Bring Me To Life
Moon Over Bourbon Street:
There were generally two types of people in the world; those who could be categorized as a 'morning person' and those who were decidedly…not. Imogen Claire just so happened to be one of the rare people who could be classed as both the former and the latter. Early mornings waking up at 7.00am so that she could ensure that she had enough time to wake up Davina, make breakfast for them both and get them to school before the first bell rang, had programed her internal clock to rise at a certain time. During the witch's sabbatical in South America she had gotten into the routine of sleeping until late morning, often nursing a nasty hangover and strange circumstances, and it was a habit that she hadn't broken since her return to the city.
A distant knocking caused Imogen to groan sleepily as she rolled further onto her stomach, trying feebly to block out the sound that had woken her from the almost comatose sleep. Some part of her knew that it was a lost cause when the knocking persisted after a minute of her ignoring the sound and she sighed heavily in defeat as she slowly blinked open her eyes.
"I'm coming, I'm coming." she muttered under her breath as she forced herself to climb out of the warm cocoon of blankets and she blindly reached for the silk robe handing on her closet doorknob as she started to make her way out of the bedroom. She slipped her arms through the sleeves as she wandered through the empty apartment and she mentally cursed whoever was disturbing her sleep as she approached the front door.
The annoyed frown on Imogen's lips transformed into a bright grin when she saw the impeccably dressed man standing on the other side of the door; her blue eyes lit up in delight and a swarm of butterflies were released in her stomach. It didn't help matters that his own oak brown eyes seemed to illuminate at the sight of her in front of him and she blushed profusely at the unadulterated lust in his gaze when he caught a glimpse of her bare legs as her robe parted slightly with her movement.
"Elijah! Hi." she greeted him warmly in a voice rough from sleep as she moved out of doorway and he took that as an invitation to enter the dwelling, pausing briefly to press a lingering kiss on her cheek before continuing inside.
"Good morning, darling." Elijah returned the greeting with a serene smile on his lips as he strolled towards the kitchen, moving around the apartment with expert ease since he had mapped the layout over numerous visits. The first he had been invited inside he had noticed the distinct lack of personal items decorating the living room and when he had questioned Imogen about it she simply shrugged her shoulders indifferently as she told him, 'These place isn't home. Not yet.' The only personal touch in the apartment was the handcrafted collage that was hanging on the living room wall; an artwork that had been a gift from Davina for her sister's nineteenth birthday.
With every passing visit he noticed that she added little touches to individualize the residence, like the orchid on the bookcase, or the multicolored crocheted blanket on the couch. There were even a series of photographs lining the hallway wall leaning towards the bedroom in the back of the apartment; a four year old Davina and a ten year old Imogen having a picnic outside, Imogen and Sophie with their arms around each other in bikinis at the beach, a teenage Davina, Marcel and Imogen all grinning happily in a self-taken photograph, and his favorite of the sequence was a candid photograph of himself and Imogen, neither of them looking towards the camera but instead they were gazing at each other with undeniable warmth in their eyes.
Imogen trailed after the Original at a subdued pace as he lead the way towards the kitchen and she marveled at the way his shoulder muscles moved under his dress shirt when he removed his suit jacket. She bit the inside of her cheek as her eyes travelled down the length of his back appreciatively and she knew that her heartrate had accelerated uncontrollably so she shook her head to stop her current line of thought. The witch didn't want him arrogantly assuming that her traitorous brain had conjured the image of stripping that shirt off his body to reveal the delicious muscles she was aware laid beneath, even if it was an accurate assumption.
"So, what brings you here this morning? We didn't have plans, did we?" she asked him with a small frown on her lips as she wandered into the spacious kitchen and he leaned back against the edge of the counter with his hands in his pants front pockets as he watched her fondly.
"No, no, we didn't, but I was in the neighborhood for a meeting and it doesn't begin for another hour." he answered with a casual ease as he watched her prepare cups of coffee for the two of them, smiling slightly as she added the exact right amount of milk and sugar to the blue mug she'd designated as 'his' on previous visits before handing it over to him. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. And you're more than welcome here anytime." she told him honestly with a smile as she picked up her own coffee mug and walked around the counter to take a seat on one of the stools on the other side. "It's always nice to wake up to a handsome man. Granted, they're normally inside the apartment, but…"
Elijah released an amused chuckle as he turned around to face her, folding his arms on the countertop between them and then adopting a more sober expression as he sighed heavily with a taunting edge, "There another reason I was so eager to leave the house this morning."
"Ooh! Elijah, do you have gossip for me?"
"I may have stumbled upon something about someone that you'll find interesting."
Imogen waved a hand to indicate that he should continue speaking when he paused for dramatic effect and she took a sip of her coffee as she eagerly awaited whatever tidbit he had discovered. She was drawn into the way his dark brown eyes seemed to glow with mirth, the way his lips twitched slightly as he attempted to stifle a smile.
From the first moment she had laid eyes on him that day in the attic at St Anne's Church, she was exceptionally aware of the physical attraction she felt towards the Original. Some things she had already deciphered before they'd started to spend extracurricular time together, like his absolute devotion towards his family, or the strict code of morality he followed at his own accord, but with every passing day, with every conversation they had, she was beginning to understand the man beneath the expensive suit. It was true that when you start to get to know someone, all of their physical characteristics start to disappear. You see only the essence of that person because when you truly connect with a person, any physical imperfections disappear, become irrelevant. Through discreet observations and countless conversations with the handsome vampire, Imogen was able to see past the hardened exterior to the humanity that was embedded deep inside. It was the small details that were starting to become more attractive for the witch; the way he tried not to smile when she made an inappropriate joke, the way he looked at her when she laughed, the way he absently played with her fingers, and so many other little things that she couldn't even name.
"It seems that my brother has found a rather…interesting pastime. One that includes a partner." Elijah informed her with a salacious lilt in his voice as he leaned towards her with a smirk on his lips and she gasped out loud in delight, her blue eyes widening in surprise at the new information. "It's his choice of partner that sent me fleeing from my own home."
"Is it someone I know? Tell me!" she demanded playfully as she reached out to grab his forearm and he chuckled lightly at her exuberance as he ducked his head to hide the grin that spread across his lips.
"It was Genevieve. The leader of the witches." he revealed with a raised eyebrow as he lips pursed unconsciously in disgust at the mere notion, the words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth and he hurried to take a sip of his coffee in an attempt to cleanse his palate.
"What?!" Imogen exclaimed in disbelief as her hand dropped from his arm out of shock, her eyes widened even more as her lips parted to form a perfect 'o'. Her thoughts were swirling together like they were stuck in a whirlpool, blending into each other until it was impossible for her to differentiate one from another. It wasn't the first instance of a witch and vampire spending time between the sheets, but it seemed so hypocritical to Imogen that the witch in charge of leading the coven, who was the authority over all the other witches, was bedding for worst of the vampires in the city. It wouldn't have bothered her if the relationship between witches and vampires was more positive, but she had been ostracized from the coven because of her relationships within the vampire community.
According to Marcel, the ancestors were using Genevieve as their mouthpiece because of her connection to the other side and that association had been strengthened when she had become the only living Elder of the coven. Imogen had only seen the witch from a distance when she had dropped Davina off outside The Lycée but buried deep down some bitter part of her blamed the resurrected woman for taking her sister away.
"He does recall that she tortured him? And Rebekah? And psychologically tortured Cami when she made her choose between him and her uncle?" Imogen asked in an irritated voice as her lips turned down at the corners and Elijah raised an eyebrow in acknowledgement but didn't answer her rhetorical questions as he sipped his coffee.
"Yes, apparently, my brother has decided to devote his time to bedding trollops and painting his demons away."
"It's such a waste. Klaus fought to be King, but the moment he gets what he wants, he throws a tantrum and leaves everyone hanging in the wind."
"Precisely. If he can so easily neglect our home, I wonder what will become of his daughter. I haven't forgotten what it was like to live beneath the threat of violence, and I do not wish that on my niece."
"I understand that." she said gravely in a compassionate tone as she slipped her hand into his with a small smile and his lips twitched in response as he squeezed her fingers in understanding. A bright grin spread across her lips as she leaned forward, her blue eyes twinkling with mischief and he quirked an eyebrow in question as she asked him pointedly, "So…What are you going to do about it?"
"Excuse me?" he asked in faux confusion as he cocked his head to the side with a frown and he couldn't help the small smile that spread across his lips when she gave him an exasperated look.
"As much as you want to deny it, Mr. Mikaelson, I know you. And I know that you aren't going to allow an all-out war to break out between the Factions. So, what are you going to do about it?" Imogen repeated her question knowingly with a hint of underlying curiosity in her voice as she crossed one leg over the other and leaned her elbow on the counter as she balanced her chin in her hand with her eyebrows raised expectantly.
Elijah regarded the witch in front of him with an awed curiosity, his oak brown eyes shining with affection and respect as she preened under his gaze. She was an oddity he had stumbled across, a rare and fascinating creature that he couldn't help but marvel at. Intelligence resonated in every word she spoke, a wisdom that only came from actually living and surviving the walk through hellish situations. Imogen possessed a quiet confidence that screamed loud, she was humble but strong, stable but rebellious, giving but not naïve. A walking contradiction. She chose her battles wisely, and once she had decided to fight, she was dedicated to the cause until it was either completed or she had exhaled her last breath.
Trusting someone was a choice, one that Elijah made hesitantly towards few people, but somehow Imogen had sauntered her way onto the list with her ability to sooth him, to make him smile, to be a steady presence in the rough waters surrounding them. It was for that reason alone that he set his near empty coffee mug on the counter with a sigh and leaned forward slightly on his folded arms as he answered her truthfully, "I extended an invitation some of the leaders of the community to a gathering at St. Anne's. I thought it would give us a chance to discuss the current statutes that were put in place during Marcel's tenure."
"That's a good idea. St Anne's is neutral ground. Who did you invite for each Faction?" Imogen asked seriously as she absently grazed her fingertip around the edge of her coffee cup and held his gaze evenly, an intrigued glint in the depths of her blue eyes. A thought suddenly occurred to the witch as she straightened her spine in realization and narrowed her eyes at him as she pointed an accusing finger in his direction. "Hey, wait a second! Is this why you were asking me all those questions the other night? Asking who the most influential players were?"
The Original had the decency to look abashed as he struggled to contain a smile at the sight in front of him; it was truly extraordinary to see the blush that spread across her cheeks and the fire that burned ferociously in her eyes when she was angry. He offered her a charming grin as he reached across the counter to brush a strand of brunette hair behind her ear and her features softened slightly at the gesture but she still had an annoyed purse of her lips as he told her sincerely, "You look stunning when you're angry with me."
Imogen scoffed incredulously with a roll of her eyes but couldn't resisted the urge to smile at his words as she reached up to remove his hand from her cheek and she gave him a look that was a mixture of amusement and exasperation as she kept a hold of the offending hand. "You can't just compliment me to get out of trouble."
"Imogen! Would I do such a dastardly thing?" he asked in mock offence as he placed his free hand over his heart and his oak brown eyes twinkled with obvious mirth as a smirk played on his lips.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Answer the question. Who did you invite to the meeting?" she asked him once again as she squeezed his hand, silently granting him forgiveness for partially deceiving her with his leading questions.
"Based on your insightful observations…" Elijah started with a teasing edge of his voice but paused with a grin on his lips when he noticed the way her eyes narrowed at him and he cleared his throat as he purposefully changed the tone of the conversation back to business. "I have asked Father Kieran to stand for the human Faction."
"That's a good idea. The O'Connell family has been influential in keeping tabs on the supernatural for decades. And Kieran has always been ally towards the vampires and the witches, before they went crazy." she added the last comment as an afterthought as she kicked her feet up onto the empty stool beside her, crossing one ankle over the other and tried not to react as Elijah's pupils flared at the sight of her bare legs laid out in front of him.
"It was a little more difficult to decide who should represent the vampires but in the end I felt Diego had enough experience as second-in-command during Marcel's reign that he should be able to handle the task. And I'm afraid that as the only remaining Elders of the coven…"
"You asked Genevieve to advocate for the witches."
"Yes, I did. She agreed to the meeting most vehemently." he murmured derisively with a roll of his eyes as he stood up from his slouched position and her lips twitched in amusement as she watched him take both of their empty coffee mugs to the sink, looking completely at ease as he moved around her kitchen.
"And the wolves? I assume you asked Jackson or Hayley." Imogen said absently, distracted from the conversation by the way the muscles in his back moved underneath his dress shirt. It took her a moment to realize that he hadn't answered the question and she forced her gaze upwards but his back was still facing towards her so she couldn't see his facial expression. "Elijah? Please tell me you invited someone to stand in for the wolves."
The Original sighed heavily in exasperation as he slowly turned around to look at her with a placating expression on his handsome face and she could clearly read the answer to her question on his face, causing her lips to part in shock as she openly gaped at him. He lowered his gaze for a moment before walking over to stand in his previous spot opposite her seat and she snapped her mouth closed as she tried to formulate a response but all she could do was scold him sharply in reprimand, "Elijah!"
"This first meeting is solely for those who remain in the French Quarter. Once all three Faction are operating together harmoniously, we will expand the treat to include the wolves." he explained calmly as he placed both of his palms down on the counter and his tone was reminiscent of someone that was stating facts, not defending their actions.
"It's a bad idea."
"It's the best idea."
"That doesn't make it good." Imogen stated truthfully with a huff, rolling her eyes as she stood up from the stool she was perched on and he opened his mouth to retort but she waved a dismissive hand over her shoulder as she sauntered towards the bedroom in the back of the apartment.
St. Anne's Church, standing in the center of the French Quarter, had been considered neutral ground between the differing Factions for centuries. It was a place that anyone, witch or human or vampire, could come to for sanctuary and not feel the pressure of an incoming threat. For that reason alone, it was considered the perfect place to gather the influential members of the community to discuss the upheaval of the ruling class.
A large wooden table had been set up in the middle of the multipurpose room in the back of the church; Diego sat on the left-hand side with Genevieve opposite him on the right, Father Kieran stationed at one end and Elijah Mikaelson standing at the head of the table with Imogen Claire perched on the chair next to him. The Originals commanding presence made it clear who was leading the meeting; he stood with an effortless mixture of authority and confidence as his serious oak brown eyes scrutinized every movement made. A firm hand on the back of Imogen's heavy wooden chair silently indicated who held her alliance and she crossed one leg over the other as she clasped her joined hands over her knee.
"St. Anne's has long been neutral ground in our city. So, it's only fitting that we gather in this chamber at the behest of Elijah Mikaelson to bring harmony to this place we call home. Thank you all for coming." Father Kieran commenced the meeting in a businesslike tone of voice as he sat down on the furthest end of the table with a blank expression on his face and Imogen made a mental note to hasten her research into breaking hexes, the grimoires had been piling up in her apartment since Cami asked her to look into it.
"Yes, thank you for coming. And welcome. These are the rules of the city according to Marcel Gerard." Elijah announced in an unemotional voice as he held up a document for everyone in the room to see and he paused for dramatic effect before tearing it in half, the sound echoing through the otherwise silent room. "Which, of course, no longer apply, because I'm in charge."
Imogen watched the varying degrees of outrage flash across each of their faces at his words before settling on complete and total. It made sense in a way; they had been lured to the meeting with the promise that things would be changing within the Quarter and on the surface it seemed like they had been lied to by the one who promised that.
"You said that if we came along, that we would get to run things by ourselves. Never mentioned anything about making yourself king." Diego spat angrily as he pushed himself away from the table, standing up as he planted his hands on the surface with a loud 'bang' echoing through the room.
Elijah regarded the vampire condescendingly as he straightened his jacket sleeve absently and held his head up high with well-deserved confidence as he cleared his throat before speaking precisely so there was no confusion. "Well, you were each selected to represent your own communities. In our honor, however, any issues that arise between Factions, it will come to me. Now, we are all responsible for the current chaos in the city. However, you have one very, very simple choice ahead of you here: you can all play nicely together, or you can leave."
"Why is Imogen Claire present? It's my belief that she was expelled from the French Quarter coven." Genevieve stated with an air of self-importance as she glanced haughtily in the direction of the other witch, her eyes narrowing warily at the expression of indifference the brunette was sporting. She had heard whispers about the witch, of course. The rebel to the cause, a devoted sister and powerful witch. Even the Ancestors on the other side of the veil had shown some degree of caution when she had diverted from the path of the coven. It was common knowledge that she would have harnessed the necessary power to become an Elder if she hadn't revolted against the wishes and traditions of the coven. One of the directives given to Genevieve before her resurrection was to keep an eye on the relationships Imogen Claire was cultivating, and if necessary, do what needed to be done for the benefit of the coven.
"Consider me the bouncer. Anyone gets a little rowdy, I discreetly shut them up." Imogen retorted in an almost playful manner, but there was a genuine level of threat behind her words and everyone in the room was aware of the destruction she was capable of creating if she so desired.
Elijah placed a restraining hand on her shoulder, his thumb rubbing discreet circles on her collarbone and his mere touch forced her muscle to relax slightly as she leaned back in her chair. The presence of the other witch was nudging her closer to the edge; Genevieve had become a sort of physical reminder that she wasn't able to see her sister and it was taking all of her willpower not to display an unhealthy amount of loathing towards the redheaded woman.
"Imogen was instrumental in organizing this summit, and it was by her recommendation that each of you were chosen to represent your people. She has connections within each of the Factions, and so she is a neutral party, able to remain impartial during the proceedings." The Original commented in a firm voice, daring anyone to contradict his words as he gently squeezed the witch's shoulder and she glanced up at him with a small smile on her lips as she leaned back into his touch comfortably. "Now, if there are no more pity squabbles coming to surface, we can get to the reason that we are all here today."
There was an undeniable authority that radiated from Elijah Mikaelson, a power that emanated from his entire being, and it was demonstrated clearly in the way he stood at the head of the table. Everything about the man demanded respect and admiration; the timbre of his voice, the relaxed posture of his shoulders, the confidence that was threaded through his carefully crafted words. The aura surrounding him was obscured with knowledge and wisdom, and every person he encountered was ensnared the tangled web that was his complex personality.
"The first order of business will be dividing the territories of the Quarter. As it has always been, most of the city has been, and will continue to be, considered neutral ground. But each Faction will obviously want their own territory. Historically, the Abattoir has been the vampire community's main residence in the Quarter. Are there any objections to continuing to treat it as such?" he asked curiously as he slipped one hand into his suit pants pocket with a casual grace and everyone looked at each other inquiringly, but no one voiced any opposition to the proposal. "Excellent. The residential and commercial area adjacent to the French Quarter, commonly referred to as the Cauldron, will continue to be the headquarters for the witches. Objections?"
"You have nothing but our gratitude for respecting our current regime. I would also like to suggest a caveat that we include Lafayette Cemetery in that proposal." Genevieve interjected politely with a serene smile on her lips as she clasped on hands together, resting them on the table in front of her.
"It's true that Lafayette Cemetery was designed to house the Ancestors. Having a specific location helps them focus their energy so that they can access this world, which is why it is considered sacred ground. The cornerstone of the link between the living and the dead, where our world and the spirit world meet." Imogen added in agreement with the other witch as she looked up at the man leading the conference and he pondered the information momentarily as he tilted his head to the side thoughtfully.
"Exactly. Thank you, Imogen." Genevieve said with genuine gratitude in her voice as a smile graced her lips and then her expression sobered as she turned her attention to the Original at the head of the table. "And because the cemetery is considered sacred ground, I'd like to reinforce the boundary spell that rejects entry from any supernatural other than witches without invitation by a coven Elder."
"What the hell? No way!" Diego spat angrily in protest as he glared at her across the table, fury dancing in his eyes and the witch matched the intensity of his glare with one of her own as she pursed her eyes in irritation. "This is our city, too! We should be able to go wherever the hell we want!"
"We would consider it an act of war!" Genevieve shouted back at him harshly as she slammed her hands down on the flat table surface and Diego snarled threateningly, baring his teeth in her direction.
"We're getting nowhere. You vile creatures cannot agree." Father Kieran muttered the last comment under his breath as he narrowed his eyes at the supernatural beings in the room. His face was drawn and pale, his mouth twitching in agitation as he fidgeted in his seat restlessly like he couldn't stand sitting still for a long period of time.
Loud voices merged together in a chaotic symphony of rage as the three Faction leaders broke out in an argument regarding boundary lines and Elijah felt his own temper spike but he kept his expression from wavering as he took a deep breath. He felt the woman sitting beside him shift her weight, causing her shoulder to brush against his hip as she huffed out an impatient sigh at the argument taking place. He automatically glanced down at the top of her brunette head as he felt his frustration melt away at the reminder of her presence and he cleared his throat calmly before raising his voice to be heard over the squabbling, "Father, calm yourself, please."
The silence was instantaneous as everyone immediately quietened down and turned to face him with varying degrees of fury in their expressions. A placid smile appeared on his lips as he hummed in pleasure at the level of control that he held over them and he lowered the volume of his voice as he continued, "Thank you. Now returning to the issue of boundaries, you will all heed to the following–"
Imogen was startled at the loud crash that suddenly echoed through the meeting room and a confused frown played on her lips as she turned around in her chair to see who had entered, causing the doors to swing back into the wall. A hint of pride swelled in the confines of her chest at the sight of the familiar brunette werewolf storming into the assembled conference and she carefully composed her features so that no one would see the grin that threatened to break out across her lips.
"Are you serious? You're dividing up the city, and the werewolves don't even get a say?" Hayley asked angrily as she stalked into the room with her eyes blazing with fury and Imogen felt the temperature of the room drop at the icy glare the werewolf was directing at the man standing still as a statue beside her.
Diego shot to his feet instantly with an enraged expression twisting his features and he pointed an accusing finger at the pregnant woman seething on the other side of the room as he asked in a demand, "What the hell is she doing here?"
"Diego, sit." Elijah ordered sternly as he turned his head to narrow his eyes at the vampire, his face a perfectly composed mask but Imogen could read the underlying tension that played around the corner of his eyes and the subtle clenching of his jaw that proved he was frustrated by the turn of events.
The familiar surge of magical energy flowed through her veins as she flicked her fingers absently in the direction of the dark-skinned vampire and he went flying backwards into his vacated chair with a startled expression plastered on his features. A pleased smirk stretched across her lips at the simple demonstration of magic and everyone in the room turned to look at her in shock but she remained calm under their scrutiny as she casually crossed one leg over the other.
Elijah was the first one to regain his composure as he straightened his suit jacket sleeve and cleared his throat to gain everyone's attention before continuing his attempt to pacify the irate pregnant werewolf with an explanation, "We are not dividing the city. We're establishing boundaries—"
"No, Elijah! There is not gonna be a peace if the werewolves are excluded. They want a seat at the table." Hayley interrupted fiercely as she stood regally in front of her clans adversaries and in that moment she resembled the warrior queen she was supposed to be in another life. There was fire dancing in her eyes, a fierce bravery that shone through even though she was almost shaking with a mixture of fury and fear. Some little voice in the back of her mind was scolding her for speaking so bluntly towards an Original (even though she knew he would never harm her) and two of the biggest threats to her survival (even though she knew Imogen and Elijah would defend her instantly), but her desire to do the right thing by her people vastly outweighed her fear.
The werewolf noticed the dismissive and incredulous scoffs that came from the other two supernatural Faction heads from the corner of her eye but she kept her gaze locked on the man in front of her as she concluded her proclamation firmly, "And if they don't get one, I can guarantee that you will all regret it."
"Maybe we should speak privately." Elijah said in a hard tone of voice, making it clear that 'no' wasn't a viable option and she pursed her lips in agitation as she nodded her head once in agreement. "Give me a moment to settle everyone."
"Fine." She snapped abrasively as she narrowed her hazel eyes at him and he shook his head slightly at her infantile behavior as he turned to face the assembled group with a mollifying expression. Hayley clenched her hands into fists as she stalked towards the door she had previously stormed through but paused just inside the room to wait for him to be finished. She leaned against the wall with her arms crossed defensively over her chest and even the sight of Imogen approaching her quietly couldn't dispel the dark cloud hanging overhead.
"That was quite the entrance." Imogen remarked nonjudgmentally as she leaned against the wall next to the werewolf with her arms crossed over her chest, mirroring her friend's posture with ease as she lolled her head to the side to make eye contact.
A smirk pulled at the corners of Hayley's lips as she shrugged her shoulder noncommittedly, silently taking in her friend's features and she was pleased to note the pride that was hidden in the witch's eyes. Imogen was the embodiment of rebellion in the French Quarter and it was validating to know that someone so outspoken approved of the way she handled herself. It was in a surprising revelation that she found that the witch's opinion actually mattered to her and that somewhere along the way Imogen had become someone to look up to and emulate.
Hayley frowned in confusion when Imogen grinned suddenly, the smile lighting up her features as she pushed herself off of the wall. It only took a moment for the werewolf to realize the reason why; Elijah had apparently finished settling the natives and was making his way towards them with a tight expression.
"Imogen, darling, will you please play babysitter while I speak to Hayley in the other room?" the Original asked politely as he came to stop next to the two women, placing a hand on the small of the witch's back instinctively and she leaned into his touch as her body turned towards him subconsciously.
"Of course." she murmured to him quietly as she reached out to squeeze his arm reassuringly and he graced her with a slight upturn of his lips before he pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead. The act of affection took her by surprise because he was usually reserved in front of other people, especially in a professional setting and surrounded by those he didn't consider family or friends.
Elijah soaked in the warmth that was emanating from the witch's body, not caring that he was allowing everyone in the room knowledge of his attachment to Imogen. In her presence, all of his frustration and anger seemed to fade away into nothingness, soothing him and placating the rage burning inside of him. The familiar scent of vanilla washed over him as she placed her hand on his arm and it took all of his determination not to pull her into his arms, to locked them in an embrace and forget the rest of the world.
He stiffened slightly as he shifted on his feet to relieve some of the tension in his body when she turned into his side more, her chest brushing his arm and the warmth of her breath caused him to suppress a shiver as she leaned in to whisper in his ear, "Go easy on her, please. See it from her perspective."
Imogen didn't wait for him to reply to her words before she pivoted on her heel and strolled back towards the conference table, confidence radiating off of her as she walked into the den of hungry lions waiting to tear her limb from limb. It was a marvelous sight to behold and Elijah watched her retreating back as she came to a stop at the head of the table, taking charge of the situation with ease.
It wasn't until Hayley obnoxiously cleared her throat to draw his attention that he diverted his gaze to the werewolf and she grinned shamelessly as though she was aware of the salacious thoughts crossing his mind. He narrowed his eyes at her in reprimand as he plastered a stern expression on his face and roughly pushed on the door to the meeting room, holding it open for her to pass through before him. In the depth of his heart, Elijah was an old-fashioned gentleman when it came to respecting women and even though he was frustrated with the werewolf, he would continue to exhibit gentlemanly behavior.
Music filtered through the speakers set up around the main level of the compound, the dimmed lights created a party atmosphere and Elijah couldn't help but feel proud of the scene. Once his brother had given him the idea of throwing an impromptu party at the compound it had taken a mere day and a half, a lot of compulsion and monetary persuasion, and Imogen's help to plan the event. The sound of laughter, people chatting and glasses clinking together was music to his ears as he stood on the balcony overlooking the party below him.
From the corner of his eyes he managed to catch a glimpse of Genevieve entering the party, the three Harvest girls following long behind her like lost little ducklings and his attention was immediately drawn to the petite brunette bringing up the rear of the group. Her bright eyes reflected in the light as she glanced around the room, the expression on her face wary but excited and she practically vibrated anticipation as she bounced on the tips of her toes. In that moment it was easy to make the comparison between the two sisters; besides the obvious physical characteristics that they shared (vibrant blue eyes, infectious grin, and brunette hair), neither could hide their emotions from those who could read them and neither of them reacted in any way you could predict.
A grin twitched at the corners of his lips as he watched Davina survey her surroundings and he knew without a doubt that she was searching for her sister somewhere in the crowd. Imogen had displayed the same level of excitement when he had informed her of his intention to throw a party where all the Factions could come celebrate together. She tried to hide the fact that she was thrilled with the prospect of maybe seeing her sister, but he could easily see past her impassive exterior to the eagerly anticipating woman beneath. All of her energy had been put into helping organize the party or researching different hexes in the numerous grimoires occupying the office in her apartment on behalf of the O'Connell family, in an attempt to distance herself from the fact that Davina may not have been invited to the party alongside Genevieve.
The Original's gaze immediately sought out the bewitching woman who had captivated him, wanting to see the absolute devotion and adoration in her eyes when she laid eyes on her sister for the first time in a month. In the short time since he had had pleasure of making her acquaintance, Imogen's smile had readily become one of his favorite sights to behold. Over the course of his long life he had come to realize (probably far too slowly) that it was imperative that you enjoy the little things in life that bring you pleasure, for one day you would look back and realize that they were indeed the big things.
From his perch overlooking the party, Imogen's contagious laugh seemed to drift towards him from somewhere below and his gaze swept over the guests fleetingly until it landed on the stunning brunette mingling and greeting people from every Faction as they entered the party, easily slipping into role of hostess for the evening.
Every time he looked at her, it was like the first time and she took his breath away with her beauty. It wasn't only her physical attributes that made her beautiful (even though she was stunningly attractive), it was the way her mind worked and her complicated thought process, it was the sparkle in her eyes when she spoke of something she was passionate about, and it was her innate ability to make other people smile when she herself was sad. No, she wasn't beautiful for something as temporary as her looks. She was beautiful deep down to her very soul.
"I see the wolves have arrived. Maybe now the party can start." Niklaus greeted his brother idly as he sauntered over to where he stood on the balcony overlooking the party below and Elijah blinked out of his stupor as he turned his head to look at his brother disapprovingly.
"Not every party begins with bloodshed, Niklaus."
"No, just the fun ones."
"Niklaus, please."
"I must say, I'm impressed, brother. You arranged all of this rather quickly." The hybrid stated genuinely as he surveyed the immaculate décor surrounding them, taking note of the strobe lights decorating the room that created an ambiance. It was the perfect combination of contemporary and class. The perfect metaphor for his stoic brother and the fetching witch who'd taken his fancy.
"I'm afraid I cannot take the credit for this evening." Elijah clarified with a serene smile on his lips as his eyes shifted back to the party below them and Klaus quirked an eyebrow curiously at his words as he followed his brothers gaze. A smug grin spread across his lips when he saw the recipient of his brother's captivated stare and he took a moment to appreciate the flattering navy blue cocktail dress that Imogen had chosen for the night. The brunette had moved towards the entrance way in order to greet the wolf delegates, making pleasant conversation with the few who were receptive to her warm greeting and politely ignoring the glares that were directed at her from the few who weren't.
"Ah, I see." He murmured in realization, a hint of teasing in his voice as he continued to watch Imogen chat with the mother of his child and her brood, captivating the group with her wit and charm.
"Now if I can just keep them from tearing one another to shreds." The elder brother commented idly as he managed to pull his gaze away from the witch below and towards the man standing next to him on the balcony.
"Well, then for your sake, here's to a spectacularly boring evening." Klaus stated mockingly as he nodded his head as though making a toast and Elijah shot him an unamused look before pushing himself off of the railing with both hands. He straightened his tuxedo jacket sleeves as he strolled away from his younger brother, intent on joining Imogen in the role of host and relieving some of the burden from her shoulders so that she could search out her sister.
The music was slightly louder downstairs as he maneuvered around the gathered crowd, smiling politely in greeting to those we did the same as he walked in the direction he had last seen Imogen. A small smile graced his lips when he saw various members of different Factions interacting without malice. Change was definitely in the air around them. All change began with a plan, the success of which depends upon several things; depth of commitment, passion for one's course, willingness to embrace a new path, determination to overcome any obstacle and in some cases, even making unlikely alliances.
Elijah was forced to a halt as a familiar figure stepped in front of him, blocking his path with a sly smile plastered on her lips and he quirked an eyebrow in acknowledgement as Francesca spoke confidently in greeting, "Since you're preoccupied, I'll intuit your flattering compliment. Thank you, I think I look stunning, too."
He sighed to himself in defeat as he gave up his quest to find his date momentarily and he followed after the dark-haired woman as she led him towards the bar to the side of the room. It wasn't a conversation he was looking forward to participating in, but Francesca was campaigning to become the head of the human Faction and he knew it was important to accumulate political alliance with those in power (it was, after all, what he intended when he threw the party).
The two of them came to a stop at the bar countertop and Francesca spun around to face him with a small smirk on her lips, her dark eyes taking in his appearance appreciatively. One of the advantages and disadvantages of being a vampire was the ability of enhanced hearing; and at that moment it was a disadvantage for Elijah as he heard the slight acceleration of her heartbeat that indicated that she was sexually attracted to him. As much as he wanted to deny it, he was aware of the fact that she was a beautiful woman but he couldn't fathom seeing her in a more intimate situation. There was another brunette, one with stunning blue eyes, which plagued his mind and made it impossible to even comprehend pursuing another.
"I trust you've spent as much time fortifying alliances as you clearly have selecting that dress." Elijah commented in a passive tone of voice, not giving away anything as his gaze drifted around the room before settling on the woman in front of him.
"So you do notice me. And, yes, I've already settled the dispute over the docks. I pacified the witches with an increased share in cemetery tours, and I've given the Crescents a Welcome-Back-to-Humanity gift in the form of $100 chips to my casino. So, I think I deserve some champagne, don't you?" she asked rhetorically in a pointed manner as she took a step towards him, tilting her head to the side enticingly and he plucked a flute of champagne off the tray of a passing waitress but gently pulled it out of her reach when she went to take it from him.
"Ahh. You know, in light of Kieran's deteriorating condition, the others have acquiesced to your proposal. You will represent the human Faction until he's ready to resume."
"Then, I suggest we make the most of our limited time together." she murmured suggestively as she took the glass from his hand with a twinkle of desire in her eyes, taking another step towards him.
Meanwhile, across the room, Imogen smoothed a hand over the skirt of her dress as she looked around the room eagerly and Hayley chuckled at the witch's obvious desire to find her younger sister in the crowd. Watching her friend search the crowd for her surrogate daughter was humbling and inspiring in the werewolf's opinion; it gave her hope for the future. Growing up with no maternal influence had left Hayley feeling insecure about her own ability to be a mother and she often found herself worrying if she would be enough for her daughter, but that fear had eased when she discovered a positive influence in Imogen and her devotion to the young woman she had raised as her own.
"Sorry I'm so distracted." Imogen apologized with a grimace on her lips as she turned back to her friend but Hayley waved a hand dismissively as she smiled understandingly in reply. "In other news, I was incredibly proud of the way you handled yourself at the meeting today."
"Thank you, I appreciate it. And I appreciate the message you sent about the meeting. I can't tell you how freaked out some of the wolves were when a random note appeared on the table in front of us." Hayley told the witch with an amused grin, gratitude shining in her eyes as she caressed her pregnant stomach lovingly and Imogen chuckled along with her as she swiped a glass of champagne off of a passing tray carried by a member of the wait staff that had been hired for the night.
"Not a problem. I told Elijah I didn't agree with his plan to unify the Faction remaining in the Quarter before including the wolves. He should have known I'd find a way to get what I wanted." she remarked idly with a smirk on her lips as she shrugged her shoulders before taking a sip of her champagne. She made sure to carefully word her response, not wanting to metaphorically throw Elijah to the wolves or alienate the brunette from the Mikaelson's anymore than she was already.
Hayley laughed in amusement at the brunette's words, knowing that it was true to a certain degree and that Imogen was one person who should not be underestimated. She was shaking her head in fond exasperation when she caught sight of something over her friend's shoulder and she immediately frowned in a mixture of disapproval and confusion as she voiced the question on her lips, "Hey, who's that over there with Elijah?"
Imogen raised an eyebrow in intrigue with a nonchalant smile on her lips, assuming that the Original was charming someone from one of the Factions like the diplomatic politician he was. Cultivating political allies was the main reason the party was being held in the first place; a chance for members of every Faction to socialize and make connections in a united celebration. Elijah had spoken to her about the importance of the event while they were organizing the festivities, had emphasized the need for it to go for without a hitch and she knew he was doing everything in his power to keep the city from declining into civil war.
Curiosity burned through her as she turned around to face the direction Hayley was trying to discreetly look in and she sucked in a sharp breath when she saw the dark-haired woman seductively running her fingers along Elijah's lapel. The werewolf glared indignantly on behalf of her friend as she took a small step towards the witch but Imogen only shook her head to herself as she plastered a smile on her lips, faking the nonchalance in her voice as she answered, "That's Francesca Correa. Her family own the Palace Royale Casino. She's one of the city's leading philanthropists. And- according to my sources—she's the matriarch to a rather sizable drug trafficking empire."
"So what is a mobster doing with Elijah?"
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out."
Imogen shot her friend a genuine smile as she reached out to squeeze her arm in gratitude, obviously noting the indignation etched on the werewolf's face and the fact that someone cared was heartwarming. Hayley returned the gesture with a soft smile before retreating back into the crowd of partygoers and the witch shook her head fondly at her friend before starting to make her way across the room to the bar.
Jealousy wasn't something Imogen was used to experiencing, but she had never before felt something as strongly as she did for the Original whom she'd started to spend time with recently. Boyfriends had come and gone, friends with benefits relationships had been taken part in and terminated, one night stands had been regretted, but something about her relationship with Elijah seemed different than the others somehow. It was like this time she actually had something to lose.
"Elijah! There you are." Imogen chirped in greeting as she came to a stop next to the Original, threading her arm through the crook of his elbow with a smile plastered on her lips. His tense body immediately relaxed at her touch as he gazed at her appreciatively and she completely disregarded his company as she pressed a lingering kiss to his cheek. A smirk spread across her lips when she pulled back and noticed the smudge of lipstick left on his skin, causing her to rub thumb over the area tenderly to remove it.
"Imogen. You look stunning as always this evening." He greeted her warmly as he wrapped an arm securely around her waist, resting a hand on her material clad hip to subtly keep her body pressed close to his side.
"Why, thank you, I agree. I must say, you're looking rather dapper, Mr. Mikaelson." she practically cooed as she soothed his lapel, intentionally copying the gesture the other woman had practiced only minutes before. It was passive aggressive move, a calculated action that was meant to warn any other woman away and she didn't hesitate, or doubt the reasoning as she smirked up into his knowing oak brown eyes.
Someone cleared their throat pointedly to the side of the couple and Imogen faked a surprised expression on her face as she turned her attention to the dark-haired woman who had previously been attempting to seduce the man next to her. "Oh, I'm sorry. How rude of me! I didn't mean to interrupt."
"Not at all." The woman replied slyly with a smirk on her lips as she looked between the two of them knowingly and Imogen tightened her hold on Elijah's arm as she rested her head on the side of his arm possessively.
"Yes, my apologies, ladies. Imogen Claire, this is Francesca Correa. Ms. Correa will be relieving Father Kieran as head of the human Faction for the foreseeable future." Elijah introduced the woman with a slight edge to his voice that only someone who knew him intimately would detect, otherwise it was marred with the same polite lilt he always displayed. Imogen immediately caught on to the fact that he wasn't entirely pleased with the development but she kept a socialite smile on her lips as she shook hands with the woman.
"A pleasure, I'm sure." Imogen greeted the woman, insincerity dripping from her voice as she smiled tightly and Francesca matched the level of polite hostility as she returned the passive aggressive gesture. "If you don't mind, I'm going to have to steal my date. But it was nice meeting you."
Imogen didn't bother waiting for a reply as she looped her arm through Elijah's and started leading him away from the woman, ignoring the furious glare burning into her retreating back. A satisfied smirk spread across her lips as she tossed her brunette hair over her shoulder and let the sound of Elijah chuckling in amusement wash over her like a security blanket, letting it assure her that the intervention was appreciated. The music pulsated through the speakers as the two of them passed the section of the courtyard that had been transformed into a dancefloor. Imogen's gaze lingered on the dancing couple for a moment, causing Elijah to notice the desire in the depths of her blue eyes.
"Would you care to dance?" he asked her sincerely as he settled a hand over hers where it rested on the crook of his elbow and she grinned up at him as she accepted his offer with a nod of her head. They maintained heated eye contact as he led her out onto the dancefloor and he grasped one of her hands as he settled his other hand on her lower back while she linked her hands together at the back of his neck. She could feel the heat of his hand on her back through the material of her dress, the solid presence of his body in front of her, so close they were nearly touching, and in a room full of vampires, witches and other dangerous beings, she felt overwhelmingly safe in his arms.
"You outdid yourself with this party. You even got Klaus to come out and play." Imogen remarked teasingly as she glanced up towards the balcony overhead where the hybrid was watching the partygoers with detached interest.
Elijah followed her gaze with a heavy sigh, the concern for his brother evident in his voice and he turned his attention back to the beautiful woman in his arms as he offered her a small smile. "Yes, it seems that only a sizable soirée is enough to tear my brother away from his efforts at the easel."
"That's never a good sign. Klaus once told me that his painting was a metaphor for control. For achieving his vision through sheer force of will."
"Well, truthfully, I'd be shocked if he didn't have at least a dozen or so of those visions swarming around in that insidious skull of his."
Imogen studied his thoughtful expression with a small frown puckering her lips; there was a fatigued aura surrounding him that she hadn't noticed before, a shadow cast over his normally luminous oak brown eyes. Concern spread through her as she tightened her arms around his neck subconsciously and she thought about everything that had happened over the course of the last month, of everything that he had endured: worrying about Hayley and his niece living out in the bayou, dealing with the emotional fallout of learning about Rebekah betrayal all those years ago and her subsequent departure, handling his brother's borderline bipolar mood swings, attempting to maneuver the Factions back into a functioning body, and all the while, comforting her when she was missing her sister. She could see the stress in the line around his mouth, the anxiety in his eyes as they swept over the party guests wearily and she felt the need to help him relax, at least for the evening.
"I'm not wearing any underwear." she announced abruptly with a smirk on her lips and his head jerked around to look at her, eyes widened in shock as his mouth parted slightly before snapping shut.
"Ex-excuse me?" he asked in stunned confusion, a little too hoarsely to be played off as unaffected and she smirked in satisfaction at the sight of the usually confident vampire stuttering because of something she had said. He cleared his throat gently while shaking his head a little and she smiled coyly without answering his question as she pressed her body closer to his so they were chest to chest. She gave him a moment to compose himself, aware that it was often that he was caught off guard, and so she swayed gently to the music as she watched the emotions flash through his eyes in fascination: lust, happiness, shock, awe, confusion, desire, disappointment, until eventually they settled on content amusement.
Imogen smirked playfully as she moved her hands to rest on either side of his neck, her thumb intentionally grazing the underside of his jawline and she quirked an eyebrow at him as she scolded him coquettishly, "I thought you would be aware. It's considered social etiquette to keep your eyes on your dance partner, Mr. Mikaelson."
"My sincerest apologizes, Miss Claire." he replied in an equally coy manner as he offered her with a roguish grin and she hummed in acknowledgement as she linked her fingers at the nape of his neck. Imogen felt a tingle of pride in her veins when she noticed the darkness in his eyes had all but evaporated and sunk into the feeling of contentment that washed over her, allowing it to seep into her bones. The best portion of life will be the small, nameless moments spent smiling with someone who matters to you, and Imogen had known enough loss in her life to know that she had to hold on to those moments with both hands.
Elijah tightened his hold on the gorgeous creature in his arms, marveling at the fact he lucky enough to be in her presence. He couldn't believe the difference he felt within himself now that she was with him; before, there was a dark cloud hanging over his head and after, it was like a blindfold had been removed and he could see clearly for the first time.
An infectious giggle escaped her lips when he twirled her around dramatically in a circle and he grinned in response as he caught her in his arms, keeping her body pressed close to his own. She sucked in a breath at the sudden contact and he experienced an almost insane level of gratification when her blue eyes darkened with desire. The sight gave him a bout of confidence and he slowly, deliberately, lowered his hand down onto her material clad hip in a gentle caress.
Imogen gasped playfully in realization as her gaze snapped up to meet his, aroused accusation in their depths and she pursed her lips in mock annoyance as she narrowed her eyes at him, "Elijah Mikaelson! Are you feeling for a panty line?"
"You're the one who first mentioned that particular piece of apparel." he countered in a husky whisper as he leaned close to her ear and she laughed at the obvious double meaning behind his words as she threw her head back, missing the grin her response elicited.
The couple move together in perfect synchronization, their bodies instinctively knowing where the other was going, it was like their minds were connected and moving of their own accord. Elijah was slightly taken aback by the amount of grace and poise she possessed, the light footsteps making it seem like she was floating.
The whole world outside of the two of them seemed to fall away; there was no one around, no music playing, no voices, no footsteps, nothing but the two of them standing in each other's arms. Gravity kept them captive in each other's arm, their connected eyes kept them hostage and they found themselves slowly leaning closer to each other until their noses brushed in an intimate caress. Imogen could the warmth of his breath on her lips, a taunting sensation if there ever was one and her eyes flickered subconsciously down to his parted lips before returning to his heated oak brown orbs. Just as she was about to close the short distance separating them, regardless of the countless partygoers surrounding them on the dancefloor, the cell phone she had hidden in her bra for the evening started vibrating.
Elijah glanced down at her chest in amusement, one eyebrow raised in silent question and she grimaced theatrically as she used his body to block her from view of most of the room, reaching down the front of her dress to remove her phone from her cleavage. She ignored the mirthful stare she was on the receiving end of as she looked at the caller ID on the screen and sighed heavily in exasperation as she rolled her blue eyes at the intruder's incredibly horrible timing.
"Bleh! Stupid." she complained childishly with a pout on her lips as the phone stopped vibrating and he chuckled at her expression as she leaned her forehead on his shoulder, not that he was going to protest any situation that involved her touching him in some way. She lifted her head with a small apologetic smile on her lips as she rested a hand on his shoulder and leaned in to press to kiss to his cheek before pulling back as she informed him gently, "I have to return a phone call. Save me another dance?"
"All of them." he promised her softly as he squeezed her hip affectionately before releasing her body and she sent him a charming grin over her shoulder as she disappeared into the crowd of partygoers.
Imogen weaved through the well-dressed guests that milled around the courtyard, smiling politely at those she was acquaintances with as she passed them and she made her way into the secluded hallway that led to the private wing of the Abattoir. None of the other guests were allowed entrance, but she didn't think the Originals would protest her seeking privacy in one of the empty offices on the second floor. Instinct propelled her towards Elijah's office, the one he had jokingly referred to as 'theirs', and she paused in the doorway as she took in the delicious scent that was distinctively 'Elijah' before shaking herself out of the stupor.
The phone in her hand seemed to weigh a ton as she carefully sat down on one of the comfortable armchairs and dialed a familiar number from memory before holding the device up to her ear as she waited for an answer.
"I see you finally got around to calling me back." a masculine voice drawled from the other end of the call when it was answered and she rolled her blue eyes in fond affection as she crossed one leg over the other.
"You called literally five minutes ago, Marcel." she retorted in annoyance as she shook her head to herself at his impatience and then sighed heavily, knowing this the phone call wasn't going to be a pleasant one. "What's going on? You wouldn't call me tonight unless there was a problem. Or did you call to ask if I'd spoken to Davina yet? Please, let it be the later. Please, let it be the later."
"'Fraid not, pretty girl. Cami called me. Kieran's condition deteriorated tonight. He was shackling himself to the radiator in the attic at St. Anne's and got into an argument with Cami. He must have had a sudden rush of adrenaline 'cause he managed to get himself free and attacked her, kept saying he was going to kill her. She knocked him unconscious with a lamp and got out of there."
"Oh, my God! Is she okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, she was fine. A little rattled, but okay. Listen, the reason I'm calling, can you please cast a boundary spell on the attic so that Kieran can't get out? We don't need another massacre like what happened with Sean."
"Of course. I'll do it now. Do me a favor in return? Go keep an eye on Cami? I don't want her to be alone right now and I'm stuck here for the night. It might be my only chance to see Davina. Klaus will be distracted with the party all night so you should be safe."
"I'm already on my way. Hug D for me?" he asked hopefully in a pained voice, knowing that he wasn't able to see the young witch while she was immersed in the coven. It had been a painful month, not being able to see the girl he thought of like a daughter, not being able to hear her voice or comfort her in when she needed someone.
"Of course. Bye, hon." she murmured into the phone before hanging up with a tired sigh and she stared blankly down at the device in her hand for a moment, processing the information that had been relayed.
Cami was one of her best friends, one of her only friends if she was being honest, and it pained her that the human was the victim of such terrible circumstance. It was miracle in itself that she was still speaking to Imogen after everything the witches had put her family through.
Imogen climbed to her feet as she stuffed her phone back down the front of her dress, making sure it was in a position so that it wouldn't fall when she moved. She closed her eyes as she took a deep breath to steady her nerves and felt the swell of magical potential building in her stomach as she muttered under her breath, "Bloquer. Garantir. Grenier St Anne Church. Gardez cet endroit sûr jusqu'à ce qu'il soit renversé par la même main."
Something inside of her mind 'clicked' as the spell took effect and she smiled in satisfaction at her accomplishment as she brushed her loose brunette hair over her shoulder. She straightened the diamond necklace around her throat as she made sure her outfit wasn't out of place and then confidently made her way out of the office, closing the door behind her when she exited.
With every step closer to the courtyard where the party was taking place, the faint sound of music seemed to get louder until she could feel the vibration from the beat and tempo. A small smile graced her lips as she overlooked the party from the balcony above and her gaze swept around the room at all of the people who had turned up with the intention of gaining peace in the community. It was a fascinating sight to behold; enemies becoming allies, foes becoming friends.
Imogen's gaze almost immediately sought Elijah in the crowd and she was caught between smirking in amusement, cringing in embarrassment and scowling in jealousy at the sight she witnessed. The Original was currently holding a conversation with an attractive blonde woman in a white dress, a polite smile on his lips as he stood at an acceptable distance but the woman rested a hand on his arm flirtatiously. Anyone who could read the miniscule facial expressions that Elijah displayed would recognize the annoyance and frustration in his features that he tried to hide from everyone.
Deciding to take pity on the man, Imogen let a smirk spread across her lips as she made her way down the staircase and in the direction of the damsel in distress that was in need of saving.
The witch flounced towards the couple with a smirk on her lips, tossing her brunette hair over her shoulder as she sneakily inserted herself in between the two of them while facing the vampire. She felt the woman, whom she could now ascertain was a human, glaring at the back of her head as Imogen met Elijah's grateful oak brown eyes and turned her head slightly as she spoke dismissively over her shoulder, "Excuse me, he's taken. Shoo."
The sound of retreating footsteps fading into the symphony of noises cascading over the courtyard and Imogen smiled in satisfaction as she looked back over at the Original with an eyebrow quirked condescendingly, "I can't leave you alone for a minute, can I?"
"I would prefer you didn't. I would always prefer to be in your presence." Elijah retorted almost instantly with a charming grin lighting up his features and her smile softened at the comment as she stepped closer to him coyly.
"You're such a sweet talker." she practically cooed in response as she reached up to sooth her fingers along his lapels, smiling teasingly as she moved towards him and he chuckled in amusement as he lifted his head momentarily to cast a glance around the party. Something over her shoulder caught his attention, causing a bright grin to spread across his lips and she frowned in confusion as she narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously, "What are you looking at?"
Elijah settled his hands on her shoulders as he looked into her blue eyes with an the most excited expression she could remember ever seeing on his face and she grew even more confused as he forcibly turned her around in a small circle. Her breath caught in her throat as she caught sight of the familiar brunette standing across the room and she felt unshed tears stinging her eyes as she watched her sister looking around the party until matching blue eyes collided.
A blinding smile appeared on Davina's lips as she started sprinting across the room, not caring about the people who she was bumping into in her hurry or the fact that her semi-high heels weren't made for running. Her pulse was racing, adrenaline pumping through her veins, and everything around her faded until Imogen was the only thing she could see in front of her. A part of her had felt like it had been missing for an entire month, and with the mere sight of her sister across a crowded room, the void inside of her was slowly fading.
"Davina…" Imogen breathed out in relief as she caught the lithe body that crashed into her at top speed, balancing to counter the added weight and she wrapped her arms tightly around Davina's waist as she closed her eyes in contentment. Something inside of her seemed to 'snap' into place as she held onto her little sister for all she was worth and a feeling of immediate peace settled over her, encompassing her in a warm cocoon of safety and harmony. She pulled back from the embrace with a bright smile on her lips and she placed her hands on the younger girl's shoulders as she murmured softly, "God, I missed you, Pixie."
"I miss you too, Immy." Davina retorted genuinely with tears in her blue eyes as she sniffled gently, a shaky smile on her lips. A bout of laughter escaped her lips as she roughly brushed away a wayward tear with the tips of her fingers; the void in her chest transforming into a warm sensation that made her feel complete and she mentally vowed to hold onto that feeling when she left her sisters presence.
Imogen squealed excitedly under her breath, her eyes glossed over with tears as she wrapped her arms tightly around the younger girl and she turned her head to glance at the man standing to the side watching the two sisters interact with a bright grin on her lips. "Look, Elijah! Davina's here!"
The Original chuckled at her obvious enthusiasm as she forcibly swayed the two of them side to side and he watched Davina maneuver herself out of the embrace as she playfully swatted at her sisters hands while laughing gleefully. Their matching blue eyes were alight with life and mirth and love as they reunited after a month long separation, and it was a humbling sight to witness.
"I see." he assured her pacifyingly with a soft smile on his lips as she gave another muffled squeal of excitement and he couldn't help chuckling when a few of the other guests looked their way in confusion. Imogen nor Davina seemed to notice the attention they were receiving as they giggled over something no one else could begin to understand. Elijah rested a hand on the small of Imogen's back discreetly to gain her attention and she looked up at him with a bright smile, appearing more at peace than she had in over a month. "I am going to leave you to enjoy your time together."
"Okay. I'll come find you later." she promised him warmly as she set a hand on his shoulder with a smile and he leaned down to press a lingering kiss to her temple before pulling back with a smirk on his lips. "Okay. I'll definitely come find you later."
Elijah laughed huskily in response as he squeezed her waist playfully with a roguish grin and he nodded in Davina's direction with a charming smile on his lips as he released his hold on the older witch. A part of him didn't want to leave; being in Imogen's presence made everything lighter somehow and he wanted to know Davina on a more personal level, he had feeling that her approval or disapproval would affect their growing relationship. But he also knew that the sisters hadn't seen or talked to each other in over a month and Imogen had been having trouble adjusting to the new reality; he knew they needed this time to themselves.
Davina watched the interaction between her sister and the handsome vampire with a small frown puckering her lips, slightly suspicious of his motivation. Every interaction she had with the Original family had always ended in blood, mostly theirs at her hand, and it didn't feel her with glee that one of them was now so friendly with her sister. Elijah was rumored to be the moral one of the family, the one who always lived up to his word, but that didn't mean she wanted Imogen associating with any of them. She knew that Imogen could look after herself, in fact she had witnessed it more than once, but she felt an almost violent need to protect her older sister with every ounce of her being.
Imogen sighed happily as she followed Elijah's retreating back disappear into the crowd. She had a handsome and charming suitor, her baby sister was within arm's reach for the first time in a month, and she looked hot as hell in her new cocktail dress; life was good.
"So, my darling, tell everything!" Imogen urged playfully with an undercurrent of concern and demand in her voice as she guided her sister towards a quiet alcove where they could speak in private.
Davina bit her lower lip nervously as she hesitated, unsure how to describe her time back with the coven, but Imogen's loving gaze was enough to remember that someone genuinely cared, someone genuinely wanted to know. She took a deep breath as she folded her arms over her stomach protectively and tears stung the back of her eyes as she looked away from her sister with a heavy sigh escaping her lips before she admitted quietly, "It's Monique. She has no idea what I went through when I was dead. The ancestors hated me for what I did with my magic. I can't just start practicing again. I knew I shouldn't have trusted Marcel when he told me to go back. I don't know how much more of it I can take."
"Hey…" Imogen murmured comfortingly as she wrapped an arm around Davina's shoulders, pulling her into a tight hug and the younger girl melted into the loving touch with a slight smile on her lips as she enjoyed the maternal embrace. "It's going to be okay, Pixie."
"When am I going to stop being weak. I'm supposed to be a Harvest girl, but maybe I don't belong here. Maybe I never did."
"Come here, let me tell you something…" the older girl started in a firm tone of voice as she pulled back with a stern glint in her blue eyes and Davina immediately recognized the expression, it was the same one that came with a scolding after she had done something she wasn't supposed to. "Honey, you went through hell and you came out the other side. And trust me, there's nothing more beautiful than someone who has survived losing nearly everything and still has a tender heart."
The words were spoken so earnestly that Davina didn't have a choice but to believe them, even as a little voice in the back of her mind was practically screaming that it was a lie. Tears burned in her eyes as she bit the inside of her cheek, trying to stop the onslaught of emotion that threatened to overwhelm her.
Imogen offered the younger girl an honest smile, the corner of her lips turning up as she wiped a stray tear off of Davina's cheek with her thumb and leaned her forehead against her sister's as she whispered softly, "You've survived a lot of things, and you'll survive this. Please, don't give Monique the power to break you now."
"I won't. I promise." she whispered in response with a grin lighting up her features as she threaded her fingers through the older girls and the two of them stood locked in an intimate embrace for a moment before parting with their fingers still locked together. Davina looked around the party as she discreetly wiped away some of the teardrops on her cheeks and she cleared her throat gently as she turned back to her sister with a teasing smile on place. "So, what was all of that before? With Elijah?"
"Nuh-uh, baby sister. My love life is off limits until you're old enough to drink, vote and place a bet in a casino." Imogen remarked pointedly with a laugh as she took a step backwards, wiggling a finger in her sister's direction warningly and Davina grinned victoriously with a giggle as she stifled the urge to clap her hands triumphantly.
"You just admitted that it involved your love life!"
"Based on what you just saw, you couldn't work that out for yourself?"
"Why do you have to rain on my parade?" Davina asked rhetorically with a pout on her lips as she planted her hands on her hips and Imogen smiled pacifyingly, amused by her little sisters dramatic display. Sometimes it frightened her how mature and responsible Davina was forced to become so early in life, but it was the small moments when she acted her age, when she acted like a typical teenage girl, that warmed Imogen's heart.
A serious glint entered the younger girls blue eyes as her lips turned down into a frown and the sudden change in demeanor confused Imogen, who placed a hand soothingly on her shoulder in concern. Davina looked up at her sister hesitantly, biting the inside of her cheek in deliberation before something shifted inside of her and she came to a decision. A part of her was afraid that Imogen would dismiss her opinion as childish, or that she wouldn't want to listen to the carefully constructed concern that raced through her mind.
Davina inhaled sharply as she squared her shoulders in determination; it was the first time that she had ever felt the need to question her sisters judgement so she didn't know how to go about expressing herself in that situation. Imogen had always been the one who took care of her, who dealt with everything bad so that she didn't have to worry about it anymore than necessary and she had never doubted that Imogen knew best, that Imogen was looking out for her to the best of her ability. "Um, listen, Imogen, I-I know that you're amazing and capable of making your own decisions but I'm concerned about Elijah. He's not someone you can trust, Immy! He's an Original."
"I'm aware."
"That doesn't worry you?! You're a powerful witch with no connection to the coven. You have no alliance. You don't think the Original family would love to have a witch in their pocket? You don't think they want to keep you away from Marcel, or the witches, so they can have the upper hand?"
"Oh, I know they want me on their side." The older witch agreed nonchalantly with a shrug of her shoulders, a serene smile on her lips and Davina sputtered incoherently for a moment in confusion, completely unsure what to make of her sisters unaffected attitude. "Honey, I'm the most powerful witch in the Quarter, so everyone either wants me on their side or they want to kill me. I know that. But I've made it perfectly clear to everyone that you are of top priority. After you, it's Marcel, and Cami, and Josh, and Hayley, since she's pregnant. Everyone knows where my loyalties lie. Especially Elijah. We've talked about it extensively, and I know his priority is his family, and he knows my priority is mine. It's a nonissue."
Davina gaped at her sister in shock, even though she knew she shouldn't have been; Imogen always had a way of surprising people with her thought process. A chuckle escaped her lips as she shook her head to herself; she should have known better than to doubt the fact that Imogen had a well thought out plan in place. "Okay. I see my concern is misplaced. I'll go back to being a giggly teenage girl, begging for gossip."
"Good. You deserve to act like a normal teenage girl. And you should experience things that a normal teenage girl does. For example, that hot guy checking you out." Imogen teased honestly with a giggle as she discreetly gestured towards the rugged blonde man looking in their direction. Davina's blue eyes widened in shock as she whipped her head around, causing her sister to roll her eyes at the lack of subtly in the action but a smile played on her lips.
The attractive blonde man smiled slightly when he noticed that he had caught the attention of the sisters and Davina grinned back shyly as she tucked a strand of brunette hair behind her ear nervously. A blush spread across her cheeks as she quickly spun back around to face her sister, the grin still marring her features and she giggled uncontrollably as she struggled to remain calm.
"Ooh, okay. Don't freak out but he's coming over here." Imogen whispered excitedly as she discreetly glanced over the shorter girls shoulder with a sly smile and Davina's eyes widened as she went to turn around but Imogen caught her by the shoulders to stop her movement. "No, no, no. Play it cool."
"I don't know how to do that!" Davina hissed in a panic as she shook her head rapidly and Imogen gestured for her to be quiet as she watched the attractive blonde man approached them from the corner of her eye.
"Hey. You look, um..." he started in a slightly nervous tone of voice as he came to a stop next to them and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she grinned at him shyly with a blush on her cheeks.
"Nervous? Out of place? Short in this dress?" she asked jokingly as she giggled nervously and he laughed along with her as he confidently took a step towards her with smirk on his lips.
"I was gonna say pretty. I'm Oliver. So, what's the name of the girl I'm about to ask to dance?"
"Monique. Her name is Monique." the girl in question said as she appeared out of nowhere, standing beside Oliver with a smirk playing on her lips and everyone looked at her in surprise as she maneuvered herself in front of Davina. Oliver gaped at her in confusion as he looked in between the two young witches and Imogen gritted her teeth in annoyance as she glanced at the disheartened expression on her sister's features.
"Monique! Wow! I haven't see you since came back to life." Imogen gushed with forced enthusiasm as she rushed forward to embrace the younger girl and Monique stiffened under her touch as she grimaced in disgust at the sign of affection before she was released from the hug rather abruptly. "We have to get a drink together. Now. Let's go, sweetie."
Davina grinned happily as she watched her sister throw an arm over her ex-best friend's shoulders and practically drag the younger girl away from them, tossing a salacious wink over her shoulder as she walked away. A giggle escaped her lips as she tucked a strand of brunette hair behind her ear and she looked up at Oliver shyly with a small grin as she introduced herself softly, "Davina. Her name is Davina."
Oliver extended his arm towards her in invitation and she giggled excitedly as she accepted, causing him to smile down at her as they headed towards the crowded dancefloor. She could feel her pulse racing, the adrenaline mixing with nerves, and she hoped that her palms weren't sweaty as he spun her into his arms.
Imogen watched the interaction between the two of them and she couldn't help but grin as the sound of Davina's laughter reached her ears from across the room. It was refreshing to see her sister acting like a typical teenage girl, enjoying the perks of immaturity and lack of responsibility. So much of her life had been spent afraid and timid to speak out; it made a warmth spread through her chest to see her smiling happily and laughing without a care in the world.
Moments after Imogen had dragged a protesting Monique away from her sister and her possible suitor, the young witch tore her arm out of Imogen's grip and stormed off with a deadly glare. The two of them had known each all of their lives; had spent enough time together over years because of Imogen's friendship with Sophie and Davina's friendship with Monique. Many days had been spent at the park having picnics, the younger girls chasing squirrels, trying to capture them to keep as pets, and many nights had been spent watching classic Disney movies, baking chocolate-chips cookies together as Imogen and Davina hid out at the Devereux's house.
Before the Harvest ritual, Monique was always kindhearted and sweet; never had Imogen even heard her raise her voice in anger but something had changed inside of her upon coming back to life. It wasn't surprising, it wasn't something that could be held against her, and it definitely couldn't be considered a good thing.
"She looks like she's enjoying herself." a familiar voice greeted her teasing as they came to stop beside her and she glanced over at Klaus with an amused smirk on her lips as he nodded at the dancing couple she had been watching moments before. "Establishing connection between the Factions and all that jazz Elijah was babbling about."
Imogen shook her head at him in mock exasperation as she turned her attention back to the dancefloor and she sighed almost wistfully to herself as she told him honestly, "I'm just glad she's smiling. I live to see her smile."
Klaus frowned incredulously at the declaration, not completely understanding the concept of your happiness being congruent on someone else's. The witch noticed the slight confusion in his light blue and smiled indulgently, not a hint of condescension in her expression, only knowing in her eyes as she murmured softly, "You'll know the feeling soon enough. The moment you look into your daughters eyes, the whole world will stop and instead of gravity, she will keep you grounded to the earth. You think you love her now, but just wait until you see her, and hold her. Nothing compares, Niklaus."
When his family was first turned into a vampire all those years ago, he spent every second consciously trying to block out any form of emotion except for lust and hunger. Over the course of a thousand years, the shield he erected around his heart had become like a second skin, a part of him and he couldn't fathom how in the small amount of time he'd been aware of his upcoming fatherhood that had changed so much. Quite frankly, he was scared to death to have someone, something so vulnerable dependent on him. He was aware of the fact that he was emotionally scarred, and he wasn't sure he was capable of the kind of love and devotion that his innocent daughter deserved from him. The only thing he knew for absolutely certain in his cold, dead heart was that his daughter would never fear him the way he feared Mikael, she would never look at him and not even recognize him but the monster he had become.
Imogen smiled at him knowingly, like she could read the self-loathing thoughts that were running across his mind and she rubbed his shoulder soothingly with one hand before swiping two flutes of champagne from a passing waiter's tray. "Here. Drink your worries away."
Klaus smirked in amusement as he accepted the glass she held out to him in offering and he nodded in gratitude just as a loud crash echoed through the courtyard. Music came to a sudden stop as everyone fell silent, turning towards the sound with apparent interest and Imogen shared a look with the hybrid next to her before they both hurried to the edge of the crowd for a better view.
Imogen groaned out loud at the scene taking place in front of her; Diego rushed towards Oliver but the werewolf quickly flipped him over and pinned him against a wall, a hand curled around his throat and a furious snarl plastered on his lips, a table was broken on the ground and shards of champagne glasses which had shattered upon impact littered the floor. Elijah appeared out of nowhere at vampire excelled speed and ripped the werewolf away before pushing him against a table, a tight hold on his throat.
"This ends now. I won't ask again." Elijah stated in a deadly calm voice as he glared daggers at the werewolf and Imogen scoffed under her breath at the mess the evening had turned into. She glanced around quickly for any sign of her younger sister, a spike of fear shooting through her when she remembered that she had been dancing with Oliver only minutes before.
"She snuck out in the kerfuffle." Klaus whispered comfortingly in her ear when he noticed the panicked expression on her face and she sighed in relief as she absentmindedly placed a hand over her racing heart.
"Oh, we'll end it all right." Jackson declared in a hard voice, drawing everyone's attention towards him and Imogen shook her head at the stupidity of men when she saw that he was pinning Diego to the wall while aiming a stake right at his heart.
"Shouldn't you intervene or something?" Imogen asked in a sarcastic tone of voice as she leaned towards the hybrid standing next to her, knowing that he wouldn't mind if the party turned into a massacre.
"Why would I? This party just got interesting." he whispered back to her with an entertained smirk as he lifted the champagne glass to his lips and she rolled her eyes at him as she looked around the crowd for an ally, for someone that might step up and take control for the situation.
Disappointment flooded through her veins when she realized that no one in the entire room had the courage to speak up, to voice the thoughts running through everyone's mind. Imogen scoffed out loud at their apparent cowardice as she straightened her shoulders and mentally prepared herself to deliver a speech but the moment she opened her mouth, another voice echoed throughout the silent courtyard.
"What's stopping you? Kill him." Hayley announced from the top of the main staircase, a blank expression on her features as everyone in the room looked at her in surprise and she quirked an eyebrow at the Original as she started descending the staircase. "Go ahead, Elijah. Do it. I mean, it's not like he doesn't deserve to die."
Everyone seemed to hang on her every word, entranced by the confidence and authority that drenched her voice. A small smile appeared on Imogen's lips and pride eclipsed any anger she felt as she watched the werewolf, knowing she was metaphorically stepping into the role she was born to play: alpha, leader, queen.
There was an aura surrounding her entire body, it was the embodiment of strength and respect. Truly powerful women didn't explain why they wanted respect, they simply didn't engage those who didn't give it to them. There was a fierce glint in her eyes, a fire burning deep inside of her that was fighting to be free because this woman wasn't looking for a knight to come a save her, but a sword to wield as she fought to save herself.
"I mean, it was Oliver who handed Rebekah over to the witches so they could torture her. But, then again, wasn't it Diego who led a werewolf massacre last month? And the witches cursed the wolves, while the humans stood back and let it all happen. So, when you think about it, everyone here deserves to die." Hayley continued in a nonchalant tone of voice as she waved a hand dismissively with a shrug of her shoulders, her hazel eyes blazing with determination as she came to stop at the base of the staircase.
"Are approaching a point?" Elijah snapped angrily as he lifted his head to look at her with narrowed eyes, keeping a firm hold on the werewolf that had stopped struggling underneath him.
Imogen felt a sharp spike of anger go through her body as she narrowed her eyes at the Original, a little bothered that he was the one who was hesitating after being the one to initiate the truce between the Factions. She straightened her shoulders in resolution as she stepped forward, strolling purposefully into the small clearing between the fight and the crowd as she raised her voice to draw everyone's attention towards where she was standing. "Her point, Elijah, is this- if we can't all learn to get along, if our families can't create some sort of community, then what's the point? Kill each other and get it all over with."
There was an elongated pause, a moment where time seemed to stand still, before Elijah reluctantly released his hold on Oliver's throat and he took a deliberate step backwards in order to allow the werewolf space to stand up from the table. Jackson waited another moment to see if anyone would make a move to retaliate and then dropped his forearm from where it was pressed against Diego's throat, removing the wooden stake from his chest. The four of them stared at each other warily, waiting for someone to do something in order to break the tension that had settled over the party.
"The first step to getting somewhere is deciding you're not going to stay where you are. We have been at war! There has been no peace. For any of us! We have a voice in New Orleans, and we will use it to create a peaceful place for humans, and witches, and vampires, and werewolf alike. This is our home. This is our safe haven. And we are a community. It's time we started acting like it." Imogen concluded in a strong tone of voice as she turned in a small circle, making eye contact with everyone who was listening intently to her speech.
A small smile graced the lips of the Claire witch as she picked up a flute of champagne and raised it in the air, proposing a toast as she spun in a small circle before calling out, "To New Orleans!"
"To New Orleans!" a symphony of voices echoed after her as those holding glasses raised them in the air and Imogen shared a grin with the pregnant werewolf across the courtyard as she brought the rim of her glass to her lips.