Elena gazed out her window solemnly, pinning her hair up as her mother spoke of things she didn't truly cared for. All she wanted was to leave this place. She wanted to be in a field of never ending roses, taking in the sights and scents of all the things her family had set forth before her but wouldn't let her have for her own.
That dark-haired beauty of Bulgaria never saw true flowers. The only evergreen she was able to see was the dark, eerie, forest that surrounded her house that she never called a home. She wanted to feel the plush petals beneath her fingertips, to see the deep crimson against her olive-tones skin, and take in the lovely scent the roses let out so effortlessly through their many pores of pollen, but, most of all, she wanted to look down upon the field of green and watch the small creatures of the gods scuttle about without a thought of their fate in this world and the dreadful things that awaited them in the end; the dreadful things that awaited them all in the end.
"Elena, my love, I know how hard it can be to have to give your life and soul to one you don't know, but as a Petrova, your fate was sealed at birth," her mother whispered softly, brushing a strand of her daughter's ebon locks that stroked the small of her back. "The suitor we chose was gentle and kind, the noble son Lord Giuseppe Salvatore of Italy, with beautiful, green, land and a history in their family of having many sons. A pretty one, he was, with eyes as green as emeralds…"
"We shall see soon enough," Elena said, standing up and softening her skirts.
Her stomach was tumbling endlessly as her mother walked her down to the great hall where the Salvatore's waited. Elena couldn't help but doubt everything her mother had said and more. She didn't want to marry anyone; she was fine as she was now, alone, but she wore a false smile nonetheless. Even after all the things her parent's had cheated her, she couldn't help but show them she could give them what they always planned for her to have.
"Be a Lady, Elena, and remember your courtesies," her mother mumbled in her ear before they walked into the hall, her mother paces before her, embracing her Lord father that stood alongside Lord Salvatore and his son.
Elena could feel her head swimming and her knees shaking as Lord Salvatore said, "This is my youngest son, Stefan Salvatore. My eldest refuses marriage, the fool, but Stefan is better nonetheless, my lady."
Stefan took her hand and brought it up to his lips, his beautiful green eyes never leaving her own deep browns, as his lips tenderly met her hand, his skin pale against her tan. Elena cheeks grew a deep crimson when he leaned back with a smile on his thin lips. He was handsome, she thought to herself as their parents continued their discussions of their marriage far off in the back of her mind, while the rest of her thoughts were dancing around Stefan Salvatore, observing his every move and glance that he threw her way.
Elena shook her head and smiled lightly to herself, walking slowly to the window that overlooked the obscure forest that held the many things she'd only hope to see and touch at least once in her life. Her thoughts slowly settled away from Stefan and back to her normal thoughts, when she heard a snicker from behind her. She quickly turned around and nearly tumbled to the ground, but was caught by strong, muscled, arms that held her for a moment. She backed away from the stranger and stared into his chaotic light blue eyes that shone bright against his pale face, her heart beating uncontrollably against her chest as he whispered, "Be careful, my lady, we couldn't want you to break your ankle before your wedded and bedded probably, now would we?"
Elena gasped aloud and felt her cheeks flush, gaining a smirk from the gorgeous man before her, that looked down upon her as if she were nude, as if she was nothing more than his prey that he'd pounce upon when the time was right. Elena couldn't find any words to say as the man leaned closer to her, never touching her, but pinning her against the window, whispering, "My lady, you're shaking, are you frightened?"
She gulped and met his strange electric eyes, her knees shaking as she heard her parents and the Salvatore's continue to speak, not that faintest idea of the stranger that had her pinned to the window, caressing her cheek lightly with his index finger, grinning smugly as she whimpered under his foreign touch. She didn't know who this man was, or what his name may be, but for reasons unknown to her, she adored his touch and wanted more of it. She longed for this stranger, the way she longed for the outside world of flowers, animals, and distant lands of the unknown. When he was only inches away from her lips, eyes never leaving her, he swiftly backed away and turned around, walking toward the Salvatore's and her parents, leaving her wide-eyed and panting at the window.
"Hello father," he said to Lord Salvatore, smiling at her parents and even going as far as taking her mother's hand and kissing it, saying, "I'm Damon Salvatore, eldest son of this great big lord of Italy you see before you."