A/N: Sorry about the delay, I recently got my computer back. ;D I've also been emotionally compromised because of Katherine Pierce.


Elena's eyes scanned the pages of the worn book in her lap. She read most of the documents, which were ninety percent small entries and family trees dating back to generations before Katherine. The further she got through Katherine's history, the more confused she became. Elena read that Katherine was an only child to two Bulgarian parents but it states that the Petrova line ended with Katherine. She thought that maybe she had cousins or some distant relatives that continued the line but there wasn't much further on the matter.

Elena propped the book up against her knees and leaned her back further into the headboard. When she turned the page, a loose paper fell out onto the sheets next to her. Furrowing her brows, Elena picked it up to investigate.

The paper had a sketched portrait of a family with fine charcoal. When Elena looked closer, she could tell that the girl in the center was Katherine and she assumed the two figures were her parents. A thin line formed on Elena's lips as she inspected the picture. This was Katherine's only family and Elena knew that her family was a sensitive subject to bring up with the vampire and she tended to ignore it. She wondered what had happened between her and her family that made the vampire so edgy.

Elena eyed her phone from the corner of her eye and bit her lip. Reading into the woman's life made Elena feel horrible for how she treated Katherine and how she forced her out of the house as if she were an unwanted pet that chewed on the sofa. It was fairly late and even though she was certain her doppelganger would still be awake, she focused on the fact that it was 1am on a Sunday and that it was no time to send a message.

Even after yelling at her and pushing her out, Elena was still fairly pissed off at her. She provided her with ample time to communicate what the problem was and why she was doing the things she was doing and she gave her time to explain everything, but Katherine chose to ignore it.

But still, even though Katherine wasn't telling her anything, it meant that there was at least something to tell and she wasn't doing these things out of some messed up amusement. If she was doing these things with no reason, Elena had no doubts that Katherine would simply say that she was doing it for her own entertainment. But there was also the fact that she knew that Katherine would rather say that she was doing it out of her own amusement instead of telling her the truth, and since she isn't doing the usual Katherine-esque method, on some level it meant that Katherine wanted to tell Elena, but wasn't for some unknown reason.

Elena sighed and placed the old sketch back into the book carefully and closed it, moving it off her lap and onto her side table while grabbing her phone.

She shouldn't, and she knew that, but she was going to because she was getting very tired of resisting what she felt and what she wanted to do. So she found Katherine's name in her phone and typed out a message.

[1:13am] Sorry for kicking you out so suddenly.

She clicked send before she could over think the fact that she sounded like she was giving in. She wasn't, but she was tired of being angry at the girl and just kind of wanted to message her. Elena turned off her lamp and tossed the blankets over her, getting comfy for sleep.

She wasn't really expecting a response from the vampire considering the time and how she treated her. Despite the fact that Katherine deserved it, she felt horrible for doing it. The things Katherine kept hidden from Elena were driving her insane and they were clearly very important and vital because of everything that has been happening lately. Everyone thinks Katherine is the bad guy and Elena wasn't oblivious to why they see that. Even Elena thinks she is a little evil but it was a complicated evil that had a sort of draw to it. A sort of magnetic pull that made a person want to learn everything about why they are misbehaving and what caused it and why they chose this path of life.

A buzz drew Elena's attention away from her thoughts and to her phone.

Katherine had responded back.

[1:25am] Opposed to a slow and gradual process of kicking me out?

Elena narrowed her eyes at the message. She couldn't tell if Katherine was being her usual snarky, playful, sarcastic self or if she was actually annoyed and mad at Elena for it. She cursed the lack of ability to tell tone through text.

[1:26am] You kind of deserved it.

She could play this war of misinterpreted tones as well. Even though she said it mostly lightheartedly, it could definitely be read seriously and if Katherine was indeed pissed at her, that's how she would take it and Elena would know what mood she was in.

[1:26am] Your existence is headache-inducing.

Or not.

[1:27am] I don't know how to respond to that.

After five minutes without a reply, Elena assumed that the conversation was done and placed her phone back on her night table and buried herself into her bed, making herself comfortable. After some time, however, her phone buzzed once more and she groaned at having to move from her comfortable position and seized her phone.

After blinking numerous times from the blinding light emitting from the device, she managed to make out the message.

[1:44am] Then don't.

Elena frowned. So Katherine was mad at her. Elena couldn't help the petty feeling those rose up in her. Katherine shouldn't be the one mad; it should be Elena that was the mad one.

She pursed her lips as she tried to decide whether or not she should reply. What would she even reply with? She sighed and placed the phone back on the table and rolled over in her bed. She would deal with the angry vampire at a more reasonable hour.


Katherine tapped the back of her phone impatiently as she held it in her hands for several minutes before she sighed softly and put it away on the small nightstand next to the bed.

She may have been slightly bitter towards the human and wanted her to feel bad about the situation earlier. Elena didn't even allow the vampire to tell even the most vague of lies, let alone the truth. She wouldn't have told her the truth regardless, but the fact that the option was barely presented to her was grating. Katherine was letting her doppelganger affect her emotionally, which is a feat in itself, and it was causing great unease in her.

Katherine was either overindulging in her feeding habits, or going long periods of time without a satisfying amount of blood – only enough to keep her from becoming a mummified mess. When she appeared earlier that night, she was in the phase of not feeding enough and she was exhausted, physically and mentally. She had been trying her best to keep herself under control and for the most part, she was successful. The second she left, however, she found a stranger walking the streets and she immediately snatched him away and drained every last drop.

The last couple of days have been busy for the vampire: sneaking around, planning, scheming, the works. She was desperate to get everything finished and done as soon as she could so she could relax a little more and not have to worry about all the ways her plans could fail.

When Elena had sent her a message not long ago, she couldn't help the twitch of a smile but she forced herself to respond with disdain. Like hell she was going to just let her off of the hook so easily.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a strong arm wrapping itself around her waist and pulling her against the body behind her on the bed and she turned in the arms to face the Lockwood werewolf in her bed, a smirk pulling at her lips; the hollow feeling of guilt that she forced down.

"Who's been texting?" Mason asked sleepily.

"No one important," Katherine replied.

The werewolf smiled back. "Good, I don't want to have to share you." He pulled her closer until she was pressed flush against his body. She trailed her hands up his chest until they rested on his shoulders.

"Don't be silly," she smirked her usual seductive smirk before tilting her head inquisitively. "You have the moonstone, right?" she asked innocently.

"Of course. I managed to get Tyler to give it to me."

Katherine batted her eyelashes. "Where is it?"

Mason smirked at her. "Somewhere safe."

Katherine frowned and furrowed her brows. She needed to know where the damn thing was and she was tired of playing these games. She pouted, "don't you trust me?"

"I don't trust anyone."

Katherine's eyes glinted with mockery. "Scared I might kill you?"

"No," he replied quickly, honestly.

Katherine grinned and leaned in, kissing him roughly as he trailed his hands up and down her sides. She kissed down his jawline and towards his neck, leaving small bites and kisses before nipping hard and he jerked, wiggling his head back to look at her. "Ah, Kat, easy."

She cocked her head and narrowed her eyes, her grin still on her face. "Sorry," she drawled huskily.

He looked at her with question and concern. "What happens once I give you the moonstone?"

Katherine wanted to roll her eyes but resisted. "Then we'll live happily ever after," she basically sighed out. "I promise," she lied.

"I'll bring it tomorrow, I promise."

She smiled, trailing her fingernails across his skin. "You know I love you," she lied again. She couldn't wait to get Mason out of the picture. She only needed him for the moonstone and his werewolf curse and he was awfully easily to manipulate.

He returned the smile. "I love you too."

Katherine leaned in and kissed him gently. She wanted to pull away and go find Elena and kiss her instead. She craved her soft touch and innocence, but she had to keep this up, she had to make sure Mason believed her and would do what she asked before she could leave him in the dust.

The vampire sighed contently against his lips as she thought of her doppelganger. Her eyes widened at that. Shit, Katherine thought. She cursed herself internally before flopping back against her pillow to sleep while Mason had his arms around her.

I really fucking like her, don't I.