Chapter 7: Caught Red-handed

Since drinking alcohol made him stronger, Damon wasn't about to slow down.  He fixed Stefan with a stare and urged him to drink up, while he himself took a few quick bites of food. Stefan gritted his teeth.  "Fine, I'll drink." He had no choice but to drain his cup. "Damon, I was saying... Hey, you refilled my glass again?" Before he finished talking, Damon had already topped him off. Damon lifted his glass. "Cut the chatter. Let the booze do the talking. If you're my friend, bottoms up!" "I... I..." Stefan faltered. Damon had already drunk another shot. As soon as the liquor hit his stomach, it turned into a small stream of warmth that circulated through him.  As it moved, the warmth faded, and his strength grew. His body had absorbed the warmth. Stefan stared, slack-jawed. "Damon... I really can't take another sip. How about we..." Damon shot him a glare.  "What a wimp. And you still want a girlfriend? Let me see the girl from your blind date." At the mention of that, Stefan perked up. He pulled out his phone.  "Hey, look. She's pretty, right?" He found a photo and thrust it under Damon's nose. It was a bona fide beauty.  On a ten-point scale, Damon would have given her an eight.  She dressed with stylish flair. "Not bad." Damon blinked.  "How would a woman that pretty be into you?" "That's fate for you," Stefan said, pleased with himself.  "Her name is Bethany. She says I'm honest. She likes men who are honest and dependable, and hates the flirty type." "Please." Damon cut him a look. "Something smells off here." "What could be off?" Stefan shook his head. "The only real problem is not being able to get married." He had a point. Stefan let out a sigh. "My dad died when I was young. It's just my mom and me. We've got no money, and I don't make much. If I can get married, that's enough. If she's a beauty, even better. Bethany is great. You know what, I'll text her later and take her out tomorrow." "Suit yourself." Damon felt there had to be something wrong with Bethany.  Otherwise, why would she meet Stefan and keep chatting with him online? "Still, watch out. She might be after your money," he warned. "What money do I have for her to scam?" Stefan gave a wry smile. "Right now, it's just the 150 dollars you split with me. Damon, honestly, you treat me better than anyone. No more talk. Let's drink!" He raised his cup and slammed it back himself. The two traded jibes and kept drinking and eating from the dishes.  Stefan soon keeled over drunk. At first, Damon stayed clear-headed because most of the liquor turned into heat and got absorbed.  After two full bottles, though, the effect wore off.  The more he drank after that, the heavier the buzz hit. He put away three bottles of liquor.  His head swam and throbbed. Heat poured through his body.  He drifted in a haze and pushed to his feet, swaying. "Hell, if Stefan's having a wife, why can't I find a woman?" He took two steps. "Too hot. Feels like fire in my gut. I need a woman too... and who says you have to marry to find one? Just for fun..." Ailee's face flashed through Damon's mind, and he sucked in a sharp breath. Ailee was, of course, beautiful, but she was his younger sister, related or not. "No. No." He shook his head and suddenly remembered something.  "Didn't Adeline tell me to come by tonight? Fine, I will. I'll go to any woman I want!" Outside, the night lay black as ink.  He glanced back at Stefan sprawled on the floor and shook his head.  "Stefan won't do. A few drinks and he's down." He strode out. Adeline's house was not far from his.  It was past nine. No moon, no stars.  Out here, folks turned in early. Almost every house was dark.  Even so, Damon could still see fairly well in the dark. Reeking of liquor and weaving, he made his way to Adeline's gate.  He reached the courtyard gate and was about to push it open.  The booze cleared a little just then.  He had come to see Adeline. How could he barge in openly?  What if Griffin caught them? That would be awkward. He sprang up and perched on the courtyard wall, then flipped over and dropped inside.  With powers from Arlo, sneaking off to fool around was easy. Right then, a soft creak came from the room inside, mixed with the rough breathing of a man and a woman. Damon became sober quickly. "Is it Griffin and Adeline?" He frowned and padded closer.  Pressed to the window, he heard a man's low voice. "Will this wake him?" Adeline's voice came in gasps.  "Wake my ass. That good-for-nothing? I drugged him. He sleeps more deeply than a pig. Even if we roll over to do it right next to him, he won't stir." Damon's brow knitted tighter. Who was the man? The man chuckled, low and dirty.  "Good, that's a relief. Adeline, marrying Griffin is a waste of someone as pretty as you." "Hurry up. Faster," Adeline urged the man. The creaking sound started up again. At last, Damon placed the voice. Wasn't that Mitchell? Mitchell was only thirty-two, tall and strapping.  He ran some small businesses in Red Starry Town and made some money.  He had put up a two-story house in Stone Village and owned a secondhand minivan.  By village standards, he counted as well-off. Damon had not expected him to be back, much less tangled up with Adeline.  Something did not add up. Damon fumed inwardly.  "Adeline, you shameless woman! Weren't you the one who seduced me? And now you're sleeping with Mitchell? What the hell am I supposed to do now?" A fire roared inside him. His body had already answered.  He wanted only to let it out. He hardened his resolve.  Adeline and Mitchell would not have their fun, not tonight. He went straight to Griffin's bedroom door, knocked, and called out loudly. "Griffin, are you asleep? Griffin!" Inside, Adeline and Mitchell freaked out, scared out of their wits.  Mitchell tumbled off the bed and wriggled under it.  Adeline hurriedly shoved his clothes after him. Then she called out, "Who is it? It's so late..." "It's me, Damon Barlow!" Damon spoke with a smile.  "I caught a wild boar, so I want to invite Griffin over for drinks. Adeline, where's Griffin? Get him up. I'm coming in!" With that, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.  Adeline stood by the bed, scrambling to get dressed.  Her body was as stunning as he remembered.