I wake up before Jeremy, he is snoring his head off. Looking at my clock, I have only been asleep for an hour and twenty minutes. After a quick stretch, I lean over to wake him and notice that he is drooling all over my cover. Ew! Nasty! I kick him off my bed instantly.
"Argh! What the..." he jumps up, quickly scanning the room.
"Calm down, Beethoven. It was just me." I attempt to calm his panic.
"Huh? Beethoven?" He looks at me quizzically whilst rubbing the back of his head.
"The Saint Bernard who drools all the time." I tell him. "You have literally left a puddle on my comforter. Yer dirty mutt!"
After using my on-suite, we both exit my room and head back downstairs. The party is still booming and there are a lot drunk people dancing. I barely recognise half of them from school. I scan the room for Damon or Rik, but there is no sign of either of them. Come to think of it, there is no sign of any of the scooby gang.
I make my way outside, not even checking to see if Jeremy is following and find Rik on the porch.
"Where's Damon?" I move in front of him.
"He has gone to get Andi. He should be back soon." He tells me without even looking at me. Is he still mad at me?
I don't dwell on it. I quickly take off, needing some time to myself. Stopping at the town square, I take a seat on a bench and let my silent tears fall. I know I must look stupid to anyone passing by, but I really don't care anymore.
"Hmmm Sophia, isn't it?" I hear a judgy female voice ask. I look up to see Carol Lockwood standing in front of me.
"Yeah, what's it to you?" I sass. I don't like her or her bully husband.
"I beg your pardon?" She looks shocked at my reply.
"Look, just go away and leave me alone." I stand up to walk away from her when she reaches out and grabs my arm. I shrug her off me. "DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME!" I yell at her.
I hear a whooshing sound, so I know a vampire is near by, but I don't know who until Elijah steps out from behind Carol. He swiftly gets a hold of my right arm by the wrist.
"Good evening ladies. May I ask if there is an issue?" He asks whilst looking at Carol for an answer.
I was about to tell him no and that I was just leaving when Carol speaks up.
"The only issue I have is Sophia's attitude." She points her old, boney finger in my face.
"Get your smelly finger out of my face before I bite it off!" I warn her. Neither Carol or Elijah look impressed.
I feel Elijah's grip on my wrist getting tighter to the point I am losing circulation to my hand. I try to twist my hand free, but if I pull any harder, I think my wrist will snap.
"You wanna watch who you're speaking to!" Carol tries to warn me, but her threats are useless as she has zero power over me.
"Why? Are you going to get your abusive, bastard of a husband to knock me about like he does Tyler?" I retort. Carol looks fuming.
As soon as the words have left my mouth, Elijah smacks the hand of the wrist he is holding, hard.
"What the..." I look at him, shock clear on my face. "Did you just smack my hand like I'm a naughty toddler?" I can feel my cheeks burn with anger and embarrassment. The top of my hand is stinging and under the light of the town square, I can see a faint red hue forming.
Looking at the smirk on Carol's face makes me want to slap the smug out of her, but I know that definitely would not go down well with anyone. She would probably have me arrested and I'm pretty sure Tyler would never speak to me again for assaulting his mother.
"I most certainly did." Elijah's says, turning his body to face me. "And if you do not apologise to Mrs Lockwood this instant, I will do more than just swat your hand."
I look between Elijah's cross face and Carol's smug one, wanting to just melt away out of existence. I feel so embarrassed. I know that she knows what he was implying. Just because she knows it, she sure as hell ain't going to see it!
"I'm sorry!" I offer a simple apology. It's not heartfelt but at least I said it.
"Good girl!" Elijah says, loosening the hold he has on my wrist. I quickly take advantage and pull my hand clear and take off running, making sure not to use my vampire speed in-front of Carol.
I know Elijah can't chase me with Carol being there, but I don't doubt that he will come after me as soon as he is able to. I head over to the Gilbert house, knowing that it will be vacant as they are all at my house. I sit on the bench, that's occupying the porch, and enjoy the peace and quiet.
Just as I was ready to go back home, Elijah pops up and takes a seat next to me.
"Sophia, would you care to explain what that earlier outburst was about?" He asks me. I don't, but I have learnt that when it sounds like Elijah is giving you a choice, he really isn't.
"I just wanted to be left alone and she was pestering me."
Elijah is quiet for a moment before responding.
"I understand you wanting privacy, but that does not give you permission to be disrespectful. Do you understand?"
"Yeah, sorry Elijah." I mean it. "I just don't really like her, at all! She walks around Mystic Falls as if she is the god damned Queen, but she is a horror. She over looks her own sons abuse by the hands of his so-called father. They both make me sick!"
I momentarily am taken back to my human life, the fear I had of my own father. I hated him so much!
"Yes, they are not very nice people, I would agree with you on that. But, is she really worth getting yourself in to trouble for?" He asks me.
"No, I guess not." My answer is meek as he is totally right.
"Come on." Elijah stands, holding out his arm for me to link, "let's get you home." I comply and we walk back together in comfortable silence.
Elena's party is still in full swing when I get back and I really am not in the mood for it. I look up to Elijah, wanting to see his mood before asking him if I can go back to his house instead.
"Of course you can, sweetheart." He gives me a warm smile and rests his hand on top of my hand that is linking his arm. He is so sweet.
I wake up the next day to Elijah bringing me breakfast in bed.
"Good morning, sleeping beauty," he whispers.
"Morning." I yawn and stretch out my body. I love staying here. Elijah is the best!
After filling my face and getting showered and dressed, I go downstairs to speak to Elijah.
"Hey! Have you spoke to Damon?" I wonder, as I didn't tell him that I would be staying the night here.
"I have attempted on multiple occasions to get in contact with him, but his cell phone seems to be off." He tells me.
That's weird! He never has his phone off. A sense of dread washes over me. Something must have happened. Something bad! I thank Elijah for letting me stay and run home as fast is I could.
Walking in to the boarding house, I sigh at the mess. It is everywhere! Hearing a noise from the kitchen, I head there first. It's Damon. He is sitting at the kitchen table, drinking straight from a bottle of bourbon. He looks miserable.
"Damon, what's wrong?" I ask him, my tone full of concern.
"Nothing. Everything is just peachy!" He lies, before taking another big gulp of bourbon.
"Liar!" I accuse. "Where is Andi?" She is normally hanging off his neck like a scarf. Damon just grunts, taking yet another gulp.
I went to take the bottle from his hand but he pulled it away too fast.
"Damon, what are you doing?" This 'drowning his sorrows' shit doesn't make sense. "What is going on?"
"Haven't you got school or something to get to?" He ignores my questions.
I wait a couple of seconds before asking him again.
"Damon, what's going on? Where is Andi?" Again, I receive a grunt as a response as he attempts to take another swig. I quickly smack the bottle from his hand and it lands in the floor, smashing instantly and spilling the contents everywhere.
Damon jumps up from his seat, gripping me by the shoulder and raising his hand as if to strike me. I immediately cower away from him, bringing my hands up to protect my face. The slap doesn't come. I feel Damon let go of me and watch as he takes a step back, a horrified look on his face.
"Sophia, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry!" I can see tears forming in his eyes. Something has happened and I don't know what.
"It's okay," I tell him, embracing him. "What's happened, Damon?" I try once more.
"It's Andi. She's dead!" He finally admits what is troubling him.
"What? How? What happened?" I feel him hugging me tighter.
"Stefan happened."
He is not making any sense. What has Stefan got to do with Andi? He doesn't wait around to explain, letting go of me and walking out of the kitchen. I follow him, wanting to know what he means.
He tells me about meeting Stefan and how he compelled her to walk off a platform at her studio. I am in shock. I can't believe he would do that to Damon. He wasn't exactly in love with Andi, but he still liked her. She was a good distraction for him.
Things are going from bad to worse. Stefan is turning back in to his old self. The heartless, ripper bastard. I don't know what to do or how to feel. I miss Stefan, but I don't know if I can cope with him if he has his humanity switched off again. I shudder at the thought.
A few days go by and It's senior prank night at Mystic Falls High. Not much has changed. Everyone, including myself, is miserable. Well, except for Caroline, as I don't think she knows what miserable is.
Damon and I are chillin' in the library of the boarding house, just the two of us. It makes a refreshing change for me to not have to share him with someone else. We are both snuggled on the sofa, watching Constantine. Another one of my favourite movies.
The movie is interrupted by a knock on the door.
"I'll get it," Damon says, patting my leg before standing up. He is in no rush to answer it as neither one of us are expecting company.
"Elena? What do you want?" He asks. I wonder what has gone on between those two?
"Hmmm trouble in paradise?" Katherine's voice grates on my ears as she replies. What the fuck is she doing here? I run to the door, the movie all but forgotten now.
She had come to ask Damon to go on a little road trip. I can see him considering it.
"You have to be joking right now?" I fume. "Tell me you're not going to go with this fucking bitch?" I ask, my anger evident whilst I step in to Damon's personal space.
He gives me 'the look'. I take a tentative step back.
"1," he holds his pointer finger up. "You have no control over what I do. 2," he raises his middle finger to join his pointer. "Calm the hell down, and 3, watch. Your. Mouth!" He doesn't bother raising a third finger, he just opts for swatting my butt hard 3 times, punctuating his last words as a warning to not cuss.
"Aaaaoooowww!" I exclaim as I pull myself away from his grasp, turning back to face him. I try to ignore the stinging on my butt.
"So you're just gonna go with her then?" I don't need to wait for a reply as I already know his answer. I storm back to the sofa, whispering "fickle cunt," not thinking he would hear me.
"Wait there," I hear him order Katherine as he angry walks towards me. I should've known he would hear me, he hears everything. I walk faster. "Get back here NOW!" He booms, speeding up his own walking.
I dive on the sofa, raising my foot in the air to keep some space between us.
"W-What are you doing?" I ask as he stops in front of me, a murderous glint in his eyes. "I didn't even do anything?"
He lets out a puff of air between his tight lips.
"So you're gonna lie to me aswell, Sophia?" He puts his hands on his hips.
"I-I'm not lying!" Well I'm not.
"So it was someone else who just called me a 'fickle cunt' then was it?" Damon uses air quotes exaggeratingly. He has me banged to rights.
"Well, technically I'm not lying. I didn't 'do' anything. I 'said' something." I don't even know what I'm doing here.
I hear Katherine tut from the doorway. Bitch!
"Are you serious right now?" Damon asks, standing closer so my foot is now resting on his stomach, making me squirm under his gaze.
"Yes? No? Maybe? I don't know?" How can I even answer that question correctly?
Without another word, Damon yanks on my raised leg, pulling me up off the sofa and quickly trades places with me, bringing me down on his lap. He starts to bring his hand down on my upturned bottom hard and fast. I seal my mouth shut so I don't scream out, knowing Katherine is still listening from the door.
Damon has easily swatted me 60 times before the first whimper escapes my mouth.
"D-Damon. O-okay. I-I'm sorry, alright?" I say through gritted teeth.
"No, it's not alright!" He replies, upping the ante on the strength behind each smack.
I feel his arm press harder on my back as my attempts to escape become wilder.
"Aaahahoowww. Stoooopp..." I begin to beg. I'm struggling to keep my composure now. "Ple-he-he-heaasssee. No-no more!"
Damon ups the ante again by pulling down my pants and wrapping his leg around both of mine, stopping me from moving at all.
"NO! NO, PLEASE DAMON!" I plead now, knowing how much harder the spanking is going to feel now.
There is a slight pause before Damon brings his hand down with a sickening slap that seems to reverberate off the walls.
"AAAHHHH, SHIII-IITTEEEEE," I scream in protest.
Damon catches my almost slip of the tongue and decides to punish me harder for it, pushing my upper body closer to the floor whilst raising his left leg even higher so he can attack my sit spots.
I want to scream and beg, plead with him not to do it, but I know it will be useless. Nothing will stop him now he has his mind set on it. If nothing else, you can say he is thorough.
All I can manage now are incomprehensible groans as the fire on my butt becomes completely unbearable. My ability to speak has been well and truly smacked out of me. I squeeze my eyes shut as my body goes limp, preying for the end to come sooner rather than later.
Damon wraps it up with a final 10 spanks, shared between both of my butt cheeks, before unravelling his limbs from mine. I attempt to stand up but I am completely spent. I literally have zero energy left after crying it all away.
"Come on, Princess," I hear Damon murmur, whilst he lifts me up and embraces me. A sorry almost leaves my lips out of habit, but I stop it as I am not sorry. I wallow in his comfort before he pulls away from me, gently laying me on the sofa before standing up straight.
"Be good and I don't want you to leave the house, do you hear me? You're grounded." Damon says, making me look at him with anger.
"You're grounding me as well? Isn't one punishment enough?" I am seriously annoyed again.
He lets out a deep breath through his nasal passage, considering my words.
"It's only for tonight, whilst I'm not here. I'll get someone to come around and check on you in a bit." He says as he goes to walks out of the room. "Sophia?" He calls my name.
"What?" I call back.
"Do as you're told for once, okay? Just stay in the house and be good!"
I don't even reply to him, as there is nothing I want to say. I get myself comfy and return to the movie, rewinding it to the last bit I watched.
Not even an hour later, the front door opens and Rik comes walking in.
"What happened to knocking?" I ask when he comes in to view.
"Would you have answered me?" He answers my question with one of his own.
"Nah, probably not." I admit.
Rik lifts my lower legs and sits underneath them, putting them back down on top of his thighs. He must be able to tell that I have had a ass whooping by the fact I am laying on my stomach.
"You been naughty again, Sophia?" He asks rhetorically as he already know the answer.
I ignore him and continue to watch The Goonies.
"What do you want, Rik?" I ask him as he isn't saying anything.
"Damon called and asked me to check on you." His reply is honest and to the point.
"Yeah, well. You have checked, so you can leave now." I tell him, wanting to get back to enjoying my own company.
Rik swats my bottom twice, making sure to strike each cheek.
"Hey!" I jump up from my comfy position. "What was that for?"
"Don't be rude!" He warns, looking at me with a raised eyebrow as if daring me to argue with him.
"Whatever," I retort as I walk away and head for the basement. Damon isn't here to stop me from having a blood bag to make me heal faster.
Once I return, I see Rik hasn't even moved. I feel a little guilty as he has a sad look on his face. I think about him for a moment and consider that he is probably lonely. Elena and Jeremy are out. Damon is out. Jenna is gone. He has no one left. I feel the thoughts tug on my heart strings.
"Would you like a bourbon?" I offer, wanting him to feel like he is wanted.
"Damon's good stuff?" He asks, a cheeky grin on his face.
"Sure. But you're taking the wrap for it once he notices." A smile at him.
I give Rik a glass before snuggling in to his side, the burning in my butt almost a distant memory as the blood bag has taken it away. I pass him the remote so he can choose a film for us to watch. He chooses Die Hard.
"Yes Rik!" I exclaim, happy with his choice.
"Riiiight," Rik says whilst yawning as soon and the film has ended, "time for me to head home to bed," he says, yet makes no attempt to move. I manoeuvre myself round so I am able to look up at him questioningly.
"You gonna be ok?" He asks, concern etched on his beautiful face.
I think about his words for a moment. Am I alright? Is anything ever alright anymore?
"Do birds shit white?" I ask him. "Of course I am going to be alright!" I finally answer him, yet I'm not sure even I believe myself.
Rik let's out a small laugh.
"You're lucky I'm so tired and haven't got the energy to correct your naughty butt!" He says, but continues to smile at me as he walks away.
"Bye Rik..." I smile back to him as my attention turns back to the TV.
Before I even have a chance to put on another movie, I hear the front door open again, only this time it's Damon and Elena's voices that permeate the air. Elena sounds upset, though that's not unusual these days and Damon is consoling her. Again, nothing new there.
I hang back, knowing if Damon's sees me he is just going to send me to my room or something. If he thinks I can't hear him, he will be more open and I will find out the real story and not the version he allows me to know.
Once I have heard enough, I make my way to them but I'm halted in my step by a third voice. Stefan! Wtf?! It feels like I've been winded. My emotions are conflicted. On the one hand, I have just heard that he has his humanity off, but on the other, he is my brother and I want to see him.
I slowly make my way to the living room, listening to what he has to say. He's literally just admitted to being Klaus' lackey, whilst taunting Damon and Elena. His tone is so emotionless, it cuts me to the core. I can't take him being like this again.
As soon as I get control of my own emotions, I am ready to face him. I have to stop myself from running over to him, and squeezing the life out of him with a much needed hug on my part. The fact he is standing so nonchalantly, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed against his chest, makes my resolve easier. His non-caring, smug look could rival Damon at his best.
I barge my way passed him, knocking him and putting him off balance.
"HEY!" He shouts, getting my attention. I just look at him with what I hope is a snarl as I shake my head. "Nice to see you too," he smiles, showing all of his teeth - which is a rarity in itself.
"What are you doing here?" I ask him. I wanted Stefan back, not this 'ripper' douche.
"Well, soph..." he says, making his way over to the drinks table. I follow closely besides him. "Last time I checked, I lived here."
"Well, Stef, haven't you heard?" I try to look as nonchalant as him, "your eviction letter is in the post - so leave!"
Stefan laughs out loud. He thinks I'm joking?
"Dunno what's so funny, but why don't you go and crawl back up Klaus' ass and leave us alone!"
I quickly sneak a look at Damon to see if he is pissed at me for cussing, but he doesn't seem phased. Stefan on the other hand...
"watch it..." He warns, stepping closer to my direction.
"Why? What are you going to do, ripper? Kill me and tear off my head?" I put as much accusation in to my words as possible.
Stefan's amusement doesn't seem to falter at my words, at all.
"No, but I will do this..." he says, grabbing my arm and twisting me to the side. He raises his arm and is about to smack me when I do some thing a would never normally even consider.
"Like fuck you will," I murmur whilst grabbing the knife that Damon uses to slice fruit for alcoholic drinks and spin myself around and out of his grasp. I plunge the knife in his side and whilst he is distracted from the pain, I shove him, sending him flying across the room.
Stefan falls to the floor, groaning and grasping at the blade.
"Sophia!" I hear Elena gasp. I shrug at her and calmly walk over to Damon, not taking my eyes off of Stefan as he rights himself.
I ignore the murderous glint in his eyes and turn my attention towards Damon.
"Damon, I know deliberately hurting one of you to escape a punishment is wrong, and if you want to spank me for my language, I will accept that. But I will not submit to him whilst he is, well, him!"
That is probably the most grown up way I have ever approached a situation and I even surprise myself, and not just because I offered myself over to a spanking.
Damon's mouth is partially open as he looks at me in wonder, probably not expecting me to have said what I just did.
"Yeah, um... no, you're ok, Soph. All is forgiven considering the circumstances."
It's my turn to gape now. I was seriously expecting a session with his belt or something just as bad, as escaping a punishment is one thing, but hurting one of my brothers is something else. I school my expression and turn my attention back to Stefan.
He seems as shocked at Damon's words a I was.
"Next time, Sophia..." he warns, pointing his wagging finger at me whilst shaking his head. I remain by Damon's side, not trusting that Stefan won't attack me as soon as he is given the chance.
"Let's get you home, Elena," he says whilst wrapping his arm around her shoulders. She doesn't speak, but nods her agreement and allows Damon to guide her to the front door. I panic at the thought of being left alone with Stefan.
"Can I come?" I ask as I rush to his other side, trying to convey my worry to him through my eyes. He understands and with a fleeting look back to Stefan, he nods and pulls me along with them.
Whilst in the back of Damon's car, I message Elijah a couple of times, but they don't send. I also try to call him but it goes straight to voicemail. That's odd. I'll have to run by his house tomorrow and make sure everything is ok.
We arrive at the Gilbert's house and Rik is still up.
"I thought you was going to bed?" I accuse.
"And I thought you would already be in bed, you know, seeing as you're a CHILD." He spits back.
"Ouch!" I feign hurt at him calling me a child.
"Don't worry old man, I'll be your crutch if you need help getting up the stairs." I banter with him.
Damon and Elena ignore us and disappear to her room for a while, leaving me alone with Rik. I go silent once our banter is over, taking a seat on the sofa and getting lost in my thoughts.
"Everything ok?" Rik asks, not knowing what happened back at the boarding house yet. Damon didn't stop to tell him before going to Elena's room. One track mind that man, with the end of his track always leading to Elena.
I tell Rik what happened and if I'm not mistaken, he looks kinda proud?
"Well," he clears his throat before continuing. "I think this is where I'm supposed to tell you that you have been a bad girl, yet surprisingly, I can't bring myself to say it." He smirks.
I absolutely love Rik. He's like the 'cool' brother I never had.
"I love you, you know that?" I tell him, smiling.
"I know. Everyone loves me - I'm the best teacher there is," he jokes.
"I'm serious, Rik! I'm really glad you're in my life!"
"I know, Soph. And I love you too!" He responds, pulling me close to him and enveloping me in his love.
I hear footsteps coming down the stairs and turn myself to face them.
"You ready, Soph?" Damon asks, coming in to the room.
"I guess so." I stand up and begrudgingly make my way over to him. Damon squeezes my shoulder as a sign of support. The last place I want to be right now, is anywhere where ripper Stefan is.
"Yeah, um, Damon," Rik pipes up, "would you mind if Sophia stay here tonight? She can ride to school with us in the morning?"
"Please Damon?" I beg, pulling away from him and over to Rik. "I promise I'll be good and I'll come straight back after school. Please, please, please?"
He and Rik seem to have a silent conversation before he nods and agrees.
"Thank you!" I exclaim, throwing my arms around his shoulders.
"Rik, you mind if I have a little word with Sophia for a minute?" Damon's asks, Rik smiles and leaves us alone. Damon sits on the third step of the stairs, pulling me down to sit on his lap. I'm a bit confused as to what he wasn't to talk about, but I go to him without protest.
"Are you okay, baby?" His voice is so soft and tender, I don't know what to say to him. "Everything is going to be okay. I know what you went through with Stefan last time he turned his humanity off, but you have me this time. Us even." He nodded towards the direction of Rik.
"I promise you that I will get stefan back to normal and that everything will be the way it was before. But until then, anywhere you want to be to feel safe, I won't object."
I think over his words, and I'm really grateful for them. I don't trust myself to speak on the matter, as I don't want to cry. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him in to a squeezy hug.
"I love you, Damon!"
"I love you, too!"
The solemness of the situation is very odd to me, so I cope with it the best way I know how.
"You know, when you say 'anywhere'" I lean back and wiggle my eyebrows at him, giving a cheesy smile.
"I'm pretty sure I would feel safe in Hawaii? Or Italy? Spain?" We both laugh out loud.
Damon stands up, lifting me with him before putting me down on to my feet. He gives me a playful swat on my butt and directs me back towards Rik.
"You know Damon, I've been thinking..."
"This can't be good," Rik says aloud. I don't even look at him.
Damon stares at me intently, wondering what I'm going to say.
"You spank me when I'm naughty, yeah?"
"Yes."
"Because you're my brother and you want to correct my behaviour, yeah?" I'm pretty sure Rik can see where I am going with this.
"Yes."
"Why can't I spank you when you do something wrong? I mean, I'm your sister and I want to correct your behaviour?" I have a serious look on my face like I really want to know the answer.
Damon is dumbstruck. He opens and closes his mouth as he doesn't know what to say.
"She has a point, Damon." Rik interjects, holding back his laughter. "Answer her"
Damon must picture it or something as his face changes to hold a look of disgust and his body shudders. I can't hold my laugh in any longer. Rik is quick to follow.
Damon looks at us like we have lost our minds.
"I'm joking, Damon." I tell him, putting him out of his misery. "There is no way in hell I would wanna touch your butt. Dunno where it's been!" Rik and I continue to laugh.
"Shut up, Rik!" Damon says, shooting his best friend an angry glare. "And Sophia, next time you're over my lap, getting that cheeky little ass of yours warmed up, I'll be sure to remember this moment."