Anna was out in the hall, listening in to Bonnie and Elena's conversation. "Right now it's what is binding the sun and the moon curse. If I can figure out a way to remove the spell from the stone, the stone becomes useless." Bonnie was saying.
"And according to Katherine, Klaus becomes vengeful." Elena said.
"Eavesdropping again?" Jeremy asked. Anna turned around, surprised. "I didn't think ghosts scared so easily."
"You startled me, that's all." Anna said.
"How's it going?"
"They're on opposite sides. I want to believe that Elena's right, but I get the feeling we're all going about this the wrong way." Anna told him. She heard the girls talking again.
"Don't listen to him. He thinks that he's protecting me but he's wrong." Elena said.
"I'm taking Stefan's side with this one. We're not gonna let you get used in some creepy sacrifice ritual." Bonnie told her. Jeremy went into Elena's room then. After they'd both left, Anna went inside.
"You don't need to do this, you know." Anna told her.
"I can't just let the rest of my family die, Anna." Elena said. "I thought you of all people would understand that."
"It's just been me and my mother for so long, though." Anna said. "She was pretty much the only family I had, and now she's missing. Don't think for one second I don't understand. But giving up your life to save them is never a good idea. You're the ones who taught me that." She walked into the hallway and disappeared before Bonnie or Jeremy could see her.
In the tomb, Anna wondered where the others were. "Come to check in on your friend?"
"You know, if I didn't know Lexi was standing nearby, I'd probably be scared right now." Anna said. Katherine turned around, confused. "Just as I thought. You really can't see her, can you?" She moved closer to the entrance where the guys were.
"I was wondering where you were." Damon said, noticing her.
"I checked in on Elena." Anna told them. "It seems pretty serious."
"Don't worry, she can't leave the house." Damon said. "Bonnie spelled it."
"You guys locked her in there?" Stefan asked.
"We had no choice. She's too determined." Anna told him. "And speaking of determined…
"You know, you guys are surprisingly calm considering Klaus will hunt you down and kill you if you mess with his little plan." Katherine said.
"I've been dead before. I got over it." Damon told her. He turned to Stefan "Once we deal with this moonstone, we'll figure a way to get you out."
"Don't worry about me. Just make sure Elena's safe." Stefan said.
"I know she'd want one of us to stay with you in case she…" Anna glanced over at Katherine. "Tried anything."
A few hours later, Anna was sitting with him in the tomb. "So, how's Elena doing, anyway?"
"She's probably really mad cause she can't leave the house." Anna said. "No offense or anything, but I think Damon and Bonnie's plan was a little overboard."
"Oh, come on. You know what my brother's like."
"Unfortunately." Anna looked at him. "But I think you can trust him when it comes to protecting her."
"Before or after he falls for her?" Katherine asked.
"Excuse me, this is a private conversation." Anna said. "Reserve your eavesdropping for when Klaus shows up or whatever."
"I'm surprised you can even stay on this plane given what happened the other day."
"Maybe you don't know as much about ghosts as you thought." Anna told her.
"Oh? Like what?" Katherine asked, as though she was challenging her.
"Like the fact that you're trying to get into Stefan's dreams but can't." Anna said.
"How did you…"
"Did you know that ghosts can put up a barrier to prevent people like you from manipulating someone's thoughts or subconscious?" Anna asked. Katherine looked at her, for once not saying anything.
"I had no idea you could do that." Stefan said.
"Comes in handy a lot. Sometimes I use in when I check in on Jeremy or Bonnie." Anna said. Then, she felt something. She turned to the side, as though she was silently communicating with another ghost that they couldn't see.
"What is it?" Stefan asked.
"Elena's calling me." Anna said. "I have no idea how that's possible, but I know she needs my help."
"Go. I can handle her on my own." Anna nodded, then disappeared.
At the Gilbert's House, Elena went downstairs to find Jenna looking in the closet.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Perfect timing." Jenna handed her a box.
"What is this stuff?" Elena asked, setting it down.
"Your mom's file from the historical society. I got roped into helping Mrs. Lockwood and by roped, I mean very excited to participate." Jenna explained. She closed the door. Elena was surprised to find Elijah behind it.
"Hey, I'm Elijah."
"Elijah is in town doing research on Mystic Falls." Jenna told her.
"It's a pleasure."
"So you're welcome to stay here and rummage through this stuff or Elena and I could help you load it into our car." Jenna told him.
"Or I can get someone to pick it up tomorrow."
"Also a good plan."
"Thank you so much for inviting me into your home, Jenna." Elijah said. "And Elena, I hope to see you again sometime soon." He left the room.
Elena ran upstairs, thinking about Anna on her way to Jeremy's room. She knocked on the door, only for someone to catch her wrist. She noticed it was Elijah.
"What is it?" Elena looked around and saw Elijah had disappeared.
"Jenna was just asking me to get you help her with the boxes."
"Okay." Jeremy headed downstairs.
"Close one, huh?" Elena heard Anna say as soon as Jeremy was out of the hallway. "What's…" Then she noticed Elijah. "Oh. That explains things."
"It's a wise choice."
"What do you want?" Elena asked him.
"I think it's time you and I have a little chat." Elijah told her.
"I'm not going to let you be with him alone." Anna said. Elena turned to her.
A few minutes later, the three of them were in Elena's room. "Forgive the intrusion. I mean your family no harm." Elijah said.
"Why did you kill those vampires when they tried to take me?" Elena asked.
"Because I didn't want you to be taken. Klaus is the most feared and hated of the originals but those who fear him are desperate for his approval." Elijah explained. "If the word gets out that the doppelganger exists there'll be a line of vampires eager to take you to him and I can't have that." Anna seemed surprised by this.
"Isn't that exactly what you're trying to do?" Elena asked.
"Let's just say that my goal is not to break the curse."
"So what is your goal?" Elena and Anna asked at the same time. Elena looked at Anna.
"Right, sometimes I forget only a few of you can see and hear me." Anna said.
"Klaus's obsession has made him paranoid. He's a recluse. He trusts only those in his immediate circle." Elijah said.
"Like you?"
"Not anymore."
"You don't know where he is, do you? So you're trying to use me to draw him out." Elena said.
"That is so wrong." Anna said.
"Well, to do that I need you to stay put and stop trying to get yourself killed."
"How do I know you're telling the truth?" Elena asked. She turned to Anna.
"I can't read him." Anna said. "It's like running into a brick wall. The Originals are stronger than normal vampires, they're too hard to read."
"If I wasn't being trustful, your family would be dead and I'd be taking you to Klaus right now." Elijah said. "Instead, I'm here and I'm preparing to offer you a deal."
"Careful. Making a deal with a vampire's like making a deal with the devil." Anna said. Elena gave her a look that said, yeah, now you tell me.
"What kind of a deal?" She asked, wanting to stay on the cautious side.
"Do nothing. Do nothing, live your life, stop fighting and then, when the time is right, you and I should drop Klaus to get out and I should make sure your friends remain unharmed." Elijah said.
"And then what?" Elena asked.
"Then I kill him."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that. I'm a man of my word, Elena." Elijah told her. "I make a deal, I keep a deal."
"How are you gonna be able to keep everybody safe?"
"I notice you have a friend Bonnie, is it? She seems to possess the gift of magic. I have friends with similar gifts." Elijah said. Anna didn't like the sound of that.
"You know witches."
"Together we can protect you and everybody that matters to you. So do we have a deal?"
"I wouldn't listen to him, Elena." Anna said. "How do you know he won't betray you?"
"I don't, but I can't just let Klaus kill everyone around me." Elena whispered to her. She turned to Elijah. "I need you to do one more thing for me."
"You're negotiating now?"
"What are you doing?" Anna asked her.
"Will you trust me on this?" Elena asked. Elijah looked at her. "Sorry. Lately, it seems I've been being haunted by spirits."
"Yeah, real nice save, Lena." Anna said. She decided to go back to the tomb and see how Stefan was holding up.
When she arrived, they were talking. "We could talk about how you regret all you've done to make my life miserable."
"What do you want me to say, Stefan? That I'm sorry for everything that I've done? Well I'm not, okay? It's called self-preservation. I've been looking out for myself for five hundred years." Katherine told him.
"Look where it has gotten you."
"Yes, I've done terrible things. I know that but I do love you, Stefan. Even if you don't believe it."
"How can someone cold-hearted like you even know love?" Anna asked.
"Looks like the ghost's back." Katherine said, turning to face her. "But even you know that all vampires were once human. I thought I was in love before I turned, then I learned how the world really is." Anna looked at her in disbelief.
"You want me to believe you? Show me. Do something. Prove to me that there's something inside of you that's actually worst."
"And then what? You'll still hate me."
"Maybe and maybe I'll see that there's still hope for you after all."
"You're playing me." Katherine said.
"Am I?"
"You want to find Klaus? Kill him so that you can protect your precious Elena?" Katherine asked.
"We all want him dead for that reason." Anna said. "Stefan's not the only one who cares about her, you know."
"Yeah, but you know this isn't going to end well for any of us." Katherine said.
"Let me guess: you know where he is." Stefan said.
"No, I don't, but I could help you find him." Katherine told them.
"For a price I'm sure."
"Yeah, thanks, but…"
"Let's start with Isobel, Elena's mother. She was a research expert." Katherine pointed out. "She found me." They both looked at her. "You're welcome." Just then, they heard the tomb door opening. They all looked at each other.
"I think I should go." Anna told them. "See you guys."
"What kind of ghost is afraid of someone?" Katherine commented as she started fading.
"Shut up. You have no idea what to expect." Anna managed to get out as she disappeared from view.
She found herself back at Elena's house. "Hey, is everything okay?" Jeremy asked her.
"Yeah, I think so." Anna said.
"What was up with Elena earlier?"
"Nothing. You're sister's fine, Jer." Anna told him. "She probably just got spooked or something."
"Well, considering all the supernatural stuff…" Anna motioned for him to be quiet.
"You're aunt's in the hall." She explained. "I'm going to check on Elena." She went into Elena's room and joined her at the window.
"How's everything going?" Elena asked.
"It's fine." Anna said. "Though someone came to the tomb…" Then she realized something. "Did you have anything to do with that?"
"Maybe." Elena said.
"Jeremy was worried about you."
"I know. Things have been a little complicated with us lately."
"I think he's lucky to have you for a sister." Anna said. "I never had any siblings, at least, none that I knew of."
"Do you guys ever get lonely? I mean, in the spirit world?"
"Not really. It's kinda like this weird sense of family, almost. It's like we practically all know each other at first glance." Anna told her.
"I'm sure she's there somewhere, Anna." Elena said, remembering how she'd lost her mother a few months ago.
"You're thinking about Miranda, aren't you?"
"Sometimes I'd be sitting here, writing, and she'd watch from the door. At least when I was little." Elena explained. "It's hard to believe she's gone sometimes."
"I'm sure she's looking out for you, Elena." Anna said. "The thing with spirits, is they always watch over their family and friends."
"I had a feeling about that." Elena said. She sighed and looked out the window. Then she noticed Stefan's reflection and turned around.
"You got out?" Anna asked him.
"Yeah, looks like they broke the spell." He told her. Elena got up and ran into his arms.
Anna went into the hallway and started to fade. "Hey," She turned and saw Jeremy. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah. She's in good hands now." Anna told him. "Just…give her some space, okay?" She disappeared, leaving Jeremy in the hall for a few minutes before he went back to his room.