The Race

He watched her every move which was clearly entertained. And that made him happy, even though he didn't quite like to be in this place. Once the gun was shot, the race began. They have the Salvatores competing against each other, Alaric Saltzman, and two other townies that Klaus didn't care about. He sipped on his tumbler of scotch then leaned in to whisper to her ear.

"Who do you think will win?" He asked. Elizabeth glanced at him, and smiled sheepishly as she shrugged.

"Anyone, really," She replied. "The race is getting better."

"I told you that you should've joined." He said. "You would've better."

"That was before you drove the dagger at my back," She suddenly said, and gave him a knowing look. He smiled with warmth, as if to say he was sorry when clearly he wasn't. That was centuries ago. Some people – or vampires – just need to learn how to forget. And today is a new day, everything is well – she's alive, and that's what she should be happy about – even though Klaus did not plan her revival. He then laid his hand on tops of hers, and put it in his lap, holding it as he continued to whisper to her ear.

"Oh don't be so feisty dear," He said calmly. "Let bygones, be bygones." She rolled her eyes and turned away. He then inhaled deeply.

"Fine," She breathed. "Centuries had been long enough." Klaus then grinned.

Stefan and Damon are on the lead now, just a few inches close, which was interesting, by the way. It's not like every day they see two brothers racing against each other. "Now that's interesting. I bet Stefan's going to win." He said as he looked at Stefan then at Elizabeth who was watching closely. She didn't exactly reply and for some reason, she knew that she wants Damon to win – or maybe that's what he thought?

"I think so too." She mumbled, without removing her eyes at the race. But just as she said it, both of the Salvatores were a few feet away from the finish line, and Damon was a few inches in the lead. Then, Stefan's horse whinnied, and then halted, as Damon finally made it to the finish line.

He won.

"Told you, I'd win," He said with an arrogant smirk at his brother who only rolled his eyes. Damon smiled. "Just like old times."

"I seriously don't know what happened. My horse strangely halted. So don't flatter yourself." Stefan said, with a serious look as he went down from his horse. "Besides, you've got a next opponent. The race isn't over yet." Damon snickered as if that was the silliest joke he'd ever heard. Of course, he knew that it was strange that his horse suddenly acted up. And he also knew that whoever wins the race has to go up against him. But the question is, who is his opponent? He then heard the announcement that there was another race, but they'll take a short break. So, Damon started brushing his horse's mane.

"Don't be bitter, brother," He replied to Stefan. "A loser's always a loser." He then grinned, and Stefan bitterly smiled and turned away.

"Very impressive," Someone commented. "I didn't know you were good at horse-racing." Damon knew whose voice that was, and so, he looked up and saw Elizabeth there, smiling.

"Always have, always will." He replied, still brushing his horse's mane. He can feel her looking straight at him, right through his skin. It was making him feel a bit uncomfortable especially because he remembered what he felt earlier when they talked. It was a bit terrifying.

"Well, who's your new opponent?" She asked, and he only shrugged. He refused to look at her.

"Don't know," He said. "But who really cares?"

"Well what are we talking about here?" Someone suddenly chimed in, and with that voice, Damon, again, knew whose it was. He looked up and saw Klaus, standing beside Elizabeth now with a protective arm around her waist. Damon silently snickered.

"I was congratulating him," Elizabeth said with a smile.

"Oh yes, that was a beautiful race," Klaus smiled at Damon. "Although I am more excited with your next," He added. Damon then frowned. So Klaus knew who his next opponent is. That wasn't a surprise. "Oh, Elizabeth didn't tell you?" Klaus suddenly asked, pointing his finger at him to make a point. Damon looked at Elizabeth who maintained her faint smile. And so, Damon pursed his lips together, smiled, and shook his head in dismay.

"Why would she?" Damon asked, with sheer sarcasm and arrogance as he glimpsed at Elizabeth for a second. Klaus let out a chuckle as Elizabeth only arched her eyebrows.

"You're right," Klaus nodded with an amused smile. And that annoyed Damon very much. "Why would she tell you when she is your next opponent?" Damon froze, as Klaus let out a laugh. Damon looked at Elizabeth, who looked back at him (still with that calm smile). And before Damon can even react, it was announced that the short break was over, and that the racers should prepare. "Well, good luck!" Klaus said with a great smile.

"Thanks," He said, teasing back. "I love a good competition." He then made a nasty smile that he saw Klaus' eyes flickered in annoyance. Soon, they were both gone.

And Damon couldn't be any more relieved.

Stefan saw them talking, so when Klaus and Elizabeth started walking away, he made his way back to Damon, who was furiously brushing his horse's mane. "What was that about?" He asked, and Damon only glared at him.

"Apparently, they congratulated me for my win." Damon said, matter-of-factly. "And that Elizabeth is my next opponent."

"Your next opponent?" Stefan asked in disbelief. "But she's not exactly wearing the right outfit."

"Oh, I'm sure she couldn't care less about what she wore." Damon pressed on with a nasty tone. "I seriously don't know what she's trying to do."

"Why don't you make a bet then?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest. Damon then cocked an eyebrow.

"About what?" Damon asked. And Stefan only shrugged.

"I don't know," He said. "It's your call." But before Damon can reply, they saw Elena walking towards them.

"Just heard that your next opponent is Elizabeth." Damon nodded nonchalantly, as if taking it all in. Truthfully, Stefan doesn't really know what's going on between Klaus and Damon, but there was something especially between Damon and Elizabeth. But since Elizabeth's revival, Klaus had been thinking of other things. It was more about Elizabeth, and not his main goal – which is making his hybrid army – that lead him here in Mystic Falls in the first place. Things are definitely strange.

"So it's true?" Elena asked in disbelief.

"And from whom did you hear it?" Damon asked, uninterested.

"That man named Tom," She replied, pointing to a man who looked rich and elegant – definitely foreign that's for sure. "I've been talking to him since Stefan came back here. He's new in town." Stefan only nodded, but Damon on the other hand, narrowed his eyes and made a disgusted grunt. Stefan looked at Damon suspiciously.

"You know that guy," Stefan asked. Damon rolled his eyes away as he climbed back on his horse.

"I wish I didn't," He heaved out a sigh. And once he was in place, he left for the position in the race.

She must admit that she was having a difficult time racing in this tight dress. She probably should've worn something that is not so tight, just so she can mount properly on this beautiful white horse named Pearl. The horse was definitely the equestrian type, just like Damon's black one. Too bad they didn't own the horses; it would've been very interesting to have stables again. As she positioned herself and Pearl a few feet away beside Damon and his horse, she saw him glare at him. She smiled as she can feel his annoyance, uneasiness with her presence.

"You know you should be thankful," She breathed. "If that didn't happen, Stefan would've won." Damon looked away, his jaw tightened.

"I didn't need you to win," He sent with a hiss.

"Consider that as a kind gesture." She replied. Damon rolled his eyes.

"I'll never understand you…"

"You need not," Elizabeth said, looking away as well. They were quiet for a few minutes until Elizabeth smiled and broke the ice. "Your anger is seeping through. I can feel it." She then looked at him, and saw that he was looking at her too. "Why won't you say it?" She looked deeply into his icy blue eyes, as if she can drown into them. "It'll make me feel satisfied." Damon, whose eyes are narrowed, and his eyebrows furrowed, suddenly arched his eyebrows and gave her a menacing smile.

"Satisfying you will make you happy," He said under his breath, his voice terrifyingly low and even. "And making you happy is not the main goal." She smirked, as they heard the gunshot and they immediately began racing. They directed the horse to go faster, and faster, and faster. But still, they're always a few inches apart, either she was leading or he was. "Are you going to let me win again?" He sent.

"You wish," She sent back.

"Aw," He sent with fake disappointment. Elizabeth can clearly hear him in her head. "How sad," He added, and she only smirked. She shouted and directed the horse to go faster. Now, she was a few feet apart from Damon, making her the lead. She heard him do the same, and was catching up.

After four long laps, they were close to the finish line now – just a few meters away. She loved how competitive he was, because they'd been going against each other, trying to be the lead. And even though both of them had been at some point, one was always catching up – and that was pretty interesting. But now is the real thing. If Damon was competitive, she was even more. And if she has other things she can use to win, like controlling an animal's mind, then she'll use that to her full advantage.

Katherine sipped on her champagne glass, lurking behind the crowd that was watching the race. Even though she was interested in it, she can't let herself be seen. If she did, she'll be dead. And she knew that lurking here was risky, but she had to follow Damon because she was compelled to by Klaus. As much as she wanted to be thousands miles away, she had no choice.

"Look who's here," She heard someone say. So she turned her head and saw the last person she wanted to see…

"Tom," She said, glaring at him. "It's not a surprise." Tom then smiled knowing as he glanced at his Tumbler of whiskey then looked at her again.

"You're right." He said. "But I am just wondering why you're here? Shouldn't you be thousands of miles away?" He asked, giving her an amused smile. Katherine rolled her eyes away. He was stronger than her, and she knew exactly what he is capable of since she experienced it firsthand.

"I was just here for a visit…" She arched her eyebrows as she lied. If Tom knew she was here because she was compelled by Klaus to keep Damon away from Elizabeth, then he'd tell her, since he and Elizabeth are close friends. And Klaus would kill her.

"Ah," He said. She looked at him, and saw that he was still smiling. He gave her a knowing look. "You're lying," He added, swishing his tumbler back and forth to mix his whiskey. "Haven't you ever learned Katherine? You cannot lie to us. We'll know the truth." Katherine inhaled bitterly. Yes, they always know the truth, because he and Elizabeth are masters of telepathy. "Now, tell me."

"Go to hell," She said under her breath as she glared at him. Tom let out a chuckle.

"There was no need for you to be rude, cherie," He said. "I know that you are here because you have been compelled by the Original Hybrid. But that is not my concern, really. I am here to encourage you on doing what you are compelled to do and keep our little secret. Then everything will be good between us." He smiled as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and leaned in as he whispered to her ear. "But if you tell a single soul out there, especially to Elizabeth, I am certain that if I go down, you'll go down with me. In hell… if I may add." She angrily took off his arm around her shoulders as she glared at him. He then gave her a last look and a smile until he started walking away.

Yes, she can remember perfectly what their little secret was. If Elizabeth knew, she'd kill Tom mercilessly in a second. But Elizabeth doesn't, and Katherine doesn't intend to say so. Otherwise, she'd be dead too. Yet, she's sure that when Elizabeth knew that the real reason why she stopped Damon from going after her to Paris was all because of Tom. He cornered her that night, and threatened her, and hypnotized her to do so through telepathy. It was all too crazy.

Then the crowd started to cheer, and it was announced that Elizabeth won.

Elena and Stefan walked towards Damon, who just got down from his horse and brushed off his sleeves. "That a great race," Stefan said, as Damon squinted his eyes at them and started walking towards them. "Both of you were close," He added.

"Yeah well, I need a drink." Damon mumbled, as he looked straight away and went past them. Stefan gave her a look and she only shrugged.

"He seems upset," Elena said, casually, and Stefan smiled at her as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"One thing I always know about Damon is that he hates losing more than anything." Stefan said with a smile, and Elena smiled back. Although she knew Stefan was mad about something, they had been avoiding making that conversation. And Elena knew that that's not how it's supposed to go. She knew they should talk it out.

They now made their way back to the tent, and sat down by their table. Caroline and the others were having fun riding horses, patting them, and such. It's been a while since everyone had been so careless. This town had already lost so much. It's definitely strange that even though Klaus is around, and was the one who organized this event, everyone's happy.

"Damon was really close on winning," Elena suddenly broke the ice. "But Elizabeth was really good."

"Yeah, she was." Stefan replied. "But she probably had a hard time racing in that dress." He gave a laugh and so did Elena. Then they became silent again, not the awkward kind, but the comfortable kind. The guests were enjoying themselves; obviously, everyone was smiling, and happily chatting. She then laid her hand on tops of Stefan's and squeezed it gently.

"I know you've been jealous," She swallowed. "Because I had been too worried of Damon, but… It's always you, Stefan. I just care for him, and there's nothing more than that." She stared straight through his eyes, as he nodded, and stroked her hair.

"I know," He said. And then he kissed her.

"Well done!" Klaus clapped and smiled proudly at Elizabeth. He then opened his arms wide as she went in for a big hug. "I told you you're going to win. And now, you've kicked that Salvatore's ass." Elizabeth let out a chuckle as she pulled away.

"I wasn't exactly expecting that," She said. "Damon was very competitive. I thought I'd lose." Klaus continued to smile as he rolled his eyes.

"Please," He said. "You thought you were going to lose to him? That's rubbish." Elizabeth continued to laugh. He loved how she looked when she was happy. But then he suddenly cursed himself as he realized that his humanity is showing. Whatever happened to him? When he is with Elizabeth, he's like a whole new person. "This calls for a celebration. Let's go and get some champagne." He said as he waved his arm to let her go first. She smiled and obliged. And when he was about to follow her, something caught her eye.

Katherine…

She was looking at him, boring her eyes through his. And so, he gave her a look as well, as if saying that she should do what she was told. Then, he gave her a knowing smirk and finally turned away.