𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐞.
chapter six, ghost of the past!

      KATHERINE PEIRCE HAD DONE IT ONCE AGAIN━━ ESCAPED THE HOLD OF HER ENEMIES. The Petrova doppelgänger was hidden in the shadows, watching the raven haired beauty take a bottle of wine from her bag.

"Merci, mon Cherie."

She whispered with a mischievous grin. Katherine smirked as her friend froze, sensing her presence. In a blur, Isobel rushed at Katherine, but the brunette gripped her by the throat and shoved her against the wall.

"Nice house." Katherine greeted, turning her head to the side as she eyed the place. Isobel responded just as quickly, "Nicest foreclosure in town."

There was a brief moment of silence as Katherine removed her hand from Isobel's neck. The raven haired vampire laughed as Katherine smiled.

"Come here," Isobel opened her arms and Katherine gladly welcomed the embrace. She liked Isobel━━ she was merciless and did whatever it took to survive. "It's good to see you, Katherine."

"I hear you've been busy." Katherine hummed as the two broke apart. Isobel nodded, going to grab two eine glasses for them. "Yes, I have. I've been busy making a deal with Klaus to save your life."

"Here," Isobel handed her friend the wine bottle. "A vintner I knew in Avignon."

Smiling wickedly, Katherine used her fingers to pull the cork. Once it popped open, she dipped her finger at the rim and brought it into her mouth.

"He's tasty."

The two were lounging in the living room speaking about the Gilberts and their drama. Isobel was jealous of Rick who was dating Jenna and Katherine couldn't help, but chuckle.

She took a sip from her glass, eyeing Isobel from the rim with a smirk.

"You have obviously got John wrapped around your finger if he invited you in the house."

Isobel shrugged.

"He thinks I'm helping him protect Elena, so he's been very useful in keeping me informed on everything that's been going on."

Katherine shifted in her seat, wanting to be informed of what was going on these past few days since her release.

"So tell me what you know."

"You were right. I couldn't get anywhere near Klaus, but I found my way to someone in his trusted circle. One of his witches."

Katherine rolled her eyes, leaning back in her seat as she brought the glass to her lips.

"Klaus and his witches."

"He said that Klaus is willing to grant you your freedom if we deliver the moonstone and the doppelgänger."

"I can get the moonstone." Katherine promised. She was thrilled if it meant that was her ticket to complete freedom. Isobel narrowed her eyes, lips curving almost mockingly. "You know Katherine, you'd be betraying your Salvatore boys again."

"I was more than willing to play it their way if I had to, but they're floundering. Their witch has lost her powers, and they've used their only weapon to kill Elijah. If I stick with them, I'm dead. You showing up changes everything."

★彡. ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.

     AFTER STEALING THE MOONSTONE BACK FROM THE SALVATORE BROTHERS, KATHERINE FOUND HERSELF BACK AT ISOBEL'S PLACE AWAITING FOR HER ARRIVAL.

"I'm at your house, but we have to hurry,"

Katherine insisted over the phone. She was pacing around the living room with her hand raking through her curls. She had a bad feeling bubbling in the pit of her stomach.

She didn't like it━━ the feeling of dread kissed each part of her skin that responded with goosebumps. She nibbled on her bottom lip, trying to calm her uneven breathing.

"Damon knows your lodging tricks. It will take him all of 20 minutes to find out where you're staying."

"We'll be long gone before that." Isobel assured. Katherine nodded, pleased with the information. "Good. How far are you?"

"I'm sorry, Katherine," Katherine paused in her steps, body becoming stiff. Isobel's voice shook over the phone. "I had to do what I was told. He wanted the moonstone and he wanted you."

"He? He who?"

The line clicked, leaving Katherine Pierce alone in the house that was beginning to close in on her. The horrible feeling in her gut amplified as her heart banged against the cages of her ribs.

She heard the front door close softly behind her. She spun on her heels seeing a warlock standing at the foot of it. She took a deep breath and rushed towards him. Expecting her attack, the warlock flicked his wrist, paralyzing her from her position across from him.

Her raised his head and with his ring and index fingers, he made a motion to the right causing her to fall to the floor. She let out a blood curdling scream right before her eyelids betrayed her as she fell unconscious.

England, 1492. . .

"KATERINA PLEASE, IT HURTS!" futile attempts to push the woman holding her in an iron grip caused the English woman to grow tired. She was sobbing, fingers trying to shove the brunette away from her neck. She didn't want to hurt the Bulgarian native, but the pain was excruciating.

As if to be released from a spell, Katerina drew back savagely from her lover's neck, blood trickling down her chin. She was panting heavily, the blood of Zakiyah Reed was celestial much like her godly beauty.

The brunette was looking up at the stars, her hold tightening around her lover's waist. She heard a soft whimper, snapping her back into reality. Her bloodshot eyes found dark brown that were beginning to dull.

Though, she didn't mistake the fear overcoming Zakiyah's painful expression. Katerina shook her head in horror at what she had done. Carefully, she lowered the two to the floor, placing Zakiyah in the field of daffodils.

Zakiyah began to cough, blood gurgling from her lips and spewing into the air. She swallowed, wincing at the pain. Her chest heaved with each staggered breath it took for her lungs to receive the oxygen needed. Katerina stood to her feet and backed away from her lover, tears forming in her eyes at what she had done.

"No, no, no," she whispered, voice cracking. "What have I done?"

Zakiyah was staring up at the night sky as she was with the love of her life. Except, she didn't expect to be fighting off death who lay beside her, stroking her hair. Katerina shook her head, wrapping her arms around herself.

Zakiyah let out a strangled cry, pinching her eyes closed. Her body shook as the tears flowed down her cheeks. She didn't understand it.

What had she done to upset her? What had Katerina become? Was she to be okay without her? She didn't want to leave her love, but it seemed as though she'd have to against her will.

"Katerina. . ." Zakiyah turned her head to her lover who was sobbing at what she had done. With all her strength, Zakiyah raised her shaky hand for Katerina to grab. "Please. . ."

"I am sorry," Katerina whispered, backing away from her lover. She couldn't watch Zakiyah die at her hands. "I am so sorry. I must go. I have done enough damage."

"Go?" Zakiyah croaked. She shook her head, her bottom lip trembled. Her vision became blurry as she watched Katerina turn around and begin to walk. "No, no, no, Katerina, please."

Katerina, with her back facing Zakiyah, tried her best not to shake as the sobs got caught in her throat. She brought her fist to her lips and bit her knuckles.

"Katerina, please! Let us watch the stars together one last time. Please, I am begging of you!"

Zakiyah called out, her voice becoming strained. She let out broken cry as Katerina kept walking, never once turning to see her. Zakiyah shook her head as death placed its cold fingers along her skin. She shivered, no longer feeling the warmth of life.

Zakiyah Reed didn't want to die alone. She didn't want her last image of her lover to be her of her back as she walked away leaving her alone to die. She couldn't bare it. She wanted to remember Katerina's arms wrapped around her, holding her close as she was to pass on to the other world.

She wasn't mad or upset at the brunette for inflicting such lethal injuries. No, Zakiyah Reed just wanted to feel loved. She wanted to know that Katerina still loved her after attacking her.

Did Katerina do it because her heart no longer loved Zakiyah? The English native couldn't bare the horrific thought. She just wanted her lover to comfort her as she was to leave this world. She didn't want to be coaxed by death.

"Katerina! Please, do not leave me. I am beginning to grow cold."

Katerina paused in her steps, her heart heavy with guilt and shame. She couldn't go back to Zakiyah. She couldn't face the mess she had caused. The mistake she had made that would damn her to an eternity of loneliness.

"Please hold me one last time before you abandon me. I am sorry to have caused you to loathe me so much to have killed me."

Katerina wanted to turn back around and scream that she didn't loathe the Black beauty. That she loved her more than she thought was possible, but the image of her attacking her was enough to shame her into silence. To shame her into walking away because it was best for her. . .

Zakiyah would understand, right?

"Please do not leave me, my love. . . I am begging of you. . . I love you. . ."

"And I love you," Katerina whispered into the winds that failed to deliver the message to the dying human. "Which is why I must go. I love you, Zakiyah. We shall be reunited soon."

And with that, Katerina Petrova disappeared into the night.

Mystic Falls, present timing. . .

      MOANING IN DISCOMFORT, THE VAMPIRE DOPPELGÄNGER AWOKE WITH A SLIGHT POUNDING SENSATION IN THE BACK OF HER HEAD. She groaned, trying to come back to her senses. She blinked, her eyes narrowed.

She caught sight of the warlock who inflicted the spell against her. She stared at him in confusion as he continued casting a spell on someone whom was seated in a chair. She couldn't tell who is was.

She shakily got up, ignoring the dizzy sensation it caused her. There were two vases━━ one filled with blood from what she could smell and the other knocked over on its side. She frowned, noticing that Elena's necklace was gone.

What the hell happened?

She hesitantly walked over to the two, trying to piece together what was going on. At the sight of dirty blond hair, she saw it was the self proclaimed vampire hunter/history teacher Alaric Saltzman.

His eyes fluttered open, taking in his surroundings. He stood, just as the warlock bent down into a bow as if Alaric was of royal descent. Katherine tried her best not to attract attention to herself━━ something was wrong.

Her attempts her useless as Alaric turned and met her eyes.

"Somno Ritum Per Dax Ritum, Somno Ritum Per Dax Ritum,Somno Ritum Per Dax Ritum. . ." The warlock chanted under his breath. Katherine gulped, her throat tightening. She did her best to hide her fear. "Alaric?"

A sinister smile that wasn't his own crossed Alaric's face. It was enough for Katherine to speed towards the front door to make her escape. Though, an invisible force prevented her from exiting.

Alaric slowly walked over to her like a lion caging in on its prey.

"Zdravei, Katerina," He spoke in a Slavic accent that sent chills down her spine. He took her face in his hands, eyes beaming with vicious smugness. "I have missed you."

"Klaus!"

Katherine yelled in fear as he smiled widely at her. He squeezed her cheeks, dropping his hands from her face. She was paralyzed by her own fear that prevented her from moving. He tilted his head at her, watching her every move in amusement.

"Aww, don't be so afraid, love,"

He cooed, as he reached out to her. He carefully tucked a rebellious curl from out of her face and behind her ear. She flinched making him laugh.

   "Oh! So jumpy! I love it. But relax, Katerina, I've got a surprise for you that might ease your apprehensions," Klaus went to the door and opened it. "Come in, sweetheart, I do believe it's time for a proper reunion."

Shaking in her position, Katherine watched in both fear and perplexity as Alaric stepped away from the door and opened the it wider.

Katherine's eyes widened, her heart clenching in her chest. Her throat grew dry, threatening to tighten around her like the noose did all those years ago. She couldn't believe it.

It was her.

Zakiyah Reed.

"Hello my love,"

    The English accent she fell in love with all those years ago captured her attention. She didn't expect to hear it again other than the memories in her head. Zakiyah winked at the trembling brunette.

      She giggled, her long legs taking confident strides towards the Bulgarian native. She stopped just a few inches from Katherine who was staring at Zakiyah in surprise. Zakiyah's smile was uncharacteristically malicious.

   She gripped Katherine's cheek aggressively, her nails digging into the doppelgänger's skin. Katherine whimpered, her eyes pooling with unshed tears.

Zakiyah tilted her head and tsked.

  "Aww, don't cry, my love," ripping her nail out of Katherine's cheek, Zakiyah used her thumb to wipe away a lone tear that fell free. Katherine's lips trembled. "Did you miss me?"

    Katherine was at a loss for words. Zakiyah giggled and leaned in close. Her eyes held Katherine's, the darkness within them astonishing.

What happened to the Zakiyah she used to know?

"For I, Katerina, have dreamt of this moment for centuries."