A/N: Happy New Year to all my readers. I don't own Vampire Diaries nor its characters. I only own Artemisia.
Chapter 8
Damon parked in front of my house and turned towards me with a devilish smirk on his face. I was mentally going over what I wanted to reveal to Elena and Jeremy. I personally wanted to tell them to go to hell, since they had kept their own secrets. But a part of me, which I think got carried over from the original owner of this body, wanted to mend fences with my siblings. I was quite concerned about whether I was developing another personality or not. I had found myself making decisions that I normally wouldn't make. But that was an issue for another day. I had an angry sister waiting for answers and I had no idea how to handle the situation. On one hand, I really wished to yell at my siblings and accuse them of their wrongdoings, but on the other, I just wanted to ignore them and go to bed. It really had been a tiring day. I heaved a sigh and got out of the car, grudgingly.
I stepped into the foyer and could hear my siblings bickering in the hall. I had sent off a text to aunt Jenna detailing that night's occurrences and informed her that Elena had found out about me and told her to retire to bed lest she gave something away. Hopefully she had done the same. I entered the room where Elena and Jeremy were in, and immediately the argument died down. Elena was immediately in my face and she started yelling, "Why did you not tell us about you knowing of vampires? How did you become a hunter? Were we not important enough to you that we did not qualify for knowing about this?"
I rubbed my ears and glared at her, my expression scornful. "Why would I?" I asked her simply, having had enough of her high-handedness. She had no right to demand any answers from me and I told her so.
I could literally see her puffing up in rage and snickered internally. I glanced at Jeremy and saw that he had a wounded expression on his face, but it did not move me. In my opinion, he should never had agreed with Elena to have me compelled. In the TV series, it was shown that Jeremy had a bit of a backbone and did not go along with every wish of Elena's. I scoffed at him and said, "You both lost my trust the first time Elena tried to have me compelled, not that you knew that the compulsion had not stuck. Thank god, I drink vervain every day. Tell me Jeremy," I addressed him, accusingly, "When you found out that you had been compelled to forget, why did you not come to me, when you knew that the same thing had been done to me? Why did you not even attempt to stop me being compelled that second time? You, you are a fucking hypocrite! You gave Elena grief over having had you compelled and yet, you were willing for me to be compelled, not once, but four freaking times! And Elena," I then turned to my dear sister, "You have no fucking right to demand to know my secrets when you have been keeping secrets since the Salvatores came into town. And as to how I found out about vampires, one of them tried to take a bite out of me when I was twelve. I was saved by a hunter. Now, I am going to bed and none of you will disturb me. I will not divulge any more of my secrets, since you lost the right to know about them. Goodnight Elena, Jeremy." I deliberately left out the fact that the hunter had been our father, as that would open up a can of worms I was not ready to face. I turned and headed upstairs, while texting Damon to meet me in my room.
I quickly changed into some shorts and a tank top and waited for Damon to come. I did not want the others to know what I had told Damon. It may seem naïve but I trusted my instincts, and they were telling me that Damon was trustworthy in this matter.
There was a whoosh of air and Damon stood in front of me. He was smirking and I realized that he had heard what had transpired downstairs. He seated himself in the armchair and said, "You do know how to shut someone up. your siblings were silent for a whole fifteen minutes, did you know that? Now, what was so urgent, sweet cheeks, that you had to text me?"
I was quiet for a while and sat there, lost in my thoughts. Damon raised an eyebrow and that was the signal for me to start talking. "Damon, I am imploring you to keep the things I have told you to yourself. While the information is not important or life-changing, it is something I have told you in confidence. I know that I hold no part of your loyalty. That is why I am begging you, please, don't tell the Scooby gang about this. I would like to keep them in the dark about this." I said to him.
He was silent for a while, frowning thoughtfully. He said, "How about this? I don't tell anyone about this and be your spy in the gang, informing you about all the happenings and decisions made. In return, we start over. You will forgive me for my past misdeeds related to you. I would like us to become friends. Earlier we couldn't, because Elena did not like us associating with you. Now though," he shrugged.
I felt a smile bloom on my face on listening to his words. I said, "Deal and I will help you in your endeavors, if at all you need the help of a seasoned supernatural hunter."
I extended my hand and he kissed the back of it, behaving like a true southern gentleman.
"Secrets, espionage and mayhem. I believe our friendship is off to a beautiful start, Miss Gilbert."
I smirked at him and curtsied.
"Indeed, Mr. Salvatore, indeed."
A/N: Please review, my dear readers. Let's start the new year with reviews, shall we? Until we meet again!
