Masquerade.
Leya sighed frustrated as she moved dresses along the rack. She was currently in a little boutique in town looking for a dress for the masquerade ball that night. She initially wasn't going to go but Caroline had coerced her into it telling her they needed a night off from the whole Katherine/Werewolf drama. So Leya was in the store looking for a last minute dress, and unfortunately it looked like all the good ones were taken.
"What about this one?" The sales lady asked Leya walking up to her with the dress displayed in her hands. It was a dark murky green color that reminded Leya of the Black Lake at Hogwarts. It had a deep sweetheart neckline covered in jewels that slowly lessened towards the bottom of the bodice where it puffed out like a ballerina costume.
Leya tried her absolute hardest not to pull a disgusted face at the dress. She politely but awkwardly tried to deny it. "It's… uh it's very nice, but it's just not me."
"Oh, I think it's a gorgeous dress but..." Was all the sales lady could say as she looked down at the dress. "Ok, well, you know what? We'll keep searching and I'm sure we'll find something you like soon."
Leya smiled politely turning back to the dresses in front of her as mouthed a sarcastic remark to herself. At this rate she'll never find a dress she likes. Maybe she should just tell Caroline she can't make it but Leya also didn't want to disappoint her blond friend.
"That dress was terrible." Damon's voice hummed lowly in her ear. "Really horrific. How does someone design a dress like that and think it looks good?"
Leya rolled her eyes as she stepped away from Damon so she could face him. "I don't quite know. What are you doing here, Damon? Looking for a dress for yourself?"
It was Damon's turn to roll his eyes. "I'm just here to pick you up. Caroline ran into Katherine."
"Is she ok?" Leya's joking mood dropped as a more worried one took over.
"Uh, debatable." Damon shrugged a shoulder as he picked up a dress from the rack and held it in front of Leya. "Anyway she's at the house and Stefan thought it would be good for her to be with someone familiar. That's where you come in. You're coming with me to calm Barbie Vampire down."
"Ok, let's go." Leya agreed instantly. She was worried for Caroline, after what she's been through the past few days she kind of expected her to snap but she hasn't.
"Stop." Damon grabbed a hold of her arm stopping Leya from leaving. He let go of her arm when she looked down at where he was grabbing her and shot him a look. "You should buy this dress; it'll look good on you."
Leya looked down at the dress Damon held in his hands. It was the one he picked up and held against her comparing. To be honest it was probably the only nice dress that was left in the store. It was a little short for Leya's taste but you make do with what was handed to you. It was white, off shoulder with a slight sweetheart neckline; it had lace sleeves that would stop just before her wrist. The detail of the lace throughout the whole dress was gorgeous, especially since the lace went down half an inch below the white lining of the dress.
Leya really liked the dress, what she didn't like was that Damon picked it out. With a slight huff she snatched the dress out of Damon's hands ignoring his smug smirk as she walked to the counter. The light ringing of the bell above the door let her know that Damon left to wait outside.
"You found your dress." The sales lady stated happily as she took the dress from her and scanned the price into the computer.
"Yes." Leya replied simply. She looked down at the glass counter where they advertised jewelry and other odd trinkets underneath. "Could I have that mask too?" Leya asked as she pointed down.
"Yes, of course. Altogether it'll be 89 dollars."
Leya paid and walked out the door getting into Damon's car just as he pulled up to the curb. The drive to the boarding house was silent. Half way there Leya took out her wand and shrunk her new dress and mask so it would fit into her bag. She didn't miss Damon watching curiously from the driver's seat. When they got to the house Caroline was perched on the edge of one of the many lush chairs the Salvatore boarding house had a glass of blood in hand.
"I'm still a little shaky." Caroline began quietly as Stefan stood near where Leya was arms crossed and listening intently.
"Start from the beginning." Damon advised.
Caroline looked up nodding her head as she took a deep breath and began. "I was at the Grill, I just stopped by to gawk and quasi stalk Matt, he asked me if I needed a table so I panicked and said I just needed to use the little girls' room-"
"Skip the teen drama." Damon interrupted pleading.
Caroline's mouth formed a small oh as she nodded her head again and continued. "So I then pretended to use the bathroom, even though I didn't need to go because I'm such an idiot. She came out of the cubicle but I knew it wasn't Elena because she was at home and she didn't have that bracelet so I knew it wasn't her."
"What did she want?" Leya asked her eyebrows furrowing confusion. Ever since that one meeting she had with Katherine when she showed up on her porch she hadn't seen the older doppelgänger since. And she still wanted to know how she knew what she knew.
"She said she wants the moonstone or she'll rip this town apart until it rains blood." Caroline rehearsed shakily taking a sip of blood.
"Tell them the best part." Damon urged nodding his head in Stefan and Leya's direction.
"Tonight at the masquerade ball." Caroline meshed her lips together as Stefan and Leya looked at them fearfully.
"She wants to do it in public, killing Mason threw her off guard." Stefan said looking around as if a solution would pop out of nowhere.
"She's running scared, what she did to Jenna was desperate, she's out of tricks." Damon concluded a satisfied feeling spreading through him at the thought of one upping the woman who has turned him down so many times.
"I don't think she's out of tricks just yet." Leya said looking at each of them in turn. "We shouldn't underestimate her, we have to play her game but be one step ahead of her."
"Then what are we gonna do, your highness?" Damon asked sarcastically not wanting to admit that she did have a point.
"Can't we just give her the moonstone so she'll leave?" Caroline appealed wanting all the death threats and streets raining blood to stop.
"Katherine's not getting dick. I've had it." Damon shot down. He wasn't gonna give Katherine the satisfaction of giving into her every whim. "I'll tell you what I'm going to do, I'm going to go to the masquerade ball tonight and I'm going to kill her."
"You're not going to kill her." Stefan said sternly walking up to Damon until they stood face to face.
"Don't give me that goody-goody crap." Damon snarled angry that his brother even wanted to keep Katherine alive.
"You're not going to kill her." Stefan enunciated slowly as a smile started to appear. "Because I'm going to kill her." Both brothers grinned rivaling the Cheshire cat himself but Leya could help but worry that Katherine would have her own agenda as well.
"Hey, I brought everything you asked me to." Alaric said when he walked into the living room where Damon, Leya, Stefan and Caroline were. In his hands was a huge duffel bag filled with weapons.
"That's great, thanks, Ric." Stefan said as Alaric placed the duffle on the table and started to take out the weapons.
"Is anyone else coming?" He asked.
"I texted Bonnie." Leya confirmed nodding her head. "I also told her to bring her grimoire."
"I also might've told Jeremy." Caroline said so quietly for a second Leya wasn't sure she heard her.
"Jeremy? Caroline, really?" Damon scoffed while Alaric and Stefan looked at each other in concern. The last thing they wanted was to involve Jeremy.
"His Aunt just stabbed herself because Katherine compelled her to. I'm sure he's gonna want just as much revenge as anyone else in this room." Caroline replied in her defense.
"Hey, I got here as fast I could." Bonnie breathed as she stood in the entry to the living room. She paused as she looked at all the weapons laid out on the table a confused look taking hold of her features. "What's going on?"
"We're going to kill Katherine." Jeremy stated as he walked in from behind Bonnie.
She turned slightly to watch him walk to where Alaric and the weapons were. Stefan decided to step in before Bonnie could back out without knowing any of the details. "I can explain."
"Please."
Stefan opened his mouth and struggled to find a less blunt way to say what Jeremy had already said. But there wasn't another way he could think of. "We're going to kill Katherine."
"Leya?" Bonnie looked over to the other witch in the room, everything she wanted to say was written on her face.
"It's true." Leya shrugged her shoulders and crossed her arms over her chest. "We're going to kill Katherine. Tonight. At the masquerade party."
Alaric cleared his throat as Damon and Stefan started to pick at his weapons. The brothers dropped them noting the glare Alaric shot them for touching them without knowing what they did. "This works with compressed air." Alaric explained as he held up a gun like contraption. "The trigger mechanism is up here. I have two of these in a different size."
"For you I recommend this." Alaric slipped on one of his weapons onto his forearm. "It fits nicely under the jacket sleeve. You use the trigger when you're ready."
Alaric pressed a small button that was near his elbow and the stake that was strapped shot out and into Alaric's waiting hand. He shoved the stake forward fake killing a vampire. Damon and Stefan looked at each other nervously. They had no idea Alaric had these kinds of weapons. Alaric caught their looks.
"You wanted me to show you how to kill a vampire." Alaric stated the small upturn on the side of his lip showing that he was amused at Damon and Stefan's sudden nervousness.
Leya raised her eyebrows impressed as picked up the same contraption Alaric had on. She pulled it on and viewed it from all angles. She outstretched her arm a little and pressed the small button lightly. The stake shot out instantaneously and dangerously close to Damon's rib cage. Leya caught it right before it impaled him.
"I like this." Leya grinned as Damon shot her a glare snatching the stake out of her hand.
"Yeah, well I don't like you holding that. Give me that." Damon muttered taking the contraption off of Leya's arm altogether since there was still another stake in it. He didn't fail to notice how quickly she caught the stake. She had fast reflexes, any normal person can develop fast reflexes but Damon wondered how she had acquired her reflex.
"Are you sure you guys don't want me there tonight?" Alaric asked resting both his hands on the table. Once Stefan had called him and told him the plan Alaric jumped at the chance to help but Stefan turned him down and gave him another mission. Babysit Elena.
It wasn't that he didn't like Elena. No, Alaric has basically come to love the girl like she's his daughter; well technically speaking she is his step-daughter. The truth was he wanted a little piece of Katherine too since everything came down to her. Isobel had found her and Katherine had sent an unknowing Damon in to turn Isobel making Alaric believe she was dead and broken hearted.
"No, I need you to stay with Elena. I don't want her to know about this." Stefan replied.
"Ok. I'll make sure she doesn't leave my sight." Alaric nodded his in acceptance. It was a long shot but he tried, at least he was moving on and besides Jenna needed him tonight more than his need for revenge.
"Alright, if anybody wants to back out, I'll understand." Stefan looked around taking his time to look everyone in the eyes for any doubt.
"Yeah. Cold feet speak now. I don't want this going wrong if someone chickens out." Damon explained as he turned his head to the blond vampire. "Caroline."
"I won't." Caroline shook her head venomously. "Look, she killed me. Fair's fair. As long as there are no werewolves running around."
"Oh, I took care of Mason." Damon' self-satisfied smirk confirmed any doubt in everyone's head. Mason was dead.
"As long as Tyler doesn't kill anyone, he won't turn." Jeremy spoke.
Leya titled her head to the side at that information. That was certainly new and interesting news. The werewolf species Tyler and his Uncle were a part of was genetic and could only be triggered when they killed someone. Teddy is half werewolf but he doesn't need to kill anyone for his instincts to come out. They were naturally there from his father but to everyone's knowledge Teddy doesn't turn on a full moon but that doesn't mean he doesn't feel the call.
"Bonnie?" Stefan questioned carefully looking at the other witch in the room. He knew Leya would be on their side from the start but he had his doubts about Bonnie even after his conversation with her. "Are you with us?"
Bonnie hesitated before she nodded her head slowly. "But no one gets hurt."
"Except Katherine." Damon spoke a grin stretching across his face. "Tonight Katherine gets a stake through her heart."
As Leya walked up the steps to the Gilbert house she couldn't help but feel absolutely ridiculous. She was already dressed for the masquerade party with her mask clutched in one hand and a couple things for Jenna in the other. She clumsily rang the doorbell and waited for someone to open it, when Alaric did his expression wasn't exactly reassuring.
"Do I look that bad?" Leya self-consciously asked.
"No, no." Alaric hastily tried to repair any doubt she had. "You look – you look amazing, come on in."
Leya smiled timidly and walked in heading straight for Jenna who was lying on the couch. "Oh my God, Leya, you look incredible!" Jenna squealed once she walked into view.
Leya laughed leaning down to give the older woman a hug. "I just wanted to drop by to give you a couple of things. Like a get well card, only better."
"Well lay 'em on me." Jenna said with a large grin.
"Well firstly, chocolate; because chocolate can do no wrong." Leya said taking the assorted chocolates out of the bag. "Secondly I have this gel you can use which will help with the pain and scarring and finally a liquid you can drink which will help you sleep, it'll taste awful but it's worth it."
"Oh, thank you." Jenna replied gratefully taking the chocolates and vials Leya handed to her. "What are in these?"
"Oh you know, healing stuff." Leya answered vaguely. What Leya had given Jenna was Murtlap Essence and Sleeping Draught both would be beneficial to Jenna in her current state. They were magical products; Leya had brought Murtlap Essence with her as well as other ingredients so she brewed the Sleeping Draught the night before. So Leya couldn't exactly tell Jenna what was in them otherwise she would recoil in disgust.
Leya stayed for a few more minutes talking to Jenna and Alaric while she waited for Caroline to pick her up. Elena was apparently out getting things Jenna couldn't heal without, such as chocolate (although Leya had already taken care of that part, but one could always do with more), fashion magazines and Titanic and the Notebook rented out from the nearest blockbuster. When Leya heard the honking outside alerting her that it was Caroline she stood and said goodbye to Jenna laughing at her when she told her to go wild while Alaric walked her to the front door.
"You ready?" Alaric asked stuffing his hands into his pockets the double meaning clear in his voice.
"Always." Leya replied glancing back to Jenna. "I know you wanted to come and help, Ric, but Jenna needs you more than we do which is why Stefan told you to stay back."
"Yeah, I know." Alaric breathed shifting his gaze to the floor. "And I can accept that, you know I need to move on with my life and Jenna's helping me out a lot. And lately I've been kinda thinking that maybe…"
"You love her."
"Yeah, yeah I do." Alaric laughed shaking his head. "Never thought I'd be able to feel this way about someone after Isobel. But she did it, Jenna did it. She wormed her way into my heart and I don't want to let her go."
"Well I don't think she's going anywhere." Leya smiled happy for him, for the both of them. After the Isobel tragedy Ric needs someone good in his life and that person is Jenna. "Especially for the mean time she's kinda stuck with you since she can't run away. The injury would slow her down a lot but I think it's still possible."
"Ha ha ha." Ric laughed sarcastically opening the door and pushing her out. "Get out of here or I think Caroline will come up and kick my ass for keeping you around for so long."
Leya laughed as she complied walking down the Gilberts porch and to Caroline's car where she waited patiently. When she got in and buckled her seatbelt she couldn't help but notice Caroline's unwavering stare.
"Where did you get that dress? It's gorgeous." Was how Caroline greeted her.
"In a little boutique in town I can't remember the name I think it started with a b -?"
"Betty's Boutique? That place ran out of all the good dresses right after Mrs. Lockwood said the party was still on. How did you come up with that amazing piece of work?"
"It was behind some other clothes." Leya lied she didn't want to tell Caroline that Damon picked it out, she didn't know why though. "Your dress is gorgeous too."
Caroline's dress looked stunning on her. A blood red color with one strap going across her shoulder as it twisted down. Maybe the color the represented Caroline's new found status as a vampire, or maybe Leya was reading too much into it. Either way it was a gorgeous color on her.
"Thanks." Caroline smiled as she started to drive to the Lockwood Mansion where the masquerade party was being held. "I hope everything goes the way we planned it to."
"Me too."
"This is place looks really different at night." Leya said as she walked up to Stefan and Damon who stood on the steps looking over the entire garden.
Both boys turned to her. "Wow, Leya, you look amazing." Stefan complimented her smiling from under his red and black mask.
"Thanks." Leya smiled shyly as she adjusted her gold lace mask. "You clean up nicely yourself."
"I knew that dress would look good on you." Damon smirked his aura just screaming smugness.
Leya huffed crossing her arms as she turned away practically feeling Damon's eyes move up and down her body. Stefan looked between the two confused. He didn't know what was going on but something had happened between the two of them, and Stefan wasn't entirely sure that they knew it either.
"Do you see her?" Damon asked as he turned his attention off of Leya and back to looking for Katherine.
"Nope." Stefan answered.
"Are you sure you can do this?" Leya asked doubtfully turning to Damon.
"Who are you talking to?" Damon scoffed.
"She's right, Damon. I had a chance to kill Katherine and I hesitated." Stefan inputted as both he and Leya focused on Damon.
"Well that is a fork in the road between you and me, my friend. I don't hesitate" Damon growled angrily. He was just a little more than upset that they doubted him, Katherine had haunted him and destroyed his life. He wanted his revenge.
"You spent a hundred and forty five years loving Katherine. It could happen." Leya reasoned.
"I won't hesitate." Damon enunciated slowly to emphasize his point.
"Ok." Stefan agreed sharing a quickly look with Leya as they turned back.
A second later and Leya's phone buzzed. It was Bonnie, she was here with Jeremy and they were already walking up the stairs to the room they would enclose Katherine in.
"It's Bonnie, she's setting up the room. I'm going to go help her." Leya told Stefan and Damon as she walked away texting Bonnie she would be right there. She didn't see Damon turn back slightly to see her walking away.
"I thought this room could work." Jeremy said looking back at Leya and Bonnie as they walked inside.
"It's perfect." Bonnie nodded her head and opened her grimoire. Leya sat next to her as she flicked through the pages in search for the right spell.
"Is that the spell book I read about in my family's old journal?" Jeremy asked as he leaned over the couch to peer at the book. He had already set the bag of weapons for Damon and Stefan down.
"It's my ancestor Emily's. The spell I'm doing here is similar to the one that sealed the vampires in the tomb." Bonnie explained as Leya placed her hand on the page stopping her from passing spell.
"Can you do all the stuff that's in there?" Jeremy asked curiously.
"It takes practice, I've worked on some small spells. Spells that only do good. I don't want to know too much. I don't particularly enjoy any of this, in case you haven't noticed." Bonnie told him ignoring the look Leya threw her way.
"Being a witch isn't the end of the world, Bonnie." Leya argued. "Being a witch is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Maybe you don't see it that way but being what we are opens up so many doors which are closed to other people."
"I don't want to open those doors." Bonnie told her turning to Jeremy. "Did your family journals tell you want happened to Emily? Or what about my Grams? It never ends well for people like me."
Jeremy's eyebrows furrowed at her logic being countered by her actions. "If you feel that way, why help?"
"Because I don't want anyone else getting hurt and I don't know how to stay out of it."
Leya stood silently frustrated as she helped Bonnie get ready. Bonnie had to do the spell herself but that didn't mean Leya wouldn't contribute with her own spells. As Bonnie chanted Leya couldn't help but think about why Bonnie didn't want this. Being a witch saved her life from normalcy and spending it under the stairs in a cupboard at her Aunt and Uncles house. Yes, sure she was in more life threatening situations than any normal person should be from when she was eleven until now but she wouldn't change it for the world.
Those experiences made her who she is now and she wouldn't have the friends and family she has in the Wizarding World if she stayed in the Muggle world. Bonnie was looking at everything negatively, her Grams died, Leya understood that more than anyone but what Bonnie can do is something not a lot of people are privileged with.
"It's done." Bonnie said turning around to face Leya.
Leya slipped her wand out from underneath her lace sleeve. "Muffliato… Protego Totalum… Repello Muggletum… Salvio Hexia… "
Both Bonnie and Jeremy watched on curiously seeing a faint shimmer through the air before it disappeared. The watched as Leya repeated the words several times in a low murmur. She let her arm drop as she turned around to the two of them.
"Alright let's go." Leya said walking out of the room.
"What do those spells do?" Jeremy asked as they started to walk down the stairs.
"She'll tell you later." Bonnie interrupted looking around. "Right now we have to find Stefan and Damon to let them know the room's ready."
Leya came to an abrupt stop as they reached the bottom of the stairs, Bonnie and Jeremy following soon after. "Do you feel that?"
"What's the matter?" Jeremy asked concerned. He looked Leya over to see if something was wrong when he noticed goosebumps on her shoulders and legs. "Are you cold?"
"No." Leya shook her head lightly.
"I feel it too." Bonnie said suddenly as both girls started to walk in the same direction. Bonnie and Leya stopped behind a taller dark skinned woman, there was something about her that was familiar to both girls. "Excuse me, do I know you?"
"No." The woman shook her head locking eyes with Leya. "I'm a plus one, I know no one. It's a great party though." The woman smiled walking away from both girls only Leya noticing how the woman's hands trembled slightly.
"Are you guys ok?" Jeremy asked touching Bonnie on the arm lightly to get her out of her daze.
"Yeah, I just got a weird vibe is all. Let's find Stefan."
Leya sighed as she took a sip of her drink. Their plan was in motion but it was taking a lot longer than Leya had anticipated. She was outside with Bonnie and Jeremy in a more private part of the garden waiting for Jeremy's queue to lead Katherine to Caroline. Jeremy who has been asking questions nonstop about the spells she did was only slightly annoying her, but her annoyance was more due to the fact that she was hit on way to many times as they walked to the more private area of the garden.
"So can you guys do like a hocus pocus spell to ace a test?" Jeremy asked looking between the two almost hopefully.
"I don't know that spell." Bonnie joked, there wasn't such a spell for her like that. All the spells in her grimoire were for protection and defense not silly nonsensical spells like acing a test.
"Yes." Leya answered but shot Jeremy down almost immediately. "Don't think I'll help you cheat in anything, Jeremy Gilbert. And if you're wondering there are also anti-cheating spells as well."
"Well if I could do magic that'd be the first one I'd learn, or maybe like a sex spell or something… I don't know." Jeremy trailed off awkwardly when both Bonnie and Leya turned to him with surprised looks when he said sex spell. Bonnie laughed so maybe it was kind of a plus for saying that. "Do you want to dance or something while we're waiting?"
"No." Bonnie giggled unintentionally at him. "I mean, no thank you."
Leya looked between the two as she tried to contain the smile that wanted to break through. Her smile however faded when Jeremy looked at his phone as it lit up with a text. He stood leaving Bonnie and Leya in silence.
During her time all her time on earth from when she was a little girl to the woman she was now nothing had ever gotten her angry. Maybe once in a while when a spell wouldn't go the way she wanted it to or when she found out her mother had lied to her about their heritage. But in that moment nothing had pissed Lucy off more than finding out that Katherine had lied to her.
"You didn't tell me there was another witch here." Lucy stated as she came up behind Katherine grabbing her arm. The look Katherine gave her for touching her could put her seven feet underground but Lucy was pissed. And nothing stopped her when she was pissed.
"Didn't I?" Katherine played dumb, a little flick of a smirk teasing the edge of her lip. She loved it when she surprised people.
"No, you didn't." Lucy growled her eyes flashing. "No one is supposed to know I'm involved let alone two other Witches. This changes things, Katherine -"
"This changes nothing." Katherine interrupted sternly. She would not have her plan ruined because of a measly reputation one witch had to keep up with. "You're here because you owe your dear friend a favor. You wouldn't want to lose my friendship now, would you?"
The threat implied on her question was heard loud and clear. Lucy back away in defeat. So the vampire saved her life once and then she owed her herself and her magic. It was messed up in every single way but Lucy would do anything to stay alive even if it meant helping Katherine Pierce.
"Elena?"
Katherine turned around a mask of her doppelgänger already in place. She's had lots of practice pretending to be other people throughout her five hundred years. And one night impersonating her dull dishwasher doppelgänger was an easy feat.
"Hey, sorry, could I talk to my sister for a second?" Jeremy asked Lucy as he came to a stop beside the two women. Lucy managed a strained smile while Katherine shot her another look.
"What is it, Jeremy?" Katherine asked innocently once Lucy left.
"I have a message from Stefan." Jeremy announced now serious and not up to playing her game.
"Oh?"
"He and Damon want you both to meet them at the edge of the lake by the woods. They brought the moonstone." Jeremy told her and Katherine's façade dropped at the information.
"And why are you their little messenger?" Katherine asked taking an intimidating step forward.
"Because they know I'm not afraid of you."
Katherine couldn't help the little giggle that escaped at Jeremy's fake bravado. "Hmm, you Gilbert men, so courageous. How's John by the way? Were they able to sew all his fingers back on?"
Jeremy's jaw clenched and at that sign Katherine took her leave smiling the whole way. Jeremy turned around his phone already out to tell Damon that he did his part when a hand shot out and gripped the sleeve of his jacket pulling him back.
"What the hell is going on?" Elena seethed as Jeremy stood shocked by her appearance.
"You guys are trying to kill her here?" Elena asked flabbergasted at the mere thought of what Jeremy, Bonnie and Leya had told her.
"We saw an opportunity and we knew we had to take it." Jeremy defended crossing his arms.
"Ok! You're all being stupid. You're going to get yourselves killed." How could they not see that? Elena knew it and she thought everyone else did after what had happened to Jenna.
"We know what we're doing." Bonnie's confidence was unwavering.
"And how am I supposed to feel if one of you guys gets hurt because of me?" Elena asked looking at each of them in turn.
"But this isn't just about you, Elena." Leya tilted her head shaking it slightly. "She's hurt a lot of people. She has to be stopped."
"Then there has to be another way." Elena wasn't giving up, she didn't want anyone to get hurt.
"There isn't another way, Elena." Jeremy explained passionately. "If we don't do it tonight then we'll never get the chance."
Elena had opened her mouth to tell him that there was always another chance. That was what their parents had told them, make your own doors and walk through them. But instead of what she wanted to say a scream came out of her mouth. She reached behind her where her back pulsed with pain, when she pulled it back to her front it was covered in blood.
"Elena? What's going on?" Jeremy asked panicked as they crowded around Elena and tried to get her out of sight from any on lookers.
"AH!" Another pain erupted, this time it was on her arm. The pain was so bad her legs gave away but Jeremy caught her just before she hit the floor.
"It has to be Katherine. Elena's linked with Katherine." Bonnie breathed looking at Leya.
"The woman." Leya realized as she looked around. "The one you talked to, Bonnie, she's the Witch. Stay here with Elena I'll tell Stefan and Damon."
Leya ran as fast as she could without attracting too much attention and falling down in her heels. She took the steps two at a time and when she came across the room it was disastrous. Stefan held Katherine's arms behind her back as Damon stood in front of her stake raised and ready to kill.
"Stop!" Leya shouted just as Damon brought his arm down. Thankfully he pulled back at the last second. "You're hurting Elena. Everything you're doing to her is hurting Elena."
"You think you two are the only ones with witches on your side?" Katherine asked grinning gleefully as she broke out of Stefan's hold. "Wrong. And something tells me that my witch is better than your witches."
Both brothers turned to Leya but Stefan was the only one who asked the question. "Elena?"
"Bonnie and Jeremy are with her. She's fine." Leya informed blowing a stray hair that fell into her face from panic.
"Oh, yes. Let's all make sure poor Elena's ok?" Katherine pouted turning to them with the stake she snatched from Damon in her grip. "Just a little bit more pressure."
With a quick flick from Leya's wand the stake went flying in another direction. But not before Katherine was able to cut deeply into her hand which would also appear on Elena. Katherine laughed eyeing Leya up and down.
"Why don't you join us, oh chosen one?" Katherine asked watching as Leya hovered on the border of the room.
"Stay where you are, Leya." Stefan advised her as he kept his eyes on Katherine. He did not want Leya getting hurt as much as he didn't want Elena getting hurt.
Katherine pursed her lips breaking a leg off a nearby table holding it up above her stomach. "This is gonna hurt."
"Wait!" Leya yelled her hand outstretched in Katherine's direction. Leya stepped into the room feeling her wards shift around her and Bonnie's spell entrap her. The spell Bonnie used was similar to the tomb spell only it wasn't focused on one supernatural species it was focused on all. This meant that Leya was now trapped in the room until Bonnie or another witch of her kind removed the spell.
Katherine grinned knowing that while she's linked with Elena she'll get her way. Just like always. She sat down comfortably crossing one leg over the other. "So how about that moonstone?"
"The three of us together, just like old times." Katherine mused glancing at the chair to the side where Leya sat. "Minus the plus one. The brother that loved me too much and the one that didn't love me enough."
"And the evil slut vampire who only loved herself." Damon remarked pressing his hand against the barrier Bonnie created.
"What happened to you, Damon?" Katherine questioned amused by his new personality. "You used to be so sweet and polite."
"Sweet and polite?" Leya muttered casting Damon an amused glance. She could never imagine him as sweet and polite.
"That Damon died a long time ago." Damon said rolling his eyes at Leya who clearly couldn't believe that once upon a time he was in fact a gentleman.
"Good. He was a bore." Katherine shot looking between the witch and vampire curiously.
"Why don't you two stop antagonizing each other." Stefan hinted annoyed.
"Fine. Where's the moonstone?" Katherine asked strictly business.
"What do you even want with it?" Leya turned her bright green eyes on Katherine. Ever since she stepped foot into the room she was thinking about why Katherine wanted the moonstone in the first place. Leya's had all the time in the world to think about why but actually being in Katherine's presence, seeing her restless almost nervous made her curious.
"Does Elena enjoy having the two of you worship at her alter?" Katherine's feeble attempt to distract Leya and the brothers was almost pathetic. "Even you, oh mighty chosen one. She's got you wrapped around her finger."
"I'm not wrapped around anyone's finger." Leya replied steely, her eyes sharp.
"That was really desperate, Katherine." Stefan spoke up. "Don't you think that we can see right through you?"
"So it doesn't bother you that Damon's in love with your girlfriend?" Katherine asked almost innocently. "Or maybe he's changed his mind?"
"Oh, stop it." Stefan was fed up with all the riddles.
"Or what?" Katherine smiled wickedly as she stood. "You'll hurt me? Come on, Stefan. Everything I feel, Elena feels. So go ahead. Or better yet, kiss me, Damon. She'll feel that too."
"You know, this whole Mason thing has me just a little bit confused." Leya spoke drawing the attention to her. She knew Stefan and Damon were getting agitated by Katherine's taunting which is exactly what she wanted. It wouldn't be long until one of them lashes out and hurts her ergo hurting Elena. "Why a werewolf? The moonstone can break a curse that would help them destroy all vampires. So what's in that for you?"
"Sorry about your pet wolf." Damon smirked as Katherine turned to him. "You probably should've kept him on a tighter leash."
"I'll have to remember that for next time." A slow smile growing on Katherine's face as she looked at all three of them. "He's not the only wolf in town."
The only name that ran through each of their minds in that instant was Tyler Lockwood.
"Where is that witch?" Damon seethed sometime later as he looked at the time. Leya had taken all the wards she put up as a precaution down. The only thing blocking them from leaving was Bonnie's spell which Bonnie alone had to take down.
"We could play charades." Katherine suggested playfully, inside however she was rest less. She needed Lucy to get her out of the stupid room and get the moonstone in time to bargain for her freedom.
"You bargained the moonstone." For a moment Katherine's breath caught in her throat at Stefan's statement.
"What are you mumbling about over there?" Damon asked walking away from the doorway and further into the room.
"When you struck a deal with George Lockwood, to help you fake your death, you told me that you gave George something that he needed. It was the moonstone, wasn't it?" Stefan realized his eyes squinting. He was missing something else.
"Good for you, Stefan. 2 + 2…" Katherine replied surprised. "And it would've worked except that people found out that I wasn't in the tomb." Katherine glanced to Damon. "Thanks to you, by the way. Have I mentioned how inconvenient your obsession with me has been?"
"You and me both, honey." Damon glowered back.
"Why do you need it back?" Stefan asked curious as Katherine sauntered towards him.
"I love you in a suit, so dashing." Katherine's avoidance of the subject was bluntly obvious.
"I think the question is what were you doing with it in the first place?" Leya spoke watching Katherine curiously while she ignored her.
"You two are wasting your breath." Damon rolled his eyes leaning on the side of the chair Leya sat on.
"Unless it wasn't yours to begin with. In 1864 you faked your death. Who were you running from, Katherine?" Stefan persisted.
"In 1987 you were in Chicago, at a concert of all places with that wench, Lexi." Katherine rolled her eyes. She was happy when she heard that the blonde haired vampire was dead. She always had a suspicion that Lexi and Stefan had something together but never acted on it. "Come on, Stefan, don't look so surprised. Of course I checked in on you over the years. You were standing in the front row, dancing all night. You were watching Bon Jovi and I was watching you."
Stefan expression gave nothing away, Damon's however did. Leya hesitantly glanced beside her where Damon was still standing the look in his eyes said everything. He was hurt, he didn't want to admit it, especially to the woman who he loved for over a hundred years only to find out she never really loved him back.
"Who were you running from?" Stefan asked again this time emotionlessly. Katherine just giggled tracing a heart above his mouthing I love you.
Bonnie was frantic. She had spent the last fifteen minutes trying to find that woman both she and Leya had bumped into while Elena was outside practically bleeding to death. The woman whom she now knows is a witch had most likely been the one to link Katherine and Elena together, what Bonnie didn't know was why she did it. It was times like this that Bonnie wished she knew more magic so that she could be able to undo the spell herself. But Bonnie was neither strong enough nor magically inclined enough to undo the spell herself.
When Bonnie finally spotted the witch it was only of the side of her face before she walked off to another part of the house. Bonnie didn't really want to be rude but desperate times were calling so she didn't mind giving other people a nudge with her elbow when they weren't moving out of her way. When Bonnie finally came to the room where she swears the witch walked into; it was empty.
"You looking for me?"
Bonnie spun around to face the voice that came from behind her. It was the other witch. "Who are you?"
"Lucy." She replied almost amusedly.
"What are you doing here?" Bonnie asked cautiously stepping forward.
"I should've known I'd run into a Bennett." Lucy sighed shaking her head at her own stupidity.
"How do you know me?" Bonnie asked shocked that Lucy knew her name without her telling her.
"You figure it out." Lucy waved her hand offhandedly. She knew what the young Bennett witch wanted to see her for. "Look, I have no interest in fighting you."
"Then stop the spell you put on my friend."
"Give Katherine the moonstone and I will." Lucy countered.
"Why are you helping Katherine?" Bonnie questioned heatedly not expecting Lucy to be that loyal to Katherine. "Don't you know what she is?"
Lucy almost rolled her eyes. Almost. "Tell your friends to hand over the moonstone and all will be groovy."
"You're not leaving this room until you stop the spell." Bonnie commanded side stepping Lucy as she tried to leave.
"Look, I don't want to hurt you." Lucy said sincerely.
"I don't want to hurt you." Bonnie could be just as strong as Lucy.
Lucy sighed and decided to explain why she was here in the first place. "I don't have a choice. The bitch saved my life and now I owe her. I have to pay up."
Lucy tried to leave again only this time Bonnie caught her wrist. Lucy felt the rush of magic extend from Bonnie's arm to hers, and the magic did not belong to Bonnie. "You have the moonstone. I can sense it on you." Lucy grabbed both of Bonnie's arms startling her. The room slowly started to shake like an earthquake and the lights started to flicker. "Do you feel that? You can trust me. Give it to me, it's ok."
"You know, Leya, since we've last talked I'm surprised you haven't tried to confront me and get the answers to your questions that I know you're just dying to ask." Katherine purred as she stalked the room watching Leya.
"Since you've last talked? Leya, why didn't you tell us?" Stefan asked worriedly as he faced Leya along with Damon.
"Because what we talked about wasn't any of your business." Leya shrugged a shoulder as she inched her head in Katherine's direction. "But you're right. I do have questions."
"Then ask away. I'm sure we won't be here for much longer." Katherine smiled pleased.
"How do you know about me?" Leya asked instantly gaining both Stefan and Damon's attention. She stood anxious if Katherine was going to answer her. "How do you know about my family?"
"You mean the fact that I know one of your father's best friend's a werewolf?" Katherine teased smirking. "It's simple really. I was living in England at the time and one night a met a couple of guys. One of them was your father and the other was his best friend. Your mom was at home with her due date nearing so your dad's best friend took him out in order to 'celebrate his soon-to-be fatherhood.'"
Leya's breathing grew slightly heavy as she sensed no lies in what Katherine was saying. "That doesn't explain much."
"Well what can I say. I didn't stick around for too long, there was a war happening you know." Katherine poured herself a glass of alcohol. "But that didn't mean I wasn't there to see you be born or to see your parents betrayed. Now that was a real shame, leaving you alone and helpless. With absolutely no one-"
Katherine smashed into the wall. The glass she was holding was now in pieces on the floor, Leya stood in front of her wand pressed painfully against Katherine's neck. "Shut up."
"Why?" Katherine asked curiously. "Does it hurt too much to hear the truth?"
Leya opened her mouth ready to hex Katherine when she was pulled away from her. Her arms were locked against her side and as Leya tried as hard as she could to break out of Damon's hold it wasn't enough. "Let me go."
"No." Damon said calmly as he held her tighter but not enough to hurt her. "You're angry, you're not thinking straight. She's linked to Elena, Leya, you could be hurting Elena."
"And what about me?" Leya struggled seething. "I'm hurting too."
Damon's arms loosened at her words. Leya broke out of his grip and turned to Katherine and Stefan who watched almost curiously. With her wand clutched firmly in her hand Leya addressed Katherine. "The second the spell lifts no longer linking you to Elena. I'm driving a stake through your heart."
"I look forward to it." Katherine hummed a wicked smirk on her lips. The threat was meaningless, she knew the little wand-wielder would do nothing to her. She hadn't gotten all her answers.
"Katherine." She turned at the sound of her name. "The spell on this room had been broken, you're free to leave."
"Thank God." Katherine stalked to Lucy hand out and waiting for the rock that had destroyed her life.
"When I hand this over, my debt to you is over." Lucy stated holding the moonstone just out of her reach.
"Done."
"I owe you nothing." Lucy enunciated slowly.
"I said done, give it." Katherine shook her hand anxiousness building up in her at the mere sight of the moonstone.
As soon as the moonstone was safely in her hands Katherine could let out a breath of relief. It was over, it was finally over.
Until ice ran up her veins.
Katherine's breathing grew labored as her throat started to close in on her. "You should have told me another witch was involved. She's a Bennett witch, Katherine, but I'm sure you knew that." Lucy's voice sounded hazy as she fell weightlessly to the floor.
"Wait, Elena!" Stefan stepped forward in panic wondering if the same thing was happening to his girlfriend.
"Elena's fine." Lucy replied as they watched Katherine wither on the floor from lack of air. "The spell is broken. She'll heal quickly, Bonnie's with her."
Katherine drew in her last breaths as she went still with unconsciousness. "I apologize for my involvement."
"Can you…?" Stefan's question was obvious as he gestured to the body – Katherine's body as Lucy left.
"Yeah, I'll take care of it." Damon nodded his head and Stefan smiled grateful as he rushed out of the room to see to his girlfriend.
"Where are you going put her?" Leya asked quietly as waved her wand silently casting a spell.
All the damage they did to the room was repaired. It looked like no one had ever stepped foot into the room that night.
"There's a tomb under a church with her name written on it." Damon replied as he picked Katherine up. "I think putting her there will be worse than death. And she deserves much more than death."
Leya walked down the stairs of the Lockwood manor holding her arms tightly. She hadn't meant to say what she said. It had just slipped out in a moment of anger, but it was the truth. And maybe Leya had thought that by coming to Mystic Falls to see her Aunt who had abandoned her would make her feel more… whole. But it hadn't.
Leya felt empty.
She felt like she had all those years ago, under the cupboard.
And it hurt. It hurt so bad. All she wanted to do was go home, to her friends and her real family full of red hair. But she couldn't because not only did they want to keep her safe but she too wanted to keep them safe. She had no doubt that Bellatrix would find her one day, her thirst for vengeance and blood would keep her going forever if she could. And Leya didn't want anyone she loved to get in the way of it.
Leya stopped suddenly as a muffled scream filled the deserted parking area. With slow calculating steps Leya walked forward with her wand out. A jesters costume and mask fill her eyesight as well as a familiar pink top that Elena was wearing.
"Hey!" Leya shouted angrily as she ran up to them. "Petrificus Totalus."
The jester jump aside dodging her spell. With quick movements he dodged each spell Leya threw his way until he was close enough to touch her. He smacked her arm away before weaving his hand into her hair. Grabbing the side of her head he smashed her head against another car's window.
And everything went black.
A/N: Not including this authors note this chapter is 8,465 words long. My longest chapter ever. I hope you enjoyed it, it took me a while to write so drop a review for me please.
So I'm pretty sure I'm gonna pair Leya with Damon, I don't know you guys are convincing but in the end it's either gonna be Damon or Elijah.