever is responsible for this would never have given up and maybe then the situation would have turned out even worse for me." He looked at Danny next. "Who are you?"
"I'm Danny, sir", the young vampire replied nervously.
Elijah looked him up and down. "Danny for Daniel I suppose. What's your last name?"
"Yes, that's right. And Browning, sir."
"Pleased to meet you, Daniel", said Elijah kindly. "You can call me Elijah."
"Gwennie assigned him to be our liaison. Don't worry, he is trustworthy." Rebekah grinned slightly. "Klaus personally vetted him."
Danny involuntarily shuddered at the memory.
Elijah smiled sympathetically. Knowing how Klaus worked, he could imagine how it had gone for the poor guy. "So I take it, Gwennie is clean too?"
"Yes, she's on our side", Rebekah replied.
"Were you able to reach Kol?" asked Elijah next, who was worried about his youngest brother.
"Yes I could. He and Davina are warned, they'll be careful", Rebekah assured him.
"That is good." Elijah was relieved. "One less thing to worry about."
"Come with me so that Elijah can make himself presentable." Charlotte led the way and the group followed her.
Chloe and Dan brought up the rear again. However, when they reached the room, they stayed outside. They knew that the window of the room and the associated bathroom was barred and the rooms on the third floor.
Now that Chloe and Dan weren't in the room, Rebekah could tell Elijah everything that had happened at the club and afterwards.
"I don't like that", Elijah finally said simply. "I think these are preparations for a massive attack on us. And Kol's right, it sounds like our enemies are getting smarter."
"None of us like it." Rebekah sighed. "And I hate it when Kol is right, he always gets so bloody annoying when he is."
Elijah snorted but couldn't argue with his sister about that. He didn't ask if Kol had offered to come to Los Angeles and help him. If he had, Rebekah would have brought it up by now.
Charlotte showed him the associated bathroom, where Elijah had even the opportunity to shower.
Elijah couldn't describe how relieved he was to feel clean again and being able to wear one of his own suits. It relaxed him noticeably and he found his usual composure back. He hated not being dressed appropriately and while he didn't like the reasons for this longing for neatness, he couldn't get out of his skin either. A thousand years of habits and trauma were not so easy to overcome. His suits were still kind of an armour for him he didn't want to do without.
"All right, Charlotte, how am I supposed to behave myself in court? Elijah asked calmly.
"Let me talk. If the judge asks you questions, wait a moment to see if I agree. If I do, keep your answers short. You won't answer any of the prosecutor's questions, only I'll talk to him." Charlotte smirked. "I don't think I need to tell you to be polite, composed and to behave."
Freya laughed softly. "You're right, that is unnecessary. If it were Klaus on the other hand, it would be more difficult for you. However, he wouldn't play along the way Elijah does anyway. Where shall we sit?"
"Behind your brother. It is always important that the judge sees that the accused has the support of his family and friends." Charlotte hesitated. "How high can I go with bail if I have to negotiate with the prosecutor?"
"No limit", Rebekah replied calmly and Freya nodded in agreement.
At Charlotte's surprised reaction, Rebekah explained. "Don't forget, we've lived for a thousand years, we've had enough time to accumulate wealth."
"Will Klaus also come to the trial?" Charlotte asked.
"Maybe." Elijah looked thoughtful. "I have no doubt he wants to be there, but depending on the leads he finds and how much he's into the chase, he might not make it." He shrugged. "We will see."
Charlotte looked at her watch. "We have to go." She looked at the Mikaelsons and Linda. "Are there any other questions?"
When no one answered, she smiled and left the room. The group drew some attention, but no one spoke to them. When they entered the courtroom, they still had one bail hearing ahead of them.
Elijah could easily smell that there were at least six werewolves in the hall. He glanced over at Freya, who looked focused as she strained her senses. "How many witches?" He asked so quietly that Chloe and Dan couldn't hear.
"Maybe five, one of which is quite powerful", Freya answered just as softly. She unobtrusively showed him the people she thought were witches.
"Keep an eye on them." Elijah let his gaze wander around the room, seemingly bored. He noted the various reactions when he made eye contact with the werewolves and supposed witches. Most of the looks were wary but not particularly fearful, which to Elijah meant they didn't know who he was. But from one werewolf and two witches he got a completely different impression, their eyes were filled with hate but also fear.
Rebekah also sucked in air through her nose and growled softly. "One of the werewolves was at the crime scene."
"Interesting. Which one of them?" Elijah asked coldly.
A few seconds later Rebekah answered. "I think the tall one with the dark hair and very angry eyes."
"Angry is quite normal for werewolves", Elijah said evenly. He memorized the werewolf's face, planning to have an extended conversation with him. Of course, only if Klaus didn't get to him first.
Elijah smiled at the werewolf and for a moment, the hatred of the werewolf vanished leaving only fear. Elijah's smile instantly intensified and became downright nasty.
The group sat down with Charlotte sitting on his left, Freya and Rebekah on his right, and Dan, Chloe, Danny and Linda sitting directly behind him. Elijah took a closer look at the judge. She had to know who he was, because she kept glancing at him while she was negotiating, but her gaze was more interested than hostile. The current suspect was the werewolf who gave Elijah the tip about the bail.
When the judge released him after the granted bail, the werewolf turned around and, recognizing Elijah, smiled briefly and nodded at him.
Elijah returned the nod. From what Danny had told him, the werewolf seemed to be completely uninvolved in this conspiracy. He definitely owed him his favour if he ever called it in.
The door of the court opened, Elijah looked around curiously, and to his utter and joyful surprise, Kol and Davina walked in. Rebekah and Freya saw the smile on Elijah's face and turned around as well. When they saw their brother, they started grinning too.
Kol and Davina seated themselves directly behind Elijah, with Danny and Linda immediately willingly giving way due to Kol's resemblance to Elijah.
Kol put his hand on Elijah's shoulder. "I heard you need help."
Elijah visibly swallowed. "You heard right. Thank you for coming." He nodded to Davina. "Hello Davina."
"Hello, Elijah", Davina replied friendly and nodded to Rebekah and Freya.
"May I introduce my brother Kol and his wife Davina", Elijah said. He then gave Kol and Davina the names of the others present.
After short mutual greetings, Kol said. "Where is Klaus by the way?"
"He's introducing himself to the neighbourhood", Elijah said with a smile.
Kol snickered softly, knowing of course exactly what Elijah meant by that.
But before he could say anything, the bailiff called. "Next case please."
"He means us", said Charlotte and stood up.
Elijah got up as well and together they went forward to stand behind the accused's table.
Before the bail hearing could begin however, the door to the courtroom opened again and Klaus entered the room in his inimitable arrogant manner, followed by Lucifer and Maze.
Elijah sighed deeply and rolled his eyes. "Well, now the whole family is together."
Klaus, Lucifer, and Maze took Elijah and Charlotte's places after Freya and Rebekah moved a little further along the bench to make room.
"Look who came after all", Klaus whispered softly and grinned at Davina. "Hello, sister-in-law."
"Hello, brother-in-law", Davina replied a little sourly.
Elijah knew she was never thrilled when Klaus brought up their family relations, which of course meant that Klaus never missed an opportunity to do so.
Elijah saw the judge frown and turned too glare chastisingly at his brothers. They knew that angry look and looked suitably intimidated. Satisfied, Elijah turned around and gave his full attention to the judge.
