𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐞.
chapter seven, the author of my sins!

KLAUS MIKAELSON, WHO WORE ALARIC SALTZMAN'S SKIN, OPENED THE CLOSET TAKING OUT TWO SHIRTS IN THE PROCESS. The Original in disguise held up the shirts with distaste.

"Oh! Who is this guy, Safari Sam?" He spun around and showed the shirts to the two women. "Okay, bad, or badder?"

Katherine, who was tied down to the chair she sat in pursed her lips and flipped her hair from out of her face.

"The dark colors suit you better."

She complimented. Zakiyah, who sat on the arm reat of Katherine's chair chuckled dryly. She shook her head, lips quirking into a mischievous smile. It made Katherine's heart flutter. She still couldn't believe that her Zakiyah was alive, much less being eerily. . . calm.

"Oh, thank you, honey."

Putting the shirts away, Klaus clapped his hands together and rubbed them.

Katherine flinched in her seat at the sound. Zakiyah leaned into Katherine, her presence unnerving just as it was missed.

Zakiyah, whose lips brushed against Katherine's earlobe whispered, "Don't be afraid, my love. He won't hurt you. . . yet."

Katherine froze just as Klaus cleared his throat.

"Okay, pop quiz. The dagger and white ash are in the Salvatores' possession, correct?"

Clearly rattled, Katherine's leg began to bounce. She was trying to steady her uneven breathing.

Zakiyah, what are you doing to me?

"The dagger was used to kill Elijah. You'll find him in the basement of the Salvatore house."

"Okay, that dagger needs to stay exactly where it is. The last thing I need to do is resurrect Elijah. Oh, that guy is a buzzkill."

"Oh, don't be so mean, Nik," Zakiyah pouted. She stood from her position and went around the chair to stand behind Katherine. She placed her hands on the back of the chair and giggled. "'Lijah is the sweet one."

"Only because in his eyes you can do no wrong, love," Klaus shot back with a wicked grin beginning to take over. "Though, it is I that truly knows just how devilish you can be is it not?"

Katherine Pierce narrowed her dark eyes at the Original who winked at the woman standing behind her. Katherine felt her blood boil. Just how close were Klaus and her 'Kiyah?

"Don't forget you're on the outs with your girlfriend Jenna." The brunette chimed in through gritted teeth. Klaus smirked at the jealousy engulfing the doppelgänger.

"Right. Elena's aunt. For all the lies about Isobel. What else?"

"That's it."

Zakiyah tilted her head at Katherine's admission. She pursed her lips, trying to prevent the smile from gracing her lips. Katherine knew more than she gave off and while she may have fooled Klaus, she hadn't fooled Zakiyah.

She saw right through it.

Klaus stalked towards Katherine like a predator cornering its prey. He stopped right in front of her and bent down to her level. He reached for her cheek that he tried to cradle only for her to flinch.

"Oh, so jumpy!" Klaus sang in amusement. Zakiyah rolled her eyes and pouted at the Original. "Don't be mean, Nik."

"Please, just. . .kill me. I've told you everything that I know."

Placing his hands on the armrest, Klaus looked Katherine dead in the eyes. Zakiyah watched from her position as she found herself entranced by the historian's eyes. Dark blue that represented the bottoms of the Atlantic reflected the darkness the Original embodied despite him inhabiting different skin.

Zakiyah wondered if that was who Niklaus Mikaelson was━━ an angel whose wings were stripped raw from his back to make him the supposed monster he painted himself to be. She questioned if that's who she became when death breathed life into her once more.

"You see, I believe that you believe that, but what would you not know?" She watched as his pupils dilated. "What could they be keeping from you? Hmm? Anything? Tell me."

"They were trying to see if Bonnie could find a way to kill an Original without a dagger."

"Bonnie the best friend? I thought you said she didn't have her powers anymore."

Katherine ran her tongue over her teeth in annoyance.

"She doesn't or didn't. I don't know. You kidnapped me, remember? I'm kinda out of the loop."

"Well, we'll have to get to the bottom of that." Klaus muttered as he slowly released his grip on the armrests. "Don't hurt the poor witch, the Bennett witches don't have the greatest history."

"Are you speaking out of empathy for the witch or because she is part of your bloodline?"

Klaus quizzed with a smug smirk. Zakiyah raised the middle finger to him, her eyes flashing crimson in warning. The blond laughed, always thrilled by her slip in composure.

"Please, just kill me, Klaus, and be done with it." Katherine begged, capturing the attention of the two best friends. Zakiyah scoffed. "Oh, darling, death for you is merciful."

"And show you kindness? I've searched for you for over 500 years. Your death is going to last at least half that long," Klaus beamed as he took a single-blade pocketknife from his pocket. "Besides, I thought you'd want to live knowing your precious love is alive and well."

"What did you expect, Nik? She left me in a field to rot why would she want to stay alive for me?"

Zakiyah angrily spat. The way her nose scrunched in distaste as if the story of their past left a foul taste on her tongue wounded the Petrova doppelgänger.

"She'd take my life again if it meant she would live."

Sighing, Klaus opened the knife and extended it to Katherine. He hated Katherine more so for breaking Zakiyah's heart. She was innocent━━ much like him until she was authored to be the very being that was meant to be feared.

"I want you to take this knife. . .And stab yourself," compelled, Katherine took the life and slammed it into her thigh. She grunted in pain as crimson pooled down her leg from the open wound. "Now take it out."

Klaus watched intensely while Zakiyah shuffled in her spot. She didn't necessarily like Katherine, but to see her harm herself made her cringe. Katherine took out the knife as her wound healed.

"Now while I'm gone, I want you to do that over and over and over again and if you get bored, switch legs."

Standing tall, Klaus looked up at Zakiyah to see if she was okay. When she gave him a nod with her crooked grin he grew to love over the years, he knew she was going to be okay.

"Where are you going?" Katherine questioned as she shoved the knife in her thigh. Klaus smirked, "I'm gonna go lay eyes on my precious doppelgänger."

He kissed her on the forehead passionately. Yet Zakiyah could see just how excited he was to have Katherine under his supervision to torment.

"Oh, don't look so glum, Katerina. The fun is just beginning. Again," Katherine stabbed herself once more at his command. "Don't worry, you won't be alone. Zakiyah here should be the best of company. Again."

★彡. ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.

THE ENGLISH NATIVE SAT ACROSS FROM KATHERINE PIERCE ON THE FLOOR, STUDYING HER. Her long lashes framed her eyes that were trained on the Petrova vampire. Zakiyah's dark eyes of honey entranced Katherine who couldn't tear her eyes off the ghost of her lover.

The raven haired beauty tilted her head to the side, her long curls falling past her shoulders effortlessly. She ran her fingers through them, while maintaining provocative eye contact with the Bulgarian native.

The way the corners of her lips curled at the corners━━ hinting at her amusement━━ was enough to make Katherine swoon. Zakiyah Reed was a goddess in human skin.

"You're awfully quite for someone to want to keep the ghost of her past just that," Zakiyah teased, clicking the roof of her mouth with her tongue. "A ghost."

"Would it be bad to say that you took my breath away which is why I've remained silent?" Zakiyah chuckled, but it was forced and dry of any humor. Katherine winced. "Like you did me all those years ago?"

"So you're clearly upset with me."

Katherine rolled her eyes at the English woman. She looked down at her lap and yanked the knife out of her thigh. She switched to her other thigh and looked up at Zakiyah.

"After all these years I would've hoped that anger would've diminished. It must be so exhausting to carry such a grudge."

"No grudges held, just questions left unanswered," Zakiyah stood from her position and sauntered her way towards Katherine who visibly gulped. Zakiyah threw her head back and laughed. She was so graceful━━ "I hold no animosity towards you my love."

Zakiyah took the knife out of Katherine hold and threw it across the room. Katherine watched as it landed inside of the wall while Zakiyah seemed focused solely on her.

Katherine felt her heart skip when Zakiyah looped one of her legs inside the gap of the armrest. Confused, Katherine watched as she did the same with the other so that she was now straddling her. Katherine felt her breathing become labored.

Zakiyah giggled. It was mischievous. She knew what she was doing, and like a moth to a flame, Katherine Pierce was entranced.

Zakiyah carefully placed both her hands on Katherine's cheeks. She traced invisible circles on Katherine's flesh with her thumbs. Katherine leaned into her touch, soaking in what she had been missing for centuries.

She smiled at the doppelgänger, but the pain within her eyes told Katherine how false it was. Zakiyah took a deep breath and sighed.

"Believe it or not my little dove, I forgive you after all these years," Zakiyah shook her head. "It's stupid I'm sure, but I could never hate you. You are my one and only true love. My soul mate."

"Zakiyah. . ."

Katherine whispered, her eyes becoming glassy. The brown skin beauty turned Katherine's head to the side so that her neck was exposed. She trailed her left hand down to the waistband of Katherine's jeans.

"'Kiyah. . ."

Zakiyah pressed her lips along Katherine's neck and gave it a small kiss. She opened her mouth and ran her tongue along Katherine's neck before sucking on the skin. Katherine hissed under her breath at the sharp pain of fangs pricking skin.

Zakiyah drew back, the corners of her lips dripping red. She winked at the doppelgänger who was trying to regain control. Zakiyah giggled, her hand resting casually on Katherine's inner thighs that felt warm. The brunette squeezed her thighs together trapping Zakiyah's hand within them.

"What are you doing to me?" Katherine questioned just above a whisper. Zakiyah batted her eyelashes innocently at the brunette. "Absolutely nothing."

England, 1492. . .

ZAKIYAH REED LICKED HER LIPS OF THE JUICES SHE DRANK WITH ENTHUSIASM. Her hold on the trembling thighs of her lover tightened at how turned on she had the brunette in her bed. Kissing the inner thighs of the Bulgarian native, Zakiyah slowly came up, but kept her right hand inside of Katerina.

Katerina gripped Zakiyah's neck, bringing her to her level. Eyes dark with lust, Katerina panted, "What are you doing to me?" Feigning innocence, Zakiyah began moving her fingers that were already getting wet. She giggled, "Absolutely nothing."

Katerina let out a haughty moan, just as her eyes rolled back. She released Zakiyah whose fingers moved faster. She could feel Katerina slowly unwind making herself become flustered.

"Zakiyah I am about to. . ."

Mystic Falls, present timing. . .

"ZAKIYAH, I'M ABOUT TO. . ." Zakiyah blinked vigorously, snapping herself back into reality. She looked at Katherine, her pupils dilated. Katherine mirrored her own look that begged her to do something. "Don't you dare."

Zakiyah commanded in a husky voice. Katherine bit her lip and nodded. Smiling wickedly, Zakiyah unbuttoned Katherine's pants and undid her belt, Katherine raised her hips for Zakiyah to slip off her jeans. When she did, and Katherine's bare thighs were exposed, Zakiyah felt her heart skip.

She inhaled deeply before looking up at Katherine. She tapped her fingers on Katherine's thighs, each touch creating a fire of desire. Zakiyah tsked through her teeth.

"You see, Katerina," Zakiyah started as her hand traveled upward. "For centuries I dreamt of this moment where you and I were to reunite. Understand that I hold no animosity towards you nor can I be able to bring myself to kill you."

Zakiyah's hand was in the waistband of Katherine's black lace thong. Zakiyah took another deep breath.

"However, what I can be able to do is this," in a blink of an eye, Zakiyah had gotten off Katherine and got the knife. Before the brunette could respond, Zakiyah shoved the knife in Katherine's stomach. "Make you feel every single ounce of pain you caused me that night."

"It started in my stomach, that awful feeling knowing something was wrong," Katherine's eyes were wide. She stared at Zakiyah, trying to get over her shock that paralyzed her. "And then, that stabbing sensation in my neck as your fangs shredded my flesh."

Katherine screamed when Zakiyah shoved the knife into her neck. She began to choke, blood seeping from her mouth.

"And then, I felt numb, and suddenly it came to me that the love of my life just killed me. And then she wasn't going to hold me one last time?"

Zakiyah sounded close to tears that were already being shed by Katherine. Yet the Reed vampire felt no remorse. She was livid. She was hurt. And most of all, she was disappointed that the woman she loved the most left her to die in the cold alone.

"Well you can imagine how you shattered my heart," letting out a broken battle cry, Zakiyah savagely tore the knife out of Katherine's neck and shoved it into her heart. Katherine gasped, eyes bulging. "And while I can't shatter your heart as you did mine, I can let you feel pain."

Katherine shook her head, tears falling. It blended in with the blood oozing from her neck and mouth. Zakiyah watched, twisting the knife deeper into the doppelgänger's chest.

"You don't deserve death, Katherine," Zakiyah slowly pulled the knife out of Katherine's chest. The brunette hissed in agony. She was angry. "You deserve an eternity of misery in hell."

How had she let her guard down so quickly? How had she been so naive? Katherine was breathing heavily. She raised her chin to meet Zakiyah's eyes that were almost black.

She gulped thickly, a new wave of fear paralyzing her in place. Katherine turned her head to the side and spat the leftover blood in her mouth.

She met Zakiyah's eyes and smiled sarcastically at the beauty of her lover.

"So what are you going to do?" Katherine snorted, leaning back in her seat laughing. Zakiyah studied Katherine. "Butter me up only to inflict the pathetic excuse of pain? All of this just because you're miserable and heartbroken that I killed you? Boo-hoo. You're not the first and you certainly weren't the last."

"I know," Zakiyah smiled. It was razor sharp. "You blame Klaus for the murder of your family, but who do you think lead him to them and helped?"

Katherine's smile faltered. She shook her head. No, Zakiyah couldn't have done that. She wouldn't have. She wasn't that much of a monster, right?

"You're lying!" Katherine yelled. She didn't want to believe it━━ "You wouldn't do that! You're just saying that because you aren't that much of a monster to do that."

"Oh, but that's where you're wrong, Katerina," Zakiyah giggled excitedly. She tilted her head to the side, her sharp smile taunting. "You think I'm some angel? Darling, you authored my downfall to hell that very night,"

Zakiyah giggled and handed Katherine the knife. Taking it, the brunette stabbed her thigh while holding Zakiyah's eyes. She couldn't have done this. Her 'Kiyah would never!

"And now, Niklaus raised me back from the dead not just to save my life and spite you," Zakiyah shook her head as if it were preposterous. She placed her hand above Katherine's and helped her shove the knife into her thigh. "But to ensure I raise hell for you. And what better person to inflict such on you? Don't worry my love, I still love you just as you do me."

Smiling cheekily, Zakiyah winked at the scowling brunette and made her way back across the room to lean against the wall. She didn't flinch when Klaus opened the door clearly upset with whatever happened earlier. Instead, she rolled her eyes and excused herself to go hunt.

For Zakiyah Reed had a strong influence over Niklaus Mikaelson more than he knew. And it was in that damned moment, Katherine Pierce came to the realization that she feared the wrong individual after all these years. Rather, Zakiyah Reed was the devil incarnate and Klaus Mikaelson was her trusted hellhound.

What have I done?