Faded and Worn
Chapter 3: Whispers Beneath the Wind
Elena groans, and then rolls over to glance at the clock. Four in the morning. It's not like she's gotten much sleep anyways. Even in her sleep he haunts her…the memories of what they had haunts her, and then the fear of how quickly it could all be taken away.
Caroline slips in the door. She shrugs. "I heard you wake up," she holds Elena's hand comfortingly. "Elijah and Rebekah are on their way back. We'll know more when we're all together." Elena wants to laugh at Caroline. Her hair never fails to look absolutely perfect, even in times of crisis.
Elena buries her face in her pillow. "I feel so useless! You all are vampires or hybrids and I'm just stuck here…the powerless doppelgänger."
"Elena!" Caroline scolds, making Elena face her. "Being with Kol really has changed you- in a good way! You used to just throw yourself into situations…now you're more prepared and stronger, Kol has really taught you a lot! Truly, it makes me as a friend feel better about your safety," she teases.
Elena allows herself to briefly laugh before broaching the real topic that has kept her up all night. "Caroline…," she says slowly, "I want to actually help, I don't want everyone to always have to worry about me, and right now there's only one way I can think of that can guarantee that," she says with a determined look.
Caroline's eyes widen, and she looks at Elena with shock. She knew this topic would eventually come up, but she never thought this soon. She can empathize and understand- but still. Caroline also knew that Kol would never force Elena, like Damon did, but at the same time he wouldn't just let the topic go unacknowledged and pretend that he didn't have a say in it, like Stefan had done.
Elena, on the other hand, never had a question about it with Kol. It was never a question of if, but when- that's what true love was. Elena and Kol wanted to spend forever together, they couldn't imagine it any other way.
"Oh no!" Caroline shakes her head, "I get it- really, I do. But that's a conversation to have with Kol when he gets back…not me!"
"But Caroline!" Elena pleads, "What if he doesn't-" and then she stops, not allowing herself to finish that sentence.
"Elena don't talk like that it isn't you. When Kol is back-that's a conversation for you and him, okay?" Caroline doesn't want Elena to take this in the wrong way. "Trust me," she giggles, "I would love for you and me to continue going on double dates with the Original brothers for the rest of our lives, but I can't take this from Kol."
Elena nods, feeling even worse. He's still alive, she can feel that- she knows it in her heart, it's part of the unmistakable bond they have.
Caroline soothes Elena, playing with her hair. "I'm running home to grab a few things. I'll be back soon- Klaus might make it back before me. I need you to be strong today, okay?"
Elena gives Caroline a quick hug and steadies herself- today she would be strong and be the fighter like Kol taught her to be.
"Be careful," she mutters, as Caroline disappears from the house.
VD – VD – VD – VD – VD – VD – VD – VD – VD – VD – VD
"Be careful, okay?" Elena sits in the middle of Kol's giant bed, which is in the center of his enormous suite in the house the Original siblings share, if you even called it a house- more like a palace. She wraps a sheet loosely around her body, biting her lip with satisfaction as she remembers how all of the pillows ended up on the floor.
Her heart swells with fear again, almost trembling because she loves him so much. She can't look at him in the eyes or she'll start crying. It's hard to fathom that he is willing going to find the one person in the world who could end his immortal life. It kills her, but she refuses to be selfish with him. They're best friends, partners, lovers…they're equals.
"Dammit," Elena wipes a stray tear off her face, "I promised myself I wouldn't cry."
Kol chuckles while he slides on one of his leather jackets. "Feisty even when you're sad." He strolls over to where she has hunkered down, and tilts her face up to him. She holds his handsome face between her loving hands and smiles.
"Just come back, please just come back." He maintains a sense of his ever-present cockiness, but inside he just wants to grab her and run away. However- he has a duty to his family and to the siblings he holds so dear to him, despite their tumultuous history.
He knows Elijah, Klaus, and Rebekah are politely lingering outside the front door, waiting to go. Now, Elena and Rebekah are on friendly terms. Klaus had convinced Caroline to stay goodbye with a single argument; he had to be able to protect his siblings. Kol used this same reasoning with Elena to comfort her.
"Hey now," he held her, "There's only two people on the planet who could take me down. Esther and Klaus, and Klaus is on my side- he's my brother, we have a combined strength that Esther would have to die to overpower. This isn't a goodbye, it's a search mission, if you will," he says firmly, but still pulls her in for one more searing kiss. She nuzzles his neck softly.
"I love you. Take care of each other," she tells him. The fire cackling is the only sound in the dim room.
"I love you too. Well of course, we're Originals," he reminds her for the millionth time.
She rolls her eyes at him. He gently backs away, opening the door. "Oh and love?" He grins at her, "Just leave all the pillows on the floor. When I get back we can finish what we started."
Elena laughs. Though she knows he probably won't be back until early morning, and he's saying this in part to make her relax, but the other part is definitely Kol being insatiable- not that she's much different.
"But in all seriousness, you don't have to wait up. Klaus has this place protected like a damn mission control center," he laughed, "Not that I mind. But you're safe. I'll see you soon."
VD – VD – VD – VD – VD – VD – VD – VD – VD – VD – VD
Elena absentmindedly stares out of the kitchen window. Caroline is on her phone in hushed tones, probably talking to Klaus. The three Original siblings should be arriving any minute now- and then Elena can finally have some answers.
She sets down her glass of water into the sink, watching as the clouds roll in on the overcast day. "Oh!" Caroline exclaims, and Elena turns around right as the front door swings open quickly. She is attacked by a mass a blond hair that wasn't Caroline. Rebekah!
Rebekah pulled Elena in for a tight hug. "Here now, I've missed both of you so much!" Rebekah turns to include Caroline in their little circle, "But I did have some rather good older brother bonding time," she laughs sarcastically, "Elijah says hi, by the way," she tells Elena, knowing that the two have become close, "He and Klaus are a little behind me but they should be here within the hour."
Caroline continues to look out the window anxiously, definitely missing Klaus. If it's been less than twelve hours and Caroline is already missing Klaus so much that Caroline can't even begin to wrap her mind around what Elena is feeling for Kol.
It's sometimes hard for Elena and Caroline to remember that Rebekah is more than a thousand years older than both of them, but many times her posture and language are so regal that are continually reminded.
"Come," she gestures to both of them, "Can we go up to Elena's room?" she looks at them almost anxiously, "I have much to share."
"I see you two are both on the path to becoming my future sister-in-laws?" Elena and Caroline both flush at Rebekah's sly implications.
They walk up the stairs at human pace; Elena's steps feel heavier and heavier. She is scared for the information Rebekah is about to share…she's terrified for Kol.
"He's alive," Rebekah confirms softly, as they all sit on Elena's bed. But of course, Elena already knows this, because of the special bond she and Kol share. Still- it's nice to hear someone else say it.
"Who?" Elena asks, even though she's pretty sure of the answer.
Rebekah pauses, stopping her hands from making a braid in her hair. "It's nothing we didn't expect. It's Esther…but it's much more complicated than that. You see, we didn't actually see Kol. We couldn't get close enough, but something very strange happened. All of us Original siblings are connected as you both know….albeit, strangely, but still. Klaus, Elijah, and I all felt or somewhat heard Kol," she frowned, "No heard isn't the right word. We sensed him, it was like his mind was touching ours," Rebekah shrugs, offering no other explanation.
She turns towards Elena. "Elena, I know that Nik has kept an eye on the two Salvatores, but what about your ex friend witch Bonnie? " Elena shakes her head, no one had even thought about Bonnie being connected.
"No matter," Rebekah jumps up, waiving her hands in the air, "Nik and Elijah are here."
Elena trails behind the two blonds down the stairs nervously. She sees the two brothers standing side by side in her kitchen, their heads turned and looking at the three ladies expectantly. Caroline darts over to Klaus, and Elena is touched by their closeness. They speak in whispered tones with their foreheads pressed together.
"Elena," Elijah says, moving forward and gives a huge bear hug. Klaus, who's never one for touching unless it's Caroline actually gives her a hug once Elijah has released her. Elena stands there looking at Kol's older brothers in front of her, wondering at what cost will they will get him back.
"Please, both of you," she tells them, "Tell me everything you saw…I need to know."
Klaus grins, trying to keep the atmosphere light. "Still stubborn as ever, hmmm Elijah?"
VD – VD – VD – VD – VD – VD – VD – VD – VD – VD – VD
Kol bids his sister and brothers goodnight with more emotion tonight, then slips in the door to see Elena. It's in the early morning, but his Original powers deny him even the most remote desire to fall asleep. He had told Elena not to wait up- not that she has listened.
She lies gracefully on one of his plus leather couches in front of the tv, obviously trying to stay awake. He glances her choice of movie; Ides of March. Well, she never was one for chick flicks. He chuckles and shakes his head.
He slides his arms underneath her, not wanting to startle her and then gently moves her into the bed. He enjoys the peace and watches as she instinctively moves into his body, not relaxing until he drapes an arm over her stomach. He kisses her hair, knowing that in the morning she'll have a thousand questions for him to answer, and probably be a little mad that he didn't wake her up, but Kol didn't care. He was just happy that they had at least another night.