- 1864 -

Miss Lynnette put on my corset like she always did. But this one was a pearly white just like the dress that she soon after pulled over me.
My make up was perfect and my hair was perfect, tight curls piled on top of my head. I looked beautiful - but I felt horrible.
I shouldn't have been in a white dress. That was for pure women. I had given up my purity two years ago, to Damon Salvatore, in 1861. I thought I would never regret it, but now I almost felt dirty.
Not a soul other than Damon and me knew about our making love. Not even Sebastian. What would he think of me when he knew? He'd think I was disgusting and shameful.
I looked down at Lynnette who was tying the last couple strings on my dress. I had to tell somebody.
"Lynnette," I said. She looked up. "Can I confide something of great importance to you?"
Lynnette smiled softly and nodded her head. "Of course, Miss Whitlock."
I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and said it. "I made love to Damon."
For minutes Lynnette didn't reply and I was scared. Was she going to run off and tell everyone?
"Miss Whitlock, did you love Damon?"
"Yes."
She looked at me with understanding. "Then it is not a sin in my eyes."
Lynnette always had unusual views on things compared to most women in this town. She had a more open-mind, but really most black people did. White folk were afraid of differences and changes.
"Miss Whitlock, I must know, do you really love Mr Steele? Or does that foolish Salvatore still own that heart of yours?" She didn't ask it accusingly, she was just looking out for me, like she always did. Lynnette was the one who really raised me, and her views and beliefs had rubbed off on me. My mother hated it but she'd never fire her. She depended too much on her.
Lynnette's question made me think. I loved Damon recklessly and compulsively. I just went with my instincts when it came to him, our love was very full of passion. With Sebastian I was careful and it was slow and tedious. The loves were so different that I wasn't sure who I loved more. But I knew I could rely on Sebastian to take care of me, and I couldn't wait on Damon; the towns womanizer. Especially since there was no guarantee he would come back from the war.
"Eleanor!" My mother barged into the room, "Eleanor!"
She gave me a glance over. "Oh, fantastic! You're ready. Hurry, we don't want to keep the handsome groom waiting."
I took one more quick look in the mirror and something in my stomach churned and I almost wanted to back out. His blue eyes were all I could see.
"You look beautiful, Eleanor," My mother complimented. "Sebastian will be delighted."
Thoughts of Sebastian erased the ones of Damon and I stepped out into the corridor and stopped at the door that would lead to the aisle.
This was it. A couple more steps and I was Missus Steele. Someone's wife.
I sucked in my breath and my father linked his arms with mine. He flung open the door and we began to walk.
I was nervous, but then I saw Sebastian's smiling face and under my veil I felt a grin of my own creep in. There was nothing to worry about. I was in love.

"Do you, Eleanor Whitlock, take Sebastian Steeles hand in marriage?"
"I do."
"Do you, Sebastian Steele, take Eleanor's Whitlock's hand in marriage?"
"I do."
"You may now kiss the bride."

It was a custom after the wedding to have a gathering. There was champagne, fruits, goose, vegetables, pastries, music, and dancing. Everyone in the town was there.
The girls that shunned me before now came up and told me congratulations and how overjoyed they were for me. I smiled and kissed all their cheeks but all I really wanted was to go to my new home and lay down with my husband.
Right now, Sebastian was doing the waltz with my mother and I stood in the corner drinking champagne and eating strawberries.
"Always lonesome, you are," Stefan wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug. "Congratulations, Elle. I'm glad you're happy."
"Thank you, Stefan. Its nice to hear."
Stefan pulled back and frowned. "Though, I always wished you and my brother would end up together. You were always so close. Everyone thought it would be you to tie him down."
I laughed. "Oh, Stef, I thought that more than anybody! But there's a certain point you have to stop waiting on a man."
"I know," he kissed my cheek softly. "Love you, Elle."
"Love you, Stefan."
After talking with Stefan, Sebastian came up to me and we danced for hours. We didn't focus on anyone but each other, just what I wanted from him.
We left early, by my request. He happily obliged, but what man wouldn't? All of them look forward to the events the night after marriage.
What I had finally admitted to Lynnette was nagging at me. I needed to tell him.
The carriage brought us to the house Sebastian had built and he pulled me out of the carriage and into his arms.
We made our way into our home and into the bedroom, where he laid my softly on the bed. He gave me soft kisses on the base of my neck.
Guilt took over my every emotion and I gave him a light shove and he got off of me.
"Nervous?" He asked, with an understanding smile on his face.
I shook my head.
"Then what, Eleanor?"
"I-I've done this before," I told him, glancing downwards, afraid to look up.
"I am not pure like most. I have been here once before."
Like Lynnette, minutes went by with him in silence. Then he tipped my head up to stare him in the eyes. I bit my lip in nervousness.
"This I had already known," He smiled up at me. "I was at that party that you were with that soldier. I came up the stairs and I heard you two. But that makes no difference to me."
Sebastian then kissed me firmly on my lips and I began to unbutton his dress shirt. His fingers swiftly untied all the knots in my pannier and dress. His fingers worked faster than Damon's were capable. A part of me like his slow, shaky movements better than these fast and precise hands. But that was nothing to pry on, soon I was unclothed and Sebastian was on top of me leaving feather light kisses all over my body.
"I love you." He whispered into my ear and it made me shiver in anticipation.
Then he took me for his own.

The next morning I awoke to the smell of burning wood. I groggily opened my eyes and saw a blurry Sebastian leaning over me, I rubbed my eyes once again and he became normal. I looked into his green eyes and I thought of last nights memories and I gave him a smile. He didn't smile back.
It was then I noticed that the scent of burning wood wasn't from our fire place. The wall behind him was up in flames. I screamed.
Sebastian bit down hard on his wrist and blood spilled over onto the bed. Then he shoved his wrist into my mouth, making the blood drip onto my tongue. I wanted to spit it out, it tasted bitter and metallic. But I knew what he was going to do, he was going to turn me, so I swallowed.
I felt my bones in my neck twist, then for a second, I felt excruciating pain. It was only a second, though. Then everything was black.
I woke up in a grassy field. I could hear birds chirping that I couldn't see and I could hear each flake of snow hit the ground. But I could also feel this thirst in my body that had never been there before.
I smelt blood and I heard a heart beat. I quickly looked at my surroundings. About fifty feet away stood a woman, she had blonde hair and grey eyes and she was from Mystic Falls. She was one of the obnoxious gold seeking girls.
I couldn't stand it any longer, I ran to her and bit into the noticeable vein in her neck and sucked. It didn't taste like it had when Sebastian had spilled it into my mouth, it tasted sweet now.
The girl wriggled in my arms, trying to leave, so I bit down harder. She screamed and I found I enjoyed it.
Minutes later, the girl fell limp in my arms. I dropped her to the ground, she was dead.
I had made quite a mess, blood was splattered all over my face and down my night dress. And the woman's neck was tore more than it should have been.
With her lying there dead and her neck mutilated, I started to feel the guilt creep in. I had killed her, I had ended her life.
I always hated her and the women like her but never in my mind did I ever want them to die at my hand. My face got hot and my eyes burned; I started to sob.
Out of nowhere, Sebastian appeared and softly rubbed my back.
"Why did you do this to me?" I sobbed.
Sebastian frowned and kissed my forehead. "I'm sorry Eleanor, but I had to. You were going to die if I did not turn you."
I wiped my eyes and turned to him in comfusion. "What?" I asked.
He then explained everything. Who Katherine was, how he was her plan to get me away from Damon, and how she wanted Damon and Stefan all to herself. She wanted to ruin them.
I was outraged and demanded I go back and save them from this evil witch. Damon would be home tomorrow - if he was alive, she wasn't sure. He hadn't replied to her last letter. But if he was arriving tomorrow, her plan would soon be in action and I could not have that.
Sebastian just shook his head. "We can't go back, Eleanor. She'll kill us both."
I flung my arms up in frustration. "Kill us! You're a vampire, too. Why can't you kill her?"
"She's much older," Sebastian explained. "Which means she's much stronger and faster. I'd never be able to."
"We must go before she finds us." He said then grabbed my arm and ran.
I wanted to cry again. I wanted Damon back safe. I wanted Stefan to remain safe. I did not want them harmed by some deceitful vampire. But there was nothing I could do but run.

Sorry this took so long! Hope you enjoy:) sorry for any mistakes, its really hard to edit on my phone! Review?