Chapter 15: Back from the Dead
"Elijah! Nik! Hello!" I called out into the darkness, but received no answer. I didn't even know why I was calling out their names. I just knew I needed them. "Kol!" My voice echoed and fear crawled its way up my throat as panic began to set in. Where was I? Where were they? "Finn! Please! Someone answer me!" But there was no answer, only the echo of my own voice in the darkness. The inky black I was met with sent a cold torrent of fear down my spine. Who am I?
"Serena!"
I gasped as I was suddenly knocked back into consciousness. My lungs sucked in as much air as they could as my eyes snapped open. I found myself staring up at the familiar sight of my ceiling. I was home.
Tears welled up in my eyes as a sob tried to force its way past my lips. While I was only able to recall the faint wisps of images from my dream, I found myself overwhelmed with emotion. Yesterday felt like a far off dream, like a fake memory I had made up in my head. But I knew that was far from the case. Yesterday's events were real; he was real. I squeezed my eyes shut as his name echoed in my head.
Elijah.
I couldn't even imagine how insane all of this could look to someone on the outside. Hundreds of, if not more, years have passed since my first life. Anyone from that time should be long dead by now, and yet, I found myself being proven wrong. He stood right in front of me. I knew that voice, I knew those eyes, and I recognized the whirlwind of emotions he managed to stir within me. He was real.
Hope sprung up inside of my heart like a jack in the box at the realization that everything was coming together. That I was as close as I've ever been to the answers I've craved most of my life. Unfortunately, that hope did not last. In that moment, the image of Elijah's face covered in grey veins as Damon impaled him to the wall with a wooden stake, filled my mind. For what felt like only seconds, I held that hope firmly in my grasp, until it crumbled away like dust in the wind.
I know that Damon had only done what he did to protect Elena and I. But that didn't help stop the stabbing pain in my heart as the image of him killing the one person who could have answered my questions replayed in my mind, over and over.
Depressed with the knowledge that I had lost my one chance to learn about my first life, I curled up on my bed and pulled my comforter close to my head. I didn't have it in me to leave my bed today. I didn't have it in me to pretend like everything was okay. Because it wasn't. I wasn't okay.
What felt like hours was only moments later when a knock at my door sounded and I was brought out of my hazy thoughts. I lifted my head slightly and watched as my door cracked open and Elena stuck her head in. When she noticed I was still wrapped up in bed a look of concern crossed over her face.
"Serena, are you feeling alright?" She stepped fully into my room and I shrugged at her question. I wasn't okay, but the last thing I wanted was my sister to worry about me. She had enough on her plate, especially now that we knew what it would take to break the curse. Elena frowned at my shrug and took a seat beside me on the bed. "Do you want to come with me to the boarding house?" Elena placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.
I didn't want to, but I knew I needed to be there so we could all talk about what we had learned about the curse yesterday. The ache in my chest refused to let up as I crawled out of bed and got dressed.
As Elena pulled up to the boarding house, I rubbed at my chest and let out a quiet sigh. I was starting to regret getting out of bed.
Elena knocked on the door and only a second later a familiar smirking face was greeting us. "Hello, Elena. Little sister." He nodded at me and I sent the vampire a small strained smile.
"Is Stefan here? He called, said it was important." My sister asked and Damon moved to the side and gestured for us to enter.
"Right this way." Damon said as Elena walked into the house and I followed after her as we made our way into the living room where we found Stefan standing.
"Hey." He greeted us as Elena crossed her arms.
"What is this about?" My sister asked the younger Salvatore brother. I stood quiet as Stefan glanced over at Damon. It was the sight of Rose walking into the room that had my eyes widening. The same vampire who had a hand in kidnapping us.
It was quiet as Rose looked between my sister and I. I had a feeling this was why Stefan had called Elena to come over. The vampire was obviously here for a reason. "Yup. Should have stayed in bed." I commented as I made my way to the closest chair and dropped my body into it. The others followed my lead and Elena took a seat on the couch while the vampires spread out around the room.
"So, what's this all about?" Elena asked as she crossed her arms. Rose was the one to speak up and answer her.
"Okay, you have to understand I only know what I've picked up over the years." Rose started to explain. "And I don't know what's true and what's not true. It's the problem with all this vampire crap, but Klaus, I know he's real."
"Who is he?" Elena asked the woman.
"He's one of the originals, he's a legend." It was Damon who answered this time. He stood near the tumblers and crystal glasses filled with his favorite bourbon.
"From the first generation of vampires." Stefan clarified for us.
"The first generation?" I asked.
"Like Elijah?" Elena added on and I titled my head in confusion. There was a lot about vampires we didn't know, and one of those things was where they came from. I mean, how was the first vampire even created?
"No." Rose answered her. "Elijah was the Easter bunny compared to Klaus. He's a foot soldier. Klaus is the real deal."
Rose's words made a shiver go down my spine. The energy I felt from Elijah certainly wasn't anything small and insignificant. His energy screamed power and from what I could feel he was no joke when it came to strength. But could there really be someone more powerful than him?
"Klaus is known to be the oldest." Stefan added to the conversation.
"Okay, so you're saying that the oldest vampire in the history of time is coming after me?" Elena asked.
"Yes." Rose answered and Stefan frowned at her.
"No." Stefan tried to reassure her.
"What they're trying to say is." Damon started and my sister glanced over at him. "I mean if what she's saying is true." He trailed off.
"Which it is." Rose defends herself.
"And you're not saying it so I don't kill you." Damon pointed out with a smug smirk.
"Which I'm not." She shot back at him.
"Then we're looking at a solid maybe." Damon shrugged and poured himself a drink.
Stefan shook his head. "Look, Elijah's dead, right? So no one else even knows that you exist." He pointed out and Rose let out a little breath.
"Not that you know of." She pointed out.
"That's not helping." Damon scolded.
"Look, I've never even met anyone who's laid eyes on him." Stefan started to explain. "I mean, we're talking centuries of truth mixed with fiction. We don't know if he's real. For all we know he could just be some sort of stupid bedtime story." Why did I get the feeling that this so-called boogie man was very real and we were all in for it if he ever found us?
"He's real." Rose defended her story. "And he doesn't give up. If he wants something, he gets it. If you're not afraid of Klaus, then you're an idiot."
"Alright, we're shaking." Damon piped up. "You made your point."
Elena suddenly stood from her place on the couch and walked over to where I was sitting. Stefan watched her with a look of concern. "Where are you going?" He asked.
"School. We're late. Come on Serena." Elena grabbed hold of my hand and the two of us headed for the front hall.
"Let me grab my stuff, I'll go with you." Stefan made to go grab his things.
"It's okay, I know where it is." Elena snapped back and tugged me after her as we left the boarding house. I knew the information she just heard was a lot to take in. I mean, the oldest vampire in history was still alive, and apparently looking for her. Life was only growing more complicated and I could tell that Elena was starting to buckle under the pressure of it all.
"Elena." I spoke up and my sister glanced over at me from the corner of her eye before looking back to the road. "It's going to be alright, okay. Stefan and Damon are right, maybe this Klaus person is just a story."
"I don't know, Serena. What if he's not? What if he comes here looking for me and people get hurt because of me?" Of course Elena wasn't worried about herself, but her family and the people she cared for.
I shook my head at her words and let the conversion die. I wasn't about to let anything happen to my sister or any of the people I care about. My sister wasn't going to be some sacrifice for this Klaus person. I was going to make sure of that.
When we got to the school and we went our separate ways, I decided school was the last place I wanted to be. So I walked around the school and headed off into the woods that surrounded Mystic Falls.
The hike to the old oak tree was a long one from the school, but worth it the second I found myself staring at its deep brown trunk and the red and golden leaves that littered the floor around it.
I needed this. I thought to myself as I dropped my bag beside the tree and took a seat at the base of it's trunk. The quiet air of the woods surrounded me and I felt myself relax more and more until I finally gave in and closed my eyes. I don't know why I felt so safe here, but I did. It was here that I felt free from the stress of everything that was going on. It was like nothing could touch me.
~Break~
Elena stood facing the entrance of the tomb as Katherine leaned against the grave's rocky wall. "So how much of your little story is true?" She asked the vampire. Elena had had the same idea as her sister when it came to ditching school. Only her idea involved getting answers. Katherine was willing to talk in exchange for blood. Elena was more than willing to agree to the exchange if it meant she got her answers. But now Elena had to figure out just how much of what Katherine had told her was the truth.
"I have no reason to lie, Elena." Katherine informed her look alike. "I have no reason to do anything but sit here and read and rot."
"Okay, assuming it's even partially true, that's the reason why you came back isn't it?" Elena pointed out. "Because you wanted to be the one to hand me over to Klaus."
Katherine smirked to herself. "500 years on the run, I figured maybe he'd be willing to strike a deal."
"So you get Mason Lockwood to find you the moonstone." Elena added.
"Right again." The vampire admitted.
"What else do you need to break the curse?" Elena wanted to know everything about the curse. Including the things that made her stomach twist in fear.
"Hmm, look who is getting smarter." Katherine let out a breathy laugh and smirked at the teen.
"It's not just me or the stone, is it?" Elena asked. "Otherwise there would be no reason to trigger Tyler Lockwoods werewolf curse."
"Witches and their spells." Katherine muttered. "So many ingredients, so many people to sacrifice."
This is what Elena had been dreading. "So you need a werewolf."
"Believe it or not, they're hard to come by." The vampire pointed out.
"What else?" Elena felt like the weight of the world was now resting on her shoulders. How many people had to die because of this curse?
"A witch to do the spell." Katherine explained. "Mine bailed but Bonnie will do just fine."
Elena had a feeling that wasn't all it would take. "What else?" She asked again.
"A vampire." Katherine finally admitted.
"Caroline." Elena felt the breath leave her lungs. "That was why you did it."
"It could have been anyone I suppose." Katherine pointed out and Elena felt sick. "But I like the poetry of Caroline."
"So you were gonna just hand us all over to be killed?" Elena knew the answer already considering just what this woman was willing to do to be safe from Klaus.
"Better you die than I." The vampire didn't care. She had been running for a long time, long enough to want to stop it all together. She didn't care who lived or died. She wanted freedom. Katherine made to walk further back into the tomb, but Elena called out to her.
"Wait. One more question." Elena watched as the vampire stopped to listen to what she had to say. "How does Serena fit into all of this?" This was the question that's been on her mind since she watched Elijah and Serena interact. They looked at each other like they had known one another for years. Elijah's eyes were filled with something Elena had not seen in a long time. Not since her parents were alive.
The whole interaction left a bad feeling in Elena's gut. Her sister had tried to give herself over to the vampire in exchange for Elena's safety, but Elena was never going to let her sister get away with that.
"Ah, there it is." Katherine turned back around to face her doppelgänger. "I wonder, what do you know about Faes?"
Elena tilted her head in confusion. "Nothing. But Serena had said something to Elijah about being one."
"That's because she is one." Katherine confirmed. "Not much is known about the mysterious and magical race known for their strange beauty and their strong connection to the earth. It took me a long time to find any information, what little there was of it, but your sister is undoubtedly one of them."
Elena didn't know how to feel about that. Her sister had admitted to her about being different, but Serena had been unsure about just how different she actually was. "How does Elijah know her?"
Katherine shrugged. "I'm not sure." She admitted. "But I remember, in 1492, a painting. One of a young woman with snow white hair and ruby red eyes. Klaus and Elijah coveted that painting." Katherine thought back to the night she saw the painting. It was hung up above the fireplace in the room Elijah and Klaus were often found in. "Elijah would stand and stare at it for hours. Just staring with most heart broken eyes." The vampire looked straight at Elena. "Maybe you should be asking your precious sister how she knows them. The second I saw her I thought about taking her, instead of you, to Klaus. Considering it was a drawing of him I saw in her journal back in 1864."
Katherine smirked as she turned back on the girl and ended the conversation. Katherine headed back into the cave, leaving Elena to stare at the empty cave opening in shock. Elena felt as if a bomb had just been dropped on her. It was clear to Elena that Serena played a big part in all this and probably had a strong connection to both Elijah and Klaus. Meaning Serena was in just as much danger as Elena was.
Elena felt sick as her mind went over every possible scenario. What if Klaus found out about Serena and decided to take her instead of Elena? The thought of her sister being taken made Elena want to throw up. Her sister meant the world to her and she wasn't about to let anything happen to her. She needed to find a way to keep her safe, but she was going to need help.
~Break~
I couldn't help but want to keep my distance from everyone and ended up ditching school again the next day. I felt trapped in my own thoughts and just couldn't get over everything that was happening.
Elijah. His name made my heart stutter as those familiar brown eyes came to the forefront of my thoughts. Those deep never ending eyes that I could remember looking at me with such devotion. It made me wonder who he was to me in the past; who was I to him? But any questions I had would never be receiving an answer and I felt my throat involuntarily close up at the thought of the dead man.
Elijah's death meant my sister had one less vampire after her, but a part of me had a feeling that Elijah's death made no difference considering that this Klaus person was so greatly feared. My sister was the key to breaking a curse we still didn't know much about and I knew it was weighing heavily on her shoulders.
The trees loomed over me as I suddenly stopped walking. The word curse bounced around in my head and I remembered the deal I made with Elijah before Damon and Stefan had shown up at the old mansion. I had been bluffing when I had told him that I could break the curse. I had no idea what I was capable of and was still unsure of what being a Fae even meant for me.
But even if it was all a bluff, Elijah had taken me up on my deal, meaning that there had to be a way that I could break the curse. That meant that Elena didn't need to be used as a sacrifice and that Klaus would no longer be a threat to her.
From what Bonnie had discovered in Emily's grimoire, Fae practically had a direct connection with magic. If a witch made the curse, then a Fae could break it, right? There was still so much I didn't know about being a Fae, or what a Fae really even was, but that was the least of my worries. My sister's life was on the line, and I was willing to do just about anything to keep her alive. Besides, if this Klaus person was as old as Rose had believed him to be, then there was a chance that he knows exactly what I'm capable of. I just needed to make the right deal with him. One that allowed my sister to keep on living, and for me to find my answers.
There was only one problem with my plan, my sister was never going to just allow me to make a deal with a vampire who could be older than we can even imagine. Elena was bound to fight me tooth and nail if I told her what I planned to do, and I had a feeling she would have back up. Damon and Stefan would be highly against me making any deals with any vampires. Let alone one out for my sister's blood. But in the end, I didn't have much of a choice. It was either take a chance and make a deal to keep my sister and family safe, or suffer the consequences.
I ended my hike through the woods at a familiar clearing where my oak sat with it's limbs reaching out toward the sky. The air around me changed and I took in deep breath as my feet crossed over into the clearing. I was doing this, one way or another, my sister was going to live a normal human life, or as normal as she could have living here in Mystic Falls.
I carefully slipped off my shoes and took a few steps so I stood closer to the large tree. My bare feet connected me to the ground, and with a deep breath, I closed my eyes. "Reach out now, my little one. Reach out and feel." My mother's voice echoed in my thoughts as I focused on the energy that flowed around me. Whenever I tried to reach out like this, I always felt like a wall was keeping me from truly being able to feel what I was capable of.
I felt nature's calming energy and smiled slightly when I heard birds chirping and flying just above me. It was a peaceful feeling, one that made the weight on my shoulders fall away.
The air, the earth, the magic it all held. I could sense it's energy in the air around me. Something inside of me was telling me to reach out further. To grab at the feeling of magic that surrounded me. So I did.
I felt like I had been shocked as I reached out further than I ever have before and my eyes snapped open. I hadn't noticed that I had been actually reaching out with my hands and with my arms raised out in front of me.
"Holy shit!" I gasped in surprise at the sight before me. The large root system of the oak tree had been pulled up from the earth and was hovering in the air before me. I jumped back in shock and the connection I felt was severed. The roots all fell to the ground in a disarrayed heap of tree and dirt. "What did I just do?" I muttered to myself as I eyed the roots in shock. I couldn't believe what had just happened. But as I slowly kneeled down onto the ground, it became apparent to me that I was clearly capable of more than I knew.
I looked at tree roots and frowned at the chaos I had caused my once peaceful clearing. I knew I couldn't just leave it like this, so I decided to try something I thought to be crazy. I placed my hands down onto the earth and focused on the energy I could feel. It was muddled and foggy, but I could still feel something.
At first, nothing was happening, but then I noticed the roots start to shift and move. My eyes were wide as I watched the root system slowly force themselves back into the earth. A laugh of disbelief escaped my lips as the clearing slowly began to right itself.
This was unbelievable. I could never imagine that I was capable of doing more than growing flowers and feeling the energy around me, but here I was watching the dirt move itself back into place and grass regrow over where the roots had busted from the earth.
I fell back with a huff. I was panting heavily as I tried to regain my bearings. The whole process had taken a lot out of me and I was still trying to process it all.
While this was an exciting discovery, I was still left with the questions. What did this all mean for me in the end? Would this be enough to convince Klaus and save my sister? The answer scared me.
But I couldn't let my fear stop me from trying to save Elena. I forced myself to get up onto my feet. My tired body swayed slightly, but I was able to stand without needing to brace myself. I decided that no matter what this all means for me, I was going to make this work, and I was going to keep Elena safe.
With my mind set, I decided to head home. I was tired and in need of a shower and maybe even a short nap. But as I walked into the house, I was surprised by a familiar voice greeting me.
"Ah, there's the wayward sister." I was caught off guard by Damon's presence. The older Salvatore brother was sitting beside Elena on the couch and I raised a curious brow at the two of them. "Missed out on quite a bit. But cliff notes, your sister here is on lock down due to suicidal tendencies."
"What?" I asked and looked to my sister for an answer but Damon waved his hand in my direction.
"Nothing to worry about for now." Damon reassured me, but I didn't feel all that reassured. Made me wonder just what my sister had gotten up to make a lock down necessary. Jeremy chose that moment to come down stairs and Damons eyes shifted from me to the younger Gilbert. "Where is Bonnie?"
"I thought she was meeting you." Jeremy answered the vampire.
"No, she's on moonstone duty and I'm on Elena patrol." Damon gestured to my very unhappy looking sister beside him.
"Moonstone duty?" I asked and Jeremy nodded.
"Figured out that there might be a way to make the moonstone useless." My younger brother explained. I frowned at the news as Jeremy turned back to Damon. "So now who's on Tyler Lockwood and the full moon?"
"Wait, Tyler Lockwoods a werewolf?" My face fell and glanced from Damon to Jeremy.
"See what happens when you disappear, you miss out on important plot points." I glared at Damon and crossed my arms over my chest. "Vampire Barbie asked me if she could handle it, and I said, why not? Figured if she screwed up, he'll bite her and then I'll be rid of two of my problems."
I shook my head. "Not okay, Damon." I muttered to the vampire.
"Hold on a second. Tonight's the full moon?" Elena asked and Damon nodded his head just as his phone started to ring.
"Yup, but you were too absorbed with all your suicidal tendencies to notice." Damon stood up from the couch and walked past me to answer his phone. I took the opportunity to take his seat beside Elena.
"Jeeze, what else did I miss?" I asked and Elena let out a deep sigh. Damon returned to the room moments later and looked at Jeremy.
"Change of plans. You babysit." He pointed at my brother. Jeremy nodded and flopped down on top of me so his head was laying in Elena's lap.
"Hey." I grunted as the teens' weight pushed my legs down.
Damon turned around before leaving and spoke to Elena. "Hey you know, you should get out, enjoy the sun. Oh wait, you can't." Elena then gracefully chucked one of the couch cushions at the vampire, but Damon simply grinned and flashed out of the house before it could hit him.
"Ha." Jeremy let out a chuckle and Elena and I shared a look before dumping the teen onto the floor. Jeremy landed with a groan and my sister and I shared a small smile. After that my sister and Jeremy headed up stairs to their rooms. I could tell Elena wasn't in much of a talking mood and I would wait for her to come to me with what happened. I didn't want to push her for answers. We were all feeling the weight of Klaus on our shoulders.
I decided to stay down stairs and went into the kitchen to look for something to eat. Just as I was about to pull out some leftovers from last night's dinner, the front door opened and I found myself leaving the thought of food behind. I glanced around and saw Jenna walk into the living room and spot me. "Oh good, your home. Feel like helping me out." My Aunt smiled at me and I found myself shrugging.
"Yeah, sure. What do you need help with?" I asked as I walked out of the kitchen. Before she could answer me, Jenna left the living room and went back towards the front door.
"Great. Oh yeah. Come on in." She motioned for some to enter and gestured at me. "Elijah, this is my niece, Serena. Serena, this is Elijah Smith. Carol Lockwood asked me to help him out. He's a writer writing a book on the history of Mystic Falls."
I found myself frozen as a very familiar energy suddenly filled the air around me. Elijah casually walked into the house and the second my eyes found his, I felt my heart start to pound like a drum against my ribs.
"It's nice to meet you, Serena." His voice sounded off, but I knew it was him. I knew those eyes. Elijah was here, alive. Standing in my home like he hadn't been killed by Damon two days ago.
"I, uh. Hi." Was all I managed to squeak out as he greeted me. Jenna placed a hand on my shoulder and I forced myself to look away from the vampire standing in the hallway.
"So how about it? Feel like helping us go through your mom's old files?" Jenna asked as she moved her hand so she was resting her arm over my shoulders and hugging me close.
I nodded my head without really thinking about it. "Oh, uh, yeah sure. I don't mind." I did my best to act like everything was fine. The last thing any one wanted was for Jenna to be pulled into the supernatural drama that was going on around her.
Jenna smiled at me and took her arm off my shoulders. "Perfect." She turned her attention back to Elijah. "My sister's files are in the closet down the hall. It's pretty well organized so we should be able to find everything you need easily."
"Sounds great." Elijah smiled at the woman and Jenna turns to lead the way. Elijah spared me a small glance before following after my Aunt. There was something in the way he looked at me that made my body shiver. My breath became caught in my throat at the deep longing that filled those deep dark eyes of his. The look made the ache in my chest flare with heat and I couldn't help but wince at the feeling.
I kept my distance as Jenna opened the closet door. "Here we go." She revealed the many boxes containing her sister's work that lay stacked within the small space.
"Wait, Aunt Jenna, let me help you." I intercepted the woman before she could start pulling boxes out. I knew for a fact that some were far too heavy for the still recovering woman to be lifting. Jenna stepped out of the way and I reached out and started to pull boxes out and slid them out into the hallway for her to look through. There was one box near the bottom of the first stack that ended up being too heavy for me to lift. But before I could try slide it out, a pair of arms reached past me and easily lifted the box up off the ground.
I felt my face flush as I stood up to face the vampire. My stomach felt like it was full of butterflies. "Thank you." I whispered softly. Elijah held my gaze as he nodded his head before moving the box out of the closet and setting it with the others.
"That should be enough." Jenna commented as I stepped out of the closet after Elijah. "If you'd like to go through some of these before we pull out any more and see what you need." Jenna's eyes found me and she winked. "I'm sure Serena will be happy to help you out."
I found my face flushing all over again as Jenna smirked at me. I looked away from the woman and distracted myself with opening up some of the boxes that had been placed behind the closet door. I didn't look up as the vampire joined me.
"How did you survive being staked?" I asked quietly so Jenna wouldn't over hear me. I looked away from the box of files and stared at Elijah. It wasn't every day a vampire came back from the dead.
"It takes a lot more than a stake to the heart to kill an Original." Elijah explained. My heart stuttered within my chest. A stake to the heart didn't kill Elijah and that made me wonder just how strong these so-called Original vampires were?
My throat felt like it was closing up as my mind became over run with questions. "I don't know where to start." I admitted. "I have so many questions, but I need to know this first, do we still have a deal? Will my sister be safe?"
Elijah and I faced one another and our eyes locked. I knew he could hear my heart pounding in my chest as it tried to escape from behind my rib cage. "That all depends on your sister." His voice echoed in my head. His words made me think that I should have been more afraid of him, but I wasn't.
"Why am I not afraid of you?" I hadn't meant to say the question aloud, but it was too late to take it back. I felt my breath catch in my throat as Elijah reached out to cup my face. But before his skin met mine, he paused, so his hand hovered just above my cheek. "Who are you to me?"
That question had his eyes growing soft as hurt filled his gaze. The look made me want to take my words back, but before I could say anything, Elena's voice shattered the moment.
"Hey, what are you doing?" I took a step away from the vampire but held his gaze as my sister spoke to our Aunt.
"Perfect timing." Jenna said and I could hear a few boxes being shuffled from the other side of the door. "These are your mom's files from the Historical Society. I got roped into helping Mrs. Lockwood and by roped, I mean very excited to participate." She announced the last part and pushed the closet door closed. I winced slightly as the door shut and revealed Elijah and I to my sister.
"Hey, I'm Elijah." The fake accent was back as he introduced himself. Elena looked shocked to see him and I could see the fear on her face as her eyes found mine. I did my best to send her a reassuring look, but I knew my sister and I knew she was panicking.
"Elijahs in town doing research on Mystic Falls." Jenna explained. Elijah left my side and approached Elena.
"It's a pleasure." He held out his hand and I watched as Elena shook it as she did her best to hide the nervous look in her eyes.
"So you're welcome to stay here and rummage through this stuff or Serena and I could help you load it into your car." Jenna gestured to me and Elijah glanced back. Our eyes met once again and I felt my body grow warm.
He turned his head back to Jenna and said, "Or I can get someone to pick it up tomorrow."
"Also a good plan." Jenna smiled at him and led him to the front door.
"Thank you so much for inviting me into your home, Jenna, Elena." Elijah glanced back. "Serena. I hope to see you again sometime soon." I felt a shiver go down my spine at his words. I had a feeling he was going to hold true to his words and that I'd be seeing him again soon, very soon.
As soon as the door was shut and Elijah was out of the house, Elena grabbed hold of my hand and pulled me as fast as she could go up the stairs. "Elena, wait a minute." I tried to warn her but she kept pulling me until we reached Jeremys door. "Elena stop. Don't." I grabbed hold of her other hand before she could knock on our brothers door. I could still feel Elijah's energy and as my sister turned her head to look at me, I watched her eyes grow wide as she caught sight of something behind me.
I knew right away who was behind me and as calmly as I could I released Elenas hands and turned to look at the vampire. I took a step between Elijah and my sister. "Maybe we should take this out of the hallway." I suggested.
"A wise choice." Elijah spoke to me and I nodded my head in agreement.
"What do you want?" Elena asked quietly.
"Come on Elena." I gently took hold of her shoulder and tried to steer her towards her room since it was closest.
"I would listen to your sister." Elijah started. "It's time we all had a talk."
I pulled Elena after me and led the way into her room. Elijah closed the door after us and glanced around the bedroom. I could feel Elena stiffen up beside me and I took hold of her hand to try and comfort her. The vampire finally took a seat on the bench beneath the window before speaking up.
"Forgive the intrusion. I mean your family no harm." The man started. Elena squeezed my hand within hers and sent the vampire an unconvinced look.
"Why did you kill those vampires when they tried to take me?" Elenas question made me take a pause as I glanced between her and Elijah.
"What vampires? What are you talking about Elena?" I looked at my sister while Elijah raised a curious brow at the two of us. My sister took a moment to look guilty as she refused to meet my eye.
"I may have had Rose take me to her contact who could get Klaus's attention for me." I stared at my sister as I took in her words. My mouth fell open in shock and disbelief that she would do something so stupid.
"Are you crazy?" Elena opened her mouth to answer, but I shook my head at her. "No wait, don't answer that." I turned away from my sister and looked at the vampire watching us. "You came here to talk to us and I have a feeling it's to do with this Klaus person and the curse, right?"
"You're right." Elijah looked between Elena and I. "I killed those vampires because I didn't want Elena to be taken. Klaus is the most feared and hated of the Originals, but those that fear him are desperate for his approval. If word gets out that the doppelgänger exists, there'll be a line of vampires eager to take you to him." While I had heard all of what Elijah was telling us, my mind found itself still trying to comprehend his words. Elena was in far more danger than any of us could really imagine.
"Isn't that exactly what you're trying to do?" Elena asked him. I shook my head at my sister's question.
"No." I answered before Elijah could speak up. Both my sister and the vampire in the room looked at me. "He isn't going to take you to Klaus because we still have a deal." I looked the vampire directly in the eye. "Right?"
He gave me a small smirk. "You're brave. But yes, our deal still stands." He paused and glanced over at my sister. "That is, if your sister agrees."
I could tell from the look on Elena's face that she wasn't going to just simply agree to the original deal. "Serena, please, don't." She pleaded with her eyes and I did my best to give her a reassuring smile.
"Your sister will be safe. Klaus won't dare hurt her." Elijah paused. He looked away from Elena and met my eye, holding it as he continued to speak. "Not if he wants the curse to be broken. Granted, breaking the curse was never my original goal when I found you." Now his eyes shifted to Elena as he spoke to her.
"So, what is, or was, your goal?" Elena asked.
"Klaus's obsession with breaking the curse had made him paranoid. He's a recluse. He trusts only those in his immediate circle." Elijah started to answer.
"Like you?" Elena interrupted him.
"Not anymore." He answered and I frowned at his words.
"So what now? What's changed that you're willing to break the curse?" I asked and looked back up at the vampire.
"You." He answered. I felt my jaw tighten slightly in shock. "My original thought was to draw Klaus out and kill him. But that's changed now. The deal we made still stands. Your family will be safe, as long as you come with me before the next full moon."
"Wait." Elena spoke up. "What happens after Klaus breaks the curse? What happens to Serena after that?" The room grew quiet and I felt the air grow tense. She was right. What happened to me after that? Where did we draw the line at my usefulness?
"That all depends on Serena." Elijah left it at that. "Your sister and I have a deal, she breaks the curse and the deal ends." The vampire stood up from the window seat. "Just like that. I'm a man of my word, Elena. I make a deal, I keep a deal."
"How are you going to keep everyone safe until then?" Elena shot at the man. She was on edge and I could see the confusion and pain in her eyes. She wasn't happy about this, but if it meant everyone was safe, including her, then it would be all worth it in the end.
"I notice you have a friend, Bonnie, is it?" He mentioned the witch. "She seems to possess the gift of magic. I have friends with similar gifts."
"You know witches." Elena pointed out and Elijah nodded.
"Together, we can protect everybody that matters to you." His eyes left Elena and he looked directly at me before raising his hand. "So, do we still have a deal?"
Just as I raised my own hand to meet his, Elena stopped me by grabbing my wrist. "Wait, there's one more thing." Elijah raised a brow at the doppelgänger.
"We're negotiating now?" He asked her and I felt my chest tighten.
"It's Stefan." She started and I felt that tightening sensation grow stronger. "He's trapped in the tomb under Fells Church. If your witch friends could release him, I'll agree to the deal you're making with my sister."
"Wait." I stopped the conversion and looked at Elena. "Why is Stefan in the tomb?" Elena's face fell and she glanced away as a guilty look overcame her. "Elena, why is Stefan in the tomb?"
Elena frowned and I could see the unease in her eyes. "Serena, Katherine is still alive. Damon and Stefan put her in the tomb." I felt my jaw drop at my sister's words. Katherine was still alive. "Jeremy tried to get the moonstone from her and Stefan saved his life. I'm sorry Serena, I should have told you sooner."
I held up a hand to stop her and looked away from my sister to lock eyes with the vampire. "Can you get him out?" He nodded his head and I reached my hand out. He took the appendage and that familiar eclectic shock went down my spine. This was it. "Thank you."
A/N: This chapter actually ended up being longer then I intended, but I'm pretty satisfied with the outcome. Thank you all for the positive reviews, I'm glad so many of you are enjoying this story as much as I am. Another reminder that this story is rated M and as stated in the first chapter, and a couple others, this story involves a relationship where the OC is partnered with multiple people. Please be aware of that. If that is not your thing, stop reading here.
Thank you all for reading. Post day are Monday. I was little late with today's post, but I promise I will always try to get it out on Monday.
Stay safe everyone.