Elijah Mikaelson & The Dragon's Quest

Chapter 25

Charlie and Freya had their work cut out for them but at least now they had a better idea what they were seeking. They left Angelica and Elijah alone in the living room. Angelica picked up the glass of blood Elijah had given her, finished the contents, then handed the empty glass to Elijah. She grinned slightly as she asked, "My Love, why did you give me a glass of Charlie's blood? After all our years together, I know what your blood tastes like and this was not your blood." Elijah tried to hide his surprise, but he was caught. "I had to run a test, please don't be angry with me," he said. She asked him why a test and he paused before answering, "I was seeing similarities to ... your pregnancy difficulties. You seemed overly fatigued, but I must have been imagining something that wasn't there since Charlie's blood had no ill effect." Angelica sat down on the edge of the couch not expecting that particular explanation from Elijah.

"My Love, it took a massive magical spell for Henrik Finn's conception and you and I participated in no such ritual. What would make you think I was pregnant again?" Elijah felt foolish realizing that it would be impossible and that he had no real explanation for his mistaken belief. Angelica pointed out that the experience with the witch's trap probably stirred up emotions in him that he was still sorting through, but she felt the need to ask him a further probing question, "Do you long for another child?" she asked. Elijah replied that there was really no point in even answering that question as it was an impossibility. He conceded that she was probably correct, and it was a residual feeling left over from the mind game of the witch's trap. He thought back over the week and recalled how the images stayed with him, tormenting him, until, and he paused as a realization came over him. "The other night, when we, when you, my blood ... have you been tinkering in my subconscious mind, my darling?"

Now she was caught. She was going to tell him eventually, but the timing had not been right. Angelica nodded that she had, telling him that she had noticed that he was bothered then saw the remnants of the witch's trap in his mind. She told him that she convinced his subconscious to release the image he had retained, and her trip was successful. "That was why it was so .... liberating," he said, recalling the experience with a smile. He then grew more serious, "My Love, you know I am grateful but you cannot just pop into my head like that, it is too dangerous." She told him that she was fine, but Elijah stood up as he paced the living room, stating adamantly, "No, it is not fine. You have no idea the danger, of what I could do to you, of what could happen to us." Angelica saw the panic in his eyes, heard the desperation in his voice, as she experienced his memory of the heartbreak he endured so many years ago resurface in the present. He was terrified that he would do something so vile to Angelica in his subconscious that he would lose Angelica, lose Henrik Finn, lose everyone he loved.

She rushed to him and stopped his pacing, forcing him to look her in the eyes. She told him that there was nothing that he could do that would drive her away. "I love you, Elijah, with all my heart and soul, and I will never leave you. Henrik Finn will never leave you. We love you, my husband, we love you as you are, for who you are." She kissed Elijah and embraced him, holding him tightly as he wrapped his arms around her. They stood there for several minutes, standing in the middle of the room, locked in a tight embrace. Charlie had come in to ask a question but stopped in his tracks and backed out of the room quietly. He didn't know what had happened but was savvy enough to realize that the two needed some privacy.

As they released their embrace Angelica held her hand against Elijah's cheek, eliciting a smile from him in the process. "Let's make a deal, Elijah, how about we agree that if we think that something is amiss with the other then we talk about it first before we go running secret blood tests and surreptitious mind entries?" Elijah smiled and nodded, "Neither one of us seems good at that but it is certainly worth a try."

The hour was late. Elijah stopped before they walked out of the living room to ask Angelica about the alpha symbol. He picked up the stack of papers all containing various versions of the alpha as he made his inquiry. Angelica paused, searching for the right explanation, yet all she could tell him was that the symbol represented the Elementum but she had a strong feeling that she had encountered the symbol elsewhere, but she was unable to place it. Elijah pressed her about the volume of pages she dedicated to the symbol and whether she was as focused on the omega symbol or the pentagram. She told him she was not, and that it only seemed to surface over the last several days. Elijah asked her whether she believed it was the Elementum that Mason used to allow them to create Henrik Finn since he thought it could not be a coincidence that the goddesses were credited in the pictograms as changing the nature of the first Dragon King. According to her research, their domain was in fertility, childbirth, witchcraft, fate and prophecy. Angelica was uncertain but told him she would figure it out. He smiled and nodded, as he knew she would solve the puzzle eventually.

She told him there were two more theories she needed to share with him. The first theory was related to the Coven's motivation and goals. There was just too little known about them to be certain. "Certain of what?" asked Elijah. "Well, we know they targeted Davina Claire because she held the key. But what if there were more to their motives?" she postulated. "Angelica, what is your theory?" She told him that with Amara the Hollow involved what if the Coven sought revenge against the witches who defeated her?" Elijah paused and Angelica added, "I don't have enough information to be certain but perhaps we should warn Vincent and Bonnie to be careful if only as a precaution. The Coven played the long game quite well. They waited six years to get to Davina. What if there are other witches that have gotten close to Vincent and Bonnie for a similar nefarious purpose? And what about Hope?" He thought it over and concurred that they should warn Vincent and Bonnie. He would call Marcel Gerard and Alaric Saltzman in the morning, but he would call Niklaus immediately to ensure that particular care was given toward Hope's protection.

"What was the second theory, my love?" he asked her. Angelica's visage grew more serious as she went to her phone and turned on her music downloads, selecting a song and turning up the volume. She walked to him and put her lips to his ear and whispered into it so softly that it was imperceptible to even the keenest of vampire ears. She pulled back from his ear and Elijah's eyes were wide from the theory she had shared with him. Elijah nodded and told Angelica he would join her down the hall shortly after he called Niklaus and spoke to Freya. She nodded and left the room as Elijah reached for his phone.