Don't follow me
You'll end up in my arms
Slow Dancing In The Dark - Joji
Previously:
When she looked at me I realised my mistake. Eyes filled with blood and framed by protruding veins stared at me in undeniable hunger. I swallowed my fear and turned to run. I ran without looking back.
When I reached a thinning of the crowd I chanced a glimpse behind me and abruptly smashed into someone else. I fell to the ground cursing. I was relieved that I didn't see the vampire following me.
"What the fuck?" the man I ran into turned around and I almost wept in relief when I saw it was Damon. When he reached out a hand to help me up I declined. The reaction from the previous vampire had made me weary of exposing him to blood. I sprang up quickly wiping my hands again on my jeans.
"Thank god it's you," I panted, trying to catch my breath.
"You're bleeding, what happened?" he asked, frowning. I held up a finger indicating that I needed a second.
"She probably ran into one of the tomb vampires, Damon. They're here," a girl's voice spoke up from behind him. I looked around Damon to see the girl Jeremy had talked to at the pageant. Is all of Jenna's family members involved with vampires?
"I don't know about tomb, but I definitely ran into a vampire back there," I said, jabbing my thumb in the direction of the grill.
"Fuck," he hissed, quickly scanning the churning crowd around us, "Ok, come on." he said and grabbed my hand. We parted ways with the girl and marched back to the Mystic Grill where Alaric was standing speaking to a bunch of people.
"Where are we going?" I asked, keeping pace with him and trying to keep my eyes out for the stranger who wanted to suck my blood.
"Ric, he has what we need to keep this from turning into a bloodbath," he said through gritted teeth. For the first time since running into him I felt fear making my heart thud a little faster. We reached Alaric and Damon grabbed him by the arm.
"Ric, come here," he said in a low voice. Alaric immediately picked up on his urgent tone and followed him as we walked at a brisk pace away from the group.
"Do you keep those nifty little vampire weapons in your car?" Damon asked, still walking his eyes scanning the crowd.
"Yeah, why do you ask?" Alaric asked with a worried look in my direction.
"Because this square is crawling with tomb vampires. I think we might need a stake or two," Damon murmured. Alaric gave the crowd a cursory glance, gritting his teeth in apprehension.
"OK, got it," he said and sped off into the milling crowd of people unaware of how much danger they're in. Damon set off in the opposite direction before I caught up with him grabbing his hand.
"Tell me what the fuck is going on?" I asked him urgently. He gritted his teeth and towed me along.
"All you need to know is that there is a group of murderous vampires on the loose and they would very much like to kill half of this town," he said in an urgent voice, "They're really old and really fast so we have to kill them before they kill us, got it?" he asked impatiently and I nodded letting him pull me along. We approached a couple walking in front of us laughing and holding hands. I recognised Stefan's form and balked, stumbling over my steps. Damon pulled me along keeping me from falling. He grabbed onto Elena's hand and she abruptly stopped laughing, frowning at me hanging onto his other hand trying to avoid looking too closely at Stefan.
"What are you doing?" she asked incredulously.
"Saving your life," he muttered and brought us all to a stop, "Fifteen words or less; tomb vamps are here, founding families are the target, get them out of here, now." He was talking to Stefan who had spun around scanning the crowd for potential threats. He jammed my hand into Elena's and started to walk away.
"Where are you going?" I called after him. He waved dismissively.
"That's more than fifteen words. Go with them, Laura," he demanded and jogged into the crowd. Stefan turned to me and Elena. He pulled at her hand starting to lead us away.
"Wait, Jeremy's still around here somewhere," Elena said her voice wracked with worry. I immediately started to scan the crowd for his hunched form.
"Let's go find him," Stefan said and we set off into the crowd.
"I think I saw him in the Grill before Jenna and I left," I called out over the sound of the crowd clapping for the mayor who had just taken the stage. We elbowed our way through the crowd running when we could.
"And we have the Founding Fathers to thank for that. That's why I would like to dedicate tonight's fireworks display to their legacy," the mayor's voice sounded from behind us. The crowd was thickening and it became harder and harder to navigate it. We finally reached the end and strode in the direction of the Grill. Elena's hand was slippery in mine. When the first firework boomed over the square, Stefan collapsed.
"FUCK!" he exclaimed, clamping his hands over his ears. Elena and I exchanged a concerned glance before kneeling down beside him.
"Stefan, what's going on?" Elena asked hysterically. She rubbed his back frantically while he groaned in unmistakable pain. I glanced around scared that we were drawing attention. I could already see a deputy hurrying towards us.
"My head," was all Stefan could muster before dissolving in another bout of pained grunts as he clutched his head.
"Laura, help me. We need to get him out of here," Elena said and I tore my eyes away from the deputy and tried to heave Stefan into a standing position. The fact that I was helping someone who had wanted to kill me was shoved roughly to the back of my mind.
"Stefan, you have to help," I murmured in his ear but he seemed oblivious to the outside world. I turned around and saw the deputy's pace fasten to a jog as he advanced. His urgency made me anxious and I tugged at Stefan's arm.
"Stefan for the love of God, get up," I said through gritted teeth. When I glanced behind me again the deputy had disappeared and it was Alaric running to us now. I breathed a sigh of relief. Stefan's body abruptly relaxed as fast as he had collapsed and he slumped against me.
"Jesus, Alaric," I groaned trying not to crumble underneath Stefan's weight, "Help." Alaric came up to Stefan's other side and we dragged him along. His breathing was laboured and he had a faint sheen of sweat covering his forehead.
"I don't know what happened! He just dropped," Elena said, casting a worried look behind her as she followed us. Alaric panted as we lugged Stefan's limp form down a flight of stairs.
"Yeah he isn't the only one," he said as we settled on the stairs. I sat back trying to catch my breath, "The cops are going to everyone who's gone down, injecting them with vervain." There was a moment of silence.
"What's vervain?" I asked.
"Uh…" Alaric sent a look in Elena's direction. She nodded distractedly trying to get Stefan to talk, "It's like kryptonite to vampires. It weakens and repels them. The perfume Jenna gave you had some in it; Elena was the one who suggested that she give it to you."
So that's why Damon had sniffed my neck that day. I felt a pang of gratitude towards Elena.
"Are you ok, Stefan?" Elena asked, stroking his hair. He nodded.
"It was like needles piercing my skull and then it just stopped," he said gruffly, rubbing his eyes. It felt hard to hate him in a state like this.
"I saw at least 5 vampires go down. They're taking them to your family's old building," Alaric said looking at Elena.
"Your father's offices? Why?" I asked, frowning. Jenna had been trying to sell it in between research for her thesis. Elena frowned and shook her head. We sat in silence for a moment.
"It's the Gilbert device," Stefan piped up after a few seconds, "It has to be." I frowned in confusion.
"Wait, what's that?" I asked but Elena and Stefan only continued to look at each other.
"But how did they get it to work? Bonnie unspelled it…" Elena looked at Alaric for affirmation. He shrugged.
"Maybe she didn't," he said. When I uttered an annoyed huff he turned to me, "It's basically a weapon designed to identify vampires." I nodded and frowned. Something was gnawing at the back of my head.
"But she did, we saw her do it," she said, a note of hysteria creeping into her voice.
"He's right. Think about it. We ask Bonnie to deactivate a weapon that could protect people against vampires," Stefan said dejectedly.
"Yeah, to protect you," she said slowly resting her hand lovingly on his shoulder.
"And Damon… Vampires," he said. They stared at each other. It clicked. We hadn't seen Damon since before the fireworks display.
"Fuck, where's Damon?" I asked, jumping up and racing to the top of the stairs scanning the crowd for his black hair. I was joined by Elena and Stefan who had yet to regain his strength.
"Laura, listen," Stefan started but I held a hand up.
"It's ok Stefan," I said avoiding his gaze, "No harm done," I tried to make light of the situation knowing that it wouldn't help hating him. His face was pained as he gazed at me.
"I'm better now, I promise," he said gruffly, "I just also want to thank you for helping Elena back there." I nodded.
"No problem," I said, patting his back, "I think it's time we try and find your brother," he nodded and we set off to the Gilbert Medical Practice with Elena leading the way.
"Wait," Stefan said when we reached the main street, "I can hear them… the building's on fire," he said quickening his pace. Panic clawed at my chest. Damon was stuck in a burning building. I hung back for a second trying to regain my composure. When I felt like my breathing was under control I saw Elena and John in a heated conversation. Stefan was nowhere to be found.
I approached them with long strides.
"Get your hands off her," I growled at him. His eyes flashed with contempt when he turned to me. My gaze didn't falter. He was only human after all. I've faced worse.
"This is none of your business," he said coolly and turned to Elena. I drew a deep breath, wound my hand back and punched him in the jaw.
"Fuck!" I yelled while Elena took the chance to escape his grasp, "That really hurt, Jesus," John was reeling his hand on his jaw.
"What have you done?" he growled.
"I broke my hand trying to help my friend's niece. Back off or I'll tell the cops you're a pedophile," I hissed at him and followed Elena to what could only be the back entrance of the building.
The smell of smoke intensified as I ran down the alley. Two figures were standing by the door, the one holding on to the other. Elena was holding hands with the girl Damon talked to earlier at the parade.
"What's going on?" I asked frantically searching for signs of Stefan and Damon. The girl, who could only be Bonnie, was chanting in a language I wasn't familiar with.
"Bonnie, I have to get in there," Elena tugged at her arm but Bonnie ignored her. I moved to keep Elena from entering the building despite fighting back the urge to run in there myself. It made no sense for me to risk my life for a man I barely knew but I found myself being distressed at the thought of him dying.
"What is happening, Bonnie? What are you doing?" Elena tugged on her arm as Bonnie continued to chant in her creepy way. A trail of blood was now making its way down her face. Her hair billowed in the wind that picked up and I felt goose bumps run up my arms and neck.
Elena got more frantic the longer Bonnie's chanting went on. I tried to come to terms with the fact that they might be dead or close to it when they burst through the door in a billow of smoke and a fit of coughs. I almost threw up with relief.
"Thank fucking God!" I covered my face with my hands.
"Miss me sunshine?" Damon managed between coughing his lungs out. I rolled my eyes and supported him from the other side.
"It's remarkable how you could still manage sarcasm after almost dying," I muttered sarcastically and we shared a look.
Damon noticed I was cradling my hand to my chest and asked what had happened.
"I uh… might have punched Uncle John in the face," I said sheepishly, casting an apologetic look in Elena's direction. She waved her hand dismissively.
"It was the most heroic thing anyone did today, believe me."
"Yes well heroic or not I might have actually broken my hand," I tried to flex my hand but flinched when pain shot through it.
"Ok," Damon said softly after Stefan and Elena went ahead of us to the car, "They will not like me doing this but I'm going to give you some of my blood. Just enough to heal you but you have to promise me you won't get into any life threatening situations before it leaves your system. Can you do that?" he asked earnestly, looking me steadily in the eyes. I nodded solemnly, sobered by his intensity.
"If you don't and you die with it in your system, you'll become a vampire," he finished seriously. My stomach turned in fear. The thought of dying in the first place made my heart race but the idea of becoming a vampire made it that much worse.
"Ok, I promise," I said. I realised I technically could go to a doctor but I wasn't in the mood to think out an excuse as to why I punched John. I also wasn't in the mood to talk to police about it either.
Damon brought his wrist to his mouth and bit down, creating a small cut. He held it to my mouth and I reluctantly opened it letting the warm liquid flow into it. It tasted like blood but less metalic. I swallowed a mouthful and the pain in my wrist dulled considerably. He took his arm away from my mouth and gently grabbed my uninjured hand. We watched as the scrapes of the fall vanished, leaving smooth, white skin in its place. I rotated my wrist experimentally and marveled when I felt no pain or resistance.
"Thank you," I breathed and caught his eye. He smirked and held onto my hand for a second longer before planting a kiss on it. It made my heart skip erratically.
"You're a liar you know," he said, and he started walking towards where he must have parked his car. He dropped my hand after a few steps and met my questioning gaze, "You said you wanted nothing to do with me yet here you are saving my ass," he smirked when I rolled my eyes.
"I didn't say I wanted to stay away from you," I avoided his gaze, "It's the right thing to do though." I heard him sigh next to me. He grabbed my hand again forcing me to a stop. He pulled me in close and cradled my face in his hands, our noses brushing against each other.
"I've tried to distance myself from you," he murmured, "I know that it's better for you. All that waits for you with me is danger and heartbreak. But somehow…" he broke off mid sentence and looked in my eyes. They were smoldering with intensity.
He gently pressed his lips to mine, burning them with his heat. I closed my eyes and stood motionless, absorbing every detail of this moment. When I opened them again he was gone. My lips still burned from his and I touched them softly marveling at the softness of his kiss. I shouldn't be kissing him, I thought angrily despite my euphoria. I should be staying the fuck away from him. I cleared my throat and took in my surroundings. I was down the street from the burning building and I decided to see if I could find Jenna.
I found her standing in front of the building watching the blaze with her hands on her hips.
"You know, I would be sad," she said thoughtfully after a moment of silence, "But I'm really glad I don't have to deal with it anymore," she sounded like she was joking but her face betrayed her true sadness. I threw my arm around her shoulders and she leant her head on mine.
"I'm sorry I disappeared," I said softly, feeling horrible for abandoning her, "I fell when I was looking for you and then I ran into Damon again..." I rolled my eyes and hoped she would see the feigned irritation there. I fought hard to contain the flutters in my stomach every time I thought of the kiss.
"It's ok," she said and we started to make our way to her car, "The fireworks kept me company." We laughed and went to her place.
"I have to go to the Fire Station. The amount of paperwork this will cost me is astounding," Jenna groaned as she gathered all the paperwork she would need. I nodded sympathetically. The house had been quiet when we arrived but we found Jeremy in his room. His headphones were blaring music and he didn't notice us checking in. Elena was on her way to stay with him when Jenna went to the Fire Station.
"If Elena would just show up, I could get this over with," Jenna looked at her watch. She didn't want to leave Jeremy alone, "This is going to take long enough as it is,"
"Listen, I would love to join you but I think I should go home," I said stretching. It had been a long and bizarre day. All I needed at that point was a shower and my bed.
"You sure? It's gonna be super exciting," she said sarcastically as we made our way to the door.
"Ah damn," I feigned disappointment, "How will I ever recover from the FOMO?" Her laugh was cut short when she opened the door. Mine died down as well when I saw Elena and Damon locked in a passionate embrace on the porch. They immediately broke away. Elena looked at Jenna sheepishly.
Damon tried to catch my eye but I looked down. The kiss from earlier had clearly meant nothing to him, despite what he had said. Tears of betrayal threatened to escape my eye but I grit my teeth and tried to hold them back.
"It's late," Jenna said curtly, "You should probably come inside," Elena scrambled for her things and I moved over when she crossed the threshold. I gave Jenna a hug goodbye and I saw her shoot a look of disapproval in Damon's direction.
"I can explain," Damon said after Jenna had closed the door and we had stood in silence for a while. I shrugged, feigning nonchalance.
"It's none of my business who you kiss, Damon," I said and turned to walk to my car. Damon caught up with me and captured my hand in his.
"I know," he said softly, "But I feel like I owe you one anyway especially after…"
"After the kiss?" I asked, shrugging it off, "Clearly it meant nothing, which is ok," I said, taking my hand out of his. The hurt I was feeling was manifesting in defensiveness, "Am I glad you're not dead? Yes. Did I enjoy your company today? Yes, more than I should have, actually, but that doesn't mean you don't get to kiss whoever you want."
"You're wrong," he said fiercely, "It did mean something and-"
"No, Damon, it didn't," I hissed, "If it did you wouldn't be kissing someone else. It should mean nothing any way because this is wrong and you know it." I gestured wildly between us.
"What's wrong?" he asked softly.
"This! Us… While I care for you more than I should I can see that this will never work… you're not human, Damon. That means something to me," His face contorted in pain. I knew I hurt him but what does that matter when he hurt me first.
"You care for me?" he asked, his eyes softening. My eyes welled up with tears and shook my head trying to deny it.
"It doesn't matter," I said thickly and turned to my car, "I'm not stupid enough to fall for a vampire," I whispered and got in. I started the car and sped off to the guest house fighting tears the whole way.
There was a hush over the house when I arrived. I took a moment in the car to slow my breathing. The tears never fell but it left my head pounding with the effort to contain them. I took a deep breath and got out making my way slowly up the stairs. When I got to the landing I ran into someone and dropped my bag. It was a tall, tan guy with salt and pepper hair. I wondered whether every man in Mystic Falls was handsome.
"Sorry," he apologised and hastily grabbed my bag from the floor.
"That's ok."
"Mason," he said smiling gently at me. I wondered idly whether he was flirting with me or if he saw the sadness on my face.
"Laura," I smiled and opened the door to my room and closed it on him and his blue eyes.
When I realised there was a light on, I froze my back still to the room. I turned slowly and froze when I saw the person sitting on the bed. It was Ben.