I'm sorry about the pause, here's finally the next chapter :)

Mother always said "my son, do the noble thing..."
You have to finish what you started, no matter what,
Now, sit, watch and learn...
"It's not how long you live, but what your morals say"
Cannot keep your part of the deal
So don't say a word... don't say a word

Sonata Arctica – Don't Say A Word

Chapter 53

The greatest weakness

"Eva!"

Damon was genuinely surprised when he saw the pure terror in Elijah's eyes; it seemed that this Original did care about someone. Fortunately that meant that Damon had just found his weakness. He smiled triumphantly while lifting the small creature into his arms. Snapping a child's neck had made him to hesitate for a second until he had heard her threatening Elena. This was definitely no normal child, this was a vampire. A child vampire.

"Give her to me!" Elijah growled furiously and tried desperately to step over the threshold. "Right now!"

"I don't think so," Damon replied smiling. "I think your little minion will stay right here."

The rage in Elijah's eyes would have probably scared almost anyone, but not Damon; he knew that he was holding the power in his hands.

"Well, well," Damon hummed while glancing at the little vampire. "Turning a child, that's pretty twisted. What is she to you, your pet? Your servant? Hopefully not your girlfriend…"

"You will give her to me right now or there will be consequences," Elijah stated icily.

Damon clicked his tongue.

"I think we're done here. Bye bye."

"You just signed your own death sentence," Elijah snarled before Damon slammed the door shut.

"Are you crazy?" Stefan snapped while lifting Elena up. "Are you trying to get us all killed? Just because he can't get inside doesn't mean…"

"He's not going to do anything," Damon huffed. "Not as long as we have her. Didn't you see the look in his eyes?"

Stefan pressed his lips together and looked at the little creature.

"She's just a child, Damon, this isn't right…"

"She's no child, she's a vampire."

"Yes, maybe, but…"

"How's Elena?" Damon interrupted him.

"She's fine, just unconscious."

"Good," Damon huffed. "Look after her, I'll look after our leverage. And call Bonnie; tell her that Jenna and Jeremy might need her protection."

Elijah stared at the door furiously; he had never felt such a helpless rage. Eva… His darling child. He would certainly teach to these arrogant brats that no one hurt his child. He wouldn't have had to offer the doppelganger any kind of deal in the first place, he could have simply taken what he wanted, but he had tried to be honorable. How had they repaid him, by stabbing him, not once but twice. Well, he was done being honorable and he certainly didn't have to keep his word anymore. Now his only concern was to get Eva back. Determinedly he marched towards the road when he heard someone calling his name.

"Elijah!"

He looked up and saw Jonas waving at him. Elijah's eyebrows furrowed before he zoomed in front of him.

"I'm so glad to see you…" Jonas started.

"Did you ask Eva to come here?" Elijah interrupted him harshly.

Jonas hesitated a brief moment before replying.

"I did, but…"

"I told you that I want to keep her out of this," Elijah snapped and grabbed Jonas by the collar of his shirt. "You endangered my child's life!"

"Dad…" Luka muttered, but Jonas motioned him to stay back.

"It was not my intention to endanger her life," Jonas replied calmly. "I wouldn't do that, I'm a father too and my children are everything to me, as you know. That was why I needed to save you."

"And you could not do that by yourself?" Elijah asked sharply.

Jonas shook his head.

"No, they had the Bennett witch to cast a very powerful protection spell in order to keep non-vampire intruders out. No one, including Luka and myself, can enter the boarding house without being invited in. Perhaps I could have found a way to undo the spell, but that would have taken some time and unfortunately our time is up."

Elijah forced himself to calm down enough to release Jonas.

"Meaning what?"

"Klaus is here," Jonas replied. "Or at least one of his witches is."

"Greta?" Elijah asked.

Jonas shook his head.

"No, a male witch."

Elijah pressed his lips together, if one of Niklaus' lackey witches was here, then his brother wasn't far behind. Damn it, he wasn't nearly ready yet. Not to mention he needed to rescue Eva before the damn Salvatores would hurt her or Niklaus would find out that she was here. He could really use a hand.

There was a one person who he could count on, but that person certainly wouldn't be subtle, especially if Eva had been hurt in any way. Calling him here would mean a massacre. Elijah almost hesitated before he remembered what these people had done. They wanted to play, fine. It was time for them to learn who they were dealing with.

"Do you have a phone?" Elijah asked.

"Sure," Jonas replied and handed it to him.

"Thank you."

All Elijah's doubts were gone when he dialed the numbers. Voicemail.

"It's me," he started calmly. "I don't know where you are at the moment, but I'm asking you to come to Mystic Falls Virginia as fast as you can. This is about Niklaus and Eva. Hopefully I will see you soon."

My neck hurt. That was my first thought when I started slowly to regain consciousness. My second thought was that I couldn't move. What… I struggled for a moment to open my eyes and lift my head. I was sitting in a chair; my hands had been tied to the arms of the chair and my ankles to its legs. It seemed that I was in some kind of cell.

The place looked familiar; it was the same room where papa had been. I let out a growl and tried to free my hands, but I couldn't. How was that possible? I tried again with the same outcome. Then I smelled it. Vervain in the chains. It didn't burn me, but it weakened me enough to prevent me from freeing myself. Very clever, I had to give these people that.

Clever, but foolish. Papa would rip them in pieces for this. Except that he couldn't enter this house. That didn't matter, he would find a way to get me out, I was sure of it. Or maybe I would be able to do that myself, assuming these people would be brave enough to show their face. Attacking me from behind had certainly been brave.

"Hello?" I said, using my best timid voice. "Hello, please someone help me. Please, I'm scared, it's so dark here. Mommy! Mommy, please help me!"

I heard footsteps and burst into tears, with any luck they would buy this.

"Please help me. I'm cold and hungry."

The door opened and someone entered the room. My eyes widened when I recognized him. Ripper?

Chicago, 1920

"No way!" the young male vampire said grinning. "This is your kid?"

"Yes," Rebekah replied. "But as I said, she's not…"

"Don't worry, sugar, I got this," he cut in and kneeled in front of me. I kept my face free from emotions; I wanted to give him a chance for Rebekah. Apparently she was in love with this guy.

"Hi there," he said. "Who's a cute little vampire, you are, oh yes you are."

What the hell?

"Stefan…" Rebekah muttered warningly.

"I got this, I'm good with kids," he said and winked at Rebekah. Then he turned back to me. "Come here, sweetheart and give your new daddy a kiss…"

He was apparently planning to pat my head, but I bit him first, he cried out and yanked his hand away.

"She bit me!"

He sounded outraged and surprised; I glared at him and crossed my arms.

"You deserved that," Rebekah snapped.

Stefan stood up and turned to look at her.

"I was just trying to be nice to your kid, just like you wanted…"

"I told you, she's not really a child."

"Yes, I know, she's a vampire. A little ill-mannered young lady, but no need to worry, I'm sure we'll get along. I promise to treat her like my own. For you. She can call me daddy."

Right, I had definitely heard enough.

"I think I'll go to my room," I muttered. "Excuse me."

"No, Eva wait…" Rebekah started.

"It's fine," I said. "If he makes you happy, then I'm happy too."

I really wasn't happy, I missed papa and Kol. It had been almost a year since we had been separated in New Orleans after Mikael had showed up. Hopefully papa and Kol would find us soon; Klaus had said that he had left them a trail to follow. I felt quite depressed when I headed to my room; I had been by myself a lot lately. Klaus enjoyed spending time in speakeasies and now Rebekah had found Stefan, also known as the ripper. Klaus liked him as well, apparently because of his ruthless nature.

"Eva?" Klaus' voice said.

I stopped walking and turned to look at him. He was wearing a tuxedo, which meant that he was going out with Rebekah and Stefan.

"Where are you going?" Klaus asked. "I thought that Bekah wanted you to meet Stefan."

"I did," I huffed. "Apparently he wants to be my daddy."

Klaus' eyes widened before he burst into laughter.

"I'm sorry," he chuckled when I glared at him. "He actually said that?"

"Yes, among few other things."

"Such as?"

"He called me an ill-mannered young lady, but he promised to treat me like his own."

Klaus was quiet for few seconds before he started to laugh even harder.

"I'm glad you think this is funny," I snapped and turned my back on him.

"No, no, wait," he said and stepped in front of me. "I'm sorry, I'll talk to him."

"It doesn't matter," I sighed. "I…"

To my shock, I felt a tear rolling down my cheek.

"Hey…" Klaus muttered and lifted me into his arms. "What's the matter?"

I was too embarrassed to look at him.

"I miss papa and Kol," I murmured.

I was so pathetic. He was quiet for a while before speaking.

"Get changed."

I swallowed and looked up.

"What?"

"Get changed, we're going out."

Oh great, a pity date.

"I appreciate your gesture, but…"

"Ah ah, I won't take no for an answer. You are going out with me even if I have to throw you over my shoulder and carry you."

I couldn't help but smile.

"Does that line usually work with the ladies?"

"You would be surprised," he replied and gave me a soft kiss. "So, do I have to carry you or what?"

"That depends, is my new daddy coming with us?"

Klaus smiled.

"Yes, but don't worry, I'll have a little chat with him while you get changed. How does that sound?"

I sighed and gave up.

"Fine, but I might still bite him."

"I'm sure he has got used to that with Rebekah…"

"Hey!" I protested and slapped his chest. "Watch your mouth, mister."

"My apologies," he replied grinning.

He was just about to place me on the floor when I grabbed his shoulder and kissed his cheek.

"What was that for?"

I shrugged.

"For being you."

He didn't say anything, but he seemed pleased. I felt much better when I walked to my room; I was even willing to give Stefan another chance. Maybe he wouldn't be so bad.