They pulled up to the boarding house this time Iris waited for Elijah to open her door
"Thank you" she murmured as he threaded his arm with hers, they both walked up to the grand door with ease, Iris raise her fist and knocked on the door, it opened a moment later revealing Damon
"Why is your face weird?" Iris asked, Elijah's lips twitched at that, the obviously fake smile on the younger vampire's face dropped
"I was smiling" he huffed his eyes darted to where Elijah's arm linked with the petite raven head's arm
"Well you look a bit constipated" she muttered under her breath, oblivious to the fact that both vampires could hear her.
"Lovely as always Iris" Damon drawled, Iris sent him a grin and went to move forward to enter the boarding house but Elijah gripped the back of her sweater and pulled her back so that she stumbled back to his side, Damon eyes narrowed, Iris stiffened slightly wondering what was he doing.
"This dinner party" Elijah stated coolly idly running a finger down her arm "if this is some attempt at an ill conceive plot that you concocted for less than honourable intentions, I will kill everyone in this house" Iris's jaw dropped at this "do we have an understanding?"
"Yes" Damon replied through gritted teeth
"You made a deal with me and Elena" Iris hissed at the Original, he lightly gripped her chin
"I did, and I intend to keep if your friends don't go back on their words" he nodded towards Damon, Iris glanced at him
"Damon's not stupid to do that, right?"
"She's right" Damon said with a blank smile. There was a moment of tense silence but it was broken when Jenna appeared
"Iris" she smiled "Elijah"
"Jenna" Iris grinned and walked past Damon, she could feel Elijah's eyes on the back of her head, the older woman pulled her into a brief hug
"Glad Damon didn't convince you not to come" Jenna whispered into the raven head's ear
"Pfft as if he could" Iris said pulling back.
"Yes Iris may need other methods of persuasion" Damon wagged his eyebrows up and down suggestively, sliding up besides the women,
"Hmm really?" Elijah walked over and sent the younger vampire a look of pure disdain which Damon simply ignored
"Well now that everyone's here let's eat" Damon announced, they moved into the dining room and were about to sit down when there was a knock on the door, Iris quirked an eyebrow when she saw that Damon and Elijah were glowering at each other, Jenna had gone off to help Andie and Alaric to get the food
"I'll get the door than shall I?" she sighed when neither of them responded and walked to answer the door.
Iris opened the door and was miffed at who was on the other side
"John?" she asked cocking an eyebrow
"Iris, lovely to see-"
"Oh, who invited him?" Jenna asked Iris could tell that the older wasn't please seeing him here
"John, what a surprise" Damon said standing on Iris's other side "leave"
"Well when Jenna told me she was coming to a dinner party with Elijah, I couldn't miss out on all the fun and games" John smiled, Jenna shot him a dirty look and stormed off
"There's not going to be any fun or games, just a simple dinner party" Alaric answered, Iris hadn't even noticed him enter the room
"You're not really popular are you?" Iris commented cocking an eyebrow "maybe you should just leave" as Alaric went to follow after an annoyed Jenna
"Oh but I wanted to get to know you Iris" John smirked, Iris eyes narrowed at him.
"Yeah but I didn't really want to get to know you" she said causing Damon to snort loudly
"Well either way I'm staying" he pushed pass Iris
"Such a pleasant man isn't he?" she asked sarcasm dripping from her. Damon chuckled, Iris went to walk pass him but he grabbed her hand and quickly ushered outside
"What are-"
"Whatever happens Iris promise not to hate me" he said seriously
Iris brows furrowed in confusion at this "Why would I-"
"Just promise me" Damon uttered not wanting the original to hear them.
Iris eyes softened and raised her hand cupping her cheek "I could never hate you" she whispered
"Thank you and remember that" he murmured and opened the door and gestured for Iris to go in which she did.
Iris sat beside Elijah at the dining table, an awkward silence hung in the air
"Wow, Iris you really must like smoked salmon" Andie commented, the raven head plastered a smile onto her face her plate was steadily emptying
"It's delicious" she answered but unknown to the news-reporter Iris was placing the food in her napkin, she hated fish
"You're being deceitful" Elijah murmured lowly
"I hate fish, ergh" was her reply he lightly shook her head, Iris noticed a smile playing on Damon's lips, she saw that he was eyeing Elijah when the younger vampire noticed her watching him, Damon's icy blue orbs dropped back down on to his plate. Iris frowned lightly sipping her drink, she had an odd feeling that Damon was up to something.
"So" this time it was Jenna who broke the silence "hate to break it to you Damon but according to Elijah your family is not a founder of this town"
Iris quirked an eyebrow
"Oh do tell" Damon smiled, putting Iris on edge, she tapped her foot jerking her knee up and down slightly, but she stilled when she felt a large hand on her knee, she looked at Elijah whose eyes were focused on Damon, the Original gave her knee a brief squeeze of reassurance to the raven head, which somewhat calmed her nerves. She lightly used her other hand and placed it over his, he felt her smooth skin, she gave his hand a brief squeeze he spied a small smile from her.
"Well as I was telling Jenna earlier a fraction of Salem migrants migrated here after the witch trials in 1690's, over the next hundred years they developed this community here, so they could feel safe here without the fear of persecution"
"So witches came here to feel safe?" iris asked interested
"Not just witches, apparently nature had created a being here in this very town-"
"What sort of being?" Iris asked tilting her head,
"Someone that could defend the witches and the people of this town as they were something so light and pure" he answered, she knew he was hinting at something
"So was there anything else on this creature?" it was Damon who asked this time, his eyes darting between Iris and Elijah
"Not that much" the Original replied
"So they were witches?" Jenna smirked, Iris could tell the woman didn't believe anything that was being said, Merlin that woman would be a nervous wreck if she found out she was in a room with an Original vampire, another vampire and an ex witch Iris thought.
"There's no tangible proof that there were witches in Salem" Andie cut in sipping her drink.
"Andie's a journalist. Big on facts" Damon smirked
"Hmm well I believe witches do exist" Iris said
"Really Iris?" Jenna asked sceptically "you believe that?"
"Why not? I believe that anything is possible" Iris shrugged her shoulders.
"The law says that there was this anti-witch starrier that broke out in the neighbouring settlement, these witches were rounded up, tied to the stakes and burnt. Some say you could hear there screams from miles away" Elijah explained, Iris paled at this and dropped her glass
"Iris you ok?" Elijah's eyes glanced over to the raven head he noted that she was trembling slightly
"Fine" both vampires knew she was lying, Damon reached over and used his napkin to dry the wet patch
"Yeah, I wouldn't repeat that to the historical society" Jenna laughed,
"It's starting to sound like a ghost story to me" John said
"Well no one asked for your opinion" Jenna snapped causing Iris to snort lightly
"So" Damon intervened this was his chance at getting some information out of the Original "why do you want to know where this massacre took place?"
"Why would you want to know that?" Iris asked frowning, her kind was once tortured there but then she recalled his earlier words, a creature of light came to save them, something in her mind click, the prophecy that she got from Duke, Iris mentally slapped herself she should have shown that to Elijah, then he would have to answer her questions as she definitely knew it was about her. When they got home Iris would definitely show the Original that.
"I don't know" Elijah's voice brought her out of her musings "call it a historian's curiosity" he shrugged his shoulders.
The rest of the dinner ran much more smoothly after that.
"The gentlemen should take their drinks in to the study" Andie announced standing up, Iris quirked an eyebrow it sounded almost monotone coming from the journalist.
"I have to say I enjoyed the food, probably more than Iris" Elijah said politely "it was almost enjoyable as the company" he stood up as did everyone else.
"I like you" Andie commented, Iris smiled and nodded Elijah sent her a nod and followed after Damon
"Oh Iris you don't-"
"No problem I want to help" Iris grinned picking up some of the plate, she made sure to put her napkin full of uneaten salmon in between the plates.
"Me too" Alaric said standing beside Jenna "so put me to work"
"I've got it" was Jenna's curt reply she then turned on her heel and walked into the kitchen
Iris saw the hurt look on her history teacher's face "Sorry Ric" she murmured
"I just don't get why she's being so frosty" he told the petite teen who simply looked just as confused as she did
"I suspect that's my fault" both looked up and saw John
"Creepy uncle what did you do?" Iris asked in frustration not liking the man at all, he just rubbed her up the wrong way.
"I merely mention that you" he looked at Alaric "haven't been honest about your dead wife"
Iris jumped when Alaric grabbed the other man by his collar and tugging him towards him
"You son of a bitch" he hissed
"Ric-" Iris stepped forward to intervene but John pulled himself out of his grip and took a step back
"I think I made it very clear Ric, I want my ring back" he spat
"It's not yours Isobel gave it to him now" Iris glared at him "and you're not going to get it back"
"We'll see" John scowled and stormed off.
"Thanks" Alaric muttered
"Eh he just creeps me out" Iris muttered, before Alaric could respond his cell rang
"Hello?" Iris went back to stacking the plates but abruptly stopped when she heard Alaric
"Wait Stefan. Slow down" Iris saw the shock and alarmed look on the usually easy going history teacher's face, he dropped the phone and ran Iris followed after him thinking what was going on.
Alaric shoved the study doors opened "We forgot the dessert" he panted "Jenna and Andie are just preparing it now"
Iris frowned at the scene and saw Damon glowering at Alaric
"Elijah" Iris called out to him holding her hand out to him, she wanted the Original away from Damon fearing that the younger vampire would do something incredibly stupid
"Iris" Elijah smiled genuinely at her, which she whole heartedly returned he took her hand and twirled her causing the raven head to giggle they both left the room, Iris glanced over her shoulder and Damon and sent him a curious look.
They re-entered the dining room, Elijah pulled out Iris's chair for her causing her to smile he sat down beside her
"So are you actually going to eat dessert?"
"You kidding, I would never miss out on that" Iris answered causing him to chuckle. God he thought he really did miss her.
"Sorry guys, deserts taking longer than I planned, I usually unwrap it" Jenna chuckled
"Me too" Iris uttered taking a sip of the glass of water; Jenna shook her head and walked back into the kitchen.
Just then John and Damon entered the room
"Elijah had either Iris or Elena told you that John is Elena's uncle slash father" Damon commented
"What the why-"she was then interrupted
"I am well aware of that fact" Elijah said
"But she hates them so much, so there's no need to keep him on the endangered species list"
"What I would like to know Elijah, is how you planned on killing Klaus" John asked
Iris's ears perked up at this also wanting to know that.
"Iris, why don't you go see if Jenna needs help in the kitchen" Elijah told her
"But I-"
"Now" he ordered, Iris sighed in frustration and got up and glared at him
"Fine" she then stormed off leaving the room.
Iris had just taken few steps away from the room when she heard a pained scream, she ran back in horrified at the sight that greeted her, she opened her mouth about to scream but a hand slammed over her lips
"Don't scream" Damon whispered into ear, she nodded her eyes were focused on the dead original, as soon as his grip loosened iris elbowed him in the gut and ran over to Elijah
"Oh Merlin No" she whispered frantically and grabbed the hilt of the dagger and pulled it out "Elijah, Elijah wake up" she shook him
"Iris give me that" Damon snapped wrenching the dagger away from her and grabbed her around the waist
"How could you?" she spat "he was on our side, Let Go Of Me" she struggled in his hold
"Get him out of here" Alaric snapped not looking at the distraught raven head
"Take her and make sure she doesn't do anything stupid" Damon thrust Iris towards John. "NO DO-" her yell was cut off when John slammed his hand over her mouth, she watched with blurry eyes as Damon sped out of the room with Elijah, a tear rolled down her cheek she didn't even get to say good bye to him.
"Sorry about your friend" John said in a cruel tone "but to be fair you were probably just a blood bag of a whore to him"
"Hey" Alaric snarled, Iris slammed the back of her head in John's face, she heard an audible crunch behind her. John abruptly let her go and clutched his nose
"I think she'd broke my nose" his voice was muffled.
"You fucking deserve it" she spat "Ric how could you- it was Damon's idea this whole-"
"Flower" Damon appeared in the room and saw her cheeks were glistening with tears
"Don't flower me you-"
"Tell Jenna, that Iris felt unwell and Elijah took her home" Damon told Alaric and before the raven head could blink she was in the study
"Iris-"
"Don't touch me" she pushed him away "how could you?-"
"Why do you care so much?" Damon snapped backing her against the wall "why Iris? Is it because he said a few charming words? Or is it because you're screwing him" she slapped him hard across the face
"How dare you?" she hissed, Damon instantly regret saying that seeing her face "he is my friend"
"You're naïve Iris he wants-"
"HE KNOWS ME" she shouted shutting him up, "he knows everything about me. Things that you even don't know"
"Iris-"
"No fuck off Damon Salvatore, I stood by you when others didn't even look at you, you used me how many times I don't know, you broke my trust once yet I forgive you" she prodded him in the chest "why can't you trust my judgement for once? Huh? I told you I trusted him but that wasn't good enough for you was it?"
She shoved him backwards her hands shook "You know I think I'm about to break my promise to you-"
He looked at her in confusion "Iris-"
"I hate you" she spat her eyes were blazing, she made to move pass him but froze when she heard a loud growl, she yelped in pain as he shoved her face fist into one of the many book cases and pinned her there with his body
"Take it back" he hissed
"No-"
"You don't mean it" he was getting desperate he never wanted Iris to hate him
"You don't know what I mean" she snapped wriggling beneath him
"I do, you're just angry Iris-"
"So what if I am. Now let go" he didn't though winding her up further "I Said Let Go" Damon felt her scent ripening, Iris felt a tingling sensation throughout her body her eyes blazed in a golden hue, Damon screamed in pain and was thrown backwards
"Iris STOP IT" he was clutching his head, he knew she was doing this just as soon as her assault started it stopped.
Iris gasped realising what she did and saw Damon bent over on the floor clutching his head breathing heavily.
"Iris-" she backed away and ran out of the room, she slammed the boarding house front door shut, and stood for a moment in the middle of the large gravel driveway, she was breathing heavily and wiped away her tears, she just turned on Damon she wanted to hurt him and she did. But she didn't get any sort of satisfaction from doing so, she felt even worse
"What am I going to do?" she muttered running her hands down her face
"I'll make that choice easy for you" she heard a familiar voice, Iris turned around her eyes widening
"Elijah" she breathed she gulped seeing how angry he looks
"I told you Iris what would happen if your friends crossed me" he stated his oak brown orbs meeting her emerald orbs one
"I didn't know-please-"she didn't even get to finish her sentence as Elijah rushed forward she felt a explosion of pain and then nothing.
Iris groaned and her eyes slowly opened, she rubbed the small ache on the back of her head it took her a moment to realise that she was in a car, Elijah's car. Iris quickly sat up remembering the night's events. She looked out of the window and saw Elijah standing outside a cabin,
"Oh crap" she muttered recalling that Stefan and Elena were there, the Original was going to take them away, and she shoved the car door open and ran out
"Elijah" Iris called but he ignored her
"I'm a very patient man Elena; I will wait you out" he said calmly "I've already got Iris-"
"Elijah please, they shouldn't have done what they did, I had no part in this" Iris cut him off "please I-"
"I know you didn't" Elijah stated looking at her carefully "it's not in your nature to be deceitful Iris, but the deal is off, you and the doppelganger are coming with me"
Iris shook her head and saw Elena in the doorway of the cabin
"Wait how about we renegotiate?" she asked
"You have nothing left to negotiate with" he snapped and zoomed forward grabbing her by her wrist "I warned you Iris, and I am a man of my word" he dragged her forwards so that they were standing in front of Elena,
"Wait we can-"
But her eyes were focused on Elena who raised a large carving knife "I'd like to see you lure Klaus to Mystic Falls when the doppelganger bleeds to death"
"Elena what are you doing?" Iris hissed struggling in the Original's steel like grip growing panicked at how tonight events were going
Elijah merely rolled his eyes "I doubt Stefan will let you die"
Elena nodded "You're right, but he will feed me his blood healing me, then I will just kill myself and turn into a vampire, just like Katherine did, unless you don't want that to happen again promise me the same as before that you won't harm anyone I love, even if they harmed you" Elena said determinedly her eyes darting between Iris and Elijah.
The raven head was started to feel fearful for her friend, she wouldn't actually do that would she? Iris thought, she swore that the brunette was against the whole idea of turning into a vampire.
Elijah smirked "I'm sorry Elena, but I'm going to have to call your bluff"
"No don't she'll do it" Iris shouted just as Elena raised the knife and plunge it into her gut "ELENA"
Elijah rushed forward leaving Iris standing there "NO" he shouted and slammed into the barrier
Iris ran forward "Do what she says, please"
Elijah looked at the raven head and saw how frightened she was for her friend; he needed her as well as the doppelganger so agreed
"Fine you can have your deal, just let me heal you"
"Give me your word" Elena choked out
"I give you my word" he said, Iris gasped as Elena fell forward into the Original's arms and jumped when he let out a piercing scream, and then turned ashen grey.
Iris slammed her hand over her mouth to stop herself from screaming, her confusion was cleared up when Stefan rushed forward and pressed his bloodied wrist against Elena's mouth healing her, Iris saw the dagger sticking out of Elijah's chest.
"Little tip" Damon came out, hearing Iris's heartbeat flutter faster "leave the dagger in"
Iris shifted and took a step back she turned on her heal and was about to run to the car when she felt herself being lifted and found herself pinned to the tree
"Where do you think you're going flower?" Damon asked softly, she refused to look at him he sighed and used his index finger and tipped her chin upwards so that she was looking at him
"I'm sorry" Iris cried "I didn't mean what I said" he hushed her and pulled her into his arms and embraced her
"I know Iris" he muttered into her mass of raven curls
"Elijah knew what I was before, an ex-witch I…he was- he made me feel less lonely" she murmured against his chest, but Damon pulled back and cupped her face
"Iris, you'll never feel lonely, I'm here" he said sincerely. She nodded he saw her eyes darting back towards the cabin and spotted Stefan putting Elijah's body in the trunk
"He can help us may-"
"No Iris, he wanted to take you and Elena both away, he can't be trusted. So stay away do you understand me?" when she didn't move his grip lightly increased "Iris" he barked
"Yes, I understand" she said reluctantly, knowing that if she does wake him he would take her away from her friends as well as Elena, unlike Iris, Elena had actually family, she knew Jeremy would be distraught about losing her
"OK?" Damon asked she nodded. "Let's go"
They arrived back at the boarding house Iris watched as Damon lowered Elijah's body on to the basement floor, she saw Damon rummaging through the Original's pockets and pulled out the much sought after moonstone.
"Well what do we have here?" Damon smirked, Iris looked away, this felt wrong "our little moonstone, I'll hold onto this" he put it in his pocket and stood up.
"So that's it?" Elena asked standing beside Iris "I mean as long as we keep the dagger in there he stays dead?"
"Yep" Damon answered; Iris was slightly relieved, knowing that the Original wasn't permanently dead.
"Well ok then goodnight, Iris?" Elena asked seeing the raven head staring at Elijah she was going to catch a ride with Elena as she didn't have another way to get home, since Elijah had drove her here earlier tonight.
"Yeah, I'm coming" Iris replied, Elena looked over to Damon and Stefan who nodded at her
"Just give her a moment" Stefan murmured and ushered Elena out of the room. Iris stepped forward and kneeled beside Elijah,
"What are you-"
"Relax I won't pull it out" Iris muttered Damon sighed knowing that the raven head had grown attached to the Original
"Ok" he left the basement to give her some time.
Iris lightly touched his cheek and stroked it, she brushed aside his soft hair
"I'm sorry" she whispered and lightly kissed his cheek, Iris stood up and with one last glance at Elijah she headed upstairs.
"Elijah" Ester called her eldest
"Yes mother?" a teenaged boy appeared entering the room
"Can you gather your brothers and sister please, I'd like you all to meet someone" Ester smiled
"Ester" Mikael called his wife
"Keep an eye on her, I'll be back in a moment"
Elijah nodded as his mother left the room, he looked down at the small figure, he crouched down in front of her
"Hello?"
But she remained silent
"No need to be shy little one, can I see your face?" he asked and gently pushed her raven curls aside and was stunned at what greeted him, bright emerald coloured eyes, he raised his hand and wiped away her fallen tears "I won't hurt you"
"Promise?" she asked softly, he smiled
"I promise" a small smile appeared on her face
"You've got pretty hair sir"
He chuckled "Hmm, my sister thinks so, always trying to braid it" he rolled his eyes in mock frustration causing the little girl before him to giggle, it was like the sounds of bells
"You'll look silly with braids"
"Really?" he cocked an eyebrow, she rolled her eyes much to his amusement
"Yes" he was about to respond but heard the thundering footsteps of his siblings, she immediately stiffened causing Elijah to frown.
Soon enough everyone was gathered around
"What's this about mother?" Niklaus drawled "I was-" but abruptly stopped talking when he saw a small girl "Who is she"?
"Don't be so rude" Ester scolded the blond "This is Iris, Iris these are my children, Elijah, Niklaus, Finn, Rebekah and Kol"
Niklaus stepped forward and tilted his head "Is she a mute?" causing the others par, Elijah and Ester to snicker
"No I'm not" a soft voice spoke, blue eyes met green "I just don't talk to people who are very rude"
This made everyone laugh
"You got told brother" Rebekah giggled and bounced over to the small raven head "you want to play in the fields?"
Iris looked over to Ester who gave the young girl a warm smile and a nod, with that Iris found herself nodding towards the blond girl, Rebekah linked her arms with Iris's and both girls skipped away
"What's got you in a sour mood?" Elijah asked seeing Niklaus's face
"I don't like her" he muttered "Why couldn't you find another boy? She' ergh"" and stormed off
"Oh dear" Ester muttered frowning
"Relax mother, before you know the two of them will be the closest of friends"
"I hope you're right"
AN: I know Elijah's been daggered, dun dun dun. but he'll be back soon enough, Iris didn't want him to take her away from her friends so allowed him to remain daggered. Another Original dream, where Iris and the Originals first officially met.
Next Chapter- Iris confides in Stefan and Damon about her past finally
Please REVIEW