Hey guys! So this one is a little on the short side, compared to the others, but it was needed lol.
I hope the wait wasn't too long, and that ya'll enjoy!
As usual, I loved all the sweet reviews, and can't wait to hear more!
August 1567
Elena stood completely still, trying to focus.
It was late in the day, but the sun had yet to set.
Her feet settled against the dirt, and as her eyes were closed, she could only hear the sound of the forest around her.
"Breathe, darling," the voice in her ear instructed, "You can do this."
Damon's hands were lingering on her waist, as he directed her body to its intent.
She opened her eyes, and nodded.
Before them was an altar of sorts.
An enormous rock, imbedded in the middle of the woods.
Ronan's body upon it.
Damon had told her that he had brought dead here before, to burn.
Quickest way to dispose of the body.
He had told her a lot actually.
About how to control her power, how to fuel it...the witches he'd killed.
She'd been surprised at first, but with the first ounce of magical blood she'd tasted, it made sense.
And this encounter with Ronan had strengthened her resolve.
She would never put herself in a position to be compromised by a man again.
"You are doing well," he praised in her ear, "So very well."
She had managed to light the altar on fire, Ronan on fire, using the power she had gained from Damon's blood.
He assured her that the blood of a born witch would be much more powerful, but that his would do for now.
"You are learning quickly," Damon added, his arms tightening around her, as they watched the flames rise.
Elena nodded, but once again found herself unable to focus.
Not with her assailant's corpse melting away in front of her.
She swallowed, unable to pull her eyes away from the gruesome sight.
She had taken Ronan's life, but for that, she felt no remorse.
It had been a deserved fate.
But watching the fire consume him; the smell of his burning flesh.
She hadn't been prepared for that.
A glaze of tears clouded her vision, and she looked away.
She couldn't help it.
"Elena," Damon's voice was low, commanding.
She felt his hand under her chin, and he lifted her head so she once again stared at the fire.
Her back was against his chest, so she couldn't see his face, but his voice was calm as he spoke.
"I know it is difficult. But you must watch it all. His life is the first you've taken, and you will always remember that. Death is no different than love, really. It is fast, consuming. And you must keep your eyes open, or you will lose yourself in it. You can not look away. It must be endured. Do you understand?"
Weakly, she nodded.
She did understands his words.
She understood that death, like love, could change a person irrevocably.
And both had changed her.
She had been innocent when she arrived, naive, even.
A child.
But the weeks that had passed had taught her something that no instructor could have.
That she was in control of her own fate.
That she was more than a pawn in the war games, strategized by men with more power over her life than she had herself.
She had a choice.
So she watched.
From Damon's embrace, she watched until the flames consumed everything they could before burning out, leaving nothing but ash and charred bones behind.
Then, with Damon's hand in her own, she walked back to the castle.
The sun set in the hills behind them.
Over the next few days, Elena found it surprisingly easy to lie.
Everyone was looking for an explanation of the mysterious disappearance of Ronan de Guildar of Valier, advisor to the crown.
King Salvatore had been displeased to learn of the man's absence upon his return, and had sent out Stefan, along with several search parties, to scour the villages for him.
Weeks passed, and nothing was found.
Though it didn't stop the concerns.
Elena quietly ate her dinner as Stefan and the king discussed the issues that the man's disappearance was causing for Aurelia, and Mystic.
After all, Ronan was sent to reassure Valier that the joining of the two kingdoms would cause no chaos.
Neither of the men had acknowledged her since after their greeting.
"They surely can not believe we are responsible," Stefan shot at his father, "Ronan could have gone anywhere."
"No horse was taken, Stefan," the king pointed out, as a servant refilled his glass, "And Ronan de Guildar was of royal blood. It is natural that Valier will want to seek out any possible explanation. The man went missing while staying in our home. It is our duty to discover the truth of his departure."
"Of course, Father," Stefan caved, bowing his head loyally, "We shall start another search tomorrow. First thing in the morning."
Elena sighed, spinning her fork around her plate aimlessly.
"Start tonight," a voice called, and Elena jumped, as Damon entered the room, "You still wouldn't find him."
Stefan stood, clearly not expecting the intrusion, and held his chin high, "What are you doing here?"
Elena watched as Damon grinned at his brother, "Am I banned from my own dinner table now?"
He sidestepped Stefan, and took the seat next to him, across from Elena.
"Good evening, Father," his smile broadened as he crossed his arms behind his head confidently, "How are things?"
Elena had never seen Damon interact with the king before, and a layer of ice leaked from the glare his father gave him.
"I was not expecting you here," the king stated, composed.
"And yet, here I am," Damon sat up, as another servant brought him out a plate of food, "It is unfortunate that our dear guest can not say the same."
Elena bit her lip at his comment.
What was he doing, bringing that up?
Her heartbeat jumped, but a quick, unnoticeable wink from Damon calmed her a little.
He was not ignorant.
She could trust that he knew what he was doing.
"What is your meaning?" Stefan pressed.
Damon forked a slice of ham, almost absentmindedly.
As if he hadn't just interrupted a political discussion of Aurelia's future, between two people he tried to keep minimal contact with, on a usual day.
"Only that it seems a bit too convenient that Valier should show up, in fear of our power, only to have their scout disappear," he explained offhandedly.
"And you are suggesting, what, exactly?" The king asked, his gaze hard as he stared at his eldest son.
It was clear what he thought of him.
Damon carried his same air of ease, "That perhaps Valier is a bit smarter than you credit them. Perhaps Ronan de Guildar is perfectly fine, sitting warmly in his cousin's castle while Valier's king forces Aurelia to take the fall for the man's absence."
King Salvatore smirked slightly, reminding Elena of Damon a bit, when he was amused or taunting.
"I never assumed you were one for politics, Damon. I must say that I'm impressed."
Damon lost a bit of his arrogance, and his mouth twitched in annoyance.
"There is much you have never assumed, Father, which is perhaps why I am able to see this more clearly. Valier fears that once we have control of Mystic, our forces could destroy them. It's logical that they would try to take us down now, before we are strengthened with King Petrova's army."
Stefan chuckled, "Is this what you do all day? Theorize attack plans from our neighboring kingdoms?"
Damon looked over his brother, "Only when I have suspicions."
"And you suspect this?" Giuseppe scoffed.
"The black mare I purchased weeks ago has gone missing. It is of no coincidence that Ronan has as well."
"I was not notified of the thievery of the horse." The king grit, taken off guard.
"It was my animal," Damon reasoned simply, "I investigated the matter on my own."
Giuseppe eyed him, then nodded.
"I shall look into this, then. War with Valier is the last thing we need."
Elena exhaled as Damon winked at her, again, from across the table.
The bastard had done it.
Completely freed her of the deed, and sent the heat in the opposite direction.
After all, what was more distracting to a king than the possibility of war?
She smirked at him.
"That was risky," she chided, once dinner was over and the two of them had made it to the second floor.
Damon only grinned, "It was worth it just to rattle my father and loving brother. It had been years since I've joined them for a meal. But also, it should clear them from our trail."
Elena shook her head, "You are most certainly the bravest, and most stupid person I know."
"Most likely," he agreed, pulling her into him, "But you must admit that it is part of my charm."
She chuckled, "I will admit no such thing. But I must ask, if Ronan is dead, who stole your mare?"
She meant it as a joke, but Damon sobered.
"Damon?" She pressed.
"The mare is as Ronan is. No trace will be found of her either."
Elena blinked, "You killed your horse. Why?"
Damon truly seemed to like the animal.
He pulled away slightly, "An unfortunate necessity. I needed her heart."
"Her heart?" Elena repeated.
"For a spell," Damon explained, "When you drank from me, my magic was drained. I need to find another witch, but none of my locator spells are finding anything, because of Emily. She's too close, and her magic is strong. It hinders my readings."
Elena considered that.
"So what will this new spell do?"
Damon took her hand, "It will force out the reading I get from Emily, so that I can sense the next witch within vicinity."
Elena stared at him.
"You will kill her then, the next witch?"
Damon sighed, "She will fight me, they always do, and she might win. None have yet, but it is always fair. I am simply stronger. Better. So I win. It is not about the sacrifice, my love, it is the magic. And what it can give us."
Elena considered that, "Is the death necessary?"
Damon's head tilted, "Unless you'd prefer the witch to speak of the incidents to others. I am not sure of you, but personally, I find the gallows an unpleasant idea. Then of course, knowing my father, he'd just have me burned at the stake. Much more of a scandal. Unless I could redirect his thoughts, as I did tonight. It is almost embarrassing, how easy they are to manipulate."
Elena shook her head, chuckling, "Are you never serious?"
"Oh, I am," he promised, "But enough of that. I will ask you to accompany me. The spell must be finished, soon, and I could use this opportunity to instruct you."
Elena nodded, "Of course...though I am sorry about your horse."
Damon didn't even blink.
"As am I."
Emily Bennett sat in the servants corridors, tapping her foot nervously.
Worry filled her for the princess.
Elena was as close to a friend as she had, yet the girl had not heeded her warning.
Emily could sense her lady's involvement with dark magic.
Her connection to it strengthening with each passing day.
She knew it was because of him.
Damon Salvatore.
The eldest prince of Aurelia.
Emily could feel the darkness in him.
It's strength frightened her.
She knew how his magic came to him.
She knew what he was.
Shadowcasters were an unfortunate parasite to witches, feeding on their blood like the children of the night.
But she didn't feel that it was blood Damon Salvatore was after.
His soul was stained with the dark of his deeds.
A blackness so thick, blood consumption alone could not have caused it.
He had murdered. A lot.
He had killed her kind for their magic.
The princess's closeness to the man was the only reason Emily had let him live.
That, and the intensity of the magic she felt radiate from him.
How many witches had he killed?
How much of their blood, their magic, did he carry?
She couldn't be sure.
But she was a patient woman; she could wait until the time was right.
She would have to get Elena away from him before she too grew too corrupt.
Emily knew the price for a servant turning on their master.
She hoped it was an avoidable outcome, but just in case, she would cast a few protection spells.
It pained her to need them.
To think that Elena, the one who had saved her by keeping her secret, could put her in danger.
For him.
Emily wasn't sure what the princess wouldn't do for Damon.
And she prayed she wouldn't have to find out.
:)