Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The world had ended once before.

At least, that’s how it felt to Annalise Gilbert the night her parents died. The roar of water swallowing their car, the piercing cold against her skin, and the suffocating silence that followed—it was a nightmare she could never wake from. She had survived, but a part of her had been left behind in that river, lost in the depths alongside them.

That was the first time she had seen something before it happened.

She remembered the vision vividly, though she wished she didn’t. The headlights slicing through the darkness, the bridge slick with rain, the moment the car lurched forward as if pulled by unseen hands. She had seen it all unfold seconds before it did, a cruel premonition that left her screaming in warning—only to be drowned out by the inevitable.

No one knew about her visions. No one could. Not Jeremy, her twin, who barely held himself together as it was. Not Elena, who was already crumbling under the weight of her own grief. And certainly not Jenna, who had stepped in to raise them with a strength Annalise could never bring herself to match.

She became the shadow, the unseen Gilbert, always watching, always knowing more than she should. She was safer that way. If no one looked too closely, if no one tried to get too close, then she could exist without falling apart.

But then, Mystic Falls refused to let her stay unseen. Vampires, werewolves, witches—the supernatural world crept into her life, forcing her into the light, whether she wanted it or not. And when the Originals came to town, when Klaus Mikaelson set his sights on her family, Annalise realized that hiding in the shadows would no longer keep them safe.

She had seen what was coming. She had glimpsed the destruction, the pain, the choices that would break them all. But just like before, knowing didn’t mean she could stop it.

This time, though, she wouldn’t stand still and watch.

Even if it meant losing herself in the process.

Chapter Text

Darkness was all Annalise saw, she heard a rumbling from an engine. Where am I this time? Annalise's thoughts became silenced when she heard a man’s voice.

“Where is she?”

“In the trunk, I did exactly what you said.”

“Good, put her in the back?” Was this Trevor? Why am I here again? Where’s Elena?

Annalise felt around for a second and felt her younger sister next to her. How did I not notice her right beside me? Suddenly, Annalise stopped moving, having done this before she knew not to let them know that she was awake. The man opened the trunk that herself and her little sister were in. He then took Elena first to Trevor’s vehicle, right after he was done he turned back to her to do the same thing. They were now in much more danger, Trevor was unpredictable, but Annalise knew that. For she has been here before, she just had to make sure Elena was ready for what was to come. Far too into her thoughts, she suddenly came back to reality. Hearing Trevor killing the man once more, she could never do anything for the man and she dare not test her luck this time. 

All of a sudden the world had changed, just a smidge but enough to know that things were a little off. She felt trapped—unable to move, unable to open her eyes—but every sound pierced through the darkness. Did they drug me? They haven’t done that before… She hadn’t noticed that her hearing was better than it should’ve been. She could hear a whisper of wind, the crunch of leaves, a faint sob in the distance… wait someone’s crying. Elena? What are they doing to her? Wake up Annalise! WAKE UP! In spite of her trying her damnedest to get to her little sister she wasn’t waking up. She felt a chill, and then she heard a creaking. 

When Annalise woke up, she realized they were at the abandoned house. She noticed Elena whimpering, and struggling to move away from Trevor. 

Elena's voice trembled as she asked, "What do you want?"

“Shhh” 

"Please," Elena said quietly, her voice strained. "I'm hurt."

Trevor, still holding onto Elena, graveled out “I know” his eyes became veiny and glistened with hunger. He moved to a better position to get what he desired; he let out a strained but powerful “Just a taste”. 

Elena let out a frightened whimper as he bent down, Annalise started to move very slowly towards her sister. Slow enough Trevor wouldn’t notice, but she didn’t need to worry for as soon as Trevor bent down a woman had appeared to scold him. Rose, finally. 

“Trevor!” Rose scolded "Control yourself.”

Trevor rolling his eyes got up; clearly agitated he didn’t get a taste of the doppelganger, let out an annoyed “Buzzkill.” 

As Trevor leaves, Rose stares down at Elena. Hopefully I can get to Elena before she slaps her this time. She has been through enough. Elena, now clearly frightened, looked up to Rose grateful for the rescue, but suspicious of the other vampire.

“What do you want with me?”

Rose looked over Elena, widening her eyes a little from surprise. “Oh my God, you look just like her.” 

As Rose walked closer to inspect Elena, Annalise too moved forward.  I need to get there before she does something.

Turning the attention to herself, Annalise finally spoke. 'But she’s not.' Rose turned to look at her, curiosity flickering in her eyes. Rose turned back to Elena when she noticed her scooting away, “Please, whatever you-”.

Rose glared “Be quiet”.

Elena trying to get through to Rose states “But I’m not Katherine. My name is Elena Gilbert; you don’t have to do this.” Annalise saw that Elena was trying to be strong, but that wasn’t going to work for Rose. Annalise knew better, so she stood up and moved in front of Elena. Right as Rose was starting to show her agitation to Elena.

“I know who you are,” Rose snarled “I said be quiet”.

Annalise looked to Elena and shook her head, trying to tell her that it was no use to try and get Rose’s sympathy. She knew what Elena was trying to do, showing Rose that she was just a person was a way to humanize victims so their kidnappers wouldn’t kill them. But, Rose wasn’t human and Elena had the face of the woman who ruined the two vampires’ lives. Even if Trevor decided this fate for them, Rose did not deserve to be tagged along for the run. She was loyal, but so was Annalise and nothing was going to hurt Elena when she could do something about it. 

Rose glared at Annalise to get her to move out of her way to the doppelganger, but Annalise stood strong. Glaring back in defiance, she didn’t care that Rose would hurt her. To Annalise that was her job as the eldest-- to protect her siblings and hold their hardships as her own. Rose noticed that she wasn’t going to back down from this so she nodded at Annalise to keep her sister quiet. 

As Rose left the room, Elena let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She looked to her sister, still standing in front of her—though now visibly more at ease. Annalise turned to her, relieved she could take the brunt of it this time, just enough to make sure Elena didn’t get knocked out. I’m glad that worked out… It never has before. 

“Why did you do that?”

Snapping out of her thoughts, she let out a soft, confused “Huh.”

Elena looked at her older sister—really looked at her—grateful for the protection, but angry that Annalise had once again put herself in harm’s way to provide it. So she asked again “Why did you do that?”

Annalise thought of what to say to her little sister, that maybe she didn’t care what happened to her if only her family was safe. She would not lose another member of her family, she would do whatever it took to keep them all safe. Instead of saying that, she said “Because you have been in enough pain for the day.” 

Elena scoffed “But you would put yourself in danger of being hurt?” 

Annalise knew that Elena was not truly angry at her for putting herself in harm's way, but scared that she would lose her big sister. Annalise just sighed and hugged her sister, Elena hugged her back in desperation. Annalise was her rock, unmoving, always there to listen, and never complained about Elena’s company. Jeremy loved their sister, but sometimes he got annoyed with her trying to make sure she wouldn’t lose him. He didn’t see it that way, but Annalise did; she knew that her sister tried to act like their mother and tried to protect her siblings in any way that she could. This was the thing about the Gilberts: they didn’t think about the consequences of their protection, but that their family was safe. They couldn’t lose each other too, they were all that they had left. So, when Elena decided things for the protection of her family, Annalise was never mad. She just made sure Elene would know the consequences, and she would make sure no one else would get hurt.

“I love you, Elena.”

Elena let out a sniffled “I love you too, Annie.”

As they let go of each other, they heard Rose and Trevor talking. 

“How are the girls?”

Elena and Annalise looked at each other, as Elena went to move forward Annalise shook her head. Elena, being the stubborn one, ignored her and went towards their voices. Annalise shook her head already knowing how this path would turn out, followed her sister further into the house. They both made sure to not make any sound as they listened to the conversation.

“So, you called him?”

“No, I called one of his contacts. You know how this works”

Annalise could hear the panic rising in Trevor’s voice as he asked “Did you or did you not get the message to Elijah?” 

But, as soon as she heard the name Elijah she wasn’t listening anymore. How would the noble original be this time? Violent… agreeable… or would this time turn out to be different from the others. It has already proved to be different, she wondered how next time would be.  When Elena stepped on the wrong floorboard she quickly tried to get them out of there, but she was too late; Rose had already spotted them.

“You!” Rose walks towards Elena, “There's nothing around here for miles. If you think you're getting out of this house, you're tragically wrong. Understand?” As Rose stares down at Elena, trying to intimate her, Annalise tries to figure a way out of the situation.

 Elena looks up to Rose, trying to act like Rose wasn’t intimidating, asks, “Who’s Elijah?”

“He’s your worst nightmare.” 

Annalise looked at Rose, hiding her amusement in those particular words. Oh, I thought he was just an Easter bunny compared to Klaus. She isn’t wrong in this moment though Elijah frightens me the most out of all of the originals I have seen. He’s unpredictable, never acts the same, in one moment calm and in the next dangerous. 

Rose left them alone to think about her words, Elena though wasn’t convinced. When they turned around Rose was already gone. Elena, wanting to ask more questions, moved to look for Rose. Annalise, already knowing where Rose is, takes Elena’s hand and guides her to the room that Rose occupied. The moment they stepped through the doorway, Elena shot Rose a look, her question already sharp on her tongue.

“Why are we here?”

Rose didn’t even bother looking up from what she was doing as she replied, “You keep asking me these questions like I’m actually going to answer them.”

Elena, clearly annoyed by being dismissed, shot back, “Why won’t you?”

Rose replied nonchalantly as she moved a board onto the open window, “That’s another one.”

Elena, clearly aggravated, snapped, “You’ve got us, okay?” She turned to Annalise, still leaning against the doorway, before turning back to Rose. “It’s not like we can go anywhere.” Elena waved her hand around the room, as if the space itself was a trap. “The least you could do is tell us what you want with us.”

Rose turned to look at Elena for a brief moment, then casually walked back to what she had been doing. “I personally want nothing,” she said, her tone flat. “I’m just a delivery service.”

Still leaning against the doorway, Annalise spoke with a knowing edge, “Delivery to Elijah, I presume?”

Rose, still doing her tasks, stops to laugh “Two points to the eavesdropper” continuing her work afterwards. 

Elena, frowning in confusion, asked, “Who is he? Is he a vampire?” Annalise nods at her question already knowing the answer. A scary one at that.

Without pausing from her tasks, Rose replied “He’s one of the vampires---the Originals ”

Still confused, Elena paused for a moment before asking, “What do you mean the originals?”

Flipping through a book, Rose muttered, “Again with questions.” She paused, glancing up. “Haven’t the Salvatores been teaching you your vampire history?”

Annalise looked around the room noticing all of the books, she tried to read one before, but that time didn’t end as nicely as this one. Maybe she could take one home? Elena would surely appreciate it, that’s one of the things the sisters’ had in common they loved to read. Slowly walking towards a pile of books, she notices the look on her sister’s face. Determination. Determined to get answers from one of their kidnappers, maybe Annalise should be more focused on the conversation, but she has heard it many times before. Except for one time, we don’t talk about that one. Her little sister was stubborn so she knew that she would get some answers out of the woman. 

“So, you know Stefan and Damon?”

Still flipping through the book in her hands, Rose said, ‘I know of them. A hundred years ago, a friend of mine tried to set me up with Stefan.” She took a breath, her expression turning a little more nostalgic. “She said he was one of the good ones.” A smirk tugged at her lips. “I’m more of a sucker for the bad boys, though... but I digress.”

Annalise, finding a decent book, glanced up at the two of them before quickly deciding against it. She shuffled through more piles of books, hoping Rose wasn’t talking about Damon—because if she was, that would be a whole other issue. He was a creep.

More determined than ever, Elena pressed “Who are the originals?”

Rose finally closed her book with a snap and turned to face Elena. “Trevor and I have been running for 500 years. We're tired, we want it over. We're using you to negotiate ourselves out of an old mess.”

“But why us?”

Annalise, finally done with her rummaging, stood up and walked over to her sister. With three books in her hands, she tuned back into the conversation. She knew exactly why Elena was there—she had prepared her for this moment, even if Elena hadn’t realized it at the time. Annalise had paid a witch to ensure this outcome. It had been costly, but worth every penny. Her sister would not become a blood slave. Which time had she paid for the witch? Surely it was the third time they’d had the conversation. After that, she made sure to pay each time, but one could never be sure. 

“Because you are the Petrova doppelganger.” Rose said, letting the words hang in the air. She let them sink in before speaking again. "You're the key to breaking the curse.” Then she turned to Annalise. “You, though... you’re different.” Rose didn’t elaborate further.

To Annalise this was no surprise, Rose never fully answered the question of why she was there. She was never too fazed by it though, she only cared about Elena in this moment.

She knew that the next words out of her mouth wouldn’t be the truth, but she spoke them anyway. “The sun and moon curse, right?”

Rose nods at her “Oh, so you both do know the history of the doppelganger.”

Elena frowned, confusion mixing with frustration. “What do you mean I’m the key? The moonstone is what breaks the curse.”

Rose shook her head. “No, the moonstone is what binds the curse. The sacrifice is what breaks it.”

Elena’s voice trembled with disbelief. “The sacrifice?” Annalise watched her younger sister, ready to step in if needed.

Rose met Elena’s gaze, her voice cold. “The blood of the doppelgänger.” She pointed at Elena “You’re the doppelgänger. Which means, in order to break the curse, you’re the one who has to die.”

Elena had to take a minute after that revelation, but Annalise was here to comfort her. Elena then needed more answers, she needed to know what they were speaking of.

“Tell me more.”

Trevor walked into the room with a smirk. “Captivity has made her pushy, eh?” He placed a hand on his hip, then grabbed another piece of wood to board up the window. “What do you want to know doppelicious?” 

Elena’s eyes narrowed " Who were you running from?”

“The Originals” Trevor stated flatly. 

Elena’s frustration grew. “Yeah, she said that. What does that mean?”

Annalise could sense Elena’s frustration growing as the pair continued to dodge her questions. It was almost a relief—Trevor wouldn’t live for much longer anyway. He never did.

“The first family, the old world.” Trevor kicked a book on his way to walk over to Elena.” Rose and I pissed them off.” Funny.

“Mh-uh” Rose hummed, clearly disagreeing with Trevor’s version of events.

Trevor turned to face them once more, after walking away “Correction,” he began ”I pissed them off,” he pointed at Rose “Rose had my back and for over half a millennium, they wanted us dead.” He then tossed a book at Elena’s feet with a careless flick of his wrist

“And what did you do to deserve that?” Annalise asked, her voice laced with knowing amusement.

Trevor turned away, clearly embarrassed, then glanced at Rose, silently asking her to answer. Rose rolled her eyes at him before turning to the girls., “He made the same mistake countless others did” She looked back at Trevor “He trusted Katerina Petrova.”

Elena’s voice was quiet but firm. “Katherine.”

Rose smirked. “The one and only, the first Petrova Doppelgänger.” Incorrect.

As Rose walks away, Trevor takes over the conversation again. “I helped her escape her fate and now I've,” he paused to correct himself “sorry, we've been marked ever since.”

Rose's expression hardened. “Which is why we're not gonna make the same mistake again.”

With the conversation clearly over, Annalise took Elena’s hand and guided her back to the couch. Knowing what was there, she let Elena sit down first to find the paper. When Elena found it, she smiled, then turned it over for Annalise. But this time, it was different. It had always just been Stefan and Damon who were coming to rescue them, but the paper now clearly read: “Stefan, Damon, and Jeremy are coming for you -B.” This would prove to be the most changed event out of all of the times she has had to redo this. She doesn’t know what is to come with her twin rescuing them. She hopes that it proves to be the best out of twenty. Was it twenty? She didn’t know anymore. 

Hello there. Human. Little pet… Elksan.

Suddenly, Trevor came running down the stairs, his nerves palpable," He's here.” he said, his voice shaky “This was a mistake.” 

Rose’s voice was steady, though there was an underlying edge to it. “No, I told you I would get us out of this. You have to trust me.”

Trevor’s voice cracked with panic, “No! He wants me dead, Rose!”

Rose’s gaze hardened, “He wants them more.” Them? That was new.

Trevor’s voice cracked with desperation. “I can’t do this. You give her to him, he’ll have mercy on you, but I need to get out of here.”

Rose snapped, her tone serious yet calming, “Hey! What are we?”

Trevor swallowed, his voice steady but filled with emotion. “We’re family, forever.” Aww, very sweet, but that’s not going to save you now.

As they nodded at each other, the one that they should be afraid of is already at the door. They both looked around for places to hide, but knew that they couldn’t. 

Elena sat up, studying them more closely, sympathy in her eyes “You’re scared.”

Annalise scanned the room once more, her books beside her, ready to throw them if necessary—even though she knew it wouldn't help much. Her gaze locked onto Trevor, hardening. “They should be.” 

Rose looked to Trevor, releasing his hands, “Stay here with her and don't make a sound.”

With his comfort gone, Trevor tried to stay calm. He was right to be frightened, Annalise knew that. She knew many things, and one of those things is that Trevor would be dead within the hour. Annalise made sure to be ready by her sister as they stood up, she took Elena’s hand. Elena needed her to be strong right now, and that is what she would be. Elena looked at her big sister, fear in her eyes, but the bond between them was undeniable. She knew that she would not be alone, Gilberts stuck together always. 

While watching the doorway, Annalise saw Elijah walk in. She knew that her sister was already scared but seeing Elijah would no doubt make that worse, so Annalise held Elena’s hand tighter. I’m here, I’m not leaving. Elijah’s eyes locked onto Elena, his gaze piercing, almost predatory. He didn’t need to speak for the air in the room to grow thicker, heavier. Slowly, deliberately, he moved closer, the familiar, unsettling scent of his cologne filling the space between them. Annalise stiffened, but Elena’s gasp was audible. The sharpness of his gaze never wavered as he leaned in, close enough to smell her pulse. That will always be creepy.

Elijah’s voice was calm, yet laced with disbelief. “Human. It’s impossible.” He paused for a moment, then added, “Hello there.”

Elijah turned to Annalise, curiosity flickering in his eyes, “And who might you be?”

Annalise met his gaze, feeling the intensity of his stare. She answered with a hint of sarcasm, “Doppelganger’s sister.” 

Amused, Elijah raised an eyebrow. “Hmm, well, we have a long journey ahead of us. We should be going.”

Elena, now more frightened than ever, turned to Rose, her voice trembling “Please, don’t let him take us.”

Annalise knew they wouldn’t—and couldn’t—help them, so she pulled her sister into her arms. Her voice was a soft whisper as she spoke to Elena, “Don’t look, ‘Lena.”

Elena, confused but always trusting her sister, nodded. She knew when Annalise asked her to do something like this, it was for a reason. Without question, Elena buried her head into Annalise’s shoulder, trusting her completely. Annalise tuned back into the conversation, her mind drifting to the inevitable. She wondered, with a dark sense of curiosity, just how gruesome it would be this time.

Trevor’s voice was strained as he spoke, his desperation clear. “I beg your forgiveness.”

Elijah's response was cool and dismissive. “So granted.”

Annalise tightened her hold on her sister as Elijah effortlessly smacked Trevor's head off. It wasn’t the most gruesome one she’d witnessed, but she knew it would haunt Elena for life. She had seen it too many times before—no need for her little sister to witness it.

Rose screamed in despair, her voice filled with anguish. “You...!”

Elijah cast a sharp look at Rose, his voice calm yet commanding. 'Don't” he said, adjusting his cuffs with meticulous care “Rose. Now that you are free.”

As Rose wept for her fallen family, Elijah turned to the girls, extending a hand toward them. His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. “Come.”

Elena broke free from her sister’s hold, turning to Elijah with desperation etched across her face. She needed to stall, to buy them time for their rescue. “No, what about the moonstone?”

Elijah's gaze sharpened as he turned his full attention to Elena. "What do you know about the moonstone?"

Elijah’s lips curled into an amused smirk as he shifted his gaze to Annalise. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” she said, defiance lacing her tone.

His amusement didn’t quite reach his eyes, but there was intrigue there, curiosity flickering beneath his composed exterior. “Indeed, I would,” he replied smoothly, taking a step closer. “But the question is—how much do you really know?”

Annalise met his gaze without faltering. “I know everything,” she repeated. “I also know where the moonstone is.”

Elena stiffened beside her, gripping Annalise’s arm as if to stop her from saying anything more. Annalise wasn’t sure if her sister was scared of what Elijah might do—or scared of the fact that Annalise might actually be telling the truth.

Elijah studied her for a long moment, then let out a small hum of approval. “Fascinating,” he murmured. “And yet, you’re still standing here, bargaining with me rather than using that knowledge to escape. Why is that?”

Annalise glanced at her sister, she needed to stall him for longer. “Because you are far older than you appear.”

Elijah chuckled, amused by her response. “A keen observation,” he mused, stepping closer. “But hardly an answer.”

Annalise tightened her grip on Elena’s wrist, keeping her sister close. “I know enough to understand that if I give you what you want too soon, I lose all leverage.” She tilted her chin up defiantly. “You may be old, but you’re not foolish. You know a good deal when you see one.”

Elijah’s expression remained unreadable, but his gaze flickered with intrigue. “A negotiator,” he mused. “How unexpected.”

Elena’s fingers dug into Annalise’s arm, silently pleading for her to stop provoking him. But Annalise knew she needed to keep him talking—just a little longer. “Unexpected, maybe,” she admitted, “but not unwise.”

Elijah let the silence stretch between them, considering her. Then, finally, he gave a slow, approving nod. “Very well,” he said smoothly. “Let’s hear this deal of yours.”

Annalise out of a desperate attempt to make sure that they could get rescued, starts talking “I'll tell you where the moonstone is, and who it is with and when the time comes you will have everything you need for you plans”

Elijah studied Annalise carefully, his interest piqued. “A bold claim,” he remarked, clasping his hands behind his back. “But you see, I already have everything I need. What could you possibly offer me that I cannot take for myself?”

Annalise held her ground, unwavering. “Time,” she stated simply. “I know who has it, where they keep it, and how to get it without unnecessary complications.”

Elijah arched a brow. “And what do you want in return?”

Annalise didn’t hesitate. “You let my sister live.”

Elijah smirked at her audacity. “A noble request.” He took a step closer, gaze sharp. “But tell me, Annalise Gilbert, do you truly believe you’re in any position to negotiate?”

Suddenly, they hear glass breaking from upstairs. Elijah’s head snapped toward the sound, his expression shifting from amusement to mild irritation. Annalise seized the moment, stepping slightly in front of Elena, her body tense with anticipation. She had given the time that they needed, her sister would not be taken from her this time. 

Elijah let out a slow, almost disappointed sigh. “How very predictable.” He turned his gaze back to Annalise and Elena, his lips curling slightly. “It seems we’re out of time for negotiations.”

Annalise’s heart pounded in her chest. She had seen this play out before—but this time, Jeremy was coming. That was new. That changed everything. Elijah then grabbed both of the girls arms, walking to the front door. Then Elijah turns to Rose and pushes the girls into Rose’s arms, waiting to see if they would show themselves. 

Rose caught the girls in her arms, her grip firm but her expression softening slightly. Then they heard them.

“Up here.” Stefan whispered. Elijah paused at the top of the stairs, his eyes narrowing as he listened for any further sounds of movement. He knew the young vampires were close, and their presence only made things more complicated.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Damon’s voice echoed softly, barely audible but enough to rattle the tense atmosphere. “Down here.” They were here to rescue the girls, but where was Jeremy? Annalise could feel the shift in the air, a tension that told her things were about to spiral. 

A stake was shot into Elijah’s palm, while he was distracted taking it out the girls had already been moved. Elena and Annalise were quickly ushered away by Stefan and Jeremy. Annalise couldn’t believe that Jeremy was there for them, but here he was holding her still and glancing at their younger sister to make sure that they were okay. She had slowed her breathing to almost nothing, but then the inevitable happened; they were found, and Elijah had slaughtered her brother right in front of her. 

“Annie,” Jeremy whispered as he looked at his twin, “you’re okay, I’ve got you.”

Annalise was confused; she had just watched her brother get killed, but she stayed quiet and nodded at Jeremy. They both looked around as they heard Elijah walking around. Elijah’s voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding. “Excuse me. To whom it may concern, you’re making a great mistake if you think you can beat me. You can’t. Do you hear that?”

They both flinch as they hear Elijah break something, then Elijah's voice echoed through the silence, chilling and deliberate. “I repeat, you cannot beat me.” He stepped closer, his presence filling the space as he searched for any sign of movement. “So I want the girls. I’m going to count to three, or heads will roll. Do we understand each other?” His tone sharpened, growing more dangerous with each passing second, as he waited for any hint of their location.

The twins looked at Elena who started moving to the top of the stairs, Annalise knew this plan would work. So, she calmed down, Jeremy however started to move where he could see Elijah with his crossbow in hand. 

Elena, now at the top of the stairs, clenched the vervain grenade tightly in her hand, her pulse racing. With a shaky breath, she spoke, trying to sound as calm as possible despite the fear in her chest. “I’ll come with you, just please don’t hurt my friends. They only wanted to help me.”

As Elijah’s gaze swept the room, Elena’s fingers tightened around the vervain grenade, her heart racing. She had to time it just right. Suddenly, he sped up the stairs, coming right in front of her. His voice was cold and commanding. “What game are you playing with me?”

He was too close.

Without hesitation, Elena hurled the vervain grenade directly at his face. As it exploded, the air filled with the sharp sting of vervain, momentarily blinding him. In that instant, Jeremy took his shot. The crossbow bolt flew through the air, driving a stake deep into Elijah’s shoulder. The impact sent him stumbling back, a growl of pain escaping his lips.

As Elijah shook off the vervain and removed the stake from his shoulder, Stefan wasted no time to fire another shot at him, but the weapon had little effect on Elijah, who merely growled in irritation. Realizing the weapon wasn’t enough to stop him, Stefan quickly tossed it aside. In a swift motion, he launched himself at Elijah, tackling him down the stairs. When they crashed to the first floor, Elijah immediately sprang to his feet, his vampire speed making it almost impossible to catch him off guard. Stefan, still recovering from the fall, struggled to get up in time. As Elijah charged toward him, ready to strike, Damon was quicker. He rushed forward, driving a stake into Elijah’s chest with precision, pinning him against the door. Elijah's body began to turn grey, veins crawling across his skin as the effects of the stake took hold. He was dead—at least for now. But Annalise could feel it, deep in her gut, that sense of unease that came with knowing how long it would take for someone like Elijah to truly stay down. She knew it wouldn't be long before he revived, stronger and more vengeful than ever. It was only a matter of time, and that time felt dangerously short. She comes back to reality when she hears her little sister’s voice.

Elena's voice trembled with exhaustion as she looked directly at Damon. "Just let her go."

Annalise watched as Elena was pulled into Stefan's arms, a soft smile tugging at her lips. Elena deserved this—someone to hold her, to keep her safe after everything they had been through. It was a rare moment of peace for her sister, and Annalise was grateful for it.

She turned her attention to Jeremy, who was standing nearby. A wave of relief washed over her as she rushed to him, pulling him into a tight embrace. The familiar warmth of his presence grounded her, she was glad that he was not in fact dead. Was he dead? She didn’t know, but she knew that this Jeremy held her just as tightly, his voice soft but full of sincerity. "I’m so glad you’re okay, Annie."

A small laugh escaped Annalise, a sound she hadn’t let herself make in far too long. "I’m glad you’re here, Jer," she replied, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside her. She pulled back slightly to look him in the eyes, giving him a reassuring smile. "I’ll always be here for you. No matter what happens."

Jeremy smiled back, his expression softening. "I know, Annie. I know."

Annalise turned to face the Salvatore brothers, her expression softening with gratitude. She took a deep breath, the weight of everything that had just transpired finally starting to settle. "Thank you," she said, her voice steady but sincere. "For rescuing us. For getting us out of there."

Stefan offered her a small, almost relieved smile, the tension in his shoulders easing. "We wouldn’t have left you behind," he replied simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Damon, on the other hand, gave a slight nod, his usual cocky grin replaced by something more genuine. "You’re welcome," he said, his voice less guarded than usual.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

When they arrived at their house they were greeted by a very happy Bonnie and Caroline. The girls both reach out to embrace Elena, and then Annalise. Caroline’s voice broke through the quiet, her concern evident as she approached Annalise and Elena. She looked between them, her eyes filled with worry. "Are you two okay?"

Annalise gave a small nod, trying to reassure Caroline with a tired smile. "We’re fine. We’re safe, for now." Her voice was soft, a touch of exhaustion creeping in as she spoke, but there was a quiet strength behind her words.

Elena turns to Bonnie, her voice soft as she says, “we got your message.”

As soon as Elena says this, Bonnie bursts into tears and embraces her once again. Annalise watches them, a quiet sense of relief washing over her that they all made it out alive this time, but she wasn’t so sure for the next. This was only the beginning, but she would get through it again and again as she always did. 

Chapter Text

As they drove to the Salvatore's, Annalise couldn't stop wondering—how did Elijah know her name? She didn’t remember anyone saying it—not her full name, at least. Her memory had been unreliable lately—fragments slipping like water through her fingers—so she didn’t know what to make of it. Was she just hearing things when he had said it, was it a different time? Surely it wasn’t—she would have remembered, maybe the nineteenth? No, this was new… different. Why was this last time so different from the others? Maybe it was the final time… the real time? Surely not, she still got glimpses of the situation, but maybe they would stop soon. Oh, she would hope so; it was hard enough dealing with the real world, but these visions did nothing to help. 

“Are you okay?” 

Pulling Annalise from her thoughts she let out a tired “What?”

Elena looked concerned for her older sister, she had seen that Annalise was spacing out. Annalise knew the concern would only grow if she did not answer her little sister’s question, but she was not going to be honest about the situation— not about this . It was hers to deal with, no one needed to know; she could handle this herself.

So, Annalise put a smile on her face and she answered Elena, “I’m alright, ‘Lena.” She paused looking over to her sister in the driver’s seat “Just thinking.” 

“You can tell me anything.” Elena glanced over at her sister, her rock “We are in this together, Annie.” 

After that revelation Annalise dropped her smile, just a fraction, then she forced her smile wider for her lovely Elena “I know.” Annalise turned away to look through the window, reaching for the chain around her neck and rubbing the small pendant between her fingers. “Looks like we are here.” 

 The girls both got out of the vehicle and made their way toward the Salvatore house. Annalise had a feeling this was about the Originals. She couldn’t remember exactly what it was—visions tended to blur—but she did know one thing: Elijah was no Easter Bunny compared to Klaus. How Rose ever came to that conclusion, especially after Elijah had killed Trevor so casually, was beyond her. 

No. If there was one thing Annalise was certain of, it was this: the Originals were far more dangerous than anyone liked to admit. Klaus was a paranoid mutt, always trying to stay a step ahead—but in the end, all dogs just wanted to be loved. And Kol? Don’t even get her started. He was the most chaotic of the bunch. He did things because they were fun—until he wanted to get even. Either way, Kol Mikaelson was not someone you should underestimate. 

Annalise didn’t realize they’d made it all the way to the front door until Elena raised her hand to knock. She dropped her hand from the pendant around her neck and followed her sister inside. She wasn’t paying attention to the conversation—not really—until her favorite Salvatore entered the room.

“Hey” Stefan said, walking up to the girls.

Elena glanced around, curiosity flickering in her tired eyes before asking, “What is this about?”

Stefan turned around to reveal Rose—their kidnapper. Or... was it transporter? She had called herself a delivery service, hadn’t she? Whatever she was, it did not matter; she was the main reason that Klaus knew about her little sister. Annalise’s eyes narrowed at the sight of her. She knew her thinking wasn’t entirely rational towards the older vampire, but still—Elena didn’t deserve any of this. Hopefully, the witch’s spell would hold; only time could tell. So Annalise clenched her fists at her sides, jaw tight with restraint, while Elena stood frozen beside her, clearly stunned.

Elena let out a quiet, surprised “You”

Annalise’s nails dug into her palms, trying to calm herself from the wrath swirling in her mind. When she had finally come to her senses she walked into the living room with the others. Elena deserved the explanation, even if it wasn’t the most accurate. It would still help her little sister prepare herself for the inevitable.

Annalise decided that Elena would need all of her support during this conversation. So, she sat right beside her on the couch, taking her hand and rubbing her thumb back and forth. Elena smiled at her sister, grateful she didn’t have to face this alone.

Elena and Annalise turned to Rose, who was pacing, waiting for an explanation. Not breaking her stride, Rose started, “Okay, you have to understand I only know what I've picked up over the years and I don't know what's true and what's not true. It's the problem with all this vampire crap ” She paused, turning to look at the girls, her gaze serious “...but Klaus, I know he's real.”

Elena, her determination burning through her gaze, stared Rose down, refusing to let the woman avoid her question. “Who is he?” she asked, her voice firm and demanding.

Damon quickly chimed in, his tone nonchalant yet heavy with meaning. “He’s one of the Originals.” He raised his eyebrows, emphasizing his next words. “He’s a legend.”

Stefan stepped in, trying to clarify. “From the first generation of vampires.”

Annalise stopped rubbing her thumb back and forth on Elena’s hand, tightening her grip. She then leaned in, adding herself to the conversation. “Like Elijah, then?” She sat back, bracing for Rose's invalid response.

“No,” Rose exhaled deeply. “Elijah was the Easter bunny compared to Klaus. He’s just a foot soldier.” She emphasized her next words, looking directly at the girls. “Klaus is the real deal.”

Annalise held back a laugh at the absurdity of the claim. Elijah had killed Rose’s last loved one, and yet she called him a ‘foot soldier’? Annalise knew Rose was terrified of him—rightfully so—but that statement was still ridiculous.

Stefan steps in once more, to clarify what he knows about the Original; “Klaus is known to be the oldest.”

Elena looked around at the vampires in the room, searching their faces for clarity. “Okay, so…” she paused, pointing at Rose, “you're saying that the oldest vampire in the history of time is coming after me?”

Both Stefan and Rose spoke at once—

“Yes,” Rose said, almost relieved that Elena understood.

“No,” Stefan countered immediately, his expression tightening.

Damon stepped in, cutting through the tension. “What they’re saying is…” he stood and walked over to where Stefan and Rose stood, gesturing between them, “I mean if what she’s saying is true…” He paused, glancing at Rose, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.

Rose cut him off, her voice firm. “Which it is.”

Damon turned to her slowly, locking eyes, his voice dropping with quiet threat. “And you're not saying it so I don't kill you.”

Rose let out an exasperated breath, “Which I’m not.”

“Then we are looking at a solid..” Damon paused, eyes locking onto Elena “maybe.”

There was no maybe in this situation, Klaus was coming for Elena. There was no stopping it, they just had to prepare for the storm that was to come. Annalise could only do so much for her family, it’s hard to prepare for something when you don’t know it’s coming.

Stefan looked at the group, his expression tight with frustration. “Look, Elijah’s dead, right? So no one else even knows that you exist,” he said, moving to Elena’s other side and wrapping his arm around her, offering silent support as the conversation continued to spiral.

Oh, how wrong you are Mr. Salvatore. 

Rose’s eyes narrowed, her tone sharp. “Not that you know of,” she replied, adding a layer of uncertainty to the room. 

Annalise found herself nodding at Rose—she was correct in this instance. Things would surely go to Hell fast; they needed to prepare.

“That’s not helping,” Damon pointed out sharply.

Stefan, having had enough, stated firmly, “Look, I’ve never even met anyone who’s laid eyes on him. I mean, we’re talking centuries of truth mixed with fiction.” He turned his head to look directly at Elena, his voice softening as he tried to comfort her. “We don’t know if he’s real. For all we know, he could just be some stupid bedtime story.” 

Annalise appreciated Stefan trying to comfort her sister, but it wasn’t helping. She needed to prepare for the worst, because that was what Klaus was—a paranoid son of a bitch, and essentially a war general. He thought ahead, planned for the destruction of others, and most of the time, walked away scot-free.

Rose’s voice was sharp, biting with urgency. “He’s real, and he doesn’t give up. If he wants something, he gets it. If you’re not afraid of Klaus, then you’re an idiot.”

Damon leaned back, raising a hand in mock surrender. “Alright, we’re shaking. You made your point.”

Elena, clearly done with the conversation, reached for her sister’s hand and stood, ready to leave. Annalise could feel the tension in the air; these three weren’t giving Elena the answers she needed. She needed to go to someone who had run from the hybrid for centuries—someone who always looked out for her own survival. Elena was headed to the tomb, to ask questions, to find answers. And Annalise knew that her little sister would get what she needed from Katherine.

Annalise was okay with Elena doing this on her own. Katherine would be more willing to talk if it was just Elena there—her old self-interest always took precedence. Once they finally left, Annalise turned to her sister and pulled her into a tight hug. Elena returned the embrace, clearly needing it in that moment.

“You can do this next part on your own, ‘Lena.”

Elena pulled away from the hug, confusion clouding her face. “What?”

Annalise gave her a knowing look before responding, her voice soft but firm. “I know where you’re going to go.” She paused, making sure her sister understood. “You won’t get answers if I’m there.”

Elena nodded in understanding. “Okay, but let me drive you to school.”

Annalise shook her head and reached for her pendant. “I’m not going to school today.” She paused, not wanting to tell Elena everything, just enough to keep her from questioning. “I just need a break for today.”

Elena hesitated. “Are you sure you’re okay, Annie?”

Pressing the pendant in her hand, Annalise replied with a forced smile, “I’m alright.” She tried to reassure her little sister with a bright smile. “There’s no need to worry.”

Annalise paused, thinking through her lie. “I just need a break because of what happened yesterday.”

Elena nodded, her concern still there but softened by Annalise’s words. “I understand, Annie.” She smiled back at her favorite, and only, sister. “I’ll drive you home.”

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Whilst Annalise was left at home, something shifted in the air. The smell was one full of chemicals, the halls bright, the rooms daring. Where was she? Annalise could hear the beeping of machines. Am I in a hospital? Why am I here? Annalise started to walk around, she was already here might as well look into what was going on. 

Annalise then turned and saw her Aunt Jenna, in a hospital bed. Jenna’s face was pale, her body still trembling from the trauma she had just endured. This had happened weeks ago, why am I seeing this again? I do not need reminders of how I failed my family. In spite of her thoughts, Annalise walked towards her guardian. Sitting next to her and grabbing the frail woman’s hand, her mind going back to how this had happened this first time. Thankfully this was only the third time that she has been here, but her chest still felt the same. Her heart was racing, with an overwhelming feeling of guilt. She had almost lost her aunt—almost lost someone she loved more than she could even put into words.

So Annalise prepared herself to say the same words as she did that day. “Jenna,” Annalise’s voice cracked as she finally spoke, her words heavy with the weight of the moment. “I should have been there sooner.”

Jenna’s eyes flickered to her, still hazy from the shock. “Annalise, it’s not your fault. You didn’t—” Her voice trailed off as the memory hit her again. Her breath hitched.

Annalise could see the fear still lingering in her eyes. Fear of the unknown. Fear of what she couldn’t explain. Her throat tightened as she tried to hold it together, but the vulnerability she always tried to suppress crept up.

“I don’t know how much longer I can protect you all,” Annalise whispered, her voice barely above a breath. “I should have told you sooner. I should have told you everything.”

Jenna blinked, confusion washing over her. “Everything?”

The quiet urgency in Annalise’s voice was enough to catch her full attention. Annalise inhaled deeply, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, and in that moment, the weight of the world seemed to fall on her shoulders.

“Jenna, there’s something you need to know. Something no one else is going to tell you. About the supernatural. About the things you’ve seen. The things we’ve all been through... it’s not just crazy coincidences. It’s real.”

Jenna’s heart stuttered. She looked at Annalise, disbelief flickering across her face.

“Wait,” she said slowly. “You’re saying... all of it? Vampires? Werewolves? Magic?” Her voice cracked as she spoke those last words, as though she had never fully believed, despite everything that had been happening around them.

Annalise nodded, her voice raw, barely a whisper. “Yes. All of it. I know it’s a lot to process... but it’s the truth, Jenna. we’ve been keeping you in the dark to protect you... but after today... after almost losing you..." Her words faltered as a single tear slipped down her cheek. "I can’t keep this from you anymore. You need to know what’s out there. You need to be ready.”

Jenna swallowed hard, her mind struggling to catch up with the impossible truth being laid bare before her. It wasn’t just a bad dream, or a story. It was real.

“I... I don’t know if I can—” Jenna started, her voice shaking.

“You can,” Annalise interrupted, her grip tightening. “You don’t have to do this alone. But you need to understand what’s out there so you can protect yourself. This isn’t something we can ignore anymore. We’re in this together.”

Jenna blinked, her mind struggling to come to terms with it all. Vampires. Magic. Werewolves. It was real. And now Annalise was telling her she had to protect herself from it, to fight back when things tried to tear them apart.

“But... how? How do I protect myself?” Jenna’s voice was small, still so full of fear.

Annalise’s hand cupped Jenna’s cheek, her touch warm and comforting despite the storm of emotions in her heart. She looked at her aunt—this woman who had always been strong and protective of her, who had carried so much—and for the first time, Jenna saw the cracks. The rawness beneath the surface.

“Vervain,” Annalise said softly, her voice steadying as she spoke. “You’ll need vervain to protect yourself from vampires. It’s... it’s a plant that repels them. There are other things, other weapons, but vervain is the most important.” She paused, the tears still clinging to her eyes. “And... I need you to be careful, Jenna. You can’t trust everyone. Not everyone you meet is going to have your best interests at heart.”

Jenna looked at Annalise, her heart heavy with the truth she had just been given. “You’ve all been dealing with this... alone?”

Annalise’s lips trembled, but she nodded. “It’s not easy. But I’m telling you now because you don’t deserve to be kept in the dark anymore. I should have told you sooner, and I’m sorry I didn’t.”

Jenna stared at her for a long moment, absorbing the weight of the truth. And then, slowly, she nodded.

“I’ll learn,” she said, her voice shaky but determined. “I’ll do whatever I have to do. But you three are not alone anymore. We’ll fight this together.”

Annalise pulled her into a tight embrace, the tears flowing freely now. She was finally letting someone in. She had to. For Jenna. For her family. “Thank you,” she whispered against her aunt’s hair. “Thank you for being strong enough to hear me.”

And Jenna—despite the fear and the uncertainty—held her just as tightly. “We’re in this together, Annie. Always.”

-------------------------------------------------------

Annalise became aware of the room around her once again, tears silently tracing down her face. That day—that day—haunted her still. She could’ve prevented it, she told herself. If only she had told Jenna sooner, if only she’d been quicker to act. She wouldn’t make that same mistake again.

She wiped her tears, taking a deep breath before pushing herself to stand. She had to move. The walls of this room felt like they were closing in. She descended the stairs, the quiet weight of the house pressing down on her.

It wasn’t long before Elena came in, her sniffles too loud in the silence. Something was off, and though she wasn’t sure what, Annalise rose to meet her. Her instincts told her to comfort her sister, to do whatever she could. When she reached Elena, she pulled her into her arms—holding her close—but then Elena broke.

“Everyone that I love is in danger,” Elena gasped between shaky breaths. “It’s because of me. Everything’s because of me.”

Annalise’s hands tightened around her sister, fingers threading through Elena’s hair as she whispered, “Shh, it’s okay. We’ll be okay.” She paused, her voice catching for a moment before she continued, her gaze softening as she looked down at her baby sister. “You want to know why?”

Elena nodded, eyes searching Annalise’s face.

“Because we have each other,” Annalise said, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Elena’s expression shifted, a faint smile pulling at her lips as she leaned into the comfort of her sister’s embrace. Annalise held on a little tighter than necessary, her heart racing, but she couldn't bring herself to admit the truth—couldn't allow herself to face what they were all really up against. Instead, she told herself that everything would be fine as long as they stuck together.