As I promised, here's the actual first chapter. You can still guess who wrote the letter in the prologue, I'm really curious about what you think! :)

Also, don't be confused by the name, Marie. You'll understand it soon! :)

Hope you like it!

"Between two worlds life hovers like a star,
Twixt the night and morn, upon the horizon's verge.
How little do we know that which we are! How less what we may be!" - Byron

Chapter 1: Between Two Worlds

DAMON

Something exploded. A feeling. Inside me. Just like a distant star in the universe. The adrenalin was coursing through my veins with a dizzying intensity which kept my eyes open. The wind was snatching at my carefully arranged hair, ruining the lengthy work spent on it. There were goosebumps on my arms, but I didn't have time to deal with that because my mind already started the countdown.

Three…

I saw the ramp emerging from the water a long time before the motorboat took me to it. The waves were touching my legs while I tried to keep my balance on the board. My breath quickened, sucking in the taste of salt. I tried to prepare myself for what was going to happen next.

Two…

My grip on the piece of plastic in my hand, fastened to a motorboat, was tight and I squeezed convulsively. My speed picked up rapidly and this time, straight towards a life-threatening obstacle.

One…

Both my parents and brother came to my mind. I knew I didn't have any other choice but to do my best and survive. I would let so many people down if I chickened out of this in the last minute.

Now!

The board shot up to the ramp and I was sent into the air in full swing. I used the moment while I was completely weightless to let go of the handhold and concentrate with every fiber of my being to turn around on the spot. Even the world fell silent in that moment and I only heard when the board touched the water again. I didn't even realize I held my breath the whole time.

"And cut!" Someone shouted.

A burst of applause was erupted on the beach. Dozens of people started cheering. I grinned involuntarily. Not more than a few minutes elapsed, but my whole life flashed before my eyes in those moments. I was seriously afraid that I would fail in this extreme water ski stunt, but I tried to hide it while my colleagues congratulated me for the jump.

"Good job, Damon!" My manager joined the line.

The worry was still present in his eyes so I patted his shoulder for him to comprehend that I really did survive. "But next time we use a stunt double."

"Spoilsport," I reminded him with a smile, while a makeup and a hairstylist attacked me with brushes and sprays, in a hurry to get me ready for my next scene.

Alaric shook his head disapprovingly and adjusted his Guns 'N Roses t-shirt. He put his vibrating phone to his ear and walked away. As the rays of the rising sun painted the landscape crimson, I let my gaze wander into the distance to study the beauty of Maui. Hawaii… the shooting place of my dreams.

With the adrenalin still pounding in me, I stared into the distance, not hearing the words meant for me. I'd never liked to leave the hard work to others. I also wanted to walk my own path, no matter how bumpy it would get. In Hollywood, it counted as strange, everybody was looking at me like I was some queer fish. Initially, nobody acknowledged me, but after a few years, I had the whole film industry in the palm of my hand.

"Damon!" Somebody called my name.

I snatched my gaze away from the ivy green leaves of the palm trees which were glistening at the crack of dawn. "Someone is looking for you," Alaric passed me the phone with a serious expression on his face.

I furrowed my brows in confusion. "Hello?" I took over the device and placed it to my ears. I waved the girls bustling around me to be patient.

"Mr. Salvatore?" asked a female voice with a formal tone that uttered my name melodiously.

"Speaking,"

"I'm calling you from Caterina da Siena hospital in Verona," she informed me which only made the situation more incomprehensible to me.

Why would anybody from an Italian hospital look for me? I tensely waited for the woman on the other end to give me further information, which arrived after a quiet sigh.

"It's about your brother…"

ELENA

I could get used to the constant smell of antiseptic. However, getting used to the presence of death that lurked in the dark shadows of every corner was another story. Even the baby blue-painted walls and the sight of the olive plantation through the windows couldn't take that feeling away. Every time the earsplitting sound of the sirens pierced the air, my heart sank and I prepared for the worst.

I waited behind the counter while the paramedics brought in another patient amidst frantic explanations. Even such a small hospital like Caterina da Siena had a severe case every day. You could never get used to the poignant feeling every time we lost a patient. Not everyone can be saved, they said, and the more religious ones added that God works in mysterious ways. They might be right.

I lived in one of the most beautiful cities in Italy for two years now, and not by accident. Fate brought me here. I had to come. But why here in particular? I was still looking for the answer to that question, but I could only get it over time. Just when I needed the change, a letter came as a sign from God and I jumped at the opportunity. I didn't regret it.

I already completed four semesters at the medical school. This was the second summer that I worked at the local hospital as a nurse to gather experience and to help other people. As a beginner, they only trusted me with paperwork. My job was to fill out the data sheets of the patients, and since my mother tongue was English, I was used as an interpreter at times.

I loved my job, I was on good terms with my colleagues and patients, and finally my past began to fade.

"Suspected severe femur fractured climber, barely conscious, unable to speak. He must be transferred to surgery immediately due to the foreign object in the leg." Burst in three paramedics pushing a stretcher, whose arrival was warned by the loud sirens a little while ago.

There was no time to delay; I dialed our doctor immediately, who specialized in cases like this. He arrived with his team shortly after, taking the patient to the operating room while consulting with an ambulance doctor. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. A good doctor should remain composed, I warned myself.

I was digging up a blank data sheet from the right pile while Liam came up to me. "His name is Stefan Salvatore and according to his license, he's a US citizen. In case of an accident, his brother must be notified."

He pushed the patient's wallet towards me on the counter. I flipped it open, searching for his driving license to fill out the main details before I called his relative. My concentration was interrupted by Caroline.

"Wait! Salvatore, you said?" she asked, stepping beside me.

Her beautiful, slightly tan-colored skin matched perfectly with her rich blonde hair that bounced softly with each step she took. She was able to attract every male's attention with her graceful shape and feminine appearance… until she started speaking. She was like a little kid at the age of twenty three: she loved sweets and all the colorful gadgets. Even the smallest of problems caused her to sulk and she had a crush on every current teenage craze. Sometimes it was impossible to bear with her, her enthusiasm knew no boundaries. Nevertheless, she was a very good friend and she took her work seriously.

"What's his brother's name?" she asked hastily and leaned over my shoulder to not miss anything while I turned the page to read the answer to her question. But before I could open my mouth to answer she cried out. "Damon Salvatore! That's him! The Damon Salvatore, I'm sure…"

"Caroline…relax!" I rolled my eyes. "Do you have any idea how many people live in the States? There's hardly a chance it's him."

"Let me call him," she begged, clasping her fingers together pleadingly and stared at me with doe eyes while she was unable to hide the wide smile from her face. "If I hear that melodic voice…"

"Caroline…You can't even speak English," I reminded her while I raised the wired phone to my ear.

How could that American star's brother be the patient they brought in minutes ago? Why would he be here?

"Oh," the nurse was crestfallen, but then her eyes lit up again. "But you will tell me how it was like, right?"

I knew that she wouldn't leave me alone, so I shook my head in resignation and agreed while I dialed the number on the paper. The device rang and I didn't have to wait long for the person I called to answer. I was about start telling what was usual in this case when I realized I wasn't speaking with the right person. But fortunately, the phone reached him soon.

"Mr. Salvatore?" I asked just in case.

"Speaking," came the reply hesitantly from an undoubtedly pleasant and soft voice.

"I'm calling you from Caterina da Siena hospital in Verona," I said softly, knowing the hard part of this was yet to come. I tried to stifle a sigh but I failed. I gathered all my courage and sympathetically told the man: "It's about your brother. He's been just brought in by the paramedics and my colleagues have already taken him to the operating room…"

"What's wrong with him?" cut in the big brother, audibly worried. I tried to recall what I heard as precisely as I could.

"He was in an accident while climbing. His femur is probably broken and they found a foreign object in his leg."

"I'll be there this afternoon," he answered right away. It was very kind of him but I felt it my duty to enlighten him.

"Sir, it's noon here," I informed him as I looked down at my watch. I wondered for a moment what time was it where he was.

"Then tonight, just tell me the address." He demanded, not too kindly but I overlooked it.

After all, his little brother just suffered a serious accident. It couldn't have been easy for him. I did what he 'asked' me and we said goodbye. No sooner had I turned my head to the right I found myself face to face with an overexcited Caroline.

"He was too normal to be your current favorite," I told her, puckering up my lips and she pursed her own.

"Don't be like this, Marie! You don't even know him," she snapped at me.

I looked down and tried to stop thinking about the old pictures that popped into my head. "No, but I know his type," I mumbled to myself.

Caroline didn't hear it. She asked if I wanted anything from the buffet. I gratefully pressed a few euros into her hand and asked her to bring me a cup of coffee. I had a suspicion that we would face a difficult day.

…

I had two more coffees and a salad before evening came. I accompanied the chef nurse on a round, and mentally took notes of how the theoretical things I learned in college worked in reality. I restocked the medicinal cabinet and then arranged another consignment of painkillers. I had to change the sheets and make the bed in two wards because the patients in them left the hospital. With a little help, I had to put the young man with the climbing accident into bed who was still unconscious from the anesthetic they gave him during his surgery. Since I was the only one who spoke English fluently, they assigned me as his permanent nurse.

So I was next to him - reading boring magazines – until he opened his eyes. I introduced myself and told him that the doctors had to remove a sharp splinter of rock from his leg. I tried to report the situation in the best possible way with a smile.

"Can I regain my feet someday?" he interrupted me hoarsely looking into the distance.

He was staring straight out the window, beyond which you could see the mountain peaks of Apennine. His light brown hair stuck to his forehead flatly which provided a boyish sight.

I froze for a moment because I couldn't lie to him, but at the same time, I didn't want to break his heart either. But everyone deserved the truth.

"We don't know. Only time can tell. Our hospital can provide all the facilities for your treatment which can help you to use your leg again. But hopefully, that won't be necessary. When the shock passes and the bone knits, you'll be able to move your leg on your own."

He nodded to indicate that he heard what I just said, but didn't reply. Silently he turned his head away from the landscape and started inspecting the blank walls. My heart almost broke that I had to see something like that.

"Sir, if you need anything or if I can be of assistance, just press this button and I'll be here," I nodded toward the tool near his hand.

Since he hadn't replied I interpreted it that my presence was unwanted and started to head for the door. My hand was on the knob when the speed dialing device hidden in my pocket started chirping. I turned back to the patient with a puzzled expression on my face.

"Would you call me by my name, please?" he asked with a faint smile playing on his lips, which made me feel better too.

"Of course." I nodded and stepped out of the ward.

I was still smiling when I approached the counter and noticed Caroline was shaking hands with a man with a dumbfounded expression on her face, completely frozen.

When the person turned to me my jaw dropped.

This. Couldn't. Be. True.

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