𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟗❦

What is infinite? The universe and the greed of men -Baghra Morozova

Lyra and Elijah are walking with their arms looped as they followed Jenna, she was giving them a tour of the Mystic Falls historical sights.

Jenna pointed out as she looked at them with a smile "The old Fell property actually starts just beyond that fence."

Elijah narrowed his eyes and said "Ah, the Fells. One of the Founding Families."

Lyra held back a laugh at his tone while Jenna just frowned and asked "Why do you say it like that?"

Elijah waved his hand around the property as he explained "My research showed me that this area was actually settled almost two full centuries earlier. It was a migration of townsfolk from the northeast, um, it was Salem, to be precise."

"Massachusetts? As in the witch trials?" Jenna pondered and looked at him with admiration.

Lyra continued for Elijah, who smiled at her knowledge, as she shrugged "Which means the ever-lauded founding families...didn't actually found anything."

Jenna stopped walking and agreed as she looked at the couple " Well, I bet it was the men who made a big deal about being founders back in 1860. Men are very territorial."

Elijah's arm moved towards Lyra's waist as he pulled her even closer and looked at her with a certain look "Yes, they are."

Lyra smiled at him, before movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention. Alaric was approaching them with a very fake smile.

Jenna smiled at the sight of him and introduced "Guys, this is my friend, Alaric Saltzman."

Alaric glanced at her before focusing on the couple with a serious look in his eyes "Yeah, I got your message about walking Elijah and Lyra here through the old property lines. I thought I would tag along. You know being a history buff and all. Where to next?"

The couple didn't let him intimidate them as Lyra grinned and told them "We're pretty curious about the freed slave property owners. Some say, you know, the descendents of the slaves are the true keepers of American history."

"Well, I only brought the surveys. I got that list in the car. Just give me a sec" Jenna confessed as she walked away from them.

They watched her walk away as Elijah spoke up "Alaric Saltzman. So you're one of those people on Elena's list of loved ones to protect."

Alaric raised an eyebrow and noted "So is Jenna."

Lyra scoffed and stepped forward to pat his shoulder "You don't have to be jealous. He will not pursue Jenna considering he has a soulmate."

She gave him one last grin before walking away, Elijah followed her like a puppy with a admiring smile on his face.

Alaric watched them go as he whispered under his breath and followed them "Right."

TW: light smut

Dorian was looking out towards the lake as he stood on the bedroom balcony, Elena would now be reading in the Gilbert journal and he had no idea what Stefan was going to do, considering him and Elena were complicated.

He felt arms surround his stomach and a head leaning on his shoulder as Stefan whispered in his ear "Enjoying the view?"

Dorian smirked and turned in his arms while replying "Yes, but there is a view I would much rather enjoy."

Stefan looked at him with a raised eyebrow, but Dorian just grinned and moved out of his arms and back into the bedroom.

Deciding to tease Stefan further, Dorian turned his back towards him and started to slowly take off his jacket and shirt. He did it as slow as possible, knowing that it would only rile Stefan up to do something.

He heard a growl and before he knew it, he was pressed up against the wall with Stefan furiously claiming his lips.

Dorian doesn't hesitate to kiss him back, Stefan's hand's held his against the wall making him unable to move and Stefan pulled back, he muttered against his lips "Do you know how hard it is to hold back?"

His head dropped to Dorian's shoulder while sucking kisses on his neck and continuing "I am a ripper for a reason, holding back is normal for me yet you make it ten times harder."

Dorian winces a bit as he feels the sharp edge of Stefan's fangs, but he shook that fear off as he whispered out "Then don't hold back, bite me."

Another growl came out of Stefan as he heard the certainty in Dorian's tone. He closed his eyes and arched his back a little, moaning softly as Stefan bit into his neck and drank from him slowly.

Stefan couldn't get enough of the taste, Dorian's blood was sweeter then any he had ever had. Surprisingly, he slowly felt his hunger fade away, way faster then it normally did.

The bite wasn't exactly painful, but it was more uncomfortable to Dorian. But all of that went away the minute Stefan's hands moved towards his shoulder and touching their soul mark, replacing the uncomfortableness with sweet pleasure.

The duo both groaned as Stefan pulled away from his neck, both of them staring deeply into each other's eyes. Dorian surged forward and claimed Stefan's lips this time while slowly pushing him off of him and towards the bed.

They both stumbled, but also smiled as they fell onto the bed. Stefan sped up to hover above Dorian and whisper "You won't be able to walk straight after I am done with you."

Dorian just grinned and taunted with a raised eyebrow "Prove it."

Stefan gave on last growl before starting to pull off Dorian's pants...

Lyra, Elijah and Jenna enter the Grill with smiles on their faces, Jenna walked towards a table where she spotted Damon, Andie and Alaric. The couple just followed behind her silently.

Jenna approached the people at the table with a smile "Hey guys!"

"So I hear you two had quite a meeting of historical minds today" Damon cut straight to the point with a teasing tone.

Jenna nodded and agreed "Yeah, I guess you could say that."

Alaric huffed and started to grab his stuff "Well, as much as I'd like to continue this, I've got papers to grade."

Jenna looked at him with a frown while Lyra internally scoffed at his weak attempt to avoid Jenna.

"No" Andie protested and suggested while looking at Elijah "You know what? We should continue this. Let's have a dinner party.

Damon now looked interested as he agreed "Ooh, my girl. Full of good ideas. I'll be happy to host. Say tonight. Maybe?"

Andie nodded and looked to Jenna "It's good for me. Jenna?"

Alaric and Jenna responded at the same time, Alaric with "I don't know if tonight works..." While Jenna responded with "Yeah, I'm free."

Elijah looked to Lyra with with a questioning stare and she just shrugged while answering "Why not? I'll even bring a dessert."

Damon grinned at them "Great!"

TW: Mention of drugs

Lyra stood in the kitchen as she baked her favourite dessert.

Her concentration on the dessert was broken as Elijah came waltzing in while he was adjusting his suit and asked "Do you think this looks good?"

She looked at him and frowned while admitting "Elijah almost every suit looks the same to me and especially yours considering their all the same colour."

Elijah looked offended as he denied "They don't all look the same!" She gave him a 'really?' look and he sighed, he looked over and asked "What are you making?"

"Traditional Dutch apple turnovers, my family and I used to make them" She revealed as she turned her attention back towards the dessert.

Elijah frowned as he took a step closer "Dutch?"

She didn't even look at him as she responded "My father was Dutch and my mother was American, they divorced when I was young so me and my siblings moved in-between the countries a lot. Yes, they did make me and my siblings keep moving countries considering they both still wanted to see us."

Elijah furrowed his brows as he noted "In you're tone I detect some dislike towards your parents?"

Lyra grabbed the oven plate with the turnovers and put them into the oven while replying "Father was a drug addict, mother was always drinking her life away. That left me in charge of my brothers and sisters, considering I was the eldest" She stood up straight with a sigh "Can we move on from the traumatic history, I would rather stop talking about it."

Elijah gave her a sympathetic smile as he grabbed her hips and held her close as he kissed her lips.

Lyra sighed into the kiss as he shoulders relaxed and she felt herself melt into his embrace, she could feel him deepen the kiss-

"Well isn't this a sight I would rather not see" A voice spoke up, Lyra jumped away from Elijah as she snapped her head towards the doorway where Katherine herself stood.

She gave them both a smirk, while Elijah's jaw clenched in annoyance and exhaled "Katerina."

"Elijah" Katherine smiled and walked forward to put a folder onto the countertop "Per yours and Dorian's request, here is a file on everything I have managed to get on Lucien Castle. It isn't much, but it is something."

Lyra smiled and grabbed the folder "Thank you Kat."

Katherine grinned and asked with raised eyebrows "Kat?"

Lyra just shrugged in response and put the folder away. Elijah frowned and repeated "Lucien Castle? Why would you need information on him Elskan?"

Lyra hid the folder in the bookshelf while vaguely answering "You'll know in the future dear" She turned around and gave him a smirk, before turning to Katherine "Elijah and I have a dinner tonight and I need a dress, will you help me find the right one in my closet?"

Katherine replied with a smile "It would be my honour."

Lyra giggeled and both of them raced upstairs, leaving a curious Elijah. He just shook his head and waited for the apple turnovers to be ready.

Damon opens the door to the Salvatore home, realign Elijah and Lyra. Elijah was just wearing his normal suit while Lyra wore a fancy, yet normal red dress.

"Good evening" Elijah greeted as his hand was in his pocket, Lyra stood next him with a plate full of apple turnovers.

Damon gave them a quick smile and opened the door wider "hank you for coming. Please, come in."

"Just one moment" Elijah stopped him and leaned against the doorframe "Can I just say that if you have less than honorable intentions about how this evening is going to proceed, I suggest you reconsider."

Damon breathed in sharply and shook his head "No, nothing, nothing dishonorable. Just getting to know you."

Elijah merely hummed and gave a fake smile "Well, that's good" He took a step inside and muttered "Because, you know, although Elena and I have this deal, if you so much as make a move to cross me or my mate, I'll kill you and I'll kill everyone in this house. Are we clear?

"Crystal" Damon agreed with a few fearful glances.

Lyra opened her mouth and took a deep breath as she whispered "That was so hot" Ignoring Damon's scrunched up face, she noticed Jenna over their shoulders and approached her with a smile "Jenna. Wonderful to see you again. How are you??"

Jenna just smiled and greeted back "Nice to see you."

Elijah came up behind Lyra with a smile and complimented "You look incredible."

"Thank you" Jenna smiled and looked at the plate in Lyra's hand as she asked "Oh, what is this?"

Jenna grabbed the plate as Lyra explained "Apple turnovers, family recipe..."

Eventually they all moved towards the dining room and sat down. Lyra could feel the questioning gaze of John Gilbert, he didn't know who she was and that irked him.

While Jenna was pouring the wine, she told Damon an interesting fact "I hate to break it to you, Damon, but according to Elijah, your family is so not a founder of this town."

Damon grabbed his glass and hummed "do tell."

Elijah looked around the table, sharing a glance with Lyra, as he explained "Well, as I mentioned to Jenna earlier, a faction of settlers migrated from Salem after the witch trials in the 1690s. Over the next hundred years they developed this community where they could feel safe from persecution."

Lyra took a bite of the food as Jenna remarked "Hmm. Because they were witches."

Furrowing her brows, Andie denied "Yeah, but there's no tangible proof there were witches in Salem."

Damon looked to Elijah as he shared "Andie's a journalist. Big on facts."

Lyra's hand twitched in annoyance and Elijah grabbed her hand as he continued "Well, the lore says that there was this wave of anti-witch hysteria. It broke out in the neighboring settlement, so these witches were rounded up. They were tied to stakes in a field together and, uh, burned. Some say you could hear the screams from miles around us. They were consumed by the fire. Could you pass the..."

Lyra laughed as Jenna joked "I wouldn't repeat this to the Historical Society."

John leaned forward and stated "It's starting to sound a little like a ghost story to me."

Damon caught the drift and continued for him "So, why do you want to know the location of these alleged massacres?"

This time it was Lyra who grabbed Elijah's clenching fists as she answered "You know... My Fiancé's healthy historian's curiosity, of course."

Damon shot her a fake smile as he agreed "Of course."

TW: Mention of drugs and rape

Stefan and Dorian laid in bed together, Dorian was fiddling with Stefan's hand as Stefan looked down at him in adoration.

Stefan nudged him a bit "You know, I don't know much about your past..."He trailed off as Dorian tensed up and he quickly reassured "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

Dorian shook his head and continued to fiddle with Stefan's hand "No, no... I want to" He breathed and began "My father died in the army when I was young, his death broke my mother. She started to slowly lose herself in drugs, working in the red district in Amsterdam to earn money."

"That must have been hard for you" Stefan said and explained at Dorian's confused look "To see your mother wither away slowly, even if you were young."

Dorian just shrugged "I barely remember most of it and every time I had to take care of her, I had help. It's how I met Lyra, her father worked in the drug industry and sold some to my mother. I tried stopping her and Lyra watched from the shadows while approaching me later that day. She and a few other friends helped me find myself, but my mother was enraged. Even in her messed up state did she manage to hurt me."

Stefan clearly didn't understand as he sat up straighter and asked "What do you mean?"

"My mother had to pay a debt and instead of her paying it, she forced me to pay it. I was only 15 when my mother and 3 men walked into my bedroom, the rest is a bit of a blur. But my entire body was scattered with bruises of handprints, Lyra and the other friends got me out of there as quickly as possible..."

Stefan could hear the struggle in his voice and quickly stopped him "Stop" Stefan hugged Dorian closer "You don't have to tell me this, she isn't here anymore and I will never ever let her touch you again."

Dorian sighed and accepted the comfort.

Their moment was interrupted by Elena storming into the room and yelling "Stefan! Stefan..."

She trailed off as she saw them shirtless in bed, hugging. Her face scrunched up while Dorian just groaned and Stefan asked in anger "What do you want Elena."

She frowned and reluctantly moved to Stefan's side as she showed him something in the Gilbert journal "Johnathan Gilbert researched the Originals, look he figured out this dagger could kill an Original!"

Stefan rolled his eyes and stated "I know Elena, John gave an exact dagger to Damon to use it on Elijah."

"What?!" Elena and Dorian replied in sync as Dorian now sat up and put his hand on his forehead. He totally forgot about this and how he hoped that Lyra didn't.

"Stefan look at this" Elena demanded and read out loud "'It must be brandished by humans alone, for it will bring death to all demons who wield it.'"

Stefan looked panicked at the realisation and raced towards his own phone while calling Damon. Cursing when Damon didn't respond, so he tried Alaric.

Damon held out his hands and offered "Would anyone care for some cognac? I have a bottle that I've been saving for ages."

Alaric declined "None for me thanks. Nine bottles of wine is my limit."

Damon give him an irritated smile and everyone started to get up.

Andie looked around and offered "The gentlemen should take their drinks in the study."

Elijah gave Andie a smile and complimented "I have to say the food was almost as wonderful as the company."

Andie laughed and stated "I like you."

As Elijah moved towards the study, Lyra bumped into him while quietly whispering in his ear "Watch out, dagger."

He looked at her curiously, but moved towards the study anyway.

Lyra bit her lip as she wanted to follow them, but felt a prick at her neck as she looked behind her. She found Andie standing behind her with a syringe in hand and that's the last thing she saw before everything went dark.

Lyra gasped awake as she found herself in an empty village, it was familiar but she couldn't point it out from where it was familiar.

She stood up and dusted herself off as she continued to look around for any sign of human life, she hesitantly called out "Hello? Anyone here?"

She smiled as four butterflies appeared in front of her, it looked like they were glowing as bright as the stars. They fluttered around her, getting close and she giggled as they continued to sort of dance in front of her.

"Beautiful aren't they?" A voice spoke up and it startled her as she turned to the source.

She was certainly surprised to find Finn Mikaelson looking at her and the butterflies with a smile. He looked very attractive, she always thought he did, but seeing him in reality made him ten times hotter. She always thought they did him dirty, he had every right to be angry and wanting his own death was severely overlooked by his siblings in TVD.

She cleared her throat and smiled as she agreed "They are. Uhh- Not to be rude, but do you know how we are here?"

Finn stepped closer with a tight lipped smile as he shook his head "I am afraid not, well actually I have a suspicion. But I do not know for sure, considering I am in bit of a predicament at the moment."

She sighed and nodded her head "That's unfortunate" She held out her hand and introduced "My name is Lyra Hawthorne."

Finn tilted his head at her hand and she quickly caught on that he didn't know what a handshake was, so she quickly explained "When someone holds out their hand like this and tells you their name, you shake their hand back and respond with your own nam back."

Understanding filled his eyes and he quickly shook her hand while introducing himself "Finn Mikaelson."

"Mikaelson huh?" Lyra smirked and tilted her head. At Finn's innocent look, she coo'ed "Aww you poor ignorant boy."

Finn tilted his head and asked "What is that supposed to mean?"

Lyra was about to respond, but gasped out loud and fell to the ground as she felt something stab itself into her chest.

Finn quickly got to her side and held her as he asked questions, but it was all drowned out as the pain got worse. The pain was slightly less as Finn's touch left tingles on her skin, but everything slowly began to fade away as the pain spread over her entire body.

Lyra woke up to lying in a basement, next to her laid a grey veined Elijah. She sat top straight and grabbed his shoulder to shake him awake.

Seeing as it wasn't working, she put both her hands on his chest and tried finding something to wake him up. Her hands glowed a light reddish colour as the colour returned to Elijah's skin. He gasped awake and looked at her in shock, she laughed in relief and embraced him.

He put his arms around her as he looked around and stated "You were right. They tried daggering me."

"I'm sorry, I know you wanted this to work out" Lyra apologised, but apparently it all fell deaf to Elijah ears as he shook his head in anger.

With his vampire speed, he picked her up and sped away towards an apartment. Elijah sat her down as he opened the door to the apartment, Jonas looked at them in confusion as she stood on the other side.

Elijah was seething and breathing heavily as Jonas asked "What happened?"

"I need you to find Elena, now" Elijah ordered and understanding filled Jonas's eyes as he turned around to start doing a spell.

Elijah walked forward to join him, but before he could Lyra stopped him "Elijah, you know this won't end well. They still have the dagger and the way that this will end is with you daggered in their basement."

Elijah looked at her and shook his head as he denied "It won't-"

Lyra cut him off as she pushed "It will. Don't do this, I can't stop you and this is your choice. But the minute they will have you, I will not be able to save you!"

"I don't need you, I am an Original" Elijah spat the words out and gave her a glare.

Lyra breathed in sharply, her heart ached as he looked at her like that, but she shrugged off all her emotions and looked at him blankly "Okay."

Regret filled his eyes as he tried to say "Elskan, I am-"

"No" Lyra cut him off with a shake of her head and nodded while slowly backing away "Go ahead and be the all powerful Original that gets taken down by a human doppelgänger, I won't stop you."

She walked away from him, Elijah tried following her. But Jonas called out to him and he sighed as he returned back to the task at hand.

Elena, Stefan and Dorian were walking towards the front door, but Stefan stopped both of them as he heard the sound of stones being grabbed outside.

Stefan sighs as he noted "He's here."

Dorian lowers his eyes to ground as he knew that something happened between Elijah and Lyra. She would definitely try and stop Elijah from going because he would get daggered and she would want to prevent that. But if he is here then that means she failed and they probably got in argument. He should check in with her later.

He was snapped out of his thoughts as the door was broken of it hinges with some stones, revealing a pissed off Elijah on the other side.

Elena looked towards the mated pair and says "You two have to go. I need to talk to him alone."

Stefan sighed and held Dorian's arm as he tried to leave and drag Dorian with him, but Dorian staid where he was. He looked at Elena with a raised eyebrow and scoffed "You're not the boss of me and Elijah likes me more then you, so watch out if I were you."

Elena pouts, but walks towards the door anyway. She looks at Elijah and acknowledged "They shouldn't have done what they did" Damm right, Dorian thought.

Elijah looks at her blankly as he states "The deal is off."

"I'm renegotiating" Elena offers as fear fills her eyes.

Elijah steps closer and shakes his head "You have nothing left to negotiate with."

It's silent for a moment, before Elena pulls out a knife. Elijah looks amused when she tried to look intimidating as she said "I'd like to see you lure Klaus into Mystic Falls after the doppelgänger bleeds to death."

Elijah bites his lip and thinks about it "Despite the feud you currently have, Stefan won't let you die."

Dorian looks at Stefan, who only frowns and shrugs. This peaked his interest because maybe Stefan is finally seeing Elena's true self and maybe he could be trusted.

"No, he won't. He'll feed me his blood to heal me, and then I'll kill myself and become a vampire, just like Katherine did. So unless you want that to happen again, promise me the same as before...promise me...You won't harm anyone that I love. Even if they've harmed you" Elena states it as if it was facts, but by the way Stefan rolled his eyes and scoffed, told a different story.

Elijah smiles, he thinks all of this is just small talk to distract him and even if she did. Dorian is a blood witch so that means he could heal her, so he just shrugs "I'm sorry, Elena. I'm going to have to call your bluff."

Elena looks him straight in the eye as as she breathes in and points the knife to her stomach, before ramming it in. Elijah yells out and speeds towards the door, Dorian frowns. If his theory was right that would mean Lyra is somewhere devastated and here is Elijah, who is upset that the doppelgänger might get hurt. So much for mate loyalty.

Elijah looks around, he catches the eye of Dorian and desperately breathes out "Yes. Yes, you can have your deal. Let me heal you or Dorian heal you."

Elena grits out "Give me your word!"

Elijah hesitates as he promises "I give you my word."

Elena stumbles outside and into Elijah's arms, but before ehe could comprehend. Elena stabbed him with the dagger, immobilising him. The last thing he saw before he died, was Dorian looking at him with no sympathy.

When he was down, Damon rushed forward to heal Elena while Stefan and Dorian watched.

Did Dorian feel bad about Elijah getting daggered? Yes, but he wasn't concerned about that right now. His was snapped out of his thoughts as his phone rang, making everyone look at him.

He looked at it and saw Katherine's phone number, he furrowed his brows as he picked up. Before he could even say something, Katherine rushed out "Dorian you need to get to the house, quickly!"

Dorian frowned and asked "Katherine slow down, what happened?"

"It's Lyra, get here now!" Katherine exclaimed before she hung up. Dorian didn't waste a second as he rushed out of the house.

But he was stopped by Damon, who accused "Was that Katherine? Are you the reason she is out of the tomb, because sorry to break it you. But you're probably nothing more then a plaything to her."

Dorian raised an eyebrow and turned to Stefan "You didn't tell them?" Stefan ignored his gaze and he turned back to Damon "I'm not only Stefan's mate, no I am also Katherine's mate" He shoved Damon's arm off of him "Now if you'll excuse me, my sister needs me."

He walked away and Damon made move to grab him again, but Stefan stopped him by calling out "Damon, leave him."

Damon scoffed and started to grab Elijah's body.

Stefan took one look at them and Elijah, before scoffing and speeding after Dorian. He saw him walking towards the cars and called out "Dorian! Dorian wait."

Dorian closed his eyes and sighed "What Stefan? Our time here has been amazing, but I need to get to Lyra."

"I'm sorry about Elijah, he was your friend and to be honest, we had no good reason to dagger him" Stefan apologised and Dorian was taken back by the apology, Stefan smiled and offered while holding out his hand "If you trust me, I can speed you to the house. It will be faster."

Dorian hesitated, but took the leap as he grabbed Stefan's hand and gave the address.

When Stefan set him down in front of the house, Dorian quickly ran inside. Stefan stopped outside of the door frame considering he hasn't been invited inside.

Dorian looked at him and quickly said "Come inside" He looked around the house while yelling "Lyra?! Katherine?!"

Katherine yelled a quick "Here!" From the living room and he sprinted towards it. Stefan slowly walked after him while observing the house interior.

Dorian walked in to see Katherine holding a hysterical Lyra who was crying and breathing heavily. His faced morphed into one of realisation as he rushed dover and grabbed Lyra from Katherine while rocking her and whispering comforting words.

Stefan frowned a bit as he noticed how distraught Lyra was, he assumed it was from Elijah's death and he didn't think about how much it would hurt Elijah's mate if they daggered him.

Only noticing him now, Katherine looked at Stefan and tilted her head in confusion. What was he doing here? How did he even get in here.

Both of them looked back to Lyra and Dorian as she calmed down and fell asleep in Dorian's arms. He picked her up and put her on the couch with a blanket covering her.

When he stood up, he noticed the tense silence between Katherine and Stefan. Dorian sighed as he turned to Stefan and quietly said "As much as I would like for you stay here tonight and we could talk" He glanced at Katherine "All of us, I don't think it's a good idea. You can come back tomorrow, if you want to."

Stefan nodded and agreed "I understand, I'll see you tomorrow for that talk."

He then sped out of the house. Dorian turned to Katherine and told her "I think I'll sleep down here, Lyra will be panicked when she wakes up and she needs me right now."

Katherine smiled and got closer to peck his lips "It's okay. You can make it up to me with some of your pancakes."

Dorian chuckled. Katherine gave him one last smile, before speeding toward their room.