A/N: I do not own The Vampire Diaries. Information on WWii borrowed from .
"So tell me sister," Trent started conversationally as they painted the office the following morning, "how did you come to live in a place like this?"
"I know, it's too big for my taste," she answered, wrinkling her nose. "I blame Elijah, he drove me here and just flat out said he bought it for us to use and it's in my name so no vampires can enter unless I say so."
"Huh," he grunted. "Are there a lot of them in Mystic Falls? Vampires, I mean?"
"I know of three, at the very least."
"Who?"
"You won't like my reply," she told him dryly but when all he did was raise his eyebrows, she shrugged. "Damon, for one."
"Damon?" He turned to look at her, confusion shining on his face. "Damon Salvatore? The guy I met who you knocked me out and went to see?"
"Breathe brother," she commented with a half-smile. "Yes, Damon's a vampire. So is his brother Stefan. You haven't met him yet."
"Exactly what business is Elijah having you do?" he spluttered, not quite willing to accept the fact that his sister knew not one vampire but three, or four, he realized. "And you said three, who else?"
"All I know is her first name," she responded. "Caroline, we met once and I sensed her nature right away."
"Ryssa," he warned when she didn't give him an explanation about the other question he posed.
"Elijah just needed my help, I told you before that I can't say. Besides, the less you know the better."
"I can take care of myself, sis."
"Not against a vampire you can't, Trent," she shot back sternly. "There's something going on in this town that you do not need to be a part of and I'm not willing to risk you."
"Since when are you the protective sibling?" he scoffed and she rolled her eyes.
"I never had reason to be, Mister beat-up-anyone-who-looked-at-his-baby-sister-wrong," she drawled and he grinned with pride.
"How bad is the pain today?" he asked softly and she lowered the pain brush, her heart twisting.
"It hurts every time I breathe," she whispered.
"Where does it hurt the worst?"
Ryssa let her mind trail off as she remembered the night before when he'd brought her home and she'd literally fallen apart in his arms. Something about having him near her made the pain more real, made the fact that Emma was gone more permanent. She knew it was why she'd avoided his calls and fought him so hard. Only Trent had seen her in her darkest moments, and likewise only he had the ability to pull her back out.
"The guilt. I can't get past it," she said finally. At his questioning look, she explained, "I feel terrible about leaving her with Mandy and coming here, and that I didn't get a chance to say goodbye. I should have been there, Trent. To hold her and tell her I love her."
He set his brush down and came over to her, wrapping his arms around her tightly and she welcomed the embrace. "She knew that you loved her, Ryssa. You need to forgive yourself."
"I can't," she shook her head. "Every time I close my eyes, I dream of her. I see her when I go outside, hear her when I'm in the middle of a store. She's everywhere, but at the same time she's gone. I can't forgive myself for leaving."
Ryssa pulled away and left the room, hugging her arms close to her chest as he watched. Trent sighed and looked down, toying with the brush she'd handed him. He wanted so badly to help her but it would take time, he knew.
"No parent should have to bury their own child," he mumbled to himself.
He found her downstairs in the kitchen, drinking a cup of coffee and staring absently at the space across the bar from her. He glanced around when he realized that he had yet to see Elijah, and she hadn't mentioned where the vampire even was.
"Where is Elijah anyway?" he asked and watched as a fresh wave of pain passed through her eyes and leaned on the bar.
"It's complicated," she muttered and he frowned. "I can't tell you much and still keep you safe, but all you need to know is he's away."
"Away where? I thought he needed your help for whatever it is he brought you here for?"
"Trent, please, just drop it."
Ryssa set her cup down on the bar a little too forcefully and rubbed her forehead just as there was a knock at the front door. Glancing at his sister, Trent went to get it and she looked up when she recognized Elena's voice. She went into the foyer and looked at the girl but instantly felt that something was off. She shifted her gaze to Trent who seemed to be waiting for her to let the girl in but she didn't.
"Trent, would you mind running out and grabbing a pizza?" she said and he nodded at Elena as he passed. She watched him drive away before turning back to her visitor who'd been eying her brother. "Can I help you, Elena?"
"I heard about what happened from Damon, I just wanted to see how you're doing. Can I come in?" She replied and Ryssa chewed her cheek. Her instincts were saying not to let her in but they were also pointing to there being something odd about the fact that Elena had even asked. Why would she even be there?
"Actually, I'd rather go for a walk." She grabbed her jacket and caught the spark of annoyance coming from Elena as she shut the door firmly behind her. "Trent and I were painting one of the rooms, so it's probably a good idea to get away from the fumes for a bit."
"I love your house, it's very pretty," Elena complimented.
"Thanks, I'll have to have you over when it's finished," Ryssa stated and studied the girl out of the corner of her eye. "Can I speak plainly?"
"Go ahead," Elena agreed with a smile and Ryssa used her magic to hold her in place.
"Why are you pretending to be Elena, Katerina?" she demanded coldly. She watched the vampire's friendly expression change into a smile that would have unnerved her if not for the fact that her emotions were muted these days.
"Damn, what gave me away?"
"The fact that Elena should be in school and I know that if Elijah was daggered, you'd have escaped the tomb," Ryssa remarked calmly.
"Smart girl," the vampire approved. "And it's Katherine now."
"What do you want, Katerina?" she ignored her comment about her name. Frankly, she didn't give a damn what she went by. She had been called Katerina by the Original and she didn't feel bothered enough to accommodate the reason for of all the mess.
"I was curious, I've heard so much about you," Katerina drawled with sly smile. "It's not often a vampire such as Elijah falls in love, especially with a human."
"Or you were bored and the brothers aren't giving you the attention you want," the witch commented dryly. She watched with a flicker of amusement as the vampire pouted slightly and tried to move only to fail.
"Mind letting me go?"
"I do actually," Ryssa answered mildly. "I just wanted to make the point that no matter how old you are, I can still drop you where you stand."
"Cocky little witch, aren't you?"
"Confident," she supplied and released the minor binding spell and picked up a stick off the ground and withdrew the pocketknife she'd taken to carrying and began to sharpen the tip into a stake. "I'll ask again, what do you want?"
"I want to know what you know about the ritual and how Elijah planned to kill Klaus," Katerina said, eying the witch.
"Now why would I tell you something like that?" she questioned instead.
"Because, I'm here to help. Like I told Damon, I want to stop Klaus."
"Hm," the witch grunted thoughtfully and reached into her other pocket. "You won't mind me checking then?"
"By all means," the vampire shrugged with pursed lips and walked ahead.
Ryssa scrutinized the vampire with interest, a little unsettled by how similar she looked to the doppelganger. She dialed Damon and waited as it rang then smiled grimly when he answered. "Hello Damon, you'll never guess who I'm talking to as we speak."
"Other than me? I'll bite, who?"
"Katerina Petrova, or rather, Katherine Pierce. Thanks for the heads up on her being out of the tomb, by the way." Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she observed the vampire watching her, that same smile on her face.
"What? What's she doing over there?"
"She claims," she stressed the second word, "that she's here in Mystic Falls to stop Klaus and protect Elena."
"She gave us that line too. Me, I don't trust her as far as I can throw her."
"Well," she smiled wickedly, "I don't trust her and I can throw her very far." Ryssa's eyes locked on Katherine's and turned hard. "I believe I made it very clear when I said that I wasn't going to explain about what Elijah told me, Damon."
"Come on, Ryssa, give us something we can use," he wheedled and she pinched the bridge of her nose and disconnected the call. Idly twirling the makeshift stake, she considered Katherine, aware that the vampire was still looking at her with an expression she did not trust.
"I already told the Salvatore's that we need the burial ground and why. That's all they need to know right now," she stated finally.
"He told you about Klaus and the curse, didn't he?" Katherine walked closer and saw the witch tense, the stake stilling in her hand. "I don't want this curse broken any more than them, we want the same thing."
"See, that's where you're wrong," Ryssa argued, pointing the stake at her. "All I want is to keep the deal I made to Elijah and that requires helping the vampires and doppelganger that daggered the person I happened to love. And of course, my brother none the wiser about any of it. But hey, one thing at a time."
Ryssa turned to go back, knowing that Trent would be returning soon, and paused. She faced the vampire again and tilted her head to one side. "Why are you helping, really? Self preservation?"
"Yes," Katherine replied and Ryssa nodded slowly.
"Which means the moment I tell you anything, then I lose my leverage and you'll hightail it the millisecond you think there's a better way."
"I said I'd protect Elena, I meant it."
"Oh I'm sure," she waved the stake and rolled her eyes. "But what's to stop you from choosing Klaus and backstabbing everyone? I mean, if you think about it in regards to your track record, you're all about choosing the winning side, especially if it's your own."
"I have spent 500 years running from Klaus, I want him gone," Katherine said through gritted teeth as she blurred to stand in front of Ryssa.
"Until he offers you something better, such as your life or freedom," Ryssa tossed back, eyes narrowed. "You see the little problem I'm having here about believing in anything you say."
"Fine, I tried." Katherine raised her arms and gave the witch an irritated look. "I can see what he sees in you, you're very suspicious."
"I prefer to think of it as cautious," Ryssa retorted with a quick smile. "You want to help, find the burial ground."
Without sparing the vampire a second glance, she used her magic to bind her in place and walked back into her home and waited until she'd raised the shield around it before releasing her. Next project: get Trent out of town before he became Vampire kibble, she decided.
Slamming the book closed with a sigh, Ryssa dropped her head onto it with a thud. She was supposed to be studying for a major exam but Emma had been home sick with the chickenpox for a week and she was exhausted. She groaned and forced herself to her feet to return the book to its shelf, stifling a yawn with one hand. She retook her seat and opened the next, propping her head up with one hand, her eyes in slits to keep awake.
"Rather late to be studying, don't you think?" a voice inquired as a cup of coffee was placed in front of her on the table. She raised her eyes to meet her caffeine benefactor and smiled when she saw that it was Elijah. She accepted the coffee and he sat in the chair beside her, taking the book from in front of her and looking at the cover.
"The library of Congress World War II companion," he read and met her gaze.
"Mm, gotta love history," she muttered and rolled her eyes good naturedly. "What are you doing here and how'd you find me?"
"I followed you," he answered simply and she scrunched her nose at him for it and he smiled slightly.
"Let me guess, you were in the area?"
"As a matter of fact…" he sipped his coffee and regarded her with his calm and composed expression. "Why are you up so late?"
"Exam," she replied and crossed her arms, resting her chin on them. She laid her head on them to look at him sideways, somewhat soothed by his presence. "I've been procrastinating and I also suck at cramming."
The Original chuckled and patted her hand and opened the book to skim through it while she watched silently.
"Hey," she remembered and perked up a little, "you were alive back then, tell me something I can use."
"What do you want to know?"
"Where were you back then?" she questioned, sipping her coffee.
"Let's see," he mused and looked off in the distance as he thought. "I believe I was in France, actually."
"I'd love to visit France. I was fascinated with Marseilles when I was younger. Trent used to check books out for me to read," she sighed dreamily.
"Well as you know, France surrendered to Nazi Germany in the early 1940s," he began and she rested her chin on her arms again to listen. "Nazi Germany controlled around three fifths of France's territory and on July 10th of 1940, a new French government was established based at the town of Vichy.
"Vichy France, as the new government became known as was run by Henri Philippe Pétain, a General during World War One. Its senior leaders authorized the plunder of French resources, as well as sent French forced labor to Nazi Germany; in doing so, they claimed they hoped to preserve at least some small amount of French sovereignty. At the same time, anti-Semites and the Vichy officials helped with the persecution and concentration of Jews, most commonly those that were of foreign descent."
Ryssa picked her pen up and jotted down some cliff notes for what he was saying as he went on. "There were those that opposed to the persecution, known as the Free French, who organized resistance movements in both Vichy France. They were originally formed in exile with the UK's support. The leader of the Free Forces was Charles de Gaulle, the under-secretary of state for war and national defense and whose main objective was to pave the way for his part of creating the future of France. Once the Allied landings in North Africa occurred, the German army had taken control of Southern France as well. Four years of conflict and activity, the Allied forces—combined with the Free French Forces, liberated France in the year 1944."
Elijah looked at his young friend and smiled at the way she bit her lip when she was focusing and watched as she wrote down most of what he said. When she'd finished, he gently shut the book and waited until she raised her gaze to meet his before he reached a hand out to touch her cheek and she granted him a smile. Something about her had stayed with him over the years and he enjoyed these stolen moments with her.
The Original almost regretted compelling her to forget each one, but knew she would be better off believing he'd stayed away. Thus he leaned forward and compelled her to go home, forget he'd been there, and get to sleep, lingering only long enough to brush a kiss over her forehead before he vanished from the dark library.
When she received the call from Jonas about waking Elijah, she wasted no time going over to see if it was possible, only to find it empty, a burnt and very dead Luka on the floor. She covered him with a blanket and frowned, trying to think of where Jonas would have gone when she had a bad feeling and dialed Damon .
As he filled her in on the Martin's trying to revive the Original and that Luka had been wounded through the spell and Damon torching him, she drove as fast as she could into town. When she pulled up at the Grill, she recognized Bonnie's car and went in, searching for the witch. If Bonnie was there, then there was a good chance the doppelganger would be too. The place looked packed due to the live band so she focused on sensing the Bennett instead of seeing her and glimpsed her coming from the restrooms. She quickly made her way over when she saw her being stopped by Elena.
"Elena!" she called when she reached the girl's side, "you need to get out of here, now."
"Why, what is it?"
"No time, just trust me, you need to move."
Right at that moment, Elena's phone rang and she answered, then walked away to talk to Stefan and Ryssa repressed a frustrated glare.
"Ryssa, what's going on?" Bonnie asked but stopped as a very enraged Jonas entered the Grill. The older girl tried to stop Bonnie but the witch went toward him, asking if he was okay.
"Where is she?" he demanded and Ryssa watched the scene, readying herself to shove Bonnie aside if Jonas tried to attack her.
"Where is who?" asked Bonnie.
"My son is dead," he growled out and Ryssa gently pulled Bonnie back to try reasoning with the man.
"I'm sorry Mr. Martin, I know what you're feeling, I just lost my daughter recently but please, revenge isn't the answer," she said in as calm a voice she could muster.
"They killed Luka, they daggered Elijah. If I want my daughter back, I need Elena. As one parent to another, Ryssa, get out of my way."
"Not a chance."
"So be it," he uttered and broke the stage lights and Ryssa shoved Bonnie down to protect her and cast a spell to try to minimize the damage to those in front of the stage. "Where is she?"
"Haven't seen her," she replied and jumped a little when he broke the rest of the lights. Things were very quickly getting out of control.
"Please don't do this, Mr. Martin," Bonnie pleaded but it fell on deaf ears as he broke the bottles on the bar and she hurriedly cast another spell to attempt to keep the glass from hurting anyone. The only issue was, he was far older and stronger than she, and he had nothing left to lose. Bonnie tried to stop him but he put a hand on her forehead and she slumped to the floor.
Jonas turned to the other witch who was chanting under her breath, casting a binding spell on his powers to keep him from hurting anyone but he barely even flinched. "I only want Elena, Ryssa."
"And I can't let you have her," she replied and noticed the blond waiter helping Bonnie outside and blanched as an idea came to her. If she connected to his mind as she had when opening the tomb, she could possibly stop him. It violated everything she'd ever known but before she could begin, Stefan and Elena came up to them. "Get her out of here, Salvatore," she hissed.
"I'm so sorry about Luka, Mr. Martin. I never meant for this to happen, but we can still help you get your daughter back," Elena addressed him desperately but he waved off her apology.
"The only person who could do that is Elijah."
"Let us help you, please."
The warlock set fire to another bar and turned back to them but Caroline leaped on him. "Damn it, Stefan, take her and go!" she shouted at him through the mind link and watched helplessly as Jonas started to hurt the blond vampire and Stefan grabbed Elena's hand and left.
"Come on, Jonas, you don't want to do this," she called to him as Caroline yelled and the boy who'd helped Bonnie came back in and ran to her side.
"Matt, no!" Caroline screeched as he rushed over to Jonas and pushed him against the wall and the warlock broke a bottle and shoved it into the boy's neck.
Ryssa lashed out with her magic, and only succeeded in making the man stumble before he threw her back with his and she groaned when her head hit something hard. The man was gone a moment later, leaving her, Caroline, and the boy, Matt.
Wincing in pain, she forced herself to her feet and went over to them, reaching out with her telepathy to calm his terrified mind at the sight of Caroline as a vampire and applied steady pressure on his wound while she fed him blood. The moment he was healed, she urged them to get out and stopped her protest of not wanting to leave her there by throwing them in the direction of the door.
"Go home, I'll be right behind you," she said they left. Ryssa looked around, checking to make sure no one else was inside the burning building, covering her nose and mouth to avoid inhaling smoke. She ushered out anyone who'd been too afraid of the flames with the mental suggestion to leave and bent double, coughing as the smoke began to get to her.
Next she tried to summon the power to put out the flames only to be stopped as Damon entered and she glared at him as he grabbed her and blurred with her outside, depositing her beside her car.
"In," he ordered and she obeyed and allowed him to drive her back home. He glanced over when he heard the soft chanting and watched as her body arched and smoke came pouring out of her mouth. "What the heck did you just do?"
"Expelled the smoke from my lungs," she mumbled. "Jonas?"
"Dead."
"How?"
"Katherine posed as Elena long enough to bite him."
"I hate that tramp," she said and he smiled.
"Something we have in common," he agreed as he pulled up to her house. "Think you can make it inside?"
"I'm not a child, Damon. I don't need coddling."
"Touchy, touchy," he teased and she made a face at him.
"Thanks for getting me out," she said softly.
"Eh, what are friends for?" Damon followed her out of the car and up to the porch and she shot him the look that she did when she was trying to figure someone out.
"Who knew we'd make better friends than enemies?" she commented rhetorically and stepped inside before he could answer, then closed the door behind her and made her way upstairs and to her bed.