Poison & Wine - Chapter XXXV

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I walked around the Grill, delivering food and drinks to the customers, a quite happy face replaced my usual grouch face. I probably should've been in a grouch mood since I had had a restless night that consisted of nightmares, but I couldn't bring myself to be.

This morning I woke up to the doorbell; when I went to answer it I was greeted with a drawing of myself at the ball, standing in the moonlight. It was lying on the doormat with a title: "The Belle of the Ball." I instantly knew it was Klaus.

On top of that, Elijah came to visit me. He said he wanted to just talk so I offered him some tea which he gladly accepted. We took the tea out on the porch since it was a nice day and spoke out there.

"So," I had said. "What do you want to know?"

"I wanted to make sure you were okay, I had heard that you have been getting into some trouble after my father attacked you," He said as he settled on the bench.

I sighed. "Was it Klaus or Elena?"

"A mix of both," He admitted.

I was reluctant, but I confessed everything to him that had happened after Mikael's attack, leaving out the fact he was also in my nightmares every night. I had also confessed that Esther had started coming into the picture in my dreams of Anastasia. At one point in explaining all of this to him, I thought he was going to laugh at me, but he intently listened and made me feel good about talking about it.

"Have you spoke to anyone else about this?" He asked after I finished.

I shook my head. "They asked, but I knew if I told them that they would keep me on lock down in the house and have one of their interventions. I told you because I know there's nothing you would or could do about it."

"Why didn't you tell Niklaus?"

"Because I know the relationship he had with Mikael, I don't need to rehash out those awful feelings again," I sighed as I brought the warm mug to my lips. "It seems like your brother has earned my friendship, though not enough of my loyalty that I would side with him if my family were in danger."

"You say your family, but what of your friends?"

"It depends on the situation, I guess, but I more than likely would side with my friends. I did grow up with them… They are like family," We watched in silence as a group of kids – no older than ten – passed by on bikes, laughing there innocent heads off. "Do you ever wish for children, Elijah?" I knew I would be hitting on sore subject, but I had to ask.

"If you lived over a hundred lives and watched many acquaintances and friends and strangers have their own, would you?" He asked, looking over at me.

We sat in silence again as I thought that over. I randomly had the need to ask another question. "Will you remember me, Elijah? After I die someday, will you still remember me?"

"Annie, I hope you do not plan on dying anytime soon. You would be missed greatly not only by me, but by your family and friends." I slightly smiled at him saying that nickname.

"Thank you for listening to me vent about everything that happened with your father," I gave him a weary smile.

"It was a pleasure, Andrea. I don't know what I would do if any harm came to you, nevertheless by my own blood."

I laughed slightly, though I got chills from it. "You'd survive as you have for a thousand years."

"Yes, but you are not the kind of woman who is easily forgotten."

After that, we had finished his tea and he departed. I was absolutely on cloud nine right now as I was thinking about Elijah. Alaric and Meredith saw my happiness as I passed them.

"You're giddy," Alaric said, suspiciously eyeing me. He knew it had been a long time – around the time Damon and I were a possible thing – since I had been happy like this. "What's up?"

I smiled. "Do I need a reason?"

"What's his name?" Meredith immediately asked.

I stared blushing. "Not in front of him," I pointed to Alaric.

"Hey!" He said, then looked over at Meredith. "And how did you know it was a guy?"

"We're both women, I know what makes us giddy like that."

"I'm not giddy!" I instantly protested. "I'm just… happy for once." She gave me a knowing look which I shrugged off. My phone rang with a text that I saw was from Klaus. It said, "Meet Kol and I at the Grill?"

I quickly answered, "Already here, working today til eight! I figured you would have my schedule since you're so obsessed with me ;)"

A response quickly came through. "I'll see you momentarily."

"Is that him?" Meredith questioned as she gestured to my phone.

"No, that's his brother," I put my phone away. "So, uh, have you figured anything out about Alaric's attack?"

"The x-rays were inconclusive," Meredith begun. "The knife wound was already semi-healed. It's impossible to tell anything about whoever stabbed you, Ric. Short, tall. Left-handed, right-handed. No clue."

"Well, what about my head? Why can't I remember anything about the attack?" Alaric questioned.

"Your CT scans were clear. Maybe you were compelled to forget," Meredith suggested and I felt a pang a guilt. What if it was one of the Mikaelsons?

"Wait… you think the killer's a-a vampire?" I asked slowly.

"There are no other suspects. It's the obvious conclusion."

"Oh, come on now. Let's not go blaming the new family in town just because you lot have got yourselves a killer at large," Klaus said as Kol and him walked over to us. "Don't mind us. My brother and I are just here to let off some steam and talk to the lovely Andy, right Kol?"

"Right," Kol looked at me and smirked. "Ready to continue our conversation?"

I rolled my eyes. "Hello Kol, hello Klaus." I walked out from behind the bar and got back to my job. Klaus followed me, though.

"A little birdie told me that Elijah visited you this morning," He said.

I nodded. "He did. Why? What of it?"

"Did you two… talk it out? Settle your score? Did you bury the hatchet?"

I exhaled at realizing what this was about. He had seen us and probably heard our conversation when Elijah walked me to the car. "You're afraid something's going on with Elijah and I."

"You clearly care for him, but, no, I'm not afraid. I know that you're still focused on moving on from him and I'm just waiting for the day," He said, making me stop to stare at him. "Unless you did choose him?"

I stepped back. "I don't have to choose because nothing's going on with anyone for me. But even if there was, I'm not Elena, I'm a one-man gal and I would tell you straight up who I wanted more." I walked off them, my inner turmoil coming back. What did he mean, "Unless you choose him?" I don't have a choice to make, I'm with friends with Klaus and I'm friends with Elijah. No romantic relationship is going on with any of us.

Klaus and Kol had stayed there my entire shift, so afterward I joined them at the bar. "Klaus tells me you're like a ripper when it comes to alcohol," Kol said as I sat down next to Klaus.

"Oh, did he? I thought my ears were burning," I nudged Klaus playfully. "Did he tell you that he just went to a school dance?"

"It wasn't a dance, it was a wake," Klaus argued.

"Whatever you say," I said sing-songy. "I recall a sixties dance."

"Fantastic, isn't she?" Klaus said to his brother.

"She is when she isn't ogling over our brother," Kol winked at me.

"Except I'd use the adjective, 'irreplaceable,'" I grinned at them and chose to ignore Kol's comment, before noticing Alaric on the phone, looking worried as he stared over here. Alaric hung up and looked at Caroline who had just entered. Caroline and he exchanged looks before she started to make her way over.

Kol pointed at her. "I remember her from last night. She looks like a tasty little thing."

"Say another word and I'll personally slip some poison into your drink," I warned. "Caroline! What's going on?"

"Nothing," She answered, but I knew she was lying.

"Join us for a drink?" Klaus asked her, which surprised me.

"Actually, I need to speak with you in private, Klaus," Caroline said and I instantly stood up.

"Why?" I demanded.

Klaus chuckled, pulling me back to my seat. "So a pretty blonde is what it takes to make you jealous," He smirked at me before he nodded to Caroline. "Lead the way, love."

Jealousy ran through me. What was going on between the two? I mean, I knew he called everyone love, but to here Caroline be called it – probably because she was blonde – felt wrong. Klaus must seriously have a thing for blondes. As they disappeared out of the Grill, I felt immense jealousy.

"You know, that's why I'm such better company than Nik," Kol said as he moved to the seat by my side. "I'd never leave a beautiful girl's side for a pretty one." I hardly paid attention to his advances, though.

"I'm going to go see what they're talking about," I decided as I stood. "Wait here, I'll be right back, okay?"

I walked out of the Grill, Elijah at the back of my mind now, and saw Caroline and Klaus sitting on a bench. They were in a heated conversation. Had they…? No, certainly not, Klaus wouldn't, not with one of my friends, at least. They all hated him, right?

I started to go back into the Grill, but I was grabbed from behind and then everything went black.

I opened my eyes to see the dark sky. My head ached and I looked around my surroundings to see I was at the old abandoned witch house. I laid in a pentagram, and noticed I had company.

Finn was lighting torches around a pentagram. Esther stood in the pentagram as well, and Bonnie with an unknown woman stood outside of it. "The pentagram represents our connection to magic. The salt is a symbol of the Earth," Esther said, not paying any attention to me.

"The torches?" Bonnie asked. What the heck was going on?

"Five torches. One for each of my children," Esther explained.

"What's the spell you're doing?"

"As the witch who cast the spell that made them vampires, I can also reverse it. When they become human again, they can be killed. As they are linked as one, my brave Finn will be the sacrifice. With his death, will come theirs."

"And you're just willing to die?" The other woman beside Bonnie asked Finn.

"My mother has released me from an eternity of shame. It's not a sacrifice, it's a gift," Finn said.

"What's Andy here for then?" Bonnie asked, gesturing to me.

"There needs to a human talisman, something that's connected to my children," Esther turned toward me. "She was the one chosen between Elena and her because she would inevitably be the one to create a bond with my children that isn't only by blood, but an emotional bond. On The Other Side, nature decided she would be the way they would die."

"You're going to kill her?" Bonnie demanded.

"I have everything I need. Elena gave her blood to me last night to complete it." Esther said.

"I liked you much better when I didn't know you," I muttered before I hurried over to outer pentagram and tried getting out of it, but there was some kind of barrier. So much for escaping. I wasn't giving up, though. I looked over at Bonnie. "You're just going to stand there? You're going to let her sacrifice me lie a lamb?"

"Andy, I can't take on an Original and the Original witch," Bonnie said. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't apologize to me," I said, lying my head back. "Jeremy's the one losing another loved one." I thought that would push her to help me, but it didn't. "I'd add Elena, but I guess she was all up for sending her sister to death."

I suddenly felt like a knife went through my heart and softly cried out in pain. Finn dropped to the ground, dead. "Something's wrong," Esther said and I began laughing like a maniac, tears streaming down my eyes.

"Didn't… Didn't you know? My friends are like the Buffy gang," I coughed. After a moment, I remembered a question that she had to know the answer to. "Why won't vampire blood heal me?" I asked.

"So they don't heal you in the process of the ritual," She explained and then Finn was back on his feet, alive and alert. I felt the pressure on my chest disappear.

"I suppose... no one brought booze?" I looked around. "I mean, if I'm dying tonight I should at least have one more drink." None of them spoke, they just ignored me. "I can see why Klaus hated you, Esther, you're no fun." I was trying to hit some cord with her but it wasn't working. Oh, well, better just wait here for my death but that didn't mean I couldn't guilt trip Bonnie. "Tell everyone I love them, Bon, even ripper Stefan. Tell Damon to grow some balls and tell Elena to make her choice between Stefan and him… Tell Stefan the same," At this point I was in major tears and so was Bonnie. "Tell Elena to choose wisely because there's no switching sides afterwards."

"I'm so sorry, Andy, I didn't know," She apologized again but I didn't care. I didn't say anything to her and sighed as I closed my eyes. I was really going to die tonight all because I was close to the Mikaelsons.

"They're coming, Mother!" Finn said. My eyes snapped open and I looked around the pentagram. Who was coming?

"No, it is too soon, the moon is not high enough. Go! Quickly!" Esther said to Bonnie and the other woman. They quickly retreated into the old house.

As I looked around, Kol, Klaus, and Elijah all suddenly appeared on the outside of the pentagram. I turned completely toward them, hitting the barrier keeping me from them. Klaus eyed me for a moment before looking at Esther.

"My sons, come forward," Esther said.

"Stay beside me, Mother," Finn said.

"It's okay. They can't enter."

"That's lovely and poetic," Kol said. "We're stuck out here while the favorite son and Anastasia's doppelganger play sacrificial lamb. How pathetic you both are."

Wait, what? They thought I was in on this thing?

"Be quiet, Kol. Your brother knows virtue you cannot even imagine," Esther snapped at Kol.

"Whatever you think of us, killing your own children would be an atrocity," Elijah spoke up.

"My only regret is that I did not let you die a thousand years ago."

"Enough," Klaus almost growled. "All of this talk is boring me. End this now, Mother, or I'll send you back to hell."

Esther walked to where she stood beside me. "For a thousand years, I've been forced to watch you. Felt the pain of every victim, suffered while you shed blood. Even you, Elijah, with your claim of nobility, you're no better. All of you. You're a curse on this Earth, stretched out over generations. If you've come to plead for your life, I'm sorry, you've wasted your time."

I pulled out a stake that was hidden in my clothing and jumped at Esther, but Finn grabbed it and plunged it through my gut. I fell to the ground, the familiar pain returning to me.

"I will make you burn in hell!" Klaus screamed.

I winced and groaned as I pulled the stake out. Blood started pouring from the wound, but it wasn't as bad as it could've been. Finn pulled me to the center of the circle and Esther stood over me with a dagger. I recognized it as the one that Anastasia had used to stab herself. "No!" I tried sitting up but Finn shoved me right back down. He held me to the ground. "Let me go!"

Suddenly Esther started freaking out. "No! Sisters! Do not abandon me!"

"Mother!" Finn screamed out and they disappeared. The torches flared up and then died out.

"Andy!" Klaus was suddenly over me.

I fainted then.

I woke to up to see I was in Mikaelson mansion, in the parlor I had just been in yesterday. Klaus stood over the fireplace and stared at the flames within. My stomach was bandaged up and I was in some of Rebekah's clothing.

"What's going on? Where is everyone?" I questioned.

"You're about to miss Elijah. He's about to leave town." Was all he said.

I didn't question him and used the furniture and walls to lean on as I walked. I got out to the entrance to see Elijah opening the door. "No good-bye?" I questioned, my voice breaking.

"Andrea," He turned toward me with a sigh.

"I was almost murdered by your mother with the same dagger Anastasia killed herself with. You were almost killed by your mother. Don't you think we should talk to each other?" I asked. "I've been told I'm a good listener."

"I had your sister tortured today so my family could live," Elijah admitted, his eyes meeting mine.

"My sister basically handed me over to your mother to be killed," I said. "Maybe she got what she deserved. Elijah, please don't leave me again. We just… We just got reunited. I thought we were supposed to get to know one another."

Elijah looked grave as he walked over to me and placed a kiss on my head. "You should not have to choose between your family and mine, Annie." And with that, he was gone.

I slowly moved back to the parlor to see Klaus still standing over the fire. I walked over and placed a hand on his arm which he quickly pushed away. "What's wrong, Klaus?" I asked. "Please talk to me."

"I called Damon, he should be coming any minute now," He walked over to a table that had variations of alcohol over it.

"So you're going to act like it's my fault? You're going to act like I'm the one who suggested to Esther to kill all of you?" I demanded, following right after him. "Talk to me, Klaus! Don't shut me out. You're better than that."

He turned toward me seething. "You are not welcome here, so why don't you go wait outside for your friend?"

"You're kidding me, right?"

"I can easily remove you myself."

We stared at each other a moment before I nodded. For some reason, tears sprung to my eyes. "Fine, I'm going," I headed out of the parlor and to the entrance. "Just remember you're the one who pushed me away." I called out to him before I opened the door to the chilly night.

I waited for ten minutes out in the cold when Stefan's car pulled into the driveway. I thought Klaus had called Damon…

Reluctantly I went over and climbed in. "Try not to drive me off of Wickery Bridge this time," I then burst into tears and watched as the mansion grew smaller and smaller in the reflection.

When Stefan pulled up to my house, he said, "I told you not to get close."

I looked over at him. "I think by the time you told me that it was too late," I got out of the car and went up to my house. Elena was waiting on the porch. When she saw me, she moved toward me and I saw her crying.

"Andy, I'm so sor―"

I smacked her as hard as I could before going inside the house. I didn't want an explanation right now because I had lost Elijah and Klaus in one night besides everything being perfect this morning. I had nearly been sacrificed and the last thing I wanted was to hear the same old pathetic apologies.

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The End of Chapter XXXV