Her Purpose || Kai Parker

Chapter 11

The next day, Elena and Estrella sat together with Caroline, who looked tense.

Elena was carrying a bag filled with supplies.

"Tell everyone I wasn't feeling well and that I went home from school," Elena instructed Caroline firmly.

"I can't believe I'm agreeing to this. I'm a terrible liar," Caroline replied, wringing her hands in worry.

"And for the last time, Elena, I'm coming with you," Estrella insisted, her voice unwavering.

"No, absolutely not," Caroline quickly interjected, clearly siding with Elena.

Elena nodded in agreement, but Estrella crossed her arms, determined not to be left out.

Both Caroline and Elena sighed in exasperation.

"Keep Stefan busy. I don't want him to know what I'm up to," Elena said, turning to Caroline, her tone serious.

Caroline grimaced, rubbing her forehead. "I'm even worse at duplicity, and you know that," she protested.

"You managed to keep me occupied when Katherine paid Stefan a visit," Elena reminded her, her gaze steady.

"Yeah, because she threatened me! Not that I'm saying you should use that as a tactic... It's just... Stefan's going to see right through me," Caroline said, her nervousness growing.

Elena locked eyes with Caroline, her tone softening but her words pressing with urgency. "Caroline, as my friend, do you promise or not?"

Caroline sighed heavily, defeated.

"You had to break out the girlfriend code, didn't you? Fine. I promise," she said reluctantly.

"Okay," Elena said, nodding. Caroline hesitated for a second before blurting out, "Why don't you want Stefan to know?"

Estrella, who had remained quiet for a moment, spoke up. "Because he'd never be okay with her doing this."

The truth hung heavily in the air, and Caroline, realizing the seriousness of the situation, nodded and left, resigned to her task.

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Later, Elena and Estrella stood at the church ruins, in front of the tomb's door.

Elena pulled a bottle of blood from the bag she had been carrying and held it up for Katherine to see.

Katherine rushed toward the door but was stopped by the invisible barrier of the spell. Her eyes flickered with desperation.

"Get me out, Estrella. Am I not your friend?" Katherine's voice dripped with false innocence, but Estrella looked at her sadly, her heart conflicted but her resolve firm.

"I'm here for answers, Katherine. I won't help you unless you tell me the truth," Estrella said, her voice steady but tinged with sadness.

Katherine's eyes narrowed, but her body, weakened from decades of being trapped, slumped to the floor.

Elena, unfazed by the display, poured a small amount of blood into a glass and slid it toward her with a stick.

Katherine took it eagerly, drinking it down.

Color returned to her cheeks, but the fire in her eyes was still dulled by her entrapment. "You've got the Petrova fire," she remarked bitterly.

"More blood?" Estrella asked gently, holding Katherine's gaze.

Katherine nodded slightly, the faint glimmer of life returning as she placed the glass on the floor.

Elena retrieved it and filled it once more.