Midnight Rising

False Hopes

Two months, not a text or a phone call or even a letter. She doesn't care, off gallivanting with Stefan while I'm left here to clean up the messes. Here, trying to hold not only myself but Elena together. The bubbly liquid stings as it hits the back of my throat, giving my whole body a comfortable, warm, and numb feeling. I wonder if she even thinks about me. I hope she's hurting and miserable. I hope every time she looks into Stefan's eyes she thinks of me. I hope she's safe and taken care of. Klaus better be treating her right. Stefan better be treating her like she hung every star in the damn sky. Tipping the bottle back, the last few drops hit my tongue, sizzling.

I stare at the green glass, my eyes; black and dead, staring back at me. She's destroyed me, ripped out my heart. The bottle flies across the bathroom, exploding as it makes impact with the wall. "We are out of champagne."

"Huh," my latest distraction wanders into the bathroom, shoving a back on her earring. This one's outlived the last by a grand total of twelve hours. Every time I go to kill her I remember just how much work disposing of a body is. I've not got the mental capacity to handle that right now. The blonde turns towards me, frowning as she sees the broken glass. "No, you're out of champagne, 'cause I don't drink in the morning."

Ignoring her jab, I twist in the tub, turning to look at the girl, "Well, would you be a dear and—"

"I think you could probably get it yourself," she interrupts. Testy this morning. I guess she's not over me calling her the wrong name last night. I was drunk. It happens to the best of us. "I'm not your slave."

Ugh, if only bodies weren't so difficult to get rid of. I could always rip her apart, burning parts of her in the fireplace. Elena is so distracted by her own heartbreak, she probably wouldn't even notice.

Damon. There she is. Her voice is sharp, a welcomed pain. I don't know if it's really her or some kind of love-crazed delusion I've created, but it's become something I live for. It's like Diana is still here, making sure I don't go completely over the edge. Smirking, I stand, water in the tub sloshing against the porcelain sides. Stepping out onto the tile floor, I leave puddles of water behind as I make my way into the bedroom.

"I mean, you're dripping!" The blonde calls after me as I wander into the living room.

Elena stands in the middle of the room, flipping through various papers laid out on the coffee table. It's like she's claimed this house. She feels like she belongs here like just because this is where Stefan lived she can come and go as she pleases. "Mornin'."

"Hey, I was gonna—" Her eyes grow wide as she realizes I'm naked, standing before her with no shame. Quickly, Elena spins around, eyes shielded by two layers of hands. "Oh!" She shakes her head, growing frustrated as she puts the puzzle pieces together. "You heard me. You knew I was here."

Smirking, I pull the crystal topper out of the decanter, draining the brown liquid inside. "You know, you should learn to knock. What if I was...indecent?"

Continuing to shield her eyes with one hand, Elena reaches around the couch. Eventually, her fingers curl around the blanket draped there. She picks it up, hurling it across the room in my direction.

I roll my eyes, wrapping the soft material around my waist. She's such a prude. "Okay."

Elena tentatively slides her fingers apart, dropping her hand only after she's certain I'm decent. Once she's lowered her barrier, Elena digs into her jeans pocket, pulling out a crumpled piece of bright pink legal paper. "Sheriff Forbes gave us another location to check." Elena holds the sheet in my direction. "Memphis."

"Another dead end, you mean?" We've been taking these leads from the Sheriff since Stefan and Diana disappeared. I know she means well, but I wish she'd stop. They only give Elena a false sense of hope. Stefan and Diana aren't going to be found, not until Klaus wants them to be. Even then, neither one will return the same person they were when they left.

Elena frowns, "You don't know that."

"You're right, Elena," I scoff, trying to bury just how much her naivety infuriates me. "This could be the one. Yep. After two months, this could be the clue that tells us Stefan's alive and well and living in Graceland."

Determined to get through to me, Elena steps forward, paper still in hand, clinging to it as if it alone will cure her aching heart, "This could be the clue that helps you find Diana."

"If she wanted to be found she would've called. It's her thing. She likes the chase. This—" I snatch the paper out of Elena's hand, leaving behind only a torn corner in her trembling fingers "—is a sloppy newbie or a false hope."

Enraged, Elena yanks the paperback, shoving it deep into her pocket, "Fine, I'll go by myself." She stomps towards the front door, reaching for the knob.

"And let Klaus know that you're tracking him?" Elena gasps as I appear between her and the door, hand recoiling. "He thinks you're dead. Let's keep it that way."

Elena lets out a defeated sigh, taking a step backward, "It's a new lead, Damon. We haven't had one in a while."

"I'll check it out," I answer with an eye roll. "If I find anything, I'll call you."

"But—" Elena frowns, shaking her head. Her eyes grow soft as she reaches forward, curling her fingers around my arm. "I know you miss her."

Taking my arm back, I turn, heading back down the hallway towards my bedroom, "Not talking about it!"

The pink sheet of paper burns a hole in my hand; hidden from a silly girl who would cling to the hope it brings her. Swinging the wardrobe door open, I tack the newest lead up with the others. The only way to squash Elena's hope is to pretend I've lost all mine. Crushing every plot to go after Stefan is how I keep his girlfriend safe. Klaus needs to think she's dead, that he's won. The Stefan that we would find won't be someone Elena would be able to welcome back with open arms. He'll have switched his humanity off, let who he really is inside out. Maybe Diana will be the same. Hearing her voice in my head is the only thing giving me hope that she's not completely gone. "He moved onto Tennessee."

"Huh." Blondie comes out of the bathroom, her face covered in a thick layer of orange makeup. "That Florida victim you had me look into has family in Tennessee."

So far, this girl has proven to be quite useful. She's standoffish towards Elena, refusing to speak more than a handful of words to her. The job she has at the police station means she can get me access to information without raising suspicion. Maybe that's why I'm keeping her around. As long as she's useful, I'll keep her alive. "Which one, the Pensacola guy?"

"Uh-huh."

Nodding, I begin to get dressed, "You up for a road trip?"

"To help you look for an ex-girlfriend who you're still in love with?" The girl chuckles, giving me grin, "No can do. I have to work, but I can see if I can get you an address."

Always so willing to help. I wonder if she thinks that if she helps enough, I'll actually start to like her, "Please."

"See you at the party."

Yeah, like I'm actually going to that, "Get me that address."

As blondie leaves the room, I turn back to the leads tacked to the inside of my wardrobe door. Where are you Di?