The Mystic
Written by: Adventure-Seeking-Juliet
When: Listening to ZZ Ward...it's like modern Jazz/Rock. ;)
A/N RoaringTwentiesAU. The year is 1925. Elena Gilbert's life has already undergone drastic changes. After her parents death, her new guardians opened The Mystic, Mystic Fall's first and only speakeasy...but more change is yet to come as her now former boyfriend, Stefan Salvatore gives into his ripper instincts and befriends some very dangerous, and very powerful, Original vampires. As if that isn't bad enough, Elena finds herself inexorably drawn to Stefan's bad-boy older bother, Damon. Delena and Klaroline centric. (With some allusions to Stebekah, Mabekah, and Beremy.)
Just to clear some things up, in this alternate story, Elena has never met Damon. (Someone else's blood turned Caroline.) Also, Jenna and Alaric are still alive (and married.) Everything else should be self-explanatory. I hope you enjoy. ;)
The Mystic
~ Saturday, September 16, 1925~
Elena walked into the club with a look of pure determination on her face. She was dressed in her best finery, a white flapper dress studded with beads and a matching headband. She wasn't one to use her femininity for manipulation, but considering the current situation, she'd felt it was a necessary evil.
The club was alive with the sounds of jazz...the band was playing a familiar tune, fronted by the glitzy vocals of Caroline Forbes, one of Elena's closest friends, and, Mystic Falls' most recent member of the living-and-not-really-so-dead society. A vampire.
Despite the dark, smoky atmosphere of the club, Caroline caught Elena's eye and smiled in greeting. Fortunately for her, one of the perks of being a vampire included enhanced eye-sight. Elena managed a little wave, but she couldn't make herself smile. Not after what she had just found out.
Her boyfriend, who just so happened to be another member of the living not-really-so-dead society, Stefan Salvatore, had gone off the deep end; he had killed someone. No, not just someone…multiple someones. Elena scanned the crowd, glossing over the dancing couples, the gamblers, and the half-drunk girls. Finally, her eyes settled on the open bar. Stefan wasn't in the main room, but that didn't mean he wasn't around. The Mystic was the only speakeasy in Mystic Falls. Despite its infamous reputation among the citizens, no one bothered to police the place. It was a pivotal meeting spot in the quiet Virginian city. Of course, it helps that its owners bribed the sheriff into "looking the other way." There was no where else Stefan could be. Elena had already been to the boarding house. This was her last chance. She had to talk to him before it was too late.
She sauntered up the bar, ignoring all of the cat-calls thrown her way by the drunk middle-aged men at the gambling tables. Elena knew no one would dare touch her in The Mystic- her guardians owned the club.
As if on cue, her aunt Jenna came up behind the bar," Elena…what are you doing here?" She was idly washing a chipped wine-glass with a cleaning rag, a look of worry on her face. Elena usually spent her Saturdays with Stefan," I thought you'd be with your boyfriend."
Elena sighed, taking a seat on an empty bar-stool," That's why I'm here. I can't find him. Has he come in here?"
Jenna frowned," I've been in the back most of the night. I just came up here to watch the counter for Matt while he took a break."
Matt worked as the speakeasy's bartender, but Elena had known him a lot longer than club had been open. They'd practically grown up together. "Well, do you know where Matt went? Maybe he's seen something…"
Jenna pointed to a booth on the far-side of the room," I think he's in that one."
Elena nodded, turning around," Thanks, Jenna."
"Good luck."
Elena sighed," I think I'm going to need it."
She made her way to the booth, anxiously twisting a curl of brown hair that had fallen from her up-do. Most girls sported a bob, but Elena hadn't bothered to chop her hair off. Her mom had always loved to brush her long hair, and somehow, after the accident, Elena hadn't had the heart to cut it just to be "fashionable."
When Elena reached the booth, both Matt and her younger brother, Jeremy were sitting there with two intoxicated flappers wedged between them, stuffing their faces with as much food as they could at one time.
Elena smirked," Who knew bartending could work up such an appetite?"
Jeremy spluttered, hastily taking a swig of his drink," Elena! What are you doing here?"
"I was looking for Stefan, but then, I happened upon you and your new…friends," Elena gave the girls a look she hoped seemed at least a little menacing.
It was strange watching her brother grow up…and she didn't even want to think about what he'd been doing with the blonde-bobbed half-gone flapper. The girl was completely oblivious to Elena's obvious dislike of her. Instead, she giggled, and leaned forward to nibble on Jeremy's ear.
Jeremy shrugged, turning slightly red," What can I say? The ladies love a good bartender."
Elena sighed, exasperated," Look, I'm not here to lecture you. I wanted to ask Matt if he'd seen Stefan." She turned to Matt, expectantly.
He was stone still," Elena…Stefan just walked in," He nodded slightly in the direction of the door," And he's not alone."
Elena's heart jumped, and even though she was dreading what she would see, she forced herself to turn toward the entrance.
And there he was.
Stefan was dressed in a tailored suit, matching from head to toe, with a blonde woman on his arm, and a man who resembled the girl so closely they had to be related, on his other side.
Elena had never seen them before, but she could tell they were different. They weren't human. Typically, that didn't put her on edge, but there was something dangerous about the two newcomers. Even by vampire standards they seemed different, more powerful.
That should have been her first indicator to stay away, but Elena couldn't stop herself. She couldn't sit back and watch Stefan parade around with another girl on his arm.
She marched across the room, making a point to ignore Matt and Jeremy's warnings. Flappers and men alike jumped out of her way, as if they knew what was about to happen.
"Stefan?"
The crowd seemed to hush, awaiting his reaction. Stefan fixed her with a slightly-annoyed look," Oh, Elena. I didn't expect you to be here."
Elena tried to ignore the intense stares of his companions," Where did you expect me to be? I was worried." Her gaze traveled to the woman on Stefan's arm. Her lips were stretched in a smile so smug Elena almost wanted to slap it off her face, but even she wasn't that stupid. Instead she focused her attention on Stefan and continued," I'm your girlfriend. Am I not allowed to be worried?"
The woman snorted, rather rudely, at Elena's little comment, but Stefan ignored her," I was busy."
"I know," Elena replied her voice steely and resolved," I heard about how busy you were. How could you do that? I thought you didn't," She lowered her voice," kill people."
The blonde woman laughed, a bit too loudly," Really? This is just hilarious. Stefan's a vampire, of course he kills people." She leaned down, putting her mouth next to Elena's ear," And I'll let you in on a little secret, he likes it."
Elena shot backward, glowering at the woman," That's not true." She paused, turning back to Stefan," Is it?"
Stefan just grinned, looking annoyingly guilty," Sorry, Elena. Things have changed. Klaus, here," Stefan clapped a hand on the blonde man's back," has reminded me what exactly it means to be a vampire."
Before Elena could so much as blink, the girl was in front of her, smirking," And, in case you were waiting for a formal introduction, I'm Rebekah, Stefan's new girlfriend."
Klaus laughed, a deep, intimidating sound," That's my sister for you, always marking her territory," he gave Rebekah a disapproving look," Don't pay attention to her, Elena. Her bark is much worse than her bite, I can assure you."
Elena wasn't assured by anything Klaus said. She didn't trust him or Rebekah…or their silky voices and exotic accents.
She wanted to say just that, but she couldn't. It was like she was frozen. Stefan wasn't like this. This wasn't him. Why was he acting this way? Rebekah was leaning all over him, kissing him, holding his hand possessively…and it made Elena sick.
She threw Stefan one last, pleading look," What's happened to you? The Stefan I know wouldn't do things like this."
Stefan stared down at her for a moment, but instead of answering, he just let Rebekah pull him away. Klaus lingered a bit longer, staring at Elena in an unnerving way that made her skin crawl.
"Don't take that to heart, Stefan's always been a bit of a jack ass if you ask me."
Elena spun around, fully prepared to slap the owner of the snarky voice in the face, but stopped short when she actually saw him. He bore a slight resemblance to Stefan, but Elena couldn't quite pinpoint which features made them look alike. The man in front of her was paler than Stefan…and his eyes were a piercing blue, whereas Stefan's were green. For all intents and purposes, they had very little in common, but Elena's couldn't help but feel drawn to him.
Despite her misgivings, she asked," And how do you know Stefan?"
The stranger smirked," You could say we have a long history. We're like brothers."
Suddenly, realization dawned on Elena. Stefan had mentioned his older brother once or twice during their relationship. According to him, his brother was something dark and manipulative, almost inhuman, and Elena had to admit that there did seem to be something….dangerous about the man in front of her. He looked like trouble…wrapped in a deliciously too-attractive package.
"You're…Damon?"
Damon quirked a slanted smile," Ah, I see you've heard of me. All good things, I hope."
His arrogance was beyond annoying, but despite herself, Elena was smiling," If by good you mean terrible, then yes."
Damon's eyes seemed to glitter under the low-lights," At least you've heard of me."
Elena shrugged, trying not to stare at his eyes, lest she lose herself in them. She didn't trust Damon anymore than she did Stefan's new friends. "Look, no offense, Damon, but I really must be going. I have something important to do."
She tried to brush past him, but Damon caught her wrist in a grip too forceful to break," Nonsense, Miss Gilbert. You must let me buy you a drink. You look like you could use one."
Elena struggled against his grip," Let go of me."
Damon cocked his head," Hear me out. You need information about my ass of a brother. And I need a drink."
Elena stopped struggling…and as soon as she did, Damon released her. Her wrist tingled, but Elena ignored it. "You can explain why Stefan's been-"
"Yes," Damon cut her off, offering his arm," Would you like me to escort you to the bar, Miss Elena?"
Damon moved effortlessly through the crowd, easily nudging drunkards and flappers alike out of the way. He led Elena to two empty barstools, then plopped down in the one closest to the wall- so he could watch the people around them without appearing suspicious.
To Elena's relief, it wasn't her aunt behind the bar this time. It was her (much more lenient) step-uncle, Alaric Saltzman.
Alaric glanced between Elena and Damon, looking almost pained. He wasn't too keen on Elena "mixing herself up" with vampires, but he had no reason to be rude to a paying customer. Yet.
Despite his obvious misgivings, he fetched two glasses and set them in front of the pair.
From then on out, Elena's night went from bad to worse. Damon explained the bits of Stefan's past that he had been tight-lipped about, and Elena listened, patiently as Damon went into every gory detail Elena asked about. By the end of the conversation, she had downed three glasses of moonshine.
Stefan's a ripper.
One gulp.
Stefan couldn't handle human blood.
A swallow.
Stefan had either turned off his humanity, or he would turn off his humanity.
Another drink. By that point, Elena didn't even feel the burn of the alcohol.
If Stefan couldn't feel, he couldn't love.
That was when Damon finally stopped her, looking worried," If you drink any more of that, I'll have to carry you home."
Elena waved him off," I can hold my liquor."
Damon did not look convinced," That might be so, but I'm not in the mood to play knight-in-shining armor to your drunk damsel, princess."
Elena glanced at the four empty cups in front of Damon," You've drank more than I have. Don't get all self-righteous, Mr. Salvatore." She smiled. It was an intoxicated, overly-happy smile that she knew must look as ridiculous on her as it did on all of the other half-gone flappers at The Mystic.
Damon laughed," I couldn't be self-righteous if I wanted to, Miss Gilbert."
Elena giggled. She felt like she'd smiled more in the past few hours than she had since her parents had died.
Her smile was infectious. Damon couldn't help but grin back," I like you. You know how to smile."
Elena sighed, her smile fading," It's weird. I really haven't smiled that much since my parents died…." She stops herself before she can say anything else. She shouldn't have drunk so much. Before the end of the night, she'd probably spill all of her secrets to Damon Salvatore, of all people.
But Damon doesn't say anything. Instead, he nods toward the dance floor, his features twisted into a look of annoyance. Rebekah and Stefan are on the dance floor, pressed up against each other. From her seat, Elena couldn't tell if they were kissing or dancing.
"No matter how much I beg, Stefan never dances with me."
Damon stared at her, seemingly lost in thought. Then, stood up and offered Elena his hand," Well, I'm not Stefan. And I love to dance."
Elena hesitates," I don't know-"
Damon smirks, something Elena is beginning to recognize as his trademark facial expression," It'll make him jealous."
That's all of the motivation Elena needed to place her hand in his.
Reviews are appreciated!
