It was 1864, and a small town in Virginia was calm and collected. It was another day in Mystic Falls, and there was nothing unusual expected to happen. The citizens went along with their daily schedules, and the tight-knit town was under good control under the sheriff's watch. All was well as the sun shone above them, highlighting their paths. There was one path that trees always kept shaded, and it was covered with dead, colorless leaves. Walking along that path, were the two-of-a-kind Salvatore brothers. Damon and Stefan. The brothers were undoubtedly handsome, they could have any girl they wanted. However, girls were not their priority at this time. Damon was almost ready to finish college, and Stefan was a year away from graduating high school. The brothers were well-known around town, since their father was quite illustrious for his financial status, as well as his social status. Mystic Falls was simply home to Damon and Stefan, and growing up there had been easy. The brothers had a great bond, that appeared to be unbreakable. The two strolled along the path, the leaves crunching beneath their shoes.
"Damon, Father has been questioning me about my future," Stefan said lowly.
"Ah, you too?" Damon's blue eyes narrowed, "Have you come up with an answer for him?"
"Not quite, have you?" Stefan returned the question. Damon replied with a shake of his head, then paused.
"Well, I have been contemplating the chances of me going to school in Europe, but I do not know if Father would approve of such," Damon hesitated, finding the right word, then looked at Stefan as his eyes widened, "an adventure."
Stefan chuckled, as he nodded slowly. "I'm sure he would like to get rid of you for so long," he joked.
Damon rolled his eyes, and nudged his younger brother with his elbow. "Now, come on, we will be late for supper. Maybe I'll use this time to announce my proposition to Father."
The brothers continued down the path, walking towards their estate. Their house had to be one of the largest in town, and it was definitely the most classic. Stefan and Damon's father was all about class. They approached their house to find their father standing on the front steps, as if he were waiting for them. And evidently, he was.
"My sons!" their father, Giuseppe exclaimed as he hurried down the steps to greet his boys. "Welcome, welcome home, I have great news for you both," he said, throwing his arms around his two sons.
Damon's eyebrows raised, "Is that so? And I have great news for you as well, Father." Damon looked over at Stefan, with a grin.
Giuseppe slowly broke the embrace, and looked at Damon. "Oh, that is wonderful, but please do let me share my news before-"
"Giuseppe!" an unfamiliar voice sounded from inside the house. Stefan and Damon looked up instantaneously, as a woman in a pale green dress emerged from the front door of the Salvatore estate. At the sound of his name, Giuseppe turned away from his boys and threw his arms out towards the woman.
"Ah, Katherine, you're too early! I was just about to tell the boys-" Giuseppe fell silent, as Katherine approached him, staring him in the eyes.
"It's all right, Giuseppe, you don't have to tell the boys anything. I will take it from here. Just go inside, and tell Emily to make us all some supper," the woman named Katherine spoke in a monotonous voice. Stefan and Damon watched the exchange, and both their brows furrowed. Giuseppe finally showed some sort of movement, and his arms fell to his sides. "I think I'm going to go inside and tell Emily to make us all some supper," he said, almost inaudible for Stefan and Damon to hear. Giuseppe walked back into the house, and that was all. Damon whistled, "Well that was odd."
Stefan chuckled, looking down uncomfortably at his shoes. Then his gaze returned towards the young woman who was now facing them, with practically perfect posture. Stefan glanced at his brother, who was staring at the girl as well.
"Hello boys," she said, with a mischievous grin. Damon returned her grin with a sly smirk. Stefan watched, bringing his hands together. "I am Katherine, it's a pleasure to meet you both," she said, her voice practically like a tune to a song. Stefan studied the young woman, who appeared to be an age right between Damon and Stefan's. Her skin was the palest tan he had ever seen, if that were to be possible. Her eyes were dark, nearly black, and her mouth seemed to be permanently curved into a mysterious smile. Her hair was in curls, that flowed to the middle of her back. It was the darkest shade of brown Stefan had ever seen.
Breaking the silence, Katherine had extended her hand out towards the boys. Before Stefan could even move an inch, Damon had grabbed Katherine's dainty hand and brought it to his lips. Stefan felt his jaw clench, and he looked away. Katherine smiled. "You must be Damon, the one who does as he pleases," Katherine whispered to Damon. Damon winked, as Katherine slowly slipped her hand away from his grip.
"You and I will get along very well," she said to him, but Damon noticed she was looking at Stefan. Damon glared at his brother, who was excluding himself from the conversation. Katherine smiled, as if satisfied.
Stefan finally returned to the conversation, and he looked at Katherine. "Why are you here?" he asked quietly. Damon instinctively punched his brother in the arm. Stefan cringed, and brought his hand to his arm. "What was that for, Damon?" Stefan groaned.
Damon blinked, "You don't just ask people why they are here. You simply embrace it."
Katherine placed her hand on Damon's broad shoulder, "You do not hurt your brother," she scolded, her eyes locked on his. Damon stared into her eyes, and responded with an emotionless nod. "Apologize," Katherine said, with the same voice she had used earlier with Giuseppe. When Katherine let go of Damon's shoulder, he turned to Stefan and apologized. Stefan smiled weakly, but his eyebrows crinkled in curiosity.
Stefan looked at his brother, and forgave him. "I suppose I needed the lesson," Stefan said, shrugging it off. Damon and Stefan both turned back to where Katherine was standing, but realized that she was no longer there.
"Where did she go?" the brothers asked each other simultaneously. Their eyebrows raised, and they both laughed, before entering their estate. Their father was seated in his chair, staring blankly at a wall. Damon walked ahead of Stefan, and stood in front of Giuseppe. "Father, I have to tell you something."
"What is it Damon?" Giuseppe said. It looked as if he was still staring at the wall, right through Damon. Stefan stood with his hands folded behind his back, watching his brother and his father argue about Damon's chances of finishing school in Europe.
The last thing Giuseppe said was, "It's much too risky, Damon, you are not mature enough to travel such a distance on your own." Stefan watched as Damon angrily stormed into his room. Stefan took one step forward, but was whisked away by a sudden force. Stefan felt some sort of fear grow inside him. He heard himself yell, as he watched blurred, moving images pass right before his eyes. And then he was in the guest room, staring at Katherine. She was laughing, more like cackling. Stefan's jaw clenched, as he caught his breath. "What was that?" he exclaimed. Katherine simply continued laughing. "Miss Katherine, I-" and suddenly Katherine's lips were on his. Stefan didn't quite know what was happening, he didn't know quite understand why it was happening, nor did he know if he wanted to pull away or to kiss back. But he did know that Katherine's kiss had sent some sort of electricity through his body, and hesitantly, he began to return the kiss. This wasn't like him, to be kissing a stranger. That is what she was to him, a complete stranger. But such a beautiful, mysterious stranger that he found to be completely intoxicating. Then the warm tenderness of her lips vanished from his lips, but it lingered in his memory. "Oh, Miss Katherine," he whispered, opening his eyes. Her astonishing beauty surprised him once again.
"Oh Stefan, sweet, sweet Stefan, do call me Katherine," she giggled, as she caressed his blushing cheek. Stefan smiled nervously. He could not believe how nervous he was.
"Katherine, may I ask, what was that for?" Stefan questioned, in pure curiosity.
"No you may not ask," Katherine answered, walking towards the full-length mirror. Stefan realized that she was beginning to undress. Stefan gulped, then cleared his throat, and made more assorted noises before finally turning around. He could hear Katherine giggle. He liked the sound of her giggle. Stefan ran his fingers through his dark, but light, wavy hair as he waited.
"Then may I ask again, now that my brother is not among us, why are you here?" Stefan felt bad for interrogating her so much, but he had so many questions for this woman that he met not even an hour ago. Already he had envied when his brother made the slightest physical contact with her, he had been consumed by her irresistible beauty, left in wonder by the mystery that seemed to follow her every move, and they had shared a kiss that sent Stefan off the edge.
"No," Katherine said, "you may not ask." Stefan accepted that answer as well. He figured that he was being too bothersome.
"Are you finished?" he asked. Another question. He frowned to himself.
"Yes," Katherine stated. Stefan turned around and gasped. Katherine was in a silk, red nightgown, that no other girl would ever dare touch. It was revealing, definitely revealing. The neckline was in the shape of a V, and the sleeves only covered half of her shoulder. Her figure was small, but she had curves in all the right places, which caused Stefan to lick his lips, realizing that he could still taste the kiss. The dress didn't seem like it was made anywhere in town at all, not even this era. Katherine was so daring, so different. He found himself admiring her even more.
"My, Katherine, you look.."
"Exquisite," a voice said. But it didn't come out of Stefan's mouth, nor Katherine's. Of course, Stefan knew who it was.
"Damon, nice of you to join us," Katherine smiled, practically prancing over to Stefan's older brother who was leaning against the doorway. Stefan turned once again as Katherine passed him, and he heard himself snarl. He covered it with a cough, and he looked over at Damon, who Katherine was now embracing. Stefan's fingers rolled into fists, but he quickly exhaled and made every attempt to relax. It's only a hug, Stefan thought, as he looked down at his shoes. Katherine had given him a kiss, and it certainly was not just any friendly kiss. That meant that she was interested in him, mainly him. This made Stefan smile proudly to himself, and he lifted his chin to return his gaze towards Damon and Katherine. He did not like what he saw.
It was as much as a surprise to Damon as it was to Stefan. Just a few moments ago, he was angrily shaking his fists and throwing pillows around his room until he fabricated an idea. Perhaps, just perhaps, his father would let Damon finish college in Europe, if Stefan joined him. Damon then searched the house, avoiding his unruly father, to find Stefan. He wasn't in his room, so where could he be? Damon decided to go upstairs to ask Katherine if she had seen him anywhere, and found her dressed in the most beautiful nightgown he had ever laid his clear blue eyes on. It was an elegant red, not too bright, not too dark. It blended well with her pale, yet tan skin. He was so engulfed by the vision of this strikingly beautiful young woman, he had barely noticed Stefan in the room. Damon, of course, before saying anything else, commented on Katherine's attire, with a charming smile. He made a notion to talk to Stefan, and opened his mouth once again to call him over, but he had not realized that Katherine had come to him. She grabbed his attention, as if by hand, and Damon couldn't look away from her dark eyes. He scarcely caught a glance of the grin of mischief plastered on her lips. Their faces did not hold much distance between each other, and seconds later, they kissed. And kissed. And kissed. And kissed. When their lips finally parted from each other, Damon opened his eyes to see a look of sadness in Katherine's eyes. He couldn't fathom why, and realized the only reason the kiss was broken was because he was being hauled away by his brother. "Stefan! What are you doing!" Damon yelled, trying to break free from Stefan's grip. Damon could not remember when Stefan had gotten so strong, or perhaps Damon was still weak from the intensity of the kiss with Katherine. Oh, how sweet her lips tasted, but yet there was a tang of..Damon couldn't quite put the taste into words. He wished he could kiss her again, so he could figure out just what that strange yet enticing taste was. He had never been kissed like that before, which such passion and desire. It was like their souls were joining together, and then they were ever so rudely ripped apart in the process. Stefan sounded as if he were growling. Where was this boy's respect? "Unhand me, brother, what has gotten into you?" Damon asked, as he finally pulled his arm away from Stefan's firm grasp. They were now in Stefan's bedroom, which was below the guest room, but nevertheless, they were out of Katherine's range of hearing. Stefan was glaring at Damon, but not daring to look him in the eye. Stefan just stood, and glared. Damon was obviously uncomfortable, and was not sure how to react to Stefan's strange behavior. Quite frankly, his mind was still racing about his kiss with Katherine. "Well?" Damon began, but Stefan held up his finger and began shaking his head. "What is it, Stefan?"
"Damn you, Damon, damn you," mumbled Stefan. Damon had never heard his younger brother speak to him that way before. He had never heard Stefan speak like that to anyone before. Damon was startled, and baffled by Stefan's perversity. He said nothing, only waiting for Stefan to continue. Perhaps a reasonable explanation would come out of what Stefan had to say next. "Miss Katherine is not yours to kiss, Damon, she made her mark by kissing me. Didn't you see how sad she was after you kissed her? How dare you!"
Damon didn't know just how to react to this. Katherine had kissed Stefan? How, why, when did that occur? Damon was shocked to receive this news, more over..angry. Stefan just had to be lying. Why would he make up such a thing and make such a scene? "Stefan, are you mad? There is no reason to be lying about this, I'm sure Katherine would not appreciate you spoiling her good reputation! Why would she kiss you anyway? So young, so naive. There is nothing you have that she would be interested in," Damon said, pushing Stefan's raised arm back down. He could see Stefan growing even angrier. What was wrong with this boy?
"Damon, I am not lying! She kissed me, Damon, she kissed me before you came to the room. It is the truth. The kiss she and I shared was magnificent, and I want her. Please do not interfere with this." Stefan's blue-green eyes had begun to become a deep, forest green, which usually implied that he was serious about a situation. Damon stared blankly at his brother, merely shaking his dark head.
"Let me tell you something too, little brother," Damon started, "It does not matter who she kissed first, and frankly I do not give a damn about how your kiss was. What matters to me is the kiss she shared with me. I will spare you the details, for I do not want your envy on my shoulders. But I will tell you one thing, she kissed me." And with those words, Damon left Stefan's room, and continued down the hallway until he reached his own room. He then sat on the edge of his bed, and rested his head on the palm of his hand, as his elbow rested on his knee. He slumped over, and his hand automatically shifted to run its fingers through his chocolate brown hair. How stressed he was! He wanted nothing but to feel Katherine's delicate lips on his once again. But had those incredible lips, honestly touched those of his own younger brother's? Damon shook the thought out of his mind, and reminded himself of the heat of Katherine's kiss with himself. He could tell that he was the one she wanted, and he was sure he could please her much more than his juvenile brother. Perhaps she was disappointed by the kiss with Stefan. Damon smirked. He was determined that he would be the one Katherine would choose, and he figured that he was the one Katherine had already chosen. It wasn't that hard of a decision, anyway, now was it?
Stefan paced his room like a mad man, which he probably was slowly transitioning to. That's the effect this kiss with Katherine had given him. Ever since then, he was more cautious than ever, and just now he had his first argument with Damon. Over this young woman that they had met just almost two hours together. If this is what happens after only two hours, imagine two days? Two weeks? Months? What was she doing here anyway? His father never got the chance to explain that to them, and Katherine wouldn't let Stefan ask her about it. Stefan jumped at the slightest sound, hoping that no one would walk in on his little episode. He was also hoping that Damon would not return to attack him. Stefan was under such stress that he could not even begin to understand. Not ever, not once, did a girl have such an impact on Stefan. He could remember the taste of her lips ever so clearly, and he could relive the kiss ever so vividly, a thousand times. It replayed and replayed in his mind, and he knew it should make him smile, but it made him all the more confused. Had Katherine really kissed Damon in her own will? Why would she do that after she had just kissed him? Stefan's fingers found their way to his hair that was such a dark blonde, it was undecided if it should be called light brown instead. Stefan did not remember even raising his arms to do so, and he looked down and saw that his arms were still by his sides. He stared in wonder, and was strangely fearful of what was now in his hair. Slowly, very slowly, he turned around to see that the fingers belonged to dear Katherine. When did she get in his room? How? Stefan stopped mentally asking questions, and like Damon told him earlier, he embraced it. He took Katherine's figure, and pulled her into a warm embrace. The moment their bodies pressed against each other, Stefan felt another jolt of electricity pass through his veins. Katherine's fingers were tangled in his wavy hair, but it was soothing. Stefan pressed his smiling lips against Katherine's shoulder. Stefan was happy. Katherine was here, in his room, which meant she was not in Damon's, which must have meant she had chosen him. Stefan figured that she probably regretted, if she really did, kissing Damon. Stefan knew that she would choose him, he just knew it.
"Daaaaaaa-mon!" Katherine shouted from her window, waving both her arms. Damon looked up at the sound of his name. He was standing in huge landmass behind the estate. Of course, this was his father's land, that he would inherit in time. Well, half of it he would have to share with Stefan. Keeping that in the back of his mind, Damon grinned, waving back, adoring Katherine's cuteness. She blew him a kiss, and seconds later, she was standing in front of him. Damon jumped a little, but he was still just starting to get used to this.
"Hello, handsome," she whispered, almost seductively. Damon heard himself giggle like a little boy who was just kissed on the cheek by his first grade crush. How embarrassing, he thought.
"Hello beautiful," he whispered back, as he ran his fingers through her dark-as-night hair. They smiled at each other, like fools in love, which inevitably they were. Damon was the one she chose, and she reminded him again and again about that. He wished she wouldn't remind him so often, because he already knew. But somewhere inside him, he pitied Stefan. Where was Stefan? Oh, yes, Stefan was in school. Stefan was just a boy, too young to know how to please a woman like Katherine. Katherine wanted much more than Stefan could give her, and Damon could supply her with it without her having to ask. Damon was more experienced, and more exciting, and that is why she chose him. Katherine did ask him to keep that a secret, though. And to pretend that nothing was going on between them, and that Katherine was still undecided about the whole thing. They only spent time together when Stefan was not around, or late at night when Stefan was asleep. Damon wished it did not have to be that way but he was happy that he was the one she chose. He was very happy.
Katherine studied his face as Damon thought, as if reading him. Then Damon realized that she was. "Katherine, you promised you wouldn't read my thoughts unless I asked you to," Damon pouted. Katherine laughed and shrugged, her eyes gleaming with innocence. "But, Damon, darling, it's involuntary. When you're like me, you will understand. I can hear your thoughts as if you were speaking them. I am just that Powerful," she explained once again. Damon had heard it before, but he didn't like the idea of having his private thoughts invaded. Damon even tried to hide that flash of a thought from Katherine, if that were to be possible. That was another thing.
Katherine was a vampire. A distinguished, Powerful vampire. Damon had interrogated her about her kind. She had explained everything thoroughly to him. He took pride in the fact that she trusted and loved him enough to share her deepest, darkest secret with him. He solemnly swore to keep her secret until the day he died..and rose again. He made an oath, and he exchanged blood with her. With vampires, the way they show love is not through sex, but through exchanging blood. Vampires very seldom gave their blood to a human. It was to either through pure love, or to save the human's life. Katherine told him that vampires did not have to kill to feed, which Damon was a bit surprised to hear. Katherine also told him that exchanging blood was very sentimental, and almost sacred. It showed a deep sense of loving and caring that was beyond all human comprehension. If a human should die, if they have vampire blood in their system, they will wake up..changed. To complete the transition, they would have to feed on their first human. Katherine told Damon that she would help him through that. Katherine promised that she would turn him, so that they could spend eternity with each other. Until then, Katherine would teach him more and more about the way she lived. Damon would eagerly learn. These lessons took place during the night. That is how they spent their time with each other. In the mornings when Stefan was at school, they spent their time together like this.
Damon was lost in his thoughts again, making instinctive yet loving gestures towards Katherine, before finally whispering into her ear, "Are you hungry, love?"
Katherine nodded, her lips now inches away from his throat. Damon gulped, but he reminded himself not to be scared. Damon felt Katherine's sharp fangs sink through the same spot she always bit into, and Damon shivered slightly, as he felt his blood being drawn from his vessels and into Katherine's mouth. It didn't hurt that much. Damon knew that Katherine cared enough to make sure it didn't hurt him. Damon smiled, as he heard Katherine slurp a bit, meaning she was going to pull away now. When she was finished, they smiled admirably at each other. While Katherine bit her wrist, tearing away some of her skin, Damon winced. He hated to watch her do that to herself, but she did it for him. Damon gently took her bleeding wrist, and brought it to his mouth, hesitating before he began to drink her blood. Damon ignored the initial bitterness of the taste of blood, and just drank. He had to get used to it anyway. Katherine watched, proudly. Katherine taught him how to feed, and he was quick to learn.
Stefan had just arrived from school, and the house was quiet. He strolled past the kitchen, and into the hallway that led to his room. In his room, was a sobbing Katherine. He rushed to her side and held her body against his. "Oh, Katherine, what's wrong?" Katherine's tears stained his shirt, but that was not important. What was important was why she was crying, and who he needed to kill for hurting her.
"Please, lock the door, Stefan," she begged through her sobs. Stefan obeyed, and went straight back to her, resuming the position they were in before. Stefan rubbed her back soothingly, until her sobs slowly faded. "Katherine, dear, what happened?" Stefan worried, he worried ever so deeply about Katherine's wellbeing. He knew the kind of danger that larked around her kind. So many people were probably out to get her, and if any of them laid a hand on her, he swore he'd-he was interrupted by a tender kiss from Katherine. Small beads of tears were still falling from her eyes, and Stefan lifted his hands to wipe them away. He waited patiently for her to answer, and he waited for her to open her eyes, so he could look into them. When she finally did, Stefan fought a smile, because he knew it would be inappropriate considering how she was feeling. Katherine slowly pulled away from Stefan, and she circled around his room. Something was seriously wrong, Stefan could sense it. Katherine finally extended her arm out towards Stefan. Stefan looked at her, curiously tilting his head. He stepped forward, taking her small, soft hand in his. Then something caught his eye, but when he took a second look, nothing was there. Just her gentle skin.
"I missed you," Katherine whispered, her lips curving into a pout, that drew Stefan closer to her instinctively. Stefan had missed her too, in fact she was the only thing on his mind during school. He couldn't focus, not one bit. He squeezed her hand tightly, and looked into her big, dark brown eyes.
"Is that why you were crying?" he asked, half-curiously yet half-proudly.
Katherine shrugged, and placed her free hand on the side of his neck. He knew what that meant. "Are you hungry?" She nodded. Stefan nodded as well, as he readied himself. Stefan knew what she was, and he was not afraid of the consequences. He accepted her, and since she loved him enough to share such an exceptional secret, well he knew then that the love they shared was profound. Stefan made a motion that he was ready, but admittedly, he was scared but he didn't let it show. Stefan knew that Katherine was able to read his mind. When you're a vampire, you have Power. When you feed, your Power grows stronger. Human blood was essential, if you wanted more Power. And with Power, comes responsibility. Katherine promised to teach him more when she turned him. Katherine didn't offer to turn him, but he begged. Stefan knew what he wanted, and he wanted her. Forever. And when he found out that there was such a way to do so, he was beyond eager to take his chances. While Stefan was floating among his thoughts, Katherine had sunk her teeth into the same bite marks on his neck, and Stefan felt his blood begin to flow out of system and into hers. He didn't mind. He would do whatever it took to keep her alive.
Damon had waited until the bite marks on his neck began to fade, until they were almost blended in with his skin. He checked himself in the mirror, before exiting his room. He passed by Stefan's room, hearing nothing but silence. He smirked. Stefan must be sulking in loneliness, wishing and praying to be Katherine's choice. That's just too bad. Damon continued down the hallway until he reached his father's office, and knocked until he was welcomed in. His father had requested to talk to him earlier, and Damon had just now remembered. Damon took a seat in a wooden rocking chair in front of his father's desk. Giuseppe took his time, finishing whatever it was he was writing, and until he finished, Damon was remembering his recent experience with Katherine. He smiled to himself, and sighed happily.
"Damon, let's go for a walk," Giuseppe whispered lowly. Damon wanted to question why his father was speaking so quietly, but his father was already dragging him out of the room and out of the house. It wasn't until they were halfway down the always shaded path, when Giuseppe finally spoke. "Our beloved town, Damon, I'm afraid, is in deep, deep trouble." Damon's dark eyebrows raised at his father's statement, and he found himself becoming anxious to know why, but he could feel that tingle in his gut that he got when he was scared.
"What is the problem, father?" Damon asked. And then Giuseppe said a word, a word that almost knocked Damon out of his shoes, one that almost sent him flying back home to warn the woman he loved from the incoming danger that would be after her.
"Vampires."