Episode 2: Plans Unfold

"You!" said Katherine, unexpectedly as she rose from the ground. For a moment, she was like "What?" but had soon got over it. This was Mystic Falls. It was a place where strange things happened.

"Katerina, Katerina! Is that the way you greet me the first time?" he asked, his lips curved in a nasty smile. His spiky blond hair stood straight unlike his usual style.

At first, she had thought it was Silas but she was surprised to see someone else turned up. How had he found her? Only Silas knew about this dingy place, and her. He must have followed her. Silas had clearly warned her to be careful. He did not want this place found. Why, he would not tell. She had been careless. She wanted to smack her head. Being human had taken the edge off her. How would Silas react to this?

"What do you want from me, Kol?" asked Katherine, her voice wary and careful not to antagonize him. He was an Original.

"Same thing you want, Katerina. Revenge!" replied Kol. "Elena made you human. She had a hand in killing me! We want the same thing, Katerina."

Katherine wondered whether she should let Kol in on the secret but she trusted no Original. Except perhaps Elijah; and that was because she loved him. But Kol, he was known as the most freakish among them. He was even worse than Klaus if centuries of rumors were to be heeded. Klaus did things impulsively; he did not hurt people for no reason; only if they crossed him in some way. But Kol, he was ruthless. After all these years, why would Kol want to join with her? As far as she knew, Kol had never really liked her.

"Why me, Kol?" asked Katherine, still doubtful.

Kol smiled as he paced about the room. "I find you interesting, Katerina. Well, you fled from Klaus and never got caught for five hundred years. That is an incredible achievement, believe me, Katerina. You persisted and even now, you are doing just that. Persisting."

Katherine paced over to where Jeremy lay, unconscious. "Is he…?" she asked.

Kol shook his head. "Dead? No, that would be terrible. Even though I would very much like him, I would not give him an easy death. We don't want Bonnie's sacrifice to go worthless, do we? Besides, an easy death would be a mercy. Na, I would pretty much like him to suffer. Also, we do need him."

"Need him for what?" asked Katherine.

Kol laughed. "Why did you bring him here, Katerina? Not simply for revenge, is it?"

Katherine hesitated.

He smiled again. "Come on, Katerina. I am not your enemy here. Are you so beyond trusting? Well, if so, I can understand. Running from Klaus is an ordeal. But I am not here to hurt you, Katerina. We want the same thing, you see, Elena dead."

Katherine still stayed silent.

"The Petrovas! All they bring is trouble to the people they love. Look what Elena brought to this town. Well, even Tatia brought the relationship between Klaus and Elijah to almost an end. You are no exception but out of all the Petrovas, Katerina, I like you better, if that is any consolation. I pity you even. You lost Stefan to Elena. You came back for him, didn't you? But then, Elena being Elena, rejected Stefan and chose Damon instead. What a bitch? Don't you agree?" asked Kol, his eyes suddenly puppy like.

Katherine had no choice but to agree. She knew he was right. Her plans went wrong every time because of Elena. She wanted her dead but she had to suffer. This was the reason she had captured Jeremy. She knew how much Elena loved him. And Kol had known. That is the reason he was here. He knew what Katherine's intentions were.

Kol seemed to know what Katherine was thinking. He smiled. "So, what have you decided, Katerina? Are you in or out?"

Katherine, tired, had her back against the wall. "How can I decide when I know not the plan?" she asked.

"All in good time, Katerina, all in good time. I just wanted to know your choice. Look, we all want the same thing. You are human, Elena is a vampire. Surely you can see the gist."

"I need time to think, Kol."

Kol raised his brows. "What happened to a fast and smart thinking Katherine? Has being human so changed you, Katerina?"

"She isn't changed," said a voice. Kol turned towards him and looked at him with interest. He then smiled.

"Ah, Katherine, seems you got your wish. You got Stefan."

Silas looked at Katherine first who shrugged, and then at Kol. "Elena chose Damon over me but was that decision ever right? She broke my heart. After all I did, she chose him. For two years have I protected her against Klaus and now against Silas. But no, my efforts deserve nothing. It is just a crush she says. Now I no longer love her. I wanted revenge, wanted to see her suffer. Katherine understood me and we conspired to bring her lovely Jeremy here."

"Ah, I see!" said Kol. "It seems like three is better than two. I am an Original and you might probably need my help. We all want the same thing, Stefan."

Silas looked at Katherine again. "As well. Maybe you are right, Kol. We might need an Original."

Katherine nodded. As long as Silas was there, she was safe.

Kol smiled. "Very well then, Stefan." He then looked at Katherine. "Meet me near Wickery Bridge two days from now. There is someone you may like to meet, one who has a previous grudge against Elena."

Silas smiled. He knew. Katherine, however, looked confounded.

With the speed he had come, Kol rushed away from the house. Where, he would not tell.

Silas looked at her and then smiled. "He wants his revenge but he is not entirely trustworthy. We may need this young boy at a place somewhere secret and safe, where Kol cannot find."

"Where?" asked Katherine.

"What about the tomb underneath the church?" asked Silas.

Katherine looked doubtful. "They would find that out easily. Damon wont just give up. He will do anything for Elena."

"I will have a witch put up a spell which will only allow me into the tomb. That way, no vampire or hybrid or human will be able to get in or out."

Katherine smiled. "I think it is a brilliant idea. Only question remains, how do we get Jeremy there? And where do we find a witch?" asked Katherine.

"I will carry Jeremy there and Katherine, I have a witch who can help us. She wants Elena as bad as us."

"Who?" asked Katherine, now curious.

Silas smiled. "All in good time, darling, all in good time."

"Oh, you sound like Kol!" said Katherine, laughing.

Silas's eyes twinkled.

At the Salvatore House, Elena was feeling sad. She had not been able to goto college. She had missed the applications. How could she? How careless she had been?

The only person who was happy was Damon. He had got what he wanted. He had Elena, finally. However, he had not wanted Stefan gone. He loved his brother but he had understood his decision. He knew how Stefan felt. He had felt the same way before but he had diverted his mind. Stefan, however, could not do that. He knew. The only choice left to him was to leave. Damon wished him good luck wherever he was.

Damon had his arms round Elena, consoling her. "Look, everything is going to be okay," said Damon.

Elena looked at him. "Maybe but I so wanted to do college."

Damon smiled. "Look at the bright side, Elena. We are here together. This is what you wanted, isn't it?"

Elena nodded. She had been so happy she had chosen Damon. She knew he won't be selfish with her. "Go, I will be fine."

Damon looked skeptical. "Are you sure, Elena?"

"Yes, I will. Caroline will be here soon."

Damon hesitated for a while but nodded and rose up. Looking at her once again, he rushed out of the mansion.

A ship hooted loud in the cold night. Wasn't the rippling noise of the sea water enough? He leapt off the bed and walked towards the deck. He had begun to dislike ships. He wished he was back in Mystic Falls. He missed everything and everyone, Elena most of all. Despite everything, he still loved her but he knew he never could be with her. She had chosen at last. Damon! He did not like it but he had respected her choice.

He saw a blonde girl standing on the deck, facing the blue waters. It was Rebecca. He sometimes found it strange. He was here with a vampire, with Rebecca. He had slowly begun to like her. Of all the vampires except perhaps Elena and Stefan, she had been kind to him. Sometimes he wished he had not taken part in Stefan and Damon's schemes to get rid of her. She was too sweet. He liked her but he also knew he would have to take a break with her. He was human, she was vampire. Moreover, she was one of the Originals. It would be hard to break up, he knew, but did he have any choice, he asked.

He stood beside Rebecca who put her hand in his. "Look at the water, Matt. It is so calm."

Matt nodded. "Don't you sleep?"

She smiled. "I am a vampire, Matt. I am a creature of the night. What good would I do if I happened to sleep now?" She laughed. Hell, even her laughter was good to hear.

"I heard you wanted the cure. I am sad you did not get it."

Rebecca looked at him. "Are you sad because you cannot have me as a vampire? Do you so wish that I had turned human so you and I could be together?"

Matt hesitated. "Yes."

"We can still be together, Matt."

"No, I can't." He finally managed. "You will live forever. I am mortal."

Rebecca smiled. "I was wondering when you would finally tell me."

Matt coughed. "I was going to but how did you know..?"

"How did I know you were planning to break up with me?" asked Rebecca. "It is obvious, isn't it? You cannot hide your thoughts well. It is plain on your face."

"I am sorry, Rebecca."

"You don't have to be. I completely understand. And in any case, once we reach the shores, I would be heading to New Orleans. I won't be staying in Mystic Falls for long."

"Why?" asked Matt.

"Perhaps, time away from you will help me forget you and perhaps, you me."

Matt stood silent, the rippling water twisting the reflection of the moon.

Rebecca smiled again. "Perhaps it is for the best. Like you think."

Damon stood near the brink of the woods which surrounded Wickery Bridge. He was tired of the wait. He had left Elena alone. He so wanted to be with her.

"Hello, Damon!" said a familiar female voice. It had been so long since he had met her first. It was in San Francisco, he remembered.

"Sanoria!" greeted back Damon. "You have been absconding."

She laughed.

Damon surveyed her. She had not changed. Dressed in a brown floral corset, she stood, her long black hair waving in the wind.

"I heard you finally got what you wanted."

Damon warily nodded.

"Good. Now you must know something which is very important. He is coming!"