I DO NOT OWN VAMPIRE DIARIES OR THE CHARACTERS.
Music Credit: "Haunted" – Evanescence

~*.*~
'Long lost words whisper slowly, to me.
Still can't find what keeps me here, when all this time I've been so hollow inside.
(I know you're still there.)
Watching me and wanting me – I can feel you pull me down.'
~*.*~

Chapter Seven:

We were still cuddled together on the terrace, when Rebekah came outside. She looked like she wanted to say something, but refrained. I watched her for a minute, before speaking up.

"Hey, Beks," I greeted her. She smiled at me warmly, but it didn't quite meet her eyes. There's something on her mind and I don't think that she wants to say what it is in front of her brother. She and Klaus are close, but there are just some things you can't tell your brother.

"Would you mind if I borrowed you for a bit?" She asked me. Klaus looked over at her and peered at his sister with calculated gaze. He kissed my cheek and moved his arms, so I could get up. I got to my feet and walked over to Rebekah.

"You okay?" I asked her. She nodded and slipped her hand in mine, before leading me in and out of my room. I followed her downstairs and into the garden.

"I like to come here to think." She told me. I nodded, but kept quiet, trying to figure out if she was finished talking or not. "It's peaceful – isn't it?" She asked me, quietly.

"It is." I answered, truthfully. I looked around us and took in the plants that surrounded us. It's a nice change to be surrounded by nature and to be able to remember just how beautiful it is. It's the little things that you have to appreciate… Sometimes, the little things are all you have.

"I used to come here every day after… I was attacked. I couldn't… I couldn't handle being around people, but the flowers… I didn't mind. It made me feel better knowing that some things in this world were untainted and still so lovely." She explained.

She squeezed my hand and led me further into the garden. We can't even see the house from here. It's like a meadow that's hidden away, through a small patch of trees. We ended up in front of a small pond and we took a seat on a stone bench. She kept my hand tightly in hers and I didn't complain. The physical contact is welcomed and it doesn't feel threatening.

"Beks, you can talk to me and I won't judge you." I whispered. She looked over at me and gave me a small, sad smile.

"I really do like having you here, Bonnie. You may not realize it, but you've brought so much life into this house." She mused. I smiled at her and waited until she was ready to say whatever it was that she had to say. "You know, I used to know Damon. It was years ago." She told me. My eyebrows rose. What?

"Klaus never told me that you knew him, too." I breathed, before I could stop myself. She gave my hand another squeeze.

"Nik never knew. I knew what he thought of the Salvatores. Granted, in hindsight, Stefan was probably more my type, anyhow. I didn't tell my brother, because I knew he would never stand for it. Damon was charming. You know how he can be. I thought that Nik was exaggerating all of those times when he was talking about Damon. I should have listened to him, but I didn't." She sighed.

"What happened between the two of you?" I asked her. She shrugged.

"I saw him for about a month, before I saw his true colors. He had been so sweet. I never even suspected that he had a dark side. I answered his phone while he was getting another drink from the bar, and he lost his temper. We were in the middle of a pub and he just started shouting at me. I left. After that night, he did apologize, but I didn't trust that he actually meant it. We kept seeing each other, even though I knew that we shouldn't."

"Did he do anything else?" I asked her in a barely audible whisper. She gave me a meek shrug.

"I don't know." She replied. Before I could question what she meant, she started talking, again. "One night, after I returned home from seeing him, I had to make a run to the store. I don't even remember what we were out of, but when I was a block from the corner market, I was attacked. I don't think my attacker wore a mask, but I can't remember his face. It was dark and he never said a word. I fought, of course, but it didn't do me much good. I never found out who attacked me."

"You don't think…" I couldn't even get the words out.

"Do I think that it could have been Damon?" She voiced the question that I couldn't. I nodded, feebly. "I'd be lying if I said that the thought hadn't crossed my mind. I didn't have any proof and they weren't able to find any DNA with my rape kit. I've only seen him once since my attack. It was a couple of months after the fact and he just smirked at me. It made me feel uneasy, but it really wasn't any different than he normally behaved. If it was Damon, I am so sorry that I never said anything. I could have at least tried to make him pay and maybe he wouldn't have hurt you. I'm so sorry, Bonnie." She sobbed.

I could see the remorse radiating off of her. My heart broke for her. She's apologizing for the possibility that she could be even the slightest bit responsible for my abuse. I wrapped my arms around her and let her cry. She used my shoulder as a pillow and let everything out.

"There's no way that you could have known, Beks. I don't blame you. It's not your fault. You don't even know if it was Damon. Whoever attacked you deserves nothing short of hell. Don't you dare blame yourself for what happened to me. You didn't do it. Damon did. He knew what he doing. You're such strong person, Rebekah. I love you and this doesn't change that. Do you hear me? I won't hear anymore of you blaming yourself for this." I promised her. She sniffled against me, but the tears didn't stop. I could tell that they were beginning to slow.

"I was so sure that you were going to hate me." She admitted, softly. I snorted. I didn't mean to laugh at her, but I don't think I could ever actually hate her. Apart from Caroline, she's the closest thing that I've ever had to a sister and I do love her. She's my family, now.

"I could never hate you, Beks. I don't think… I think that you should tell Klaus that you were seeing Damon, though. If he finds out through someone else, there's no telling how he'll react." I tried to reason with her. She nodded against me and lifted her head. She wiped her face with her hands.

"How do I look?" She asked me. I smiled at her. Her eyes are pink and her skin is a little splotchy, but she doesn't look any less perfect than she always does.

"You look beautiful." I told her.

"Liar," she shook her head, smiling.

"Are you ready to head back inside?" I asked her.

"Can we sit out here a bit longer? I'll tell Nik when we go inside. I just… I want to enjoy the quiet just a bit more."

"Of course," I agreed.

I kept my arms around her and we sat and enjoyed our tranquility. She didn't move out of my embrace, so I doubt she minded. I don't know what Klaus will say or do. I'm worried that he'll try to do something rash. It might be a good idea to tell him with Ester and Elijah around.

It feels like this is a war that Damon tried to start a long time ago and it's just now starting to come out. I knew that he was evil, but this… This is a whole 'nother ballpark. If he really did attack Rebekah… I hope to God that someone puts him down, before he can hurt anyone else. Someone that malicious doesn't deserve to walk this planet with the rest of us. I wouldn't wish anyone dead. I just… I doubt someone as powerful as a Salvatore would stay incarcerated too long. No one deserves what we've through – no one.

~*.*~
'Fearing you, loving you – I won't let you pull me down.
Hunting you – I can smell you, alive – you're heart pounding in my head.
Watching me and wanting me – I can feel you pull me down.
Saving me; raping me; watching me.

Watching me and wanting me – I can feel you pull me down.
Fearing you, loving you – I won't let you pull me down.'
~*.*~

A/N: More drama is in the works! Review? Thoughts? Comments? Cookies?
-Anneryn