For some reason Damon can't sleep. He tosses and turns, even takes a couple of Tylenol but still it proves elusive. No matter how hard he tries to block the images, he can't seem to clear his mind of the pictures that keep forming in his mind. Visions of war and pandemonium, brother killing brother, Elena's striking eyes burning holes in his soul every time his fall closed. They all coalesce in his head, the result, a chaotic vortex of uncertainty. He doesn't know what's real and what's not or if his over active imagination is conjuring up images that he wants to see. When he finally starts to yawn, he fights it, dreading what else might be dredged up for him to view.
When the first glimpse of morning light filters in through the blinds, he gets up and throws on a pair of gym pants, a tee and a hoodie and after leashing Cooper, they depart the house to take a run around the lake. Cooper stays on his heals, happy to be outside with his human. Damon has to smile seeing his dog's enthusiasm. At least someone takes advantage of his nightmarish last several hours.
In the fresh morning air he's able to let go of his anxiety and look at the new information more rationally. Honestly, his overreaction was a bit unnerving, maybe Stefan is just a little bit right that he's immersed in their ancestor's history too deep, bordering on obsession? Nope.
The letters have been such a gift! He's learned more about Damon's history through these letters than he has in the past ten years. It's enlightening really. Without realizing it, he ends up at the home of his childhood friend Niklaus Mikaelson, Cooper's already barking at the yard and loudly greeting Niklaus' dog, Bear, who happens to be his brother. Damon bursts out laughing at the dogs' stormy welcome.
"Hey!" Nik comes out of the house, a wide smile on his face. "How are you up this early? Unless of course you haven't been to bed yet?"
"I don't wanna know how must I look like," Damon utters and joins him on the porch. Nik's girlfriend Jules glances out of the window to say 'hi' and offers to make some breakfast for all of them. A few minutes later she joins them and they enjoy the morning coffee, chatting and watching the dogs playing.
"I really enjoyed the article on Thomas Custer. It was quite informative."
"Thanks Nik, I enjoyed writing it. His brother's notoriety overshadowed Thomas and the hero that he was." Damon glances at the dogs when he hears them growling, probably at a rabbit or something.
"How's your research coming along?" Niklaus prompts him to elaborate. "Am I right in surmising that your walking dead like appearance has something to do with it?" His best buddy has always been his most ardent listener and supporter when it came to his... obsession with his families history.
"Don't be a tease!" Jules shakes her head. "And don't listen to him Damon, he's in a horrible mood this morning."
Damon's more than okay to confide in Nik though, he knows he'd never belittle whatever theory Damon would come with, although he's not exactly sure he has one. When Jules takes the plates and mugs inside and prepares to go to work, Damon finds himself telling Nik about the letters, Elena and even hints on his recent dreams without voicing any verdict.
"You mean you dreamt the parts that weren't either in the journal or in the letters? Weird. But not impossible. It seems to me that your mind is trying to fill in the gaps. I would never underestimate your fantasies, mate."
Damon chuckles but there are still doubts about this in his mind. He felt like he was under a spell...
"Hey! I know exactly what will cheer you up!" he gets up and disappears in the house. In a few minutes he comes back, bringing with him a few very old looking photographs. "Have you ever seen these? Dad found them when going through archives and brought them to me as he knows we keep in touch. You know, he's so proud of you, writing about glorious old times of Mystic Falls in a respectable magazine," he grins.
Damon gingerly takes the photographs and carefully studies them. "Is it...?"
"Yep, I think it's Zachary Salvatore's wedding. Based on our previous conversations, that's what I believe this of the others are departing recruits and the last one is some church event, it's not that interesting. But have you ever seen Damon Salvatore's picture?"
Damon's stunned to silence, as he's looking at his ancestor in the picture. They have a few of Zachary's and his family and one where he's next to his brother leaning over him but he never saw his face before.
"The similarity is striking, uncanny really," Nik's smug grin once again making its familiar appearance.
It's like looking in a fucking mirror...
"Damon..." her voice is weak and still he can hear the relief when she finds herself in his protective embrace.
"Shhshh, my love, don't speak, it will tire you out. I'm here..."
"What... what are you doing here? You can't be..."
"I am. And won't leave you until you're better."
Elena doesn't say any more, she just snuggles in closer to him, too far gone to think about his safety just happy to have him by her side. He knows it's a matter of hours before her depleted body takes the last one of her breaths and her free spirit will escape this misery, leaving him alone and broken behind. But he won't make it harder for her. He will smile and hold her, caress her feverish skin and tell her how much he loves her.
"Elena? Can you hear me? I promise. I promise we'll be together. I'll find a way. You will get better and I'm going to marry you one day."
They're all lies but he needs to get it out. He loves her so much and he needs her to believe him even for a second that everything's going to be alright. She's not strong enough to respond but somehow he knows she can hear him from the dark place she's in. She won't speak again and he kisses her forehead when she stops breathing. Only then he lets the tears fall freely.
There will never be another. It's another solemn vow, one he knows he will carry out.
This time, he wakes up slowly. He's shaken, but his earlier panic doesn't arise.
After getting back home from Nik's place and studying the photographs and letters for hours on end, he fell asleep, fatigue finally pulling him under. He fell through time right into the fateful day in June of 1863. He saw it all, every heart wrenching moment. Damon cradling Elena's weary head and mourning all that was supposed to come. It felt so real, the echoes of Damon's pain, the world falling apart right in front of his eyes...
He takes a few shuddering breaths and gets up to have a glass of water, not even thinking about anything stronger. Damon didn't have that comfort either. Cooper, hoping he might get another walk, gets in his way.
"Not now Coop," Damon pats the dog and opens the front door to let him out. He's not able to analyze his dreamy experience right now, he should probably get some work done, that's after all what pays his bills.
He should also thank Nik's father, the Mayor for sending him the photographs. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt if he volunteered to go through the archives with him? The mere thought of the treasures that they may find excites him.
Back to work Damon, he needs a distraction.
He writes all day on his MacArthur article and by the time dinner rolls around, he's just putting the finishing touches on it. Needing a breather, he pours himself a glass of ice tea and then steps on the porch to whistle at the dog to come home. The damn animal just took off for several hours. He hears him bark and soon he can see him attacking the well known form of his little brother.
"Not now, Stef!" he groans out loudly.
Once Stefan closes the car door, he raises his hands in surrender. "I'm not here to preach, brother."
Damon eyes him suspiciously as he comes closer.
"Really Damon, I had a talk with dad. Well, he talked I listened."
Damon grins because they all know how these conversations go, he's been on the receiving end of their father's speeches too.
"I... I'm here to tell you that I'll try to cut you some slack. I know I can be...a pain in the ass sometimes but I'm just worried about you. I hope you can understand that?" he adds sincerely hoping Damon will accept his peace offering. He offers his hand.
"Of course you moron," Damon pulls him in a hug. He doesn't do it often, but right now his earthbound little brother is exactly what he needs. "Lock the car we're going to the bar. We both could use a beer."
When they later stumble over the threshold, they couldn't feel better about each other as brothers. Damon still thinks Stefan's an ass and Stefan still thinks Damon could use a therapy, but after all is said and done, they wouldn't have it any other way. Cooper greets them with a loud howl, not knowing what to make of those two wasted humans.
The brothers part ways in the hallway, Stefan wisely choosing the closest room with a bathroom attached, Damon crawls upstairs and into his own bed, only after stumbling a few times. He even manages to relieve his bladder and splash his face before burying himself in sheets and closing his tired eyes.
This time is different. He doesn't fight the fall through time and space and he experiences a strange sensation of switchback. It's miraculous that his stomach doesn't send him flying to the bathroom after everything he and Stefan drank.
Then he's lying on the ground, a choke provoking smell and ash and fire pushing him down. He has trouble breathing and before he knows it his body starts to shake and toss and turn, while his hands are tearing at his chest. He's about to lose consciousness but he's fighting it, aware he can't hold on for too much longer. Can one pass out while sleeping? He's about to find out because the darkness is already claiming his mind.
"Lay down, soldier, you need to rest. Don't move or your wound will open up again. We were only able to stop the bleeding a little while ago..."
He's already had this dream. But the voice sounds much clearer, the touches he can feel are too real. And then the pain is coming. Paralyzing and unceasing. His shoulder is on fire.
It can't be...
He opens his eyes and finds himself staring into a pair of angelic brown eyes, the very same ones he's seen before but only in his dreams.
I know it's short after such a long wait but I promise more will be coming soon. I am also going to post the first chapter of November Rain so you have a double update day.
Thank you all again. Eva and I are so grateful to all of you. I never was interested in writing, I never had a diary or a journal or wrote anything. I only dipped my toe in after reading DE stories for some time. I cannot grasp the right words to tell you all how thankful both Eva and I are for all of you. Thank you too, Eva. Love you dearly.
Chapter title: 'Spell I'm Under' by Winger.
My very dear friend Short on words just updated 'A Wonderful Lie'. Mariah April May has two fabulous stories in progress 'The Devil's Obsession' and 'Marry Me Instead'. Florencia7 posted a Christmas one-shot, JustiniaKorax just started a new story, Salvatoreboys4ever also wrote a darling Christmas short story and her thriller 'Captive of Her Beauty' is still in progress. TheLittle MissVixen, StarlightSo, Amazing Aisha, and VitsAsh are among so many others who are keeping Damon and Elena alive through their stories.
I hope you all have a fantastic day and thank you all again. We'll see you with more soon.