𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆: 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐬

...🌑...

𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓, 𝑀𝑌𝑆𝑇𝐼𝐶 𝐹𝐴𝐿𝐿𝑆

𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟗

𝐈 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐫, 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲.

My head still buzzed with the whirlwind of last night's revelations and this morning's complications. As I zipped my bag, my mom walked into my room.

"Mom, I've got to go," I said, not meeting her eyes.

"I wanted to check on you," she replied softly, her voice tinged with concern. "I left you alone to mourn Shelia's death."

The mention of Grams hit me like a punch to the gut. I flinched, the sadness welling up in my chest. "I'm fine," I lied, my voice barely above a whisper.

"But you need to keep your promise when Bonnie comes back," she reminded me gently.

"I will," I assured her, trying to keep my emotions in check.

"I told Bonnie she's welcome over any time. We have room. Plus, most of the coven decided to move into the houses throughout the land."

I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions at her words. "Is this because you care or because my ascension is coming up?" I asked, unable to keep the edge out of my voice.

Her eyes softened as she walked further into my room. "Both. Your role as Queen will start once you graduate. Having a Bennett witch on your side will help with the weight being a queen can cause."

"The coven won't follow me, Mamá," I said, my voice cracking with uncertainty.

She frowned, tilting her head slightly. "What makes you say that?"

"I'm not a Hastings. I mean, not really. I'm the child you adopted."

"Do you know that the original queen wasn't a Hastings?" she asked, her tone gentle yet firm.

I shook my head, frowning. "No."

"Her last name was Petrova. Anastasia Petrova."

"Anastasia?" I repeated, the name sounding both foreign and familiar.

"Just like your middle name," she said, tenderly brushing back the wisps of my hair.

"But Seraphina..." I started, confusion swirling in my mind.

"My sister never had the right to the crown. The day of her ascension, when she chose evil instead of good, was the day her right of heir was stripped from her," she explained, cupping my cheeks with her warm hands.

"The council was never going to let Orianna rule. Her activating her werewolf curse solidified it. I trained her because the Queen she will be can't be weak."

"What queen is that?" I asked, dreading the answer.

"Queen of the Wolves," she said, the weight of her words sinking in.

I opened my mouth to say something, but she leaned in and kissed my forehead. "We'll talk more later," she promised.

All I could do was stare after her as more questions burned in the tip of my tongue.

Queen of the Wolves?

...🌑...

I stood at my locker, mechanically stuffing my books inside. My mind was a whirlpool of thoughts, each more distracting than the last. The kiss with Damon lingered in my thoughts, making it impossible to focus. I forced myself to breathe deeply, hoping it would clear my head.

"Damon hasn't said a word to me," Stefan's voice broke through my reverie. I turned slightly to see him and Elena approaching. "Every time I try to talk to him, he shuts me down."

I went still for a moment, my hand frozen on the last book before I shoved it into the locker and slammed the door shut. Avoiding Damon had been my priority ever since the kiss.

It was too complicated.

"Do you think he's still trying to find Katherine?" Elena asked, concern etched on her face.

Stefan sighed. "I don't know. He waited a hundred and forty-five years to get revenge only to find out she wasn't even there?"

"That kinda sucks," I muttered, feeling a pang of sympathy despite everything.

Elena's lips twisted into a wry smile. "And it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy."

Stefan looked between us, his expression serious. "You have every reason to be upset with him. Both of you. Have you thought any more about what you're going to do?"

I shook my head. "Not really."

Elena leaned against the lockers, her frustration evident. "About what? Isobel, our vampire birth mother, who's related to our vampire ancestor Katherine, who screwed over your vampire brother? Nah, I haven't thought about it at all."

"Tell us how you really feel, Elena," I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

"I'm sorry I brought it up," Stefan said softly, looking genuinely regretful.

Elena sighed. "It'd just be nice if we could get through one day without having to deal with any of it. No vampire mother or brother."

"Normal? Like no vampires or witches?" I raised an eyebrow.

Elena nodded vigorously. "Exactly. No vampires but you." She glanced at Stefan. "I just want to get back to normal stuff like school and homework and, here's a thought: fun."

"Good luck with that," I said, managing a small smile.

"Ooh, when do we start?" Stefan asked his tone light, bringing Elena a genuine laugh.

I turned to leave them, the laughter following me down the hall. Just as I was about to head to my next class, an arm grabbed me, pulling me to a stop.

"Hey, Care," I greeted Caroline with a smile.

"I'm thinking nothing huge, just a dinner at the Grill and maybe a late movie," she said quickly.

"With Matt?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Kinda. But I was thinking two pairs out on a Friday night. A double date," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"With who?" I asked, already suspecting the answer.

"Elena and Stefan," she replied, her tone matter-of-fact.

"Is it a good idea to have a double date when two of the dates are each other's exes?" I questioned.

Caroline shrugged. "Why not? We've all gone out together before. I don't want it to be uncomfortable for us. Look, the couple dynamics have changed, and there's been a little awkwardness between her, Matt, and me. I just think it's important that we get over it."

"Okay. How do I come into this?" I asked, already dreading the answer.

"I was hoping to make it a triple date," Caroline said with a sly smile.

"With?"

"Damon," she said simply.

"Not happening," I said firmly, shaking my head. "Plus, I thought you hated him."

"Oh, I do, but he's different with you."

"Caroline..."

"Don't even pretend he's not," Caroline interrupted, holding up a finger. "I saw how he danced with you during the dance."

"Because I was his last choice," I argued, ignoring the flutter in my chest.

The words left my lips, but I knew they were a lie.

"He cares about you," she insisted.

"No, he doesn't, Care," I said, my voice softer.

"I know you don't believe that," she said, giving me a knowing look.

"I'll help you get Elena on board with the double date, but enough about me and Damon. Okay?"

"Fine," Caroline conceded with a hug before heading down the hall.

I let out a breath, feeling the weight of the conversation settle on my shoulders. Walking to my next class, I tried not to think about Damon or how he made me feel.

I wasn't ready to face it.

Not yet.

...🌑...

I walked into the Mystic Grill, the lively atmosphere doing little to lift my mood. I spotted Caroline in the back by the pool table. Laughter echoed, drawing my gaze to Damon, who was taking a shot with Matt's mom and Jenna. Damon's eyes locked onto mine as if sensing my presence, making my breath catch. I quickly turned away, heading towards Caroline, who was on a double date.

"Hey, Selene," Matt greeted, smiling.

"Hey," I replied, holding a pair of gold heels. "Fashion emergency."

Matt just nodded, and Caroline grabbed Elena's and my arms, pulling us away from the table.

"We'll be right back," Caroline said, dragging us to the bathroom.

She sat on the bench across from the sinks, slipping on the heels I'd brought. Elena disappeared into a stall.

I leaned against the sink, raising an eyebrow at Caroline. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she replied too quickly.

"Care. You texted me 911 after you asked me to bring you those heels."

"They're laughing together," Caroline admitted, frustration evident in her voice. "You'd think, being exes, they would..."

"Hate each other?" I suggested.

"Yeah."

"Look, Care, Elena and Matt have a lot of history together. Most of that history is being friends."

Caroline sighed. "I just feel like a third wheel."

"Talk to them," I advised.

Elena emerged from the stall, washing her hands. Caroline stared at her hard.

"So, um, what are you doing?" Caroline asked, trying to sound casual.

"What?" Elena looked puzzled.

"Well, the point of this was to show Matt how much you care about Stefan. Not to hopscotch down memory lane."

"I was just trying to make conversation," Elena said defensively.

"Care," I interjected, giving her a pointed look.

Caroline ignored me. "Try less."

She grabbed her shoes and stormed out. Elena chased after her, calling her name. I sighed, following them out of the bathroom. As I tried to catch up, a hand grabbed my arm, pulling me to a stop.

I looked up to see a man with a beard and dark eyes. A shiver ran down my spine, my magic warming under my skin in a warning.

"Anastasia?" he asked, his voice low and rough.

"Excuse me?" I blinked, trying to pull my arm free.

"Selene!" Elena's voice called out, and she hurried over to us.

The man turned his gaze to her. "Katherine?"

"I'm sorry, you have the wrong person," Elena said firmly.

I looked between them, dread pooling in my stomach.

"Come on!" Caroline called, impatient.

The man released my arm. "My mistake," he murmured, backing away.

Elena and I headed back to the pool table, trying to shake off the encounter.

"How's everything going?" Elena asked Stefan.

"Matt's cheating," Stefan replied with a smile.

"No need, I'm awesome," Matt shot back, grinning.

I turned to Caroline and the others. "Have fun, guys."

"Thanks, Selene," Matt said.

I smiled and headed for the exit when someone grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the bar. I looked up to find Damon staring down at me.

"You've been avoiding me," he stated.

"I'm not doing this right now, Damon," I replied, trying to pull away.

"Why not?"

"One, you're drunk. Two, we're complicated."

"I don't care about that, Sunshine."

"There are expectations of me, Damon. From the coven, the council."

"If you weren't Queen and just Selene."

"Damon..."

He moved closer, tucking a wisp of hair behind my ear. "And I told you that I wanted you. What would you say?"

"I would say...that I want you too," I admitted, turning to leave.

My phone dinged as I walked to my car, shattering my momentary reprieve. I sighed, reading the message that summoned me to the Salvatore Boarding House. Dread gnawed at me as I drove, each mile intensifying the anxiety curling in my stomach. I parked outside, the grand, ominous structure looming over me. Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside.

Damon stood in the living room, his intense gaze locking onto mine. "You said Elena was in trouble."

"I lied."

Frustration surged. "I'm leaving."

Before I could take another step, Damon blurred in front of me, blocking my path. "Damon, I'm going home."

"You said you want me."

"Yes, but—"

He silenced me with a fierce kiss, his lips demanding and insistent. My resistance melted away, replaced by an overwhelming rush of desire. Damon's arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer as our kiss deepened, a heated exchange that sent shivers down my spine.

He lifted me swiftly and fluidly, and the world around us blurred.

The next thing I knew, my back was pressed against the solid wood of his door. Damon's lips never broke contact with mine, his hands roaming possessively over my body, igniting every nerve with an electric charge. The intensity of his kiss and the way he held me erased all thoughts, leaving only the undeniable connection between us.

"Damon!" Stefan's voice echoed from downstairs.

Damon pulled back, resting his forehead against mine. "I have to go."

"Okay."

"Don't leave. Please, Sunshine."

"I won't."

He kissed me briefly before leaving.

I ran my fingers through my hair, moving to sit on his bed when a crash echoed through the room. I turned sharply, my heart pounding, to find the man from the Grill standing there, snarling. His eyes gleamed with a predatory hunger, and before I could react, he lunged at me. His weight pinned me to the floor, his cold, bony fingers gripping my shoulders.

A scream tore from my lips as he bit into my neck. Pain mingled with a twisted warmth that spread through my veins. He pulled back, smirking, my blood staining his lips.

"You might not be Anastasia, but you taste just like her," he taunted, his voice a low growl.

Before I could react, he latched onto my neck again, his grip tightening on my shoulders. I gritted my teeth, another scream wrenching free as his fangs sank deeper. Desperation surged within me, and I pressed my palm against his face, letting my magic flare.

He yelped, leaping away and clutching his burned skin. I sat up, my hand instinctively flying to my bleeding neck, trying to staunch the flow. My breaths came in ragged gasps, and I glared at him through the haze of pain.

"That wasn't nice," he snarled, advancing on me again.

Before he could reach me, a blur of motion knocked him to the floor. I blinked, and Damon was standing in front of me, his stance protective. The man scrambled to his feet, eyes flicking to the door where Stefan stood, blood staining his shirt, a broken wooden chair leg in his hand.

The man hesitated, glancing between Damon and Stefan. Without another word, he vanished in a blur, leaving me gasping on the floor and clutching my neck.

"Sunshine?" Damon's voice was urgent, his hands gentle as he checked my injury.

"He's the guy from the Grill," I gasped, clutching my bleeding neck, feeling the warm blood seep through my fingers.

Stefan stepped closer, his face grave. "I remember them from 1864. They were in the tomb."

Realization crashed over me. Grams had been right. Letting Damon and Stefan out also freed the other vampires. A shiver of dread coursed through me.

"He...he called me Anastasia," I managed to say, wincing at the pain.

Damon exchanged a look with Stefan, a silent conversation passing between them. Without another word, he scooped me into his arms.

"You've got the body," he instructed Stefan.

Stefan left the room as Damon swept me into his arms, his touch tender despite his usual rough demeanor.

Damon carried me to his bathroom, setting me gently on the sink. He frowned as he examined the bite on my neck, his eyes darkening with worry and anger.

"I'd really like it if I didn't have to drink your blood," I murmured, trying to lighten the mood.

"Sorry, Sunshine," Damon said softly, biting into his wrist and holding it to my mouth.

I hesitated, then reluctantly drank his blood, feeling the wound on my neck start to knit itself back together. The taste was metallic and unpleasant, something I hoped I wouldn't get used to.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there sooner," Damon said, his voice tight. "We were dealing with the one downstairs."

"Damon," I began, my voice trembling.

"Yes?" he asked, his eyes searching mine.

I grabbed the edge of his jacket, pulling him closer. I needed the comfort of his presence. "Can I stay here?"

"Yes, Sunshine," he replied without hesitation, his voice firm and reassuring.

I hugged him, resting my head on his chest. "Don't leave me," I whispered, the fear and exhaustion catching up with me.

"I won't," he promised, holding me tight, his arms a protective shield around me.

For a moment, everything else faded away. The danger, the complications, the uncertainty—they all seemed distant and unimportant.

In Damon's arms, I felt a sense of safety and belonging that I hadn't known in a long time. And for now, that was enough.