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Chapter 02 – A Raffle and a Murder
We had returned to the Boarding House where I was currently lounging barefoot on Stefan's bed, flicking through a magazine while Damon was in the bathroom, having already raided Stefan's wardrobe for anything he could 'borrow'.
"Stefan?" I looked up at the voice, seeing it was Elena who had spoken, entering the room as she did so but halting in her steps upon seeing me.
I lifted a hand, wiggling my fingers at her in a wave, but otherwise didn't move from my position as Damon stepped out of the bathroom shirtless, claiming "Better. Me."
"You look, um..." She stuttered, trying to look anywhere but at his exposed chest.
"Dashing? Gorgeous? Irresistible?" He offered.
"Big-headed?" I suggested offhandedly.
She shot me a small smile, finishing "Good. You both look good."
"Did you know," He put a hand to his chest dramatically "that I am one of Mystic Falls' most eligible bachelors?" I snorted, looking back down at my magazine only to be hit in the head with the towel Damon had been using, pulling it off to see him smirking "For one night only the women of Mystic Falls can spend money to go out on a date with me."
"Huh." Was the doppelganger's response.
"Yep."
Elena shook her head slightly as if clearing it "How are you two doing anyhow?"
"Never better." He leaned over to me as I leaned up, meeting his lips in a short but no less affectionate kiss, his gaze lingering on mine for a moment as he pulled away. I handed him the shirt that was lying on the bed next to me with a coy smile, him taking it easily, shrugging it on with a suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows.
He turned back to Elena, who was looking a bit awkward now, as he began to button up his shirt "What can I do for you? I'm a barrel of favours today. It's my newfound purpose - How can I help people?"
"I'm just meeting Stefan." She explained "We're going to the fundraiser."
"Well, he should be around here somewhere." He told her, finishing buttoning the front, leaving his collar undone as he moved to the cuffs.
"We saw him earlier today, but not since we got back from the grill." I offered in an effort to be helpful. "Have you tried to contact him with your cellular phone?"
"Just 'Cell' or 'Phone' sweetheart." Damon corrected me.
Elena shook her head with a smile "I haven't but we spoke earlier, he said we'd meet here so I suppose I'll just wait."
"Well then," I sat up, tossing my magazine to the side, patting the spot beside me "you can come sit next to me while Damon finishes preening."
"Oi!" He called out as he stepped back into the bathroom, though judging from his tone he wasn't offended in the slightest.
"You're like a peacock dearest." I called back, smiling as I met Elena's bemused eyes. "Is something the matter?"
"No, nothing wrong, it's just…" She moved to sit next to me "It's just the first time I've seen him like this. He seems so much lighter, like a weight's been lifted from his shoulders."
I glanced over to the bathroom door, answering "It's the first time I've seen him so unburdened as well." I turned my gaze back to Elena, clasping her hands with a grin "Isn't it lovely?" She let out a startled laugh as I let go "Anyway, enough about Damon, his head will grow even bigger if we keep talking about him." I joked "How are you? Anything interesting happen since you saw us last?"
"I heard that." Damon commented, re-entering the room. I stuck my tongue out in response, which he very maturely returned.
"Er not sure if it counts as interesting, but I found out who my birth mother is."
"Eccch." He dropped down to sit on my other side, wrapping an arm around my waist "Who cares?" He clarified upon seeing Elena's hurt expression "She left you. She sucks."
I reached out a hand to pat hers consolingly, only for our attention to be drawn to the doorway at the sound of someone clearing their throat. Elena's face lit up as she stood, walking over to the newcomer "Stefan. There you are."
Stefan smiled back at her, turning to raise an eyebrow at us "What are you doing in my room?"
"Damon stole some of your clothes while I supervised." I admitted shamelessly.
"Borrowed." Damon corrected, reaching out to boop me on the nose with a finger before turning back to Stefan "I borrowed some of your clothes. Though," He dragged his gaze over the jackets he'd left strewn around the room, still laying where he'd thrown them after they'd been rejected "All of your jackets were too small."
"Here's a novel thought, why don't you wear one of your own?" Stefan suggested wryly leaning over to pick up the jacket on the floor nearest him, tossing it onto a chair.
Damon snapped his fingers, pointing at Stefan as if he was a genius, pulling me up with him as he stood "Good idea." I shot the pair a wave as he led me from the room and back to his own, where I plopped myself down in the same position, though this time on his bed and sans magazine, leaving me with nothing to do but watch as he dug through his own closet.
I stayed quiet until eventually my curiosity got the best of me "Did you go through Stefan's clothes just to wind him up?"
"Oh, absolutely." He shot me a wink, pulling on a jacket as he strode back over to me, holding out his hand to pull me back up, not letting go as we left the room, heading down the stairs to the kitchen.
I hopped up to sit on the counter, watching Damon curiously as he began pulling various things out, a bit confused as we were supposed to be going out soon "Are you making something?"
"A snack for you." He sang, leaning down to place a kiss on my cheek as he passed "So you don't get all grumpy while we're at the fundraiser."
"It's at the grill though, right? They'll have food there, plus I ate earlier." I pointed out, though didn't complain, crossing my legs as I scooted further back on the counter.
"But it's going to be busier than before." He retorted waggling a butter knife at me "This will just tide you over for a little bit. Knowing you, you're hungry already and you'll probably still want food while we're there."
I didn't even try to fight my smile "…You know me well."
"Especially your appetite." He stated, leaning in close to me as he added "…in all things."
"Damon?" Stefan's voice called out from the direction of the living room "Erika?"
"In the kitchen." I called back, Damon pulling away after pressing a kiss to my nose to resume his previous task as the younger Salvatore joined us.
Damon briefly glanced over at Stefan, noting as I did that he was now alone "Where'd your girlfriend go?"
"She's on her way to the Grill." He answered, reaching up to run a hand almost nervously through his hair "I, uh, wanted to talk to you."
He glanced at me for a moment before reaching into his pocket to hand Damon something, which he snatched out of his hand, looking at it for a moment before back to Stefan with a raised brow.
I looked between the two curiously, hopping down off the counter so I could peer down at what turned out to be a photograph, which Damon lifted so I could see. I took in the woman's features, commenting "She's pretty."
"This is the woman, Isobel, from North Carolina." Stefan clarified, before speaking pointedly to Damon "Remember her now?"
Damon glanced at the photo again briefly with a hum, flicking it back to Stefan before turning back to the counter he'd been working on, questioning "Who wants to know?"
"I do." Was Stefan's answer.
Damon scoffed, unimpressed "Who else wants to know?"
"Did you kill her?" He shot back, avoiding the question.
"Sorry. Don't know her." Damon retorted, wrapping an arm around my waist to guide me back out of the kitchen, his other hand holding a plate that held what looked like a very tasty looking sandwich. He obviously noticed where my attention was focused, pressing a kiss to the top of my head as he handed it to me, pushing me gently down to sit on the couch. "Wait here for a second while I go fetch you some shoes."
"Okay." I agreed, though muffled by the bite I'd already taken, looking down at my toes, wiggling them as he sped away. I'd probably have gone to the fundraiser barefoot without realising if he hadn't noticed.
Stefan had followed us into the parlour and was currently standing, quite awkwardly near where I had sat. I finished off another bite before asking "Is there something else you need Stefan?"
He startled a bit at my voice, seeming to come out of his thoughts, eventually smiling once he realised it was just me who had spoken, shaking his head "No, I should probably get going so Elena's not waiting too long."
"I'm sure we'll be joining you shortly." I told him, waving as he left.
I was leaning over to place my now empty plate on the coffee table when Damon returned carrying a simple pair of flats, decorated with a floral pattern, rather than the boots I had worn before. My love swiftly moving to kneel in front of me, sliding them onto my feet.
I hummed watching him remarking teasingly "I could put them on myself you know."
"I know." He winked, offering me his hand to help me up, which I took "Your carriage awaits, milady."
I dipped into a shallow curtsey "Good sir." Laughing as he led me out to his car.
Damon led me to a table that appeared to be selling raffle tickets upon entering the grill. A young blonde woman manning it, who he introduced "Erika, this is Caroline. She'll be able keep you company for a little bit while I go shmooze and find out when they'll be needing me."
"Okay." I agreed easily, accepting the kiss he leant down to give me before he made his way further inside. I turned back to the blonde who shot a glare in the direction Damon had left before turning back to me offering a smile. "Hello."
"Hello… Erika? If I heard him right." She greeted, friendly enough.
"You did." I confirmed, smiling back as I reached out a hand towards her "Erika Johansson, pleasure to meet you."
She took it, a good firm handshake "Caroline Forbes, nice to meet you too." Our hands dropped and she shot another brief look the way Damon went "Sorry, I've just got to ask otherwise it'll bug me all night…How do you know Damon?"
"He's my fiancé." I replied honestly, Damon and I having actually taken the time to talk about our relationship and where it stands since we had reunited. Both of us enthusiastically agreeing to resume our engagement from before I'd unfortunately been imprisoned in the tomb.
"Fiancé?!" Her voice was a bit loud, causing a few nearby to turn our way, though seeing this she quickly regained her composure, gently pulling me to stand behind the table with her while she quickly sold a patron a strip of tickets, before turning back to me. "I didn't know he had a fiancé, how long have you two been together?"
"Well," I tried to think of what to say, knowing I couldn't exactly explain that technically I'd both known Damon for over a hundred years, but at the same time for also less than a year. "It's complicated."
"I bet it is. Especially with a man like him." Before I could question her comment I was cut off as she greeted someone who I recognised as Liz from earlier "Mom!"
"She's your mother?" I asked, Caroline nodding as I turned to greet the sheriff "Hello Liz, nice to see you again, I must say I'm quite surprised that this young lady is your daughter, you don't look old enough!"
She laughed as Caroline looked between us with a confused expression, probably wondering when we'd met, Liz commenting "And I see that you're just as much a charmer as Damon." She glanced around the room "Speaking of, is he around here somewhere?"
"I am." Said man joined us with a smirk "As promised. Do you have…?"
"I do." She held up the folder she was holding so he could see, gesturing her head over to the corner of the room. Damon took the cue, shooting Caroline a tight smile as he grabbed my hand, pulling me back around the table so we could follow after Liz to somewhere out of earshot. "I ran the check on the history teacher. You want this before or after your big debut?"
"How's it look?" He asked, Liz passing him the folder so he could look through it himself as she explained.
"He checks out. Couple of speeding tickets. It's a rough story, though. Turns out his wife went missing a few years back in North Carolina."
"North Carolina?" His brow quirked up in recognition "She have a name?"
"Yeah. Isobel." She leaned over, flipping the pages until she found one displaying what I recognised as a driver's license, Damon having shown me his while we'd discussed the changes that had occurred since I'd been 'asleep'.
"Isobel." Damon repeated, the two of us sharing a look after taking in the photo that showed the same woman Stefan had been questioning him about earlier. He looked around the Grill, eyes settling on Alaric upon finding him amongst the crowd, a concerning look crossing his face.
"What are you planning?" I asked once Liz had excused herself, taking the folder with her as she left.
He batted his lashes at me, hand on his heart "Whatever do you mean?" I hummed, unconvinced, Damon immediately dropping the act with a grin, leaning over to kiss me. "I'm just going to mess with him a bit, he's been butting his nose in where it's not wanted." He told me once our lips had separated, thumb lightly stroking my chin, our faces still very close.
"Nothing too serious, I hope?" I pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth, Damon crossing his heart with an innocent look "How do you plan to do it?"
He let out a sigh, straightening up so that we were a respectable distance away, his arm coming up to wrap around my waist, squeezing briefly "Nothing more than some… Subtle words dearest." He promised, tilting his head as he added "…Potentially in front of the whole grill while were on stage for the bachelor raffle."
"Speaking of which, may I have some money?" I asked, perking up as I held out a hand towards him.
Damon had already removed his wallet from his pocket, placing a small pile of bills in my hand before he bothered to ask "What for?"
"Why, to buy a raffle ticket of course." I winked, already skipping away to where Caroline was still stood, hearing a laugh behind me.
Damon was being directed to his spot on the stage by who I had been told was Mrs Lockwood, shooting me a teasing wink where I had sat at a table with Elena. Her aunt Jenna, who she'd introduced me to catching the action with a raised brow "Do you two know each other?" Then looking between me and Elena "Then again I never asked how you two know each other, though judging from that, I'd say the Salvatores?"
"You'd be correct." I confirmed.
"Erika and Damon are…together." Elena told her, finishing a bit uncertain, looking to me for clarification. I couldn't blame her, after all I doubt Stefan had been very forthcoming about his brother and I's relationship beyond the fact we were together in 1864.
"He's my fiancé." This earned me shocked looks from both women.
Jenna reached across the table to clasp my hand as she drawled out a "Noooo." A smile grew on my face as I realised it was less out of disbelief than excitement at new gossip, rattling off questions "How'd that happen? I didn't take him for the type! When did you meet? Have you known each other long? How come you don't seem to mind that he's being raffled off?"
I held up my free hand, ticking a finger off as I answered each question "He asked and I said yes. We met a long time ago and have only recently been reunited but our feelings for each other are as strong as ever. It feels like we have known each other for a century despite our reluctant separation." At this my lips twitched up, sharing a knowing look with Elena who smothered a nervous smile "And I don't mind him being involved in the raffle as it is only one date and he is doing it as a favour for a friend."
"That's a lot of information without any actual details." Jenna commented wryly, but still laughed.
"Yes I suppose it is." I agreed good naturedly "It looks like they'll be starting soon, shall I get us another round of drinks? Damon gave me some money." I pulled the bills out of my bra where I'd stashed them as I stood.
"A woman after my own heart." Jenna declared, holding up her nearly empty glass "Another glass of red please."
"Of course, Elena?" The brunette shook her head no, holding up her practically full drink "Alright then, I'll be right back."
"How'd an asshole like Damon get together with someone like that?" I heard Jenna ask Elena once I'd walked away, likely only able to make it out due to my vampire hearing. "I'd swear she'd stepped out of a Disney movie if I didn't know better."
I stopped paying attention as the bartender got to me quite quickly despite the crowd, efficiently serving me with my glass of orange juice and Jenna's wine that only took a tiny bit of compulsion to get seeing as I'd forgone bringing any form of ID with me. I luckily managed to navigate my way through the crowd without spilling anything, sliding over Jenna's glass as I took a seat just in time for the third bachelor to be introduced.
I perused the line-up, thinking Damon was definitely the most attractive amongst them, though that could just be my bias as Jenna was clearly eyeing up the one labelled 'Bachelor 4', the man who Damon seemed to have a problem with.
"And what do you do, Bachelor Number 3?"
"Yeah, I'm a plumber." There were a few titters around the room, though I could see a few women had perked up in interest as well.
"Well, isn't that wonderful? We could always use more plumbers." The host stated, already walking over to the next man "Moving on. Number 4, 'Alaric Saltzman.' Wow. That's quite a mouthful. What do you do, Alaric?"
Elena nudged Jenna with a quiet laugh as he responded. "I'm a teacher at Mystic Falls High."
"Oh, beauty and brains, ladies. This one's a keeper." Mrs Lockwood seemed a lot more interested than she did with the plumber, even asking a follow up question "What do you teach?"
Alaric was starting to look nervous he answered "History."
"History." She repeated with a smile at the audience before back to him "Oh, well, give us a fun fact about Mystic Falls, something crazy."
He hesitated, for some reason looking over at Damon who cupped his ear with his hand, as if saying he's all ears. Alaric fumbling as he turned back to the host "Uh, well..."
Seeing she wasn't likely to get an answer anytime soon she saved him the trouble, pulling the microphone away with the excuse "He's probably saving the best stories for his date."
I leaned across the table towards Jenna saying "I hope you enjoy them." Earning a light shove back to my seat from said redhead to go with the laugh I'd shocked out of Elena.
"Oh, shush you." She told her niece, the three of us focusing back on the stage as Lockwood spoke again.
"And last, but not least, Damon Salvatore. We don't have much on you." She introduced.
Damon shot me a grin and a wink as I let out a wolf whistle, earning a few laughs "Well, I'm tough to fit on a card."
"Do you have any hobbies, like to travel?" She asked.
"Oh, yeah." He agreed "L.A., New York. Couple of years ago, I was in North Carolina. Near the Duke campus, actually. I think—I think Alaric went to school there. Didn't you, Ric?" He turned to Saltzman who looked back at him upon being addressed "Yeah, 'cause I know your wife did."
I expected this from what Damon had told me earlier, but what I didn't expect was Elena's reaction, the teenage girl's face crumpling the more he spoke. "I had a drink with her once. She was - she was a great girl. I ever tell you that? Cause she was - Delicious. Mmm!"
"Elena?" I asked in concern.
Jenna also looked at her worried as the brunette's eyes filled with tears "Are you okay?"
She shook her head, standing from the table "I just need some air." She sped past Stefan who had just came over, the younger Salvatore quickly moving to follow her.
"What was all that about?" Jenna asked, looking after Elena in concern.
"I don't know." I told her honestly, also standing "But I'm going to find out." The bachelors had just been released, the hostess already ruffling her hand through a bowl to begin pulling out numbers as I made my way over to Damon.
"Sweetheart," He greeted, arms open "How'd I do?"
I grabbed one of them, using it to pull him further away from the stage to somewhere a bit more quiet "Not good I'm afraid." His brow scrunched up in confusion at my serious tone "I don't know why or how, but I don't think Stefan was asking about Isobel for Mr Saltzman." I told him "I think she meant something to Elena."
His brow unwrinkled, eyes widening as he looked around the grill, catching sight of Stefan leading Elena back inside, the girl obviously upset "Oh, shit."
"I couldn't have put it better myself." I commented wryly, lowering my voice to ask "Did you actually kill her? This, Isobel?"
"In a manner of speaking… I turned her." He told me, clarifying a bit defensively at my unimpressed look "She asked me to."
I sighed, waving my hand to let him know I wasn't upset with him "Well, that doesn't matter now. What does matter is setting things straight with those two." I pointed at the pair who were already heading in our direction.
"Did you enjoy that? Rubbing it in to Alaric Saltzman?" Elena accused Damon angrily once they were close enough.
He pretended to consider it before simply stating "Yes."
"Damon." I hissed out in reprimand, lightly smacking his arm.
"Just as I was starting to think that there was something redeemable about you." Elena scoffed, eyes tearing up again.
Damon watched as Stefan tried to comfort her, sighing "Look, I don't regret what I said to Alaric because I wanted to hurt him, okay?" He told them honestly "But for what it's worth I'm sorry that I hurt you too, even if I'm still not sure why."
I nodded when he looked to me for approval, allowing him to wrap his arm around me, pulling me into his side as I looked at the other couple, asking "Could you please let us know what it is we are missing? He did not mean to hurt you intentionally."
"But he still meant to hurt Alaric." Elena retorted, wiping at her eyes in frustration "Remember earlier when we were talking about my birth mother? The one that gave me up?" She shot Damon a glare "Her name was Isobel." Damon faltered for the first time as Elena spat "Go ahead. Reminisce about how you killed her."
She rammed her shoulder into Damon's as she passed, Stefan exchanging an unreadable look with his brother before following after her.
"That could've gone better." Damon said after a moment of silence.
"Mmm hmm."
We had returned to the Salvatore boarding house, though why it's called that when it doesn't act as such is something I questioned, vocalising the thought out loud, Damon shrugging in answer. "I suppose people are just used to referring to it that way."
"Huh," I sat on the couch, kicking my shoes off as I did "Do you think Stefan's home?"
He tilted his head to listen as he poured himself a drink, replacing the lid on the decanter as he answered "Doesn't seem like it. Probably still with Elena."
I hummed, listening to the heartbeat I could hear creeping into the room "Are you going to kill him?"
"Well if he's stupid enough to try and attack a vampire in his own house…" He pondered, turning as he took a drink to take in the man we'd both heard approaching "And look, he's even brought a stake. Very confident in yourself, aren't you?"
I reached for one of the magazines that were strewn on the coffee table, beginning to flip through it idly, not even bothering to turn around as Damon sped towards the intruder, shortly hearing the sound of something crashing, followed by Damon tutting "You gonna put down the stake?" A pause "Wow. That's courage."
"Or is it stupidity?" I commented from where I was seated, wrinkling my nose at the picture of a quite gaudy dress I'd just come across. "Ew, who would wear that?"
"Where's Isobel?" The teacher demanded "What have you done to my wife?"
"You want me to tell you I killed her? Would that make you happy? Because I think you know what happened."
"I saw you feeding on her." He spat out.
"Yeah, I did," Damon agreed "and I wasn't lying. She was delicious."
Alaric let out a shout, making me finally turn to kneel on my seat, peering over the couch at the two as he charged towards Damon. It was a bit anti-climactic when all that stopped him was a single hit to the stomach, Saltzman keeling over, stumbling away from him as he fell back onto the floor.
"Oh, come on. What do you think happened? Not an inkling? Never considered the possibility?"
I let out a huff "Can you stop teasing the poor man? This is getting tedious, and I'd rather be doing something else." I shot Damon a look, which he returned with a grin, biting his lip suggestively. Alaric coughed looking up, finally seeming to notice I was there, so I told him "He turned her."
"Why?!"
Damon rolled his eyes "She came to me. All pathetic, looking for vampires. There was something about her, something I liked. There was something special."
"You turned her because you liked her?" Alaric asked in disbelief.
"No, I slept with her because I liked her. No offence dearest." He directed the last bit at me with an exaggerated pout.
"None taken." I responded amused. It's not like I expected him to remain celibate for over a hundred years while we were separated.
He shot me a wink, a sneer taking over his face as he turned back to the man still on the floor "I turned her because she begged me to. Yeah. But you knew that, too, didn't you? Hmm. I guess she wasn't happy at home, wasn't happy with life in general, wasn't happy with you."
Alaric rushed at Damon again, why I don't know considering how the last time went, but this time ended worse for him as Damon grabbed the stake from his hand, holding him in place as he pierced him through the chest. I tilted my head listening to the man's breathing "It sounds like you hit a lung."
"It does, doesn't it?" He sent me a smile, completely at contrast with his current actions, yanking the stake from the teacher's chest with a wet sound, the man wheezing as he was dropped to the floor. "Guess that means we get to sit here and watch him die."
I scrunched my nose up "I'd rather not."
"No?" Damon picked his glass up taking a drink, walking back over to crouch near the fallen man "I suppose it's a bit boring, you see Ric, unlike you, the woman I spent most of my life trying to get back-" He leaned in, loudly whispering "-actually returned my feelings."
"Poor sap." I stood, walking over to stand by Damon to look down at the man, his arm automatically coming to wrap around my waist. "And poor Jenna, she was interested in him you know?"
"You hate to see it." He downed the rest of his glass, guiding me back over to the couch so we could both sit, ignoring Alaric's pained gasps for air as he died. He plucked the magazine up from where I'd left it open, peering at the page in disgust "Ugh, I see what you mean."
"It's vile isn't it?"
He hummed in agreement, letting out an appreciative sound as he flipped the page "Now this I could see you in."
"That's lingerie."
"What happened?" Our attention turned to Stefan as he entered, rushing over to the corpse to presumably check for a pulse "What did you do?"
"Do what? He attacked me." Damon retorted.
Stefan sat up, looking away from the body to stare at his brother in disappointment "Damon."
"Don't you take that tone with him." I scolded the younger Salvatore with a scowl "What do you expect him to do when being attacked? Present himself to be staked?"
Stefan looked a bit abashed at my reprimand but not nearly enough for my tastes as Damon interjected "All I did was tell him the truth. His wife didn't want him anymore. It's not my fault he couldn't handle it."
"How could you know that?"
"He didn't kill Isobel Stefan, he turned her." I told him.
Damon nodded when Stefan looked to him for confirmation "Isobel came to me. Knew all about vampires already, somehow. Huh." He looked up in thought "If she's related to Elena, then that means she's related to Katherine…" He tilted his head to look at me "Any chance your dear old friend could've sent her my way?"
I shook my head "It's not her style. Plus, if that were the case, why not just turn her herself?"
"Point."
Stefan let out a heavy sigh "Either way, we've now got a body to deal with."
"Uh-uh." Damon stood, pulling me up with him to leave "You have a body to take care of, serves you right for being so judgy."
I paused in the doorway, shooing Damon to go on ahead as I called out to Stefan who was still sitting staring dejectedly at Alaric's body "Goodnight Stefan, sweet dreams."
*says in last chapter the next one could take a year*
*literally almost takes a year*
'Sup guys. How's it going?
Fun fact! I actually wrote the majority of this, this week while also dealing with a wrist injury lol sometimes you get inspiration and sometimes you don't, what can I say? \(^^)/
