Chapter 8

Today is Tuesday. I just got home from school. My sister has to stay after for about a half hour, because she is a teacher. So, before she gets home, I go up to my room and lock myself in.

I want to jot down a couple notes I took mentally today for what I call the "vampire project".

I have come to the conclusion that Bonnie, Elena, and Matt are not vampires.

I take out the list of people I have and begin to write down my thoughts.

Elena – cut herself in chemistry and did not heal instantaneously. Not a vampire.

Instant healing was another trait of vampires. I had just found it in a book about vampires I didn't realize I had.

Bonnie – dislikes Damon; called him a disgusting creature

Matt – Seems to0 innocent, too normal. Plays football too much like a human.

The only other people on my list are Damon and Caroline.

Damon – vampire! Bit me; think he used compulsion on me.

Now, as for Caroline, I'm still not sure about her. She's very nice and friendly, but I'm not sure that matters. Well, I'll get back to her later.

Right now, I want to figure out a way to test Damon. I need proof for myself.

I had grinded the stems of vervain into a pulp and put them into two custom made necklaces.

I kept one for myself and I plan on giving the other to my sister tonight, I want to protect her, too.

Anyway, I needed a plan. How could I test Damon? I sat thinking, numerous scenarios going through my head.

Then, the perfect idea hit me. I would have to wait, though; I needed to go out with him. Maybe I could give him a call. I had his number. Hmm, I'd have to ask Paige. I wanted her out of the house for this. If things went wrong, I didn't want her to be around.

I will have to talk to her when she gets home. Which reminds me, she should be here already. Where is she?

"Kalinda," Paige calls.

Good timing.

"In my room," I call back.

"Did you get your homework done?" she asks, yelling up the stairs.

I roll my eyes. "Working on it," I lie.

"Good," she says.

I don't answer in hopes she'll leave me alone. I have no such luck.

"I have a meeting at five, and I am going grocery shopping after," Paige calls up.

"Okay," I say. Perfect. She'll be out of the house. Now all I have to do is call Damon.

I dial his number. He'd given it to me that night at The Grill.

"Hello?" Damon picks up.

"Hi. It's Kalinda," I say timidly.

"Oh, hey," Damon says. "It's good to hear from you. I thought you for got about me?"

"Of course not," I giggle. "How could anyone forget you?"

"True," Damon agrees.

I laugh, "Are you busy tonight?"

"Never for you," he flirts.

I roll my eyes. Men, human or not, are so obvious.

"Do you want to come over tonight? Say around five. My sister has a meeting then, and she is going grocery shopping after. It should give us plenty of time… alone." I swear I hear Damon growl on the other end. Men!

"I'll be there," Damon says. "You know you have the sexiest phone voice I've ever heard?"

I blush, "Oh, really?"

"Most definitely. It sounds like you've just rolled out of bed," he murmurs. "I can picture you just rolling out of bed, too. My bed. Complete with mussed up hair and no clothes.

I am in so much trouble tonight. I may not be able to control myself.

"You there?" Damon chuckles.

I clear my throat and answer, "Yes. Sorry, I got a bit distracted."

Damon laughs, "Of course you did. Thinking about us in bed already. Tsk. Tsk."

"Hey!" I complain. "You put the images there."

"Well, I'll make them come alive for you tonight. I've got to go. I'll see you at five. Good-bye for now, Kalinda," Damon practically purrs.

I shiver as I hang up the phone.

What is that man doing to me?

At four o'clock my sister calls me down for supper. We're having spaghetti and meatballs.

It was really good.

"Hey, Paige," I say as she finished washing the dishes.

"Yes?" she asks.

"I was walking in town the other day and I saw these cute necklaces. I had two made especially for us. It has your name engraved on it," I say holding it out to her. "You've been trying really hard, and I know I haven't made it easy. So, I wanted to get this for you."

"That is so sweet," Paige says. She hugs me. "You're the best sister I could ask for. I love you, Kalinda."

"Love you, too," I say.

Paige looks at the clock on the stove. It reads 4:32.

"I should get going," Paige says. "I want to be early."

"Alright, I'll see you tonight. Text me when you're on your way home," I tell her.

"Why?" she asks, narrowing her eyes.

"If you're going to ask me to check in with you, I think you should check in with me," I say.

"Alright," she sighs. "I guess that is reasonable."

I hug her good-bye.

I wait around nervously for five o'clock to come.

Finally, I hear a car in the driveway. I walk outside and wait on the porch steps.

I have to do this just right so as not to arouse suspicion.

"Hey," Damon smirks, walking up the stairs.

"Hi," I grin. "Let's go inside. It's kind of windy out here."

I lead him onto the porch and through the doorway. I stop when I realize he's stopped in the doorway. I look at him funny. "Don't be silly. Come in."

"Sorry. I was just thinking, you have a really nice house, considering your parents died," Damon makes up an excuse.

"They were rich. They left us quite a fortune. My dad was a herbist. Very famous, known worldwide. My mom was a doctor," I explain.

"Oh," is all Damon says.

"So, do you want the full tour or would you rather skip to my room?" I ask.

"Your room, definitely," he grins.

I lead him upstairs and to my room.

"Very nice," he says glancing around.

I sit on my bed. Damon follows suit. We just kind of sit there, staring at each other.

"You have really pretty green eyes," Damon whispers. "They sparkle."

I giggle.

Damon leans me back onto the bed, covering me with his body. "You're very pretty."

"You're very handsome," I whisper to him.

He smiles back at me. He plants kisses across my jaw and down my neck. Damon sucks gently on my neck.

I moan quietly. It feels so good.

Then he gently nips down on my sensitive skin.

I groan.

"Feel good?" Damon asks into my skin.

I nod. I don't think I'm capable of speaking at the moment.

Then he bites down hard. It breaks my skin so my precious blood spills out of my veins into his mouth.

He is doing a lot of moaning himself.

Once he is finished, he licks up the blood off my neck and leans up to stare in my eyes.

I force my eyes to be wide and scared.

"You won't remember this," he demands trying to compel me.

"Wh… what are you? I don't understand," I say feigning confusion.

Damon glances at my necklace and snarls, "Where did you get that?"

"M…my father," I lie. "He mixed a lot of herbs together and ground them down. He gave one to me and one to Paige."

"Vervain is in them," he growled.

"What is going on?" I demand to know.

"I am a vampire. Now you know, so I suppose I'll have to dispose of you. Then your sister, so she can't ask questions," Damon admits.

"No!" I yell. "Please. I can keep your secret."

"I guess this means you don't want to hang around me anymore," Damon sighs. "And I actually liked you."

"Why can't we still be together? If that's what we are?" I ask.

"You want to date a vampire?" Damon asks.

"I like you," I shrug. "As long as you don't hurt me or Paige, I'm okay with it."

Damon nods, "Does biting count as hurting?"

"Nah. I kind of like that," I blush.

Damon growls and pounces on me. He is about to bite me again when my phone chimes.

It's Paige telling me she is on her way home.

"You have to go," I tell Damon. "Call me."

"Oh, I will," Damon says.

I sigh as I watch him leave. Well, that answers my question. Now I can stop spying and just ask Damon what I want to know.

"Paige, I need to talk to you," I tell her as we finish putting away the groceries.

"Sure," Paige agrees.

"I am going to ask you of a strange request," I begin.

"Oh…kay," she says cautiously.

"That necklace I gave you, I need you to keep it on at all times. Shower with it, sleep with it, get it? And if anyone, and I mean anyone, asks, you say dad gave it to you. I can't tell you why yet, but soon. I promise. You just have to trust me," I say. "Please."

Paige nods, "I can see you are serious and desperate for me to do so, so I will. But you're kind of scaring me. You're not in some type of occult are you?"

"No," I laugh. "Don't worry, Paige. Everything is okay. Just remember what I ask."

Paige is still suspicious, I note. I gathered she would be, but I have to keep her in the dark. At least until I know everything. That way I can keep her safe. She's the only family I've got left.

"I love you," I tell her. "Good night."

"I love you, too. And you promise you're not into anything dangerous?" she asks.

I nod, "I'm sure."

"Alright. Good night," Paige says. "Sleep well."

I lay in bed thinking about Damon.

I know I should probably be scared of him, or at least wary, but I've got a crush. I'm infatuated. When I close my eyes, I see his face.

I sigh loudly I miss him already.

This is pathetic. I'm acting like a lovesick school girl. Is that what I am?

I drift to sleep with thoughts of Damon.