I really wish I could keep up with a regular update schedule, because it feels like this story could be a nice escape for some people, with how the world is. I know it helps me, writing it.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Vampire Diaries
I had a restless night. How many times did I wake up? Five, six? I could only really remember three of them because I'd rolled over and checked the time on the phone. The final time I opened my eyes, it was early morning.
Turning my head, I moved around until it felt comfortable on the pillow, and looked out the window.
There were dark clouds looming, perfectly reflecting what I was feeling inside. I rolled onto my back again and stared blankly up at the ceiling, clenching my fists.
Just do it. Just... do it.
I drew a deep breath, filling up until there wasn't anymore room, and let it out slowly. Then I sat up quickly, got out of the bed and practically ran out the door.
I didn't know where he was. Even though I was looking, part of me was counting on him to find me when he heard me moving around. I didn't have vampire hearing.
Every step a long stride, I made my way through the hallway quickly. When I turned left at the end of it, about to step out into the entrance hall, I had to stop before I managed to run straight into Elijah.
He was standing almost at the top of the stairs with his back to me, but there was no mistaking that it was him. When he turned around, he looked surprisingly at ease.
''Good morning,'' he said, and for some reasons my hands felt clammy.
''Morning...'' I replied, and looked past him at the lower floor. The only people I could see were two men by the front door. ''Do you know where Klaus is?''
''He's not here. Went into town, I believe.''
I made a frustrated sound and covered my face with one hand. ''Great.'' Then I turned around to head back to the room, but Elijah's voice stopped me. He had heard me coming, clearly, so he probably wouldn't be there if he didn't want to see me about something.
''Evangeline.''
I squeezed my eyes shut and grimaced before I turned around, meeting his eyes with apprehension. There was something about the way he'd said my name. ''Yeah?''
He had one hand on the railing, the other one in his pocket, and I despite how I dreaded whatever he was going to say, I couldn't look away from him.
''What happened to you?'
I tried to keep my face straight, I did. And even if he didn't remember I was a bad liar, he sure would be able to tell from my pulse and reddening skin.
''Nothing.''
He stood absolutely still, and didn't as much as blink until he suddenly moved his hand from the railing.
''Come,'' he said, and when I frowned at him he repeated himself. Then I remembered the other people in the room.
Elijah held his hand out and gestured towards the other opposite hallway from the one I'd come from. He led the way through it, opened a door that hadn't opened when I'd tried it, and took me further into the mansion through several conjoined rooms.
Finally, he stopped in a smaller, dark room. A couch and a pair of armchairs were placed in front of a big fireplace. The walls were covered in paintings and bookshelves.
''You know,'' he began. ''I was born here.''
The room was lit by the sound of a click. My eyes went from a painting above the mantel to him.
''My parent's fled the plague in Europe. My mother carried me in the womb over the high sea, and gave birth to me after they arrived.'' He took a glass ornament from a shelf and held it up against the light, examining it closely. ''It's very different from back then. It was a tough life, a wilder life, but we made do.''
''I saw the runes,'' I said quietly.
''Yes, those,'' he mused. ''We used to play in those caverns.''
''Then your mother turned you,'' I said, remembering Elena's recount of Rebekah's story.
His face was blank when he spoke. ''Yes.''
''What...'' I paused, thinking how strange it was that he'd walked around here hundreds of years ago. ''What was that like?''
He looked at me. The more I saw of him, the less I saw of him. At least, that's what it was beginning to feel like. I thought I could read him, sometimes. But did I really?
''If I tell you, will you tell me what happened to you?''
I steeled myself. ''If you tell me why you want to know.''
A small smile appeared on his lips. ''We could go on like this forever.''
''You could,'' I corrected him. ''I have an expiration date.''
He tilted his head slightly. ''You still intrigue me,'' he said, putting down the ornament. ''Obviously, Niklaus has not shared the full truth.''
I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms, and looked at him expectantly. At first, I didn't think he was going to say anything.
''It was a rush.'' He kept his eyes off me, and for once I felt free to study his features. ''The bloodlust was impossible to resist. Once we started, we didn't stop. It took years to control.''
The slight pressing of his lips together, his jaw tensing up... Either he didn't like remembering, or he didn't like telling.
Even though I'd seen Elijah kill a man, there was something that made it difficult to picture him savaging in rage. And it wasn't just the suit. It was how he carried himself. Maybe, that was even more treacherous.
When his voice went silent, and his eyes turned to meet mine, I still wasn't sure what he was thinking.
He raised his brow, in turn, and waited.
I sighed. ''What, exactly, did Klaus tell you?
''He told me of your powers. How you can feel others emotions, and make them feel yours. He also told me to steer clear of your hands.''
So he had left things out. Without really thinking about it, I held my hands up and turned them over to look at the palms. With one finger, I traced the lines on the other hand thoughtfully.
''Up until like a year ago I didn't know how to control it. And then I... pushed myself too far. I haven't done a projection like that, ever. I don't know. I've felt strange ever since.''
''These projections,'' Elijah asked. ''Are they consuming?''
''That one was,'' I replied quietly and looked up, to find his gaze fixated on my hands. I curled them into fists and tucked them away by crossing my arms again.
''So it was you who turned Stefan Salvatore back to his old self?''
I was taken aback. ''How-''
''It wasn't difficult to figure it out,'' Elijah said, nonchalant. ''Niklaus might think he can keep secrets in this house, but one overheard phone call can reveal many things.''
''Have you been listening in to anything else?''
''I have not,'' he said, and I knew he was telling the truth. But why? It was like back when he was around the last time. He overstepped a couple of boundaries, sure, but he never forced anything out of me.
Elijah took three steps to his left and stood with his back to me. ''May I ask one more question?'' he asked, running his hand along the spines of the books.
''Sure.''
''Why is it everything with you is easy?''
I blinked. ''What do you mean?''
He looked down, his neck bending slightly. ''I've spoken to you in ways I never thought I would,'' he said, and turned around.
I knew very well what he was talking about. I'd had a conversation like this with Damon before, and even though he hadn't bought my reasoning I still felt like that sometimes. Not with everyone. But with Elijah it seemed like it was justified, somehow.
''It's an effect I have. I make connections easily,'' I explained, shrugging. ''I can't help it. The other person can't help it.''
''What kind of connection?''
''I don't know how to explain it. People find it easy to trust me. So you talking to me might not be by choice.''
''I'm quite certain it is.''
''See, there's the issue,'' I sighed, and sank down in the armchair by the fireplace. ''People might think it's voluntary, therefore making it true for them, but it's just an illusion.''
''Or you think it's an illusion, therefore that's true for you, and you disregard any other explanation.''
''You got me there,'' I mumbled, pulling at my ponytail. ''But still...'' I trailed off.
''You once told me not to judge you by your age. Now, I'm asking you to judge me by mine.'
I let out a shaky breath and my eyes fluttered up to him.
''I know I have yet to earn your trust,'' he continued.
''Do you remember everything?''
''Only what's important.''
I didn't know how to take that. So I tried to change the subject.
''How do you do it?'' I asked quietly. He was quiet, and at least I'd figured him out enough to know he was waiting for me to continue. ''Brush things off.''
''I don't think that's a question you should be asking,'' he replied slowly.
He was right.
''What we are...'' he began. ''It's not right. You shouldn't deal with things as we do.'' He watched me closely. ''There's too much good in you.''
I tried letting my guard down a little, but there was nothing coming off of him telling me how he felt. So I took a guess.
''Then it's my turn to object. You don't think there's good in you?''
''Not like yours,'' he simply said.
I shook my head, but didn't say anything.
''Close to our settlement, there was a field,'' Elijah spoke suddenly. I frowned, until I realised he was talking about his human life. ''If you were quiet and stayed downwind from them, you could see wild horses grazing.''
When I looked up I saw him in profile. I don't know if he was reminiscing or just trying to talk about something else.
''We never really stop being wild, do we?'' I mumbled, still looking at him. His jaw wasn't as tense as before.
''No,'' Elijah said. ''We don't.''
A comfortable silence settled. Strange, how I didn't feel uneasy about it. I leaned back in the chair and twirled a strand of hair around my finger absentmindedly, eyes fixated on a spot on the floor.
''You should leave before tonight.''
I let the hair fall down against my shoulder, and looked at him. ''Why?''
''I can't tell you. Not now.''
I pondered whether or not to tell him that I was already thinking about leaving, but this was a chance to try to understand him that I just couldn't let go.
''If I'm to give up this... this deal between me and Klaus, I'd like to at least know why.''
Elijah turned around and faced me. ''I'll owe you.''
''Why do you want me gone?'' I pressed. ''You gonna set loose... I don't know, wild dogs?''
''In a manner of speaking,'' Elijah admitted.
I frowned. ''Why do you care if I'm here or not?''
His eyes met mine briefly, then he turned his head away.
''I enjoy our conversations. And one can't speak if they're dead.''
''That so?'' I asked. Elijah's mask fell for a split second, and I could see the corner of his mouth twitch.
''I'll owe you,'' he said again, and this time more firmly.
I tucked a stray hair behind my ear. ''I might die?''
''Yes,'' he spoke truthfully.
''Klaus still has information I want,'' I said pointedly, verging on a lie. ''Can you guarantee that I won't lose that?''
''Yes.''
''Does that make us even?'' I asked.
''No, that's just a guarantee.''
I contemplated the thought. If anything, this was just another reason to leave.
''Fine,'' I sighed. ''I'll go. But I need to talk to Klaus first.''
Later that day I was back in the room. Back on the bed. Back to staring up above me. I must've counted the little prickles in the ceiling a hundred times over by now. At least, I had to be getting close.
''You get along well with my dear brother, I hear,'' Klaus voice sounded from the door.
''Jesus,'' I gasped and put a hand over my chest. ''Knock, or something. Please.''
He smirked, leaned forward a little and knocked on the wall.
There hadn't been a sign of him all day, and now, here he was. Finally.
''A little birdie whispered in my ear that you wanted to see me.''
I sat up, swung my legs over the edge of the bed and got on my feet. ''Yeah, I did.''
''Well?''
I took a deep breath. ''What do you want from me?''
''Haven't we been over this? Pa-''
''Patience, I know,'' I said. ''Thing is, I don't have that.''
Klaus studied me intently. Uncomfortably. ''You know what?'' he said, his eyes wide. ''Maybe the slow and steady pace isn't right for you. You just need a good scare.''
''A good-'' I choked.
''You want to know?'' Klaus asked. ''Let's go.'' He motioned me over with his fingers. ''Come on, then. I will drag you.''
I went after him, staggering behind, all the way down to the front of the mansion where a car was being brought round.
I didn't know what a good scare meant. I didn't know if me volunteering for it was a good idea at all. But here I was, my legs seemingly moving on their own, following him.
Asking more questions wouldn't get me anywhere. Whatever he was going to tell me, the car took us to.
Soon enough, I started recognising the roads. When he took the turn towards the cemetery, I quickly looked over at him.
''Where are we going?''
''I thought we'd pay Madeleine a little visit.''
He parked abruptly, tires gliding on the gravel. ''Come on,'' he said impatiently. ''Out we go.''
''You even know where she's buried?'' I asked, as we walked down the path outlining the entire cemetery.
''Of course,'' Klaus said. ''I came here a few times in the years after her death. Thought, perhaps, I'd find one of her relatives by her stone one day. The powers are passed down by blood, but much like the dopplegänger one can't quite know when the next one will show up.''
''Why didn't you track down her daughter?'' I asked.
''Oh, I tried,'' Klaus replied. ''After she cut relations I followed her. She must've used the help of witches, because for some reason I could never find her child. And believe me, I tried.
''You didn't look up the names?''
''It was slightly more complicated than that,'' Klaus said. I almost stumbled over the path edge when he took a sharp turn and went into the cemetery. ''For all intents and purposes, her family line had been wiped from the face of earth. Eventually, I decided to just wait. And it worked out nicely.''
''If she left because of her brother the first time,'' I asked, catching my breath, ''why did she leave the second time?''
Klaus slowed down and turned to me with a smile, a menacing glint in his eyes. ''She finally got scared.''
He stopped in front of the stone, staring down at it for a while before he spoke.
''It's a funny thing, human superstition. Completely validated, most of it. But so many times, they fool themselves. People they normally wouldn't let near consecrated ground, they bury in it without a thought, because they simply don't know.''
I looked at the grass beneath us, trying to see what he was seeing. ''What do you mean?''
''If you were to take a guess as to how many supernatural beings are buried here? Vampires, werewolves, witches?''
My eyes swept the surroundings, looking at every stone, big or small, leaning, toppled over. ''I don't know. I thought vampires disintegrated if they were daggered?''
Klaus nodded, pursing his lips. ''As the final blow, yes. But not everyone gets a look in the coffins.''
''Where are you going with this?'' I asked, not liking the strange feeling that was beginning to creep up my spine.
''Madeleine,'' Klaus began, ''came to me in 1899. We had great fun. She lived off excitement, her own and others. Their high was her high. To a certain extent, that's what empaths are all about. But she crossed a line. Like some, she had a moment of clarity. She met her husband, popped out a few little ones – but then the need came back. So... she came back to me. Wanting more. Wanting too much.''
He paused for a second, tilting his head and staring at Madeleine's engraved name. ''As you might've heard, when someone turns into a vampire every single sense is heightened. She knew this. She longed for it, the high.''
The strange feeling grew, and I recognised the nervous, smothering cold spreading through my body. I shuddered. ''She...''
''Now you're getting it,'' Klaus smiled.
I stared at the headstone, not wanting to believe the words that then came out of my mouth. ''She became a vampire?''
''Ding ding, we have a winner.''
''But...'' I whispered.
''Consider this another warning,'' Klaus said seriously. ''For someone so clever, it sure seems to take a lot to get you to listen.''
I thought it was perfectly clear I wasn't seeking anything but closure, and composure. He thought I could end up like Madeleine? He really thought I... No, no way. Not that I thought for one second I'd go in search of the things she did, but I wasn't going to do what she did.
Swallowing nervously, I wrung my hands and looked with a mix of emotions at Madeleine's name. Fear. Dread. Sadness. There had to be more to her story. Things only she could tell me about. Things she might've told me about if she'd had the time, back when she found me-
''Right now, Evangeline, you're in the eye of the storm,'' Klaus' voice cut through my thoughts. ''And empaths out of control aren't a pretty sight.''
''I wouldn't lose control,'' I said through gritted teeth.
''Granted, you didn't have the same beginning as Madeleine. That doesn't mean you won't meet the same end.''
''Why do you even care?'' I exclaimed, fear and confusion filling me up. ''Huh? What's all this about? You're telling me all this, but why? What's in it for you?''
''You're not clueless, I've known that since I met you,'' Klaus said calmly. ''What do you think?''
''You want my help with something. But I-''
''-won't help me and all that, yes,'' Klaus filled in. ''You're tricky like that. You can't force feelings, correct?'' he smiled. ''But you both can and cannot. I'm not expecting you to want to help me, right now.''
I tried keeping the feelings at bay, but I was terrified. ''You act like you know where I'm going to end up.''
''I have my hopes,'' he admitted. ''I've counted on it taking time, but as you might know, I have all the time in the world.''
But I don't.
''Why are you telling me this? Why now? Why not keep playing these little games of yours?''
''There comes a point when lying would become necessary,'' Klaus said. ''And, as you know, lying to you wouldn't work. Better to lay it all out on the table.''
And just a day ago you preached patience.
''I just want to help,'' Klaus said gently, which was a strange tone for him.
''You want to help me so I can help you?'' I asked doubtfully, digging my nails into skin, trying to ground myself.
''I want to help you,'' he said. ''And, if you eventually want to help me, that's your choice.''
''So you're saying I don't owe you anything? You're just giving me all of this?''
''You won't owe me anything,'' Klaus promised. ''Nothing at all.''
He wasn't lying. Damnit, he wasn't lying. This was crazy. Maybe I was crazy. Thoughts swirled around in my head, and I didn't know what to make of them. He was messing with my head. Or was he? Maybe I was the one. But no... he'd been using me like a pawn since the moment I decided to go with him. Always one step ahead, seemingly knowing everything I didn't. Knowing my future, or at least pretending to know it – steering me towards a place I didn't know anything about.
Before I even had time to realise myself, Klaus had my bare hand in his, and I saw the anger boiling within him, somehow much stronger in him, and it mixed with my own making me want to combust and scream and destroy.
Then he let go and it all simmered down fairly quickly.
I was gasping for air. It felt cold and course in my lungs, and every breath was like swallowing tiny bits of ice.
''You turning into a vampire is very much a possibility,'' Klaus said, ''considering the company you keep. I thought you should see what it meant. Your powers, uncontrolled. You're no good to anyone like that. Especially yourself.''
That was it. If I was going to deal with this, it wasn't going to be with the help of him. I'd clear up my own mess, go where I wanted to go.
''I want to go home,'' I coughed.
''Are you sure?'' he asked, the hint of a smile on his face. I tried to ignore it.
Even if I'd already told Elijah I'd leave, this was the final push that convinced me that I would've gone anyway. I had to go.
''Yes,'' I said firmly. ''I'm going home.''
Let me know what you think, and take care everyone :)
