MOVED TO SACCHARYNES.

century   of   identity   kept   as            a   closely   guarded   secret,                  it   felt   strange   for   everything   to   be   out   in   the   open.            almost   like   a   weight   had   been   lifted.            it   was   still            dangerous,            however.         many   people   were   not   too   keen   on         ‘      his   kind      ’         being   around.               if   her   candid   curiosity   were   any   indication,            she   was   not   part   of   the   majority   who   felt   this   way.                  head   swivels   to   see   that   no         unwanted   ears         are   listening   in   on   them,               before   hand   is   raised   to   showcase   the   salvatore   ring   placed   on   his   finger.                  “               this   ring            is   how   i’m   able   to   walk   in   the   sunlight.            it   was   made   by   a   very   skillful   witch.            not   every   vampire   knows   about   it   or   has   one.         “   

form   holds   firm   in   place   as   she   draws   closer,         attempting   to   appear         unphased            by   the   close   proximity.            the   smell   of   her   and   the   sound   of   her   heartbeat   becoming   more   prominent.            if   damon   were   here,         he   would            attack   first   and   ask   questions   later.               that   wasn’t   the   way   to   go   about   this.      pleading   ignorance            might   not   be   the   best   course   of   action   either,         but   it’s   all   he’s   got   right   now.            “         i   don’t   know   what   you’re   talking   about.         “                  head   shakes   and   hands   move   to   pockets.            “      that’s   the   first   time   i’ve   ever   seen   anything   like   that.      “

pulsing   heart,               blood   rushing.                  this   is   all   mind   concentrates   on   as   she   finds   herself   ensnared   in   his   intense   gaze.               the   fun   is   in   the   hunt   and   ecstasy   is   in   the   kill.            predator   creeps   forward,            slow   steps,         dragging   it   out.         she   will   believe   that   she   can   get   away,            but   it’s   all   part   of            the   game.                  words   spoken   rush   past   ears.            the   sound   of         heartbeat   spiking         taking   precedent.            dark   circles   begin   to   form   along   outer   rims   of   eyes,            veins   dancing   underneath   flesh,         and      fangs   poking   out   from   gums.            no   response   has   been   uttered   yet   but         the   threat         is   clear.               all   their   history,         any   relationship   formed   in   past   months,         forgotten.               animalistic   hunger            has   erased   the   man   he   once   was.            “            now   that   all   depends   on   your   point   of   view.         “               another   step   forward,         this   one   larger   than   the   rest.            “            from   where   i’m   standing,            it’ll   be         hilarious            when   i   rip   out   your   throat.            if   i   were   you   ...         i’d   start            running.            i’ll      even   give   you   a   head   start.      go   on.         “

many   would   claim   that   where         strength         is   concerned,         he   holds   authority   over   her.            perhaps   that   was   true   in         a   physical   sense         but   where   everything   else   was   involved,            her   strength   certainly   outshined   his   own.            hunger   quiets   as   gentle   touch         soothes.            love   and   emotion   felt   for   the   woman   before   him   was   stronger   and   more   stubborn   than   the   beast   within.         sigh   falls,         head   hanging   for   a   moment,               “         yes,         it   does.         a   little   bit   each   day   is   all   i   need.         “               he   prays   it’ll   be   enough.               there   have   certainly   been   changes.            muscles   feel   as   if   they   have   more   power   behind   them,            hearing   has   improved,               and   reflexes   are   quicker.      this         is         working.            a   hand   is   gently   placed   against   her   injured   one.               “            ok      ...         we’ll   keep   going,         but   if   i   ever   take   a   drop   too   much   or   hurt   you,               we’ll   stop.            i   promise.         “                     reassurance   is   all   he   can   provide.         it   does   little   to   aid   his   own   worries,            but   if   she   has   any,         hopefully   it’ll   help   hers.                     “         thank   you.         “                  a   soft   smile   breaks   furrowed   brow.            the   hand   that   is   within   grasp   is   raised   to   lips   so   that   they   can   press   once   more   against   the   injured   palm,            this   time   without   fangs   to   accompany   them.   

concern         will   never   leave   for   those   he   cares   about.            problems   will   arise   and   he   will   be   the   one   to   swoop   in   and   try   to   fix   them,               even   if   they   do   not   concern   him   at   all.            this   is   how   it   has   always   been.            immortality   just   emphasized   it.            “         you   looked   out   for   me   all   those   years,            i’m   just   repaying   the   favor.         “                  shoulders   shrug   and   smile   widens   at   the   sound   of   her   laugh.            “         oh,      i   have   all   the         faith         in   you.      “               affectionate   squeeze   is   returned,         before   eyes   roll   fondly   at   next   statement.         it   only   took   her   about         five   minutes         to   turn   it   back   on   him.            “         what   do   you   mean?               i’m   having   loads   of   fun         babysitting         my   brother   and   keeping   mystic   falls   from   imploding   on   itself.      “   

twelve :     my    muse    helping    your    muse    clean    blood    off    of    them .              /    @gilbertgirl .

broken   promises   from   katherine   pierce.            that   was   nothing   new,         but   at   least   it   could   provide   some   semblance   of         comfort         in   this   situation.         no   one   being   should   be   that   powerful.            who   knew   what   would   be   created   if   clara   were   to   actually   turn?            the   unknown   was   too   dangerous.               “            insult   me   all   you   want.            it   isn’t   going   to   make   me   change   my   mind.         “               worst   words   have   caused   wounds   that   will   never   really   heal.         she   doesn’t   even   scratch   the   surface.            “         i   wouldn’t   hold   your   breath   waiting   for   katherine   to   return.            she’s   going   to   come   and   go   whenever   she   wants.            you   could   be   waiting   for            a   year   or   a   whole   lifetime.                  katherine   only   cares   about   what   she   wants,      when   she   wants   it.      “            it   was   the            harsh   truth            of   the   nature   of   past   lover.            something   that   he   had   almost   always   known,         something   that   damon   had   taken   longer   to   grasp.               “      whether   you   realize   it   or   not,      i         am         being   a   friend   to   you.            you   don’t   really   want   this.         “

a   breathless   laugh   falls   ,                  despite   pain   in   shoulder   from   slowly   healing   wound.                  “         i   guess   not.      it   looks   like   you’ll   have   to   be         glued            to   my   side   from   now   on.         “            

empathy   comes   naturally   ,               like   breathing.                  he   sees   another   in   pain   and   feels   it   for   them   tenfold.            it   did   not   matter   how   intimately   they   knew   each   other   or   not.            no   one   would   be   abandoned   in   their   time   of   need.         expression   is   gentle,         understanding.            he   knew   what   it   was   like   to   make   a   mistake                                       to   lose   control         and   feel   the   heavy   burden   of   guilt.               “            it’s   going   to   be   ok.         we’re   going   to   figure   this   out,               both   of   us.                  you’re   not   alone   here,      ok?         i’m   not   going   anywhere.         “               isolation         was   the   worst   type   of   medicine   in   a   situation   like   this.         a   cautious   hand   reaches   to   provide   comforting   touch   to   shoulder.               “         no   matter   what   happened,         i’ve   seen      ...                              done   worse.      “

an   accident   ,                  it   wasn’t   his   fault.                     a      fight   had   broken   out   inside   and   ended   up   with   a   person   injured.            their   cut   bleeding.            temptation   had   been   so   strong,               too   strong.            fingertips   pressed   against   the   cut   to   paint   pale   skin   with   crimson.            then   he   moved   away   from   them,         outside   and   into   the   shadows,            trying   to   concentrate   on   anything   but   the   pounding   in   his   ears   and   the   scratch   at   the   back   of   his   throat.            he   had   not   even   noticed   the   stranger   beside   him,         barely   even   hearing   the   question   posed.                  “      n-no,         i   don’t.      “               shoulder   presses   against   the   nearest   wall   as   breathing   becomes            shallow.                  he   needed   to   pull   himself   together   or   else   expose   what   needed   to   stay   hidden.