"You're not going to do that ever again, do-you-understand me?" his father shakes him fiercely, then suddenly lets go causing the boy to lose his balance and crash to the ground. His left arm is twisted in an unnatural angle, agonizing pain erupts, surging through his entire body the moment his weight lands on it. He lets out a painful cry, looking up at his father in shock.
"Be silent!" the man barks at him, glaring as if looks could kill. "Cut the crap. I know what you are. You're just a sick little piece of shit. You wait, your mother won't save you this time. You shouldn't have hurt your sister."
"I didn't hurt her!" the boy cries desperately, cradling his arm with the other. "She fell, I tried to help her."
"Don't lie to me!" the man, his father raises his hand and the boy tries to scoot out of his reach. "You were supposed to watch her, this is all your fault."
"No-no-nothing ha-happened to her. She just fell down."
"Oh, and it's nothing? I'll show you nothing!" he gets up and yanks on his arm, pulling the now terrified boy closer.
He screams. The unbearable pain when the fragmented bones rub together makes him see stars.
It takes till the next morning before his mother reluctantly takes him to see the doctor... It's years afterwards before his arm is almost normal.
Elena turns onto her street, sighing happily when her house comes into view. She was roaming about the club all morning mingling with her guests among other things but she couldn't concentrate enough to go through her reports with a sharp eye. It also didn't escape her attention that everyone was actively avoiding her, likely thinking, although mistakenly, that they needed to give her space. Their assumption was completely accurate, she does like her privacy but she also loves her job, loves working with her team and they all know it.
Maybe she's reading more into it but their silent treatment spoke volumes. Bah, do they not know her at all?
Enzo came in for a few minutes to double check some dates... he seemed to be acting normal enough but still... She is feeling restless. So what if she leaves early and just... disappears? Well, she's not exactly disappearing, all of her top people, those closest to her always know where she is.
She parks her vintage Shelby in the driveway and gets out of her vehicle, eyeing the place appreciatively before going inside. Her home is a modern structure, situated up high on 2.42 acres at the end of a long road, there are no homes close by which she loves. It offers both privacy and phenomenal views of the city that she can enjoy in not just one room but many rooms throughout the structure. The main level is perfect for entertaining, overlooking Reno's city lights.
Her bedroom is surrounded by even more spectacular views of the city and more magnificently, the mountains in the distance. Floor to ceiling sliding glass doors open up to a patio that she can relax and watch the sunset or read a book if she wants. Her room also has a huge walk in closet along with an oversized shower and bathroom. Altogether there are three bedrooms and six bathrooms. It's 8,011 square feet and enough acreage for her to add on if she would ever choose to do so.
After her parents' death, she lived at the club for awhile but when she decided to look for a place to call her own, she searched for several months and when this one came on the market, she snatched it up, it was truly love at first sight. She likes the seclusion the home affords her, very few people know her address because she values her privacy, it's a top priority. She spent many more months making the property feel like a home. Speaking of her privacy...
"You have to be kidding me!" she barks angrily when Kai's car pulls into the driveway, parking behind hers.
Kai just grins and gets out of his Lexus. He's extremely proud of his new toy, one that he could afford, thanks only to her generous contribution. He doesn't feel even the least bit ashamed.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?"
"What are you doing here? It should have been obvious even through that thick skull of yours that I wanted to be alone. Hint, hint," she mocks, sneering at him.
"I do, I simply decided to ignore it," he quips mockingly.
Rolling her eyes, Elena mutters something under her breath and turns to unlock the door. She leaves it open for Kai and without giving him a second glance, walks inside and through the house. Her cozy living room has a huge rock fireplace, a 65" curved TV is mounted on the wall and as much as she enjoys classic movies, she doesn't get to enjoy them as much as she'd like because of her busy schedule. On those rare occasions when friends stop by, they enjoy watching films while indulging in beer and popcorn. Since it's her favorite room in the house, she made sure to purchase comfortable furniture.
Her collection of Madame Alexander dolls are on display in the hutch. One wall has pictures of her favorite places, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Arches, The Tetons and the Grand Canyon while another one features art by Michaelangelo and Botticelli, reproductions of course. Her other favorite room is her makeup room, she has more than she'll ever use but it's fun and it brings her enjoyment. If she didn't have her hands full with the club and didn't value her privacy so much, she'd consider having her own beauty channel on you-tube.
After setting her purse down, she takes two beers from the refrigerator and throws one at Kai. He catches the bottle and follows Elena through the kitchen door that leads to the back yard gazebo. They both stretch their legs on of the extra chairs, lean against the backrest and sip their beers silently for a few minutes.
"What's troubling you?" Kai asks after a while without looking at her.
"Nothing."
"Bullshit," he turns to look at her. "Why did you run off?"
"I didn't run," Elena protests, "I..."
"You what? I can't hear you?" he mocks, cupping his ear with his hand.
"Don't insult my intelligence with your inanity, Kai? I told you I wanted to be alone. And besides that, you were and still are pissing me off."
"Aha... just because I don't dance to your every whim, you decided to have a hissy fit. Yeah... that makes sense."
"Whim? What whim? What exactly are you talking about?"
"Well, spoiled little girls run away when they don't get what they want... Quite often... so I've been told."
Elena takes a pillow lying next to her and throws it at him. "I'll show you a 'spoiled little girl'. Defend yourself you... you skunk!"
Half of Kai's beer ends up on his shirt when the pillow hits him. Hard. He places the bottle on the floor next to him and starts returning her attack with another pillow.
"And I-say you're - a - spoiled - little - brat," he gives as good as he gets and after a while they're both breathless. Then Kai starts laughing and Elena joins him, the stress from earlier slowly leaving her body. She takes the bottle that surprisingly survived and takes a hefty pull.
No more words are needed. This is how it's always been with the two of them.
Luka ends the call and Damon raises his eyebrow questioningly. They're on their way from Mr. Gerard's office to talk to Mikael, a legendary figure in Nevada legal circles.
"Yes, Mr. Mikaelson will see us now, if we can arrive before..." When Damon squeals the tires to take a sharp left turn, Luka has to grab onto the center counsel to keep himself from slamming against the windshield.
"Where's the fire?" Luka blurts out, his stomach in his throat when he barely avoids a collision with another car.
"We'll be there in ten minutes," Damon assures without bothering to look at him.
Luka just rolls his eyes but he's excited too, for the first time it feels like they have at least one lead to go on, something to give them direction after repeatedly coming up empty handed.
It doesn't even take anywhere near the ten minutes when Damon pulls another hair raising turn into a long driveway. When Luka looks up, he's astonished by the opulent home in front of them. No, it's not a house, it's a sprawling mansion. He's in awe at the manicured gardens, the statuary and there's even a fountain in front of the main entrance. Of course, the Mikaelsons are not mere mortals in Reno circles, everyone who is anyone knows who they are. Wow!
They get out of the car and slowly climb the marble stairs to ring the bell, no ordinary bell, they can hear the chimes alerting the owners of their presence from where they're standing. They wait for a few moments before a blonde girl, a feisty looking one at that answers the door. After a restrained greeting she peruses them for what seems like several minutes, Luka doesn't like feeling like a lab rat under her scorching gaze. Damon, however doesn't give her an inch, not withering at all under her scrutiny. It's like she knows that she won't best him in a battle of wills. Eventually she wrinkles her nose and steps aside to let them in.
"Dad? The cops are here!" she calls aloud rather rudely and without giving them another glance she leaves them in the hall. Damon and Luka share a look then set out in direction she'd carelessly waved her hand towards.
Damon looks around, he does a double take when he sees the Picasso hanging prominently above the fireplace. He's certain it must be an original because Mikael Mikaelson spares no expense... ever. The whole place just screams multi-millionaire. It's gorgeous, the furniture is the finest quality leather, it's soft as butter, the chandelier is Irish Crystal if Damon were to guess. The ceilings are sixteen foot at least. Although he tries not to show it, he cannot help but be impressed with such opulence and luxury.
When they see an open door, Damon urges Luka with a nod of his head to follow along. Soon they find themselves in a large study, again, it screams affluence and old money. He has floor to ceiling book shelves, an antique roll top desk, there's a sculpture of Charles Russell's "The End of the Trail" displayed above the fireplace as well as other western art decorating the walls. Damon's eyes finally take in Mikael Mikaelson. He's sitting behind the desk, his strict gaze focused on the book open before him. He has a full head of graying hair, his well trimmed beard is salt and pepper but it makes him look distinguished. It's obvious that the man works out just by the taut muscles of his forearms. Although Damon will give him no quarter, he feels his stomach churn a little bit about the power that radiates from the man in front of them.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen?" he only now glances up from his book to have a look at them. "I understand that you want to talk to me about the Gilbert estate?"
This man, Elijah's father, doesn't beat about the bush.
"Good afternoon, sir, thank you for agreeing to see us on such short notice," Damon starts.
"Hm... I'll have you know that I wouldn't normally do this but since this is a murder case, I'm willing to hear you out. I'm retired and I prefer not to be bothered but Grayson and Miranda were very close friends of mine. Although Jeremy was a bit of misfit to put it mildly, I do feel that even he deserves justice. What do you want to know?"
Damon decides to drop his ass-kissing attitude because clearly Mikael Mikaelson can see right through it. "I'm curious as to why your clients, the Gilberts decided to leave everything to their daughter while essentially disowning Jeremy?" He waits holding his breath to see if Mikael will answer the question.
Mikael gives it a thought. "We were close but that doesn't mean they entrusted me with their private thoughts. They gave me no explanation as to why they wanted Elena to have the majority of their holdings. If I were to guess, I'd say it likely had something to do with Jeremy's volatile personality, he was... impulsive. Even dark sometimes. The club was out of the question because he wouldn't have been able to share it with his sister, he would have run it into the ground in months."
"But Ele.. ehm, Miss Gilbert would be able to share it with him?"
"What kind of a question is that, detective? What are you really asking?" Mikael queries, eyeing Damon like a predator about to devour its prey.
"I'm just trying to discern, sir, if the strained relationship between the Gilbert siblings played any part in the way they directed their considerable estate to be divvied up. Were Jeremy and Elena always estranged, even before their parents untimely death or was it the contents of their last Will and Testament that was the final nail in the coffin as they say?"
"Did you ask Miss Gilbert?"
"I tried, however her friends and lawyer, your son, interrupted our conversation before I could get anything solid from her."
Mikael looks amused. "That sounds like my son, a chip off the old block," he adds, pride evident in the way his face lights up for a moment. "However if Elena was my client, I would do the same thing."
Just wonderful... now they have a proud daddy and an unresolved murder.
"Look, I'm not trying to incriminate Elena Gilbert, I'm just trying to do my job. I have a murder to solve."
"You must understand, detective, the Gilberts were my close friends for many years and I'm sure they had their reasons, valid ones, for doing what they did with their property. Elena is a fine woman who knows how to run a successful business. Their son gave them ample reason for concern which I'm sure played a part in their decision. Is that explanation enough?"
"I'm not sure. Is it? And could it be possible that they did this because she was their biological daughter while Jeremy wasn't Grayson's son?" Damon can't help the accusatory tone creaping into his question.
Mikael looks at him closely for a minute before answering. "Mr. Salvatore, your father is also a good friend of mine and I can assure you I have no intention of trying to hinder your investigation. But, I have a feeling you're reaching for something, anything even speculation here... And furthermore, Grayson adopted Jeremy, he wouldn't have done that if he didn't care for the boy."
They stare at each other for a few long seconds before Michael picks up his book again. "Is there anything else...?"
Is this his polite way of kicking them out of the door?
Damon can't think of any reason to continue to question Mr. Mikaelson at least not today. He may be retired but he's still very much in the ballgame. Once an attorney, always an attorney. He can kind of understand Elijah a little better now.
"Thank you for your time, Mr. Mikaelson," Damon gives him one last look before turning on his heels and walking out of the room, Luka hurrying behind.
"Elena?" Kai peeps his head into the kitchen.
Elena's making some sandwiches and a fruit salad as a much needed refreshment for the two of them. It feels good to actually do something. Sitting in an office, discussing business, dealing with problematic brothers and their deaths... She lets out a hysterical laugh and in the next millisecond is choking up with tears. She's in Kai's arms before she's even aware of his presence.
"I hate him," she mumbles against his shoulder.
"I know," as usual, he's trying to make her laugh... Too soon.
"You...! What are you even doing in here? I told you to wait on the patio... that I'd make us something to eat."
"Well, I was going to," he releases her slowly so she can have her much needed space. "However, I just got off the phone with Elijah... he's on his way over."
Elena sighs in frustration and flings the spoon she was holding into the sink.
She should have stayed at the office.
Damon looks at the clock feeling his irritation rising more with each second that passes. Where in the hell is Luka?
He's going over the pile of evidence for the millionth time, he wishes Ric was there. He knows exactly how Damon works and what he needs to focus on, snatch up the facts and go in for the kill, much like the way a panther corners its prey. He misses his wit and sarcasm and of course Luka can't exactly 'put him in his place' as Ric so often does. But today, he needs to get by without even his boy scout. Luka probably left the building to have lunch with whoever it is that wanted to meet with him.
"Took you long enough," Damon mutters under his breath once he hears him entering the room. "Where have you been?" He finally looks up and can see Luka's cheeks flush.
"Ehm... I had a date."
"What?" Damon gives him an incredulous look. "During working hours, really Luka?"
"Well, yes. And it wasn't a date, date, it was just having lunch together... and..."
Damon patiently waits at his explanation, his hands on his hips meant to intimidate the young man.
"...and... It was Bonnie, the secretary."
Damon whistles, "You've got to be kidding me! How did you manage to wrangle a lunch date with her?"
"I like her," Luka responds rather defiantly, raising his chin for effect.
It takes everything in him not to roll his eyes. Finally he relaxes his stance. "Okay, Luka, cool your jets. What, if anything did you find out from her?"
"Well, as you just admitted, it's difficult, a problem I believe was the word you used, to get close to Miss Gilbert considering she has this weird clique that protects her like she's the end all and be all. They swarm like vultures ready to pick the carrion off the bones of the interlopers."
"Yeah, I know all that. What did she have to say?"
"Apparently Miss Gilbert is very generous with her wealth. She's a big benefactor to several charities. She organizes auctions and carnivals to raise money for disadvantaged and sick children. It's one of many philanthropic endeavors that she supports."
"Do I look like a child to you Luka?"
"No!" he hurries to reassure, clearly not used to his boss' humor. "But the parents, foster care providers, orphanages, half way houses and the like come to these events with the children. They have these parties, benefits and the like to raise funds... and Miss Gilbert always makes an appearance and from what Bonnie divulged, she usually spends the entire day at this event in particular, barring any unforeseen circumstances that is."
Damon's looking at him with new respect, a face that the rookie can't quite decipher. "Sir? I mean Damon? Do you think it's beneficial information?"
Tenting his fingers, a big grin forms on Damon's face, "Very beneficial, Luka. I'm going to have to ask my parents if I can borrow my little brother for an afternoon."
I apologize for the lateness. I was gone all day yesterday.
Eva and I want to thank you so very much. It's your support that keeps us motivated and inspired to try to come up with fresh and new Damon and Elena ideas.
Thank you, Eva, you're the best.
Chapter title: 'Eye of the Tiger' by Survivor. For those of you who are 'Supernatural' fans too, Dean does a good impression of this one, you can find it on you-tube.
I did post the final chapter of November Rain the other day. We are considering an epilogue of sorts, either in the form of a one shot or an additional chapter. Who knows, we may revisit them for another story but we have 3 waiting to be written as soon as we finish this one.
One last thing, I'm having company visit from another state next week so I'll be busy with them. I will absolutely try to post chapter 8 but just in case I don't get to it, that's why.
Have a safe and wonderful weekend, thank you all again very much. Until next time...