Chapter 14

1499 – Bulgaria

Nadia played with her doll in her room, her nanny watching her, while the door opened and young woman with curled dark brown hair walked in.

"Who are you?" The nanny asked eyeing the woman suspiciously.

The woman didn't responded instead she approached the nanny and looked straight into her eye and said, "You leave this room and forget I am here."

The nanny obeyed. Nadia with her eyes wide open asked, "How did you do it? When I asked my nanny if I could play in the rain, she said no, and I also looked straight into her eye."

The woman came closer to Nadia and knelt in front of her, smile on her face and tears. "You're so beautiful."

"Who are you? And why are you crying?" Nadia asked, concern in her eyes.

The woman took Nadia into an embrace. "I miss you so much, my daughter, my beautiful daughter."

"A daughter?" Nadia freed herself from the embrace. "I overheard my parents talking how they're not my real parents. Are you my real parent."

"Yes."

"I think you look too young."

"I know, but trust me you're all mine."

"Did you come to take me?"

The woman shook her head. "I wish, but I can't. My life is complicated and you have such a nice life here and your new parents really loves you."

"How your life is complicated?"

"I don't think you'd believe me."

"You're my mum. You wouldn't lie to me."

"Okay, I'll tell you my little secret, I'm a vampire."

Nadia looked shocked at first, but then she let out a chuckle. "Vampires are not real."

"Of course." The woman smiled and hugged Nadia again. After she looked into her eyes and said, "You'll forget about me. I'm sorry but that's for the best. I love you."

Stefan and Damon stared at the woman in front of them in shock. "Katherine had a daughter? Since I know the vampires can't procreate, so I guess, she's not your daughter, Stefan."

"Why would we believe you that you're Katherine's daughter?" Stefan asked. "And what do you mean Katherine was trapped in the tomb. Katherine was killed along with other vampires by the town's council."

"You're wrong. Katherine gave the birth to me in 1490 in Bulgaria. She gave the birth out of wedlock, so she was banished to England where she met Klaus, and you're wrong Katherine didn't -"

"Who's Katherine?" Alaric interrupted.

"Elena's her doppelganger and Stefan's girlfriend and also the one who turned him into the vampire."

"So, who turned you into the vampire?"

"Stefan."

Alaric feeling the tension between Damon and Stefan decided not pursue the topic.

"If you're right and Katherine's alive then I would do anything to help her to get our of that tomb without getting Elena hurt," Stefan said.

"Impossible." Nadia looked at Stefan, her eyes curious. "So, you dated my mother. Well, since Elena and my mum look exactly the same, I guess you jumped to Elena after my mum become unavailable."

"Katherine is the only woman I ever loved. Elena's is my friend and I won't let anything to happen to her," Stefan said firmly.

"Well, if you really loved my mum, then you would do anything to help her, anything."

"Not if it cost another person's life that I care about. However, tell us about Klaus and Katherine," Stefan demanded.

"I can't believe, Nadia, that you haven't told me anything about your mum," Enzo said, disappointed.

"Nadia, so that's your name." Stefan smiled. She still couldn't believe that Katherine had a daughter, but more he looked at Nadia, he could see how much she resembled Katherine.

Nadia noticing how Stefan looked at her, commented, "I see you're starting to believe that I'm Katherine's daughter."

"Yes I do, now tell us what you know."

"Since I've nothing better to do that to be tied to this chair; I guess I can share my mum's story with you." Nadia smirked. "However, please can you put down your crossbow," Nadia said to Alaric.

"No. And don't try any tricks."

Nadia rolled her eyes. "Well, anyway, when I was nine years old, my mum visited me. She told me she was my mum and a vampire before she compelled me to forget all about it. When I turned into a vampire, the memory regarding my mum returned, and I've decided to look for her. It turned out to be the most difficult task.

"I knew that Klaus looked for a girl who looked like my mum, but I didn't want it to get involve in it. I just wanted to find my mum. After the long centuries, I met Katherine's servant, Emily, and she told me about Klaus trapping my mum in the tomb."

"I was there, I saw Katherine and other vampires being dragged to the church and being burnt." Stefan recalled the painful memories of losing the woman he loved.

"Klaus didn't want anyone to know about it."

"So, the other vampires are also trapped, right?" Damon asked.

"No,only Katherine. Emily told me she wanted to save other vampires as well, but Klaus threatened that he would kill her family, if she wouldn't follow his exact orders."

"I still don't understand why Klaus trapped Katherine?" Stefan asked.

"I don't know all the details only that she somehow fooled Klaus, at least, that what Klaus told me."

"Wait you met Klaus?" Alaric asked.

"Yes, after Emily told me about Klaus, I stared to search for him, and in the end he and his siblings found me."

"What? There's more hybrids?" Damon asked in disbelief.

"No, they're vampires. Only Klaus' a hybrid."

"So, what happened, when you met Klaus?" Stefan asked, his heart beating fast.

"I obviously begged him to free Katherine. He only agree to do it, if I bring the doppelganger over to him."

"Didn't you ask Emily how to open the tomb?" Stefan asked, hope in his voice.

"Yes, and I know how exactly how to open it. Basically, I need Bennet's crystal, a grimmoire that I currently have and a witch. However even if I manage to open it, my mum still wouldn't be allowed to leave."

"Why not?"

"Klaus compelled my mum not to leave the tomb until he would let her."

"Seriously the hybrid now can compel the other vampires?" Damon asked, annoyed.

"The original vampires to be more precise, so yeah Klaus, but also his siblings."

"Perfect, just perfect. So how many siblings Klaus has, anyway?"

"I met three of Klaus' siblings, so I think that's it, but I can't be sure."

"I don't care about your little deal with Klaus." Alaric tightened his grip on his crossbow. "I won't let you to come near Elena."

"What about you Stefan. Don't you love my mum?"

"I love her more than anything, but I can't let Elena to get hurt. There must be another way."

Nadia shook her head. "Enzo?"

Enzo had his eyes on the floor, after a long minute, he looked at Nadia, but said nothing.

"I really thought that I could have some use of you." She looked at her ropes. "You know for centuries I drank vervain in small doses."

"What do you mean?"Alaric asked.

"This." Nadia broke free from her ties and charged at Alaric who shot an arrow towards her. Nadia caught it and throw it towards Alaric. He hissed in pain while the arrow pierced through his thigh.

Both Damon and Stefan was about to jump at Nadia, while Enzo in one move run towards Stefan and snapped his neck, and Nadia threw Damon against a wall. Before anyone could do anything, Nadia and Enzo were gone.