SUMMARY: He touches my shoulder. I look up from the screen. "Finished?" he asks in his sexy voice, kissing my neck. "Damon..." I moan. "I can't finish if you keep doing that..." he chuckles lowly in my ear. Oh well, guess the story of my life will have to wait...

DISCLAIMER: I don't own The Vampire Diaries. If I did, I wouldn't need to write this to pretend I had Damon in my evil writer clutches! And any reference to Elektra is because I honestly love the woman. She's awesome. But she belongs to Marvel. And Marvel, now, unfortunately, belongs to Disney. *shudder*

A/N: ok, let's pretend that Elena got home safe, instead of crashing into whoever she crashed on that last episode. But, for coherence sakes it's been a few days already. Pick up from there. I want Damon for myself and this OC is pretty dear to me so this is just a 'Damon-and-me' story.

PROLOGUE (or something like it)

It was very calm, watching the sunset, sitting on the balcony, feeling the forest around me preparing to go to sleep while the prowlers of the night woke up, shaking off the sleep, ready for tonight's hunt. Mystic Falls was indeed a very quiet place. One might even say calm, peaceful. And, though I wasn't into peaceful environments I needed the calm right now. It was the only reason I had for bothering Jenna, my air-headed but good-hearted godmother. Well, air-headed in a good way. As my mother would say, "volada". I still hadn't found a way to translate that word into English. It was somewhere between air-headed and day-dreamer. The sort of person that, while they are paying attention, their attention span is not what it should be. Complicated. Why was I even thinking about this? Oh, right. I needed a way to get away from the subject of my mother. Right. Of course.

I was honestly sick and tired of this eternal struggle with my mother. The woman was simply impossible. I had no idea how Jenna put up with her, let alone how they ever became best friends. Couldn't my mother just be happy that I was happy? Was there such a huge need for transforming me into the spitting image of my mother? NO! Of course not!

"Well, sure as hell not in my opinion." I mumbled under my breath.

My family, on my mother's side was Spanish. Gypsy to be precise, although they had settled in Peru some generations ago. My father's family was Greek. And between both families, I had a complicated life. You see, my father was a diplomat. He had a very high charge in the Greek embassy here in the U.S., which I never really fully understood. My mother... well, my mother had studied languages and diplomacy. They had met in college and the rest was history.

I remembered hearing my mother say how her little girl would always be the perfect lady and how she would become the next ambassador of Greece or something. But that never happened.

I was bohemian. To say the least. I liked to live the gypsy life. Freedom. My style and fashion sense, while never informal, were not what my mother wanted. The sophisticated heels became high-heeled boots or extravagant stilettos, the dress pants became fashionable jeans, and the elegant blouses became boho tops or casual shirts. In school, while always smart above average, I was never the model student I could've been. I just couldn't be bothered with the effort. Soon, the ballet classes became martial arts, or yoga, which she never understood, the elite gatherings became casual partying, which she hated, and the diplomatic academy and law school were put on hold while I travelled the world with money I made as a writer, photographer and model.

My name is Sophia Amaia Natchios and I am a free spirit and a wandering soul. And there was nothing my mother could do to stop it. So now, there I was, at 21, after finally having "broken up" with my mother, enjoying my last moments of freedom here in the States. In a few days, I would leave for Europe to develop my three passions. And goddamn me if I was going to let my mother get in the way of my living my own life.

So, right now, I just needed a quiet place to rest, find my centre and help me focus on the freedom ahead.

"Sophia?" I turned around at the sound of a very familiar, much missed voice.

"Elena!" said teen soon found herself in a bear hug. Well, bear hug is a bit too much since we're pretty much the same height.

"Oh my God! I've missed you!" Elena squealed out.

"I've missed you too." I mumbled with a pout. "How are things back here?" Elena's face dropped. "That bad?" She shrugged nonchalantly.

"Tell you about it later. But what about you? I thought you would be in college right now!" I chuckled humourlessly.

"Yeah, that didn't work out too well."

"Fought with your mom again?" damn it. Elena knew me too well.

"Not so much as fought with her. It's more of a I-finally-kicked-her-out-of-my-life thing." Elena's eyes widened amusingly.

"Oh my God! Really?" I nodded. "That's fantastic! And I was in dire need of some good news. So what's gonna happen to you now?"

"Well, now... Europe. I'll go and visit Greece for a while, then I'll land myself a job. And I'll build my life from there. But don't think you're off the hook that easy. So, what is it? Guy problems?" Elena huffed.

"Understatement of the century! But I don't want to load my troubles on you at the moment. This deserves a celebration! So grab Jenna, I'll grab Jeremy and we'll all go out to dinner at the Mystic Grill or something. Has Jeremy seen you, by the way?" I shook my head.

"Doubt it. But dinner out sounds wonderful! Come on. Let's go get them!" and without further ado, we left the room, grabbed the missing people, and after Jeremy's and my hasty hello's we set off for the Mystic Grill.

I had clearly forgotten what life in a small town was like. The impossibility to not run into acquaintances, the quaint little restaurants, the need for a calm life. It reminded me of the Shire in Lord of the Rings. Those guys never moved a finger if they didn't have to! But once you find yourself with a big greasy burger and fries in front of you and the likelihood of a sundae for dessert, you stop worrying about your surroundings.

"Oh, well, double work-out tomorrow cause, if not, I'll never be able to do a spinning kick again in my entire life!" all four of us laughed and toasted to comfort food.

"Hey have you guys heard?" Jeremy asked with a worried face. "There's some kinda serial killer on the loose. I saw it in the news. The authorities say he might be here, in Mystic Falls." Jenna shuddered slightly. Elena looked particularly worried.

"How come they haven't found him yet?" I asked, interested.

"No one knows. But then again, he only went on this killing spree last week. He's said to be very quiet. They say he cuts out his victims' throats. They've already baptised him the Vampire Killer because of it." Jeremy added. Elena's eyes widened but I just smirked a bit.

"And, let me guess: he only ever attacks during night-time?"

"Oh yeah." Jeremy nodded. I wanted to continue but Elena cut me off.

"Alright, no murderers during dinner. So, Sophie, what have you been doing lately?" she asked. Our relationship was that of baby sister and spoiling big sister.

"Well, if you all must know, I dropped out of law school, I entered a photography class, I've been modelling to pay the rent, and I've published a book of poems. Not to mention I've been helping out with a bit of a community program for young street kids. They are offered a variety of activities. I chose to help out with the martial arts part. Of course." They all chuckled. Everybody always said that I was great with kids, even though I didn't think I'd make a good mom and I had lost faith in marriage. But martial arts were like breathing to me. I was an expert in several, if I do say so myself, and I believed in the discipline it offered its students. In fact, I still do.

"Busy girl." Jeremy commented.

"With my mother, it's the only way to stay sane." I grumbled as my dinner party laughed at my misery.

"Hey, if you had my love-life, you wouldn't be complaining!" Elena said.

"Speak of the devil..." Jenna whispered amused. All three of us turned to follow her gaze and look at the door. Standing there was a 17- maybe 18-year-old guy. Handsome features, strong jaw and dark eyes. Niiiceeee. And right behind him came... 'Oh, sweet Circe, it should be illegal to be that gorgeous.' Tall, dark and handsome. Beautiful features, strong jaw (similar to Elena's guy?), pale skin, muscular build, and bad boy to a T. 'Alright, if I ever had to marry someone, only by looks, it would be this guy.' I thought. As if he had heard me, the mystery guy turned to look at me. He had the most mesmerizing pair of blue eyes ever to be found. I have a weakness for blue eyes, and I like to "examine" them. But this particular pair was... perfect. Somewhere between ice-blue and sky-blue. Absolutely gorgeous.

"I take it that means that your reason for loosing sleep is that young one over by the door? The one with the dark eyes?" Elena nodded, sighed, then turned back to her meal.

"Good cause I'm keeping the other one." Elena looked up at me. "You know, tall dark and dangerously gorgeous over there? Right behind your guy?" Elena turned over to look at the two again and her eyes widened.

"Don't even think about it. That's Damon, Stefan's brother."

"Yeah, can you be a bit more specific?" Elena huffed.

"Stefan is my ex."

"The one with the dark eyes." Elena nodded.

"Yes, and the other one -"

"With the amazing blue eyes?" she nodded again.

"That is Damon Salvatore. Stefan's older brother." It was my turn to nod.

"Yeah, yeah, you already said that. What's so wrong with him?"

"He's trouble. Trust me. You don't want to mess with Damon Salvatore." I groaned.

"What's the point of being 21 and owning your life when people don't let you screw it up?" We all laughed. Soon we forgot about the Salvatore brothers. There was much to catch up on.

The dinner went on like that. Catching up, laughing and eating up our fill. We discussed much of Jeremy's mysterious and fantastic recovery. I was so proud when I heard he was back on the right track, catching up on school work, being responsible, drawing. I missed his drawings. He was very talented. Then, it was Elena's turn to confess. She was strangely quiet on the subject of her boyfriend. As if she was scared he would hear her. I couldn't know how he would, given that he and his gorgeous brother were sitting on the other side of the restaurant. But she told me how she was doing at school, how she wasn't on the cheer leading team but that she was fine with it, and that, slowly but surely, she was becoming more and more comfortable with her life. I was so relieved when I hear that. She had suffered too much already. She deserved better. Finally, Jenna started a tirade of complaints against the two devils she had to deal with, which lightened up the air considerably. From them on, we laughed non-stop.

Once I'd had my chocolate sundae, I insisted on paying for us all and, once that scramble for the check was over, we exited the place and headed for our car.

At this point, Jeremy was telling a joke about something, really stupid joke, but it had us stumbling with laughter. Grabbing my poor ribs, I was walking backwards, in order to look at Jeremy.

"That... has to be ... THE most stupid joke eve-" I was cut off when I crashed into a very hard something. It honestly felt like a brick wall. I would've bounced off had it not been for a pair of strong arms that came out of nowhere and held me by the waist. Elena immediately stopped laughing, and, by the look on her face, I turned my head around fully expecting to look up at the devil himself. What I found, however, were those perfect blue eyes, which, I now knew, belonged to the one and only Damon Salvatore.

Suddenly realising that I was still being held up by this "stranger", I pulled myself together and pulled away from those blue eyes. Clearing my throat, I turned to apologize to him but the apology died on my lips. 'My Goddess, he is gorgeous!' I shook my head and re-opened my mouth.

"I'm so sorry, it's entirely my fault. I was walking backwards and I-" a slightly cool finger on my lips cut off my ranting. The guy's touch send shivers down my spine.

"I wish girls of such beauty could bump into me all the time." 'Bump? I'm pretty sure I crashed into him.'

But before I could get another word in, my phone started playing "Hate On Me", GLEE version. I groaned. But I pulled out the phone any way. It was my mother's ring-tone. And if I didn't answer her, she would send the National Guard to track me down or something.

"What?" I growled into the speaker.

"Sophia Amaia Natchios that is no way to talk to your mother and that is not the way a young lady should answer the phone! But then again, you've been a disappointment in that particular department haven't you?" UGHHHH. 'There we go again with what a terrible daughter I've been.' I thought. The woman just wouldn't leave me be. She had been trying to guilt-trip me into returning home and back to law-school for over three months now, ever since I turned 21. By this point, I had half a mind to return home. Only to strangle her.

"Mother, I have no intention of listening to your ranting on how you feel so embarrassed to have me as a daughter. I've heard enough of that during my childhood. So stop it. I'm not going back, I'm not going to follow the life you want me to live and I'm not going to try and marry into a royal family!" Technically, she had never really told me she wanted that, but I had heard her hinting at it with one of my aunts. A total failure since both of them were on my side. I heard a snicker next to me and realised Damon Salvatore was still deliciously close. I shivered but turned back to the conversation on time to hear the next part of my mother's delusions.

"I order you to return home. How dare you tell me I have mistreated you? Sophia me vas a hacer caso aunque sea lo ultimo que haga!(1)" I knew she was mad then. She never screamed in Spanish unless she was severely pissed off. Oh well, her loss. I didn't give a rat's ass.

"Mother, for the thousandth time, I want a life of my own. So stop ordering me around, stop trying to tell me how to live MY life, stop pretending I'm 17 and that you still have the law on your side because you don't anymore and if you try to track this call once more, the only reason I'll have for going back home will be to strangle you!" With that, I slammed my hand onto the 'end' button.

"She was trying to track down your phone?" I heard Elena's disbelieving voice and turned around. A side-effect of my altercations with my mother. I tend to forget whether or not I have an audience.

"She's done it before." I said. "I've learned to recognise the slightly strange beep at the beginning of the call whenever she tries it." I added, sighing, already much more calmed. 'Strange, normally I stay mad much longer.' Only then did I register the soothing pressure of a hand on my shoulder and I turned to see Damon doing just that. I could've kissed the guy. But then, Elena just grabbed my other arm and dragged me away. I raised my hand slightly as a hasty goodbye. Only then did I notice his brother ('Stefan, was it?') standing beside him. I looked back at Damon. His face was undecipherable. Good. 'I love riddles.'

Elena took me to the room I'd be occupying for the next few weeks and started helping me unpack.

"So, things are that bad with your mom?" I sighed.

"I'm sorry you had to witness that. Honestly. She can be a real burden." She chuckled.

"Don't mention it. And I can imagine if she still thinks she's got the law on her side..." that made me laugh. "And what do you plan on doing while you're here?" I smiled.

"Well, I have my photography kit here with me so I'll take to wandering around town and probably around the forest too, taking pictures, and maybe writing a bit too." Elena nodded with a small smile.

"Sounds nice. Though I have to warn you. Don't go into the forest. At least not for too long or too deep in. I know better than to try and ban you from something." I laughed.

"Yeah, I have authority issues, I know. But what's wrong with the forest? We've always been able to go there without much trouble." I was intrigued to say the least. The one thing I loved most about Mystic Falls, besides Jenna, Elena and Jeremy, was its forest. There was so much to discover out there.

"It has become dangerous. There have been several animal attacks during the past month or so. It's better that you don't go there too late and stuff like that." I nodded.

"Yeah well, don't worry. My darling father's last gift to me was a pair of sai. You know, like Elektra's?" I have always admired this character. Her strength, her power, her ability to make her way in a world of men. It's cool when a girl gets to kick some serious ass. "They're the reason that I only wear boots nowadays!" we laughed. She knew I could take care of my self. As for my sai, I had fallen in love with them. My daddy had sent for them to be made just like the ones in the movie. Is that cool or what?

"Alright then, just saying. Oh and, even if you won't listen, I have to say this: stay away from Damon Salvatore. I know he can seem charming and handsome-"

"He's the Goddess' gift to women!" I said with a laugh.

"BUT, he's only trouble. He's dangerous. And he's not a very nice person. He's already hurt Caroline, I don't want you to get hurt too. Please." I nodded.

"I didn't know about Caroline, but then again, I've been gone for a while. And I'll try to be careful. You know I like the bad boy type." I pouted. She chuckled.

"You're incorrigible."

"And proud of it." I said with conviction. "Hey, do you have school tomorrow?" Elena looked at me as if I had gone silly.

"Duh! It's Monday!" I pouted again.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. Anyway, how about I go pick you, Bonnie and Caroline tomorrow from school, we go for ice-cream of something and we catch up as only we girls know how to?" Elena smiled and nodded.

"That would be great."

"And, you can tell me all that has happened with Stefan." The smile fell off from Elena's face.

"Perhaps it'd be better to just fill you in right now." And so, she went on to tell me pretty much everything that had happened between her and the youngest Salvatore brother. I could feel that there was something she was holding back on me but I held my tongue. She would tell me when she was ready.

By the time she finished, it was past midnight and she had teary eyes.

"Alright girl, you've had a long night. Now, go to sleep. You want to be fresh for school tomorrow. Sweet dreams." She smiled at me, I kissed her forehead, and she left for the night.

Soon after, I was getting ready to go to bed. And I just couldn't stop thinking about Damon Salvatore. He had had a pretty big part in Elena's story. And not a particularly nice one. Though, even if she wasn't specific, Elena had told me that he had helped Jeremy deal with all that had happened. So he couldn't be all that bad. Could he?

I looked at my reflection in the mirror, straight into my caramel eyes. I sighed, picking up the brush and running it through my dark caramel curls. Before leaving for Mystic Falls I had cut it short, leaving practically all of my neck bare. I liked my new look. People usually said I looked like a human-sized candy. Caramel eyes, dark caramel hair and skin. Hey, I went into modelling for a reason.

'Maybe that's what I'll do for the rest of my life.' I was used to a rather high degree of comfort. I liked expensive clothes and nice apartments, that sort of thing. Well, I still had them. I had been working for myself for more or less 3 years now. And I was good at what I did. So I had more than enough money for now. I always worried about my future. Everything about it was so uncertain. Don't get me wrong, that's the way I want it to be, but back then, I was faced with a huge change in my life. And I was young. Very. So I worried. I thought about my dad. My poor, poor dad. He would always try to help me out but my mother wouldn't hear of it. It all comes down to my mother, doesn't it? I wondered what was going on with him. If his work was too much, or if he was doing fine. I wondered if my mom was giving him too much of a hard time or if she had finally backed down. I snorted. 'Not likely.'

I yawned. It was around 1 in the morning already and I wanted to get a fresh started tomorrow. I finished with my hair and I hit the pillows. In two minutes, I was out.

A/N: I hope you like it! More will come, and soon, so stay tuned. Btw, reviews are love! And they boost my self esteem to pity me and hit that review button!

(1): "You will obey me, even if it's the last thing I do!"