In the present day, that haunting memory continued to torment Maria. She rubbed her hand, finding no solace in sleep. The clock showed 11 am, signaling the end of any hope for more rest. Maria let out a deep sigh as she picked up her phone, her mind heavy with the weight of the intricate plan they had set in motion. The imminent meeting between Aurora and Niklaus marked the beginning of a crucial phase, one that demanded swift and precise actions to keep the delicate balance intact. She scrolled through her messages, anticipation building with each passing second. Then, a call from Lucien interrupted her thoughts.
"Hello, Love. Nice work yesterday," Lucien's voice resonated through the phone as he began his report. "The plan unfolded just as we expected, sending both Niklaus into a frenzy. They got wind of the prophecy, but nothing beyond that. No substantial information to concern ourselves with."
Maria couldn't help but chuckle, her amusement evident in her tone. "Yes, yes, the tales of the prophecy – one from a friend, one from a foe, and one from family. I can only guess which category each of you falls into, but I'm more intrigued about the identities of the friend and family in this little tale."
Lucien played along, responding with a hint of mystery, "Ah, that's a question even I don't have the answer to, Love. Regardless, I think it would be fitting for you to join me at my apartment. We ought to celebrate our successful maneuver and perhaps explore some uncharted territories."
Maria smiled, her mind racing with possibilities. "That sounds enticing. I'll make my way to you in half an hour then." As she prepared for the celebration, she chose a sleek and modern dress – not just fashionable, but one that exuded a subtle allure. Having heard whispers of its captivating appeal, she couldn't resist showcasing it for the occasion.
Exiting the elevator at Lucien's place, she began, "Darling~," but her words came to a sudden halt. Her gaze fixed on the man she despised the most, and a surge of anger threatened to overpower her. The desire to lunge at him, to rip his heart out, surged within, yet she held back, frozen in place.
Elijah was equally taken aback, an unexpected encounter throwing him off guard. His eyes involuntarily traced down her figure, an undercurrent of jealousy simmering within him. Yet, he was acutely aware that forgiveness from Maria was a distant hope. The man standing beside Elijah appeared perplexed, breaking the silence with a puzzled inquiry, "Am I supposed to bite her too or..."
Maria's attention snapped back at those words – 'bite' and 'again.' Her eyes darted to Lucien, who was now on the ground, emitting low grunts. In mere seconds, Maria forcefully propelled the confused man against the wall, accusing him with disdain, "You filthy dog..." The man gasped, desperately pleading for air. Reacting swiftly, Elijah intervened, pushing Maria away from the man in a bid to maintain control of the chaotic situation.
Maria scoffed, lunging toward Elijah, "and YOU! Y-YOU DARE TRY AND SHOW YOUR FACE HERE!" Her emotions were a tempest, predominantly anger. The man who had been restrained before, now free, swiftly moved toward Maria, attempting to snap her neck. Maria, however, kicked him back, sending him crashing into the wall. "You bloody dog, stay out of this," she sneered.
Elijah stood frozen, conflicted. Ordinarily, he would have retaliated against any vampire who dared to treat him this way. However, he couldn't afford to act impulsively. Losing her again was not an option he was willing to entertain.
Lucien, still on the ground, sensed the thick tension in the air. Feeling compelled to diffuse the situation, he interjected, "Hey, sorry to interrupt you two, but Maria, if you could help me up, that would be lovely."
Maria let out a heavy sigh, her steps guided her toward Lucien's aid. She desperately wanted to ignore Elijah, to erase him from her existence. The conflicting emotions within her, the surge of memories, the desire to end it all—it was overwhelming. But she had made a vow to herself, a solemn promise to remain strong in the face of adversity. Turning off her emotions was not an option.
Elijah, too, remained silent, grappling with the whirlwind of memories crashing upon him. He yearned for her, missed her deeply, yet felt the weight of his own mistakes. Hayley occupied a significant place in his heart, and he convinced himself that he didn't need Maria. Or, at least, he wished he didn't.
As Maria assisted Lucien, she could still feel Elijah's presence haunting her. The pain and the turmoil from their shared past were like scars that refused to fade. Slamming the door shut behind her, she left Elijah standing alone, his gaze fixed on the nondescript door. Minutes passed in silence until Elijah finally realized that the man beside him remained unconscious—an oversight he had only just noticed.
"What in the bloody hell just happened?" the man grumbled, his eyes squinting as he slowly regained consciousness. Elijah, on the other hand, stayed rooted to his spot, lost in a whirlwind of conflicted thoughts.
Elijah's expression hardened as he seized the man by the collar. "Jackson, if even a whisper about her presence here escapes your lips to anyone, I swear on my name that I will not only end you but erase every trace of your existence." It was a rare moment for Elijah to issue such a threat, surprising even himself. He despised adopting tactics reminiscent of his brother, but the need to shield her from harm compelled him. Elijah released his grip on Jackson. "Let us return home; you're on the brink of transitioning back," he remarked. Jackson, baffled by Elijah's sudden violence, opted not to delve deeper into the matter.
Maria stood in the shadows behind the door, audibly exhaling her frustration. "Where did you stash the suitcase?" she mumbled, her tone a blend of irritation and concern.
Lucien, still recovering, replied, "Under the closet." Maria swiftly walked to the closet, retrieving the suitcase. As she took out the needle and prepared the solution, a sense of déjà vu washed over her. This scenario had played out too many times, a testament to the perpetual trouble they found themselves in. Without a word, Maria skillfully inserted the needle into Lucien's vein, canceling out the venom. She leaned back, pondering the potential repercussions. Was the meticulously crafted plan now in jeopardy?
Lucien noticed the worry etched on Maria's face, a consequence of his own recklessness. He berated himself for not being more cautious, for not ensuring her safety before summoning her here. Taking a deep breath, he began, "Love... would you like to stay here?" The words felt clumsy, unfamiliar on his tongue, but Maria was an exception to his usual reticence.
Maria hesitated, grappling with her conflicting emotions. Did she want to stay here, where the memories and tumultuous feelings threatened to overwhelm her? She longed to release everything, to surrender to the weight of it all. However, she knew the cost of such vulnerability. "That... would be nice," she finally admitted. Staying at home seemed perilous, a place where she feared breaking down or succumbing to the temptation of turning it all off. With Lucien by her side, she hoped he could provide the support needed to keep her resilient.
Lucien sighed, his gaze filled with empathy as he regarded Maria. "I'll make some coffee and pancakes then," he offered with a slight smile, hoping to bring some comfort to her troubled state. Maria returned the smile, grateful for Lucien's presence and the small gesture of kindness.
As Lucien retreated to the kitchen, Maria sank into a chair at the table, her mind still swirling with uncertainty. She needed a distraction, something to divert her thoughts from the tangled mess of emotions. "So what's the plan now?" she asked abruptly, the weight of her dilemma evident in the way she let her head fall against the table.
Lucien glanced over at her, sensing the turmoil beneath her composed exterior. He knew they needed to recalibrate their strategy, especially given the unexpected presence of Elijah. However, he also knew that Elijah wouldn't risk exposing Maria's whereabouts, especially after their encounter with Jackson. The only real threat was the possibility of Niklaus exploiting Elijah's vulnerability in a moment of conflict, a prospect that left Lucien cursing inwardly.
Despite his concerns, Lucien wanted to reassure Maria, to ease her worries and fears. But he knew she was too perceptive to be placated easily. She understood the risks as well as he did, and there was no point in pretending otherwise.
Maria's fear wasn't of death; she had faced that once already and found it lacking in terror. No, her fear stemmed from the looming specter of Elijah, a presence she despised yet couldn't seem to evade. Why, she couldn't quite say. Hatred coursed through her veins, mingling with a perverse desire for revenge. Yet, confronting him filled her with an inexplicable dread.
Her mind raced with thoughts of the plan, the intricate web they had woven over the years. It was their lifeline, their beacon of hope in a world teetering on the brink of chaos. She couldn't bear the thought of jeopardizing it, not for herself, but for the sake of those she cared about. Lucien, Tristian, Aurora—she owed them everything. Even Aya, though her loyalty to the Strix leader was tenuous at best, was entangled in their shared fate.
Lucien sensed her inner turmoil and approached with pancakes, his touch a soothing balm against her frayed nerves. "Love, everything is going to be alright," he murmured, settling beside her and offering his steadfast support. Maria leaned into his embrace, finding solace in his unwavering presence.
Taking a deep breath, Maria attempted to quell the storm of emotions raging within her. "Okay, I'll retrieve the dark object from Camille this week. What else do we need?" she inquired, hoping to focus on practical matters to distract herself.
Lucien shook his head. "None. We have everything we need for now," he assured her. "What we require next is an unsired heart, either from Jackson or the wolf girl."
Maria pondered for a moment, weighing the options in her mind. The unsired heart, a crucial component of their plan, lay within reach, yet she hesitated, torn between vengeance and compassion. She couldn't bear the thought of condemning a child to the same fate she had endured—a life without a mother.
"Jackson, then," she decided, her voice firm but tinged with regret as she rose from her seat.
But before Maria could make a move, Lucien's hand gently restrained her, pulling her back down. "Maria, you're in no shape to go out now," he insisted, his concern evident in his voice. He feared her fragile state might crumble further if she ventured outside.
"I need to do something," Maria protested, pushing against Lucien's grip. The weight of her emotions threatened to overwhelm her, and she struggled to articulate the turmoil within. "I-I need a distraction. I need—" Her voice faltered, betraying the raw ache of her inner turmoil. She hated herself for breaking down, for still being ensnared by Elijah's memory when she had sworn to move on.
Sensing her anguish, Lucien enveloped her in a rare display of tenderness, holding her close as she wept. "Shhhh... Love, it's alright," he murmured soothingly, his touch a comforting anchor amidst the storm of her emotions. He shared her resentment towards Elijah, harboring his own desire for retribution. But above all, he longed to see Maria liberated from the chains of her past.
"Lucien, please," Maria implored, her tears mingling with a simmering fury. "Let me kill that wolf." Her request was laced with righteous indignation, fueled by a thirst for justice. She was done playing the victim; it was time to claim her agency and mete out her own form of retribution.