Like a summer night's dream - (Damon)
Heartbeat, by Kopecky Family Band
"And I don't know know, I don't know what I can do for you
you make my heart beat beat a beat , like a drum for you
everyday is closer
Don't take it back, no no sir"
Helen excused herself for the ladies' room and John glanced at me. "You are 148 years older than Helen, to be exact," he whispered. I didn't reply, I just raised an eyebrow. "I know what and who you are, Damon Salvatore," he added. "How?" I asked. "Rafael Corey had been Mystic Falls' sheriff before Liz Forbes took over, but the council didn't think him proactive enough." I was baffled. "You know Liz?" He nodded. "Yep, we keep contact on a regular basis." I looked around. "Are you telling me that you're part of an anti-vampire unit?" I hissed quietly. Now it was his turn to make sure nobody listened. "After a few incidents with vampires, Rafael trained a few colleagues. Henson and I are the only survivors. Rafael always believed that there are vampires who don't want to just kill." He leaned back. "And you?" I asked. "I believe it too, but Henson doesn't." I pondered on it. "Does Helen know anything?" He shook his head. "She doesn't remember. After her dad got killed, I asked a vampire friend to compel her – Lexi Branson." I grimaced. "I know you've killed her," he responded calmly. "I thought it was the right thing to do back then," I whispered. "I know your world is different, Damon. All I'm asking for is Helen's safety, that's all I want." I leaned forward and held his gaze. "I won't hurt her, promise. I do like her." For a moment, he returned my gaze seriously, and then he smiled.
"Fine, very good. Seems like Liz was right," he replied. I gave him a questioning look, but Helen returned at the same moment. "So, did you two get along well?" I looked at John and grinned. "Yep, your uncle told me all your little nasty secrets." She played being indignant and looked at John. "You wouldn't, would you?" John grinned. "Of course I did. For example how you set your mind on marrying Jason at the tender age of eight and persistently tried to kiss him. Poor boy ran from you for the better half of the day!" I couldn't hold my laughter, this was a hilarious story! She looked at me with surprise. John chimed in until tears of laughter rolled down his face. "And do you remember how you tied him to our apple tree afterwards, so that he couldn't fight you anymore?" Helen blushed to the roots of her hair. "You are impossible!" she finally grumbled, but then she had to laugh too. "Guys, I need to get back to work," John said after a while and got up. He hugged Helen and gave her his card. "Call me if you need me, okay?" he said. She just nodded. "Sure, will do John." He shook my hand and waited until Helen went to retrieve her coat from the rack. "Beware of Henson," he warned me quietly. I nodded pointedly at him. "It was a pleasure meeting you, John," I replied.
Helen linked arms with me and we strolled back to my car. "John is a good man," I mentioned casually. She smiled. "Yeah, he really was a great help after Dad… died. Took care of many things and supported us, especially my mother," she replied. "Your mom still lives here?" I asked. She shook her head. "No, she moved in with her sister in Natchez, Mississippi." Wonderful, I thought, one less to pester me with questions. "What do we do with the rest of the day?" she wondered when we were sitting in the car again. I leaned over and stopped only inches from her face. "You could try one of your little bondage games on me…," I whispered and almost brushed my lips along hers. She blushed fervently. "Let's leave…," she mumbled with desire in her eyes. I smirked and let the engine rev. Since she remained quiet, I had time to ponder on things. Henson could be a problem. He knew what I was and the question was if he would try to kill me. John wouldn't try anything, as long as I didn't hurt Helen. In fact, I thought that he would do anything to keep her safe if necessary. I sighed inwardly, knowing I would have to decide soon.
When we arrived at her place later that afternoon, I fetched my bag from the car and followed Helen inside. Her home was a small house in the north of Baton Rouge at the edge of the settlement. Behind it, a small riparian forest, a few fields and a few ponds lay stretched along the river's bottomland. A little to the west an artificial distributary of the Mississippi River wound its way. All in all, it was a pretty idyllic area, even though it was a rather humble neighborhood. I changed clothes and joined her on her back porch. The sun was shining and a soft breeze wafted – it was a very pretty day for mid-May, too pretty to hide inside. "Join me for a walk?" I invited her. She gaped at me with surprise. "What?" I spread my arms with faked indignation. "You don't think I'm capable of a little romance?" She grinned at me, fetched a different jacket from the rack and sauntered over to me. "Actually, no, but I'll take you up on it…" We took a service road which led to a grove and walked silently for a while. From time to time, other promenaders passed by and I felt like I was young again, strolling through a park with a young lady. The only thing missing was the chaperone – thank God!
"I want to show you something," she suddenly said and started to run. For a human, she was very fast, but I followed her without a problem. Soon she left the road and cut across country until we stopped in front of a thick wall of fern, cornel and bush palmettos. "And now?" I asked curiously. She grinned and waved at me to follow her right through the shrubs. After quite a few yards, we suddenly stood on the edge of a small clearing. In the middle of a swampy pond, moss-covered cypresses rose up to the sky and colorful dragonflies whirred across the water like sparkling gemstones. "Wow!" I was officially impressed. Helen turned around and drew a jack knife from her pocket. Cutting a few large ferns, she built a soft padding on the floor to sit on. "Aah, isn't his wonderful?" she sighed and plopped down on the ferns, rolling her jacket into a pillow and lay back. I did the same and joined her on the floor. "I have to admit, I'm impressed. This is beautiful. I also had a favorite place when I was a child. Did you know the old quarry pond in Mystic Falls?" I asked. She had closed her eyes and enjoyed the sun on her skin. "Hm, never been there, but this… I haven't showed this to anyone else before," she said quietly. I bent over her and she opened her eyes when my shadow blocked the sun from warming her face. "I feel very honored," I whispered and kissed her. Her lips responded passionately. I could've kissed her all day. Well, apart from other things, I thought.
I finally stretched out next to her and also enjoyed the warm sun. "Damon?" she whispered after a while. "Hm?" For a moment, she didn't continue. "When will you leave?" My dead heart suddenly constricted. "Why do you think I would leave?" I returned. She sighed. "I know you won't stay, no matter how much you enjoy being with me." She was right. I would leave, soon, even if I still postponed it at the moment. "There are things in my life, you can't know, and it's safer for you this way. If it wasn't for them, I could stay, but I can't change it." To my surprise, she chuckled softly. "You sound like a Greek oracle," she said. Now I had to chuckle. "I'm not even of Greek descent." After a short period of silence, she spoke again. "I like your laughter. It sounds sexy." I grinned. "Really?" She chuckled again. "Yep!" We quietly enjoyed the last rays of sunshine and just listened to nature's sounds around us. "Damon?" I took a deep breath. "Yeah?" She cleared her throat. "I like you very much." It was a simple statement. Golden light reflexes from the last sunbeams reminded us to think about leaving before dark. "Let's head back," I said and got up. My hands reached for her and with a smile she let me pull her up and into my arms. "I too like you very much," I whispered and claimed her lips once more in a passionate kiss.