I LOOOOOOOOVED writing the flashback. <3 I'm thinking of adding more of them in. Do you guys think I should? :D If I do, they might even be scenes from the books. Would you guys be interested in that? And who knows, you might get a few from WAAAAY back. ;) Like the 1200s-1500s.
The song for this chapter is "Escape" by Megan Nicole. :)
Anyway, I hope you like it! ^_^
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Chapter Fourty-Two
I didn't know what to do. I didn't know who I should talk to. I didn't know where to go.
How am I supposed to deal with what Diego is doing to me while I am still in New Orleans? He is worse than Klaus in the way of communicating his emotions. If he knows that I don't feel the same way anymore, he will lash out on everyone. Especially Elijah, since he seems to have this illusion that I've fallen for Elijah.
And sometimes I wonder if he is right.
I care about Elijah, but I also care about Klaus, Rebekah, Kol, and even Finn. But now, I'm beginning to wonder if it just isn't the same way. I'm beginning to think that I might care for him more than the others.
The more thoughts that rushed through my mind, the more I wanted to go to the one place where I was free.
About a mile into the forest behind our plantation was a small little spot that Elijah and I had claimed our own. It was a place that we went whenever we needed comfort. And, sooner or later, the other would show up and give one of is the strength that we needed. It was when Elijah and I were almost as inseparable as Klaus and I.
It was interesting, because neither of us ever told anyone about the spot. It was our little secret.
It was a small clearing with a giant willow tree almost completely surrounded by a pond.
The day that I first found him there was likely one I will never forget.
My hands ran over the piano keys quickly, but at the same time, gracefully. The song had always been one of my favourites, but it was not by a famous composer. It was my mother's. She used to hum a lullaby every night to get me to fall asleep, and when Elijah taught me to play the large instrument, it was the first song I learned.
I stopped halfway through the song when I heard my name being called. And as the voice grew closer, I realized it was frantic shouting.
"Rose!" Elijah yelled. "Roseia!"
I got up from the piano bench, rushing to the open doorway. I walked quickly over to the banister, looking over the railing to see Elijah running in the foyer. He checked all of the rooms as fast as he could, seeming to be panicking.
"Elijah?" I called out, and he froze in his tracks, looking up at me. "Is something wrong?"
He stayed still, then, a moment later, he had sped up the stairs to stand beside me. I turned to face him, and he suddenly wrapped his arms around me tightly.
My eyes widened a little, but I hugged him back anyway.
I pulled away, and looked him in the eyes. "Elijah, what's wrong?"
"Niklaus," he said, and I saw the fury flash in his eyes. "He convinced the villagers that the growing number of bodies is because of the witches and their supposed blood sacrifices. They are rounding up the witches now, I suspect they want to execute them."
I swallowed dryly. "We need to find Celeste," I told him.
His eyes widened ever so slightly, as if he had completely forgotten that she was a witch. We both rushed through the house, and while I was checking the upper levels, I heard him stop moving.
"Elijah" I called out, but heard no response.
I ran to where I sensed him, in one of the bathrooms.
My jaw dropped at the sight before me. Celeste was laying in the bathtub, completely submurged in the water.
Her eyes were blank and ghostly, which wasn't even the most terrifying part. The worst part was that she looked frozen in time, completely calm.
Elijah quickly pulled her out of the water, even though he knew that she was dead.
His forehead rested on hers for a mere moment, and I heard his breathing tremble before he let out the most pained scream I had ever heard leave his lips.
He held her body close to him for another moment, then went on his knees and pulled her out of the tub, laid her flat on the ground, and bit into his wrist before pressing the wound to her lips.
I went forwards and crouched down beside him. "Elijah, it won't work," I whispered, but he continued to try. "Elijah, she's gone," I said. I laid my hand on his bicep gently, and that was all it took for him to turn and wrap his arms around me even tighter than before.
I didn't know how long we stayed like that. I just knew that neither of us left her body for at least a day. Rebekah had her taken away to prepare for the funeral.
Up until before the funeral, I had felt sick to my stomach at the very thought of eating or drinking anything, because I knew that Celeste would never be able to do the same again.
But I felt undeniably better when Elijah and I were able to track down her murderers from the servants' descriptions.
And I felt twice as better when we ripped them all to shreds.
After the funeral, Elijah was no where to be found. We had already told everyone that Elijah and I had chosen the spot for her to be buried, so the coffin stayed in our home for a short time instead of being buried. But he wasn't with her like I expected him to be.
I followed his scent and found him in that spot under the willow tree. He hadn't been crying or sobbing, he was... Emotionless.
I went to him and I held him as tightly as I could, rubbing his back silently as he buried his head into my shoulder. We had stayed like that for hours.
We came back to that spot numerous times after Celeste's death.
And Nik later told me of Elijah's confession to him. He told me that he had confessed to Klaus that I was the only reason he didn't shut off his humanity that day.
I never forgot that, and I don't think that Elijah did either.
"Somehow, I knew I'd find you here," I heard Elijah say.
I looked down from my perch on one of the highest branches to see him walking towards the tree, a soft and slightly saddened smile on his face.
I jumped off of the tree, landing about a foot in front of him with ease.
"I was surprised it was still here," I told him, turning around and walking towards the tree to sit down on one of it's roots.
"As was I," he said, moving over I the tree and running the fingers of his right hand along the old and calloused bark.
"I guess some places are so cherished that nature simply keeps them protected."
"Over four hundred years old, and yet, it still stands as tall and strong as it did the day we found it," he said, seeming enamoured by it.
I nodded. "That's one of the many reasons I love this place."
He smiled softly. "I love it as well," he said, then took a step closer to me before sitting down on the large root. I was surprised that he didn't mind the small stain that appeared on his pant leg when it brushed the bark, but I didn't question it. "Do you remember how we used to come here when we were depressed? And we would tell each other our faults and how we felt?"
I nodded slowly, leaning back against the tree as I realized what he was going to say.
"Why are you here, Roseia?"
"Boy trouble," I smirked a little.
The smile faded a little, and he swallowed before continuing. "Does it have something to do with that Diego character?"
I nodded. "Unfortunately, yes."
He watched me silently, and I sighed before continuing
"When I got here, Marcel told me that I made him happy. And he made me happy too. But I didn't love him."
"You said the same about Marcus," Elijah said.
I was a little shocked that he even remembered Marcus.
"Well, even though I've made it clear that we aren't the same way we were before, he's convinced I've betrayed him... With you."
He raised a brow. "And have you?"
"Not that I know of."
He smiled, then stood up and held out a hand to me. "Then you don't have a thing to concern yourself about regarding this man."
I sighed, reaching up and taking his hand. "Right as always, Elijah," I told him as he pulled me up into a standing position.
He nodded, not letting go of my hand. "Come," he said, turning and beginning to lead me from the spot. "We should make sure that Diego hasn't caused a war yet."