KATARINA: VAMPIRE (SLAY/LOV)ER

Part XIII - Closed Casket

Kat slowly regained consciousness. With blurred vision and ringing ears she tried to get a read of the environment and assess the situation. Blinking, her world started to sharpen,she could make out a feminine face. Jasmine?

No.

What?

Everything went black for another moment as her head started spinning.

Seeing double?

It can't be.

Kayla

and

Jasmine?

Kat's vision was clearing but it only muddied the waters.

"Long time no see, bestie."

Any doubt in her mind vanished.

"Kayla? Where have you been? And what are you doing here...with her?" she snarled, shifting her glance to Jasmine.

Both girls looked at each other and laughed at Katarina, who was bound and restrained like a medieval peasant.

"Oh, Kat, Kat, Kat. Did you even think to look for me? It's been what, months?"

"You never answered my calls, or my texts!? What did you want me to do, stop living my life?"

"I gotcha," Kayla continued. "You were too busy fucking my boyfriend to look for me."

They intensely locked eyes as guilt ate away at Katarina.

"Oh, didn't realize I knew about that? Yeah, oops, right? That's what best friends do nowadays, huh? At least Jasmine here has been keeping me company. She's been extra nice too," she said winking at Jasmine.

"Is there anything you didn't lie about?" Kat spat at Jasmine.

"Well, yes, actually." Jasmine replied with a sense of pretentiousness. "I do like you andthink you're cute - but I have to look out for my own kind first."

Jasmine continued: "Mr. Smith had dominion over this entire area. With him out of the way we - me and Kayla - can have this entire area to ourselves. And it can be a safe haven for other female vampires and wayward hybrids like myself."

"As far as we know, most hunters are on the East Coast. The only ones here are you," Kayla chimed in, pausing for a brief moment. "And your dad."

"Fuck you." Kat said, spitting at her best friend turned mortal enemy. "Cunt."

"That wasn't very nice," responded Kayla, wiping the spit from her face."

Katarina looked at Jasmine. She could see a look of discomfort on her face, and was trying to read the situation, but was still lost.

"We were going to have some fun with you," Kayla continued. "Maybe even turn you - since I can do that now - but you obviously aren't the Kat I grew up with."

"Please, stop. I'm sorry. Derrick came on to me and I should have stopped him," Kat stumbled over her words in panic. "And, and, I, I should've put more effort into finding you. I felt guilty about it the whole time!"

"Really? You want me to believe you were guilty, when you repeatedly slept with the love of my life, and hooked up with Jasmine - effectively replacing me with her? Yeah, okay Kat."

"Seriously, please! T-turn me! Turn me into a vampire too! Please."

"Hmm, let me think about it. Nope!" Kayla jested. "Best friends are friends forever? More like friends for-never."