"Hey, Jake" I said smiling while getting clothes.
"Bells, what's up?" he asked.
"I'm getting ready to go to a job interview" I said. "You?"
"Eh, nothing. Just dinner at Emily's… How's Mystic Falls?"
He was being awkward. He needed to say something.
"Great! I'm having fun" I said sincerely. "So, why are you calling?"
"Can't I call you without motive?" he asked.
He could, but he had called yesterday and there was no reason to call again so soon.
"Jake"
"Sorry" he sighed. "Look, we're having some trouble with the redhead"
"Victoria?" I asked shakily.
"She's messing around Seattle. And we thin she knows you're not here anymore because she isn't trying to get to Forks anymore"
"What do you mean messing in Seattle?"
"There are people disappearing and dying"
"Oh, God"
"Don't worry, we'll get her"
"What if she finds out where I am?" I asked frowning.
"We'll go there and protect you. So, get the guest room ready just in case" he said trying to lighten up.
"Okay" I mumbled.
"Bella, I promised I wouldn't let anything hurt you anymore. I'll keep that promise"
But no matter how much Jake tried to sooth me, I couldn't relax. Victoria was killing people because of me. If she came here, the pack would too, and Jake would know I hid vampires from him. I had never said anything about Damon, Stefan or Caroline. He thought I had a normal life. He didn't know my new best friend was a witch, and there was a psychotic ex trying to terrorize my friends.
I changed into boyfriend jeans, Union Flag print loose shirt and navy Vans, and clipped the front of my hair back. My hair was now shorter, falling a little past my shoulders and layered. I really should thank Damon for it, it was awesome. As I thought of him, I wondered if I should tell him and Bonnie about Victoria. Bonnie kind of knew about her, but she thought the wolves had it under control. If she came to town… Maybe I should warn people.
"Thanks, Matt. I really, really appreciate" I said smiling at him.
"You're welcome, Bella. I'm glad I could help you" he said. "So, when do you start?"
"Monday" I said happily.
He was about to say something but saw something behind me, and frowned, before smiling again at me. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Caroline had gotten a table and was watching us with a frown.
"See you tomorrow?" I asked Matt.
"Yeah"
I thanked him once more, and turned to leave, but saw Damon at the bar. He had a deep frown and was downing drinks. Not good. I walked to him and sat on the stool by his right.
"Hey" I said.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"Bad week?" he snorted and I frowned sadly. "Can you get me a drink? I need it and need to tell you something"
He grabbed the bottle that the bartender left within his reach, poured some in a glass and pushed it to me.
"I got you a drink. But I'm not in the mood to hear you whining about Eddie. So, go away" he said coldly.
"What happened?" I asked patiently.
"Where do I start…? This week, Katherine came to my house, just to spend time with Stefan, who tried to torture information out of her, didn't fully succeed, and to top it off, she made it pretty clear she wanted him. Then she met Elena, and freaked the hell out of the girl because of the looks. Oh, and although we suspect Blondie over there is a traitor, no one lets me kill her"
"Caroline?" I asked shocked.
"Katherine is using her"
"Geez… Your week really sucked" I agreed and downed the drink with a shudder. "Sorry"
"Whatever" he grumbled.
"Can I talk to you?"
"What part of I don't want to hear whining about Eddie…"
"It's not about him" I snapped and sighed. "Sorry. It kind of is. I just need to give you a heads up"
"What, ex coming to visit?" he taunted.
"No" I rolled my eyes at him. "Remember what I told you about James and his mate?"
"So?" he arched an eyebrow.
"Victoria is still hunting me, a mate for a mate. Jake and the guys were protecting me, but we have to be careful because she might come here"
"You're fucking kidding me" he said rolling his eyes. "As if there wasn't enough happening"
"Look, Damon, I'm not asking anything. I'm just warning you" I scowled.
"What do you mean Jake and the guys were protecting you?" he asked pouring another drink.
I didn't answer and he looked at me with a frown. I hadn't told him about the pack and I wouldn't. It was my only advantage. He glared as he realized I wasn't going to tell him anything and leaned closer.
"Tell. Me" he ordered, his pupils dilated.
Although I had stopped taking vervain, he didn't succeed on compelling me. I smiled at him and pushed him away.
"Damon, we both know it doesn't work" I said chuckling.
"You and your freaky blocked mind" he grumbled.
"Thank God" I said smiling.
He smiled at me, and eyed me up and down, his eyes lingering on the little bit of bare skin the above the waistband of my jeans.
"Not wearing the clothes I got you" he commented.
"Why would I wear expensive clothes for an interview at the Grill?"
"Got a job here?" he asked rolling his eyes, again.
"Yes, start Monday" I said, "And for your information, you bought these jeans"
"Right" he said and smirked. "I should have been smarter. I gave you clothes when I want you naked"
"Get me another drink and I might consider" I said smirking.
He looked surprised and as he poured more bourbon in my glass he gave me a sad smile.
"The redheaded vampire really makes you nervous" he said.
"Wouldn't you be? If a vampire wanted to torture you to death?"
"I think Stefan wants to do that half of the time" he laughed.
"You know what I mean" I said smiling.
"I do… Don't worry. If she sets a foot in town, I'll kill her myself" he said.
I smiled at him, as he avoided looking at me. I should be worried, since all men that swore to protect me had some kind of romantic feelings for me – first Edward and then Jake. But Damon was my friend, and I doubted he would ever feel like that about me. He could deny but he was still obsessed with Katherine/Elena. He did love her, even if he had weird ways of showing it.
His head suddenly turned and he frowned. I turned and followed his gaze. Elena and Stefan seemed to be fighting by the pool table. Caroling was watching with surprised, interested eyes. But although Elena and Stefan tried to look angry, his eyes were empty and her eyes were soft. I snorted and turned back to my drink.
"What?" Damon asked, still watching the fight with interest.
"Don't get your hopes up, Damon" I said softly.
I grabbed a napkin and a pen from behind the counter and wrote why. They're pretending, fooling Caroline. I nudged Damon who wouldn't take his eyes from Elena and Stefan. I rolled my eyes at him and pulled him by the shirt. He seemed bothered by what I did, but when his eyes read the message, his irritation with me faded away and he frowned at the fighting couple.
"Fucking idiots" he grumbled.
"Would you like her if she wasn't Katherine's clone?" I asked curiously.
"Yes" he snapped at me.
"Really?" I arched an eyebrow.
"Fuck you" he growled.
"I would say you need a distraction but I know you would get a poor sorority girl" I said shrugging.
He narrowed his eyes and hooking his fingers on the loops of my jeans he pulled me off my stool and between his legs.
"Maybe you could distract me" he said smirking.
"I'm not a toy" I said glaring at him.
"You know this confident, brave, strong Bella is much better than the plain, boring, weak one that came to Mystic Falls last week" he grinned.
"You and your arrogant, bratty attitude must be rubbing off on me" I said smiling.
"Maybe something else that's mine could rub on you" he winked.
"Maybe, if you weren't such a jerk" I laughed and pulled away from him. "Thanks for the drinks. See you tomorrow at the park"
"Bella!"
I finished applying the lipgloss, and while pulling my hair up in a high messy bun I ran downstairs. It was a warm autumn day, and I was planning on enjoying the sun, wearing purple ripped shorts, tiered lace cream-colored top and canvas converses. I got downstairs and dad was by the living room doorway with a frown to me.
"Yes?" I asked carefully.
"Damon Salvatore is here" he said.
I frowned. His tone implied I was guilty about that. What had Damon done? I looked at the living room and Damon was in our couch and smiled at me.
"Can I talk to you in the kitchen?" dad asked already leaving to the other room.
I followed him, wondering what Damon could have said, and what explanations I could give. Dad was leaned against the counter, arms crossed and a deep frown.
"Dad…"
"Bella" he cut me off. "I will not lie. I am not happy with this. He is older than you, and this is probably a bad idea… But then again, I trust him to keep you safe, and I am happy you finally moved on from that Cullen boy"
If he only knew Damon was the danger in this town. Wait a moment…
"Dad, we're not together!" I screeched.
"Really?" he said skeptically. "Why is he always here to pick you up?"
"We… are friends" I said.
"Alright, whatever you kids prefer to call it" he mumbled shrugging. "Just be careful and take the pepper spray"
Before I could answer and make him understand I wasn't lying, Damon appeared in the doorway and I narrowed my eyes at him. He just smiled innocently, and rocked on the balls of his feet.
"I'm sorry for interrupting, Charles. We need to get going, Bella" Damon said.
"Alright, take care of my girl" dad said dismissively and turned to go to his office.
Damon grinned as I walked past him to the door. It was the first time I saw him inside my house, but I didn't even bother to freak out about Charlie having invited him in.
"You're an ass" I said closing the door.
"Oh, come on, your father had to know about our love before we married" he taunted while wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
"Yes, now he thinks I have a pervert as boyfriend, stealing my virtue" I said glaring at him while trying to push him away, unsuccessfully.
"Stealing your virtue?" he laughed and then arched an eyebrow at my glare. "Oh, really!?"
I blushed as I pulled away from him and got in his car. I already knew where he was going with this.
"Shut up, Damon" I said slamming the car's door closed.
"Eddie boy wasn't man enough to steal your virtue, hm?" he teased while starting the car.
"Fuck you"
"Oh, don't be like that" he laughed while reaching for me.
I slapped his hand away what only made him laugh more. I noticed he was taking the long way to the park and arched an eyebrow.
"Just tell me whatever you want"
"Can't I offer my friend a ride to a common event on our agendas? It's good for the environment, green an all that shit" he said smirking.
"Damon, why are you giving me a ride? What do you want?" I asked with a sigh.
"I want you to explain about Victoria and Jacob and 'the guys'" he said.
"You're a nosy son of a bitch" I said with a chuckle.
"Bella…"
"A nosy son of a bitch that I won't tell anything to" I smirked.
"Are they vampires? Like me or like Eddie?"
"Damon, I won't tell you anything" I said frowning.
He made a sharp turn and I screeched as I clung to my seat to avoid being tossed around. He was going on the opposite direction of the park.
"Damon" I groaned.
"Tell me or I can drive until I'm out of gas" he said as he sped up.
"I don't care, my dad will kill you if I don't come back soon and you won't hurt me" I shrugged.
"Are you challenging me?"
"No, just stating a fact"
"I will hurt you if I need. So, spill the information"
"Look, Damon, I know you won't hurt me. I'm your friend, probably your only friend. You should be happy to know as much as you do. I tell more stuff to you than to Bonnie, and apparently I am, we are the only connections between your kind and the Cullens' kind"
He stopped the car abruptly. We were almost on the outskirts of town. He turned to me with a glare and I stared at him with a smile. He got even angrier, and grabbed me by the thigh and pulled me close to him. I pushed his hand away just to have it on my waist, gripping tightly.
"Loose your hold on me, Damon" I said warningly.
"What makes you think I care if you are hurt or if I hurt you?" he asked.
"Then go ahead. Torture me for information" I dared.
He stared at me for what felt like an eternity. I arched an eyebrow and he narrowed his eyes before his face changed. I tried to remain calm, but my heart probably gave me away. It was as fast as a hummingbird's heartbeat, making my chest feel tight and my ribcage seem like it would explode. His hand slipped around me, wrapping his arm around me, and he pulled me closer, lowering his head to my neck. I felt his fangs on my neck, but as my hands fisted on his shirt, not pulling or pushing, I felt them disappear, and I knew his face was back to normal. He kissed my neck, and traced a line with his tongue to my earlobe.
"You're lucky you're so hot and I want to have fun with you later" he whispered.
"You're lucky I won't call you out on that lie" I said.
He pulled back just enough to look at me, and after a whole minute staring at each other, he finally let me go. I slid back to my spot and he started the car again, turning back to town, and then took me to the damn Volunteers' Day event. We separated when we arrived and I joined Bonnie, Caroline and Elena on the decorations. Although Bonnie and Elena just shoot me questioning looks, Caroline – who seemed to dislike me profoundly – decided to verbalize their curiosity by asking what was up with me and Damon. After telling them we were only friends, that he worked with my father in the Council, she gave me a disbelieving look and the subject was dropped. Of course, being Damon, the main antagonist of my life lately, he had to pass by with a comment about my beauty and a kiss on my cheek, making the girls get suspicious all over again before leaving with a smirk. That made me glare at his back half of the time while helping Bonnie set the decorations on the light poles. I saw Stefan and Elena still pretending to fight, Damon talking to Stefan while 'helping' him decorate the bandstand and later Stefan was talking to Mason Lockwood. I remembered I had forgotten to ask Damon if he had found out anything else about the Lockwoods since his visit to Duke with Elena and Mr. Saltzman. Bonnie had to go help Mrs. Lockwood with something and I used the opportunity to get a drink and talk to Damon. After getting a glass of lemonade, I walked to Damon, who was leaned against a tree watching Mason Lockwood and sometimes Stefan.
"Hey, I forgot to ask, but I think I already know the answer by the way you're watching him" I said leaning against the other side of the tree. "Found anything on Lockwood?"
"That's not your business" he said with a smirk. "After all, Jacob isn't my business"
"Oh, stop acting like a child, Damon. We're on the same side here. I can't tell you because I was sworn to secrecy…"
"The Cullens' made you promise not to tell anyone" he pointed out.
"Well…" I said frowning while looking for an excuse. I still didn't know why I had told him anything… "The Cullens left, breaking their promise to me. I didn't own them anything. Jake is different"
"No" he said rolling his eyes. "I didn't find anything else, yet, we only had dinner together when we tried to severally maim each other... But nothing useful"
"Then stop watching him, you're worse than a lovesick teenage girl watching her dream guy pass by" I said frowning.
He glared at me and I saw Stefan turning to us from yards away with a smile. He was eavesdropping. I rolled my eyes at him and Damon's glare and looked at Mason.
"Pot, meet kettle" Damon retorted. "Didn't you find out the Cullens' secret by watching Eddie?"
"True, but I am a woman who watched a handsome man. You are a man watching a handsome man. What does that tell you about your sexuality?" I said with a teasing smile.
"If your moans are any indication, I'm a very much straight guy who knows how to make a woman writhe with need. Right?" he shot back.
"Well done, Mr. Salvatore. I quite like our verbal sparring, but when you start telling lies, I shall retreat" I said giving him my sarcastic grin.
"Keep telling yourself that it is a lie, Isabella, we both know the truth, and soon you will be begging me to finish what we started that night" he smirked.
"In your dreams, Salvatore" I shot back.
Stefan joined us then, saving me from what certainly would be a very mischievous answer from Damon.
"Hey, Bella, enjoying Volunteers' Day?" Stefan asked.
"Yeah" I shrugged. "You?"
"I'm… having fun"
"Sorry to hear about Elena" I lied.
"Yeah, it wasn't working out anymore" he lied with a shrug.
"Okay" I said and smiled at them. "I'll leave you to talk"
I went to the lemonade stand, talked to Mrs. Lockwood, Mrs. Forbes and dad a little, and got another cup. I was still hearing about the Halloween ball from Mrs. Lockwood – the woman was very excited about this kind of thing apparently – when her brother-in-law joined us. Mason smiled at me as she introduced me to him, and the smile felt a little forced. He glanced around for a moment, and I just knew he was wondering where my vampire friends were. Mrs. Lockwood was called by a girl and left us alone, he apparently would take care of the lemonade stand for a few minutes.
"I feel like I'm five in this stupid stand" he said with a smile while looking at the jars and plastic cups.
I chuckled and he grinned at me.
"So, you moved here recently right?" he asked.
"Yeah, coming from a small town of Washington State. Believe it or not, Forks was smaller than Mystic Falls"
"That's impossible" he laughed.
"I wish!"
"So, do you like Mystic Falls? Made many friends?" he asked.
"Yeah, the town is lovely and people are friendly and cool" I said and looked over my shoulder at Damon and Stefan who were watching us. I turned back to Mason with a small smile. "I'm sorry about Damon, I think most of it is paranoia… But I do think he won't leave you alone until he finds out the truth"
"So, you're in on things" he said amusedly. "Your boyfriend is scared, paranoia is an understatement"
"Oh God, no! He's not my boyfriend!" I said. "We're just friends. I don't… have a boyfriend"
"That's good to know" he said with a smirk and I blushed. Did he just flirt with me? "Tyler seems to like you"
Great, I found out the ability to blush even redder.
"Ahn, that's… Eh, Tyler is cool" I stuttered.
He laughed and gave a cup of lemonade to a girl that approached without even looking at her. She seemed disappointed. As I looked around, I realized a lot of girls were looking at the lemonade stand, Mason, with longing and desire. He would need a lot of lemonade if all the girls came to try to talk to him. He was very good looking, I admitted, but knowing he was something else but human, I just wanted to get the less involved possible.
"So, you're in college?" I asked looking back at him.
"Yes, law school" he said. "But I took a break to come visit family"
I nodded and noticed he was watching me intently as I drank the lemonade and then narrowed his eyes.
"I'm sorry about your brother" I said.
"That's…"
He trailed off and arched an eyebrow as the Salvatores brothers joined us.
"Hello, Mason" Damon said with a smirk. "Good to see you"
"Good to see you're well, Salvatore. I heard a knife on the stomach really sucks" Mason said with a grin.
"Yeah" Damon was about to say something, and I knew it would be rude, but Stefan elbowed him on the ribs. Damon frowned and cleared his throat. "Listen, let's leave all that on the past. We wouldn't want to have bad feelings while living in the same town… So, what I want to say is that… I'm… sorry"
He wasn't sorry at all.
"Alright. Clean slate, right?" Mason asked.
"Yeah" Damon said with a shrug while reaching for a plastic cup.
"Okay, then" Mason shrugged and nodded to me. "Bella, would you mind watching the stand for a few minutes, I need a break"
"Okay" I said.
He walked away and Damon rolled his eyes at me.
"Of course you would friend the enemy" he said.
"Come on, Damon. He's a good guy. If you weren't antagonizing him he wouldn't be your enemy" I said.
"She's right" Stefan commented.
Damon glared at us and sipped the lemonade. He choked and spit it out, letting the cup fall and he stumbled. Stefan held him up as he choked and I watched with concern.
"What's wrong?" I asked alarmed.
"Vervain" Damon choked out.
Stefan's head snapped up and he looked around with a frown. My eyes followed his and I saw Mason watching us from yards away with a smirk. He had poisoned Damon.
"Son of a bitch, clean slate my ass. I'm going to kill him" Damon grumbled while.
"I think I'll have to help you. If he doesn't know how to live in peace with us and knows our weakness…" Stefan said finishing with a sigh. "Come on, let's get you some blood"
"Do you want mine?" I offered.
They stared at me like I was insane.
"Thanks, Bella, but you drank…" Stefan said.
"I have vervain in my system" I mumbled while frowning at Damon who had a deep frown and nursed his throat as if it eased the pain.
We walked to a secluded part of the park, and although they both said I didn't need to go, I was worried so I ignored them. Once we were hidden in the woods, Stefan left Damon to get someone that he could drink from. Damon was throwing a tantrum while leaned against the tree.
"I'll fucking kill the dog" he grumbled. "Rip his head off… No, I'll leave the head for last so he can feel the pain…"
I frowned at him, and stepped closer. He frowned at me.
"Stop grumbling, you sound like an old man" I said with a weak smile and then giggled. "Well, you are an old man, right?"
"Do you think this is funny?" he snapped. "My throat is burning so much, I want to drink you dry"
"I have…"
"No, you don't. You just drank the damn thing. Stefan said that because thinks you drink vervain daily, and even if you don't, the vervain in the lemonade didn't get to your blood yet"
"Damon, if you want to drink from me, you can… Your brother isn't here to stop you" I shrugged.
"How can you be so calm while discussing something that can kill you?" he asked looking into my eyes.
"Because I know you wouldn't let me die"
"That doesn't explain how calm you are discussing about giving your blood to a vampire"
"You need it. You're my friend, when are you going to get that?" I asked frowning at him.
"I'm not a good friend" he said.
"And who said I consider you a good friend? Who said I am good either?" I asked with a smile.
He leaned in, and I turned my face, tilting my head so he could drink from my neck. He pulled my face back, and crashed his lips to mine, while his arms pulled me closer. Lost in the passionate kiss – something so new to me – it took me a moment to realize he had bitten my lip and was tasting my blood as our tongues untwined. He pulled back and I stared at his red eyes, reaching to cup his face while my thumbs caressed the outstanding veins. He hissed and tilting my head aside, he attacked my neck. I held on to his shoulders as my knees went weak and my vision became blurry as my blood was drained. Soon the small pain of his fangs disappeared and all that was left was his soft lips against my bruised skin. His hand slipped under my top, and pressed against the small of my back, pulling me closer.
"We have a weird friendship" he commented and kissed under my earlobe.
"Yeah, quite… unique" I laughed.
He pulled back, and grabbing me by the back of my neck he pulled me into another passionate kiss.
"So, Damon is alright?" Elena asked while we walked through the trees and decorated trees.
"Yes, he drank some blood and is as good as new" I said.
"And seeing the love bite on your neck I'll guess he didn't just bit you to drink your blood" Caroline said with a smirk.
I covered the love bite and bruised skin with my hand. I had covered it with my hair, but I had forgotten after some time and pulled my hair back.
"Now they went to deal with Mason Lockwood" I said ignoring Caroline's statement.
"Deal?" Elena asked worriedly.
I shrugged with a frown. What could I say? I did not like the idea of killing someone, but Mason had tried to hurt Damon.
"So, what's going on with you and Damon?" Elena asked conversationally.
"God, Elena, already onto the other brother?" Caroline said teasingly.
Elena hesitated but laughed. I laughed with her, and as our eyes met, she gave me a thankful smile. She knew I knew she and Stefan were fine.
"Shh" Caroline said suddenly.
"What?" I asked quietly.
She pulled her hair away from her ear as if to listen better, and then her head snapped to the right.
"They got them"
"Who?" Elena asked frowning.
"Damon and Stefan, my mom and Bella's dad shot them" Caroline said with a scowl.
"Where?" I asked alarmed.
"On the hidden cellars on the edge of the Lockwood property" she said nodding in the right direction.
"Let's go" Elena said dropping the ribbons.
"Wait!" Caroline stopped us. "I can't, my mom is there, she can't find out…"
"Whatever, but we need to help Damon and Stefan" I said and turned away from her.
Elena followed me as we ran through the woods and finally got there. I could hear voices from down there as we descended the stairs. We found my dad, Liz, and two deputies with guns aimed at Stefan and Damon that were knocked out in the ground.
"Bella!"
I ignored my father as I dodged a deputy and fell on my knees by Damon's side. He had been shot, and although he had stopped bleeding his shirt was still soaked with blood. He groaned as he opened his eyes and Liz raised her gun again.
"No!" I snapped at her.
"Isabella" dad said sternly while grabbing me by the arm. "You and Elena get out of here"
"No" I said pulling away from here and looked at him in the eyes. "Please, dad, don't do this"
"Bella, these people…"
"I know" I cut him off, "But he isn't hurting anyone, it isn't him attacking people"
"They are innocent" Elena protested while trying to get free from the deputy holding her away.
"Liz, come on, we were… friends" Damon groaned while only succeeding on raising his head.
"Who else is a vampire?" she asked him.
"No one" he said.
"Wrong answer" she said.
She shot him in the leg and I screeched, reaching for him while dad held me back.
"Stop!" I cried.
"Liz, you have to believe me…"
"I believed you before" she said angrily to him.
A deputy gave her a stake and I pushed my dad away, finally freeing myself and stood in her way breathing heavy.
"It's me. He's protecting me" I lied. "I'm a vampire"
"Bella!" dad snapped. "Liz, she isn't…"
"I am a vampire. I killed that man at the carnival, I lost control. The Salvatores are my friends and helped me…"
"Bella" Damon groaned.
"What are you doing?" Elena mumbled shocked.
"I have to do this, Elena, I can't let them pay for my crimes" I said and turned back to Liz. "I stole blood bags…"
"Charles, I'm sorry" Liz said frowning at me.
"Liz, she's lying!" Charlie cried while reaching for me. "Stop, Isabella, this isn't a joke"
"You're right, it isn't. I'm sorry, dad" I said tearfully while stepping away from him.
I saw Liz's fingers tighten around the wood stake and I prayed this would buy Damon time to get strength to get away with Stefan. I blinked and froze. Dad was holding Liz's wrist tightly, while the stake brushed against my collarbone. I was breathing heavy and the deputy didn't know what to do as Liz struggled against my dad's grip.
"You will not harm my daughter, Elizabeth" dad growled.
"Charles…"
It seemed that the deputy that wasn't doing anything finally decided to do something and with a nod to his colleague that was holding Elena, he advanced on me. He pulled a stake from the waistband of his jeans and took a deep breath. I shut my eyes and only opened them when I heard a deputy screaming. Elena was free and Caroline was drinking from the one that would kill me. I crouched next to Damon again, and after helping him sit up, I gave him my wrist. He pushed it away from him and took a deep breath with difficulty.
"No, I already drank too much from you" he said.
"Caroline!" Liz gasped.
I looked up and saw Liz staring at her daughter with shock, dad had let go of her arm and took the stake from her. He looked at me and Damon with a scowl and then watched Caroline intently, as if expecting her to kill all of us. He probably did. Caroline finally looked away from her mother, pushing the body on her arms to Damon who drank from the deputy. Elena was caring for Stefan, taking the bullet from the wound on his back and he was awaking. Damon stood up, swaying a little and I watched him carefully.
"What do we do now?" I asked and looked at my dad and Liz.
"Mom" Caroline said but Liz was avoiding looking at her.
"You are not my daughter" Liz snapped.
Caroline looked away as her eyes filled with tears and Elena went to comfort her once Stefan assured her he was alright.
"She's your daughter. Her body changed, but she's still Caroline" I said scowling at the woman.
"Bella" dad said warningly, clearly wanting me to stay out of it. He was pissed, that was obvious.
"They would kill me" Damon said frowning at them.
"He's my dad" I said scowling at him.
"I know" Damon sighed and looked at dad and Liz, "We were friends… Let's wait for the vervain to get out of their system and compel them to forget"
"You son of a bitch, you tricked the whole town" dad snarled at him.
"Dad, please, calm down. Damon isn't what you think" I said stepping toward them.
"How can you stay close to him knowing what he is, Isabella? How can you have a killer…" he trailed off and his eyes narrowed. "Is that…"
"A love bite, a bruise on your neck?" Liz finished the question.
I blushed and covered the spot on my neck Damon had bruised with fangs and nibbles. Dad's face got angry red and he launched at Damon, pushing me out of the way before he swung his fist at Damon's jaw. Damon's head snapped to the side with the impact and he stepped back.
"Ok, I think I deserved that" Damon mumbled.
"You bastard!" dad growled but as I got on the way he tried to calm down.
"Dad, please…"
"I can't believe you, Isabella" he said scowling. "How can you? I raised you better than that"
I wiped the tears that came from his disappointment on me.
"What are we going to do?" I asked once dad and Liz were settled on the cellars on the basement of the Salvatores' mansion.
"We can say they got sick…" Caroline mumbled.
"Both of them?" Elena said frowning. "No, people would get suspicious"
"Bella and Charlie had a family emergency back in Forks" Damon suggested. "And Liz…"
"She agreed on calling in sick" Stefan said entering the room.
"Well, then it's solved" Damon said with a small smile. "In a few days we can compel them and you'll have your parents back"
"Do you think that she wants to talk to me now?" Caroline asked Stefan.
"She is calm now, you should try it" Stefan said softly with a sad smile.
"I'm going home" Elena said getting up. "Jenna must be worried"
We said goodbye and Stefan decided to go to his room, leaving Damon and I alone in the living room. I sat in the couch and put my head in my hands. What had I done? My father would never truly trust me again. Of course, the compulsion would make him forget everything, but still… He wouldn't willingly trust me. He would trust me based on lies. Damon sat by my side and nudged my arm with his. I looked up at him and with a sad smile he gave me a glass of something. I took a sip and frowned.
"Dad would be so angry if he knew I've been drinking… Even angrier if he knew you give me drinks regularly" I said.
"You need to relax, you're nervous all the time about things that aren't your responsibility" he said. "Are you going to talk to him or not?"
"I think the turning his head away and 'don't say anything to me, Isabella' made it pretty clear, he can't even look at me in the face right now. He needs time for things to fully sink in, then maybe he will be open to hear me out" I mumbled. "He doesn't trust me. I wouldn't either. I'm his daughter and I was giving my life to save something that he fights against… I would make him watch me die for something he believes it's wrong"
"Thank you for calling me 'something' and 'it'" Damon said rolling his eyes.
"Sorry"
"Why did you?" he asked curiously. "Why did you risk your life…"
"Well, I was buying time. If Liz killed me, dad would be in shock, and maybe you would have time to get out with Stefan…"
"That's your plan, I asked why you planned that" he said.
I looked at him and gave him a small smile.
"That's what friends are for, right?"
"I don't know, it's been a long time since I had one" he smiled.
"That's because I'm the only one who can bear you and your asshole attitude" I teased.
"Admit it, you love me"
"Oh, yes, I love you, Damon" I laughed. "Forever and ever. I'll never love so much as I love you. You're my everything, the other half of my soul, my missing puzzle piece"
"I knew it" he chuckled.
I leaned back on the couch and he copied my movements, turning his head to the side to watch me. I closed my eyes when his gaze started to make me uncomfortable. I felt his fingers tracing random things on my thigh and I didn't even bother to push him away. I already knew how his mind worked. If I pushed him away he thought it was fun and would keep doing just to piss me off.
"You look tired" he said quietly.
"Between school, dad, Jake, Victoria, you, Mason and Council events, I'm going to die from exhaustion soon" I confessed with my eyes still closed.
"Sleep, you need it… I'll be here when you wake up"
And so I let my mind slip into darkness.