A/N: So this chapter and chapter 3 were originally one big chapter but I decided that even though they're a little short, they work better separately. I've gotten really great feedback from this story and I'm really excited to see where it takes me next. I hope you enjoy this. If you're looking for smut, the next chapter will be worth your while, trust me. ;)
Elena was the first one to break away from their kiss. "I'm sorry... I don't know why I did that." She said, suddenly unsure of herself. Katherine ignored her apology and said abruptly, "We need to get you cleaned up. We wouldn't want anyone to see you out here like this, would we?" She paused for a moment, looking at Elena, and then finally said, "You should pack a bag."
When Elena looked at her like she'd gone insane, Katherine sighed impatiently and said, "You don't want to hurt anyone, right? So I say we take a little vacation and get away from Mystic Falls. I can help you acclimate to your new life, if you want." She tilted her head and stared at Elena, eyes burning into her skull.
Elena looked around, as if trying to find the answer in the cold, winter night. Everything looked so different now, as a vampire. She didn't feel that different, but she thought that maybe she should try to embrace her new life instead of living the rest of it in fear. Maybe she needed a change. Maybe she needed Katherine to show her what do to next.
"What's it going to be, Elena?" Katherine asked, stepping closer to the new vampire. Elena hesitated and then said, "Okay, let's do it before I change my mind," All she could do was hope that she was making the right decision.
Once they had driven back to her house, Elena slowly started to walk from Katherine's car to her front porch. She really didn't want to do what she was about to do, but she had no choice. In order to protect the people she cared about, she needed to go with Katherine. Elena took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
She heard his footsteps long before he made it to the door, and when it opened a look of relief and extreme guilt flashed across his face. "Elena!" he cried, wrapping her arms around his sister. Elena felt herself tense up but she returned his embrace and said, "I'm so sorry, Jer." Jeremy shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, Elena. I'm the one who convinced Matt to take you out of town, it's all my fault."
Elena reached out to touch his face, pulling back when she realized she could hear the blood pumping through his body. He looked at her confused and then said knowingly, "Oh my god... you completed the transition." His face reflected the guilt he felt inside as he took a step back into the house and said with a weak smile, "Come on in, Elena." "Thank you Jer," Elena said, grateful that her brother still loved her, despite what she had become.
Elena took a cautious step and entered her house. She breathed a sigh of relief once she was safely inside, and she flashed up the stairs, starting to throw the contents of her dresser into her red duffle bag.
"What the hell?" Jeremy demanded when he saw what she was doing.
"It's safer this way for everyone," Elena said, matter-of-factly, trying to ignore the pain in her brother's eyes.
"But where will you go?" Jeremy asked quietly, knowing that once his sister made up her mind, there was no changing it.
"She's coming with me" said a feminine voice from the doorway. Jeremy turned around and stumbled backwards, spotting Katherine leaning against the door frame.
"Katherine is going to teach me self-control," she answered nervously, twisting a lock of hair in her fingers, glancing at the other doppelganger.
"She's a killer Elena! She's the last person who should be helping you" Jeremy said angrily. "I won't let you do this. This is a mistake!" Katherine scoffed as she leaned against the doorway, mumbling something incoherent.
"I know it's hard to understand Jeremy but I think this is the right thing to do. It's my choice." Elena said, no longer knowing what was right and what was wrong.
Jeremy reached out to grab Elena as she headed for the door. Katherine instantly gripped his arm and threw him across the room. He hit the wall with a thud and fell to the ground, completely immobile with pain. "I'm so sorry," Elena whispered and ran down the stairs. Katherine followed right behind her and in a second, they were both gone.
They finally reached their destination later that night. It was a large white mansion just outside of Atlanta, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Katherine had chosen this location because it was far enough away from the locals that they wouldn't be bothered, but not so far they couldn't go out and have a little fun every so often.
After Katherine had given her a tour of the first floor, Elena followed her up the grand staircase and down the hall to a small room with minimal décor, but still the most elegant room Elena had ever seen. Katherine left Elena to herself, saying she had something to do.
Elena looked around the room. There was a large walk in closet on one side and on the opposite side was a giant bathroom with a beautiful shower and a separate Jacuzzi tub. She walked over to the bed and ran her hands across the delicate patterns sewn into the fabric. It looked incredibly comfortable and all of a sudden she wanted nothing more than to sleep.
Elena noticed a mirror in the corner of the room. Curious, she walked over and stood in front of it, gazing at her reflection in the glass. She still looked like Elena Gilbert. But she didn't feel like herself. She felt different, knowing the violence she was capable of; she had proven that the previous night. She replayed the events of that night in her head over and over trying to understand what had happened. Trying to understand just what had gone wrong. Katherine, she thought.
She let out a puff of air she hadn't realized she was holding in. What was it about Katherine that made her so crazy, so monstrous? Elena suddenly broke down in tears, sliding down the wall until she had collapsed on the floor, gasping for air through her broken sobs.
Of course Katherine heard her, but she stayed silent and continued tidying up the kitchen, knowing that Elena would want her privacy. Katherine wished that she could cradle Elena in her arms and tell her that everything would be all right. She wished that she could hold Elena until she fell asleep, but she knew better than that. Elena didn't trust her enough for that, yet. She knew that what Elena needed was time to herself, and so she respected that.
Elena lay crumpled on the floor, trying to slow her breathing. She stayed that way for a while, until she could compose herself enough to go downstairs and face Katherine. She stood up, straightened out her blouse, wiped her face and then made the trip downstairs and into the kitchen.
