"What are you doing here I'm not even dressed?" He shrugged and whispered
"Lily we aren't going now. No I just wanted to take you to our place, or... hello Hanson, Mrs. Marie how are you today?" Lily turned quickly to face her parents who rounded the corner looking curious
"oh Damon hello I didn't know you were here." He shook Damon's hand then allowed Damon to kiss his wife's hand. "Where will you be taking Lily today?"
"For now we are just going to take a walk, later though I will take her somewhere special. If that is alright with you?" Hanson glanced at Lily to see her smile or frown and stopped harshly. Lily was clutching her sketch pad staring at Damon with large eyes. It was more than infatuation; it was love. His frown deepened considerably when he saw the look Damon was giving Lily.
"I don't think so Mr. Salvatore, not today I would like it if you didn't come around for a few days in fact. Leave Lily to us, surely you can understand?" he added the last bit quietly to Damon though Lily heard and her jaw clenched.
"Papa." She protested taking his arm. He pulled away still looking at Damon with a hostile but protective look on his face
"Go into the kitchen with your mother Liliana I want to speak with Damon for a moment" Damon nodded slightly and Lily turned to her mother who took her shoulders and guided her away.
"I've made you a special treat my darling come and see." They disappeared into the kitchen and Hanson motioned for Damon to follow. He did with much amusement. When he was sitting Hanson started speaking
"Now Damon I apprieciate that you have taken to Liliana and have been spending time with her for the past couple years." Damon nodded
"Then what is the matter?" he asked politely. Damon looked to be about twenty, so it was natural that Hanson thought he was Damon's elder. Marisol stepped around the corner but her father turned to her sharply and she hurried away. He closed in on Damon.
"I saw the way you looked at her, I won't have it not at all Damon, she is a child my child and you will not touch her." Damon stood up in one fluid motion, his aura pulsed slightly and Hanson made a slight face.
"My intentions are pure Sir, I am very fond of Lily and won't let her get hurt."
"And how ever would she get hurt? If not by you?" he demanded still Damon kept his cool
"Well you never know Mr. Marie, what with Lily's little gift someone could find out about it and hurt her." he shrugged "I would never harm her, she has a special place in my heart." Hanson stared Damon straight in the eye.
"I don't like the way you look at her. As if she were your own woman, she isn't." it was Damon's turn to frown
"Sir don't you expect that if I were to do something inappropriate to Lily I would have done it, I don't understand why you believe I would hurt her in anyway, I love Lily she's a sweet girl. I only try to make the best for her, now Mr. Marie if you believe that is wrong I will leave and never come back." In the kitchen Lily was hanging on to each word as if they were an anchor and when she heard Damon announce this she squeaked and dashed away from her mother. She got to the den and said in one breath
"No Papa please don't make Damon go please he hasn't done anything wrong. He has helped me, I don't go to the gardens every day and I don't sit by myself oh Papa you can't let him leave please." She rushed to him and clutched his arm, while looking up at him imploringly.
"Lily..." he started but she interrupted
"Papa it's my birthday I should be able to make the decisions. So I've decided that Damon is to stay. Please." He was silent for a moment then looked back at Damon
"Mr. Salvatore, I will allow you to be around Lily but only when there is a maid of Lily's with the two of you." Damon smirked
"That would be fine with me Mr. Marie." Lily's face twisted and she pouted but Damon placed a soft hand on her face and stared into her eyes. "Everything will be fine Lily, your maid will be with us and will see that I am no harm to you." Lily nodded then broke out of his grasp and looked up at her father who nodded slowly. Damon leaned forward and held his hand out for Mr. Marie to shake. After a moment he took it and Lily stepped backward.
"Well then shall we go?" she said
"I was going to spend the day with Lily for now and then take her somewhere for her birthday. If thats all right with you Mr. Marie" He was staring into his eyes, his own slightly narrowed. Mr. Marie stared back and his eyes slid out of focus then back.
"Yes of course it's fine, but her maid will come" Damon nodded
"Oh yes I would have it no other way."
"You used your power on Papa didn't you?" she asked softly aware of her maid walking slightly behind them when they got outside. he nodded then grabbed her wrist and pulled her roughly to him. She gasped quietly and started to struggle "Damon what are you...?" But he shook his head and moved forward to the front of the house. Lily's maid opened her mouth but Damon pushed his power towards her and she didn't speak. They were silent for some time as they walked into town. When they arrived Lily made them stop at a small shop. "Books?" she asked and he pulled her inside. He was oddly quiet as he sat at one of the tables and she perused around. Finally Lily sat across from him while her maid stood by and watched their every move. "Damon are you angry" he didn't answer just sat and looked around. Frustrated Lily stood and wandered to the shelves. She started looking through the books for something to do. There was one on art and one on plays that Lily couldn't choose between. Then she saw one on a play she had always admired, she had gone to see it many times, but would love to read it. it was called Per amare il nemico è una passione vietato di propria iniziativa(To love the enemy is a passion forbidden on its own). She reached for it at the same a dark hand did. They touched and immediately jumped back. Lily felt as if she'd been shocked
"Oh I'm sorry I didn't mean..." Lily looked up and saw a pair of large dreamy dark green eyes. They were so beautiful and his skin was as pale as her own. He had black hair and white teeth.
"No, no its my fault." She said quickly. He had to be at least a year older maybe two. He smiled at her and she smiled back shyly
"Per amare il nemico è una passione vietato di propria iniziativa, ah my favorite play." He said sweetly. He glanced at the book for a mometn then turned back to her.
"Mine as well, the story line is genius." He nodded eagerly
"Exactly the two characters forbidden to love each other by the whole world, telling them they shouldn't, their minds believing so..."
"But their hearts saying no" Lily finished lovingly. They stopped and looked at each other before bursting into laughter. Lily covered her mouth to stifle her giggles as he took the book down from the shelf.
"Here you take it" She shook her head
"I've seen the play forever you take it." He declined
"No I couldn't you are a lady, ladies first, besides I think I've seen that play longer than forever. Take it" She hesitated for a second then took the book from him.
"Thank you."
"My pleasure, I didn't get your name"
"Oh, Liliana but you can call me Lily"
"Il bel nome di uguagliare i suoi occhi, mi chiamo Gregario, ma lei potrebbe chiamarmi il Greg."(beautiful name to match your eyes, my name is Gregario, but you may call me Greg.) she blushed furiously and looked down. he laughed, the laughter of a child and took her hand "Well it was nice to meet you Lily, I should get back to my mother."
"Yes I probably should be getting back to my...well I should just be getting back." She said with a nervous laugh. He tilted his head then smiled and kissed her hand slowly. When he let go her hand went close to her heart. He mistook it as a sign of something and smirked.
"Well Lily I hope to be seeing you soon, that is if you come into town again, I practically live on this street everyone knows me." He seemed proud of that
"Lucky you Greg." She said simple before she waved at him. He waved back then turned and walked away. Lily looked down at the book in her hands then turned. And gasped violently. Damon was standing there, staring straight into her eyes. She took a few steps back and held the book to her chest. "Damon" She looked around "Wwhere's Bianca?"
"Who was that?" He questioned and she shook her head
"No one we were reaching for the same book." As if it were proof she held the book out. He never took his eyes off of her and slowly the book went back to her chest as she hugged it tight.
"How poetic. And absoulutely sweet of him." Then his eyes went to the book cover and filled with arrogant laughter. she was taking several deep breaths. Sometimes she had seen Damon like this, angry but unwilling to show it in the form of violence. He was angry because her father suggested bad things and Damon would never hurt Lily in anyway. She shifted her weight then set the book on a table next to him and reached for his face. Damon bit back a loud growl so it only came out as a warning purr.
"Please don't be like that Damon I know Papa made you angry, but you have to get over it. We both know the truth, there's no use fussing over a lie." His face didn't change and she continued to stroke his face, over the cheek bones, past his lips, back up to his forehead, brushing his eyebrows, down his straight nose(she giggled as it twitched from her touch) and then under his eyes. Her head went to the right as she continued caressing his face.
"Lily, Lily where have you gone?" Her hand snapped down to her side and she turned quickly and pretended to look at the books. Bianca sighed "Lily your father gave me specific instructions not to let you run off with, Mr. Salvatore alone. You are going to get me in trouble girl."
"Not if you don't tell Papa you won't." She responded and leaned up against the shelf. Bianca gave Lily a look then glared at Damon who turned away from both of them. "so I want this book and thats all, what about you Damon."
"I'm fine thank you." He responded loftily then turned to leave. She nodded once and followed after him. once outside Damon walked across the street. Lily stopped and watched his back with a sad look plastered on her face. Bianca came out as well and tsked before taking Lily by the hand and following.
"I can't find why you want to be around him Liliana, you are a strange child." Lily stayed quiet as they followed the man. They went into a little shop where an old woman sat staring into space. When Damon stepped into her place she turned stared at him. her face stayed blank, even when she stood. Lily and Bianca entered and the woman gasped softly her eyes finally focusing on them.
"Dear child, hello" she said in a mystical voice. Lily waved slightly and Damon growled under his breath and stepped in front of Lily. The woman smirked at him "Oh she isn't the one needing protection vampire" she said softly. Lily turned to Bianca who was looking around.
"Um Bianca please I'm cold would you please go get my cloak I left it in the bookshop!" Bianca frowned at Lily and started to say something when the woman spoke up
"Don't worry dear the child will be completely safe with me." She then proceded to stare straight at Damon, who bristled slightly. Bianca gave Lily and the woman this strange look before she turned and left. They were all quiet then Damon moved towards the woman.
"What are you because you certainly aren't human." Lily looked surprised while the woman laughed
"I am more human than you ever were." she looked at Lily "Oh a beautiful psychic you are, did you see him? Hmm and you couldn't stay away, oh he'll be the death of you. I'm Clasarra, a witch." Lily disregarded all she said except for the last bit
"You mean a real witch? Potions and spells and talents no other can posses? Oh I knew I wasn't the only one with...special abilities. but how did you know that I..."
"A witch knows another when she sees her child." Then she gave Damon a dirty look "Corrupting her while she's young hmm vampire? They like to get us when we're young, our powers are at their best then even though out of control."
"But I can only see." Clasarra frowned then leaned into Lily. Damon growled loudly and Clasarra hushed him with a soft sound.
"Can you read minds? Have you ever tried to?" Lily shook her head. "Well let's do right now. Do you see that man out there? Across the road? Concentrate child, clear your mind and feel." Damon hissed like a big cat and grabbed Lily's shoulder. Her eyes; which had been closed flew open in shock
"Damon let go!" She exclaimed but he put her behind him
"You will not turn her against me witch." He growled but Clasarra just scowled at him. Lily's eyes flickered away during this exchange and stared at the man, she concentrated and let herself feel the words and thoughts of his. she heard nothing. Lily made a disappointed face and stepped from behind Damon to pout at Clasarra.
"I can't read his mind." She exclaimed to the older witch. Clasarra frowned and Damon glared
"Lily don't..." He started but she overrid him
"And I can read Damon's so well!" He made another hissing sound as Clasarra gasped violently. She looked from Damon to Lily then back to him. Her mouth opened and then closed. "What?" Lily questioned curiously. Damon reached for her arm and pulled her to him. Lily a little startled but glad that Damon wanted her close again smiled and snuggled into his chest. if Clasarra was a witch and Lily was a witch she wouldn't mind seeing this. but Clasarra looked anything but casual about this. She was seething.
"How could you?"
"Trust me witch it was not voluntarily, but I am so glad it happened." As if to show Clasarra just what he was talking about he kissed Lily's hair and trailed his fingers down her arm. She giggled softly then smiled up at Clasarra who got herself under control.
"What wasn't voluntary Damon?"
"My falling in love with you dear." He said casually and Clasarra glared
"Child I can see it but tell me still that it isn't true, that you and this monster are not...in love" Lily looked up at Damon then down at the floor
"Oh," was all she said and refused to raise her head. Damon took that as an agreeance with him because he let go of her and was over to Clasarra in a second grasping her face.
"Oh I suppose this means I won."
"Damon no! No killing you promised no killing in front of me." Lily almost screamed as her heart went into overdrive. She grabbed his arm and started pulling.
"She'll hurt us Lily" He said but Lily just shook her head. They argued silently then finally Damon let go and turned in a circle. "Fine but be careful witch." He then peered out the door. "Now where has that woman gone, I should go look for her. Stay put darling, and don't listen to a word she says"
"Oh yes because listening to the leech is much better." Clasarra snarled and Damon just wore a smirk
"She's been listening" he replied smugly before walking out. Things were silent then Clasarra gripped Lilys shoulder and towed her to the back. They stepped into a brightly coloured room filled to the ceiling with old books and trinkets.
"Listen to me carefully child, please for your sake wear this." She thrust something into Lilys' hands. It was a necklace. "It's laced with vervain he can't get into your head." Lily laughed
"But it's alright Clasarra sometimes I want him in my head." But Clasarra only shook her head sadly
"Oh he's got you brain washed child, I don't know how you can hear his thoughts but he is a vampire and only wants one thing from you. Your blood, he'll settle for your body when he gets frustrated but please for your own safety wear this." Lily shook her head
"He won't hurt me I know, he loves me and I love him. But if you insist, I will accept your gift." She said and Clasarra nodded
"Well you can't think he loves you that much if you will take it." She considered and when Lily looked at her with a dark frown "You have brains child use them, it will never work out, you are human he is not. Remember that everytime he is near. And don't let him in your heart it will only end badly." Lily stared up at her with peculiar eyes before nodding once. Clasarra led Lily back out front and sat her down at the large oak table she'd been sitting in when they came in.
"Oh look we're back, your little maid got distracted after passing a certain stand Liliana." Damon's voice swept through the small place and Lily hid the necklace behind her back easily. Bianca was staring ahead with a dreamy look on her face. There was a scarf around her throat. "Well it has been fun; here is your cloak Lily, goodbye now Clasarra." She didn't answer just gave Lily a pointed look and turned to go into the back. Damon shrugged and beckoned for Lily to come. She slipped the necklace in her pocket and held her hand out to Bianca who hesitated then took it slowly.
"Goodbye Clasarra" Lily called
Damon mimicked her and laughed as Lily gave him a look. They left the little shop and continued walking around. Bianca seemed dazed and tired so Lily asked Damon if they could go home. He merely nodded and led them away. They got back to the house and Bianca got permission from the lady of the house to lie down.
"Oh Lily you and Mr. Salvatore walked Bianca ragged. How was your day out?"
"It was nice thank you." Her mother waited for more but Lily continued to stare at the table. Damon sat next to her and watched her suspiciously. Her mother stood still for a moment before she heaved a big sigh and kissed Lily on her head.
"We will speak later hmm?" Lily nodded stiffly still staring at the wood and glass that made up the table. "Alright then love," She turned and made her way out of the kitchen. Lily and Damon were quiet for a long moment before he breathed in to speak
"Lily love tell me what are you thinking." She shook her head and looked out the window.
"It is getting dark, are we still going where ever you were taking me?" It was his turn to be silent while he got his thoughts in order. When he decided it was enough time that had gone by he nodded
"Yes we are. I know she said something to you Lily that..." But Lily put a finger to her mouth to shush him and indicated they were no longer alone.
"Oh Goodevening Mr. Salvatore, evening Lily"
"Goodevening Marisol," Damon said through gritted teeth. She sniffed and continued on. Damon frowned after her then snapped his gaze back onto Lily. "Well go and get ready, it's getting late." She smiled at him and stood encouraging him to be happy. Though he was trying to do the same for her and when she smiled he smiled. Both were equally happy. She went up stairs and started getting ready. Once her maids helped her dress she sent them away and put in the crystal earrings Damon bought her just yesterday, and then her shoes. She was staring in the mirror pinning her loose curls up and setting her ruby gem right where it should be on her dress when she looked down at her dresser to try to find her ring and saw the necklace instead. She started to put it on but remembered Clasarra's words 'Oh he's got you brain washed child, I don't know how you can hear his thoughts but he is a vampire and only wants one thing from you. your blood, he'll settle for your body when he gets frustrated but please for your own safety wear this.' But Lily wasn't brainwashed.
"I can hear his thoughts because I love him and I trust him." She whispered and dropped the necklace on the dresser so she could finish getting ready. When she came downstairs Damon was talking with Demetria who was smiling up at him with childish pleasure. she cleared her throat and Damon looked up and his eyes lit up.
"You a vision of loveliness that I can't explain." He said with his hands over his heart. Her mouth opened slightly then shut as she finished down the stairs. Her father heard her come down the stairs and walked in.
"Lovely Lily you are beautiful, where are you going to take her?" Hanson asked when Damon took Lilys' hand.
"Well for now its a surprise but Lily always has a good time don't you Lily?"
"Oh yes" She agreed and kissed her father on the cheek "Goodbye Papa" Her sister waved and Lily gave her a kiss on the head. "And you be a good girl for Mother and Papa.
Damon helped her into the carriage then got in himself. They talked the entire way there. When they got to their destination Lily peeked out and opened her mouth wide.
"Damon this is Annielyn D'Sousa's she has to be the most snobbiest, meanest, but richest women in all of Florence." She turned to Damon "How ever did you get in to one of her parties?"
"Oh we stumbled upon each other a while back and I thought if I were to take you anywhere why not another vampires home." Lily's jaw dropped "Now whose stunned?" He smugly taunted and hopped out and went around to help her.
"Vampire, Annielyn is a vampire?"
"You didn't know? Ofcourse she is, and all her servants, she invites humans to come, as well."
"For what?" Se questioned and he smirked
"For the feast of course" He said and pulled her to the door
"So you're saying that you brought me to a vampire party where I may or may not be a meal to your friends?"
"Oh no they can't have you, you're mine"
'To eat or to love' The words came to her mind and she blocked it before he could catch the drift of the thought. she didn't know why she was thinking such things. Just because she would be in a room full of vampires didn't mean they would all pounce and eat her. Damon said he would protect her and if bringing her into the danger she needed to be protected from was a good way, in his head to do so, then she would let him. They walked through the doors and immedietly Lily cringed. she didn't know how, but she could feel every vampire in the room. They each had a human at their side and was either sweet talking them or dancing.
"Damon!" Yelled an angelic voice from the top of the stairs. Lily and Damon turned and Lilys' heart tore. It was Annielyn; with her long black waves and bright blue eyes. Her arms were bare and with her black hair against white skin it made her look exotic and if possible more beautiful. Damon smiled and held his hand out. She ignored it and flung her arms around his neck. "Oh Mr. Salvatore I have missed you. I'm so glad you could make it oh don't you look wonderful!" She then noticed Lily and smiled down at her, white teeth exposed. Lily slid slightly behind Damon and stared up at Annielyn; her eyes huge. "And this must be Lily, she's young Damon very young, well I'm sure she'll taste all the better for it. She looks delicious." Annielyn leaned closer but Damon pushed her back
"It's not like that I told you, she's not food." Annielyn looked skeptical then stared down at Lily again then back up at Damon who was staring back at her with hard eyes, making it plain that he would hurt her if she touched Lily. Annielyn threw her hands up in surrender.
"Alright, alright you win I won't touch her, but hold her tight others may not be as generous." He snorted but pulled Lily tighter to him, and she wrapped her arms around him. "Will I see you later Damon."
"Perhaps" He replied mysteriously then led Lily to the dance floor. They began to sway.
"Was she really going to eat me?"
"Probably, if I would have let her." He answered and pulled her closer. "Did you believe anything that witch said?" She was quiet, then she moved back from him
"Almost." She whispered then let him spin her before pulling her back. He placed a hand on the small of her back where her hair tickled his hand. Damon spun her wonderfully and when she turned to face him again he locked her with his stare. She smiled and he knew what he wanted to do. why he took her here, why he wanted her tonight. Lily would like this, hell she would love this. So while they danced around he leaned down ever so slowly. Lily must of realized what he wanted to do because she turned red and lowered her eyes
"Look at me darling" He whispered and when she did he got closer and closer and closer and closer...until their lips were pressed to one anothers. Thats when they heard the screams, and the blood started flowing.
And there you have it! I've changed some things but it's all basically the same.
