I know I'm a week late. I apologize. Work, school and a bunch of other things were going on. I hope you guys like this chapter. I skipped a couple of episodes because if I didn't, there wouldn't have been a lot of Alex scenes.

So, this chapter will open up to what Isabella means by, "I have my ways" but you see how she really watches Alex in the later chapters.

Clothing on my profile. I love the masquerade dresses. I want both of them so badly. LOL!

Chapter 4

I walked into the lounge of the Salvatore Boarding house and saw Stefan standing over the fire. Gazing deep into the flames. He must have sensed me because when I walked over to the top of the steps, he turned around and looked at me with wet eyes. He was crying. He knew what was going to happen.

The last couple of days haven't been he best. A couple of days after my trip to Duke, Jenna had a barbecue. Mason, Alaric, Damon, Elena, Justin, Caroline, Jenna and I were there. Stefan was supposed to come as well but he didn't show up. I wanted to go but Caroline kept on making me stay. At one point, I had enough and was going to flash my shelf there but Caroline said she would drive me instead. Elena came as well. We were half way there when Caroline's tire blew out and we were waiting for a toe-truck which took hours. When I suggested we walk or use magic, Caroline flipped out on me and told me that my relationship with Stefan was never going to work. She said that he will still be seventeen years old when I'm seventy-two. That set me off. Both Elena and I gave it back to her and then decided to ignore Caroline and walk to the Salvatore house.

We didn't brother knocking when we arrived at the boarding house. We just walked straight threw. Both Elena and I called for him until we heard someone say Elena's name. We both turned around and saw Katherine. Our eyes popped open and our jaws dropped down. Katherine was an exact duplicate of Elena. Same facial features, eyes, smile. The only difference was the hair. Katherine walked up to Elena and examined her. I couldn't move. I was still shocked at what I was seeing. Stefan entered the room a couple seconds later and then Katherine was gone. Stefan told me about why he was gone and saying that Katherine only came back to Mystic Falls for him.

Both Elena and I told him about Caroline and how she was acting funny. We then guessed that Caroline must have been working for Katherine. The only way to figure that out was to test and I went to the Grill and pretended to fight and break up. The whole entire time, Caroline was ease dropping onto our conversation. We were right. Stefan and I were going to pretend to fight only for a little while until we figured out a way to stop Katherine.

The next day was Mystic Falls Historical Society Volunteer Day picnic. Everyone was going to help set up. Caroline apologized to me about what she said to me the day before and I accepted. Damon and Stefan were doing their brotherly bonding the whole day while I hanged out with Caroline and Elena. Sheriff Forbes was there as well helping out. So was Mason. He was mad at Damon because Damon stabbed him with a sliver knife the night before even thought Mason didn't want any harm between them. Mason told the Sheriff that Stefan and Damon were vampires and they tried to kill the both of them in the woods but Elena, Caroline and I went to go save them, Caroline killing two police officers, Sheriff Forbes was kept in the cell in the boarding house basement until the vervain was out of her system so we could compel her to forget everything. Caroline then told Elena and I why she was working for Katherine. She said Katherine threatened her by saying she would hurt Matt if she didn't follow her orders. She apologized for everything and told us she would help us for now on.

Today, we went to the Lockwood's to help set up for the up coming Masquerade Ball. Stefan and I still pretending that we weren't talking to each other. Bonnie came. Bonnie tried to apologize me for what happened at the carnival but I just ignored her. I couldn't listen to her right now. A little while later, Stefan texted me. He said that Bonnie touched Mason by accident and saw Katherine kissing Mason. Obviously, Katherine and Mason were planning something together and they needed the moonstone to do so. Jeremy found out that Tyler gave the moonstone to Mason which ruined our plans. So, Damon being Damon, he decided that Bonnie would knock out Mason and Damon and her take Mason back to the boarding house and interrogate him.

Elena and I later followed Stefan to the old well on the old Lockwood property. Stefan told me that Bonnie thought that the moonstone was down the well. Stefan decided to jump down and grab it. When he did, I could see steam coming from the bottom on the well and then Stefan started screaming in pain. When I called down and asked him what was wrong he screamed vervain. That stupid werewolf contaminated the water with vervain. He must have known we'd find out it was down there one way or the other. I was going to go down there but Elena stopped me saying I would die if I jumped down there. Seconds after, Caroline appeared beside us. We told her what happened and she went to jump down but we told her it was filled with vervain. Bonnie came after and I decided to go down and save Stefan. We found some chains beside the well and used those to lower me down. I got down and grabbed Stefan, who was completely burnt from head to toe, and tided him around the chain and let Caroline carry him back up. I quickly looked for the moonstone before Caroline carried me back up. Caroline and Stefan went back to the boarding house and Elena, Bonnie and I went home.

Elena and I got home and changed before coming downstairs to the kitchen where Alaric and Jenna were getting read for diner. Jenna was on the phone. Jenna then passed the phone to me. When I answered it, Katherine answered back. She was telling me she knew about Stefan coming over this morning and telling me that she was one step a head of me. She then started talking about Jenna and how she got Jenna off the vervain I gave her and how she got Jenna to be her spy the last couple of days. Katherine kept going on about Jenna before I heard Elena scream to Aunt Jenna to stop. I turned around and saw Aunt Jenna stab herself in the stomach. I dropped the phone and Alaric, Elena and I were by her side in seconds. We took her to the hospital where the doctor said that she would be ok and make a good recovery but I knew all of this was my fault. We tried to fool Katherine but…she made her point. You can't fool her.

I knew what had to be done.

"I'm so sorry" Stefan said as he shook his head.

I started walking down the steps of the stairs. "We shouldn't have doubted her," I said. "Thinking we could fool her"

"I know"

"Stefan, this is our fault," I said as I walked up to him. "Jenna is in the hospital for a serious injury and who knows, Elena, Jeremy, Justin, Max…even my parents could be next. She will go after them, too. This is only because…we're together"

"I know what you're going to say to me"

I stared at him with tears in my eyes. "I love you, Stefan. You know that…but…I can't risk anyone else in my life getting hurt" I walked up to him and stood right in front of him. "We're…over…we have to be"

"No, Alex-" Stefan said as he mumbled and tears flowing from his eyes.

"Stefan, Stefan look at me," I grabbed him face. He opened his wet eyes and looked at me straight in the eye. "We're done" I gave him one last and final kiss. I couldn't look at him anymore. I would soon burst out into tears. I quickly let go of his face and ran out of the living room. I ran down the hall and made it to the door and tugged on the handle before I heard, "Alex,"

I turned around and saw Damon. His eyes filled with tears. "I relied Katherine up," he said as he walked up the steps. "I wasn't thinking. I didn't think-"

I interrupted. "Don't Damon because it wouldn't have changed anything," I said threw the sobs. "Either way…Katherine won at her own game" I opened the door and closed it behind me before taking my wand out of my boot and flashing home.

XXXXX

Two days later, Elena, Jeremy, Matt, Justin and I went to bring Jenna home from the hospital. Jenna had to take a couple days off but she would recover. Matt helped carry Jenna inside while Elena held onto the 'Get Well' flowers and I brought in dinner that Matt brought to us from work. Matt set Jenna on the couch and talked to her while Elena and I prepared for dinner.

Justin and Jeremy walked into the kitchen and stood across from us. "So, what are we going to do?"

"Make lunch" Elena said.

"No, about Katherine"

"Jeremy," I said. "For the last time, we're not doing anything"

"She tried to kill Jenna. We can't let her get away with that"

"Alex," Justin said. "I have to agree. She went too far with almost killing Jenna. We can't give her the satisfaction that she can do it again with us sitting around doing nothing about it"

"Guys! I know what I'm doing. If we just keep on doing what we're doing, I can keep each and everyone of us safe"

"And what if she tries something else?" Jeremy asked.

"Trust me, she won't. Jenna is only in this way because I didn't believe Katherine would do anything if I didn't follow her orders. Now, I've listen. I've gotten her point. Quit things with Stefan and everyone can go onto their happy, normal lives"

"Alex," Justin said. "Your being naïve"

Jeremy walked over to the dining room table and picked up his jacket. "Where are you going?" Elena asked him

"Out" he said to us.

"I'll come with you" Justin said as he grabbed his jacket and followed Jeremy out the back door"

I stood upstairs over the railings, at the Salvatore Boarding house, watching the Scooby Crew cook up their plan. Everyone was there. Except Elena and Alex. Damon, Stefan, Caroline, Bonnie, Jeremy, Alaric and Justin stood around in a circle discussing their plan on killing Katherine. It was so cute how they thought they could kill Katherine so easily.

"But no on gets hurt" Bonnie said in a worried tone.

"Except Katherine," Damon said. "Tonight Katherine gets a stake though her heart" he said with a smirk.

"Ooo," I said. They all immediately looked up in shock and saw me sitting on the railing with my feed dangling in front. "Can I join"

I then immediately stood amongst them standing between Alaric and Bonnie. Jeremy stood beside a chair and Justin stood next to him. Caroline stood next to Alaric and Stefan and Damon stood across from me. I had my right hand on my hip and examined the room with a smile.

I looked over at Justin whose jaw was dropped and eyes wide. I gave him a smile and walked over to him. "So," I said. "You're the sexy old brother I've heard about"

My figure was a few inches away from his face before Stefan spoke up. "What do you want, Isabella" I stopped moving my arm, brought it down and turned to Stefan and Damon.

I smiled. "It's cute you all think you can kill Katherine," I said looking at everybody in the room before turning back to Stefan. "Let me know when you return to the real world"

"Oh we will kill Katherine," Damon said. I turned my head to him. "And after we're done with her, you're next"

I laughed. "Riiiight, and who kicked your ass a couple nights ago? Oh and don't forget, I'm immune to witch magic so, I'd like to see you try to kill me," Damon's smirk disappeared. "And I'm going to love watching Katherine rip you all to shreds"

"Why don't you join us," Stefan said. "After all, your bragging to all of us that you're strong and smarter then us and we all know you don't like Katherine"

I smiled. "I despised Katherine but if I were you, I'd stay back"

"And why should we listen to you?" Damon asked.

"Because I've been watching Katherine for years. I know how she thinks; I know how she feels...I could even tell you her game play for tonight"

"Then why don't you?" Jeremy asked.

I turned around and glared at him. "Because if I did, it would take the fun out of watching you all being squashed like bugs," Jeremy glared at me. I gave him a smirk before turning back to the brothers. "Well, I must skedaddle. See ya'll at the masquerade ball tonight. What color do you think will suite me? Pink; Blue…Ooo, how about white?"

Both brothers glared at me before I turned around a walked out of the boarding house.

XXXXX

I walked, with a glass of red wine, down the back steps in the backyard of the Lockwood mansion where the dance floor of the party was. I saw Damon standing at the top of the stars watching Katherine and Stefan dance together. I walked up to Damon and stopped. "Dance with me"

Damon turned around quickly and saw me. He glared at me before answering me. "I'd rather drink a whole jar of vervain"

I glared at him then stood beside him watching Katherine and Stefan. "It kills you doesn't it?" I asked. "Watching the woman you've been searching for over a century dancing with her true love, you're brother. You're brother must have some sort of spell on him because every woman can't stand to fall in love with him"

"Like you?" he asked still staring at Stefan and Katherine.

"I told you before, I never felt that way towards him"

"Really? That's funny, if I recall, from what I saw you two we're acting like Romeo and Juliet. Sneaking off in the dead of night to see each other, always spending your days together in the garden-" "Enough! Listen, you want the truth? I did have slight feelings for your brother but I never loved him. I had my own Romeo back in Florence"

"What was his name?"

"None of your business" Right after I said that, we heard the spine of the girl Katherine was holding onto crack once and then a second time. She then pushed the girl into Stefan's arms and walked off. "Ooo," I said. "Looks like your brother pissed off Kat. Good luck" I walked away taking a ship of my wine.

It was getting late; everyone was at the masquerade ball except Alaric, Jenna, Elena and I. Elena and I were cleaning up in the kitchen while Alaric and Jenna were in the living room watching T.V.

"I can't believe everyone went to the ball," I said. "I'm surprised that Justin even went"

"Then why don't you go?" Elena asked.

"I would but Jenna-"

"It's ok. I don't think Jenna needs three people looking after her. You go and I'll help take care of Jenna"

I smiled and gave her a hug. I pulled into the hallway and pulled my wand out and flashed an outfit on. I examined myself in the mirror before turning to Elena. Elena's jaw dropped open. "Wow, you look amazing"

"Thanks," I walked up to Elena and placed my wand in her hand. "Incase something happens, use my wand," Elena nodded with a smile. "K, can you just…flash me there"

"Ok…how do I do that?"

"Just say, 'Bipity Bopity Boo, Alex"

Elena quickly nodded, closed her eyes. "Bipity Bopity Boo, Alex"

I suddenly appeared in front of the Lockwood mansion in the parking lot. I walked into the mansion and tried looking for people. I walked to the back where the dance floor was and saw Jeremy sitting at a table with Bonnie. I walked down the steps and walked up to them. "Hey guys," I said. They stopped talking and started at me. "How's the party so far? Where is everyone?"

Jeremy and Bonnie started at me before Jeremy leaned into Bonnie. "Damon said she was here" he said before sitting back straight.

"You shouldn't be here" Bonnie said sternly.

"Why not?" I asked. "It is a party"

"I don't want to hurt you"

"Why would you hurt me? Bonnie what's going on?"

Jeremy's phone buzzed. He took his phone out of his pocket and looked at the screen. He showed Bonnie and she responded with a nod. Jeremy gave me one last glare before getting up and walking away. Bonnie looked at me before getting off and walking away. What was with them?

XXXXX

I saw Jeremy talking on the patio with Elena…wait…Elena was at home…Oh my god, it was Katherine. Why was he talking to Katherine? I watched him say something to Katherine. She said something back before backing away and walking off. Jeremy turned around and took out his cell phone. I followed him into the bushes before he was pulled into them by someone. I quickly rushed over to him to see if he was ok but when I got around the corner, Elena was there. Jeremy quickly looked at me when he saw me pop from behind.

"Elena?" I asked. He turned around and looked at me. "What's going on?"

"No, Elena," Jeremy said. "Don't, it's Isabella"

"No it's not, Jer," Elena said. "I saw her change into that dress and I sent her here"

"Wait," I said. "Isabella's here?"

"Yeah, Damon said he saw her"

"Oh my god" I took a seat on the bench beside us. After a couple of seconds of thinking I looked back up at him. "And everyone is part of this…Katherine slaying? Bonnie, Caroline, Alaric…Justin?" Jeremy nodded.

Right after we nodded we heard somebody called out. "Jeremy!" We all turned and saw Justin walk up to us with Bonnie. When Justin saw me his eyes opened wide. "Alex? What are you doing here?"

"How do you know its me?"

"Alex, you're my sister. I've lived with you for long enough that I can tell the difference between you and Isabella"

I gave him a small smile. I looked over at Bonnie and then stood up. "Why are you guys trying to kill her?" I asked all of them.

"Especially here" Elena said.

"We saw an opportunity," Jeremy said. "And we knew we had to take it"

"We?" I asked. "Why are you all trying to kill yourselves? I told you! Just drop it!"

"We know what we're doing guys" Bonnie said.

"And you if you guys get hurt, how am I supposed to forgive myself?"

"It's not just you anymore, Alex. She's messed with all of us, she has to be stopped"

"No, no more! If anyone should get hurt, it should be-" Elena then started screaming in pain. I quickly turned around and saw Elena holding onto her back. We all rushed over to her and went to see what was wrong. I looked at her back and saw it starting to bleed. "What the-" I said.

"Elena!" Jeremy said. "What's wrong" I looked back at Elena and then saw her arm starting to bleed. Elena screamed again. "What's going on?" Jeremy asked.

"Guys!" Bonnie said. "It's Katherine"

"What?" I asked. "She's linked to Katherine, get them to stop! All of you! I'll stay here with her! Go! Now!"

Jeremy, Justin and I quickly got up and ran upstairs as fast as we could. When we got upstairs, I followed Justin and Jeremy to a study where I saw Stefan holding onto Katherine by the neck on the ground and Damon going in for the kill with a stake. "Stop!" Both Jeremy and Justin screamed at the same time.

"You're hurting Elena" Jeremy said.

"Katherine has a spell on Elena," Justin said. "Whatever you're doing to Katherine, it's hurting Elena as well"

Damon stopped looking at Katherine and turned to us. His eyes popped wide open when he saw me. I saw Katherine quick get up and stand in front of Damon. "You think you two are the only ones with a witch on your side?" Katherine asked. "Wrong and something tells me that my witch is better than your witch" She took the stake from Damon's hand and walked away.

"Jeremy," Stefan said as he pointed to him. "Go check on Elena. Make she she's ok. Go!"

"Let's all make sure poor Elena's ok," Katherine said. "Just as little bit more pressure" Katherine held her palm out and when to stab it with the stake. I shot my hand up and the stake flew across the room. All the vampire's heads popped up and looked at me. "Oh, and I forgot, you also have a couple of armature wizards"

"Born wizards" Justin said sternly. Katherine gave him a smile.

"Alex," Stefan said. "Is that you?"

"Of coarse it's her" Damon said. I crossed my arms over my chest.

I shook my head. "I can't believe you guys didn't tell me about this" I said.

"If we did," Damon said. "You'd never let us do it"

I gestured over to Katherine. "That's why. You're already two minutes into your plan and somebody gets hurt" I leaned against the wall and sank down to the bottom. Justin did the same on the wall across from. "Do you know a spell to get them out of there?" I asked him.

"It's a witch spell," he said. "If we tried anything, we'd…probity set the spell to 'unbreakable'" I slowly nodded and looked at Stefan. He looked at me back.

I eased dropped on Alex, Justin, Damon, Stefan and Katherine's conversation. I was leaning against one of the closed doors across from where Alex and Justin were standing. They were all trying to figure out why Katherine wanted the moonstone. "You bargained the moonstone" Stefan said.

'Bingo' I said in my head.

"What are you mumbling about over there?" Damon asked.

"When you struck a deal with George Lockwood, to help you fake your death, you told me that you gave George something he needed. It was the moonstone, wasn't it?"

"Good for you, Stefan," Katherine said. "2+2…and it would have worked except that people found out that I wasn't in the tomb, thanks to you by the way. Have I mentioned how inconvenient your little obsession with me has been?"

"You and me both, honey" Damon said.

"Why do you need it back?" Stefan asked.

"I love you in a suit, so dashing" Katherine said.

"What were you doing with it in the first place?"

"You're wasting your breath, Stefan" Damon said.

"Unless…it wasn't yours to begin with. In 1864 you faked your death. Who were you running from, Katherine?"

"Yes, Katherine," I said as I walked around the door and stepped into the room. "Who were you running from?"

Katherine glared at me. Justin, Damon and Stefan just looked at me while Alex's eyes popped open and mouth dropped. I smiled while having one arm across my waist and my elbow learning on the arm. Katherine kept glaring at me before she looked down at my feet and smiled. "Wow, you're a complete idiot," she said. "You stepped into the room you're trapped"

I smiled and took one step back out of the room. Everyone was shocked. I then stepped into the room and walked up to Katherine. "I'm more powerful then you think," I said. "I'm more powerful then you…and you are 500 years old. I'm a wizard. A vampire wizards. You do not want to mess with me" Katherine's smile faded away.

I quickly grabbed the stake from Katherine's hand and made a good clean cut across my hand. I grabbed Katherine's arm and held it with my cut hand. I then started chanting the spell. I was concentration on the spell when Katherine started screaming. I looked and saw her arm smoking. After I finished the spell, I let go of Katherine's arm and she fell to the couch, showing the burnt figure on her arm. I looked at my hand and saw the cut heal quickly.

"You've been marked," I said. "No matter where you go, no matter where you hide…We will find you. Don't think we won't"

"We?" she asked.

I ignored her question and turned around and started walking towards the door where Alex and Justin were. "Stay away from her" Stefan said as he grabbed my arm and stopped me.

I looked at his hand on my arm then looked up at him and glared at him. "Did you not just see what I did to her?" I asked as I pointed my index finger at Katherine still lying on the couch.

"We won't let you touch her"

"Oh," I smiled and raised my hand pointing it at Alex. Alex started screaming at the top of her lungs and she fell to the ground.

"Alex!" Justin when down immediately and tried comforting his sister.

"Bring it on," I said. "Provoke me. Provoke me so far that I blow Alex into millions of pieces. Man…that's going to be a hard mess to clean up" he didn't say anything and kept looking between me and Alex. "You don't care? Fine" I closed my hand a little bit. Stefan quickly stopped me and took my arm down. I smiled.

I turned and walked over to the door. By the time I reached the door, Justin was already helping Alex up. Alex looked at me and started backing away. "Ho-How?" She asked. "How…how is this possible?"

I smiled. "You'll soon figure out" I said. I walked pass her and put my mask on before walking downstairs to the party.

Katherine's witch, Lucy, came by and told Katherine that she got the moonstone and that the spell in the room had been broken. When Katherine went to go accept the moonstone, Lucy told her that her debt had been paid and Katherine couldn't ask her for anything else. Katherine agreed and Lucy gave her the moonstone. Right after Lucy gave it to her, Katherine started gasping for air. Lucy was mad that Katherine didn't tell her about Bonnie. I didn't understand why. Lucy apologized to us about being involved and left. Stefan and Damon decided to place Katherine in the tomb. Bonnie was going to perform a spell on it later.

I went to take a breather outside. Stefan found me and thought that things when back to normal. I had to tell him that we still needed our distance. I still felt bad for what happened to Elena. She was fine but I couldn't let anyone else I love get hurt.

I went to find Elena after and we started walking down the drive way. "You ok?" Elena asked.

"Uh…yeah…it was just…a crazy tonight" I said.

"I feel ya. After I saw Katherine for the first time, I was a little scared too"

"Are you ok? Any pain?"

"No, I fell like nothing happened" She laughed and I did as well.

"How did you get here?" I asked.

"I told Alaric what happened and showed him how to send me here"

"So…I guess we're walking?"

"Yeah, Jeremy said he was driving Bonnie home. That's ok, we can have a fun, long, girl chat on the way home"

We both laughed before we heard some footsteps behind us. We both turned around and saw some guy in a mask walk up to Elena and cover her mouth and grabbed her. "Hey!" I screamed. "Get off her!" I jumped on him before I felt a pain down my lower back. I screamed in pain before I fell off the guy and saw a hand reach before me before it went black.

Hope you guys liked it

Question time! So, who do you think 'We' is? Who do you think Isabellas working with? What do you think she'll do now that Katherine is in the tomb? What about Alex? What do you think is going to happen to her? Do you think she's going to go with Elena or be taken somewhere else? Let me know in the reviews.

I found some manips that a related to the story. I post them on my profile

Review if you liked it!