CHAPTER 18 – THE BALL
After Rhiannon showered and ate a little breakfast, she finally managed to dig up her phone somewhere from between couch cushions. Four missed calls, one text from Elena.
I know you're still mad at us but you should know that Caroline's dad died last night.
She called Caroline immediately. She wasn't mad at her because she wasn't a part of the stupid homecoming plot and even if she was, Rhiannon couldn't ignore the fact she just lost one of her parents.
"Hey Rhiannon," Caroline answered her phone in her usual chipper manner. "What's up?"
"Care, I heard what happened last night," Rhiannon said. "I don't know what to say. I am so sorry. How are you doing?"
"I'm dealing," she said solemnly. "Do you want to meet in a grill for lunch?"
"I'd love to," Rhiannon retorted. "Meet you there at twelve?"
"Yea, that works for me," Caroline agreed. "Is it okay if Elena comes too?"
"Yea, I think it's about time we bury the hatchet," Rhiannon muttered. "I'll see you soon."
"It's all so weird," Elena muttered over her cezar salad. "The Originals are throwing a ball, like an actual ball."
"Well I don't know about you guys, but I think we could all use some fancy fun," Rhiannon retorted.
"It's some twisted Cinderella fetish is what it is," Caroline growled. "And why does the evil witch want an audience with you?"
"I have no idea," Elena retorted. "There's only one way to find out."
"I thought you told Damon and Stefan you weren't going," Rhiannon said.
"I did," Elena said. "Which is all the more reason why I need a drama free bodyguard."
"I don't know, is it a good idea to go talk to Esther?" Rhiannon protested. "She already tried to kill you once. Who's to say she wouldn't try again."
"I need to find out what she wants from me," Elena objected. "Bonnie was led to open that casket for a reason."
"Yea, because Esther is channeling her entire bloodline. I told you Elijah told me that," Rhiannon retorted. "There's no guarantee there's any other reason."
"Well the only way we'll know for sure is if I talk to her," Elena countered looking over to Caroline. "So what do you think?"
"Well I think a Salvatore would look a lot better in a tux," Caroline joked. "And by that I mean Stefan."
"Alright I see my input is being completely ignored once again so I'm gonna head out," Rhiannon said standing up throwing some cash on the table. "I gotta get ready. See you at the ball."
Rhiannon was looking at herself in a mirror in the back of a limousine Elijah sent for her trying hard to calm down. She was both nervous and excited. Excited to see Elijah again and nervous about meeting the rest of his family. As the driver pulled up, she saw Elijah walk down the stairs to help her get out. He was incredibly handsome in his tux making Rhiannon's mouth water. His hair slicked back and his tux hugging him in all the right places. James Bond can suck it, Rhiannon thought to herself as she readjusted her pelerine.
Elijah couldn't wait to see Rhiannon in the gown he picked for her. As he reached for the door handle and opened the door he wasn't prepared for the beautiful vision in front of him. There she was looking like a princess in her gorgeous dress, cream colored gloves and fur pelerine. Her hair was in a simple yet elegant bun with a lovely silver-diamante trinket in the back. He was speechless as he reached out his hand to help her get out of the car.
"You look absolutely stunning my love," he said as he held her both hands looking her up and down.
"You don't look so bad yourself," Rhiannon teased blushing wildly. "Thank you for the dress. It's gorgeous."
"Not nearly as gorgeous as the woman wearing them," Elijah muttered seductively and pulled her in for a kiss that made her swoon. After a while, he broke the kiss and grabbed her hand placing it in the crook of his arm. "Shall we?" he asked gesturing towards the mansion.
"Let's go," she smiled and let him lead her inside.
"Wow, this house is amazing," Rhiannon muttered in awe.
"Let's get you something to drink," Elijah said after helping her out of her pelerine. "I'll be right back."
"Good evening love," Klaus said walking somewhere from behind her. "You look ravishing tonight."
"Thank you," Rhiannon said not really knowing what to say or how to behave around him. She hated his guts for what he did to her and Elijah but it would appear that Elijah has really forgiven him so she should at least try to be civil to him.
"I was hoping we could have a word," Klaus said leading her further inside the spacious hall. "I wanted to apologize for turning you into hybrid. I can see my brother genuinely cares for you and that is something I haven't seen in centuries. Plus you could say we are distant cousins and family members should at least try to get along. So what do you say?" Klaus asked extending his hand towards her. "Bygones?"
"Oh what the hell," Rhiannon muttered shaking his hand. "Bygones."
"Great," Klaus chirped happily. "I'll see you around little wolf," he said walking away. Rhiannon followed him with her gaze and saw he was walking towards Caroline who was wearing a gorgeous blue gown with beaded bodice. She never looked more beautiful.
"What did my brother want from you?" Elijah asked walking towards her with two glasses f champagne.
"Get this, he came to apologize for turning me into a hybrid and being a dick in general," Rhiannon said sipping on her champagne.
"Well, miracles do happen," Elijah joked making Rhiannon choke on her drink.
"Well what do you know," she joked along.
"I'm to introduce our family to our guests," Elijah said. "Come along."
"Oh alright," Rhiannon said chugging the rest of her champagne and walking with Elijah towards the staircase. He stopped at the bottom kissing Rhiannon's temple gently, whispering "wait for me here", and walked halfway up the stairs followed by his siblings.
"If everyone could gather please," Elijah called out loud getting everybody's attention. "Welcome. Thank you for joining us. You know whenever our mother brings our family together like this, it's tradition for us to commence the evening with a dance. Tonight's pick is a centuries old waltz, so if all of you could please find yourselves a partner, please join us in the ball room."
Second later he was at the bottom of the stairs, grabbing Rhiannon's hand and kissing it slowly he asked. "May I?"
"Certainly," she beamed at him and let him lead her to the ball room. "You're gonna have to lead though. I've never really done this."
"Don't worry," Elijah whispered. "Just follow my lead."
A romantic music started to play as they were all lined up in the ball room. Bowing to each other they stared into each other's eyes. Twirling her around Elijah led her through the dance floor with ease and experience.
"Why am I not surprised that you're an amazing dancer?" Rhiannon teased looking into his eyes and holding the train of her gown.
"Well you're not the worst dancer yourself," Elijah teased back mimicking her compliment from earlier.
"Ha-ha, you're very funny," she glared at him playfully. "I've had training but I never thought I'd have any use for it."
"Well life's full of surprises," Elijah joked twirling her around but not letting her switch partners making Rhiannon raise an eyebrow at him questioningly. "I don't share," he growled playfully sending shivers down her spine.
"Greedy," she muttered squeezing his shoulder. "Not that I'm complaining."
"Good," he smiled swaying them to the music.
After the dance, Elijah disappeared for a while to talk to Elena.
"My god you truly are a vision," a young man she'd never seen before said walking up to her with two glasses of champagne. "Kol Mikaelson. It's a pleasure to meet you love."
"Rhiannon Petersen," she said letting him kiss her hand. "Pleasure to meet you as well. So you're Elijah's younger brother?"
"Indeed, younger, more handsome," he joked. "I see my sister needs my assistance. I will have to excuse myself. Again, it was a pleasure to meet you dear," he said walking away leaving Rhiannon alone. She decided to go back to the main hall to find Elijah. He was talking to Elena.
"Hey guys," she said walking up to them. "Elena, you look beautiful."
"Thank you," Elena muttered not really looking at her. That was odd and it made her feel a bit uneasy. "You look beautiful too."
"If you'll excuse us Elena," Elijah said leading Rhiannon away from the doppelganger.
"So did you find out anything?" she asked him.
"Just the same story my mother's given us," Elijah said grabbing two fresh glasses of champagne. "I still don't think that's a hundred percent true, but we won't let that spoil tonight."
"Agreed," Rhiannon smiled at him.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen," Esther called out getting everyone's attention. "Waiters are coming around with champagne. I invite you all to join me in raising a glass. It provides me with no greater joy than to see my family back together as one. I'd like to thank you all for being part of this spectacular evening. Cheers."
"Cheers darling," Elijah said raising his glass.
"Cheers," Rhiannon toned smiling and sipping at her champagne.
After that, they took a walk in the huge garden that was a part of the mansion. It was early autumn and most of the flower had already died but it still had its charm. Elijah noticed she shivered once or twice so he took of his jacket and put it around her shoulders.
"Always the gentleman," Rhiannon muttered appreciatively making him smirk at her in a way that made her weak in the knees.
"So you think I could send the car for your stuff tomorrow?" Elijah asked walking with his hand on the small of her back.
"Yea, that would work," Rhiannon said smiling at him. "I guess you should give me a tour of this house once everybody leaves because I'm pretty sure I'd get lost in here."
"Anything you want darling," he said stopping her and brushing the hair out of her face. "You look so beautiful tonight," he muttered before placing one hand on her cheek and the other on the small of her back pulling her closer to him. Rhiannon placed her hands on his chest and closed her eyes in sweet anticipation of his lips on hers. She had kissed him multiple times but every time it felt like she was consumed by this fire inside her that burned only for him. She twined her hands into his hair and he pulled her even closer. She couldn't take it anymore.
"Take me to your room," she whispered with bated breath once they broke the kiss. That was all he needed to hear and before she even realized what was happening, he was walking down an empty hallway with her in his arms. He opened the door to his room with one swift kick, putting her down on the ground again. She let his jacket fall from her shoulders and took off her gloves caressing and feeling the contours of his face with her bare hands as if she'd never seen him before.
He grabbed her hands with his pulling them down from his face and kissing her palm gently. Then he put his hands on both sides of her face pulling her in for a gentle kiss, deepening it gradually until they were both breathless. He tugged at the silver trinket that was holding her bun in place letting her long auburn hair fall down on her shoulders. Rhiannon walked closer towards him undoing buttons on his vest while he was tugging on his bowtie.
"Are you sure about this Rhiannon?" Elijah muttered caressing her cheek with his hand.
"Yes, just… go easy on me," she said looking down, then back up at him. "I've never actually erm… you know."
He didn't know what to say to that so he just hugged her tight stroking her neck and back while kissing her lightly. He pulled away looking deep into her eyes saying: "I love you Rhiannon."
"I love you Elijah," she whispered breathlessly.
He stroked down up and down her back reaching for the zipper on her gown and opened it slowly. Then he circled her standing behind her pulling the zipper further apart slinging the straps of her dress over her shoulder making breath hitch in her throat. He pulled her tight against him, placing one hand around her while caressing her neck and shoulder with other as he nibbled at her earlobe. She almost jumped out of her skin at that point, her heightened senses making every sensation thousand times more intense. She turned around to see him and saw the blood rush to his face, the veins under his eyes darkening with desire and his fangs extending in his semi-opened mouth. He was beautiful, not at all the monster he considered himself to be sometimes.
Elijah reached out his hand and with one swift movement pulled her gown down the rest of the way until it was pooling around her feet revealing a lacey coral pink bralette and matching boy shorts. She quickly stepped out of her dress discarding her heels in the process and crashed her body against his tearing his shirt open making buttons pop out in every direction. He whisked her up in his arms and kissing her neck and collar bone he carried her to the bed where he laid her down admiring the view in front of him before he crawled on top of her. He trapped her underneath his body and kissed down her chest and her stomach making delicious moans escape from her throat. As he came dangerously close to the line of her underwear she grabbed onto his hair and he could feel she was nervous.
She wanted Elijah more than anything at that moment but she couldn't help to not be a little nervous. She knew he could sense that as he came up for more kisses. He took her bralette off and softly caressed her bare chest, down her stomach and under her panties gently cupping her most intimate parts. She arched her back at the warm sensation of his touch down there opening herself to him. He explored her gently and slowly at first, drawing random patterns around her nub, then reached even further and pushed on finder inside of her wet slit watching for her reaction and he wasn't disappointed. She moaned loudly squirming under his touch, grabbing onto bed sheets for dear life.
"That feels so good," she whispered breathlessly pulling him in for another kiss while he pumped his finger in and out slowly. She was ready.
"I love you," Elijah whispered as he discarded her panties along with the rest of his clothing. He positioned himself over her again, kissing her gently, caressing her hair and body. "Let me know if it hurts too much," he whispered giving her one last kiss before he pushed himself inside of her. She tensed for a moment, battling the uncomfortable sensation but it was gone as quick as it came and all she could feel was the immense pleasure building inside of her. They started to move slowly at first, kissing everywhere they could reach, and whispering sweet nothings to each other they gradually quickened the pace.
Rhiannon looked up at Elijah's who's eyes were blood red and fixed at her, his veins darkening again and she could feel the blood rush too. She pulled him in for a scorching kiss and when they broke it coming up for air, she whispered "bite me." He looked up at her hesitantly but she could see that deep down he wanted to. "Go on, I want you to taste all of me," she encouraged him pressing his head down towards her neck. She could feel the tremors that wracked his body as he was trying to gain control over himself again.
"I love you Elijah," she whispered scratching his back lightly. That did it for him and he lost even the slightest piece of self-control as he sank his fangs into her neck while quickening his pace, making her moan loudly into his ear. He could feel she was coming closer and closer to her orgasm so he intensified his thrusts until her walls started clenching around him. He raised his head and looked deep into her eyes as she tumbled over the edge with a loud moan, the wound on her neck healing instantly. He was dangerously close himself and as she pulled him down for a kiss, tasting her own blood on his lips he lost it and with last few powerful thrusts spilled himself inside of her collapsing on top of her and resting his head in the crook of her neck breathing heavily.
He certainly was experienced in his years but never had he ever reached this level of intimacy with anybody else. He knew that this young woman was his destiny and that he would end anybody who would try and steal the happiness she was bringing into his life.
He collected himself quickly realizing he must have been crushing her so he rolled off of her and nestled himself beside her, pulling the covers over them and when he looked up to her he realized her eyes were filled with tears.
"Are you alright darling?" he asked with a concern in his voice, panicking and caressing her wild hair softly. "I'm so sorry if I hurt you."
"No you didn't do anything wrong," she whispered breathlessly. "It's just I've never felt so wonderful before. And I don't mean just sex, although this was pretty fucking amazing. I've never been so happy before. I love you."
"I love you too," Elijah muttered kissing her forehead gently. "We should get some sleep though."
"Good night Elijah," she muttered cuddling closer.
"Good night my love," he whispered kissing the top of her head before drifting into blissful sleep.