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"Rose-Marie. Is there somewhere we can talk?" A silk tone spoke as a man well dressed in a formal suit stepped inside. He had a chiselled jaw and a cleft chin, parted hair that was styled to perfection as he looked around. "Yes, in here. You have to forgive the house," Rose replied as she lead the guest further into the home. "Oh no, what's a little dirt? I completely understand," The man mocked lightly before asking, "So tell me, what is it that gives you the courage to call me?" Rose took a steady breath, "I want my freedom. I'm tired of running. You in a position to grant me that?" The man smiled at those words, his eyes softened to show professional kindness.

"I have complete authority to grant pardon to you and your little pet. What is his name these days? Trevor. If I so see fit," The man answered her in his soft yet deep tone. "Katerina Petrova?" Rose questioned him quickly, she noticed the way he tensed at that mention. "I'm listening," Elijah proceeded to remain calm but he was intrigued by this. "She didn't burn in the church in 1864," Rose told Elijah who requested her to continue and so she did, "She survived." He raised a brow, "Where is she?" Rose furrowed her brows at his question, "You don't seem surprised by this."

"Oh, when you called and invited me into this armpit of civilisation, which is a mere three hours from the town we know as Mystic Falls, I surmised it had everything to do with Katerina," Elijah expressed to Rose before asking, "Do you have her in your posession?" He was eager to get his hands on Katerina but it would seem that was not in cards. "No. But I have better. I have her doppelgänger," Rose replied to him bringing a look of disbelief to Elijah's face. "That's impossible... her family line ended with her. I know that for a fact," Elijah told Rose. "The facts are wrong," Rose said before adding, "We also have a Starlight in own possession."

Elijah was even more intrigued, he was positively involved now, that was for certain. "Well, show them to me," He ordered Rose. "Elijah, you are a man of honor, you should be trusted but I want to hear you say it again," Rose stated firmly, she wanted to be sure. "You have my word that I will pardon you," Elijah reassured her with utmost honesty. "Follow me," Rose instructed before leading Elijah out of the foyer and towards the main room where Elena stood in front of the couch, holding Cordelia protectively behind her as the two watched Elijah walk in. Trevor stood off to the side, he watched fearfully as Elijah took in Elena's appearance before rushing over to her quickly; he proceeds to smell her neck.

"Boundaries..." Cordelia muttered witnessing the act, Elijah's eyes lifted to lock with her own and he noticed her weak state that were the effects of mistletoe poisoning; it confirmed that she was indeed a Starlight but was she the one he was searching for. "Human. It's impossible," Elijah muttered to himself while Cordelia pulled Elena back slightly to keep her close. "Hello there," Elijah greeted the two who both watched him and his actions closely. "We have a long journey ahead of us. We should be going," Elijah told the two of them. "Please, don't let him take us," Elena pleaded with Rose, she knew Cordelia was still weakened by the mistletoe and she had her promise not to harm herself by using magic.

"One last piece of business and we're done," Elijah spoke as Rose looked away from the two women. Elijah turned his head to Trevor who was cowering before the older vampire, it was clear that he believed he wouldn't be leaving the home alive. "I've waited so long for this day, Elijah. I'm truly, very sorry," Trevor told Elijah apologetically. "Oh no, your apology is not necessary," Elijah reassured the younger vampire who smiled sheepishly at that. "Yes, yes it is. You trusted me with Katerina and I failed you," Trevor continued, he was almost whimpering from fear. "Oh yes, you are the guilty one and Rose aided you because she was loyal to you and that now I honor. Where was your loyalty?" Elijah asked.

"I beg your forgiveness," Trevor pleaded as he lowered his gaze. "So granted," Elijah replied before he moved to remove Trevor's head only to come in contact with nothing, he furrowed his brows in confusion as Rose gasped watching the illusion of Trevor fade away. Cordelia's eyes were white as she stood tall in front of Elena despite the burning mistletoe within her system, she could feel her magic fighting back now and slowly building in strength again. "Where is he?" Elijah asked the blonde. "Long gone... granted him a little ring," Cordelia taunted as she touched the indent of a former ring on her thumb that she had spelled. "How dare you?" Elijah growled out.

"I knew his fate the moment you arrived and I understand his mistake but if I were to assume correctly... it was a mistake you once made yourself? Trusting Katherine Pierce," Cordelia taunted the Original vampire who turned to Rose. "Where would he have gone?" Elijah asked her. "Leave Rose," Cordelia ordered and Rose didn't hesitate to escape in that moment, she had spotted the ring resting on the table and took it; trusting that Cordelia spelled it for her. Elijah turned his glare to the blonde but she stood tall, challenging his glare without an ounce of fear but rather a look more deadly than his own. "Come," Elijah ordered but both girls knew they had to stall for the Salvatore's and Cordelia didn't have the strength to fight an Original vampire.

"No, what about the moonstone?" Elena suddenly asked and while Cordelia understood she was stalling, she could've chosen a different topic. "What do you know about the moonstone?" Elijah demanded the two of them. "I know that you need it and I know where it is," Elena replied, she kept his focus off Cordelia so she could focus on healing quicker. "Yes?" Elijah encouraged further. "I can help you get it," Elena answered him though she gave no direct answers in hopes of the Salvatore's showing up; she was hoping that Damon would come running in. Damon? Elena questioned herself in her mind before pushing it aside.

"Tell me where it is," Elijah's patience was already running thin. "It doesn't work that way," Cordelia spoke up with a smug expression on her face. "Are you negotiating with me?" Elijah asked the two before scoffing, he leans down to compel Elena but has no success so he turned his head down to her necklace. "What is this vervain doing around your neck?" Elijah questioned before he pulls her necklace off and tossed it aside, Cordelia glared at his actions. "Tell me where the moonstone is," Elijah compelled Elena while Cordelia focused on the dizziness she was feeling. "In the tomb, underneath the church ruins," Elena answered his compulsion.

"What is it doing under there?" Elijah compelled Elena. "It's with Katherine," Elena replied to his compulsion. "Fancy a reunion?" Cordelia questioned in a mocking tone. "Interesting," Elijah muttered when they heard a sound outside the room. "Rose?" Elijah called out but a sudden warmth flowed over Cordelia, she could feel the presence of the Salvatore boys. "Who else is in this house?" Elijah demanded of the two. "No one as far as we know," Cordelia told him. He grabbed Elena's left arm and Cordelia's right arm, pulling the two of them alongside him as two vampires sped by in a taunting manner to distract Elijah who loosened his hold on the two girls.

"Up here," Stefan's familiar voice came from the top of the stairs. Elijah sent a warning look to the two girls before he sped up the stairs as Cordelia stumbled slightly, Elena pulled her closer and watched the scene before them. "Down here," Damon added with his own taunting tone. Elijah is shot in the hand and he pulls the stake free only to notice that Cordelia and Elena had disappeared from where he had left them. Damon held Elena close to him in a hidden corner, a soft look of reassurance on his face. And Stefan held Cordelia in his arms, the two hidden together as he rested his face in her neck feeling better now that she was safe in his arms from any harm.

"Excuse me. To whom it may concern, you're making a great mistake if you think that you can beat me. You can't. Do you hear that?" Elijah spoke as he snapped some wood to create a stake, the sound echoed through the foyer from where he stood at the bottom of the stairs. "I repeat, you cannot beat me. So I want the girls... I'm gonna count to three or heads will roll. Do we understand each other?" Elijah continued while Cordelia nodded to Stefan, she took the vervain grenade from him and moved to the top of the stairs, hiding them behind her back. "I'll come with you, just please don't hurt my friends, they just wanted to help me out," Cordelia pleaded.

Elijah moved quickly up the stairs, he stopped in front of her with the stake still tight in his hand, "What game are you playing with me?" Cordelia smirked before throwing the vervain grenade into his face, his skin burned from the impact but he healed immediately. Anger burned in his gaze as he moved toward Cordelia over for Stefan to rush out to protect the blonde, he shot Elijah with the compressed air weapon but it didn't do any harm to Elijah. Stefan threw the weapon aside and rushed Elijah, tackling him down the stairs as Cordelia watched worriedly. Elijah gets up but Stefan is still on the ground, he was unfortunately weaker than the older vampire.

Elijah moved toward Stefan but Damon appears and stakes Elijah, he pushes him against the door and pinned him using the stake. Elijah's body desiccates quickly leaving him an ashy grey as Elena walked out and stood near Damon, she looked up at Elijah before turning and smiling at Cordelia, the blonde smiled back. Stefan got up from the ground and glanced at Elijah before turning back to Cordelia, she smiled at him before rushing down the stairs into his open arms. Damon looked at Elena expecting to see jealousy on her face but the soft warm smile that was shown gave Damon the hope he needed.

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Upon returning to Mystic Falls, the group headed to the Gilbert residence first so Bonnie and Jeremy could see both girls were safe and sound. Cordelia shared a hug with Bonnie and Jeremy before embracing Elena and promising that they would have a proper sleepover another time. Stefan accompanied Cordelia to the Forbes residence where Caroline was pacing back and forth with Tyler sitting on the armchair that Cordelia loved and Liz sat on the couch fighting the instinct to send a search party. When Cordelia walked in the door, Caroline had snatched her into her arms and held her as tight as she could without hurting her.

"Never disappear like that again!" Caroline scolded her twin making Cordelia laugh as she hugged her sister back. "I'll try my best," Cordelia replied to her older twin sister, she knew better than to promise something she couldn't keep. Liz hugged her daughter next, the woman was on the verge of tears as she looked over her youngest daughter's shoulder to mouth a 'thank you' to Stefan who nodded his head in response. Tyler held Cordelia tight, he felt calm and okay with her back where she was safest. Now that she was home and safe, Liz offered to drop Tyler home and the boy accepted that with a smile; Caroline volunteered to go along with them as she winked at Stefan.

Stefan followed Cordelia up the stairs and into her room, she was still wearing the dress she wore for the Masquerade Ball and she was eager to get out of it despite how pretty the purple dress was. "How are you feeling?" Stefan asked Cordelia as he sat on the edge of her bed watching as she grabbed clothes to change into after a shower. "I still feel weakened... they used mistletoe against me. Something that only effects Starlights at their weakest potential," Cordelia explained to Stefan with a sigh, she had to read more of Clara's entries before she ended up dead. "But you're healing, right?" Stefan asked as she stood up and approached her, she looked up at him as she stood before her.

"I think so... to be honest, I'd have no idea," Cordelia told him with a frown, there was no point in lying and she hated how weak she was feeling. Stefan raised his wrist to his mouth and bit down before holding it out to Cordelia, she hesitated for a moment before accepting his blood. Stefan's blood wasn't metallic like normal, it was sweet and a little addictive but Cordelia could feel her body becoming lighter and more energised as she pulled away and sighed appreciatively. "Thank you," Cordelia whispered receiving a smile back from Stefan. "Go have a shower. I'll be right here," Stefan assured her as he sat down on the bed again.

After her shower, Cordelia changed into an oversized shirt and some shorts before walking back into her room; she didn't bother washing her hair deciding she'd do that the next day. Stefan smiled as Cordelia yawned, he had pulled her blankets back and kicked off his shoes. Cordelia crawled into the bed as Liz and Caroline returned home, the two stopped by Cordelia's room to wish her goodnight before leaving the youngest Forbes and Stefan to themselves in a room that was lit up by a projection of stars on the ceiling ─ no matter how childish, it helped Cordelia sleep. Stefan laid back against the bed next to Cordelia with some distance between them however, she moved over and fell asleep with her head on his chest.

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Rosemary Speaks. . .

Okay, Elijah arrived!!

And yes, Cordelia doesn't 'like' him at first however, that's because she was kidnapped. It'll change once they have a proper conversation about everything.

Do we like Elena and Cordelia being friends?

If ya didn't realise, the doppelganger curse was broken by Omari so... that kind of broke the bond between Stefan and Elena... if that makes sense? It does to me, that's what matters honestly.

Honestly, Elena is not the villain of my story... shocking, I know... but this book is writing itself at this book haha

And yes, I gave Cordelia another weakness; Mistletoe. She is an overpowered character but even she needs weaknesses. Inspired by teen wolf, of course!

Anyway, Thoughts, Suggestions or Questions?

See you in the next chapter!
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