>In year 1848<
The year was 1848, and the world was still reeling from the aftermath of a war that had left deep scars on humanity. But the conflict between nations was nothing compared to the ancient battles that raged in the shadows. Battles that was fought with magic and blood. It was in this turbulent time that I found myself in a small village in Eastern Europe, following the trail of death and destruction left by a woman I had considered a sister.
People know her as Katherine Pierce, but not many know her birth name, Katerina Petrova. She was no ordinary vampire. She was cunning, manipulative and utterly ruthless. She leaves chaos in her wake wherever she went. I had been tracking her for days, my every step dogged by rumors of the atrocities she had committed. Village's wiped out, families torn apart, and all of these was because of her insatiable hunger for power and blood.
As I approached the outskirts of the village where she had last been seen, I could sense the dark energy that hung heavy in the air.
The village was eerily silent. The streets empty as if the very life had been drained from the place. And in a way, it had been Katherine's handiword was unmistakable.
But there was something else. Something even darker and more malevolent than Katherine's usual chaos. I could feel the presence of magic, ancient and powerful,crackling in the atmosphere like the calm before a storm. The witches had found her, and they were preparing to exact their revenge.
I followed the trail of magic to the edge of the village, where a grand mansion loomed against the darkening sky. It was an imposing structure, built of stone and surrounded by a dense forest that it seemed to close in around it. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and burning incense. The telltale signs of a powerful ritual in progress.
But there was something else. Something even darker and more malevont than Katherine's usual chaos. I could feel the presence of magic, ancient and powerful, crackling in the atmosphere like the calm before a storm. The witches had found her, and they were preparing to exact their revenge.
I followed the trail of magic to the edge of the village, where an abandon grand mansion loomed against the darkening sky. It was an imposing structure, built of stone and surrounded by a dense forest that seemed to close in around it. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and burning incense, the telltale signs of a powerful ritual in progress.
My heart quickened as I realized what was happening. The witches was preparing to kill Katherine, to bind their power and end her life once and for all. But what make me wonder was, why? Why go through this extand just to kill her? A stake will be an easier option. Quick and fast.
What are they trying to achieve other then killing Katherine?
Regardless of why, I still need to make my move and they didn't know what they were dealing with. Katherine wasn't just any vampire. She was my descendant and she was mine to protect.
Without hesitation, I approached the mansion. My senses on high alert. The front door was ajar, and I slipped inside, moving silently through the dimly lit hallways. The chanting of the witches grew louder as I made my way deeper into the mansion. The voices of the witches rising and falling in a haunting rhythm.
I searched the grand ballroom, where the ritual was taking place. The room was filled with the glow of candlelight. The flames casting eerie shadows on the walls. In the center of the room, Katherine was bound to a stone altar. Her usually vibrant features pale and drawn. Chains made of silver and laced with vervain wrapped around her body, holding her in place as the wicthes chanted their incantations.
The leader of the coven, an older woman with eyes as cold as ice, stood over Katherine with a dagger in hand. The blade was etched with runes, glowing with a sinister light as she prepared to plunge it into Katherine's heart. I have never seen that blade before and for a witch who knows how to kill a vampire, and goes extra length in choosing a weapon made me wonder what is the true nature of the blade.
I couldn't wait any longer. Drawing on my vampire speed, I moved in a blur, crossing the distance between us in an instant. The witches barely had time to react as I slammed their leader across the room, using my vampire strength. The leader stumbled back, and the dagger slipping from her grasp as she hit the floor with a sickening thud.
"Who dares to interrupt our sacred ritual?" The leader hissed, scrambling to her feet as hald of the other witches stand around her, covering and protecting their leader.
"I do." I replied coldly. My voice was echoing through the room as I stepped into the dim light.
"And you have made a grave mistake." I added. The leader's eyes wide with shock as she realized who I was.
"Natalia Petrova." She hissed. Her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and rafe.
"I have heard a lot of stories about you. We even crossed path once. You killed my son."
"Firstly, you witches need to get a life. Or find someone else to gossip about."
"Secondly. I don't remember you. But if I did killed your son, then he must have done something wrong." I smiled coldly.\
"We do have others to talk about, but you. You are something else. You are mother nature's greatest mistake. You shouldn't have been born. A vampire cannot be a witch. You are a monster."
"Call me whatever you want. I have heard worst." I said as I played with the end of my hair and take a few steps forward.
"Lets us not waste any more second, because time for me is very precious, despite having all the time I need, unlike you..." I said as I point towards one of the witch.
"You don't seem to have enough time. Ulcus et conflandum." I cast a spell and the witch's face turns red as her inside boils. Steams appear around her, and she soon melt to the ground.
"You monster." One of the witches said.
"You shouldn't have come after my people." I said nonchantly.
"She is a monster. Innocent blood is on her hands. She deserves to die. Just like you." The leader said and her lips curled into a sneer.
"That's not for you to decide. You don't get to decide when someone dies and who should live." I said, my voice low and dangerous.
Before she could react, I raised my hand as I channel more magic within me. The air crackled with energy as I unleashed a wave of power, sending the witches flying, crashing towards the wall. They screamed in pain as they hit the walls. The force of the impact knocking the wind out of them, sparing only one young witch who stand frozen in fear. Her eyes are fix on her friend's melted body, just a few feat away from her.
"Incendia." I cast a spell that burns the witches body, sparing only one witch alive to deliver my message.
"Send my message to your covent. That I, Natalia Petrova, didn't appreciate it when you miserable people come after my people." I said, and the witch nod before she ran away in hurry. I grab the blade that falls on the ground, and I study it before I keep it, hidden underneath my gown.
Drawing the strength of my vampire blood, I moved to Katherine's side, ripping the chains from her body with ease. Because of the witch blood that runs in me, vervain didn't hurt me. But verbane does. A mixture of vervain and wolfsbane will hurt me as much as vervain hurts other vampires.
Katherine gasped as the pressure on her body was released and she collapsed into my arms. For a moment, she was still, her breathing ragged as she fought to regain control.
"Natalia." Katherine looked up at me. Her tired eyes wide with surprise and relief.
"Of course you showed up." Her voice laced with a mixture of amusement and exhaustion.
"You always do." She said, and I met her gaze. My expression unreadable.
"And you always seem to need saving."
"Where would I be without you." She gave a week smile, her typical bravado returning in the face of near death.
"Dead." I replied, not bothering to sugarcoat it.
"Multiple times over." I added.
"Good thing I have you wrapped around my finger then." Katherine said and despite her weakened state, Katherine's eyes sparkled with mischief as she slowly got to her feet.
I ignore her comment, studying her for a moment. There was something about her, something that stirred a deep, protective instinct in me, even after all these centuries, despite all the terrible things that she has done.
Is it her horrible past life that somehow resonate with me? Her family was slaughtered, and mine was too. She is on the run, and so am I. She is a Petrova, and so am I. Or perhaps because even after seeing all the selfish things she did, I can still see redemption in her. I feel if she could redeem herself, I am redeeming myself too.
"Katerina." I said quietly.
"You need to be careful." I added.
"Careful is boring." Katherine smirked. I let out a tired sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration.
"You think this is a game, don't you? You think you can just go on killing sprees and charm your way out of the consequences?"
"Wasn't that always worked for me?" Katherine tilted her head and her lips curving into a playful smile.
"Not forever. There are consequences in every action that we make. One day, even I won't be able to save you." I warned. My voice was colder than I intended.
For a moment, her expression softened. There was a flicker of something genuine passing through her eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it came, and was replaces by her usual mask of indifference.
"I will take my chance." Katherine said lightly as she brushed my hair away from my face.
"Do not take my protection as a way for you to continue behaving like this Katerina. I only protect you because you are my descendant, my blood. If you are not, I will never care about your wellbeing Katerina." I said as I push her hand away from my face. My eyes pierce into her eyes.
"I know. I know. I promise I will be at my best behaviour." She said, as she raised her hand in oath, and seeing her behaviour make me let out another tired sigh.
"Now. Can we leave. The smell of these burning witches gave me headache." Katherine said.
I rolled my eyes but helped her to her feet. As I vamp speed her through the woods, not wanting to be there longer Incase there will be more witches coming, the tension in the air slowly dissipitated. I had save her, again. But the uneasy feeling in my chest remained.