Author's babble: Managed to have an update ready quicker this time! Thank you for the continuing support for this story all who have favourited/alerted etc. It gives me even more incentive to keep going. Not that the ideas in my head aren't ammunition enough for my fingers to go ballistics :D.
Enjoy!
CHAP 26:
Feeling like I was going to vomit most of the time and yet getting no release whatsoever was becoming a pain. Because people always want to empty their stomachs in reverse. Not! But right then I thought that maybe my nausea was going to be resolute. Maybe if I was lucky I'd bring up my coffee on Klaus' shoes. The idea was absolutely disgusting and something I could never, ordinarily do on purpose. The directing of vomit, that is. But Klaus seemed to be quite the exception on an enormous scale. However as the waft of Klaus' breath brushed against my ear and his words left on the wind, I managed to close my eyes and turn away from him, breathing deeply before I started walking back towards the building.
"Isn't she something, Elijah?" I heard Klaus drawled to his brother cockily as I continued away from the two vampires. "Oh. Don't tell me you haven't noticed!" He continued when Elijah said nothing. "She's a gem. Those beautiful lips, the sensual sway of her hips as she walks. A good indication of how she'll be on top don't you agree brother? No?" He continued through Elijah's silence. "And those legs! Not to mention her fire. Characteristic of her line of course." He chuckled deeply.
"What, did you want to speak about, brother?" I heard Elijah's voice ask Klaus lowly. His tone was cold, unfeeling. With a sense of extreme diplomacy. It wouldn't make any sense for him to overtly aggravate Klaus after all. And it seemed to be how he handled others. I'd only ever observed Elijah being open with me. When Jonas gave me doors Elijah seemed highly strung yet completely disinterested at the same time. He'd been cool, calculated. It seemed he portrayed the same with his brother. But whether it was because Klaus held all the cards or there was some play with dominance between them. Elijah seemed to lack confidence at times with his brother. Unless I was immediately involved.
"Do you really wish to deflect from the view so soon Elijah?" He sighed dramatically. "Always a bore, brother. We'll get to that, don't you fret." My curiosity betraying me I turned around as if wondering who Klaus had been referring to. As if I didn't know! It was only going to cause more harm and I did it anyway. My stupidity in that moment settled within me gloatingly. Why I felt the need to confirm it I have no idea. My eyes had fallen on a stoney-faced Elijah and smirking Klaus. Who was smirking at me. I was the view. Got the confirmation you needed then? Feel better now? No. I don't feel better for turning back to that monster, funnily enough. I didn't know why I felt surprised by the realisation. Who else would he want to sicken with his appreciative-turned-perverse comments? The thought of him looking at every move I made as I had walked away from them was nauseating. Everything's nauseating! Klaus truly was an animal. The way he leered at me, it was like sex was always on his mind. I watched as he casually turned slightly more from Elijah who he was standing minimally in front of, to fully face me. His right hand went down to the front of his pants. Bringing the palm side of his hand flat against his front he slowly rubbed against himself and I could see, even from the distance between us, the veins that erupted around his eyes as they glued to my form. I could almost swear that I heard him groan softly in pleasure. Unknowingly my mouth dropped open in disgust before I'd turned away sharply to hurry back through the plots of garden on my way inside. Klaus' chuckling carried after me on the wind.
Walking back inside, my entry through the door was interrupted by Sarah. The determined look on her face made me sigh impatiently before she'd even opened her mouth to no doubt berate me some more about my connection to Klaus.
"What did you tell Klaus?"
"Sorry?"
"When he took you into his room before. What did you tell him?"
"Uh. Nothing he approved of." I replied simply, but in a way which disguised my hate for him. Better start behaving as Klaus wants. Everything can be practice.
"Anything about me?"
"No."
"Yeah, right. You probably bitched to him about me." I sighed again.
"Sarah. All Klaus and I talked about was the fact that I didn't use his towel earlier and then we kissed. Twice. Nothing about you." I felt the need to share that we'd kissed. She'd have to get over it if Klaus expected to feel my tongue as some kind of social ritual. If it aggravated her. Well, at least I wouldn't be bored. Sore maybe. Quite possibly even. But not bored.
"I bet you discussed more than that." She shot back and made a face. Shrugging I asked where Jonas and Greta were, to be instantly left alone without an answer. Thank you for your hospitality.
Heading into the kitchen I saw two male assumed vampires who I didn't recognise from the previous night. Both had dark brown hair and were solidly built. They made Klaus and Elijah seem dainty in comparison. Briefly I wondered if someone's physically gave any advantage to their supernatural abilities as a vampire. But I realised I really didn't need to know. Not with these giants in front of me. I realised that I recognised the one which had arrived back with Klaus a short while ago. He was adding some pills to a rich blood-like liquid in a glass. I'll assume he's a vampire. Blood-like, most likely being blood. While the unfamiliar one of them was reading the paper Sarah had been earlier. Tentatively I stepped closer to the table.
"Uh. Hi." Neither of them looked up. Nervously I cleared my throat before having a stab at getting their help. "Can either of you tell me where Jonas, or Greta are?" Again neither of them seemed to feel inclined to give me the time of day. Finally after an awkward pause the one who'd been dropping pills into his glass spoke.
"They're in their room." He stated simply.
"Which is, where?" I countered hopefully as he took a couple of large gulps from his drink.
"Might be simplest to show you. Follow me." He instructed as he stood and sipped from his glass once more.
"Thank you." I said softly. His gruffly spoken words didn't carry the hate that Sarah seemed to have for me. Rather that I was just a hindrance. Perhaps I'd just come in and bothered him at a bad time. Some humans were self-conscious about medicating themselves in front of others. Perhaps that's what this vampire was like as well? I wondered. Though it seemed redundant for a vampire to need medication. Recreational drugs perhaps?
"Don't thank me yet. I might just show you to my room." He said before chuckling darkly. Having moved to follow him my heart skipped a beat in my chest. My legs didn't follow through on my next step as my mind screamed at me not to follow him at all.
"Don't mind Arty." Came a voice from behind the paper. "He thinks he's funny." I still didn't start to follow Arty. "If he's scared you I could accompany you both to the witch and warlock?" The voice volunteered as the paper lowered to reveal the vampire behind. His face sculpted in a reservedly cheerful expression. He seemed like a kind person-assumed-vampire. I looked at him skeptically.
"Safety in numbers really doesn't have any standing in this situation. Thank you for your help. But perhaps I'll just look around myself." Came my quiet response as I tried not to let my fear show.
"Look what you've done Arty. Scared the poor woman! Not everyone can handle your humour old man! You don't need to worry about him. Honestly. He's been drinking his fill all day and is still going, as you can see. He won't snack on you." Biting down on my lower lip as nervousness filled me I looked to Arty, who had stopped where he'd walked to as the other vampire had begun speaking.
"Anyone having a bite to eat at my expense is the least of my worries." I mumbled and started to walk towards the walkway closest. Taking particular care to give the large stationary man a wide berth. I heard the rustling of the paper before it ceased and a chair scrape the floor. So I knew there was movement occurring. I tried to keep myself casual though on edge at the thought of both men rushing me or something similar. Jumping when a hand came to rest softly on my shoulder from behind. I Immediately stopped and spun sharply to see the unnamed vampire's hand fly back in a blur so that he wasn't unnecessarily touching me. The blurring movement giving his undead status away. He must have seen the wary look that I knew was on my face because he gave me room and looked at me sympathetically. My wariness became distaste at his sympathy and I frowned at him before he spoke.
"Arty has no interest for you in that context my dear. You see, he's sexist in who he pursues. Won't even touch a woman where sex is concerned. Lucky for me." He spoke, smiling at me with a humorous glint in his eye. Blushing with relief and at how forward the vampire was about their preferences I smiled softly at the so far unnamed vampire's comforting words. I was a bit taken aback by his openness. But it took a matter of seconds for an unsure giggle to escape me. "And that, Arty," he regarded the man I now assumed was his lover. "Is a more appropriate way to conduct humour."
"Yeah. Yeah." He responded impatiently. "Apologies if I scared you miss. Klaus is the only one bound to harm you. We're not all monsters." Giving him a small smile I moved to follow him after sensing the disgust in his voice. It was good to know there wasn't resolute approval of what Klaus was doing with me. Though I found it confusing. Because if the vampires here were loyal to Klaus, then why would they question what needs to be done in order for them to become hybrids?
Despite not needing the second vampire to accompany me he came along anyway. So our party consisted of Arty at the front, with me right behind him and the other man following. I was still very unsure about all this. But I supposed I'd have to get used to other vampires.
"Name's Jack by the way. Nice to meet you. Despite the circumstance." He spoke with some awkwardness.
"I'm Elena." I paused realising they might already know this. "If Klaus hadn't already told you." We walked along in silence down the section of hallway that I hadn't yet walked, or been forced down.
"Well this is awkward." Came Arty's voice in front of me. "I haven't had to think of conversation topics to discuss with prisoners since the last war I was in." I heard Jack sighing in exasperation behind me.
"Oh? Which war was that?" I enquired. Actually interested.
"You'd know it as the 1st World War." Considering how a vampire's perspective of time was on a far different scale than that of humans. It seemed as though the 1st World War, while an age ago by my current standards; would still be quite fresh in his mind.
"Was that the only war you were in?" I asked tentatively.
"No. But hopefully it will remain my last. Nasty thing war. 'Specially when you're at an advantage to everyone else." I had a feeling he was going to continue, but Jack spoke up from behind me.
"Must you be so insensitive? Referring to Elena a prisoner. You old fool." I couldn't help but laugh.
"It's fine. Really. I'd rather not be deluded into thinking this is some holiday." We fell into silence and stopped after passing nearly ten doors. Fear rose up within me as we stopped and my breath hitched in my throat at the point of finding out whether these two were honest just minutes ago. Arty knocked on the door and the tension in my body eased a little. Relief finally flooded me as I saw Jonas' as he opened the door.
"Uh. Klaus sent me." Smiling he gestured for me to come in and I kindly thanked both the vampires before heading into the room. Stopping just inside and closing the door behind me I looked around.
Inside was plain. With very basic furnishings it was an extreme contrast to Klaus' room.
"Ready Greta?" Jonas asked. Greta was sitting amongst a pile of weathered but not worn old books. One of them was split open across her lap as she appeared to read. Looking up at her father and me as though she'd only just realised they had company, her gaze settled on me but was void of any focus. Or rather, her gaze settled on my abdomen. Automatically I drew my arms across my stomach uncomfortably. "Hands away please Elena." Jonas instructed. I looked at him confused.
"What? Why? What's going on?" I asked worriedly.
"Did Klaus not tell you?" I gave Jonas a look to say you're kidding right? "Well. As much as I'd like to give you an explanation. Greta has herself prepared and is ready to go, so we need to get this done. I can explain after."
"Prepared herself? What is she doing?" I watched Greta in her current state and assumed she was in the zone to use her magic.
"Please Elena. Just drop your arms to your sides." His tone wasn't commanding. It was almost pleading. Reminding myself that Jonas was still a likely ally I tried not to get too angry with him.
"No. I don't know what's going on here. Just tell me first. Otherwise I'll just come back later." I stated. Standing my ground as if I had any control at all in my life any more.
"You know that won't be the case Elena." He spoke sadly. "Please? This is only going to take three minutes at the most. Like last night, it won't hurt."
"Sorry Jonas. While Klaus is treating me like his pet. As if I haven't got a mind or body of my own. I am a human being with worries and concerns. It's only normal for me to have some say about what I'm subjected to." I turned back toward the door and opened it a fraction before I caught sight of Klaus standing just outside, casually facing the door. Icy fear shot down my spine and without even thinking I shut the door while trying to calm my thundering heart.
"He's out there isn't he?" Jonas asked sympathetically.
"Yeah." I replied still facing the door.
"He's connected to you, you know. Whenever you're being difficult, he knows. In order to teach you how you're to behave, he wants to have the option of disciplining you at the optimal moments. If necessary."
"Great." I said sarcastically.
"So can we get this over with now?" He asked me. Before I had a chance to answer, the door knob turned and I swear I stopped breathing. Jumping back as the door opened inwards Klaus' mimicked Jonas' last query and closed the door behind him as he glued his eyes to me. My mouth dry I didn't know if I could even answer him. As I watched him with wide eyes his own seemed to darken . Eyebrows raising in question Klaus exposed his teeth in a wicked grin that seemed reserved for me alone.
"Hmm? Elena.?" He trailed his voice off as his quirked lips pronounced my name. "Come now." He stepped forward and gently took hold of my right upper arm, turned me anticlockwise and grasped my left upper arm. "Wasn't so difficult now, was it?" He whispered in my ear as he drew me back against his front and slowly pulled my arms back against his sides. I closed my eyes, willing for this to be over. Proud of myself for not having fought him. It was an abstract notion, that submission was something to be happy about. I could only put it down to my fear. Fear of Klaus versus whatever was about to happen. It was like the pathways between my mind and the rest of my body were numb. I couldn't even decide what to do, let alone act upon any decision I could come to.
A low murmuring started up which I assumed came from Greta and a sanitised scent filled the air, reminding me of how hospitals smelt but not so harsh. It was far fresher and gentle, but unmistakably clean. Increasing, it became almost sickening and then completely disappeared.
"It is done." I heard Greta say and opened my eyes.
"And?" Klaus asked expectantly from behind me, his lips brushing against my ear.
"Not pregnant." She said
"Ah. Then you and I have some work to do don't we Elena?" Klaus waltzed me backwards with him towards the door. I couldn't help the shudder that ran through me thinking he was going to rape me again right now. After running through the motions of getting us out into the walkway again, Klaus released my arms before turning me to face him. "Oh. Not right now sweetheart! Do contain your excitement until later." He smiled in what could be seen as affection before bringing his face close to mine. Grabbing hold of my wrist and squeezing hard I got the hint and getting myself into gear, leaned forward and kissed him. It was a simple and slowly given peck op our lips, but Klaus seemed happy and let go of me.
"What just happened?" I asked as I rubbed the wrist he'd squeezed. My tone of voice was much nicer than I expected was possible. But I had to enforce the charade Klaus demanded of me.
"You had your first witch-cast pregnancy test love. Which you will have once a day from now on."
"Once a day? Isn't that a bit extreme?"
"No." He said simply, as his eyes darkened. Daring me to argue.
"Fine." I resigned. "Is there a specific time you want it done?"
"Late afternoon should be fine. I was eager today and since I was back early, thought we'd get to it." We fell into awkward silence and deciding that we must be finished I took a tentative step backwards.
"Ahem. Am I interrupting?" It was Elijah. His cultured voice alone eased the tension in my body. Klaus didn't say anything, as if giving me a chance to pull my weight on contributing to the picture he wanted.
"Uhm. No. I think we're done? Klaus?" He simply nodded, so I moved forward to kiss him quickly again and walked determinedly to Elijah.
"See you at six sweetheart." Followed me up the hall to aggravate me with the knowledge that it was only a matter of hours away.
When I kept walking past Elijah as if on a mission, he murmured the question of whether we were headed outside again. Nodding my head in confirmation I ignored all the other vampires we passed on the way back outside. It was only when we'd reached the open area of grass again that I slowed down and practically threw myself on the grass. As roughly as I could while keeping my modesty in the dress. Elijah gracefully moved next to me and collapsed his legs to sit on the grass cross-legged. As he settled I extended my legs in front of me and lay back on the grass. We sat like that in silence for a good ten minutes before I had calmed enough to have a proper conversation.
"What did Klaus want to talk to you about?"
"My boundaries."
"I would have thought your boundaries were obvious. Do anything and Jenna, Jeremy or I will know about it." Elijah chuckled gruffly.
"Klaus is never that simple." After a pause he continued. "I am not allowed in your room at any time. Nor am I allowed to provide you with your own towel. I am currently allowed to touch you in any way, but that will soon change." I moved my left arm over to find his right hand and held it.
"Well, that's something." I spoke comfortingly.
"Something and nothing. You'll remember that I have no particular interest in our intimacy if it's only for physical pleasure." He spoke softly. I removed my hand as if his comment had burnt me. Perhaps it had. In the process of drawing my arm away from Elijah he grasped it again and intertwined our fingers. Mentally rolling my eyes I wished for something in my life to confuse me less, or at least stop see-sawing back and forth from contrast to contrast. I knew what he was getting at. He didn't want me for my body alone, he wanted all of me. And while I was regressing back to how I was before he came along and got within my walls I was going to lock myself away again.
"Why are you kissing Klaus?" Elijah asked gently. I turned my head to him and found him watching my face, ready to decipher it.
"You really have to ask?" I sighed. "I'm kissing Klaus, and trying to accept him and his advances to keep my family safe. He wants the works. For us to appear as partners. He intends to threaten me into submission. I'm not to be so obviously controlled. Stand here and there, come to him when he asks and such. I am to compliment him. Initiating the contact so we do not to appear one-sided. My good behaviour will be rewarded, yet he'll still fuck me whenever he pleases." Came my sharp explanation. Elijah nearly flinched at my bluntness.
"The picture of ease you've created in the small amount of time is commendable." His voice dropped to a mumble. What? Did he not articulate himself properly there, or did he mean to say it like that? It wasn't so much what he'd said, but how he'd said it. Did Elijah just insult me? Surely not. I can understand him being sore at seeing me comply with his brother. But it wasn't by my own volition.
"Excuse me?" I asked, keeping the sting from his last words from colouring my words.
"Anyone would think you find Klaus quite agreeable." He volunteered.
"So should I be taking that as a compliment to my very weak acting skills? Or as an insult Elijah? Because you're sounding as though you've been spurned." Silence descended between us and I willed for Elijah to be choosing his next words carefully. Finally, he must have concluded how he was going to continue and I found myself hanging to every word that came out of his mouth. If I didn't know better I'd have thought I was hoping for something insulting to emerge. But I was wrong.
"I apologise if I was terse Elena. I cannot pretend to like my brother touching you even slightly. Despite knowing that is the lighter end of the scale of what he is doing to you. It is difficult for me to just allow it to be. Surely you can understand that?"
"Yes. I understand. And again Elijah, if you can't handle it, then perhaps you need to remove yourself."
"I am quite sure I will be capable of coping Elena. My predicament is not like yours. I have it easy. However, some warning would have been appreciated. Surely you can open up enough to share the facts of this arrangement?" Anger warmed within me. How does one warn about something like that? Oh, by the way Elijah, I'm going to tongue wrestle with your brother in front of you any time I feel the need? I needed to cool down. He had a point. I would have liked to forewarn him, but it hadn't come up before Klaus had sent me to Jonas and Greta. To be honest, I hadn't thought it important. Not like the news of my implant anyway. Elijah seemed to realise that I was realising I could have handled myself better and instead of pushing me to answer, continued on. "You see. You've only shared leg squeezes, kisses and strokes of my back, he referred to my implant; since you woke. While you've attempted to comfort me. It is rather like a complete stranger telling me all about myself and inner thoughts. It's beyond comprehension, and it's distant. Because you are. So if you'd please inform me of anything else you've been directed, perhaps I can use something to help you." He spoke sadly. "As a bare minimum we'll have some familiarity again."
"Huh. A stranger telling you all about yourself? Why does that sounds familiar?" I wondered aloud with light sarcasm. "Not that fun is it?"
"No." He breathed a laugh. "And that was entirely different." I resigned myself to go through everything I knew.
"Alright. At least you sound as though you have some hope. I'll tell you everything I know from being with Klaus. But you need to realise that you need to control your disapproval, and jealousy. Because I can't have you distracting me by being continually aggravated by Klaus."
"Fair enough. Can we start with what you were sent to Jonas and Greta for. And why Klaus felt the need to suddenly join you when he seemed intent on gloating to me some more." Elijah reminded frowning.
