Disclaimer: All rights go to L.J. Smith and the CW! All characters belong to them. Only the sister is mine!
Summary: Stefan and Damon thought they would never see their younger sister again. She has been gone for over 162 years! They haven't thought of her or mentioned her name. No one thought she would come back, but when she does everyone in Mystic Falls are in for a treat. She's the one that knew everything from the very beginning.
Mystic Falls, Virginia
August 21st, 1864
Elizabeth Salvatore walked through the streets of Mystic Falls with a mischievous smile on her face. She did this every Monday. All the juicy secrets of Mystic Falls come pouring out the day following Sunday after church. Suddenly, Jonathan Gilbert came rushing out the apothecary door and ran right into Elizabeth. A bunch of papers from a notebook he carried around all the time flew everywhere.
"Watch where you're going," mumbled Jonathan as he started picking up the papers.
"Excuse me, but I don't think that's anyway to talk to a lady. Especially my sister," said Damon, Elizabeth's older brother. Damon came back home for a couple of weeks from the army to see his family. So far, his father and brother have ignored him. Elizabeth and Katherine were the only people who paid mind to what he said and his actions. Damon slipped his arm through Elizabeth's, but Elizabeth pulled back. Jonathan looked up at Elizabeth.
"I-I-I'm so s-sorry, Miss Salvatore. I-I didn't mean it," he stumbled. Jonathan Gilbert stood up with his papers all in a pile in his hands. Damon looked down at Jonathan's knees and noticed they were shaking rapidly. Good,Damon thought smiling, I want him to be afraid ofus.
Everyone in Mystic Falls that were lower than the Salvatore's were afraid of the brother and sister. Ever since their mother had died they had been a little bit twisted.
"I know you didn't, Jonathan," Elizabeth said in a bitter sweet tone. She stared into the deep brown eyes of a wild man and her smile widened mockingly. Damon let out a laugh, but in return Elizabeth took her fan and hit him on the chest teasingly, "Damon stop it. Jonathan doesn't mean it."
That's when something caught Elizabeth's eye. An odd symbol was sketched out on Jonathan's papers. And out of nowhere she saw a name that made her upset. Emily Bennet. Elizabeth instantly turned her flirt on and Jonathan's knees shook more. Elizabeth leaned in towards Damon and whispered in his ear, "Don't leave my side."
"Never sister," Damon whispered back with loyalty.
Elizabeth walked up to Jonathan and stroked his cheek with her gloved hand, "You didn't mean it did you, Jonathan?"
Jonathan shook his head with his eyes wide, "Of course not Miss Salvatore."
Elizabeth smiled and looked down. She pretended to notice the drawings for the first time, "Jonathan! Did you draw these? They are amazing!" she gently took Jonathan's papers out of his light grip. Elizabeth skimmed through them and landed on a language she never saw under a symbol that looked like a star within a circle. Jonathan tried to grab them back, but Elizabeth pulled away from him nonchalantly. Elizabeth pulled Jonathan in close to her and whispered in his ear. Her lips grazing over Jonathan's earlobe, "What are they for?" She leaned back to see Jonathan's expression. He was bewildered. Elizabeth had a flirtatious smile spread on her face.
Damon who was standing back with a smile on his face. He personally loved it when she did this. Elizabeth would try to pry a nasty secret out of someone and she would always run back and tell the secret to Damon. It's been this cycle since they were children. Elizabeth would come in with the juicy secrets and Damon would find someway to use it in their favor.
"I-it's for a book that I'm w-writing," Jonathan uttered.
"A book? What kind of book?" Damon's smile widened. He came up and Elizabeth passed him the papers, "Is it just me or do you have a fascination with Emily Bennet?"
"No I don't. I-I interviewed her for the book."
Elizabeth tilted her head back and laughed, "Interviewing a slave? You must be joking, Jonathan." She peered over Damon's shoulder, "Why this is just a drabble, Jonathan. Not a book. You're talking about various topics such as your school, Emily Bennet and other things such as the animal attacks. Not that I believe it is from an animal. They are the Yanks for sure."
Damon stopped teasing Jonathan with the papers and handed them back to him. He looked at Elizabeth and paid no mind to Jonathan who was now walking away still trembling from the encounter he had with the Salvatore brother and sister.
"Elizabeth, what are you talking about? Animal attacks? What has been going on since I left Mystic Falls?" Damon had this look in his eyes that made him looked confused and furious.
"Well," Elizabeth started, "it's been going on everywhere in this town. Farm animals have been slaughtered. Drained of blood. Some believe it is works of animals' others believe the Devil is among us or it is the Yankees just trying to fool us."
"And what do you believe sister?" Damon asked. He grabbed her by the arms and shook her. People around the town stared at the two talking, but none of them were surprised when they saw Damon shake his younger sister.
Elizabeth pulled her arms free of Damon's grip. She frowned, "Why do you care so much about the matter?"
Damon stood up straighter, "Never mind...forget this conversation ever happened."
And with that Damon walked away from his younger sister. Leaving her in the dust.
XXXXX
Stefan paced around the court yard with his hands in his pockets and a confused look on his face. This morning his father told him he was to marry Rosalyn Cartwright...he didn't know what to say or do to make his father cancel his plans. Rosalyn was dull and lame. Stefan didn't want to think that, but it's true.
Elizabeth, his younger sister by a year walked past him. Maybe Elizabeth can help,Stefan thought. Elizabeth was sneaky and seemed to always have his older brother on her side. Stefan tapped Elizabeth on the arm, "Elizabeth?" Elizabeth turned around. Her emerald eyes were filled with tears and her pale cheeks were wet. She quickly wiped her eyes, but not fast enough. Stefan could see that his sister was hurt, "Elizabeth what's wrong?"
She shook her head, "Nothing. Just Damon being mean again...what do you need?"
Stefan furrowed his brows and stared at Elizabeth. She has been loyal to both of her brothers since she could talk and now Damon is being horrible enough to her to make her cry. Stefan nodded, "I'm sorry he was that way, Elizabeth. Don't let him hurt you…remember the baby." He dropped his voice into a mere whisper and Elizabeth flinched and remembered that it was even there.
She nodded, "Was there something you needed?"
How Elizabeth astonished Stefan. She would just jump to his and Damon's needs even though she was miserable, "Father wants me to marry someone I don't want to...and I think I'm in love with someone else..."
Elizabeth smiled and laughed, "you want me to help you with your love life?"
Just the sight of Elizabeth smiling made him smile, "I'm glad I can amuse you. So, can you help me?"
Elizabeth walked around Stefan like a hawk, "Depends...before we start talking about what you'll give me in return I want to know who you are marrying and who you love."
He nodded, "I'm marrying Rosalyn Cartwright. Her father owns the bank, which is why father wants me to marry her. I love Katherine Pierce. She is boarding here on the estate and she is fascinating."
Elizabeth smirked at her foolish brother, "I'm not sure if I want to help you ruin your life."
"What?" Stefan asked.
"You want to break the alliance between father and Mr. Cartwright for a girl you have just met? You really are unwise, aren't you?" Elizabeth spat her words out at her brother fiercely. "Give it a day or two. Test the waters. See if your decisions are wise and after...perhaps I'll help you."
Stefan nodded, "I guess you're being reasonable."
Elizabeth walked backed to the house, "Aren't I always?" she shouted behind her shoulder.
XXXXX
August 22nd, 1864
Elizabeth's shrieks were heard all along the Veritas plantation. She dropped the basket of berries that she held and her hands went to her head of red curls. Tears streamed down her face like a waterfall.
"No!" she shrieked. Elizabeth ran to her horse, "Winnie!" she sobbed. The horse's white hair was matted with blood and his once lit up eyes were now dark and still. Winnie was attacked when Elizabeth left to go pick berries in the woods. Elizabeth looked around rapidly, "Help!" she screamed, "Please help me!" But there was no one in sight for miles. All she could see was tall grass and a few trees. She could easily get to the woods, but there were no trails to follow. Elizabeth knelt to her horse and patted Winnie's skin. This was the worst experience she had ever had to deal with in her entire life. Winnie has been there for her since she could walk.
It started to get dark out and she didn't leave her place next to Winnie. Elizabeth started to talk to herself...or the horse, "Winnie, I'm sorry I didn't go with you..." Elizabeth lied down next to her horse in the grass and looked up at the sky, "If I could reach up and grab a star for every time you made me smile, the whole universe would be in the palm of my hand..." her bottom lip quivered, "They'll come and get us Winnie. We'll play in the meadow when it's sunny. We can have fun with Damon and Stefan...like when we were younger. Want me to sing for you Winnie? You always liked when I did that and fed you apples..."
XXXXX
Giuseppe Salvatore looked at the empty chair at the dinner table, "Stefan? Damon? Where is your sister?"
Damon shrugged, but Stefan had an answer, "Last I heard she went out with Winnie to pick berries for a pie."
A half-hour later the Salvatore men gathered a search party. The whole town was being questioned and was lit up with lights. Men on horses and men with dogs came into the woods searching for Elizabeth.
That night Elizabeth slept next to her dead horse and no one found her in the field. When daylight opened the sky, she woke and screamed for help some more, but no one came. She ate half of the basket of berries she picked as she was ravenous and currently had to eat for two. She would eat the rest later. Elizabeth finally got over the fact that her best friend just died. Now was the time to put survival over death. Elizabeth found a package that was strapped to Winnie's saddle. Giuseppe always ordered that there must be a survival kit on the saddles for a situation like this. She quickly opened it and found a canteen of water, crackers, a small axe, bandages, and some matches. Elizabeth didn't want to leave Winnie's body. She must protect the body from predators and create a proper funeral. Others would probably venture out by themselves, but Elizabeth was too stuck in her grief to even think of doing such a thing.
In the afternoon, Elizabeth ate two of the crackers and a sip of the water. The night time came again and no one found her. She made a fire and enveloped herself in its warmth. She lied her head down to sleep only to be awoken by the rumble of leaves and a growl. Elizabeth quickly stood up and looked around. She heard another growl behind her. Axe in hand she turned around only to be knocked on the ground by a furry beast. It was dark and she couldn't see what it was. The animal clawed her in the chest and she shrieked in agony and pain. She looked at the animal and found that it was a wolf. Elizabeth fought with the wolf. It barred its teeth and snapped at her. She took the wolf by the neck and turned so that she was on top of the wolf. Her axe had been knocked out of her hand and was thrown across the fire. Elizabeth punched the wolf in the stomach and ran to retrieve the axe. When she picked it up the wolf jumped from behind her again and bit her in the shoulder. Elizabeth pushed it off and it landed into the fire. The wolf whimpered and quickly scrambled out of it. It's right front leg was lifted and bleeding. His eyes showed defeat. It was a sign of surrender, but Elizabeth had no sympathy for the animal. She lifted her axe threw it. The axe landed right into the animal's stomach. It fell over. Dead.
Elizabeth's dress was all bloody. She took it off and was left with only her bloody chemise and corset on. She felt naked and exposed, but the dress made her feel heavy. Elizabeth sat on the ground in between the two dead animals, hugged her knees and rocked back and forth humming to herself. She didn't notice the lights of lanterns in the woods and people shouting her name.
Damon emerged from the woods and found his sister, "Elizabeth!" he shouted running towards her.
Elizabeth looked up and cried, "It killed Winnie. It killed Winnie, Damon."
Damon had tears stinging in his eyes in seeing the state Elizabeth was in, "When I came back she was gone."
"Oh, Elizabeth," he said picking her up in his arms and carrying her back to the wagon that they brought.
She fell asleep crying in his arms.
XXXXX
August 24th, 1864
Elizabeth Salvatore woke up with sun shining on her face and to the eyes of her family. Her bottom lip quivered and she gasped when she sat up in the bed. Her shoulder and stomach screamed with pain as she remembered the nights before. How horrifying it was.
"What's going on?" she asked, "Why are you all looking at me like that?"
"Because you were almost killed!" her father boomed.
"Well I'm perfectly fine, just a few scratches," Elizabeth said with a smile. Trying to make everyone in the room feel better.
"Oh, dear Lord. Have mercy on her soul," a man whispered. When she looked over to the left she didn't even notice he was there. Mayor Lockwood. Giuseppe glared at him, but her brothers ignored their ramble.
Damon got out of his seat in the corner and quickly walked up to her. He yanked the white frilly sleeve of her chemise down so her shoulder was bare. The flesh in her right shoulder blade was ripped out, showing nothing but blood and flame, "You are not fine, Elizabeth! That wolf killed Winnie and it could've killed you! It needs to be hunted and taken care of so no one else in Mystic Falls gets hurt!"
Elizabeth jumped at Damon's words. She has never heard her brother yell so loudly.
"It didn't kill Winnie!" I screamed, "Something else did! Didn't you see the injuries on her Damon?! Two perfect holes on her neck and yet there was barely any blood!"
"So, what do you think it was, Elizabeth?" Damon shouted. "Or who it was?"
"I don't know, Damon," she cried, "I don't know... but I was with her for two whole days! I know what I saw."
The elders of the group ignored the brother and sisters charade. By now everyone in Mystic Falls were used to them.
Mayor Lockwood held his head in his hands and shook his head, "Do you remember its eyes? The color of its eyes, child."
Elizabeth shook her head, "No I don't Mayor Lockwood, but I remember the color of its fur. A light brown and the tail was tipped with gray..."
Mayor Lockwood looked troubled and got up out of his chair and walked to the door, "I hope you feel well child and I will see that you are to heal soon," he walked out of the door and her father followed. Leaving Damon, Stefan and Elizabeth's help, Dinah, to tend to her needs.
"What does it matter? The color of the eyes?" Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "I'm afraid the Mayor will become as crazy as Jonathan Gilbert..."
Damon smirked, "I highly doubt that sister..."
"So, what has happened? After you found me. Did you bury, Winnie?"
"N-" Damon started, but Stefan cut him off.
"Yes, we did. She's buried underneath the willow tree behind the gardens," Stefan stated. "I buried her myself."
Elizabeth smiled and nodded at him, "Thank you Stefan. That was very kind of you."
Damon cringed at the kindness Elizabeth was giving his brother, "How about we leave Elizabeth to get some rest." Stefan nodded as they walked out.
When they left, Elizabeth got out of bed quickly and gasped, "Dinah, get me dressed. I cannot rest. I'm going to my brother's engagement party tonight."
When Stefan and Damon were a close distance from the door Damon pulled Stefan to the side. "Why'd you lie to Elizabeth, Stefan? Even Elizabeth must know it's a waste of time to bury a horse." he hissed.
"I didn't lie to her, brother," Stefan smirked, "Like I said. Winnie's body is underneath the willow tree."
"You and I were both there when they burned the body."
"I couldn't help it, but to feel guilty. Later that night I buried a big empty hole dug it back up and placed rocks on top of it. I even made a little wooden cross..." Stefan said with a smile on his face. His face had 'I'm better than you' written all over it, "I told everyone who was at the fire the story. And now I'm telling you. Don't make Elizabeth upset for such a thing." Now his voice was pleading.
Damon's lips were in a tight line. He nodded and walked down the hall away from Stefan.
XXXXX
"Tighten the corset, Dinah," Elizabeth whispered. She touched her stomach and whispered to the baby that was only known to her, Stefan and Dinah. She didn't want anyone downstairs or in the hallway to hear that she was coming out. Her father would be furious, but he wouldn't make a scene in front of the people of Mercy Falls, "So what do my brothers love so much about this Katherine Pierce?" she asked.
Dinah shrugged, "She's beautiful, but not as beautiful as you." Dinah was the new servant for Elizabeth.
"Tell me one bad thing about Katherine."
Dinah laughed, "I know I might get a whipping for this, but since you asked-"
Elizabeth cut her off, "I will never make someone whip you, Dinah. I'm not that cruel."
Dinah sighed and smiled, "Well, I think Miss Katherine is a bit of a harlot."
Now it was Elizabeth who laughed, "I knew it. If she's smart enough she'll play my brothers as fools."
Dinah tied a neat little bow at the bottom of Elizabeth's corset and handed her the dress, "I saw some dresses that you might like. This one is my favorite."
"I'll take your word for it, Dinah."
XXXXX
Damon and Katherine walked in the ballroom arm in arm. He had a smile on his face, but his eyes told otherwise. When they turned, and waltzed around the room Katherine noticed. Her rosebud lips pouted and her eyes pleaded, "Damon what is wrong?" she asked a bit too sweetly.
He shook his head, "Nothing. It's just if you saw her the way I found her...petrified, livid, poignant, innocent..."
Katherine pursed her lips for a split second before Damon could realize, "I know...when I saw her almost bleeding to death. The poor thing. I feel awful that she couldn't make it here tonight." Why is he talking about her? Katherine thought. Elizabeth was beautiful and she had the family access to Stefan and Damon. Katherine knew Elizabeth could be found useful, but when either of the brothers talked of her, she became sick with jealously. She hated herself for it. "It's not just her that we should be sympathizing for, Damon..." Katherine whispered. "I feel bad for Stefan. You must agree with me when I say this, but Rosalyn is plain."
Damon laughed, "Yes, I do agree with you."
That's when the doors at the top of the ballroom stairs opened with a loud boom. When the little tiny shoes clicked on the tiled floor everyone looked up. The room filled with gasps and murmurs.
"I thought she couldn't make it."
"Why is she here?"
"She looks...enchanting."
Elizabeth smirked at everyone including her father. Giuseppe's face was beat red with a furious look.
Elizabeth's ivory taffeta dress trailed along the floor and the turquoise, silver and emerald flowers sparkled off from the candle light. Her red curls were in a messy, but elegant bun at the nape of her neck. Loose curls hung at the side of her face hiding her only flaw: her big ears. The light green straps of her dress covered the bite perfectly, but didn't rub up against it much. She felt as light as a feather and the blush on her freckled cheeks from smiling finished it, but not quite. The one thing that made her look even more spectacular was the handsome man that her arm was looped through. Eli Jones. One of the most attractive looking men in town besides Elizabeth's brothers. Elizabeth didn't quite like him though, she always had a bit of a crush on him but her heart will forever be to the father of her growing child. When they both got to the bottom of the stairs Stefan walked up to them and raised his glass.
"Glad you could make it, Elizabeth," Stefan said. Too much wine was on his breath.
Elizabeth laughed, "I'm glad. You're one of the only ones who think so." She took the wine glass out of her brother's hand and took a sip. "Stay sober tonight brother and deal with the pain."
Stefan furrowed his eyebrows and looked oblivious to what his sister just said. Yup, he's drunk. Elizabeth thought.
Elizabeth and Eli moved towards her father, "Hello father. It's nice to see us all together as one big happy family isn't it?" she smiled and took yet another sip of her wine.
"Yes, I guess so. Pleased that you feel better," he took the wine out of her hands and set it on the table behind him, "sober."
"Only had two sips father. I wasn't going to finish that. Alcohol makes me feel sick. And I feel better than ever"
Giuseppe smiled at his daughter, "That's my good girl. Now go on and have an excellent time with Eli." Giuseppe nodded at Eli as they both walked out onto the ballroom floor.
As they twirled Elizabeth apologized, "I'm sorry I asked you last minute, Eli. I shouldn't have done that."
Eli shrugged it off, "It's fine. Your health is all that matters to me..." Eli came down close to Elizabeth and kissed her softly on the lips. It would've been a complete kiss if they weren't so rudely interrupted.
"Ahem," coughed Damon, who was standing right next to them the whole time. "Excuse me Eli, but may I have a dance with my sister?"
Eli nodded glumly and backed away so Damon could take over.
"What was that for?" Elizabeth hissed. "That was very discourteous of you, Damon."
"Just looking out for my little sister. Besides," he snorted, "I don't think Eli Jones is...how should I put this? I don't think Eli deserves my sister. He didn't deserve to earn your first kiss either."
"That wasn't my first kiss…and how does Eli not deserve me? He is handsome, his family is wealthy and he is kind. Besides Damon, you out of all people should've figured out by now that I have been kissed many times before this."
"Monsters can be beautiful, Elizabeth. It's time for you to learn that. And for the kisses...well let's just say I've been keeping track."
Elizabeth fought back, "You don't need to be tracking my kisses and I learned as much as I need to know. I'm not a child anymore, Damon. I'm sixteen and I don't need my older brother watching over me like a hawk."
"You don't understand Elizabeth. You are immature, adolescent, and in need of being taken care of."
Elizabeth wanted to scream. She wanted to slap Damon or shake him like he did to her. She had been loyal to him forever and now... now he was being a brute. Elizabeth stopped dancing and stuck her face up into his. "At least I'm not a fool and meeting a harlot at night."
She walked away from him and through the maze of people dancing and Damon was left standing still and staring off into space as people bumped into him.
Elizabeth walked outside on the balcony and looked at the stars that were shining so brightly. She tried breathing in her corset, but it was close to impossible.
"Corsets. Don't you hate 'em?" asked a soft voice.
Elizabeth looked over and there was a dark-haired woman with a gorgeous facial structure and perfect sized ears. Just by the looks of her Elizabeth knew who she was.
"You must be Katherine. And yes, corsets do rot," Elizabeth laughed.
"Yes, I am Katherine. You're Elizabeth. Stefan and Damon have talked much about you. You must be strong," Katherine nodded towards her stomach. "To have taken on a wolf like that. I probably couldn't have even done it. It attacked you just two nights ago, and now here you are. The healing was remarkable."
Elizabeth nodded. She didn't expect Katherine to be this...nice? "I'm a bit surprised by it too. It scares me a little actually," Elizabeth looked back into the house. Damon was gone and Stefan stared dumbfound at everyone twirling, "I must give some credit to you, too. I must say you have my brothers in this trance and you're doing it quite skillfully."
Katherine gave out a short laugh, "Well, I'm not as skillful as you. You've been keeping them in a trance for sixteen years. It's like you're stuck inside their heads or something. It's a gift you must have."
"Well it's not easy. They can be very odd at times."
Katherine smiled with gleaming straight white teeth, "I guess so...I forgot to tell your brothers something. Since you're with them so often can you send the message."
Elizabeth couldn't refuse, "Of course."
"Tell them when we were playing football the other evening I thought they played well," and with that Katherine walked away.
It took a while for Elizabeth to make sense of what Katherine meant. Or if there was a meaning behind it. Then she got it. Katherine wanted it to be a slam. She was trying to say 'when you were out crying for help your brothers were playing a game of football with me.'
Elizabeth now saw Katherine's true colors and the witch her brothers were in love with.