Anomaly [ELIJAH MIKAELSON] [1] [COMPLETED]

XXV - THE TIES THAT BIND

   In the days that passed Caroline's birthday, Jeremy left to start his new life in Denver, and Audrey was upset she never got to say goodbye in person. But after Stefan almost drove her off Wickery Bridge, Klaus had gotten more firm on not letting the Gilbert girl out of his sight. She arrived back at the mansion that night silent, her eyes red and puffy from crying, and spent the night following hardly sleeping due to dreams. Nightmares, more accurately, of the night she lost her parents. With help from Caroline, Audrey was slowly getting past it, thanks to a lot of late night phone calls and last minute sleepovers. Jeremy being gone didn't stop Audrey from talking to him, and the pair had talked on the phone for a few hours once he arrived, and he made sure to assure her it was okay she didn't see him. 

   She was grateful he was okay with it, but she still felt guilty nonetheless. 

   She hadn't heard from Elena since that night either. After Stefan abandoned the pair on the bridge, Elena didn't leave her side until Damon came to pick them up. But, no matter how much comfort they offered each other after the incident, it didn't change how far they'd drifted apart recently. Audrey knew Elena was never going to fully understand her bond to Elijah, or why she trusted Klaus and Rebekah like she did, but she hoped she'd gotten her point across to her. It was about more than if she hated Klaus or not, Audrey's life was on the line. Which deep down, she hoped meant more to Elena than trying to kill Klaus.

   The house was empty when Audrey got out of bed, it going on early afternoon when she found the motivation to get up. Having woke up early to a nosebleed that morning, she didn't see the harm in trying to sleep a while longer after she'd cleaned herself up. She sat the kitchen, pushing the cereal she'd poured herself around the bowl, nowhere near as hungry as she thought she was. Her brow furrowed as the milk began to change colour, red droplets falling into the white liquid, and it wasn't long till it clicked what was happening. With a sigh, Audrey pushed the bowl away and pinched the bridge of her nose, quickly wiping the blood with a paper towel.

   "Again?" Her eyes snapped toward the doorway, where Klaus now stood, watching her in concern. "It's only been a few hours since your last one."

   "I'm fine." Audrey mumbled as she looked down.

   "No, you're not." He shook his head. Walking closer, he took the paper towel from her hands despite her protest, carefully wiping the dots of blood she'd miss. "It's getting worse." He sighed, and pressed his hand to her forehead, his frown deepening instantly. "You're hotter than normal. It explains why you're so pale."

   Audrey felt a lump form in the back of her throat. "I'm running out of time, aren't I?"

   "Don't say that." He shook his head. "You're going to be fine. I'm not going to let you die." He rolled his eyes slightly. "I'm not dealing with what Elijah would do to me if I did."

   A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips, pushing his shoulder lightly. "You could just say you care about me, you know."

   A smile of his own formed, as Klaus walked her from the kitchen and into the living room, sitting her down on the couch. "Now, why would I do that, when you seem to know it already?" He quirked a brow. "Stay here and rest, okay? I'll be back shortly. I have a plan." Audrey gave him a look, and he simply smirked in response. "Don't worry, love. No one, including you, is dying today. I'll see you later."