A few days pass and Damon's getting used to some sort of normalcy. Onyx has brought some changes to his routine. Usually, he hurries home from work to feed the kitten, and only then does he take off to go to the gym to release some steam. He even brought her with him once and most of the guys brushed off their training in favor of a cute black kitten. She was a welcome distraction.
He hasn't run into Elena again, well, it's been just a few days and he always tries to be as quick and careful as he can when he delivers her mail. Still... he won't be able to avoid her if she truly wants to see him? Maybe it's her, who doing the avoiding?
It occurs to him, if she really wanted to see him or have a few words for him or with him, she'd easily be able to corner him. All she'd have to do is wait for his mail truck to appear.
But she never comes out and none of her correspondence requires her signature, so he comes and goes without catching a glimpse of her. She probably dropped her letter in a stand-alone mailbox.
As he pushes the door closed, he finds himself hesitating, looking at the house and the vicinity. After a minute he realizes he's stalling, instead, he should leave quickly and be happy the dreaded encounter's not happening today. Only when he does take off to continue on his route, he admits to himself that he's searching for any sign of another man living in her house.
The room is silent and cold. He slips off his shoes and leaves them against the door, steps out of the domed foyer, and into the hall, a beam of light playing over the floor and walls. Through the doorway, he can see furniture covered with white dust sheets, chandeliers wrapped, and mirrors draped in white fabric that creates eerie shapes, adding to the ominous feel. Dead branches from the overgrown shrubs tap on the windowpanes and he jumps at the sound. Those same naked limbs send shadows creeping across the floor and up the walls of the musty-smelling place.
As he passes under the stairs into the darkest part of the room, something brushes against him, touching his bare arm. He gasps and jumps back, running the flashlight over the room and up the stairs, but nothing. Finally, his hand closes on the doorknob, but when turning it he finds that the door is locked. The wind gusts strongly and the door slams shut, the noise reverberates through the empty room.
He can feel the start of panic creep up and into his throat. Clouds fly over the face of the moon as the winds pick up. His pulse is pounding in his ears and every breath is coming in gulps. "It's all your imagination, Damon," he scolds himself sternly.
Slowly turning in a circle, he runs light around the whole room. Nothing but a few pieces of sheet-draped furniture. A soft thud comes from just below. An oval window allows the moonlight to fall onto the walls and floor. Clouds, scudding across the night sky, dim the light. Filtering through the naked branches of the trees that surround the place, shadows look like bony fingers reaching out to grab at him.
Damon raises his hands to brush the hair out of his face and glances at the window. In the dim light, he looks at his reflection in the glass. A dark shape rises right behind him. He spins around and in that instant, something grabs his bare wrist. With a small scream, he pulls away and bolts up the pitch-black stairway. He stumbles and falls to his hands and knees, crawling upward. A hand wraps around his ankle and pulls at his leg. Rolling onto his back, he draws his other knee to his chest and kicks out with everything he has. Freeing himself, he jumps to his feet, runs silently to the first door, and tries the knob, pushing against it, the only sound is of his own breath, rasping in his lungs.
Awakening with a start, Damon's chest heaves as he struggles to suck in a breath of air. Looking around his darkened room, he becomes aware that it was just a bad dream, reminding him of the room before...
Throwing his covers off, he drags himself out of bed to use the bathroom. He stumbles back to bed only after swallowing a few aspirins. Glancing at Onyx, he runs his fingertip behind her ears, and under her jaw, and she starts to purr. Damon immediately relaxes, pulls back the covers, and lets his eyes drift closed once more.
He has his first day off today and decides it's best to catch up on his sleep. Enzo did a number on him at the gym yesterday and work combine to make him unusually tired. Despite Ric's obvious attempts to get him to spend a little time with him, take a hike, go fishing, anything to get him out of his apartment, he doesn't feel like socializing. He planned to take the cat to Petco to see about shots and maybe get it a few toys, perhaps get himself a bite to eat at one of the shacks near the beach. Instead, they get thwarted though when right at the stroke of nine his doorbell loudly announces a visitor.
First, he thinks it's a mistake, he made it clear to Ric that he's not going to leave his place today and no one else knows he's here. Maybe Mrs. Flowers needs something?
He stumbles to the door, Onyx getting in his way in a hurry to keep up with him. Damon shakes his head and answers it. Stating he's in shock is an understatement of maximum proportions. On the threshold stands Rebekah, his sister-in-law with her typical ironic glint in her eye.
"Well well, I told them I caught a glimpse of you at the game the other day. Seems I was right."
Damon's heart is racing, there's no way he'll get another peaceful minute now because when she tells them...
"Are you going to invite me in?" her eyebrow raises as she wraps one hand around the door frame.
Wordlessly, Damon steps aside, gesturing with a sweep of his arm for her to come in. She looks around, a squeak leaves her mouth when she feels something furry nestle against her ankle.
"Who's this?" she picks Onyx up, sits down on the couch, and pets the black kitten.
"Onyx, I found her in a pipe and brought her home."
"Why don't you tell me why you haven't let anyone know you're back in town?" she pierces him with her stare.
"Isn't it obvious, Rebekah? I feel like I need some time to adjust to everything before Mom and Dad start hovering again."
"They only do that because they love you," she continues to pet Onyx.
"I know that, but I need to stand on my own two feet. Can you understand that?"
"You've done a bang-up job of that so far," she says pointedly, looking up to meet his eyes.
"Thanks for the support, Bek, you're a shrewd one," he disappears into the kitchen to make some coffee.
"What I'm trying to say," she sets the cat down and follows him, "is that it's only a matter of time before they come looking for you. If I found you, they will too. We all care, Damon, you know that."
"How did you find me anyway?" he blows out a frustrated breath.
"I was almost positive I saw you at Eli's game. Mrs. Flowers was on my list of possible places that you might seek refuge."
"I don't deserve it," he states matter-of-factly.
"Let's make things clear here and now, you're not alone and you never will be unless that's the choice you make, the ball is in your court."
Damon pours two cups of coffee, slides one across the counter to her, and takes a long swallow from his.
"Thanks," she takes a sip and sets it down. "I promise I won't tell them - for now. If you want my advice, it would be better if you take the initiative and go to them."
"I know, Rebekah, I know," he wraps his fingers around it, enjoying the heat that spreads through his hands. He looks up when he feels Rebekah's hand on his forearm.
"It's good to see you, Damon," she smiles and tightens her grip on him.
He nods, he's both a little angry because he needs to do this on his own terms while at the same time, his stomach is churning at the thought of facing his parents.
After Rebekah left, Damon knew he wouldn't get back to sleep so he decided to go to the beach to get some sun. Walking along the water in his bare feet, he stoops to pick up a piece of driftwood. It's soft in his hands, bleached by the salt and sun. Its surface swirls like the eddies of being kissed by the ocean. He runs his fingertips over the ridges and already his mind is thinking of something he can use the piece for. It's been made beautiful by the briny currents, all he needs to do is add the finishing touches.
He carries it with him as he continues, finally sitting down on the warm sand. His eyes move from sand to stone, from rock pools to breaking waves. In the gentle summer sun, he feels as if he is swimming in the briny aroma as if the new rays of the afternoon bring a frisson of energy to his fingertips. The seagulls bring their high notes to the percussion of pebbles at the shoreline. It's a day for dreaming, for allowing time to move fast and slow.
Saltwater pools around their knees, calm and ambient. Both bare feet rest upon a smooth rock. Elena bends down, scooping one into the cup. The rock presses into her skin like an oceanic kiss and glistens with the light of the sun. He laughs when she releases it into the briny air, squealing when it spits in the waves.
"You have quite the arm there," Damon teases her, linking their fingers together.
"I'm the only girl, I had to learn how to pitch a baseball," she explains and looks up at him with a smile so bright that her whole face glows. A deep curve on her lips makes the world stop around her, a smile that brings back a million memories in a split second. The precious dimple that crinkles skips a beat... Hers is one that makes him feel happy about being alive.
At that moment, he can't help but notice how young she really is and obviously as smitten as he is. They haven't been together very long, she's still in school. He's already graduated and is working as an attorney in the DA's office. It's a start, he hopes to have his own firm one day.
Unable to help himself, Damon gently leans in and kisses Elena's warm lips. They pull apart and take shaky, shallow breaths. Unable to contain themselves anymore, he holds her head in his hands and pulls her into a fiery and passionate kiss. He shivers when he feels her hands work their way around his body, feeling each crevasse, each line along his perfect physique.
Damon leans in, softly kissing up and down her neck. She lets out little whimpers of anticipation. He works his way back to her tender, smooth lips.
When an errant wave crashes against the shoreline, lightly splashing Damon, he's pulled back to reality, leaving that memory behind, a time when he might have deserved her admiration. Sighing, he stands up and pulls his keys out of his pocket. Looking out over the water, he wishes there was a way to turn back time...
Finishing his route early, Damon returns to the post office to drop off his keys and scanner. He finds Ric talking to another new guy, Matt. He's about to make his getaway when he hears his name.
"Hang on, Damon," Ric calls from behind him.
Damon sits down in one of the chairs, looking up when he sees a shadow crossing over him. It's Rose, the sorter gal.
"Hi Damon," she smiles, sitting down beside him.
"Hi Rose, is it?"
"You remembered," she gushes, laying her hand on his arm.
"How's it going, your route I mean?"
"I'm getting used to it, I like being able to be outside in the fresh air."
"A bunch of us are going to get together at Gooneys Friday night, you're welcome to join us."
"What did you have in mind?" he asks, knowing full well he won't go.
Rose touches his arm again and leans in to whisper in his ear. "A little of this, a little of that..."
"I gotta go," Damon jumps up, grateful when he notices Ric waving him into his office.
"See ya, Damon," she runs her tongue along her lower lip then walks away, swinging her hips dramatically.
Shaking his head, he walks into Ric's office and closes the door. "She's something," he plops down in a chair.
"What do you mean?"
"If you hadn't interrupted, she would've pissed on me to mark her territory."
"I expect you to let me know if she keeps it up and I'll have a word with her. I'm serious, there's no room for that shit in the workplace."
"Sure, but why did you ask me to stay?"
"I wanted to see how you're doing?"
"Look, I appreciate your concern, I really do but I need to do this on my own. Please respect that."
"We've known each other for a long time, Damon, I know you maybe better than you know yourself."
"Maybe, but this time, it's on me whether I sink or swim. Is there anything else?"
"No, you're free to go. Just know that I'm here," he gets up and walks Damon to his car, raising his hand as he drives away.
When he gets back to his office, Alaric picks up his phone. Scrolling through his contacts, he presses the icon when he finds it.
"Hello, Elena."
Thank you for reading, I know it was a long time coming.
Special thanks to my dearest Eva aka Siberia21, CosmicAdventurer, and Florencia7. All of their stories are outstanding. And thanks to sbaumrose86. Some of the people I've met through DE, I feel closer to than people I see every day. The DE fandom is just outstanding.
Chapter title: "Standing Alone" by Tyketto.
The 83rd annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is happening right now here in the Black Hills. I do have a one-shot set at the rally, it's called "Renegade".
"Hearts On Ice" will come next.
Have a wonderful day and you're all just amazing.
