If only | Damon Salvatore

005. ONLY PEOPLE YOU CAN TRUST IS YOUR OWN KIND

Chapter five

"Only people you can trust is your own kind."

Three days had passed since the Founders' Party, and the atmosphere inside the Black home remained completely fractured. The family was deeply divided. Beatrix and her grandmother stood firmly on Team Damon, while Cassandra had sided with Stefan. According to what Stefan had promised her mom, Damon had been successfully dosed with vervain and locked away in a secure cell. Given that neither Salvatore brother had been seen around town for three days, the execution of the plan was a certainty.

Guilt-ridden, Cassandra had spent the last three mornings cooking elaborate breakfast spreads to win back her family's favor. But just like the previous two days, Beatrix didn't touch a bite.

With her backpack slung over one shoulder and the heavy amber crystal necklace Damon had given her resting prominently against her collarbone, Beatrix gave her mother one last cold look, turned on her heel, and walked out the door.

Cassandra watched the door click shut and let out a heavy sigh. "She hates me."

Winnifred scoffed from the kitchen island, not looking up from her tea. "We both hate you. We were supposed to be operating as a unit, and you decided to go behind our backs to play hero. You should just consider yourself lucky that Beatrix is the one holding that crystal, seeing as it used to belong to me before it was rudely stolen."

Cassandra furrowed her brows, turning around sharply. "What are you talking about?"

Winnifred raised her brows, her expression completely locking her daughter out. "Nothing that concerns you. Not until you prove to me—and clearly to your own daughter—that you can actually be trusted."

Frustrated and cut off, Cassandra huffed, spinning around and walking out of the kitchen.

Arriving at school, Beatrix stood in the hallway with Bonnie and Elena. The three of them watched in disbelief as Caroline strolled down the hallway, completely chipper and beaming with energy as she taped up event flyers.

"Unbelievable," Elena muttered, shaking her head. "It's like absolutely nothing happened."

"She's in denial," Bonnie added flatly.

Beatrix furrowed her brows, looking between them. "Denial about what?"

Bonnie turned to her, her voice dropping to a serious whisper. "That Damon was abusing her."

Beatrix shook her head, wanting no part of the town's gossip or the cover stories. "Forget I asked."

Elena's eyes suddenly drifted down, locking onto the amber pendant resting against Beatrix's chest. Her brows furrowed. "Where did you get that necklace?"

"Nowhere," Beatrix deflected quickly, defensively covering the crystal with her hand.

"Hey," Stefan's voice spoke up from behind them.

The sound of his voice made Beatrix's eyes go wide. She couldn't even look him in the eye after what her mother had done. "I have to get to class," she announced abruptly, slipping past them.

"And so do I," Bonnie added, turning to follow right after her.

Stefan stood in the hallway, his eyes tracking Beatrix's retreating figure as she blatantly ignored his presence.

That night, Beatrix sat cross-legged on her bed, her fingers tightly gripped around the amber crystal. She stared down at it, endlessly wondering why a vampire like Damon would choose to put his trust in her to keep it safe. As the house grew quiet, her thoughts inevitably drifted back to him—the fluid way they had danced, and the dizzying way he made her feel simultaneously terrified and excited. It was the exact same feeling she had gotten when his cold fingers brushed against her bare neck in the artifact room.