Chapter Two

Fells Church

Lue's POV

After the masquerade, I laid low for as long as possible. What with new strength to learn to control and everything I needed a little break. Italy was fun but now it's back to business. It's time to get some answers from that bitch Katherine. As it turns out I don't need to do very much.

As I'm making my way through the forest I hear voices. As I get closer I see Elena and Caroline. Keeping back I follow them and listen in on their conversation.

" Tell everyone I wasn't feeling well and I went home from school. "

" I can't believe I'm agreeing to this. I'm a terrible liar. "

" And keep Stefan busy. I don't want him to know what I'm up to. "

" I'm even worse at duplicity and you know this. "

" You managed to keep me occupied when Katherine paid Stefan a visit. "

" Yeah, because she threatened me. Not that I'm saying that you should use that as a tactic, it's... Stefan's gonna see right through me. "

" Caroline, as my friend, do you promise or not? "

" You had to break out the girlfriend code. Okay. I promise. "

" Okay. "

" Why don't you want Stefan to know? "

" Because he would never be okay with me doing this. I need answers and she has them. "

I need to know what's going on with this whole doppelganger situation. There has to be more to me looking like the Petrova doppelgangers, I've always known it. For over seventy years I've played it straight. I just didn't want to rock the boat... Until now.

I avoid Caroline's retreating form and head to the tomb as well. So Elena wants to talk to Katherine about her origins... Should be interesting. I get a little closer to them so I can hear what they're saying. I silently make my way to the top of the stairs where I can hear clearly.

" Stefan know you're here? "

Katherine asks weakly.

" I brought you some things. "

Elena says and I can hear the rustle of the bag.

" You came to bribe me? What is it that you want? "

She asks obviously knowing already.

" I want you to tell me about Klaus. "

I can almost picture the look on Katherine's face.

" Hmm, you've been busy. "

" I brought you this. It's your family history. It says in here that the family line ended with you. Obviously, that's not true. "

Elena says making my ears perk up.

Katherine scoffs.

" You think that if you brought me some family keepsake that I'd open up? "

Yes, yes please do!

" I also brought you this. "

Elena says and I can hear the swish of blood in a bottle. I know that Katherine was starving, therefore I know she's going to get some answers.

" You don't look so good. How long before your body shuts down? 10, 20 years? It must be painful to desiccate and mummify. I can't even imagine. "

I grin at her coldheartedness.

Hearing and smelling the blood I know Elena I getting her way as I suspected.

" You have the Petrova fire. Reminds me of someone I used to call my friend. "

Katherine says making Lue roll her eyes.

Don't think you can out me now you crazy bitch.

" More blood? "

Hearing Katherine sigh heavily I sit down silently, tired of standing.

" It's a long story, Klaus and I. It goes all the way back to England, 1492, after I left Bulgaria or was thrown out. "

That was news to Lue. Katherine always told her that she was from England.

Elena gives Katherine more blood.

" Thrown out? "

" My family, your true ancestors, they disowned me. My indiscretions were not tolerated at that time. I had a baby out of wedlock. The shame. "

Katherine says in mock disdain.

My hand goes over my mouth at that admission. A baby? She had a- Oh My God!

" It was kept a secret? "

" Mhmm. My baby was given away. I was banished to England and I had to learn to adjust so I quickly became English. It was there that I caught the eye of a nobleman named Klaus. I was taken with him at first until I found out what he was and what he wanted from me and then I ran like hell. "

Katherine says filling in some of the blanks.

" So, what did Klaus want? "

Elena asks getting into the story.

" The same thing that he'll want from you. He wants to break the curse. "

I'm mystified. I'm never the one to give sympathy to Katherine, but I can understand why she ran.

" By sacrificing the Petrova doppelgänger. "

Katherine sighs.

" He wanted to drain every single drop of blood from my body. "

" What does the Petrova bloodline have to do with Klaus? "

Elena asks once again making my ears perk up.

" It's really tedious but... "

Katherine baits.

" The curse was bound by the sacrifice of Petrova blood. Witches are crafty with their spells. The doppelgänger was created as a way to be able to undo the spell. Once the doppelgänger reappeared, the curse can be broken. "

" So you ran before he killed you? "

" Something like that. "

Katherine says telling us the story of her time with Klaus.

" You killed yourself?! "

Elena gasps out.

" Klaus needed a human doppelgänger. As a vampire, I was no longer any use to him. "

Katherine says as if she's the smartest person in the world.

" But it didn't work. You didn't really escape, you've been running from Klaus ever since. "

Elena says bursting her bubble.

" I underestimated his thirst for vengeance but living in a suitcase is better than dying so you can have your blood spilled over some silly little rock. "

I can hear Elena's heart speed up.

" What's wrong? Afraid I'm right? You don't want to die? There's another way out. "

Katherine says, and I can smell her blood flowing.

" Better hurry. Your opportunity is going, going, going and gone... I made the other choice. "

And yet you took mine away. How ironic. I can't even stand to sit here and listen to her BS for another second.

By the time either of them spoke again I was gone.

Two Weeks Later

Once I get to the underground tomb, I look in and it's so dark that I can't see anything.

" Hello? Katherine? " I call out.

A few seconds later Stefan Salvatore shows himself.

" Stefan? How did you end up in there? " I ask.

He looks shocked, to say the least. " Elena? "

I grin. " Not exactly. I'm Lue. "

Katherine comes up and looks me in the eyes. " What are you doing here? " She asks with venom in her voice.

" Chill bitch I brought you a peace offering. " I say going into my LV and tossing a few blood bags in the tomb.

Katherine wastes no time, ripping one open and crushing it in a few gulps. I throw one at Stefan who won't even look at her.

" Are you seriously not going to talk to me at all? " She asks giving him the puppy dog eyes.

Stefan sighs and looks everywhere but at her " We could talk about how you regret all you've done to make my life miserable. "

" How about we talk about how you turned me because you knew that I was your descendant? "I ask interrupting them.

Katherine growls. " There's nothing to tell. " She says grinning, knowing that it's killing me. She then turns her attention back to Stefan.

" What do you want me to say, Stefan? That I'm sorry for everything that I've done? Well, I'm not, okay? It's called self-preservation. I've been looking out for myself for 500 years. "

" Look where it has gotten you. " He says ignoring the tension between the two of us.

Katherine sighs. " Yes, I've done terrible things. I know that, but I do love you, Stefan. Even if you don't believe it. "

" You want me to believe you? Show me. Do something. Prove to me that there's something inside of you that's actually worth trusting. " He says with an air of distrust.

I'm not really interested in the dynamics of their relationship so I say. " Can we not? If you want the truth from her you'll be waiting until the sun burns out. "

Katherine ignores me. " And then what? You're still gonna hate me. "

" Maybe and maybe I'll see that there's still hope for you after all. " He says making me chuckle.

Katherine looks over at me with narrowed eyes, then back at Stefan. " You're playing me. "

" Am I? " He asks looking her right in the eyes for the first time.

Katherine looks hopeful after all. " You want to find Klaus? Kill him so that you can protect your precious Elena? "

" Let me guess: you know where he is. " Stefan asks in an unbelieving tone.

" No, I don't, but I could help you find him. " She says in a bored tone.

Stefan narrows his eyes. " For a price I'm sure. "

" Start with Isobel, Elena's mother. She was a research expert. She found me. " She says with a sick grin.

They just stare at each other, making me grow more and more uncomfortable.

" You're welcome. " She says like she really helped.

Hearing someone else coming. They look at me and I shrug. We can only wait which is problematic in my shoes. Taking a step to the side I wait not wanting to get accidentally pushed into the tomb. A minute later a brunette man in a suit appears at the end of the stairs looking as serious as can be. Katherine looks surprised to see this man, frightened even.

" Elijah. " She gasps in terror.

He notices Stefan and I, but keeps his eyes glued on Katherine. " Good evening Katerina. Thank you for having the good sense to be frightened. " He says looking at Stefan. " Your release has been requested. "

I can't believe that I'm so close to an original. One of the oldest vampires in history and it makes me kind of... Excited? Intrigued? I don't know.

It's Stefan's turn to look shocked. " What? By who? "

" The lovely Elena drives a hard bargain. However, we reached a peaceful agreement, she and I. Please. " He says gesturing for Stefan to walk out of the tomb. " Come. "

Stefan looks around. " I can't. "

" Yes, you can. I've had the spell lifted. " Elijah says officially making my body tense making my guard go up tenfold.

Just because I'm now stronger than Katherine doesn't mean I want her to know it. So put on a show of fear I must. Stefan steps out slowly. Once he's out, Katherine rushes to get out too, but Elijah blocks the entrance.

He looks down at her intensely. " As for you, however, you should not exit until I say so. When Klaus comes, he'll want to know exactly where you are. "

Well then. Looks like she didn't just cross one original... Good for me.

He cuts his eyes my way for the first time and has to do a double-take. " Hello there, and you are? " He asks coming closer and grabbing my hand gently.

" I'm Lue. " Is all I can muster.

He smiles a dashingly bright smile. " Well, Miss Lue this is quite the twist. " He says lifting my hand and kissing it.

We both hear Katherine hiss but neither of us pays no mind.

" I know we just met miss Lue but will you do me the honor of escorting me to the local grille? I'd love to get to know you better. "

I know that he has ulterior motives but can't deny him. " Sure. I could use a drink. "

Elijah looks to Stefan. " You're free to go. Elena will explain the arrangement to you. If she keeps her word, I'll keep mine. " He says taking my hand as we disappear.