Tenacity - Elijah Mikaelson

Masquerade

If I knew that that the merry band of supernatural misfits was going to use the masquerade ball as a battleground, I would've just stayed home with William and dealt with Mrs Lockwood's wrath tomorrow, but as per usual, no one else was informed of their idiotic escapades. 

I had humoured the new Mayor and arrived to help set up, and was she thankful? Yes. Did she appreciate my sweatpants, Spongebob socks and spaghetti stained shirt? No. But would I make it up to her in the future? Also, No. 

However, the night was done, and I managed to steer clear of the Salvatores and the other vampires, witches and the like, except for Caroline Forbes, who looked as ravishing as ever in her strapless red dress and killer smile. 

Now, I was itching to pick up William and head home to bed. 

Since we lost Mum and Dad, Kate and Ben Levi, I couldn't seem to leave William alone for more than a few hours, even if it was with our neighbour and good friend Dot. I wanted to say it was so he didn't feel alone, but in reality, it was because I didn't want to be alone. 

Every time I looked into his innocent little face, I could see my Mum in those swirling pools of melted chocolate and Dad in that mischievous, dimpled smile. Other than the photos around our family home, William was all I had left of our parents. 

"Yeah, Jeremy, I've got my car. Tell Bonnie that whatever she did, I'm starting to feel better. Yeah, you can drive her home. I'm just gonna go straight to bet. Okay." 

I was pulled from my thoughts as I looked over to the familiar face of Elena Gilbert, who, despite being covered in random patches of blood, looked alright. I could hear the exhaustion in her voice but kept my distance. 

I had known Elena for as long as I'd known Caroline, Bonnie, too, but just because I knew her didn't mean we were friends, and the last thing I wanted was to get wrapped up in her supernatural nonsense. 

But sometimes I think the universe is against me, and now was one of those times, as I saw a masked man appear behind Elena. 

"Elena! Move!" I called out as the magic in my veins began to stir, but before I could unleash a punishing wave of power that promised death, a cloth was placed over Elena's mouth and a knife now held to her unconscious form. 

"If you don't do exactly as I say, I'll cut her throat open from ear to ear." The masked man warned, and while I could possibly use my magic to best him, I couldn't guarantee that Elena wouldn't be caught in the crossfire. 

I may not be friends with her or want anything to do with her life, but that didn't mean I would kill her. I don't think I would be able to live with the guilt, and I'm pretty sure that a couple of Salvatore brothers would put my head on a spike. 

"Walk towards me." The attacker commanded, and I did as asked until we were standing nearly toe, Elean sandwiched between us, and I knew that he could see the fury flickering across my face. 

The power coursing through me was electrified, one silent command and this fool's brain would be turned inside out, rewired to feel nothing but fear and pain, and I wouldn't be surprised if he could feel the static pulsing off me. 

"You're something else, aren't you." He asked rhetorically, but before I could give him an answer, the butt of his knife collided with my skull, and the darkness pulled me under. 

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My head was pounding, I felt like I had been hit by a truck, and whatever I was laying on wasn't comfortable. 

With a groan, I tried to sit up, my head clasped in my hands as I tied to remember the last thing that happened, and with a sigh, the encounter with Elena and her kidnapper came flying back.