(Author note: Everyone, I just wish to warn, this chapter at the end has a smut scene between Vali and Katherine. There is a warning for when it begins for those who do not wish to read it. I hope you guys don't mind, I'm experimenting since I'm unfamiliar with writing it.
So yeah, that was that, now enjoy the chapter.)
------------------------------------
The shadows around them froze mid-dance. Even Kol's constant magical fidgeting stilled.
"Your... what?" Alexander's voice cracked.
"Nature," Vali explained with almost paternal satisfaction, "doesn't just create doppelgangers at random. It creates them from bloodlines."
His crimson eyes blazed. "And you, my fascinating child, are what happens when nature tries to echo someone who exists beyond its comprehension - through their own blood."
"That's impossible," Alexander managed, though reality itself still huddled behind him seemed to hum with confirmation. "I'm a Salvatore."
"Are you?" Vali's smile showed too many teeth. "Or is that simply what nature wanted everyone to believe?"
"My blood," Vali began, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement, "rejects all those I consider enemies. It carries my will, my... preferences." He gestured, and the world shuddered. "So when nature tried to create a doppelganger directly from me, it failed. My blood simply wouldn't allow it."
"So nature," he continued, clearly enjoying Alexander's growing shock, "got creative. It used the blood of the only woman I truly loved - Tatia. Mixed it with that of Giuseppe and Lillian Salvatore. And from that impossible combination..." his smile turned almost proud, "you were born."
"A compromise!" Kol interjected gleefully. "Nature couldn't copy brother dearest directly, so it made you from the only blood he'd actually accept - his beloved's - mixed with your adoptive family's line!"
"That's why it hides behind you," Vali observed, watching as the world's presence continued to use Alexander as a shield. "It recognizes both my authority through our blood connection, and your gentler nature from your other bloodlines."
"You're lying," Alexander's laugh held an edge of hysteria. Reality's presence curled around him protectively as his emotions spiraled. "This is just another game, another manipulation-"
"Your power says otherwise," Vali replied calmly. "The way reality responds to you-"
"SHUT UP!" Alexander's sudden fury made the shadows dance violently. "If what you're saying is true, if you're really my father, then where were you? Where were you when Katherine was playing with us? When she was tearing me and my brothers apart?"
Kol's manic energy dimmed as he watched the confrontation unfold.
"And now?" Alexander's voice cracked with rage. "Now you keep her as your pet? Your precious little toy? After everything she did to your supposed sons?" His laugh was bitter, broken. "What kind of father lets someone who hurt his children live? Let alone rewards them?"
The shadows responded to his anger, no longer gentle but sharp with betrayal. Even reality itself seemed to bristle protectively around him.
"I don't need a father who watches his children suffer for his own entertainment," Alexander spat. "Who keeps their tormentor as a prized possession. You're not my father - you're just another monster who thinks everything exists for his amusement."
Vali's crimson eyes flashed, and for a moment, the temperature in the room dropped. But when he spoke, his voice was almost gentle - which somehow made it more terrifying.
Alexander stepped back, cold sweat dripping from his back, internally cursing his own foolishness for forgetting for a moment who stood before him.
Yet Vali remained silent, not punishing nor explaining himself.
"Brother," Kol interrupted, his borrowed face unusually serious, "tell him the truth. Or I will."
The King glared towards his brother, his pride clearly warring with the situation.
"Oh, for- Fine!" Kol threw his temporary hands up. "Alexander, while Katherine was playing her games, your father was dealing with something rather pressing. Silas's followers had found another way to free him - something that bypassed the seals entirely. Something that required his personal attention."
The world's essence seemed to shudder at the mention of Silas's name, pressing closer to Alexander.
"Not that he'll admit it," Kol continued, ignoring Vali's warning look, "being the prideful bastard he is. But even the King of Vampires can't be everywhere at once. Not when the First Immortal nearly broke free."
"And that excuses Katherine?" Alexander demanded, though his anger now held a note of uncertainty.
"Yes, it indeed does," Vali's voice carried dangerous certainty. "For you yourself were born in a family of vampire hunters, have even heard about them from youth, and yet, you did not protect yourself from them." His crimson eyes fixed on Alexander.
"I may not condone her actions - but she has more than paid the price across these centuries."
"Are you saying it's my fault?" Alexander's voice held a mix of anger and dawning understanding.
"I'm saying," Vali replied, "that perhaps we both have things to regret. But dwelling on past failures..." his smile turned knowing as the world continued to use his son as a shield, "is far less interesting than exploring what you're becoming now."
The door burst open, revealing Stefan and Elena, both frozen in shock. Behind them, Katherine lingered in the doorway, her hand touching her scar as she knelt automatically in the presence of her master.
"You're my..." Stefan's voice cracked, his eyes darting between Vali and Alexander. "We're your..."
"Well, this is delightfully dramatic!" Kol clapped his borrowed hands. "Family reunion time! Though technically, Stefan, you're still just Alexander's brother. You got the boring old Salvatore blood. Though, now that I think about it, my brother probably still sees you as a son - you are possibly his favorite actually."
"Which makes this even more twisted, doesn't it?" Stefan's laugh held an edge of hysteria. "All this time, you've been serving the father of the brother you tormented," he directed at Katherine, who seemed to curl smaller at his words.
"Katerina," Vali's voice carried dark command. "Come."
Katherine rose gracefully, moving to him with practiced submission. He turned her around and pulled her back against his chest, one hand wrapping possessively around her waist while the other tilted her head, exposing her neck.
His fangs sank into her flesh, the seven werewolf venom entering her system, making her gasp with a mixture of pain and ecstasy.
"You see," Vali spoke casually, blood staining his lips as Katherine trembled in his grip, "Katerina is exactly what I said - my toy. My doll." His smile was terrible in its beauty. "I bestow pleasure and pain as I see fit, when I see fit."
Vali's eyes met his son's. "If you have such issue with her continued existence under my protection, then the solution is simple - become strong enough to end her yourself."
Katherine's eyes nearly rolled back as the venom worked through her system, but she made no move to escape his hold. If anything, she seemed to press closer despite the agony.
She convulsed in Vali's grip as the venom reached her heart, her eyes finding Vali's one last time before the light faded from them. Her body went limp, but Vali held her upright, almost tenderly.
"Watch," he commanded softly, biting his wrist and pressing it to her lips. The Beast serum in his blood fought the venom, bringing her back with a desperate gasp. "You see? Death itself is just another tool in her punishment."
The world curled tighter around Alexander as Katherine's eyes fluttered open, filled with equal parts terror and adoration.
"Your hatred of her is justified," Vali acknowledged, his fingers trailing along Katherine's throat where his bite was already healing. "But her fate isn't yours to decide. She breaks and reforms at my will, following patterns of my own design."
Stefan's hand tightened on Elena's as they watched Katherine sink back to her knees, trembling from her latest death and resurrection.
"That's..." Elena started, but couldn't find words to describe the horror and fascination of what they'd just witnessed.
"Magnificent?" Kol suggested cheerfully from his borrowed form. "Terrifying? A rather pointed demonstration of why one shouldn't cross my brother?"
"So what now?" Stefan asked, his voice tight. "We just... accept all this? That Alexander is your son, that Katherine is your eternal punishment puppet?
"Accept it, deny it," Vali's smile showed too many teeth as he casually stroked Katherine's hair, "the truth remains regardless of your feelings about it.
Though I must say," his crimson eyes found Alexander's, "Watching you strengthen yourself through the ages to gain your vengeance will most definitely prove quite entertaining.
"Is that what this is about?" Alexander asked, the shadows dancing more deliberately around him now. "Teaching me to use my power so I can what - spend eternity trying to become strong enough to kill your favorite toy?"
"Oh, this is getting good," Kol muttered from his borrowed form, magic crackling with excitement.
"Indeed," Vali confirmed, his smile turning sharp. "After all," his crimson eyes gleamed with something almost like pride, "what better motivation for my son than proper vengeance?
What better way to master your unique abilities than pursuing a goal that requires true power to achieve?"
Stefan and Elena exchanged glances feeling really out of place right now.
"Well!" Kol clapped his borrowed hands together, breaking the tension. "This has been delightfully dramatic, but perhaps we should continue Alexander's training? Now that he knows why reality treats him like its favorite child?"
"Actually," Vali's voice carried finality as he pulled Katherine to her feet, "I believe my son needs time to process everything. To decide exactly what he wants to do with this... revelation." His smile showed too many teeth.
"After all, proper vengeance requires proper planning."
Reality curled almost protectively around Alexander as Vali turned to leave, Katherine following like a shadow. At the doorway, he paused.
"Oh, and son?" His crimson eyes gleamed. "Do try to be creative about it. I do so enjoy watching interesting patterns unfold."
--------------------------------------
As Vali led Katherine from the chamber, shadows flickering ominously around them, the atmosphere thickened with tension -- a mixture of control and submission. The air was charged with an unspoken anticipation, a thrill that danced along Katherine's skin.
Once inside Vali's lavish quarters, the door closed with a soft click, sealing them in a world where time bent to Vali's will. He turned her to face him, the crimson glow in his eyes illuminating the depth of his amusement as he surveyed her.
"Tell me, Katerina," Vali drawled, his voice dripping with dark pleasure, "Did you enjoy the pain of dying? That exquisite moment when your heart ceased to beat, and everything faded to black?"
Katherine's breath hitched, a shiver running down her spine. "You know I did," she replied softly, her voice trembling. "It's your gift, after all."
"Ah, but is it a gift?" He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "Or is it merely a reflection of the punishment you so rightly deserve? To relish the agony, to flutter between life and death at my command?"
Katherine felt the heat of his gaze, the memories of her surrenders flooding back -- the feel of his fangs sinking into her flesh, the ecstasy mingling with torment. "I… I can't help it," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Each time you bring me back, I feel… alive. Different."
Vali's mouth curled into a predatory smile, revealing the sharp points of his fangs. "Alive." He emphasized the word, savoring it. "Is that what you truly feel? Or do you find pleasure in your suffering? Is it not intoxicating to know that your very existence hinges on my whims?"
Katherine's heart raced, the thrill of their dark exchange igniting a fire within her. "Maybe both. Perhaps it's the thrill of being yours, even in torment."
"Yours," Vali echoed, his voice low and dangerous. "You forget, Katerina. You are nothing more than a plaything, an object of my desire and my wrath. I decide when you feel pleasure and pain; your body is mine to command."
He stepped behind her, fingers trailing along her arms before gripping her wrists roughly -- a gentle reminder of his control. "And when I watch you writhe, teetering on the edge of oblivion, you revel in it, don't you?
Do you want to die again? Do you want me to take you to that delicate brink, only to pull you back for my own amusement?"
Katherine's breath quickened, excitement coursing through her veins at his proposition. "Yes, my King. It's what I crave. The darkness, the edge… it makes me feel alive in ways I never imagined."
Vali moved closer, his breath hot against her ear as he whispered, "Tell me, Katerina, how many times have you quivered at the thought of my fangs piercing your skin? How many times have you yearned for my blood, knowing it brings you back from the darkness?"
A soft moan escaped her lips, stirring a reaction inside Vali. "Too many to count." Her voice trembled, caught between fear and longing. "Each time I die, I feel… I feel everything more vividly when you bring me back. I want it. I want you."
"Then let's indulge," he growled, the possessiveness in his voice sending a wave of thrill crashing over her. "After all," his began, "what better way to remind my son of your place than to hear your screams echo through these halls?"
(Smut begins here)
Katherine's breath hitched as he gripped her wrists tighter for a moment, until he suddenly let go. her chest heaved as she struggled to control her breathing. Her skin erupted in goosebumps, a mix of anticipation and fear.
"Strip," he commanded, the authority in his tone brooking no argument. With trembling hands, Katherine obeyed. She slowly unbuttoned her blouse, letting it slip off her shoulders to pool at her feet. Her pants soon followed, leaving her in only her lace underwear.
Vali circled her like a predator stalking its prey. Each step he took made her heart beat faster. Once behind her, he unclasped her bra, his fingers leaving a fiery trail on her skin. The lace fell away, exposing her breasts to the cool air.
"Exquisite," Vali murmured, more to himself than to her. He continued his perusal, hooking his fingers in her panties and sliding them down her legs. Katherine stepped out of them gingerly, now fully naked and vulnerable before him.
Vali's eyes blazed with a feral hunger as he took in every curve and contour of her body. He tipped her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. The intensity in his eyes nearly took her breath away.
Without warning, he claimed her lips in a brutal kiss that left her gasping for air. His tongue invaded her mouth, demanding submission. She capitulated, her body molding itself to his.
Vali lifted her effortlessly and carried her to the bed, his powerful frame covering her as he laid her on the silk sheets. He pinned her arms above her head, his fingers like manacles around her wrists. His mouth traveled down her neck, sucking and biting the tender flesh hard enough to leave marks.
Katherine's body arched into his touch, wanting more. Each touch sent a wave of pleasure coursing through her veins. She craved this, craved him and the darkness he represented.
Vali shifted, positioning himself between her thighs. With a single hard thrust, he buried himself inside her, filling her completely. Katherine cried out, her nails digging into his back as pain and pleasure warred within her.
He set a punishing pace, each stroke deeper and harder than the last. The bed creaked beneath them, the headboard slamming against the wall in a rhythmic symphony of debauchery.
Katherine met his every thrust, her hips rising to meet his. The sound of flesh against flesh filled the room, mingling with their harsh breathing and moans of ecstasy.
Without warning, Vali withdrew, flipping Katherine over onto her stomach. He pulled her hips back, positioning her on all fours. His hand fisted in her hair, pulling her head back at an awkward angle. He entered her again, the new angle causing her to cry out.
The pace was frantic now, Vali's hips slamming into hers hard enough to leave bruises. Katherine's arms shook with the effort to hold herself up, her nails digging into the bedsheets.
"Vali, please," she begged brokenly, needing more. "I need..."
She didn't finish her sentence. Her orgasm crashed over her, her body shuddering as wave after wave of pleasure coursed through her. Vali followed soon after, his body stiffening as he found his own release.
For a few moments, the only sound was their ragged breathing. Vali pulled out, gathering Katherine in his arms. He stroked her hair, a strangely tender gesture considering what they had just done.
"You did well, pet," he purred, satisfaction evident in his voice. "You took everything I gave you and begged for more. You truly are perfect."
Katherine basked in his praise, a sense of peace washing over her. She nestled closer into his embrace, savoring the warmth of his body.
"But don't think we're done. I'm being generous because of your good behavior today. I still need to show you the wonders of compulsion. Believe me, my dear little doll, you'll experience such pleasure and pain, that only because I deem it so, will you not be a mad mess."
Katherine curled closer to him, shivering as she attempted to steady herself, already feeling her below pool with more desire. But she held herself back, wisdom overcoming desire, knowing as she drifted off to sleep, that her King never fails a promise.
-----------------------------------
(Author note: Hello everyone! Hope you all enjoyed the chapter!
Do please tell me what you found of the revelations in this chapter?
So, Alexander is indeed Vali's son, what do you all think about that?
Do you guys believe he'll ever be able to kill Katherine, and if he does, will it remain so?
Do please tell.
Now, the kind of awkward question, how was the smut scene? Was it good or weird? This is my second ever attempt, so if its too bad, and you guys want me to never do it in this fanfic again, then I won't.
So yeah, do please comment and review, and I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)