Chapter 5
"Dahna!" She turned in time to see the sheriff walking hastily toward her, noticing instantly she wasn't alone. "There you are, the meeting is about to begin. Meredith and Luke are already upstairs."
"Oh okay, that's who I was looking for." Dahna had wondered why she couldn't find them, having looked all over the mansion and was heading outside when Elizabeth stopped her. "Lead the way then, sheriff."
They both headed in the direction of the huge winding staircase and Dahna glanced over her shoulder, hoping Elena had talked to Dacia. She was worried for her little sister over this Caroline situation, especially when Dacia had already lost so much at a tender age. If she had to, Dahna would make sure that she had a discussion with Tyler Lockwood, and even Tyler's mother and the mayor's wife Carol, if it helped remedy the situation.
"Liz, a pleasure to see you as always." A deep baritone voice complimented, breaking Dahna out of her thoughts.
Elizabeth looked up and smiled at one of her good friends, nodding. "Damon, when did you get back into town? I thought you'd be gone for at least another week." She said, stepping into the room.
"I was going to, but decided to come back for the meeting." Damon replied easily, stepping closer to both of them and finally locked his intense eyes on the caramel haired woman beside Elizabeth.
She was exquisite from the top of her curled hair to the tips of her freshly pedicured toes. Her black dress accentuated her curves and showed him she indeed had an incredible body beneath the material. It'd been a while since he went on the hunt for new prey and Damon could never recall spotting this delectable morsel at any of their council meetings before. Then again, Damon rarely came to them because he was usually busy with something more important or out of town. Damon was sure he lost his breath when she finally looked at him, feeling his eyes boring into her, with stunning emerald green eyes and gave her another once over before opening his mouth to speak.
"Hello, I don't believe we've been properly introduced." He stepped forward and extended his hand, his eyes never leaving those emerald gems. "I'm Damon Salvatore and you are?"
"Hi."
Salvatore…So Damon was part of the infamous Salvatore Founding Family. Zachary Salvatore had originally been the member for the Salvatore Family, but something happened to make him leave town. Nobody knew what either, he just took off one day and hadn't returned since. As long as they kept acquiring vervain from the Salvatore's, everything would be fine since that was their only source of it in town.
Damon must've been Zachary's replacement in the council, much like her with Landon, which Elizabeth had mentioned a time or two during meetings, explaining his absence. Dahna didn't mean to be rude, but ever since Jenna mentioned her father's upcoming birthday, she just wasn't in the mood to converse with anyone. Walking away from them so Elizabeth could talk to Damon privately, Dahna sat down in a nearby chair and crossed her ankles together.
Honestly, Dahna didn't want to be part of the council because she didn't believe in any of it. They actually believed vampires existed – what kind of brainwashing had been done to these poor people? There was no such things as vampires, they were merely myths and legends. Dahna didn't care how much 'proof' the council had that was left behind by their ancestors, that didn't mean the 'beasts' were vampires.
Of course, Dahna kept these thoughts to herself and just stayed quiet, regretting ever agreeing to taking over her father's position. The will and determination to find her father's murderer was all the motivation Dahna needed to join though. However, Mayor Lockwood was a problem because, ever since Dahna joined the council, he couldn't keep his predatory eyes off of her. Carol really had to get a hold on her husband before Dahna did it for her and refused to meet his eyes, waiting for the meeting to start.
While Elizabeth ran her mouth about the latest victim in town, Damon's eyes never left the caramel haired beauty and could tell she'd be quite the challenge. "Sounds good, Liz, keep me posted. Excuse me."
Damon politely ended their conversation and headed over to where his prey sat alone, looking more vulnerable than ever. Everyone was meandering around the room, growing impatient since Mayor Lockwood hadn't started yet. Closing his eyes briefly, Damon could smell her mouthwatering scent and inhaled silently, trying not to look like a pervert or stalker. Leaning down on the chair right beside the caramel haired beauty, Damon made sure his mouth was level with her ear before speaking, keeping his voice low.
"So, if you could sneak away tonight and ditch this boring meeting, where would you go?" He asked in the same low baritone, his question a legitimately conversation opener.
"At home in either a hot bath or my bed reading a book with a glass of wine." She answered, deciding to humor him for the time being since there was nothing else to do. Dahna felt a shiver of dread trickle down her spine when Richard Lockwood suddenly approached them and braced herself for his flirtatious compliments.
"Looking lovely as always, Dahna."
The way he said her name made Dahna want to jump in a scalding hot shower and scrub every inch of her body. She refused to lash out at him though and merely flashed a serene smile. "Thank you, Richie. Your WIFE looks lovely too." She smirked when the mayor scowled and stood up, feeling Damon standing behind her.
Richard snorted, sipping a glass of brandy. "Still playing hard to get, I see." He eyeballed Damon, wondering if they were together and could feel his blood boiling. "Hmm…"
"No." Dahna's eyes iced over, not appreciating his tone of voice. "I just refuse to screw around with a married man." Her voice remained barely above a whisper, not wanting others to overhear this exchange. "Do send my thanks for the invitation tonight, won't you?" If they weren't having an actual meeting, she was leaving and headed for the door.
Completely intrigued with this woman named Dahna, –that name alone lit him on fire- Damon followed her, feeling a strength radiating from her pores. There was definitely something about her that made him want to talk to her further, get to know her better. Of course, the thought of snapping the mayor's neck did cross his mind for those ill-mannered remarks. Every time that fool started drinking brandy, he got cocky, stupid and flirted with anything in a fifty mile radius. When the caramel haired beauty stopped walking, he slipped up behind her silently and could feel how angry she was.
"You look like you're about as thrilled with this meeting as I am." His voice dripped with pure sarcasm and an idea suddenly popped into his head. "What do you say we ditch the meeting before anyone notices, go downstairs and enjoy a glass of wine?" He suggested, trying to figure out how to calm her down because her heartbeat was extremely fast, along with her pulse.
"How about not and say we did?" Dahna remarked, not giving him a second glance and walked out of the room fully, heading right back downstairs to join what was left of the party.
Dacia was probably bored out of her mind and wanted to go home. Honestly, what had her father gotten her into with this ridiculous Founder's council? Fingering the ruby charm around her neck, Dahna went in search of her little sister and hoped Damon Salvatore found some other woman to charm because she simply wasn't interested.
Pursing his lips tightly together, Damon let her walk away reluctantly and went straight to the bar, ordering a scotch. Dahna was definitely a hellcat and had an attitude on her that stretched for several miles. He would have to remember to try and get her number later on, completely fascinated by the way she carried herself.
This wasn't over, just the very beginning.
"Dahna, hold up!" Jenna called out, somewhat jogging in her dress up to her friend and managed not to spill a single drop of her champagne. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to come off as being insensitive. I know it's especially hard this time of year for both you and Dace. How about we go somewhere to sit down, talk and just relax? We haven't gotten together like this in weeks and it's nice not having to worry about getting up for work in the morning."
"I just want to get out of here and go home, Jenna. I'm sorry, it's not you. I know Dace doesn't want to be here either." When Jenna flashed her big puppy dog hazel eyes pleadingly, Dahna could feel herself crumbling already. "Fine, but we're going to the grill. I don't wanna be at this party anymore." Her voice dropped lower, putting her mouth to Jenna's ear. "Richie hit on me again."
Jenna fully understood why Dahna really wanted to leave and scowled, narrowing her eyes. "Do you want me to kick his ass?"
Dahna laughed softly. "Kicking the mayor's ass for what? Making a pass at your best friend? Don't think that would be a wise idea considering all the power he has, Jenny."
Jenna growled, heading toward the front door with Dahna. "Don't call me that. You know I hate it." She looked up when Damon Salvatore approached both of them, along with Elizabeth, and Dahna started to wonder if maybe they had a fling going on. "Hey Damon, leaving the party early too?"
"We can't leave until I let Dace know what's going on and I know she has a ride home."
Damon nodded, wrapping an arm around Elizabeth's shoulders. "Yeah, this party is a total bust, so we're heading over to the grill for a few drinks. Aren't these usually more fun? I come home from vacation a week early just to attend, only to be disappointed. Should've stayed gone longer." He snorted, those intense eyes once again landing on the caramel haired beauty. "Where are you two lovely ladies off to? Perusing the streets of Mystic Falls looking for some real fun? Or just looking to have some drinks to forget about this colossal disappointing small town we all seem to be stuck in?"
Elizabeth didn't look thrilled at all to be tagging along with Damon, but she did have a few things to discuss with him regarding the council. "You can join us if you want." She offered, having a feeling that's where Damon was headed with this conversation.
"A little of both." Jenna admitted, glancing at Dahna, who hadn't put her two cents in yet like usual. That was very interesting. "And I think that sounds like a wonderful idea, doesn't it D?"
Dahna's head snapped up from staring at her phone, having texted Dacia to let her know what was going on and stared a hole through Jenna. What the hell was she trying to do? "I thought you said it would be just the two of us catching up?" She said through clenched teeth, a tight smile on her face.
"Damon isn't all that bad and, besides, he'll buy us a couple rounds." Jenna winked at him, watching him nod and beamed brightly. "Then that settles it, I'm not passing up free drinks, woman."
"Damon is a dear friend of mine, Dahna. He'll just stick around for a couple of drinks so we can discuss a few things while he's been gone." Elizabeth assured her softly, looking up at her friend and could clearly tell he liked Dahna Fell.
"Come on, Dahna, please?" Jenna flashed those pleading eyes at her again.
"Fine, fine whatever, I'll meet you in the car." Dahna conceded finally, feeling a headache coming on. "Apparently, Dace is getting a ride home with Elena." She didn't say a single word to Damon and headed out the front door, nodding to a few of the council members that still lingered on her way out.
Damon smirked, not the least bit put off by Dahna's attitude. "You don't have to join us if you two really want to be alone that badly."
Jenna shook her head, the smile not leaving her face. "No, by all means, she needs to get to know you anyway. Her position on the council was handed to her when her father died. You're a member, so you can help explain things a lot better than I can, since I'm not part of it." Thankfully, Jenna added mentally. "Besides, once I get a few drinks in me, I'll be a complete lush, watch."
Damon didn't respond and simply followed them out to the parking area.
"What the hell are you trying to do, Jenna?" Dahna fired off as soon as they pulled away from the Lockwood mansion, gripping the steering wheel so hard her knuckles turned ghostly white.
"What do you mean?"
Dahna knew she was playing the coy innocent act and it wasn't working, not by a long shot. "What are you trying to pull with Damon Salvatore? I am not ready to date anyone yet. I just broke up with Max tonight or did you forget that?" She reached up to touch her upper arm, the bruising deeper and clearer since she hadn't iced it right away. "I don't want another man in my life after what he did, Jenna. I'm better off with just me and Dacia. Once she goes off to college, far away from here, I'm thinking about selling the house and getting out of Mystic Falls and never looking back." She took a deep shaky breath because mentioning Max was a very fresh wound that would take a while to heal. "And the fact that my father's birthday is less than a week away, and we still haven't found the monster that killed him, makes me want to leave this place more."
In his own electric blue 1969 Chevy Camaro Convertible, Damon could tell the two women were having a heated conversation and could only imagine what was being said. He was right behind them and turned the radio off, using his enhanced hearing to eavesdrop. Somehow, something told him Dahna wasn't exactly thrilled with the invitation Elizabeth offered.
That was fine though, Damon would have a few drinks and take off since Dahna wasn't interested. Granted, he loved stepping on people's toes, but somehow he knew if he went near the caramel haired beauty tonight, he would end up with a wooden stake through his heart. Of course, he could always try playing the friend card and that made him smirk, not sure that would even work.
It wasn't that Dahna didn't think horridly of Damon because, honestly, she'd never met the man until tonight. He'd been out of town and missed a lot of the meetings, but Elizabeth had always informed him of everything he missed. Dahna hadn't heard a whole lot about him, only that he ran a business that required him to leave Mystic Falls for weeks at a time. What kind of relationship would that be anyway if she got involved with him?
She was better off alone, especially after the abuse Max inflicted on her recently.