Chapter 35:
Mari stepped out onto the balcony, taking in a breath of fresh air. She spent all night at Klaus' side, but he finally laid down to get some rest. While she was happy he was getting some sleep, Mari found herself unable to do the same. Instead, she decided to step out and breathe in the city that raised her. It always seemed to smell like spices and rain.
A few moments after stepping outside, Mari noticed Elijah approaching the compound. She hadn't heard him leave, and part of her wondered where he had gone. She had no intentions of bothering to ask, but as he slipped through the front gate, she couldn't help but noticed the splatters of blood on the white collar of his shirt. Her brow furrowed.
Slowly, Mari made her way through Klaus' room towards the door. She slipped through it as silently as she could, since he had only just fallen asleep. Her little feet padded softly against the ground as she descended the stairs into the courtyard. It was a little chilly, and the cold breeze wandering in from outside clung to the skin her tank top and shorts left exposed.
Elijah paused his movements when he saw her. She seemed a little startled when his gaze met hers, as if she hadn't expected him to notice her there. He huffed a breathless sort of laugh, then looked down to begin undoing his tie. It needed to be cleaned since it was stained with crimson after his night out on the town.
"Try not to look so concerned, Marigold," he said to break the silence when he was sure she planned to stay silent.
"I'm not," she lied, dropping her gaze from his nervously. He shook his head, well aware that her words were lies. She looked at him as if he was some kind of killer on the loose, someone to be afraid of. Perhaps she should be afraid. He was afraid of himself sometimes.
"I needed to let off some steam. That is all," he explained, pulling his tie from his collar. He worked on unbuttoning his sleeves next. Mari finally got the courage to look at him directly again. She stepped a little closer, bringing her arms up to hug her upper body in hopes of deflecting some of the cold.
"What's wrong?"
"Does it matter?"
"It matters," she frowned. "We're friends, aren't we?" Oh how Elijah detested her innocence at times. It made him want so badly to destroy it. He let out a long sigh, then slid off his suit jacket. Once it was off of his shoulders and on the ground, he walked a little closer to her, stopping just a foot or two away.
"Are we friends, Mari? I was sure our relationship began and ended with my brothers. I'd consider calling you a friend if you weren't just a small moment in a very long life. If my brothers had any sense, they'd realize how pointless it really is to care for a human when we are eternal." He raised a brow as he watched her cheeks flush. Sometimes he wished he knew what she was thinking.
"You're upset," she said timidly. "Something is hurting you, so you're lashing out at me. That's okay. I won't hold it against you when you calm down tomorrow."
"You put a lot of faith in me that I have not earned," Elijah scoffed. "Is it because I'm supposed to be the calm brother? The well-behaved one? The noble Mikaelson? If you knew anything about this family, Marigold, you would know that I am none of those things. I killed someone tonight. Will you hold that against me?"
She was silent again. Her head turned from his, her eyes darkening a little in response to his words.
"Is that what you came down to find out? If I killed someone?"
"I thought you might be hurt," she confessed. "I suppose it was stupid of me... to think anyone could hurt a Mikaelson."
"Oh, darling, it's much easier to hurt us than you think." His hardened expression softened, and his eyes glazed over with something that looked like sadness.
Mari thought back to the day before, when Hayley came to visit. He hadn't been quite right since she left, and Mari realized suddenly that it must have something to do with the way he was acting in that moment. She was the cause of the sadness in his eyes.
"Is it over then?" She asked boldly. "Between you and Hayley? Is that what's hurting you?"
"Why are you so curious tonight, little Marigold? What does my failed relationship have to do with you?" He nearly hissed. His harsh reaction told her all she needed to know. She winced a little, then took a step back.
"I'm sorry, Elijah. I didn't mean to pry. I was just worried. We're friend. I'd like to be friends."
"I'm not interested in being friends with you," he said coldly. His arm extended to allow his hand to capture her wrist. Her bright eyes widened a bit as he pulled her closer to him. "I'm parched, Mari. If you want to help, then remedy that problem. My broken heart isn't something you can fix."
"Elijah..."
His eyes met hers, and he held her gaze. Mari should have looked away before he captured her, but she was often rather foolish when it came to the Mikaelson men. The compulsion set in quickly, and it wasn't long before Elijah had her under his command.
"Allow me this one indulgence, Marigold. Do not resist." He used his thumb to tilt her head upwards, exposing her neck to his hungry gaze. She stayed quiet, obedient, as he requested of her. Elijah stared at her throat for a moment, contemplating, debating. It was wrong of him to take advantage of her when she had only tried to be friendly to him. However, she was a treat that was just too hard to resist when he was already aching.
His fangs slid from his gums in the natural way that they did before he fed. He raked them over her soft skin just hard enough to elicit a gasp from her pretty lips. It pleased his ears to hear a woman make such a sound because of him. It had been so long since he shared an intimate moment with Hayley. The distance, the end, left him longing.
When the temptation became too much to handle, he let his sharp fangs puncture her throat. Her head tilted back even further, and Mari closed her eyes. He fought back a primal urge to bite down harder when her hands braced against his chest, as if she wanted to keep them there as a reminder that he couldn't get too close.
To hold something so fragile in his arms was to torment himself. How easy it would be to break her, but how badly he wanted to preserve her. A small figurine of a woman, made of stained glass. If he squeezed hard enough she would shatter in his arms. Part of him wanted to see how much pressure he could apply before she started to crack.
"Enough," she breathed, her little hands pushing at his firm chest. "Elijah, that's enough."
Her shaky voice was enough to pull him back to his senses. Elijah could have drowned in sorrow in her honey-sweet blood if he wanted to. However, her well-being had to be taken into consideration first. He pried his fangs from her throat, though they wanted to stay there longer, then took a step back to wipe his mouth with the back of his hand.
Mari looked up at him, confused and concerned.
"I don't think I can feed you all, Elijah," she said honestly. Her innocence continued to plague him. She was so naive, she didn't even realize what he truly wanted from her. "I'll get sick if I give away too much blood."
"Are you monopolized by my brothers then? Entirely? Can I not have just a piece of you?"
"Elijah..." Mari took a couple of steps back as if she suddenly became afraid of him again. "Elijah, I don't know that I can give you what you want. I don't think... they'd ever forgive me."
"Must they know?"
"Goodnight, Elijah," she blurted out quickly, retreating to the stairs. "I'm sure you'll be thinking straight again by morning." Her fingers lifted to dance over the marks he left behind. Elijah saw regret pass over her expression, replaced by something a little darker, something he'd be interested in exploring.
The little thing scampered up the stairs like a frightened animal, and Elijah felt even more like a predator than he did before. A tom-cat chasing a pretty, little mouse.
Hey guys! Thanks so much for reading. Things are getting a bit out of control it seems XD I don't have a say so anymore, I'm just letting it all play out. Next chapter will be either pretty dramatic, or pretty steamy, but that's up to you guys. Let me know what you think, what you want to see next chapter! Your feedback makes it much easier to update often :) Thanks again, loves!