Forever Is Not Enough

Aftermath

1876 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Naked and afraid, Damon waited. He had spilled no blood and he had broken no bones, but he felt as though he had suffered a great injury. He found a space next to the small vanity in the corner of the room, cowering behind it to protect himself from the sunlight. What will happen when Elena returns? he thought. What if she never does?

He set aside his panic and rage to collect his thoughts. The sun must sleep, he thought. He said it over and over as he watched the sunlight creep closer to him, never relaxing until it finally began to recede toward the window again.

Once he was able to think properly, he mapped exactly what he would do once he was free of his room: he would find his clothing, or steal some, whichever proved easiest, and then he would find Elena. If he found her, he knew he would be able to fix everything.

He spent the rest of his hours reasoning; Elena has been alone and confused for a decade. She did not have him to protect her. She did not have him to teach her. She was confused, and he need only speak with her. Katherine could protect herself, surely, from whatever she had planned. It would all be well once the sun set. He began pacing as soon as the sun was tucked safely out of view of his window, slowly sinking in the Western skies. He would soon make his escape.

His thoughts were interrupted by the door abruptly swinging open. At first glance of the dark brown curls coming from behind it, he sped towards them, grabbing Elena by the neck and pulling her further into the room. He had her back to the wall before she could blink, only it was not her at all. Rather, a smaller version of her, gazing contentedly up at Damon with similar almond shaped eyes that were not brown enough. Her hair was too short as well, but she it wore as Elena always had.

He fell back, embarrassed and confused, but she did not seem bothered in the least. She seemed comfortable, if not a tad bit out of it. There was something about the way that she did not look directly at Damon when she spoke to him that made him uneasy. Her clothes were ill-fitted, as though they were made for someone just a little bigger than herself, moreover, they looked a little outdated. She stood quietly as though waiting for him to say something first, pulling up the shoulder of her dress as it fell.

In her left hand, she clutched a bundle of clothes. Wordlessly, she offered them to him. He snatched them from her quicker than she could extend her arm, but she did not seem to mind. Trying to keep himself covered, he retreated to his place behind the vanity, pulling it out from the wall to dress himself behind. "Who are you?" he half-snarled, securing his belt around his waste.

No reply.

He lips curled into an irritated frown. "Did Elena send you?"

No reply.

"Are you deaf?"

No reply.

He rushed to her once more, his hand wrapping itself around her throat before he realized what he was doing. "Speak!" he ordered.

"I've brought you something else," she said finally. Chills ran up and down his arms; she sounded so much like Elena. He looked down to her right hand and ripped the small silver object from her fingers before she could offer it. It was the chain that Elena had secured around her neck only hours early, his ring dangling from it. He secured the ring around his finger and the muscles in his shoulders relaxed slightly. "Where is she?" he said, trying to control his voice.

"Who?"

Again, he felt the blood in his body rush down his spine, alight with rage. He inhaled, and spoke once more, focusing directly on her irises. "Where. Is. Elena?"

The girl looked down for a moment, biting her lip as though she was genuinely trying to think of an answer. Her eyes returned to his, empty.

He knew that this girl could not be a vampire resisting his compulsion; she was human. He could hear her heart beat and feel the warmth of her skin. Elena must have compelled her, that was the only explanation he could think of. "Do you know the answer?"