CHAPTER 19: KILL OR BE KILLED

The Mystic Grill

No matter what many people thought, Natalie Saltzman was actually an incredibly intelligent person. She was also the kind of person who'd recognize details in a person's behavior that most people wouldn't think of. And when she spent time with Elena and Caroline she noticed that the blonde was acting very strange. It could have something to do with Caroline's recent turning into a vampire, but the blonde had more of a frightened look then anything when Elena and Natalie did something that she said they shouldn't.

Natalie hadn't really come to a conclusion. One theory was that Caroline was afraid that Elena would talk to Matt about how Caroline didn't try to help her when she went to make a big mistake or stop her from getting hurt and he wouldn't take her back later on. Or there was someone threatening her, most likely Katherine.

She didn't even notice when 'Elena' walked up behind her. "Hey, Natalie. I wanted to say I'm sorry for the way that I treated you and Caroline yesterday. It was wrong of me."

Natalie smiled and looked at the other girl. "I think you should apologize to Caroline, and she'll apologize back and everything will be okay."

Katherine smiled fakely as she fooled the twin of her doppelganger. "Yeah, I think I saw her outside. I heard she's been fighting with her mom, so I think she needs her friends,"

"Of course, Elena. Let's find her." Natalie smiled and the two girls walked outside.

Only for Natalie to pass out once Katherine threw her against a wall.

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Somewhere

"Wakey, wakey." were the first words Natalie heard in her awakened state.

She groaned groggily as she saw the familiar face of her sister, only that it wasn't her sister.

"Hi, we haven't officially met. I'm Katherine." the vampire smirked.

"I know who you are, bitch." Natalie spat weakly as her eyes fluttered open.

"God, I like you so much more then Elena. Maybe it's because you have the Petrova fire, or maybe it's just because you're not a cheap copy of me. I don't know." Katherine shrugged as she stared down at her decendant.

"Why am I here, Katherine?" Natalie asked trying to get up from the chair she sat on, only to Discover that her hands were tied together behind her back.

"Well, after Stefan's failure of kidnapping, seeing as he kept me down with vervain yesterday, I decided to do the same to his little girlfriend. I mean, Stefan? Could you any be more predictable?" Katherine laughed to herself.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Natalie lied.

"Aw, I know you're not lying to yourself anymore. I mean, I think Stefan has a gift with charming the Petrova line. But, then again, he's completely in love with Elena. And, as you might know, Stefan loved me first. I'm pretty sure you're last in line." Katherine smirked.

"Shut up." Natalie spat.

"I'm pretty sure that speaks for itself. The thing is, I could hurt you, compel you or whatever. But I don't think that will hurt Stefan enough. I think it's time that I made you terrified. And not only of me."

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But Natalie didn't break (she may have passed out a few times, but she never broke). Not even when Katherine sliced up her cheek, when she slapped her so hard that the chair fell over, when Katherine shoved a knife in her thigh. Not even when she shoved a knife in her stomach. Then she healed her just so she could do it all over again.

Natalie just wouldn't break. And when Katherine realized that physical torture wasn't enough, she started with psychological torture. When Natalie was so weak, Katherine could easily get inside her head.

"Natalie, thank god you're okay." Natalie heard a familiar voice say.

"Stefan?" she asked, relief evident in her tone of voice.

"I'm so glad she didn't kill you." Stefan sighed happily.

"Yeah, me too. Could you please get me out of here?" Natalie begged desperately.

"You think I'm here to save you?" Stefan asked, as if the thought was amusing to him. "No, I'm happy she didn't kill you, that way I'd get to do it."

"What?" Natalie asked, her eyes widening in fright and hurt as Stefan walked towards her, before putting his hands on her neck. "Stefan, no! Stefan, stop!"

And that's when Stefan disappeared and she saw a laughing Katherine in front of her. "Ah, that will never get old. But remember Nat, this would never have happened if it wasn't for Stefan. Or Caroline, for that matter. She couldn't do my bidding, so I guess this is my revenge."

Tears gathered in Natalie's eyes as she leaned back in the chair.

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"Oh, look, Caroline just texted me." Katherine commented. "Stefan and Elena are fighting. Give us Natalie back. Finally she did something right."

"Does that mean you're letting me go?"

"That means I'm sending you off, with maximum injury." Katherine smirked.

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The Salvatore Boarding House

And Katherine kept her promise. And that's how Stefan found Natalie on his bed in the Salvatore Boarding House. Damaged, bleeding, and near death. Stefan, of course, panicked and fed her his blood. Even though he had been very worried for Elena, Damon and Caroline after their intriguing day at an arrangement at the park when he saw Natalie bleeding out on his bed, he could honestly say that the only time he'd been as scared was when he saw her with her neck snapped. Damon, of course, heard the commotion and saw Stefan feeding Natalie his blood and he was immensely frightened for his almost-but-not-really friend. He got Elena and Caroline who were both scared for Natalie's life. Caroline, also, felt guilty as she was sure that it was her fault that Katherine tortured Natalie. But then Damon said that it might be too much for her if they all were there, and they thought that she should at least have a vampire with her. But not Damon seeing as he, you know... killed her. And not Caroline either as she was new and scared and wouldn't even have a slight chance to take on Katherine if the bitchy vampire decided that she wasn't done with Natalie yet. So Stefan stayed, and he didn't leave her side, even if it was just for 30 minutes until she woke up.

You probably would have thought that as everyone in Mystic Falls does after a near death expirience, she's wake up with a gasp. But, in true Natalie Saltzman fashion, she didn't really listen to the rules of the Mystic Falls population.

She woke up groggily, her eyes fluttering open incredibly slowly, but Stefan was so focused on her that he noticed the second her breathing pattern even changed. His grip on her hand loosened slightly as he leaned closer to her. "Natalie?"

At his voice, Natalie's eyes sprung open quickly, recoiling from his voice, pushing herself to the bedpost. "Get out of my head, Katherine!"

"Natalie, what did she do to you?" Stefan's eyes widened in worry.

"Stop it, Katherine! You win! Just leave me alone!" Natalie yelled at him, her mind convinced that Katherine was messing with her.

"Natalie, hey, stop! You're at the boarding house, you're safe." Stefan said.

Natalie's face morphed into a grimace, one you'd get right before you'd start sobbing, and tears gathered in her eyes. "How do I know this is real?"

"Ehm, the first time we met! I was looking for Elena, and you had no idea who she was or what I was! We bumped into each other and it was really awkward!" Stefan exclaimed.

"Stefan?" Natalie asked softly, a tear escaping her eye.

"It's me." he reassured her, nodding quickly.

She walked hesitantaly towards him before leaning her head on his chest, right before Stefan wrapped his arms around her.

And it was in that moment that Stefan knew that he'd do everything he needed to get revenge.

He was going to kill Katherine Pierce.

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After Natalie and Stefan had their moment, the newly tortured girl walked downstairs, whilst Damon and Elena were having their own moment, Caroline was staring at Natalie guiltily.

"Natalie, I'm so sorry this is all my fault. It's- It's Katherine, she's been threatening me. And I'm so sorry." Caroline said, tears building up in her eyes as she saw Natalie's clothes covered in blood.

"I know," Natalie nodded. "I know Katherine was threatening you. I mean, I had my suspicions, but Katherine confirmed it. At first, I was so mad at you. But then, I started thinking why you would do this. Why you would betray Elena, who's been your friend for years, and Stefan, who's been so nice to you, or me, because I've done nothing but be your friend, and then it came to me. You're not just doing this because you can. Caroline, who did she threaten?"

"You. And Matt, she threatened you and Matt and I'm so scared of her Natalie! I am so scared of her." Caroline sobbed sadly.

"And you should be. Caroline, we all should be." Natalie said, before grimacing, as if she was in pain from watching Caroline's saddened fright.

"Why is she doing this? What does she want?" Caroline sobbed, and Natalie's eyes started filling uo with tears the same way as Caroline's.

"I don't know, Caroline, I don't know." Natalie sobbed before the two best friends embraced each other.

And when they were standing by each other, they both felt immediately better. As if they'd be okay.

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A/N: This is probably going to be the last chapter I upload this weekend, but I already published 5 chapters this weekend, which is crazy. Maybe I'll finish season 2 in just a little more then a month if I keep this up. Which, I hopefully will.

This was originally going to be Natalie going to the Whole park-thingy, but I needed her to meet Katherine and I'm actually really pleased with this chapter.

Votes and comments are greatly appreciated.