Second best (An Elijah Mikaelson Love Story)

Chapter 8

She raised her hand up in the air to caress Elijah's face and show him. But she halted before she made contact, very hesitantly.

Elijah took her hand, it was small and dainty. He guided it to his cheek and then he closed his eyes.

"Joshua" Clarissa smiled when she walked through the door "I have something for you"

"Why?" He said sharply, he was sat on the chair waiting for her return "you're half an hour late in coming in and..." He stood up and looked at her face "you have lipstick on, are you seeing someone else?"

"I was half an hour late because I was getting you a gift for our 5 year anniversary" she spat "and I'm wearing lipstick, to ironically look good for you"

Joshua and Clarissa had been childhood sweethearts. She thought she was lucky, her father had planned their engagement to link the two packs together. Life was perfect.

Until, of course. When they moved in, Joshua was nothing like Clarissa imagined, his nice, calm demeanour turned sour and she's been living with false accusations of cheating and him abusing her for a while now.

"Don't talk to me like that" he grabbed her hand and turned her towards him

"Well maybe I should just leave" she said, turning and heading for the door. Whenever she had gotten there, every time they argued, he gave this big speech about how his father was abusive and he didn't know how to act; he made her feel guilty for even thinking of leaving him.

"Clarissa, please" he said, sounding like the old Josh. She turned around and glared. This time, he didn't spill that excuse, he just smiled

"You can't leave me anyway; not if you care for the wolves" he laughed "but, why should you? You've not even turned yet, you're not a true wolf"

"I haven't turned because I haven't had the opportunity yet, I don't go around killing people randomly" she argued

Joshua just laughed "you can never win in an argument" he returned to his previous position on the chair "there's dishes in the sink"

Clarissa had had enough. She stormed into the kitchen and filled the bowl up with water.

Plate after plate, then came cups and bowls, frying pans and finally...

Clarissa held a large kitchen knife in her hand. She soaked it and wiped whatever had been left on it.

She had finally snapped. Usually in their arguments, he would hit her, push her against the wall and lock the doors so she wouldn't get out.

But she was free to go, if she had the guts to. But if she went then he would find her; maybe her life would be better if Joshua totally disappeared.

She clutched it and turned around. He was still watching TV, if she had to do it. Now was her time.

She got as close as she could; her hands trembling. Doing it quickly would stop her from changing her mind. Her wolf gene had enraged her.

"Joshua" she growled. He turned around and stood up to face her

"What do you want?" He spat back to her. His face turned an odd shade of green when the knife that was clutched in her hand had now been stabbed into his stomach, and then his chest and repeatedly around his body.

Blood covered the room and Clarissa just sat there, sobbing.

"Who was that?" Elijah asked when they both hit reality, he thought that she had completely changed subjects now.

Clarissa wiped the tear away from her cheek "I loved Joshua" she began "until I knew his real self"

"But how does this link to Jackson?" Elijah became stern "he can really hurt you, I can help"

"I killed his brother, Elijah" she raised her voice "Joshua was his little brother and I killed him, I watched him die at my own hands"

Elijah was speechless. He had no knowledge on Jackson having a brother. "He sounded like he needed to go" Elijah tried to make her feel better

"He hurt me in ways nobody could ever see" she breathed "I don't trust people easily, that's why me and Ezra are so close, he was the only one I could trust, until I met you" she looked at him "your noble; trust worthy"

Elijah smiled at her. She flickered her eyes, showing signs that she could just drift off into a sleep. So Elijah picked her up and laid her on the bed, next to him.

They've both been heartbroken, be it now or years ago. It still effects them. Elijah put his arm around her and she nuzzled into his neck. Perfect fit.

Elijah thought how nice it was to feel her there beside him. She distracted him from the pain Hayley had caused. She was not only the perfect fit, to fit into his neck. But emotionally, Elijah thought that Clarissa would be the best medicine for his broken heart.

And very slowly, they both drifted off to sleep.