Welcome again readers. Thank you for all your support and faith in this story.
Chapter 6, "Swear"
On Coming Home
Enjoy
~Previously on Come Home~
Stefan shakes his head furiously, tears still slipping down. He bits his lips from keeping a sob down. He yanks himself form Emma and runs out the door.
"Stefan! Stefan, child!" Emma yells right after him.
But Stefan didn't care, he runs to the front of the house toward the path leading to town, he runs furiously; heart pounding in his chest.
"Stefan!"
Stefan ignores Emma's pleas, "Damon!" He screams out. "DAMON!"
Though in his heart, Stefan knew...his brother is just to far away to hear him cry.
"The one who stands by you,
Through thick and thin,
A friend not only in need,
But a friend indeed,
No one's else comes close,
Than your brother,
He loves you as you love him,
So says the law,
That binds you to him,
As him to you, The law of brotherhood."
"Only the strongest will survive
Lead me to heaven, when we die
I am the shadow on the wal
lI'll be the one to save us all"
~Blow me Away by Breaking Benjamin
Weeks have pass since Stefan's older brother left for the army. Day after day young Stefan Salvatore march his way to the common room, asking Emma if any mail came from Damon. She shook her head and whispers "No" in a sullen voice.
Stefan just nod a thanks and head back to Damon's room. The first night without his brother was the most horrible night ever. Stefan remembers having a nightmare, one of Damon dying in battle. He had immediately run to his older brother's room, seeking condolence and love from him.
Yet when he realize the bedroom was empty, he rush to Damon's bed, hid under the covers and cried. He cried until the first ray of sunlight peek over the blinds, he even still produce tears down his cheeks as Emma comes into the room and soothes him into a hug.
After that it became a ritual.
Stefan would go into his brothers room and sleep under the faded scent of his brother. He'll get up, get dress (he moved some of his clothes into Damon's room) and head out for the mail. When he was sure he didn't receive anything, he just walk slowly up the stairs back into his brothers room.
No one, not even Emma can take Stefan away from that room. He'll just stay there for the entire day.
Giuseppe didn't thought about it much, thinking its a face Stefan has to go through. After all, Damon is not going to be around all the time in his life. Stefan must learn how to live without his brother around.
Yet as the first two week pass by and Stefan still refusing to come out of Damon's room, Giuseppe has enough.
He stormed into Damon's room finding the young Salvatore under the covers.
"Stefan stop acting this way!" he barked, marching to the boy and grabbing him tightly by the arm hoisting him up. Stefan gasps from the force, being drag out of his brothers room. He kicked and scream for his father to let him go but Giuseppe held on good and thrown Stefan out the door. Stefan's head slammed on the opposite wall.
Eyes fill with tears, Stefan glance up at his father to see him locking Damon's room and placing the key in his coat's pocket.
"Damon is gone, Stefan!" Giuseppe hiss. " And you have to man up and deal with it. I do not want you this way. You have to make your own life as well. Understand?"
Stefan nods tears brimming his lashes and biting his lower lip from crying out. Giuseppe sighs, his features soften.
"Stephano, I do not want you to act this way. You cannot count on your brother to be there always.
His is making his life right now and frankly his life will not have you trailing behind him. I do not want that for you. Your are a brilliant child, Stefan. You are destined for something more. Capito?(Understood)"
The young boy just stares, breathes soft and shallow with tears streaming down slowly on their own accord. His father grumble something else before leaving Stefan clutching himself in the corner of the corridor.
Days pass since Giuseppe had violently thrown Stefan out of his brother's room, and the young boy spend his days sitting in the garden, facing the woods on the opposite side of the estate.
Emma sighs unconditionally while peeling some onions. She glance out the kitchen window, watching Stefan sitting on the lawn, pulling out chunks of grass, staring out into the woods.
She sighs again, "Oh, gracious God of mine, please smooth young Master Stefan's broken heart. And protect Master Damon from death, he is too kind and young to die a soldier death."
She close her eyes sending a prayer for the brothers, her eyes flicker open a few minutes after to Stefan. Yet he was no longer there.
Stefan walks aimlessly through the thick woods next to the estate. His emerald eyes glister in the bland rays of sunlight peeking through the tall pine trees.
He listens around his surroundings, hearing the dry leaves crunch under his boots, a woodpecker grinds fiercely through the tree trunk and birds chirping in ecstasy. He stops and leans against a tree, feeling its rough texture under his smooth palms. Its a shame that all this wonderful beauty of the worlds was not enough to let his mind lose into it.
He was lost in the thought of his brother, wondering of his stay. His he happy? Sad? Angry? Does he have any friends? Does his brother miss him as much as he did? Is he alright? He sighs letting his vision drop, his front bangs tickle his forehead.
He felt...nothing since Damon's sudden departure. Every emotion is him is...numb, for the lack of a better word. Its just a deep, terrible sadness that hinders any other emotion.
The sun seems to shine less, the birds chirp miserably in his hears. Stefan is conscious that the world around, it's still is that beautiful place, full with wondrous new adventures and mysterious places to explore.
Yet without his brother, his bests of friends, his rock, the world is dull, silent and gray.
Stefan had no idea how many hours had pass but before he knew it a dark shadow cast before him, it was close to dawn. He brush himself off the trunk, his limps protest under the stiffness though he ignored it.
He gave the tree a small pat before walking again through the narrow trail back to the estate. The soft breeze blew around him as if it too feels the sadness in his small heart.
"Stefan! Where have you been, boy." Emma cried racing toward him as he reappeared on the border of the beautiful green lawn to the dark woods behind.
Stefan head shot up, "Has there been a letter since my departure?"
Emma ignores his question instead she embraces him fiercely,
"No not wonder off without telling someone first, Stefan. I almost had a heart attack thinking something bad happened to you. Promise me you will tell a adult when you're leaving the Estate."
Stefan wiggle out of the hug, "Is there a letter for me?" He asks again. Emma sighs fiddling with her hands, "No. There is no letter for you, my boy."
Stefan stares at her acknowledging the meaning of those words, he smiles and gives a small nod. "Thank you." Then he walks pass Emma into the house.
Emma slowly stands up, staring at the retreating figure of the younger Salvatore boy. She lets out a hard sigh, her eyes narrow. I have to talk to Master Salvatore, he must know of the condition of his son.
She grabs her skirts and hurries inside the house, with every step courage rises up in her chest-and fear.
~0~0~0~0~0~
Emma lets out a huge breath, trying to ease her jittery nerves that shake her to the core. She tries to think of the positive outcome of this yet to happen conversation with the master of the house.
Master Salvatore will see her reasons to worry about Stefan, he will understand the condition on his son and immediately embrace him in his arms and say soft, soothing words in his ear. And be the father he suppose to be.
Emma chuckles amuse at her own stupidity. If only life were that simple.
A soft knock echoes through the quiet corridor, Emma waits fiddling with her hands. "Enter." A strong authority voice booms over the oak-wood double doors.
For Master Stefan, she repeats like a broken record as she enters cautiously inside the study.
Giuseppe di Salvatore is a cold and hard man. Coming from Florence, Italy to the Americas when he was young is quite an adventure.
Learning to speak fluent English and soften his Italian accent (though when he is very upset his heavy Italian accents caves out) and inheriting his Father's lands-the mighty Salvatore Estate; 2,000 acres of well nourish lands, a productive industry in textile making the newly residents of Mystic Falls rich, richer than any other man in town, including the Lockwood's.
The Salvatore's, one of the Founding Fathers of this small town in Virginia.
In truth, Giuseppe does care a big responsibly, living up to his last name, honoring his ancestors through generations. And face it, parenting isn't his area of expertise's.
Master di Salvatore looks up from his neat pile of stack papers as Emma enters, he glares with those cold olive green eyes that Emma wonders if there was a time that those eyes sparkled with happiness.
Of course they did once, Eve.
"Emma," Master Salvatore greets solemnly inclining his head. "Master Salvatore," Emma bows formerly. "I have a request-no, pardon a issue to discuss with you, Master. About young Master Stefan."
Giuseppe frowns, leaning forward against his oak-wood desk, swiftly taking off his reading glasses. "What about Stephano, Emma? Has he gone ill?"
Emma clears her throat, "Not physically ill, Master Salvatore but emotionally and spiritually he has. Its about his brother, Damon is the whole world to Stefan and since he left-Stefan has not been himself.
He is restless, always asking if a letter came from his brother and disappointed when it doesn't, broken even. Nothing seems to cheer him up without his brother, Stefan is empty-a empty shell of the young, cheerful boy he once was."
Emma, breathing rather hard, waits for her master's reply.
Giuseppe sighs, sinking back in his leather recliner chair folding his hands professionally on his stomach.
"Emma, I sincerely appreciate your deep concerns over my sons, since the time Damon was a infant, but lately you are getting way to in my family business."
Emma frowns, "Pardon, master."
Giuseppe rises from his chair, stepping from behind the desk to Emma who took a involuntary step back.
"You have been a servant in this family since...Amelia's first child, you know my boys as well as I do-"
Or maybe more, thought Emma.
"-but you are getting to concern over it. May I remind you, Emma, you are a slave in this household, nothing more and much less than my sons and I.
I've let you over the pass years come close to Stefan but you are not his mother. His concern has nothing to do with you. Let me, his father, handle this situation. Stefan needs to learn to live without his...brother. And that's the end of this discussion, leave now."
Giuseppe glares at her, accommodating his coat before retreating back to his desk. Emma, dumbstruck, glares back.
She knows her place! And she doesn't need reminding, but Stefan needs her! Needs her more than him.
"Excuse me, Master Giuseppe," Emma growls out before her own mind tells her to shut up,
"I may be just a simple slave to you but Stefan sees me more of someone he can approach. I do not remember seeing the last time he had that sort of confidence with you, Master.
And certainly not Damon as well. Your sons need my guidance more than yours, and if you are not doing to do anything for Stefan's health then I will!"
Giuseppe stops mid-walk, he turn again to Emma, his face reflecting shock of her outburst.
Raising his eyebrow he says, "Pardon? Did-did you just insult me? You! A schiavo! You have no right, nero-" Emma flinched, the Italian accent flows strongly through his words. "Stupido, sconsiderato women! You have no right, none whatsoever! To insult me like that.
You stay out of my business, including my son!" He is right on her face now, Emma can see his nose flare and his eyes narrow in disgust. He raise his hand as if to hit her but lowered it an instant later, "Go back to your work, schiavo."
He hiss under his breath.
"And stay away from Stefan."
Emma gulps, her heart beating rapidly it hurts against her chest. She mumbles a "yes, master' then scurries out the door and didn't stop until she was safe in the kitchen, far away from the studio. She breathes slowly trying to calm her beating heart.
"No matter what you said, master." She mumbles under her breath, seeing Stefan once again sitting on the front lawn looking out into the woods.
"No matter what you do to me, I will always be here for Stefan. I swear it on God...and on young Damon's life."
And that was it, pretty short huh. Sorry for the wait, I had writers block for a while but now I'm finally back on track. This story as I said is a short story so it may end soon. Thank you for reading today's chapter!
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Translation:
Capito-Understood
Schiavo-Slave
Nero-black
Stupido-Stupid
Sconsiderato- inconsiderate