Welcome toSneakyTurtle, TJ Binx, MelissyBear, 91, , Michyo61, and aliciasellers75, for either just recently adding The Wayward Salvatore to your favorite list of just recently following the story.
(This chapter is on the same day as the previous chapter)
Elijah's Pov
After a couple of days of nonstop traveling I had finally made it to my destination Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Where I sought the assistance of a very unique and talented coven of witches known as Voduns, these unorthodox practitioners of magic rely solely on voodoo than on the conventional and or traditional practices of their fellow witches. Now luckily for me I had the pleasure of coming across these particular breed of witches in my past travels. These shady witches are just above con-artists and under no circumstances are ever to be trusted, however their ability to produce results where others would fail have made them somewhat of a treasured gem for vampires and anyone else in need of back door deals. And now here I am once again seeking the aid of a Vodun in my quest to find Esther and put a stop to her and her plan of killing me and my siblings.
After taking a quick glimpse at my watch in search of the time, I causally began crossing the street as I headed towards one of the Vodun's well known strong holds. A quaint little alternative remedy shop on the corner of ninth and Lexington. Now in front of the store I quickly opened the door and proceeded inwards, where I was then immediately greeted by the chiming of bells. As the door closed behind me I continued onwards in the direction of the service counter.
Realizing that I was on my way towards him the cashier quickly welcomed me. "Good afternoon sir, my name is Earl and I'll be your cashier today. So how may I help you?"
Upon reaching the service counter I stopped and adjusted my tie as I then began to engage with the cashier. "Good afternoon Earl, and if you truly wish to be of assistance to me perhaps you can tell me where I can find Sierra Cortés."
Almost immediately after hearing the name Sierra Cortés, Earl's entire demeanor quickly changed from that of welcoming and pleasant to that of defense and near hostile. Whether he was aware of this or not wasn't quite clear to me, but what was clear was the fact that I was in the right place.
"I am sorry sir but I do not know of anyone by that name, however if there is something in particular you are looking maybe I can be of assistance. I mean I pretty much know this store like the back of hand." Replied Earl as he attempted to keep up with the façade.
With a somewhat annoyed yet slightly amused look now on my face I decided to try and reason with the young man. "Listen to me Earl I get that it's your job to ward off anyone in search of the Voduns, but I am great need of Sierra's talent which is why it is imperative that I speak with her."
"Like I said before I've never heard of her. Now if that's all I suggest you leave, now." Demanded Earl with a twinge of anger now present in his tone.
It was then that I realized that nothing I could say would have impact on Earl and his loyalty to his coven. So in defiance of Earl's most recent order I simply remained stationed in front of the service counter.
"Earl on any other given day I would stay here and just wait out the answer I seek but in light of your stubbornness and the unpredictable timetable I'm working with it seems I may have to make a more persuasive argument." I explained as I began rolling up my cuffs.
Just then I heard a woman yell out "Enough!" A few seconds after that a woman shown to be somewhere in her mid forties suddenly passed through the beaded curtain that acted as a divider. Separating the area meant for customers from that of the area mean for employees, vendors, and who knew what else.
"Sierra?" I asked as it had been some time since I last laid eyes on her.
"What is it Elijah, don't recognize me in my old age?" smirked Sierra
"Grandma." Started Earl before being interrupted
"Its fine Earl, Elijah's an old friend. Besides when an original comes seeking a favor it's best to just give them what it is they came for." Pointed out Sierra in a more seldom tone.
Before anyone else could say anything we all heard the chiming of the bells which signified that someone had just entered into the store, and so with that Sierra then gestured for me to follow her before then vanishing behind the beaded curtain. Wasting no time at all I quickly followed after the old witch as I was now much closer to finding and putting a stop my mother.
0~o~0
Sam's Pov
Still a bit groggy I slowly begin to awake and as I do I quickly begin to realize that I didn't recognize the living room I was now waking up in. Upon this revelation I instinctually attempt to get on my feet only to then find that I couldn't as I was tied down to a chair. The sheer fear that immediately washed over me after seeing the predicament I was in was unexplainable.
And then almost as though to comfort me I heard a familiar voice say. "Samantha you've finally awaken, I was beginning to wonder." Said Esther as she and Finn casually strolled into the living room.
Upon seeing Esther and Finn's face I immediately remembered what happened to me, and with that memory now fresh in head it was safe to say that I was a bit resentful towards the Original Witch and her lackey of a son.
"Let me go, let me go Esther!" I demanded all while tugging at the ropes that kept me bound. Between the fear and disgust I was feeling everything around me just felt so muddled and grimy that I just felt dirty, unclean.
"You know I must say I'm quite surprised at you Samantha. I mean I thought you'd jump at the chance of getting rid of my children. I mean after all they've done nothing but brought you and your friends' pain." Replied Esther
"Do me a favor and shove it, you don't give a damn about what I and my friends went through because of your kids. You just want to correct the wrong you've done so that you don't have to carry the guilt for all the people they've killed. So save me the concerned act, because I ain't buying it lady." I shot back with bite
Upon hearing my words the gentle and kind look that once showed brightly on Esther's face was now gone, and the one that replaced it greatly scared me. As it was a mix of determination and resolve, which in my experience is never a good combo mainly because it would always be the calm before the storm.
"A long time ago Samantha I made decision that went against everything I had learned since becoming witch. It went against my teachings and it went against the spirits of nature, and for that I was punished. I have felt the pain and death of every one of my children's victims. I was forced to watch as my children ran a mock, hear the screams and cries of those unfortunate enough to come across their path. But now I have a chance to put an end to all that, to right my wrong as you so put it and to once again restore balance to nature. As it is our duty to do so as witches."
"I think you mean yours, I just officially became a witch like a few days ago. So don't be trying to dump your children killing quest on me ok." I rebutted
"As a Demeter it is as much your duty as it is mine to restore balance to the world. And the really reason you fight so strongly against what it is I am doing is because of the feelings you carry for Elijah." Explained Esther
Upon hearing Esther point out that I had feelings for Elijah all I could do was let out a shock filled gasp. As I was beyond taken back by the fact that Esther knew how I felt for Elijah.
"If you ask me Samantha your reason for not wanting to help me is pretty selfish. I mean you would rather have your friends and other innocent people suffer at the hands of Niklaus and my other children all in the name of Elijah? Now tell me how that differs from what your uncles do for Elena?" asked Esther
A look of shock instantly appeared on my face after hearing Esther's final words, and a few seconds after that the look of shock was then replaced by a look of shame. As I pondered over what the Original Witch had said, I mean from the beginning till now all I've done is preached and protested against the way both Damon and Stefan or more than willing to put everyone else in danger all for sake of their beloved Elena. And yet here I was doing the exact same thing, and for who? An original that I will never be with, a man so devoted to the redemption of his family that he would forsake his own morals and happiness just to protect them, a brother so willing to gloss over his siblings constant indiscretions that he might as well be blind. This is the man I'm trying to protect? But then again, who's to say that I wouldn't do the same for Stefan, or hell even Damon if we were put in those exact positions. Family is everything to Elijah, just as it is for me, and because of the little family we do have we fight that much more harder to protect them, to treasure them. Even if sometimes it seems hopeless.
Lost in though I didn't reply back to Esther's question and so with that the one thousand and something year old resurrected witch went about setting up for her plan business as usual.
After a few minutes of drawing, lighten candles, lining the drawing with salt and cutting a piece of my hair off Esther now stood in front of me ready to go about casting her spell which would turn all the Originals back into humans.
The moment Esther began reciting her spell I instantly began to feel something from within me being pulled at. Now upon feeling this pull my initial reaction was to fight against it, and thus began the tug of war for my powers.
As Esther continued on with her spell the tugging from her side continued to grow more and more in power, which only made me fight even harder. From there the house we were in suddenly began to rumble, and with it blood suddenly began seeping from both me and Esther's nose.
Now I'm not sure how I was able to fight against Esther's channeling when I in fact have no idea how to willing use my powers but this seemed different. Because unlike me trying to use my powers I could feel this, Esther's channeling was pulling at something that was literally a part of me. And it was obvious that the rest of me wasn't willing to part with what Esther wanted which seemed to had caused the internal fight we were having to manifest outwards in the form of the house shaking and the random shattering of anything glass ranging from windows to appliances.
"Mother what's happening?" asked a now worried Finn
"She's fighting me Finn." Answered Esther all while remaining focused.
The pain I was feeling was unbearable, it was like I was being split in two. So you better believe my screams bellowed throughout the entire house. It felt as though Esther and I were battling for hours when in fact only a couple of minutes had gone by. Then just when I felt myself about to lose the battle with Esther a powerful electrical pulse erupted from my entire body thus washing over the entire house.
I was seconds from passing out due to exhaustion but I was still conscious enough to see Finn vamp speed in front of Esther thus taking the brunt of hit as the two were then propelled into a wall. And so with the last few seconds of consciousness I had left I heard myself plea. "Damon, Stefan, anyone…please help me." And just like that I drifted into the darkness, but not before feeling a sudden breeze blow pass my face.
0~o~0
3rd Pov
Back at the Salvatore Boarding house Damon was at the bar fixing himself a drink when all of a sudden the front doors violently blew open letting in a sudden gust of wind that quickly swept through the entire house.
"What in the hell?" started Damon before then hearing the sound of Samantha's voice saying, "Damon, Stefan, anyone…..please help me." Just as the breeze that busted open the front doors blew into the living room.
"Sam?" asked Damon as he peered around the living room for Samantha.
With no sightings of Samantha in the living room Damon instinctually sat his drink down and hastily vamp speeds towards the front door. After reaching his destination Damon took a quick peer outside and saw that everything seemed normal. So deciding not to give it another thought Damon closed and locked the front door before then making his way down the foyer with the living room being his intended target.
Bust just as Damon was walking pass the stair case he heard his young brother call out to him.
"Damon." Said Stefan
Peering up the staircase Damon sees Stefan, and in knowing his brother better than anyone Damon could tell that something was wrong. "Who died?" asked Damon sarcastically
"Damon I think Samantha's in trouble." Said Stefan
"Why, you heard her voice send out a creepy S.O.S. to?" asked Damon
"S.O.S. Damon what are you talking about?" asked Stefan
Not wanting to go any further with the weirdness that he previously went through Damon quickly changes the subject. "Nothing never mind, you were saying you think Samantha's in trouble because?"
"I saw her Damon, I saw Sam tied to a chair being tortured by Esther." said a somewhat bewildered Stefan, as it was more than obvious that he himself couldn't believe the words that were coming out of his mouth.
Completely dumbfounded by Stefan's statement Damon just stands at the bottom of the stairs with a lifted brow and an overly confused look now present on his face. As he tries to wrap his mind around what Stefan and had just said.
0~o~0
Elijah's Pov
It had been some time since Sierra conducted her spell which allowed her to straddle through to the other side in search of my mother's location. Seeing as she knew trying an ordinary locater spell would prove frivolous with my mother being more than capable of blocking such a spell. Still just sitting here waiting for Sierra to return was becoming quite annoying.
Then just as it seemed like I was about to lose the last bit of patience I had Sierra finally awoke.
"I found her." Grinned Sierra
"Well let's not stand on ceremony shall we, where is my mother Sierra?" I asked in a stern tone.
"So impatient aren't we?" taunted Sierra
"I do not have time for your games Sierra now tell me where my mother is or I will be force to extract the information from you in very unpleasant manner." I explained
"I remember a time when you enjoyed my games, but oh well you lost. Your mother is held up in a little town just south of Mystic Falls called Arlington." answered Sierra
"Very well, then that is where I shall go. Thank you once again for your assistance Sierra. And I do hope I don't have to remind you of what'll happen should your lead prove wrong?" I asked
"Of course not, I know better than to lie to an Original." Answered Sierra
"Good then I shall be on my way." I replied before then turning to take my leave of the back room.
Just seconds before I pass through the beaded curtain Sierra once again addressed me. "Oh Elijah, there's one more piece of information I forgot to tell you."
Already tired of Sierra's games I let out annoyed sigh before then glancing back at the Vodun witch. "And what exactly would that be?"
"Well I'm not sure if this matter to you at all but while on the other side there was chatter among the witches. Apparently your mother now has powerful witch in her possession.
"And who would be so stupid as to side with my mother?"
"Tell me does the name Samantha Salvatore mean anything to you?" asked Sierra
Immediately upon hearing Samantha's name I vamp sped out of the herbal shop with Mystic Falls now being next destination. With my mind playing out every possible reason why Samantha would be with my mother I couldn't decide on which was the worst, Samantha helping my mother to kill me and my siblings, or Samantha being held captive. Either which way none of the above sat well with me and none truly seemed possible. This is why I am now on my way to Mystic Falls to both verify whether Sierra's information about Samantha holds fast, as well as to secure back up seeing as my mother is no ordinary witch.
0~o~0
3rd Pov
Upon Elijah's abrupt departure Earl was just about to run in back and check up on his grandmother. When Sierra suddenly appeared from behind the beaded curtain with the most devious grin Earl had ever seen.
"Grandma what happened back their? You seem to be in quite high spirits all of a sudden." Stated Earl
"Yes well let's just say that in helping Elijah I obtained information that will not only shock & stun the supernatural world, but put us in high standing with HER." stressed Sierra
"Really?" asked an overly excited Earl.
"Really." Assured Sierra
"And what exactly is this news grandmother?" begged Earl
"That a Demeter witch still exists." Smiled Sierra
"Oh my god! That is big news!" Said an astonished Earl
"And not just any Demeter Earl, the Deva." pointed out Sierra as she display a big old kool aide grin. As she was already estimating just how much Intel like this would go for to the right buyer.