Elijah Mikaelson & The Dragon's Legacy

Chapter 27

The whole house gathered for dinner that evening: Mason, Elijah, Angelica, Rebekah and The Seven. Mason regaled the group of his travels through Europe and his excavations, having been gone for the last three years on the digs. Elijah and Mason exchanged civilities but that was the extent of their interaction, the awkwardness of their earlier encounter still hung in the air. Conrad and Mick had already forgiven Mason for magically ejecting them from the study earlier. They were accustomed to Mason's eccentricities, something they attributed to his age, his experiences and his nature, and Angelica had always asked that they give Mason a wide berth.

After dinner, the group moved from the dining room to the study and the festivities continued. With a few after dinner cocktails, the reunion became a bit livelier but Mason eventually excused himself for the evening, citing fatigue as it had been a long couple of days traveling to New York. They all wished him goodnight then The Seven decided it was time for them to return to the Frat House. They also said their goodnights and headed downstairs. Rebekah lingered for a few minutes then excused herself as well; it was obvious Rafe was waiting for her downstairs. She kissed Elijah and Angelica good night and left the room.

Elijah and Angelica were now alone in the study and sat on the couch taking in the view of the New York City night lights. Elijah put his arm around Angelica and they enjoyed the fireplace and the quiet. The hour was late but they talked about the day, about Mason, about The Seven, about Rafe and Rebekah. Angelica put a pillow in Elijah's lap, kicked off her shoes as she stretched out on the sofa, and laid her head down on the pillow, looking up at him as they chatted. He moved the hair out of her face and stroked it while they talked. Angelica eventually fell asleep and Elijah did not want to move her so he sat there with his feet uncharacteristically up on the coffee table. Elijah was so relaxed that even he nodded off to sleep for a bit himself.

Elijah was not sure of the time when he was awakened by the sound of Angelica crying in her sleep. She was in the grips of some nightmare and she was breathing heavy, moving her head back and forth, and mumbling incoherently as she softly cried. Elijah was tempted to enter her thoughts to see what demon was haunting her dreams but he held back not wanting to violate her privacy. Elijah was all too aware of the irrational world that resides in the subconscious mind. But as the nightmare grew worse he had to see for himself what was causing his beloved so much pain.

Elijah closed his eyes and in the next moment he was standing beside her in a hellish world where the earth was scorched and flames were everywhere. Angelica was beaten and bloodied, covered with soot and ash, standing with her arms outstretched, chained to cross beams and unable to move. She had her eyes transfixed on the graveyard in front of her, screaming and crying as the headstones burned. Elijah looked closely and saw that everyone she loved was represented by a headstone: Elijah, Niklaus, Rebekah, Mason, The Seven, and oddly, Kol. As he looked further, her entire sire line was on fire and she was helpless to do anything but watch as they burned. Their screams and the roar from the fire were deafening.

But in the distance he could see movement, a towering figure unburnt but with dragon fire swirling in both hands was striding toward her in the distance, and it was that figure that terrified her. Angelica had spoken to him about her nightmares long ago, of something evil that was coming for her but she never described anything like this. Elijah could feel the rage building up inside of her and as the figure grew closer her rage became greater, her hands igniting first with dragon fire and spreading until her entire body was engulfed in the green flames.

Elijah opened his eyes and looked at Angelica, still caught in the grips of that nightmare. Elijah comforted her, speaking softly to try to bring her out of the nightmare as he caressed the side of her cheek. Nothing seemed to work so he gently pulled her to his chest and cradled her, continuing to speak softly to her while he rocked her in his arms. The nightmare abated and she returned to a quiet slumber. Elijah picked up Angelica and carried her to their room, placing her gently into bed, and pulling the covers over her. Elijah changed for bed and retired as well. She instinctively nestled into him but Elijah lay awake for hours, unable to shake the terrifying visions that he saw in her mind. Elijah thought of Camille O'Connor and wished that she were still alive to talk to about how to help Angelica. Elijah eventually drifted off into an uneasy sleep, holding his beloved, tortured Angelica in his arms.

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