A/N: Here is the next one for you. Bit of an interlude before the vampire round up and not that eventful but there is some Delena is this. Enjoy
As I woke the next morning, I felt Jeremy's loss. I knew it was for the best though. If I made it through whatever was coming I would find him. After dressing I made my way down to breakfast. As I entered the room Giuseppe smiled widely.
"Ah Elena! Here come sit down!" He motioned to the place beside him and I moved myself in shock over to my seat.
"You seem to be in a fine mood today sir." I began and I tried not to let my confusion show. He smiled again, though there was darkness to this smile.
"Yes indeed I am." And that was all he said. I shivered. Something was wrong. Something was going to happen today. I looked to Katherine, who looked entirely chipper and was chatting animatedly to Stefan.
As ridiculous as it is, I began to hyperventilate. I could not breathe. Technically I don't have to breathe but here I was choking on the loss of air I did not require. Everyone immediately stopped talking, their attention turning to me. Giuseppe was first to speak.
"Oh dear! Are you quite alright?" I cringed at the concern in his tone, knowing it was false. I coughed a few times to clear myself.
"Sorry. I'm fine. I think I just need a bit of air." I stood and immediately Damon stood too and took my arm leading me toward the gardens. I chanced a look at Giuseppe as I walked away and he had dark glare on his face.
As soon as we were outside I leant against the wall with one hand, breathing heavily, trying to compose myself.
"Elena what is happening? If I'm not mistaken, vampires do not need to breathe. What's wrong with you?" he asked in a warily concerned voice.
"We don't need to breathe but sometimes when you're under enough stress you can forget things like that. I started to panic because I realized that whatever is happening, whatever this plot is, it's happening today." His eyes widened in alarm.
"But we don't even know what this plot is! How are we supposed to protect you if we don't know what we are up against?" I shook my head slowly. I pretended not to notice that he was only interested in protecting me.
"I don't know. I have no idea what is going to happen. The only thing we can do is wait and let things unfold. I know you don't want to believe it but you're father is involved somehow." He sighed and then nodded with reluctance.
"I didn't want to believe that father would be a part of something like this but I have every reason to believe it now. The way he was acting before, it was far too strange. But also Katherine is far too calm. If you can sense something is going down then shouldn't she? Why isn't she out attempting to save herself? I'm sorry Elena but I think she's part of this too." My heart clenched at his words. I had already had my own suspicions of course but hearing it from someone else made it more real.
I pushed off of the wall and moved closer to Damon but as I did I faltered in my step and nearly fell. He caught me easily and stared down at me in concern. He brushed my hair back from my face.
"Elena what's wrong? Are you okay?" I pulled myself back on my feet and shook my head to clear it.
"Sorry, I'm okay. I just haven't really had a chance to feed properly in a while. The whole town seems to be on vervain and it's far too risky." His face lit with understanding and he pulled away from me. I looked on in confusion until he began to undo the top buttons of his shirt. My hands shot out to stop him.
"No Damon. It's kind of you to offer but there's really no need, I'll be fine." He shook his head and continued his task until three buttons on his shirt were undone, exposing his throat. I swallowed instinctively as I saw the veins pulsing underneath his skin. My fangs itched to come out.
"Don't lie to me Elena. You can barely walk and you look far too pale. Take it, I'm offering it to you willingly." He insisted and I sighed. If I wasn't so hungry I may have protested more but I stepped closer to him and looked up into his eyes. He was completely sincere. I broke his gaze to look around and I spotted it almost instantly. More proof that Giuseppe was in on this. It must have been moved here recently as I had not seen it the day we arrived.
"You see that plant over there? Go grab some and come back." He frowned but hastened to do as I asked. As he returned he held out the plant, intending to hand it to me. I stepped back quickly. His brow furrowed even further.
"Elena?" he asked in confusion.
"That plant you're holding is vervain. This is its purest form. I want you to hold it in one hand and if I don't stop or I hurt you too much, I want you to put in against my skin. Believe me, I'll stop then." He eyed the plant in his hand with new fascination. He met my gaze again.
"What will happen if I touch you with it?"
"It will burn me." I answered simply. He gasped and backed away, looking intent to throw the vervain but I pulled him back by the shoulders.
"I will heal Damon. It won't be permanent." He still looked a little shaken but he nodded quickly. He leant his neck to the side, exposing his throat more and I closed the distance between us. I could feel him tensing in anticipation so I lowered my face down and placed a kiss on the space between his shoulder and throat. He made a noise of surprise and I giggled quietly.
"Did you expect me to just tear into you? I'm going to try to make this as painless as I can." With that I kissed the space again and sunk my fangs as gently as possible into his skin. He gave a low groan of pain and then he was quiet. I took in slow pulls, trying to keep myself in control even though the temptation to become vicious and greedy kept rearing its head. The taste of blood after so long was euphoric. I felt Damon clutch my waist tightly and I gave a tiny moan against his skin in response. I knew I had to stop soon otherwise he would lose consciousness. With an internal groan I pulled back forcefully. Damon looked strangely calm considering I had just been sucking the life out of him; until he swooned. I rushed forward and held him up.
"Sorry I took too much. You should have stopped me. Here." I said biting into my wrist and holding it up to him. He took it in his hand gently and pressed his lips to it, taking in my blood. I pulled away as soon as I was sure he had enough. Almost immediately he stood straight and strong again. He swallowed nervously before speaking.
"I thought it would hurt a lot more. It wasn't that bad actually. How do you feel now?" I felt amazing now. My body felt stronger and more relaxed. For one thing I did not feel like I wanted to kill every human being in existence. I smiled at him.
"Much better. Thank you." He smiled in relief and then he sobered quickly.
"So what do we do? I can't do normal mundane things today. Not when I know that this might be the last day I spend with you." I knew exactly what he meant. Every minute that passes I wonder if something is going to happen. Every loud noise I hear I think that this is it. I smiled at him in grim happiness.
"Let's just spend today together." With that we made our way inside again. Katherine sent a knowing smirk my way. It was obvious to another vampire that I had just fed. Giuseppe was still looking gloatingly happy and Stefan looked confused...and was that guilt? I frowned. Giuseppe stood and addressed the room.
"Well I hope you excuse me ladies but I wonder if I might have a word with my sons in private?" Katherine and I nodded our heads almost in sync and Giuseppe lead the way out of the room. Stefan followed immediately but Damon hesitated. He sent a glance my way and I smiled at him in reassurance. Eventually he smiled back before following Stefan out of the room. Soon Katherine and I were alone. Katherine sneered a little.
"I really do detest that man. It's irritating too when Stefan continues to praise the ground he walks upon. Your Damon understands though. He sees how cruel he is." I nodded in agreement. I felt a little uncomfortable being alone with her. It had been a while since there had been an opportunity. She seemed colder than before; like she was distancing herself from the situation.
"He will make an exceptional vampire; Damon, I mean. He is quite innocent now but I know that there's darkness there. It'll be interesting to see it come out." My eyes snapped to her sharply.
"I will do everything I can to make sure that doesn't happen!" I argued. I wouldn't let him become a vampire. I loved him too much to force that darkness on him. Katherine sighed.
"Elena, sweetheart, it may already be too late for that. I'm not stupid. As hungry as you have been the last few days, you would have needed to heal him. Your blood is in his system now. If something were to happen..." she trailed off.
"Katherine, don't! I'm begging you!" I cried, pleading her with my eyes. She rolled her eyes.
"Relax Elena. I don't mean that I mean to kill him, I swear. But it is a dangerous world out there." With that said, she stood and sauntered out of the room, probably upstairs to see Emily.
A/N: Okay so I hope you enjoyed even though it was not that eventful. Next chapter is the vampire round up. Please review :)