Chapter Ten: My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark

"Be careful making wishes in the dark, dark
Can't be sure when they've hit their mark
And besides in the mean, mean time
I'm just dreaming of tearing you apart

A constellation of tears on your lashes
Burn everything you love, then burn the ashes
In the end everything collides
My childhood spat back out the monster that you see

My songs know what you did in the dark…"

-Fall Out Boy

Ooo0ooO

Mystic Falls- Three months earlier

(Charlie's POV)

The end of summer was drawing closer and every day I felt more on edge. I knew my sister was going to go back to New Orleans with Klaus again, and I wanted nothing more to go with her to make sure she would be okay. Yet I found myself hesitating, with a feeling of uncertainty churning in my gut.

I scrubbed a hand over my face, sighing deeply.

"Charlie?"

I turned and smiled. Meredith walked over and sat down beside me. Her dark brown eyes were shadowed with worry. "Are you okay?" she asked, touching my hand.

I turned it so I could grip her hand. I ran my thumb over her knuckles. "Just thinking about things," I said.

"Your sister?"

I nodded. "I don't think she should go back to New Orleans."

"Well, why don't you tell her that? Tell her to stay-,"

"You know she won't leave Klaus, not with Marcel there."

Meredith bit her lip. "So what are you going to do?"

I sighed again. "I don't know," I admitted. "It's complicated. With her being pregnant…"

"I know," Meredith said. "But we can't be sure when she's going to be due. This pregnancy is the first of its kind."

"But Antonio…"

"Is running on speculation," Meredith concluded. She had conversed with the older werewolf a few times with questions of her own about Annabelle's pregnancy. "These are going to be the first Hybrid children. I mean, I don't even know if they'll be true Hybrids or werewolves."

I ran a hand over my chin thoughtfully. "I imagine they'll be Hybrids since Klaus was one when they were…conceived."

Meredith smiled at the look of displeasure on my face. "Regardless, it's Anna's choice on whether or not she wants to go."

I looked Meredith in the eyes. "But why do I feel like if she does, something bad will happen?"

Ooo0ooO

Present day

I grabbed my sister's arm as the wolves swarmed by us, lunging for the vampires and witches. The air quickly filled with the sounds of hissing and growling and the smell of blood.

Anna began screaming Klaus's name and my eyes snapped up, and saw that he was still sprawled on the ground. I gritted my teeth before passing Anna over to Elijah, who Tyler had released the minute the fighting began.

"Hold onto her," I growled before yanking my shirt over my head.

Shifting had always been easy. One second you were on two legs, the next, four. My body changed and broke to morph into the beast that was always under the surface. My teeth lengthened, as did my face, my back arched, my hands and feet shrank and claws exploded from my nail beds.

A moment later, I stood in my wolf form and snarled. I knew I would be stronger this way so I could stay by Anna and protect her. The only disadvantage was that I couldn't communicate very well with her.

To my surprise, Hayley shifted too. I hadn't seen her shift before, I had only seen her eyes occasionally flash gold. She changed into a timber wolf, with a coat that was a mixture of brown and gray with hints of red. Her gold eyes turned to meet mine. Her lips curled back to reveal her large, sharp teeth, and she growled deep in her throat.

When I looked away, Klaus was struggling against his bonds, his eyes flashing gold with the blackish veins spreading from them, his sharp teeth gnashing together. I knew if he shifted in his gray wolf form, the vampires and witches would have trouble.

Suddenly I felt a hand on the base of my shoulders. I looked up and saw my sister standing next to me, her eyes cold and gold too. I saw her shudder, as if she had to control her own wolf thanks to be around so many others. "Get Klaus away from Marcel and Tyler," she hissed.

I shifted my weight and sprang forward, flashing towards the vampire and younger Hybrid. I sensed Hayley beside me, whose long bounds were aimed directly for Tyler.

Ooo0ooO

(Anna's POV)

Elijah kept his hand clamped down on my arm, making sure I wouldn't run or shift. The latter was too dangerous now, I wouldn't risk that. But I still felt every fiber of my being screaming at me to help Klaus, to destroy Tyler, and to fight the witches.

"Elijah, we have to help him," I beseeched, struggling against his hold.

Then there was a small gush of wind and Rebekah stood beside both of us. Her blue eyes were wide when she took in the sight before her. "Dear God, what has our brother done now?" she breathed.

"This is not Klaus's doing," Elijah said darkly. "This has been a ploy by the witches and by Tyler Lockwood."

"I thought Niklaus destroyed him!"

"I spared him," I growled, narrowing my eyes at the Hybrid who was currently fighting off Hayley. "I was stupid to do so."

Rebekah exhaled sharply. "Now what? It seems my dear brother is currently incapacitated."

I opened my mouth to reply but all that came out was an ear-splitting screech. I collapsed to my knees, clenching my belly, and my body spasmed. It felt like every vein, every muscle in my body was on fire. It was worse than whatever Agnes had done, a thousand times worse.

I screamed again as I felt a tearing pain ripped down my body, as though invisible claws were slashing my skin open. Tears leaked out of my eyes and I coughed up blood

I could barely make out Elijah's concerned cries or Rebekah's yelling. I sucked in a breath, shuddering, and looked up.

Amongst the fire and the clashing bodies stood the witch I thought I had killed. She smiled slowly and she lifted her hand, beckoning me. Come here.

When I tried to resist, the pain returned, squeezing at my stomach, ripping down my back. I could feel the flesh splitting open and I screamed again, my hand still gripping my belly. For a brief instant, I feared I was going to lose the babies.

Then a certain numbing calm swept over me, calling me over to the witch. I stood, deaf to Elijah and Rebekah, and broke free of their grasp. I walked over to the witch slowly, as if I was walking in a dream.

She smiled when I reached her, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear like we were sisters. "Hello, Annabelle," she said.

I blinked. She didn't sound like Kate. This voice was older, much older, and was full of power.

"My name is Celeste," the witch continued. "I'm so glad you're here. You're going to play such an important role for me."

I wanted to speak, to yell at her, to ask her what the hell she meant. But my tongue felt heavy, like it was made of lead.

Celeste smiled again, ice-cold, before she reached out once more. Her warm hand rested against my forehead.

I thought I screamed again when a blinding light flashed and searing hot pain rippled through my body.

Ooo0ooO

(Klaus's POV)

I hadn't fought when Tyler and Marcel had bound and gagged Elijah and I with vervain soaked ropes and ties. I hadn't fought when they dragged me down the Quarter, leading me to the edge where the town met the woods.

Then I saw why they brought me there. Out of the forest emerged the werewolves, led by Annabelle. Beside her stood her brother, Hayley, and a blonde man who looked familiar.

Fear had sprang forward and it was then that I began to fight. Marcel struck me down but I still tried to free myself. I knew the ropes were probably the witch's doing, since they would not break.

I cried out to Anna in my mind, telling her to run, but it was as though she was deaf to me. The wolves attacked, the vampires charged, and the witches began casting spells that charged the air. Anna began screaming, nearly writhing in pain from an unseen force.

I watched as Annabelle then stood in the fray, held back by my brother and sister. Charlie and Hayley were fighting Tyler and Marcel, but I saw Anna break free and walk towards Celeste, her eyes dull.

When she reached Celeste, the witch touched her and the beast within howled angrily. I snapped my teeth, breaking the ropes, and my body tried to shift. I could feel bones breaking yet I could not make the final transformation.

To my horror, I watched Celeste touch Anna once more, and my mate collapsed once more, screaming terribly.

And when she finally looked up, I felt something tear deep within myself. Her eyes were cold, so cold, and dark, completely void of emotion. She smiled and it was sharp like a thousand knives. She slowly stood and raised her hand, before her eyes flashed gold.

The fighting ceased. The wolves back away, their own gold eyes clouded, just like the witch's were.

Annabelle glided forward, her steps slow and calculating.

Behind her were the werewolves, their clouded eyes glowing gold in the night as they walked behind her on silent paws.

When she came to a stop, her lips pulled back in a sneer. "Of all the gin joints," she said mockingly. "Honestly, did you think that your vampires really stood a chance against us?"

Her lips pulled back against to reveal her sharpened teeth. Her hand lifted almost lazily before she flicked her fingers.

The wolves lunged forward at her signal, and snarls and howls erupted in the air as they attacked the vampires.

Even as they fought around me once more, I watched Anna smile coldly, before she turned her back on me, not before she blew a mocking kiss over her shoulder.

I didn't realize my claws had exploded from my nail beds until I felt blood dripping down my hands from where my fists were clenched.

She was not the woman I had fallen in love with. She was not the one who sang to me, to our children. She was not the woman who played the piano, or the one who laughed with her brother over their own private jokes.

She was a stranger, one who was wearing the mask of my fiancée. I wanted to believe that she was there, somewhere trapped inside her own body, but as the chaos ensued around me, I felt my doubts mount on top of the other.

What could I do? I knew I could not- I would not- kill her. She might have become Celeste's puppet, but she still carried my children inside her. I could only pray that they were safe, unaffected by the spell that had transformed their mother into the very beast she had saved me from becoming.

Ooo0ooO

(Elijah's POV)

Rebekah and I tried to lunge for Annabelle as she walked over to Celeste, but something stopped us from moving. So we had to watch as she did something to Anna, which caused her to scream before she straightened.

I noticed right away that Annabelle was not herself. The look in her eyes made the dread in my stomach pitch. She now controlled the wolves like Celeste controlled the witches. Yet Charlie, Hayley, and the man called Patrick were not affected by this spell.

When Annabelle disappeared, as did the witches and Celeste. I then flashed to my brother, who lunged forward and cried out her name again and again. He collapsed against me, his hands fisting my shirt, his eyes wide with fear and unshed tears.

Charlie and Hayley shifted back and stood with shocked expressions on their face. We all barely realized that the vampires were retreating and the wolves were disappearing back into the woods, their eyes still glowing that eerily clouded light.

"Elijah, I must go after her," Klaus choked, looking me in the eyes. "I must."

I didn't know what to say. I rested a heavy hand on his shoulder and Klaus's gaze lowered. His shoulder shook.

"We need to regroup," Charlie said in soft tones. "We better get somewhere safe."

"Nowhere is safe," Hayley countered. Her hair, skin, and clothes were streaked with blood.

Charlie shook his head. "I'll show you where I've been hiding out. No one should be there."

So we followed him; me, Klaus, Rebekah, Hayley, and Patrick, each silent and trying to absorb the events that had unfolded. Charlie lead us to a different part of the woods, away from the bayou, out towards the more open areas that used to be plantations.

In the distance stood a small house, which is where Charlie led the small group. It was abandoned and falling apart, but it would do.

Klaus stayed on the porch, staring out towards the lights of the Quarter. His gaze was oddly blank.

"We will get her back," I told him, even though I was unsure if he was listening. He didn't respond.

Ooo0ooO

Two days later

(Klaus's POV)

She was gone. Taken from me again, this time by a witch that held more power than we knew how to fight. I remember her scream of pain, and then the blank, cold look she had given me, as if all the memories and life had been drained from her body.

I slammed my fist against the wall, cracking the wood slightly. I could feel the burn of tears building behind my eyes, and the anger pumping through my heart, burning through my veins. It was pushed by the endless feeling of loneliness, of loss.

This house was too quiet. It wasn't like the mansion back in Mystic Falls. There was no laughter, no singing. No sounds of Anna murmuring to our children soothingly as she rubbed her belly in slow circles. There was no sound of her bickering with Rebekah, or talking to Hayley. She wasn't standing outside with Elijah, each lost in their own thoughts. She wasn't in the living room, reading a book with Charlie. She wasn't in the kitchen, washing dishes with a gleam in her eye over the soap bubbles, as if she was remembering the last time we washed dishes together. Had it been so long ago?

A deep, tearing sensation rippled through my body, leaving me breathless. My heart clenched and I gritted my teeth. "No!" I shouted fiercely, pushing away from the desk.

I stumbled outside, where the cool dusk sun was shining through the clouds. I looked up at them and winced as their color reminded me of her eyes. Anna's eyes.

My body changed with a thought, shifting into the beast that was always lurking under the surface. I ran into the woods, not finding comfort in the smells or the sights. I couldn't feel or smell anything, my world had changed to black and white.

I could feel the dirt beneath my paws and I dug my claws deep into it, as if to steady myself. But I wasn't steady. My world was gone and I could feel that. Oh yes, I could feel that.

The first time she had fled did not compare to this. That had been her choice. But darkness seemed to creep in with the dread of knowing who had taken her from me, who had ripped her from the safety of my arms and had taken everything from her, and in turn took everything from me.

Deep, sorrowful whimpers and cries build up in my chest before I tilted my head back and howled to whoever would listen. I cried out for my mate, my Anna, for the children she carried, for the love she gave me, for the sanity she gave me. I felt utterly lost and utterly alone, a man standing in the darkness without a light to guide him out.

And memories haunted me. The color of her eyes. Her shy, secret smile. Her laugh. The freckles that dotted her nose and cheeks. The birthmark on the side of her knee. The feeling of our children moving under my hand. The sound of their hearts beating as one, the sweetest lullaby. Gone.

I opened my eyes and gazed up to the sky again. The moon was beginning to show in the sky, a waning crescent. And I remembered her voice. It was almost like she was standing beside me again.

"Niklaus…" she whispered, reaching out to touch me.

"I love you." Her hand caressed my cheek softly.

Then she stopped whispering and began shouting. "Find me. Find me!"

"I'm not giving up on you, so don't give up on me," she seemed to snap, pulling her hand away sharply.

No, please….

And the shout. "Find me!"

How?

"Why are you sitting around and howling? Get up! Fight! Don't give up on me!" the ghost of Anna screamed at me, her eyes flashing silver in my head.

But I want to… I can't keep you safe.

"Well you sure as hell can't if you don't try!" she barked. "I believe in you, in us! Do you?"

I don't believe in me.

Anna's ghost kneeled down and looked me in the eyes. Her eyes were like steel flames, but they burned with fierce tenderness. "Well I do. Remember how you saved me? How you took me in? Remember how I saved you? I did it because you were worth saving. Can't you see that? Elijah, even Rebekah, me… We are saving you, but you're going to have to save yourself."

How?

She shook her head. "That's not for me to answer." Then her expression softened. "I'll always believe in you. Find me, Niklaus."

Don't go…

She merely smiled and faded away. The remaining image of her that lasted reminded me of the time were princesses and queens ruled, and how she looked like one that didn't need a knight to be saved. You're going to have to save yourself, she had told me.

By saving her...You save yourself, a voice within my head said. It sounded suspiciously like Elijah.

Even though Anna was gone, she still believed in me, even if she was just a voice in my mind. So I had to believe a part of her still remembered. She wouldn't give up, she never did. She found me against the odds, and I had to find her.

Determination started out as a small seed within the deep recesses of my chest, but slowly it bloomed as her voice urged me to find her, to believe in her. With it echoing throughout my body, I turned and ran back.

The witches would pay. Tyler Lockwood- the coward- would pay. They would all pay.

Ooo0ooO

(Anna's POV)

When night came, I dreamed of midnight blue eyes and a man with a devilish smile, and a gray wolf with piercing gold eyes.

I was standing in front of a river. I looked out at the water and something tugged at the corner of my mind, as if a memory has pushing forward, but could not be reached. I stared hard at the river, at the rock in the center of the rushing water, feeling the warmth of the sun, listening to the sounds of birds.

I walked towards the water and placed my foot- which was bare- into the cool depths.

I stripped my clothes from my body and dove into the river, emerging from the water with my long hair streaming down my back.

I blinked when I saw the sudden image flash through my mind. Had I been to this river before? Had I swam here?

Something compelled me to look over my shoulder and I saw someone standing in the shadows under the trees. All I could see was the gleam of his gold eyes, which shone like bright coins. He stepped forward and his body melted into the form of a wolf- bigger than an average gray wolf, almost three feet high at the shoulders, and eyes that seemed to glow when the sun hit them.

I stepped back, my heart pounding. Who was this wolf? I stared into its eyes, and that feeling of something pushing in the corner of my subconscious increased.

The natural fight-or-flight instinct took over, and I bared my teeth at the stranger, teeth which lengthened into fangs as I felt my body shift itself into my wolf. I snarled terribly and took off, running as fast as my feet could carry me.

Then the scene changed, and I was standing in an unfamiliar house with the man. I gasped in horror when I saw the burned body of another man lying between us with a gaping hole in his chest. I looked up at the man with blue eyes with alarm and saw tears filling those liquid depths.

I stepped forward without knowing why, reaching out to touch him. Why did I want to touch him? My body ached, as if it could feel the pain that was twisting across his face.

"I'm here," I heard myself whisper. "I love you."

As I jolted at the words I had just spoken, the scene changed once more.

It was so dark. I was in a room made of earth and stone- underground, perhaps?- with candles flickering from various places on the wall.

I looked and saw a group of women standing in front of me, along with the man. Another stood by my side, one with dark eyes and a handsome face, as well as a young girl with startlingly large eyes that were a green-hazel color. I saw her look to the man with dark eyes briefly, and something flickered in her eyes before disappearing.

"The woman is carrying your children, Niklaus," the dark eyed man said, looking towards the other with a stern expression set on his face.

I gasped loudly. I looked down and watched as slowly, a bump began to form between my hips, before it formed into a mound that stood out farther than my breasts, and made it hard to see my feet. I placed a trembling hand against it, feeling it solidity and warmth, before a sudden jerk of movement pushed inside me and against my hand.

I nearly screamed in fear as I looked up in confusion. The man with the blue eyes glared at me. "It's a lie!" he shouted, suddenly in my face.

I felt a part of myself coward back, but my body leaned itself forward, my lips peeling away from my teeth menacingly. "How dare you!" I exclaimed in a voice that did not feel like my own.

I stared into those blue eyes, which were nearly black with rage and a hint of fear, and could feel a part of myself, deep within my body, scream out.

What do you want? I screamed internally.

Niklaus!

I woke up drenched in sweat, screaming out an unfamiliar name as I thrashed on a bed, my heart pounding with fear, and tears streaming down my face.

Then a hand touched my forehead and someone murmured softly. Calm passed over me and I slid back into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Ooo0ooO

Author's Note: Please review!