AUTHOR'S NOTE: Alright in this next bit some of you might think Elena is a little OOC... Maybe. But for me it's right about where'd I see her after everything she went through. As for Elijah, well... Come on the guy has a right to be. Remember how I said POV would start changing? ^_^ Here's where it begins.
DISCLAIMER: No I don't own Elijah, Elena, or anything to do with that which is The Vampire Diaries series. This is just my version of it. ;-)
Bound By Blood
~Previously in Bound By Blood~
Sighing loudly, Elena slid down the wall and pulled her knees to her chest as she settled in to wait for Elijah to return. If he managed to survive this it would all be worth it. Nothing else mattered. This was where she needed to be.
Chapter 4 - If You Die, I Die
Turning his head briefly, Elijah saw Elena settle against the wall, before he walked passed a turn in the tunnel and waited for the call to go through.
"What is it now, Elijah?" Rebeckah's voice came through sounding irritated.
"Rebeckah, I need you to meet me at the entrance to the tunnels. Only you. The others can't know of this yet," he briskly replied, wanting to keep it short.
"Elijah, wha- Why on Earth do you want me to do that?!" She huffed, getting angry. Just because she was the youngest, didn't mean her brothers could boss her around whenever they saw fit.
"There's no time to explain. I need you to-," he gritted his teeth when she interrupted him.
"Is this about Mother again? I told you, Elijah, she's just having problems adjusting. She's not up to any-," she rambled on, ignoring what he was saying.
"Rebeckah, she's planning to kill all of us tonight!" he roared, effectively ending her tirade. Closing his eyes, he ran his hand over his face. Stay focused, Elijah. Save the anger for tonight. "Forgive me, sister. Just please come meet me at the tunnels. We don't have much time."
Shakily exhaling, Rebeckah rasped out, "I'll be there soon." Hanging up, she grabbed her coat and shoved her phone in her pocket. Grabbing the doorknob to leave her room, she realized she was trembling, and biting her lip she pushed back the urge to scream. Mother... How could you?! Taking a deep breath, she wiped away the tear that had fallen down her face. Elijah needs me. Swinging open the door, she ran at vampiric pace out of the mansion, leaving a dent in the wall and the door handle crushed to nothing.
Elijah had just returned to Elena, who stood to greet him, when they both jumped at the scream. "What is she doing here?!"
Spinning, he caught Rebeckah around her shoulders as she tried to lunge at Elena. Again. "Calm yourself, Rebeckah. She's part of the plan."
Growling, Rebeckah flung Elijah off of her. "Plan? What plan, Elijah? Our Mother is trying to kill us and you're trying to tell me that this filthy, backstabbing Doppelgänger is part of the plan?!" she yelled, glaring when Elena tried to say something. Turning back to Elijah, she hissed, "Have you lost your mind?! What reason could she possibly have for helping us?!"
Brushing off his coat, he looked at her from the side, simply replying with, "I never said she was a willing participant, now did I, Sister?"
Brows scrunching in confusion, Rebeckah paused, "...What? Elijah, what do you-"
Cutting in, Elena stepped closer to the quarreling siblings. "He's saying that I'm your hostage. If you want to stop Esther, you need leverage," she explained, holding her hands up placatingly when Rebeckah turned on her.
"What sort of leverage, Gilbert? Your well-being?" Rebeckah sniped at her.
Pursing her lips, Elena glanced briefly at Elijah, before saying what he hadn't told either of them yet, "My life is your leverage." Hearing a sound from Elijah, she looked at him and saw brief shock cover his face at her words. Figuring that she'd been right, she looked him in the eye and continued strongly with, "My life in exchange for yours and your siblings." Turning to Rebeckah again, she raised an eyebrow and asked, "Fair enough?"
Narrowing her eyes at the strange, almost frigid, behavior between her brother and this irritating human, Rebeckah had one question. "Why?" she asked, walking around Elena slowly, smirking when she heard the girl's heartbeat increase slightly. Stopping in front of her, seeing her confusion, she asked her again. "Why aren't you running and screaming? Your life is at stake, and yet you're just standing here doing nothing. Why?"
"Because I told her not to," Elijah finally stepped in, warily eyeing his sister and Elena. What is she doing?!
Eyes widening in shock, Rebeckah gaped at him. "You compelled her? You, Elijah, the most noble member of our family, compelled Elena Gilbert?"
Crossing her arms, Elena frowned and snapped, "He didn't compel me, Rebeckah. He won't have to either."
"And why is that?" she quipped. "You expect me to believe that you're willingly helping us?"
"Yes!" Elena cried, flinging her hands in the air. Glaring at both of them, she shook her head in frustration. "Despite what you both seem to think of me, I'm here of my own free will. If I wanted out then I'd try to escape even knowing what you would do to me if I did," she said bluntly. "The problem with that theory is that I don't want out. I'm not going to run because I'm not a heartless human being."
Rebeckah made a move to interrupt her, but Elena cut her off. "I'm staying because I want to help you," she softly whispered, looking at Elijah only to see a blank expression staring at her. "Both of you," she continued, facing Rebeckah who was only slightly frowning at this point. "Neither of you deserves to die, especially not at the hands of your mother. I'm staying..." she paused, tensing up in anxiety. "I'm staying to undo what my blood is being used for."
"What do you mean? Elijah, what does she mean?" Rebeckah asked her brother, too impatient to wait for the girl to finish.
Clearing his throat, Elijah explained, "You know how the blood of the Doppelgänger was used to create us, Sister?"
"Yes, yes, of course I remember Tatia, the first Doppelgänger, how can I possibly forget her when you and Nik won't stop bringing up the stupid bint? What of it?" she muttered.
Ignoring the jab, he elaborated with, "Well, it seems, that like with every spell and enchantment, there is a loophole. What can create us can also be used to kill us, or in this case bind us."
"Oh for Heaven's sakes, Elijah, spit it out!" she snapped. "You're just as bad as this bumbling girl over here! What's so important about her blood?"
"Esther used my blood to bind all of you together so that if she kills one of you then all of you die," Elena blurted out.
Whirling around Rebeckah grabbed Elena by her neck. "And how did she get your blood, Elena? Did she hold you against your will?" she hissed, slowly tightening her grip on her neck.
"Let her go, Rebeckah," Elijah ordered, pulling her back from Elena. "Esther threatened her family. Elena was simply doing what we would've done if we were in the same position. Protecting her family."
"What's left of it," Rebeckah grumbled, surprising herself when she felt guilt at the pain that flashed through Elena's eyes.
"Rebeckah!" Elijah scolded, shocked at his sister's cruelty.
"It's okay, Elijah," Elena whispered, swallowing hard and meeting the blonde's gaze. "She's right. That's why I want to help, Rebeckah. I know we've had problems in the past. I know I betrayed you when we were fighting Michael. That doesn't mean I want you to suffer. No one should..," she hesitated, feeling her eyes watering again. "No one should have to feel the pain of losing their family."
Looking at her brother, Rebeckah realized she'd been wrong. If she'd lost him... "Elena, I-", Rebeckah, once again surprising herself, started to apologize.
"It's not important," Elena shook her head, quickly ending the conversation. Shakily breathing in, she sniffed a bit and then held her head up. "You only have until the full moon tonight to stop Esther."
"What?!" Rebeckah screeched, feeling panic start to build inside her.
"Elena, what do you mean?" Elijah demanded coldly, knowing she was hiding something else.
"Look, when I was with Bonnie this morning, she told me Esther needed the power of a witch bloodline and a celestial event to finish the spell. The full moon tonight is a-," she explained quickly.
"It's a celestial event," Elijah finished for her. "And the witch bloodline?" he inquired, already suspecting who it was when she looked away.
"She's asked Bonnie and her mom to join her in casting the spell. To draw on their power to end it," Elena whispered, anxiously looking to Elijah. "Don't blame them, Elijah, please! They're only doing what they think is right!"
"Irregardless of what I think of the Bennett's, Elena, they are not my main concern. My main concern is what haven't you told us yet?" he growled, watching her tense and take a step back in fear.
Closing her eyes against the burning she felt in them, she prepared herself. Forgive me, Elijah. "I want to help you save your family, but one of your siblings doesn't want to be saved," she confessed, thinking of the events of the Ball. How can he kill his own family?
"Finn," Elijah stated, causing both Rebeckah and Elena to snap their heads in his direction.
Mouth gaping slightly, Elena was shocked. "How did you...?"
"Elijah, he's our brother!" Rebeckah gasped.
"Our brother he may be, but he's always hated what he is, Rebeckah. You know that as well as I do. He's been sneaking around with Mo-" he stumbled over his words. "Esther, ever since she was woken up," he bit out angrily, not wanting to hurt his sister more, but needing her to understand.
"He's telling the truth," Elena stated sadly. "The night of the Ball, Finn was the one who sought me out to tell me to meet Esther alone. He was in the room with her before I got there," she explained softly.
"He came back when I left after talking with her about Kol," Elijah whispered, the pieces all falling into place. "He gave her his blood to complete the other half of the spell," he gaped, leaning against the tunnel wall. My own brother betrayed me. Nicklaus he could deal with, he'd always been a bit off the rails since they were turned, but even he doesn't want to permanently kill his own family. How could Finn kill everyone so willingly even if he hates himself?
"Elijah, what do we do?" Rebeckah cried softly.
"He goes to Stefan and Damon and tells them that you're holding me prisoner," Elena stated. "If they want me back, they have to help stop Esther. Right, Elijah?" she asked, watching him nod as he pulled himself together.
"Correct, Elena," he agreed, fixing his suit jacket. "We're running out of time, I have to go. Rebeckah, you stay here and don't let anyone in or out," he instructed, eyes trailing blankly over Elena.
"Elijah, I won't run!" Elena insisted angrily, freezing when he glared at her.
"Forgive me, Elena, but after everything today I find that hard to believe no matter what you tell me," he replied, tone void of emotion, shocking Rebeckah who chose to stay quiet. This was between them, but even she thought her brother was being harsh.
Feeling her throat tighten her, Elena shook her head hastily. "I already told you it wouldn't be of any use! My running wouldn't fix anything! It wouldn't keep anyone alive! It wouldn't save-" she cut herself off.
Flashing in front of her, he caught her arm as she stumbled back and snapped, "It wouldn't save who, Elena?"
It wouldn't save you, she thought, unable to say it. Eyes scanning over his face, she felt scared, not of what he might do, but of what had happened. Had she really lost him?
"It wouldn't save... Me," she confessed so quietly the Originals had to strain to hear her. Rebeckah froze, confusion covering her expression. Did she just say...?
Dropping her arm, Elijah was stunned. "What are you talking about?" He knew he was being harsh, but she had to know he didn't truly intend to harm her. Seeing her trembling slightly, he asked more gently, "What are you saying, Elena?"
Grimacing, Elena smiled bitterly for a second before looking into his eyes. "Esther didn't plan on me figuring this part out."
"Figuring what out?" Rebeckah butted in, her curiosity getting the best of her.
Keeping her eyes on Elijah, Elena answered her by whispering, "If you die... I die."