For those of you in love with the Dynamic between Charlotte and Elijah, this chapter is the one for you.
Playlist:
Moving in the Dark-Neon Trees
To Be Bright- Sara Jackson-Holmon
These Days-The Black Keys
The quartet were sleeping wonderfully, until Elena's stupid phone had to go and wake everyone up.
"Get out." Caroline mumbled, pushing her, receiving an unrecognizable noise from Elena. Elena scooted over to grab her cell phone as Charlotte tried to shove her off the bed completely, making more room for herself.
"Hello?" It was like she was screaming, the girls were so exhausted and hungover.
"No talking!" Charlotte screamed back. Elena quieted down a bit.
"Good and much needed. When can we have one?" Elena continued to flirt over the phone with Stefan as Caroline and Charlotte sarcastically mouthed the words.
"Okay. Now. Today. Take me far, far away. Especially because of everything that's happening. Uh, this has everything to do with that."
Elena smiled and hung up. "Gotta go, girls. Lake house with Stefan."
"If you're leaving, leave! Caroline yelled at her.
"Bye, 'Lena," Charlotte mumbled.
"Use protection." Was uttered from Bonnie.
As soon as Elena quietly left the house, the three girls dozed back to sleep, only to be awoken once more by the even more annoying ring of Charlotte's phone. "Ugh!" The two girls pushed Lottie off the bed completely.
"Hello?" Charlotte answered.
"Hey, are you still at Caroline's?"
"Yes, m'am." Charlotte replied.
"You're coming to the Founder's Tea today."
"Thanks, Jenna, that was exactly how I wanted to spend my day. You know exactly how to make me swoon."
"Cut it out, kid. Do this for me. I'm barely a Founder, and I don't want to risk having to deal with your stupid uncle. And you know more history than half the people there. It's all in honor of that Elijah guy, anyway."
"Suck ups. Who writes a book about small Virginian towns?" Charlotte joked.
"Stop talking!"
"Anyway, get your butt home so you can get ready."
"Am I even allowed? Isn't this sort of a, oh, I don't know, adult thing?"
"You're almost eighteen. I especially asked Mrs. Lockwood if you could attend, since you owed me a favor, and she said it would be lovely to have you. You're a tea snob anyway, come show them how it's done. Protect me from them. If Ric and I have to do it, so do you. And we're not even founders."
"Fine." Charlotte groaned and rolled over, hanging up. "Later, guys. I have grown up stuff to do."
"Get out." The both mumbled.
"Lovely hanging out with you."
Charlotte grabbed her overnight bag and keys and sneaked out of Caroline's house and into her car, driving home. When she arrived, Jenna looked her over and laughed. "Long night?"
"It's nothing."
"I'm not asking questions. I heard Caroline had a rough day and needed some cheering up. That's all I know." She chuckled. "Coffee?"
"I'd love some." Charlotte sighed and gratefully took the cup of black coffee Jenna offered her. "This is disgusting."
"It's good for you, kid." She smiled. "Now go shower, you smell like hormones, sweat, and alcohol."
Lottie downed the rest of her coffee before waltzing up the stairs, where she found Elena packing. "Jenna's making me go to the stupid tea for Elijah."
"Be careful." Elena told her. "Damon and Ric will be there. They won't let anything happen."
"I'm not afraid. Elijah and I understand each other," Charlotte insisted. "Damon is who I'm worried about. And Ric."
"In that case, keep him in check. I'm sure Aunt Jenna will keep Ric in check."
"Thanks for that. Is Jeremy here?"
"Asleep."
"As usual. Okay. I need to shower."
"Yeah, I just got out. It was much needed."
"I don't need the details." Charlotte remarked as Elena laughed. She grabbed a towel and jumped into the shower, preparing herself for the day ahead of her. She was like Jenna; she always hated the prissy events of the counsel. The balls, events, formals, they were all just excuses to flaunt the town's wealth from hundreds of years of immoral history. Tax dollars were being spent on them, yet no one seemed to care. They were all distracted by the Lockwood's chic decor, or the delicate foods, or the superior spirits.
It was all bullshit to keep the town happy and ignorant, and Charlotte knew that now.
And Charlotte knew that she would probably have to brush up on her history, read a journal, or a Wikipedia page, before attending the ver prestigious event. Seriously, why did Jenna want her to go?
Getting out of the shower, Charlotte wrapped herself in her towel and dried her hair, allowing the waves to form naturally. She then pulled on her underwear, bra, stockings, slip, and one of her go to nice dresses. It was an Adrianna Papell, sleeveless, covered in lace, in Mulberry. She applied a light layer of make up, foundation, powder, and eye color in natural pink hues, with brown liner and mascara, paired with a coral lipstick and blush, she looked practically proper. She then took her hair into account. The waves were okay, but they were way too frizzy. She stole some of Elena's frizz spray and sprayed herself, brushing through her hair all the while. When it reached a tolerable state, she took a few simple bobby pins and pinned back her bangs, allowing her bright eyes to show. Her mom used to always complain about the hair in her eyes.
She slipped on a pair of nude heals, grabbed a clutch for her wallet, phone, and feminine products, and waltzed down the stairs, where she found Jenna waiting for her.
"Don't you look proper." She commented. "Come on; we're meeting Ric there."
"I'm sure he's thrilled."
"Oh, yeah."
On the ride, Charlotte read the Mystic Falls wikipedia page, sarcastically quizzing Jenna all the while. Lottie felt the need to stand in comparison to Carol Lockwood with her knowledge.
It's not like she wasn't good at history, it's just that local history literally did not matter at all.
When the pair arrived at the mansion, Mrs. Lockwood greeted them affectionately and primly at the door.
"Jenna, come in, come in. And Charlotte, you look absolutely marvelous."
"As do you, Mayor Lockwood. Thank you so much for having me." Charlotte returned the hug graced on her every time they met. Charlotte always was Mrs. Lockwood's favorite, while Elena was Sherif Forbes's favorite. Different strokes, she guessed.
Charlotte followed Jenna around the room, small talking, faking enthusiasm. When Alaric arrived, Jenna went to meet him, leaving Charlotte to make them tea, as she preferred it. Black, English, with a bit of cream and a surplus of sugar.
Jenna and Alaric returned to her, taking their cups of tea, which they barely intended to drink.
"I'm going to walk the room, do what you two are incapable of doing and pretend that I belong here." Charlotte winked, pointing at them while clicking her mouth, and walked away, where she found Mr. and Mrs. Harper.
"Mr. Harper, Mrs. Harper! How are you?" Charlotte asked, giving Mrs. Harper a hug.
"You know you're supposed to call us Ben and Lucy, correct?" Mr. Harper declared, giving her a side hug. Yeah, they were on that level, but in such a formal setting, she was unsure. Charlotte had practically lived at their house the summer after he parents passing, and Mara and Charlotte had been playing together since they both joined book club.
"Sure thing," Charlotte agreed. "I didn't expect to find you two here."
"We are founders." Lucy replied, a bit ironically, "What are you doing here? You aren't a member of the historical society yet. You're not even eighteen."
"My Aunt Jenna roped me into it. She hates these things. But now she's with her boyfriend and I'm trying my best to mingle."
Her second parents laughed. "Always the charmer, Charlotte."
"So what do you know about this Elijah guy this is for?"
"All I know is that he's writing on the history of Virginia, mostly the smaller towns."
Charlotte looked around, then whispered to them. "That sounds like the dullest book."
Ben whispered back to her. "I know. But we aren't responsible for its success."
"Don't tell the mayor that," Lucy joked.
Charlotte continued to talk to the Harpers for a bit longer before excusing herself to work the crowd to the best of her ability. And then she saw Damon walk in, being intercepted by Jenna, and then followed his gaze to Elijah, who was speaking with Mayor Lockwood. He sauntered past Andie and Jenna, who were standing together, watching him. Charlotte put on her best smile and waltzed towards the two woman. "Hi, I don't think I've properly met you." Charlotte said, putting her hand out. Andie took her hand, cupping her other one around it.
"It's lovely to meet you. Jenna's told me so much."
"I'm honored. The pleasure is mine. I'm actually a massive fan. The piece you did on Egypt was spot on."
"Thank you, that was a piece of which I was very proud. It's so nice being recognized for more than just being a pretty face on TV."
Charlotte nodded. "So many people don't realize how much work news anchors actually do. It's been wonderful talking to you." Charlotte strutted towards where Alaric and John were standing.
"Charlotte, you look lovely."
"Thank you, Uncle John." She replied politely.
"Do you have any idea what Damon is doing with Elijah?"
"Seriously?" She huffed. "Probably something stupid." She went to follow them into the study, but both Alaric and John caught her, causing her to stumble and trip a bit on her too high heals.
"No, no, no." John told her, prohibiting her from going any farther.
"Whatever he's doing in there is significantly less stupid than what you were about to do." Alaric agreed with John, for once.
"Although it's magnificent to see you two agreeing, I must beg to differ. I wasn't about to threaten an Original vampire, which I bet my inheritance that he is doing."
"Either way, it's not your responsibility." John declared.
"If it isn't mine, then whose is it? Somebody's got to watch him, he's like a child without a sense of logical reasoning. You don't just let children get their own way."
"Exactly. You're being a child, and you will not get your way. Stay here so I know you don't do anything idiotic." John commanded. Charlotte sighed and crossed her arms.
"Yes, Uncle John." She replied childishly.
"So, Alaric, does Jenna know about your extracurricular activities? Maybe it's time we tell her. I mean, she can't stay in the dark forever." He was just antagonizing Alaric, and without reason.
"John," Charlotte used his first name this time.
"You're a dick." Alaric told him. Right on, Charlotte thought.
"Also, I don't think you should sleep over anymore. It's inappropriate with children in the house," John kept pushing.
"Actually, I don't think it is. He is our history teacher, there to help us with homework and all that jazz. He's like the strong male figure we needed after my parents died, the one you never were."
John ignored her. "Oh, and that ring that Isobel gave you, that's mine. I'm gonna want that back."
"I don't like you anymore, John. You're an asshole. I've the shred of respect I once had for you." She waltzed off, strutting briskly towards the study from which she had been banned.
"Here goes nothing." She mumbled, opening the doors.
"You can't kill me, man. That's not a part of the deal." Damon was bloody, under Elijah's mercy, and tempting it.
"Damon!" Charlotte turned into her mother instantly, using the voice she had grown incredibly familiar with when in disputes with Elena or Jeremy. This voice was mixed with one of utter fear, concern.
The two vampires looked towards Charlotte.
"Charlotte, get out of here. Now. This doesn't concern you." Damon's voice was of concern, but mostly annoyance.
"Damon, do not push him." Charlotte said quietly, yet sternly, trying not to look at the scene before her, yet trying still to help her friend. "Damon, please." She begged.
"Why? He can't kill me!" Damon choked out a laugh, to which Charlotte could only bite her lip in frustration, willing this all to stop.
"Silence." Elijah told him. "This'll only take a moment more, Miss Gilbert."
Elijah pulled a pencil from Damon, painfully, as Charlotte could not help but shriek from concern. "I'm an Original. Show some respect." He wiped off his hands with a handkerchief from his suit pocket. Then he dangled it in front of Damon, who swiftly grabbed it and put it to his wound, making Charlotte cringe. "The minute you stop being useful to me, you are dead. So I suggest you do what I require. Keep Elena safe." Elijah sauntered out of the room, making meaningful eye contact with Charlotte. Charlotte immediately rushed towards Damon.
"Are you okay? What did you do? Did you threaten him? Do you need anything, blood, here!" She offered her wrist, which Damon shoved away.
"What the hell was that?" Damon shouted at her. "What game are you playing here, Gilbert, because I don't think you're doing it very well."
"Someone has to stop you when you're being a moron. That could have broken his deal! You could be dead, he could stop trying to help everyone. He's the reason you and Stefan and Caroline survived the other night, Damon!"
"I know what I'm doing, Charlotte. I'm not a child, like you are. Barging in and begging for me to shrink away."
"I would have been in here to prevent you from doing anything had John and Alaric not stopped me." Charlotte rolled her eyes, wiping Damon's suit. "Listen, Elena told me to keep you under control, and we all know that what Elena says goes."
Damon chuckled, understand her joke.
"Now, maybe try thanking me for attempting to save everyone's sorry-ass life." She tossed the handkerchief violently back to Damon and stormed out of the room, leaving Damon behind. "Imbecile."
Her heals clicked as she exited the study, only to have Elijah waiting for her. "Charlotte. I didn't expect to see you here. You look ravishing. Walk with me." Even though Charlotte would have willingly walked with him, Elijah technically still had her under his compulsion.
She smiled politely at him. "My aunt demanded I come along to do all of the small talk she is unable to do. It's a chore, really. I loathe small talk." She attempted to steer clear from the event that preceded their conversation.
"Which is exactly what we're participating in now, ironically. I wanted to talk to you about what just happened in there."
"If you're upset with me for barging in, I apologize." She was afraid. Originals were easily offended. "I just knew that Damon was up to something, and I wanted to try and prevent it, but I was a bit too late."
"Apology not required." He assured her. "I wanted to know if you knew anything that I haven't been told. Any information being upheld."
She looked to him. "None of my friends seem to trust you, or anyone but themselves, really. Elena and I are the only ones with any faith in you. All of this aside, with all due respect, if I did know anything, I wouldn't tell you." She replied bluntly.
"Understandable. But allow me to pass a warning onto your friends through you. If there are any goings on that breach the guidelines of our deal, there will be hell to pay."
"You said that in order to frighten me, yet you know that I have no trouble being frightened." She assessed, walking with Elijah through the room. "And you know, from just then, that they wouldn't take the warning seriously anyway. Which causes me to question your motives with that statement. Was it only to make me feel threatened?"
"I'm an Original; it's my job." There was a bit of humor in his voice.
"Ironically, with all of that in mind, you are the single person at this God-Awful event with whom I can tolerate speaking." She rolled her eyes. "You cannot imagine the inconveniences your cover story has caused for me. Everyone around here and their egos, thinking that this nothing town's events from a hundred or so years ago actually matter. Narcissism is abundant in this town. No one seems to realize how little we matter, or how much our history matters, to the grand progression of the world."
"Don't let anyone around here know that." Elijah chuckled at her, almost condescendingly. "Believe me, there is much more to this town than you know. The kind of stuff that did shape history. Just none of the petty foundings that this town prides itself on." He scoffed. "Anyway, Miss Gilbert, it was lovely speaking with you, but I must be moving on in order to propitiate this town."
"Elijah, one more thing. Please give my regards and thanks to Jonas for saving my friends. And thank you for ensuring their safety."
He gave her a curt nod before walking away.
As soon as Elijah was gone, John stormed towards her. "Charlotte, what were you just doing?"
"What everybody else is too oblivious to do. I'm being diplomatic. Threatening him and disrespecting him will get us no where. He promised to keep Elena safe. I believe him."
"But why are you being so pleasant with him?" John demanded.
"Because I'm afraid of him!" She shouted back in a whisper. "John, there's something you need to know."
"What is it?"
"Back when I was kidnapped, he compelled me to follow his every order. I'm still under it. I'm playing nice because I'm terrified of what he'll make me do." John could here the worry in her voice. Charlotte may not be his daughter, like Elena, but she was his niece. One that, up until now, had been on his side. One he had been relatively close with. He needed that compulsion gone. "You don't know what he made me do, John. He's powerful and he could kill us all in a moment. Play along." She walked over to Jenna, then. "Are you ready to leave yet?"
So, John and Jenna got into an argument about Jenna's "negligence" on letting Elena stay at the lake house with Stefan. And then she started shouting about how she wanted to avoid John, and therefore SHE is leaving. She said she'd be living with Alaric, who was not answering her calls, for the next few days. So that left Jeremy, John, and Charlotte. Jeremy hadn't been answering his phone, either, leaving Charlotte in her own predicament. Where was she to find refuge from John? First instinct, surprisingly had been at the Salvatores. Yes, with Damon. But he knew about everything, and she trusted him. She felt safe there. What could she say? So she tried calling Damon, but he didn't answer. Which was odd. Ric and Damon, both not answering the phone?
Then, Charlotte, idiotically, just drove over to the Salvatore house. She had invited herself plenty of times before, why would this be different? She parked in the driveway and saw both Ric's and Damon's cars. Suspecting nothing, she went and rapped on the door.
To her surprise, the door didn't open to Damon or Alaric, but to a man, not much older than her. He gave her a grin.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing that concerns you."
Charlotte tried to push him aside and make her way in. "Ah, ah, ah." And then she felt something hard connect with the back of her head, escorting her into the forces of mandatory slumber.
She had woken up slightly in intervals to the sounds of screaming from the other room. The first time she found that she was tied, still on the ground, to a pole in the house. Her hands and feet were bound and her head was heavy. She tried her best to maintain consciousness, but there was a force keeping her from doing so. Did she have a concussion?
She faded back into the uncomfortable slumber.
The next time she woke up, she was more able to assess herself. On her wrists she could feel the irritation almost to the point of bleeding. And she saw the marks on her skin, as if she had just been carelessly dragged across the flooring. And her head. She felt the blood matting her hair. She must have been hit hard. Much harder than a human should be hit. And it was much hard than a human would hit.
She heard a scream again, coming from another room. After a bit, she recognized it as Damon's.
"Stop!" She tried to yell. "Please, stop hurting him. . ." The sound only came out weak and scratchy. "Stop!"
The last time she awoke, the room was spinning. She was delirious, she knew it. She felt as though she was on fire. She could barely keep her eyes open, for even the dimly lit room was too bright.
She heard footsteps come towards her as Damon continued screaming. "Please don't hurt me." She muttered quietly. "Please." She cried.
"It's okay, dear." She heard a familiar voice try and calm her. "You're okay."
She felt the ropes around her feet loosen.
"Damon-there are people here. They're hurting him. Help him." She let the words escape her mouth, using all of her energy to tell her familiar stranger that Damon is in trouble.
"You rank a bit higher on my priority list." He chuckled, untying the ropes around her hands.
"Help him." She was about to fall back into slumber, but she felt herself being lifted.
"Now is not the time for sleeping, Charlotte."
It felt like she was flying. In an instant she was in a new location, one which she had little time to assess before dozing off once more.
But then, Charlotte awoke more violently. She shot up in her spot, hyperventilating, and she was unsure of why. She had no memories of how she got where she was, or the events leading up to it. All she remembered was John and Jenna's argument. Where were her memories?
She was so confused. She felt like she existed outside the realm of reality and was now making her return. Her confusion and fear only grew when Elijah entered the room.
Thinking the worst, like she had been kidnapped, or Elijah needed revenge, or she's sacrificed herself for something stupid, thinking he was responsible for the pain she felt in the back of her head, or thinking he was responsible for the uneasiness and fear she had been experiencing. She was afraid. Something happened. Was it him?
Her heart started pounding and she cowered as he entered, a look of pure terror in her eyes.
"Don't be afraid. You're okay." Elijah lifted his hands to his chest, surrendering himself, offering peace. "I mean no harm."
Her expression softened as she calmed down, not totally trusting. All she remembered was the feeling of fear, and connecting the dots it seemed like Elijah was responsible for it. "Trust me." He commanded.
She took a deep breathe and nodded at him, still shaking.
"What do you remember, Charlotte?"
Charlotte began thinking back, suddenly remembering what happened.
"You saved me." Charlotte looked at Elijah.
He nodded. "That is the deal, is it not?"
"Damon-is he okay?"
Elijah chuckled. "You are ever so concerned with him. Yes, he's fine."
"Where am I?"
"You're at my temporary home, while I'm here."
"Why-why am I here?"
"Because I couldn't trust the baffoon to take care of you, and my deal with Elena prohibits you, on a high priority, from coming to harm. And besides, I heard the way he behaved towards you at Tea and figures he would only behave more inconsiderately. You were barely holding onto consciousness and begging for me to save Damon first, yet he doesn't even know you were there at all."
She said nothing for a while, but finally broke the silence.
"Elijah, I'd like to go home, if that's okay."
"As you wish."
"Hey, Jeremy, what's up?" Charlotte answered her phone after a good washing up and a half-assed explanation to Jenna of her whereabouts. It was about three hours since she originally went over to Damon's, and she really didn't know what to expect from Jeremy. Did he some how find out about her idiotic mistake, or her temporary stay at Elijah's residence?
"Hey, I-uh-have something to tell you. You might want to, I don't know, sit down or something."
"This doesn't sound good, Jer." She sat down on her bed, crossing her legs. "Talk to me."
"So, I guess I sort of need to explain myself. The reason I've been so AWOL today. Bonnie, and me, and Caroline, we kind of kidnapped Luka."
"Jeremy! His dad saved Caroline and Damon and Stefan!"
He ignored this statement. "Anyway, to cut to the point, we have some information that may shock you more than anyone else."
"Jeremy, cut to the chase, here. I've had a long day."
"Elijah means for the sacrifice to be completed so that he can kill Klaus."
"Well yeah, that was his plan all along? Sacrifice, Klaus killed, everybody is safe and happy except for this legendary vampire and assuming the man who killed his brother." Charlotte shrugged, unaware of the point Jeremy was trying to make.
"No, Charlotte. He wants to go through with the sacrifice. He plans on Elena dying. He's just using us."
Charlotte was in shock. She had placed her faith in a man who seemed to have the power to save her sister's life. "But he made a deal with Elena. He said she wasn't going to die."
"I know it's hard to believe, Lottie. But Elijah isn't the one to place your trust in."
Charlotte sighed. "You're right. We don't have any evidence to support his word meaning anything, or to support that he could actually protect Elena. I was a fool for believing it. Damon, curse me for saying it, was right. I'll talk to you later."
She stoically hung up the phone, stood up, and walked to John's current room, where she rapped on the door with purpose.
Just after he opened it, she walked right in, sitting in the desk chair. He seemed to have a sense of knowledge and closed the door.
"Charlotte, what's wrong?"
"It seems I've been made a fool, placing my trust in someone unworthy of it." She looked at her nails, avoiding eye contact and trying her best to appear stolid. "Elijah has planned for Elena to die all along. So now I am placing the last futile ounce of faith in you, John, and I hope to God it's the right decision. So here: I know I've been trying to keep everyone at arm's length of Elijah, trying to keep everyone from doing stupid things in order to please him, hoping that his deal was worth something, but not anymore. I want him dead. The deal is worthless, and I know that if anyone can stop him, it's you."
His expression remained emotionless. "Great to see you've come to the reasonable side." He went to his dresser, leaning up against it. "I'm surprised, however, to see that you've told yourself the truth, even with the strange infatuation you've had with that vampire."
"Infatuation with Elijah?" Charlotte would have laughed if she weren't so humiliated and insulted.
John nodded. "I'm not a fool, Charlotte. And I must say I disapprove of that more than I do of Elena's entanglement."
Charlotte stood up from her seat. "John, shall we count all of the chances I've given you? Because your luck is wearing thin with me, as is the last shreds of respect left in me. Listen here when I tell you that what I had for Elijah was not infatuation. It was my being cordial and respectful, as I've encouraged everyone to be, in order to keep the deal that now means nothing still going. It was a form of manipulation that has been used time after time and now it all means nothing. I'll leave it at this: I want Elena safe. That's all you're here for in my book. So tread carefully around me, John." She was agressive, defensive, but not to the point where he though she was over compensating. His only response was a condescending smile, causing her to leave the room in frustration. In an instant, still pajama clad, she snatched her keys and drove directly to the Salvatore house, waltzing through the door without a second thought, now uncaring about whomever inhabited.
"Looks like you got the call too, Gilbert." Damon poured himself a drink. "Want one?" He gestured to his cart of fine bourbon and whiskey.
Although Charlotte was known as a do-gooder and an abstainer from unhealthy influences, she was under a considerable amount of stress that allowed her to accept his offer without guilt. "Do whatever idiotic thing you feel you need to do, Damon."
"Alaric just left, so for the time being, you're my drinking buddy, got that?"
"Roger that, Captain." Charlotte pushed her hair back as Damon's phone rang.
"It's Stefan; I'll be right back."
"Take your time." She called as she took a drink of the burning liquid.
When Damon returned, he collapsed on the couch next to her and put his hand to his head. "I don't want to have to deal with any of this!"
"What now?"
Damon sat up. "Well, since you so kindly asked, I guess I'll inform you of a little spat I had earlier today. Jules the freaky wolf came and ambushed me and Ric looking for the moonstone."
I know. I was there. That was what she didn't say.
"And here I am informed that Stefan and Elena were ambushed as well. And guess who was there?"
"I couldn't tell you."
"Tyler Lockwood."
"God Damnit, that little traitor." She took another swig of her drink. "Best friends for ages and he decides to sell out someone he's known his whole life just because he is living with the consequences of murder. Seems like the perfect example of the world's fucked up version of justice, doesn't it?"
"It does, Gilbert. It really does. However, I have a plan."
"Care to share?"
"Might as well, we have the entire night."