That Damon Salvatore mask slid over his face, the one he used when he tried to hide what he was feeling.
"Are you trying to say you-." I cut him off.
"I don't know what I'm saying. All I know is that I don't want you to get hurt trying to protect me." I told him.
"And you think becoming a vampire solves that problem?"
"I would be able to help you. I wouldn't be so defenseless. I'm helpless, and I hate it. I hate having to have you fight this battle for me. If she really is going to come after me, I don't want to have to cower in a corner and watch you take all the risks for me. Atleast… If I was a vampire, I could help you. I could take care of myself." I told him.
"You don't know what you're asking for." He said.
"I do. I know exactly what I'm asking for. I've watched you and Stefan. I know what it's like."
"You don't. You don't have any idea what it's like. You couldn't live like this, Lyssa. I know you couldn't." He said. I raised an eyebrow at him.
"You're underestimating me." I said.
"I'm not. It's not like that. I know you're capable, but… you… I promise you, this isn't a life you want."
"Why not? You'd get to stay with me forever." I whispered. He took my face in his hands, and met my gaze.
"This isn't the life I wanted. If I could trade this for being human, I'd do it in a heartbeat. You don't understand how bad being a vampire sucks." He told me.
"You make it seem so easy." I murmured.
"I've lived like this for 165 years. I've gotten used to it."
"Damon, I don't want you to have to fight this battle for me. If it's me she wants, I should be able to take care of her myself, not cower behind you while you take care of her." I said.
"Alyssa… Just let me handle this."
"What if she gets to me anyway…? What if somehow or another, she sneaks past you and gets to me. I'll be dead." I told him. He released me, and turned away from me, running his hands through his hair, showing he was seriously agitated with me. I swam over to the shore, and got out, grabbing my clothes and starting to get dressed. Before I knew it, he was standing in front of me, eyes dark, and teeth sharp. He met my eyes with a serious intensity, and if I wouldn't have known any better, I would have said they were starting to water, as if he were going to cry. He brought his wrist up to his mouth and bit down hard, ripping his skin with his teeth. He extended his wrist to me.
"If this is what you want… go for it. I'm not going to stop you. I want you to know… you've got to weight all of your options. You don't have to go through with this… I can protect you."
"This will just be my back up plan… Atleast this way, we know if I die… I won't die completely." I told him. He met my eyes, and nodded once. I took his wrist in my hands, and slowly lowered my mouth to the bleeding flesh wound until my lips touched it. I sucked at his wrist until I took an entire mouthful of his blood, and swallowed it. I pulled my mouth away and turned to look up at him. He smiled slightly, and wiped the blood off my mouth.
"Taste good?"
"Better than I imagined." I told him, grinning. He smiled, and got dressed. I put the rest of my clothes back on, and we headed back to the boarding house. When we got there, he went into his room, and went into a box in his closet. He pulled out a necklace, and clasped it around my neck.
"I want you to wear this at all times, understand?"
"Why?" I asked.
"It's got Vervain in it. It keeps vampires from being able to compel you. Katherine's compulsion is strong, possibly stronger than others. I'm not taking any chances." He said. I nodded once, not wanting to argue with him.
"You think we could go to my house, so I can grab a change of clothes?" I asked. He nodded.
"Of course." He said. I nodded. We started out of his room, when Stefan opened the front door. He stopped in his tracks, his face pale white.
"Katherine's alive…" He said. We both nodded.
"I know. He tried to kill Lyssa earlier. She came here when Lyss was here alone."
"And she didn't kill you?" He asked.
"She almost did. I got here in time." Damon told him.
"Where are you going now?"
"To get her a change of clothes. She's not leaving my side until Katherine's gone."
"That's a good thing." Stefan said. I could tell Damon was going to keep the whole drinking his blood thing between us. I kind of wanted it that way too. Before we left, Damon met Stefan's gaze.
"You okay, little brother?" He asked him. Stefan nodded once.
"You?" Stefan asked. He looked at me, squeezed my hand once, and looked back at Stefan.
"I'm fine." He said. Stefan nodded, as Damon and I walked out. We went to his car, and drove to my house. He headed in through the window, while I headed up the stairs, and into my door. He lay on my bed, waiting patiently for me. I finally turned to him.
"You're not going to tell Stefan about me drinking your blood, are you?"
"Only if necessary." He told me. I nodded. "Do you not want him to know?"
"I don't know… I don't guess it matters, I just thought-." He cut me off.
"That it was something just between you and me? I know. I get it." He said. I smiled. I got a bunch of clothes, and things I'd need. I figured I wouldn't be coming home for a while. I headed out the front door, with Damon following me. As we walked out the front door, and towards the car, Katherine appeared before us. Damon grabbed me, pushing me behind him.
"What are you doing here?"
"Just curious is all." She said, smirking at him.
"Get out of here, Katherine." He snapped.
"But why? I just came to chat. Stefan was a little bit happier to see me."
"Because you weren't trying to kill someone Stefan loves." Damon growled.
"I wasn't going to kill her… and you don't love her anyway." She said. "You would have gotten over it."
"Fuck you, Katherine. You're just mad he doesn't want you." I said, stepping around Damon. She growled, and blurred forward, right in front of Damon and I. Damon pushed me behind him, so she wouldn't be to close.
"Katherine… Don't make me kill you. Not tonight, go." He growled. I didn't have to see his face to know he was scary looking. She looked around him at me, and smiled.
"Watch it, human." She growled, before disappearing. He turned to look at me, his eyes still midnight black.
"Come on… we need to go." He said. When we got in the car, he laid his head against the headrest.
"Are you out of your mind, are you trying to get yourself killed?"
"I'm sorry… She just… She pisses me off, so bad." I growled, meeting his gaze. He smiled slightly.
"You know… you're pretty hot when you're mad." He said, grinning. I sighed. He drove us back to the boarding house, and headed inside. When we got to his room, I threw my bag down, and collapsed on his bed.
"I need a shower… but I'm really tired."
"Come on… I'll get one with you." He said. He pulled me off his bed, and into his bathroom. He helped me with my clothes as I helped him with his. Instead of actually taking a shower, he filled up his bathtub with water, and got in, pulling me in after him. I lay against his chest, and relaxed my body.
"Things can never be easy with us, huh? If it's not one thing… it's another."
"I never promised it'd be easy. I just promised it'd be worth it." He said.
"And so far… it has been." I told him. He grinned, and pressed a kiss to my head.
"I'm glad you think so." He whispered. I sighed.
"Is your blood-." He cut me off by placing a soapy hand over my mouth.
"Stefan can hear you. Vampire hearing, remember?" He whispered.
"Oops… Sorry." I muttered. He smiled.
"It's okay."
"Do you think she'll give up, and leave soon?" I asked him.
"She won't leave until she gets what she wants… or until she's dead." He said. I nodded.
"Awesome." I muttered. He nodded.
"Isn't it?" He asked, sarcastically. I sighed and leaned my head back. "We're gonna get through this. I promise." He said. I turned and smiled at him.
"I hope your right." I whispered. He nodded.
"I always am." He told me. I leaned forward, and pressed my lips to his.
"I love you."
"I love you too." He murmured. I ran my hands down his chest, and brought his mouth back to mine. He pushed me away gently, and shook his head.
"We have to behave… Stefan's home."
"That's not fair." I muttered into his collar bone. He smiled.
"I've got your addicted, don't I?" He asked. I felt my face get hot, and he chuckled. "I'm like a drug. Once you start, you can't stop." I rolled my eyes, and pushed myself up off him, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around me. Before I knew it, I was pinned up against the wall, Damon's mouth on mine. When he pulled away, he smiled.
"Sorry, couldn't help myself."
"What happened to 'we have to behave'?" I asked. He shrugged.
"My fault. I had a lapse in self control." I snorted.
"What self-control?" I asked. He growled.
"Shush." He said, kissing me lightly. We both got dressed, and curled up in his bed.
"I hope tomorrow's better than today." I whispered.
"It will be. I'll make it better, just for you. I promise." He said. I smiled.
"Goodnight Damon." I murmured.
"Goodnight Alyssa." He buried his face into my hair, and slowly we both fell asleep.