Witches' Sabbat … (Damon)
Witches, by Candlemass
"Someone stole the starlight from the backside of your hand
Weak without the magic you lay passed out in the sand
With controls set for night flights when witches ruled the world
In a twinkling moment you see cockroaches and crows
Go behind the great clouds if you want to stay the same
In nothing land you'll perish when they whisper aloud your name
A window full of trauma stares you in the face
You know it's time to scream now and leave this fucking place."
In the course of the day, Matt and later Bonnie with Jeremy arrived. Of course there was a big hello between him and Elena. Bonnie kept her distance and sent me piercing glances, but she remained quiet and got more thoughtful the longer she and Jeremy stayed. She stood at the entrance to the parlor and observed the small group which sat on the sofas, chatting happily and telling Helen one story after the other. I just came in from the basement and saw her standing there. "It's amazing, isn't it?" I said casually. She raised an eyebrow. "Yes, amazing. Nobody seems to care about her abnormality," she replied coolly. I let out a sigh and leaned against the wall. "Bonnie, I know you hate me for what I did to you, but I can't undo things." She stared at me. "What you've done to me?" she asked incredulously in a low voice. "What about the things that you have inflicted on the others?" she continued. I shook my head. "Even that I can't undo, but Helen has nothing to do with it all." She looked at me intently. "What do you want with her? Do you really think I 'm buying this sentimentality shit?" she hissed at me.
That's where the wind was blowing from. She thought I would play one of my old games with Helen. I couldn't blame her. "Whatever you think, you're wrong. What happens to her and me, is a miracle and nothing abnormal," I replied coolly and left her standing there. I walked over to the small group and sat next to Helen. "Hey, where've you been? Matt has just told us stories of you and Alaric drinking at the Grill," she said. "Donovan volunteered our drinking escapades, huh?" I replied, kissing her on the cheek. "Maybe I should share some stories about Matt?" I didn't know what possessed me when I said that, because I could clearly see embarassment on every face in the round. "Beat-up-Donovan-time again, Damon? Seriously?" Matt sighed. "Well, I find it remarkable that - apart from Jeremy – you're the only person in this group who managed to preserve his human life," I retorted. "Pah, I was just lucky, nothing more," Matt said dryly. I shook my head. "No need to hide your light under a bushel, Donovan. Anyone else would have run away screaming, but you kept it up and remain one of the last anchors of humanity for this crazy bunch."
Seven pairs of eyes stared at me in wordless surprise until Matt finally broke the spell. "Thank you. Does that mean you don't despise me anymore?" he asked smiling. "Don't get your hopes too high, Donovan," I replied for audience appeal, but I had the feeling the boy and I understood each other very well. The relief in the room was almost palpable. Stefan nodded approvingly and Elena beamed. "Was that a praise, Matt? From Damon Salvatore?" Jeremy joked, grinning broadly. Matt and Tyler couldn't resist a smile. "Who asked for your opinion, little Gilbert," I countered. Laughing, he held his hands up. "God forbid! To see you in full human swing would seriously shake my view of the world." He had meant to be funny, but the sting hurt nonetheless. Strange, I thought, so that's what it's like to be on the other end. "That was inappropriate, Jeremy," Stefan piped up. "No, it wasn't," Bonnie interjected from the other corner of the room. Slowly, she approached us. "What do you mean?" Stefan inquired. "Well think about it. Jeremy has brought it to the point. When has Damon ever behaved humane, huh? I wonder what he really wants with Helen?" She crossed her arms and raised her chin.
Elena responded first. "He was more than kind when he eased Rose's fear of death," she said, crossing her arms. "And when he saved the life of my reason to live more than once", Stefan said, looking at Elena. Tyler cleared his throat. "He saved me from Klaus' sacrificial ritual, although I couldn't have mattered to him," he said. "And you bit me saying thank you," I commented dryly, causing a few giggles around me. This comradeship was getting embarrassing. One more gushing praise and I'll leave, I thought just as Caroline spoke up. "I would have good reason to hate him forever as you all know," she looked at me intently. "But he has protected me several times, especially in my beginning as a vampire. He may be an ass, but he has changed," she added. "Care, please! People, it's enough now," I stepped in. "Bonnie can believe whatever she wants. As long as Helen knows that I love her," I said and looked at her. Helen smiled sheepishly and blushed, but the next moment, her smile froze on her face and she looked horrified past me.
"What?" I spun around, but couldn't see anything. "There was someone," she croaked scared. "Where? Outside the window?" I jumped up and stood in front of her. Stefan opened the patio door and looked out. "No one here," he said, looking around. His eyes fell down. "But someone actually was here," he called out and crouched down. Tyler ran to him and started sniffing. "I can't smell anything. Whoever it was,he did it well disguised," he said. I looked at Helen. Caroline had taken her in her arms, but she had turned quite pale. "What is going on here?" Bonnie asked suspiciously. "There is someone following me," Helen whispered. "And why?" Bonnie's eyes narrowed as she looked at Helen. "We suspect that he wants Helen for himself because of the baby," Stefan said. "A vampire?" Bonnie insisted horrified. I squatted down in front of Helen and took her hands. "Look at me," I whispered to her. Her eyes, wide with fear, turned to me. "I will not leave you out of sight, understand? I'll protect you," I said urgently. She breathed deeply to calm down and nodded. "I know," she whispered. "Can't you protect yourself with magic in this condition?" Bonnie asked curiously. Helen looked at her and swallowed. "I could, but I 'm always like frozen with fear," she replied meekly.
The Bennett witch shook her head disapprovingly. "You have to train to defeat yourself despite your fear, otherwise you're defenseless," she decided. I looked at Helen and shrugged. "I have to admit she's right." Bonnie might hate me, but she had recognized the situation. "She needs practice, preferably with real vampires," the dark-skinned witch stated and looked around. I stood up. "We have enough of those. You can start with me," I said. "What? No," Helen exclaimed and got up. "You can't kill me unless you let me go up in flames, tear my heart out or stake me," I commented dryly. "I ... but ..." she stammered. "It's very simple," Bonnie said and stood beside Helen. "Imagine how the small blood vessels in his brain burst. It doesn't kill him, but it puts him out of action." She looked at me and the next moment I felt a terrible headache. I groaned and staggered back. "See? That's how you keep a vampire effectively away from yourself," Bonnie whispered and reinforced her attack. I knew why she did it, but now I fell down to my knees in pain. "Stop it," Helen whispered urgently. "Stop it at once!" She stepped between Bonnie and me and the pain disappeared.
Helen stood only inches from her. "I understand, okay? But if you touch him again, you'll have to deal with me!" Her icy tone left Bonnie unimpressed. "In this case, the exercise has indeed served its purpose." Now she smiled. "You have to defend yourself. Practice, you'll need it eventually," she retorted. A loud bang made us all jump up. The front door had flown open. Immediately, I put myself in front of Helen. "That's true, Bennett witch!" A strange voice rang from the dense fog which now oozed down the hallway. Helen clung to me and even Bonnie seemed alarmed. Until I heard a cough and a muttered curse. The voice sounded familiar. The vapor thinned and I saw two female figures. Who the hell was that? I thought just as Helen pulled away from me and walked towards them. "Mom? Aunt Abby?" she whispered in disbelief. "She recognized us, Jess'," said one. The fog disappeared completely now. Three women fell into each others' arms. So that's her mother and aunt, I thought. "Are you okay?" Helen's mother let her gaze wander over her daughter. "Yeah, sure, don't worry," she replied. "What are you doing here?" Helen wanted to know. "Well, I told you that the jury is still out."
Helen dropped her arms and backed away a few steps. "I told you that my decision is irrevocable," she replied reserved. Everyone in the room held their breaths. "Mine too. I want to get to know him," her mother replied. "And we want to take on Kane", another voice sounded from the background. "John," Helen exclaimed relieved and fell into his arms. "Hello little one, everything okay?" he whispered and pulled her gently into a hug. My mood improved visibly. I could handle John well - the two witches… I wasn't sure. I shook his hand. "John, good to see you again," I greeted him. "Damon Salvatore! Boy, you've really put yourself into a spot, eh?" He grinned and shook my hand. "Depends on the viewpoint," I replied casually. "Then let's start. Jessica, Abigail, this is the vampire whose head you wanted to rip off," he said to Helen's mother. Helen took a deep breath. "Ladies," I greeted them with a nod. The two women stared at me intently. I felt like under the microscope. Abigail finally gave me her hand. "Abigail Corey, Mr. Salvatore, nice to finally meet you," she said. I took her hand and she turned pale.
I wanted to release her hand, but she held tight. I felt a tingling in my head, similar to the feeling I always got when Bonnie started those headaches. "What do you see?" her sister asked. "Death!" she panted terrified and her eyes widened. "That was to be expected," I countered sarcastically. She shook her head angrily. Her glassy eyes turned to me as if she was in a trance. "Death... life... love... the little raven is the key..." she muttered. Then she fell silent. I freed my hand from hers and she blinked. "What did I say?" she asked. "My sister Abigail is the clairvoyant among us. I'm Jessica Corey, Helen's mother," she said, holding her hand out to me without elaborating on her sister's words. This time there was no unexpected reaction. "A stunning entrance you've made, Ma'am," I replied dryly. She only grinned. "Woman does what woman can. Why don't you introduce the rest of your friends to us, "she said and turned around. Amazing, this change of mood, I thought. "Most of them have no reason to call me friend," I replied. "Really? That just sounded very different," she retorted. "Then it was you outside of the window?" Helen threw in. "When?" John asked. "A few minutes ago I saw someone at the window to the patio." The three looked at each other. "That wasn't us."
"Then it must've been Kane," Stefan said. "Ladies, John, Stefan Salvatore. My younger brother and his girlfriend Elena Gilbert," I introduced them. "There were no visible trails out there," Stefan said in greeting. "What about magic tracks?" Abigail pressed. Everyone turned to Bonnie. "Bonnie Bennett," I commented. The little witch held up her hands defensively. "Oh no, I have no reason to meddle with vampire affairs!" Jessica nodded. "So your grandmother was right," she said softly. "You knew Sheila?" Stefan asked. Bonnie had turned pale. "Know. Witches talk, even after death," she replied, holding Bonnie's gaze. "What did my Grams say?" Bonnie hissed. "That you still blame the Salvatores for her death." Bonnie's lower lip trembled slightly. "And that you should know that it was her own decision to help you in saving your friends. She knew the risks." Now tears streamed down her pretty face and I almost felt sorry for Bonnie. Obviously she hadn't been able to really deal with the loss of her grandmother during the past two years.
Jeremy went to her and gently pulled her into his arms. "Come, I 'll take you home," he whispered to her and gently led her out. Weeping and without any resistance Bonnie followed Jeremy outside. "Was that necessary?" I asked when they were gone. Jessica nodded. "She also has to face the consequences of her decisions," she said. "Don't we all have to do this at some point?" I replied. She raised an eyebrow. "Indeed." She let her eyes wander around the room and I realized that most of us let the respective moments of their lives pass in review. There were more than enough, God knows, I thought. "And what about you?" I blurted. "Damon!" Elena scolded. "No, let him. He's right, I also have a lot to answer for," she said, smiling. "But I won't waste the rest of the day warming up old stories," she said. "Where will you spend the night, Mom?" Helen asked. "Well, we go to a hotel and later we would like to visit Liz Forbes," she replied.
"You know my mother?" Caroline interjected. Jessica and Abigail turned to her. "You're Liz little girl?" Abigail asked in astonishment. "Poor Liz," Jessica whispered. "She never mentioned that Caroline is a vampire," John said in amazement. I watched Caroline's reaction exactly. For a second, a pained expression flashed across her face, but she played it down skillfully. "Oh, my mother still has a few problems with it, but it will come along." She waved casually aside. Blondie has always been a good actress, I thought approvingly. At the same time I was sorry for her. I liked her, even if she had a problem with me. "And this is my boyfriend, Tyler Lockwood," I heard her chattering unconcerned. "I have to say, this is an extraordinary group of friends. Vampires, a werewolf, a witch and mortals - extraordinary," Abigail stated.
"Companions in fate hits closer," Matt replied dryly. "And I have to return to the Grill now. Ladies, my pleasure," he tapped his forehead and shook John's hand. "And if you fancy a nice drink, come on by later." He hugged Elena and Caroline. "I really have to go, people. Have fun," he said with a meaningful look at the new guests. "See you, Donovan. And take care of yourself, okay? A little vervain couldn't hurt." I shook his hand. Pleased and surprised he returned the handshake. "All right, man. Take good care of your little family!" With that, he turned and walked out the door.
"Please, sit down," Helen offered to them and plopped down on the couch. "Are your feet hurting?" I asked softly. "And the back," she nodded. "Give me your feet." I took off her shoes and put them on my lap. Then I gently massaged her soles and toes. "Ah, that feels good," she moaned, leaning back relaxed. "So, what else did Sheila tell you?" I wanted to know. "That Kane is back, was disturbing enough, but when Sheila contacted us last night and reported that he has magical support, we came straight away." Helen straightened. "You have been driving all night because of me?" Something struck me as weird. "Why would Sheila Bennett contact two Corey witches if the families allegedly haven't been on good terms for centuries?" I asked.
Everyone looked expectantly at Jessica. "She has delivered a promise," she replied. "Bonnie's mother had trouble with an ex-boyfriend who was very possessive," Abigail explained now. "In other words, a stalker?" Caroline insisted. Abigail nodded. "Yes, he has threatened her massively. I knew her from some classes we had together and helped her." Tyler shook his head. "I don't understand, a man stronger than a witch?" Now I started to see. "Unless the ex wasn't a normal person," I interjected. Abigail nodded. "He is a very talented sorcerer," she replied. "Who is it?" I asked. I had the vague feeling that some really big shoe was still to drop. The Corey sisters looked at me. "Bree's brother."