Hello. I'm so happy about the feedback I've gotten for the story. So far I've gotten mostly Era/Klaus votes. For those who haven't voted, I ask you guys to soon please. Your feedback means a lot and I will take them into major consideration. It's not guaranteeing that it'll happen but you guys' opinion does count in my thought process. Thanks again to all the reviews. On with the story….
Era was all smiles as she walked through up the stairs. Jeremy was vastly different than she had expected. He was mysterious and didn't judge her as much as his friends had. His choice of company could be better however. He was a toy in certain ways, someone to occupy her time while Klaus was away, yet there was the possibility of being friends. 'Ugh your humanity is showing,' Era thought.
"What are you doing, Era?" Rebekah's voice stopped her. Her face lost its smile, knowing what was coming. Rebekah had known where she had been, along with who caused the smile.
"Just got back," She replied. Era refused to call this place home. Home was where Klaus was. If only he would get his wandering ass back here.
"Don't do this, Era."
"Do what?" She snapped. Rebekah grabbed her arm and dragged the younger vampire into her room. She glared at Era, her eyes demanding truth.
"You know what! Getting close to Gilbert will only end like Jonathan did. You cannot let this boy blind you like he did," Rebekah said angrily.
"He is not blinding me! Gilbert is nothing more than a distraction." Era was not having this argument. It was ridiculous. Jeremy was nothing, while Klaus was everything.
"I hope so, Era. My brother won't lose you again. I will not see him go through that again because you fall in love with anyone you spend more than an hour with." Era puffed up angrily.
"Are you blaming me for falling in love with Jonathan? I couldn't have predicted Klaus's reaction. Don't you forget that he's the reason we stopped being lovers after 500 years. He was busy rutting with those whores. I found someone to distract me for a little while. I'm oh so fucking sorry that I happened to become attached." Era was breathing hard by the end of her speech. Rebekah looked almost sorry for her.
"I'm not excusing my brother's actions. I can only tell you that he regrets them. Those hundred years that you weren't with him were the worst of his life. After everything, can you say that you could handle losing him forever?" Rebekah left her to think of all that was said. Era sat on the bed. It hadn't been her wish to stop sleeping with Klaus. It had been his. Klaus had never had time to 'branch' out with women. They had always been busy running from Michael, and then he had met Era and that had been it. So Klaus wanted to test the water. That had been one out of two times he had hurt her. He never brought his women around Era. He wouldn't have disrespected her in that way. Era would have killed them if he had. Most of the women didn't make it through the night. When he got it out of his system, he begged Era to take him back as his lover. It was an unusual occurrence in itself. It hadn't ended well and she had left for a hundred years. Jonathan was dead, and Klaus was left alone. Era sighed. Rebekah was right. Jeremy wasn't worth a repeat of ancient history. Klaus would come back and they would be together again. Klaus would make sure of it. She found Rebekah sitting in her room. Era leaned against her door.
"You're right. I won't let him get in between Klaus and I. I'm going to kill something to take my mind off things. Want to come?" Rebekah smiled and nodded. They walked towards the door before Rebekah stopped Era.
"Nick loves you, Era. Always has. Always will." Era smiled softly.
"I know. And I him." They left, smiling at each other.
!
Jeremy sat in the living room, watching Elena and Damon make out. He wished Anna would appear, but he couldn't risk Elena getting suspicious. As much as he hated to admit it, he wished Era was here too. She was interesting. 900 years of experience made for one interesting person. The door opened. Era and Rebekah walked in, giggling. Damon and Elena looked up from the chair. Elena gasped. The two girls were covered in blood. Their mouths were drenched in a red coating. The clothes that occupied their bodies were ruined.
"What the hell happened to you?" Damon asked.
"Picked up a bite to eat. Got a bit messy," Era replied.
"I thought I told you not to feed on anyone in this area!" Damon said angrily. They both just laughed.
"And we didn't. Drove to Florida. Nice little bar there with plenty of pickings. Don't worry so much." Era turned to go upstairs. Jeremy's eyes had widened when the two vampires had walked through the door. He knew of Era's reputation, her stories. Seeing it was completely different than hearing about it. It was difficult to come to terms with.
"Era..." She stopped and gave him a disdainful glance. A predatory smile lurked on her lips and in her eyes.
"Unless you have questions about what kind of corsage I want, Gilbert, you have nothing to talk to me about. Whatever imaginative idea you have that anything you say to me will have any value, I'd squash it now." She walked up the stairs without a glance back. Jeremy was left silent and fuming.
"What the hell was that about, Jeremy?" Elena demanded. Jeremy sighed, got up, and walked out of the house.
!
The next day, Rebekah brushed out Era's hair. Era smiled lazily. They used to do this all the time. Rebekah had cut her hair after she had been made a vampire and her father had betrayed them. She said it was a way to leave who she was in the past behind. It was to change who she was and start fresh. Era had kept hers long. Klaus loved her long hair. He used to play with it when they would lie in bed together. She sighed. She missed those days. They were simple. It was before they took their break as lovers, before Jonathan, and before she had left for what seemed like an eternity.
"I've missed doing this," Rebekah said.
"I missed it too. I miss Klaus. I miss his egotistical ways, and his smirk I always wanted to slap off his face. Well either that or kiss him." Rebekah laughed.
"We going shopping today?"
"Do I ever miss a day of shopping?" Era just rolled her eyes and shook her head. Rebekah was silent for a second.
"Promise me that when this is all over, we'll all be together again. You, me, and Klaus like it used to be."
"You make us sound like a threesome," Era said laughing. She knew Rebekah was serious, but she couldn't help but make the joke.
"You're disgusting. I'm serious, Era. Promise me." Era turned around to look her in the eye.
"I promise. This will all be just a distant memory soon… There's something I have to tell you first and foremost. I don't want you to be angry with me for doing what I have to." Rebekah wrinkled her brow in confusion.
"Elijah is planning on awakening Michael. Klaus says I have to dagger him." Era figured it'd be easy if she had come out with it straight and true. Rebekah's hand came up to cover her mouth.
"He wouldn't." Era took a deep breath.
"He would and he is. You know how moral Elijah is. He believes what Klaus is doing with the hybrids is wrong. He thinks Klaus needs to die. Klaus told me to kill him. When we find Michael and finally put him in the ground, he'll reawaken him with the rest of the family," Era explained. Klaus hadn't said that he would reawaken Elijah when all this was over. Era wasn't sure he'd feel inclined to after his betrayal. She had to lie to get Rebekah on board. She would convince Klaus to reawaken him when the time came. Rebekah massaged the bridge of her nose.
"How are you going to do it?" Era licked her lips.
"I'm supposed to play on his feelings for me. Make him think that I return them, and then catch him off guard," Era replied slowly. She knew Rebekah wouldn't like the idea.
"Era, that's cruel even for you. You know how he feels about you! He shouldn't love you knowing you're Klaus's, but he does," Rebekah stuttered angrily.
"I know. He is an original, Bekah. I won't be able to do it any other way. Unless you want to do it," Era retorted. Rebekah shook her head. She couldn't kill him. She was closer to Klaus, but Elijah was still her brother.
"Fine. Make sure I'm gone when it happens, and you better make damn sure he's in a safe spot." Era agreed and they left the room to go shopping. Era stopped at the end of the stairs and saw Elena sitting on the couch. A plan formed in her head. The girl wanted information. Era would make sure she got more than she wanted. Maybe it would teach her not to snoop.
"Elena…Want to come shopping with us?" Her voice was sickly sweet. Rebekah gave her a questioning look. Era silenced her with a meaningful look. Elena looked apprehensive, like she didn't want to accept. She was torn between wanting information and staying safe like she promised Damon. Her inquisitive side won out.
"Sure." She followed them out to the car.
!
"What about this one?" Era asked the two other girls as she modeled the dress that she hoped to wear for Klaus's homecoming.
"I think my brother will be very pleased with that one," Rebekah replied. Elena just looked on in embarrassment. The dress was obviously meant to wear for things you don't do in public. It was black, came to mid-thigh, and had a plunging neck line. It left little to the imagination.
"I'll take it." They went up to the counter and paid for their purchases. Era and Rebekah walked to a small café, Elena shadowing their steps. She didn't know why she was here, but she could at least try to convince Era to leave her brother alone.
They sat down with their coffee, drinking in silence. Elena could no longer hold her tongue.
"What do you want with my brother?" The words came out rushed. Era raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"He's my homecoming date."
"No, something's going on between you two. He seemed almost hurt when you snapped at him. I only came on this trip to convince you to leave him alone," Elena said, her voice getting stronger with every word. Era laughed with a sultry undertone.
"You really want to know, little girl? He's my distraction until Klaus comes back. I'll toy with him a little until I get bored," Era replied.
"Why him? You can have anyone else. Please just leave him alone," Elena almost begged. Era just stared at her.
"No. That isn't the only reason I've taken an interest in him, Elena. He's in this situation because of you. Jeremy is my way of keeping you from doing anything stupid. You keep your nose clean, and he'll be fine. If you don't…" She trailed off, letting Elena's imagination take over. Elena looked angry and almost helpless. She went for the thing she thought would cut Era the deepest.
"Why weren't you and Klaus lovers for 400 years? Did he get tired of you?" Elena spit out before she could stop herself. She knew Era wouldn't hurt Jeremy unless she tried to hurt Klaus, but angering her might not have been the best idea. Era just smiled slowly. She had expected the girl to lash out. Now the girl was going to get her information.
"Have you ever pondered living forever? Klaus and I had been together for 500 years. He wanted to explore for a little while. I can't say I didn't as well." Elena looked confused.
"How can you still want to be with him after he left you to sleep with other women?"
"We live forever, Elena. There is plenty of time to forgive. Not only that but we both wanted to experience different things. It wasn't just about sex, dearie. We were important to each other in other ways. You wouldn't understand, seeing is how you won't live for eternity. Speaking of which, do you plan to become a vampire for your dearest Damon?" Era smirked as the girl paled a little at the subject.
"That's none of your business," She replied. Era tsked.
"If you don't, then I highly suggest that you let the poor thing go. You would be cruel not to," Rebekah said, joining in.
"Why would I do that?" Elena was growing increasingly uncomfortable. Era and Rebekah shared a look of pity.
"She doesn't get it," Rebekah said to Era.
"Of course she doesn't. She's just a mortal. What are you going to do when you're old and worn, and people start to think Damon is your grandson? He has to watch you die a little every day, while he stays the same. You would be doing him a kindness by letting him go," Era said, almost mockingly.
"You don't know anything about me and Damon," Elena replied angrily. Era got an eerie look on her face.
"Oh but I do. I was once in love with a mortal." Elena's eyes lit up with surprise.
"Era…" Rebekah warned. Era glanced at her.
"No, Rebekah. This girl seems to be convinced that I can be swayed from Klaus. I want to put that little hope to rest."
"You were in love with a mortal? How? I didn't think you'd ever stray from Klaus," Elena said scathingly. Era just observed her coolly.
"It was a hundred years ago. Klaus was still going about, as was I. I met him at a dance that was being held by an English noble. We loved to go to parties in those days. Plenty of prey to pick off. He was an English noble by the name of Jonathan Lane. He was beautiful of course. I expected him to be boring as all the other nobles were. He wasn't. He was fun and adventurous. Klaus allowed him to stay because he thought he was my pet. The more time I spent with him, the more I came to realize I was falling for him. He told me he loved me, and I couldn't help but say it back." Elena couldn't help but wonder where this story was going. Era had said that it would squash her hope, but she had felt hope at the prospect of Era loving someone other than Klaus.
"Go on," Elena ushered her.
"I told him what I was. He surprised me yet again by accepting it, instead of shunning me. A week later, Klaus came to me. Said that his marauding days were over and that he wanted me back. I was torn. I knew it would come eventually, but I didn't know what to say. Klaus saw my hesitation and that was when Jonathan came in. He took one look at the mortal before he knew. He screamed that I had betrayed him. I had fallen in love with someone else. We had agreed a long time ago that our hearts would remain each other's. I told him that I chose him, that it didn't matter. I would always choose him. By that time though, it was too late. I had betrayed his trust. My loyalty was put into question. Klaus ordered me to kill him to prove that he was still the one." Era paused at this moment. This memory was one of her worst. Elena was on the edge of her seat, wanting to know what happened.
"What did you do?" Era glanced at Rebekah, who was looking down at her feet.
"I told Jonathan I was sorry…then I broke his neck." Era's face was emotionless as she watched it sink into Elena's face. She looked shocked and scared.
"How could you do that?" She demanded. Her tone was disgusted.
"Because Klaus would have killed him anyway. I loved Jonathan, but I love Klaus more. I wouldn't lose them both. I've had one hundred years to forgive him, and I have. So you see, girly, you can't persuade me to your side. Stop trying," Era said softly.
"He'll do the same thing to Jeremy!" Elena knew that Jeremy was starting to have feelings for Era. He was a stupid boy. She would not let her brother be killed by this psychotic bitch and her crazy master.
"He won't unless he thinks I have feelings for him, which I don't. So you have nothing to worry about, mortal. You can leave now. I'm done talking to you. You've served your purpose for the day." Elena got up. She was fuming. There had to be something she could do about Era and her brother.
"Oh…and Elena," Era's voice called to her, "Tell your brother to pick me up at eight on Saturday."
Ok so that was chapter 5. Tell me what you guys think. I know this chapter doesn't make Klaus seem like the nicest guy. When he and Era see each other again, it gets better. I wanted to show the conflict between them, and how everything wasn't perfect. It's Klaus and we know he goes to the extreme sometimes. He paid the price. Klaus never expected Era to leave. Well please read and review. Next chapter is Homecoming.