A/N: I just want to take a moment to apologize (again) to everyone for the delay! Between looking for a new place and a new job, and dealing with some MAJOR writer's block, I had some family stuff going on. You've been so patient, and this does not go unappreciated! I will have a nice little surprise up soon for you ;)

Shoutouts: Thank you L'usine.c0m and melissa2005 for adding my story to your favorites!

Also, thank you to L'usine.c0m, Blehlove, Vampire I No Drama, starlight-x-A-x, rycbar123, and thegirlwhowaited6 for following :)

Without further ado...

When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach
So she ran away in her sleep

And dreamed of para- para- paradise
Para- para- paradise
Para- para- paradise
Every time she closed her eyes

*Paradise - Coldplay*


Gasping and clutching my chest, I flew upright. When my heart rate returned to normal, I realized that I had fallen asleep while reading. Setting my collection of The Vampire Chronicles on the nightstand, I took in the dimly lit room.

To my left, and just to the right of the door, was a small table with a matching chair. In front of the king-sized bed was a basic color cable TV on top of a 4-drawer dresser. Sighing, I threw back the covers and stood up to check out the bathroom. Counter with the sink just outside, toilet and shower/tub combo inside. Empty.

I splashed some cold water on my face and was just hanging up the towel I'd used to dry my face and hands when a pounding noise sounded from the door, making me to jump. I tiptoed over to it, looked through the peephole, and completely froze.

Damon was standing on the other side with his hands, in clenched fists, and forehead resting against the door.

"Open the door, Danica." His voice was strained. I debated just pretending like I didn't hear him until he spoke again. "I heard you moving in there. I can see that the light's on."

He lifted his head and started banging on the door again. I hesitated at the sound of anger in his voice, not sure if opening the door was a good idea.

"Let me in, before I break the damn door down!" He hissed.

With a shaky hand, I unlocked the dead bolt and twisted the knob, pulling the door open the few inches that the chain lock would allow.

"It's late, Damon. What do you want?" I asked, my voice calm despite the fact that I was feeling anything but.

"Let me in." He repeated, eyes piercing. "Now!"

"Okay. Just give me a second." I said, adding a whispered, "Jeez..." as I shut the door.

I slid the lock through the chrome-plated steel bar and let the chain drop, swinging from its hook on the door frame. Damon pushed the door open impatiently as soon I turned the handle and started to pull. His shoulder collided with mine as he walked passed me and into the room. I spun around to face him.

"What is your deal? You can't just show up in the middle of the night, pounding on the door like a maniac! Some of us actually have to get up early to attend school..."

He didn't say anything, just shrugged his leather jacket off and tossed it on the table before starting to pace the limited space between the bed and the dresser.

"How did you know where I was?" I asked him, flabbergasted. This got me a response.

"There's only one motel in Mystic Falls."

"And my room number?"

"I saw your Tahoe outside the door. Didn't take much to figure it out."

"Okay, seriously, Damon, why are you here?" I asked, crossing my arms. His constantly moving was starting to annoy me.

"What did you see?" He asked, finally stopping.

"See?"

"Earlier, at Elena's. What did you see?" He asked again, moving to stand in front of me.

"I..." I uncrossed my arms, looking down at the floor. "Your eyes. They turned red. But they were still blue. And the veins... What was that?" My voice became quiet at the end.

"Well now, aren't we in a dilemma?" He asked, signature smirk in place. There was malice in his eyes.

"What exactly did you come here for?"

"Initially, just for that. But now... I'm afraid that I have a loose end to tie up."

I cleared my throat and tried to make my voice louder. "What do you mean?"

His eyes roamed my body before meeting mine again.

"I can't compel you for some reason, so I have no choice but to kill you."

"Kill me?" I breathed out, completely terrified at what he was saying.

"Such a waste, too. You're... different. And you are very pretty."

My foot fell back as he took a step towards me. I turned to run, but as soon I did so, he was somehow right in front of me again. I bumped into him, and he grabbed my arms to keep me from falling.

"I suppose it's worth another try." He locked his eyes on mine and his hands moved up to hold my face in place. His pupils dilated before he spoke again. "There was nothing wrong with my eyes. You were imagining things."

"Damon... I –"

"Damn it! Why doesn't it work?!"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

His eyes roamed down my face and stopped just below my neck.

"What is that?"

I raised my hand to where he was looking, my fingers coming to rest on a small vial attached to a chain around my neck.

"It's a necklace. What's the big deal?"

"Give it to me."

"No. What's wrong with you?!" I asked, pulling away from him. "Why is my necklace so important to you?"

"It contains vervain. It's why I can't compel you! Where did you get it?"

"Ver... what?"

"Danica..." The warning look on his face made me shiver.

"My mother. She gave it to me when I was ten."

I took a step back and my fingers curled around the vial when Damon started to reach towards it.

"How often do you wear this thing?"

"All the time."

"Impossible. I would've noticed it before."

"Maybe you just weren't paying close enough attention." And then something else popped into my mind. Suddenly angry, I asked, "And what the hell do you mean, 'compel me?'"

"Tell me, Dani, what do you know about vampires?" He asked, a devilish grin on his face.

"Vampires?!" I looked at him, completely taken aback by the subject change.

"Yes, vampires. What do you know about them?"

"What do vampires have to do with any of this?"

"Humor me?" He asked, reminding me of when we'd gone to dinner. I stared at him for a minute before realizing that he wasn't joking. I sighed.

"The myths are: vampires survive off human blood, burn in the sun, sleep in coffins, turn into bats, don't have reflections, can be killed by a stake to the heart, need an invitation to get inside someone's home, and can be repelled by garlic, holy water, and crucifixes. Satisfied?"

"Is there anything else that you know about them?"

"Um... they don't exist?"

"What if I told you that they do?"

"I'd start to seriously question your mental health." I stated, raising an eyebrow. "Okay, now tell me, what exactly does that have to do with you 'compelling' me?"

He gave me a pointed look, an eyebrow cocked.

"No way. You seriously want me to believe that you're a vampire?! You're crazy!" I exclaimed, crossing my arms. "I suppose that means that Stefan is as well?"

He nodded.

"Last time I checked, I saw you both at the school earlier. You know, in the daylight? You weren't bursting into flames or sparkling."

"Please. You believe everything you read in books or see in movies?"

"Obviously not, since I don't believe in vampires." I scoffed.

"If I were to tell you that I could convince you, would you promise not to scream?" He looked at me with devious eyes.

I bit my lip in thought, then nodded my head after a moment.

"Remember, don't scream."

In a second, his eyes were just like they were at Elena's, like they had been in my dream just a few moments ago. His mouth was curved up into a malicious grin, revealing two fangs among his perfect teeth. My hand flew up to my mouth as I gasped and I took a step back, my eyes wide. My legs hit the side of the bed and I fell down on to it. A shudder ran down my spine.

"Believe me now?"

I struggled to compose myself. Letting my hand fall to my lap, I sat up straight and refused to break eye contact with him. His face had returned to normal by now, fangs retracted, and he moved to sit on the chair with his feet propped up on the table. When I could find my voice, it sounded surprisingly collected.

"Say I do believe you... what exactly is true, and what's fiction?"

"I can't turn into a bat, or fly, for that matter. This ring, made from a certain type of stone, lapis lazuli, is what allows me to go out during the day. And I sleep in a big comfy bed, not a coffin." He winked at me. "Garlic, holy water, crosses, no reflection... that's the myth."

"And the invitation part? I didn't invite you in."

"Public accommodation." He explained with a shrug.

"Do you have any special powers?" I was extremely curious at this point.

"The basics: strength, speed, heightened senses, immortality... I heal fast, for the most part. I do have a few other... abilities."

"I had a dream. You were in it. Was that you? Did you do that?"

"Vampires can... manipulate dreams. But no, that wasn't me. The vervain in your necklace prevents that from happening."

"Do you have any other abilities?"

"I can control the weather to create fog. It's actually a pretty cool trick."

I took a deep breath before asking what was probably the most important question of all.

"Blood?"

"Human."

Another shiver ran down my spine. While trying to ignore the reaction that his answer brought on, I continued with my next question.

"And the compulsion?"

"We can control human minds. Make people do what we want them to, plant memories, or erase them. Unless, of course, they have vervain in their system or on their body." He responded, taking a second to glance at my necklace again with an annoyed expression. "I can compel animals, too."

"That explains the creepy crows hanging around outside my window." I mumbled, finally looking away from him.

"I do have a question of my own." He continued after I brought my eyes back to his. "Is it possible that your mother knew of the existence of vampires? I mean, with the vervain and all..."

"I have no idea. I never bothered to ask what was in the vial or why it was so important to her that I had it on at all times, I just wore the necklace because it was a gift."

A realization came to me just then: I'd invited him into the house in California. The house that only Ryan was living at now. I kept my focus on the floor as I carefully approached this issue.

"So... what happens now?" I asked, biting my lip.

"I like you, and I don't really want to kill you. I don't suppose you want to be a vampire?" He cocked an eyebrow. I couldn't help but look up at him and laugh.

"Not exactly, but I meant the invitation thing." I rolled my eyes, surprised at how well I was taking this whole 'Surprise! Vampires actually exist!' thing.

"I told you, motels aren't privately owned. I don't need a formal invitation to get in." He frowned at me, confused.

"No, I mean... In Monterey... You got an invitation. Inside Ryan's house."

Understanding lit up his features.

"Ryan's safe. From me, at least."

"And I'm supposed to believe that you won't hurt him or kill him just to spite me? What if I do something that upsets you or makes you angry?"

"As long as you don't try to kill me or get in my way, I promise you that I will leave Ryan alone. Beyond that, you'll just have to trust me."

"Damn. There goes my dream of becoming a vampire hunter." I said, rolling my eyes again. Then I looked at him, all humor gone. "So, you're not going to kill me?"

"I suppose, as long as you serve a purpose to me and don't go spreading this around town, I'll let you live."

"In that case, I need sleep. I have school tomorrow. And a game, which I'm supposed to be cheering at." I stated, standing up and running a hand through my hair.

Using his vampiric speed, Damon vanished from the chair. After a moment, I exhaled and turned around to crawl under the covers, but stopped when I saw him spread out on the bed, his hands behind his head and legs crossed at the ankles. His clothes were in a pile on the floor by the foot of the bed, leaving him in just a pair of black boxer briefs. A blush spread across my cheeks and I forced my gaze to stay above his neck.

"Um, I don't think so. Get out." I pointed at the door.

"Oh come on, don't be like that. We've slept in the same bed before. And I'm too tired to get back up." He exaggerated a yawn.

Realizing that there was no point in arguing with him, I turned off the light as I climbed into bed, making sure to lay facing the door and not Damon, before pulling the covers over my body.

"I swear, if you touch me, in any way, I will stake you." I threatened, earning a chuckle from him. I squealed in surprise when I felt his hands on me.

"What are you doing?!"

"Getting comfortable." He stated.

The next thing I knew, I was on my other side. Damon had an arm tucked underneath my body, both of his arms wrapped around my waist. I pushed against his chest in an attempt to get out of his embrace, but gave up after a few tries. Sighing in defeat, I let my hands rest on his chest.

"I hate you." I whispered. My eyes were adjusted enough to the darkness that I could make out the outline of his face, and I glared up at him.

"Shh. Go to sleep." He opened one eye slightly to look at me, a small smirk on his face.

His arms tightened around me, pulling me closer. I felt his lips on my forehead before his hand came up to tuck my head under his chin. Just like the first night, his fingers ran through my hair. I fell asleep amazingly fast after that.