Hey guys! So I know that this story moves kind of slow, but I promise it does get better. Please hold on and just enjoy the Katherine-that is after all why I wrote it. and her Motherly concern for Anelie. Please Review!
xoxo
Cassie sighed as she listened to the conversation between Anelie and the boy next to her. It was nice to hear her friend laughing and seeing her real smile, but, it upset Cassie that she was not the one doing so. It was always Cassie that made Anelie laugh like that; it was like their treasure and it hurt to hear her laughing and being genuinely happy without her there.
The class went by slowly, Ms. Malloy warned Anelie and her friend to stop talking just fifteen minutes into the period, then again, several minutes later and the third time made the entire class uncomfortable. She yelled at Anelie and the boy whose name is Darien, telling them to stop the disruption because it was completely silent in the room as everyone was working on research papers.
That's when Anelie rose from her chair and made way to the front of the room, she took Ms. Malloy aside whispering something to her before returning to her seat continuing the conversation with Darien, and Ms. Malloy did not have a care in the world about it any longer.
Cassie knew that Anelie had used her vampire privileges and compelled the teacher.
Darien questioned it a couple times and Anelie swiftly swept it under the rug informing him that she had an upper hand when it came to getting her way. Making a joke out of it saying, "I always get what I want."
Darien grinned and Anelie put on her most mischievous grin.
Later…
Anelie started out of the main entrance she decided that it being such a gorgeous day out that she would walk home while Cassie decided to go with Caroline to run a few errands.
"Anelie, hey wait up!" A masculine voice shouted several yards back. Anelie stopped and turned slightly, smiling when she saw Darien jogging towards her.
"Hey." He breathed out, trying to catch his breath once reaching the Petrova vampire.
"Why hello there Darien," She greeted
"Where you off to?" Darien asked beginning to walk alongside Anelie, "Home, and you?"
"Same, do you want a ride?" he offered
"My momma taught me to never get into cars with strangers." She smirked
"Oh, come on, I'm not much of a stranger anymore." He assured, Anelie only continued to smirk, "Please just let me take you home?"
Her smirk gradually transformed into a smile, "Fine," She sighed, "show me to your car."
"So where exactly do you live?" Darien wondered as he drove down the busy streets, "You'll see, just make a right at this intersection." She commanded and Darien obeyed.
Minutes later Darien passed the final neighborhood, now all that was left was open field and hills of green land most of which belonged to those of Petrova decent.
"You know the old castle is up here?" Darien spoke Anelie nodded, "Mmhm, it's beautiful. Most of this land is a part of the property."
"Yeah, it's amazing, I wonder if you can go in the castle?"
"You can, but people are living there. I heard the kids that live there go to our school."
"Just some random people live in that castle? That's weird to think about, it should have stayed within the family."
"Take a right at this gate," Anelie commanded
Darien did as told, he stopped at the closed iron gates. There was a speaker box and a dial pad, Anelie unbuckled herself and reached herself over Darien, he backed into his seat as much as he could to make room for Anelie, blushing at how close her body was to him.
She pressed a big green button and a woman's voice picked up, "Hello?"
"Momma, someone forgot to open the gates again, can you be ever so kind and let me in, please?"
"Of course, sweetie," Katherine said smiling
"Thank you!" Anelie chirped and sat back down.
Darien drove up to the castle parking just outside the front doors, "This is where you live?"
Anelie grinned, "Yup, my family was never stupid enough to sell this place. It has stayed with us through the generations."
They made way up the front steps and into the castle, Darien was in awe at the castles outside, but the inside was completely different. He had lived in Bulgaria all his life visiting places like this all-over Europe but never has he seen such modern yet original beauty in a place like this.
Darien was pulled from his thoughts when heels and another pair of footsteps began to echo through the entry, "Momma, Daddy…what's going on?" Anelie wondered
Stefan shrugged his shoulders as he crossed his arms, "Nothing at all, we were just curious of your new friend."
Darien stepped closer, extending his arm, "Sorry, rude. I'm Darien Valko"
"I'm Stefan Salvatore and this is my wife Katherine." Stefan introduced shaking the young man's hands
Katherine soon did the same showing a polite smile, "It's a pleasure to meet you Darien,"
"Pleasure is mine," Darien returned
Darien turned to Anelie, "I thought your last name was Petrova?"
"It is, Stefan adopted me."
"Got it, now I understand." The boy replied.
Katherine smiled at the gentleman standing before her, he was polite.
Stefan being the protective man that he was over his girls, could not help but question the boy. To the protective father, the boy was being too polite. But there was a part of him that appreciated it.
"Well, it's the start of your break, what were you two planning to do?" Katherine wondered innocently
Anelie exchanged glances with Darien, a smile forming she looked back to her parents, "I was thinking of going riding,"
"Well isn't that nice," Katherine said, "It's nice, right Stefan."
"Yes, very nice. You two have fun." Stefan responded
"We will—oh and just so you know, Darien knows that I'm a Vampire." The younger brunette chirped
"What?" Katherine and Stefan exclaimed.
Anelie giggled, "Bye, love you!" She grabbed Darien's hand and rushed out to the back.
"Have you ever ridden a horse before, Darien?"
He nodded, "Actually I have, my parents and I owned a couple when I was younger."
"How funny, so did my parents. It was when we decided to finally move back home that I wanted to get into riding."
Anelie explained leading them into the pasture where all four horses were out. She went up to Pegasus, "This beauty is mine," Anelie said happily petting its snout
"She's gorgeous." Darien spoke
Anelie giggled bringing her head up from leaning on the horse's snout as she continued to caress
"Thank you, his name is Artemis, but I like to call him Pegasus."
"Where do you get Pegasus?" Darien questioned now brushing his hand over the horse's side.
"I have a wild imagination, but when I rode him for the first time I felt like I was flying. He and I shared a connection and I felt like he could read my mind…like we were bound to each other by something." Anelie went on to explain trailing off in a soft whisper.
Darien eyed Anelie curiously smiling softly at her, she was a very interesting girl and he wanted to know more about her. This was simply a glimpse into Anelie Petrova's life and he was intrigued.
/
"So, you know about me, now you. What's your story Darien?" Anelie wondered sitting beside him both atop their horses enjoying the crisp fresh air.
"Well, what would you like to know?" He shot back
Anelie sighed biting down on her bottom lip in thought, "Well, obviously, you know about Vampires…how did that come about?"
"I became one…" He blurted not giving a second thought.
"You don't sound happy about it." Anelie observed.
Darien shrugged a shoulder, "I was turned after my entire family was killed, another Vampire smelt the blood and found me on the verge of death. She saved my life."
"When was this?" Anelie wondered
"1645," He answered
"And you were born in?"
"1627, I was eighteen…what about you, when were you born?"
"I was born in 1493, I turned at sixteen."
"How did you turn?"
Anelie shook her head, pressing her lips together, "Selfish reasons…I wanted to be with my family forever…I had no desire to be courted by disgusting men."
"That's understandable, I don't blame you. There are perks to being a Vampire, especially in your case since your parents are Vampires too, are you can be with the people that you love forever. You don't have to worry about watching people die."
Anelie nodded putting on a slight smile, "Yeah, there is not a corner of my family that is not a part of the supernatural world. My aunties and uncles are all Vampires…Parents, I think I have some witches in my family somewhere too," She laughed and returned Darien's gaze.
Silence fell and Anelie began to feel weird, she turned away and blushed, "Why do you keep staring at me?"
Darien shrugged, "Because I'm intrigued by you, Princess Anelie."
Anelie grinned, "Took you long enough to figure it out."
"I figured it out after you told me the year you were born." He admitted
"Wow, you really gave your all on that one, didn't you Sherlock?"
"Sherlock? Really, Sherlock? That was the best insult that you could come up with?"
Anelie shrugged a shoulder, "I could have said worse."
A little bit after both decided to head inside, nightfall was already upon them. Darien helped Anelie feed the horses and place them back into their stalls for the night.
They came inside, warmth blanketed their skin. Anelie slipped off her shoes and Darien trailed behind her, about to go upstairs when they were stopped by a doppelganger, "Why hello Anelie, how was riding?"
"It was great, Auntie, this is my friend, Darien."
"Auntie? Isn't that your mom?" Darien wondered confusion written all over his face.
Anelie chuckled, "No, Elena this is my mother's little sister, Darien this is my Aunt, Elena."
Elena smiled and extended her hand, "It's nice to meet you, Darien,"
Darien smiled shaking Elena's hand, "Same to you."
"Oh, Anelie before I forget, your dad wanted to know if your little friend would be joining us for dinner?"
Anelie looked up at Darien, "Mr. Valko would you like to join us for dinner?"
Darien turned and took Anelie's hand into his bringing it up to his lips kissing the top, "It would be a pleasure Ms. Petrova." Darien played with a smile.
Anelie giggled
Elena awed at the scene, "Oh my god you guys are too cute!" she cooed putting a hand on her cheek.
Anelie shook her head, "Alright auntie, we will be upstairs if anyone asks."
Anelie and Darien made their way up the staircase
As the teens were about to make their way down the hall Elena shouted, "Keep your door open!"
Anelie whipped her head around looking down at a smirking Elena over the edge of the railing. She stuck her tongue out before continuing to her bedroom with Darien trailing behind her.
Darien comfortably settled himself on Anelie's bed after kicking off his shoes. Anelie giggled and climbed up seating herself beside him, "So what shall we do Mr. Valko?" She teased
Darien smiled letting out a small chuckle, he shrugged a shoulder looking around the room "I don't know…uh…homework? I know a few of our teachers assigned us some."
Anelie scoffed, "Homework, really? Come on its winter break, I don't want to get stuck dealing with homework."
"Well, then, what do you suggest?" He offered
Anelie repositioned herself so that she was now lying on her stomach, elbows to the bed and head resting on her hands
"How about…"
/
"Anelie has a boy in her room." Elena stated entering the main living room where everyone was lounging comfortably in front of a glowing fire.
"Say again?" Elijah said
Elena grinned
"Darien is in the room with her?" Katherine asked Elena nodded
"Yup, but don't worry, I told her to keep the door open."
"I don't see the problem; it isn't like she's going to get pregnant or anything—he's human. Like you said, right Katherine?" Caroline asked
"I think so,"
"Wait a minute hold on; who is this Darien dude?" Tyler demanded
"He's a friend of Anelie's; I guess they have classes together." Stefan informed
Rebekah smiled, "I think it's good that Anelie is making more friends, but I do feel sorry for Cassie."
"Speaking of, where is she?" Asked Matt
"Either in her room or the library studying as always; she's been racking her brain out studying for her Bulgarian class. I remember Anelie promised to help her out with it but…you know…" Rebekah said
Katherine sighed, "Should we do something about this, make the girls talk to each other and work this out? I mean I know I've said things like that before…but Anelie was never one to say something like that especially to Cassie."
"The girls will work it out, most likely later rather than sooner, all we can do is support them." Matt insisted
Katherine nodded in agreement
"Yes, and besides I think we would make matters worse if we push it," Caroline added
Stefan looked over at Katherine, she met his gaze smiling sadly at him, "Everything will work itself out Kat it always does."
"You're right, all of you are."
/
Later at dinner, Stefan sat at the head of the table, Katherine beside him and Anelie right across from Katherine. Darien sat beside Anelie. Everyone else sat scattered around the table.
"So, Darien, tell me, what is it about our Anelie that caught your eye?" Said Elijah, a hint of a smile forming
Darien cleared his throat, "Well um, I- I don't really know how to explain it, she was very intriguing. We hit it off from the start."
Anelie smiled, "We have all but one class together, Uncle Elijah." She informed
"Is that so?" Rebekah countered with a grin
Anelie shook her head giggling, "Yes as a matter of fact."
"This is completely off topic, but, how in the world does anyone tell you three apart?" Darien asked towards the triplets.
Tatia laughed, "It's hard sometimes, but usually it is by our clothes and hair that tells us apart from one another."
Elena laughed, "Yeah, that's why I decided to put red in mine, finally I'm not being mixed up with my older sisters."
"Of course, do not feel bad Darien, if you do mix us up; my own daughter seems to do it on some occasions." Katherine teased
Anelie scoffed, "So does daddy and everyone else here!"
"Let's not forget the time you called Tatia, Elena. For an entire day." She added quickly
Tatia laughed, "Damn, she sure threw you under the bus!"
Everyone couldn't help but laugh.
Darien looked beside him at Anelie who was smiling widely.
