Damon's Chance at Love
By haldirsbaby
Note: Sorry about the delay...holidays how I hate them...anyhoo, this chapter kind of wrote itself. I am taking something Elijah said in the Katerina episode about himself, and completely building on that. He had told Rose's contact that he was a special kind of vampire, but did not elaborate on it. So I am giving my interesting take on it. I also reveal a little more about Hybrid Females. So hope you like...Enjoy.
Chapter Ten: Surprise!
The sun had risen nearly two hours ago, and Damon laid there holding Arie tightly. She had not so much as moved since they fell fast asleep in each others arms. His eyes opened when he sensed someone approaching the door downstairs. Carefully sliding away from Arie, he was able to get up and make his way downstairs. Halfway down there was a soft knock on the door. Stefan heard the knock and came out of his room and was peeking over the railing to see who it was.
In the middle of knock, Damon opened the door to find Sheriff Forbes standing there.
"Getting an early start on visiting this morning, Sheriff Liz?" Damon asked her leaning his head on the door.
The sheriff looked him up and down, his appearance clearly disheveled from his sleep. His hair in serious need of a combing, his eyes bloodshot, she assumed he was hungover, or did not get enough sleep. He was in his PJ and she averted her eyes for a moment then focused on his face. "I'm sorry, I hope I did not wake you." she said apologetically.
Stefan joined his brother and nodded to the Sheriff. "Something wrong, Sheriff?" Stefan asked his expression full of curiosity.
"Yes and No. Damon could I have a word with you? Alone?" She asked looking quite hopeful.
"Come on in. By the way, my baby brother knows about our, 'Little Concerns' here in town. He won't say anything." Damon assuring her.
"You know?" She asked looking at Stefan.
"If you are referring to the little Animal Attack situation? Yes, I know about my brother's goodwill in helping with that." Stefan told her.
Damon stepped to the side and motioned for the Sheriff to enter. Stepping in, she closed the door behind her and looked at the two of them. "Well, I have some news, there were two more attacks last night. One we know of for sure and the other, the victim is not known. All we found was the blood in the parking lot near the Mystic Grill." She sighed. " We do not know how to report the second one cause the lack of a body and identity."
Sensing there was more to it, Damon looked at her curiously. "There is more, isn't there. You are worried about something." He said to her confidently.
She let out a deep breath. "Yes, well, maybe. Yesterday on my rounds near your family's old place, I found a girl out there lurking around. She is new in town, staying over at the Mystic Falls Inn. Nice girl she is, sweet, and kind of strange. I gave her a tour of town, then dropped her off at the Inn. That was the last time anyone saw her. I am afraid that she is the other victim. When I went by her hotel room, she was not there, and Mr. Lewis said a man had checked her out of the Inn." She was worried and Damon and Stefan knew it.
"What makes you think it was her?" Stefan asked, but was interrupted by Damon.
"What was the girl's name?" he asked curiously, he furrowed his brow in thought.
"Arie. Arie Burrows. I don't know where she is from, only that she came here out of historical curiosity. Why?" she looked at Damon questioningly.
"You are right, there was an attack on a girl at the parking lot, but I intervened and saved her. Come to find out Arie is one of mine and Stefan's old childhood friends." Damon stopped and spaced out a minute. Stefan stood behind him, his jaw dropped shocked. Damon was telling the truth for once? Was the thought running through Stefan's mind. Damon looked up and continued, "I did not know her at first and she did not know that we were back in Mystic Falls. She was seven last time we saw her. Her parents moved away long time ago."
The Sheriff smiled a little. "Really, an old friend? Strange. So Arie is your friend?"
"Yeah and here is the kicker, come to find out, she is Elena's long distant cousin. Weird huh?" Damon said widening his eyes in mock surprise.
"Well is she okay? I mean there was a lot of blood. Did you take her to the hospital?" she asked concerned.
"No, she was attacked by the 'Animals', they ran off. But assured me they would return. I did not feel the need to take her to the hospital, cause the wound was not that bad. I felt that if I did, it would be just one more thing this town has to worry about. I brought her here, and went and checked her out of the hotel. Had I known you had met her yesterday, I would have called you." Damon said getting him a drink of scotch.
"Oh, alright. Is she okay? I mean, everything alright with her?' Liz asked genuinely concerned.
"She was shook up more than anything, but other than that, she was fine." Stefan added.
"Well at least she is safe with you two. Tell her that I asked about her. Let me know, if she needs anything." the sheriff added.
"Will do, Sheriff Liz." Damon said taking his glass and holding it up in the air.
Stefan looked at her closely before asking, "Who was the other attack victim?"
"An out of state hiker. A man with no identification. We are still investigating." she said walking out to the door in the foyer.
"Well good luck in finding the culprit. If you need anything, feel free to ask." Damon said swallowing his scotch.
The sheriff opened the door, smiled at them and quietly left. Once she was out of the drive and gone, Rose came down the stairs. "Who was that?" she asked.
Stefan and Damon turned to see her walking down the stairs. Her hair looking disheveled, her boots on.
"Morning, Rosie? Did you sleep well? I see that you did not try to murder us in our sleep." Damon spouted off.
"No, Damon, I would prefer to do that while you are awake, so I can get the pleasure of you fighting me." She retorted smartly.
Stefan shook his head. These two were so much in their thinking, they would be perfect for each other. Then he rethought No they would not. He smiled lightly for a moment. He looked at her. "Rose, you were gone all day yesterday meeting your friend, Marcella, was it. What did you find out?" he was curious.
"Well that is one of the things I wanted to talk to the both of you about this morning." she looked at them, furrowed a brow. "How is Arie this morning?"
"She is asleep. I worry for her though." Damon said looking up the stairs to his bedroom door.
Stefan cocked his head to the side and Rose looked concerned. "Why? What happened?" Stefan asked.
"Nightmares. She was plagued with them last night. Bad ones. She would not tell me of them, but they were bad enough to wake her horrified." Damon said looking at them.
Rose sighed. "Well that is normal. When a hybrid gets close to being ready to change the dreams plague them bad. It could be from that." she looked up.
"Well, I hate it. She has been through enough, why relive it?" He was irritated with the thought. He left them in the foyer, and walked into the main parlor. Stefan and Rose followed him.
Stefan noticed his brothers personality changing last night, but today it seemed more pronounced. Rose seemed to notice it as well. "Damon, what's happened to you?" Rose asked him.
Damon shrugged it off like it was nothing and took a drink of his scotch. He gulped it down and let out a sigh of satisfaction. "What do you mean, 'What happened to me'?" he asked playing it off as nothing. "Nothing has happened."
"Oh I beg to differ, there brother. First off, last night you storm out of here, then later once Arie goes to bed, you sneak off to god only knows where. Then later you come back with all Arie's stuff, and makes a play that she is to stay here, and is not allowed to leave. Then this morning, you look the sheriff in the eye and tell her the full truth. I mean this is so out of character for you. Need I also mention how you reacted when I came back here last night, you were quite protective of Arie." Stefan crossed his arms wanting an answer.
Rose looked a little out of sorts listening to all this, but there was something behind those undead eyes of hers..curiosity. She stared at Damon, waiting to hear his answer. Damon let out a nervous laugh. He stared at them, in disbelief. He rolled his eyes.
"Oh, come on. Can't a guy do random acts of kindness without questions. Sheesh!" he threw his hands in the air, acting as though he was giving up.
"Damon, given your reputation, it is extremely out of character." Rose told him agreeing with Stefan.
Damon felt cornered, and out of his elements. Maybe his sudden outlook on things, was coming out a little too strong. He gave up, decided to come clean, but reneged on the thought. He gave the only answer that came to him, it was not a lie, but not the truth either. "I do not know. I honestly, do not know." He looked at them. "Besides, weren't you supposed to fill us in on what happened with your friend yesterday?" he looked at Rose.
She smiled. "Yes, it is more important than Damon's sudden change."She sat down in the chair at the desk, Damon sat on the edge looking at her, while Stefan kept his stance with arms crossed. "It seems I was right, Nigel has made a deal with Klaus. Arie is his offering to rejoin, as a custom. Klaus has very special plans for Arie. Elijah came to Nigel on Klaus's behalf."
Elijah's name earned Rose a stunned look from both Stefan and Damon. Damon stood up and leaned onto the desk. "What!" he said sternly.
"Elijah is alive. He visited the sect three days ago, the evening of Elena's rescue." She said no more, she knew the questions loomed.
"He is dead. Damon killed him." Stefan insisted. "You saw him. He is dead."
"I saw him die too, remember, I was there. But it seems, that he came back to life." She said.
Damon looked perplexed. He raised his eyes to the ceiling and shook his head. "You have got to be kidding us." he said refusing to believe the new development.
"Marcella, is one of the fiercest and yet the most generous Vampires I have in acquaintances with. But one thing she is not and that is a LIAR. If she says he lives, then he lives." She stopped there and continued. "It seems our 'friend' Elijah, knows of Katherine's entombment, but has opted to keep Klaus in the dark about it. He told Nigel, who has been in love with her for many years." she stopped.
Damon and Stefan got comfortable. Rose continued, "That is not all. Marcella has begged me, to change her when I find her. She said that Arie is this town's only hope and Elena's only chance of survival." She looked at her hands. "There are some that believes, that Klaus has completely changed, making him worse. The deal with Nigel helps confirm that. The plans they have for Arie, Marcella doesn't know. But I can only imagine. Hybrid powers and strength can prove to be lethal if given into the wrong hands, and Klaus is definitely the wrong hands. Marcella warned that without Arie, all hope is lost, and Klaus will only grow stronger. Which is something that cannot be allowed. If he grows more powerful, my guess he will dominate the world, and kill all in his path." She took a breath and looked up. "But there is hope. Marcella has told me there are others that feel the same as she does, they are loyal to her. She needs but to say one word and they will follow. An army of sorts."
She looked away for a moment then back at them. "It does not stop there. Klaus is gathering an army. He knows of Katherine being on the loose, but does not know of her entombment, he knows she is tied to Mystic falls. Since Elijah is still alive, I have to assume that he knows of Elena. Mystic Falls is about to become a battle field." Rose said, her tone dead serious.
"How much time do we have?" Stefan asked looking at Damon who was wrapped up in thought.
"Marcella did not say. But considering that Klaus is power-hungry and Nigel is insane. It could happen at any time. Marcella is our eyes and ears. She will contact us, when she knows something. I told her that I found Arie or she found us. She said to turn her." Rose said.
Damon turned back to face her. "Okay, this is just fine and dandy. But my questions is 'How the Hell is Elijah still alive?" he asked wide-eyed. He wanted to say more, but was cut off when a voice from the door came.
"Simple. He is not a normal vampire, and is second in command to Klaus. But he is more than that." They all turned to face Arie who was standing there, in a black silk robe. Her hair tossed and she looked tired. The bandage upon her neck gone, and the skin marred with only small reddened puncture wounds.
"What?' Rose asked curiously.
"He is not a normal vampire. He is something else entirely. I don't know much about him, other than he arrived in the Original family by strange circumstances. Marcella, who was in the original family for the longest time, and Klaus's second in command, was bumped down several notches when he arrive nearly eight hundred fifty years ago." Arie came to stand near Damon, who reached out and placed an arm around her middle. It was a natural act, seemed completely normal to Arie, and she embraced it.
Stefan looked at Arie, and greatly intrigued by what she had said. "What is that supposed to mean?" he asked her confused.
"She told me that for many years, she was Klaus's second in command of the family, then suddenly, Klaus demoted her, bringing in Elijah. His origins are a mystery." Arie said breaking from Damon's arms and walking to sit on the chair near them.
"Arie, can you tell us what you do know?" Damon asked sweetly.
"It is something, that all involved here, will need to know." She stated, but continued on, "but I guess we can fill them in later. They are coming over later today, right?" she asked looking at Stefan.
"Elena and the girls are coming later today, Elena wants to get to know you a little." he said simply.
"Well, might as well tell you now here. This is a tidbit they may not want to hear." Arie's eyes drifted to Damon, then to Rose and Stefan. "I am not sure, what all Rose has told you, but there is one thing about hybrids, she does not know. But it only affects the female hybrids. Males as far as known, is not affected." She swallowed trying to find the words. "Now this is not well known, and it is not proven, but Marcella thinks that Elijah was born vampire, not created. There is not much of his past known, but one thing is certain, when he arrived, it was said he was created by Klaus and brought in. But this did not make sense to any of the sects that broke away. Elijah was powerful right off the bat. Most Vampires learn their skills over time, they learn what they can do and can not do. But not Elijah. His power was immediate."
Rose, Damon, and Stefan stared at her, confused, but looked quite intrigued with what she was saying. "What did Marcie tell you Arie?" Rose asked, wanting answers.
"Okay let me back up a bit. The Originals banned the making of Hybrids cause it was seen that the hybrids would go mad. But that was not the full reason, only part of it. It started with the last hybrid Klaus made, a female. Klaus was in love with her, but no one talked about it much. They did not question him. Well it seems their little love affair got out of hand. One day she was there, the next she was gone. The only thing Klaus said was that she had to be destroyed, and he destroyed her. It was the last time he created one. Klaus supposedly began to change in his personality. Secretive, more so than usual. He would disappear for periods of time, leaving Marcella in charge. For months he would leave for days on end, then return. Then as the years went on, he would disappear for a couple of days, then return. It went on for twenty-one years. The last time he left, he came back with Elijah." Arie looked a little out of sorts talking about Klaus, but then who wouldn't.
"Okay, so the big guy would disappear. So what? How does the possibility of a hybrid having babies, tie in with it?" Damon asked her his voice sounding annoyed.
"Well, Marcella got to snooping around about it, on one of the times he left, actually it was the time right before Elijah showed up, and found a journal that Klaus secretly kept during that time. There was a part in it, she memorized." she stopped looked at the ceiling trying to remember it. "I have a copy of it, but it was easy enough to memorize it, it was a small part." She tapped a finger to her bottom lip in thought. "Let me see. I got it. 'The hybrid screamed out in pain, as the last leg of the birth occurred. The midwife held the child in her arms, but nearly dropped the child in fear after looking upon it. The air became energized, the weather outside changed from calm to stormy in the instant the child breathed in its life. The mother panting from exertion, begged that the child be killed, that it was an abomination, even in the eyes of creatures of the night. It is evil, she had said, but I ignored her, for the child was precious to me'. This was the first breath breathed about the child, a boy it later said. There is more, but I would have to find the pages, she had ripped from the journal. I have them in my stuff, at the Mystic Falls Inn." she looked down at herself and then back up, "Speaking of which, I need to go to the hotel and change. Where is the clothes I was wearing last night?"
Damon, who was standing, kicked his feet, absentmindedly spoke quietly. "I trashed them."
"What! What will I wear today?" she asked shocked.
"Don't worry, Arie. I went to the hotel last night and got your stuff." he said looking proud of himself.
"You What!" she was shocked. "Why did you do that?" she asked him curiously.
"Can't let you go about unprotected. So you are staying here." Damon was adamant, and was not asking. But telling her.
Arie felt a little pushed and it irritated her. "What do you mean 'I am staying here'? This was not discussed. I can't stay here. It is risky." She stood and was now facing him fully.
"You are staying. It is not up to debate. End of discussion." He told her, his eyes grew wide as he stood in her face and looked down at her.
"Damon, are you mad? If I stay here, they will find Elena quicker. I can't allow that. No, I will go back to the Inn." She was fighting back now.
Damon laughed out seeing her get feisty, and he loved it. She grabbed her and pulled her into a tight embrace, he smiled more when she began pushing on him to let her go. "Damon, let me go!" she said to him.
"No. You are staying, and that is it. It is for your safety. Besides, Little Arie, My little feisty sweet girl, I lost you once and I WILL NOT do it again. So why fight me on it." he said kissing her forehead. "I took the liberty of packing your things, particularly, I love the undies, they were cute and then I checked you out of the hotel. So it is done." he was smugly smiling now, very proud of himself.
"You saw my undies? Oh..!" she growled out in frustration. "Just like a man, looking at undies. What about what I want?" she asked him starting to cool her nerves. Damon was more dominating that she thought or remembered, time and circumstances had made him arrogant and cocky.
Stefan stepped forward to intervene in this quite a different fight, and pointed out. "Um, Arie, I have to agree, and I am sure that Rose does as well, that it is safer here with us. So what's the problem?"
She stopped fighting Damon, who released her, but not too much, he was still holding onto her waist. Arie straightened the robe, which had in the struggle, came slightly undone, exposing her thigh. Damon's gaze drifted to the scrumptious looking thigh, his eyes darkening with something that the vampires, the males, had shown her once she reached maturity. "Well my problem is, that for a hundred and fifty-two years without my two truest friends, I do not want you harmed because of me, or Elena either."
"Oh, sweet heart, we are touched. But the thing is, that you are far too important to be injured or worse, changed by the wrong person. So, please, stay here." Damon pleaded softly.
She knew arguing with Damon was going to be endless and useless, so she relented and gave in. "Alright." Damon was pleased and bent down and kissed her cheek.
Rose stood up, showing a little annoyance, "This has all been quite entertaining, but this does not finish the tale of Elijah. Can you elaborate?" she asked.
"All I know is what Marcella suspects. From her readings of the pages from the journal, is that a nursemaid to the child came to the house. Supposedly, she became friendly with one of the original's and told them, the child was born of a hybrid and that the father was Klaus. But who knows truly? I will say it makes sense though. I mean as a hybrid, I am still human, with only extra added 'oomph!' to my self. My body still functions as a normal human female. Cycles, cramps the who nine yards. It makes sense." she told her.
"But vampires cannot procreate. How is this possible?" Stefan asked curious.
"Not normal human female with vampire attributes and vampires. Both are supernatural. The possibilities are there. I do not know how, but it happened. I have thought on it and Marcella studied the other hybrids. She is convinced that if I wanted, I could bear a child. Not with humans but only with Vampires." she said looking at the stunned faces of Damon and Stefan. "It was found that even after being changed into a full vampire, hybrids are still part human. Still function. There is a lot, that has not been discovered. With me being the oldest living hybrid, and quite clever in fact, my true capabilities are not fully known. If I am changed, the abilities my mother passed onto me, will amplify. So wouldn't my ability to have children be more potent?"
Stefan thought a moment. There was definitely a possibility. "Alright, but what plan would Klaus have for you?" Stefan asked. Damon looked at Arie, he looked amazed but had just been said.
"Marcella and I have discussed this. The possibilities are endless in that department. I will say, that through dreams I have had, I have seen Elijah and there was a child. Marcella believes it is possible that Klaus wants me for my powers and to have me mate with Elijah to create some super race of vampires. I can't allow that." Arie told them calmly, but feeling the bile rise up in her throat at the thought of being with such a vampire.
"Why your powers, in this state, they are not so bad. What will happen once you are changed?" Damon asked curious, his brows raising in question.
"Like I said, they would amplify. He wants to change me for his advantages. In the past when hybrids changed they conformed to the same attitudes as the vampires who had changed them, but slowly became insane and a liability. I am not like the other hybrids. I have lived my entire captivity fooling them into believing that I am completely conformed. Now that I have run from them, they most likely feel that I was a perfect failure. I have good in me, not one evil bone in me. If I am changed by a vampire with the perfect balance between good and evil, there is a high possibility, that I will be considered perfect. But here is the beauty of it, Klaus does not know this, but Marcella sees it." Arie's eyes met Damon's. "Cause of this turn, I have the right to choose who changes me. If I had stayed with Nigel's sect, I would not. That is why I ran." Her eyes downcast looking sad. "I did not intend on finding the two of you alive. Or that the two of you are vampires. This was unexpected."
No one knew what to say. Damon stared at her with new eyes, his little Arie, did have a lot on her plate, and he did not know how to react. He wanted to reach for her, to coddle her, keep her close. It was now, when his heart began to open up to her. She was a lot like Elena, she was good, her heart open to all that she cared for. It touched the recesses of his un-beating heart and his what would have been his soul, began to hum. He smiled internally about her admission of care for him, and his brother. He heard her tone and it spoke her true feeling loud and clear.
His reveries were broken when she spoke again. She had changed her mood, to something more chipper. "Well, anyway. I am glad I found the both of you. Especially you, Damon. Makes things a little easier. Now that I have family, in Elena. My life doesn't seem so bleak. " she smiled at them all. Rose thought it endearing, and Stefan moved forward and embraced her. "Now, can I go change? I am cold. This house is like a tomb, freezing." she started from the room, but stopped. "Um, Damon, where is my clothes?" she asked.
"Upstairs, in my room, in the closet." he said making his way over to her.
"In your closet?" she asked raising a brow.
"Yep." he said emphasizing the 'P'.
She looked at him furrowed his brow, and lifted her chin a little. "So when you say I am staying here. That also means, In your bedroom?" she question.
"Yep." he said again, taking her hand in his, entwining their fingers together.
She did not budge when he pulled on her to follow him. "So I guess this means, I do not get a room of my own?"
He smiled from ear to ear, his blue eyes lit up with humor. "Sorry, sweetness. All the rooms are taken. You will just have to sleep in my room." he seemed happy with himself.
She pulled away a little and looked at him not amused. "The hell they are. There is like a million gazillion rooms in this place. You are telling me, I can't have one of my own?"
"Exactly." he snipped out.
Arie stared at him in disbelief. "What? I can't stay in your room with you." she told him, but dropped her voice to a whisper. "It is not decent!'
He leaned forward, pulling hard on her hand. Their faces just inches apart. "Sweet heart, that is what I want. Now let's get you dressed." he closed the space between them and kissed the tip of her nose. She shook her head and rolled her eyes.
Stefan and Rose just looked at each other. Not knowing what to say. Rose wanted to say something, but no words would come out. Stefan spoke first, "Okay, what the hell was that all about? What the hell has happened with my brother?"
Rose shook her head. "Something, the vampire world would not believe. A Hybrid choosing her intended." She said that and got the look of disbelief from Stefan. She smiled. "It is said, but not fully explored, that if the successful hybrid lived long enough, there was a small possibility that she will find the one who is meant to change her or him. The only vampire they trust more, and is the only one who can calm their urges. It seems, they are meant for each other. But don't quote me on that."
N/A: Lame? I am hoping not...had to reveal a little, but then if I did it all at one time, you would all lost interest...right? The last part was way to mushy, I think...Let me know what you think...I am open for suggestion.
Up next, hanging out with Elena and friends!