A/N I'm lost without my beta-Thanks so much, Courtney! You're the best ;)
Thanks for reviewing, readers! :3
Damon woke up with his arms wrapped tightly around Elena. Stretching a little because of his aching shoulder since Elena had slept all night on it, he slowly shifted so that he could see if she was asleep.
Her hair was tousled and her eyes were closed, and she simply looked at peace. There were no signs of fear, any anger or hurt in her eyes, because she was in another world. He fought the urge to get inside her head just to know what she was dreaming about but he decided against it. He couldn't violate her mind if she was willing to make them work. And he wanted this relationship to work. He knew that he couldn't love her yet, but he was feeling attracted to her and that attraction was making him protect her, and be there for her.
He still remembered it clearly, the day Klaus came for Katherine and sacrificed her for his curse. He remembered how Klaus had dragged Katherine's body in the tomb and he was unable to save her, because he was still a weak, measly human. It ached to watch it happen, and he wasn't going to go through the same thing with Elena. He may no longer feel any sort of attachment toward Katherine but if anything, he learned from his mistakes with her and it taught him things and he hated to admit it, but he was thankful for it. He didn't know why Klaus wanted Elena exactly, since he didn't trust Klaus with anything he said. But he didn't care, Elena was not leaving his sight, he'd be damned if he let anything happen to her.
He gently pushed her hair off her face and tugged it behind her ear. He heard her mutter something in her sleep and he chuckled at how sweet she was before leaning down to kiss her cheek. A soft breeze came through the window and he inhaled deeply, Elena's scent filling his nostrils. Her delicious smell of strawberry cream shampoo mixed with her light honey perfume also combined with her smell. She was intoxicating and that was just another simple thing he really adored about her.
It hadn't been too long since he last fed, but he could feel his hunger rising at the sight and smell of her in his arms, her delicate pulse throbbing dangerously close to his mouth and her nectar-like aroma seeping into his nostrils clouding his mind. Simply put, she smelled and looked divine and he began thinking just how sweet and tasty her blood would feel slowly seeping down his throat. Heavenly, that's for sure. Perfection probably. He shook every thought away though when he felt her move, he didn't want to risk frightening her.
He was greeted by her sleepy face and an angelic smile.
"Good Morning," She yawned, "How long have I been asleep?"
"Way too long," Damon teased, "You shouldn't sleep so much, Miss Gilbert. You need an active body." He raised his eyebrows suggestively, and within minutes, Elena was on top of him.
"You know what," She mumbled seductively, "You weren't punished for lying to me, Mr. Salvatore. And you did insist on keeping active…" She bit her nails deliberately as she sat on his stomach, straddling him. She quickly removed her hand from her mouth to place it on his chest, inspecting his muscles with her fingers as her teeth bit down on her bottom lip, making her look way too sexy and irresistible.
"I'm all yours," He said with a groan, reaching out to touch her, but she jerked back.
"No touching, Mr. Salvatore. We're going to do this my way today."
She giggled, and Damon smirked. "Give it your best shot."
Every night Elena felt more consumed by him. Instead of asking him the questions she had about what vampirism and what he was really like in his past life, she found herself constantly wanting to be with him. Instead of finding a way to really understand the thing about Katherine, she just decided to stop caring and just feel satisfied. And Damon did take care of her, of course. He proved that each night. He rocked her world in ways she didn't think that were humanly possible but then again-Damon Salvatore wasn't exactly human now was he?
She knew that she had told him that she forgave him, but in her heart, the ache that she still could be a substitute was still there. And she wanted more than just hold his attention; she wanted him to be hers, period. She wasn't going to share him with other women. Due to that fact, Elena had started to also give him her own blood, in fear that he would touch someone else. It was possessive of her, but she didn't care. Damon Salvatore was hers now and as long as he intended to treat her the way he was treating her now, she wasn't going to complain.
"Your blood is the tastiest blood I've ever drank," He would say every time after he'd closed the wound with just a flick of tongue which was enough to make her go crazy. He had told her stories about a vampire and human sharing blood being the most intimate experience somebody could encounter and boy was he ever right. When she was allowing him to take her blood, they wouldn't even do anything sexually but he would send her into oblivion making her forget her own name with a simply suck and bite, every time. It was mind-blowing and she couldn't help but think what it would feel like if he started letting her take his blood. The pleasure would probably be unbearable but she had an idea and eventually she would taunt him into doing it.
But one day, when she had the idea up her sleeve, he'd bit into his wrist and offered the vampire blood to her. According to Damon it was one of the most extraordinary things a vampire could do to a human. A vampire giving blood to a human being was an act of selflessness and connection, he'd say. And he was right-Everytime Elena drank his blood, she felt more connected to him, and she discovered that she could feel what he was feeling everytime they both had each other's blood in their systems. Vampire blood also made her stronger, and she longed to taste him everyday. He was really turning her to some kind of monster and killing her with desire everyday. And just like her hypothesis, it was mind-shattering. Just him taking her blood had been exquisite but them sharing each other's, that was out of this world.
"This spell was supposed to be done over a week ago!" Klaus pushed at the table, sending it flying across the room. Gloria flinched at the sound of the glass shattering.
"I'm sorry, Klaus, I'm trying," She tried to talk to him, but he pinned her against the wall in a mere second.
"Don't screw this up, Gloria. In case you've forgotten, your daughter is still being taken care of. Don't make me do this the hard way." He threatened although it wasn't like he could go through with it, she was basically his only hope.
"It's not my fault, Niklaus," Gloria screamed, "I'm having trouble finding my magic. It's been so long since I practiced, all I need is more time, I beg you," She pleaded with tears in her eyes. "My daughter is nine months old, she shouldn't be in all of this. Please, let her go and I promise you, I'll help you either way…"
"A week," He said finally, pondering the idea. "I'll resort to other methods if you don't get my spell done in a week. Explain the procedure."
"Y-Yes," She said, her body trembling. "This spell involves blood. I will take a little of your blood and put it in a cup where I can perform the ritual. The objects you brought of the other person shall be put on top of the blood as I chant the spell. You shall then fall asleep and you will find yourself in the other's body."
"What happens with my body?" Klaus asked curiously.
"It'd be safely locked in this casket here," She showed him a white casket at the end of the room.
"And with his? Will he try to break free?"
"No. There is no way that the other person could break free. His body will be yours…Unless you want to exchange bodies." Gloria sighed.
"Exchange bodies?" He asked, intrigued.
"He'll have yours and you'll have his." She informed him causing his eyebrows to rise.
"I prefer the first option." He said, after pondering the idea.
"May I ask, Klaus, what is the purpose for this?" She was shaking like a leaf knowing she was overdoing it with questions but she let curiosity get the best of her and if she was performing dark magic, she should at least know why.
"Damon Salvatore has a thing that I need most to break my mother's curse on me. I want revenge, mostly. I want her to believe that her sweet vampire turned on her."
"But if you know where she is, why do you need the spell? You could've taken what's yours." The witch offered.
"And where's the fun in that, Gloria? Where's the revenge? It would've been too easy to kill Damon and take his precious girl away from him. But I don't want to do that." Klaus yelled.
"Klaus, this is not-" She began.
"Gloria, I answered you because I wanted to, don't push me," He growled, yanking her by her hair. "You serve me."
"I didn't mean to-" She stammered but he cut her off once again. His voice was harsh and cold-letting her know that she had indeed overdone it and to shut up immediately.
"Shut up. Work on the spell, and be ready in a week." And with that, he walked out the room.
"Damon?" Elena asked as he stroked her scalp while watching a movie together. He joined her, sometimes, the idea of watching movies with her was not completely unappealing.
"Yes, Elena?" He whispered.
"I…" She didn't know how to say it, but it had to be done. She really wished that he'll say yes. She looked down, blushing, and Damon immediately paused the movie so that she could have his full attention.
"What's wrong, 'Lena? Are you feeling sick?" He sat up straight immediately, his voice now laced with concern.
"No, I feel fine. It's just that…" She bit her lip, and Damon grasped her chin gently to force her to look at him.
"Tell me," He urged.
"It's just that…I miss my family, Damon," She finally purged. "And I know that you're keeping me here because you want me safe now, I get that and I appreciate it. And I'm happy here with you, you make me feel safe. But that doesn't change the fact that I miss them."
"You're not a prisoner, not anymore," Damon nodded, "And I do understand. But you do realize, that if you go back, you'll be putting the people you love in danger. I won't keep you here against your will anymore, Elena, you know that. But if you go back, you'll end up hurting them. That would devastate you," He said with a knowing look. "So I just want you to trust me. I'm doing this for your own good."
There were those times where he still treated her like a child, and Elena knew that. Sometimes the fact that she wasn't making her own decisions killed her from the inside. But she was learning that everything he was doing was for good intentions now. He wasn't taking the choice away from her to make her feel inferior or to make her feel like an object. He was doing it to protect her.
"I know, Damon, and I trust you. All I wanted was to let me call them," She pleaded," They deserve to know I'm okay, and I really want to hear their voices."
Even though Damon did not like the idea of Elena talking to her family again, he heard himself softly say yes. Those brown eyes were going to be the death of him-He couldn't say no to those angelic eyes. The reason he did not originally wish for Elena to speak to her family was simply because it'd be harder for her now and harder for him too. He should have never taken her away from her home and he shouldn't have fallen for her. But there was no going back now; he was going to protect her no matter what.
"Thank you, thank you, and thank you!" She squeaked like a little girl, and as he handed her his phone-with blocked ID, of course-She gave him a light kiss on the cheek. Her smile, wide and bright, made him see her like a little five year old girl who had just been given a doll. He noticed her heart rate soar as she dialed her aunt's number. He chuckled but couldn't help remained a little uneasy for them.
"Gilbert's residence," The strawberry blonde picked up the telephone. Her voice had become wispy from prolonged use. The search parties were still on, and Jenna Sommers spent days crying and praying that they'll find her niece alive. Her nephew, Jeremy, ended up smoking weed, drinking and skipping school to make matters worse, and Jenna felt more alone in this mess.
"Jenna?" The voice was obviously sobbing, and the second Jenna recognized that voice, she sat down, her legs shaking like jelly as she let the tears stream down her cheek.
"Elena?" She sobbed, as the other person cried 'yes'.
"Oh my God, Elena, where are you? What are they doing to you?" She wept, "I'm going to find you, Elena, I promise-"
"No, Jenna, I'm safe," Elena tried to explain, her face covered with tears. "I'm going to be ok. I just wanted you to know that I love you, okay? And I love Jeremy too…"
"Elena, no, where are you?" Her aunt pressed, needing to know more information than that. She wasn't going to be satisfied with a simple 'I'm fine' after numerous search parties, sleepless nights. No way.
"I can't say, Jenna," Elena said once again. "I promise you, everything's going to be fine."
With that, Elena hung up, unable to hold back the tears any longer.
From behind the curtain, Damon felt his heart ache as he saw her crying, on the floor. He never felt guiltier at the sight of that delicate woman falling to pieces like that. To be responsible for her feeling that way was devastating.
So he walked slowly towards her where she handed him his phone without looking at him.
"Thank you," She said between sobs, and he picked her up and cradled her against his chest.
"I'm so sorry, Elena. I'm really sorry." He embraced her stronger as she clung onto his chest for dear life. And he really was. He had to make it up to her; he had to keep her alive. Alive long enough to see her family again.