(3.16)

   ANUBIS HAS BEEN AWAKE FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE DAYS. He had been researching the Mikaelson family in order to find a way to kill them. He had also looked up the history of Mystic Falls-the town in which they were born in. From what Anubis read, the town had been plagued by vampires ever since. 

   The creatures have been hiding amongst the people. The vampires came out at night because the sun would burn their skin, but they found a way around it-witches. The witches would make them daylight rings so they could walk in the sunlight without burning. Another one of their weaknesses was a herb named vervain. It was a purple plant and if a vampire received more than enough of it, it would kill them. 

   One of the most infamous ways is a wooden stake to the heart. Vampires couldn't find a way out if the stake had punctured their heart. The thing was, the Originals were far much stronger. A wooden stake would only make them knock out before they were able to pull it out. Anubis remembered Esther telling him that the only way to kill an Original is with a white oak stake. 

   The problem was, there was no more in existence. There was a white oak tree when the Originals were turned but it was burned down to the ground. Anubis reached for the cup of coffee that was near him. He put the cup to his lips and took a drink of the hot beverage, coffee was the only thing keeping him awake. He had no clue where Esther had went-leaving him to do the task with the Bennett witch. 

   Anubis had been worried about working with the witch. He was afraid she wasn't powerful enough and that some spells were too much for her. The witch had been practicing magic but some spells had caused her nose to bleed-making Anubis worried. 

   Bonnie was also trying to help her mom-who was transitioning into a vampire. Her mom had decided to live and was taking some lessons from a vampire named Caroline-which Anubis has yet to meet. Anubis set the cup back on the table where a small ring of the coffee had stained it, he flipped through the books for what seemed like the thousandth time. 

   "You've been up all night," he heard a voice from behind it-it belonged to the witch, "You should get some rest." 

   "I rested for more than a thousand years," he replied. 

   Bonnie scoffed as she made her way into the room, the room was filled with books from all different centuries. Some were modern while some were ancient, there were candles on every table and a sofa was placed towards the wall. 

   "Look, if we're going to take down Klaus, I can't have you staying up all night," she argued, "Klaus and the rest of his siblings are powerful." 

   A smirk grew on Anubis' face, she was right, the Mikaelson family was powerful but so was he. Anubis spun around in his chair to face the witch, she had her arms folded across her chest and her lips were pressed to a line. "You're right, they are powerful but so am I."

  "They are going to find some way to take you down." 

   "By the tone of your voice, it seems like you're worried about me." Anubis smiled at the young witch. 

   Bonnie scoffed, "The only reason I'm helping you is that the Mikaelsons have shed innocent blood. After Klaus is killed, you can live your life and do whatever and I can stay in Mystic Falls." 

   "I think I might stay in Mystic Falls, after all," he teased, the witch didn't look impressed, "Something reminds me of home." 

   "Really? Because I don't see giant pyramids around." 

   "Oh, little witch." 

   "Stop calling me, little witch, my name is Bonnie," she argued, the two heard the sound of the door open and their attention snapped to it. They got up and Bonnie's mom, Abby, walked across the hall in a furious way. She faced the door to the house and she threw a brown leather bag on the floor. 

   "I can't do this, Caroline." Bonnie walked over to her mom with a puzzled look on her face. 

   "Mom, what's wrong?" she asked unsure of what was going on, another figure stood in front of Abby. She had golden blonde curls and azure eyes, her lips were pouted and her arms were folded across her chest. 

  "Abby, I am trying to help you." the blonde's voice was high-pitched and there was a hint of worry in her tone. 

   "Caroline, what happened?" Bonnie asked as she looked back and forth to her mother. 

   "Forget it, I'm going to take a nap." Abby turned her back on the two and disappeared into the hallway. 

   "It's really hard for her to adjust to this whole...situation." the blonde looked at the space where Abby stood and then focused her eyes on Bonnie, she placed a tender hand on her, "I'm sorry, Bon." 

   "It's fine, what is everyone up to?" Bonnie asked-shaking off the fact about her mother. 

   "Well, Damon and Stefan are in New Orleans doing whatever it is. Alaric, Meredith, and Elena are trying to figure out the murders that are happening." Anubis' head perked up at the word, he stood up from his chair and walked over towards the two. 

   Ever since Esther woke him up, he had to bring a few people to the underworld, he was unsure how they died but he knew it wasn't a vampire that killed him. "Did you say murder?" Anubis asked. The blond furrowed her brows and looked at Anubis with a puzzled look on her face. 

   "Who the hell are you?" she asked scrunching up her nose. 

   "This is Anubis," Bonnie introduced in a monotonous voice, "Esther woke him up to help take down Klaus." 

   "Esther  woke him up?" The blonde's eyes widened with shock, "Who the..." 

   "He's the god of death," Bonnie explained nonchalantly, "After Klaus is taken down, he'll leave." Bonnie gave Anubis a look which caused him to furrow his brows. He still didn't know what to do after the Mikaelsons' fall. He either wanted to return to Egypt or stay. 

   The blonde took a big step back, "Death!" 

   "Look, it's fine. He hasn't done anything, yet." 

   "Hello, I am still here," Anubis reminded them. 

   "Anubis, that's Caroline. She's one of my best friends." Bonnie introduced the two to each other. 

   "Have you told Elena or anyone else that he's here?" Caroline asked-looking back and forth at the two. 

   "Not yet, they can't know he's here or else Klaus will find some way to do something." 

   Caroline still remained shocked at the news. The thought of Anubis in Mystic Falls scared her, she knew she wouldn't be able to keep the secret. But she had too. Klaus had killed too many, he was a monster. Although Anubis didn't sound intimidating, he looked like it. His eyes spoke of story no one knew, they stood out. It was the only sign of color in his life. 

***

   Anubis sat across from Caroline on opposite couches. Anubis was reading a Grimoire while Caroline studied him. Her lips were pursed and she squinted at Anubis'-trying to find out what he was like. Anubis noticed her staring and put the down the book. 

   "Is there something you want to ask me?" Anubis asked in an annoyed tone. 

    "Why were you put to sleep?" the blonde asked tilting her head to the side. 

   "Ask the witches who did it." Anubis opened up the book to continue reading. 

   Caroline scoffed at the answer, "Ha. Ha. Very funny," she said, "Why do you keep it a secret?" 

  "Because it happened more than a thousand years ago." 

   "Mhm." The blonde hummed, "So, like. How old are you? I mean I know you're more than a thousand years old but like how old were you when you were put to sleep?" 

   "Eighteen, blondie. Eighteen." 

   "You don't look eighteen. You look more like you're twenty-something." 

   "Remember, I grew up in ancient Egypt. Things were very different back then." 

   "Did you know King Tut?" Caroline sat up straight, "Cleopatra?"

    Anubis rolled his eyes and set the book down, again, "I was asleep for most of it." he started, "And don't even ask how it was while I was sleeping." Caroline rolled her eyes as she sunk back against the sofa. 

   "Okay, fine. Geez." 

   Anubis opened up the grimoire and started reading again, he looked over the complicated spell wondering if Bonnie would be able to perform them. He remembered the spells that were written in the books. He even knew the witches who performed them. 

   The witches used Anubis for the spells and when they had what he wanted, they turned on him. They put him in a deep sleep and that he could only awaken once. If he was put back to sleep, he would never awaken again. Which is what feared him. 

   All he knew is that he wouldn't be put back in that damned box.