An Elemental Difference - FIRE - Book 2 (Stefan Salvatore)

Chapter 89 - Why do I always miss the drama?

LOCKWOOD CELLAR

Aella descended into the cellar, her footsteps echoing softly against the cold stone walls. In the dim light, she spotted Elijah standing in the center of the room, his eyes closed as if lost in thought.

"Trying to visualize yourself out of here?" Aella quipped, her voice carrying a lightness that belied the gravity of their situation.

Elijah's eyes remained closed for a moment longer before he finally opened them, releasing a nostalgic sigh that seemed to linger in the air.

"Just reminiscing," he replied, his tone tinged with a hint of wistfulness as he regarded Aella with a gentle smile.

Aella returned his smile and approached him, passing him a suit carrier she had brought with her.

"Stopped by the foreclosed house you told me about. I never realized how many there were in this town," she explained, her words carrying a sense of curiosity as she observed Elijah's reaction.

Elijah accepted the bag with an appreciative smile, his fingers tracing the fabric of the suit inside with a sense of familiarity.

"They're the easiest to enter as they technically have no official owner," he remarked, his gaze lingering on Aella as if assessing her well-being.

"You seem well. I assumed Damon was not best pleased by your reappearance," Elijah noted, his keen observation revealing his insight into Damon's temperament.

Aella scoffed at the mention of Damon, her expression shifting with a mixture of annoyance and defiance.

"That's an understatement. Damon is pissed," she admitted, her tone laced with a hint of defiance as she shifted on the spot, her demeanor reflecting the tension that simmered between them.

Aella fidgeted on the spot, her nerves betraying her composure as she began to relay the events that had transpired since she last saw Elijah.

"I appreciate you letting me leave to check on Jenna, she's fine by the way. More pissed Klaus is using Ric's body as his play toy, but physically she's okay. Stefan punched him," she explained, her words tumbling out in a rush as she struggled to find her footing.

Elijah's brow raised with amusement at the news, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips as Aella stumbled over her words.

"Klaus, that is. Stefan punched Klaus, but as Ric, though I'm sure Klaus was the one who felt it," she clarified, her tone tinged with satisfaction at the thought of Stefan landing a blow on Klaus.

Elijah nodded in understanding, acknowledging her correction with a subtle gesture.

"Klaus would have felt it," he agreed, his tone carrying a hint of admiration for Stefan's defiance.

Aella beamed with pride at the confirmation, pleased to have contributed to Klaus's discomfort, even if only slightly. But as she realized that Elijah was still standing there with his suit bag in hand, she motioned toward it with a sheepish smile.

"I'll let you get changed in a sec, but I wanted you to know that I removed the spell from around the cellar," she confessed, surprising even herself with the admission.

Elijah stared at her in disbelief, clearly taken aback by her unexpected gesture.

"You trusted me to go to Jenna and return. You trusted me today. It's time I return that trust," Aella explained, her voice firm and resolute as she met Elijah's gaze with unwavering determination.

Elijah nodded his approval, a silent acknowledgment of her growth and the trust she had earned.

"Thank you, Aella," he said simply, his words filled with gratitude and respect.