TW: GRAPHIC DEPICTIONS OF ABUSE/TORTURE AND RAPE. WE GET A NIGHTMARE SEQUENCE, SORRY GUYS.

"oh, you like dramatics?"

—

THE first thing Eden did when Damon laid her down on his bed was call Harry. Damon left, giving her space, and Elena promised to tell Jenna she was staying over at the Salvatore's again.

Curled up in Damon's pillow, she held the phone to her ear, tears gathering in her eyes.

"Bon!" Harry's cheerful voice made her smile.

"Hi, bubba," she whispered.

"What's happened, Eden? Are you alright?"

"I was kidnapped," she managed.

"I'm sorry?" Harry spluttered. "W-what was that?"

"There were these two vampires, they were looking for Elena—"

"—Your niece? Why?"

"She's the doppelganger."

"That doesn't help me at all but continue."

"They wanted to give her to an Original, but they called Dolohov for me."

Harry swore loudly. "Are you alright? Did you see him? Did he see you? Are you safe now?"

"I'm okay," Eden cut through his worries. "Damon and Stefan got us out."

"Okay," Harry was quiet for a moment. "That means Dolohov probably knows where you are. I'll alert MACUSA, see if they can help track him down.There's something else, isn't there?"

Eden was quiet for a long time before she sniffled. "The Original's name was Elijah, and...he was my soulmate," her voice broke on the last word, and Harry didn't speak. "They had to kill him because he wanted to kill Elena, but...I can't help but..."

"They killed your soulmate?" Harry's voice was quiet.

"Yeah."

"Did you meet him in the same day he died?"

Eden nodded, even if he couldn't see her. "Yeah, kind of a rough go of things, I guess."

"Oh, bon," his voice was soft. "Where are you, I can come visit you? I'm a bit busy today, but I can shuffle things for tomorrow and come see you. I don't want you alone."

"I'm okay," Eden replied weakly. "Don't put your things on hold. How's Gin?"

"She's good, baby's kicking, but that's not the point of this conversation, Eden."

"Damon'll be here," Eden informed quietly. "He's being gentle about it all. I think it stops us from seeing Elijah as a villain, knowing he's bonded to —" She cut herself off, the pain in her chest that had nestled there since Elijah's death slowly dissipating.

"Eden? You alright?"

"S-sorry," Eden placed a hand over her heart and rubbed gently. "I think...I don't know. That was weird. What do you know about pain with your soulmate? Feeling the other's pain?"

Harry inhaled and sighed. "I don't know much, really. Hermione's a better bet for this, she's read every book about it. Or Malfoy. He's got all that weird pureblood knowledge you and I lack."

"Do you feel it when Ginny's in pain?"

Harry was quiet for a moment. "Can't say I've noticed? She doesn't get injured much. At first, there were some bruises that she'd get in same places that would feel tender for me. But mostly Quidditch incidents. I don't really get out much as an Auror trainee, spend most of my time in an office, before we're allowed to go on raids, so she's not injured. Merlin," he gasped. "I hope that's not a thing — do I have to feel childbirth?"

Eden laughed at him. "Only fair, she's the one giving you a baby. You knocked her up, might as well accept the full extent of your consequences."

Harry cursed again, and a baby's cry was heard. "Oh, Teddy's up. I should get him. Are you sure you don't want me to visit you? I don't mind. I'll be there tomorrow. I can bring Teddy."

"No," Eden shut it down. "Don't do that. Someone would probably use him against Elena or I somehow. I'm fine, Harry, thank you. I just wanted to hear your voice."

"You're going to be okay," Harry replied gently. "I know you keep taking hits from the universe and it bloody sucks to see you suffer, but I promise good things will happen to you. You're going through all of this pain so you can come out happier on the other side. Look at me, eh?" He continued. "Parents dead, godfather dead, friends dead, mentor dead, with nothing but a scar to show for it all. And it hurt going through it, but I'm here. On the other end. I've got Ginny and Teddy, and a baby on the way. Seventeen years of hell to end up in heaven. Yours is coming, Eden."

"How am I supposed to find it without Elijah?" Eden asked quietly. "He would've been my Ginny."

Harry was silent for a beat. "I don't know," he replied honestly. "But you will. I love you."

"I love you, bub."

"Bye, bon."

The phone clicked shut and Eden stared at the wall, the emptiness gnawing at her insides like a poison threatening to shut her body down. She closed her eyes, letting the feeling consume her and drifted to sleep.

—

"Pretty, pretty, kitty," he was whispering in her ear, biting her neck gently.

She whimpered against him, tears pouring down her cheeks, struggling against his hold, but he kept a tight grip on her. The numbness from the cruciatus was lessoning as time passed, and slowly parts of her body gave her feeling back.

"Stop," she whispered, her lips moving before her brain.

Her pleading fell on deaf ears and he growled in her ear, his hand moving to her throat, tightening roughly on it. "Keep begging, pet, I love hearing you struggle."

Eden closed her mouth tightly, struggling to breathe as his large hand covered her windpipe, squeezing until the air could no longer enter her lungs.

"Good girl," he growled against her, and as he entered her again, a cry of pain left her.

It was like a rubber band snapped, and her extra-sensitive body was plunged into a fiery hell. She cried against him as he pushed her down, dropping her neck. She was on all fours like a dog, tears flooding her eyes. Her arms were weak, she could hardly hold herself up, the trembling of her fingers slipping against the wooden floor.

She gasped for air, coughing and spluttering, but she didn't have time to prepare before he shoved himself back in her, grabbing a fistful of hair. She stumbled against him, arms losing balance and was face first onto the ground.

He laughed maniacally, relentless in his assault, uncaring of her begging.

After what felt like hours, he finished, and she felt hot liquid along her back and hair.

"That's it," he laughed again. "Good little pet, you are, eh? Covered in me, letting the world know who you belong to."

Eden's lip trembled and she bit down the sob that threatened to escape her mouth.

"Not quite the screaming mess I'd like you to be, though," he flipped her over roughly, and she landed on her back.

Cold air rushed across her bare chest, and she made the mistake of looking at him. His sinister grin widened.

"There she is, my defiant little mudblood whore," he leaned down, breath hot and wet against her face. "I'm going to prep you for another round. Say please."

"No," Eden whimpered.

"Say it," his hand gripped her chin and he squeezed, forcing her lips together. "Or I'll cut out your fucking tounge."

"Please," Eden whispered, crying against his hold. She wanted him to kill her. Please, please, jus end her pain. Just let her die. He chuckled, sending a kick to her side.

"That's it, not so hard," he aimed his wand at her.

"Crucio!"

"Eden!"

Eden whimpered as tears fell down her cheeks, body writhing in pain.

"Eden!"

"S-stop!" She managed to cry out, nearly biting her tongue off in the process.

"Eden, wake up!"

Eden jolted, her body twitching and trembling. She looked to the left fearfully and found a man with dark hair looking at her. Confusion filled her face and fear overtook her. Where was she? Was this another cruel trick by Dolohov? Where was Draco? He was often the one to help her after a torture session.

"Eden, it's Damon," the man said gently, kneeling next to her.

She was in an odd room — a bedroom, it seemed — and the blankets surrounding her were drenched in sweat.

"It's Damon," he replied, a soft smile on his face. "I'm your best friend here. You're in Mystic Falls. You live with Jenna, your sister. And Elena and Jeremy, your niece and nephew. This is the Salvatore Boarding House, you're staying here because you were taken last night and you wanted to sleep somewhere you felt safe without waking Jenna."

Eden watched his face carefully, mind running through all possibilities of it being a lie. A trick. But she couldn't find anything.

"Where's Draco?" She asked in a small voice. "And Luna? Are they here too?"

Damon shook his head, a sad look crossing his face. "No, Draco is England. And Luna is too. Luna is with her girlfriend...Pansy, if I remember right. They have a lot cats. Does that sound familiar to you?"

Eden blinked, trying to remember. She closed her eyes, letting her head hit the pillow again.

"I don't remember that," she mumbled, eyes filling with tears. "I don't remember anything right now."

"That's okay," Damon assured her softly. He gently reached his hand to her face and she winced when he ran his fingertips along her hair. "Let's go slow. Do you remember Harry and Ron and Hermione getting you out of that manor?"

Eden thought for a moment, trying to recall. She could remember Hermione being tortured, for hours at least. She remembered Draco being concerned for Hermione, for pleading with Harry and Ron to get her out of there. She remembered Dobby, the house elf. And Luna's soft hand in hers.

"I remember leaving," she responded slowly. "And then we went to Shell Cottage," she spoke slowly. "I was in bed a lot. Recovering. Draco was with me most of the time. I remember a battle. Were you there?"

Damon shook his head. "No, I didn't meet you until a few months ago. It's been almost a year since the battle. Do you remember moving to Mystic Falls?"

Eden reached a hand to her head and rubbed it softly. "I remember Elena," she met Damon's eyes. "She's very pretty. And Jeremy. He makes me laugh. He likes Disney movies with me and Jenna."

"Yeah, that's right," a smile found Damon's face. "Do you remember me?"

Eden found the concern, the softness in Damon's eyes and felt it was out of place there. He didn't seem like the type to be soft or concerned. But his hand was gentle on her skin and he looked at her with such fondness she had to remember him.

"Why are we friends?" She asked him softly. "You don't look like someone who has friends."

"That's hurtful," Damon's lip turned into a small smirk. "You're amazing, Eden. You and I understand each other. You're the only person in the world who makes me happy without wanting anything from me."

"Oh," Eden responded after a pause. "That sounds like a nice friendship."

Damon smiled. "It's pretty great, yeah. Hey, how about you rest some more. I'll be here. If you get a nightmare again, we'll talk about it, okay?"

Eden watched him for a moment. She couldn't remember him, but there was a fondness in her chest, an emotional connection to him she couldn't explain. She trusted him.

"Okay," she whispered, closing her eyes.

—

Eden's eyes slowly opened and she found Damon watching her in the same spot as before. Gentle and concerned.

"Morning sleepy-head," he smiled softly.

"Damon," she greeted with a small smile. "How's Elena? She okay?"

Damon's eyebrows moved up a fraction — a sign he was confused — and he frowned. "You remember me?" He asked.

"Yeah," Eden nodded. "Why wouldn't I remember you?"

Damon was quiet for a long time before he sighed. "You had a nightmare. You were screaming. I think you accidentally did some magic, the rug was on fire."

"Oh, shit," Eden's eyes widened. "I'm sorry."

He brushed it off. "Don't stress. I'm just happy you're okay. You had me freaked out."

Eden's lips formed a tired smile. "I'm okay. I'm sorry I scared you."

"It's okay," Damon told her quietly. "You want to stay in bed all day? We can watch Hallmark movies and make fun of them if you want?"

Eden nodded, a small laugh escaping her. "Tonight, maybe," Eden agreed. "I should shower and see Elena."

Damon nodded. "She's coming over in a bit, Stefan called her. Go, I'll get you when she's here."

Eden nodded and Damon pressed a soft kiss to her forehead before speeding from the room. Eden stood slowly, gathering an armful of her clothes — she kept nearly her entire closet at Damon's now, seeing as she was there more often than not — and took a long shower.

The ache in her muscles was terrible. She felt like she'd been hit by a bus. Eden knew from experience it was an after-effect of the cruciatus curse, but she wasn't entirely sure why she was experiencing them now. Perhaps all the emotional trauma she'd experienced the past couple of days was manifesting into her physically.

Or, perhaps, it was a side-effect of Elijah's death.

She didn't really have an answer for that.

Hair damp and eyes heavy, Eden walked downstairs into the sitting room, finding Damon, Stefan, Elena and — Rose? — in various spots.

"What the fuck?" Eden exclaimed, watching Rose with wide eyes.

Eden's kidnapper was standing, and a flash of guilt crossed her face when her eyes met Eden's. Stefan was seated, watching Rose, and Damon leaned against the back of a chair. Eden moved her gaze to her niece, who shrugged. Eden walked over to Elena and sat down next to her, grabbing her hand.

Elena squeezed tightly, both of them incredibly uncomfortable and scared.

"You call Dolohov again?" Eden asked coldly.

Rose shook her head. "I'm sorry," she told Eden. "It was the only thing I could think of to give us a fresh start. Trevor was my best friend."

Eden blinked, uncaring. "What Elijah did to Trevor? Well-deserved. Dolohov would've done infinitely worse to me."

Rose's face hardened. "Trevor didn't deserve —"

"—Why are you here?" Elena asked, cutting into the conversation, giving Eden a squeeze of her hand in support. "What do you want?"

"I'm here to help," Rose looked between the girls. "I have information that could help you." Her gaze softened on Eden. "I'm not sorry Elijah's dead, but I am sorry for the pain it's caused you. Enemies or not, whatever, no one deserves that."

"How do you know about it?" Eden asked curiously.

Rose shrugged. "I had a soulmate, she died in the time before any of the wars. She was the reason I fought with you all, both times."

"Who was she?" Eden asked in surprise. Damon and Stefan's expressions flickered with equal amounts pity and surprise, but Elena's was filled with confusion.

"Her name was Noctua, she died mysteriously. We passed letters often but one day she stopped writing. I felt her die." She looked down, pain written across her face. "Her nephew reached out eventually, claimed she'd gotten stuck in a secret chamber of Salazar Slytherin and died there." Rose looked down. "I know what it's like to lose that once you have it. I'm so sorry that you've lost him."

Eden and Rose watched each other for a moment before Eden nodded. "I'm sorry you lost her, too."

It was quiet for a moment before Rose cleared her throat. "Now that's settled, you all have to understand that I only know what I've picked up over the years. And I-I don't know what's true and what's not true. That's the problem with all this vampire crap."

"Amen," Eden nodded. "You're a weird bunch."

Rose smiled briefly before looking at Elena. "Klaus, I know is real."

Eden's mind prickled. That name was familiar. Had she heard it before? Read it somewhere?

"Who is he?" Elena asked.

"He's one of the originals," Damon pitched in. "He's a legend."

"He's one of the first generation of vampires," Stefan added.

"The family," Eden supplied thoughtfully. "We read about them in school, I didn't think the names were there, but maybe they were? I can't remember, but they're seriously powerful. All vampires that don't come from Europe are descended from the Originals. They're created with magic, they're...very dangerous." Eden explained to Elena. "It's why I was scared when I first met Damon. I'd only ever read about vampires here."

"So..." Elena looked around. "Like Elijah?"

"No," Rose shook her head. "Elijah was the Easter Bunny compared to Klaus. He's a foot soldier. Klaus is the real deal."

An uncomfortable feeling settled in Eden's chest and she wasn't sure what it meant. She felt a strange tug, a pull, like the night she'd met Elijah. But she hadn't felt it since. He was dead.

"Klaus is known to be the oldest," Stefan explained.

"Okay," Elena took a breath. "So, you're saying the that the oldest vampire in the history of time is coming after me?"

"Yes," Rose nodded.

"No," Stefan shook his head.

"What they're saying is," Damon met Elena's eyes, walking over to Rose and standing next to her. "I mean, if what she's saying is true—"

"—Which it is—"

"And you're not just saying this so we don't kill you—"

"—Which I'm not—"

"Then we're looking at a solid maybe."

"Those are good odds," Eden nodded. "Harry had worse and he lived through it. You'll be fine."

Elena didn't find Eden's comment as humorous as intended and pulled her hand away, looking like she was trying not to cry.

"Look," Stefan stood. "Elijah's dead, right?"

Eden's heart sank at the mention and she grimaced at the reminder.

"So no one else even knows that you exist," Stefan walked to Elena and Eden, taking a seat on Elena's other side.

"That we know of," Rose pointed out.

"Not helping," Damon snapped.

"Look, I've never even met anyone who's laid eyes on him," Stefan countered. "I mean, we're talking centuries of truth mixed with fiction." He turned in his seat to look at Elena. "I mean, we don't know what's real. For all we know, he could just be some sort of stupid bedtime story."

"He's real," Rose countered. "And he doesn't give up. If he wants something, he gets it. If you're not afraid of Klaus, then you're an idiot."

"Alright, we're shaking," Damon rolled his eyes. "You've made your point."

"I think I know someone who might know more," Eden spoke up. All heads turned to her. "What about Katherine? She's been alive a long time. Why else would she want the moonstone and every ingredient to break the curse? She knew."

"Absolutely not," Damon interjected, shaking his head.

"You're not talking to her," Stefan agreed. "She's a liar."

"It's just a suggestion," Eden defended, sinking further into the couch when Elena stood, draping her back over her shoulder.

"Where are you going?" Stefan asked.

"Uh, school," Elena answered. "I'm late."

"Let me, uh," Stefan stood. "Let me grab my stuff."

"God, this is awkward," Eden shook her head, exchanging a look with Damon.

"That's okay," Elena brushed him off. "I know where it is."

"She's in denial," Damon spoke sarcastically to Rose.

"Shut up, Damon," Stefan snapped.

—

"Eden!" Damon called upstairs where Eden was watching a rerun marathon of Grey's Anatomy. "We're going on a field trip, want to come with?"

Eden paused, muting the show. "Will there be snacks?"

"I can pick you up McDonald's if you're good!"

"Five minutes!"

Eden clambered out of Damon's bed and turned off the television, brushing her hair quickly and sliding on some shoes, heading downstairs. She spotted Rose, watching cautiously, but Eden decided to bury the hatchet. She nodded in greeting and relief flooded Rose's face. She nodded back.

Not great, but a start.

"Where are we going?" Eden asked, grabbing a pack of M&M's from the kitchen and some Doritos. "How long is the field trip?"

"Rose?" Damon asked her for confirmation.

"A few hours, we're going to Richmond."

—

"Back entrance," Damon slammed the door shut, and Eden followed sleepily out of the car. She'd crashed a good ten minutes into the car ride, and could hear the low murmur of voices between the pair, but she was too exhausted to care. "How convenient."

Despite all the sleeping she'd been getting, her body didn't seem to take and she still felt sluggish.

"That's the point," Rose nodded as Eden munched on her M&M's. "We can't all have little daylight rings."

"If you're nice, I could probably get you one," Eden pointed out. "I'm sure they sell them somewhere in Knockturn Alley."

Rose looked to Eden with surprise. "What?" She asked softly. "You'd do that?"

Eden shrugged. "Why not? Give me an excuse to visit my friends."

Damon slinked an arm around Eden's shoulders as they began walking through the parking garage

"How do you know this Slater guy's even here?" Damon asked Rose.

"I called him," Rose answered. "He's here. He's always here."

"That's kind of ominious," Eden commented.

"Good," Damon sped from around Eden and pushed Rose against a banister. "If you're setting me up in any way, I will rip your heart out and shove it down your throat."

"And I will cheer him on enthusiastically," Eden pitched in. "He's very good at it."

A second passed and Rose sped Damon back to the car, pressing him against it.

"I'm older than you and stronger. Don't get on my bad side."

Eden placed a hand on Rose's arm. "You have two seconds to move your hand from Damon before I set you on fire."

Rose glanced at her and stepped back.

"You can trust me," she looked between the friends before turning and walking again.

Damon and Eden exchanged a look, shrugging, before he threw an arm over her again, kissed her temple, and they continued after Rose.

They entered a brightly lit cafe and Eden's eyebrows raised.

"Ooh," Damon commented, noticing it as well. "What about the, uh, sunlight?"

Rose took off her jacket, folding it over her arm. "Double-paned and tempered. UV rays can't penetrate." She looked between the pair. "You see the appeal now?"

"Mm," Damon agreed half-heartedly.

"That," a man spoke, walking up behind Rose. Eden stiffened. "And the free WIFI."

Eden looked him over, finding him no threat and softened against Damon again. He had light brown hair, bright eyes, a nice smile and a beard. He looked like an average college student. He just so happened to enjoy drinking blood.

"How are you?" Rose asked, hugging the man.

"Good," he responded, smiling down at her. "I saw you come, what are you doing here?"

"Mm," Rose hesitated. "It's a long story, but I want you to meet..."

"Damon Salvatore, turned 1864, Mystic Falls, by Katherine Pierce aka Katerina Petrova," he shook his head, smiling, eyes widening when he spotted Eden. "And Eden Sommers, the witch? Wow, you're a long way from home."

"How do you know who I am?" Eden asked, eyebrows furrowing.

"I read the Prophet," Slater shrugged nonchalantly, looking to Rose. "So, I take it I was right? About the tomb under the church? It's true?"

"Yes," Rose nodded. "It was right. Thank you for the tip."

"Yeah," Slater smiled at Rose. "It's nice to meet you," he offered a hand to Damon and Eden. Damon shook it tentatively, eying Rose, but Eden smiled softly, offering her own hand. "Maybe," Slater sighed. "What's going on, Rose? Where's, uh, Trevor?"

Damon and Eden exchanged a look, looking away from Rose and Slater. Silence settled over the four and Slater's smile fell, understanding clear in his eyes.

And yet, Eden couldn't find it in herself to feel guilty.

—

Eden got the largest, most caffeinated drink on the menu and took a seat at a table, staring out the window. A strange feeling took over her then, a sort of ache she hadn't felt since the night of Elijah's death. A longing. A deep, empty, hollowness that threatened to swallow her whole.

"I was going for my Psych PHD," Slater was explaining to Rose and Damon as he sat down. Eden didn't look away from the window. "What's with her?" He asked Damon, quietly enough to not seem rude, but loud enough for Eden to hear.

"She can speak for herself," Eden snapped, a bitterness swelling in her. She didn't understand these feelings. The ache, the longing, the hollowness, the simmering rage. She adjusted in her seat, glancing around nervously.

Paranoia flooded her, an uneasy feeling settling in her chest.

"Something's wrong," she mumbled to Damon. All three looked at her. "I don't know, I feel weird. I'm — I'm gonna take a walk or something."

"You sure that's a good idea?" Damon asked in concern. "Wasn't Dolohov spotted here?"

Eden sank further into the seat. "Maybe that's why I feel weird. I don't know. Let's just get this over with."

Slater eyed her for a moment, before his eyes flickered. "You're experiencing the bond," he said slowly. "You've met your soulmate, haven't you?"

Eden's eyes flashed to his and they widened. "What do you know about soulmates?"

"Just what I've read," Slater shrugged. "I don't know if I have one, but they're not as uncommon for vampires as you all believe. They're just not documented because of the distaste for our kind in your community. You're feeling weird because your soulmate is feeling weird. It's why you can't place it."

"My soulmate's dead," Eden said sharply.

Confusion moved across Slater's face, and then sympathy. "Oh, my mistake...I'm sorry."

Eden glanced at Damon. "I'm going to call Harry," she said swiftly, standing and taking the coffee, rushing from the cafe into the parking garage.

Feeling an oncoming panic attack, Eden leaned against the wall, closing her eyes.

"You're okay, you're okay, you're okay," she whispered, trying to stop her heart from racing. She felt a prickling sensation in her eyes and she squeezed the cup of coffee in her hand. The paper lining snapped and the coffee spilled over her hand onto the ground. "Dammit," she muttered, wiping it on her pants.

"Allow me."

Eden jumped, looking up with wide, fearful eyes, before they settled on someone she didn't think she'd ever see again.

"Elijah?" She asked softly, her anxiety fading away like fog in the sun. "I...I saw you die. I felt it."

Elijah nodded, taking a step towards her. "I did. But it was brief. Originals cannot die, but I apologize for any pain it caused you. Here," he pulled out a handkerchief and took her coffee-covered hand, gently wiping away the residue. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, it was just hot."

Amusement danced in his eyes as they met hers and a soft smile settled on his lips. "While I'm glad to hear that, I was referring more to the panic attack. Can you think of anything in specific that brough it on?"

Eden looked down at their hands, mulling over the past few minutes. There was a mention of Elijah, of Dolohov, of the Prophet — which had slandered her tirelessly for years and was the reason behind the strained relationship with Molly Weasley — and the accumulation of all three was too much.

"I don't know," she answered softly.

He used his other hand, tucking a finger under her chin and forcing her to look at him.

"That's not true, Eden, and we both know this."

Eden swallowed. "I thought you were dead," she whispered. "And Dolohov was spotted here previously and...I felt weird up there. A lot of emotions I don't understand."

"Ah," he hummed in understanding. "That is my doing, I suppose. We both feel emotions deeply, and we have...many reasons to feel those emotions. The onslaught of their appearance must have been when I was in close proximity without you being aware. It surely caused confusion."

"So, why didn't I feel those before?"

"We'd only just connected, the connection needed to fester." His hand moved to cup her face and she leaned into it, feeling only peace now. "Typically, one isn't separated from their soulmate within an hour of meeting, but we were. My death would have created immense confusion and pain for you and that overshadowed the forming of our bond on your end. You need time to understand it, to acknowledge it properly. I...haven't had a chance to come and see you yet, and I regret that deeply. I saw you with Rose-Marie, Salvatore, and the other one, and you didn't see me, but you felt the connection stir again. It was too many emotions at once. The reformation, my emotions, and your belief that I was dead caused the bond to misbehave, if you will."

"So," Eden mulled over his words. "You see the bond as more of a living thing between us?"

"All magic is," he nodded, lip quirking up. "The connection between soulmates is a magical splicing of one's soul into two. It's done by fate and cannot be undone except in death or through a dark offering. It is as much alive as your wand, if that helps you understand it better."

"Hermione would love you," Eden spoke, blinking. "Seriously, I don't know how she's not your soulmate, you regurgitate words the exact same way."

Elijah chuckled, and Eden's heart soared at the sound. She liked hearing the soft rumble of laughter and decided she'd try and make him laugh for as long as he'd let her.

"Hermione Granger is a remarkable woman, from what I've read," Elijah nodded, taking a step closer to her, his hand moving up to the back of her head, his palm over her jawline. "But she is not you, Eden."

Eden looked up at him, letting out a shaky breath. "You are so hot," she whispered.

Elijah's face twisted. "I hate to do this," he leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her head. "Tell no one you've seen me, alright? I intend to make a grand return."

"Oh, you like dramatics?" Eden grinned.

"It's a family thing, I suppose," he agreed.

"I have to...stop your friends. We'll talk more soon; I swear to you. And I will let nothing happen to you." He reached his other hand to her cheek and cupped her face in his hands. His thumbs lightly traced along her skin. "I need you to accept me," he told her softly. "Accept our bond. You're fighting it, instinctually, I feel resistance with it. I need you to accept this as it is because there is no getting out of it, if," his eyes saddened a fraction. "You were thinking that."

"I wasn't," Eden spoke hurriedly. She didn't need him thinking she didn't want him. He was gorgeous and brilliant and intoxicating, and she wanted to spend forever in this moment with his hands on her skin. "I swear."

"I believe you," he smiled down at her fondly. "Accept it here," he removed a hand from her face and placed it over her chest. "The confusion will stop, and the emotions will be identifiable, not as overwhelming. Can you do that for me, little witch?"

Eden blushed at his words, nodding. "Yes."

"Good girl."

Eden's stomach somersaulted at his words and his smile widened a fraction.

"I'll see you soon."

Elijah kissed her head again, softly, and she relished in the feeling of him. He smelled like the Hogwarts library, old books and eucalyptus. She wanted to cuddle against him and never smell anything else — and then he was gone.

Eden sighed, leaning her head back against the wall.

Despite the dark wording to 'stop her friends,' Eden couldn't stop the smile growing on her face. If they were in close proximity and his feelings were affecting her, he must have felt her feelings. Her panic. And without hesitation, he rushed to her side, explained the situation, acknowledged her pain, and made her feel safe before returning back to plotting against the people she loved.

In a twisted, straight-from-a-dark-romance-novel kind of way, it was incredibly sweet.

Yeah, she was fucked.

—

hehehehe more elijah. not super happy with this chapter buuuuut we'll get to the good stuff next chapter. also we will have a talk with katherine because babygirl but I didn't want her with elena because hheehe elijah. there was a fun hint in here! a little nod to Hogwarts Legacy, so extra house points to whoever caught it!!!!!