A/N: Welcome back for another chapter^^ To all of you who're new to the story, again, welcome. I'm really pleased all of you are here and was happy with all the comments and continued support. You guys make my day!

As for my guest reviewers, I'm sorry I can't reply to you personally but know that your comments are greatly appreciated.

Also, I'm surprised how many people don't want Non-Elena to end up with either Damon or Stefan. Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely not planning on them starting to date anytime soon (romance will take a while and will not be the main subjective of the story), but I guessed with Stefan and Damon being the main male characters, people would like them to be coupled. Then again, I'm probably reading too much into all of this...

On with the chapter:)

This chapter was edited and beta'd by the amazing HPuni101, who also supports me greatly^^ Again, thank you!

o.O.o

Chapter Nine, Elijah

When it was starting to get dark, the sun starting to set, I had settled before the vanity mirror. Inky purple remnants of twilight provided an ominous backdrop against the houses. Breathing in hard, I did one last check in the vanity mirror above the desk.

My skill with makeup was passable, as was my skill with a curling iron, having managed to wrestle Elena's dark hair in beautiful ringlets. The make-up was tad sultrier than I'd normally go for, making me look a lot like Katherine instead of the doe-eyed Elena, but then again, that was what I'd been going for.

Adjusting the straps of my dress, evening out the lace over my shoulders, I turned around, looking at myself from a different angle. I was quite sure the short cocktail dress with the matching purse and the high heels I had to borrow from Miranda was kind of what Katherine would go for.

I'd even been smart enough to buy myself a necklace with a lapis lazuli stone, gleaming brightly in the late afternoon light.

My hand trembled ever so slightly when I let my fingers glide over the blue stone before shaking my head from side to side. Brown curls bobbing as I did so. Doctor Martin had sounded friendly enough on the phone. Initially, he'd been surprised that I'd known so much. Surprised that I knew Elijah and wanted to make a deal with said Original.

I guessed Elijah might even have been present with his witch at that point, listening to my voice — my familiar voice — as I told them what I wanted. I'd pretended to be Katherine. It seemed like a good idea at that moment. Perhaps, it wasn't. I couldn't be sure.

Staring at my reflection one last time, I inspected my perfect curls and nodded. I'd certainly looked decent enough. Desirable enough, which made my cheeks flush in embarrassment, and swallowing I shrugged on the most expensive autumn coat I had managed to find in Elena's closet.

It was pure luck it fitted so nicely with the rest of my outfit and, once Grayson, Miranda and Jeremy were settled around the kitchen table, having coffee with John, I sneaked out of the front door.

The drive was quick, I didn't have to look long and tucking my hair behind my ears — a curl springing back to its original position — I killed the engine, hoping the diazepam would keep my heart rate slow and steady.

I'd parked the Volvo halfway up the hill to the old cemetery, leaving the headlights on and breathed hard. An icy autumn wind roared around me ruffling the fallen leaves and I steeled my nerves, inhaled deeply and started the trek up to the old church.

The faint lavender hush before twilight gave me just enough light to find my way down the narrow path, past the tombstones and I crossed my arms beneath my breasts, venturing past the cover of the trees.

The path was worn, I didn't think it was an original path, just frequently used by those teenagers who liked to get drunk and high around here. Those same teenagers Damon killed in the not so distance future. I shuddered.

"Keep it together," I muttered under my breath and pushed my hands in my pockets.

In this reality, Damon hadn't gone after the druggy teenagers. I supposed if Stefan didn't lock him up in his cellar, Damon would probably not go on a murder spree throughout the forest either. Or I really hoped he wouldn't. Living through Damon's psychotic phase was something I could do without.

"That's it!" I and gasped when I noticed the old, creeper-overgrown stone wall, barely visible in the grey darkness. A wan moon threw a dappled tapestry of light over the large blocks of stone and I could almost imagine what it must have looked like once.

I could almost imagine a large church, high enough to top even the high thin trees around it, ablaze in the deep, dark night. Flames lapping higher and higher at the walls while the town's folk had surrounded it. In my mind, they were holding torches and pitchforks. In reality, they were probably holding wooden stakes instead.

Coming to a stop in front of the large structure, I craned my neck. Not much was left from the old town's centre, but the church ruins were recognizable enough and I circled the waist-high blocks of stone. It was a misstep, a lucky one, but a misstep for suddenly the ground gave away where the entrance to the stairway was hidden. Buried beneath one of the walls, barely visible, until my feet fell through the forest floor, I gasped.

I grappled for the wall, holding on tight before I managed to straighten myself. I peered down, eyebrows furrowed deeply, at the half-covered passageway. I couldn't see further than the fifth step took a slow step back. It was a strange place for a tomb, I supposed. Why burn down the house of God?

"Katerina."

I inhaled harshly, turning sharply. Even in the dim-twilight, I noticed his rigid posture, the tense set of his shoulders and I swallowed forcefully. Clenching my teeth together, I forced my nerves down and subtly let my eyes flit over him. I still couldn't get over the fact how weird it was to see all these people, all these actors in real life. Elijah was thin but with wide shoulders, brown hair half-long, his season two cut, I supposed. Noticing his dress jacket, the dress pants, shirt and tie, I felt the weird need to laugh hysterically and crossed my arms over my chest, swaying my hips to one side.

He remained where he was for a long moment, staring at me and my spine went rigid, upper body angling back as if that would do anything to safe me.

My eyes squinted, lower lids quivering, which I hoped was imperceptible because I was Katherine now. Just for a moment longer, for the off-chance he would ship me straight off to Klaus. He seemed to be weighing something in his mind and suddenly, in the blink of an eye, he stood before me.

From this close, I could see the angular facial features, the high cheekbones, his straight nose and his strong jawline. His hair was dark, parted at the side and his eyes were dark and eerily inexpressive.

"Elijah," I breathed out. The wheezing gasp escaping my parted lips without consent.

"Katerina." He greeted again and I inhaled sharply, eyes going as wide as saucers.

"I— you came."

"Hm," he agreed, eyes still cold. "That I did. Thank you, for having the good sense to be frightened."

"Are you still in league with Klaus?" I gasped out and I practically felt my mind whirring. In league? Really, that was what I wanted to know first? Well, it was what I wanted to know, of course, but, I could have voiced my question out in a less direct way. "I mean, would Klaus be willing to strike a deal?"

"Have you grown tired of running, Katerina?"

"That depends," I admitted.

"Braver then I remember." He replied dryly and I swallowed.

"There is a very simple reason for that." I decided. I should have gone for the Grill. I should have done a better job at overthinking this— I wish I could have called it a plan. It wasn't exactly a good one. The Katerina farce had obviously outlived its uses.

"Hm," he hummed one hand rising up to straighten his collar and I remembered that one hand was all he needed to behead someone and I took a step back, my lower-back hitting the church wall. "It seems to me you could use some long overdue punishment."

I gasped, my tongue glued to the roof of my mouth and my step back sluggish, the heel sinking into the mud and my back hit the mossy wall hard. This was a mistake, a big one.

"I'm not Katerina." I gasped out, just as Elijah's fingers wrapped tightly around my wrist.

"What?"

"I'm not Katerina. I'm not a vampire." I admitted. "I didn't think you would have come if I'd told Doctor Martin I was some human girl who knew too much… I— I'm sorry."

His hand tightening so tightly around my wrist, I couldn't help the shudder then worked its way up my spine and the eyes that started to water in fear and in pain. The bones in my wrist ground together and I let out a pained whimper.

"Please, you're hurting me!" I gasped out and his mouth slacked open in surprise and his hand lowered, only a fraction, but I would take it. It took only a second to recover and slowly, ever so slowly, he leaned down. If my heartbeat hadn't been erratic before it was now and with his close proximity I could see the faint dust of stubble along his jaw.

He leaned in close, his hand pressing against my lower-back to eliminate any escape route, his nose brushing against my throat and inhaled deeply. I felt the warm air flutter over the delicate skin when he breathed out and he straightened suddenly: "Human. That is impossible."

"Erm, surprise?"

"Surprise?" He echoed his sharply angled face as blank and expressionless as before.

"Well, yes?"

"Who are you?"

"I—El— Elena Gilbert." I tried. Somehow, him knowing I was human, suddenly made me all the more afraid.

"Elena— Miss Gilbert," he greeted and I wondered if I should offer my hand so he could kiss my knuckles. Wasn't that good manners in the old times? Then again, he probably had accumulated to the twenty-first century well enough. Not trusting my voice I nodded in acknowledgement and flipped a curl over my shoulder. "I feel like you know more than you should."

"I do." I admitted.

"And yet, here you are."

"I was hoping we could talk— without violence, compelling or any other trick that would end in my blood being spilt." I tried, cradling my wrist against my chest. "I hoped we could— talk."

"Aren't you a little Miss Positivity?" he remarked lightly, amusement flickering over his face.

"Erm, I suppose." I hadn't known Elijah possessed even an inch of humor and blinked owlishly.

"Although, you are a little naive, aren't you?"

"No." I disagreed. "It was smart. It was only a matter of time before you or Klaus would come for me. Right now, I have a hand, a say into this. I like that better."

"Are you trying to negotiate with me?"

"Yes," I agreed and leant heavily against the mossy wall. My feet were starting to ache. I shouldn't have chosen heels to wander through a forest with. "I hoped you would be willing to negotiate with me. Because, I think that all of this could be done without the bloodshed and dismemberment and— whatever else you're willing to do to your little brother."

"Are you aware, what that little brother will do to you?" He asked slowly and I nodded.

"Yes. But I am also aware of what that little brother will do to everyone I know if I don't do this." I retorted, feeling dizzy and feverish with nerves. "I do not wish to watch over my shoulder for the rest of my life. I do not wish to be Katherine and I don't want to be used for your gain, much less for Klaus's. However, I am not naive enough to think I will be anything other than a chess piece in either of your hands."

"So what is it you want?"

"I want my life back," I explained.

"Your life back?"

"Yes. I was hoping your witch friends would be willing to try and help achieve that."

"Miss Gilbert," he replied darkly and I inhaled sharply.

"I— I don't think I explained it well."

"Perhaps, we should move this discussion somewhere less—" he made a face, "—uncivilized."

"I— The town has a mandatory curfew," I mumbled, "I'm not sure where you would like to take this, but the only cafe in town is probably closed."

"Mandatory curfew?"

"Yes. We've had problems with vampire attacks." I admitted. I thanked the heavens, he hadn't yet forced me along, hadn't yet swiped me away, which I'd expected. Of course, he could still try to do just that. I would not be a match. I just wasn't strong enough to fight him off and I realized what a stupid ill-thought plan this actually was.

Spots started to float around my vision as panic hooked its claws in me and I forced my breathing to remain even. Tried to think of something else to say. My mind came up blank and I shivered. The air was watery cold.

"You're terrified."

"I'm starting to see the nativity in arranging a meeting."

"Good." He told me and suddenly the world blurred around us. I belatedly understood he'd snatched me. Had taken hold of my upper-arms and used his vampiric speed to take me away. Had suddenly done what I'd been worried for. A pulse of dread shot through me when I hit the bonnet of a car and realized flabbergasted that it was my own.

"What?"

"You're even younger than Katerina was." He mumbled.

"I— I thought she was seventeen. E— I am seventeen."

"You're a child."

"Right," I mumbled.

He opened the car door and tapped his fingers against the chair in the passenger's seat. With a frown, my lips stretched into a thin line, I lowered myself into the leather seat and waited for the Original to take his seat behind the wheel.

Perhaps I should have told him off. Perhaps I should have fought him like the original Elena would have done. Like she did, when she stood up against him, and Katherine and later even to Klaus. But, I wasn't like Elena. Elijah held the car keys, my car keys, in his right hand, starting the engine. And then shifted the car into reverse and backed out of the street.

"Where do you live?"

"You're taking me home?"

I'd had thought I would have to beg.

"Niklaus doesn't know you exist yet. Taking you now would be just the same as sending Klaus a letter telling him I'd located the Doppelgänger." He told me and steered the car towards Clark Street. I knew he was lying and when I dared a peek into the co-driver mirror. Make-up had smeared around my eyes, bleeding out over my cheeks and my skin was so pale, it almost looked a little bluish. The similarities to Katherine couldn't have looked less clear. Elena Gilbert certainly looked like a child right now.

"I don't understand."

"Jonas mentioned you knew a great deal." He told me, fingers gliding over the dashboard until he found the button for the heater, turning it up until I felt my fingers uncurl. "I want to know how you know it." He finished, sending me a sideways glance. His pupils twitching and I thought he would try to compel me now.

"You can't compel me. I've been on vervain ever since the first attack," I mumbled. I wasn't sure why I mentioned it but watched his eyes flit towards the necklace around my neck, my body froze. "I mean, I drink it too. My parents have been spiking the tea ever since the first attack." It wasn't a lie. I'd noticed the scent of roses coming from the (mandatory) afternoon tea ever since the attack on the campers (the campers whose throats had been torn out).

"Miss Gilbert," he drawled, "I'll give you my word, I won't compel you."

"I've seen things," I tried. "I can't explain how, just, that I've— seen them," I mumbled.

The car turned into Elena's street and idled before rolling to a stop. I didn't have to tell him where I lived and I was only slightly surprised. I shouldn't forget it was the Original Elijah sitting next to me and I certainly hadn't. He turned towards me, his eyes were dark and hooded.

"You've seen things." He asked.

"Yes." I agreed.

"And what do you know?"

His eyes were so dark, I peered at him with fascination and terror combined: "I know your brother will come after me. I know what he wants from me and even what will happen to this quiet little town."

"And yet here you are."

"Again, I wish to negotiate my standing." I tried.

"Miss Gilbert the strategizing specialist," he replied dryly and sat back, intertwining his fingers on the wheel. "How unusual of a human you are."

"I try," I muttered and swallowed, my throat suddenly dry and almost painful. "Can I trust you?"

"Can you trust me?" He asked, openly amused now and I pressed my lips tightly together.

"I was hoping you would be— with honor and whatnot."

"I am willing to negotiate."

"You are?" I echoed and when his face remained unchanged I nodded. "Okay, that's good."

"Hm, good." He agreed dryly and I wondered if he was so agreeable because of my face.

Elena truly was a lucky girl, I thought sarcastically. She really had won the genetic lottery. The target of the affections of both Damon and Stefan as Katherine's lookalike. And the target of her magical blood by any and every vampire that tried to get into favor by either Klaus or Elijah. Honestly, why did I get stuck in the body of a Doppelgänger? Magical creatures that shared identical physical appearances and identical blood.

"Sweetheart, go to bed." He told me and he reached past me. I stiffened, my shoulders locking together and he breathed out slowly, opening the car door to the passenger's side. "As a token of my trust, I'll let you retire for the night."

"I— okay?"

"We will meet up tomorrow, during daylight. No need for the Katerina dress up, hm?"

"No," I agreed, spots floating around my vision.

"Where do we meet, Elena?"

"Erm, the Grill? Tomorrow for lunch?" I asked and he nodded.

He smiled wistfully and I remembered with a warming face that lunch meant something entirely else for him, then it meant for me: "That would be nice. See you tomorrow, Elena Gilbert."

I blinked, suddenly unsure and clambered out of the car. "I— see you tomorrow."

To be continued.

A/N: And here we see Non-Elena trying to move the pieces over the chessboard. She's not really as sure of herself as she thought she was^^

I know a few of you really wanted to know how the talk with Jonas went, but I just couldn't think of a way how to work with it. In the end, I quite liked the idea of letting everyone have their own interpretation, as I'd originally planned, but don't worry. Jonas and his son will have their screen time.

As always, I love to hear from you!