CHAPTER ONE - ALONE
Damon sat quietly on the top of the rift, watching the sunset in the valley below. This was a rare sight to see, Damon in quiet mode. Damon thinking over the world around him, thoughtfully and carefully. His mind wondered carefully back to Katherine, then to Elena… and all the in-between. He would never admit it, but he loved Katarina unconditionally. He also loved Elena unconditionally, but a little more and more as the days progressed. That was the difference.
Damon liked Elena because she made him feel more than the anger and hatred he had felt for centuries. Elena made him want to better himself; she gave him an increased awareness of the life around him. He felt more. An appreciation was starting to grow. His dark side was still there, but locked in a room, kept in a cage under the watchful gaze of the beautiful Elena.
Damon watched as the dusk breezes swang through the trees and with it carrying the sound of human voices. He switched back into predator mode as he carefully listened to the voices close by, just hikers. Quickly leaving the rift he headed back home, after all, he was catching up with old friends tonight who were going to do him a favour.
