Fall

Chapter 84: The Song of Incessance

"Isn't he a bit old for you?" My mom pulls me aside, concern on her face. It feels like a joke and I want to laugh because of course he's too old for me, he's a thousand years old. The only people worthwhile to date in this town, when you are stuck in the supernatural realm, are supernatural people themselves. And Tyler's definitely out of the question. So my only options are men who are extremely too old for me but are ageless. 

And it all feels like some cosmic joke, that the only eligible men in this town are the eternal kind that slap heads off, rip hearts out and drain people of blood. 

"No older than Damon." I counter, even though I really have no idea if that's true. Presumably Elijah was turned at some point, you aren't just born a vampire. And he's an Original vampire. Which means one of the first. If I had to guess, I'd say he was somewhere in his 20s when he was turned, maybe mid to late? 

Yeah, I can see why my mom would be worried about this. "And I wouldn't be ok with you dating him either. Is this why you haven't brought him around all this time?" My mom leans against the wall. We're removed from the rest of the party but I'm acutely aware of the fact that there are two people here that can listen to us no matter where we are in the house. 

"Mom, please, just give him a chance. I've never been this happy before. He's a perfect gentleman and...and I finally feel like I'm worth something for once." I fidget under her scrutinizing gaze, needing her to understand how important this is for me. 

She grasps my hands lightly in hers. "You are worth something, Honey. You're worth quite a lot. I'll give him a chance, because I love you. But I won't pretend like I don't wish he was a high school boy or closer to your own age." She lets go to give my shoulder a squeeze in one of her patented side-hugs. "Now, lets go face this dinner party. Something tells me with John and Damon here, it's going to be interesting."

"John's here too?" I groan, running a hand down the side of my neck. Well fuck, I wasn't expecting both of my parents to be here. 

My mom offers me a supportive smile. "I know, I know. Let's just get through tonight and then hopefully we never have to see him again."

"Well, let's not hold our breaths." God, what the hell is John doing here? There must really be something going on tonight for him to be here too. My mom leads us to the dining room, where everyone else is. 

We sat down at the dining room table, Elijah right next to me, my mom on the other side of the table between Damon and Andie. She pours him some wine, filling up his glass. "I hate to break it to you, Damon, but according to Elijah, your family is so not a founder of this town." She teases him as we eat. It's awkward, being in between my boyfriend and Alaric, my mom's boyfriend. And of course fucking John is at the end of the table, watching all of us. 

"Mm. Do tell." He doesn't seem all too happy about this, Damon, as he sips on the wine my mom just poured for him. 

Elijah stops cutting his steak and gives his most charming smile to everyone. "Well, as I mentioned to Jenna earlier," I almost wince at his use of my mom's first name. Is that allowed, now that she knows we're dating? "A faction of settlers migrated from Salem after the witch trials in the 1690s. Over the next hundred years, they developed this community where they could feel safe from persecution." He explains. 

I don't like the way my dad and Damon are eyeing Elijah, like they're both planning something. Like they both hate him. 

"Hmmm, because they were witches." My mom giggles, piercing a piece of steak with her fork. 

Andie shifts in her seat, looking slightly uncomfortable with the topic of conversation. "Yeah, there's no tangible proof there were witches in Salem." I share a look with Elijah and he matches it, the slightest upturn of his lips that no one else would've been able to see.