Chapter 19: Charms
The night air was sharp and cool as I stepped out onto the porch, closing the door softly behind me. Damon stood there, waiting, his posture relaxed but his eyes intense as they flicked up to meet mine. The warmth of the house faded behind us, and suddenly the air felt heavier, thick with the unspoken tension from inside.
"So, what do you really want, Damon?" I asked, folding my arms to steady myself. Part of me wanted to know the answer; the other part knew I probably wouldn't like it.
Damon turned slightly, a smirk playing on his lips as he looked at me, dark eyes glinting under the moonlight. "Honestly? Just to understand the allure that is Amara Gilbert," he said, his voice silky but pointed, and he took a step closer. "And perhaps to become a part of your world, if you'll have me."
I scoffed, shaking my head. "What, so you show up out of nowhere, charm your way into my aunt's good graces, and just expect me to… what? Be enchanted by you?"
His gaze didn't waver. "Something like that."
There was a teasing edge to his voice, but his eyes stayed on me, unblinking. I fought the urge to shift under his stare, but his presence felt heavy, like he was pulling me in, making it hard to look away.
"Charm," I echoed with a dry laugh, meeting his gaze head-on. "I'm not exactly easy to charm."
"Oh, I believe it," he murmured, his voice almost a purr as he leaned in, a shadow of a smile still on his lips. "But something tells me you're not as unbreakable as you want everyone to think."
I narrowed my eyes, studying him. He was digging, trying to get under my skin, and I wasn't about to let him. But even as I tried to stand my ground, there was something thrilling about the challenge in his eyes.
"And what makes you think you know anything about me?" I countered, my voice steady, though I could feel my pulse quickening.
Damon tilted his head, his gaze dropping to the ground before meeting mine again. "You'd be surprised," he said quietly, as if sharing some dark secret. "You have this aura about you, Amara. You're fiery, guarded, but it's like you're waiting for something. Maybe even looking for it."
I swallowed, taken aback. He didn't know me; he couldn't possibly. But it was like he could see right through the walls I'd carefully built up.
"And maybe," he continued, his voice dropping lower, "I'm the one you've been waiting for."
For a second, I almost laughed. The arrogance of it was absurd, yet there was a part of me—some secret part I didn't want to admit to—that felt drawn to him. Damon was dangerous, that much was obvious. But there was also something magnetic about him, something that tugged at me, like a mystery I wanted to solve.
"I think you're giving yourself a little too much credit," I replied, forcing a smirk even though I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks.
"Maybe," he allowed, his gaze softening as he stepped back, giving me space. "But you seem like someone who appreciates a good mystery."
I took a breath, letting it steady me. "Why do you care? Why me?"
Damon's expression shifted, his gaze darkening. For a moment, I thought he might finally drop the charm and give me something real. "Because you're different, Amara. And, in a place like this, that matters."
The way he said it—so sure, so final—made my stomach flip. I looked away, focusing on the porch railing to ground myself.
"Different how?" I asked, my voice softer now, the words slipping out before I could stop them.
He hesitated, his jaw tightening slightly before he spoke. "Because you're not afraid to push back. Most people, they fall in line, especially in a town like this. But you… you're not like them."
I glanced back at him, feeling a strange mixture of flattery and suspicion. "Maybe I don't want to be," I whispered, almost to myself.
Damon's smirk softened into something almost… genuine. "That's exactly why I like you, Amara."
We stood there in silence, the sounds of crickets and distant laughter drifting from the house. The world seemed to narrow to just the two of us, the night wrapping around us like a secret. I wanted to say something, to break the tension, but I was afraid that if I did, it would shatter whatever strange connection had formed between us.
Then, finally, I took a small step back, breaking the spell. "Well," I said, forcing a lightness into my voice, "if you're looking for someone who doesn't fall in line, you're definitely barking up the wrong tree."
Damon chuckled, his gaze softening as he watched me. "I don't mind a challenge."
I rolled my eyes, but there was a warmth in my chest now, something I couldn't quite shake. "Goodnight, Damon," I said, giving him a pointed look as I turned to head back inside.
"Goodnight, Blue Bell," he replied, his voice low and smooth. I didn't have to turn around to know he was watching me as I walked back inside.
As I closed the door behind me, I took a deep breath, letting the warmth of the house wash over me. I could still feel Damon's presence lingering in my mind, like a shadow that refused to disappear. And as much as I hated to admit it, there was a part of me that was curious—maybe even excited—to see where this path would lead.
But for now, I pushed that feeling down, focusing on the sounds of laughter and voices echoing from the dining room. Damon Salvatore might be intriguing, but I wasn't about to let him get under my skin. Not yet.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone