Chapter Five: Miss Contrary

Everything hurt.

That was the first thing that entered through Katherine's head as she moved her joints and forced herself to get some feeling back into her bones. Hopefully if she started moving even a little then everything wouldn't be so mind blazingly painful. She winced. No such luck.

"Stop moving," a voice told her gently, but firmly. "You will only make it worse on yourself."

Her pretty brown eyes flew open as she forced herself to focus on where she was. Katherine saw a pretty decorated room painted peach with white curtains and fluffy everything. It was either a woman's room or a guest room. She knew from experience that men hardly decorated their rooms and didn't stand frills or any type of decorative things.

She fussed again as she heard the same scolding voice tsked. "I told you not to move."

"Don't touch me," Katherine hissed, lifting her leg to aim a kick at whoever attempted to touch her. She would never fall prey to another man. She would made sure that would never happen again.

"You really shouldn't be moving." The man was scolding her. "You're still recuperating."

Even though his tone was scolding, Elijah Mikaelson was slightly smiling at the wild, dark hair beauty who was scowling at him and seemed as mean as an alley cat. She was beautiful. Elijah couldn't help but notice even if she looked exhausted. Her hair fell in long, brown curls and her skin was a smooth olive color. Her dark brown eyes glared at him and her pink lips part opened.

Katherine forced herself to relax as she tightened the clean sheet around her body. Who was this man and why had he undress her? "Who the hell are you?"

"Language." Elijah scolded. "I'm Dr. Elijah Mikaelson. The doctor of Mystic Falls, do you remember what happened?"

Katherine said slowly. "I remember getting out of the carriage and that's about it." Elijah nodded. "You fainted. Do you know why?"

"No," Katherine said sarcastically. "But I have a feeling that you're going to tell me why."

Elijah raised an eyebrow. "Sassy remarks for such a little girl."

Katherine glared at him. "I am not little!"

"You can't be more than sixteen."

"I'm twenty, for your information," she growled and winced when she felt the pain in her back. "Ow."

Elijah stopped his questioning look and looked at her with concern. "What hurts?"

"Everything." She groaned. "It feels like someone is stabbing me." She hated the way that her voice shook.

Elijah ordered. "Lie back on your belly. I need to check your bandages. For your information, young lady, you fainted because of the wounds on your back. Not to mention heat exhaustion." He started unrolling some of the bandages. "I put some salve on them and your temperature seems to have lowered, but you're still going to be feeling pretty sick for the next few days. Can you tell me your name? I promise I won't hurt you."

She didn't speak for a while, but she finally uttered the name. "Katherine. Katherine Pierce."

"And where are you from Miss Pierce?" he asked gently so that he didn't scare her away. He loosened the bandages slightly and applied more salve. He doubted that it would make her feel better, but it would make her injuries heal faster.

"San Francisco." Katherine finally whispered. "I used to live there with my parents. They kicked me out."

Elijah threw her a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry. Traveling so far away by yourself must have been hard." He hesitated. "I notice that you're dripping fluid from your. . .did you recently give birth?"

"No," Katherine flushed. "I lost a baby. I was pregnant out of wedlock."

Elijah nodded as he checked her heart. "I'm sorry for your lost. The fluid should be gone soon. Were you very far along? Does anything else hurt?"

"No, and I was only a few months along." She flushed as she said cattily. "Don't feel sorry for me. I don't deserve anyone feeling sorry for me. Especially since I'm no better than a slut."

Elijah's grip around her thin wrist tightened. "Don't." he said sounding harsher than he had intended. "Don't call yourself a slut, Katherine. You made a mistake, it happens, but that doesn't mean you're any less of a lady."

"It means exactly that, doc." She snapped. "You really don't have to feel sorry for me."

"I don't."

"Sure, you do. I can see it in your eyes."

Elijah leaned back and bit back his tongue to prevent himself from saying anything else. Katherine was stubborn, he would give her that and he might as well admit that she won this round tonight. "Katherine, one last question. Who whipped you?"

Her face went somber. "My father. I deserved it though, he was pretty mad when he found out I was pregnant out of wedlock."

"No one deserves to be hit." Elijah said softly. Katherine shrugged and Elijah flinched as he tucked her back into bed. "Sleep. I'll check on you in the morning. Do you need anything else?"

"No," she admitted. "But I have no money to pay you."

Elijah shook his head. "Don't worry about it. You can stay as long as you need. Don't worry about that Katherine. My room is right across the hall in case you need anything."

Katherine nodded as she settled back into her pillows as Elijah closed the door. She forced herself to sleep, but found out that she couldn't. It was hard to fall asleep. Dr. Elijah Mikaelson was nice. Too nice for his own good. Those kinds of nice guys were always taken advantage off.

Her lower eyelids closed, still, she thought, he was handsome and kind and obviously smart if he was a doctor. Katherine wished that things were different. She and him could have possibly courted if she was still the pure girl she used to be.

But she wasn't. Elijah was a good man who deserved an equally good woman.

Katherine slowly forced herself to stand and quickly dressed and then grabbed her small suitcase. She opened the window and thanked god it was a first floor. She appreciated Dr. Mikaelson's concern, but she didn't belong here.

Elijah looked at the clock and saw that it was almost nine in the morning. Was she still sleeping? He wouldn't blame her if she was, she needed rest. But he didn't want to barge in. "Rita." He said towards his maid. "Please bring the breakfast tray to Miss Pierce. If she is sleeping, let her rest."

The older maid nodded. "Yes, sir."

She grabbed the breakfast tray, but was back a few seconds later. "Was she asleep?"

"No, Doctor she wasn't there. She's gone. Even her small suitcase is gone."

Elijah put down his newspaper in annoyance. She had left from right under his nose. The little brat.

-End of Chapter Five-

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