Chapter 10: Katherine

I couldn't contain the rage in me. It was bubbling over the top and I was afraid I would burst. Burst of extreme anger, of dark passion, of sisters you wished you could hate. Adelaide, whenever her name was mentioned ever since our fight yesterday, I would picture a corpse with a stake who was once a pretty blue- eyed belle. The picture made me happy. My dress lay in ribbons and silk around me and my petticoat hugged me tightly. I admired myself in the mirror and then turned to Damon who was lying on the bed, staring at me. I frowned,

"You don't think I'm too evil to Adelaide, do you?" I asked, knowing he had been uneasy when in my presence during the past day. I watched him furrow his eyebrows, drinking in the question and rather noticeably relishing when I said Adelaide's name. So there was my answer, he was in love with the bitch as well. Did that count for anything? Not ever, due to the fact that I made the rules in this game.

"No," he said, quietly. "I think you really do love her." I let out a scornful laugh.

"The only reason I haven't driven a stake through her is because she's my sister. Not that that would matter..." and at this point I quickly studied the fear dilating in his eyes..."And the fact that you're in love with her as well. Damon didn't deny it, but there was a sharp intake of breath from him.

"My point exactly, my older Salvatore boy," I came up to him, crawling on top of him and put my face inches over his. "You have been seriously foolish. You leave me no other choice. See, I would love for my sister to be miserable and-"

"You wouldn't," Damon said, voice quivering slightly.

"I'll still have Stefan, won't I?"

"But Stefan would know how I died. I think that matters more to him that being with you," his voice came out strong, but I could feel the fear building up in him. I smiled, immersing in his fear.

"Then all you have to do is one thing. Tell me I was wrong to think that you love Adelaide," I said kissing him. "Tell me."

"I won't lie to you, Katherine."

"Then tell me the truth."

"There's nothing more for me to say."

"Then there is only one thing left for me to do."

"Fine, I'm ready to die." I almost recoiled at that point. How could he be possibly be ready to die. And truthfully so, I did not want to kill him. But, he loved her and me. He loved two vampire sisters and that wasn't going to work. I could tell he was drawn to me, he wanted me more than Adelaide. But where love was involved, it balanced equally between us.

"I don't want to do this."

"I know you mean that. But before you do this, I wanted to say that I loved you more." That's what he thinks. He's now just confusing physical attraction for irrevocable love. Ugh, how I hate love stories with happy endings. Particularly forbidden love stories. And wasn't this a forbidden love story? Yes, most certainly. Will it have a happy ending? No. I stroked Damon's cheek,

"That's not enough, I'm afraid." He nodded in understanding. As I withdrew my fangs, I found myself frightened at what I was about to do. I was going to drink the life out of Damon. One of the two Salvatore brothers who I was planning on turning. I shook my head, almost revolted with myself. And this was all Adelaide's fault. The devil in disguise. And I readied myself, closing my eyes and counting to three. And then I drove my fangs into his neck with such ferocity. I felt the tears come down my cheeks and land on his chest. There were none coming out of his eyes. All of a sudden two strong hands yanked me off of him and through me across the room. I froze, my face splattered with his blood. Damon was still conscious and he was staring at his savior. An oddly familiar hooded girl. But, that can't be possible...

Adelaide took off her hood. She was ready for defense and attack. I was so stunned to see such strength in her. She does not even drink human blood.

"How...did you become so strong?" I asked dumbfounded and feeling utterly defeated for the first time in my entire life.

"Strength comes from within. From passion, from love," she caught Damon's eye when she said the last word. "I would think a girl like yourself, so strong so powerful would understand that or rather know that. It's common knowledge, really." I raised my eyebrows as I listened to her speak. Then I looked at her and felt anger surge through me. But I was also grudgingly impressed. Gone was the small and innocent girl. Gone was the jealous little sister who is in love with her older sister's lover. Gone was the crying, non powerful twit. There stood a woman rather like myself, but not. Here was an Adelaide who was no longer a child, who was no longer constantly defeated, who no longer held grudges for decades.

"I was wrong about you," I said. "You're not a girl, Adelaide. You are not a vampire child, naive and stupid. You've learned a lot."

"I am not like you, if that's what you are trying to say," she said in an assertive voice.

"We are quite alike actually," I smiled sadly. "Only I am the black, the dark. Whereas you are the white, the light. Good and bad are very much alike. Like love and hate. It is very hard to tell the difference."

"You have made a grave mistake, Katherine."

"So I've made many," I thought. "But I wouldn't call them mistakes as much as faults. I silently laugh to myself thinking of Renassae and Samantha.

"Then you will wait, I presume." I nodded because my whole kill Damon scheme was finished. He, Stefan, and I would be inevitable when I change them. Why kill them? I turned to Damon.

"I love you."

"I figured," he smiled. I nodded, watching as he got up to kiss me so furtively. I heard Adelaide sigh. Not of jealousy, but of relief.

"I need to go, but I shall be back," I said walking out. Adelaide walked out at my heels. We didn't say a word to each other but when she was leaving to go to Pearl's house, I thought I saw a flicker of a smile light up her face. I knew that smile was for me.

Later

Stefan was lying on the bed, looking at me.

"Is Damon alright?" he asked. "I haven't seen much of him."

"You're always worrying, my Stefan. Stay calm. Damon is fine. You will see him tomorrow."

"That is good, I think."

"You think? There is nothing wrong with him, I can assure you," I said moving my weight on top of him.

"Yes, my Queen."

"Do you know why I'm the Queen?"

"Because you make the rules."

"Because I can do this," I said, withdrawing my fangs and striking him in the neck. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. I pull back appalled, staring at him, my voice faint, I was weakening.

"Katherine!" he cried. "Katherine, Katherine, what is it?"

"Vervain," I manage a faint voice. Stefan's face twisted into shock. I moved off the bed and collapsed on the ground, with Stefan's cries still ringing in my ear...