Beautifully Broken

Wanted

AN: So, here comes the next chapter. It will be a day or so after she arrived in New Orleans and Annika is doing a bit better. Elijah seems to want to stay close to her, which makes her feel a little calmer about her new situation. He also helps her with figuring out how to hunt and feed.

Annika slept for almost a whole day. Elijah wasn't shocked by it judging by how sick she was the night before. He had Marcel get a monitor for him so he could keep an eye on her vitals, just wanting to make sure she was stable. The girl kept his attention, wanting to get to know her. He felt the need to protect her.

"How is she?" Hayley asked, slipping in. "Resting...it seems her fever has come down from yesterday." Elijah told her. "That's good...right?" She asked as he unwound the bandages. "Very...can you get me that bowl with the cloth?" He asked, pointing to the vanity. "Sure...I told Jack about her...he said he hasn't seen any guardians out that way yet...but he said they will be coming for her as soon as they figure out she's here." Hayley told him. "He's correct about that...her mother is best friends with a member of the most powerful families...its only a matter of time." He replied.

Annika stirred, feeling him clean the wound as her eyes fluttered for a moment. He hushed her, making her settle back into sleep. Hayley saw his face and smiled.

"Give her time to adjust...you're going to be the one she's closest to." She told him, making him look at her. "What do you mean?" Elijah asked. "You have this look in your eyes...we all can see it...she seems to trust you." Hayley smiled. "...I just see a young woman is needs someone stronger than her...to cherish her...she's been through a lot in the last few weeks." Elijah said, making her nod. "You took a peak, didn't you?" She asked. "She was having a nightmare last night." Elijah replied, making her nod. "Give her time." She smiled, rising when she heard Jackson.

The other wolf appeared in the doorway and saw the young woman. His eyes softened as he hugged Hayley and looked at her. She was much younger then he expected.

"How old is she?" He frowned. "Niklaus said 17, going on 18." Elijah replied, making him frown more. "A baby still...how could anyone let someone do that to their kid?" Jackson frowned. "The Moroi are a spoiled and self-serving group. They never had a strigoi restored to their original form before or someone born to be half strigoi and half dhampir...Annika was one of a kind and she would have likely been killed." Elijah told him. "And her parents?" He said. "They would have had no say...not that they were there to." He sighed. "What do you mean?" He frowned.

"They went to Russia to see her paternal grandmother and his family." Hayley told him, making him frown. "That's just wrong...if she was my kid, she would have never left my sight, no matter what." Jackson said, making Elijah nod. "Agreed." He replied. "We're heading out for the full moon but please call or come get us if you need help with her." Jackson said, making Elijah smile. "I will...next time you come, hopefully she'll be awake." He said. "Yeah...she's a fighter...anyone can see it." Jackson told him.

Early the next morning, Annika awoke to see Elijah sleeping by the bed. She looked at him, seeing how handsome he was now that she wasn't dying. There was something about him that made her feel safe around him. However, she wanted to get cleaned up and use the bathroom.

As she moved, Elijah snapped his eyes open. She looked up as he frowned, seeing her moving. Annika smiled at him softly as he rose.

"You're up early." He frowned. "Have to use the bathroom...sleeping all day with an IV means full bladder." She replied, making him smile softly. "I suppose you're right...how are you feeling?" He asked. "A lot better...hungry, in both ways." She told him. "Good." Elijah said, "Get cleaned up and I'll change those...the water will soften all the dead skin." He told her, undoing the IV and bandage. "Okay..." She said, looking for her bag. "Your things were put away...they're over there." Elijah told her, making her nod. "Thanks...whoa." She said, suddenly feeling a wave of hunger hit her. "That is perfectly normal...it seems my brother brough breakfast home." Elijah sighed, seeing the look in her eyes, "Have you ever taken from the vein?"