CHAPTER NINE

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

ALONG WITH THE TWO SALVATORE BROTHERS, Cassandra quietly made her way into the abandoned house. They were careful not to make any noise as Cassandra could clearly hear Elijah's voice in one of the rooms. She had let out a huge breath she didn't even know she was holding in when she heard his voice instead of the man she never wanted to see again.

Cassandra looks to Damon who points to hide behind the stairs. She nods her head, making her way over as she hears Elijah's voice talk again. She didn't know how many people were in the house but she could instantly tell Elena was in the same room as Elijah since her heartbeat was going a lot faster than normal. "What about the moonstone?" Elena asks as Elijah was about to drag her away. It makes the original stop in his steps as he turns his attention back to her.

"What do you know of the moonstone?" He questions with a squint of his eyes, wanting to know how the doppelganger even heard of the moonstone.

"I know that you need it, and I know where it is." Elena answers in a somewhat cocky tone which almost makes Cassandra want to roll her eyes. Oh wait, she did. Cassandra knew Elijah didn't have much patience when he was being talked down to so it was only a matter of seconds before Elena gave up the information.

"Tell me where it is." Elijah states, trying to compel the girl but since she was wearing vervain, the compulsion didn't work.

"It doesn't work that way." She replies with a shake of her head causing Elijah to be shocked for a split second. He didnt think she was one to talk back but apparently he was wrong.

"Are you negotiating with me?" He asks in a slightly amused tone, raising an eyebrow at the young girl who only nods her head. She was pretty confident for a petty human who could die in a split second. Elijah glances over to the other vampire in the room who only shakes her head.

"It's the first I've heard of it." Rose admits as she gulps, not wanting to get on Elijah's bad side once again because of a Petrova doppelganger. Elijah squints his eyes a little but turns his attention back to Elena who tries to avoid his eyes. He then notices something she was wearing, his jaw clenching when he realizes what it was.

"What is this vervain doing around your neck." Elijah hisses as he grabs her necklace, ripping it off and throwing it somewhere in the room. He grabs her chin, forcing the girl to look at him. "Tell me where the moonstone is." He compels in a stern tone as he looks directly into her eyes. Elena was defeated as she started to talk even though she didn't want to.

"It's in the tomb underneath the church ruins." Elena answers as she stares into the man's eyes. Elijah furrows his eyebrows for a second but continues to ask the doppelganger questions.

"What is it doing there?" He asks somewhat confused on why the moonstone would be in the tomb. Elijah had his head tilted lightly as he could hear something in the distance but decided to not think anything of it.

"It's with Katherine, I think." Elena says under the compulsion but she was a bit confused herself. They never told her who had the moonstone so she wasn't even one hundred percent sure that Katherine had it.

"You think?" Elijah asks with a raise of an eyebrow. It was a simple question and she was under compulsion, she should have a straight answer. Elena only furrows her eyebrows as she glances down at the ground for a moment.

"Cassandra could've taken it but I don't think she did." She adds as she stares back at Elijah who seemed a little shocked hearing the name of the woman he was in love with. Elena notices this, sensing that maybe the two knew each other and the vampire could help convince Elijah to let her go.

"Cassandra Harrington?" He asks, wanting to make sure he wasn't just getting her confused with some random person. Elena gulps a little as she nods her head.

"Yes." Elena replies as she tries to interpret the man's reaction but it seems to be emotionless as his eyes flicker away from the doppleganger for a moment. Cassandra had lied to him, or at least withheld things from him. Elijah always thought the girl was truthful with him when he asked if she had found anything but apparently he was wrong about her.

"How long have you known her?" Elijah asks after coming back to reality, his eyes once again compelling her to give him nothing but the truth. He needed to know if she had just met the girl or if she had known for way longer than she was letting on.

"Since the start of the school year." Elena answers with a gulp as Elijah clenches his jaw lightly. That had been months ago and she had never made the approach to tell him of the existence of the Petrova doppleganger or the whereabouts of the moonstone.

"Interesting." He replies with a click of his tongue. A sudden break in the house, echoes the walls. Elijah's head moves up, squinting his eyes lightly. "What is that?" Elijah asks Rose, turning his head to face her. She looked absolutely terrified but shook her head, holding onto the railing tightly.

"I don't know." She answers him truthfully as she visibly gulps. Rose was not about to go down for another Petrova doppleganger. If it came down to her or the girl, she would choose herself every time.

"Who else is in this house?" Elijah questions in a cold voice as his jaw clenches tightly, glaring at the woman. Elena gives Rose a knowing expression but it didn't seem that the vampire got her message.

"I don't know." Rose tells him with a sigh as Elijah grabs Elena by the arm, pulling her towards the stairs at which the other vampire had been standing on.

"Move!" He demands, pushing Rose into the main entrance. Elijah glances around as he lets Elena go but keeps her close. His eyes move back to the short-haired vampire who was also cautious around the house since there was obviously someone else there. "Rose." Elijah says in a threatening tone but she only shakes her head, shrugging her shoulders in the slightest bit.

"I don't know who it is." She states as he pushes her slightly, causing the woman to stumble. Elena couldn't help but smile lightly though as she knew it was Stefan, Damon and Cassandra coming to rescue her.

"Up here." Stefan taunts earning Elijah's attention as he glances towards the stairs. He flickers his eyes to Elena and Rose before carefully walking towards the stairs.

"Down here." Damons voice echoed the house causing Elijah to turn around at a fast rate. A stake flies through Elijah's hand causing him to take his eyes off of Elena who suddenly vanishes. Damon had Rose pressed against the wall, his hand covering her mouth as Stefan did the same thing with Elena. Cassandra was still at her place under the stairs, scared to make a move against Elijah. The original sighs as he pulls out the stake, dropping it to the floor.

"Excuse me! To whom it may concern, you're making a great mistake if you think that you can beat me! You can't." He states with a smirk on his lips as he glances around the room. There was no indication of anyone moving except for the original who was making his way across the room. "You hear that?" Elijah breaks one of the lamps so he was able to get two pieces of wood in his hand. He could sense that Cassandra was there but the wood was not intended for her but for the two other vampires in the house. "You cannot beat me. I want the girl, on the count of three. Or heads will roll. Do we understand each other?" He asks in a stern tone as he begins to walk up the stairs. Elijahs vision is clouded as Elena moves her way to stand in front of him. She had her arms crossed against her chest as Elijah stopped his movements.

"I'll come with you. Just don't hurt my friends, they just wanted to help me out." She pleads in a soft tone as she gives him a saddened expression. Elijah didn't falter at the girls ploy to try and make him feel remorse for her.

"What game are you playing with me?" He asks, slight amusement in his voice as he knew that whoever was trying to rescue her had no chance against him. Elena only answers by throwing a vervain grenade at the man. Elijah yells out in a pain for a split second before he stops, his skin beginning to heal. The doppleganger was clearly shocked as the original started to walk up the stairs once again. Before he could reach her though, Stefan comes out, shooting the man in the chest with bullets. Elijah only glares at him, continuing up the stairs as the bullets hardly affected him. Stefan decides to get rid of the guns as he charges at the man, tackling him down the stairs. The Salvatore groans on the floor as Elijah gets up with ease, staring down at the boy. Cassandra sees the murderous glint in Elijah's eyes and knows she had to take action so the man didn't actually kill Stefan.

"Elijah, don't." Cassandra pleads as she steps in the middle of his path to Stefan but the original only goes to push past her. She plants her hands on his chest, trying to stop him as one of them moves up to his face, cupping his cheek. "Elijah." She tries again which thankfully gets him to stop his approach on the younger Salvatore. His eyes move to Cassandra, feeling her hand against him. Stefan sighs in relief but it immediately goes away when Elijah grabs a hold of the girls forearm, pinning it down between them as his other hand grips the back of her neck. Cassandra let's out a yelp in pain as he was still very much stronger than her. Elijah falters at this but he couldn't let his emotions slip through. He clenches his jaw as he stares directly into the woman's eyes.

"You've been lying to me. For months." Elijahs voice was stern and she could sense the hostility inside of him but she could also see the rush of relief in his eyes that she was unharmed. Cassandra blinks a couple times, trying to keep her voice steady as no matter if he wasn't hurting her, the girl was still scared of seeing him in this state.

"I know." Cassandra replies simply as she gulps a little, her eyes moving to the hand that was grasping her forearm. He had never been angry with her but she could tell he was holding back and that was the first sign that made Cassandra be certain that the original had no intent of ending her life.

"I protected you and this is how you repay me?!" He questions, anger seeping through his tone as he pulls her closer, his eyes boring into hers. Stefan only watches the interaction as his eyes flicker to Damon who was carefully breaking a lamp post, not wanting to gain the attention of the original.

"I never asked you for protection, Elijah. You did that on your own." She snaps back with an angry glare, feeling Elijah's grip tighten on her arm. Elijah knew she was speaking the truth but it still infuriated him how she kept such vital information to herself. His thought is cut short when Damon shoves a lamp post into his chest, pushing him back against the wall. Elijah growls as he glares at the older salvatore before his back hits the wall with a hard shove, the wood entering his chest. Veins cover his body as it turns grey, his head slumping over as Damon lets go, leaving the original skewered the the wall. Cassandra couldn't stop herself from flinching when Damon had killed Elijah but she didn't let her emotion for the man show.

Rose, who had been standing a little further away was in complete shock that Elijah was dead. But it quickly vanished when Damon looked at her causing her to speed off. He takes a step, about to go after her when a voice talks. "Just let her go." Elena tells them causing Damon to stop in his steps as he gazes up the stairs at the girl. She smiles brightly down as Damon only smiles back up at her, it was only when she runs down the stairs and into Stefan's arms that Damon's face falters. Realization hit him that she was happy to see Stefan and not him. He didn't know why he thought any different.

"Hey, come here. You hurt? You okay?" Stefan asks her, concern laced in his tone as she hugs him tightly. She only shakes her head with a smile on her face. Damon glances down at the ground before meeting the brunettes eyes. Elena gives him a small smile before mouthing a thank you to him. He smiles back lightly as he whispers you're welcome. The doppleganger then closes her eyes as she holds Stefan a little bit closer.

"I thought you said you trusted him." Damon says as he takes his eyes off the happy couple to look at Cassandra who was still standing where Elijah had been talking to her.

"To a degree, yeah." She replies with a shrug as she rolls her eyes a little bit. Of course Damon would question Elijah's integrity but Cassandra knew he would never have harmed her. Maybe if she had done this around the time they first met but when you spend seven centuries with someone, you can't just kill them in an instant.

"He just tried to kill you." Stefan points out with a raise of his eyebrow, not seeing how that was trust. Cassandra only sighs as she looks at the two brothers who were both staring at her like she was completely insane. They saw the harsh look in the man's eyes, it didn't seem like he was going to give her the benefit of the doubt.

"He would never have gone through with it. I mean too much to him." She admits with a small frown as her eyes move back to Elijah who was all grey and desicated. Elena gives her a sympathetic expression as she moves towards her a little bit. But none of them noticed the way Cassandra had said it, that she means too much to the original, not meant. Like as in past tense as it should be if he was really 'dead'.

"Let's get out of here." Elena says with a sigh as she squeezes the girls shoulder momentarily, earning a small smile from the older woman. They make their way to the door but Cassandra only stays planted in her spot.

"Cassandra?" Damon calls out as he notices the girl only staring at Elijah's body. He shares a glance with his brother and Elena as Cassandra only flickers her eyes over to them for a minute. She knew he wasn't dead, but she wanted to be there for him when he woke up. To explain herself because she owed him that.

"I'm gonna stay." Cassandra tells them and they hesitate for a moment before nodding their head and leaving her alone with Elijah's 'dead' body. She waits until they are far enough away before removing the lamp post from Elijah's heart. A sigh leaves her lips as she didn't know how long she was to wait before he awoke. Cassandra wasn't even sure she wanted to be here when he did but he had questions and she knew that he would find her anyways. May as well get the truth out in the open before it spins into a web of lies.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

SHE HAD BEEN WAITING FOR ELIJAH TO WAKE UP, a half hour had passed as she was leaning up against the wall of the abandoned building. Cassandra was getting slightly impatient but she knew it was almost time for him to wake up from his quick nap. She honestly doesn't know how Elijah will react when he sees her, she just hopes she can explain herself before he hurts her. Cassandra knew he wouldn't actually hurt her but whether or not he listened to her was a completely different story.

Elijah and Cassandra's friendship had always been solid. They never had any problems, especially when they first met. They would hang out together regularly and when Klaus was away, Elijah was the one to keep her company the most. They had formed a strong bond over the many years and when she fled and he protected her, that bond only strengthened. But what Cassandra didn't know was that Elijah had been in love with her ever since he first laid eyes on her.

Movement catches her eye as she tilts her head, noticing that Elijah started to go back to his normal color. She was relieved that she didn't have to wait anymore but she was also afraid of what his reaction would be, especially after she withheld important information from him for months. To say Elijah looked pissed would be an understatement but Cassandra knew most of it was because of Damon staking him. Once fully back to life, Elijah glances around the room, his eyes immediately falling on the raven-haired vampire. His usual soft expression was hardened as he glared at the woman. "Cassandra." His voice was like daggers hitting her in the heart. Cassandra knew he was mad but she had never seen him this mad, at least not at her. Elijah speeds over to her, blocking her against the wall as he wraps his hand around her neck but not hard enough to harm her.

Cassandra gives him a pleading look as she gazes into his eyes. She could see that he was having an internal battle with himself. His hand started to tighten but she was still able to talk. "You and I both know why I lied to you." She admits in a bold tone as she keeps eye contact with him. Elijah seemed to falter for a minute but still kept his hold on the girl. She could feel his breath on her lips, that's how close the man was to her. Elijah blinks a couple times, his tongue running over his bottom lip. His jaw clenches as he leans a little bit closer to her, his mouth going by her ear. She couldn't help how her breath hitched when his body pressed against hers. Cassandra couldn't help but be turned on by the new found anger inside of Elijah. It wasn't the moment to find him incredibly hot but as his hand was on her throat and he was pressing against her, her mind couldn't be stopped.

"I thought you trusted me?" He says in a questioning manner as his nose brushes over the skin of her cheek. Cassandra couldn't form words even if she tried. Elijah was just so captivating that she had forgotten to speak. Her eyes flicker down his body as she internally begs him to just fuck her right then and there. Elijah's grip tightens as an amused glint forms in his eyes. Cassandra then realized that her request was heard by Elijah because she said it aloud. She gulps as his hand puts pressure on her body, sliding it down so it was touching her core.

The next thing she knew, she was bent over the couch, his hand pushing against her back to keep her down. Cassandra smirks as she slightly moves her hips to create friction between them. Elijah seemed to feel it as he grabs a chunk of her hair, pulling it back hard. She lets out a surprised moan as she is held against his body. His hand wraps around her neck once again as she can feel the obvious bulge in his pants. "Why did you lie to me?" He snaps as he turns her quickly to face him. Cassandra was slightly disappointed but meets his eyes nonetheless.

"I didn't. I just withheld information." Cassandra replies bluntly as her fingers start to undo his belt. Elijah eyes her cautiously as she only gives him a sly smirk. Suddenly, she's straddling his lap on the couch, her skirt riding up. She unzips his pants, pulling them down low enough to expose him. Elijah wanted to continue their talk but he made no effort in stopping her antics. She moves close to him, her mouth hovering over his. "I'm not wearing any panties." She whispers seductively, her hot breath hitting his. That was the tipping point as Elijah now had her beneath him. He didn't waste anytime slamming into her roughly. Usually their sex wasn't so hard but the amount of sexual tension that had built up, it was bound to happen someday. Cassandra lets out a loud moan as Elijah continues to thrust inside of her at a deep and fast pace. Her legs wrap around his waist as she tries to push him deeper, his hand was still on her throat. Elijah lets out a hot grunt as he continues his pace, Cassandra's body jolting with every thrust. "Elijah, harder.." She moans out as she moves to try and meet his thrusts. Elijah squeezes his eyes shut for a moment before starting to do as she asked only earning louder screams from the girl. Cassandra was close to hitting her edge as her moans only seemed to get louder. Elijah wasn't getting sloppy but she could see the pleasure building up on his face. "Elijah, right there! Yes!" She encourages him to keep hitting the same spot as she grips at his hair. Pulling his head down, she smashes their lips together in a needy kiss that is short lived as her head leans back further, reaching her high.

Elijah moans in her ear as he tries to chase his high as well. Cassandra screams out in pleasure as she calls out his name. He let her ride it out before he came shortly after her. Elijah holds himself above her as he squeezed his eyes shut, a long groan leaving his lips. Cassandra smiles at him as she brushes the sweaty hair away from his face. Elijah opens his eyes, connecting with hers, a smile forming on his lips as well. She leans in, pressing a passionate kiss onto his lips in which he instantly returns. When she goes to pull away though, he only brings her lips back to his, pressing another kiss onto it. Cassandra was surprised a little but kissed back anyways, it wasn't unusual for them. But it was when he kept kissing her, as if putting everything he had into it. It wasn't like he was trying to start another around, it wasn't a needy kiss, it was a kiss full of passion and love. Elijah sits up, bringing her with him as she sits on his lap, their mouths still moving in sync. Cassandra didn't know how long it was going on before he finally pulled away from her, resting his forehead against hers.

Cassandra clears her throat a little as she pulls back, looking him in the eyes. He could tell she was shocked by the kiss but he just couldn't hold it back anymore. They both knew she avoided his question that he had asked before they had sex but Cassandra was too caught up in the kiss aftermath. Why had he kissed her like that? It wasn't a sex kiss, it was the most meaningful kiss she has had since Klaus. Cassandra didn't want to question it though, afraid it would bring up something so instead she decided to answer his question.

"I-i do trust you, Elijah. I mean I want to.." She trails off as her eyes move downwards a little. Elijah nods his head, swallowing harshly as he knew exactly where this is going. Not exactly something he wanted to talk about after they had just been intimate together.

"But since Niklaus is my brother..." Elijah finishes for her as his jaw clenches lightly. He keeps a neutral face as he does his pants up again, allowing Cassandra to pull her skirt down.

"Yeah. I'm sorry for not telling you about Elena or the moonstone. I was gonna tell you eventually." She assures him with a small frown, not wanting him to think that she was going to keep lying to him.

"I believe you. But believe me when I say that I won't let Niklaus hurt you." Elijah states as he brushes a hand through her hair, a small smile on his face but it drops when she pulls away from him, shaking her head a little.

"Why should I? He's your brother, I'm just merely the dumb vampire who fell for him. Your family doesn't care for me." She snaps all of a sudden as she gets off his lap, standing up. Elijah follows in suit as he lets out a small scoff, hating how she could even think that.

"Yes they do! Rebekah thinks of you like a sister, Kol was your best friend and I.." Elijah cuts himself off before he can tell her the truth. He did not need it coming out now. Especially since it was made abundantly clear that she didn't fully trust him at all.

"And you, what? I don't even know why you are protecting me." Cassandra replies as she crosses her arms against her chest. Elijah presses his lips together as every single second that he has held these words in just come tumbling to the surface and before he could stop himself, the words had left his mouth.

"Because I'm in love with you!" He practically yells, taking Cassandra by surprise. She was almost certain she didn't understand what he said but it was because she was in denial. Cassandra didn't want to hear those words correctly coming from anyone's mouth, especially the brother of her ex-love.

"W-what?" She asks in a whisper as she only stares at him, unable to say anything else. Elijah sighs, not able to take anything back but quite frankly he didn't want to. He was glad that it was finally out in the open.

"I have loved you since the moment I layed my eyes on you." Elijah admits as he takes a step closer to her but Cassandra only stands there in shock. She really didn't know how to reply to him. She never knew he felt this way about her and she wasn't even sure what feelings she felt towards the original.

"I.. I don't know what to say." She says as she looks down at the ground. Elijah suddenly takes her hands in his, squeezing them gently which catches her attention.

"I wanted to tell you for centuries now but.. you were just so heartbroken over Niklaus that I knew you would never go for me." Elijah explains with a small smile but she soon drops his hands, taking a step back from the original causing his happy demeanor to suddenly go away.

"I don't let people in, Elijah. Not anymore." Cassandra tells him with a frown on her face as she wanted to let him down gently. It would be a hard thing to do though since he had admitted to loving her ever since they first met.

"I love you with all my heart, I will never hurt you." He promises her as he tries to take a step towards her but she only shakes her head, holding a hand out in front of her. Elijah stops in his place and from that moment, he knew that he had made the biggest mistake of his life.

"That's what Nik told me too." She responds as her eyes move down to the floor, unable to look him in the eyes any longer. Cassandra did not want to see the heartbreak she was causing the poor soul. "I really am sorry, Elijah. I just can't love you back." Cassandra tells him as her voice cracks slightly. Her eyes flicker up to his for a moment but what she sees almost makes her burst out into tears. Elijah was standing there, his eyes fixed on her as visible tears were falling from his eyes. He had a devastated expression on his face but who could blame him? Being in love with someone for over seven hundred years just to find out they don't feel the same way. "Not after Nik. Not with you being his brother. I just can't." She whispers almost inaudible as she avoids eye contact with the original. She knew she had completely broken his heart but she wouldn't lie to him. Elijah and her relationship was built on trust. Cassandra wasn't going to lie to him and say she felt the same when she didn't know what she felt for the man. She didn't think she could ever be with anyone, not after Klaus. No matter what she may feel for the original, she could not let it into her heart because if she did... It would be the ultimate death of her.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

CASSANDRA FELT HORRIBLE FOR LEAVING ELIJAH LIKE THAT, but she couldn't just tell him what he wanted to hear. She didn't want to lie to him about her feelings because that would just be wrong on so many levels. If she wanted to be with him, she needed to be absolutely sure of her feelings for the man. It wasn't only that though. Her trust in relationships was completely gone. Cassandra couldn't see herself ever being in another one because of how she was betrayed. Although, Elijah was different. They had been friends for so long that she had built some trust for his friendship she just didn't know if it would transfer to a more serious relationship. Especially since the trust was based solely around her ex-love Klaus.

Klaus and Elijah. It was complicated. She didn't even know it could get this bad. Klaus would always be her first love, her true love, her soulmate. But most of those feelings were false or fabricated lies made up by the man she thought she was going to spend the rest of her life with. Elijah started out as just an acquaintance she knew because he was indeed Klaus's brother. It turned into a close friendship in which she could share anything with him. She just never knew he had felt more for her until this day. Cassandra didn't know what she felt for Elijah. Her thoughts were all jumbled. The only thing she was grateful for was the fact that Klaus never really loved her so even if she did figure out her feelings for Elijah, her ex-love would be out of the picture anyways.

She closes her apartment door, a sigh leaving her lips as she tries to push both men from her mind. Cassandra would still talk to Elijah it was just whether or not she would figure out her true feelings that stumped her. Cassandra rubs her eyes for a moment before walking into her living room, jumping back when she sees the familiar raven-haired vampire standing near the couch, a drink in hand. "God, Damon." She mutters as she puts her hand on her chest, catching the vampires attention. Damon only glances over at her as he finishes his drink. "How'd you even get in here?" Cassandra asks him with a roll of her eyes as she makes her way over to pour herself a drink. Damon walks over to her, standing behind her as he holds his glass out in front of her.

"You don't lock your door." He states simply as she gives him a small glare before filling his glass aswell. Damon pulls his arm back, a breath leaving his lips as he sits on the couch she had in the room.

"If you're here for sex, I'm not in the mood." She replies in an annoyed tone as she sits down next to him, resting her legs on his lap. Damon only glances at them for a moment before deciding to just leave them where they were.

"No. I just... I told Elena I loved her." Damon admits with a groan as he rests his head back. Cassandra raises an eyebrow at the man, half curious on why he was telling her but also curious on what Elena even responded to that. Since she is or was dating Stefan. Cassandra couldn't keep up with the two.

"Really? What did she say?" She asks as she rests her head on her hand, her elbow up on the top of the couch. Damon frowns as he lets the alcohol slip down his throat before shaking his head.

"Nothing, I compelled her to forget it." He answers with a sigh as he just continues to stare at his drink, swishing it around his glass. Cassandra clicks her tongue, a deep breath leaving her lips as she closes her eyes for a moment, debating whether or not to tell Damon what had just happened to her. Well, they would find out about him sooner or later.

"Elijah told me he loved me." Cassandra states in a soft tone as she meets the confused eyes of Damon, he couldn't figure out when exactly the older vampire had the time to tell the girl. "Wooden stakes don't kill him." She answers his question before he even asked it causing the man to let out a groan as he rolls his eyes a little, hating how she never told them anything before it happened.

"Oh, would've liked to know that." He mutters to himself with a scoff as he taps his finger against his glass. Damon glances back up at the girl, connecting their eyes. "What did you say?" Damon questions curiously as he gets more comfortable on the couch. Cassandra sighs as she scoots a little bit closer to the man.

"I said I couldn't love him back, not after Klaus." She says truthfully as she finishes off her drink, grabbing the bottle from behind her and just drinking straight from it. Damon raises his eyebrows at her before grabbing the bottle to take a gulp of it aswell.

"Did you mean it?" He asks as he rests his head on his hand. Cassandra sighs as she stares back at him, scrunching up her nose a little as she didn't even know the actual answer to that question. She didn't mean to be so rude to Elijah about it but she didn't know if she even meant the words that came out of her mouth.

"I don't know, I just don't want to let anyone else in. Not when I know they'll just break my heart." She explains as she closes her eyes for a moment, not letting memories of Klaus flood her brain because she just couldn't think of him right now.

"Well, you won't know unless you give them a shot." He points out with a small smirk, his arm resting behind her head. Cassandra only flickers her eyes to him as she gives him a indecisive expression. She didn't know how to figure out if her feelings were real. "Maybe give Elijah a chance to prove how much he loves you." Damon tells her as she grabs the bottle back, downing a lot of it before shaking her head. She wasn't ready for it. For love. To be happy. It had been so long since her relationship with Klaus and she still felt like she was under his control.

"I'm scared." She admits as her voice breaks a little making Damon look at her with saddened eyes. He could tell the girl was being genuine and she was opening up her vulnerable side to him. Anyone who knew him would think he was just doing this to get information from her but he really cared for the girl, more than he wanted to admit. No, it wasn't romantically. He just felt the need to protect her for some reason. "I'm scared that if I let him in, he'll hurt me like Klaus did and... And I don't know if I could survive that." Cassandra finishes as a stray tear falls down her cheek. Damon wipes it away, his eyes gazing into hers as he nods his head, understanding what she was saying.

"Pain is what makes us human. Love is why we live in the first place." Damon says with a frown placed on his face as he thought back to being with Elena a couple minutes ago. He hated having to make her forget but it was for her own good. He couldn't be selfish with her.

"Are you going to actually tell Elena how you feel?" Cassandra asks the obvious question because she wants to know if she should be hanging closer to Stefan, whether or not he stays with Elena.

"Mines a lot more complicated then yours." He says as he lays back more against the couch, letting his legs intertwine with Cassandra's. She moves closer so she was almost sitting on his lap but it was nothing intimate, Cassandra just wanted to have someone close to her.

"Because of Stefan?" Cassandra questions with a sigh as she felt bad for him. She also didn't want Stefan to get his heart broken but she couldn't help the remorse she felt for the older Salvatore. Her situation would've been the exact same way if Klaus hadn't betrayed her.

"They're soulmates and I'm the bad, selfish guy." Damon says as more liquid pours down his throat. He was trying to drown out his feelings but it didn't seem to ever work for him. He would ask Cassandra to have sex but he knew that wouldn't work either. Plus, Cassandra needed a clear head in order to figure out her Elijah situation. That didn't stop the bulge forming in his pants when Cassandra rubbed against him, although it turned into pain when she tried to move her legs which ended in her falling where the sun don't shine. And it was not exactly gentle. Cassandra presses her lips together to try and contain her laughter as Damon only groans, holding where she had landed. He gives her a playful glare but after a couple seconds, the pain resides. Thank god for vampire healing.

"I'm a bitch now but Elijah still loves me." She states with a shrug of her shoulders causing Damon to chuckle a little bit but it immediately disappears as a frown forms on his lips. He was seemingly staring into the fireplace as he thought about the previous doppleganger.

"I love her. But so does my brother. I couldnt take her from him." Damon admits as he sighs, not wanting to take away his brothers happiness even though they had their odd moments with each other. And even if it meant not getting the girl.

"Unless he was out of the picture." Cassandra points out with a frown, knowing that was the only way that Damon would truly get Elena. Well, until she breaks Stefan's heart to go to Damon. Cassandra wasn't dumb. She saw what Elena was doing with both of the Salvatore brothers. Stringing them along, making sure to always keep their attention so they can fight for her. She was a manipulative slut, even worse than Katherine. Elena just doesn't know it yet.

"I guess." He mutters as he grabs another bottle since the one they were drinking seemed to already be empty. It wasnt as easy for him though. Klaus was out of the picture for Cassandra, Stefan seemed to always be around. There was no way he would ever get his chance with Elena.

"I want to give Elijah a try, I do it's just --" She doesn't get to finish her sentence as Damon interrupts her but she didnt even know how she was going to end it. What excuse could she have for not giving Elijah a try? He was always so kind to her, so loyal. He was the perfect man. Cassandra just didn't know if she was perfect for him.

"Do you love him?" Damon asks with a curious look in which Cassandra only frowns, glancing down at her glass. He needed her to try and come to terms with if she even had feelings for the man or if her so called feelings were just because of him taking care of her for all these years.

"I-- don't know." She answers honestly as a defeated expression forms on her face. It was the truth. Cassandra knew she admired Elijah and was thankful for him, she just didn't know if her feelings grew stronger than that or not. For over a century she was hopelessly in love with Klaus that she didnt see anybody else and after that she was so heartbroken that she didn't allow herself to feel anything for anyone.

"Do you still love Klaus?" He asks with a raised eyebrow, hoping that would maybe open up more on why she didn't know what she truly felt for Elijah. It also could not even be love that she felt for Klaus. Cassandra could think she still loves him just because they never had closer. Maybe when they saw each other for the last time, she realizes that the feeling are actually gone.

"I think a part of me always will even if I don't want to." Cassandra admits with a frown, fiddling with her fingers as she felt so pathetic even still feeling an ounce of love for Klaus after the way he broke her heart. She wanted to be completely rid of her feelings for him but she felt like even when he dies, her feelings for him will never truly be gone. Damon sighs as he stares at her, feeling bad that she had to go through the mental torture that Klaus had put on her.

"Give Elijah a chance, you might regret it if you don't." Damon tells her as he chugs his drink down. She thought about Damon's words very carefully. He was right. Cassandra didn't know if her feelings for Elijah were truly there but maybe if she gave it a shot, if she tried to be happy, she could figure it out. But she also didn't want to use Elijah like that, he deserved so much better than her. She sighs as her eyes move to the floor. She was at a crossroads because she didn't want to use Elijah but she also didn't want it to be too late if she actually has true feelings for him.

Klaus was no longer in the picture. She had to get that through her head. They were going to kill him. So, even if she gives Elijah a chance and she does end up truly loving him, there was nothing tearing them apart from each other..... Little did she know how wrong she was about that.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

This Damon and Cassandra friendship that is brewing is honestly goals. Elijah finally admitted his feelings although it didn't go how he planned at all. I don't do very detailed smut but there may be parts like that in future chapters.

Cassandra is not like Elena at all btw. She doesn't like playing Elijah and Klaus, she is genuinely confused about her feelings and thinks it's solved because she thinks Klaus hates her. Elena is just an annoying brat who loves toying with Damon and Stefan and loves having both of them worship at her alter and literally wants them both. Kissing them while in a relationship with the other, cheating, telling both she loves them ..
Ugh she's annoying.

I'm trying to get to Klaus quicker but it's still a little while away haha but flashbacks are a key

Comment your thoughts on this chapter. Fave/follow/check out my other stories if you want to.