Dark Paradise

Nine

Third Person POV

A groan escaped his lips as he struggled to open his eyes. Once open, he winced, rubbed them, and began to survey his surroundings.

"Elena," Jaxon gasped, rushing to her side as soon as he spotted her. She was breathing, yet unconscious, prompting a sigh of relief from Jaxon before his gaze shifted to the entrance.

Drawing a shallow breath, he stood and exited the room. "Be careful, Jaxon," Rebekah warned in a stern tone, materializing beside him, her eyes scanning for anything that might be of use.

Clutching a fire poker, he wielded it like a bat, scanning the area until a whooshing sound made him whirl around to confront a woman standing there.

"Rosemary," Rebekah exhaled, taking in the woman's appearance. Jaxon's brows knitted in bewilderment, and he found himself unable to inquire how Rebekah recognized the woman.

"So, it's true, you're the man whose soul is intertwined with Rebekah's," Rosemary spoke, prompting Jaxon to relax his hold on the fire poker, though he cocked his head at her, "If you know who I am, then why abduct me? I have no idea who you are."

"I am Rose, and I am giving you to Elijah, along with the doppelganger, in exchange for our freedom," Rose declared, prompting Rebekah to murmur "Elijah" under her breath.

As a man appeared and drew nearer, Rebekah exhaled softly, "Trevor." Now that Jaxon was aware these two vampires were acquainted with Rebekah, he disregarded appearances as he turned to address her.

"Are you going to explain how you know them, or will you just keep sighing their names?" Jaxon quipped, eliciting an eye roll and a dramatic pout from Rebekah.

"But the dramatics are fun, Beloved," Rebekah joked before adding, "I met them in the late 1400s. Trevor fell in love with Katerina and helped her escape Nik before Rosemary turned her. They've been on the run just as much as Katerina has."

Jaxon let out an 'oh' before turning back to Rose, who had started speaking. "The rumors are true; you can see each other no matter what," she stated more than questioned, but Rose looked astonished.

"Trust me, it's not as fantastic as it seems," Jaxon smirked, while Rebekah muttered "arse" under her breath. "You look exactly like you did in the paintings," Trevor blurted out before he could stop himself.

Jaxon raised an eyebrow. "There were paintings of me from the 1400s?" he inquired, to which Trevor nodded and replied, "Yes, Klaus would create them every century, as Rebekah requested."

Jaxon smirked as Rebekah's cheeks turned pink, just as Rose announced, "Your friend is awake." Rose proceeded towards the room with Jaxon trailing behind her, where they found Elena looking around, scared and confused.

Rose halted, and Jaxon stepped in front of her, prompting her to leap into his arms. "What's happening?" she questioned, and Jaxon explained, "They're attempting to negotiate their freedom by using us as leverage. I don't believe they'll harm us, but I'm not sure about the man they're handing us over to."

"Elijah would never harm you," Rebekah protested, but Jaxon tilted his head at her and said, "I wouldn't be so sure of that, sweetheart."

"Who are you talking to?" Elena asked, but Jaxon ignored her as Rose finally acknowledged Elena and exclaimed, "Oh my God, you look just like her."