Chapter 13: Home
Summary: Damon returns to Florence.
PLEASE read and review. Sorry I haven't updated. I was on vacation and away from my computer.
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Damon smiled down at his old home.
The big structure still looked the same, despite the fact that it could use some paint.
It had been 16 years since Damon had 'died' and 1 years since he left Alessandra. Over that time he had simply lived. He did what he wanted when he wanted to. Slept with whom he wanted to when he wanted to. Life had been great, but curiosity brought him back here. He wondered if his father still lived here, or if he had moved or died in these past 16 years.
Dead, hopefully.
Damon walked down the clover covered hill that overlooked the house.
His inquisitiveness was taking over him. He wanted to see if his father still lived.
If Giuseppe answered the door, which his father never did he'd be overcome with shock at the sight of Damon. But if the maid answered he'd simply ask if his father still occupied the residence.
Damon lifted a glove covered hand and knocked on the door.
It took a few moments, but it did open.
A girl stood in the door, no older than seventeen.
Beautiful, Damon thought with a smile. Father sure knows how to pick the help.
Olive skin with light brown hair, which had turned blonde in areas from the summer sun. Eyes the color of cinnamon filled his vision. Her lips were like two full pink rose petals. And her cheek bones were high with a flush of rouge covering the apples. She was short, maybe even shorter than Katherine had been. And petite.
"Is Giuseppe conti de Salvatore home?" Damon asked throwing her a dazzling smile.
"No, I'm sorry. My father is away on business. He should be home within the next few days." Her long black eyelashes drooped.
"Father?" Damon asked, "You are his daughter?"
She nodded politely.
Damon smiled, his father didn't waste anytime did he?
"I beg your pardon, but I thought Giuseppe had two sons." Damon crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame.
"Had, is the key word. My brothers died when I was young. You see, my father and mother got married shortly after their deaths. My mother had been a widow, and Giuseppe a widower. My real father died before I was born. Giuseppe just took me in and raised me as his own. I think he feels like he was a bad father to his sons. He talks about them all the time. I think he became very lonely after they died and married my mother for companionship." She smiled.
"I don't mean to be rude, but what is your name?" Damon asked.
"Tell me your name and I shall give you mine." She smiled, playfully.
Damon had to think quickly, "Damian Spencer."
"Well, Damian Spencer I am Gwendolyn Salvatore." She extended a hand.
"You are lucky you had a different father, or else you may have been cursed with your Giuseppe's looks." Damon smiled.
"He's not so bad, but age has been cruel to everyone, including my mother."
She reminded Damon of himself slightly, except she possessed an innocence that he lacked.
"It's a shame he isn't here. I have traveled all the way from Verona to see him." Damon tried to make himself look upset.
"You've traveled all the way from Verona!" She cried, "Come inside. Let make you some cider."
"Oh, no." Damon said with fake protest, "I wouldn't want to put you out."
"It's no trouble." Gwendolyn assured him.
He followed her inside.
The kitchen looked exactly the same, accept for a few small cracks in the tile.
"You have a beautiful home." Damon smiled.
"Well, it suits our needs." She handed him his cider and he sipped it slowly.
"So, how is it that you know my father?" Gwendolyn asked.
Damon smiled, "I was a friend of your brothers, when they were young."
"You knew them?" Gwendolyn asked, "Tell me about them. I seldom hear about them, despite what my father says."
"The way they died was very tragic." Damon said with mock sorrow.
"Yes, father cries whenever he tells the tale. The were fighting, but he knew not why or how it had started. Damon stabbed Stefan, but then with his last dying breath, Stefan stabbed Damon." Gwendolyn shivered at the thought of it.
"Damon would have won, had he not bent to check for Stefan's pulse." Damon replied, angry with himself for his past stupidity.
"Oh, yes. Father says Damon was quite the swordsman."
"The best." Damon smiled.
"In fact, that's why father was so angry with him. Damon was a playboy and he decided sword fighting, hunting, and hawking was more important than his education." Gwendolyn replied.
"Your father put a great emphasis on education." Damon muttered.
"I know." Gwendolyn rolled her eyes, "He also emphasizes morals and values and family honor. He's angry with me because I refuse to marry."
Damon arched an eyebrow, "Really? Why do you refuse."
Gwendolyn stood and paced, "Because I will not allow myself to settle down with any random man. I want to have my choice, and I want him to be the right choice. I will not be one of those women who have children, clean up after their husbands, and then die a miserable death. I'd rather gouge my eyes out."
Damon laughed.
What a spirit she had.
"But I'm sure my problems are just so interesting to you." She smiled, sitting down.
"More interesting than you'd think. Your father hasn't changed a bit." Damon beamed.
"No. And no matter how much I refuse I'm getting married on Sunday to Rio Tuzzuloni." She twisted her hair.
"What!" Damon yelled.
He knew Rio Tuzzuloni. He had been only thirteen when he and Stefan had died, but he was old enough then for Damon to see what kind of a person he truly was. He was spoiled and greedy. The past 16 years have made him 29 years old. Damon wondered if perhaps Rio had changed in that time, but for some reason he doubted it.
"You know Rio, then." Gwendolyn sighed.
"Oh, yes. All too well." Damon smiled.
"I do not love him." Gwendolyn said, "But he will make a good husband, and thus my father has chosen him."
"What is he getting out of this?" Damon asked, but when Gwendolyn gave him a look that said 'me', he changed the question, "Besides just you. I know this man there has to be more."
"Well, there is the promise of my fathers estate in the event of his death." Gwendolyn replied, "What are you driving at?"
Damon knew it. Rio was getting a lot of money out of this deal, not to mention a wife to do his bidding.
"Nothing, Gwendolyn." He stood, "I must go."
"But what about father?" She asked, "Will you not stay for a few nights and a wait his return?"
"I'll be around." Damon smiled, "Trust me."
And with that he walked out of the house, headed towards Rio's home.
