Chapter Thirty Six: Lose It

"Standing on the edge

Battle in my head…

This is it I'm shaking

My bodies aching…

Grabbing what I need

Grip until it bleeds…

I'm dying to know, if I take this leap

Will I be broken?"

Ooo0ooO

The stab wound in my back was not healing. I felt the constant pulse of fire through my blood, burning into my flesh. I heard my heart pounding, shaking my frame as I held Klaus against me. Tears fell down my face as I screamed out.

Then Charlie was there, his gray eyes wide with fear and confusion. I could barely speak through my own fear, which clawed at my throat with bitter claws.

Klaus moaned against my lap, twitching a little. I looked up at Charlie and saw he was shouting at me but I couldn't understand what he was saying. The world was turning at a slow, sickening pace, all drowned out by the searing pain ripping through my back, my side, my wrist and my heart.

Then it all comes funneling back like a tunnel of white noise.

"Annabelle!" Charlie yelled, shaking me. I blinked at him a few times to get my bearings.

"Charlie, we have to get Klaus back to the mansion," I said quickly, my eyes pleading. Charlie nodded and gripped Klaus's shoulders, forcing him back onto his knees before looping his arm under Klaus's to help him onto his feet.

"Can you walk?" he asked, grunting a little under Klaus's weight. I struggled to my feet but managed to stand, swaying. But before I could take a step, I collapsed again. Charlie started leaning down to help me but I waved him away.

"Get Klaus to the mansion!" I cried. Charlie and I stared hard at each other for a long moment before he nodded and half carried, half dragged Klaus away.

"That must hurt." I looked up from my hands and knees and saw Silas standing in front of me in Professor Shane's body.

"If you're going to kill me," I hissed. "Don't sugar coat it." Silas chuckled, circling me.

"I'm not going to kill you. See if I do that, then Klaus will never give me the cure and I'd rather not have an angry, vengeful Hybrid on my tail for the rest of eternity. So I'm going to tell you what to do, precious Annabelle." He squatted down to look me in the eyes.

"You're going to help him get the cure, or else I'm going to go after that loving brother of yours."

"Go to hell," I snarled viciously, baring my fangs. Silas grinned wickedly back.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," he mocked before he disappeared. The pain doubled and I screamed, dropping to my side, clenching the wound that was tucked between two ribs.

"Anna!" I looked up weakly at Charlie's shout and saw him running towards me. He crouched in front of me and lifted me into his arms.

"Charlie," I said brokenly. "Charlie, you have to be careful." He looked down at me sharply.

"Why, what's wrong?" he asked. I felt the pain increasing and my vision started to go black.

"Silas…" I passed out before I could continue.

When I woke up, I was laid out on the leather couch in the main living room. I groaned and shifted before I cried out. My side and back still burned and I felt unbelievably weak.

"Klaus!" I yelped. I felt a hand take mine, squeezing. My eyes darted to the side and I saw Charlie sitting in front of me.

"Anna, are you okay?" he asked, his eyes anxious. I shook my head.

"Where's Klaus?" I demanded, trying to sit up but Charlie gently pushed me down. He shook his head.

"Silly, silly girl. Don't you know it isn't safe for you to move with all that wolfsbane in you?" Charlie asked mockingly. My eyes widened as Charlie grinned at me, chills going down my spine.

"Silas," I whispered in horror. Charlie- Silas- nodded slowly.

"Charlie is…M.I.A. for the moment," he replied. I swung out my hand to strike him but he caught it easily.

"You bastard! Where's my brother?" I yelled. Silas raised a brow at me.

"Oh, back at his little hotel room, with no idea how he got there. Best part? He can't leave to come rescue you." I began crying again as I tried to hit Silas, who deflected my weak blows easily.

"If you hurt him, I swear I'll kill you myself!" I threatened. Silas just chuckled before disappearing. I collapsed back against the cushions, lifting a hand to cover my eyes as I cried.

"Annabelle." I looked and saw Klaus standing in front of the fireplace, swaying on his feet. His shirt was off and I saw his hand was streaked with blood.

"Klaus!" I struggled to my feet and managed to sit up, trying to get to him. He flashed a little to shove me down.

"Don't…don't move. The wolfsbane is spreading through your system. You c-can't move," he said, panting. He was sweating profusely. I ignored him as I grabbed his hand.

"Klaus, I have to help you," I said, looking up at him with wide eyes. He shook his head, turning his back to me. I saw the gaping wound in his back, right next to his triangle tattoo. I gasped as he clawed at it, drawing more blood.

"Klaus, stop!" I begged. He turned and slammed against the wall, shouting in agony. I tried to stop sobbing but the tears continued to pour.

To my horror, he stumbled a few steps back and reached for his arm before twisting it, breaking it. I yelped at the loud snap as he screamed. I felt his pain burn through my body and groaned at the pain in my wrist. The dark blue lines were glowing fiercely against my skin.

Suddenly, I heard the front door open and close. The sounds of heels walking through the hallway caused Klaus and I to turn. Caroline walked into the room.

"Klaus, we need to talk," she was saying before she stopped and saw both of us. I growled a little.

"What happened to you?" she asked, her eyes wide. She walked towards him slowly and I stiffened, distrust flooding my body. I looked at Klaus desperately.

"Silas, he attacked me and Annabelle. He's somehow flooding her system with wolfsbane. He stabbed me with the white oak stake. A piece of it is still inside me."

"My God, Klaus, that could kill you."

Klaus laughed weakly. "Well I certainly feel like I'm dying."

Caroline walked up to him and cradled his face. I snarled viciously.

"Klaus!" I yelled but was silenced but one look from Caroline. She turned to gaze back to Klaus.

"And as much as I would love to watch you die, you still haven't found me that cure," she finished. Klaus gasped and yanked himself from her grasp.

"Silas!" Klaus fell to the floor and Caroline walked a few steps away. I snarled in my throat, unable to speak still.

"That's right. Last night I looked like Shane, today I look like Caroline and tomorrow who knows…"

"Show me your real face," Klaus demanded on a growl.

"Now why would I do that when I could look like whomever I want you to see?" Silas approached him. "Resist me all you want, Klaus but until you bring me that cure, I will bring you nothing but misery."

Then just as quickly as he appeared, he disappeared. I gasped as my voice returned to me.

"He's trying to mess with my head, Klaus," I said quickly. "And he's going to try to do the same with you!" Klaus looked over at me.

"He can't and he won't," he said, shaking. I looked at him with a mix of disbelief and frustration.

"He already has!" I shot back. I lifted a hand towards him. "Klaus, please."

But before he could answer, the front door opened and closed yet again. Klaus leaned heavily against the piano bench, his chest heaving. I let my hand fall slowly, fresh tears springing to my eyes.

"I got your 50 bagillion messages, this better be life or death!" Caroline called out. I froze on the couch and I saw Klaus's eyes widen a little.

"Go away," he snapped.

"Klaus…? Where are you?" Caroline walked into the room but I felt myself relax slightly. This was Caroline, not Silas.

"What happened to you?" she asked worriedly.

"I need more time, stop hounding me!" he yelled. I moaned softly as a fresh wave of pain coursed over me.

"Klaus-," I began, only to be interrupted by Caroline.

"I'm hounding you? I'm supposed to be running three different prom committees right now and you keep bone sucking me!" Klaus stopped and looked at her suspiciously.

"Caroline? Is that really you?" Caroline flicked her eyebrows at him.

"Klaus, it's her," I said softly. His head rolled to the side and his eyes looked into mine. Then he looked back to her, sitting up.

"Prove it to me."

"Okay, I don't know what's going on, but I have more important things to do." Caroline turned and began walking away.

"Wait… please," I called out. Caroline stopped and looked over at me. I glanced at Klaus, who was resting his head against his forearm.

"Silas, he stabbed Klaus with the white oak stake. There's a piece of it stuck inside him," I explained weakly. "And he's somehow pumping wolfsbane into my system after he stabbed me with a knife."

"Why would Silas attack you?" Caroline asked, looking at me then at Klaus.

"Well I was in no position to ask questions. To suffice I'll say I'm hurt and Anna's hurt. So you can understand why I called you." Caroline laughed incredulously.

"You ran Tyler out of town, you killed his mother, and you think I'm the person to call for help?" she asked with venom in her voice.

"If I die, you, Tyler, all of your friends die with me," Klaus retorted, lifting his gaze to meet hers.

"Caroline, please," I huffed, wincing at the stabbing pain. She looked over at me before clenching her jaw and glaring at Klaus.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Well it's quite simple really. I need you to cut the stake out of me," Klaus said, gesturing to the bloody knife lying on the floor. "Once I'm better, I can help Annabelle."

Caroline stared at him and then nodded, picking up the knife.

Ooo0ooO

While Caroline dug the knife into my back, I looked over at Annabelle, who was growing stiller by the minute. Her skin was pale, too pale, and covered with sweat. Her breaths were hitched and pained. I could hear her heart, desperately trying to pump itself but in the end was only spreading the poison faster.

I felt a seed of pure terror lodge itself in my heart and begin to sprout as I felt her presence in the soul bond lessen, as if she was slowly disappearing. I knew that only meant one thing- she was slowly dying.

Suddenly, the knife jerked in my back and I grunted in pain. I saw out of the corner of my eye Annabelle jerking a little and wincing. Her gray eyes opened and were dark, nearly black with pain before they slowly shut again.

"Oh my God, you do have a heart," Caroline said mockingly. She moved the knife again and I yelled in pain. "Oh, my bad. It's just a bloody rib."

"Well I'm glad you're finding my misery so amusing. Just remember whatever pain you cause me, Annabelle feels it too," I snarled.

"Is that how this whole soul bond thing works? Sucks for her." She kept moving the knife. "I swear there's nothing in here. And if you think I'm having fun, you're insane."

"You killed twelve witches for your friend Bonnie, you can't even get your hands a little dirty for me. Here I thought we were becoming friends," I said, clenching my hands into fists against the table I was leaning against.

"You thought wrong." The knife twisted against my ribs again and I snarled, slamming my fist down against the wood.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'm sorry. You know what?" She yanked knife out of my back, causing me to yell again. I heard Anna whimper. I turned to face Caroline and saw her eyes were blazing.

"I'm not sorry. You deserve to suffer for everything that you've done. So today we're going to do things my way. Want my help? You let Tyler come back to town and give me your word that you will not hurt him." I stared at her with near shock.

Caroline glared at moved over to one of the leather chairs, sitting down and pulling out her phone. She began tapping away at the device without a care in the world.

"Caroline," Annabelle moaned quietly. "Caroline help him please."

"Why?" Caroline asked airily.

"You won't be able to live with yourself if you let him die," Anna whispered. "And then you will die as well." Caroline looked over her shoulder towards Annabelle. She opened her mouth to reply but I slammed by fist down again.

"I can feel the splinters moving towards my heart. Help me!" I ordered, almost frantically.

"Your word first," she said simply.

"What makes you think I'll simply break my word?" I growled.

"You wanna be friends? Friendship, Stage One: Show me that I can trust you." Annabelle began coughing and to my horror, I saw her hand that covered her mouth get drenched in blood.

"I saved your life! Twice!" I cried.

"Because you put it in danger, twice. Why can't you just do something decent for once?" Caroline demanded.

"Because Tyler Lockwood tried to kill me!" I shouted back. Annabelle whimpered again and the sound tore at my heart.

"We've all tried to kill you. And you tried to kill most of us. How do you think you deserve my friendship when you've done nothing to earn it?"

"I will not have my hand forced by you or anyone else."

"What is wrong with you?! I'm reaching out to you despite everything you've done and you still can't get out of your own way. God! I feel sorry for you." She turned and I snarled, flashing in front of her.

"Don't turn you back on me! If you're going to let me die, fine, but at least save Annabelle!" I shouted.

"I should have let you die ages ago." I narrowed my eyes at her before I froze. Disbelief flooded me along with realization.

"It's gone," I murmured, eyes wide.

"What?"

"The pain," I explained, touching my back. "The pain is gone. It was…it was never there. He got in my head. Silas got inside my head." I looked at Caroline with shock. "Just like earlier…" I looked at Anna, who was still on the couch. I frowned.

"You took my mind off it. You brought me back, Caroline." Her eyes filled with worry as she pressed a hand to her forehead.

"If Silas can make you, of all people, believe that you're dying… what could he do to the rest of us?" she asked me. I looked at her.

"I don't know, but Annabelle is still hurt, or worse. Whatever he did to me, it might have been inside my head but there's still wolfsbane inside her," I said, moving across the room to my mate.

"Anna?" I asked softly. Her eyes opened very slowly. Her sweet face was drawn and pale, her lips colorless.

"Niklaus," she murmured. I crouched next to her and took her hand. I tried to push my strength through the soul bond but I didn't even feel a flicker from her side.

"Sweetheart," I choked, my eyes filling with tears. Her hand lifted to my cheek.

"My Niklaus," Anna whispered. "Why do you cry?" I placed a hand over hers, squeezing my eyes shut.

"Annabelle, please don't give up," I begged. Anna sighed softly, turning her head to the side to look at Caroline.

"Is he okay?" she asked weakly. Caroline's brow furrowed as she glanced over at me sharply. I looked down at Anna, whose eyes were beginning to glaze over.

"Annabelle?" I asked, squeezing her hand. "I'm right here." Her eyes shifted to me but I saw no reaction.

"I'm okay," I said softly. "We're okay." Her lips curved just a little.

"Okay," she muttered, before her eyes closed. I tightened my grip on her hand.

"Annabelle?" No response. "Annabelle?"

Desperate, I lifted her shirt and saw the wounds were slowly closing. I furrowed my brow and pulled her shirt back down. I rested my forehead against her stomach, turning a little to listen to her weak heartbeat.

"Why isn't she getting better if the wounds are healed?" Caroline asked quietly.

"I don't know," I murmured. My eyes closed as Anna's heart beat dully against her ribs. I could almost feel the blood and poison passing through her veins.

Suddenly, Annabelle screamed, her back arching up. I sat up quickly and saw her eyes snap open, rolling back in pain. She continued screaming and her hand started clawing at her stomach. I yanked her shirt apart and watched, with horror, as some invisible force carved words into her skin with an equally invisible knife.

I'll be in touch, it read. Once the writing stopped, Anna slumped to the couch and her eyes shut. The words slowly disappeared.

"What the hell was that?!" Caroline asked, standing behind me. I stared at the closing marks with shock.

"A message for me," I replied hollowly.

Ooo0ooO

When I returned to consciousness, the first thing I realized was I wasn't in pain anymore. I flexed my side of the soul bond and felt gentle love and sweet relief from Klaus, signaling he was no longer in pain as well. I felt relief seep through my own veins.

I opened my eyes slowly and saw Klaus sitting beside me on the couch. He smiled a little, his eyes still worried.

"What happened?" I asked. Klaus sighed deeply.

"Silas got into my head…he made me believe he staked me with the white oak stake and that I was about to die… He got into your head and made you see Charlie, which I deduced from what you murmured in your sleep." I blushed a little, trying to figure out why that was embarrassing. I nodded for Klaus to continue.

"He spelled the knife he stabbed you with to keep flooding your system with wolfsbane…and for a moment I thought…" He trailed off, lowering his head. I touched his cheek to bring his gaze back to me.

"Hey," I said softly. "I'm okay now." Klaus just stared at me.

"Really," I reassured. Then those blue eyes filled with tears as he buried his face into my stomach, fisting my shirt with one hand as he gripped my hand with the other.

"Oh," I sighed, running a hand through his hair soothingly. I moved him a little so I could sit up and he pushed his forehand against mine.

"I thought I was going to lose you," he whispered brokenly. My heart ached a little at those words.

"Klaus. Niklaus. I'm not leaving you anytime soon," I whispered, looking into his eyes. He released a shaky breath and buried his face into the crook of my neck, wrapping his arms around my waist tightly. I wiggled over onto his lap to I could wrap myself around him like a vine.

For a long time, we just held each other. I ran my hands through his hand, holding him close. When he finally pulled back, he leaned over and kissed me softly. I sighed against his lips and deepened the kiss. I shifted so I could press closer to him.

Gently, he lifted me up and carried me from the room. I murmured his name as he carried me into his bedroom. He set me down, taking off my torn shirt. I helped him remove my jeans and shoes, before I undressed him. He scooped me into his arms before carting me into the bathroom.

Klaus pressed me against the tile in the shower, turning on the warm spray. His lips brushed over mine sweetly, before trailing down my neck. I tilted my head back, running my hands along his shoulders.

After we took our time washing each other, he pressed me closer into the wall, filling me. I groaned quietly, tightening my hold in his shoulders.

"Niklaus," I breathed. I looked into his eyes, which were a deep blue. We watched each other and he moved gently inside me. The water, now growing cold, slid down our moving bodies unnoticed. I moved my hips against his, drowning in his eyes.

Finally, Klaus groaned, taking my lips again. I closed my eyes as bliss and warmth washed over me. Klaus thrusted inside me a few more times before he shuddered and I tightened around him, murmuring his name again.

"I love you," he said softly. I leaned my forehead against his.

"I love you too," I replied.

Ooo0ooO

When Annabelle and I returned downstairs, she helped Caroline clean up the living room. They washed a few rugs and the clothes that were covered in sweat and blood.

Annabelle returned as I stood in front of the fireplace. She curled into a chair, drinking a glass of ice water.

"Charlie's okay," Anna began. "I called him and he's fine, just has a headache. He doesn't remember what happened, one second he was here and the next he was lying face down in his hotel room." I nodded.

"Silas certainly had his fun with us today."

"Silas isn't going to stop until we find the cure," she said with trepidation. I nodded, turning to face her.

"Rebekah is close to finding it. Once she does…" I trailed off. Annabelle looked at me with a raised brow.

"Are you going to give it to Silas? Because if you do, that means Rebekah won't be able to become human," she said. I rubbed a hand over my eyes tiredly.

"I know," I answered in a low voice. I reached into my pocket and dialed Rebekah's number.

"What do you want, Nik?" she said as she answered.

"An update on our search for the elusive cure," I replied easily. Anna sipped her water as she watched me.

"Let's just say that things have gotten…complicated." I raised my brow curiously and saw Anna tilt her head a little.

"In fact why don't you speak to one of those complications. Here." I heard her hand the phone over to someone.

"Complication speaking." I froze at the sound of Elijah's voice before laughing a little.

"Big brother. Alas you join the phrase," I said. Anna's brows shot up and I shrugged a little.

"I simply had to take charge. Now that I have and got the cure I'm bringing it back to Mystic Falls." I narrowed my eyes at that.

"Well a long list of demands I assume."

"Not that long," he said simply. I smiled again.

"Come home, brother. We'll settle this like family." I hung up, looking at Annabelle. She gave me a small smile in return. Caroline walked into the room, drying her hands with a small towel.

"I used all your bleach," she said, continuing to walk from the room. Annabelle jumped from the chair to hurry over to Caroline. She rested a hand on the young vampire's shoulder.

"Hey. Thank you, for helping Klaus. And for helping me, in a way," Anna said. Caroline's lips twisted a little.

"Yeah…" she replied, nodding. Then she shifted her gaze to me. "Well if you need anything else, don't call me. I have a prom to plan." I chuckled.

"Friends then?" I asked as she began to walk away.

"Are you going to let Tyler come back into town?" she asked. Anna looked at me with a raised brow and I gave both women a pointed look. Caroline's face flickered with disappointment.

"You might have noticed," I began, making her pause. "I'm not exactly scouring the Earth for him…Am I?" Caroline looked over her shoulder a little and smiled. Then she quietly left.

Annabelle walked over to me to put her arms around my waist, tilting her head up so she could look into my eyes.

"See? Doing something good feels good, doesn't it?" she asked, slightly teasing. I chuckled again and kissed her briefly.

"I'm still a better bad guy," I replied. Anna giggled and I felt my heart soar at that beautiful sound.

"Oh yes, you're so bad," she teased, her grin mischievous. I snatched her by the waist to pull her close, making her gasp.

"Are you saying I'm not a bad guy, little wolf?" I growled playfully. Anna squirmed against my hold, laughing.

"Oh no, you're definitely the… hmm, the Big Bad Wolf," she said jokingly. I laughed and tickled her sides. Anna squealed and wiggled until she broke from my hold. She darted across the room before I flashed in front of her.

"Going somewhere?" I drawled. With one quick movement, I had her in my arms, my lips covering hers. She moaned, wrapping herself around me. On a growl, I carried her back upstairs.

Ooo0ooO

Author's Note: Such a good episode! I'm excited that Elijah's back!

Let me know what you thought of this chapter!