Here is Chapter Two!

Hope you enjoy :)

AN: We're almost out of Renaissance Italy, so bear with me a little longer, lol.

Until then, pretty please click review and tell me what you think so far. I value constructive criticism just as much as praise.

Thank you!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Vampire Diaries, but I'm sure you knew that already...

Chapter 2

"What are you doing here?" Stefan asked. He couldn't help hoping that his brother had not yet seen Katherine – and he hoped that Damon never would. Her heart may have belonged to Stefan at that moment, but that wouldn't keep his deceptively suave brother from chasing it down and stealing it anyway.

"Now now, young Stefan. That is no way of telling your only brother that you missed him, especially since he's been away. Or have you noticed?" Stefan just stared at him. "What? I don't get a proper greeting of any sort? And I thought you were a nobleman."

"He is far nobler than you could ever strive to be," growled Guiseppe.

"Enough, father. Damon must be tired from his travels. Let him go and rest, now."

"Go. Get out of my sight." Guiseppe's voice was calmer now as he turned his head away from his son. Damon stepped to face Stefan.

"I do not need you to mediate for me, boy." And with that, Damon was out of the room. Now Stefan was the one trying to calm his anger at Damon. No one would ever demean Stefan in such a way; nevertheless refer to him as "boy". He had earned too much respect for that.

But this was Damon that we were dealing with. His respect wasn't earned by being a devoted student, an obedient son, or even a productive member of society. He didn't care how much you studied, Damon learned by living and achieving and not by reading about it.

This was where Damon most often clashed with his brother and even more so with his father. Stefan would just have to let it go for now, and maybe in time Guiseppe would too. For now, all Stefan had to do was make sure that Damon left Katherine alone. Little did he know that it was already too late.

Damon, heading to his bedroom, strode up a flight of stairs and down a corridor. As he went, something out of the corner of his eye made him stop in his tracks. He turned to his right to see a pale-haired maiden walking away from where he stood and down a separate hallway. He followed her silently until she sensed his presence and turned around.

"Oh!" Katherine jumped. "You frightened me. I have never known anyone to tread so lightly." She looked into Damon's eyes who took another step closer before answering.

"I don't believe I have had the pleasure of meeting you. What is your name?" Damon stared intently back at a smiling Katherine.

"I am Katherine. Your father invited me and my father, the Baron Von Swartzschild, to stay here for holiday. You must be Damon, the other Salvatore brother. I have heard about you." Katherine's smile broadened, and Damon's expression darkened and then became one of amusement within a split second difference.

"And how has your stay been thus far?" Damon asked.

"I have enjoyed it, greatly. Your home, and your country, is so beautiful. Oh, and Stefan is such a pleasure to be around."

"Not as much as I will be," Damon replied teasingly. He then took her hand and kissed it. When he looked up, it was only to find Stefan by Katherine's side glaring.

"Katherine, has he disturbed you of your rest?" Stefan asked with eyes still fixed on Damon.

"Does the fair lady look disturbed to you, brother?" Damon referred to the smile that was still on Katherine's face as she eyed first Stefan and then looked back at him.

Without answering Stefan's question, Katherine continued smiling and resumed her walk down the hall before Damon approached her. The Salvatore brothers watched her in silence as she then disappeared around a corner. No sooner had she left, they immediately turned on each other.

"Do not bother perusing her affections, brother, because they already belong to me," Stefan spoke through clenched teeth.

"Or what, brother? What could you possibly do to stop me? You have always been the weaker one. Is that why you keep your head in books instead of detaching yourself from father's hip and living in the real world?" Damon always knew just how to taunt Stefan in order to get his temper flaring.

"If you focused more on your studies, and less on gambling and jousting, father wouldn't see you as a degradation to our very name."

"Oh? If Katherine's affections really belonged to you there would be no need for you to worry about what I might do to obtain them, now would there?" And with that, Damon turned on his heel and left Stefan standing there in cold fury.

Later that night, Damon found himself wandering to the garden. He had no idea why, for he had no interest in plants. But there was a certain tree that he was looking for – the lemon tree. He knew that when he found it, he would find her too.

And there she was.

Katherine smiled at Damon as he made his approach. "I knew you would come," she said. "Sit with me so that we can talk." Damon sat.

"What is it that you want to tell me?" he asked.

"I have a secret that I've never shared with any other. If I tell you, will you promise to keep it?"

"I will guard your secret as if it were my very heart," Damon promised.

Katherine giggled, and then, as quick as a viper, she struck. Katherine pierced Damon's throat with fangs like daggers and took a heavy sip of his blood.

At first, Damon struggled and tried to recoil, but her grip on him was far too strong and the struggling was becoming painful. He had no choice but to give in, and when he did the pain ceased.

Damon looked into the distorted face of Katherine's. From the bloodstained teeth to her crimson lips, he could hardly believe that this was the same fair maiden that he met in the corridor.

"Do you promise to keep my secret?" Katherine asked solemnly.

"I promise," was Damon's husky reply. And with that, Katherine's image faded into the dark as Damon slipped into unconsciousness.

Damon woke up the next morning in his own bed. He was in the most mental and physical comfort that he had ever been in until thoughts of last night began to trouble him. Katherine had a secret. Damon was supposed to keep this secret because he told her that he would do so. If Damon ever learned anything as a nobleman it was to always keep his word. That was the only lesson taught to him that he truly valued.

As Stefan sat up in bed, he placed fingers on the two small wounds of his neck. The previous night was a daze, but one thing that he remembered clearly is the fact that Katherine had entrusted him with her secret. One that she had only shared with him.

Stefan never knew that such secrets could exist, but he would love Katherine regardless. He promised that he would.

Later in the day, Stefan found his brother in the library, flipping through a book nonchalantly.

"Have you seen Katherine?" Damon asked without looking up.

"What concern is it to you?" Stefan replied.

"I was only asking, brother. I saw her last night." This time Damon looked directly at his brother and smiled grandly. "It was delightful."

"What was?"

Stefan turned around and Damon's smile disappeared. Katherine was standing in the doorway.

"Katherine, why don't you and I go for our usual walk in the garden? It's nearly sunset. Wouldn't you like that, love?" Stefan asked her triumphantly in the sight of his brother. Then his pride was shattered.

"I would love to. Damon would you like to come with us?" Katherine was beaming at Damon, who smirked.

"It would be an honor," replied Damon as he linked his arm with hers. He didn't even take a moment to notice the anger that shone through Stefan's eyes as he and Katherine made their way to the garden.

Katherine called over her shoulder, "Won't you join us, Stefan?" Stefan contemplated staying behind, but his reemerging pride would not allow it. Damon could no longer be the stronger one.

"I'm coming," replied Stefan as he caught up with the two when they were outside.

They continued walking down a path silently, when they came across a large rain puddle blocking their way.

To Damon, who was still linked up with Katherine, Stefan said "Allow me, brother." Stefan swept Katherine off her feet and carried her around the puddle. He twirled her in his arms before setting her back down, while Katherine laughed the entire time. Damon watched with an emotionless expression that, to Stefan's annoyance, became one of amusement when he looked at Damon.

Damon walked around the puddle himself and stood in between Stefan and Katherine. "Shall we continue our stroll?" he asked.

Katherine giggled and replied, "Yes! I'm having so much fun this evening. I would be happy if it were like this forever."

Damon and Stefan looked at each other and then looked away. "Anything to make you happy, love. Shall we continue on?" Damon replied, mocking his brother.

For the entire walk, Damon stayed between Katherine and Stefan, preventing physical contact between the two.

At dinner, neither Salvatore brother could help stealing glances of Katherine. Afterwards, Damon and his father stood in a spare room talking.

"Is it wrong for me to assume that you have taken an interest in the Baron's daughter?" asked Guiseppe.

"Would it be an issue if I have?" Damon replied coolly.

"Yes. It would."

Damon's mood immediately darkened. "How so?"

"Katherine has always been a frail girl, and I believe that she would be more suited for Stefan. Besides, the Baron and I have already discussed marriage arrangements. Of course he would not force his daughter to marry, but if it be her wish she will marry Stefan. I do not want you interfering."

"I will do whatever I want." Damon walked out before giving his father a chance to argue, and smiled. He knew exactly what he was going to do.

Katherine is a little player, isn't she?

Well, that was chapter two and the fun is about to start. Now please click review and tell me what you think!