If We Had Met First

Chapter Forty Five

            “Elena, you don’t have to drink that much. When you are done all he will need is some of my blood and compulsion and he will be back in that bar like nothing ever happened.”

            Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes but she nodded in agreement, “I know I have to do this otherwise I will die.”

            “It can be the last time. After this you can just use blood bags.”

            He didn’t know if there was something else running through her mind or the thought of never having to do this again was what made her seem more confident. Instead of looking like she was going to throw up at any moment she looked almost normal, or at least as normal as someone could look when they were standing in a dark dirty alley about to rip open someone’s throat.

            Elena walked over so she was standing right in front of the man who was still just standing there directly behind Damon.

            “What’s your name?” she asked in a whisper.

            The man looked over her shoulder to Damon who nodded slightly.

            “Alaric Saltzman.”

            “Alaric, I’m sorry.” Elena said before she darted to his throat with unusual quickness.

            Damon watched as she pressed her lips to his neck and heard the faint ripping sound as she broke open his skin with her teeth. Alaric’s eyes widened but no sound escaped his lips.

            After several moments passed he began to gradually approach Elena who still had her mouth fastened on his neck. His body was beginning to sway but she was holding him upright with her arms.

            “Elena. Elena, you have had enough. You don’t need anymore.” Damon said once he was standing directly beside them.

            She pulled back and looked at Damon. Her warm brown eyes had turned a harsh black and red veins surrounded her eyes. Her open mouth revealed two long white fangs which were stained with blood just like the skin around her mouth. For a moment it looked as though she was going to ignore Damon’s words and go back to drinking but instead she just licked her lips.

            Alaric’s body tumbled to the ground when she released him but Damon didn’t even look at him. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from Elena.

            Even though anyone else who saw her would say that she looked like a monster he didn’t see that. Somehow when he looked at her he saw the same girl who moments ago had been afraid to drink blood.

            Damon watched as slowly the veins disappeared around her eyes which had turned back into the warm brown colour.

            She glanced down at the body on the ground, he still hadn’t moved.

            “Did I...?” Elena asked her lips quivering. She couldn’t bring herself to finish her question but it was very clear what she had been about to ask.

            “No,” Damon said with a shake of his head, “you didn’t. He’s not even unconscious. You did great.”

            Elena smiled slightly and gratefully took the handkerchief that Damon offered to her after fishing it out of his pocket. As he bent down to the unmoving body on the ground she began to wipe the blood off of her mouth.

            Once Damon finally got Alaric to sit up he bit into his own wrist and shoved it to his mouth. He didn’t even struggle as the vampire blood trickled into his mouth and then down his throat. Slowly the two puncture marks on the side of his neck began to heal until only two faint scars remained.