To Be Or Not To Be » Stefan Salvatore

Chapter 9 - The Devil's Bargain

Leaving had been impulsive. She could admit that much. A part of her had thought someone would come after her, that they would stop her. Family was supposed to be forever. That had always been a given.

But it wasn't. Nothing was.

Not family. Not love.

And that terrified her.

The idea of spending eternity alone was enough to make her sick. When she walked away, she hadn't been thinking, only running—from the toxicity, the chaos, the suffocation of it all. But she hadn't considered what she was leaving behind.

That realization only hit once she was wandering the streets of Mystic Falls with nowhere to go. She had no home. No plan. No family.

Even as a vampire, the cold was creeping into her bones. She hadn't grabbed a jacket, hadn't changed out of her lounge clothes, hadn't taken any money. She couldn't even leave the city—she had no idea where to go.

Nine hundred years locked away left you disoriented, unmoored. She knew the world had changed, knew there were cities larger than this one. But she had no idea where they were, what they were called, or how to get to them.

And since sleeping on the streets wasn't an option, that left her with only one place to go.

A place she doubted she was welcome.

⋯

Skye shifted from foot to foot, arms wrapped tightly around herself as she waited. She could hear footsteps inside, heavy against the wood, and then the door swung open.

A weak smile tugged at her lips.

Damon Salvatore stood in the doorway, eyeing her with barely masked irritation. She could see the decision forming in his mind, the way his fingers tensed against the door, ready to slam it shut.

She couldn't let that happen.

"I know you have no reason to trust me," she said quickly.

Damon raised an eyebrow, arms crossing over his chest. "Then why are you here?"

Skye swallowed, clasping her hands together.

"I left."

He stared at her blankly. "You left? Where?"

She looked away, bracing herself. "Home. Klaus and Rebekah."

Damon's expression shifted, surprise flashing across his face. She almost laughed. Would've, if she weren't on the verge of breaking.

He looked like he wanted to ask why, but instead, he said, "And what does that have to do with me?"

Skye bit her lip. "I need somewhere to stay."

This time, he did laugh. Loud and sharp, like the idea was absurd.

"You want to stay here?" He pointed to himself mockingly. "You'll probably kill us in our sleep. You're right—I don't trust you."

He moved to shut the door, but her hand shot out, gripping the edge.

Damon sighed, rolling his eyes.

"I have nowhere else to go, Damon. I'm alone. I have no reason to try and kill you."

Her voice was steady, but her chest ached.

"I've had plenty of chances," she added. "I never did."

The unspoken words hung heavy between them. She hadn't killed him after they slept together. She hadn't helped Rebekah punish him. She'd even given him her blood.