Chapter 57

Reunion

"Close your eyes," Klaus said.

I hesitated but his reassuring nod made me to relax. We had been married a month and spent most of the time in his bedchambers or our bedchambers, all my belongings had been moved there. He moved behind me and wrapped his arms around me, kissing my neck.

"Close your eyes, sweetheart."

I obeyed and he led me across the courtyard towards the stables. I heard a horse nickering.

"Alright, you can look now."

I opened my eyes and saw a beautiful white horse.

"She is all yours, my love," Klaus said and kissed my cheek. I admired the magnificent animal and asked Klaus why. He chuckled.

"You are my wife now, sweetheart, the mistress of this household; this is merely a small token of my affection."

The look in his eyes confused me a little, I had imagined that our marriage would be mostly a formality, since it was so "convenient" as he had put it. I signed that I didn't have anything for him. He smiled and cupped my face.

"All I want is you. I do not only mean your body and your blood, and want your affection as well. Do you think that someday you could love me?"

His words surprised me completely; I couldn't help but wonder if this was my blood talking.

"I love you, Annabelle; I want you to know that."

He loved me… To be honest, I hadn't been sure if he was capable of love, especially since I had heard him saying that love was nothing but a weakness. But he had been very kind towards me; that was a side of him I imagined most people didn't know about.

"Do you love Elijah?" he asked.

I hesitated a moment before I nodded, I wasn't sure where he was going with this. He pressed his lips together and touched my cheek.

"Perhaps I can accept that, but I must be the most important person in your life. Do you understand?"

I signed that I would do my best in order to be a good wife to him and that I respected him and cared about him. That was the best I could give him since I didn't want to lie. He seemed tense.

"You need time…" he muttered. "Alright, as long as you remember that you are mine and you always will be."

Strangely it seemed that he was actually afraid of losing me, the intensity of his gaze almost scared me. Apparently I still had many things to learn about being a human, not to mention about marriage. When Elijah saw me as his child, to Klaus I was something else entirely; a lover, perhaps even a companion. I was sure that it wouldn't always be easy to be his companion, but I wanted to try my best. Perhaps it was possible for two such different creatures to be happy together…

I rolled on my side and sighed. The walls of my small cell seemed to be getting closer and closer, I felt very distressed. My memories helped me a little; I wanted to be somewhere far away. So many centuries had passed… Things had seemed much simpler before. Or maybe I had simple lived in my nice bubble for the last decades. I wasn't blind or stupid, of course I knew that many people had several reasons to hate Klaus, but I refused to see him as some kind of monster. There was good in him, I had seen it… I startled and jumped to my feet when the door suddenly flew open. I saw a blonde woman who was staring at me fierily; she had clenched her fists in anger.

"My mom is in a coma," she stated icily. I was confused, what did that have to do with me.

"Your husband threw her against the wall and cracked her skull, like her life would be meaningless," she continued.

I swallowed and tried to back away, but there wasn't much room. The black veins appeared under the blonde's eyes and her fangs came out.

"He deserves to pay for everything he has done."

I didn't have time to do anything when she zoomed in front of me and snapped my neck. That hurt like hell and I fell on the floor, but I didn't pass out.

"Caroline!"

"That bastard hurt my mom! He doesn't deserve to get her back!"

I couldn't see what was happening, but I heard some growling and struggling.

"Stupid girl!" woman's voice shouted.

"Get your hands off her!" a man's voice demanded, it was the same man who had brought me water.

"Stop it, all of you!"

That was Katherine's voice. More voices followed hers, but I couldn't really hear them, I was about to lose consciousness. I couldn't move, all I could do was staring at the damn wall. I prayed that wouldn't be the last thing I would ever see.

...

"You're really not much of a host," Klaus scolded. "You haven't even offered Bekah and me something to drink."

Stefan was standing in front of the fireplace with his arms crossed.

"My apologies," he muttered. "Drink?"

"Why, thank you," Klaus said smiling charmingly. "Why don't you go and get us something fresh."

Stefan zoomed out without saying a word. Rebekah looked around and snorted, she didn't seem to like the Salvatore boarding house very much.

"What are you going to do to him?" she asked.

"Hmm, I haven't really decided yet. Perhaps you have some ideas?"

"Maybe," she replied casually. "Give him to me."

Klaus chuckled.

"No offence, Bekah, but that would be too cruel, even for me. I believe death would be more merciful."

Rebekah glared at him.

"Get bent." She paused and crossed her arms. "Why are we here, Nik? Shouldn't we be looking for Anna?"

"All in good time, sister dear," Klaus replied. "Instead of running around aimlessly, I have a better idea. Now we simply have to wait."

"For what?"

"Me, I believe."

Rebekah turned around and gasped when she saw her oldest brother standing in the doorway. Elijah seemed as stylish as always, wearing a dark suit, but he certainly didn't look happy. Klaus stood up, only to feel a nasty sting on his stomach. Elijah had just stabbed him.

"Dammit, Elijah," Klaus complained. "This was my favorite shirt."

"What a tragedy," his brother replied icily.

Klaus frowned.

"Didn't Vincent tell you…"

"Yes, he did, why do you think I only stabbed you once? I am here for Annabelle."

Rebekah cleared her throat, earning a smile from her brother.

"And for you of course, Bekah."

"How sweet…" Klaus started when he suddenly felt another sting on his back.

"Hello, brother," Kol's cheerful voice said. "I am afraid I won't settle for one stab."

Klaus growled when his brother pulled the knife out and stabbed him again.

"That was for the last…how long was it again?"

"Over a century," Elijah said.

"Hmm, maybe two stabs aren't enough…Oh well."

Klaus glared at his brother who moved next to Elijah.

"What the hell is he doing here?"

"I'm tired of your games, Niklaus," Elijah replied calmly. "Didn't it occur to you that I could easily compel Vincent to tell me where the other coffins are?"

"So Finn…"

"Long gone, he didn't want to see you."

Klaus certainly wasn't happy about this development.

"But you are here."

"Yes, like I said for Annabelle. I will help you to find her."

"And why might you be here?" Klaus asked icily, looking at his younger brother.

"For Anna," he replied calmly.

"I should get you back to that coffin right now…"

"Not if you want my help," Elijah interrupted him firmly. "I believe I know where to look for Ava."

Klaus clenched his fists trying to control himself. He had to find Anna first, then he could settle things with his brother. That would probably be quite messy.