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Elena heard him before she saw him. It wasn’t uncommon for her to hear someone’s thoughts without meaning to, even with all the training she had blocking it out, but she usually had to focus to get more than a few fragmented sentences, flashes of images. But this, what she heard, what she saw from him….
This – Elijah. Whoever he was, whatever his plans may be…. He was in pain. For as stoic as he appeared, his mind was racing, flashing with images of people Elena didn’t recognize but could tell were important. His inner voice spoke of pain and longing and anger, what he would do to Rose if this turned out to be nothing more than another wild goose chase.
It all came to an abrupt stop when he set eyes on Elena. She would have appreciated the silence if she wasn’t so distracted by his face, utterly devoid of any of the emotions she’d been hearing before.
His mind was racing again when he sped up to her. Images of Katherine and another woman that shared her face and warring expressions of longing and betrayal flow from his mind to hers. It’s enough to overwhelm her momentarily, leaving her standing stock still while he inspects her.
“Human. Impossible….”
Elena flinched at the sound of his external voice. Usually, the internal voice matches what comes out of the mouth. But with vampires, she’s been finding their internal voice keeps their native accent. Elijah’s external voice speaks of someone well traveled, a cultured accent with influence from all over the world. Internally, Elena heard an accent she didn’t quite recognize, something with Northern European influence – Scandinavian, perhaps?
Elijah smirked at her. “Hello there….” He delicately tucked her hair behind her ear. “Who are you?”
“E-Elena,” she forced out. “Elena Gilbert. And you are?”
“I am Elijah.” He released her and took a step back. “We have a long journey ahead of us, we should be going.”
“No.” She backed away from him. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
Elijah’s smirk only grew and Elena saw herself being carried away and shoved into the trunk of a car. “One last piece of business, then we’re done.” He turned to face Trevor and Elena had to force herself not to cower as loud thoughts from all three vampires assaulted her – Trevor full of fear, Rose full of hope, and Elijah seething with anger. Elena was too focused on clearing her mind and making room for her own thoughts to pay attention to what was being said, but she got the gist from the coherent thoughts she was able to pick up on; Trevor had betrayed the family by helping Katherine escape, Rose had helped him escape their wrath, and now Elijah was here to help or condemn them – whatever his mood fancied.
If she’d been paying more attention, she might have been able to warn Trevor about the beheading. As it was, she had enough trouble steeling herself for Rose’s sudden wave of grief at her oldest friend’s death.
“Come.” Elijah extended his hand to her and she backed away again. She couldn’t leave with him, not with Stefan and Damon still on their way. But Rose wouldn’t help her and Elijah was more than strong enough to force her anywhere. This facade of manners, pretending she had a choice, was a mere pleasantry. She had to stall.
“What about the moonstone?” she said.
Once again, Elijah’s mind went blank as he processed. “What do you know about the moonstone?” he asked, his voice dangerously low. This was a surprise and Elena didn’t have to see into his mind to know he did not like surprises.
“I know that you need it, and I know where it is,” she said, trying to keep her voice even.
Elijah nodded expectantly, gesturing for her to continue.
“I can help you get it,” she amended.
“Tell me where it is.”
“It doesn’t work that way.”
Irritation rose from him. “Are you negotiating with me?” he said, turning to Rose to confirm while imagining choking Elena against one of the walls.
“It’s the first I’ve heard of it,” Rose said, stunned enough that the tears had left her voice.
Elijah turned back to her and Elena felt the probing of Compulsion even through the vervain on her necklace. Elena clenched her fist and hoped he wouldn’t be able to tell if she was wearing or if she’d consumed it. If she could just-
Where on earth did she get Ayanna’s – Nevermind.
“What is this vervain doing around your neck?” He ripped the pendant from her and tossed it behind him. Then, he grabbed her, forcing her closer to him.
Elena gasped and tried to fight him off, buying herself just enough time to block him out.
It wasn’t easy, but it was a lesson Uncle John had drilled into her once she’d gotten a better handle on focusing her telepathic ability. Getting into other people’s heads was only so useful if you couldn’t keep people out of yours. With so few true telepaths in the world, she never thought she’d have so many opportunities to use it – Then Damon tried to compel her into kissing him and she’d had plenty of opportunity to practice since then.
Elena focused her mental energy like a shield around her mind. It had worked against Stefan, Damon, even Katherine when she’d tried proper Compulsion on her. But Elijah was older and stronger. She could only hope Uncle John’s lessons could carry her this far.
His eyes bore into hers and she felt the prodding, the careful pressure no longer muffled by the vervain. “Tell me where the moonstone is.”
Elena breathed through it. Elijah was stronger than any other vampire she’d shielded herself against, but she could do it. Mostly. Without the vervain, his voice was almost as hypnotic as his eyes, but she didn’t feel the words being forced out of her. It felt more like what Stefan had described from Katherine using her Suggestion on him; she could tell him what he wanted to know, but she didn’t feel the overwhelming need to.
“I told you, it doesn’t work that way.” She stood stock still, focusing everything she had on keeping her mental shield up. “I can help you get it, but I want some assurances first.
She watched his expression change from focused to confused to frustrated. “What game is this?” he hissed, tightening his grip on her neck. The probing grew more insistent, but she kept the resistance up.
“No game,” she said, hoping she looked more confident than she felt. “One perk of telepathy? I can keep people out of my head as easily as I can get into theirs. So, yes, Elijah. If you want that moonstone, if you want my cooperation in whatever your little plan is, we are going to negotiate. And I don’t come cheap.”
Elijah’s grip on her loosened and he studied her in a different way. Elena let down her guard once she felt his mental probing stop, taking a moment to catch her breath. Keeping him out took more out of her than she anticipated; she hoped she wouldn’t have to do it again.
“A telepath,” he murmured. “You have a gift.”
“We all do,” she replied. “Even the one in your time.”
The woman from before, the doppleganger before Katherine, flitted across Elijah’s mind once more and grief welled up within him once more. “Fascinating,” he said. “And you cannot be compelled because of this...gift?”
Elena shrugged, not willing to give away more of her secrets. She had to keep the upper hand somehow. “It comes in handy when vampires want to screw you over.”
“I suppose it does.” Elijah slowly released her, still keeping a hand on her arm. Clever girl; good leverage.
“Certainly helps in a negotiation.” Elena took a step back, putting as much distance between them as possible.
“I imagine it does.” Elijah said. “But we needn’t negotiate here. I have a-”
“No,” Elena said, planting her feet. Damon and Stefan were coming for her here; she needed to wait for them. “I’m not going anywhere with you until we have an understanding. Like I said, I’m not helping you without some assurances.”
His grip on her arm tightened and he grit his teeth. “You are rather stubborn, aren’t you?”
Elena shrugged. “You’re not the first vampire to threaten me.”
Elijah’s eyes did not leave hers. “Rose, is there any room in this home that is remotely salvageable as a living space?”
“I- Well,” she stuttered. “The kitchen is mostly untouched and there’s a library down the hall….”
“Excellent. Make us some tea, would you?” Elijah let go of Elena and stepped aside, gesturing for her to walk. “We can continue this negotiation in the library.”
If that pleases you, his inner voice remarked.
Elena allowed herself a brave smile. “It does please me.” She enjoyed the momentary shock on his face and led him to the library.