Chapter 35

Home is where the heart is

"Forgive me, I should have never leave you alone", Elijah said quietly. "I did not want you to see that."

I shook my head and touched his hand. It hadn't been his fault.

"Do you want to stop somewhere for the night?"

I shook my head. I wanted to get out of London. I was still leaning to Elijah's shoulder. He pulled away and touched my face.

"How badly are you hurt?" he asked.

I showed him my wrist. It was still hurting. For some reason my wounds didn't seem to heal as fast as before.

"Did Niklaus hurt you?" Elijah asked tensely.

I shook my head. He seemed relieved.

"I am glad he did not cross that line. But I am sorry you had to see all that."

I was sorry too. I wasn't sure if I wanted to know the answer but I asked how long had Klaus been like this.

"Few years", Elijah replied. "I think he did not believe you would wake up so he got obsessed finding…well, to be honest, I am not sure what he hoped to find. Some kind of surrogate perhaps."

I shivered. Elijah seemed tired.

"He and Kol had really caused a lot of problems with this obsession of theirs…"

What? Had Kol been doing this as well? Elijah bit his lip.

"I did not mean to tell you that…"

I asked him where Kol was.

"I do not know. Last time when I heard from him, he was somewhere in Romania."

I didn't know what to think. Had my blood made them insane? This was all my fault.

"Annabelle…" Elijah said touching my hair.

I leaned my head to his shoulder. I was terrified of losing him. He was the only person I felt I could count on. But I also felt guilty for causing him so much trouble. Somehow I imagined that he hoped he would have never found me under that wagon all those years ago. How could I ever make things right? Great, now I was crying again, like that would help. There were so many things I wanted to say to Elijah. Mostly how sorry I was about everything. Not that it made any difference now. Apparently all I was good for was causing destruction.

"I should have left with you a long time ago", Elijah mumbled.

I raised my head and looked at him. He gently wiped my tears away. He looked sad.

"You are my family, Annabelle and I am so sorry I could not protect you better."

I shook my head and hugged him tightly. He was my family and I loved him. I would always love him, no matter what.

...

1 week later

I looked at the flames in the fireplace. Everything was so peaceful. Elijah and I were sitting in his library drinking some tea. I had actually felt happy today. We had taken a ride in the woods, I had picked up some flowers from the garden and Elijah had shown me his new books. I was excited to read them. This all felt so…right. I couldn't help but wonder how peaceful our live would be if there would be just the two of us.

Elijah was so kind and sweet. I knew that either of us had any romantic feelings towards each other but after everything what had happened I certainly didn't care about that. But he definitely deserved someone much better than me. I was selfish but I was grateful for this time we had spent together. He always knew how to make me feel safe. I yawned when I finished my tea. It was late. I kissed Elijah's cheek and signed him good night.

"Good night Annabelle", he replied smiling.

I smiled too when I headed to my room. I felt calm and happy. That didn't last long. When I got in my room and closed the door behind me, someone lighted a candle. I turned and saw Kol sitting on my bed.

"Hello darling", he said grinning.

I panicked and tried to open the door but he was behind to me in a second. He wrapped his arms around my waist and I felt him smelling my hair and neck.

"I have missed your scent…" he murmured.

I was too scared to move. Please no. Not again. Suddenly he let me go. He was standing in front of the door so I backed away towards the bed. He was watching my every move very closely.

"Please, do not be afraid", he said. "I wish you no harm, I swear."

I looked at him tensely. Somehow I found that hard to believe.

"I just needed to see you. That is all", he continued.

I signed to him that he had seen me now so could he please leave. He sighed.

"There is something else. I…I want to apologize for…everything. I know that it does not change anything but I truly am sorry. I need you to forgive me."

I definitely hadn't expected that. I took a better look and I saw how miserable he was. My first thought was that he should be miserable. He had forced me to have sex with him. Maybe he hadn't been violent but sometimes I actually hoped that he would have been. It would have made me feel less guilty. The truth was that my traitorous body had actually enjoyed it. It was the most humiliating part that I didn't want to admit even to myself. But that didn't change the fact that he had done it against my will. He hadn't cared what I had wanted.

"Anna?"

He sounded desperate. I closed my eyes for a moment. I felt so tired. I didn't have any strength left to hate anyone. Not even him. I took a deep breath and I signed that I forgive him. He seemed surprised.

"Thank you."

I nodded. I really hoped that he could leave now.

"I want you to come with me", he said.

What? I stared at him and shook my head.

"I will be good to you; I will give you everything you want. We can live where ever you want and you can see Elijah as often as you like…"

I shook my head again. He bit his lip.

"Alright, I will give you some time to think about it. But eventually you will be mine. You belong to me."

I wanted to shout that I didn't belong to anyone and I was sick of this. When I turned to look at him, he was gone. I sat on my bed feeling exhausted. I hoped that would have never waked up.