A/N: Hi guys! Here is the new chapter with a full chapter of Damon's POV. I really hope you like it :)
Damon POV:
I watched as Elena once again gave her sister a look of hatred. I did not understand what had happened there but it must have been profound because I had never seen Elena look so angry. I kept watching Stefan glancing at Elena in strange way too and it irritated me. He had not shown an ounce of interest in her since they had arrived and it annoyed me that he was now. Sure Elena had flat out told me that she did not want me but that did not mean I was okay with my brother having her. The only positive was that Elena had stuck incredibly close to me all day. She had sat next to me in the carriage into town and had eagerly taken my arm as we walked into the market square. It confused me a little but I was not going to complain. Not if it meant she would stop touching me. I loved the feeling of her small fingers on my arm. I had noticed that she always felt a little cold to the touch and I was a little baffled by it but I always shook the thought away. Who cares if she did not feel warm? Her eyes held more than enough warmth to make up for it.
We stepped into the apothecary, at Katherine's insistence. I could see Elena frowning at her sister but she followed regardless. Katherine immediately approached the counter and smiled at the shopkeeper, Pearl. I could see Pearl's young daughter Annabelle sitting behind the counter working on some embroidery. I had always felt strangely on edge around the two for some reason. They had always been pleasant to me of course but there was something about them.
"Hello, you must be the Pierce sisters. We heard about your loss. Such a tragedy and please accept my condolences...Forgive me, I am Pearl and this is my daughter Annabelle. How may I help you today?" Her tone was polite and her smile was warm but she held her gaze on Katherine. I frowned at this. There seemed to be a familiarity between them but that was impossible. The sisters had only just moved here and they had told me they had never been to Mystic Falls in their lives.
"Thank you for your kind words, but I was wondering if perhaps I could speak with you about a private matter?" Katherine asked in what I thought was an overly done demure voice. I did not know why but Katherine always seemed to be constantly contradicting herself. One minute she was confident and cocky and the next she was a wilting flower. I did not trust her.
Pearl nodded and the two stepped outside after she instructed her daughter to keep watch on the shop. Stefan smiled at us kindly before speaking.
"I'm sure Miss Katherine may be awhile and I am more than happy to wait. Why don't you go ahead and show Miss Elena the rest of the town." I narrowed my eyes slightly as I saw his eyes stay on Elena longer than necessary.
"Of course brother, we will meet you back at the carriage." I couldn't help the way I possessively but gently captured Elena arm in mine once more before leading her out of the shop. I did not understand what my brother's goal was but I did not like it.
We walked along and I pointed out certain key shops for Elena's benefit. I enjoyed the way her eyes lit up at certain things she saw though I could not understand her eagerness. I had lived in this town all my life and I found it terribly dull and boring. Apparently Elena did not think so.
"I must admit I am a little confused at the excitement you convey for my dull little town. I'm sure you're hometown must have been infinitely more interesting, with it being in the city." I watched as she blushed slightly and she let out a chuckle.
"I guess you're right but I think people underestimate the benefit of quietness and just the simplicity of life. The city was okay but I think I enjoy it here in Mystic Falls more. I feel...more like myself."
I hung onto her every word. She was so intelligent. It was a new thing to be around a woman who could hold her own in a conversation but it was a welcome change. The women in town were nice enough but they seemed to only know what principle was and what they were told to believe. No one dared question things. She would make a great wife. I sighed inwardly. Yes, she would make a great wife but not to me. It was clear that she did not want that at all. I could not believe how my mind has been changed in so little time. Here I am contemplating marriage! I had not wanted to marry at all previously. I used to find the idea trivial and boring but now I just wanted to get down to my knees in front of her and beg her to marry me just so she could be mine forever. I cursed myself for being so weak.
"Damon? Are you okay?" Her voice snapped me back to life and I looked at her worried face. I smiled reassuringly but I could feel the blush on my face.
We had passed all of the shops when we reached the bad part of town. It was not exactly that big and it was not like other town's ideas of bad parts of town but it was ours. I had spent many a night down here after fights with my father. There was a tavern that was currently full of drunks regardless of the time of day and I could tell that the business upstairs would be operating too. I had spent a few drunken nights up there too. The prostitution business was pretty small here but they usually got enough money out of drunken clients from down in the tavern.
"What is this?" I looked at her but there only a look of surprise and interest on her face. Once again so strange. Most women did not like to be near these kinds of establishments.
"This is the local tavern and well...the red light district," Her eyes widened only slightly before she laughed loudly. I gave her a look as if she had two heads.
"That is surprising to say the least. This town seems so clean cut." Her smile was infectious and I could not help laughing along with her.
"Well it's not exactly a place that is brought up in polite conversation and most of the townspeople prefer to ignore its existence. Between you and I though, I have seen many respectable men of the town down here." She giggled and allowed me to steer her away from the lane. I loved the sound of her laugh. Whenever she was laughing her guard was down and she did not have the hesitant look behind her eyes.
We walked back the way we came and we stopped in a few shops along the way at her insistence. In one particular shop I could see Elena admiring an elegant pendant with a ruby stone set in the middle. She had looked at it longingly for a moment before turning and smiling at me shyly and walking out of the store once more. I saw her stop and wait outside and I turned back to the shopkeeper.
"I'll take that pendant in the cabinet there sir."
When we finally reached the carriage once more, I could see Stefan and Katherine standing waiting. Katherine looked a little irritated and Stefan looked completely patient. He smiled when he spotted us and Katherine immediately followed suit, covering up her irritation. I bit my cheek to stop myself from laughing. She was such a contrast to Elena and I could tell that despite her pretences, she was not a nice person. I really could not understand why Stefan put up with her.
Elena gave Stefan a smile and for some reason it looked a little guilty and ashamed. She gave her sister a tight smile too before addressing them.
"Sorry that we took so long. I asked Damon to let me take a look in some of the stores." I smiled remembering the pendant that was currently resting in my pocket in a decorative box. It had cost quite a bit but the thought that she might appreciate it made it worth it.
Katherine and Stefan got into the carriage first and I assisted Elena in and we both sat in the same spots that we did on the way in to town. The ride was silent and the atmosphere tense. I could see Stefan looking intently at Elena once more and I really wanted to kick him in the shins to stop him but that was not polite in the company of ladies. Katherine for some reason was looking at me and I kept looking away, not wanting to meet her gaze and see the cold look in her eyes. Elena, however was looking at Stefan, trying to seem inconspicuous and glancing out the window every now and then. I frowned. Something was going on between them. I did not like that and I hoped it was not what I was thinking.
When we finally returned to the estate, Katherine and Elena excused themselves to their rooms to freshen up before lunch. When we were alone, I turned to appraise my brother.
"What are doing with Elena?" I asked accusatorily with narrowed eyes and I saw his eyebrows rise in surprise.
"What are talking about Damon? I'm not doing anything with Miss Elena." His voice only increased my suspicion and I glared at him openly.
"I don't know what your game is Stefan but I don't like it. Since they arrived you've been attached to the hip with Katherine but now all of a sudden you've only got eyes for Elena." His eyes widened and he seemed to scramble for an answer.
"It's true that I am incredibly taken with Miss Katherine but I have started to notice that Miss Elena is so much warmer and kind. I know you have taken an interest in her but I really feel that we have a lot in common, Damon." I could not believe the words coming from his mouth. He had only just realized Elena's warmth and kindness when I had seen it from the word go.
"Stay away from her Stefan. Don't think I don't know what you were doing in Katherine's room last night!" I scolded harshly. It was true. Last night as I was coming back to Elena's room, I could hear the tell tale moans. It had surprised me that Stefan would allow something like that. He was always the one to argue the importance of purity. I was the one that engaged in premarital affairs and did not care about the stupid ideals of waiting until after marriage. That must have been uncomfortable for Elena though with her room being right next door.
"That's none of your business and you can't tell me to stay away from her Damon. She's not yours; I can do what I want!" Stefan yelled stubbornly before pushing me aside and moving in the direction of the music room, no doubt to furiously play one of his melancholy compositions on the piano.
I made my way up the stairs and stopped in front of Elena's door. I hesitated slightly before knocking. I heard her voice call to come in. I opened the door and found her seated on her bed reading a book of poetry of some sort. I smiled softly in greeting and she returned it sweetly. My smile widened slightly as I noticed her hair was completely down and was hanging on her shoulders softly. She looked so beautiful.
"Damon, what did I do to deserve such a visit at an appropriate hour this time," she asked jokingly with a laugh and I chuckled too before approaching and taking a seat in the chair near her bed.
"Actually I came here for two reasons. The first is of an infinitely simpler nature. I have a gift for you," as I spoke I pulled out the box from my pocket and handed it to her gently. She looked at it with a confused frown before giving me the same look. She hesitantly opened the box and I heard her gasp in surprise. She looked up at me with an unreadable expression.
"You bought this for me? Why?" Her tone was slightly suspicious. I gave her a nervous smile.
"I saw you admiring it in the store today and I decided that I would get it for you." Instead of calming her it had the opposite effect and her frown deepened.
"You did not have to do that Damon. It really is unnecessary for you use your money on me." I could not understand her complaints. Most women loved to receive gifts like this.
"I really don't care about the money, Miss Elena. I just wanted to get something nice for you. If it makes you feel any better consider it a welcome gift for your arrival into town. No matter what you say I will not accept it back." She warred inwardly before she sighed and settled a reluctant smile on her face.
"Thank you Damon. It was very thoughtful of you and I love it but please do not make this a habit. I hate the idea of great sums of money being wasted on me." I nodded but did not voice any promise because I did not care about the money and if there was something she wanted and needed I would gladly get it for her.
"You said the nature of your visit was due to two things?" she reminded me and I frowned remembering the other reason I was here. I had decided very quickly to inform her of my brother's ridiculous intentions. I did not want Stefan to have her. I could tell that he was not really that interested in her. It was just a passing thing for him. I knew he really still only loved Katherine. He was just excited by the fact that there was a girl who looked exactly like her that had completely different traits and predictably he wanted to try them both out.
"Yes Miss Elena. I came here to warn you. It appears that my brother has some less than innocent intentions for you. He confessed to me that he intends to attempt to pursue you and of course it is entirely your choice if you wish to allow him to but I felt the need to warn you, especially considering what happened last night. I know it is not polite to bring it up but I heard him with Katherine last night and I'm certain that you did too." I hoped that she did not take favourably to Stefan's intentions. That would be a serious blow. She nodded, looking a little embarrassed but she also looked a little confused.
"I did hear them. My sister has a habit of luring many men into her bed and quite easily at that. I don't really understand this new development though. Stefan has always been kind to me but he has seemed indifferent to me too."
"Those were my thoughts exactly but maybe something has changed somehow. You haven't given him any reason to believe you to be interested have you?" I silently begged her to say no and I was relieved when she shook her head.
"No I haven't done anything but it is curious. Thank you for letting me know; I'll certainly be on my guard now," She smiled at me gratefully and I smiled back easily.
"I will leave you to your reading but lunch will be ready in twenty minutes." I kissed her hand softly before leaving her room. As I left she had a thoughtful expression on and there was slight suspicion in her gaze and I swear as I left I heard her whisper, "Katherine."
A/N: Thanks for reading! Hope you like it and please Review and follow. Next chapter will include Elena abusing her vampire powers, Damon playing the unnecessary hero and Elena lets a little of her steel defenses down.