Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Vampire Diaries characters. This is a work of fiction. All rights go to them except for the characters that I make. If your younger than 18 years of age, please leave this isn't for your eyes. To the rest please enjoy.
*Feel free to email me with thoughts or questions...I don't mind constructive criticism, but I will not tolerate rudeness...so when you're writing your message think carefully about what you say.
Chapter 3: Incoming Threat
Early the next morning was strange to say the least. I realized what Damon and I did, but I wasn't sure how to feel about it. I slipped out from his embrace and went to the window, lifted the curtain and looked outside to see the sun hadn't quite made its appearance. The sky was a deep violet with an orange line on the horizon. I decided to get home before anyone would notice a large cat running around the streets of Mystic Falls. On Damon's desk there were a few sheets of stationary, it took me a few moments to find a pen, but when I did I found it slightly difficult to figure out what to write. After some deliberation I made my note short, sweet and to the point.
Damon,
Thank you for last night, I had a lot of fun.
Sincerely,
Antony
I placed the note on the pillow next to the sleeping angel. It was sort of a terrifying thought, that in sleep he looks so peaceful, but that was the face of a killer. I wonder if I look the same when I sleep. I crept out of the room and down the hall, all the while guiding my body into the change. When I got into the living room, I spotted Stefan, sitting on the couch watching television,
"Oh good morning Antony, you on your way out."
(Yes Stefan and good morning to you.)
(You can transfer thoughts, you are just full of surprises.)
I lifted my head in a form of a nod,
(Damon's asleep, I should go, have a good day.)
(Oh okay, you too. Before you go Antony, I need to tell you something. My brother at times can be insufferable, but I know he really likes you.)
(I like him too.)
I strolled out of the house, with the help of Stefan, who was a gentleman and opened the door for me. I tapped him with my tail as I ran off into the mid morning. When I got to my window, I made the leap inside, feeling the cool air hit my body as I transformed back into my human state. There was a knock at my door, so I quickly grabbed my robe and tied it. As I opened the squealing door I saw the smiling face of Mrs. Reeves
"Good morning sweety, would you like something to eat?"
"Morning, yes I'll follow you down to the kitchen."
While we walked side by side, she was telling me how I looked happier than when I first arrived. I nodded, thinking about how much things have changed in the past months. When we got to the kitchen there was a large selection of fruit that caught my eye.
"I think today I'll just have some pineapple, sliced pears and a few orange quarters."
"Are you sure you wouldn't like any protein, a growing boy like you should have some protein. How about some vanilla yogurt?"
"Actually that sounds great."
I ate in silence while staring out the window, thinking about Damon. I would like to be with him, yet for some reason my inner self warns me to be cautious. The darkness of his spirit is what attracts me the most. It's not that I'm a glutton for punishment, but the stereotypical good guy never interested me, mainly because he doesn't exist.
I finished up my breakfast and decided to go to work early, since I didn't have anything else to do. I got dressed and made my way towards the library. The day was overcast, slightly cold, but comfortable. When I got to the library, Mrs. Lipkin smiled.
"Antony, I didn't expect you till 4."
"I didn't have anything else to do, and at least here I can feel productive."
"Sure, there's a stack of returns in the back."
I went past the book counter, into the back room and found the book cart, piled high with books from every genre. Thanks to Mrs. Lipkin they were arranged in order. It took me a few hours to get all of them back in their proper place. There were more that just arrived and a few new releases that needed coding and shelving. After I finished, it was the end of Mrs. Lipkin's shift. As she waved goodbye I sat down thinking about Damon, wondering what he was doing. Man if he is on my mind, that has to be some kind of warning sign that I really like him. Time dragged on, there were a few customers, but it was pretty quiet as usual.
I was minding my own business, in the back, when there was a tap on the counter. I peaked my head out and there was a man standing there, with a slight smile on his face. He had a nice completion, not tanning booth peach, but natural sunlight toned. When I walked up to him, I noticed his smile begin to fade, he now had a sort of frown painted across his face. There was something in his eyes that alerted me, he was not to be trusted. I noticed the book he had in his hand, it was a collection of the strange events and murders that have occurred in the last 180 years. I knew it well, this was the book that I read, one of the main pieces of evidence, which to an educated mind would lead to the truth about who and what lived in this little town.
"I would like to re-check this out." The man said with the strangest of tones, somewhat husky like he was a smoker at one time.
"Sure no problem, may I have your library card."
As he handed the piece of plastic to me I noticed him inhale and then exhale with an expression of disgust. I slid his card into the reader and it gave me all his information.
Name: Alaric Saltzman
Address: 1400 S. Brookes Way
Phone Number: 243-341-3454
Recent Check-Outs: Mystic Falls Historical Archive Vol. 5 (X 4)
Re-Check Out: Available
I wondered what he was up to, he already had this book for the past year and a half. So I decided to do a little digging while pretending to access his file, I even played it off like the computer was frozen so I had to restart it, giving me more time inside his head.
I got through the clouds of his mind and was hit with complete darkness, them images of his wife, he believed that she was murdered by a vampire and that it was none other than Damon. I continued to search, he was a high school teacher by day, but a vampire hunter at night. He knew everything I knew, about the Salvatore brothers, where they live and who they were affiliated with. I could even hear some of his thoughts,
(Man this faggots getting pounded by one of them, how fucking sick is that. Does he know, does he know that he's getting fucked by a dead man. Well he'll be dead tonight, they all will, as soon as this piece of shit gives me the book.)
Images of explosives lined with wooden stakes filled his mind. His plan was to border the outside of the Salvatore house with them. They were going to be connected to a hand held detonator. The more I searched, the more furious I became, but I couldn't let him see it. I closed up his mind and logged back into the library mainframe. With the sweetest tone I could manage I told a well oiled lie.
"Oh I'm terribly sorry Mr....Saltzman, but that book has a hold on it. Apparently someone wants to check it out. I'm afraid I can't give it back to you."
He huffed, "I can smell him on you."
"Excuse me."
He looked pissed off beyond belief, but turned and stormed off out of the library without another word. When he was gone and out of sight I searched through the library card members, finally coming to Stefan. I needed the phone number. When I called it took a few rings before Stefan's voice answered.
"Hello."
"Stefan this is Antony, I need you and Damon to come to the library immediately."
"Is everything okay?"
"No."
That was all I said before I hung up. It took them a little longer than I hoped, but when they both entered I asked them to follow me into the back room. There was a sense of awkwardness between Damon and myself, but I couldn't focus on that right now. When I made sure there was no one in ear shot I turned, with the smallest expression of panic on my face.
"Who is Alaric Saltzman?"
They both exchanged questionable glances before Stefan spoke,
"He's the history teacher at the high school, why?"
"No, what are you not telling me?"
There was a long uncomfortable silence, but it was Damon who spoke up this time.
"He is under the impression that I killed his wife."
"And did you?", I regretted asking the question.
"No I didn't." He was clearly upset that I asked.
"Well he believes it more than ever. He came in trying to check out this book" I handed over the archive.
"This book is how I found out about the two of you, and he knows, he knows everything. I saw in his mind what he has planned. He's going to try and kill you and possibly me. He has a very dark mind, among other cheery things he said that he could smell Damon on me."
This brought a smile to Damon's face, I couldn't help but smirk as well.
"What else did he say?", Damon was starting to get irritated.
"Well after calling me a faggot, he proceeded to ask how could I let myself get fucked by a dead man. Then images of explosives flashed, he's definitely going to use some sort of homemade bomb. Please both of you be on your guard, I would hate to loose you both....I mean I would hate to see something bad happen to either of you."
"Thank you for the information." Stefan said.
"Okay, I'm almost done here, when I close up you want to meet for coffee. We can figure out how to deal with this, so no one gets hurt and hidden truths remain as such."
"That would be great."
As they both turned to leave, Damon stopped at the back room doorway. He told Stefan he'd catch up. When he was out of sight, Damon turned,
"So are we okay?"
"I believe so, I've just never had emotions like these, their foreign to me. All I do know is I like you, I like you very much."
"I like you too. I've only had feelings like this for one other. I'm hear if you want to talk."
"Okay, we can after we catch Saltzman and stop him. By the way, I didn't mean to offend you when I asked if you killed his wife."
"Don't worry about it."
He went to leave, but suddenly stopped and turned once more. He blurred for a second before he was right in front of me. The kiss came with a rush of heat, almost making me loose my balance, which isn't something that normally happens. He wrapped his strong arms around me, I couldn't help but do the same. When we pulled away, I didn't get a chance to say anything, and truthfully nothing needed to be said. That was how we left it, he went to join Stefan and I went to finish my shift.
As closing time came around, I realized there was no one in the place, so closing up was pretty quick. After locking up I made my way to the cafe as quickly as possible. When I got in, I expected to see the brothers, but the place was empty, apart from the waitress and cook. She came around,
"Hello, would you like your usual?"
"Actually I was wondering did my friend and his brother come in tonight?"
"No...I havn't seen them."
"Okay thank you."
I turned to leave, this left a unsavory taste in my mouth. I was beginning to wonder if Saltzman got them already. The thought of getting to their place and finding their remains filled me with anguish, but that was soon overshadowed by rage. I ran as fast as I could to the Salvatore house. When I got there, lights were on. I went to the front door, opened it, and shouted for Damon and Stefan. When they both rounded the corner, I felt a sigh of relief escape my lungs. Before I spoke there was a humming noise, like the vibration of a cell phone.
"Do you hear that...it sounds lik..."
That was all I could say before the explosion. It hit at random knocking me on my ass. The ringing in my head was what I felt first. I looked over and saw both brothers crouched down, covered in debris, but uninjured. When I went to stand up I saw Damon looking at me in horror. It was then that I began to feel several uncomfortable sensations across my abdomen and down my legs. When I looked down I saw the cause for the look on Damon's face and the uncomfortable sensations. Sticking out of my flesh were eight 12-in stakes. The pain came finally, it came in waves, matching the beating of my heart. I began to struggle to breathe, blood came out of my mouth, falling down my chin. With shaking hands I tried to free myself from the pieces of wood. I managed to pull one out before falling on my side.
I screamed in pain as Damon and Stefan carried me to the kitchen table. Stefan looked into my eyes,
"Antony this is going to hurt, but we have to remove the stakes."
I nodded my head, feeling my eyes fill with tears.
The first one was the hardest, then the second Damon had to twist, for it to be removed. I chocked on more blood. The pain continued,
"Alight last one."
I could feel it, it was stuck in my left kidney. The other holes were healed over, but were still really torn up on the inside. Before Damon got a chance to pull out the stake, I watched as Saltzman burst through the door with a shotgun, armed with more stakes, in hand. He fired the first shot into Stefan's belly, and then one at Damon, hitting him in the shoulder. They both fell back, but were still facing him.
"It figures Damon, you coward, you would let a human take the fall for you. That's what you do best, isn't it. Well I'm sure the faggot had it coming anyway."
"Shut up Alaric, for the last time I didn't murder your wife."
"You're a liar."
His deep yell reverberated though the broken room. I glanced over watching Saltzman walk towards me. I could feel my body healing, I needed to disarm him as quickly and as safely as possible. He put his hand on my forehead,
"I want you to know I never wanted to involve you. Die in some sort of peace, because where your going, there will be none."
I closed my eyes, pretending to die. I coughed, forcing more blood out of my mouth. I could hear Damon's voice,
"It isn't possible."
It broke my heart, deceiving him like this, but it was for the best outcome. After not moving for a few moments, I sent out a message to both Stefan and Damon.
(I'm fine, play along.)
Damon spoke out, "You fucking murderer, I'm going to rip out your beating heart. I'm going to slit you throat and watch you bleed."
Stefan spoke next, "You think you're going to be safe, you think you're going to make it out of here unharmed. You'll run like always, we'll find you, and when we do...you're dead."
"Please the two of you are the one's that are fucking dead. Just like this little fag..."
That was all I could take. In a flash I was up off the table, with my arm around his throat. I grabbed the gun out of his hand, and slammed it across the table, shattering it in two. I spun him around so that we were face to face. My eyes twitched as they changed.
"What was it that you said to Damon, you would let a human take the fall for you. Well as you can see I'm anything but human."
At this I ripped out the last stake that was still embedded in me. I lifted him off the ground and slammed him against the wall. He had a odd expression, like he was confused, but sort of understood what was going on. He was about to speak again, but I silenced him as I plunged the stake into his arm and into the wall. As I released my hold, he slid down a fraction, but his arm was still slightly elevated. He wasn't going anywhere.
"What the fuck are you?"
"I saw in your mind, you're a hunter. You know my parents were killed by hunters...hunters just like you." As I spoke, my voice was fueled with seething anger. Tears began to run down my face. I lifted my hand and saw his face go cold as he saw the claws come out. The tone in my voice was deep,
"I think it only fare that I rid this world of one less miserable hunter."
As I held my clawed arm back, ready for the strike, Damon stopped me with his voice.
"Antony, this isn't the way."
Stefan came up on my right side,
"Antony, he's sick, he needs to be put away. If you kill him, you are no better."
"He deserves no better."
I glared at Saltzman, who was beginning to feel the effects of the blood loss, "it's humans like you that make me despise your race. You don't deserve to live."
I retracted my claws and pulled out the stake. As I turned to leave I heard him speak.
"Chicken shit."
I turned back,
"If I were you, I'd pray that we don't ever see each other again."
With this I transformed into my other self and ran out the door. When I got to my house, I could feel the anger built up inside me, but all I could do was cry. I leapt into my room and went into the bathroom. I slowly transitioned and gazed into the mirror. My eyes were swollen, and I was covered in dried blood. There were a few quiet moments before I couldn't stand to look at my reflection any longer. I started to run a bath for myself, feeling my body sore and in spots the skin was a deep pink. A glass of blood or some meat would fix that.
When the tub finished filling, I got in and began to cry again. The thought of my parents being killed by a heartless hunter, just upset me more. After an hour or so I got out and grabbed my robe. The sounds of little rocks hitting my window brought me out of my current frame of mind. I slid up the window and peered out to see the faces of Salvatore brothers. Mrs. Reeves had gone home so I was alone. I went downstairs and opened the front door. They both looked a little uneasy, what we'd been through I understood, but after a few moments they still remained at my doorstep.
"What is it?"
"We can't come in without an invite." Stefan said.
"Oh I'm sorry of course, you both can come in."
I turned to flip on a few lamps as they entered and closed the door. I sat down on my couch, Damon sat next to me, while Stefan sat across from us. He spoke first,
"We want to thank you for what you did and we want you to know that Alaric is taken care of..We took him to the sanatorium a few towns away, but we also erased his mind of every thought and image of any of us. "
"That's good to hear and don't worry about it. I was glad to help, didn't expect to take eight stakes in the chest for it, but I'm glad I could help."
"We were wondering something, is it true what your said about your parents?"
"Yes."
"We're both really sorry."
"Please don't worry about it."
We remained silent for some time.
"Damon I'm going to go check on Elena, I'll see you both later. Thank you again Antony." Stefan said.
"Not a problem."
When he stood up, I got up with him as well and went to shake his hand,
"Hey you bled for us, were brothers in my book, give me a hug."
So I did. I led him out and after closing the door, I turned to face Damon. He looked upset,
"Are you mad at me?"
"Never, I will admit I was worried when you first closed your eyes on the table, and then when I thought you were going to behead Saltzman."
"When I looked at him, all I saw was my parents killer. I want to thank you for talking me out of it."
"I won't lie, it would've felt good at first, but then you would've had it hanging over your head forever. Every kill I've made, I remember, and at times it drives me a little crazy."
"I understand."
We walked up stairs into my room and laid down together. I had my head on his strong chest as he ran his fingers through my hair.
"You didn't grieve for your parents did you?" His question startled me.
"Not really, I've tried to take care of it little bit by little bit. How did you know?"
"Because I tried the same thing, it upset me for the first sixty to seventy years. You have to let it go, cry, scream, hit, do whatever you have to, but you have to let it go. I'm here and I won't leave you."
It was right at that moment that I felt all the sadness, the tears, the loneliness, the fear, every emotion I had leaked out. I sat there with my head on his chest crying. It was a few hours before I started to calm down.
"How do you feel?"
"I still miss them, but I don't feel so sad or alone anymore. It will just take time, but thank you for being there for me."
"That's my job."
We laid there for some time, when I looked over at my alarm clock it read 4:23am.
His voice scared me,
"Are you alright."
"Yeah, I'm a little hungry."
"Let's go get something to eat."
"Thanks but I wasn't referring to food."
He looked down at me and as I opened my mind to him he caught the image of him and me together in bed.