damon marcello

It was easy to distinguish that hunger so evident in Arlo's eyes. He knew it all too well. He'd lived with it for almost a century and then he finally chose to curb it but only because he didn't want it to control his life anymore. Any time he wanted, he could flip that switch and be the monster his brother knew so well. There was a time when humans were nothing more than walking blood bags and a massacre was the best kind of party. He still so enjoyed the feel of a beating heart in his hand as he ripped it from someone's chest. That was his favorite move, after all. But this hunger toward his own kind was puzzling to Damon. Why feed off other vampires when humans outnumber them two to one? Why take blood from the secondhand source when you can get it warm and still flowing from human veins? Nothing beat that feeling for him. Nothing.

There's no telling how long Arlo had been feeding off his staff and customers but he was tired of hearing about it. If he's going to be a parasite, he should at least be leaving drained bodies in his wake. Did he lose his vampire spirit or something? Damon himself never said no to a good hunt. He fed when he felt like it and had fun with his food when he grew bored. He was never short on amusement and his strength was always at its highest. If Arlo wanted a piece of him then he wouldn't be an easy meal. For one so scared of covens, he was willing to try to feed on the leader's fiance? Not a smart move. He could drain Arlo's power in one swift move and then use it against him. He could lock eyes with him and tell him to do whatever he wanted, but for now anyway, he was playing fair....ish. Arlo might be thinking of running if he's the survivor Damon thought he was but he wouldn't get very far either. Damon was having too much fun with him to let him get away now.

He had always had this calm exterior, especially when dealing out threats. It helped him in the Civil War when he was able to aim a gun at someone's head and fire without a second thought, almost without emotion. After some time, he grew numb to the idea of taking a life. When he became a vampire, it only multiplied. Suddenly, lives meant nothing. Only his own was worth fighting for. But when he cared about someone, they became a life worth fighting for too. When he loved Katherine, he would have taken a bullet for her. In fact, he did when his own father decided to shoot him and Stefan while they were trying to set her free. He would easily run into fire to save his own brother even though he'd never admit that to Stefan. When he loved Elena, she was his everything but now this love he had with Isolt, it encompassed everything. She had become his everything. The first thing that he would lay down his own life to save if he could.

He knew he was getting to Arlo, especially with his talk of blood and how good it tasted. The trick with licking his own lips must have been like torture for the younger vampire. But he saw the light of regret flicker in Arlo's eyes and knew that he had a story. He must have already known the lack of control that caused lives to be snuffed out like a light. He even saw Arlo's jaw clamp like he was trying to keep himself from licking his lips too. He could see the shame in his eyes. Did someone not like the cards laid out for him? Damon wanted to tell him to suck it up, buttercup, and move on but it looked like he'd have to do better than that tonight. He'd do a nice deed for once and do some tutoring for the less fortunate. Arlo looked away from him and his lip quirked. He was playing stubborn.

"So you're willing to weaken your own kind but not willing to kill. Have you ever thought your priorities were a little out there? Flip the switch if that dumb humanity gets in the way. Makes it much easier."

Arlo was wary of him, like he was trying to figure him out. Good luck with that. Damon was too impulsive most of the time to keep track of. He raised a brow as Arlo started looking around like he was looking for an escape route. His hands twitched a little, making the street lights flicker again in the alleyway, maybe a way to remind Arlo just who he was dealing with here. When he asked if he was new to town, Arlo shrugged and told him that he had been feeding here for a month and he wouldn't be caught again. Damon caught the challenge in it even though Arlo kept his body language neutral. He chuckled dryly under his breath in return, eyes twinkling with mischief.

"You're right, it won't."

The dark promise was all too obvious in his low voice as he looked intently at Arlo. Arlo, meanwhile, was clutching the wall like it was going to save his life, the very bricks starting to crumble under his fingers. His control was really lacking. He was only growing more desperate with every second that passed. Damon crossed his arms and leaned up against the wall, amused. He knew the only reason Arlo hadn't tried to jump him yet was probably only his fear of what Damon could do to him. When Arlo said he was doing him a favor, he burst out laughing.

"Me? Oh, you shouldn't have. No, you're trying to run away from your problems. You need control. You need guidance. Do you even have a maker or were you left in the dark too? It's me that's offering YOU the favor, Arlo."

He watched the bricks continue to crumble around Arlo's fingers. He certainly had the strength of a young vampire. Damon wondered how long he'd been turned. Long enough for him to kill a few times and find out he didn't like the shame and regret that came with it. He was young enough to hold onto his humanity and yet old enough to want to fight for his humanity. How lame. Arlo was wanting to leave but Damon wasn't going to give him that mercy, not tonight. He'd already knocked his employee unconscious and tried to steal from him. And he'd been harassing his customers and employees for a month now. No, Arlo OWED him if nothing else. He scowled thoughtfully when Arlo told him he couldn't stop himself. He sighed dramatically and rolled his eyes.

"Yes, you can. It's just easier to give in. You think you're the only vampire who turned without anyone teaching them control? You think you're the only one who knows the strength of the hunger, the way it consumes you?"

He watched Arlo groan and run a hand through his hair. When he mentioned pulling his fangs out though, it must have hit a nerve. Arlo was suddenly looking at him in curiosity and the hungry look in his eyes was almost gone, or at least better hidden. It's amazing what a good threat can do. He snorted in disbelief though when Arlo told him if his hunting didn't work, that he would get to feed on him. He tilted his head.

"You think you get to negotiate the terms? That's cute."

He stepped closer, knowing good and well it would gave him another good whiff. He did have a soft spot for torture, after all. He tried to catch Arlo's gaze this time, holding it and letting his piercing gaze lock on for his other power. He only wanted to give him a taste as his voice lowered to a whisper.

"You WILL behave. In fact, we're even going to shake on it right now. Hold out your hand."

He waited for him to do just that, reaching out to shake his hand and release it before he dropped his gaze and gave Arlo his free will back. His brow rose as he waited for it to sink in. That's right, he had some tricks up his sleeve. Only then did he take a step back and nudge his head toward the street.

"Now come on. Let's take a little drive."