Disclaimer: I own nothing, just the plot.
Chapter Three: Vampire
"What would you do if Katherine came back?" Bonnie asked Elena softly, as she studied her best friends face in the mirror.
Elena looked up at Bonnie, her expression was one that Bonnie had never seen before, but that was because Elena was confused as to why Bonnie would even mention such a thing. Elena was ten when she saw her sister last, and to think of her coming back..well it had been ten years, Elena couldn't really imagine seeing her sister again. She calmed her face and looked down at her hands, trying to not think about Damon, she didn't know him, but her feelings were strong, maybe it was right if she took her time to get to know him first. Her mother was rubbing off on her, she felt it as she looked back to her reflection.
In the mirror Elena could see her hair being bushed a little more and then placed into a soft bun, it was simple for now, but she knew Bonnie would have the hair fall down a little and curl what fell out, for some odd reason Elena always had curl to her hair no matter what. Many believed it was a way to remember Katherine, her hair was curly, and Elena's was straight, but Elena never thought of it that way. All she thought of was looking nice for the people, and Bonnie did a perfect job with making her look that way! Elena closed her eyes for a little while, figuring she would not look until Bonnie told her to do so.
"I heard something, and correct me if it's wrong, but have you been down to the dungeons to see the vampire?" Bonnie asked, causing Elena's eyes to open, but her heart to sink. Bonnie did not even know his name, which meant maybe she was special for him to tell her! However, she kept a calm face as she studied her reflection, her hair hung in large curls around her shoulders now, and was rather bouncy and heavy. Elena smiled. Bonnie smiled too because she knew that meant that Elena liked what she had done, but that was just the first part, Elena still needed her face to look nice, and her dress as well.
"Elena?"
"Hmm..oh, what you've heard is correct."
Bonnie did not frown, she however was not happy with what she heard and to know that it was true too, well it nearly made her sick with worry. Elena knew better than to go down to the dungeons in the first place, but when a half starved vampire was down there...Bonnie inwardly shuttered at the thought of the creature breaking free and killing Elena. She knew it was possible, if he was given blood he could easily break free of the chains, but that had been why everyone who saw him was instructed to drink vervain. That gave Bonnie an idea, and inwardly she smiled because she now knew how to keep Elena safe from a creature that wanted nothing more than her blood.
The young witch could not explain that to her friend, because it seemed that all Elena had been able to think about was his looks, and yes, Bonnie had to admit that he was good looking, but she knew better because he was a creature that only wanted to harm others. Her grandmother always told her tales, when she was younger, of the vampire and how they were good looking to lure in their victims and then when the moment was right their fangs would pierce the neck and they would drink until the human was dead. The image scared Bonnie, and she did not want to see that happen to Elena.
"Let's get you dressed before I start your make-up," Bonnie told Elena, as she finished with her hair, she looked at her friend with a smile as she helped her from the chair back to her own room once again. As they walked in silence Elena thought of getting dressed and then running for the dungeons to go and see Damon, the last time she had he looked to be suffering so bad, but she kept calm as they entered into her room. On the bed Bonnie had laid out a beautiful lilac dress that made Elena's eyes light up and her thoughts flee of Damon, she turned to Bonnie and hugged her once before grabbing the dress.
"Oh, it's perfect for tonight, if only I did not have to go with Stefan Salvatore."
Bonnie laughed, "He isn't that bad, you need to give him more credit. Now, how about we forget him for now and get ready for the ball."
Elena grinned as she nodded, Bonnie always knew how to make her forget things and cause her mind to shift from one thing to another. She had done it with the dress, and now Elena's mind was on how she was going to look, not at about Damon, or the fact that he was being abused each day by the guards who watched over him until his fate was decided by her father.
/
"Ya think we need more men tonight to make sure the vampire is not taken?"
At the mention of more men coming into the dungeon Damon's head jerked up, he looked at the guard that had mentioned the subject to his fellow guard. He wanted just two, he could not take on anymore than that, his body was aching as it was, and he knew that with more guards that would mean more drunk men who would throw bottles at him, and stake him for no reason other than to laugh about it with the other drunken guards. He didn't want that, but he knew it would happen, and he didn't have the energy to leave because of the vervain on the chains. The humans were much smarter then he had thought, and at one time they were rather stupid, they didn't know anything.
What had happened? Damon almost missed the times when the humans did not know, but then if they didn't, well.. His thoughts always seemed to go back to the princess, her name he could not remember, but her face was engraved in his mind. She was kind for she had been the first human to come to him without wanting to cause him pain. He had told her to fuck off, as a way to be defensive, because he was scared, but he never would admit to that. She had come every night since then, even though he had said words to her that she would not of heard normally, it was like she could not stay away. Damon could easily use that to his advantage, and take use of her not having vervain in her as well. The thought of it caused a wicked smile to fall onto his lips.
"Oy, stop smilin' we got a task for ya." The second guard said coming over to the cell. Damon frowned at the guards drunken words, a task for him, what did that mean? Before he could even think to ask the cell opened and in walked the man, all Damon could think about was the fact that he was going to be staked, but the guard did not stake him, instead he took the chains off his hands and legs, and pulled Damon up by the hair so that they were eye level with one another, "If you try anythin' stupid, I will personally drive a stake through your heart."
/
"Oh, Elena you look wonderful!"
Elena beamed at Bonnie's words as she spun around a few times in her dress, watching as if spun around her ankles, she grinned at her best friend. It was because of her that Elena looked like she did, and it was also because of her that she knew Damon, but those thoughts were to be saved for later, instead she was thinking about her looks. She knew the moment Stefan Salvatore saw her he would go mad for her, not that he wasn't already, and that every man would wish she was his. It was just the way she liked it, however she wanted time alone first, and Bonnie could see that and so she dismissed herself leaving Elena be to her thoughts, or whatever she did when she was alone. Elena qwuickly grabbed her diary and sat on her window seat as she began to write.
Dear Diary,
Tonight is the ball, everyone has been talking about it for weeks on end, and even though I look wonderful, I cannot say that I am as happy as I have made Bonnie believe. It is not her fault, not in any way, it is my own if anything. I cannot stop thinking about Damon, I do not know him and yet I feel as if I have known him all my life. I know this is wrong, because I have Stefan Salvatore, but he is ..oh, I wish I knew how to say what he was like without sounding cold and mean. It's just he does not understand that I am tired of this life, I want a chance at freedom, and I feel that the only way to get that freedom is to be with someone who is free. I guess I should say was free. That does not mean he cannot be free again, even if it means me freeing him myself!
I do not think he would hurt me if I did that, though I cannot be for sure, if anyone would know it would be Bonnie, but she does not like Damon, I can see it in her eyes. It seemed like she was scared too, like she did not understand anything about him, but she knew he was dangerous. See, I want that, I want a man who is dangerous and is not afraid to take me to worlds that I have never been to. Stefan Salvatore, though sweet, is not that kind of man, I can picture him reading of the worlds out there, but never going to see them for himself. I cannot do that to myself, believe it or not I feel that Katherine is the lucky one. She got out for doing wrong, but she at least got out of this hell.
I am trapped here unless I can find a way out, and I have found that way, I just have to find a way to get him free once again.
-Elena
Elena closed her diary, smiling for real now, she felt more at ease now that she had got her feelings out then she had before. It was something so simple, and yet because Katherine was not around she was able to finally allow what she felt out by means of another way. Katherine had always listened so well, but she had been gone for ten years, and Elena had been forced to write in her diary, because she did not have the same connection to Bonnie as she had with Katherine. Her sister and her had been the best of friends, they could pretend to be each other without anyone knowing because of the help of Bonnie's powers. Now, Elena was left to be herself without a sister to trade places with when the ball came, because she wanted nothing more than to see Damon.
#
It was late, the sun had set and people were coming to the castle from near and far for the ball, and Elena was slowly starting to feel rather nervous because this ball was her parents way of telling everyone they knew that their daughter was getting engaged. Elena didn't like that word, she knew it meant she was going to be tied down to Stefan Salvatore for who knows how long, and she wasn't ready for that, sure marriage had always been a dream of hers, but not like this. Elena had always pictured it to be something much different then what she was going to have happen now. It was a painful reality check, but she did not dare say anything to her parents about her true feelings, and how she longed to not marry Stefan. The man was nice, good looking, and kind, but he held no sense of adventure at all. Elena could not see herself marrying a man like that.
"Elena, dear are you ready? Everyone is waiting on you and Mr. Salvatore."
At the sounds of her mother's voice Elena felt her heart ring hard against her ribcage. She glanced in the mirror once more, making sure her dress was at a respectable level before pulling it down some to expose her breasts a little more before nodding and smiling to herself she made her way towards the door. She slowly opened it, and when her mother saw her she began to smile more than she had been before. She brought a trembling hand to her lips and whispered, "You look so beautiful," She then took Elena's hand and held it as they walked from her room towards the main staircase. Elena held her breath as they walked, her mind was not on the ball, or Stefan, it was on her sister, she wished nothing more to see her once again. This was the night Katherine would of loved, but she was not here, she was gone..
/
"Is everything set up for the show?"
At the sounds of the king's voice the guards nearly froze, but one nodded as he looked to the man before him, he then grinned as he said, "We got 'im all chained up again, 'e won't 'urt anyone, just don't let people get too close your 'ighness 'e still 'as anger issues." The king nodded softly, the vampire that had been caught was going to be put on in a show for the nights entertainment while the guests ate. He had planned for this since they brought the creature to his kingdom, but he had never thought it would be so soon that they were going to be able to use him. The king' brown eyes shinned with glory as he asked, "May I see it?" However, at the question the guards all frowned and the one who had spoke before shook his head, "I wouldn't do that your 'ighness, 'e is mad and we don't want you getting 'urt because of his damn animal instincts."
At those words the king nodded, and walked off, the guards made sure Damon was in his place before doing the same themselves. They did not know that once they had walked off a figured cloaked in scarlet came to the area where Damon was and slipped into see him, slowly the figure removed the hood of the cloak, and if one was not careful they would of mistaken the woman for Elena. Damon's eyes locked onto her, and he frowned as he looked at her, he did not know why she was here, it was not smart for her, but he could not talk because of the muzzle that had been placed onto his mouth. He just studied her for a while as she looked him over, something told him that she was not Elena, but how was it that she looked just like her?
Before she said anything she was gone in a flash, Damon looked to see what had caused her to run and saw the guards coming back. They were laughing, and he could smell the alcohol on them, that meant if they were not careful, or not thinking they would stake him. He could not fight back this time, his mouth was covered and he was weak from the lack of feeding and the vervain. He saw one walk towards him, his vision fading in and out, he could not make out what the guard was doing for his head dropped and his eyes closed.
#
#
"My subjects, tonight we are not only here to celebrate my daughter's engagement, but something more. I have a special treat for all you! Behold, the vampire," The kind paused, by now Damon was awake and angry, "He was brought to me by some merchants who found him not far from here and for centuries this creature has been taking the lives of the innocent by drinking their blood!" He moved back, and the guards brought forth Damon, he truly looked angry through the eyes as he scanned the faces in the crowed, his eyes then fell onto Elena and the anger went away, he wanted to talk to her, but the guards held him back, and the muzzle kept him from talking, and yet Damon still tried to lunge and he was able, with his adrenaline running, to break free from the guards and rip off his muzzle. Everyone in the ballroom screamed and began to run as Damon came after them, or made it seem as if he was.
"Someone catch him!"
However, through many attempts no one was able to catch him, he had fled from the castle and was gone into the forest before any human could do anything. Once in the forest Damon collapsed, it had taken all his energy to scare off the people, and to break free from the guards, but he was indeed free from them now. He lay on the ground, breathing heavy as he looked up at the starless night, the dark trees blew lightly with the autumn breeze and for once Damon felt that he wanted to just stay where he was, however he knew he could not. The humans would be looking for him once morning came, so until then he could lay in the cool grass, but it seemed that was not smart, but he did not have the energy to bring himself to his aching feet.
"Looks like you could use some help."
The voice caused Damon to sit up, he did not wince, though it had hurt. He saw that the voice had belonged to the Elena look-alike and frowned softly at her. "Fuck off." He spit in a hoarse voice, which caused the girl to laugh, and right then Damon knew it was someone else, and a small smile fell to his lips as he looked into the eyes of the girl, she knelt down by him and held out her wrist for him, he looked at it and licked his lips lightly, his face began to change, but before he sunk his fangs into her wrist he whispered, "Welcome back Katherine."