I don't own anything.
A/N: Hey everyone it's time for another update but first off I want to thank my reviewers from last week; David Fishwick, Child of the Night13, mehr03, Eddieizzie, Yson, NaeNae1495, Ali08, babyshan211 and annabella. I hope everyone likes the new chapter and please remember to Review, they make a writer's world go around.
Baby S
Chapter Nine
"I can't believe you brought me to Wal-Mart." Damon murmured as they entered the store, Bonnie merely gave him an annoyed look while pulling out a shopping cart.
"I didn't bring you anywhere, you followed me here in your car remember." she stated with a roll of her eyes before pointing out towards the parking lot. "If you don't want to be here you're free to leave at anytime." Damon quickly moved to her side at that remark and shook his head while giving her his signature smirk.
"Remind me to talk to you about that, you know with you being a servant of nature and all that I would think you would want to do your part to stop carbon pollution besides," he said slowly as he bumped her out of the way and took over the shopping cart. "You won't be getting rid of me that easily, I'm here to stay." he said with a quick nod of his head. "So what place in this blue hell will we be going to first?" Bonnie watched as he narrowed his eyes and looked around at all the busy shoppers rushing around the store.
"First off, behave yourself in here-."
"If I do, do you promise to give me a treat." Damon asked as he looked over at her. Rolling her eyes, Bonnie quickly counted to ten and tried to calm her nerves.
"Secondly. . .just follow me. This shouldn't be long, I just have to pick up a few things for me and Stefan," at the look he immediately gave her, she sighed. "It's just school supplies, Damon. Don't act like you don't know that already since you were eavesdropping." Shrugging his shoulders, he gave her a small smile before sighing.
"I can't helping overhearing." he drawled out slowly while pushing the cart forward to keep up with her quick stride. "It's one of the side effects of being a vamp." When Bonnie didn't reply, Damon pushed the cart up a bit quicker till he was right at her side. "Besides that look wasn't for that, Bonnie. I'm just glad you cleared up something for me. . .now I know you don't get your um," he trailed off and gave her a look. "Well you know your frilly things from here. Wal-mart doesn't seem to have the right selection for witty witches." Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Bonnie continued walking with Damon trailing behind her. They eventually made it to the school supply line and Bonnie quickly made her way over to the binders and paper. She could feel Damon's eyes on her as she tossed item after item into the cart. "Do you really think Stefan's ready for school?"
"What you want to keep him locked away until he forgives you?" she asked as she turned and looked back at him with a raised eyebrow. Damon studied her for a moment trying to figure out if she had discovered a spell on reading minds in Emily's grimoire. Emily had always been sneaky and secretive so he wouldn't put making a spell like that past her.
"You reading minds now?"
"No, you're just easier to read right now." Bonnie replied softly as she continued to look at him. "And yes I think he's ready for school. . .he's made a remarkable recovery, Damon."
"Believe me I know, I'm glad he's done binge. . .drinking." he said struggling for the right word to use in public as he looked down at the contents of the car. "But I also know that he wants out of the manor." He didn't have lift his head up to know that Bonnie was silently studying him, when he finally lifted his head back up her attention was on the shelves.
"Can you really blame him, Damon?" At her question, he remained silent, not really wanting to answer the question. He preferred not to say a thing about it cause in truth he couldn't blame his brother but he still didn't want him to leave. Instead, he decided to change the subject to something he felt more comfortable discussing cause as of right now his brother was off limits.
"What about you," he stated off calmly as he reached down and picked up a notebook. "Don't you get tired of school? I mean come on you really don't need it now since you're bewitched." he said with a smirk as she looked over at him.
"No, I'm not tired of school," she drummed her fingers on the binder she was currently holding. "I'm not tired at all cause it's the only place I can be normal now."
"You mean the only place you can pretend that you're all human." Damon said as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned on the cart rail while watching her movements slow down just a bit at her words. "That's it isn't it?"
"I guess, in school I'm just regular old Bonnie Bennett. I don't have to worry about vampires, werewolves, some super wolf-vamp hybrid, old originals or being a witch. I can just be me. . .the person I was before all you showed up in Mystic Falls." she admitted softly as she looked at him. Damon didn't say anything at first, instead he nodded his head in understanding. "Oh don't give me that look. . .you'll make me think you care."
"That's because I do." Damon replied bluntly as he met her eyes and held them for a second. "Despite everything I've done and said, I do care." he admitted softly. Bonnie just nodded her head at that not really knowing how to respond with Damon being so open and honest with her. He had the most sincere look on his face and all Bonnie could think to do was to look away because this Damon made her uncomfortable.
"I'm surprise you didn't say anything about the way I termed Klaus." Damon smirked, he knew what she was doing but for right now he'd let it slide. Besides who was he to call someone out on evading, he had just did the same thing moments earlier because he knew himself well enough to know that heart to hearts and revealing his feelings on certain matters wasn't really in his DNA.
"I think I'll let that slide, besides it's pretty accurate when you think about it. Although I don't know about the super part since you could have taken him out." she scoffed at his words and shook her head as she thought back to that night.
"Yeah, if only Elijah hadn't fallen for the pleas of a man at death's door." she mumbled as they slowly rounded the corner and made their way towards the next aisle. Damon hadn't really been paying attention so when Bonnie stopped in the middle of the aisle suddenly he hit her in the back with the cart although she hardly noticed. He looked over her shoulder to see what had caught her attention and saw Samil standing in the aisle. He gritted his teeth as he glared at the young warlock but before he could drag Bonnie away she spoke up.
"Samil?" Damon nearly rolled his eyes at the sound of her voice, as he looked at the man who owned the new herb shop in town. The one that had taken a liking to Bonnie, the one that had tried to act all big and bad with him outside his store. He didn't care if the man had helped bring his brother back home, he didn't have to like him. The man gave him a bad vibe anyway so his feelings were justified and Damon always listened to his feelings.
"Bonnie Bennett," Samil slowly drawled out as he flashed Bonnie a charming smile as he turned towards the young Bennett witch. "I didn't expect to see you in here nor did I expect to see you with him." he said his gaze shifting over towards Damon. "And here I thought you two weren't friends."
"We're working on that." Damon stated coolly, cutting off Bonnie before she could reply. The young witch gave him a look and then turned towards Samil and flashing him a little smile.
"Planning on going to school?" she asked nodding her head towards the notebook he held in his hands. Damon had to resist to urge to roll his eyes at Bonnie's attempt at flirting especially since she was wasting the effort on a guy like Samil.
"I don't know. . .I might since I know you're going," he said with a wink as he looked down at her before shifting his attention over towards Damon who was standing behind Bonnie looking extremely annoyed. "Although, I could have sworn you were in your twenties. . .but you do look to be on the slow side of things so. . ." he trailed off and shrugged his shoulders as Damon stood up a bit taller fully aware of what Samil was trying to say about him. He didn't care about keeping his cover, he was about ten seconds away from ripping that little warlock's throat.
"No Samil. Damon's just helping me shop."
"Paying you back from helping him out no doubt." he stated bluntly as he raised an eyebrow while looking over at Damon. "If you wanted to do that, the least you could do is stopping dragging her into your little vampire wars." Samil said as he casually placed the notebook in his hands back on the shelf in front of him. "Just a suggestion."
"Is this guy serious?" Damon growled out, Bonnie looked between the two of them and sighed before shaking her head while silently urging Damon to remain calm. She knew Samil and Damon didn't really like each other but she had no idea that it was this bad.
"Oh I'm quite serious actually," Samil stated as he shoved his hands into his pant pockets. "I consider myself one of Bonnie's true friends and I don't want her being used by a small group of idiotic vampires. She doesn't deserve it."
"She isn't being used." Damon snapped out angrily, his voice rising so much that he gained the attention of several shoppers. He shook his head and clutched the shopping cart rail while glaring at Samil. "She isn't being used." he stated again this time lowering his voice as he shot a glare at Samil who merely shrugged his shoulders.
"Just calling it like I see it but if I'm wrong I'm sure you'll show me in time." he said lazily as he waved a hand in the air as if dismissing Damon, like one would an annoying fly. Turning back to Bonnie, he graced her with a smile. "Now when can I expect to see you again at my shop, Ms. Bennett?"
"Huh?" she said dumbly as she looked at him. Samil just smiled and walked over to her, he placed a hand on her arm and sent her a warm smile.
"I said when can I see you again beautiful, you still have that item to pick up at the shop." Bonnie looked into his warm brown eyes and blushed underneath his gaze.
"I guess I can come over later on this week."
"Without your undead bodyguard?" he asked as he looked back at Damon who was watching them silently. "Cause I don't know if you can tell but I don't like him." Samil said on a laugh as he watched Damon clench his jaw while sending him a heated glare. Damon tapped his foot on the ground as he tried to rein in his anger. This Samil guy was starting to really get on his nerves, especially with the way he was pushing up on Bonnie.
"Why are you even here?" Damon snapped out angrily.
"Shopping. . .why what else would I be doing here in good old Wal-Mart?" he asked with a wide smile as he looked back down at Bonnie. "Ms. Bennett you really have to think about who you share your time with. You don't want to become as dumb as the company you keep." Bonnie just nodded her head not really knowing what to say to that. "Now I have to admit it was nice seeing you here, you've been on my mind a lot lately."
"Well you have my number." Bonnie pointed out, glad the conversation seemed to be venturing off into a direction that was less combative. She didn't think, she'd be able to stop a fight between Damon and Samil.
"That I do," he said softly as he looked Bonnie in the eyes. Damon felt like gagging as he watched them. "Are you saying that your phone line is open cause I was worried I might have been disturbing you since I didn't know your schedule."
"Oh you can call me anytime just you know use common sense. . .no calling during some crazy hours."
"Oh of course," he looked down at the watch on his wrist and sighed. "I guess I better get going. I didn't find what I was looking for and it's time to reopen the store since both Sovann and I should be making our way back from our lunch break. I guess I better try to find that item online." he said with a playful sigh before brushing a hand against her cheek. "Don't forget to come by the shop." he called out before disappearing into the crowd of shoppers. Damon clutched the handle bar of the car as he continued to stare off in the direction that Samil had just disappeared in. "I do not like that guy, Bonnie."
"You hardly like anyone, Damon. So you telling me you don't like Samil isn't really surprising." she stated dismissively. Damon narrowed his eyes at that and shook his head for a minute before stepping towards her.
"You can't seriously like that guy."
"And why not. . .I'm not with Jeremy anymore and Samil is a great guy. He's a warlock, I'm a witch and he's really sweet," she raised a hand to silence Damon's protest. "Despite what you may think, Damon. He really is a great guy."
"Sure whatever you say."
"He helped us find out were Stefan was being held." she pointed out, Damon rolled his eyes at that and shook his head.
"He was only trying to impress you. He wouldn't have helped otherwise."
"Of course he wouldn't have. . .you didn't know him, Damon."
"Look, I'm grateful for his help but doesn't mean I have to like him." Damon stubbornly pointed out as he looked down at her. They continued to stare at one another silently before Damon finally tore his gaze away from her and moved back to the shopping cart. He could still feel Bonnie's gaze on him as he got behind the cart. "I know I'm a magnificent specimen, Bonnie but let's finish up shopping so we can get out of here."
Sovann was just sitting at the counter when Samil entered the herb shop. He could tell by the clench of his jaw that his master wasn't in the best of moods. He watched silently as Samil closed and locked the door before turing the sign that faced outside onto it's closed side. "Is everything okay, Samil?" Sovann cautiously asked as he watched Samil pace back and forth in front of the small desk where he and the cash register sat.
"I don't like the look of that Salvatore," Samil mumbled out angrily, "I can already tell that he likes her and he wants her to like him back as well." Sovann remained silent, because the way Samil was currently acting left him speechless. He had never seen his master in a jealous rage over any being before in his entire life. "The mere thought of her lowering herself to his level is so disgusting and I-." he paused for a moment and then erupted in laughter. Sovann watched as he bent over at the waist and clutched at his sides as he continued to laugh loudly. Sovann was almost positive that Samil had gone insane but when Samil looked back up at him that thought was completely wiped away.
"Samil?" he asked cautiously wondering if his own life was now in danger, Samil could be quite unpredictable when upset.
"I'm sorry to have put you through that, Sovann. I was merely trying to see how jealousy felt." he smirked then and shook his head while straightening his clothing.
"Jealously?"
"I just wanted to know what Damon Salvatore was currently going through and I have to admit like that emotion. Especially since it can make the plan I have for Bonnie Bennett go by just a bit faster. Damon's jealousy is something I'm counting on." Samil stated calmly as he walked over towards the table in the far corner of the shop. Sovann watched as he pulled out a bowl and knife and sat them down on the clean table. Sovann watched nervously as his master walked over the register and pulled out a sheet. "Where are the vitamins that um," he trailed off his finger scrolled down the sheet. "Aw, where are the vitamins that Devon Watts is coming to pick up?"
"Right here." Sovann said as he reached beneath the counter and pulled out a bottle of vitamins. He handed them to Samil and watched as the man made his way back to the table. "What are you doing?" Sovann asked unable to keep quiet as he watched Samil pick back up the knife. If there was one thing he had learned over the years it was to be weary whenever Samil handled a weapon. Samil didn't answer, instead he lifted the knife and pulled back the sleeve of his oxford white shirt and cut his wrist. Sovann watched as Samil's blood slowly went into the bowl that rested on the table below Samil's now wounded wrist.
"I need Damon to act on his newfound affection for Bonnie." he murmured. "He doesn't know what he's feeling yet but a forceful push in the right direction will help him move accordingly."
"I thought you were trying to get her for yourself?" Sovann asked in confusion as he looked at Samil and then back down at the bowl that was nearly halfway full with his master's blood. Samil smiled at his question and lifted his wounded wrist to his mouth. He licked the wound once and watched as the cut quickly healed. Turning around, he looked at Sovann.
"Don't worry it all fits into my plan."
"How?" Sovann asked in confusion, Samil didn't answer him right away instead he opened the bottle of vitamins and poured them into the bowl of blood. Sovann watched as Samil's blood immediately attacked the pills and seeped inside the small tablets until there was no more blood left in the bowl.
"The correct course for Bonnie and Damon would be for him to work out his feelings for Elena and then move on with Bonnie afterwards. . .jealousy however makes things a little bit more difficult." Samil said as he carefully placed the pills back into bottle. "Jealousy will make him stake his claim on her before he's emotionally ready, meaning that he won't have dealt with his feelings towards his brother's girlfriend. Which means that these feelings that he never dealt with will lead him to betray Bonnie down the line and when he does that he will not only break her heart, he'll push her into my arms because I would have been telling her all along that he wasn't to be trusted." Samil stated as he handed the bottle back to Sovann.
"And you're sure about this working?"
"Quite, if there's one thing I know it's how to maneuver humans into the situations that I want. . .it's like messing with a line of ants," he murmured softly. "It's all predictable." Sovann nodded his head in understand as he looked at his master.
"So why did you tamper with Devon Watts' order?"
"Damon and Bonnie need an external conflict ,besides me of course, to bring them closer together. I need Damon's feelings to change. He needs to see Bonnie a little bit differently and Bonnie certainly needs to see him a bit differently and that's where Devon comes in."
"Devon? Are you gonna use him to make Damon jealous."
"No not at all. Devon is the immediate external conflict." Samil stated with a wide grin on his face as he looked at his servant. "And he'll serve his purpose. . . whether he lives or dies is really up to how Bonnie and Damon feel after everything is said and done."
The first week of school was getting closer and Damon had discovered that Bonnie was allowing Stefan to move into her house for the time being until Stefan felt like he could move back into the manor. Seeing his little brother packing up his things had really sent him over the edge, knowing that his brother was packing made his betrayal all the more real. Elena wasn't worth losing his brother, the only family member he had left in this world. "So you're really gonna leave?" he asked as he stepped into his brother's room. Stefan lifted his head up and looked over at him for a moment before nodding his head.
"I think it's for the best." Stefan stated as he returned his attention back to his suitcase. Damon continued watching him silently before sighing and rubbing a hand over his face.
"How long will you be gone?"
"Does it even matter?" Stefan asked as he turned towards his brother with a frown on his face. Damon stared at Stefan silently before nodding his head. Of course it matter, he loved his brother and he didn't want to lose him because of his feelings for Elena. He knew now that blood was thicker than water and couldn't take knowing that he pushed his brother away.
"Yes it matters."
"I don't know if I believe you, Damon." Stefan said as he walked over to his closet and pulled out a few shirts. "You're gonna have to excuse me if your confession doesn't ring so true with me." Damon sighed and stepped further into his brother's room.
"I know you're angry-." He stopped when Stefan cut him a harsh glare. "Look Stefan I really think we should talk about this for real and-." his brother held up a hand and shook his head rapidly from side to side.
"We don't need to talk now, Damon. Not while I'm still pissed, not while I'm still angry with you for what you did. Nothing productive is going to happen if we talk now." Stefan admitted as he looked at his brother.
"I'm sorry."
"I wish I could believe you but I'm not to sure about that. You still care about Elena. . .love her, whatever it is you're telling yourself you feel towards her and I don't want to deal with it. Both you need to decide what it is the hell you want cause you can't have both." When Damon didn't say anything, Stefan just shook his head and starting carrying his suitcase out of his room, when he walked by Damon snapped back to life and started following after him.
"Are you sure that living with the little witch is the right thing to do?"
"Her father's hardly there so yeah I think so." Stefan replied as he sent his brother a look as he headed down the stairs.
"I'm just wondering you don't want to come home and have daddy warlock attacking you because he feels the presence of the undead in his household."
"Bonnie's father doesn't practice witchcraft so that little scenario isn't going to happen ever." Stefan replied coolly.
"Yeah but-." Damon jumped back when Stefan turned around to face him.
"Stop it alright. . .I'm going to Bonnie's house and there's nothing you can do to stop me, Damon. I need. . .I need to get out of here alright. I can't be here right now. It's not fair to me, for you to stand there and ask me to stay in a place where my brother and the girl I love betrayed me while I was giving myself up to Klaus. It isn't right. . .it isn't fair. I'm gonna to deal with this on my terms, and I'm sorry but I don't really care about how you feel on the matter. This is for me. I'm doing this for me and if you care about me as much as you're putting on, you'll let me."
"Fine, but just tell me do you hate me," Damon licked his bottom lip and stared his brother in the eyes. "Just tell me if you hate me." Stefan studied him for a moment and then shook his head while releasing a bitter laugh.
"You know I tried," Stefan stated as he looked Damon directly in the eyes. "I really tried while I was in that cell, I tried to hate you with everything inside me but then I kept remembering that you're my brother," Stefan looked at his watch and sighed. "See you around, brother."