No Way Out | Teen Wolf & The Vampire Diaries

Chapter 35

That night, once our mango sorbets were completely polished off, Elijah decided to take me back to Beacon Hills. I didn't even get to say goodbye to everyone — no one was home when we fetched my things from the mansion.

I turn my head to the side to look at Elijah, whose face is temporarily illuminated as we drive past a streetlamp that emits an orange light. "Elijah... would you mind not filling my dad in on what's happened?" I inquire.

Yes, it's terrible for me to keep something of this magnitude a secret from him, but I don't want him to worry. And perhaps more importantly, I don't want him to stop me from visiting my family.

Elijah momentarily averts his attention from the road ahead as he glances at me, not seeming all that surprised by my request. "Nylah... it would be deplorable for me to keep this from your father."

"But you are my father, and you already know," I respond with an entreating smile, half-joking, half-not.

"Nylah," Elijah utters with the same serious tone Klaus used with me today — shared family traits at its finest.

"Dad," I say with a mock exasperated huff. Elijah actually laughs. He laughs a full-on, deep laugh that comes straight from his chest. "What? What is it?" I inquire.

"You." Elijah laughs some more, turning the steering wheel to the right, adhering to the bend in the road. "You think that, by calling me dad, you will distract me sufficiently in order for you to get your way."

I laugh. "Well... did it work??"

Elijah chuckles in response. "Momentarily."

Grinning, I say, "Okay, but seriously, please." I turn the knob that controls the heater. "I don't want him to forbid me from seeing you all."

Elijah is quiet for a while — the purring engine is the only noise to fill the silence. "You know... as much as I hate to say it... maybe that is best. At least for a while."

My eyes almost damn-near bulge out of their sockets. "W-what!?" I splutter, incredulous, "No!!"

"Nylah... look at what happened." He sighs. "It's been a traumatic past couple of days for you."

"No!" I protest, stubborn, "No!"

"Nyl—"

"Nuh-uh," I interrupt, adamant. "I don't want to hear those ridiculous words coming from your mouth ever again. Ever."

Elijah chuckles. "Alright... a compromise? I will ensure it is completely safe before you visit next, and I'll talk my family into refraining from their, well, hm..."

"Torturous activities?" I suggest.

"Precisely."

"That's what I call an ideal compromise," I remark, grinning. "So... about my question earlier?"

Elijah has already figured out that I'm persistent — he knows I'm not going to drop this.

"I won't fill your father in on any concerning occurrences, Nylah," he claims. He grins when he notices my raised eyebrows — he now knows that I also know him relatively well.

"You have my word."

***

"Nylah, it's great to have you home!" dad exclaims, hugging me tightly as soon as he opens the door to our apartment.

"Dad..." I wheeze, my bones cracking and my lungs squishing together, "You're crushing me to death."

He laughs, releases me, and pats my shoulders. "Sorry, sorry." He turns to Elijah and shakes his hand with a warm smile. "Elijah, it's good to see you again."