(2) Just Magic (D. Salvatore)

Chapter Seventy-Five

At the Boarding House, Damon and Stefan carry Elijah's body down into the cellar. Elena and Cassandra are with them, watching, Stefan wraps his arm around Elena and kisses her head as Damon kneels down and searches through Elijah's jacket.

"Uhh! What do we have here?" He asks and pulls out the moonstone, holding it up for the others to see. "A little moonstone bar of soap. I'll hold on to this" He tucks it into his own pocket and lets out a breath as he leans up, shifting closer to Cassandra who glances at them, the two of them sharing a warm look. A relieved look. They survived the night. They survived taking on an Original. Pride shifts in his eyes, because he knows that it is only because of her that they got through this. One teenaged girl stood between an all-powerful immortal vampire and his death. She winks at him and he pokes her nose softly.

"So, that's it. I mean, as long as we keep the dagger in there, then he stays dead?" Elena asks.

"Pretty much" Damon answers, his hand moving to the small of Cassandra's back.

"Okay" Elena whispers and then shares a look with Cassandra, she's exhausted, getting into Elijah's head was a lot harder than getting into anyone else's. She has a headache and she just wants to sleep. "Then...Good night" Elena starts to walk out but turns around. Damon and Stefan look at her. "Cas is right" She admits and nods at Cassandra as she tucks her hands into her pockets. "Doing this together...it's the best way...and I'm sorry for...what I did. Going to Elijah...."

"We know" Stefan assures her. Elena nods and looks at her sister.

"Do you want a lift back?" She asks.

"Yeah" Cassandra agrees and follows Elena up the stairs. She really does just want to crash.

........

Damon enters his bedroom and hears the shower running, he lets out a small breath and unzips his jacket.

"Cas?" He frowns a little. "I thought you left," He asks, shrugging out of his jacket, ready to join her. He throws his jacket onto the bed and walks into the bathroom, only to find that it is Katherine that is in the shower, she walks out and stands in front of Damon, completely naked. Damon looks at her, surprised.

"Hello, Damon" She greets. "Hey, do you have a robe?" She teases. Damon snorts a little and rolls his eyes.

"Wondered how long it would take you" He points out. Katherine cocks her head, a small frown. "You must think I'm really stupid" He adds and throws a towel at her. She gives him a look. "Cas." He admits. "She said you wouldn't run. She said you'd stick around. Guess that makes her smarter than you" Katherine pulls the towel around herself.

"I meant what I said, Damon. I'm going to help you" She adds, he scoffs and walks away, leaving the room. He needs to call Cassandra, get her to steer clear of the house for now. No point in subjecting her to Katherine.

..........

Damon swings open the front door of the boarding house as someone knocks on it, rather jingly actually. He can kind of guess who it is, like he feels like he knows who it is, something inside of him telling him. And he's right. Cassandra stands on the other side, despite the fact he warned her to stay away. He doesn't really want Katherine around her.

"I know you said to stay away" She agrees. He nods, she shrugs a little and holds out a pizza box and a bottle of whiskey. "But no point in you going mad with her all on your alone. But I can just leave these and go...if you really don't want me here around her...It's okay" He reaches out and curls his fingers into her jacket before he brings her inside with him, a small smile on his face. He can't believe her. He can't believe she did this. He kisses her, holding her close to him.

"Stay" He whispers against her lips. "Stay with me" He adds and kisses her again, she smiles against his lips and then pulls back, holds out the bottle of whiskey, which he takes from her, following her deeper into the house to get comfy together.

.........

Cassandra straddles Damon's lap on a blanket on the floor of the living room. The fireplace behind her, warming her back as he kisses along her jaw. The bottle of whiskey empty now. The pizza eaten. Both happy and content and comfortable. And having almost forgotten there is a crazy psycho vampire upstairs. Cassandra might dislike public affection, but in private, it turns out, she's a big, big fan. Damon is particularly good at making her skin tingle and her heart beat rapidly. She opens her eyes to reveal they are glowing red.

"Why don't you stay and watch?" Cassandra asks, her eyes shifting to look at Katherine in the doorway, Katherine gives her a glare back. "You might learn something about real affection"

"Yes, because I am sure that is exactly what he feels for you" Katherine counters.

"Oh don't be jealous, it's really not a good look on a woman your age" Cassandra comments with a smirk. "Not all of us need to manipulate and brainwash men into being with us"

"And how does he know you haven't done just that?" Katherine argues. "Given your powers..." Cassandra just snorts back and rolls her eyes.

"Your games don't work on us" She points out and waves her fingers at her. "Goodnight, Katherine" Katherine clenches her jaw before she leaves. Damon smirks into Cassandra's neck before he sinks in his fang. She lets out a soft breath and closes her eyes. She knows how Damon feels about her. The perks of having been inside of his head. She knows. She doesn't need him to tell her. He will, one day, when he is ready, and when he does, she knows she can reciprocate those feelings. She cares about him, immeasurably, she knows what that means for her, she knows what that translates to. He licks away the dribble of blood that runs along her collar bone before pulling back. Cassandra shifts her hand to her shoulder and uses her red mist to stitch up her own skin. She kisses him, curling her arm around the back of his neck. His hands sliding up under the back of her shirt.