Tangled Affair

Ghost World

September 7, 2010

Louise knew something was wrong. She couldn't get a hold of Damon. She grabbed her phone and hit the speed dial button again only to have it go straight to voicemail...again. She ran a hand through her hair in frustration before grabbing her keys and heading downstairs.

The quick drive to the boarding house set her nerves on edge. She knew Damon had said not to come over, but she felt she had no choice. She knew something was going on and she wasn't about to be left out of the loop.

Louise pulled up, not seeing anything out of the ordinary as she got out and made her way to the big front door. She didn't bother knocking, but hesitated a moment before completely entering. The brunette started to quietly shut the door behind her when a gut wrenching cry of agony echoed through the house, freezing her blood. She stood frozen for a long moment before the realization that it was Damon's voice hit her like a fist to the stomach and she was running, heedless of the obvious danger that she was hurtling towards.

She spun around the corner into the den and skidded to a stop, her breath catching in her throat at the sight before her. Damon sat roped and chained to a chair in front of the fireplace, his head slumped forward, his chest heaving and his grey shirt from the night before torn and completely blood soaked. A fireplace stoker poked out of his chest and his daylight ring was on the floor, a few inches away from him.

"What the hell?" Louise said, rushing forward toward her boyfriend. "What - I'm guessing we have your brother to thank for this?"

"Low blow, Stefan." Damon muttered breathlessly as his eyes flickered up to Stefan, who stood at the doorway with a smirk on his lips. "Low blow. Whatever twisted ripper game this is, leave me out of it."

"I didn't do this." Stefan stated simply.

"Really?" Louise scoffed in disbelief. "This who the hell would do this?"

"It's pretty messed up though, isn't it?" Stefan moved closer to his brother and yanked the poker from his chest, which caused Damon to gasp out in pain. Then, he broke the restraints from Damon before walking away without another word.

Louise couldn't help rolling her eyes before she hurried behind Damon and tried to release the chains behind the chair. "Do honestly believe he didn't do this?"

"I don't know." Damon shrugged breathlessly, his eyes flickered toward the curtain that began to twitch. "Louise? Louise, hurry-"

"I'm going as fast as I c-" Louise was cut off by Damon's skin sizzling and burning as the curtains were yanked opened. "Shit!" She moved quickly and grabbed his daylight ring and slid it onto his ring. The burning stopped immediately and Louise sighed in relief.

"What are you doing here, Louise?" Damon asked in a tired voice, his head dropping to his chest again.

"I was worried. You weren't answering my calls." She dropped one set of chains and started working on the ropes around his wrists and the arms of the chair.

"And, of course, your first instinct is to barge into a house full of vampires."

She glanced up at him, biting at her lip. "How are you doing?"

"Just swell, Louise. Thanks for asking."

She rolled her eyes, still picking at the knots. It took her another ten minutes and a knife before she had him completely free. When she pulled the last chain from around his chest she saw him slump slightly before he caught himself, his arms shaking as he propped himself up.

"You need blood." She said, tossing her hair over her shoulder and exposing her neck in a way he could have sworn was deliberate. His mouth watered as he swallowed convulsively, staring at her throat.