𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐞.
chapter one, promises of the damned!

"BAD DAY?" the question had caught him off guard from the woman he had foolishly fallen in love with. He paused in his steps and turned to face the brunette who was leaning against the building of the Grill.

She had her arms crossed against her chest, amplifying her nonchalant behavior, but the mischievous smile gracing her lips gave way to her amusement.

Damon rolled his eyes at the woman he was growing to loathe.

"Bad century," he quipped with a frown. He took her in; his icy blue eyes hungrily devouring her appearance that had yet to disappoint. He hummed his contentment before looking away. "I heard you were on the loose."

"What's the matter?" Katherine questioned with a slight tilt of her head. She narrowed her eyes at the raven haired male who was watching her carefully. "Jealous I spent the day with Stefan?"

"I don't do jealous," He answered, face becoming passive. He blinked vigorously before adding in defeat, "Not with you, not anymore."

He turned away from the brunette and continued walking. Peeling herself off of the wall, Katherine walked behind Damon calling out to him curiously, "Then why so pouty?"

"I tried to kill a werewolf, I failed. Now I feel like I'm not living up to my best self." Katherine's lips came together at his response. She tilted her head again, choosing her words carefully. "Well, werewolves aren't easy prey."

"What do you know about werewolves?"

Damon came to a hault as he turned his body in her direction. She stopped a few inches away from him, studying him with a condescending smile.

"Why don't you ask your brother?"

Damon remained silent, his piercing eyes boring through hers that hadn't faltered. He was trying to figure her out while coming up with a plan. Katherine frowned at the knowing spark in his eyes that would only cause mischief.

"Don't try to be the hero, Damon. You'll end up dead."

Damon was quick to respond━━ his delivery was dripping heavily in sarcasm while his eyes darkened in anger.

"Been there, done that." His eyebrows raised at the bitter confession. He paused for a brief moment, eyes studying her as they widened dramatically when he spat, "At least this time it'll be worth it."

The two held one another's stare that was blanketing the atmosphere in thick tension. Katherine pursed her lips at his choice of words that barely seemed to affect her. Damon gave her one last glare and turned on his heels to walk away.

Katherine didn't follow him this time. She watched him go with a frown. She tore her eyes away from him after a few seconds in aggravation.

Katherine shook her head at the raven haired vampire whose retreating figure captured her attention once more. She watched him go with a loaded sigh and placed her hand on her hip.

The brunette wanted to help him, truly, but his intentions to be the good guy for Elena made it difficult for her to swallow.

Swiftly, the vampire dropped her hand from her waist, turned on her heels, and began to walk in the opposite direction of the Salvatore brother.

Her thoughts were deafening, something in which she had yet to get used to when alone. She didn't want to think about her, but Katherine couldn't help, but think of the one woman she missed most. She was aimlessly walking without a purpose, her eyes looking up at the sky.

The clouds revealed the three-quarter moon that reflected the night Katherine had lost her.

England, 1492. . .

"I don't understand, madame Katerina, you are not making of any sense!" Zakiyah exclaimed in exasperation. She brought her hands to hold Katerina's shoulders, the action startling the brunette. Zakiyah frowned, dropping her hands. "I━ my apologies. I wish not to overstep."

"You did nothing of the sort, my love," Katerina reassured with a forced grin. Her eyes looked to be tired, yet wired with a sense of urgency Zakiyah couldn't understand. "Promise me, Zakiyah."

"Anything you wish, Katerina," Zakiyah instantly replied. "Just say what is it you wish for me to swear."

The brunette smiled at her, her small hands cupping Zakiyah's cheeks. Katerina brought Zakiyah's head forward so that their foreheads touched. Zakiyah smiled and reached for Katerina's waist, bringing her body into hers. Katerina felt her eyes pool with unshed tears. It worried the Black beauty who was watching the Bulgarian woman before her.

"Madame Katerina. . ."

Her question got lost in translation━━ without a warning, Katerina slammed her lips against Zakiyah's. Taken aback by Katerina's boldness, Zakiyah hadn't reacted. She felt her lover deflate at the lack of response.

Zakiyah felt Katerina slowly draw back and at this, was driven to action. Zakiyah gripped Katerina's waist harder and tilted her head to deepen the kiss. The brunette smiled into the kiss and moaned. Zakiyah bit Katerina's lip and suckled on it slowly before she pulled her head back, releasing Katerina's lip from her teeth.

Katerina gasped, her eyes fluttering open in surprise. Zakiyah mirrored her response, her cheeks dusting over in crimson. Katerina smiled at the raven haired beauty and laughed.

"Promise me that you shan't stop loving me," Katerina whispered, "I do not think I could bare such a loss."

"I promise you Katerina Petrova," Zakiyah hummed with a dimpled grin. She pulled the brunette closer to her body. "The love I uphold for you is irrevocable. I shall not and will not stop loving thy. Do you not know how deep my love runs for thy? You have my word, my love. I shall never stop loving you until the day I die."

Mystic Falls, present timing. . .

Instinctively, Katherine reached for her lips━━ the tender meeting of Zakiyah's lips touching hers still fresh as if it had recently happened. "I shall never stop loving you. . ." Her words whispered in Katherine's head. The brunette looked away from the moon, smiling at the memory and the words of her lover.

The love her soul upheld for Zakiyah would never compare to the one she held for Stefan. Stefan was her escape from the past she couldn't forget. But even then, his love for her couldn't fill the void in her heart that Zakiyah's absence had left.

Katherine Pierce desperately missed her light, her everything. Zakiyah Reed was impossible to forget. How could she forget such a wonderful soul when Zakiyah was her first love? Her first everything in more ways than one?

"Excuse me?" Katherine frowned at the sudden voice calling out from behind her. Annoyed, Katherine swiveled on her feet to meet the blonde who was approaching her hesitantly. Katherine raised a brow at the woman expectantly. "Can I help you?"

"You are Katerina Petrova correct?" Katherine's frown only deepened. "You must be! Oh goodie! I've been looking for you."

She narrowed her eyes at the stranger. In a blur, Katherine's fingers wrapped around the woman's neck. She slammed the blonde's body against a nearby tree. The woman's feet dangled in the air as Katherine tightened her grip.

"Who the hell are you?" Katherine hissed, baring her fangs. The woman choked on her words that were gurgle. Katherine loosened her grip, but pressed again angrily, "Who sent you?"

"Would you believe me if I said it was a ghost?" The woman busted out in giggles. Confusion knitted Katherine's eyebrows together. "Don't be so lost, Katerina. I am only here to deliver a message."

"Stop calling me that!"

Katherine growled, her fingers flexing against the woman's windpipe. Who was this woman? The stranger gritted her teeth from agony. She pinched her eyes closed, trying to catch her breath. Katherine lossened her grip once more for her to speak.

"What is the message?"

Taking a deep breath, the woman's eyes bulged open as she sighed in relief. She met Katherine's narrowed eyes that were desperately trying to figure her out. The blonde's lips parted, releasing a shrill of high pitched laughter that unnerved the worrying vampire.

"I have found you after all these years of being on the run," the blonde recited monotonously. Katherine felt her heart drop. "And now, there's no where to run, love. We shall meet again, soon, I can promise you that. I am looking forward to it, Katerina."