Hey all! I was going to add more to this chap but was like nah my people have waited long enough aha!
I must remind all that I haven't watched anything past season 4 of TVD and I haven't even watched one episode of the Originals lolololol… Anything that relate to anything in TO and later seasons are what I've picked up from wiki and youtube. Also I have a question: do we like Hayley? I don't think I have a place for her in my story… completely wrong timing, too. I'll do more research (sigh) at this point I think it would be easier to just buy some popcorn and sit through the damn series. Why did I decide to write this story again?
Warning: Incoming characters are no doubt going to be extremely OOC because of above reasons
For this bit with Rose and Trev, the song I had in mind was something like 'Erutan – Song of Joy' – if you haven't listened to her album Raindancer, you totally should. SO pretty. Anyway, yeah, just like a nice song that's happy that doesn't actually have any words.
Moving on! You guys are seriously awesome. I always get that extra boost of motivation when I see that I've got a new comment! Also, can I just point out that I've smashed through 100K words already? When I saw that I kind of died a little. I was so proud but also realised that I might need to get out more.
If I had to name this chapter, I would have to call it "Elijah and a curious case of fortunate coincidences' lol!
Anyway! Enjoy!
Chapter 19Witches all around the world were scared.
More than scared; they are angry.
Magic that they'd been taught all their lives; magic that was an essential part of themselves, their families and their history.
It was weakening.
A connection that once would have allowed a practitioner the strength destroy instantly, that could kill brutally, that could create wondrously, was diminishing.
It was becoming a thing of the past.
A prospect both terrifying and infuriating.
And it had the witches of New Orleans anxious.
They'd heard the whispers; that the Other Side was being purged of its magic. That the witches there were being stripped. They knew it was the work of Qetsiyah, but they'd only heard rumours as to the 'why.'
Supposedly, earth had a new God.
Bah!
An Elder of the French Quarter, Bastianna Natale flipped the pages of the grimoire in front of her, searching for any answer that might save her coven from the potentially vast loss of magic.
She would not let them perish. Not in this town.
Biting the side of her thumb, she looked out into the night sky, seeing the full moon and coming to a grim conclusion. The Harvest would have to be brought forward. They'd have to protect the Ancestral Well better than ever. They could not lose it. Whoever this false God was, they would not be the destruction of her coven.
She just hoped they had girls who were old enough to undergo the sacrifice.
Across the same town, sitting in front of a fire with a bottle of his go-to poison at his side, Marcel Gerard's mind was racing.
He had watched the witches in his city closely, as he always did; he'd never trust the magic wielders, regardless of the peace treaty that stayed each other's hands. He'd watched on as the witches in his city had started to move with a sense of urgency. He observed how tight their shoulders were, how stiff their spines were and how mechanical their gaits had become. It was with a trepid sense of excitement that had him observing the unease, unable to stop the stirrings of triumph that warmed his belly.
Something was worrying the witches.
He exalted in the stress and sweat that stung the air each time a witch walked past, but he also pondered. He'd heard nothing to be worried about, and he had multiple ears to the ground. The witches were keeping this particular concern under wraps, which meant that it only affected them and, judging by their reactions, it was not to their benefit.
He had to know.
If it was something he could use to keep those judgemental fools in line, he'd damn-near abuse that kind of advantage. He'd been gathering information about a ritual called the Harvest in his attempt to quell the strength of the magic wielders in the French Quarter, hoping to stunt their power. He was sick of the artificial ceasefire between their species. He wanted leverage, he wanted an advantage, he wanted power over them so that they could never turn against him and his.
Finishing the rest of his drink, he stood to retrieve his phone.
He needed his ears pressed more firmly into the soil of his kingdom.
*TVDM*
"What?"
Jackson Kenner, Alpha of the Crescent Wolf Pack, was stunned. Under the light of the full moon, he and his pack and been granted human form once more, thanks to the curse they'd been struck by. He ignored the sounds of reuniting between his wolves and untriggered members, focusing entirely on the woman in front of him.
"The witches are under threat," Eve whispered, her eyes darting around the bayou. She was surrounded by pack, she was safe, but she was always nervous that one of Marcel's vampires were listening in. "They're proclaiming a God walks among us, a false one in their opinion. They say it's been stripping magic from the Other Side. They believe it is evil."
"Evil, or just not on their team?" Jackson muttered; eyes wide as he stared unseeing at the moon above. This could be exactly what his pack needed.
How ironic that it was a supposedly false God that could be the answer to their prayers.
"They don't know where they're located, or who they are," Eve continued quietly, watching the members of their pack laugh and talk. "But, with the warnings from the dead and their inability to find the witches they previously were able to channel from? They can't deny the very real possibility that this supposed God exists."
"We cannot waste any time."
Jackson and Eve bowed their heads at the sight of Mary Dumas, pack elder and Jackson's grandmother.
"We must locate this being and ally with them," the Elder continued. "The witches have done nothing but hurt us. Perhaps it's time for us to seek out a new power instead of trying to seduce a practitioner strong enough to end our suffering."
Eve nodded eagerly while Jackson hummed in agreement.
"I'll venture into town again, keep an ear out," Even offered, looking between the two for affirmation.
"Find a witch's map, if you can. A being that powerful, perhaps it's not a stretch to believe it's attracted to wells of power," Mary grimaced. "I, unfortunately, don't understand it very well, but I've heard witches and warlocks alike mention how some areas have more power than others."
"I'll ask around," Eve finally decided. "I might be able to get some information out of Sofie Deveraux; she and her sister work at a place in the French Quarter. From what I know, Sofie doesn't buy into much witchcraft so she'll ask the least questions. I'll approach her about the map."
"Tell her nothing," Jackson warned. "Only ask for the map."
"Of course," Eve wasn't offended; she knew Jackson was protective over his pack as well as the untriggered members. He knew what being associated with werewolves meant in the French Quarter. "I'll come up with an excuse and listen out for what I can. By next month, I'll have it narrowed down, I swear."
"Just do you best and don't risk your neck in the process," Jackson glared firmly at the girl until she nodded her agreement. She'd do anything for her pack, but he was right; she had to be alive to help.
"Let us join our pack," Mary smiled, ushering the two toward the gathering of inebriated wolves, smiling at the joy in the air.
She could only pray that the curse would soon end.
*TVDM*
Stefan and Elena sat on the end of the brunette's bed back at the Gilbert house, Elena playing with the locket as she stared at nothing while Stefan frowned at the floor.
"What do we do?" Elena whispered, swallowing around the lump in her throat.
"There's nothing we can do," Stefan admitted, sighing heavily. "We don't have any information; we don't have the strength or numbers to defeat her. We just have to be cautious when around town and hope that the tomb vampires won't stick around. We'll figure it out."
Stefan swallowed the lump in his throat as he thought of what he'd have to do next.
He'd have to tell Elena about Katherine.
All of Katherine.
"Elena,-"
His eyes widened.
Elena was kissing him.
His whole body sagged, his hand immediately coming to rest on her cheek while the other came to rest on her waist. It was gentle, timid, desperate.
It was exquisite.
The pair pulled away slowly, taking their time in opening their eyes.
"Stefan," Elena whispered, brown finally meeting dark green. "I can't do this without you. I'm not strong enough to know what I know without you. I know what I want, and what I want is you," she took a deep breath before confessing on a whisper. "I love you."
Stefan was stunned.
A tear slid from his eye. He'd never believed he'd deserved her; her attention, her company, her smile.
But to have her love?
He felt like he could take on the world.
He kissed her fiercely, his feelings at the forefront of his mind as his tongue swept across her bottom lip. His hand slid into her hair as her own found purchase on his shoulders. Her mouth opened, letting him taste her.
He forgot all about Katherine.
It was only Elena.
*TVDM*
"1992," Enzo declared, reading the year made on the bottle he'd just swiped.
"Ugh, the 90s," Damon complained, already halfway to the wind. "Don't even talk to me about the fashion disaster of that particular decade."
"Oh, I won't," Enzo raised his eyebrow at the vampire as he poured their drinks. "I wouldn't know."
Damon groaned again. "OK, that whole 'I wasn't there' schtick? Yeah, that's gonna get old real fast."
"Still makes you feel like shit every time I say it, though," Enzo grinned wickedly, walking over to the armchair Damon was gracelessly slumped in before taking his own spot by the fireplace, leaning against the wall as he looked on.
Damon rolled his eyes, taking a large mouthful of bourbon, neither confirming nor denying Enzo's observation.
"I found out an interesting spot of information while I was doing my own 'research' on the good Dr Maxfield," Enzo looked down at the swirling amber liquid as he rotated his wrist. "One Aaron Whitmore happened to mention that he was the only Whitmore left. Said past members of his family always turned up killed, usually rather brutally."
Damon smirked nastily at Enzo's open comment. "Yes, well, I have a little game I like to play. I call it, 'Whack a Whitmore,'" Damon paused, a thoughtful expression stealing across his features. "I suppose his death marks the end of that, huh?"
"I'm sure we'll find something just as entertaining to keep us occupied," Enzo grinned handsomely, taking a swig as his eyebrows jumped humorously.
"Us?"
Damon hadn't meant to say it out loud, but this situation was still so surreal.
Enzo was here.
He'd gone from planning his eternity with Katherine, to wondering what the point of an eternal existence was if one was alone, to seeing Enzo.
The scales of his sanity had been tipping precariously all night. He knew it'd all catch up to him but he just wasn't ready. He couldn't delve into the shit-fest yet. He'd kept the atmosphere light, not wanting to bare his soul to the world anymore than he'd already been forced to.
And yet, he'd asked.
"Of course," Enzo inspected every inch of Damon's face, seeing the cocky mask for what it was. His eyes easily pierced through it, gazing upon the emotionally stunted vampire; seeing the hurt, the vulnerability, the childlike hope, the crushing blow of rejection he'd already suffered and the rage that simmered just under the surface because of it. He continued on, more softly than Damon was expecting. "I meant what I said earlier, Damon. At the moment, we're nothing to each other. It doesn't mean we have to remain nothing. A past of trust and treachery, filled with the pain of torture and betrayal and guilt and regret. I don't want that, Damon. I want us to start over; this time in a world where there are no bars between us and we're not living on the belief that we could die before ever see sunlight again," Enzo's eyes pinched at the corners as he looked into those baby blues. "You were so important to me, Damon. It's the only reason I want to try to rekindle our friendship."
Damon cleared his throat as he broke eye contact, blinking away the glassiness in his eyes.
"So, you want to braid my hair or make bracelets, first?" Damon smirked before finishing his drink.
Enzo blinked. "Is that a new-age thing?"
Damon groaned while Enzo cackled.
Enzo finished his drink. "I'm thinking some Whitmore college girls sound delicious."
Damon's mind unwittingly went to Lia and her scathing remarks about his actions toward Tina. His eyes pinched as a slight snarl curled his lips.
Enzo noticed.
"Ah," the brown-eyed vampire nodded solemnly. "Lia told me about your little chat. My little songbird wouldn't have cared if you'd bled the Fell girl dry, slowly and painfully, but the fact that you messed with her ability to consent to you using her body in its most intimate form is something else entirely. Lia believes, and I find myself in agreement, that sex is a beautiful thing to be shared between two consenting adults. So, fuck them, feed from them, fuck them then feed from them, but don't make a woman forget what she doesn't like about you and then seduce her. If it's going to be the last thing she ever does, at least give her the freedom of knowing that she made the decision herself," Enzo stepped closer to the agitated vampire, his eyes gleaming with earnestness. "It's more than that, though. You have to realise, Damon; we're creatures of blood magic. Feeding while having sex creates a bond in beings like us. You have to be careful, or else you'll start something you never meant to."
Damon, feeling guilty and angry because he was feeling guilty, raised an eyebrow.
"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Damon drawled before he gasped. "Will I imprint? I knew I was team Jacob for a reason."
Enzo blinked.
"If that's another reference-"
"Yeah, yeah," Damon waved him away. "I get it, you were preoccupied. Bite me."
"I'd rather not," Enzo replied blandly. "You see, I know where I've been, but who knows about you."
Damon didn't even bother to respond.
Enzo rolled his eyes. "A blood bond between those who care about each other, Damon, is essentially creating a mating bond."
"You're talking fictional vampire 'mate for life' romance?" Damon raised an incredulous eyebrow. "You're having me on."
"No, I'm not," Enzo shook his head, a grim look on his face. "Do you understand the danger now? That kind of sharing is powerful. Not only is it magic, it's also about intent, as all magic is. Imagine; a human in love with you, you feed off them, they feed off you, they die. Have you ever heard of a Sire bond?"
Charlotte.
Damon's breath caught.
He knew exactly what a Sire bond was.
Katherine had shared blood when they'd been intimate…
No, he wasn't Sired. He couldn't be.
Damon snapped back to the present as Enzo took a step closer, launching himself from his chair and meeting him halfway.
"How does one go about breaking this bond?" Damon nearly demanded, staring intently into dark eyes as his hands fell on his shoulders.
"Oh, that's easy," Enzo smiled, watching Damon's eyes flash triumphantly. "First, who is it?"
Damon pulled up short, his hands sliding back to his sides. "Excuse me?"
"Who have you Sired?" Enzo smirked knowingly, his own hands coming up to keep a firm hold on the Salvatore. "Come on, you can tell Ol' Enzo."
"A girl; name's Charlotte," Damon rolled his eyes. "I haven't seen her since 1942. A witch I met sorted it; a few deaths, a few words, presto apparently."
Enzo scoffed, patting the vampire before releasing his hold. "I hope you didn't pay too much; she wouldn't have been able to do shit. Bonds are tied to blood and unless both you and your Childe gave blood willingly, with full knowledge as to why you were giving it, and consented to it – which, by the way, is impossible for a Sired vampire – no other force can interfere. Only one true way to severe a connection like that. Well," Enzo paused as he capped the bourbon, picking up his refilled glass. "Two, technically. Regardless, this Childe of yours is still running around, obsessed with you, somewhere out there. No, you're the one with the power in this situation. You have to tell her to forget about you and move on with her life. Unless, she's already broken the Sire bond herself, which leads to the technicality that is the second option; she has to turn off her humanity."
Damon's world was slipping from under his feet. Again.
Damon had been obsessed with Katherine for decades, then Augustine happened.
Even if he didn't admit it to himself, he knew; had known for half a century.
He didn't love Katherine.
Not anymore.
He'd always known she was a manipulative bitch, always known that she was selfish and that it wasn't just Stefan's fault that he and Katherine had been together. Damon had overlooked her flaws, he always had. He'd still been in love with her, desperate to hold her in his arms once again, unable to think of anything else until he'd turned his humanity off.
Then it had come back on.
Suddenly, it wasn't about love anymore.
Getting Katherine out became all about not being alone anymore.
He didn't have Enzo anymore and Stefan didn't care that he'd been missing.
Katherine had been his last hope.
For how long had his feelings been a lie, mere by-product of her poisonous blood?
That fucking bitch had ruined his life.
Damon looked up, a black rage in his eyes, meeting Enzo's slightly confused and mostly concerned gaze.
"Fuck!" he roared viciously, pitching his glass into the fireplace with all his might. He snarled, furiously scrubbing the tears from his face while stomping over to the bar and snatching a random bottle off a shelf. He stalked back to his chair, dropping heavily into the cushion and ripping the barrier between the amber elixir and his mouth away.
Enzo said nothing as he calmly poured himself a drink and went to take the seat nearest the near-feral vampire, the pair sitting in silence for the rest of the night.
*TVDM*
The sun had yet to rise in the sky when a car pulled into the drive. The humans and Susie were still sleeping while Slater and Lia waited for their expected guests.
Slater couldn't stop his grin as he heard it, rolling his eyes as he heard the front door being reefed open. His eyes flicked to the side, confirming that Lia was no longer beside him.
"Hi! You must be Rose-Marie and Trevor. My name is Kaliope; please, call me Lia. Come, come, come!"
Slater stood off to the side, watching as Rose and Trev thanked the little mermaid before stepping inside. They began to grin as they saw him, taking a step in his direction before they froze as a strong hand gripped their shoulders.
Turning back in surprise, the vampires lost the breath in their lungs as they looked at the abnormal creature that had them in her grasp.
Her hair fluttered in an unfelt breeze, her eyes glowing with their own light. They felt warmth coat them, unable to stop the shudder that ran down their bodies as Lia's hair calmed and her eyes faded, leaving a grinning, gorgeous girl giving a quick bounce of excitement while throwing her hands on her hips in satisfaction.
"Shall we get to know each other over tea in the backyard? I always like greeting the sun, don't you?"
Lia skipped away, heading straight out the back as the kitchen appliances got to work on their drinks and breakfast with a snap of her fingers.
Rose and Trev just stared.
"Yeah, welcome to the mad house. I hope you weren't too attached to reason and rational thought," Slater grinned cheekily before following behind a floating tray of tea cups and biscuits, the steaming teapot joining the train behind him, leaving pans sizzling and whisks beating to their work.
"But, don't we need rings?" Trevor asked, stumped. Rose looked at her best friend, grabbing his hand and squeezing in excitement.
"Something tells me that we won't be hindered by a lack of jewellery," Rose breathed, her hands trembled and her eyes gleamed as she swallowed, taking one step after another, dragging Trevor with her until they reached the back door. With trepidation, the pair walked past the pool house and joined Lia and Slater at the newly-built gazebo in the large area of the back corner that sat in front of a drooping willow. There was a rather large open area in front of the beautiful woodwork that was untouched by the beautiful flowering plants that surrounded the area.
The sky brightened from blue to purple and pinks streaked with orange. No one spoke, Rose and Trevor barely moving as they waited for the sun to hit them.
A streak of sunlight splashed over Slater, causing his eyebrows to jump excitedly at the breathless duo.
Rose couldn't wait anymore.
In an instant she was standing in the sun, her eyes already wet with tears of such happiness it almost put the warmth she was feeling on her skin to shame.
Almost.
A hand on her shoulder had her turned in an instant, her blinding grin finding its match on Trevor as he joined her. He tried to say something, looking like an idiot as he opened and closed his mouth.
Rose laughed.
A loud, care-free, full-belly laugh that she hadn't been able to let loose in centuries. Her cheeks hurt, tears were steadily falling from her eyes and her body felt like it would take flight at any second.
She felt incredible.
She turned to Slater and Lia, unable to put into words how truly thankful she was.
She didn't even bother trying.
She had her friend and her hero in her arms in seconds, holding the two as close as she could.
Lia immediately wrapped her own around the English girl, unable to hold back her own bubbling laughter at the pure joy that was zinging through the air. It was strong enough that she truly felt it; more than fleeting brushes or brief glimpses that she usually got from vampires and their overly emotional states. This was the phenomenon that had been out of her reach since she'd forsaken her grasp on souls for compulsion.
She felt high.
She dragged Rose away from Slater and into the sun with Trevor once more, twirling on her toes as she started to sing.
Vampire feelings truly were on another level.
The mermaid and guests were still dancing to Lia's beat when the rest of the house started waking up.
"This is exactly what I image a fairy garden would be like," Caroline mused, a cup of coffee in her hands as she sat down next to Slater, finding some birds, butterflies, squirrels and even a fox had come to investigate. "I keep forgetting that Lia's voice still has Disney princess qualities even if it can't do the soul thing."
"I get blind-sided, too," Slater admitted as he nodded his greeting at a sleep-rumpled Jeremy. "I think it's because she doesn't sing that much anymore. She used to sing at least once a day when we were at the boarding house. Now? I think it's a reminder of the emptiness she's still getting used to. Her siren song would have honed her focus on them, you know?"
Caroline sighed somewhat sadly. "Yeah, I get it."
"Your friends must be pretty happy, then," Jeremy commented as he lowered the coffee mug from his lips. "Lia mentioned once before that she could still get sparks from particularly strong feelings even if she couldn't do anything with them."
The three turned back to the others just to see them bow, the song and dance finally at its end.
"I feel like I'm human again," Rose shook her head in disbelief as she sat at the table, smiling at Trevor as he dropped in next to her while Lia joined the other side of the table, taking her place between Care and Mimi, who the new vampires just noticed. "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm Rose," she offered sheepishly.
"Trevor," the brunette offered. "And can I just say it is a pleasure to meet you, sweetheart," he smiled seductively at Caroline who raised an unimpressed eyebrow.
"I'm surrounded by attractive men daily. You're gonna have to work for it," she tossed her hair over her shoulder and started plating herself some newly-arrived pancakes.
Lia cackled.
Trevor's grin turned cheeky.
"Always up for a challenge; especially one that looks so very worth the effort."
The table laughed at the hair flip and complete dismissal Caroline offered the interested vampire.
"I'm so sorry I'm late."
Slater's goofy grin gave the identity of the newcomer away instantly. Rose grinned and stood as Susie came around the table. They pair easily shook hands and shared a bright smile.
"I'm Susanna, but everyone calls me Susie. I've heard so much about you, it's a pleasure to meet you, Rose."
"I'm glad I can put a face to the name," Rose released her hand, sitting back down and watching as Susie nodded politely to Trevor before sitting beside Slater. She blushed prettily as Slater pressed a shy kiss to her cheek.
"Ugh, you two are so sweet it's giving me cavities; me! I'm impervious to everything!" Lia complained while enjoying her breakfast pancakes with ice cream, sans the pancakes, of course.
"Speaking of," Trevor snatched up his napkin, wiping his mouth before pointing his finger at the enigma. "What exactly are you?"
Lia blinked before she grinned wickedly.
"I have many names," she dramatically declared, leaning back in her chair as she looked down her nose at the vampire. "Depending on what religion you follow, of course. Many simply call me Go-oi!" Lia topped out of her chair thanks to the magically enhanced strength of one eye-rolling Jeremy Gilbert.
"Oh, please," the blonde scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she looked down at the sprawled form of the supposed 'God.' "You need to quit while you're ahead. Just because a 2,000-year-dead witch proclaims you the new Divine, doesn't mean you get to tell the neighbourhood! We've talked about this; I refuse to believe it until I have firm proof."
"What more proof could you possibly want?!" Lia cried indignantly, on her feet in an instant. "I'm the bee's knees, the ant's pants, the cat's meow! I dare you to find someone stronger and cooler and more bada-mph!"
Jeremy kept his hand over Lia's mouth, wrapping his other arm around her little waist to pull her down onto his lap.
"I'm not saying you're not all those things," Caroline rested her cheek on her hand as she watched the exasperation cross Jeremy's face as Lia no doubt licked his palm. "I'm just saying you can't take one woman's word for it. Being a God is a big deal."
The rest of the table watched on as he grabbed up a spoon, took a scoop of ice cream and used it to replace his hand.
At the taste of the creamy goodness, Lia calmed down, settling into Jeremy's lap more firmly. She still frowned in Caroline's direction, pulling the clean spoon from her mouth and pointing it at her best friend.
"What would you call me, then?" Lia questioned. "Because I think 'God' had the perfect weight to it to make people think twice."
"I stand by 'alien mermaid,'" Caroline declared, ignoring the spluttering coming from said 'alien.' "You're not from our universe and you swim with a tail. Alien mermaid is exactly what you are."
"God?" Rose's eyes were wide while Trevor couldn't help but chuckle.
"Naw, Rose, didn't you hear? God; to-be-determined, Alien Mermaid; confirmed."
Caroline nodded.
Jeremy sighed.
Lia pouted.
She'd show them.
After ice cream.
*TVDM*
Elijah couldn't believe his luck.
With their new accord, the Martins had wasted no time in telling him last location they'd been able to trace Greta. They'd agreed to head there immediately, especially as the area was only a few short hours by car. Elijah had been irked that he'd been demoted to the level of a sniffer dog as he compelled each establishment in the area to check their security footage for the woman in the photo he'd had Dr Martin provide, ordering them to call him as soon as they find something before forgetting the encounter completely. They'd finally heard from a coffee shop just after 3 that afternoon that had evidence of an encounter between the missing Martin and an extraordinary young woman with eyes that held a glow that couldn't believably be blamed on the camera angle.
Being so close and knowing what he knew, Elijah had suggested they make a stop in Mystic Falls to find the location of the witch trials. He remembered being told that he'd need the power of 100 dead witches to defeat his half-brother and he wouldn't accept any less.
What a perfect idea it had been.
They'd arrived at the Motel in town that afternoon. The Martins had been rather on edge, having felt something stirring in the air, especially when the moon was at its peak, but unable to explain exactly what. Instead of concerning themselves, however, they continued looking through the town map and their grimoires, looking for anything that may indicate where the witches had died. They'd decided that they needed to talk to the people in this town and Elijah, who'd had experience playing the travelling historian hoping to publish a book, immediately concurred.
Just this morning, as he'd been driving through the town, he'd found a seemingly popular establishment called The Grill and decided to indulge in a morning meal whilst listening in to conversations, hoping to come across something of import.
He hadn't had to bother.
As soon as he'd taken his last bite of mediocre breakfast, he'd been approached by the mayor and his wife. His smile both welcoming and charming, Elijah had, of course, invited the pair to join him for tea. He'd introduced himself and impressed the pair with his intellect and profession before flattering them with his choice to visit this town, easily earning himself a list of founding families and an invite to their home. He'd learned that the Gilbert family would be most likely to have the kind of information he was seeking. He'd said as much, earning him a brilliant smile from Carol as she moved away to make the phone call to a woman named Jenna. Receiving the go ahead, he'd accepted the address and offered his thanks and set off, pulling up in front of the house just in time to see a teenaged girl with remarkably familiar features run out to her car.
Katerina.
How blessed his path seemed to be.
Elijah climbed out of his car, catching the teen's attention. She paused, unsure as to whether she should continue climbing into her car or stay and greet him.
It almost made him pause.
She did not recognise him?
"Hello," she waved awkwardly, her gaze jumping from him to the front door. "Are you here to see Jenna?"
"Yes, Elijah Smith," he smiled, offering his hand. "Historian. Nice to meet you, Miss…?"
"Uh, Gilbert, Elena Gilbert," the woman smiled, easily grabbing his hand.
A human doppelganger.
Impossible.
Remarkable.
"I need to get going, sorry," Elena offered him a grimace. "School day."
"Of course, I'm sure I'll see you 'round," he waved her off casually, watching as she climbed into her car and drove away.
He shook his head, a smile playing on his features as he headed straight to the front door. He knocked and took a step back, tucking his hands into his pockets. It wasn't long until a pretty woman with strawberry blonde hair opened the door with a smile.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a loud screech pierced the air.
"LIA! If you don't move your ass, I'm going to kill you!"
A furious blonde was standing by a car in a drive roughly 4 houses down the street. Elijah could see there was another person already seated in the vehicle.
"As if you could!"
"We're LATE and I'm the leader of the Mystic Falls beautification committee which is having their first meeting of the year NOW!"
"Keep your panties in a twist! I'm here!"
"It's-what?! That's not how the saying goes!"
Elijah was gobsmacked.
What were the chances that the mysterious woman that had met with Miss Martin was here, living not a few doors down from the doppelganger?
The pair watched as the woman with the entrancing eyes rushed towards the car, climbing into the backseat. The blonde wasted no time in reversing out of the drive and throwing the car into drive, the wheels chirping as she stomped on the accelerator.
Elijah turned to the woman he assumed to be Jenna Sommers with a raised eyebrow.
"Welcome to the neighbourhood," she offered meekly as she opened her door wider. "Why don't you come on in."
Elijah offered a slow smile.
"Thank you for your hospitality."