A/N: Hi all! If anyone here has been reading my other story When in Nightmares, I would like to apologize for not updating it. After the new direction the show took, I sort of lost my muse for that story. If the writer's block goes away I promise to get back to it, but that's looking kind of bleak. Anyway, this story came to me a while ago and I promise to try to at least update it once a week if not more. Hope you like it!
Summary: I felt the world blur out of focus as more tears welled up in my eyes. How could I have put any faith in a vampire? – Set pre-season 1; Elena is kidnapped by a certain blue-eyed stranger that is quickly stealing her heart.
Disclaimer: In no way do I own The Vampire Diaries or any of the characters there-in. If I did, I'd be retired on an island right now.
Chapter 1: Accidents Happen
I scowled at the sky as it grew steadily darker, the rain clouds moving in, and the chill in the wind picked up. Of course, after all the effort I'd taken to sneak out, the rain would spoil the party. And how exactly was I supposed to get home. Matt was my ride, and after the fight we'd just had, I'd say the chances of him taking me home were ruled out.
"You could walk. It's not that far," Bonnie suggested, clinging to the linebacker she'd been shamelessly flirting with all night.
"Yes, I'm sure walking the four miles to my house drunk is a great idea… but I'll pass," I quipped, rolling my eyes and preparing to dial the only number I knew I could rely on, though I hated to call them.
"And calling your parents is the alternative?"
"I don't have a lot of options. Caroline's way too drunk and you didn't drive."
"Yeah, but, you'll be grounded for like, ever."
"It's better than getting pneumonia after being stuck out in a rain storm."
Hesitantly, I dialed home and waited as the phone rang, my heart pounding the whole time.
"Hello," my mom answered.
"Um… Hi Mom."
"Elena? Why are you calling me from your room?"
"Well… I'm not actually… I'm not in my room. I snuck out and now I need a ride."
There was a moment of silence and I didn't need to see my mom to know the look of disappointment and anger that was shooting across her features right now. I wanted to point out that if she'd just given me permission to go in the first place, I could have drove myself and wouldn't be stranded here without a ride, but that would just earn me more grounding.
"Where are you," she asked, the irritation clear in her voice.
"In the woods on the old Lockwood property."
"Your father and I will be there soon."
The phone went dead before I could even say goodbye and I shoved it angrily in my pocket. I was dreading seeing my mom's face when she picked me up and now I'd have to deal with both her and my father. Great. Could this night possibly get any worse?
The first peal of thunder sounded in the distance and the partiers scattered, running for their cars and hoping to beat the rain.
"Here; take this," Bonnie offered, handing me a breath mint. "Your breath smells like a keg."
"Gee, thanks."
I popped in the mint and waved to Bonnie as the linebacker ushered her back towards Tyler's house. With his parents out of town, I didn't want to know what kind of after party would be going down there. Watching Bonnie's retreating form, I couldn't help but worry about her being there alone with her new boy toy; what if he hurt her? I should definitely call her when I get home.
The thunder rumbled across the sky again and I quickly made my way to the road side, reclining against a large tree as I waited for my dad's headlights to appear. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, alerting me to the third text from Matt this hour.
I'm sorry for what I said. Please call me. I just want to know you got home ok.
I hated fighting with Matt. We were always so good together, but the fact that I'd snuck out and had him pick me up didn't sit well with him. His mom had just gotten back and he was afraid that if he got in any trouble, she'd leave again. Looking back at the fight now, I could see his side of the story. And now everyone was mad at me.
The first drops of rain began to fall in a light sprinkle and I hoped my parents would be here soon, before I was soaked. But just as my dad's familiar car crested the hill, the dread set in and I started to regret not just walking home.
"Get in the car," my dad ordered and I quickly did as he said.
"Dad, I'm so sorry. I-"
"I don't want to hear it right now, Elena!"
"Grayson; I'm mad too, but we should hear what she has to say," my mom defended, and I gave her a grateful smile. But her answering grimace shattered any hopes that she was on my side.
"I'm sorry I snuck out. It was stupid."
"Yes it was, young lady. And please tell me there wasn't drinking at this party," Dad asked, staring me down in the rear view mirror.
"No, not – not much."
"Of course. You know you're grounded, right?"
"I'm already grounded, Dad."
"Well, you just bought yourself another month."
I huffed out a sigh and fell back against the seat, the alcohol in my system making me groggy as I sat in silence, watching the trees whirl by. We were just coming up on Wickery Bridge, so we'd be home soon and I could get all these pent up emotions down on paper.
The rain was coming down pretty heavy now, and it pounded against the roof of the car. I glanced out the front windshield, but it was nearly impossible to see the road.
"Grayson, maybe you should slow down," Mom warned, but Dad was focused on something up ahead.
"What's that?"
Just as the question left his mouth, it became clear that someone was standing in the middle of the road, but who would be that stupid?
From there, everything happened so fast. My dad slammed on the brakes in an attempt to miss the idiot in the road, but the car didn't stop! I could feel us swerving on the bridge uncontrollably and then we hit something… hard.
My head hurt, but I didn't know why, and everything seemed fuzzy, like I was on the verge of sleep. I tried to focus, barely registering the sound of moving water… Moving water? I could feel myself slowly slipping into unconsciousness and it became harder to breathe, like something was blocking my mouth from the air. Someone grabbed my arm…
And then blackness.
~TVD~
My head was throbbing.
How much did I drink last night? I could have sworn I'd only had a few beers. And whatever I was laying on was hard; had I fallen asleep in the woods? I tried to remember what happened after the party, but everything was just so muddled, like the memories were just out of reach.
Voices wafted to my ears from somewhere in the room, but they didn't sound like my parents. I struggled to listen anyway, hoping they would give me some indication of exactly where I'd passed out at.
"stupid idea! You really think he'll just make a deal with us," a smooth male voice argued.
"Trust me, when he sees what we have to offer, he will," the second voice countered, this one female. This second voice sounded so familiar, like I was listening to my voice on a recording. How weird.
"And after we do this, I won't see you again. You'll be out of my life," the male whispered, a note of disbelief in his voice. He sounded like he didn't trust this woman.
"If that's what you want."
"It is!"
"Fine, then yes. You won't ever see me again."
"Perfect. When do we call him?"
"I'll make the call now. Attend to the girl, will you? If she sees me she might have a heart attack, and we can't have that."
I heard a door open and close and assumed the woman was gone. Where was I? And why did all this sound like a bad mafia movie? Slowly, I pried my eyelids open, only to clamp them shut again when the bright light hit them.
"You might want to lie still for a while," the man instructed. The idea of being in some unknown room with an unknown man didn't sound good and I could feel the fear building in the pit of my stomach.
The man's voice was void of any emotion and that was the most alarming of all. Against his instructions, I opened my eyes again, allowing a minute for them to adjust to the light and attempted to sit up.
That was a bad idea.
The pain in my head intensified and the dizziness had me collapsing back on the pillows, squeezing my eyes shut again. The unknown man laughed.
"Told you," he chuckled, but then turned off the lights, leaving only the stream of sunlight coming from a window to light the room.
"Where am I," I asked, my voice so raspy I wasn't sure he could understand it.
"You're in a room with food and a bed. That's all you need to know. Now will you shut up and go back to sleep; I'm really not in the mood to baby sit," he drawled.
I was just about to demand that he be nice to me and stop playing games when a sudden memory shot across my mind. The bridge! It all came flooding back to me then; someone standing in the road, the car swerving, and the crash. We went over the bridge! In a burst of pure adrenaline, I managed to shoot straight up in the hard bed.
"We drove off Wickery Bridge! My parents! They could be hurt," I rasped out, a hysterical edge to my voice.
"Ugh, calm down," the man complained, kneeling down in front of me and placing steady hands on my shoulders.
It was the first time I'd actually seen him and for a moment, he took my breath away. He had the most beautiful crystal blue eyes I'd ever seen and his dark hair was a stunning tribute to his ivory skin. He was gorgeous.
"What happened to my parents," I breathed, attempting to reorganize my thoughts.
"I don't know. All I did was get the room. You'll have to take that up with Katherine. Now, are you going to hyperventilate, or do I have to force you to breathe?"
I wasn't sure what he meant by that, but I did focus on my lungs, willing them to work properly and after several seconds I was able to take a deep breath.
"Thank you. Now, I'm sure you're hungry. What would you like," he asked, looking more bored than anything.
"I'd like some answers. Who are you, and where am I?"
"If I answer your questions, will you shut up?"
Instead of answering, I simply glared at him, insinuating that I would not be letting the issue drop and he moved to sit next to me on the bed. His close proximity had my heart racing for a moment and I quickly scooted further way from him. He just rolled his eyes.
"For one, I won't hurt you… not yet." He smiled maliciously as he took in my fear at those words and the dread in my stomach engulfed me. "I'm Damon."
"Why did you bring me here?"
"You know, most girls would kill to wake up in a fancy hotel with me."
"Well, I'm not most girls. Tell me why I'm here."
"We're taking you to someone. Don't ask who; it won't do you any good. Just relax and enjoy the luxury. I'll get you anything you want."
"What I want is to know that my parents are okay!"
"I'll… see what I can do. Now, would you like to get out of those clothes? They smell like moldy water."
Self-consciously, I sniffed my shirt, realizing for the first time that my clothes were still damp. I nodded and he jumped off the bed, moving to retrieved items from a drawer. He brought back jeans and a tank top, and I blushed when he handed me the black, lacy lingerie set.
I gave him a pointed look until he heaved out a frustrated sigh and turned around. Why couldn't he just leave the room like a gentleman? It wasn't just that I didn't want him to see me naked. The worry for my parents was continuing to build as the fuzziness left my brain, not to mention I didn't like the intentions he had for me. What did he mean when he said he was taking me to someone? I was on the verge of tears and I didn't want him to see the weakness in my eyes, but he just wouldn't leave.
Tentatively, I stood, noting how sore my body still was. My first try had me falling back on the bed.
"You need help," he asked seductively.
"No."
I heard him give a small chuckle at my expense and with a new determination, I stood, proud when I didn't fall back down. The dizziness in my head picked up again and I struggled to keep from swaying. Carefully, I started to lift my shirt over my head, but a soreness in my shoulder was making it impossible, not to mention the pain in my head increased the harder I tried.
Touching my forehead, I felt a bandage there and wondered how that had happened. I tried again to lift my shirt off, but I just couldn't lift my left shoulder high enough.
"I don't know what happened to you, but when Katherine brought you in, your head was bleeding and your shoulder was pretty bruised. You sure you don't want any help," he asked, a little softer this time.
The tears started to fall then and I nodded my head in resignation.
"Yes," I whispered.
He turned and gently started lifting my shirt, removing it without jostling my left shoulder. I shivered as the chill in the room hit my exposed skin and his eyes roamed over my chest. His skillful hands moved down to my jeans, and proceeded to remove them with my panties. The tears increased as he removed my bra. I'd never felt more vulnerable in all my life.
His eyes met mine then and for the first time, all the coldness and swagger left his face, leaving compassion in its wake.
"Are you kidnapping me," I asked, voice quivering.
"Yes."
His eyes held just a hint of an apology as I stood naked and shivering before him and he ran his hands down my bare arms.
"Why don't we just get you a bath," he offered, guiding me to the bathroom and holding me steady as I swayed. In minutes, he had the tub filled with warm water and he lowered me down. The heat felt good to my sore body.
"I'll leave you alone. Call me if you need help… or company."
He wagged his eyebrows a little, but when I didn't respond, he turned to leave, shutting the door behind him. When he was finally gone, the tears turned into sobs and I just prayed that my parents were alright.
A/N: So, I hope it's intriguing. Please, let me know what you think, good or bad, and thanks for reading!
