Dark Paradise

Twenty-Three

Third Person POV

Jaxon was seated with his back to the bedframe, tuning his guitar, while Rebekah perched on the edge of the bed, observing him. "Are you just going to sit there and watch me?" Jaxon inquired without glancing up. Rebekah smirked and responded, "Don't pretend you mind it, beloved."

Jaxon offered a faint smile before saying, "I'm not saying I don't appreciate a beautiful girl's attention; it just seems like you have something on your mind."

"I'm trying to figure out where my bastard brother might have hidden me so that you can free me," Rebekah replied, prompting a sigh from Jaxon.

He began strumming 'Ms. Jackson' on his guitar and remarked, "I'm managing alright, but there's not much to go on since your brother could be anywhere, considering the last time you roamed the Earth was in the '20s."

"What song is this?" Rebekah inquired, shifting the topic and eliciting another sigh from Jaxon. "It's 'Ms. Jackson' by OutKast," he answered. Rebekah smiled, nodding her head to the rhythm of Jaxon's electric guitar, observing his fingers dance across the strings before commenting, "I like it."

Jaxon let out a chuckle just as his phone pinged beside him. Glancing at the screen, he noticed it was Elena who had texted him, which caused a slight frown to form on his face.

"Who is it?" Rebekah inquired, to which Jaxon responded, "Elena, she wants to meet up." Rebekah grimaced before questioning, "Why? What does the brat want now?"

Jaxon gave her a look and remarked, "Really, Rebekah?" She nodded and retorted, "Yes, really. All she ever does is whine, complain, and then bat her eyelashes at you much like the Bennett wench."

"And why is that a problem?" Jaxon smirked, causing Rebekah to pause. He hoped to catch Rebekah off guard and have her reveal something about their connection, but she had been very deliberate with her responses.

Rebekah remained motionless for a moment before replying, "It's a problem when they can get you killed, especially if they have boyfriends." Jaxon internally rolled his eyes at the excuse, but he chuckled and remarked as he stood up, "Only Elena has a boyfriend."

"Well, Bonnie is aware that you view her only as a sister; I wonder which is worse," Rebekah remarked, prompting another laugh from Jaxon.

Turning his back to her, he slipped on his shirt, feeling Rebekah's gaze intently studying the tattoo on his back—a tattoo whose significance he now fully grasped.

"You are still staring," Jaxon said as he turned back to look at her, his shirt now on. "I simply cannot help it; your markings that turn into literal wings are extraordinary," she replied, giving Jaxon a smile.

Jaxon blushed slightly and hid his face before looking back at Rebekah and saying, "I have to go, but you are more than welcome to follow me spiritually." Rebekah shook her head, saying, "No, I don't want to sit there and watch Elena flirt with you."

Jaxon rolled his eyes, then offered her a small smile before he exited his room.

Time Skip

Jaxon observed Elena as she exited her house and approached his car. As she neared, he stepped out and circled the vehicle to meet her face to face.