I feel like there’s this whole subgenre of fic that just really, aggravatingly, doesn’t get bickery banter couples, which means that a lot of the content for them just ends up reading like emotional abuse.
Like! The thing about couples that bicker for fun, the thing that makes it romantic, is not ‘I hate this and I’m sad and hurt and uncomfortable, but I’ll put up with it because I love you and at some point you’ll start being nice to me’. That’s not fun bantering! That is, at best, a serious miscommunication!
The thing that makes it fun and (potentially) romantic is ‘We know each other so well that we can be rude and gross and weird together, we can transgress the rules of polite society with each other without actually causing any real hurt, because we know where the real lines are and don’t have to guess at them or use the rules from a game that neither of us wants to play.’
It’s fundamentally about intimacy, not about treating your SO like they don’t have feelings that matter.
Hi! (I don't know if you have written about this before so I apologize in advance if I have missed it, I kept searching on your blog but I found nothing similar.)
To this day I still don't know how to write a 'suddenly' scene without it sounding awkward. I tried to but it ended up as ["Well I better get back to class—" she said, and suddenly there was an earthquake.] How can I make it smoother? Thank you so much!!
When “suddenly” feels abrupt or unnatural, that’s because it is telling the reader that something is about to happen when showing them is probably better. Like a scene in a movie, for an event to feel sudden there should be no lead-in. Characters are conversing one second, and action occurs in the next. The usual seamless flow between scenes is now unnecessary. While it is vital in the rest of storytelling, unforeseen events require disconnect and surprise.
You already show interruption in the dialogue by using an em dash, now support it by removing the attribution and interrupting the scene altogether.
“Well, I’d better get to class—”
[drop indent + immediate action]
Also like watching a movie or experiencing something irl, we don’t always get an explanation right away. We see the effects the action has on people and environment first. So instead of making the action “an earthquake,” show the reader what the earthquake is doing.
Expanding on your example, you can choose to keep terms like “suddenly.” Removing them increases the show factor and decreases the tell factor, which alters the effect slightly.
“Well, I’d better get to class—”
The floor suddenly rumbled. – vs – The floor rumbled.
Paintings on the wall began to tremble. – vs – Paintings on the wall trembled.
Removing these terms naturally makes it less obvious that what is happening is abnormal. So whatever action you choose should seem out of place enough that the reader knows this is an unusual circumstance. For instance,
The lights flickered and objects fell off shelves.
She hit the ground before she could say another word.
Both of these examples clearly indicate something is going wrong. If there isn’t an already established reason for these things to happen, the effect will be twice as strong—depending on how climactic you want your sudden action to be. Earthquakes in particular have different magnitudes, so it’s up to you and your research on how jarring the effects of this will be.
It also helps in any sudden scene to imagine which sensory cues will get your characters’ attention first. Will they hear that there’s an earthquake before they see the effects? Will they feel the ground shaking before hearing objects fall? You can write each one in the order you think your character would notice, cutting in with dialogue or other character attributions wherever it feels right. A little descriptive writing will go a long way towards putting the reader in the scene.
Avoid passive voice and stick with active voice to keep the scene feeling fast-paced. All the examples I’ve given are active voice. Passive voice would sound more like,
The floor was shaken by an earthquake.
A rattling sound was caused by paintings on the wall.
These sentences don’t contain the crutch “suddenly,” but passive voice makes them awkward and underwhelming in their own way. I’ll include a couple links that I used as reference while writing this, so you can double-check me and keep them as reference yourself.
Active vs. Passive Voice
Passive Voice Demonstrated by Zombies
Writing Tips—Don’t Say Suddenly, Show It!
Great question, and I hadn’t covered it yet so I’m glad you asked!
---
+ Please read my Ask Policy before sending in your ask. Thank you!
+ If you appreciate my updates and replies, please consider sending a little thank you and Buy Me A Coffee!
+ Follow HEY, Writers! other social media for visual inspiration and samples of my writing: AO3 - Wattpad - Unsplash - Pinterest
Elijah and Elena have such a mature relationship. They have a genuine respect for the other, and both bring out the best of each other IMO. Elijah brings out the Petrova fire in Elena, and she breaks down his serious walls little by little each time. At this point, I just want Damon and Stefan to be brothers again and Elena to just run off with Elijah to Europe xD
A Elejah One-Shot: The Vampire Diaries Post 3x22 AU
- Heavy Smut Warning ⚠️-
New York City had always been lively, so was everywhere in the state of New York. He had recently moved back to his penthouse apartment about a month ago after leaving New Orleans.
He hadn’t been back in the city ever since one of his contacts told him about a woman named Rose-Marie wanting to make a deal in exchange for their freedoms.
The narrowed alley was filled with slight echoes from his leather shoes as he walked down the darkened street.
He had been in New Orleans for a few years, but he left after Hayley married Jackson.
He cared for her, but not like how she cared for him. He had to let her down gently after realizing she was latching onto his kindness for something more during her pregnancy.
He’d suppose he would’ve recorcipate her feelings if someone else didn’t steal his heart then.
“Give it up for Lena! Quite a show she gave you guys!”
He paused, his head turned towards the building where his sensitive hearing picked up an intriguing announcement.
Rarity had its moments when he used to go to strip clubs to find a dancer to warm his bed when they were all that rage back in the day. Now he was satisfied with living in solidarity.
As much as the strip club was dirty but it had a compelling atmosphere with heavy seductive beats.
Of their own accord, his feet moved closer to the door of the club.
He froze when a bouncer grunted out a number, and he realized that he was standing at the entrance. He fished out a wad of cash after pulling it out from his trouser pocket. Entering through the door after handing over the cash to the bouncer.
Dimmed lights and smokey air greeted him as he moved further in the club.
His eyes scanned the stage to see one of the best dancers. She was the reason why he was in the dingy place.
Only she was already gone before he entered the building, and he felt a flash of disappointment. Nevertheless, he found an available seat by the stage.
He inhaled harshly when he saw a girl, no, a woman passing by him. He recognized her by her face which was adorned with smokey makeup. Her hair was set up with loose curls, and she wore a revealing white lacy bra and a white lacy skirt attached to her white underwear.
It was a fit for her olive skin tone.
However what caught his attention was her scent. It was the same floral aroma he had smelled in the juncture of her neck when he first met her.
His hand shot out, clasping his fingers around her slim wrist before she could walk any further.
“Excuse me, you can’t touch-” She started, whirling around, almost affronted only to falter in surprise when her eyes landed on the familiar man. “Elijah?” She asked, making a slight noise in her throat as she stared down at him.
He hadn’t seen her since the night he saved her.
A few years had made Elena even more beautiful than she was when she was a teenager.
His lips curled into a smirk, “Lena.” He said her stage name smoothly before releasing her wrist.
Sure, it was close to her real name.
Her cheeks quickly flushed in embarrassment, “what are you doing here?”
Before he could answer her question, a man walked up to them. Stumbling as he went before standing in front of them.
Elijah could tell he was intoxicated by the smell of his breath as it washed over them and the way he swayed.
His eyes flickered to Elena when she shifted uncomfortably, eyes downcasting to the concrete floor.
Elijah could feel his skin crawling when he noticed the drunk man leering at her, as he pulled out his wallet, Elijah watched Elena’s face, his mouth grew taut as her eyes widened almost imperceptibly.
She did not want to, it was clear to him.
Elijah reached out, effectively stopping the man from fishing out cash for a private dance. “Pardon me, however, she is doing me a favor.” He said dryly, eyes narrowing when he saw the man turning to him with a challenge look in his pupils blown depths.
“I didn’t see you pay her,” he scoffed.
Elijah’s lips curled in amusement as he absentmindedly grabbed his leather wallet, grabbing a crisp hundred dollar bill, he saw Elena’s eyes widened before he handed it over to her.
“Now I just did,” he countered with a hint of smugness in his tone as he stared down at the sleazy man.
He could feel Elena grabbing the bill, and he turned to her ignoring the man standing in front of them. “May we find a room?”
She bit down her lower lip, before nodding.
When she found them an available room, he allowed her to go in first before turning to a bouncer who stood in the hallway for private rooms; he quietly compelled him to not let anyone in until they leave and that not to bother them.
She turned to him after he’d shut the door quietly. “I’m sorry…but I will have to give you a dance,” she said quietly. Flushing as her eyes laid on the door behind Elijah’s shoulder.
“Of course.”
He walked over to the couch that was adorned with red leather fabric. Music with tempo beats bled through the speakers.
It was meant to be seductive.
He sat down with an ease, watching Elena staring at him with an unreadable mask on her face before she walked over to him shyly. “How long have you been working here?”
She hesitated, eyes flickering away from the floor to his. “Almost two years.”
“Why?” He wasn’t being judgmental, but he was very curious especially when she didn’t answer him. “Elena, what happened?” He almost persisted.
After a moment of pause, she answered. “I’ve been hiding from Damon,” she said quietly. “After I didn’t choose one of them, he thought he had a chance. So I moved here after I graduated with Caroline’s help, and Bonnie helped by cloaking me because I didn’t want him to find me.” Her eyes then flickered to somewhere else as it became unseeing. “I joined the strip club to make money.”
She leaned down slightly to take off her heels as the light notes started to play from the stereo. He shifted in his seat when he realized she would have to give him a lap dance.
He almost inhaled sharply when her hands touched his trouser-clad knees.
She then slid her hands up his thighs, slowing her pace as she reached up his chest, her fingers ghosting over his blazer.
“Why are you in New York?” She asked, breaking the tension that thickened the moment the door was shut.
His eyes were almost heavily lidded as he was influenced by the tension of the room when he stared down at her.
“I live here, I left after I was sure Niklaus is okay in New Orleans. Just because we’re family does not mean we have to be together 24/7.” He said dryly, his fingers rubbed on the leather next to his thigh absentmindedly.
Elena’s lips twitched, “I know that feeling.”
Avoiding his eyes, she leaned over him slightly before putting her hands on his shoulders.
“Thank you for saving me from him.”
Knowing she was talking about the intoxicated male. “You’re welcome, and you shouldn’t have to deal with that.” He murmured.
Her hands applied pressure as she put her knees next to each of his thighs, the air was suffocating him as he had to keep the noises to a slight minimum.
He didn’t shy away from her shy gaze when she peered at him, he could tell she was nervous. He didn’t blame her for feeling that way, since they never really cross the line of their allegiance.
His fingers again itched to trace her skin, and his eyes widened slightly when she started twirling her hips sensually that it affected him greatly.
If not seeing her almost bare at the night of the ball was bad enough, the fact she was almost naked -bra and thong as the only source of cover- would be the undoing.
She was stiff especially with how she was moving with her hips, quite frankly so was he. For different reasons from hers, he thought. She was twirling her hips above his thighs, lowering her form slightly, nearly brushing against the rising bulge in his slacks.
He held his breath, he was being selfish especially with how she was uncomfortable in his presence, but he didn’t want to stop her.
He was a gentleman, he would stop if she wasn’t willing.
He reached for her hips with his hands, and pushed her lower body down onto his hardened cock. Keeping her hips immobilized as the room was filled with a little gasp coming from her lips and heavy breathing from the Original.
He closed his eyes when she tentatively started to shift her hips, in a movement that had her grinding lightly against his bulge.
“Elijah.” She breathed his name slightly.
His eyes shot open, staring into Elena’s depths as the scent of her arousal predominated the air. He was still staring at her when he reached her back. Ghosting his fingers onto her dampened skin as they traced the grooves, ridges and curves of her spine before enclosing his fingers around her bra clasps.
He then twisted the metal clasps to unhook her bra before sliding his fingers towards her neck. Gripping it slightly before pulling her down so he could taste her lips
A tiny puff of air coming from her lips in a form of gasp had him giving her a bruised kiss. He wanted it for so long that he was devouring the taste of her lips.
Her fingers gripped his shoulders as she moved her warm lips against his. He slowly moved his hands towards her breasts, cupping them slightly. Thumbs flickering over her pebbled nipples.
Swallowing her gasp into his mouth after he arched his hips when she went to grind down onto him.
He then slid his hands down around her waist before sliding towards her back to unclasp her mini lacy skirt before making her get on her feet; so he could put his fingers in her thong before pulling them down.
“You have thought about this, didn’t you.” He said in a husky tone, making his voice raspier.
Her eyes were wide, watching him, and her mouth was open “no.” She said after a beat. His keen sense of hearing prickled when he heard her heart skipped.
He smirked before pulling her to him, pushing her waist so he could move her away from him.
She looked at him confused before turning around, and she gasped when he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her down on top of him.
She leaned back onto him as she’d spread her thighs over his. His hands slid over her legs.
“What did I tell you about your heartbeat, sweetheart?” He murmured against the curve of her neck, gripping her thighs as he grazed his fingers into the juncture of her thighs.
“I don’t remember,” a gasp tore from her lungs as he pressed his fingers onto her clit.
He chuckled lowly in his throat, trailing his lips towards her ear. “You’re a very bad liar,” he rasped, his lips stretched into a predatory smile as he rubbed one of his fingers down through her slit. Collecting her wetness along before pushing a finger into her.
He inhaled slowly when she made a slight noise, and he moved his finger in a thrusting movement before adding another finger.
“If it makes you feel better, I thought about it.” He breathed into her ear, “especially after I put you in the cave.”
Oh he definitely imagined her in one of barbaric situations. Taking her behind on her hands and knees while the Salvatore brothers searched vigorously for a solution to make Esther lose her power to kill him and his family in order to save Elena.
Not that he was going to let anything happen to her.
She inhaled sharply, “you imagined taking me in the cave where you left me in?” She asked disbelievingly.
He chuckled lowly, “I may be a vampire, but I am still a man.”
She snorted slightly, “a caveman.”
His lips curled upwardly, “you have no idea, sweetheart.” He said before using his thumb to rub her clit which made her thrust her hips in response.
“I think you’d be surprised,” she murmured, rolling her hips along with his movement. “When you first came to town, you had this professor vibe like a history professor, since you wore suits.” She paused, breathing heavily when he curled both of his fingers. “I dreamt of you teaching history to the class, and waited until after the class for you to take me on the desk while calling you sir.”
He felt a heat of tendrils curling on his back at the thought of taking her on the desk.
“I’ll teach you how to say sir,” he rumbled, and he smirked when he felt more wetness leaking out of her. He reached with his other hand to cup her breast, and rubbed across her nipple before he pressed a kiss onto her neck.
“I want you to fuck me, Elijah.” Elena quietly pleaded. “Sir,” she then said playfully.
He exhaled a weak chuckle before pulling out his fingers, and he waited for her to stand up so he could unbuckle his belt and unzip his slacks.
She stopped him, “wait. I want you to take your blazer off.” She said quietly.
He softened before reaching for the black fabric, sliding them off his shoulders before putting it aside. He then unbuckled his leather belt, and he could feel her eyes which made his eyes flickered to hers before lowering his zipper.
His lips almost curled at the increasing lust in her eyes, before reaching his hand down in his briefs, and took his cock out which gently slapped against his abdomen due to how erected it was.
His eyes darkened at the increasing aroma of her arousal, “come here.” He said huskily, eyeing her as she walked over to him.
She then put each of her knees beside his thighs as she straddled his knees, and he inhaled when she reached for his cock, encircling her fingers around his girth.
Her fingers could barely even touch, leaving an inch gap between her index finger and her thumb. “You’re so…” she trailed off, struggling to find words to describe his cock.
He smirked, “I know.”
Elena’s eyes flickered to his, before rolling her eyes playfully.
He reached behind her, grabbing the curve of her buttocks with both of his hands before sliding her forward.
She lifted her hips slightly enough for his cock to be able to slide into her, and once she eased her hips down. He threw his head back at the warm feeling of her walls sliding down on his cock as she gasped above him.
He slid his hands to grip her hip, and moved her upward before slamming into her as he pushed her hips back down.
“Fuck.” She moaned, her hands gripping slightly on his hair at the base of his neck before sliding down to his shirt, and started to unbutton the fabric.
Once she was done with her task, she raised her hips once again and slammed back down.
He jerked his hips sharply when she used her vaginal walls to clench around his cock.
“Elena,” he warned her, not wanting to come too soon. He reached down with his hand before giving her a soft smack on one of her buttocks.
She jerked her hips in surprise before moaning.
“You like that too,” he breathed, chuckling before giving her another one. She inhaled as more wetness leaked out of her once again.
She looked down at him, and with a mischievous look in her doe depths, she clenched his cock again.
She was on her back before she could make another movement on his cock with her vaginal walls, he was on his trouser-clad knees, her thighs wrapped around his hips as he thrusted into her harshly without hurting her.
She arched her back as he hovered over her, his lips barely grazed hers before he dragged his lips as he thrusted into her roughly.
Their lips clashed once again when the force of his hips made her face level with his.
Her hair was wild as it spread around her face as he reached down to one of her legs, and moved her leg over his shoulder, making him sink into her deeper than he had before.
He grazed his lips on her calf, making her heart jump. He gave her a soft smirk. She slid her hands into his parted shirt before moving them onto his back, rubbing his skin slightly.
He let out a grunt when she dug her fingers on his back, which made him bury his face in the curve of her neck as he jerked his hips into her.
She slightly arched her neck towards him, “Elijah.” She moaned breathlessly, “please.”
“Please what?”
“Bite me.”
His gums ached the moment she told him to bite her, and he closed his eyes before releasing his sharp canines. He then curled his upper lip before grazing her neck with his canines.
Her fingers flexed against his back once more, and he could feel the upcoming pleasure. He then growled as he buried himself in her so deeply before he let the final pleasure wash over him; once he spilled into her, he buried his sharp canines into her damp skin.
Her response was instantaneous, she arched her back and moaned so loudly as the final tempo of the song faded into the air.
Her blood filled in his mouth, and he took a large intake of her blood. He almost shivered in pleasure at the taste of her blood.
Once they relaxed from the high, Elijah withdrew his sharp canines from her neck before looking at her.
“Elena,” he whispered, brushing her loose strands out of her face to look at her clearly.
She peered up at him with a satisfied smile, and heavily lidded eyes. “Elijah.”
He gave her a lazy smile before craning his neck to give her a soft kiss.
Cheryl Blossom is an adult woman who is settling things with a dance off to coach a cheerleading team she hasn’t been part of in in seven years. WHAT AM I WATCHING RIVERDALE?
Pairing: Elijah Mikaelson x reader!female/oc!female and a bit of Klaus x reader! female/oc! female
(Important: Usually when I read or write a fic with Y/N it's difficult for me to visualize my self or even a character. So, to make things easier I gave a name to this character but I've kept her physical descriptions to a minimum.)
Third person narrator
Non-canon timeline
PART 1
Sinopsis: A creature of unknown origin and identity arrives at New Orleans and the witches are restless as everyone has heard the legends about the collector. To the surprise of the Mikaelson family, for once, it is not after them. In fact, it has eyes on another prey.
P.S: I used google translator for the small dialogue in french, so I'm sorry if there is a mistake.
A scream broke through the night at the French Quarter. A girl was crying, her black curls covering her face, and in front of her there was a body. It was laid on the cobbled road, right at the entrance of the witches district. The skin had turned pitch black and on top of their chest there was a single golden coin.
This attracted the attention of the coven that run to help the girl. When one of elders tried to approached her, she screamed until her lungs could no more, terrified to her core she crawled away from them.
"Mariza, it's me sweetie. It's okay, you are safe." the elder said in a soft tone extending her arms to her.
Over and over she repeated this words because it took a lot of reassuring for Mariza to finally wake up from her shock. Elisa hugged the poor girl, while the rest of the coven watched with wide eyes the body of one of their own. None had ever witnessed such gruesome thing before.
They were scared of approaching it, but they had to move it before a civilian called the police over the commotion Mariza had made. And surely every vampire in the vicinity had heard her. Soon Marcel or Klaus would come demanding answers of this new threat. Vincent and Davina, took the first step and together made a spell over the woman. After a few seconds, he tensed and looked at Davina and saw the same worry in her eyes. There was not a single trace of magic. What could have killed her if not a spell? The truth eluded them, but there was no time to ponder. They pushed their questions aside and deemed it safe enough to move the woman, so that they could investigate and give Lucy a proper burial.
Four more witches moved to the front and kneeled at Lucy's side. As they were about to push it up, the body dissolved in a cloud of ashes. Gasping in horror, everyone backed down several steps. Only the golden coin remained were Lucy had been.
********
Two figures were standing on an apartment rooftop, not far from the group of witches.
"Was that really necessary?" a young dark man asked, with his hands in his coat pockets.
"What can I say?" she shrugged "You know me, Lion. I can't resist to make an entrance." she answered without taking her eyes from that group and a smirk on her lips.
"It would qualify as an entrance, if you had actually made an appearance down there. Besides, this is impractical and will only drag it for longer than necessary."
"You really haven't learned anything, isn't? You can't rush everything, it ruins the beauty of the process."
Lion sighed, he couldn't blame her. After so long things could turn quite boring. Still, he looked at her with stern eyes.
"This is not going to be one of your normal cases Zillah, you should leave your childish antics behind."
"If that's why you have been so worried all day, then you should know that Father has already warned me." She said finally looking at him.
"Even if He did," he turned to face her "it is never easy when people from your past life sees you."
Zillah held his gaze, until she couldn't. She had seen what it did to him, and she would be lying if she said that she didn't care what could happen.
"Fuck Lion, you really know how to screw up my fun" she chuckled while running a hand through her hair.
********
(One month later)
The French Quarter was bursting with tourists, the festivals attracted hundreds of people each year. Artists and musicians were performing on the street, and people were displaying their products on their stands.
Hope was desperate to go shopping for something new and interesting, a present for her father's birthday. She begged until Cami could no longer ignore her, and had agreed to take her to visit some stands but only until 5pm. The rest of the Mikaelson were taking care of a problem with the witches. So, like many times before she had been assigned as the supernatural babysitter. Aware of the rumors that were roaming through the Quarter, Marcel thought it was a necessary for him to join them. Paranoia was spreading like a disease, things had gone quiet after Lucy's death, and no one knew if that was good or not.
The hours soon passed, Hope had dragged Cami and Marcel all over and still she found nothing she liked enough to buy. Stubborn like Klaus, she was not going to give up, but time was running up and she knew that Marcel wasn't as easy to convince as Cami.
She was looking at some paintings when Hope saw a bookstore across the street that she had never seen before. Pushing her luck, Hope walked there with firm steps with Marcel and Cami just behind her. Once inside, she saw a beautiful woman talking in the phone and walking from one way to the other.
"Oui, j'ai besoin de la commande pour la semaine prochaine." Hope knew she was speaking french, Rebekah was teaching her, but not enough to understand.
The delicate ring of the old bell, made Zillah turn her head and saw an odd small group of people. A human, a vampire and a little girl that smelled like hybrid but different. Which made her believe, that she was the famous kid of that Klaus guy.
With a hand over the phone she spoke to them.
"Excuse me, I will be with you in a second" she said with a smile.
"Clients sont arrivés, je vous appellerai donc plus tard pour organiser l'autre commande." she hanged up "I'm sorry for that."
"Don't worry, I understand what it means fighting with suppliers." Cami said, she had taken several classes of french in college.
"Yes, and worst of all is that it never gets easier." Cami chuckled in compliance "I'm Zillah by the way, what can I do for you?"
"I'm Cami, and actually, this little girl is your client today."
"Im not little! I'm seven and half and my name is Hope." she said looking up at the woman's eyes, which were oddly mesmerizing but she sensed no magic coming from her.
"Well, hello Hope it's a pleasure to meet you" Zillah extended her hand and Hope took it eagerly "I'm at your service, so is there anything in particular that you are looking for?"
"I need a present for my dad. I will look for myself but if need something I will let you know."
As Hope said that, she marched through shelves of old and new books. Zillah looked impressed at Hope determination and smiled.
"I'm sorry for that she's very fierce despite her age." Marcel spoke for the first time "I gotta be honest, I couldn't believed when this place closed. It makes me glad it's up and running again. How is Tobias by the way?"
Marcel flashed one of those charming smiles that Cami knew he used when he wanted information. She was a new face in town after all, and he was always on edge with new visitors.
"Tobias is his usual self, difficult as mule but he agreed to do his treatment if I worked here for a while, until he could return."
Zillah couldn't avoid to be proud of herself. Her little spectacle had the local supernatural community all stirred up, just like it was supposed to. Marcel, if she wasn't mistaken, was trying to get information about her and she was happy to oblige.
"Yes, he has never been an easy man," he said with a side smile. "Are you his daughter?"
This baby vampire really needed to learn a lesson or two about subtly. He was testing her and even Cami was getting uncomfortable with his questions.
"Tobias? A daughter?" She giggled "No, I'm his niece." That man had escaped from having kids like the plague and was very open about it. "Are you friends with him? He never mentioned you before."
Zillah gazed him with an innocent face that had centuries of practice.
"Not really, but we used to chat a lot every time I came to buy some books. No other place in the French Quarter has such an impressive variety like this one."
Marcel was about to push further, when Hope turned around carrying a red leather book in her hands. Zillah turned to talk with her, and Cami took the chance to grab Marcel's arm and looked at him with a silent 'what the hell' question on her face.
"So, have you made your choice then Hope?"
"Yes, it has weird letters on it that I cannot understand but when I saw it I knew that my dad would love it. I'm sure he will understand it. He knows a lot of stuff."
"If the book spoke to you then it must be it." Zillah sat on the floor were Hope was as she ran her hands through the symbols on the pages. "Those weird letters are runes, used in Old Norse. It's a fantastic book the one you picked, quite especial I would say."
"Especial? How?" Hope looked up with eager eyes.
"It's a copy of a manuscript a man wrote 800 hundreds years ago. He traveled through all Scandinavia, Iceland and Greenland to collect stories about their gods, adventures of their heroes and other fairy tales from the time of the vikings. He wrote it in runes to preserve the nature of those stories, sometimes translations don't do them justice."
Hope eyes were wide open, and Zillah words had only cemented her desired to buy it. This was the perfect gift for her dad, and even the rest of her family could enjoy it.
"I will take it." She said while pushing the book against her chest like if someone where about to steal it.
"I'm sure your father will love it, if he as smart as you said. Perhaps he can read it to you because it is truly beautiful." She said with a smile, Hope seemed to be a sweet and smart child.
A pang of pain struck her chest knowing she could never have children. Not that she was eager, but it was different when the choice had been taken away from you.
Both stood up and Hope ran to Cami with a gleaming face. Elijah had made sure long ago, to settle bank accounts and credit cards for Hope with enough money to sustain her for a life time in case that something happened to them. She needed adult supervision to use those cards, and Cami was one of the people in charge of that.
Hope ran to the compaund as fast as her little legs allowed her. She wanted to wrap the present herself before her dad returned.
********
Given the circumstances, Elijah persuaded Klaus to keep his birthday party at a minimum. Just a small gathering between the family. It would be unwise to make one of Niklaus grandiose celebrations, with an unknown threat luring at the Quarter. Despite his complains and proclamations of not being afraid of anything, Rebekah and Hayley remained him that it would be safer for Hope to keep a low profile until things were solved. His little girl safety had been the only thing that made him shut up.
Rebekah had excelled herself with the decorations and the dinner table, and Elijah hired a chef from Italy to cook his brother favorite plates. The whole family had gathered, invitations had even been extended to Cami, Keelin and Davina.
Marcel had his arm around Rebekah, when he eyed Hope with a mischievous look. She stifled a laugh. Nervous about it, she wanted to give her gift now.
"What are you two planning?" Klaus asked with a glass of whiskey in his hand and narrowed eyes. With this everyone's turned to Hope and Marcel.
"Common, go for it." Cami encouraged her, and she jumped from her seat to look for the book that was on her bedroom.
In what it seemed like a second, she had hurried throughout one way of the house to the other and stood in front of Klaus with her gift behind her back.
With a certain kind of smile that rarely graced the hybrid's face he sat his daughter on his lap.
"Now, will you tell me what sorts of mischief have you been up to?"
She answered him by extending her present.
"I chose it and wrapped it up myself daddy." her proud face melted Klaus' heart and he kissed her cheeck.
"Thank you so much my sweet little wolf."
"Then open it" she pushed him, and everyone at the table giggled at how the big bad wolf could be so easily manipulated by Hope.
With care he revealed the red cover of the book with its title in black runes carved on leather. He looked at it perplexed, it has been a couple of centuries since the last time he saw his people writing. His hands gracing the cover.
"You like it? Zillah said it has stories about vikings, I can't understand the letters but she assured me it's very good and beautiful."
Certainly a book like this was a rare thing to find, enough to said that he had never seen it before. And that is saying a lot coming from a man a thousand years old. Flashes of his childhood came stumbling upon him, when things were good and his mother would tell them stories about Odin and Thor before going to sleep.
"This is an exquisite gift Hope, I love it" he plastered Hope with kisses again, and her complains made him stop "So, where did you find this? And who is this Zillah?"
"Tobias' shop is open again," Marcel answered for her and his tone said more than his words and Elijah and Klaus paid attention, "apparently his niece, Zillah, is taking care of it while he is doing his treatment."
"Yes and she's really pretty and smart, she explained me about the symbols." Hope said not noticing how the mood at the table had changed.
"Treatment?" Elijah asked, "I was not aware he was ill." and he looked at Klaus who was also confused.
Both were regular clients there and it was a surprise when it had closed all of the sudden, under some strange circumstances. But Tobias has always been a rather peculiar human. It wouldn't be odd for him to have a particular family too. Which, it seemed to be the case if someone so young was so fluent with a dead language like theirs. Still, her arrival and Tobias condition, were something worth looking into it just to be sure.
"It shocked me too, but neither Hope or I sensed anything strange about her, although..."
"It is too much of a coincidence." Elijah completed.
This woman, had arrived at the climax of major conflict that had engulfed the witches in fear with Lucy's death. A feat of great measure, for a coven that had witnessed and survived so much was not so easily scared.
"Enough all of you! This is not the time to discuss this." Hayley said when she noticed Hope tense in her father's arms. And picked her up from Klaus.
"This is a celebration, which we rarely have opportunities to do them together, and you are ruining it with your bloody paranoia." Rebekah exclaimed, tired of her brothers attitudes and pushing Marcel's arm away. "You can't be serious about ploting against a librarian."
Hope, despite her age, had a huge amount of power and even though she could not yet control it, she was able to sense things others couldn't. Rebekah trusted her niece instincts, something Klaus could still not do.
Before they could keep fighting some more Freya and Hayley went to the kitchen to bring some dessert. Hoping than a delicious italian ice cream and a cake would keep them calm for the moment.
********
A few miles away, far from New Orleans, Zillah was driving with a car she rented with cash, making sure to leave no digital footprint of this small trip.
It was almost midnight, headlights only lighting up a few feets, for the rest of the road was submerged in darkness. Not like she needed it anyway, it was for the others cars that she had them on.
It was boring for most of the way, and went on like that for another hour until from a distance she noticed what she was looking for. One of those typical bars, next to a motel, in the middle nowhere were people came to disappear for a couple of hours. The things is, is that nothing on this world could truly escape once she had their "scent".
She parked, close to a bunch of motorcycles and stepped in a building that seemed to barely hold itself together. A certain stench of vomit and alcohol, with who knew what else, was in the air burning her lungs. The music was loud enough to cover up all the chattering. Zillah didn't need to look over the room to know where he was. She walked straight to the bar, and got eyed like a piece of meat among dogs. A guy sitting on a booth tried to slap her ass but before he could even touch her she turned fast and grabbed his wrist with such a strength that surely it would leave marks.
"You don't want to do that." She said in a monotonous voice and pierced his eyes with a cold glare.
The guy's breathing was harsh and his face was pale. He couldn't muster any words, and his mouth hanged open. When she let loose of his wrist, the guy stood up and stumbling he made his way out that place.
Zillah continued, like if nothing had happened, walking slow as she observed a young man with red hair, piercings, and a black leather jacket with his gang logo, or whatever they liked to called it, printed on his back. He was talking with a friend, and another seat next to him was free. She strode there, and asked the bartender for a beer. The redhead turned when he heard her, and eyed her up and down with a cocky smile.
"I can recommend you a better drink sweetheart, if you're looking for something stronger."
That disgusting pick up line, instead of revolting her stomach made her grin for he had no idea. She looked at him and leaning on she answered.
"You know what? I think you are right, I am looking for something else. And I believe you can give me what I want." She smirked.
"Tell me what it is and I promise sweetheart that I will give it to you."
Fully believing that he was about to get some one night stand, he didn't notice as Zillah pulled a golden coin from her pocket. Displaying it right on his face, he froze and his eyes remained glued on the coin as she laid it on the counter.
"You have a debt, and I'm here to collect," she said but he was still looking at the coin and his hands had started trembling. "So tell me Aaron, what is it going to be your choice?"
With a small soft smile, Elijah was gazing at the woman who was dancing around with his younger sister, Rebekah by the fire.
He looked away into the endless woods as he bit down on his bottom lip as he recalled that cool night a few moons ago.
Leaves rustling as Elijah stepped on them as he made his way through the woods beside the river.
The moon wasn’t full yet, but soon it will be for him and his family to find the cave that provided the protection against the lycans that roamed through the woods during the full moon.
Turning his head after hearing a distinct echo of water splash, he slowed down his pace before turning in the direction where the river was.
Elijah pushed the branches out of the way, the leaves scattered from the wood, falling to the ground. He held his breath, crouching down to make sure there was no danger nearby, with his hand on the handle of his sword, ready to fight.
He only saw nothing. However, he saw a dark form hovering in the calm water.
Confused, he’d let go of his grip on the sword handle.
He bent down his knees for a closer inspection, and his eyes widened comically when he saw a slumped body floating in the water, hovering near the edge.
The next thing he knew, the cold feeling surrounded him, sending aftershocks to his skin. He had lived in winters like these, but it was freezing before he could register that he was in the river.
He was drenched to the bones, but he didn’t care. He was deepened with worry for the girl who happened to be floating on top of the icy cold water.
Once he reached her, his hand lifted out of the river, reaching for her shoulder, he flipped her agile body to see her wearing peculiar clothing, and his breath stilled in his lungs when he saw her face.
She was beautiful.
He wrapped his arms around her towards his frame before dragging her closer to the edge of the river. Propping her against the dirt, somehow the movement jostled her into taking a deep breath when she wasn’t breathing before.
Her body had felt heavy, but when she took a breath, the density had lightened.
He nearly sighed in relief once he realized she wasn’t dead.
Her eyes fluttered before opening, reaching for her mouth with her hand, she coughed slightly to get the excess water out of her lungs.
He held his breath when her eyes squinted in confusion before dragging upwards to his face.
Her eyelids, which had momentarily fluttered at his closeness, widened. For the first time, it registered to him that her irises were burnished doe, and he could not look away.
“Are you alright, ma'am.” He spoke in his native tongue, gently brushing her wet strands out of her face.
She nodded slightly. “Yes.” She said breathlessly as she gazed at him.
She was beautiful. Slender, with a classically built figure and long, thick wavy brunette hair. Her creamy olive skin glowed by the fire that was currently burning for the celebration of Samhain.
Elena looked over to him after taking the mask off, with a wide smile on her face. He only gave her a soft smile in return, before frowning slightly when she turned away to dance with his younger brother, Niklaus.
He knew she did not like Niklaus in a romantic way, but she had felt a sisterly bond with him which made them close.
He couldn’t help but to feel jealous of how close they were, despite the bond they shared. He did not want her like that. He wanted her romantically. As his wife, the person he could see himself with for the rest of his days.
Elijah gently rubbed the skin of the pig before bending down on his knees to feed him the straws from the hay that was scattered on the ground.
He heard light footsteps shuffling against the dirt ground as it neared him, and he turned his head slightly to see the woman he’d saved. The woman who had caught his eye the night he walked on the path that led him to her.
“How long do you plan on staying in the village?” He asked before rising to straighten his posture, gripping the wood fence he and his family had built earlier, with his fingers.
Her smile slowly faded as her brown eyes turned serious. Elijah frowned at the sight of her expression, not liking one bit. “I do not know,” she inhaled slowly, looking down at the mask she had in her hands. “Your mother’s friend has been kind to take me in.” Referring to Ayanna who was generous to take her in as a host family to her.
“How could she not?” He murmured, “it was very concerning to see you floating on top of water. I was grateful that I happened to be wanting to take a walk by the river.” He looked at her, giving her a slight smile. Looking in the direction where there was loud laughing erupted at the celebration.
His eyes flickered back to her when she exhaled noisily, “well, thank you for saving my life.” She said shyly, looking up at him with her eyes that had him seen her soul.
He leaned down, and lifted more straws to the pig who was still feasting on them.
“Do not tell me you came to save Loki the pig from his fate,” she said playfully, lips curling upwardly as a teasing flint entered her depths.
He cracked a small smile. “No. I’m afraid Loki the pig is fated to be food.” He looked up at her solemnly, “just as you are fated to go back…eventually.” He murmured, looking away as if he was interested in the well-being of the pig.
There was silence, air stilling for a moment before Elena broke the tension.
“And you?” Elijah looked at her in surprise, he hadn’t expected her to ask him. “Fated not to do anything…about us?” Elena’s eyes twinkled, flushing slightly as she brushed off the mask. “I was fated to die in the river, but somewhere in the universe wanted me to live,” She walked by him with slow but determined steps before turning to him, and he followed her presence with his eyes. “And here I am.”
All Elijah could do was to stare at her. “Perhaps you were fated to be there for me to come across,” he murmured, feeling bold with his upcoming sentiment. “And perhaps, fate wants you to stay.” He swallowed vehemently, pride came warring, but he pushed through it. “Here with me.” He quietly confessed, his cheeks burned with timidity that he rarely held.
He knew he could get hurt by Elena, with her words of rejection, but he wouldn’t know if he didn’t try.
He saw that Elena’s eyes widened before it somehow brightened a little more which made his heart hammered in his chest. “So I gathered I’m wanted?”
He nodded, “very much so.” He voiced his sincerity.
“I’d rather take a chance despite that it could be today, or tomorrow or even many moons from now that I might return not on my own whims.” She said, taking a step forward to close the space between them. “Because we aren’t always guaranteed tomorrow, I’d rather give my heart to someone strong, protective, fierce and yet noble, and gentle.” She whispered the last word before raising her hand towards his face, and his eyes fell to her slim fingers as it came within the distance.
Once her warm fingers touched his cheek gently, he closed his eyes in a reverence state, inhaling slowly before he opened his eyes to see a soft expression painted on her face.
He reached to grab her hand, gripping slightly as he curled his fingers around her palm.
“I want to be with you, Elijah. No matter where we are or how long. I want to be with you until then,” she said, trailing her gaze from his eyes to his lips, cupping his cheek slightly more when she saw his lips curling slightly.
He took a step forward to close the distance between their lips, and Elena, knowing what he was about to instigate, stopped him with a soft laugh.
Looking down, she pushed his chest slightly and he could feel the warmth of her fingers bleeding through the fabric. “And you choose to have our first kiss where your mother slaughters the pigs?” She asked softly with a twinkle in her eyes when she peered at him.
He couldn’t help himself but to smile at her teasing tone, and his expression softened when he saw her smiling widely.
“Not very roman-” she started, but he decided not to listen, and reaching forward, he cupped his hand on the back of her neck. She gasped lightly when his lips touched hers, and he closed his eyes at the feeling of her lips.
Withdrawing slightly, he peered at her to see her closed eyes with a slight reverent expression on her face. He waited until she opened her eyes, “perhaps we should set Loki the pig free.” He murmured, pushing her strands behind her shoulder. “Seems one’s fate can change after all.” Seeing her lips curling in response, he reached for her lips once more.
Under the moon, he kissed her with more passion that resonated in his bones.
why do i have to format emails like i’m writing a letter to my fucking husband on the frontlines of the long war. my dearest gregory. it has been too long since i’ve held in my embrace. o, that these travails shall lead us to one another again. my sincerest, fondest thoughts go with you in this, your hour of need. i have attached the requested documents in .pdf format. thanks!
