Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created by L.J. Smith, as portrayed in the TV series created by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec. The plot is based on the novel The Cardoss Luck (1974) by Janet Louise Roberts. All rights to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
FORTUNE FAVORS THE BRAVE
~ VII ~
Elena awoke the following morning with a new resolve. She would do whatever she could to help Damon. Whether he liked it or not.
She came down for breakfast to find John Gilbert already at the table, ordering the staff around.
Splendid. A house full of guests and he was the only one around. She tried to sneak back out before he saw her, but failed.
"Niece! Your servants are incompetent. I specifically asked for hardboiled eggs and this is what I get!" he growled at one of the new servants, a young local girl named Madeleine, showing her one half of an egg, perfectly golden.
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Uncle. Perhaps you would be more comfortable staying at a tavern? Or perhaps in your own home," Elena said sweetly.
"You always were a cheeky little brat," he snarled, throwing his napkin on the table and striding up to her.
"Mornin', John," a sleepy voice drawled.
John stopped his advance on Elena and turned his attention to the newcomer, greeting him with a – was that a smile?
"Stefan."
Elena turned her head to find the two men greeting. Why did they get along so well?
"Elena," Stefan smiled pleasantly. "Good morning."
"Good morning, Stefan. I trust you had a comfortable night?"
"Oh, he did," Katherine sauntered down the stairs, looking every bit like the cat that ate the canary, feathers and all. "Did Damon?"
Elena was shocked at Katherine's indecency. She was a vile creature, indeed.
"I do not believe that is any of your concern," Elena said coolly after a moment of collecting herself.
"Of course he didn't," Katherine carried on, "who could possibly enjoy sharing a bed with an icicle?" Katherine mocked, earning an ill-disguised chuckle from John, then pretended to think about it. "Have you heard from Mason, by the way? He did seem eager to have you melt in his arms… or perhaps he realized it was a lost cause?"
"That is enough, Katherine."
Elena couldn't tell who was more surprised to hear him speak up – she or Katherine – but Elena felt her heart fill with gratitude towards him.
"Stefan, do not tell me you are choosing her? You will only get frostbites."
"I said, that is enough, Katherine. We are guests in this house and Elena deserves our respect."
Katherine rolled her eyes and went to sit down at the table, letting Madeleine pour her tea.
"We were planning on going out riding today," Stefan said to Elena. "Would you like to join us?"
"I would like that very much, Stefan," Elena smiled warmly.
"Excellent. We shall set out after breakfast," he proclaimed.
As Elena got in the saddle, she felt how sore she was from her mad dash the other day and found it hard to keep up with the others.
Distracted by Katherine's insistence that he chase her, Damon didn't notice Elena falling behind – or his cousin joining her in a trot.
"I'm afraid I'm a bit out of practice," Elena said to Stefan as they rode side by side.
"I do not mind taking it slow," Stefan smiled. "All the more time I get to spend with my beautiful cousin."
"Is he not over there?" Elena mocked, gesturing to the dark head well ahead of them.
"My cousin's wife, if you so prefer," he clarified.
"You and Damon are very different. Do you take after your mother or father?" Elena said casually.
"People say I am the spitting image of my father, but I would like to think I have not inherited his personality."
"What was he like?"
"He was not an agreeable man, but he paled in comparison to my uncle."
"How so?"
"Dante and Damon are very much alike – ruthless gamblers and womanizers."
"You do not think highly of your cousin," Elena surmised.
"Damon was our grandparents' favorite. He is spoiled and entitled and possessive. I cannot imagine he would look kindly upon his wife socializing with his friends – especially his male friends."
"What about his cousin?" Elena raised an eyebrow.
"Even less so," Stefan winked. "But I have a feeling you do as you please, Elena. You are strong, and I greatly admire that quality in a woman."
"You do?"
"Most definitely," Stefan smirked.
Elena looked away from his appreciative gaze, pretending to be enjoying the scenery. Inside, she was pleased. This was too easy.
"Does Damon look like your grandparents?" Elena asked as they were taking the horses into the stables.
"Yes, very much so."
"Do you think they favored him because of that? Because they saw themselves in him?"
"Do you listen to gossip, Elena?" Stefan cocked his head to one side, a dangerous glimmer in his eyes.
"I despise gossip," Elena said plainly, turning around to hang up her saddle. Where was Harper when you needed him?
"Let me guess," Stefan whispered in her ear, standing far too close for comfort. "My dear cousin has been filling your head with lies and now you want to know if the rumors are true."
Elena turned around in the narrow space between their bodies and innocuously looked up at Stefan, not letting on how uncomfortable his closeness was making her. "I'm afraid I do not know what you are referring to, Stefan."
"Well, well, what do we have here?" an amused voice drawled from the doorway. "Keeping it in the family, are we, Niece?"
Elena's face turned crimson as she turned her head and saw John, Katherine and Damon standing there. Stefan took a step back but seemed unperturbed. Elena could see Katherine struggling to keep her features impassive. Damon was doing no such thing. Anger was rising off him like heat waves and he didn't bother disguising how he truly felt.
Elena looked down at the floor briefly and when she looked up again, Damon was gone.
Dinner was strained, to say the least. Stefan easily conversed with Elena, under blatant scrutiny from Damon and Katherine.
When the night's card game started, Elena slipped away to read David his story and by the time she left his room, she had realized something.
Excited, she grabbed a shawl and a light from her room and pushed open the door to the library.
Diaries.
She had seen them on the shelves when she was inspecting the room in preparation of the remodeling, but hadn't thought much about them. It wasn't until tonight, when David asked her to read a story about secret diaries, that she remembered them.
Eagerly she scanned the shelves of the library. The leather-bound books had the year printed on them, and she pulled out a couple of journals within the estimated timeframe.
Alessandra Salvatore had been an avid writer. Elena enjoyed the writing – the words flowed beautifully, much like her graceful handwriting.
Elena thought her heart might stop when she found the section she was looking for. Tucking the journal safely under her arm, she exited the room and went back to her bedroom. She listened for sounds from Damon's room, but heard nothing. Perhaps he was still up, playing cards. Perhaps he was sleeping. Perhaps he was sharing Katherine's bed tonight. Bile rose in her throat at that last thought. She had to know. So she pushed the door open.
"Damon?" she whispered into the darkness. The curtains were drawn, depriving the room of even the palest moonlight.
"Done with your lover already?" his velvety voice drawled, dripping with venom. A light flicked and Elena could see him in his bed, propped up against the headboard.
"What are you talking about?"
"I came to see you…" he said, getting out of bed and striding up to her, "…but you weren't in your room. Were you waiting for my cousin to claim his prize?"
"No!"
"Where were you?"
"I was in the library. Reading," she said and held up the leather-bound journal. "I was coming to tell you what I found, but clearly you are not interested in anything I have to say," she huffed and turned around.
"Elena, wait!"
She spun around in anger. "How could you think for even a second that I would betray you like that?" she spat out. "I told you I was going to help you find out the truth."
"And I told you to stay away from Stefan."
"I don't take orders. Not anymore."
"I don't trust people. I guess we both have things to work on…"
"One of us does," Elena muttered under her breath.
"What did you find?" Damon asked, deciding to drop the subject.
"Your grandmother kept a journal. She chronicled everything. I mean, she wrote it like a novel, but this was her life," Elena tapped on the leather cover.
"Everything?"
"Everything. She even described Guido, the stable hand. He looked exactly like Stefan. And according to this, Davide was out of state when she learned she was pregnant - and he had been for a long time. Giuseppe was without a doubt Guido's son."
"You… beautiful, clever, stubborn woman…" Damon said, warmth in his voice and eyes as he cupped her face with his strong hands. "Thank you."
"But we still don't know if he was adopted. I haven't gotten that far. Maybe I can talk to Stefan…"
"No!"
"No?"
"You wish to be the death of me?"
"I do not understand…"
"Do you not realize it slays me to see you with Stefan? Even if it is a charade?"
"You mean like it hurts me to see you with Katherine?"
"I believe you claimed not to be jealous…" Damon raised an eyebrow.
"That was before!"
"Before…?" he prodded.
"Before you told me you loved me, you… jerk."
Damon laughed at her attempted insult. "And you were not jealous before last night?"
"No," she said, defiantly raising her chin.
"What about after I did this…" he said in a low voice, stepping closer to plant a feather light kiss on her collarbone.
"No…" Elena said, the conviction in her voice faltering.
"…or this…" he kissed her neck.
"Not at all…" she breathed.
"Then what about this?" he said and crashed his lips to hers.
Elena awoke the following morning tangled in the softest sheets she'd ever come in contact with. Her gaze wandered over to the equally smooth skin of the man who had become her lover last night. Her husband. She had never fully appreciated his beauty until this very moment. As he slept, his features became almost angelic. So serene, so…
"I believe it is a sign of very poor manners to ogle a man like this, Mrs. Salvatore," he smirked, his eyes still closed.
Elena quickly turned away, starting to get out of bed. She didn't get far before his hand locked around her wrist.
"Where do you think you are running off to?" he said.
As she turned her head, those pools of blue were filled with adoration and mischief – if such a combination could be said to exist.
"I should… there are things that require my attention…"
"I fully agree," he smirked, "I believe I am on the top of that list."
"Damon!" she giggled in surprise when he pulled her close.
"Do not ever let anyone call you Ice Queen again, my love," he said, caressing her face in admiration. "You are all fire."
"How so?"
"Pure, bright, blinding, all-consuming…"
"I am no longer pure," she blushed at the memory of last night.
"I have no complaints," he smirked before he claimed her lips for himself again.