THE SEQUEL TO THIS STORY HAS BEEN POSTED! CHECK ON MY PROFILE :)

Summary-

This is the story of Rayna Gilbert- Elena Gilbert's infamous sister whose survival is more imperative than that of her Doppelganger twin. She is used to being second, third, or even last choice. Until now.

Thank you to everyone who has decided to give this story a chance. I sincerely hope you enjoy this chapter.

X

I sat in the back seat of the car. Alone. They were both gone. This wouldn't happen too often. Usually Klaus and Stefan dragged me everywhere. I guess they knew I couldn't handle seeing humans being killed. I would take these rare, sacred moments alone and allow myself to think about everybody back home.

Normally I would push them all to the back of my mind. It was just easier. Because when I did think about them, my eyes usually became wet and a few stray tears would fall now and then. Allowing Klaus to see me cry would not do. So I sat in the car in Tennessee on my own, staring into space, waiting for the screams I knew were coming.

I thought about the few, special people in my life.

Matt. He had been my friend my entire life. I had had a huge crush on him since forever. When he dated Elena we were still friends. Though, since then we had sort of drifted.

Tyler. We were the best of friends when I was eight years old. We would ride our bikes to one another's houses. Now, he was a werewolf. He was there for me when my parents died for a while, then he started hanging out with Vicki Donovan. Matt's younger sister who I hate. She was never cruel to me or anything, but she got Jeremy on drugs and that, to me, was unforgivable.

Bonnie. She and I had always been very close. She was Elena's best friend, but my close friend. She was a witch, and I was part-witch. Well, simple spells such as anneurisms and creating fire were the norm for me... but I knew she was destined for so much more. We usually held the same opinions on things which was comforting for us both. Yet, she had always been closer to Elena.

Caroline. My best friend. She had always liked me because I was the only one who never rolled my eyes when she spoke. I respected her like everyone else, but I treated her just as I would everyone else, and that's what brought us close. We would go shopping together, talk about our problems. Her mother, Liz, had treated me like a second daughter as a child as had Bill, her father.

Stefan. I remember meeting him on his first day of school. He sat next to me in History.

"Hey." I whispered as Mr Tanner wrote on the board. "Are you new?"

"Yeah." He smiled. He had a lovely, genuine smile. I smiled back. "What gave me away?"

"Well, you're the only person who doesn't look suicidal due to the fact that they are stuck with this ass of a teacher." I said quietly.

He laughed and I saw his eyes sparkle. "I'm Stefan." He told me.

"Rayna. Most people call me Rain. You can call me Ray if you want, I don't mind."

I noticed him and Elena looking at one another. "That's my twin sister you're eyeing." I told him jokingly.

His eyebrows shot up. "Really? You don't look very similar."

"Yeah, I know. The pretty gene skipped me." I said a little more serious.

"Well, I think you both got equal amounts." He told me. At this I smiled.

"You like her, don't you? Well, I like you, Stefan. You seem like a nice guy. Therefore, you have my blessing."

He laughed shyly. "To what?"

I shrugged. "She's single. I'm hoping you are otherwise you're getting a fist in the face." I joked, but there was an underlying tone of seriousness I knew he could see. "You like her. She definitely likes you. Get to know her. You'll see. She deserves to be happy, anyway."

I had trusted Stefan so easily just like Elena had loved him so easily. Then there was Damon. I don't remember exactly how, but Damon and I had just got on easily. He had originally tried flirting with me at the Grill.

"You're a cheerleader. And Elena's twin." He said smirking charmingly.

"Yeah, I'm you're brother's girlfriend who you're totally crushing on's sister." I shot back with a smirk of my own.

This was probably when Damon had decided to be my friend. I loved him dearly. I found him easy to understand and he knew that. Sometimes, I got him even more than Elena did.

But he would never love me like he loved Elena.

Damon was my bestest friend, and I trusted him with my life. With everything...

Then there was Jeremy. We always knew how to put smiles on each other's faces.

I got inside the house and kicked off my shoes. I walked slowly upstairs to Jeremy's room. He was sat on the bed, reading. A solemn expression on his face.

I sat down on the bed in front of him. Something was wrong with him.

"What's up?"

Jeremy looked up at her as though just noticing I was there. "Oh, uh, nothing. Why?"

"Jeremy, you are the worlds worst liar. A, you're reading. That never happens. B, you have that whole 'I don't want to be alone but I'll isolate myself anyway' look about you." I said. "You can tell me."

He sighed. He knew I would never tell anyone. "Well, there's this new guy in school and-"

"You're in love with him?"

He threw his book at me and laughed. "No! No, just… Well, he seems to really like this girl who I like and she seems to really like him."

"I see." I said quietly. "Does this girl go by the name of-"

The door opened and Jenna walked in. "What are you two talking about?" Jenna asked nosily.

"Jeremy's gay." I laughed.

"I knew it!" Jenna announced. "Don't worry, hunny, we still love you."

"I am not gay!" he protested. Jenna and I turned to each other.

"Denial!" we yelled in unison.

Jeremy laughed along with us. "Look, I gotta go. Hot date with your history teacher." She winked as she twirled in her little black dress.

"You look beautiful, Aunt Jenna." I told her.

Jenna grinned merrily before walking out of the room.

"It's Bonnie, isn't it?" I asked when Jenna had walked down the hallway.

"How did you know?!"

"I know you. Look, whoever this guy is, don't get upset just… It's complicated because she is older but if it's meant to be it's meant to be."

"You mean you're okay with it? With me liking her?"

"Rather be Bonnie than some random slut." I shrugged nonchalantly before leaving him to his thoughts.

I missed him and Elena more than anything. Elena. My Doppelganger twin.

The thing was; whenever I thought of all the memories with the people whom I had grown to love, I thought about my parents. I thought about Isobel, my biological mother who never loved me because I wasn't Elena. My biological father, John, who I had loved even when Elena and Jeremy hadn't. I remember being right there next to him when it ended.

They carried Elena's body through. I knew she was okay. I was her sister, if she wasn't okay I would know it inside. They call it twin telepathy or something, but really, we were apart of each other. I followed John outside. He looked out at the trees in the distance.

"I don't want you to die." I told him, my eyes becoming watery and my vision impaired.

"It is necessary to save her."

"John, I don't want you to die." I said in a quiet voice. He turned and saw the tears falling from my eyes. He embraced me and I hugged him back.

"I love you." I whispered in his ear. "You should know that. I wish that… Things could have been different. Now, th-there isn't time and I have so m-much to say."

"I love you, Rayna. I always have. Since I held you in my arms for the first time."

I stepped back and smiled a sad smile at handed me a silver necklace, much like Elena's vervain one, but it was oval with a blue jem in the centre. Lapis Lazuli. I wondered why he had given me this.

"It's a Gilbert heir loom. It isn't a daylight necklace, but it is magical. I thought you should have it." Then, his body fell to the floor and I wiped the tears from my face. I wouldn't let anyone see me cry. I couldn't. If I let myself cry, I knew I would never stop.

Jenna. My Aunt who had taken care of us when nobody else would. Now, she was dead. Because of Klaus.

Whenever I thought about these sad things I tried to think of all the happy memories of home. When I had showed my mother my powers. I remember lighting the candle and her smile had made the room shine brighter than the flame ever could. I remember the first futuristic vision I had. I predicted Obama. But, the thing was I actually saw him being elected in my head. Like a vision.

I saw Klaus walking towards the car and heard the screams emanating from the house. I shuddered. He sat down in the driving seat, closing the door behind him.

"What's wrong, love? Little bit… What was the word? Squeamish?" he smirked.

"For your information, I've sat through more horror films in the dark than Stefan has eaten bunnies." I said, raising my eyebrow in defiance. Klaus chuckled.

"I don't doubt that, sweetheart."

I had to pretend Elena was dead around Klaus. In a few hours she would wake up to a party Caroline no doubt had planned. And I, would be stuck with Klaus of all people on my birthday. Oh, joy.

The thing was, I would have actually probably liked Klaus had he not killed Jenna. And that mad me feel all the more guilty. I knew I wasn't completely alone on this trip. There was Stefan. Yes, he was a Ripper. But he hadn't shut it off at all, and he did care about me. We were friends, and in an odd way this trip had made us rely on one another more. We both had to keep Elena a secret from Klaus. Which was harder than it seemed. Especially with me and my big mouth.

"Had any more visions, love?" he asked me.

"One." I tell him.

"Care to elaborate?"

"It was earlier when you had only just left the car. It was Stefan killing those two innocent women inside. You may think I don't see all the gory stuff, but I still see it you know." I tell him.

"Yes, but keeping you out of the way is imperative. Your likely to let your humanity get in the way."

I scoff, but I know he's right. I would try and stop them, and Stefan would hurt me, and Klaus would get mad at us both and kill the women anyway.

"It's your birthday tomorrow." Klaus grinned. "Anything on your list?"

"Nope. I'm not into birthdays. Well, I am. I love them. Just not mine." I say.

"And why, may I ask, is that?"

"Because I usually spend it with Elena but she's kind of dead because of you." I spit back. It is hard to keep up this charade, but if it ensured Elena's safety then so be it.

Besides... Snapping at Klaus made it easier to hate him. Somehow.

He went silent for a moment. "It had to be done." Is all that he said.

The next day I woke up in the hotel at five. Today was my birthday, and I wasn't even happy. I wondered if Elena was.

I had a shower and put my hair in a high pony tail before brushing my teeth. I pulled on my white high waisted shorts and my turquoise tee with my denim jacket. I had a feeling today would be a long day.

Elena and I were the youngest in our school year. Our birthday was usually about a week before school started again. It was seven thirty, so I packed up my suitcase knowing we probably would not return to that hotel that night. The summer was nearly over, and I couldn't help but wonder how long Klaus planned to keep me and Stefan with him. I was mortal, after all. I wanted my old life back, but I knew that if something happened to someone I loved because of me, I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

I put on my Gilbert talisman necklace which John had given me. It was beautiful. I heard a knock on the door and in walked Klaus.

"Happy Birthday, love. We're leaving now. Are you ready?"

I nodded. "Yeah." I muttered.

I remained quite for the rest of the car journey to some bar in Tennessee. I sat on a bar stool whilst they interrogated Ray, some werewolf. I ordered myself a drink.

The barman put the bourbon on the counter and I took a small sip. Honestly, I found it disgusting. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Klaus sit next to me and order the same.

"Aren't you supposed to be torturing people?" I asked him bitterly.

"I left Stefan to it."

"Oh, I get it. They still get killed or hurt but it's not on your hands so you don't have to live with it. How brave."

He sighed. "I'd have thought after the summer you'd have grown to at least like me a little." He told me.

I was slightly taken aback at this. "You know what, maybe I could give you a chance. But Jenna only died a few weeks ago. As did Elena. Forgive me if I'm still grieving their deaths."

"Right." He says. "You know, you really are quite moody though."

"At least I don't take it out on others."

"Oh, but you do. You've taken it out on me and even Stefan a few times. Verbally, of course, but it still hurts." He said with a mock sadness on his face before he smirked while I just rolled my eyes.

"Why am I here anyway? I can see the future, sure, but I don't know how to control it. I'm a witch, yeah, but I can only do the simplest of things. Why am I here?" I asked him.

"You underestimate your gifts, Rayna. Seeing into the future is actually rarer than you'd think. You aren't one of those palm readers, because your visions will always come true one way or another. It can be quite useful, and it has. Without you we wouldn't have tracked down many werewolves would we?"

I swallowed, because I knew it was true.

"I have to go freshen up." I said before walking into the bathroom. I brushed my hair and put it back in my high pony tail.

I walked back out to see Klaus and Stefan talking.

"Is my brother still on our trail?" Stefan asked.

"He's getting closer. I'm gonna have to deal with that." Klaus smirked before walking towards ray who was stood against the dartboard with several darts stuck in his chest. If I had seen this a few weeks ago, I would have screamed and probably threw up. But I had seen far worse than that during the summer I had spent with Klaus and Stefan.

"W-W-Wait. Let me handle it." Stefan offered.

"Why should I let you leave?" Klaus asked, eyebrows raised.

"Because you know I'll come back."

"Do I?" the hybrid asked.

"You saved my brother's life." Stefan told him. "I'm in your service."

"Oh, that all sound so tedious and denatured. Aren't you having the least bit of fun?" Klaus grinned, gesturing to Ray.

And Klaus wondered why I wasn't his best friend... he was a sick sociopathic killer.

Stefan pursed his lips. "I'll make sure that my brother doesn't bother us any more."

Stefan began to walk away so I stepped in front of Klaus. "Please, let me go. You know I'll come back because if I don't you'll kill Jeremy and we both know it. Please, Klaus." I begged of him. Stefan stopped in his tracks and turned to watch us.

"Damon will never let you return if you go." Klaus pointed out, shaking his head.

"No, he will. Please. I'll stay with Stefan."

Klaus seemed to debate this in his head for a moment. My eyes flickered to Stefan's as we waited for his answer. I could see in Stefan's eyes he probably thought it was a bad idea, but it would give us time for a private chat. We never really had much time for that with Klaus watching me every second.

"Damon would never let you leave. You're not going. That is final." He said.

I choked back tears. How could he keep me here? I just wanted to see Damon, Elena, Jeremy. Was that too much to ask?! Obviously, it was.

I'd spent all summer, here, with him. Against my will, technically. And all I ever asked was to see my family and friends one last time. I wanted to see Caroline and ask how she was doing. I wanted to have a catch up with Matt and a game of cards with Tyler. I wanted to have a drink with Damon and we'd dance and we would both purge as we always did whilst drunk. I wanted to recite some harder spells with Bonnie. I wanted to play baseball with my brother. To play video games with Ric. To just spend time with Elena.

But, no. No. That was too much to ask for. I didn't know if Klaus was going to keep me with him for the rest of my life or not. Or if he would get bored of me and kill me.

Honestly, I wasn't sure which was worse.

"I hate you." I whispered before running out of the bar. I sat on the bench outside and looked at the stars and the moon. I'd never hated someone before. This was new to me. I was angrier with him than I had ever been with someone before. I didn't know if tomorrow I would feel the same way, but in that moment, I hated him with every fiber of my being.

The next day, I woke up in the hotel to find two small boxes on my bed. One was black and velvet. I picked it up and untied the white ribbon. Inside was a diamond necklace. It was the most beautiful thing I had seen. I gasped as I looked at the intricate detail. There was a note inside it too.

Didn't get the chance to give this to you yesterday

Klaus

I rolled my eyes. What was wrong with him? I didn't want anything and certainly not from him. I picked up the second box which was small and white. I opened it to find an ankle bracelet inside. It was my old vervain bracelet which Klaus had thrown away several days ago to show me who was in charge.

There was a note inside this one too.

So you will always have free will.

Happy birthday.

Stef

I smiled. He still had his humanity and he still cared about me. Of course, I already knew this. But it was a small comfort to know that someone was looking out for me who didn't only care about my powers and who hadn't murdered m aunt.

We walked up the mountains in Tennessee. It was humid rather than hot, but I was still glad I had worn my black denim shorts. I paired them with my grey converse t-shirt and had my hair up and out of my face.

Klaus and Stefan walked ahead of me. Stefan carried Ray over his shoulders.

"Are you okay?" Klaus asked but he didn't sound so sympathetic. "Is Ray getting heavy?"

"I'm fine." Stefan murmured.

"How about you, Rayna?" Klaus asked me.

"I like walking. It's great and all, but not uphill on one of the hottest days of the year." I said dryly.

I could practically hear Klaus' smirk.

"And the company isn't exactly thrilling." I added and knew the smirk had probably vanished by now. Stefan laughed and I smiled.

"You know, I get that we're uh, we're stuck together, but if we could maybe just skip the chit chat? That would be great." Stefan said to Klaus.

"So much brooding. Your self loathing is suffocating you, my friend." Klaus told him.

"Maybe it's cause I'm a little tired of hunting werewolves. We've been at it all summer." Stefan replied.

We stopped walking and saw the crowds of people whom I assumed were werewolves going about their business.

"Thanks to our pal Ray we've found ourselves a pack."

Stefan dropped Ray on the floor and everyone seemed to turn and face us. A woman with short brown hair ran towards him.

"Ray! Oh My God!" she yelled. She knelt beside him, breathing heavily. A tall man whom I could only assume was her boyfriend came and put a consoling hand on her shoulder.

She turned towards us. "Who are you?"

"The important question," Klaus said, standing forward, "is, who am I? Please, forgive the intrusion. My name is Klaus."

I could see the look of fear fall on their faces. The woman stood up slowly.

"You're the hybrid."

"You've heard of me!" Klaus grinned. "Fantastic!"

I sat on a rock and some people looked at me as though sensing I was just human.

"It's quite fascinating actually." Klaus said. He had been talking for the last few minutes, not that I'd been listening. " A werewolf who isn't beholden to the moon a vampire who doesn't burn in the sun. A true hybrid."

Ray gasped and opened his eyes as he tried to sit up. He was breathing heavily.

"Excellent timing, Ray." Klaus smirked.

"Very dramatic." I said. Klaus chuckled but I rolled my eyes, my yes darting to all the trees around the clearing we stood in, finding a possible escape. But Klaus was... Klaus. There was no escaping him.

"What's happening to me?" Ray choked out. I could tell he was in pain.

"Stefan." Klaus muttered.

Stefan stood up and looked around. "Are any of you human?"

I realised what was happening. Ray needed human blood to complete the transformation. I swallowed.

"You're friend, here." Stefan continued. "Needs human blood to complete the transition. If he doesn't get it he will die."

"Not much." Klaus added. "Just a sip. Anyone? A boyfriend? A girlfriend? Along for the ride?"

Klaus turned to the man who appeared to be the brunette's boyfriend. "You."

Before I could fully register what was happening, Klaus had him pinned on the ground next to Ray, a bite mark in his arm. I couldn't take it anymore. Klaus seemed distracted, so I ran into the woods, not wishing to see anymore. Klaus could find me if he wanted to anyway, but something told me his hybrids were a lot more important to him.

I wandered aimlessly around the woods. It was getting dark. I sat down next to a tree.

The world became a very blurry place and I knew what was happening. I was having a vision.

I saw Elena, Damon and Alaric in the woods. It was dark. They were running, and Elena tripped. She looked up, and came face to face with a wolf.

"No." I whispered. "Elena!" I screamed. "ELENA!"

Suddenly, a hand went over my mouth.

"What the hell are you doing?" he demanded, letting go of me. "If Klaus hears you-"

"Elena is here. I saw her. It was dark and they were running and there was a wolf and Stefan it was so close." I said in one breath. Breathing was becoming hard and I was scared I might have a panic attack. Stefan put his hands on my shoulders.

"Calm down, it's okay. I saw them in the woods. Go and find them and warn them. I'll keep Klaus off their trail. They're that way. You have to make them leave. Something is wrong with the Hybrids, if Klaus finds Elena alive he will kill her." He pointed out before he flashed away. I saw the bite mark on his arm and I knew instantly it was a wolf bite.

Shaking all thoughts away, I ran in the direction which Stefan had pointed to.

I ran, using all of my speed. "Damon!" I yelled. I saw them through the trees and ran towards them. They had all stopped so I knew Damon had heard me. I stopped and panted for breath, but Elena already had her arms around me.

"Oh my God, Rain! I've missed you so much!" she told me, and I felt her tears falling on my shoulder. "We've been worried sick! Did he hurt you? Are you OK? I love you so much I need you Jeremy needs you too and finally, you can come home." I pulled away.

"I've missed you too, Elena. But listen to me, it isn't safe for you. Any of you. You have to leave. Now. I had a vision, I saw a wolf following you. You have to go and fast."

"No." Elena protested. "I'm not leaving you. Damon, tell her!"

I looked at Damon and Alaric. Alaric looked at me and I could tell he didn't want to leave me here. It was different than leaving Stefan. I was more likely to get hurt. "Make sure you get her home and safe. If Klaus sees me gone he will figure out it's you who I've gone with. He will kill Elena."

"Rayna, you have to come home." Damon told me sternly. "We've come here for you and Stefan. I'm not leaving you here with him."

His eyes looked at me pleadingly.

I turned to Alaric. "Ric, please."

He seemed to debate this. He knew Jenna would never leave me, and we had grown to think of each other as family. He nodded. "I'll take care of her."

"Thank you."

"No!" Elena screamed. "Rayna, I'm not leaving you or Stefan. I can't, I need you!"

A tear slid down my cheek. "You don't. You need me to stay here. You need me to stay so I can keep you safe. You need to take care of Jeremy. Go, because there is a whole pack up there transitioning into hybrids."

"No, I can't."

I hugged my sister. "I love you, Elena."

"I love you too."

I ran into the trees. I knew if I stayed longer they wouldn't go.

"We'll come back for you!" I heard Damon shout.

I ran in the direction I had come from. It was dark now. I made my way back uphill to Klaus.

"You've been gone a while, love." he said quietly. He was sat on a rock with a bottle of beer in his hands.

I looked around at all of the hybrids. They had blood pouring from their eyes and they lay dead on the floor.

"What have you done to them?" I asked. He looked down.

I could see the disappointment in his face and almost felt sorry for him. Stefan came too, holding a very dead Ray on his shoulders. He dropped the lifeless body to the ground.

"They went rabid." Klaus said quietly. "Some of them I killed, the others just... Bled out." Stefan and I kept quiet as Stefan held onto the bite mark on his arm in pain. "In the end, they're all dead." he said, standing up. Klaus screamed in frustration and threw the bottle to the floor. He turned back to us.

"I DID EVERYTHING I WAS TOLD!" he screamed at us.

I took a step backwards so that I was next to Stefan.

"I should be able to turn them," Klaus continued. "I broke the curse, I killed a werewolf, I killed a vampire... I killed a Doppelganger." Klaus' voice trailed off as he looked at Stefan and I. I felt my heart begin to race. No, no he couldn't think Elena was alive! He would kill her to make the hybrids! Stefan was panicked too.

Klaus' expression changed. "You look like hell." he said to Stefan, almost smirking.

I could see the momentary relief in Stefan's face. "Last I checked I'm dying." Stefan said, holding out his arm with the horrific bite mark on. "And, you don't wanna heal me." Stefan was breathing heavily.

I had seen the effects of the werewolf bite on a vampire twice before. With Rose, and then with Damon. But Stefan and I had left Damon shortly to go and see Klaus. Stefan looked to the ground at Ray. "I had to take him out. I had no other choice...I failed you. I'm sorry." Stefan started walking forwards. "Do what you have to do."

I looked at Stefan wide eyed. Was he...Manipulating Klaus? What was he playing at?

Klaus looked at Stefan and narrowed his eyes. "It should've worked." he then turned around and walked away and for a split second I was worried that he was going to leave Stefan for dead. Instead, he picked up the empty beer bottle. He turned back to Stefan and I watched his eyes turn a beautiful amber colour as he bit into his wrist. I couldn't help but be mesmerized. I'd never seen a vampire's face like that. Even though he was a hybrid. He squeezed the blood into the bottle and held it out for Stefan to take. "Bottom's up."

Stefan unsurely took the bottle and held it in his hands. "We're leaving." Klaus said before walking away. He stopped and turned back to look at all of the dead hybrids surrounding us and then back at Stefan and I. "It appears you're the only comrades I have left." he said and despite everything, I felt sorry for him. He'd waited a thousand years for this day, and to be so disappointed... It didn't change all the bad he had done though. He then walked into the forest. Stefan drank from the bottle and I followed after Klaus. He was walking slowly and I didn't think he even noticed my presence.

"I'm sorry." I told him truthfully. He down at me and narrowed his eyes.

"I don't want your pity."

"Well, that's good." I told him. "Because you don't have it. I'm just... Sorry that this didn't work how you thought it would." I said, avoiding his eyes as we continued to walk. I mean, I had to feel a little sorry for him. I wouldn't be me if I didn't.

Stop it! I thought. Don't you dare feel sorry for him, Rayna! Don't you dare! He killed Jenna. He tried to kill Elena, he took you and Stefan away from your home. He's killed thousands and God knows what he has planned to do with you. You hate him.

I bit my lip as I looked down at the ground. I heard the leaves crunch beneath Stefan's feet as he followed after us, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Klaus looking at me. I looked up at him.

"Don't worry your pretty little head about it." he said almost coldly. I wondered if maybe he could tell what I was thinking. I never did have the best poker face. "I always have a plan B." he smirked before he grabbed me roughly by the arm and in a blur, I found myself being practically thrown into the car before Klaus got in the front, slamming the door behind him.

I wrapped my arms around myself and looked down. You see what type of person he is?

"Put your seat belt on, sweetheart." he told me. I looked into the rear view mirror and my eyes caught his. "We have quite a journey ahead of us."

How did I do? Should I turn it into a full length fanfiction? Please Review x