Xenia Pierce of 1850 (Vampire Diaries)

Chapter 5

Hope that you guys are enjoying this! I know I am!

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"Thank you, Damon."

The sun was setting as I walked out the doors of the Salvatore mansion, escorted by none other than Damon Salvatore. The guests of the dinner banquet were long gone; my sister was nowhere to be seen. She was either fooling around with Stefan or at home, probably fuming at the thought of me and a Salvatore.

I was now wearing a beautifully soft gown of dark midnight blue, with a corset of bronze and gold. The ribbons crisscrossed down the middle of the breastpiece. My hair had been washed and annointed and now hung down in my natural black waves, cascading to my midback. I still work my leather boots as I carefully stepped down the stairs towards the awaiting carriage that Damon had arranged for me to send me home.

We had talked quite a lot, discussing politics, and then, drifting on to our personal lives. He explained that his father expected him to marry Katherine, or some other rich girl that would help continue the Salvatore family line. I told him that my whole family used me as a servant. I told him things that I had never, ever told anyone, because I had been afraid to. Now it felt so much better to confide in someone. I hoped that he felt the same way.

"Will you be coming to Founder's Ball next week?"

I turned around to face Damon. He was absolutely dashing, now changed out of his formal clothing and wearing a light cotton shirt and trousers. He was so tall... towering over me.

"If my parents don't whip me first," I said, looking down. I tried not to cry. I didn't want to leave him. Or this. Any of this. I used to protect myself from finery, things like this... so it would be easier to return home. To just get on with life. I never let myself indulge... just kept working, working, working...

"Xenia?" Damon sound concerned. I didn't want him to be, but I couldn't help but feel happy that someone actually cared for my happiness.

"Yes?"

I felt him take my hand in his.

"Do you need me to do something about it?"

I looked up at him incredulously. His black-brown eyes were full of worry. I didn't think that I had ever known anyone that worried about me before. I wanted to cry at the sight of him so concerned for me. Of all people, me. The assassin, the bloodsucker, the... monster.

"It'll be alright, Damon."

"I'll be looking for you at the ball, Xenia."

I smiled. "I will too."

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"Where have you been?"

As soon as I stepped through the doors of my home, Mother stormed towards me, her eyes full of anger.

Then she did a doubletake and took a step back, gawking at my dress.

After a few empty seconds, she stammered, "W-where did you get that?"

I could just feel Katherine's eyes burning into me from across the room. Her glare used to scare me, but I didn't feel scared anymore. But even though I felt like rubbing all of my glory, I decided to spare my sister's feelings. "Mr. Giuseppe Salvatore let me wear it when I... accidentally fell into the fountain." I tried not to look at Katherine as I spoke, toying with the ribbons of my dress, thinking of Damon.

I could see that my mother was shocked, and when my father came up beside her, he stared at me for a whole minute before speaking. "I see that you are... favored."

Mother was not pleased with my amazing transformation. "Take that off and give it to your sister," she snapped.

Katherine stood up from her seat near the fireplace. "I shan't wear something that my sister has worn!" She said the word "sister" as if it was the same thing as the "devil".

I gulped. "M-Maybe she is right, after all--"

Mother's eyes widened, surprised at my boldness to retort at her.

I looked down at the floor immediately and said, "Yes, Mother," hurriedly skidding to my room to change out of the dress Damon had given to me. Even though I was reluctant to do so, I put on my old and tattered beige dress and brought the puffy skirts and corset to Katherine.

"Good, now, go and do the dishes. We just finished up dinner." Father's face was as hard as stone as I tied my hair away from my face and headed to kitchen. Maybe he even saw my wet eyes. I had no idea.

I should have asked Damon to do something about this terrible situation. But I would never ask him to do something like that for me, of all people. I simply wasn't worth it.

I never was.