A/N: a new chapter. you've waited long enough, i just havent gotten near a computer. sorry.
Ch. 4
"You don't smell like a werewolf," Rosalie commented to Tyler that afternoon.
"I...thank you? I guess?" Tyler replied.
"Oh, it's just that Jacob kid smells foul. You smell way better. Actually kind of nice."
"Kid?" Tyler asked.
"He's only like, sixteen. He just looks twenty five."
"Oh. And...well, why does he smell so bad?"
"I don't know why, I just know he does. All of his kind of werewolves do."
"So how is his kind different from mine?" Tyler asked.
"They change whenever they want. They stink. They can hear each other in their heads when they change—"
"They're in control?" Tyler asked, shocked.
"Yes, you're not?"
"No. It's terrible, Rose. It's like, I can't even...I don't know what's going on. I hate it. I just...there's just this unimaginable pain, and then I black out and could destroy everything in my path if I don't sedate myself and chain myself down. I could hurt the one I care about. Ones...I care about."
"How could you hurt them?"
"A werewolf bite kills a vampire. If I'm not careful I could bite her...them...and then it'll be my fault."
"But it's not your fault. You can't control yourself."
"But it is. I'd be the one to bite her...them...so—"
"You can't blame yourself."
"What about you? If you killed someone, you would blame yourself, wouldn't you?"
"I've been around a long time," Rosalie said, and shrugged. "I don't think that would be a problem."
She came over and put her arm around Tyler. Tyler got up and moved away, just as Caroline came in.
"What's going on?" she said.
"Nothing," Tyler replied, but Rosalie interrputed.
"We're just talking," she said with a devious grin. Caroline looked at Tyler accusingly.
"We were! Nothing else," Tyler explained in a rush, but Caroline walked away.
"Thanks a lot, Rose."
—
"How did you get captured by Klaus?" Elijah asked Alex the next day.
"Captured? He just...sweet-talked me, I guess you could say." She smiled at the memory.
"Yes, Klaus can be very persuasive at times, but it's usually a lie."
"And you?" she asked casually.
He smiled, but it quickly faded. "I don't deserve anyone. I've done too many things trying to please my brother. Things that can't be mentioned in a semi-civilized place like here."
"So here, with your so-called evil brother is civilized?"
"No 'so-called' about it. He's done too many things to break a curse he has on him. He's killed, and kidnapped, and he's probably going to use you to sacrifice."
She nodded but didn't say anything.
"You don't seem surprised."
"I heard you and him talking about the 'fate' planned for me. But I got something out of it," she said, then blushed. Elijah figured she must have gotten in bed with Klaus.
"But if you could find a way to live, would you?"
"Of course. But how?"
"Run."
"That's obvious, but won't he track me down?"
"I'll see to it he doesn't."
"I'd much rather stay here with you," she said.
"Me?" Elijah asked, shocked.
"I mean...Klaus." She blushed again.
Just then, speak of the devil, Klaus entered the room. "Hello, brother. You aren't by chance trying to steal my girlfriend, are you?"
"No, of course not. We were talking."
"Good. Alex is my girl. I love her and won't stand for you stealing her from me. Come, sweetheart," he said to her. "Let's go."
—
Damon took Nicole in his arms and ran upstairs to her room. There, she sat on her bed and motioned for Damon to sit next to her.
"I know it's impossible to get privacy around here, this being a houseful of vampires, but let's just hope we can go five minutes without getting interrupted," Nicole said.
"Five minutes?" Damon asked.
"Five."
"And what do we do in that five minutes?" Damon asked.
"I don't know. Talk, maybe?"
"Okay, about what?"
"How do you know Jasper?" Nicole asked.
"Civil War. We met, drank. It was crazy."
"So he mentioned."
"So let me ask you something. You're not a vampire, yet you...live with these guys?"
"Well...I was adopted by the Cullens. I...had some sort of accident when I was with my real family. I was three, I didn't know what was happening. Carlisle was my doctor. He didn't think I was going to live. I don't know what happened to my real parents after that, but Carlisle's been a father to me all these years."
"And he didn't change you into a vampire? None of them did?"
"It's illegal, to turn a small child into a vampire. They don't learn, or grow. They're adorable, but from what I gather they're not worth it. Too much risk, they don't know how to control themselves. The Cullens were going to turn me when I got older. Well, look at me now. Nineteen and still a human. I'm older than all my 'adoptive' siblings here."
"If you want to be a vampire, ask them."
"I don't know if I want it, that's the problem. I've heard my family's stories and it's not worth it."
"How do you know?"
"Well, you're a vampire. You tell me if it is."
Damon didn't answer. In truth, this girl might like being a vampire. The power she gets over others, after being in her vampire family's shadows all these years, as well as the other perks. Then again, Damon hadn't wanted to be a vampire, and as such, he would never wish this curse on anyone else.
"I have a...unique story. It might not have seemed worth it to me at the time, but maybe it will for you."
"Then again, once a vampire, always a vampire."
"That's right. So choose wisely."
She kissed him then, surprising not only him but herself as well. She told herself later it was because she had felt the connection between them when he walked through the door the first time, and so did he. Really, though, she just got caught up in the moment. She was later ashamed of her childish behavior, but there was no turning back now.
Damon was shocked when she kissed him. He didn't think he had made himself seem that open. He did love Elena, and decided right then and there this would be a secret from her.
They leaned backward on the bed, and Damon pulled away. He held her close and felt his fangs come out as he gave himself over to the thirst, and bit into her neck, draining her.