Lost Souls
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 04
Alone. Lost. Adrift. Desolate…
These were the primary emotions weighing heavily on Bella's soul when she woke the next morning and she hated it—hated this downward spiral she could feel, even as it sucked her ever deeper into inner darkness with every second that passed.
It wasn't as though it was unfamiliar; this feeling. No, the sad truth was, she was intimately familiar with it, especially since she'd lost her last real tie to this world; Charlie.
A single tear traced its way into her hair as she lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling. "Dad," she whispered into the silence. "Why did you have to leave me?" Her eyes closed slowly as more tears wet her hair and pillow. "I miss you…" she choked through her tightened throat, her hands now gripping the sheets in clenching fists as she tried to overcome the despair that threatened to overwhelm her.
~o0o~
In a chair across the room in the darkest corner, unseen and unheard, sat Damon, a pensive look on his face as he watched his only hope struggle with herself after waking.
She looked fragile, he observed; as though the slightest touch would break her and he had to wonder. This was quite the departure from the girl he'd seen over the past couple of days; the girl who, despite her, at times, naked fear, had faced his presence with a steadfast determination that impressed even one such as he; no small feat, that.
'So, what brought this on?' he wondered as his ice-blue eyes followed the path of her first tear as it fell. 'Was it me? Did I finally break her?' His fists clenched as anger sparked within him at his less than subtle tactics. 'Damn it! I should have been more careful!' he berated himself just as she began to whisper. When he heard her words though, he felt a measure of relief.
Grief—she was still grieving for her father… Now that was something he could understand and perhaps even work with. She was lonely—profoundly so, he came to realize and with a small, sad smile, sat back in the chair and let her cry it out, all the while planning how to use this knowledge…
...to their mutual benefit, of course…
~o0o~
When her tears had finally subsided, Bella dried her face with a sleeve and sat up to peer around the room, that creepy feeling of the presence of another now edging out her sadness, if only marginally.
When she saw nothing out of the ordinary, she swung her legs over the side and made her way to the bathroom to get ready for the day.
~o0o~
When the bathroom door closed behind the girl, Damon smirked when only moments later he heard her grumble, "If I find out you're in here perving, I'll find a way to kick your ass…"
He snorted and rolled his eyes at that just as the shower came on. After all, he had no reason to do such a thing. He loved Elena, after all and while this girl may be beautiful, in a very down-home kind of way, he had no desire to get turned on when there was little he could do to remedy the situation. He hadn't jerked off in ages, thanks very much! He hadn't needed to, he thought with a cocky smirk as his many willing conquests over the years came to mind. Nope, he hadn't stooped to such desperate measures since he was a human adolescent and he damn well wasn't about to start now…
Still, now that she'd mentioned it, his curiosity kicked in and he began to wonder…just what did she look like under all those relatively shapeless clothes she favored? He leaned back and closed his eyes as he pictured what he'd seen of her over the past few days; the hint of a shapely waist and a firm, rounded ass as she bent to pull back the rug or clean the water he'd spilled from the floor…high, pert breasts hidden under shapeless shirts, their size just right at slightly more than a handful…
His eyes flashed open and he clenched his jaw at the all-too-familiar tightening in his groin. 'Damn it!' he cursed as he struggled to redirect his thoughts. 'Now isn't the time Salvatore…'
Just as he'd shaken himself from his reverie, the shower cut off and moments later, she walked out in nothing but a towel causing him to suck in a ghostly breath as she dropped the meager cloth to dress herself.
'Well shit,' he thought as his softening cock rebelled in renewed interest. 'At least I know I can still spot quality…' he told himself as his eyes roamed over her chest, her full, firm breasts with dusky blushing peaks, just begging to be fondled and kissed as she went about slipping into a bra. He stifled a groan as she snapped the garment in place.
Next, he watched as she stepped into a matching pair of hot pink panties, his eyes locked on them as she dragged them up shapely legs and over what he considered a pleasingly plump and luscious ass. His fingers twitched with want as he thought about caressing that ass—his mind conjuring scenes of his hands smoothing over the skin that resembled silk while he stroked into her from behind… he turned his head sharply as his teeth ground together, the tightness in his jeans now more than a little uncomfortable. 'What the hell is wrong with me?!' he thought as he fought to beat back his lust. "Been stuck here too long…" he muttered as he ran a hand through his hair.
When he felt he had control of himself again, he turned back to see her dressed and pulling on shoes. To his surprise, she spoke. "You think I don't know you're here?" she asked as she looked up and around the room. "It got pretty cold in here all of the sudden…" she muttered as her eyes narrowed and she walked toward his chair. "…especially in this corner." Still, he could tell by the way her eyes continued to dart around, she couldn't actually see him and so he relaxed.
"Did you enjoy the show?" she questioned bitterly. His brows rose as she scoffed. "Probably not," she muttered. "It's not as though I have anything that would hold a male's attention…" With that, she walked over, grabbed her discarded towel and entered the bathroom.
Seconds later, he heard the sound of a hair dryer and he found his thoughts consumed by what she'd just said. 'Not as though she had anything to hold a male's attention?!' he thought incredulously. 'Is she crazy?' he wondered. The girl was beautiful—her body a fucking treat—but she obviously couldn't see that judging by what she'd just said. It made him curious as to what had happened in her past to give her such a skewed impression of herself. Such thoughts would have to wait though as she came back out and left the room without another word.
He followed as she passed the 'witchy room' without even glancing at it and trotted down the stairs. Leaning against the door frame of the foyer, he watched as she grabbed her bag and keys. "See ya later, Casper," she mumbled as she left the house and locked the door. With a sigh, he headed for the library.
"Time to go see how good you've gotten at turning pages Salvatore."
~o0o~
Bella was just reading over the menu in the first diner she'd spotted when a familiar voice greeted her.
"Bella, right?" the girl—Elena if she remembered correctly—asked as she slid into the booth across from her. "Hi," she said with a smile as Bella met her gaze.
"Hi," she greeted back as she laid the menu aside. "Yeah, it's Bella," she confirmed awkwardly, not sure what else to say as the girl made herself comfortable by taking off her jacket.
"You don't mind if I join you for a few do you? I'm waiting on someone and I hate being alone, these days especially. Gives me too much time to think, and that's not a good thing."
Bella merely smiled, not sure what to say to that as the waitress walked up to take her order. "What can I get ya sweetie?"
"I'll have the special, eggs over easy, bacon and white toast please."
"You got it hun. Anything to drink?" she asked while jotting down the order.
"Coffee and water, please," Bella answered as she handed the menu back to the server.
"Got it!" she chirped with a bright smile before turning toward Elena. "Anything for you sweetie?"
"Well, I'm actually waiting for someone to join me, but I'll have a coffee until then."
"Sure thing, be right back with that," she said with a nod as she turned and headed for the kitchen.
Elena focused on Bella who was busy shredding the corner of her napkin. "So, how are you liking Mystic Falls so far? Have you met anyone besides me and Bonnie?"
Bella shook her head. "No, I really haven't been out since my trip to the grocery store." She met the girl's gaze with a wan smile. "I'm not really good with meeting people, if you couldn't tell."
The waitress came back with their coffee and water just then and Bella busied herself with adding cream and sugar while Elena sipped hers plain. She frowned and set the cup down. "You know," she began with a sad glance at Bella. "I could introduce you to some people. I can only imagine how hard it is being all alone and I have a good feeling about you," she finished with a smile. "You seem like a nice person. One I'd like to get to know."
Something that felt like lead settled in Bella's stomach but she smiled through it. "Thanks," she mumbled, not sure what else to say. How could she admit her problem with being around others? Simply put, she felt she couldn't; not without exposing herself as the freak she felt herself to be, so she kept quiet and sipped her coffee.
"Not a problem," Elena said with a smile. "Besides, they're great people. You'll like them, I'm sure of it."
Bella merely nodded.
"So, tell me about your new house! How are you liking the old Swan place? Had you visited before?"
Bella shrugged. "A couple of times with my Dad when I was very little. I don't remember much. I remember my Aunt being kind of odd though," she admitted with a weak laugh. "Guess it runs in the family."
Elena chuckled. "You're not odd Bella; shy maybe, but not odd. We'll take care of that when you get to know my friends."
Bella's chest began to tighten and she struggled to breathe through the beginnings of a panic attack. "Look Elena, I appreciate what you're planning but the truth is, I'm just not a social person. I prefer solitude actually." She met the other girl's gaze, silently begging for understanding. "I've gone through some stuff in my life and it's left its mark on me. I just don't handle people very well. I have anxiety and panic attacks and I'd just rather avoid it, ya know?"
Elena reached across the table and squeezed Bella's hand. "Okay, I understand and I'll limit the introductions to one or two…for now. But you're a young woman Bella and it's a shame to give up and let whatever's happened beat you. It's not healthy and I'm not sure why, but I feel compelled to help you." She gave her hand one last squeeze and let go, the look in her eyes sad and haunted. "I've had losses of my own, ya know and I don't think I'd be here today without my friends…" she trailed off and stared into the distance for a moment before looking back with a determined smile. "I want to be your friend…if you'll let me."
Bella wrapped her hands around her cup and nodded. "All right, but it has to be on my terms," she said as she studied her cup for a moment. Looking back up, she continued. "My home is my safe place so no dropping by unannounced. You have to call first and if I'm not in the mood for visitors, you have to respect that…please?"
Elena smiled. "Okay, I can live with that…as long as you agree to meet with me on neutral territory every now and then, say for lunch or shopping…something like that." She stuck out her hand. "Deal?"
Bella smiled despite the apprehension she felt and took her hand, giving it a shake. "Deal," she agreed just as a young looking man walked up. "Elena," he greeted with a smile.
"Oh, hey Stefan!" Elena greeted as he bent down to place a kiss on her cheek. She gestured toward Bella. "Meet my new friend, Bella Swan. Bella, this is my…friend, Stefan Salvatore."
Bella noticed he stared at Elena for a moment before smiling as he turned to her with his hand out, his startling green eyes filled with the same shadows she'd seen in Elena's. "It's nice to meet you Bella," he said politely as they shook. As he drew his hand back, Bella noticed a very prominent ring on his finger and had the urge to ask about it which she stifled.
"Likewise," she said as a cursed blush heated her cheeks.
He tensed, though he did a very good job of hiding it. Still, Bella caught it and wondered at it as he turned back to Elena. "Well, shall we go grab a table?" he asked stiffly.
Bella watched as Elena tilted her head while looking at him. "Sure," she murmured slowly, looking puzzled before shaking it off. She glanced back at Bella as she stood. "So," she said while pulling out a pen. "Here's my cell. Text or call me and we'll set something up," she chirped while jotting her info on a napkin before meeting Bella's gaze. "You promise?"
Bella chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, I promise."
~o0o~
Bella left the diner a while later feeling much better after some alone time and her hunger sated with breakfast.
Her thoughts went back to the young guy she'd been introduced to as she climbed in and started her truck. She was sure he'd thought he'd done a good job of being sneaky, but she'd noticed the many times he'd looked at her from across the restaurant and it had made her uncomfortable. His interest hadn't been typical of any other guy. As a matter of fact, his many stolen glances had been almost…resentful and she gripped the wheel a bit tighter when she realized just who those looks had reminded her of.
Edward…from the first day of school during the time he'd been fighting not to drain her dry.
But Stefan was human, she thought as she drove toward the animal shelter, so surely that couldn't be a factor. Still, she was now sure she was right and it chilled her for some reason.
With a shake of her head, she focused back on the road. With any luck, Elena would tire of her rescue project and she'd never have to see Stefan Salvatore again. "Quit borrowing trouble where there is none Bella," she muttered as she turned up the volume on the music. "Time to go get that big, ghost eating dog you promised yourself…"
With that thought, she smiled and relaxed into the drive, now looking forward to having a new companion around.
~o0o~
Damon slammed the book he was reading closed…or at least tried to. It didn't quite work out that way and instead sort of just closed with a very dissatisfying flop. He'd been using energy to read and turn pages for a couple of hours now and he was drained, not to mention bored and out of patience. "Where the fuck is she?" he grumbled darkly while stalking to the window.
A muscle ticked in his jaw as he stared out toward the road and he cursed his predicament yet again. Surely, hell could not be any worse than this monotonous limbo he was currently trapped in. To be so close to everything he loved and desired and yet so far away…
He growled and began to turn from the window when the bright red paint of Bella's truck caught his eye and anticipation filled him as he watched her pull in and park. "It's about damn time," he grumped as she hopped down from the truck. "Aw shit," he groaned when a massive dog hopped out after her. "Now I get to listen to a barking dog…joy."
Still, he hated to admit it, but he was just damn glad she was back, even if she was now adding Cujo to the mix. He watched her heft a huge bag of what he guessed was dog food from the back of the truck before stumbling her way to the door. Minutes and lots of muffled curses later, the lock finally turned and she practically fell into the house as the dog bounded in and the bag of food fell to the floor in a crunchy sounding plop.
He propped himself against the door frame and chuckled as he watched her try to catch her breath. "Jesus," she grouched. "You just had to get the fifty pound bag, didn't ya Bella?"
Meanwhile, the dog was standing there, hackles raised and growling lowly as he stared at him. "I was here first Cujo," he said menacingly with a hiss. He chuckled darkly as the dog yelped and ran off into another room.
"Eddie!" Bella called while shoving the bag out of the way and closing the door. "Come here boy! What's wrong with you?" she asked while scratching behind his ear. "Did mean ol' Casper scare ya? Huh, boy?"
The dog wagged his tail while edging to stand behind her and she sighed with a chuckle. "You do know you're supposed to be protecting me, right?" The dog whined and barked and she nodded. "Yeah, I know he's here, but I don't think he'll hurt us. He's kind-of like you…his bark is worse than his bite—or at least I hope it is," she trailed off as she tossed her keys on the table and hefted the bag of food. "Come on," she wheezed out as she staggered under the weight of the bag. "Let's go get you fed."
~o0o~
A little while later, after both she and Eddie had eaten, she climbed the stairs and stood in front of 'that' room. "All right," she mumbled as she glanced around. "I agreed to this, so here I am." With that, she took a breath, let it out and marched into the room.
Unseen and unheard by her, Damon followed. "It's about time," he remarked dryly as he smirked at the dog who wouldn't enter the room. "Are ya chicken Ed?" he asked the skulking dog who whined and sat, staring toward his new master. "Fierce protector indeed…" Damon snorted as he took a seat to watch Bella who was dragging a chair over to the altar where she finally sat and stared at the book while biting her lip.
Reaching out, she tentatively touched the page it was still turned to, only to jerk her hand back at the surge of energy she felt at the contact. She scowled. "This isn't gonna get you anywhere Bella. Just pick the damn thing up."
Across the room, Damon rolled his eyes while gesturing with a hand. "Yes, please, for the sake of all fucks, get on with it."
Of course, Bella heard none of this, but it made him feel better, so fuck it, he thought with a dark look. He really had no patience left to lose at this point and just wanted it done and over with. He wanted his life back, damn it and if he had to get aggressive to get that done, he wasn't above making it happen even if part of him felt bad for the girl.
Finally ignoring the unsettling connection, she placed the book on her lap and began to read, her lips moving as she mouthed the chant she'd need to recite for the ritual. After a few minutes, she nodded, placed the book back on the altar and rose to place the chair back in its original spot. Once done, she turned and began rolling the rug to reveal the ritual circle hidden beneath.
Referring back to the book several times she set the circle up with salt and candles and stood back to survey it when she was done. "Okay," she muttered as she stepped into the circle and sat down crossed legged. "Well, here goes nothing…" she mused while shaking the tension from her hands. With several deep, even breaths, she centered herself and began the chant.
Damon watched as she performed what he thought was a practice run. It was the only conclusion he could draw from this as she hadn't bothered to light any of the candles.
Needless to say, he was shocked when, moments later, he began to…feel something—something like a pull on his very being—and he gasped as the pull increased to the point of discomfort as the volume and pitch of her voice rose.
On the seventh repetition of the chant, Bella fell silent and sagged where she sat, a fine sheen of sweat now covering her body from the energy the ritual had taken from her. Finally opening her eyes, she looked up and gasped at the male figure now slumped into the chair across from her. It was the male from the night before but now he looked more real—less opaque—but still not quite there. It was disappointing, to say the least because this had been one hell of a drain on her whole body and she wasn't sure she wanted to do it again.
As she watched, he came to and sat up, his icy blue gaze locked with hers as she stared. "You can see me now?" he questioned slowly and she gasped at the sound of his voice.
"I—I hear you now too," she stammered in shock as his eyes widened.
He fell to his knees from the chair and stared at his hands with a furrowed brow. "You can hear me, and yet I'm still not fully back." He looked up after moments and glared.
"Just what the hell have you done?"
Alone. Lost. Adrift. Desolate…
These were the primary emotions weighing heavily on Bella's soul when she woke the next morning and she hated it—hated this downward spiral she could feel, even as it sucked her ever deeper into inner darkness with every second that passed.
It wasn't as though it was unfamiliar; this feeling. No, the sad truth was, she was intimately familiar with it, especially since she'd lost her last real tie to this world; Charlie.
A single tear traced its way into her hair as she lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling. "Dad," she whispered into the silence. "Why did you have to leave me?" Her eyes closed slowly as more tears wet her hair and pillow. "I miss you…" she choked through her tightened throat, her hands now gripping the sheets in clenching fists as she tried to overcome the despair that threatened to overwhelm her.
~o0o~
In a chair across the room in the darkest corner, unseen and unheard, sat Damon, a pensive look on his face as he watched his only hope struggle with herself after waking.
She looked fragile, he observed; as though the slightest touch would break her and he had to wonder. This was quite the departure from the girl he'd seen over the past couple of days; the girl who, despite her, at times, naked fear, had faced his presence with a steadfast determination that impressed even one such as he; no small feat, that.
'So, what brought this on?' he wondered as his ice-blue eyes followed the path of her first tear as it fell. 'Was it me? Did I finally break her?' His fists clenched as anger sparked within him at his less than subtle tactics. 'Damn it! I should have been more careful!' he berated himself just as she began to whisper. When he heard her words though, he felt a measure of relief.
Grief—she was still grieving for her father… Now that was something he could understand and perhaps even work with. She was lonely—profoundly so, he came to realize and with a small, sad smile, sat back in the chair and let her cry it out, all the while planning how to use this knowledge…
...to their mutual benefit, of course…
~o0o~
When her tears had finally subsided, Bella dried her face with a sleeve and sat up to peer around the room, that creepy feeling of the presence of another now edging out her sadness, if only marginally.
When she saw nothing out of the ordinary, she swung her legs over the side and made her way to the bathroom to get ready for the day.
~o0o~
When the bathroom door closed behind the girl, Damon smirked when only moments later he heard her grumble, "If I find out you're in here perving, I'll find a way to kick your ass…"
He snorted and rolled his eyes at that just as the shower came on. After all, he had no reason to do such a thing. He loved Elena, after all and while this girl may be beautiful, in a very down-home kind of way, he had no desire to get turned on when there was little he could do to remedy the situation. He hadn't jerked off in ages, thanks very much! He hadn't needed to, he thought with a cocky smirk as his many willing conquests over the years came to mind. Nope, he hadn't stooped to such desperate measures since he was a human adolescent and he damn well wasn't about to start now…
Still, now that she'd mentioned it, his curiosity kicked in and he began to wonder…just what did she look like under all those relatively shapeless clothes she favored? He leaned back and closed his eyes as he pictured what he'd seen of her over the past few days; the hint of a shapely waist and a firm, rounded ass as she bent to pull back the rug or clean the water he'd spilled from the floor…high, pert breasts hidden under shapeless shirts, their size just right at slightly more than a handful…
His eyes flashed open and he clenched his jaw at the all-too-familiar tightening in his groin. 'Damn it!' he cursed as he struggled to redirect his thoughts. 'Now isn't the time Salvatore…'
Just as he'd shaken himself from his reverie, the shower cut off and moments later, she walked out in nothing but a towel causing him to suck in a ghostly breath as she dropped the meager cloth to dress herself.
'Well shit,' he thought as his softening cock rebelled in renewed interest. 'At least I know I can still spot quality…' he told himself as his eyes roamed over her chest, her full, firm breasts with dusky blushing peaks, just begging to be fondled and kissed as she went about slipping into a bra. He stifled a groan as she snapped the garment in place.
Next, he watched as she stepped into a matching pair of hot pink panties, his eyes locked on them as she dragged them up shapely legs and over what he considered a pleasingly plump and luscious ass. His fingers twitched with want as he thought about caressing that ass—his mind conjuring scenes of his hands smoothing over the skin that resembled silk while he stroked into her from behind… he turned his head sharply as his teeth ground together, the tightness in his jeans now more than a little uncomfortable. 'What the hell is wrong with me?!' he thought as he fought to beat back his lust. "Been stuck here too long…" he muttered as he ran a hand through his hair.
When he felt he had control of himself again, he turned back to see her dressed and pulling on shoes. To his surprise, she spoke. "You think I don't know you're here?" she asked as she looked up and around the room. "It got pretty cold in here all of the sudden…" she muttered as her eyes narrowed and she walked toward his chair. "…especially in this corner." Still, he could tell by the way her eyes continued to dart around, she couldn't actually see him and so he relaxed.
"Did you enjoy the show?" she questioned bitterly. His brows rose as she scoffed. "Probably not," she muttered. "It's not as though I have anything that would hold a male's attention…" With that, she walked over, grabbed her discarded towel and entered the bathroom.
Seconds later, he heard the sound of a hair dryer and he found his thoughts consumed by what she'd just said. 'Not as though she had anything to hold a male's attention?!' he thought incredulously. 'Is she crazy?' he wondered. The girl was beautiful—her body a fucking treat—but she obviously couldn't see that judging by what she'd just said. It made him curious as to what had happened in her past to give her such a skewed impression of herself. Such thoughts would have to wait though as she came back out and left the room without another word.
He followed as she passed the 'witchy room' without even glancing at it and trotted down the stairs. Leaning against the door frame of the foyer, he watched as she grabbed her bag and keys. "See ya later, Casper," she mumbled as she left the house and locked the door. With a sigh, he headed for the library.
"Time to go see how good you've gotten at turning pages Salvatore."
~o0o~
Bella was just reading over the menu in the first diner she'd spotted when a familiar voice greeted her.
"Bella, right?" the girl—Elena if she remembered correctly—asked as she slid into the booth across from her. "Hi," she said with a smile as Bella met her gaze.
"Hi," she greeted back as she laid the menu aside. "Yeah, it's Bella," she confirmed awkwardly, not sure what else to say as the girl made herself comfortable by taking off her jacket.
"You don't mind if I join you for a few do you? I'm waiting on someone and I hate being alone, these days especially. Gives me too much time to think, and that's not a good thing."
Bella merely smiled, not sure what to say to that as the waitress walked up to take her order. "What can I get ya sweetie?"
"I'll have the special, eggs over easy, bacon and white toast please."
"You got it hun. Anything to drink?" she asked while jotting down the order.
"Coffee and water, please," Bella answered as she handed the menu back to the server.
"Got it!" she chirped with a bright smile before turning toward Elena. "Anything for you sweetie?"
"Well, I'm actually waiting for someone to join me, but I'll have a coffee until then."
"Sure thing, be right back with that," she said with a nod as she turned and headed for the kitchen.
Elena focused on Bella who was busy shredding the corner of her napkin. "So, how are you liking Mystic Falls so far? Have you met anyone besides me and Bonnie?"
Bella shook her head. "No, I really haven't been out since my trip to the grocery store." She met the girl's gaze with a wan smile. "I'm not really good with meeting people, if you couldn't tell."
The waitress came back with their coffee and water just then and Bella busied herself with adding cream and sugar while Elena sipped hers plain. She frowned and set the cup down. "You know," she began with a sad glance at Bella. "I could introduce you to some people. I can only imagine how hard it is being all alone and I have a good feeling about you," she finished with a smile. "You seem like a nice person. One I'd like to get to know."
Something that felt like lead settled in Bella's stomach but she smiled through it. "Thanks," she mumbled, not sure what else to say. How could she admit her problem with being around others? Simply put, she felt she couldn't; not without exposing herself as the freak she felt herself to be, so she kept quiet and sipped her coffee.
"Not a problem," Elena said with a smile. "Besides, they're great people. You'll like them, I'm sure of it."
Bella merely nodded.
"So, tell me about your new house! How are you liking the old Swan place? Had you visited before?"
Bella shrugged. "A couple of times with my Dad when I was very little. I don't remember much. I remember my Aunt being kind of odd though," she admitted with a weak laugh. "Guess it runs in the family."
Elena chuckled. "You're not odd Bella; shy maybe, but not odd. We'll take care of that when you get to know my friends."
Bella's chest began to tighten and she struggled to breathe through the beginnings of a panic attack. "Look Elena, I appreciate what you're planning but the truth is, I'm just not a social person. I prefer solitude actually." She met the other girl's gaze, silently begging for understanding. "I've gone through some stuff in my life and it's left its mark on me. I just don't handle people very well. I have anxiety and panic attacks and I'd just rather avoid it, ya know?"
Elena reached across the table and squeezed Bella's hand. "Okay, I understand and I'll limit the introductions to one or two…for now. But you're a young woman Bella and it's a shame to give up and let whatever's happened beat you. It's not healthy and I'm not sure why, but I feel compelled to help you." She gave her hand one last squeeze and let go, the look in her eyes sad and haunted. "I've had losses of my own, ya know and I don't think I'd be here today without my friends…" she trailed off and stared into the distance for a moment before looking back with a determined smile. "I want to be your friend…if you'll let me."
Bella wrapped her hands around her cup and nodded. "All right, but it has to be on my terms," she said as she studied her cup for a moment. Looking back up, she continued. "My home is my safe place so no dropping by unannounced. You have to call first and if I'm not in the mood for visitors, you have to respect that…please?"
Elena smiled. "Okay, I can live with that…as long as you agree to meet with me on neutral territory every now and then, say for lunch or shopping…something like that." She stuck out her hand. "Deal?"
Bella smiled despite the apprehension she felt and took her hand, giving it a shake. "Deal," she agreed just as a young looking man walked up. "Elena," he greeted with a smile.
"Oh, hey Stefan!" Elena greeted as he bent down to place a kiss on her cheek. She gestured toward Bella. "Meet my new friend, Bella Swan. Bella, this is my…friend, Stefan Salvatore."
Bella noticed he stared at Elena for a moment before smiling as he turned to her with his hand out, his startling green eyes filled with the same shadows she'd seen in Elena's. "It's nice to meet you Bella," he said politely as they shook. As he drew his hand back, Bella noticed a very prominent ring on his finger and had the urge to ask about it which she stifled.
"Likewise," she said as a cursed blush heated her cheeks.
He tensed, though he did a very good job of hiding it. Still, Bella caught it and wondered at it as he turned back to Elena. "Well, shall we go grab a table?" he asked stiffly.
Bella watched as Elena tilted her head while looking at him. "Sure," she murmured slowly, looking puzzled before shaking it off. She glanced back at Bella as she stood. "So," she said while pulling out a pen. "Here's my cell. Text or call me and we'll set something up," she chirped while jotting her info on a napkin before meeting Bella's gaze. "You promise?"
Bella chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, I promise."
~o0o~
Bella left the diner a while later feeling much better after some alone time and her hunger sated with breakfast.
Her thoughts went back to the young guy she'd been introduced to as she climbed in and started her truck. She was sure he'd thought he'd done a good job of being sneaky, but she'd noticed the many times he'd looked at her from across the restaurant and it had made her uncomfortable. His interest hadn't been typical of any other guy. As a matter of fact, his many stolen glances had been almost…resentful and she gripped the wheel a bit tighter when she realized just who those looks had reminded her of.
Edward…from the first day of school during the time he'd been fighting not to drain her dry.
But Stefan was human, she thought as she drove toward the animal shelter, so surely that couldn't be a factor. Still, she was now sure she was right and it chilled her for some reason.
With a shake of her head, she focused back on the road. With any luck, Elena would tire of her rescue project and she'd never have to see Stefan Salvatore again. "Quit borrowing trouble where there is none Bella," she muttered as she turned up the volume on the music. "Time to go get that big, ghost eating dog you promised yourself…"
With that thought, she smiled and relaxed into the drive, now looking forward to having a new companion around.
~o0o~
Damon slammed the book he was reading closed…or at least tried to. It didn't quite work out that way and instead sort of just closed with a very dissatisfying flop. He'd been using energy to read and turn pages for a couple of hours now and he was drained, not to mention bored and out of patience. "Where the fuck is she?" he grumbled darkly while stalking to the window.
A muscle ticked in his jaw as he stared out toward the road and he cursed his predicament yet again. Surely, hell could not be any worse than this monotonous limbo he was currently trapped in. To be so close to everything he loved and desired and yet so far away…
He growled and began to turn from the window when the bright red paint of Bella's truck caught his eye and anticipation filled him as he watched her pull in and park. "It's about damn time," he grumped as she hopped down from the truck. "Aw shit," he groaned when a massive dog hopped out after her. "Now I get to listen to a barking dog…joy."
Still, he hated to admit it, but he was just damn glad she was back, even if she was now adding Cujo to the mix. He watched her heft a huge bag of what he guessed was dog food from the back of the truck before stumbling her way to the door. Minutes and lots of muffled curses later, the lock finally turned and she practically fell into the house as the dog bounded in and the bag of food fell to the floor in a crunchy sounding plop.
He propped himself against the door frame and chuckled as he watched her try to catch her breath. "Jesus," she grouched. "You just had to get the fifty pound bag, didn't ya Bella?"
Meanwhile, the dog was standing there, hackles raised and growling lowly as he stared at him. "I was here first Cujo," he said menacingly with a hiss. He chuckled darkly as the dog yelped and ran off into another room.
"Eddie!" Bella called while shoving the bag out of the way and closing the door. "Come here boy! What's wrong with you?" she asked while scratching behind his ear. "Did mean ol' Casper scare ya? Huh, boy?"
The dog wagged his tail while edging to stand behind her and she sighed with a chuckle. "You do know you're supposed to be protecting me, right?" The dog whined and barked and she nodded. "Yeah, I know he's here, but I don't think he'll hurt us. He's kind-of like you…his bark is worse than his bite—or at least I hope it is," she trailed off as she tossed her keys on the table and hefted the bag of food. "Come on," she wheezed out as she staggered under the weight of the bag. "Let's go get you fed."
~o0o~
A little while later, after both she and Eddie had eaten, she climbed the stairs and stood in front of 'that' room. "All right," she mumbled as she glanced around. "I agreed to this, so here I am." With that, she took a breath, let it out and marched into the room.
Unseen and unheard by her, Damon followed. "It's about time," he remarked dryly as he smirked at the dog who wouldn't enter the room. "Are ya chicken Ed?" he asked the skulking dog who whined and sat, staring toward his new master. "Fierce protector indeed…" Damon snorted as he took a seat to watch Bella who was dragging a chair over to the altar where she finally sat and stared at the book while biting her lip.
Reaching out, she tentatively touched the page it was still turned to, only to jerk her hand back at the surge of energy she felt at the contact. She scowled. "This isn't gonna get you anywhere Bella. Just pick the damn thing up."
Across the room, Damon rolled his eyes while gesturing with a hand. "Yes, please, for the sake of all fucks, get on with it."
Of course, Bella heard none of this, but it made him feel better, so fuck it, he thought with a dark look. He really had no patience left to lose at this point and just wanted it done and over with. He wanted his life back, damn it and if he had to get aggressive to get that done, he wasn't above making it happen even if part of him felt bad for the girl.
Finally ignoring the unsettling connection, she placed the book on her lap and began to read, her lips moving as she mouthed the chant she'd need to recite for the ritual. After a few minutes, she nodded, placed the book back on the altar and rose to place the chair back in its original spot. Once done, she turned and began rolling the rug to reveal the ritual circle hidden beneath.
Referring back to the book several times she set the circle up with salt and candles and stood back to survey it when she was done. "Okay," she muttered as she stepped into the circle and sat down crossed legged. "Well, here goes nothing…" she mused while shaking the tension from her hands. With several deep, even breaths, she centered herself and began the chant.
Damon watched as she performed what he thought was a practice run. It was the only conclusion he could draw from this as she hadn't bothered to light any of the candles.
Needless to say, he was shocked when, moments later, he began to…feel something—something like a pull on his very being—and he gasped as the pull increased to the point of discomfort as the volume and pitch of her voice rose.
On the seventh repetition of the chant, Bella fell silent and sagged where she sat, a fine sheen of sweat now covering her body from the energy the ritual had taken from her. Finally opening her eyes, she looked up and gasped at the male figure now slumped into the chair across from her. It was the male from the night before but now he looked more real—less opaque—but still not quite there. It was disappointing, to say the least because this had been one hell of a drain on her whole body and she wasn't sure she wanted to do it again.
As she watched, he came to and sat up, his icy blue gaze locked with hers as she stared. "You can see me now?" he questioned slowly and she gasped at the sound of his voice.
"I—I hear you now too," she stammered in shock as his eyes widened.
He fell to his knees from the chair and stared at his hands with a furrowed brow. "You can hear me, and yet I'm still not fully back." He looked up after moments and glared.
"Just what the hell have you done?"
DISCLAIMER: Twilight and its inclusive material is copyright to Stephenie Meyer. Original creation, including but not limited to plot and characters, is copyright to the respective authors of each story. No copyright infringement is intended.