Poison & Wine ~ Chapter XXI
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I walked through a dark, foggy forest. My hair was standing on its end, and I could swear I've been here before. As I looked around and continued forward, I bumped straight into someone.
"Elijah," I breathed in relief. He looked at me gravely, and I felt my here break a little more. Then I spoke my next words to him against my will. "We need to speak."
"Yes, Anastasia, I received your letter," Elijah's hair was long, past his shoulders and he wore very old looking clothes.
I exhaled and started walking in small circles. "Well, as you must know by now, I have sworn to not favor Niklaus or you."
He clenched his jaw. "Yes, I am aware," I exhaled again, nervously rubbing the back of my neck. I started to speak, then stopped, and begun pacing again.c"Anastasia, what is wrong?" Elijah caught my arm and turned me to face him. "Has someone threatened you?"
"No, no one has dared," I spoke in a soft tone before reaching up and touching Elijah's cheeks. "Elijah, I want to be with you, not Niklaus."
"W-What?" Elijah asked in surprise, looking down at me.
"I choose you," I grabbed his hands, and smiled small at him. "I isolated myself from your entire family because of my original choice, and even considered leaving for good. But, that time spent away from you, I realized how much I loved you…"
His hazel brown eyes watered. "And what of Niklaus? Your affections towards him?"
"Are buried by the way I feel when I'm with you, Elijah. Here, listen," I took his hand and placed it over my heart. "You are the only person that makes my heart beat quickly and slow at once."
We gazed at each other a long moment before he leaned his forehead against my own. "Marry me, Anastasia."
A distant memory of Klaus passes through my mind, remembering he had asked me quite a number of weeks ago that same thing. Yet, I can only simply smile at this beautiful man. "Yes."
"Andy, wake up. Andy, wake up." A foreign voice said. I felt everything begin to melt away, and take Elijah with it. "Andy," the British voice continued.
I groggily opened my eyes to come face to face with Klaus. I wrinkled my nose up and turned away from him. "Leave me be."
"Get up, we're at our destination, love," He said, touching my shoulder to which I instantly flinched away from the contact.
"Don't touch me," I said through clenched teeth as I got out of the car. My knees were still a little sore from yesterday's trip in the Smoky Mountains. I had cleaned them up and put band-aids on them as soon as I was able to.
Stefan got out at the same moment as Klaus and I. Klaus spoke the next words to Stefan. "Welcome back to Chicago, Stefan."
I looked around at the city in wonderment. I'd never been to a big city such as this, Mystic Falls had been all I ever known. I smiled as I turned in a full circle to see everything I could. I looked to the other two to see Klaus watching me with an unreadable expression. My smile dropped and I looked away.
"What are we even doing here?" Stefan asked him.
"I know how much you loved it here," Klaus explained. "Bringing back memories of the good old ripper days?"
"Blacked out most of them. A lot of blood, a lot of partying. The details are all a blur." Stefan surveyed the area himself.
"Well, that is a crying shame. The details are makes it legend," Klaus smiled that mischievous smile and continued on with a tale. "Word was that the ripper of Monterrey got lonely, so he escaped to the city for comfort. It was prohibition. Everything was off-limits then, which made everything so fun." Klaus looked over at me.
"The 20s?" I questioned, recalling learning about prohibition.
"The roaring 20s," Klaus answered. "You would have quite enjoyed it, Andy."
Who? I asked silently. Anastasia, or me? How could he even know I would enjoy it? Maybe I'd hate it. He doesn't know one thing about me.
"Chicago was magical." Klaus continued.
"Yeah, well, I'll take your word for it," Stefan said, quite coldly. "Like I said, I don't remember most of it."
"Going to get down to business, then?"
"Why am I still with you?" Stefan turned to face Klaus. "We had our fun, your hybrids failed," Klaus looked irritated and annoyed when he brought that up. "I mean, don't you want to move on?"
"We're going to see my favorite witch. If anyone can help us with our hybrid problem, it's her," Klaus said before walking off. Stefan and I looked at each other, both with poker faces, though we were both internally freaking out. What if Klaus discovered Elena was alive? Klaus would kill us both then go kill Elena and all of our other loved ones in Mystic Falls.
Stefan and I quickly followed him.
Klaus, Stefan, and I ended up going to a bar, which they apparently both knew. "Looks familiar, doesn't it?" Klaus looked over to Stefan.
"I can't believe this place is still standing," Stefan responded, glancing around the bar.
"You've got to be kidding me," A woman's voice said, and I looked to see a woman behind the bar. She was an older looking lady, maybe fifties?
Klaus smiled at her. "So a hybrid walks into a bar, says to the bartender…"
"Stop. You may be invincible, but that doesn't make you funny," The woman approached us, and looked over to Stefan. "I remember you."
"Yeah, you're Gloria. Shouldn't you be…?" He questioned.
"Old and dead?" She smiled at him. "Now if I'm die, who's going to run this place, huh?"
"Gloria's a very powerful witch," Klaus explained.
"I can slow the aging down some. Herbs and spells," She said, then added, "But don't worry, it'll catch up to me some day." She looked over at me. "A new human pet for you, Klaus?"
I scoffed. "I'd rather not be thought of so lowly."
She laughed, looking over to Klaus. "Who is this girl you've brought along?"
"Her name is Andy, and she is a human," Klaus glanced over at me. "A very annoying one at times." I clenched my fists and teeth, but held my tongue. "Stefan and Andy, why don't you go and fix us up a little something from behind the bar?" Klaus asked.
"I'm not—"
"Yeah, sure thing," Stefan interrupted me, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the bar. I shot him a glare as he sat me down in a stool and told me to stay put.
"I'm not a child," I muttered to him. He gave me a look but continued on to fixing drinks. I glanced over at Klaus and the witch Gloria to see an unhappy expression on Klaus' face. I looked back to Stefan when he spoke up again.
"What is this?" He demanded, looking at a photograph that I couldn't see who was in it.
"Well, I told you, Stefan. Chicago's a magical place." Klaus responded.
"But this is me. With you," Stefan turned the photograph and I stared in shock at seeing it. Klaus and Stefan knew each other in the 20s?
"Come on," Klaus moved toward the door and we followed, but Gloria grabbed my arm before I could follow them.
"You said your name was Andy?" She asked as I watched Klaus and Stefan leave.
"Yes," I looked over at her.
"You be careful around that hybrid,"
"Why?" I questioned, my curiosity getting the best of me.
"You don't know, do you?" She asked as she released my arm.
"Know what?"
"Andy," Klaus' voice snapped from the doorway.
I looked back to ask Gloria what she meant, but she was walking into the back. I exhaled before following Klaus. When I walked out, Klaus was talking to Stefan of how they knew each other. We got back into the car and he told Stefan of how he hated him for showing interest in his sister. We arrived to a warehouse and entered.
"Your sister," Stefan said. "So I knew another Original vampire."
"If you can't handle it, then don't ask," Klaus said as we came into a part with coffins, five in total. I looked at each of them, wondering if Elijah was actually in one of them… Was that were he had been the past few months?
Klaus went over to one coffin, and opened it, a smile on his face. Stefan and I moved to look who was in it. "I don't recognize her," Stefan said. There was a blonde who had grey skin and veins popping out. She wore her hair in twenties fashion and her dress. How long had she been daggered?
"Well, don't tell her that. Rebekah's temper is worse than mine," Klaus said as he grabbed the dagger and pulled it from her chest. "Time to wake up, little sister." We waited a few moments, nothing happened. "Any day now, Rebekah," He looked over at us. "She's being dramatic."
"Look, why don't you just tell me what the hell is going on? I mean, you obviously want me here for a reason, right?" Stefan questioned Klaus as he turned toward him.
"Well, you have many useful talents."
"Do I?"
"In fact, I learned some of my favorite tricks from you," Klaus then jumped into a tale from the twenties, when Stefan forced a man to drink his own wife's blood. "I was your number one fan." Klaus told him.
"Why should I believe any of this?" Stefan asked.
Klaus went over to a guy working transport. "When she wakes up, tell her to meet us at Gloria's bar. Then volunteer your carotid artery and let her feed until you die."
"Where are you going?" Stefan asked as he started to walk off.
"You think I'm lying, Stefan," Klaus called back to him. "You and I knew each other. You trusted me with one of your secrets and now I'm going to prove it to you."
"How?" Stefan asked.
"We're going to your old apartment."
We walked down the hall of the apartment building. When we reached the room, we see that the lock has been broken. He kicked the door and we entered. "What a charming little homestead," Klaus said.
"You could have any place, Stefan, and you chose this?" I asked, looking at the old, worn out apartment.
"Do you feel that? Is anybody here?" Klaus asked before Stefan could answer me.
"It's been vacant for decades. People must break in all the time. Why'd you bring me here?" Stefan asked.
"Your friend, Liam Grant, the one who drank his wife's blood... I never could figure out why you wanted his name. And then you told me your little secret. It was all part of your special little ritual."
Stefan finished for him. "To write it down."
"And relive the kill... Over and over again." Klaus said.
"And I thought I was screwed up," I commented, walking to the window and looking out. This place certainly had a good view, though.
I heard a creak and looked over to see Klaus holding open a hidden door. "You believe me now?" He asked Stefan.
Stefan entered the closet to see the list and stood there for quite a few moments before saying, "Look what I found," Stefan held out a bottle and gave it to Klaus. "1918. Single malt."
"My favorite. Let's go and find someone to pair it with." Klaus headed towards the door while I stood there as Stefan closed the closet.
"Coming, love?" Klaus asked me.
"You know, I'm really nasty and sweaty. If you're going to keep me hostage, you could at least have the decency to provide me with a few things. Like food. I've not eaten in a day." I pointed out before looking over at him. "At least be a good captor."
He gestured toward the door. "As Stefan and I are eating, you can shower at Gloria's then we'll grab you something to eat." I exhaled before walking out of the dusty apartment.
After I showered, I was forced to change into a sundress, seeing as that was all Gloria had that would fit me. I was also wearing heels. Needless to say, as I walked into the bar, I was not happy.
Klaus and Stefan were at the bar, and as I entered, Klaus looked up at me. His eyes got a faraway look and he didn't seem to return to the present until I sat beside of Stefan. "Wipe up the drool, Klaus," I said to him. He, in reply, rolled his eyes.
Gloria gave them two beers, and handed me a tray with a burger and fries alongside a water. I thanked her, and started eating. "Where's Rebekah?" She asked Klaus.
"She'll be here. I can't just conjure her on demand," Klaus replied, slightly irritated. He looked over at Stefan. "What's with you? I thought Chicago was your playground."
"So this is why you asked me to be your wingman? Because you liked the way that I tortured innocent people?" Stefan asked him as Gloria walked off.
"Well, that's certainly half of it."
"What's the other half?"
"The other half, Stefan, is that you used to want to be my wingman," Klaus said, another distant look in his eyes. He broke out of it after a few seconds and raised his shot of tequila. "To friendship."
"So I'm confused. If we were such great friends, then why do I only know you as the hybrid dick who sacrificed my girlfriend on an altar of fire?" Stefan asked, and I laughed softly. Such true words.
"All good things must come to an end," Klaus said, before delving into another story which I zoned out for. I was just starting into space when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I jumped when I saw Klaus next to me now.
"Where's Stefan?" I asked.
"Went out for a drink. What were you thinking of?" Klaus questioned.
I looked down at my plate. "Nothing."
We sat in silence for a moment until he spoke up. "You look breath-taking, you know."
I looked over at him, half-glaring at him. "I don't care." Another silence fell over us for quite a while.
"You know," He begun. "I always loved birthdays, and I cannot believe I missed yours. And your eighteenth birthday, of all the ones I could miss."
"It's not a big deal. I just didn't feel like celebrating with the man who killed my sister," I popped a fry into my mouth.
He sighed, before placing a black, velvet box in front of me. "Happy belated birthday."
"No," I shook my head. "I don't want it."
"You've not even opened it."
"Because I don't want to."
"Open it. Now."
"No."
He pursed his lips and leaned towards me. "You will open it, and accept it."
He had compelled me! Against my will, I picked up the box and opened it to find a silver chain with an absolutely breathtaking red pendant that seemed to have a darker red mist inside.
"It belonged to a princess, who was, in fact, a witch, though she was not nearly as beautiful as you."
I looked over at him, a scowl on my face. Did he have to compel people? I might be compelled to accept this, but that would not stop me from fussing at him. I put the necklace back up and slammed the lid down. "You know what, Klaus? I think I understand you now. Your father didn't love you, so you assume that no one else will either. And that's why you compel people or you try to buy them off! But that's not how it works. You don't connect with people, because you don't even try to understand them!" I snapped. We glared at each other for a while, until we were interrupted by a visitor.
"I see they've opened the doors to the riff raff now," Klaus said, and I almost fired back, until I saw who he was speaking to.
"Oh, honey, I've been called worse."
My head snapped to the voice. "Damon!" I whispered in surprise. Damon gave me a wink before continuing to converse with Klaus.
"You don't give up, do you?" Klaus asked.
"Give me my brother and Andy back… You'll never have to see me again," Damon said.
"Well, I am torn. You see, I promised Stefan I wouldn't let you die, but how many freebies did I really sign up for? And clearly you want to die, otherwise you wouldn't be here, so…" Klaus stood up, coming face to face with Damon.
"Klaus—" I started to say, but Damon interrupted me.
"What can I say? I'm a thrill seeker." Klaus started to strangle him, and I stood from my seat. This wasn't going to end well, so I ran to find Gloria. It took a minute, but I found her in the back.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
I pointed, at a loss for words, and she followed me back quickly to the bar. When we got there, Damon was on the ground and Klaus was about to stab him in his heart. I moved forward to intervene, but thankfully Gloria burned the stake with her powers.
"Really?" Klaus asked, annoyed.
"Not in my bar. You take it outside," Gloria said.
Klaus looked at Damon. "You don't have to negotiate your brother's freedom. When I'm done with him, he won't want to go back." Klaus moved back over to the bar. I looked at Damon and then went over to Klaus.
"Let me go home, Klaus," I said. "I don't belong here. What is left of my family needs me. Just let me go."
Klaus looked over at me, and peered into my eyes for a long moment before finally saying, "Go."
I didn't question it. I went over to Damon and helped him up. We headed for the door, but halfway I remembered the necklace, so I hurried back for it. Klaus looked up at me, and I think he kind of hoped I would say I wanted to stay, but instead I only said, "Thank you, Klaus," before grabbing the velvet box and running back to Damon, who slipped his arm around me. I think it was to ensure that I didn't run back off to Klaus.
I know I didn't have to say thank you, but I thought that I would do that since he actually let me go. "Thank God," I said once we got in the parking lot.
"I gather it wasn't fun?" Damon said, squeezing me and pulling close.
"Was that even a question?" I looked over at him. "Anyways, do mind a pit stop in Tennessee? I left my stuff in that place I was staying."
"Yeah, about that…"
"What?" I asked cautiously as we got to his car. I opened the passenger door was pleasantly surprised to see there was already a passenger. "Elena!"
"Andy?"
"Oh, my God!" I embraced her tightly, my eyes even watered. "You have no clue how glad I am to see you!"
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The End of Chapter XXI