The Daughter of Damon Salvatore
Chapter One
Present: August 2009 – Reading, England
Jessica knocked softly on the bedroom door. She did not want to make too much noise and disturb the occupant of the room if they were sleeping. Upon hearing silence, Jessica slowly opened the door as quietly as she could and entered the room. She gazed at the bed where her extremely pale mother, Joanna, lay sleeping. Joanna's laboured breathing showing just how painful breathing had become. Each new inhale and exhale a bigger struggle than the last.
Jessica knew her mother did not have long now.
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A few months ago: February 2009 – Reading, England
Fifteen-year-old Jessica was living a complicated teenage life in a countryside town approximately thirty miles south-west of London, England. Her young life had been difficult. She had not been happy in a long time and there had been quite a bit of darkness in her life over recent years. She was alone and, with a few poor choices, she had been expelled – not that anyone noticed. Jessica's mother, Joanna, was hardly ever around, she would mysteriously disappear for weeks at a time and, when she finally did arrive home, she would lock herself away and get lost in her papers, books, and academic journals. Bills went unpaid and meant that the house often had no electricity or heating, and food was scarce. This meant that Jessica lived her teenage life largely alone and however she wanted, not realising the dangers of making her own decisions at such a young age but having no other choice.
One day, Jessica had arrived home to find her mother collapsed on the living room floor. Joanna had been complaining of feeling unwell for a while and the headaches had been getting worse. Jessica had left her mother curled up on the sofa that morning with a steaming cup of tea and some soup. However, upon seeing her mother collapsed on the floor, Jessica had immediately dialled 999 with shaking hands and requested an ambulance through the tears – how the operator understood what she was saying, Jessica would never know.
Joanna was rushed to hospital where she stayed for a couple of weeks whilst the doctors conducted further tests to identify the cause of the collapse. The whole time Jessica remained by her mother's side, praying to a deity she didn't believe in that her mother would be ok. Plus, the hospital was warm.
Her mother had eventually come round and was confused at finding herself in the hospital however, one look at her daughter's concerned face was all she needed to know that the situation was serious. The doctor had come by shortly after to discuss the test results and explained that they had found a large brain tumour which was inoperable – Joanna was given approximately four months to live and that she should have home care for her own comfort towards the end.
Joanna accepted the outcome. However, Jessica remained silent and didn't hardly eat, sleep, or speak after that. Not that the behaviour was any different to how it had already been for quite some time, to the extent that her clothes no longer fit her, and she was sure that she'd be able to see her ribs if it continued.
Joanna was set up comfortably at home and a bunch of lovely nurses would attend her throughout the day and night to ensure that she was well looked after, and so that Jessica would not have to carry such heavy responsibilities on her shoulders.
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Present: August 2009 – Reading, England
Jessica silently sat down in the chair next to her frail mother's medical bed. Eva, the nurse, smiled sadly at Jessica and excused herself from the bedroom to give Jessica and her mother some privacy.
Jessica sat and thought about the life she and her mother had. They were not rich and were barely living within their means and, over the last few years, Jessica's mother had been around the house less and less. Jessica felt like she hardly knew her mother anymore but her love for her mother remained. After all, the reason that Joanna spent weeks and weeks away at a time was all in the name of helping Jessica. Jessica knew it was selfish, but she had been worried about what would happen to her after her mother passed.
Jessica was brought out of her thoughts when her mother's eyes fluttered open with difficulty.
"Jessica?" Joanna whispered.
"Hi mum. How are you feeling today?" Jessica asked gently.
"I'm fine, just a bit tired is all" Joanna replied.
Jessica nodded knowing her mother easily tired now.
There was a silent pause before Joanna took a deep sigh and looked at her daughter, she would never get a chance to see Jessica grow up.
"Why can't your magic fix it?" Jessica whispered so not to be overheard by any of the nurses who were staying in her home.
"Magic doesn't fix everything" her mother smiled sadly.
Joanna was from a lineage of witches originally from the United States however, Joanna had fled America upon becoming pregnant with Jessica – the impossible miracle.
Jessica had grown up with her mother telling her supernatural fairy tales at bedtime and did not believe in any of it, until the day she had an argument with one of her former friends at school. On the walk home, Jessica had shattered a few streetlights as she walked angrily down the road – Jessica was only thirteen at the time and it had completely spooked her. After that, she paid more attention to what her mother was telling her when Joanna talked about the supernatural and even taught her daughter how to control her developing magic.
Jessica could control her emotions and her magic now but was reluctant to learn spells or develop her magic any further than what it already was. She just wanted to have as normal a life as she possibly could.
"I don't want you to have to worry about a thing when I pass. I've set all my affairs straight; everything will be taken care of" her Joanna promised.
"What will happen to me?" Jessica asked.
Joanna hesitated, she then sighed.
"I've been trying to get in touch with your father" she confessed.
Jessica looked at her mother in shock. Joanna had always sworn blind about how much she hated the man that got her pregnant at seventeen and then left her deal with a potentially supernatural baby. It could also have something to do with the fact that baby daddy was a vampire and, said vampire, refused to believe that he had anything to do with the pregnancy and had taken off the second Joanna had mentioned it back in 1994.
Joanna had been young, terrified, and knew that she could not stay in the US with a baby who would be half-witch half-vampire. Joanna was fully aware that such a baby would cause a major unbalance of nature. Joanna was certain that she and her baby would have been hunted to death.
Joanna shuddered at the thought. However, watching her daughter grow, Joanna had no doubt that her black curly haired, ice blue-eyed, daughter would go on to do extraordinary things.
"I don't want anything to do with him!" Jessica exclaimed as she shot up off the chair and started pacing at the end of her mother's bed.
The idea of living with a strange man made her want to throw-up.
"I would never trust anyone else to look after you" Joanna stated trying to calm her daughter.
Jessica just stared at her mother in disbelief. Her mother had always spoken ill of her father and now, she was saying that he was the only person she would trust! Her mother wasn't making sense.
"I think you need to explain that comment in further detail mum" Jessica said, arms folded.
Joanna nodded in understanding.
"I may hate your father, and I will never forgive him for running away and leaving me. However, he is protective, and I know that he would never let anything happen to those who he considers family. You just need to prove that you are worthy of his protection, he doesn't trust easily" Joanna replied.
Jessica just shook her head.
"But we are not family! You said it yourself; he doesn't believe that he is my father – why on earth would he even consider listening and taking on a teenager who he has never had anything to do with?" Jessica paused.
"What would that mean for me? Would I be expected to pack up my entire life and head off to America? Not only am I going to lose my mum but you're telling me that I will lose my home, and everything that I have ever known and cared to love?" Jessica continued.
"Jessica, I know it's difficult. But I don't know what else to do and I need to know that you are going to be protected" her mother begged.
Jessica burst into tears completely overwhelmed and tried to breathe and calm herself down.
Eventually she collected herself.
"What's his name?" Jessica finally asked.
She had never asked questions about her father because her mother had always got visibly upset and frustrated when Jessica asked such questions. Jessica knew her father was a vampire, although it took her a long time and a lot of denial to believe in such things.
"His name is Damon Salvatore" Joanna replied.
Joanna watched her daughter take in this new information. Joanna honestly did not know what to do for the best and did not have much time left to get it all worked out. She still had the address for the old Salvatore Boarding House that she had got to know so well in her youth. She had sent a letter months ago, when she was first diagnosed, addressed to Zach Salvatore, who was the owner of the Salvatore Boarding House the last time she was there. Joanna had explained the situation in the letter and her desperation for Zach's help had been clear. She was hoping that Zach, who had helped her once before, would be willing to help her again. However, she had not heard anything back from him and she had been rapidly running out of options.
Until a week ago.
A week ago, Joanna had received an airline ticket in the post. There was no letter that came with the ticket however, the envelope had been postmarked via airmail from Richmond, Virginia. Not too far from the town of Mystic Falls. The airline ticket was also in Jessica's name and confirmed the flight from Heathrow to Virginia and was ready to use when necessary.
Joanna was pulled out of her thoughts.
"Are you sure he will want to take care of me?" Jessica asked.
Joanna paused before she spoke.
"I received an envelope last week from Virginia. Inside the envelope is an airline ticket in your name. When I'm gone, I want you to use it. In my will, you will find the address of Zach Salvatore, a relative of your father's. He is the best shot at finding your father, also Zach is one of the kindest people I ever met, and he will look after you if he is unsuccessful in locating your father" Joanna admitted.
Jessica pondered over her mother's words and sat calmly back in the chair. Jessica sighed; she was being sent on a mission to find a man who did not believe she even existed. Jessica wanted to argue the point further, claiming that she could stay in England and stay with someone until she was old enough to face the world alone. However, looking at her mother's tired and stressed features as Joanna fell back into a deep sleep, Jessica found that she did not want to cause any more concern for her ailing mother and decided that she would have to try and accept the situation for what it was.
Jessica kissed her now sleeping mother gently on the head and quietly retreated from the bedroom.
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Six weeks later: Mid-September 2009 – All Hallows Road, Reading, England
Jessica sat on a bench outside the crematorium with a social worker who had been assigned to her, the two of them had watched the smoke rise from the chimney, knowing that Joanna's body was being burned. Due to being almost penniless when she passed, Joanna's funds only just covered the cost of the cheapest option available. To be burned with no ceremony or anyone present. Jessica had been shocked when she was told that she would not be allowed to see her mother's cremation and it was the social worker's idea to have the two of them sit together on the bench outside the crematorium and watch the chimney smoke at the time they knew Joanna was due to be burned. It was Jessica's only choice and so, there they sat as they watched until the smoking stopped.
Joanna had died peacefully in her sleep the week before; Jessica had woken up to find her mother's cooling body. Jessica could still remember the feeling of death wash over her as she touched her mother's cold cheek one last time. It was all a quiet affair as her mother made sure to never let anyone get too close to the two of them. As Jessica had no friends left, she had no one to rely on to support her.
Jessica barely heard the social worker's condolences as she stood up from the old bench. She walked quietly back to her empty home with the social worker, who had been in charge of her since the day her mother had died.
The majority of the house had already been packed up; her mother had insisted that she wanted all her affairs straightened out before she died. Joanna got her wish. The day after her mother's passing, tenant services from the local council were banging on the front door and warning Jessica she had one week to pack her belongings and leave, the council wanted their house back. Jessica had been fortunate that she barely had to lift a finger while she was grieving the loss of her mother. All Jessica had to do was sign the death record, obtain death certificates, and sort a few other papers.
"Now, I understand that your mother had family in the USA that she was entrusting to claim custody of you?" Stacey, the social worker, asked once they had arrived back at the house.
Jessica poured herself a glass of water and shrugged. Stacey was just doing her job however, at the moment, Stacey was getting on Jessica's last nerve.
"According to the instructions left in your mother's will, you have an airline ticket that will take you to Virginia to a Mr Zach Salvatore? My office has managed to track down a landline number for Zach's address and a message was passed on, that you would be flying out at the end of this week now that your mother has passed" Stacey informed her.
Again, Jessica said nothing, she had her bags and possessions packed weeks ago ready for this inevitable moment.
"Now, all your school paperwork has already been transferred to the school in America where you will continue your education and yes, they are aware of the expulsion, but they are willing to give you a chance. You will have a home to live in and be cared for there. I will be flying out to Virginia with you to ensure that you are being taken in by the correct person and conduct the identity check" Stacey informed her.
Jessica just nodded as she shuffled up to her bedroom. It had been a long, hard, week and she still had a long way to go. At least she would have a couple of days to say goodbye to her childhood home.
She tensed as she passed her mother's now vacant room, and quickly ran to her own barren bedroom. As Jessica climbed into bed, she refused to let the tears fall, she could not be weak now.
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Two days later:
"Jessica, are you ready to go?" Stacey's voice called from downstairs.
Jessica sighed as she took one last look around her childhood bedroom whilst clutching the last suitcase of her possessions. Her other bits she had wanted to keep were currently in storage and would be sent over to her once she had permanently settled.
"Well mum, here I go" she whispered as she walked out of her bedroom door for the last time.
She slowly walked her final journey through the house, taking in everything once more. She'd had a somewhat unusual childhood within these walls, and she savoured the familiarity of each creak of the stairs as she walked down them to meet Stacey by the front door.
"How are you doing?" Stacey asked.
Jessica shrugged again.
"I know you're scared Jessica, but you're going to be ok" Stacey tried to be encouraging.
Jessica gave her a half smile as she walked out of the front door, past the tenant services staff who took all the keys she had to the house from her before she made her way towards Stacey's car.
The drive to the airport was quiet, the checking-in and the boarding of the plane was tedious, and the plane journey was exhausting. Jessica closed her eyes and tried to get some sleep to clear the building anxiety within her body.
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What felt like only a short time later, Stacey shook Jessica awake.
"We're here" Stacey informed her as they unbuckled their seatbelts and got off the plane.
"Apparently, Zach is sending someone to collect you from here" Stacey said as she looked at the information sheet that her office had sent her.
Jessica looked around the arrival gate, even though she had no idea who she was looking for. Stacey didn't seem to know either. As Jessica scanned the faces of the waiting individuals, she made eye contact with a young boy who was probably only a couple of years older than herself. The boy took one look at her, and his eyes widened in shock. He cautiously approached the teen and the social worker.
Stacey had also noticed his approach and gave him an awkward hesitant wave.
When he reached them, he could not seem to tear his disbelieving eyes away from Jessica.
"You must be Jessica? I'm the nephew of Zach Salvatore" he introduced himself with a small smile and stuck out his hand.
Jessica remained silent and squinted back at the guy in suspicion, taking in his dirty blonde hairdo and green eyes. She shook his hand in uncertainty. Stacey stepped in for her.
"Hello, yes…this is Jessica. My name is Stacey, I am Jessica's social worker from the UK. I believe my office spoke with your uncle on the phone" Stacey stated.
The man nodded.
"Yes, Zach is unfortunately out of town this week on business however, everything has been prepared for Jessica's arrival. It will be nice to have someone new to welcome to the family" the man smiled reassuringly.
"I'm sure it is nice, and Jessica of course is a little nervous about all of this as you can imagine. I'm sorry…we never caught your name?" Stacey said.
"Oh! I apologise, a name would of course help. My name is Stefan Salvatore, here is some ID if you need to see it which proves I am currently living at the same address as my uncle Zach" Stefan said as he handed the social worker the necessary identity papers that he was asked to provide by the UK office.
Stacey checked over it all very carefully as Stefan studied the young teenager curiously.
"Well, it looks like everything is in order here Jessica" Stacey finally said.
Jessica gulped and nodded.
"It's ok Jessica, you're going to be well looked after here. Although I may have to warn you, we are a complete bunch of misfits!" Stefan joked.
Jessica gave a small grin in return at Stefan's attempt to break the ice.
Stacey and Stefan set about signing the necessary papers and then Stacey stood and made her way to Jessica.
"Well kid, that's it from me. I've got to go and catch my flight back now. I wish you all the best, and you have my work number and our address if you should ever need us for anything. Ok?" Stacey said as she enveloped Jessica in a comforting hug.
Jessica let out a shaky breath and nodded.
"Thank you for everything" she mumbled.
"You've got this kid" Stacey winked reassuringly as she said goodbye.
Jessica and Stefan stood awkwardly as they watched the social worker head towards her departure gate.
The silence between them was deafening.
"Have you got all your belongings?" Stefan asked after a few minutes.
"Yes" Jessica nodded.
"Come on then, let's get you home. You look like you could do with something decent to eat and some restful sleep" he said as he picked up her small suitcase.
"Ok" Jessica said as they headed towards the exit.
"Are you sure this is everything?" Stefan questioned as he took in the size and weight of the bag the young girl had.
Jessica nodded.
"I have more belongings in storage back in the UK but didn't want them to be sent over until I was sure I was settled" Jessica explained.
Stefan nodded.
"That's a really sensible decision to have made" he replied.
The two climbed into the front of Stefan's car and headed towards the small town of Mystic Falls.