→ I do not own anything of the TVD - Universe and I'm not affiliated or associated with the writers etc. This is only a Story. A/N: As promised, one more chapter of Elijah trying to find Katherine as well as some flashback scenes. I also think that deep down, Elijah is a very tortured soul. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.
▬ Somewhere near Atlanta ▬
The motorway signs told Elijah that he'll reach Atlanta in a bit, however, he chose an earlier exit because he needed to check something first. His Porsche followed the country roads quickly, faster than allowed, until he turned in a small allee with impressive oaks lining up the way. Eventually, he had reached a small secluded, yet still easily accessible house.
The energy went off and Elijah left his car. The white gravel crunched underneath his feet as he stilled in his movements and let his gaze wander attentively over the small manor.
Despite the long absence, everything looked impeccable. The gravel was spotless without any tares, the lawn cut short. It was well maintained and Elijah decided that he should give the caretaker a tip for his flawless work. It definitely didn't look like no one has lived in that building for the past few years.
While he was walking to the house, he was watching the ground, searching for bumps and irregularities in the white gravel. However, it was as impeccable as the rest. Technically, that would have been to Elijah's liking but in the current circumstances, it won't give him the kind of reassurance he was searching for. Moreover, it didn't please him at all. Elijah then eyed the front door attentively, searching for any possible change (or damage) - again without success.
His eyes narrowed a bit as his fingertips glid over the upside of the door frame, knowing that there's a tiny saving in the wall fit for a key. It didn't take him long to palpate and find it but before he opened the front door with it, he slowly guided the key to his nose and inhaled deeply, eyes closed in concentration.
Only metal.
Elijah sighed, snapped his eyes back open again, and opened the door.
Of course, Elijah has his own key for the building, the key that remained here was a spare key. He didn't have to worry about someone unauthorized entering the small manor without permission since the building was spelled. Only a few people knew of this place and were granted access.
One of them was Katerina.
He had hoped that perhaps she would have found refuge here. She knew of the place and the key and she knew that it was currently vacant and would stay vacant for the time being. It was also somewhat reachable from Mystic Falls.
Elijah had hoped he would find signs that she had been here - or rather still be here. That's why he had decided to make this little visit. But there hadn't been any footprints in the gravel nor did the key smell of her.
The inside of the building was exactly like he had left it. Big white sheets covered and protected the furniture and again he noted that his caretaker made a good job as no cobwebs or dust caught his attention.
He wandered slowly through the rooms, his gaze sweeping attentively over every surface, over every detail. But nothing implied that Katerina had been here. He didn't see any evidence of her stay nor was he able to catch a hint of her scent.
When he had finished the tour, Elijah returned to his study and removed the sheets from the chair and his desk so that he could take a seat. His studies, no matter where were always a place that granted him concentration and allowed him to focus. He closed his eyes to massage his eyeballs and then pinched the back of his nose, his attention focused on maintaining even breathing and not let frustration take over him.
He so had hoped that Katerina had decided to come here, to find shelter in this place. It wasn't the place he had seen in his vision but it would have been logical that she had come here. She would have had a safe place, a roof over her head. Water and electricity were also a given, only food wasn't available in this place.
Elijah leaned back in his chair. A slight groan left his lips as an extremely uneasy feeling swept through his veins, telling him that he was too late, that Katerina was already dead.
The way his muscles started to tense seemed to be a natural reaction these days. His hands clenched into fists and he couldn't deny the desire to punch something to let out his despair and frustration. Why hadn't Katerina come to this house? Why didn't she chose that building as her hiding spot?
Why? So many whys.
His knuckles cracked because of how tight his fists were but then he took in a deep breath and snapped his eyes open before he reached for his phone in the inside of his jacket. There are other options.
"Good Afternoon, George. I need to ask you for a favor..."
While Elijah waited for the callback, he walked to the window of his study and watched the peaceful surrounding. He tried to relax over the singing of the birds but he did not want to succeed. Instead, the Original was tempted to call Katerina's number again and hope that she would answer the call but he doubted the success of that idea. He had already tried to call her so many times...
Perhaps he's going insane, perhaps Albert Einstein is right with his definition: Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. By that definition, Elijah must be very insane, outright mad by now.
Growing tired of waiting and doing nothing, Elijah eventually helped himself to a glass of hard whiskey - and then another one. Thankfully the minibar was well equipped although the building had been vacant for some years by now. He always made sure all essentials were given at all times, just in case he needed to move in unexpectedly.
The more time passed, the more impatient he grew. His fingertips drummed nervously against the glass, the contact of the glass with his daylight ring giving off an annoying sound he couldn't bear. Nonetheless, he kept going, because he needed to do something. He needed to focus his mind on something - even if it was that annoying clicking or the fact that it bothered him - because otherwise, he felt like he'd go insane.
Finally, his phone vibrated in his jacket.
"What have you found out, George?" Elijah asked impatiently without caring for a proper greeting.
"Well, Sir... nothing. No sign of someone having spent time in your apartment in New York. I also consulted Riley in Richmond but there's also no sign of anyone having been there."
"Are you certain you checked every detail? Electricity and water consumption? Are there any leftovers in the fridge? Have the beds been used? Is the minibar complete?" Elijah asked promptly, his grip tightening around the glass because of the news that wasn't to Elijah's liking.
"Yes, Sir. We've checked everything. There's no sign that anyone had been here. I'm sorry Sir."
The glass cracked in Elijah's hands, and the sharp edges cut through his skin, his blood mixed with the leftovers whiskey. He felt the pain as the glass shreds pierced through his palm but at the same time, Elijah felt nothing at all. Numbness swept through his vein mixed with a slight hint of anger. That kind of anger that wanted him to punch holes in the walls. He mumbled a quick thanks before he pulled out his handkerchief and absently cleaned his hand, his gaze rigid.
"Where are you hiding, Katerina?" he mumbled to himself.
Katerina also knew of his apartment in New York, another place she could have possibly went to. The brunette probably didn't know of the property in Richmond but since it's Katerina they were speaking of, it wouldn't surprise him if she did. She's an attentive listener, after all.
Perhaps it's delusional of him to assume she would have sought out a safe place if it's related to him. After all, she seemed to think he harbors an ill wish towards her. Nonetheless, her survival instinct is stronger than anything else, even stronger than her pride. She would have been safe there and she would have been undetected. His caretakers came regularly and he's sure Katerina is quick to find out the schedule to make sure she's well hidden if they were there to dust and look after things.
Again, those places weren't the town he had seen in his vision but they still seemed to be more logical than the apparent location of the vision in which he hasn't even seen her.
Elijah absently folded his used handkerchief and, although it was stained, placed it back inside of his jacket. Then, he simply stepped over the glass sheds and spilled whiskey to return to his car.
He'd call his caretaker to clean up the mess he has left.
▬ Somewhere in Alabama ▬
"You're meant to catch me.""But if I catch you, the game will be over."
Running and catching, hiding and seek. Somehow it had always come down to that game between Katerina and Elijah. She was the one who kept running and he was the one who kept searching. She would hide, he would seek.
Five-hundred years later they are still playing that game.
She's hiding and he's seeking. Only this time, he desperately wanted to find her, knowing that their time is slowly but surely running out. If he even has any time left...
But no. She is not dead. Katherine lives. She has to. She just has to...
Elijah rushed over the highways at maximum speed, his sportscar effortlessly changing lanes if it was necessary. Driving kept his mind clear, gave him something to focus which didn't result in an uneasiness that made him sick beyond repair.
And yet he caught his mind wandering off to Katerina again. He recalled 1492, her waving curls in the slight breeze and the incredible endearing expression on her features as she lectured him that he was supposed to catch her. She wasn't aware that he was indeed very capable of catching her if he wanted to. That he could catch her within seconds if necessary. But he enjoyed the game, enjoyed the ease of their interactions. Enjoyed feeling alive. She sparked life in him, something which he thought long lost ever since being turned into a vampire.
Back then, he didn't want to catch her. He wanted to delay the game, wanted to give himself the time to enjoy it just a bit longer. There was something about her view of life that made him feel human again. Innocent, as far as a child growing up under Mikael can be. To some degree, Katerina had granted him the feeling of being alive.
During those games, Elijah let her win. Again and again. And while doing so, he took in her victorious smile and happily confirmed her request to repeat their game sometime soon.
He never intended to catch her despite wanting to. He let her run. He let her escape. And she took the chance until she was gone and nowhere to be found again anymore.
He made a mistake back then. Had made a terrible mistake when Katerina escaped their castle walls in 1492. Admittedly, he had underestimated Trevor's feelings for the doppelgänger that caused him to betray Niklaus and him. His mistake was not only to not see it coming, but he had also approached the difficult situation entirely false.
Niklaus held him accountable for Katerina's escape although he had no part in it. Of course, paranoid as his brother is, he didn't believe his words. Niklaus was furious, raging mad - which was even an understatement. But while the news of Katerina's escape had concerned Elijah, he had hoped that perhaps Niklaus hadn't been looking properly. He assumed (and hoped) that perhaps Katerina was still on the compound.
Niklaus was the one who was officially courting Katerina and yet he neglected her most of the time the closer the next full moon came. What did he really know about her as a person?
Elijah on the other hand had watched Katerina often from afar, many times without her knowledge. He knew that she liked to visit the horses in the stables, sometimes even at the most unholy hours even though she wasn't supposed to leave the building at night. He didn't know the reason why sleep wouldn't find her but when she returned from the stables, she had a smile on her face.
Strangely enough, horses were something that seemed to connect Niklaus and Katerina. They both shared a fascination for the Arabians Niklaus kept in the stables, some of the firsts ever living in England during that time. A part of him had envied that connection, the possibility his brother had which he didn't have because Elijah always had been aware that she's not supposed to be his. That she can never be his. And yet he took pleasure in knowing that Niklaus would never know Katerina the way he did simply because his brother didn't pay enough attention to her. He knew of her favorite flowers, knew that she liked to watch the sunsets on the hill next to their castle. He knew that Katerina loved the rose gardens and the small maze. He knew of all her favorite places.
But Katerina hadn't been in the stables, in the gardens, or in her quarters. She was nowhere to be found, despite the entire staff looking for her. Until he'd caught her scent which led outside the compound into the woods...
And he had been furious.
He had been furious with Katerina. Because she ran. Because she didn't trust him. Because he was furious with himself. He was furious that Niklaus was right, that feelings had made him weak and foolish - careless even. That he had let Katerina get too close to him. That she managed to do the impossible and hurt him with her actions. That she had managed to stir a feeling inside of him which he had long thought to have lost. He was furious because he wanted to protect her but by running, she made it impossible for him to fulfill his pursuit. He was furious because he hadn't been ready to lose her just yet. He was furious because of Niklaus who declared him a liar and accused him of betrayal. He was furious about the entire situation. He was furious because he knew what was at stake. For him, for Niklaus, for his family. But also for Katerina.
But despite being furious with Katerina, he couldn't imagine a world without her. He couldn't accept her death. Never had and never will.
Part of the reason why a few days after meeting and getting to know her, his witches had created a vial that would have allowed Katerina to survive the sacrifice. He knew, even though he greatly disapproved of the idea of hurting her, that the sacrifice needed to be done. He knew that his brother needed to break the curse placed on him by their mother to grant him peace so he might find happiness someday. He knew that her fate has been sealed the moment Niklaus had laid his eyes on her. He knew that running or hiding her would be useless. However, Elijah hadn't been ready to sacrifice Katerina for that plan.
Without Niklaus' knowledge, he had worked out an entire plan to ensure Katerina's safety. That he would compel her beforehand. That she won't be scared or feel any pain. That she will forget about the traumatizing event. That she'll go on with her life after she wakes up. That she'll forget about them. He had already found a village far away from them with people who could have taken care of her.
He would have let his Katerina go to ensure she lives a life in peace. In a world without monsters. He wanted her to be free and happy.
But she chose to run, sealing her fate.
Elijah still remembers his last thoughts before Niklaus' dagger let him lose consciousness after he lost the fight against his younger brother when he returned home with no doppelgänger.
That next time, if he ever gets the chance to see his Katerina again, he'll protect her. And that, if she ever were to trust him again, although he highly doubted it back then, he won't disappoint her.
In hindsight, he was only halfway successful.
Many people, Katerina included, thought he intended to torture her when he compelled her to stay in the tomb. And while the choice of the setting had served as punishment for running, his main intention was to protect her. He knew she'd be safe in that tomb. And she would have been if she hadn't taken matters into her own hands again.
It was to protect her.
And he also did protect her by leaving her a few months ago.
Leaving her had nothing to do with not loving her anymore. Niklaus's obvious ill wishes toward her, however, had made it perfectly clear that she's not safe with him anymore.
He just wished he would have said more.
Explained more.
Katerina had poured her heart out to him and all he was able to do was saying goodbye and leave?
He regretted it.
He regretted having not been strong enough to stay for a few moments longer. Because he knew ... he knew that if he stayed even a second longer, he wouldn't be able to do what has been necessary during that time.
Katerina's speech of wanting to be with him had hit him unexpectedly. Yes, he came to say goodbye, but he hadn't expected that after ending their search for the cure, Katerina would still choose him, still wanted to be with him without getting or wanting anything in return. During that moment he had seen how pure her love for him has been. That she truly loved him. That she chose him.
No one chooses him. Elijah himself wouldn't choose Elijah. But Katerina did. She had chosen him and declared her love for him.
How many people truly loved him? Sometimes he's not even sure if his siblings truly loved him or if it was a mere need to have control over him or rely on his mediation skills to keep their family from breaking apart. And yet he'd go to enormous length to protect those with whom he was related by blood without ever getting anything in return. No, on the contrary, they destroy and threaten everything he holds dear.
Rebekah only attacked with words but Niklaus very well turns words into actions. Something Elijah took seriously. Something that forced him to go away and leave the person that truly loved him behind.
It was a decision he had made for her sake but her declaration of loving him, of wanting to be with him, only had made it harder to let go. Again. It had broken him to know that Katerina wanted him, Elijah, and yet not being able to engage in it.
It had been so difficult, so incredibly difficult, to withdraw from her, to leave. He couldn't ... he couldn't allow himself to process the deep meaning of her words. He couldn't find the strength within him to assure her that he loves her too for he knew that he won't be able to leave if he did.
But he had assumed Katerina would know.
He wasn't aware of how she'd take it. Elijah had assumed she must know what she meant to him. That he intended to come back to her after Niklaus had calmed himself. And he was absolutely certain that that is going to happen.
Katerina had found something which could be compared to a Millennium-Opportunity. A once in a lifetime chance. Something not even he was able to find or give Niklaus.
Elijah would have found his way back to her. Perhaps even sooner than expected if he'd do small steps.
Then why hasn't he told her? Why hasn't he told her that it's no goodbye forever? Why had he assumed she would know? Why ... why ... why?
▬ Somewhere in South Carolina ▬
The warning sound of his car tore him away from his thoughts and only then he realized how tightly he grabbed the wheel. He loosened his grip and exhaled before he took a look at the cockpit.
The tank is running low.
He took the next exit off the highway (he had to leave the highway anyway) and drove through lonely woods until he reached the next gas station.
It was small and pretty run-down and when he opened the door, he almost stepped into a dirty puddle mixed with petrol. Elijah wrinkled his nose but didn't waste any time. It was the first time since hours that he had gotten out of the car and back then it was just to fill up the tank. He'd enjoy the fresh air but the intense smell of petrol stung his nose.
While refueled his car, Elijah let his gaze wander through the feral landscape. It clearly was no visit-worthy area. A likewise run-down motel was attached to the gas station and he wondered what kind of people usually slept there and even wanted to pay money for it.
Once the tank was full again, Elijah approached the checkout, paying attention that he won't step in any of the countless other puddles.
"Good afternoon. I want to pay please," Elijah said casually although he knew his present had caused attention. He could tell by the way the man behind the checkout eyed him as well as the Porsche. Clearly his suit alone coasts many times more than his entire stock although that wasn't hard to tell. Half of the chocolate bars are already expired and he didn't want to watch the donuts any closer either.
The cashier was typing something in and the machine needed an awfully a lot of time to proceed with the action.
"It's rare to see such a car. It's a sportscar, right? Ferrari?" the young cashier started with the small talk which only unnerved Elijah more. He wanted to leave that disgusting location as soon as possible.
"It's a Porsche, actually" Elijah replied absently and took out his wallet from inside his suit jacket before the cashier could tell him how much he owed him.
"Oh, that's probably almost the same. It's rare to see such cars in this area. Most people don't have that much money. $ 86,55 please"
Without batting an eyelash, Elijah took out a hundred dollar note and gave it to the cashier, hoping their one-sided conversation is ended.
"That's all right, keep the change."
He turned around to leave when the men's voice broke the silence.
"Thank you so much, Sir. You won't believe how rare it is to get some kind of tip. You wouldn't believe what kind of people come in here every day..."
Elijah tried to blend out the man's monologue but something caught his attention just before he was about to leave the room.
"... young girls think they'll get anything for free if they bat their eyelashes. She really wanted to tell me she has no money despite the silver bracelet around her wrist she didn't want to trade in..."
Elijah immediately stopped in his tracks and returned to the counter with quick calculated steps.
"That girl you're talking about..." Elijah started, trying to keep his voice even, "what did she look like?"
The older man appeared to be confused by his sudden interest, but after a short moment, he finally started to spill his knowledge.
"Hard to describe. Slim figure, brown hair. She looked like a runaway. Quite beautiful but pretty worn down. But one could tell she used to have money. And I bet that bracelet was worth at least one or two hundred dollars." The man paused his speech and took in a deep breath, anger reddening his cheeks.
"Typically spoiled brat if you ask me; wanted to get me into letting her sleep in my motel without paying a penny. She had like two dollars and bought as many cereal bars as she could get but that won't buy her a ticket to a room."
Elijah's jaw tensed as he reached into the inside of his suit jacket again and pulled out his wallet just to show the man a picture of Katerina.
"Is that the girl you've seen?" he asked almost impatiently, his scrutinizing gaze fixed upon the human.
The man leaned in closer and glanced at the picture before he whistled.
"God damn, she used to look pretty. You know her?"
Elijah narrowed his eyes as he continued to look at the man's face. His eyes mirrored something he didn't approve of.
"Tell me, when did you see her? And what did she do?" Elijah compelled him, not being in the mood for other misplaced remarks. With satisfaction he observed the human's dilating pupils before the words spilled out of his mouth.
"Three weeks, maybe four weeks ago. She came in buying those cereal bars before asking if it's possible to stay for a night because it's already dark outside. She didn't come in a car, must have walked the entire way to here. I told her it's 50 Dollars and she said she doesn't have more money so I offered her a trade. Her bracelet for 90 Dollars. She refused. I told her that there's another way..." he looked down at his crotch and that was the moment Elijah snapped.
His hand rocked forward to grab the cashier's collar, pulling him over the counter. The need to do unspeakable things towards that man, to chop his head off his shoulders was so strong, so incredibly strong. He had to gather every inch of strength he had in his body to not end his unnecessary existence.
"Are you telling me that you have asked her for sexual services? A girl who clearly needed help?" Elijah's voice is a growl, his entire body tensed with anger as he compelled the truth out of the human while trying to hold back.
"Y-Yes. B-but she refused. Please. I didn't touch her. I-I swear. She left the gas station with her cereal bars," the male studdered but it wasn't enough to calm Elijah's anger.
In a flash, Elijah had moved them to the next wall, his hand now grabbed tightly around the throat of the cashier who was pressed against the wall. He was struggling for air but Elijah showed no mercy and kept his firm grip.
"You listen very carefully now. Don't ever dare to touch her or fantasize about her again or I swear your miserable existence is the last thing you need to worry about. Get that girl out of your disgusting mind and don't ever dare to assault a girl in need like that again." his tone was low but deeply threatening, the expression in his eyes deadly as he compelled him, forcing him to comply.
"Next time, you'll be dead" with that he let go of the human whose head already turned blue before Elijah stormed out of the gas station and into his car. Before he really did kill him. That wouldn't be beneficial for his search for Katerina.
And the universe knew that the only reason why he hadn't killed that human for his disgusting behavior has been Katerina. Because Elijah didn't know where she was and didn't want to scare her if rumors of someone's head being chopped off appeared. Katerina had always been a very careful and attentive person but she's also a paranoid woman who tried to detect dangers as early as possible. Such news could scare her and make her run, possibly making the situation even worse.
The anger was still evident in his eyes, even in the way he put in the gear (he almost tore it off).
Worrying about the fact he might come too late appeared to be shallow. So incredible shallow. Especially after learning that Katerina didn't have any money. That she had to beg for food or a place to stay. That she was running for miles alone on a street which was barely used.
There are some things that seemed to be worse than death, especially considering that perhaps Katerina had to sell herself for food and shelter. How long until she had to rely on that? Until someone took not only advantage of her but also of her body?
Elijah is no fool, he's aware that Katerina has always had a very healthy setting and relationship regarding sex. He also knew that she had been very sexually active in the past. However, and that's the turning point, until now, Katerina had always a choice. She did it for fun. She did it because she wanted to do it. Without any outside pressure. Not because she had to suffer hunger or sleep on the streets if she didn't do it.
A loud growl escaped his lips and he lashed out on his steering wheel before he took in a deep breath. He had to find her.
A/N: I really hope you enjoyed the chapter. The next chapter is going to give more insights into what has happened in 1492 and why Elijah didn't kill that guy. Do you have any suggestions? Feel free to let me know but remember to stay kind