Two days later, Hope and Freya reached Mystic Falls without any incident. But the process of getting her Fathers permission proved to be harder than she thought. If not for her Uncle Elijah and Aunt Freya, her father would have succeeded in keeping her in the safety of the French Quarter. But Hope already talked to her uncle smoothly into giving her a research assignment on Supernatural world. And Aunt Freya managed to get her Father's consent, after throwing an epic temper tantrum, of course. Now they reached the town successfully without any heart or liver removing on the way.
The town was quaint as her aunts and mom told her numerous times. But it was apparent that it went through a lot changes in the last hundred years. It's good that her aunt Katerina loved talking about this little town, and that was what helped them sitting at the bar of New Mystic Grill. The boy on the other side of the bar, a young bar tender with silky blonde hair and deep blue his smile was a killer. But unfortunately for her, he was not the one. She was brought out of her inner monologue by his voice.
"Hi. Are you new to town?" he asked.
"Yes" Hope said.
The cute bartender nodded. "I am Dave, by the way. Dave Donovan."
Hope raised her left brow. Donovan? Now why does it sound familiar?
But she decided to brush it aside and got about the job at hand. She needed to find accommodations. "I am Hope." She show hands with the boy and asked, "Hey, do you know a place where I can rent. I might have to stay for a long time and my aunt is not comfortable with staying at some motel."
"Then you are at the right place, blondie" a voice drawled from behind.
Hope turned around and frowned at the raven haired man. "And who might you be?"
The man smirked and said, "Damon Salvatore at your service"
Hope at that moment prayed the gods that she kept her face emotionless. So this was the man who played heart breaker to every woman he came across. She took a moment to study him, all the while maintaining her bored contemplating look. Of course, she knew who he was. She silently considered what to do. She could refuse. But if she accepted the offer, then the chances of finding her would be high, seeing that he could be one of the few people to be in contact with her.
"I shall talk to my Aunt about it and let you know of our decision." Hope said as she picked up her purse to pay for the drink.
After exchanging number with Damon, she brushed past him. All the while her mind was in the hyper active mode about the new development. If she was going to deal with Damon Salvatore, then she would need all the advice she could get. It was time to let someone in their plan. She has a very devious vampire to call.
Damon smirked as he sat on the stool at the bar. "Bourbon, quarterback"
The boy rolled his eyes and handed him the glass. "What are you doing, Damon? Why did you offer her to stay at the boarding house?"
"Jeez, Donovan. You are so like your great granddaddy. Always trying to save the girl." Damon's sarcastic features changed into serious one. "She is not a human. So stay away from her"
The boy, Dave, looked torn.
Damon just looked at him straight in the eye and said, "She might be a threat to the town. I want her to be somewhere where I can keep a constant watch on her. What did she say about her reason to come to our boring town?"
"She didn't say anything about that." Dave frowned.
"Don't worry your pretty head over it. I will take care of it" Damon said and stood up. After paying for the drink, he left the Grill.
Mind full of thoughts, he decided to take a walk. Unsurprisingly his legs led him to the cemetery, where she was buried. He knelt before her grave, staring at her tombstone, seeking her support silently. Its been almost a century, but his heart refused to accept another in her place. His partner in crime, his best friend, his girlfriend. But above all else, love of his life.
Bonnie Bennett.
He couldn't help it. Its like an invisible force was always pulling him towards her. He knelt down before her tombstone, "Hey Bon. As you can see I am still alive and kicking. Its been what, ten years since I came here? I cant seem to stay away for a very long time. I just returned yesterday from Italy. This century has been good for that country. I talked to Seira last week. That great grand-daughter of yours is so like you. She can easily make me question a lot of things. But thank God, she does not have your sacrificial mentality. Thats what is helping me keep her safe. Her brother on the other hand, from the moment he discovered his magic, he took in this absurd notion that he has to save the world. I keep hoping that Steven would come around, but i am so scared, Bon, that he might become the next Bonnie Bennett. Anyway, the others, Ryan, Fiona, Sam are all fine. Fiona finally started dating a guy, who saw her as herself, not as the witch. I know, I know. You must be frowning at me for compelling him, but I have to look after her, right. Since she is the youngest. As I promised you, your family is doing well. As for me, I cant do what I promised you, Bon. I cant move on. But I promised you, right? That I will find someone, I will. But not just yet. Not when I see you everytime I kiss a girl. I will find that special girl one day, Bon, and you will be the first person to meet her"
He then sat there for nearly an hour, just staring at the tombstone. It was soon brken by the ringing of his mobile. The number was new. He pressed the Answer Button and said, "Who the hell are you?"
"Um.. Hope. The girl asking about apartments in the Grille" the girl said from the other side.
"Oh" Damon blinked. "What do you want?"
"I want two rooms for rent in your boarding house" the girl said, "One for me, and the other for my Aunt"
"Ok, your rooms will be ready tomorrow morning" Damon said and cut the call. His mind already going in the planning mode.
Hope stared at her phone, blinking. Did he just cut the call? Jackass, she scoffed.
She opened the contact list, and hovered over the name, that she was planning to call.
Freya sighed, "Would you just call already?"
Hope nodded determinedly and pressed the call button. After a couple of rings, the person picked up the call, "Hey babygirl!"