Author's note- Thank-you so much for the kind encouragement. Karma hugs and kisses out to everyone who took the time to give me a review or add this story to your favorites / alert lists. I really appreciate the feedback. BTW- Any little comic digs about the other "vampire" franchises out there aren't meant to be serious, just a snarky cut up from TVD character's perspective as if they are "real" watching the rest as make believe. No offense is intended. (Actually I'm a big fan of True Blood and have another story here in the Southern Vampire Mystery book section. It hasn't been updated in a long while because my old windows computer died on me and I had to save for a new one. I switched camps and now have a shiny new Mac. Yeah! My muse has re-awakened. To those of you who have been waiting so patiently on Ever Dream, I hope to finally finish that saga once I get my teeth,... er -mayhap fangs, back with this Vampire Diaries lusty fable). I do love undead bad boys like Damon. O.K. enough prattle from me, on with the tale of....
The Price Of Redemption-Chapter Three
Unfortunately there are times when neither vampire reflexes nor Jaguar AJ-V8 engines are quite fast enough, and no matter how fervent the prayer God seems to turn a deaf ear to it. This was one of those times. Both brothers could hear the blaring sirens rend the sleepy peacefulness of the small town miles before the Jag was able to streak past the brightly painted " Welcome to Mystic Falls sign".
Damon was pushing the custom designed vehicle to it's limits, until the division between vampire and machine blurred. The car had became an extension of himself, with Stefan along for the ride. They practically flew down the road, recklessly ignoring the posted traffic signs and signal lights. Damon swerved in and out of his lane with ruthless precision, braking and accelerating to avoid any contact with the random on- coming traffic. He dodged potholes and late-night pedestrians with practiced ease.
Fearlessly he raced a speeding freight train. The Jag's shocks bouncing hard over the uneven tracks, bottoming out with a grind to trail sparks in their wake. All just seconds before an automatic orange and white striped crossing guard arm lowered and the smoking locomotive barreled through the intersection.
A few blocks down the street Damon spun the steering-wheel hard for a sudden hair pin turn. As their car approached the modest arts and crafts inspired bungalow at 211 Oak St. they came to a tire squealing stop. An ambulance along with a Fairfax County squad car were already parked in the driveway and set on full alert mode.
Stefan cursed under his breath,
"Damn, I was hoping that we would beat the authorities here."
Damon nodded in grim understanding and agreement,
"You were planning on giving Sheila some of your blood, to heal her the same way that you did Bonnie after I....well you know. Now, with so many witnesses in the way, we'll just have to wait and see how things go."
Stefan frowned in consternation,
"Yes, it's dicey any way that you cut it. Let's find out how serious her condition is, Elena will invite us inside."
Damon summarily pulled the Jag over to the curb. As they slid out of the flashy crimson toy, he gave his beauty an affectionate caress before he hit the key fob to engage the locks and alarm system. Stefan chortled at his actions, then the pair strode purposely down the sidewalk and up the wide steps that lead to the house.
Standing on the large front porch it seemed as if they had stepped back in time. Frank Lloyd Wright himself would have been honored to see how authentically the home's original 1918 architecture had been maintained. From the natural slate roof with it's low tapered overhang to the warm cedar siding and solid walnut squared pillars, the house echoed with a calm, quiet strength.
Stained glass accented the windows and two hammered copper light fixtures were shining softly on either side of the mission oak entry door. That item they noticed, (along with it's companion black wrought iron screen door), had been left propped wide open by a granite doorstop in the shape of a cat. Sensing their presence, Elena looked up and mouthed the words " come in". They exchanged solemn gestures of greetings.
Once inside they could make out that the bulk of the activity was occurring in the living room. With it's green and gold tinted walls, wooden beamed ceiling, classic built in bookcases and a glowing limestone fireplace, the space was as lovely and stylish as it's owner was. The furnishing were an eclectic mix of Tiffany lamps, rich multi-colored bohemian fabrics and relic tables.
They didn't linger about lackadaisically admiring the décor though. Strategically Damon paced across the planked mahogany floor to lean against the far wall by the windows. Thus insuring that he had an excellent vantage point to keep watch on whoever (or whatever) entered or exited the house.
Without any further hesitation Stefan moved to be close to Elena and Bonnie. The best friends were sitting together on the sofa, looking a little worse for wear as they were both still dressed in the same outfits that they had worn to the cemetery earlier that evening. Elena was hugging Bonnie supportively, the little witch seemed to be in deep shock. She was clutching her grandmother's heavy, leather bound Grimmore in her lap and weeping softly. Sheriff Forbes, (in her on- duty uniform), was hovering by the love-seat, too tense to actually use it.
All three of the women were intently observing the E.M.T.S as they worked on Sheila's prone form. The elderly witch was laying limp and unconscious on her back in the middle of the floor. She was surrounded by an assortment of opened packages of used medical supplies, swabs tubes and syringes. The E.M.T.S were performing C.P.R on her. She wasn't responding. The first tech called out briskly,
" No pulse !, no respiration !"
The second tech prepped the portable AED defibrillator and attached the electronic pads to Sheila's chest as the first continued the C.P.R. With a press of a button, the high pitched pinging whine from the unit was followed by the first tech's assertive call of,
"Ready !..., then..., clear !",
Sheila's svelte torso jerked slightly as the techs attempted to shock her heart into beating again. They repeated the procedure to no avail. The matriarch's body was just too worn out, her internal organs over taxed by all of the recent strain that she had borne. Her fight for life on this Earthly plane had ended, she'd passed on to the next...
Sheriff Forbes knowingly met the lead E.M.T's eyes. He somberly shook his head negatively and began to ready Sheila's body for transport. Both men placed her motionless corpse on a nearby raised gurney as Sheriff Forbes radioed ahead to inform the coroner that he would need to meet them at the hospital. Bonnie's sobs immediately grew louder,
" No !, Grams !, Wait !, Wait !,"
Rising up from the sofa she slapped Elena's restraining grip away and walked over to the slim metal bunk on wheels . Facing the E.M.T.S. She pleaded,
"I'm begging you,...(sob),...don't take her away,..(sob)..not yet, (sob), I have to tell her something, (sob) It's important."
Bonnie was still holding the Grimmore. She leaned down towards her grandmother's face and in a hushed voice she cried,
" I need you to hear me Grams,(sob), I'm so sorry , this is all my fault. (sob) I wasn't strong enough, (sob) I blew it.(sob) Oh ! Grams !, I love you so much ! "
Totally distraught Bonnie was racked by grief, she swayed on her feet and dropped the bulky bound spell book, it landed on the area rug with a splatting thud. She would have fallen too, if it weren't for Damon. In an instant he had leapt away from the window and swept Bonnie up in his arms Rhett Butler style.
If anyone in the room other than Stefan and Elena noted that his actions revealed his innate preternatural speed and grace, they wrote it off to an over- active imagination brought on by the late hour and the tense situation at hand. Damon's piercing blue gaze swept Bonnie from head to toe. She was trembling and had gone ashy pale beneath her normally creamy mocha skin. Her big brown eyes were red rimmed and swimming with tears, salty tracks had traced her cheeks and made her lips swell. Hazily she focused on his face and whimpered,
" Why?,...Damon ?,.. Why did you have to come here?,.. What do you wa..?"
Whatever else she was trying to say to him faded into an unintelligible mumble as she fainted. For the second time that evening Damon felt something tug painfully at his dead heart. When he had watched Bonnie weep and blame herself for her grandmother's weakness, she had seemed so desperate and sad. He had longed to do something,.. anything to ease her suffering.
After all the Bennett witches had been trying to help the vampires,.. well Stefan and himself anyway...Reluctantly at first of course, but in the end they had gotten them into the tomb by counteracting the spell, breaching the gate . And more importantly, had let them out again afterwards by keeping the enchanted seal lowered long enough for he and Stefan to escape.( Along with Anna and her mother Rose.)
Once again Damon had been reminded of when he and Stefan had lost their mother. They had been so young. Younger than Bonnie was. But that didn't really make a difference did it? Separation from a loved one hurts, no matter what the age of those involved. Even if you are centuries old...Even if the reason for the severed relationship is worse than death. Exhibit A- the whole sordid mess with Katherine. What a great fiasco that had turned out to be.
That fresh cut throbbed deeply, leaving him empty, aching, and needy...So much so that when he had realized that the little witch was about to crumple, he just reacted on pure instinct and adrenalin. He wanted to cauterize the emotional hemorrhage, for both of them, so he simply jumped up, reached out, and caught her. And then pulled her to him.
How could he resist this temptation? This feeling of Bonnie in his arms, so small and frail, yet so warm and soft. Her satiny skin smelling of sweet amber spices, her silken hair scented with white orchids...Her pulse like a beating drum calling to him with her own blood magic song. All he wanted was a chance to hold her close, to keep her safe, to touch her flesh, kiss her lips, have a taste....He would do it !, He could claim her ! She would be his reason to go on !...She could be his everything !
He had sworn to Emily that he would protect the Bennett witches forever, and he had. Everyone of them, Sheila included, until the lifeline on her palm had run out. When she was a girl she had been beautiful and feisty, then she had grown into an aggravating know it all, finally maturing into one of the most powerfully gifted women from her clan.
Damon smirked, Bonnie had inherited a few of those same traits. Sheila would always be missed, but she would live on in her granddaughter. Yes, he had made a vow and unlike Emily, or Katherine for that matter...He always kept his promises. That was enough of a why.
Elena and Stefan had hurriedly rushed over to where Damon now held Bonnie cradled against him. Sheriff Forbes followed right behind them. She motioned for one of the E.M.T.S to join her. Damon tightened his grasp under Bonnie's knees and around her shoulders so that she wouldn't slip as the E.M.T. examined her. The human quickly took her pulse and respiration then waved an ammonia capsule under her nose. Bonnie's eyes fluttered open wearily, then frowning she scrunched her face up and waved her hand over her nose complaining,...
" What happened? What is that foul smell ?"
Everyone looked relieved as the E.M.T. Asked her a few more questions.
" You passed out Miss, Can you tell me your name?"
"Yes, it's Bonnie, Bonnie Bennett,.. Damon? Is that you? Why are you carrying me? Where's Elena?, Stefan? Where are you guys?"
Bonnie remaining a bit confused, began to panic, she was turning her head back and forth searching for her friends when they both zoomed into view and Elena reassured her.
" I'm here Bonnie, so's Stefan and Damon, he saved you from a fall...You were upset about Grams..."
Bonnie's vision locked onto Damon's suspiciously, but the undisguised depth of tenderness in his indigo expression took her by surprise. She felt her bottom lip start to quiver as she remembered. Then he quietly said,
" Shhhh, hush, hush, little wh...Ah I um mean bit, little bit, It's going to be all right. I'm here for you too, and I'm not about to leave any of you young people home alone after what's happened. I'll call your father and let him know about Sheila. The four of us will stay here until he can return. Or if you're not comfortable with that, we can all go spend the rest of the night at our house, The Salvatore Mansion."
He had almost let little witch slip out right as Sheriff Forbes was listening in on their conversation. Little bit ?, Who was he kidding, he was certainly no Pa. Elena and Stefan's mouths were hanging open in question at the vague reference to the "Little House On The Prairie/ Laura Ingals Wilder series. The nick-name of the lead character was the quickest cover-up that he could think of. He had read the books. Not! (Re-runs on T. V. were so much easier anyhow).
However, when the nosy lady with the badge met his eye he decided to play his * adult status* trump card, and toss in a smidgin of his vampire powers of compulsion for good measure. The Sheriff patted Bonnie's arm sympathetically after the E.M.T.S had given her a shot laced with a mild sedative to help her calm down.
" My condolences sweet heart. Elena told me earlier that your Dad was out of town on business, but I'm sure he will be home as soon as he can be. You try to get some rest now, honey. I'll check back with you in the morning."
"Thanks", Bonnie murmured, she was already drifting off listening to the lulling sound of Damon's simulated strong, steady heart beat echoing in her ear. (Damon mutely commended Buddha and the Zen priest turned vampire who had taught him how to temporarily master this autonomic response back in nineteen -sixty five. Those groovy Haight Ashbury years sure had paid off.)
Sheriff Forbes addressed Damon next,
" Mr. Salvatore, that sounds like a sensible plan, I'll take care of everything on my end, you just tend to the demands of the children. I'll be in touch. Oh and if there's anything else that you find you need, or if you have any other questions, please feel free to call me at the station.
By the way, I put Mrs. Bennett's old family journal on the dining room table, I picked it up after Bonnie dropped it in the entryway. You wouldn't want anyone to trip over it now would you? Good-night you-two, Elena, Stefan."
As soon as the authorities were gone Damon rolled his eyes, then carefully swung the sleeping Bonnie securely in front of him and asked Elena ,
"Which way?",
She arched a brow and pointed,..then stalked a few steps behind him.
" Down the hall and to the left. Pa! Or should I just call you John Boy ! That load of bull that you were spewing to the Sheriff about wanting to take good care of us kiddies while we're all alone made me want to hurl! Did you intend for Sheila to die?"
Stefan was directly on her heels, practically bursting with his own inquiry,
"Damon!, What's really going on here?, What other kind of magical spell do you plan on using Bonnie for? Can't you see that she's been through enough already!, Why don't you just leave her be?
Damon ignored their ranting and instead retorted in a soft, soothing voice so he wouldn't wake Bonnie.
"If you're not going to help me make her comfortable, then get out.... You're staying?.. Good, now Stefan could you please fetch me a basin of warm water, a washcloth and some soap?, While Elena will you try to find Bonnie a clean gown and some undies to sleep in ?"
Elena balked, " You are absolutely not taking her clothes off!"
Damon smiled at her wickedly and then winked,
" Well then, I guess you're going to have to play nursemaid and give her a sponge bath while I go call big Daddy. I'll be back in twenty minutes. Oh and Elena, you and Stefan don't have to worry about me ever harming Bonnie again. Or anyone else hurting her either. Because I swear, if anyone does, then I'll just have to kill them. Hell, I'd sooner face the sun than see her cry, especially like she did tonight. Once was enough, thank-you ....I love her too much for that....
Stefan and Elena gaped at each other, momentarily speechless over Damon's latest newsflash before Stefan looked at his girlfriend and said.....
" Oh My God!, I think he really is serious about this. I guess? At least he honestly believes that he means it. But it's too soon after what he found out. Christ! I knew something strange was going on with him...Particularly after what happened at home earlier tonight following the tomb incident,.. between us, before you called me. Oh Elena, I swore to him that I wouldn't say a word to you, but now... I don't know, I've never seen him behave this way. I'm afraid he's gone round the bend, worse than usual. I'm very worried about him. I have to tell you something that Damon discovered concerning Katherine and her whereabouts. Elena, she broke his heart." TBC......
