To Casey, you don't always understand me, and you think I am mean, but you are the best friend a girl could have.
by Jessica French (Midnite363@aol.com)
****
Florence, Italy - Somewhere in the Mid-16th Century
The evening had been wonderful for Katherine. She had entered the room in search of Stefan, and though he had been there, her eyes could only look upon Damon. He had lounged in his father's furious embrace, and smiled pure arrogance, not denying any of his father's accusations. It was in that moment, looking upon him, that Katherine knew that she wanted him as well. She was in love with both brothers, and she wanted them both. They could all three live together in harmony and happiness. Live forever, for whoever she was to be with had to accept her as she now was. He had to become like her, a vampire. Living for all eternity, feeding off the blood of the living.
She knew Stefan would become like her. He had professed his love and loyal acceptance of her. She was sure that Damon would accept her too. She had told him the entire story of what she was and how she had came to be. He had looked on, listening intently, as she spoke of everything she now could and could not do.
Looking up at the painted ceiling above her bed, Katherine stretched her limbs. Tomorrow she would share her secrets with the brothers, and tell them her plans for them. She could imagine everything now. They could live in Germany, or France. All three of them. They would always have each other and she would always have them by her side. She sighed... eternity was a long time.
She fell into the light sleep she always seemed to fall into around the time just before dawn. Her mind was dreamless, her thoughts a steady line of nothingness. She slept till mid-afternoon.
Damon paced the length of the Salvatore greeting. A light frown across his face as he waited for Katherine to come downstairs. He had been up since dawn, eager to see her again. A soft scrape of shoe had him turning around quickly, but his face did not smile, instead it twisted into a sneer or arrogance, "Katherine it is so nice to see you again. Brother."
Stefan had Katherine's hand tucked in the crook of his arm. He immediately tightened his hold on her when Damon stepped closer, his own hand extended. "Katherine," Damon purred, "would you like to go walking again? Join the company of a much more worthy fellow?" His smile was sweet, edged with smug pleasure when she removed herself from Stefan and stood between the two brothers.
"Damon," she smiled, "and Stefan, I have something I would like to share with you." She walked softly over to a low sitting chair, covered in dark maroon silk and gold trim. She sat carefully, in perfect posture and looked up at both brothers. Her brilliant dark blue eyes wide and innocent. "I am not well, as you both know," she began.
Stefan's eyes reflected his own smuggness now. He knew what she meant by that. Damon only thought that she was ill, as did everyone else. Damon was smiling though, taking her pale hand in his own and lowering his lips, "Ah yes. Your condition. How unfortunate that you will soon have to leave your father, and your entire life behind. To begin a new one, in a new world. Certainly you wish to have a worldly man at your side." His eyes slanted up at Stefan, and he said scornfully, "Not a man lost in his studies and loyalty to country. When you leave, you will have no need for such practices."
Stefan's heart seemed to freeze in his chest, color rose to his face as he pointed a finger at Damon, who still help Katherine's hand in his own. "You told him!? Katherine, you trusted him with your secret? Why? I thought.... no Katherine, tell me you did not share with him our secret..."
"Your secret?" Damon laughed, and pulled Katherine to her feet lightly by her hand. "Katherine obviously is able to recognize where she has the best advantage to survive in this vast world. You no longer share such a wonderful secret, brother, the secret is now ours." His smile to Katherine was knowing, sure and arrogant. He knew when he had made a conquer.
Katherine had watched the brothers as they exchanged bitterness over her. Now her eyes dampened slightly, and she withdrew her hand from Damon's clutching it, with the other, before her. "Whoever I am with, will have to become like me." She startled when both brothers hurried on to say that they were the one who could accept her gift willingly.
She appealed to Stefan. "Stefan, please, let me finish before you say another word. My choice is simple, and it will please everyone involved." Damon snorted but let her continue without further interruption. She stood straight and smiled sweetly, like a child who got their one wish for Christmas, "I choose you both." She reached forward grabbing one of each brother's hands and smiled wider, almost bouncing in her elation. "Oh don't you see! We will live together forever, for always! We will be blissfully together from now until forever. So you see? I want you both, we can all be happy, now." Her smile was blinding and the joy in her heart almost hurt. But when she saw the same look of horror and disgust reflected in the face if both brothers, her smile disappeared and the joy was overcome by sadness so sharp and painful that her eyes spilled over with tears.
"You do not like my choice?" Her voice was soft.
Damon spoke flatly, "I'd rather see him dead than spend the rest of my life with him."
Stefan's eyes narrowed, "As would I." He turned to Katherine, "You are not serious."
"Oh but I am..." She looked miserable and heart broken. "I love you both."
Though the words were daggers in his heart Stefan was the one to strike the last blow, "Then you must make a decision. Pick one, or neither. It can never be both."
"And it must be made by Sunday evening, no later," Damon added coldly.
"Sunday then. I must retire..." Tears streaming down her pale cheek, Katherine fled in a whirl of skirts and gold, blond hair.