Always and Forever

Back From The Dead:

~Elijah's Point of View~

"Cassie please. I beg the girl standing before me. If only she knew how desperately she brings me to my knees. I lean my forehead against hers. She tries to retract from my grasp but I keep a tender grip on her. Cassandra is the first good thing I have had in my life since becoming a vampire. I cannot lose her. "You can't care about me, not the way I need...the way you need, because of Klaus. He gets in everyone's way, just to get what he wants." Her gaze falls from my eyes to the floor. If she could have compelled me in that moment she would. I would be lying if I said I didn't ponder for a moment about compelling her to stay, but who would I be if I did? Would it make me a selfish man if I prefer her to stay here with me despite constantly living under my brother's hate and control? "I care about you." My voice remains barely above a whisper, I'm petrified that if I speak the conversation will soon end. And with that she will be gone forever. She sucks in a sharp breath at my words, "I care about you in more ways than you may think. And you can't leave me because I know you care about me too." I'm not sure how I could go on if she didn't. The pain in her voice as she speaks confirms her feelings. It hurts her to turn me away as much as it hurts me to see her walk away. She stays silent for a minute, and I take this moment to rest my hand on her cheek. She sinks into my touch with ease, I glide my thumb under her eye to rid her of her tears. "Elijah..." She finally utters my name. I haven't had to breathe over centuries of life, but I do know that hearing this and her next set of words knocks the air out of my chest and lungs. "It's not enough.." She pulls away from my touch with such ease. "Cassandra.." I plead once more as I try to follow her but my feet seem to be glued to the floorboards. This is when I noticed her hand at her side forcing me to stay put, the downfalls of falling in love with a witch I suppose. Romantically she's bewitched me, and now so it seems physically. "Goodbye, Elijah." Her final words stab me in the chest, much like how Niklaus does before tossing me into a coffin, but this hurt more, far worse. She wipes her face of any remaining tears and just like that, at the speed of light all ounces of emotions dissipate from her eyes as she turns her humanity off. She leaves me stuck to the floor without looking back, and all I could seem to do is utter her name once more.

I stay put until she's far enough that her spell no longer reaches me. I dash out of the room and down the stairs. "Cassie!" I call for her as Rebekah and Niklaus watch me in confusion. "Brother.." Klaus goes to speak but I cut him off not wanting to hear anything from him. I simply hold up my hand to silence him. "Do not call me brother, and do not speak to me." It hits me that Cassandra was driven away from me because of my youngest brother's foolish behavior. "Why are you looking for Cassandra? She should be in her room." My poor sister lost her only companion. So it seems the rest of the family was left without a goodbye. I am unsure as to which hurts more. "She's gone." I say softly, I rest my hands into the pockets of my slacks. "She left on her own accord, let her be Elijah. We have more pressing matters to attend to." Niklaus places his hand on my shoulder as he grips it tightly. I cannot chase after her. As much as I want to, it would be unwise unless I plan on ending up in a casket. I know it's strange for me to have a bit of fear when I'm the older brother, but Niklaus is stronger. I take a deep breath and nod. "What do you need?" He flashes me his infamous mischievous grin, he's got a plan.

After running around for Niklaus for months I finally got some time to myself. I'm able to meet up at a bar with Marcel. "Did you find her?" I ask and he nods as he hands me a file. "She's made it easy. She and one of the Salvatore's are leaving a trail of bodies up and down the east coast." I open it to police reports of several encounters of what they think is an animal attack. I flip through a few more and land on a file that reads they're thinking it could be a potential homicide. No humanity Cassandra sure does know how to find trouble. "Where's the last place you saw her?" I look across the table at him. "Virgina, she seems to have separated with the Salvatore, but I'm not sure what she's doing or what her plan is." He explains as he leans in closer to me not wanting to be overheard. Niklaus has eyes and ears all over town, and I can assure you we will both be dead if caught going behind his back. "Thank you." I take the file and stand. 'Don't mention this to anyone. If Niklaus asks, I'm following a lead." He nods understandingly.