A/N: haha glad everyone liked the throwback to Season 1's version of Damon in the last chapter! this chapter Elena gets to deal with his 1864-self ;) enjoy!
CHAPTER 3: ENVY
Elena let the newspaper fall from her hands, feeling extremely out of place.
1864.
She was so screwed.
Elena began walking, without having any clear idea of where exactly she was going. Fortunately, however, her feet carried her along—as though she had some predetermined destination in mind.
Soon enough, she found herself strolling down a small dirt path towards an elegant white mansion, enclosed between two large columns. As she stared at the building, Elena discerned that the people who lived there were clearly wealthy. Then, somehow, she realized what she was looking at: The Salvatore Estate.
She took one more step forward when suddenly she heard a voice behind her, followed by the sound of someone running. "Miss Katherine!"
Elena froze, dread filling the pit of her stomach. She couldn't believe she had been so stupid as to forget that Katherine would here, too—how on Earth was she going to explain her presence to these people? From what Damon and Stefan had told her, the townspeople of this time period had a strong hatred for the unexplainable…and it certainly didn't get more supernatural than doppelgangers…
"Miss Katherine," someone grabbed her arm, and Elena turned around with a gasp to see a young girl standing in front of her. She had dark skin and wide eyes that seemed much wiser beyond her years.
"Uh," Elena stammered, "Yes?"
"What happened to you?" the girl asked, fussing over the state of Elena's dress. "The Founder's Ball is tonight—I've been looking everywhere for you!"
"I…um…" she could feel her cheeks heat in embarrassment, "I was just…"
The girl's gaze suddenly sharpened as she examined Elena's expression. After a moment, she said slowly, "You seem a bit confused, Miss Katherine. It is I, your handmaiden. Emily."
"Emily," Elena breathed in understanding, "Yes, yes, of course. I'm afraid that I…spent too long in the sun and am a bit disoriented. Perhaps I could…rest?"
Emily continued staring at her, and Elena was suddenly absolutely certain of the fact that this girl knew that she wasn't Katherine.
"I'm afraid there is no time for you to rest," Emily answered in a careful voice, "You must get ready for tonight. "
"Oh, yes, you're right," she agreed hastily, "Ah, the ball is at the Lockwood mansion, right?"
"It is."
"Great," Elena said weakly, following behind Emily as they walked towards the house. Once they got to the doorway, however, Emily moved to the side respectfully. "Is something wrong?"
"You must walk ahead," Emily said meaningfully, "Miss Katherine."
"Oh…okay," Elena said awkwardly, stepping hesitantly into the house. Luckily, no one seemed to be around, and she turned quickly to glance back at Emily. "Should I go upstairs?"
"Yes, your dress has been laid out for you in your bedchamber. I shall help you get ready before the carriage arrives for you and Mr. Salvatore."
Elena bit her lip but didn't reply as she did her best to gracefully ascend the staircase. Once they were fully upstairs, Emily slid past her to push open a door into what was presumably Katherine's bedroom.
"Wow," Elena murmured under her breath when she caught sight of the dusky blue dress lying across her bed, "That's…beautiful."
"Yes, you do have good taste," Emily smiled at her for the first time, "Wait here. I'll run you a bath."
Elena nodded numbly and sat down onto the soft bed, fingering the dress absentmindedly. Hmm, it looked like the real Katherine wasn't here at all…but how was she supposed to play the part of Katherine Pierce when she had no idea how to act?
Emily hadn't been gone more than two minutes when there was a knock on her bedroom door. Elena stood up in a panic, wondering who it was.
"Katherine—I know you're in there," Damon called, sounding slightly desperate. "Please, I just wish to speak to you!"
Elena could feel her heart pounding and she hurried towards the adjoining room that Katherine's handmaiden had disappeared into. "Emily," she hissed urgently, tapping lightly on the door, "I need your help!"
The water quieted and Emily stepped out, looking puzzled. When Damon pounded on the bedroom door again, her expression cleared. "Would you like me to tell him you are busy?"
"Wh-what? No, no…I just…" she stumbled over her words, "I was wondering if it was appropriate for him to visit me in Kath—I mean, in my bedchambers?"
Emily met her gaze steadily, "May I remind you, Miss Katherine, that both of the Salvatore men have been your bedchambers before…as well as in your bed."
Elena flushed.
"I'll let him in," Emily said not unkindly, "But I will inform him that you are already pressed for time." She touched Elena's arm briefly, "Do not worry. I will be waiting at the end of the hall."
"Yes, that would be appreciated. Thank you, Emily." Elena watched as the girl opened the door and spoke quietly to Damon before allowing him into the room. Emily sent Elena one warning glance before shutting the door firmly behind her.
"Katherine," Damon's eyes widened in concern, "What has happened to your dress?"
Elena looked down at the dress she was wearing—the one that she had trailed carelessly in the mud and rocks on her way to the Salvatore Estate. She shrugged, keeping a calm demeanor. "Nothing that can't be fixed," she responded, taking a step backwards so that she had a full view of this Damon. The human Damon.
'You should have met me in 1864. I think you would have liked me.'
It was the cruelest twist of fate that Damon's last words had come back in this manner, and Elena found herself balking at the significance of it.
Damon looked distracted and he abruptly moved towards her so that he could take one of her hands within his own. "I don't understand," he whispered, "Why did you pick my brother to escort you instead of me?"
"Your..." Elena could feel herself floundering, "You mean to the Founder's Ball?"
"Yes," Damon said fervently, "Why Stefan? Why not me?"
He was jealous, Elena realized. Envy.
She looked at the lovelorn expression on his face and found herself unable to answer. "There will be other events, Damon," she said faintly, "This is just one of many."
"But tonight you will be on his arm, and not mine," Damon said insistently, "Tell me, what can Stefan offer you that I cannot?"
She swallowed nervously, remembering Katherine's sentiments. 'It's okay to love them both...I did.'
Elena cleared her throat, "I care for you both equally, Damon. I just..."
"But you prefer Stefan," he remarked dejectedly, "Why?"
At that moment, there was another knock on the door and Emily stuck her head in. "I apologize for interrupting, Miss Katherine, but time is running short. I must still run your bath, do your hair, your makeup—"
"That's fine," Elena broke in, "Mr. Salvatore was just leaving." Emily nodded and slipped past them to finish drawing the water for the bath. Elena led Damon back to the door and dropped her voice to a whisper. "I'm sorry," she said sincerely, "I did not wish to hurt you by asking your brother to escort me to the ball."
Damon still looked downcast, but his eyes lit up as a sudden idea came to him. "At least let me meet you afterwards?"
"What?"
"Yes," he said excitedly, "Stefan may get to have you for the evening...but I shall have you at night."
Elena's mouth dropped open. Weren't people from the 19th century supposed to be less...forward?
"It is settled, then," he reached out for her hand again and quickly brushed a kiss over it, "Until tonight, my lady."
She shut the door behind him and then rested her head against it, closing her eyes. What had she gotten herself into?
.
The Founder's Ball was as disastrous as Elena had imagined it would be. Between Stefan's constant stream of compliments and the fact that Damon spent the entire evening glowering at them from the corner of the room, Elena was ready for the night to end even before it began.
"You look simply breathtaking, Katherine," Stefan murmured as they circled around one another. "I cannot believe my good fortune that you chose me to escort you tonight." He glanced over his shoulder at Damon, "Though, my brother is still upset at your decision."
Elena made a noncommittal noise.
"Are you feeling alright?" Stefan looked concerned, his brow furrowing, "I hope you are not regretting choosing me instead of Damon?"
"No," Elena responded stiffly, "I am simply tired, is all." She looked at him hopefully, "Would you mind if we took a short break?"
"Of course," Stefan bowed slightly—ever the true gentleman. "Would you like me to find you something to drink?"
"I can find it myself," Elena said quickly, feeling an odd sense of claustrophobia as she pushed Stefan's hands off her. "I just need some air. Thank you." She did her best to hurry out of the house, which was difficult in large part due to her heavy skirts and restraining corset. Honestly, how did these women breathe?
It was quiet outside and Elena let out a small sigh of relief. The scene inside had been uncomfortable and keeping up the charade was proving to be more difficult than she had thought. She just couldn't understand Stefan—he claimed to hate dancing in the 21st century, yet he was more than happy to dance the night away with Katherine. And with the real Katherine being MIA, there was no way that Stefan was being compelled...yet he hadn't stopped complimenting her hair, her dress, or trying to kiss her the entire night.
"Have you grown weary of my brother's company already?"
Elena whirled around to see Damon standing behind her, a knowing look in his eye. "Mr. Salvatore," she said formally, her gaze darting back and forth to ascertain that they really were alone. "What are you doing out here?"
"I followed you," he said with boyish innocence as he stepped closer to her and gently rested his hands on her shoulders. "You should have chosen me to escort you, Katherine," he said huskily, "I would have given you a night to remember."
Inexplicably, Elena felt close to tears. So, this was the real Damon—sweet, sincere, caring...untainted by Katherine's betrayal.
"Katherine?" Damon looked horrified, "You are crying..." He stumbled backwards, "I did this to you...it's my fault..."
"No," Elena reached out to him, grasping his arm tightly. "Please, don't go. I am merely upset because I have unintentionally hurt you." She took a deep breath, "Damon, I beg of you...There is no need to be envious of your brother. Y-you are..." She broke off there, the gnawing feeling in her throat growing from holding back her tears. "Any woman would be lucky to be courted by you," she finally managed to say, her voice a mere whisper.
Damon was looking at her strangely, seemingly bewildered. "Katherine?" He frowned as he examined her expression, and the bafflement grew across his face, "Katherine?"
"Yes?"
He shook his head, still looking confused. "You are...different," he murmured, stepping closer to her and cupping her face gently. "You seem almost like...a different person."
"Maybe I am," Elena agreed softly, gazing up at him. "I wish for you to find someone who will give you her whole heart, Damon. That is what you deserve."
His expression didn't change as he took one more step forward, looping his arms around her waist to draw her even closer. When they were mere inches apart, Elena's lips parted subconsciously as he leaned down to kiss her. To her surprise, he pulled back within seconds. "You're not her," Damon sounded awestruck, "Who are you?"
Damn.
"Just remember what I told you," she said desperately, "There is a woman for you out there—someone who will choose you, and only you."
"Katherine!" Elena turned around to see Stefan standing at the doorway, his jaw clenched. "I've been looking everywhere for you...What's the matter?"
"Nothing," she said quickly, feeling the tension escalate between the two brothers. "Truly, I was just about to go back inside."
"I hope my brother was not taking advantage of your courteous nature," Stefan said, his gaze flitting between the pair. "Are you alright?"
Elena opened her mouth to answer, but it was Damon who intervened. "I was simply on my way back to the estate when I saw Katherine standing out here. She was kind enough to keep me company while I waited for a carriage." He turned to her and bowed, "I apologize if I have taken up too much of your time, my lady."
"N-no," she stammered, "No problem, at all."
"I shouldn't have sought your company tonight when you have been escorted here by someone else." Damon looked up at Stefan, "Do you forgive me, brother?"
Stefan's expression relaxed, "Yes, of course. Think nothing of it." He held his arm out to Elena, "Ready to go back inside?"
Elena looked back over at Damon, but he merely nodded his head at her. "Have a good night, Katherine. I will see you in the morning."
She smiled, recognizing the shift in his attitude. "Thank you, Damon," she curtsied, "Have a good night, yourself." Then she gracefully took Stefan's arm and walked back into the Lockwood mansion.
As she entered the doorway, the light suddenly became so blinding that she was forced to throw her hands in front of her face as a shield. It grew brighter and brighter until she was completely surrounded and she felt a familiar force pulling her away.
*aw I love 1864-Human-Damon :) there are five sins left: wrath, greed, sloth, lust, and gluttony. as some of you guessed, the trials WILL be getting harder =P