Chapter Twenty: You Fight Me

"I don't know what I want to be yet,

But I can show that I need to see this.

No time for lies and empty fights,

I'm on your side.

Can we live a life of peace and happiness?

I don't think so.

No denying I am scared to lose the things I love…

I'm in control.

This is how, this is how it's going to end,

End…"

-Breaking Benjamin

Ooo0ooO

(Klaus's POV)

My eyes drifted open slowly as I inhaled the scent of my mate who was sleeping quietly beside me. Her back was pressed to my front, and my hand cupped her breast comfortably.

I buried my nose into her hair, breathing her in deeply.

Anna kept sleeping, breathing slowly and evenly. She was warm and her calm and soothing aura pulsed through the soul bond like a heartbeat.

Then my sharp hearings caught the sounds of the twins fussing quietly in the nursery.

Kissing Anna's shoulder, I pulled away from her to check on our children. They both gazed up at me when I walked into the room, but Hope let out a soft cry as her fists clenched.

Smiling, I leaned down to pick her up and cradled her to my chest. "Now, my little girl, there's no need for that," I murmured quietly, kissing her softly.

Hope made another soft noise as I nuzzled her, taking in her scent. The wolf within rumbled his pleasure, and the low sound seemed to soothe her as she grabbed my cheek and looked up at me.

I smiled wider as her tiny hand gripped my cheek tightly, before her fist shook and rested against my nose and upper lip. Nudging it, I kissed her tiny hand.

Then my gaze lowered to my son, who was staring up at the beams of sunlight that were filtering into the room. He blinked when the glass of the window broke the light into a small rainbow, before he shifted and cried out as well.

Adjusting Hope in my arms, I scooped up my son as well. I soothed him as I had soothed my daughter, murmuring to both of them quietly as they watched me with eyes that were neither blue nor gray, but both.

Ooo0ooO

(Elijah's POV)

The night before, I had returned to the mansion to see Hayley and to make my presence known to my brother and to Annabelle. Neither of them seemed surprised when they learned I was here, but Anna was the one who greeted me warmly, whereas my brother acknowledged my presence in silence.

When morning came, I was sitting outside on the porch, alone with my thoughts, when the door opened and revealed Annabelle. I turned and smiled at her, before gesturing to the chair beside me.

She nodded and sat down, leaning back and sighing.

I studied her. She looked well rested, even though her eyes were far off with her thoughts. Her fingers played with the necklace around her neck absently as she curled up in the chair.

With a slight smile, I reached over on the other side of the chair I was sitting in, picking up the gift I had waiting there. I cleared my throat before passing it over to Annabelle.

Her eyes widened slightly as she took the vase. She reached up, touching the flowers there gently. "What are they?" she asked.

"Daylilies," I replied. "They symbolize motherhood. Although they typically wither after a day, Bennett casted a small charm on them so they would live longer. After all, you aren't just a mother for a day."

Anna studied the vividly colored flowers. The petals were a bright red, streaked with orange and yellow, colored like a sunset. Her lips curved before she looked back at me. "Thank you, Elijah."

I inclined my head slightly. "Is Klaus with the twins?"

Anna nodded.

"He's a good father."

Her gaze softened. "He is."

After a long silence, I gazed at her. "You're troubled."

"Can you blame me?"

"No," I said on a sigh. "I suppose not."

Anna placed the lilies down on the table beside her before curling into herself again. "What should I do?" she asked quietly.

I shifted in my chair and motioned for her to sit beside me, since it was large enough to accommodate two people. When she did, I wrapped my arm around her and she rested her head on my shoulder.

Sighing again, I rested my cheek against her forehead. "There is no right answer for the situation you find yourself in," I told her. "You must trust in your instincts, and you must trust that there are people here that will stand beside you until the end."

"How can I ask them to risk their lives yet again for me?"

"Because, Annabelle, you needn't ask."

Annabelle grew quiet again and I turned to kiss the top of her head softly. As she considered what I told her, I kept holding her, giving her my quiet comfort and support, knowing that was what she needed right now.

Ooo0ooO

(Hayley's POV)

Elijah and Anna were sitting outside when I came back to the mansion from my morning run. I had started the habit the moment we had returned to Mystic Falls, thoroughly enjoying the freedom to shift and run in my wolf form again.

I gazed at them, noting how Elijah was holding her while her expression seemed both lost yet thoughtful. I wondered what they had been talking about to get that look into her eyes.

Walking over slowly, Elijah's dark gaze met mine from a distance when he sensed my presence before Anna did. He nodded slightly, as thought to say it was all right for me to approach.

When she did notice me, Anna pulled away from Elijah and smiled at me. She said something about feeding the twins before giving me a knowing look and making herself scarce.

Huffing slightly, I sat down in the empty chair next to Elijah before glancing at him. "What's with the flowers?" I asked him, not having missed the vase full of bright red and orange lilies that Anna had carried back inside.

"A gift to symbolize motherhood," he explained calmly.

"She does like flowers," I remarked, glancing over my shoulder in the direction my distant cousin had disappeared to.

"Indeed. Sometimes it's the small gestures that can make one's day less…"

"Depressing?" I offered, raising a brow.

"That's one word, I suppose," Elijah mused. "She has a lot on her mind."

"When doesn't she? With all of that going on in her head, plus raising the twins, I'm amazed she sleeps at all."

"My brother knows how to soothe her when need be." When I wrinkled my nose, Elijah chuckled. "I'm sure it's not always in the manner you're thinking of, Hayley."

My lips quirked. "Maybe not," I said, sighing. Then I stood up and offered him my hand so I could pull him to his feet as well. "Come inside, I don't know about you, but I'm hungry."

Elijah smiled and allowed me to pull him into the mansion.

Charlie and Meredith were already in the kitchen when Elijah and I walked in, both drinking coffee and talking quietly.

Charlie grinned when he saw us both before pushing another cup of coffee at me. "Milk, with two sugars, yeah?"

"Thanks," I replied, taking a long sip.

Elijah settled in the seat beside Meredith, who passed him a cup of tea.

I nearly smiled myself when I saw the appreciative look in his eyes. It seemed that we all had our routines and understanding of one another, where we would watch out for and take care of each other.

It reminded me of how Elijah took care of Anna and me when we first went back to New Orleans, and how he would often prepare breakfast for the two of us.

"How was your run?" Charlie asked, bumping my shoulder with his.

"Relaxing," I said, leaning back in my seat. "I might go further out tomorrow, depending on… well."

"If a certain deranged grandpa decides to pop by for a visit?" Charlie asked, before looking at Elijah guiltily.

"I take no offense in that," Elijah informed him. "Mikael is a matter that needs to be taken care of, sooner rather than later."

"I couldn't agree more."

I glanced over my shoulder and saw Klaus walking into the kitchen with Mason cradled to his chest, followed by Anna with Hope. She sat down next to me, smiling up at her brother before passing him his niece.

And like I predicted, Elijah slid another cup of tea in her direction along with a small bowl of fruit.

Anna sighed and leaned slightly against me.

I nudged her back, smiling. "You were up early."

"I think I'm going to have to learn to enjoy the mornings more thanks to these guys," she said with a wry smile, reaching out to brush her hand over her daughter's hair.

I shifted in my seat so I could lean back against her and for a moment, I rested my chin on her shoulder as I gazed at Hope.

The small Hybrid stared back at me with wide eyes, her fists waving around. She never seemed to stay still and that made me smile. Mason seemed so different as he sat quietly in Klaus' arms, dozing and unconcerned with the conversation around him.

Silently, Charlie passed her over and Anna turned a little so we could both look down at her daughter.

When Hope fussed again, Anna lifted a hand to brush her fingers over her daughter's cheek, soothing her. Hope's face scrunched up then relaxed under her mother's touch, and my brows lifted when I saw her eyes flash gold for a brief second.

I wondered what she would be like when she was older. I was curious to see if she would be more like her mother or father, but I was willing to bet she would take on the latter's persona, since her brother already was showing his mother's calm disposition.

Ooo0ooO

(Elijah's POV)

The hour went by slowly as we all sat in the kitchen conversing about a variety of things.

Anna had turned on the small radio so music played softly before she returned to her seat next to Hayley, who was still holding Hope.

"Lips, ripe as the berries in June

Red the rose, red the rose

Skin, pale as the light of the moon

Gently as she goes...

Eyes, blue as the sea and the sky

Water flows, water flows

Heart, burning like fire in the night

Gently as she goes..."

"I think we should go after him," Charlie stated, interrupting the song. "Just a couple of us, while the rest stay behind to hold down the fort and watch over the twins."

"Who would you suggest?" I asked.

"Bennett, and you and Klaus, since you guys know Mikael better than any of us," Charlie said, counting off with his fingers. "I'm in, obviously."

"I'm going too," Anna said firmly.

"Anna-," Klaus began warily but was cut off by her glare.

"No arguing. After everything he did to me…" she trailed off, her eyes blazing. Then she shook her head and took a deep breath. "I want Meredith, Antonio, and Hayley to stay behind. I trust all of you with Hope and Mason."

"Anna, are you certain?" I asked softly.

Her lips curved as she looked my way. "I wouldn't trust anyone else. Who better than a strong, able werewolf, their godmother, and the woman who brought them into the world?"

Hayley's eyes widened. "Godmother?"

Anna took Hayley's hand in hers before she looked at her cousin, then at me. "Of course. Klaus and I put a lot of thought into this, and we want you both to be their godparents."

"But, Anna, if anything were to happen to you and Klaus, do you really think I'm the best option to…?" Hayley looked away, uncertainty clear in her eyes.

"You wouldn't be alone," Anna said calmly. "You would have Elijah, not to mention my brother and Meredith. I trust you, Hayley."

Hayley glanced at Anna again before her hand tightened around Anna's. "Just make sure you won't have to put that trust to the test, okay?"

When Anna smiled again, it was sad and soft. "No promises," she stated quietly.

I reached for Anna's free hand, and kissed the back of it. "I will do my best to protect them, always."

"Always," Meredith repeated, nodding.

A quiet chorus of "always" echoed through the kitchen before everyone's gaze turned to Hope and Mason, both of whom had drifted off to sleep again despite the sudden mood shift.

Then Anna sighed, her gaze distant as she traced her children's cheeks before she rested her head on Hayley's shoulder this time. Hayley let Anna lean against her, her gaze meeting mine.

"The day is over and still goes passing through the mind:
In came glowing, smiling mother, sure and kind
To rouse us, to give ourselves out and to cry
Birth to warm intentions, worthless otherwise

Oh, the lives that brush against us, pass us by and by
The friends who may or may not come if we would first invite
Oh, to open doors, to always gladly fly and fly
Into the sting of the cold and the prick of the barbed wire…"

It was then I saw my brother's small gesture before he passed Mason over to Meredith, and I followed him out of the kitchen and into the parlor.

He poured us two glasses of blood and handed me one. His expression was just as troubled as his mate's. He paced the length of the room and paused by the vase of daylilies, stroking their petals like Anna had earlier.

I patiently waited for him to speak, knowing he was sorting out his thoughts. I sat down in a chair and leaned back comfortably, swirling my glass absently in my grasp.

"She must be protected at all costs," Klaus began, slowly and evenly.

I didn't need to ask who he was referring to. "Of course, brother."

"I will end Mikael, even if that means…" he trailed off, his meaning clear. "But he will not touch her, nor my children, ever again."

"How will you prevent that from happening?" I wanted to know.

"Yes, Niklaus, how will you prevent that?"

Anna's flat-toned question had me stilling and Klaus ceased his pacing as she walked into the room, her arms crossed and eyes narrowed.

"Annabelle, please," Klaus beseeched.

"If you think I'm going to let you face Mikael without me… you're more of a fool than I thought."

"I will not let him hurt you again!" Klaus exclaimed, slamming his glass down on the table.

"I can take care of myself," Anna said, her tone now growing cold. "I am strong."

"I have no doubts about your strength-,"

"Then why are you pushing me away? Again?"

"Because I can't lose you!"

Anna froze at my brother's outburst. Then her gaze flickered to me and silently, I left them alone.

Hayley lifted a brow when I came back into the kitchen, but I shook my head. Instead, I took Mason from Meredith, letting him hold onto my fingertip tightly.

Ooo0ooO

(Anna's POV)

Once Elijah was out of the room, I leveled a cold look towards the man facing me from across the room.

"I have to do this."

"No," Klaus snarled. "It's not an option."

"The only option we have is working together to find that stake and to end Mikael once and for all!"

"Not if that means putting you in danger again!"

"We're always in danger, Klaus! No matter where we go, danger finds us. If it's not in Mystic Falls, it's the witches in New Orleans! If it's not that, it's Silas in my dreams!" My fists clenched at my sides. "No matter where I go, no matter who I'm with, my life is always at risk." I glared viciously at him. "But I'm not going to run from it, not now, not ever!"

"Maybe you should!"

I bared my teeth at him. Flashing across the room in the span of a heartbeat, I had him by his shirtfront as I seethed at him. "You stupid, clueless moron! I made you a promise!"

I tore myself away from him and turned my back on him. Anger pulsed through my body and my lengthening nails bit into my palms, causing droplets of blood to fall.

"I'm not going to…" I gritted my teeth when my voice cracked. "I'm not going to run. I promised. I promised."

Flinching when I felt his hand on my shoulder, I refused to turn around to meet his gaze. I could already feel the turbulence of his emotions through the bond, which were only amplified when he touched me.

"Annabelle," Klaus said in a low, strained voice. "Please."

"How can you ask me to do this? Why now?" I asked, closing my eyes when they began to burn from tears.

"Because I'm thinking of my family. Our family. If something were to happen to you, I'd never be able to forgive myself."

"And what about you?" I turned so fast that the world blurred before I stared up at Klaus. "What if something happens to you? Do you think I could forgive myself?"

It was Klaus' turn to look away. His midnight blue gaze burned a hole into the carpet. "After everything I've done…after all the horrible acts I've done, this is the only way I can make up for that. By protecting you and my children."

"But who will protect you?" I asked, lifting a hand to his cheek. It was wet with tears, like my own.

"In the end, I don't matter," Klaus murmured. "All that matters is that you live." His hand lifted, covering my own. "Live, Anna. Live so you can raise our children."

"And you think I can do that alone?"

"It's like you told Hayley, my love. You aren't alone."

"But I won't have you," I whispered.

Klaus' gaze finally lifted and met mine. "Perhaps that is for the better."

"Why are you talking like you're already dead?" I demanded, clenching at his shirt again. "Why?"

Klaus merely leaned into my touch, closing his eyes.

A sob broke through as I leaned forward, pressing myself into his chest. I cried and held him tightly, and his arms embraced me with an equal amount of strength.

His chin lowered to rest on my shoulder. "I will always love you, my Anna. Don't ever forget that. I love you and my daughter and son more than I've ever loved anything in the world."

"And I love you," I choked out, my fingers digging into him as though I was afraid he would disappear right then and there.

Ooo0ooO

(Klaus' POV)

Annabelle refused to meet my eyes when she tore herself away from me again to run out of the parlor and back into the kitchen.

After a moment, her brother emerged with a look of displeasure on his face. His eyes, which were as cold as his sister's, watched me. "Why does my little sister always look like such a miserable wreck when you guys fight?"

My jaw clenched. "She's not little, Charlie."

"Don't avoid what I'm saying!" Charlie snapped, his eyes flashing gold. "How can you claim to love someone so much and do that to them?"

I looked away, turned around, but didn't respond.

Charlie scoffed. "And the crazy thing is, she'll forgive you. She always forgives you. And you want to know why, Klaus? Because my sister is stronger than you, despite you being a thousand year old bag of dicks."

"I have never doubted her strength," I said quietly.

"Then why are you doubting it now?" Charlie demanded.

When I didn't answer, Charlie snarled. "You don't even know," he hissed. "She's right. You are a moron."

"Perhaps I am," I said, trying to keep my voice calm. I looked over my shoulder. "But if it came down to it, would you rather I die or her?"

Charlie stared at me, taken back. "I'd rather no one die."

I shook my head and looked back outside. "You don't know Mikael. When this is over, someone will die. And it won't just be Mikael."

"You're wrong."

I looked over at the older Davis sibling as he came forward to stand by my side.

"If you walk into this fight with the intention not to walk back out, you will die. But why is that? What would happen if you survive?" Charlie's eyes were as stormy as the sky when they met mine. "Don't you want a future with her? With Hope? With Mason?"

"Of course I do-,"

"Then why are you signing your own death certificate like it's a sure thing?"

"I always knew Mikael and I would destroy one another. It was just a matter of where and when."

Charlie shook his head. "God help my sister. Because when you survive this, I hope she kicks some sense into that idiot head of yours, then works on making an honest man of you."

"Why do you believe I'll survive?"

Charlie gave me an impatient look, as though that question was meant to be asked rhetorically. "You really don't know anything, do you?"

Ooo0ooO

(Anna's POV)

Kissing my son's forehead, I breathed in his scent slowly, memorizing it. I did the same with Hope, even though she fussed in my arms.

"I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be," I whispered to them both.

Then with a heavy heart, I passed my daughter to Hayley and my son to Meredith, while both of them watched me with conflicted expressions. Hayley looked away, anger and anxiety radiating off of her, while Meredith gazed at me with concern and a sad kind of understanding.

"Take care of them," I whispered.

Not waiting for their answer, I strode out the back door. The moment my feet hit the grass, I shifted and took off, running deep into the woods.

He was waiting for me by the falls, standing at the peak of the low mountain, gazing out over the stretch of land that was Mystic Falls. He didn't acknowledge my presence at first, but then he sighed and turned.

Smiling, he opened his arms as though to welcome me. "Annabelle. I see you tracked me down."

Instead of shifting back, I peeled back my lips and snarled at him.

"Come now, I don't speak wolf," Mikael tutted. "Shift back and let's talk, man to woman."

So I did, facing the man who wanted me and my mate dead. My entire being shook as I struggled to control my rage, wanting nothing more than to rip him apart where he stood.

Mikael smiled slowly. "There we are. That's better, isn't it?"

"You can quit the act, Mikael. I know why you're here."

"Indeed," he mused. "Though you must be wondering why. I mean, I've had a quarrel with Niklaus to settle for many centuries now, but you must be curious as to why I want to end your life as well."

"I don't care why you want me dead," I snapped. "I'm here to end you."

"Mm," Mikael hummed, rocking back on his heels. "Are you sure? Even though it has to do with your children?"

I bared my teeth again. "I said I don't care, Mikael. I didn't say I didn't know why you want me dead. I'm the only one standing between you and the twins. You want them to fulfill the witch's prophecy."

Mikael chuckled. "You are quite an intelligent woman, Annabelle. I can see why my bastard son took a shine to you."

"You will never touch my children, Mikael. Not as long as I'm standing here."

"Well," Mikael sighed. He tilted his head slightly. "I suppose I should do something about that."

With my heightened senses, I could see his body bunching to lunge for me. Within that same instant, I closed my eyes and allowed the wolf to take over again, feeling it rip through my skin until I stood on four legs again.

And as Mikael flashed forward with his fangs bared, I threw back my head and howled before I met him head on, and the force of our bodies colliding shook the ground.

Ooo0ooO

(Charlie's POV)

I was already sprinting through the forests at full speed when I heard my sister's howl split through the air, followed by the sound of her vicious snarling, which was echoed by another's.

My own teeth clenched and bared, and I howled in response as I flew alongside Klaus, who was nothing but a gray blur at this point.

After he found out that Anna had tried to slip away, he flew into a rage and nearly took off Elijah's head for allowing her to go.

Calm as ever, Elijah had merely lifted something he had been holding behind him. It was the white oak stake. "It's time to end this," Elijah stated before turning to lead us out the back to follow Anna's scent trail.

When we came across Mikael and Annabelle, both of them were sporting decent injuries.

Anna, who was still in her wolf form, was radiating pure rage and her eyes glowed with an intensity I had never seen before. She snarled and lunged, ripping open Mikael's arm to the bone before he threw her off.

Klaus flashed forward and slammed into Mikael, which sent both of them tumbling close to the fall's edge.

Mikael leapt to his feet and assessed the rest of us, breathing hard and bleeding heavily from wounds that had yet to heal.

"It's over, Mikael," Elijah said as he walked forward, holding the stake firmly.

Klaus shifted back, crouched and tense. "No, brother. This is my fight."

Instead of arguing, Elijah passed the stake to his younger brother.

I went to Anna's side and whimpered when I saw the deep gashes along her shoulders that were from Mikael's fangs.

Her eyes narrowed when she saw that Mikael was still standing and she struggled to her feet.

Crouching slightly, I nudged her side until she was on her feet again. I licked her wounds and she twitched her ears, which snapped back when she watched her mate slowly approach Mikael.

Suddenly, something flashed in the dying sunlight, catching my attention. It was the ring on Mikael's pinky finger, which was large and familiar.

The hair along my back rose as I growled, stiffening.

It was the same kind of ring Klaus and his siblings wore that allowed them to walk in the sunlight. The metal shone and the lapis stone glowed oddly as the sun reflected its deep blue color.

If I got the ring…!

Without thinking, I lunged forward, right as the same time that Klaus did.

Baring my teeth, I leapt for Mikael's hand, ready to rip it off.

Klaus let out a wordless shout as he brought the stake forward, ready to bury it in Mikael's chest.

And that the last moment, Mikael pivoted and we all flew over the edge of the falls, falling down along the glistening waterfall towards the rocky outcrop below.

Ooo0ooO

(Anna's POV)

It all happened too fast, even for me.

I was powerless to react, much less to help.

So I watched my mate and my brother topple over the edge with Mikael, both of them attacking at once.

A scream ripped up my throat as I pulled myself back into my human form, crying out both of their names as they disappeared from my sight.

Elijah caught me by the waist before I could jump after them, and I screamed and fought again his hold. Terror skittered down my spine and tears stung my eyes before I tore myself free and looked over the edge.

There was nothing below except for ripples and bubbles to show where they had all crashed into the water.

Wheeling back, I didn't look at Elijah before I flashed down the hill towards the pools below, dashing into the water.

"Klaus! Charlie!"

Then there was more bubbles before Mikael broke the surface, roaring his fury. Within that same moment, Klaus exploded from the water too, his features contorted with anger.

Mikael whirled towards my mate then stiffened when the sunlight fell across his body. He blinked and then lifted his arms out of the water.

I stumbled back a step when I saw that one of his hands had been torn off and his wound was bleeding profusely into the water, staining it black.

Mikael snarled and twisted as the sun began to burn his skin.

And when he turned away, Klaus moved forward and slammed into his back.

The white oak stake broke through Mikael's back and through his chest, ripping through his heart. The older vampire's eyes widened and when Klaus stepped back, flames erupted from the stake and, along with the sun, burned him.

Suddenly, a very wet and very angry werewolf leapt out of the water and grabbed the vampire by the nape of his neck, and with a powerful jerk of its jaws, threw the man clear out of the water, where he slammed into the ground a foot away from where I stood.

Mikael howled and screeched as his body was consumed by the flames, which burned despite his sobbing wet clothes, thanks to the stake which burned from the inside out.

His wild, deranged gaze met mine for a split second and I felt my lips curve into a sadistic smile before I stepped back, allowing the sunlight to fall on him completely and watched as the flames licked higher in the air.

Then Elijah was there, placing a hand on my shoulder, his calm presence bringing me back from whatever dark place I had been moments ago. His dark eyes held no sadness nor pity as they watched his once father crumble into ash. He only sighed and said the only two words I wanted to hear.

"It's over."

Klaus gave a shout and when I looked over my shoulder, I was horrified to see him lifting my brother's limp body out of the water.

Leaving the burning corpse behind, I ran forward into the water to help Klaus carry Charlie.

My brother was very pale and still when we placed him down on dry ground. I collapsed to my knees and cradled him close before checking him over with trembling hands.

My hands met something warm and wet when they slid over his chest, and when I ripped his shirt open, I stared at the wound in horror.

"When we went over, Mikael struck him at the same moment your brother tore off his hand. He was in his wolf form when that happened, but he still managed to… so I thought…" Klaus trailed off, looking down.

"No," I breathed. "No, no."

My hand covered the open wound. It looked as though Mikael had rammed his entire hand through Charlie's chest, aiming for his heart, and had only missed by an inch. It was pouring blood and wasn't healing because of the damage to the main arteries.

"Bennett," I nearly screamed. "Get Bennett!"

"I am here, Annabelle."

The witch Hybrid seemed to materialize out of nowhere, as though he had been there the entire time. He knelt down beside me and my brother.

Lifting his hands, which began to softy glow, Bennett ran them down the length of Charlie's body as his eyes closed in concentration. Then they hovered over his chest wound, and sweat formed on his brow.

"The wound is deep," he said in a low voice. "If he was not a werewolf, he would not be alive. But he is slipping away."

"No, Charlie-!"

Klaus was there in an instant, pulling me to my feet and away from Bennett and Charlie. I didn't fight him, instead I collapsed against him, burying my face in his shoulder.

"K-Klaus, I can't lose my brother," I choked out.

I didn't see the silent look that passed between Klaus and Elijah before they watched Bennett work on my brother.

Ooo0ooO

(Elijah's POV)

I opened the back door and stepped outside quietly.

High above me, the moon glowed in the sky, nearly full. There were no clouds, only stars dotting the endless darkness.

And sitting amongst the grass and moonflowers was Annabelle, who stared up at the moon unblinkingly.

"Bennett says he draws some of his power from the moon, since he's half werewolf," she said softly without turning around. "He says that it makes him stronger, like it makes werewolves strong enough to shift."

"The moon has always been attached to strange, mythical powers. It pushes and pulls the tides. It creates balance."

"Balance," Anna nearly chuckled, but it was forced. "Push and pull. Light and dark. Life and death. Everything has something else to counter it."

I moved to her side and sat beside her. I picked a moonflower, studying its soft white petals. It had many meanings attached to it.

Dreams of love.

Otherworldliness.

Sighing deeply, I tucked the small flower behind Anna's ear. "He's going to be all right, Anna. It's done. Mikael is gone and your brother is already healing."

She continued to stare up at the moon, her gray eyes soft and thoughtful. "Do you think that balance had anything to do with today?"

"I believe that an old evil was vanquished today and that balance was struck by your brother's stubbornness in evading death. I believe that Mikael and the witch Celeste had to perish in order for you and the twins to live, because there are powers beyond our control that demand blood for blood, and for a life to be taken when it is given to another."

There was a long pause before Annabelle spoke again. "Now what do we do?" she asked, looking at me.

I smiled and stood, pulling her to her feet. "Oh, Annabelle. Haven't you figured that out yet? You live."

Ooo0ooO

Author's Note: This chapter was very frustrating for me to write at first, since I was hit with writer's block and then Klaus and Anna refused to do what I wanted them to do. But I think overall it came out all right, even if it might be rough around the edges. I hope you think the same.

And whoo, Mikael's gone! What's next in line for Anna and Klaus? Find out soon…

This chapter includes the songs Gently as She Goes by Erutan and Evensong by the Innocence Mission (featured in Perks of Being a Wallflower). The quote "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be" is from Love You Forever by Robert Munsch.

Please review!