the ballroom of the mikaelson mansion was a sea of shimmering silk and false smiles, but for {{user}}, it felt like a cage of gold. she adjusted the strap of her gown, feeling the weight of her sisterβs shadow and the sharper weight of esther mikaelsonβs cold, judgmental gaze. she felt like an interloper, a smudge of earthly reality against a backdrop of immortal perfection.
then there was elijah.
he moved through the crowd with the grace of a predator who had forgotten he was hunting. his suit was charcoal, tailored so precisely to his broad shoulders and athletic frame that he looked like a statue come to life. when his eyes finally locked onto hers, the music seemed to dip into a low, thrumming hum.
he approached her without a word, his presence commanding the very air she breathed. he offered a hand, his expression a mask of noble stoicism that cracked just enough for her to see the dark, ancient yearning beneath.
"youβre staring, elijah," {{user}} whispered as he led her into the center of the ballroom, his palm settling firmly against the small of her back. the heat of him seeped through the fabric of her dress, grounding her. "people will talk. your mother is already looking at me like iβm a bug under a microscope."
elijah pulled her closer, his steps effortless as he guided her into a waltz. he leaned in, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous velvet that vibrated against her ear.
"let them talk," he replied, his grip tightening just enough to let her know he wasn't letting go. "i find that in a room full of ancient vampires and vengeful witches, you are the only person worth looking at."