TW: Mentions of abuse/torture/rape/PTSD, there is a mild panic attack and anxiety but nothing explicit

"i beg your forgiveness"

—

EDEN groaned softly, head throbbing as she slowly blinked awake. She was leaned against a wall, her hands and feet tied together. Looking down with wide eyes, fear consumed her as she thought back to the last time she'd been in this situation.

He'd found her.

He had to have found her.

Looking around with wide eyes, she watched someone carry in Elena's body and her eyes filled with tears. She opened her mouth, but found something taped against it, keeping her from speaking.

Please, not this again. He loved using Muggle techniques to 'criticize their capabilities.'

"Please," Elena's voice was soft, but tears fell from Eden's cheeks at the realization that she was alive. Why would he spare her? "I'm hurt."

"I know," the man voiced darkly, leaning towards her. "Just a taste."

"Trevor. Control yourself."

Eden jumped as a woman appeared in the room, confusion written on her face at the two of them. They were vampires. Her speed and his hunger was proof enough of that. Why was she here, then? But if Dolohov were here — surely, he wouldn't work with vampires?

"Buzzkill," the man said to the woman, eyeing Eden. A smirk grew on his face and he walked towards her, kneeling in front of her. "I've never had a witch before," he spoke quietly. "I wonder if you taste as good as you look."

"What do you want with me?" Elena asked, her eyes flickering to where Trevor kneeled in front of Eden. "Leave her alone!" Her eyes widened. "Why — what do you want with us?"

"My god, you look just like her," the woman spoke, circling Elena.

"But I'm not, please, whatever you —"

"Be quiet."

"But I'm not Katherine," Elena tried again.

Eden shook her head. She had a feeling they knew that. They wanted Elena. But why was Eden still alive?

"My name is Elena Gilbert," Elena stood up, looking at the woman. "You don't have to do this."

"I know who you are," the woman scowled. "I said be quiet."

"What do you want?" Elena's voice softened, but the woman didn't answer her. Instead, she reeled her arm back and sent Elena flying into the couch, unconscious.

Eden's eyes widened and concern flickered in them as Trevor touched her hair.

"You sure we can't have this one?" He asked the woman.

The woman shook her head, pity in her eyes at Eden's expression. "I'm sorry," she told Eden. "He's given us a bargain. I can't refuse it. All he wants is you."

Tears gathered in Eden's eyes and she cried at the woman's words. He'd found her. He was going to take her back to a basement somewhere and do horrible, unspeakable things to her. Again. Because she was a piece of his twisted, sick fantasy.

The woman waved Trevor off. "She'll be going through enough," the woman's voice was sympathetic. Eden glared through her tears. She was the reason Eden would be back with him and she wanted to act apologetic?

"I am sorry," the woman said again. "I don't like Death Eaters, for the record. And I did fight with your kind when they asked me. But I can't live like this. The Wizarding World is our only hope — and you're the only chance we have to get in."

Eden sobbed quietly against the wall, bile rising in her throat, but she refused to let it move up. She was still taped over her mouth and her head throbbed. Her heart ached and her chest hurt. Would she ever see Damon again? She hoped Elena would take care of him.

She hoped Harry would be okay. And Ginny. And Draco and Hermione and George and Ron. And Teddy. She'd never get to see Teddy grow up or board the Hogwarts Express.

She wanted to plead for her life, make a case, but they ensured she wouldn't speak — a precaution, she was sure, to refrain her from wielding magic against them.

Why couldn't she just be happy?

—

Eden stared blankly at the floor. She could hear Trevor and the girl speaking in another room, but she couldn't find the energy to listen.

All she could think of was Dolohov. His hands on her skin. His laugh in her ear. His magic coursing through her veins, keeping her screaming and compliant and helpless. The cold wall against her reminded her of the cell she lived in and this time there would be no Draco to cuddle next to her after a beating.

Elena's movement gathered a bit of Eden's attention, and her niece rushed to Eden.

"Are you okay?" She asked quietly.

Eden didn't respond, staring numbly at Elena. Elena watched her in worry for a moment before glancing to the side.

"I'll be right back," she smiled gently at Eden before standing, leaving Eden alone in the room.

Eden didn't move. Didn't care to. What was the point in fighting? She was tied up — no magic, no wand, no limbs to move. If she somehow managed to get out, what about Elena? They'd use her against Eden. And by that time, who knows if Dolohov would already be there?

Eden protested silently when Elena tried to remove the ropes, knowing it would be worse for everyone if she did.

Elena sighed, leaning back on the floor next to her, head resting gently on her shoulder. The pair weren't exactly close, and had numerous issues to work through, but a familial love tied the two together. They were still family.

"It'll be okay," Elena whispered, sharing a piece of paper with Eden.

'Stefan and Damon are coming for you. -B'

Elena looked so relieved by the note that Eden was glad her mouth was forced shut. She didn't want to acknowledge the fact that Dolohov would kill everyone, the brothers included, if he arrived first.

Elena moved to the sofa when Trevor and the woman came back, and Eden leaned her head back against the wall, embracing her fate.

The woman placed a large bag on a chair near the sofa and Trevor rushed downstairs of the old mansion, looking at the woman with fear.

"He's here," he spoke quickly. "This was a mistake."

Eden whimpered, closing her eyes tightly.

"Not yours," the woman spoke, her voice a fraction gentler. "Elijah, the one here for the doppelganger." She looked back to Trevor. "I told you I would get us out of this. You have to trust me."

"No!" Trevor shouted, breathing quickening. "He wants me dead, Rose!"

"Oh, he wants her more," Rose argued.

Trevor scoffed. "I can't do this! You give her to him. He'll have mercy on you but I need to get out of here."

Rose walked to Trevor, grabbing his hands. "Hey," her voice softened. "What are we?" She asked him.

Trevor exhaled, nodding. "We're family." At Rose's nod, he sighed. "Forever."

Eden's thoughts drifted back to Harry and more tears gathered in her eyes. Rose and Trevor were a kidnapping-vampire-version of them. All she wanted was to see Harry.

Eden jumped at pounding on the door, trembling in her binds, trying to keep an eye on Elena. Elena looked back, fear written on her face and Eden shrugged helplessly, tears in her eyes. She wanted to tell her she was sorry. That she would get her out of here if she could. If she had her wand — if she could just use her magic, dammit — she could've gotten them both out of this.

But she failed.

And now Elena would be taken to her presumable death and Eden would be dragged back to hell.

"Stay here with her," Rose told Trevor. "And don't make a sound. Keep an eye on the witch. Dolohov said he'd be here in an hour, last we spoke."

The name made Eden flinch back, and Elena's eyes flashed with concern at the weak state her aunt was in. Trembling, tied up, crying, and helpless — it was everything Eden strived to be the opposite of.

Rose entered after a few tense moments, Elena pacing, clutching the note from Bonnie in her hand, eyeing Eden every few seconds. Behind her, was a man in a suit, with dark hair and eyes.

Eden's gaze flickered to him and every worry she had simply...disappeared.

She didn't think about Dolohov or the fact that her limbs were tied up. She wasn't concerned with her friends or family or the wand tucked neatly in Jenna's nightstand drawer.

He approached Elena, having not spotted Eden, circling the younger girl carefully. Eden's heart raced, her eyes flickering over every inch of him. She felt it, then. The tug. She didn't think it was an instinctual feeling — Harry could never directly put it into words and book only revealed so much, but Eden felt it now.

The longing for him. The safety that washed over her like a blanket. He hadn't even noticed her and she trusted him. What was his name? What had they called him?

He leaned to Elena's neck, and Eden felt a rush of possessiveness rush through her. Merlin, that was a weird feeling. This was all strange. Is this how Harry felt? How Remus felt? Was it amplified because of her dulled connection to werewolves?

"Human," the man breathed out. "It's impossible."

Eden softened in her binds, watching him with nothing short of adoration. His voice was intriguing. There was an English lilt, but something else there, something she couldn't place. She wanted to hear it again. It was warm and soothing and quieted the raging storm of thoughts in her mind effortlessly.

"Hello there," he looked down at Elena, a small smirk at his lips. He opened his mouth to say something else, when his eyes caught Eden and his demeanor softened.

Speeding to her, he kneeled in front of her and removed the tape from her mouth, hand gently tracing the line it had created on her cheeks.

"Hello, little witch," he spoke gently, a kinder tone than he had to Elena. "Are you injured?"

Eden shook her head, eyes filling with tears. "No, but I — they called him."

It wasn't as though the man knew who Dolohov was, but Eden didn't care. She knew, with every part of her, that he would help her. He would save her from Dolohov if she asked. She knew this.

"Who did they call?" He asked gently, slowly untying the binds around her ankles. "Who is coming for you?"

"Dolohov," she whispered, fear whirring in her again at the mention of his name.

He nodded in understanding, untying the binds around her wrist. "He cannot kill me," the man promised softly. "I will keep you safe." He reached a hand to her cheek and gently cupped it. "My name is Elijah."

"I'm Eden," she replied, equally as soft. "Are you my...?" She trailed off, not finishing the sentence.

A small smile found his lips and he nodded. "No harm will come to you, sweetheart," he told her gently. "I must handle this, but we will speak soon."

Eden nodded, eyes following him as he stood slowly, offering a hand to help her stand. She took it cautiously and he gently pulled her up, dropping her hand. "We have a long journey ahead of us," he spoke, looking to Elena. "We should be going."

"Just leave Eden out of this," Elena pleaded. "She's not — she doesn't understand what's going on. Please, she has PTSD, she might be—"

"—Elena, I swear to you, this man is infinitely kinder than the one after me."

Elijah's eyes flickered to her face for a moment, but he didn't say anything, looking back to Elena.

"Please," Elena pleaded with Rose, eyes watering. "Don't let him take us."

"One last piece of business," Elijah stepped forward. "Then we're done."

Eden rushed to Elena's side, pulling her into a tight hug, and the younger girl trembled in Eden's arms. "We're safe," Eden mumbled to her niece. "I promise, it'll be okay."

And she meant it. She knew that Elijah couldn't harm her without causing himself irrevocable pain — it was part of the soulmate connection — and she hoped he was kind enough to refrain from harming Elena for her own emotional well-being.

Either way, she meant her earlier words. Elijah was much safer than staying here and waiting around for Dolohov.

Elijah walked to Rose and Trevor, looking between them. "Who tied her up?" He asked patiently.

Rose and Trevor exchanged a glance.

"I will not ask again," Elijah spoke again. "My pardon is nulled if you've both harmed her, so it would be in your best interests to tell me."

"It-it was precaution," Trevor spoke fearfully. "To keep her from using magic."

"And the Death Eater?" Elijah asked carefully.

"He's promised us something," Rose spoke up. "If we'd known what she was to you — we wouldn't have, I swear, we would not have harmed her."

"I believe you," Elijah stated simply.

"I've waited so long for this day, Elijah," Trevor began quietly, glancing at Eden and then back to Elijah in fear. "I am sorry. Truly, very sorry."

"Well, no, your apology is not necessary," Elijah brushed him off, slowly pacing around Trevor like a predator to prey.

"Yes," Trevor argued. "Yes, it is. You trusted me with Katerina. And I failed you."

"Well, yes, you are the guilty one," Elijah nodded. "And Rose aided you because she was loyal to you. That, I honor." He stared at Rose for a moment before stopping in front of Trevor, looking into his eyes. "Where was your loyalty?"

"I beg your forgiveness," Trevor pleaded.

Elijah's head tilted a fraction. Eden felt a bubble of anger and somehow knew it didn't belong to her — and then he spoke again. "So granted."

Elijah lifted a hand and smacked Trevor, his head ripping clean off from his body, rolling to the ground, body falling next to it. Rose screamed and Elena gasped, stumbling back, but Eden's eyes only shifted to Elijah.

He glanced at her, eyebrow quirking a fraction and she half-shrugged. The dramatic pause was unnecessary, but she had a feeling that came with him as much as his suit.

"You!" Rose cried out and Elijah shook his head, wiping the blood from his hand.

"Don't, Rose," he ordered without looking up. "Now that you're free."

Rose sobbed in the corner and Eden's heart sank for the woman, before she remembered that Dolohov was on the way because of her, and a twinge of satisfaction ran through her. Elijah turned back to Elena and Eden, holding out a hand.

"Come," he ordered Elena, who took a shaky breath.

"No, what about the moonstone?" She asked, trying to buy time. Eden rolled her eyes; the last thing she wanted was to buy time.

"What do you know about the moonstone?" Elijah asked lowly.

"I know that you need it," Elena swallowed. "And-and I know where it is."

Elijah nodded. "Yes?"

"I can help you get it," Elena bargained.

"Tell me where it is," Elijah spoke, his voice laced with amusment.

"It doesn't work that way," Elena stood her ground.

For the first time since knowing Elena, Eden realized she'd make a good Gryffindor. She was very self-sacrificial and put her friends before herself, but lacked the unyielding loyalty that bled a Hufflepuff's veins.

Elijah inhaled in annoyance, looking at Elena with a small smirk. "Are you negotiating with me?" He asked her, eyes finding Rose, and then Eden's. Eden shrugged in response, and he refocused on Elena.

"It's the first I've heard of it," Rose managed.

"I know all about the moonstone," Eden spoke up. "But I would personally love to have this conversation in a car three hundred miles away from this house where a raging lunatic could appear at any given moment."

Elijah's eyes flickered to her face and they softened at the twitch in her hands. "He won't harm you," he reassured her, looking back to Elena. He stared into her eyes for a moment before his lip curled a fraction. "What is this vervain doing around your neck?" He yanked the chain, tossing it to the floor. He grabbed her head roughly and Eden stiffened, moving closer.

He gave her a warning glance and she glared at him. "Tell me where the moonstone is," he compelled Elena.

"In the tomb underneath the church ruins," Elena replied monotonously.

"What is it doing there?"

"Having a party with Katherine," Eden supplied, fiddling with her shirt. "We can all go and visit it if we leave this house."

A sound of glass breaking echoed throughout the house and Eden gasped fearfully, holding her arms over herself.

"What is that?" Elijah asked.

"I don't know," Rose answered. "Dolohov would've apparated in, right?"

Eden couldn't breathe, but she felt Elijah grasp her arm, centering her, and she looked up at him.

"Come with me," he offered kindly. "I'll get you to safety."

Eden nodded, and he grabbed Elena's arm much more roughly, tugging her upstairs. Eden's hand moved town to Elijah's, and she grasped it, feeling an overwhelming urge to touch him, to keep him close.

He squeezed her hand once as they walked through the decrepit house. When they made it to the main room, he stopped them and Eden squeezed her eyes shut, grip tightening on Elijah's hand. She didn't want Dolohov to come for her. He was here. He was going to take her away.

Elijah shoved Elena to Rose, and gently let go of Eden's hand.

"No, please," Eden begged him with tearful eyes.

He quieted her with a soft hand on the side of her head, gently guiding her to Rose. He gave her a hard look and Rose nodded, understanding the meaning.

A loud bang erupted from upstairs and Eden jumped again.

"Rose?" Elijah nearly growled.

"I don't know who it is." Rose objected. "It might be Dolohov, there's a good chance he's turned against us, but I don't know."

Someone sped downstairs and through the hall and relief flooded Eden's chest. Dolohov wasn't a vampire. It was someone else.

Realization hit her as she recalled Bonnie's note. It was probably Stefan and Damon. Worry flooded her, glancing to Elijah. Oh, no.

Please don't let him be taken from her, too. She'd only just met him. They hadn't even talked about this whole thing yet.

"Up here," Stefan's voice echoed.

"Down here," Damon's did the same.

Something shot out at Elijah, and he looked down, finding a small stake in his hand. Anger filled his eyes, and Eden nearly toppled over at the feeling inside her chest. She'd been furious before — but never like this. Never so deeply, horrendously, irrefutably angry. This wasn't her rage.

Someone grabbed Elena when Elijah was preoccupied with the stake and Eden grasped when someone pushed her against a wall.

Damon's face was close to her own, worry flooding his gaze. She opened her mouth to speak but he shook his head. Pleading, she mouthed 'soulmate' and hoped he got the message. His eyebrows furrowed together before realization flooded his eyes and he mouthed a curse word, motioning for her to stay still. He sped off quickly and she slipped to her legs, the overwhelming feeling of uselessness hitting her again.

"Excuse me!" She heard Elijah's voice call out. "To whom it may concern, you're making a grave mistake if you think you can beat me. You can't. You hear that? I repeat, you cannot beat me. So I want the girl and Eden, on the count of three, or heads will roll. Do we understand each other?"

"I'll come with you," Elena's voice carried through the house. "Just please don't hurt my friends. They just wanted to help me out."

A moment passed and then Eden grimaced in pain, feeling something on her face. She reached up, but nothing was there. Elijah was hurt. Scrambling up, she stood to help him — ensure he was okay, and then stopped.

Torn, her mind thinking a fraction clearer, she couldn't decide what to do. Eijah was her soulmate, yes, but he was the villain, too. He was trying to ensure Elena's death and would kill Stefan and Damon to do it. Tears filled her eyes and she allowed herself a moment of self-pity, letting go of any fleeting hopes of getting to know Elijah.

They would never be happy. She couldn't be happy with him; he was actively trying to kill her family.

Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Eden calmed herself and walked into the hallway, prepared to help Damon and Stefan if needed.

Falling to the ground, she gasped as bolts of pains hit her stomach and chest, as though something was splintering in her. She stood shakily, the pain lessening and clung to the wall as she walked, disoriented from the pain.

There was a loud thud and Eden stumbled, walking into the main room, finding Stefan and Elijah tumbling downstairs.

"Stop," Eden pleaded weakly.

Elijah stood over Stefan, moving to grab a stake for him, but Damon sped over and stabbed him through the stomach with the railing of the staircase.

"NO!" Eden shouted, horrified, as her breath caught in her throat. Something punctured her stomach and she pulled her shirt up, looking down, but found nothing. It was all phantom pain — all his pain.

Sobs racked Eden's body and she stumbled across the room as Damon stabbed Elijah into the wall. He turned around as dark veins climbed Elijah's face and caught her.

"No, Damon," she cried against him. She wanted to hate Damon, to blame him — but he was only protecting Elena. He was protecting her niece. It wasn't his fault that Elijah was the person Eden was destined for. "Please, no."

"It's okay," Damon held her tightly, hand on the back of her head as she sobbed against his chest. "It's alright, paradise, we'll get through this."

Elena rushed downstairs, pulling Stefan into a tight hug and Damon tightened his grip on Eden, hiding his face.

"Let's get you home," Damon whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Last thing we need is for the other maniac to show up, come on."

Eden took a final glance at Elijah as she passed, the sting in her chest still present. After believing she didn't have a soulmate; that she wasn't lucky enough to find someone who would love her as unconditionally and irrevocably as a soulmate — it was only fair, really.

It was just her luck he was an Original Vampire that kidnapped her niece, tried to kill her friends, and died. All within the same hour as meeting her.

Oh, well.

She curled further into Damon, who picked her up effortlessly and carried her the rest of the way.

A piece of her wished she'd died with him.

—

AHHHHHHHH WE MET ELIJAHAHHHHHHHH
Obviously y'all know my man ain't dead but here's some fun little pieces of the soulmate bond, which, as you know our boys get into more accidents than literally anyone, this'll be a super painful trip for Eden
I wiiiiiiill say hers and Elijah's relationship is very healthy and wonderful and soft and you'll love them
It's the other one you should worry about lollll. just wait for nik y'all it's a full enemies to lovers, this is just some mild angst and confusion before she accepts how perfect elijah is<3333
okay lmk if you all enjoyed!!!!