Chapter 2

"Father tell me,

we get what we deserve

Oh we get what we deserve

And way down we go

Way down we go

Say way down we go

Way down we go"

~Way Down We Go, Kaleo

...

She inspected her appearance in the mirror of the boutique, her previous dress was dirty and by no means was she about to trample around with Elijah in clothes days old. He owed her that much at least. Besides she wasn't the only one who had been in need of new clothes. That was what happened though when young arrogant vampires thought they knew best. Moria decided this would work, for now.

Elijah appraised her look once she came out of the dressing room. His eyes raked across her taking in every detail. She raised a brow at the lustful look in his eyes, well at least she knew she looked good. He drew in a breath, clearing his throat. "Are you satisfied?" Moria nodded. Completely content with her current appearance.

"For the moment. Come, I'm sure you have things to do. The sooner you get to it the sooner I can go back to my observations." He smirked at her then. If only she realized that she was so far past just watching.

"Very well." They left the shop heading down the sidewalk in complacent silence. Elijah came to an abrupt stop next to a man playing guitar. She would have run into him had she not been expecting the move. He stooped down grabbing a handful of coins from the abandon case dropping in a bill. She did nothing to stop him, crossing her arms over her chest patiently

Moria decided that watching things happen this close to the front bore her. This was exactly what she had been trying to avoid. A bored spinner was a dangerous creature. Idle hands made for disastrous results. She would not be held responsible for her actions if this continued to bore her.

"Are you done?" She questions, regarding the shattered glass from the building across the street. Elijah offers her a vicious smirk. He holds out a hand to her.

"Let's go, I have a feeling you will be seeing your family soon." Que a roll of her eyes, she knew she would be. Her niece was a self sacrificing idiot, just like her father had been. Like both of them would be.

Because of her self-preserving nature as soon as she had gotten hands on a phone she sent a text to Jenna to let the other woman that she had some out of town business come up and it would be a few days before she got back. Which wasn't hard to believe since much of what Moria did when not contemplating the construct of fates spool and brewing storms was out of town work. So by the time she finally returned to Mystic Falls from her impromptu trip with Elijah no one ever batted an eye. At her that was, Elena had seemed visible frightened to see Elijah himself standing in the middle of the foyer but Moria couldn't find it in herself to care.

"Elena, are you heading out?" The woman questioned instead of offering the explanation she knew her niece wanted. Regardless if the girl didn't know that Moria knew exactly what was going on. In her mind the only knowledge she had was that which the Gilbert journals provided. Journals she'd forced everyone in the house to familiarize themselves with.

"Ugh, yeah I'm heading over to see Stefan. Jenna said it was fine." Moria just nods heading away from the entrance beckoning Elijah to follow. He lingered, his eyes trained on Elena carefully. There was mirthful expression in his dark orbs. She stopped giving him an exasperated look. Now was not the time to make threatening glances at the child.

"That's fine, I'm sure Jenna reminded you it was a school night and you have to be home by eleven per my rules." The teen nodded, still eying the original warily. It does not go unnoticed. She finds them both ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous, did she honestly believe that Moria would allow someone into their home if she didn't trust them explicitly.

"I will be." Moria offered a wave over her shoulder as she had nothing more to say. Growing tired of rising tension she finally just grabbed the original by his wrist and forced him to follow.

They came to a stop in front of the locked door that held the study, her study, the one place in the entire household she'd claimed as her space. Moria seemed to pull a key out of nowhere opening the door quickly and ushering him inside, the door clicked shut behind them. Elijah took a moment to inspect the room, a small smile forming on his lips. It would appear that she was creature of habit. The office setup was almost an exact replica of the one she had when they first met.

She turned cool eyes of milky opal on him, expression set but empty, clear and conflicted all at the same time. He watched as she took everything in, calculating, as she did. Moria ran a hand along the length of the desk a sigh falling from her lips. As if whatever she decided from her once over disappointed her. Elijah raised his brow.

"What?" His voice carries, she can hear the humor in his tone, with a slight threatening edge that lingers. Moria did not appreciate the implications of it. Instead of answering right away she walks over to where she kept a small bar, for moments like this when she knew the outcome would be something she wasn't too fond of. She poured two glasses.

Moria handed him a glass before walking over to the chaise to take a seat. She brought the crystal to her lips taking a small careful sip and then she brought the glass down holding it rested in her lap. Elijah walks over, one hand in his pocket the other around the glass she's handed him. He stops standing directly in front of her.

"I don't want to be involved Elijah." She tells him plainly. Because that was the truth, she didn't like to be involved. Not when she needed certain things to happen. Expected certain things. He smirks at her.

"Moria darling, can you not see that you already are." Her response was a blank expression for her jovial tone. She did not remember him being so...lively.

"Therein lies the problem, I've been forcefully involve in a conspiracy I need to make sure takes place." She takes another sip giving him the time to process the words she has spoken. He gives her this look as if he can't possibly believe her. Silly man.

"You know of the curse and wish to see it broken." He questions carefully, to make sure he's heard her right. To ensure that they are on the same page. Moria nods.

"I am not arrogant enough to think I could stop it from happening, my only consolation is that besides my niece's roll to play you and your brother leave my family out of it. Whatever it is you have planned for that brother of yours you do not involve my family." Elijah seems to consider her words then for far longer than she deemed necessary. He gives her this unreadable glance as their eyes meet.

"You were never one to play against the spools of fate." He speaks, a level of finality to his voice.

Moria can only nod smiling sadly. She could never go against the winds, she was far from stupid and way past the point of blind action. This was a game she'd been playing a long time. A spool she'd been spinning for years, slowly letting it turn to gold. There was no since to let that process go now. Because of ideals of feigned empathy and human liability.

"Do you remember when we met?" Elijah asks, after a moment of silence. Sensing that Moria had nothing to say to his previous statement but still had more she wanted to say. For the first time in a while he sees a true genuine smile briefly cross her lips.

"You ran into me." There's mirth in her tone, she teases him. Elijah gives her a affronted look in return. That was not quite how it happened, not as he remembered it.

"I seem to remember it being the other way around my darling." She smiled fondly then at the memory, at him. Eyes searching his for any ill intent. Longing for there to be none. Moria was reluctant to admit she had missed him. If the well placed looks he kept giving her too then the feeling was rather mutual.

"You left me." She speaks, the hurt even after all these years still there still lingering on her tongue. Bitter amongst her lips, painful truths and the harsh reality. Moria knew Elijah, she perhaps had even loved him. Love was a dangerous connection for a spinner to make, to have. Love hurt them.

Moria stands brushing past him walking over to her desk setting the glass down. She needed a moment. He comes to stand behind her, his glass next to hers. Elijah runs his thumb over her cheek. "You know why." Of course she knew why, she always did. But it didn't change the facts, she pushes away from him.

They could not do this simply wasn't the time. A storm was coming.

"Do we have an accord Elijah? Will you honor my request?" He appraises her act, but he sees it for what it is. An act. Put on by a woman scorned, trying to be strong. Wishing. Even when they both knew that wishing was for children. Elijah sighs.

"I will honor your request." Moria nods, giving him this look that meant their business had come to its end. He takes his leave, she remains in the office for some time long after he's gone thinking. Unable to escape the volatile building feeling of unease in her gut.

She downed the rest of her drink.

When she finally comes out of the office hours later to make dinner for the inhabitants of the house she is suddenly face to face with an exceedingly irate Damon Salvatore. Moria raises a brow at him and then pushes past him to the kitchen. There she finds Elena, Stefan, and a woman she thinks is a vampire. Rosemarie, her mind supplies, Moria files the information away for the moment. "Elena, are your friends staying for dinner?" She turns her attention to Elena who is still giving her this mystified look.

"Cut the crap Mo, we know you haven't been on a business trip." Damon hisses, Moria narrows her eyes at him. She wasn't sure why he thought he could talk to her like that. Certainly she hadn't given him the impression that it was alright. Like she did with Elena and Jeremy when they were being borderline disrespectful she raises a hand silencing him.

"I'm not sure who you think you are talking to with that tone of voice, but it's certainly not me. Elena what is the meaning of this?" Then as if she hadn't said anything at all she turned back to look at her niece. Who caves almost instantly under the scrutiny of Moria look.

"Are you being compelled? That man in the house earlier, he's an old dangerous vampire." Moria just laughs, because the insuincion of her being compel-able is just funny. She was a Gilbert, she knew about the existence of vampires, why would she leave herself vulnerable to such things as if it would actually work on her.

"No sweetie, I am not being compelled. I know good and well who that man is. We have an agreement. Now are your friends staying for dinner? If so I will need you to go to the store and after we can discuss more on the matter." Elena's response is an uncertain nod. Moria rolls her eyes.

"Wonderful. Be a good girl and take the boys with you. I'd like to have a chat with our new friend." The female vampire in question just nodded her head when all three of them looked at her to see her reaction. Moria was a rather intimidating woman at times. Rose looked completely unaffected.

"Okay,you'll text me the list?" Moria nods and then turns heading over to the fridge to take stock. Since she was the only competent chef in the house, when ever she went out of town the easy prepare meals and grocery items went fast.

"Yes, you can take my card and have Damon get a bottle of wine. I have the distinct feeling we will need it. Now on you go or else you'll be fighting the before dinner rush." Elena nodded, taking a card from Moria's book and pulling her vampire companions away.

Once the Salvatores and her niece were gone she turned to look at Rose. The old vampire eyed her warily but said nothing. "You will not tell them what you know, about me, about why you took me." There is a threatening undertone to the woman's voice that the vampire does not miss. Rose had been alive for a long time she knew not to cross a spinner. Crossing a spinner was a death sentence, and she'd only just stopped running from another.

"Of course not." Moria hums happy to have that matter settled. No matter if the strings surrounding the vampire had already started to turn black. There was no escaping fate. Death was at the door, and there was no telling him to go home or come back later. It didn't work like that.

…

Moria leaned into the doorway, using the frame to support herself. She knocked on the open door. Elena looked up from her book. Dinner was long over, their guest gone, it was just them. Jeremy was in his room and Jenna had gone out with Rick. There were some things the two of them needed to discuss.

"May I come in?" She asks, because for as much respect that she expected and gleaned from them she did try to return it. Elena closes the book setting it to the side and nods her head. Moria takes the step into the room and she shuts the door behind her, before crawling onto the bed with her niece. Instantly she leans into her side, Moria runs her fingers through Elena's hair.

"I don't want to die." She cries, Moria rubs her shoulder. Comfort wasn't something she did, not well at least. But she understood the sentiment. No one wanted to die.

"Do you think I would ever let that happen? Let anyone take you from me, from us?" Moria wasn't a protector, she'd never been capable of such selflessness. What she was, well it was much more fearsome. She might not be able to protect them from their fates but she would make damn sure they'd survive them.

Elena shakes her head, mumbling. "No you wouldn't." Because she knows that. Believes it. Moria could never, would never let anything take them from her. She was just to selfish for that.

"Exactly. You will survive this." The girl quivered in her arms, sniffling.

"But Klaus.." Moria pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Something her brother use to do to her when she was upset.

"Is not your problem, let me worry about him. I promised to keep you safe. I've not the intention to break my word." Even if safe was relative and loosely defined in her mind. Alive, she would keep them alive. Safe, safe was another thing all together. Only she needed to know that detail.

"How do you know all of this? There's so much more than what the journals have to say, yet you just seem to know." She sighs at the question.

"There is a big world outside these walls Elena, I have travelled it far and wide. Most things are obvious if you know what you're looking for." Not a complete lie, but it's not the whole truth either. Moria couldn't afford to tell her that.

"When Damon asked you how you knew we could trust Elijah you told him you were friends. How did you meet? How does one meet an Original vampire? I just want to understand." At this Moria smiled, and felt a sense of indulgence wash over her. This was a story she could tell, a truth she didn't have to hide. Besides it was an interesting one.

"I ran into him, quite literally, it was during my year at Columbia. We became friends shortly thereafter. Eventually we even started dating, moved in together, I thought I was going to marry him." Moria paused in her story, the memory getting to her. Elena leaned up doe eyes full of concern and interest. She'd never pictured her Aunt in love, it was sort of strange.

"Aunt Ria? Are you okay?" Moria meets her gaze, she rubs a thumb over her cheek smiling sadly.

"I haven't thought about those days in such a long time. I know him, know what he is, and I trust that man with my life. You don't have to trust him, hell none of you have to even like him all you have to do is trust me. Know that I will never let injustice befall you." Elena nods accepting what she's been told easily. Despite the dark poetics of her aunts words. There were some things they just accepted about her, some of her quirks were easy to ignore.

"I trust you Aunt Ria. Always." For the first time in a while Moria actually felt a sense of guilt. She wrapped both arms around Elena pulling her even close to, trying to will the feeling away. Knowing that the truth was it wouldn't.

There was nothing she'd done to warrant their trust. To justify the blind faith they had in her. They shouldn't, shouldn't trust her.

She would ruin them.

XOXOX

So I went ahead and wrote another chapter for this. Expounding on it a bit, just to see how it feels. If you like this let me no in the reviews it helps decide how to continue if I do continue. Thanks so much for reading!

The way that I picture Moria is if you combined Lana del Rey with Natalie Portman and Olga Kurylenko together. So yeah.. That's how I see Moria.

Anyways, thanks for reading! Have a great day!

Sincerely, La'Rae