A.N. So . . . not sure how I feel about this chapter but a lot of this information had to be discussed between the three-i mean four-of them lol.
Chapter Two: I'm Becoming This
"You understand what is happening to her, don't you?" Luisa said. Stefan gulped, nodding. "Emily Bennett's spell did indeed do it's job in protecting her. Katherine Pierce is still alive. She lives on in your girl, Elena."
"But how?" Stefan croaked.
"It appears that Emily didn't know that she'd been staked and whoever killed her didn't know about the spell." Luisa told him.
"So the visions Elena's been having . . ." Stefan guessed.
Luisa nodded. "They're Katherine's memories. The pain she's experiencing is the two souls battling for the control of the body."
Stefan listened to Elena's rushed heartbeat from down the hall. "She'll be okay, right? Katherine'll just fade or disappear or something . . ."
"I'm afraid not, Stefan," Luisa sighed. His heart sunk in his chest. "Emily's spell is absolute, not even another Bennett witch could reverse it."
"So what do we do?" Stefan said.
"We do nothing," Luisa told him. "This battle is for Elena and Katherine. They must learn to live with one another and learn to be as one."
Stefan swallowed, shaking his head. "I don't understand."
"Their fates are entwined," Luisa told him. "They must learn to accept one another so that two souls may become one. Until then the body will be in pain, fighting for what comes naturally. Once her souls have merged, she'll be one person. Two halves of the one whole."
"Why can't we just get rid of Katherine?" Stefan said.
Luisa shook her head. "To remove one would end them both. As dark as one of the personalities may be both are a part of her now just as the darkness in you is a part of you." Stefan nodded, understanding. He hated the person he'd been – the Ripper – but it was a part of him and it was a part of his past. It's what grounded him and held him back when his body craved the human blood. He sighed again. Luisa was right. He should have known when he'd first lain eyes on Katherine 145 years earlier that he'd never get rid of her . . .
"Stefan," Luisa's voice was stern and she reached out and held his hands firmly. Stefan just stared at her, confused. "Stefan, you need to accept this as much as she does."
"I don't . . ." Stefan cleared his throat. "I can't . . ."
"You have to," The elder witch insisted. "I understand that your past is not without pain and Katherine is the cause . . . but if you reject her―"
"I could never reject Elena," Stefan cut her off. "I love Elena with everything I have."
"If you reject one you risk losing both," Luisa reminded him.
Stefan swallowed, nodding. "H-How do I―how to w-we . . ."
Luisa sighed, "Unfortunately there is no real precedence for this particular situation." The elder witch stood, pacing back and forth.
"Katherine's a vampire," Stefan said suddenly, his eyes wide.
Luisa shook her head. "Not anymore."
"But . . ." Stefan faltered.
"When Katherine was staked in 1864 her vampire body died but . . . I believe her human essence was trapped in the tomb because of Emily's spell." Luisa explained.
"So when Bonnie and Sheila opened it she was released," Stefan guessed. Luisa nodded. "But why didn't she go into Damon or me or Bonnie or Sheila? Why Elena?"
"It's always about the blood," Luisa told him. "Besides the fact that they are identical, Elena is a direct blood relative of Katherine – her descendant. They share a blood link . . . therefore when the tomb opened, Katherine's essence clung to the familiar."
Stefan nodded in understanding. A noise caught his ear – Elena was softly snoring. He sighed in relief – at least she wasn't having another nightmare. He shook his head, still sighing. "So what do we do, Luisa?"
"She may begin to act differently. I understand that Katherine's personality is quite a bit different than Elena's?" Luisa said. Stefan nodded. "Until balance is found her moods may vary. It is very important, Stefan, that you and her family and close friends do not rebuke or chastise her for any wrong behavior in the meantime. Until her souls find peace with each other any stress or hindrance could do serious damage to her both mentally and physically."
"I understand," Stefan said.
"It's very important, Stefan. You must promise me that you'll take care of her," Luisa stressed.
"I promise," Stefan noded. "There isn't anything I won't do for her." Luisa gave him an approving nod. He perked his ear – Elena was waking up. "She's waking up." He told Luisa.
"Send her in here. Us girls need to have a chat," Luisa said.
Stefan nodded. He used his enhanced speed to blur to her side. He knelt down beside the guest bed and gently kissed her forhead. Her eyes opened slowly, crinkled in confusion. He could hear her heartbeat begin to quicken. "Ssshh . . . you're okay. It's okay. You're in Luisa's guest room."
"D-Did it happen again?" She whispered, her voice hoarse. She scooted closer to him. Stefan nodded. Tears leaked down her face. "Why won't it stop?" She cried.
Stefan just sighed. "Come on. Luisa wants to talk to you." Elena nodded and Stefan helped her up. She seemed fine again, just a bit dizzy and confused as Stefan led her through the strange house.
"Hello, darling," Luisa greeted her with a sympathetic smile. "How are you feeling?"
"Confused," Elena sighed.
"I would imagine," Luisa nodded.
Elena sat down on the sofa across from Luisa. Stefan was about to walk away to let the two women talk but Elena latched on to the pant of his leg. Sensing that she needed him, Stefan turned to Luisa who nodded. He sat down next to Elena and rested the palm of his hand on her knee. She relaxed, leaning into him.
"Alright, dear . . . you are in quite the mess," Luias sighed.
"What's happening to me?" Elena questioned.
"Stefan told me what happened in that tomb," Luisa said. "You, my dear, have joined souls with your ancestor."
"Katherine?" Elena gasped. "B-But why?"
"Emily's spell protected her soul when she was killed over a hundred years ago and trapped it in the tomb. When it was opened, it went to you because you are her blood descendant."
"My nightmares . . ." Elene whimpered.
"Her memories," Luisa nodded.
"I don't want her in my head," Elena shook her head. "She's evil. She hurt people . . . used and abused them l-like toys . . ."
"There isn't anything I can do, I'm sorry," Luisa told her. "What's done is done. You and she must learn to compromise. Your souls will become one but not until you've found peace with each other."
"But―"
"The sooner you accept one another the better it will be for the both of you. Until then your two souls will fight and your body will become weaker." Luisa told her.
"There has to be another way," Elena held on to Stefan's arm. Luisa shook her head. Elena sighed in defeat.
"There are a few things you must know," Luisa said. "Until your souls accept each other, your individual personalities have to learn to accomadate the other."
"You didn't say anything about her personality changing," Stefan said. Elena gulped.
"It won't . . . much. You both have to understand that there are two soul here. Each with their own different personalities – likes, habits, histories, everything. When they merge, both will still be there, just . . . different."
"Will I be . . ." Elena sucked in a breath. "Will I . . ."
"Be an evil, manipulative, bitch?" Luisa finished, smirking. Elena let out a deep breath, nodding. "No . . . not if you don't let yourself. It's tricky . . . it's the same as now. Do you allow yourself to be that rude to people?" Elena shook her head. "Then you have just answered your own question. Now, I didn't know her . . . just like I don't know you. What causes any of us to act the way we do? You both may learn along the way to respect what the other has experienced."
Elena nodded. "That makes sense."
"There's something ese you should know," Luisa sighed. "Situations like this are not common at all. I have, however, heard of a few instances . . ."
"What is it?" Stefan said.
Luisa's eyes softened, her gaze on Stefan and Elena's joined hands. "There have more often than not cases where the two souls – when merged – are attracted to different people than before." Stefan and Elena tensed. "Once half of the joined souls may long for one person and the other half for another. The three of you will need to be especially patient and understanding while the two souls are figuring out who they both love – whether or not it's the same person."
"Katherine didn't love anyone but herself." Stefan mumbled.
Suddenly Elena's hand let go of Stefan's and slapped him across the face. Stefan's jaw dropped, stunned. An expression of rage replaced Elena's confusion and fear. Elena backed away from Stefan, her arms crossed. A tense alertness filled her presence.
"What the hell was that?" Stefan rubbed his cheek, feeling off because Katherine used to exude the same vibe Elena was now giving off.
Luisa observed the two, especially Elena. "I believe we are now in the presence of the other soul."
"You've got that right," Her lips pursed in a tight line.
Stefan turned to look at his girlfriend, stunned.
"Hello, Katherine," Luisa kept her voice soft. "My name is Luisa."
"Witch, right?" Elena/Katherine smirked. Luisa nodded. Katherine's signature smirk disappeared from Elena's face and instantly turned to anxiousness. "Put me back in my own body. Now."
"I'm sorry, Katherine, but that isn't possible," Luisa shook her head. "I'm afraid your body has been turned to dust for over a hundred years."
Her jaw slacked almost angrily. "Right . . . I remember . . . it was Jonathan. Jonathan Gilbert . . . ." Her eyes grew angry. "The vervain made me too weak and I couldn't fight him . . ."
"That's right," Luisa nodded. "Your Bennet witch cast a spell to protect you."
"She failed," Katherine huffed.
"She did it because Damon asked her to," Stefan cleared his throat, his voice bitter.
Katherine sighed. "He always was attached to me like a little mutt following after its owner." The tone in her voice dug dep in Stefan's heart. He'd never heard such a vindictive tone in Elena's voice before.
"Do you know where you are, Katherine?" Luisa questioned.
Katherine looked around. "Is this what the afterlife looks like?" Her eyes took in Luisa's ecclectic earth-witch tastes and she scrunched her nose.
"Darlin', it's 2010," Luisa told her.
If Katherine was surprised, she didn't let it show. "145 years, yes?" Katherine out a deep breath. "The tomb opened with the passing of the comet."
"That's right," Luisa said. "What do you last remember?"
Her eyes flew to Stefan's, their gazes locked. For a moment, Stefan thought he saw her eyes soften. Was it Katherine or Elena staring at him right now? What was she―they―thinking about?
"'Lena?" Stefan said softly.
Her eyes narrowed, "Don't call me that." Stefan actually flinched with the harshness of her voice. He was sure that if she were a vampire right now, her face would have changed right then.
"Hon, you both need to accept this. Elena is your descendant – your blood – and there's a reason your soul jumped into her when the two was opened. You both will come to accept each other," Luisa told her.
"Get rid of her," Katherine practically growled. Stefan cleared his throat.
Luisa leaned forward and grasped one of the younger girls' hands with both of hers. Katherine tried to pull back but Luisa's grip was tight. "That's not going to happen. We both know how powerful Emily was. Nothing's going to reverse it."
Suddenly Katherine lunged forward, pulling her hand from Luisa's and held the witch a chocking hold. Stefan tensed, jerking forward to break them apart but Luisa shook her head. Katherine squeezed Luisa's throat tighter. "Get this girl out of me!" Katherine screamed.
"Stop it, Katherine," Luisa choked. "Stop!" She closed her eyes and mumbled under her breath. "Elena, make her stop!"
"I can't . . ." A weak voice echoed in the room.
Stefan's eyes scanned for the source of the fourth voice. "Elena?"
"Elena, take control. Make Katherine cooperate with you!" Luisa shouted, still choking.
Katherine smirked, squeezing tighter. "She's not strong enough."
"Elena, please!" Stefan could hear Luisa's heartbeat begin to slow. "Damnit, Katherine!"
"Stefan, I can't . . ."Elena's cries echoed.
"Yes you can!" Stefan shouted. "You can, Elena. You're one of the strongest people I know."
"I'm trying . . . she's too strong . . ."Elena's voice echoed.
Luisa's eyes narrowed and she mumbled under her breath again. Katherine's eyes widened and her grip loosened. She fell backward onto the couch, shaking. She cried out and Elena's voice cried out in identical echoes with Katherine's.
Luisa sat up, still chanting under her breath. Elena's screams faded out, leaving only Katherine's. "That will be enough of that." Luisa panted, coughing.
"What did you do to her―them?" Stefan held her now still body in his arms.
"I silenced her for the moment," Luisa sighed, straightening her clothes. Elena's eyes were still open but neither soul was active.
Stefan swallowed, "Will this happen again?"
"It may," Luisa answered. "She has to learn to control herself and her human body." Stefan sighed as Elena's eyes closed as she drifted off to sleep in his arms.
He was worried about her. He knew what Katherine was and what she was like. He also knew Elena and he just didn't understand how this was going to work.
"She'll need you most of all," Luisa told him. "Right now her collective worlds are completely chaotic and unlike anything she's ever known."
"You keep saying 'she'," Stefan observed.
Luisa nodded, "You have to help her adjust to this and by you not acknowledging her individual selves she sees that she's okay and there's nothing wrong with her the way she is. It's like I said – you and your support and love will ground her. Katherine and Elena need to accept each other so "they" can be "she."
Stefan nodded, somewhat understanding what Luisa was saying. Even so, he sighed. "There's really nothing we can do to fix this?" He stroked Elena's hair, finding comfort in the near-stillness and regularity of her heartbeat.
"I'm sorry, Stefan," Luisa sighed as well. "You know that if I could, I would. You're like a son to me – more so than my actual children. I can see how much you love her and that you'll take care of her."
Stefan let out a deep breath. "It's just a lot to process. I mean . . ." He cleared his throat. "The Katherine that I remember and the Katherine I found out about and the Elena I know and love . . . It's just . . ."
"I know," Luisa nodded. "But I promise it will be okay eventually. For now it's hard but you both need to be there for each other. Love her, understand her, support her . . . don't judge her or try to change her. Otherwise you'll lose her forever."
To Be Continued . . .
A.N. I apologize for the lateness and shortness of this chapter -working way to much lately. Hope you enjoyed and thanks for readin'. ;)