PART (3 of 4)
I know it's been a long wait (in between updates). I seem incapable of sticking to any type of posting deadline. I backed myself into a creative corner when I had Elijah discover Elena's identity at the end of the last chapter. I liked the cliffhanger but I had no interest in exploring Elijah's probable/in character reaction to Elena being turned. This story was never meant to be angsty...at least not in that particular way. I just wanted to explore the dominant/predatory side of Elijah we saw in 'Rose'. So...if you think I glossed over the angst factor re: Elena's turning...you're right - I did.
FYI, I edited the first two chapters. I didn't make any dramatic changes...just a bit of sprucing. My Virgo self just wasn't satisfied with the original versions.
The emotional fortress that is Elijah - smashed beyond all recognition. Their pillar of rationality - crumbling to dust. Right about now, Nik must be laughing his charbroiled ass off.
"Kol didn't turn me! I was in a car accident!" Curious wording. Why didn't she mention Rebekah? If he hadn't been rendered mute from the choke hold, he would've personally tied his sister to the sacrificial altar.
All she has to do is startle him...to bring him back. Her attack doesn't have much of an impact on Elijah but it's awakening something dangerous within her own body. If this is a vampire's normal response to violence, she can finally understand why Katherine solves all of her problems by straddling them. Oh the joys of living death...blood lust and nymphomania.
He's being rescued by the most unlikely of saviors. She's treating Elijah's back like a cheap bongo. Why is there never a video camera around when you really need one?
Mission accomplished. Kol practically kisses the floor as it rises up to meet him. She can appreciate that impulse. If Elijah hadn't responded to her hands, her teeth would've taken the opportunity to join the fray. Biting Elijah is a very bad idea...no matter how much her libido may disagree.
She doesn't remove her hands as he turns to face her. She avoids eye contact but softens her touch ...glides her fingers across his chest. His hands cover her own when she palms the area over his heart. He silently wills her to look up...to complete the circuit.
He baited the hook but Elijah gets to reel in the catch - how predictable. It's nice to know that his vicious coughing fit isn't distracting either of them. It would be a shame if his bout of asphyxiation interfered with their romantic interlude. Maybe he should finish setting the scene...turn down the lights...start humming a power ballad. As much as he'd love to stay, his survival instincts (and gag reflex) are quite insistent that he get the hell out of dodge.
She remembers her own flight plan as she hears the door begin to open. That little weasel orchestrated this entire situation! If there's a get-out-of-jail-free card, it sure as hell isn't going to Kol!
She jerks back like she's been scalded. He has to forcibly remind himself that the retreat is necessary (and temporary). After Kol sings like a canary, he'll have plenty of time to acquaint himself with this new version of Elena...one whose vision seems to extend beyond the Salvatores. As long as Kol didn't compel her, he can trust her earlier submission. He's eager to re-initiate negotiations...now that their previous agreement has been rendered null and void. Leaving Mystic Falls for the duration of her human life - excruciating but necessary. He could've resisted temptation for seventy odd years but his will power isn't strong enough to survive her turning. Pretending to be Katerina, she granted him carte blanche access. He won't ignore her ready acceptance of his desire.
He would've been home free if she had waited ten more seconds to flinch. He supposes it's a small offense though...when weighed against her other actions. He can still feel the echoes of that orgasm in his kidneys. Between the naughty touching and her fists of fury, he's racked up a hefty debt.
"Kol, I'm going to ask a few simple questions. If you respond with the complete truth, I'll allow Elena to choose your punishment. If you make any attempts to mislead me, I'll assume you used compulsion against her."
Elijah doesn't bother to describe the fall out that would result from that particular assumption. Removing her free will, compelling her for sex - Elijah would consider it rape. He'll have to admit to stacking the deck. He'd rather be damned for the truth than to allow Elijah to believe the alternative.
She hasn't thought of a good excuse (yet) but that doesn't mean she appreciates being excluded from the conversation. Kol manipulated her participation but he didn't compel her. She's just not entirely sure that the truth would improve the situation.
"How did you discover that Elena had been turned?"
"Rebekah told me." Elijah's jaw is already clenched - prepped for the agony. This is one bullet that's going to be a bitch to extract.
"Did Rebekah do anything to facilitate Elena's death?"
"She forced their vehicle off the road." That expression - a coffin slamming shut. Now he understands. Rebekah knew that Elijah wouldn't leave Mystic Falls...not if he discovered that Elena had been turned. Big brother is going to feel duty bound to guide her through the transition. Even if he didn't already love the bird, his honor would demand that he choose Elena over the sibling who murdered her. Rebekah wasn't worried about corrupting the girl...she was worried about being buried in Elena's place.
"You betrayed me." Not a question or even an accusation. He's been judged guilty without the courtesy of a trial.
"Hey...back that train up! I didn't get involved until after Elena was turned."
"Why are you here, Kol? What was the plan? I fail to see how seducing a dead teenager improves the situation." He cringes when he hears the callous words leave his own mouth. Once it's completely removed, a snake can't slip back into its old skin. Believing himself to be in Katerina's presence, he discarded all vestiges of civility. He'd let his body become lust drunk on thoughts of Elena. He's not dealing with Katerina anymore (he never was) - a sobering thought but it's not his mind that needs the reminder.
Did she lose his respect when she lost her pulse or when he found her with Kol? Dead. Teenager. If he's going to treat her like Katherine...
"Did it ever occur to you that I seduced him? Even dead teenagers enjoy sex." Apologizing is high on his list of priorities but that ridiculous question begs for an immediate answer.
"It occurred to me that he issued a threat either explicitly or implicitly to ensure your compliance. If you claim to have seduced him, I'll know you were compelled."
"I'm not dating anyone. There's nothing stopping me from having a fling with your brother." A sharp nod...a jerk of the head that declares the case to be closed. Those are not the words that will free him from Elijah's wraith. If she keeps talking, he's going to be buried right beside Rebekah. What was the purpose of that little declaration? Elijah didn't ask her to explain her own actions. She doesn't need to defend her sexuality. All Elijah wants is confirmation that she was (is) a willing participant. The best defense might be a good offense but she's lost sight of what she's supposed to be protecting (namely him).
"You're completely right. It was egotistical of me to assume that I'd have you all to myself. Do you consider yourself an exhibitionist or would you prefer a threesome?" She had forgotten that she wasn't just defending her actions with Kol. His question is nothing that she wants but everything that she deserves.
"Would you please mentally rewind the last few minutes. All comments to the contrary, I haven't turned into a hooker."
"Is that a no on the threesome?" It had to be done. If Elijah gets to abuse sarcasm and fuck Elena Gilbert, he can handle a few digs.
She doesn't appreciate Kol's ill-timed humor. As she transforms in response to her fury, he allows himself a moment to both mourn and rejoice. Like so many other events in her life, she wasn't given a choice in the outcome. That doesn't mean she won't find happiness in this new existence. She didn't lose her humanity when she lost her pulse. If anyone is worthy of being immortalized, it's Elena.
"There's never going to be a threesome! The only reason I let you touch me is because you threatened a defenseless kid!" Elijah's eyes are making all kinds of painful promises. It better be jealousy that's fueling that anger because Elijah tossed nobility out the window when he issued his own ultimatum. Knowing Katerina, Elijah threatened her directly. From what he had heard about Elena, threatening someone else was the way to go. They both played to their audience.
"True enough. Now you can explain why you agreed to be Elijah's personal fuck doll." Elijah may not have the right to cast any stones but that doesn't mean his baby brother isn't willing to provide a target. Why does she look so shocked? Did she harbor some hope that she would get to leave this room without answering that question?
Elijah's a smart man...he has to already know the why. Kol just wanted to divert his attention. The rat bastard definitely succeeded. Elijah doesn't need an explanation but he deserves an apology.
"I'm sorry, Elijah. Allowing you to believe I was Katherine...would you accept acute embarrassment as an excuse?" Masterfully done. She answered a different question - an attempt to dodge the real one. It probably would've worked if she was dealing with a Salvatore.
As inappropriate as the response is, he envies Kol his laughter. "Sweetness, Elijah is ecstatic that you tried to play him. You just saved him a few decades of awkward flirting." His impatient body is ecstatic that she admitted to her attraction (if only by implication) but he takes exception to the words 'awkward' and 'decades'.
She's single. She's allowed to be attracted to Elijah Mikaelson. That doesn't mean she's ready for him to reciprocate those feelings. Elijah is looking at her like he wants to reciprocate...on every flat surface in this room.
"Kol, get out." He's out the door before she has the chance to exhale. Rat. Bastard.
(END PART 3 of 4)
re: Kol's reactions...I know that the Originals can't die from asphyxiation or anything else for that matter (excluding white oak). That doesn't mean they're eager to experience pain or that their bodies wouldn't have instinctual reactions to certain threats. Logically, I know that I'm not going to suffocate when I go scuba diving. That doesn't stop my body from panicking when I strap a mask over my face.
re: grammar mistakes...I don't believe that fictional stories (such as fanfic) are always meant to be grammatically correct. Most people don't *think* or *talk* in a manner that would be deemed grammatically correct. Most people use slang. I think it's OOC for certain characters to sound too formal/grammatically correct. To clarify, if you notice grammatical errors when I'm writing from Elena's or Kol's POV...those are probably (mostly) intentional. If you notice grammatical errors when I'm writing from Elijah's POV...those are probably *un*intentional. I think Elijah is more formal (and elegant) in his methods of expression. Of course, that doesn't stop his mind from visiting the gutter. :D