I know I shouldn't start another story already but I couldn't get this out of my head. This is an AU but not All Human. Damon is a vampire if you don't figure that out by just how much Elena's narration is hinting it. xD Also, I usually don't write in first person so let me know how I'm doing. I might switch to Damon's point of view in a later chapter. It all just depends. And I may or may not even have Stefan in this story at all. If I do, he probably died when he was human in 1864.
"Thank you for coming, Elena." Liz Forbes, Mystic Falls' sheriff, welcomed me into Zack Salvatore's home. The man had been my neighbor for as long as I could remember. He had been there when my parents died when I was sixteen. Then Jenna moved in and she actually went out with him a few times. He was there when Jenna died too, right before I turned twenty one. He was there—in reach—for Jeremy and I to call whenever we needed something. He had been there for us yet we knew nothing of the man. I remember when he walked into our house the first time he had moved to Mystic Falls. He was with his old father and had introduced himself, bringing over dessert. My parents had talked to him but there was a sort of mystery about him.
To this very day (to his death), that mystery was still there. He had come over to comfort us through everything yet I didn't feel very attached to the man at all. It was a strange feeling. I wanted to feel bad, I really did. Maybe after losing my parents and Aunt Jenna—people so close and important to me, I didn't really get effected by death. But was that really possible? I couldn't stand to think of what would happen if something happened to Jeremy. The thought was painful. My brother was the only real family I had left (Uncle John didn't count).
Zack's death was very vague as well. She had been very confused when she heard that he had gotten attacked by a mountain lion while he was out hunting in the woods. At night. It just didn't add up. Many people had ignored that. He was dead, right? So it didn't matter. Like he didn't deserve the justice. While I felt little remorse for this man, I still wanted to get a clear story on what happened. He did deserve that much.
I nodded at Liz, smiling and stepping into the home and looking around the ghostly place. It seemed normal enough, really. But the fact that as of now, no one lived there, gave it a haunted feel. It almost didn't feel right. To be fair, I've never felt too comfortable in this house. I've only been inside a handful of times—one of them being after Zack's father's death. That was the last time I had actually been inside and that was four years ago—right before Aunt Jenna's death. I straightened out the wrinkles of my black dress and walked further into the home, unsure of what to do. I had to find Caroline or Bonnie—Jeremy was at work and would be over later. It felt odd walking around alone like this. I gone through this routine many times that she should be perfectly capable of doing this, but I wasn't. This wasn't a death of anyone I was close to.
"Elena!" I heard a girly voice call. Caroline. I turned around to find the blonde with my other best friend, Bonnie standing there.
"Hi, Elena." Bonnie smiled a bit at me.
I gave them both a small smile in return and walked over, giving them both hugs. "Hi."
"How are you doing, Elena?" Caroline asked, looking somewhat concerned. She was worried that this death was going to make a huge impact on me. Like a domino effect or something.
"I'm fine." She assured her. "How's your mom?" Liz Forbes was also closer to Zack Salvatore than most of the people in Mystic Falls and suddenly, I felt stupid for not asking Liz myself.
"She's dealing. You know, in her own way. Overworking." Caroline shrugged, sighing.
I nodded, understanding. Death was something that effected so many people in so many ways yet it was so inevitable.
"Did you hear how he was killed?" Bonnie asked quietly.
I nodded again. "He was apparently out hunting at night. And a mountain lion attacked him."
Caroline didn't look too convinced but I knew she was one of those people that believed since he was dead, it really didn't matter.
"Really? At night?" Thank god I wasn't the only one unconvinced of his cause of death.
"Apparently." I shrugged at Bonnie.
She then turned to Caroline. "Did your mom mention what was going to happen to this house? I mean… He lived alone and I don't think he had any relatives or anything. I don't even see anyone from outside of town here." She glanced around.
"Actually," Caroline shook her head. "There is someone."
Bonnie and I both furrowed our brows and looked at her more intently. I was the first to ask, "Wait, what do mean?"
Caroline began to search, but she was unsuccessful and found herself looking back at us. "He has a nephew… D… Damon. Damon Salvatore. I met him before anyone else came. My mom said he's going to be moving in here."
"Zack has a nephew?" Bonnie asked, surprised. My expression mirrored hers.
Caroline nodded. "I guess he does." She looked around then leaned in as if she was telling a secret. "He's really, really hot." She giggled.
Bonnie rolled her eyes and I chuckled. "Oh, Care." I shook my head at her.
"Seriously, Elena. You are so lucky to have him as your neighbor. I'm going to have to come over more than I already do." She winked.
I laughed again, looking up to notice a man standing with Liz. He looked very focused in the conversation with her—his expression was thoughtful, inventive, yet solemn. I felt instantly drawn to this man… There was something about him and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. "Is that him?" I whispered.
Caroline followed my stare and nodded.
"Oh my god, Care, he is hot!" I giggled and she laughed in agreement.
Bonnie and Caroline became engrossed in their own conversation about their boyfriends, Matt and Jeremy, and I continued to stare at this strange, exotic man—Damon. I shouldn't have been surprised when he abruptly switched his attention to me. I had noticed how blue his eyes were even from across the room but it was a completely different feeling (yes, feeling) when he was staring right at me. It was hard to read his emotions—but I managed to make out passion, curiosity, and pain. A strange combination for a strange man.
I couldn't bring myself to look away. I was captured in his intense gaze.
"Hello! Earth to Elena!" Bonnie waved her hands in front of my face and Caroline smirked.
I snapped out of it, smiling shyly and ignoring the slight blush on my cheeks. "I… Uh.. Sorry." I apologized.
They both giggled.
LINE HERE
There were more people around now. For a man that everyone barely knew, Zack was rather popular. But then again, it was a small town. People were expected to come even if they had never even said one word to him. I talked to people here and there—kept the conversation short. It didn't feel right trying to talk about someone you barely knew.
I made my way over to the table of food when I bumped into someone.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" I said quickly, looking up to see it was none other than Damon. Did he hear me suck in a breath of air? He was even more stunning up close.
"Oh, no. It was my fault." He assured me with the most charming smile I had seen on the planet. He must have noticed me swooning because the smile turned into a smirk.
I smiled a bit before finding my voice. "You're Damon, right?" I confirmed.
He nodded. "One and only."
"I'm so sorry about your uncle. He was a good man." I told him sincerely.
He didn't seem that concerned, to be honest. He only nodded and said, "Thank you." Was he not close with his uncle either? Was there anyone that truly missed Zack?
"And you must be Elena Gilbert, am I correct?" He asked.
I nodded. "That's me. I live—" I began but he cut me off and finished for me instead.
"Next door, I know. Liz told me." He smirked at my irritation. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Gilbert." He said, taking my hand and kissing it. I all but died right on the spot.
"The pleasure's all mine." I managed to get out with a smile of my own. "You'll be moving in, right?"
"Yes, I will be. Looking forward to it?" He smirked, raising his brows suggestively.
Oh, so he was that sort of guy. I should've figured. I rolled my eyes. "Ecstatic." I answered flatly.
He pouted—something more used for humor, I figured—and put a hand over his heart. "You wound me, Elena and we've barely known each other for five minutes."
"Then you better watch your back, Mister Salvatore." I chimed with a wink.
A spark of fired lit in his eyes. "Mmm, a feisty one. I like you." He winked back at me.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Were we flirting? Great.
"So where are you from? I didn't know Zack had any other family." I said, taking a sip of the wine I got.
"I travel a lot." He answered distantly. "And Zack was never really one to brag." He smirked.
"I see… Any other family members? Or is it just you?" I asked curiously.
"Just me." He told me.
I was about to ask him another question before he shook his head. "Nope. Your turn. How long have you lived in this boring old town?"
"Mystic Falls isn't that boring!" I protested. "I was born and raised here—lived here all of my life and I don't really plan on moving out either." As much hurt as I had gone through, I was too attached to this small town to ever get out. To ever want to get out.
He seemed really curious at that. "Really? But there's a whole world out there… The world is a lot bigger than Mystic Falls." He popped a potato chip into his mouth. "There's so much to do… So much to see… Why would you not want to experience any of that?"
I stared at him, shrugging. "I don't know… I guess I've never really thought about it like that. Everyone I care about is here… And it's…." Hard to let go. I can't lose them too.
I didn't have to finish because with the look on Damon's face I could tell that he completely understood. It sent a warm and tingly sensation throughout my body.
"So, you're going to have to show me around since you seem like such an expert on this town." He smirked.
I grinned back at him and nodded. "Fine. You know where to find me." I told him before walking off, waving a bit.
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