HELLO! Thanks again for all the comments. Reading your opinions and comments totally make my freaking day. I hope you enjoy this next chapter. Have a wonderful day!

Elena's POV

I lay in bed for three days. I watch old sitcoms, drink a lot of wine, and sleep a lot. It isn't until I get a phone call from the front desk telling me that I have mail. It is about 10 o'clock at night, but I find myself putting on my robe and slippers to retrieve this mysterious piece of mail. Nobody used the postal service these days unless it was a sort of upscale invitation or request. The lady working the front desk hands me a letter with no return or mailing address, just my name neatly scrawled in a cursive font on the front of the envelope. As I guessed, there is an invitation inside;

Please join us for the Étoilé Gala for an enjoyable night of dinner, dancing, and entertainment.

Where; Events on 3rd banquet hall at 209 3rd Avenue North Nashville, TN 37201

When; 7pm on June 27th

Please dress your finest in formal attire and garb. Feel welcome to bring a date or escort. We sincerely hope to see you for this night of allure and pleasure.

This is obviously a Damon move. I go straight upstairs to get some sleep because the next day, I have some dress shopping to do.

After I shower and get dressed, I take a trip to the heart of the city to shop. Having eternal life and mind control has its perks when you need money. Sure it's morally wrong, but if I was going to live forever, I might as well use the gifts that came with being a blood sucking creature.

To be honest I am excited for this gala. Even though I don't know anybody, but Damon and Cadence, and I am dateless, it is ok. I am having a life crisis and don't know where I will be in ten years, but I didn't care. Tomorrow night I was going to have fun. I was going to dance and drink and let loose.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

I stand in front of the mirror and stare at my reflection. I am wearing a silver, floor length, halter dress with my back completely exposed. The plunging neckline reveals just enough skin to be sexy, yet still classy. My hair is in a loose bun on top of my head with a few curls framing my face. I have a simple diamond necklace around my neck to add a little sparkle.

As I walk through the hotel lobby, I observe young business men staring at me. Their eyes pinned to my cleavage or my ass. I can't help myself but shake it a little more than usual, just to show off a little bit.

A concierge calls a car to come pick me up. The driver gets out of the car and opens the back door for me. I lift my dress and slide in.

The banquet hall has a marble dance floor with an elegant bar on one side of the room. The space is dimly lit with a purple glow to it. There is an upstairs area surrounding the entire room overlooking the dance floor. I go straight to the bar to get a drink, but then I hear his voice. I turn around and see him in a tuxedo. Cadence is wearing a floor length dark red dress with transparent lace sleeves. She looks radiant.

"Elena?" Damon calls me over to him, "I'm so glad you could make it."

"So am I," I say as Cadence gives me a hug.

"You look so pretty," she scans my body with her eyes.

"Thank you, so do you."

We find a table to occupy and go through the buffet line. They have seafood, Italian, steak, salad, and more side dishes than I have ever seen in one setting. I get a new plate for dessert.

Cadence and Damon dance while I watch from our table on the balcony. They twirl and sway to the music, not quite as exotic as they were at the club the other night, but very elegant and beautiful. Damon motions me to come down. I make my way through the sea of people to where they are on the dance floor.

"I'm going to head home," Cadence says over the music, "Our babysitter isn't feeling well so I am going to let her go home."

"She insisted that I stay," Damon shrugs, "So I thought this would be a perfect time for a dance."

"I'd be honored," I reply.

He takes my hand as Cadence exits the dance floor. He places his cool hand on my bare back and holds me close. I feel weak in the knees and let him do most of the work. His eyes are fixated on mine while are feet move in unison. I breathe in the sweet scent of his cologne and his natural aroma.

After several songs we leave the gala and enter the lights of the city. We find ourselves at a late night café in the plaza of the city. For several minutes we let our eyes do the talking.

"Why now," he finally asks.

I am about to ask 'what?' but I already know exactly what he is talking about.

"Every night for 127 years I dreamt about you. I finally gained the audacity to make the choice I was afraid to make the night I became a vampire."

"I waited for you. I thought that you might come for me, but I came to my senses."

"Everything changed when I became immortal, I was just too afraid to admit it, to admit that I'd wanted you."

"I blinded by my love for you. I was chasing impossible dreams over realistic practicalities," he practically whispered into his cup of coffee.

"I have always loved you, I just wish I told you sooner."

"I have always loved you," he smiles slightly, "but you know that."

We share a taxi that drops me off at the hotel first. I go upstairs and climb into bed at 3 in the morning, without taking my makeup off. After about 10 minutes I get a phone call.

"Hello?" I sigh.

"They're dead," Damon is sobbing, "Someone killed my wife and kids."