Author's Note: Hello everyone, I am sorry for my long absence however I had computer issues; I lost the charger to my old laptop and due to the age could not get a replacement for it. Due to this I chose to buy a whole new laptop instead since I have not had one in a long time.
Anyway, I hope everyone is safe and healthy during this troubling time, COVID-19 is spreading like wildfire across the world and during this time we need to come together. Anyways, I hope this chapter helps to distract and entertain some people who are currently stuck in quarantine, as always on with the show.
Chapter 25: New York City Part One
Salvatore Boarding House, Mystic Falls, Virginia
Monday, Morning, 2011
Damon Point of View
Damon awoke slowly and reached across the bed for Elena, when he felt nothing, he opened his eyes and spotted a note on the pillow where Elena had slept the night before. He sat up in bed leaning against the headboard, he reached over and picked up the note from Elena; she had gone shopping with Bonnie and Caroline and to text her when he woke up.
He moved over and got out of bed picking his phone up and sending a quick I love you text to Elena before he placed his phone back down and moved to have a shower. Twenty minutes later Damon walked down the stairs fully dressed and ready for the day; he was on his way to get a blood bag when his phone rang from upstairs.
Putting it off for a moment the vampire sped up to his room and picked up his phone, he saw it was Caroline calling and a sudden jolt of fear hit him as he picked up the phone.
"Blondie what's going on?" Damon asked trying to hide any fear in his voice.
"Damon, thank god it's Elena…we've had an incident" Caroline murmured to Damon who was already on his way out the door.
"Where are you?" Damon asked as he walked out the front door and made his way over to his car before he stopped and decided running would be faster.
"Clothes shop on main street, hurry Damon…Elena needs you" Caroline to him as he hung up the phone and disappeared into the forest.
Boutique Clothing Store, Mystic Falls, Virginia
Monday, Morning, 2011
Damon Point of View
Damon came to a stop outside the clothing store that Caroline had said the girls were at, the closed sign on the door and the drapes being drawn on the store was not a good sign. He tried to open the door but found it was locked but before he could call out it was swiftly unlocked from the other side. Bonnie stood there, specks of blood were on her blouse, but he found she had no physical marks, but she was trembling and when she tried to smile at him it came out more as a grimace. He swiftly walked in and shut the door behind him locking it once more before he turned and took in the store.
A woman stood sat to the side of the store entrance on a chair, Damon spotted dried blood on her neck and all over her shirt. She had a dazed look on her face, but when Damon saw Caroline standing outside a dressing room door and speaking softly to it Damon realised where Elena was. He made a beeline for the dressing room and when Caroline realised that he was there she looked grateful and happy to see him.
"Elena, Damon's here ok, we are going to take care of the women and he is going to help you" Caroline murmured touching Damon with the trust she held in him now.
Caroline walked past him giving him a look and squeezing his arm as she made her way her way past him and to woman with blood all over her neck. Damon made his way over to the door and sensed that Elena was just on the other side, Damon did not stop he simply broke the lock on the door and went quickly inside. It was a large space but given the store was a boutique clothing store that made sense. Elena sat in front of the mirror simply staring at the reflection; this confused Damon for a moment before he realised her vampire visage had come to the surface.
Elena was simply staring at herself, Damon realised to others she would look like a monster with the veins rippling under her eyes, her eyes itself had turned onyx black that took over a vampires eyes and there was blood coating her mouth and chin. To him she was still gorgeous, and he did not care if she were coated in the blood of a hundred strangers, he would still love her. At the sound of the door closing she slowly turned back to face him before she simply looked at the mirror. Damon simply strode over to her picking, he did not bother to try to talk her, this was not the time or the place he simply her up bridal style and started to make his way out the door. Elena simply leaned her head down against his chest and his concern grew with her lack of reaction.
Damon went to the front door checked both ways before he raced out the door locking it behind him trusting Caroline to fix up the store owners' memories. Damon sped into the forest and started towards the boarding house and as the silence from Elena continued so did Damon's concern for the young vampire in his arms. Once the boarding house came into view and Damon broke the edge of the forest Elena seemed to struggle for a moment before stilling in his arms. He opened the door and quickly sped up the stairs coming to a stop inside in his room closing the door swiftly behind himself.
As he went into the bathroom, he gently placed Elena down on the bathroom counter then turned around and started to fiddle with the knobs starting to get the water ready for her. Damon heard a sniffle after a few moments which caused him to turn around and taken in Elena who now had tears silently streaming down her face. Damon sighed as he walked over to her and he gently cupped her face in his hands forcing her to look at him.
"Come on, we need to get you cleaned up" Damon murmured as he slowly started to undress her.
Once Elena was fully unclothed Damon took off his boots before he picked her up and sat down in the tub, clothes and all. Damon slowly started to wash her chin, the water started to turn a darker as it was stained with blood and Elena still barely said anything causing Damon to sigh.
"Want to talk about what happened yet?" Damon asked as he gently started to wash one of her hands and moving onto her arm causing her to let out a sigh of content.
"I lost control" Elena murmured to Damon as he stopped what he was doing for a moment.
"Elena, you haven't learnt control yet and that's my fault I should have started to help you get a better handle on it" Damon replied to Elena who sat up and turned in the tub.
"Damon, no this isn't your fault. I should of have fed before I went out with Caroline today but I thought I didn't need to" Elena replied as she gently cupped his face smiling at him, he returned it and for a few moments there was silence as Damon fell into a contemplative mood.
"So, your done with school, right?" Damon asked as Elena leaned her head back and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, I am, why did you have something in mind?" Elena asked as Damon finished washing one arm and started on the other.
"Well, I was thinking now that you have some time, I was thinking of another road trip?" Damon asked as Elena smiled at him.
"If I say no will I be kidnapped again?" Elena questioned causing Damon to laugh at her.
"No, I was thinking we get out of town for a few days and I teach you the fun side of being a vampire" Damon as Elena turned around and straddled his hips.
"Why don't you show me other fun ways to be a vampire" Elena leaned down and murmured in his ear then she nibbled on it softly causing him to moan up and reach for her.
Gilbert House, Mystic Falls, Virginia
Tuesday, Morning, 2011
Damon was putting the last of the bags into the back of his car as Elena was saying to Alaric and Jeremy before they were set to leave for New York City. Damon had considered keeping it a surprise but with Elena's heightened emotions he did not want to add any more stress or anxiety to her already turbulent emotions. When she found out where he was taking her smile broke over her face as they laid in bed last night after a very lengthy bath.
She had never been and unlike in the future she would have her emotions on this time, Damon had always meant to take Elena back to NYC in the future but with everything that always seemed to happen in their lives the chance never presented itself before Elena was placed into the coma. He explained that it would be easier to hunt in a larger city, when Elena pointed out several cities closer, he simply asked her to trust him. As he closed the trunk, he heard Elena and Alaric making their way over to the car while the front door slamming shut signalled Jeremy going back into the house.
Damon walked around the car as Elena came to stand beside him with Alaric standing across from on the sidewalk. Damon realised Alaric wanted a private word with him before they set out on their trip, Damon simply looked down at Elena for a moment and after a bit of silent communication between the two she understood, huffed out a breathe and got into the passenger seat of the Camaro. Damon and Alaric walked up to the Gilbert house and came to a stop several feet from the car.
"Damon, keep an eye on her ok…the last couple of months have been hard on her" Alaric murmured to Damon who raised an eyebrow.
"I haven't had a chance to read the diaries she kept me, but I know she was having troubles" Damon murmured, his choice of words made Alaric laugh bitterly.
"It's not my place to, it's her but use this trip to ask her…reading isn't going to be enough Damon" Ric murmured to him as he nodded his head in understanding.
Damon looked back at the car and Elena who had slipped the key into the ignition, she was fiddling with the radio, but Damon could tell by the tension in her shoulders she had heard what they been talking about. Damon sighed and made his way over to the car and got into the driver's side. Damon looked at Elena who seemed to studiously be ignoring him and keeping her whole focus on the radio.
Damon reached out with his hand and softly grabbed her smaller one with his larger one and gently squeezed in reassurance. The squeeze he got back was tight but smile from her was tighter and as Damon opened his mouth to speak, she held up a hand to stop him.
"Can we talk about this in New York?" Elena asked softly as Damon smiled at her softly.
"Yeah sure of course we can, New York City here we come" Damon said trying to get a laugh from her but all he got was a squeeze and another tight smile.
"I love you Damon" Elena murmured causing Damon to smile as he put the car into gear and he to pull her hand to his lips and kiss the back softly.
"I love you too Elena" Damon murmured as they pulled away from the Gilbert house and started to make their way out of town.
The Ritz-Carlton, New York City, New York
Tuesday, Morning, 2011
Damon Point of View
Damon smiled at Elena who was currently mesmerised by the high-rise buildings and Central Park that they were currently driving by that she had not noticed Damon pulling up to one of the most exclusive hotels for her. When Damon stopped the car and put it into park Elena finally took in where they had stopped. Damon's door was opened by a valet who was dressed smartly in red and black, tipping his hat at Damon who stood out and slipped a twenty-dollar bill into his hand for parking his car. Two more went to the back of the car to collect their bags and place them on a trolley, then as Damon and Elena made their way up to the revolving door of the hotel Elena finally found her voice.
"Is this…is this the Ritz?" Elena asked barely able to believe it as she took in the lobby of the building.
The lobby was white marble with several soft white couches on nears pillars that were spread throughout the reception on the right-hand side, whilst on the left there was a long counter with several people standing behind them looking at computers, there were several people spread throughout the room but for the most part the reception area was rather empty for the time of day it was. Damon directed Elena to the counter where a young blonde woman was currently standing with a smile on her face.
"Hi, welcome to the Ritz-Carlton, how may I help you today?" she asked smiling politely at the pair but her gaze lingered slightly more on Damon than Elena making Elena tighten the arm that was currently wrapped around his waist.
"Yes, my name is Damon Salvatore I would like my apartment unlocked please" Damon murmured pulling out a card and handing it over to the young lady causing her to gulp as she looked at him again as if seeing him for the first time.
"Would you like your regular meal brought up to you sir?" the woman asked shakily as if she was afraid of him.
"No, we will be having breakfast on the go today" Damon replied as the woman breathed out in relief and started to look down at her computer and hitting several keys.
"You haven't been back in several years Mr Salvatore but we have kept penthouse clean for you in the interim per policy, here are your room keys" the young woman said handing over took cards to open the way to the penthouse.
The two porters fell into step behind Damon Elena as they made their way into the hotel elevator, Damon scanned his card and pushed the button for P3 or penthouse three. As the elevator ascended Damon looked down at Elena who seemed to be almost bouncing out of her shoes in excitement, a soft smile broke out over his face at her enthusiasm. She met his eyes for a moment before pulling him into a kiss that made his toes curl, not that he would ever admit the power she had over him to anybody other than her.
The elevator dinged and the two porters wheeled the luggage carts into the penthouse followed closely by Elena and Damon. There was a kitchen to the right with an island and several stools, there was an abundance of different appliances everything they would need. Directly opposite the door was a floor to ceiling glass window with a door that led out to the balcony overlooking central park. There were several black leather couches spread out with a glass coffee table in the centre just before the door to the balcony.
The porters opened a double opposite the kitchen and wheeled the bags into the bedroom that held a king size bed, another window this one with curtains that were currently being pulled back as the porters deposited their bags on the bed. The entire penthouse was coloured in muted dark browns, the same as the boarding house in Mystic Falls. The room was the same colour however the linens on the bed were all black and there were four pillows on the bed. The porters finished up depositing their clothes in the room and Damon held a tip for each as they quickly took the money and exited the room.
Elena had walked out onto the balcony and was looking at Central Park, as the door closed behind the porters Damon walked out and wrapped his arms waist. She leaned back into his arms and placed her hands over his and pulled him in closer, breathing deeply and letting all tension out of her shoulders. She smiled up at him causing Damon to lean down and capture her lips in a heated kiss. She turned in his arms and jumped up onto him wrapping her legs around his waist and rubbing against him showing him what she wanted. Damon growled and moved Elena through the apartment and into his room, clothes disappearing from their bodies as they disappeared behind the double doors.
The Ritz-Carlton, New York City, New York
Tuesday, Evening, 2011
Damon Point of View
After Elena and Damon had broken in the bed, they had gotten dressed and begun their exploration of New York City. Elena dragged him to the big landmarks they could see in their first day, the Empire State Building, Central Park and zoo located there, Times Square and New York Museum of History and Art. They had arrived back at the hotel and Damon had suggested Elena get changed as now the sun had gone down, they would be going on their first hunting trip. Damon could sense Elena's nervousness and he knew she would have control; she had already demonstrated that yesterday when she had stopped herself from going after the shopkeeper back in Mystic Falls.
Damon was currently seated on one of their couches waiting for Elena to get changed into more appropriate clothes for their hunting trip, Damon had suggested jeans and a simple t-shirt. When the door to the door bedroom opened Damon had a sudden flash of memory from the future of Elena dressing in almost the exact same outfit; it was form fitting black jeans with a pair of boots, a reddish pink shirt covered by a simple leather jacket. Damon shook his head out of his memories as Elena made her way over to him and sat down beside him.
"Ready to go?" Damon asked picking up her hand and softly running his thumb across the back of it.
"Let's do this" Elena said getting up and pulling him with her making their way out the door of penthouse.
As they got into the elevator and rode it down Elena death grip on his hand increased. They made their way out of the hotel and came to a stop on the still busy streets outside the Ritz. Elena looked up at Damon as he simply led them down the road to the crosswalk and over the road into Central Park. They slowly made their way through the park on one of the many paths that went through it, Elena was becoming more at peace as they slowly made their way through the park. Damon suddenly came to a halt and looked up at one of the enormous trees, he grinned down at Elena before he ran towards it leaping almost half as high as it was grabbing it and swinging upwards.
Elena's mouth dropped for a moment before a determined look overcame her face; she ran towards the tree and jumped not quite making the same height but covering a more distance than would be possible for a human. Elena laughed as she started to make her way up the tree to where Damon was now perched on one of the uppermost branches grinning down at her as she laughed making her way up to him. When she finally did, she gasped at the sight that was before her, she could almost all of Central Park from where they were located. Damon leaned back into the trunk of the tree and pulled Elena with him matching her own laughter with his before he pulled her into a kiss breaking off her laughter and making her gasp in surprise and grab onto him in slight fear still not understanding that even if she fell she was as unbreakable as he was now.
"Why did you bring me up here Damon?" Elena asked after breaking kiss but not moving out of his tight hold on her.
"To show you the good parts of being a vampire" Damon murmured back at her.
"I already know the good parts of being a vampire…want to know what they are for me?" Elena asked Damon who raised his eyebrow.
"What are they?" Damon asked as Elena raised a hand and started to gently stroke his cheek.
"I get you back in my life…forever" Elena murmured; her words caused a swelling of emotion to rise in Damon almost causing him to lose his breath.
"I love you Elena" Damon murmured.
"I love you too Damon" Elena replied still stroking his cheek.
Footsteps from below caused Damon to break apart from Elena and looked down; there was a man currently making his way through the park alone. This was the other reason Damon had stopped where they were, it was one of the less used and more hidden paths in the park.
"And now to business…follow me ok?" Damon asked Elena who only smiled back at him.
"Anywhere" Elena murmured causing Damon to smile once again.
Damon backed away from Elena and jumped from tree landing nimbly on the ground and swiftly speeding over the man grabbing him by the collar and turning him around.
"You will not make a sound, you will feel no pain and you will stand still until I tell you otherwise" Damon spoke his iris growing wider and closer together as he compelled the man.
Elena landed closely behind him and made her way over the trepidation from before started to make her nervous once again. Damon reassured her by pulling her close and placing a gentle kiss on her lips.
"You can do this, trust me ok?" Damon spoke, Elena nodding her head in response.
Damon pulled her closer to the man and pointed out the bulging vein on the man's neck.
"There's where you want to bite, ok and when you start hear their heartbeat slow you have to stop" Damon told her as she came over letting her fangs pierce down through her gums, the bloodlust almost taking over.
Elena lowered her head and plunged her fangs into the man's neck letting several gulps of blood pass into her mouth. Elena continued like this for several moments, taking as much as she could take and when Damon started to sense the heartbeat slow, he moved closer to the pair. He didn't want to pull her away from the man, she needed to learn control, but he would stop her if she went too far.
"Elena…Elena you need to stop" Damon murmured stepping closer again as she almost growled at him.
In a few moments the man would be too far gone and as he went to pull Elena, she threw herself away from the man and into the tree they had climbed before. Damon swiftly bit into his wrist and shoved it into the man's healing him quickly and sending him away. Damon turned back to Elena who was wiping some blood from the corner of her mouth, a smile was forming on her face before she suddenly leaped into Damon trust him to catch her. He picked her up and spun her around making her laughter right out into the night.
"I did it" Elena murmured to him before she pulled back and looked him in the eyes and pulling him in for a desperate kiss.
"Thank you, Damon," Elena murmured before pulling him down in for another kiss.
The pair becoming lost in each in Central Park beneath the moon and for the first time since Elena had woken up since in transition, she felt truly at peace with who and what she now was.
End of Chapter Note: What did everyone think of Elena's first hunting trip as a vampire, this chapter got a bit away from me. I hope you all like it and please let me know what you thought of it with a review.