The Unknown Variable

Part 6

How was he supposed to keep moving forward when all he felt like doing was drowning in the endless sea of questions and mysteries that surrounded him?

Damon's world spun around him faster and faster until it seemed like the room was becoming nothing but, a blur of color.

Slamming his eyes shut Damon tried to force air from his lungs as he felt his throat closing in panic.

Voices started to fill his ears and he knew if he opened his eyes the mysterious blonde man would be back in the room.

'Damon!' 'Cub, it's all right. I am not going to hurt you.' 'Everything is going to be okay pup.'

Suddenly a child's voice rang out amongst the man's reassurances pleading desperately 'Don't leave me, please.'

Damon's eyes shot open quickly taking in the sight before him.

The blonde man from earlier stood in front of a child but, not just any child.

It was him from when he was 13 or 14 standing in front of the man begging, pleading not to be left behind.

His breath caught in his throat as the scene played out before him.

The blonde man knelt to eye level with him. 'Damon.'

The man breathed out softly, glancing away before quickly looking him in the eyes again.

'I will be coming back for you, I swear it. There is nothing that could truly keep me away from you. You are family now, and nothing shall ever change that.'

Tears poured down the face of the young Damon before he spoke softly, his voice breaking even as he tried to hide it. 'A-Always and Forever right, Babbo.'

'Always and Forever, my Bambino. For now, though, you must forget this. You will only begin to remember our time together once you have seen my siblings or I once again.' The blonde man whispered, staring the young boy in the eyes.

Damon drew in a shuttering breath as the scene disappeared from his view, more questions encircling his every thought.

Who was that man, and why had he called him Dad in Italian?

Giuseppe had refused to let him, or Stefan even speak Italian as they grew, claiming that doing so was blasphemous.

Ironic considering Venice was the place they had originally hailed from.

An earsplitting shriek sliced through the silence that had encompassed the small cabin.

Moving quickly, Damon barely glanced at the caller ID reading 'Liberty' on his phone before answering. "Hey," Damon coughed, clearing his throat, "Did you find anything?"

Silence rang softly through the phone, had he not been able to hear the quiet breaths leaving her lungs, he would have thought they had been disconnected. "Liberty?" Damon questioned curiously as the silence seemed to stretch on endlessly.

"Damon." A soft voice came over the line. "Sorry, I haven't been able to find out how you are connected to the Mikaelson family or to Klaus. Something else is coming your way though. Rumor was spreading that someone told the Augustine Society where to find you."

Damon's blood ran cold in his veins as she spoke; he was certain the Augustine Society had burned the same night Lorenzo had.

"I can hear you panicking through the phone Damon. It's fine, I've already told everyone you are in Greece so no one should come sniffing around Mystic Falls for you. I'm still looking into the Mikaelson's as well. Really, I just wanted to warn you to watch your back. The Augustine Society shouldn't be a problem but, be careful just in case someone decides to come and search Mystic Falls anyways."