Chapter 5

Friend or foe

San Francisco 1990

Elijah knocked a door. He couldn't believe Josef was actually living in this kind of place. This whole building should have been demolished years ago. Josef opened the door looking exhausted. Elijah didn't remember ever seen him like that before. His dark hair was messy and his strange color amber eyes were full of despair.

"Thank you for coming", he said. "Please come in."

Elijah entered the apartment and looked around. Clearly Josef wasn't much of a housekeeper.

"It's been a while", Elijah said calmly. "So, what can I do for you?"

Josef bit his lip.

"Can I get you something to drink?" he asked.

"No thank you. Nice place, very… bohemian."

"Thank you, it's just temporary. Are you sure you don't want anything to drink?"

Elijah turned to him.

"Yes, I'm sure. Let's just get to the point shall we. You wouldn't have asked me to come here without a good reason."

"Yes, that's true."

Josef seemed nervous. That was strange. He wasn't usually a nervous type.

"I… I need your guidance Elijah. Can I trust you?"

Elijah was surprised. Josef had never asked that before.

"After all these centuries, you still have to ask that?"

"I'm sorry, I mean no disrespect but I really need your answer."

"Yes, you can trust me", Elijah said.

Josef nodded.

"Thank you. This is really… difficult thing for me."

"Go on."

"Have you ever heard that a vampire could reproduce?" Josef asked.

"If you mean like humans reproduce, then no."

"Ok… ok… So you've never heard about anything like that?"

Elijah raised an eyebrow.

"As I said, no. Why are you asking?"

Josef hesitated.

"Because apparently it can happen."

"What are you talking about?" Elijah asked confused.

"I… I met this girl and… I've never felt anything like that before. She's the one for me."

"Ok, congratulations, but I'm afraid I still can't quite understand…"

"She's pregnant", Josef interrupted.

Elijah finally understood what he was trying to say.

"Listen Josef, you must know that you can't be the father of that child."

"That's what I thought too but I am. How is that possible?"

"It's not", Elijah said simply. "Perhaps she is trying to spare your feelings…"

"No, I am the father, I'm sure about that."

Elijah was quiet for a while.

"You are absolutely sure?"

"Yes, I'm positive."

"Interesting…" Elijah mumbled. "I really have never heard about anything like this before. Where is this girl of yours? I must meet her."

"Claire isn't here right now, but there's something else I need to tell you."

"What's that?"

Josef paused and turned his head.

"She's a werewolf."

Elijah's eyes widened.

"Your girlfriend is a werewolf? You can't be serious."

"I love her Elijah", Josef said desperately. "I would do anything for her but now… I don't know what to do."

Elijah didn't know what to say.

"Who else knows about this?" he asked.

"Just us and one witch. She's Claire's friend."

"Ok, no one else can know. Do you understand?"

Josef nodded. Elijah knew he had to get to the bottom of this. If this was true it would break all the laws of nature. Elijah hid his smile. Interesting indeed.

...

Arizona 2008

Zora felt him touching her neck. He was standing behind her. He wrapped his arms around her and slid his hands under her shirt. Zora flinched but she didn't try to move. He started to kiss her neck. She knew this was wrong but it felt so right. His touch made her whole body tingling. Oh Klaus…

Zora opened her eyes. She was shocked. What the hell was that? Definitely not a nursery rhyme. She felt herself blushing. Thankfully she was alone in a motel room. Nathan had some errands to run. Zora got up and walked around the room. Was it hot in here? She tried to calm down. Why would she have that kind of dream about Klaus? It was… embarrassing. She couldn't tell Nathan about it. Zora heard a knock from a door. It definitely wasn't Nathan.

"Yes?"

"It's me."

Zora recognized that voice immediately. She opened the door.

"Good evening", Elijah greeted her smiling.

"What are you doing here?" Zora asked.

She didn't care if it sounded rude. She hadn't heard a word from him since he had taken her blood.

"May I come in?" Elijah asked.

"That depends, why are you here?"

"I have some new information", he said.

"And it only took you seven months to get it? Fine, come in."

Elijah entered the room and closed the door.

"I apologize for not contacting you sooner but it took time to gather information", he said.

"Ok, so what did you find?"

Elijah looked at her.

"Quite a lot, actually. Your blood…it's intriguing."

"Why is that?" Zora asked.

"It's nothing like I have seen before. But I don't know what is this secret the prophesy preferred to."

"So that's it? It took you seven months to figure out that my blood is intriguing?"

Elijah smiled.

"Patience, I'm just getting started."

His smile vanished.

"There's something personal I need to ask you."

"What's that?"

"Are you a virgin?"

Zora's eyes widened. She started to blush.

"That's none of your business", she murmured.

Elijah looked serious.

"I was afraid of that."

"What are you talking about?" Zora asked confused.

"You can't be a virgin", Elijah said calmly. "If Klaus finds you he will…"

"He will what?" Zora asked when Elijah didn't continue.

"Believe me when I say, you wouldn't like it. And it wouldn't be just you who have to deal with the consequences so that is why I need to ask you to undress."

Zora couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Are you insane?"

"No, I'm afraid not. I'm not leaving here before this is solved one way or another. I will not let Klaus' sick plan to succeed so I have to either kill you or… make sure you are not a virgin anymore. Which one will it be?"

Zora backed away. She was starting to panic.

"Please Elijah, you're scaring me."

Elijah looked uneasy.

"I really am sorry about this, but I don't have a choice. Please don't fight me and I promise to be as careful as I can."

"No, no please, let's just talk about this. There must be some kind of misunderstanding…"

Elijah shook his head.

"Believe me; I wouldn't do this if I wouldn't be absolutely sure."

Zora ran but Elijah caught her easily and threw her to the bed. She was panicking.

"No, no, please! You don't have to do this!"

Elijah pinned her wrists above her head.

"I'm so sorry", he said and kissed her.

Zora squirmed and tried to fight him off but it was useless. He calmly ripped off her shirt.

"No! Stop! Get off me!"

"I'm sorry", he repeated and took her jeans off. "Please don't fight so this won't hurt so much."

Tears were falling down Zora's cheeks.

"No, no, no…"

Her heart was beating faster. She was panicking. Then she felt this strange energy inside her.

"No!" she yelled and suddenly Elijah was thrown against the wall. He fell to the floor. Zora ran. She was just wearing her bra and panties but she didn't care. She saw a woman in a parking lot. She was just getting in to her car.

"Please help me", Zora said quickly.

Woman looked surprised.

"What…"

Zora got in to her car.

"Please, drive, he's coming!"

The woman still looked surprised but she started the car. She must have seen how scared Zora was.

"Do you want me to call the police?" the woman asked when they have left the parking lot.

Zora shook her head.

"No, please. I… I need to call my dad."

The woman looked confused but she handed Zora her cell phone. Zora was shaking. She had to calm down and call Nathan. She really needed him right now.