Entertain Me
Chapter 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Diaries, it's characters or its affiliates.
It was cold. The floor of my room is icy cold. I am so numb. Well, I am quite used to it. See, I've been an orphan since I was 10. My parents passed away 7 years ago, and unfortunately I didn't have any living relatives to take me in. Well, that's what they told me when the police took me in after that horrible night.
The day was similar to this one. The frost against the ground made it stiff, and slightly slick from the dew. I was out at my friends house for a birthday party, my brother Jeremy had chaperoned me. When we returned home I was quickly turned away from my home. It was burnt down, down to an oblivion. Jeremy was only 14 when it had happened, and he quickly hid me from the sight.
I still shudder at the thought. They had died from a fire, which wasn't an uncommon thing. The fire from the stove probably was to strong for them to put out. It was such a chilly night that night. I just don't even want to think about it anymore.
Now since Jeremy was a few years older than me, he was able to leave the orphanage before I could. It was now 1917, and WWI was still happening. It was sad to see children who turned 18 from the orphanage being drafted to go to war. That's what happened to Jeremy.
He would write every once in a while. He told me sick stories about how men would gloat about killing the enemy in great detail. Jeremy would also tell me about how much he missed home. It made me so sorrowful to read his letters on the window sill at night, while watching the moon and stars rise and fall. I could not be more anxious for the end of the war when he and I would be reunited as family. He was all that I had left.
Well, that is, if you count someone who isn't related. Caroline was a friend of mine at the orphanage. She was beautiful. Her hair was a golden blonde shade, with lighter white highlights in it, and her eyes were this beautiful sapphire blue. She was one of the most beautiful people I have ever met. She was always there for me when ever I needed her.
I sighed as I sat up from my usual doting in my journal. It was now 9 in the morning, and I needed to get ready for my usual errands. I had chores that I had to do daily to earn my room and board, as well as I had another job as well. One that the sisters at St. Mark's orphanage do not know about. I'm an entertainer at night.
Quickly, I threw on one of my last season dresses, along with stockings, and a bonnet to top it off. Grabbing my coin purse and my shawl, I made my way through the large building, smiling politely to all the younger children as well as my elders.
"Elena, darling, please come here," Sister Anne, the head of my chores as well as lead of the covenant, called me into the room to the left of the door to outside. I pushed opened the dark mohagany door, and my eyes fell upon hers.
"Yes, Sister?" I asked timidly, afraid she would add to my list for the day. I couldn't afford to be late for work at the local club. Even if they wouldn't mind if I were late, I just could not fathom being late.
"I need you to pick up a few things for me when you head into the city," she ranted off a few things, and I made a mental note of all the things. She handed me enough money for all of her things and bid me a far well. I promptly turned on heel and made my way out off the door.
The city was bustling with commotion. Horse drawn carriages were being pulled left and right as I walked down the sidewalk, my hands clutching my coin purse and shawl closer to me as the gusty wind hit me with a ferocity I had not felt for a while. My dark indigo dress and my black shawl did not do justice here in the big city of New York.
I finally made my way to the market, grabbing the things Sister Anne asked me to get, quickly shoving them into a bag the kind man had given me at his stall. I bustled around the stalls, quickly grabbing everything I needed and made my way back to the orphanage.
By the time I made it back, it was already getting dark out, and most of the world had retired to their homes. I pushed open the door to the building and began my chores and made my way to the kitchen to put away the groceries. Sister Anne was already in there, anxious for the left over money and her things she asked me to get. She sure was really needy.
"Elena, you need to also mop the floor in the kitchen as well. Gertrude forgot to do so this evening and therefore I am having you finish up that," and with the last comment she exited the kitchen to get ready to retire for the evening. Sighing, I glanced up at the grandfather clock in the corner of the room. 5:30 pm. I had an hour to mop and get out of the building to go to my club.
I started working as quick as I could, my hands throbbing against the wood of the mop as I pushed the murky water all over the floor. Why couldn't she have one of the males do this? This is work for a male, not me. I am supposed to be learning ettique and manners, not working like a horse in the kitchen. I wiped the sweat off of my brow and threw the mop back into the cuboard where it belonged.
I ran as gracefully as I could up the stairs, as I needed to grab my night attire and rouge for the evening at the club. I glanced back up at the grandfather clock on my way out. I only had a half hour to change and get onstage. I closed the front door and took off at a unlady like speed to get to the club.
I made it with 15 minutes to spare. The Cosmopolitan Club was originally founded for an upper east side women's club, but when the war hit the U.S., the place soon became a place for men to come and forget about their woes. I entered into the smokey atmosphere and was promptly greeted with a hello from the bartender Larry. I smiled back at him and made my way into the dressing rooms.
"Ah, well isn't it the star of the show, Miss Elena, or should i call you by your stage name?" Called Mr. Stefan Salvatore. He was my boss here at this club. He was very attractive as well. His short light brown hair, parted to the side and smouldering green eyes.
"Hello Stefan," I smiled at him as I started to remove my clothes and placed on my corset and such. "How is the house tonight?"
"Well, we have a ton of regulars, back to see you again. You sure are a diamond in the sand," he smiled at me, helping me with my wardrobe.
"As always. What type of crowd is it? Rowdy? Quiet?" I proceeded to line my eyes with khol liner, powder my face, and rouge my lips with a deep red lipstick.
"Their kind of inbetween. Choose what ever you feel would be perfect when you get out there," Stefan smiled once again, smacking my ass as he made his way to the stage door.
"Five minutes," I heard someone call.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please give a warm welcome to the one, the only," there was a big pause for suspense. "Miss Rebekah Love!"
I took a deep breath at the sound of my stage name and then casually walked out onto the stage. I positioned myself behind the large microphone and sigh. The crowd was a poliet one tonight. Not as many whistles, catcalls either. The spot light came on and drowned my body in warm rays. I was wearing diamonds up my neck and had my feather bodice on.
I started my rendition with a classic song, then upbeat. The crowd was enjoying my voice, they whooped and hollered at the end of each song. I smiled with all my might at them.
"As you all may know, I only have one song left for the night. I hope you all will enjoy it," I spoke softly into the microphone and turned to the pianist to my right. He winked at me, and I laughed to him. We were a dynamic duo here at the club.
"You made me love you
I didn't wanna do it
I didn't wanna do it
You made me want you
And all the time you knew it
I guess you always knew it"
I sang slowly into the microphone, closing my eyes and remembering the time when the war wasn't happening. Back when I had Jeremy in my life. When I wasn't an orphan working on barely minimum wage.
"You made me happy sometimes
You made me glad
But there were times
You made me feel so bad"
When I opened my eyes, I had locked my brown eyes with a pair of hypnotic blue eyes across the room. I sang the song to him as he drew my in with only his gaze upon me. I could feel his reign on me. I wanted to surrender to this man.
"You made me cry for
I didn't wanna tell you
I didn't wanna tell you
I want some love that's true
Yes, I do, 'deed I do
You know I do"
Fear slowly enveloped me, as I realized I couldn't tear my eyes away from this man for the rest of the song. As the pianist finished his trill, the audience roared, and I received a standing ovation. It was only then when I could move away from him, as someone had blocked his eyes with their body. My heart was throbbing with fear, and I had adrenaline in me like no other. I smiled shakily, curtsied and caught some of the flowers being thrown my way.
Stefan met me in my dressing room, his grin more prominent than usual. He ushered me in to the room and gave me a hug.
"You were exquisite tonight," he seemingly jeered me on. I still couldn't get over than man in the audience.
"Thank you Stefan," my mouth was graced with a small smile, before I changed once again. I needed to get back home before Sister Anne noticed I was gone. " I must get going, Sister Anne will beat me if I am not in bed if she checks up on me."
Stefan stopped me as I went to leave the dressing room. His arm came across the door frame and I was forced to stop and look up at him.
"My home is always open to you if you ever want to leave," his eyes were sincere, full of sadness and pity for me. I shook my head slowly.
"I know Stefan, I know," I sighed, then ducked under his arm and flew down the hall. "I will see you next week!"
I waved goodbye to Larry and thrust open the door to the brisk night, taking off at a fast speed down the cobblestoned road. There was no one out at this time of the night, and boy was I thankful. My night had been ridiculousy eventful, and I could not wait to tell Caroline about it later tomorrow.
While I was lost in my thoughts, I didn't seem to realise the noises coming from behind me until recently. They sounded like footsteps. I pivoted on foot, checking to see if anyone was behind me.
"I swear to god, someone must've been smoking opium in the club.." I turned only to be thrown backwards to the ground. I gaped at the person that now stood infront of me. It was the blue eye'd man.
"Oh my, where are my manners?" He spoke with an eirry air to him. His eyes flashed at me, and offered me his hand. "Please, let me help you up."
I grasped his hand foolishly. His hand was ice cold, probably from the frigid January air. My heart, yet again, felt like it was going to explode. I couldn't help but feel fear from this man. Why would he be out here in the middle of the night. He must've been following me.
"Allow me to walk you to your desitination, a pretty young thing like you should not be out walking the streets at an hour like this," the man gave me a smile that could only be described as sinister. I gulped with what ever saliva was left in my pallette.
"I'm not sure if that would be nessariry, sir," I tried to think of a reason to get out of this situation, it only seemed to go downhill in cases like these.
"Oh, I never introduced myself," he put his cold hand on the small of my back to beckon me forward. " My name is Damon, and yours?"
"E-e-lena," I spluttered. I felt like an idiot. I couldn't even maintain my fear in this situation. I started to walk a bit quicker than before. I hoped that this small talk would last till we got close enough to the orphanage.
"My, that is a beautiful name for such a beautiful lady," Damon spoke to me, a slight laugh in his voice. " Why is such a girl as yourself out at a time like this?"
I could see my building 2 blocks ahead. I contemplated for a moment, eyeing the man next to me. He was skinny, but still broad. He couldn't be as fast of a runner as I could, especially with all this adrenaline coursing through my veins. And I did what I did best. I ran.
The cold air whipped around me as I took off in my boots. I was so close to the building, I could almost feel the warmth of the hearth against my skin. My hand grazed the stoop of the orphanage and I felt a burst of hope. I had made it safely. That is, until my arm was yanked back and I felt my body slam against the wall of the building. I let out a gasp of pain as I felt my body being pressed to the brick.
"Foolish girl," Damon whispered against my cheek. His face was even ice. Damon smacked his hand against my mouth to silence my whimpers.
"I have taken a mild interest in you, Elena," I tried to bite his hand, which caused him to push me harder against the wall. "I will come to the club next week and you will leave this orphanage with me. Do I make myself clear?"
I nodded against his grasp. He smirked.
"Good. Well, with that, I bid you a good night," He let his hand drop from her face. " But before I leave, I must make myself clear. If you try to run, i will find you. There is no use running. I will kill everyone you love dearly."
Damon moved away from the wall, and I almost collapsed. I swallowed and ran up the stairs without a second look back. I was terrified.
I felt inspired to write a first person Delena story. And this is what happened. I got the idea from another story but also with some twists of my own. As always, please review so I have the motivation to continue on.
Thank you
Candice