[THE DESCENT]

small steps yield big results.

    WHEN JULIETTE FINISHED HER shift, Elena called to inform her that Caroline was safe. Elijah's witch saved her and the Salvatore brothers who were getting severely beaten. Stefan had also suggested that Elena and Bonnie would surprise Caroline by staying over to help comfort her.

So the blonde had let Matt finish closing up as she began to walk home. She was exhausted from the long day, even though she had been stuck at work, supposedly away from the drama, it somehow found its way there. The one place where she could relax for a while was no longer a refuge.

Her mind ran wild with what happened with Elijah when she was on her break. They had almost kissed. They were so, so close to each other—inches apart. Juliette could feel his warm breath on her skin as they stared at each other.

She didn't know what was wrong with her, why was she still thinking about it hours later? It meant nothing to her. Nothing.

But why did she allow herself to get close to him?

He was making her question everything she believed in. Juliette didn't understand why she was feeling this way, why she hoped that they could have more interactions like that. If anyone found out that she was acting like this with him, she would be dead.

Everyone around her will hate her if she continues to get close to Elijah. On her way home, she decided she had to distance herself from him. If she wanted to stay loyal to her family, this was what she had to do.

When she arrived home, Jenna and Alaric were watching a movie in the living room, Jeremy was in his room listening to music whilst he did homework and Elena was packing her bag to go to Caroline's.

Juliette had actually gotten home a little later than she wanted to so she told Elena to go without her as she didn't want to slow them down and make Caroline wait.

The blonde entered her room and sighed, leaning up against the door. Finally, she would have a little bit of peace to herself. Juliette placed her bag on the bed and was about to change out of her work clothes when she noticed the bedroom window was open, allowing a strong wind to blow into the room.

She furrowed her brows as she thought back to that morning, she hadn't opened the window as it was way too cold to.

Juliette shrugged as she carefully walked over to the window, now weary of her surroundings. She closed it quietly as she peeked out into her back garden, trying to see if anything was there.

When she confirmed that nothing was there, she turned around, only to be met with Elijah sitting at the edge of the bed with her diary in his hand. He had a smirk on his lips as he continued to read the book.

"You think I'm undeniably gorgeous?" He asked, making eye contact with Juliette. His tone was soft and teasing as he watched her expression shift from startled to horrified.

"Give it back now!" Juliette exclaimed as she tried to snatch it from his hands, but Elijah was quicker, speeding over to her door, the diary still in his hand.

"Well I am flattered, Juli-"

The blonde had picked up a pillow and launched it at the vampire, seeing as he was too busy reading the diary, the pillow hit him square in his face, causing him to drop the book.

Juliette picked up the book and turned away from him, her entire face red with embarrassment. "Come on, it's nothing to be embarrassed about.'' Elijah teased as she could hear him step closer to her.

''I am not embarrassed at all," Juliette said as she turned to face the original.

Elijah chuckled, the sound low and amused. "Your face says otherwise," he remarked, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Juliette glares at him, clutching her diary tightly, afraid that he will snatch it off her and read even more of her darkest secrets. "What are you even doing here, Elijah?"

"I wanted to see you," he said simply, taking another step closer. "And maybe learn a bit more about you."

"By invading my privacy?" She shot back, her cheeks still burning. "You could have just asked."

"True," he conceded, his smile softening. "But this was much more entertaining." He took a step closer to her.

Juliette huffed, rolling her eyes. "You're impossible."

"And you," Elijah said, his voice dropping to a whisper as he reached out to gently brush a strand of hair from her face, "are fascinating."

Juliette suddenly realised how close they were once again, she thought back to the last time she gave in to her desires so she took a step back, earning a confused look from Elijah.

"Thank you for helping Caroline, you didn't have to do that." She mumbled, looking down at the book in her hand. She wanted to look anywhere but at him, because if she did, she would give in.

"It's part of my deal with Elena," Elijah said, his eyes locking onto hers. "It is also what you wanted."

Juliette's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't deny the truth in his words, no matter how much she wanted to. The tension between them was palpable, she struggled to maintain her composure as he took a step closer to her.

"Well, thank you anyway." She gave him a tight-lipped smile as she walked over to her dresser, placing her diary in the drawer before she walked back over to her bed, pulling out a bag from under it.

With Elijah's watchful gaze upon her, Juliette pulled some clothes from her closet and placed them in the bag.

Why am I acting so awkward!?

It never used to be like this between them, but what happened before had spooked Juliette. She finally realised what she was doing. She couldn't act like this with the guy all her friends hated.

She can't have dreams with him anymore but it wasn't like she could control that.

She couldn't meet up with him and have long talks about whatever was bothering her anymore.

Juliette Gilbert couldn't have feelings for him anymore.

It took her a while to finally realise that she liked Elijah. The near kiss confirmed that she did. She knew it was wrong, so she had to stop it.

"Are you going somewhere?" Elijah asked as he watched her pick up things and put them in the bag.

He could feel the awkwardness between them. Why was it like this between us? Did I do something wrong?

"Uh, Yeah I'm staying over at Caroline's. You know, to be with her after everything that happened today," Juliette replied, with her back to him.

"Juliette."

"Elijah, you should go, I'm leaving soon and I don't want anyone seeing you here—"The blonde turned and stepped closer to him, finally trying to go against what her mind wanted. He couldn't be here.

"Juli-"

"Please Elijah, go." Juliette's voice broke as she looked up at him, her eyes pleading. She had to be like this, she had to act like she wanted nothing to do with him.

"Have I done something to offend you?" He asks, stopping Juliette from trying to push him out of her room. The blonde stalled for a moment, the only thing you have done was allow me to like you!

"No, I just don't want anyone to see you!" Juliette replied, staring at the door over his shoulder, not daring to make eye contact with him because if she did, then everything she planned would get ruined.

The vampire didn't say anything, he just stared at Juliette. He was trying to find anything that told him what she was thinking—or feeling. He hated that she was acting like this, like she couldn't tell him anything.

"Elijah, please just—" the blonde cut herself off as she unknowingly took a step closer to him—a mere inches away from his face. Her eyes danced across his face as they glanced between his eyes and his lips.

She didn't know what she was doing, but she was inching closer and closer to him. Her heart violently beat against her chest as fireworks began to set off in her stomach. Her mind was running wild with what she should do.

I should pull away.

No, I shouldn't.

Yes I should, this is exactly what I wanted to not happen.

But what's the worst thing that could happen?

Many things!

Her mind was telling her to stop it, to back up and get him out of her room but her heart was telling her to continue because this is what she wanted.

Just before she could pull away, Juliette closed the gap. Their lips touch in a hesitant but electrifying kiss. For a moment, time seemed to freeze. The vampire's eyes widened in surprise, but they quickly fluttered shut as he gave in to the unexpected but not unwelcome sensation.

Elijah could feel Juliette's racing heartbeat, each beat resonating through her lips and into his own. The warmth of her skin against the coolness of his sent a shiver down his spine. He hasn't felt this alive in centuries.

Juliette's hands, seemingly acting on their own accord, moved up to rest against his chest. She could feel the absence of a heartbeat, a sheer reminder of what he was. But at this moment, Juliette didn't care, her mind was telling her to pull away but she couldn't. Nothing mattered to her, except the feel of his lips on hers.

Her mark on her arm was searing into her skin once again but she didn't care. She didn't want to pull away.

Elijah's hands gently cupped her face, his thumbs brushing against her cheeks, wiping away the stray tear she hadn't realised she had let fall. The kiss deepened, a blend of urgency and tenderness as if they were both afraid this moment would end too soon.

But reality set in for Juliette, she suddenly realised what she was doing. Who she was kissing. This is wrong. I shouldn't be doing this! What would Elena, Stefan and Damon think!?

That I'm here kissing the enemy!?

Juliette abruptly broke the kiss, taking a step back from him. Her eyes filled with tears as Elijah just started back at her, a confused expression on his face.

"You need to go," Juliette mumbled before she turned away from him, her shaky hands covering her face as she tried to stifle her sobs. Elijah stood there for a moment, watching as she shook as she cried.

He took a step forward, reaching out, but stopped himself. He knew that he had to respect what she wanted and clearly she didn't want this.

But he didn't understand, he didn't understand what was happening. But he slowly understood while he stood there, tears brimming his eyes, he was a terrible person.

He was a monster who was not capable of love. He did not deserve the kind and caring woman who stood in front of him, she needed someone better, someone who had not been killed, someone who had not had blood on their hands.

Someone better than him.

So that's why he decided to leave, he didn't want to fight her for something she didn't want.

Juliette could hear him vamp speed away as she wiped away the tears that had fallen.

She couldn't stay here and cry all night. Caroline needed her and she was already really late. So she finished packing her bag and left.

✧✧✧✧

    "HOW ARE YOU FEELING?" Juliette asked Caroline as they sat on her bed, and Bonnie and Elena were making popcorn in the kitchen.

The blonde gave her a sad smile as her eyes filled with tears, "I'm fine." She mumbled as she pulled at a string sticking out of her bedding.

Juliette raised an eyebrow at the girl, "Care, I've known you since the day you were born, I know when you aren't okay. You don't have to pretend with me." Juliette comforted, grabbing her hand. "What you went through today, nobody would be okay after it."

Caroline finally broke down as tears began to pour from her eyes, Juliette pulled her into a hug as she just cried. "Tyler was just going let us get killed." She managed to get out in between sobs.

"That's because he is a dick. Don't worry about him, Care. You have us." Juliette reassured her.

Elena and Bonnie walked into the room, two bowls of popcorn in their hands, concern etched on their faces as they too joined in on the hug. "We're here for you, no matter what," Elena said softly as she shared a look with Juliette.

Bonnie agreed as the four girls just sat and embraced each other, all of them glad that today was over.

✧✧✧✧

     ELIJAH KNOCKED ON THE DOOR, not caring to be quiet as he waited for the door to open.

Jonas opens the door and furrows his brow at the sight of Elijah at his door this late.

"I need you to tell me everything you know about Juliette Gilbert."

✧✧✧✧

Pookie's, today has been a very productive day for this book. I've planned out the ENTIRE plot and extra bits! All I need to do is chapter outlines and try and figure out how to fit my plot into the tvd plot 😭 but I have hope I can do it!

I am on a roll lately, I've been writing every day and finishing a chapter in about two days which is good!

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

Byeeee

21/07/24