manof_myword | As Strong As What I Believe [Locked to Klaus]

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As Strong As What I Believe [Locked to Klaus]

England 1492

The guests had left, human and vampire both. Trevor had taken the girl--Katerina--back to her lodgings, and Elijah hadn't stopped thinking about her, since. Klaus had taken her away for a bit, at his most charming, and Elijah had no doubt of the game they would find themselves playing over the next few weeks or months. Klaus had waited too long, they'd looked too hard...There was a flicker of excitement in his stomach at the idea of Klaus finally having what he wanted, and it mingled with a twist of some unidentifiable emotion at the thought of what the cost would be.

It was ridiculous to care, of course. He didn't. She was beautiful and he knew what she would give his brother, and that was all that mattered.

But he was remembering her smile as he leaned against the window, looking out over the dark gardens. He sipped at the wine in his hand--well laced with some guest's blood--and tried to think of the future, once Klaus had what he wanted, and not anything else that might distract him from their goal, because it was his as much as Klaus's--he wanted this for his brother, wanted him to be all he was meant to be. And that's what he kept telling himself as he drank his wine, then poured another glass and started on that one, as well.

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Klaus moved soundlessly to stand beside Elijah, putting little distance between them. He also drank from a glass filled with wine, and he took a long drink before he spoke.

"Did you enjoy the party, Elijah?" Though he smiled, there was more than simple bemusement that lay beneath it--a great deal of which his brother likely already knew.

Elijah glanced at Klaus's reflection in the window, responding to that rather than looking over at him directly, no matter how close he was standing. His gaze traced his brother's smile there, considering the multitude of potential layers and meanings in both it and the question.

Finally, he answered, "It was quite...illuminating. Did you have a good time?" It waas Klaus's birthday, after all.

"I did," Klaus replied, head titling to the side to look at Elijah before meeting his eyes in the window for a moment. "Plenty of guests to make the evening enjoyable."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Elijah said with a smile that was real, if brief. His words were sincere--he'd planned the party with his brother's enjoyment in mind. "I wish I could take credit for all of it...." But Trevor's gift had surpassed anything Elijah did, and if there was a ripple of...something there, so be it.

Katerina's presence had put Klaus into a nearly unbreakable good mood. It mattered little to him that it had been Trevor who introduced them, though he detected the minor hint of what could have been jealousy from Elijah.

"Someone had to find her, eventually, and better sooner than later," Klaus said, smile ever lingering. "But there's still more that we must prepare for. I'm glad to have an accommodating brother like you to help me see it all through."

"You've waited a long time for this," Elijah said, finally shifting to lean against the window properly and face his brother. "We'll make sure it goes right. I took the liberty of sending a message to the witches to alert them the doppelganger had been found, so they could begin the preparations they need."

How Klaus managed to find witches so willing to break what their ancestors had set in place, he wasn't sure--but he was grateful. "We need to find her birthplace in Bulgaria...though I can see no reason she would withhold that information should you ask."

Klaus shifted likewise, eyes meeting nothing else other than his brother's. "Thank you, brother." He didn't consider that the witches wouldn't bend to his will. If they did otherwise, they and their families would regret it for generations.

"You seemed to be intrigued by her. Perhaps you could find out for me?" It may have been slightly forward to say the first half, but Klaus had never been one to refrain from saying whatever was on his mind, in any way he pleased. "Or we can find out together...maybe have a little bit of fun with her, in the meantime."

Looking away from Klaus was not something that was easy to do, but Elijah's complete lack of desire to do so made it easy to stand his scrutiny. Being the subject of that focus--to be seen, to make Klaus smile....that, really was what he lived for, foolish as it might have seemed.

He didn't look away at the suggestion of his interest in Katerina, though his eyes lit with a rueful sort of amusement. Klaus's suggestion made the smile in his eyes find its way to his lips, sure in what he wanted, where he stood--as much as one could be with Klaus. "She's the doppelgänger--a rare supernatural occurrence. Of course I was intrigued. But finding out more about her together...holds far more appeal than doing so alone."

"We'll have to set up a meeting then, or visit her quarters in the night," Klaus' lips turned in a smirk halfway into his sentence. It was slightly mocking, as he wasn't worried about getting caught at doing anything he'd do doing during the day, at night. There was also the ideas of what all the three of them could do together that he let hang in the air between them. There was no sense not to mix pleasure into their fact-finding mission, even if Katerina had to be compelled and they were the ones left with any real satisfaction.

"She is beautiful, isn't she?" His eyes peered deeper, gaze intent and hard for a moment.

Playing along in Klaus's games generally led to far more pleasure than any Elijah came up with on his own. Something about his brother's devious mind. Or Elijah's own delight in watching him do what he did best, and joining in. "I don't think that should be to difficult," he said, half-smirking, as well. "She seemed quite taken with you."

And where there had been a flicker of jealousy with Trevor, there wasn't in that statement. Instead, it was a more a prickle of possessive pride. A human girl, destined to die, was hardly a threat to what they shared, what they were. Others might be captivated by Klaus, it was true, but Elijah was the one he kept by his side.

The flicker of hardness in Klaus's eyes had Elijah adding quickly, but diffidently--dampening down whatever flicker he might have felt in the girl's presence, "She is, yes. As was her ancestress."

Which possibly wasn't the best memory to evoke, but far, far better than letting Klaus think he was taken with her.

"Hopefully she can see the allure in having the both of us." It was never fun to compel a human into doing everything, after all. There was no thrill in that. It was the bloodletting he'd want to have her forget, at first, anyway. No sense in having his doppelganger try to flee--Klaus didn't want to take the risk of her even potentially getting away.

"Pity her fate, when the doppelganger is such a delight to the eyes." It wasn't that he didn't want Elijah to feel anything toward Katerina. No, quite the opposite. He liked watching his brother use pretty human playthings as they should be used. He craved power in everything, though, and thinking that Elijah was in any way especially taken with her, he desired to have that point admitted aloud.

"Fortunately, the past doppelgangers mean very little currently." It was spoken with spite, but he directed that emotion away from Elijah. Even if he was the one of aid in evoking the memory, past events weren't his brother's fault. They had always been together in breaking this foul curse; that that would continue, Klaus had no doubts.

"That would make her special, indeed," Elijah said with a wryly amused smile. "Most gently bred girls don't come to that conclusion all on their own." And he'd no reason to suspect Katerina was anything other than what she seemed. She spoke well, comported herself politely. The Petrovas were an old family--perhaps Bulgaria was not up to England's standard of civilization, but she was hardly a peasant.

He reached out a hand to brush lightly over Klaus's hair, then cradled his cheek. "Her fate means your freedom, brother. I cannot pity her for it. There are plenty of pretty girls in the world." Though they didn't have such enchanting eyes, or fragile air of vulnerability laced with strength. Or a smile that made him remember how the sun had felt when he was human. It did not burn now, no, but it was not the same, either.

Those were all traitorous thoughts, though, and he was trying very hard not to even acknowledge them to himself.

"We're convincing, especially together," Klaus said, just a hint of genuine affection to his tone. It was something he openly faked, all part of his ploy to be charming to everyone he met, when dealing with anyone other than Elijah. "I think she's rather fond of the both of us, not that I blame her." His free hand rested on his brother's shoulder, sliding to curl fingers around his neck. Another smirk rested on his lips, this time more playful.

"If you find her especially pretty, we'll have to make use of her for as long as she's alive." Klaus wasn't really one to be subtle for very long, even with the several hints he'd made that Elijah may have developed a special fondness for Katerina.

Elijah returned the more playful smirk with one of his own. "We are," he agreed. "And there's no harm in letting her enjoy her last bit of time, if she'd like to...act upon that initial fondness." He felt balanced on the edge of a precipice, words at his lips he didn't feel he should utter, but Klaus's persistence was not allowing him to dodge as artfully as he might have wanted, feelings he didn't have words for.

Far better, then, to acknowledge the attraction, turn it to something more base, and use that to deflect. His fingers traced lightly over Klaus's skin. "All right, I admit it. She is beautiful, and I would enjoy...exploring that beauty, given the chance. But she was your present, and I'll not overstep your wishes as to what we do with her before the ritual."

It was easier than coming up with his own wishes and having them thwarted.

"She is my present to break the curse I bear," Klaus said, glad to hear Elijah admit his desire, even if he didn't know that there was more to his brother's feelings. "But you've always been such a devoted brother, and for that, I'd like to give you this."

If Klaus knew that Elijah was thinking deeper thoughts than simple carnal needs, he may have been less adherent to the idea. As it stood, however, he saw no reason for either of them, together or not (though together was far more fun) to not live out lustful urges with Katerina.

"We can search the world over for a prettier plaything once this is over too," if she captivated either of them to any great extent and craved a replacement. Of course, Klaus was saying this for Elijah's sake. Humans were always disposable, and with his increase in power after the ritual, anything would be possible.

Elijah felt a slightly sinking sensation, like some stone of fate had been cast, but protesting that he didn't want her all that much would only make Klaus think there was more to it than lust, and....he could just turn off whatever that flicker of something he'd felt. What he felt for Klaus so far eclipsed it, though, that surely all would be well. Getting attached to the doomed girl would just be foolish, and he wasn't a fool.

"Thank you, brother," he finally said, letting himself relax, as much as he ever did. "It's been a while since I...indulged myself that way."

A night, a death, or a compulsion to forget his feeding--he hunted, and well, but this was a different game and one he didn't play often, feeling less need for that sort of connection when he had Klaus.

Klaus' smirk turned into more of a grin, all indulgences Elijah could possibly partake of with Katerina playing out in his mind, sparking delight in his eyes.

He stroked Elijah's upper arm, hand resting on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "And you deserve it." He didn't consider that there was anything but lust; after all, she was just another human girl, beauty making her stand out of course. Craving her blood and her body were all he assumed Elijah would want, so he held to no deeper meaning. He simply liked having his brother admit what he wanted out loud.

"I almost can't believe this is really all falling into place, now, after we've waited for so long." He sighed, inhaling deeply. "The power, right there, in reach. We only have to grab onto it to make it real."

Admitting to his own desires was never something that came easily to Elijah. It was easier to dismiss it being anything more than lust for blood and flesh when Klaus smiled at him like that, with the sparkle in his eyes. His brother's touch was grounding, as well, and he needed that after letting himself get so...whatever it was Katerina had done to him.

"Nor can I. But it is what you deserve, and you know I'll do everything in my power to ensure you get it."

Klaus gave a nod that was barely there, a look of agreement settling into his eyes. He drained the rest of the wine from his glass and set it down on a table.

"I've been lucky, to have you by my side, Elijah." His own sort of gratitude glowed from the look of satisfaction he held over the entire situation. The hand on Elijah's shoulder moved to his cheek, thumb brushing over his jaw. "It's hard, to not act now, with more haste, but we've been patient this long, haven't we? But games and preparations will only last for so long."

Elijah couldn't help the faint lean into Klaus's touch. It was mostly instinct and a flicker of craving that had been sparked by the party and his turmoil. It settled now into that certainty of place, and he smiled.

"You are," he said lightly, amusement flickering in his eyes for a moment as he took another drink. "Very lucky. And patience will reward you, in this. We need the other elements and to arrange a trip to Bulgaria. Acting now won't get you what you want. But soon. Very soon, and then...you'll have the fullness of what's yours."

It wasn't right, what the witches had done, trying to make his brother something less than he was.

Klaus' hand slid into Elijah's hair for a moment, grin softening to a smile. "You always have such an eloquent way of putting things, making them make sense when I want nothing more than to jump to action."

The specifics of the curse were not ones that he liked to dwell on, and it was good that Elijah hadn't directly come out and mentioned them. It was easier to think of them as a mere inconvenience, one that would be remedied.

Elijah's words and the way they were with each other acted as an aid in allowing Klaus to have what felt like eternal confidence that his plans would be fulfilled, that they would not fail, and he would gain what was rightfully his.

"We'll have to have Katerina over tomorrow." It was obvious that Klaus didn't want to sit around and wait.

Elijah playfully tugged free, mostly just to feel the tug at his hair, not from any real desire to move free of Klaus's touch. "Well, then--you would be wise to listen to my eloquence and not rush off into anything rash. Plans within plans, remember? I'll make certain we have all we need."

With the moonstone and doppelganger in their possession, the rest was easy. True, werewolves weren't easy to catch, but neither could they stand against them. Getting one wouldn't be a problem. And the gods knew they had plenty of vampires hanging around, paying court. Picking out one to do the honor of giving themselves for the family's favor...worst came to worst, they'd just compel one, but he thought it would be a fairly simple task to pick one out.

"We should arrange some sort of amusement for her. Put her at ease." Getting closer to the lovely Katerina was not something Elijah would deny a chance at, not when Klaus had all but handed her over to him.

Klaus let his fingers rake through Elijah's hair, fingers curling to tug. He liked being playful with his brother, to any extent. They had always been able to do so naturally, and it still brought him the same joy it always had.

"Yes, I remember. Troublesome as it is, I'll heed your words." Anything he might do in that moment wouldn't be very beneficial at all anyway. "I do hope tracking down a wolf won't hold us back." There was a higher degree of impatience in voice at that.

"But do you have anything specific in mind? For Katerina's amusement?" Elijah had always been good with details, providing what was needed at the appropriate times, so that they could act out their plans together. It only seemed natural to Klaus that he might have some sort of activity in mind that Katerina would enjoy.

If Elijah were a cat, he probably would have been purring, which would have been amusing in its irony, perhaps, but he was well pleased with the touches, and petting.

He reached out to touch Klaus's cheek again softly, soothingly. "We've had people keeping track of where packs are. Most of them don't roam too far out of their territory. Snagging ourselves one shouldn't be a problem, especially if we grab them at the new moon." Farthest from the full moon, it seemed the easiest time to grab one, then stash it somewhere for two weeks.

"I don't know what she might like, but we should find out if she rides. We could take the falcons out, show her our land at the same time. It's what she'd expect if we were courting her." Which, well--no one would expect them both to court her, but Klaus knew what he meant. There was generally more of a "we" than an "I" in Elijah's plans. "Not as bloody a hunt as I know you prefer, but there's the thrill of the chase, nonetheless."

It would sound completely off if either of them started speaking in frequent "I"s rather than "We"s. Even though it was Klaus that was under the curse, he had always imagined having Elijah with him forever. Regaining his natural birthright, giving him what he deserved, was just part of their life right now. Why not get everything they deserved? After all, he would do anything and everything to give his brother what he craved. Even if Klaus didn't come out and say it often, he was just as devoted to Elijah as Elijah was to him.

"You're right. Maybe I worry too much, when every detail has had such minute attention paid to it." Yet, there was so much on the line, at the same time.

Klaus made a pleased sound at the soft touch, eyes shutting for a moment. When they opened again, his fingers ran deeper into Elijah's hair, gripping a little possessively, though not painfully. "I like the idea, tameness and all. She seems easy to please, or perhaps it's that we're good company."

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