Chapter 24 – Enjoy the Silence
by Depeche Mode
Words like violence
Break the silence
Come crashing in
Into my little world
Painful to me
Pierce right through me
Can't you understand
Oh my little girl
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm.
Sunday evening
"You know, you guys should really learn to start locking the front door, otherwise any drunken lunatic could walk on in." I stumbled over to them, leaning against a chair and resting my other hand on me hip.
Stefan rushed forward, taking my arm as I started to tipped to the side. "Alice! Where have you been?" He sounded all panicky, which I didn't understand.
I felt like being a bitch, so I pushed him aside and made my way to the bar. "Sightseeing." I replied, sarcastically.
"What happened to your neck?!" Damon was suddenly in front of me, holding me back from the bar in a firm grip that matched his tone.
"Got bit by some crazy ass vampire, but don't worry, I took care if her." I punched Damon in the chest, mimicking the way that I had staked Maria before making my way over to the table everyone had been gathered around moments ago. It was a large map of Mystic Falls with candles surrounding it as well as a large, old book with loads of writing. It looked like gibberish to me.
"What are you talking about? You killed another vampire? When?" Elena's high pitched voice went straight through me, which didn't help with how worried she was.
"Please, stop with the questions, my fucking head is pounding." I stumbled over to the bar again, trying to get passed Damon. "Hey, we got any more whiskey, I'm absolutely parched."
I pushed him aside, but he grabbed me, pushing down on my sensitive ribs. I span around. "Ow! What's your problem!?" I was leaning against the table, smoothing my pains to try and make them leave, but it had little to no effect.
Damon held his hands in the air, defensively. "I didn't even use that much force on you!"
"I cracked a couple of ribs, dumbass. Now move outta my way." I waved my hand in front of him before stepping around him to settle on the arm of the sofa.
"We were worried about you." Elena's tone was softer, but she still held a wide eyed expression, staring at my neck.
"Well, I'm back! Problem solved." I raised an eyebrow and pointed at Bonnie. "What's the witch doing here?"
"We were going to use a locator spell to find you, but it didn't work." Stefan sighed before turning back to me as I started to snigger.
"Oh, I get it. So instead of doing the normal thing and organising a search party, you've all been sat on your asses, trying to do a spell that doesn't work!" I started clapping my hands together. "Bravo!"
I looked at each of the faces in the room, all of which were stunned by the way I was acting. I smirked, tearing off my hoodie and jumping up on the sofa.
"Hey look! I'm a helicopter!" I started making weird howling sounds in my throat whilst holding the hoodie above my head and spinning it around in a circular motion, like a cowboy with a lasso. I then leapt off the back of the couch, landing with cat-like skills on my feet, before twirling my body around like a ballerina.
Stefan shook his head in disbelief, rubbing his eyes. "Okay. Elena and I are gonna take Bonnie home." He led the girls out of the arch way as I continued to jump about the room. "Remember what we talked about Damon." Stefan sounded so serious that I couldn't help the giggle falling from me.
"Yeah, yeah I'll take care of her." Damon was annoyed, probably now that he was playing babysitter to some idiot girl that couldn't handle her drink…oh yeah…me!
Bonnie, Elena and Stefan left, but not before giving his brother a warning look in which Damon shrugged his shoulders. When we were finally alone and I heard the car pull out of the driveway, I felt myself grinning.
"Oooh, look, it's the evil brother, come to take care of me again!" I started dancing around the living room, hips writhing back and forth and singing at the top of my voice to no tune in particular. The room was spinning and I loved it!
I stopped dead in my tracks, eyeing him up from across the room. "I know! Let's do some shots!"
"Stop messing around." Damon's arms were crossed, jerking his head towards the stairs. "Let's go."
"Hmm, you gonna lock me up again, cause I'm such a naughty, disobedient girl." I stumbled over to him and tangled my figures in his hair, pulling him down to my level.
He grabbed my arms and pushed me back, but still held me within distance. "Alice, stop messing around and get your ass upstairs so I can clean you up, now."
I pouted my lips, spotting his precious bourbon on the drinks bar. I yanked my arm free of his gripping, jumping over the sofa and grabbing the bottle. "You'll have to catch me first!" I started laughing hysterically at his expression. This was the most fun I had had in ages!
Damon was suddenly behind me, snatching away the bottle of bourbon as he sat it down on the end bar. He pulled me in so that we were chest to chest, holding the back of my neck so I was titled up and looking in to his beautiful eyes. I breathed in deeply as his scent that seemed to engulf me.
"Don't ever touch my drink. It's expensive." he whispered, his dark eyes dancing across my features and seemed to get darker by the second.
"Damon, you're so big and strong…and hot!" I pulled at the collar of his shirt, popping the first few buttons. I sucked in my bottom lip seductively, gazing up at him through my long, hooded lashes.
Within an instant, Damon picked me up in his arms and headed towards the stairs, his face like stone and unmoving. My arms and legs dangled like a rag doll while he effortlessly carried me.
"We're we going!?" I was trying to supress a laugh and started poking his cheek with my finger, trying to get any sort of reaction out of him. My neck muscles gave out and my head rolled back weakly, but I was still laughing. I couldn't help it.
The next thing I knew, I was being settled down on a bed; his bed. I was in his room again. Damon quickly slipped into the bathroom, before coming back with a bowl of water and medical kit. He set everything down on the bed side table, sitting just in front of me.
"Where does it hurt then?" He finally broke the silence between us, moving my head to the side to examine my neck.
"My back hurts and my ribs. My head is killing me and my cheek strings." I replied, feeling my body shaking all over. I wasn't feeling too good now. That buzz from a few moments ago had completely fizzled out of me as pain escalated through my body.
Damon positioned himself just in front of me, opening the medical kit and taking out a cloth and cotton bud. He dipped the cloth in the warm water and started running it over my cheek, rubbing away the mix of dirt and blood. My face was numb, so I didn't feel too much.
Then he took the cotton bud and started wiping away at the cut, making me flinch at the thumping pain. His head was slightly tipped to the side and he was staring at me in fascination.
"Alice, I need to check you to see the extent of your injuries, do you understand?" He said his voice rough with some emotion I couldn't identify. Pity, maybe?
I nodded my head, cautiously, as he lent forward. I flinched back, not really knowing why, but his touch was something that I didn't want to feel right now.
Damon looked at me, his expression serious, but with soft eyes. "I'll have to touch you and remove your shirt. Is that alright?" He asked.
I nodded my head wincing as my head throbbed again and feeling suddenly too tired to want to argue with him. I attempt to lift my shirt and expose my back for him, but my arms give out as I whimper and the throbbing in my abdomen.
"Here, let me do it." Damon slowly made his way to my back, gently lifting the shirt to examine me, leaving me in a bra. I heard him take in a sharp intake of breath and feeling his hand ghost over the areas it hurt most, but never touching.
"How bad is it?" I manage to choke out through the arching feeling.
Damon didn't say a word as he moved back to face me, his eyes widening as he took in the damage to my ribs. This time I had to see. I cried out and jump backwards as his fingertips brushed over the wounds. I look down to find that my pale skin was now covered in ugly purple and blue bruise splotched all over the right side of my chest.
I looked back up at him and watched as his jaw clenched when he saw the extent of the bruises that covered my torso.
"Well, no wonder I'm in so much- AGGGHHR!" I started to choke on my cries as Damon pressed the wet cloth on to my ribs. He pulled back in an instant as tears streamed my face.
"I'm sorry, I'll be more careful." He looked guilty, pressing his lip in to a thin line and looking down. This time his touch was feather-light as he washed away the blood seeping from a small cut just below my bra.
He cleared his throat, not meeting my gaze. "You know, I can make all these pains go away…" He lifted his head to mind, staring directly into my eyes. "…but only if you want to this time." He swept the tips of his fingers along my neck, brushing the bite mark.
I considered his offer. I hated the idea of being weak and vulnerable and having to have him save me, but the crackles on pain that flowed through my body made it almost impossible to ignore.
"Yes…"
His eyes widen and he pulled back from me as if I had burnt him. "Really?"
"Yes, please…" My voice was dry as I struggled to speak up.
Damon drew a shuddering breath and managed to put a sentence together. "I just don't want to do this if deep down you don't want to. I can't stand the thought of you hating me even more."
"I don't hate you, Damon…" I wiped the tears running my cheeks and forced a smile. "Sure you piss me off with the things you do, but I could never hate you." I reached forward, taking his hand in mine.
"Why not?" he said quietly, consistently searching my face for any hint of rejection.
"Because, deep down, I know you're a good person."
Damon gazed at me before running his hand through my hair and down my back, lightly, but still making him tense up. He rose from the bed and sat behind me, pulling me back against his chest and between his legs. I hissed at the stringing in my back, but took deep breaths as I lowered myself against him, resting my head on his shoulder.
He pulled his wrist to his mouth and I heard the sucking sound as he slid his fangs into the thin layer of skin. He held the blood wound in front of me, waiting. I swallowed hard. Was I really going to do this willingly?
Damon must have sensed my discomfort, as he dropped his arm slightly and pulled my hair to one side. He rested his head in the croak of my neck.
"You don't have to if you don't want to." He spoke, but it was low and husky, barely above a whisper.
I turned my head around and stared in to the blue depths that seemed to always consume me. "I want to." I was surprised by how strong I sounded and shocked myself further when I grasped his arm in my hands and pressing my lips to the crimson liquid.
His blood tasted like heaven. It was one of the most beautiful things I had ever had in the way that it brought my taste buds to life. The liquid seemed to dance in my mouth and my throat in a musical rhythm.
It was warm and rich and I felt myself getting lost in him. It was so delectable that I pulled him in closer in a bid to have more.
I leaned closer to him and with his free hand he started stroking my hair tenderly, moaning in to my neck slightly. Finally, when I thought I might lose control, I released his hand and start to take large gulps of air to fill my lungs. All the pains and aches were gone.
Damon moved his head from my neck and with both arms he reached and held me across my belly, pulling her closer and sharing the warmth of his body with me. This hand on my bare skin was like fire and I could almost feel it blistering, but it was a sensationally feeling.
I turned my face towards him but his expression was almost completely unreadable and I could tell that he was trying to read mine. I didn't know what to say or feel, because at this point I didn't have a clue what we stood as; friends, enemies, strangers…lovers?
"I should go." I made a move to get up, but instead rolled off the bed. I held my hands out in front of me to break the fall, but Damon's arms were securely wrapped around my waist, pulling me up into a standing position. Even though I had his blood in my system, it didn't take away the pure dizziness that took over me.
I was going to have a massive hang over tomorrow.
"I want you to know how sorry I am, for everything." His whole body was tense as he searched for the right words to use. "I don't expect you to forgive me, but I hope you understand that I never wanted any of this to happen the way that it did."
His eyes burned into me, and I could feel the familiar heat begin to boil inside of me. I tried to speak, but there was nothing to say. I was speechless. I felt my breathing hitch up as he leaned forward, simply pressing his lips to my cheek and cradling the other side of my face.
He pulled back a bit, his expression a mixture of uncertainty at my lack of a reaction. I straighten up and took his face in the same way he had mine.
"I forgive you, completely." The corners of his lips pulled up into a slight smile. "But there is one thing I want you to do for me."
His face dropped, his eyes looking panicked at what I wanted. It wasn't anything bad, but I liked having this power over Damon, the same way he had over me.
"There's gonna be danger where ever I turn in this town and you can't keep me trapped inside this house forever. I have a life to get on with." He opened his mouth to protest, but I held a finger up, silencing him instantly. "So, I want you to train me in ways so that I can fight vampires and be able to take care of myself. I took down a vampire by myself today, so I have the ability. Sure I got a bit battered during it, but I did it."
"Alice, I…"
"Please Damon. Just teach me." I sounded like a whinny child, but I needed him to do this for me.
He seemed to be thinking it all over in his mind, until he finally gave in and nodded.
"Okay, I'll train you." I was ready to jump with joy, but he grabbed my arms and secured me in place, staring down at me with serious eyes. "I have to set the ground rules first. One, training will be every day after school if you want a hope in hell of being prepared. Two, you do as I say when I say it, no arguments or questions. And three, you can't tell anyone." I raised my eyebrows at him, confused by what he said. "I don't think they would approve of me teaching you this stuff."
I beamed up at him, satisfied with what he had said. "Deal! Thank you so much, Damon. I won't let you down, I promise."
I knew it was time for me to leave, but I was frozen. The silence that now surrounded us was thick and I wasn't sure what to do or how to react. He leant forward again, but only slightly to study my expressionless face. He reached forward and started twirling my hair in his fingers.
I closed my eyes getting lost in his touch. The buzzing feeling from the alcohol was back and I couldn't resist him anymore. He smelled so good, felt so familiar and comfortable that I simply didn't want to help myself.
Gently, he let his lips brush against mine, waiting momentary for my reaction. I decided it was my turned as I let my mouth fall open against his, deepening the kiss. He took the opportunity, reminding me and showing me what I had missed out on last night.
Just like he had, I was the first to take dominance of the kiss, as I let my tongue tangle with his as I felt his hands cup my face. Yes, it was a very possessive action, but I couldn't help the way he made me melt under is touch as if he were trying to protect me from the world.
I was panting now from the shock waves that rippled over my skin and the way that goose bumps appeared on my chest. I was suddenly aware that I was snogging Damon, in his room, in just a pair of shorts and bra.
Damon must have released at the same time as me, as he jerked back away from me. His vision was clouded with lust as he seemed to float back down from his high.
He cleared his throat. "I think you better leave and get some rest. You've got school tomorrow and training straight after." He guided me out of his room and down the hall to my room, but not crossing over the threshold of the door way.
He cupped me cheek on last time with sad eyes. "Good night, Alice."
And then he was gone.
I closed the door tight, cutting off the rest of the world and collapsing on my bed. My lips still tingled from the kiss. It had been incredible as I tentatively reached my finger up, touching my lips.
This was me, completely and utterly content in the silence.
I had so much fun writing this chapter! I mean, seriously, it was so good to be able to write a scene like that with Alice being completely out of it. Sorry if you thought it was a bit on, but I was just trying to imagine the way other people I know who have acted like this when they have had a bit to drink ;) I also wanted to do a role reversal with Alice and Damon, with her being irresponsible and him being some what responsible. I also wanted to get across the fact that she is slowly opening up to him in accepting his blood, but he is also showing her his more vulnerable side.
As always, thanks for the reviews, and reading through them I guess you guys enjoyed Alice's more wild side ;) I will hopefully be uploading more during the week, but I can't make any guarantees because of college :/ I will say, however, that I will definitely have a chapter out before Friday :) Oh and I will also be posting another story in a few days. It's nothing special, just a little one-shot that I have been writing to fill the gap until VD is on again. Thanks for reading!
Next chapter: Some steamy training lessons, a little bit of magic and a whole load of vampires. Stay tuned ;)