Chapter 4 | Masquerade

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  "Here" Damon handed a glass of blood to a shaking Caroline Forbes, who sat on his couch trying to calm her nerves.

"I'm still shaking." She chucked nervously, taking the glass out of the Salvatore's hand.

  Stefan marched in with a certain blonde vampire and brunette hybrid hot on his trail, since they had all been called by Damon.

"What happened?" The younger Salvatore looked between his brother and girlfriend's best friend for answers.

Damon smirked. "Go ahead, tell 'em." He turned to the three confused other supernaturals, "You're gonna love this."

  "This better be good Salvatore, I was in an amazing sleep," Adelaide said, wearily.

  "I saw Katherine today." Caroline began, the two older girls raised their brows, now intrigued.

  "Where?"

"At the grill. I just stopped by to gawk..." She pauses, "and quasi-stalk Matt."

  Damon rolled his eyes, "Skip the teen drama. Get to it."

  "It's her story, let her tell it." Mira voiced, sending the raven haired vampire a look that he returned.

The Forbes girl sends her a grateful smile before she continued. "Then I had to pretend to use the bathroom even though I didn't really have to go because I'm a doofus." She explained, telling them that after she had gone into the bathroom, Katherine appeared claiming to be Elena. As the blonde tried to leave Katherine stopped her, demanding she delivered the Salvatore's a message.

  "What was the message?" Stefan queried

"That she wants the moonstone or she will rip this town apart until it rains blood."

  Adelaide turned to her best friend, "Sounds like something you would say, M."

  Mira glared playfully, "Do not insult me like that."

  "Tell them the rest of it." Damon urged, cutting off the girls banter.

  "She wants it tonight, at the masquerade ball."

Addie furrowed her brows, "another freaking event? What is up with this town?"

  "She wants to do it in public." Stefan stated, ignoring Adelaide's confusion. "Killing Mason threw her off guard."

  "She's running scared." Damon voiced, "What she did to Jenna was desperate. She's out of tricks."

After Damon had told Katherine about the Lockwood dog's death she had compelled Elena's aunt to stab herself. Resulting in the human doppelgänger to break up with Stefan.

Adelaide shook her head, "You can't underestimate her, for once try and be smarter."

Stefan pointed to her in agreement. "Exactly."

"Can we just give her the moonstone so she'll leave?" Caroline questioned, hopeful.

"Hell no, the day I give Katherine Pierce what she wants, is the day I die" Mira spat,

"The irony." Adelaide mumbled, causing Mira to elbow her.

"Mira's right, Katherine's not getting dick. I've had it." Damon snapped, "I'm gonna go to the masquerade ball and I'm gonna kill her, tonight."

  "You're not gonna kill her," Stefan shook his head.

Damon pointed at his brother in annoyance, "don't give me that goody-goody crap."

Mimi crossed her arms. "If you're not letting Damon kill her, than I'll happily do it myself."

"And I'll be assisting." Adelaide added.

Stefan turned to them, "You're not gonna kill her either."

"Bitch." The blonde and brunette duo scoffed.

"Really?" Damon glared.

"Mhm, Because I am." Stefan announced. Damon smirked at this, liking the different side of his brother.

  "So are we coming up with a plan or what?" Adelaide asked

  "Or we could simply send me and Adelaide to this ball to kick Katherine's ass. I mean we're both older than her, it'll be easier for us than it would be for any of you," Mira boasted.

  "No, we need a plan. We have to get her somewhere secluded and we have to lock her in. We obviously can't just kill her in front of everyone," Stefan explained.

  Adelaide rolled her eyes. "You and you're morals."

  "Gives me a headache." Mimi added, high-fiving Addie.

  "You two give me a headache." Damon teased

  "Don't make me break your neck Salvatore." Mimi sassed, "Cause I'm very tempted."

Damon raised a challenging brow. "You wouldn't dare."

"Wanna bet?" The brunette smirked

Caroline leaned towards Adelaide. "She wouldn't do it would she?" She asked in a whisper.

Addie tilted her head, pretending to think, "Well..." she trailed off watching Mira speed over to the older Salvatore and instantly snapped his neck causing him to fall to the ground, lifeless. "Yes, she definitely would."

Mimi turned to see two amused blondes and an unimpressed Stefan. "What?" She shrugged, indifferently.

The brooding vampire clicked his tongue, "I'm going to go call Bonnie." He looked down at his temporarily dead brother, "Tell Damon to call Alaric when he gets up." With that he walked out,

"His so uptight." Addie sighed

"Tell me about it." Caroline and Mira spoke in unison. Slowly turning to each other with a smirk.

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  Caroline opened the door for Bonnie, who stepped inside the Boarding House with her grimoire in hand. "Hey, I got Stefan's message." She said, to her blonde best friend.

  "Hey, you brought the grimoire. Thank you." Stefan stood in front her her with a thankful look.

She looked over to a now alive Damon who stood with Alaric, both sorting through the latters weapons. With the Saltzman hunter explaining what each one does. The vampire glaring at a certain hybrid everyone once and a while. After waking up he tried to get her back for the neck snap, but it didn't work out well for him since she broke his wrist.

  Bonnie than turned her gaze to Mira and Adelaide, who both sat on the lounge, drinking blood, completely unbothered.

Bonnie turned back to Stefan, "What's going on?" She questioned.

Jeremy suddenly walked in, "We're gonna kill Katherine." He explained, leaving the witch and vampire to join Alaric.

"I can explain." Stefan assured upon seeing the Bennett's look.

"Please."

Adelaide looked over to them, "We're gonna kill Katherine." She smiled

Bonnie's eyes switched between her and Stefan. "Yeah, that's all I got." Stefan sighed, walking over to the group of males surrounding the weapons, bonnie soon following.

"This works with compressed air. Trigger mechanism here. I've got two of these in a different size." Alaric showed them the weapon. He turned to Stefan, "Now, for you, I recommend this." He slipped on a sleeve with wooden stakes attached to it. "Fits nicely under a jacket sleeve. Here's the trigger. And when you're ready," He released a stake, catching it in his hand in a stabbing position.

He than saw the looks on the others faces, "You wanted me to show you how to kill a vampire, so." He shrugged.

Mira looked over at the Salvatore's, a pointed look on her face. "We're four vampires, using hunting weapons to kill one vampire. Haven't you ever heard of a hand and a heart skill?"

"Ooh, or decapitation?" Adelaide chirped, Mimi motioned towards her in agreement.

The brothers ignored them, continuing to look over the weapons.

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The group were now huddled together in the living room, going over the plan.

"All right. If anybody wants to back out, I'll understand." Stefan spoke, his arms crossed.

"Yeah, cold feet, speak now. I don't want this going wrong because someone chickens out." Damon's gaze turned to the newest vampire. "Caroline?"

"I won't." The Forbes vampire assured, firmly. "Look, she killed me. Fairs fair. As long as there are no werewolves running around."

Damon looked over at the brunette hybrid with a smirk, "Oh, we took care of Mason."

Mimi raised a perfect brow. "It was mostly me, but whatever helps you sleep at night."

"As long as Tyler doesn't kill anyone, he won't turn." Jeremy informed

Stefan's eyes trailed to a hesitant looking witch. "Bonnie? You with us?"

Reluctantly Bonnie walked closer to the group, "But no one gets hurt."

"Well, apart from Katherine of course." Adelaide voiced, "Tonight, the bitch goes down."

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Mimi and Adelaide returned home to get dressed for the masquerade.

Adelaide quickly rushed into her best friends room."I'm borrowing a dress!" She shouted

"Don't you have your own?" Mimi asked, walking into her room also.

"Yep," The blonde smiled, "But yours are better." With that she grabbed the dress she liked the most and left for her own room. Leaving Mira to pick her outfit.

Mira wore a black silky slip dress, that stopped at mid thigh length. Spaghetti strapped, a cowl neckline, a small slit up the left side of her thigh with a low back. A black butterfly-like mask with rhinestone and bead embellishments, covering her eyes.

Adelaide wore a deep red mini dress that showed off her figure. It was a square neckline, spaghetti strapped and ruched at the end. Accompanied with a red mask that had black detailing.

  Both girls walked down opposite sides of their bifurcated staircase.

  "My, my, don't you look stunning." Adelaide gasped

  "As do you. But Elliana would have a fit if she saw you in that color," Mira remarked.

  "Well, it's a good thing she isn't here. Besides it was in your closet." The blonde retorted, playfully.

  "Yeah, I think I stole it from her."

  Adelaide shook her head, "Shall we go take down a Petrova?"

  Mimi nodded, "We shall."

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  People were scattered around the now decorated Lockwood mansion. Man and women dressed in their  fancy outfits, masks shielding their identities. Lights glistened throughout the backyard, music loud for the people on the dance floor to sway to.

  Adelaide sipped her champagne as she received a nod from Jeremy and Bonnie, who were heading upstairs to begin the plan. She than turned to search the crowd for her brunette best friend.

  Mira stood outside, trying to see if she can spot Katherine anywhere. Scanning her eyes over the dance floor, her gaze settled on Stefan dancing with what looked more like Elena with the straight hair, but from the clothes Mimi instantly knew it was the vampire doppelgänger.

  She couldn't hear them over the music and loud conversations going on, but suddenly a girl came up to them. Katherine slowly stood behind the human girl, snapping her back in the process.

  The hybrid shook her head while walking inside. She than bumped into someone. A woman, slightly taller than her, Lucy. She knew instantly this woman not human but a witch, a Bennett witch to be exact.

  Lucy went to apologise to the Emberson girl, when she sensed it. The powerful aura around the girl, unnatural power. This was the girl witches were told to hunt for centuries now. Lucy slowly took a step back from Mira.

  "The hybrid." She mumbled to herself, although said girl heard her loud and clear.

  Mimi smirked, "Another Bennett witch, huh? I'm gonna take a wild guess and say you're here for Katherine."

  "I never believed you were real. I thought you were just a myth to scare people." Lucy spoke, with slight shock evident in her voice.

  "Nope, I'm real. Completely and sincerely, one hundred percent real. And god knows what you'll do with that information, so." Mimi pulled the witch closer, staring directly into her eyes. "What's your name?"

  "Lucy." The witch replied, emotionlessly.

  Mira smiled. "Good, you can be compelled." She looked back into to her the Bennett's eyes. "You will never utter a word about me or this conversation to anyone, ever. Because if you do, I'm gonna rip out your heart and shove it down your throat. Now you're going to walk away and continue on with what ever it is you were doing."

  In a hypnotise manner, the Bennett witch nodded her head and walked away. Not before giving the hybrid a horrified glance, confused on how that had happened to her.

  Adelaide suddenly appeared beside Mira. "Showtime." The blonde smiles cheekily receiving a smirk in response. Both best friends heading for the staircase to hide and wait for their part in the plan.

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  "Why do you keep dragging me into this? I don't want any part of it." Caroline cried, Katherine having a hold of her hair. Caroline had convinced her that Bonnie had the moonstone and she was hiding out in one of the Lockwood rooms.

  "Shut up." Katherine hissed. "Which room is it?"

  Caroline let out a sob as she reluctantly nodded to a room. "It's that one."

  Katherine let the blonde go while walking into the room, that turned out to be empty.

  "Where is she?" Katherine frowned when she heard the Forbes vampire laugh behind her.

  "I did it." Caroline grinned, "I really didn't think that I'd be able to fool you, but I did it."

  Katherine glared before rushing at the blonde, only to be stopped by an invisible barrier. "What the..?" She sighed, sensing a certain Salvatore. "Stefan."

  "Hello, Katherine," Stefan greeted.

  Caroline smirked, "Goodbye, Katherine." She waved mockingly before turning and leaving.

Adelaide and Mira, who stood in rather large closet for a guest room, giggled upon hearing Caroline's confidence against the person who killed her. They were to stay hidden unless something went wrong, mostly a back up plan.

"You don't really think that you can kill me with that, now, do you?" Katherine smirked, eyeing the stake Stefan was twirling.

"No." Stefan shrugged, watching Damon walk out of the closet, opposite to the one the best friends were in. The older Salvatore held a compressed air weapon, quickly shooting Katherine in the back.

The Pierce woman gasped and stumbled, not being able to reach the stake digging into the skin of her back. Before she even had a chance to compose herself, Stefan rushed at her and drove another stake through her arm. He pulled his arm back to stab her again but Katherine caught his hand and pushed him away.

Damon than ran at her, pulling the stake out her back to try and aim at her heart. Only for Katherine to throw him at the wall. It was a messy fight, all three of them going back and forth with stakes being thrown. Damon went for her again, stake in hand, but Katherine twisted his wrist and aimed the weapon at his chest instead.

Before she had the chance to impale Damon with the stake, Stefan sped at her and pulled her away from the older Salvatore. Falling to the floor in the process, keeping a tight hold around her neck.

Damon, seeing his opportunity to kill her once and for all, picked up a stake and aimed to kill. But before he got the chance, they all turned to a voice that rang throughout the room.

"Stop!" Jeremy shouted, "You're hurting Elena. Everything you're doing to her is hurting Elena."

Stefan let go of the now smiling Katherine while Damon pulled the stake away.

"You think you two are the only ones with a witch on your side? Katherine questioned, "Wrong. And something tells me that my witch is better than your witch." She snatched the stake out of Damon's hand and twirled it.

"You have got to be kidding." Mira murmured, from her hiding spot. Both, her and Adelaide pissed about not getting their chance to attack the former Petrova.

"Jeremy, go check on Elena." Stefan demanded, "Make sure she's okay. Go!" Jeremy quickly ran to do what was told.

"Let's all make sure poor Elena is okay." Katherine rolled her eyes. She than held the stake in her left hand ready to impale her right one, intent on hurting Elena. "Just a little bit more pressure." She wounded her hand.

Addie scoffed, "I'm so going to regret this." With that she rushed out of the closet a pulled the stake from Katherine's hand, catching the younger brunette off guard.

The doppelgänger stared at her in confusion. When it set in exactly who she was, fear began creeping up on her. "If you're here, than that must mean-"

She was cut off by a swooshing noise coming from the same hiding spot Adelaide had just ran from. Something came and pushed Katherine roughly, resulting in said girl to fall back on the couch behind her.

"Hiya Kitty." Mira smirked, as she stood next to Adelaide.

Shock quickly overtook all other emotions Katherine had been feeling in that moment. Not being able to comprehend Mira standing in front of her.

  "Mira." Katherine gritted out. "Long time no see."

  Mimi scoffed, "No long enough, actually."

  Trying to forget the two older girls being in the room, Katherine switched her gaze between Stefan and Damon. She quickly stood, grabbing a stake that had fallen on the couch during the fight. She held it in front of her stomach. "This is really gonna hurt."

  "Wait," Damon stopped her, both him and Stefan reaching forward. While both Mira and Adelaide took a sit in two separate chairs, just wanting out of there.

  Katherine gave the boys an amused look, she pulled the stake away and took a sit back on the couch with her leg crossed. "Okay. So how about that moonstone?"

  "Mhm, how about, no?" Adelaide shrugged.

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  "The three of us together, just like old times." Katherine voiced, "The brother who loved me too much, and the one that didn't love me enough."

  "And the devil slut vampire who only loved herself." Damon, who was holding his hand up against the invisible barrier, retorted.

  "What happened to you, Damon?" Katherine queried, "You used to be so sweet and polite."

  Damon turned with a mocking smirk. "Oh, that Damon died a long time ago."

  "Good. He was a bore."

"Can you two shut up before you make me stake myself." Adelaide grumbled.

Katherine turned to the older girls, "Let us not forget the oldest two in the room. Although usually there's three of you. Where is the precious Elliana?"

A scowl took over the best friends faces. "I wouldn't start Katherine." Adelaide spat.

"Hm, last I saw her was the death of her little sister, poor girl-" She's cut off but Mira's hand now wrapped around her throat.

"Mira!" Stefan and Damon rushed towards her but Adelaide held them back with her strength.

"Okay Katerina," Mimi spoke, grimly. While the younger brunette whimpered under her grip. She stared right into the Petrova's now frightened eyes. "Listen up and listen good. If I ever here you say her name ever again I'll cut out your tongue. You think you've won because your still alive? Sweetheart, I don't give a damn about Elena Gilbert and if you keep pushing me I'm gonna detach your head from your body. Even if hers goes down with it. And know this, once that barrier is down I won't even let you make it out of town, let alone get that moonstone."

  With that she let go of her and returned to her previous seat, rather calm, but a glare was still pointed a Katherine.

Adelaide let go of the Salvatore's as well, who were stunned by the hybrids words. They all sat in a tense silence, no one daring to break it.

"Where's the moonstone?" Katherine asked, keeping a close eye on the older girls in fear of what they might do.

"What do you want with it?"

Katherine ignored the question as she looked between the brothers. "Does Elena enjoy having both of you worship at her altar?"

  "I wouldn't." Mimi chimed.

The Salvatore's gave each other an amused look. "That was really desperate, Katherine. Don't you think that we can see right through you?" Stefan mused.

"So it doesn't bother you that Damon's in love with your girlfriend?"

Addie groaned, "Ugh, these questions are making my head literally pound." She stood to grab a glass of bourbon. Mimi gestured to pour her one too.

"Oh, stop it." Stefan ignored the best friends, his piercing gaze directed at Katherine.

"Or what? You'll hurt me?" She shook her head and stood up. "Come on, Stefan. Everything that I feel, Elena feels, so go ahead." She gasped, turing to Damon. "Or better yet, kiss me Damon. She'll feel that too."

"You have a seriously sad life." Mimi murmured

"You know, this whole Mason thing has me a bit confused." Stefan changed the subject. "Why a werewolf? The moonstone can break a curse that would help them destroy all vampires so what's in that for you?"

Stefan's questions had Mira wondering the same. Why would Katherine help Mason break the curse? Why turn Caroline into a vampire? Why not kill Elena? Why on earth would Klaus Mikaelson want to break the curse?

  "Sorry about your pet wolf," Damon quipped. "Probably should have kept him on a tighter leash."

  "I'll have to remember that for next time. He's not the only wolf in town."

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  "Damn it. Where is that witch?" Damon stood near the door once again.

  "We could play charades." Katherine suggested, blissfully.

  Mimi's eyes were closed as her head rested in Adelaide's lap, both had moved to the lounge. "I really want to snap her neck, at least." She mumbled, earning a chuckle from the blonde.

  "You bargained the moonstone." Stefan said in realization.

  "What are you mumbling about over there?"

  "When you struck a deal with George Lockwood, to help you fake your death, you told me that you gave George something that he needed. It was the moonstone, wasn't it?" Stefan theorised,

  "Good for you, Stefan. Two plus two," Katherine grinned, "And it would have worked except that people found out that I wasn't in the tomb." She turned to Damon. "Thanks to you, by the way. Have I mentioned how inconvenient your obsession with me has been?"

  Damon hummed, "You and me both, honey."

  Mira smirked at that.

  "Hold on, why exactly do you need it back?" This time Adelaide asked.

  Ignoring the blonde, Katherine turned to Stefan. "I love you in a suit. So dashing." She changed the conversation.

  "What were you doing with it in the first place?" Stefan continued digging for answers.

  Damon rolled his eyes. "You're wasting your breath, Stefan."

  "Unless it wasn't yours to begin with." Stefan stated. "In 1864 you faked your death. Who were you running from, Katherine?"

  Mira let out a silent breath, she felt eyes on her. Looking up she saw Katherine staring straight at her.

  The doppelgänger turned her gaze back to Stefan. "In 1987 you were in Chicago, at a concert of all places with that wench, Lexi." Katherine continued changing the subject, trying not to let Stefan figure her out. "Come on Stefan, don't look so surprised. Of course I checked in on you over the years. You were standing in the front row, dancing all night. You were watching Bon Jovi and I was watching you."

  "Who were you running from?" Stefan repeated

  "Maybe you should be asking someone else that question." Katherine smirked, she looked over at Mimi who already had a deadly look fixated on her. "Mira, do you remember when we met?"

  "How could I forget?"

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Flashback
London; 1510

Katherine Pierce walked through the narrow and dirt roads of London. The place eerily quiet, not a single soul in sight. Her blue full bodied satin medieval-like gown flowing in the wind of the dreary night. Her natural wavy tresses bouncing with each of her steps.

Dark clouds concealed the night sky, only a slight glimpse of the full moon could be seen. The few hanging lanterns being the only useful light in the small street.

Unbeknownst to her, a woman roamed through the shadows, watching her every move. The she-devil herself, Mira Delgado had been searching for the former Petrova for almost an entire year now, and as she took in Katherine's features, a glare found itself onto her face. More anger filed her being when she noticed the younger vampire looked exactly like her ex-frenemie, Tatia.

Quickly she came to the reliazation the Pierce girl was a Petrova doppelgänger.

Katherine paused her strolling, quickly looking around as she felt eyes on her. "Is someone there?" She asked, in a feigning innocent voice.

Mira slightly lifted her dress, which was a simple full bodied, medieval, white silk gown with peach pink detailing across her bodice. Half her hair pinned up, the rest sat upon her shoulders in soft curls. She slowly stepped out of the shadows, her face stayed out of the feeble light, not letting Katherine get a good look at her.

"I have been looking for you everywhere." Mira chuckled

"Who are you?" Katherine questioned, suspiciously.

"You are hard to find, Katherine Pierce." The hybrid dodged her question. "Almost as hard as me."

"What do you want?" Katherine asked sternly, getting angry with the lack of answers.

Mira eyed her up and down, amused by her anger. "Or is Katerina Petrova?"

Katherine's face fell. 'Had he found her?' She began to wonder.

"You have about five seconds before I rip you apart." The Pierce warned, only adding to the older girls amusement.

"You're threats are adorable, but definitely not affective." Mira smirked

Katherine glared at her, trying to get a look at her face. "Wanna test that theory?"

Mira rolled her eye. "How about we test a different theory?"

"Mmh, I'm good to just kill you." Katherine than tried to run a the hidden woman, but she was unable to move. Completely stuck, as if she were frozen. "What is this?"

"Oh, just a mini spell, so I know you won't take off and I'd have to search city after city for you again."

"You're a witch." The Pierce woman, stated.

Mira clicked her tongue. "I guess that's one point for you, genius."

Katherine huffed, her dislike for witches only growing. "How about we stop playing games and get to the point, yeah?"

The hybrid slowly took a step closer, but still her silhouette was the only thing that could be seen.

"Sorry, I'm a sucker for toying with my victims." She pouted, mockingly.

Katherine smirked, "Please, I'm no one's victim. Especially to people who hide in the shadows."

Mira scoffed, all playfulness and amusement falling from her angelic face. "Do you remember about a year ago, you paid to a coven of witches?"

The vampire frowned in confusion, "What?"

The Emberson girl exhaled in annoyance. "April of 1509. You went and struck a deal with a few witches from a coven. Ring any bells?"

"What about it?"

"What exactly was the deal?"

Katherine glared, "That is none of your business."

"You gave up an innocent 15 year old girl to a bunch of power hungry witches. All for a goddamn cloaking spell?" Mira spat.

Katherine didn't say anything, only furthering Mira's anger. So the hybrid stared directly at her and suddenly Katherine was clutching her head, letting out an anguishing groan making Mimi smile in accomplishment.

"Lyla Voland suffered all so you could have a spell that could easily be broken." Mira used her powers to throw Katherine into a tree. "Elliana Voland died trying to save her sister from you."

Katherine let out a pained cough. "How do you know about that?"

Mira shook her head, "Because you are a fool, who killed a girl with vampire blood in her system. And I happened to be the one to find Elliana, who was a confused mess." The hybrid threw Katherine back onto the ground. "You took the last of her family and her own life, for a spell."

"How did you even find out it was me?" Katherine croaked out.

"Oh, I found the witches who made you the deal. I took a trip and gave them a taste of their own medicine. One of them gave you up and broke the spell on you. So whoever you're hiding from can simple find you now." Mira leisurely came closer to the Pierce, who was still recovering from her injuries.

"Why do you care so much?" Katherine wheezed.

Before answering Mira gave her another aneurysm. "No young girl deserves to be tortured to death. Especially by a bunch of insane witches. And no one should have to watch the last of their family be stolen away from them." The Emberson girl frowned, "Are you really that selfish?"

Katherine turned towards her, "Better they die than I." She stated, before jumping up and speeding towards Mira, but the hybrid was quicker to run behind the doppelgänger. Katherine looked around in confusion.

"Behind you." Mira whispered.

Katherine quickly turned and for the first time in the past 20 minutes she saw the older girls facial features. She froze while her eyes widened in recognition. She didn't believe it.

"You're her." The doppelgänger murmured.

Mimi blinked, "You know of me?"

Slowly Katherine shook her head, her gaze not falling from the hybrid. "I've seen you."

Mira furrowed her brows. "Seen me?"

"You're the one in the drawings."

'Drawings?' Mimi could think of who would have such a thing of her.

  "What?" Mira asked, wearily of the entire conversation.

Katherine raised a brow. "You're Miralette, aren't you?"

In a matter of a second, Mira's hand was wrapped tightly around Katherine throat. Anger radiating off the hybrid.

"Okay, Kitty. Can I call you kitty?" Katherine just struggled in response, "I'll take that as a yes. Anyway, as soon as I let you down, you're going to start answering my question with no complications. I am one annoying remark away from pulling your heart from your chest." Swiftly, Katherine was dropped to the ground.

"You have a temper, you two must be made for each other." Katherine chuckled, only earning a glare.

"Who is this person you speak of? Who has a drawing of me, Kitty Kat?" Mira queried.

"Klaus Mikaelson."

Mira felt as if she had been hit with a brick. A lump formed in her throat as her breath shortened, her heartbeat increased and she felt paralyzed in place.

Katherine grinned when she saw the distraught look in Mira's eyes despite the blank expression on her face.

"Elijah told me about you Miralette, that you had the kindest soul, a heart full of gold and could bring happiness in the smallest ways." Katherine smirked, "You want to know what the funniest thing is?"

Mira only squeezed her neck tighter, causing the younger brunette to let out a strangled cough.

"He told me you were dead. Died a human almost five hundred years ago, stabbed to death. Yet here you are, definitely not what he described, but you are here. Miralette Emberson, the girl who will forever have a hold on Klaus Mikaelson's heart, dead or alive." Katherine hummed, "Or is it, Mira Delgado, the big bad she-devil?"

Mira's brain felt clouded, she couldn't think properly with everything running through her head. This trip was simply meant for her to get revenge for an innocent girl she had come to care for. Somehow it turned it to a trip down memory lane, and that lane was dark and stormy in Mimi's mind, it was not a lane she ever wanted to go down.

Katherine took in her silence and knew she was getting to the hybrid, so being the selfish bitch she had recently become, she knew she couldn't stop there.

"How would Klaus feel if he knew you were alive? And that you have stayed away this entire time, I mean that would break his cold dead heart. What about you being a vampire, or is it a witch? I didn't think you could be both-"

Katherine had been cut off by a cold manicured hand sinking into her chest, causing her to let out an inaudible gasp.

"Who do you think you are? You may be good at manipulating, Katerina. But let me assure you, I am better. You think you know so much? You know nothing." Mira whispered, tauntingly getting closer to her ear. "You're not the original bad bitch, Kitty."

Just before Mira had the chance to pull out the pumping organ, Katherine's next words stop her.

"He still loves you." The Pierce chocked out. "He never stopped. Elijah said, he has never looked at any girl the way he looked at you. Struggles to even utter your name, so he paints you."

Mira wanted to crawl in a hole and never come out. The pain she felt was one she forever pushed aside.

She decided to ignore the comments as a thought came to her mind. "You're running from something, and you know so much about me and them. You're hiding from him, aren't you?"

  Silence.

Mira chuckled, "Not so tough now, huh. You know what, Katherine? I'm gonna let you go. Death would be to easy for you, you're on your own personal hell right now." Mira stared at her with pure hatred, "But if you ever utter my name or a word to anyone in your eternity of life, I will make you beg me for death. And trust me Klaus Mikaelson's revenge will never be a match to mine."

"What would you do if your secrets ever got out?" Katherine asked, in genuine curiosity.

Mimi shook her head, "It's not about that, it's more about what I'll do to keep them hidden." Those words held a simple meaning to her, but it shifted something inside of Katherine, feeling understanding in a way.

With that Mimi went to leave the entire city and try her hardest to forget the conversation had ever happened. But Katherine wasn't the type to let her completely win.

"He will find you, you know, just like he'll probably find me eventually. And when he does, the anger of your hiding will subside the love he has and always will for you. Remember that, Mira." Katherine spoke, sincerely.

As much as she wanted to retort, the Emberson girl was both physically and mentally drained from the entire conversation. She needed away from the former Petrova, away from London. She wanted to be back, safely in the shadows. So she just sped at Katherine and broke her neck, leaving her to fall to the ground for a temporary death.

Than she left the scene all together.

━━━━━━━

Present
Mystic Falls; 2010

"It's not about what anyone hides, Stefan. I mean everyone has secrets, it's more about what a person will do to keep those secrets locked away." Katherine stated, her gaze fixated on Mimi who had only just finished reliving the memory.

  They all fell into an uncomfortable silence, no one knowing what to say or others just not up for speaking.

"We're missing the party." Katherine sighed, breaking the quietness. She looked at Damon, who was pouring himself drink. "I'll have one of those.

  "Right away Miss Katherine." The older Salvatore mocked in a servant voice.

Just as Damon handed her the drink, he grabbed her shoulder from behind and pushed her up against a wall. He tried to stake her but was held back by Stefan.

  "No! Damon, don't!" Stefan protested.

  Both Mimi and Addie stayed in their spots just watching the trio in both annoyance and amusement.

  "Yes, Damon, please." Katherine urged with a smile.

  "The second the spell is lifted, I'm gonna drive a stake right through your heart." Damon declared,

  Adelaide rolled her eyes, "I beg to differ."

  Katherine sighed, softly. "God, you're hot. When do you get so hot?"

He let her go and she walked towards Stefan. The two older girls turned their head upon hearing footsteps, to see Lucy.

"Katherine," All eyes snapped to her, while she held up the moonstone. "the spell on this room has been broken, you're free to leave."

  "Thank god," Katherine said, rolling her eyes and walking over to the woman.

  "When I hand this over my debt to you is over," Lucy stated.

  "Done."

  "I owe you nothing." Lucy said, making it crystal clear much to Katherine's annoyance.

"I said done. Give it." Katherine spoke in aggravation.

  Damon stepped forward, "I wouldn't do that." He warned

  Although apparently the Witch didn't feel like listening since she sat the stone in Katherine's palm. Than suddenly Katherine's smirk dropped and she began choking.

"You should have told me another witch was involved." The witch watched as the vampires struggle worsened. "She's a Bennett witch, Katherine, but I'm sure you knew that."

  "Wait, Elena!"

  "Elena's fine." Lucy assured, "The spell is broken. She'll heal quickly, Bonnie's with her." Katherine was now only the floor, still suffocating. Lucy glanced at the other vampires. "I apologize for my involvement." With that she turned and left.

"Best thing I've seen all night." Mira voiced, smirking at a now unconscious Katherine.

━━━━━━━━

Adelaide and Damon stood outside of the tomb where they had locked Katherine into. The doppelgänger was now trying to get out.

  "Hello, Katherine." They spoke in unison.

  "Where am I?" The brunette questioned,

    "Where you should have been all along." Damon answered, "I thought you'd have learned your lesson by now, messing with a Bennett witch."

  "You should of killed me." Katherine said, drearily.

  "Death would of been to easy for you." Adelaide deadpanned. "You deserve this torture more."

  Both the Rymer and Salvatore stepped closer to close the tomb, ignoring Katherine's begging.

  "Damon, don't. You need me, Elena's in danger."

  This caused Damon to pause his movements, while Addie rolled her eyes.

  "From who?" The Salvatore queried.

  Katherine didn't answer just turned her stare to Adelaide, who just raised a brow.

  Damon shook his head, "You're lying. You're always lying."

  "Why do you think I haven't killed her?" Katherine scoffed. "Because she's the doppelgänger. She needs to be protected."

    "Then I'll protect her." Damon declared.

  "And you can sit here, and rot." Addie added. Both vampires continuing to close the tomb door.

  "Adelaide, you'll lose Mira and you know it. Everything she has done for the past millennium will be for nothing. He will find her." Katherine warned, desperately.

  Adelaide froze for a second before deciding to ignore Katherine. Damon only the other hand, wondered what the Pierce woman had meant, but than again he knew Mira had a past of her own.

  "Damon, Adelaide! I'll do anything, please. Damon! Adelaide! You need me!" Katherine's pleas were muffled as they locked her completely in the dark tomb.

  "The worst is yet to come." Addie murmured to herself, leaving the dark cave.

━━━━━━━━

  Mira walked through the multiple cars situated around the Lockwoods. She had stayed with Stefan while Damon and Adelaide took Katherine away. A coat cover her arms from the cold night air, since her dress only had thin straps.

  Now she was currently waiting for him to finish his conversation with Elena. Much to her surprise, she saw Elena first.

  "I'm starting to feel better. Yeah, you can drive her home. I'm just gonna go straight to bed. Okay." The Gilbert girl spoke to her brother on the phone.

  "Elena!" Mira called out, causing said girl to turn to her.

  "Mira, hey." Elena looked down at some blood on Mimi's dress and gestured to it. "You okay?"

  "Oh, yeah." Mira waved her off, than nodded to the blood on Elena from being linked to Katherine. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

  Elena chuckled, "I'm fine."

  "Have you seen Stefan?" The hybrid raised a brow.

  The human doppelgänger frowned, "Yeah, I just left him. It wasn't the happiest conversation."

  Mira sighed, "Sorry to hear that." She gave a small smile. "I just wanted to make sure he was okay, but I'm sure he left. So I'll let you get home, it's been a long night."

  Elena nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I'll, uh, see you later."

  They each gave a friendly smile. Mira turned to head back to her car but stopped upon seeing someone right in front of her, their face covered. Before she had the chance to do anything, darkness quickly overcame her. Before slipping into complete unconsciousness as she felt like someone injected her with vervain.

  Elena paused her movements once she heard the sound of a bone snapping, slowly turning back around only to see an unconscious Mira and two masked figures standing over her. She had no time to do anything as one of them covered her mouth with their hand and the other picking Mira up.

  And so it really began.

Kinda love this chapter.

Anyway, prepare for a Elijah reunion next chapter!

-K