I DO NOT OWN VAMPIRE DIARIES OR THE CHARACTERS.
Music Credit: "Eyes On Fire" – Blue Fountain

~*.*~
'I'll seek you out, flay you alive.
One more word and you won't survive.
And I'm not scared of your stolen power – see right through you any hour.

I won't soothe your pain.
I won't ease your strain.
You'll be waiting in vain.
I got nothing for you to gain.

I'm taking it slow, feeding my flame, shuffling the cards in your game.
And just in time, in the right place, suddenly I will play my ace.'
~*.*~

I took another shot of tequila. I set down my glass and glanced around the bar. It's shady, but these days, everywhere I seem to be is shady. If it's shady enough, people tend not to ask so many questions. It's the only place that's relatively safe for me. I shot back another shot. In a few short months, my life has changed so much.

Honestly, it all goes back to Damon and being too naïve to see the man he really is. Everyone warned me about getting in bed with the devil. Did I listen? No. I had just lost my Grams and the Salvatore brothers were new in town. Stefan seemed nice enough. I knew him through Elena. I guess everyone has a dark side, even when you can't see it.

Apparently, Damon took a liking to me. I met him in town and I kept seeing him pop up places. He asked me out and I agreed. He's a lot of things, but he's also gorgeous to boot. His eyes were my downfall. Yeah, I had dated before him, but it was never anything serious. With Damon, everything was fast. There was passion and I fell hard. According to him, the feeling was mutual.

One night, we had been arguing. I wanted to go home – he wanted to have sex. I told him to get out of my way and he hit me. I slapped him and he pushed me down the stairs. By the time I crawled to the door, he was already in front of me. I saw a side of him that night that I had never seen before. He was malicious. My mistake was not hauling ass out of there. He pulled me to my feet and grabbed my wrist – I froze.

He dragged me upstairs and had his way with me. I fought him, but it didn't do much good. He overpowered me, easily. When I woke up the next morning, I had bruises all over my body, a sprained knee, a black eye, and a fractured wrist. I knew that day that I needed to get away from him; I just didn't know how. He caught me trying to leave.

He told me I had to go to his family doctor and I didn't need to go home. I couldn't tell anyone what he did to me. I became that girl in the abusive relationship with a psychotic partner. I stayed for a month. A week after he decided to paint my body with bruises, I packed a bag and tried to leave. He grabbed me by my hair and pulled me out of my car. He dragged me inside, not caring if the concrete scraped up my back. He held me by the throat and pinned me to the wall just inside the boarding house. He told me if I tried to leave him again, he would track me down, drag me back, and kill me. He promised to ruin my life.

I knew his family came from old money, but he let me know just how connected he was. He's Italian, but I had never made the mob connection on my own. I was terrified.

The next few weeks I had to tread carefully. Stefan and Zach were both Damon's polar opposites. I don't think they wanted to know how bad things had gotten for me. Damon never did anything in front of them, but living there with them… It wasn't possible for them not to know.

I used just about every favor I had saved up from relatives, and friends. Caroline was able to score me multiple fake IDs. I had some from states all over the country. She hacked into the database at the sheriff's station and picked women that looked like me. That way, if anyone checks up on them, I'll be somewhat okay. I was able to cash the money my dad had been saving me for college without anyone noticing. Thankfully, I was nineteen and could already access the money Grams left for me. Together, it was a lot. Caroline gave me what she could. I don't know how long I will have to stay away for, or if I'll ever be able to come back. I cut and dyed my hair darker. I started wearing glasses, just something else to change my appearance.

I told him that I was going away for the weekend with Caroline, but I never came back. That gave me a two day head-start. I haven't stopped looking over my back, since.

About a week after I left Mystic Falls, I started to see my face all over the news. Thankfully, he used an old picture to give the police. It was a picture of me in high school – from a couple years ago. He was trying to pin me for some murder. Apparently someone died in Mystic right after I left town. Mystic Falls is a small town – I guess it wasn't hard to frame me. According to the news, they had found strands of my hair and a bracelet of mine at the scene. I fumed. There is nothing Damon won't do. There's no way he could have Sheriff Forbes in his pocket. He had to have gone over her head.

He was set on ruining my life. I don't have anyone in my corner. I'm completely on my own out here. I've been picking up odd end jobs. I never stay in any place for too long. That's how I ended up here, in another dead-end bar. I've been filling in for one of the bartenders and waiting on tables. It's not great money, but it's something. I'm trying to stretch my stash for as long as I can.

"A beautiful woman should never be drinking alone." A voice said from the stool next to mine. I glanced over and saw a handsome face, dirty-blond hair, stubble, arrogant, blue eyes.

"And some people don't make a habit out of talking to strangers," I quipped, downing another shot. I closed my eyes and felt the fire burning my throat.

"Then allow me to introduce myself, love. My name is Niklaus." He turned to me and held out his hand. His name sounds familiar – like I've heard it somewhere before. I shook his hand.

"Sara," I gave him the name that matches my current ID. He smiled and brought my hand to his mouth. I watched him, carefully.

"You don't look like a 'Sara'. That name is too plain for you." He mused.

"It's the name I'm stuck with."I shrugged.

"You're beautiful, nonetheless." He responded, eyeing me. He's making me nervous. "Care for another drink, Sara?" He breathed my name. I shrugged. He motioned for the bartender to give us both another shot. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure of seeing you around here, before."

"I just moved."

"Where from?" He asked. I looked at him and swallowed the liquor.

"Around," I answered. His eyes shone with interest. I have a feeling that he's not going to let this go, anytime soon.

"Ben, would you mind giving me a few minutes alone with my new friend?" Klaus asked the bartender. He looked over at me. I nodded, giving him the okay. He went into the kitchen. "I recognize you." Niklaus admitted. I looked over at him, keeping a straight face.

"If you say so," I said, indifferently.

"You're that Bennett woman that Salvatore couldn't keep his hands on. Am I wrong?" He asked me, with genuine interest. He's really not going to let this go. "I know Damon – he has a nasty temper. His brother and I go way back. I don't much get along with his family, though. We're on opposite sides, if you will." He revealed.

"Who are you?" I asked him. He smiled.

"I'm exactly who I said I was,love. My name is Niklaus Mikaelson."

"Mikaelson," I echoed. Now, it makes sense. I know where I've heard his name before. The Salvatores aren't nearly as feared as the Mikaelson family. They're extremely old money – completely connected. They have a leg up, everywhere. They're old mob. Well, shit. I stood up and started to move towards the door.

"Where are you going so soon? I'm not going to hurt you. You have my word." He assured me. I looked at him, doubtfully. "I would like to offer you solace." He clarified.

"Why?" I asked.

"I want what Salvatore couldn't hold on to. Now, I can see why he was so eager to keep you to himself. You're lovely." Niklaus moved his hand to my face. I flinched away from him.

"And why would I go along with that? I've been in one controlling relationship, already. I'm not looking to get back into another one. I'm my own woman and I don't need a man to complete me." I told him. He was beaming, now.

"I like you, Bonnie." He said. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I like the way my name sounded when it fell off of his tongue. I took this opportunity to look him over. Yes, he's attractive. And yes, it's been a long time since I've been with anyone, or have even had the smallest physical contact with anyone. "I'm not asking you to jump into a relationship with me. I'm offering you somewhere safe to reside. I am very well connected. I am positive that I can get you cleared of any charges and I can offer you my protection."

"What's the catch?" I asked him. "Nothing's free."

"I told you – I like you. Whereas, I'm not asking for a relationship, that doesn't mean that I'm not hopeful that one will occur in the future. My family and I are very powerful. I can offer you a job. You can work your way up in the world. Can you honestly tell me that you're happy here?" He asked me. I bit my lip and shook my head.

"I'm miserable, but I'm alive. It's better than being stuck in his house. You have no idea what it was like. You're a man. You're obviously strong. Imagine someone bigger, stronger than you, forcing you to whatever they desired you to do." I whispered. He hugged me. I was stunned. It took me a minute to hug him back.

"I may not know exactly what you're going through, but I have been beaten before. My father was a mean-hearted man that never much cared for me. I understand that aspect of it. And as for what happened to you – I am truly sorry. My sister was attacked a few years ago – I know how hard it was for her to overcome that. I assure you that no harm would come to you, under my care." He murmured.

"You realize that this is insane, right? You're risking an awful lot on a stranger."

"I'm a gambling man, Bonnie."

"How could you possibly guarantee that the charges would get dropped?" I asked him, out of curiosity. He chuckled.

"All they found on the body was your hair and your bracelet on the scene. I doubt they even looked for anything else. Damon is sloppy. He always has been." Klaus explained.

"How can I trust you?" I asked him. He pulled away from me.

"That's up to you, love. You can take a chance, or you can stay where you are. What do you want to do?" He asked me. I sighed. It's been so long since I've asked myself that question.

"I want to be happy." I told him.

"Are you happy here?" He asked me. I shook my head.

"No. I'm not."

"What else do you want?"

"I want to feel safe. It's been so long." I trembled, tears escaping from my eyes.

"Do you want to stay here?" He asked me. I shook my head.

"No."

"Then come with me." He told me. I sighed and wiped off my face.

"I have to get my things." I told him. He nodded.

"Do you want me to wait here?" He asked.

"No, please, don't." I told him. He nodded and followed me out of the bar. We walked to a motel a couple blocks away. We didn't say much. I was too busy picturing what-if scenarios. We got to my room and I started packing up the few personal items that weren't already in my bags.

"Are you ready?" He asked me, waiting by the door. I took a deep breath.

"I'm scared." I said, mostly to myself.

"You're strong. You can do this." He coached. I nodded. He offered me his hand. I took it and let him lead me outside. Here's to taking chances. "This will be the start of a new adventure for you, love."

"I'm counting on it." I told him. He smiled. It's always easier knowing that I'm not completely alone.

~*.*~
'I won't soothe your pain.
I won't ease your strain.
You'll be waiting in vain.
I got nothing for you to gain.

Eyes on fire, your spine is ablaze, felling any foe with my gaze.
And just in time, in the right place, steadily emerging with grace…'
~*.*~

A/N: Alright, so, this came out differently than I thought it would. Truth be told, I'm not sure if this is going to be a one-shot or I will have follow up stories to accompany it. I'm undecided. Anyways, reviews are lovely.
-Anneryn