Damon flew through the window still only half changed. He fell most of a story before he took shape. Straining against gravity he pumped his wings and flew off into the night thinking about what had just occurred.
It was almost as if the little red head had cast a spell against him. Or rather on him. What made him act against his nature so much? What made him so weak in front of her? Why couldn't he bring himself to hurt her? What was wrong with him? The smallest part of his mind whispered that he loved her... but he couldn't - could he? He had never loved in over five hundred years. This one little red head couldn't change that – could she?
He flew for some time, circling the centre of town. Damon idly wondered what Bonnie would be doing but pushed the thought out of his mind almost immediately. He didn't care if she did think she was in love with him. She was fun but that was all. She would cease to be fun soon and he would move on. Or he would kill her. No! Part of him screamed as he thought this. Part of him still wanted to protect her. It wasn't the majority of him though and she had interrupted his main meal tonight he justified as he wheeled around and headed back for her place.
He was surprised to find the window open when he got there. Even if she weren't afraid of him it was cold enough to warrant the heaters on in a place this high up. His shape blurred again as he shifted back into his human form before making his way silently into her bedroom where he felt the Power curling around her, moving as she did. He smirked at her prone form. Even with her protective layer of power he would be able to tap those veins. He sat down next to her on the bed, pulling her towards him as she slept. She didn't move, didn't even turn over. He lowered his head towards hers for the third time that night. This time however he allowed his fangs to sink into her throat, broaching her veins. She murmured in her sleep and her small hands tightened on his shirt as he began to feed. He felt slightly awed as he fed; he was used to his victims struggling against him, trying to push him off. Now however he fed from someone who was compliant and supple in his arms. Liquid fire raced through him, warming him as he fed. Too soon he retracted his fangs, licking the blood that seeped out slowly before the wounds closed over.
He waited for the head rush to ease off before standing. When he did he was amazed at how much extra power he could feel racing through his veins. He looked at the deceptively prone form on the bed, he had had to pry her fingers from his shirt before setting her down and apart from a slight mumbled protest, she hadn't awakened. Where did she get so much power from? He knew she had often said she was descended from the ancient Druids but even so they would not have had that much power. He felt the day approaching as he headed once more for the window. This time he allowed himself to fully transform before he dove out the window. He wasn't going far this time. He wanted to watch Bonnie as she left for work – after she had discovered his late night visit.
Damon shifted shape again straight from bird to dog. He played his part well, wandering randomly, not paying particular attention to anything except her of course he corrected himself. Bonnie seemed to have a lot on her mind and kept subconsciously rubbing the side of her neck. He had to admit she had hidden the marks remarkably well but to someone who knew better. To someone who knew the signs, it was obvious that she had been bitten. She looked around. He smiled to himself. She knew. Once she disappeared around the corner he padded around until he could find a nice place to rest the rest of the day. No doubt that Bonnie had locked the window this time so he ran through the streets before finally coming to a decent looking motel.
*****
Bonnie rubbed her neck again without really realising it. She had finished the preliminary report, going through what they knew, what they wanted to release to the public and what they wanted to try to keep hidden. Bonnie however was getting distracted. She couldn't put Damon from her mind. He had threatened to come back that night but he had also kissed her and that kiss had been so gentle, so tender. Before he fled at least She noted.
Shaking off the thoughts Bonnie moved onto the next set of tasks she had. As she moved to ask if they had found the Next of Kin from their newest case, she passed the cork board of Kimberly, a girl who had gone missing a couple of days ago. To be honest she didn't really think they would find her but as long as the girl's body didn't turn up in some gruesome form, there was still hope. Stopping for a moment, she glanced across the board everything on the board just making her more determined to find the killer of their girl in the morgue.
"Miss, we just identified the body. Her name was Karen Sims. She lived with her parents. Three blocks from here." The coroner said flatly. Bonnie was silent a moment before nodding. She knew what had to be done next and it was the worst part of her job.
"Thanks, Tim. I think I'll go over there now. It's always easier to know as soon as possible. I would want to." Bonnie said, the last part barely a whisper and it was true. When Elena had drowned, not knowing had been worse for her aunt then when they had found the car. Even then it was hard because the body hadn't been found, well no human body had been found.
Bonnie walked the distance quickly. Looking at the address she had just written down she studied the house before making her slow way up the driveway. It was a nice house. It was very different from her apartment. Obviously they were well off. Apartments were all that most people could afford in New York. Stand alone houses however, were much more expensive. The lawn was nicely manicured and the roses beside the door were blooming. The colours were bright and warm. Bonnie felt bad that she was about to darken their doorstep. She really hated this part of her job.
Bonnie took a deep breath before she knocked promptly, loudly. The police knock. The knock of bad news. The triple knock. Call it what you will, it only meant one thing. Bad news. Death news. Bonnie's thoughts were once again interrupted as the door opened to reveal a young girl, no older than ten.
"Are your parents' home?" She asked sweetly. The little girl shook her head.
"Mummy went out last night. She had lots of fun." The girl replied innocently. Bonnie felt sick. This girl was Karen's child. "I'm Gina." She continued.
"What about your grandparents?" Bonnie asked. Karen nodded and held out her hand.
"Ma Ma!" Gina called. A few moments later Mrs. Sims came to the door.
"Can I help you?" She asked. Bonnie was feeling worse with every second that passed. She was getting closer to ruining this poor lady's life and it was unavoidable.
"I'm with the New York Police department. May I come in?" Bonnie asked presenting her badge. Mrs. Sims face fell instantly and she nodded numbly.
"Gina, could you please go upstairs for a bit?" Mrs. Sims asked. Gina nodded eagerly and ran off. "Please, take a seat." She added to Bonnie. Bonnie did so with a nod of thanks.
"I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it's your daughter, Karen." Bonnie started. Mrs. Sims' hands flew to her mouth as she realised what a personal visit meant. Bonnie felt she had to continue, not to be cruel, but to ensure Mrs. Sims knew they would do everything possible to catch the fiend that killed the young mother.
"Mrs. Sims, we are doing everything possible, but at the moment we just do not have enough information. Hopefully something will turn up in the next couple of days." Bonnie explained.
"There's no real evidence though is there?" Mrs. Sims asked, sobbing. In these situations, they were meant to tell the family that there was every hope that they were supposed to tell the family that they were getting closer every minute that went by, but she couldn't lie to this kindly old lady.
"No. Not really. Unless someone claims to have seen it happen, then I highly doubt that we will ever get any closer to the murderer." Bonnie said. Mrs. Sims broke down into tears and Bonnie felt absolutely ratchet. "There is always a chance."Bonnie added.
Bonnie was feeling listless for the rest of the day. All of her thoughts revolved around either Damon or that little kid. For a fleeting moment Bonnie entertained the thought that Damon was the killer, but the cut throat was just not in his nature. Then again there was Mr. Tanner during Halloween, but he claimed that had been self defence... Bonnie didn't know what to think. In the end she went home confused. She knew Damon was probably still killing, even if he did take a sip or two from her. Then she had to ask herself if she could live with that? She had told him that she thought she liked him – but could she still like him if he was killing and more importantly, killing someone who had a family. Who had children.
