Chapter 58

Poker face

"Anna?"

I heard someone calling my name, but I had to struggle to get my eyes open. Where was I? My vision was blurred; I blinked my eyes in order to see the person who was sitting next to me.

"Anna? Are you alright?"

Finally I was able to see her face and I recognized her immediately as the witch who had been with Elijah back in… when had that been, I wasn't really sure. It must have been back in the 20's; I hadn't seen Elijah since that. What was her name, Eva? Her eyes were filled with distress, she was holding my hand between her owns.

"I'm so sorry," she said. "I never meant for this to happen, I…I just wanted to save Elijah."

Clearly she was on the brink of tears, but hearing Elijah's name had immediately alarmed me, had something happened to him? I freed my hand and started to sign the question to her.

"Just a second," she said and picked up a pen and a notepad from the table. I instinctively touched my neck before getting to a sitting position. My hands were shaking, but I managed to pick up the pen. Perhaps my first question should have been what was this woman doing here or what was going on, but those things didn't even cross my mind, all I cared about was Elijah.

"Has something happened to Elijah?"

She bit her bottom lip and hesitated before she answered.

"Yes."

I felt a cold terror spreading inside of me, but apparently she wasn't going to continue by herself.

"What?"

She pressed her lips together and looked into my eyes.

"Your husband stuck a dagger in his heart and took his body, I don't know if he has sunk it in the sea like the bodies of his other siblings."

I stared at her disbelievingly, trying to process her words. No, that simply wasn't possible; Klaus wouldn't do that, not to Elijah. I shook my head.

"It's true," she said calmly. "Ask anyone."

No… Of course I knew that Klaus had done bad things, but not something like this. No, I refused to believe that. Finally I managed to write down one word.

"Why?"

"I don't know," the witch replied. "I'm not sure how it all happened, but I saw how Elijah suffered for decades because Klaus told him what he had done to their siblings. All Elijah wanted was to make him pay. It was his obsession, that's why I…"

She didn't continue, but I saw the guilt in her eyes.

"I left him," she finally added callously. "I wasn't there to help him and now… If I ever get him back, he's going to hate me for doing this to you; I know how much he loves you."

I had no idea what to think. It was clear that she was telling the truth, but my mind still didn't want to believe her. I remembered how Klaus had acted after Elijah and Rebekah had "left", he had clung to me tighter than ever. I have known that there was more to it than he told me, but I had refused to see it. I needed to talk to him. After taking a deep breath, I wrote that down.

"I'm afraid that won't happen yet," she said quietly without looking at me. "Not before he lets Elijah go."

"I need to talk to him, I'll ask him about Elijah."

She shook her head.

"I'm sorry, but I can't take that kind of chance. But I promise that I won't let anything happen to you, I'll let you go as soon as Klaus releases Elijah and Stefan."

I tried desperately to think, although I was very confused. Apparently she was Elijah's girlfriend and she was working with Damon, Katherine and the others. I started slowly to understand what this was all about; they all wanted something that Klaus had taken from them. This was really bad.

"Will the others let me go?"

"Yes," she replied without hesitation. "I'll make sure of it myself. And don't worry about the girl who attacked you, she's not here anymore."

That was good to know, but I was far from relaxed. I couldn't just sit here and wait; it wasn't difficult to tell that this wouldn't end well. I knew Klaus, he wouldn't make any deals, he would find me and kill anyone who was standing in his way.

...

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

I wanna roll with him a hot pair we will be
A little gambling is fun when you're with me, I love it
Russian Roulette is not the same without a gun
And baby when it's love if it's not rough it isn't fun, fun

Oh, oh, oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got…

"Very nice," Kol said snapping his fingers with the rhythm. "I like this modern music."

"I don't," Rebekah snorted. "At least people knew how to make music back in the 20's."

"Well, sister dear, I wouldn't know about that, I was busy lying in a coffin a dagger stuck in my heart."

He was smiling, but he sent a brief scowl towards Klaus who was driving. Elijah was sitting on the front seat next to him and Kol, Rebekah and Stefan on the backseat.

"You can only blame yourself for that," Klaus replied icily.

Kol smiled.

"So tell me, brother, is Anna still the same delicious little thing? I can't wait to see her in these tiny clothes women seem to wear these days."

Klaus squished the steering wheel; he was more than ready to attack his brother.

"Kol," Elijah warned. "I will not have you to talk about her like that."

"Sorry, brother," Kol replied innocently. "Must be my hunger talking, I believe I need a bite."

"Have at it then," Klaus snapped. "Don't let us stop you."

"Nah," Kol replied cheerfully. "I can wait; I'm enjoying the ride way too much. Interesting invention these cars."

"Are you sure that you know where your witch bitch is?" Klaus asked, ignoring his younger brother. Elijah seemed tense.

"I have a good hunch, but of course I can be wrong."

"Hmm. You do understand that this little stunt she pulled will have consequences."

Elijah crossed his arms.

"You will leave Ava to me, Niklaus."

"And why would I do that?"

"Because she belongs to me, I'll handle her."

Elijah kept his face free from emotions, but clearly he was more than tense.

"Fine, but if anything have happened to Anna, I can't guarantee what I'll do."

"I'm sure that she's fine," Rebekah said. "I mean who would be stupid enough to hurt her?"

"Klaus," Stefan said sounding more than distressed. "Can I please have a word with you…"

"No, I'm afraid I'm a little busy now," Klaus interrupted him. "And I'm not feeling very merciful."

"Please just listen to me…"

"Don't bother, mate," Kol snorted. "My brother has always been a dick; he doesn't care about anyone except himself."

Klaus didn't bother to comment on that. He did care about someone and he was willing to do anything in order to get her back. He truly was worried about Anna, but he was also concerned what she would think when she would find out about him daggering Elijah. She would understand, she had to. What if she would want to leave… No, that would never happen, he would never allow that. But could he really keep her against her will? Yes, he could, he didn't have a choice. Without her…he would be lost.

"I think we need to stop for a gas," Elijah said, cutting off his thoughts. Klaus hadn't noticed that they were almost out of gas.

"Yes," he murmured and started to look for a gas station. Kol seemed to be in a good mood, he was listening to some annoying pop songs and singing along, making Klaus to roll his eyes. When he stopped the car, everyone except Stefan got out. Elijah and Rebekah headed to the store and Kol had immediately spotted himself a snack. She was wearing a pair of short jean shorts and a tiny tank top. The only downside was that her boyfriend didn't look too happy; he was a menacing looking biker, but that wouldn't be any problem to Kol.

Klaus didn't pay much attention to the whole thing; he concentrated on tanking up the car. Then it occurred to him that he hadn't properly fed for a while. He could probably take care of the older Salvatore and the others without feeding, but that wasn't really the point, he felt that he needed a drink. Kol had just taken his prey into the men's room, so he might as well join him. They had used to hunt together all the time, before her, the damn she-devil who had turned them into enemies. She was the reason why Kol had hated him enough to take his Anna. Klaus marched to the men's room and yanked the door open. Kol had trapped the girl between his body and the wall and was sucking her neck. He didn't bother to stop when Klaus walked in.

"Make room," he said and grabbed the girl's wrist.

Kol sent him a brief scowl but didn't say anything.

"You could have found your own snack," he complained after they were finished.

Klaus shrugged and turned a tap on.

"Probably."

Kol looked at the running water curiously.

"Hmm, it seems that humans have made many new inventions."

"Yes, they have."

Kol turned another tap on and started to clean himself up.

"How convenient."

They were both quiet for a while.

"I'm not going to apologize for what I did," Klaus finally stated.

Kol rolled his eyes.

"Oh, what a surprise."

They turned to look at each other almost simultaneously.

"I really don't care what you do, but if you even try to touch my Anna, you'll be back in that coffin before you know it," Klaus stated.

Kol looked amused.

"Fair enough," he replied and marched out.

Klaus pressed his lips together, that certainly hadn't been the kind of answer he had wanted to hear. And apparently Kol had left him to take care of their mess. Just like old times.