CHAPTER FOUR:
family ties

"What are you doing awake. You should be sleeping Sam" the young boy was hidden in the darkness. Blood staining his cheeks and fingers, his breathing was quiet and slow "i did something bad, really bad".

The woman walked into the room turning the light on, a scream slipping out the cracks of her lips at the sight of the boy. A dead cat laid before his feet a broken knife stuck inside its skull.

He looked at his mother "what did you do!" She ran towards him smacking him. His flesh stung as he fell towards the ground "what did you do!".

Samuel gasped awake, he sat up quickly sweat coating his flesh as he pushed the blankets off his frame. He pushed his hair back, his breathing heavy as he stood up off the bed.

He gulped his eyes shut tightly as he tried to push away the memories deep within his skull. The softness of footsteps outside his door made him open his eyes and sigh.

He ignored his thoughts and got dressed, the wind drifted into his bedroom. The coldness of it soothed away any doubt he felt for himself.

Olivia left, the girl didn't feel the urge to burden him any longer. She said she'd call and visit if she ever needed help or food.

He opened his door, part of him knew she'd likely never call or visit. People didn't stay in his life, they always left him alone in the end.

He walked down the steps, hearing the loudness of Elena chatting away with Jenna. Boxes lined the tables and were coated in dust.

"Is that grandma Beth's wedding ring?" Samuel entered the small kitchen grabbing the pot of coffee. He rubbed at his eyes as he poured himself a cup.

"Originally it was great-great-grandma Mary's wedding ring" Jenna hummed putting the ring back down into a box. Jeremy looked around, his eyes trailing along all the boxes.

"How much do you think this stuff is worth? You know, like on eBay?" Elena snatched the object out of his hands. Putting it into a box with force.

"You're not gonna find out" Jeremy looked annoyed and defeated as he glared at Elena.

"That stuff is mom and dad's. You can't just give it away" a shatter entered the atmosphere. Samuels cup slammed harshly onto the ground.

"Sam..." Elena's voice entered the air first while the boy leaned into the counter holding his head. She neared him her hand touching his shoulder but he sat back up "I'm fine, it just slipped".

He ignored her concern and looked at Jenna, the woman didn't say anything. It was silent for a moment as she looked away from him.

The loudness of the doorbell ringing made the tension fade away. Samuel could feel the stare of Jeremy as he walked up the stairs.

He went into his bedroom slamming the door shut. "Shit!" he smacked himself harshly letting out a breath of frustration as he sat on his bed.

"Sam..." Jeremy's voice was low as he pushed the door open. His hand rested along the wood his eyes looking at Samuel who sat on his bed.

The boy turned his head slightly "I'm fine Jeremy" he looked back towards his window. Jeremy walked inside sighing slightly as he neared Samuel.

"It's mom and dad isn't it..." Samuel blinked as Jeremy sat down beside him "the nightmares... I mean, uh last time you were like this it was because you were having nightmares".

Jeremy pushed his hands together as he tried to show he wasn't concerned. "It's not nightmares..." Samuel paused for a moment "it's memories".

He shock his head slightly as he sighed "I forget things, but being back here.. I'm remembering". Elena walked down the hallway Stefan standing behind her as she neared her room.

She paused as she looked into Samuels bedroom "what are you remembering..." Samuel smiled weakly "doesn't matter Jere, its all in the past". Elena smiled sadly as she walked away.

"Why don't you like Jenna... did she hurt you?" Samuel looked at Jeremy "I can't remember, it's all still so fuzzy too me".

Jeremy stood up from the bed "you going to the founders party tonight?". Samuel just nodded as he blinked, Jeremy left the room.

—

Samuel walked into the party with a quick pace he neared the bar. His eyes watching as Elena kissed Stefan Salvatore, a boy he wasn't a fan of.

He turned slightly his body colliding with someone else's. He moved back slightly his shoulder aching as he looked at the man with annoyance.

"Why am I not surprised you're here" the man frowned "do I know you?". Samuel smiled lightly as he glared at the man "your brothers dating my sister remember?".

He grabbed a cup from the bar "I did my research on you Salvatore's, I was shocked you and Stefan were related". He sat down Damon sitting down beside him "so you're Elena's brother".

Damon pushed the boys collar away from his neck his eyes looking at the bite mark. Samuel gripped his wrist glaring at him.

Damon hummed lightly "looks like something attacked you there". Samuel rolled his eyes letting the man's hand go "you're annoying".

Damon laughed lightly as he patted the boys shoulders "you're still running around helping vampires, gonna get yourself killed".

Samuel huffed "it was this woman... it was weird I've never seen her around before". Samuel pushed a drink towards Damon "maybe you'd know her, seeing you're old and what not".

Damon pushed Samuels shoulder roughly "I'm not that old asshole". Samuel shrugged his shoulders "I don't know, you're pretty old. I mean you're ancient and I see a few gray hairs".

He tugged at Damon's hair making the man roll his eyes "I do not have gray hairs". Samuel pushed his collar over the bite mark. "You know the weird thing about this woman... she didn't kill me. It was like she marked me or something".

"Marked? What do you mean by that?" Samuel shrugged his shoulders "it's a feeling I suppose, I can't really explain it".

Elena looked at Samuel who spoke with Damon, she stood beside Stefan. Damon laughed lightly at something Samuel said passing him a glass of alcohol as Samuel shock his head.

"Looks like they're getting along" Stefan looked. He was slightly shocked Damon wasn't doing anything reckless with Samuel.

He never showed people any kindness, Damon Salvatore was just an asshole. Yet he sat beside Samuel cracking jokes and drinking.

Samuel downed a shot "gosh this party is so lame, I miss the ones we'd go to in New York". Damon nodded as he grabbed a bottle of champagne from a waiter walking by.

"I'm surprised you're even back in this town" Samuel sighed "what can I say, I got bored and wanted to come home for a little bit".

Samuel looked at Damon "you being here means you're up too something. We may be friends, but if you even think about doing anything with Elena I'll kill your annoying ass".

Damon rolled his eyes "gosh you're such a buzz killer, I mean where's the fun you? Hiding away inside a trash can somewhere?".

"I mean it Damon, I don't care why you're here, just leave Elena out of it. It's enough that Stefan's in her life.. I don't need you getting her killed".

Damon touched Samuels shoulder "relax, I won't kill her or anything. Would've been nice if you mentioned she was your sister... seeing my history and all".

Samuel stood up "I figured it'd be funny seeing your reaction when you found out, and besides you never asked so that's on you".

Samuel went to walk away but Damon grabbed his arm stopping him from walking. "You shouldn't have come back here Samuel".

The boy was silent for a moment "don't act like you care about me Damon, you're here for a reason... I'm just someone who you drink with because everyone hates you".

"That's not true, you don't hate me" Samuel sat back down "why are you even here Damon, there's nothing here for you".

"Just enjoying the scenery, you know just a casual visit and then I'll leave when I get bored". Samuel looked at Damon with a serious expression.

"You gotta be kidding me... you're here because of..." he was silent in case Stefan was listening. Damon leaned back "I knew you'd figure it out, you were always smarter then most people".

"You gotta be the most dumbest person I've ever meant, especially if you actually do what you're here for. It's not gonna end well".

"Well that's why I need your help, a little team up and then I'll be outta here. It'll be Just like the old days where we kicked ass".

Samuel rolled his eyes as he downed another shot he looked at Damon once more "You're annoying and quite frankly. You'll fail without my help so fine I'll help you, but after this, you're gone".

Damon smirked as he shock Samuels hand "we got a deal then Samuel". Samuel stood up "you're an idiot". He walked away nearing Elena.