The dress was like silk which meant it probably was. Carol's hands fussed with the large-skirted dress while Rose and Caroline looked onward. Caroline was one of Rose's children and had been asked to act as a bodyguard while Damon dealt with the possibility of Stefan's arrival. The men were running around crazily trying to assess security risks while the women were aflutter with wedding plans.
Dress after dress had been wrapped, tied, fluffed, and smoothed while I stared at the window. The men were congregating on the patio below our windows gesturing vigorously over every little detail. Conspicuously missing was Klaus and the men seemed aware of it but chose to ignore it. Rose had abstained from the meeting stating they never listened to her anyway.
"What do you think Elena?" Rose asked as she gestured for a spin. I obliged and then glanced in the mirror. I shrugged my shoulders warily as Carol began untying the intricate princess dress.
"Mistress you need to pick one," Carol murmured as she turned for dress number 17. I stared at them blankly before turning to watch Damon argue with Elijah about something clearly important.
"I think her mind is with her man," Rose said as she continued her rousing game of angry birds. She flicked her finger suddenly and swore. "Damn helmet ones..."
"Mistress he wants you to select a dress," Carol said. "He wants you to be happy."
"I am happy but he's doing all of that down there because of me and my fear," I replied. "He only revoked his protection because of me!"
"Can I make a suggestion?" Caroline asked quietly. "I...I think you'd look best in that strapless A-line."
Everyone turned to look at her questioningly. Caroline looked around sheepishly before moving towards the row of dresses, tugging out a very simple, traditional gown. She brought it over to Carol and looked up at me for approval.
"Why this one?" I asked.
"Because you're much more modern than Damon but you like traditional things," she said. "You don't need the poufy skirts because it's not who you are. Plus he'll want to shred the ties with his teeth when he gets you alone."
"I...let's try it on," I murmured. My eyes turned to glance towards Damon as I stepped into the dress, closing my eyes when I felt her fingers doing up the ties. Something about the wedding seemed surreal and I hadn't had time to reconcile the thought of eternity with Damon. The thought of waking up in his arms every morning made everything seem a bit more brighter.
I played with the beautiful ring he'd given me years before and thought of my mother's ring and what it had symbolized. I thought of the years alone when I'd wondered if I'd ever be with someone again. Mortals were difficult because of the level of trust required with a vampire secret. Vampires were hard because Damon would have killed them. My future had always been limited but now...now I knew he was why I had been so limited. No matter what we'd been through there was something between us that made it impossible to find happiness apart. His eyes were filled with love now and he was really trying to be less possessive and dominating. He was making such an effort and I was being difficult and moody.
"Elena...I think you should open your eyes," Rose said quietly. I blinked them open, staring at the mirror in disbelief. There was something different, inherently magical as I stared at the classic dress. The beading was present but it was subtle only catching the light when I swiveled my body gently. My breasts filled out the strapless top while the locket lay perfectly nestled against me. The skirt swayed when I kicked a foot and I had visions of dancing with him while the skirt swirled.
"Are you all right Mistress?" Carol asked as she pressed a tissue into my hand.
"I..." I stammered tearily. We were so involved in the dress we hardly heard the door opening and the sense of ominous darkness breeding in the quiet afternoon air.
"You look beautiful Elena," a voice said. I froze at the familiar voice and spun, tripping over my dress and into his arms. I heard the scream leave my throat and the sounds of three women swarming protectively. With one look I was ensnared, frozen and unable to move. I stared up fearfully at the man who'd done all of this to me. My killer…
Stefan was back.
