Chapter Twelve

"Katerina, has read the symbols of the stones." Thor informed Loki. "Vanaheim, is less than a day's journey away."

"Good." Loki folded his arms across his chest. "Then Katerina can avoid death and we no longer have to pretend to like each other."

"Loki-"

"Thor, I know it's an act. You don't trust me and I don't blame you. You're still blaming me for the deaths of New York." Loki pointed out.

"Yes, because you caused their deaths, Loki." Thor hissed. "They were innocent people that had to die because you wanted power, so forgive me if I still can't fully trust you because as much as I would like to believe that the brother I knew is still in there. . .you make it very difficult."

Loki chuckled. "Well, you're right you will be an idiot to trust me again, though it indeed surprises me that you came up with that all by yourself. But remember this, brother neither me, nor Katerina, nor you are the same people we once were. And are you sure that father will welcome Katerina back with open arms, I mean he did leave her to rot for over 500 years."

Thor tried to control his temper. "Katerina is still Odin's daughter, Loki."

"But she hasn't exactly been charitable in her time on earth, and you know as well as I that father is a hypocrite when it comes to people's lives. He can kill and manipulative to get what he wants, but we are forbidden to do the same. Though, we must hurry I suspect that everyone must know about our absence by now." Loki smirked. "I'm sure Odin would love to plan a grand celebration when we return. Or a trial."

"Thor, I've been meaning to say, you're so different . . . in a good way." Katherine teased her older brother as they climbed up a small hill made of rocks.

Thor looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"I think she means when you weren't being an arrogant, self-absorbed prick." Loki concluded.

"Well, I used my time to grow when I was in Mignard," Thor said coolly as he glanced at his younger siblings. "Unlike you two who seem to have created an even more mess instead of becoming humble."

"I actually liked living in Mignard, at least when I was a vampire." Katherine rolled her eyes. "Becoming human sucked the joy out of it."

"If it's clearly unbearable as you say it is," Loki turned to face Rebekah. "Why are you so eager to become a measly human?"

"Oh, well you know Rebekah everything is unicorns and rainbows."

"I can speak for myself, Katherine." Rebekah snapped at her and then said dreamily. "I have been immortal for a thousand years and all though, yes I have experience things that I wouldn't have otherwise I always wanted to be human. I want to actually live, I want to find a man who loves me, a home, to have children. To live and die as I please and live each day as if it would be my last. Unlike your sister here, I don't want power and revenge. I want love and happiness."

Loki and Katherine snorted in disbelief.

"I find that admirable, Lady Rebekah." Thor said. "I enjoyed my time as a human I only wished that Katerina and Loki could see it too, maybe it would make them more grateful."

Rebekah smirked.

Katherine huffed. "You might want to save the judgment Thor until you have known Rebekah for more than 48 hours."

Loki stopped leading the way suddenly and he paused.

"Is that-"Rebekah's voice trailed off. Vanaheim was beautiful, there were large silver palaces and columns bigger than the ones she had seemed in Rome and it was surrounded by crystal blue water.

"Yes," Thor placed a hand on her shoulder. "That is Vanaheim."

Katherine's joy was short lived, she was feeling a sharp pain near her arm that was traveling towards her heart. She clutched her heart and her eyes widened as her purse fell to the floor.

Thor noticed her discomfort. "Katerina, are you all right?"

Katherine desperately shook her head. "No, I'm-"she felt a sharp pain near her heart and her entire surroundings turned black.

"They were here," Elena said as she bended down and inspected the now empty campsite. She picked up a rock. "What is this?"

Klaus took the rock without asking for permission as he inspected the symbols. "They are a map, leading to Vanaheim."

"Well, can you read them?" Caroline asked hopefully as she looked around. "They couldn't have gotten far, could they?"

"No, but we also have an advantage," Stefan replied as he peered over the campsite. "They don't expect anyone to be following them so when we do reach them-"

"We will be able to catch them by surprise," Damon said as he looked at Klaus. "That is, if good old Klaus here can actually read the symbols, might have been better if he had brought an extra witch."

Klaus gave Damon a cold smile. "I've been alive for over a thousand years, what kind of fool do you take me for, I do admit my knowing on Norse language is a little bit rusty, but I sure as hell can figure it out much better than you ever will. Just give me a moment."

"Well, while Klaus figures out the readings we need some plan of attack," Caroline said quickly. "We can't just go barging in."

Elena nodded. "Caroline is right, Damon. Katherine has Loki and Thor and Rebekah. And all of us know that Rebekah won't hesitate to kill anyone who stands in her way of her being human again. So do any of you guys have any ideas?"

Damon smirked as he sat in a nearby boulder. "I have an idea, we get them at a disadvantage because they are clearly too stupid to realize that we are trailing after them. Then we get Rebekah out of the way and destroy all her dreams and happiness about become human Barbie, and then while we're in there we push Loki and Thor into the fountain of life so that they become weak and miserable humans and we snap their necks. Then that leave Katherine all defenseless and alone so that we can torture her and eventually kill her."

"You are not going to kill her." Elena protested.

Damon rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on Elena don't tell me you actually feel sorry for the evil puppet master."

"You're not going to kill her, because I am going to be the one to kill Katherine once and for all." Elena said trying to hide her trembling nervousness. "She killed my parents, and she's the reason all my family and friends have suffered because of her. No, I'm going to be the one that ends Katherine Pierce's life for good."

-End of Chapter Twelve-