Chapter Five: The Edges of Curiosity

Katherine stood near the front door of the main house, coat in hand, sunglasses already pushed onto her head even though it was nearly dusk. Her fingers drummed against her hip, restless. She could feel the weight of Rosalie's and Kate's eyes on her without even turning around.

"I should get going," she said casually, glancing over her shoulder. "Long road ahead. Plenty of drugs and alcohol involved, ya know….that sort of thing."

Tanya raised a brow from the kitchen island. "On four flat tires and a cracked axle?"

Irina smirked. "You didn't think we'd let you drive that wreck out of here, did you?"

Katherine blinked looking out the window. "Wait what?…did you have my car towed?"

"To a shop in town," Carmen replied, appearing in the doorway like some elegant psychic. "Relax. It'll be fine in a few days. Consider it a free favor."

"That doesn't sound like a favor," Katherine muttered. "Sounds like a trap."

Kate leaned against the archway, arms folded. "It's a favor that comes with a warm bed, wine, and decent coffee. You can bail after the repairs… if you're still dying to leave."

Rosalie tilted her head challengingly. "Unless you're scared."

That got her.

Katherine shot her a look, lips twitching. "Of what? Your terrifying… matching blonde aesthetic?"

Kate grinned. "We are intimidatingly hot."

Despite herself, Katherine laughed. Just a little.

Still, her gaze lingered on the door a moment longer. And then she sighed and dropped her coat on the bench by the wall.

"Fine," she said, dragging out the word. "But only until the car's fixed."

Carmen smiled warmly. "Of course."

⸻

Later that evening, Katherine found herself in the guest house again—alone, somehow, with them.

Kate had poured her a drink. Rosalie had pulled out a record player and put something soft on in the background—something moody and smooth. Jazz, maybe. The lighting was dim. Cozy. Way too intimate for someone who claimed they didn't want to stay.

Katherine sat on the couch, legs crossed, sipping from the glass with deliberate nonchalance.

"So," Kate said, taking the armchair across from her, "how long have you been running?"

Katherine's brows lifted. "From what?"

"Everything," Rosalie answered softly, sitting beside her.

Katherine made a face. "Jesus. Is that a vampire thing—cutting straight to the therapy part?"

Kate smirked. "Only with people we like."

Katherine rolled her eyes and looked away. "I'm not running. I'm… traveling."

"With a trunk full of vodka and a bottle of pills rolling around under your seat?" Rosalie asked gently.

Katherine stilled.

For a long moment, no one said anything.

Then Katherine took another sip. "So I like to have fun, the drugs and alcohol don't really stick unless I have a lot. My venom burns them out of my system quickly. Let's just say it makes my life…interesting."

Kate leaned forward, elbows on her knees. "We're not judging you, Katherine. We just want to understand."

"You don't have to," she replied a little more sharp than she'd like. "No one asked you to."

Rosalie's voice was quiet. "We're not here trying to get to know you because we have to be. We're here because we want to be."

Katherine swallowed hard. "Why?"

Kate's gaze was steady. "Because we feel something. And whether or not you're ready to admit it… you feel it too."

Katherine looked down at her drink.

She didn't answer.

"I think I'm going to go back to the main house. Tanya told me she needed some information on the car to give to the repair shop", Katherine finally replied, standing up to leave.

And with that she set her drink down and walked out of the door.

"Katherine wait!" yelled Rosalie but Kate found her hand.

"She needs time, we should give her space".

"I think we need to just tell her the truth" said Rosalie. "Before she freaks out and leaves".

Kate looked out the door towards the main house. "Tomorrow", she said.