The Sacrifice

Memory Lane - 1

 Matt's sitting in the living room, focused fully on the Tv screen. "Matt?" I question, rubbing away at the sleep in my eyes. "Oh hey, your finally up" He says, turning the Tv off and walking to the kitchen. 

"Well, I'm off to the grill. I have a shift" He explains, looping his fingers around his keys. I nod and narrow my eyes at his neck. 

"What the hell happened?!" I exclaim as I grab his face and pull down his collar to reveal a white bandage. 

"Oh that" He says, slightly embarrassed and pulls his collar back up. "Caroline and I were in the woods, and an animal just came out of nowhere and attacked me" He explained. I grab a cup of coffee and grip it in my hands. 

Caroline. 

"Well, I'll see you when I get home" He says and kisses my cheek. "Yeah" I mumble under my breath as I bring the cup to my lips. "Hey, wait!" I call out before he can open the door.

 "Yeah?" He questions. "When you were with Tyler, you know when he spun out of control, claiming her heard a noise" 

"Yeah?" He says, still confused. "Did you notice anything else that was weird? Anything out of the ordinary?" He scratches his head in thought. "Uh, one of the paramedics says he saw something" 

"Saw what?" I prod, putting my cup on the counter. "Something in his eye" I nod at the information. 

"You happen to catch the paramedics name?" I prod. Matt shakes his head. "No. Why the sudden interest?" He asks. I shake my head and pick back up my cup. 

"No reason" I say, lifting it to my lips. "Scram will you? You'll be late for your shift" He nods, "Right" He says, realizing the time and dashes out the door.

After what Matt had informed me off, I decided to head on over and check for myself. I compensated on calling either Damon or Stefan. Which I did, but neither answered. I even called Caroline but she was busy at Elena's place where Damon also was. 

She kept saying I'm sorry over and over again. She even asked if I could meet her at the grill later tonight to talk. I had to agree. She's my friend, and what she's going through is tuff.

 I just wish Stefan could have kept a better eye on her. I'm going over there later to give him a piece of my mind. When I got to the hospital I asked to speak to the paramedics who brought Caroline to the hospital on founders day. 

Thankfully the paramedic was in, and he told me what he thought he had seen. He described it as weird, strange, not normal, inhuman. He even drew me a picture. After that I headed over to the manor.

"Stefan Freaking Salvatore" I yell as I storm in. I gasp at the scene in front of me. Stefan stands towering over Katherine who's sprawled on the couch, weakened by vervain. 

"Ariel"

I watch as Stefan picks her up and marches her down stairs to the basement.

I can't stop staring at Katherine, she looks exactly like Elena. The resemblance is errie.

Katherine bores her eyes into mines as Stefan ties her up. "Little Ariel. Why don't you call that sister of yours? Then it can be a party" She says with sarcasm. I roll my eyes and cross my arms at her. 

"Now, where were we? That's right; you were going to tell me why you came back to Mystic Falls, weren't you?" Stefan questions. Katherine let's out a groan. "You don't have to do this"

"Answer the question" Stefan barks. "I came back for you" Katherine answers sounding almost genuine. Stefan rolls his eyes, not believing her crap. 

"We're gonna play by my rules now" Stefan looks over to me and motions the patch of Vervain. I sigh and reluctantly grab a piece, pressing it against Katherine's cheek making her scream. I pull it away and Stefan grabs her throat.

"Answer the question" 

 "You're going to torture me now?" Katherine asks, her voice breaking at the betrayal.

"I'll do whatever it takes to get you to tell me the truth" He hiss and walks away from her, standing next to me.

"Later that night at the Founders' Ball..." Katherine starts but Stefan cuts her off.

"I don't want to hear any more stories about the past" He demands.

"Yes you do, Stefan" Katherine argues with heavy breathing. "That's exactly what you want to hear"

Katherine then starts a story about 1864, the first founders day ball. How she confronted George Lockwood about her secret and his own. How they negotiated a deal for something she knew he wanted. She however didn't say what it was. 

"What did he want?" I ask as Stefan waits for her to answer. When Katherine doesn't answer Stefan grabs an empty chair and places it in front of her. He folds his hands together and waits for her to continue. I don't know how he gets the patience to do this. I can't.

"You know, we can sit here as long as you want. And when you start to desiccate, there's a tomb with your name on it." He tells her.

Katherine looks up at him. "I've been doing all the talking, it's your turn. Do you pretend to be human when you're with Elena? Is that the appeal?" I silently gag. I do not like this at all.

"Actually, I don't pretend to be anything when I'm with her. That's the whole point. I get to just be myself." He admits.

" Does she know that you love me?" Katherine questions. "I don't."

 "That's where you're wrong, Stefan. Don't you remember bringing me home that night? Your family had taken me in." And that's my cue to leave. No offense, I don't want to hear their love story.