Chapter 8 – Safe and Sound

by Taylor Swift

I remember tears streaming down your face

When I said, I'll never let you go

When all those shadows almost killed your light

I remember you said,

Don't leave me here alone

But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight

Just close your eyes

The sun is going down

You'll be alright

No one can hurt you now

Come morning light

You and I'll be safe and sound.

Friday evening

It was finally here. Tonight was the night of the Founders Party. A small chuckle escaped my lips because when I really thought about it, I didn't have a clue what this party was about. To me, it just sounded like some dumb-ass excuse to wear something fancy and act like you were posh for the evening. All I really knew was that it was being held at the Lockwood Manor and I was going with Damon Salvatore, without my father knowing.

I didn't want to have to lie to him, but the way he had been acting the last few days made me want to out as much distances between me and him as possible. I could tell already that it was going to be a very awkward evening.

I gave myself a once over in the mirror. I had decided to go with a dark crimson mini dress which accentuated my curves as well as showing off my bosom, with matching lipstick and black wedges. I'd curled my thick brunette hair but pinned it all back to the top of my head, letting lose strands fall over my shoulders.

I refused to let myself believe I had tied my hair back because of Damon's suggest. I was doing it because it matched my outfit and that was all.

I took a deep breath, grabbed my bag and head to the waiting car my father had hired for the evening.


When we first arrived at the party my father kept a close eye on me, watching who I talked to and where I was going. It really started to grind on me, but as the evening went on he became less and less involved, taking more interest chatting with the mayor and other prestigious members of the council.

I'd been hanging out with Elena, Bonnie and Caroline most of the evening as we walked around the massive estate, looking at all the history that surround these great halls. It was incredible to think that someone could live here, with so much space and so many rooms.

As we entered the main hall, I noticed Mr Saltzman at the bar, talking with a few of the council members. He smiled at us and made his way around the bar towards us.

"I didn't think you would be here, Mr Saltzman." I meant it as a statement, but it came out like more of a question.

"Well, I know a lot about the town's history, so your father asked me to come in to help with the set up and talk to people who may have any questions." He then turned to Elena, Bonnie and Caroline. "I actually think you guys might benefit from some of this information for your essay that's due at the beginning of the new semester. Seeing as Alice already knows so much, I think it's only fitting that I show you some stuff in having a fair chance of making the grade." He winked at me, making us all giggle as he directed the other three girls to the room next door.

I sighed and went to leave the room, walking out on to the balcony to get some air. It was actually turning out to be a really peaceful evening, with everyone seeming to get on so well. I started to shake and it wasn't because of the cold.

I looked over my shoulder to see Stefan approaching me. Great, the person I least wanted to be around at this moment.

I put on a happy face. "Hey Stefan, what brings you out here?"

He smiled slightly. "I saw you out here alone I thought you might want some company; Elena's busy with Mr Saltzman and his mini history lesson."

I gave a small nod.

"So, why don't you go join them?" I didn't mean for it to come out in such a threatening tone, but Stefan didn't seem to bother.

"I already know everything about this town's history and besides Mr Saltzman told me I would be too much of a distraction if I was there." His smile seemed to fall as he looked into my eyes, almost searching. "Alice, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, go ahead."

"I want you to stay away from Damon." My eyebrows together fused together. Was that an order or a suggestion?

I looked him square in the face and spoke with a firm tone. "Listen Stefan; I have been doing what people tell me to do for most of my life and I'm done with being the good girl anymore. I get that you don't like your brother, but Damon's been there for me when no one else was. So, why don't you just stop telling me what to do." I closed my eyes and exhaled deeply. "I need to get a drink."

I stormed straight past him, ignoring him when he called my name and headed straight for the bar in the other room. I wasn't older enough to drink alcohol, but that's not what I wanted. I felt like I felt like I was over heating from the rage and anger that was building up inside me.

It was the same rage I had felt the day I had hit James at school; I wanted to scream and make Stefan suffer for what he had said to me! I tried to calm down, pressing the rage back inside. I felt like I was going to burst, but I couldn't make a scene in front of all these people. I had to keep it together.

"Well, hello there, little Miss." I jumped but knew exactly who it was. Damon. My head snapped to the side as my eyes locked with his. "I have to say that that colour looks absolutely ravishing on you and you wore your hair up."

He reached forward, tugging slightly on one of the curled strands of hair on my shoulder. He smirked at me causing the corners of my mouth to pull up in to a small smile.

"Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself." I tried my best at mimicking his seductive tone, but failed miserably.

His eyes gave me a once before looking from side to side. "I don't see your father anywhere, so I guess this means that it's safe for me to ask you for a dance." My eyes widened and I tried to object, but before I knew it Damon's hand was wrapped around mine, pulling me over on to the dance floor.

As the music started I felt my heart hammering in my chest as Damon took my hand in his and rested his other hand on my waist. I had taken dancing lessons as a child, but nothing like this before.

I knew I had to turn right there, but somehow my body turned left throwing me completely off balance. Just keep dancing.

Damon chuckled. "Relax, sweetheart." He breathed in my ear.

This sent chills down my spine; his voice was soft and comforting almost, but there was this edge to it that scared me.

"Relax." He said once again as he moved his hand from my waist to my back, stroking me up and down in a soothing rhythm.

It felt strangely nice, the way his movements matched the timing of the music and the way he swayed us both from side to side. I was comfortable with this, with him touching me in such an intimate way. It felt right. I closed my eyes and rested my head on his shoulder, getting lost in the music and the moment.

It was so strange but so right. I felt safe.

"Damon?" My head shot up from his shoulder to see Stefan staring at us, confusion plastered across his face. But my gaze shifted to the figure behind him; my father who looked positively seething.

I quickly pulled away from Damon as he and Stefan began a heated discussion that I had no intention of being a part of. My one priority right now was to apologise to my father for my stupid mistake.

"Come with me." I took a deep breath as my father turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.

We walked down a long hallway to the last door on the left. It was a plain room lined with glass door cabinets full of treasures from the town's history. I looked back up at my father and noticed something extremely different about him. His eyes were blood shot and he kept twitching. That's when I saw what was in his hand. He'd been drinking.

I took a small step towards him. "Dad...are you okay?"

He let out a humourless chuckle and chucked the glass at the wall, shattering it in to a thousand little pieces.

"Okay?! This is what you call okay?! My own daughter, sneaking around behind my back and associating yourself with that monster!" I was stunned. I had to calm him down before he started to draw attention to himself.

"Dad, that's enou-..!" I never got to finish my sentence as my father charged me, slamming me up against the glass cabinet with a menacingly dark expression settling on his face as his hands grasped my neck in an unbreakable vice grip.

My hands locked around his arm. I was trying everything in my power to get him off but it only led him to squeeze harder. He was going to kill me.

A frantic gasp escaped my mouth as he was jerked from my body. It took me a moment to realise that half the party were now stood, gawking at the scene unfolding in front of them. Mr Saltzman had pulled my father off of me and he was now trying to restrain him, but my father was beyond the point where one man could hold him.

Elena came rushing to my side, but I pushed her away, coming in-between the two brawling men.

"Wait, just stop a minute!" I yelled at Mr Saltzman, before turning back to my father, hands held up in front of me. "It's okay dad, I'm not going to hurt you, I just want to talk." His chest was rising and falling fast as I saw tears prick the corners of his eyes.

It sounded crazy, even to me, but even after he had attacked me I still felt the need to protect him. I promised my Gran I would as I looked at the person in front of me. He didn't look like my father, he looked more like a broken man who I had betrayed. This was my fault.

I cupped his face in my hands. "I'm here now, everything's gonna be fine."

He reached up and touched my face, stroking my chin. "Oh Alice, your just like your mother. Just another whore for those monsters."

No sooner had the words left his mouth, I felt an agonizing crack of pain across my cheek, sending me across the room and smashing in to a glass cabinet. My head wiped back, whacking against the hard wooden structure as sharp pains went shooting up my right arm. Before the world greyed around the edges, I heard shouting and screaming and then a figure in front of me, fanatically trying to pull the glass out of my arm. A deep voice was calling my name and then everything went black.


So, what did you think!? I wrote this all in one go so I hope that it is to your liking :)

Again, like in my other chapters, there are a few key points in here to that will effect the story and what happens. I don't want to give too much away because I want you guys to figure it out as we go along. I have started to write the next chapter already and it is quite a short chapter with not a lot of action but more detail about the story and what direction this is now taking.

Hope you enjoyed!