Chapter Two: The Beginning of Eternity

A.N. Dialogue mentioned from the season 2 episode of TVD "Klaus" and scenes from Btvs episode "Becoming" mentioned.

England, 1492

Two years later, Katerina found herself in England. A runaway slave girl she'd traveled with for a bit had helped her learn English and adapt an English accent. She'd also learned an Irish accent, figuring it would be easier to get someone to help her find Liam. However, she needed to rest in England before she traveled on to Galway.

Her journey from Bulgaria to England had not been easy – especially starting only twenty-four hours after giving birth.

She found an empty cabin in the countryside and rested. When she awoke, she searched the cabin for food. She ate some and packed away the rest for later. She bathed, and found a new dress.

While searching the cabin, she came upon an invitation to a grand party in the town held by a nobleman later on that day. Intrigued, Katerina searched the cabin for an appropriate outfit. She found a beautiful dark red dress with a silver waist-tie and matching shoes. And . . . it fit perfectly. She also stumbled upon a beautiful silver necklace and matching earrings and put those on too. She even managed to put her hair up quite nicely.

She hid the food she'd packed and other things outside to be found later. Then she found a horse in the barn and took off for town.

The party was easy enough to find and it was even easier to charm her way inside. She marveled at the beauty and wealth of the party. She mingled with the guests, putting her new accent and the strange English words to practice. A couple of times she almost slipped back into Bulgarian but stopped herself.

She lied about who she was and why she left Bulgaria. She told the guests she'd left her father's home to find a suitable husband. Soon a boyish-looking man with long brown hair started to watch her and then came up to talk to her. He seemed fascinated by her which didn't surprise her – she'd been regarded back in her hometown as a beautiful and friendly young girl.

He introduced himself as Trevor. He told her the party was a birthday celebration for a nobleman who happened to be Trevor's employer. As soon as he started telling her about this nobleman she found herself anxious to meet him. Trevor looked over her shoulder and smiled, nodding.

"Sweet Katerina there is someone you must meet," Trevor told her. "Excuse me." She just nodded as he walked away. She waited patiently for him to come back. She conversed with the girl next to her, trying not to sound too new. Then the girl left and she felt a hand on her was back. "My dear."

She turned around, smiling. "Hello."

The man smiled, seemingly lost in thought. He took a deep breath. His smile reminded her of Liam . . . but he kept staring at her as if he knew her. It was very unsettling . . .

"Forgive me, you remind me of someone . . ." Elijah cleared his throat.

"Katerina," Trevor said. "May I introduce the Lord Elijah."

Katerina wondered if he was the nobleman Trevor had told her about. Elijah held out his hand and Katerina held it, bowing. "Pleasure, my Lord."

He raised her hand, "Pleasure's mine, Katerina." He softly kissed her hand. She just stared. There was something about him but she couldn't put her finger on it.

"Trevor mentioned something about this being a birthday celebration," Katerina said.

Elijah released her hand, nodding. "My brother." She nodded. "Your accent . . . you are not English."

"No, my Lord," She shook her head. "I am from Bulgaria."

"Aah," He nodded. "I thought that was what I heard."

"Have you ever been, my Lord?" She asked.

"A few times," He nodded. "Lovely country."

"Yes, it is," She sighed. She turned, her hands behind her back, and started to walk forward. Trevor excused himself and Elijah turned to follow her. "So where is this mysterious host I've heard so much about."

"Fashionably late," Elijah remarked. Katerina's eyes scanned the room, hoping to find him – even though she didn't know what he looked like. "He likes to make an entrance." Elijah was looking around the room too, stopping when he looked at the stairs. "Here he is."

Katerina turned, following where Elijah was pointing. A man with long golden tresses and a chiseled face walked into the room and everyone turned to greet him. Katerina found herself entranced by him. Never before had she met anyone who commanded the attention of everyone around him so effortlessly.

And then . . . he was looking at her. A smile graced his lips as he walked toward her. Katerina found it hard to breathe in that moment – whether from the tight dress or the way he was staring at her she would never know.

"Katerina," Elijah spoke. "May I introduce to you, the Lord Niklaus."

She caught her breath for a moment, remembering her manners. She curtsied, smiling. Niklaus was still staring at her as he picked up her hand and kissed it. When his lips made contact with her skin it sent a spark shooting straight through her.

"Niklaus is the name my father gave me," He spoke. "Please. Call me Klaus."

"I am very pleased to meet you, my Lord," Katerina told him. "Trevor has told me much about you."

"He has, has he?" Klaus smirked.

"Yes," She nodded. "I do hope you'll allow me to help you celebrate your birthday."

"I have not seen you around. From where have you come, Katerina," Klaus asked her.

She did not really want to tell him of her past . . . nor her future plans. She looked down. "I am new to town, my Lord."

"Katerina is from Bulgaria," Elijah told his brother.

"Zdravei, Katerina," Klaus spoke.

Katerina giggled, "Very good." She turned to Elijah and giggled again. Both the brothers were laughing with her.

"Do you mind, brother?" Klaus said. Elijah stopped laughing. "I would like to have a moment alone with her."

"No, not at all." Elijah said. "Happy birthday, brother."

Klaus held out his arm and Katerina took hold of it, allowing him to lead her out of the room. Her heart fluttered in her chest. Klaus led her to a room with a lounge chaise and gestured for her to take a seat. She did, smoothing her skirt. He stood leaning in the doorway, his arms crossed.

"You are truly beautiful, Katerina," Klaus whispered.

"Thank you, my Lord," Katerina blushed. "Shall we not return to the party? Won't your guests be looking for you?"

"You are the only guest I am interested in, Katerina," He said. In an instant he was seated at her side, the back of his hand brushing the side of her cheek.

"Lord Elijah mentioned that I reminded him of someone," She inquired. "Do you know of who he speaks?"

Klaus chuckled, "My, my . . . you are an inquisitive child. So many questions . . ."

"I am sorry if I offend, my Lord," Katerina looked down.

"Nonsense," Klaus shook his head. "I do know of whom my brother speaks. She was a very special girl we knew long ago. You look very much like her."

"What happened to her?" Katerina asked.

"She was murdered by a greedy man who only wished to use her for his own gain," Klaus told her. "But enough about her . . . look at me, Katerina." Katerina locked eyes with his. She felt drawn in to his gaze. "Why have you come to England?"

Katerina was about to lie to him, but her lips moved of their own accord. "I was thrown out of my home by my family. I am going to Ireland to search for the man I love."

"I am the man you love, Katerina. Only me." His eyes stared into hers.

"You are the man I love. Only you," Katerina's lips betrayed her heart.

Klaus nodded, still staring in her eyes. "What do you know of curses?"

Again, Katerina's lips moved on their own. "Nothing, my Lord."

"You will never think of this man from Ireland again," Klaus still stared at her.

"Yes, my Lord." Katerina obeyed.

"You will never leave me, you believe we are now betrothed," Klaus told her.

"Yes, my Lord," Katerina obeyed again.

He moved, letting go of her gaze. Katerina blinked, her entire body feeling as if it were drained. Her heart felt empty but she didn't know why.

She turned to look at Klaus, smiling, "Darling, what were you saying? I'm sorry, I must have forgotten myself for a moment."

"It's alright, Katerina. I was just saying we should return to our guests and announce our betrothal," Klaus smiled at her, holding out his arm.

"Yes, my Lord," Katerina nodded, still smiling. She stood, reaching for his arm.

"One more thing," Klaus picked something off of a dresser. "Hold out your hand, my love."

Katerina lifted her hand and he slid a ring on her ring finger. "It's wondrous, darling. I love it."

"I knew you would," Klaus smiled. Again he held out his arm and the two returned to the party. "Excuse me, everyone." Klaus spoke and everyone was instantly quiet. "I would like to thank you all for coming to this marvelous occasion . . . and young Katerina and I would like to announce our recent engagement."

Everyone applauded, shouting 'Congratulations, my Lord!" Once the congratulations died down, Klaus led Katerina back over to Elijah. "My love, would you give my brother and I a moment?"

"Of course, my Lord," Katerina nodded, walking over to a group of young girls who instantly admired her ring.

TVDATSTVDATSTVDATS

It was only a few weeks later when Trevor began to take a liking to his employer's new fiancé and Katerina – always left alone while Klaus was away – began to notice him as well. Trevor began to give her a special tea with some kind of herb in it. What had he called it? Vervain? It was from Trevor she discovered Klaus's true identity – an Original vampire. His purpose with her was to break an old curse using her blood as a sacrifice. Centuries earlier the curse had been cast by a shaman using the blood of a girl – Charlotte Petrova – who looked identical to Katerina. Klaus wanted to use her doppelganger blood to break the curse of the sun and the moon so it would be easier to rid the world of vampire's natural enemies – werewolves.

She also found that Klaus had the ability to make her do anything she wanted too when she didn't drink the tea that Trevor gave her. But it was also from Trevor that she learned everything there was to know about vampires and moonstones and witches and werewolves and vervain and wolfsbane and a blue stone called lapis lazuli. She was aware that Trevor loved her . . . but she couldn't love him. There was an emptiness in her heart that told her there was someone out there she was in love with . . . and it wasn't Klaus, Elijah, or Trevor.

The night she took the moonstone (nearly six months after meeting Klaus) she escaped as per the plan she and Trevor had discussed. Not even a week later, she used Trevor and his friend Rose to turn herself into a vampire.

She knew Klaus would be furious but she didn't want to be killed in the sacrifice.

Her first destination after becoming a vampire was back to her home in Bulgaria. When she got there, however, she discovered that her entire family – even her brother's wife's family – were dead. She cried and cried and cried over her mother's corpse.

It was then that she got back the memory of Liam who Klaus had compelled her to forget. She knew she could never go looking for Liam or their baby. Klaus didn't even know about her child. She would make sure that he never would. And by not seeking out Liam, she would keep him safe as well. She would spend her eternity running from Klaus and making sure he never hurt her again.

TVDATSTVDATSTVDATS

Galway, Ireland 1492

Well over two years after leaving Katerina, Liam was finally able to return to her. He'd wanted to sooner but his father had him learning about his merchant business.

When he arrived in the small town that he'd met Katerina, he asked everyone he could about her. After asking many people he came upon a doctor who said he'd known the Petrova family well.

"Where do they live?" Liam asked the doctor. "I wish to ask for their daughter's hand in marriage."

The doctor's eyes softened and he lay a hand on Liam's shoulder. "I am sorry, son. The Petrova family is no more. They all were attacked and murdered in their own home."

"Katerina . . ." Liam's voice was barely above a whisper.

"I am so very sorry," The doctor said. "They never found young Katerina Petrova's body but they assumed she, too, is dead."

The doctor walked away, leaving Liam to his grief. The woman that he loved was dead.

His legs stiffly carried him to the falls edge where he and Katerina had spent their one and only night together. He sat on the edge of the water where they'd made love.

He would go home without a fiancé. He would deny his birthright to take over his father's business. He would never love a woman as he had loved his Katerina.

When he returned to Ireland, he betrayed everything he'd ever been taught growing up. He ignored his work. He indulged often in booze and women. He defied his father.

Two miserable years after returning home, he and Danny stumbled out of a pub – drunk. Danny passed out right in the middle of the street. Liam continued in search of more money when he caught sight of a beautiful woman in the distance. She was dressed like one of the nobility, her golden hair in curls.

She stared at him, smiling, beckoning him to follow her into the dark alleyway. Enticed by her, he did follow her. He offered to chase away her lonliness by comforting her through the night. She said she was from around – everywhere. His drunken tongue confessed his desire to travel the world and she promised to show him things he'd never seen.

The next thing he knew he woke up in his own grave. The woman from the alley – Darla, as she introduced herself – told him all about his new nature and the eternity they were going to have together as vampires. She helped him kill his family, taught him to be a vampire, even developed a new name for him – Angelus.

And together Angelus and Darla spent the next several centuries ripping through the European – and sometimes Asian – countryside.

To Be Continued

A.N. So . . . next chapter we'll be in the present. I'll post it hopefully the beginning of next week. Hope you enjoyed :)