Ch. 29

February, 2010

Damon bursts into my study with Alaric following behind. They've grown used to their student-mentor relationship by now it seems, even gained something of the friendship I remembered them having in the original timeline. I smile pleasantly as Damon made his way over to me, fists clenching and unclenching, "Someone's taken Elena."

It's clear he expects me to react with shock and anger to this tidbit of information. My interest in Elena has become something of an open secret amongst those close to her over the years, to the point that by now Grayson is convinced that the only reason I'm even in town is because of her. He's mostly right, part of being here was enjoying messing around with the silly mortals I was familiar with from the show.

I just raise an eyebrow, and it's clear that's not the reaction he's looking for as he grits his teeth. Damon is no fool though, and he quickly puts things together, "You already know she's gone."

I grin, "I do yes. As do her parents. It's telling that you came to me instead of them first, as they would have told you she was fine. Still on terrible terms with the parents after seducing her away from Stefan are you?"

Damon's jaw clenched, but he didn't deign to answer that, "So she's safe?"

I smile and stand up, looking at the clock on the wall, "Safe as can be. In fact it's about time I start heading to her location to prepare. You can both come along, but you aren't allowed to interfere in what's going to happen unless I let you. Understood?"

After receiving nods from both of them I grabbed my coat and we were on our way. We arrived to find Rose waiting for us in front of the large mansion they'd brought Elena to. She barely spared Alaric and Damon a glance, instead smiling at me, "Master, Trevor is inside with the doppleganger. We've put the call out and Elijah is on his way. As you ordered, neither Trevor nor I have spoken to the girl and she's always been in sight of one of us."

I grin, "Wonderful. You can let Trevor know I've arrived, subtly please. We'll be nearby, waiting for Elijah to show up. You know me darling, I have to have the dramatic entrance."

Rose nods and we all enter the large mansion, Damon, Alaric and I moving to a side room while Rose goes back to where Trevor is keeping Elena. It takes an hour of awkward silence, but eventually Elijah arrives and Rose greets him at the door. Enhanced hearing allows us to listen in on that lovely conversation.

Elijah spoke first, and I had to admit it was exciting to hear his voice for the first time in a thousand years. I'd avoided my family for too long, content with my playthings. It was time to interact with those closest to being my equals once more.

"Rose Marie. Is there somewhere we can talk?"

Rose breathes out slowly before replying, "Yes. In here. You'll have to forgive the house."

"Oh no, what's a little dirt. I completely understand."

The two of them move into another room judging by their footsteps before continuing their conversation.

"So tell me Rose, what gives you the courage to contact me after all these centuries?"

Rose's tone is an amusing mix of confidence and fear as she tries to loosely follow the script I'd given her and Trevor, "We've got something you want. We found a living doppleganger."

I can almost hear the way Elijah freezes up at this information before eventually replying, "That's impossible. Katerina's line died with her, I know that for a fact."

Rose shrugs, "Well the facts are wrong."

"Then show her to me."

"I know you are honorable Elijah, trustworthy. I need your word." I can hear the plea in her voice and I'm surprised by how good she's doing at this bit of acting. She knows she's perfectly safe with me so close by, but she's managing to do terrified quite well anyways.

Elijah pauses for a long moment but eventually responds, "Very well, you have my word that I will pardon you."

"Follow me."

Their conversation ends as Rose leads Elijah to the room Elena and Trevor are in. Elijah stops when he sees Elena, before flashing forward. I can imagine he's studying her intently based on the way her heart rate spikes in fear. Damon is quivering with anticipation beside me, but my orders keep him in place. Eventually Elijah gives the verdict, "Human. That's impossible."

I can hear the moment he chooses to believe though, as well as the smile in his voice as he looks upon Elena and says, "Hello there."

A moment passes in which he's clearly studying her before he finally speaks again, "Well, we have a long journey before us, we should probably be going. Just one last piece of business and we're done."

He turns back to Trevor and Rose and frowns slightly as he approaches Trevor, "You aren't as afraid of me as I was expecting." He says as he closes in.

Trevor is probably calmer than he should be as he speaks in measured tones, "I am truly sorry for what I did Elijah. I betrayed your trust and showed disloyalty."

Elijah agrees easily, "Well yes, you are the guilty party. I honor Rose's loyalty. Yours though, has proven to be severely lacking."

Trevor shudders, "I beg your forgiveness."

I can hear the grin on Elijah's voice, and I move in as he says, "So granted."

As I enter the room in a blur of speed, Elijah's hand comes up to rip Trevor's head right from his shoulders. Instead, he finds me there, my own hand gripping his wrist and holding him in place as Trevor stumbles back, eyes wide. Elijah is even more shocked than Trevor as he takes me in, as if he's seen a ghost.

"Vali?" His tone is bewildered, even a little broken up as he takes me in.

I smile in response, "Hello brother. I couldn't help notice you trying to break one of my toys. Not nice Elijah."

He wrenches his arm free from my grasp and frowns visibly, eyes washing over the vampires in the room before coming back to mine, "So that's how they disappeared. You took in Rose and this traitor and hid them from your family?"

I smile and shrug my shoulders, "They would have evaded you all without my help I'm sure. They are quite resourceful. But yes, they came running into my arms and I couldn't possibly do anything but forgive them and take them in. Elijah, you need to recognize that Trevor is nothing more than a less handsome and younger version of yourself! Katerina fooled both of you into loving her, and you've been projecting your self-hatred for falling for her onto Trevor for five centuries now."

Elijah looks at me like I'm crazy, "I'm projecting nothing onto anyone Vali. I spent fifty years daggered in a box because of this imbecile's actions. I am owed for that."

I sigh dramatically, "Well now, that is a good point Elijah. On the other hand, if you kill everyone who disappoints you, you've become more like Niklaus than I thought."

Elijah reacts like he's been slapped, visibly blindsided by the comparison. He swallows thickly, "You know what he's done then."

I furrow my brow at that, feigning confusion, "I've watched from afar over the centuries yes, watched as he's killed subordinates for failing him, watched as he's daggered you and our siblings again and again. It is part of the reason I have not sought to rejoin the family."

Elijah shakes his head, his eyes full of unshed tears as he looks me in the eyes, "He's gone farther than that Vali. He's killed them all, our siblings. He dropped their coffins in the Atlantic. They're gone forever."

I openly gape and I'm secretly proud of my fake shock act. I'm hoping it will pay off. Elijah was far too distraught to really be watching my reaction anyways though as he continues, "I'm going to kill him Vali. I have a plan to finally end him, and I want you to help me avenge our family."

I clasp his shoulder with my hand, looking into his eyes with fiery determination. I seriously deserve an award for this acting, "If what you say is true Elijah, I will help you. But not before Klaus completes the ritual and breaks the curse for me."

Elijah frowns in confusion at that, and I'm shocked to realize Nik never told any of them that I was a bastard like he. What a strange thing to play close to the chest. A moment later Elijah shakes his head, "That's fine with me, the plan calls for him to complete the ritual. But why do you want him to break the curse?"

I smile, "I suppose he never told you, though I can't imagine why not. I was mother's second indiscretion. I'm as much a bastard as he is, and the curse affects me as well, locking away my werewolf side."

Elijah's surprise is a long enough pause for Elena to finally enter the conversation from where she'd been cowering, "W-what?! What's even happening? Mr. Masters? Damon?"

I look over at Elena and sigh, "Right, I forced your parents to lie to you. Ah, well… how do I put this?"

Blurring over to her, I held her loosely by her throat and looked into her eyes, compelling her, "I don't have time to do explanations, so here's the short of it. I turned your parents and the entire council into vampires and took over your town. You're going to accept this as truth and have no more questions regarding it. You will not try to run from me, you will sit tight and be the normal teenage girl you are. Now, go to sleep."

In a moment Elena was collapsing onto the couch behind her. I looked back to find Damon nearly apocalyptic and Alaric frowning slightly. Rose and Trevor could care less and Elijah had an eyebrow raised. I grin and shrug, "After a thousand years, I have so very little patience for teens. Damon, take Elena home for me. Alaric, you can go with him."

Damon flashed over and picked Elena up bridal style, one more dark look directed my way before he and Alaric were gone. I look to Rose and Trevor next and smile, "You two can head back to Chile now. Thank you for drawing my brother here for me."

They both nod and are gone just as quickly, leaving only Elijah and I. I grin at him as I begin to walk towards the door, "Well, I have the doppleganger, I have the moonstone. I have a werewolf and a vampire. All that's left is to bring Klaus here. Shall we go?"

Elijah nods slowly, slightly guarded towards me now, but still willing to accept my help as he follows me, "I have a pair of witches working with me as well. They can help us in making sure Klaus stays down."

I stop and smile at that, "Ah, yes. The Martins are the witches you mean yes? They were stopped by my own witches on their way into town. I suppose they will be useful, but I'd prefer to rely on my archivists, I know I can trust them because of the Oaths they've taken. The Martins on the other hand, despise vampires and only ally with you out of convenience. Not the most stable arrangement dear brother."

He frowns at that, "I promised Jonas Martin I'd help retrieve his daughter. I honor my promises Vali."

I nod in response, "And I am willing to honor that as well. But if they interfere with what is to come, I will take action."

Elijah sighs as we leave the decrepit old mansion behind, "Very well, agreed."

-x-X-x-

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