AN: Hey everyone! So here's chapter thirteen.. Thank you so much to everyone who has favourited or followed since the last chapter and to all of you who continue to support you really don't know ow much it means to me.
To Lady Syndra: Thanks a million for reviewing! I totally agree, I can't help but feel that they are all so selfish, like if they can't have the guy then no one can. Definitely when it came to Katherine and even Amara and Tatia and Elena were both stringing along two brother's. They cause a lot of hurt without regard to anyone's feelings. I think the writers of TVD did a really good job in relating all of the characters together this way but also making their personalities so unique from each other. : ) Thank you so much for your input, it really helps me in writing this. : )
To Mary VA: Haha Don't worry I am always like that lol. There had been four new episodes of a TV show I liked out on TV before I even realised it was back on the air! Haha! Thanks a million, I am so glad that you liked it. I do like Kara standing up for herself too, I hate the way some people portray some female characters as needing to be saved all of the time and I think her illness makes her more determined to prove to people how strong she can be. I actually wasn't even going to put Kara and Kol seeing each other into the chapter until I realised that Kol wouldn't wait to meet her, he'd probably want to seek her out straight away and so I added it in. Really glad I did though! : ) She definitely will be a little angry because I can't see her going "Oh you're a vampire? Alright!" : ) But how it will play out will be a little different and I think more dramatic than her finding out about Katherine. That is a scene that I have had in my head and can't wait to write…: ) There are a few more things going to happen before the big meet but it will be very soon, I promise…: ) . Thank you so much again for your review! You do not understand how much motivation it gives me to continue.
Disclaimer: (Because I haven't done one in a while) I don't own the vampire diaries or the Originals.
Mystic Falls
1864
The coach thundered down the stone road towards the centre of town but the atmosphere in carriage remained static. Kara just stared out the window, both in a dual effort to ignore Katherine's antics and to view the streets to see if she could spot that mysterious man once again. She had never felt that way before, certainly never from seeing someone at such distance. She knew he was real, he had to be.
They stopped in no time on Fell's Lane, a street so named due to the Fell's family. A founding family, who lived at the end of the road.
"So what colour dress will you be favouring today Miss Katherine?" Daman asked as he departed the carriage and helped Katherine out with him.
Katherine looked at him with a glint in her eye before answering.
"I'll have to leave that a surprise Mr Salvatore" she spoke eloquently as she turned to face him "I have to leave something to the imagination after all". She winked at him and Damon became flustered. Kara rolled her eyes as Stefan reached out to help her off of the carriage but she was feeling too upset to acknowledge him. He sighed as she ignored him and independently moved down the steps herself.
"But how will I know what colour waistcoat to purchase in order to match you?" Damon asked regaining some amount of composure.
Kara didn't think it was possible but Katherine's smirk widened.
"My my Damon Salvatore aren't we being presumptuous? Presuming that you will be escorting me to the ball when your younger brother has already offered me his arm?"
Damon's head whipped to Stefan who had just returned from giving Daniel instructions on returning to collect them in a few hours.
Damon seethed, his eyes looking treacherously at his younger brother. Kara was about to step in when she saw Katherine do just that. She took Damon by the arm, caressed it up and down and looked him deeply in the eyes.
"I haven't said yes either way". She winked at him, batted her eyelids and turned to walk away.
"Come along Kara" she ordered "We have dresses to create".
Anger was bubbling in Kara once more. She had never thought she had a short temper until meeting Katherine, since then she had discovered a number of fatal flaws about herself.
She did know that she really did not want to go to the Cartwright's with her. Spending the afternoon with Katherine and making small-talk with Rosalyn trying to act if nothing was wrong was almost too much to even think about. She also wasn't feeling well but she knew that announcing this to her brothers would indeed give her a free pass to rest at home for the the day but would also prevent her from going to the ball at the weekend.
Kara reluctantly followed but deliberately dragged her heels in an effort to annoy Katherine as much as she could without being obvious. Emily followed them, trailing behind Katherine but in front of Kara.
She walked as slowly as she could with it being obvious but they came upon the Cartwright's store much faster than Kara would have liked. The exterior of the property had a mahogany façade with large windows where Mr Cartwright displayed a few of his more intricate pieces. The bell above the door dinged as Katherine entered and a male voice from the back indicated to them that someone would be right with them. Kara stood by the counter nervously rubbing her hands together while Katherine perused the haberdashery on the shelves. She would run a gloved finger over a shelf every now and again as if checking for specks of dust.
"And this is the best dress makers in Mystic Falls?" she asked gazing around her unimpressed at the premises.
"It's very…" she stopped herself looking around for inspiration to influence a word "…Dreary is it not?"
Kara looked over at her.
"No I don't believe it is dreary Katherine. It's subtle. The Cartwright's had an interior decorator from New York come in and design the place a few years passed, this style is all the rage in the cities"
Katherine looked over at Kara in disbelief before scrutinising the place again.
"I suppose it does depend on perspective, and taste of course".
"So sorry to keep you waiting..." A new voice erupted moving into visual range with his new customers.
"Kara!" he exclaimed jollily moving around the counter to greet her properly with his usual great big bear hugs. Mr Cartwright seemed far different from her father. Although they shared the trait of being very hard working that is where the similarities ended. Mr Cartwright was a rounded man, very tall being at least six foot three and had balding white hair. He was kind and she judged this by his demeanour and by his eyes. She had never known him to have a cross word about anyone and was still, after twenty-six years of marriage still madly in love with his wife Rosemary. He was affectionate, something her father continuously criticised about him behind his back.
"Hello Mr Cartwright" Kara greeted trying to keep her mood upbeat for his behalf.
"How many times do I have to tell you to call me Stanley" he smiled releasing her from the hug "We're going to be family soon, we can't be having all of that mister nonsense"
"Sorry Stanley" Kara smiled hoping he was right, that they would indeed by family soon.
"Now what can I do for you?" he asked.
Katherine cleared her throat loudly, obviously bored and unaccustomed to being overlooked for so long.
"My sincere apologies my lady, I did not see you there" Mr Cartwright spoke looking apologetic.
"This is Katherine Pierce" Kara reluctantly introduced "She's staying at our house for a while. My father is trying to be a Good Samaritan it seems".
"Miss Pierce" he addressed bowing slightly in greeting to her.
Katherine looked bored and didn't even acknowledge him talking to her.
"We're looking for dresses Mr Cartwright" Katherine spoke with a sigh in her voice "Can you accommodate us or will we have to take our business elsewhere?"
Kara looked at her in shock of her brashness. She knew she shouldn't be shocked, she knew what Katherine was like but in comparison to Stanley Cartwright's kindness it seemed magnified somehow.
Mr Cartwright seemed to let it go over his head however and moved into action.
"Certainly" he smiled leading them both to the back of the store. Emily followed them in their wake.
"Miss Pierce there is a curtained off area behind you, if you would be so kind as to enter and my daughter will be with you momentarily to take your measurements. Kara we already have yours dear so you can browse the different fabrics in the corner there" It wasn't an order from Mr Cartwright but Kara felt that he did put on a different tone of voice when dealing with matters of business. Like a person making an important speech. Kara smiled and moved to the corner to look at the samples while Katherine surprisingly obeyed without hesitation.
The samples were bound in a book and Kara found herself flipping through the pages without even taking in the first six colours and textures. Her mind wasn't in it and shopping for dresses was the last thing she wanted to be doing. Saying this in her head she couldn't help but think that this time last week this would have been a dream come true for her. Browsing through hundreds of samples in order to make a dress for her first ball, and a ball her father would most-likely let her go to. Despite Katherine's evilness and her targeting of their family she knew that the only reason she was allowed to go to the ball was because Katherine had urged her father into doing so. It was only to draw her brothers further into her spell. Or perhaps it was to kill her via dancing she didn't know but she knew he wouldn't have considered it otherwise.
"Kara?" a sweet female voice asked from the doorway leading to the living quarters.
Kara looked up to see Rosalyn standing there, a smile plain on her face at the sight of her friend. Rosalyn ran over, much as her father had done and enveloped her in a hug.
"It's so good to see you"
"It's good to see you too Rosalyn" Kara responded forcing a smile onto her face.
She pulled back to look at Kara.
"Does this mean your father is letting you go?"
Kara nodded and felt guilty at her friend's excitement for her. She had often talked of the hardships of not being allowed to partake in the balls and the parties as her friends had done and Rosalyn had always been a very good friend about it.
Rosalyn was a slim girl, small but taller than Kara and had perfect porcelain-like skin and round green eyes. Her hair was long and dark-auburn which she wore up during business hours and down when consorting with friends or courting with Stefan.
Comparing her to Katherine Kara noticed that the two of them couldn't be more different. Katherine was prim and proper
"So what kind of dress were you thinking of getting?" she asked but was interrupted by her father before she could receive the answer.
"Roselyn will you please take Miss Pierce's measurements, you can converse with Kara afterwards" he asked her.
Roselyn looked slightly taken aback at the fact that Kara had come accompanied with a friend but smiled and complied straight away.
Her heart raced when she realised that Rosalyn would be alone in the dressing room with Katherine but felt defeated in the knowledge that there was nothing she could do about it.
"See anything you like in there?" Stanley asked indicating to the book she was now almost half-way through.
Kara also looked down it and realised she had been flicking through the pages whilst deep in thought.
She let out a small breathy laugh which Stanley also joined in on. He moved closer to her and leaned on the table across from her.
"Is everything okay?" he asked, his voice fatherly and concerned.
A million thoughts raced through her head almost screaming at her to ask for help but she knew she couldn't involve them; she couldn't put their lives in danger.
She nodded and smiled.
"Everything's fine" she said looking up at the man with the kindest heart she had ever known.
He nodded clearly not believing her but not willing to press any further.
"May I?" he asked taking the book from her and flipping through it himself.
"Of course" she replied watching him carefully.
He stopped searching at a page near the end of the book and turned it to face her showing her the fabric it held.
"It's beautiful" she admired airily, fingering the material delicately. It looked intricately designed.
She couldn't help the smile that played at the corners of her mouth picturing it as a long flowing gown.
"Now imagine it with this" he said placing another sample on top "With this as a trim" he continued placing a smaller yet equally as thick book at the top of the small pile.
For one moment Kara couldn't help but show the girlish excitement that was building within her. Stanley's idea for her dress was beyond anything she could have thought up herself.
"It's perfect" was all she could say to him, excitement clearly evident to him from her voice.
Stanley only smiled, his chubby cheeks turning into round apples and his laughter-lines increasing around his eyes.
"Remember the dress doesn't wear the lady dear Kara, the lady wears the dress".
He meant it as a compliment but somehow it made her feel self-conscious.
"Well then I am afraid dearest Stanley that the beauty and elegance of such a dress would overshadow my own.
"Nonsense" Stanley exclaimed his boisterous voice bellowing out "You just need to hold that chin of yours up high".
Kara nodded to him with a smile. She was emotional, somehow happy and sad simultaneously.
"Thank you"
"I'll get these fabrics wrote up in the book for you" he said with an encouraging smile, moving from the back to the front of the store once again.
It was then when Rosalyn emerged from the curtained off area where she had been taking Katherine's measurements.
Kara's stomach dropped when she noticed that she looked upset, as if she were about to cry. Her eyes brimmed with tears and her face looked much paler than usual. She placed the measuring tape and on the side-board, its proper place and brought the measurements out to her father before coming to the back of the shop to where Kara stood.
"I'm sorry Kara but I do not feel like talking about dresses with you right now" she spoke her voice quivering.
"Rosalyn what's happened, what is it?" she asked looking at her friend concerned, by this time Katherine was just emerging from the curtain with Emily holding her long shawl close behind her and Rosalyn couldn't hold the tears back anymore.
"Rose?" Kara spoke comfortingly using Rosalyn's fairly uncommonly known nickname "What is it?"
Roselyn gulped down a sob and attempted to explain to her friend but Katherine strolled over to them unceremoniously spitting out her comment interrupting them both
"Well that was claustrophobic" she spoke clearly unimpressed with the facilities of the store. She then snatched her shawl from Emily who had walked over and offered it to her and threw it around her shoulders, admiring herself in one of the many mirrors as she did so. Kara noticed Roselyn stop and just watch her. She seemed distraught, overwhelmed, broken. Unable to force herself to view the stranger posing and admiring herself in the mirror any longer she decided to leave.
"Excuse me Kara" she said taking her leave from the store. She moved to the entrance of the families living quarters, a door to the right of the counter and disappeared inside.
"Well that is rude" Katherine remarked looking at the door Rosalyn disappeared through "And very unprofessional".
"What did you say to her?" Kara asked unable to hide the venom from her voice.
Katherine looked at her with her mouth slightly agape, obviously surprised at the tone someone was daring to use on her. Emily also glanced at her.
Kara held up her hand to stop hr from speaking before she had a chance to answer.
"Never mind" she said moving to the door to the living quarters as Rosalyn had just done.
The Cartwrights home was quaint compared to the Salvatore's but well-furnished and Kara had always thought it cosy and homely.
She entered into a hallway and walked down it to reveal the living room where Rosemary had obviously been sitting and now standing looking worriedly in the direction her daughter had just fled to.
She turned when she heard Kara behind her.
"Oh Kara dear" she spoke warmly "What on earth has happened?
Kara looked to the stairs where she could now hear heart wrenching cries emitting from.
"I'm not entirely sure Mrs Cartwright" Kara admitted. She kept to herself the fact that she had a vague notion. Katherine was sure to have "Let slip" that both Damon and Stefan were fighting to escort her to the founders day ball and that mere fact had probably shattered Rosalyn's heart into a million pieces as is. The knowledge that Kara knew of Katherine and Stefan sleeping together was a whole different matter. She didn't even want to think of the issue and it wasn't even her fiancé taking part in the affair.
"May I go up?" Kara asked already feeling positively rude by entering the private premises unasked.
"Please" Rosemary invited hoping that Rosalyn's friend would help her to stop making such a traumatising sound.
Kara made her way up the wooden steps, the outer more worn edges creaking as she went.
She had never been inside of Rosalyn's house before so when she reached the landing she really didn't know what way to turn. She decided to follow her ears rather than her eyes and came right when the first door she opened revealed a sobbing Rosalyn lying on her stomach on her bed. She looked up when the door opened and seemed to quieten somewhat.
Kara gave her a small sympathetic smile.
"May I come in?" she asked standing in the doorway.
Rosalyn obviously wanted to be left alone but was too polite to say otherwise so she just nodded and Kara made her way into the room.
She shut the door behind her making Rosalyn look at her through red puffing eyes.
"Tell me it is not true Kara; tell me that Stefan hasn't been having an affair with that Katherine Pierce"
Kara couldn't believe what she was hearing. Katherine had been boasting to Rosalyn in the dressing room about her relationship with Stefan and now this was causing her obvious heartbreak. She had obviously told her more of the intimate details about their new found relationship and not left the bragging to the facts about the ball.
Rosalyn who was now seventeen had had a crush on Stefan since childhood and it was on her sixteenth birthday that he finally fell for her. They had been inseparable after his declaration and he finally proposed a month later. Some thought this too soon but they had insisted that because they had been friends since childhood that they already knew each other well enough to make such a commitment. Both Giuseppe and Stanley seemed happy with the arrangement and so plans were made in order to unite the two families. Now though, years of friendship had come under attack by Katherine. Who now would move on from Mystic Fall's as fast as she had come here, ruining people's lives in her wake. The very thought of it made her blood boil once again and she had to forcibly calm herself in order to be in the right mind-set to console her friend.
"Roselyn…" Kara began unsure of how much she should say "It is very complicated and not what you might think".
"But he's been…" she paused, gulping as though the very idea made her feel physically sick "With her?"
Kara looked to her feet unable to lie and deny the accusation.
"Oh my God" she gasped cupping her hands to her mouth. She looked as if her heart was breaking out of her chest.
"I can't explain it" Kara said hurriedly trying to get her words in between Rosalyn's racked sobs "You just have to trust that I am telling you the truth".
"But you haven't told me anything, how am I supposed to trust that?"
"Katherine is…dangerous, she's not what meets the eye" Kara tried to explain.
"You're saying she's blackmailing him?" Rosalyn asked incredulously her eyes narrowing at the thought.
Kara sighed.
"No not exactly, more like….brainwashing him"
Rosalyn got up and crosses her arms and Kara could see she was getting annoyed with her.
"Kara if you're going to make fun of me I'd rather be alone"
"I'm not; honestly" she defended standing in front of her friend "The truth sounds too crazy".
"Tell me" Rosalyn urged, her tears stalling on their route down her cheeks.
Kara looked at her, debating the pros and cons of telling Rosalyn the truth in her head.
"Tell me!" Rosalyn insisted more harshly after silence deafened the room for longer than she could handle.
"She's a vampire" she blurted without inhibitions. She couldn't believe the words had left her mouth like they did. She sounded crazy, jealous or maybe Rosalyn would think she was making fun of her. She sighed and looked to her shoes, unable to look her friend in the eye.
"What?" Rosalyn asked her voice small and suspicious as if this was not she was expecting to be hearing.
"Katherine" Kara began forcing her eyes to meet hers "She's a vampire".
Kara cringed as the words left her mouth. She wouldn't believe herself if she didn't know that it was true.
Rosalyn didn't say anything, just sat on her bed tears pooling in her eyes once again. Silence passed over the room and Kara could feel her heart beating with every second she was silent.
"Rosalyn?" she asked after a minute or so had passed.
"Get out" she responded strangely calm, her auburn hair enveloping her face so that it was obstructed from Kara's view.
"Rosalyn it's the truth" Kara began to argue but Rosalyn looked at her with fire in her eyes.
"I said get out"
This time she spoke it was a lot more conviction.
Kara knew now that she was inconsolable and made for the door.
"I'm sorry Rosalyn, I really am" she concluding turning from the door.
"Kara wait" Rosalyn said not angrily but not in her normal friendly tone either.
She met Kara at the structure of her doorframe.
"Give this back to Stefan will you?" she thrust the small object into her open hand and then shut the door behind her, ceasing the conversation.
Kara looked to her palm and saw an engagement ring, her mothers, one in which Stefan had proposed to Rosalyn with.
This was a conclusion to their relationship and Kara knew it but she also knew that if Stefan was in his right mind then he would be devastated. Clutching the ring in her hand she made to leave, via the backdoor and avoiding all aspects of Katherine if she could manage it. She needed to go to Madam Pearl's apothecary and get the Vervain and she was going to be damned now if Katherine was going to stop her.
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~TVD~
Natalie lay on the floor of the bedroom Kol had given her and stared up at the dark wooden joints that decorated the ceiling. The room was decorated with pretty ornaments and comfortable expensive furniture that made her feel more like a guest in the house than a prisoner. She sang a song her mother had sang to her as a child, a lullaby of far off meadows and prancing ponies. She didn't bother to sit up when she heard the lock of the door turn, just moved her head to observe it.
Tahlia entered holding a small plate of food. She shut the door behind her dulling the draft that entered when she did.
"I don't know why you insist on lying on the floor when there is a perfectly good bed over there" Tahlia said indicating to the large canopy bed in the corner of the room. Her tone was friendly and Natalie seemed to find it comforting in some way.
"I like the floor" she replied her voice airy and childlike "I can feel the vibrations of the house from here".
"Right" Tahlia said dubiously putting the plate on a nearby coffee table. Tahlia, although a witch didn't seem to understand the full power of Seers, no one did. They were uncommon and any she knew of were just like Natalie. Normal at first but when they inherited the power seemed to become a little crazy.
"Where is Noah?" Natalie asked half staring at Tahlia and half staring through her and out the iron-rimmed window.
"He's right down the hall" she replied "You'll see him soon, once we're sure you are free from the Vervain"
"Does he have a room like this?"
Tahlia smiled.
"Yes the very same decor" she answered making to the door once again.
"Wait" Natalie spoke suddenly sitting up and grabbing on to Tahlia's shoe.
Tahlia looked down, not startled but slightly intrigued but Natalie's change in mood.
"Did you see her?" she asked her tone a little more sober and serious.
Tahlia nodded.
"Yes we did, we spied her from afar just today. Kol seems happy, which is good for both you and me"
Natalie frowned looking a little confused and then gazed back at Tahlia.
"No not Kara, the vampire. The female vampire"
Now it was Tahlia's turn to look confused.
"There's another vampire in town?" Tahlia asked now interested and kneeling down beside Natalie.
She nodded slowly her eyes wide.
"Many, but this woman is dangerous"
"She's a vampire Natalie, I wasn't thinking she was going to be friendly" Tahlia half joked at Natalie's obviousness.
"But she'll hinder our quest, with Kara"
This hit Tahlia hard and she leant in closer to the seer in order to hear more.
"What do you mean" she asked "How?"
Natalie concentrated and it was the first time that Tahlia had seen her give some semblance of a sane expression.
"That is uncertain" she finally said "But she will be an obstacle"
Tahlia sighed and leaned back on her ankles.
"Kol is not going to like this" she murmured dejectedly" And we were having such a good day"
Hope you liked it everyone! Thank you again to all of you still following this story. You are the best! Seriously! : ) Like I always say if you have any comments or ideas feel free to contact me via a review or a PM. Everyone is welcome! Thanks again guys! xxxxxx