AN: I do not own the Vampire Diaries; all rights belong to the CW, Julie Plec, Kevin Williamson, and L.J. Smith, I only own what you don't recognize.
Full Summary: Bulgaria 1492 Katrina and Elizabeth Petrova; identical twins, except for one difference; their eyes. While Katrina had warm brown eyes, Elizabeth had eyes the color of shocking lapis lazul. When Katrina had a child out of wedlock, her family banished her to Europe; not wanting her twin to be alone Elizabeth followed her. Once in England the two easily became English and one of the Lords that resigned there took surprising interest in Katrina's looks and Elizabeth's powers. Modern day; Elena and Aileen Joelle aka A.J. Gilbert exact copies of Katrina and Elizabeth. After the deaths of their parents A.J. fled to a preforming arts school in Boston and Elena stayed home with what remained of her family.
AN: Okay so I don't have school today so I decided to type up Masquerade.
Nyde! Njuta! Enjoy! :D
The Secrets of the Girl
Chapter Eight
MASQUERADE
A.J. POV
Once again I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. "This better be important." I snapped as I answered my phone.
"Caroline saw Katherine." Damon said.
"Give me 15 minutes." I said hanging up and stumbling over to my closet.
I grabbed a pair of skinny jeans, a light turquoise blue V-neck, a black hoodie and my converse before going into my bathroom and quickly fixing my hair and makeup.
I went out and into Elena's room, "Hey I'm headed out." I said to my sister who was journaling on her bed.
"Okay, you're coming back in time right?" She asked.
"For what?" I asked confused.
"Jenna's coming home today, remember?" Elena said.
"Oh crap sorry, I might have to miss it." I said leaning on her door frame.
"You promised you'd be here for me and Jer!" Elena protested.
"Elena you need to learn to be strong for Jer too. Just because I'm oldest doesn't mean I'm taking mom's place." I snapped my skin itched and I really needed to calm down.
"I was strong for him when you were gone!" Elena snapped.
I gritted my teeth, "Would you quit bringing that up!" I snapped before the glass in a picture frame containing a picture of me and Elena blew up.
Elena's eyes went wide, "Are you okay, A?" She asked quietly.
I sighed, "I'm sorry, the whole Katherine-Jenna thing is messing with my head which is messing with my powers." I said checking the clock, "I gotta go, I'll be home by 4."
"So what happened?" I asked as I came into the room.
"Oh I am loving the relaxed look." Damon teased.
"Shut up, I have to get ready for a ball tonight." I snapped before turning to Care, "What happened?"
"I saw Katherine today." Caroline said quietly.
"Where?" I asked my lapis lazuli eyes wide.
"The Grill. I just stopped by to gawk and stalk Matt." She said.
"Oh by the way I talked to him yesterday and-"
"Save it for later; continue." Damon said.
I glared at him for killing my buzz and he smirked, "So he caught me and I had to pretend to use the bathroom because I'm an idiot. Then Katherine was there and I knew it wasn't Elena because Elena was at home and I knew it wasn't you because she had brown eyes. I acted like I thought it was Elena but she must have figured out I knew because she stopped me from leaving and asked me to deliver a message." Caroline said.
"What was the message?" I asked.
"To tell Damon and Stefan that she wants the moonstone or she will rip this town apart until it rains blood." Caroline said.
"Tell her the best part." Damon said.
"Tonight at the Masquerade Ball." Caroline said.
I flopped onto the sofa and put my face in my hands to contain my frustration. I knew what happened when I couldn't contain my temper. "Duck and cover." I said before a vase blew up.
I took a deep calming breath and felt hands on my knees. I looked up to see Damon in front of me, "You okay?" He asked.
I nodded and gave him a half smile. "She wants to do it in public; killing Mason caught her off guard." Stefan explained sitting next to me on the couch.
"Oh c'mon she's running scared; what she did to Jenna was desperate. She's out of tricks." Damon said.
"She had Jenna under her control for days that was part of her plan B." I muttered covering my face as I blew up a lamp.
"Are you okay?" Caroline asked.
"That's been happening since last night, anything that sets me off makes something blow up." I said running a hand through my hair.
"So don't put you on the take down Katherine list, got it." Damon muttered.
"We have to play this smarter than her." Stefan said.
"Can't we just give Katherine the moonstone?" Caroline asked.
"Katherine's not getting dick." Damon and I said as another lamp blew up.
"Can't you control that?" Damon snapped.
"I'm trying!" I snapped and one of his bottles of bourbon blew up.
"Really!" He yelled angrily.
"Damon stop you're making it worse for her." Stefan said rubbing my shoulder.
"Well I've had it. I'm going to go to the Masquerade Ball and I'm going to kill her." Damon said.
"You're not going to kill her." Stefan said standing up to face his brother.
"Don't give me that goody goody crap." Damon snapped going nose to nose with his brother.
"You're not gonna kill her, because I am." Stefan said calmly.
I grinned, "See this is why Stefan is my best friend." I said making Stefan chuckle and Damon glare at me.
I stuck my tongue out at the older Salvatore brother and he smirked back.
I was sitting on the couch with Damon who was flicking my curls when Bonnie came in. "Stop it." I muttered.
"You said to annoy you so you could fight it." Damon pointed out pinching my cheek.
"Well now I'm saying stop it before I blow your head up." I snapped glaring at him.
"You won't do it." Damon sang.
I growled and went to stand up and Damon pinched my ass causing the lamp next to him to explode. I went over to Rick who was staring at me in shock, "Don't comment I'm having anger issues." I said before turning to Jeremy, "Hey baby bro." I said ruffling his hair.
I picked up a cross bow and weighed it in my hands, "You know I much prefer a bow and arrow." I said aiming at Damon.
"Ah ah ah." There was a breeze and Damon was standing across the table from me with it.
"Is that what dad taught you to use?" Jeremy asked.
"Dad taught me how to use everything," I said picking up a stake, "I'm just really good with a bow….and a gun."
"I'm sorry I just can't see you as a miniature Buffy." Damon said coming over to me.
I smirked and knocked his feet out from under him before straddling him and holding the stake right above his heart. I used my powers to hold him in place, "You see now you are immobile so I could just take this," I waggled the stake in front of his face, "And shove it straight into your heart." I said before getting off of him and releasing my hold on him.
"Hey Care, what time is it?" I called to my blonde friend.
"Urm, 3:32!" She called from across the room.
"And I have to go." I said grabbing my keys off the coffee table, "Text me the plan so I know where not to take Tyler, okay?"
I walked out passing Bonnie and Stefan on my way.
When I got home Elena was waiting on the stairs, "Where have you been?" She asked standing up.
"At the Grill, I told you that." I said walking past her.
"I called you like 10 times I was starting to get worried." Elena said following me.
"I left my phone here and I didn't realize it until I got there, I really am sorry! But I got home early so does that make it all better?" I asked as we went into my room.
Elena laughed, "Of course it does, now let's see this secret dress you've been keeping from me." She said sitting on my bed.
I went to my closet and pulled out a dress bag. I held it in front of me facing Elena so she could see the dress inside as I unzipped it. "Oh my god! That is so pretty, A! Where'd you find it?" Elena gushed very un-Elena like.
I laughed, "I got it at a store in Boston, it's cute huh?" I asked laying it down on the bed next to her.
It was a strapless black ruched dress with a sequined panel down the front and it came to a little above my mid-thigh. (pic on profile) "Okay I'll warm up your curler, put on your dress." Elena said walking into the bathroom.
I quickly undressed and slipped into my dress, "'Lena? Zip me up?" I called and she came out of the bathroom.
"I miss mom." I said as she zipped me up.
"I know me too." Elena said hugging me from behind.
"She loved these things, loved helping us pick out our dresses and do our hair and makeup. I'm going to have fun tonight Elena, no v-word. Tonight is gonna be completely human just for mom." I said walking over to my dresser and grabbing a white box.
I set it on the bed and walked over to the bathroom, "Okay let's do my hair." I said smiling at her.
Stefan POV (AN: Surprise!)
Everyone involved with the plan minus A.J. was in the living room of the boarding house in a circle. "You guys sure you don't want me there tonight?" Rick asked grabbing his stuff.
"No, I need you to watch Elena; I don't want her to know about this." I said.
"Okay, I'll make sure she doesn't leave my sight." He agreed.
"Alright." I said looking at everyone's faces, "If anyone wants to back out, I'll understand."
"Yeah cold feet speak now; I don't want this going wrong and someone getting killed because someone chickened out. Caroline." Damon said smirking at the younger vampire.
"I won't." Caroline said. At Damon's look of disbelief she continued, "Look she killed me, fairs fair. As long as there are no werewolves running around."
"Oh I took care of Mason." Damon said smirking.
"As long as Tyler doesn't kill anyone he won't turn and he doesn't get as mad around A.J." Jeremy said making Damon frown.
"Why would A.J. be around him? Isn't she helping Bonnie?" Damon asked.
"She didn't tell you?" Caroline asked raising her eyebrows.
"Tell me what?" Damon spat.
"Well," I said making my brother turn towards me, "Tyler asked A.J. to be his date to the Masquerade and she said yes."
"Why would she do that?" He asked bitterly.
I turned to Caroline, "He sounds jealous, doesn't he sound jealous?" I asked mocking Damon.
"Oh he sounds pretty jealous to me." Caroline said smirking.
"I'm not jealous. I was just thinking about how bad an idea it is for her to be the date of an anger management poster boy/ almost werewolf." Damon snapped.
"A.J. can handle herself," Jeremy said, "She still trains and she practices her powers every day."
"Is that why she was out of control this morning?" Damon spat.
"Okay so Bonnie," I said turning to the witch, "Are you with us?"
"But no one gets hurt." She said.
"Except Katherine." Damon added, "Tonight Katherine gets a stake through her heart."
A.J. POV
I clasped a flat black heart necklace around my neck. The heart had sparkles in it that only shone in a certain light. On my wrist I had a silver bracelet that was my mom's and my mask was black metal with black velvet padding on the side that touched my face. It had an elegant design with several diamonds scattered across it; it as well had been my mother's. (Pic on profile)
My hair was curly and hung down my back with my bangs pulled off my face and Elena was adding the last bit of hairspray as I picked up my black sequined clutch. (Pic on profile) I slipped into my 2 inch black heels and my nails were black and silver crackle. The doorbell rang and I picked my phone off my dresser and slipped it into my clutch. My makeup was simple just concealer, mascara, eyeliner, and smoky eye shadow. "I'll get it." I said hurrying out my room.
I went down the stairs and over to the door which reveled Tyler in a tux, "You clean up nice." I said smiling, "Then again you always did look good in suit."
Tyler kissed my cheek, "You look amazing." He said before holding out his arm, "Shall we?"
"We shall." I said taking his arm and allowing him to lead me out to his car.
"Holy crap." I said as we walked past a fire juggler, arms linked.
Tyler sighed, "You know I told my mom we should have canceled this." He said leading me up the steps.
"Your dad loved this thing, Ty, it was his baby." I said rubbing his arm.
"Yeah, I know-"
"And he was stubborn like you; Carol told me how hard he pushed for this ball, it wouldn't have been right to cancel it." I added.
Tyler sighed, "Okay yeah you're right." He said grinning down at me.
I laughed, "Okay now let's go. I wanna see if you finally learned that the word party doesn't mean a keg." I teased pulling him inside.
"And what does it mean in Boston?" Tyler asked smirking.
"Tequila, dancing, loud music, food, and live performances from your truly." I answered as we made our way through the crowd.
"Well you'll just have to show me how it's done." He said grabbing two glasses of champagne and handing one to me.
"I guess I will." I said smirking and taking a sip of my drink.
20 minutes later Tyler and I were outside and I was on my 4th drink. "Okay you are drunk." He said reaching for my drink.
"I'm tipsy, hun there's a difference." I said smirking and downing my glass.
"Hey man," Matt said coming over, "So, I just found two bottles of tequila!"
"Awesome!" Tyler said and began to follow Matt.
I hesitated when I saw Damon out of the corner of my eye, "You coming?" He asked.
"Nope, I need to stay somewhat sober tonight, have fun." I teased before walking off.
"Hey, handsome." I said walking over to Damon.
"Hello, don't you look gorgeous." He said smirking.
I giggled, "Okay you are dancing with me." I said pulling him over to the dance floor.
"You're drunk." Damon said letting me drag him.
"Tipsy," I corrected, "And I needed to sober up." I said as we reached the dance floor.
"Where's Tyler?" Damon asked.
"With Matt getting drunk somewhere." I said putting my arms around his neck as he rested his hands on my waist.
We began to do a simple sway step dance as we kept our eyes open for Katherine. "You are 160 something years old and you're telling me this is all you've got?" I teased raising an eyebrow.
"What are you doing?" He whispered in my ear.
"You wanted to lure her out right?" I whispered back.
Damon smirked and pulled back to look at me, "You sure you can handle it?" He teased.
"1.) I grew up in Mystic Falls and 2.) I went to a performing arts academy in Boston. Don't doubt me Mr. Salvatore." I purred smirking.
"Alright." Damon said and switched our positions so that my hand was resting on his shoulder and his was resting on my hip and our others were clasped together.
He spun my out and then back to him, "How's that?" Damon whispered in my ear as my back hit his chest.
I shrugged, "I've seen better." I said.
Damon kissed my cheek before spinning me out again just to dip me low. I laughed, "Now that's better." I teased as he brought me back up and linked our hands again.
"See her yet?" I murmured as we began to dance.
"Yep, Stefan's dancing with her, let's go say hello." Damon said dancing us over to them.
"It's a beautiful night." Katherine purred.
"And maybe your last if you don't watch your step, Kitty Kat." I purred.
"Well looky here; Damon's going after my sister's doppelganger. Is it making your skin crawl yet, Stefan? Watching history repeating?" She asked.
"Actually, I have a date; who I should probably go check up on." I said untangling myself from Damon. I squeezed his hand, "Be careful." I murmured before walking off.
"What the hell is going on?" I heard Elena ask from behind a bush.
"Elena?" I asked surprised.
"You guys are trying to kill her here?" Elena asked Jeremy, Bonnie, and I in disbelief.
"We saw an opportunity and we had to take it." Jeremy said calmly.
"Okay stop with the 'we'. Are you guys crazy? You could get yourselves killed." Elena snapped.
"I'm only here to watch Tyler, which I need to be doing, so-"
"NO! What happens if you die?" She asked grabbing my arm.
"Then I'll be dead." I said shaking her off.
I went inside and started my search for Tyler. "Ah!" I cried grabbing onto the wall with one hand and my now bloody back with the other.
"Are you alright?" A man asked.
"I'm fine." I said smiling politely before heading for the stairs.
Half way up I fell to one knee stifling my cry of pain as a new wound appeared on my shoulder. I managed to crawl up the stairs and to the door of the room they were in, "Damon!" I cried as I leant on the door frame.
"A.J.?" I heard Jeremy ask, "STOP!" He yelled as Damon poised a stake above Katherine's heart.
Jeremy knelt down next to me, "You're hurting the twins! Everything you do to her hurts A.J. and Elena!" Jeremy said.
Damon looked up and his gaze fixed on me where I was leaning on Jeremy about to pass out. "You think you two are the only ones with a witch on your side? Wrong, and something tells me my witch is better than your witch." Katherine said snatching the stake out of Damon's hand.
Damon took a step towards me and I shook my head. "Jeremy go check on Elena." Stefan ordered.
I saw the conflict on Jeremy's face as he looked down at me, "Go to Elena, I'll be fine." I said pushing his shoulder as I used the door frame to stand up.
I hissed as my wounds moved as I did, "Yes lets all make sure poor Elena's okay. Just a little bit more pressure." Katherine dragged her stake across her hand and I let go of the door frame stumbling into the room as it cut me.
"Hey, hey, hey." Damon said catching me.
Stefan knocked the stake out of her hand. I branched my powers out to Elena and started to take her pain away and into me. My knees buckled underneath me and Damon laid me down on the couch, "What's happening, you shouldn't be collapsing so fast." Stefan asked me.
I just groaned in response, "Fun fact ; Aileen here is psychic and seeing as she has a twin being psychic enhances that bond making it a psychic link. Aileen can take away Elena's pain, make her numb even help her heal faster but on the down side Aileen gets Elena's pain, and her healing slows down." Katherine said, "Its one of my sister's favorite things about being psychic."
"So much for sisterhood, Elizabeth left you psychotic bitch." I muttered.
Katherine grabbed the stake and held it over her stomach, "This is really gonna hurt." She said raising it.
"Wait!" Damon said standing up.
"Okay." Katherine said sitting down and crossing her legs, "How about that moonstone?"
Damon knelt next to me stroking hair off my face, "You're gonna be okay." He said.
I nodded, "If I'm not Damon take care of Elena, no matter what," I said looking him in the eye, "Promise me."
Damon hesitated, "Okay I promise." He said.
"Well, well, the three of us together again just like old times." Katherine said.
"Minus Elizabeth," I said, "I mean you do know that Damon was going behind your back, right?" I asked snarkily.
Katherine glared at me, "Of course I know. Elizabeth was with George Lockwood, but was secretly with Damon who was with me while I was with Stefan." She said.
I laughed painfully, "You make it sound normal." I said.
"Well there's the brother who love both me and my sister too much, the brother who didn't love me enough and-"
"And the evil slut vampire who only loved herself." Damon added.
I laughed then groaned, "Ugh don't make me laugh it hurts." I groaned.
"What happened to you Damon? You used to be so sweet and polite." Katherine said.
"Oh that Damon died a long time ago." Damon said pushing a curl behind my ear.
"Good, he was a bore." She replied.
"Why don't you two stop antagonizing each other." Stefan said perching on the couch arm between me and Katherine.
"Where's the moonstone?" Katherine asked.
"What do you want with it?" Stefan returned.
Katherine smirked, "Do the twins enjoy having both of you worship at their alters?" She asked.
"And the evil slut vampire gets desperate." I whispered to Damon who smirked.
"So Stefan, it doesn't bother you that Damon used to be in love with your girlfriend but is now in love with her twin? I think that dream proved otherwise." Katherine remarked.
I glanced up at Damon suddenly feeling a lot more awake. "Stop it." Stefan said as Damon stood up.
"Or you'll what hurt me?" Katherine mocked, "C'mon Stefan, everything I feel the twins feel so go ahead. Or better yet; kiss me Damon, A.J. will feel that too." She said sauntering towards him.
I rolled my eyes, "You know this Mason thing has me confused, why a werewolf? So you could break a curse that would help destroy vampires? No, so what was in it for you?" Stefan asked.
"Sorry about your pet wolf, should've kept him on a tighter leash." Damon mocked.
I tugged at his pants leg in a warning. "I'll have to remember that next time. He's not the only wolf in town. Remember your competition?" Katherine retorted.
"Stay away from Tyler." I growled glaring at her.
It hurt intensely but I managed to get myself in a sitting position. I felt a rush of anger go through my widened senses and my eyes widened, "Oh no." I said.
"What, what is it?" Damon asked worriedly.
"Tyler, he's mad; no not mad, furious." I said trying to stand but failing.
I growled and pulled my phone out of my clutch and texted Caroline, 'Tyler's mad, you need to stop him!-A' I hit send. "What the hell?" Damon asked.
"Tyler and Matt," I answered as images hit me, "Matt wouldn't hurt Ty like that though."
"Damon handle Katherine." I said managing to stand.
"You are so not leaving." Damon said grabbing my arm.
"I have to, Tyler can't be a werewolf." I snapped hobbling out of the room.
I managed to sneak into the mayor's office where I saw Tyler get stabbed by a girl and him push her away. I watched as the side of her head hit the desk and heard the sickening crack of her neck snapping. "Tyler?" I asked faintly.
"Oh my god what happened to you?" Caroline asked.
"V-problem." I said.
Tyler kneeled next to the girl muttering in shock under his breath. "Tyler." I said walking over to him, "Is she?"
Tyler got up and pulled away from me . I kneeled down and felt for a pulse. When I stood up I shook my head at Caroline, "Ty, she's gone." I said.
"TY!" I said in panic as he fell to his knees in pain.
He looked up and I saw that his eyes were yellow, like Mason's had been. I kneeled in front of him and cupped his face, "A.J. get away." He said trying to push me away.
"Ty, Ty," I said as he tried to turn away from me, "TY!" I grabbed him around the neck and held on tight, "Its gonna be okay." I murmured rubbing his back and kissing his neck.
I sat in one of the chairs in the Mayor's office as Caroline told Carol our lie about what happened, "Mom, the sheriff's here." Tyler said coming in.
"Okay, Aileen, are you alright? You look a bit pale, sweetie." Carol asked.
"Carol, sorry if I'm rude but there's a dead body of a girl that goes to my school in front of me right now." I said bluntly.
"Alright, just none of you leave, she's going to want to hear from all of you." She said before leaving.
My wounds were almost healed and I had myself to get most of the dried blood off me. "Are you okay?" I asked grabbing Ty's hand as I stood up.
When he didn't answer I spoke again, "Caroline put Matt in the car, he's sleeping it off."
"I don't want him involved in any of this." Caroline added.
"What are you two doing?" Tyler asked slipping his hand out of mine.
"We're fixing a very bad situation." I said.
"Why? I did this, I killed her." Ty said.
"No! Tyler it was self-defense, you didn't mean to." I said grabbing his hands again.
"But she's dead, you don't know what that means, at least Caroline doesn't. Your brother told me you do, A." Tyler said trying to pull away but I tightened my grip.
"Actually, I do." Caroline said.
"No you don't Caroline." Tyler snapped.
Caroline put on her poker face, "Has your wound healed?" She asked.
Tyler unbuttoned his first button and moved his shirt to the side to show flawless skin, "Did you tell her?" Tyler asked me.
"No." I answered honestly.
"Thanks for the ride Ty." I said as he stopped the car in my driveway.
"How long did you know?" Tyler asked me.
I sighed, "I had my suspicions after the carnival." I said turning in my seat.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Tyler asked looking at me disappointedly.
"You had Mason and I already knew how it had to play out for you to believe it." I answered fiddling with my ring.
"How the hell would you know that?" He asked angrily.
"Ty," I said slowly, "Remember when Jeremy said I was special? I'm psychic."
I searched his expression for some kind of clue that everything with us would be okay. He just sat there staring at me. I raised an eyebrow before scoffing, "Should've known. I'll see you around Tyler." I said getting out and slamming the door.
I stormed up and into my room. I tossed my stuff on the bed and unzipped my bloody dress, letting it drop to the floor, "Oh god!" I heard Jeremy say from the doorway.
I turned around to see him running away, hands over his eyes, "It burns!"
I couldn't even bring myself to laugh. I grabbed some sweats and headed to the bathroom still in my underwear to get to dry blood off me.
AN: There's chapter eight! :) let me know what you think! Rose will be up by the end of the weekend hopefully!
-ConflictingLoyalties563 ;D