The Third Salvatore (TVD Season 1)

Chapter 17

Flashback, Mystic Falls, 1864.

Annabelle hurried out of the Apothecary in search of her mother. She knew her mother would go to Katherine after what they discovered last day. She gulped and looked around nervously. Before she could move further away, someone pulled at her wrist dragging her in the dark alley by the Apothecary.

She acted on instinct and grabbed her assaulter by his neck and slammed him into the wall. The boy smirked looking down at her.

"I love it when you do this, belle."

Annabelle shaked her head and removed her hand from his neck. The boy switched positions and kissed her on her lips. She kissed him back scowling.

"Hardin, you scared me!"

Hardin laughed quitely. "I missed you."

"You're insatiable, Mr Salvatore." Annabelle smiles shyly.

"Can't blame me, Miss Zhu." Hardin whispered in her ear and kissed her jaw softly.

"Hardin!"

"Anna."

"Mother will be back anytime. She can't see us like this."

"I don't care." Hardin said darkly.

"I do." Annabelle said quitely. "And, Hardin, I wanted to talk to you about something."

"What is it?"

"Hardin...someone knows about us." She said and he frowned.

"About Vampires." She clarified and Hardin gripped her arms tightly.

"That's not possible. We didn't tell anyone. I swear..."

"I know, Hardin. I trust you. And your brothers too. But...we found..." She lowered her voice. "Vervain."

"What?"

"Vervain, Hardin. It's possibly our biggest known weakness. I don't know how but this town knows about it and its..." Annabelle frowned. "Mother says it's perilous to live here now..."

Hardin lifted her face to look into her eyes. "She wants to leave."

"And I'll go with her if she does. Everyone of us needs to move away, Hardin."

"No." Hardin snapped quickly. "No."

"Hardin..."

"No, Annabelle. I'll come with you. We'll be together. Forever." Hardin took her hand in his.

"And your father?"

"He doesn't care a dime. He loathes me, you know it. I was better off dead."

"Your brothers?"

Hardin opened his mouth then closed it looking away. Annabelle quickly wiped off her tears on the back of her gloved hands.

"Anna." Hardin held her waist. "We'll be together. I promise you." He grinned after a while. "And my brothers won't let your pretty Miss Pierce go."

Annabelle smiled slowly.

"Maybe they'll come with us too." He shrugged. Anna nodded slowly.

"So this vervain..."

"Oh yes. I have something for you." She interrupted and revealed a necklace from her small satin pouch.