𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐞.
chapter two, dreams of loving you freely!

England, 1492. . .

"ZAKIYAH WHERE IS IT THAT YOU ARE LEADING ME TO?" Katerina giggled as she trugged her way through the dark with her eyes covered. The brunette behind her only giggled, her soft hands were pressed against Katerina's eyes preventing her from seeing the change in scenery.

The sky was blanketed in velvet purple that had twinkling stars scattered across its vast body. Zakiyah smiled to herself when she found their shared spot in the empty field of daisy's. The cresent moon that hung lazily in the sky created a spotlight for where the girls were to lay in the plush flowers.

"You promise not to peek if I am to remove my hands?" Zakiyah questioned eith a raised brow. She had stopped the two halfway into the field. Katerina remained silent, her lips pursing into a mischievous grin. Zakiyah's eyebrows knitted together, yet the amusement in her delivery gave way to her playful nature. "Katerina?"

"I promise, 'Kiyah."

Katerina laughed, shaking her head. Taking her word, Zakiyah removed her hands from Katerina's closed eyelids. Katerina let her right eyelid flutter up slightly when she heard movement from her right.

She closed it instantly with a crooked grin when she heard Zakiyah scold, "Ah, ah! No peeking, Katerina, you have promised me!" Nodding in agreement, Katerina smiled. "You are right. My apologies malady."

Katerina courtesised playfully. Rolling her eyes, Zakiyah grasped Katerina's hand and laced their fingers together. Katerina gasped in surprise, but melted into Zakiyah's touch when she felt her best friend's thumb rub gentle circles across the top of her knuckles.

"Are you okay, madame?" Zakiyah innocently questioned as she led the two towards the center of the field. Katerina shook her head, her cheeks dusting over in pink. She was unaware that Zakiyah had missed her embarrassment painting her cheeks in color. "Very much so."

"Good. As I would hope not to have to walk you back home after my surprise set for you," Zakiyah stopped Katerina in her place and helped her to lower down in a seated position. "May I open my eyes?"

"You may, my darling dove," Zakiyah nodded eagerly. She fiddled with her fingers out of nervous habit. "I do hope that you enjoy."

Carefully, Katerina's eyes fluttered open, her eyes trying to adjust to the darkness. She blinked vigorously, rubbing her eyes to assist her in clearing her blurred vision. Upon gaining clarity, Katerina glanced around the two in awe.

A knitted blanket Katerina had noticed Zakiyah to be working on for a few weeks was now finished and placed on the earth below them. Katerina was in complete fascination at the artwork Zakiyah had crafted into her work.

A lantern was placed on the top of the quilt, the flame illuminating the intricate designs decorating the cotton material. Katerina ran her fingers along the soft material, her lips posing into an astonished smile.

Katerina then looked around them noticing that Zakiyah had brought a small wooden basket that was filled with her mother's freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Katerina's eyes widened at the danger Zakiyah's mother had underwent in providing the two the delicious sweets.

Slowly, Katerina shifted her attention to dark brown eyes that she adored. The stars were reflecting in their bodies of ebony only entrancing the Bulgarian native. Zakiyah was secretly hoping for Katerina to break the silence. Her thoughts were deafening.

Did Kat like her artwork? Was she impressed by the date Zakiyah had provided for the night?

"Zakiyah. . ." Zakiyah hung onto each word Katerina spoke. Her big, dark eyes were staring at the brunette as if she were her entire world and each word was her only source of oxygen. "This is━━ all of this. It has me at a loss for words. This is beautiful. Beyond what the English language could describe. You did this all for us?"

"For you, darling. All of which I have planned for this night is for you," Zakiyah corrected with a cheeky dimpled grin. "I hope that you like it━━"

"Like?" Katerina laughed and extended her arms while looking around. She met Zakiyah's dazzling eyes and giggled. "I LOVE it! This is the most thoughtful gesture anyone has ever done for me. Thank you."

Relocating the lantern to her right, Katerina tackled the Black beauty into a tight embrace. Zakiyah laughed heartily, squeezing her lover with all her might. She truly loved this woman. More than what she thought was possible to love someone other than her mother.

"I am glad that you love it. I only want the best for you as you deserve such honor," Zakiyah buried her face in the crook of Katerina's neck and planted a soft kiss against her flesh. The brunette shivered and slowly pulled away from her. She tucked a strand behind her ear, suddenly becoming shy. "You would risk a beating for me?"

"Without a doubt," Zakiyah answered without hesitation. Her eyes grew hard, lips pursing. "If treating the woman who deserves the absolute world earns me a beating and potentially death than so be it. As long as I was able to see your bright smile radiating of happiness before I go; it is undeniably worth it."

"What did I do to deserve you?" Katerina whispered. She was staring at the Black goddess before her. Zakiyah was unreal━━ she wasn't just physically gorgeous, but her heart was bigger than the sun itself and touched those around her. Her smile was infectious, her bubbly personality contagious as she knew how to light up a room with just a simple laugh. "You are unreal, my love."

"I ask the Gods the same thing as well about you," Zakiyah lightly tapped on Katerina's nose with her finger. Smiling, Zakiyah fell back onto the blanket to look up at the stars. "You remembered that I wished to go stargazing."

Zakiyah turned to Katerina who slowly mimicked her actions. The brunette was staring up at the stars, purposely avoiding Zakiyah's admiring eyes.

"Your words are worth remembering," Zakiyah slowly found interest in the stars. "It is something I admired to do so as well."

She wondered what Katerina was thinking when a comfortable silence fell upon them. The crickets chearped their song while the owls hooted in the distance.

Zakiyah loved the night time because of how lively it became. Humans often destroyed the peace of mother nature. When nightfall approaches and the people become quiet as slumber overtakes them that the earth and her children could come alive again without disturbance.

"What is it that you wish to do in life, Katerina?" Zakiyah questioned with furrowed brows. Would they escape the injustices in life? Zakiyah wondered if freedom was elsewhere. A place where her skin didn't determine whether she was to be treated as the human being that she was or a slave to harsh labor and belittlement.

"Easy," Katerina turned in her side to look at the love of her life. "To spend the rest of my life with you, 'Kiyah."

Zakiyah's lips quirked at the corners. Katerina saw a future with her in it. That was enough to make her heart skip a beat in excitement. However, her smile faltered lightly as she thought about their future. Would they ever have a future together where they would not have to love one another in secret?

"How I wish to be able to do such with you, my dove," Zakiyah hummed as she reached in the basket to grab a cookie. She offered one to Katerina who eagerly took it. The two chewed on the delicious sweets and let Zakiyah's words sink in. "If you could be anywhere else in the world where would it be, my beloved?"

"America!" Katerina jerked her head back in surprise. She chuckled and swallowed the last bit of her cookie. She raised a curious brow at her lover. "America?"

"Mhmm!" Zakiyah nodded with a wide grin. "My momma fancies in humoring us that it is the land of opportunity. Of freedom!"

Zakiyah's eyes sparkled at the revelation. She switched from her back to her side. She was staring at Katerina, but her sight was elsewhere. She was caught up in her dreams again.

"What better way than to have the opportunity in loving my best friend freely rather than in secrecy?"

Katerina hummed and scooted closer to the Black beauty. Zakiyah, curious and still caught up in her head, tilted her head at Katerina in obvious curiosity. She giggled when Katerina pushed her back and climbed on top of her. Zakiyah was looking up at Katerina who leaned down. She was just inches away from tasting Zakiyah's alluring lips.

"Then we shall save our coins to go to America!" Zakiyah gasped, completely shocked. Katerina laughed. She loved the innocence of Zakiyah who only seemed to see the world in yellow. "You would want to do that? Run away with me to America?"

"Why would I not? I would travel the ends of the galaxy if you asked me to!" Katerina tucked a rebellious curl behind Zakiyah's ear. "I love you."

Zakiyah propped herself with her elbows so that she was mere centimeters from Katerina's lips she wished to kiss. Her eyes were captivated by Katerina's pink lips. Slowly, her eyes trailed to light brown ones that were dark with lust. Zakiyah smirked feeling smug.

"And I love you more my love."

Mystic Falls, present timing. . .

    HIDDEN IN THE WOODS WAS A PARKED CAR. Inside the backseat of the car sat Katherine Pierce, studying her nails to pass over the time. She didn't like being alone in the woods after recent events shown that one of her enemies had caught up to her. Was it Klaus? Did the Almighty Hybrid finally know where she was after all these years of running?

She dropped her hand in her lap and frowned. Planting her elbow on the arm of the door, she looked out the window. The memories of her one true love aggravated her. Why was Zakiyah popping up in her thoughts after all these years she managed to block her out? She had Stefan to distract her, yet it seemed he could no longer fill in the void only Zakiyah could.

Why? The answer to the question was no where to be found which only irritated her. Why are you plaguing my mind like a damn disease, 'Kiyah?

The lights illuminated the car hidden in the shadows alerting the vampire of the new presence beside her. The strong scent of wet dog wafted into her nostrils. She did her best not to gag at the overbearing stench.

Lazily, Katherine craned her neck in the direction of Mason Lockwood. "I've been waiting." She tsked with a frown. Ignoring her attitude, Mason leaned over to kiss Katherine, but she raised her hand to prevent him from getting closer than necessary. "What was that stunt today that you pulled with Damon and Stefan Salvatore?"

"I thought you would be happy about that."

Mason answered, a wrinkle forming in the middle of his forehead from his furrowed brows. His confusion irritated the brunette. Must he be so incompetent? She tilted her head, giving him a look that made him frown.

"I told you to stay away from them." She ran her tongue over her teeth through firm lips pressed together. Mason jerked his head back, the gears in his head shifting. "Why do you even care?"

"I don't want you to get distracted. I need you to find the moonstone." Katherine flashed him her award winning smile that made any man weak to the knees. As well as her, don't forget. Mason slowly smiled while maintaining her eyes, oblivious to the demons in her head. "You got it?"

"I got it."

He confirmed and went for the kiss. Feeling victorious, Katherine allowed it, deepening the kiss as she turned her head to the side. The kiss became passionate as her soft moans filled the small space of the car.

Katherine lost herself into the kiss. She wanted to forget of the shady message and her sudden thoughts of her deceased lover. She couldn't be distracted. Not when she was this close to buying her freedom.

Little did she know, her freedom would be the last thing she wanted. For the ghost of her past was watching her from the shadows waiting for the right moment to strike. And she would make her attack more lethal than what the Original Hybrid had inflicted. . .