AN: So I am getting really excited now with this story and the direction it's going in. Thank you to those of you who followed/ faved this story from the last chapter, your ongoing support means the world to me and if you have any suggestions, ideas, likes, dislikes about any of the story please feel free to review or even to PM if you don't want anyone else to see. Thank you so much to MissKymm who reviewed the last chapter and gave me some amazing ideas. There is nothing more annoying than when you follow a story whether fanfic or otherwise and your loving it and suddenly one chapter changes your mind about it completely….so let me know please people!
Mystic Falls
1864
Kara Liliana Stefanie Salvatore had been named after three people. Kara's grandparents on her mother's side hailed from a small village in Ireland and so her first name was derived from the old word in Gaelic, chara, which meant friend. Her mother had said that that is what she wanted to be to her, both her mother and her friend. It saddened her sometimes that she knew that she would never get the chance but it warmed her heart to think that she had planned to. Her middle name, Liliana was given to her at birth by her father. It had been his favourite aunt's name and he had declared that she may not always hold the name Salvatore but she will still hold her Italian roots somewhere in her name. Stefanie had come about the day of her confirmation, a roman -catholic tradition and being part Italian part Irish there was no way she would have been allowed to not have one. She was eleven at the time and had been all set to take the name Juliet after her favourite Shakespeare play when she had had a massive argument with her older brother Stefan. It was over something silly, stupid even. Stefan had received a beautiful chess set that year for his birthday and absolutely adored it. One day when Kara had been playing with it a piece had gone missing, the white rook and though she searched everywhere she couldn't find it. She eventually told the truth, to both her father and her brother and although Giuseppe was disappointed he was grateful for her honesty and did not punish her and even promised Stefan he would contact the craftsman who made the set in the first place in order to replace the piece. Stefan had been so angry with her he didn't talk to her for days. It was a childish thing to do and even he would admit it now but at the time he had been so angry.
Her confirmation was set to take place the following Sunday and even though he begged and pleaded not to Stefan was forced to go. It was only when she was up on the pulpit did she confirm her name that she was taking to be Stefanie. The Bishop had not been too happy and urged her to take a name of a saint which was more well- known but she refused and sat back in her seat with a small smile on her face for the rest of the service. Stefan couldn't stay angry with her after that and Damon, although insisting the whole time that Dana or Mona, coinciding with his name would have been better choices did admit that he was proud for what she did.
Now she sighed as she stared at herself in the full length mirror of her room. Despite the names she felt like she did not resemble any of her family. Her mother had been of average height, beautiful, blonde, slim but healthily and always had bright eyes, rosy cheeks and pinched lips. Dresses always looked like she wore them, not them wearing her. Looking back to herself in the mirror she went to tie the sash on her pale green dress worryingly noting that she must have lost more weight since the last time she wore this.
Kara, up to the age of eight was all set to mimic her mother in appearance but the disease she had had. The influenza had severely damaged her heart and lungs and made any cold or sniffle she could get almost life threatening to her. She seemed to always have very pale skin, especially on her face and dark circles rimming her eyes. It wasn't often that her cheeks were rosy and on the very rare occasion that they were she had her father and brothers checking her every two minutes for a fever. She was short, but carried it well as she was slim and small boned. At sixteen she reached roughly 5'1", 5'2.5" with her highest shoes on and that was barely reaching just under her brothers shoulders. Her hair was most likely the only thing she liked about herself. Long, blonde, shiny most of the time and styled the way she wanted it. She felt like at least that was something she could control about herself. She turned to the side and studied herself. She had already been corseted by her maid which she was delighted to see made her cleavage area stand out a bit more than it naturally did.
She had been instructed by her father to dress up tonight. It was very rare that she got to do that as she was never really allowed to go to any of the balls or parties that the neighbours held. Giuseppe would get very over-protective and insist that all of the ballroom dancing could not be good for her heart. He said tonight that he had a surprise and when she had seen Stefan giddily make his way upstairs to change for dinner she put together that he must already know what it was. It was strange to dress up in finery and put on a smile when Damon was out there somewhere fighting for a war. Fighting for his life and for the freedom of those who needed it. She and Damon were close, yes she adored Stefan and had the best of times with him but he seemed to take after their father in the view that she was some frail, sickly little girl. They hid things from her, sugar coated facts and dangers until they hardly resembled the truth that caused them in the first place. She knew they were only doing it to protect her and she knew she was sickly and frail, but if she was to die at a young age. From her heart stopping or her lungs failing or even if it was something completely unrelated like getting hit by a carriage then she wanted to live her life to the fullest now. Something that was impossible with her two personal bodyguards hindering her every outdoor movement. Damon acted differently towards her. She assumed it was the fact they he was older than Stefan when she became ill and had been used to treating her a certain way before her illness and now it would be foreign to treat her like she was to collapse at any given moment but sometimes, by the way he looked at her she thought he knew. Knew of her desires to be free of restraints and watchful eyes. He gave her that semblance of freedom. He would take her to the market and abandon her for an hour feigning an excuse about making a business deal or flirting with a barmaid. Both facts may have been true but she knew that neither would have taken an hour to do so and she was not needed to accompany him to complete either of them. She would sometimes just sit on a bench at the edge of the market and watch people move back and forth going about their own daily routine oblivious to the woes or elations of those walking a few feet beside them. Other times she would just browse the market stalls and roam in and out of the small local shops.
She was interrupted from her thoughts by a small knock on her door.
"Excuse me miss" the voice of her maid Sally spoke, the same maid who had laced up her corset earlier. She was one of the newest staff to the house, only arriving when Alice had left for "Family troubles". It was a common fact although kept hushed among the locals of the town that a year or so after Georgianna had died Giuseppe took up a tactless and scandalous affair with the maid named Alice, one of the maids had taken care of Kara while she was sick. A few months later it was discovered that she was pregnant with Giuseppe's child. It was haphazardly covered up. Kara herself did not know at the time but she had barely been ten. She was dismissed from the house but Giuseppe had set up a small cottage in a village a few towns over and would often go to visit his mistress and their son. Kara did not know her half-brother's name nor did she dare to ask. Most of the information she received from Damon who told her everything anyway without restraint. Stefan seemed a bit more closed off on the issue and always tried to deny in his head that the affair ever really happened.
"Yes, come in" Kara responded her voice slightly hoarse from lack of use.
The door creaked open revealing the slightly round brunette maid.
"Sorry to disturb you miss but your father is requesting to see you and master Stefan in his office before you go in for dinner".
Kara paused mid-way putting in her left earring and turned to her maid.
"Did he say why?" she asked mentally asking herself when she had last received a letter from Damon and fearing the worst when she realised it was over a week ago.
Sally shook her head.
"No miss only that it was about the surprise".
She relaxed a little deciding that her father would not entitle a conversation containing bad news as a "surprise", he was not that unfeeling.
"Thank you Sally, I'll just be a moment"
"Very good Miss" she said bowing her head slightly whilst leaving the room, presumably Kara thought to deliver the order to Stefan.
It took Kara a few more minutes to compose herself, to put on her second earing and to place the necklace that used to belong to her mother around her neck. It was a small token, gold with a small sapphire stone at the centre but she adored it. Looking back at herself in the mirror she could see that the object looked heavy on her chest, looked large on her skinny frame. She sighed as she tugged at a blonde ringlet making it sit behind her ear more neatly than it had been.
Knowing this was probably as good as she was going to look she left towards her father's office.
The house was unusual bustling with the servants running around all around as if setting up for something. Making her way down the stairs she spotted a few suitcases and trunks by the front door and froze trying to think who may be here. She knew it wasn't Damon; he wouldn't have as much luggage. Harry, one of the new footman appeared out of the dining hall with a large smile on his face. He went to take one of the suitcases Kara presumed to one of the guest rooms, he nodded and smiled further at Kara when he saw her and went to walk passed her up the stairs.
"Harry" she said stopping him with a hand on his arm "Who is it that's here?"
He wasn't much older than Damon; his uncle had been the butler who had died of the influenza when Kara had been a child. He had worked in the stabled as a boy and had worked his way up to the position he was in now.
"A lady Miss Kara" he said as he spoke "She's very beautiful, she's in the dining room right now" he said indicating to the double doors on the far side to which he had just returned from.
Kara nodded confused and dismissed him with the same nod of her head. It was strange to hear Harry, a devoted member of the household staff from a very you age speak so opening about his opinions of a guest of the house. She shrugged it off; it wasn't for her to caution someone on a slight slip of the tongue when the rest of their work had always been so terribly proper. As she made her way to her father's study she could hear two voices in a hushed whisper speaking feverously about something. It was not common for Stefan and their father to argue, they always got on so impeccable well. Most of the time Kara thought that this was because they shared the same views and ideals. But they were father and son and some arguments were bound to happen. She stood close to the door and when she could hear a delay in one of their responses she knocked.
"Enter" she could hear the disgruntled voice of her father say and she did.
Stefan stood at the corner of Giuseppe's desk looking slightly more imperfect than usual whilst Giuseppe sat in the chair behind the desk looking all but relaxed.
"I'm sorry Father" Kara began "Shall I come back?" she said looking between the two men.
"Not at all Kara" he said with an instant smile on his face "Please come in".
He stood and made it to his daughter just as she closed the door.
"You look beautiful my darling" he said giving her a quick kiss on the forehead. She knew she didn't but she was grateful that her father had the good manners to lie to her like this. She faked a smile, one that her father could never ever see through.
"Thank you father".
"Take a seat" he said directing her to an empty chair in front of his desk while Stefan automatically pulled it out for her.
"Won't you sit Stefan?" she asked trying to get her older brother to forget whatever he and Giuseppe had been arguing about before.
Stefan nodded and sat on the sofa by the window a few feet away from the desk. Giuseppe sighed but continued.
"Well Stefan already knows this but when I was out today in Hatford conducting business.."
'Meeting with Alice' Kara thought in her head.
"…I happened upon a young lady in terrible strife"
This got Kara's attention and she looked up from her hands which she had become increasingly interested in when Giuseppe had mentioned his mistress's village.
"She was at the same train station as I when I was returning home and she told me that her family, all of them had died tragically in a terrible fire a few weeks ago and now she had nowhere to live"
"How terrible" Kara spoke shielding her mouth with her hand in shock.
"Quite" Giuseppe agreed "So I decided to invite her and her maid to stay with us, until she gets herself organised that is".
"Despite everything" Stefan spoke "I think that that is a wonderful idea".
Stefan stopped and his eyes got glassy and dreamy.
"She's a wonderful girl" he smiled to himself seemingly unaware that anyone else in the room could hear.
Giuseppe turned to him and looked stern again.
"Yes she is, and the last thing she needs right now is to be pursued by a man who is already engaged to be married".
"I'll break off my engagement with Rosalyn" Stefan pleaded and Kara's eyes went wide with shock.
"You would break off your engagement with Rosalyn to pursue a woman you met an hour ago?" Kara asked.
"Oh Kara you haven't met her yet have you? When you do you'll understand".
"That's enough of this talk" Giuseppe spoke standing up again "You will not break off your engagement with Rosalyn Cartwright, you will not disgrace this family with any more scandal".
"Me disgrace the family?" Stefan yelled irked at the pure irony of his father's statement. That sentence seemed to sober his father up at what he was saying and the truth behind it. He calmed his demeanour somewhat before speaking again.
"Stefan you have known Rosalyn all of your life, you were friends before you began courting. Just think about it before you make any rash decisions alright? That's all I ask"
Stefan nodded still looking unhappy with the decision.
"Very well father"
Giuseppe then turned his attention to his youngest child.
"Kara I feel I should warn you that, despite this lady's beauty and clearly noble upbringing she is very outspoken. I felt I should warn you before you meet her, do not look at her as an example to imitate"
"Yes father" Kara smiled somewhat but was extremely curious to meet the woman who seemed to have bewitched both her father and her brother.
Their father stood.
"Very good, then shall we?" he said opening the door chivalrously for his daughter. Kara emerged into the hallway first but waited for Stefan to take the lead towards the dining room which he enthusiastically did.
When the double doors opened Kara could see passed Stefan a few of their servants setting a few things on the table and a siluette shading some of the light from the window from entering the room.
She could already tell from the door that it was a woman.
"Ah Miss Pierce" Stefan spoke rushing over to her when he saw her "I trust you found your room well equipped for your needs"
The woman, the Miss Pierce turned from the window to look up at Stefan with her big almond eyes. She was beautiful Kara noted. She had tanned skin, long brown hair and a dress that hugged parts of her the way it should.
"Yes Mr Salvatore" she said a smile turning her lips up while she said his name as she was receiving some type of pleasure while saying it "Your family has been so kind as to let me stay here, your house is so beautiful" She gazed wistfully around her seemingly taking in every inch of décor of the room before her eyes fell on Kara who was standing with Giuseppe at the door. She cleared her throat and looked from Kara back to Stefan. Stefan followed her gaze to behind him where he also spied his sister.
"Oh forgive me, where are my manners" he spoke opening his arms wide indicating for Kara to come forward. She complied and stood next to her brother feeling more and more inadequate by the second.
"This is my little sister, Miss Kara Salvatore. Kara this is Miss Katherine Pierce"
"It's a pleasure to meet you Kara" Katherine said taking Kara's hand in her two gloved ones. She smiled sweetly but Kara noticed that it did not quite reach her eyes.
"And you" Kara smiled back.
"Shall we take a seat?" Giuseppe asked spying the lavishly dressed table all set with flowers and candles.
They all gathered around the table, Stefan hovering by the seat next to Katherine's chosen chair. He pulled it out for her eliciting a flirty smile from the house guest. Kara sat down in the seat her father had pulled out for her, directly in front of Katherine. Kara watched the older girl's mannerisms noting that she did not look at all awkward in this foreign situation. The air of confidence she emitted was somewhat intriguing to her.
"So Katherine" Giuseppe started up "Where are you from?" he asked taking a sip of his newly poured wine as he waiting for her to answer.
For some reason, Kara noted she looked a little unsure of what to say.
"I'm from a lot of different places actually" she replied she too taking a sip of the red wine on the table.
"Where were you born then?" he asked.
"New York" she replied falsely shifting her gaze down to her meal.
"Oh how lovely, I spent some time there in my youth. Do you have family there?"
"Not anymore" she said hopelessly wanting to conclude the conversation about her.
"I am so very sorry about your family Katherine" Kara spoke finally "It is very brave of you, putting on a front like this but know that we will not judge you if you choose to be upset over the matter".
"Thank you" Katherine said gazing at the female Salvatore with tears in her eyes that she had conjured up for the performance "I just don't wish to think about it at present, it is still too raw for me to even comprehend".
Kara reached for her hand over the table to comfort her and Katherine all but jerked it away.
"I understand".
"So" Katherine spoke wiping away her faked tears with her napkin "What is it you do for fun around here?"
She had directed her question to Kara but Kara had diverted it to Stefan with one glance.
"I wouldn't know" Kara spoke "I'm not allowed to have much fun around here".
Katherine went to question this further before Stefan answered.
"Well there are a lot of balls and partied, especially this time of year. One of the founding families, the Lockwood's is having a founder's ball this year. If you want to…"
Giuseppe cut him off right there.
"That reminds me" he said moving to reach into the inside pocket of his dinner coat "I received a letter from Damon today".
"Is he well?" Kara asked suddenly worried again.
"Yes Kara he's quite well" Giuseppe responding with a small smile.
"Who is Damon?" Katherine asked looking both bewildered and interested.
"Our oldest brother" Kara replied "He is away fighting in the war presently".
Katherine nodded taking in the information.
"He is to return" Giuseppe spoke "In one week"
"He has acquired leave?" Stefan asked also looking genuinely excited.
"He has, for two weeks. He and George Lockwood are to return to celebrate Founders day with us"
"That is truly excellent news Father" Kara spoke beaming.
Katherine sat back and observed them before raising her glass in a toast.
"To returning loved ones" she said.
"To returning loved ones" they all echoed back each clinking their glasses with one another's.
Hey everyone…So what did you think? So Katherine's arrived and Damon is on his way, it's all beginning to look slightly familiar now isn't it? JAny comments and/or criticisms/ questions are totally welcome. Thanks for reading!xxxxxx