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1864
Elena POV

I sprinted away from the dirt road, trying my hardest not to lose to an eye to the low hanging branches. The forest seemed much wilder than it did in 2010, and I wasn't a fan. I'd barely been running for twenty seconds when I tripped over a protruding tree root and went flying, scraping my knee open in the process. No.

With an open wound, I'd have no chance at outrunning Katherine. Not that I would have been successful anyway, but a small part of me had hoped her fascination at our looks would prevent her killing me when she caught me until I had time to form a plan. This was nowhere near as likely now that my blood was running down my leg.

I lay on the ground, making as little noise as possible, just listening, then drew in breath slowly. Was it possible? The noises of pursuit had…stopped. Why wouldn't Katherine be chasing me? I swung around sharply, my eyes searching the darkness. She could be anywhere. She could be about to jump out at me.

Knowing it was probably a futile attempt, I snapped a sharp twig off a tree that hung low over my head, wincing at the crack! that pierced the silence. I did not intend to go down without a fight. Scrambling to my feet, I backed up against the tree, makeshift stake held high in front of me, and waited. Now, at least I'd have a chance if she attacked.

'But you won't, will you?' asked a little voice in my head. 'You know what happens to Katherine, she escapes from the church and leaves Mystic Falls. She's not going to die now, in this forest.'

I pushed this thought out of my head and continued to wait. Nothing happened. The forest was as silent as a tomb. My breathing slowly began to calm. Maybe she hadn't wanted Damon to see me. Maybe she'd gone back to the town with him and was planning to search for me on her own, later.

The fact that this actually comforted me was so absurd that I stifled a laugh, before venturing away from the tree, caution lacing my every step. I remembered Stefan's words when I'd been stalked by a homicidal vampire.

'We're predators, Elena. We hunt, we stalk, it's often as exciting as the kill.'

That could be what Katherine was doing now, biding her time, wanting to scare me before she fed…fear rose up in my chest again, squeezing my heart and constricting my breathing. I stopped, forced myself to take a deep breath, and was about to carry on when something flew out of the dark straight at my face.

I screamed, sinking into a half crouch down and blindly brandishing my stake, but finding nothing but tree branches. Straightening, my heart pounding hard enough to cause physical pain, I turned around to find a blackbird sitting in the tree behind me. I could see a splotch of bright blood red under its wing, and its amber eyes watched me reproachfully.

Just a bird. But I'd made a whole lot of noise, and now I had to move. The stake still out in front of me, I continued, more carefully this time. I now had the strangest feeling I was being watched, but refused to stop. I had to get out of this forest. Then I could work out what the hell I was going to do.

The feeling of being watched didn't diminish as I progressed, attempting to walk parallel to the road, but a few minutes later the trees began to thin and I recognised, with a sigh of relief, that I must be near Mystic Falls.

I had no idea what I was going to do when I got there, but being in the town had to be better – and safer – than wandering around in forests. Even knowing what I knew abut Mystic Falls in 1864.

I pushed these thoughts away as I finally left the forest, only to stop in my tracks in shock. I'd known the town would look different, but this different? The buildings were so small and far between, and there was so much more green than I was used to.

I was so busy taking in the new surroundings that at first I didn't notice the man a few feet in front of me, staring as if he'd never seen anything like me before.

I quickly lowered the stake, although I didn't drop it completely. I wasn't that comfortable here yet. He didn't look any more at ease.

'Miss Pierce!' he gasped. I started, then realised that of course I would be taken for Katherine. 'Why are you wandering around so late on your own? And what on earth are you wearing?'

I looked down at my jeans and leather jacket. Right. 1864. I was supposed to be wearing a long dress and corset. No wonder he looked so surprised. I opened my mouth, hoping a good excuse would come to me rapidly, but was interrupted by a low voice from behind me, muttering words that I couldn't understand, although I recognised the sound of them. A memory sprung up, unbidden, in my mind. Bonnie and her grandmother chanting, removing the seal on the tomb. Not knowing if I would ever see Stefan – or Damon – again. I shuddered again.

I turned around slowly, and wasn't really surprised to see Emily Bennett standing behind me. I recognised her instantly from pictures Bonnie had shown me. The question was, would she know I wasn't Katherine?

Emily stopped chanting, without looking at me. 'Go home, now,' she said, not unkindly, still facing the man. I turned back to look at him, noticing how his eyes had a blank look. He clearly wasn't going to remember this meeting.

Emily took my arm as he left, spinning me to face her, and looked straight at me, her eyes flashing.

'You aren't Katherine,' she hissed. 'Who are you?'

2010

Damon POV

I hadn't been able to convince Stefan to come with me – he insisted on carrying on with his search of the woods, so I went to the Gilbert house alone, wondering how I was going to talk to John without making Jenna or Jeremy suspicious.

I was in luck. When I arrived at the house, Jenna's car wasn't on the driveway. John answered the door.

'Who is it?' I heard Jeremy calling from upstairs. The kid was taking an interest in something beyond his personal problems. Shocking.

I shook my head slightly at John. He looked suspicious, but beckoned me in, closed the door and yelled 'Just some idiot trying to sell something.'

I tuned out Jeremy's response, heading straight for the kitchen. John followed.

'What's this about, Damon?' he hissed as soon as the door was closed.

I took a deep breath. What I was about to say wasn't going to be fun. In fact, saying it physically repulsed me. But this was for Elena.

'I need your help, John.'

He looked surprised for a second before managing to hide it, his eternal smirk back on his face. He leaned casually back against the kitchen counter, arranging his right arm so that the ring that shone on his finger was in plain view, and simply stared at me.

'And why would I help you, Damon?' he enquired, sounding almost indifferent. 'You killed me once, threatened to do it again, and you still haven't agreed to help me find the invention.'

I ignored this. 'I need to know everything you know about Jonathan Gilbert's pocket watch. If it had another function, besides being a vampire compass.'

'I don't think you understand, Damon,' he said, leaning towards me slightly, his eyes glinting. 'I am not helping you, with anything, unless you bring me that invention.'

I stared at him, wondering if it was possible that someone so evil – not to mention infernally annoying – could care enough about his niece to change his mind to save her? Worth a shot.

'It's not for me, it's for Elena.' I said, watching his eyes. 'She's disappeared, and I have to reason think her disappearance may have something to with the watch.'

It was there. I'd seen the fear flash in his eyes, just for a second, when I mentioned her disappearance. Apparently he did care after all. He stood for a second, clearly deciding what to do, resolve fighting against worry for Elena on his face, then sighed.

'Tell me what happened.'

1864

Elena POV

I stared at Emily, unable to think of any kind of excuse, my mind working frantically to find the words that could save my life. Then, I heard another, familiar voice, approaching us.

'Emily, what's going on? Why are you out here so late?'

I turned around and my heart gave a sudden, painful jump in my chest. A younger looking, human Stefan Salvatore was walking towards us. He stopped short when he saw me.

'Katherine? Why are you dressed like that?' His eyes travelled from my face to Emily's. 'What's going on?'

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