Chapter One

Elena stood staring at the cryptic text message she had gotten earlier that day," Be under the stone bridge at 2 o'clock for an offer of a lifetime." Unknown number, unknown sender, unknown reason for excitement to be singing through her veins. Perhaps it is Damon, she thought, deciding that he didn't care about what Stefan said about the sire bond, and that he believed her when she said everything she feels for him is real. But why would he be so mysterious and want to me outside of town, she wondered as she paced back and forth. She was quickly consumed by the thought of Damon and what she would greedily accept should he as much as hint at the idea. She remembered the way it felt for him to hold her as they danced to the sound of their nervous breaths with the fire illuminating Damon's and her eyes as the passion of the moment consumed them both after the kiss. She was so lost in her fantasies that she didn't hear the sound of heeled boots quickly approaching until her Doppelgänger was standing behind her smirking. "Which Salvatore brother is that grin for?" she asked. Elena felt her face flush for a moment before narrowing her gaze at the she devil before her. "Katherine. I'd say it was nice to see you but we both know that where you go there is always some big bad chasing you. What are you running from this time?" Elena asked cocking her head to her side trying to appear more confident and less curious as to what would posses Katherine to come to her with an offer. Katherine raised her eyes a fraction, still trying to get a read on the vampire version of Elena, she could tell she was stronger than her human shell but she could still feel the quiver of fear in Elena's voice that let her know she had the upper hand. "Relax, sweetie I come bearing gifts. Do you remember the story of the original Petrova doppelgänger?" she paused long enough to see Elena nod that she had, "Good. Well rumor has it she's in New York and in need of assistance; she's being hunted by two brothers." Elena let Katherine's words sink in, Tatia was alive, and she was in trouble. Tatia, the girl who is the reason Katherine and herself existed, Tatia the girl who is the reason Damon, Stefan, Caroline, Elijah and Klaus are who they are, Tatia the girl whose blood created vampires in the very beginning. "I don't understand what is it you want me to do?" she asked shaking her head as Katherine's face lifted into a grin that would put Lewis Carroll's Cheshire cat to shame. "Want to go on an adventure my dear Elena? We have another doppelgänger to find."