AN: Another chapter, sorry I was so late with updating it, I had a bit of writers block on how to end it. But here ya go, enjoy! :)
Diclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. Everything belongs to the rightful owners.
When I awoke, sun streamed through the window and the smell of food wafted through the air. My stomach growled and suddenly I felt ravenous. I managed to roll over and sit up and I realized that someone had changed my clothes when I saw the lacy nightgown I wore. A silver tray with a cover sat on table beside the settee. I threw my covers off and jumped to my feet before grabbing the bed post for balance as a rush of dizziness swept through me. As I neared the table, the scent grew stronger and my mouth started to water. Not being able to hold back any longer, I dashed over to tray and pulled the lid off swiftly. A golden pancake topped with an assortment of fruit sat on the white plate. I brought the plate over to my tea table and sat down at the table and eagerly grabbed my fork. The first taste of it set my taste buds buzzing and I ate the rest quickly.
After finishing my breakfast I decided it was time to get dressed. I chose a sky blue dress with a frilly lace collar and sleeves and did my hair up in an elegant twist. After I had pinned a hat on, I was buttoning the last button on my boots, the click of a door opening made me look up. A maid bustled in and made her way over to the bed. I cleared my throat and she looked up in alarm.
"Mistress Victoria! Oh my, I am sorry for- for." She stuttered nervously and then took a deep breath. "I am sorry for bothering you Miss, I just came to clean up a bit. I'll leave now." She gave me soft smile but I didn't return, instead fixing my cold blue eyes on her.
"No, continue you with your work. I was just leaving." I replied coldly and she nodded mutely.
I swept out of the room and made my way downstairs. The heavy oak door to my mother's favourite sitting room loomed in front of me. I was nervous to enter, anxious to see out she would react upon my appearance. I gathered my courage and knocked lightly on the paneled door. My mother's cool voice rang out immediately and I entered. She turned to me as I entered and I felt her eyes appraise me. I didn't speak until I was sure she was done.
"Victoria." She smiled coldly and I fought back a gulp.
"Hello Mother. I'm ever so sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if I could go shopping?" I asked politely and I saw the furious disbelief in her eyes. "But I'll be sure to take someone with me. A maid perhaps?" I added quickly and she calmed down.
"I suppose, if the maid is by your side for the entire time." My mother sniffed and reached over to ring a bell. After a few moments a maid rushed in. "Could you please tell Ellen that she is needed?" My mother demanded and the maid nodded before disappearing. My newly revived happiness disappeared as soon as she said Ellen. Ellen was an older maid with plain brown hair and dull brown eyes that had served my mother since she was a newly-wed. She would stick to me like glue and report to my mother everything I did. I wouldn't even be able to bribe her into lying. But the maid from earlier came back, alone.
"I'm so sorry Misstress Markham, but Ellen is ill." The maid nervously told my other. She trembled in front of my mother and I felt sorry for her. This news seemed to enrage my mother but she tucked it way before replying.
"Very well then. If Ellen cannot, Mary, you will mind my daughter while she is shopping." My mother directed, annoyance creeping into her voice. She dismissed Mary with a wave of her hand and the nervous maid disappeared.
"Thank you Mother." I told her quickly but she didn't answer so I left the room. After adorning my coat and gloves and retrieving my parasol, I waited for Mary. I had sent another maid to fetch her but she had not arrived. I was beginning to become impatient when Mary appeared.
"I'm sorry Miss; I had to attend to your cousin. But that is no excuse." I ignored her apology, instead pulling the front door open and I stepping outside. The sun beamed down, into my eyes and I was forced to squint as I opened my parasol. With the parasol blocking the sun, I strode down the street with Mary close on my heels.
The streets were crowded, but that was not unusual in London at this time. The first store I entered, several employees rushed to me and offered me their service. Two new dresses later, I entered another store. There I purchased a pair of leather gloves and new silk stockings. At another store, I came out with three hats. Mary's arms were starting to grow fuller and fuller, and the top of her brown haired head was barely visible over the monstrous pile of boxes and bags in her arms. The last store, I simply ordered a new ball gown and then left it quickly, without alerting Mary. I walked quickly, looking over my shoulder every now and then.
When I was sure I was far away, I stopped and looked around at my surroundings that I had ignored for a quite while. I was in a part of the city I had never been before. The houses were dark and dreary and most of them were in dire need of repair. The cobblestone street was grimy and dirty and I held up my skirts as I walked. The people were different too; scary and poor. Dirty faces and skinny bodies surrounded me. I felt several men look me over as I passed them and each look made a shiver go down my spine. Goosebumps rose on my skin as I realized that the conditions were getting worse. But as I passed a tavern, events took a turn for the worse.
I stopped in front of it, without noticing, to rub a muddy handprint of my skirt that a grimy child had left, when two drunk men came stumbling out the door of the tavern. I heard raucous laughter and I looked up. The two men were staring at me and as they made their way over to me, I gulped. They stopped in front of me, one still with a tin cup in his hands.
"Why hello 'ere, beautiful? What are doin' round these parts? Lookin' 'or some company?" The one with cup laughed loudly and the other one, who had a beard, laughed along.
"I'm Richard and that's Joe. You see, were very lonely and looking for some company, and here you are all alone. So why don't you come with us and we'll make you all good and in return you can make us feel not lonely." 'Richard' seemed much more sober and as he placed hand on my arm, I smelt barely any alcohol. Goosebumps rose on my arm where he touched it and I roughly pulled away.
"Now don't go and get all 'ean on us, were 'ice men. I'l be 'ots of fun." Joe grinned as Richard's rough hand climbed its way up my arm to my neck where he massaged it. Fear was climbing its way up my throat and I couldn't speak, my whole body was numb and I couldn't run away. I was trapped.
"Now c'mon, darling." Richard whispered into my ear and I could feel his warm breath on my neck, making me shiver.
"Take your hands of the young lady and step away." A cold male voice rang out from behind me. Richard and Joe glanced at the speaker but did not let me go.
"If you don't let her go, I can assure you that what will happen, will not be in any way pleasant for you." The stranger's tone was arrogant but demanding and cold all the same. His threatening words made Richard and Joe glance at each other warily. Joe stepped back but Richard wasn't about to give up.
"C'mon Richard. She's not worth getting' 'urt or. Let's just go." Joe whispered anxiously and when Richard didn't reply, shrugged and ran away.
"If you're going to be this way, then fine." The stranger muttered and quicker than I could say my own name, the air beside me was empty. I searched around for Richard and then I spotted him lying on the street, ten feet away.
I turned around to thank the strange and froze in shock. He was the most handsome man I had even seen, he even rivaled the looks of the man I had met yesterday, Stefan Salvatore.
His black hair was disheveled and pushed back as if he had run a hand through it. The bluest eyes-even more bluer than mine- stared back at me.
"Than-thank you! I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't saved me." My words rushed out. He smiled a lazy smile and I felt his eyes graze over me, from my head to my chest, to my waist and then back up to my face and then my lips. But this time, instead of raising goosebumps, I felt a blush creep into my cheeks. This made him smirk and then he spoke.
"It was my duty. Here you were, two drunks pawing at you, I couldn't just leave a beautiful girl like you, to fight off those monstrous buffoons." The stranger smiled charmingly and I was entranced. "You haven't told me your name yet." I didn't notice that he had spoken until an impatient look crossed his face.
"I'm Victoria Markham." I managed to say and I blushed again. I had never blushed this much before in the present of a man. He noticed and the corner of his mouth turned up. His eyes ran over me again as my heart raced inside my chest.
"Damon. Damon Salvatore." My heart stopped beating. This man, he couldn't be related to Stefan Salvatore, could he? I didn't say that aloud but the question rang inside my head.
"Now that we have made our names known, it is my duty as a man, to escort you out of this dreadful place." He smiled that charming smile again and held out an arm, which I took eagerly. With my arm hooked through his, Damon led me down the cobblestone street, my mind fading into oblivion.
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