ʟᴀᴛᴇ
ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 31

Annabelle quickly sat up, breathing heavily with her chest rising and falling. She had a nightmare about a specific someone dying but the dream was off. It was as if it was glitching. The brunette struggled to find her breath and got up, rubbing her temples in exhaustion.

The brunette made it to the bathroom and opened the sink, she bought her hands to the cool refreshing water and splashed it on her face, feeling herself relax and awaken properly. Annabelle bought the towel to her face and dapped it on her face, drying it.

When she looked at the mirror, she frowned. Her tan skin became paler than usual and she had dark circles under her eyes due to the lack of sleep, her lips were dry and chapped. Her hair was messy and her eyes was puffy, smaller than usual because of the tears she had quietly shed before sleeping.

Annabelle sighed and closed the bathroom door, she looked back to the mirror and lazily slipped off her shirt, short and undergarments then started the shower water, making it hot then she got in the shower and felt her shoulders relax as her damp hair flattened.

The heretic preferred being a witch and only a witch. As a vampire, she had the constant need to kill and felt like her heart would sink at the slightest of things. Everything was heightened, her emotions, senses, strength, speed but she felt like she could just..turn it off to stop the pain of losing her mother but then she thought about Stacey.

Annabelle pushed the thoughts away and grabbed the shampoo then opened the lid, squeezing the liquid to her palm then she closed the lid and bought the liquid to her hair then began rubbing her scalp in comfort.

Just then, the door opened and she looked to the curtain to see Kol "Get out! I'm showering!" She shrieked, her eyes wide as her head only stick out but Kol could see her body shape from the curtains making him smirk.

"Don't flatter yourself, darling." Kol mumbled "I'm not looking." He mused and she sighed, stepping behind the curtains and Kol began brushing his teeth.

Annabelle grabbed the conditioner then dipped it on her long hair. She began rubbing her scalp, forgetting Kol and he was spitting out the paste, not glancing at her.

Suddenly, Annabelle shrieked and Kol was about to wash his hand by the water stung him. Annabelle let out a cry of pain and he quickly grabbed a towel and sped to Annabelle, pulling her out the tub and wrapping the towel around her body and she put a hand on his chest with panic rushing through her.

"Vervain." Kol gritted through his teeth "They put vervain in the towns water supply. This early in the bloody morning." He scoffed then looked back down at Annabelle, his eyes trail down to her shoulders then her bare legs then to her lips. Her skin was already fully healed.

Annabelle looked back at him in the eye, noticing his hand on her lower back, holding the towel and how close his body was to hers. Her lips part as he calmed down slightly "Are you okay?" He asked, not breaking eye contact.

"I'm okay." Annabelle spoke quietly and they continued staring at each other. Kol pursed his lips and nodded, her was chest rising and falling until they heard a scream making the two share glances before speeding over to Rebekahs room.

Rebekah had her face and hands stung with vervain making her freeze, she looked at the two with confusion "What is going on?!" She whined and Stacey woke up, immediately speeding to them.

"Whats wrong?"

"Vervain, it's in the water supply. We can just compel someone to fix the problem." Annabelle assured then walked away, going to get ready for the day.

Annabelle changed into blue plaid high waisted baggy pants, a tight black shirt with a big black jacket. She slipped on boots then made her way down the stairs with a calm expression to see everyone awake.

Stacey had already told everyone about the vervain and now someone— who was compelled— is fixing the water supply for them. She decided to go to the Mystic grill for her job.

-

Annabelle worked on her shift at the Mystic Grill, serving drinks and making small chat with those who spoke to her. Someone took a seat and she turned to face the lad who entered, slowly smiling. They had a good time the other night, also a lot in common.

"A heretic working at the Mystic Grill," Stefan spoke dramatically and she rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "Never thought I'd see the day."

"Well, I never thought I'd see a day where a vampire doesn't drink human blood but you find out new things everyday, don't you?" She said with sarcasm. "What could I get you?"

"Bourbon." Stefan replied and Annabelle raised a brow.

"Seriously? Bourbon?" Annabelle scrunched her face up. "Don't you have a whole supply of those at your house?"

Stefan sheepishly looked down. "Maybe I wanted to talk to you again." He admitted and Annabelle listened in on his heartbeat but it didn't show he was lying.

"Stefan Salvatore, I know my presence is amazing but if you wanted my number, you could just ask." She spoke with a slightly teasing tone before looking down, she didn't even want to imagine the anger the Mikaelsons would hold the moment they find out she spent all night speaking to a Salvatore and she didn't bother thinking about what Kol would do.

"Okay then. I want your number." Stefan confidently said and she smiled lightly.

"Are you asking for it or are you demanding it?" Annabelle raised a brow.

Stefan rolled his eyes before saying, "How about I just give you my number?"

"I never asked for it." Annabelle grinned at him, pulling out a piece of paper and writing her number down on the paper before giving it to him. "Now, I consider you a friend."

"I'm guessing I'm supposed to be honored?" Stefan asked, smirking.

"Yes. Yes, you are." Annabelle winked and gave him a glass of bourbon while he smiled, looking down before picking up the drink and taking a sip

Rebekah enters to see Annabelle and Stefan chatting and laughing with Annabelle waving her hand around as she spoke making the blonde pause, stopping her steps with Klaus who was behind her. He bumped into her and was about to speak until he heard the same familiar laughter and looked to see Annabelle.

"What a strange pair." Rebekah squinted her eyes at the scene before slowly smiling. "Yet oddly fitting."

Klaus blinked to make sure he wasn't seeing things, he took a step forward but Rebekah grabbed his shirt, stopping him. "Are you mad? Stefan has attempted to kill all of us and here she is, speaking to him like some stru—"

Rebekah sped him away, holding him against the wall with his neck. "Annabelle doesn't owe us anything yet she has sacrificed her own life for us and is a vampire because of US, how dare you even try and call her a strumpet?"

Klaus' jaw clenches but doesn't push his sister away. "Our brother has fallen for her, he—"

"Our brother killed both her friends for crying out loud." Rebekah frowned.

"I heard my name." Rebekah immediately released Klaus and turned to face Kol, "Anything you wanna say to my face, sister?" Rebekah glanced at Klaus but he kept silent making her breathe in relief. "Have either of you seen Belle? I can't seem to find her."

Rebekah tensed. "Why do you want to see her?"

Kol leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "Well, we've kissed and she won't speak on it."

"Then she's not ready to speak about it. Her mother passed away, Kol, give her time. Be understanding and take it slow, she'll like that." Rebekah told him and he rolled his eyes before nodding with a distressed expressions and speeding away.