AN: Dark Paradise is the song for this chapter, also I am so sorry, but this one or the next one will be the last chapter until Sunday night/Monday morning. I'm working long shifts the entire weekend and my free time will be sleeping. Sorry guys!
He asks them all to leave, Klaus ushers Kol and Rebekah out for lunch. He's going to be going deep into Elena's mind, he can't have any distractions. Even Rebekah speaking could break his concentration. He's never done this in a loud environment. He wouldn't want to anyway.
She is going to have an IV tonight, to keep blood in her system, but she doesn't right now, so he takes both of her hands, closes his eyes and focuses. His mind is blank. He is completely vulnerable at this moment, he isn't using any of his senses. He slows his breathing, it's easier to enter someone's head when you're synchronized, same heartbeats, same breathing, same frame of mind.
He carefully reaches into her mind, to find a wall. He knows how many walls she puts up while she's sleeping, he's the one who taught her how, but these are strong.
"Elena." He hears himself say, he's never been sure if he's speaking physically as well, but the wall has a door now.
"It's me. I'm here to talk." He speaks slowly, she'll recognize his voice if it is unhurried.
The wall disappears, and then he sees another, briefly. He watches a few more disappear, and then he's almost blinded by the light.
He sees a house. It reminds him of the Gilbert house in Mystic Falls, and the lake house. There's other elements he can't place. He hadn't taught her this. He feels a rush of pride before he remembers to focus. Elena is somewhere in this building. The front door opens when he tries it, he's strong here. he carefully walks in, careful to shut the door quietly. He wanders through rooms, he can't hear Elena over the music that's playing.
He sees doors that he will not enter, she has an entire hallway of rooms of just people. Caroline has her own room, he carefully opened the door to be hit by a wave of memories. Years of them. He carefully shuts it. He's almost curious about his room, he also felt her feelings towards Caroline. It's a few more hallways, and a staircase before the music is quieter, he can hear breathing. A few more doors, everything in here is carefully labeled. He takes in the furniture and fixtures, it's heavily influenced by her home in Mystic Falls. It all has meaning. Everything in mind palaces has meaning, and he wants to spend a few hours asking her to give him a tour, but it is her mind, and he is not entitled to it. He carefully selects a door with no label, the door looks like a replica from the room she had in Mystic Falls. All of the others are slightly off. He opens it, and finds Elena in her room. Down to the comforter covering her, she's in her room as he's seen it. Even her books are in exact order.
He doesn't touch her, he can't touch anything. He can try to wake her with his voice, but if she's too deep, he can't.
"Elena." He says, his voice is quiet, and he says her name a few more times. She opens her eyes and sits up. She's rubbing the sleep out of her eyes when she tells him it's fine to sit on her bed. So he does.
"We're in New Orleans?" She asks. He nods. She gives a hesitant smile.
"And you can talk to me? This isn't a dream?" She asks, and he nods again.
"Indeed. Can you dream in here?" He wonders if it's like being daggered. She gives him a full smile for a moment.
"If I unfocus enough, it's just nonsense dreams. I spent the car ride aware of you talking. You didn't have the radio playing. I was busy in here, but I could hear you if I focused." She says. Interesting.
"It's only been a day." He says and she gets out of bed, and moves to her desk. A calendar. She marks off a few days.
"I'm going to see if I can keep track." She says. It's a good idea.
"Where did you get the idea for a mind palace?" He asks.
"I was researching and came across it. I didn't want to float around in the darkness. If I step out, it feels like it takes hours to come back." She admits. He notes the covered windows. It makes sense.
"Thank you." She says, and he gives her a slight nod.
"You're welcome." He says and she reaches, he's aware of her pointer finger coming towards him. Her finger comes into contact with his arm.
"You're solid in here." She notes. The music downstairs stops.
"Interesting." He says and she nods.
They stand for a moment, before they hear something, she closes her eyes and it grows louder.
"It's been an hour, how long can talking take?" That's Kol, they recognize. Elijah wonders if he means him, or Niklaus.
"I think I should go." He says and she sighs.
"Can you come back later? I'll even leave the walls down." She says hopefully.
"I will return." He promises, and they hear something break.
He carefully walks out of the palace, and through the walls, the doors are open on each one. They close after he moves through, and when he reaches the last one, he carefully pulls himself out of Elena's mind. His hands let go of hers when he feels himself back. He blinks.