A/N: Here it is: my surprise :)
This is something I've thought about doing for about a month now. The BIGGEST thing to know so you don't get confused: this is in DAMON'S POV! I kind of just wanted to play inside his head. Anything in Italic is a flashback to the earlier chapters (in case you couldn't tell) except the last part at the end (it's a dream). I might do this again if I think it would help out the story in any way.
Shoutout to Blehlove: thank you SO MUCH! for adding this as a favorite and for the review :)
Anywho, enjoy! And don't forget, any reviews (except flames, unless in PM form) are welcome :D
I was wrong when I said you were right
It's no fun when everything is so nice
Well, I've been waiting too patiently
For life to turn it's back on me
And not just go my way
*I Was Wrong – The Morning Benders*
"Jeremy Gilbert, you better get your ass in that Tahoe, or else!"
"Yeah? What are you gonna do if I don't?"
I recognized the voices coming from the two people standing in front of the small-town restaurant: Danica, in all her beauty, even in just a plain t-shirt and jeans, and the younger brother of Elena Gilbert.
Elena's face appeared in my mind. She could pass as Katherine Pierce herself, if she wasn't human.
My thoughts came back to Danica as I watched her tackle the boy. She'd picked up on my not-so-subtle hint that she should move to Mystic Falls, and had actually done it.
'Life is about to get much more interesting...' I thought as I compelled a crow to follow her.
I watched her leave with the Gilbert boy before my latest plaything walked outside. I smiled upon seeing the blonde walking to her car. She's just the thing that I wanted to end my night with...
"My apologies, Miss." I give a partial smile to the human in front of me after purposefully standing in her way.
"Oh! No. Totally my fault. I'm sorry." Blush. Perfect. A little tease of what lies underneath that slightly tanned skin.
A few suggestive comments on my end. A few smiles from her. All part of the game.
Only, the following events don't unfold like they're supposed to. Instead of falling for it, this girl becomes annoyed and starts to leave.
'Let her go.' I think, while my body does the opposite, instead responding in a way that surprises me. I reach out to stop her. The annoyance never leaves her eyes.
I try to backtrack. A thrill runs through me when it works. Names are exchanged. Her irritation quickly grows soon after. Without thinking, I stop her from walking away again and try to compel her.
It doesn't work. Why doesn't it work?
I don't have enough time to find out. I remember where we are: a store. A public place. I can't use force. All I can do is watch her leave... and follow her home.
I keep a safe distance between us, parking a block down from the driveway that she pulls into. I'm just turning off my car as I tune in to listen to her sounds and movements, waiting for the right opportunity to grab her, but something stops me.
She's crying.
I dropped Blondie from last night off at Mystic Falls High after feeding on her and making her presentable. She jumped right into starting cheer practice with the group of girls that were waiting for her, two of which didn't look like they belonged there at all.
My eyes strayed from Elena to Danica before I pulled away, stopping far enough away that I wouldn't be seen, but could still see and hear the two girls.
I felt a flash of envy as my baby brother joined the field in his attempt at securing a spot on the football team to keep up his ruse of a normal high-school teenager.
I watched Danica as she gave up on cheering and led Elena to the stands to watch the players practice before I drove away.
I wake up in an unfamiliar place. A room inside a house belonging to the bloodied corpse next to me. A woman in her early thirties, living alone. The perfect drink to satisfy my thirst.
A crow flies in through the open window, landing on the dresser across the room. It'd been sent to keep watch on Danica's house, compelled to return to me when she left.
I make my way to the street that she'd turned on last night, finding her returning from an afternoon workout.
Just before she's able to go inside, I call out to her, laughing when she asks if I'm a stalker. I have been acting stalker-like, but I don't need to tell her that.
I argued with myself all night, coming to the conclusion that it doesn't matter why she'd been upset yesterday, nor does it matter that she can't be compelled. I don't know her, and I don't want to know her. It's time to get back to the game of cat and mouse, predator vs prey. I just have to change it up a little.
I hold back on my comments, mostly, now that I know Danica's put off by them. I can't, however, hold back on letting my eyes rake over her form, slightly sweaty from her run and barely covered from the waist up.
It takes everything in me to not drain her. It'd be so easy. No one is around to see or hear anything. And she's standing so close...
Finally, she agrees to dinner. I allow her to go inside as I leave to make reservations.
"How do I know you won't kidnap me or turn out to be some psycho serial killer who only goes after teenage girls?"
I chuckle, thinking on that. If only she knew...
"And then I was like, 'No, Amanda, we can NOT end with a round-off back handspring, full twisting-layout. This is NOT Bring It On!'"
"Caroline, I really don't care about your cheerleading routines, so unless you have something useful to tell me, I suggest you shut up. You're much prettier that way." I snapped. I couldn't help it. Danica hadn't left my mind since seeing her at the high school.
"Look, jerk. I don't have to sit here and –"
I met her eyes, silently compelling her to stop talking. She didn't say another word until I was parked against the curb outside her house.
"So... are you coming in?"
"No. I have some things to take care of."
"Oh. Okay." She sighed. "I guess I can just see if Bonnie's back from Elena's."
Now Blondie had my full attention.
"Elena, as in Elena Gilbert?"
"Yeah. Bonnie mentioned something about going to her place for dinner. I think she said that Stefan and the new girl were going to be there too."
"Why didn't you say something sooner? Let's go."
"Um... how about not? I can think of a ton of things that I would much rather do."
'Nothing's ever easy with this girl...' I thought, catching her eyes with my own. Her attitude quickly changed.
"Hey, here's an idea: why don't we go to Elena's?"
"Great idea!" I said, playing along. "Now run along, like a good little human, and make something delicious for us to take for dessert. I'll be back to pick you up in an hour."
Putting my bloodlust aside, I take in Danica's features. The semi-short black dress. Her hair left in its natural curls. The sweet smell of perfume she'd applied early enough so that it wouldn't be overwhelming. Hardly any make-up. It takes a great deal of effort to not kill this girl the second she steps outside.
A few minutes later, I was standing behind a tree on Danica's right as she approached the Gilbert house.
'This girl makes it so easy to mess with her.' I thought, stepping down on a stick to catch Danica's attention.
I watched as she tried to find the source of the noise before her attention was brought back to the house as the door was opened. Little Gilbert caught her as she tripped.
'Such a clumsy human.'
A slight wave of annoyance overcame me as I watched the exchange between her and the boy. His hands never left her arms.
They finally parted after she'd agreed to meet him later.
The last thing I wanted to deal with was Stefan complaining about me killing his precious Elena's little brother, so I let him walk away.
It was time to return to Caroline's anyway...
She looks like she's about to salivate when I park in front of the restaurant, and I chuckle at the sparkle of happiness that shines in her eyes. She's acting as if this is her dream date.
Once again I think, 'if only she knew', before I'm moving to help her out of the car, catching her when her heel gets stuck and she starts to fall. For a moment, I'm captivated by how warm her eyes are, how pretty she is, especially when that damned blush spreads across her cheeks again.
The spell is broken the second she tells me to let go of her. On the bright side, she seems to be warming up to me, trusting me, even if it's with something as simple as placing our order.
I'm lost again in her smile, her laugh, her voice. I start to almost feel as if I'm a human on a date with this beautiful girl. I quickly shake this from my mind. I'm not human, I'm a vampire. And this isn't a date. The girl sitting across from me is my real dinner.
I was pleased to hear Danica asking about me as we arrived at Elena's, Caroline carrying some type of dish.
It wasn't long after Elena had invited me inside, much to Stefan's discomfort, that we were all sitting in the living room, with Blondie continuously making snide remarks towards Elena. I started to lose my patience with her when she mentioned the deaths of Elena's parents, which caused Danica to leave the room. I was relieved when the Bennett girl decided to check on her.
I listened in as Danica explained to Bonnie about her past, confirming my suspicion about her losing her mother and father. Despite the fact that she'd just said her parents were dead, I smiled when my name fell from her lips.
A sign that she needed to be here. That's what she got from meeting me.
If only she knew...
"Okay, seriously. What's the deal? And do not say nothing, because you were staring."
I bring up a name she'd mentioned: Ryan. Her guardian, I learn.
She admits to wanting to get away from California. I mention Mystic Falls, hinting slightly that it's location is practically as far away from California as she could get. I see her play with the idea. I'm thrilled at this, because her moving there would allow me to extend our game if I change my mind about ending her life.
The dessert arrives, and a moan escapes her lips on the first bite, which in turn brings back the pinkness to her face. I can't help but give a slight laugh at her embarrassment. She is such a beautiful creature, and I'm soon going to have the joy of watching as the life leaves her eyes. Just the thought of it's enough to keep me from becoming bored from the wait.
While assisting Elena with cleaning up in the kitchen, I saw Bonnie pass by on her way to the living room. My senses picked up on Danica walking towards us a few minutes later, stopping just before the entryway. I was curious as to why, but then realized she was listening in as Elena mentioned my maker.
After talking about Katherine, I heard Danica return to the bathroom before giving a slightly loud cough, as if to make it seem like she'd been there this entire time. For some reason, this bothered me. It probably didn't help that Elena had brought up Katherine in the first place. When I heard Danica coming back, I exited the kitchen and grabbed her, dragging her down the hallway before anyone could see us.
She tried to pull away, and rage suddenly replaced all other emotions I'd been feeling. I didn't even realize that I'd drawn blood on her arms or that my face had transformed until Danica became frightened and asked about my eyes. Before I could tear into her throat, I used my supernatural speed to get away, leaving her alone in the hallway.
My fury was fueled even more so when I reached the living room and Stefan was trying to reveal the bite marks I'd left on Caroline. I compelled her to the kitchen with Bonnie and Elena, desperately needing to be away from any humans until I could calm myself down. Unfortunately for poor little Stefan, I took my anger out on him.
Hours later, I was still unable to control my emotions, and I found myself outside the motel room that I knew Danica was staying in. It took a great deal of effort to not smash through the wood as I waited for Danica to wake and open the door.
Nearly two hours later, we're sitting at a bar in a hotel.
It's clear to me that Danica can hold her liquor better than most girls. She's an easier target with each drop of alcohol that she consumes, but each drop also makes her blood that much more unclean. I'm realizing what it meant to have brought her here, what a waste of a meal it was. But I don't regret it, not completely.
I've already come to the conclusion that she's had too much alcohol for me to drink from her when she's ready to leave. It's not such a waste after all, when I think about it as I drive her home. Tonight was a nice distraction from the goal that I've had for the last 145 years.
I barely heard the words that Danica was saying as I thought back to the few times that we'd actually been around each other. Something about this girl wasn't right. She had to be ingesting vervain somehow. It was the only explanation as to why she couldn't be compelled.
I was brought out of my thoughts as it occurred to me that she saw my face transform earlier tonight. Without the ability to compel her to forget, I was left with only one option: kill her. Of course, I could turn her. Creating vampires wasn't something I went around doing on a regular basis, but for some unknown reason, I couldn't bring myself to actually end this girl's life.
It wasn't the terror in Danica's eyes that made me regret even thinking about killing her, it was the heat I could feel radiating from her body. Even though I'd only been around this human just a handful of times, I would miss her warmth.
I tried again to compel her, hoping that it would actually work this time. But it didn't.
My eyes finally caught the necklace she was wearing.
After parking outside of her home, I find myself enjoying the fact that Danica needs assistance from my car to her door. I allow myself to relish in the warmth and softness of her skin as I carry her bridal-style up the stairs of the porch, helping her stand while she unlocks the door once we reach it.
And that's when I get it: the invitation needed for me to step across the threshold. A new plan forms in my mind. Wait until she's sober, and then come back and drain her. It seems that fate is screaming that it's her time to die, without her having any clue.
"Give it to me."
"No. What's wrong with you?! Why is my necklace so important to you?"
My hands ached to touch her again as soon as she pulled away. It was probably better that I didn't have a grip on her when she denied to hand the necklace over.
"It contains vervain. It's why I can't compel you! Where did you get it?" I let my arms fall to my sides as my hands balled up.
She didn't know what vervain was, or what it did. Of course. That would've meant that she knew of the existence of vampires, but she was clearly unaware of what I was.
After she explained that her mother gave the vial to her, I couldn't help but reach for it. Destroying that vial, even just removing it, would allow me to make her to forget what she saw tonight.
Following her directions, I make my way to her bedroom, once again carrying her. I pretend to be distracted by a section of her wall that's been covered by pictures while she changes. And then I realize that this is a timeline of Danica's life and actually look at them.
The first few are of a newborn baby wrapped in a pink hospital blanket and tucked in between a man and a woman who look to be in their early twenties. Danica clearly got her looks from her mother, but her eyes match those of her father.
I stifle a chuckle at a seven-year-old Danica with green all around her mouth from a mint chocolate chip ice cream cone.
What I notice most of all from the collage of Polaroids are the physical differences. The multicolored hairstyle Danica now adorns greatly differs from the long chestnut curls she was born with. There are no photographs showing the new look.
Something else catches my eye. Pictures of her parents cease closer to the end.
Things start to piece themselves together in my mind. The happiness, the light that seems dim in comparison to what is seen in the photos. Ryan, her guardian, not her father.
I'm surprised that I didn't pick up on this sooner, when she'd mentioned him.
There's something else I spot almost instantly. Her eyes shine brighter, her smile is bigger as she sits on the top of a picnic table, leaning back on her hands as she chats with a blonde sitting next to her. Neither seem aware that the picture is being taken. I recognize the girl from a lot of the earlier photos.
The next one, however, is the one that captures my gaze the longest. Same park. Same day. Different person with Danica. A boy, popular among so many on this wall. I also recognize him from previous pictures.
It's not who's in the picture, but rather what they're doing that catches my attention and won't release it: they're kissing, and she's smiling into the kiss.
Despite his lack of presence from this point on, a rush of jealousy runs through me for a moment as my eyes continue to be locked on this photo. I almost tear it down, but then I feel Danica's eyes on me.
"I should go." I find myself saying.
Yes, I really should be going. It's getting dangerous, this getting to know her. I still want to taste her blood, feel it flow down my throat, but I'm starting to lose my desire to kill her.
And then Danica surprises me by asking me to stay.
"How often do you wear this thing?" My eyes were still on the vial, filled with dried vervain.
"All the time."
"Impossible. I would've noticed it before."
"Maybe you just weren't paying close enough attention. And what the hell do you mean, 'compel me'?"
I needed to make a decision about this girl's fate: tell her the truth or just kill her?
I chose the first option. I could always kill her later.
This girl, this beautiful, warm, HUMAN girl, with a normal life, a best friend and a boyfriend, with a family she so obviously loved and lost, wants ME, a stranger, a monster, to stay with her.
I almost leave, but looking in Danica's big brown eyes stops me. I feel as if SHE has compelled ME as she strokes the empty side of her bed, wanting me to lie down next to her.
Now is the time to figure out what I want to do with her: stick with my original plan to feed, or let her live. My decision is quick and surprising.
I feel Danica shiver as she tucks herself into my side, resting her head just above my shoulder and her hand on my chest, with her other arm tucked underneath me. Against my better judgment, I bring my arm around her body, pulling her slightly closer. My hand moves against her skin, and then through her hair, as if it has a mind of its own.
Without thinking, I kiss her forehead and whisper, "happy birthday". An hour after she falls asleep, I reluctantly slip out of Danica's embrace, write a quick note on a piece of paper from her desk, and lay it on the pillow before leaving.
"You seriously want me to believe that you're a vampire?!"
Danica's disbelief was very amusing. It was entertaining to see the range of emotions on her face when my canine teeth lengthened into fangs and blood rushed to my eyes. Fear. Shock. Surprise. Fear again.
I kept waiting for her to scream and try to run, but it never came. Instead, I watched the fear in her eyes turn into an astonishing calmness.
I became intrigued with her excitement at finding out my supernatural abilities, delighted to learn that she'd had a dream about me without any influence on my part. She didn't even hesitate at continuing her questions when I admitted to drinking human blood. A shudder was the only reaction she gave.
I had to admit that this girl was quite amazing at handling the situation. She'd just found out that her world was not as safe as it seemed, that vampires were real, and she was sitting across from one without even a hint of disgust.
I became tense the moment I saw her face become as blank as she could get it until she brought up me having been invited inside the residence where her guardian lived. Relief flooded her eyes when I promised to leave him alone, and allow her to live, if she behaved.
When she said that she needed to sleep, I moved to the bed, enjoying her slightly reddened cheeks as she strained to keep her eyes on my face. I'd stripped off most of my clothes.
Pleased that she'd given up on trying to make me leave, I watched her while she joined me, staying as far away from me as the bed would allow.
"I swear, if you touch me, in any way, I will stake you."
As if this fragile little human would be quick enough, strong enough to be able to do such a thing...
She didn't hide her frustration when I flipped her over and pulled her to me, wrapping my arms around her waist, not letting go even as she did her best to push away from me. Contentment took over as she rested her hands against my chest.
"I hate you." She whispered, half-heartedly, causing me to smile.
It didn't take long for her breathing to even out. While she slept, I thought over what just happened.
I let her live. I let her live.
Something was wrong. I should've killed her. I should've forced that door open, broken the locks, without waiting for her to open it herself. I shouldn't have bothered with words. I didn't owe her an explanation, the truth. I didn't owe her anything. I should've drained her dry.
So why didn't I?
At the risk of pulling a Stefan, was it possible that with just a few short encounters with her, I'd actually started caring about her?
No. I mentally shook that last thought from my mind as I looked down at the girl in my arms. There was no way in hell that a human could have this much of a hold on me. And especially not this soon.
It had to be the vervain. Yeah, that's what it was. My only interest in her was the challenge that vial created. Once I ripped that necklace off of her, I'd sink my fangs into her pretty little neck. I wouldn't think twice about drinking every single drop of the sweet crimson liquid flowing in the veins of Danica Williams.
So why wasn't I removing it now?
'A party in the woods. How perfect. Why do teenagers make it so easy for me to pick my next meal?' I think, watching a girl storm off on her own after having a heated discussion with a boy.
It's almost too easy, almost like she's asking to be my next victim. Sticking to the shadows, I follow her through the trees until we're far enough away from anyone who can potentially hear her screams.
Deciding to have a little fun with my prey, I create a nice thick layer of fog, just to mess with her, before I attack. A scream escapes her mouth before she's in my arms and struggling to break free from my grip. Relief floods through my entire body as soon as my fangs pierce her jugular and her blood starts to slide down my throat.
I'm almost done when I hear yelling and footsteps growing closer. Three partiers, one closer than the other two, coming this way. Not wanting to carry the extra weight of this girl's body, and not having enough time to finish with her, I drop her body and start to leave when I feel the need to glance at my meal. Looking down, the features of the girl become familiar.
I awoke with a jolt. I'd fallen asleep. I was still in the motel room. Danica was still in my arms. As I remembered the name of the girl who fell victim to my bloodlust at the party, Vicki, another surprise caught my attention: a wetness on my cheeks.
Tears. I'd been crying. In my sleep. While dreaming about almost killing a girl who looked so much like Danica. Yes, something was definitely wrong...