Title: Wake Up Dark Prince
Chapter 2: Narrow Escape
"Talking" 'thinking' 'Text message' "Return text message"
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The boarding House was just as it was when I left it all those years ago. Thankfully, Caroline had done some maintenance work while I was gone. Of course, it was customary for us to do some upkeep on each other's houses while the other was away. I sighed at all the work left to be done between pulling white sheets off furniture, dusting and washing dishes and restocking the empty fridge. Walking into the main room I smiled at the picture of the brothers and I that hung over the fireplace mantle. It was a massive picture that commanded attention as soon as someone walked into the room. I was sitting between the brothers but leaned back against Damon and Stephen was looking all the more irritated that I was leaning toward Damon, but still he held my hand and smiled. I smiled and shook my head clear of the nostalgic feeling and set to work carefully rolling up the dusty white linens on both the couches and the chair. It took about five minutes to do them all, but it was worth taking the little extra time to not get dust everywhere. I gathered the white sheets and walked through the side hallway toward the kitchen. Just past the kitchen I opened the last door in the hall and was greeted with matching silver washer and dryers. Two of both to be exact, which would make cleaning up all the linens in the house and my clothes at the same time a breeze. I quickly stuffed the sheets into the first washer, opened the cabinet over the washers and took out a tide pod from the bucket of tide pods I kept. After turning on the washer I left back toward the kitchen figuring now would be the best time to do dishes and boy was I glad I had had the industrial size dishwasher put in right before I left last time. I managed to fit all my dishes into the washer and adding the correct amount of liquid detergent from the bottle under the sink counter, I set it to wash. It would only take about 30 minutes before it was done. Next on the list would be cleaning up my room to make it livable. With a sigh I walked out of the kitchen taking a right turn toward the main room and continued past the main lounge with the fireplace and the picture of the boys. Further down the hall on the left was a staircase, taking the steps two at a time I was on the second story landing in no time. The second parlor was less impressive than the main one as you walked into the house, but it still held its' own in this old house of mine. The second lounge also had a fireplace, two sofas, a wing back chair, a glass coffee table and a globe that doubled as a glass holder/ mini bar.
"I suppose some things never change." I sighed taking one of the bottles of Bourbon from one of the hiding spots that Damon kept fully stocked when he used to live here, it just so happened that I made sure it stayed fresh and stocked. It is not like I did not occasionally enjoy a good stiff drink myself, of course that was a habit many people assumed I picked up from Damon. Taking the top off the bottle I took a hard pull, slammed the top back on, replaced the bottle, shut the globe and quickly made my way for the left hallway that led to one door and one door only. I paused as I reached the door, I knew it was Damon's room but as time had gone on it had become mine. Drawing in a deep breath I sighed and pushed open the dark oak door and stepping inside I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Somehow the room still held Damon's scent, it was faint of course but it still managed to linger. The more prominent scent was the one I used last time I was here: lilac and mint. This time I would use Sun kissed strawberries and to accent a warm vanilla.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX DAMON AND STEPHEN XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"I'm telling you it's a bad idea!" Stephen was, as always against almost anything I suggested. I ran my hand through my black hair and instead of ripping out my hair at its roots I sighed, plastered on a smile and leveled him with my ice blue eyes.
"Well, it's a good thing I don't give a damn then, isn't it?" I asked before picking up the duffel bag that was laying on my bed and started out the door.
"You can't be serious?! You know she's not there! She died hundreds of years ago! so what's the point Damon?" he shouted following me as I made my way out of my room and started down the hallway toward the exit, I paused and turned my head back toward him but didn't turn around all the way.
"Chasing ghosts isn't your thing Damon! You chased Catherine for centuries! Look where that landed you! But you don't have to do the same thing with Elena. She was human Damon, there is no possible way she survived all this time. And even if she somehow did survive, which she didn't, what makes you think she'll want to even see you again? What makes you think she doesn't hate you for leaving? What makes you think she will want anything to do with you Damon?! I do not even know why I am asking you any of this, when clearly it does not matter. We have her obituary! Bonnie's too, in case you've forgotten! You've read them thousands of times; I don't see why you're so intent on going back to a ghost town of nothing but bad memories." Throwing his hands in the air in pure frustration that Damon wouldn't just drop it like usual, Stephen shook his head. I chuckled and continued my way toward the door. I stopped to open it but paused as I stepped out the door.
"Look I know you don't get it, I don't really care, but with or without you I'm going back. Hell, I may even drain a few humans along the way. It's your choice to follow brother." With that the door slammed and I was in my car. The duffel bag landed effortlessly in the passenger side seat and as I started the engine to my car, Stephen was running out the door with another duffel bag. He started to grab the handle to my passenger side door, but I hit the gas pedal before he even got close. Looking in the rear-view mirror Stephen was glaring at me before heading for his own range rover. I laughed. He really though he was going to get in the car with me, what an idiot.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX TWO DAYS LATER XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I blurred past the 'Welcome to Mystic Falls' sign and began to slow down as I rolled into town, deciding to take a trip down memory lane I pulled into a nearby open parking stop just off the main road. Most things looked the same but other things looked brand new. It did not surprise me really, several hundred years typically changed things. I noticed the Bar and Grill was where it always was, and it looked the same on the outside as it did way back when. I had lost Stephen a few days ago but he would undoubtedly only be a few minutes behind me. And true to Stephen form a black Range Rover pulled up to a stop beside me and parked. A frowning Stephen got out of his Range Rover and started toward me, I got out of my car and walking to the front of it I sat on the hood.
"Have you lost your mind?!" He whisper screams at me. I crossed my arms, gave a lazy smirk and shrugged.
"Not recently, no." I knew that was not what he wanted to hear but what did I care?
"Why do I even bother? You obviously have no disregard for the law or getting us caught." He gave the most disgruntled look he could manage but suddenly straightened up, going slightly whiter in the face than normal he stared wide eyed over my shoulder and his mouth dropped open. I twisted around but did not spot anything out of the ordinary, just the Bar and Grill standing in its normal spot.
"What's gotten into you brother? Seeing ghosts already?" I laughed long and hard. His mouth shut and he regained some of his normal color, but his eyes were still wide and homed in on the Grill.
"No, just wishful thinking I suppose." He said closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose as he sighed and sat on the hood beside me. I reached over and clasped his shoulder.
"Time to loosen up baby brother, let's go get a drink." With that I stood and started across the street toward the bar. It was not long before we were seated and ordering drinks. I ordered a bourbon on the rocks. Stephen ordered a long island iced tea. I shook my head but chose to take a long drink instead of nagging him about needing a real drink. It was at that moment a couple of younger women around mid to late twenties walked by conversing rather loudly. I looked back over my shoulder to hear better and pinpoint the speakers.
"I'm telling you Jennifer; Carolina was such a sweet neighbor! She said her cousin was moving in up at the old Boarding house though. Supposed to be a real sweet girl, maybe we should go say hello to her tomorrow!" The first girl, a tall nondescript blond was talking to a shorter, curvier brunette.
"I know! I am really going to miss Carolina! Oh Cait, do you remember what her cousins name was?" Jennifer had huge emerald eyes full of curiosity, while Cait's eyes were a dull muddy brown. Those dull muddy eyes light up though at that question.
"Elena. Her name is Elena. Isn't that an interesting name? The last Elena here was supposedly a doctor and she left without any word to anyone, just vanished into the night like a ghost. They say she also lived up at the boarding house! I heard that she fell in love but when she found out she was pregnant her cheating boyfriend ran away with one of her best friends at that time! So scandalous right?! They said she could not stand living anymore, so she threw herself off a cliff. Ahh but who knows? Just a bunch of rubbish if you ask me! Come on, let's go or we'll be late for the movie!" and with that they were gone. My guts knotted and I turned back and stared down into my drink thousands of questions swimming in my mind. I downed the last of my drink, slammed down the glass, threw some money on the table and left for my car. I was just reaching the door when Stephen came up behind me and pulled hard against the door to keep it closed.
"What are you doing Damon?" he hissed. I turned cold blue eyes on him both curious and frustrated.
"What do you think? I'm going to find out who this woman is in our house." I hissed back at him.
"Why? Because her name is Elena? Damn it Damon! It is not even our house! We signed it over to Elena remember. Caroline probably sold it off after Elena died way back then. Leave it be Damon, it's not worth chasing the hurt and pain." He pleaded with me.
"I want my house back damn it and I have a right to go get it." I barked at him.
"Maybe you do, but I think you're doing it for the wrong reasons, besides we have a house viewing tomorrow and Thursday, so just wait until Friday. That is only three days. Until then do not go chasing a ghost. We can rent a room over at the hotel and get a feel for the place with all its changes. Obviously, it is mostly the same still but there are also things that are bound to have changed. Okay?" I hated it with a passion when he started talking soundproof logic.
"Fine, I'll meet you at the hotel on the outer edge of town." He moved away. I flung open the door, got in, revved the engine and earned some looks as I tore out of the parking lot headed for the far end of town where we came in.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ELENA ELENA ELENA XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I had been taking a walk-through town intent on picking up a few supplies for the house since a few things were low, but I had never expected to spot them. I had never in a million years thought they would be back in this miserable dreg of a town. I growled as Stephen made direct eye contact and I quickly used my vampire speed to disappear as a crowd of people came between us. The only good thing about this towns slight expansion was the fact that more people could easily hide someone or create a distraction long enough for a quick escape. I had sixteen bags of groceries in and on my arms. I held everything closely as I sped through various woods and residential areas taking the shortest possible route getting to the house. The encounter had been way too close of a shave to be comfortable. Hopefully, Stephen would think he was simply seeing things and write it off as nothing more than a hallucination, he had done it before, and this time would surely be no different. I was only thankful it was not Damon that had spotted me. He would have been my undoing and that was a sure thing. I also knew without a shadow of a doubt that if Damon had been the one to spot me, he would have gone to any length to prove himself wrong about my state of being. My heart started to ache with all the pent-up emotions and desires for Damon and I knew I would have only two options. Either I would have to stay clear or leave town... Of course, there was always the possibility that they caught me but that was not something I was willing to entertain now. Not by a long shot. I did not think I could handle it, not yet. The pain and the hurt were still too fresh in my mind like an angry red scar of a freshly healing wound. I set the bags down on the kitchen counter, leaned against the industrial fridge and sank to the floor, and though my heart no longer beat I knew if it did it would be pounding hard against my ribs. Knowing it was stupid to be scared so I heaved a sighed and started to laugh. A knock on my front door had my stomach on the floor and my heart back in my throat, my eyes wide. I got up slowly and headed for the front door. My hands would be shaking right now if I were human, of that I was sure. I took a deep breath and composed myself. I opened the door and gasped at the sight that greeted me.
"Welcome to the neighborhood!" Two women dressed identically in bright fuchsia pink dresses, black flats, fuchsia hair bows and both so heavily pregnant it was nearly scary stood with near identical gift baskets. Blinking a few times Elena regained her composure and smiled politely.
"Thank you! My name is Elena, and the both of you are?" Polite composure was the best she could muster as the women stood unexpectedly on her doorstep. They stole glances at each other before giggling and pushing their baskets into her hands.
"These are for you! I am Stephanie and this is my twin Stacy! Were both married to a set of twin brothers, Brock and Brandon, and were both also expecting twins as well. We just wanted to be the first to drop off a welcome bag before anyone else, but we do have to get going or well be late for our doctor's appointment! We double booked!" Another round of giggles and sheer disturbed mind fuckery later Elena was all too happy to usher a quiet thanks and close her door. A full body shiver wracked her, and she was quick to set the gifts on the table by the door. Making her way to the kitchen she was quick to wash her hands before wandering aloud to herself, "What the actual fuck was that?" Her brain was still reeling trying to piece together exactly what had just been said to her. Giving herself a shake, she shook her head and made her way up to her beloved bedroom.
"Well, that's it, I'm so done with today." She shut off her lights as she went toward her bed, daylight or not a nap was in order.