reCHAP 43:

Elijah managed to stop pushing at me for about five minutes. At least that's what I assumed from his silence. But eventually he had to say something.

"Is that it?" Frowning I finished the last few lines of my page before turning over to the one following. Only then did I turn my head to look up at him with an oblivious expression on my face. "You're not going to fight me any more? You're happy for me to sit?" I turned my face back to the book.

"Ecstatic," I replied wryly, then, "I don't have a choice."

"In a way you do. You can approve or disapprove."

"Regardless, you're going to sit. Ergo. I have no choice but to accept your presence. But if you'd be so kind as to keep your mouth shut I would be much obliged. As you can see I'm a little pre-occupied." With that I made a good show of reading. That is until the book went flying from my hands. I watched it blur from my them before slowing in it's flight through the air to land in the side of a hedge a good way away. "What?-"

"Pre-occupied doing what?" Elijah asked innocently. There was the slightest hint of smugness in his voice and it annoyed me to no end.

"Gee, I wonder." I spat, not amused in the slightest. "Give the book back Elijah. Fetch, or let me."

"So you can give the book more attention than myself?"

"Yep."

"Then no. Not unless you'd like to trade some conversation with it's return." He asked quizzically.

"No thanks."

"Come on. You've got nothing to do now."

"Nothing to do except wait for Klaus to get back." I piped up cheerfully as I rested my chin on my crossed forearms and stared at the water feature.

"Elena. Please talk to me." I remained silent, wondering how long Klaus would be. If Elijah would get any conversation out of me by withholding a trip to the bathroom if nature called on me. I had to hope he'd have the decency to let me go if I needed. But I just didn't know. After a long silence Elijah seemed to try another approach. He would talk.

"I know you were acting out of character toward me before all the activity at the Villa last night. But I feel I need to explain my actions during the practice run -I believe that's what Klaus called it-for his Reveal. You've no idea how ashamed I am of my actions. I can only hope you're willing to listen to me. Not only if that exhibition of my killing abilities scared you. But because I want you to know I cannot not tolerate that sort of unnecessary killing. Taking the life of another is not entertaining. It is an abomination that I swore I would not do again. Just as I had no other option the night Klaus told me to leave, I was forced to join in. Making a good show of enjoyment as I did. Obviously, my actions showed my ability and knowledge of how to perform in such a way." He paused. "I have partaken in those events before, when I was loyal to Klaus. Caught up in his crowd I did a good many things. All for love. I ignored my own feelings for too long as they only conflicted with Klaus and my loyalty to him. In due course I finally had the courage to leave his side. Though I participated, I was never proud of the distasteful activities. Never."

"You don't have to justify yourself to me." I said gently.

"But I do. I cannot forgive myself for everything I've ever done. You might still be able to, despite what you've now seen of me. So as always I felt it necessary to level with you regarding last nights horror."

"There's nothing to forgive." I murmured. "You had no choice. I completely understand that. And if Klaus has his way I will soon feed on humans. He might have me do the same and worse. I won't judge you Elijah." I said. My voice now toned as though bored. His hand left my back and I wondered if I could try and get up now.

"I saw you watching me you know. You should have looked away. Watched the others. But you didn't. Why didn't you?"

"Shock?" I suggested.

"Disgust?" Lifting myself up onto my elbows and uncrossing my forearms before me I turned my head to look up at him from beneath lowered eyebrows.

"It was shock." I repeated resolutely to which he quirked the corners of his mouth upwards.

"Ah. I'm flattered." I directed my face out to the water feature once more. Elijah chose that moment to craftily lean down while extending his hand to entwine his fingers with mine. Instantly I tried to tug my hand from his clasp though unable to free it. I kept pulling and pulling, even giving a few hard yanks. Needing more leverage I brought my knees upwards so I was kneeling next to him while I tried peeling his fingers from in between mine with my other hand. Pausing my efforts I sat back on my ankles and finally levelled my frustrated gaze on his.

"Let. Go." I demanded slowly to which he gave a minute shake of his head. I went back to yanking my arm back from him. "Elijah. I'm serious." I hissed angrily but he still held on. My arm relaxing I narrowed my eyes at him as I thought about what else I could do to stop him holding my hand. I couldn't allow it. Doing so would ruin my efforts. Which might yet fail due to Elijah's resolute insistence to not leave me alone. Our hands started inclining closer to him as he bored his eyes into mine. Though I attempted uselessly to pull against him he continued the motion and brought the back of my hand up to his lips and pressed them softly to the skin there. Outraged my mouth gaped as he laboriously drew his lips and face slightly back from my hand. Frustration bubbling over within me I shoved at his chest as best I could with both my free and clasped hand. Once then twice. "Bloody hell Elijah! Stop being such a pain!" Again I shoved him. His body gave slightly with each contact, but he still held my hand. I began pulling and shoving at him intermittently. Until I was up on my knees right before him acting out as best I could, still trying to get my hand back. If I was lucky I'd get completely free of him as soon as he'd let go. Most angering was his sombre frown as he simply watched me. Hoping I wouldn't feel it necessary to slap him. I stopped fighting. "Let me go." I demanded coolly.

"I don't want to." I got the feeling he was talking on a deeper level than our physical connection.

"Just do it!" I hissed and shoved hard at him again, somehow missing when my hands didn't meet his torso. I dived forward in it's absence and my chest fell against Elijah's beneath me. Both my hands were now free and spread against the grass either side of his head. The heels of my hands having slid on the grass when I fell. My elbows rested on Elijah's upper arms. The remainder of the limbs were wrapped firmly around my waist.

On top of Elijah, and our faces so close I could feel his breath on my skin as we stared at each other. His damn eyes absorbed all of my attention and I swore I turned into mush the longer I looked into them. I barely noticed when they appeared nearer. Not until Elijah's lips met mine did I realise he'd joined our mouths. His lips tenderly worked themselves against mine before his tongue sought out it's partner. Eyes welded shut from how overwhelmingly right it felt to be kissed by him I couldn't help but respond. My hands held the sides of his head while his own stroked up and down my sides and back. We rolled and my back met with the grass. Elijah's body enveloping me like a cocoon. I felt so incredibly safe and hummed against his mouth. Sucking at each other's lips more slowly I smoothed one hand around the back of his neck while the other ran through his hair as I clung to him. There was no way was I letting go. The need to keep him this close forever was overwhelming. Half sobbing when his mouth left mine, it was followed by a gasp as his lips touched just below my ear and he nipped and pressed kisses to my neck. I angled my neck up to his mouth and he sucked the sensitive skin resulting in another gasp from me. He sucked harder and I giggled deep within my throat at the hickey he was giving me. The thought of him marking me forced my eyes open. The blue sky above gloated down at me mockingly and panicking, I wriggled frantically beneath him. Pressing at his chest Elijah's mouth left my neck as he held himself up off me a little. He looked down at me confused, but expectant at the same time.

Managing to wriggle upwards and get my legs free of him I scrambled out upwards from underneath him.

"Get off! What are you doing? Don't you understand I don't want you like that?" I cried at him. "You keep pushing and pushing. You won't get what you're after Elijah. I'm with Klaus!" Finding my feet I wiped at my mouth. The confusion on his features grew as he also got to his feet.

"Elena," Elijah began as he stepped toward me extending an arm as he did.

"No. Don't! Stay away."

"I don't understand." I moved further away from him, intent on collecting the book and barricading myself in my room. To hell with caging myself.

"Have I not sent out enough signals? I don't want to talk about it. I don't want your company. We are allies. We'll work together but that's it. I'm sorry, but that's just how it is." My panic made me voice everything that had been so difficult to say up till now.

"You're signals are a little confusing."

"They're not. If you would just listen instead of analysing me and seeing what you want to you would know that."

"My feelings aren't colouring you're behaviour Elena." Book now in hand I stalked away from him back the way I'd come. Fuming I spun around when I saw he was following as I continued walking backwards.

"No, they're colouring yours," I hissed. "You can't just kiss me like that. Now I'm covered in your scent. Do you think Klaus will be happy about that?" As I spoke Elijah kept up with me, a frown on his face as he seemed to consider me. I turned away again to walk forwards.

"Elena," he called. His tone pulled at my heart and I knew I couldn't ignore him. Stopping and turning sharply to face him again I crossed my arms in front of me.

"What?" I asked slowly in anger.

"You kissed me," he announced slowly. My mouth opened for a second before my mind formed the words it was waiting for..

"After you kissed me," I spat. "You caught me off guard is all." A knowing look of satisfaction smothered his face. Why is he looking like that?

"You kissed me. First." My eyes narrowed at him.

"No I didn't." Came my sober response.

"Oh you most certainly did." His voice was smug and he had a reserved smirk on his mouth. Flustered I recalled what had just happened. It took me barely a second to realise he was right. I had kissed him. When I fell and I could feel his breath on me it was like an instinctive response. I hadn't even focussed on him, on where his mouth was in relation to mine. It was so natural for my lips to find his. My face heating up I covered my mouth with my empty hand and widened my eyes at him. My next words came out in a whisper.

"Oh god. I did too," Elijah smiled. My eyes widened to plead with him as my hand fell from my mouth. "It doesn't mean anything," I said pointedly. "Nor does it change anything. I apologise. It was an accident." Turning on my heal I walked quickly away. Immediately Elijah was keeping pace by my side.

"You're apologising for kissing me?" I ignored him and the astonishment in his voice. Focussed instead on getting back inside. "That was the most productive interaction we've had all morning," he proclaimed happily.

"Well, it's the last. Back off and leave me alone," I practically snarled before breaking into a run. I found however, that on my second stride I was lifted off the ground by Elijah's arms around my middle as he pulled me back against his front.

"No. Elena." Fighting in his hold I stomped my foot down on one of his with no result. "Are you pushing me away because Klaus wants you to? I wouldn't put it past him. Or do you think you have to protect me?"

"Let go!"

"No. Tell me the truth Elena. You've been hiding from me since I've gotten back. In your words, you're actions. Nothing was hidden when you kissed me. You want me despite what you say. You can have me. I'm right here. Whatever it is you're doing. Don't. If Klaus has told you to do this, then fine. But while he's not around we can be together."

"I didn't mean to kiss you. I don't want you. I don't want you. I don't want you!" I managed in dry sobs while I pried one of his arms from my waist. The remaining arm held me more firmly and I could have burst into tears of frustration right then. Elijah wasn't going to let me go.

"But you do," he murmured insistently by my left ear. "You don't need to act like this. Like I'm nothing to you." I'd done so well to keep my emotions in check up till now. But the dam broke and tears filled my eyes. I stopped fighting and sagged in Elijah's hold.

"It's doesn't matter," I sobbed. Elijah lowered us to the ground but kept a firm hold on me. It wasn't restraining now though, just incredibly comforting. "None of it matters. Klaus wants me. All of me. He wants an emotional connection. It's probably all lies. You know he wants me forever. But it's not just because he'll need my blood. I don't know what to believe. But he changes when he's with me, sometimes. He's not always horrible. He's been sweet and gentle. At some point he's going to get rid of you if you hang around. You're only going to be a distraction to me. As impossible as it seems Klaus wants my love. He knows he won't get it if I still feel for you like I-." Pausing I seemed to choke on a sob. "Like I used to. If you stay, he's going to kill you like the rest of your family. He's already used a dagger on you Elijah. He said he'd do it again and leave it in." Sniffing I rubbed my hands at the streams of water on my face. "I just want you to go. Go and live." Rubbing at my face some more while Elijah relinquished his hold I looked up. He'd moved to stand a metre away. Feeling rejected somewhat that he'd stopped comforting me renewed my tears. His features were dark and sad. Announcing that Klaus was back, he leaned down slightly to catch a fresh tear with a gentle brush of his thumb. Looked at me one moment more, before turning and walking back the way we'd come. Away from the warehouse and away from me. He was finally leaving me alone. Though his departure was due to Klaus being back rather than what I'd said, it hurt to see him go. It felt like it was all my doing. Sure it was what I wanted, but I wasn't enjoying rejecting Elijah. Shuffling over into a little alcove in the garden with some dense bushes around me I allowed myself to have a little cry before getting myself in order and casually walking back inside.

Thinking I would wash my face on the way back to my room I went into Klaus' and my bathroom to do so. When I opened the door however, I found Klaus half naked with dried blood on his body in places. The shirt on the floor he'd already shed had splotches of the dried fluid on it. I cast my eyes down and apologetically said I'd come back later. I wasn't sure how things were going to play out when he smelled Elijah on me. He surely shouldn't be surprised. But he wouldn't be over the moon about it. I was Klaus' possession, and he's not the sharing type.

"Nonsense love. Come on in." Klaus took hold of my hand, pulled me in and shut the door. "You've been crying," he commented before his eyebrows dropped with an expression of concern. Ha. Klaus concerned for my happiness.

"It's nothing."

"It's something," he replied leading me after him as he moved us closer to the bath then sat on the side. "What has you so upset?" His query hung in the air while I was pulled down to sit on his lap.

"It's nothing," I said again as I tried to convey an air of carelessness. Shrugging my shoulders I looked at a spot just above his exposed navel.

"Come on love. Somethings upset you. Is it Elijah? I can smell him all over you." My eyes darted to his. No way was I going to say that it was. That wouldn't get me anywhere and might even get me in some trouble. My reasoning had me wondering how I was going to explain Elijah's scent on me to Klaus if he had an issue with it. My denial of Elijah being the cause of my displeasure was a simple no. But came across as though to even suggest it was a ridiculous notion. "If not Elijah then what? I hate to see your pretty face so glum." He actually sounded sincere. Sighing I went with a lie.

"It's really nothing. I just miss my family. I've had time to myself this morning, and not having any distractions my mind wandered to them."

"Ah." Klaus began stroking my back. "I'm not all that practised in mourning for family. But would you like to talk about it?" For a few moments I stared at him incredulously. "I can be considerate to your feelings you know. No need to look so shocked." He chuckled and smirked. I found it contradictory that he should think himself considerate and that it should apply to my missing Jeremy and Jenna. When he was the one keeping me from them. Using them as leverage and having compelled them to not recognise me at all. I laughed softly within my closed mouth.

"I don't want to talk about it. Once I'm distracted by picking out what to wear tomorrow night I'll be fine."

"Very well. Can I offer a distraction right now? I'm just about to take a shower. You could, join me." His eyebrows waggled suggestively.

"And now the real reason you seemed concerned comes to light. You just wanted me to join you all along." Came my playfully sarcastic response. Klaus' face took on a dramatically shocked expression.

"Am I really that transparent?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Uhuh."

"So. Will you be joining me?"

"Is that what you'd like?" I asked matter of fact.

"I would love for you to join me. It will be thoroughly enjoyable. I promise you that," he drawled and kissed where Elijah had not long ago. I thanked the vampire blood in my body for healing the mark I was sure had been there for a few moments earlier. "Plus the shower will get rid of the smell of my brother on you while I smother you with my own scent. I can't have you smelling like you're anyone else's."

"Alright then," I said through a giggle when his tongue travelled up behind my ear. I had to reinforce where I stood with Klaus despite smelling of Elijah. That way if Elijah's scent bothered Klaus, he shouldn't take it's presence on me too seriously. Like any contact we may or may not have had meant nothing to me.

"Excellent," he breathed. Then ripped at my clothes with his hands and pulled them from my body in shreds. Gasping in shock now that I was wearing my underwear alone, I automatically went to cover myself. "No, no. Let me see you. You really are far too modest Elena." He stood and carried me over to the shower before setting me on my feet. Taking his mention of modesty as a cue. My thumbs went to the elastic of my panties to start turning them down over my hips. But he stopped me with a shake of his head as he undid his pants and let them fall around his ankles. Klaus had gone commando today.

He had me stepping in beneath the water of the shower still wearing my underwear. Though I thought it unnecessary to wet them, I understood the appeal once the white garments became semi transparent as they took on water. Pressed hard against the wall of the shower by Klaus while he devoured my mouth. I wondered briefly if he could tell, or rather, taste that Elijah had been doing the same not long ago. When he said nothing about it I supposed he couldn't, or perhaps didn't care.

"Do you want me to wash first?" I asked breathlessly. "So I'm clean."

"I don't want to wait that long," Klaus replied as he pressed his hardening cock against me, then groaned. It struck me that smelling of Elijah would make even the slightest amount of resistance from me dangerous. Klaus could be vengeful and if he was suspicious of something having gone on while he was out he might be short-tempered. Aware of that possibility, I knew I had to make sure I reacted in a pleasing way all throughout this romping.

My underwear stayed on while Klaus thrust into me until my singular supporting leg barely kept me standing. As he pumped more harshly up into me and my abdomen quivered with another rolling wave of pleasure. I latched my teeth onto the side of his neck and bit him harder than ever before in such a situation. Grunting hoarsely he pressed me even harder against the wall as he came. Finding that my bite had drawn blood I sucked and licked at it, then as it healed bit down on the skin again. I allowed the heat increase within me from Klaus' blood. It made this all the more enjoyable for me. Breathing hard one of Klaus' own legs shook slightly and, gathering his own orgasm had been further intensified by my bite, I smiled lazily in satisfaction against his neck.

"I hope you're sufficiently distracted Elena. Because that was amazing." It was so foreign to be complimented on my sexual prowess. I was only new after all. Nevertheless, no matter the situation I felt proud of myself.

We slid to the floor and relaxed on it while the steamy water rained down on us. When I began washing myself Klaus helped to lazily remove my underwear. The bra was relatively straight forward. But he used his teeth to remove my panties. Not by gripping each side alternately and dragging the material downwards. But by biting and nibbling right in between my legs until he gripped the fabric and began pulling away. It was a slow and torturous method that stimulated me in a refreshing way. Once fully naked, I lost all train of thought when Klaus latched his mouth onto my now exposed crotch and laved me relentlessly with his tongue. When he travelled lazily back up my body to join our mouths I pushed back at him. Obliging he sat with his back against the wall and I soon straddled him with bar of soap in hand and began moving my pelvis against his rod. I couldn't bring myself to maintain eye contact with him, so Klaus palmed the side of my face so that I would. It was hard, but I managed despite how off-putting his face looked wearing such a wondrous expression. He was pleasantly surprised by my actions and his affectionate gaze heated my cheeks. Sure I wanted to come across without restraint. But I didn't need him to be so blown away by me that I'd feel embarrassed. Taking his tongue in my lips I suckled while directing him into my body. As I sat deeply on him I whimpered and bucked uncontrollably as his engorged head slipped past the sensitive spot within me. It made me want to rock away frantically to get him deeper and sliding within me at different angles. But I managed to sit still for a few moments while I circled the bar of soap on Klaus' chest to wash him. Once in control of myself I continued washing him while I rocked back and forth. My pace was slow and Klaus' face contorted in sweet pleasure at times. Now and again I swore I could feel his cock twitching within me. At times I half collapsed against him as I was jolted close to oblivion. But I continued on. Driven by a desire to show Klaus I was willing. That I was here for the long haul and would be as obliging as possible. As I rocked Klaus took over the soaping and ran his hands all over my chest and back. His hands slid down and soaped my bum and he grabbed and rocked me hard and fast a few times before soaping my arms then coming back to my arse and pulling me against his cock with it. I watched as his torso muscles flexed from his actions and when they went rigid as I clamped down hard all around his cock within me. Trying to compose myself before I continued riding him I was moved around by Klaus until still joined he was half kneeling, half rocked back on his heels in the bottom of the shower with me still stationed on his tool. My arms wound around his neck tightened their hold when Klaus slowly raised me then slammed me down hard on him. The pleasure was enormous, but the pain from Klaus tearing into the flesh at the top of my shoulder was searing. I cried out so loud the noise echoed around the bathroom. Moaning as he lifted me almost completely off of him before repeating the process to join our bodies then assaulting my shoulder again, I practically growled a plea into his ear for him to fuck me. I put conviction into it, having thought Klaus would enjoy me asking for this. I hoped it was worth it, because it felt foreign on my tongue. While the pain was more than I thought Klaus should be inflicting everything else was enjoyable. My plea earned me several quick thrusts minus the teeth and my body spasmed so quickly my muscles hurt. Crying out loudly again I keened when Klaus was submerged within me again.

"Get out," he said suddenly. His tone almost bored. Huh? He didn't seem to be talking to me directly and since he continued moving I soon forgot he'd said anything.

"Harder," I whimpered, trying desperately to get eye contact though my eyes were half closed. To let him know I wanted more. Klaus removed my arms from his neck and pushed my torso backwards until my head and shoulders were on the floor. My lower back and bum rested on his thighs while he was still buried within me but at a new angle. He moved fraction by fraction in and out of me and the angle was exquisite. "Oh god!" I cried as another orgasm hit me. Back arching only my head tilted back touched the floor while Klaus grunted and moved faster, intent on his own completion. "Yes!" I hissed as my eyes snapped wide open to match my mouth. Somehow my eyes focussed on another person in the room. One I hadn't even been aware of until now. They stood in the doorway, a hand on the door knob. Their arm was rigid, their face blank and unreadable but focussed on me. Another wave of pleasure ripped through me at the same instant I realised it was Elijah. How long has he been here? While I could appreciate the awkwardness of him watching in my slight haze, I'd no idea why he was even in here. But I knew Klaus' get out had been directed at him.

"Get out." Klaus growled again then slammed into me a few more times and came. Puffing slightly he stilled before taking his eyes of me to stare daggers into Elijah. "I said get out, brother. Now.," Elijah shook his head minutely and Klaus continued at his resistance. "Don't think just because I've allowed you back that you can do as you please. That includes touching Elena. Unless I explicitly tell you otherwise. Now remove yourself." By now I was comfortably watching Elijah from my still joined position with Klaus. Only when Elijah's eyes returned to me after Klaus had said his peace did I acknowledge how truly awkward this all was. I was still impaled by his brother, lying as though unashamed with my breasts offered to the ceiling. Not to mention how he'd probably been in the doorway for long enough to see me and hear me putting on an encouraging performance. It was enough to lose one's appetite. I wondered why he'd come in, in any case. Was he executing some plan?

"Elena. Are you alright?" He was worried about me? Is that his reason for trespassing on Klaus' doppleganger time? If so, he was only going to cause problems by checking up on me. Surely he could see that.

"Hmm?" I queried with a hint of confusion as I looked to Klaus' face then back up at Elijah. "Yeah. Fine." I replied contently while looking back up at Klaus' face with a sexy smirk through the falling water. "Wonderful actually." My smirk became a smile, just for Klaus. He grinned broadly as my growing shame increased the disgust I had for myself.
"Elijah," Klaus pushed, his tone serious as he gently pulled my torso up to his and we kissed gently.

"Very well." Elijah conceded and presumably left. I didn't get the chance to see him go since Klaus kept me busy with a gentle probing kiss. As the water rained down on us, causing our lips to move against each others with excessive smoothness due to the water. It didn't seem like Klaus was kissing me this way just for show since he hadn't stopped as soon as Elijah'd left.

Our shower activity at an end we both moved onto washing the reminder of each other's bodies.

"My brother is becoming quite the pain," Klaus began. I stayed silent, unsure how I should respond, or whether it was even required. When my lack of response hung between us Klaus stopped washing my hair from the front. Having been focussed on his chest I chanced a look up to his face to find him looking at me consideringly. "Is he not?" My eyes flickered from his for a moment then darted back.

"I don't think he can help it."

"I think you're right. When it comes to you he seems to lose his head a little. Acts impulsively rather than how composed and collected I've always known him to be." My eyebrows rose almost carelessly in response as I stepped back under the stream to rinse my hair. "Is that why your mouth tasted of him today? Could he not control his urge to kiss you? To touch you."

"What?" I dropped my hands from my hair.

"Did you not think I would notice? Did you think that smelling so much of Elijah on you would so overwhelm my sense of smell, that my taste-buds would delude me into assuming nothing hazardous went on between you two today?" He knew.

"It, wasn't his fault."

"So he accidentally put his mouth over yours?" I looked at him sheepishly.

"It wasn't like that."

"No?"

"It was my fault." I whispered and bowed my head in submission.

"Was it your fault that his mouth was on your neck also?" Klaus' hand cupped my chin and lifted my face up to his. He wasn't overly angry at the moment. But he wasn't happy.

"Well-."

"Don't cover for him love."

"I wasn't going to." Came my grumble as I pulled my chin from his grip and finished rinsing my hair.

"Instead you were going to tell me how he couldn't keep his hands and lips off you?"

"It was my fault, okay?" I began with some carelessness inflecting my voice. Like it had meant nothing. "I didn't mean to kiss him. I didn't want to. But I did. Things just continued from there for a little bit."

"How long?" Klaus demanded sharply and I jumped.

"Seconds, maybe. I swear it was nothing."
"If it was nothing. Then why did you cry as a result?" Eyes hard I kept eye contact with him.

"That's not why I was crying. You know why I was crying. I told you-."

"You told me what is most likely a lie."

"If you're not going to believe me then is there any point to this conversation?"

"Just tell me what I want to know. I want the details. How the kiss came about and why you were crying," he ordered.

"I told you why I was crying. What's any of this going to achieve?"

"I didn't ask you to question me!" I was startled by his outburst and wrapped my arms around myself. Klaus was getting a bit worked up over everything. Surely it wasn't unexpected that Elijah and I wouldn't associate with each other. That there wouldn't be any physical contact at all. Before Klaus had sent him away we'd been together whenever possible. It wasn't like Klaus had told me I couldn't be with Elijah or anything.

"But-." He cut me off.

"No. Don't start with me love. If I want to know what you've been up to then I will. Especially when it involves my brother and further, when he has been touching what is not his." My hug which had been a firm comfort on my torso slackened as did my jaw.

"You're jealous?" Tumbled from my mouth in astonishment.

It seemed those two words weren't the right ones to say. I yelped when my head and back met with the wall from the force Klaus used to take my neck in his right hand and pin me. Then he was in my face, his nostrils flaring while his eyes darkened.

"I could never be jealous of that traitor." Klaus snarled as his hand squeezed my throat harder. Face heating up while trying to breathe I grabbed at his wrist and arm to get him to release me. When that failed I attempted to knee him in the groin but that only made him squeeze harder. "Feel free to start talking," he invited while releasing my neck. Wheezing I took a rattly breath. My pleasant run of good behaviour from Klaus was officially at an end. Bending over in the limited space Klaus was giving me I coughed and took shallow breaths. "Any time now." Klaus pushed before I found my neck in the crook of one of his arms as he pulled me around and back against him in a headlock. Thankfully he wasn't applying any pressure just yet and I was able to keep filling my lungs. That was until he took my left hand in his before smashing it against the Cold shower tap. At first I screamed, but it took no time at all to become a howl as I began blubbering. "I'm waiting," he sang then smashed my hand against the wall. I could feel the bones crunch and I could see the blood flowing from the nasty gashes Klaus had made. Without any idea as to how my mind worked as fast as it did, the next words from my mouth were the best I could have offered.

"I was saying goodbye!" Wailing I thanked whatever thought process guided those words from my lips. "Elijah probably doesn't now it. But I was saying goodbye. One last kiss. That's all it was. Because I'm yours. With you," my words ended in whisper. "And that's why I was crying."

"Because you love him?" Klaus asked softly by my left ear while he squeezed my battered hand.

"Because he probably still thinks I love him."

"But you don't," he mused cockily and released my hand."And whys that?"

"What I saw him do last night. He's not who I thought he was." Letting out a relieved sob when Klaus removed his arm from my neck I stepped away from him while looking at my hand. It was a mess. Some dark bruising was starting to appear and blood flowed from the nasty gashes that were trying to heal. Hissing when I put it under the running water to clean it up I bore through the pain and watched the skin close before the residual pain levelled out to a near tolerable level. The bruising was gradually increasing in dark purple over much of my hand.

"Thank you, my love." Murmured Klaus before he directed my head and face to his then pecked me on the lips. "God you're beautiful," he praised as he searched my face with a smile on his own. "If you want you can continue on your way now. He brushed his fingers at a tear that ran down over my right cheek then stepped around me to leave enough space so I could easily move past him. "Or you can stay. The choice is yours." Grateful for his optional dismissal I left the shower and took the short bathrobe from it's hanger before carefully sliding it on while being careful of my hand. Not able to use both hands I opted to hold the robe shut. I was only going to our room.

Stepping out of the bathroom and beginning my transit Elijah appeared further up the hall. Great. I was going to have to pass him. No way was I going to chance going out into the main hall and come back another way. If he was intent on disrupting me he would no matter what I did. Focussing on a point past him I advance slowly. Was just about to pass him when he put out an arm to block me. I could feel Elijah's concerned eyes on me before I'd looked at his face. The look I gave him told of how fed up I was. That his interruption was not needed. Especially not right now. I saw him inwardly shy back as my eyes met his and his arm lost it's intent. His eyes' then fell in a grand gesture of sadness to my hand. I'd thought our next encounter would be rather awkward due to the scene he'd walked in on. But it wasn't. I simply didn't give a rat's arse about anything other than getting away from everyone and embracing the solitude of my room. I knew Klaus wouldn't be nice forever. But I had hoped his streak wouldn't be ruined so soon. Hell the schedule didn't matter. Any pain Klaus caused was sobering. It never failed to put me in my place, that's for sure.

"If I was the cause-. I apologise."

"Don't. Just, don't."

"Can I heal you?"

"No. I'm fine."

"Some more blood wouldn't hurt." He pressed as his wrist slowly ascended towards my face. Upset and frustrated. Not to mention hurt, I took it out on Elijah. Normally I'd have held back, but perhaps I shouldn't so he'd stay away.

"Don't. I don't want any." Elijah dropped him arm to his side immediately. "And I wouldn't need any if you hadn't burst in like that. It only made Klaus more angry with me smelling of you. What were you thinking?"

"I heard you. He was hurting you. I-."

"You what? You know you can't stop him. There is no point in you inviting yourself into anything between Klaus and I."

"Please. Let me finish. I see I shouldn't have barged in like I did. But I did. Please let me help you now."

"No." I hissed. "And don't assume from what you hear. You thought he was hurting me? You were wrong. You can't have missed that fact. I was enjoying myself until you showed up. We both were." Elijah seemed to flinch at my use of enjoying. "Then you annoyed Klaus, made him suspicious that there's something going on between us when there isn't." I raised my bruised hand which had begun lightening in places with green and brown tones. "You did this. I'm not about to let you heal me in any way just to ease your conscience." Finished the onslaught of words that spilled from my mouth in anger I made to move past him and his arm went up again to prevent me from passing. My eyes shot to his with menace. "Seriously? You're going to touch me again. After what Klaus just said to you. At what he did to me because I smelled of you." His arm faltering I stepped past him and moved onwards.