Chapter 2
To say dinner was the most awkward one that either Salvatore could remember was putting it mildly. In fact, it was almost unbearable. The two brothers were quiet and not speaking. Just trying not to cause more drama for that night. Giuseppe was everything but quiet. Everything he did was dramatic, from grabbing the gravy bowl and slamming it down to making sure to scraping his fork on the dinner plate as he grabbed food in his mouth and chew ever so loudly. It was safe to say their father was way over the top melodramatic. Damon just tried to avoid eye contact with his father and look like he was eating, but really he was just picking at his food, and then there was Stefan. Stefan wasn't even eating. He was just squirming and scratching at where the mosquitoes had bitten him earlier in the evening.
"Boy, if you don't stop scratching and moving." Stefan froze at the heed of his father's voice and tone. The last thing he needed to do was anger his father even more, and that would lead to their father finding a reason to take it out on his big brother. For Stefan, the mosquito bite was practically screaming to be itched, and he could almost feel his entire face contouring at not being able to scratch into submission.
"So what, we can't scratch at the dinner table now? Any more rules we should be aware of?" Damon getting more ballsy as every year going by. A few years ago, the older sibling would have never been so daring to be so direct with their father. Yet, Damon was eighteen, and with that, he felt he was in his right to voice his opinion and openly. He was an adult by law.
Stefan tried not to allow his mouth to drop open in surprise. The display of attitude towards the man sitting at the head of the table was getting more frequent with the two, and Stefan knew it could only worsen between them.
Giuseppe Salvatore slammed both hands down on the table with such force Stefan was convinced he practically jumped out of his own skin, not ready for such a loud noise. Damon once again was in a stare down with their father. Stefan fearing it would end with another hit across the face for his brother. But, knowing he could not bare to witness the act of violence on Damon again, Stefan decided to step in the best way he knew how to bring the attention onto him. Stefan acted as though he was reaching for something near his drink, and with a quick jerk of the wrist, he was able to knock his wrist into the glass. The water quickly spilled towards their father as there was no time for their father to get out of the way as it drenched his pants.
The sound of wood scraping across the floorboard as Giuseppe jumped up as the water poured into his lap. He started cursing up a storm. "Boy! I have warned you about this before!"
Stefan's eyes got wide, and he already could feel the tears starting to forum quickly at the very idea of what was to come, even if he had done it on purpose. But he clenched his eyes hard to stop them from producing any tears, knowing that it would be worse if he did start to cry in front of his father.
He held his lip as it quivered, not sure what his father would do. Either he would be punished, or simply their father would let it go.
As much he'd kind of hoped for not to be punished, he watched as his father's face grew redder as he continued to brush the water off his soaked pants. Then, with trepidation, Stefan watched as their father took his belt off and looked directly at Stefan.
"Put your hand on the table." Stefan knew what was coming. He could feel his hand trembling as he placed his left hand on the table. All Stefan heard was the sound of the belt coming down, and few strikes later, it was over as the belt had hit hard across his wrist and the back of his hand, leaving an ugly welt.
"If you weren't too busy squirming, you would pay attention! Now you have been excused, go to your room to think about your actions today."
"Yes, father."
Stefan pushed out as far as he could and then pushed his chair back in as Miss Charlotte swooped in to grab his dinner plate and start cleaning the dinner table that had become a mess by Stefan's accident.
Holding his wrist to his body, he turned back around before leaving, "Goodnight Damon, and father. I'm sorry for my clumsiness and the mess I have made."
As Stefan exited the room and his hand hurt like a son of a bitch, he couldn't help but let a small smirk escape. He had done it! Stefan had been able to protect his brother. But, unfortunately, he would have to think of other ways to make sure he would never have to witness Damon getting struck again.
Giuseppe looked like he wanted to say something to Damon back in the dining room but instead mumbled angrily about changing and grabbing another drink before he exited. Damon just looked at Stefan's empty chair and knew his little brother hadn't eaten, just like he failed to do so that evening. Yet, Damon knew Stefan. His brother would try and do something stupid like try and sneak some food later in the dead of night because his tiny tummy could not handle going long without some type of substance to fuel the body of an eleven-year-old. He stood from the table as the servants cleared the table, and he entered the kitchen. He didn't even have to ask before Miss Charlotte gave him a small napkin with a few scraps wrapped in it.
"Go before you are seen. Tell that brother's of yours to be more careful."
Damon gave his famous smirk that reached his eyes, mouthing, 'thank you.' Then, he quickly made his way up the stairs and didn't bother to knock as he went into Stefan's room, who was down to his drawers.
"Damon! Don't you knock!"
"Relax, like I have never seen you naked as a newborn."
Stefan was blushing as he scrambled to put on some type of undergarment as Damon sat on the bed. It didn't go unnoticed to Damon to see some of the bites had been scratched so hard there was now blood seeping from some of the mosquito bites.
"Gee Stefan, you scratch any harder; you won't have any skin left."
"If I could, I would! It's driving me crazy."
Stefan continued to scratch. "Well, when you got a second between your scratching, I brought you this."
Damon threw the confiscated food on the bed. He watched as Stefan was still trying to contort his arm to find a way to scratch his back; as he also quickly as his little legs could care him, he was at the bed to grab the food and stuffed it all his mouth. Once he gulped it down and now finding a new spot to scratch, "thank you, Damon."
"No problem." He reached over and wrestled Stefan's hair, who looked at him not amused by this gesture. "Get to sleep, Stefan." Jumping off the bed, Damon went to the door but turned around. Something was bugging him, and he really didn't think much of it until it hit him suddenly, so he decided to take a stab at it.
"Stefan, I know what you did was on purpose, don't do that again. You don't need father's wrath like that."
Damon saw the flash across his younger brother's features. His baby brother had not figured out how to mask his feelings and when he had simply been caught. But, by the response from Stefan, he just proved that Damon was right. Stefan had purposely brought the attention to him to make sure Damon did not get into further trouble with their father. Why Stefan thought it was his obligation to protect him, Damon could not figure that one out.
"I uh, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Right Stefan. Just don't. I'm older. I can handle him. You just worry about those bug bites. Night."
Damon turned and walked out the door, leaving Stefan staring at the door. His older brother thought he was so perspective, shows what he knew. Like Damon could stop him from doing so. Stefan would just have to be more clever next time because once he decided and was determined, he would not be the one who faulted.
"CURSE THESE BUGS!"
Stefan yelling out finally to know one as he continued to scratch. He just hoped he'd be able to get some sleep and find sanctuary from the cursed itching.
(A few days later)
Damon went in search of Stefan. Their father had left to go to town, so that meant Damon was the man of the house, which meant he could have fun with his younger brother. He found Stefan in the front yard playing by himself. He made sure to be extra quiet and was able to get right behind him and grab Stefan by the back of the shoulders before he yelled, "STEFAN."
Stefan literally jumped in Damon's arms as he turned around, grabbing his heart as though he was about to have a heart attack right then and there.
"Thanks, Damon! I may never have the hiccups again!"
"Stop being dramatic, baby brother. Hey! Let's get the horses and go jump in the quarry."
Stefan surprisingly made a face at the idea. "I'm good Damon, my head is kind of hurting."
However, Damon was not going to take no for an answer. "Come on, summer is almost gone! Don't make me drag you there and throw you in."
Not wanting to fight his bigger brother on this, he decided to shrug his shoulders and give in. "Fine, but," Stefan moved his eyes to the front porch as though he was looking at someone. Damon, curious, turned around to see who he was looking at when Stefan took off running towards the stables. Damon spun around, hearing his brother slowly retreating footfalls. Damon cursed Stefan as he too took off into a dead sprint, not wanting to be bested by his younger brother.
Both brothers entered the stables and did not take either one long to mount their respectable horses and take off with them. Neither horse nor brother had the upper hand, for both horses were equally fast and held the same pace. Both of them halted their horses as they came super close to having their horse jump off the steep cliff into the cold water down below. Damon was faster getting off his horse, dropped his boots and shirt, and jumped into the water with Stefan only a few seconds behind without even a slight hesitation. Damon came up from under the water as Stefan almost jumped right on top of Damon. As Stefan came up for breath, Damon made sure his brother grabbed some air before he grabbed hold of Stefan's head and, before Stefan could protest, was submerged under the water. He let go of Stefan so he could come back up.
"To slow, baby bro."
Stefan, who was still sputtering, threw water back at Damon. They continued to do this back and forth, laughing and not having one single care in the world. This would continue for quite some time until Stefan complained about his head again, and they finally decided to get to shore. They both wanted to make sure they were home before their father got back. The last thing both brothers needed was a repeat offense. Neither Salvatore brothers wish for history to repeat itself. As they walked up to their horses who were grazing, a man stood petting Stefan's horse. The two boys looked at each other as they walked up. Before they could question the man, he spoke without looking up.
"I mean no harm, just admiring your horse. Both such fine animals. May I ask their names?" Still continue to stroke the side of Stefan's horse. Damon, for whatever reason, felt like running from this person. Every instinct was telling him, but Stefan, good-hearted and trusted everyone, decided to entertain the man.
"Arthos! I named Damon's horse for him as well. His name is Porthos."
The man finally looked up with a soft smile as he whispered to the horse. Low enough, neither boy could hear him until he looked back up and spoke loud enough again. "So a fan of the Three Musketeers, I see."
Stefan's eyes lit up at the mention of his favorite book. "You have read it!" But, unfortunately, Damon did not have the same passion for books as his baby brother did. Yet, he knew if he didn't stop this conversation soon, they would be here until the next day.
"Of course, and I've met the man who wrote it." Now no longer interested in the horse, the strange man stepped away from the horses and took a few steps forward the two Salvatore brothers.
Stefan was stunned. He practically wanted to come out of his skin. The sheer excitement at getting to meet someone that had met the author of one of his favorite books was just beyond what his excited mind could take.
"You met Alexandre Dumas?!"
"He was a delicious, intelligent man to talk to."
It was that comment. Damon just knew something was really off about the man standing before them. Stefan could not see it, but there was some kind of hidden meaning behind every word this man spoke. He didn't want to be rude, so he put a hand on Stefan's shoulder. He mainly wanted a protective hand on Stefan and the other to try and get his brother's attention.
"Well, I hate to end this conversation, but we must go. Our father is due back any hour now and, we must be there for his arrival."
The man gave a knowing nod. "Well, I do not want to be the cause of your delay. It was a pleasure meeting you, Damon, and," looking at Stefan, who he did not know the name of.
"Stefan.," Stefan said with a smile. "It was nice meeting you! I hope we see you again. Are you moving here?"
Damon's hand now gripped his brother's shoulder tightly, pulling him. Stefan could sometimes not shut up if you got the young boy excited, and it was someone new to talk to.
The man smiled at Stefan's enthusiasm, "Quite the contrary. I used to live around here myself. But I will not keep you waiting, young masters. I do hope to run into you again." The man moved off away from the horses as to show the boys no ill intent. As the boys got on their horses and turned them around, Stefan said, "wait," turning his horse back around, "what is your….name?" The last part of the sentence had died quickly on his lips as he realized that the man was no longer standing there. It was as though the entire interaction had not even happened, and the man had just simply disappeared.
"Stefan, are you coming?"
He looked around again, wondering if somehow he just lost sight of the man going into the treeline, but there was nothing or no one to be seen. 'Oh well.' Stefan thought as he turned his horse back around and kicked the horse on the side lightly to put Armos into a trot to catch back up to Damon. All the while, the two Salvatore brothers never saw or felt the eyes on them as they headed back to their home.
TBC…
Chapter 2
To say dinner was the most awkward one that either Salvatore could remember was putting it mildly. In fact, it was almost unbearable. The two brothers were quiet and not speaking. Just trying not to cause more drama for that night. Giuseppe was everything but quiet. Everything he did was dramatic, from grabbing the gravy bowl and slamming it down to making sure to scraping his fork on the dinner plate as he grabbed food in his mouth and chew ever so loudly. It was safe to say their father was way over the top melodramatic. Damon just tried to avoid eye contact with his father and look like he was eating, but really he was just picking at his food, and then there was Stefan. Stefan wasn't even eating. He was just squirming and scratching at where the mosquitoes had bitten him earlier in the evening.
"Boy, if you don't stop scratching and moving." Stefan froze at the heed of his father's voice and tone. The last thing he needed to do was anger his father even more, and that would lead to their father finding a reason to take it out on his big brother. For Stefan, the mosquito bite was practically screaming to be itched, and he could almost feel his entire face contouring at not being able to scratch into submission.
"So what, we can't scratch at the dinner table now? Any more rules we should be aware of?" Damon getting more ballsy as every year going by. A few years ago, the older sibling would have never been so daring to be so direct with their father. Yet, Damon was eighteen, and with that, he felt he was in his right to voice his opinion and openly. He was an adult by law.
Stefan tried not to allow his mouth to drop open in surprise. The display of attitude towards the man sitting at the head of the table was getting more frequent with the two, and Stefan knew it could only worsen between them.
Giuseppe Salvatore slammed both hands down on the table with such force Stefan was convinced he practically jumped out of his own skin, not ready for such a loud noise. Damon once again was in a stare down with their father. Stefan fearing it would end with another hit across the face for his brother. But, knowing he could not bare to witness the act of violence on Damon again, Stefan decided to step in the best way he knew how to bring the attention onto him. Stefan acted as though he was reaching for something near his drink, and with a quick jerk of the wrist, he was able to knock his wrist into the glass. The water quickly spilled towards their father as there was no time for their father to get out of the way as it drenched his pants.
The sound of wood scraping across the floorboard as Giuseppe jumped up as the water poured into his lap. He started cursing up a storm. "Boy! I have warned you about this before!"
Stefan's eyes got wide, and he already could feel the tears starting to forum quickly at the very idea of what was to come, even if he had done it on purpose. But he clenched his eyes hard to stop them from producing any tears, knowing that it would be worse if he did start to cry in front of his father.
He held his lip as it quivered, not sure what his father would do. Either he would be punished, or simply their father would let it go.
As much he'd kind of hoped for not to be punished, he watched as his father's face grew redder as he continued to brush the water off his soaked pants. Then, with trepidation, Stefan watched as their father took his belt off and looked directly at Stefan.
"Put your hand on the table." Stefan knew what was coming. He could feel his hand trembling as he placed his left hand on the table. All Stefan heard was the sound of the belt coming down, and few strikes later, it was over as the belt had hit hard across his wrist and the back of his hand, leaving an ugly welt.
"If you weren't too busy squirming, you would pay attention! Now you have been excused, go to your room to think about your actions today."
"Yes, father."
Stefan pushed out as far as he could and then pushed his chair back in as Miss Charlotte swooped in to grab his dinner plate and start cleaning the dinner table that had become a mess by Stefan's accident.
Holding his wrist to his body, he turned back around before leaving, "Goodnight Damon, and father. I'm sorry for my clumsiness and the mess I have made."
As Stefan exited the room and his hand hurt like a son of a bitch, he couldn't help but let a small smirk escape. He had done it! Stefan had been able to protect his brother. But, unfortunately, he would have to think of other ways to make sure he would never have to witness Damon getting struck again.
Giuseppe looked like he wanted to say something to Damon back in the dining room but instead mumbled angrily about changing and grabbing another drink before he exited. Damon just looked at Stefan's empty chair and knew his little brother hadn't eaten, just like he failed to do so that evening. Yet, Damon knew Stefan. His brother would try and do something stupid like try and sneak some food later in the dead of night because his tiny tummy could not handle going long without some type of substance to fuel the body of an eleven-year-old. He stood from the table as the servants cleared the table, and he entered the kitchen. He didn't even have to ask before Miss Charlotte gave him a small napkin with a few scraps wrapped in it.
"Go before you are seen. Tell that brother's of yours to be more careful."
Damon gave his famous smirk that reached his eyes, mouthing, 'thank you.' Then, he quickly made his way up the stairs and didn't bother to knock as he went into Stefan's room, who was down to his drawers.
"Damon! Don't you knock!"
"Relax, like I have never seen you naked as a newborn."
Stefan was blushing as he scrambled to put on some type of undergarment as Damon sat on the bed. It didn't go unnoticed to Damon to see some of the bites had been scratched so hard there was now blood seeping from some of the mosquito bites.
"Gee Stefan, you scratch any harder; you won't have any skin left."
"If I could, I would! It's driving me crazy."
Stefan continued to scratch. "Well, when you got a second between your scratching, I brought you this."
Damon threw the confiscated food on the bed. He watched as Stefan was still trying to contort his arm to find a way to scratch his back; as he also quickly as his little legs could care him, he was at the bed to grab the food and stuffed it all his mouth. Once he gulped it down and now finding a new spot to scratch, "thank you, Damon."
"No problem." He reached over and wrestled Stefan's hair, who looked at him not amused by this gesture. "Get to sleep, Stefan." Jumping off the bed, Damon went to the door but turned around. Something was bugging him, and he really didn't think much of it until it hit him suddenly, so he decided to take a stab at it.
"Stefan, I know what you did was on purpose, don't do that again. You don't need father's wrath like that."
Damon saw the flash across his younger brother's features. His baby brother had not figured out how to mask his feelings and when he had simply been caught. But, by the response from Stefan, he just proved that Damon was right. Stefan had purposely brought the attention to him to make sure Damon did not get into further trouble with their father. Why Stefan thought it was his obligation to protect him, Damon could not figure that one out.
"I uh, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Right Stefan. Just don't. I'm older. I can handle him. You just worry about those bug bites. Night."
Damon turned and walked out the door, leaving Stefan staring at the door. His older brother thought he was so perspective, shows what he knew. Like Damon could stop him from doing so. Stefan would just have to be more clever next time because once he decided and was determined, he would not be the one who faulted.
"CURSE THESE BUGS!"
Stefan yelling out finally to know one as he continued to scratch. He just hoped he'd be able to get some sleep and find sanctuary from the cursed itching.
(A few days later)
Damon went in search of Stefan. Their father had left to go to town, so that meant Damon was the man of the house, which meant he could have fun with his younger brother. He found Stefan in the front yard playing by himself. He made sure to be extra quiet and was able to get right behind him and grab Stefan by the back of the shoulders before he yelled, "STEFAN."
Stefan literally jumped in Damon's arms as he turned around, grabbing his heart as though he was about to have a heart attack right then and there.
"Thanks, Damon! I may never have the hiccups again!"
"Stop being dramatic, baby brother. Hey! Let's get the horses and go jump in the quarry."
Stefan surprisingly made a face at the idea. "I'm good Damon, my head is kind of hurting."
However, Damon was not going to take no for an answer. "Come on, summer is almost gone! Don't make me drag you there and throw you in."
Not wanting to fight his bigger brother on this, he decided to shrug his shoulders and give in. "Fine, but," Stefan moved his eyes to the front porch as though he was looking at someone. Damon, curious, turned around to see who he was looking at when Stefan took off running towards the stables. Damon spun around, hearing his brother slowly retreating footfalls. Damon cursed Stefan as he too took off into a dead sprint, not wanting to be bested by his younger brother.
Both brothers entered the stables and did not take either one long to mount their respectable horses and take off with them. Neither horse nor brother had the upper hand, for both horses were equally fast and held the same pace. Both of them halted their horses as they came super close to having their horse jump off the steep cliff into the cold water down below. Damon was faster getting off his horse, dropped his boots and shirt, and jumped into the water with Stefan only a few seconds behind without even a slight hesitation. Damon came up from under the water as Stefan almost jumped right on top of Damon. As Stefan came up for breath, Damon made sure his brother grabbed some air before he grabbed hold of Stefan's head and, before Stefan could protest, was submerged under the water. He let go of Stefan so he could come back up.
"To slow, baby bro."
Stefan, who was still sputtering, threw water back at Damon. They continued to do this back and forth, laughing and not having one single care in the world. This would continue for quite some time until Stefan complained about his head again, and they finally decided to get to shore. They both wanted to make sure they were home before their father got back. The last thing both brothers needed was a repeat offense. Neither Salvatore brothers wish for history to repeat itself. As they walked up to their horses who were grazing, a man stood petting Stefan's horse. The two boys looked at each other as they walked up. Before they could question the man, he spoke without looking up.
"I mean no harm, just admiring your horse. Both such fine animals. May I ask their names?" Still continue to stroke the side of Stefan's horse. Damon, for whatever reason, felt like running from this person. Every instinct was telling him, but Stefan, good-hearted and trusted everyone, decided to entertain the man.
"Arthos! I named Damon's horse for him as well. His name is Porthos."
The man finally looked up with a soft smile as he whispered to the horse. Low enough, neither boy could hear him until he looked back up and spoke loud enough again. "So a fan of the Three Musketeers, I see."
Stefan's eyes lit up at the mention of his favorite book. "You have read it!" But, unfortunately, Damon did not have the same passion for books as his baby brother did. Yet, he knew if he didn't stop this conversation soon, they would be here until the next day.
"Of course, and I've met the man who wrote it." Now no longer interested in the horse, the strange man stepped away from the horses and took a few steps forward the two Salvatore brothers.
Stefan was stunned. He practically wanted to come out of his skin. The sheer excitement at getting to meet someone that had met the author of one of his favorite books was just beyond what his excited mind could take.
"You met Alexandre Dumas?!"
"He was a delicious, intelligent man to talk to."
It was that comment. Damon just knew something was really off about the man standing before them. Stefan could not see it, but there was some kind of hidden meaning behind every word this man spoke. He didn't want to be rude, so he put a hand on Stefan's shoulder. He mainly wanted a protective hand on Stefan and the other to try and get his brother's attention.
"Well, I hate to end this conversation, but we must go. Our father is due back any hour now and, we must be there for his arrival."
The man gave a knowing nod. "Well, I do not want to be the cause of your delay. It was a pleasure meeting you, Damon, and," looking at Stefan, who he did not know the name of.
"Stefan.," Stefan said with a smile. "It was nice meeting you! I hope we see you again. Are you moving here?"
Damon's hand now gripped his brother's shoulder tightly, pulling him. Stefan could sometimes not shut up if you got the young boy excited, and it was someone new to talk to.
The man smiled at Stefan's enthusiasm, "Quite the contrary. I used to live around here myself. But I will not keep you waiting, young masters. I do hope to run into you again." The man moved off away from the horses as to show the boys no ill intent. As the boys got on their horses and turned them around, Stefan said, "wait," turning his horse back around, "what is your….name?" The last part of the sentence had died quickly on his lips as he realized that the man was no longer standing there. It was as though the entire interaction had not even happened, and the man had just simply disappeared.
"Stefan, are you coming?"
He looked around again, wondering if somehow he just lost sight of the man going into the treeline, but there was nothing or no one to be seen. 'Oh well.' Stefan thought as he turned his horse back around and kicked the horse on the side lightly to put Armos into a trot to catch back up to Damon. All the while, the two Salvatore brothers never saw or felt the eyes on them as they headed back to their home.
TBC…
Author Note: Thanks for the reviews! It really fed my muse! I think the next chapter will be the conclusion…I don't want to drag this story out for very long. Hmmm…so who do you think that mystery guy was…anyhew. Hope you liked this short chapter, more soon to follow! Thanks for the reviews! It really fed my muse! I think the next chapter will be the conclusion…I don't want to drag this story out for very long. Hmmm…so who do you think that mystery guy was…anyhew. Hope you liked this short chapter, more soon to follow!