A life in the shadows

3

Matteo had left his brothers soon after he had dropped the bomb on them. They were understandably mad at him for not letting them know he was even alive. He left to his room, and fell asleep. The next morning he woke up and the house was kind of quiet. He went downstairs and found his brothers standing outside an open cell door in the basement.
"Is there a reason the two of you are standing outside a creepy underground prison cell?" Matteo remarked.
"Matty." Stefan said startled. "Yeah, Elijah's missing and so's Elena."
"You kept Elijah, one of the original vampires, locked up in your own basement?"
"Well, daggered too, but yeah."
"So Elena took him out?" Matteo raised a brow.
"Yeah, looks like." Damon said as Stefan picked up his phone to call Elena.
"Where are you? Are you okay?" He asked her as soon as she picked up. There was a pause as she replied. "Where's Elijah?"
"Ask her where they are." Damon hissed.
"Where? I'm on my way." Stefan said into the phone. There was another pause as she answered. "Listen to me. He can't be trusted he'll use you to get to Klaus." Stefan said frantically, but it didn't seem as though Elena was going to budge. "You can't do this alone." He pleaded.
"Give me the phone." Matteo said, and Stefan handed it over. "Elena, this is Matteo. Please pass the phone to Elijah."
"Um, okay." She said hesitantly.
"Elijah, it's been a while." Matteo greeted.
"Matteo. I didn't know you were in town."
"I came in yesterday." He said. "Where are you? At least allow me to come."
"Matteo, you and I both know you're smart enough to figure it out. You've always been freakishly good at finding people. But don't bring your brothers."
"You're going to make me work it out?"
"Yes. I'll see you in ten minutes." Elijah hung up.
"You know Elijah?"
"I've met him a few times." Matteo shrugged. "Excuse me, while I try to find Stefan's girlfriend and the original vampire you've pissed off."
"What makes you think we won't follow you?"
"You can try all you want," Matteo shrugged. "Doesn't mean you'll be successful."

It didn't take a long for Matteo to lose his brothers. He simply hid in his room, even as they searched.
"Where did he go?" He saw Stefan mutter as the younger Salvatores both searched his room. He smirked as they left the room. Once he was sure they were gone he climbed out the window and willed the air to carry him up into the sky. No one ever looked above them- why would they? As he continued to fly in the air he decided to feel for Elijah. Everyone left a trail of energy wherever they went. Elijah's just happened to be old- very old. The Originals always left a trail of old magic behind them wherever they went. Matteo followed the hum of old magic, of old life and ended up in front of a large mansion. He gently willed himself back down. He walked to the front door and rang the doorbell. Elena opened the door.
"You found us?" She asked. "How?"
"I know Elijah's habits." He told her walking past her.
"And he's rather good at sniffing people out." Elijah chuckled, wearing a suit.
"Elijah Mikaelson. Wearing a suit. The sun must have risen from the east again."
"Yes well, I like to have class Matteo. Something you seem to lack."
"Touché." Matteo shrugged. "And it's Matt."
"I will always call you Matteo, it is your given name."
"Whatever."
"You two seem..." Elena searched for a word. "Close."
"I met Elijah a century ago."
"You did?"
"Yes, I was looking for a vampire."
"Matteo was on a mission. He works for an organisation of vampire saviours."
"We're not an organisation of vampire saviours."
"Wait, you work for a supernatural organisation? Those exist?"
"I don't work- okay yes I do. Well, not really. It's a long story, and quite frankly I can't tell you anything about it."
"Don't bother, I even once tried to compel it out of him." Elijah said and walked to the front room and sat down on a couch. Elena and Matteo followed him.
"How did you leave Stefan and Damon behind?"
"I'm quite gifted."
"No offence Matteo," Elena started before turning to Elijah, "but why would you let him come after us, Elijah."
"I thought this exchange would be easier if someone we both trusted was here." Elijah answered. "So I assume that the Martin witches are no longer with us?"
"No. I'm sorry." She replied.
"And Katerina? She would have been released from my compulsion when I died."
"Klaus took her. We think that she may be dead."
"I doubt that." Elijah started.
"Oh, she's definitely alive. I saw her. Klaus has her." Matteo spoke up.
"Yes, it's not Klaus' style. Death would be too easy for her after what she did."
"I don't understand. You say that you want Klaus dead, but you still made Katherine pay for betraying him." She questioned.
"I have my own reasons for wanting Katerina to pay. There was a time...I'd have done anything for Klaus." He stated. "When I was introducing Katherine and Klaus, it was his birthday and I was still on his side, I still believed he should break the curse. He was his usual charming self, using her native tongue to talk to her. He wished for some time alone with her, and he was, after all, my brother. So I wished him a happy birthday and let them be." Elijah looked over to Elena and smirked. "Yes, Klaus is my brother."
"I heard that. I'm still processing." Her eyes were wide.
"Yes, I'm a little behind on the times, but I believe the term you're searching for is O.M.G." Elijah took a sip of his tea. Matteo held in a laugh.