Elena was a little better the next day, but she was still having a hard time dealing with what she'd learned from John. Her father, the man who raised her, and started off seeing her as a creature that deserved to die. Maybe it wasn't fair to judge him on that. He had just been told she was part vampire, and in was ingrained in him to kill vampires. Clearly, he had changed his mind, right? That should be the part that mattered. But it just hurt so much. It was a thousand times worse than even when she found out her biological mother sought her dead. He was her father. She'd loved him so much. She couldn't even ask him about it because he was gone.
Elena was in the living room when she heard a knock at the door. She immediately went to answer it and found Elijah there. "Hi, Elijah. Come in."
"Thank you, sweetheart," Elijah said before stepping inside. "I hope you're doing better today."
Elena shut the door and turned towards him. "Yeah. Thanks for coming yesterday."
"You never have to thank me for something like that. I will always come when you need me," Elijah promised her. "Let's sit down. I would like to talk to you about what happened yesterday if you're up for it."
"Do we have to?" Elena asked unhappily. She didn't want to even think about it anymore. She wanted to forget all about it.
"We don't have to do it today, but at some point, yes. I need to be sure you understand that it is not acceptable for anyone to try to harm you," Elijah said firmly. He would have that ingrained into Elena's mind no matter what it took. He'd watched his brother's self-esteem plummet because he was treated as though he didn't deserve to live. He refused to allow that to happen to his own daughter.
"We might as well get it over with then," Elena said before leading him over to the couch, where they both sat down. "He was my father. I never thought he could even hurt me. But I guess he wasn't my father then. I wasn't anyone to him at the time. John told me it was just for a little while. He changed his mind with the help of my mother."
"I do not care if it was for five seconds. I do not care if it was just a passing thought in his head! He had no right to harm you or to even think of harming you," Elijah told her.
"You never considered it? Even before you found out you were my father, when Jonas told you what he sensed inside me?" Elena asked. She was almost afraid of the answer. She didn't know if she could take another parent considering killing her.
"No, because I do not believe a person's origins make who they are. I want to tell you about my brother. You are very much like him, in the sense that you are both unique to most others," Elijah said. He was a little hesitant because Niklaus' story didn't end well and might cause Elena to think worse about what she was, but he would have to tell her eventually, and he hoped he could explain it in a way that would help her. She would at least know that she was not the only one to find out she was something that was considered impossible.
"You have a brother?" Elena asked surprised.
Elijah nodded. "I had many siblings. Niklaus is really the only one that is left though?"
"Niklaus? Klaus?! Klaus is your brother? He's my uncle?" Elena asked in shock. She knew that Elijah had to be close with Klaus, since she was traveling with him when they met Katherine, but she never imagined they were brothers.
"Yes. He's like you. He has two things inside of him that aren't supposed to exist together. He's a vampire and a werewolf. His werewolf side is blocked due to a curse our mother put on him. That's why he needs a doppelganger. That's the real curse he wants to break," Elijah explained.
"Elijah, I know you're trying to make me feel better, but how does telling me about someone who wants to kill me to break a curse do that?" Elena asked. If anything, it made her more afraid of what she was. She didn't want to turn in to someone who could do the things Klaus did.
"Niklaus has done awful things, and if I have it my way, you will never lay eyes on him, but he's not like that because of his origins. He's the way he is because of his upbringing. He was treated awfully. My father hated him even before he found out what he was or that he wasn't his son. He abused him terribly, and he's hunted him with the intent to destroy him for centuries. It hardened him," Elijah said.
Elena now knew what Elijah meant when he said she was like Klaus. They weren't alike personality wise or even upbringing wise, but they both had a parent that hated them enough to kill. She wondered if Katherine would've hunted her down to kill her if she hadn't thought she was already dead. "It's horrible he went through that. You said your mother cursed him. Why? And how? Was she a witch?"
"She did it to appease our father, and yes, she was a witch. She was the first witch, in fact," Elijah said.
Elena remembered John telling her that she descended from the original witch. That must have been who he was talking about. She got her magic from Elijah's side of the family.
"Niklaus never forgave her for that, nor should he have. Most werewolves hate what they are, but he didn't. He identified with them. Cursing that part of him away nearly broke him. I think that was the beginning of him hardening himself. Before that, he was sensitive and kind," Elijah said as he thought fondly on the memories he had of his brother.
Elena could tell by listening to him that Elijah deeply cared for his brother, or at least who his brother used to be. Elena herself felt for Klaus. What his parents did to him wasn't right. "He had nobody. My mom at least fought for my life, and I have you now, but he didn't have anyone."
"My siblings and I would've done anything for him, but I know what you mean. No, he didn't have a parent to care for him. My parents only ever treated him badly, and that destroyed his self-esteem for a long time. That's why it is important for you to understand that your origins do not make you who you are. You are a wonderful person, and every time I hear you feel bad about yourself, it makes me very angry at the people who caused that," he said.
"It's just hard for me not to think that way when so many people thought I should die," Elena admitted.
"Those people don't matter. They think that way because they don't understand you. They have judged you while knowing nothing about you. I want you to put something into perspective. You have empathy for my brother, as he was treated terribly because of what he was. I want you to apply that to yourself," Elijah said.
"I'll try," she told him.
"Good. We can let the matter drop for the moment then."
Elena nodded. "Um, you should know that I told my friends the truth about you. They want me to stay away from you."
"Yes, I gathered the last part from my visit yesterday. Stefan was here. He tried to stop me from getting to you. I'm afraid I had to get a bit physical with him. I told you that I would not hurt anyone you cared about as long as they didn't harm you, but I consider that a form of harm. I didn't do him any damage though," Elijah told her.
"Yeah, Jeremy told me that happened. I'm sorry. I'll talk to him," Elena promised.
"No, you won't. That is not your responsibility. You aren't responsible for other people. I will be speaking to Stefan personally soon," Elijah told her.
"What will you say to him?" Elena asked a bit nervously.
"That's not your concern. It is between him and me. I will not do him any harm though," Elijah promised.
"You're not going to keep him away from me, are you?" Elena asked. She had felt a little smothered by Stefan over the last several days, but she still loved him very much. She didn't want to think about not having him in her life.
"I have no plans to do that. However, soon, you and I are going to discuss some rules for you seeing him. Once you come to live with me, we'll discuss it more," Elijah said. Honestly, he wasn't fond of the relationship at all. The idea of his daughter having a boyfriend was very disconcerting to him. However, he would not forbid the relationship.
Elena sighed unhappily at the reminder that she was going to be forced to live with him soon.
Elijah gave her a sympathetic smile. "No, sweetheart, I'm afraid I haven't changed my mind. You will be coming to live with me."
"Elijah, I want a relationship with you. I care about you. I want to get to know you. Why can't that be enough?" Elena asked.
"Elena, I have explained my reasoning already. It hasn't changed," he said.
"I don't want to live with you!" Elena snapped in a raised tone.
Elijah narrowed his eyes at his daughter. Their relationship was new, but he would not tolerate being spoken to like that, and Elena needed to know that right away. "That's enough. I will not stand for disrespect, no matter how upset you are. You will watch your tone when you speak to me. Do you understand me?"
"Yeah," Elena said quietly after a few moments. She wasn't happy, but she could admit that maybe she shouldn't have yelled at him.
"Good. Now, we're not going to keep arguing about this. My decision on this matter has been made. I'm sorry you're unhappy, but it is what is going to happen," Elijah said firmly.
"Fine," she relented. She didn't like it, but she saw no point in arguing if he wouldn't listen.
"Alright, I need to go soon, but first, I have something for you. Elijah said before pulling something from his suit pocket.
Elena watched as he pulled out a very expensive looking bracelet. It was silver with diamonds and looked like it might be real. "Wow. That's beautiful."
Elijah chuckled and gently took her hand and clasped it around her wrist. "I'm glad you like it, but it has a practical use as well. I had Jonas spell it so that no supernatural creature will be able to tell you're not completely human. Do not take it off unless I tell you otherwise."
"Okay. Thank you," Elena said.
"Of course," Elijah said before standing up.
Elena got up as well.
"I'm going to go. I'll be back to see you in a day or two. In the meantime, you have my number. Call me if you need me," he said.
Elena nodded.
Elijah hugged her briefly, and to his surprise, she hugged him back. He then headed for the door.