Would like to thank all my reviewers for their love and patience!
Please support my beta and very close friend ThroughMySoul44, she always corrects my work and offers tips for me to improve. Thank you, Ren! xxx
As I had said before, I have been going through a lot of things especially with school stuff. Thankfully, school finishes on the 27th of March, and I have one month to prepare for my A level exams, which will determine if I go to University or not. Then, I have another month of exams, so I will be free towards the end of May. I promise, I will make it up to you...but March and April are a bit stressful for me, and even though I plan to update a few times in April, regular updates will start once I am finished with school, exams etc (May)
On with the chapter. Enjoy.
"Congratulations, man!" Matt patted Damon on the back later that day. They were currently at the Mystic Grill, the boys' usual hangout place, and it hadn't taken Damon's friends long to realise that Damon had successfully transformed into a vampire.
"Took you long enough to come to your senses," Tyler muttered as he took a long sip of his beer. His tone was criticizing but also teasing.
"Shut it, Ty," Matt said, "What matters is that he is one of us now."
Damon looked almost offended. "I thought I was always one of you."
"You want the truth, Damon?" Matt asked, but did not wait for an answer. "Being in the in-between stages of vampirism and humanity is the most shameful phase in a vampire's life. I know that your body had to be ready to bear the changes, but I have been wishing that you'd turn for years. Being a vampire and destroying the human completely is a feeling which I can never describe. The powers associated with being a vampire are thrilling. You will know what I'm saying once your humanity fades away. The more you experience your vampire side, the quicker the other will fade."
Damon did not say anything. His friend's words served to make him angrier. For all those years, his friends had thought of him as inferior simply because he hadn't transitioned. He wondered what they'd think if they knew that he had had the option of transforming ever since he was twelve.
"You'll have fun, Damon," Tyler exclaimed again. "We have so many places to take you to, starting from tonight."
"Wait, what?"
"Trust me," Tyler encouraged him, and Damon decided to just smile and nod, simply because he was too tired to argue and he also needed to have fun. The experience had been traumatizing for him, both physically and psychologically.
"You are oddly quiet today, Stefan." Damon turned to the brown-haired young man on his left, who was playing with his vodka shot.
"I'm tired, I guess," Stefan said, giving him an unconvincing grin. "Congratulations, though. I'm happy that you made this choice. Are you going to accept the position now?"
"I'm thinking about it. Now that I'll be healthier and stronger, both mentally and physically, I'll be able to take the training more seriously."
"Good for you," Stefan said simply. "You are lucky to be given this opportunity, Damon. I wouldn't throw it away if I were you."
"Someone is suddenly interested in politics!" Matt interrupted, "Since when, Stefan? I thought you hated responsibility."
Stefan was taken aback for a second, but then shrugged. "It's still an honourable position, Matt."
"Speaking of positions," Matt smirked slyly, changing the topic instantly, "When are we going to take him to the Underground?"
"The Underground?" Damon asked, puzzled.
Tyler slapped his hand on his forehead. "Thanks for ruining it, Matt."
"What?" The other replied, "I haven't said anything yet."
"What are you two babbling about?" Damon asked, their conversation suddenly getting on his nerves. "What the hell is the Underground?"
"You will know tonight," Tyler said. "We'll pick you up at eleven. Suit up."
"But-"
"Damon. You need to loosen up, and have fun," He interrupted. "You are either too soft, too worried, or too human. Vamp up."
Damon was not pleased at all. He was on the verge of having a breakdown. His thirst had returned, his emotions were all over the place, and he wanted to kill his father for forcing him to do it. The last thing he needed was someone saying that he was too soft. He had heard that enough from his father. He took a deep breath, and finally allowed himself to calm down, forcing a smile, as if what they said hadn't offended him.
"I'll be expecting you, then," He said, raising a glass of scotch to his lips.
Elena was only allowed to go out with the permission of her master, and it was more than simply a 'go-ahead'. This permission was actually a written one, and a copy was found in Mystic Falls Government department. Every slave had a record there, and it was up to the masters if they allowed their slaves to go out or not. Humans were punished severely if they were found outside when a contract stated otherwise, even if they were with their masters. According to Giuseppe, he paid a fee annually that allowed Elena to go outside, stating that the town needed to be 'aware' of how many humans had the ability to 'roam around'. She had wanted to laugh at that, because she could hardly roam around when she was chained to her vampire escort, or when she was being observed by hundreds of vampires in town. After all, she was not a common slave. Everybody knew her, because she belonged to the highly-respectable Giuseppe Salvatore, governor and protector of the vampire territories.
The reason why Giuseppe allowed Elena to go out was to go shopping for them, simply for the pleasure of seeing her carry about five bags daily. At times, he would also take her out with him to humiliate her. He knew how humiliated she felt when he tied her up from around the waist and pulled her along like a dog on a leash as they walked the streets, or when he slapped her in public to show his superiority.
Even though she hated it all and even though she knew that she was allowed to leave simply to shop, Elena looked forward to those few days when she went out alone. Sure, people gave her looks, and she would still be dressed in a slave's dress, a cuff would still be locked around her ankle that indicated her confinement, but at least it was freedom from the prison which she called the Salvatore house.
Tucking the shopping list into her pocket, Elena went to her master. He always wanted to check her clothing before she went out, and it was a part of the procedure in Elena's life of slavery. He would check her clothing, then approve or disapprove accordingly, and then he would either pick up the chain that indicated that he was going with her or he'd simply turn his back on her. She prayed that it was the latter that day, and thankfully it was.
"I want you to buy the finest foods as I might be inviting the board over for dinner," He told her as he tightened the cuff around her ankle which had his name written on it, as if his credentials clinging to her body weren't enough. "And make sure to get some wine, too."
"Yes, Master," Elena replied dutifully.
"Keep your head down at all times, and only speak when you're spoken to," He told her again.
"Of course, sir," Elena said robotically.
"Go on. Don't take too long."
The warm sun strengthened Elena right away. Her lips tugged up slightly as she walked slowly down the long road that led her to the centre of the town, lost in her thoughts. She remembered her village, the days she spent playing outside and simply being a child. Then, she also remembered when she was kidnapped, that one day that she wasn't careful, the day when she stepped a little closer towards the town's border. It was enough for the vampires to grab her and throw her on a ship, where she was starved and beaten, and where the vampires kicked the girl to wake her. It was simply a lack of precaution that got her to this town, that got her father killed. If only she had never stepped that close, if only she had stayed within the safety limits of the town.
A tear streamed down her cheek. When she was younger, she used to think that Damon would protect her, but she had realised by now that the abuse was just going to keep growing as she aged. First, it was verbal, then it was physical; and now…Now she didn't even know what was happening to her. What she knew was that she couldn't tell anyone. She knew that Giuseppe had used his mind control tricks on her; because she was going to remain silent forever about what was happening. Her confusion, her hurt and pain…they were all simply in her heart and mind. She couldn't even talk to herself out loud about it.
Her eyes then fell on a particular tree, a tree which was quite particular. Damon had said that it had the form of the crucified Jesus Christ, and she had never understood how he saw it that way. She had laughed back then, and told him that he was too religious, and then they had sat next to the tree for hours before they carved a simple E and D there. Damon had said that it was going to be the eternal proof of their friendship.
"I wish it will always be like this, Damon."
"It will be, Elena. We will be friends forever."
"I'm afraid that you'll hate me when you grow up."
"Never, Elena. See these?" He carved the first letter of her name, and then his. "They will remain there forever, just like our friendship."
They had been so innocent. They truly had no idea that society would tear them apart, and that Elena was afraid of the very same man who was once her friend, who was once moral and kind, and who had such faith that they could be friends forever.
Elena sighed and kept walking, trying to ignore the sadness that filled her heart.
The rest of the day passed quickly and by the time Elena returned, it was six in the evening. She then cooked, served dinner, washed the dishes, and by the time she sat down to eat it was late and she was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open. Thankfully, she was alone because Giuseppe had left for some business right after he finished dinner, and it had given her enough time to prepare a simple dish for herself, because lately he was not allowing her to eat with them or eat the same thing they did.
However she did not enjoy the quiet for too long, because she heard someone coming through the front door. She realised that it was Damon.
"I'm hungry," He said simply.
"I made a spinach pie…" Elena stammered, "Do you want me to heat it up for you?"
"Spinach pie?" He laughed, almost evilly. "The blood, Elena. Where do you keep it?"
"My master has told me to give you no more than half a bloodbag tonight," She shivered, fearing his wrath. "It is in the fridge. Do you want it warm or cold?"
"Half a bloodbag?" Damon exclaimed, "Are you kidding me?"
"Please, Damon. It's your father's call, not mine. I have to obey."
Elena had less than a second to close her eyes as he pinned her to the wall savagely. "You will obey me this evening. Now, heat up one bloodbag." He let her go and she rubbed her sore arms.
"Now, Elena. The thirst is increasing, and my control over it has its limits. I will feed on you if I don't get what I desire."
Elena nodded her head in fright, knowing too well that he could easily lose control. She placed the bag in the microwave and waited, noticing that Damon was tapping his hands against the table, looking pale.
Her body shaking, she turned to face him. No matter what happened, she still felt an odd sense of…what could she call it? Pity? Care? For him. The fact that he was suffering was not making her happy. She knew that he didn't deserve any of this.
"How are you feeling?" She took the risk, her voice quiet. She knew he could hurt her for asking him that; she had no right to talk to him as if she were talking to friend. She was being too informal, at least in the eyes of vampires. "With the transition and all?"
"Don't act like you care," He shot hotly, not even bothering to look at her.
Elena flinched, but luckily the hurtful moment only lasted a second. She grabbed the bloodbag and handed it to him. "Anything else, Master?" She murmured, heartbroken.
"No. You can leave, Elena," He said, his voice quieter, as if he were lost in his thoughts. "Don't come back here until I'm ready."
She nodded and turned on her heel.
"I don't want to accidentally feed on you…" Damon added sadly when he was sure that she was gone.
As promised, Tyler arrived at eleven sharp. Damon had been ready for quite a while, and even though he had struggled to find an appropriate suit, he was finally satisfied with the way he looked. He peered at his friends who were all dressed in their best suits; looks which he had never seen them wear. Surely, they had to be going somewhere elegant.
"So, what exactly is the Underground?" Damon asked as soon as he climbed the sophisticated, bright red sports car.
"So curious," Matt teased. He was sitting in the front, leaning against the seat casually, his legs wide open. "You're going to have fun tonight, Damon."
Damon saw Tyler smirk through the mirror, and it made him feel uneasy. He tried to ignore his thirst as they stopped to pick Stefan up, and soon they were on the road, the car-top-down and driving as fast as they could, simply to enjoy the power.
"Woo!" Tyler cheered the faster he drove; and Damon found himself enjoying it. Now that he was a vampire, he was immortal, and he didn't have to worry about getting hurt.
After several minutes, Tyler pulled over in a parking lot, and Damon saw a huge sign on which the word "The Underground" was written in bright, big letters.
Matt patted Damon on the shoulder, and then said, "It is only fair that you will get to lose your virginity in the most sophisticated brothel in town, a brothel for vampires only, of course."
Damon froze. "You brought me to a brothel?"
"This is not simply a brothel!" Tyler smirked excitedly, "This is the brothel! You will know soon enough, Damon…but first, arrange your suit, put a cigar in your mouth and take a deep breath, because what we are about to show you is heaven on Earth."
…