The enemy within 11

11

 

„How was it?“ Elijah asked, waiting for Eva outside the airport when they arrived in Fort Lauderdale.

 

„I'll tell you about it at home,“ Eva said, glancing at Lena.

 

„OK,“ he put his arm around Eva's shoulders and pulled her closer.

 

„It was good. She helped as much as she could,“ Lena gave him a small smile.

 

„Glad to hear it. Have a nice evening,“ he nodded at Lena and Danny and led his wife to the car.

 

„See you tomorrow,“ Lena waved at Eva as they jumped in their car, heading home.

 

*

 

„Well, I think it was quite a successful journey,“ Danny uttered as he parked at Lena's place.

 

„Dahlia surprised me. She is a kind old woman. I expected... you know... a freak,“ Lena shrugged. „Thank you for coming with me today, Danny.“

 

„You're welcome,“ Danny smiled. „Look, if you need a help, call me. You set yourself a big task.“

 

„Don't worry I'll deal with it.“

 

„Be careful.“

 

„I have to be. You know I don't want to lock him in the cage anymore,“ she glanced at him.

 

„Lena, he could hurt you if you'll let him outside. Are you aware that he's dangerous?“ Danny turned to her, worried. „Please reconsider before you do something stupid.“ She looked at him, nodding slowly her head as if she realized something.

 

„You're right. I have to proceed with caution. He would feel guilty if I allowed him to hurt anyone,“ she ran her hand through her hair, staring straight ahead. „I'll be careful, I promise,“ she turned her head to him, her face serious.

 

*

 

After getting out of her car she walked along the house and on the back porch. He was nowhere to be seen so she knocked on the door and walked in. She found him in the kitchen.

 

„Hey, how are you?“ she stepped closer.

 

„Hey, I'm fine. And you?“ he glanced at her as he put two plates on the set table.

 

„I'm good, thanks. Did you cook?“ She noticed the steaks and mashed potatoes on the plates. „It smells incredibly.“

 

„Yes, I did. Do you like steaks?“ he pulled the chair out for her when she nodded. She sat down and tasted the first bite.

 

„Mmmm, it's delicious. Really,“ she lifted her eyebrow as he gave her a look of disbelief.

 

„Thanks,“ he gave her a small smile, lowering his eyes to his plate again. She watched him but he didn't raise his eyes during dinner at all. She was wondering what happened as she felt something's bothering him.

 

He put the dishes in the dishwasher as she prepared two cups and turned on the kettle to boil water for coffee. She poured the boiled water into the cups, put them on a tray and brought it on the back porch. He was sitting on the steps, lost in thoughts.

 

„Eric, what happened? I feel something's wrong. Can I help you? I hate to see you like this,“ she spoke softly standing behind him on the porch. „Talk to me, please.“

 

„I was in the city to take wedding pictures today,“ he said, not bothering to stand up. „An idea of stopping by at your work came to my mind but... the salon was closed. You didn't tell me about your day off,“ finally he got up and sat down at the table.

 

„No, I didn't,“ she sighed. „I was in New Orleans, to see a clairvoyant.“

 

„Why?“ his eyes shot to her.

 

„To find out something more about your curse. It's killing me to lock you every day in the cage. You don't deserve to live like this, Eric,“ she looked in his eyes. He stood up and stepped to the banisters without looking at her.

 

„Why did you go there alone? You could have taken me with you,“ he asked, his voice void of emotions.

 

„I wasn't there alone. Danny and Eva went with me,“ she said in a low voice. He sharply turned to her, frowning.

 

„Did you tell them... about me... about the curse?!“ He shook his head when she said nothing. „I can't believe that. I trusted you!“

 

„They're my best friends they'll tell no one else about it,“ she stepped closer and lifted her hand to stroke his cheek. He grabbed her wrist to stop her hand.

 

„It's been my secret before I met you,“ he hissed, anger in his eyes. „For ten years.“

 

„Eric, let me go, it hurts,“ she let out a sob, tears welled up in her eyes. He released her hand, the expression on his face suddenly changed.

 

„I didn't want to hurt you,“ he looked confused. „I'm sorry, Lena. It wasn't me.“

 

„See, the curse deepens even while you're in human form,“ she covered her mouth with her hand. Her heart was beating like crazy as she lifted her hand one more time to attempt to touch him. „Please don't be angry with me,“ she whispered, putting her hand on his cheek. He closed his eyes, looking tired. „I didn't want to disappoint you or hurt you. I'd like to help you.“ He opened his eyes and she felt it was him again. She felt a hint of hope. The bracelet seemed to work. „I know I should have told you. I wasn't sure what she would tell me.“

 

„Tell me more about the visit,“ he sat down on the bench.

 

„I found her on the Internet. She was Esther's aunt. Her name's Dahlia Mikaelson and she's very kind,“ Lena broke off. „She told me that the curse deepened because...,“ she sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. He stared at her, curious.

 

„Because...?“ he prompted.

 

„Because you voiced that you love me,“ she finished the sentence reluctantly. „She said that Esther was pure evil and built the curse the way you couldn't get rid of it,“ she ran her hand through her hair. „You feel worse because of me. If I didn't come into your life...,“ she shook her head, tears in her eyes.

 

„Don't say that, Lena. It's not true, it absolutely isn't your fault,“ he raised his eyes to her. „Tell me, is there any chance to break the curse?“ she could hear the tension in his voice.

 

„Dahlia told me that probably it is possible but she doesn't know the way how to do it,“ she said softly, looking in his eyes. „The most important thing is not to give up,“ she made one step closer. „And I have no intention to give up no matter what.“

 

„Yet I still think you should have told me about your plans,“ he clasped his hands. „I'm aware of the fact that you do it for me. Behind my back.“

 

„I didn't want to give you false hope,“ she swallowed. „Actually you're right,“ she turned around, seeing no muscle in his face move, swallowing tears.

 

„You should lock me up and leave,“ he offered in a low voice.

 

„I intend to stay here. I can't lock you in the damned cage and leave you alone. I'm ready to fight with it,“ she waved him off, her back to him.

 

„No, you should go. It's useless to stay here. My consciousness will be suppressed anyway and I have no idea what I could do,“ he stood up. „It's dangerous, Lena.“

 

„I don't care,“ she remarked over her shoulder. „I can't just stand by. Try to understand. Anyway you'll be locked inside so how could you hurt me? I understand you're afraid and upset. I promise that I'll tell you about my plans in advance.“ He furrowed his forehead, watching her intently.

 

„Good,“ he turned her to him, looking at her. „You won't open the cage, will you?“

 

„No, I won't. Not today.“

 

„Don't play with fire, please. It's not necessary to make stupid things,“ he demanded, the urge in his voice.

 

„I won't. Don't worry. As I said I'll inform you about my plans. I don't want you to be afraid and nervous, Eric,“ she assured him.

 

„I want to trust you,“ he trailed off. „As far as I get it right, my life's in your hands.“ She nodded her head slightly as he led her to the cage.

 

She locked him inside and with her heart pounding in her chest she retreated into the house. She waited several minutes in the kitchen before she walked outside and to the cage where she saw the wolf pacing back and forth inside.

 

*

 

She stepped closer, looking at him. As she touched the bars, the wolf started growling and showing his teeth.

 

„Eric,“ she begged, whispering. She kneeled in front of the cage, watching him. She felt he didn't recognize her. He looked furious, pacing around the cage, his eyes on her. He didn't stop growling. She wondered how to calm him but she saw he wouldn't let her touch him.

 

„Eric, please, listen to me,“ she reached out her hand and shifted closer to the bars. „I'm so sorry that I made you angry. I shouldn't have gone to New Orleans on my own. I should have told you that Eva and Danny knew,“ she noticed that he stopped. He looked in her eyes intently and she dared to run her hand through the bars. He growled slightly and made one step to her. She was afraid but forced herself not to recoil from him. She didn't move, waiting for his reaction.

 

He sniffed her hand shortly and pulled away. He looked calm. They looked in each other's eyes, without move, she didn't know how long.

 

*

 

Eric woke up in the morning feeling cold. He got dressed and got out of the cage. Suddenly he noticed Lena sleeping in the grass next to it. He took her in his arms and carried her inside. He laid her down on the couch and covered her body with a blanket. She looked so cute and innocent. His heart clenched as he remembered that basically she betrayed him. How could she tell anyone about his secret? It was bothering him more than the fact she went to New Orleans. Even though somewhere deep inside he realized that she wanted to help he wasn't happy about the fact that the two knew. He intended to work with Danny and his band and now he wasn't sure how to look in his eyes.

 

He walked up the stairs to take a shower with sadness in his heart and left her sleeping in the living room.

 

She was gone when he came back downstairs. He found a short message on the kitchen table. 'See you in the evening after work. I'll buy pizza for dinner on my way home if it's OK with you. Lena.'

 

*

 

Lena entered the house and put two boxes with pizza on the kitchen counter.

 

„Eric?“ she didn't see him. It was seven p.m. Then she noticed the door of his atelier was ajar. She peeked inside. He was sitting at the table doing something in the PC, his hair tied in a ponytail. „Here you are.“

 

„Hi, give me a minute, I need to finish this,“ he looked at her over his shoulder.

 

„Sure, take your time. I'm in the kitchen,“ she responded, closed the door noiselessly and retreated to kitchen to not disturb him in his work.

 

Lena was sitting on the back porch, nibbling at her pizza when Eric joined her. She glanced at him, seeing his face was serious. She lowered her eyes to her plate, wondering how long he would be angry with her. They ate in ucomfortable silence, at least for her. Then she took the plates, stood up and walked inside. She felt nervous and wasn't happy about the situation. She put the dishes in the dishwasher.

 

„Danny called me today,“ he spoke behind her. She turned to him, feeling relief that he started talking to her.

 

„Really? What did he say?“

 

„The new album was released today and he asked me to come to their release party on Sunday to take some pictures,“ he stuck his hands in the pockets. „He told me to take you with me.“

 

„Sounds good,“ she gave him a small smile. „Eric, if you wish to go alone, I can stay. I don't mind.“

 

„No, why would you stay home? It might look like something's wrong between us, don't you think?“ he shrugged, watching her. She made one step to him and ran her hand through her hair.

 

„And isn't it so?“ she looked up at him, a lump in her throat.

 

„Look, something has changed with your betrayal of my trust,“ he lifted his hand in the air. „I can't just wave it off and carry on. I need some time,“ he broke off for a moment. „I'm not ungrateful I realize that you‘re trying to help me. I don't care that you went to New Orleans. I hate that you talked about me behind my back and revealed my secret to two other people.“ She nodded slightly, bravely trying to swallow tears, pricking in her eyes.

 

„OK. I understand your feelings,“ she responded firmly, even though she didn't feel the certainty. She swallowed before she continued. „Dahlia gave me a bracelet,“ she lifted her right wrist for him to see.

 

„I noticed,“ he remarked with a nod.

 

„It should weaken the wolf's power and help me to break the curse,“ she stroked the bracelet. „She said if someone could break the curse, it was me,“ she looked in his eyes, seeing he wanted to say something. „I just want you to know everything. So it's clear between us. I don't expect any gratitude. Just letting you know,“ she shook her head. „I don't want to do anything behind your back. I'm on your side no matter what. That's what I wanted to say.“

 

„Good. So will you go with me on Sunday?“ he said softly.

 

„Yes, I will. You won't get rid of me so easily, my friend,“ she pulled up one corner of her mouth in a half smile.

 

„I have no such intention,“ he shook his head. He glanced at the clock. „The cage's waiting.“ She followed him outside, locked him in the cage and returned back inside. In several minutes she heard his painful cry that always ran through her body like a knife. She shuddered and went outside to spent the night with him.