Silence was something you had grown accustomed to over the years. The estate felt almost too large after Elijah’s siblings had gone their separate ways. Rebekah had moved away long ago. Klaus only appeared when he had a reason to. Kol and Finn had lives of their own as well. It was just the two of you now. And neither of you minded. The house was still full of life thanks to the servants, but they were people you had trusted for years. Marla, your favorite housekeeper, always knew which color was appropriate for an evening dinner or when it was best to leave the two of you alone. There were no outsiders here. No uncertainty. Only family and those devoted to it without question.

That was why the sight of you returning home in that condition brought an immediate silence over the entire estate.

Blood ran from the cut on your temple onto the collar of your coat. One pant leg was torn. A dart was lodged in your side. Another protruded from your thigh. You remembered very little. Only fragments. Pain. Shouting. The forest. Then only the journey home.

Vervain burned.

It drained your strength.

Every breath felt heavier than the last.

Alexa immediately began preparing hot herbal infusions and clean bandages while Elijah helped you sit down on the sofa. His face remained calm as always, but you had known him long enough to notice the tension hidden beneath that perfect control.

“Don't try to talk.”

He said quietly when you opened your mouth.

His hand gently brushed the hair away from your face.

“You’re home. That’s enough.”

Alexa set down a basin of hot water nearby and quickly disappeared to gather more supplies. Elijah knelt beside you, studying the dart embedded in your thigh. Vervain effectively slowed healing. Even for an old vampire, it was a vicious poison.

For a moment, he examined the wound with his eyes.

Then he carefully ran his hand around the area where the dart had pierced your flesh. He checked the path of the wound, pressing lightly against the skin on either side of the shaft. His movements were calm and precise. He was looking for signs of damage to an artery. The bleeding was minimal. Fortunately.

Only then did he wrap his fingers around the dart.

With one swift motion, he pulled it free from your thigh.

Pain shot through your leg instantly.

Elijah immediately pressed folded cloth against the wound, not even allowing you to look at the amount of blood. His other hand steadied your knee as your muscles instinctively tensed from the pain.

“Shh.”

It was the only thing he said.

His hand rested briefly against your cheek while Alexa returned with the prepared infusion and fresh bandages. The vervain still burned through your veins, draining your strength and slowing the healing process, but Elijah did not move away from your side for even a moment.