The Chosen One

Twenty Eight: Close Proximity

Jessica

             Slipping out from under the clutches of sleep, I opened my eyes. I was lying on my side in a soft four poster bed. A set of curtained double doors were across the room, but no light came through them indicating that it was dark outside. At first I didn't recognize the doors nor did I know where I was until I sat up and surveyed the rest of the room. Recognizing my designated room in Klaus's mansion, I swore. It hadn't all just been a bad dream.

               Hopping out of the bed I was relieved to see that I still had the same clothes on as earlier. The only things missing were my sandals, which I spotted on the floor at the end of the bed. Bending down, I grabbed them and slid them on before I crossed the room to the balcony doors. Swinging them open, I stepped out onto the balcony and cast my gaze up at the sky.

              Night had fallen. With a sinking feeling, I noticed that the full moon was already out and making its steady ascent higher into the sky. By my estimate, I figured that in thirty minutes to an hour the moon would be at its peak.

             When was Esther supposed to do the ritual? No one had told me and I didn't recall overhearing that information. Neither did I know when Klaus planned to perform the Chosen Ceremony. How much time did I have before he did? Would Esther accomplish her goal before Klaus could? Though no one had told me, I was all too aware that if Klaus bound me to him before Esther killed him, there was a high possibility that I might be killed along with him. After all I wasn't entirely sure how being bound to the Original hybrid would work but I wasn't delusional to not believe that there would be repercussions for being linked with him.

             Movement on the mansion grounds below caught my eye. Two hybrids were patrolling the front grounds and I spotted another by the large iron front gate. No doubt there were more of them about and undoubtedly in the house proving that escape would be impossible. Even should Damon and the others try to come get me, it would be a risk. However I knew Damon was not stupid. He would not come here unless there was no other option. He did have an option however and without a doubt was working on it now. That thought gave me the hope that I needed, to not consider that all was lost. We still had a chance.

           My stomach took that moment to loudly remind me that I still had not given it anything to nourish it today. So even though a part of me wanted to stay in the room and avoid Klaus for as long as I could, I pushed it aside and went to the bedroom door. Opening it, I stepped out into the hall and cast glances down both ends but didn't see anyone in sight. Come to think of it, it also was quieter than I would have imagined it being since there were more siblings living in this house now other than Klaus and Elijah. So where were the others?

               Not knowing where any of them were, had me slightly on edge. They either might be in town or somewhere else in this house which meant that they could at any moment scare me with their abrupt presence.

              Turning down the hall, I headed for the grand staircase. Walking along the second story railing I scanned the entry hall below but again didn't see anyone. Descending the staircase, I finally caught a glimpse of a hybrid lounging in a chair near the front door. He watched me as I came down them. When I reached the ground floor, I stopped and stood there looking from him to the front door. Our gazes met when I looked back to him and from the way he stared at me and grinned, I knew he was daring me to try to make a run for it.

              Out of my peripheral vision, I caught movement to the right of me. I swerved my gaze away from the hybrid and over to the open parlor entranceway where I saw Klaus leaning against the side of the doorway, his arms crossed against his chest and those stormy blue grey eyes fastened on me.