a/n: I apologize in advance for the shortness of this chapter. I seem to have a writing block today. This chapter will basically set up everything you need to know about the first doppleganger, Charlotte Petrova. The second half, after the break, is told from the pov of Charlotte and will be told from her pov for the remainder of the story. I do not claim ownership of any of these characters. I'll hopefully be able to write more for the rest of the chapters! Anyways, I hope you enjoy!


Rubbing his chest, Klaus tried to sooth the dulling pain where Elijah had reached in and took hold of his heart in the very literal sense. Luckily for him, he had managed to talk his way out of being killed. Elijah, despite centuries of knowledge and wisdom, was just as gullible as he was in his childhood. After finishing the sacrifice, and their trek through the woods, Klaus could feel the power course through his veins. He could feel his bones beginning to shift within his body and it gave him the thrill of accomplishment that took centuries to finally achieve.

Their walk through the thick forest was silent. Elijah was never much of a talker but when he broke the silence with a question, Klaus stopped immediately. The only sound were the crunch of the fallen leaves beneath his feet as he shifted his weight.

"Do you still think about her, Klaus? "

He didn't even need Elijah to clarify who he was talking about. If his heart would beat, it would have quickened at the question. The memories flooded making his feeling of victory over breaking the curse wane away and were replaced with guilt, almost heavy as boulders. Klaus, keeping his appearance of nonchalance, fixed the cuff of his jacket, noticing a loose thread.

"That was centuries ago, brother. I keep my eyes on the future," Klaus lied easily. Looking up again, he imagined her hair whipping in the wind as she ran, weaving between the trees. Her wispy figure looked back at him with a brilliant smile, sparking the joy in her rich brown eyes. Her lips moved but not a sound came out but he knew what she was saying. It was what she always said when they were reunited in his dreams.

Catch me, Niklaus.

Charlotte's POV

The morning sun was blocked by the thick clouds blanketing the sky. Small white flakes of ice covered the large acre of land, a winter fairytale. On lazier days, the sight would have been breathtaking and relaxing. Today, however, the struggle to cross the field and to the castle, knee deep in snow was irritating.

"Charlotte, hurry! Lady Christova will be awake soon and it is rude to keep her waiting," my mama scolded. Her typically frizzy salt and pepper hair was tied into a bun and tucked neatly under a head scarf she knitted and used during the winter days. My mama was beautiful despite her work. Fair skin, warm brown eyes, a slender figure. Strangers would assume she was a lady herself if she wore clothes of richer fabric, and her hands were less calloused from scrubbing. It was a laboring life we lived, me, mama, papa and my older brother Alec but we were more privileged than most thanks to papa's talent as a warlock. People would praise that he was blessed by the gods, touched by magic. Alec too received a similar gift, but not I. But why would the gods bless me? I am but a girl.

Picking up my dress, I tried to keep up, balancing the basin of water Lady Christova used to wash her face with and trying not to fall. The Christovas were a feared and wealthy family that reigned the lands. They killed our king without an army, without weapons, without poison daggers and spies. No, these people, despite their physical appearance were something different. They were far from human from their speed and strength to their black eyes that appeared whenever they drank the blood of men. Many have whispered that they were divine creatures, brought down by the gods to punish us for our crimes. Papa would tell Alec and I the truth, that these Christovas were not divinity but monsters forged from the blood of something darker than night. Never in my 17 years of serving for the Christovas have I seen their true nature, but I have heard screams in the dead of night and I have seen mysterious corpses being found around the castle. Nothing could convince me more.

Catching my breath, I finally managed to match strides with mama who carried lots more than I. She was always stronger than she looked, I suppose that was what ran through the blood of the Petrovas. We were always much stronger than appearance.

Opening the large wooden door to the side entrance of the castle, the warmth brushed my skin. It invited me inside, beckoned me to escape the cold and did so joyfully. My boots clacked against the stone floors and water sploshed."Careful, if you keep moving so quickly there won't be a drop of water for the lady to wash her face in," mama chided harshly. She grabbed a clean cloth from the laundry basket she held and draped it on my arm. Her eyes flickered up the stairs and back to me, signaling me to hurry up the steps and into Lady Christova's room before she awakened.

Sighing, I nodded once before I quickly but carefully ran up the steps. The only sound in the castle seemed to be my steps, is everyone still asleep? Are they all hibernating like bears and gophers? Reaching the top of the stairs, my walk was slow now. There actually was no need to rush. Lady Christova enjoyed some silence in the early morning anyways. There were many times when I walked in and she was still in bed, staring at the wooden ceiling. I'm thinking about life. She would answer, a smile stretching across her beautiful lips, brightening her features from her vibrant blue eyes to her rosy cheeks. Perfection, they all were. Each member from the men to the women in the Christova family were absolute perfection in physical beauty.

Finally reaching her door, I rapped twice before I stepped in. "My lady, I come bearing water!" My voice trilled with quiet laughter and I heard her laugh as well. She sat up, smoothing out her long brown hair, not a strand out of place and she just woke up! How I envied her so. How many corpses did it take for the cost of her beauty I wonder?

"Ah my sweet Sharletta, I always enjoy your gifts. Come, sit." She patted a spot by her side on the bed. Carefully, placing the wash basin on the bedside table, I walked over to her side and sat, smoothing out the wrinkles of my dress. Lady Christova may be in a sense the queen of the regions but she was like another mother to me, kind, caring. If monsters, as papa said, were like Lady Christova, then the fear people have for them is absolutely illogical.

Dipping the cloth into the water, I wrung it out and handed it to her to wash her face. "Wouldn't you like the windows open? It's quite a gorgeous day, although the snow seems to be eating the lands today."

"You do not enjoy the winter, Sharletta?"

"It is the cold I do not enjoy, my lady. The sight is a wonderful thing but I cannot endure the cold. I do not enjoy sinking into the snow as I cross the field nor do I enjoy having to pile layers of wolfskin coats in order to stay relatively warm."

Lady Christova's laugh echoed in the large room. Placing the damp cloth down, she gave me a look. "You're quite like my youngest son. He despises the cold, enjoys the sun. A free spirit he is."

It was strange hearing her talk about her son since I had never run across any of the other family members. The land was so large, if there was no set meeting spot, I would not run into anyone. The mention of her son sparked an interest. I wonder how he looked. Did he have Lady Christova's eyes? Her hair? Was he soft spoken or a leader like his father?

"Your son, my lady?"

"Yes, Niklaus."

The very infamous Niklaus. I may not have known his name but I certainly did know his title around the region. He was a bastard child, Lady Christova's proof of infidelity. A bastard child who wanted to be free. Was there really any other kind?