𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆: 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐲

...🌺...

𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓, 𝑀𝑌𝑆𝑇𝐼𝐶 𝐹𝐴𝐿𝐿𝑆

𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟗

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬.

The world tilted, my car upside down, and the seatbelt digging painfully into my shoulder. Blood trickled down my forehead, mingling with the sweat of panic. I struggled to unbuckle myself, but the clasp wouldn't budge.

The man I had hit lay motionless on the road. But then, with an audible crack, his bones clicked back into place. He stood up, his eyes locked onto mine with an unnatural intensity. My heart pounded, terror clawing at my chest. He moved towards me, each step deliberate and menacing.

A scream ripped from my throat. The man paused, his head snapping as if he heard something I couldn't. And then he vanished.

A name slipped from my lips, one that I had no reason to call out but fell from my mouth, nonetheless.

"Damon?" I breathed, my voice barely a whisper.

He was there in an instant, blue eyes piercing through the chaos. "You look stuck."

"I...I can't..." My voice broke, my throat tight with fear and pain.

"Shh, shh, shh. Let me get you out of there." His voice had a certain softness to it. "I want you to put your hands on the roof. Just like that. You ready? One, two, three."

With a swift motion, Damon ejected my seatbelt. I fell into his arms, his touch both cold and reassuring.

"I got you," he said.

He lifted me effortlessly, cradling me against his chest. "Are you okay? Can you stand? Is anything broken?"

I shook my head, the world spinning. "No."

My head lolled onto Damon's shoulder. I felt lightheaded, the adrenaline fading and leaving a dull, throbbing ache in its place. He set me down gently, but my legs gave out. Damon caught me before I hit the ground.

"Whoa, you're fading fast, Sunshine. Sunshine, look at me." His hands cupped my face, his eyes searching mine. "Focus. Look at me. Okay."

I blinked through the haze, locking onto his gaze. Concern etched across his features, different from his usual aloof demeanor. "Damon..."

"What?"

"Thank you."

My vision blurred, my strength ebbing away. Damon's arms tightened around me as my eyes rolled back. The last thing I heard was his soft voice, laced with something I couldn't quite place. "Upsy-daisy."

Darkness enveloped me, but I felt Damon's presence, his arms steady and strong as he carried me away.

...🌺...

I woke to the gentle hum of an engine and the uncomfortable jostling of movement. My head throbbed, the pain dull but insistent. I blinked, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The scent of leather and the sight of a sleek, dark interior caused my brows to furrow.

"Morning," Damon's voice drawled from the driver's seat.

"Where..." My voice was a raspy croak.

"Georgia," he replied nonchalantly.

"No, we're not," I snapped, the fog in my mind starting to clear.

"Seriously, we're...we're in Georgia. How ya feeling?" He glanced at me, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement.

I just gawked at him.

"There's no broken bones. I checked," he added, his tone almost mocking.

"My car...the man...I hit him. Who was he?" My voice trembled, memories of the accident flooding back.

"That's what I would like to know," he said, his tone having a bite to it.

I looked around, my panic rising. "Where's my phone?"

Damon didn't answer. His silence infuriated me.

"Damon." I sighed, running my fingers through my hair, wincing as I touched a tender spot. "Pull over, Damon. Now."

"Oh, you were so much more fun when you were asleep."

He rolled his eyes but complied, the car slowing to a stop by the side of the road.

I struggled to get out, my limbs shaky. Before I could collapse, Damon was there in a blur, his movement almost too fast to see as he caught me.

"Hey," he crouched down beside me, his presence both comforting and unsettling.

"I'm okay, Damon. But I need to go back." I pushed away from him, leaning against the car for support.

"Oh, come on. Look. We've already come this far..."

"You need to let me go, Damon." I crossed my arms, trying to stand firm despite my exhaustion. "This is technically called kidnapping, you know."

"That's a little melodramatic, don't you think?" He smirked, but I wasn't amused.

"I'm not going with you to Georgia."

"Well, you're in Georgia. I can very easily make you...agreeable."

I glared at him. "Witches can't be compelled, Damon."

He leaned in, his breath warm against my ear. "Whoever said anything about compelling you?"

A shiver raced down my spine as I met his intense gaze. Damon leaned closer, his presence overwhelming. My eyes flicked to his lips before locking back onto his eyes.

"Why are you doing this, Damon?" I demanded my frustration boiling over.

My cell phone rang, the sudden noise startling me.

"Damon, why do you have my phone?"

"Mmm. It's Elena. I'll take it." He grinned wickedly as he answered, "Selene's phone."

I tried to grab it from him, but he kept it just out of reach. "Selene? She's right here. And yes, she's fine." He handed me the phone, finally.

"Selene, are you okay?" Elena's voice was filled with worry.

"Yeah," I managed before Damon took the phone back.

"You have a good day. Mm-hmm. Bye now." He ended the call with a smirk, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Look, my mom and friends don't know where I am. Please, can we go back?" I pleaded, not caring that I was almost begging at this point.

"We're almost there."

"Where?"

"A little place right outside of Atlanta. Oh, come on, Selene. You don't wanna go back right now, do you? What's the rush? Time-out. Trust me. Your problems are still going to be there when you get home. Look. Step away from your life for five minutes. Five minutes!"

I searched his face for any hint of deceit. "Will I be safe with you?"

"Yes."

"Promise to be on your best behavior."

"Yes."

"Can I trust you, Damon?"

Something passed behind his eyes, a flicker of something almost...human. He opened the passenger side door. "Get in the car. Come on."

I hesitated, then climbed back in. Damon closed the door and walked around to the driver's side. As we drove off, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was stepping into something far bigger than I could handle. But for now, I had no choice but to trust him.

"Where's my car?" I asked after a long silence.

"I pulled it off to the side of the road. I don't think anyone will bother it."

"About the man...he was a..."

"From what I could tell, yeah," Damon confirmed.

"Do you know him?"

"If I've never met him, I wouldn't know him. I mean, it's not like we all hang out together at the Vamp Bar & Grill."

I rolled my eyes. "Smartass."

He chuckled, but the seriousness in his gaze contradicted his casual demeanor—a thousand questions on the tip of my tongue. But I let them go, focusing on the uncertain road ahead.

We drove in silence.

The road stretched ahead, each mile taking me further from the familiar and deeper into the unknown. My pulse quickened with a mix of fear and anticipation. In Damon's presence, danger felt almost like a promise.

...🌺...

We pulled up at a nondescript bar on the outskirts of town. The neon sign buzzed and flickered, casting a sickly, intermittent glow over the gravel parking lot. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and motor oil. I turned to Damon, my head throbbing with unanswered questions.

"Why are we here?" I asked, my voice edged with irritation.

"You'll find out," Damon said, with an infuriating smirk playing on his lips.

We exited the car, and I followed him into the bar. The inside was dimly lit and smelled of stale beer and old wood. A jukebox in the corner played a melancholy tune.

"No. No, it can't be. Damon. My honey pie." The voice came from behind the bar. A woman with brown skin and mid-back curly black hair rushed out, grabbing Damon's face and kissing him.

I turned away, trying desperately to ignore the sharp pang twisting in my gut from watching the woman grab Damon and kiss him. My breath hitched, and I clenched my fists, trying to smother the unwelcome surge of jealousy that burned through me.

Damon sauntered over to the bar, motioning for me to follow. The woman poured us shots, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia and mischief.

"Listen up, everybody!" she shouted, raising her glass. "Here's to the man that broke my heart, crushed my soul, destroyed my life, and ruined any and all chances of happiness!" She poured shots for everyone at the bar. "Drink up!"

Damon and she downed their shots, and she let out a whoop of exhilaration. She turned to me, a sly smile on her face. "I'm Bree. So, how'd he rope you in?"

She poured me a shot.

"More like dragged," I replied, accepting the glass.

"Either way, just enjoy the ride," Bree said with a wink, pouring more alcohol.

I eyed her curiously. "How did you guys meet?"

"College," Bree said, her smile turning nostalgic.

I raised an eyebrow, looking at Damon. "You went to college?"

"I've been on a college campus, yes," Damon said, a grin tugging at his lips.

"About twenty years ago, when I was a sweet, young freshman, I met this beautiful man, and I fell in love," Bree began, her eyes distant as she recalled the past. "And then he told me about his little secret, made me love him more. Because, you see, I had a little secret of my own that I was dying to share with somebody."

Damon leaned in and whispered, "She's a..."

"Witch," I finished for him, feeling that pull to her that always came when I was around other witches.

Bree's eyes sparkled with recognition. "I would expect nothing less from one of my own."

The weight of her words settled on me, but before I could respond, Bree continued. "Changed my world, you know."

Damon smirked. "I rocked your world."

Bree laughed, a sound full of both bitterness and fondness. "He is good in the sack, isn't he? But mostly, he's just a Walk-Away Joe." She turned to Damon, her tone shifting. "So, what is it that you want?"

...🌺...

The bar was alive with music and laughter, a symphony of clinking glasses and rowdy chatter. I stood between Damon and Bree, a shot glass in hand. The burn of the alcohol was a welcome distraction from the relentless tension that had been gnawing at me.

"Ready...go!" Bree yelled, and we all downed our shots. I slammed my empty glass on the counter, clapping my hands and doing a little victory dance.

"That was three!" I declared, glancing at Damon and feigning a pout. "Need a bib?"

"Sorry, I can't unhinge my jaw like a snake to consume alcohol," he retorted, rolling his eyes.

"Whatever," I muttered, looking around the bar. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a glimmer of normalcy, even if it was with Damon. "So, who's next?"

A woman nearby shook her head in disbelief. "Honey, you should be on the floor!"

"I'm not anywhere close to being drunk," I replied, my fingers pinched together to emphasize the point.

Bree grinned and poured another round.

I won again, my victorious cheer blending with the bar's lively noise. I pushed away from the counter, making my way to the pool table, my steps unsteady from the shots and excitement.

The room tilted slightly as I walked, a tipsy sway to my movements. Just as I reached the table, my phone rang, the sound sharp and jarring. I stumbled, nearly tripping over my own feet, and fumbled to retrieve it from my pocket. My fingers felt clumsy and slow as I finally managed to answer, pressing it to my ear amidst the bar's chaotic hum.

"Hello?" I answered, pressing the phone to my ear to hear the noise.

"Selene?" My mom's voice crackled through the line.

"Mama? Wait, a sec. It's loud in here." I moved toward the door, my steps shaky.

"Where are you? Are you okay?" Mom asked, her voice fraught with worry.

"Huh? Um, yeah. I'm fine. Everything's fine. Hold on, I can't hear you," I said, pushing through the door to the cool night air.

"It's not fine, Mija. Jenna and I can't find you," she said urgently.

I stumbled, falling and dropping my phone. I scrambled to pick it up. "Mama?"

Before I could get a response, a rough hand clamped over my mouth, silencing my scream. My phone slipped from my grasp, clattering uselessly to the pavement as my surroundings blurred into a dizzying whirl of colors and lights.

The air whooshed past me, my heart pounding in my ears, and I found myself pushed up against an electrical building in the blink of an eye. The harsh, metallic scent of the tank I clung to mingled with the cool night air, and the sudden silence was almost deafening, broken only by my ragged breathing.

"Don't move," a man growled before leaving me.

Warmth rushed against my skin, unwelcome. It overwhelmed me, and all I could do was gasped against the tightness in my chest. The lights above me in the parking lot burst, sending sparks raining down, and all I could do was wince. 

Not now.

Damon emerged from the bar a moment later, his gaze snapping to mine. Concern flashed in his piercing blue eyes.

"Damon," I called out, unable to help the waver in my voice.

The man moved from the shadows and gripped a baseball bat in his hand before moving in a blur. He hits Damon and I hear a crack as I stumble down the unsteady ladder. The man hits Damon again. And again.

"What the hell?!" Damon cried out in pain.

The man ignores him and grabbed a can and douses Damon in gasoline.

"Stop!" I screamed, running after them. The attacker turned, revealing his vampire teeth. I halted, my heart racing.

"Who are you?" Damon groaned from the ground.

"That's perfect! You have no idea," the man snarled.

"What did Damon do?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"He killed my girlfriend. What did she do to you, huh? What did she do to you?!" the man shouted, hitting Damon again.

"Nothing," Damon gasped.

"What?" I said, confusion and horror swirling within me.

"My girlfriend went to visit Stefan, and Damon killed her. Got it?" He swung the bat again.

"Ahhhhh," Damon cried out.

A sudden realization hit me. "Lexi? She told me about you. She turned you."

"Yes. If you want to be with someone forever, you have to live forever," he spat.

"She loved you. She told me that love conquered all for you guys," I said, taking a cautious step forward.

"Well, that's nice. But she's gone," he replied bitterly, lighting a match.

"Don't, please," I begged, stepping closer. "Just look at me. Please."

He turned to face me, the match flickering between us. "I'm doing you a favor."

"Please, just let him go. Be better than him."

For a moment, he hesitated, the flickering flame of the match casting shadows on his face. Then, with a resigned sigh, he blew out the match, plunging us back into darkness. He turned to Damon, effortlessly hoisting him up and hurling him against the building with a sickening thud before disappearing into the night.

I rushed to Damon's side, my heart pounding. "Damon."

He sat up slowly, wincing in pain. "Why did you save me?" he asked, his voice strained but laced with genuine curiosity.

I looked into his eyes, searching for the right words. His piercing blue gaze held a mix of pain and confusion, and I knew that if he died, a part of me would die with him. The weight of that realization settled heavily on my chest.

I reached out, helping him to his feet. Our eyes remained locked, something unspoken thing passing between us. It was getting harder and harder to ignore.

"Sunshine?" he murmured, a rare hint of vulnerability in his voice.

Without thinking, I rose to my tiptoes and wrapped my arms around him, pulling him into a crushing hug. His arms encircled me, holding me close, the warmth of his embrace contrasting sharply with the chilly night air.

"Because I couldn't let you die," I repeated, my voice trembling as the truth resonated deep within me.

...🌺...

Damon's car rolled to a stop outside Elena's house.

The streetlights cast long shadows across the lawn, making everything seem surreal and distorted. The quiet hum of the engine died, leaving silence. I turned to Damon, my mind swirling with questions, searching for answers in his unreadable expression.

"So, why did you bring me with you?" I asked, my voice laced with suspicion.

"You're not the worst company in the world, Sunshine," he smirked.

I narrowed my eyes. "Damon."

"You were there in the road, all damsel-in-distress-like. And I couldn't leave you there," he said, shrugging nonchalantly.

A small smile tugged at my lips despite myself. Without thinking, I leaned over the console and kissed him on the cheek. His skin was cool against my lips, and I lingered there for half a second before pulling back.

Damon's eyes widened slightly. "What was that for?"

I opened the car door, stepping out with a small smile still playing on my lips. "I'll see you later, Damon."

I didn't look back, but I could feel his gaze burning into my back as I walked toward the house. Just as I reached the porch, the door swung open. Elena, Jenna, and my mom all stood in the foyer. Elena looked furious, and I stepped inside.

"Elena?" I questioned, looking between them.

"Selene, they lied to us," Elena's voice trembled with anger.

"I don't understand," I said, confusion knotting in my stomach.

I turned to my mom, and she couldn't meet my gaze, neither could Jenna. The knot in my chest tightened.

"The reason I look like Katherine is that I'm adopted," Elena continued.

I froze, my heart pounding. "What?"

"Yeah."

"I don't understand..."

"Selene, we're sisters."

"Is it true?" My voice cracked, betraying the storm of emotions raging inside me.

Mom's brows furrowed in confusion. "Selene..."

"Is it true?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.

Mom went pale, her mouth closing tightly. She glanced at Jenna, who avoided meeting my gaze.

"You lied to me...to us." I said, my voice rising with a mix of hurt and betrayal.

"Mija," Mom began, reaching for me.

I pulled back, shaking my head. "No. I asked you if I had any family, and you lied to me. This entire time I had a sister, and you didn't tell me."

Mom nodded, her shoulders slumping in resignation. "I was going to tell you."

A tear slipped down my cheek. "When?"

"After your birthday," Mom admitted, her voice strained and weary.

I shook my head, feeling anger and betrayal crashing over me like a tidal wave. "Wow." She moved towards me, and I held up my hands, stopping her in her tracks. "I can't be around you right now."

"Mija." Mom called out.

But I ignored her and rushed past them, grabbing Elena's hand, taking the stairs two at a time. Mom and Jenna called after us, but I didn't stop. I slammed my bedroom door shut, leaning against it as sobs wracked my body. Elena pulled me into her arms and held me tight, feeling the weight of everything pressed down on me, suffocating and inescapable, leaving me drowning in a sea of confusion and pain.

Elena and I are sisters? 

...🌺...

𝐀/𝐍: ANOTHER UPDATE!!!

IT'S OFFICAL ACT ONE IS DONE!!!

I can't believe that we only have act two left until the rewrite is over. Anyway, there were a little more Damon and Selene moments in this chapter, and if you were here before the rewrite, then you know Damon and Selene don't really get together until act two. So, prepare for a lot of Damon and Selene in act two.

I hope you enjoy the update!!!

𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒: How are we feeling about the rewrite? What do you think about Selene and Elena being sisters? What are you looking forward to in the rest of this book?

-𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛𝑎 𝐵𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑘