A stranger's arms are wrapping themselves around my waist and I'm being pulled against someone. Then he whispers in my ear, "Looking for me Katherine?"
"Damon," I sighed deeply against him. Tears threaten to escape my eyes.
He kisses my cheek but before he can tug me into his room, I extricate myself from him. I can't lie to him. When I turn to face him, I'm stunned. His hair is curly from the humidity. His eyes are glazing over me and his lips are pursed into a thin worrying line.
"Katherine are you okay?"
"I, I'm not Katherine. I'm her cousin Elena, from Georgia, I've been searching for her for weeks, hoping I can stay with her. Stefan found me on the road, and he confused me with her too. Luckily, he has kindly directed me here."
"Elena, my sincerest apologies for entreating upon your personal space. That is no way to approach a lady, however I did think you were Katherine and she… well.."
"I understand, and trust me, you're in no trouble with me."
My eyes catch something below his collar. Two red dots. Vampire bites. I sigh deeply. My hands can't help but push back his collar. He steps away abruptly before I realize that this Damon isn't my Damon.
"How did you get those?"
"An unfortunate accident. Pardon me, Elena." He says brushing past me.
I want to scream and cry and shout. I want to grab him and bury my face into his chest. Crush my lips to his while my fingers tug on his raven hair. But I can't. Because this Damon isn't in love with me, he's in love with Katherine. This Damon isn't my Damon, he's hers. I wish I could just will him into knowing me. Loving me as he did before I came here. Before he died. The pain of Damon being dead washes over me unpleasantly. I almost sink to the floor next to my heart. He made his way downstairs, and I just look at him, Stranger Damon is better than no Damon. Katherine crosses through the threshold of the home. While getting myself dressed into her clothes, I couldn't help but look for the moonstone. Before she died, I remember her telling me that was her means of escaping the Vampire crusade. Surprisingly, I found it. Which can only mean Katherine hasn't used it as leverage yet. My eyes continue to stare downstairs. Damon's looking at her, the way he used to look at me. Katherine was his first love and what if I can't compete with that?
Damon points in my direction and my eyes lock with Katherine's. She is in utter disbelief and shock. But she wastes no time barreling upstairs to me. When she stands in front of me, she gulps.
"Cousin we have so much to discuss!" I say to her leading her towards her room, "come."
Once we are alone, her sweet smile turns into her familiar snarl. "What are you? A witch? A traveller? Why are you here"
"Katerina Petrova.. Now is that any way to talk to your dear old cousin?"
She's taken aback, "No one has called me that since…"
"Since you fled from Klaus. I know. Here is how this is going to go. I am your cousin Elena. I escaped the fire from Georgia but you had no idea. I am here now, you will compel Guiseppe Salvatore to let me stay here as I am your orphan cousin. And you will stop feeding on Damon or I will have to make a trip to New Orleans and give you to Klaus myself."
She bares her teeth and flashes in front of me, and says, "Or, I can give you to Klaus and he can kill you instead. He won't know the difference."
"Ah, but if you do that, then how will you ever know where I have put the moonstone?"
"How do you.."
"Just assume I know everything about you Katherine."
"Okay, done. And Stefan?"
"Don't turn him unless you absolutely have to. Life and death only Katherine. Or you can be expecting Klaus. Other than that, I don't care what you do with him. Enjoy your fun while it lasts"
"Who are you Elena?"
"I already told you Katherine. I'm your cousin. Your very distant cousin and that is all."
Giuseppe welcomes me to live in his home warmly. I knew throwing Klaus in Katherine's face was the only way she would comply. Damon looks uneasy about me. I can tell he thinks I am a vampire or something. Stefan is ever the gentleman. He wastes no time making me feel comfortable in my new but not really new home. Dinner is exquisite surprisingly. Nothing was made from a box, everything was truly homemade and I devoured every bit of it while Katherine picked at her food. Katherine divided her wardrobe with me reluctantly. After seeing it, she owned way too much anyways. Probably collected it all from all those years on the run. At some point I finally settle myself into bed. Damon's room is across from mine. I would kill to be snuggled up with him right now, but I can't. So I don't. It takes me awhile but eventually my eyes flutter shut and I'm asleep.