Desperate Measures (Open)

[Stefan Salvatore]

OOC
Takes place the evening after "It's History, Don't Repeat It".

IC
Stefan paced around the foyer, his mind racing as he puzzled everything out in his mind. Elena was in transition. He had failed to protect her. He should've realized that there would be other vampires in town. But there were and one had fed Elena their blood which resulted in her turning after Katherine had killed her. Elena running into a vampire that fed her his blood couldn't have been helped, but Katherine---oh, that was his fault entirely. If he had been feeding properly, he would've had a better chance of stopping her from killing Elena.

Stronger. He had to be stronger. He knew this and it was this fact that was making him pace around the room. He knew what had to be done. He had to get back on human blood---fully. Okay granted, they had started him off slowly with him drinking from Elena, but that was out now. He couldn't feed from her anymore and he didn't trust himself not to lose it around anyone else if he tried to feed from them. So it only stood to reason that what he was considering doing was the only thing he could do.

So that was it then. He knew what he had to do. It didn't matter that he had lost it in New York and that even now he could feel himself falling out of control. If it meant that he'd be able to protect Elena, the risk was worth it. It had to be. With that, Stefan headed into the cellar where he knew Damon's stash of blood bags were. Eyes clouded in thought, Stefan approached the cooler. It's the only way. I have to protect Elena. I can't be weak anymore. My weakness is going to get everyone killed. I have to be stronger, he thought to himself. He opened the cooler and bent down, looking at the bags. For a moment, he hesitated. What was he doing? He knew he couldn't do this! He couldn't just---lose it. No, this was a bad idea.

Stefan turned around and started to walk out. What about Katherine? a part of him reminded. Katherine. She had destroyed him. She was going to keep coming after him. She wasn't going to stop. She would never stop. No. He couldn't let her win. He had to put a stop to this. He had to take control. With that, he headed back to the cooler, grabbed a bag, tore off the the cap of the bag and then raised it to his lips and let the blood coarse down his throat.

[Anna Barret]

Anna decided to be a good sponsor after school and check on Stefan. After the trip to New York that was only successful in the sense that they didn't get caught, he had decided to try using his girlfriend for what she was, a human blood bag...the only catch was Anna got stuck on babysitting duty.

It went as expected, of course, but much better than New York. Anna shrugged to herself at the thought of that bloodlust filled weekend and walked into the Boarding House like she owned the place. Stefan?

[/color] She called out. Then it hit her. The smell of blood. Damon?[/color] She started walking down the hallway more purposefully.

The older Salvatore brother might not be savvy to what they were up to, but he knew how much trouble Stefan had. The last thing he needed was a Sorority girl party in his livingroom. She followed the smell down the stairs and into the cellar. She could hear it now, the sound of someone hungrily sucking on a blood bag. Shit.

In a flash, Anna was at Stefans side. Whoa, whoa. Down, boy.[/color] She joked a little as she tried to pull the bag from Stefans hands. There were four empty ones at his feet. This wasn't good. Stefan, seriously. Stop.[/color] She said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Whatever was causing this full on meltdown couldn't be good. What's going on?[/color] She asked, concerned. There were only a couple reasons he would be going this hardcore at Damons secret stash. He was either starving, weak, or desperate. Those aren't gonna get you anywhere and you know it.[/color] She held out her wrist in a last ditch effort to stop him.

NOTES || lovelovelove this!
OUTFIT || here. [/tt][/center]

[Stefan Salvatore]

Stefan finished the bag and then grabbed another one, repeating his first gesture and then started on the next bag. Within seconds, it was done and he was on the third one. A part of him knew that he should probably stop what he was doing, but a larger part of him didn't want to. Besides, this was the only way to get stronger. To make sure he could fight Katherine. And he had to fight her. He couldn't just let her run around loose and killing or turning everyone he cared about. Before he knew it, the bag was gone and he was on the fourth one. Within seconds, it was gone.

Stefan had just started his fifth bag when he heard someone coming in. Who's here? he wondered. However, the need for the blood kept him from caring and instead, he just kept drinking. Then, he heard Anna's voice and froze. Damn. What do I do? he wondered. More blood. He just needed more blood. Yes, he needed it. He wasn't going to be weak. Not again. He couldn't afford it. Before he knew it, the other vampire was at his side, telling him "Down" and taking the bag away.
"No, Anna! I gotta get stronger!" he objected, trying to grab the bag back. He needed it. Couldn't she see that? Why was she stopping him? She then placed a hand on his shoulder, telling him to stop. "I can't stop! I can't afford to!" he shouted. He needed the blood. He needed to get stronger so he could protect Elena from any further attacks.

At her question of what was going on, Stefan let out a sigh and rubbed the side of his neck..
"It's---I'm doing what's necessary. I'm making sure that I don't get screwed with again," he responded. And that was the important thing here: that he fought back. He had been too scared to do that as a human, but he wasn't going to make that mistake again. He was through being played with. Then she told him that the the blood bags weren't going to help him and he knew it. "Well, what do you want me to do?! That bitch just turned my girlfriend! Oh, sure, she just meant to kill her to prove a point, but there you have it! And I am sick of being the one who has to sacrifice everything!" he shouted emotionally.

When Anna held out her wrist, he went to grab it, intending to sink his teeth into her wrist. He needed to sink his teeth into something before he ended up revealing too much. He couldn't let that happen. No one would understand it. No one. Besides, he had kept it a secret for 142 years so far and he was going to continue to keep it a secret. So yeah, feeding before he said or did something completely stupid.

[Anna Barret]

Anna sat in shock as he ranted. Katherine had turned Elena? What. The. Fuck.

She didn't even have the heart to interrupt him as he grabbed for her wrist and started drinking. She positioned herself so she had one arm around him, rubbing his back. Ohkay. Ohkay.

[/color] She tried to calm him down while processing it herself.

He was near the breaking point, so close to the edge it terrified her. She didn't care that someone could walk upon them at any moment. He was her top priority and she would take blame for this scene if she needed to.

She didn't allow herself to feel the pleasure that normally came with the bloodsharing habit they had created over the past couple weeks. She was too concerned. There were too many questions.

Who knew? Where was Elena? She would need help through this and Stefan wasn't in any shape to do so. Damon? Did he know yet? What about Jer? Oh god. His heart would be broken, she just knew it. And Bonnie would be outraged.

Who was stupid enough to give a vampires girlfriend enough blood to put her in transition? Stefan said it wasn't Katherine's intentions...but who then? And even though, how dare she kill Elena. That stupid arrogant bitch.

I'm sorry, Stefan.[/color] It was all she could manage. She didn't know what else she could do to help him but to let him continue to feed.

NOTES || awe emotional breakthrough! Yay! Lol
OUTFIT || here. [/tt][/center]

[Stefan Salvatore]

From Anna's expression, Stefan could tell that she was shocked. And who could blame her? He had just laid a total bomb on her. She hadn't been expecting to hear that Elena had been turned. Who would've expected Elena to be turned into a vampire? He then began drinking as Anna put an arm around him and spoke soothingly. Surprisingly, the the words comforted him a little. He knew that Elena wasn't her favorite person but she was still trying to be supportive towards him. And her mind was probably racing, trying to figure out how it had happened and who had done it. And to tell the truth, he wanted to know these things too. Who had fed his girlfriend their blood? Who were they working for? And how had they stayed in town for so long with no one finding out about them?

The blood wasn't helping. Okay, that was a lie. It was having its intended effect of course, but it did nothing for Stefan's emotional state. He was a wreck. This was all his fault. He had caused this. He shouldn't have been so stupid. He should've just stayed away from Elena like Katherine had told him to. If he had, she would still still be human. But no, he had to be stupid and openly defy her. Hadn't he learned anything from the situation with his father? Defiance resulted in punishment. And his punishment for defying Katherine was a newly-turned vampire girlfriend. So yeah, things sucked right now.

Stefan pulled away from Anna, letting his features go back to normal as she apologized.
"It was my fault. I wasn't thinking. I didn't think," he responded. "If Elena and I had just stayed away from each other like Katherine had wanted, this wouldn't have happened. Elena would still be fine," he said bitterly. "I mean, come on! What am I, stupid? She's older, stronger, and I have no chance in Hell at stopping her! You'd think I would've learned! You can't fight someone who holds all the power! There's just no way! Okay, so she likes power games and screwing with my head! It's nothing I didn't deal with before I met her! I did what I was told! I kept my place! I should've done that with her just like with---" Stefan cut himself off as he realized what he was about to say. Oh, damn. Oh, damn. I just screwed up, he thought to himself. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to start yelling. She's just got me on edge," he apologized. "Listen, why don't---why don't you go out and get yourself fed? I'm no good to anyone right now," he told her. Okay, so she probably wouldn't listen to him, but hey, he had to try, right?

OOC
Okay, so it wasn't a total confession, but close enough to get her interest piqued.

[Anna Barret]

When he released her wrist, she was hoping he would be relaxed a bit but that wasn't the case. He was, if possible, even more hysterical. She continued to console him.

Stefan, this isn't your fault. None of this is your fault.

[/color] She managed to get in, mid rant. He said that he was stupid, that he should have known how this would end. Then he spoke of power and how much Katherine liked her games. Then his words caught her off guard.

It's nothing I didn't deal with before I met her! He said. He went to compare her with someone but stopped short. The look on his face was unmistakable horror. Then he started apologizing, trying to get her to leave.

Stefan, I'm fine. It's you I'm worried about.[/color] She led him out of the cellar, back up to the living room. You can keep feeding, I promise, I'm ohkay....[/color] She hesitated. What were you about to say, Stefan?[/color]

NOTES || yay!
OUTFIT || here. [/tt][/center]

[Stefan Salvatore]

Stupid. He was stupid. He had defied Katherine. He had gone against her. Why had he done that? Why had he thought that he could go up against her? He couldn't! He wasn't strong enough! At least...not yet. But he was getting there. The blood bags were helping. Speaking of which, he needed more. He reached for the blood bag that she was still holding.
"Anna, I need that...please!" he implored. Why would she take away my only chance of surviving? he wondered. He needed the blood. He needed to protect himself. Couldn't she see that? He had to get to stronger. He had to make sure he wasn't hurt again. He just didn't want to be hurt again. Was that really too much to ask?

Before he knew it, he was ranting and raving and even though he was worked up, he heard her tell him that it wasn't his fault---that none of it was his fault. What the---? Of course it's my fault! I didn't do what I was told! he thought to himself. And that's what was killing him: that he had forgotten how things worked. He had gotten too comfortable. He had let his guard down. He couldn't do that again.
"It is my fault! Katherine is---I was stupid! I should've known better! I did know better! I'm such an idiot! I mean, come on. I knew the score. I knew what was expected. Why didn't I just do what what she wanted? I should've just done what she wanted me to," he said. Yeah, he had screwed up big time. He knew this. It was why Katherine had done what she had done. But it didn't mean that he wasn't going to try to get stronger so that he at least try to fight. But then again, was putting up a fight really worth it? Had Elena becoming a vampire really worth him upsetting Katherine like he had?

Stefan let out a heavy breath as Anna led him back into the living room and then assured him that she was fine and that she was worried about him.
"I'm fine. The rant's over. Sorry," he apologized. He didn't want her worrying about him. He didn't need anyone worrying about him. And more importantly, he didn't deserve it. Not after the way he had just screwed up. Man, why was he always screwing up? She then assured him that she was fine and that he could keep feeding. "No. I'm---I'm fine," he assured. And he was. Well, blood-wise anyways. Emotionally, he was a wreck. But he couldn't say that. She wouldn't understand. She hesitated and then asked him what he had been about to say. "No, it's---it's nothing. I just--- I don't know what I'm saying," he lied. He couldn't tell her the truth. She wouldn't believe him. No one would. This kind of thing---it didn't normally happen to a guy. He had---he had to keep quiet. It was the only way to survive. He had forgotten that after eighteen sixty-four, but he sure as Hell remembered that now. And he was going to survive no matter what. If Anna wasn't going to let him have the blood, the only other option was to fall in line. He hated it, but there was nothing he could do about it.

OOC
Yeah, his head's screwed up. But then, he's been carrying the secret around with him for over a century. And it'll be fun to see how Anna's gonna pull it out of him.

[Anna Barret]

Anna pulled him down on the couch with her and made him look her in the eyes. Stefan, remember New York? You know my blood works better than these damn bags, why aren't you taking it?

[/color] She didn't understand where his head was at. Since New York, they had been lightyears closer than she ever could have imagined.

You can trust me. You know you can.[/color] She was seconds from desperation. The thought of calling Damon crossed her mind. Maybe he would know what the hell was going on here. He needed to calm down and take a step back.

They weren't going to get anywhere this way. She stood and poured them both drinks. Here. Drink.[/color] She stayed standing in silence, running her finger around the rim of the glass. She didn't know what else to say.

It was all up to Stefan where this went next, but she was actually afraid of what he might do next. I'm not leaving you, not like this.[/color] She said quietly, not making eye contact. Where the hell were Damon and Elena?


NOTES ||
OUTFIT || here. [/tt][/center]

[Stefan Salvatore]

Bad. This was bad. He had almost revealed his darkest secret to Anna. What had he been thinking? He had to make sure that didn't happen. Which meant that he had to get her to leave so that she wouldn't ask any questions. But how could he do that? Anna was incredibly stubborn and loyal, and wouldn't leave him even if he told her to. Heck, he had told her to and she was still here!

Stefan let out a heavy breath as Anna pulled him to a sitting position, forcing him to stare at her in the eyes as she asked him if he remembered New York, reminding him that her blood worked better than the blood bags and asking why he wasn't taking it.
"Because the strength I need requires more blood than you can give me," he replied. "I can't protect Elena on vampire blood alone. I need to be as strong as possible. And if you're not going to help with that, then get the hell out of my house," he told her, going to stand up. Okay, probably not the best thing to say to a vampire that could kick his ass, but he really didn't care. All he needed was more human blood. The human blood would help him in his quest to stop Katherine. It was what he needed and he was going to get it. He knew that she didn't understand that, but that didn't matter. All that mattered was getting her to leave him alone so that he could continue what he had been doing before she had shown up. It was the only way that he could make sure Elena was protected.

When Anna assured him that he could trust her, Stefan shook his head.
"No. Not with this. I---I can't. If---if Damon ever found out..." his voice trailed off as his eyes darkened with fear and pain. He couldn't tell Anna. She'd feel obligated to tell Damon. And then his brother would hate him even more than he already did. He couldn't let that happen. He wouldn't be able to bear it. No. Keeping quiet was best. If he stayed quiet, he'd still have a chance at repairing their relationship.

As he tried to think of what to do, Anna went over and poured them a couple of drinks which she brought over, handing him one and telling him to drink it. Stefan took the offered glass and as the liquor went down his throat, Stefan tried to calm himself by inhaling and exhaling. But it didn't work. He was still all keyed up. And who could blame him? His life had just gone to Hell.

When Anna said that she wouldn't leave him when he was like this, he let out a scoff as he shook his head at her.
"I'm fine! I'm fine!" he insisted. Why she wasting her time with him? He wasn't worth it. She'd just be better off in leaving him to her own devices. But of course she wouldn't. And he knew that. She wanted to know what was going on and probably wouldn't leave until he told her. But how could he tell her? He let out an unneeded breath as he fiddled with the glass in his hands. If he let himself, he'd see many nights of him and his father together, but he wasn't going to let himself. Nope. He was not going to go there.

However, the memories came rushing back unbidden and he began pacing back and forth as if by doing so he could drive them away.
"He shouldn't have left me!" Stefan finally burst out. "Oh sure, he went off to fight, but he didn't have to leave me with him! Why'd he leave me with him?" he wondered, his voice breaking. Why? Hadn't Damon seen? They were brothers! He should've known. Why hadn't he known? Or was it that he just didn't care? At the thought, his stomach clenched. "He had to have known, right? How could he not? He was my brother! He had to have known! And he just left me!?" With a pained cry of anger, he throw the glass across the room and it shattered after hitting the wall. "He left me! He left me for that bastard! He knew that he couldn't keep his hands off of me and he just left! Why!?" he screamed. But it was a lie. Damon hadn't known. He had done as his father had told him and had kept his mouth shut. But still, if they were supposed to be close, shouldn't he have noticed?

[Anna Barret]

Annas eyebrows raised as he tried to kick her out. Seriously? She knew not to argue because he was clearly upset. She Instead she sat silently, waiting for him to work through everything he was dealing with. She gathered he had a fairly rough past, even before Katherine had gotten involved...but Katherine did always have a way of twisting the knife.

She half heartedly handed him the bag of blood she still had in her hand. There was no need to go through the entire stash, but this wasn't something he was going to give in on, so she decided to pick her battles.

You're not fine and we both know that. Come on, I won't tell Damon if you don't want me too, I promise. I'm just worried about you. Please?

[/color] Concern made her voice waver. This was a million times more serious than she ever thought possible. He was genuinely scared of Damon finding out.

Then, like a timebomb, he exploded in rage and anger and bitterness. Annas heart sank at his words. No wonder he had such a battle with his humanity. Who would want to carry that around when being a vampire heightened everything even more. Stefan...[/color] She didn't know what to say.

Anna was quiet back then, she had heard most everything Katherine had said about the brothers. She knew Damon had been jealous of Stefan, that Stefan was being compelled the entire time. It still didn't fit to her that Damon would have left Stefan in a situation like that. Damon had hated his father and he hated how Stefan always seemed to do his bidding. Was that a possibility on why?


NOTES ||
OUTFIT || here. [/tt][/center]

[Stefan Salvatore]

Stefan was frustrated at his failure to get Anna out of the house. He was completely freaking out and didn't want her seeing him like this, which was why he was trying to get her to leave. However, she apparently was more stubborn that he had originally thought and was refusing to leave. Come on, Anna! Just get out of here! I'm a mess! he thought to himself. She wasn't supposed to see him like this. No one was.

To his relief, she handed back the bag he had been drinking out of and he began finishing it off as she stated that he wasn't fine and that she wouldn't tell Damon anything, adding that she was worried about him. About me? Why? he wondered and then gave himself a mental slap. She was worried because she had just found him acting like a freaking addict! Of course she'd be worried about him! After all, they were supposed to be keeping a low profile and what he was doing wasn't exactly conducive to that idea. Within seconds, he finished the bag.
"I'm fine," he repeated as he crumpled the empty bag in his hands and tossed it on the floor. He was fine. Absolutely fine. Yeah. And if he kept saying that, maybe one day he'd actually believe it.

And then it was out. Damn it! Why had he said all that? He shouldn't have said anything! What was he, an idiot or something? And Anna was obviously at a loss for what to say. Not that he could blame her. He had pretty much blurted out that his father had molested him. Stupid! What were you thinking? he berated himself. What was he going to do? He had to get out of here. He couldn't stay here another moment. Not after his outburst. Not after what he had admitted. She wouldn't understand. Without even another thought, Stefan started to blur towards the front door, wanting to get away from Anna and the look of disgust that was sure to follow. He had just broken a promise that he had made when he was human. He had done the unthinkable. He had told...

OOC
Feel free to chase after him.

[Anna Barret]

Anna was at the door just before Stefan. She pushed her back up against it and held her arms out to catch him. She pulled him into a hug without saying a word. She was at a complete loss for words but she didn't want to let him out of her sight right now.

That was too dangerous. Stefan didn't seem in his right mind right now and she didn't know if he'd do anything stupid. She definitely didn't want him turning his humanity off and with the way he was acting, that wasn't much of a reach.

We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but please, just stay here with me.

[/color] She was begging. She knew it. But she couldn't just let him go. That was putting any spilled blood on her hands. She couldn't let that happen.

She rubbed his back and tried to calm him down. She could feel him shaking. Stefan, I need you to stay here with me, ohkay?[/color] She was afraid that he would lash out of her, but she was stronger than him and she knew she would be ohkay. There was a voice in the back of her head that told her she should get Damon here as soon as possible.


NOTES ||
OUTFIT || here. [/tt][/center]

[Stefan Salvatore]

Stefan had almost made it to the door when Anna was in front of him, arms out in front of her, intercepting him and pulling him into a hug. What was she doing? Hadn't she heard what he had said? And why had he said anything anyways? He hadn't wanted anyone to know! No one was supposed to know! Then, she was speaking to him, saying that they didn't have to talk about what he had told her, but to stay there with her.
"Anna, I---I can't---you don't---" his voice trailed off shakily. What was he supposed to do? He knew he was spiraling. The blood he had drank was buzzing through him. He had overdone it and he knew it. But he needed it. He had to get stronger. He couldn't just let Katherine get away with what she had done to Elena. Wha---what have I done? he thought. How could he have let it slip? He had always been so careful to keep it hidden. No one had ever known. But now Anna knew. Escape. He had to escape. He then went to move past her. He couldn't stay when he was feeling like this.

He then felt her rubbing his back and he let out a breath as he felt the soothing motion even as she told him that she needed him to stay with her.
"I'm fine. I'm fine," he assured, fully aware of the panic that was rising within him. Yeah, he was back to that. He wasn't fine though. He had just screwed everything up. I don't---I don't want to feel this way, he thought to himself. But what was he supposed to do? If he shut out or pushed down what he was feeling, he'd be tempted to shut off everything. "I'm fine," he repeated. Yeah, maybe if he kept saying it, he'd start believing it. "I'm fine. I'm fine." He was fine. He was fine. Oh, hell, he wasn't fine! He was anything but! But what else was he supposed to do? He had never meant to reveal anything. What was he supposed to do?
"Damon. He can't---he can't know," he said, pulling away slightly. "He'll never---he'll never understand," he stated as his voice broke. And he wouldn't. If Damon ever found out, he'd hate him even more than he already did. And Stefan wasn't sure if he'd be able to bear that.

OOC
I think I broke him. LOL

[Anna Barret]

She smiled weakly. Saying it five times fast doesn't make it true.

[/color] She put her hand on his shoulder and led him back into the living room. She needed to get him away from the door. She didn't trust him to be okay if he bolted, not in this state of mind.

She bit her lip when he mentioned Damon. She knew she would regret promising him, but she didn't exactly have a choice. He won't hear a word from me, I swear.[/color] She almost couldn't say it. She knew Damon needed to know. He would want to know. But comforting Stefan took priority at the moment. Her only hope right now would be for Damon to walk in or be eavesdropping.

I need you to calm down, ok? It's going to be ok. We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to.[/color] She felt for him, she really did. He was going through so much and he didn't deserve any of it. And his horrid luck had apparently been continuing for longer than she knew.


NOTES ||
OUTFIT || here. [/tt][/center]

[Stefan Salvatore]

He let out a short laugh as she made a joke, stating that saying he was fine five times fast didn't make it true. What she said was very true. But maybe I can convince myself at least, he thought to himself. Besides, he had just been trying to quell his panic. Not that it had worked, mind you, but at least he had tried. That had to count for something, right? Of course it did. So...why didn't he believe that?

He smiled at her gratefully as she promised that she wouldn't tell Damon. He wasn't sure if he totally believed her, but at least his secret was safe for the time being.
"It's not like he'd believe it anyways. I was the good one, the favored one," he said with a bitter smile. He hadn't been been deaf to the comments that had been made by the townspeople and it had been no secret that Giuseppe had compared him and Damon, lavishing the younger boy with praise while he had had nothing but disdain for his oldest. Oh, how Stefan had longed for his father to tire of him. He had prayed for it. But it had never happened. Though come to think of it, he hadn't been bothered by father once Katherine come onto the scene. Not that she was any better. After all, he had still had a monster in his bed. It was just a monster of a different sort.

He then gave himself a mental shake as she then told him that she needed him to calm down, saying that it was going to be okay, adding that they didn't have to talk about it if he didn't want to.
"It was strange---a part of me felt guilty when I killed him. He was my father after all, but at the same time, I thought it was justice well served," he mused. And maybe it was. Or maybe he should've told someone what was going on. But he had said he couldn't. That it was their secret and that no one would understand or believe him even if he did tell. "I don't know. Maybe I should've told someone. Perhaps if I had, someone could've put a stop to it," he continued as he ran his fingers through his hair. It was nice and short, the way he liked it. As a human, he had had it somewhat long because that was the way father preferred it, but shortly after turning and leaving Mystic Falls, he had cut it and never let it get past a certain length. "I should've put a stop to it...but who would've believed me?" he asked.

[Anna Barret]

She sat quietly as he talked about it, her mind whirring around all the concern she felt for him. They had become so close, and were steadily gaining speed in that aspect, but she didn't want to push him away. She was so afraid to say the wrong thing and have him shut down.

How long did it go on?

[/color] She asked softly, but imedietely backtracked. You don't have to answer that if you don't want to.[/color] She knew she sounded like an idiot. She wasn't used to this. Anna was confident and witty. She didn't stumble over her thoughts and words..not unless she was talking to Jeremy. Dammit, after everything, why was she still hung up on that?

She could sense a small sense in relief he had in finally talking about it and she felt a sense of guilt in herself. She had been there, towards the end. She was in the background, but she could have changed that. She didn't want to get too close. She knew what Katherine was doing and if she had gotten too close, it would have been horrible for her. Katherine would have lost it. Somehow, in hindsight, that didn't matter.




NOTES ||
OUTFIT || here. [/tt][/center]

[Stefan Salvatore]

Stefan wasn't really sure what to think as Anna fell silent. Most likely, she was in shock and trying to figure everything out. Not that he could really blame her. It was a lot to digest. After all, he was prety sure that it wasn't every day someone found out that a friend had been abused. When she asked how long it had gone on---quickly adding that he didn't have to answer her if he didn't want to---he made a dismissive motion with his hand, shrugging as he frowned in concentration.
"Four years, I believe. It started a little after my thirteenth birthday and then continued until a little bit after Katherine arrived," he finally answered. To be honest, he had no idea if his father had stopped because Katherine had compelled him to or if he had just merely been distracted by the hunt for vampires. Not that he really cared. It had been a relief when the man had stopped visiting him.

He let out an unneeded sigh as he ran his fingers through his hair.
"I don't know. Maybe I deserved it. It's not like I didn't know what to expect. I knew from an early age what kind of man he was," he said. Even when he was young, he had seen the two different sides of his father: the respected community man, and the tyrant that could and would go off in a rage at the drop of a hat. "I just---I don't know," he murmured.

He then let out a scoffing laugh as he shook his head.
"Damn, I must sound pathetic. A hundred sixty-two-years old and bitching about how Daddy mistreated him," he commented. Cause seriously, he should've been over this a long time ago. It wasn't like there had been anything he could've done. It would've been stupidity to cross Father. And Stefan was a lot of things, but stupid wasn't one of them. Well, there had been one time that he had fought back, but he had learned his lesson about that real quick. The price of his disobedience had been his horse Murtagh. After that, he had fallen back in line and after a while had been rewarded with Mezzanotte.

The vampire gave himself a mental shake.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to overload you with this crap. I never meant for anyone to find out," he told her. And that was certainly the truth. He had kept it hidden for over half a century. Oh sure, he had written about it in his journal, but no one ever cared enough to look into them, though Damon did occasionally snoop through them. And that was an annoyance he could certainly do without. His thoughts were private---especially the ones he had written down as a human. But Damon didn't care about his privacy and a part of Stefan feared that one day, his brother would snoop into one of his older journals and discover the truth. And he didn't want that to happen. He'd hate him for sure if he knew...