Chapter 16

Perfect Creature

The stars. The moon. The sun. The sky and the ground. He could saw everything. He could felt everything. It was all connected to him. Everything was…perfect. Elijah had never felt anything like it. A perfect moment of happiness. He had no idea how long it lasted. Maybe seconds, maybe hours, maybe days. He didn't know or even care. Finally he started to notice his surroundings. Someone was lying on the ground next to him. It took a while before he recognized her. Annabelle. No. No, no, no!

"Annabelle!" Elijah shouted.

She was just lying there pale and motionless. She was dead. No… What had he done?

"She is not dead", he heard someone saying.

Klaus was sitting on the ground staring at her.

"What…" Elijah started.

"She is not dead, although she should be. We drained her", he said emotionlessly.

Elijah was shocked.

"No…that is not possible. How could I…"

"It was not your fault brother", Klaus said calmly. "It seems that she has been keeping some very interesting secrets from us."

Elijah didn't know what to say. Klaus stood up without turning his eyes from her.

"I will get the horses. Do not let her out of your sight."

"What are you talking about? Why do we need horses?" Elijah managed to ask.

"We are going to meet an old friend of mine. Just trust me; I know exactly what to do."

Elijah was very confused. He touched Annabelle's neck and found a weak pulse. Klaus had been right. Then he noticed the bite marks on her neck and wrist. Elijah felt sick. How could he have done this? This girl was like his own daughter. What had happened? Her blood… It all felt so…unreal. She wasn't a human. How was that possible? Elijah looked at her and gently touched her face. Secrets…

"Why did you not tell me?" he murmured.

Then it occurred to him that he had just attacked her like some kind of beast. If she would have died, he could have never forgiven himself. But by some miracle she was alive. Then Elijah thought of something. What was his brother planning to do to her? He wasn't going to allow Niklaus to hurt her. He stood up and lifted Annabelle gently in his arms. He should take her to her room and send for a healer.

"We must go", Klaus said. He was coming back with two horses.

"I do not think it is wise to take her anywhere, we should send for a healer…"

"That is where I want to take her", Klaus interrupted him. "And do you really think she should be in the castle full of vampires? If even you and I could not control ourselves, imagine what would happen with younger vampires…"

"Alright, I understand what you are saying." Elijah hesitated. "I want her to be safe."

"She will be, brother, I promise you. No one will touch even a hair on her pretty little head."

Elijah looked at him cautiously.

"We must take her to a healer now", Klaus said calmly. "Lift her here. And be careful."

She did need a healer and the sun would set soon. Elijah lifted her on the horse in front of his brother. Klaus wrapped his arms carefully around her. Neither of them spoke when Elijah got on his own horse and followed Klaus. They headed to a road and after a while to a forest path. Elijah saw a small cottage in front of them. A dark haired woman came out.

"My lord", she said and bowed. "Forgive me; I did not expect you…"

"I am sure you did not my dear Abigail", Klaus said smiling.

He jumped down and placed Annabelle on Elijah's arms. Before Elijah could say anything, Klaus moved in front of the woman and grabbed her throat.

"Just a normal girl is she?" he said menacingly.

The woman tried desperately to speak.

"Forgive me my lord…"

"Normally I would have killed you already but now I am willing to give you one more chance. And this time I suggest you be honest. Now speak."

He let her go and she started to cough. Her eyes turned to Annabelle.

"Is she hurt?" Abigail asked.

"Yes", Elijah replied and took a step closer to her.

Abigail looked at the girl and noticed the bite marks. Her face turned blank.

"Which one of you fed on her?" she asked tensely.

"What…" Klaus started angrily.

"We both did", Elijah interrupted him. Something in her voice told him that this was important.

"Oh dear…" Abigail murmured. "Bring her inside."

Klaus was just about to argue when Elijah gave him a warning look.

"Annabelle needs her help. Everything else can wait."

Klaus nodded reluctantly.

"Come in", Abigail said to Elijah. He carried Annabelle inside the cottage and placed her on a small bed. Abigail started to examine her wounds. Klaus and Elijah stood right next to her.

"I can not believe this…" Abigail murmured.

"What?" Klaus asked.

"This girl should be dead but somehow she is not."

"Yes, we know that already", Klaus said annoyed.

"Her body is healing quickly. Amazing…"

"She will be alright?" Elijah asked.

Abigail nodded.

"Yes, I believe so."

Elijah had never been so relieved.

"What is she?" Klaus asked.

Abigail looked at him.

"She does not belong in this world. Who ever have trapped her inside this body had done something unforgivable and unnatural."

Elijah and Klaus were both staring at her.

"You drank her blood so you are both now bound to her, as she is to you", Abigail said calmly.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Klaus snapped. "What is this girl?"

Abigail shook her head.

"You still do not see? Did you not taste it in her blood?"

Klaus and Elijah looked at each other. Abigail touched Annabelle's hair.

"She is light. She is energy. A perfect creature."