❛ ACT I ❜
-ˋˏ chapter fourteen ˎˊ-

SHE SHOT UP WITH a startled gasp, eyes filled with fear. The girl took in quick and sharp breaths as her back leaned against the headboard in the pitch-black bedroom. Her eyes were glossed over with the memory of the nightmare that disturbed her slumber. It was the night of the crash except Sofia was not in the car, she was on Wickery Bridge watching her family drown and plead for help. She couldn't move and just stood there in horror.

Squeezing her eyes shut, the vampire inhaled and exhaled to try and calm herself down. Why was she still having nightmares? They should have stopped. It's been a while since the night she woke up in Jenna's arms muttering how it's all her fault.

Shaking her head, Sofia remembered that she was in the Salvatore house and that she had to call Jenna. She swung her legs over the bed and stood up, grabbing her phone from her bedside table and walking to the bathroom. She winced at the bright screen, but her eyes adjusted to see that it was eight in the morning. She also had five missed calls from Leo at four in the morning which was weird. She'll call him after calling Jenna.

Stopping just outside her bathroom, Sofia dialed her aunt's number and waited for her to pick up, biting her lip anxiously. Jenna has not spoken to her since she left. Except for last night but even that was short. It's been almost three days now and Sofia hoped Jenna cooled down and would consider coming home.

She picked up. "Hey Annie"

The girl let out a quiet sigh of relief from hearing the nickname, a sign that Jenna wasn't mad anymore or at least less mad. "Hey aunt J, how are you?" She asked slowly.

Jenna smiled, having missed her favorite niece's voice. "I'm okay, I actually have some good news. I'm coming home!" She revealed.

Sofia's face lit up. "Really?"

"Yes."

Sofia squealed happily and Jenna laughed from the other side. "That's great! I've missed you so much, we all have."

"Aw Sof, I've missed you too. I realized the person I really should be mad at is Ric, I'm sorry for taking the blame on you guys. I'm going to meet him at The Grill after I unpack, so I'm hoping you'll be home by then."

Sofia's smile dropped, remembering last night's events. Oh no.

"Jenna you need to stay away from Ric." She said in a deadly serious tone, fingers gripping her phone tighter.

"It's okay Sof, I need to get the talk over with-"

"No, Jenna I'm serious. Don't meet up with Alaric, please."

Jenna's eyebrows furrowed, noting how worried Sofia was. "Sofia, what is going on? Why can't I meet up with Ric?"

Sofia pursed her lips, internally cussing Klaus out. She needs to tell Jenna the truth, she planned to anyway but now Jenna's safety was on the line. Sofia was not stupid enough to believe Klaus would not harm her aunt.

She sighed heavily. "Okay Jenna, I'll meet you at home and-and I'll tell you everything. Just please stay away from Ric, okay?"

"Okay, Sof. But you're scaring me." Jenna said nervously.

"It will be okay, I'll see you at home, yeah? I love you."

"Okay, I love you too Sofie."

Sofia hung up and almost crushed her phone with how nervous she was. Before she could do anything else, her phone rang, and her sister's name appeared. Sofia quickly answered and entered the bathroom, wanting to get ready and go to meet Jenna as quickly as possible. "Hey Elena, can you talk quickly please? I need to go home to meet Jenna. She's back by the way."

Elena's eyes widen. "She is?"

"Elena." Sofia said pointingly wanting her to get to the point but Sofia stopped in her place as realization dawned upon her. "Wait, where are you because you wouldn't be calling me from inside the house."

Elena stayed slient.

Sofia frowned and put a hand on her hip. "Elena Marie Gilbert, where are you?" She asked sternly.

Sofia could hear her sister gulp loudly before answering. "The Lockwood mansion and I need you to come here urgently.

"Why?"

"I'd rather tell you in person."

"Seriously Elena?"

"Yes, you need to come right now."

Sofia huffed. "Is it important?"

"Yes, I swear. Just come Annie, please."

Sofia groaned loudly, wanting her sister to know she's not pleased. "Fine, I'll tell Jenna to wait."

She heard Elena sigh in relief "Thanks."

Sofia narrowed her eyes and shifted her weight to her other leg. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, just hurry please. And don't tell Stefan or Damon where you're going."

Then her sister hung up. Sofia sighed for the tenth time that morning. Why was Elena being so vague?

She looked up at her reflection and gasped, almost dropping her phone on the tile floor in shock, brown eyes wide. The pajama top she wore was a tank top so her shoulders and below her neck was open, showing her milky clear skin, any traces of the wound gone. Still in shock, she lifted her hand to her heart and pressed the area, not feeling any pain. It was healed, gone.

Her mind reeled over the possibilities. Did Bonnie find a spell and do it last night? No, she was weak after the fight. She wouldn't have the strength.

That left one possibility.

In a flash, Sofia was in the basement and she hastily opened the cell door. A part of her already knew that he wasn't in there so when she stepped into the cold room to see the body missing, Sofia just huffed.

"Elena." She muttered, running a hand down her face in annoyance.

What on earth was running through her younger sister's head when she thought it was a good idea to un-dagger Elijah? Klaus was their main problem and the last thing they needed was someone helping him.

Her mind was too busy to really acknowledge the fact that Elijah was un-daggered as she went back upstairs to change but ran into Stefan on the staircase. "Hey, Stef." She tried to play it cool.

"Hey Sofia, have you seen Elena anywhere?" He asked, crossing his arms.

"Nope." She lied easily before she remembered something. "Can you do me a favor? Jenna is back and waiting for me at home, but I need to be somewhere. She was supposed to meet up with Ric but we both know why she can't, so can you please just keep her distracted till I'm back? I can't risk her going to find Alaric." She pleaded, knowing it was a lot to ask, but it needed to be done.

"Yeah, of course." Stefan smiled kindly.

Sofia smiled before dashing up the remaining stairs. "Thank you!"

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Sofia felt her worry grow as she got voicemail for the sixth time. She decided to stop calling because Leo would have picked up by now. Why was he not picking up? Her fingers tapped against the steering wheel, trying to not jump to conclusions. She can't even do anything about it because he's all the way in New Orleans.

Great! Another thing to add to the list of things Sofia worries over with Elijah Mikaelson being conscious at number one.

She hated how on edge she was to see him. She should not care if he's at the Lockwood mansion or not. She should not care about him at all.

The tall gates protecting the Lockwood mansion were already open and Sofia hesitantly drove into the long driveway, recognizing her sister's car parked in front of the entrance. The last time the vampire was here she was kidnapped and taken to an abandoned house where she met Elijah. Ironic, she thought as she shut the car door. She listened in but no sound other than her sister's breathing and heartbeat came from inside the walls.

Sofia just wanted to rip the band aid off so, without knocking, she opened the door and walked into the marble floored foyer.

Elena appeared from the living room and smiled unsurely at her. "Hey, Annie." She said innocently as if it would save her from her older sister's anger - or she thinks Sofia's angry, she can't tell.

Sofia just narrowed her eyes in that 'older sister way', as Elena and Jeremy call it, and walked closer to her sister with crossed arms. "Did you really think I wouldn't notice the absence of a dead body in the basement?"

Elena winced. "Let me explain."

But then someone entered thr room.

Sofia visibly stiffened when his scent reached her nose, every nerve in her body jumping in exhilaration. Her eyes, like magnets, went to the suited figure behind her sister, staring at her with a tender gaze.

Sofia bravely held his eyes before she couldn't anymore, uncrossing her arms and looking away.

Despite her cold behavior, Elijah Mikaelson felt the missing feeling he's been without since being un-daggered blossom in his chest just at the sight of the girl he cared for, unharmed.

Only those who have experienced it, the originals, know that even though you're temporally dead with a dagger in your heart, you are awake in this dark void. Alone with your thoughts. Elijah's in particular were constantly about Sofia Gilbert. Regretting ever harboring thoughts of mistrust towards her, wanting to go back in time so she never looked at him with such anger and betrayal.

He wondered if she hated him or if she was safe- if his brother hurt her and he wasn't there to protect her. Elijah never knew he could worry so much over someone that was not his family. But Sofia Gilbert wasn't just someone, she was his everything after knowing her for a mere two weeks. He cared for her more than she knew.

The ancient vampire decided to not overwhelm her, so he stopped in his place by the living room frame, leaning against the fine wood. "Hello."

"Elijah." She acknowledged, nodding at him.

Elena's eyes flickered between the two vampires curiously, sensing the tension. How the original gazed at her sister with more gentleness than the doppelgänger thought he had. There was definitely something between them that she's clueless about, she thought.

Elena cleared her throat loudly and Sofia immediately straightened up and broke eye contact, looking at her sister with a raised eyebrow, waiting for her to explain.

Feeling Elijah's intense stare on the side of her face, Sofia kept her gaze on Elena. "Well?"

Elena took a sharp intake of breath. "Elijah is the only person who knows Klaus the best, the way he thinks and what's he going to do next. He's our best chance at defeating Klaus so I un-daggered him. We made a new deal; he helps me stay alive, and we help him kill Klaus." Her eyes flickered to Elijah before looking back at Sofia."He wouldn't tell me anything until he knew you were okay, that's why I called you..."

Sofia's eyes met Elijah's once again with a softer look than before, almost asking him if it was true. Elijah just smiled softly back.

Feeling her guard slip a little, ( which she knew would happen eventually ) Sofia ran a hand through her hair before looking at Elena. "Well, I'm here now so let's get down to business." She walked in the direction of the living room, briefly locking eyes with Elijah as she passed.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"So, I assume that the Martin witches are no longer with us?" Elijah asked as he sat on the couch opposite the one the sister's occupied in the living room of the Lockwood mansion. A tea set sat on the large coffee table between them, only one cup filled with the warm substance.

Sofia sat with one leg over the other with her chin in her hand, eyes staying locked with the man's whenever he glanced at her ( which was a lot ), refusing to let her eyes wonder over his body in worry.

She knew Elijah wanted to talk to her alone, his eyes that usually had a shield to hide his emotions crumbled every time they met her stern ones. But Sofia wasn't too sure she wanted to be alone with him, wondering if it would be awkward.

Elena, who shifted uncomfortably at the tension between her sister and the original, nodded with a frown. "No, I'm sorry."

"And Katerina? She would have been released from my compulsion when I died." Elijah tilted his head.

"Klaus took her, she may be dead." Sofia finally spoke, her voice soft as she twiddled with her daylight ring.

Elijah observed the movement before speaking. "I doubt it, Klaus wouldn't let her have an easy death after what she did."

Elena sat up straighter. "I don't understand. You say you want Klaus dead but you still made Katherine pay for betraying him." She voiced her confusion

Elijah adjusted his cuffs around his wrists, voice void of emotion. "I have my own reasons for wanting Katerina to pay. There was a time I'd have done anything for Klaus."

The Gilberts stayed silent, noticing the pause Elijah deliberately made.

"Klaus is my brother. "

Sofia choked on her own saliva, making a shocked noise escape her mouth as Elena stared at Elijah in surprise.

"You're brothers?" Sofia asked, her voice finding itself again.

"Yes." Elijah sighed, shameful.

"Klaus?" Elena repeated, still taken back.

"Yes, Klaus is my brother."

"I'm just processing." Elena mumbled, sitting back into the couch with a thoughtful look.

Sofia stared at Elijah, not expecting such a twist in the story. They were family yet Elijah wants his brother dead? Sofia couldn't even digest the thought of wanting her own siblings dead.

"Yes, I'm a little behind on the times but I believe the term you're searching for is 'OMG' " Elijah said, taking a sip from from his tea.

"Is there more of you?" Elena asked after a moment.

"Yes, my family. The Originals."

Déjà vu occurred to Sofia, remembering when she and Elena were kidnapped and Rose and Trevor vaguely informed them of the vampire family.

"My father was a wealthy land owner in a village in Eastern Europe. Our mother bore seven children."

"So your parents were human?"

Elijah looked at Elena. "Our whole family was. Our origin as vampires
is a very long story. Just know, we're the oldest vampires in the world. We are the Original family and from us, all vampires were created."

"Right but, Klaus is your brother. And you want him dead?" Elena asked, also not being able to process wanting her own family dead.

Elijah, although hearing the question from Elena, kept his eyes on Sofia who looked to be in deep thought as she looked down at her hands, fingers twirling her daylight ring around slowly.

Elijah cleared his throat and stood up, successfully catching Sofia' attention. "I need some air. I'm still feeling a tad dead."

To both the sisters's surprise, the original offered Sofia his hand once he was next to the couch she sat on, eyes set on her, trying to get her to make some sort of contact with him.

Anything

Sofia swallowed thickly before standing up herself and brushing past Elijah, the man watching her walk out the house quickly. Elena observed how defeated this made him.

"Come." He told her before unbuttoning his suit jacket and stuffing his hands in his pants pockets, following after Sofia.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The two vampires and human walked across the enormous lawn of the estate as Elijah explained his family more. Sofia listened with her arms crossed over her chest and Elena remaining close to her.

"As you seen, nothing can kill an Original. Not the sun, not fire, not even a werewolf bite. Only the wood from a rare tree, one my family made sure burned." Elijah told the sisters.

Elena nodded."That's where the white ash for the dagger comes from."

"Yes. The witches won't allow anything truly immortal to walk the earth. Every creature needs to have a weakness in order to maintain the balance."

"So the sun can't kill an Original. Why is Klaus so obsessed with breaking the curse then?" Elena questioned.

Elijah smiled to himself in amusement. "Right, the curse of the sun and the moon. It's all so... biblical sounding, don't you think?"

"What's so funny?" Sofia asked, eyeing the expression on his face.

"There was no sharman, just my brother and his artistic mind put on paper." Elijah hummed, hands behind his back.

Sofia's eyebrows furrowed in thought. "So Klaus drew the Aztec sketches." She concluded slowly.

"Why?" Elena asked the man.

"Easiest way to discover the doppelganger or to get your hands on some long lost moonstone is to have every single member of two warring species on the lookout." He said proudly.

The more Sofia thought about it, the smarter the idea became. The brothers created the sketches to have thousands of creatures searching for the doppelgänger and moonstone without being too involved. But since Klaus drew the sketches himself and not a sharman..

"Wait a second." Sofia stopped moving with a shocked expression, catching the others attention. Her eyes flickered to Elijah's. "The curse isn't real, is it?" She tilted her head.

Elijah smirked at her. "Smart girl."

Sofia felt butterflies in her stomach and immediately averted her eyes to the lake ahead.

"What?!" Elena exclaimed, confused.

Elijah walked over a small bridge and the girls followed. "Klaus and I faked the sun and the moon curse dating back over a thousand years."

"But if there's no curse.." Elena mumbled.

"There is a curse." Elijah sighed and the three stopped by the pond. "Just not that one. The real one is much worse and it's placed on Klaus. He has been trying to break it for the last thousand years." His eyes locked on the doppelgänger. "You are his only hope."

Sofia frowned at the last sentence before a humming caught her attention from Elijah's blazer.

Elijah took Elena's phone, which Sofia didn't know he had, out of his inside pocket and offered it to Elena. "Your phone will not stop it's incessant buzzing. Answer it please."

Elena took it and pressed the device to her ear, turning her back to the vampires. "Hello?"

Sofia didn't get the chance to eavesdrop because she felt a gentle grip on her elbow and a warm presence at her side. She turned her head and her eyes met Elijah's. Her breath hitched at how close his body was to hers. They were so close that if Elijah leaned down a bit, his lips would brush her nose.

Sofia cleared her throat, successfully breaking out of the trance, and gently moved out of his hold and took a step away to create some distance.

"Yes?" She asked, feeling the hurt he felt from her action.

Elijah held back a sigh and instead stood up straighter, taking advantage of the doppelgänger's distraction. "We need to talk, Sofia."

She played dumb and shrugged with crossed arms. "We are, Elijah."

"You know that's not -"

"What? No! No, no, no. Okay I'll be right there." Elena's panicked voice interrupted Elijah before she hung up and Sofia was immediately by her side.

"What's wrong? What happened?" She asked her worried sister, placing her hands on Elena's arms to calm her down.

"It's Jenna." Elena swallowed thickly and Sofia froze. "Klaus went after her and she saw Stefan as a vampire."

"What?!" Sofia exclaimed in shock before grabbing her sister's hand whilst the other searched for her phone in her bag to call Jeremy. "We need to go, now."

"I'm afraid that wasn't part of today's arrangement." Elijah appeared in front of them in a blink of an eye, preventing them from leaving.

"Move." Sofia glared dangerously at the original, her temper flaring.

Elijah stayed in his place with a much calmer stare at her direction, although he would be lying if he said he wasn't slightly intimidated by his soulmate at that moment.

"She's our family Elijah." Elena said but Elijah kept his stare on her sister, not budging.

Sofia challenged Elijah with her eyes for another moment before huffing in annoyance.

She squeezed her sister's hand and let it go. Elijah was making it clear that one of them had to stay here to ensure the other's return and they both knew who he implied. Despite wanting to be with Jenna herself, it's better her aunt has at least one niece than none to comfort her.

"Go Elena, I'll stay here." Sofia told the girl, watching how Elena was about to protest. "One of us needs to stay here to ensure the other comes back."

Elena frowned. "Are you sure?"

Sofia nodded. "Yes, just call Jeremy and tell him and don't tell Jenna about me. I'll do it myself." She sighed.

Elena nodded and offered her sister a sad smile before looking at Elijah. "I'll be back, I give you my word."

"That doesn't mean anything to me until you live up to it." Elijah responded, receiving a glare from Sofia.

"Thank you." Elena said before running back to the house where her car was.

Sofia watched her go with a frown, wishing she could have gone too. But now she had to face Elijah and she was worried it would be worse to endure.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

AUTHOR'S NOTE

DANCING IN THE DARK HIT 100K READS! YAY!!

This update is a little thank u for the support, reads and votes. You guys are awesome and I appreciate every single one of you.

Reaching 100k reads was literally a goal of mine AH!

Unfortunately, there won't be chapters for awhile, I just updated as thank u. I'm still prewriting. This year so far has been the hardest year for me and I'm adjusting so please bear with me.

Thank you guys for the support and for reading!! Pleas vote and opinions are always welcomed!