Dissect me till my blood runs down into the drain
My bitter heart is pumping oil into my veins
I'm nothing but a tin man, don't feel any pain
I don't feel any pain, I don't feel any pain
I'm rusted from the rain

Billy Talent – Rusted From The Rain

Chapter 41

Quantum of Solace

I made myself comfortable on my favorite armchair and looked at the flames in the fireplace. The evening hadn't turned out the way I had intended, but it hadn't gone to waste. Hopefully this baby vampire could be what I needed. To be honest, I had missed the company of other vampires. Sure there were vampires in New York, but I had learned to avoid their company, they certainly didn't treat me as their equal. I was sick of being belittled, mocked or even humiliated; I was an easy target when I was alone. This baby vampire hadn't done that. Sure he had been shocked, but he hadn't laughed or treated me disrespectfully.

That had been the reason why I had chosen him. Plus I could overpower him if I needed to and I had to admit that there was something cute about him, he was like a puppy. A drunken puppy. I had no problem with that, my previous "father", Liam, bless his soul, had been a real drunk. He had been living in the streets when I had found him and made him the same offer than to my baby vampire tonight. Liam and I had been partners for five years and I had become very fond of him, but unfortunately I had found him dead in his bed yesterday. That was the downside of humans, they didn't live very long. In a way I had grieved for him, but I wasn't sure if I was capable of really feeling anything anymore. After all the pain, I hadn't wanted to feel anything. I looked up when I heard someone entering to the living room.

"Well," I said. "You look nice."

Damon had taken a much needed bath and he was wearing some of Liam's old clothes, they fit him almost perfectly.

"Thanks," he muttered and glanced at the bottles on the table. I couldn't help but smile.

"Go ahead, help yourself."

He didn't need to be told twice; he poured himself a drink and sat on the armchair next to mine. We were both quiet for a long while; he didn't seem to know what to say. He kept glancing at me, then his drink, then me again. I kept my eyes on the fireplace; I figured he needed some time to get used to me.

"So…" he finally muttered. "You live in this house by yourself?"

"I have staff," I replied. "And as I said, I had a human who played the part of my father."

"What happened to him?"

"He died. And no, I didn't kill him, he died from natural causes."

"What, no, I didn't think…"

He bit his bottom lip and stared at his glass.

"I'm sorry; this is all a little…strange. I mean, you are…a child."

I turned to look at him.

"No, I'm not. That is the first thing you need to understand about me, I look like a child, but I haven't been one for centuries."

"Centuries?" he repeated disbelievingly.

I nodded.

"That's right."

"But…who turned you? I mean, what kind of sick…"

"It doesn't matter," I muttered. "I am what I am and I've learned to accept that."

Well, more or less. Things had definitely been more difficult for me without…other vampires, but I had learned to look after myself.

"I expect to be treated respectfully, I'm not some kind of cute little doll," I continued and looked into his eyes. "Tell me now if you feel you can't do that."

He looked confused; my eyes were probably the only part of me that revealed my true age. Most people just didn't bother to look.

"I understand," he said. "I can't even imagine what you must have been through…"

"No," I interrupted him. "The second thing you need to understand about me is that I don't need or want anyone's pity. I'm a strong, independent woman and I could crush you like a bug if I would want to."

His eyes widened, for a moment he was speechless.

"Alright…"

I couldn't help but smile, he was adorable.

"So, how about you?" I asked. "I can tell that you haven't been a vampire for long, I would say six months the most. How did you end up to that alley?"

He pressed his lips together and stared at his glass.

"It's a long story."

"We have time," I replied. "Assuming you still wish to accept my offer."

He was quiet for a while before speaking, I didn't rush him.

"There was this…girl."

I nodded.

"Ah, a love story."

He let out a bitter laugh.

"Not quite. She was…the most beautiful girl I had ever seen, like an angel. Everything she did, her every move captivated me, I would have done anything to make her mine."

He paused and his expression tensed.

"Unfortunately my brother felt the same way."

"What happened?" I asked after a moment of silence.

"She…she said that she couldn't decide between us, but I thought… when she came to my bedroom one night I thought… It turned out that she had been with my brother as well, but still I was sure that she would choose me."

I saw the pain in Damon's eyes and I felt sorry for him. This woman sounded like a piece of work.

"She was a vampire?"

Damon nodded.

"Yes, and I wanted her to turn me so I could… be with her forever. Then…everything went wrong. Me and my brother…we became vampires but she…she died."

There were tears in Damon's eyes, I stood up and touched his hand. "I'm sorry."

He turned his head away, clearly embarrassed.

"I'm so pathetic… I have no idea why I just told you that."

"Because I listened," I said calmly. "Even our kind need that sometimes."

He snorted and emptied his glass.

"I don't want to be like this, I have no reason anymore."

"Do you want to die then?" I asked.

"No, I…I don't know."

"Yes, you do," I argued. "If you would really want to end your life, you would have done it already. You're just…a little lost right now. Trust me, I know how it feels, I was all alone the first months after becoming a vampire. I didn't know what I was and what had happened to me."

He turned to look at me.

"That's…horrible. I'm sorry."

"Thank you."

We were both quiet again, but the silence wasn't uncomfortable. I could sense his pain and loneliness and I could certainly relate. Hopefully we could offer each other at least a little comfort.

New Orleans, 20 years earlier

I enjoyed the beautiful sunrise while heading the stables; I was in an excelled mood. Things had been great during the last two weeks; I had spent a lot of time with papa and talked to Klaus about letting Rebekah to have her own life with whoever she chose. Surprisingly Klaus hadn't said much anything to that, maybe he was starting to accept Rebekah's relationship with Marcellus. Papa wouldn't be home before tomorrow night, he had traveled to take care of some business, so I hoped to go hunting with Klaus tonight. Rebekah didn't have much time for me these days, but I didn't mind, not when I saw how happy Marcellus was making her. She definitely deserved to be happy. I was just about to enter the stable when I saw Klaus and Marcellus. Rebekah was lying on the floor, a dagger in her chest. I froze. Marcellus was staring at Rebekah, he looked distressed.

"It's a simple choice," Klaus said. "You have kept asking me for years to give you the gift of immortality, now I am willing to give it to you. Or then you can live a happy human life with my sister, just say the word and I will undagger her. Which one will it be, a one lifetime with Rebekah or an eternity without her?"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing; Klaus had gone too far this time. Did he honestly think that Marcellus would choose becoming a vampire over Rebekah…

"I want the immortality," Marcellus said without hesitation.

Klaus smiled.

"That's what I thought. And you understand this means you can never be with Rebekah?"

Marcellus pressed his lips together and nodded.

"Yes. I choose the immortality."

I looked at him disbelievingly, he couldn't mean that. He loved Rebekah and she loved him. Who would give something like that up for becoming a vampire? I wanted to slap him or shout at him, but instead I turned around and walked away. Poor Rebekah… She wouldn't be daggered for long; I would make sure of that. And Marcellus could just go to hell.