[CRYING WOLF]

be there, where there is care.

IT TRULY AMAZED JULIETTE that in the nine months she'd been in Mystic Falls dealing with all kinds of evil vampires and threats, she had never once been injured. But today was the day, that changed.

When Juliette passed out, she found herself in a dream. Unfortunately, she was alone, with not much to do without Elijah there. She didn't know what year it was, as they had changed places since the last time.

Instead of the bustling streets of 1784, she was in a wooded area, surrounded by trees towering over her a soft breeze that nipped at her skin.  With no clues about the period, she had to remain in the unknown until she woke up.

Juliette was sitting on a rock that was in front of a little stream, watching the crystal clear water flow down the banks. She tried to recall anything about her attacker, she hadn't seen them but she tried to remember who had they—mostly Damon—pissed off recently.

There was Elijah, but that was completely Damon's doing. Surprisingly, she couldn't think of anyone else—usually, they pissed off much more people by-

The wolves.

Stefan had mentioned Elijah's witch had told them to leave town or else. But they hadn't heard anything about them actually leaving. The blonde one, Jules, was extremely pissed off at Damon, for one, killing Mason Lockwood, and two, provoking her at the mystic grill a few weeks ago.

Apparently, she had gotten their whole pack to come to Mystic Falls, after convincing Tyler Lockwood to go on their side, but Stefan and Damon had killed most of them. Would they really leave town without getting revenge on the guy who killed one of their friends? Probably not.

Juliette and Alaric were just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

But did they really have to stake the human? The human that doesn't have a magic ring?

They better not—

Juliette cut herself off as she heard a voice. She stood up quickly as her eyes darted everywhere, trying to figure out where it came from.

Then she heard it again, it was coming from behind her. She thought she was alone.

Slowly, Juliette walked towards the direction of the voices, stepping carefully through the woods, each step deliberate and quiet, avoiding twigs and leaves that might snap beneath her feet. Her breathing became shallow and controlled, barely audible to herself.

The rustling of leaves in the breeze seems unnaturally loud in the otherwise still air. The silence was oppressive, almost tangible, pressing in on her from all sides.

As she got closer, the voices got louder, but she could barely make what they were saying. Juliette took a few more steps closer and saw two women standing around a fire, one with short blonde hair and the other with long black hair, she was facing away from Juliette so she couldn't see her face.

What were they doing?

"Your family can't fathom the great potential you hold." The blonde one began to speak, placing her hand on the other woman's shoulder. "Your powers are unlike any I have seen before. You already surpass the most powerful of witches, Seraphina."

Seraphina?

Juliette's heart raced as she crouched behind a tree, trying to keep herself hidden. The conversation seemed deeply personal and Juliette was trying to understand what was going on.

"I don't know if I'm ready," the dark-haired woman replied. "What if they find out? That I'm helping you?"

"They won't," the blonde woman assured her. "Not if we act swiftly. You must trust me, Seraphina. If you help me with this spell, I shall help you escape your family."

Juliette shifted closer to get a better view, her movements still cautious. She strained to hear more, her curiosity piqued and her sense of danger heightened.

There was a moment of silence shared between the two women before the dark-haired woman spoke, who was named Seraphina. "Okay, I shall help you. What do you need?"

Help her with what?

The blonde gave her a small smile as she nodded her head. "I will be drawing on powerful dark magic to do this spell, I'm going against the natural order of the earth, my magic is not powerful enough, that is where I shall need you to help me."

Dark magic?

It was for a spell, but what one?

"The spell requires the heart from a white oak tree, the use of the sun and the moon and finally..." she paused for a moment as she picked up a piece of wood and added it to the dying fire.

"The blood of a Petrova doppelgänger."

Juliette gasped, her heart pounding her chest as she stared at the woman. Why would they need a Petrova doppelgänger? For what spell?

"Are you sure this will work?" Seraphina asked.

"Yes, it has to." The blonde replied, "I cannot lose another child to the wolves."

Juliette's mind raced. The mention of the wolves adds another layer of confusion to the situation. She knew it wasn't Elena who was needed for this spell, because Juliette knew that she wasn't in the modern era.

So would it be Katherine? Since she's the only other Petrova doppelgänger?

"What am I needed for?" Seraphina asked.

"You're the most powerful being on earth right now. I need you to help me do this spell. I will bind both of our magic together whilst we do it." The blonde responded.

"Then you will help me escape my family?"

"Yes, of course I will."

Juliette carefully began to back away from the scene, she could feel herself waking up. She kept her eyes on the two other women, her ears straining to hear the rest of the conversation.

"Soon," The blonde woman said, her voice carrying through the trees. "we will have the power to protect our own."

✧✧✧✧

    JULIETTE EYES SNAPPED OPEN, a jolt of pain coursing through her body. Through her blurred vision, she glanced down and saw the shake still embedded in her stomach.

She tried to move her arms to try and get it out, but they wouldn't budge. That was when she noticed her predicament. Her hands were tied above her with rope, she was hanging from the ceiling beam, her feet barely hitting the floor.

Every slight movement sent a wave of pain through her injury.

Juliette looked up when she noticed she was in the Salvatore living room. Damon was sitting in a chair, with chains tying him to it. He also had a wooden spiked metal collar around his neck, blood pouring down it.

"You know what the great thing about buckshot is? It scatters through the body. Maximum damage." A blonde woman spoke from in front of Damon, she leaned up against a shotgun, and Juliette assumed that she was Jules.

A man came into Juliette's view. She kept a watchful eye on him as he edged closer. Just as she was about to speak, he seized the stake and began to twist. Pain surged through her, forcing a groan from her as she bit down hard on her tongue, trying to stop herself from screaming.

The blonde swung her leg and kicked the guy in the stomach, "Knock it off!" She demanded, tears brimming her eyes as pain filled her whole body.

Everyone turned to the blonde, "Shut her up, Oscar!" Jules shouted as she pointed the shotgun at Juliette.

Juliette held her tongue, considering the position she was in, she didn't want to die like this. But she did really want to punch Jules right in the face, she just had an annoying face.

The wolves turn back to Damon as Jules now points the gun at the vampire. "Where's the moonstone?" She demanded, her voice firm and unyielding. Juliette rolled her eyes at the fact she was pointing a gun at a vampire, she's a werewolf, with a lethal bite. Why didn't she use that?

"You looking for this?" A familiar voice broke through the tension, everyone in the room turned to look at Elijah, leaning up against the bannister, twirling the moonstone in his hand.

Finally!!

Everyone watched as he walked down the stairs, placing the moonstone on an end table before walking away from it. "Go ahead. Take it." He gestured, his eyes scanning over every single person in the room, he lingered on Juliette before turning away.

One of the werewolves used his speed to rush and grab the rock that everyone wanted, but Elijah was quicker. He plunged his hand into the wolf's heart, ripping his heart out as he took his hand out, allowing the body to drop on the couch. Two other wolves rushed at the vampire, and again, with minimal effort, pulled their heart out of their chests.

Once everyone, who was willing to challenge the Original Vampire, was dead. Elijah walked over to the one remaining wolf, who crouched down on the floor and pulled his jacket over his face in fear, almost as if Elijah couldn't see him.

Elijah grabbed a fistful of his jacket and pulled him up from the floor. "What about you, sweetheart, hmm? You want to take a shot?" He challenged, his voice unyielding. When the wolf didn't answer him, he spoke again. "Yes? No? Yes?" He looked over his shoulder, "Where's the girl?"

That was when they noticed Jules had fled, leaving her friends to fend for themselves. Juliette scoffed, she must be a really good friend if she left her friends alone.

"I don't know," Damon answered, looking around the living room.

"It doesn't really matter," Elijah smirked, glancing back at the man who was holding before punching him across the face, his neck breaking from the force.

Juliette watched as the vampire walked over to Damon and pulled his chains off of him, untying him to the chair. "So you realise this is the third time I've saved your life now?" Elijah remarked as he stared down at Damon.

Damon doesn't respond but continues to stare at Elijah. Juliette sighed as she hissed from the pain, "Okay, I get you're having a moment but I'm going to bleed to death hanging up here if one of you don't remove this stake now." She groaned as she tried to untie the rope tying her hands together.

Suddenly, Elijah appeared in front of her, his eyes glued to the stake protruding through her abdomen. He then looked up at the ropes before glancing at Juliette, he cupped her cheek for a moment, his thumb caressing her cheek quickly before he reached up and untied the ropes from around her wrist, allowing her to fall in his arms.

"This might hurt for a moment, Juli." He mumbled as his hand wrapped around the stake, his other around her waist as she gripped onto his shirt. Juliette nodded quickly as she closed her eyes and bit down on her tongue, biting down hard when she could feel the stake get pulled out of her.

Juliette opened her eyes just as Elijah bit into his wrist, holding it out for her. But something felt off. It didn't feel like she just had a stake through her stomach. She looked down at her stomach to see that there was nothing there.

There was no wound.

Juliette gasped as she looked up at Elijah, however, he didn't look confused. He just stared at her as he helped her balance on her own, he just continued to stare at her as she stared back.

But then, she looked down at his shirt and tilted her head. On his shirt was a blood stain, in the exact place where she was stabbed. Juliette looked up at Elijah, about to ask him a million questions but he took a step away from her, giving her one last final glance before grabbing the moonstone off of the table and walking away.

Why did I heal?

Juliette stared in the direction he walked off to, all different types of questions flooding her mind. Why did she heal? Why did Elijah have a blood stain in the exact spot she got stabbed?

"Hey, did he heal you?" Damon's voice pulled her out of her stupor, he stood in front of her with a concerned look on his face as he stared down at her stomach.

"Uh, Yeah, Yeah. He did." Juliette replied, her mind all over the place. Damon sent her a smile and nodded before he turned around, grabbing one of the dead wolves' feet and pulling him out of the living room.

"Hey, do you need help?"

"No, I got this. Go home and rest. You just got staked." Damon called out.

"I'm fine, Elijah healed me," Juliette argued, glancing at the three dead bodies currently staining the carpet.

"Go home, Juju. Or else Elena will kill me."

"Elena won't know I got staked alright?" She pointed her finger at the vampire, a stern look on her face as she did so. "She won't let me out the house again if she finds out."

"Okay, It'll be our little secret," Damon replied. "Now go home," he said as he pushed her toward the doorway.

"Okay, okay. I'm going."

✧✧✧✧

    JULIETTE WALKED THROUGH THE dark forest, her eyes glued to the floor as she walked. The eerie silence or the fear of the unknown from the woods didn't scare her or freak her out. She loved walking through the forest at night, it helped her clear her mind.

And she needed to clear her mind after today.

The blonde was trying to find any logical explanation as to why she healed. Elijah didn't even have to give her his blood she just healed. But why? Why was all this happening to her?

Juliette didn't understand anything that was going on, she felt like she was going crazy.

Juliette was a person who needed answers to anything. Answers meant clarity, sometimes. She didn't like being in the dark about things, she despised it.

But with the supernatural world, answers weren't always given. This world was unpredictable, anything could happen. Anyone could get hurt, or killed. And unexplainable things could happen to another.

Like Juliette.

She has read hundreds of books, thousands of lines, and millions of words that told her nothing. Absolutely nothing.

The books didn't have information as to why she was hearing voices, and getting extreme headaches from having a shared dream with someone.

She most wanted to understand what was going on with her and how to treat her. Because Juliette cannot live like this, she simply can't. If she did, she would actually go insane.

Juliette needed answers to a lot of things. Like why she was needed for the sacrifice, why she has an infinity mark burned into her forearm and why she was having dreams with Elijah.

Someone must know.

"It is unsafe for a young woman to be walking in the forest alone at night, is it not, darling?" A voice Juliette knew all well made her come to a halt, she let out a groan as she turned around to look at Elijah.

The blonde rolled her eyes, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Thanks for the concern, Elijah. I had no idea the forest could be so dangerous." Juliette tried to forget the fact he also called her 'darling.'

Juliette also realised that she was going the wrong way, her eyes scanned the trees around her, trying to find the one that directed her to her house.

"You're lost aren't you?" Elijah smirked.

Juliette snapped her head to his, "No! You just threw me off." She placed her hands on her hips as she stared at each tree, hoping to find the one she needed. "And If you could stop with that insufferable voice of yours, maybe I can actually figure this out."

Elijah raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening as he placed his hands in his pocket, leaning back and forth on his heels as he watched Juliette's eye dart around the woods.

He watched as her emerald eyes, intense and focused, searched the trees, a confused look on her face as she did so. A smile graced his lips as she sighed and turned back to him.

A look of defeat on her face she mumbled, "I'm lost." her eyes glued to her shoes as she kicked a few leaves, avoiding the look on Elijah's face.

The vampire let out a chuckle which only made  Juliette scowl at him. "Your house is that way." He pointed west with his finger. Juliette followed where he was pointing and she realised that he was right.

There was the tree she marked with a J when she first started going to the Salvatore boarding house. She realised that going through the forest was quicker than walking through the entire town. The woods stopped right at the top of her neighbourhood.

Juliette brushed past Elijah as she headed the way he told her to but came to a stop again when she heard him following behind her. "What are you doing?" She asked, looking over her shoulder at the Original.

"Walking you home?" He replied, almost like it was obvious as he caught up the blood, smiling down at her while she glowered at him.

"No, you're not. I'm very capable of walking myself home, thanks." She replied, beginning to walk away again, her feet crushing leaves and twigs beneath her hard steps

"You just got lost not even thirty seconds ago?" Elijah chuckled, walking side by side with her, his hands deep in his blazer pockets, the moonstone brushing against his fingers.

"That is because you distracted me!" Juliette argued, her frustration growing more and more as she spoke to the vampire. "If you hadn't come, I would already be home by now."

They walked in silence for a moment, Juliette whispering exasperatedly under her breath. She may appear like she's annoyed and frustrated, but she doesn't mind the vampire's company, especially after the day she just had.

Elijah enjoyed walking with Juliette, even if she wished to be alone. He always cherished her presence, it was like an angel was with him whenever they were together. He did not deserve a person like Juliette Gilbert.

Eventually, the woods had come to an end and they were walking on pavements, nearing Juliette's house. She began to panic about Elena seeing her with Elijah but then remembered that she was at the lake house with Stefan for the weekend, safe.

"Okay, you can go now," Juliette mumbled, looking over at him. She couldn't help but let her eyes stay pinned on his face. He was built like a Greek God, his features were strong and striking. He was gorgeous, and Juliette couldn't deny that anymore.

He may be dangerous but he was undeniably captivating.

"What type of gentleman would I be if I didn't walk you to your front door?" Elijah asked, his voice soothing and warm. He glanced at Juliette with a teasing smile, his eyes softened as he noticed the smile on her face instead of the usual scowl he had grown accustomed to.

Juliette tilted her head and replied. "You know, I just think you want to spend more time with me."

Elijah chuckled, raising his hands as they climbed the steps that led to the Gilbert's front door. "You caught me." He let out a playful laugh as they both turned to face each other, inches apart.

Juliette smiled, "Well, I guess you're better company than Damon."

"Anyone is better company than that-"

"Hey, he's my friend." Juliette cut him off, pointing her finger at him.

"I don't understand why he is."

Juliette sighs as she thinks about her friendship with Damon Salvatore. He was a dick, an extreme dick, but once you get to know him, he truly can be the nicest person. He hides behind this facade.

"When he's not obsessing over Elena, he's actually a good friend," Juliette stated, smiling at Elijah as he playfully rolled his eyes.

Once again, they found themselves in silence, staring at each other, a thousand unspoken words passing between them. Each was waiting for the other to break the silence, but neither dared.

Both were searching for the right words, but none seemed adequate, none seemed good enough to express what they really felt.

Elijah watched as her eyes danced across his features as if she was examining him. For the first time in a thousand years, he found himself blushing. Her gaze had made him flustered, everything she did made him want to draw nearer, to close the distance between them and kiss her.

Juliette felt self-conscious under his scrutiny, she felt as though her legs were going to give out at any moment if he looked at her any longer. But she couldn't help but like the way he looked at her.

He always looks at her as if she was some angel that was brought down from heaven, ready to bless him with her presence.

She liked the attention he was giving her because, for the first time in her entire life, someone was giving it to her, not to Elena.

Juliette soon came to her senses, realising that she now was in his embrace. His hands had someone moved to wrap around her waist as hers were placed on his chest.

She coughed awkwardly as she immediately took a few steps back, finding the floor suddenly looking extremely interesting. "Uh, t-thank you for walking me home." Juliette flushed, her entire face on fire with embarrassment as she turned to move toward her door. "I'll see you later."

Juliette began to walk towards the front door, internally cursing herself for letting that happen again.

Elijah knew he had to do something; he couldn't watch her walk away again. "Juliette. Wait." He spoke as he reached out, grabbed her arm, and pulled her towards him, his other hand wrapping around her waist as he smashed his lips to hers.

Juliette was shocked, her eyes wide but her body slowly melted into his embrace, her arms somehow finding their way around his neck.

This kiss was passionate, tender and desperate, something they both had been longing for as they continued to kiss.

Juliette couldn't believe this was happening, she knew, deep down, that she shouldn't be doing this. That was so wrong but it felt so right.

Everything with him felt so right.

Juliette wasn't going to pull away, she didn't want to. But when she heard the door open she immediately pulled away and looked at the person staring at them.

It was Jenna.

She looked shocked as Juliette stared back at her, a blush covering her face. "Jenna! What- What are you doing up?" she chuckled as he looked over to Elijah, who had a massive smirk on his lips as he stared at the floor, probably trying his best not to burst out laughing.

Juliette wanted to punch him.

"Uh, I was going to go out to find you, but here you are," Jenna replied, a smirk on her face as she began to wiggle her eyebrows at Juliette. "With Elijah, what a surprise."

Okay Jenna, let's not carry this on. I'm embarrassed enough already.

"I saw Juliette walking alone so I decided to walk her home." Elijah finally said something, just before Juliette was going to shoot herself in the head.

"And doing other things apparently," Jenna mumbled under her breath, thinking no one could hear it but the both of them did. Elijah let out a small laugh but covered it with a cough. "That's so kind of you Elijah, isn't he just a gentleman, Juliette?"

Please kill me now.

"Yes, Yes, isn't he just." The blonde muttered, her fingers fidgeting with the bracelet Elijah got her. "Well, this has been fun, but it's getting late so.."

"Yes, I should go," Elijah replied as he watched Juliette walk over to Juliette, her embarrassment evident. "It's great seeing you again Jenna." He smiled at the aunt before looking to Juliette, "I hope to see you again, Juli." He finished before walking away.

Juliette immediately shoved passed her aunt, taking her coat off and hanging it on the rack before turning to face a giggling Jenna. "Oh my God, I knew it! I knew you guys would hit it off! How was it? Was it good? Did you like it!"

"Okay, Jesus Jen, calm down." Juliette chuckled, she couldn't help herself but talk about it to Jenna. She told her how she felt, how it happened (some parts missed out obviously) and how his lips felt—which she had asked her about a million times.

"Jenna, no one can know about this. Especially not Elena. Okay?" Juliette warned, that if Elena found out, she would never forgive her.

"Okay, I won't tell anyone. It'll be our little secret."

✧✧✧✧

THEY KISSED AGAIN??? WHOOP WHOOP!!!

I hope you guys liked this chapter because it took me ages to write as it is 4000+ words so technically I'm spoiling you.

I'm having a sleepover with my friends today so I have to clean the entire house and I'm not excited 😀

Anyway, I hope to see you in the next chapter!!

Byeeeee

28/07/24