I do not own TVD or TO.
Her eyes burned from exhaustion.
The pen drew quick lines over the paper forming symbols that had not seen the light of day in over two thousand years.
She had almost everything she needed.
The flower had been ground down in to a fine powder and sealed in a bag. She had located a white rose in Klaus' garden, and sage in the kitchen cabinet. The zinnia and holly had proven to be a bit more of a challenge, but they too were located in the botanical garden in the dead of night after the house had fallen silent.
The aloe came last. She'd located the plant but had needed to wait until it was ready to harvest the gel.
She just had to combine them now.
Elijah's sure steps faltered when he entered the courtyard. There were few things that had the power to surprise him anymore, but the sight of Caroline Forbes in his home did the job well.
He didn't think he would ever see her again.
"What is going on here?" He looked from Caroline to his brother.
"I wish I knew," Caroline crossed her arms. "Klaus called and told me to get down here as fast as I could. I just arrived."
"I called you for Elena," Klaus nodded towards the stairs. His eyes cut to his brother. "Kol…" the flicker in his eyes all but gave it away.
"What happened?" Elijah took a step closer. He was certain he knew, but he needed to hear it.
It was Hayley who broke the news. She came around the corner from the kitchen and told him what Klaus couldn't bring himself to voice; that Kol had been hexed and killed three days before.
"Rebekah's determined to bring him back," Klaus nodded. "She's staying in her witch body until it's done and working with Davina Claire."
"Elena seemed to take it worse than everyone else," Klaus rubbed the back of his neck. He bit down his desire to snap when he caught Hayley's grimace. "I called Caroline down because she hasn't come out of her room since she saw him die; you'd think he was the first person she'd seen die."
Caroline left the brothers to their grief and flashed up the stairs to where she remembered the bedroom to be. She knocked once and waited a beat before pushing the door open.
She froze when she found the brunette on the floor bent over a sheet of paper and surrounded by broken bits of glass.
"Elena," Caroline closed the door and stepped lightly around the mess. "You need to get up."
"I..." Alenka blinked back her tears. "It…" she gestured wildly to the mess on her floor. "It di… didn't…"
Caroline pulled the brunette into her arms when the tears fell and moved back to sit on the bed. She rubbed the crying woman's arm and waited for the sobs to pass.
"What happened?" Caroline stretched out beside her on the bed.
"He died," Alenka's voice was strained. She sniffled and rubbed her bleary eyes. "My spell should have brought him back, and it didn't work."
"Your spell?" Caroline's brows shot up. "You're a…"
Alenka nodded. "I was, and then I wasn't," she rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling, "and now I am again." She covered her mouth with her hand in an effort to keep her bottom lip from trembling. "It should have worked…" She let Caroline pull her in for another hug.
"What are you doing here, Caroline?" She pulled back and hugged her pillow.
"Klaus called me," she bunched the pillow under her head. "He saw you were having a rough time so he called. I came for you; I came to help you." She covered Alenka's hand with hers. "Tell me what you need, and maybe why you're so intent on bringing him back."
"How about we start with what I need?" Alenka propped herself up on her elbow and arched an eyebrow. She closed her eyes when Caroline nodded. "I need a plant… a flower from downstairs in the garden. Can you get it for me?" She sat up and crossed her legs. "And a mug of boiling water."
"Sure," Caroline stood up, "but why didn't you…"
"If I go out of this room I know Hayley will try to start something," Alenka pressed her lips together. "I can't take that right now. Can you please just do this for me? I'll tell you everything later, but right now I … I need this."
"What's the flower?"
"Datura."
Caroline traced the petals of the purple flower. They curved downwards almost like a bell. She had grabbed several of the purple blossoms; they had been precisely where Elena had said.
Following the brunette's instructions Caroline the petals into small pieces and dropped them into the mug. She was so focused on her task that she didn't look up until the kettle whistled and footsteps settled in the door to the kitchen.
"Is it time for tea already, love?" Klaus leaned in the doorframe. He watched the steam rise from the mug. "I never took you for a tea drinker, Caroline."
"I'm not," she lifted her gaze from the steeping liquid, "it's for Elena; she asked me to make it for her."
"Mmhmm," Hayley rolled her eyes from the door, "because she's the queen bee, and the centre of the universe can't make her own tea." Her nose wrinkled when she leaned over and caught the rising smell. "That's disgusting."
"Nobody asked you to drink it," Caroline snapped. She had assumed Elena had been exaggerating in her overtired state, but it was clear she hadn't. How long had she been dealing with the hybrid's attitude?
Hayley's eyes widened as she took a step back. In the months since Caroline had left the city she had forgotten about the blonde's no nonsense attitude. She'd grown used to Elena's way of taking her abuse.
She spun on her heel and left the room. Her blood boiled when she saw Elijah pushing open the door to Elena's room; because of course that was the first thing he did upon his return: check on the doppelbitch.
"Tell me she's not always like that," Caroline stirred the contents of the mug and watched the colour shift from brown to green. She had to remove the petals when the water turned purple otherwise it would be toxic.
"If only I could," he sighed and leaned against the counter. "As loathe as I am to agree with Hayley, on anything, she is right."
"About Elena?" Caroline pulled the petals from the cup.
"No," he shook his head, "I fully understand her desire to avoid Hayley. I agree with her about the tea." He tapped the side of the mug. "It does smell terrible. What is it?"
"Datura," Caroline pulled one of the flowers from her pocket.
"The devil's trumpet?" Klaus took the flower from her hand. "You know this is toxic, love."
"Only when brewed improperly," she discarded the wet petals, "and I brewed it properly."
"I don't suppose Elena has told you the reason she is so upset?"
"Not yet," Caroline took the tea and headed toward the door, "but she will." She paused with one foot in the hall.
"Klaus," she glanced back into the bright room, "thank you."
"For what?" A line appeared between his brows.
"For calling me," she smiled; the confused look on his face was adorable. "For taking care of her, and keeping her safe; she really needed that."
"You never did tell me what happened," he came to stand beside her.
"And I never will," she smirked, "that's not my story to tell."
She dropped the last of the glass into the waste basket and sorted the remaining ingredients. She had enough of the flower left for one more attempt. Everything was shoved in her purse when the door opened to admit Elijah.
"Elena?"
Her shoulders stiffened. That was the other reason she didn't want to leave her room; at least not when someone else could see her. She missed her name; Kol had called her by her name and made her want to hear it again. She had promised to tell Caroline everything and she had meant that.
Elijah saw the rigid set of her spine and left a few feet between them. This was the first that he had been alone with her since she had left his bed. He had thought things were getting better when he had left, but she wouldn't meet his eyes when she turned.
She stared at the paper in her trembling hands. Her grief combined with the sleep deprivation set her body on edge. Colours were overly bright. Voices were too quiet. Her stomach shook. Her eyes were dry.
She needed sleep, but she needed the tea first. If she was going to spend time in the land of dreams it would not be time wasted.
When she finally lifted her eyes she was overcome by the strong sense of Déjà vu; they had done this dance before.
"Elijah," she drew in a steadying breath, "did you need something?"
Alenka saw it in his eyes; the echo of the memory… of his own voice. What was he thinking about: the night they had shared, her desperate kiss, the feel of her flushed skin, or the following days when she had unintentionally frozen him out?
The dance would have a different ending now; the chorography had been rewritten. Guilt reared its head once more making her neck tingle; she had thought only her mother's 'I'm disappointed' face could trigger that reaction.
"I just wanted to make sure you were alright," Elijah tilted his head downwards. "Niklaus said you haven't left your room in a while."
"I've had little reason to venture out these days," she breathed and fiddled with the paper in her hand, "there was nothing outside to interest me."
"How about now?" He took a half step closer. Reaching up he slid a strand of hair behind her ear; his knuckle grazed her cheekbone.
She saw it then in the set of his jaw and the light in his eye. She knew she needed to sort this out before it became a major issue. She couldn't knowingly lead him on and cause him pain; she wouldn't let him pine for a woman who didn't want him; who didn't love him. He had been kind to her. He was a good man and he deserved someone who would love him.
"I'm good in here," she exhaled and stepped around him to place the paper on the nightstand.
Alenka had hoped he would understand from that, but she realized how her words could have been misinterpreted a moment later when his hand gently closed around her elbow.
"I have to go," she pulled her hair into a messy bun and shoved her feet into her shoes. "Your brother has terrible timing," she bit her lip to temper her smile and ran her eyes slowly down his exposed torso.
"You could always ignore him," Kol smirked, "I've been doing it for centuries." His fingers stole under her top to trail over her spine.
"He'll just send someone after me," she hummed and closed her eyes. "I wouldn't be surprised in the least if he's got somebody following me around."
"Oh, he most definitely does, darling," he kissed the curve of her neck. "I've caught glimpses of him, but fortunately for you vampires require an invitation to enter the cemetery."
Reluctantly she pulled away, stood up and chewed her lip. "I have to go."
She didn't want to go; she wanted to curl back up on the day bed and explore the plains of his torso with her tongue, but she needed to go before Klaus showed up and physically dragged her from the playhouse. Actually, Klaus probably wouldn't have cared, but Hayley might have dragged her out by her hair; it was 'donation' day.
Alenka gasped when his hand grasped her elbow and pulled gently so she fell over his lap. She giggled into his kisses and released a breathy moan when he licked the shell of her ear and blew lightly sending a warm shiver down her spine.
"Nik can wait a while," he skimmed his hands down her sides and squeezed her backside through her jean shorts. "He has an endless supply of time."
She inhaled and flattened her palm over his sternum. Her smile was cheeky when she pushed him to lie on his back.
"Going to rush off for Nik, then?" He tilted his head when she rose to her feet.
"Not on your life," she blinked before tearing her shirt over her head and shimmying out of her shorts. "He can wait a little while."
She knelt on the bed and lifted her right leg to straddle his waist. Her body ached for him; he was hard and ready against her inner thigh. Her eyes flickered over his face; he grasped her shoulders and held her back.
"What are you doing?" She frowned. "You know he won't wait forever, right? Your brother is many things, but patient is not one of them." She straightened her spine and cocked an eyebrow.
"I'm just enjoying the view, Ellie," he drank in the sight of her smooth skin and teasing smile. "It's exquisite; you're exquisite."
"Flattery will only get you so far, Kol Mikaelson," she smirked even as the blush covered her cheeks.
"It's not flattery when it's the truth, darling."
She tore herself from the memory before she grew angry with him; he had known. She was certain he had known. Hindsight, as they said, was twenty-twenty and she could interpret some of his actions and words clearly now; he had known.
Elijah's hand was still on her elbow' she had gotten lost in her memory. Carefully she pulled herself free and perched on the edge of the bed. She ran her hands over her face and pinched her nose; breathing into her hands she looked up at him when he sat beside her.
"I can't," she blinked back a wave of tears. "I can't. I shouldn't have knocked on your door; I'm sorry."
She had been beginning to doubt her power had returned, but she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that it had when she felt the hurt coming from him in waves; that had been something she'd learned from her mother when she was young: interpreting emotions.
"Why did you?" His hope disintegrated. He knew he'd never have a true future with her; Klaus would have daggered him if need be to ensure she lived a human life.
"I…" she shook her head and sighed, "I don't know… I don't know what I was thinking that night. I was sad and confused, and I made a stupid decision." It took her a moment to realize what she had said; when she did her eyes widened. "I didn't mean…"
"Sleeping with me was a foolish decision?" His jaw ticked. "A colossal mistake?"
"That's not what I meant," she shook her head and met his flashing eyes. "I didn't think it through," she ran her hands back through her hair. "I really don't want to fight, Elijah," she could sense an argument brewing. "I'm sorry; I shouldn't have done it, and I promise I won't do it again."
She squeezed her knees and exhaled slowly. "Can you go now please? I haven't slept in three days."
"Okay," he nodded slowly. Caroline pushed through the door when he opened it.
"Hi," Caroline made her way to the bed and gave him a pointed look, "bye."
She waited until the door closed behind him to take the brunette's arm.
"What did he want?" She watched her drink the tea too quickly to be considered safe.
"To see if I was alright," Alenka set the mug on the table. "I assume since you asked you couldn't hear which means my privacy spell worked. Thank you for the tea."
"You're welcome," Caroline nodded, "now are you going to tell me what's going on?"
She nodded once before stretching out on the bed.
"There's so much," Alenka closed her eyes and exhaled. "My name is Alenka. My husband and sister called me Ellie."
"Okay," Caroline nodded.
"Elijah once showed me some memories he had of him and I," she stared at the ceiling. "Can you go in my head and I can show them to you?"
"I think so," Caroline reached for her hand, "it works best with physical contact though. Just think about what you want me to see."
"Okay," Alenka nodded. "The tea it summons visions so if I happen to fall asleep during this you might want to slip out of my mind; I don't know how dark they're going to get."
When Caroline nodded she closed her eyes and summoned the memories to the forefront of her mind. She showed her Amara and Elias, Qetsiyah and her death, meeting Kol and slowly falling in love. It was somewhere around the attempt to break her curse and the actual breaking of the curse that she lost consciousness.
Although, why her dreams were filled with her sister and her spell she didn't know, at least not until she remembered Qetsiyah's final words to her: '…sentence her to eternal torment…'
Her immortality spell had endured, and her sister was alive. Her sister was the key.
I've been thinking about this story for a long time; which means I've planned out foreshadowing more than I normally do for my stories. Who can guess?