Chapter Fourteen: Lies In the Details

A/N: Here here.

Enjoy!

Perspective: Elena

-x-x-x-

"The truth of the story lies in the details."

-Paul Auster

The sudden turn of events is disorienting.

You barely have time to register what's happening before his hand is on your neck, his lips hungerly moving against yours, and then you're ripped away from the invasive warmth.

"What the fuck?!"

You're thankful Katherine's hand is gripping your arm because you could've honestly fallen over from your confusion. She hisses this and you see the tall man shake out of his daze.

"Whoa. Katherine?" his eyes dart between the two of you but he stops, a realization coming to his features. "Your twin? So that kid..."

This guy knows about you.

You don't see her face, but Katherine's fingers wrap tighter around your arm and she pushes you an inch back.

"I don't know what you mean."

He frowns, narrowing his eyes for a second before laughing, "Ha, you're funny. You two look exactly alike."

Katherine shrugs a shoulder but she's still tense. You shake out of your daze, wiping your lips from the way he had kissed you.

"Why are you here, Jackson?" she asks him, "Where's your father?"

"Not here, don't worry. I was supposed to go with him, but we had a bit of an argument."

"About what?"

"You. You know he's looking for you, right?"

Looking for her? Was his father Tobias?

"How did you get out?"

Katherine glances around, "There wasn't anything on the news?"

"No. What'd you do, get someone else killed?" he chuckles.

You raise a brow at that.

"You know very well that I did not kill Viktor."

"Oh definitely," he says waving his hand. He smiles widely, charming and sweet, as he glances at you. "Aren't you going to introduce us, Katherine?"

Her answer is curt, "No."

You glance between Katherine and this guy. She's kind of hostile towards him even if he does seem… harmless.

"Oh, don't be like that," he reaches out, caressing Katherine's cheek as she merely turns away from his touch.

That doesn't seem to deter him.

"You're really going to ignore my question?"

"Answering your question isn't what I came here for."

"Your inheritance?"

Katherine watches him for a moment, "No."

"That bag?"

You glance at the black duffel over your left shoulder. You shift it, it's heavier than it looks.

"Who are you?" you take the initiative, moving Jackson's focused gaze from her. Besides, your curiosity has always gotten the better of you.

"See? Even she wants to know."

He pauses.

Then sighs.

Katherine's eyes are on you and you meet her gaze. It's like she's glaring; reprimanding you for initiating and you crack, opening your mouth to apologize to her but she rolls her eyes.

"Elena, this is Jackson Pierce. My cousin."

Cousin? But he'd kissed her… err, well, he'd kissed you. It's not incest, not technically, but your face still scrunches up at the thought.

"Jackson, this is Elena," she continues. "My doppelganger."

"Doppelganger?" Jackson laughs. "You're sisters. Twins, by the look of it. You can't fool me. You were looking for your family last I checked."

Katherine clenches her jaw.

Jackson smirks.

"Even if she was," she says dismissively, "it wouldn't be any of your business, would it?"

He tilts his head. You can't read his face or even understand exactly what's going on, but he takes one look at Katherine's hand on your wrist and he leans forward.

Katherine steps back.

If you hadn't been nervous before, you are now.

"Nervous?" he taunts.

Yes.

But he isn't talking to you. You look at Katherine, her expression is steeled.

"You seem nervous. Would it hav—"

"Shut up, Jackson. We're leaving."

He steps in the way, "—e anything to do with your little habit of killing everything you touch?"

"God," she shakes her head, "if I could kill you with one touch, I'd be all over you."

"Mm," he smiles as you frown.

"Get out of the way," she demands.

"You haven't changed."

"Jackson, get out of the way."

"Or what?" he's amused, giving you a glance. "Tell me, Katherine, you trust this girl?"

He talks about you with disdain in his voice but directs his next question to you.

"Or you? You trust Katherine?"

You don't respond, though he doesn't even give you the time to do so.

"You don't even know what she's done—"

Katherine's hand is quick, moving in a snap to meet her open palm with Jackson's face, but somehow, he's quicker.

He catches her wrist.

"You really haven't changed."

"Let go," Katherine says, tugging.

"Or what?" he repeats.

She stops pulling, "You're hurting me."

You try to step forward but, similarly, Katherine still has your dominant arm in a vice grip, and the other? Well, now that you've had the duffel on your shoulder for a while, you regret opting to leave your sling at the lake house.

From another room you hear what sounds like the front door, slamming shut.

"Jackson!" someone calls out.

All three heads turn to the sound.

Your first instinct is to run.

Katherine pulls her wrist again, but Jackson won't let up.

"Let. Go."

She hisses this threateningly, but he refuses.

The smile you had classified as "charming" earlier has quickly become annoying. He draws his lips into a lopsided grin as he jerks Katherine towards him, which releases you from her grip.

Your mind works quickly.

We need to leave.

Dropping the bag down you attempt to help Katherine from Jackson, pushing him back to no avail.

"Let go of her."

You try not to make too much noise, but you are hyper-aware of the fact that there are footsteps heading this way.

You hear Jackson mutter something along the lines of, "Unlikely." And before you can even attempt to save your own skin, a man walks through the threshold of the den.

"Jackson!"

A tall man stands there. There's a gun holster on his hip, his black hair is trimmed but you can still see the curls and the whites in it. He wears a suit. From his posture and his hair, he looks just a bit older than the Gilberts.

But more importantly, he looks like a federal agent.

Fear grips your heart, but Jackson is distracted, and Katherine takes that as the opportunity to twist her hand and pull her knee up to kick him in the groin.

He dodges it, and she kicks him away instead.

He falls a few feet away when he loses balance, but he looks disturbingly gleeful.

"Katherine!" You grip her arm, ready to run, especially since the man has yet to draw his weapon.

You tug, but she doesn't budge.

"Katherine?" The older man's gaze looks from her, to the guy on the ground. And then to you. His eyes narrow. "What are you doing here? How did you get here?"

"Markos?" her disbelief is heavily mixed with confusion, "What are you—"

She stops herself from mimicking his question, opting for something else. The implication eludes you at first, since you don't have any context, so you stay silent, trying to kick back the rush of adrenaline telling you to get the hell out of here.

Why are we still here?

"Why are you looking for Jackson?"

"He works for my father, " the younger man supplies, smug. "Oh, come on, you didn't think he would quit that salary just because you went to jail and Viktor kicked the bucket?"

You flinch at his flippant tone.

"You work for him now?" Katherine asks. "You're his head of security?"

"I've been working for your family for as long as I remember, " the older man answers.

"But for Tobias? You were the one…" she stops herself before saying, "Why would you work for him?"

If you knew any better, you'd say she sounds a bit... betrayed.

"Money! What do you think?" Jackson inserts, getting to his feet and dusting himself off. It's unnecessary; his comment and the way he's wiping off nothing from his pants. You're pretty sure this place is completely spotless.

Katherine pauses only for a second.

"So, you're Tobias' new head of security. He's currently looking for me and you've found me," she lays out. "Now what?"

"Now you come with us. Isn't that obvious?" Jackson says. "The others will be here soon."

With her cousin blocking the door to the outside and Markos standing at the doorway, you and Katherine are trapped.

"You're an idiot if you think we're coming with you," Katherine condescends.

"We?" Jackson's laugh is directed at you, "You two must've really hit it off in prison."

"Oh yeah, definitely," Katherine interjects, facetiously. She nods her head to the side, "Come on, Elena. Let's get out of here."

Before you can even follow, Jackson easily steps in her way, physically stopping her tracks. "No. You're the idiot if you really think I'd let you leave. You're not going anywhere."

"What are you going to do? Hand me to your father?"

"You really think I'd just let you go like that?"

If he was anyone else and if he was looking at her with even a slightly different expression, one could think that almost sounds romantic.

"I know you think he wants you dead."

"He put out a hit on me, I'm pretty sure I don't just think he does."

"Well," he rolls his eyes in thought, "Okay fine, if you don't want to meet with him, I won't force you to, but either way, you aren't leaving here."

Was that his decision to make anyways?

You glance around, since you're basically invisible, to see if you can spot another exit. If you're quick, you feel like you and Katherine can both knock Markos off his feet, he isn't too old, but he isn't young either. Though, there's probably a reason why he's still working as security.

Head of security, no less.

The thought makes you second guess trying to force your way out of here.

"No," she sustains, "I think you should move out of the way."

You'd be less weary if Katherine wasn't always so level-headed. Sometimes you'd really appreciate some mutual panic.

Jackson doesn't budge.

Your brows furrow when you see that Katherine is reaching behind her back for something.

"For your sake, I highly suggest you move," she threatens.

Not seeing what she's reaching for, Jackson leans forward, but then stops.

He takes one step back, showing his palms at the gun Katherine has pointed at him. The same gun Sierra had pulled on you days ago.

"Katherine," Markos calls, coming closer.

"You wouldn't," Jackson says, eyeing her. "You don't have it in you."

"I wouldn't be so sure."

"Oh, but I am," he eases up, putting his hands down.

"Katherine," Markos calls again.

Jackson smirks.

"Say, Elena," he addresses. Though you've been mentioned, you've been silent for most of these engagements. Mostly because you have no idea what's going on and for once, you're more eager to leave this place than to ask questions. "Your last name wouldn't happen to be Gilbert, would it?"

You frown. Why did that matter at this moment?

"Tell me, have you two had the talk yet?"

"The talk?" you repeat in question.

"Shut up, Jackson, and move out of the way!" Katherine adjusts her grip.

"No need to be rash," Markos interjects. "Katherine, put the weapon down."

"Markos, where's everyone else? If I haven't been clear, I want Katherine here to know she isn't going anywhere." He taunts, glancing at the gun, "I bet you can't even hit the broad side of the moon."

Katherine tilts her head.

"Jackson, stop it." Markos reprimands, "I taught her myself. Trust me, she can."

Jackson's smile falters as he looks at the older man. In a swift motion, he grabs the gun and charges forward. There's a loud, deafening bang and an exchange that looks like Katherine's dodged a blow, but you can't really see from this angle. She ends up on the ground, Jackson having, maybe unintentionally because you can't imagine he knew, hit her torso.

"Argh!" Katherine places a hand to her side.

"Shit," Jackson shakes his hand, massaging it. He looks down at her with confusion, confirming your guess.

You step forward, whether to charge at Jackson or to help her, you aren't too sure.

Markos stops you, holding his gun up, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

You pause, eyeing the firearm.

"What's wrong with you?" Jackson asks Katherine.

She glares up at him without responding.

You're pretty close to her, but in a room full of guns, you don't want to the idiot that decides to make any sudden movements.

Fuck it.

Apparently, you are the idiot that makes a sudden move.

You try to step around Markos, but he grabs your bad shoulder and holds you back. You grimace.

"That's cute," Jackson comments, "But unfortunately, you aren't going to be with us for long. Markos? What are you waiting for, shoot her!"

You look up at the older man, fearing for a second. You hadn't thought of this. Sure, you could be of use helping Katherine, but the people looking for her don't have any reason to keep you around. And from what you know, Katherine's life seems to be filled with people who don't have a problem taking a life.

You frown at Markos meaningful stare as he holds up his gun, gripping the trigger. He's slow about it, and you mean only push his wielding hand, but he jerks it away like its been knocked back and he steps away.

"Oh, for Christ-sake—" Jackson's curse is cut off as Katherine kicks his shins and he falters.

In a flash Markos is at his side and Jackson drops to the ground as the older man puts his hand down, holstering his gun.

Markos has knocked him out.

"Alright, that's about enough," he looks to the two of you, and you blink a little.

What?

"You need to go, Katherine. Before the others get here."

"But you're the head of security," you say without thought.

Not to look a gift horse in the mouth but he's just letting you go? Tobias' head of security? Wasn't it specifically his job to hand Katherine in?

Markos shakes his head, as older, wiser eyes meeting yours and Katherine's, "Unfortunately, if you stay, that won't stop word from getting to Tobias that I'm not unbiased towards you."

Unbiased? You observe the two as Markos stoops down.

"Are you okay?" he asks her.

Her hand doesn't have a hint of blood on it when she holds it out.

"She was stabbed weeks ago," you explain.

"Weeks ago? And still?"

You nod, kneeling as well. "You're okay, right?"

She sighs, probably sick of dealing with this particular injury.

"Okay," Markos looks at his watch, "Like I said, you two need to go."

You help her up.

"Be safe," Markos advises, giving her the gun she'd brought, and affectionately placing a hand on top of your counterpart's head like he's speaking to a child.

Katherine hasn't said anything, and she still doesn't, instead biting her lip and nodding.

You pick up the duffel bag.

Markos nods to you, and you follow Katherine out the doors.

"What the hell was that?" you ask once you're both away from the mansion and across the field.

"What do you mean?"

"Them. Jackson. He tried to kiss you."

Katherine chuckles, humorlessly, "Right. Thanks for that by the way."

"No. I—" you shake your head at the infamous question-dodging and noting that she isn't leading you to the tree you'd gone over. "Where are we going?"

"The back door," she's puzzled.

Back door? "Right."

"How did you get in? Did you climb the fence?" she almost laughs.

"No," you say a little too quickly.

On the drive back, you take your respective cars. You still have the duffel and you place it in the passenger seat of the sedan.

Before the research, you'd always wondered the details to Katherine's case. You'd read the police report, sure, but it looks a lot like those reports don't have all the details. Not by a long shot.

Jackson? Markos? In those files, they'd just been names or relative titles, but here, in the flesh, it was all so real. You would've never guessed that "Tobias' son" was some maniac obsessed with his own cousin. Or that Markos "Viktor's head of security, who's worked in the family since before Viktor's second child, Tobias, was even born" would have such a… parental relationship with Katherine.

You were right about being jealous. At least you can admit that now. You don't blame her, it's not exactly her fault, but it seems even an orphan like her had a father-type figure growing up. While you, with two living parents, end up with neither and a dead brother to boot.

You sigh, following the flash blue of the Charger out to the road.