"Twisted"
Chapter 29
Damon dragged Bella through the back door, towards the forest and he only stopped once they reached a clearing. Damon finally let go of her hand and walked a few steps away from her.
He took a deep breath and slowly said, "I'm only going to ask you this once and I want a truthful fucking answer…Have we met before?"
Bella was silent.
"HAVE WE MET BEFORE?" Damon shouted while turning to look at Bella.
"Yes," Bella said, trying to keep herself in control, "When Kol and I were here in Mystic Falls."
"So I've met Kol before," Damon said, his voice lower than when he last spoke, "You compelled me."
"Yes," Bella said, confirming his statement.
"Why?" Damon asked, "Why did you compel me to forget you?"
"Armand found Kol and I here a few months after the night of the ball at your house. I knew he would use you against me so I compelled you to forget while Kol took care of the rest of the town and allowed me to escape." Bella replied.
"I went to my human home today," Damon said turning away, "I walked down the oak-lined path though now it's completely overgrown and into the maze which is also overgrown. I found my way to the gazebo and sat down; I had a dream which I think is a memory."
"What is it about?" Bella asked softly.
"You and I were under the gazebo, seeking shelter from the rain." Damon answered, "Is what I saw or dreamt true? Did it really happen?"
"You asked if you could call on me the night after I left the ball. You had snuck away to come plant the orchids in my garden. The gazebo is what you could call our first date." Bella replied.
"So is it still true?" Damon asked, turning to face Bella.
"Is what still true," Bella asked, confused.
"That I cannot steal something that is freely given," Damon said, blurring to Bella.
Bella stepped away, "We can't," she said and started walking away.
"Why?" Damon asked, blurring in front of her, blocking her path, "Tell me."
"Have you not seen what I do to people?" Bella asked snapping. "I ruin lives Damon. Take a good look at my history; my siblings suffered at the hands of my father when they tried to defend me, I turned a man I thought was wonderful into a vengeful monster, the friends I thought I had have decided to turn against me as well as my ex who was hurt by me, and you…I gave you false hope that there could ever be anything between us when I knew it was not possible. I was trying to save you and instead all I did was throw you into Katerina's clutches, causing you to become a womanizing shell of the man I fell for. I am poison Damon and those who think otherwise are fools."
"You're wrong," Damon said, "You are so concerned with everyone else's safety that you don't let us choose what we want."
"You don't know what you want," Bella said, "You throw yourselves blindly to aid me, but you don't understand the price that you all pay. I see it all, I feel it. I see into my siblings' eyes and see the pain our father caused them; the agonizing torture they suffered to protect me. No one should be forced to do that for one person."
"No one was forced to do anything," Damon shouted, "No one held a stake to their back and forced them to step in for you. They did it because they love you."
"What happened to you not believing in love?" Bella questioned.
"Well that was before I started to get my memories back," Damon replied. "Don't change the subject Isa," Damon said, calling her by the nickname he gave her, "Do not turn away from me."
Bella stepped away, "Please don't," Bella said, "Don't use that name or that tone of voice. You know I can't resist it."
Damon smirked, "That's the point," Damon said stepping closer to her and he inhaled, "You still smell the same after all these years."
Bella shook her head, "I can't," She said stepping away, "I can't do this…not now."
"How sweet," Arthur's voice said cutting through the fog, "You fell for her charm as well."
Damon blurred by Bella and wrapped his arms protectively around her.
"Get away from here," Damon said.
"You think she cares for you?" Arthur asked laughing and coming out of the fog, "You were a plaything otherwise why would she take away your memories."
"Shut up," Damon snarled. "You can't have her."
"Oh yes I can," Arthur said smiling evilly, "Perhaps I'll have her the way I never had her in my human life."
Damon tried to lunge for Arthur, but Bella held him back.
"He's baiting you," Bella said, keeping a firm hold on Damon as she turned her attention to Arthur, "You and my father have no idea what you are doing."
"Then educate me my lady," Arthur sneered.
"Did you really think I would not find out about you threatening the pack and offering the Cullens' their humanity?" Bella questioned and Arthur froze, "You and my father are far too predictable which is what is going to cost you this fight."
"No, your arrogance is going to cost you the fight," Arthur countered.
"It is not arrogance Arthur," Bella said smiling, "It's the plain and simple truth."
"We shall see," Arthur said and bowed deeply, "Until tomorrow evening…milady," he said backing into the thick fog.
"We need to get back to the others," Bella said, still clutching onto Damon, "I can feel Armand out there…watching."
"Come on," Damon said and he wrapped his arms around Bella as he scanned the forest, "But don't think this conversation is over."
Bella shook her head, but never lost focus as she looked into the forest, trying to keep the both of them safe.
.*.*.*.*.*.
As soon as they arrived, Damon told them of their visitor and immediately Bella's siblings bristled.
"They are planning something big," Finn said, "Armand never does anything small."
"Then we use that against him," Rebecca said, "He can't stand to be upstaged which we've already been doing; the change of location, theme, etc. He likes consistency and with us changing this, it's keeping him on edge."
"Which gives us the upper hand," Elijah said picking up from where Rebecca left off, "If we could keep it up…make tomorrow night as unpredictable as possible, we could surprise him."
"How do we get the stake though?" Stefan asked
"And who's going to use it?" Alaric questioned, "He's expecting you Originals to fight so if you try to go for the stake he'll be ready. None of us humans are fast enough and if any vampire other than an Original uses the stake they die as well."
"He has a point," Klaus said.
"Then we don't go directly at him," Kol said. "We go for Arthur."
"But he won't fall for any of our tricks," Bonnie pointed out.
"But he will for mine," Bella said, finally letting go of Damon. "I can distract him and get the stake while you all keep Armand busy."
"You can't be serious," Finn said shocked, "It's too dangerous."
"You aren't doing it," Damon said upset.
"Enough!" Bella shouted causing everyone to be quiet, "I will not be told what I can and cannot do."
"Bella," Kol said coming forward, "We are just worried about you."
"I appreciate that brother, but I need you to understand that I am not weak." Bella said, "If you cannot allow me to do what I think I need to do then I cannot allow you to help me."
Bella started to head for the door but Damon blurred, blocking her.
"We aren't done talking," Damon said.
"I have to find a dress," Bella said annoyed, "Since you all took it upon yourselves to change the theme."
"Already taken care of sister," Rebecca said smiling and bringing Bella a huge bag that was attached to a hanger.
"I think it's the perfect choice for you Bella," Kol added.
Bella took the dress glaring at her siblings, "You all treat me so well…perhaps one of these days I am going to have to repay the favor."
Bella walked out of the house followed by Damon.
"I said we weren't done talking," Damon said, catching up to her.
"There's nothing to talk about," Bella replied, placing the dress in the trunk of the car.
"I want to remember more," Damon said. "Why can't I remember everything?"
Bella didn't answer.
Damon narrowed his eyes, "You did more than just compel me…otherwise my memories would have returned once I died."
"I have to go," Bella said, getting into the driver's seat.
"Why won't you tell me?" Damon asked as Bella shut the door. "You can't keep running Isa."
Bella started the car and drove off. She arrived back at the plantation, got the dress from the trunk and hauled it upstairs to her room. She uncovered the dress and started shaking her head.
"I'm going to kill him," Bella said softly.
"Maybe I'll make it to him before you do," A cold stern voice said.
Bella slowly turned, "Hello Armand," Bella said, "What do I owe the pleasure?"
"Don't try to charm me," Armand sneered, "I know what you are." He started to circle Bella.
"What am I?" Bella asked, not moving or showing the slightest hint of fear, "You seem to have all the answers so please enlighten me."
"You destroy everything you touch," Armand whispered in his daughter's ear. "You're nothing."
Bella laughed, "Then why haven't you ever been able to kill me?" Bella asked, "You've never been strong enough to kill me even when I was human; I still beat you. I think it is you who is nothing…the almighty Armand Bathory; a man who couldn't even do a simple thing such as get rid of his unwanted daughter. I am not afraid of you Armand, I never have been." Bella took a step close to Armand, who had stopped circling and got right in his face, "Tomorrow night this will end, whether I live or die means nothing to me. I do promise you this father…if I die, I'm taking you with me. So go on with your plan, I'm ready for you or if you don't like that idea, take the stake you have and try your luck now."
"You will die tomorrow," Armand growled.
"Not until I see you burn," Bella replied and watched as Armand slowly backed out of the room disappearing.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Bella walked down the stairs and poured herself a drink;
"Bell!" Klaus yelled, "Where are you?"
"In the study," Bella called, downing her drink and pouring another one.
"Everything alright?" Klaus asked, walking in followed by his siblings.
"No," Bella said, "Everything is not alright. Explain to me why you all decided to interfere in something that was not your concern?"
"Did you like the dress?" Kol asked, ignoring her and pouring himself a drink as well.
"I personally love the color," Rebecca added.
"Stop it," Bella said, slamming her glass down, "This is not a game. We are not here to try and fix my horrendous love life. Have you all actually thought about every scenario that could possibly happen tomorrow?"
"Only one," Klaus said. "Killing Armand."
"What happens if Armand isn't the only one that dies?" Bella asked and her family froze.
"Not an option," Elijah said solemnly.
"But it could happen." Bella replied, "And if it is the only way to kill Armand it will happen."
Klaus threw the glass he was holding against the wall, "No it won't. You will not give yourself up like a lamb for the slaughter."
"I will do what must be done to kill him," Bella replied defiantly.
"Have you lost your mind?" Finn asked shocked.
"I am perfectly sane. I thought about every scenario, something you all should have done before you decided to help Damon remember!" Bella yelled breaking finally. "I didn't want him to remember because I knew this was a possibility…actually I knew it was more than a possibility. Armand will not let his guard down unless he thinks he has already won."
"You aren't going to die," Rebecca said upset.
"You don't know that," Bella replied, "I'm going to bed, my head hurts. I will see you all in the morning."
Bella slowly made her way upstairs while her siblings walked outside.
"You don't think she's serious," Finn asked.
"When has Bell ever joked about something serious…especially about death?" Klaus replied, "She's serious."
"We can't allow her to do that," Rebecca said, "She can't just give up."
"I agree," Elijah said, "The question is though, how do we keep her from slipping away and doing this on her own."
"I have one solution to that," Kol said nonchalantly.
"Care to elaborate Kol?" Klaus asked.
"Damon," Finn said, figuring it out.
Kol smiled, "I'll go have a chat with my old friend…Finn perhaps you can persuade Bella to listen."
Finn nodded and walked up the stairs.
"What about us?" Rebecca asked.
"Stay here," Kol said before he walked out the front door.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Damon sat in the living room in front of the fire drinking.
"You know you never drank very much when you were human," Kol said, leaning against the doorway. "That was more your father's department."
"What do I owe the pleasure?" Damon asked agitated, "Are you here to warn me to stay away from your sister?"
"On the contrary I came to talk to you about her." Kol said, "Mind if I join you?"
"Why not," Damon said, grabbing another glass and pouring Kol a drink, "I was always told it's bad to drink alone."
"You tend to remember things you don't want to remember," Kol said, sitting down in a chair.
"That's the thing; I want to remember, but I can't." Damon said leaning back against the couch, "Your sister likes to keep people at arm's length."
"Unfortunately most of the people we get close to tend to die." Kol said, "A risk not many people are fully prepared to take."
"I have a feeling I was ready to take that risk," Damon said.
"You were," Kol replied and then he pulled something out of his pocket. "You know I swore to my sister I would never do this, but some rules are meant to be broken."
"What is it?" Damon asked, looking at the vial Kol held.
"The key to unlocking all your memories including the last one you have of my sister." Kol answered, "It's yours to do with as you wish. If you drink it every memory of what you and my sister did will return. After you drink it Damon, I must tell you that everything will be different. You will look back on everything you've done in the last 145 years and feel guilt."
"How do you know that?" Damon asked.
Kol smiled, "I saw what you and my sister had…it's something rare, truthful, and all consuming. You're little escapades the last few years will feel like a betrayal directly to her."
"She took away my memories…in a way she betrayed me." Damon countered.
"Perhaps," Kol said and handed Damon the vial, "But the last memory you have might change your perspective on that statement."
Kol put down his drink and walked out the door.
Damon sat there staring at the bottle Kol had given him. This was something he had to figure out if he wanted. On the one hand, Bella was a girl he fell for before Katherine. On the other he still felt for Elena on some level.
He stared at the vial for a few more minutes before he finally unscrewed the top.
"Screw it…bottoms up." Damon mumbled and downed the vial.
He sat back and within moments his brain was flooded with memories…he was reliving them. The last one though was the one that took him completely off guard.
.*.*.*.*.*.
1864 – Mystic Falls:
Bella and Damon were walking through the market place. All the town had been talking about was the fact that Damon Salvatore had somehow stolen the heart of Miss Isabella Mikelson, the exotic European beauty with radical ideas. Over the last few months many of the young men had tried to interfere in their courtship, but it was to no avail. The only question now was when Damon Salvatore was going to ask for her hand.
"Does the staring bother you?" Damon whispered as they walked towards Pearl's shop.
Bella smiled, "No," she said, "Does it bother you?"
Damon returned the smile, "I hardly notice it…I'm too enamored by you."
Bella giggled and they continued to walk and shortly they arrived at Pearl's shop.
"Pearl," Bella said, seeing her friend and embracing her.
Something was off though.
"Isabella," Pearl said, worry clear on her face, "I'm so glad you're here I need to speak with you."
"Of course," Bella said and looked at Damon, "Would you mind?"
"Not at all," Damon said and walked away out the door.
He stood on the front porch of the shop and discreetly pulled out a box from his pocket.
"Are you ever going to get up the courage?" Stefan asked, startling Damon.
"I'm working on the perfect moment," Damon said and quickly returned the box to its safe place. "Jealous brother?"
"Miss Mikelson is very intelligent and beautiful, of course I'm jealous. You don't deserve her." Stefan said laughing.
"I know I don't, but I am very thankful she believes I am worthy of her love." Damon said sincerely.
"Well what do we have here?" William Lockwood said as he approached the store with his buddies in tow. "Damon and Stefan Salvatore."
"Get out of here William," Stefan said annoyed.
"Oh, should I be scared?" William asked sarcastically. "Tell me Damon, what did you just put in your pocket?"
"Nothing that concerns you," Damon said tensing, "Now if you will excuse us my brother and I have things to attend to."
"Like Isabella Mikelson." William said and Damon froze, "You know I stand by what I said, all she needs is the right rider and obviously that isn't you."
The next thing the people in the town knew Damon had lunged at William and was pounding him on the ground. William's posse started to jump in and while Stefan tried to help his brother they were outnumbered. Suddenly Damon looked up and saw Kol had appeared out of nowhere and was pulling the boys away from the Salvatore brothers.
"Kol," Bella said rushing out, "What's going on?" Then she saw Damon on the ground bloody, "Damon," She said rushing to his side, "You're hurt."
"What's going on here?" The mayor said, coming over.
"Mayor Lockwood, your son here said some very unsavory comments concerning my sister's honor and when Mr. Salvatore went to defend her honor he and his friends ended up fighting in a dishonorable manner." Kol said angrily. "You are perhaps lucky the Salvatore brothers got to him before I could. I will not have someone saying that my sister just needs the right rider to break her."
"I am so sorry Kol," the mayor said, picking up his son, "William will be punished."
"If he ever makes another comment about my sister and her honor I will rip him apart, do you understand me?" Kol said dangerously low.
"I do," the mayor said, "I will handle him." The mayor walked over to Bella, Stefan, and Damon, "I apologize for my son's behavior."
"Perhaps your son needs someone to hold his reins tighter." Bella replied then looked at William, "You are very lucky you cad. In my home when a boy says things such as that, he is shot and killed and no one thinks twice about his death."
William paled visibly and the mayor dragged his son away.
Bella turned her attention to Damon and Stefan, "Are you two alright?"
"Nothing more than a few minor cuts and bruises," Stefan said, shrugging.
"I'm fine Isa," Damon whispered and kissed her temple.
"Isabella," Kol said coming over, "I just spoke with Pearl, I believe you should head home. Damon will you escort her?"
"Of course," Damon said and the two of them walked to the carriage.
After a while Damon spoke.
"What did you and Pearl talk about?" He asked.
"Kol and I will be leaving soon," Bella said softly.
"What?" Damon asked, shocked.
"We are returning home," Bella replied and she fell silent.
Damon couldn't believe that he was losing the one person that made him truly happy. As they pulled up to the house, Damon helped Bella out and then he started pulling her towards the garden.
"Damon what are you doing?" Bella asked confused.
"Please come with me," Damon said and pulled her to the bridge. "I wanted this to be different, but this will have to do."
"Damon what are you talking about?" Bella asked confused.
"The first time I saw you standing on this bridge, overlooking the water in your own little world, I stood way over there watching you for a few minutes. You were beautiful, but more than that I saw something in you that was indescribable. You were an angel, I could see nothing, but pure goodness emitting from you. I think that's when I knew I never wanted anyone else." Damon said.
"Damon," Bella said breathlessly.
"Let me finish," Damon said and then got down on one knee, "I wanted to do this differently, I wanted this to be beautiful and memorable for you. Certainly I didn't want to be covered in dirt and bleeding." Damon pulled the ring out of his pocket, "I have had this since after the second week of our courtship. I love you Isabella Mikelson, I can't lose you. I don't want to lose you. Will you do me the great honor that I do not deserve and become my wife?"
Tears escaped Bella's eyes and she smiled, "Yes," Bella said.
Damon slipped the ring on her finger and stood up kissing her.
"You have made me the happiest man in the world." Damon said, against her lips.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Present Day – Mystic Falls:
"Bella," Finn said, knocking on the door.
"Come in," Bella said, "What do you want?"
"Tell me what happened." Finn said coming in, "Please let me understand why you're willing to die."
Bella sat down and sighed, "Because I'm tired of living," she said.
"Weren't you the one who told me that we could do great things for humanity when you woke me up?" Finn pointed out.
"Yes, but look at my deeds Finn. Death, heart break, putting innocents in danger; I can't do this anymore. I just want the peace that death would bring." Bella replied.
"What about Damon?" Finn said.
"It can never be," Bella whispered.
"It can if you're willing to take the risk. Obviously once upon a time you believed he was worth the risk." Finn said, "Perhaps that risk is worth taking again."
"No," Bella said, "I ruined Damon's life once, I refuse to do again. If I survive tomorrow, I will leave."
"Leave?" Finn said, "Where are we going?"
"We aren't going anywhere," Bella whispered then looked at her oldest brother, "I'm going away alone."
"Bella," Finn said, placing his hand on top hers.
Bella pulled away, "I'm tired Finn, please leave." Bella said and got up out of the chair and went to the bathroom.
.*.*.*.*.*.
1864 – Mystic Falls:
Damon and Bella happily walked back to the house, but standing on the porch was Kol and he was solemn.
"Kol," Bella said her body tensing, "What's the matter?"
"Damon will you excuse my sister and I for a moment," Kol said stoically.
"Of course," Damon said and he looked at Bella worriedly as they stepped into the house.
"Kol," Bella said, "What's wrong?"
"Armand has found us," Kol said, "I spotted him in town after you left. We only have an hour at most before he knows where we are."
"Then we have to go now." Bella said.
"You do," Kol said, "I have to stay behind and compel the town with Pearl."
"I'm not leaving you," Bella said, grasping Kol's hands.
Kol took hers then paused looking at her left hand.
"Little dove is that?" Kol trailed.
"Yes, we were coming in to tell you, but now it doesn't matter." Bella said, starting to take off the ring.
"Take Damon and run," Kol said suddely.
"What?" Bella replied.
"Take Damon and run. I will feel better knowing he is with you." Kol answered.
"I can't," Bella stepping away, "I can't take him away from his family and on the run with me. It isn't fair, you know that. You know I won't. I shouldn't have even said yes in the first place."
"Bella," Kol said, "You love him and he loves you."
"He doesn't know me…not the real me." Bella replied softly.
"He does know you," Kol said forcibly, "He knows the sister that I grew up loving and protecting."
"He does not know the dark parts…I won't condemn him to running from Armand and Klaus. I refuse to do that." Bella said.
Kol looked at his sister sadly, "Pearl thought you would say that and gave me this." He pulled out a vial, "Have him drink it then compel him…it will keep him safer." Bella took the vial and a tear escaped her eyes, "As soon as you are finished compelling him, I want you to take the carriage and go. Run."
"Kol," Bella said, starting to cry.
"Shh," Kol said, kissing the top of her forehead, "Shh little dove, I cannot bare to see you cry. I promise I will find you again."
Bella nodded and Kol walked out the door.
"Isa," Damon said coming in a few minutes later, "Is everything alright?"
"Come and sit with me," Bella said walking into the sunroom.
"Isa what is wrong?" Damon asked, grabbing her hand.
"Damon," Bella said, "I love you and I want you to know that there is nothing more I want than to marry you," Bella slowly took off the ring and handed it to Damon, "But I can't. It would not be fair to you."
"Isa," Damon said, "I want this…I want you." Damon tried to put the ring back on Bella's finger, but Bella wouldn't comply, "Tell me what I can do to make you change your mind."
"You don't know what you're saying…you don't know me." Bella said. "I love you Damon with every part of myself, but I can't take away your choice and force you into the life I live."
"What are you talking about?" Damon asked confused.
Bella started to compel Damon, "Take this and drink it." Damon did as he was told and then Bella pulled his face to hers, "I love you, you are the most amazing, sweet, honorable, and loving man I have ever met. I will never love anyone like I love you. You deserve to have someone who you can grow old with and not worry about your significant other's past coming in between the two of you. I want you to forget me…I want you to forget ever falling in love with me. I want you to live and love with all your soul. I want you to live your dreams, not your father's. If you see something you want go after it. Know that you are all the things I have said. Forget my face Damon Salvatore…forget the memories we shared, forget my brother, but don't forget how it feels to fall in love…I mean really fall in love so that when you do find it again, you'll know it's real just like what we had. Now go home Damon."
Bella bent down and kissed Damon's lips one last time, led him to the door, and she watched as he rode away.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Present Day – Salvatore Boarding House:
Damon quickly opened his eyes, sweating.
"Son of a bitch," Damon said.
"Damon," Stefan said, looking at him, "Are you alright?"
"She left to protect me." Damon said, dazed.
"What?" Stefan asked, confused.
Damon ignored him, grabbed his jacket, and headed for the front door.
A/N: Hey everyone! I hope you don't hate me where I left it, but trust me it had to be done. Now I am leaving town for vacation. Heading up to the gorgeous mountains of Red River, New Mexico. Going to enjoy some peace and quiet. Also my lovely beta is going on vacation as well so no new chapter until she gets back
Thanks to Dark~Supernatural~Angel for all her hard work and I had better see a gorgeous picture of the caribbean at sunset (pretty please ).
Review you guys and I will see you all after vacation!
