Poison & Wine - Chapter XXXIII
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Days passed and nothing happened. Nothing, at least, that I was told. Jeremy left on Tuesday and, like always, I didn't let anyone see how upset I was about it; I told Elena she could do what she wanted so I must have deserved it.
Elena, Damon, Bonnie, and even Stefan – I wasn't too happy to see him – all acted very secretive around me like I was the bad person here; did they think that I'd go tell Klaus what they were planning? So when I was asked to go with Elena and Caroline to pick up Caroline's dad from the hospital – it was told to me by Elena that Tyler attacked him in his wolf form because he was trying to break the sire bond – I jumped at the opportunity.
Caroline was talking to Dr. Fell about her father while Elena explained all the attacks on the council members and how they suspected Alaric's potential girlfriend as the killer. "So whoever it is tried framing you?" I asked, slightly confused.
"I don't know," Elena exhaled. "Whoever it is used one of our family weapons, but I don't think it's her."
"Do you think it's Klaus?" I asked. "He wants your family to suffer, right? This could just be that again."
"Would you want it to be him?"
I sighed, giving her a tired look. "You're trying to get me to say that I do feel something for Klaus, but I don't. Yes, he's pursuing me, but when we were in Portland I made it clear to him I wasn't over Elijah. Elena, nothing is going on between Klaus and I."
"But he immediately came to heal Caroline when you asked him to."
"That's because he said he owed me one for letting Mikael stab me," I cringed at my own words, the nightmares ruining through my mind.
"But―" She was interrupted by Caroline returning.
"That was fast," I said before she could continue.
"Yeah, he's not here. He was already discharged," Caroline explained, then looked to Elena. "And she seems perfectly nice by the way… a little intense, maybe. But... I think it's sweet, you wanna make sure Alaric's not dating a total psycho." Caroline pulled out her phone and dialed a number before placing it to her ear.
"He's my family. I have to look out for him," Elena said, then noticed Caroline's expression. "What?"
Caroline had her phone to her ear. "I hear it."
"Hear what?"
"My dad's phone," We followed her into a storage room.
Mr. Forbes was sitting against boxes, lifeless with a knife in his chest. Caroline hurriedly got on her knees beside him. "Dad! Dad?"
"Oh, my God," Elena and I whispered.
"Don't be dead, don't be dead, don't be dead! Oh my god!" Caroline cried as pulled the knife out. "Daddy!"
"Caroline… He has vampire blood in his system," Elena said, going to her side.
"What?!" Caroline looked at her, eyes wide. Since when did he get vampire blood in his system? Mr. Forbes woke up with a startle. Elena went to call Caroline's mom while Caroline compelled the nurse to stay out of this room.
"I compelled the nurse to stay out of this room. You'll be safe here," Caroline said as she came back in.
"My wound is completely healed. I need something to eat," His eyes briefly flickered to me.
"Daddy, why don't you just come lay down and just relax?" Caroline took a step toward him.
"I can't. I'm too wired and my pulse is racing. It's the effect of my body wanting to transition," He was pacing.
"Well, maybe Doctor Fell can give you something,"
"She's done enough."
Elena walked in then. "I called your mom."
"Thanks," Caroline sighed with some relief.
"Mr. Forbes, did you see your attacker?" I asked.
"I didn't see anything. Tried to sneak out the back exit and someone came up from behind," He answered.
"Look, we'll figure this out, but in the mean time we need to get you some blood," Caroline said.
"I'm not going to drink any blood."
"You have to. You died with vampire blood in your system. If you don't feed and finish the transition into a vampire then you'll die," Elena explained.
"I understand how it works. And that's what I'm prepared to do. Now get me out of this hospital. I smell blood everywhere," He left the room and we all looked at one another.
Alaric was putting his weapons on the table when Elena and I entered the house. "What are you doing?" She asked.
"Taking inventory. Did you bring it?"
"You mean, did we steal evidence from a crime scene? Yes," I said as I handed him the stake.
"You're right. It's a match," Alaric looked beat. "This is from a crawl space in the foyer. Which means, Meredith knew where it was."
"That doesn't mean, she stole it," Elena quickly said.
He showed us other stakes. "This is from the loft. These are from the duffel in Damon's car."
"Identical to the one that killed Brian Walters," Elena noted.
"Damon's car was at the Wickery-Bridge fundraiser, so was Meredith. And that was the night her ex-boyfriend, the medical examiner, was killed. The one who called her psycho," Alaric said.
"Well, she was trying to save Bill Forbes, why would she turn around and try to kill him?" I asked.
"I don't know what to think either. You know, but... we'd be idiots to ignore all these facts," Alaric said, but something wasn't right. It couldn't be Meredith because I locked this house tight up at night. It could be Klaus, but he's not invited in, though that doesn't mean he couldn't compel someone to get them.
"So what should we do?"
"Well... Get this to the police. Then you should probably be with Caroline."
"I'm sorry, Ric. Please be careful," Elena took the stake and left.
"It wasn't Meredith," I said. "I'd suspect you before I did her. It just doesn't add up." I shook my head before following after Elena. It was only said as a comfort, not an actual belief.
Elena, Caroline, and I were sitting together on Caroline's front porch steps. "Did you hear back from Tyler yet?" I asked her.
"No. And I've left messages for him everywhere," Caroline sighed. "So, does Alaric really think that Dr. Fell did it?"
"He doesn't know what to think," Elena said.
"What about the both of you?"
"I wish the girl Alaric liked wasn't in the middle of all of this. He deserves to be happy. But yeah, she looks guilty. It's why I told your mom," Elena said and I looked away with pursed lips; I still wasn't convinced it was Meredith.
"My mom's in there sitting with my dad. And I don't think they've been in the same room this long since I was ten years old. Is there any chance that Tyler did it?" Caroline asked.
"What?"
"If Klaus was trying to mess with you and he's sired to Klaus. And, I mean, he does everything that he's told."
"No… no, I don't think Tyler did it."
"I can't just let my father die. You know, I'm… I'm gonna force him to feed."
"He doesn't want to, Caroline, you can't take his choice away, that's the only thing your dad has," I said.
Caroline started to cry. "I hated him so much for what he did to me. So much. Now all I want to do is save his life."
"Of course you do, he's your dad."
"What was the hardest part for you guys? When you lost your dad?"
Elena and I looked at one another before she answered. "Realizing all the things that he wouldn't be there for. The things that… that you just need your dad for, you know?" Elena and I scooted over to Caroline and held her in our arms. Matt suddenly showed up and we all looked at him.
"Hey," He said.
"Hey," She got up and hugged Matt.
I got a sudden spike of anger and stood up. "Can I borrow your car, Elena?"
"Why?" She asked.
"I'm going to go talk to Klaus," I held out my hand expectantly. "I need to know if it's him."
She stared at me a long, hard moment before handing her keys over. "Just please be careful."
I gave her a short nod and hurried to her car. I had remembered the address from when last time I was there since it was kinda hard to forget the huge mansion. When I got there I saw Damon's car and groaned inwardly; what was he doing here?
I got out and knocked on the door which it opened to a blonde girl. "Can I help you?" She asked.
"I'm here to see Klaus," I said. "I'm Andy Gilbert." She moved to allow me access and I saw the mansion was finished and it was breathtaking. I was led down a halfway by the blonde.
I heard Klaus say, "Family above all," before I heard glasses clinking together.
"Mister Klaus, you have a visitor," The blonde said, entering before I but then moving away to reveal me standing there.
"Andy!" Klaus's voice boomed. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
I saw both Stefan and Damon sitting at a table, eating and drinking. Klaus sat along with them, and then I moved my eyes to the forth member of the party and I felt my heart stop.
Those hazel brown eyes stared right back at me. The angular facial features – high cheekbones, a strong jawline, and a straight nose.
It was Elijah, and he was alive and breathing.
"Andy?" Klaus moved across the room and stopped in front of me
"I-I didn't know you had, uh, company. Sorry, I'll just, uh, I'll just go," I turned quickly, but Klaus grabbed my arm.
"Wait, what did you need?"
I kept my eyes on the ground, feeling all eyes glued to me in the room. My heart felt like it was going to pound out of my chest. "Are you the one attacking council members?"
"No, why would I do that? I got the support of the council, I have no desire to murder them," Klaus answered.
I looked in his eyes and saw no trace of a lie so I nodded. "I'll go now." But he stopped me.
"Why don't you stay?"
I glared at him, my heart was now pounding loudly. It was all I could hear now. "Let go of me, now," He did as I told him to and I looked to Elijah one more time; he had cut his hair, but he was still so painfully beautiful. I quickly turned and darted out of the house.
I got into Elena's car and felt like a character from Mortal Kombat had repeatedly punched me in my gut. Elijah was back… But how long had he been back? How had I not known? Why had no one told me? I hadn't even noticed that veil thing had gone away.
When I got home, I saw blood all over the house. I pulled out a stake and slowly followed the bloody hand prints up the stairs. When I got to the top, I saw Elena crying in Matt's arms and they were beside Alaric's lifeless body. I waited until Elena had someone on the phone before asking Matt, "Is he―?"
"No, he's gotta wake up and he'll be fine," Matt answered.
"She has an alibi?" Elena asked. "Then who could it be?" She paused before hanging up. Suddenly Alaric woke up coughing and we all rushed to him; Elena grabbed his hand.
I exhaled and put my stake away. "So what hap―" I screamed out in pain, feeling like swords were being stabbed through my body. I fell to the ground and felt so much fear and pain.
"Andy!" Elena cried, appearing over me. "Andy, what's going on?!"
"Klaus―!" I hardly managed out before screaming again. I had tears streaming down my face and I was gasping for air; I was in so much despair and pain right now because Klaus was.
"Call Stefan or Damon, Matt! Tell them to stop whatever they're doing to Klaus now!" Elena yelled.
I whimpered as the pain suddenly disappeared altogether. Klaus couldn't be have just been killed, I had seen him not even thirty minutes ago. I didn't feel him die, though, so he couldn't be… Besides, he's a hybrid, right? Nothing can kill him.
"Andy? Andy, are you okay?" Elena asked, shaking me gently. I closed my eyes because I was exhausted and drifted off.
I was sitting across from the woman Esther that I had seen a few times now. "What did you do, Esther?" I asked.
"They are immortal, Anastasia, and cannot be killed so easily. I had to protect my family," She said.
"I was just attacked in my own home! I had to invite my husband in and he almost killed me, because of my blood, Esther. I cannot be at risk every time I am near our family."
"You can become one. Just have Elijah feed you his blood and stab yourself in the heart."
I jumped up from my seat. "Do you think I desire eternal beauty? Or that I want to murder innocents? I will not have any part in this." I stormed out of the house and suddenly saw a huge fire at the white oak tree. I saw each of the family members standing by it and moved to go my sister's home, but when I got there, I was greeted by a dead male and female with their throats ripped out.
I screamed as I held their bodies. "Mama! Papa!" All I could feel was anger and despair. Tatia had gone missing days ago so Mama and Papa traveled to our relatives a while away to drop Bedelia – Tatia's daughter – off with them; they weren't supposed to be back for another day, but they evidently had made a quick journey.
"Anastasia," Elijah said and I felt his hand on my back to which I jumped away from.
"Don't touch me!" I whimpered, burying my face in Papa's jacket. I cried out again. "Papa, no… No!" I sobbed for another moment before looking up at Elijah. "Nik did this, didn't he? Didn't he?" I demanded and Elijah reluctantly nodded; I cried out again and hit my fists on the ground.
After a while I stood and walked around the village; everyone was murdered and by the family I thought I'd known. I found a shovel and went to the graveyard; I began digging holes for my parents. After a while Elijah came up.
"Ana, let me," He said and tried to take the shovel but I pulled it away.
"No, they're my parents and I want to bury them," I shouted at him. "And do not call me Ana again, my name is Anastasia!" I continued digging the holes, my body shaking uncontrollably.
"Forgive me," He said before backing away a bit. "Will you at least accept my help?"
I dropped the shovel and went over to him, peering into his eyes. "Elijah, when I look into your eyes I see his… I-I love you so much, but I wish to be alone to mourn my family." And with that, I went back to the holes; he had gone and thankfully not returned. I could not believe they had killed all those innocent people… Those people were friends and they slaughtered them like pigs.
Once I was finished digging, I went to retrieve the bodies. When I got there, he had to be there. "Hello, Anastasia," Nik grimaced as he leant against my old home.
My heart tightened, my blood suddenly feeling like ice, but I ignored him as I grabbed my mother, suddenly aware I wouldn't be able to carry her. Instantly I burst into more sobs. I could only clutch onto my parents as I thought of Nik killing them... They loved him as their own, treated him far better than his own parents did…
"Why?!" I screamed, looking back at him. "How could you be so cruel to me?"
"I'm so sorry," He choked out, just as he did with Henrik. "They were going to take you away from us. I didn't mean to kill them."
"I loved you, Niklaus," I breathed out. "I bore your child, not your brother's, and you repay me by killing my parents. I cannot believe I gave you my heart."
He, in complete and utter shock, moved over to me. "Ana, I'm so―"
"Niklaus," Elijah's stern voice came from behind me. "Leave."
"Ana―" Niklaus moved toward me again, tears rushing down his cheeks, but I turn my back to him, feeling my heart turn to stone. I felt no pain then since I had lost everything now; I knew Elijah had to hear my revelation, and even though I had miscarried, I knew that would just pain him greater. However, I felt no remorse for causing any of them pain. I only felt my own.
Elijah picked up my parents and we, wordless, moved to the graveyard. Once there, Elijah dropped the bodies into the graves before he begun to walk away.
"Elijah?" I called after him, and he immediately looked back at me. Tears were forming in his eyes as I moved toward him. Once I reached him, I stood on my toes and placed a kiss on his forehead. I turned away from him and walked back to the graves and started to cover them. Though before I completely covered Papa, I stole his dagger.
After I finished, Elijah had gone sometime during the burial, I went to my old home – the one I grew up in and the one my parents met their death – and stood in doorway. I put the dagger up to my heart, fully prepared to do this.
"Anastasia, no!" I heard Rebekah scream out.
"Forgive me," I said before plunging the sharp tip into my heart, a whimper escaping my lips as I fell to the ground, feeling myself slipping away.
I saw Rebekah beating the invisible barrier which prevented her from entering, then Niklaus appeared beside her and instantly started shouting at me, but it was muffled. In an instant Elijah was over me and bit into his wrist, but I clumsily pushed it away from me.
I looked him dead in the eye. "Take care of him." And then I felt myself completely slip away from life.
I sprung up in bed, inhaling air as I sat up; tears soaked my cheeks and I was breathing heavily. Everything came rushing back to me and I stood up, a horrible headache plaguing me. There was a note on my bed.
Went to take Ric to hospital, be back ASAP - E
I sighed and moved to the edge of my bed, going over what I experienced. I was horrified, but I was glad it wasn't a Mikael dream again.
I just couldn't believe that's how Anastasia had died, or that her parents had been killed by Klaus. I think I recalled Elena telling me that Katherine and Emmeline's parents had been killed by Klaus. I would say there was a running theme, but I knew for a fact that Klaus didn't kill mine. But what if they had been alive when he came to town? Would they have met the same fate?
I moved to the window and looked down to see Emmeline standing in the yard; she made a gesture for me to come down so I did. When I got out the front door she was waiting on the front porch. Her hair was now cut short and touched her shoulders.
"Hey," I said in a small voice.
"Do you understand now? You have to stay away from Klaus," She said as she turned to me.
I looked down the dark street, my hair blowing in the smooth breeze. "Yes."
"Yes you understand or yes you'll stay away from him?"
"Both, I guess."
"You can't just guess, Andrea!" She grabbed my arm. "Everything you feel from him you have to let go. You can't continue to be seduced by his charm."
"I'm not being seduced, Emmeline!" I yanked away from her.
"You're giving in, especially after what he said about you being curious, which was in that Pirate movie, I believe." Oh, huh, no wonder it sounded so familiar. Jack Sparrow said that to Elizabeth Swann, I remember now. That jerk, he tried to Sparrow me! "That's not the point," She shook her head. "He's using Elena's blood to create hybrids! He'll kill her in the process."
I huffed. "He could be talked out it."
"He's grown fond of you, yes, but he's not in love. You're young, Andy, which means in time you'll learn how absurd it is to even try to will yourself into his heart."
"I don't want to 'will' myself into his heart!"
She shook her head. "You do realize Elijah was here not even ten minutes ago. He wanted to see you, but you were knocked out still. Doesn't that tell you anything?"
I exhaled, going back towards my house. "If you want someone to blame for Klaus living and seducing me, blame Elijah. He's the one who allowed Klaus to live."
"But you're the one who gives him attention, who encourages him." I turned back to respond but she was gone. Angrily I went back in my house. Looks like another restless night.
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The End of Chapter XXXIII