Agony Goes Both Ways

Long, flat black boots covered Astra's legs, her hands brushing off some sand from the side as she waited outside of the high school for Luka. She looked around at the kids that were already beginning to filter out of the school, heading toward the buses that were lined up or their cars and trucks parked in the student parking lot of the school. Astra had decided that she didn't like the rush of people and movement and instead had parked in the bus lane so she didn't have to deal with the students. She wasn't expecting to be waiting there long, so she didn't care if she was blocking the way.

She crossed her legs at the ankles and leaned back against the front bumper of her car, the bright red colour of her Camaro standing out against the yellow that was to the right of her vehicle. She brushed the blond curl that fell into her eyes and adjusted the sunglasses she was wearing, seeing a group of students pause as they were walking by. She smiled and waved to them, getting awed waves in return as they looked over the car as she was sitting on.

"I love my life," She mumbled to herself softly as she looked around to locate the one person that she was looking for. The final bell had rung and more and more students were beginning to file out of the school, joking around with friends or rushing to get to their car to leave.

She could see when Luka stepped out of the school, trying to get the attention of one Bonnie Bennett. She shook her head in pity as he tried his best to talk to her, stepping along her as he tried to get a word in but she shot him down every time. Clearly the girl had discovered just who he was helping when he was trying to become her friend so badly.

He caught her eye as Bonnie finally turned sharply to leave him, moving over to where Astra noticed that Elena was talking with Stefan Salvatore. She shook her head slightly to lower the hair around her face to bring some hope that he wouldn't recognize her should he look in her direction. She looked through her hair and sunglasses toward Luka, seeing that he was making his way toward her with a downed look.

"Everything alright?" She asked softly when he was close enough, frowning in concern.

"Perfect," He snapped back, adjusting his backpack.

"Hey," She surrendered, her hands rising up before her. Luka looked guilty about snapping at her like he had and sighed softly, looking at his feet.

"I'm sorry," He admitted. "I shouldn't be taking it out on you; it's not your fault." Astra nodded her head in understanding. She pushed herself off the hood of the car and tossed the keys at him in one fluid movement, grinning like a Cheshire cat that's been caught. Luka looked down at the keys to the flashy car that sat innocently in his hand with a shocked look before he broke out into a grin. Astra smiled happily at being able to cheer him up and moved over to the passenger side.

"Just don't tell Elijah, it took him forever to get the permission to drive my car and I don't want him to get jealous," She said over the roof with a wink, seeing the joy in Luka's eyes as he pulled open the driver's door.

"You are officially my favourite vampire in the entire world," He said as he slipped into the leather interior, grinning at her over the center consol. Astra held her hands up in a 'I know, I know, I'm awesome' gesture before pulling her seat buckle across her chest and securing herself in the car. She looked over to where Stefan was standing with Elena and Bonnie one last time, watched as Elena spoke in quick, hushed tones with him.

"Are you going to explain that?" Luka asked suddenly, noticing the look that she was giving the Salvatore brother.

"Long story short," she started quietly, ducking back so that her face was hidden beneath the roof of the car, "I knew him and his brother in the past, when they were still human and I wasn't with Elijah. I've been told to keep a low profile so they don't know I'm alive for the time being." Luka nodded along, looking over to where the group of three were standing.

"Alright," He finally mumbled, knowing that there was more than she had told him and quickly started the car, his giddiness returning as he heard the engine purr to life. Astra smiled at the look on his face and leaned back in her seat, just enjoying herself. Before long, Luka had the car pulling away from the school and heading into town to drop him off with his dad so that Astra could go and meet with Elijah and Mrs. Lockwood.

"Do you even have a licence yet?" Astra asked when they were drifting through the streets of Mystic Falls, people still turning to watch as they passed by in the bright red, very noticeable, car.

"If I say no, will you kick me out?" He asked carefully, looking over to her in the corner of his eye. She snorted in amusement, reassuring him that she would not take the car away just because he didn't have a licence. As far as she was concerned, he was doing just fine and she didn't need to worry as long as she was in the car with him. Luka wouldn't stop thanking her as they pulled up outside the apartment complex, causing the woman to smile.

"Don't tell anyone, huh?" She asked teasingly, causing him to smile and nod. The stepped out of the car and made their way toward the building, just rounding around the hood of the car when Elijah stepped out, looking irritated. Astra's smile fell, Luka mirroring her. She motioned for the warlock to keep moving, stepping past Elijah carefully to disappear into the building. "What's wrong?"

"I need you to stay around the town today, watch over Elena's friends," He said tersely, moving toward where his truck was parked on the far side of the lot. Astra followed after him, wondering what had him in such a foul mood. He had seemed fine when she left him that afternoon to get Luka.

"What about Mrs. Lockwood?"

"She had to reschedule because of a memorial today," Elijah said, stopping outside of the truck and turning to face her. "Just watch over the friends, they've been causing trouble."

"Elijah, what's gotten into you?" Astra asked, noting the darkened look to his eyes and the pure anger that was burning in their depths. Had he found Klaus? Did he know about Elena Gilbert? She wasn't used to having to resort to guessing with him, he had tried his best over the past couple of centuries to stay open with her.

"Just do as I tell you, Astra!" He growled out, gripping her by the arm harshly. "You are not a partner in this, you do as I tell you when I tell you, no questions asked," He snapped as he glared down at her, watching her violet eyes widen in disbelief at him, barely registering the pain in her arm as he held onto it with bruising force. The shock didn't last long enough and she was back to herself as soon as he released his grip on her arm.

"You know what? Fuck you, Elijah," She hissed back, seeing the shock appear on his face. Her face burned in anger and humiliation at his words to her, pulling the cellphone from her pocket and hurling it as hard as she could at the side of the apartment building. Bits of plastic and metal flew in all directions, leaving a dent in the brick of the wall from the force she had used to throw the device he had given her. "You still wonder why I left you in the 17th century? For a millennium old vampire you can be pretty fucking stupid!"

She turned on heel and strode over to her own car, the dumbstruck Original unable to move fast enough to catch her before she had already slipped into the still running car, shifted into reverse and ripped out of the parking lot fast enough to leave tread marks on the dark asphalt that covered the lot. She never looked back as she tore down the road a couple of blocks before pulling off into a random restaurant parking lot and leaning back against the seat, turning off the car. Tears tricked at her eyes but she held them back.

Shifting in her seat, she pulled the coat she was wearing down to reveal the healing bruise on her bicep, the shape showing a distinct handprint.

҉

Astra stopped mid-stride at the strong scent of wolf that wafted through the air, repressing the urge to gag in response. She turned toward the source of the scent, wondering why the werewolves had suddenly decided to appear in Mystic Falls again, although, she was aware that they hadn't technically left. She stepped around the street corner to where the street outside the popular bar and restaurant—'The Grill'—was, and spotted the blonde vampire, Caroline, from Elena's list of friends.

The girl was just getting to her car when the smell of the she-wolf became stronger, the woman herself stepping out onto the street a couple of feet away from the blonde. Astra frowned and stepped back against the side of the building, watching the exchange carefully for any hint of malice.

"Excuse me," Jules said as she reached a couple feet away from Caroline, the blonde having the sense to look suspicious before she had even turned around to see who was trying to get her attention. "Caroline, right?"

"Yea."

Astra watched the wolf with a critical eye, silently commanding her to leave before she was forced to injure the bitch and leave her to limp away. She had heard that the wolf had killed Rose a couple of nights prior while she was in her wolf form, which alone should have been enough for Astra to kill her. She couldn't, however, because that would only further the conflict between the vampires and the werewolves.

Astra immediately came to attention when Jules' voice rose slightly, declaring that she knew of Caroline's deceit. Realizing that the woman was not going to give in as easily as one would hope, she pushed herself off the wall and stepped along the sidewalk, continuing to listen to the conversation that was going on further up the street.

"Really?" Caroline asked, sounding irritated. "How? Is that one of your wolf tricks?"

"Actually, it is," Jules said with a smile of fake innocence. Astra moved quickly to stand beside Caroline, startling both women in the process. Caroline looked shocked and confused for a moment before a type of recognition came to her as she looked at the older woman's face.

"Bullshit," Astra finally said, smiling at Jules like poisoned honey. "I would hope that you're not here to bother the girl, mutt." Jules looked conflicted, clearly not expecting someone to step in on her plan. Astra knew that she needed to be careful, something had been planned and it had already been set into motion, for her to step in was dangerous and she needed to stay alert.

"You're the vampire from the bar, but as far as I know you're not in their little circle of friends," Jules said, digging for information. Astra inhaled carefully, the smell of another wolf keeping her on guard.

"I've been asked to keep an eye on the circle of friends. I hear that werewolves have a pact that they stick to, the whole 'you mess with one of us; you mess with all of us'. Well, vampires have a fairly similar code, except the wolf that usually does the messing doesn't see their next full moon," Astra said, looking over to the still shocked Caroline, who was just looking back and forth between the two blondes dazedly.

"Are you a part of their scheme as well? Taking Tyler?" Jules glared with venom in her eyes, waiting somewhat impatiently.

"No," Astra answered calmly, adjusting the cuffs of her jacket and flicking a lock of hair back behind her shoulder in an air of calm. "I'm here with Elijah."

Before any of the other parties could so much as blink a shot rang through the air. Caroline found herself violently shoved to the ground, crying out in surprise. She watched as Astra fell to her knees next to her, holding a hand over the newly acquired bullet hole in the center of her chest. She gasped in pain as the wooden projectile scraped against the side of her heart, leaving her immobile in fear.

"Look out!" Caroline screamed. Astra looked over her shoulder in time for a wooden stake to drive down through her back. Before Caroline could make another sound a second bullet was fired dead center into her forehead. Astra hissed in outrage and pain, looking back at the man that was holding the wooden stake in her back shoulder blade.

"Why won't you go down?" He growled out, twisting the pointed piece of wood. Astra groaned in pain, trying to move away from the pain. He placed the gun against her temple, watching as her eyes changed colour and her fangs were bared at him in threatening anger. He squeezed the trigger before she had a chance to do any damage, sending her onto the ground with Caroline, blood pooling around her wounds and staining her already ruined clothing.

Back at the house that he shared with Astra, Elijah's hand clenched around a wine glass as pain rippled through him, the glass soon exploding under the pressure. Bits of the wine glass and wine covered his fingers and the once clean floor of the kitchen. He felt no pain in his hand as the shards dug through his skin, blood pouring through the injuries. He could still feel agony in his chest, back and head as he tried to figure out what was happening. The pain disappeared a moment later, leaving him aggravated and confused. Ignoring the mess of his right hand he pulled his cellphone out with the other and hit a single digit before holding it to his ear. The line was only barely answered before he ordered out in an angered voice.

"Find Astraea."

Barely paying his hand any attention aside from pulling out the large pieces of glass that were interfering and wiping off the blood, he was out the door of the large home and running on foot to get into town. The method of travel was far quicker than his truck and he could be at the Martins' apartment before they were even finished locating wherever Astraea was. He was careful to avoid populated areas as he was stepping through the town, only slowing his pace when he absolutely had to.

His phone began to buzz in his jacket pocket just as he emerged from the elevator. He ignored the device and threw open the once locked apartment door, causing Jonas to spin around with his phone still pressed to his ear. Luka jumped from where he was sitting at the table, looking at a map of Mystic falls.

"Where is she?"

"She's somewhere in the woods," Jonas began, moving over to the table. Elijah took note of the bandages on his hand from where he had cut himself in order to do the shadow spell that he himself had used to locate Elena. "I still need to narrow it down, but I was able to see that she was with the werewolves that have been causing problems recently. She's with one of Elena Gilbert's friends."

"She must have been protecting Caroline from them and they were able to subdue her somehow," Luka said softly from the table. Elijah looked to the boy a moment, knowing exactly why he was as upset as he was over the occurrence. Astra was a dear friend to him, one that he valued above all others and one of the only ones that he had in the present town.

"Perform the shadow spell again, but use my blood this time," Elijah declared, moving to sit in the place that he had been days before. Jonas looked to Luka, who immediately moved out of the way to let his father take his place. Elijah moved through the motions of the spell easily, already knowing exactly what he had to do from the previous time. He closed his eyes and concentrated on Astra, thinking regrettably of the last encounter that he had had with her that day.

"…I've got lots of wooden bullets, toys," a male voice said. Elijah could see from his placement in the scene that Astra was chained back against the side of a large animal cage, bleeding from a wound in her chest. A man sat on a chair on the outside of the cage, speaking with the blonde friend of Elena's, Caroline. "It's going to be a long night, Sweetpea."

A weak growl issued from Astra at the comment, but she wasn't able to do much of anything. Elijah could see that the injury in her chest was from the weapon that sat beside the werewolf on the outside of the cage. A gun, loaded with wooden bullets. Two bloody bullets sat on the bottom of the cage near Caroline's feet, a smear a blood visible along what he could see of Astra's cheek and her once perfectly blonde hair.

"Oh, do you want to play, too?" The wolf asked as he looked over to Astra, smirking.

"Elijah," Astra started in a choked voice, the chain around her throat tight against her larynx and making it difficult to speak, "Make him suffer."

Elijah opened his eyes, the absolute murderous look on his face causing the two warlocks to draw away from him in surprise. He had been in the spell longer than he had with Elena, the connection he shared with Astra allowing him to hold onto her a short while longer. She had sensed him.

Suffer, the man would.

Two bullet holes, he had counted two bullet holes. There had also been a pain in her back, maybe a third bullet or another means of attacking her. With every spilling of her blood, he could make the werewolf suffer twice what she did.

No one touched what belonged to him.

Oh, Elijah's out for blood! I'll do my best to get my next chapter out tomorrow, maybe a bit later. I've got a doctors appointment tomorrow, yay!(*sarcastic*)

Anyway, I hope that everyone reviews, I cannot express how much it would mean to me!(even though I know many people don't even read the comments the author writes)

:3