Chapter 8

Crackstatic

Elijah stood still in the corner of the hall, watching the people around him drinking and dancing to the blaring music. He kept both of his hands on his trousers uncomfortably and cursing silently as he made his way to the bar. He pulled a chair and sat down, inspected his reflection in the mirror across him. He didn't look a whole lot different than he was few days ago, before Davina captured him. His face was still looked the same, but he was not the same person anymore. He felt like he was staring at a reflection of a lifeless man whose life depended on the mercy of Davina Claire and felt a sense of profound embarrassment.

"What would you like to drink, handsome?" The bartender said flirty, gesturing at the bottle she is holding in her hand.

"Naked martini, please" Elijah answered weak, his voice shaken and his frustration obvious. He wiped his forehead again and turned, fearing those people around him. Helpless, he feared that he would kill anything moving in that place tonight.

"It's fine, Elijah. You will find him. You will find Ephraim," Hayley appeared suddenly at Elijah's side, wearing the white wedding gown graciously. She reached into Elijah's hands and pressed it softly. Elijah shook his head, amazed at his own imagination of Hayley. He looked up at her with steely eyes. He wanted her, so much, here, now. But if there was one thing life had taught him, it was that everything has its price. It was alright, Elijah decided, he was more than willing to pay whatever price he had to pay to keep his imagination of Hayley around. "There he is. That's Ephraim," Hayley turned her head to her left side, where Tom sitting at the bar, not too far from them. Hayley leaned her head closer to whispered, "Kill him, Elijah. You have to kill Ephraim."

Elijah stood up fast. He closed his eyes, trying not to think about what he was going to do next. He could not afford another mistake. He tried not to wonder, trying so hard not to think.

Tom sat on a stool, put his head on the counter and groaned loudly. He spent much of his time contemplating about his purpose on this life and ended feeling sorry for himself. If anything, he was quite sure that life was only a slow-paced repetitive satire. The world has nothing to offer, he thought madly. He brushed his blonde hair with his fingers frustratingly when something snapped him out of his contemplation. It made him open his eyes. He was surprised to see a shadow moving out of the crowd toward him with what seemed like an extreme speed. The shadow crossed the distance between them with a graceful move. Tom slumped downward involuntarily, gasping from the sharp burst of pain on his chest.

"Impetus detrude et amplius," Tom muttered, casting a spell that threw Elijah hard to the floor. He felt a consuming fear wash over him. Vampire, he thought, a vampire trying to kill him.

Elijah looked out at the boy in front of him in anger, his eyes turned blood-red and his fangs extended. For a moment, he almost wanted to laugh at himself for having a hard time killing a boy. Elijah stood up slowly. He moved as fast as he could, trying to cover the distance between him and the boy in split seconds. He leapt over Tom, hitting the boy as hard as he could. This one is a fighter, he thought. Whatever was happening, this boy had to die.

"Aeternum in mea furor," Tom cried a spell as Elijah fainted and sprawled out on the floor as he panting for breath. "What? Do you think you can kill a minister?" Tom stood up, staring down at Elijah furiously.

"Oh but I think I can," Klaus appeared unexpectedly behind Tom. He pulled Tom harshly by his shirt collar, holding the Tunde Blade closely to his neck. "Now why don't you be a good little warlock and stop killing my brother?"

"Elijah, Elijah, are you alright?" Hayley reached for Elijah's face, putting her hands around his neck. She stared at him in pure disbelief. "Elijah, are you alright?" Hayley asked again carefully, gazing for an answer.

Elijah opened his eyes slowly, his awareness returning to him piece by piece. Then he became aware of the scent, a feeling of warmth summer and a hint of Patchouli oil, the scent of woman of his dream. Despite the terrible pain that still lingered, he felt strangely safe and calm.

Tom growled and twisted his body to escape from Klaus. He pushed his hand backward as hard as he could at Klaus and successfully escaped, his lips escaping a crooked smile. You're done, he proudly though. Tom considered laughing at the poor vampire that foolishly tried to kill him before finally casted a spell on him, "Aeternum in mea furor."

Then there was Klaus stood very still before him, as nothing happened. As if the spell was nothing. The impossible happened. Panic washed over Tom in seconds. His rage turned into fear. His mind raced searching for any explanation his mind could comprehend. "Who the hell are you?" He mumbled a question at Klaus.

"I'm an original hybrid and now I shall grant you a merciless death that you rightfully deserve, kid." Klaus shouted, his eyes sparkling.

Elijah "You're not Hayley. You're not her." Elijah grumbled, pushing Hayley's hands off his neck. He noticed the sudden sadness on her face and a wave of guilt surged over him. He chose to ignore the feeling, but his body wanting to react differently.

"Elijah?" Hayley muttered in worried tones. "Klaus, something is wrong."

Klaus was about to leap forth when Hayley grabbed him down. "Are you seriously- " Klaus protested, only to be cut off by Hayley.

"Elijah, Elijah doesn't recognize me. Something is wrong. It must be Davina," Hayley looked at Elijah in worry. She felt a sinking feeling in her chest. She felt unexpectedly helpless.

"Why the spell didn't work on you?" Tom's voice came out hoarse and weak, the only thing he could do was avoid to falling to his knees. "You are the demon."

"I'm flattered but right now I going to take a rather quick break and we will be back on killing you right away," Klaus bent on his knees and took a closer look on Elijah who still looked puzzled.

"I have to kill him," Elijah snapped. He thought about it, he had to kill the boy so he could return to Davina. He needs her blood. He needs to see Hayley again. He looked up angrily, limping a little. His eyes fixed on his target, Tom.

"He is bound by the spell. Not just by a regular witch, I suppose," Tom glared at Klaus, paying no attention to Elijah who was ready to attack him. He had to fight every impulse on his mind not to kill Elijah with his power, which he could do quite easily. "I can help you, but,"

"How about you help me and I promise you, your death would be painless and very quick," Klaus growled. He reached for Tom's collar, meaning to display the brute force he was about to unleash.

"Look, you need my help to cure your brother and I will help you, but there's a price. I want to know more about you, you are the demon. I need to learn more about you. Do we have a deal?" Tom grinned at him evilly.

Elijah wincing at the pain from his head and trying to drag the boy down the ground with him. He pulled Tom's head to the side, meaning to break his neck.

"For good sake Klaus, just say yes," Hayley shouted, trying to pull Elijah away from Tom.

Klaus opened his mouth as if to speak, then glanced over at his brother that certainly looked very ill. "Fine," he answered, breathing hard. "Now fix him."

Tom motions his right hand upward and snapped Elijah neck with an invisible force. Elijah collapsing to the floor as Hayley ran toward him.

"Elijah?" Elijah opened his eyes slowly, squinting against the bright light streaming from the windows. The room looked familiar, he thought. The satin bedding, the wooden bookshelf, the mirror, the memory flashed slowly. It's his room. He was no longer kept captive in the dark room, no more torturing, no more Davina's blood, no more Hayley in his head.

"Elijah, how do you feel? Are you okay?"

"Back off," Elijah hissing in anger, he remembered that woman from the bar. She looked unexpectedly familiar, but he could not place that face in his memory but he doesn't have time for this, he had to find that boy, he need to finish his mission.

"Elijah," Hayley whispered his name in sadness. "It's me. Hayley,"

Elijah carefully watching the lady, his anger building more and more in his chest. He didn't bother to hide the hatred on his face. "Why are dare to keep pretending as Hayley. Who are you? No matter, I don't give a single damn about who you are. I have to go,"

Elijah stood up and looked out the window, the sunlight beaming beautifully between the trees.

"Brother," Klaus appeared from the door. He observed silently. "Let talk about it," Klaus affirmed, his trying to sound as calm as he could. "Whatever it is, we will figure it out, whatever damage Davina had caused you, we could fix it."

Elijah turned away from the windows to look at Klaus closely. "You can't."

Klaus eyes widened, surprised with pessimism Elijah just displayed. It was very unlikely of him. "Enlightened me then," Klaus carefully picked his word.

Elijah shook his head. For a moment, he almost believed the sincerity Klaus shown, if only he didn't know better.

"Has prince charming woken from his beauty sleep?" Tom shouted from the lawn.

Elijah's eyes widen at once. His mind flashed the images of Ephraim, his failure at the bar before. He moved out of the room as fast as he could and climbed over the fence in split of second. Hayley moved behind him, wishing there was still chance for her to stop Elijah from hurting Tom.

Tom glared at the figure standing before him. Elijah did not move as he intended to keep a certain distance between them. Despite the fact that he barely had a chance to kill the boy, he decided that he would rather die trying.

"Enough of this spectacle," Tom snapped his fingers curtly, raising his voice. "Hanc omnis animam."

Elijah could only stare at Tom in shock, his mind reeling for an explanation. The despair running on his blood just vanished.

"Hayley?" Elijah ran his fingers across Hayley's face, trailing down her cheek to the back of her head.