Chapter 4: Meeting the Doppelganger

Alexinia was trying to sneak through Nik's room without him noticing she was leaving. She could have always apparated out of her room, but she needed at least one of Nik's minions seeing her leave they didn't need to know about her magical capabilities, but also if Nik didn't know she left of her own free will he'd track her down. It wasn't that she was trying to avoid Nik, but rather she just wanted to solve this problem as quickly as possible. She knew that for her Nik would wait forever before he could break his curse, but she wanted it broken by the next full moon meaning she had to find a loophole to keep Elena alive as quickly as possible! Which she wouldn't be able to do if Nik delayed her.

"Good morning Love," Nik called out from his place on his bed stopping her from sneaking out. Turning around she held in a curse, and then froze for a completely different reason. Honestly it was like he was trying to drive her insane considering he was lounging on his bed with only a towel draped around him, his hair still wet from his shower. Her eyes were glued on him knowing all it would take was for him to shift slightly and she would see him naked, again! Why did he keep letting her catch him like this.

"Morning Nik," she replied her words luckily not sounding slurred despite how heavy her tongue felt as she spoke, her mouth dry from the tempting sight in front of her. Things would be much easier if Nik looked like a troll instead of being so damned attractive. She shouldn't be lusting after her best friend!
"Going somewhere?" he asked his eyebrow raised as if he was daring her to try to leave.
"I wanted to get an early start with the Salvatore's and the Bennett Witch."

"You aren't going anywhere until you eat Love. Now get back in your room and I'll bring you the food I cooked in a minute."

"Nik."

"I'm not taking no for an answer Love. You need to eat."

Sighing she went back to her room and waited for Nik to bring her breakfast in. When he came in she was happy, not disappointed, that he was fully clothed because there was no reason for her to be disappointed! It had taken her half an hour to finally be allowed to leave this morning. Nik forcing her to have breakfast in bed, not allowing her out of her bed until she was done, telling her that he wouldn't have to do things like this if she would stop forgetting to eat. After that she just apparated to the town limits, and made her way back to the Boarding House. Hating how much time had already been wasted with Nik's over protective tendencies, although at least he wasn't threatening to kill people so far today.

Not even bothering to knock when she got there she just walked in. "Morning," she called out to a wide eyed Damon who looked like he had just gotten out of the shower.

What was with the men she'd seen today so far? Luckily Damon was fully clothed. Actually it was a little odd that she felt like that, it wasn't like Damon was her best friend who she felt guilty ogling at, and he was certainly attractive yet she didn't feel anything for him. She had never truly felt overwhelming lust for any attractive guy with the exception of Nik. Of course she had a few childhood crushes, but they had never actually been deep feelings. She was starting to worry that something was wrong with her because the only guy she felt such attraction to was the one she would never allow herself to see in that light.

"Alexinia." Oh thank Merlin Damon spoke. She would push those thoughts out of her mind and just focus on helping Nik break the curse nothing else!

"Really should have given me a time yesterday, or at least someone's number to call if you didn't want me here too early." Good that was nonchalant and didn't show that she was feeling inner turmoil. She had to be careful to never show Damon weakness it could ruin everything. He allowed their deal because he knew how strong she was, if he thought she was weak he might change his mind and decide to fight them despite the fact that there was no better option.

"Right, well make yourself at home and I'll call everyone," he said. It seemed Damon really didn't want to risk her or Nik cancelling the deal since he wasn't being the snarky person she had heard Damon Salvatore to be.

Honestly if she wasn't who she was the Salvatore Boarding house probably would have had her looking around wide eyed, considering that this time there wasn't so much resting on her succeeding. She wondered what would have happened to them if they had refused her deal. Probably the entire town would have been destroyed and Elena Gilbert aka the doppelganger would have been the only one left alive over the age of thirteen. One thing Nik always refused to do was harm children, and to him it was an unforgivable offense that usually led to death of whoever hurt a child. Vernon after all was only still alive because she had begged Nik, although there were times that she regretted it not that she would admit that to Nik because he probably still wanted to kill her disgusting uncle.

It didn't really take long for everyone to arrive. Everyone consisting of the hunter and witch she had met yesterday, but also the other members she hadn't had the pleasure of meeting. Caroline Forbes the recently turned vampire, who had better restraint then most newbies, was looking at her with suspicion and hope most likely wanting to believe that Alexinia's solution meant she wouldn't lose her best friend. Jeremy Gilbert possessor of one of the Gilbert rings and unable to be killed by a supernatural being, the younger brother/cousin of Elena Gilbert.

What surprised her however was when Elijah stepped into the room after the younger Gilbert. She hadn't expected to meet Nik's estranged brother here. Hopefully he wouldn't mess up Nik's plans because otherwise the progress she had made with Nik the last few years might end up going down the drain. Perhaps she might even be able to help the brothers reconcile. She knew that if Nik just explained to Elijah the truth about Mikeal that the elder brother would work with his brother instead of having such an unhealthy rage towards Nik.

"Elijah Mikealson, I wonder is this meeting a pleasure or will it end up with you daggered?"

"It seems I'm at a disadvantage you clearly know me, but I do not recall ever meeting you," he said his voice sounding as polished as a Malfoy, but not as arrogant instead it was the old fashioned aristocracy type. It was just like an Original to not even bat an eye at a threat.

"Alexinia is Klaus's puppet master," Damon said with an eye roll. At least he wasn't calling her a puppet, but he was still pissing her off.

Elijah's eyes went wide, "Alexinia? As in Alexinia Potter?!"

"Ah so you have heard of me, but then again what else should I expect from Nik's older brother," she said with a vicious smirk watching as the group he had been with turned to him with wide eyes full of betrayal and distrust.

Elijah ignored her outing him as an Original. Instead his intense gaze seemed like he was trying to see straight through her soul, "what is the image of the light, one of the most powerful light witches in the world doing with Niklaus? Not to mention being close enough to him to call him Nik, something he doesn't allow many people." A.k.a something he doesn't allow anyone outside of their family with Alexinia as the exception.

"Nik knew me long before anyone in the wizarding world could say they knew more then my name. In my opinion he saved me from a fate worse then death, he was my first friend, and I'm more loyal to him then I am to a world that constantly changes their opinions about me. That however isn't what we are here to discuss today, so I guess you'll just have to find out the rest at another time."

Stepping into the house the girl behind him walked in. It was really lucky for Elena Gilbert that she had known there was a living doppelganger, otherwise the first time they met wouldn't have been pleasant. Honestly if she had met Elena and not known then Elena would have gotten the same treatment as Katerina before she would have realized her mistake. She was glad however that Nik had told her about the living doppelganger, and that she had already met Katerina not to mention had the pleasure of seeing that bitch locked up like she deserved. Even though she knew Elena was human her blood was still boiling with all the rage she felt towards Katerina.

"Hello," Elena greeted her voice civil and something in her tone made Alexinia realize she would never mix the girl up with Katerina. Just her voice alone reminded Alexinia of herself in a way. She was certain the Salvatore brother's were blind to it, but she could basically hear the threat in Elena's voice if she dared hurt anyone she love, and that was all just from one word. It seemed that people underestimated Elena Gilbert and they probably didn't realize the lengths the girl would go to to protect those she loves.

Honestly the girl reminded her of herself, but she was lighter then Alexinia had ever been not that anyone had ever realized the darkness that had festered inside of Alexinia since her childhood. Nik was the light in her life he kept the darkness at bay oddly enough considering how dark he himself was.

"Elena Gilbert it's a pleasure to meet you," she said meaning it. This girl she could trust her to keep to the deal. It was those who loved her and didn't want her to be a blood bank from time to time that she would have to worry about. "I was so afraid you would be like Katerina, but I can see that isn't the case."
"You can tell that with just one word, impressive," Elijah said his eyes showing his budding respect for her, even if it was grudgingly.

"It's quite easy to read her. She reminds me of myself, although much lighter. People seem to forget with how much they build me up as some mythical hero of utter goodness the darkness that resides in me. I am my parents daughter after all, and we Potters can be quite unforgiving to those who cross us, Elijah. Elena I can see however won't be a problem, she's too honest, and will do anything to protect those she loves, just like I take any lengths needed to protect Nik. My option gives her that, as well as making sure she herself lives. That just means she has to keep her loved ones reigned in, just in case you all get any ideas."

"Your right about me, and how I would do anything to protect those I love. I failed once, and I will never fail again. So thank you Alexinia for allowing me to keep my family and loved ones safe. I know without your option they would have drove themselves insane trying to protect me. Even if I would have given myself up to protect them."

Elijah was looking at her and Elena in shock. Alexinia wondered if her eyes were showing the same gleam that Nik praised her on, the one that made their enemies wish to give her all their secrets before she made them. Honestly she hated the wizarding world and their stories that made her seem like some sort of paragon of goodness. She had stood up for what was right, but she had also killed something many people forgot. Bloody hell her first kill had been when she was eleven years old, since she didn't count that magic that had rebounded on Voldemort when she was a year, but everyone seemed to forget that. It seems even an Original had bought into the stories that she was a princess who had never gotten her hands dirty, and now she had thrown his perception of her for a loop.

Nodding his head slightly he apologized, "I should have known better then to listen to stories. You are much different then I expected Ms. Potter, as are you Ms. Gilbert I am sorry to say I had believed you would be like Katerina at first, but after I got to know you I honestly thought you had a suicide wish because it's rare these days to meet someone willing to sacrifice so much for those she loves."

"It's alright Elijah. Honestly even those close to me accused me of having a suicide wish." Elena responded. Alexinia hoped that this girl would never lose her outlook on life because it would be such a terrible loss to the world. Perhaps the world would have been better if a girl like Elena had been the paragon of light for the wizarding world instead of someone like her. Oh well she would never know so no point wasting time wondering about it.
"Now that all that's out of the way why don't we get down to business. Any questions about our deal should be asked now, and if you have none then we should start pooling our resources together."

"No questions, we understood everything perfectly yesterday, and told the entire deal to everyone else." Stefan replied taking a page from Elena's book and being civil hopefully it would last.

"Good, then we will need access to any grimores any of you have in your possession, and we will need a safe place to research. I will not have this type of research in a place where any vampire, werewolf, or human can waltz in as they please. Just because Nik and I have decided we need the doppelganger alive doesn't mean his enemies won't come after her. Until after the ritual is over it must be believed that the doppelganger will die by those not in this room, Nik has already ensured that those in the room with him and I when I suggest it can't tell a soul about our plans, so if something leaks it will be on you."

"We can go to my Grams house. She might be gone, but the protection wards around our house have kept it so Vampires have to be invited in every time," Bonnie Bennett offered.

"Good. That means we can look through any grimores there to start. Just give me a second and I'll call Nik, he can make sure his minion witches supply their grimores for us to see when needed."

Stepping away from them she made the call to Nik, although she sent him a quick text asking him to not call her love on the phone. Considering he had British tendencies and she was British it didn't bother her, but she worried that Elijah would misunderstand especially with the fact that Nik let her use Nik when he never allowed anyone else the right. She could have just texted him to get the minions to collect grimores not currently in use, but she wanted to let them hear their conversation. Proving that Nik was really going to do everything in his power to make sure Elena lived.

After that quick call she followed Bonnie to her grandmother's home. It was too bad that grandmother Bennett was gone because the power radiating off of the house showed just how powerful she had been. Not to mention even the wizarding world had heard of her, and Alexinia had always hoped she would be the first Wiccan witch she would have the pleasure of meeting. Though that wish had been destroyed long before the Wiccan had died, considering how many Wiccans Nik had in his employ.

The first day of research was basically pointless to Alexinia's frustration. She knew logically it could take a while, that there was a chance there wasn't a solution, but she had been so hopeful that she could find a solution quickly. The only good things that seemed to come from the day was they got through quite a lot of the Bennett grimores already, and that Elena Gilbert's protectors seemed to trust her to keep to her word or at least trusted her enough to leave her with the Bennett witch without anyone else. It had surprised her because she knew Bonnie Bennett was no where near her level of power yet, she would be a powerful witch one day, but she was still learning where Alexinia had already surpassed many in power and knowledge.

Figuring there was no harm to reach out to Hermione and pick her brain Alexinia sent her a letter asking if she knew of anyways for a sacrifice that needed to be drained of blood to live. Hermione didn't know about Nik, or Alexinia's new life she just believed Alexinia was traveling the world learning magic from different cultures which wasn't a complete lie. So most likely Hermione would just put it down to Alexinia's academic curiosity, since she had a habit of driving herself crazy trying to find answers to questions she wished to know no matter how out there the topic matter was. Plus Hermione wouldn't think anything of it. Just like everyone else who had always believed in her Hermione would think it would be impossible for her to go dark. Not that she was going dark, but in the eyes of some what she was doing with Nik would seem that way. Yet she didn't care Nik, just like she told Elijah Nik mattered more to her then the wizarding world.

"Goodnight Nik," she called after she had a quick bite to eat under his watchful eye. She had informed him of Elijah being with Elena's Protectors, but he didn't seem to care. Meaning he didn't think Elijah would betray him, and she prayed that he was right.

"Night love," he told her ruffling her hair affectionately. He didn't do that often, so maybe he was worried about Elijah's allegiance as well, but wanted to believe that his older brother wouldn't do that to him. She knew Rebekah and Elijah were the siblings he was closest to, and that Rebekah was dagger to protect her from Mikeal.

Elijah Mikealson better not hurt Nik, or he would find himself locked up in a coffin at the bottom of the sea!

AN: Well here is a new chapter. Don't really know why I ended up feeling like writing today considering it's my Birthday, but the writing muse hits when she hits and led to me finishing the other half of this chapter. Please review and tell me what you think of this chapter. Hope you enjoyed it :) Also one thing that has bugged me in most fanfics of this genre is how many people diss Elena. Honestly I think she is a lot better then a lot of people give her credit for. She was willing to die to protect those she loves, but they didn't want to let her go.