Summary: Damon attacks a girl called Grace Adams when she's ten years old and decides to let her live. She moves away to Paris to recover. But, seven years later, Grace moves back to Mystic Falls and guess who she bumped into...
Disclaimer: Vampire Diaries belongs to the very talented J. (Unfortunatley)
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Crazy how I love you Damon…
No one is perfect…until you fall in love with them…
Chapter One
After
Damon:
I was fuming. I wanted to kill and feed, now. I hated Stefan and Elena and Katherine. I hated myself for thinking for even a second that I could trust any of them! They made me nice! I am a vampire, I am not nice. And just to prove it, I'm going to slaughter the first human that steps into my eye line, just because I feel like it.
Since when did I ever give in to anyone? Since when did I spare anybodies life? When did I ever make the same mistake twice? And that mistake was falling in love. True vampires aren't supposed to have emotions. We're heartless and selfish, personally, I like it like that.
It's like there's a switch inside of every vampire, a switch that if pressed, turns off your human side and you forget all the pain…and the guilt…and the loss…everything just goes away.
Father always said Stefan was the better brother and that I was a disappointment, the burden of the family. I didn't care then and I don't care now.
My cell buzzed in my pocket. I'd answered it before it even had chance to finish the first vibration.
"Hello brother." I greeted Stefan grimly.
"Damon? Damon, come back. Don't leave, you don't really want this."
I stopped.
"You're right Stefan, what I really want is for you and Elena to rot in hell along with dear old Katherine." Sarcasm seeped into my voice, giving it my natural sharp edge.
I hung up on the bastard.
Hunting time.
It was night, and the moon was hanging motionless in the dark sky. I widened the range of my hearing and my pupils widened. Now, I was all predator. I could hear a group of kids about 10o feet off. Yum.
"Come on Grace, you don't have to go home yet!" a boy said.
"Yeah!" Several more agreed.
"I do, my mom will go crazy! It's 10:00pm!" Grace said, backing away form the group of…group of 7, judging by the heart beats. Grace was already walking away, in my direction…
"It's not like you're mom's ever in!" Even better.
"Bye guys!"
"Aw come on-"
"Bye!"
My fangs lengthened and my muscles coiled. My nose worked as I sniffed the air, searching for her sent. I found it. She smelled like nothing I'd ever experienced. There aren't words to describe it.
The girl rounded the corner and the wind wafted her scent in my direction. My lips curved up into a deadly smile. I could see a vain in her neck, see the blood pumping.
Not a second had passed and I was behind her, lips now pulled back over my teeth as I stared at her white neck from a new, closer distance.
The girl stopped, I saw a shiver run up her spine. Instinct was telling her there was danger close by, it was telling her to run but she didn't know it consciously. She was small, smaller than I thought. Her dress sense wasn't perfect and she was stick skinny with no figure what so ever, so not my type, but now was no time to be picky; I was thirsty.
Her body started to turn in my direction. I thought about drawing back the fangs but who was going to be around to see me? No one.
When she saw me her childlike chocolate hazel eyes widened and her lips quivered. I saw my face reflected in those eyes. I looked like an animal. She had a pretty face…shame she had to die.
"Boo." I said and she opened her mouth to scream. I grabbed her neck and shoved her back against a tree.
A hiss escaped my lips. She struggled helplessly in my grasp. I went for her throat. My fangs sank into her neck and she squealed, but the sound was minimal, nothing that would draw attention. Her blood was warm, delicious and clean; untouched by substances that leave the bitter after taste like Drugs and alcohol. Surprisingly clean actually, or should I say unusually clean…
Her blood also tasted young and fresh. I have to admit, this bothered me slightly. The 'Stefan' part of me itched to stop and leave the girl alone.
I pulled away. The girl was losing consciousness. I tapped her face lightly and her eyes fluttered.
"Hey. Hey, Grace. Wake up. How old are you?"
"Get away from me. Please, leave me alone…" she was drifting again.
I tapped her again lightly. "Hey! How old are you?"
"Ten…" she murmured, and I immediately felt ashamed even though I shouldn't. It was low feeding off a defenceless child. I couldn't look at her, because every time I did, I felt guilty. I mentally searched for the 'off' switch in my head.
The girl swayed, and then collapsed in my arms. My eyes widened.
Only one thing for it.
I looked from left to right. No one was around. I picked the girl up
and tried to make a connection between my mind and hers. I needed to know where she lived so I could take her home and leave. It was easy considering she wasn't conscious. She lived three blocks away. I sprinted there, eager to get this child out of my hair.
I tried the handle. It was unlocked. I was about to step through, but then I remembered the god damned rule; Invitation.
"Grace? Grace, wake up. I need you to invite me in."
"Why…?"
"Just do it." I didn't feel the need to compel her. If she refused, I'd just threaten her or swallow my pride (and dignity) and just kill her.
"Um…c-come in."
I stepped through the door and into her empty house.
Now Grace was in her bed, I could finally leave. In a way, t his felt like backing down to an infant. So, out of pure self righteousness, I left her a note; a note that read:
I'll be back for you
And with a smile, I left.
7 Y E A R S L A T E R
Grace:
I spent most of my teenage years living in fear of the predator in the night. The animal who had warned he'd come back for me. His beautiful pale blue eyes held such hostility towards me, but I couldn't understand why.
I told my Mom, I showed her the bite marks…that were no longer there. She sent me to a shrink. After a while, I even started to believe I was crazy. But I know what happened and I know what I saw. The thing I don't understand is why he did it. Why did he let me go? I fear that these questions will be left unanswered. But ever since the attack, it's like a whole section of my life has been ripped out and I can still see the jagged edges.
We moved to Paris for a while, Mom and I. We got away from it all for seven whole years without any contact to anyone. I'm fine now. The nightmares have stopped, and the hallucinations have too. But…his face…that slip of paper, still haunts me to this day; his own threatening words.
Coming back to Mystic Falls was hard, harder than I thought. All my friends had moved on and forgotten about me, or so I heard. And when they saw me in the street yesterday, they didn't even recognise me. I have changed a lot I guess. I'm now 5"6 with gently curling golden blonde hair that hangs just above my shoulders, my hazel eyes are a shade lighter, I have more of a figure but I'm still skinny and my skin is more tanned. My fashion sense has improved since living in Paris, the clothes there are amazing! Lucky for me I brought them all back!Oh, and, I'm now seventeen, an official adult (technically).
Mom says I start school on Monday, tomorrow, and the truth is that I'm scared; scared of what they'll think of me. Will they think I'm a freak, coming back here after all that I said?
All I know, is that Mrs Jefferson, my old next door neighbour, refuses to talk to me.
Mascara…check.
Lip gloss…check.
Manicure…check.
I braided my hair across the front to keep in out of my face, and clipped it in place with a few nude coloured hair slides. I breathed deep, looking myself up and down in the full length mirror behind my bedroom door.
Oh shit, what am I doing? My mind screamed, but I forced myself to remain calm and rational…Oh god what am I doing? Calm!
I was wearing black shorts, a light grey baggy sweater that hug off one shoulder (lucky I was wearing a tight white camisole underneath), with 'J'adore' printed across the front and black size 5 Converses. Normal enough, right? Reasonable? I hope so.
I grabbed school books and shoved them in my one shoulder bag and took another deep breath.
"Grace! Grace honey, you need to go to school! I'll drive you if you want." Mom called up the stairs.
My calm shattered, I started hyperventilating. I plugged into my iPod and ran down stairs, out front, grabbing an apple on the way past.
Mom had the engine of the Volvo XC90 running.
"Hurry up or you'll be late." She hollered at me.
I realized I was stood, frozen, on the porch and forced my legs to carry me to the car. I jumped in and Mom backed out of the drive.
As we drove through town i worked on calming my pulse. And i was failing at doing so. my mind was going crazy, thinking up all these different events that could happen today, all the different things that could go wrong for me...which was mostly everything. i've never hated school, but i've never exactly loved it either. In ways i feel caged in when i'm at school, but in another i feel...free; free to daydream and free to think. I know that doesn't make sense, but, lets face it, I don't mak sense.
We pulled up just outside the school gates. There was still a load of people just arriving so I was no where near late.
I turned to mom and she smiled.
"Go get 'em," she said. "Have a good day, I love you."
"Love you to mom." I mumbled and got out the car with as much confidence as I could muster.
Walking through the gates, it was like first day at Kindergarten all over again, like I was a kid all over again.
Looking around, it was clear that everyone here has known each other since sandbox days, all the clicks and groups have already been made. Getting acceptance around here is gonna be hard.
The main school building was just like any other American school I guess. The parking lot was nearly full, the cheerleading squad was jumping around the place and students just generally making the most of the sun.
When I walked through, everyone stared at me. It was obvious they'd heard about a new arrival and her she was; me. I don't blush very often, but this time, I did.
"Hey have you seen the new girl?" a guy close by whispered.
"Yeah man, she's hot!" the other guy whispered back.
I gritted my teeth and fought the urge to hit him. I made my way as fast as I could, without looking like I was running for the hills, into the main building only to back track two paces. I recognised the girl in front of me, her name was…Poppy Gill.
She looked up at me and smiled vaguely, then returned to texting. When I started to advance, she looked at me again with an expression of confusion.
"Um, hi…can I help you-"
"Poppy it's me!"
She frowned at me. "I'm sorry, I don't think I know you."
"It's me! Grace, Grace Adams."
Her eyes widened and her mouth stretched into a beam. "No way, Grace Adams!"
She flung her arms around me and hugged me hard.
"Hey Poppy, long time no see huh!"
"Ohmigod, wait 'til Sarah hear about this!"
Oh shit. "Sarah? Sarah Parker? Please, tell me you're not friends with her-"
"Things have changed since you've been gone, she's changed, I swear."
She was right, things have changed around here…
Right on cue, a tall girl with strawberry blonde hair, pale skin and a slim body that came with the 'starvation' method, strutted right up to Poppy and I. she was wearing a red camisole, faded denim shorts, pale cowgirl boots, big black rimmed sunglasses and a straw cowboy hat.
Sarah.
"Howdy y'all," she said, her southern accent clear as crystal. She's originally from Texas, but she move to Virginia back in the first grade. You'd have thought the accent would have faded by now, but no. "Poppy, who's this?"
"Sarah do you remember Grace Adams?"
"Sure as hell I do," and by the looks pf things, she remebered for all the wrong reasons.
Poppy pointed to me and I forced a small smile. Sarah cocked her head in my direction; she seemed to look me up and down before taking off her sunglasses, revealing a pair of cold, pale blue eyes.
"Well, well," she said, folding her arms across her chest. "If it isn't lil miss delusional."
I fought the urge to flip her off and instead threw a scowl at Poppy; she lied, Sarah hasn't changed a bit. "I'm fine thanks. It's good to see you too little miss extreme diet."
Sarah glared. Poppy could try and force us together, but lets face it, that's never going to happen. We stared each other down for a while, though technically, she was a good three inches taller than me.
"Well," Sarah finally sighed "I'd just love to stay and chat but my diary's pretty full, I'll have to fit you in some other time…how about… never, sounds good."
"Sorry but I'm not free then, don't worry, I don't really care because you're not worth the time of day anyway." I smiled at her and she glared.
"Come on Poppy." She said stalking past me.
Poppy turned to follow, I caught her arm and gave her the look that said 'You're-not-seriously-doing-what-she-says-right?' but she just shrugged apologetically and curried on after Sarah.
What the fuck.
Since when did Poppy take orders from anyone? The school bells rang, shrill, sharp and demanding.
"Ugh!" I groaned. And started to make my way in the general direction of-
Wait.
Where are my classes? People were flooding in now, all talking and laughing. Some guys were even throwing a soccer ball around. Oh Jesus, I was meant to go and get my time table wasn't I. Now, there was also the dilemma of finding the main office.
I walked around the corridors for what seemed like forever, I tried asking people, but they either ignored me or tried to change the subject to my relationship status.
The crowds slowly started to break off into different classrooms, until there was only me standing alone on the shinny linoleum floor fighting the urge to break down against the lockers.
I didn't hear them coming.
I turned to go find teacher and something hard slammed into my shoulder with such force that my school books went tumbling to the floor. Great. Two hands with long pale fingers reached out and gathered the books up and offered them to me.
"Thanks," I said, reaching out for them. Then I looked up. "And next time, can you please watch where you're-"
My eyes met a pair of familiar dark, almost black, eyes set in a perfect pale angular face with seductive lips. The boy, well…man, was around 5"10 with narrow hips and a definite six pack under the black shirt he wore, and a shock of straight jet black hair.
Him.
Damon:
My eyes met a pair of all too familiar big hazel eyes that only got bigger as her gaze locked with mine.
Grace.
She'd grown since the last time I'd seen her, and her figure had definitely improved, she was ever so innocently beautiful with full lips and golden blonde hair just brushing her shoulders.
The books in my hand slipped out of my grip. Neither of us made a move to retrieve them. Her scent made it's way to my nose, I inhaled her beautiful smell.
Ah…it had got sweeter as the years had passed.
Damon? Damon, do you know her? Saint Stefan inquired in my head.
What's wrong? Elena also asked.
I still couldn't believe I'd ended up back with these losers.
Grace took a step back. Elena and Stefan got my flanks, ha, like human girl could hurt me. Then she turned and sprinted for the nearest set of doors.
I flitted and appeared in front of her with a dangerous smile. She skidded to a halt and scrambled back in the opposite direction.
"No…" she murmured. "no…"tears were building up in her eyes.
She ran back the way she came and Stefan, Elena and I flitted in front of her again, blocking her path.
"No way…" Grace clutched at the roots of her hair, shaking her head. "You're not real!"
"Wanna come over and test that theory?" I challenged.
"Damon, you're scaring her." Stefan cautioned, resting a hand on my arm. A hand I was so eager to rip off.
"Kind of the point brother."
Grace:
No!
I've spent seven years being sent to shrinks and physiatrists telling me it's all in my head. I've put up with months of therapy and remedies, pills and treatments.
All for nothing.
Because he's standing right here in front of me. The monster from my nightmares and my childhood. The man who said he'd be back for me.
Years have passed and not a day of it shows on his face…the man who never ages.
The man stood behind…Damon…the man with green eyes, touched Damon's arm.
"Damon, you're scaring her." He was frowning with concern.
The girl on the other side of the green eyed one had fair blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. Those blue eyes that looked back and forth between Damon and me with curiosity something else…
"Kind of the point brother." Damon said grimly, his eyes focused on me. He looked…hungry.
This can't be happening. My vision was going blurry, my body began to sway slightly. I stumbled but regained my balance. Damon's cold black eyes softened a bit and they narrowed slightly, showing a glimmer of emotion…but it was gone in a flash, His eyes turned cold again.
My knees buckled and everything went black.
The last thing I saw was Damon running forward to catch me…or did I imagine that…?
When I woke up, everything was a tad hazy. I was sitting propped up, leaning against the lockers. Pressed into my hand was a sheet of paper. It was a time table. On the back in Damon's exact elegant script were the words: you missed first Period
No threatening promises or cruel word, just those simple words. My books were stacked neatly next to me.
What the hell was he? Only one word came to mind, but I couldn't bring myself to accept it…
Just then, the bell rang making me jump. People started pouring out of lessons, I managed to gather myself, and my books, up and follow the crowd to next lesson.
So what do you think? like it? hate it? i've written more but i'll only upload if i get enough reviews, so, don't hold back :) i know this is really short and probably a tad rushed but i'm working on it :) xx