Anna was aware of the fact that she was bordering on old habits when she found herself at the library for the fourth day in a row. She'd always loved to read and her mom had encouraged her love of the written word by giving her books for gifts every chance she got. When Pearl had been trapped in that tomb in Mystic Falls, Anna had spent a lot more time than usual reading. First it was a way to escape from the reality of the situation she found herself facing: being completely and utterly alone for the first time ever. Even though she'd been an almost four hundred year old vampire at the time, she still felt like the fifteen year old girl that most people believed she was.
And then she'd gotten tougher.
She'd turned her love of reading into a focused ever to find a way to free her mother. She'd read every single book about magic and witches that she'd been able to get her hands on. She spent years watching the people of Mystic Falls, waiting for the right person in the Bennett line to be powerful enough to cast the spell that would set her mom free. She hadn't anticipated on the Salvatores returning to town, but they had been a minor annoyance. Barely a blip on the radar.
Jeremy Gilbert, on the other hand, had been a much more unexpected development. She'd set her sights on him because he was a Gilbert, because it all seemed to come full circle. Gilberts were the reason her mom was trapped and Anna had been alone for nearly 150 years. And a Gilbert would be the one to pay the price.
She hadn't anticipated actually liking him. Hadn't anticipated falling for him, being so utterly blind-sighted by her feelings for him that she'd put her own life on the line when she'd learned he was in danger. It had been the reason for her demise. But Anna didn't regret it. She'd do things the same way she had even though she knew how it would end -- as long as Jeremy stayed safe and alive.
Except he hadn't. Katherine had wound up killing him. It was what Elena had told her when she'd first shown up there in Madison Valley. Elena Gilbert, the sister of the one guy Anna had actually loved, had become her friend. And considering how precious few of those she'd had over the years, Anna was protective of her. They hadn't been friends at home. Not even close. But this place had brought them together. She and Elena and Caroline and Jeremy and somewhat reluctantly, Damon Salvatore. Even more reluctantly, Klaus. Even though she hadn't seen or heard much from Klaus lately, some part of her was relieved he was there. If nothing else, she had a feeling he'd protect Caroline if it came down to it. It wasn't like anything could actually hurt the Original vampire.
The other part of her was still vary wary and very on guard because she knew the things he'd done. Knew what he was capable of. But as long as he was their ally and not their enemy...well, Anna was going to stay wary but not as wary as she was about the council. And about some of the other refugees.
She was so lost in thought that she was actually startled when the woman spoke. She blinked a couple of times, shaking her head. "It's fine. Take your time. I'm just browsing."