Chapter 13
"Haven't I told you to drink the other one first?" His voice made me jump, and I almost spilled some of the blood. He was leaning in the doorway, arms casually folded. "Y... Yes but I've just wanted to see... what's... in..." My voice died away, and I gulped. The cup in my hands was shaking. I saw that concerned frown reappear on his features and, almost gracefully, he pushed away from the doorframe and moved towards me. Everything I could do was watching him coming closer with huge, frightful eyes. Gently, his hands wrapped around mine which were still clutching the cup. His skin felt surprisingly warm against mine, compared to the cool porcelain against my palms. His gaze locked on mine. "Breathe, Elena." His tone was soft, but nevertheless, it was an order. It was like his words reminded me of some long forgotten lecture. Deep breath. Right. I closed my eyes and allowed my lungs to blow up like a balloon, a broad mixture of different scents filling my sensitive nose. Of course, there was the blood. Though it didn't smell half as delicious as it could have if it would still be inside the veins of the human who had donated it... Then, the scent of freshly brewed coffee hung in the air. A faint note of wood polish... And, the most prevalent one: Him.
Slowly, I let the air drift back out of my lungs and opened my eyes again. Faced with their deep blue reflection, I found in them the confirmation of what I was already feeling: I was a lot calmer now. Damon nodded in approval and let go of my hands. "Now, the coffee" he commanded and switched the cups in my hands. "It'll warm your system for the cold blood, and get your circulation going. You've barely moved yesterday. That would leave even the best vampire slightly rusty." The edge of his lips drew up in a faint half-smirk and I couldn't help but reply with a small smile of my own between two sips of coffee. Damon being Damon, he would always find some sort of humor in any situation. Silently, I admired him for it.
After I had obediently finished my coffee and been rewarded with those few drops of rather disgusting somewhat-blood that would, at its best, halfway sustain me during the next few hours, Damon sent me to go and get dressed so we could get back on the road again. I, however, hesitated in the doorway and watched him clean away the cups. Finally, he turned towards me with a sigh and asked, "What is it, Elena?" The way he put his hand onto the kitchen counter, supporting himself on it, I could tell that he was trying to hide his annoyance. His demeanor almost made me back off with a quiet "Nothing", but somehow I felt the need to phrase this. "I… I feel…" Struggling for words, I looked at him helplessly, my mouth hanging slightly ajar. Understanding where I was headed, his eyes grew softer, encouraging me. "I feel like… like a wild animal that's been captivated. Like, going insane over pacing back and forth in a tiny cage." He nodded and simply said, "Because that's what you are." He cocked his head to the side, slowly scanning my entire frame with something like… gloom? in his eyes. "Right now, you are a predator on edge, and with decades of neglected training, I can only imagine how hard it is to keep things together." He pushed himself away from the counter and crossed the distance between us, his large hands gently wrapping around my jawline, tilting my face up to his. "But considering the circumstances, you're doing quite well. Can you believe that?" A brief moment, his question hung in the air between us, and then I nodded. I was rewarded with a faint smile. "Good," he said and let go of my face, "now go and change your clothes so we can leave. Your bag is beside the stairs." I nodded again, turned and disappeared out of the kitchen, not wanting to make him wait too long.