Keeping Secrets
Ch. 5
Like the morning before, Damon woke up first, but this morning felt different. It took him a minute to realize that for the first time in a fairly long time, he woke up happy. The revelation threw him for a loop. He had a simple plan when he came to Mystic Falls. Three easy steps: wait for the comet to pass, get the crystal, open the tomb under the church and get Katharine back. A weird teenage girl who was equal parts accepting, cautious and teasingly sexy, did not fit into that equation. She was innocent and innocent girls were never his thing. They were too…complicated and clingy, but Katie was somehow different. He also hadn't expected to find Katharine's look alike when he came to town. He wanted Elena and hated that his brother had gotten her first. He knew why he wanted Elena, she looked like Katherine. But Katie was a puzzle he didn't know if he could solve.
As he contemplated he watched Katie sleeping. If he wanted to, with a simple snap of her neck, he could turn her and make her his forever. He was seriously thinking about it, but his eyes landed the open text book on her desk and he changed his mind. She had a bright, well deserved future ahead of her and if he turned her...her whole life would change. He couldn't do that to her.
He was zoned out, staring at the text book, when Katie's eyes fluttered open and landed on him. His eyes were so still, he wasn't even blinking. "What are you thinking about?" She asked and he jumped. She laughed.
"I was thinking about why I came back to Mystic Falls." He answered resting his hand on her bare side.
"Came back?" She asked placing her hand on his chest just to feel the hard muscles beneath his soft skin.
"I was born here." He answered. "I lived here until I was 24." He slid his hand up her warm side. "Every once in a while I come home to check up on things."
"Is that how old you are physically?" She asked and he nodded as his hand slid over her chest to cup the side of her neck. "So why did you come back if not to check up on things?"
"To rescue the love of my life." He told her without cracking a smile.
"Who are you talking about?" She asked giving him a playful glare. "Because I know it's not me."
"I could be talking about you." He said with a teasing smile as he slid his index finger over her slightly chapped bottom lip.
She made a buzzer sound, "Wrong answer. Try again."
"Her name's Katherine." He told her as he slid his finger down her small, nearly perfect, freckled nose making her smile.
"Stefan's ex girlfriend, Katherine?" She asked and he rolled his eyes.
"She...dated both of us." He said reluctantly. "At the same time."
"I'm trying really hard not to judge this chick, so I'm gonna keep my mouth shut until you tell me more about her." she said as she wrinkled her nose at the thought of being with two brothers like that.
"No, judge away, she's a manipulative bitch." He said as he ran his fingers through her hair, pushing it out of his face.
"But you love her?" she asked with a frown. He nodded and hummed a positive answer. "Why, if she's such a bad person?"
"She was…beautiful, adventurous, and fun." He said letting a small smile slip while talking about her. "And her laugh was just…crazy." His smile grew bigger.
"I heard she died in a fire?" she asked a little confused since he had used both "is" and "was" while talking about Katherine.
"That's what Stefan thinks." He said as he slid his hand down her chest between her breasts. He could feel her heart start racing. "I know the truth."
She grabbed his hand, took it off of her chest and set it on her hip. "Which is?" she asked now that she could concentrate.
"She's still alive, but barely." He said making Katie even more confused. "There's a council of people in this town, or at least there was in the 1830's, that knew about vampires. They rounded them up and put them in the church to be burned. But Katherine had a witch to save her. They locked her in a tomb under the church. She's still there."
"So why haven't you gotten her out sooner than this?" Katie asked. Damon brushed his thumb back and forth over her smooth skin, wondering if he was telling her too much.
"The witch used a magic crystal and the power of a comet to seal her in. I had to wait for the comet to pass over again before the crystal would work to break the seal." He explained, looking her up and down. "The crystal is at the Lockwood's, hidden in one of the boxes that's part of the heritage display. That's why I need to go tonight, to get it back."
Remembering that she still needed to go by a dress she picked up her cell phone and checked the time. It was seven, stores didn't open until eight. "So you need me to help you get the crystal so you can get your half dead vampire girlfriend out of tomb?" she asked just trying to get the story straight.
"And I need you to keep everything I just told you to yourself. No one else knows she's down there and I need it to stay that way." He told her then grabbed both sides of her waist and rolled onto his back. She smiled and moved her legs so that she was straddling him.
"Okay. I'll put it in the vault, lock it away with the fact that you and Stefan are vampires." She sighed the words as she watched him grab her hands then give them a jerk pulling her down so that her face was just inches away from his.
"You…are…amazing, you know that?" he asked then pressed his lips to hers. He had been expecting some kind of rejection or protests or complaints from her when he straight up told her he was in love with a half dead vampire. But she took it all in stride like she did everything else.
After making out for a few seconds she pulled away and sat up. "So this has an expiration date." Or he thought she took it in stride. He tried to look her in the eyes, but she wasn't looking at his face. Instead she watched her fingertips that drew random shapes over his stomach.
"Katie…" he sighed, practically begging her not to go there.
"It's fine." She snapped blinking rapidly as she looked up and gave him a small smile. She wanted to cry, he could tell, but she was doing a good job of covering it up. He frowned and cupped her face in his hand, wiping away an invisible tear with his thumb. "Really. I promise. I'll be fine." Not knowing what else to do he slid his hand around to the back of her neck and pulled her down for a kiss.
He rolled them over and had started kissing her neck when she reached over and picked up her phone, checking the time. "You're looking for an excuse to get away from me now aren't you?" he asked then started kissing her earlobe.
"Am I that transparent?" she asked and he pulled back and looked into her eyes, seeing the pain she was trying so hard to hide.
"A little, but I understand why you want to." He answered as he put a foot on the floor and stood up. He picked up his shirt and jacket and watched her grab a set of clean underwear out of her dresser and grab her towel that hung on the back of her door as he buttoned up his shirt. "Do you want me gone by the time you're done?" he asked and Katie thought about it before she nodded. "But I'll still see you tonight, right?"
She walked over to him and grabbed his neck as she stood on her tip toes and kissed him with as much passion as she could muster in the moment. "Yes." She answered as she dropped back down to stand flat footed, turned around and walked away without looking him in the eyes.
As he put on a pot of coffee, assuming she'd want some before she went shopping, he tuned his ears into where he knew she was upstairs. He was surprised to not hear her crying, but then again it was hard to hear over the sound of running water. When the coffee started dripping, he left.
As Katie showered, she didn't cry. She kept telling herself that she was stronger than that and that she knew they weren't an item or anything. It was just fun, plain and simple. So she sucked it up, showered, dried off and dressed. She was brushing her hair when she spotted her journal sticking out from under a few text books. The textbooks got pushed aside as she sat down and opened the journal to a fresh page. "Hey, journal. It's been a hot minute, I know, but I've been busy. As crazy as it sounds, I made a deal with a vampire. Damon and Stefan really are vampires. Damon was preying on Caroline so I stupidly offered to take her place. I know that sounds weird, but he was messing with her head, turning her into a worse version of herself and I couldn't let him do that. I don't know why, but he doesn't mess with my head the way he does other people. I know that doesn't make me special or anything, but it has to mean something, right?" she stopped and scratched at her head with a creased brow.
"I realized this morning that I stupidly let myself have feelings for him. I didn't intend on it and it happened fast. I knew this was probably a temporary thing considering how we ended up together in the first place. It's not like we met at the bar and sparks flew or anything but he's just so damn sweet and loving and fun. How was I supposed to resist?" A tear slipped down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away with the back of her finger. "So when he tells me he's in love with Katherine how am I supposed to feel?" She stopped and looked around her room as sadness turned to something else. "You know what? No. I'm not that girl. I'm not the kind to act like a kicked puppy over a guy. So you know what? I'm going to make things simple and make the best out of this situation. I'll enjoy him, how happy he makes me and the things he makes me feel right now. However when it ends, and I know it will, I'm not going to cry. I refuse to be the girl whose life ends because a man left her. So… I have a dress to buy and a man to impress just for the hell of it."
She drove to the local boutique to find a suitable dress. After looking through several racks of just okay dresses she found a dress that she loved. A white fifty's style dress with a blue floral print, a thick black waist band, black halter straps, black trim that looked similar to a folded down collar and three black buttons down the bust. It was a bit over the top and out of style, but she didn't care. So she bought it and some black heels then headed to Elena's where she met up with her and Bonnie. "Hey!" Katie called as she walked into the Gilbert house.
"In here!" Bonnie called and Katie followed her voice to the kitchen. "We thought you weren't coming. If I recall you said something about not wanting to go to some stuffy party." Bonnie said as Katie walked into the room with a dress and a makeup bag in her hands.
"That was before I had a date." She said as she as she held up the dress, covered in the clear plastic that the boutique had put over it.
"Ooh, pretty." Elena remarked as Katie placed it over the back of one of the dining chairs and sat down. "And very you."
"Wait, did you just say you have a date?" Bonnie asked as she pulled several bottles of nail polish out of her gold makeup bag.
Katie hummed a positive answer then sat down at the table and started taking her own nail polish out of her black and white makeup bag.
"Who?" Elena and Bonnie asked at the same time.
"Um, Damon Salvatore." Her answered sounded more like a question and she didn't look at them but at the nail polish on the table.
"What?" Both of the girls asked at the same time again.
Katie looked up at them, "You two have got to stop doing that." She motioned between them with a nail file in her hand.
"I thought he was dating Caroline." Bonnie said looking at Katie with wide eyes.
"Did I hear my name?" Caroline asked as she walked into the room with a yellow dress in her hands and two bags of beauty supplies.
"Yeah, did you and Damon break up?" Elena asked as Caroline sat down at the table.
"Oh, yeah, a couple of days ago." She answered without looking at them.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Bonnie asked.
Caroline shrugged. "It wasn't that big a deal. We simply decided that we weren't right for each other and broke it off. I'm completely over him."
"So you don't care if Katie goes to the party with him tonight?" Elena asked with a look between Caroline and Katie.
"No. Not at all." She told Elena with a smile then turned her smile on Katie. "Have fun."
"See, she's over him." Katie said with a smile as she picked out two bottles of nail polish. "And I want to get under him."
"Katie!" Elena laughed at her friend not believing that she had said it.
"You should, he's fun." Caroline said with a knowing smile and a wiggle of her brows.
Katie laughed making Bonnie look at her. "What happened to saving it for the one?" Bonne asked worried about her friend's behavior.
"I decided that you only live once. What if I die in some freak construction accident tomorrow or find out I have cancer or something and die a virgin?" she said with a shrug then held up two bottles of nail polish, "Blue, black or both?"
"Blue." All three girls answered so Katie tossed the black polish into her bag and started filing her relatively short nail tips into uniform ovals.
"Katie there's something you should know about Damon." Elena said as she walked over to the table and sat down across from her.
"What's that?" Katie asked as she started putting a base coat on her nails.
"He tried to kiss me after the football game." She told her getting the attention of all of her friends.
"What?" Katie asked, putting the brush back into the bottle and pushing it to the side.
"Yeah he was being all cocky talking about how he knows I want him and how he knew I wanted to kiss him. He tried to kiss me and I slapped him." He explained looking at Katie who frowned down at the bottles of nail polish on the table. "Katie he's bad news."
Katie blinked and looked across the table at Elena. "Okay, so I'll go to this thing with him tonight and then break it off with him tomorrow." Katie told Elena who was frowning at her. "I promise I'll be careful."
"Okay, if you say so." Elena said finally letting it go.
After that they all got back to listening to music, painting their nails and talking about the latest fashion trends. When they were done with that they migrated upstairs and started on their hair and makeup.
Katie and Bonnie were in the bathroom, Katie putting on makeup while Bonnie curled her hair. "Someone's getting all gussied up." Bonnie commented watching Katie put on smoky brown eye shadow that she only wore to football games. "You're pulling out all the stops for him tonight, huh?"
"Well, I don't really have the opportunity to get all gussied up for a guy very often. So I figured why not do my best to make his heart stop for a second when he sees me. Is that stupid?" she asked but Bonnie didn't get the chance to respond because Elena came into the room in a huff. "What's up?" Katie asked at her friend's distress.
"Jeremy took the pocket watch out of the collection that I'm loaning to the Lockwood's." She sighed then started fixing her hair. "He's such a punk sometimes."
"Man I'm lucky I don't have any siblings." Katie said with a smile that made Elena shake her head at her.
Caroline had just finished zipping up Katie's dress for her when they heard the doorbell ring. "I got it!" Elena called from down stairs and they heard the door open.
"Elena." Damon's voice floated up to them since the bathroom door was open. "You look beautiful this evening." He told her and Katie got jealous for a second as she put on her bracelet and dangly earrings.
"Save the compliments for your own date." Elena replied coldly.
Katie placed the lip gloss she was wearing into her black satin clutch, snapped it shut then took one look at herself in the mirror. Seeing that she looked about as good as she was going to get, frowning at her glasses as she pushed them up her nose, she headed down stairs. She had to remind herself to walk slowly down the stairs or else she would fall flat on her face because she wasn't used to wearing heals. When Damon came into sight, waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs, his eyes found her and his jaw went slack. "Whoa."
Katie smiled as she carefully walked to the bottom of the stairs and looped her arm through his when he offered it. "You don't look so bad yourself." She said as she looked him up and down. He jerked his head to the door with a smile on his face and she walked with him to his Camaro. He opened her door for her and she slid inside then let him shut it. After he got in and started the car she finally asked, "Are you still alive over there?" she then thought about what she had asked, "Er…well, you know what I mean." She corrected nervously and Damon laughed softly.
"Yeah, I knew what you meant." He put the car into gear and started driving. "It's just…I didn't expect..."
His lack of words caused the confidence she had built up while getting ready to drop to the pit of her stomach. "Did I over do it? I know the dress is a little much, but-"
"No, you're…" he cut her off and smiled a bright smile at her across his shoulder. "You're stunning." He turned his eyes back to the road. "I just meant that I knew that you didn't want to come tonight and that I was dragging you here. Most the time when people get dragged somewhere they don't really try to look good for it." he said glancing over to see her staring down at her hands trying not to pick at her cuticles and mess up her nails. He reached over and grabbed one of her hands. "And after this morning…" A pang of sadness shot through her chest and she took in a shaky breath. She knew what she said in her journal, but it didn't mean it was going to be easy. "I didn't know if-"
"Damon?" she cut him off and he hummed, letting her know she had his attention since she wasn't looking at him. "I told you this morning that I'd be fine." She gave his hand a squeeze and slid her other hand over his. "I took time, I processed. I understand that you're only with me until you save her, I'm okay with it. And if it's okay with you, my plan is to enjoy every minute that you're mine and when the time comes, I'll say goodbye and move on." She said then finally looked over at him.
"I'm more than okay with that." He let go of her hand to place his on the back of her neck under her wavy, dark copper hair, rubbing his thumb across the sensitive skin just below her ear.
The more she thought about what Elena had told her the more it started to really bother her so finally she asked. "Did you try to kiss Elena after the football game?"
"She told you about that huh?" he asked taking his hand off the back of her neck to scratch his.
"Yeah, she told me. Care to explain why so I can stop drawing my own conclusions?" she asked.
Damon sighed and adjusted his grip on the steering wheel. "Right after my brother and I turned I promised I would use my eternity to make his a living hell. I knew if he found out that Elena kissed me that it would hurt him."
"So you did it to hurt Stefan, not because you want Elena?" she asked.
Damon hummed a positive answer. "Are you mad?"
"You tried to kiss my best friend. What do you think?" she asked with a glare over at him.
"I think I didn't realize that it would hurt you too and I'm sorry." He said with a look across his shoulder at her.
She sighed leaned forward to press her forehead into the dash. After a few minutes she sat up and glared at him. "Here's what's gonna happen." She started as she turned in her seat to face him. "You and I are going to act like this conversation didn't happen and enjoy the night. Then tomorrow I'm going to yell and cuss at you like I want to right now. Deal?"
"Deal." He told her as he looked back at the road.
She got quiet as she looked around the old car interior that was in perfect condition. As she looked at the steering wheel she noticed that he was wearing the ring that he never seemed to take off. "Can I ask what's up with the rings? I noticed the other day that Stefan wears one too."
"I was wondering when you were going to ask about that." He said with a smile. "You said the other day that the vampires in the house of night books can walk around in the sunlight no problem?" he asked and she hummed. "Well, we can't, not without our rings."
"So do most vampires have rings that let them walk in the daylight or just you two?" she asked curiously.
"No, you have to know a witch to get one and most witches try to stay away from vampires, they kind of hate us." He said with a smirk over at her. "Can't really blame them if I'm being honest."
Katie smiled a little. "So how did you and Stefan get yours?" she asked and he started laughing. "What?" she asked with a smile.
"You're just full of questions tonight is all." He said with a smile then looked back at the road. "Katherine's handmaiden was a witch, she had her make us the rings."
"So what happens if you go in the sunlight without your rings? Please tell me you don't sparkle that crap almost ruined the Twilight books for me."
"We burn." He answered simply.
"Am I asking too many questions?" she asked sheepishly as she scratched the back of her neck.
"No, ask whatever you want and I'll answer truthfully as long as you keep it to yourself." He said with a small smile over at her as they pulled up to the Lockwood's. "I need you to do me a favor tonight."
"I know. I need to help you find the crystal." She said as he parked and cut off the car.
"Not that," he said as he reached over and brushed the backs of his fingers over her soft cheek, "I need you to get Stefan to dance with you, get him away from Elena for a little while." he said, looking into her eyes that turned suspicious.
"Why?" she drawled out the question.
"I need to talk to her, apologize." he said and she still glared at him.
"Okay. I'll get him to dance with me even though it will be really awkward since I can't dance." She said with a shrug then reached for the door handle.
"Nu uh uh." He said as he grabbed her hand stopping her. "We're early." He let go of her hand and placed his on her neck as he leaned into her. "And when you do get out of this car I'm opening the door for you." He caught her lips with his, not caring that he was smearing her lip gloss. "Have I thanked you for wearing blue?" He asked as he started kissing down her neck.
"No, but you're welcome." She smiled not caring that he was leaving a trail of lip gloss along her neck to her shoulder. When he leaned back she saw veins under his eyes and his fangs were on display. She cupped his face in her hands and soothed her thumbs over the veins. "Does that hurt?" He smiled a little and shook his head no. "Can you wait until after the party? This dress is a pain in the ass to get off and I-"
He placed his finger over her lips, "That doesn't just happen when I'm thirsty." He said and she blushed. "You're killing me in that dress." Katie laughed and Damon looked around seeing that a line of people had formed at the front doors of the house. "Ready to go?"
"Give me a second." She said as she popped open her black clutch and took out a small pack of makeup wipes. "You got lip gloss all over me." She wiped the sticky from her neck and shoulder then handed him the wipe to clean his lips. "Did I miss any spots?" She asked, sweeping her loose waves to the side so he could see her neck.
"Mmhmm." He hummed then leaned in, "right here" and kissed her neck. "And here."
"You keep at it and we'll never make it inside." She said with a smile as she placed her hand on his chest and pushed him back.
"Oh alright." He pouted making Katie laugh as he got out then walked around and opened her door for her. "My lady." He offered her his arm being formal again.
"Mr. Salvatore." She smiled and hooked her arm through his.
They had stepped up the first of many concrete steps that led to the front door when Katie heard Elena and Stefan not far behind them. She turned and gave Elena a smile and wave then noticed that Aunt Jenna and Bonnie were standing behind her and Stefan. "Is that Katie with Damon?" Stefan asked Elena quietly after Katie turned back around, but not quiet enough that she couldn't hear them. "I thought he was with Caroline."
"Apparently they broke up. Caroline wasn't even mad that Katie's with him now. It's weird." Elena answered getting a "huh" from Stefan.
Katie popped open her clutch, took out her phone then tucked the clutch under her arm as they moved up a step. She pulled up Damon's contact then flipped her phone open to use the keyboard. She typed "You can hear them, right?" and showed him the screen. He hummed a positive answer. She erased the text then typed, "He thinks you're compelling me to be with you doesn't he?"
"Probably, but I don't care what he thinks." He said as he grabbed her phone and closed it. "Neither should you." He gave a quick kiss on her temple then put her phone in her clutch when she held it open.
Soon they came to the doorway where the mayor was standing, "Katie." He greeted her with a smile as he took her hand, "You've certainly grown up since the last time you came to one of these parties." He said as his eyes roamed her body, and he kissed the back of her hand. "How's your grandpa doing these days?"
Katie's smile faltered as her brain was thrown back to the many days Mr. Lockwood had spent drinking with her grandfather when she was younger. "Oh, he's still Grandpa. Drink, gym, work, repeat." She said plastering her smile back on as she stepped back and wrapped her arm around Damon's waist. "Have you met my boyfriend, Damon?" She asked making the mayor acknowledge him.
"Nice to meet you, Damon. Come on in. Make yourself at home." The mayor said as he shook his hand and Damon shook it back as he stepped inside.
"Thank you." Damon replied then let go of his hand and ushered Katie further inside.
She looked behind her to make sure the mayor was out of sight then wiped the back of her hand on the side of her dress. "I hate that slime ball."
"Why's that?" He asked, amused at her reaction to the mayor kissing her hand.
"Forever ago, he and Grandpa acted like father and son. They'd get drunk at the house all the time and guess what their favorite past time was." She sais as they walked around the house wandering from room to room when she didn't say what it was Damon got really worried and pulled her to a stop. She avoided his attempts to catch her eyes with his until he grabbed her chin and made her. "They took turns toughening me up until I managed to hide somewhere they couldn't find me. Usually some obscure spot in the basement."
"And how old were you?" Damon asked as he gave her side a light squeeze and they started wandering again.
"Maybe twelve or thriteen." She answered.
"Can I kill him?" He asked.
"If he wasn't the mayor I'd say go for it." Damon smiled deviously and pulled her a little closer into his side. "But he is so if he goes missing people will start asking questions." She whispered as they walked into a new room.
"Is that Damon Salvatore?" They heard Elena ask and Katie looked up to see Elena with her back to them, pointing to something hanging on the wall in a frame. "And Stefan Salvatore?"
"What is that?" Katie asked leaving Damon's side to stand next to Elena and look at the old brown paper with cursive writing on it.
"It's the guest registry from the first founder's party." Elena answered then looked behind her to see Damon walking over. "Their names are on it."
"They were the original Salvatore brothers." Damon lied to hide the fact that he and Stefan had really been there.
Katie, remembering that Damon had asked her to get Stefan away from Elena, heard a slow song playing and decided now was her chance. "Would you hate me if I asked Stefan for a dance? I really want to dance and Damon's being a party pooper."
Elena smiled at her friend in surprise. "Since when do you dance?"
"Since today. You only live once, remember?" She asked reminding Elena about what she had said when they were getting ready earlier.
"Right, the new attitude." She nodded. "Well I'm fine with it if Stefan is."
Both of the girls and Damon looked at Stefan. "Well I don't-"
"Pleeease." Katie interrupted him before he could say no. "Just one dance and I'll hand you back over to her for the rest of the night." She flashed him a pleading smile.
"Sure. Why not?" He said as he held his arm out to her and she took it.
He walked her to the dance floor in silence then placed his hand on her natural waist line and took her hand in his. She hated the awkwardness between them so she decided to try to break the ice. "We haven't had the chance to talk since the bonfire."
"No we haven't." He replied with a tight smile.
"I know this is awkward, but I figured since your dating my friend and I'm dating your brother that we should maybe get to know each other a little better." She stated.
He smiled a little. "You're so..."
"Weird." She finished for him with a overly perky smile and he laughed.
"Once again, I was going to say forward, but weird works." He told her with a laugh bringing her back to their first conversation at the bonfire. "You know we don't have to dance to get to know each other. I actually hate dancing."
"Thank god. If you can't tell by the fact that I haven't even moved my feet, I don't know how to dance." She said with a sigh.
"How about a drink then?" He offered. Then let go of her and she followed him to the side of the dance floor where he snagged two flutes of champagne.
"Sounds good to me." She said with a small smile as she looked around.
"You looking for someone?" He asked drawing her attention back to him.
"I was making sure sheriff Forbs wasn't close. She's kinda assumed the role of mother figure since my parents died. If she catches me drinking I'll get a lecture longer than a cvs receipt."
"How did they die, if you don't mind me asking?" He asked just to keep the conversation going.
"That's the bad thing, I don't even know." She shrugged and stared down at her drink. "I was ten when it happened and no one told me anything other than they were dead. They were on vacation in Louisiana during Marti Gras and they didn't come back." She shrugged then took a sip of her drink. "So I hope I didn't over step too bad at the bonfire." She said changing the subject.
"No." He said with a head shake and a closed lipped smile. "You care about her. I get it."
"Which is why I'm going to tell you that if you hurt her I will personally kick your butt." She told him with a pleasing tone and smile.
He scoffed. "You can try."
"And I will fail." She laughed. "But that won't stop me from trying."
"Duly noted." He told her with a mock serious look.
"What's duly noted?" Damon asked as he and Elena walked over. Damon stood in front of Stefan while Elena stood in front of Katie.
"Oh, Katie was just telling me how she's gonna kick my but if I hurt Elena." He said with a small smile across his shoulder at Katie.
Both Elena and Damon cracked a smile. "Hey, I play softball. I know how to swing a bat." She defended herself.
"Do you want a drink, Damon?" Stefan asked randomly as he held his champagne glass out to his brother.
"No thanks, I'll pass." Damon answered.
Things fell awkwardly silent before Elena held her hand out to Stefan, "Do you have another dance in you?"
"Absolutely." He took her hand and walked her to the dance floor.
"Do you want to?" Damon asked as he jerked his head to the dance floor.
"I don't know how, remember? That's why me and Stefan ended up standing over here talking." She said and he grabbed her hand and jerked his head to the dance floor with a small smile. She took one last big drink of champagne then set in down and let him lead her out onto the floor.
He placed his hand on her hip and pulled her close then grabbed her hand that wasn't resting on his shoulder in his other hand. "Just don't step on my feet and your good." She smiled and tried to look down at her feet but he took his hand off her hip and pushed her chin up. "My eyes are up here Miss Finnegan."
"But what if I-" she started and he pressed his lips to hers cutting her off.
"I've got you." He gave her an encouraging smile. "Just move with me." She started moving with him, stumbling a few small times before she got the hang of it. "See, it's not so bad."
"I feel like people are staring at me." She admitted without looking around.
"If they are it's because you are the most beautiful woman at this party." He told her with a bright smile that made her smile. "Hey, so what was all that you only live once, new attitude stuff that you and Elena were talking about earlier?"
"Oh, you caught that huh?" She asked sheepishly.
"It was kind of hard to miss." He pointed out with a curious look.
"It was just something we were all talking about at her house earlier." She said with a shrug.
"That's the only explanation I get?" He asked looking confused.
"Girl talk stays with the girls." She countered and he frowned. "You'll figure it out later, I promise." She said with a smile that fell when she noticed Elena and Stefan arguing while they danced. "What's up with them?"
"She wants to know more about him and his past with Katherine and he won't tell her." He answered making her give him a questioning look. "I've kinda been eavesdropping on them. I have really good hearing."
"Well then I guess it's working." She heard Elena say loud enough for everyone to hear before she left him standing on the dance floor alone. Katie looked away from Stefan to see Damon giving him a smug look.
"You know it's rude to eavesdrop, right?" She asked pulling his attention away from his brother.
"I kind of do it without meaning to sometimes." He shrugged and she rolled her eyes. As Stefan left the dance floor, Damon pressed his forehead to hers and looked into her eyes. "Have I told you how beautiful you are tonight?"
"Only a few times." She said with a smile as the song ended. Damon let go of her side but kept her hand in his as they walked off the dance floor and into the house. They were wondering through the formal dining room when all of the candles suddenly lit themselves. "Bonnie?" Katie asked spotting her friend about to leave the room. Bonnie turned back to her with a freaked out look on her face. "Did you just-"
Bonnie looked back and forth between Katie and Damon then asked, "Can I steal her for a minute?"
"Of course." Damon said then kissed Katie's temple and whispered, "Meet me at the top of the stairs when you're done."
Katie nodded as he let go of her hand and left the room as Bonnie walked over to her friend. "It happened earlier while you all of you were dancing thankfully Caroline didn't see. Then I came in here and all the candles were out. I just tried to light one then whoosh."
Bonnie was clearly freaking out. "Look, I know you're freaked, I would be too if I was you, but you need to talk to your grams before this gets way out of hand. What if the next time you try to light a candle you end up burning your house down?"
"I don't want to be a witch, Katie." She was almost crying.
"I know. Maybe your grams can show you how to opt out of your powers or something?" Katie suggested hopefully.
"Maybe." Bonnie said sounding like someone had killed her dog. "I'm going to head home. Have a good rest of your night with Damon, you two look good together." She told Katie with a small smile then walked away.
With things with Bonnie settled as much as they were going to get, Katie headed to the stairs and saw Damon's back where he was leaning against the railing. "Hi." She placed her hand on his side when she got to the top and he looked around to make sure no one was watching before he led her to a room with a few historical pieces sitting around in it. "I don't think these things are actually on display."
"I know, which is why I need you to keep an eye out while I get the crystal." He told her. She turn so that she could see him and out the door. She watched both carefully as he grabbed a box, opened it up, then popped off one of the inside panels. She turned her eyes to the door and when she heard the clank of wood on glass Katie knew he had found it. He walked up behind her, turned her to face him in the dimly lit room and held the crystal out to her. She took it and turned toward the light. She thought it was kind of ugly, but refrained from saying so. "I know, it's not the prettiest thing in the world, but it's powerful."
Katie just handed it back to him with a small smile. "So are we leaving now?" She asked as he tucked the crystal into his jacket pocket. She was hoping their night could last a little longer.
"Nope." He said with a smile before grabbed her hand, threading their fingers together. "Take a walk with me?"
Katie smiled. "Of course."
He led her outside then to the back lawn where Katie took off her heels and walked barefoot in the grass. They walked quietly until they came to stand next to a tree near the edge of the water and far away from the party, "I uh want to thank you for coming with me tonight." He pulled a long black jewelry box out of the inside of his coat. "So I had this made just for you." He turned the box to face her.
When he opened it her eyes landed on a necklace with a silver moon pendant hanging off of it. A sapphire star rested in the hook of the moon. "Damon, it's beautiful." She said as she ran her finger over the moon.
When he took it out of the box she turned her back on him and lifted her hair. "There's and herb in the moon, called vervain." He informed her quietly as he put the chain around her neck, latched the hook and she dropped her hair. "It'll protect you from vampire influence."
"So you can't mess with my mind?" She asked as she brought the pendant to her nose and sniffed. It smelled floral, but not as off putting as she found the scent of a rose.
"Or Stefan." He added.
"Do you think he would try to mess with me?" She asked placing the pendant back on her chest.
"I don't think so, but you never know." He said looking worried. "I just want to keep you safe." he cupped her cheek in his hand and kissed her. It started off soft, but soon turned needy and almost hungry. "Okay, I can't take it anymore." In a flashed he had her behind the tree, hidden from prying eyes. "I need you." he kissed her neck hard, pulling a moan from her before he started kissing down her neck to the pushed up cleavage that the dress showed off then he kneeled down and put her leg over his shoulder. He kissed his way up her bare leg until he got to her inner thigh and looked up at her through his lashes for permission. She nodded and imbedded her fingers in his hair as he sank his teeth into her inner thigh.
"God, Damon." She sighed and leaned her head back against the tree. But when she heard him cough she looked down at him. "What's the matter?" she asked seeing him fall to the ground.
"Vervain." He answered sounding like he couldn't breath.
"What?" she asked, kneeling down, panic clear in her eyes.
"In your blood." He rasped.
"Oh my god…how?" she asked frantically.
"I knew I couldn't spike your drink." Stefan walked up. "So I spiked hers."
"What?" Katie asked looking away from Damon's eyes to glare at Stefan. "Why would you do that?"
"He's a monster, Katie, he's hurting you and killing people. He had to be stopped." Stefan said looking down at her as if he pitied her.
She looked down at Damon and cupped his cheek in her hand. "Is the vervain going to kill him?"
"No, it just weakens him." He answered with a flat uncaring face as he watched her staring down at Damon, worried. "You know what he is?" he asked with a tilt of his head.
"Yeah, I know." She answered not looking at him.
"Katie…" Damon sighed and reached up and touched her face.
Without saying a word Stefan picked up Damon. "Where are you taking him?" she asked, tears slipping down her cheeks, but Stefan whooshed away, not answering.
It took all of two seconds for the tears on Katie's face to get wiped away and replaced with anger. Before she left the cover of the tree she pulled a bandage out of her clutch, having anticipated Damon biting her during the party, and covered the bite on her inner thigh.
She was leaving the party when she ran into Elena. "Hey. What's wrong? Have you been crying?"
"Your boyfriend just royally pissed me off." Katie answered with flared nostrils.
"What are you talking about?" Elena asked, confused.
"Ask Stefan." She snapped then walked away.
When she got outside she was thankful that Damon's car was still there, his keys and a note in the driver's seat. "Meet me at the boarding house. We need to talk. –S." She wadded up the note and tossed it into the floorboard as she got in the car and cranked it.
