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Katerina was thankful for a lack of questions as she didn't feel all that prepared for explaining her choices or actions at this point. No the reasons behind this were private. "One might could might say so." Though she felt 'a matter of great importance' might be exaggerating things given it was nothing all that earth shattering but for her it was a necessity. She could only hope her family would understand the decision to take some time to herself. If not it was a bridge she would have to cross when the time came.?

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"Well I'm afraid that I must be going. But I would like to thank you once more for your assistance." She spoke softly feeling a weight had begun to lift from her shoulders with the possibilities this new identity could provide her with. When she felt ready she would reach out to her husband or their daughter Nadia to explain and begin mending whatever damage this might cause.?

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It was obvious that her eldest daughter was picking up on certain things and angry with her father because of them. There were moments when she questioned just how aware he was of the things going on within their family. Perhaps Nadia's concerns were valid despite how often she tried to discourage her daughter from thinking the way she did.?

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After saying her farewells and promising to keep in touch she exited the townhouse heading off into the night once the papers were carefully folded and tucked inside the inner pocket of her cloak. "To new beginnings."

Katerina continued down the street trying to figure out who 'Katherine Pierce' was she felt that identity gave her the chance to step outside her husband's shadow. It gave her hope that 'finding herself' wouldn't be impossible. Softly saying the name aloud as though introducing herself to someone but mostly it was done to get used to it. "My name is Katherine Pierce." The words brought a smile to her face, one that faded just as quick when her mind began replaying the last few conversations with her eldest daughter.?

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Of course, when Nadia voiced her suspicions about her father's motives for having chosen London as the place for their 'summer home' she had been unable to respond having been so caught off guard by the idea. Maybe she should have tried harder to find her own voice. But the truth of the matter was it had occurred to her there might be something more romantic in nature going on between her husband and Teja'ari.?

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It would explain why he always seemed so preoccupied with business given the fact Teja'ari was among the nine 'vampire lords'. She felt the sting of unshed tears as her mind went to places she would rather it didn't. First would come the time to allow herself to feel that pain then came anger...the emotion that would help her move forward toward whatever the future may hold.?

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Katerina tensed when someone grabbed onto her fully prepared to make them regret having done so considering her mood of late. But when she turned to face the apologetic woman, she caught the faint scent of alcohol on her breath and decided it to be purely accidental. "Are you alright?" Perhaps focusing on this other woman would distract her from all the thoughts bringing her to the verge of tears.?

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Had the last four centuries been a lie? Was there always something going on between her husband and Teja'ari? If she didn't stop thinking about those things she would likely fall to pieces in front of a stranger which simply wouldn't do at all. But it was difficult keeping her mind from wandering to the very real possibility of his having been unfaithful.?

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She took a moment, almost offering her actual name, though quickly putting a stop to that. "My name is Katherine Pierce." Putting on her best fake smile as she opted for small talk hoping to get her mind off marital problems for a little while.?

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"It sounds as if we might have quite a bit in common." Katerina could sympathize with what she imagined the woman might be going through as perhaps it was something similar to her own circumstances. But she couldn't be quite sure without first talking with her. "If you need to talk..." Her voice trailed off as her thoughts briefly went to her husband. "I am more than willing to lend an ear." She concluded.?

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She flashed a smile the other woman introduced herself. "It's to meet you Mina. No harm done." Truthfully at this point the company was welcomed given she couldn't get certain images to stop plaguing her thoughts. "I have often wondered whether these dresses and the heels we must where with them were designed in secret by men to keep us from being able to flee from them properly."?

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She nodded. "I am originally from Bulgaria...but have lived in Transylvania for quite some time with my husband." It was odd that she wanted to be honest with this woman. Maybe it was the name she offered as her own being so new to her or who really knew.?

Katerina knew to choose her words carefully so as not to reveal too much or call into question her own sanity. How could one explain a marriage that had spanned four centuries to a mortal with a somewhat limited view of the world? Or anything about the troubles being had without saying more than they should? How much could be said before it was considered too much? "We live up in the mountains so there is mostly wilderness around our home." Deciding not to mention that in this case home was in fact a castle.?

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"It's strange but time does seem to move more slowly there." Under normal circumstances she would have given some thought to the possibility of discussing her marital problems with a member of the Petrova family as she was rather limited on who she could turn to. "I was sixteen years old when I first met my husband..." Purposely leaving out the details about the child born out of wedlock or her subsequent exile as a result.

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She thought back to her first visit a little more than four centuries ago, a time when she met a man named Trevor who hinted there might be someone rather interested in making her acquaintance. To this day the identity of this person remained a mystery as Vlad arrived to whisk her away to Transylvania with him. Perhaps a small part of the reason she felt a need to leave was to see if he still cared enough to come for her. But mostly she felt something was amiss. "Almost nineteen years old." She answered.?

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"We got married almost two years ago." It always felt so odd lying about certain aspects of both her relationship and personal life. But because she needed someone to talk things over with and didn't feel turning to Vlad was an option just yet. "Loneliness is a terrible thing. My husband spends all his time dealing with business these days so I almost never see him. Most people would consider me fortunate upon seeing my life at a glance but...behind closed doors it's mostly loneliness and pain." She found that particular subject to be difficult. "It would probably be best to find someplace less out in the open before further discussion of either of our problems.?

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"It's not so bad. Though it can be quite lonely when my husband is away on business. Which seems to be happening more as of late." Katherine had let that last bit slip without fully intending to do so. It was difficult to say why on earth she found herself sharing things about both her life and marriage with a complete stranger. Perhaps it all stemmed from a deep need to confide in someone outside of family with no stake in whether her problems with Vlad were resolved.?

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She couldn't deny there were times when the isolation threatened her sanity or the times the benefits of it brought her some much needed solace. Quietly regarding the woman with a gentle smile when her arm was patted. "It is certainly a pleasant change of pace." It all sounded so much like the distraction she craved but the truth was she needed to sort through her problems. To face them head on rather than pretend everything was fine as she had done for so long.?

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One eyebrow rose slightly at the other woman's reaction though it occurred to her in this 'day and age' getting married so young was no longer done. "It was...wonderful there for awhile. But somewhere along the way I think I stopped being myself and I was just...his wife." Maybe the girl would understand. Then again...maybe she wouldn't. Either way it felt as if a weight had been lifted just from her finally being able to admit the way she felt.?

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"You're not entirely wrong." It was painful to admit considering how deeply she loved Vlad. But how could she deny it? She did somehow feel trapped.?

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She nodded in understanding. "If you want my advice...wait until you find someone with whom you are madly in love with. Don't settle for anything less." Of course, she herself had taken that advise little more than four centuries ago and everything felt as though it were falling apart. Offering a kind smile. "I don't usually speak so openly about certain things either."

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"I often ignore what society thinks. But who knows, maybe someday it will be acceptable for a woman to go out unescorted." Her husband would likely prefer it if she had someone with her whether it be a gypsy or werewolf assuming he still cared at all.

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"The tea shop sounds like a lovely idea."?

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Katherine walked in silence while listening as the other woman spoke her mind. Every word describing so perfectly the way she had felt for the past hundred years. Though there was still that sense of lingering uncertainty when she thought on what to do next. "It's alright. It's nothing that I haven't been saying to myself for years." She gave a sad smile while considering her options.?

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There was a time when she would never have doubted her husband but through the centuries he seemed steadily more concerned with Teja'ari then again maybe she was just having a harder time ignoring how close he was to her now. Perhaps the time had come to end things once and for all. One finger lightly tracing the wedding ring on her finger.

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"Maybe the time will come again." She certainly hoped to see a time such was the case for women especially with what the vampire had in mind.?

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"It's something that a man could never understand...that feeling of loss because they always get to maintain their own separate identities while a woman simply becomes their wife. It all sounds like we become a possession to be used and discarded at their own discretion." Her brown eyes dropping to the ground beneath her feet as she continued walking at Mina's side.

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Stopping to look up when it was mentioned they had arrived at their intended destination. She found herself wanting to get angry because then she could do what was needed and start moving toward something better.?

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Katherine at times wondered what her life could have been like had she made another choice instead of accepting his marriage proposal. Would there still be this feeling of ‘loss’? “Make your own path then.” A part of her was rather tempted to take her own advice as it seemed the only remedy to one of the problems weighing so heavily on her heart and mind.

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She listened in silence as Mina spoke of her own troubles, only speaking once it seemed the right time for offering an opinion though the outburst about cooking had made her smile. “Perhaps you should reconsider before taking that walk down the isle.” Words she at times wished someone had spoken to her four hundred years ago.?

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It was time for her to figure who ‘Katherine Pierce’ is and leave ‘Katerina Petrova’ behind. “As much as I love my family I wish someone had encouraged to give some thought to what my life would become based on different choices.”

Katherine found it a bit alarming how easily she could relate to what this girl was going through despite the obvious differences. Offering a sympathetic smile at the prediction for how things would turn out should the marriage be gone through with. “In this life we have to hold onto what makes us who we are otherwise…”?

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She hated having reached a place in her life where she felt she'd lost herself somewhere along the way. If only she had been more aware then this could have all been avoided. But she supposed there was no point in dwelling in the past…trying to figure out at what point it all started. No…this was an opportunity for rediscovery or even reinvention.

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“There was always this powerful…connection between us and it is a big part of why I accepted his marriage proposal.” She said with a sad smile, lowering her gaze only slightly as brown eyes looked a bit distant. “But over time it's started to feel as if it were a ‘business arrangement’…all meant to produce an heir.”

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There was a slight pause as a life without Vlad was considered. “I often find myself asking that exact same question but after all this time I fear I have no answer.”Quietly studying her for a moment then inclining her head a little. “Hypothetically speaking, of course, if you were able to live forever…to witness all the changes this world will endure…would you?”

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She had a feeling that life might be something that would appeal to the girl who seemed to desire an escape from the expectations of society.?

Katherine understood the need to avoid ‘loved ones’ as she couldn't very well discuss her thoughts or emotions on this particular subject with her children who would simply encourage her to remain at their father's side even though these days it felt less and less like he gave a damn one way or another.?

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“I understand. I…I have those who are far more interested in things…remaining as they are and less inclined to understand why they can't. I suppose sometimes one has to rely on the kindness of strangers in those matters.” Ordinarily she didn't discuss such private matters but after a century of feeling as she did it simply had to be voiced…to have something…anything done about it.?

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She offered a sympathetic smile at the woman's obvious frustration with her own circumstances. “Perhaps a little of both.” It was entirely possible that it could be a mixture of those two things.?

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“Or to finally find your own path…see how the world will change through the centuries.” She couldn't deny feeling a bit trapped by circumstances but had to hope things would take a turn for the better at some point. “I am often curious what advances the world will have made in a hundred years. Will women have more freedom…more power?”