A/N I had a major writer's block on this one but I'm glad I waited because I loved how this chapter turned out.
That being said, Cdaye8184 (Who also beta this, thanks so much honey!) and I are co-writing a story "What Lies Beneath." The story's on her profile, and we are having fun writing it. If you want, you can check it out.
Also, as another note, I started a new story called "My last chance in saving my humanity" and it is something different than I usually do. I appreciate your support since there are lovely reviewers here, and I'd like to hear from them again in other stories. Your reviews are what encourage me to write.
Thank You, and once again, thanks Courtney! :)
They were completely breathless, both of them. It had been so long since he had felt this close to someone, and Elena had never felt such passion before. He still had her against the wall, and she was using it as leverage to wrap her legs around his slim waist. His lips were locked with hers and Damon could not understand how a girl who was so young could make him feel the things he was feeling now.
But the heart ache and the feeling of trying to love again was heightening. He had been hurt, he had been used. He knew how to love, because if he didn't, he wouldn't have spent a hundred years searching for a way to free Katherine, even after what she did to him. Elena was raising things in him that Katherine had raised when he fell in love with her. He couldn't let his heart get broken again. He had to be cautious and protect it.
But he couldn't pull away from her no matter how much he wanted to. Instead, he fumbled with her gown, and looked in her eyes for permission. He saw no hesitation, no fear, just trust. Trust and desire. And that's exactly what he wanted to give her.
He knew that she deserved an explanation, the truth. But he also knew that he wasn't sure if he'll be able to love and be faithful. It was a selfish thing that he was going to sleep with her before explaining himself but he simply did not want to lose her.
He picked her up and twirled her in circles around the room, before blurring to his bedroom where he laid her; very gently. He gave her a light kiss on the lips before stroking her cheek, and after one last confirmation he unzipped the nightgown, before taking off his own clothing.
Elena gasped at the sensation of having his hands roaming around her bare body and she welcomed it, enjoying every bit of attention he was giving her.
She felt that she was at home.
When Elena opened her eyes, it was about midnight. She was in Damon's arms, covered only by the white sheets. She squirmed in his grasp, trying to turn around so that she could watch him sleep for a few moments. He was so peaceful and beautiful lying there, his arms still holding her closely, his face simply calm and at rest. She knew that what she did was wrong; she had not only given her virginity up but also given it to someone who was by all means, damned.
"Hey, baby," Damon's eyes half opened and his arms tightened around her, pulling her close enough to place a kiss on the top of her head.
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to wake you up."
"I wasn't in a deep sleep, don't worry," He smiled, stroking her hair.
"Oh, good," Elena said nervously as she buried her face in his chest.
They laid there for a few minutes before Elena spoke up again. "Damon?"
He looked down at her. "Yes?"
"I just want you to know that this night…It changed everything for me. This night was amazing and what we did…I felt closer to you. I just wanted to know if you're feeling the same things, and if I mean to you like you mean to me…" She swallowed soundly, and finished lamely, "I just want to mean something to you, even after tonight. Anything."
He looked sincerely into her eyes. "Elena, I've lived on this earth for over a hundred years. I've been put through so much, but I just want you to know that I care about you. Very much. And I promise that I will take good care of you, and make sure that you won't ever get hurt."
He nodded without saying a word, but he grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him straight in the eyes. "I want you to tell me that you're happy here, with me. I just want you to be happy."
Elena couldn't stomach to answer him, because despite everything she was feeling towards him, she still missed her family and the outdoors. She just wished that they could be together like a normal couple.
He seemed to be waiting for an answer, but when she didn't reply he took a deep breath. "The werewolf was sent by Klaus, Elena. I'm keeping you here for a reason."
"Klaus?" Elena's eyes widened. "The same Klaus in my dreams?"
"I've been in your dreams, so yes," Damon said sadly.
"What does he want with me?" She asked alarmingly.
"Klaus is a hybrid, Elena. He had a curse put on him for several years and managed to break it. What he didn't know was that he was going to be alone for all eternity because the only one who could create more hybrids was the same person he had to kill for the sacrifice."
Elena looked up at him, confused. "What sacrifice?"
Damon poured a glass of bourbon for himself and a glass of red wine for Elena.
"In order to break the curse, Klaus sacrificed three species. The first one was a doppelganger." He let the words sink in before he continued, "He also had to sacrifice a werewolf and a vampire, from both species."
"So what does that make Klaus?" Elena asked with wide eyes. "A werewolf, or a vampire?"
"He's both," Damon explained. "A hybrid, meaning a mixture of both. After the sacrifice took place, he became a hybrid. What he didn't know was that the doppelganger's blood was the only way to create more hybrids. Since he had killed her to complete the sacrifice, he was going to be alone for eternity."
"Oh my God," Elena gasped in disbelief, unable to form any words until a thought crossed her mind. "But, what about me? I don't even know this man…"
"Elena," Damon explained calmly, grabbing her face. "You are the second doppelganger, which means that Klaus will come for you. And when he does, you'll have to live under his care for all your life. He wouldn't let go of the only way to create other monsters. He'll torture you; he'll kill your family in front of you. I'm trying to protect you, Elena. It's true…at first I wanted to give you up but now things changed. And the only way to keep you safe is to keep you here."
"Why did you want to give me up?" Elena asked, ignoring his last sentence.
"Elena, it's not important right now." He told her; trying to make her understand.
"No, there had to be an incentive, something involved," Her face turned dark with anger.
"It doesn't matter, Elena. Things changed." Damon repeated.
"It matters to me!" She snapped. "I've been attached to you since the moment I came in here. I felt drawn to you in a minute. Was that your plan? To make me love you and then make my life a living hell?" Elena ran her hands through her messy hair.
"Elena…" He started to say desperately, but he bit his tongue when he thought about her words. "Did you just say that you love me?"
Elena flushed red. "No!"
"You can't take it back. I heard you." Damon whispered; feeling a thousand emotions shoot through him.
"Well, I started to fall in love with you!" She said with angry tears in her eyes. "But I realized right now that it's because of you I'm in this crap. I'm young, Damon, I'm supposed to hit the clubs not stay in a house because someone wants to make me a monster machine."
He tried to touch her, to soothe her, but there were no words to comfort her. He had no idea what to say.
"I'm sorry, Elena," He said sincerely. "I shouldn't have taken you from the very beginning. I was just so selfish."
"Just tell me," She begged, "What is it? Why did you really take me?"
He sat down next to her and sighed. "I'm going to tell you a story."
"I want nothing more from you than the truth." Elena mumbled; not ready to hear anything else.
"And I'm going to tell you the truth," Damon assured her, clearing his throat. "Last time, I told you that I had fallen in love with a poor girl, Ruth. After Ruth and her family left town, I felt lonely. I spent a lot of time working since I had a job in a local bar. When I wasn't called for war, I used to spend days either working or drinking." He sighed, putting the glass of bourbon away. He didn't need the extra memories.
"I returned home half-drunk once when I saw my father outside talking to a woman. This woman had just arrived in a carriage, and she was beautiful and educated. She was originally from Bulgaria but she had moved to England after the loss of her family in a tragic fire. Apparently, she wanted to start a new life in America and my father took her in. I could feel her gazing at me from where I was-drunk, hidden behind a tree-and I grew mesmerized by her."
"I remember that night I tried to pull myself together and I went to talk to her after I invited her to the gardens. She seemed so nice and shy, and I grew attached to her right at that very moment. Her name was Katherine Pierce." He glanced at Elena who was simply glaring at him; listening.
He swallowed. "Months passed and we spent a lot of time together. I started to forget about Ruth and I was ready to tell her I loved her. I opened up to Stefan about her and I told him how much she meant to me. I didn't tell my father, in fear that he'll screw up things. He never agreed with me on anything, and I did not want to lose Katherine."
His eyes looked pained as he braced himself for what was coming next. "I remember I went into town and bought her a ring. Even though I was short on money because I wasn't working a high pay job, I still got her the most beautiful ring they had. I did not want to ask my father for money, even though we were rich."
Elena couldn't help but smile. "You were a sweetie-pie."
He sighed. "I returned at night and planned to give it to her and tell her to marry me. My father was out of town for a while and I thought that I'd propose. Instead, when I returned, I heard moans of satisfaction coming from her mouth, and I opened her bedroom door in anger and rage. But those emotions changed to hurt and betrayal when I realized that the man that she was with was my brother. I just broke down and left. I couldn't stand their faces." Damon turned away from Elena; not wanting her to see how much it hurt him to relive it.
Elena's mouth was open in shock. How could a person do that to their own sibling?
"I travelled abroad and went to Europe, trying to forget about them. After a year, I lost my money and I had to return home. I felt so angry when I saw Stefan with her. The night that I returned, she had the guts to taunt and seduce me again." He said bitterly. "I was in my bedroom and she came to explain herself. She started to kiss me and then I felt her shove her wrist in my mouth, and then I felt a sharp pain in my neck."
"She was a vampire? She turned you, just like that?" Elena gasped.
"Yes," Damon replied. "Just like that, no remorse, no kindness…nothing." He cleared his throat again. "As a vampire, my traits magnified. I realized that she had turned my brother as well and we spend months playing this sick game, both trying to make her ours. She wanted us both, and she kept hurting us. Then one night, we heard a scream and then my brother and I saw her being taken away. It was Klaus."
"We did everything in our power to save her, but it was then that the trouble began. Stefan got addicted to blood, and Klaus had quickly informed us that he had killed Katherine…the doppelganger he needed."
He looked into her eyes, begging for her understanding.
"Katherine? Katherine was the one he killed?" Elena shouted, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Elena…" Damon began.
"You told me that he needs the second doppelganger," Elena continued, "You're telling me that I am the doppelganger of your ex-lover?"
"Elena, I'm so sorry…I never meant to hurt you." He told her honestly.
"You're sorry? You used me!" She screamed, "I'm nothing to you, am I? I'm just a substitute-You hoped to find the love you didn't find in Katherine in me! But guess what, Damon, I'd rather die!"
"Elena, you don't understand, there's more…". She cut him off.
"I'm not interested!" She barked back. "Get the hell away from me. I don't want to see you. This…This was all a mistake."
"Stefan?" The British voice hollered.
"Yes, Klaus?"
"Your brother's obsession with my doppelganger is becoming a little dangerous," Klaus looked at the woman in his lap and he started to trace her jaw as a method to calm himself down. "I have eyes on him everywhere, Stefan. I think it is time that I interfere."
"What is he saying, then?" Stefan asked casually.
"He informed the girl about my plans. She knows that I'd come for her sooner or later," Klaus's face turned red with fury. "I think it is time that I teach my little doppelganger a lesson, don't you think?"
"I don't understand. The girl's yours, and you know where she is, apparently. Why not claim her?" Stefan asked.
Because I like to play with my toys before I inflict on them the pain they deserve," Klaus smirked. "What do you say about taking my place for a while? You can run this place-Just take care of Lilith here for me." He put a kiss on the woman's cheek and rubbed his face against hers. "She's very obedient, aren't you, love?"
She nodded and he stroked her hair. "That's my girl."
"Are you serious?" Stefan asked. "Take your place?"
"Yes," Klaus repeated. "For a few weeks, or months, perhaps. It depends on the fun."
"But where are you going?" Stefan asked.
"Uh-oh," Klaus smirked, "No questions, Stefan. Are you ready to take my place, until I make sure that I play with my toys?"
"Yes," Stefan replied. "You can count on me."
Klaus let out an evil laugh. "Game on, Damon."
For the sake of the story, Katherine could be sacrificed as a vampire-doppelganger.
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