A/N: So I had an author's block, trying to perfect this chapter but I think I didn't really do a great job. I didn't want to post this until I am satisfied but it's been almost three weeks. I can't let you all keep waiting any longer. Hope you enjoy this ^^ And for those who asked for Klanessa, well, you'll see. Their relationship is very unique ^^

Chapter 22: Ghost from The Past

"As a long-time member of the historical society, I am especially proud to be kicking off this day of festivities. Thank you, volunteers. Tonight, we turn off our town's lights and flare up our lanterns in honor of the night of illumination started by our founders 150 years ago. Here's founding family member Tobias Fell with a history lesson," Carol Lockwood gave her speech and I turned to Alaric. Both Jeremy and I had an unamused expression on our face, arms crossed.

"Remind me again why are we here?" I asked and Ric rolled his eyes.

"Tobias Fell is the head of the history department. I didn't have a choice," Alaric told and I narrowed my eyes at his answer.

"Alright, that explains what you're doing here," Jeremy said pointedly.

"Well, I'm the one who can fail you if you don't help me out," he said to Jeremy and turned to me with a smirk.

"Hey, sorry I'm late. What did I miss?" Elena asked as she joined us.

"You didn't miss anything," Jeremy said and we turned our heads as Mr. Fell gave his speech.

"The first illumination was held in celebration with the new found prosperity that Mystic Falls enjoyed after the war," he said and Jeremy chuckled softly.

"What's so funny?" Elena asked and I looked at him. I may not be right, but the way he laughed, the way his eyes twinkled in pure happiness, my guess was that Anna was here.

Oh well.

I headed back to The Grill where Alaric and Jeremy were, canceling on helping out hanging the lanterns with Care and Bonnie since I heard them talking about Jeremy and Anna. I knew how Bonnie felt, more than anyone since Cassandra died but turned out she was alive and well. And I saw Elijah's eyes when I told him that. The love that had died, ignited again and the same went with Jeremy.

"Hey," I said, slipping next to Jeremy.

"Hey," Jeremy said absentmindedly and I stole his fries. "Order it yourself!" he snapped, swatting my hand and I ignored him.

"Nope," I said, and grabbed another fries, plopping it into my mouth and he rolled his eyes.

"Hey, Jer, I need you to help me with something," Elena said as she approached us, sitting down next to him and placing Stefan's journals on the table.

"What's up?"

"I've been going through Stefan's old journals. Every single time that he's gone off the rails in the past, his best friend Lexi's been the one to bring him back," Elena said.

"Stefan has a friend?" I asked skeptically and Jeremy laughed, although Elena didn't share his amusement.

"So where is she now that we need her?" Alaric asked.

"She's dead," Jeremy answered and I pursed my lips. Great. "And you want me to try to reach her, don't you?" Jeremy asked. Look at that, who knew my brother was so smart?

"I thought if I knew how she did it, maybe I could help him," Elena explained and I turned to Jeremy.

"I don't even know if she's on the Other Side," Jeremy said.

"Is that what it's called?" I asked, interested.

"That's what Anna calls it. There's not like an official brochure or anything," he said and I laughed lightly at his reply.

"So what is it, like some sort of supernatural purgatory?" Ric questioned.

"Well, Anna said it's like being here with all of us, only we can't see her or hear her. And she can't interact with anyone. She's all alone," he said and I wondered what it would feel like. If I had died on the bridge, I would've gone to the Other Side too right? Since I was a doppelganger. I couldn't imagine living a life where we were forced to watch our loved ones continued living without us.

"Vicki could interact. She blew up my car," Alaric retorted, still upset about his car.

"Vicki had help from a witch on the Other Side. Anna...She's doing this all by herself," Jeremy said.

"What about flickering lights and anonymous notes?" I asked and everyone turned to me.

"I think you watched too many movies," Alaric commented and I rolled my eyes at him, turning to Jeremy.

"They can still interact with us right? Just not physically," I said, asking Jeremy if I was right. He made a face like he was thinking, but from the way his eyes focused, I could see Anna was talking to him.

"It depends, I guess. I mean, if you and the ghost have an emotional connection or something or perhaps he or she got help from a witch like Vicki did," he said.

"They need a link to interact," I said slowly, thinking of Jeremy and Anna. "But I couldn't see him or her," I said.

"You didn't happen to kill any supernatural beings, did you?" Alaric asked and I snorted.

"I'm not Damon," I retorted. "I…I was thinking it was um, Isobel," I said slowly and awkwardly, thinking of Ric. "Whoever it was trying to save Elena," I told.

"Okay, I think we all had learned our lesson about summoning dead people," Alaric said firmly and we all looked at each other.

"Do you think it's even possible to contact Lexi?" Elena asked after a while, still thinking about it.

"I don't know. I didn't have an emotional connection with her. I never even met her," Jeremy said.

"Can we just drop it, please?" Alaric asked exasperatedly.

"No, I can't drop it, Ric. I don't know what else to do," Elena said, frustrated.

"Don't you think we have a few too many dead vampires in our past to be sitting here thinking of them watching us?" Alaric asked and I raised an eyebrow.

"Did I miss out a lot of things before I came back here?" I asked and Jeremy waved his hand dismissively before looking at an empty chair again.

"Is Anna here right now?" Elena asked, noticing Jeremy's body language and her tone rose into an accusation tone.

"Leave him alone, Elena," I snapped, glaring at her and she returned the glare. Only mine was scarier and deadlier.

"No, no. I'm going to go, uh, check my work schedule," Jeremy made a lame excuse, and left before Elena could say something.

"Hey, guys," Stefan said cheerfully as he sat on Jeremy's seat. "Who forgot to invite me to the family summit?" he asked and I rolled my eyes at him, leaning to my chair. He picked one of his journals up and flipped through the pages. "Hmm? Wow. All these words. I forgot how much I used to care," he commented.

"I didn't," Elena replied firmly and they held their gaze for a moment.

"You know, Elena, it's probably best you not torture yourself with memories from the past. It's best we both just move on and accept things as they are," Stefan said coldly.

"You don't have to be here, Stefan," Alaric said tensely.

"You know what, Alaric, you're right. I don't. But Elena's here, and I look out for Elena. Besides, there's going to be people everywhere tonight. So there's going to be lots to eat," he said enthusiastically. Elena looked at him in shock while he laughed.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding," he said and I shook my head.

"No he's not," I muttered dryly under my breath and Stefan burst out laughing.

"Loosen up, Nessie. Maybe you want to join me later," he said with a smile and patted my head like I was a small child. I was still deciding whether I love or hate the new Stefan. He was emotionless and all but he wasn't the old brooding Stefan. Elena looked at Alaric once Stefan left.

"I can't drop it, Ric."

After finishing the meal, we headed inside to grab Jeremy while Elena went to the restroom. Alaric and I were joined by Damon half-way.

"You know, I've had enough vampires today, thanks," Alaric said and I gaped at him.

"Hey! What did I ever do to you?" I asked him and he rolled his eyes at me.

"Oh, come on, Ric. Have a drink with me. We've got trouble," Damon said.

"No, you've got trouble. See, we're not a team. You tried to kill me. Alright?" Ric asked and I found it funny how childish his words were.

"Oh, but I love trouble. What's up?" I asked.

"Do you know Mason Lockwood?" he asked me and I narrowed my eyes.

"Tyler's uncle, the werewolf that Katherine used to get the moonstone," I said and Damon nodded.

"And he's the one who ripped that poor werewolf's heart out," Ric commented.

"And I think he's still pissed," Damon said. Well, that surely grabbed Alaric's attention.

"But he's dead," I said and sighed, realizing what it was. "So he comes back as a ghost?" I asked.

"Unfortunately," Damon quipped, passing me a glass of whisky.

"Hey, she's underage," Ric said and both of us laughed.

"And I'm a vampire," I said. But before I could grab the glass, a hand beat me to it.

"Mason," Alaric said and I turned to the stranger, having only met him briefly before when we were in Florida.

"God, I miss whisky," he said and finished it in one shot before he slammed the glass on Damon's head. Damon winced in pain, although barely affected by it. "Told ya."

"Nancy," Mason said turning to me. It took me a second before I remembered it was the name I used back then. "Not running with Katherine anymore?" he asked.

"Your death had nothing to do with me," I said, almost defensively and he chuckled.

"Alright," Damon said, interrupting us, and in a way, protecting me. "I killed you, you want revenge, get in line," he said lazily and I smirked.

"Actually, I want an apology," Mason said and Alaric and I burst out into laughter at the same time.

"Yeah, yeah, good luck with that!" I said, still laughing and Damon glared at me.

"Go check on with Elena," he said, and I rolled my eyes at the hidden message. 'Don't let Elena know about this and distract her.'

"Good luck," I said, to the three men for three different reasons. I headed to the bathroom and saw Elena talking with Jeremy and…a dark haired girl.

"Hey…?" I said, approaching them.

"Nessa," Jeremy said pleadingly, the tone that he always used when he was about to get into trouble. Glancing at Elena who was looking rather furious and the dark haired girl that was by Jeremy's side…I put two and two together.

"Oh my god, you must be Anna!" I said almost excitedly and I could feel Elena's heated glare turned to me. The beautiful, dark haired vampire/ghost forced a small smile at me.

"Hi," she said awkwardly.

"Alright, enough!" Elena shouted and glared at Anna.

"You need to disappear or evaporate or whatever it is that you ghosts do," she said coldly and I glared at her. Couldn't she see that Jeremy was happy with Anna? And since when did she stop caring about Jeremy's happiness? Right, since Stefan turned emotionless and she had made it her mission to make him turn it on again.

"Hey, it's not her fault," Jeremy said, defending her.

"You're right, it's yours," Elena snapped and I pushed her angrily, and she slammed against the wall with a loud thud.

"Don't talk to him like that," I growled threateningly and she gaped at me. Her doe brown eyes looked up at me in disbelief, and I scoffed. I had always despised that look, ever since I was five.

"Vanessa! He's with Bonnie," she said, trying to emphasize the point as I took a step toward her.

"And it's his life. Stop trying to control everyone's life, Elena. We are not your slaves," I snapped at her and she looked at me, eyes wide as she tried to comprehend what I just said. It'd been a while since someone talk back to you, is it? I tried to control my anger, and tried to delete the image of me ripping her throat in my head as she glared back at me. She turned her glare to Jeremy before back to me, and huffed in anger as she stormed out of the bathroom.

"Look, what I did was wrong-" Jeremy said, trying to be the peacemaker. He had always hated it when Elena and I fought. But who wouldn't when your twin sister had become so controlling?

"I never said what you did was right," I snapped and sighed, my anger cooling down as I looked at my little brother. I'd never realized how much he had grown up. "But I'm not going to stop you from being happy," I said softly and patted his arm gently.

"Thanks," he said, a little unsure.

"When I said I want you to be happy, please know that I never lie," I said and smirked at him. "Go on, continue what you were doing before Elena interrupted you," I said and laughed as I left the restroom.

It was almost dark, as I headed to the Town Square for the Illumination Night. This would be one of the dull event, hearing boring speeches and all but like Ripper Stefan had said, there will be lots to eat.

"Well, well, well…look who's here," a man said and I glanced over my shoulder to look at the source of the voice. He was a man in his early thirties I supposed and a stranger. Thinking that he wasn't talking to me, I turned my attention back to my surrounding, looking for Jeremy.

"Oh come on! I helped you, and you let me get killed," he said and my blood went cold. He was a ghost that came back.

"I don't know you, sorry," I said hastily and walked away.

"Really, Cass?" he asked, grabbing my arm and brought me away to the alley, all vamped out.

"Sorry, mister. Wrong doppelganger," I hissed, and dug my hand into his chest unexpectedly, but just before I could rip it off his hand gripped my wrist tightly, while his other hand wrapped around my throat. I released my grip around his heart and pulled out my hand, trying to wrap my arms around his neck. He slammed me against the wall and I dodged his coming attack.

"I'm not Cassandra!" I screamed and blocked his attack, trying to fight this stranger off. "Who the hell are you anyway?" I cried, before groaning as he managed to smack me in the face. His eyes suddenly widened, his mouth agape as he tried to say something, before he collapsed to the ground. My savior threw his heart next to his body, before her blue eyes, that had the same shade as mine, looked up at me.

"Hello," she said, with a sweet smile.

"What are you doing here?" I snapped, as I recovered from the shock of seeing my doppelganger this close.

"I saved your life," she stated, and I felt my blood boiled in anger.

"And I supposed to owe you?" I questioned, and she remained smiling, making me angrier. "What the hell do you want from me?"

"Vanessa," she said, softly but firmly, making me looked at her. "I think you've mistaken me for someone else," she said, meeting my blue eyes knowingly. I frowned in confusion before looking at her old-fashioned but beautiful white dress, seemingly out of place in this modern world. And then my eyes trailed up to her hair. The same golden hair as mine, styled into a complicated yet beautiful braided bun. I had met Cassandra before although it was just a brief encounter but as far as I remembered, she wasn't wearing an old dress from the Middle Ages.

"Ada," I gasped, as the realization hit me. It wasn't Katherine's twin sister who was alive and well, but the doppelganger stood in front of me was the Originator of Petrova doppelgangers, the twin sister of Tatia.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you," she said sincerely.

"You were the ghost weren't you? The one who helped me when Klaus was about to kill Elena," I said and she nodded. "Why?"

"You're welcome," she said slyly and I pursed my lips.

"There is so much I have to tell you, Vanessa," she said and bit her lip, contemplating on what to say.

"Make it fast," I said. "Bonnie is trying to close the veil again."

"Mikael," she said and I looked up at her with interest. "You can't awake him," she said.

"Why?"

"He's not a good person. He can't be trusted, and deep inside although you haven't even met him, you know this," she said determinedly and I hated to admit it but she was right. I didn't want to wake this vampire hunter and I didn't trust him. Who can guarantee that we were not on his list right after he killed Klaus?

"We don't have much choice," I said. "We saw an opportunity to kill Klaus, so we take it," I said.

"And do you think it's the right thing to do?" she asked me softly and I looked at her. Eyes were the window to your soul. And it was beyond weird. To see the eyes that had the same color, shape as yours. But the essence was different as the soul was different.

"Elena thinks that killing Klaus would be the best option. Our lives will not be threatened again, Elena is free from donating blood for him to sire hybrids, Klaus's compulsion of Stefan ended and…"

"And…?"

"Problem solved," I said, shrugging.

"And what of you?" she inquired and I looked at her after a moment, trying to read her.

"What is your point exactly?" I asked her, crossing my arms.

"Are you really going to bend over backwards for Elena?"

"She's my sister, in case you didn't know," I snapped.

"Trust me, I know. She's going to be the death of you," Ada said and I saw the slight pain and hatred in her eye.

"Tatia…" I said when I realized she was talking about her own twin sister rather than mine. "What did she do to you?"

To my surprise, she scoffed. "Tatia had always wanted more. And her greed had led to her death. She wouldn't choose between Niklaus and Elijah, having afraid of losing the other one's affection if she did," she said in despise and shook her head. "I did everything for her, out of love and because she is my twin, my other half. Just like what you're doing right now."

"Why are you telling me this? What's your motive?" I asked.

"History tends to repeat itself and do you know why? Because you're not learning from it. Because you are the one who is repeating it," she said and I could see her frustration. I said nothing, waiting for her to continue. "My point is, you have your own life. Don't waste it on her. You're just going to get yourself kill by doing her biddings, Vanessa," she said softly.

"Why are you here?" I asked, taking a step towards her, looking at her in the eye. "Don't tell me you're here just to tell me how to live my life. What is it?" I asked her and her lips curled into a smile.

"We're always the smarter ones," she said and tilted her head to the side. "I'm here to tell you, to ask you to abandon your plan. Do not kill Niklaus," she said and I frowned.

"Why?" I asked and she laughed.

"I know he has done terrible things to you and your family. But so have you, so have your friends! You've ruined lives just as he did. If he's a monster, then so are you!" she said and I looked at her, slightly taken aback. Sure, I had that mindset a while back. Even when Elijah had wanted to kill Klaus, I had kind of defended him, saying that we were all monsters, we were abominations just like Klaus. But what changed?

Jenna's death.

No, not really. Actually I had no idea. I didn't want to kill Klaus, no, really I don't. But why?

Elena.

"Niklaus has been running from Mikael for centuries. Mikael has ruined his life and made him who he is. I'm sorry for what he did to you and your family, but he doesn't deserve this," Ada said and I looked at her.

"His death would be the best for everyone," I said, feeling sick in my stomach just for saying that.

"Don't play God, Vanessa," Ada said softly. Silence fell over us before she looked at me again. "If I tell you my story, will you consider in chancing your mind?"

"Go ahead," I said.

"Tatia was my twin sister, the prettiest girl in the village. Many men sought for her attention, even when she already had a child with another man. It would be a lie if I say I did not envy her. The man that I love, loved my sister very, very much. Even much more than his brother did," Ada said and I raised an eyebrow at this.

"Elijah?" I asked and she smiled, shaking her head.

"Niklaus," she corrected and I was flabbergasted. But then it fell perfectly together. The way Ada told me about Niklaus, the way her eyes lit up with love when she said his name, it was true. And a thousand years later, even when she was a ghost, she still looked out for him.

"You may not see him in the same light as I do, but he was-is a good man. He's cruel, manipulative, controlling, but the old him is still in there," she said.

"He daggered his siblings and carted them in a box," I told her and Ada smiled sadly.

"He was protecting them from Mikael," Ada told me and I looked at her to see if she was lying, trying to defend Klaus's outrageous actions. But she was actually telling the truth. "Only Mikael possesses the weapon to kill the Originals," Ada said and I saw how she stopped herself from slipping the answer, the weapon that could kill an Original.

"Better them being daggered than killed forever," I said and she nodded.

"Yes, Niklaus loves his family more than anyone," she said.

"What you said might change my mind. But I can't change Elena's. She's hell-bent in killing Klaus to release Stefan from his compulsion," I said and Ada looked at the ground, knowing I was right. Tatia must have been stubborn as hell too.

"How did you die?" I asked suddenly and she pursed her lips, the way I did whenever I didn't like something.

"Mikael killed me," she said. "When the Originals fled their village, they didn't know that Mikael would be hunting for them. It was a surprise attack, Mikael had been waiting for a while."

"Wait, back up," I said. "Esther killed Tatia and used her blood to change the Originals into vampires, right?" I asked and Ada nodded. "And she also used her blood to do that…Hybrid Curse on Klaus," I said and she shook her head.

"Oh, Esther didn't realize about Nik until it was too late. When he finally killed someone, Tatia's blood was long dry," Ada said with slight hatred in her voice.

"So she sought out for you," I said, remembering Elijah had told me that my blood and Elena's had the same properties, if I wasn't a vampire.

"Yes, I wouldn't mind lending a few drops of blood," she said sarcastically. "In the ritual of breaking the curse, Niklaus had to kill Elena. A life for a life," she said.

"But you said Mikael killed you," I pointed it out and she smiled.

"I was the first vampire to be turned by an Original," she said, somewhat proudly.

"Alright, after that, you ran off with them?" I asked and she shrugged.

"More or less. My sister was dead, I was a vampire, where else could I go?"

"Mikael killed you just because you were with the Originals?" I asked and she was silence for a moment.

"He didn't want to just kill them, Vanessa. He wants to destroy them, especially Niklaus," Ada said and I could tell that she wasn't bluffing. "He burned down an Opera House in New Orleans, killing hundreds of humans in the process. He's worse than Niklaus," she said and suddenly, something clicked in my mind.

"Oh my god," I gasped in realization. "He loves you too," I said and she looked up in confusion. "You were the leverage," I said, remembering my talk with Klaus back in Chicago.

"Unfortunately yes," she said.

"But he loved your sister," I said and she shrugged.

"Love fades, hearts change," she told me. "I don't have much time," she told me.

"Bonnie, she's putting the veil back up," I said.

"Please don't kill him," Ada said, holding my arm tightly. "Please don't."

"I…I can't promise you that," I said, startled at the intensity of her dark blue eyes.

"Vanessa please!" she begged, almost in hysteric and I tried to pull my arm back but her grip was too strong.

"If he dies, he'll be with you, wouldn't he?" I asked and she laughed.

"You don't want to be here, trust me. You're all alone by yourself. Forced to watch your loved ones for thousand years and more," she said bitterly and finally let go of my arm. "You can see that he's a good man, can you? You understand him just like I do," Ada said and there were more. But she couldn't finish it as the veil had been brought back up.

I stood there alone, thinking of what she said. Hours could have passed but I still couldn't decide. I sighed, and pulled out my phone to call Katherine as I made my way back home. It went to her voicemail and I stopped in my tracks, feeling worried for her. I called it again and again, until Damon's call interrupted me.

"What is it?"

"You might want to see this," was all he said.

Okay, so the scene with Ada did not go well. I'd written it ages ago, with flashbacks and all, but it just didn't seem right to put it here. So, reviews? Btw I can't wait for Homecoming!