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Soft yet callous hands brush against Cordelia's skin, she leaned her head back against the soft mattress as warm lips caress her jaw making her feel like good. "You know we can't just stay in bed all day, Damon," Cordelia reminded her best friend. "Yeah, I know. I've got Jenna's lunch party today anyway," Damon whispered to her before smirking, he leaned down and captured Cordelia's lips as his bedroom door opened to reveal Stefan. Stefan froze at the sight before him, he wasn't sure how to feel in regards to his brother and the girl he. . . Well, he felt something for. . . Being together, even if it's purely physical for them.

"Do you mind Stefan?" Cordelia asked once Damon moved to sensually kissing the woman's neck, her eyes locked on Stefan whose eyes darkened slightly seeing the flushed expression on the blonde's face. Elena stepped up next to Stefan, the blonde was quick to push her against the wall with her magic catching both Stefan and Damon's attention. "What the hell, Cordelia?" Elena asked with wide innocent eyes. "Nice try, Katherine," Cordelia spoke causing Stefan to step away from her. "Oh, I had him so convinced. He's almost desperate to love her," Katherine spoke with a slight whine, Cordelia scoffed before throwing the woman over the banisters and onto the table below.

"And I'm leaving," Cordelia told the two, she climbed out of Damon's bed adorning one of his shirts allowing the brother's to stare at her bare legs. "Naughty, Stefan," Damon teased with a grin before he got up, he wore sweatpants as he followed behind Cordelia. Damon lightly slapped her ass causing her to giggle-shriek, Stefan lowered his eyes as he momentarily wished it was him with Cordelia not his older brother. "How unfortunate," Katherine spoke when Stefan walked down the stares glaring at her. "It's so amusing watching you love Elena so much when it's clearly her that you want," Katherine said with spite before leaving.

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Cordelia walked into her home only to run into a familiar face, "LEXI!?" The two blondes rushed into each other's arms, the older blonde grinning as she held the younger blonde close to her. "Oh, how I have missed you," Lexi expressed to Cordelia as the two pulled away from each other. "Are you crazy? Standing in the home of the sheriff that dumped your body?" Cordelia scolded softly, Lexi chuckled as Caroline walked down the stairs. "She's taking me out of town to learn better control on feeding for the day. "Thank you so much, Lexi. While I'm happy for Stefan to do things his way, I'd rather she learned better," Cordelia said to Lexi.

"It is my pleasure," Lexi assured her as she picked up her bag, "So, are we ready?" Caroline nodded, the two blondes hugged Cordelia before they left in Lexi's car leaving the blonde bored as she walked up the stairs to wash off her and Damon's previous night and change into clothes that were her own. After having a shower, Cordelia headed downstairs as she towel dried her hair and walked into the kitchen. With a quick look around, it was clear that no one had been shopping recently and so the blonde took it upon herself to do the grocery shopping. And so, with a list in her hand, she headed out of the house and got into her car.

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"Why are you dragging me into this?" Cordelia asked Stefan, he held her wrist in his hand tight but not enough to hurt her. They headed into the Salvatore Boarding House and down towards the cellar where Katherine was apparently chained up and weakened by vervain, however, Cordelia was sure the woman was playing her own cards, she wouldn't bother saying anything to Stefan. "Because she won't talk unless you're present," Stefan answered her. "Fine but you owe me a milkshake," Cordelia told him. "And fries, I know," Stefan added, unknowingly bringing a blush to the blonde's face which she tried to force away.

"Alright, I bought Cordelia," Stefan spoke, Katherine looked up from where she was sitting chained down. "Oh Kitty Kat, something about you in chains excites me," Cordelia purred with a smirk, her eyes locked with Katherine's made the older vampire smirk. "Come closer, I'm sure we could have better fun than you and Damon," Katherine flirted back but was interrupted by Stefan pulling Cordelia over to sit down with him, Katherine rolled her eyes at that. "Fine. Later that night, at the Founder's ball..." Katherine trailed off as Stefan cut in, "I don't want to hear any more stories about the past." Katherine smirked, "Yes you do, Stefan. That's exactly what you want to hear."

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It's the Founder's Ball in 1864 and Katherine is drinking alone as she watched Clara Forbes dance with Johnathan Gilbert. George Lockwood approached Katherine with the classic Lockwood smirk, "She's all alone. Does this mean I can finally have you all to myself?" Katherine smiled flirtatiously at his words, "Your father has outdone himself." George nodded at her words, "Knowing father, he will want to throw a Founder's Party every year." Katherine held back an eye roll as she sipped her drink, "I must admit, I'm rather surprised that you'd come looking for me." George raised a brow at her words, "Because you are the rope in the Salvatore's tug of war?"

"No, because I'm a vampire who could kill you in your sleep," Katherine told him. "I beg your pardon?" George asked, his eyes slightly wide. "Relax, George. I know you know my secret," Katherine replied to him. "This conversation is over," George told her and turned away, Katherine was quick to catch his arm, the action was seen by Clara who had excused herself from dancing with Johnathan. "And I know your secret too and I know thag you're extra strong, only not as strong." Clara stepped up and placed her hand lightly onto Katherine's, "He may not be as strong as you, Katherine, but I am." Katherine released her grip on George, smiling sweetly at the blonde.

"How do you know who I am?" George asked Katherine, his hand moving to rest on Clara's hip in an attempt to pull her closer to him protectively. "You think that I would settle into a town without knowing my enemies?" Katherine questioned him as her eyes trailed over to Clara in the process. "What do you want?" George asked her. "And make it quick, I wish to dance with my dear friend," Clara added with a sweet smile, her hand resting against George's chest. Katherine smiled at George knowing she going to get exactly what she wanted because the werewolf wouldn't risk any harm to the precious Starlight of Mystic Falls.

"What did he want?" Stefan asked her, Cordelia crossed her arms as she leaned back in her seat watching Katherine closely. She could see in the older vampires eyes that she had once cared for Clara, it was obvious when she mentioned the ancestor of the Forbes clan. "You know, we can sit here as long as you want," Stefan spoke due to Katherine's silence, "And when you start to desiccate, there's a tomb with your name on it." Cordelia smirked slightly at the fall in Katherine's face before the older vampire covered it up with a smirk. "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?" Katherine questioned.

She then leaned forward, "Is it a struggle to force a love for her to escape your love for Cordelia?" The mentioned Forbes perked up at that, she looked between the two but Stefan avoided eye contact with her. "Actually, I don't pretend to be anything when I'm with her. That's the whole point, I can be myself," Stefan expressed to Katherine who simply grinned as she replied, "Which one? Elena or Cordelia?" The blonde lowered her head, she felt like she shouldn't be there but knew Stefan or Katherine wouldn't let her leave. "Does she know that you love me?" Katherine asked him making Cordelia scoff.

"Maybe he did once, but you ruined that for yourself," Cordelia spoke up, a bitter tone to her words; she was really wishing she was anywhere else at this moment. "I don't," Stefan told the older vampire, his eyes locked with her own. "That's where you're wrong, Stefan," Katherine told him, Stefan rolling his eyes. "Don't you remember bringing me home that night? Your family had taken me in," Katherine replied to him ignoring Cordelia's presence as she leaned forward. It was interesting, however, to learn more about their past and despite hearing some from Damon and Stefan -- hearing Katherine's perspective was different.

"I had a lovely time, Stefan," Katherine told the eighteen year old, he smiled back at her sweetly. "How long do you plan on staying in Mystic Falls?" Stefan asked her. "As long as I'm wanted. Your father has been very kind to give me a shelter," Katherine answered him. "How could he not? Losing your family in the fire, gratefully you made it to Atlanta," Stefan expressed to the woman. "So, I gather I'm wanted?" Katherine asked as she moved closer to him. "Uh, very much so. I know... we've only known each other for a short while and I know I'm in competition for your affections but I've never met a woman quite like you," Stefan expressed lovingly.

"I look at you and I see an angel. I touch your skin and my entire body ignites. I kiss you and I know I'm falling in love," Stefan finished off with longing in his gaze before he leaned forward and kissed her. "I am in love with you," Stefan whispered as he pulled away from her lips. "There's too much you don't know about me, Stefan," Katherine told him softly. "More to learn and love," Stefan replied without hesitation. "I must say good night," Katherine spoke. "Have I upset you?" Stefan asked with his brows creased. "No, you haven't upset me, you've just surprised me. Until tomorrow," Katherine bowed her head before she headed into her own room.

Damon is there and he approaches her, kissing her only for Katherine to pull away from him. "What are you doing here?" Katherine asked him. "I told you I would come," Damon answered her, his eyes dark with lust. "Well, I'm tired, you should go," Katherine replied to him. "Did my little brother's confession overwhelm you?" Damon asked her, spite in his tone. "You shouldn't eavesdrop," Katherine softly scolded. "Is my love not enough?" Damon asked, his expression like a kicked puppy. "I told you, I'm tired," Katherine told him before compelling him, "I wish to be alone tonight. Please leave." Damon looked into her eyes, "Goodnight Katherine." And he left.

"So go ahead, Stefan. Torture me, keep me captive, drain me of my blood until my body turns to dust. It'll never change the truth. I never compelled your love. It was real and so was mine," Katherine told him, the male still refusing to believe it while Cordelia could see it. Katherine Pierce genuinely loved Stefan Salvatore. But she loved her freedom and survival way more. "I think I've heard enough," Cordelia spoke as she stood up and moved to leave. "Cori!" Stefan stood up but the blonde turned to him sharply, "No, Stefan. I'm already screwed up being second to Elena, now I'm third because Elena is second to Katherine!?"

Katherine turned away at those words, she saw the real, raw and genuine heartbreak in Cordelia's eyes as they flickered from their natural light green to pure white. "I..." Cordelia closed her eyes and shook her head, "I can't move on hanging around you so deal with this yourself. Because Katherine is right, you do love her." She then turned to Katherine, "Just... you love the version of her she played you with not the real person underneath." Katherine was quiet at those words, she knew that the blonde was right; the version of Katherine that Stefan fell in love with was a fake. "So I'm done," Cordelia finished off before she left, she shouldn't have shown up in the first place.

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After Cordelia left, Stefan had physically deflated in a way that Katherine was quick to notice. When she had said that she wouldn't talk without Cordelia present, Stefan had very clearly perked up at the knowledge that the blonde would be present. "You really refuse to see it, don't you, Stefan?" Katherine asked him. "It wasn't real. I remember you compelling me," Stefan replied to her immediately, he was already feeling the effects of Cordelia leaving. "Not me, Stefan. Her," Katherine replied with a smirk, "You've completely fallen for Cordelia Forbes. And she is the only person who hasn't chased or taunted you into a relationship."

"It's nothing like that," Stefan told her. "Have you heard about the prophecy, Stefan? About the bat, the wolf and the quail?" Katherine asked him, a sly smirk on her face. "It was once a prophecy written by the fates that said 'The dove and the wolf, two opposing sides of the world. One with flight, the other condemned to the ground. One who reflects the moon, the other who loves the moon. With clipped wings, the dove will find love with the wolf' but that all changed," Katherine told Stefan who furrowed his brows as she continued, "I thought it was about Clara Forbes and George Lockwood, the two were almost married back in 1864."

Stefan scoffed, "And why does this matter, Katherine?" Katherine smirked at the attitude, "Something changed. You see, I have to stay informed in my travels and it wasn't hard to learn about the new prophecy. It had altered completely and suddenly, the dove was replaced by a Quail and a bat was added." Stefan felt like this information was useless and the older vampire was simply wasting his time. "I don't care, Katherine," Stefan told her. "Oh but you will," Katherine expressed, "'The Quail will be pursued by the bat and the wolf, together sparks a choice; though the one riding the lightning will strike and so the star will fall; flames and souls will burn'. Quite the change, huh?"

Stefan furrowed his brows at that, he took in the words and settled back into his seat as he realised what Katherine was saying, "You think Cordelia is the Quail?" Katherine hummed, "I know she is. Quails are often seen as a sign of good fortune and abundance. Their ability to blend in with their surroundings symbolizes adaptability and camouflage. And if there is anything I've learnt about Cordelia, it seems to be fairly accurate to me." Katherine leaned forward as much as possible, "Now, I've seen her with Tyler Lockwood but there's nothing romantic happening there. But you -- we all know a bat is vampire symbolism and Damon is not the one she loves." Stefan had nothing to say leaving Katherine feeling accomplished.

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Rosemary Speaks. . .

Sorry for the wait. My computer has been blue screening which had wiped the original chapter I had written. So I'm typing on my phone using my laptop as a script source.

This means, slower updates as typing on a phone causes hand cramps and living with carpal tunnel sucks.

Anyway!

What are you thoughts about this chapter?

Lexi helping Caroline, we love that right?

Some more inside information about the prophecies and what they may mean.
What do y'all think about them?

Katherine actually rooting for Stefan and Cordelia, how do y'all think of that?

Thoughts, Suggestions or Questions?

See you all in the next chapter!