Expect The Unexpected

Discussions and Decisions

Chapter 3 - Discussions & Decisions

Stefan POV

"You see, it's even embroidered with my initials. Papa had that done. Mein Liber Papa…" Katherine's voice trailed and she stopped twirling, one hand slowly settling to her side. "But what is wrong, Stefan? You are not smiling."

I could not even try. The sight of her there, white and gold like some ethereal vision, was a physical pain to me. If I lost her, I don not know how I could live.

My fingers closed convulsively around the cool engraved metal. "Katherine, how can I smile, how can I be happy when…"

"When?"

"When I see how you look at Damon." There, it was said. I continued, painfully. "Before he came home, you and I were together every day. My father and yours were pleased, and spoke of marriage plans. But now the days grow shorter, summer is almost gone-and you spend much time with Damon as you do with me. The only reason Father allows him to stay here is that you asked it. But why did you ask it, Katherine? I thought you cared for me."

Her blue eyes were dismayed. "I do care for you, Stefan. Oh, you know I do!"

"Then why intercede for Damon with my father? If not for you, he'd have thrown Damon out into the street…"

"Which I'm sure would have pleased you, little brother." The voice at the door was smooth and arrogant, but when I turned I saw that my brother's eyes were smoldering.

"Oh, no, that isn't true." Bella said as she came into the room. "Stefan would never wish to see you hurt. Don't mind me I'm just in here to get a book." She grabbed a book then left the room.

Damon's lip quirked, and he threw me a wry glance as he moved to Katherine's side. "Perhaps not." he said to no one. When he looked at Katherine his face softened and his voice softened slightly. "But my brother is right about one thing at least. The days grow shorter, and soon your father will be leaving Florence. And he will take you with him unless you have a reason to stay."

Unless you have a husband to stay with. The words were unspoken, but implied. The baron was too fond of his daughter to force her to marry against her will. In the end it would have to be Katherine's decision. Her choice.

Now that the subject was broached, I could not stay silent. "She knows she must leave her father sometime soon-" I began, flaunting his secret knowledge, but someone interrupted me.

"Ah, yes, before the old man grows suspicious." Damon said casually. "Even the most doting of fathers must start to wonder when his daughter comes forth only at night."

Anger and hurt swept through me. It was true, then; Damon knew. She had shared her secret with both Salvatore brothers.

"Why did you tell him? Why? What can you see in him: a man who cared for nothing but his own pleasure? How can he make you happy when he thinks only of himself." Little did I know that my little sister, Bella, was listening into our conversation.

"And how can this boy make you happy when he knows nothing of the world?" My brother interposed, his voice razor-sharp with contempt. "How will he protect you when he has never faced reality? He has spent his whole life among books and paintings; let him stay there."

Katherine was shaking her head in distress, her jewel-blue eyes misted with tears.

"Neither of you understand!" she said. "You are thinking that I can marry and settle down here like any other lady of Florence. But I cannot be like other ladies. How could I keep a household of servants who will watch my every move? How could I live in one place where people will see that the years do not touch me? There will never be a normal life for me."

She drew in a deep breath and looked at both of us each in turn. "Who chooses to be my husband must give up the like of sunlight." she whispered. "He must choose to live under the moon and in the hours of darkness."

"Then you must choose someone who is not afraid of the shadows," Damon said, and I was surprised by the intensity of his voice. I had never heard him speak so earnestly or with so little affection. "Katherine, look at my brother: will he be able to renounce the sunlight? He is too attached to ordinary things: his friends, his family, his duty to Florence. The darkness would destroy him."

"Liar!" I cried. Now I was seething. "I am as strong as you are, brother, and I fear nothing in the shadows or the sunlight either. And I love Katherine more than friends or family-"

"-or your duty? Do you love her enough to give that up as well?"

"Yes," I said defiantly. "Enough to give up everything."

Damon gave one of his sudden, disturbing smiles. Then he turned to Katherine. "It would seem," he said, "that the choice is yours alone. You have two suitors for your hand; will you take one of us or neither?"

Katherine slowly bowed her golden head. The she lifted wet blue eyes to both of us.

"Give me until Sunday to think. And in the mean time, do not press me with questions."

I nodded reluctantly. Damon said, "And on Sunday?"

"Sunday evening at twilight I will give you my choice."

Twilight…the violet deep darkness of twilight…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Bella POV

Did I hear my brothers right? They would give up everything for a girl, Katherine?

I stopped myself from gasping aloud when I heard Stefan say that and when Damon implied it, but didn't say anything.

When they finished talking, I ran as fast as I could to my room. Tears were flowing down my cheeks. I was losing both of my brothers to a selfish girl.

What was all that about eternal darkness and 'untouched by the years'? Katherine had spoken about those several times. Therefore, Katherine was not normal. So did that mean she wasn't human? If not, what is she?

Please Vote or comment :) 

I hope to post at least once a day till the whole things is posted :)