Children Of The Damned

Eliana

“So, are you going to the party tonight?” Matt asked. I was on the phone with him, sitting criss-cross on my bed.

“Sure. Where is it?”

“Apparently its in the woods over by the cemetery. I’ll pick you up.”

Honestly, a party in the woods by an old cemetery sounded a little frightening, but there was bound to be a lot of people there, which meant safety in numbers at least.

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Good. Pick you up at eight?”

“Sure. Bye, Matt.”

I was excited, despite the uneasiness I felt about practically partying with the dead. If this night went well, it meant that Matt and I had a chance, something I really wanted. Wanting Matt was normal, healthy. And wouldn’t it be crazy not to want someone so amazing who actually wanted me too?

______________________________________

Caroline

When Matt and Ana showed up at the party, I thought to myself: What happened to good little Ana and her polite disinterest with Matt?

She laughed at something Matt said, and they talked to Tyler and Stefan as if they were the golden couple, which they were. Ana Forbes was a vision of beauty, and Matt was the quarterback and the golden boy himself. Every guy wished they could be like him.

“Hello, Caroline. And how are you doing this evening?”

I knew that voice a little to well. “What are you doing here, Damon?”

“Just having a little fun. It’s Friday night. I thought I would cut loose a little.”

“Okay, how about an honest answer this time?” I was really tired of Damon and his games. Even if he did look like an ode to a Greek god.

“What’s Ana up to these days?”

“Oh, hell no. You can just stay away from my cousin.”

“Come now, Caroline. Don’t be that way.”

“Screw off.”

__________________________________________

Damon

Tisk, tisk. That wasn’t very nice.

So it appeared this would have to be done the hard way.

“Caroline?” I asked, my eyes boring into hers, and I easily took control of her weak, human mind. “We are going to walk away from the party for a while. You are going to tell me a little about Ana. Then you are going to forget you saw me. Understood?”

“I understand,” she answered flatly.

“Okay then,” I said, rubbing my palms together as we walked off into the trees.

“So, what is the real reason why Ana moved here?”

“She had a stalker back in California. I have never seen her parents more involved in Ana’s life. They got a restraining order and then moved within the week without telling anyone else where they were going.”

This took me by surprise. I had no idea Ana had ever even known what fear felt like in her whole life.

“How is Ana adjusting to life in Mystic Falls?”

“I think she is looking forward to getting away from her parents, going off to college. Although she seems to have found friends here pretty easily. Everyone just loves Ana.” She said this with a kind of disdain that reminded me just the kind of person Caroline was. Insecure. Jealous.

“What is one thing she is passionate about?”

“She likes taking care of people, helping them. It’s what makes her happiest. I’m not sure I understand that.”

“That’s all I need from you. Now go away.”

Caroline moved through the trees back to the party as if in a dream, and I found myself puzzled. How was I going to make a girl as compassionate and innocent as Ana mine?

_________________________________

Eliana

Matt had his arms around my waist, and for the first time in a long time, I felt good, happy. I wasn’t used to normal teenage things like going to parties and hanging out with a boy I actually liked. I was more accustomed to working on my grades and extra curricular activities to please my parents and insure that I got in to a good med school.

Matt and I were off in our own little corner away from the others, a little tipsy from drinking.

“You’re so beautiful, Ana,” he said, tucking a piece of hair that had fallen in my face behind my ear. His hand remained resting on my cheek, and I found myself looking up into his blue eyes.

“Kiss me,” I whispered, and he tentatively obeyed, pressing his lips against mine. He pushed me gently up against a nearby tree, his arms wrapped around me.

My heart fluttered in my chest, and our kiss deepened, his tongue running over my lower lip. My mouth opened, and our tongue mingled.

“Whooo-eee!” a voice whooped from nearby. “If it isn’t sweet, innocent Ana.”

“Shut up, Tyler,” Matt scolded, turning to face the other partygoers who still remained a discreet distance away.

____________________________________

A few minutes later, Matt left for the woods to “use the restroom” as he put it politely. I joined Tyler, Stefan, Bonnie, and Jeremy around the fire near the keg.

“Hey, Ana,” Jeremy said with a smile, something Stefan had told me he did very little.

“How’s it going?” I asked.

“Great.” Jeremy glanced sideways at Bonnie, and I wondered if she had something to do with his happiness.

“Hey, did you hear something?” Stefan asked, suddenly going rigid.

“No,” I answered. “What are you talking about?”

Then I heard it. It sounded like someone yelling, but I couldn’t make out the words. Stefan’s head whipped up, and then he went bounding off into the woods.

“Someone help!” he yelled. “It’s Matt!”

“Matt!” I cried, running after Stefan.

“Ana…” Matt sputtered as I reached him, but Stefan was shielding him from my view. I crouched down to see what exactly was wrong, and then my hand flew instinctively to my throat as I saw what had happened to Matt.

Stefan was pressed a hand to a wound on the side of Matt’s neck, and the front of his white shirt was soaked in blood.

Stefan grabbed a cell phone from his back pocket with his free hand, and dialed 911. He spoke quickly into the receiver, then hung up. I couldn’t catch what he had said. Everything was a blur.

“Get out of here, Ana. Go home. I don’t want you getting into trouble for being here.”

“But-”

“Go!” he shouted. “He’ll be fine.”

I thought of the trouble I would be in if my parents found out I was at this party, and then I hoped that Stefan was telling the truth about Matt. He was going to be okay. He was going to be okay, I told myself over and over as I walked to the clearing where all the cars were parked.

I got to the clearing when I remembered that Matt had picked me up in his truck. I had no way of getting home.

I was just starting to cry when Damon Salvatore emerged from the trees, jingling a set of car keys.

“Need a ride?”