Chapter 15: Dinner Conversation & Revelations
Hacienda: Whitlock Ranch TX
[Charlotte's POV]
I knock on the door of Elijah and Angela's suite. "Come in," Elijah invites.
"I hope I'm not intruding. Do you have a sample of Ancient White Oak ash, with you?"
Elijah blinks, "I do. Why do you need it?" I shake my head no.
"Take out your truth stone." He palms his stone in his hand. "Walk around the room." The stone remains cool to the touch. He looks at me with a raised eyebrow. "Go into your and Angela's study and walk around, please humor me." He nods and walks around the room with the stone in his palm. When he approaches the painting that hides the wall safe, he drops the stone. It is glowing hot.
"Is that where you keep the dagger and the ash?" He nods.
"I had a vision that the stones have this detection ability. I just needed to see if what I thought was true. Thank you for trusting me, Elijah." He nods to me; he is looking at his stone in wonder. I leave the room.
[Elżbieta's POV]
I am doing my best to control my laughter. My sides hurt from laughing so much already. Damon and Bella have taken over the kitchen to cook an "authentic" Italian meal for our new guests. They are swiping tastes of the each dish the other is making behind each other's backs. Their facial expressions are cracking me up. They have a rivalry going on over their family recipes; Bella's grandmothers' versus his grandmother's recipes.
My job is to prepare the salad and to cut the freshly baked bread. I manage to complete my task between bouts of laughter.
[Jasper's POV]
Everyone sits down around the dining room table to enjoy the meal. "I would like to thank Elżbieta, Bella and Damon for creating this wonderful meal for us. Finn, Kol and Rebekah, I hope your rooms are to your satisfaction. If you need something please let Charlotte, Pete or me know. We want you to be comfortable in our home."
Finn responds with, "Jasper, thank you for your hospitality, we wanted to reunite with Elijah. Niklaus is attending to other business. I have heard rumors within the witch community that our sister Freya may still be alive." Elijah looks up at him surprised.
"If we can be of assistance please let us know," Charlotte responds. "Bella would you please give Finn, Rebekah and Kol their stones now." Bella grins back at me. I notice when she hands out the stones, her 'cold one' scar is gone.
Bella passes out the truth stones, "these are 'Truth' stones. They indicate the level of honesty when someone speaks to you. They are cold to cool to the touch if someone is telling the truth. They warm up according to the intensity of the deception. A 'white' lie will barely warm it; an outright deception to harm will cause it to heat up almost to sunburn level."
"Everyone here tonight is a Leylock. We have a different kind of magic that is tied to Leyline energy and the Elemental forces. We have at least one affinity when we are born and gather other affinities as we grow older and more experienced using this type of magic. Kol, I didn't 'charge' your stone you need to endow it with your magic. I know you like challenges. Just concentrate on what you now know the stone can do." Bella grins at him.
After a few seconds Bella starts laughing. "You were supposed to imbue the stone with your magical needs, not duplicate my magic Kol."
"The stones have a limited range of a small room. They are best with one on one interaction. After dinner we can discuss the subject of Leylocks more." I take over the conversation from Bella.
Elijah is watching his family's interactions with us. I am curious about what he is thinking. I'll ask him later.
[Charlotte's POV]
"We have a fridge in the pantry for blood bags, and sous vide water baths available should anyone want one. I keep the side boards in the drawing room and the sitting rooms supplied with alcohol. If you have a favorite brand or type of either please let me know. If you have food preferences please let me know."
"We will be going to the caverns on the property tonight to experiment and learn more about our Leylock abilities. Anyone is welcome to join us."
[Elijah's POV]
I am grateful that Jasper, Charlotte and Peter are being so welcoming to my family. We have some things to discuss later as a family. "I learned something new today about our truth stones. I get up from the table and leave the room briefly to retrieve a vial in my room. I quickly sit back in my chair at the table and place the vial down and unwrap it from its protective covering. Several members at the table drop their stones on the table or the floor. "What's with that?" Charlotte, I and Angela felt no discomfort. We put our stones out of reach briefly.
I look at everyone at the table. "The stones also have the ability to detect the presence of Ancient White Oak. It will be our advantage in dealing with Mikael this time. Leylock magic once activated, shields us from witch magic of all kinds. It will be very hard for him to locate us now." I pick up the vial and rewrap it in its protective covering. Everyone at the table retrieves their stones. I vamp out of the room to return the vial to the wall safe. I enter the room to hear Finn prompt Sage. "You had some news for all of us?"
Sage responds, "I came here to find Elijah. Katherine Pierce has managed to find and wake up Mikael. He is looking for all of you."
Rebekah asks, "When can we start practicing this Leylock magic?"
Peter responds with "After the Gelato!" Everyone laughs.
Caverns near the Ranch TX
[Charlotte's POV]
Pete has been so good today. When we get done with tonight's practice session, I think we'll head out for a bit. I have a cowgirl outfit that he just loves. His chaps are in the back of the truck.
[Angela's POV]
I pull my significant other into one of the side caves to have a private discussion with him. I surround us in a small privacy bubble. "Elijah why did you tell the family we are engaged? You know you have to ask a question first, before that statement can be true. What is going through that brilliant mind of yours?
He pulls out a ring box from his pocket. "I have wanted to ask you that question all week. Something keeps coming up every time I think we will have a moment together.
My family has killed every close relationship I have had with a woman in the past, one way or another. You are too precious to me for anything to happen to you, to us. I knew that Rebekah was going to have a very negative reaction to you. It's not you personally; it's my involvement with you. She doesn't think any female or male for that matter is 'good enough' for me. As my fiancé she has to be careful about how she approaches us. I still have a dagger and ancient white oak ash in the safe.
"I'm waiting."
"Angela will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
"Yes, I will gladly marry you. Now show me my ring."
I take her hand and place the ring that I had designed for her on her finger. I kept it simple and elegant. A single perfect blue oval cut diamond, with two flanking square cut Emeralds. "Elijah it's beautiful, thank you. I will treasure it because you designed it for me." I reach up and pull him into a passionate kiss, which quickly changes into a passionate love making session. Elijah pulls me on top; my knees will be feeling this tomorrow. He completely wipes any other thoughts from my mind with his quick thrusts and amazing kisses. We both need the fantastic sex and blood exchange. I feel completely blissed out.
[Bella's POV]
Kol asks; "Bella how did you end up marrying Damon Salvatore of all people?"
"Kol, I love my husband dearly. I do not appreciate anyone trying to belittle him in any way. He came to my rescue and became a good friend when I really needed one. We found out that we have similar past relationships with people that wanted to use us for their own purposes, not because they loved us for who we are. I have found my mate in Damon. So if you want to stay in my good graces, accept my relationship with him."
He holds up his hands in surrender. "I didn't mean any offence. My curiosity gets the better of me sometimes."
"Fair enough, I think we should start our exercises by getting you to modify your truth stone to your own specifications, not mine. Keep in mind that now that you Leylock abilities are now active, you do not need a sun protection ring. The stone has that ability; you no longer need it though."
"We both have an affinity for Earth, let me show you something." I grab his hand and we step through the cavern wall into a small cave, then I pull him back to the cavern. "We can walk through earth walls."
His eyes are big with shock. "Cool right?"
"So cool, what else can we do?" I show him a few more things we can do before it is time to meet up with the rest of the group.