DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Vampire Diaries or Christina Aguilera lyrics
"Welcome to the greatest show
Greatest show on earth
You've never seen before
Here the fairytale unfolds"
WELCOME, Christina Aguilera
September 20, 2013
Las Vegas, Nevada
Jail, Elena Gilbert wearily decided, was not a place for the weak or timid.
She stared blankly ahead, her dark eyes fixating on the gray cement wall in front of her, her nose crinkling in disgust at the scent of the cell reeking with urine, alcohol and vomit.
She pulled her bare legs up, locking her arms around her knees, gently rocking back on the padded bench, attempting to warm her petite frame. Her forehead wrinkled as she concentrated on ignoring the angry complaints of the prostitute because she was losing out on her money or the drug addict well past his nightly fix.
She knew she was an outsider in their midst.
She was impeccably dressed in her black mini-dress that gathered in the front and back, her red chiffon covered Christian Louboutin heels carelessly discarded on the dirty ground. She reached back, pulling down her silky strands of hair, allowing them to drape across her face, blocking out the questioning gazes of her cellmates.
But never had she felt so satisfied.
A small smirk settled across her features as she ran a manicured fingertip over the jagged pieces of her knuckles, wincing slightly. An almost broken hand and a night in jail with the possibility of a hefty fine and public service were in her opinion was a well-earned reward rather than a punishment.
Not that her parents would see the situation as such. Her father's face would turn to stone, his glare filled with disappointment and disgust while her mother would simply project whichever emotion her husband demanded.
Elena could already Grayson Gilbert's voice, booming as he would lecture about the proper etiquette of society standards that she must live by in order to not tarnish the Gilbert name. As the only child of the millionaire casino owner and the sophisticated art dealer, they expected perfection and were disappointed that she had always managed to fall short.
Katherine Pierce, however, her beautiful cousin that had come to live with her family after an car accident claimed the life of her parents when she was thirteen, was the very essence of what a proper heiress should be, or at least that is what she had fooled everyone in believing.
Elena's expression turned grim as the night's event replayed through her mind. Walking into her fiancée's, Stefan Salvatore's, loft eager for their anniversary dinner only to find Katherine on his bed, naked and moaning as he thrust into her from behind, smirking once they were discovered.
She screamed alright, Elena thought, especially when I grabbed her by the hair and dragged her in the front yard.
There had been an overwhelming sense of immense satisfaction in cracking her fist across Katherine's nose, blood dripping from the once perfect surgically formed piece. She had even managed to get her claws into Stefan before the police had arrived, charging her with disturbing the peace and assault.
Oh, but it had been well worth it. Hopefully resulting in pictures that could be splashed all over the tabloids, a new sex scandal to keep the paparazzi gleeful for weeks.
And in those weeks she could quietly hide, nursing her bruised heart and wounded pride. The realm of Stefan's betrayal had not even begun to settle in her mind.
"Gilbert," the officer's voice caused her head to snap up. "You have visitors."
She groaned slightly.
Her father, handsome and powerful in his navy suit, ran a hand through his perfectly coiffed hair as he glanced around the cell in concentration at the drunken and dirty inhabitants. Miranda Gilbert smiled awkwardly at her daughter, occasionally brushing imaginary lint from her cream sheath dress.
"How could be you be so stupid?" Grayson hissed, anger sipping into every word. "Were you even thinking?"
"Elena, dear," Miranda began as she placed a calming had on his arm. "You tend to act on rash emotion. There are certain standards that you must maintain."
"A bad reflection on my part?" Elena cried, her eyes narrowing in disbelief at the judgment she saw reflecting in their eyes, snapping to her feet, attempting to ignore the sticky substance she had stepped into. "You've got to be fucking kidding me!"
"Language Elena." her mother scowled at her.
"Oh piss off mother." Elena said, throwing her hands up. "I have every right to be upset. She is my cousin, my own flesh and blood, and she was in bed with my fiancée. This was not sharing clothes or closet space, this was the man that said he loved me, but had no problem fucking Katherine the minute my back was turned."
"Katherine assures me that there is proper explanation for what you witnessed, if you had only listened."
"You're seriously not taking her side over mine? Your own daughter?"
"Elena, this is not about choosing sides," Grayson assured her, ignoring her snort of disagreement. "You have to understand Katherine's situation. She's lost her parents, her sense of stability -"
"Eight years ago," Elena interrupted harshly, thrusting an agitated hand through her hair, restraining the urge to yank on it in frustration. "Yes, it was horrible. Yes, no child should have to live through that at such a young age, but how long can you use that as an excuse for every action in her life. She hurt me. You're suppose to protect me."
"Katherine was foolish, she admits that, but you should have controlled your anger. There is a dignified manner on how to handle the situation and dragging her naked into the street was not one of them."
"Really? Because I thought bringing the trash to the curb seemed to be the perfect answer."
Grayson pinched the bridge of his nose, irritated at his daughter's inability to see his sense of reasoning.
"You'll apologize an issue…"
"And monkey's will dance in hell first. She is backstabbing whore and I will make sure that the world knows it."
"Oh Elena, I never meant to hurt you." Katherine's voice was frail as she stumbled forwarded, her dark eyes glazed with tears and she reached out a quivering hand only to have Elena slap in away.
"We'll leave you two to talk."
"I would applaud your performance," Elena stated, lightly laughing, impressed at how skillfully Katherine had manipulated the situation to her advantage. "I love the tears. It's a sweet touch, but you really don't want me to let go of these bars. Your extensions may suffer if I do."
Katherine raised her perfectly arched brows in a gesture of innocence. "I don't think that would be appropriate darling, considering I am the victim after all." she taunted, pushing her dark hair across her shoulders. "It wouldn't be so fun if you're parents weren't so gullible."
"That's a nice shade of purple," Elena said, gesturing towards the bruise highlighting her nose and under her eyes. "I do so hope your nose is broken."
"The bruise is worth every minute of this. Stefan loved every minute of fucking me, screaming my name." Katherine smile gleefully as she watched Elena's hands tighten around the iron bars in reaction. "Did you really accept him to remain faithful?"
"I'd rather be an ice princess than his whore. That is a job you are more than welcome too. But I will tell you what you are going to do. You are going to go out there and drop the charges you filed against me."
"Silly girl, why would I do that? I'm getting everything I wanted."
"I don't blame you for feeling that way, but in the future, I would recommend not leaving your cell phone unattended." Elena's tone turned mocking as Katherine paled. "I mean you wouldn't want those sex and drug binge videos you so foolishly took to be shown to the world."
"You have nothing," Katherine insisted, fear forming at the base of her stomach. "No proof."
"Are you really so sure? Do what you need to do to sign the papers - flash him your implants, drop to your well-worn knees, I don't fucking care what you do, but those charges are going to be dropped."
Katherine glared at her, attempting to see if she was lying, but Elena simply smiled back at the face so much like her own.
"The clock is ticking."
A tense moment of silence passed before Katherine shook her head, pleased with her deduction.
"You're bluffing. I won't drop the charges."
"That's unfortunate for you then," Elena drawled, shrugging her shoulders. "But I bet for the right price I can get Kol to sing and release the pictures though."
The color slowly drained from Katherine's face at the name of her former lover/dealer.
"Now," Elena smiled sweetly. "Are you planning to sign something this evening."
September 20, 2013
Las Vegas, Nevada
Elena stood, suddenly tired as she looked around her spacious penthouse suite. There was nothing was nothing undesirable about her life. The endless supply of shopping, of parties and willing men - something millions fantasized about and thousands cursed her for.
And at this moment she would gladly hand it to them, walk off and never look back.
Who could she trust, who could she believe to stand by her side when not even her parents would.
She needed a change.
She leaned down, picking up the corded telephone since her father had taken her cell as part of her punishment and dialed a familiar number. She gnawed on her lower lip, tapping her foot impatiently.
"Uncle Ric, it's Elena. I need your help."
September 20, 2013
New York, New York
Damon Salvatore rolled to his side, groaning slightly as the covers pulled from his body. Sleepily he opened his blue eyes, wincing as a headache began to form, and he sat up, staring down at the woman sprawled out next to him.
"Shit," he murmured.
He hadn't meant to sleep with her, but with each shot of tequila he had drank, the more appealing her advances had appeared. He had made it a rule to not fuck anyone who was part of his tour. It often ended with clinging hands and harsh sobs on one end. And he knew that Andie would be no different.
Damon leaned over, intent on ordering the naked girl from his room, but his cell phone ran and a small grin tugged at his lips when he saw the number.
The man had never had a proper sense of time.
"Salvatore."
"Damon, it's Ric. I need a favor."
"Is it all blue skies
Fun and games untill you fall
Then you're left without anyone at all
You're riding on a shooting star
With a smile upon your face
But soon the shine fades"
