Title: Tale As Old As Time

Summary: For who could ever learn to love a beast? Damon Salvatore takes a young girl as his prisoner in exchange for her father's safety. But, the vampire has a secret he's hidden for years… will she be the one to break it? Will they even want to? A classic supernatural telling of a familiar fairytale.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is being made from this work.

A/N: This plot bunny just wouldn't go away! I blame ABC Family and their need to show Beauty & the Beast a million times during 25 Days of Christmas. Anyways… here's the first chapter (or only chapter…). I still have a Harmony fic to finish, a Delena fic that just started, and Char's Christmas present. Talk about going overboard! *sigh* So, yeah, let me know what you think!

Once upon a time, a young man lived in a beautiful mansion. Although he had everything his heart desired, the man was spoiled, selfish, and unkind. But then, one winter's night, an old beggar woman came to the mansion and offered him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the man sneered at the gift and turned the old woman away. But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within. And when he dismissed her again, the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful enchantress. The man tried to apologize, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart. And as punishment, she placed a powerful spell upon him and transformed him into a vampire and froze his servants in time. Ashamed of his monstrous form, he lashed out upon the world and all of those he came into contact with. The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom until his 150th year. If he could learn to love another, and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a monster for all time. As the years passed, he fell into despair and lost all hope. For who could ever learn to love a beast?

Elena Gilbert exited the town library of Mystic Falls with her head in a book. It was one of her favorites and the librarian had been nice enough to let her keep it since most of the wear done to it had been done solely by her. Mystic Falls had been bustling with excitement of the upcoming Founder's Day. Banners had been placed all around town and townspeople were busy creating floats, deserts, and inventions for the upcoming event. Her father, John, was working on a marvelous invention for months now; not that he would tell her exactly what it did.

"Elena!" a voice called, causing her to lift her head and see Caroline Forbes racing towards her.

A small smile lifted the corners of her mouth. "Hi, Caroline."

"Are you all signed up for Miss Mystic Falls? Deadline is tomorrow."

"I signed up yesterday," Elena answered as her smile faltered. The memories of her mother and her planning for the event passed through her mind; as well as, the thought that her mother wouldn't be able to be there with her. Four months prior, her mother had died in a car crash that had altered her life forever. No longer did she party with her friends but instead chose most night to spend writing on her computer. Her father was no longer part of the council because he spent most of his time building inventions to better the town. Signing up for an event that had been mainly her mother's idea was not something that she had wanted but ultimately she chose to do it in memoriam. If nothing else, her mother could at least look down on her and be proud that she had gone through with it.

Caroline nudged her shoulder, breaking off her thoughts. "Great! We'll have to see who wins this time around."

"Yes, we will," Elena replied, not in the mood for Caroline's usual competition. "I've got to head home. I'll see you around."

"Bye!" Caroline called as Elena turned away.

She climbed into her Ford Escape and drove to her house near the edge of town. The drive was short and it wasn't long until she was parked in front of the familiar white house that held so many memories. The black shutters that her mother and father had painted while Elena and her friend practiced cheerleading on the front lawn. The swing on the front porch where she had her first kiss with Matt Donovan and then afterwards ran to her mother to tell her the entire story. Her mother had listened intently even though Elena's voice had reached octaves even she didn't know she had. The fact was the house held so many memories of her mother that it was both a place of solace and a constant reminder of something she had lost and would never have again.

With a breath, she exited the car and climbed the pathway and stairs, opening the front door to the smell of dinner cooking. Her father's voice rang out to her. "Elena? Is that you?"

"Yes, Dad," she answered. "How was work today?"

Her feet took her to the kitchen where her father was working determinedly over the stove. He had let beard grow out and his hair was a huge haystack upon his head. Elena shook her head at the sight of his mismatched clothes and his jumpy attitude as he worked the kitchen. When he finally looked up at her, a smile glinted across his face. "Finally finished! I have to bring it upstate to have it checked out but other than that we're all set for Founder's Day."

"When do you leave?" Elena questioned. She was used to her father's road trips by now.

"Tomorrow."

Elena nodded and went to work setting the table. "I'll help you pack after dinner."

Her father hadn't called her in days, which was very unlike him. Usually, he called her throughout his day to keep her up to date with his coming and goings. Frantically, she paced around the house calling his contacts upstate only to find out he had yet to get there. This only served to get her more worried and concerned and within moment she had ran for the car, putting it in drive and speeding towards the highway in search of his sedan.

She drove for miles, searching for his car only to find it near an exit sign. Elena hopped out and searched the car for any sign of wear he could have gone only to notice that the car was out of gas. Hopping back into her car, she turned off the exit and drove down narrow paths until she came upon the first building. It was a large rustic looking house off a dirt pathway. It's ground had not been well kept because shrubbery and grass grew haphazardly. Having no other choice, she turned onto the dirt road and onto the gravel of the circular driveway.

Quickly, she put her car in park and hopped out of her car. As soon as she reached the doorway she knocked on the door, finding it opening at her touch. "Hello?" she called into the darkness. "Is anybody home?"

Silence answered her and reluctantly she stepped into the massive house. She wasn't sure what was drawing her to this place but it was as if a tether was pulling her further into its unknown depths. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out her phone and created a makeshift flashlight. With careful steps she maneuvered through the house and down a staircase.

Once more she called into the darkness. And this time she was rewarded with an answer. "Elena?" a familiar voice called. Elena followed it to what appeared to be a dungeon. There between the viewing bars she found her father. Blood trickled down an open wound in his neck and his skin was ashen and cover in sweat.

"Dad? Oh my God! Are you okay? What happened to you?" Elena attempted to open the latch, finding herself unable to. She looked around her searching for a ring of keys; anything to free her father.

"Elena, listen to me," her father pleaded. "You need to get out of here. Don't worry about me. Save yourself."

Shaking her head, she answered. "No! I won't lose you too. I'll get you out of here."

Suddenly, Elena felt something quickly move behind her. She turned around only to find nothing but a vacant wall. Chills crept over her skin as fear began to fill up inside her. But this fear would go unnoticed; she had more important things to worry about: like finding that damned key.

It was then that cold hands made contact with her body, pushing her down the hallway and further away from her father. Her call phone scattered away from her and the only light was a flickering overhead that went above her.

"What are you doing here?" a velvet voice growled in the darkness.

Elena looked around her only to find the outline of the figure standing in front of her. Squinting her eyes she asked, "Who's there?"

"The Master of this household," he answered, unmoving.

She moved to a seated position and crouched against the wall nearest her. "I'm here for my father. What have you done to him?"

The voice chuckled, his body shaking with the action. "He trespassed onto the wrong house."

It was then that she stood, squaring her shoulder and firmly planting her feet onto the concrete floor. "But he could die. And I can't…" her voice faded. Taking a deep gulp, she continued, "Just, please, I'll do anything."

The silhouette disappeared and Elena felt movement behind her before he once again appeared before her. She still couldn't make out his features only the leanness of his body and the lithe way he moved. His head shook, sending locks of hair about him. "There is nothing you can do. He's my prisoner… for a while."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Let's just say I wouldn't set a place for dinner any longer."

Elena shook her head, water filling up her eyes. She wouldn't lose another parent; she couldn't. Her eyes drifted towards the door that her father was behind. Through the rails she could make out his fingers. His gargled cough echoed through the room. It was then that the idea came to her: the very thing that could save her father. She stepped into the light, revealing herself to the creature. Squaring her shoulders, and keeping her eyes trained in front of her, she whispered, "Take me instead."

"Elena, no!" Her father yelled. "You don't know what you're doing! What he's capable of!"

"Silence!" the creature demanded. "You would trade places with him and stay with me?"

"If I did," she stated, "would you let him go?"

The creature paused before his deep voice filled the room again. "If I had your word that you would stay here for eternity."

For a moment, she hesitated. With this promise she was signing her life away. There would be no dances, no boyfriends, no life. For the rest of her life she would be trapped her with this unknown creature. That was when she heard her father's wheezing breath and knew this was something she had to do. "You have my word."

"No, Elena! I won't let you do this!" her father screamed.

"Then it's settled," the creature called as he stepped into the light. Elena took in the hauntingly features of his face. His incisors were elongated to reveal bloody fangs that dripped with crimson blood. Under his black eyes were spider web veins that crept over the contour of his cheeks. Goosebumps pebbled her skin as he pulled free the latch and grabbed hold of her father. Her father clawed at the creature, trying to escape his grasp before their eyes met and he grew eerily still. "You will forget this entire thing happened. You will continue on your journey and when you return home you received a phone call from your daughter stating she was running away. You will not search for her. You will not remember this place. Your wounds were from an animal attack while searching for gas."

Her father blinked and before Elena could whisper words of goodbye, the creature vanished, taking her father with him. "Wait!" she called after them. After a long moment, she heard the tell-tale sound of a door slamming before the creature returned. By this time, furious tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked up into the creature's eyes. "You didn't even let me say goodbye. I'm never going to see him again."

Uncaring, the creature simply turned towards the stairwell. "I'll show you to your bedroom."

"My room?" Elena questioned amidst her tears. "But I thought…"

The creature turned feral as he growled, "Do you want to stay here?"

"No."

His eyes rolled; the veins dissipating and his incisors slowly creeping up back into his gums. A bright blue color took place of the endless black. In this human state he almost looked attractive. Almost because the memory of his ferocity still was in main forefront of her mind. She followed him out of the dungeon, past the parlor room, and up a flight of stairs. Down an endless hallway of doors they travelled until he stopped by a pale yellow room. The room had a simple twin bed that was covered in grey paisley sheets and a white down comforter. There was an armoire and a desk that held a mirror.

Awkwardly, she stood in the doorway before she finally found the strength to step inside. It was definitely more comfortable than the dungeon but she couldn't forget that she wasn't here as a willing guest, she was being forced to stay here against her will. She wondered what the creature would do to her and why he had yet to hurt her the way he obviously had harmed her father.

The creature crossed his arms in front of his chest, eyeing her as she checked out the space. Eventually, she turned towards him and lifted her eyebrows in question.

"Comfortable enough?"

Elena nodded but her voice escaped her. She had nothing that she wanted to say to him and the adrenaline was beginning to seep its way out of her system causing her to feel the full weight of the nights emotional toll.

"I'll find you clothes in the morning but I've already had my servants supply you with something suitable enough for you to sleep in. My household is yours too now so you may go wherever you like, except the western wing on this floor."

Curiosity got the best of her, "What's in the west wing?"

"It's forbidden!" he growled. Elena's body froze with the menace of his voice. Seeing her fear, he stepped forward and stood over her. "You follow my rules and I don't see any reason why I should end your life."

In a broken voice she asked, "What's your name?"

"Damon," he answered as his mood shifted to one of indifference. He seemed to do that a lot, Elena noted. His moods were almost as unpredictable as his temper. A smirk lifted the corner of his mouth as he leaned closer towards her. "And I already know yours, Elena."

Her body shivered as his breath fanned over her face. With that statement, he turned and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him. It was then that the tears began to come in full force and Elena found herself racing towards the bed and collapsing on top of it, her sobs being muffled by comforter. The only thought running through her mind was: What has she done?

Damon sat by the fire, its embers of light dancing across the wall. After he downed the contents of his tumbler, he threw the glass against it, letting his frustrations take over the surface of his face. He had no idea how to entertain a young woman in his home. Any women that he had encountered were used and quickly disposed of. He had no time for lasting relationships only the one thing that needed: their blood.

"Should I get Bonnie to bring her up some tea?" a familiar voice questioned from behind him.

He turned to see his nephew, Stefan, approach. Waving a hand, he stated, "Yeah. Sure. Whatever."

"You have no idea what to do with her, do you?"

Instead of voicing his concerns, he merely shook his head as he lost himself in the flames elegant dance. It would be so easy to jump into the flames and end it all. He hadn't chosen this life but his arrogance had led him to this. Damon held out his hand and Stefan readied him another glass of bourbon. Once again he drank the amber liquid, letting the fire drift down his throat.

"Just be yourself… only nicer," Stefan laughed.

Damon uttered a growl. "She just seemed so miserable."

"The girl did lose her father and her freedom all in one day. Give her some time," Stefan reasoned. Quiet moments passed between them before he spoke again. This time his voice was hopefully yet hesitant as he asked, "Have you thought that this girl may be the very one to break the spell?"

"Of course I have. I'm no fool!" Damon yelled. Then a loaded sigh escaped him. "It's no use. She's so beautiful and the way she looked at me when I…" he paused. "She could never love a monster."

Stefan approached his uncle. "You must help her to see past all that. Past the monster thirsting for blood. Help her see your humanity."

Damon removed the ring from his finger, the ring that allowed him to walk in the day, and twirled it between his fingers. "I'm not even sure that exists anymore," he whispered as the hope dwindled from his voice. Before this wretched curse he had been many things: arrogant, vain, selfish, and unkind. But, he had never been a killer, a monster. In fact, he had left a war because he could stand to kill innocent men despite their differing viewpoints on how the South was to be run. Now he was forced to become the very thing he hated.

If he hated himself, how could he ever expect her to love him?