Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a young prince lived in a shining castle. Although he had everything his heart desired, the prince was spoiled, selfish, and unkind. But then, one winter's night, an old beggar-woman came to the castle and offered him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the prince 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 prince tried to apologize, but it was too late, for she had seen that there was no love in his heart; and as punishment, she transformed him into a hideous Beast - and placed a powerful spell on the castle and all who lived there. Ashamed of his monstrous form, the Beast concealed himself inside his castle, with a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world. The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose, which would bloom until his 21st 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 beast for all time. As the years passed, he fell into despair and lost all hope. For who could ever learn to love a beast?
-Disney's Beauty and the Beast

There was a pounding on the door. The wind outside howled and the thunder cracked. Who could possibly be calling at this late hour? Stumbling through the darkened halls, Damon made his way through the house. Reaching the door, Damon pulled it open just as lightning shot across the sky, making him jump. "Who's there?" He called. Out of the shadows, a woman cloaked in red appeared. The cloak concealed her face completely. Damon began shivering as the wind pounded the rain droplets against his body. "What do you want?" His agitation was increasing with each passing second. Where were all the servants? Why had none of them answered the door?

"Please, I need somewhere to stay for the night. Our carriage got stuck, and our horses need rest. We were told we might find shelter here."

Invite strangers into their home? "Look elsewhere." Damon called above the storm.

"We don't know anyone in this town. Please. We have no money, but I do have this..."

A hand shot out passed the folds of the cloak, revealing olive colored skin. In the palm of the hand was a pendant. A rose quartz shaped flower lined in gold. It was exquisite, and Damon found that for a moment, he couldn't look away.

"It's a family heirloom. I would gladly trade it for shelter."

At the mention of bringing these strangers into their home once more, Damon's eyes snapped up and a sneer formed on his face. "I'm sure you can find room at the Inn." From behind the woman, Damon saw movement, revealing what Damon could only assume to be her handmaiden. Dressed in rags, and Damon imagined that the cloaked woman was dressed in the same. Common beggars. Filth.

"Please don't turn us away."

"If you don't get off our property immediately...I'm going to have to involve the authorities." Damon wanted nothing more than to slam the door in her face. The audacity! Showing up in the middle of the night. They must be from the north. Damon thought to himself.

"You won't give us shelter?"

If Damon had known what was to become of him, maybe he would have answered differently. Perhaps, he could have been able to find it within himself to be kind. But, Damon didn't know. And with one word, Damon Salvatore sealed his fate. "No."

Suddenly, the cloak fell, revealing the most endearingly brown eyes Damon had ever seen. An audible gasp escaped his lips as his eyes swept over her angelic features. He loved her. Instantly. He wanted to tell her this, apologize...but as his eyes found hers once more, he found that his thoughts began to muddle.

"I didn't want to have to do it this way, but you leave me no choice."

Damon couldn't look away. He was trapped. "Who...are...you?" His voice was barely a whisper. The girl smiled. It both excited and terrified him.

"My name is Katherine Pierce."

Katherine Pierce. That name would never be forgotten. No, it would haunt him for all eternity. Without another word, Katherine lunged at him, her teeth latching onto the fleshy part of his neck. Damon screamed and tried to get away, but she was inhumanly strong. The more he screamed, the worse the pain got. Blackness started creeping in on him, he could feel his body growing weak. Soon, there was no fight left in him, and his hands went limp at his sides. Damon was dying. Something warm and wet hit his lips.

"Drink."

The voice was distant, but hypnotic, and Damon used the last ounce of his strength to open his mouth. The second the liquid hit Damon's tongue, he was doomed. With renewed strength, Damon's hands shot out, gripping tightly. Urgently, he drank, relishing in the feel of the liquid rushing down his throat. It made him feel strong. It made him feel alive. It made him feel-

SNAP.

Darkness.

Everything hurt. Was this death? Was he dead? No, not dead. It wouldn't hurt so much if he were dead. Groaning, Damon opened his eyes. He still lay in the foyer of his home, the door wide open. Only it was day, and the sunlight streamed in. Raising his hand, Damon shielded his eyes from the rays. With his other hand, he began examining his mouth. His gums hurt. Like there was something inside trying to get out...and he was hungry - STARVING.

"You're in transition."

Jumping to his feet, Damon turned to see the handmaiden from last night sitting on the couch in the parlor. Hesitantly, Damon approached her. "Transition?" Damon gulped. He didn't like the sound of that.

"Yes. Soon you'll be like her."

Like her. Damon remembered the way the girl - Katherine - had savagely bitten into his flesh. His hand flew to his neck, but there was no trace of a wound. Shaking his head, Damon answered. "No...I can't - I'm not...I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"

"It's a little late for apologies, Mr. Salvatore."

Katherine appeared before him. Last night she had looked like an angel...today she looked like the devil. Lucifer himself come to steal his soul. Damon began backing up. "I will never be like you." Katherine smirked.

"You already are, dear. Heartless, cold, monstrous..."

"NO!" Damon exclaimed, feeling disgustingly weak for wanting to cry. "I'm not a monster!"

"Oh, you will be."

Following Katherine's words, the house fell into silence. It was too quiet, Damon realized. It must be passed noon, and none of the servants were up. Nor was Stefan anywhere to be found. "What did you do?" Damon began to panic. "Where is my brother?" Katherine rolled her eyes.

"Relax, Damon. Stefan will be alright."

Slowly, almost in a predatory way, Katherine crossed the room. Damon had been backing up, and grunted as his back hit the wall. Katherine ran her fingers along the side of his face, making Damon want to recoil.

"You have no idea of the future I have planned for us. You, me, and Stefan."

Katherine never did reveal the future she had planned. Later that night, she forced the brothers to complete the transition by killing and feeding on two of the house servants. Once the transition was complete, Katherine tried to persuade Damon and Stefan to leave with her. When they rejected her, she had her handmaiden place a curse upon the house and everyone who resided within it.

"An eternity of misery."

She promised them.

"Until you can find it within yourself to truly love someone, and earn their love in return...you will be bound to this house and to this town."

To Damon, this didn't appear to be too severe of a punishment. But as the years passed, and the friends he knew grew old and died, Damon realized just how cruel this punishment was. To watch those you know wither and die while you remained unchanging forever was torturous. In his rage, Damon tried to flee the town, only the experience an excruciating pain that crippled him. Again and again, day after day, Damon tried, but he never made it passed Wickery Bridge. He was trapped. The bitterness festered within him, twisting Damon from the inside out. Nobody was safe from his wrath. Stefan tried to reason with him, begged him to stop, but Damon was too far gone. He tortured and maimed the townsfolk, taking out his anger on any who crossed his path. The people feared him, and began barricading their doors at night. For nighttime was when Damon could roam free. The sunlight kept him indoors during the day, but each sunset unleashed...the beast.