Behind blue eyes
Chapter 2: I need a hero
A/N: I don't own anything except for my mistakes and OC. I fast-forwarded the story until I reached the age I wanted my OC to be. I'll be briefly telling about what happened in the past few years, but it won't differ much from the series. This takes place at season 5. Also, Stefan has regained his memory already in this story so I skipped that part. A little heads up as well:I changed occasions and people. I also skipped parts that were unnecessary for my story. Like, Katherine taking over Elena's body.
Two years later she was now tightly gripping to the luggage she was holding in both hands. She had just landed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta's International Airport and was waiting outside for her ride.
She looked around her, and after a few minutes a blue Chevy Camaro stopped right in front of her. A familiar man with dark brown hair and his trademark black leather jacket stepped out of the car and with a smirk he took off his sunglasses.
"Your taxi has arrived, Miss Salvatore." He smugly said and held the car door open for her. Candice smirked and got in, gladly accepting his hand to support her whilst she was trying to casually step into the car with her high heels.
He put her luggage into the car and then sat down next to her, putting his sunglasses back on as he started the engine. Candice couldn't help her curiosity, and no matter how happy she was to see Damon, she couldn't help but wonder where Stefan was. As if he could read her mind, he said: "He's a little busy with Elena at the moment." He said and Candice nodded in understanding, but couldn't help but feel a tiny bit disappointed.
She totally understood that he had his own life, his relationship that he had to look after, but he was the one person that had raised her with all his love as long as she could remember. And she had kinda hoped that he would come to see her. After all, they hadn't seen each other in two years, because Candice moved to New York City when she was sixteen years old. Damon's orders, to be precise.
When she was still fourteen years old, Damon ended up disappointed when Katherine wasn't in the tomb and then there was the Founder's Council who murdered all the tomb vampires and nearly murdered Damon and Stefan in the progress.
Then when she turned fifteen, they all had a bit of a werewolf problem, a run in with the Originals, and a crazy sacrifice. Also, Damon got bitten and was on the edge of dying when Stefan decided to sacrifice his humanity to save his brother. Candice had been by Damon's side the entire time, and was surprised when Katherine suddenly showed up with the cure.
She soon turned sixteen and seeing as Stefan didn't seem to care much about the people he knew, Damon figured it would be safer if she would stay outside of Mystic Falls for a couple of years until Stefan was back to his old self. He told her not to tell him where she went, though. Because Klaus could compel Damon any moment he'd like and find her that way, if he wanted to.
That didn't mean they didn't stay in contact, though. In fact, they often called. It was probably because Damon felt responsible for Candice now that Stefan wasn't there to protect her and he also kept her up-to-date with all that was happening in Mystic Falls.
It wasn't quite friendship that they had, but they sure did grow a bit closer to each other. Candice tried to see him in a different light, and soon understood that Damon was often misunderstood. That in fact, he was capable of caring and loving, but people, including herself, didn't bother looking beyond the things he did wrong. It was after all easier to hate than to forgive. After years of knowing him, she finally took the time to see beyond his actions and an entire new world opened up to her. One that she didn't regret entering.
When she was seventeen, she was actually able to come back to Mystic Falls, seeing as Stefan had gotten his humanity back and got his blood lust under control. But, she wanted to finish high school first. She only had one year to go, and didn't want to start over again.
There were two times when Damon made his way over to her, and those few times brought them a tiny bit closer. They didn't do much apart from either talking about their problems or bringing their mind off their problems.
They had their fun moments, but she wouldn't deny that there were moments when it would have been better if he just stayed away.
Stefan, on the other hand, didn't visit her once. He still felt ashamed for losing himself like that, and wasn't ready for the confrontation with her just yet. At least, that is what she heard from Damon. It also didn't help the situation that Elena turned into a vampire and that Silas was randomly acting like Stefan.
Candice snapped out of her thoughts and looked to her left with a smile on her face and suddenly remembered the thoughts that had been on repeat nearly four years ago. "Damon?" She uncertainly asked and he briefly looked over at her, raising his eyebrow as an invitation to speak She opened her mouth but quickly shut it again, it wasn't the right moment to ask him now, not just yet. She just shook her head with a smile, "Mind if I close my eyes for a few minutes? The flight tired me out a little." She said, opting for a different subject.
Damon looked at her amused, "The flight was only an hour." Candice chuckled, "I had to get up early, okay? Give me a break." Damon shook his head in amusement, "Go ahead."
Candice greedily accepted the dreams that were waiting for her, relishing in pure bliss of peace. Just for a little while, she didn't have to think about the dangerous life she was getting herself into in less than an hour.
All too soon, she was violently awoken by a shake to her shoulders, but a comforting voice greeted her. "Rise and shine, sleepyhead." Candice looked to her left with a yawn and saw Damon smirking. "You should thank me." He said and Candice raised an eyebrow. "For what?"
"It was highly tempting to get in your head and deliver you some sweet dreams." He smugly said with an eyebrow wiggle and Candice scrunched her face and then playfully smacked his arm. "Damon!" She said and he feigned pain with a laugh.
Candice looked around her and was greeted with the Salvatore boarding house. She happily got out of the car and breathed in the air. It felt good to be home again. "Is Stefan home?" She asked Damon whilst lowering her voice a little. He nodded his head and then smiled a little whilst nodding his head to the front door.
They both entered the house and Damon briefly left again to grab her luggage out of the car. Candice nervously walking into the living room and saw Alaric, Stefan and Elena on the couch. All heads turned to her and she nervously smiled at them, "Hey." She said and was mentally beating herself up. Stefan is your family! Why are you being so nervous? You should be thrilled to see him again!
Stefan scraped his throat and forced a smile. "Hey, how have you been?" He said and tried to put as much enthusiasm into it as he could. "I've been good." She said and glided her eyes over Rick and Elena for a second. "I graduated from high school." She said and Stefan nodded. "Yeah, I heard. Congratulations!" Stefan said and Alaric let out a deep sigh.
"Just hug each other already and stop this awkwardness. It's making me feel awkward as well." Alaric said and Elena chuckled lightly.
Candice looked uncertainly at Stefan but he eventually got up and walked towards her. They stood in silence in front of each other and then wordlessly embraced each other. Their arms clasped around each other and pressed their chests together. She smiled into his shoulder and let out a relieved breath. Oh, how much she had missed his strong arms around her fragile body.
"I am so sorry." Stefan whispered lowly in her right ear. The hurtful undertone gave her goosebumps all over her body and she bit back her tears. "You don't have to be sorry." She whispered back but he lightly shook his head.
"I failed to raise you. I really am so sorry, Candice." He said and Candice gave his torso a comforting squeeze. "It's okay." She whispered shakily and buried her face into his shoulder. Softly inhaling the scent that was so familiar to her.
She didn't know how long they had been hugging like that, but at some point, Damon decided to interrupt their moment. "How lovely." He said and when she looked up and slowly let go of Stefan, she could see Damon looking at her with an awkward smile.
"So, what is your plan, Candice?" Alaric spoke up and Candice looked at Alaric and then noticed out the corner of her eyes that Damon was curiously looking at her.
"Well, I plan on going to college so I can study to become a doctor, I guess." She casually said with a shrug. "Really? That's what I'm majoring in at the moment." Elena said and Candice smiled. "Really? I didn't know that." She said and Elena smiled as well, "You should go to Whitmore College. That's where I am attending as well."
"I'll think about it." Candice said with a genuine smile. "You really changed into a beautiful woman, Candice." Stefan said as he looked her over once more. Candice smiled at him, "Thank you." She said and he ran his fingers lightly through her curls. "Your curls frame your face really nicely." He said with admiration and Candice let out a laugh, "Thanks, I guess."
"Want me to help you bring your stuff up to your room?" Stefan asked as he looked behind her and saw the bags laying at the front door.
Candice shook her head, "It's fine, I think I'll just take a moment for myself to unpack." She said and he nodded in understanding.
She smiled at Alaric and Elena and then walked away, grabbed her two bags and her suitcase and then carefully walked up the stairs, trying to balance as best as she could without tumbling back down.
When she reached her room, she dropped her stuff and looked around the room. It was exactly how she left it, and it felt a bit weird to be back here. Yet, it was a very pleasant feeling. She missed sleeping in her own bed, so without a second thought, she let herself fall on it, welcoming the soft feeling of her blankets and her scent that still lingered on the sheets.
After a while she got off the bed and slowly started to unpack her things. Filling her drawers with clothes and getting rid of the old ones that she used to wear when she was younger. She also slightly transformed her room into something that fitted her age a bit better. There was a knock on the door and when Candice looked behind her she saw Damon leaning against the door frame.
He smirked at her and Candice raised her eyebrow, "What are you smirking at?" She asked confused and he wiggled his eyebrows. "Just imagining you in a nurse outfit." He said and winked at her and Candice chuckled. She then threw the shirt she was holding in her hand at his face but he caught it on time. "Damon!" She playfully exclaimed and he sniffed the shirt, "Mm, vanilla." He said and his lips turned into a playful smile.
Candice scoffed but then laughed. Her smile, however, faded slowly and she ended up looking serious at Damon. He turned serious as well and rolled his eyes, "What?" She looked uncertain but then signaled with her hand that he should get in and close the door. "No, Candice, I will not go to your bedroom with you." He said loudly and then laughed as Candice rolled her eyes and pulled him inside.
She closed the door and he sat himself down on her desk and took a pen that was laying there and casually spun it around his fingers. Candice walked over to him and sat on the desk next to him and then heaved a sigh.
Her eyes locked with his, "What did you forget to tell me, Damon?" She asked, lowering her voice as best as she could. He leaned in a little, "Nothing." He said with a smile and she looked at him in disbelief. "Damon, please. What did you not tell me about Stefan? I know there is something. He seems different." She hissed and he sighed.
"It might have let out a detail or two." Damon lowly said and then got off the desk and walked over to a bag that was still open. He rummaged through it and Candice hopped off the desk and grabbed a diary of hers out of his hand. "Damon, tell me." She nearly begged him and he heaved a sigh again and then turned to her.
"Stefan might have been locked in a safe at the bottom of a lake last summer. Then when he got out, he had a little run in with Silas, which turned out that Stefan is a doppelgänger of Silas. Qetsiyah, a crazy heartbroken witch, fried Stefan's brains but all turned out well and he is now back with his lovely memories." Damon said with a smile and Candice's mouth dropped open.
"You let out a detail or two?" She asked, a little frustrated. "How could you not tell me this!" She hissed and he rolled his eyes. "It wasn't important for you to know." He shrugged and Candice raised an eyebrow, "How is that not important for me to know?"
"Look, the minute you'd hear what was going on with Stefan, you'd run back to Mystic Falls." He said and Candice looked at him in confusion, not understanding why that was a bad thing. "Yes, so?" She asked.
"So, that would mean that you stayed in New York City a year longer for no reason, you wouldn't get to graduate and oh, let's not forget about the main reason why you couldn't be here: Silas has been acting like Stefan several times and let's not forget about the weird mind manipulation he can do. It wouldn't be very helpful to have to look out for you as well." He said and Candice wasn't sure as to what she should feel. Damon casually talked about her graduation like it was no big deal, but she couldn't help but think that he might care about her future. And she knew he was right. If Silas was as bad as she had heard, then having her there wouldn't have helped the situation.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a funeral to plan." He said with a broad smile and walked to the door, "Wait, what?" Candice asked surprised and he opened the door. "Katherine, she is human and dying." He happily said and she let out a laugh. "Finally." Was all she said. With a grin, Damon walked away.
The day dragged on and Candice had decided to enroll in Whitmore College and together with Elena, she made that happen. She would officially start next week.
She ate dinner by herself and when she was done rinsing the dishes, Damon walked in. Candice loaded the dishwasher and when she was about to place a cup, he took it from her and placed it inside. "So, how did the funeral planning go?" Candice asked, trying to make conversation. "Great, got a lovely spot in the woods." He said with a smirk and Candice shook her head with a small smile on her face.
"I can't believe she is human." Candice said. "She's laying upstairs, have you seen her yet? She looks pretty terrible." He said and continued loading the dishwasher with cups and plates. Candice shook her head, "No, I have no reason." She said and he shook her reply off.
"You should talk to her, though. Get to know her a little." He said with a smirk and Candice scoffed, "So I can become friends with her for, what, a few days?" Damon shook his head, "To rub in the misery of her pathetic life she has lived. It's quite fun to do." He said, wiggling his eyebrows.
Candice laughed and then lightly smacked his chest, "You're so mean." She said. "It's what I'm best at." He said and Candice shook her head, "That's not the only thing you're good at." She said with a playful smile and then walked away, throwing the dish towel over his shoulder.
She headed upstairs and soon found herself in front of the room Katherine was in. Uncertainly she stood there in front of the door, contemplating whether she should go in or not. "Are you going to stand in front of the door forever or are you planning to come in already?" Said a groggy voice on the other side of the door. Candice's shadow must have shown underneath the door.
With a deep breath, she opened the door and looked at the woman that was laying in bed. Her curls had started to turn grey, and she looked rather sick. She really did look terrible. "Who are you?" She croaked out and Candice took a step closer.
"Candice Salvatore." She curtly said and was now standing in front of her. "Salvatore?" Katherine asked curiously and Candice nodded. "Yes, Stefan took me in for adoption nearly fourteen years ago." She said and Katherine nodded in understanding. "Right, he told me all about you. About the poor little girl, lost in the woods without parents." A sly smirk appeared on the woman's face.
"Do you live here? I've never seen you before." She asked and Candice nodded. "Really, Katherine? Are you suffering from memory loss already? We have met before. Briefly, if I must say so. Remember, when you brought Damon the cure?" Katherine thought for a second and then she remembered, "Ah, right. You two were so sickeningly adorably laying together." She sat and rolled her eyes.
"Why did you visit me?" Katherine bluntly asked and Candice shrugged. "Damon mentioned you a lot, and I figured I wanted to see the woman who broke his heart." She scanned Katherine with her eyes, "I must say, I'm glad you've been such a bitch towards him, he is way better off without you."
Katherine scoffed, "Right, Damon. The lovesick fool."
"Not as lovesick as you are for Stefan." Candice said with a straight face. "What is that supposed to mean?" Katherine asked and Candice slyly smiled at her, "It's a bit pathetic how you love someone who will never love you back, isn't it? Yet, it makes it even worse because you actually think he will love you back someday." Candice was a little surprised at her harshness that she displayed towards Katherine, but she couldn't help it. The words left her mouth before she could stop them.
"But, honey, have you ever looked at yourself? You're a lying, manipulative bitch. Do you honestly expect Stefan to fall for that?" Katherine glared at her for a minor second, before composing herself.
"So, let me get this clear.. you came here to lecture me about my love life?" She asked with a raised eyebrow and Candice shook her head. "Not at all, it just happened to be a great opportunity."
It was silent for a while, Katherine's eyes were scanning Candice the entire time, and she tried not to show Katherine that she was uncomfortable under her stare. Instead, she just displayed a very calm, confident attitude, refusing to let Katherine get the best of her.
"Well, I guess that at the end of the day, my love life will be better than yours and Damon's." She said and Candice raised an eyebrow in confusion, "What do you mean?" She asked but Katherine laughed. "And that my dear, is why mine is better." She said and Candice was absolutely dumbfounded.
Not bothering to waste another minute on her, she turned around and walked back to the door. "Have a nice life, Candice." Katherine said with a sly smile.
Candice opened the door and quickly shut it again when she was in the hallway.
As confused as one could get, she walked back into her room and replayed the conversation a several times. Yet, she really couldn't understand what Katherine meant with all that she said.
Candice sighed and walked into the bathroom, quickly refreshing herself before hopping into bed. She let the comfortable, soft sheets welcoming her body and a smile spread across her lips. It was good to be home.
Their semi-naked bodies collided as Damon pushed Candice into the wall of his bedroom. His lips trailed down to her neck and she let out a moan as she felt his fangs lightly scraping the delicate skin of her neck. He pulled back for a second and she stared into his perfect blue eyes. He looked at her as if he was searching for permission and she nodded her head, instinctively pulling his body closer to hers and his head went down to her neck again. Embracing herself for what would come, she anticipated him biting her.
But it never came. Frustrated, she slowly woke up and came back to her senses. It was just a dream. Candice let out a sigh and rubbed her face with her hands and then opened her eyes.
"Had a nice dream?" A voice said and when Candice looked to her left, she could see Damon laying on her bed, a broad smirk plastered on his face and his arms behind his head.
Candice screamed in surprised and jumped away from him, nearly falling off bed. "Damon! What are you doing here?" She questioned and he smirked, "Just laying here."
Her thoughts drifted to her dream and it didn't take her long to put the pieces together. She looked at him suspiciously, "Did you get into my head?"
"I wouldn't dare." He said with a broad smile and Candice groaned. "You should get dressed and come downstairs." Damon said as he got up and Candice looked at him as he made his way to the door, "Chop chop! No time to waste."
Candice sighed and threw the covers off her and jumped straight into the shower. She did as he said, and got dressed. She opted for a white blouse and a short beige skirt. She combined that with a pair of black stilettos and let her wavy hair hang loose. For the accessories, she opened her white blouse a few buttons down so her black necklace could fall perfectly around her neck. She added a silver colored watch around her left wrist and then smiled in the mirror. She didn't put on too much make up. Just mascara and a simple eyeliner.
When she was done with that all, she got out of the bedroom and was now walking down the hallway, being careful when she walked down the stairs. She was about to turn around the corner and walk into the living room when Damon came out of it and stood right in front her, blocking her way. He took in her appearance and then smirked, "Not so fast, Missy."
He walked around her and stopped when he was behind her. His hands covered her eyes and with a little help, she managed to get down the few stairs. It was completely silent and all she heard was her own breathing.
"Happy birthday, Candice." He whispered in her ear and then pulled away his hands and she opened her eyes. There, in front of her, was a room filled with people. Some she knew, and some she didn't. A loud echo of "Happy birthday, Candice!" echoed through her ears and she felt her cheeks starting to hurt from smiling so broadly.
Stefan walked up to her and put his arms around her. "Happy birthday!" He happily said and Candice chuckled. It was a bit weird to think that she was now legally an adult. They broke their hug and then Alaric came up to her and laughed, "I was supposed to put this party hat on your head, but I don't want to ruin your pretty hair." He said and Candice laughed and thanked him when he congratulated her.
That's what she had been doing for a very long time, thanking people for wishing her a happy birthday. Not that she minded, it felt good to have people care about it. After all, last year and the year before that, had been pretty lonely when she had been celebrating it by herself. Sure, Damon had called her both years, but it wasn't the same.
She happily talked with several people at the party, and got to know Elena's and Stefan's friends a little better. Over the years, she heard about Matt, Caroline and Bonnie, but she could never really place them since she hadn't really interacted with them. But now she was given the opportunity, and it turned out that they are all very nice people.
After a several hours, however, people started to leave and before she knew it, only Stefan, Elena, Damon, Alaric, Bonnie and Caroline were the only ones to be in the living room.
They all sat down on the couches but Candice excused herself, she was in desperate need of water since she hadn't touched a drink since last night. She wasn't the type to drink alcohol, so she skipped the alcohol that she got offered at the party.
Candice walked into the kitchen with a smile, it was amazing to have such great people around her. She grabbed a cup out of the cupboard and poured it with water. When she turned the faucet off, she suddenly felt a hand covering her mouth roughly and felt something sharp and cold against her throat. "Ssh," a voice whispered very quietly into her ear. So quiet, that even vampires wouldn't be able to hear it. The whisper sounded female, but she couldn't quite place who it was. Until it hit her: Katherine.
She was pushed forward and was guided to the living room. That's when people looked up and Damon and Stefan stood up immediately when they saw the two of them. "Katherine," Stefan began, "you don't want to do this."
"Actually, I do, Stefan. You know why?" Katherine croaked and Stefan shook his head, deciding to let her speak if that meant that Candice got to live a little longer. "Because this girl has gotten everything from you that I have wanted. And I tried it via Elena, but now that she is a vampire, she is just not of use to me anymore."
Candice felt movement behind her and figured that Katherine was briefly looking at her. "Candice, however.." Katherine drawled and Candice tried to wiggle out of her grip, which only resulted in the knife pushing deeper into her throat, and she could feel a drop of blood dripping down her neck. Her eyes desperately looked at the people in the room, but she knew that they could do nothing to help her. One wrong move, and her neck would get slashed open. The only thing they could try, was try to talk Katherine out of it. And that's exactly what Stefan was trying to do.
"I'm hurt, Stefan. That you never gave me that opportunity." Katherine continued. "Look, Katherine, I'm sorry for hurting you. But I can't help my emotions, I just didn't love you the way you loved me."
"I know, and that's why I want you to feel how bad that hurts." She casually said and then her hair scraped against Candice's shoulder. "It was nice knowing you, Candice." Katherine said and the last thing she heard was a loud "No!" from the voice she had learned to love the most: Damon.
A piercing pain went to her throat and she could feel the blood leaving her body. Her body was released from Katherine's arms and just when she was about to crash onto the ground, she felt herself being caught by a pair of strong arms that she couldn't quite place. Until, at one point, everything got black.
