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Chapter 8-Ms. Katherine Pierce
It was maybe a half hour later I found myself causing attention.
Then again, maybe rubbing my body over every inch of skin that Nadia and Adam provided wasn't a good idea either. We stuck mostly to the corners of the mansion, avoiding the mourners as we shared silent kisses and giggles. I'd already gotten several glares from strangers, including one that Nadia recognized and labeled 'Tyler Lockwood-Mayor Lockwood's son'. She'd then launched into a ramble about how awful she felt for them before I'd cut her off with an elegant finger. It was when I'd finally glanced away from the both of them for a breath of air, I caught sight of two figures talking on the white porch. The first, at the left of the open doorway, was Elena-hair straight, in a brown sweater and jeans; had she gone home to change? She appeared more concerned than earlier as well, less cold as she spoke with Damon, who was trying to make an exit. He was dressed in a black button-up (surprise) and blue jeans-I heard Elena softly say something that caused Damon to pause, his sapphire eyes unyielding in the sunlight. He said something softly back, his face-pained?-as he turned and left in the opposite direction.
I was swept up in the drama of the scene when I found myself otherwise distracted by Adam's teeth nibbling that place behind my ear and Nadia chattering off some random facts about people here as she held my hand. "Hey-" I pulled away from Adam and dropped Nadia's hand simultaneously, my green eyes stinging; what the hell? Adam stared down on me, puzzled, and Nadia retreated to his side, her eyes openly hurt. Dashing my eyes to the ground, I experienced a sudden whiplash of heat; it slapped down in my veins, infiltrating every crevice it could find-within seconds I was flaming, alive. Letting out a breath I wasn't aware I'd been holding I found myself warm-feeling everything-I gave an equally confused glance to my two pets, commanding: "Stay here." They flinched and I felt a quick pinprick of guilt before I turned my back on them and went out to look for Damon.
The sunlight hit my body like a tidal wave, emphasizing on the emotions that had suddenly seeped back into me. I felt guilt, incredible guilt, especially where Nadia was concerned-why had I done that to her? What had she ever done to me? I stumbled like a drunken woman, catching sight of Damon's back before he went around the side of the house. "Damon!" I called, making several heads turn.
He came to a stop, his arrogant shoulders stiff in my line of vision. I blinked rapidly as the sun hit my face, automatically raising a hand to block its normally destructive rays. The bracelet with the single dove shaped pendant clinked as it slid down my upraised arm, reminding me of what Damon had done as he addressed me. His words hit me before he turned to face me, his sapphire eyes gleaming with mysterious intent-the pain I had previously assumed was there had disappeared. "Not a good time to chat, Val." He placed a fist in his hand, his family ring appearing on the outer hand as he spoke. His tone made my lips thin and grip together in a smirk-the feeling of my irritation was as painful as sandpaper on skin. "Too bad." I answered in a low voice, delivering a suspicious glance to anyone in range who was staring-they turned away. Meeting his eyes again I noticed the faint smile that lined his face, as if my snarky comment was right up his alley-in his defense, it probably was. Traipsing over to him, I held his gaze, hardly noticing the searing electric feeling that shot up my legs as I came to a halt a few inches away. He peered into my face, hardly skipping a beat as he dropped his hands and murmured: "Aww, were your toys not enough fun?"
A growl rumbled through my ribcage-it wouldn't be a surprise if he'd heard it. "So you've met Adam and Nadia, lovely." I paused, my jade eyes flashing as I crossed my pale arms. "Glad we can all be friends around here." His lazy eyes flicked down my body before greeting my eyes once more.
"Earlier I was reminded that I'm on a certain witch's hit-list and it would not be good if I appeared responsible for you. Be good."
"Oh, stop Damon." The cut-off and complete defiance of his will added a dangerous glimmer to his languid eyes. I continued, dragging my flimsy luck out. "Don't act as if you haven't played that game before. I know someone like me when I see one."
"I wouldn't be so sure." The response was serious but he put it off as a teasing comment, his eyes lazily slipping open and shut like a reptile. I withheld the urge to scoff at his pathetic reply, instead opting to yawn. At the action, he gave me a thin smile and took a step away from me.
"Would love to stay and chat but, surprisingly, I have better things to do than babysit." With that, he took another step before turning away and disappearing around the corner of the house. Curious I found myself following him around the corner -he was headed somewhere, his stride purposeful as he made his way to the back of the Lockwood Mansion. I didn't require permission to follow him, so I did- I caught up behind him rather soundlessly. "I wouldn't follow me if I were you-" he sing-sang, his back still to me-I almost ran into him as he came to a sudden stop. We were now at the back of the house; other than an empty extravagant patio there was miles of sprawling grounds. "I want to see what's going on-where you're going." I sensed rather than saw Damon's muscles stiffen up in anger at my excuse and I quickly scrambled to defend my stalker ways. "There's too much I don't know about you Salvatores; if you're not going to tell me I'll figure it out my-"
His body didn't relax in the slightest and he made no indication he had heard anything; and that's probably when I realized his attention wasn't on me. Silently I caught on, stepping to his right so I could peer around his body and follow his gaze-and there I saw her.
A large, sage colored pond spanned a great deal of the Lockwood's land, reflecting the various wildlife surrounding back several times. It also reflected what lay in Damon's line of vision- by a worn bench was Elena-curls, leather jacket, heels and all- walking and talking with Stefan. I gaped, my mouth popping open and my eyes bugging out of my head as I wordlessly began mouthing things. "I just saw her…two minutes ago, she couldn't have changed…" I lapsed into silence as Damon turned sideways, his profile a raven's wing against the otherwise lively backdrop. I met his eyes purposefully, holding them-there was pain present, pain that I'd seen before-where had I seen this before? Had I dreamt this before? It was somewhere different…-and then it faded to sapphire. The words stuck in my throat seemed to have waited specifically for this moment-they toppled out, falling away and into the chasm between us. "That can't be her."
He nodded, slowly, unsurprised. "That's because she's not." He knowingly searched my face, his mouth tighter than usual, brow furrowed as he observed me processing this bit of information. Suddenly I felt my confusion alter, pirouetting up and into letters, words straight from Stefan's mouth.
I met a girl named Elena Gilbert today…she is the spitting image of Katherine…some might call them doppelgangers….I could not help but stare at her all day. Damon must not know of her.
I glanced over, catching sight of Damon's gaze for one tenth of a second-and then I was elsewhere.
The dress was beautiful. Every cell in the girl's body was aching to deny that the pink and white dress was now officially hers-she could not accept such a gift! Neither could she accept the white parasol that came along with it, or the white flower that lay in her hair. This was all too much; she had never experienced such finery in all her life. "I can't-I can't accept this gift, Miss Katherine, it's too fine-"
A dark haired woman appeared from behind her, like a shadow-they were so different, girl and woman, though they must have been around the same age. In the mirror, the dress made the girl appear like a dove-something pure and bright like her jade eyes, pale, pale gaping pink lips, and glowing fair skin. She was me-the reflection in the mirror was me-what the hell…The woman appeared by the girl's side, one slender hand landing on the girls shoulder as the woman met her eyes in the glass.
"It's no trouble, Miss Savannah, I assure you." The woman was no dove- she was pure temptation with her rich caramel skin, her plump red mouth and her wicked, deep brown eyes. They were extreme contrasts, opposite ends of the food chain. The girl could not believe she had been given a chest full of clothes in one day. Not only that, but the woman had tamed her curls-crimson red waves were pulled back in a bun, only a few perfect ringlets allowed to trace the cheekbones.
The girl, for once, appeared as a lady-tears welled up in her emerald eyes and she finally turned away from the mirror, facing Katherine Pierce, the woman, in all her beauty. "Katherine-how can I ever repay you for making me alive again? For-"
Katherine smirked, holding a single gloved finger to her lips. "Shushh. All is well. You will have time to repay me." Savannah, the girl, smiled gratefully, tears burning in her eyes as she shushed yet again by Katherine. Suddenly Katherine's smile grew wider as she whispered: "The fun has arrived." The girl blinked at her companion, puzzled at the change of mood. "Why, whatever do you mean Kat-"
There was a knock at the bedroom door. "The Salvatores have arrived Miss Pierce." Katherine's brown eyes sparkled with something that Savannah did not understand. "I must greet my guests." Hurriedly, the woman headed out the door-Savannah followed, slightly confused and suddenly feeling abandoned as she paused in the doorway of the open bedroom. As if sensing the girl's plight, Katherine turned to look at Savannah one last time: "You will be fine up here won't you? A lady must have her time for fun, you know."
Savannah blinked, a tear sliding down her cheek as Katherine turned her back, heading down the curved staircase with a grace the girl knew she would never master…
I swayed on my feet, a crushing pressure beginning in my cranium-I felt myself scream, tears welling up at the pain. I dropped to my knees-my vision swam with Damon's blue eyes, him rushing to me-"Katherine." I whispered-and then everything fell into darkness.
