"You've done it," he told her, gently. "You defeated your father and saved your brother."
Sienna could only whimper. Hearing him say it out loud somehow made it harder to process. Tears flooded her eyes. Sure, she killed her father – a heinous act in and of itself, so conflicting as her heart wrestles with the feelings of sorrow and relief. But, guilt-ridden and grieving, she had been too late to save her mother. And now, feeling fear as death crept closer towards her, she knew she saved Rory and failed him at the same time.
"This is going to sound quite strange," he continued, reaching out to help hold her upright. "You need to drink my blood now. It will heal you, just as Niklaus' blood healed you earlier."
Her brows furrowed, taking in his words. Earlier? She hadn't drunk any of his – oh. When she bit him. She recalled faintly how hurt she'd been after tangling with them in the forest, only to feel perfectly fine at the beginning of her battle against her father.
She narrowed her eyes at him, trying to decipher his motive. "Why? You want to fight me, too?" her tone was flat and accusing.
He smiled softly, "No, I do not wish to fight you," he said, reassuringly.
"Elijah, hurry up!" a woman's voice. Sienna traced the voice to the blonde woman from earlier. She and the man she'd fought earlier had her father lifted off the ground, the man sucking on his neck, the woman on his wrist. "He's almost dead – you're going to miss your chance!"
With a sudden realization, fear coursed through her body. She looked back to Rory, still unconscious a few feet away, still uneaten. She turned weakly to the man in front of her, unable to move. "Don't hurt my brother," she said. "Eat me, but don't touch him."
He bit down on his own wrist and held it out to her, near her mouth. "Neither you nor your brother will come to any harm. I will see to that myself," he said. "You have my word."
Sienna paused, searching his face for deception. She found none. He was tall and classically handsome, with sharp features and a strong, chiseled jawline. His soft-looking brown hair fell to broad shoulders in soft waves. If they'd met in another life, she'd surely be smitten with him.
You have my word. His voice, heavy and authoritative with the weight of his promise, repeated in her mind. His expression was soft in his sincerity, and his eyes equally captivating and earnest. She couldn't see any dishonesty, and despite her untrusting nature, she was too tired to withstand him.
"If you're lying," she said, leaning into his wrist. "I'll kill you next."
She heard him smile – almost chuckle – in response. "Of that, I have no doubt."
She pressed her lips to his wrist and suckled against his already-closing wound. The taste of his metallic blood mixed with the bitter taste of her own. She willed herself to ignore the flavor, pulling away after her second swallow.
Almost immediately she felt her body begin to rejuvenate. She watched in awe as the gaping gash on her shoulder closed before her very eyes, leaving not even a scar. The pain and pressure in her ribs, neck, and back deflated into nothing, and breathing quickly became easy again. She held her hands out, mystified as the skin on her bloodied knuckles seemed to magically layer over itself until all evidence of the wound hand vanished.
Sienna looked up, unable to mask her surprise. And then surprised again when she saw the contentment on his face – he was clearly happy to see her better. But there was something deeper, hiding under his gentlemanly gaze. She knew that look well – sadness? Guilt?
"Thank you," Sienna said. He stood and offered her his hand. Hesitantly she took it, standing with surprising ease.
"Ugh, he's dead," Rebekah announced, tossing Sienna's father to the side like a large piece of rubbish. "Now what are you going to eat, Elijah?" She sounded annoyed, but the question struck a cord in Sienna, realizing that there were only two other options – herself and Rory.
Sienna immediately grabbed the knife at her feet, distrust brewing. She backed closer to Rory, trying to keep her eyes on all three of them. She didn't miss the look of hurt flash across her savior's face, or the look of excitement on the other man's face.
"Relax, little phoenix," said her opponent from earlier. "You're under the protection of Elijah's word." He flashed her a playful, mischievous smile. "You've never been safer."
She looked back to him – Elijah – trying again to read him. He had impeccable posture, somehow exuding authority and gentleness at the same time. He hadn't made any move toward her, and there was nothing aggressive, defensive, or even strategic, in his stance.
Slowly, she lowered her knife. He saved her and vowed to protect her, even after her altercation with his brother. Even after killing his other companion.
Humbling herself, Sienna took four small steps towards Elijah. He watched her patiently, surprised when she brought the knife to the palm of her hand, cutting a sizable line into her delicate skin. Elijah's body reacted with heat and hunger, his eyes darkening as he resisted his vampiric urge. He didn't move, only watched her with intense desire and a clenched jaw.
Sienna lifted her hand to him, offering him her blood, just as he had done for her. "It's the least I can do," she said.
He hesitated. "Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied easily, taking two more steps towards him. She now stood directly before him – her petite frame only inches from his towering one. Neither of them missed the vulnerability in her proximity – she was choosing to trust him with her life.
Gently, and without breaking eye contact, he took her hand, watching for any indication of revoked consent. His hand was strong and considerably larger than hers. As he brought her hand to his lips, he vehemently fought the urge to bite her, only sucking on the opening she'd made for him.
Sienna blushed as she saw his eyes roll back and close in pleasure. He pulled her closer, their bodies pressed together, feeling his lips massage against her skin, his tongue flicking across her palm. Her heart raced – she'd never experienced anything so intimate before.
Suddenly, he pulled away and took several steps back. "Thank you," he told her.
At a loss for words, Sienna nodded, pulling her hand back and cradling it to her chest. Her body felt warm and tingly, butterflies swarming in her stomach.
Suddenly, in a split-second flash, Sienna felt herself thrown back. "There you are," hissed a familiar voice before an intense, hot pain tore through her neck.
"Kol, no!" she heard Elijah yell, and then he was thrown off of her. She tried to breathe but couldn't – the drowning feeling was back. She choked, gargling her own blood as darkness flooded her vision and silence consumed her.