Chapter Five: Surrender

"Secret, hidden underneath it

Trying hard to keep it, safely out of reach

Creeping, I can feel it breathing, coming to the surface

Find me in my dreams…"

Ooo0ooO

I woke up when the sun was beginning to appear over the horizon, turning the sky into a rainbow of pinks, oranges and soft blues.

I rolled on my side and opened my eyes and the first thing I was Klaus's blue eyes staring back at me. I smiled.

"Do you always watch me sleep?" I asked. His lips curved.

"Perhaps," he said. He reached over and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear and lightly traced my cheek. I trembled and my breath escaped shakily from my lips.

Klaus shifted so he was lying in his back. I moved so I could place my head on his chest and I played with the necklaces I knew he always wore. One of his hands brushed softly against my hair, trailing down my back to my hip then back. My heart began beating thickly and I felt a rush of desire and heat at his touch.

"Do you wish this was real, love?" he asked quietly.

"What?"

Everything then faded to darkness.

Ooo0ooO

I woke with a start, my heart thundering in my chest.

"Fuck," I muttered, rubbing a hand over my eyes.

Do you wish this was real? fluttered through my mind. What did that even mean?

I rolled out of bed and walked in the bathroom. Turning on the water for the shower, I stepped in and tilted back my head under the spray. The room quickly filled with steam as I lathered and rinsed.

Once I was done, I walked back into the bedroom wrapped in a towel. Glancing at the door to the right of the bathroom, I opened it and walked into a massive closet. My jaw dropped at the sight of all the clothes inside.

"I had one of my Hybrids purchase some clothing for you." I turned around at the sound of Klaus's voice. He stood outside the closet with his arms folded behind his back. I blushed and tightened the towel around me.

"I figured you would appreciate some clothes that fit your rather…small frame." His eyes looked down me slowly. The towel wasn't hiding much but then again, he technically already saw me naked, right? My cheeks burned even more at that memory.

"Thank you," I whispered. He nodded before running a hand through his hair.

"I have to go to Italy," he announced. I stared at him blankly.

"Oh. Okay. Can I ask why?" He looked away with a serious look on his face.

"There's something there I need to get. Something rather important."

"Does it have to do with that hunter?"

"Yes." I shifted, unsure how I felt about him leaving me.

"Should I go?" I asked. Klaus's eyes met mine, dark and somber.

"I think it would be better if you stayed here, where it's safe. The hunter has escaped me for the moment and I'm not precisely sure who he will go after next," he explained. I felt surprised.

He wants me to stay.

I nodded at him. "Okay, I'll stay. Is there anything I could do… To help?"

He shook his head at me. "No, sweetheart, just stay out of trouble until I return. Understand?" I rolled my eyes.

"Yes, Mommy," I replied sarcastically. Klaus laughed before flashing in front of me. He reached up and traced my cheek, causing my heart to jump and blood to heat. I thought he was going to kiss me again.

He leaned in slowly but at the last moment, turned his head so his cheek laid against mine, with his lips to my ear. "Don't miss me too much, sweetheart." With a final smirk, he was gone.

I stood there with a shocked look on my face. Then laughter gurgled up and I burst out laughing.

"Asshole," I muttered, turning back to look at the clothes.

Ooo0ooO

After arriving in Italy on my private jet later that day, I travelled to the old church where I knew the original Hunter, Alexander, was buried.

I had a team on the site who started digging all around the sight for the body and while they were busy, I made some important phone calls.

The first one was to Stefan Salvatore, who told me the recent movements of the hunter Connor and asked me for a Hybrid to help. After that call, I called one of them and ordered him to Stefan, while also telling him to keep Connor alive at all costs.

The second call was from Tyler Lockwood, which proved to be entertaining.

The final phone call was the one that held the biggest importance to me at the moment.

"Ciao?" answered a deep, accented voice.

"Antonio," I replied.

"Klaus? Is that you?"

"I hear you're still living in your old place in Rome."

"Ah, mio vecchio amico, you always had your ways of knowing everything," the older man answered with a laugh.

"Indeed I do. I am in need of your services, Antonio."

"Oh? Perché?"

"Just some unanswered questions I feel you can help your amico with," I said smoothly.

"Bene. Where shall I meet you?" I smiled.

"I'll send for someone to pick you up. Ciao."

Ooo0ooO

After changing into a dark gray dress that fit me well, I headed down to the kitchen to make myself breakfast. I decided on French toast today. Pouring myself a glass of orange juice, I cooked while humming quietly.

After I finished eating, I walked back to the guest room to finish getting ready. A large black guy walked out of the room, startling me.

"Oh! Hi. Are you a…friend of Klaus?" I asked, eyeing him. He snorted softly.

"Not exactly. I'm Chris," he said, reaching out to shake my hand. When I shook his hand, I caught a whiff of his scent. My eyes widened.

"Are you one of his Hybrids?" I asked. He nodded.

"Klaus told me to bring you some more supplies you might need for your stay here," he informed me before walking past me and down the stairs.

Curious, I walked into the room. There were some grocery bags on the bed. I opened them and say basic things; toothbrush, hairbrush, some cosmetics, lotion… I shook my head and smiled. Reaching deeper into the bag, I touched something wrapped in tissue paper.

Pulling it out, I saw it was small, slim rectangular. Tearing off the white paper, I gasped when I saw a sleek black Samsung Galaxy Note smartphone. Staring at the phone, I turned it over in my hands before turning it on.

The screen's background was a beautiful picture of the river. I noticed I had a text message.

Text Message from Klaus: I do hope you enjoy your presents, sweetheart.

I typed a quick reply. Thank you. Have a safe flight to Italy.

He didn't respond. I scrolled through the phone, seeing that Klaus was my only contact. I laughed.

"Time to make some friends, Annabelle," I said out loud. Taking the bathroom stuff into the other room, I finished getting ready.

When I reemerged, my hair was curling softly past my shoulders and my face was lightly touched up with some makeup. Grabbing a short black jacket and boots from the closet, I saw that a purse was hanging on the back of the door. Crinkling my brow, I reached inside it and pulled out a small wallet that was filled with bills.

"Klaus," I hissed. Grabbing my new phone, I called him.

"Annabelle," he answered. "Is everything all right?"

"I can accept clothes and a toothbrush, even stretch it with a phone, but why did you leave me money?"

"I was certain you wouldn't want to stay in the house the whole time I was gone, so I left you that so you could go out if you wanted."

"I thought you didn't want me out and about with that hunter on the loose," I said dryly.

"Would that really stop you?" I glanced down at my outfit and grinned.

"Nope!"

"Then just say 'Thank you, Klaus' and be careful… Do you understand, Annabelle?" His voice was fierce at the end.

"My, my," I murmured. "Are you worried about me, Klaus?"

"Annabelle," he warned. I sighed.

"Okay, okay. I'll be careful. And thank you."

"You're welcome, sweetheart. I have to go now."

"Oh okay," I said with some disappointment. "Bye Klaus."

"Good bye Annabelle." The phone went dead. Staring at the screen, I pursed my lips. Sliding the wallet and phone inside the purse, I tucked it over my shoulder and headed downstairs.

I walked back into town, exploring the different sights. I sat down in one of the benches in the middle of the square, relaxing under the sun. The sound of a girl talking caused me to glance to my right. A girl with curly black hair and light blue eyes was talking to herself quietly as she sat on another bench. I looked over her.

"She said she would help me. I don't get why she would bail on me like this…" Then the girl shook her head and stood up, walking in my direction. She spotted her and flushed slightly.

"Um, hi," she said hesitantly. I raised a brow at her.

"Hey," I said coolly. The girl looked at me with nervous eyes.

"Did you… You didn't…" She trailed off, blushing more. "You didn't see that, did you?" I snorted.

"Everyone's entitled to talk to themselves sometimes," I told her. She gave me a small smile.

"I'm April. April Young. What's your name?"

"Annabelle Davis."

"Are you new in town or just visiting?" She asked me this out of innocent curiosity, which was refreshing from the suspicious glances or questions I got before with Sheriff and Caroline Forbes.

"New in town. Staying with a …friend. What about you?"

April shifted her weight slightly. "I just moved back. I had to come home for my dad's funeral and umm…" Again, she trailed off.

"Your dad was that pastor they held that memorial for?" I asked quietly. She nodded. I gave her a true sympathetic smile.

"I'm sorry for your loss, April. I know it's hard to lose a member of your family." All too well.

"Thank you," she said softly. "Well I have to go see someone, I'll see you around." I waved slightly.

"Nice meeting you," I said politely. April walked off towards a building that read "Mystic Falls Grill".

"I guess that's a start of a friendship," I muttered to myself. Glancing at the setting sun, I decided to head back to the mansion. I walked away, not noticing one of Klaus's Hybrids, who was approaching the Grill.

Ooo0ooO

One of the members of the digging crew brought Antonio to the site quickly.

The older man stepped out of the car and looked around. When he spotted me, his brown eyes crinkled at the edges as he smiled.

"Ciao, Klaus! Come stai?" He reached out to shake my hand enthusiastically.

"I'm well, Antonio. And yourself?"

"Bene, bene. What can I help you with?" I motioned for him to follow me a little ways from the workers and noise.

"I am trusting you with this information because I consider you a good friend and I trust you won't repeat this to anyone else." Antonio nodded at me with a serious expression.

"I have been having dreams about a certain woman… A werewolf named Annabelle. They started when my doppelganger, who I used to become a Hybrid, was turned into a vampire. I found Annabelle in the woods and discovered she had been searching for me, for answers, as well since she was experiencing similar dreams. I figured since you have been a werewolf for a very long time and know the stories of your people, you could tell me what exactly this all means."

Antonio studied me with a curious expression. "You like this signorina, yes?"

My thoughts flashed back to her then to Caroline. "I thought… I thought I had feelings for another woman, a young vampire, but now it's a bit… complicated." Antonio nodded.

"Well, mio amico, there has been one story that has been passed down for centuries among the lupo mannero. In the wild, wolves would run in packs and would mate with another wolf for life. Legend has it when the first men started changing into lupi they would have dreams about their mates, until they found them. They called it "un'anima legame", which translated to "soul bond" or "soul link". It was said the mates were predestined to find each other and the dreams were a way so their souls could find each other. Once they found each other, they completed the bond and were mated for life."

"So are you saying that Annabelle is my mate?" Antonio made a humming sound.

"It is a possibility, amico. Your wolf side has been dormant for a very long time and when you drank the doppelganger's blood, it may have awakened the bond," he replied, shrugging. "Your feelings for the vampire girl might be coming from your Original vampire side, but those feelings will weaken against the bond."

I thought about that for a moment. It was entirely possibly that whatever I felt towards Caroline were waning but I wasn't sure about anything at the moment.

"Why did the dreams start when my doppelganger turned vampire and not when I became a full Hybrid?" I asked. Antonio pursed his lips.

"Your doppelganger's blood is the link to your wolf side. Her transition to immortality changed her, which could have changed her blood that is running in your veins." I motioned for him to continue impatiently.

"Your vampire side is stronger, since you are an Original. The doppelganger blood was strong enough to awaken your inner wolf but perhaps not strong enough to awaken the bond. When the blood inside you became stronger, immortal, it magnified the strength of the wolf's blood, finally awakening the bond inside you."

"So, in other words, since Elena's blood is vampire's blood now, it made my own blood stronger."

"Sì. Was this Elena girl doppelganger of another?"

"Yes, she was a descendent of an old vampire named Katherine," I answered.

"Ah, well, there is a chance that if you had drank this Katherine's blood instead; the bond would have woken immediately. But this does not matter now!" He grinned and clapped me on the shoulder. "You have a mate!"

I tried for a smile but I wasn't sure if it was believable.

My mate.

Ooo0ooO

I stayed up late, sitting in the living room next to the fireplace. I had found a copy of Dracula in the vast collection of books scattered around the house. I may not like vampires but I loved Bram Stoker's. Lost in the pages, I lost track of time.

My phone buzzed next to me, signaling Klaus had texted me. I still found it mildly amusing to be texting a thousand year old vampire-werewolf Hybrid.

Text Message from Klaus: Flying home. I trust you didn't get yourself into trouble.

I answered: No, Mommy, I was very well behaved. I just explored the town and met some girl named April Young.

Instead of replying, he called me.

"Hello, Mommy," I answered with a snicker.

"Annabelle, I'm afraid when I get back I will not be heading home immediately," he said, his voice tight and angry.

"What happened?" I asked, concerned.

"It seems the hunter I wanted alive has been killed and there is going to be severe consequences of that happening."

"Are you going to hurt someone?" I yelped, sitting straight, staring blindly into fire.

"No, there are going to be other things that will need to be taken care of first," he said. There was a 'but I will after' lingering.

"Such as?" I bit my lip in worry.

"Annabelle, sweetheart, I do not have time to explain. Just stay put and I'll tell you when I can." He abruptly hung up.

"Rude," I hissed, putting the phone down. I sat back.

My thoughts were a confused mess and I closed my eyes.

When my eyes reopened, I saw that it was three in the morning. Groaning and rubbing my eyes, I made my way to the guest room and flopped onto the bed.

Ooo0ooO

Author's Note: Just so it's clear- Antonio is another O/C character of mine, who is an old werewolf friend of Klaus's that lives in Italy. The soul bonding idea came from some research and drawing from other stories I've read on wolves and werewolves. The idea of Elena's stronger doppelganger blood came to me after re-watching the earlier episodes of Season 3, when her body was rejecting drinking blood and Damon speculated it was because she was a doppelganger. Since she has changed so much, mentally and physically, I thought why wouldn't there be a chance of even her blood changing in herself and Klaus? I mean she was the rare vampire who got sired so...

Also, I was wondering what you guys would think of Annabelle and April becoming 'friends'? I figured April seemed so lonely after becoming an orphan she needed a girl friend, aside from her being friends with Jeremy and Matt.

The story is almost caught up with the show, I ended this chapter at the end of Season 3, episode 5. Next chapter will consist of Klaus returning after finding out about Elena killing Connor and knowing about the hallucinations to come and then his interaction with Caroline at the Grill… as well as him discovering his feelings of her (Caroline) have indeed disappeared. There will be big changes happening from the show along the lines of Caroline and Klaus, since I imagine they will keeping bringing them closer (fingers crossed), but I'll make sure to clarify myself if it gets confusing!

Tell me what you guys thought of this chapter!