Fifty Shades Of Dark - Damon Salvatore Read online

  "Elena, I can't." He whispered and turned away.

  "Why not?" She breathed grabbing his arm and forcing him to turn around.

  It was like he was trying to hide something from her. She wanted to know. She wanted to see his face. As he did turn around, his blue eyes met hers and he was serious. "Because you're drunk. Please, go inside and sleep. I promise I will see you again soon."

  "But," Elena tried to fight him, but he wouldn't let her. He picked up her hand and kissed it lightly. His lips pressed against her skin and she wished they were upon her own lips.

  "Goodnight, Elena." He whispered and gave her one last smile.

  As he walked back to her car, the madness she had felt for him and the frustration was diminishing. She wanted to call out to him and ask him to stay, but she knew he wouldn't. He was in a rush to leave and she wasn't sure why. She would find out more about him. She would learn to understand him. She was just going to have to try.

  The doorbell chimed loudly awaking Elena from her drunken sleep. The clock on her nightstand read 3:30 a.m. Who could possibly be at the door this late at night? She panicked hoping it wasn't some psycho waiting for her to answer the door on the other side. An idea sprung to her mind and she quickly ran to her brother, Jeremy's old room. A baseball bat was buried under his bed as she recalled and she grabbed it. Slowly, she tip toed down the stairs and to the front door. Her heart was racing and she was glad she had sobered up a bit.

  It was dark and eerie approaching her door like this. She prayed it was just some kids playing a prank on her and when she would open the door there would be no one there. But she had a feeling that wasn't the case. Elena touched the doorknob shaking knowing within seconds she was about to face her fear.

  One, two, three! She opened the door and held the bat as if she were about to swing it. A crying Caroline was hunched over clutching her neck.

  "Caroline!" Elena yelled and was confused to why she was ringing the doorbell and not using her keys.

  "Elena, help." She cried and tumbled forward. The moonlight shined down on the front step and she could see blood staining her clothes.

  "Oh my god, Caroline!" She caught her before she crashed to the ground. Something had bitten her in the neck. Something had attacked her.

  Looking up at her, Caroline shut her eyes and Elena shook her. This couldn't be happening. She was not going to let Caroline bleed to death in front of her. She needed to get help.

  Chapter 12: Unmasked

  "Caroline, tell me what attacked you." Elena slowly spoke at her bedside that resided in a small cramped hospital room.

  Hours after arriving at the hospital with Caroline, she was finally allowed to visit her. The doctor had said she lost a lot of blood, but would recover. She was going to have to stay in the hospital for another day to make sure they could observe her vitals before considering her release.

  Elena hated hospitals. The smell, the white bland walls, and the constant fear of death lurking around every corner, she was putting on a brave face for Caroline. The last time she had been in one was when she had survived the accident that killed both her parents. She resisted the flashbacks that gave flooding into her mind.

  "I don't know," her voice was weak and she was pale. Caroline shook her head and fear was captivated in her eyes. "Bob was walking me home from the grill. We were about a block over from Manor Road when suddenly he just disappeared. I was alone and drunk and I thought he was messing with me. Then I heard this strange noise."

  "What kind of noise?" She asked.

  "I don't know how to explain it, all I know is I knew something wasn't right." Caroline explained to her reliving her horrible night. "So I ran. Something was following me, watching me and then it attacked. I never got a look at what it was, but it bit my neck I remember.

  A white piece of gauze was tapped to the right side of her neck where Caroline had said she was wounded. It made her queasy thinking about seeing the blood rush out her like that when she found her at their doorstep.

  "It had to be an animal Elena. What else would have attacked me?" She shook her head and tears welled up in her eyes.

  Elena grabbed her wrist and tried to calm her. "I don't know Caroline. I'm just glad you're okay."

  "Elena, I was so scared. When I woke up on the ground I ran as fast I could home." Her voice shook. "And whatever attacked me, I'm pretty sure it killed Bob."

  "Caroline, you need to relax." She told her and Caroline immediately breathed deeply to prevent herself from causing any further damage. "Whatever it is the police are looking for it. Okay? I'm gonna go home and get some of your stuff since you're going to be here for awhile."

  "Thank you, Elena." Caroline said grabbing her hand.

  She squeezed it and Caroline closed her eyes to rest. Once she was outside the perimeters of the room, she walked fast. The sooner she was out of the hospital, the sooner she would be able to breathe. Reaching for her phone, her hand was met with air. She frantically searched her pockets for her phone, but they were all empty.

  Maybe it was in her car, she thought, but as she searched everywhere inside of it the phone was nowhere to be found. She must have either left it at the house or otherwise the night had taken it. It could be anywhere, the grill, the street, or in Damon's car. Part of her hoped if it wasn't at home it was in his car, which meant she would see him again. Not getting her hopes up, she drove home in her soon to be junkyard car. As she turned the corner and old Chevy Camaro was parked outside her house. She slowed as got closer unsure of who was at her house. Pulling into her driveway, she shut the car off. Someone was standing at her doorstep.

  After last night, Elena was on edge. She got out of the car quietly and walked over to her front door cautiously. As she got closer she realized it was a man, it was Damon.

  "Damon?" She said aloud and felt herself relax.

  "Elena." He responded controlling the wild look that was in his eyes. "I stopped by because I found this in my car."

  He handed her phone to her and another wave of relief came over her. It had fallen out of her pocket in his car just like she had secretly hoped. Elena regained herself and thanked him for finding it. Damon has dressed more casual then usual. He had on dark jeans, a faded blue shirt, and a rugged leather jacket. He looked irresistible.

  "Are you okay?" He asked as she fumbled for her house keys.

  "It's Caroline." She shook her head and unlocked the door. "Something attacked her last night. I found her in the middle of the night out here."

  "Does she know what attacked her?" Damon pushed her for more information.

  "Um, I don't know. She thinks it was an animal and she thinks it killed Bob." Elena shrugged her shoulders and glanced at him.

  Something glimmered in his eye as if he knew something. Elena wanted to ask, but she knew better than too. He would only push her away. Fatigue was swarming her body and she too needed to rest.

  "Look Damon thank you for my phone," she said and pushed her hair out her face.

  Her eyes flickered to the Chevy Camaro on the street. Getting distracted, she glanced back at him and that smirk was back. She wanted to kiss that sexy smirk off his face. Fatigue or no fatigue she still found the energy for him. He had come all this way to give her phone back she felt it was necessary to at least offer him to stay for a while. Elena pushed the door open and stepped inside. Damon's eyes scanned the threshold and he took a step closer.

  She paused debating if she really wanted to invite him. The thought of something out there attacking the people of Mystic Falls haunted her and she was afraid to be alone. She worried that whatever it was could get her. However, inviting Damon into her home was sudden. They barely knew one another in some senses, but she didn't want to seem desperate once again. As much as she longed for him and forgot about all his strange habits, she couldn't help herself. He had some spell over her.

  Damon continued to look stuck as he waited patiently outside her doorway.

  "Would you like to come in?"
Elena asked holding the door open.

  His grin multiplied and his eyes were on fire. "I would love to."

  He hovered his foot almost cautiously as he stepped into her house and Elena closed the door behind him.

  "What kind of animal would do that to someone?" She was still boggled by Caroline's attack.

  "You have a lovely home, Elena." Damon spoke changing the topic. He was probably attempting to get her mind off things and she smiled at him appreciating his gesture.

  They sat at the kitchen table and she passed him a glass of water. She was still curious to know what he preferred to drink after their talk in the grill. He was so distant about something so little. Why couldn't she know? And whatever it was that he so strongly desired to drink, he wanted her to try. She was beginning to realize something was very different about him. He was filled with questions and secrets. His bad boy persona was radiating everywhere he went and yet, he could turn it off instantly. He would have to considering he was a businessman. She was sure he could charm the pants off anyone, even her, literally.

  "Thank you." She accepted his compliment. "It's been passed down through the Gilbert generations."

  "So your ancestors lived here?" He asked taking in what he could over the kitchen area.

  "Yes."

  "Is it haunted?" Damon peered at her suggesting a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

  "I don't believe in ghosts even if there were ones roaming around this place." Elena laughed. "All those supernatural legends are made up."

  "Well, legends have to come from somewhere." He seemed intrigued by the direction their conversation was going. "They just can't come from nothing."

  "So you're saying that all those monster movies were actually real at one point?" She folded her arms on the table. He was wrapped up in this whole notion of legends and supernatural beings. She was learning more about him and now she too was intrigued.

  "At one point, but of course we always over dramatize everything to create a buzz." He nodded his head and smirked.

  "You're very strange Mr. Salvatore," she cracked a smile back him and licked her lips.

  Pulling her hair back into a low ponytail, Elena hunched over the table. Damon tensed as she did so and she tried to not to react to it. "Leave your hair down. I like it better that way." Damon bluntly stated. Shocked by his statement, Elena found herself tugging the ponytail holder out of her and let it fall loosely around her shoulders.

  "Better." Pleasure filled is voice and he stood up. He approached her slowly.

  "What are you doing?" She asked feeling uneasy, but very attracted to him at the same time.

  "You're very sexy Elena." He exhaled and his eyes were focusing in upon her. She felt her heart racing and she was squirming in her chair. He was so unpredictable. She wasn't sure what move he was going to make next.

  Damon reached down and grabbed her hand. She rose from her seat feeling as if she was in a trance and he placed either hand on the side of her face. His defined jaw line was stiff and she wanted to unhinge it. As he grew closer, she didn't care how blunt he was toward her. She didn't care that something dark was luring around the outer ridges of his orb. He was lusting for just like he had in the bathroom and she was ready for him to sweep her off her feet.

  "Elena, I told you I'm not the man you think I am." He murmured and a low husky voice. "You should really stay away from me."

  "I can't. I don't want to." Elena whispered.

  "If you knew, you wouldn't be saying that." Damon gritted his teeth.

  "I don't care." He captivated her. Whatever he truly was, all she could see was a gorgeous and sexy man before her and she wanted him. His lips instantly met hers.

  The struggle to keep her hands off him was impossible. She peeled his leather jacket off his body and his hands slipped into her hair. The both of them were growing eager with every staggered breath they took between kisses. She felt Damon leading her toward the counter where he scooped her up and placed her so she could sit and she wrapped her legs around his waist. God was he sexy, Elena moaned as he ran his hand down her back and crept under her shirt. The exhilarating sensation pulsing through her body was even better than before. He was fast and controlling every move he had with her. She wanted to laugh at the thought of him being in control. It was his sort of thing, but she resisted. Lost in the moment that was Damon Salvatore, she let him take control of her. She didn't care.

  He yanked her head back letting his soft lips glide across her flawless skin of her chin and down to her throat. Wet and wild his lips were roaming every sensitive spot of her neck and she squeezed her legs tighter around him. It felt unbelievably good.

  Damon breathed heavily upon her neck with his hot breath taunting her for more. Why was he stopping again? Why was it every time he got near her neck something halted his actions?

  Without saying anything, he grunted and pulled away. He didn't face her like last time. She reached out to him and he snarled at her. "Don't!"

  "I don't understand." Elena hopped down from the counter and Damon refused to let her see his face.

  "Elena, I told you that you should just stay away and yet you don't." His heavy breathing was continuous. It was like he was trying to fight something off. Some urge that was controlling him and she had no idea what was wrong.

  Clearly, her attempts to understand were always going to be shot down. She just wanted to know what made him tick. Something was eating him up inside when it came to her and she felt like she had the right to know. As she tried to get him to face her again her eyes darted to his reflection on the stove. Instantly, fear constricted her. His eyes were dark and wrinkled. Two sharp fangs protruded from his mouth and he hung his mouth open. The contortion of his face was unreal. It was like a mask that was almost too real. Suddenly, she backed away from him. As she pushed her back into the counter, her hand swiped a plate off the counter sending it crashing to the floor. Damon noticed his ungodly reflection in the stove and spun around still displaying his true form.

  "What are you?"

  Chapter 13: Predator In Disguise

  He resembled something straight out of a horror film. His eyes were bloodshot red with dark lines wrinkling around them pulsing with blood or whatever ran through his veins. A faint hissing sound escaped his unlocked jaw and a pair of pearly white razor sharp teeth pointed down ready to sink into anything it desired. What appeared before her wasn't real. No one could transform into a monstrous creature like that? It wasn't possible, but as Damon breathed deeply and stared at her with a wild look she knew that it was. The sort of fear bubbling inside of her was too real for it to be her imagination. Damon was right. He wasn't the man who she thought he was. Was he even a man at all?

  "What are you?" She shouted again backing away.

  With his persistent need for control, his eyes filtered back to normal and the two fangs retracted back into his mouth. He appeared to be the normal Damon she had met, but as she had just learned he wasn't close to normal. "Elena, please let me explain."

  "Tell me what you are." Elena demanded.

  "I think you already know the answer to that," he replied in a sinister tone.

  Elena could not bear to answer him. If she said it, then it would be true. Things like this didn't exist. Not in her world. Not now. Not ever.

  "I'm not going to hurt you, Elena." Damon assured her letting the slightest hint of his devilish smile breakthrough.

  Even in the moment of panic and fear his smile could still tug at her heart and those beautiful blue eyes burned through her soul. This is what scared her more than anything. Despite is hideous transformation the attraction of wanting him in more way than one was still there. Her mind was rapid with conflicting thoughts. Should she run? Should she scream? Should let him explain? Or should she prepare herself to see the final minutes of her life? He was predator in disguise.

  "Say something," he requested of her.

  Her voice shook. "I don't know what to say. I don't know what to think."

/>   "I'm a vampire." He admitted and she flinched at his confession. "I know this is more than you can handle and this was not the way I planned on revealing it to you."

  "You were planning on showing me you were a…." Elena shouted, but could not finish her sentence because the thought still bothered her of announcing what he really was.

  "Yes," Damon said frustrated. "I told you I'm fond of you."

  "Well, you have a weird way of showing it." She said still not sure why she was even giving him any room to explain himself.