Ch. 12 Guide You Through The Worst Steps, First Steps First
(KLAUS)
"Student visa is approved," I grin handing Clare her paperwork.
"Thanks," she smiles.
"Alaric and Stefan have her enrolled at the high school. I've already been to DeGrassi and got her paperwork for the transfer approved," Damon says.
"I'm going to meet my friends in a bit, I have to say goodbye. By the time I'm done my parents will be home and we'll take care of them, I mean compel them not kill them," Clare states and then turns to Damon. "There's something else I want, my friends to be protected, obviously I can't totally protect them from everything. My vervaine bracelet, and more like it. Alli can take my bracelet, another bracelet for Jenna. Adam, Drew, Owen, Dallas and Connor will all need something."
"I'll head back to Mystic Falls, I'll be back in the morning. You should be ready to go by then."
"Don't worry Damon, I'll take good care of her," I grin.
Damon sneers at me, runs upstairs to get his bag and runs back down. "I'm taking the car," he says and leans down to whisper in Clare's ear. I can't quite hear it, but I think he reminded her that she's strong like I am now. "I'll be back tomorrow morning," Damon tells her. Then he cups Clare's face in his hands and kisses her tenderly, and long. When he finally pulls out of the kiss he leaves.
"That's Adam," Clare says when her text sound goes off.
"I guess we're running then," I smile holding my hand out to her. She takes my hand and we run to Adam's house. "I'll give you time with your friends, but I'll be right out here," I tell Clare.
I stay in the darkness of the yard, but I can see her from this spot, and I can hear everything. Clare opens the sliding glass door and goes inside, the two girls hug her first.
"You can't really be leaving," Alli says.
"I have to Alli, it's better this way, for everyone."
"I don't see how you leaving is better for me," Drew complains.
"You'll be okay Drew, you've been a good president."
"Only because you've been keeping me in balance. We can split your duties between everyone else, but it won't be the same," Drew huffs.
"If you really need me then I'm only a phone call away."
"Or text or e-mail, I don't like it either, but it's something she has to do," Adam tells them.
"Will you be back at all?" Jenna asks.
"I don't know, I hope so."
"Well, can't we at least throw you a going away party?" Alli questions.
"No, I'm leaving first thing in the morning, and I have a lot to do tonight. I'm sure you have a lot of questions, but I can't answer them right now. I have to do this, I have to finish senior year in Mystic Falls. I'm not pregnant or anything, its just something I have to do."
"That sucks, we're going to miss you Edwards," Dallas says and hugs her.
Her other friends share similar sentiments before hugging her. Alli and Jenna talk about missing her the most, Owen hugs her for the longest time. Adam is oddly quiet for being her best friend, but they did talk earlier. A few more hugs and sobs from the girls and Clare finally comes back through the sliding glass door.
"I never liked sappy goodbyes," I remark as we begin walking through the snow back to her house.
"They don't like it, they don't understand why I'm leaving, and I can't tell them."
"Adam seemed to," I reply.
"I told him, I had to. He won't tell anyone," she says and then takes off running. I run after her and we reach her house just as her mom gets home. "Time to compel my mom," Clare says looking at her mom in the kitchen. "She won't remember will she? If I force a memory into her mind will the real one come back? I've been starting to remember what Damon forced me to forget."
"No, your mom won't remember. It's because you're now a vampire, once you transition anything you were compelled to remember or forget starts to come back."
Clare nods and we go into the house, she purposely makes noise so that her mom will hear us. Her mom looks over, but barely bats an eye at seeing us walk in from the snow with no coats.
"Mom, stop making dinner for a second, I need to talk to you."
"What is it Dear?"
Clare walks over taking hold of her mom's arms and looking into her eyes, "I'm moving to Mystic Falls. You think it's a wonderful idea and a great opportunity for me."
"It's a great opportunity for you," her mom says.
"You're not worried about me, I'm doing great. You'll sign any papers you need to for me to move and transfer schools."
"Of course Honey, it's a great opportunity for you."
Clare smiles, releases her mom and she goes back to making dinner. "That was easy," Clare says quietly as we go upstairs, "compelling is a rather useful tool."
"What about your stepfather?"
"He'll be home in about an hour, I'll compel him with the same thing. He'll be easier though, right now I need to eat."
"I had a lovely meal earlier, but I could stand to hunt again."
"Stay with me," she says handing me a blood bag.
"Very well, just for you," I give in taking the bag. It's human, but it's jut not the same as hunting. Fresh, warm, still flowing blood, there's nothing else like it. And, everyone tastes different, it's one of the reasons I'm so very drawn to Clare. She tastes divinely wonderful, like the best wine, most savory steak and sweetest of chocolates. "You've had fresh human how can you like this stuff?"
"I won't kill anyone else to feed, I won't even hurt anyone else."
"I suppose it's better than hunting animals in the woods."
She gives me a sideways look, but doesn't say anything else. We finish our blood bags, she continues looking through her room, making sure she packed everything. When we hear her stepfather get home we go downstairs. She says hi and then compels him, all she says is she's moving to Mystic Falls and he's happy for her.
With her parents compelled we go upstairs, and with Damon gone I follow her into her room. She didn't want to choose with the both of us here, but for the night it's just the two of us. I tug her jeans off so fast it burns her skin a little, but she heals almost as soon as she burns. I simply rip the rest of her clothes off, admiring her wonderfully naked body and her lusciously soft skin.
Utilizing her vampire strength Clare does the same to me, tugging off my jeans, the friction causing burns that quickly heal. She tears open my shirt, all the buttons popping off, she doesn't even take it off, simply tugs hard tearing the sleeves.
"I liked that shirt," I complain.
"It's only fair, I've had plenty of my clothes ripped by the both of you," she grins.
She gets my boxers off and pushes me down so that she's on top. I want to be in control, so I take her and flip us, I do it fast and she hits the bed so hard that it rattles. I smile and open her legs, gliding into her as I take her nipple into my mouth. Clare moans, her back arching, her hips bucking. I thrust a few more times, sucking on her nipple, even tempted to bite. Then Clare decides to take charge again, grabbing my arms she flips us. Her bed hits the wall hard and creaks.
"We're going to break my bed," she comments.
"I have an idea," I smile slowly sliding out of her. She whimpers and quivers a little, I stand and take her hand pulling her up. We go to the window, I climb out and jump up to the roof. Clare follows me, smiling when she lands on the roof.
"It's beautiful up here," Clare grins. It's cold and snowing, but neither of us feel it, not like a human would.
I smile and crush my lips to hers, lying down on our sides in the snow. I open her legs, her pussy lips, and slide my length back into her. She moans, her neck craning back as she grips onto me with all her strength. The friction we cause as we make love melting the snow around us. We both climax at the same time and lie back, fresh snow falling onto us. Clare nuzzles into me, kissing my neck and then looking up the stars.
"We're going to have so much fun with you in Mystic Falls," I grin before taking her lips for another kiss.
(DAMON)
"Here, your bracelet is in there, along with another for Jenna. Two rings and two bracelets for the guys. Finally, per your last minute request, and not easy to find I might add; a matching set of rings for Drew and Bianca, one masculine and one feminine," I say handing Clare the velvet pouch with the jewelry in it.
"Thank you Damon, I appreciate you doing this for me," she replies giving me a soft kiss.
"You can make it up to me later," I whisper in her ear. "Let's get the car packed, and you can drive," I remark to Klaus. I drove down and back, called Stefan on the way so they could start preparing the jewelry. I was almost back home when Clare called requesting the rings for Bianca and Drew.
"Tired Salvatore," Klaus grins.
"Only of driving," I shoot back.
Clare has two suitcases and a few boxes, we take them down to the car and return for one more thing. Klaus and I pack the blood in portable coolers, but he leaves her the small fridge. He tells her she'll need it for college, or if she feels the need to visit home. With everything in the car Clare locks her front door, I sit in the back while Klaus drives to Adam's house.
"I'm going to get Adam," she tells us and then jumps up to his window. She opens it and goes in, I hear her wake Adam and his surprise that she's in the room.
"How did you get in here?"
"I jumped up to the window," she replies.
"What time is it?" Adam yawns. I hear him moving, his sheets and blankets rustling.
"A little after four in the morning, I'm sorry to wake you, but we're about to leave for Mystic Falls. I have something for you, there's jewelry in this bag. The matching rings, one for a guy and one for a girl are for Drew and Bianca. The feminine bracelets are for Alli and Jenna. There's some masculine bracelets and rings for you, Dallas, Owen and Connor. The jewelry is filled with vervaine, it's an herb that's toxic to vampires. It won't kill us, but it will keep you all from getting compelled, as long you're wearing it."
"What am I supposed to tell everyone when I give it to them?" Adam asks. I see his light come on, he must be looking at the jewelry.
"Tell them it's a goodbye gift from me and I requested they never take it off," she replies. I hear the soft clinking of the jewelry and then it stops, Adam must have found one he likes.
"Does this mean we should be worried about other vampires?" Adam questions.
"No, just a precaution. Now that I know what's out there I wanted you guys to be protected."
"You'll call when you get to Mystic Falls?"
"Yes, and I'll be in touch. I'm not trying to disappear, if you need me or if you're worried call. I promise to text every day and e-mail, I'll call at least once a week, it will be like I'm still here."
"No, it won't, but I'll take what I can get."
It goes silent for a moment, they must be hugging, and then Clare jumps from the window again. She lands softly on the front grass, Adam watches from his window. He waves to her, she waves back and gets in the car. As we start to drive away Adam's light goes off. Clare is very silent on the drive home, aside from asking for blood bags when she needs to eat. It makes the drive seem very long, of course it could also be the smug looks Klaus keeps giving me in the rearview mirror.
"Your room is ready," Stefan says opening Clare's door when we arrive home.
"Thank you Stefan, and thank you for letting me move in," she smiles hugging him as she gets out of the car.
"We're happy to, and you're not the first fledgling vampire we've had stay with us. You'll start at Mystic Falls High on Monday, Alaric is getting your classes set up and your books today. He's making sure that Caroline or myself is in all your classes," Stefan tells her while we start unloading the car.
"Thank you Stefan, for everything," she smiles. She picks up one of her suitcases and goes in the house.
"How is she?" Stefan asks as we get the rest of her things.
"She can hear you," Clare calls over her shoulder.
"Enjoying her powers for the most part, but she was silent all the way here."
"She's leaving her friends, family, home, everything she knows, before she's ready. Something she was sort of forced to do because she's now a vampire," Stefan reminds.
"Yeah, I know," I nod.
We follow Klaus into the house with the rest of Clare's things. We set them in her room, she's just sort of standing there looking around.
"We'll let you get settled, if you need help unpacking or anything just call," Stefan tells her.
"Actually, I will say goodbye. I need to return home," Klaus comments. He takes her hand and gives her an ardent kiss. When they don't break apart after a moment I stiffen up, moving to pull them apart. Stefan grabs my arm and pulls me out of the room and down the stairs.
"You're letting Klaus get to you," Stefan scolds in a whisper.
"He has that effect on people, human and vampire alike."
Stefan sits down, I fix myself a drink and a moment later Klaus runs out of the house without saying a word to us. I'm just glad to be rid of him after so many days. I hear Clare on the phone to Adam, telling him she's here and safe. When she hangs up with Adam we hear her moving around fast in her room, she must be unpacking. When she's done we hear the shower turn on.
"I'm going to meet Elena, I'll bring Clare's school books and class schedule back with me," Stefan says.
I wave and he leaves, when I hear the car leaving the driveway I go upstairs. I enter Clare's room quietly, she left the washroom door open. I walk over quietly and lean in the doorway, she appears to be washing her hair.
"I know you're there Damon, you can come in," she says.
I'm not sure if she means into the washroom or into the shower with her. I decide she means into the shower, or she'll simply push me out if she meant the washroom. I get undressed and step into the shower, she's washing her hair. I watch with lecherous enjoyment, her neck craned back, her breasts popping out because her back is arched. The water trickling down each of her luscious curves.
She steps out of the water, her arms coming around me and she shoves me into the tiled wall. Her lips crushing to mine, I encircle her in my arms and lift her up. Guiding her onto my length, she quivers and moans, her thighs gripping onto me. She glides along me a few times this way, I drive deep into her and I feel her core enveloping me. I turn us, putting her back against the wet tile, my hand on the wall, giving me a little more leverage to thrust. I thrust quickly a few times, she hits the shower wall and body trembles. I feel her tighten around me as she draws close to orgasm.
She lets out a lovely song of a quivering moan as she orgasms. I turn off the water, but I am far from done with her, and I know she is far from satisfied. I carry her out to the bed, lying her on her back, she reaches back and grabs the headboard. I look down at her with a smile, pressing my lips to hers as I thrust in again. She pulls out of the kiss to exhale a long low moan, releasing the headboard as her nails soon dig into my back. Her hips buck in rhythm with mine, we move faster and faster, and once more she climaxes.
"I believe you have at least one more in you," I grin changing our position one more time so that she's now on top.
Clare smiles, bracing one hand on the headboard and another on my chest, "My turn to set the pace."
Licking my lips I reach up and take her breasts in my hands as she slowly, agonizingly so, lowers herself onto me. I squeeze her breasts gently, rolling her nipples between my fingertips. She goes so very slowly down my length that when she is all the way down we both moan. For a moment she sits still, her eyes locked onto mine, her body forming to my shape. Then she rides me with abandon, she moves very fast, almost impatiently as she brings us both to climax. Having reached this final climax she rolls off me still trembling.
"Have I mentioned how very much I will enjoy having you live here?" I question.
"You might," she giggles, "but how long before Stefan gets tired of us doing that?"
"Eh," I shrug, "he can just go to Elena's."
(CLARE)
"You look nervous," Damon comments when I come down the stairs.
"Yeah, well my first day back at DeGrassi didn't go very well," I remind him.
"You'll be fine, we'll all be there and Damon will be close," Stefan assures me.
"I know, I just wish that made me feel better. I lost control and killed a girl, even with Damon and Klaus close by."
"We weren't in the school, and if something does happen we have a lot of experience at hiding it or fixing it."
"Come, we should get going," Stefan comments.
I grab my backpack and special lunchbox with blood bags in it, following Stefan out to his car. Damon rides with us, I have no idea what Damon is going to do all day. Stefan parks at the school and I already feel the eyes on me, I'm sure it's because I'm new, but I feel like everyone knows I'm a vampire.
"I'll be close," Damon reminds me again before giving me a tender kiss, and then he runs off.
"I'll show you your locker first, and then the school," Stefan tells me putting a hand at my back and we start walking in.
"Everyone's looking at me," I whisper.
"Some are just noticing the pretty new girl, and others probably remember how stunning you looked at the Christmas ball," Stefan remarks.
"My but you Salvatore boys know how to sweet talk. I think you'd get along very with the Torres boys," I laugh.
"Here's your locker, Elena's locker is down the hall and Caroline's locker is right next to yours," Stefan tells me.
"Oh good, you two are here," Elena smiles. She greets Stefan with a kiss while Jeremy smiles at me. "You have homeroom with all of us, except Jeremy, but Ric teaches. After that you have science with me, Tyler and Stefan," Elena tells me.
"You're only in one of my classes, fifth period art," Jeremy says.
"Caroline or I have all the other classes with you. Elena, Tyler and Bonnie have most of the same classes as well. If you feel yourself losing control just tell one of us. Just remember to pretend to be human, no vampiric powers at the school," Stefan reminds me.
"Don't listen to him, it's not that easy. Also, you can use your powers if your life is in danger," Caroline speaks up walking over with Tyler.
"Which it shouldn't be at school, and we'll all be keeping a close eye on you," Stefan assures me.
"We have some time before class we should take you on a tour of the school," Elena smiles.
"I'm going to go wait for Bonnie, I'll catch up with you guys," Jeremy says and saunters off. Jeremy and Elena came over this weekend to see me, along with Ric. I talked the most with Jeremy, about how my life had changed, how my stolen memories had returned, and how I missed my friends already. More than the others Jeremy was the most comforting and assuring, we talked for a long while. I was even left alone with him for a while, the others will always close by, and of course Jeremy had his ring. Knowing this it was still a great test of my restraint, I managed just to talk and not to bite him.
Elena and Caroline link their arms with mine and we start walking. They show me most of the school while Tyler and Stefan walk silently behind us. When the bell rings we go to class, Bonnie is in class and smiles at me. Ric also gives me a kind smile, he brought over all the textbooks I would need this weekend. I didn't sleep much this weekend, and I've already read through all of my textbooks.
"I'd like to welcome our new student Clare Edwards; she comes to us all the way from Toronto. Now, please open your books to page 114, and we'll continue our discussion from yesterday," Ric says.
I give him a grateful smile for not making much of the fact that I'm new. Classes here are shorter than at DeGrassi, but there are more of them in a day. I make it through Ric's class just fine, but ten minutes into second period I'm starting to get hungry. Stefan sees or senses, he sits at a table with me and Elena. Putting his hand on my arm he whispers to me, reminding me to breathe and control. Easier said than done, but I make it through class to break.
"Come with me, you should have some blood to get through your next two classes before lunch," Stefan says.
We run out to the back of school and jump up to the roof where no one will see us. Finally, I can drink some blood and satisfy my hunger a little. As I take the first sip Damon jumps onto the roof and comes over to us.
"You haven't killed anyone yet," Damon says with a joking tone. I simply narrow my eyes and glare at him. "I was joking, you're doing well."
"It's not easy, I can smell everyone and most of them I want to eat. How long will I live with these fantasies of eating people or fucking them?"
"It will get easier," Stefan replies. I twist my mouth at him because he didn't say when it would get easier.
I slurp down an entire bag of blood before we have to go to class. We make sure no one is below us when we jump from the roof. Damon gives me a long deeply passionate kiss, so long in fact that Stefan pulls him off me.
"We have to get inside, if I think we need you in the school I'll call you," Stefan scolds his brother. You know the longer I'm with them the more similarities I see between them and the Torres brothers.
Damon smirks and runs off, he can't be going too far though, he promised to be close if I needed him. The blood helps, but not enough, I make it through third period multimedia alright. Although, Caroline and Bonnie keep a close eye on me, by fourth period however all I can think about is blood. I feel as though I'm starving, Stefan has the class with me, and spends the whole time reminding me to breathe. He talks in a low enough voice that the only person that hears him is Tyler sitting a row back and two seats over.
When it's lunch time Stefan and Caroline take me out back, and I go with Damon. We run away from the school to a private wooded area. It's nice to be alone, away from everyone else, the noises and the smells. I drink the three blood bags I have left, it satisfies me, but I know this satisfaction is only temporary.
"Two classes left and we'll take you straight home. Jeremy and Caroline have art with you, everyone but Jeremy is in your last class. You're doing really well Clare, I remember how hard it was to fight those urges, to not just drink everyone you came across."
I sigh and lean against him, I wonder if it was easier back then to just eat people. After all, people would go missing or die a lot back then. Then again in a small town like Mystic Falls it may have been harder, you probably knew everyone. I suppose, if I were going to be like Klaus and just kill it may have been easier to stay in Toronto. I still couldn't have stayed at Degrassi, or home, and pretended to be normal though.
Damon and I run back to the school making it just a moment before the bell rings. Damon kisses me before leaving and I go in through the backdoor. I go to my locker and put away my backpack, Caroline comes to her locker and I walk with her to art class. Having just eaten I do pretty well in art class, I don't concentrate very much, and my mind goes between fantasies of drinking blood and knocking over some paint while I take care of that other insatiable need. At least, all we had to do was an abstract piece, so I pretty much just splashed some paint and moved the brush around.
It's harder in my last class, I'm very hungry again and sitting right next to a boy that smells very good. Caroline is on my other side, Elena and Bonnie in front of me, Tyler next to Caroline, Stefan behind me. This class seems to last an eternity, twenty minutes before the end of class I'm wondering if I can pick up the boy next to me and run out of class. If I'd have time to drink from him, just a little and compel the memory away before Stefan and Caroline found me.
"Breathe Clare, there isn't long now," Stefan whispers.
"Just think about Damon," Caroline whispers.
This advice actually works better, I alter the fantasies in my head to making love to Damon as soon as I'm home. I make it through the last twenty minutes, barely.
"Home now please," I say as we leave class.
"You made it through the day without hurting anyone," Stefan says proudly.
"How do you feel?" Elena asks as we start walking to our lockers.
"Very hungry, but I think I can actually do this. I made it through today, I can make it through tomorrow. Thanks everyone," I smile. I get the books I need and walk out with Stefan and Elena. Damon is waiting for us at the car, he smiles and kisses me.
"I'm going to Elena's," Stefan tells his brother.
"Made it through the day," Damon grins attaching his lips to mine.
"It wasn't easy, I was very tempted to do a lot of things," I reply as we get in the car.
"Tempted is one thing, you didn't do them."
"No, but I need to eat again, and then I'm going to tear off all your clothes."
"Sounds like a good night to me," Damon smiles and begins driving a little faster.
As soon as we get home I toss my backpack into the living room and go into the kitchen. I grab two blood bags and return to the living room sitting on the sofa. Damon gets a blood bag too, he drinks it down and pours himself some liquor. I'm halfway through my second blood bag when my phone rings, it's Adam.
"I'm still alive, so is everyone else. I made it through the day without hurting anyone."
"That's good, so being there is working?"
"Seems to be, I don't have to hide all the time like I would back home. I'm not the only one that knows I'm a vampire, more support, more people to keep an eye on me. People to help with these urges that I can never seem to get rid of. I have to keep working at it, but after today I believe I'll get control, and we'll be going to university together next fall."
"I'm glad to hear it Clare. We miss you here, but if it's working for you then it's where you need to be."
Adam and I talk for a few more minutes while I finish my blood bag. He tells me what happened at school, how much Drew keeps whining that he wishes I was still there to veep the school. How often Alli speculates on my relationship with Damon and Klaus.
"Race you upstairs," I smile at Damon after hanging up with Adam. He grins and we run upstairs, going into his room, he closes the door and we begin ripping off the others clothes.
"I really do love having you here Clare."
That does it for this story, I hope you all enjoyed these last chapters, and the story. There may be an epilogue chapter for this at some point maybe, don't get too excited for it I'm not promising anything at this point. For the time being I am not replacing this with anything, I just don't have much time or energy to write right now. Next to be updated is "The Way She Smiles when She Sees Me".
