Tangled Fate

The Return

A/N: So, here's the sequel to 'Tangled Love'. If you're new here then I strongly recommend that go read that now. And if you're here because you've read 'Tangled Web of Love' then welcome back and thank you so much for supporting my story and sticking with me until this far. So, here's the first chapter. Enjoy!

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February 25, 2010

In the quiet of the Gilbert kitchen, John shut the refrigerator door and jumped, nearly dropping his water. Elena, or the girl who wore her face with chilling precision, was standing right there.

"God, you scared me." John exhaled, clutching the bottle.

"Sorry." Katherine murmured, her voice a perfect mimicry of Elena's soft tone. She drifted toward the sink, starting on some mindless chores she imagined her doppelgänger would do to keep busy.

John glanced over his shoulder at the empty hallway. "Is Jenna home?"

"Meeting the fire chief about the building." Katherine replied, never breaking character. "She doesn't know the truth. They've covered it up."

"Yeah, I know." John nodded, his guard dropping slightly. "How's Jeremy?"

Katherine gave a small, indifferent shrug. "Holed up in his room."

"Can I help?" John offered, moving toward the sink with a tentative smile to help with the dishes.

Katherine's eyes didn't track his face; they locked onto the heavy Gilbert ring on his finger. A ghost of a smile played on her lips; a predatory, dark thing. She handed him a few pieces of cutlery, but as he reached out, she snatched a large kitchen knife.

In one blurring, violent motion, she brought the blade down. Steel bit through bone, severing the fingers that held his protection, sending the ring clattering away. Before he could even scream, Katherine slammed him back against the sink, her eyes bleeding into a hungry, veiny red.

John's face twisted into a mask of pure horror as the realisation hit him. "Katherine?!"

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Moonlight filtered through the heavy curtains, washing over Vivienne's pale skin. Damon traced a slow line from her shoulder to her hip, his touch reverent. He was in a daze; he truly believed the woman in his bed was Louise Gilbert, the girl who had slowly, stubbornly rebuilt his heart over the last year. He felt the words "I love you" clawing at his throat, but he swallowed them back, not wanting to break the spell just yet.

His fingers toyed with a dark curl on her shoulder until she stirred, her breathing hitching.

"You really aren't going to let me sleep, are you?" she groaned, pulling a pillow over her face to hide her sneer.

"Sleep is highly overrated." Damon countered, snatching the pillow and tossing it across the room before pinning her beneath him. "Don't tell me you're tired of me already."

"Hardly." Vivienne replied, placing a hand on his chest to keep the necessary distance. "I'm thrilled we've finally moved past the 'just friends' stage, but I'm human, Damon. I need at least a few hours of shut-eye."

It was almost laughable how easily he was fooled. His desperation for Louise had blinded his instincts; he couldn't even sense the subtle chill of her skin or the lack of a pulse.

Damon pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her. "I know. And I'm sorry for being a greedy bastard, but Louise...you have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that." He leaned down, whispering into her ear as he trailed kisses along her throat.