Elena stepped into the bath and allowed herself to soak into the bubbles, breathe in the floral scents and clear her mind of the insanity that currently was her life.
Trapped in a gorgeous mansion in New Orleans and frequently drained of her blood by none other than the original; Klaus. Oh and did she mention he was taking her on a lovely tour of the city this evening? Just to add another level of weirdness. Well, not that the past few years of her life had been exactly normal. In fact, this perhaps wasn't the weirdest thing to happen to her. And so far, it definitely wasn't the worst.
Elena sunk deeper into the bath, feeling the water soothe and clean her. For the first time she felt a singe of sadness, she missed Stefan and Damon, and Caroline and Bonnie, and Jeremy. Even Matt and Tyler slightly. But no, this was her chance to get her head straight if nothing else, and so she pushed them to the back of her mind.
Elena stepped out of her beautiful roll top bath and wrapped herself in a fluffy towel. Leaving the bathroom she found Lydia holding a pile of clothes with one hand and covering her eyes with the other.
"Oh, Miss Gilbert, sorry to interrupt. Master Klaus has specifically requested you wear this outfit for this evening" Lydia says quietly.
"It's okay Lydia, you can uncover your eyes, I'm decent. Oh and please call me Elena. You can leave the clothes on the chair there. Let Klaus know I will be down in a few minutes."
"You're late" muttered Klaus as Elena made her way down the grand marble staircase, "and what exactly are you wearing?"
"Oh don't you like it? I'm not too fond of following orders on what clothes I wear Klaus, you can't have rules on everything or else I will run" Elena retorted.
Klaus smirked "And then I will massacre your little remaining family, your friends and well just everyone you've ever met. You're lucky you look stunning in this outfit you've chosen love or poor Stefan might've lost a finger. Or would it hurt you more if it was Damon?"
And with those swift little comments Elena was well and truly reminded of what a monster Klaus was.
"Let's go Klaus" Elena snapped and Klaus giggled.
Klaus was right about one thing; New Orleans was fantastic. The buildings were beautiful, the people vibrant and the Mississippi river astounding. It made her dream of all the other amazing cities in the world she was missing out on.
Klaus was being extremely talkative, Elena could tell he loved this city. He was full of facts, history, and of stories of his times here. It obviously meant a lot to him. Elena and Klaus even laughed together once or twice.
Elena was keen not to allow herself to forgive and forget with Klaus as she had done with Damon. Damon isn't evil, Klaus is, Elena kept telling herself. If Elena wasn't a part of this messed up supernatural world and Klaus wasn't an evil, centuries old vampire, perhaps they could just be two friends exploring a city together. Perhaps.
As Elena and Klaus made their way through the French quarter exchanging stories, they were stopped by an old gypsy woman.
"Ah beautiful couple, beautiful couple. What a gorgeous girl you are young lady" The old gypsy woman said. She spoke little and broken English. Elena was intrigued, but Klaus seemed worried.
"Oh thank you, you are very kind, but we are not a couple. To the tell you the truth I don't think we're even friends." Elena smiled. Klaus faked a half-smile at the old lady, and tried to pull Elena away.
"Ah of course. But it says in the very stars my love. Doppelganger and –"
"Love, we really should go. No point wasting our time listening that drivel. Clearly just after some money." Klaus says as he pulls her away by the arm.
"But Klaus I swear she said doppelganger?" Elena said, and Klaus walked fast with her along the street and far away from the old woman.
"Honestly Elena, please trust me. New Orleans is full of supernatural beings. Witches, vampires, werewolves and everything in-between. She may have been a witch or known what you are, but that doesn't mean she wasn't still just trying to get some money from you or hurt you even."
"Do they know who you are Klaus? Do the supernatural people who live here know you?" Elena enquired. Elena didn't feel like Klaus was lying to her in trying to keep her away from potential danger.
"They know of me. Few know my face. I don't mingle with the many, sweetheart. Just the few important ones. But I must always been careful here, my history with this city is long and deep." Klaus looked towards the ground, and Elena knew not too push him further on this. Not now.
"Know any good places for jazz and gumbo?" Elena enquired, cheekily.
Klaus looked up instantly "-But I thought-" he started.
"- I changed my mind. You can't come to New Orleans and not listen to some jazz or not eat gumbo." Elena replied.
"Actually, I know just the place" and with that Klaus grabbed Elena's hand and dragged her through the streets of New Orleans to his favourite Jazz café.
They were instantly given the best seats in the restaurant, looking out over the busy street, and inside a good view of the stage where Jazz was being played. Elena couldn't believe how Klaus laughed and smiled with the waiters, the chefs and the owner of the restaurant. They were his friends. Klaus had friends. Elena was introduced to them all, and hugged by every one of them. They were friendly, lovely people.
When they were finally left alone with a plate of gumbo and a bottle of wine, Elena asked her questions.
"How do you know these people?"
"Let's just say they've been running this restaurant for a very long time" Klaus said with a smirk.
"Are they vampires?" Elena whispered, shocked at the prospect of vampires running a human restaurant.
"Yes, love. Not all vampires live murderous, crazy lives. Some live pretty normal, almost human lives. And don't be so shocked I have friends sweetheart, not everyone has a reason to hate me" Klaus said with a wink.
And with that, they tucked into their food. Elena really did enjoy the gumbo and the Jazz.