So it's the holiday season now and I gift you all with another chapter. Thank you for the feedback, I always love to hear it so please review with any questions or comments and I'll try to get back to you. Thanks again :)
I rolled over and glared at Elijah who at least had the decency to look sorry. I glanced at the clock surprised to see it was around noon. I sat up and looked at him the obvious question written on my face.
"Come on I can show you where Rebekah, Kol, and Finn are now. Klaus is out, hurry up and get changed I'll be outside." Without saying anything else he tuned and walked out of my bedroom. I walked into the bathroom and pulled my hair into a ponytail and didn't feel like changing so I brushed my teeth and walked out of my room.
"I'm sorry I don't dress to impress every moment of the day unlike you Lijah," I said looking over his suit.
"Come on," he said briskly. I rolled my eyes at his coldness and followed him. He walked into the room Nik used to store his art and turned a corner and there were the coffins. There were four of them, the empty one being Elijah's. I opened the one closest to me and saw Finn. Without hesitation I opened the other side and pulled the dagger out of his chest. I closed it up again and moved on to the next one as Elijah did the same to Rebekah. I moved to the coffin I knew was holding Kol and opened the coffin after a moment of hesitation. I smiled seeing my old friend but the smile faded quickly as I took in his shriveled up dead phase I removed his dagger and placed it in his stone hard hand closing the lid slowly and gently.
"I'll see you soon," I said with a tight smile. I turned and saw Elijah leaning against a wall watching me carefully. "What's your plan?" I asked as I pocketed the daggers.
"The Salvatore brother's are joining us for dinner tonight, I'm sure the rest of my family will join us shortly after," he said carefully.
"How much of the rest of your family?"
"If my mother joins us then you are Katherine Pierce, and you will stay out of it."
"Now why would I be Katherine Pierce and who's going to make me?"
"I will," he said looking very confident and taking a step toward me.
"You don't have that kind of hold on me any more. I got over you a long time ago," taking his challenge and taking a step towards him as well. He took a long stride toward me.
"I know you better than anyone. You can't lie to me that easily," then he finished closing the distance between us and kissed me. He was gentle, and reminding me of our history in one small kiss. He pulled away first and I tried to hid my regret. I sighed remembering Edward.
"Elijah, I can't, I just, I can't forgive you right now. I need to put my life back together. I can't." I turned away from him and hurried out of the room. I need my best friend. I almost got back to my room, almost. "What Nik? What is so important that you must bother me?"
"We are having guests over. Would you please join us, I need someone to ease the tension between my dear brother and I?"
"Who?"
"The Salvatore brothers, wear something pretty they'll be over at five." He turned and walked out of the hall and I walked into my room going straight to the closet. I bit my lip when I found nothing that interested me in wearing for a dinner party. I sighed and threw on a pair of jeans, a brown sweater, and knee high boots. I found Nik and stole his credit card and then went into town to look for something decent to wear. I found the cutest dress at the formal wear store. It was black with a really poofy skirt that ended halfway down my thighs. It was tied behind my neck and left most of my back bare.
I moved into their small shoe section and didn't find anything. I did find an empty charm bracelet that I bought along with the dress. I looked around the store again knowing I'd probably be back here soon due to Nik's love of formal occasions. I saw a pretty royal blue dress that reminded me of Jessica from who framed roger rabbit. I ended up walking out of the store with one garment bag and a charm bracelet. But I told the saleslady to remember me. I loaded the bag into Nik's car and sat down myself pausing before taking off. Eventually I did though and soon enough I was pulling into the mansion's driveway. I took the keys out and grabbed my bag then I threw the keys to one of Nik's pointless servers and wandered into the house.
"Go away Nik!" I sighed sensing him at the end of the hallway watching me.
"Well that's not very nice sweet heart."
"No one ever said I was. By the way, I miss cooking so I'm taking over your kitchen tonight."
"Wait you cook?" He asked truly surprised.
"Of course I do, I was a human for twenty years, humans need to eat. I never got over the habit."
"Oh yes I remember, one time your older brother nearly killed your father because he was going to make you marry unwillingly. I was the one to break up the fight. You were closer to me then," he mused. I looked at him trying to read his expression.
"I was, before this mess. But you were my best friend, there may have been that time a century or so after we all turned when we were more. But we are better friends."
"You keep trying to convince yourself that sweetheart," he whispered into my ear. I rolled my eyes at his tempt to seduce me and walked to the end of the hall leaving him in the middle.
"I'm not ready to jump into another relationship yet especially not with the man that's keeping my best friend in a box somewhere. Oh and don't think for a second I can't or won't kill you."
"Sweet heart, you love me too much to get rid of me, and I have all the time in the world. Make something good." I rolled my eyes again and took a trip to the kitchen after a quick stop at my room to drop off the dress. I went straight to the pantry and was glad to see a good selection of pastas I settled with spaghetti and started to make my homemade tomato sauce for dinner.
An hour later I was in the front parlor in my new dress talking to Nik and Elijah.
"What are you two hoping to get out of this meeting might I ask?" I said during a lapse in the conversation trying to sooth the obvious tension.
"My mother, in a coffin that is still sealed shut." Nik answered without hesitation. I looked at Elijah who just remained silent and didn't meet my eyes. The doorbell rang and Elijah rushed off to answer. I sighed loudly.
"Let's get this over with," I said and walked towards the front hallway where Elijah was letting them in the house. I gave them a curt nod and went to the kitchen to have people bring the food in to the dining room. I was just about to follow a tall blonde into the dining room when I remembered the coffins. I ran to check on them and saw Kol's chest move up and down like he was breathing again. Rebekah and Fin twitched their fingers. I gave them an hour before they came in and tried to kill Nik. I smiled thinking about having my best friend back and went to the dining room.
"So my brother tells me you seek an audience? Let's discuss this like civilized men shall we?" I hear Nik say from down the hall.
"It's better to indulge him," I say as I strolled into the room. Very pleased to see all of their eyes follow me.
"Actually I didn't come to eat, I was forced because apparently you'd hear us out." the Salvatore with the hero hair said.
"Well we can sit and eat, or I can reach down your throats and tear out your insides. Choice is yours." Nik said in his threatening British accent. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.
"Well, I can also put a stake in everyone and see who's still making threats," I said looking around daring anyone to challenge me. I moved to the table and everyone followed my lead. Elijah pulled a chair out for me and I accepted it. Then I looked up to see the other Salvatore brother smirking at me. I turned to one of the servers and signaled for them to put the food on the table.
"Quench your appetite," Nik said a few minutes in to Stefan I think, "eat."
"I thought we agreed to leave the grumpy Stefan at home tonight." Damon said. Stefan took a bite and I smiled seeing a hint of surprise on his face.
"I bet you normal food doesn't taste as amazing as this," I said with a smirk.
"Ahh isn't this nice, the five of us dining together? Is this what you had in mind when you pulled the stake out of my brother?" Nik asked ignoring me.
"Well I knew how I felt about you so I figured the more the merrier." Damon said in his sarcastic tone. I rolled my eyes and bit my lip seeing how much like Kol he was, only much more serious.
"Well Elijah and I have had our share of quarrels over the centuries, but we always make it through." Nik answered ignoring his sarcasm.
"Kind of like you and Rebekah, where is she by the way. Last I checked she was still daggered because you were afraid to face her." Stefan said trying to get a rise out of Nik.
"If you're referring to the fact that Rebekah knows I killed our mother. I've already come clean to Elijah."
"Hey Stef remember when you killed Dad, might want to hold on to that judgment until dessert." Damon said carefully.
"We're here to make a deal Damon, doesn't mean we need to kiss his ass for second courses." Stefan pointed out.
"I'm just saying we have a long evening ahead of us, pace yourself." Damon said back.
"Stefan where's the lovely Elena tonight," Elijah asked trying to break the tension.
"I don't know ask Damon," he shot back. Nik started laughing and we looked at him.
"I'm sorry you missed so much," he said trying to pull himself together. "Ahh, trouble in paradise," he said trying to not burst out laughing, he was the only one.
"One more word about Elena and this dinner is over." Stefan said.
"You know what probably best to put Elena in the do not discuss pile." Damon said cutting his brother some slack.
"Probably right," Nik said. "It's just the allure of the Petrova doppelganger, still so strong." I tensed knowing where the conversation was going. "What do you say brother should I tell them about Tatia?" He asked Elijah ignoring my I am going to kill you stares.
"No actually we discus matters long resolved." I calmed down a little.
"Well given their shared affection for both Elena and Katerina, I think our guests must be curious to learn about the originator of the Petrova line." I glared at him trying to keep my face neutral for the guests and kill Nik with one look.
"Well we aren't going anywhere Elijah, please do tell." Damon said.
"When our family first settled here there was a girl named Tatia, she was an exquisite beauty. Every boy of age desired to be her suitor even though she had a child by another man, no one loved her more than Niklaus." I looked at Elijah caught off guard at his lie.
"Well they say there was one who loved her at least as much," Nik said.
"So you both loved the same girl?" Stefan asked.
"Haven't loved anyone as much as her since," I heard Elijah mumble for my ears only. "Our mother was a very powerful witch, she sought to end our feud. So she took her. Niklaus and I later learned that it was her blood that turned us into vampires. Tatia wouldn't make a decision between us so for a time Klaus and I grew estranged. Harsh words were traded we even came to blows, Didn't we brother?" Elijah said not answering Stefan's comment.
"But in the end we recognized the sacred bond of family," Nik added, I rolled my eyes knowing they made up when I finally chose Elijah and Nik became no more than my best friend.
"Family above all," Elijah finished raising his glass for a toast. The doorbell rang and I stood to get it grabbing the chance to leave before the Salvatore brothers realized who I am. I opened the door and froze. At the door stood a pale petite vampire with black pixie cut hair and inhumane beauty, Alice Cullen.