"As my life flashes before my eyes
I'm wondering will I, ever see another sunrise?
So many won't get the chance to say goodbye
But it's too late to pick up the value of my life"

-Russian Roulette by Rihanna

Elena's POV

As the mist tauntingly rolled in around me all I could think of was how cliché Damon's little tricks had turned. I knew he was following me doing his best to stay inconspicuous, but ever since Katherine's reappearance in Mystic falls I've been annoyingly aware of my surroundings. I've never known Damon to be careless of these facts, so the sneaking behind me was probably just a twisted way to get my attention.

"Ok, Mr. Hitchcock," I said with an exhausted tone, "enough with the dramatics."

No answer.

I turned around only to find that the fog had dispersed and the only company I had in the cemetery was lying under tombstones. How ironic, I thought. These days it seemed like the undead were all that surrounded me. I rolled my eyes landing my sight on my diary that had apparently fallen from my hand. Smiling at my absurdity, I picked up the journal and began to turn around and head to my favorite writing spot.

"I must be losing m—" I froze when my gaze led to a pair of black heeled boots in front of me. I slowly looked up afraid of who I was sure to meet.

"… your mind?" Katherine guessed with her usual seductive voice. She had one eyebrow slightly perked up with a confident look about her which was probably due to the fact that she found me without a bodyguard. "I'm sure that won't be the only thing you'll lose." Her passive optimism was hurtful. What Katherine wanted, Katherine usually got. What more do I have to lose, I thought.

"You know Elena, I've realized the situation we've gotten ourselves into isn't exactly fair," She began circling around me, "…for either of us, that is."

"Our situation?" It was kind of a question. I was confident that I kept the shaking out of my voice, but I didn't dare look in her eyes. Instead I made a point of looking straight ahead and at nothing in particular. If I let Katherine know I was afraid of her she would use that to her advantage. That is, if she hadn't already picked up on my incessantly loud heartbeat. I silently cursed supernatural vampire hearing before hearing Katherine's reply.

"The situation of Stefan and Damon of course," she stopped dead in front of me forcing my eyes to meet hers, "They are oblivious to our wants… our needs. I think it's time we let them in on the secret."

"Unfortunately, I don't think our wants and needs are the same, Katherine." What was I saying? I should just shut up now, but I couldn't help be a little ticked off. She was treating me like a child, which to her, I guess I was. I hoped my bluntness didn't come off as courage. To my surprise the corner of her mouth came up slightly at my retort. I was only glad I hadn't pissed her off. She was obviously the one in charge here and I wasn't going to pretend otherwise. Yet, she couldn't possibly think I was about to play Russian Roulette with the devil. Before dealing me in, Katherine turned around apparently choosing a more subtle approach this time.

"Maybe not," Katherine continued with a shrug, her voice suddenly darker, "I might not be able to know exactly what you want Elena, but I will tell you what you need."

She didn't have to look into my eyes to know I was listening; my attentive silence gave her the notion to proceed while she played with a piece of hair at my back.

"Better yet, I think I'll just leave that to Damon. I just wanted to give you a forewarning is all," I was confused at what Katherine's real motive was. What was she getting at? I continued to be quiet assuming she'd keep talking the more I kept my mouth shut and I was right.

"You may think you have the Salvatore brothers wrapped around your finger, but you forget that they spent a whole century pining after me. I, unlike you, know exactly what the Salvatore brothers want. In particular… what Stefan wants."

She moved forward only inches away locking her defensive gaze with mine. "Trust me Elena, when it comes down to me and you, I have no doubt that Stefan will choose me in the end. After all, I'm the reason he exists today."

She leaned her head next to my ear and whispered, "You may have been able to fool Stefan for now, but you must realize that this thing between you and him," she looked me up and down emphasizing thing as if it was a dirty word, "it won't last forever."

With that she was gone.

Alright, that was an annoyingly vague message… or threat. Whatever it was it didn't have me any more paranoid than I already was. I didn't bother checking for other visitors on the way to the boarding house. If Katherine wanted me dead it would be done. I finally realized that now.