Chapter 8
Preparations
"Alana! Dearest!" Elijah called as he returned to the compound. Where on earth was that woman? He heard a noise coming from above him and he looked up to find Alana looking down at him from the balcony.
"Where art thou, Elijah. Is something the matter?" She asked smiling, but her face fell when she saw Elijah's concerned eyes. She stepped back and made for the stairs but he cut her off halfway up.
"I need you to tell me you have an idea for later..." Elijah asked and Alana took his hand and lead him to the study. "Why are we going in here?"
"My plan." Alana said and opened the door to reveal... Mountains of books. "Nada." She said stoically before she dropped his hand and sank onto the chair- the only free surface in the room.
"We are royally screwed then dear." Elijah said simply.
"Yes we are." Alana agreed and sighed. "Do you want me there tonight? At the dinner I mean?"
"Of course I do. You're my wife." Elijah smiled, bending down to kiss her forehead, hand on her shoulder. Alana took hold of his hand and held him in his place.
"We need a story. In case she asks."
"We tell them the truth," Elijah suggested. "Okay... Perhaps we fabricate little bits- like the fact you're a witch. That may not go down so well." Alana smiled and then her face fell and she turned to face Elijah.
"Do you think she'll do the body switching, cheri?" Elijah sighed and sat beside her on the arm of the chair. He took her hands in his own.
"I do not know, Allie, darling. I hope not. But my mother is capable of many things, some even Niklaus and I cannot comprehend. I admit it is a possibility. We must be on our guard." Elijah said honestly, he knew from experience that he could not lie to Alana, she would be able to tell.
Alana stood up and walked among the books to the window and looked out over New Orleans' French quarter. Elijah followed, his hands settling at her waist. She was worried, he could tell.
"What troubles you, Alana?" He asked quietly in her ear, placing a gentle kiss to her neck.
"This is going to become a warzone, isn't it? I can't help but think of all the lives that will be lost."
"It will not be as bad as the first major war, dearest."
"No, it will be a bloody revolution against the king and his court." Alana said, referring to Niklaus and their own troubled past centuries before in Paris. Elijah hugged her close.
"I will not leave you, I promise, Alana. Until my heart stops beating I shall not leave you." He said, repeating the words he had said so many years before before the revolution hit its peak.
"I know. All we can do is prepare for war and hope it never comes." Alana took Elijah's hands and wrapped them around her waist so the interlaced on her stomach. She leaned back against him.
"Yes, we must."
"Kiss me, Elijah." She whispered so low a human ear would not have heard but Elijah did and turned her face to his and pressed a tender kiss to her lips. The innocents who would suffer completely unawares on the street below, as the duke and his duchess prepared themselves for war.