No Pairing
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Lake House
Damon woke up in a cold sweat, jerking his arms out. Had he been floating again?
"Lucia, light...Ludum Regale," Damon repeated aloud. That was what the witch Dimitri said, wasn't it? What the hell did it mean? Damon's mind was a muddle of images and feeling that he couldn't explain.
"What is it?" Enzo said, instantly awake.
"Nothing. Sorry, go back to sleep," Damon said in a whisper, wiping the sweat from his face. Vampires rarely sweated, but he was part wolf now.
"You had a dream again? That dream?" Enzo demanded. "Are you sweating?"
Damon turned his blue eyes on Enzo. "Yeah, man, I did. Enzo, I think that witch really got inside my head."
"Maybe you are still drunk?" Enzo pressed.
Damon sat up. "Oh, no, but my ass is still throbbing! Ric and his freaking paddle!"
Enzo turned and rubbed his seat. "Aye, my arse is still warm and itchy. What the hell were we thinking? Do you think he's going to tell Elijah?"
"Does a bear shit in the woods?" Damon snapped.
Enzo let out a laugh. "Aye, I believe that do." Then, he sobered. "Shite, we're in for another hiding when we get home then!"
"No, Enzo. I am. I flinched the booze and got us hammered," Damon said firmly.
"I drank it, too," Enzo said. He heard something outside. "Do you really think the witches are out there."
"Yes, I do. Or maybe not here, but here," Damon said, tapping his temple. "I think I need to call home. If this is real, it can't wait."
"Brother, it's the middle of the night. Go back to sleep," Enzo pleaded.
Damon turned and looked at him.
"So now we're brothers again? You've really forgiven me, Enzo?" Damon asked, his voice rough.
Enzo got up and stood by Damon.
"Aye, I have. You got out. You thought I was dead," Enzo said, remembering that terrible night so long again. "And now I'm here with all of you. Your friends and family are now my friends and family. I never had that before, Damon. It means everything to me."
Damon nodded and then smiled, "And you have a girl now?"
"Lucy," Enzo confirmed. "Bonnie is a wee bit too young for me. I'm sure she can find a nice bloke."
"Um, if you like Lucy, you better up your game, bro. Let me give you some tips," Damon said, getting back into bed. "First starters, play it a little cool..."
Enzo go in beside him and listened attentively. He had a lot to learn and Damon seemed to know a lot about woman, plus, it got Damon's mind off of the witches and his dreams. That was enough for now.
Mikaelson Mansion
Kitchen
Elijah peered out the kitchen window, watching Finn.
"He's out there already? It's barely light out," Elijah murmured to Sage, as she grabbed the toast that popped out of the toaster.
"Yeah, he was pretty excited to start on those stables," Sage replied, setting the toast on plates. "But thank you for hiring that contractor. Finn is pretty confident that he can build this on his own, but there are too many power tools. I hope he doesn't cut off a hand before the crew gets here."
Elijah smiled, "Don't worry. None of them are charged and he doesn't have any power way out there. I made sure of that."
Sage laughed and called the kids for breakfast.
"Good. The kids are so excited by the though of horses that I didn't think they'd be able to sleep," Sage said, pouring herself some pour from the pitcher.
"I know. I had to promise them that would would look today. Niklaus is inquiring into a horse for Damon. I think Stefan is going to help," Elijah said, pulling away from the window and starting to fix himself a cup of tea. The sun was rising. "I just hope it is nothing dangerous like some kind of Arabian stallion!"
Klaus came in, with Indy on his shoulders and Ava in his arms. Julian was running behind, the dogs at his heels.
"Look what I found! A mermaid, a princess, and a fairy," Klaus announced. Ava was in a mermaid bathing suit with a tulle skirt, Indy a princess costume, and Julian was wearing wings.
Indy shrieked as her plastic gold crown fell to the floor.
"No worries, luv. I've got it," Klaus said, putting the kitchen down.
"Okay, everyone sit for breakfast," Sage said. "Then, you can go out and play. It should be a nice day out."
Elijah helped Julian out of his wings so he could sit at the island on the stool.
"And we can get horses today?" Julian hollered.
Elijah sat beside him. "Inside voices, please. You need not shout. Can you ask that again nicely?"
Julian took a drink from his orange juice and repeated in a lower voice, "Can we get our horses today? Please!"
Elijah laughed and started to butter his toast. "Yes, we shall try."
Klaus opened the backdoor and let the dogs out. He spotted Finn.
"What the devil is he doing out there so early?" Klaus gasped.
"Building the stables," Elijah answered. "We hired a work crew to help expedite the process."
"Hmm, not sure Finn will be pleased," Klaus said. "He always preferred to work alone. Remember when we tried to help him build that chicken coop? He tore the whole thing down and redid it..."
Elijah reached over to put jam on Indy's toast.
"Well, yes, but we were sloppy. We have professionals coming in. If the surprise is to be finished when Damon gets home on Monday, he'll need some assistance," Elijah said.
"I'll speak to him," Sage said, finishing her mug of blood. As she opened the door, Ava popped up.
"I want to see," Ava said.
Klaus shook his head. "Nay, darling. Eat your food first. And you will get your lovely costume dirty."
"But I want to-," Ava argued, stomping her right foot.
"What did we talk about? You must listen the first time," Klaus directed, giving her a serious look.
"Okay," Ava said, getting back into her chair.
"Good girl," Klaus said, pouring himself some coffee.
Elijah was impressed, he nodded at Klaus.
"I wonder how the boys are doing at the lake house," Klaus wondered aloud.
"Oh, I'm sure it is fine," Elijah said, wiping Julian's mouth with a napkin, as the child shied away. "You know, after I get back from New Orleans, we should plan a little trip."
"Aye," Klaus said, sipping on his black coffee. "That's an idea. Where shall we go?"
"To the ocean!" Ava hollered.
"Yes, you can swim and turn into a real mermaid there," Indy added, her mouth full.
Elijah chuckled, "I should like to see that. I remember hearing a story once about selkies, or Norse mermaids. They say they are seals who can take human form when they take off their seal skin."
"Is that real?" Julian demanded.
"No, Son, it's just an old story," Elijah replied.
"Tell us more, please," Ava begged, forgetting about her breakfast.
"Eat," Klaus coaxed.
Ava took a bite as Elijah continued.
"Very well. They say that if a human woman wants to meet a selkie, she had to go to the sea and shed seven tears into it. Then, she can turn into one. If a girl went missing, they said she went with her selkie friends back into the sea," Elijah recalled.
"Auntie Bex said we can play mermaids in her bathtub today!" Indy said.
"That would be nice," Klaus said. "I think you could all fit."
"Not me," Julian said, "I just want to fly."
"You know you can't really fly with those things," Elijah quipped. "I don't want you jumping at of the window!"
Julian laughed, "I won't. Can you fly, Daddy?"
"Oh no, I certainly cannot," Elijah answered.
"But you are flying away. You said so," Indy interrupted.
"Yes, my dear, but on an airplane," Elijah corrected. "I do hate to leave. But I know you will be on your best behavior while I am gone."
"Do you gotta go?" Julian said, biting his lip.
"Yes, Julian. It's a business trip, but I shall buy you all a present," Elijah said.
Klaus snickered, "And I'm the one who spoils the children!"
"Hush, Niklaus," Elijah muttered. "Or I shalln't get you a thing."
"No beignets!" Klaus exclaimed.
"What's a beignet?" Ava asked.
Klaus leaned over. "It's a wonderful treat. Think of a piece of dough that is in a square, fried and coated with...Your favorite thing!"
"Mermaids?" Ava pressed.
Klaus guffawed, "Nay, sugar!"
"Oh!" Ava answered. "So it's a doughnut?"
"Pretty much," Klaus said. "Someday I shall take you all to New Orleans myself. I promise you that."
Elijah's Study
Elijah pushed aside the maps he had of New Orleans. The Strix party was in an old mansion outside of town. Like all of the Strix properties, it was owned by a holding company by another name, Kingmaker. The more Elijah found out, the more disturbed he became. Elijah's desk phone rang.
"Hello," Elijah said.
"Uncle Elijah?" Damon's voice said on the other side of the line.
"Damon, are you alright?" Elijah asked, immediately feeling his heart sped up.
"Yeah, I think," Damon said. "Look, don't get my dad all worked up, but something happened last night. Are you there alone?"
"Yes, I'm alone in my study. Your father is out with the children," Elijah replied. "You can speak freely."
"Um, does the phrase 'Ludum Regale' mean anything to you?" Damon asked, holding his breath. If it didn't, it wasn't real. If it was, he didn't want to think about the implications.
"Yes, it does," Elijah said stiffly. "Damon, where did you hear that?"
"In a dream...or vision last night. That Strix guy witch appeared to me. He said they have his sister and-. Can I talk on this line? Do you think they are listening?" Damon asked in a rush, horrified by the thought.
"No, it's warded and I had a security team in this week. It's good. Tell me more," Elijah prompted. "Slow down and tell me everything."
"He said the Strix have his sister, Lucia. She's a doppelgänger. He was supposed to exchange her for Elena, but he doesn't trust them. He thinks she might be dead already," Damon explained.
Elijah leaned back, twisting the black phone cord in his elegant fingers.
"That would give them a great deal of power, a sacrifice like that," Elijah commented.
Damon continued, "It's murky, but I think he said something about a charter and 'Ludgum Regale' being your only chance."
Elijah breathed out a moment, steadying his pulse.
"Ludum Regale means a game of kings. I added it to the Strix charter that Aya and I created. I can challenge the current leader in a game of strength or intelligence. I should have thought of it sooner," Elijah mused, now smiling. "Damon, this is very good news. You did a great job. But how did they get into your mind?"
"Ah, do I still have that get-out-of-jail free pass?" Damon asked wryly.
Elijah raised an eyebrow, "Nephew, what mischief did you do?"
"Um, I might have borrowed a few bottles of the good stuff. You know, you should take some tips from my dad about hiding things. That hidden panel of your desk is pretty obvious!" Damon admitted.
Elijah flinched, he hated it when Niklaus was right. He needed better hiding spots.
"So you got inebriated and then?" Elijah prompted.
"I passed out and the guy appeared in a vision or something. Look, Ric already busted our butts, but the important thing is that you now have the upper hand. Can you not share this with Klaus?" Damon pleaded.
"Damon, I'll give you the free pass for the alcohol, but I can't keep anything from your father. You know that," Elijah shared. "How are you doing with the other thing? The cutting."
"Um, pretty good," Damon fibbed, grateful that Elijah couldn't detect the lie in his heartbeat over the phone. "Did you tell him about that?"
"Not yet," Elijah realized. "There hasn't been time. I'll break it to him gently. You know how he gets. You stay safe and sober. How is the lake?"
"Beautiful, really. You guys should come out here, it's really something. Look, I gotta go, but maybe call Dorian and tell him? Ric thinks it's all in my head," Damon stated. Elijah heard voices in the background.
"Fine, I will. Have fun and call me if you get those...urges. Promise me, Damon," Elijah demanded.
"I will," Damon said. "How's Stefan and Caroline?"
"Great, actually," Elijah responded. "She's the most controlled new vampire I've ever seen. I'll speak to you soon. And Damon?"
"Yeah?" Damon said.
"I do love you. Thank you for the information," Elijah said.
"Love you, too," Damon uttered, before hanging up.
Elijah replaced the phone on its cradle and pressed his lips together. Tristan de Martel had finally outplayed his hand. Elijah picked up the phone to call Dorian. Surely, the charter was hidden someone in the Armory. And he needed to find it.
Lake House
"Who were you talking to?" Ric asked, coming into the bedroom.
"Oh, Elijah," Damon said, hanging up. "Look, Ric, I know you think I am lying about that vision, but I'm not."
Ric's eyes widened, "Buddy, that's not why I pounded your butt last night. That was for getting blackout drunk. But you are right, I didn't exactly believe you. Tell me what's going on."
Ric sat down on the quilted bedspread and patted the spot beside him.
"Um, I'll stand. That salve stuff really did make me feel human. My ass is still sore!" Damon complained.
"Yeah, welcome to the club. I'm not as young as I used to be, you know," Ric added, rubbing his sore shoulder. He might have pulled a muscle last night punishing the boys.
"Sorry, but I don't feel sorry for you," Damon joked. "I told Elijah everything that happened last night. That vision or whatever has to do with his trip to New Orleans. I know I fucked up getting drunk and letting someone in my head. I'm going to talk to Lucy about ways to stop that later..."
"Good. Damon, what are you not telling me?" Ric asked.
Damon deflected the question and leaned against the dresser. He picked up a picture of Elena's family that was framed.
"Isn't it weird to be here in this bedroom?" Damon asked, putting down the picture.
"Yeah, it's hard for Jenna. The kids seem okay, or you know, as well as to be expected," Ric said. "But we did find something that Jon Gilbert showed us. Come here."
Ric got up and shut the bedroom door, locking it. "It's in the closet."
Ric turned on the light and popped open the hidden door.
"Voila, it's a treasure trove of vampire hunting stuff," Ric explained. "Open that chest."
Damon came in and glanced at all the swords, muskets, and crossbows.
"Whoa, this looks old," Damon said, opening the trunk. He flipped out an old journal. "Johnathan Gilbert's diaries...that dude was crazy."
"Yeah, but what is so important about them that Grayson Gilbert hid them here?" Ric asked.
"Don't know," Damon said. He crotched down. "I didn't really know the guy. He was older and married, but he used to come over and drink with Giuseppe. They would rant about demons and witches, shit like that. He had the hots for Pearl, Annabelle's mom. Everyone in town knew that."
Damon spotted the ring on Ric's finger.
"Hey, that ring? I thought you gave that to Jeremy?" Damon asked.
"This one is John's. He gave it to me. Um, did I ever tell you where I got it?" Ric asked.
"No, but I know," Damon said, feeling a wave of guilt.
"Isobel," Ric groaned, putting his hands on his head. "You were the vampire who turned her. Did you compel me, Damon?"
Damon squeezed his eyes shut.
"Ric, she came to me. I didn't even know she was married," Damon explained. "I was living in New York and...she was persuasive. Look, I wanted to tell you when we met, but there was never a right time. You were convinced I killed her...I had to or I would have had to kill you to shut you up. I actually did kill you, but that Gilbert ring saved you ass. Compelling you was the only other option I had. Do you get that?"
Ric's face fell. "I knew Isobel wasn't happy. She was alway harping about the supernatural. I thought she was full of shit. Damon, the truth is that I never believed her. Not for a minute and she was right the whole time. Long before she disappeared, our marriage was over. That's the truth..."
Damon got up and put a hand on Ric.
"I'm sorry, pal. I should have told you before," Damon said regrettably.
"No, Damon. I wasn't ready. I thought she had been murdered against her will, but deep down I knew. Human life wasn't enough for Isobel. She wanted something I couldn't give her," Ric stated. "My guilt led me here, not love. If Jenna can forgive me not telling her, then I can forgive you. You know who her ancestor is?"
Damon shuddered, "Katherine Pierce."
"Yup," Ric said. "Elena has all the compassion and empathy that they lack. Thank God for that. But Isobel, she had little. I see that now. She's the best of that line, man."
Damon frowned, "Ric, a part of me will always love Elena more than my own life. That witch guy, Dimitri, said that he was supposed to capture Elena for the Strix. That have his sister, she's another doppelgänger. He was supposed to get another to save his sister's life, but he knew...that they wouldn't honor their side of the bargain. He risked his life to try to bring them down, the Strix."
Ric nodded, "That takes a lot of courage. Jenna and I haven't figured out how we are going to tell Elena, Damon, about Isobel. I mean, should we even try?"
Damon looked at Ric.
"Isobel never mentioned her to me," Damon admitted. "I also never knew she was related to Katherine. If I had known Katherine was out of the tomb, I would have torn heaven apart looking for her. She played us all. Katherine had to have sent her to me. Son of a bitch, we were all Katherine's pawn...again."
"Maybe we should let sleeping dogs lie?" Ric offered, tracing his finger on an old sword.
"No, we should tell her the truth. She needs to know, Ric," Damon said. "I didn't know about my true past. I feel like if we keep things from each other than we are inviting division into the ranks. Let's tell them everything."
Ric nodded and gathered up the diaries. "Then, Jeremy needs to know about this place. It's his heritage. He can have some say as to what is done with it. Maybe he can figure out what is so important about it. Damned if I know."
***
Lucy drove April, Bonnie, and Enzo into the nearest town for ice cream, as Damon, Ric, and Jenna spoke to Elena and Jeremy.
Jenna, pale and shaking, started, "Guys, there are a couple of things we just found out from Uncle John that you should know..."
Elena looked up anxiously, "Jenna, you are scaring me. What is it? I haven't seen you look so freaked since...Mom and Dad died."
Jenna wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Honey, I-I never wanted to be the one to tell you, but Grayson and Miranda weren't your bio-parents," Jenna blurted out.
"What?" Elena said, the blood draining from her face. "That's ridiculous."
"Your mom thought she was infertile," Jenna admitted. "She and your dad tried for years, but nothing. She went to a specialist, but they weren't real hopeful. But then one day, a miracle happened..."
Damon put an arm around Elena. "Listen, you need to know."
Jeremy was slumped in the seat, but this got his full attention.
"Aunt Jenna, what about me?" Jeremy asked.
"Honey, I'll get to that. One day, Uncle John brought a girl home. Her name was Isobel, he loved her. She was pregnant. They were young, barely out of school. She didn't know what to do. As they talked, she went into labor," Jenna recalled. "Your dad delivered you, Elena, right in the clinic. He said he knew you were his daughter from the first moment. They loved you so much. You were the answer to their prayers. Isobel and John left you with them and you became their precious baby girl."
Jenna covered her face with her hands, unable to go on. Ric put an arm around her.
"John and Isobel were kids," Jenna said, her voice wavering. "They gave you to Grayson and Miranda and you became the love of their lives."
"What?" Elena asked. "You mean? Uncle John is my..."
Ric stood up and knelt beside her. "He's your biodad, but you know who your real dad was."
Elena shuddered, "Uncle John is my bio-dad?"
"Technically," Jenna said. "Elena, they worshipped you. No child was ever loved more. Miranda wanted to tell you, but she didn't know how. Then, Jeremy, she got pregnant with you. Kids, you know how much they loved you..."
Jenna broke down and put her head in her hands.
"So Elena is my cousin?" Jeremy pressed.
"Yes, biologically," Ric stated. "Isobel and I met later. She never even told me about her past. I knew that she had issues, I mean, who doesn't? She was obsessed with the supernatural. She was obsessed with Mystic Falls and the vampires. I thought it was a flight of fancy. I never really listened to her, but she must have come into contact with Katherine Pierce somehow. She said something about her ancestors, but I thought it was just a flight of fantasy."
Damon frowned, "She contacted me in New York and I turned her. She begged me and I did it as a favor to this guy who ran a vampire bar in New York City. I never thought a thing about it..."
Elena looked sharply at Damon. "You turned my bio-mom? Damon, what the hell? I can't believe you."
Damon looked down in shame. "Elena, my humanity was off. I did a lot of things I'm not proud of. I even compelled Ric to forget that he saw me...when he came to Mystic Falls looking for his wife. He thought I killed her. I had to shut that down. I had no idea their was a Katherine connection. I thought she was in the tomb. She made a fool out of me. I should have known something was up."
"Damon, it wasn't your fault. Katherine's influence changed Isobel. Even before she left me, she left me...She gave me the ring and then poof! She was gone." Ric spoke up, "Elena, we need to move on. The past is the past. Your Uncle John got involved in the Augustines. He's on the run now, like Tyler's parents. But there is something you guys need to see. Can you come with us?"
Ric led the group to the bedroom. He unlatched the secret room.
"Your parents hid that," Ric said gently. "But it belongs to you two now. It's your legacy. The diaries of Johnathan Gilbert are in that trunk," Ric indicated.
Jeremy exclaimed, "That's what Anna was looking for!"
Ric nodded, "There's a lifetime of them in there. I don't know what the significance is. But I also think your dad was an Augustine. There's a small dossier of members in that leather portfolio."
Damon looked sharply at Ric.
"You didn't mention that, Ric," Damon whispered.
"I just saw it," Ric said. "Tyler Lockwoods' parents are listed, along with most of the Founder's Council."
"Did they kill my parents? The Augustines?" Elena asked, backing out of the small closet.
"Oh no, honey, that was an accident," Jenna said. "I'm so sorry that I never told you...that none of us did. Can you forgive us?"
"It wasn't your fault, Jenna," Elena said bravely. "And it doesn't really matter now, does it?"
"No, it doesn't," Ric said, stepping aside from Jeremy digging through the diaries.
"But where is this Isobel now?" Elena said.
Ric shrugged, "We don't know, but John is on the lam. He thinks the Augustines are after him. Like the Lockwoods, he's on the run. If anyone knows where Isobel is, it's Katherine Pierce."
Elena snarked, "She means nothing to me. My real mom died on Wickery Bridge with my real dad. Jer, you are still my brother, this changes nothing."
Jeremy dropped the diaries he was reading and went to Elena.
"Agree. Mom and Dad loved us and nothing will change that," Jeremy said, letting Elena hug him. "Screw the rest."
"Yes, screw the rest," Elena said, hugging Jeremy tightly. "Now, we're on vacation, let's have some fun!"
Jeremy nodded and decided to leave the diaries for later. Elena was right, they were on vacation. They should have some fun, the rest could wait.
