Crumbling Hearts and Shattered Minds

Chapter 27: Long Naps And Playful Banter

Damon POV

I groaned as I slowly started shifting into consciousness. I blinked my eyes open to find light streaming in through a big window. It was the only light in the unknown room.

I bolted up strait and looked around.

I was about to run for the door, before I remembered I was in a hotel room. Fragments of yesterday trickled lazily back to me.

I groaned again and bent my legs up so that I could rest my elbows on them. I crossed my arms while they were still resting on my knees. I let my forehead rest on the untangled limbs and closed my eyes.

Klaus wasn't in the room, must have had some big bad hybrid hidden agenda to tend to.

I let out a slow breath then lifted my head and turned my gaze to the digital clock on the nightstand between the two beds. It blinked 4:28pm in red. Which means I have been in Italy with Klaus for less than eight hours.

The one crystal clear thought that went through my head was:

I miss Stefan. Have to get back to Stefan. Need my brother.

I sighed.

If I missed Stefan to the point where it physically hurt right now, how was I going to last months upon months?

I curled into myself even tighter.

Silent tears forcibly rolled down my cheeks no matter how hard I fought them.

I had just gotten my brother back, why did the universe insist on ripping us apart so soon?

I scrubbed at the rebellious tears, hating myself for being so week. Giuseppe would have had a field day with that.

I flinched automatically at the thought of the man. Even if he's gone now, he still haunts me every moment. He still has a hold on me, trying to pull me down to the point where I can't function. He nearly did this time, even if he was dead.

I wiped away the last of the tears with shame hanging heavy in my gut. I slowly laid down again and curled up on my side.

That's when I realized the absence of shoes getting stuck and tangled in the blankets, the sensation of the smooth silk sheets on my back.

I growled in frustration. Even in my sleep, Klaus had proven that I am his, even if its only for the moment.

I heard the mechanical click of the door lock and I shut my eyes and faked sleep.

The door swung open and I heard some rustling of bags and then the sound of the wooden door gliding across the carpet and the soft noise it made when it closed made its way quietly through the room.

Footsteps sounded softly through the room for a few moments before the bed across from the one I was on sounded as though someone had jumped and plopped right in the middle.

I continued to breath evenly and keep my eyes loosely shut. I felt Klaus' gaze on my face and resisted the urge to fidget. I heard more unnecessary breathing other than mine and I kept up the façade.

I moved slighting as a dozing person might, but hair fell onto my closed lids and I had to fight the urge to remove the pesky sensation. I was about ready to give up when soft finger tips brushed the annoyance away.

It reminded me of how I would do the same for my brother or a close friend. I felt confused at the thought. Why would Klaus treat me like a friend? Why has he been this whole time since leaving the boarding house? I questioned it internally while the touch receded.

I kept questioning it, but found myself really falling asleep. I slipped into resting state with dreams full of home and happier times.

I woke up again to see the light in the room nearly gone and the clock broadcasting 7:32 PM across its face.

I groaned and stretched my arms over my head and arched my back if the bed. I let out a long breath and relaxed while sinking further into the heavenly mattress under me.

I heard a huff of laughter and turned my head to see Klaus looking at me with a smirk planted on his face as he leaned on the wall.

"Morning sleeping beauty. Ready to start the day, are we?" He said snidely.

"Klaus, I know I'm beautiful, but you don't need to remind me in every conversation we have." I said while trying not to think of what happened when I was pretending to sleep.

"We have business to take care of in town. So shower up and be ready within the hour." Klaus said with a smile and a nod, completely changing the topic. I groaned and through my arm over my face like a stubborn teenager. I heard footsteps move towards me and the warm sheets were ripped away.

I gasped at the freezing air that surrounded my body and propped myself on my elbows to glare at the older vampire. He looked damn well proud of himself and waggled his eyebrows at me before throwing the sheet on his bed and turned to the mini bar, which was actually a full sided bar.

I glared at the back of his head while he poured a drink before climbing off the bed and padding my way to the bathroom.

I closed and latched the door before turning to the mirror to find that I looked wrecked. I looked tired, sad and lost all at the same time.

I sighed and started stripping off the last of my clothes, which was only pants and boxers.

I started the shower to find it completely ready and the perfect temperature. I smiled and climbed in. I stood under the spray for a while while rubbing the tension out of my shoulders.

I then washed my hair and body and climbed out to a very steamy bathroom. I dried off and realized I don't have any clean clothes.

Or any clothes besides the ones I wore on the way here.

I growled but a knock at the door stopped me short. I went over and opened it a crack. An arm protruded through it holding a bag.

"Thought you'd need something to wear." Klaus said in a snarky but fond way. I took it and looked at its contents. Inside there was a plain black shirt, a pair of black pants, socks and a pair of black boxers.

"Thanks." I said while holding the towel tightly around my waist, even though Klaus had already pulled his arm out and shut the door, granting me privacy.

I pulled on the clothes to find that they for perfectly. I thought about it for a moment before shaking it off and brushing my teeth.

I finished and went back out into the room to find Klaus laying on his bed with his hands behind his head.

"Are we ready yet?" He asked while raising an eyebrow at me. I pretended to think about it and shrugged.

"I guess. Now where are we going?" I asked while going to sit on my bed and pulling my socks on before putting on my shoes and lacing them. I sat up again to see Klaus by the door.

"To see an old friend of mine." He replied cryptically.

"Ha! You don't have friends, Klaus, just people who owe you." Said while standing up and sauntering over to stand half a foot in front of him.

"Then that's just another thing we have in common it's it, friend?" He replied before turning on his heel and opening the door so I could walk through.

I glared at him on the way out and kept quiet as we made our way to the lobby.

We got outside and Klaus summoned a cab. One pulled up to the curb in front of us almost immediately and Klaus threw a smug look over his shoulder to me.

"Show off." I said before pushing my way in front of him and climbing in. He chuckled and climbed in after me.

Klaus made small talk with the driver and I stared out the window while thinking of how to prove Klaus that we weren't as much alike as he thought.

But I couldn't think of anything. Was he right?

I contemplated it while the pain in my chest from missing Stefan continued to slowly spread.