Like Real People Do ⋆˙⟡ Mikaelson Brothers

chapter 4

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Elara was getting bored. She was sitting upside down in the back seat of the Salvatore Brothers' car, her legs propped up against the window and her head dangling near the floor. The upside-down view was starting to give her a headache, but it was better than staring at the car's ceiling.

The two vampires had left her in the car about an hour ago, and her patience was wearing thin. Elara slowly sat up, casting a glance around her, taking in the grand estate before her. The mansion's elegant, familiar architecture tugged at her memory, sparking a sense of déjà vu.

With each passing minute, her restlessness grew. Her eyes roved over the mansion's exterior, and an idea began to form. She could break out of the car and investigate the mansion. Now, Elara wasn't usually one for impulsiveness, and sure, maybe it wasn't the smartest plan, but the alternative was waiting indefinitely for Damon and Stefan, or worse, going back to their house without any clue about when she would see her mother next. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Elara was definitely desperate.

Elara's hands twisted and turned as she worked on the ropes binding her wrists. Damon might have been confident in his knot-tying skills, but they were surprisingly easy to maneuver out of. She slipped her hands free, then wriggled the rope off her feet. Sitting up, she rubbed her sore wrists and took a deep breath.

Quietly, she pushed open the car door and slipped out, the cool evening air a welcome change from the stuffy car interior. She tiptoed toward the mansion, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and excitement. The grandeur of the place was even more striking up close, with tall, ornate windows and an imposing front door. She couldn't help but gape for a moment at its magnificence.

Steeling herself, Elara retrieved the bobby pin she always kept in her pocket. She knelt in front of the heavy wooden door, focusing intently as she inserted the pin into the lock. The mechanism was more complex than she expected, and she had to work carefully to avoid making any noise. After a few tense moments of fiddling, she heard a satisfying click.

With a triumphant grin, Elara pushed the door open just enough to slip inside, holding her breath as she crossed the threshold. The mansion's interior was even more opulent, with marble floors, sweeping staircases, and glittering chandeliers.

Elara had never seen anything like it, which wasn't saying a lot as this was the first mansion she had ever been in. Her amazement, however, was short-lived as the sound of approaching voices made her heart skip a beat. Panic surged through her, but before she could find a hiding place, a hand clamped down on her neck with an iron grip.

Elara looked up to see the familiar, infuriating face of Damon Salvatore. "Are you kidding me? Why is it always you?" she muttered, struggling against his hold.

Damon's glare was icy. "Why are you in here? I told you to stay in the car," he hissed, his voice low. "I won't be able to save you from them."

Confused, Elara asked, "Who's them?" But before Damon could respond, another voice interrupted.

"Damon, I told you this was family business." A strikingly handsome man in a tailored suit entered the room, and Elara's jaw dropped. It was the man from her visions. And if he was here, that meant that his brothers were likely nearby, a realization that sent a jolt through her.

Damon cleared his throat, glancing from Elara to the man. "Yes, just leaving now, Elijah." His tone was respectful, almost deferential, something Elara hadn't seen from him before.

Unable to resist, Elara leaned around Damon to get a better look at Elijah. Their eyes met, and she felt a sudden, inexplicable surge of energy course through her. Elijah's gaze was intense, as if he was seeing something in her that she herself couldn't understand. The moment stretched on, charged with unspoken recognition and curiosity.

The tension broke as three other men entered the room, their reactions mirroring Elijah's. Mouths dropped open, eyes widened, and the atmosphere thickened with shock and confusion.
Elara felt exposed, scrutinized by these strangers whose significance she couldn't yet grasp.

Feeling awkward and out of place, Elara offered a weak wave. "Uh, hi?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

That was the last straw for her overloaded senses. The room seemed to tilt, and her vision darkened at the edges. And for the second time that day, Elara Graham passed out.