Hey everyone :)
So, the thing is, Stroumfita has convinced me to get on this ship and start writing a multichapter story.
It's kinda unusual, because it doesn't really have a plot.
Well, not a plot in the traditional sense anyway. It has a theme, and that is Damon.
I love the character deeply, hell, someone might even say I'm obsessed with him. Maybe I am. The thing is, I have his whole life very clear in my head. Every trauma, every happy moment, every heartbreak. Everything.
From time to time, while editing LTLA or YCNBS (which you just HAVE to read, if you still haven't) I would say to Stroumfita You know what? I don't think Damon would do that. , and then I would share one of my "moments" with her. At some point she suggested I gathered all of those moments up and write some kind of "memoires". I think she's right.
That being said, I really hope you enjoy this collection of stand-alone fics.
This particular one will be focusing on Damon dealing with the fact that Elena is hating him about turning Isobel (that means somewhere around 1x17) and reminiscing about his own mother's death.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own The Vampire Diaries , even though the thought of it haunts me at night :p Some lines are actually taken from the show. You'll know which ones, 'cause they're flawless and I'm not NEARLY that talented. ^^'
Dis-ease /dɪˈziːz/ noun [U,C] 1 An illness affecting humans, animals or plants, often caused by infection 2 Something that is very wrong with people's attitudes, way of life or with society.
Damon aimlessly wandered through the rooms of the boarding house, alcohol slowly leaving his system, as he thought back to his latest conversation with Elena Gilbert.
≪ How long are you going to blame me for turning your birth mother into a vampire?≫
≪ I'm not blaming you, Damon. I've accepted the fact that you're a self-serving psychopath with no redeeming qualities.≫
≪ Ouch.≫
That had actually hurt. Damon hated to admit it, but the girl had kinda grown on him. At first, because she looked like Katherine, but then...Then something happened and he had started to genuinely worry about her. He had found himself wanting to do something other than bringing back his long lost love. Helping her out by helping whoever it was around her that needed help, for instance. Help being the key word, if that wasn't clear enough. Not that he had let it show. He wasn't that stupid, yet. Caring was a weakness.
After all, he couldn't really blame her for hating him. He would have done the same, had he been in Elena's place.
Hell, he had been in her place.
OOO
Mystic Falls, 1848 , Salvatore Mansion
Damon was standing just outside his mother's rooms, eavesdropping. His father had forbidden him to get anywhere near that wing of the house, but he couldn't care less. His mother was sick, and he wanted to hold her hand, like she had done countless times for him. It had always helped.
≪ It's magic, darling boy.≫ Angel had explained. ≪Mother and son have a special bond, you know? When God was merciful enough to bless me with the joy of a child and you were in my womb, our souls connected and merged. We are one. Every time you feel pain, I feel it as mine. That, is because our souls ache in the absence of the other.≫ Damon had clenched his mother's hand , desperately holding onto her, regardless of his fever.
≪ Mother! What can we do? I don't want you to hurt!≫ Angel lovingly smiled to her son.
≪ Neither I you. Now child, I'm about to tell you a secret. A secret that has been passed along in my family, your family, for generations. You cannot speak a word of it. Not even to your father. ≫
≪ I promise, mother.≫ Angel slowly leaned down and whispered in Damon's ear.
≪ You have to hold onto my hand. As tight as you as long as you can. See, God has given us hands that fit like the pieces of that dissected map that you have received for your birthday. The one you like so much. If they lock together properly, they are one, aren't they? And in this moment… ≪ Angel gently took her son's hand and intertwined his small fingers with hers. ≪ Here. Can you feel it? The heat? It's our souls, rejoicing in each other's presence. ≫ Angel felt Damon squeezing her hand, and she smiled in response. ≪ This always helps.≫
≪ Mother… I feel...≫ The small boy, reassured by his mother presence, and exhausted by the high fever, drowsily closed his eyes. ≪ Mother?≫
≪ Yes, Damon?≫
≪ Will you hold my hand, until the fire is gone?≫ Angel caressed Damon's cheek, placing a feather like kiss on the burning skin.
≪ Always.≫
Damon would use the magic on his mother. They hadn't seen each other in days! That was the reason why she couldn't get better! He felt so frustrated, because he knew he could help, and yet he wasn't allowed to do anything. Angel had made him promise. It was a secret not even his father could know about. Not that he would ever confide in his father. All he ever did was scold him.
≪ Tell me, doctor. How is my wife?≫
≪ I'm afraid Mr. Salvatore, it's the while plague. Consumption.≫ Damon heard a thud and a sigh, probably coming from his father who had taken place in an armchair
≪ May God have mercy on us all.≫ Squeaking sound of leather. And now they were both sitting.
≪ Listen, Mr. Salvatore. Your maids have been shrewd in covering Mrs. Salvatore's lips with a wet cloth. It has been discovered that the illness resides in the lungs Had that gesture not been made, other residents of this house would have already fallen ill.≫ Another squeaking sound ≪ This disease has been widely studied in Europe. There are a few eminent colleagues near Mystic Falls, too. Doctor John Croghan has started a project in Edmonton County. He wishes to isolate the patients and cure them in a controlled environment. It is intricate, but plausible. And I think your wife would be a perfect candidate. ≫
Damon understood only half of that, but he did know what consumption meant. He had read about it. It was bad, and the doctor was suggesting they sent his mother away! How was he supposed to help her, if she was away!?
≪ I want her gone. ≫ No! No, he couldn't do that! Damon heard the doctor sigh softly.
≪ Very well. I'll arrange for her relocation.≫ Damon listened to the tapping sound of somebody's steps.
≪ No, doctor. I want her gone.≫ The boy furrowed his brows in confusion.
≪ Mr. Salvatore, I'm afraid I do not…≫ The doctor gasped ≪ Mr. Salvatore!≫
≪ I want that filthy illness hotbed nowhere near my house. And she'll never go willingly.≫ Damon's mind was spinning. He wanted to force his mother out of the house? And why was the doctor so upset about the idea?
≪ Mr. Salvatore. You offend me. I am a doctor, and I took an oath. "I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel".≫ "Deadly medicine"?
≪ I can pay you well for you services, doctor. Breaking your oath will grant you a new house.≫
≪ I'm afraid you shall try bribing somebody that has less morals than myself. I will not kill a human being.≫
≪ NO!≫ Damon shouted, coming out from behind the wall, before he could even think about the consequences.
≪ Damon! Get out of this room this instant, or you will taste the end of my belt.≫ Giuseppe said menacingly.
≪ But father…!≫
≪ Now. Damon. ≫ Damon should have ran away.
He should have.
Instead, he ran further into the room, and launched himself on the double door separating the study from the bedroom.
≪ Mother! Mother! ≫ Damon looked at the bed where his mother was sitting, a pile of pillows behind her back for support and a cloth over her mouth. As he entered the room, she placed a hand over her heart, jolting in fright. After a second, fear left her eyes, replaced by a comforting, sweet, loving gaze.
≪ Damon… I am so...≫ Angel started coughing. A deep, loud, vibrating, scary cough that touched Damon to the core. His mother was so sick. Ignoring his father's curses from behind him, he jumped on the bed and grabbed his mother's hand.
≪ I will help you, mother. They kept me away, but I am here now.≫ Angel looked at the little boy, blinking. And then tears welled up in her eyes. ≪ Mother! Do not cry! I am here! I will take away the pain with...≫ he lowered his voice.≪ I will use our magic, mother. I am strong! I can take away your disease.≫
Angel closed her free hand over Damon's clinging one.
≪ My darling boy… I'm afraid this time not even our magic is going to work...≫ Angel's voice was muffled due to the cloth over her mouth. Damon barely kept his hand from reaching out and ripping it off of her. He couldn't. The doctor said it had been a good thing, for the maids to do that. He wasn't really sure about the why, but the nice doctor had always been kind to him. Moreover, he had refused Giuseppe's inhuman request and for that, Damon couldn't help but trust him. The moment was interrupted by Giuseppe storming into the room, his face flushed and angry, sweat glistening on his forehead.
≪ Son. Get off that bed, now.≫ Damon buried his face in his mother's lap.
≪ No. I want to stay with mother.≫ Giuseppe approached the bed and lowered his hand to grab Damon by the collar. At that move, Angel sat up straight on the bed, the effort clear on her face.
≪ You lay one finger on my son, Giuseppe, and God is my witness, I will do everything in my power so that you get affected by this deadly illness. ≫ Angel hissed, a very serious threat behind her low voice. Giuseppe audibly swallowed and took a step back.
≪ He will get it, too. You know that. You are contagious.≫ The man pointed at his son, a knowing glint in his eyes. Angel nodded and unceremoniously fell back on the pillows.
≪ I know. I just want to be with my son for a while, before God bids his will and takes me away from him.≫ Giuseppe cleared his throat.
≪ Very well, then. Everything that happens to him? It's on you, woman.≫ Angel watched her husband exit the room and sighed in relief. Then, she moved her gaze to her son's head, still resting on her thighs.
≪ Damon, sweetheart. He's gone. You can come up, now.≫
≪ Mother, Father wants to kill you! ≫ Angel cupped Damon's cheek and gently stroked it with her thumb.
≪ I know, baby. And I know you don't understand it. But your father is… He just doesn't get the bond of family. Not like we do. He is a good man, but he has different priorities,that diverge from my own. ≫ Damon's eyes were red and filled with heavy tears. His mother was going to die, and there wasn't a single thing he could do to stop it. ≪ If your father has decided that I have to die, so I shall. Neither one of us is strong enough to fight back.≫
≪ Mother… What will I ever do without you?≫ At that point, he wouldn't have been able to hold his wails if his life had depended on it. Damon just wrapped his arms around Angel and lay his head on her breasts, sobbing uncontrollably. Angel rubbed her son's back.
≪ Hush, now. Listen to me. Damon? Listen to me.≫ Angel grabbed her child by the shoulders and pushed him away from her, so that they could see each other's eyes. Angel's voice was breaking, but she did her best to keep it from ruining what she was about to say.≪ You will grow up. And you will become a handsome, brave, intelligent man. And you will have so many ladies courting you. Oh, I can tell. Those blue eyes will wretch many hearts. And one day, you will fall in love. I want you to fall in love and be with that person as long as your life will let you. Love deeply and without hesitation nor remorse, because love always triumphs. It may hurt you, sometimes. It will. But that is the price for happiness. I found my happiness, when you looked at me for the first time, and all the pains I had ever suffered were lifted from my heart. ≫ Angel took Damon's hands in her own. ≪ And I want you to remember, that no matter what happens, family always comes first. Always. Always be there for Stefan. He will need you, because he will not have me to take care of him, like I did for you. You will have to do that, ok? You have to teach him about our magic. Promise me, you will teach him about our magic.≫ Damon nodded.
≪ Will that work with Stefan, too?≫ Angel smiled and sniffled.
≪ Of course! You shared my womb. My soul is in both of you. If you hold hands, you will become one. That is how the magic works, remember?≫ Angel's face was wet and lined by pain.
≪ I remember, mother. And I promise.≫ Damon replied, choking on his own tears. Angel smiled and took her son back into her arms sobbing along with him.
≪ Good boy. My sweet, perfect, good boy.≫ Angel held him close to her heart and after some time, she put a hand under his chin and lifted his head. ≪ You have to go, now.≫ Damon clenched his fists, holding onto his mother's vest. He didn't want to go.
≪ No.≫ Angel grabbed her son's hands and untangled them from her gown.
≪ Give me a kiss, my darling. ≫ Damon's lips quivered, as his mother spoke. ≪ Go ahead, baby. Kiss your mother goodbye, like a gentleman would.≫ Angel said in a trembling voice. The boy leaned in and gave his mother a kiss on the cheek, resting his lips on her skin a moment longer than he should have. With that, he raised from the bed and stood beside his mother's laying form. Angel grasped Damon's hand one last time.
≪ I will always love you. Always. I will be your guardian angel, I promise.≫ Angel sadly smiled. ≪ And when Stefan grows up, don't let him forget about his mother. Never let him forget that she loved him dearly, even if God chose not to give her the time to get little Stefan to love her back.≫
≪ I will, mother. ≫ Damon brought his mother's hand to his lips and kissed it. ≪ I love you, mama.≫ Then, Damon closed his eyes, turned on his heels and ran away. He knew that was the last time he would ever see his mother alive.
He ran and ran, until he reached his brother's room. Damon got in, still sobbing and found the toddler playing in his crib. Sniffling, he walked towards it and took his brother's hand in his, getting on his knees and resting his heavy head on the soft and pleasantly cold fabric covering Stefan's cradle.
≪ Help me, Stefan. It hurts so much.≫ The green-eyed boy looked at his brother questioningly and clumsily shifted towards him. Stefan moved his free hand and playfully patted it against Damon's, gurgling in pure happiness. Damon's lips twitched upwards.
≪ Thank you, brother.≫
OOO
Damon cringed as he came back to present. He could see why Elena hated him, all right.
He had taken her mother away from her, before she even had the chance to know her.
Just like Stefan had never got to know their own mother.
Elena was Stefan.
What did that make him?
Damon slumped down on the couch, and stared blankly at the dark room.
That made him Giuseppe, his degenerate father.
That made him TB, the hideous disease that had taken his mother away.
I already wrote the longest A/N ever written by man, so I just wanted to remind you that I would really appreciate you sharing your thoughts with me :)
All righty, then!
'Til next time :)
