(Un)heilige Nacht – Teil 2 (Damon)

Hate, by Agonoize
"Inside your head is where I'll stay
And I will never go away
You'll go insane, you can't see me
That's how revenge can really be
Your fear will grow from day to day
It makes me stronger when you pray
All I can feel is rage and hate
To see you burn, I cannot wait"

‚Aunt Caroline' – I guessed I could probably taunt her with this for the rest of her existence, but she wouldn't mind at all. She grinned like a Cheshire cat and was unstoppable. Before the female half of our group could start talking about nothing but baby stuff, I intervened. „I really hate to spoil anyone's fun, but could we please return to the stalker for a moment?" I said. In that moment, my mobile phone rang and I answered it. „Hello?" It was John Mayor. „Damon, just the man I need!" he greeted me agitatedly. „What's the news, John?" I replied. Helen gave me a curious glance. „I think I've seen this man before," he said. I held Helen's gaze. „John, I'll put you on speaker. Helen is here as well as my brother and a few friends", I told him and punched the button. „Helen! Are you okay, dear?" he asked. „Sure, John, I'm fine, thanks. What did you find out?" There were a few moments of silence on the other end. „You won't like it, dear. Are you comfortable?" She frowned. „Uh, yeah, I am. Shoot!" I heard him drawing a deep breath. „Your stalker is Kane Doherty, Aidan Doherty's brother," he said softly. Helen's face turned white as a sheet and she groaned, leaning into me. This wasn't good. „Who is Aidan Doherty?" I demanded. „The killer of Helen's father," John replied.

I narrowed my eyes. Something was right in front of us, something we didn't see. „John, Aidan was a vampire, right?" Papers rustled on the other side. „That's right! How did you know?" he blurted. „Helen told us," I replied. „Is this about revenge for his brother?" Stefan asked. „If it only was that simple," John murmured. „Helen, do you trust those people around you? Can I talk openly?" he asked. She looked at me and I nodded at her. „They already know what I am, John. What exactly are you talking about?" she answered with a little tremble in her voice. „Back then, we found Aidan's hideaway while he was on his way to your home. Aidan had been obsessed with you. There were pictures everywhere, of you as a small child, as a teenager – he had been following your for quite some time. Unfortunately, we were too late that afternoon." Helen held her breath. „When we returned from the crime scene at your house, my CSI colleagues lay drained to death in one corner and all evidence was gone. My research later showed that Aidan had a brother – Kane. Vampire brothers, just like the Salvatores. The look alike and they originated from the same area like your family back in Europe, Helen." She huffed impatiently. „John, this is very interesting, but what's the point?" she asked. „I believe, Kane wants you for your special gift!"

I couldn't suppress an aggressive growl. Helen sat there thunderstruck. „You think… he wants… with me?" she whispered horrified and closed her eyes. „Are you only guessing or do you have evidence?" I pressed. „Back then, we didn't only find pictures, but also notes and sketches of ancestral charts. He's done research on Helen's bloodline, Damon – what else could be the reason?" John said. „Do you know if he's ever been in Baton Rouge?" Stefan asked. „I'm not sure, but if he's found her now, he must've been here too," was the answer. „But Mom said the Coreys never ever wrote anything down. How did he find out?" Helen blurted. „I don't have the faintest idea, girl, but I guess it's time to call your mother," John replied. Helen groaned and rolled her eyes. „You know what that means, John," she said and shook her head. „Hell, yeah, but in this case your vampire lover simply has to be on his best behavior," he returned. „I've got nothing but best behavior," I joked. „Oh, I believe you, but Helen's mother is not one to be trifled with," John warned. Helen shook her head again. „That's not going to work, John, she'll freak," she whispered. „I know, we had a hard time stopping her last time. Let me talk to her first, okay?" he said. „Okay," Helen replied and gave in.

I retrieved my phone and switched the speaker off. „Damon?" John asked. „Am I still on speaker?" I got up and nodded to Caroline to take care of Helen. I went into the kitchen. „Wait a moment," I said and turned on the faucet. „Okay, now," I told him. „Damon, please protect Helen," he said urgently. „I won't let anything happen to her," I replied. „I know that, man, but Jessica, Helen's mother, and her sister Abigail are pretty powerful witches. Don't underestimate their relationship, Damon!" he warned. „I understand," I said. „Be careful yourself, John." I hung up and fetched a glass of water for Helen. Caroline and Elena sat next to her. She seemed calm, too calm for my taste. I wished I could read her thoughts, but right now all I could do was to hand her the glass. „Here, drink something," I said softly and crouched in front of her. She looked at me with a pained expression. „That's it," she whispered when she handed me the glass and I put it on the table. „What do you mean?" I asked. A tear rolled down her cheek. „I can't do that, Damon," she whispered desperately. I took her hands in mine. „We can do this, Helen, we'll think of something," I tried to console her. „There's no ‚us' anymore, Damon," she stated flatly and stood up. I got up too. „Helen… please, don't do that," I croaked. „I have to. There is only one solution," she suddenly hissed. I got angry with the situation too. „Yes, and that is to kill the bastard!" I retorted.

She took a step closer. „And afterwards? What about the next lunatic? And the next one?" she huffed. „You can't know that in advance, jeez!" I growled. Why was she pushing me away? „Everything's possible in this crazy world of yours!" she exploded. „I can't do this to my child. It's not our world!" she yelled at me and rushed for the stairs, but I stopped her by holding her arms. „Let me go!" she screamed. „No! I don't want you to leave!" I exclaimed. She was about to lose it completely. „That's not your decision!" she protested. „Dammit, Helen, I love you and the baby and I would do anything to protect you!" I snapped. The fury on her face gave way to desperation. „But that's exactly my problem! I know you would sacrifice yourself, but I can't live with that!" Tears streamed down her cheeks now. „Then stay and fight! You are a witch, Helen! You can do God knows what to a vampire! Fight with me, with us together – we've survived so many things together!" I shook her slightly. „At what cost?" she sobbed and pointed to the others. „Teenagers, who should've enjoyed a normal life, are vampires, Elena and Caroline. Bonnie's relatives are dead – what kind of a life could that be?" Her voice sounded slightly hysterical now. „I want you to calm down, please, Helen!" I urged her and fixed her gaze. Her pupils dilated and her body tension dissolved. „I will calm down," she repeated flatly. „Oh shit!" I growled and averted my gaze. „You've compelled her!" Caroline exclaimed upset. „I didn't mean to," I replied angrily. „Do it anyway, Damon," Elena suggested. „She needs to calm down and to rest. You can discuss things again later. Right now she's too far gone to make a reasonable decision!"

I fought with myself. It wasn't fair to her and I really hadn't done it on purpose. In fact, I was surprised that she could be compelled at all. I had always assumed that witches were kind of immune against compulsion. Taking I deep breath, I made a decision. I needed to follow through with this now for her benefit. „You will go to bed now. You will sleep long and deeply and feel totally refreshed afterwards. You will remember everything that happened here tonight." I let her go and watched how she went upstairs without another word. With my last sentence I had probably prepared the basis for a big discussion afterwards, I knew that. „It's the best for her right now," Stefan said, clasping my shoulder in the attempt to calm me down. „But it's not okay," Caroline quipped. I spun to face her. „Don't you think I know that?" I hissed furiously at her. „Do you really think I like seeing her so terrified?" I ditched Blondie who gaped at me and stormed into the parlor where I fetched me a large glass of bourbon. My hands shook with tension. I gulped it down and made a second one. Standing in front of the fireplace I pondered on everything. Why did it have to be so complicated? Why couldn't I just spend my life with the woman I loved? Maybe Helen was right. Maybe it would be the best for her and the child to stay away from me. Far away from me and my world. But then I wouldn't be able to protect her! That was my greatest fear. No, I couldn't let her go!