death keeps knocking on my door

"It's official, I have the worst love life ever." I announce to Hope as she and I sit in the library.

"You could ya know, ask Josie why she was making out with Penelope." Hope says.

I roll my eyes. "It's simple. She still loves her. I was just some...rebound. I guess." I sink back in my seat, a loud sigh escaping my lips. "Are you writing to anyone for remembrance day?"

Hope shakes her head. "There's no point."

"I guess." I purse my lips, looking down at my shoes. "I'm going to bed." I huff.

♚

I open my eyes, back in my bedroom in New Orleans. This time, I hear laughter downstairs. Three, instead of two.

"Daddy?" I call out. I rush out of my room, over looking the house when I see Hayley Marshall. Hopes mom. "Hayley!?"

"Annie? What are you doing here?"

I run down the steps, practically leaping into the woman's arms. "I don't know, but I'm so happy I am."

"I see we've found the little runt." My dad chuckles as he and Elijah appear. I smile, running up to him as well as he hugs me tightly.

"Why are any of us here?" Hayley asks. "We're dead, right?"

Elijah nods, "Indeed, but something or someone wants us here." He sits us all down on the couches, frowning.

I shrug, "I mean I do but I don't think I have the power to bring you guys to a dream, I mean, seriously." I giggle.

Dad sits next to be, his hand running through my hair. "How are you, my sweet little one?"

I sigh, leaning back on the couch. "Well, considering I totally was with this amazing girl who ended up making out with her ex, my sister is probably going crazy because she sent off the one guy she's ever liked, and there's a man screaming he's a necromancer in the basement, I'm doing quite well." Sarcasm drips off my tongue as I sigh. "Have I ever mentioned, I'm going to die alone?"

Hayley laughs. "You sound like me when I was 15." She rests her elbow on the back of the chair, looking down at me. "So, tell me about this girl."

I sigh, looking between the three adults. "She's amazing. She's smart, kind, pretty, so...pure. Unlike-"

"You?" Dads voice is so soft as he says this. I look back up at me. "I said the same thing when I met your mother." He explains. "She wasn't in love with me, of course. She loved your Uncle Kol." He chuckles, remembering that time of his life. "Your mother was a beautiful, young lady, who knew what she wanted and how to get it. She was clever, smart, and everyone loved her."

Elijah sighs. "Ah, yes, the many men who wanted to marry her." He hums. "But Niklaus was the lucky man."

"Even though we despised one another." Dad chuckles. "We found something in eachother we never found in anyone else."

I raise a brow. "What's that?"

"Happiness." He whispers. "A happiness only a epic love could give you." His eyes twinkled at the thought of my mom all those years ago. I wonder about what they were like together. What they would've been like if Dad hadn't died for Hope. "I had only found that a few other times after your mother, two lovely young ladies."

"Caroline?" I ask. "I heard the stories."

Daddy chuckles. "Yes, Caroline, her and Stefan were a true epic love." He grins. "And Camille, in New Orleans."

"She died, didn't she?"

"She did." Dad says slowly. "What I'm trying to say is, if the girl is someone who must be an epic love, don't hold back."

I cross my arms over my chest. "Even when she was making out with her ex in the hallway?"

Dad leans in. "Then you rip her heart out." He chitters.

Hayley rolls her eyes, hitting Dad. "Don't listen to him." She huffs. "One thing about exs, they like to make the newbies think there's something there when there's not. Like in all those movies." She explains.

"You're telling me I'm in a bad rom com?"

"Precisely." Elijah hums.

I groan. "Why is life so difficult?" I grip a pillow, shoving it over my face. "The Necromancer is messing with Hopes head, I'm pretty sure my last two brain cells are being suffocated, and my only friend is missing."

Dad frowns. "Necromancer?" He hums. "I think I know why we're able to speak."

Sitting up, I look at him. "What do you mean?" I ask. Hayley sighs, rubbing my back soothingly as Elijah soaks in the information.

"Sweetie, the Necromancer is letting you speak to us, to get in your head." Hayley coos.

"So, I'm not just magically summoning you guys?"

"Afraid not." Elijah says. "I'm sorry to say, but I'm afraid the time with us is limited."

I shake my head. "No, it can't be. I can't do this alone. I-I can't. I need to be able to speak to you guys. You guys are all I have, my only sanity-"

I'm cut off by my dad hugging my tightly. "I promise, we are here always. We will always love you, my little wolf." He looks down at me, "You are a Mikaelson."

I nod, a tear running down my cheek. "Will I see you guys one last time?"

Hayley kisses my forehead. "We hope so." She coos. "Goodbye, Annie."

♚

I shoot out of my bed, breathing heavily as tears run down my cheeks. I look around my room, hoping I'll see one of them here. I look down at my chest, realizing I had yet to received my necklace back.

I toss myself out of bed, my mind ringing as I walk towards Mr. Saltzmans office. My dad. Elijah. Hayley. This stupid Necromancer.

Josie.

I see Alaric, who's more than alarmed at this moment. "Ric?" I call out. He turns back at me, and I get dejavú of the time we first met. The day I had stood in his office, covered in dirt and blood from myself. His face softens as he comes closer.

"What is it, Annie?" He asks. He looks for any injuries or signs of transitioning.

"I uh," I look down at my feet. "I don't have my necklace."

He sighs, "I completely forgot." He waves me over. "Come on."

I follow him into his office, watching him shuffle through his drawers. "I want to talk to the guy downstairs." I say. He looks up at me. "I want to talk to the Necromancer."

Alaric sighs. "That's not a good idea, Annie."

"He's doing something, Dr. Saltzman." I stammer. "Something to my head, and, and it hurts." My face contorts as I think about the dreams I've been having. "I've been talking to my dad. I've been talking to a Elijah, hell I talked to Hayley and he keeps bringing them back and taking them away and-"

Ric shushes me as he wraps an arm around me, the other hand holding the necklace. "It's okay, Annie, it's okay." He leans back, sliding the metal chain on my neck. "But for that exact reason, I can't let you talk to him."

I frown, nodding. "I understand." I say, my voice weak. "Thank you." I walk out of the room, wiping a stray tear. I look back into the office before walking off. "Necromancer, here I come." I mumble under my breath. I stomp down into the basement. Hearing a sound in the dungeon. "Hello?" I call out.

"Uh, nothing to see here!" MG's voice calls out. I walk into the area to see MG holding hands with the Necromancer, and Hopes hands on the monsters shoulders. "Oh, hey Annie."

"What are you doing?" I snap, swinging open the cage with a fling of my hand.

"Long story."

I scoff. "Is Hope in his head?" I ask, raising a brow. "Can I go in?"

MG rapidly shakes his head. "I can't keep two of you in there, I'm not that strong." He stammers.

"Luckily, I don't need you." I wink, veins growing under my eyes as I place one of my hands over Hopes.

♚

"Yeah! How I love the macabre!"

I'm surrounded by dancing figures and music in the middle of New Orleans. I breathe heavily as I look for Hope or the Necromancer.

"Oh, oh, the dance of death." I push myself in front of the crowd, locking eyes with the man. "How'd you get in here?" He snaps. "I didn't let you in."

"I didn't need permission." I reply. "Why are we in New Orleans?" I ask.

The man chuckles. "Why does it matter? This is where you've been in your dreams, is it not?"

Hope who's behind him looks at me. "What are you doing here? What is he talking about?"

The Necromancer gasps, grinning at me. "You didn't tell her?" He clicks his tongue, walking close to me. "I thought family didn't keep secrets."

"Tell me what?"

"Nothing, Hope!" I snap back, looking over at the embodiment of death. "Don't bring her into this."

He gasps, realizing why I'm here. "You want answers! Answers to why you're the only one who can see your family." He hums.

Hope grabs my shoulder, turning me towards her. "What?" Her voice is laced with concern, maybe even anger.

I'm at a loss for words, unsure if I want to tell Hope what I saw. "I've seen him." I whisper. "Dad. Elijah. Hayley." Hope is taken aback by my words. "Every time I sleep I wake up in New Orleans and they do too. And it's been so amazing I didn't want it to go away." I turn back to the Necromancer, who picks at his nails. "But it was him, messing with my head. He brought them to me and-"

"We get it, I'm the bad guy." He snaps. "I'm the one who ruined your life." He turns, sighing at a sight. "Well, look at that, I wonder who's the guest of honor." He moves so we see a large casket. "Perhaps, Klaus Mikaelson?"

"No!"

He swings it open, laughing as Hope and I peer in it. It's a large pit of darkness, "Theres nothing there." Hope says.

"You're not letting yourself see the truth!"

"No, there's literally nothing there." I reply.

He makes a small noise as he turns towards the casket, seeing the large hole. "Very good, Anastasia." He gestures to the pit. "May I present the door to my subconscious? Well done, you."

I realize what he's about to do. "No!" I yelp, grabbing onto him as he jumps into his subconscious, the casket closing behind us as we fall.

"Annie!" I hear Hope shout.

I fall into a bed, yelling in shock as I look around me. "We're back at home." I say. I look around me, realizing the lack of the Necromancer himself. "Hello?" I call out. Leaping out of bed, I make my way down the stairs, seeing Hayley, Dad, and Elijah all at the dining table.

Elijah looks up, "Anastasia, come sit." He hums. I raise a brow as I make my way to my old spot.

"Why are we here again?" I ask, looking between each of them.

"I'm not sure, but I have a feeling it will be our last time to speak for a long while."

My eyes widen at my fathers statement. "What do you mean?"

"This thing connecting us won't be here much longer." Klaus explains. "I'm afraid," He sighs, cupping my hand. "We won't be seeing one another again for a very long time."

Tears begin to form as I look back at Hayley and Elijah. The two, who also seem to look saddened by this, nod silently as I look back at my father. "When I see you again, will you still love me?"

Dad chuckles, wiping a tear from my face. "My little runt, I will always love you."

"Always and forever, or whatever." Hayley hums, a smile on her face. I smile, turning around and hugging her tightly. She hugs me back, kissing my hair. "Tell Hope I love her, so much."

"I will, Hayley." I say back. I pull away, turning to Elijah. "You raised me on your own for a year. Before you even knew I existed." I remember when Elijah had his memories erased and I had been living with a wolfpack, stuck as a wolf. Of course, running off wasnt my smartest decision, but it lead me to Elijah, who was the only vampire who could come near me without being attacked.

Elijah hums. "You were special." He pats my shoulder, nodding at me. "Take care, Anastasia."

He moves to stand next to Hayley as I turn back to my father. "We didn't get to know each other very long when you were alive." I say softly.

"Neither did your sister." He says sadly. He walks towards me, "I never thought I could love someone as much as I love you and Hope." His hand caresses my cheek, a smile on his face. "Promise you'll be safe out there, for me."

I nod, tears running down my cheeks. "I will, Daddy. I promise." He clicks his tongue, kissing my forehead like many times before.

"Tell Hope I love her, and I'm watching over you both. Every day." He says. "I love you, always and forever."

"Always and forever." I say back, looking at the the three of them. They smile at me as I smile back, tears running down my cheeks when there's a sudden bright light, the three of them disappearing before I'm overwhelmed with darkness.

I open my eyes once again, but now I'm in a hole of darkness. "Hello?" I call out, but am only welcomed with my own voice again.

I walk through the darkness, hoping to find someone, something else.

"Why are you doing this to me?" I hear Hopes voice cry.

I look around for any sign of her. "Hope? Where are you?"

Her sobs continue. "Okay, fine. Yes. I want to know about my dad." I stop in my tracks. "My family said that he must have died with love in his heart and that he should've found peace. But how am I supposed to know if that's true?" She says. "I need to know that he's not alone. Because I can't live with myself if he is alone. No one should ever have to be alone like this. Please."

I take a few steps forward, nearly tumbling over my own feet when I see Hope. "Hope?"

"Annie," She breathes, hugging me tightly.

The sound of footsteps causes us to look up. "Oh, hey." The Necromancer says, smirking.

"Don't "hey" me." Hope snaps. "Get me out of here."

"With pleasure."

♚

I open my eyes to see someone I didn't really want to see.

Alaric.

Necromancer gasps, "Daddy's home." He grins, chuckling lowly.

Hope and I step out of the room. "Annie," He begins to scold.

"I'm sorry." I say quickly. "I know it wasn't right-"

"To your room. Now." He demands. I shrink back slightly, turning on my heel and hurrying off.

♚

I sit in my room, twirling a ribbon through the air in pretty patterns. My mind can only think about my last goodbyes with my family.

Alaric opens my door, looking down at me. "Your sister locked me in my office, and I can't go near the stairs to the cellar." He grumbles as he sits on my bed. "Annie,"

"Why did you keep me?" I ask. He looks at me, confused. "When I broke into Elena's home, you were there. Hell, Elena was more than confused to see a small girl in her living room." I look up at him. "Why didn't you just kill me that night?"

Ric Saltzman stares at me for a long moment, remembering when the small wolf-girl broke in to the Gilbert home. When he heard Elena Gilbert screaming, Jeremy and Damon both ready to kill the innocent wolf.

"Because, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me since my daughters. You're like a third daughter, even if you hate me."

I shake my head. "I could never hate you." I whisper. "You're the some of only family i have left." My breathing is ragged, but he only smiles at me, hugging me oh so tightly.

♚

Knock knock.

"Come in,"

I poke my head into the door, Hope sitting on her bed. Her eyes are puffy from the days events, but she continues to send me a smile. "Hey, Annie."

"Hey," I step inside, my back against the door. She stares up at the ceiling, and I can tell her mind is racing. "I want you to know, that they love you." All movement of hers stops. "Hayley, she told me, so did Elijah and Dad. They, uh, they wanted to say goodbye, one last time before I lost connections with them." Tears run down my cheeks, "They miss you, Hope. They want you to be safe, and they love you, so much."

Hopes eyes water as she stares back at me. "I know," She laughs through her tears. "I love them too." She shakes her head. "And I love you, Annie."

"I love you too, Hope."

♚

Dear Dad,

I know now, that wishing that someone will come back to life is pathetic. Even if it's happened before. And I know now, that you're happy where you are. You're not alone.

I think it helps, it helps Hope. She blames herself for what happened. You and Elijah did what you had to to save her. She needed to know that you're with Elijah and Hayley.

Sometimes, it's hard. I never got to really know you. I didn't get to know any of you. Only Elijah, and it was this fake Elijah, not the one everyone else knew and loved. And I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not being there sooner. And I'm so sorry for all the troubles I brought you all. But thank you.

Thank you for loving me endlessly. I couldn't have asked for a better screwed up family.

Love always,

Anastasia