Chapter 1
Deadbeat city
2015
It was sunset when she crawled from the cellar of the Mystic Grill. Damon was stood outside with Stefan and Caroline, who had her hand is on his elbow. They turned as they heard her approach, all on high alert. Damon grabbed Bonnie's arm as she emerged from the grill's door beside him. Then he relaxed as the newcomer held up her hands in surrender.
"You asked and I am here." Was all she said in a voice like silk and honey. A voice Stefan had heard many time, many years ago. He flashed Damon a look and Damon shrugged.
"Jesus, you didn't? Damon tell me you didn't?" Stefan pleaded quietly as the newcomer, a woman stepped into the light cast by the street lamp between them and her. She was a curvaceous young woman of about 21 in age and 5'6" tall, her hair fell in auburn curls to her shoulders surrounding an oval face with almond shaped green eyes, full lips and an angular nose. She was very attractive, even Caroline and Bonnie noticed that. She wore a long flowing black skirt, with a white blouse and on her feet were a pair of black high heeled ankle boots. She wore a black trench coat over the top, but it fell undone at the front.
"Hello, boys." She added with a small smile, a flirtatious look in her eye and Damon rushed forward dropping Bonnie's arm so quickly Stefan had to catch her as she stumbled forwards. Damon said nothing, just gazed at her face, eyes glancing down at the red painted lips that quirked up at one end at him briefly before he kissed her. Arms around her waist, her hands settling against his chest. It lasted several seconds before Stefan coughed to attract their attention.
"Hello, gorgeous." Damon smirked back with a satisfied sigh.
"Hello, darling." The woman replied. Bonnie huffed and folded her arms, thinking to herself thst Damon had moved from Elena quickly.
"Hello, Miss Fell." Stefan said with a nod.
"You can still call me Ellie, Stefan. That hasn't changed." The newcomer replied, her arm linked in Damon's.
"Bonnie Bennet, Caroline Forbes may I introduce Miss Helena Fell. Damon's fiancée." Stefan said and suddenly got glared at by both the women, aside from Helena. "She was once, in 1863- it's a hard habit to break when you've been introducing her as it for years." Caroline sighed., Bonnie was still confused.
"We shouldn't stay on the roadway for too long. Lily's heretics could be anywhere." Helena Fell spoke quietly but in a tone which no one chose to argue with.
"We're all staying at Whitmore College..." Bonnie began but Helena tutted and shook her head.
"Nonsense. You'll stay with me... I still have a house here." Helena said and pointed towards the forest. "Old Fell Hall."
Damon kissed her again. "You are fantastic."
"I know." Helena flirted and Damon laughed... The first since Elena had been put in her slumber. Stefan took Caroline's hand and Bonnie's arm as Damon and Helena headed off to Helena's car- a vintage black soft top Cadillac de Ville dating from the 1970s- which was parked across the street. Damon sat behind the wheel, Helena beside him and Stefan helped first Bonnie then Caroline into the back seat before climbing in himself. Not two seconds passed before Damon was zooming off towards the old estates he, Stefan and Helena had grown up on, 150 years or so ago.