𝐀𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘 ⚜️ ELIJAH MIKAELSON

[ The Home ]

CHAPTER 24
[ Arkansas, 2013 ]

The sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the Arkansas sky with streaks of gold and crimson as Elijah guided the car down a quiet, tree-lined road. Georgia sat in the passenger seat, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery, a curious smile playing on her lips.

It came as a shock initially that Elijah had wanted to take time for their anniversary. Georgia knew they would acknowledge it in some way—perhaps a quiet moment stolen in the chaos, a shared glance that spoke volumes without words. But with everything going on—the prophecy looming like a storm cloud, Klaus's sireline severed which left him more paranoid and volatile than ever—she hadn't thought it was possible. And yet, here they were, miles away from the tension and turmoil that had consumed their lives for weeks.

For Georgia, the past days had been relentless. She'd spent every waking moment trying to be a steady presence amidst the Mikaelsons' perpetual chaos. Klaus's anger and paranoia had escalated to the point where his moods were as unpredictable as lightning strikes. His sharp words often left her reeling, though she'd learned quickly to shield herself from his barbs. Elijah had tried to mediate, as always, but even he couldn't keep the weight of his family's mounting problems from bleeding into their lives.

Then there was Davina. Georgia hadn't seen or heard from her since their clash, and the silence was tearing her apart. She couldn't shake the guilt, the nagging feeling that she had abandoned her sister when she needed her the most. But at the same time, Georgia knew she couldn't have lived with herself if she had lost everyone else she cared about in the process.

She had allowed Davina to do the spell in the first place, trusting her sister's abilities and intentions. That trust had been her strength, the thing that allowed her to stand firm amidst the chaos. But when the spell had spiraled out of control, when Davina had taken it too far, Georgia had to step in. She'd done what she had to—what she believed was right—and she kept reminding herself of that, especially in the quiet moments when her mind turned against her.

The whirlwind of it all had left Georgia emotionally drained. She had barely had time to catch her breath, let alone tend to her own needs or nurture her relationship with Elijah. She'd told herself it was fine, that sacrifices were part of loving someone like him—someone tied to a family that seemed to attract danger and destruction at every turn.

But now, sitting in the passenger seat of Elijah's car as they wound through the tranquil countryside of Arkansas, Georgia felt something she hadn't experienced in days: peace. The tension in her chest loosened as the open road stretched before them, the endless trees and wide skies a stark contrast to the suffocating streets of New Orleans.

She didn't need to ask where they were going; it didn't matter. What mattered was the man beside her, the steady presence of Elijah who had always been her anchor. For once, there was no immediate crisis to solve, no ancient vendetta to navigate. It was just the two of them, away from the noise and chaos, and Georgia couldn't have been more grateful.

As the realization settled over her, Georgia's emotions stirred. Relief, guilt, and gratitude all swirled together, creating a knot in her chest. Relief that she could finally take a breath, guilt for feeling like she was abandoning her responsibilities, and gratitude for Elijah, who always seemed to know when she needed saving—even if it was from herself.

"You're awfully quiet," she remarked, breaking the comfortable silence that had filled the car for most of the drive.

Elijah glanced at her briefly, his lips curving into a faint smile. "A gentleman does not spoil a surprise, Georgia," he said smoothly, his tone laced with that familiar calm charm she had come to love.