DISCLAIMER~ I OWN NOTHING BUT THE STORYLINE. THE CHARACTERS BELONG TO L.J. SMITH & THE CW.

SYNOPSIS:

Once Bitten, Forever Marked.

It's been six years since my parents died.

But it's not what you think.

They were murdered.

By vampires.

And I have no idea why.

After witnessing the murder of her parents at the age of 14, Elena's life was never the same. She was immediately thrown into the foster care system, and the second that she had turned 18, she ran away. She kept a distance from people, not wanting to become connected to someone only to lose them.

Vampire Damon Salvatore notices something very special about Elena, and its through him that she discovers that her entire life has been a lie, and that she is next in line to be killed just as her parents had.

But it's not what she thought.

It was worse.

And this is her story.

CHAPTER 1:

June 2012- Mystic Falls, VA

The night is quiet as I sit in the bar across from Mason's apartment, consuming shot after shot. Normally, I'd never drink this much, but after the day I've had, I wasn't going to hold back.

Mason, my ass of a boyfriend, has paid me off for the night. And when I say 'paid me off', I mean that he told me to my face that we were 'over' and gave me a wad of cash to waste on some run down motel for the night because he's too big of an ass to be real.

Until he calls me the next morning, begging me to come back.

Same ol', Same ol'.

I know, I know. I'm not the smartest twenty year old girl. I shouldn't be stooping myself to his level, but when you have no where else to go, no one else who cares, what else can you do?

Anyway, as the usual reason per paying me off, he was pissed off about the fact that I wouldn't have sex with him tonight. I was just too tired after work at the bar. He never cuts me any slack. I've worked for Mason at his bar for two years now. Somehow, we had became close over a few years, and one night after work, Mason came onto me, and he offered me a place to stay, and because I had no where else to go, I agreed. I had been living out of my car since I was 18 and was thrilled at the thought of sleeping on a couch for crying out loud.

But over the next few weeks after that night, Mason had slowly evolved into a very controlling and demanding boyfriend. He had became a drug/alcohol addict, and I always went home to find him drunk, stoned or pissed off, whether it be at me or something else. It was usually just the drugs and alcohol going at his head. It was normal for him to pay me off on the nights if he was pissed, like tonight. Despite him being an ass, I thanked my few lucky stars that he was pissed tonight. On the nights that he wasn't pissed, he always wanted to have sex, and it was revolting how much of an ass he was because of that. I shake my head as I gulp down the drink in my hand.

As the door to the bar opens, I place my purse in my lap, covering my practically bare legs. The cool air tickles my shoulders as I pull my medium-length wavy chocolate hair to cover them, hoping for some warmth, and I see my pink highlights peeking up at me. Deciding that this won't suffice, I slide on my midnight leather jacket that I stole from Mason once. I immediately begin to regret my clothing choice, a silk burgundy strapless blouse, along with white shorts over my legs.

"Trying to drown yourself?"

I set my glass down on the counter and turn. A very strong looking man is leaning against the bar, eyeing me as if I'm some piece of meat.

God, men can be such pigs.

"That's not funny," I snap, reaching for my drink again.

"And why not?" He asks, and I feel his eyes on me, looking at my body. I hate it.

"Because I know people who have drowned," I tell him. It's true. My brother Jeremy had drowned when he was eight at my family's lakehouse. I was six when it happened. Over the years, I've learned to adjust, but as I remember it, I realize that I will never fully recover from seeing it happen.

I'll tell that to my therapist.

"Oh," he sighs. "I'm sorry."

Bullshit. People like this guy always take jokes too far. Too many serious issues are becoming the target of humor these days.

"Yeah, okay," I scoff as I set my glass on the table loudly, almost so loud that I am surprised that the glass didn't break.

Sighing, I climb off of the stool and sling my purse over my shoulder, not bothering to give the creep beside me a second look.

"Where do you think you're going, kitten?" he asks as his arms slither around my waist.

"None of your business," I snap, trying to get out of the man's hold.

"Oh, you don't want to show me some moves with that perky little ass of yours?" he asks, smirking, and I roll my eyes.

"I have a boyfriend," I tell him, but then remember that Mason had just broken up with me not twenty minutes ago. Well, for tonight, broken up. Tomorrow, we'll be back together.

"What he don't know won't hurt him," the man scoffs, and I feel his slimy hands roaming my behind.

"Please get your hands off of me," I tell him, and I am pissed that my voice doesn't sound as intimidating as I want.

"Oh, come on, kitten," he grins. "Have some fun."

"Let her go, Brady."

The loud rock music immediately dissolves, and silence fills the air as I turn around, stunned that someone had dared to challenge this creep. And when I see the brave man, all of the oxygen leaves my body.

A dark-haired man with eyes bluer than I've ever seen, stands in front of me, his jaw clenched and his eyes blazing. His eyes are so blue that I'm not sure I'd seen that shade of blue before. The man is reasonably tall, but when I look back at the man holding me, Brady, I wonder what on earth had made this guy stand up to him. Brady is taller, more muscular looking.

Did this guy have a death wish?

"Salvatore," the man, Brady, sneers as he turned to face the man who had intervened his game of 'hands-on'. "No need to worry. The little lady and I were just having a bit of fun," he says calmly.

As if.

"Did you not hear what I just said?" the man, Salvatore, growls. "Let. Her. Go."

Damn, even I feel my skin tingling with fear at the tone of Salvatore's voice. It's arctic, and I suddenly pity Brady.

"Come on, Salv-"

"This is my last warning," Salvatore's voice is menacingly soft. Why the hell is this guy so hellbent on saving me? However, I won't complain as Brady's arms pull away from my body. Immediately, I look up at Salvatore in gratitude.

Just as I am about to thank him, he walks towards the exit.

Without thinking, I rush out to go after him.

"Hey, you!" I call once outside. "Salvatore!"

He is just a few feet away from me, and once he hears my voice, he freezes.

"Uh-uh," he shakes his head as he turns around. "Salvatore's my last name. The name's Damon, sweetheart. Don't wear it out," He smirks.

"Thank you, for that, Damon." I smile, pointing back toward the Tavern as I wrap my arms around myself.

Damon scoffs. "Look, sweetheart, I don't know who you think you are, but don't go calling me 'hero' or anything just because I wasn't going to watch some woman get mistreated by some perverted asshole. There's nothing special about you, sweetheart. It happens all the time."

Ouch.

Despite the instant stab of pain that I feel, I shake my head as I roll my eyes.

"Okay, then, forget it," I scoff. "Besides, You seem like a first-rate jackass who would've done the same thing as that guy in there, so forgive me for wanting to show some gratitude, only to get it thrown back in my face," I snap, waving my hands in the air in frustration.

Instantly, Damon races over and pins me to the wall of the Tavern, and I recoil in fear.

What the hell-?

"You are in no position to talk to me that way, sweetheart. You are already lucky that I haven't ripped out your throat," he hisses, his face unrecognizable as his eyes become bloodshot and he reveals his razor sharp fangs.

I gasp. I've seen this once, a few years ago. When my parents were murdered right before my eyes.

By vampires.

Oh, my god.

"Don't move," he tells me as he looks into my eyes, and I feel my mind becoming even more foggier, if possible.

I feel a sharp pierce at my neck. I whimper as he sinks his teeth further into my skin. I kick and punch and hit as hard as I can against him, but he seems unaffected. I'm between a rock and death. Instantly, I close my eyes as I wait for the pain to be over. For death to come.

But it never does.

My eyes flutter open in confusion as I look up into crystal blue eyes. Damon's expression regards me with astonishment. As I look down at his mouth, I see blood dripping from his lips.

My blood.

"No," I gasp, fear taking over as I struggle to get out of his arms. Damon continues to hold onto me.

"I don't understand," he breathes. Understand what? Why I'm still alive? Neither do I.

"Please, let me go!" I cry, tears suddenly clouding my vision. To hell with being tough. I'm freaking out. I don't want to die. I don't want him to kill me, just as his kind had killed my parents.

"Why can't you be compelled?" he says softly, and I shake my head in protest. Compelled? What the hell does that even mean?

"Please!" I beg.

"Unless..." Damon breathes, and I feel him grab my left wrist up and roll my sleeve back, a whimper escaping my lips. I watch through watery eyes as several different emotions cross his face, fear being the most obvious.

"What?" I whimper, shaking. Why is he acting like this? Ten seconds ago, he was going to kill me. Why is he suddenly acting as if I'm some royal token?

"Come with me," he hisses, pulling me away from the side of the building.

"Excuse me?" I scoff, my eyes puffy as I blink at Damon.

"You heard me," he snaps as he grabs my wrist and walks toward the forest.

"I don't have to go anywhere with you, I don't even know you!" I shout as I struggle against Damon's grip.

"If you want to live, then you do!" Damon hisses as he turns back to face me, and I frown. What does he mean, if I want to live? Why did he say that? Suddenly, Damon throws me over his shoulder and speeds off at a rate that no human could accomplish.

Where the hell is he taking me?

AN:PLEASE FAVE/FOLLOW. Oh, and PLEASE REVIEW :) It motivates me to update more!

PS: Please check out my other TVD/DE stories Mirrors, The Other Side of Me, Shelter, Star Crossedand Sweet Temptation. I'd REALLY appreciate it :)

PPS: Follow me on Twitter, EverbloomMist13!