This is dedicated to my 2 lovely followers! Thank you for taking your time to read my story.

DISCLAIMER:

I don't own The Vampire Diaries or its characters, only my OC Celina.

I was right, this wasn't over.

My next morning had been spent moping around, refusing to join Elena when she headed over to the boarding house. Elena had thought I was just in shock about being kidnapped and the fight that had followed, so I let her believe that. It was easier than explaining that for some reason, even unknown to me, I was pissed off at them for killing Elijah and being okay with it.

But I was also relieved. It was Elijah or the Salvatores, and I cared for the latter like family.

Well, sometimes I did. When they deserved it.

None of that mattered though. Damon, being the good friend he was, texted me all the info my twin didn't want me to know. Basically, the vampire woman who had kidnapped Elena and I – Rose – was staying at the boarding house, and she had a lot to share with them.

Another Original named Klaus, who was apparently far more terrifying than Elijah, would still be looking for Elena and I. He was supposedly the oldest. But Damon reassured me, saying that because Elijah was dead, no one knew we existed. Klaus wanted us to break the curse, but he didn't even know we were alive.

For now, I could relax.

I sighed at all the texts he sent me, and the one I received from Caroline while I'd been sleeping last night, explaining that Tyler had activated his werewolf gene and would turn for the first time on the next full moon.

Good gods, this town was so full of drama, and most of it not the good kind. I wished more than anything that I wasn't a doppelganger, so I wouldn't be right in the middle of it. I wouldn't mind being a vampire though, because then I'd just compel my way to a new home.

I focused back on what Alaric was saying. I loved history, and he was a much better teacher than that dickhead Tanner was. We had a pretty interesting relationship, to say the least. He was dating Aunt Jenna, and I was occasionally his drinking buddy with Damon. I was also one of the only students he didn't mind texting in class. Usually because it had to do with vampire business.

I noticed Elena's absence, and I knew Ric did too. Damon didn't tell me what she was up to, so I assumed she had her own agenda. I inwardly shrugged and focused back on the lesson, not caring in the least what she was up to. If it was dangerous and stupid, that was her own damn fault.

I may be her twin, but I'm not her keeper.

I went back to ignoring everyone by ditching school the next day, deciding to watch American Psycho alone in my room instead. A bit of psychotic Patrick Bateman was always a good distraction from my real life problems. But I had barely started the movie when I heard Elena arguing with the Salvatores about destroying the moonstone, and I'd had enough.

I stormed down the stairs to where they were all standing in the kitchen, and glared at them each slowly.

"If you three don't shut up in the next minute, I'll make sure Bonnie puts a hex on all of you." I threatened them, crossing my arms defiantly. "Destroying the moonstone is a shit idea, and we all know it. We'd have so many vampires and werewolves hunting us down for revenge, not to mention any other Originals. Like, oh I don't know, Klaus for example. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to watch Christian Bale chop up Jared Leto with an ax in peace!"

I turned on the ball of my foot and flounced away, stomping back upstairs crankily. I slammed my bedroom door for good measure, and resumed the movie.

American Psycho turned into the Kill Bill films, and that turned into a horror movie marathon. I opened my window and let the late winter air fill my room, my wooden wind-chime playing a small tune in the background, and I got comfortable by snuggling into my blankets and preparing for all the gore that was to come.

It was around seven in the evening when I got a call from Damon, which I immediately ignored. When he called again not a moment later, I decided to give in. I knew he wouldn't stop until I answered.

"What do you want, Damon?" I sighed. "And it better be good, because I'm about to watch Leatherface get owned."

"Shut up, Snowy, and listen closely." Damon was serious and pissed off. But so was I, because he used his nickname for me that I hated most, which teased my pale hair. "First of all, your harebrained sister went off with Rose today, and ended up telling some of Klaus's contacts that she was giving herself up. Those guys are dead now, but I'll get to that later."

"What the fuck is wrong with her?" I groaned. Even though I planned on sacrificing myself instead of her, at least I was being discreet about it. Rage bubbled up inside me. Elena goddamn fucking knows that telling everyone she plans on sacrificing herself would not only make her look selfless - which it isn't, because everyone will be heartbroken by her death - but will also give her the attention that she can't live without. She'd been popular all her life, and had no idea how to survive without being idolized.

"I know right!" Damon agreed with me? Wow, that was new. "But anyway, Stefan went and got himself stuck in the tomb with Katherine, trying to save your idiot brother. I almost feel bad for him... But all that matters is that we have the moonstone, and we're going to destroy the spell on it whether you like it or not."

"Which is why you're all idiots. Anything else I should know about, so I can verbally abuse you for it later?"

I heard Damon chuckle darkly. "Yes, actually. Elijah's alive, even after I so gloriously killed him. I guess Originals don't like to stay dead, huh? But yeah, when Klaus's contacts came to take Elena, he ripped out a few hearts and disappeared. You and your darling sister are safe for now. Just avoid anyone who looks like Elijah and you should be good."

"Thanks Damon, I'll keep that in mind." I hung up and dropped my phone, the shock hitting me like a freight train.

Elijah was alive? No. He couldn't be. It was impossible! But he was an Original... Maybe normal wooden stakes didn't kill them? So what could? Maybe it was better if I didn't find out...

I shoved a hand through my hair in frustration as a flood of emotions washed over me. Surprise, anger, confusion, fear, joy... Wait a minute? Why was I happy? I flopped back onto my bed and processed which emotions belonged where.

Surprise definitely belonged to Stefan stuck in the tomb – I didn't see that coming, and I'd have to abuse Jeremy for his idiocy later. Anger over Elena openly volunteering to be the sacrifice. She knows everyone cares more for her than me, so she should know that they'd be more upset over her death. The confusion and fear were definitely part of the Original's return to the land of the living. So the joy... Well, that much was obvious now.

I was officially happy that Elijah was alive. I'd been so distressed about the thought of him dead, how couldn't I be glad that he wasn't?

I lined all of my crystals up on my windowsill – clear quartz, black obsidian, lapis lazuli, prehnite, amethyst, moss agate, white howlite, and aventurine – so they could cleanse under the full moon. Bonnie and my sister were discussing moonstone stuff in another room, and I didn't want to get involved.

Elena thought I was silly to still love my crystals and 'magical' items after we found out Bonnie was a real witch with real powers, but I was stubborn and still believed that they too had metaphysical properties. I liked to think that every item had its own individual energy and that some of these items, like the crow skull I had mounted on my wall, had energy in the mystical category.

I did live in a town named Mystic Falls.

That was why people thought I was weird. Elena was the 'normal' one, and therefore the preferred twin. But that was okay, because I wasn't going to pretend for anyone.

But tonight wasn't just about cleansing crystals and performing spells that wouldn't work because I wasn't magic. It was Tyler's first werewolf change, and I was scared for him. I didn't know any of the details, but I couldn't imagine it would be an easy transition from human to wolf.

I sighed when I heard Jeremy join the moonstone conversation. I wasn't eavesdropping, but they weren't exactly being quiet either. My room was right next to Elena's anyway. When I heard Bonnie say she needed a coffee, I decided to head down and make one with her.

"Hey, Bon!" I called, grabbing a mug for myself when I reached the kitchen. "I just wanna say that I actually agree with Elena on this. One of us dying in the sacrifice is better than all of us dying from revenge. Despelling the moonstone really isn't a good idea."

Bonnie sighed as she passed me the coffee pot. "I'm sorry Cell, but I can't risk either of you dying. And Elena is so set on being a martyr too... I couldn't handle it if she died. If you died. I'm sorry."

"Now you know how we feel..." I absently stirred three sugars into my coffee, masking the bitter taste. She didn't know how to answer me after that.

We walked with our mugs back to the stairs, when we saw Elena rushing down them.

"Where are you going?" Bonnie asked curiously.

Elena stopped and flicked her hair. "Um... to see Stefan."

I rolled my eyes. Katherine and I were the only doppelgangers able to lie and get away with it. "You're lying."

"No, I'm not." She looked at me angrily.

Bonnie raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "Really? I can tell by your face."

"Are you serious?" Elena copied Bonnie's expression. Was she really trying to play the innocent act with us?

I saw Jeremy start coming down the stairs. "She took the moonstone." He sang out to us.

"How did you-?"

"We tested you." Bonnie was unimpressed, and even a little disappointed. "You failed."

I giggled to myself and ignored the glare I received from my twin. She sighed, though it came out more like a huff. She looked defeated, and a little more than upset.

"Klaus killed Katherine's entire family just because she crossed him." Elena paused and looked at me pleadingly. I understood exactly how she felt, and nodded to show that for once, I was on her side with this situation. "Celina and I can't let that happen."

Bonnie stepped aside, but I decided not to follow Elena. Good thing too, because when she opened the front door, she couldn't go any further. I turned to Bonnie with wide eyes. She had done the tomb spell on our house? I hoped it was just for Elena, and didn't apply to me as well. I wasn't the one who just stole the moonstone.

Elena turned around in shock. "What did you do?"

"It's for the best, Elena." Bonnie turned to me. "The spell doesn't apply to you. But if you do one thing that shows you also have a death wish, then I can easily include you in it."

I nodded in understanding, glad I was more restrained than my drama queen sister. Elena huffed a few more times, futilely trying to see if she could break through the invisible wall. Sometimes I seriously questioned how many braincells she had.

I had no plans, so I retreated to my room and got dressed for my day of nothing. I didn't exactly have any slouch clothes, so I just put on some black velvet tights and a long-sleeved Iggy Pop shirt.

I piled my hair into a messy bun and grabbed a random book to read. I was a few chapters in when I heard Damon arrive, apparently on babysit Elena duty. I was just about to go down and ask if he wanted to drink with me, because that's always what we did when he was over indefinitely. But just as I stood up, I heard him leave again.

Well, that was quick. I guess he had more important plans, which probably had to do with either the full moon, or the moonstone. Maybe even to do with Stefan stuck in the tomb with Katherine. I rolled my eyes and continued reading, wondering how many more interruptions I was going to receive.

None, apparently.

It wasn't until night had fallen that Elena came knocking on my door. My book was long finished and I hadn't eaten at all, so I happily agreed to go find dinner with her. The keyword is 'find', because neither of us could cook for shit. She made her food taste like dead things, while mine just burnt.

You know that Simpsons episode where Homer makes cereal and it bursts into flames? Yeah, that's me cooking.

We trotted downstairs and turned the corner to see Aunt Jenna searching through boxes in the cupboard beneath the stairs. No room for Harry Potter to live in that mess of boxes and other random shit.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Elena asked nosily. I didn't blame her, because I was curious too.

"Oh, perfect timing." Jenna smiled up at us and gave her a box.

"What is this stuff?" I asked.

Our aunt continued flicking through the papers in another box. "Your mum's files from the historical society. I got roped in to helping Mrs Lockwood." She paused and stood, then made her voice overly cheerful as she closed the cupboard door. "And by roped, I mean I'm very excited to participate."

When the door was fully closed, it revealed Elijah. He was standing there smiling at us. I was startled at seeing him so soon, but kept my emotions in check, smiling back at him with ease. Elena gasped and almost dropped the box she held.

"Hey. I'm Elijah." He said casually, playing the part of a stranger to us in front of Aunt Jenna.

Elena looked terrified, so I hit her arm in warning. I went over and held out my hand for him to shake, but instead he kissed the back of it. Heat spread through my hand and I raised my eyebrows in surprise.

"I'm Celina," I told him casually, not taking my hand out of his and instead waiting to see how long it took for him to let go. "And the mute over there is Elena. Please excuse her rudeness, she's just very nervous around strangers."

Jenna glanced between us confused, but shrugged it off and took the box from Elena's arms. "Elijah's in town doing research on Mystic Falls." She explained.

"It's a pleasure." He told us, smirking at my twin's discomfort when Jenna wasn't looking. He let go of my hand and shook Elena's, though I could see how reluctant she was to touch him. Now it was my turn to smirk. No hand kisses for her.

Jenna called out from down the hall. "You're welcome to stay here and rummage through this stuff." She noticed how uncomfortable Elena seemed and walked over. "Or Celina and I could help you load it into your car." She stood next to me and threw an arm over my shoulder.

"Yeah, or I can get someone to pick it up tomorrow." Elijah suggested instead.

"Heh. Also a good plan."

My aunt and the Original began for the front door.

"Thank you so much for inviting me in, Jenna." He turned and faced us again. "Oh, Celina and Elena... I hope to see you both again sometime soon." I rolled my eyes and smirked. He needed us, so of course he'd say something like that. Elena just looked confused as Elijah turned back to the door. "Thanks for your help, Jenna."

"Anytime."

I had already began my way back to my room, all thoughts of dinner forgotten. Elena came running up frantically, so I followed close behind as she began knocking relentlessly on Jeremy's bedroom door. I stood back and crossed my arms when Elijah appeared.

Elena looked terrified beyond words, and Elijah silently warned her not to expose him to Jeremy. I stifled a giggle at the exchange, and got a strange glance from the Original.

From behind Elena's back I pointed to my bedroom door and mouthed 'We need to talk'. He nodded in understanding, so I slipped inside and waited.

I heard Elena tell Jeremy that Jenna needed help with the boxes, and was glad when he believed the lie. Elijah told Elena he needed to talk to her, and I wondered why he wouldn't include me when they walked into her room, but not mine. I was glad though, because I would be able to hear everything anyway, and my sister couldn't know what I had to say.

I listened in as Elijah explain that his goal wasn't to break the curse. He wanted to use us to draw Klaus out so he could kill him, but he didn't want either of us to go and get ourselves killed in the meantime. He wanted us to stay put and stay safe. So he made a deal with Elena that as long as she just continued on with her life, he'd make sure no harm came to her family or loved ones.

Elena agreed, as long as he did one thing for her – get Stefan out of the tomb. Elijah accepted the deal and pretended to leave the house, but I soon found him in my bedroom, looking around with interest, before stopping his gaze on my shirt. My room, and overall style, was definitely different to Elena's, that was for sure.

He glanced quizzically at the mini-fridge next to one of my bookcases, pulling a bottle of blood out of it. He probably thought I had some psychotic blood fetish.

"When Caroline turned, I put that in there for when she came over." I explained, grinning. A Johnny Cash CD played in the background to cover our conversation, and it would also keep everyone else out, seeing as the rest of my family hated this kind of music. "Go ahead and help yourself."

Elijah put the bottle back. "I assumed you listened in on my talk with Elena?" After I nodded, he continued. "I intend on keeping you safe too, of course. Do you agree to the terms of the deal I made with her?"

"Nope." I replied, mimicking his casual lean against my wall.

He looked taken aback, and a little angry. "No?"

I laughed. "There's no need to make a deal with me. The others can't know this, but I've been on your side since Rose and Trevor kidnapped me, minus the time you were dead."

"And why is that?" He cocked his head to the side in curiosity.

"Don't question my motives, especially when they're in your favor." I went and stood in front of him with my arms crossed. "If I decide to tell you, than I will. But just know, I don't need protecting. I can be inquisitive about certain aspects of the supernatural, but as far as doppelganger business goes, I tend to keep my nose out of it."

"You can't escape being a doppelganger, Celina." He said, looking down at me almost sadly.

I threw my hands up in annoyance. "I get that. But all this shit with the moonstone and Klaus is just so frustrating. If the sacrifice happens, then so be it. One of us will die, but the rest of the world will continue on as usual."

I turned and walked back to my bed, flopping down. I looked over to see Elijah studying me carefully, glancing to my shirt again before looking me straight in the eyes.

"You're quite similar to your sister; you both have the Petrova fire." He observed, and it made me frown. "But you're different too. You're far more independent, and I can see how this situation effects you negatively..."

Elijah was right, and it unnerved me. I continued my level stare, trying to unnerve him right back. I didn't think it would work, but I got points for trying. The Original smiled and nodded once, signaling that he was done. I closed my eyes for a few seconds, and when I opened them, he was gone.

But Elijah was wrong as well. I might've been far too independent for most people's liking, but I craved to have someone I could lean on. Someone who would always be there to support me no matter what. Someone I could finally love.

Okay, this chapter wasn't as long as the first, but I hoped you enjoyed it nonetheless!

There was a little more insight into Celina's personality, and I hope you liked the way she acted around Elijah ;)

Please let me know what you think, whether good or bad, all input is welcome.