Introductions are in Order

Trying to go about their regular business seemed to be a struggle for everyone. Elena and Jeremy both went to school, Stefan and Caroline both keeping a close eye on her, and Bonnie made sure to check in with Jeremy regularly. Alex was worried that Elijah was just going to show up, take Elena and disappear. As far as they were all aware, Elijah thought the moonstone was in the tomb with Katherine but she was gone, and the moonstone was in the care of Sarah and Robert.

Alex had checked in with both of them, the protection barriers were in place but with Elijah already here the detection spell would only give them warning if anyone else arrived. Sarah had also taken a step to slip into the high school crowd. Keeping an eye on Elena without her even knowing.

It had been the one thing that Alex had withheld from everyone. They knew James was here to help but keeping Sarah and Robert a secret would allow them to a secret weapon in the event of things going wrong.

While her siblings were at school, Jenna at work and James had gone to speak with Sarah and Robert, Alex was left with nothing to do. After contacting the Council and confirming the death of Katherine Pierce, she was supposed to kill an original. It was a possible death sentence, but if it meant keeping Elena safe, then she was all for it.

Alex had taken the few moments of spare time to do something she hadn't done in weeks. She exchanged her boots for sneakers, tucked her hair up into a beanie and hit the footpath. Running had always been an excellent way to clear her mind. It had helped when she still had a normal life and even when being a witch took over. Also, the level of stamina that a witch had helped with the strength of spells.

Running through Mystic Falls brought back memories of morning runs with her dad, training for track in school, and races that she and Elena had done on the regular when they were kids. They would line up at the street corner, their mum standing at the other end, and they would race each other. The winner always got first choice of dessert for the night, as well as control of the TV.

Alex couldn't help but smile as she thought about Elena winning. Alex had always felt bad for beating her and more often than not would allow Elena to win. It was what big sisters did. Alex left the concrete path and hit a dirt trail that ran through the trees behind the houses. It wasn't well travelled as the trees and bushes were overgrowing the root, but it allowed Alex to just disappear for a moment.

She came to a stop near the middle of the path and took a moment to catch her breath, she made sure to keep moving so her heart rate didn't drop. Alex stretched out her arms when she felt the tingling sensation run through her body. She snapped to attention and spun around, pushing out her hand she yelled, "Descendit."

The vampire that had been charing towards her cried out and hit the dirt face down.

Alex frowned as she recognised the dark hair that belonged to Damon. "What the fuck do you think you are doing?" She twisted her wrist and flipped Damon onto his back.

"Let me up," he groaned.

"No. Answer the question."

"You killed Katherine," he said.

"Yes, you are welcome."

Damon glared up at her. "I wanted to kill her."

Alex shrugged. "Not my problem." She let the spell fade and turned her back on him.

Damon charged her again, but this time she stopped him right behind her and forced him to his knees. "I'm sure Stefan explained to you that the only reason that you are still breathing is because of Elena. But if you keep going, I have no issue turning you into a Korean barbeque just like I did to Katherine."

Damon asked, "Why did you kill her, though?"

Alex huffed and pushed him back.

He stumbled but caught himself. "Just because Katherine was a vampire?"

"Among other things," she said.

"Like what?"

"She tried to kill James and me, almost succeeded with James. After she slipped away, I was going to let her have a repeat performance so I got rid of her, and we are all better off for it."

Damon straightened his jacket. "What did you do to Stefan?"

Alex looked at him, puzzled. "Nothing."

"You had to have done something because since you got back yesterday, he's been acting like a zombie."

Alex rolled her eyes. "I didn't do anything. He came to the realisation that his feelings for Katherine weren't pure hatred like yours. He still loved her."

Damon flinched as she spoke. He clenched his fist shut. "Stefan was over Katherine, had been for a long time."

She shook her head. "Nope. He thought he was, but he flat out admitted it. Not that it really matters, she's dead and won't be coming back any time soon."

Alex turned and started heading back home. She was sick of Damon; from the moment they met, he had been a thorn that just pricked her at every chance he got. Alex got all of ten steps before the tingles across her body grew again, and Damon was thrown over her head and landed on the ground in front of her.

Alex turned around and came face to face with a very handsome but annoyed vampire. His short brown hair was combed perfect, he was dressed in a suit that looked stupidly expensive, and he was adjusting his coat. "Next time you try to kill an Original, make sure they are actually dead before you leave," he said.

"Elijah," said Alex.

He glanced at her, and he paused for a moment. Recognition flashed across his face for a moment. "Nadia?"

Alex frowned. "Nope, not me."

Elijah sighed. "Apologises, you remind me of someone." He slipped in hand into his pocket. "It seems as if you know my name but I am at a disadvantage as I do not know yours."

"My name isn't important."

A blur moved past Alex and collided with Elijah. Damon tried to subdue him but was thrown over his shoulder. Elijah grabbed a low hanging branch, snapped it off and plunged the sharp end into Damon's shoulder pinning him to the ground. "It is rude to interrupt. I will get to you momentarily." Elijah straightened his jacket once more. "Again, my apologies. It seems some vampires have no manners."

Alex didn't know what to make of Elijah. He held himself high with a form of elegance and confidence that didn't come off as snobbish but as handsome. Alex cringed at her thoughts. What on earth? Yes, Elijah was good looking but she seemed to be forgetting he was one of the original vampires after Elena.

"I'm sorry if this has frightened you, no harm shall come to you."

Alex almost laughed. "I'm not scared of you."

Elijah smiled. "Is that so?"

"I wouldn't get too cocky, she has a feisty attitude," groaned out Damon.

Elijah's smile widened.

"Shut up, Damon," said Alex. "Can you kill him? Because then I don't have to worry about him later."

"I wasn't planning on killing him yet, but how can I deny such a lovely woman her request." Elijah turned around. "It seems the lady dislikes you as much as I."

Damon laughed. "Oh come on, Alex. You like me. I'm charming and handsome." He smirked.

Alex frowned at him and crossed her arms.

"Okay, maybe not. I'm an ass, I know. But Elena won't like this," said Damon.

Alex could kill him. Break his neck, again and again, and then maybe after the tenth time she would burn him alive. Elijah frowned. "You know the doppelganger?"

Alex uncrossed her arms and pulled her magic to her, she was ready for any sudden movement. "You can't have her," she said.

"Where is she?" Elijah snapped. His calm demeanour changed and Alex took a deep breath as the monster within the once relaxed vampire stepped out. He flashed towards Alex and grabbed her by the arm.

"Bad idea," groaned Damon, and for once he was right.

Alex smacked her palm against Elijah's chest and sent him flying through the trees. His back impacted with a tree and dropped to the ground.

Elijah sat stunned for only a second before he jumped back up. "You little witch. I was unaware of any witches living around her. And you can't be the Bennett witch. So who are you?"

Alex brought her hands close to her chest and said, "I'm sure you will work it out." Clenching her fits closed the tree that Elijah leant against grew around his arms and chest enclosing him into it. Elijah struggled but the trees thick bark held him.

Alex moved over to Damon. "I should kill you. Why were you stupid enough to bring up Elena?"

"I think blood loss might be affecting my decision making."

"I don't think it's the blood loss." Alex grabbed the stake that was piercing his chest and said, "Viribus." The spell giving her a moment of strength, she ripped the stakeout and dropped it on the ground. "Get up," she said. "That tree won't hold him for long."

Damon stumbled down the path and Alex moved to follow. "You look so much like Nadia Ravenwood."

Alex turned back to look at Elijah. She doesn't know why, but it just slipped out. "She was my grandmother." She froze for a moment as she realised that Elijah would now be able to find out exactly who she was. Shaking her head, she ran back home before she said anything else stupid.