A/N: So guysss I'm back from Goldcoast! xD Australia is a very fun place, I really love it there. The people there are really friendly and good looking! Mwahahahha, so as usual I only own Vanessa and Cassandra/Cassidy

Chapter 4: No More Lies

A groan escaped my lips as I regained my consciousness and I opened my eyes slowly. I was in an unfamiliar yet comfortable room, the wall was painted in light blue and the bed was comfy. The dark blue curtains blocked the sun so I couldn't guess what time was it. I massaged the back of my neck as I tried to sit up straight.

"Oh my god, Elijah!" I gasped in realization as I remembered the whole thing. He knew I was lying, snapped my neck and kidnapped me. I looked around, trying to find some sort of weapon. I focused on my hearing but the house was empty. I opened the curtain slightly and peeked outside. It was night which meant I was practically safe. Going out through the door was out of option. I tried to open the window, but when I looked up, I saw Elijah standing behind me through the reflection.

I gasped and turned around quickly. His dark eyes seemed amused but at the same time, very menacing. His presence itself radiated power and authority, making my stomach lurched as hundreds of possibilities ran through my mind.

"Going somewhere?" he asked me. His deep voice had an effect on me and I cursed myself for letting it affect me.

"Elijah," I murmured his name softly. "Why are you keeping me here?" I asked him calmly.

"Stop pretending," he said sharply and powerfully. I couldn't breathe as he walked closer to me, afraid of what he would do. My back was pressed against the glass window and Elijah was just a couple inches away from me. "Who are you?" He asked me calmly yet his voice demanded an answer.

"Elijah, it's me," I said, frowning. He shut his eyes in annoyance and my heart skipped a beat. Was the honorable Elijah going to go berserk on me? Hopefully not. But I'm pretty sure I had pissed him off.

"Do NOT!" he slammed his hand against the window and I flinched at the intensity of his voice. "Take me as a fool," he said in a calmer voice. He looked into my blue eyes and I saw how his eyes showed sorrow and love. My mind was running, trying to find something else. A memory. Now what did Katherine tell me...?

We were so close now, it was impossible for him not to want to kiss me - I mean Cassandra. His eyes flickered to my lips so I took that as a cue to kiss him. To my surprise he didn't pull away nor did he push me away. I kissed him with so much force, as if afraid to lose him (or in this case afraid that he might kill me). But Elijah wasn't a fool. He seemed taken aback when he pulled away and it took him a moment to regain his composure.

"Tell me you don't know this is me," I said, slightly panting, still out of breath from the kiss. Our forehead pressed against each other and I watched as Elijah's eyes fluttered closed. "Do you remember when you show me your true self?" I asked him softly, bringing my hand to his face. I caressed his face softly, while my other hand stroked his back. "Do you remember, love?"

"And what did you tell me?" he asked me, finally opening his eyes and looking deep into my soul. I watched as his face changed, and I knew exactly what Cassandra had said. I stroked his cheek with my thumb and smiled.

"I love you," I breathed out the word and his face changed back to normal.

Did I...pass?

He shut his eyes for a moment and I remained there, not removing my hands from him. Honestly, I really liked the way his skin felt on my skin. The heat, the warmth, it just felt so right. I blinked a little when he opened his eyes, taken aback with his glistening eyes.

"How. Did. You. Know. This?" he asked me. His dark brown eyes glared down at me and I stopped breathing. I might as well just drop dead.

"Why are you trying so hard to deny this?" I asked him, my voice rose in anger and frustration but I didn't lose the gentleness aura that Cassandra had. Impersonating her was a true pain in the ass if you asked me.

"Because you are not her," he told me and I just looked at him. "I'm not a fool. And if you do not want to talk, I will make you," he said, his lips brushed my ear and his words sent shiver down my spine. That authority in his voice! Damn!

A dark skinned man walked into the room with a rope and I hid my panic. Elijah dragged me by the arm and sat me down on a wooden chair. I hissed in pain when my skin made contact with the rope. It burned, which meant the rope was laced with vervain. The man bounded my wrists, legs and also torso with the body. He murmured something in Latin and I felt the rope tightened. I couldn't use my strength to break the bounds. The man left the room without a word and Elijah tilted my chin up, looking into my eye.

"Why are you posing as Cassandra?" he asked and I just stared at him. Should I drop the act now or should I just go on? "Just answer the question, I do not wish to harm you," he said. His words brought comfort to me, as if I could trust him. Can I? I leaned my head against the chair and stared at him pleadingly. The witch entered again and I tensed up. He brought a box with him and went behind me. I tried to calm myself and heard the sound of jars being opened. He cast a spell and then I felt his hands burned on my head.

I screamed.

I remembered screaming so loud that Dad thought there was a burglar or a rapist in the house when there was just a small, black spider in the corner of the room. I remembered my screams were really loud but usually, they were surprised screams. I had never screamed because of pain. Ever. Until now.

The ritual was repeated a couple of times and I knew that witch was trying to look inside my head. I thought of Katherine, and only her. The images that I'd imagined of what it was like to live in the 15th century. And I tried to close my mind as well. I fought.

"Stop," Elijah said and I sighed in relief. He had been standing there, watching me. I'm sure he couldn't stand seeing someone that looked exactly like his ex-lover being tortured. He sighed and knelt in front of me. "Why are you doing this? Did Niklaus send you?" he asked.

"How can you do this to me, Elijah?" I asked him weakly. He looked sharply at me before reaching for something behind me. I felt he pulled my hair that my head was tilted backward, and shoved a bottle and it's content into my mouth. Vervain. I tried to spit and cough them out as soon as it entered my mouth, but with my position, I couldn't do much. After what felt like an eternity, Elijah finally removed that bottle away and the vervain spilled across my face, burning it. I choked and coughed, and I was crying from the sting.

"Will you talk now?" he asked me and I glared at him.

"I can't talk with you shoving vervain down my throat, can I?" I snapped, the Cassandra act had disappeared into thin air. Elijah smirked and I felt my heart skipped a beat.

"I'm a very patient man, sweetheart. I don't mind carry this out for a few weeks," he said and smiled coldly at me. "Bleed her. If she doesn't want to talk, I will have to compel her," he told the witch before walking out of the room. The witch didn't need a knife or anything, instead he cut me with his magic. My arms, my neck, my torso, my thighs healed as soon as the cut opened, but it didn't take long for them to reopen.

And it didn't take long for me to pass out.

"Please, just stop," I begged. At this time, my facade had long gone, but Elijah still needed me for information. But how long will it take before he give up? Or how long will it take for me?

"All I ask is for you to answer my questions," he said.

"I...I can't," I said and he tilted his head to the side, thinking.

"Just answer my question and I will let you go. I give you my word," he said softly and I just wanted to give up.

"If you fail, Elena's dead. Klaus will know about her and believe me, he wouldn't waste even a second to sacrifice her."

"In return of a favor," I rasped and Elijah chuckled softly at this.

"What makes you think you are in any position to ask me for a favor?" he asked and I met his eyes daringly. "Who are you?" he asked, and I smirked when I realized he was compelling me. A low growl emitted from his throat and he leaned to me. I took a sharp breath and felt his hot breath on my neck. I remained frozen until he leaned back to look at me. "That's a very beautiful necklace."

It took me a moment, with all the dizziness and pounding in my head, to realize what he meant.

"No, no, no, no, no!" I muttered weakly as he ripped the necklace off my neck. This time I feared greatly for my life and with the rush of adrenaline I tried to release myself from the ropes that tied me down. "Elijah, please!" I whimpered but he just pulled the curtains, and the sunlight entered the room, and hit me. I thought I had no energy left. It took me great effort even to stay awake. But I screamed with all my might, at the searing pain on my skin. The harmless orange ray to the humans sizzled my skin, burning them from the inside. It wasn't like the vervain, this was nothing like vervain. It was hell.

Elijah seemed to have done this before, since he closed the curtain just as I felt I would erupt into flames.

"Please, Elijah, I beg you," I pleaded and I can see he didn't want to see me like this either. He didn't want to hear my screams, that hauntingly reminded him of Cassandra.

"I asked you a question," he said slowly and his voice was full of authority, making me squirmed in anxiety and fear. He pulled the curtains aside and I tried to endure the pain but to no avail. I screamed when I couldn't hold it anymore and tried to cover my face with my hair.

"Stop! Please! Please!" I begged as I could feel the flame burning my inside. It was getting too hot, and I was sure I would be on fire. My vision was blurry by painful tears, and I could hear the faint sound of sizzling. Only this time it was real. My bare arm burst into flames and I screamed in horror.

"I'll talk! I'll talk! I promise you!" I yelled, knowing that would be the words he wanted to hear. Tears were falling fast down my cheeks as the burning continued. "Make it stop! I beg you!" I screamed when my right thigh erupted in flames. I let out an agonizingly terrifying scream that even me was scared. I couldn't even see with the tears clouding my vision but Elijah released the curtain to block the sunlight and I breathed heavily.

"No more lies," he said, brushing his large hand down my arm and placed it on my thigh, putting off the fire. I didn't say anything, but just hung my head low as my charred and burned skin healed.

"How can you do this to me, Elena?" I asked, angry tears were welling in my eyes.

"What did I do?" Elena asked, frowning as she tried to think of what she had done.

"Of all people, how can you? To your own twin?" I asked and Elena looked like she was about to cry.

"Oh my God, Vanessa. What did I do?" Elena asked.

"What? You don't know what you did?" I asked, my voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"I-I seriously can't think of anything," Elena said frustrated.

"Of course, you're the innocent twin," I spat and stormed off to the kitchen.

"Vanessa, don't do this to me," Elena pleaded and I ignored her as I opened the cabinet, retrieving a mug.

"Nessie!" Elena shouted and I shot her a glare.

"How many times did I tell you not to call me that? Do you think it's funny?" I asked venomously and Elena's eyes narrowed.

"What's wrong with you? Is it the time of the month? Why are you being so sensitive?" Elena asked and I scoffed.

"I've always hated that nickname, Elena. And were you trying to piss me off by calling me that?" I asked her, bumping her shoulder as I made my way to the fridge.

"I'm sorry, alright? But I seriously don't know what I did to you," Elena sighed and I rolled my eyes.

"You are so gullible, idiot," I muttered under my breath.

"What?" Elena asked and I turned around, spraying the whipped cream all over her face. Laughing out loud as she shrieked, I ran out of the kitchen, shouting happy April Fools.

I had always been a good liar. I wouldn't call it a gift, but it was something I could do effortlessly. However, right now, I didn't even dare to lie. Crossing Elijah again would mean signing my death sentence. A slow and painful death.

"The question that I had been asking all day long," Elijah began. "Who are you?"

"Vanessa. Vanessa Gilbert," I said. "I'm the freaking doppelganger," I said bitterly and Elijah frowned.

"The Petrova line ended with Cassandra and Katerina," he said. "You swore to me you would not lie," he said dangerously and I gaped.

"I'm not lying! Katherine," I said. "She had a baby and she was given away."

"You have a twin sister," he stated and I closed my eyes.

"Yes," I said meekly. He seemed to be thinking for a while, before he finally looked at me. I could see that he was a smart guy, and he didn't want to waste his time asking questions that he already knew the answers.

"Your sister, is she human?" he asked and I nodded.

"And you're a vampire."

"Obviously," I replied wryly and Elijah seemed amused.

"Why did you...pretend to be her?" He asked and I tried to think of a short answer. I felt terribly weak right now.

"Katherine. She wanted me to persuade you to give her her freedom," I said.

"And why are you doing this for her?" he asked.

"Why did anyone ever do things for Katherine?" I asked him. "She manipulated me, and I..." I trailed off not knowing what to answer. Katherine did manipulate me to do her bidding but I also needed this to save Elena. But now wasn't the right time for me to ask him that.

"We shall discuss this later," he said and looked at me. His dark eyes seemed to be mocking me. "Have a good rest," he said. I tried not to scowl at that and remembered my hands were still tied and my necklace was with him. He gave me a smile as he pocketed my necklace and I shut my eyes in annoyance.

The first thing that I realized was my wrists were no longer tied. I tried to move my limbs but they were too heavy and I was very weak. The night had fallen and after resting for a while, I gathered my strength to get up. I tucked the strands of my golden locks behind my ear to hear better, but it was just so quiet. I stumbled as I walked and fell to my knees. Oh my god, I'm so pale. Am I desiccating? I managed to reach the door and turned the doorknob, praying that the door won't creak as I opened it. Holding my breaths, I walked out from the room and headed for the stairs. There, the mahogany double doors. There was a steady heartbeat from downstairs, and I was sure if I were to escape, he or she wouldn't even see me. So I did.

I gasped and fell to my knees when the inside of my head exploded, tears were brimming in my eyes at the intense pain. The pain eventually subsided, and I sighed, letting myself lie on my stomach. The cold floor soothed my head and I rolled over when the pain had gone entirely.

"I didn't recall myself permitting you to leave," Elijah told me and I shut my eyes in annoyance. This vampire was getting under my skin. When I opened them again, his dark eyes bored into mine.

"Was it wrong to escape?" I asked in a small voice and his lips tugged into a smirk. Or was it a smile? He held out his hand for me and I reluctantly took it. He pulled me back on my feet easily and gestured me to follow him. I leaned against the wall as I walked, needing something to support my wobbly legs. We walked into the kitchen and I smelled the sweet and alluring scent instantly. My fangs lowered and the dark veins started protruding under my now red eyes. In Elijah's hand was a blood bag, held out for me to take. He was watching me with those dark eyes of his, and something told me this was the reaction he wanted.

"What do you know about the curse?" he asked and I glanced at him before my gaze averted to the blood bag again.

"That you want to break the curse," I said hastily and he clicked his tongue in disapproval.

"That's not quite an answer, Vanessa," he said and I looked at him when he said my name. That was the first time he called me by my name, and if we weren't under this inconvenient circumstances, I might have liked the way my name rolled off his tongue.

"You need a witch, a werewolf, a vampire, a Petrova doppelganger, and the moonstone," I said. "Katherine fled before you can sacrifice her."

"What about Niklaus?" he asked, walking over to the table and taking a seat. I grew agitated with the blood being so close to me. "What do you know about Niklaus?" Elijah repeated the question patiently.

"He's your brother," I said, trying to remember what else did Katherine tell me. But my thought was focus on the blood and nothing else.

"Vanessa!" Elijah called me and his tone suggested that he had called for a few times. "What else do you know about him?"

"I don't know! Katherine's running from him. She said you can be trusted. That you will help her," I said.

"That I will help her?" Elijah asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You owe her," I said and he narrowed his eyes, puzzled. I couldn't even think straight now. Elijah suddenly punched the tube into the blood bag, filling the room and my senses with the scent of the blood. I had gone over to Elijah to snatch the blood bag but being a thousand years older than me, he held me against the wall.

"Klaus killed Cassandra because of you," I said and he stared blankly at me. "You owe that to her to help Katherine," I said, repeating what Katherine had asked me to say. He didn't say anything when he released his hold on me and handed me the blood bag. Without wasting another second, I ripped it opened and indulged on the sweet and thick red liquid. It soothed my headache and the burn in my throat and I felt much stronger. Wiping my lips, I looked around and saw that Elijah was no longer in the kitchen.

"Guess I'm a prisoner now," I muttered dryly and headed upstairs.

The door was knocked and opened, revealing a guy around my age and I looked at him, wondering who he was and what was he doing here.

"The dinner is ready," he told and I blinked my eyes in confusion.

"Am I allowed to join you?" I asked and he smiled.

"You must be hungry, I'm Luka," he said.

"I'm not hungry, I'm Vanessa," I told him seriously and it took him a while to understand and laugh. "What are you doing here? I mean…"

"I'm a warlock," he said rather proudly. "And my father and I work for Elijah," he explained shortly.

"I see," I said as we headed downstairs.

"Elijah's not joining us?" I asked carefully and he shook his head.

"No, he's not. He has business to attend to," Luka told me and I nodded. Well, it had been a while since I had food. We ate in silence as it was more comfortable than talking, until Luka broke the silence.

"What did you do that you pissed Elijah off?" he asked and I smirked.

"Pretending to be his ex-lover," I shrugged and his jaw dropped.

"That's very foolish of you," he commented and I laughed.

"I like to play with fire, it adds some flavor in your life," I said, shrugging. "Can I ask something?" I asked and he waved his fork.

"Ask away," Luka said.

"Why are you working for Elijah? Witches…and warlocks usually don't like to be in the middle of vampire business," I said and he sighed, playing with the spaghetti.

"Klaus took my sister for the ritual. And my father and I found Elijah. We'd worked with him ever since," he told and I nodded. "I hope if you ever meet Klaus, you won't get on his bad side too," Luka joked and I laughed.

"Well," I shrugged and met Luka's dark brown eyes. I could feel the excitement in my body. My eyes were glinting with what Katherine called a Petrova fire. "That would be fun," I said, smirking.