(1) Bloodlines: The Curse (A Vampire Dairies Fanfiction)

23. Learning Acceptance

The smell of coffee is what roused Alex from her sleep. She let out a soft groan as she took in the warm bundle she was encased in. The pillow beneath her head felt like a cloud; the sheets around her bare legs were like silk. Alex frowned as she blinked open her eyes, slowly adjusting to the bright light in the room. It was a place she had never seen before, and she couldn't remember climbing into the bed.

Alex sat up and rubbed her eyes. It took a moment as she took in the room with its cream carpeted floors, the large open windows, the ceiling high bookshelves, for the events of the previous night to come flooding back. Alex pulled her knees to her chest as she remembered Klaus, the witch that had arrived to save him and how she had killed him. The conversation with Mikael and how her heart had pounded in her ears. And how she called Elijah.

The idea that she had fallen asleep in a car with a vampire was shocking all on its own. Alex had let her guard down around a vampire since she had learned about their existence. Her body had never let her grow comfortable enough to simply drift off. But with Elijah, she had. In fact, she had craved his touch, sort out his comfort and had wanted nothing more than to bury herself into his chest. It should have disgusted her; Alex should feel shame and desire to rid herself of such a feeling, but she didn't.

The door to the bedroom swung open, and Elijah walked in holding a tray, dressed – like he always was – in slacks and a button-up shirt. What surprised Alex was the lack of shoes or tie. She pulled her lower lip into her mouth and squeezed her knees closer to her chest. Elijah offered her a warm smile as he placed the food at the foot of the bed.

He said, "Good morning."

Alice returned the smile. "Hi."

"How are you feeling?" he asked. The concern Alex had seen the night before was still there.

"I-um..." Alex tucked her hair behind her ear. She hadn't been able to explain herself the night before, and she didn't know if she wanted to.

"Alex?" Elijah moved around the bed and sat on the edge. "What happened last night?"

Alex looked away, not wanting to meet his eye. It felt strange that she was ashamed to admit what she had done to a vampire; Elijah had, no doubt, killed thousands of humans and witches in his very long life. Alex had no idea why she felt like him learning that she had killed a witch would bother him.

"Did something happen to Elena?" he asked.

Alex shook her head. "She's safe."

Elijah reached out and laid his hand on top of hers. "Did something happen with Klaus? Did he hurt you?"

Alex took Elijah's hand. The burning between them as their hands met was like a jolt of life. It made Alex feel better, and she wanted more. But she just continued to hold his hand. "After we went our separate ways last night, I went home, and Klaus was there. He had a knife to Jenna's throat. He wanted the moonstone."

Elijah frowned.

Alex continued. "He mentioned you and your siblings. And then he mentioned that he's been watching us. He saw us by the pond. I think he was just trying to throw us all off, but when he was distracted, I managed to get him away from Jenna and Elena, and we took a chance to kick him out of Alaric's body." She took a shaky breath. "I went upstairs to get what I needed, and when I came back, a witch working for Klaus showed up. We fort and I...won." Tears flooded Alex's eyes, and she tried to hold them in. "I killed the witch."

The tears broke, and Alex pressed her head into her knees. She felt the bed shift and Elijah's body pressed against hers. His chest was against her side, and his arm slid around her legs to pull her close. One of his hands swept back her hair.