So...I suck. I'm hoping to redeem myself, however, by posting 2 chapters nearly back to back. I just have a little tweaking to do for Chapter 11 then I promise I'll be happy with it lol It's rough being a procrastinator and a perfectionist! I haven't given up on the story, I promise. I just needed some time to figure out the direction I wanted to go, but I think I have it all mapped out in my head now. There's no Damon in this chapter, but I can guarantee nearly all the subsequent chapters should feature him. I did have fun bringing Bonnie back, though =) She wasn't my favorite character in the books, but she is surprisingly enjoyable to write about. Enjoy!
Chapter 10
The sky was a collage of fiery orange, russet, and polished gold. Vast stretches of emerald green countryside spread out for miles around Meredith, broken up occasionally by brown patches of freshly ploughed fields. A series of windmills dotted the horizon; their blades turned lazily as they basked in the dying glow of the sunset. Below the grassy knoll where she was seated Meredith could see a…plantation?
Meredith knew she had to be dreaming. This didn't feel like any dream she'd ever had before, though. It felt more vivid and real than any dream she'd ever experienced. She was accustomed to dreams that were a patchwork of bits from everyday life, strung together by the subconscious in some bizarre fashion.
There was typically something happening in dreams too. Not this one. Everything around Meredith was quiet and still. Dreams were rarely still. They sucked you in and took you along for the ride.
Perplexed, Meredith concentrated on the property directly below her, the one that looked distinctly like a plantation right out of the old south. The house was a handsome white colonial supported by granite columns. Green shutters adorned the windows. For some odd reason it struck her as very familiar.
Meredith was beginning to have her suspicions about this dream.
They were confirmed when she happened to look down and noticed what she was wearing. Meredith groaned aloud. It was the most memorable dress from the movie, the one Scarlett had Mammy make from the curtains at Tara. Layers of sage green velvet with gold tassels, complete with the jaunty little hat.
Meredith had always scoffed at that part in the movie because there was no way that dress could have been whipped up out of curtains—there was suspension of disbelief and then there was utter ridiculousness. Yet now here she was, wearing that exact same dress.
This couldn't possibly be her dream, Meredith felt certain. She'd never had a "Gone with the Wind" dream, but she knew someone who confessed to them frequently…
As though thinking about her made her appear, Bonnie strolled out from behind a nearby oak tree. She looked the part of the quintessential Southern Belle in a light yellow gingham dress. The neck, sleeves, and hem were decorated with white lace. Bonnie's heart-shaped face peaked out from the matching bonnet, her red-gold spiral curls gleaming like liquid fire in the setting sun.
"Meredith!" Bonnie squealed in excitement when she spotted her. She rushed forward to greet her friend.
Meredith attempted to rise, but was thwarted by the weight of what had to be the world's heaviest dress. Sitting back down, she patted the grass beside her instead. "So you're the reason I'm wearing a corset and seventy-five pounds of velvet," she griped, but couldn't help smiling widely to see her friend.
"You look great if it's any consolation." Bonnie settled herself down on the grass, opening a white parasol Meredith hadn't noticed before and settling it over one shoulder.
"You do too. So…what am I doing in your dream pre tell?"
"I'm not so sure this is a dream exactly." Bonnie glanced down at her dress, then at Meredith's. "Okay, obviously parts definitely are. I'm mainly here to deliver a message, though."
"From who?"
"Who else?" Bonnie held her arms out to the sky helplessly. "The powers that be say jump and I ask them how high and can I get them a diet Coke on my way back down. I might as well face it…I'm their bitch."
Meredith couldn't help laughing. The expression of resigned defeat on Bonnie's face was priceless. "So what's the message?" she asked when she was able to compose herself.
"You're not going to like it."
"Your premonitions rarely bring happy tidings. I'm used to it."
"It's about Damon." Bonnie cringed, eyeing Meredith warily to see how she would react.
Meredith wasn't sure what Bonnie was expecting, but she remained calm. "Oh?" was all she said in response.
Playing with the hem of her dress, Bonnie cast her eyes downward. Taking a deep breath, she blurted it all out in a rush. "Damon was right about the other night. He is your only hope for getting into the Dark Veritas if you want to make it out alive. I wish there was any other option for your sake, Meredith, but the message I'm getting is very clear." She frowned, looking miserable, as though she'd betrayed her friend.
Meredith sighed, staring off into the distance for a long moment. "He's the man in black, isn't he?"
A look of surprise crossed Bonnie's face. "You do remember that part! I thought maybe you'd forgotten with everything else going on."
"No, I was just hoping you meant someone—anyone—else. Wait a minute—how do you remember everything you said? You normally go all Jason Bourne after your premonitions."
"Huh?" Bonnie stared at her blankly.
"You usually have amnesia after your premonitions," Meredith explained patiently. "You don't remember anything you said or did."
"Beats me," Bonnie said with a shrug. "I've given up on figuring out how this whole thing works. Now that you mention it, though, I do know everything about what your grandfather said and what you have to do. Yet when I'm awake I don't remember anything. Maybe it's a—what's that word when you know something without thinking about it?"
Only someone who'd known her nearly her entire life would have been able to decipher what Bonnie meant. "Subconscious?" Meredith offered.
"That's it! Maybe it's a subconscious thing. I'm aware of everything when I'm dreaming because I'm on a different mind wave…or something."
"Well, now that we've solved that mystery can we move on to bigger problems," Meredith drawled wryly. "Are you sure Damon is my only chance?"
Bonnie nodded in affirmation. "Positive."
"Can't the powers that be ever deliver any good news? Something like rainbows and puppies will help me get into the Dark Veritas—not an undead Casanova who has probably been to an actual blood orgy."
"He's not that bad," Bonnie protested feebly.
"Oh really?" Meredith began to tick Damon's less-than-desirable qualities off on her fingers. "He killed Mr. Tanner." Bonnie went to interject something, but Meredith cut her off because she knew what she was going to say. "Matt told me his whole self-defense theory, but I don't buy it. Damon can rip a tree out of the ground, but he can't fight off a middle-aged history teacher?" When Bonnie didn't respond, Meredith continued her list. "He tried to seduce Elena and wound up 'helping' turn her into a vampire. He has only his best interests at heart—if he even has one. And didn't your premonition also mention that he would happily betray me to the darkness with a smile and a bow?"
"Um, it might have been something like that…" Bonnie purposefully avoided meeting Meredith's unimpressed gaze.
"So then why on earth would I trust him?"
"Because he's your only option," Bonnie said with unusual pragmatism. Twilight was quickly beginning to replace the sunset and she seemed to take this as some sort of signal. "I have to go, Meredith, but please be careful. Don't get yourself killed because of your prejudice towards Damon. He just might surprise you." Bonnie smiled knowingly, as though she knew some secret Meredith wasn't privy to, but she didn't elaborate. Instead she climbed to her feet and leaned down to give Meredith a hug.
"Be careful," Bonnie repeated one more time before everything, the landscape, the dream, began to fade to black.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Meredith sat at the desk in the study that had belonged to her grandfather. Bright sunlight streamed through the bay window that provided a beautiful view of the back part of the estate. It certainly wasn't your average back yard: there was a fountain of a water nymph, nearly fluorescent lemon trees, and a pebbled pathway that led to an indoor swimming pool. Turquoise water sparkled enticingly behind the glass panes that housed the pool.
Meredith wasn't tempted by either the water or the view. All of her focus was on the sheets of paper on the desk in front of her. She glared at the blank paper, as though it were to blame for the words that would not come. Several balls of failed attempts lay on the carpet behind her. Her pen tapped impatiently against the desk.
Why could she not think of the right words to say to Damon?
Two weeks had passed since Meredith moved into the villa her grandfather left her. She still wasn't accustomed to how large and grand it was. The first time she'd seen it all she'd been able to do was stare initially, unable to believe that it was all really hers.
Meredith had been aware prior to moving in that a villa was fancier than your average house, but she hadn't expected something quite so lavish. For one person it seemed especially excessive.
The villa was made up of five bedrooms, all with adjoining full bathrooms, a library that was an offshoot of the study, a kitchen, and a dining room. There was also a grand entryway with a crystal chandelier and a stairway that spiraled up to the second floor. Every room was decorated uniquely, yet it all managed to tie-in to a central theme as was the skill of a superior interior decorator. There were touches of Ancient Rome and even Egypt in the art, tapestries, and furniture.
Along with getting accustomed to the house, Meredith also had to adjust to there being servants. A routine had already been established prior to her arrival. A gardener came twice a week to tend to the numerous flower beds and trees. The groundskeeper, Mr. Jenkins, took care of any other landscaping duties. The gardener and groundskeeper didn't surprise her when they started showing up. Meredith went out to chat with them and they explained what they did. It was the trio of maids that caught her most off guard.
Meredith was getting out of the shower one day—mercifully wearing a robe—only to find a woman she'd never seen before making her bed. The maids must have been told of her arrival because none of them seemed surprised to see her.
With such a large house it made sense that there would be people to clean it, but Meredith knew it would take her awhile to adapt to the idea. While not a slave master, Henry Sulez made sure his daughter didn't grow up spoiled and appointed her daily house chores to do. Meredith knew it would take awhile before she could see the maids at work without feeling guilty and lazy.
If only adjusting to having servants were the least of Meredith's worries. The message Bonnie had delivered in her dream on the first night she'd spent in her new home weighed most heavily on her mind.
Damon was her only option. The prince of darkness was her only gateway into a world of shadows and mystery.
The bitter irony of this knowledge was a hard pill for Meredith to swallow, but she realized later that she'd known the truth all along. Denial was a safe and comfortable refuge to hide behind, but her own logic would not allow her to stay secluded for long. Reason beat at the walls of her fortress of delusion so consistently after she'd repelled Damon from her hotel room so that Bonnie's message was simply the light breeze that brought it all crashing down.
That was why Meredith was seated at the desk, willing the words of an apology to come. She wasn't accustomed to being wrong. Amongst her group of friends, she was typically the one who provided the voice of reason. Now she was forced to not only say she was sorry to someone she detested, but to also ask for Damon's help. Meredith didn't have much experience with groveling, it wasn't her style.
Disgusted with the entire situation—especially her stubborn pride she was having difficulty swallowing—Meredith threw down the pen. Pushing away from the desk, she closed her eyes and rubbed at her temples with her fingertips, feeling a headache start to build up.
Keeping her eyes shut, Meredith leaned her head back against the cool leather, trying to relax. She was ordinarily calm and cool under pressure, a rock in even the most vicious tempest. Admittedly this wasn't your average stress test. It was one thing to be fighting against a supernatural force alongside your friends. She was alone in this, however, with her only potential ally someone she didn't trust.
This isn't about you, Meredith reminded herself sternly. This is about stopping whatever Kane has planned. When her grandfather spoke through Bonnie he'd said Kane intended the end of mankind. From any other source such a claim would have sounded ludicrous, but when it came to ghosts and vampires Meredith had learned not to dismiss things so quickly. Whatever Kane was planning had to be linked to her grandfather's research. She felt certain of this. How far along he was in implementing his plan was difficult to determine.
And there was only one way she would be able to find out.
Would it really be so horrible? Meredith wondered.
Allowing her mind to drift, Meredith saw herself as the prize on Damon's arm. In her mind's eye she saw herself draped in gleaming jewels and thick furs. She appeared cool and regal; a precious gem to be displayed in adoration. No one could keep their eyes off her. With Damon as her escort, they made a striking pair. His aristocratic good looks were the perfect complement to her exotic beauty.
Aren't you the modest one? Meredith chided herself, drawing back from her reverie. It surprised her how easily she was able to picture the whole scene. Perhaps some of the vanity she'd always teased Elena about had rubbed off on her.
In Fell's Church Meredith had been content in her role of sidekick. Elena was the star of Robert E. Lee, a fair-haired beacon of beauty that everyone gravitated towards. The boys desired her and the girls wanted to be her. Except Meredith. She hadn't wanted any of the attention or posturing that came with being Queen Bee. Attention led to curiosity and curiosity led to questions. As one of Elena's best friends, she discovered that she could safely stay out of the spotlight while still skirting the edges of popularity.
No one was truly interested in the second runner up at the beauty pageant after all.
That was it! Meredith's eyes flew open and she sat up in her chair, excitement coursing through her at her sudden epiphany. She used to be second-in-command. Keeping her family's secrets necessitated that. All that had changed with her induction into the upper echelons of Rome. It wasn't that different from high school really; new social circle, same rules. It was all about who you knew, how many parties you were invited to, and what you wore. The only big change was Meredith's role in this new society.
As Madeline, Meredith was forced to step into that starring role she'd so dreaded in high school. There was no blending into the background and allowing someone else to shine. Upholding her heiress act meant purposefully drawing attention. The more focus she drew to Madeline, spoiled brat extraordinaire, the less likely the Dark Veritas were to think suspiciously of her when she was in their midst.
Madeline was the key to all her problems. Meredith couldn't believe she hadn't realized it before. Allowing her alter ego to take over had seemed like a distasteful necessity before, the only way to preserve her cover. Now it was starting to look more like her saving grace.
On her own Meredith probably wouldn't have been able to convey fondness for Damon. It wouldn't be a problem for Madeline, though; weren't heiresses infamously attracted to all the wrong sorts of men?
Picking up the pen eagerly she scrawled a quick note:
Prince Damien,
I've reconsidered your offer. If you're still interested meet me at the opera tomorrow night and invite me to your private box when you're ready.
Madeline