Chapter 38

Sinners and saints

My first impression of Stefan Salvatore was very clear. He was cold. Behind his smile and polite behavior I saw a vampire who had lost all of his humanity. He enjoyed killing. Klaus had invited him to join us so the four of us were sitting on a lodge. It was upstairs but I could hear the music clearly. There were few private lodges on the second floor. Klaus was sitting next to me and he had wrapped his arm around me. Rebekah and Stefan sat opposite us. If I wasn't mistaken, Rebekah seemed to be flirting with Stefan. He definitely didn't mind.

"So, Nik", he said. "Your wife is a lovely little creature."

Klaus smiled.

"Yes she is. Just remember mate, you can look but you can't touch. I can be quite jealous."

Rebekah and I both snorted.

"That is definitely an understatement", Rebekah said.

Yes it was. Jealous wouldn't even begin to describe him.

"I understand completely", Stefan said. "I would kill anyone who would dare to touch my woman."

Rebekah looked at him smiling seductively.

"So Mr. Salvatore, where is this woman of yours?"

Stefan smiled too.

"I don't have one at the moment."

"Hmm, really?"

Rebekah looked like the cat that had just eaten the canary. Klaus chuckled.

"Careful mate, she will eat you alive."

Rebekah scowled him.

"Shut up, Nik."

Stefan seemed amused.

"That's fine by me", he said looking at Rebekah.

"You like it rough?" she purred. "I certainly do."

I started to feel a bit uncomfortable. I could have lived without that information. I took a sip from my class. Klaus cleared his throat before Stefan managed to reply.

"So how long have you been married?" he asked instead.

Klaus touched my cheek.

"421 years."

Stefan's eyes widened.

"How is that possible? I mean your wife isn't a vampire, is she?"

Klaus smiled and played with my hair.

"No."

Stefan was looking at me very closely. There was the obvious question he wanted to ask. What was I then? I felt Klaus' hand caressing my back. I signed to him that I was tired and I would like to go home.

"Of course, sweetheart."

I knew that he and Rebekah wanted to stay so my bodyguards would take me home. I didn't really mind. A moment of peace and quiet sounded good to me.

"It must be nice when your wife can't talk back", Stefan said.

I scowled him and signed that he was a jerk. Klaus started to laugh.

"Oh, she can talk back, believe me."

Stefan looked curious.

"What did she say?"

"She called you a jerk", Rebekah said. "And I think she's right."

Stefan grinned.

"Yes, probably. I apologize if I offended you ma'am."

I nodded. I wasn't really offended; I just didn't like to be belittled. I startled when I noticed that my bodyguards were standing next to the table. I hadn't heard them coming. There were five of them, four vampires and a warlock.

"Yes sir?" one of the vampires asked. His name was Shaw and he was tall, scary looking man who had short black hair and almost black eyes. I didn't actually know was Shaw his first name or last name, everyone just called him that.

"My wife wants to go home now", Klaus said.

"Yes sir, I'll get the car ready."

Shaw looked at the youngest vampire, who had just recently been turned. He left without saying a word. His name was Joe and he usually was the driver. If I had understood correctly his age made him somehow subordinate to the rest of them. He had to earn his place. No one had actually explained to me how the vampire pecking order worked, but I had learned a lot just by observing them.

Witches and warlocks also seemed to have some kind of hierarchy. Callum, who was my bodyguard warlock, was a serious middle aged man who apparently was very powerful. His hair was very blond, almost white and there wasn't any warmth in his grey eyes. Then there was Vincent who was also known as "The Saint". Why, that I didn't know and I really didn't even want to know.

He had been very young when he was turned, I would guess that 15 or 16. He had a perfectly innocent looking face and curly hazel hair. He was very charming and he was the only one of them who talked to me even when it wasn't absolutely necessary. He liked to chat and usually I didn't mind. Len on the other hand had never said a word to me. He wasn't much of a talker anyway. He was tall, muscular and bald.

"I will see you later, sweetheart", Klaus said and kissed me before I stood up.

"Good night, Anna", Rebekah said.

I smiled at her and headed downstairs. Shaw was walking next to me and the rest of them behind me. I noticed that many people were staring at us but I had got used to it. Joe had driven the car in front of the door. I found these cars very interesting and I liked to observe Joe when he was driving. I wanted to try that too. Hopefully I could do that sometimes soon.

When we arrived to the house, Len stepped out and opened the gate. There was a high fence surrounding the house. Joe stopped the car next to the front door and we all got out. It was good to be home. My Golden Retriever Sammy was waiting for me, like he always was. He barked and wagged his tail when I got inside. I petted him and kissed his head. Sammy was my 23st dog and I loved him just like I had loved all of my dogs.

It was funny but sometimes I actually thought that Klaus was jealous because I spent so much time with my dogs. But he had given me my first puppy, who I had named Lancelot. Klaus on the other hand had called him the little vermin because he had liked to chew furniture and everything else had had managed to find. The memory made me smile. Sammy didn't chew furniture but he seemed to be very fond of Klaus' shoes.

He followed me when I walked to the living room. One of the witches was sitting on an armchair. Her name was Maura and she was in her early forties. She had a curly dark hair and green eyes. She also had a very strong accent, although I wasn't completely sure where she was from.

"Hello there", she greeted me.

I smiled at her. She was knitting.

"You came alone?"

I nodded and sat on the couch.

"Would you like some tea?" Maura asked.

There was a tea tray on the table in front of her. I smiled and shook my head. I just wanted to have a moment of piece and quiet. Fortunately no one had to guard me in here. I looked at the flames in the fireplace and petted Sammy.

"Good night", Maura said after a while and left.

I closed my eyes. I should probably go to bed. I opened my eyes when I heard someone entering the room. It was one of the maids, a young woman who had a short blond hair. Gwen, if I remembered correctly. She hadn't been here very long and she had always seemed nervous when I had seen her. Now she didn't seem nervous at all. She was looking straight at me smiling sweetly.

"Could I have a word with you ma'am?" she asked calmly.

I was surprised by her sudden change but I smiled and nodded. She sat on the couch next to me. There was definitely something different about her, I just wasn't sure what. Unfortunately I figured it out too late. Someone had compelled her. There was something on her hand and suddenly I felt a sharp pain on my stomach. She had stabbed me. I was too shocked to move. I was bleeding a lot. She smiled and leaned closer.

"I have a message for your husband", she whispered. "His sins won't stay buried forever. It's payback time."