The key (Damon)
He's my son, by Mark Schultz
„I'm down on my knees again tonight,
I'm hoping this prayer will turn out right.
See, there is a boy that needs Your help.
I've done all that I can do myself
Can You hear me?
Am I getting through tonight?
Can You see him?
Can You make him feel all right?
If You can hear me
Let me take his place somehow.
See, he's not just anyone, he's my son."
The scent of her blood wafted across the room and threatened to overwhelm all my senses completely. I fought against my instinct, I wanted to retain my conscious reception at all cost. Reuben had almost completely eradicated my control with his torture. I yearned to be at Helen's side, I would've loved to support her. Hearing her scream in labor had almost been worse than the warlock's cruelty. My head swam with fuzzy thoughts. When I'd been a child, I hadn't understood why I couldn't be with my mother during Stefan's birth. I'd had to wait in front of her door. Past blurred into present... Then I heard the baby cry... a thin high-pitched sound. We had a son! Why was Helen crying? Why couldn't she rejoice? He didn't cry loudly. It just seemed to be a faint protest against her tears. She rocked him gently in her arms and tried to calm him. When she gave him her breast, he fell silent and I heard him suckling greedily. Through all my pain, the beauty of this sound made me smile.
I leaned my forehead on the cool iron bars while I crouched on the ground. My awareness was only shreds which flickered through my mind, clear thoughts mixing with murky fog. They mustn't kill him, nobody should kill him! But wouldn't that be better than giving him to Kane? None of us knew what he wanted to do with the boy. I had no power left in me, most notably on the physical level. The warlock had bled me out many hours ago and infused me with vervain. I had noticed that he had collected my blood the last few times, but I couldn't imagine why. It didn't matter, he would kill me soon anyway and my agony would come to an end. At least, I hoped so. Motionless, I rested on the ground and dozed away. At some point, I heard a commotion in Helen's cell. I raised my head and saw Laura running back and forth. Something was wrong. Why could I still smell Helen's blood? Kane had given it to me so often, I would've recognized it anywhere. Laura stuck her head between the bars and peered towards the tunnel. "KANE!" she yelled as loud as she could. "KANE!" I looked at her and our eyes met. „What's… wrong?" I croaked. „She's hemorrhaging", she replied. Helen was dying? I got agitated. „She needs blood", I said. „Yeah, I know", Laura replied impatiently. „KANE… WHERE ARE YOU?" she yelled again. "No…no, listen, she needs vampire blood", I insisted. She gave me a disbelieving glance, but I nodded fervently.
That was when I heard footsteps. Kane was approaching. Meanwhile I could recognize their steps. „What the hell is going on?" he snarled. „She's dying!" she shouted at him. „What?" He unlocked the cell and entered it. A low growl emanated from my chest. „She's hemorrhaging and I can't help her. Do something!" Kane scrutinized Helen's body. Then he flashed away and returned only seconds later with a vial and poured the red liquid down her throat. It smelled… like me! He was giving her my blood! I got restless. If it was still tinted with vervain… „That should be enough. And now the child – what is it?" he demanded and turned to Laura. She held the baby in her arms and couldn't withstand his merciless stare. "It's a boy", she whispered and hung her head. A diabolic grin spread across his face. "Help her dress as soon as she wakes up, go it?" he barked at her and then he vanished again. Something was definitely going on here, I could feel it. The warlock hadn't returned for too many hours, that alone was very unusual. Laura dandled the baby gently and talked to him softly. "All is well, sweetie, your mommy is sleeping now", she cooed. "You'll see her again soon." I pulled myself into an upright position. "Show him to me…", I demanded, "please…" Laura stood close behind the bars and turned the baby so that I could see his face. A round chubby-cheeked head like an angel with cornflower-blue eyes and black feathery hair peered out of the folds. Helen's eyes. I collapsed back to the ground. „Thank you…", I whispered exhausted and closed my eyes.
For a long time it was quiet in our prison until I heard Helen waking up. "Laura?" she moaned groggily. Laura sat at her side with our son in her arms. "I'm here. How do you feel?" she asked. Carefully Helen sat up. „Better… much better", she replied. „Ooh, there's my baby-boy", she exclaimed joyfully and took him from Laura's arms. Her face gleamed with pleasure while she dandled our son and looked at him. I had to smile. This view was worth any torture! „What did you give me?" she asked. Laura shook her head. „Nothing, I didn't have any medication. Kane gave you vampire blood", she replied. Helen gasped horrified. „Oh my God! Did he see the baby?" Laura nodded sadly. „He knows, Helen. You're supposed to get dressed as soon as you're awake." For a moment, Helen closed her eyes and hugged our son to her chest. Finally, she handed him back to Laura. "Okay", she whispered and got up. „Incredible, I feel… completely healed", she marveled while she dressed herself. "It's the vampire blood…", I croaked. She turned around and clung to the bars. "Damon! Oh Damon, I wish…", she started, but I interrupted her. "I know… listen closely… he gave you my blood", I explained hoarsely and looked at her.
Her eyes widened. „You mustn't… mustn't die, got it?" She nodded. "I know. Damon, have you seen him? Our son?" she asked softly. I nodded. Talking got more and more difficult. „He's beautiful… got your eyes…" I heard footsteps coming from the tunnel and let myself slide to the ground again. Kane appeared. "Aah, family reunion." He grinned diabolically and turned to Helen. „You're ready as I can see. Put your coat and boots on", he demanded. Helen hesitated. „Now!" he shouted and she obeyed. „You'll stay with the bastard", he ordered Laura and grabbed Helen's arm, pulling her out of the cell, leaving it open. "Wait! What are you doing? Where are you taking me?" Helen inquired agitatedly. „We've got to go", he replied. Helen resisted him. „I can't leave my son!" she exclaimed in protest. "Forget about him, he'll die anyhow!" Kane hissed at her and pushed her towards the tunnel despite of her resistance. Passing my cell, he unlocked it and opened the gate. "Have fun!" he called at me while he shoved Helen further. Just now she realized what he had in mind – and I did too. "NO! Not my baby! NOOO!" she screeched and fought Kane like crazy. "Damon! Please! Please don't… he's your son!" Kane finally hit her straight in the face to shut her up. She sobbed and he dragged her with him into the tunnel, regardless of how hard she fought him. He wanted me to kill Laura – and my own child. He wanted me to lose control. Laura tried to calm the baby because he had started crying. Suddenly, an explosion shook the tunnel and our cavern filled with dust. "Help!" I heard Laura scream and my vision got clouded.
Afterwards, it was quiet except for the baby's cries. Interestingly enough the lights were still on, meaning the electric wiring must've been running somewhere else. Maybe there was a generator? I gathered all the reserves I still had. „LAURA!" I shouted. A cough was the answer I had hoped for. When the dust cleared, I saw that she had covered herself and the baby with a blanket. "Laura… answer me!" I shouted again. I tried to get to my feet, but I was too weak. "I'm okay…", she replied coughing, "we're both okay", she added and picked herself up. She wasn't young anymore, but she had reacted quickly. I was relieved. Kane was on the run with Helen, that much was clear now, but why? Was there someone out there to save us? He had blown up the tunnel to prevent me from coming after him and he was sure that I would kill the child and Laura. What about Helen? I just prayed that he would let her live! "Laura… can you take a look… see how much came down?" I asked her. She was trying to calm the crying baby. "Wait a sec", she replied. When the little one was quiet again, she walked over to the tunnel and vanished into the dark, but returned right away.
She looked pale. "I'd say about half of it collapsed. We can't get out anymore!" She leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. "What the hell are we going to do now?" she whispered to herself. "Survive…" I rattled. She looked at me. „Kane thinks you'll kill us, doesn't he?" she said. I nodded. „Yeah… need human blood… no more power…", I whispered. „Will you die without blood?" she asked. I shook my head. „Can't… immortal… just weak…" I needed to know how long she and my son could survive. "You have… supplies… milk…?" I wanted to know. „Only water and some baby formula, but it won't last long", she answered. "How long?" She frowned. „Maybe three, four days." I pondered on it, or rather I tried. My thoughts were fuzzy, thinking straight was almost impossible and my thirst was immense. Normally, I would've already killed her, but in this situation… If I could feed on her without killing her, we might have a chance, I thought. I was pretty sure that Kane's actions had something to do with our friends searching for us. "Do you think that someone's hunting him?" Laura asked. She obviously had similar thoughts. I nodded. „My brother… Helen's family… they search…" I took a deep breath. "I need blood… can't help." I closed my eyes.
It would be so nice if I could just lay here and wither away, but I knew it wouldn't be that easy. I heard Laura moving and when she got back, I looked up. She squatted in front of me, on the othe side of the bars, and scrutinized me. "I never thought I would end like this", she said shaking her head. "Do you know anything at all about babies? Probably not, so if you kill me, you'll harm your own son, Damon", she said and held my gaze. "I know… won't kill you…", I replied weakly. I wasn't sure at all if I could manage to spare her life and her critical expression told me she thought likewise. "Okay, but in case you do… feed him every three hours, keep him warm and he needs water above all. Little or no food at all can be tolerated, but dehydration is dangerous, got it?" she explained and held her arm near the bars. I nodded and understood, she was ready to sacrifice herself. „Could… hurt…", I whispered. She nodded with a gulp and took a deep breath, pushing her trembling hand through the bars next to my head. The sounds of her blood pulsating in her veins and her heartbeat clouded my awareness and brought down the wimpy remainders of my control. My vampire senses forcefully broke through and I gripped her wrist, biting down.
She screamed a little and groaned from the pain. Hot and sweet blood flowed down my throat and I couldn't hold back. I sensed her growing weaker, but my instincts didn't care. "Damon… the baby…", she groaned and her heartbeat slowed. I fought my thirst and thinking about my son finally helped me to stop although I was still almost starved. I tore away from her and rolled myself on my back. Quietly she fell to the floor, her eyes closed. I felt the blood rolling through my veins, giving me new power. Groaning, I pushed myself to my feet. A short wave of dizziness, but then I was able to move again. I opened the gate and kneeled next to Laura. The elderly woman had saved me, now it was time to save her. Her heart was still beating. I lifted her upper body into my arms and bit one wrist open, holding it to her lips. "Drink this, Laura, it heals you", I whispered to her ear. She struggled briefly, but then she acquiesced. Finally, I tore my wrist away and helped her up. "Come on", I said and led her to her bedstead. The control I needed to resist the siren call of her blood was incredibly hard to muster. "The baby…", she whispered fearfully. I turned my head to the bed where she had laid him down. He was fast asleep. "He's sleeping", I said and tucked her in. „Take a rest, Laura." Timidly she looked at me and I took her hand, caressing it softly. "Laura, he's my son. I swear, I won't hurt him", I stated urgently. She scrutinized me, but then she nodded and relaxed back into the pillow.
I rose quickly to get some distance between us and looked around. Things like baby bottles, diapers and other stuff lay on a table and there was a bucket with water. God, I'd really love a bourbon now, I thought. Then I went into the tunnel to inspect it myself. Laura had been right, a large part of the ceiling had crumbled and the lights had been torn down. I went back to the cavern. On the ceiling I saw electric wiring vanishing in holes drilled into the rock. The rock above couldn't be a mile high then, the wiring had to come out somewhere. The back of the cavern was a dead end. Back in Helen's cell I looked at the radiator, but it was dead. It's plug had probably been connected to the wiring in the tunnel. It was getting cold. Disappointed, I turned around and my gaze rested on my son sleeping on Helen's bedstead. Very carefully, I crept closer, watching my instincts. I needed to prevent my blood thirst from taking over near him.
My son! What a miracle… my miracle, I thought. I sat down next to the peacefully slumbering bundle without waking him and waited for my thirst trying to overwhelm me, but nothing happened. I listened to his tiny heart beating fast, his blood pumping through his fine vessels and finally I neared my face to his body, testing my response. Taking a deep breath I inhaled his unique scent. It reminded me of Stefan as a baby. I had loved this baby scent. My son smelled sweetly of milk with honey and flowers. I filled my lungs with it and by doing so a connection between us clicked. Suddenly he opened his eyes and fixated them on me. I had to smile. It was a magic moment! „Hi", I whispered. He just blinked. Amazed I recognized that I didn't feel any bloodlust at all in his presence, only the strong urge to hold him in my arms. It's got to be a parent's instinct, I thought relieved. Fascinated, I touched one of his tiny hands and immediately his little fingers closed around my large one. "Hey, you are strong already", I whispered and lifted my finger a bit. The tot didn't let go, no matter how often I lifted it. Stubborn just like me, I thought with a grin. In the end I dared to put one hand under his head and the other under his butt and lifted him carefully on my shoulder, just like I had seen Laura doing it. The feel of the warm and soft body of the baby against my skin triggered indescribable emotions in me. Softly cradling him, I carried him through the cell. Emotions tumbled over each other inside of me, the feeling of happiness was unbelievably strong. He just gurgled, oblivious to the world while I grinned like a cheshire cat.
Finally I sat down on Helen's bedstead near the head and let him slide down into the crook of my arm. "If only you mommy was here", I murmured and leaned my back against the cold wall. After some time, I carefully slid down into a prone position, still holding my son in my arm, and pulled Helen's blanket over us. It was cold and apart from my boxers I had no clothing. I couldn't tear my gaze away from the infant. His skin was incredibly soft and his black hair looked like fine feathers. Like raven downs, I thought involuntarily. I remembered my first contact with Abigail. What had she said? "…the little raven is the key…" The key to what? Maybe we should call you Raven… I let my head fall on my arms and closed my eyes. Listening to his breathing, my consciousness drifted away. I was ineffably tired, but I couldn't really sleep. Pictures of ravens drifted through my mind… ravens… what about those ravens? In my fantasy I flew as a raven above the hill that held us. It was daylight, the snow glistened white in the sun and I saw a cot leaning to a steep hill. Was that the entrance to our cavern? Tracks of tires led away from the cot and I followed them with a quick stroke of my wings…
„Damon!" A voice called me. „Damon, wake up!" I opened my eyes and it was dark. At once I was wide awake. „Laura?" I said and didn't move. „I'm still on my bed", she replied. „The light's gone", she said and I heard her move. In complete darkness even with my vampire senses I had trouble seeing anything. Carefully I fumbled one hand along the blanket. My son was still in my arm and awake; I could hear his heart beating faster. He gurgled happily when I touched him. "Good morning", I whispered and sat up while lifting him on my arm. Suddenly a light flashed through the room and blinded us. Laura obviously had found a flashlight. The baby complained when the light hit his eyes. "Shsh, it's okay", I crooned and dandled him softly. The next moment, and awful smell hit my senses. "Oh boy, junior! Guess it's time to change your diapers", I said and got up. "You didn't hurt him", Laura said amazed. I nodded. "He's my son and somehow I'm not craving his blood", I replied. "And he's not the first baby in your arms", she decided with a professional look at me. "The first in 150 years, I haven't always been a vampire, you know?"
"Wow, I'm impressed. Let's see if your knowledge in baby-care is still up to date", she teased and walked over to the small table. "Would you please bring him here?" she asked. I carried my son over to her and encountered an expected problem. "What's up?" she asked and stepped back a few when she saw my face. "Your blood…", I gasped and held my breath. I forced my vampire face back. "Let's try again", I said through clenched teeth and approached her again. "Okay", she breathed relieved and concentrated on the baby. With a proficient grip she took him and put him on a towel. "Well, little man, let's take a look at you", she murmured and unwrapped him. "Oh my, what the hell is this?" I exclaimed, eyeing the dark greenish lump suspiciously and wrinkled my nose. "Meconium, baby poop, the child's first faeces after birth. Don't tell me you can smell it?" she asked suprised. "It smells terrible", I replied and grimaced in disgust. She shook her head. „For us humans, it almost never smells, especially not for the mother", she explained and winced. "You think he will…" She didn't continue, she just frowned. "I don't know", I whispered.
I didn't allow myself to think about Helen, otherwise I would go mad. My son was the most important thing here and now. Laura examined his navel and bandaged it anew, then she cleaned him. I watched her attentively how she diapered him and prepared a bottle of baby formula for him. She showed me how to hold him while feeding him and what to do afterwards for his digestion. All those little things created a kind of normality within the madness of our situation. I let her take the child again. "Have you thought of a name?" she asked. I shrugged. „I don't know yet… something with raven", I replied. „Maybe Brannon?" she said. "What kinda name is that?" I inquired. She smiled. „My ancestors came from ireland. Brannon means son of Bran and Bran means raven." I pondered on it. "Hm… doesn't sound bad… Bran… Brannon Salvatore… hm…" I toyed with a few variations in my head. "I'll think about it", answered and left the cell. "Hey, where are you going?" she called after me. „I'll try to move the rocks, we've got to get outta here", I replied. I had seen the small amount of baby formula and the water supply and I knew that I couldn't restrain my blood thirst for Laura not long enough. She and my son had zero chance of survival if I couldn't manage to get through the rocks in the tunnel.