Chapter 23

"Where are you taking me?" Audrey asked with a sour tone. Elijah was driving the large SUV in front of some kind of old house. Audrey sighed; he wasn't going to tell her anything. "Fine. Let's just play like we don't hear each other."

Audrey leaned more to the bench. She pretended excited and jumped from the bench looking at Elijah. "Wait! I know! Let's play a game that you are my husband and you are so pissed off at me because I stabbed you, but it's totally okay because you are the kinky kind. So now you are going to take me home because you don't want me anymore," she wiggled her brows and searched for his eye contact. Elijah's eyes were staying on the road until he stopped. Audrey looked out of the window with a frown. They were in front of an old house, a very old house. Old like, abandoned old.

Elijah got out of the car, sped over to Audrey's side making her jump slightly, and opened the door. She pouted playfully. "So we are not going to play?"

"No, but soon you'll know why I need you." Elijah grabbed Audrey's arm and took her out of the car. She whinced as he dragged her along the yard. It was a huge place, and Audrey wondered where was he taking her, and why.

They got to the door of the old rotten house in the middle of literally nowhere, and Elijah knocked on the door. He glanced down at Audrey who was trying to shake him off, but failed miserably. She swallowed and tried again.

"You know I'm gonna have bruises if you keep squeezing my arm that hard," she spat and Elijah loosened his grip a little bit. "Thank you," she closed her eyes for a second because of the relief. She was stroking back tears; the last thing Audrey wanted was to show her weakness to Elijah.

The door opened and a woman with short brown hair looked at us. She frowned her eyes lingering in me. Elijah cleared his throat.

"Rose-Marie. Is there somewhere we can talk?" he asked now so civilized that Audrey let out a scoff. That was a mistake for Elijah squeezed her arm yet again. Audrey let out a tiny whine.

"Yes, in here. You have to forgive the house," Rose welcomed them inside and they went. Audrey looked at Rose with a tiny frown, but did like Elijah.

"Why don't you compel me E, it would be much less painful," Audrey spat and looked up at Elijah. He sighed and like a lightning turned Audrey's eyes into his, and compelled her.

"Do as I say, do not argue, try to run, or do anything stupid," Elijah's smooth words were amazing. It felt like Audrey was completed by his words, and she nodded. He let go of her, granting a break. Compulsion was a strange thing. It made you feel euphoric, well unless someone compelled you to feel awful and terrified. "And do not invent nicknames for me," he whispered into Audrey's ear, making her shiver.

"What's a little dirt, Rose? I completely understand. So tell me, what is it that gives you the courage to call me?" he went back to Rose, who looked terrified to even open her mouth.

"I wanted my freedom. I'm tired of running. You in a position to grant me that?" Rose answered to him as calmly as possible.

"I have complete authority to grant pardon to you and your little pet. What is his name these days? Trevor. If I so see fit," Elijah said. He seemed much more terrifying to Audrey now, than he did before.

"Katerina Petrova?" Rose said staring at Audrey once in a while.

"I'm listening."

"She didn't burn in the church in 1864," Rose started.

"Continue." Audrey was following their conversation with intrigue. They were talking about Katherine Pierce, Audrey's friend. Well, not really a friend, more of an acquaintance.

"She survived."

"Where is she?" Elijah asked. Audrey was itching to speak up.

"You don't seem surprised by this."

"You do not seem surprised by this," Rose looked confused, but not confused at the same time. It was confusing Audrey.

"Oh, when you called and invited me into this armpit of civilizations, which is a mere 3 hours from the town we know as Mystic Falls, I surmise it had everything to do with Katerina. Do you have her in your possession?" Elijah glared around and glanced at Audrey at the same. She was quiet which wasn't like her.

"No, but I have better. I have her doppelgänger."

"You do realize that her doppelgänger is here, standing next to me. Why are you lying like this?" Elijah took a step forward looking intimidating.

"Elijah I am not, I swear," Rose said taking steps back.

"Actually she's not lying," both of their gazes went to Audrey. "I have a twin, an identical twin. Her name is Elena Gilbert."

"Well, show her to me," Elijah said with no patience,

"Elijah, you are a man of honor, you should be trusted but I want to hear you say it again," Rose waited Elijah's words.

"You have my word that I will pardon you."

"Follow me."

Elijah gestured Audrey to follow him, so she did. Rose was leading them further inside the house, and soon they got to a large room, with Elena next to an old and broken down couch. Audrey gasped and ran the stairs down to Elena's level, but got beaten by Elijah who got to Elena in a blink. Elena looked so scared when Elijah moved down to her neck and smelled it. Elena was shaking with water in her eyes. As Elijah drew back he squinted his eyes.

"Human," he whispered with a ghost of a smile. His eyes went back to Elena who was still shivering. "Hello there. We have a long journey head of us. We should be going."

Elena's eyes shot from Audrey to Rose, looking pleading and like she was crying.

"Please, don't let him take me."

Elijah didn't pay attention to Elena's plead and continued talking, "One last piece of business and we're done."

He started walking towards the man in the room. Audrey figured he was Trevor, whom Elijah talked to Rose.

"I've waited so long for this day, Elijah. I'm truly, very sorry," Trevor said sounding very apologetic. Audrey took that as her chance to walk down over to Elena, as quickly as the human her was able. When she got over to Elena she drew her into a hug, squeezing her as tight as was possible.

"Oh no, your apologies not necessary." Elijah walked around Trevor.

"Yes, yes it is. You trusted me with Katerina and I failed you," Trevor kept his eyes down low.

"Oh yes, you are the guilty one and Rose aided you because she was loyal to you and that now I honor. Where was your loyalty?"

"I beg your forgiveness."

"So granted," Elijah whispered as he used his hand as a blade and smacked Trevor's head clean off of his body. Rose cried for the loss of her friend and almost threatened Elijah.

"Don't, Rose, now that you are free."

Elijah looked at Audrey and Elena. "Come."

"No, what about the moonstone?" Elena jumped and Audrey sighed.

Elijah sped over to them and squinted his eyes at them. "What do you know about the moonstone?"

"I know that you need it and I know where it is."

"Elena!" Audrey almost shouted to her sister. It seemed to catch Elijah's attention.

"Yes?"

"I can help you get it," Elena continued her talking and Audrey knew this wasn't going to end well.

"Tell me where it is," Elijah stared at Elena, trying to compel her.

"It doesn't work that way." Elena was determined.

"Are you negotiating with me?" Elijah asked with amusement, whilst he glanced at Rose who shook her head.

"It's the first I've heard of it."

"What is this vervain doing around your neck?" Elijah grabbed the necklace from Elena's neck and threw it away, making Elena even more terrified. Elijah pushed Audrey on the side and grabbed Elena's head compelling her.

"Tell me where the moonstone is."

"In the tomb, underneath the church ruins. It's with Katherine."

"Interesting..." Elijah turned his head on his side to look where Audrey is, and noticed she was missing. Then he heard glass breaking upstairs. He growled lowly.

Audrey didn't know how, but she had gotten past Rose just by staring intently at her, and running quickly. She was getting through the house to the hall. But before she was able to get out of the house, she was grabbed by her waist, and sped away to upstairs. A hand was over her mouth, and a pair of emerald green eyes was staring at her. She swallowed with relief in her eyes.

Stefan squinted his eyes at the girl. Was it Audrey? Then why did she feel human? She seemed to read his mind, for she mouthed I'll tell you later. Stefan nodded as he heard everyone arrive to the hall.

"Up here," he whispered drawing Elijah up. Audrey was annoyed by the fact that she couldn't hear anything. When Audrey was there, glaring at Stefan a sting of hurt was in her chest. She had slept with Damon, without telling him, one of her best friends. Stefan's tired face looked at Audrey, and she felt something; a déjà vu. The night her parents had died, he was the one who saved her. How could she not see this until now? He was the one who dragged her out of the car and made sure she survived.

Audrey's thinking got stopped by Stefan speeding away and coming back with Elena. Her sister looked kind of mad, but Audrey wasn't sure why.

"Excuse me. To whom it may concern, you're making a great mistake if you think that you can beat me. You can't. Do you hear that?" Audrey recognized Elijah. Downstairs Elijah broke a wooden coat rack into a stake, which he hoped to use in the morons who saved the doppelgängers. "I repeat, you cannot beat me. So I want the girl, I'm gonna count to 3 or heads will roll. Do we understand each other?"

Audrey looked at Elena and Stefan swiftly before barging at the top of the stairs. Stefan tried desperately grab her, but failed.

Now Audrey was facing Elijah yet again. She took a couple of steps down with a sad smile. "I will come with you if you promise not to hurt my sister or my friends."

Elijah sped up the stairs almost to Audrey but not quite. He had the huge stake in his hand as he squinted his eyes and cocked his head to Audrey.

"What game are you playing with me?" Elijah growled. Audrey took one step down.

"None." Her words left her mouth monotonically. If I concentrate enough... Audrey raised her hand and pushed Elijah down with a power even he did not know Audrey possessed.

It held him for a while, but soon he was back up. Stefan got to the scene and started shooting the original with air compressed gun. He shot and shot and shot, but it had no effect. Stefan threw the gun away and rushed at Elijah, making them both fall down the stairs.

Elijah got immediately up, leaving Stefan on the ground amazed. Elijah went for him, but got surprised by Damon who rushed from downstairs with the large stake, staking him against the door. Audrey cupped her hands over her mouth covering her shock.

Rose left when she finally saw Elijah's dead body, and Elena told Damon not to follow her. Audrey stared at Elijah next to Damon. He saw Audrey and smiled widely, but Audrey didn't respond. She ran down the stairs towards him. Audrey ran past him to Elijah. Shock was on her face as she looked at Elijah's grey body.

"No," she swallowed and felt everyone walk over to her. They looked at her confused, and she placed her hand to the stake and felt tears get in her eyes. She quickly wiped them off, but they didn't go unnoticed. She turned around to Damon with a hair flip. "Why did you have to kill him?"

"He was threatening you and your sister," Damon's voice was suddenly ice cold. He was hurt.

"Damon I-" Audrey started reaching out to him after realizing how she'd just ignored him. "I'm sorry," were the only words she was able to utter before forcing Damon to hug her. And he did, his hands went to her upper back, and she hang from his neck.

"Yeah me too," he whispered into her ear while they stayed in the sweet embrace. Audrey caught herself hoping the real world wouldn't wake her.