Elijah Mikaelson & The Dragon's Legacy

Chapter 3

As Elijah and Angelica stared at each other in the mirror, Elijah reached out and grasped Angelica's right arm and turned her around on the stool. His mouth dropped slightly as he stared into a face he had not seen for 300 years, and he was speechless. Angelica held her breath, uncertain as to whether Elijah was happy to see her or whether he would rip her heart from her chest in anger.

Elijah finally spoke her name but maintained a firm grip on her arm. Angelica found herself trembling as the moment she longed for over three centuries had finally arrived but not in the way that she had hoped. She found herself unable to move, waiting for some cue from Elijah on what to do or say next. After what seemed an eternity, Elijah, staring directly and fiercely into her eyes, spoke again, his voice deepening, saying only a single word, "Explain." "Elijah ... I ...," Angelica stopped mid-sentence as Rafe and Albee suddenly appeared in the bar after they sensed that Angelica was in danger. They both instantly transformed to their vampire faces and Elijah did so in defensive response. Angelica screamed, "No!" and moved in between them but Elijah pushed her out of the way, the force of it throwing her to the floor against the bar.

Elijah faced Rafe and Albee. Angelica knew that if she did not act fast she would lose one or both of them to Elijah so she moved quickly between Rafe and Elijah as Rafe advanced on the Original. Elijah instinctively thrust his fist out intending to rip Rafe's heart from his chest but instead made contact with Angelica, punching through her chest and grasping her heart. Elijah stopped himself from pulling amid the realization of what he had just done. Her heart had started to separate from her arteries and she leaned against Rafe who was now behind her. Angelica screamed in pain and Elijah released his grip inside her chest as Angelica begged him through the pain, "Please ... don't ... hurt ... my ... boys." As Elijah pulled his hand from her chest she fell to her knees, spitting up blood, and choking out, "Rafe, Albee ... stop." All three men moved toward Angelica to help her but Elijah reached her first, grabbed her and disappeared. Rafe and Albee looked at each other – both amazed at the speed at which Elijah moved while at the same time terrified that Angelica was gone.

Elijah reached the Mikaelson house and carefully set Angelica on the couch in his study. He bit his wrist, lifted her head, and put his wrist to her mouth to help her heal faster. The front of her dress was completely soaked in blood – he knew he had ripped loose an artery before he released his grip. She drank his blood, half swallowing and half spitting up blood. He made her drink again. After a few minutes her breathing slowed to normal and Elijah could hear a normal heartbeat again. Angelica opened her eyes and found Elijah staring back into her eyes, with a furrowed brow and a concerned look on his face. Elijah asked her how she was feeling and she replied that she was better. Elijah helped her sit up and then leaned back as he was sitting on the coffee table in front of her. Elijah spoke, "I ... am sorry for ..., "Angelica interrupted him, smiled and said, "Accidents happen." Elijah took a deep breath and exhaled, "Angelica ... where ... what ... I don't know where to begin. I thought you were ... dead." Angelica replied, "It is a long story, Elijah."

Niklaus had heard Elijah enter the compound and heard voices. He came into the study, stopping dead in his tracks and stared at Angelica sitting on the couch, assessing the blood-stained clothing, Elijah sitting across from her, and the existence of a woman long thought dead. Niklaus recalled Hope's sketches and had many questions, but he saw that Elijah seemed to have the matter well in hand, and after what they had all been through the last five years, hell, the last five days, nothing surprised Niklaus anymore. "Angelica ... good to see you Love, news of your death has been greatly exaggerated, I presume?" Niklaus said with a smirk. "Elijah, might I have a word?" Elijah put his hand on her knee to signal, "Wait here," while Elijah walked over to Niklaus. "Brother, what is going on here?" Elijah told him he was not certain as they were only just reunited, but gave Niklaus the highlights of how she had secretly helped Hayley and them. Niklaus, shaking his head, addressed Angelica and asked, "Aunt Lica, I presume?" Angelica shook her head in acknowledgement. Niklaus told her that Hope sketched a very good likeness of her, and said, "Thank you for helping my daughter, and Hayley, and well ... my, our family." Niklaus kissed her on the cheek and smiled at her. "Well, I will leave you two to catch up," Niklaus squeezed Elijah's shoulder and left the study.

Angelica sensed Rafe and Albee outside the Mikaelson home. She stood up from the couch, walked to the window and signaled to them that she was fine, and to wait. Angelica told Elijah she needed to get back to her hotel. Her business across the river had concluded and she would be headed back to New York City. However, there was time for them to talk at her hotel if that was what Elijah wanted. She wrote her contact information on the notepad on Elijah's desk. Angelica explained that she stayed away out of respect for Hayley and Elijah's relationship, and she was sorry that it had ended. Elijah, reluctant to let her go, nodded his head then watched as she walked out the door. He went to the window and looked down to the street below. Rafe met Angelica on the sidewalk and put a long coat around her to cover up her blood-soaked clothes. He escorted her across the street to where Albee opened the rear passenger door and she entered the SUV, but not before pausing to look up at that window back at him. She got into the car and Rafe sat down beside her, closing the door. Albee sat in the driver's seat and drove them away. Elijah picked up the paper from the desk and put it in his pocket.

After returning to the luxury hotel suites where Angelica and The Seven had been staying, Angelica showered and dressed for travel. Her bags were packed and they were leaving that evening bound for New York City. The Seven were with her and there was much whispering amongst them as Rafe and Albee related what had happened. As Angelica entered the living room area, they stopped and looked at her. Charlie had her bloody dress and undergarments in a plastic bag ready for the hotel furnace. Angelica addressed them, "Boys, Elijah may be here shortly. I implore you to not provoke him, to stay clear of him, to be respectful of him. He is my Sire, he is more than that to me, and at one time he was my entire life. I assure you, everything will be alright. He has only had a couple of hours to adjust to the fact that I am alive, and that must be quite a shock for him. Please understand." The Seven nodded and went about the work of packing in preparation for departure for the airfield that evening.

Rafe stayed behind, he was rarely separated from her, and made her a bourbon, handing it to her. Just then there was a knock at the door. Rafe crossed the room and opened the door to find Elijah standing on the other side. The two men looked into each other's eyes, both momentarily holding their ground, then Rafe nodded an acknowledgement and stepped out of the doorway allowing Elijah to enter the suite. As he entered, Rafe stepped out into the hallway and closed the door behind him.