A/N: A lot of you guessed where this was going, you clever people.
Lucien woke me when the plane landed and I carried the girls out to the car. I was surprised to find that we didn't have a driver. I'd been half convinced that Lucien didn't know how to drive. We also didn't have any of his security team which was a relief for me but made me feel slightly concerned. I tucked the girls in the back and got in the passenger seat. Lucien got in the driver's seat and we set off from the airport.
I rested my head against the window, watching the darkened scenery pass by. My fear about whoever we were going to meet was growing. They couldn't be worse than Lucien, surely?
We pulled up outside a large house and Lucien got out of the car. I got the girls out, carrying Blair who refused to wake. Lilah stirred immediately and clung to my arm. Lucien looked over at me and I could see the tension on his face.
"Remember what I said? You stay silent."
"Believe me, I have no desire to get my tongue ripped out by your friends."
"They're not my friends…" he muttered. We headed up the drive to the front door and Lucien knocked. The door opened almost immediately and we filed into the warmly lit interior, me and the girls slightly behind Lucien. It was a large foyer with a huge staircase at one end. The butler who had opened the door closed it behind us and turned to Lucien.
"Who should I say is calling?"
"Lucien Castle," said a voice from the top of the stairs. I turned and saw a man with brown hair in a smart suit coming down the stairs. "I was expecting you earlier."
"There were a few things I needed to sort out first Tristan…"
"So familiar Lucien. Is that anyway to greet me?"
"Do you expect me to bow? It's not the 11th century anymore."
"True but you are in my home and you want my help. So maybe a little respect is due." Lucien gritted his teeth and bowed. I can sense the loathing coming off him in waves. "Was that so hard?"
Lucien straightened up and looked away, his cheeks flaming a little. The man, Tristan, turned his attention to me and the girls.
"I take it this is your latest little… pet? She's pretty, I'll grant that but a bit of a downgrade after your last one. Looks are of course appreciated but… magic is something else. Power will always be the truest aphrodisiac." He stepped closer to me, circling around me as he ran his eyes over me in a way that made me feel both dirty and exposed. "And you're now running a nursery for your pet's children?"
I tightened my grip around Blair's sleeping body and pulled Lilah closer.
"Actually, Tristan, she is my wife. And I would appreciate it if you would refrain from looking at her ass."
"Killjoy." He stepped back. "So, are you going to explain why you've come crawling to me for help?"
"Because you said I could use your witches?"
"I said that if you came here, I might be able to help you. Before I give you the use of my strix and the sisters, it's only fair that you tell me why you need them."
Lucien looked at the floor. I chewed my lip nervously.
"She's… she's the doppelganger." Lucien admitted. Tristan raised his eyebrow.
"The one our dear sires are currently tearing the world apart to find? Just why do you have her?" My head shot up at that. They were trying to find me!
"I took her… from them…"
"I've seen some truly moronic things in my time but this is beyond… why would you take her from them? You know that they will kill anyone who stops them from getting her back, right? And that Elijah actually contacted Aya? To try and enlist the strix in finding her?"
"What did she say?"
"She asked me and I told him that I didn't wish for my vampires to get involved. Whatever business they're involved in is hardly worth dying over."
"What if I told you… that those children… are the offspring of the Mikaelson brothers?"
"I'd tell you that you've clearly lost what little intelligence you had. Because that is impossible."
"And yet it's true. You heard the stories, right? About the mythical pregnancy in New Orleans?"
"Fairy tales."
"That's what I thought. But here is the living proof."
Tristan approached me once more and gently placed a finger under my chin, lifting my head. I jerked away sharply, glaring at him.
"Now there's no need to be like that. My name is Tristan De Martel." He offered his hand. I looked pointedly at my hands which were holding onto my children, and then looked back at him. "Does she speak?"
"Not at the moment. She had a bit of a mouth on her and I didn't want it to get her into trouble."
"Hmm and you're sure that she's the one…?"
"Yes. And I want your witches to help me work out how."
"And what's preventing me from killing you Lucien and taking this prize for myself?"
"If I die, Elena is compelled to end her life. She has my blood in her system, she'll turn and be completely useless." I tried not to let my surprise show on my face. He'd done no such thing. And he hadn't even fed me his blood that day. He was trying to bluff Tristan and I wasn't sure whether or not it was better to stay with Lucien in this situation. Neither of them seemed particularly pleasant.
"Well then, I'm sure we can arrange for the sisters to help you. However, I feel it would be in everyone's best interest if we didn't mention the details to Aurora. She's in something of a fragile state at the moment."
"That's fine. Do you have somewhere for us to stay?"
"Certainly. I had a room made up for you. Although I wasn't anticipating the… entourage."
He headed up the stairs and we followed. Lilah was looking around with her wide, fearful eyes. Tristan led us to a bedroom and opened the door.
"It's yours for the duration of your stay. I'll see if I can find somewhere to put the small ones…"
"I'd appreciate it if they weren't too far away," I said, speaking up for the first time. I saw Lucien's eyes narrow. I tacked on a smile and made my tone as respectful as possible. "If that's not too much trouble for you, sir."
"Of course not. For tonight, they'll have to stay in with the pair of you. I'll have someone on my staff bring extra blankets and they'll be set up in the neighbouring room for the next day."
"Thank you, I really appreciate it." I led the girls into the room, leaving the two men at the door. The room was large and there was a large sofa against one of the walls that would make a decent bed for the girls. I knew there was no way Lucien would consent to giving them the bed and him sleeping on it.
He exchanged a few words with Tristan before coming inside and closing the door behind him.
"I thought we agreed you wouldn't say anything?"
"To keep myself safe, yes. But my children's' wellbeing comes before my own." I said, setting Blair down on the sofa. Lilah clambered up beside her and curled up. "Besides, I was perfectly polite. No attitude."
"Well… I'll let it slide this time." He sprawled out on the bed, groaning. "I hate him."
"I guessed. It's very obvious that you don't get along and I only spent five minutes with the pair of you."
There was a knock at the door. I went and opened it. A young woman in a maid outfit was there, holding a small pile of blankets. I thanked her, took them and returned to my children, carefully tucking the two of them into their makeshift beds. I went over to the bed and perched on the edge. Lucien reached out and rubbed my back gently.
"Are you feeling like giving me actual answers now?" I asked.
"About Tristan? Not especially."
"Please? The least you can tell me is if he's a serial killer since you've brought both me and my children here."
"He's… not a serial killer. But that doesn't mean he's a good person. I used to work for his family before Nik turned me."
"And Elijah turned Tristan?"
"Smart girl. We were actually the first people they turned. And Aurora, Tristan's sister, was Rebekah's first. You'll probably meet her tomorrow."
"Does the no talking rule apply to her as well?"
"Especially to her. She's… exceptionally volatile. And under no circumstances do you mention Lilah's relationship to Nik in her presence. If she asks, Lilah is Elijah's child only."
"Right… Do I want to know why?"
"Just know that it's in her best interest." He grabbed my wrist and pulled me close, wrapping his arms around me. I squirmed, uncomfortable in his iron grasp.
"Please don't do anything while they're here…" I whispered. He groaned and loosened his grasp.
"Fine…" He sounded like a spoiled child who wasn't getting his own way. I wriggled free and propped myself up, looking over at Lucien.
"You do realise that if you get me pregnant, you're actually have to learn to like children."
"No. I'll just let you deal with them."
"Okay well, I can't take care of multiple children and be pregnant. And more importantly, I don't want to. I have enough issues taking care of the two children that I like."
"Are you saying that if I get you pregnant, you're not going to like our kids?"
"I'll probably care for them, yes, but I will never be able to look at them without thinking about you and what you did to me."
"That's a depressing and very dramatic way to look at things, Elena."
"I'm sorry that you think it's dramatic of me not to like the prospect of being raped and forced to pump out babies until I die."
"I'm not raping you Elena. I'm your husband, I have a right to sleep with you."
"You are delusional. It's not the 1700s anymore. Every time you touch me, I want to throw up." He looked at me for a long time.
"You'll get over it." He rolled over and settled in the bed. I lay rigid on the bed, waiting until I heard his breathing even out. I slipped out of the bed and went over to my girls. Blair was still asleep and Lilah seemed to have dozed off as well. I gave them both a quick kiss and left the room. I knew I shouldn't wander off. It was a strange place, I had no idea what I might run into if I went too far.
I leant against the balcony rail that overlooked the main entrance hall. The lights had been dimmed and cast a pleasant warm glow around the space. The curtains on the large windows either side of the front door were open and I could see the drive which gave way to trees and gardens beyond that.
I bit my lip, chewing a strip of flesh with my teeth. I felt tears on my cheek. I'd not really acknowledged my situation before. I'd always been aware of what Lucien had planned, what my future was going to look like but I'd not really registered just how bad it was. I closed my eyes, trying to stem the flow of tears but they continued, flowing thick and fast.
"Can't sleep?" I jumped and turned sharply to see Tristan standing a few feet. I wiped my eyes hurriedly.
"Yeah…"
He leant against the balcony rail beside me.
"I didn't get your name earlier."
"It's Elena."
"Well Elena, I hate to see someone so beautiful look so sad." He handed me a handkerchief and I quickly wiped my eyes.
"I'm fine… I just needed some time… and I didn't want to wander somewhere I wasn't meant to be."
"Wise. But maybe… do you fancy taking a walk with me? The grounds are very beautiful, and the fresh air might help."
"I… I probably shouldn't leave Lucien."
"You mean you don't want to leave your children with him." I looked away.
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't need to. Come on. We won't be long and if Lucien gets angry, I will handle him."
I considered. The fresh air did seem tempting. I had spent most of the day in the house, on the plane, in the car, with very little breaks in between. I nodded slowly. Tristan smiled.
"Excellent."
He offered me his hand and, after a moment's hesitation, I took it. We headed down the stairs and he led me to a set of glass doors that opened onto a beautiful garden. We walked down the path and I enjoyed the cold sting of the air on my skin.
"I take it Lucien has not been treating you in a manner befitting of a lady."
"I don't think he's been treating me in a manner befitting a garbage bag."
"Well that is certainly unfortunate. I assume you're accustomed to better treatment."
"The Mikaelson's are… different." I looked down. "Lucien told me that Elijah turned you?"
"Yes. A very long time ago. And I've not seen him in some centuries."
We reached a rose bush and he picked a flower, turning it over in his fingers.
"What were they like back then?"
"Well, I don't what they're like now to compare it to. But when I first knew him, he was young. And scared. To the best of my knowledge, they had only recently been turned themselves. They were still learning their strengths and their limitations. It didn't end well though."
"It never does…" I looked down.
"You're far too young to be so sad." He held out the rose. I took it shyly. "I will try and intercede on your behalf with Lucien, if that helps?"
"He's afraid of you… but it will probably just encourage him to do worse later on when no one's around."
"I will see what I can do. I certainly can't have him harming a young lady under my roof." We continued along down the path. "I am surprised, given your hatred of Lucien that you have a positive relationship with the Mikaelsons. I mean, they're not all bad. Rebekah was very sweet from what I recall… Finn… was… alright when he didn't talk."
"You mean Klaus, right? You can't understand why I'm involved with someone like him when Lucien is like a dark haired version of him?"
"Exactly."
"Klaus has done bad things. I won't deny that. So has Elijah and Rebekah and Kol. But, when I'm with them, I know that they love me. And I love them. When I'm with Lucien, I know that he just wants things from me." I sighed. "I don't know why I'm telling you all of this. I don't usually go around spilling my guts to complete strangers"
"I can understand why. Anyone can see that you are lonely and have spent… I don't know how long with Lucien, who is many things but not a skilled conversationalist. Besides, given your rarity and the fact that he has the oldest family of vampires searching for him and you, I doubt he's let you out to enjoy yourself. Humans are social animals. Vampires… slightly less so. But, still, interaction is important."
"It's not just that. I think it's… because you remind me of Elijah." He smiled slightly and looked away.
"I spent a long time acting like him."
We looped around the garden, heading back towards the house. I felt myself slowing the nearer we got. It was pleasant being outside in the fresh air with nothing but the sound of crunching gravel underfoot.
"Tomorrow I will send Lucien to talk to my witches… and I have a friend I would like you to meet."
"I'm not sure how many friends of people I can handle…"
"At least with this one it won't require a plane ride."
He opened the glass doors and held it so I could re-enter the house. We went back inside and stopped at the foot of the stairs.
"I will see you at breakfast? I assume… I don't know how things work around here…"
"Yes, you will. I hope you sleep well Elena."
"Goodnight Tristan." I headed up the stairs and to the bedroom. I paused at the door and looked back. He was still at the base of the stairs, watching me silently. I ran my fingers over the soft petals of the rose and went into the bedroom.
A/N: I've almost finished my essay (sorry to keep going on about it). Should have it done by tomorrow and then I have NO MORE ASSIGNMENTS. Well, I have a dissertation to write but I've got several months to do that and at least I can take some time between finishing this essay and starting the next where I can do MUCH FANFICTION.