-One-
"What are you doing out here so late, baby?"A voice slurs behind me in the dark. My heart pounds in my chest as my body tenses up. There was too much of a distance between me and the cemetery to run back to the party. My mind races with possibilities as I push myself to run back to the boarding house, but there was no use. I manage to get a few feet away before being thrown into the tree line of the woods to the left of me. I hit my head on the tree, groaning in pain, and try to get up.
"Come on, honey. Don't you wanna feed daddy?"The man chuckles wickedly, coming closer at a rate my intoxicated eyes couldn't follow.
"You're not my father."I snap, pulling myself to my feet and turning quickly just to run straight into his arms. How was that possible? He digs his nails into my waist, pulling me closer only to slam me back against a tree. I hit my head again and momentarily things go black. My eyes clear just in time to see the moonlight flash across the face of a demon. His eyes were bloodied just like the purplish red veins under his eye sockets and his teeth seemed to elongate in a way I hadn't seen outside of movies. My heart races in my ears as branches snap around us. More? He grips my jaw and jerks my head around, leaning into my neck. I scream for help, jerking up enough to hit him in the throat. He lets go and growls. I jump away from him and run back toward the street. Again I only get a few steps before he grips my hair and yanks me back.
"Is that any way to treat a lady?"Another voice growls through a thick European accent. A voice that made me shiver. I knew that voice, but I couldn't pinpoint who from. The man holding me close turns, allowing me to look at the dark figure as he approaches.
"Please.."I manage to cry out just before the man covers my mouth. I bite down and run toward the exotic man. He opens his arms and hugs me tight as I fall against his chest, smoothing my hair as he turns his back on the attacker.
"Stay right here, I'll take care of this."He says softly, kissing my forehead gently as if to ease a child. He turns and grips the man's throat just as he appears in front of him, growling and hissing an animalistic tone. I watch as the moonlight illuminates the woods enough to show me my savior's oddly familiar backside with his long sleeved grey shirt, boots, and dark jeans, his short curly dark hair and the build of his easily 6 foot stature. But I couldn't see his face as he throws the attacker against a tree, flashes at an inhuman speed toward him, and shoves a stick far enough through his chest that once the sound of hardening concrete stops and his head falls forward, he's hanging limp against the tree. It was terrifying don't get me wrong, but something about it was exciting as well. My savior turns into the shadows and walks toward me, arms open slightly to show he wasn't a threat, and touches my cheek.
"Are you alright, darling? You're quite a fighter."He asks softly with a faint smirk, rubbing his thumb over my right cheekbone as he inspects my throat.
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you."I say shakily, trying to focus on his face enough to somehow see it through the darkness. He smiles, white teeth flashing in the moonlight, and nods before stepping away. He clasps his hands behind his back and walks up toward the road again. I inch away from the tree and suddenly get dizzy, blood rushing to my head. Suddenly he's by my side again, holding me up.
"Where were you going, sweetheart?"He asks softly, barely above a whisper.
"Home. The boarding house."I manage to get out, too dizzy to concentrate. He nods and picks me up, tucking my head into his neck. He smelled of a mixture of cinnamon, sugar and old spice cologne.
"You live with the Salvatores,dear?"He whispers, taking his time. I nod slightly with my eyes closed and a hand resting on his opposite shoulder.
"Zach adopted me almost 12 years ago and raised me around Damon and Stefan."I say softly, opening my eyes once the sound of shuffling rocks cuts through the other wise peaceful night air. I was home. The man walks me to the porch and sits me on the brick railing, leaning me up against the brick pillar.
"They better take care of you."He says sweetly, kissing my hand in that infamously gentlemanly way. I smile and nod that they do.
"Adelina!"I hear Zach yell from the other side of the door. I look at the man to tell him that he should leave, but he was already gone.
"Goodnight Adelina."I hear his voice whisper ever so faintly as Zach and Stefan rush at me through the door. Behind them I could see Damon drinking a glass of bourbon with his arm around Elena, looking me over protectively.
"I'm fine guys. I just wanna go to bed."I say softly, turning to get off of the bricks and stumbling toward the door. Stefan chuckles and picks me up, carrying me to bed. Zach wasn't happy that I'd been out all night, but he knew I didn't like being home while Elena and Caroline were over. Seeing them suffocating over my brothers made my stomach hurt. I wave at them as Stefan reaches the stairs and smile as Caroline laughs. I loved those girls and Bonnie to death, but there are some things I could live without.
The next morning, my head was killing me from both the drinking and hitting my head. Stefan came in my room, opening the blinds and trying to kill me with all of his happy light until Damon steps in.
"Let the girl sleep. She's hungover. She could use a good afternoon off."He chuckles, winking at me. I smile and nod. I love Damon. Stefan shakes his head and pulls me out of bed.
"You're not my father, Stefan. Let me go."I shout, hitting his back as he throws me over his shoulder. He carries me down stairs to where Elena, Bonnie, Caroline and Jeremy sat in the living room. He sits me on the couch next to Jeremy and walks toward the kitchen.
"Hungry, baby sister?"He laughs, bringing me a plate of bacon and eggs. I smile and start eating. I loved it when Stefan cooked. It was the best.
"So I take it the party was good?"Bonnie laughs, eyeing Jeremy and I. Elena crosses her arms over her chest and glares at Jeremy, deep brown eyes fixated on his face as if she'd hopefully burn holes into it. Jeremy chuckles and nudges me.
"It was okay."He says smiling. I shake my head playfully, though the smile never came to my lips. The party was fine, it was after that terrified me. Caroline puts a hand on my back and looks at me with concern echoing deep with her soft blue eyes.
"What's wrong? Wasn't Jeremy nice to you?"She asks playfully, glaring at him. I nod slightly and finish the piece of bacon I had in my hand.
"I was kind of attacked on the way home."I say softly, hoping Damon and Stefan wouldn't hear me. Somehow they did and were at my side in seconds.
"What!? You didn't take her home? What happened?!"Damon growls, fists clenched at his sides out of respect for Elena as his eyes bore holes into Jeremy's very soul. Stefan looks at my neck and then inspects my wrists. I pull away as he smooths my hair and wince once his fingers brush the back of my head.
"I walked home until I was thrown against a tree by some man. I hit my head pretty hard, twice, and honestly if it wasn't for some guy walking by I might've died. That guy was crazy."I say softly, keeping my eyes on my food. Damon crouches next to me as Zach enters the room, arms crossed over his chest. Awesome.
"What happened."Damon demands to know gently, eyes softer than usual. I sigh and look at him nervously. This was gonna be awful.
"The guy said that I should feed him and he tried to go for my neck once his eyes filled with blood and his teeth elongated. He looked like a demented version of Dracula."I say softly, looking at Damon and Stefan apologetically for my crazy story. Caroline wraps her arms around me as Bonnie takes my hand, both whispering that it was all going to be okay. Tears fill my eyes as the memory consumes me and I lose focus.
"A man carried me home. He was too fast for me to follow and very strong. They both were, but the one that carried me home truly seemed to care. I don't know how but he seemed familiar."I say, losing myself in my thoughts. The last statement was a lie. I knew where I had heard that voice, smelled that cologne and felt that oddly warm skin. My dreams, but it wasn't possible. The man in my dreams was merely an angel looking after me, that I knew, but how did he manage to meet the man's stature so well?
"You're never taking her to another party again."Damon hisses at Jeremy, gripping the back of couch as he leans forward. Elena stands and touches Damon's arm to calm him.
"Damon, that's not fair to either of them. Jeremy didn't know that something like this would happen."Elena says sweetly. Damon looks down at me and then at each individual person before looking back at her.
"He knew, Elena. We all know that this can happen."He growls, grabbing his leather jacket off of the table behind Jeremy and walking out the door. They knew it would happen? How could they?
After a few hours of bickering about future parties and curfew, I sleepily stumbled into my room. I close the door, breathing deeply as the drapes over my windows flutter in the breeze. I climb into the window seat and close the windows, relaxing for a moment in the sun.
"Please tell me you aren't seriously contemplating listening to them."A familiar voice calls from behind me. My hear pounds in my chest at the thought of the man who carried me home. I turn and look at my bed. There, a man lied with his arms pulled up behind his head on my pillows and his ankles crossed. The man I've been seeing for years in my dreams. He was gorgeous to say the least, with a smile that could melt an iceberg, eyes that mirrored the clearest ocean and the charm of the Devil himself. With his arms behind his head, a small portion of his stomach just above his belt was left exposed.
"You sound very familiar."I say simply, ignoring his plea and crawling into bed next to him. He turns, that infamous grin curling his perfect lips, and tucks hair behind my ear. The heat radiating merely from his hand was astounding. I close my eyes and lean into his touch slightly.
"Well I have been here a while, love."He chuckles softly, pressing his lips to my forehead. I sigh happily, feeling completely content with the world for the first time since the party started, and shift closer toward him.
"A man saved me last night. He reminds me of you."I hum. He traces over my jaw and lets his hand drift down my arm, resting on my waist.
"I should thank him for saving my Queen."He whispers, tilting my head up to his gently. I open my eyes and smile.
"My name is Niklaus Mikaelson, but you can call me Nik."He says, finally telling me his name. My heart soars at the thought of finally knowing my mystery man's name. He smiles wider at my reaction and pulls me into him, lying on his back so I can lying on his chest.
"Rest, Lina."He whispers, playing with the ends of my hair. I shake my head groggily, eyes closed in peace.
"I don't wanna leave you. I know if I fall asleep, I won't see you again when I wake up."I say, looking up at him. His eyes fill with concern as he sighs.
"You're awake now and you see me. Whenever you need me, just close your eyes and call for me."He says sweetly, pulling the blanket up over me. I groan softly and curl into his side, submitting to my tiredness.
"Goodnight, my Queen."He whispers, humming a lullaby.
"Goodnight, Nik."I whisper just before the usual dreams take over.