Aria looked around at her surroundings, how she hated this town. She hated it more than anywhere she'd ever been, everything terrible in her vampire life started here. Yet she could think of only one good positive, Damon. He'd been through everything for her, and she him. She showed him how to survive as a vampire, and was always there to pick him up from his darkest moments.
No-one but her knew of his past, and why her turned off his humanity. Many made judgements, guesses and blames, but nothing was true. But Stefan always got away with it, got away with being bad because when he was good, he was as good as any vampire or even human could get. But Damon was Damon, when he was bad he was bad, and when he was good he could still be bad, and that what Aria loved about him. He was the same as what he was as a human, but with fangs.
She sat down at the nearest bench and cupped her forehead as she blocked out the noise. Elena didn't deserve him, she didn't deserve neither of the Salvatore brothers, and Aria had decided that very early on.
"Aria" Stefan's voice interrupted her trail of thought, she looked up and saw him beside her. "What is going on? Why are you back" She twisted her tongue and looked away.
"Why does it matter Stefan, I always come back" She sighed
"I know you do, its a reoccurring event" He replied and watched her closely "Every time you come back, something changes"
"Aren't I allowed to visit my friend?" She coldly replied and narrowed her eyes.
"But you're not are you?" She pressed her lips together "You didn't return to avenge Joseph"
"Excuse me" She growled but he seemed unmoved
"Yes you loved him, like I loved Elena. An epic love"
"I hear Lexi in you Stefan" She chuckled and sat back.
"I know you have feelings for Damon" She felt her heart drop "And I know that why you return to Mystic Falls all the time...to remember when you and Damon were very close"
"I don't need your little pep talk Stefan" She barked and stood up, but he pulled her back down, she snarled and let the veins under her eyes show.
"What's the secret between you two?" He asked "I know Damon's history but there is something I don't know, where was he in the 50's" She swallowed hard and looked away from him.
"He was with me" She partly lied "After he left New Orleans, he came and found me"
"Why hasn't he said that though? He's usually quite open about his past" She stood up again and went to walk away but he grabbed her hand, this time she peeled off his fingers slowly, he grumbled and she clicked them back.
"I don't have to explain anything to you Stefan, if you ever threaten me again or think that you are tougher than me I will kill you"
"But you wont, because Damon..." She snapped her hand out and tightened her grip around his throat
"Don't tempt me Stefan, you mean nothing to me" She squeezed harder "You turned him into a vampire, and for that, you don't deserve anything"
***1958***
Aria carefully walked through the streets of Mystic Falls; she was on high alert, as always when she came to this town. She barely ever returned to this place but she was drawn here whenever she was lonely. This place brought her unpleasant memories, but her life changed here forever. She lost her friends that were like her family, Katherine, Emily, Pearl and Damon. And since that terrible night she watched Emily burnt at the stakes and Annabelle crumble with grief.
She carefully watched two men, one young and the other older. They caught her attention immediately; the strong smell of vervain was unmistakable, and for her it made her even more cautious, it must've meant vampires were still here. She listened in closely
"Are you attending the Augustine…?" The young boy asked but was soon scolded by his elder.
"Shush! We don't know who's listening!" The elder looked around him "I allowed you membership to continue our work, not ruin it"
"But uncle, who's going to listen in, we have them all" The elder rolled his eyes.
"Wherever the brother is the other will come, it's only a matter of time until he comes to save him"
Aria frowned as she listened carefully, something wasn't right. Their slight hints were obvious, they had vampires. The council angered her even more; she contained herself and slowly followed them and soon enough the elder wandered off leaving the little lamb alone, she smirked before making her way over. She was no Katerina Patrova, but she could still be as persuasive. She straightened her skirt and put on her most innocent face before facing him.
"Um, hello. I'm new in town, and I have no idea where I am or what to do" He looked her up and down before smiling.
"You're from England?" He smiled as she lightly nodded. "Whereabouts?"
"A small town near York, but I'm afraid I've been away from there for some time" He nodded as he bit into his lip. "I'm Aria" She giggled and looked down to the floor as he closely watched her.
"I'm Mark" He placed his thumbs into his pockets "Don't I get your surname?" She chuckled
"Maybe once you've shown me around and buy me a drink" He nodded and held his arm out, she quickly took it and was lead through town. She was in.
Damon breathed out as he rested his head back onto the walls of his cell; it'd been a long 5 years of torture and pain. The only thing to console him was that Aria was still alive, or well he hoped. He swore that he'd get revenge on his tormentors and all of their descendants.
"Wake up!" Dr. Whitmore snapped and kicked at the cell door. "We have a special party tonight and you're up" He snarled as Damon bared his fangs.
"Go to hell" Damon spat back as he was dragged into another movable cell by a spiked lead around his neck.
"Get in" He was shoved into the vervained bars, his flesh sizzling. The Dr. then walked away and into the lounge of the building to greet his guests, Damon listened in closely. "Welcome my friends and new acquaintances! I trust you are all here to see the progress of the subject" Damon frowned at who else was there; it had always been people who were close to the Dr. that were allowed to come to these secret meetings.
Suddenly the cage moved and he was exposed to the Augustine society, they stared at him with both disgust and power over him. As his eyes scanned the room he saw a different reaction, from a familiar brown eyes beauty. Her eyes glossed with sadness and anger as she watched the Dr. poked at him with a vervained rod. He listened as her breaths deepened; he knew she was battling her rage.
"Aria…" He mumbled quiet enough for her to hear but the society to not. A tear fell from her gradually darkening eyes, she stepped forward.
"Who is he?" She asked as she lowered herself at his cage, she lightly touched his fingers.
"Get back Aria; he's dangerous even in this state!" A young bright eyes boy jumped forward and pulled her back.
"Not as dangerous as me" She muttered as her eyes went dark red and veined, the boy gasped as she bit deeply into his neck, his lifeless body falling to the floor.
"Vampire!" They screamed loudly.
Everyone screamed and tried to get away but she was too quick for them, she didn't hesitate slaughtering them all. Dr. Whitmore back away as she stepped closer to him, fresh blood still pouring from her chin and onto her dress, she looked like a true monster.
"Seems like this town hasn't changed at all, not since Damon was human" His eyes filled with fear.
"Who are you?" He growled
"I was truthful about who I was, I am Aria Grey" She tilted her head "You just aren't smart enough for an older vampire are you?" She pushed him into the bars of Damon's small cage. "Hurry now Damon, we don't have all day"
Damon smirked before biting deeply into his neck, how he enjoyed this revenge. He breathed out in relief as the body fell to the ground, the strength in him was amazing, he'd missed it. Aria effortlessly opened the bars despite the vervained surfaces. She smiled as she pulled him away and hugged him tightly.
"How did you get into this mess?"
"Oh don't start" He replied making her giggle "Just get me out of here"
