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die easy

CHAPTER SEVEN ∙ to the promised land

note: there is no author's note bc i regret nothing (except the canonical slander of marcel's character i had to participate in)

warnings: canon-typical violence, course language, alcohol (btw if anyone needs anything else tagged lmk)

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The gazebo was a lovely structure, big enough to host a banquet. The shrubs brushing up against it provided an illusion of privacy Elijah did not allow himself to believe. Katerina had picked an open space for their reunion, ensuring nothing could block her minions’ view of her. She was nothing if not cunning, even to those she claimed as friends.

She was there when Elijah arrived, something he hadn’t been expecting. He knew how much she enjoyed keeping him waiting, like a wine bottle on ice. Perhaps this now was to throw him off his game—he’d wanted time to scope out the situation, figure out how to dodge her questions as much as possible. The last thing he wanted was for her fascination with him to extend to Tam and her sons.

“Katerina,” he greeted, watching her response to him carefully. Her hair was different, and she wore a new perfume he couldn’t place.

Katerina’s eyes widened as she took him in. “You’re a little late, aren’t you?”

He knew for a fact that he wasn’t. Reaching out, he touched the new thread of colour in her hair. Pinkish red. “You coloured your hair. I like it.”

She blinked heavily, a standard response. Before she could get her questions out, Elijah stepped forward to kiss her. She remained frozen for a moment before sinking into it. She tasted like coffee.

Katerina hated coffee.

Elena.

Elijah reigned himself in, fighting back the urge to shove her away from him and instead drew her closer, taking the chance to slip into her mind. She’d been taking vervain, he could tell, but there were a few thoughts he could skim from the surface. Interesting.

Elijah disengaged carefully, giving nothing away. “I missed you,” he tested.

“And I’ve missed you.” Another mistake. Katerina would never admit such a thing so openly.

“This is an interesting little town you’ve chosen to settle down in. So, do you have it with you?”

“Do I have what?” Elena asked innocently.

“The cure.”

Her heartbeat picked up. “It’s safe. How about I go find it?”

She turned away quickly but Elijah was faster, grabbing her arm forcefully. “Where’s Katherine, Elena?” he growled.

“I—I don’t—”

“Don’t imagine you can continue lying to me. What have you done with her? Are the Salvatores with you?”

Elena swallowed whatever trepidation his tone instilled in her and face him boldly, head-on. “I don’t have to tell you anything. Why are you here, anyway? You really expect me to believe you want the cure?”

No, he wanted Katerina. But he could hardly have the others knowing that. Not if they had Katerina themselves. God, he hoped she’d been careful … “I don’t have to tell you anything,” Elijah parroted back at her.

Elena rolled her eyes. Something was … off in the movement. He’d enjoyed a fair few conversations with her in the past, but this was different.

Elijah’s phone buzzed in his hand. Katerina’s name and picture popped up.

Answering, he barked, “Katerina?”

“Hello, Elijah,” Stefan’s voice taunted on the other end.

“Where is she?”

“Where’s Elena?”

Jaw working, Elijah stared at Elena as he said, “Safe. How long she remains so depends upon you.”

“Well, I guess the same goes for Katherine.”

Elijah tried to force a laugh. “I’m sure she can take care of herself against the two of you.”

“Oh, you mean the three of us. ‘Cause your little sister decided to join Team Good Guys for the time being.”

Elijah’s fury ignited at the same time as Elena’s delight lit up her face. Blood pounding, he hissed, “Put her on the phone.”

The conversation did little to progress from there. Rebekah was with Katherine and Damon, Stefan wouldn’t help until Elena was returned, etcetera, etcetera. It would have been nought but a plebeian nuisance had Elijah not known for a fact that Rebekah would end Katherine at a whim.

“You listen to me very carefully, Stefan,” he said, enunciating exactly. “If anything whatsoever happens to Katherine, I will descend upon Elena.” Precisely what that entailed, he did not know. He hung up before Stefan could enquire further.

“You’re both idiots,” said Elena, dropping to sit down on one of the benches. “And what happened to you? I thought you were supposed to be a man of honour, and yet you’ve been hooking up with Katherine this entire time?”

He hadn’t, but that was moot. He had to maintain the lie, the lie that the cure had drawn him in and not the promise of Katerina. “She contacted me about the cure. We thought we could be of mutual use to one another.”

“Admit it, Elijah. You fell into her trap.”

“You underestimate me, Elena. I know who she is. I know what she’s done.” Better than anyone, I know.

“And you think she’s changed? She’s playing you. She lied to you, Elijah.”

“And what of you, Elena? Now a vampire, but … there’s something else changed. You’re not yourself.” She shrugged at him, uncaring, and the realisation dawned upon him. “You’ve abandoned your emotions. Why?”

“Didn’t she tell you?” asked Elena, tone lilting. “Jeremy’s dead. Katherine killed him.”

Elijah’s stomach dropped into his shoes. Jeremy Gilbert was just a boy, and one of Matthew’s closest friends at that. For Katherine to have killed him …

Perhaps it was worst that Elijah was unsurprised.

“She lied,” he said. Not about the cure, but about herself. About being better than she had been. But had she really told him that, or had he simply put the words to her lips as he always did, making her something she never was?

Elena, however, found this hysterical. “I hate to say I told you so, but duh!”

Elijah’s fists clenched and unclenched as he tried to remain in control. “And your friends, you’ve all been mourning him?”

“Well, I haven’t,” Elena chirped. “But everyone else is pretty torn up about it. I think poor Matt went to the funeral all alone.”

Losing whatever shred of control remained, Elijah slammed his fist into one of the gazebo’s supporting columns.

#

Katerina had never shied away from a snapped neck or a dramatic entrance, so it was no surprise that both were involved in her next meeting with Elijah.

She stood over Elena’s body triumphantly, a grin blooming on her lips.

Elijah barely contained the tremble in his voice. “You killed Jeremy Gilbert.”

Katerina stopped short, watching him carefully. “Of course I did. I do what I must to survive, just as I always have.”

“And is that what I am to you? A means of survival?”

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic,” Katerina crooned, stepping toward him.

“I asked you a question!” Elijah barked, stopping her short.

“Of course you’re not just survival to me,” she said. “We’ve always seen one another, you and me. We need each other.” She rested a hand on his cheek. “I love you.”

Elijah pulled away, ignoring the impulse and leaving his cheek exposed to the bitter wind. “I don’t know you. I don’t think I ever will.”

So he left her.

#

Elijah drove back to Mystic Falls as though Katherine herself was pursuing him. He had the cure in his pocket and a chip on his shoulder, and there wasn’t anything anyone could do to stop him.

His first stop was at Folger’s Inn to re-book his old room. They recognised him; he compelled them not to do so again. It wasn’t really a touching reunion.

His next stop was Matthew’s. The house was empty, cold. From what Elijah could scent, Matthew hadn’t been there for some days at least. His truck was missing, too.

Elijah drove past the Gilbert residence, wondering if Matt had taken to staying there instead.

It was a burnt-out husk.

Frustration mounting, Elijah turned back into town and parked outside the Mystic Grill. He released a sigh of relief at the sight of Matthew’s truck in the Employees Only section.

Checking to ensure the cure was safe in his inner-jacket pocket, Elijah locked the car behind him and headed inside. Not much had changed about the Grill—it was as crowded and greasy as usual. The ambient lighting was better suited to a sultry dinner date than a midday mealtime. No one else seemed to care.

Elijah found Matthew taking orders from an older couple at a table in the corner. He perched on a stool at the bar, waiting patiently as Matthew listed the specials three times only for the man to order “our regular” with little explanation.

“Got it,” Matthew confirmed, scribbling something down. “Will that be all today?”

“Yes, Matty,” said the woman.

Matthew left and headed for the kitchen, not seeing Elijah on his way past. He didn’t interrupt him. It was nearing 1pm—maybe he’d be on break soon.

Behind Elijah, the couple spoke in hushed tones that required vampire senses to decipher.

“Poor boy,” the woman was saying. “He grew up with little Jeremy Gilbert. The whole thing is such a tragedy.”

“We’ll tip him well,” the man said, tone detached. “With a mother like his, I bet he needs it.”

“Elijah?” Matthew’s voice snapped Elijah out of his eavesdropping.

“Matthew,” Elijah greeted. “It’s … you look … well.” He looked like he hadn’t slept in three days, but that wasn’t the kind of thing one just said outright. “I stopped by your home to see you.”

“I don’t live there anymore. I’ve moved into Ty’s place.”

Elijah nodded. “Living with your friend must be … that sounds like a good idea.” That sounds like a good idea? Had he lost the ability to speak in Pennsylvania?

“Ty’s not there,” said Matt. “Your brother kinda chased him out of town.”

Ah, that sounded like Niklaus. “You’ve been there alone?”

“Don’t really have anyone else around anymore.”

“I … heard about Jeremy. Matthew, I—”

“You know what? I have some work to do. Some of us have jobs.”

“Of course. Would you have time to catch up later?”

“No, Elijah. I don’t think I will.” Matt pulled the pad of paper from his apron pocket and left to greet a crowd of newcomers.

#

Of all the places Matt wanted to be, prom wasn’t one of them. Yet here he was, wearing one of Ty’s tuxes and standing by the punchbowl with his hands in his pockets, determined to have something that resembled a good time.

Speaking of which, Rebekah sauntered up wearing a dress the colour of lemons and looking … remarkably out of place.

“So are you and Bonnie, like, a thing?” she asked, feigning nonchalance. She’d really adopted the modern speech patterns quickly.

“We’re not a thing; we’re friends. Who are you here with?”

Rebekah hesitated. “No one,” she admitted. “Go on, I know what you’re thinking—why didn’t I just compel myself a date?”

That had been what he was thinking, but he didn’t want her to know. “Actually, I was thinking, ‘I wonder if Bonnie wants ice?’.”

“Oh. Can I … ask you a question?”

“Why?” Matt asked shortly. “You seem to already know everything I’m thinking, so—”

“Do you think I would make a good human?”

Matt could admit to being a little taken aback at that. Were any vampires he knew ‘good’? Maybe Stefan, when he had his humanity and pleasant weather and the right lighting. But was Rebekah? “I think that ‘good’ is a hard word to live up to, and I’ve never seen you do anything remotely good, so … Honestly? No, I don’t. Sorry.”

He left before Rebekah could respond.

#

Elijah wondered how many times over the years this exact scene had played out. By now, he should be better at predicting its ending.

He sat across from Niklaus, a white oak stake on the table between them. Somewhere, a grandfather clock ticked to punctuate the silence.

Niklaus’ jaw tensed at the sight of it. “Why would you give me this?”

Because you’re paranoid enough to kill us all if I don’t. “We are immortal but for the stake. Now that it’s yours, you have nothing to fear.”

“Silas will continue to torment me.”

“You’ve survived endless torments throughout the centuries, each more wicked than the last: the hunter’s curse, our father’s wrath, Marcellus’ death. You’ll shake this. And if you can’t, you can outrun him.”

Niklaus chuckled. “Yes, it’s that simple. Without the cure, what makes you think I’ll spare your beloved Katerina? Or have you figured out you’re simply another fly in her web?”

Elijah’s tone darkened. “You may do with Katerina what you will. I ask something else in return for this.”

“And what might that be?”

“I wish you to relinquish your hold on the Lockwood boy. Allow him to return here to his friends.”

Niklaus laughed outright at that. “You’re serious? Why would you care for the fate of one boy?”

“Why would you?”

“He betrayed me.”

“He was never yours to possess. Really, Niklaus—I’d have thought that Marcellus taught you not to bleed devotion from those in your thrall.”

Niklaus closed the distance between them, shoving Elijah against a wall. “How dare you use Marcellus against me? I only ever loved him.”

“You used the guise of philanthropy to own him and dared to call it freedom. If fever hadn’t taken his mother you’d have drowned her like Carol Lockwood. What is this obsession you have, Niklaus? Power is not and never has been possessing those that despise you, yet you would punish Tyler for seeking freedom from one he loathed.”

Niklaus pressed the stake against Elijah’s suit, right over his emerald satin pocket square. Also, incidentally, his heart. “I see I am to court betrayal at every turn.”

“I have only betrayed you once in our existence, Niklaus, and we are a thousand years and a broken curse beyond it now. Free Tyler Lockwood and let him return to his friends.”

Niklaus pressed in closer until they were nose-to-nose. “I’ll consider it.” He snapped himself away, tucking the stake into his leather jacket.

Elijah straightened his suit. “It is such a hollow little life you lead, Niklaus.” He pressed a hand to his brother’s cheek, then left.

#

“You’re sure you’re okay?” Matt checked again, looking at April worriedly. She was still pale and more than a little woozy.

“I’m fine,” she promised. “You should get going before my aunt gets back from her dinner.”

Matt didn’t like the idea of leaving April, but she had enough vampire blood in her system to keep her safe. And not just any vampire’s—Rebekah’s.

“Well, I’ll get going. Call me if you need anything, okay?”

“I will. Thanks for driving me home.” April’s smile was just as bright as it had been when they were kids.

“Night.”

Matt headed back out to his truck, getting it going so he could start the AC on warm. He held his hands in front of the vents, huddling over them for warmth.

It had been … a hell of a night. Emphasis on ‘hell’. April had gotten hurt over vampire shit again. She’d almost died again. Rebekah had had to save her … okay, that hadn’t happened before, but still didn’t feel particularly unusual. She really was desperate to get the cure from Elijah, but he’d made her good, human behaviour a condition of her obtaining it. You know, like an asshole.

Filled with a night’s worth of bitter anger, Matt dialled before he even knew what he was doing.

“Matthew.”

“You need to give Rebekah the cure.”

“I see she’s informed you of our little wager.” Elijah sounded almost … amused? “She will receive the cure, provided she lives up to her end of it.”

“Give it to her now,” Matt ground out. “You’re not her father. You don’t get to teach her lessons. Who do you think you are?”

The line crackled.

“I see you’ve made some assumptions about the situation—”

“Am I wrong?” Matt pressed. “Did you not tell Rebekah you’d only give her her one true desire if she proved herself worthy to you?”

“It was never about worth. What do you take me for? This is about certainty. She sees only what is ahead of her and nothing of what she will leave behind. A thousand years as a vampire, with all the darkness that comes with that, but all the gifts as well. She cannot leave it so easily, and I will not allow my sister to end her immortal life on a whim.”

“She’s a thousand years old,” said Matt. “How long has she wanted this? How long has she been broken by it? How many times has she longed for the chance you’re keeping from her now?”

“She doesn’t understand—”

“No, don’t. Don’t you dare decide what she understands. You don’t know her, Elijah! You hadn’t seen her in a century before a few months ago. Give her the cure and let her decide. We both know she deserves it more than Klaus ever will, and with the way Elena’s been I’m not sure even the cure will save her.”

“If the Salvatores discover that you have ruined Elena’s chance at humanity, they might kill you.”

“Wow, I wonder what it’s like to be in danger.”

“I’m serious, Matthew.”

“Let them,” Matt bit back.

“You don’t mean that.”

Matt tightened his hand over the steering wheel. “Look, just give her the cure, Elijah. Whether or not she takes it is up to her.”

“You don’t command me.”

“You don’t command her.”

Only Elijah’s breathing drifted down the line, holding the silence until he spoke again. “I’ll see.”

And he hung up.

#

Matt drove home in silence, operating on autopilot and arriving home without even thinking about it until he came to a halt half a street away. Either side of the road was lined with cars.

Right—the party.

Matt pulled off into a back road to get a park closer to the house and walked the rest of the way. The party was just kicking off under Caroline’s supervision. Matt dodged a gaggle of drunk football players making a beeline for him while exclaiming, “Matty!” and got inside undisturbed.

He found Caroline in the den, nursing some of Ty’s dad’s good scotch. She greeted him with a muted, “Hey,” tipping the glass towards him.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Tyler’s gone.” She hiccupped a little. “He left about an hour ago.”

Without saying goodbye to anyone but Caroline. Shitty but unsurprising. “I’m sure he wished he could stay,” Matt said.

Caroline shrugged, downing the rest of her glass. Matt eyed the half-empty bottle. “You sure you don’t want to slow down?”

“I have vamp-level tolerance,” Caroline told him, refilling her glass. “I’m sure I’ll be fine. But you might want to check upstairs. I’m pretty sure Bradley Dixon and Lexie McGuire are about to start banging in your room.” She tapped her ear, then took another sip.

“God, can we not end this already?” Matt rubbed a hand over his face. “I’m exhausted, April almost died, Elena’s well and truly off the reservation—just, do we have to do this now?”

Caroline took a moment to catch up with what he was saying, and then she stood. “I’ll go start compelling people.”

“Are you sure you’re good to do that?”

She turned back to Matt, setting the glass down and putting one finger to her nose, then drawing it away in a straight line. “Not drunk. There?”

“That’s not exactly scientific. Just … don’t compel anyone. I’ll take care of it.”

“What are you gonna do?”

“Shut off the electricity for half an hour. You start telling people that the Grill is mostly empty and they should move there.”

“Is it?”

“It’s a Friday night, so no. I’m sure they’ll find somewhere.” He grabbed a torch from one of the chests of drawers in the den and tucked it into his sleeve.

#

There were a few screams when the power first went out, but Caroline managed to convince everyone to move on quickly enough. Matt stayed out at the back of the house at the power supply. He waited until Caroline called out to him, then switched it all back on.

He rejoined Caroline at the house, watching her sway on bare feet, the skirt of her dress bunched up in one hand.

“You need me to call a cab?”

“I can drive.” Caroline stared him down for a moment, still swaying. “All right, maybe not.”

“You can stay here if you want. I’ll make up one of the spare rooms for you.”

“I’ll stay in Ty’s. Good night.” Caroline gave him a half-hug and headed upstairs. Something told him staying in Ty’s room wouldn’t be cathartic for her, but whatever.

Though the party had lasted only an hour, the house was already a mess. The keg had been taken (the team was never one to waste perfectly good beer), but red cups littered every horizontal surface and there were snacks covering the dining table—and the dining room floor, which now crunched underfoot.

Matt had just started cleaning up the mess when there was a knock at the door. He brought the broom with him to answer it, part of him thinking he could always use it to chase whoever it was off.

Except that it was Elijah, so perhaps not.

“What are you doing here?” Matt asked.

Elijah eyed the broom. “Are you going to beat me with that?”

“Why are you here?”

“Are you going to invite me into your new residence?”

Matt refused to look away from the gaze Elijah levelled at him. “Did you give Rebekah the cure?”

“Yes and no. I … intended to. She stood before me and I put it into her hands. As it turns out, I was fooled by Silas’ shapeshifting capabilities.”

“Which means he has the cure in his possession, and we’re all screwed.” None more so than Rebekah. “Fuck, I—I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten involved.”

“This isn’t your fault. You were right about Rebekah, about everything.”

“If I hadn’t told you to give it to her, Silas wouldn’t have it.”

“If I had given it to Rebekah the moment she told me she wanted it, Silas wouldn’t have it either.”

It was true, however much Matt didn’t want to admit it. “We fucked up.”

“I contest your inclusion in that ‘we’, but yes.”

“You could’ve just called me to tell me all this.”

“I wanted to ensure that you are well. I hear there’s been some … drama.”

“That’s one word for it.”

“Are you all right?”

“Peachy.”

“Testy, more like. How about we have a conversation?”

“I don’t have time, sorry. I have an entire house to clean.”

“I could help you,” Elijah offered.

“How many years has it been since the last time you held a broom?” Matt asked incredulously.

“I hear there are vacuums now.”

Matt raised the hand with the broom in it a little. “Call me old-fashioned.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Elijah hesitated, a hand on either side of the doorframe. Matt could tell he wanted to ask for an invitation, but something stopped him. “Well, I should be heading off. Rebekah will require some consoling. I’m glad to see you’ve landed on your feet.”

“Likewise.”

“Have a good evening.” Elijah pushed himself back off the doorframe and disappeared into the night.

#

It wasn’t that Elijah wanted to leave.

He didn’t feel particularly motivated to stay, but for Matthew’s issues. He’d been concerned by the earlier phone conversation, the terse attitude and disinterest in conversation. He wasn’t himself.

But the moment Rebekah told Elijah where Klaus had gone, he knew he had no choice.

New Orleans had been kind to their family, once upon a time. That kindness had evaporated into smoke the moment Mikael arrived and killed Marcellus. And if Klaus was returning …

There was going to be blood. And where there was blood on Klaus’ hands, thereafter ran Elijah, eager to clean it up.

Perhaps self-awareness made it less pathetic.

But for the first time, Elijah didn’t follow immediately. He had unfinished business—not with Katerina or the Knights, and certainly not with Rebekah, who’d do as she pleased for as long as she could until Niklaus inevitably came after her for it.

No, it was the matter of Matthew and his most recent loss. In that vein, Elijah had arrangements to make.

#

Caroline was gone when Matt woke up.

The few cleaning tasks he’d left to do later were completed, and the house was pristine. The note on the fridge read: Hope you slept well. I cleaned everything else up and grabbed some more groceries for you. See you later xoxo

Matt smoothed a hand over his face, pulling the fridge open to investigate. It was stocked full of milk and three kinds of juice, some various fruits and vegetables and yoghurt, too.

And she’d managed it all before 9am.

Matt skipped over all of it to get at the leftover Chinese food instead.

He’d made it halfway through what remained of the chicken lo mein when his phone rang. It was Elijah, something that no longer surprised him.

Picking it up, Matt said, “Yes,” a bit more curtly than he intended.

“Matthew. I hope I’ve found you well.”

“Uh, yeah.”

“I’m afraid I have to leave town. My brother has taken off and I’m tasked with fetching him.”

Klaus was gone? That could only be good news. “Tasked by who?”

“None but fate, I suppose. I’m going off to ensure he doesn’t get himself into trouble.”

“I wouldn’t be worried about him.”

“I’m afraid I seem unable to shake that particular concern.” He paused. “Matthew, I’m sending you the details of someone my assistant has located. I’d like you to go and see him.”

“Who?”

“He’s a psychologist I’ve had compelled to assist you. He will keep his Wednesday night appointments free for you, unless you ask to change the time. I’ve paid in advance, so it’s all taken care of.”

A psychologist? Really? “What do you expect me to talk to him about?”

“Anything you desire. You’re under no obligation to attend, but I’ve ensured that he will remain available for you. I’ve compelled him to forget all about you unless he’s speaking with you, so your secrets really are safe with him.”

“I don’t have any secrets.”

“On the contrary, Matthew—you’ve been burdened with everyone’s secrets. I do hope you’re well. Please call me if you need anything, even just to talk.”

“I will.” Matt didn’t know whether to feel touched or violated. He decided to go with neither and changed the subject. “Uh, good luck with your brother.”

“Thank you, Matthew. Take care.”

The line clicked.

#

Elijah really should have known better than to imagine fetching his brother from New Orleans would be a simple matter. Few things with Klaus were, but his relationship with the city was likely the most complicated relationship in his life, besides Marcellus.

Of course, Marcellus and New Orleans always had come together, and since the boy was alive after all …

Snapping out of his pondering, Elijah pulled up at the cemetery parking lot. He tried and failed to not check his phone for messages. There were several texts from Rebekah but none from Matthew. His offer of a psychologist was intrusive, he knew, and trying to find out what Matthew’s response was would be unhelpful. That didn’t stop Elijah from checking constantly for any message, be it one of gratitude or anger at overstepping.

Putting his phone away, Elijah stepped out of the car. His Mercedes was at odds with the rust-buckets that flanked it on either side; Elijah took care not to bump into either of them as he exited the car, desperate not to ruin his best suit.

He didn’t know why he’d dressed up so well just to return to New Orleans. Or perhaps he did know and was avoiding the truth, even in his own mind.

Good impressions were priceless, he reminded himself as he crunched his loafers over the gravel. The sound reminded him of clenched teeth and grinding bones.

Upon approach, Elijah could hear five heartbeats in the crypt: Sophie Deveraux; the other witch named Agnes; yet another witch Elijah hadn’t yet identified; and, finally, the young wolf girl with two heartbeats inside her, both her own and another smaller, more rapid one.

The witches knew Elijah was coming before he was in sight of them. He entered the crypt to find them arranged around Hayley in casual stances, though he could smell the magic ready to burst in the room.

“Elijah,” Sophie greeted, her dark eyes hard. “Is it done?”

“My brother has once more gotten himself into Marcel’s good graces,” Elijah confirmed. He forced his gaze to remain on Sophie, though his attention was with the girl in the center of the room. “He will continue to work as your agent there.” Well, Klaus hadn’t (and wouldn’t) put it that way, but until they could free themselves of the witches’ threats against the child they were relatively at the mercy of the Nine Covens.

“That’s good.” Despite her words, Sophie’s tone was not congratulatory. “I’m sure Hayley is relieved.”

“I’d like her to be a good deal more than that.”

Sophie’s eyebrow raised. “Oh?”

“I want her freed.”

“We’re not doing that,” said Agnes.

Sophie shot Agnes a look that may have been discreet by mortal standards, but for Elijah it stretched an eternity and spoke volumes of their relationship.

“Free how?”

“I don’t expect you to free her from the spell,” said Elijah, tone obvious, “and I wouldn’t bother to ask. But I do want her at my side.”

“You’ll try to break the link.”

“If we do, there will be dire consequences. You assured us of that. Or were you bluffing?” Elijah trailed off with the shadow of a smirk.

Predictably, Sophie’s hackles rose. “No, we weren’t. Try to break the spell and we both die. No loopholes.”

We’ll see about that. “I simply wish to have her at my side. It benefits both of us—you do not have to see to her upkeep, nor take on the trouble of confining her. Something tells me she’s displeased at her accommodation so far, and wolves can be so difficult when the full moon nears. Have you seen her through one yet?”

“Pregnant wolves don’t turn on the full moon.”

“No, but all wolves become … agitated. Are you prepared to deal with the bloodshed that comes with confining a wolf under her moon? Or have the wolves been absent from this city so long that you’ve forgotten their capabilities?”

Sophie remained stoic, but the third, nameless witch shifted uncomfortably. “He’s right, Sophie,” she said, and as she spoke Elijah spied the silver edge that poked up over her shirt collar. A bite, and not one from vampire fangs either.

“Besides,” Elijah continued, “my brother is fickle and barely convinced of this course of action. If you intend to bind his assistance to his love for this child, he’d best be near it as it grows. Hearing that heartbeat’s strength could do wonders for his cooperation.”

Sophie sighed.

“You’re not seriously considering this?” Agnes demanded.

Ignoring the interjection, Sophie said, “You know the consequences for breaking the spell fine enough. Remember that you can’t take her out of the city, either. If she’s too far from me, we’ll both feel the effects of the spell straining. It won’t be pleasant, especially for the baby.”

“Understood.”

Sophie held his gaze for a moment, expression still inscrutable. “Fine,” she said, stepping aside slightly. “She’s all yours.”

Elijah offered Hayley his hand. She took it cautiously, peering around as though waiting for a trap to reveal itself. He felt the tension begin leaving her the moment she touched him. He put himself between her and the witches; she went willingly where he guided her, something he suspected she didn’t do very often.

“I’d say it was a pleasure doing business with you,” he began, giving Agnes a tepid smile, “but it certainly was not.”

“We’ll be seeing you soon,” Sophie promised, her eyes looking past Elijah at Hayley, who he felt shudder behind him.

“Of course.” Wasting no more time, Elijah dropped his hands on Hayley’s waist and lifted her slightly to speed her away, back to the car.

He set her back on her feet seconds later. She blinked, a little disoriented.

“Sorry,” he said. “Agnes was eyeing you and I thought it might be best to get you out as fast as possible.”

Hayley nodded shortly. She was doing her best to conceal the small shakes wracking her frame. Her jaw was tense and her eyes were distant.

“Are you all right?” Elijah asked as gently as he could.

“Fine,” she said. “Just … had a bit of a wild time. Not the good kind.”

“I am sorry. But you’re free of them now, I swear.”

“Am I?” Hayley asked, looking at him finally. Her eyes were glassy.

“The spell is an issue,” Elijah agreed, “but my family and I have dealt with greater.”

“And if the spell breaks, you really think I’ll be free? Your brother won’t allow that.”

Elijah paused, unsure of what to say to that. Hayley spoke again before he could figure it out.

“Let’s just get out of here,” she said. “I need to wash this awful day off myself and sleep for a thousand years. Please tell me you have somewhere for us to go.”

“Of course. Niklaus is readying it as we speak.”

She snorted. “Oh, goodie.”

#

The house was all set up with water and electricity by the time they arrived. There was hot water for Hayley’s shower, which she disappeared off to complete the moment she was shown her new room. Elijah’s assistant had brought her some basic clothes and toiletries, but she didn’t say thank you for them.

Since they’d done this to her to start with, Elijah was hardly offended.

Most of the furniture was covered in sheets, but Elijah located Niklaus in the one room that had been cleared out and dusted off—the former sitting room, where Klaus now sipped bourbon and gazed into the empty, cold fireplace.

“Already drinking, brother?”

Klaus smirked at him over the rim of his glass. “Of all the interventions you’ve staged for me over the years, this is by far the most pedestrian.”

“On the contrary.” Elijah sat down across from him, pouring out his own glass. “The drinking is by far the most tolerable of your vices. Do please continue.”

“Mm.” Klaus balanced his glass on the edge of his chair. “The house is remarkably well-kept, given its age.”

“The plantation house, you mean,” Elijah corrected. “Of course it has been. It was heritage listed before you compelled it into your possession, and this country so loves its monuments to horror. Was it really necessary that we inhabit one?”

Klaus shrugged. “It’s a perfectly fine place to live. We’re familiar with it, and we know there’s no way Marcel frequents it.”

“I have no doubt that the reason we’re here is Marcellus, but I do doubt it’s convenience. When he does discover you no longer stay at the hotel in town, I’m certain he’ll be devastated upon realising your actual residence. It follows that you intend to capitalise on his misery—or perhaps you only wish to enjoy it from afar?”

Klaus prickled. “Whatever harms my enemy is a tool for my own keeping, I suppose.”

“You forget the century for which he was most certainly not your enemy.”

“He is now,” Klaus snarled.

“Just him? Not these witches? Not anyone else who would harm your child? Do not make the mistake of focusing on the enemy before you, Niklaus. Remember who put him in your path, and what means they used to get there.”

“Marcel holds the witches in subjugation,” Klaus said, as though Elijah was unaware. “Why shouldn’t they find freedom in whatever way they can? I of all people know what it’s like to be denied who you truly are.”

Elijah couldn’t stop his scoff. “All these centuries I’ve spent seeking the exact location of your capacity for empathy. I should’ve known it lay with the kind of vermin that would curse your own family. You do so appreciate the majesty in an act of subjugation. Our current locale is further proof of that.”

“Watch yourself, Elijah,” Klaus warned.

“Or you will do what, Niklaus?” Elijah volleyed back, an edge to his tone. “I wish to see this through the same as you do, but make no mistake—what Marcellus has done, taking this city as his and making it his own, growing his community, even attacking the wolves and the witches … that is nothing compared to the crime of threatening this family. If you accept this child as yours, if you open yourself to fatherhood, that is your only objective. Any violence you bring to this house that isn’t in pursuit of that is a perversion I will not tolerate. Do you understand me?”

Klaus froze, taken aback for perhaps the first time in a century.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Elijah said smoothly. He downed his entire drink in one swig and dropped the glass on the table. “I’m going to go check on your child’s mother for you.”

#

Elijah woke early the next morning. The heat had already settled over the house like a blanket, so he made a note to ask his assistant about installing air conditioning. He and Niklaus would cope with the poor weather just fine, but Hayley would need the comfort.

He could provide her with that, at least.

He had a full breakfast ready for Hayley when she woke. Perhaps it was too much hovering, he wondered as she choked down a single pancake and avoided meeting his eyes.

“The house needs some work before it’s suitable,” Elijah said, gauging her reaction. “I’d like to open it up and clear out the dust today, if you find that amenable.”

Hayley nodded. “I can help.”

“You don’t have to. Being here is enough—you should relax.”

“No, I need to keep busy or I might actually go crazy.” She shoved her plate away, looking a little peaky. “If I haven’t already.”

“Are you ill?”

She rested her hand over her mouth for a moment, tense. After a moment, she relaxed. “I’m fine. The morning sickness isn’t that bad yet.”

“Have you received any medical advice yet?”

“I only had my pregnancy confirmed by a spell, so no. Didn’t even get to pee on a stick.” Despite the building heat, Hayley wrapped her arms around herself. “Doesn’t quite feel real yet.”

“Would you like me to procure you a stick?” Elijah offered, smiling.

Hayley laughed. It was an incredible sound, loud and bawdy and inelegant. “Thanks, but I think I’m good.”

“Understandable,” Elijah allowed. “But on a more serious note, I’d be happy to find a competent physician, someone we can compel to see to your needs. External threats aren’t the only thing you need to be kept safe from.”

“I’d appreciate that.” She smiled at him across the table.

Elijah stood, his chair creaking as it was slid back by his legs. “I’ll clean up.”

“I can help—”

“No, please, it’s fine.” He still hadn’t heard from Matthew or Rebekah, and he was finding that focusing his energy on the new situation was a good distraction from his concerns. And that meant keeping as busy as possible, as much as possible.

“Okay.” Hayley stood, looking a little awkward as Elijah gathered her plate together. “Thanks for cooking breakfast. I’m enjoying it while it lasts.”

“Thank you for eating with me.” Elijah turned his most charming smile on her. “I’ll meet you upstairs in fifteen minutes? I’d love to get the library cleared out for use again.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Brilliant,” said Elijah, stacking the glasses on the plates and carrying them into the kitchen. He heard her linger, both hers and the baby’s heartbeats suspended in the dining room. There was a rasp as her fingers trailed over the wood of the table, tapping lightly before she turned to leave.

Upstairs, she fussed around in her room for a while before heading to the bathroom and switching the shower on. Elijah stopped listening abruptly, switching on the tap in front of him and starting in on the washing up.

He had a big day ahead, and even bigger days ahead of that. He could only hope he’d succeed in all he had to do.

Little did he know of the silver dagger that awaited him in his brother’s grasp not three rooms away.

#

Matt groaned as he woke, rubbing at his neck and surveying the textbooks scattered over the coffee table.

Rebekah appeared the moment he made a sound. “Are you hungry? Sore?”

“I’m fine.” He shielded his eyes from the sun filtering in through the window. Great—morning in the Salvatore house. He’d slept all night there after staying up to study with Rebekah.

No, wait—they had been studying, but then he’d volunteered to help get Elena back and … yeah.

“You let Damon Salvatore kill you as a part of his latest plan and then a magic ring brought you back to life,” Rebekah said exasperatedly. “You’re not fine.”

“Except that it’s not even the worst thing to happen to me this week, so I’m getting good at adjusting to the new, fucked-up status quo.”

“You’re exhausted.”

“That’s a default setting. You can go home, by the way.”

“To the house Nik built? Too pretentious for me. I prefer somewhere homely.”

Matt scuffed a socked foot against the burgundy carpet, 99% sure it had been stained that colour by blood. “This isn’t much better.”

“But you’re here, and you can’t be trusted to study alone. You’d probably rather go toss yourself off a cliff or something.”

“I don’t have a death-wish.”

“Just a ‘maybe-it-doesn’t-matter-that-I-keep-living’ wish. Either way, I’m not going anywhere. Get used to it.” She folded her arms over her chest, literally not budging. Matt was a bit disoriented by her determination—his experience with Elijah had taught him that some vampires have manners. Rebekah was indicating that her brother was an outlier after all.

“So you’re just gonna stand there and watch me?”

She dropped her arms, gesturing to the chair beside him questioningly. He nodded, giving her permission to drop into the spot. She perched there elegantly, her hands folded in her lap. She’d been there all day and night and still hadn’t removed her heels.

“Coming back to life,” she started, voice gentler than he’d heard it before, “it feels … wrong. It can be difficult to come to terms with.”

Matt supposed it made sense that Rebekah would have a complicated relationship with resurrection. “I think there’s a difference between this and … when you were turned. I mean, I don’t know everything that went down, but I heard that you didn’t really want it. I chose to do this.”

“Is that supposed to be a comfort?”

“No. Just a fact.”

Rebekah’s jaw tensed. “I’ve been daggered by my brother countless times over the centuries. Each time I woke, the world was a new place—new inventions, new societies, new wars, new misery. It was jarring, but it was nothing compared to coming back to life after my father ran me through. The first time you die … there’s nothing like it.”

Matt waited to see if she was going to continue. She didn’t.

“This, uh …” He cleared his throat. “This wasn’t the first time I’ve died.”

Her head whipped around to look at him. “What?”

“It’s happened before. Jeremy started seeing ghosts and my sister was one of them, so I thought maybe if I died and came back like he did I’d see her, too.”

“Did you?”

“No.”

Silence fell, stretching out between them like a high wire. Neither of them dared to cross it.

Changing the subject, Matt said, “On second thought, maybe I am a little hungry.”

Rebekah had her phone out of her pocket and in her hand before Matt could even process the blur of her movement. “I’m going to order some pizza.”

“There’s two whole leftover ones in the fridge.”

Rebekah laughed incredulously as she put the phone to her ear. “If you think I’m putting anything that comes out a microwave into my mouth, you’re sorely mistaken.” She flounced away to make the order. Matt didn’t know what pizza place was open at 10am, but he had a feeling compulsion was involved. Rebekah had developed a taste for modern takeout, after all.

Being left with nothing but his thoughts was its own torture. Matt tried reading through the nearest textbook but none of the information penetrated the fog that had settled over his mind. He picked up a pen only to put it down moments later.

His phone rested face-down on the table. He picked it up to check, seeing one message there. From Caroline, not Elijah. The disappointment was stronger than usual.

Whatever he said to Rebekah, dying was never something he would just get over. And having Damon be the one to do it…

Pulling up the conversation with Elijah, Matt let his thumbs hover over the keyboard for a moment. How are you? he asked, then erased it in favour of Haven’t heard from you in a while. Hope everything’s okay. He sent that instead.

“I hope you’re good with pepperoni,” Rebekah announced, marching back in. “I figure we eat some brain food then get back to the study?”

“Sounds good,” Matt agreed. “I might just grab a shower, get cleaned up.”

Rebekah’s nose wrinkled. “Yeah, I wasn’t going to mention the smell.”

“Thanks,” he said acerbically, avoiding the temptation to toss a pen at her. She laughed at his annoyance, and he couldn’t help but chuckle back.

He was sore when he stood; he had to smother it when Rebekah started toward him, looking ready to sweep him up and carry him at the slightest sign of trouble.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” he told her.

She rolled her eyes. “Try not to brain yourself in the shower, you fool.”

#

Klaus stood over his brother’s body, the pallid grey of desiccated skin dark against the white of his collar, dull in contrast to the shining silver dagger buried in his chest. In another time, it would’ve made a fine painting.

In the next room, Hayley continued clearing the dust, coughing slightly.

The phone in Elijah’s pocket buzzed. Klaus knelt beside his brother’s body and pulled it free.

Haven’t heard from you in a while, it read. Hope everything’s okay. From a contact only listed as “Matthew”. No surname given.

It took only a few scrolls of Klaus’ thumb to uncover the rest of the conversation. Matthew Donovan.

A surge of anger ran through Klaus. Elijah discussing sensitive matters with their enemy—and to say nothing of what he may have mentioned beyond the text messages … What was it about the busboy that had Rebekah and Elijah so thoroughly devoted?

Glancing down at his brother, Klaus scrolled back to the bottom and began to formulate a reply.

#

There was a response from Elijah when Matt got out of the shower.

I am otherwise occupied. Please do not contact me this way again.

Matt told himself it was nothing. Elijah was occupied with whatever was going on in New Orleans, with his brother, with his family. It was useless to bitch about it.

Denying the disappointment did nothing to lessen it.

#

The explosion rocked through Matt, leaving him breathless. He wasn’t close enough to feel it, but the sound had his blood pounding in his ears as he stumbled down the street.

She’s fine, he told himself. Rebekah is fine. She just … stepped on an explosive device for you. You know, after she promised to show you the world.

But she was an Original. She’d be fine.

Matt’s hands shook as he pulled his phone out, his sweat-slick fingers struggling to punch in the passcode to unlock it. He pulled up his text conversations, scrolling past all his friends until he found the last conversation between him and Elijah.

Your sister can survive explosions, right? he tapped out. He sent it before he could think, then followed it up with a panicked: I think she’s okay. She should be.

Not exactly super comforting, he had to admit. And Elijah had also asked him not to contact again, but maybe if he knew something was happening with Rebekah …

It was gross of him to use Rebekah’s situation to connect with Elijah again. A little disgusted at himself, Matt put his phone away and broke out into a jog.

He had a graduation to make.

#

That night, Matt stayed firmly in the boundaries of his home, resting a hand on either side of the frame. Rebekah stood outside, her hair a slash of gold under the porchlight.

“I know that we were under duress today,” she began awkwardly, “so … whatever, you know, plans that we were making … I understand if you don’t want to.”

Plans to travel around the world. With her. Starting in Italy, apparently. It was never going to end well. But if he was still with her, maybe Elijah would contact her …

Matt sighed. “You and I … this isn’t gonna work. I need to keep my love life a low-vampire zone, too, okay?”

Her smile faltered. “Of course. I get it.”

“So whatever happens on the road, stays on the road, all right?”

She brightened back up again. “I’m sorry, are you saying …”

Matt shrugged. “I’ve never set one foot outside this town. I have no college plans, no idea what the future holds for me … But I do know that it’s time that I start truly living. And, since you almost killed me this year, I figured it’s your obligation to show me how.”

Rebekah didn’t jump up and down, per se, but she did rock on her heels excitedly. “Okay. Um—do you want to pack? We can leave in like an hour. I’ll just go get my things.”

“Sounds good. See you then.” Matt stepped back and shut the door in her face, if only to stop her from seeing his own smile.

Maybe he was waiting for news of Elijah. In any event, he could afford to have fun while he did.

He deserved it.