Disclaimer: I don't own anything you publicly recognize. Everything else is mine, though.

Chapter 3.-

Even though Kol and Serena were twins, physically, they couldn't have been more different.

Kol resembled Elijah and Serena resembled Rebekah. It was a fact that had them puzzled for a while, until the whole science thing solved it for them.

But the worst part was that they were linked.

They couldn't read each other's mind or anything like that. Instead, if Kol was hurt, Serena was also hurt. If Serena was hurt, Kol was hurt. But only physical things carried over the bond, such as wounds. Sickness or headaches, and things like that, they didn't affect the other person.

However, things weren't as simple as they seemed sometimes. True, the dagger affected both of them, but true and definite death? Would one die with the other if they were staked by the White Oak Stake? Or would the bond simply dissolve?

Serena didn't know the answer to the question, and she never wanted to find out, either. She had been perfectly happy with her twin brother for a thousand years, and she did not need mother messing everything up.

Especially when she had just met Damon Salvatore.

As Serena regained consciousness, she could hear Elena stumbling around. Growing angry at the untimely interruption, she got up and ran after her. To human eyes, she would have been a blur of motion.

Serena had caught up with Elena again, but then, another familiar blond sped in front of her, grabbing Elena's shirt. However, the doppelganger freed herself by waving her arms around blindly, and stumbled into the opening of the cave.

Serena and Rebekah both sped after her, only to stumble back as an invisible wall shielded Elena from their grasp.

Serena and Rebekah growled in frustration, and focusing on the more pressing issue, Serena turned to Rebekah.

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to take part in the killing of the doppelganger. She stabbed me in the back. Literally." Rebekah sneered at Elena, who was now gasping for breath, safe from the two Originals for now.

"Well, let's get creative. We can't go in, she won't come out …" Serena trailed off, sitting on the ground, and pursued her lips, deep in thought.

"Got it." Rebekah suddenly muttered, and with a "Watch her!" sped off, to god knows where.

"Well, doppelganger, it seems like it's just us for the time being." Serena smirked tiredly at Elena, and leaned her head on her knees.

Elena remained silent and Serena had no desire to converse further with her. And, before long, Rebekah came back, with a box of matches and gasoline.

"Smart." Serena looked up to Rebekah and smiled. "I guess our poor doppelganger will burn to death."

As Elena looked on curiously, Serena grabbed the gasoline and threw it at Elena. It landed straight at Elena, obviously not expecting it. With a smirk of satisfaction, Rebekah lit the first match and threw it next to Elena, landing in a puddle of gasoline near Elena's feet. Elena jumped back from the fire, and the two blondes smirked.

"Now, you can come out, and possibly survive if your Salvatore brothers play their cards right, or you can stay there and burn to death. You know that your body needs to be intact to become a vampire. And if you're a burnt, mangled corpse …" Rebekah trailed off, fiddling with the matches. "You'll resemble your dear Mother, when she was burnt to death by the sun."

"Klaus compelled her!" Elena shouted. "Just like he's manipulating both of you."

"Wrong, doppelganger. It's Elijah who fabricated this whole plan. Your precious, moral Elijah who cares so much about humanity and values your compassion that he blindly trusted you the night of the ball. And you betrayed his trust. Compassion? I never knew Katerina, but I know that she was far more compassionate before she became a selfish bitch. I mean, she had to resemble Tatia in more than one way, for Elijah to fall in love with her." Serena lectured her.

As for Rebekah, she was already lighting the next match, and threw it, nearly landing on Elena, had she not expected it and jumped back, barely out of reach of the burning flame.

"Well, my dearest Elena, your time will be up soon. So what will it be?"

"You don't want to kill me. You want me to suffer while you watch." Elena tried to reason with them, and Serena could feel Rebekah wavering.

"Unfortunately for you, we might not have that much time so … Rebekah, what are you doing?"

Rebekah was now recording the whole "Elena torture method" while she tried to stall them, and Serena focused on the drawings on the walls.

Serena frowned. Were they …

Oh dear.

Serena nudged Rebekah and jerked her head in Elena's direction. Taking the hint, Rebekah saw the motions in the wall and directed the camera slightly above, so the drawings were visible as well.

They shared a glance, puzzled, before deciding that Rebekah would continue to goad Elena while Serena guarded, making sure no one went in or out.

As Rebekah spent her last match, she couldn't help but think of Damon. A very active member of the Mystic Falls Gang … and also, in love with Elena Gilbert.

He was probably one of the reasons Kol had been daggered.

As she was alone, she shed a few tears, making sure to keep quiet. Even without Original Vampire hearing, the echoes would surely carry on the sounds of her crying and perhaps even Elena would hear them.

Had it been so wrong? True, Mother was a witch and they were abominations of nature, but weren't children supposed to be first, rather than magic or the balance of nature?

Serena may have been alive for a thousand years, perhaps a few years more, but she still had feelings. She didn't just flip the switch, like she suspected Nik did, more often than not. Every Original had a story … and a reason for being a monster, as their mother perceived them to be.

Everyone has a story. Every bad person in this world has a story.

Elijah's call interrupted her train of thought, and she quickly glanced down, clearing her throat. She picked up, and hearing Elijah's confirmation that all was dealt with, and the price that Bonnie Bennett had to pay because of her friend … it gave her a sense of Deja vu that she didn't like. Not one bit.

"You're free to go." Serena approached the entrance, staring at Elena, who was seated in the far corner, avoiding the flames. "The Salvatore brothers took care of things."

Elena warily got up. "What do you mean by that?"

"It means Damon Salvatore turned Abby Bennett into a vampire. That's actually smart, since you can't be a witch and a vampire." Rebekah completed sweetly, hatred dripping through her words. "And you're right … I do prefer watching you suffer. Much more satisfying."

Serena and Rebekah sped home, seeing Elijah there.

Elijah told them the news, also sharing his point of view, and his regret. With a quick glance, she saw a piece of paper peeking from her brother's suit, and sneered. It was probably to Elena.

"Mother made us vampires, not monsters. We did that to ourselves." Elijah spoke his parting words, and Serena couldn't keep her mouth shut any longer.

"No, it was Mother who couldn't keep her legs closed." She retorted, hatred building up inside of her.

Elijah paused for a moment before walking out the door. As Rebekah sat down, tears in her eyes, Serena wrapped her arms around her.

After a while, Serena untangled her arms from Rebekah's grip, and stood, taking out her phone. She called Kol, speeding outside, and stood in the chilly air.

"Kol?" She asked as soon as he picked up.

"Yeah, sis?" Kol answered, relief apparent in his voice.

"Are you going to stay?" She went straight to the point.

"No, I'm going to Denver. Nik asked me to keep an eye on the youngest Gilbert."

"I'll stay here. When you come back, I'll be waiting for you." With those parting words, Serena waited for Kol to hang up.

"Love you, sis."

"Me too." Once Serena had replied, Kol hung up and Serena sighed.

Reentering the house, she changed her clothes and, not bothering to take a car, she sped to the Grill, arriving there in mere minutes.

She sat at the bar, ordering a strong and expensive drink and sat there grumpily, today's actions finally catching up to her. Mother …

"Nice taste." Damon sat next to her, and Serena pursued her lips.

"I'm not in the mood," She groaned, barely controlling the monster in her.

"Really?" Damon asked in a provocative and knowing tone, making Serena look at him.

The next day, Serena woke up to an empty bed, in the Salvatore mansion. Her clothes were folded neatly near her feet, and there was a towel nearby.

She smiled – at least, Damon had the decency to care.

Did he?