Chapter Five
An involuntary gasp is what causes Damon to turn around and look at her. Elena's positive that the image she's seeing right now will haunt her dreams forever. Blood is dripping off his face and hands, soaking into his shirt. The beautiful blue eyes that she knows and loves have been replaced by darkness. They're pure black, just like the veins circulating under them. Razor sharp fangs are being bared at her, and the only thing Elena can do is blink. To her, Damon's never looked more inhuman, leaning over his own father's dead body.
Elena finally comes to her senses just as she hears a low snarl come from her lover's mouth. Her mind is telling her to run, but her body apparently doesn't get the message. 'Running will only encourage him,' Elena thinks to herself. She slowly backs away and then turns on her heels, running as fast as she can. 'Encouragement be damned, I don't want to die,' Elena's mind screamed as she made it back to the Salvatore house. Unfortunately for her, Damon had speed and caught her at the door. Not giving in easily, she did the one thing she knew would hurt and kneed him in the groin. His grip loosened and she ran inside, slamming the door behind her.
Panting and out of breath, Elena sank to the ground. Her whole body was trembling. Even her breathing was shaky. Tears begin forming in her eyes when she replays what happened over and over again in her head. Knowing that she isn't an idiot, her brain makes all of the necessary connections. Elena's watched enough vampire movies to know what they look like and what they do. Stefan comes down the stairs and sees Elena crying at the door.
"Elena? Elena, what's wrong? What happened?" Stefan asks as he pulls her up off the floor and holds her in an embrace.
"Oh, god. Oh...Stefan, we were...he just...DAMN IT!" Elena's yelling at the top of her lungs while staring at the ceiling. "DAMN IT, DAMN IT, DAAAAAA-" Elena's abruptly cut off when Stefan covers her mouth with his hand.
"Elena, you need to calm down. Calm down. Tell me what happened?" Stefan asks gently, steadying Elena by her shoulders.
"H-he killed him. He's dead, Stefan. I witnessed a murder, and to hell with the consequences, right?"
"Who killed who, Elena?"
"It was Damon, okay?! Your brother killed your bastard of a father!" Elena breaks down and openly sobs into Stefan's shirt, thoroughly soaking it.
Stefan freezes, his eyes filled with fear and concern. Wordlessly, he leads Elena onto the couch, the fireplace burning mercilessly nearby.
"You're safe, Elena. Where is Damon now?"
"He chased me to the door and grabbed my wrist, so I kneed him in the crotch," Elena says while sniffling.
"Okay. I'm, uh, I'm going to open the door. Stay here." Stefan's about to walk away when Elena grabs his arm.
"What if he's still there, Stefan? I mean, you don't understand. It was Damon, but it wasn't. He was freaking feral."
"What do you mean?"
"You believe in vampires, Stefan?" Elena asks, somewhat sarcastically.
"Are you joking?"
"I wish. I can bring you to your dad's body, but...it's horrifying. There's blood everywhere."
"Yeah, we need to burn the body. No one can know about this, especially not the police," Stefan says as he gets up again and goes towards the door.
Elena hesitantly follows him, her breath hitching as Stefan slowly turns the knob. When the door is completely opened, Elena can see Damon by the cars, looking normal now, otherwise covered in blood. He's silently staring at the starry sky while tears are streaming down his face.
Elena gives Stefan a quick glance before approaching Damon who stands up. His voice cracks when he speaks due to crying. "E-Elena, I-"
She wordlessly cuts him off by wrapping her arms around him and cries into his blood-soaked shirt. Damon gingerly hugs Elena back as they both continue to cry.
Stefan takes in the scene happening in front of him. His brother who just killed their dad is embracing his girlfriend while covered in blood and they're both crying.
When they pull apart, Damon's about to speak again but Elena beats him to it. "You're a vampire, no doubt about it." When Stefan and Damon both give her looks, she shrugs. "Hey, I've seen enough vampire movies to know one when I see one. And I'm guessing you turned when you died the other night."
"Yeah...I figured that out last night when I was attempting to sleep. I kept seeing the same woman in my dreams, the one who looks exactly like you. She said that I only remember these memories when I turn, and I needed human blood to do that. Shit, Stefan...Dad, oh, god, I can't…"
Stefan squeezes Damon's shoulder. "Hey, we'll take care of it. Yes, he was our dad, but it's kind of hard to miss someone who beated their child." The brothers exchanged a silent look of understanding. "I'm going to go take care of his body, then. Uh, where'd you leave him?"
"Back behind the house, near the trees…"
After Stefan nods and walks away, Elena takes one look at Damon and shakes her head. "You need a shower. So do I. We'll get cleaned up, and then we will talk about this."
"You're not scared of me? Hell, I'd be scared of me. I kind of hate myself right now, to be honest," Damon says quietly. "Plus, the fact that I can hear the blood in your neck is freaking me out more than I'd like to admit."
Elena gives him an empathetic look. "Even if I wanted to be scared of you, it would be kind of hard, considering I've known you for most of my life. And I love you, so there's that."
Damon's eyebrows shoot up at this. "You still love me, even after seeing...what I did?"
Elena rolls her eyes. "Of course I still love you. And yes, I know, any normal person would be running for the hills by now because their boyfriend just murdered someone, but we both know that I'm not normal. Oh, and I'd say I'm sorry for kneeing you where it hurts, but I'm not. You kind of deserved it."
"Yeah, I did," Damon admits, "I was acting like an asshole, according to Stefan."
"You heard our conversation? Wow, that's...not creepy or anything. So, uh, we could keep chatting outside, soaked in blood, or we could take some showers. It's weird talking to you when your face is covered in blood."
"Right. Yeah, I definitely need one."
Elena opens the door and enters, but Damon can't get past the threshold. "Well, this is a little predicament. I can't get in."
Elena's about to say something but stops and gives an innocent smile. "Guess that means I get to shower first. I'm not sorry if all of the hot water's gone by the time you get in," Elena sings as she makes her way upstairs, "Oh, and maybe you should ask Stefan to invite you in. Not sure if it'll help, but it's logical."
Damon smiles to himself as he sits by the door and waits for Stefan to return. When he does come back, he cocks an eyebrow at Damon.
"I thought you were going to clean yourself up."
"I would if I could get in the house, but luck's not on my side. Elena said you should invite me in. Think you could help a brother out?"
"Uh, okay. Damon, please come in…?" Stefan says unsurely.
Damon attempts at entering the house again and is now able to. "Oh, thank god. I feel disgusting and Elena's using up all of the hot water as we speak." He uses his newfound speed to appear in front of Elena just as she opens the bathroom door.
Putting her hand on her heart, she mock-glares at him. "Damon, just because you got super fancy vamp speed doesn't mean you have to sneak up on me all of the time. You could cause me a heart attack, and then where would you be?"
Nodding, Damon gives her a wink, "I'd have to kill myself right then and there, 'cause I can't live without you, 'Lena."
Giving a devilish smile, Elena practically skips out of the bathroom. "I know. Have a nice cold shower, Damon!"
later
Stefan, Damon, and Elena are sitting in the parlor, contemplating what to do next. Elena stands up and begins pacing.
"Vampires drink blood. Vampires burn in the sun. Vampires don't age. Vampires can't get in houses without being invited. Vampires shouldn't be real, but they sure as hell are," Elena says with a sigh, "What are we supposed to do about it?"
"No idea. It's not like there's a handbook for this," Damon quips. "I never wanted this, you know. And as much as I hated our dick of a father, I never wanted to kill him. Hell, I never wanted to kill anyone. Ever."
"How do you feel physically?" Stefan questions, looking more than a little uncomfortable.
"I don't know how to describe it. I feel like my senses are heightened. I feel stronger. I...I guess I feel hungry. But it's more like the type of hunger that can't be satiated."
"Well, that's not unsettling or anything. And before you ask, just because you're my brother and I love you doesn't mean you can tap a vein."
"I wasn't going to ask, Stef," Damon says quietly. "I really don't want this."
"You're right, I'm sorry. I know it feels like I'm overreacting, but I'm really freaking out. If vampires are real, then what else is? Werewolves? Ghosts? Zombies? Ninja turtles?"
"My mom used to tell me bedtime stories about these types of things. Of course, I was little and naive, so I didn't think much of them. Okay, it's your decision, Damon, but we need to talk to someone who knows about the supernatural, and my mom might be our best bet."
"Yeah, I guess so. We don't really have options, anyways. And I don't want to seek out the bitch who turned me."
"Okay, so it's settled. Stefan, you look like you could use some sleep. Damon and I can take care of this while you rest, if you want." Elena asks gently.
"I think that'd be a good idea. Sorry, I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that my brother died in the first place," Stefan admits, looking a little embarrassed.
"We all are. It's hard, I know, but we'll figure out a way for everyone to get through this."
Damon and Elena arrive at her home. She gestures for him to stay put and slowly opens the door. The faint light coming from the living room told Elena that her mom had fallen asleep with the TV on. Miranda cracks an eye open and sees Elena and Damon standing at the door.
"Honey? What are you guys doing up so late? It's like...three in the morning."
"I, uh, we wanted to talk to you about something," Elena says, running a hand through her hair. "It's kind of really important."
"Alright, I'm going to need some tea to listen. You know where the mugs are, Elena. You too, Damon."
Elena nods and steps into the house while Damon awkwardly waits by the door. Miranda notices this and slightly narrows her eyes.
"Damon, what are you doing? It's cold outside."
"Uh, I know, but I don't want to, um, track dirt into the house," Damon lies. He rubs his neck, clearly uncomfortable.
"Don't bother, Grayson and Jeremy do it all of the time. Come in and close the door, it's freezing."
Damon steps inside and closes the door behind him. He hesitantly sits down at the kitchen table while waiting for Elena and Miranda make tea. After pouring tea into three mugs, Miranda hands Damon his and Elena takes hers. With the three of them sitting down, Elena clears her throat.
"Okay...I don't exactly know how to bring this up," Elena admits, sipping the hot tea, which calms her nerves a bit.
"Wait, are you two getting married?" Miranda asks excitedly, sipping her tea as well.
"What? Heh, mom, I'm only eighteen." Elena squeaks out, her cheeks flushing pink.
"Oh, fine. So, what did you want to tell me?"
As Elena struggles to find a way to bring the topic up, Damon takes a sip of the tea but immediately coughs it back out, his mouth burning.
Alarmed, Elena stands up and puts a hand on his shoulder. "Oh my god, are you okay? Was it too hot for you? Did you get burnt?" Elena fires off questions as Miranda clears her throat.
"It's not the temperature, Elena. We both had the tea, and it wasn't scalding. I think I know what you're trying to tell me. Your boyfriend's a vampire." Miranda says, her mouth set in a thin line with a cold look in her eyes.
Both Elena and Damon's eyes shoot up at this statement. Neither of them say anything, which confirms Miranda's predictions.
"So it's true, then? You were turned. Who did it?"
"Wait, wait, wait. Mom, what just happened? Why did the tea burn him?"
"Vervain. Poisonous to vampires, but it protects humans from their compulsion."
"Okay, hold up. First of all," Damon starts while holding the mug up, "you're saying that you tried poisoning me? And second, I don't know what the hell compulsion is."
Miranda grabs Elena's arm and forces her to the opposite side of the table, away from Damon. "Elena, stay away from him."
Scoffing, Elena shrugs her mother's hold on her arm off. "Look, I know vampires are dangerous, but you don't need to coddle me. I'm not scared of Damon."
"You should be. They're monsters, all of them."
"Mom-" Elena attempts to reason with her but Miranda interrupts.
"I don't know any vampire who hasn't killed anybody in their life. Damon, have you killed anyone?"
Damon casts his eyes downward and Miranda nods. "See? They're bad news. You need to stay away from him."
"God, Mom, stop it." Elena rips her arm away. "Okay, stop grouping vampires together as monsters. And stop talking about Damon like he's not in the room with us."
"Elena, you don't even know half of what happens around town. We've been protecting you children for most of your lives. There is an evil which knows no bounds. You're lucky your father's not up. He'd have Damon staked before he had the chance to realize what's going on."
Elena can feel the waves of tension rolling off of Damon so she moves around the table and takes his hand. He squeezes it back gently.
"I trust him, Mom. And I really don't care what you say, because I still love him."
"And that, Elena, that will be your downfall. Answer me this question. How long has it been since he turned? Since he died?" Miranda spits out.
"I don't know, it hasn't been long at all. One day, maybe? Why do you care?" Elena grumbles.
"So he hasn't been a vampire long enough to have control over his urges. When vampires see blood, they will go for the kill. That's all here is to it."
"Stop looking at everything in black and white! Okay, I get it, I'm an idiot, but so be it."
Miranda wordlessly takes a knife from a drawer and waves it. "You want proof?" She cuts her hand without warning and warm blood oozes out. Damon's nostrils flare at the scent and his eyes darken, fangs elongated and bared. He rushes at Miranda who's prepared with the vervain tea, splashing it in his face.
"What the hell?!" Damon yells as the vervain burns his skin. Miranda gives Elena a pointed look.
"Like I said, you need to stay away from all vampires. There's so much that you don't know."
"I know you see all vampires as monsters, but I still see Damon the same way. The same loving and sweet Damon I grew up with."
"That'll change. They all change," Miranda says quietly. "Look, despite everything that I just told you, I do like you, Damon. You were a good kid and my daughter was head over heels for you. I hope you understand why I'm expressing so much concern and disdain. I don't want her getting hurt."
Damon nods, "I'll try my hardest not to hurt Elena. You know how much I love her."
Miranda sadly smiles, "I know. But if you do hurt her, don't think that I won't hunt you down and stake you. I'm sorry that I can't be of any more help to you, but Damon, you might want to get something to protect yourself from the sun." She says before heading upstairs.
Elena turns to Damon and plays with the family ring on his finger. "So...that went as well as it could've, huh? I didn't know how she felt about vampires. I'm sorry."
"Don't be. At least we got her opinion about how she feels about me."
"Well, I still love you," Elena says, biting her lip slightly.
Wrapping his arms around her, Damon contently sighs. "You really shouldn't. Apparently, I'm going to end up ripping out your heart."
As he pulls her closer, he suddenly pulls away, putting a hand on the skin below his collarbone. Elena peers at it, noticing the red burn mark.
"What happened?"
Damon eyes Elena's necklace and cautiously touches it, which results in him getting burnt again. Wincing, he pulls his fingers away. "It's your necklace. It burnt me."
Elena fingers it and a look of disbelief crosses her face. "So it's filled with vervain, which means that your mother knew about vampires."
Damon's eyes widen and he blows out an angry breath. "God, how much did our parents lie to us? I feel like no one told us the truth when we were younger."
"There's nothing we can do about it now. Do you want me to take it off?"
Damon shakes his head no. "No, even though it hurts me, I like seeing you wear my mother's jewelry. Plus, it was for your birthday, so please keep it on," Damon says, smiling gently.
Elena responds with a smile of her own. "Okay, I will. I'll just take care to keep it tucked in my shirt so there won't be any contact. Look, the sun is rising and my mom said that you need protection from it. Otherwise, I'm sure you'll end up a pile of ashes. There's only one other person that I can think of who might be able to help. You should probably stay in my room, close all of the curtains and lock the door." Elena reaches for his hand and takes off his gigantic ring.
"Where are you going? And what're you doing with my ring?" Damon asks curiously.
"Bonnie's grandmother's house. Like she told me all of high school, she's a witch, hmm? I'm hoping she'll be able to help with our sunlight problem and answer any questions." Elena says with sarcastic enthusiasm and a wink. "I'll be back soon."