Sorry I didn't see your reviews earlier! Thanks for the nice feedback. I'm from Germany!

X

I'm unable to move any further. Damon stops beside me. We both are paralysed by a mixture of surprise and shock.

Damon is the first to find his voice again.

"Katherine, what the actual fuck are you doing here?"

She smiles and throws my dress into the fire, which is still burning.

"I'm here to help."

At that, I lose control over my facial muscles. I hate her. All I know is that I want her gone.

"But we can go into details later", she continues, "I first have a few questions for you two lovebirds."

Damon grimaces but we both know there's no point in denying it. Our plan with the whole forgetting about it thing is officially screwed. I look down as I realise that I'm not better than she is.

"Relax", she says while playing with a strand of her hair, "This actually plays into my hands. You can wash that look of guilt of your face, Gilbert, nothing I haven't done before."

Exactly, I think.

"What the hell do you want?", Damon asks fiercely. I notice that he moved in front of me, shielding me from her. It hurts me to see this simple testimonial of his love. It would be so much easier if he didn't love me. If it seriously just was a simple one-night-stand.

"Why don't we discuss this at breakfast? I'm sure Elena is hungry after... such exhausting activities and as a matter of fact, I am, too. Why don't you go fetch me some blood bags?"

I find myself in yet another uncomfortable conversation, sitting next to Damon, facing my evil doppelgänger. But she was right – I am hungry.

While she sucks a blood bag empty, trying to look as innocent and seductive as possible at the same time, she starts speaking: "I really came to help. As a peace offering I promise to keep my mouth shut about your little indiscretion, Elena. Your guilt will probably force you to tell him, anyway. After we find him. See, I've been around for a couple of days and I couldn't help but realise that Stefan was gone. The blonde girl fessed up about what's going on. And I want to help."

Damon and I exchange a look. As much as we both dislike her, we can't reject any help. Especially when we checked one dead end after another. Nevertheless, just the sight of her face makes me angry, which is quite funny because it's exactly my face. Problem is, I can only stand it on me. The way she pronounces my name makes my blood boil.

"Fine", Damon hisses, "What does almighty Katherine Pierce suggest?"

She smiles contently before she answers: "Caroline told me you've checked his diaries for possible enemies. I think that's the right direction. It's obviously nobody trying to get back at you, they would have made sure that you know he's suffering. So it has to be someone who holds a grudge personally against Stefan."

"Figured that out months ago", Damon interrupts her. She looks at him in an almost admonishing way and says: "Let me finish, my sweet, impatient Salvatore. You know that during his ripper days he didn't bother with names. He was high on blood for days and couldn't remember afterwards. The only thing he kept track of – and I admire how he was able to do that – was his victims. His wall of shame in Chicago."

We can't help but look surprised.

"What, didn't think I checked up on my little Salvatores from time to time after I faked my death? I just had to stay in the shadows. I know more about you than you think. Or are you surprised because in months of failure you didn't think of the wall?"

None of us wants to answer that.

"Its only logical", she states, "He killed someone somebody held dear. This somebody witnessed it and learned the truth about vampires. Or was already a vampire back then. Or a witch, I don't even care. They managed to stay alive – that's our clue. We're gonna go to Chicago and check everyone on the list."

As much as I despise her, I can't help but be impressed. She is clever. And after months of frustration, it sounds like an actual plan. I nod, trying not to look too amazed. I don't want to giver her that satisfaction.

"Kay then", Damon says, "That's settled."

"So, who's up for a little roadtrip?", Katherine concludes very content with herself. "Why don't you two start your walk of shame and get dressed properly. I'm gonna pack lunch."

I could smack her for her sarcastic comments, but I get up and make my way to the guest room. After I put on a pair of skinny jeans and a dark blouse, I fold Damon's shirt carefully and put it in one of the drawers. As much as I hate myself for sleeping with him and cheating on Stefan and hurting them both and all, I don't plan on giving it back.

When I stood in front of Stefan's wall of victims, I felt a shudder down my spine. I was terrified when I saw it for the first time, the second time wasn't any better either. I felt Damon's presence directly behind me and it calmed me down, but it still was an odd feeling. Even Katherine managed to keep her mouth shut, even if I'm sure if she kept a list hers would be way longer. The perversion of this wall wasn't that Stefan killed those people – though that bit is terrifying, too – no, it's that he kept track of them meticulously.

"Well", said Damon while using his phone to take photos of the wall, "At least we can cross Giuseppe Salvatore out. It wasn't me who kidnapped Stefan."

I knew he just wanted to ease the situation but nobody laughed.

Now, back in the Boardinghouse, we have gathered Bonnie, Caroline and her mom around the table in the kitchen. Katherine has a photocopy of the list in front of her.

"We have to split the names up and have to do research. It won't be easy, these people have been dead for hundred years. It's a good thing they invented the Internet. Even though, we really need your help, Sheriff.", Katherine explains.

"I really want to be helpful, but I can't let five people unsupervised into the police station and let them look up like a hundred names.", she answered with an apologetic look on her face.

Damon cocks his eyebrowes.

"Look, Liz, I'm sorry that I have to say it that way. But if you don't let us, we're gonna go the next city and compel the police station there. It's my brother we're talking about."

Liz nods and sighs, surrendering.

"Thanks", I say and smile.

Katherine rolls her eyes. "Good. I wanna take Joseph Dowling, Nathaniel Craig and Randy Smith. I'm not sure but I might have known them. I'm gonna make a list for each one of you, let's meet at 1am."

We have a plan.