A/N: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far, I love your feedback! Please keep it coming! First things first, I'm going to tell you, Mia and Elena shippers (If there are any lol) You're in for a small treat. Mia and Katherine shippers, I haven't forgotten about you all (there's something here for you too. Although I must warn you, you'll be pissed at Mia, but just hang in there until the end of the story. Also, I've dropped so many hints that foreshadow what's to come in this chapter…let's see if you can figure it out…hehe. I made this chapter a tad bit shorter because I wasn't sure if you guys wanted the really long chapter I had planned. I wanted to get all the way up to the end of the Masquerade where they lock Katherine in the tomb but I don't know if you guys prefer the long chapters or not…
I also want to point out that there are loads of flashbacks and scene breaks. I typically try to use (X) before the line break to show that it's in the same POV just at later time. I tried specify every POV change and flashback so pay attention to that so you won't get confused.
Shout out to the reviewer who loves the 100. (Lexa definitely deserved better) I'm still excited for season 4 though, I might add.
The Stars Connect Us
Chapter 4: Memory Lane
Mia POV:
I sigh as I suck another blood bag dry. My tongue wipes off any remaining blood from my lips. I lean over the cooler as my breaths come out in low growls. Veins have already formed around my eyes and my fangs are protruding. I suck in a long breath before closing my eyes.
"My name is Mia Salvatore…I have to stay strong for Elena. Katherine is back. She killed Caroline. I'm in love with Elena…I have to stay strong for her…"
I repeat this a few times before my face returns to normal. I came up with this strategy with Lexi. We figured if I reminded myself what's important, then my anger would subside. Meaning less flipped humanity switches.
The reason I'm down here in the first place is because of Stefan. I hate seeing him with Elena. It bugs me. Of course, I will never say anything. I'm sure it will get easier to handle, but after our kisses, it's hard to look at them together.
I can tell Elena knows. She often sends me apologetic looks and once when Stefan walked away earlier she grabbed my hand and began rubbing circles on the back of my hand with her thumb. I know she was trying to comfort me, and I really appreciate it, but in all honesty, I wanted to snap Stefan's neck.
Yeah, we get it little bro, you're in a relationship with Elena. Congratulations.
I slam the lid on the color shut. Who am I kidding? I can't deal with this.
Alaric is supposed to be coming over in about 2 hours to tell us what he knows about Isobel's research. I don't see the point of this. If only they knew I could just call Isobel right now and get all the information they need.
I send a quick text to Elena.
'I'm coming over in a few.' It was short and simple, but that's all that needed to be said.
Now that I've fed, I decide to grab a jacket and head over to Elena's.
Pulling up, I let out a sigh when I see that she's sitting on her porch reading a book.
I close the door with a frustrated growl and march my way over to her.
She looks up at the last second before I throw the book out of her hands and yank her up to kiss me.
Our lips move together in desperate need as I practically shove my tongue down her throat. Hearing her moan erupted a deep growl from the back of my throat. I break the kiss to trail kisses along her jawline and then to her neck.
Elena moans softly and begins to softly run her hands through my hair, gently scratching my scalp.
A soft purring noise comes from my mouth from her ministrations, so I bite her shoulder with blunt teeth to hide the sound.
"It's okay, Mia. Shh, you're okay. We're together now." Elena coos. I let out a whimper.
"It hurts so much…I need you. Not him…you're mine." I growl the last part, earning a shiver from Elena.
"Oh Mia," she starts as she pulls away to look me in the eyes. "Is that what has you so riled up?" I blush and look away.
"Yeah," I say nervously.
"I love you." The words are like magic to my ears I stare at her in shock.
"Are you serious? You're not messing with me, are you?" I ask skeptically.
"Never." She breathed before pressing her lips to mine. I feel like I'm in heaven.
"But…but Stefan…" I begin, breaking the kiss.
"Shh. No Stefan. It's just us, right now. This is me telling you I love you."
"Elena, if this is some sort of sick joke I swear to god-!" My words are caught in my throat as she places both hands to cup my cheeks.
"I would never do that to you. Or to anyone. I love you." She repeats, emphasizing each word. My heart swells and I lean in to capture her lips.
"You have no idea how much I love you…" I mumble against her lips.
God, she feels so good…
I let out a low moan, when Elena pulls my bottom lip between her teeth with a light tug.
"Elena…if you don't stop, I won't be able to..." I groan as she slowly kisses her way to my neck.
"I don't want you to." She says breathlessly as she brings her lips back to mine, kissing them desperately.
"Fuck…" I mumble as my hands roam her body, groping her through her clothes.
"Why don't we take this inside? I doubt the neighbors will take us having a make out session on the front porch, lightly."
"Aren't Jenna and Jeremy home?"
"They are, but I doubt either of them will bother us. Come on…" she says softly. Her lips curled upward into a sneaky smirk.
Elena takes my hand in hers and pushes the front door open quietly, looking around the living room to make sure no one was in there. She puts her finger to her mouth and waves for me to follow her up the steps.
She almost tripped on her own two feet, but I caught her in my arms. I look down at Elena, my arms wrapped tightly around her waist to keep her from tumbling down the steps. I smile as I realize how familiar this position is.
When I saved her from Damon…the night we first met.
I mimic her by shushing her like she had done me mere seconds ago, I put her down softly and she grabs my head again leading me to her bedroom.
"Elena? Is that you?" Jenna asks from the room to the left.
"Shit," She whispers and pushes me into her room just before Jenna comes out of hers.
"How was your walk?" I hear her ask.
"Refreshing, but I have to catch up on some school work for Monday."
"No, that's great. I wish I could get your brother to have the same attitude." Jenna sighs.
"Me too. Just give him time. I'll try talking to him later."
"Thank you. I wish I had this whole parenting thing mastered, your mom made it look so easy."
I hear feet shuffling and then Elena walks into the room, closing the door behind her.
I barely have time to blink before Elena jumps on me, wrapping her legs around my waist. Her lips attack mine and we stumble onto the bed. Somewhere in the middle of us falling onto the bed, Elena straddled me and began to kiss my neck, occasionally biting and sucking on my skin.
A soft moan escapes me, but I am careful not to be too loud. Suddenly Elena pulls back, her eyes never leaving mine as she slowly lifts her shirt over her head, leaving her in only her bra and pants now.
My mouth waters at the sight of her as my eyes trail over her body hungrily. Both of my hands move on their own and slowly move across her newly exposed skin. Her soft moans earn a growl from me and I flip her under me, holding her arms above her head.
The way my hands glided along Elena's body felt like something close to worship, savoring every inch of her. Elena's lips spoke of a desire hidden so well until this moment, that it seemingly overtook every part of her now that it was given the chance to surface. I had become a being of pure craving above her, and Elena was more than happy to indulge.
I had suddenly given my hips a purpose as I began a lustful grind against Elena, suddenly overpowered by a wanton need of my own. I very nearly whined into Elena's mouth as her hands continued their appreciative roving. I'm rolling my hips down in perfect synchronization to meet Elena's.
I move my lips close to her ear before whispering, "I know all about your body, Elena…I know just how to send you over the edge, or to keep you there if I want…" I stop to trail kisses along her collarbone, and then I place a kiss on her cleavage. Elena squirms underneath me and I smirk.
"But only if you let me," I pause so I can look her in the eyes. "Let me make you feel alive…"
"Please…" That's all I needed to hear. I can tell she wants this just as much as I do.
3rd person POV
Elena and Mia were too into the other to realize they were being watched through the window. Angry brown eyes followed their every move, as more clothes were being removed and Mia's hand traveled lower and lower until…
She couldn't watch anymore.
Katherine jumped off the tree with a huff. Nothing was going the way she thought it would, apparently.
"Oh god, Mia…" Elena's muffled moanmakesKatherine freeze. Her brown eyes flashed and veins started to form. It was torture to keep walking. Putting one foot ahead of the other was probably the hardest thing she had ever done. Even harder than living after she found her whole family slaughtered.
Over the years, she'd often thought about her reunion with Mia. And it wasn't like this. She didn't expect to come back and find her in love with another woman, let alone her Doppelgänger.
Katherine let's out a loud sigh as she pulls out her iPhone. Scrolling through the contacts she taps the phone icon. The phone rings and her foot is tapping impatiently waiting for the person to pick up.
"Hello?"
"Well finally! Ana, we've got a problem…" Katherine said quickly, earning a loud sigh from the person on the other end.
"The child is fine, if that's what you're worried—"
"What? No, I know that. It's about…about Mia."
"Should've guessed as much. Alright shoot. And please hurry, Mila wants to go look at the stars soon. That child gets it from spending so much time with you, thank goodness you're gone." Ana chuckles from the other end.
"You blame everything she does on me, Ana." Katherine laughs. "But where to begin? Things aren't going as planned here. Mia is probably the most frustrating..."
"Naturally." Ana replies teasing.
"Mlŭkni, Ana," Katherine says quickly, "It's harder than I thought. Seeing her with my Doppelgänger."
"Obviously, Katerina. But now I need you to be honest with me," Ana says. "I figured the real reason why you wanted to turn in your Doppelgänger to Klaus was for your freedom. But when I thought about it…you've ran for 500 years. Elena had been born for the last 17 of those years, you knew about her before. So why now? She's resembled you exactly for about 5 years now. You didn't need to wait until now to prepare everything for Klaus. Which leads me to believe it's because of Mia. You sent Isobel to keep an eye on Mia for sure. Everything was fine until Isobel told you about their chemistry. Then you decided you had to drop everything here to go there, right?"
A loud sigh escapes Katherine's mouth. Her grip tightens around her phone as she goes rigid.
"Ana…" She begins dangerously, "You know nothing."
"On the contrary, you'd be surprised at how easy it is for me to read you. I'm on your side, and I always have been. You don't have to pretend with me and Mila. For once, stop trying to be the badass vampire. Obviously, Mia's not interested in that."
"I don't care. I came here with an agenda. And being a badass vampire is the only way to get what I need."
"No. It's a way to get you killed, Katerina. Avoid the Salvatore's, find the moonstone, your werewolf, vampire, and finally hand over the Doppelgänger to bargain with Klaus." Ana says harshly. Katherine flinches at the sound of Ana using her birth name.
Katherine bites her lip as she kicks some small rocks at her feet. She has something in her eye.
The dust probably. That explains why they're watering now.
Of course, that's it? What else would it be?
"She'd hate me forever, Ana." She accidentally sniffs. "I'm sorry, my eyes are watering from all this wind…" Katherine tried to cover up, quickly earning a scoff from Ana.
"Whatever. I seriously doubt she'd hate you forever. Your bond is much stronger than that."
"She's told me herself, that she's in love with Elena. Even Isobel could—"
"Then make her remember! She's still in love with you, she's just angry. I'm not doubting her love for Elena, but she's still in love with you too. The kind of love you two share doesn't just disappear. I'd never thought I'd say this, but now is the time to be Katherine Pierce, not Katerina Petrova. You deserve your freedom. Love is nothing if you can't be free."
Katherine pauses for a second, her eyes distant, sad.
"But what is freedom without love?" She says softly.
Jesus, what is Mia doing to her?
What she's always done…
"You're making this little problem into a big one. She'll get over Elena." Ana replies with a sigh.
"And if that fairytale assumption of yours doesn't happen? How do you know Mia will forgive me?" Katherine questions.
"If not, then you tell her. You tell her everything, and I do mean everything. No more secrets." Ana says with a hint of annoyance.
"No. That's absolutely out of the question, Ana—!"
"Is it? It shouldn't be. This—whatever this is—is a lot bigger than all of us right now! This is a dangerous game you're playing, Katerina. Do you really expect to win if your key player is left in the dark?" Ana whispers loudly. As if to make sure no one else would overhear her in the house.
"It won't get that far, Ana! Not if…" Katherine trails off. For once she's at lost for words.
"If what? None of us have a choice here! Your fate was sealed the second you stepped foot in Mystic falls back in 1864."
"No, Ana! My fate was sealed the second I was born. Mia—the Salvatore's had nothing to do with this. My choices are nothing but my own. You know neither of us know what's going to happen with Klaus. Your little witchy friend only knew that it would wipe the board clean-it'll be a game changer. Now unless she can give us more details, you are going to continue to be as you were, living with your family and keeping little Mila safe. And I am going to continue my quest for freedom." With that she tapped the end button. Katherine had nothing more to say.
This was a big mess, but she knew Ana had been right.
Eventually, she will have to come clean to Mia, but hopefully she still has more time...hopefully.
Mia POV:
"Ric, we need to know what we are dealing with. If this wolfman thing is true, I've seen enough movies to know it's not good." I hear Damon say as me and Elena walk through the door.
I stop in the doorway, dreading when Elena will go to Stefan's side. And we'll have to pretend nothing has happened between us, when in fact, everything had.
As if she can sense my unease, Elena grabs my hand with a gentle squeeze.
Taking a deep breath, I walk behind Elena to the living room where Ric, Damon, and Stefan were all talking.
"You two are late." Damon says smirking. Stefan looks up between the both of us before standing to hug Elena.
"Yeah, she got hungry. We stopped for lunch," I say, before taking my seat. "What did we miss?"
"Alaric said Isobel's research is still at Duke because technically she's still missing. Alaric said she did a lot of research on Mystic Falls—tons." Stefan replies.
"That's right. She not only researched vampires, but werewolves too." Ric chimes in. I nod, I remember all of Isobel's research. We met while I was attending Duke. I went to medical school there.
"It would explain why Tyler and the Mayor were affected by the device. They have to be something supernatural." Elena says softly.
"Ric, we need to know what we are dealing with. If this wolfman thing is true, I've seen enough movies to know it's not good." Damon says sipping his bourbon.
"Duke it is, I guess." I mumble.
"Are you coming too?" Elena asks. I'm sitting on my bed, reading. Elena hovers by the doorway as if she's afraid to come in.
"Stefan wants me to. To keep Damon in check while he stays beyond to help Caroline." I reply. My eyes never leaving my book.
A few minutes' pass and I peak over the book and see Elena still in my doorway, lingering at the doorframe as if she need permission to come in my room.
"You know Elena, you can come in. Sit and chill with me for a little bit." I smirk, patting the empty space on my bed.
Suddenly, she comes over and flops down next to me. Elena snuggles closer to me and I smile.
A part of me was worried that she would regret what happened earlier.
"I'm sorry I'm acting weird right now. It's just…after earlier, I'm not sure if I'll be able to control myself around you. Especially when there's a bed involved. If we were alone that's fine, but in a house with two other vampires, I'm not so sure it's a good idea." Elena sighs.
I smirk.
"So now I must ask, who's better in bed me or Stefan?" I ask with a smug smile playing on my lips.
"Oh my god, Mia!" She laughs and tosses a pillow at my face. My smile spreads at the sound of her laugh. Making her blush from seeing my smile.
"I'm serious! What's the verdict, Princess?" The word rolled off my tongue before I could stop it. I like it. She is a princess, my princess…
"Honestly?" She asks looking up at me. "You. I mean Stefan's good, but you're ten times better. And hotter…" she whispers seductively. God, I love this Elena.
"Wanna go again?" I say, licking my lips.
"I'd love too, but not in here. God knows you can't keep quiet." She says teasingly.
"Me? Elena, need I remind you who almost got us caught? I had to keep covering your mouth just so you wouldn't give us away." I laugh.
"I wasn't the only one!" She says hitting my arm, "You moan loudly too..."
"Well yeah, you're so hot..." I mumble just before I attack her neck and push her underneath me.
My lips ghost over her neck, softly trailing kisses along the side of her neck.
That's when it happened.
My veins begin to form and my teeth begin to sharpen. I can feel her heart beat faster and all I want to do is suck her dry…
A soft moan from her is all I need to snap back into reality. I jump back, using my inhumane speed to move to the other side of the room. I stare at her in horror before running away—to the basement.
I rush over to the cooler and snatch a blood bag.
Fuck…there's only three…that's not enough!
Before I know it, I've already sucked all three of them dry in under a minute. My anger boils and I let out a loud growl. The only reason how I know I kicked something is the slight sting I feel on my toe.
"You know, up until now, I thought Stefan was the one drinking all the damn blood bags." Damon's voice fills my ears. Turning my attention to the stairs, I see Damon and behind him Elena. Her eyes filled with concern as she looks at the state I'm in.
"Damon, I'm okay…I've just been very hungry lately. I swear I haven't hurt anyone—please don't call Lexi." I manage to say between ragged breaths. I imagine how this must look…
Like I've lost it…he'll call Lexi. I'm screwed.
"Hey, I believe you. And I'm not going to call Lexi. That's Stefan's thing," He says. "You think you're going through an episode? You've been more irritable lately…"
I nod my head, "I think so…It'll go away in a few days, like always."
"Do you think you can handle being in the car all the way to Duke?" He asks me.
"Yeah, I'll be able to handle it..."
My eyes find their way to Elena and I look down nervously.
"I'm going to go, leave you two lovebirds to it…" Damon mumbles before walking up the stairs.
"I'm sorry…I was hungry and I didn't want to risk hurting you." I say quickly. I'm not even sure if she understood me.
"I know, Mia. I talked to Damon. He told me that in a way you're like Stefan. You can't drink blood directly from a human, but you can drink from a blood bag. So, I want to try to help. You drink a little from me every day so—"
"No." I say angrily. "How can you offer yourself up like that, Elena. Don't you know how precious you are to me? If I hurt you, or worse killed you I would probably walk into a building and light a fire and burn myself. You may not understand it, hell I don't either but I need you to live. You're so pure…so...human."
She stares at me, her doe eyes staring into mine with nothing but love.
"I'm not backing down from this one. Even if it's just a very little bit. We can start with something small like a cut or I'll prick my finger. Whatever it is, I want to help. I will always be here for you, Mia. Always."
(X)
Duke University
"So, Isobel was officially employed by the anthropology department given that most paranormal phenomenon is rooted in folklore." Alaric informs us as we walk through the building. What he doesn't know is that I've been here many times before…
I really hope, I don't see anyone that knows me here…hopefully they all graduated or whatever.
"Excuse me, hi. I'm Alaric Saltzman, I called earlier." Alaric's voice snaps me out of my thoughts.
"Yes, of course. I'm Vanessa Monroe, research assistant, comparative folklore." Oh fuck.
She hasn't noticed me yet, but I've been lingering in the back, studying her. Vanessa keeps looking at Elena strangely. I can't put my finger on it…
"Uh, let me just grab Isobel's keys…" Yeah, there's something…off. Thank god, she hasn't recognized me yet.
"These are my friends Elena, Mia, and Damon. I hope this isn't too much of an imposition." Alaric says to her and I visibly freeze. Why couldn't he just leave it at, 'These are my friends'?
"Oh please, Isobel's office is right through there. Isobel was one of my first professors. I'm a grad student. She was brilliant, and one of the reasons I went into folklore. Uh, I have to ask - has there been any news?" Vanessa asks.
"No, I'm afraid not." Alaric replies as we enter the room. I try not to draw any attention to myself. I really don't want her to recognize me.
I met Vanessa during my time attending Duke. I would come to spend time with Isobel, and I helped her with some of her research on Mystic Falls. I was a fool in thinking Isobel wouldn't connect the dots about me being a vampire. That I was in fact, Mia Salvatore, one of the three Salvatore siblings from Mystic Falls she'd researched. At the time, I was under an alias: Maya Salvadori. I didn't think Isobel would research Mystic Falls during 1864 as deep as she had.
She confronted me about it around a month into our fling. Isobel came at me saying she knew my secret. How I was really Mia Salvatore, and that I was turned a vampire by a woman named Katherine Pierce, whom she found was killed in a fire—the supposed Battle of Willow Creek, was nothing more than a ruse and they were vampires instead of unarmed civilians that were rounded up.
When I asked her how she figured out I was Mia Salvatore. She told me it was obvious. The Mia Salvatore described in her research fit Maya Salvadori perfectly—fit me, perfectly.
I guess I should have changed my name to something with different first letters. I think I read somewhere that people always pick aliases that are subconsciously derivative of their original name. It's a way of not completely letting go of your identity, since your name is so tied to your sense of self.
I'm absentmindedly following behind everyone, taking everything in—nothing's changed. As if Isobel was here yesterday…
"I'll grab the light, feel free to look around. It's fascinating, isn't it?" Vanessa sighs in an admiring tone.
She leaves us and we all begin looking through the room.
"Where'd she go?" Damon asks suddenly. Good question…
Suddenly, Vanessa comes back with a crossbow and tries to shoot an arrow at Elena but I'm quicker. I stand in front of her, protecting her from the arrow. I wince when the arrow pierces my skin through the hoodie. Damon moves swiftly to restrain Vanessa against the wall. Thank god there are two vampires here…
"Saved ya, Princess…" I chuckle behind Elena, followed by a groan.
Shit…it hurts.
"Mia…thank you…" she says softly. I try to smile, but it ends up being a grimace.
Alaric moves to take Damon's spot and pulls Vanessa out of the room. Damon comes over to check the damage.
"Just pull the arrow out, Damon! It hurts…" I snap.
"Ow, fuck…" I groan as he snatches the arrow out. I stand up straight and shake myself off…that was nothing…
"That bitch is dead." Damon growls, and I agree with him…
"You're not gonna kill her." Elena's voice snaps me out of my thoughts. I was thinking of ways to kill her, too, but oh well.
"Watch me."
"Let it go, Damon." I sigh dismissively.
"You know, I really miss the old Mia. She would've killed her the second she came in her with the crossbow. But no. You'd rather take a wooden arrow in the back to save 'Princess Elena,' than kill a bitch who deserves it!" He grows, "I have no idea what power Elena has over you, but maybe you getting back with Katherine wouldn't be such a bad idea. At least she isn't a total party pooper." He spat.
I roll my eyes, "Seriously, Damon? How is it that you always find a way to be a childish brat? Let it go. You aren't killing her."
"Like I'll listen to you—!" Damon begins but is cut off by Elena.
"You touch her and I swear I will never speak to you again." Elena snaps at him.
"What makes you think that has any power over me? Because last I checked, I wasn't Mia or Stefan. You're severely overestimating yourself."
"Right. I forgot that I was speaking to a psychotic mind who snaps and kills people impulsively. Fine, go ahead, do whatever you want." Elena mumbles.
"You're trying to manipulate me."
"If by "manipulate" you mean "tell the truth" okay, guilty. Come on." Elena says as she mentions us to follow her.
"Please! I freaked out okay? Alright, you would have done the same thing, it's not possible! Katherine Pierce can't be alive and the Salvatore siblings died in 1864. Okay? I read Isobel's research." Vanessa says as we enter the room. Her eyes are wide as she frantically tries to grasp the situation.
"Well, then you should know just how possible this is." Alaric says matter-of-factly.
"I'm Elena Gilbert, Isobel's daughter and a descendant of Katherine Pierce. And this is Damon and Mia Salvatore—who you just shot."
"I'd be extra nice to us right now." Damon threatens. But she appears not to be paying attention to him because her eyes are fixed on me.
"I remember you! You were—"
"Yeah, I used to go here. I was in medical school…" I say nervously, sticking my hands in my pockets and rocking back on the heel of my shoes.
"You…You were...are a vampire? You're Mia Salvatore? How could I have missed that then?"
I shook my head.
"No, you wouldn't have known unless you knew what you were looking for. I told people my name was, Maya Salvadori."
"I do remember you. You were like a star. You knew your shit."
"You could say that…" I chuckle.
"No, I'm serious, guys. She's crazy smart. A lot more than she lets on. I remember Isobel and some other professor talking about you being the top student in the medical school. Graduated on top, right?"
"Yes…" I say quietly. I really don't like talking about myself this way. It makes me seem like an overachiever. It can also be taken like I'm bragging, and I hate that. I never liked people who bragged.
"Year 2006, right? I swear she has a picture of you at your graduation somewhere…you're pretty much famous around here."
"Thanks. It's nothing special, honestly. Now that you mention it, I do remember seeing you a lot. I'm surprised you remember me…"
"Kind of hard not to. Not every day that you go to school with a genius."
"Now you're giving me too much credit. I'm far from it. I just worked hard, and studied a lot…" I chuckle.
"Well it paid off. But I doubt you all are here to hear about Mia's accomplishments, though." Vanessa says looking around between the four of us.
"We need your help okay? We need to see all of Isobel's research, anything related to Mystic Falls."
Damon walks back into the room to check for more information.
"This box checks Katherine's arrival to Mystic Falls in April 1864." Vanessa mentions to the box next to her.
"Is that all there is about her?" Elena asks looking through the box. Her eyebrows are creased in frustration.
"All that I'm aware of…" I hear Vanessa say as I turn my attention to the bookshelves.
"Here, take this." I hear Elena whisper. I laugh softly when I see it's vervain.
"Does vervain really work?" She asks Elena.
"Nope, not at all." Damon answers from the other room.
"Can he hear us?" Vanessa asks again whispering. How this lady claims she read Isobel's research on Vampires but doesn't know about our supernatural hearing is beyond me…
"No, that would be creepy." Damon answers again. I bite back a laugh as my eyes trail over the titles of all the different books.
"Can he read minds too?" She whispers to Elena.
"You know, if you want to see me naked, all you have to do is ask." I let out a loud snicker. I immediately try to cover it up with a cough. Elena and Vanessa turn their heads to look at me after my little outburst.
"I'm sorry…I'm just gonna look over…yeah…" I walk to the other side of the room with my back turned. I laugh silently hoping they aren't watching me.
"No, that he can't do. He is very capable of being a first-rate jackass." Elena answers. I have to physically bite my lip to stop from laughing.
A few minutes' pass and I hear Damon come in and ask if they'd had any luck.
"There's nothing in here about Katherine that we don't already know." Elena sighs.
"Ah, man, you know, it's a bummer we're not friends anymore because I could tell you what I know…" Damon smirks at her reaction.
I raise an eyebrow at his words.
"Now who's manipulating who?" The annoyance in Elena's voice is evident.
I have things I could share too…Katherine told me a lot back then. Some about her family, I know she had a daughter that she was forced to give up due to her having her out of wedlock. I do remember her telling me her real name. Katerina Petrova. She didn't go into detail about what happened to her after she was banished from Bulgaria. She only told me that it was, 'A horrific life changing event that scared her.' I can only guess it was her transition into a vampire.
I know I'm not being honest by withholding information, but for some reason, I can't bring myself to say anything. How could I? We had a heart to heart. Katherine trusted me with that and I promised I'd keep her secrets until my death.
"Hey guys, check this out." Alaric's voice snaps me out of my thoughts.
"There's no record of werewolf mythology in Mystic Falls, but here are some records of some of the lesser-known legends. Everything from Scandinavian skin-walkers to the Maréchal de Retz." Vanessa says as she hands us a book with drawings.
"Tonartsliitsii Metslii, which roughly translates into the—"
"Curse of the sun and the moon." We both say in unison. Everyone looks at me in shock.
"It's Native American." Alaric says.
"Aztec, I believe." I mumble completely fascinated with the drawings.
"Correct. It is Aztec. It explains one origin of the werewolf curse traced through Virginia. The short story: 600 years ago, the Aztecs were plagued by werewolves and vampires. They terrorized the countryside, made farming and hunting impossible until an Aztec shaman cursed them, making vampires slaves to the sun and werewolves servants of the moon. Thus, vampires could only prowl at night and werewolves could only turn on a full moon. When the full moon crests in the sky, who's ever unlucky enough to fall under the werewolf curse turns into a wolf."
"Can they control the transformation?" Damon questions.
"If it were a choice, it wouldn't be called a curse." Vanessa answers.
I smirk at Damon, "Duh!" I mouth teasingly. He mocks me and sticks out his tongue.
"Werewolves will attack humans but instinct and centuries of rivalry have hardwired them to hunt their prey of choice: vampires." Vanessa continues.
"Well, if werewolves were hunting vampires, we would know about it." Damon says looking at me for confirmation. I hum in agreement.
"Not if there aren't that many werewolves left alive. Hundreds of years ago, vampires hunted them almost to extinction." That's interesting…
"Why would they do that?" Elena asks the question we're all wondering.
"To protect themselves. Legend has it that a werewolf bite is fatal to vampires."
That got everyone's attention…
"Oh…" Is all Damon can say.
"Shit…" I say after Damon.
(X)
"I don't know what that means or if we should even believe it but it's a full moon, Stefan. After what you saw Mason Lockwood do..." Elena says to Stefan over the phone.
All I hear is his muffled response. I honestly don't want to. Wouldn't want to be nosy.
"There's one more thing." Elena sighs.
Muffled response…
"According to the legend, a werewolf bite can kill a vampire."
I hear Stefan say something on the other end and the Elena replies with a simple, "Okay."
"Hey, have you done any research on doppelgängers?"
"Well, the word means a lot of different things to different cultures, but typically a doppelgänger is a living, breathing double of oneself." Vanessa responds.
"Did Isobel have anything that explained the link between me and Katherine?" Elena asks. I can hear a hint of hopefulness in her voice.
"That's all she had on Katherine, unfortunately, but I can tell you that doppelgängers usually torment the people they look like, trying to undo their lives. It's not exactly uplifting."
"And more things we already know. Just...I want to know why we look alike."
"Head scratcher, isn't it?" Damon teases.
"Do you know something, or are you just being yourself?" Elena snaps. Jesus…these two have been at each other's throats since we got here. I understand why, though.
Stefan told me about what Damon did to Jeremy. But I had to promise I wouldn't do anything to hurt Damon if he told me. And so far, I've kept my promise. Just glad, little Gilbert is okay. No thanks to Damon…
"Well, if I know anything, I'm not gonna tell you, not with that attitude."
"That's good, Damon, and this is coming from someone who wants to be my friend, but you know what? Friends don't manipulate friends, they help each other."
"I trust you're not gonna say anything about this to anyone." I say to Vanessa once we're all outside.
"Or else Damon will kill me in my sleep? He gave me the 411, but if you need anything, you can call. Oh, and Maya—Mia, sorry. I think you should have this. I found it in Isobel's office. It's a picture of you and her on your graduation."
I look confused. Why would she have a picture of us? I don't even have one.
Vanessa hands me the picture and I smile sadly. That was a good day. Back when Isobel and I were still on good terms. I was smiling brightly into the camera. I had gotten my Doctorate's degree that day. The doctoral gown is the most elaborate, with front-facing velvet and three velvet bars on each of the full, billowing sleeves. My arm tugged behind Isobel's waist. In which she was obviously laughing with a blush covering her cheeks.
"Thank you." Is my simple reply.
"Isobel's disappearance...is it related to her research?" Vanessa asks suddenly. Finally putting 2 and 2 together.
"Isobel became her research. She wanted to become a vampire and she got her wish."
Yeah, thanks to Damon.
I shake my head and decide to give them some privacy. I'm halfway to the car when I hear Elena mutter the word, "Petrova."
"Katherine originally came from Europe. Petrova was her real name. Katerina Petrova, to be exact." Is Damon's smug reply.
"How did you know that?"
"Back when, I saw it engraved on an old heirloom. Men snoop too, you know. Let me know what you find, I'm very curious myself. I bet you didn't even know that, did you?" Damon addresses the last part to me. I roll my eyes…arrogant bastard…
'I did, actually, and I didn't find out from stooping. Katherine told me herself!'
I would've liked to say that. Just to wipe that smug smirk off his face. But teasing Damon about what Katherine shared with me would be implying that I'm still hung up over her—which isn't true. Damon may be, but I'm not.
"Nope." I say popping the p. I don't want to give him the satisfaction.
"Elena, when we get in the car, I want to give you something…" I tell her opening the door for her to get in.
Damon looks annoyed, but nonetheless huffs and then opens the car door.
I close the door after her before walking to the other side.
"Vanessa found this. I guess I took a picture with Isobel on my graduation day. I thought she was just some random professor…" I lie almost flawlessly. I kind of surprise myself.
"Wow…You look beautiful. Can I keep it?"
"Of course! That's why I'm showing you. I want you to have it. Proof that your mom wasn't always a cold uncaring vampire."
"Thank you, Mia. Seriously. You have no idea how much this means to me." For a second, I almost think she forgets about Damon and wants to kiss me. But she settles for a tight hug instead.
I look out the window, my eyes land instantly on the moon. Full moon…
An involuntary shiver erupts through my body. My nails dig into my pants, and I let out a low growl. I clench my jaw as I stare at the moon with a feeling I couldn't place. Almost like pure resentment.
I've never liked the full moon.
I hate it even more now, with this whole werewolf thing…
By the time we got back I didn't want to do anything else but sleep. I'm so tired…
(X)
"I don't think they would mind if I stole one dance with you, right?" Katherine greets me with a smile. She looks absolutely stunning tonight.
"You seem to forget my father, Miss Katherine. The sight of two women dancing will surely send him into cardiac arrest." I reply with a small smile.
"Perhaps we should wait until later and have our dance under the stars, then." Katherine whispers suggestively.
"Perhaps we should then," I say as a shiver goes down my spine at the thought. "What of my brothers? Surely you've noticed how troubled Damon is that you chose Stefan to escort you…" I reply as I sip my wine.
"Well, Damon needs to concede that his younger brother is a better dancer, and his older sister currently holds the key to my heart."
Before I can respond, George Lockwood comes over, eyeing Katherine wearily. I smile sweetly just as I had been taught. A lady never shows her true emotions. Any other day, I would not care to behave under such foolish beliefs, but I know how much this means to my father and the rest of the founding families.
"Sorry to interrupt. I was only coming to borrow my date back." George smiles brightly. Reaching to grab a hold of my arm. Katherine stops him by gripping his forearm. Their fake smiles never leaving their faces as they, in the subtlest way, fight over who gets to spend time with me.
Katherine definitely has some sort of strength if George can't even brush her off.
George laughs nervously, but his smile never falters, nor does Katherine's.
"May I finish my drink, George? I was just listening to Katherine gush over my brothers. Unless you'd rather listen to our girl talk…" I tell him, sending my own fake innocent smile.
"Must certainly not, Miss Salvatore. I apologize for my intrusion, m'lady. I shall wait over there. I wish to speak to your father about something." George smiles at me to which I return, but I did notice how it faltered slightly when he glanced back at Katherine.
I wait until he's across the room before turning to Katherine.
"What on earth was that about?"
Katherine's eyes never left George's retreating figure, "He's going to ask your father's permission for your hand in marriage." Her voice is low, menacing even.
"How could you possibly know that? He's only taken interest in me since he's returned from war. Which had been less than a month."
"Mating preferences. He wants to mate with you, Miss Salvatore." The smile on her face implies that she's jesting, but her voice says otherwise.
"Mating is a very vulgar term, Miss Katherine. Hardly any term used to describe humans, more like—"
"Animals. Dogs, wolves...yes, I know what it means." She replies a bit absentmindedly. Her eyes have darkened considerably as she stares at George. Even a blind man could see that the look in her eyes weren't a good thing. One might go as far to say there was an evil glint to them. She's studying him. Like she's waiting to attack.
An animal studying his prey…
"Well, whatever is going on in that head of yours needn't be. I've known George since we were small children and I have never known him to show interest in me. What would make him want to ask for my hand in marriage now?"
"Mating. They do love their kind…" She mumbles.
"Look, just because we're both from founding families doesn't hardly mean a thing. We don't all love to marry other founding families, you know. Or as you so kindly put it, 'our kind.'"
She looks at me then, almost like she's dying to say something but can't for whatever reason.
"I should probably get back to George," I sigh as I look at my empty glass.
"Perhaps you should, I suppose I have kept Stefan waiting long enough. Oh, it looks like he found someone to occupy his time…" Katherine tells me. I frown. Who could have possibly—
"Elena." There. Beaming brightly at Stefan is Elena. She looks out of place with her blue jeans and button up blouse. Too modern, completely out of this time.
She places a kiss on Stefan's cheek. I begin to walk over, my chest tightening at how happy she looks to be with him.
"Mia, don't." Katherine says, but my brain tones her out. All I can do is focus on the pain I feel when I see her with Stefan. When I get close to her, the scene changes.
'But I was so close…so close, yet so far…'
I follow them through the door and I see her leaning over the pool table smiling at me.
"Elena—"
"It's your turn." She smirks, holding out the cue stick.
"Be prepared to lose." Stefan comes up beside me and takes the cue stick from her. His lips press against hers and my heart shatters.
"It hurts, doesn't it?" Katherine comes up beside me still dressed in her 1864 attire.
"Now you know how I feel. Don't fight it, Mia. You loved me once. You can love me again." Suddenly, we're back at the Lockwood mansion in 1864. Back where George walked away to speak with my father.
"I love you, Mia. We'll be together again, I promise." Katherine whispers in my ear. My eyes never leaving George and my father as I stare blankly ahead. Refusing to move, even when Katherine began kissing my neck.
I jot awake, sucking in a deep breath. Elena is snuggled against my chest as we lie on my bed.
"Hey, you okay?" She asks me softly.
"Yeah. Yes, bad dream. Get back to sleep." I mumble before closing my eyes again.
There.
That familiar pull…
I jump out of the bed at vampire speed. She sits up on the bed smirking at me.
"Katherine." I spat.
"You have to admit I am getting better at this. But as always, our connection gave me away. It was easy to get inside of your head. Have you completely forsaken your nature? Is that what Elena does to you?"
I growl and attempt to hit her, but she deflects it and pushes me down on a chair.
"Are we really gonna do this again? We both know how that will end. Probably leaving half of Mystic Falls in ruins."
I scoff, "Yeah right."
Katherine chuckles, "You're right. We both know I could rip you to shreds and do my nails at the same time." Her tone is teasing. She's trying to get me riled up.
"What do you want?"
"I wanted to see you. I missed you, Mia. Indulge me for a little while, please? Stefan's here too. Double the fun. Just like old times. Lucky me!" She smirks.
"Why are you back in town?" I choose to ignore her last statement.
"3 reasons: you, you and you."
"You see, I can't quite get that down. Just kind of...gets stuck in my throat." I fake a small cough.
"Well, you know, it's the truth. Deep down inside that gorgeous body of yours there's the Mia that fell in love with me too." Katherine teases as she trails a finger down between my cleavage to my stomach, earning a slight shiver from me.
I turn and walk down to the living room. Stefan is already there writing in his journal.
"Well I'm hungry." Katherine says as she flops down on the couch.
Stefan looks at me questionably. I shrug my shoulders in response.
"Stefan dear, could you please get me some blood? I'm dying here." Katherine asks dramatically.
Much to my surprise he does.
"Damon's private stock." He says as he hands her the glass filled with blood.
"That's right! You don't do human, I read that. I also read about your recent werewolf sighting. That must have come as a surprise."
"Did you seriously read his journal?" I ask.
"I know. I'm sorry. It was just too tempting, all of his inner thoughts and feelings, laying there on his desk for me to read."
"Touché." I can't argue with that.
"What do you know about werewolves?" Stefan asks straight to the point.
"I know not to pet one. Their bite kills, Stefan. It's best to stay clear of them during a full moon."
"And...how do you know this?" I chime in. Katherine begins walking around the room picking up random objects and examining it like a child.
"Who do you think was responsible for ridding this town of vampires in 1864?"
"Founding families." Stefan says.
"Spearheaded by?"
"The Lockwoods." I answer. Katherine nods her head at my answer.
"You both remember the Founders' Ball, don't you? The one that you were dreaming about?" She directs her last question to me.
"I was your escort." Stefan answers.
Katherine hums in agreement, "That was before you all knew about my little secret."
3rd person POV:
Flashback:
Lockwood Mansion, 1864
"Everyone will you please join me in raising your glasses to my good friend George Lockwood. George, thank you for so bravely defending the south." Damon smiles brightly.
"My honor Mr. Salvatore. After all, someone had to do it." George replies and everyone laughs.
Katherine and Mia are next to each other sipping their drinks when the moment is interrupted by a young man named Henry.
"Can we have a word Miss Katherine?" Henry seems flustered. Out of breath and tired. Mia frowned as she took in his appearance.
"Grab a glass, Henry. It's a celebration." Katherine tells him. Trying to hint to him that she'd rather enjoy the evening than be bothered by anything else.
"Please, Miss Katherine." Katherine rolls her eyes but reluctantly, she trails after him. Before Mia could decide to check on the two of them, George comes back over to her. He places a soft kiss on the back of her hand and asks her to dance with him.
"I looked into those attacks from the other night. It wasn't vampires." Henry started.
"That's good news, Henry. That means we have nothing to worry about." Katherine reaches for his arm to give him a reassuring squeeze.
"I'm afraid you don't understand. Those folks were torn apart in ways I've never seen before." Henry clarifies. His voice wavers slightly, giving away a hint of fear.
"Then...it won't be long before the founders drop an investigation."
"We'll leave town immediately. I'll tell the others."
Katherine catches his arm, "Relax, Henry. This town is our home and the vampires are my family. I won't let anything happen to us."
Her eyes trail over to Mia, a soft smile playing on the corners of her mouth. Then George places a kiss on Mia's cheek and Katherine can practically feel her blood boil as she glares at him from afar.
Mia POV:
"From the moment I met George, I knew he'd be a problem." Katherine continues.
"So you're saying that all the Lockwoods are werewolves." I ask.
"The werewolf gene runs in the Lockwood family. Not that they're all wolves." She wiggles her finger making sure we pay close attention to her choice of words. The gene runs in the Lockwood family, but they are NOT all wolves…
So basically, it's a dormant gene until something awakens it…
"How many werewolves are out there? I mean...is it just limited to the Lockwood's?" Stefan questions.
"No, there are others. Not many. They're practically extinct. They mainly exist now in books and really bad movies." Yeah, like twilight…
Katherine picks up her drink and takes a long sip.
"I'm going to go call, Damon. He needs to know this." Stefan says suddenly. Katherine nods and waves him off.
"My turn to ask a question." She starts once we're alone.
She walks over to the table and picks up a small framed drawing of her from 1864. I gave it to her about a week before she was captured. She never got the change to take it, it was still in her room. On the stand beside her bed…
I curse myself when I realize she must've gone through my things in my room. I feel my chest tighten because deep down I know the answer. And so does she..
"Why did you keep this picture? Why not burn it? Tear it up? You want to know why I came back. Well I have a better question: Why did you stay? For Elena? No. You stayed here to fall in love with me all over again, didn't you?" I speed up to her. I stroke her cheek gently, savoring the feel of her smooth skin. How her breath hitches under my touch…
I listen to the sounds of our breathing, molding into one as we stare into each other's eyes.
"What is it about you that makes me still care?" I whisper. My blue eyes never leaving hers.
Before I know it she slowly leans in…those soft sinful lips attach to mine like a magnet.
Oh, how can they be the same as Elena's, but so different at the same time?
A good different, I daresay. Our lips move together in a slow tango. As if by instinct, my tongue slid along Katherine's supple bottom lips, testing an old boundary, one that's long since been redrawn. It causes her to whimper slightly as she granted me access. We both explored this familiar territory with fervor, shifting our feet a little as we begin an erotic dance with our tongues—an old dance, something exclusive for the two of us. I move my hands to rest along her sides, never breaking the kiss.
Suddenly, Katherine yelps and tumbles backwards onto the couch behind her. I stare wide eyes, frozen to the spot. Stefan stands looking at the on the couch. A vervain filled syringe gripped tightly in his right hand. I swallow hard…what the fuck just happened?
"Thanks for distracting her. That was perfect…I almost thought that kiss was real," He says. "Help me move her…"
That's because it was real…
No! It's just Katherine messing with me. She manipulated my dreams and that fucked up my judgement. That's the only reason why I kissed her, it was just because she messed with my head…
"I got her." I grumble. I carry Katherine in my arms, bridal style. Once we're in the basement I tie her down to a chair.
"Now, where were we? That's right; you were going to tell me why you came back to Mystic Falls, weren't you?" I growl.
"You two…You don't have to do this." Katherine pants.
"Answer the question, Katherine!" Stefan yells from my side.
"I came back for Mia." Her eyes meet mine then and I almost stumble backwards. They appear cold, and angry, with a hint of betrayal. She's never looked at me like that…
"We're gonna play by our rules now." Stefan tells her. I turn around and put on a glove on my right hand. I need it to protect myself from the vervain. How do you get a vampire to talk…?
I lower the vervain to her cheek, brushing it against her skin slightly. Satisfied with the way her skin burns under the vervain.
She screams in pain.
"Answer the question." I say through clenched teeth.
"You're going to torture me now?" Her voice sounds broken.
"I'll do whatever it takes to get you to tell me the truth." My voice is monotone. From personal experience, you can never show too much emotion with her.
"Mia maybe we shouldn't…" Stefan tries to grab my arm, but I shrug him off.
"If you can't handle it, Stefan, then leave. I'll deal with her."
He doesn't respond but I see him move from the corner of my eye. His footsteps grow softer as he goes back upstairs.
"Later that night at the Founders' Ball..."
"I don't want to hear any more stories about the past!" I yell.
"Yes, you do, Mia. That's exactly what you want to hear."
Flashback 1864
3rd person POV:
"She's all alone. Does this mean I can finally have you all to myself?" George Lockwood smiles.
"And so are you. Where is the lovely Mia Salvatore?" Katherine responds. She takes a sip of her wine waiting for his answer.
"Careful now, Miss Katherine. After your display of possessiveness over my date earlier, one might be inclined to think you have your eyes set on her. But that would be inappropriate, wouldn't it?" George continues to smile.
"Your father has outdone himself." Katherine says completely ignoring his last comment.
"Knowing father, he will want to throw a Founders' Party every year."
"I must admit, I'm rather surprised that you'd come looking for me." Katherine responds.
"Because you are the rope in the Salvatore's brother's tug of war?"
"No, because I'm a vampire who could kill you in your sleep." Katherine says, and even though her words were threatening, her voice didn't waver from sweet.
"I beg your pardon?" He shifts uncomfortably.
"Relax, George. I know you know my secret."
"This conversation is over."
George turns to walk away, but Katherine catches his arm.
"And I know your secret too and I know that you're extra strong, only not as strong." Katherine smiles softly. To a passerby, it might have appeared to be a pleasant conversation.
Katherine finally releases him after she felt she's proved her point.
"How do you know who I am?"
"You think that I would settle into a town without knowing my enemies?"
"What do you want?"
"Well the first thing, stop trying to court Mia. She's not interested in you. Leave her out of your silly wolf cravings."
Mia POV:
"What did you want?" I ask her. I decide to grab a chair to sit directly in front of her.
This time she doesn't answer me.
"You know, we can sit here as long as you want. And when you start to desiccate, there's a tomb with your name on it." I tell her in a bored tone.
"I've been doing all the talking, it's your turn. Do you pretend to be human when you're with Elena? Is that the appeal, Mia?" Of course, she'd find a way to bring up Elena.
"Actually, I don't pretend to be anything when I'm with her. That's the whole point. I get to just be myself." I reply smirking.
"Does she know that you love me?" My smirk falls at her words.
"I don't." I mumble.
"That's where you're wrong, Mia-blue. Don't you remember walking home with me that night?"
(X)
Flashback Mia POV:
We decided to take a walk before returning home. It was a clear night, calm and peaceful. The stars shining brightly. It wasn't exactly a full moon, but it gave the ground a soft glow.
"I don't think I ever got that dance…" Katherine looked at me smiling.
"We could." I tell her.
"Okay." She stops walking and so do I.
I didn't think she was serious at first.
"But there's no music, how can we—" I stop mid-sentence as Katherine grabs my hands and begins to lead the dance.
I open my mouth to protest, but she shushes me.
"There's no music!" I laugh at how silly this all seems. Here we are, really dancing without a tone.
"There is." Katherine replies softly.
"No there's not…"
"Shh, Listen. You have to feel it, then you'll be able to hear the music."
So, I did and she was right. I haven't a clue how that was possible, but somehow there was music. And together we moved, following the sound of the music with our bodies. An endless midnight dance.
"Wow…" I breathe once our bodies grow tired and we're just standing now.
"That was the best dance I've had all night."
"Katherine…I know this will probably mean nothing to you, especially since my brothers are currently in a competition for your affections, but I have to say this," I begin my stomach full of butterflies as I prepare to tell her my feelings. "I've never met a woman quite like you. I look at you and I see an angel. I touch your skin and my entire body ignites. At one point, you were just a crush. Nothing more than a secret desire that plagued my fantasies. Until you weren't. Until you became so much more," I take a pause to study her face for any sort of rejection, but found none. "I'm falling in love with you…no. I am in love with you."
I know it's mostly the alcohol talking. I'm not exactly drunk, but definitely not sober either.
Drunken words, are sober thoughts, I suppose.
Katherine's lips were parted slightly at my confession and I want nothing more than to kiss her.
"There's so much you don't know about me, Mia." She says suddenly.
Before I could respond, our moment is interrupted.
"Miss Mia!" Emily Bennett waves me over from the house, "It's time for you to be headin' to bed now! Your father says you have to rise early tomorrow!" She screams. I inwardly groan.
I was trying to win hearts over here…
"I'm sorry I have to turn in earlier than usual," I tell her before turning back towards the house to see if Emily had gone back inside yet, which, thankfully she had. "I must say good night…" I lean in and press a quick peck to the corner of her mouth, before running off to the house. I looked back to see her standing frozen to the spot, with her gloved hand pressed lightly to the corner of her lips, where I just kissed her.
(X)
"Go ahead, blue. Torture me, keep me captive, drain me of my blood until my body turns to dust. It'll never change the truth. It was real and so was mine."
I don't respond. In fact, I don't even blink.
"Hearing the truth after a century and a half of denial must be overwhelming." Katherine's voice snapped me out of my inner thoughts.
"It wasn't real, you lied to me, manipulated me—"
"I've done a lot of things but I have never lied to you. Ever." She says.
Yeah right. Liar…
"Well, whatever feelings I had back then, they all turned to hate. A lot has changed since we were dancing under the moonlight, don't you think?"
"Love, hate, such a fine line, I can wait. Anyway, George Lockwood was causing all sorts of trouble. He used the vampires to cover up his own tracks. He told the founding families about us. But he was willing to strike a deal." Katherine tells me. I sit up straight at the new information.
"What kind of a deal?" I ask.
"A deal to rid the town of vampires." My eyes widen at her words.
She knew…?
"You knew that they were gonna burn the vampires in the church?" My tone is accusatory and full of venom.
"I practically lit the match." Katherine answers with hardly any emotion.
"They were your friends, they were your family and you just sold them out!" I yell.
Her eyes meet mine then, and I search for even a hint of remorse, but found none.
"Without blinking."
"What did George get in return? For giving you your freedom."
"Something he wanted desperately." She sighs.
There's more to this story…she was hiding—running from someone, or rather, something.
"So you sent 26 of your friends to their death, just to fake your own? No, you were running from something. What was it?" I conclude.
"Everyone has a past, Mia. Mine needed to stay far far away but thanks to you my plan nearly failed before it even began. Once George told me that the round up was imminent, I made sure I could see you one last time, but your father, he poisoned your blood. Then Damon being Damon, nearly ruined everything."
I stare at her in horror as the night my brother and I lost our lives flashes through my mind.
Damon pulling Katherine when we hear a gunshot and he falls. Stefan, standing next to me falls in a similar manner. I managed to free Katherine but she was severely weakened. I remember kissing her desperately then I felt the worse pain imaginable. Katherine gripping me tightly, holding me into place, until she was dragged away from me again. With Katherine's arms no longer holding me up, I fall backwards next to my brothers. My vision was blurry as I lie there, paralyzed. I see her lips move…she told me she loves me, but I can't even move. Slowly I feel my body becoming numb as find myself slipping away…
"We came for you, we tried to save you." I tell Katherine. I feel my anger rising at her recent confession.
"I didn't want to be saved." She answers dryly.
"So then my brothers and I died for nothing! For nothing!" I yell. My anger showing its ugly head as realization hits. This could have all been avoided. Our deaths and suffering for 145 years was for absolutely nothing!
"No, Mia, you died for love!"
I don't say anything, in fact we both just sit there. Neither saying a word. I wait until I gain control over my breathing before I start to question her again.
"Are you gonna tell me why you came back here or you're just playing another game?"
"Have you not heard a word that I've said? I've answered that question five times over now." Katherine answers with no attempt to hide her irritation.
"Okay, you shouldn't have a problem making it six, then." I snap back at her.
"I want what I want, Mia and I don't care what I have to do to get it. My list of victims is a long one, and I have no problem adding one more name to that list."
I laugh.
"Come on Katherine, cut the crap. If you wanted Elena dead, you would have done it by now."
She shrugs, "Still can. If I have to, I will snap her neck like a twig and you know it."
Before the last word could leave her mouth, I'm standing over her with a wooden stake in my hand, baring my fangs threateningly.
After all this...I still can't kill her. I prepared for this for 145 years. Hell, the only reason why I came back to Mystic Falls in the first place was so that I could drive a stake through her heart once that tomb was open. But even now, I still can't do it.
I growl in frustration and toss the stake to the other side of the room.
I turn my back towards her so I wouldn't have to look at her smirk.
"I guess you don't hate me as much as you thought you did. I don't want you seeing Elena anymore. If you don't remove from your life, I will kill everyone that she loves while she watches and then I will kill her while you watch."
As soon as the words left her mouth, my hands are already around her throat.
"Don't you ever think, that I won't kill you if you touch her!" My veins pulse around my eyes as my vision turns red.
Suddenly, I'm being thrown to the other side of the room by Katherine who looks like she's already back in full power. But how?
She easily snaps out of her restraints and begins stalking over to me.
"I have been sipping vervain every single day for the last 145 years. You caught me by surprise once, I wasn't gonna let it happen again. It doesn't hurt me, Mia."
I can't do anything but blink at her with wide eyes. I realize I must look like an idiot, sitting here with my mouth wide open in shock.
She's built a resistance to vervain…how on earth…
"What? Why would you go along with this?" I manage to get out. Katherine kneels in front of me.
"I told you, I missed you, Mia-blue. I just wanted to spend some time with you."
My ears pick up on the front door opening and I pray to the Gods that it's just Damon or Stefan.
"Hello?" A voice calls. It's Elena…
Katherine looks at me and I'm instantly filled with dread. She smiles and stabs my leg with a stake.
"Shit!" I say loudly. The searing pain of the wood piercing my skin is worse than bad period cramps from when I was human.
Wood and vampires just don't mix…
She's always stabbing me with something! Hello? Has this woman ever heard of domestic violence?!
"Mia? Stefan?" Elena calls again.
Katherine used the stake for her advantage to slow me down.
"You must be Elena…" I hear Katherine say above me. Fuck I gotta hurry…
"How is this possible? How do we look exactly alike?" Elena asks her.
Katherine won't kill Elena. I know she won't. I don't know why, but she won't. She would've done it a while ago. She's had plenty of chances.
My wound begins to heal and I limp up the stairs as fast as I can. My wound closing with each step. Where the fuck is Stefan during all of this…?!
"You're asking the wrong questions…" is Katherine simple reply.
"Elena!" I scream as run up the stairs as fast as I can.
Once I get there I see her standing alone, frightened, but otherwise unharmed.
"Are you okay?" I ask, rushing over to her.
"Not really. Are you?"
"Not really…" I hug her tightly. I don't ever wanna let go…
(X)
We all decide to go to the grill, Stefan said he'd gone hunting, he didn't expect her to recover from the vervain so soon. That makes two of us…
"Elena." Caroline says as soon as we all sit down. Elena sits across from me next to Stefan.
"Hey."
"I'll be at the bar, while you two talk. Come on, Stefan." I excuse myself from the table, but I don't wander too far so I can hear everything.
"Oh my god. I am so sorry about earlier today. I don't know what came over me!" Caroline says.
"It's okay, Caroline. Everything that you were saying was right. It's just hard for me to hear, you know?" I smile to myself, at least Elena is sticking to the plan.
"So...you're not mad at me?"
"You were just being a good friend...in your own way."
"My own head case, horrible way. Elena, I really am sorry."
Sensing the end of the conversation, I walk over to rejoin Elena. Stefan stays behind at the bar, just like we rehearsed.
"I'm starving." I sigh loudly as I slouch down in my chair.
"Well, spending the day with your jealous ex will do that to you." Elena replies bitterly.
"Listen, I know you're upset but we have to take her seriously. Today, was all about the lengths she would go to. She can be just as impulsive as Damon."
"If she was going to hurt me, she would have. I was standing right in front of her." She mumbles.
"Lena, you caught her off guard. It doesn't mean that you're safe." I try to reason with her.
"What makes you think I'm afraid of her? She doesn't scare me."
"Well, you should be. She's brutal when she doesn't get what she wants."
"If Katherine had her way, we'd be ending our friendship, right now."
"If today taught me anything, is that Katherine is used to getting her way." I mumble.
"You're not actually saying that we should what she says?" Elena's voice quivers a bit.
"Listen, she's sadistic, okay? She threatened you, she threatened everyone…"
"Yeah, no, I get it. She's dangerous. But every day that we are together, it's dangerous. Why are you giving her so much power over our relationship? You can be friends with whomever you want. She has no say in that."
"This is the reality of our situation." I say.
My eyes meet hers then and it's like a silent conversation.
'I'm sorry, this is almost too real…'
'I know…'
"Reality sucks. This is what she wants. She wants us to fight. She wants to get between us."
"She already has, Elena." I tell in the best fake sad voice possible. She looks at me in disbelief before getting up and leaving without sparing me a second glance.
I think our plan worked…
Katherine POV:
Damon stops and looks at me. I'm leaning causally against the wall giving him a pout.
"Bad day?" I ask him.
"Bad century. I heard you were on the loose." I smile at how grumpy he is.
"What's the matter? Jealous I spent the day with Mia and Stefan?" I tease.
"I don't do jealous. Not with you, not anymore." I fake a pout at his words.
"Then why so pouty?"
"I tried to kill a werewolf, I failed. Now I feel like I'm not living up to my best self." I know he's talking about Mason. He's the only one in town with an active werewolf gene.
"Well, werewolves aren't easy prey." I sigh.
"What do you know about werewolves?" He asks eyeing me suspiciously.
"Why don't you ask your brother and sister? Don't try to be the hero, Damon. You'll end up dead." I tell him.
He stops to stare at me with an annoyed look, "Been there, done that. At least this time it'll be worth it." Ouch.
I walk away then. I've been verbally abused by too many Salvatore's in one day for my liking.
My eyes automatically look to the sky. It's a three-quarter moon tonight…just like it was that night.
(X)
Flashback:
I'm in the woods waiting on George. He's stayed true to his word and helped me escape the fate of the other vampires.
I turn my head to look at them…or more specifically, her. Mia Salvatore. The one who made my centuries of living actually worth something. I know she'll come back—they all will. My arm is placed tightly around my stomach protectively, as I allow myself just a few more moments of weakness.
I know she'll be angry with me for turning her brothers, but I did it for her. A sense of dread fills me suddenly when I realize I'll be on the run for many years to come. It's too dangerous to bring her along. That's why turning Damon and Stefan was necessary. So, she would not feel alone…
As I had for a long time...
I hear leaves crunching behind me.
"George." I acknowledge.
"Your carriage is just waiting." He tells me.
"All done, George. Thank you."
"Now onto your part of the deal."
"If anyone learns of my escape, I will find you and I will kill you. Don't think that I won't." I threaten before dropping the moonstone in his hands.
"We shall take each other's secrets to the grave. Now, you must hurry." He turns to lead her to the carriage.
I hesitate. Looking back at Mia, I know I can't leave yet. I must say goodbye…
I run towards her body and drop to my knees as I gently stoke her face. Her breathing is fatally slow and I know she'll be dead within minutes now.
"I love you, Mia. I know you'll be angry at me for what I did, but I know that won't stop us. We will be together again. I promise…" I press my lips against hers, just hoping that maybe she'd feel it as she's slipping towards the darkness. I just had to feel her soft lips on mine once more…who knows how long it'll be until I can feel them again. I notice then that her breathing stopped completely now.
She's gone.
Funny, the fairytales were obsessed with the idea that a kiss would bring on back to life. But mine did the opposite.
A kiss of death…
I look at her once more wishing I could see those beautiful bright blue eyes once more before I had to leave. But that would never be and now I'm just wasting time…
Minutes later I was on my carriage, watching silently as I saw the fire from the church as I got further away from Mystic Falls, and the love of my life…
The memory fades and I find myself smiling sadly with my hand on my lips.
I'll find some way to get my girl back. After all, tomorrow is another day…
A/N: Please don't forget to tell me if you all like the long chapters or not (I prefer them) but it's up to you all. I also want to know what you guys think if you caught some of my hints for future plot twists. I had to follow the show a lot in this chapter. It was necessary though. I did try to venture off a little bit, but I couldn't too much for the sake of the plot. If I didn't stick close to the show plot for this chapter, I would've revealed too many things too early. We don't want that!
