Hi lovelies, I really hope you're enjoying the story so far :) This chapter is a little longer than the others, so I hope you like it!

DISCLAIMER:

I don't own The Vampire Diaries or its characters, only my OC Celina.

Elena was still at the lake house, which I was glad for, but her absence did make me bored. So when Jenna told me she was showing Elijah around the old property lines of Mystic Falls, I knew I had to go with her.

"Come on, Aunt Jenna," I whined after she straight up said no. "I'm bored out of my mind, and just happen to know more about the history of Mystic Falls than you do. You may have been too busy dating in high school, but I actually listen in class."

She raised an eyebrow. "You only want to go because Elijah totally checked you out at the Lockwood mansion."

Yes. "No!" I crossed my arms defiantly.

"Don't lie to me Cell! You think he's cute."

"Okay, yes, he's a very attractive man." She nodded in victory and I quickly raised a hand to make her listen some more. "But, you also know that I legitimately love history, so this will be good for both of us... Plus, you'll be there, so it's not like anything suss will happen."

Jenna pouted at me for a moment, before relenting. "Okay, you can come." She paused and narrowed her eyes. "But I am not leaving you alone with him for a single moment!"

I grinned triumphantly at my aunt. "You have nothing to worry about."

After being told to wear warm clothes that were suitable for walking in the woods – "If you wear a mini-skirt or dress I'll kill you" – I threw on a pair of black jeans with a belt, gray woolen jumper, heavy black coat, and finished with a pair of Doc Martins. My hair was in a high ponytail, and I wore only mascara around my eyes today, no other makeup. I felt bare, but I didn't want to be that girl who dressed up fancy just for a day in the wilderness.

Okay, so it wasn't exactly the wilderness. The land was actually pretty open, mostly full of early-spring green grass and lots of bare twigs from the leafless shrubs and bushes.

For once I was glad I never got nervous around attractive people, because walking with Elijah felt so natural, no matter how gorgeously intimidating he was in his dark suit. Having Aunt Jenna there helped, and I truly felt at ease.

Jenna point to a little further in the distance. "The old Fell property actually starts just beyond that fence."

"Ah, the Fells." Elijah acknowledged, recognizing the name. "One of the 'founding families'."

"Why do you say it like that?" Jenna asked, a little confused.

Before he could answer, I quickly butted in. "Mystic Falls was actually going to be called 'Fell's Church'." I informed them. "The Fells were considered the highest standing family, but the Lockwoods challenged them. In the end, the town was named Mystic Falls."

"Very interesting, I'll have to add that to my notes." Elijah smiled sincerely at me as we walked towards an old and rundown cottage. "But my research showed me that this area was actually settled almost two full centuries earlier. There was a migration of townsfolk from the Northeast. Um, it was Salem, to be precise."

Damn, I really should have brought a notebook. Elijah obviously wasn't a historian or author, but he was old enough to know the wrong facts from the right when it came to history.

"Massachusetts?" Jenna asked curiously, holding her hands out in disbelief. "As in the witch trials?"

Elijah nodded and grinned. "Which means the ever-lauded founding families... didn't actually found anything."

The way he said that made me giggle, which led to me receiving an exasperated glance from my aunt, and an amused one from the Original.

"Well, I bet it was the men who made a big deal about being founders back in 1860." Jenna teased.

"Oh, let the men have their glory!" I said, maybe a little too sarcastically.

She rolled her eyes. "Men are very territorial."

Elijah stopped and put his hands in his pockets. "Yes, they are."

I followed his line of sight and saw Alaric approaching us with a smug smile, trying to be casual and overacting entirely. He probably thought Jenna was going to be alone with Elijah today. But then again, he also didn't like the vampire, so my presence didn't help.

"Uh..." Jenna smiled and put a hand on Elijah's arm politely. "Elijah, this is my friend, Alaric Saltzman."

"Boyfriend..." I amended under my breath with a cough.

Ric stopped a few feet away. "I got your, uh, message about walking through the property lines. I thought I would tag along. You know, being a history buff and all." He smiled at me. "Didn't expect to see you here Celina, though you are one of my best students."

"What can I say? I am quite the pleasant surprise." I smiled innocently.

Jenna looked upset at Ric's arrival, and with her calling him her friend only, I wondered if there was something going on between them. I promised myself I'd find out later.

"Where to next?" Ric asked cheerfully, trying to remove the awkwardness.

Elijah spoke up. "I'm pretty curious about the freed slave property owners." He glanced to Jenna and I. "Some say descendents of the slaves are the true keepers of American history."

"I only brought the surveys." Jenna suddenly looked relieved. "I've got that list in my car. Just give me a sec."

She walked off, leaving the two men to stare each other down. I leaned back against a nearby tree with a cheeky grin on my face. She was right, men are territorial. And despite whatever was going on between Ric and my aunt, he was still protective of her.

"Alaric Saltzman." Elijah said. I know they hadn't met, but he'd obviously heard of my history teacher and vampire hunter. "You're one of those people on Elena's list of loved ones to protect."

Alaric looked to me quizzically. "Not your list too?"

"The list would be the same, if not shorter." I rolled my eyes. "So Elena's list it is."

He nodded and faced Elijah again. "Yeah, I'm on the list. So is Jenna."

"You don't have to be jealous, I rarely pursue younger women."

I laughed at the double-meaning behind Elijah's words. "Must be hard getting a date then. I doubt there are many women as old as you, grandpa." Did I see his lips twitch with amusement?

Alaric looked like he didn't believe a word Elijah had said.

"It's a joke, Ric." The Original smirked. "Lighten up."

"You're funny." Ric said in all seriousness, and Elijah just patted his arm before walking away. He turned to me and held up his hands, silently asking why I wasn't taking his side with this.

"What? He made me laugh." I got up from the tree and followed Elijah, leaving Mr Cranky behind. He didn't follow.

Elijah and I met up with Jenna at her car, as she was still looking for the list she needed. She finally found it and we continued on with our history tour. When she asked where Ric was, I made up some excuse that Damon called and wanted to hang out with him, probably drinking.

I mentally applauded myself for the excuse too, because after the tour Elijah insisted on visiting the Mystic Grill, and Ric just so happened to be there with Damon and Andie. We were still chatting happily amongst each other when we arrived, and even though I couldn't see Ric's face, I had a feeling our cheerfulness annoyed him.

"Hi." Damon greeted us as we neared his booth.

Jenna caught sight of him. "Hey, guys." She sped up and Ric squirmed in his seat.

"I hear you three had, uh, quite a meeting of historical minds." Damon said, and I could sense there was another meaning underneath his words, but wasn't sure how to interpret it.

"Yeah." Jenna agreed. "I guess you could say that."

I leaned against the side of the booth next to Jenna and crossed my arms. "Except Jenna isn't exactly what I'd call a 'historical mind'."

Alaric looked far more awkward than usual. "Well, as much as I'd like to continue this, I, uh, I've got papers to grade."

Mm-hm, and I've got wings to grow so I can fly away.

"You know what? We should continue this." Andie said as Ric stood up. "Let's have a dinner party."

Damon looked at her excited face. "Ooh, my girl. Full of good ideas. I'll be happy to host."

Something was going on that I wasn't aware of. I narrowed my eyes at Andie, and by the way she was acting, I could only assume she was being compelled. I frowned at Damon as he continued.

"Say tonight, maybe?"

Andie grinned. "It's good for me. Jenna?"

Alaric spoke before she could. "No, I don't know if tonight works-"

"Yeah, I'm free." Jenna cut him off with a glare and smirked. "But Celina gets to go as well."

"Of course, we need more girls." Andie clapped her hands together excitedly.

I shrugged and we all turned to Elijah. "It would be a pleasure."

"Great." Damon did one of his strange eye things that I hated, and it just backed up my theory that he was up to something.

I left for the boarding house with Jenna early, because Andie asked if we could help set up. With nothing better to do, we agreed.

Jenna was wearing a nice purple tank top and jeans, so I grasped that this dinner wasn't something to dress up fancy for. I wore a simple navy dress, with a black cardigan and black brogues. I let my hair out and didn't bother adding to the minimal makeup I already had on.

We were setting out plates on the table when Andie came in sighing, placing a couple of wineglasses down. "So, what's going on with you and Alaric?" Jenna looked at Andie surprised. "I feel like there's some tension."

I turned to Jenna expectantly. I should have asked that like the good niece I was, but my mind had been distracted by the prospect of dining with Elijah. I'd wanted to spend more time around him, and I had. It wasn't even to discuss doppelganger-related plans anymore, but just so I could be in his presence. I truly felt like a fourteen-year-old with a schoolgirl-crush.

"I don't know." My aunt admitted, but she sounded like she was trying to avoid the subject, and failing. "I really like him."

"Mm-hm."

She looked up and let out a nervous giggle. "It's more than like. And I want it to work... but I can't help but feel he's hiding something from me. And then I've got John whispering things in my ear about him."

John was definitely getting a good old bitch slap next time I saw him. Why did my dad have to be such an asshole?

"Like what?" Andie asked.

"Things I don't wanna believe." She shook her head. "Things I don't believe, not if they're coming from John's mouth."

"Oh, well, there you go then." Andie was suddenly serious. "Trust is the key to any relationship. I mean, I am so grateful that Damon tells me everything."

Oh gods, Andie was Damon's personal diary, and she was compelled to keep it all a secret. Rose's death must have hit him harder than I'd first thought if he needed a compelled human to confide his feelings in.

Jenna looked uneasy again, until Andie changed the subject. "So, Celina, what's with you and Elijah?"

"What do you mean?" I asked absently, suddenly fixated on making sure the plates were all an even distance from the edge of the table. Jenna raised her eyebrows at me.

Andie laughed. "Oh, come on. I saw you two hugging at the tea party. What was that all about?"

Jenna had a hand on her waist and lips pouted. I quickly seized at a good enough excuse.

"Well, John and Ric were arguing, and it made me really upset. John is my dad, and it hurts me to see everyone openly hating him... even if he is a major dickhead." I only half-lied, making it all the more believable. "I went outside for some fresh air, and apparently Elijah had noticed me upset, so he followed me out and asked what was wrong. I explained it all, and he gave me some advice that helped. In thanks, I gave him a hug."

I shrugged and left the two alone, hoping they would think I was upset by the memory or something. I didn't care. I speed-walked to where Damon and Alaric were talking. They stopped when I came in, but I didn't mind. Instead, I grabbed Damon's glass of bourbon and drank the lot of it.

Andie passed me with a sympathetic smile as I left the room. I was nearing the front door when the bell rang, and Jenna opened it to reveal John.

"Who invited him?" She asked crankily.

I walked over quickly and slapped him. "That's for causing trouble." I smirked as John held a hand over his now red cheek, and pulled him into a quick hug.

Damon strolled over cheerily. "John. What a surprise. Leave."

"Jenna told me she was coming to a party for Elijah." He explained, then glanced at me. "And that one of my daughters would be there. I decided I couldn't miss out on the fun and games."

Jenna walked off. "There are not gonna be any games tonight." Damon said, still waiting for John to leave.

I turned and went to find Jenna, not wanting to stay around for another alpha-male standoff. I couldn't find her in the kitchen, so I slowly weaved my way back to the door. Damon was the only one nearby, and when the bell rang again, he flitted over so he could answer it before me.

Elijah stood on the doorstep. "Good evening."

"Thank you for coming." Damon said, all polite and I didn't buy it for a second. "Please, come in."

"Just one moment." Elijah replied, and I stood next to Damon with curiosity. "Can I just say that if you have less-than-honorable intentions about how this evening is going to proceed, I suggest you reconsider."

Damon shook his head. "No, nothing dishonorable. Just, uh, getting to know you." I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Hm." Elijah smiled tightly, and I didn't blame him. Damon was a good liar, but the Original wasn't dumb. "That's good."

"Yeah." Damon stood aside so Elijah could walk in, and I moved over as well.

"Because, you know, although Elena and I have this deal... if you so much as make a move to cross me, I'll kill you and I'll kill everyone in this house except Celina. Are we clear?"

I smirked at Damon as he said "Crystal."

"Evening, Celina." Elijah kissed my hand in greeting, before he saw my aunt. "Jenna." He greeted her, walking over. "You look incredible."

"Thank you." She replied, and I felt a hot flash of anger.

Wait a minute. Was I jealous that Elijah said my aunt looked incredible? Even though a moment before he admitted he'd kill her if Damon fucked shit up, which I'm sure he was most likely to do. Hopefully, he wouldn't be that stupid. But still, I shouldn't be feeling this way. So why was I?

I mentally shook those thoughts from my head and went to join the others at the dining table. To my great displeasure yet satisfaction, the only seat left was next to Elijah, and he smiled warmly at me as I sat down. I got butterflies in my stomach, which confused me greatly, but I returned the smile anyway.

Luckily for me, there was a bottle of moscato amongst all the bitter wines, so I quickly poured myself a large severing into the crystal wineglass.

"I hate to break it to you," Jenna said to Damon as she poured him a glass of red wine. "But according to Elijah, your family is so not a founder of this town."

"Hmm, do tell." Damon said uninterestedly to the Original next to me.

"Well, as I mentioned to Jenna and Celina earlier," Elijah explained to everyone. "A faction of settlers migrated from Salem after the witch trials in the 1690s. Over the next hundred years they developed this community where they could feel safe from the persecution."

"Hmm, because they were witches." Jenna added conspiratorially.

Andie didn't look convinced. "There's no tangible proof there were witches in Salem."

Damon pointed to his fake girlfriend with pride. "Andie's a journalist. Big on facts."

"Well, the lore says that there was this wave of anti-witch hysteria." Elijah continued, unperturbed. "It broke out in the neighboring settlement. So these witches were rounded up. They were tied to stakes in a field together and, uh, burned. Some say you could hear the screams for miles as they were consumed by the fire. Could you pass the-?"

I stifled a giggle and shook my head. "Only a vampire would be so morbid at dinner..." I whispered low enough for only Elijah and Damon to hear.

Jenna chuckled nervously. "I, uh, wouldn't repeat this to the historical society."

Andie laughed as well while John leaned in seriously. "It's starting to sound a little like a ghost story to me." He stated.

Damon shrugged him off and addressed the Original again. "So why do you wanna know the location of these alleged massacres?"

Elijah bit his lip for a moment, and I couldn't help but find it irresistibly sexy. "You know, healthy historian's curiosity, of course." He shrugged and smiled.

Damon smirked. "Of course."

The damn man bit his lip yet again, and I quickly took a big gulp of my fruity wine. Jenna looked at me with raised eyebrows, but I just ignored her and continued eating. I was finishing my fourth glass of wine when the silence was finally broken.

"Would anyone care for some cognac?" Damon asked, and before anyone said anything, I raised my hand. "I have a bottle I've been saving for ages."

"None for me thanks," Alaric replied. "Nine bottles of wine is my limit."

"Has no one noticed my raised hand yet?" I pouted. If I had to be around scheming Damon any longer, I'd need more alcohol. "Count me in."

Jenna laughed at me. "You've had enough, Cell, and I don't want you getting me in trouble."

I rolled my eyes as we all stood up.

"The gentlemen should take their drinks in the study." Andie suggested. By the tone of her voice, it sounded like she'd been compelled to say that.

"I have to say the food was almost as wonderful as the company." Elijah grinned at me as he placed his napkin on his empty plate.

Andie smiled. "I like you."

The jealous anger came back and I struggled to push it down.

Elijah brushed his hand against mine as he left the room, and I couldn't help but think he did it on purpose. Vampires didn't just accidentally touch someone, right? Shit, I needed to stop reading so closely into everything he did.

"You're not a gentlemen." I heard Jenna say, and turned to see her hand John a stack of plates. "Make yourself useful. Hmm?"

I let myself giggle and followed Andie into the kitchen. I heard Alaric talk on the phone with someone, and when he hung up he came straight into the kitchen and said we ignored desert. Suspicious, I followed him to where the men were having their drinks.

"Gentlemen," Alaric caught their attention. "We forgot about desert."

I could see that he wanted to be alone with Damon, and though I shouldn't have, I held my hand out. "Elijah."

"Miss Gilbert." He replied cheerfully, taking my hand and spinning me around as we walked back to the dining room. He had a large grin on his face, and I giggled at his strange playfulness. The four large glasses of wine from earlier didn't help.

I giggled far too much.

There was tea waiting for us when we arrived at the room, Damon and Alaric entering soon after.

"Sorry, guys. Desert is taking longer than I thought." Jenna said bashfully, pouring a cup of tea for Andie. "I usually just unwrap food."

Everyone chuckled at her honesty. Elijah, Andie and I sat at the same seats as before, and Elijah even helped me with my chair. I held back a blush as I thanked him. Jenna wandered off to the kitchen to check on dessert.

"So I know this is a social thing." Andie said, sitting across from Elijah. "But I'd really love to ask you some questions about the work you're doing."

"I'd love to answer."

"Great. Oh, that's so great." Andie grinned. She sounded as if she were flirting, and I frowned. The other men began to find their seats. "Ric, would you do me a favor and grab the notebook out of my bag?"

Ric went off to do so, and Damon joined the conversation. "Elijah, did John tell you that he's Celina and Elena's uncle-slash-father?"

"Yes, I'm well aware of that." Elijah replied, and I inwardly sighed with relief. If he had have said no, than my excuse as to why I'd hugged him would've been ruined.

"Of course, Elena hates him." Damon smiled. "There's no need to keep him on the endangered species list."

I leered angrily at the Salvatore before turning to Elijah. "I have decided I'd like my own list. The only person on it is John." I smiled politely while Elijah nodded and John smirked at Damon.

Andie ignored us, instead watching Ric. "Ric, it's in the front pocket, on the- You know what? Excuse me, guys. Sorry."

She stood and walked off, leaving me alone with my dad and two vampires.

"What I'd like to know, Elijah." John started, and I prayed he wouldn't say something rude. "Is how you intend on killing Klaus."

I rolled my eyes. Condescension was considered extremely rude in my opinion. I watched Elijah for his reaction, but he just fiddled with his wine glass.

"Gentlemen, there's a few things we should probably get clear right now." He looked at Damon and pointed to him with a fork. "I allow you to live solely to keep an eye on Elena. As we have already established, Celina does not need protecting like her twin. I allow Elena to remain in her house living her life with her friends as a courtesy. If you become a liability, I'll take both girls away from you. You'll never see them again."

I didn't like how he added me into that last past, as if I had no choice in the matter. But I realized, and he must have known already, that I would go with him anyway. Elijah would at least make my life leading up to the sacrifice seem drama-free. I couldn't escape that in Mystic Falls, no matter how much I tried to avoid everything.

Andie came back in at that moment with her notebook, and we all focused on her. "Okay, my first question is, when you got here to Mystic-"

Elijah cried out in pain beside me, a thin silver blade suddenly protruding from his chest. I shrieked and turned around, seeing Alaric leaning over the Original's chair, holding the hilt of a long dagger. I watched, terrified, as Elijah groaned, his face turning ashy and the large veins forming on his skin.

When Ric pulled the blade out and Elijah's body slumped over, I felt a few tears fall. None of this could be happening. Elijah couldn't be dead again, not after everything we'd promised. He wasn't going to hurt them, and they weren't ever going to lose their precious Elena.

No, no, no! None of this was supposed to happen. Who was going to kill Klaus now?

I turned to Alaric and Damon with hate in my eyes, before I turned around and fled the boarding house. It was a long walk home, and my cardigan barely protected me from the cold, but I couldn't care less. The tears on my cheeks turned icy, but were replaced with warm fresh ones.

Only then did I understand just how much I'd liked Elijah. I didn't just have some temporary crush, but I had been growing legitimate feelings for him despite the short time I'd known him. And I hardly knew him at all. But I'd been romantically attracted to a man for the first time in my life.

And now he was dead.

I lost all sense of time, my only concern was about getting home and going to sleep as soon as I could. I didn't want to see Damon again for a very long time... But we don't always get what we want.

The older Salvatore appeared in front of me, and he actually looked scared. "Elijah isn't dead, so I'm taking you to the lake house right now."

I ignored him and began to walk away, but he grabbed my arm and made me face him. "Fuck off, Damon. I really do not want to put up with you right now."

"Too bad you don't have any say in this." He flitted me away, and a little while later we were at the lake house. He shoved me inside, with a confused Elena and Stefan.

Damon explained everything to them, and Stefan assumed Elijah would find us all in no time. I could only hope. Elena looked terrified, and there was the faint crunching sound of gravel from the driveway.

"He's here." Stefan whispered. Damon wouldn't let go of my arm, much to my annoyance. A few moments later the front door smashed open, and I peered around the corner to see Elijah standing outside.

Damon was distracted, so I yanked my arm out of his grip and ran for the front door. I was grabbed again, but it didn't stop me. "You can co-!" Damon's hand clamped on my mouth and stopped me from finishing my sentence. Just one-and-a-half more words was all I needed. I struggled against Damon's grip, but it was futile.

"Go." My twin said to Stefan. "I need to talk to him."

"Elena."

She shook her head. "Stefan, I'm okay. He can't come in the house."

Elijah casually strolled forward. "You know, I might not be able to enter this house... but I am a very patient man." He rolled his eyes. "I'll wait you out."

Elena walked towards the front door, and I widened my eyes in horror as I saw the dagger from before tucked in the back of her jeans. But surely it didn't kill him before, so what was different this time?

I watched as she looked down and shook her head. "They shouldn't have done what they did."

"The deal is off." Elijah simply stated. "I only want Celina to come with me."

When he said that, I struggled at Damon's grip, hoping to catch him off guard again. But his arms were like a steel vice around my mouth and torso.

"I'm renegotiating." Elena stated firmly.

"You have nothing left to negotiate with." Elijah held his arm out. "Your sister, please."

Elena's arms shifted, and from Elijah's expression I could tell she had revealed something I hadn't noticed her holding before.

"I'd like to see you lure Klaus into Mystic Falls, after one of the doppelgangers bleeds to death." She threatened. Shit, she must've had a knife. "And the other one suddenly goes missing."

"Stefan won't let you die."

"No, he won't." She stated, her tone matter-of-fact. "He'll feed me his blood to heal me. And then I'll kill myself and become a vampire, just like Katherine did. Damon will turn Celina into one as well, and there will be no more doppelgangers for you." Elijah bit his lip again, contemplating. "Unless you want that to happen, promise the same as you did before. Promise me that you won't harm anyone that I love. Even if they've harmed you."

There was a long pause. "I'm sorry Elena," Elijah finally replied. "I'm going to have to call your bluff."

I knew Elena was hesitating, and I hoped to the gods that she really was bluffing, when the worst happened. She moved her arm and I heard the unmistakable sound of metal slicing flesh, and my twin's cry of pain.

"No!" Elijah yelled, at the same time I screamed against Damon's hand. The Original flitted to the barrier at the front door. Elena was gasping in pain and my tears started flowing relentlessly again. "Yes. Yes, you can have your deal. Let me heal you."

"Give me your word." She demanded between groans of pain. I wanted to yell at her for being so stubborn, especially when her life was slipping away.

"I give you my word." Elijah said quickly, obviously as distressed as I was.

Elena fell out the door and Elijah caught her, before he too groaned out in pain. Elena had grabbed the dagger from her jeans and stabbed him through the heart. I sobbed, hoping he wouldn't die again.

Damon finally let go of my mouth, but kept me back from running over to the Original. For the second time that night, I watched the only man I'd ever had feelings for die.

"Is he going to stay dead?" I asked Damon as Stefan fed Elena his blood, dreading the answer.

I turned to Damon and he nodded, then made me walk to the front door with him. "Little tip." He addressed the others. "Don't pull the dagger out."

I nodded, already forming a plan to do just that when their backs were turned.

Has anyone read the Vampire Diaries books? In them, the town really is called Fell's Church, and I couldn't help myself when I added that in. Admittedly, I did make up the part about the Lockwoods challenging the Fells, but hey, this is fanfiction! I get creative license ;)

Review Replies:

StephanieLockedInTheTARDIS: I just had to add a little light flirting! Elijah might be posh and business-like most of the time, but he can also be very playful so I thought some flirting wouldn't be too OOC for him :)

Queen of Supernatural Lovers: I'm so glad you do, especially because I'm having trouble making it seem as realistic as possible :) And I'm pleased to hear that! Celina is definitely unique. Hopefully this chapter was out soon enough!

ChristinaAguileraFan: Thank you! It took me a while to try and think up a character that would be amazing for Elijah, so it makes me giddy when you say that!

red05: Thank you so much! :)

wildcat717: Thank you! And for what I have planned, Celina definitely will befriend the others. Especially Rebekah, I plan for them to be good friends!

Another thank you to my amazing followers and favoriters. You all make me proud to be a writer! I hope you enjoyed it, please review, and chapter 5 will be out soon :)