A/N: Hey everybody! So this is my first Vampire Diaries fic and I would really love it if you guys tell me if you like it and if I should continue it. The story is set somewhere in the near future of season 3 and is in Damon's POV. Please tell me if I should continue with the idea and review! Now on with the show…
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters.
Two things were happening at once, first the girl I loved was being dragged off by a maniac, and two I was laying here defenseless because teen witch got tricked and was compelled.
I slowly watch as Elena fights for her life as Klaus slowly reaches her.
"Don't fight, it only postpones the inevitable." He grabbed her arms and put her body against his.
He slowly reached for her vervain necklace and ripped it off swiftly.
"Won't be needing this, will we?" She thrashed in his grip and looked over to me with pleading eyes.
I tried with all my might to move but the witch was too powerful.
"Elena!" I yelled.
I wouldn't give up, I had to save her.
Klaus turned her around and smiled, "You will walk over to that tree and stand still and wait until I tell you otherwise." Her face was blank and her response was almost robotic.
"No, Elena listen to me. You have to fight it!" I tried to move my body but it felt like a restraint was keeping me there, "Dammit!" I yelled as my body felt tenser the harder I tried to move.
Klaus grabbed the rope and wrapped it around her as Elena stood still by the tree. He secured it tightly and breathed in her scent.
I growled as he touched her cheek and got closer to her. My inner animal was coming out and I wanted to rip off his head for even thinking about touching her, but he wanted to do worse. He was going to kill her.
"You burn my family, now I burn you." He growled and his voice held the distinct flare of a psychopath.
When we took Klaus's family and finally found the one way to get rid of them all, we jumped on the opportunity to destroy them. Stefan had found the way in a coffin that he was trying to work on opening for weeks and it finally disabled them all enough that fire could kill them, all except Klaus. The spell was powerful and it almost killed Bonnie, but revenge seemed to be strong in our minds.
Klaus had practically destroyed everything we all cared about; therefore it was only just that we do the same to him.
I was a fool.
Klaus picked up the torch and I tried my best to move. I wouldn't let Elena die this way.
"Now dear I want you to be clear and coherent when you are slowly burned alive. Wouldn't want you to miss out on any of the fun, now would I?" As soon as Klaus said those words Elena's face changed from neutral to scared.
She tried to free herself while I tried to do the same thing.
"You need her; her blood is the key to your little science experiment. If you kill her you also kill your little freak show!" I yelled.
I had to stall him, it couldn't end like this. I couldn't let her die.
"A price I am willing to pay."
"You prefer to be the only monster of your kind. You have nothing without your little puppy dogs falling you around like you are some sort of God."
"It doesn't matter!" He screamed as he ran over to me and took my face in his hands, "My family is gone and I did all of this for them! Since I can't die, watching her slowly and painfully die will just have to be enough." He turned around and threw the flame under Elena and soon the flames started to rise around her.
Her screams filled the air as the smoke became a thick covering around the forest.
"No!" I fought with everything I had.
I had to move, please let me move. The tears fell down my face as the screams got louder and my heart slowly started to shatter as the realization of Elena's agony filled me.
"Damon!" Her pleading voice rang out for me and I wanted to respond to her call.
Why couldn't it be me up there? I would burn just to know that she was safe, but fate has of course screwed me over like every other time.
If she died I would too. I won't go on knowing that I failed her and I didn't save her.
"Klaus it was my fault, I was the one who burned your family. They are dead because of me. Save her and kill me instead." He laughed at my pleads and the rage grew deeper inside of me.
The air around me filled with the smell of burning flesh and the screams started to die down. She was dying and I had to work faster.
"Don't you see, this is your punishment. I want you to live so you know what caused. Elena will die because of your foolishness." He breathed in the air and sighed with a smile of contempt and pure madness on his face.
I had to find another way to save her.
"Bonnie fight it, Elena is dying!" Bonnie just stared back at me with a blank expression.
As I realized that there was no other chance my body began to shut down. I started to feel empty and my sobs grew louder as the flames grew in size, engulfing the girl I swore to protect, the girl I loved.
"No." My voice was full of defeat as silence was replaced with the screams. .
Klaus walked back over to me and I saw the rage consume him. His eyes full of malice and hate and his face contorted in anger. He truly looked like the monster he had become.
"You will now feel my pain." He snapped his fingers and my body was free to move again.
I pushed passed him and tried to get to Elena but the fire was too big.
"Oh my God!" Bonnie ran up to my side and her cries broke the silence of the night and the soft crackling of the fire.
"Stop crying and do something, now!" My voice was cold and emotionless, and at this moment I didn't care.
If Elena was dead all my humanity would be loss. The monster I was would be back and the Damon she knew, the Damon she worked so hard to find under all of my masks, would be gone forever.
"How did this…?"
"You caused this! Stop the fire or so help me I will drain you so slowly you will beg for me to kill you!" Her eyes widened and she turned her focus to the fire.
The flames slowly died down and there hanging on the tree was Elena's burnt, limp body.
I couldn't move, I was frozen with grief. I fell to the ground and just kept my eyes on her body.
Her body was burnt and covered in black ash that had replaced her tan skin. The searing flesh started to slowly peel off of her and she was almost unrecognizable as the burns filled her face.
I wanted to look away but I couldn't. This was my punishment and it would forever be laced through my mind, forever entwining itself in my soul.
My tears have all been shed and I sat there still and emotionless. Numb on the outside as I was in the inside. Klaus won and we were fools for trying to think otherwise.
"What a pity you weren't smarter in the way you got revenge. I wonder where your pathetic brother was or for a matter where anyone was. I thought you all had so many friends yet no one was here to save your precious Elena. Well they will probably be there at the funeral to talk about their cherished memories with her; I wonder will you do the same?"Klaus scoffed as he stared at Elena's body with nonchalant eyes.
"Fuck you!" I got up and faced him.
If I was going to die this was the best time for it.
"Have fun with the funeral." He smiled at me before he disappeared.
"Come back! I'm not done with you!" I screamed at Bonnie started at me with pity.
"Damon…"
"Don't you dare talk. Let this be a warning, I am not your friend; I am not your ally. If I ever see you again consider me your enemy and if you don't kill me I will kill anyone you have ever loved. Elena's dead so I have nothing else to lose." I could feel myself starting to shut off any human emotions.
I didn't want to feel like this. It should have been me.
I looked back over to Elena's charred body and I closed my eyes and tried to remember her being alive.
I remembered when I first met her, when I first saw her smile, when I first knew I loved her, when I first kissed her, when she finally chose my over my brother.
When I kissed her that night on the porch we were both confused at what we were. When she saw Stefan the next day they got into a fight and that's when she finally made her choice. She chose me like I would always choose her.
But it all didn't matter, she was gone and that part of me had finally died.
"You know you change this right?" A girly voice said and I looked up and was met with a pair of bright, emerald green eyes.
Her small frame and tight features made her look like she was no more than sixteen.
Her long blonde hair cascaded down her back as her eyes narrowed in distain.
"Who are you?" I asked as I realized that everything was frozen.
Bonnie stood frozen, mid sob, while the small flames had stood still.
Everything seemed quiet and dark. The isolation that surrounded me kept me in a defensive stance.
"It's not who I am that you should be asking." She smiled showing me her perfectly white teeth.
"I suppose you want me to be cliché and ask what you are." I was in no mood for this shit.
If she didn't give me answers I would rip her pretty little head off.
"No, I want you to ask me how to get your lady love back." She scoffed, "I could care less if you know who or what I am."
"How?" My response was so quick and desperate it made me feel a little sorry for myself.
I knew I would do whatever it took to get Elena back; I just wanted to keep her safe.
"Change fate." She walked over to the tree and looked over Elena's body.
"You're not telling me how!" I was losing it but I had to keep my calm.
"With my help I can send you back and you can save her. Stop others from finding her, protect her. She is the doppelganger, so I am not promising she will be completely safe, but if you make sure attention is not drawn to her she can be saved from this fate." She waved her hand over Elena's body and I flinched at the pain of seeing it.
"Fate's fate you can't change it." I whispered.
I remembered the old stories of fate that I have heard of over the years and the biggest theme in each one is that everything that happens is destined to happen.
"Who says?" She exclaimed as she turned her gaze back to me. "Fate can change, it always does. She wasn't meant to die like this and that's what you can play on. You have a second chance with her and I suggest you don't fuck it up ."
"How am I supposed to keep her safe?"
I've already failed once.
"Don't let Klaus, Elijah, Katherine, or anyone that was a threat the first time around find her, or at least postpone it. Also don't let Stefan meet her first, you were supposed to meet her first the whole time but things got messed up. You have to change things or like you said things that happened this time will happen again." Her tone was serious and her eyes seemed to glow brighter.
"How far back will you send me?"
"Far enough. Two days before Stefan and Elena met. You're already in Mystic Falls at that time so it shouldn't be hard, but you must meet Elena first," she paused, "oh and words to the wise don't be so much of an ass like you were, it's very unappealing." She smirked and reached out for my hand.
"Learn from this, Mr. Salvatore."
I looked back at Elena's dead, charred body and I let that image sink in. I wouldn't let this happen and I wouldn't lose her.
"Ready?" Her voice seemed to echo.
"If this is a trick…"
"Then it is a very elaborate trick. Be smart." She took my hand and everything seemed to be rewinding itself.
Images ran passed me and it looked like I was watching a movie of everything that has happened in the past two years.
"I'll be watching, and if you need anything just call for Alice." She winked at me and everything turned black.
My head was pounding and everything seemed to be spinning around me.
I looked around at my surroundings and realized I was in the motel I stayed at when I first came back to Mystic Falls.
Holy shit, it worked.
I looked over at my phone and saw the date was exactly two days before I arrived and made it my mission to "ruin my brother's life."
I ran over to my bags and pulled out my favorite black t-shirt and some dark jeans and made my way out of the motel.
I got into my car and drove into the town that caused me my own personal hell.
Even though I have been in this town for a while, everything seemed different. Everything seemed lighter and the feeling of doom and gloom wasn't really present in the air like it usually was.
I parked the car over by the grill and took in a deep breath of air.
Well, here goes nothing.
I walked into the grill and everyone seemed to be there.
Everyone but Elena.
I saw Caroline, Bonnie, Matt, Tyler, and Vicky all sitting at a table, laughing at normal teenage things. Things they should be laughing at until life became a supernatural soap opera of its own.
My guard was actually caught off guard when I saw Vicky standing there alive and well.
I had to keep reminding myself that any events that happened haven't happened yet.
They all stared at me when I entered. Barbie and Vicky both stared at me with lust in their eyes, while teen witch stared at me with suspicion.
Matt and teen wolf glared at me as all the girls in the grill turned to get a look at me and for the first time I was actually becoming uncomfortable under their stares.
I walked over to the bar passing the group of teens. It took me a second to remember that Caroline wasn't a vampire; Bonnie didn't know she was a witch, and Tyler still hasn't grown his fangs yet.
These people Elena called "friends" weren't even there when she really needed them and she died because of it.
"Hey kids." I winked at them as I walked passed them and walked over to the bar.
I ordered a drink and waited for any tips on where Elena may be.
"So did you see the new kid yet? I hear he's really cute. I think his name is Stefan, sounds Italian." I rolled my eyes at Barbie's overly cheery and absolutely moronic voice and comments.
"No, but he will be in school. Let's just wait." Bonnie laughed.
"What about tall, dark, and handsome over there. I think he checked me out." Caroline whispered.
I didn't know it was possible but she was more annoying human than vampire.
Good God how did I deal with her for as long as I did, I deserve a medal at the very least.
"He's like twenty five Care, plus something's not right about him." Give the witch a prize.
At least Bonnie's still the good old bitch, I mean witch that I hate.
"I'm going to go talk to him." I heard the clatter of footsteps come my way and I groaned internally.
Lights, camera, action.
"Hey I'm Caroline and I don't think I've seen you around before?" She asked me as she smiled wider and leaned closer to me.
"Damon and I'm new." I flashed a signature smile and I could already see she was putty in my hands.
"So what are you doing here all by yourself?" Her flirting was borderline desperate and I was already starting to get bored with it.
"Waiting for a friend." I looked her right in the eyes. "Maybe you know her? Where is Elena Gilbert?" I asked and I could already see she was under my compulsion.
"She doesn't go out much. She's probably at her house or the graveyard."
"Thanks Blondie." I released her and waved her off. "Now scram, blondes aren't my thing." She glared at me as she walked away.
"What a dick." She continued to glare at me as I made my way out of the grill.
I took a shortcut to Elena's but something already told me that she wasn't there. I followed my instinct and let it lead me to the graveyard.
Once I arrived I stopped dead in my tracks as I saw her there leaning against a headstone and writing in her diary.
She was alive and breathing and my heart seemed to repair itself when I saw her face.
Her hair swayed gently in the wind as I remembered the soft, velvety feel of it. Her rosy cheeks radiated health and her plump lips shinned with fresh lip gloss.
I wanted to run to her, hold her, and kiss her but I couldn't.
She didn't even know my name, well not yet at least.
I walked slowly over to her and started my path in changing the future.
"Hey, what's a pretty lady like you doing here all by yourself." I smiled warmly at her but she still jumped with surprise.
"Sorry I didn't mean to jump like that. I didn't hear you coming." She laughed at herself and got up quickly.
Only if she knew her reaction was a normal one to men just popping out of nowhere.
"Most people tell me that," I extended my hand out to her, "Damon, Damon Salvatore." She shook my hand and smiled softly.
"Elena Gilbert." She locked eyes with me and for a second I thought I saw familiarity in her eyes.
As soon as I saw it, it was gone.
"Well, it's very nice to meet you, Miss Gilbert." I turned on my southern thrall and took her hand and placed a small kiss on her hand.
I saw the blush race to her cheeks and I couldn't help but smile at her.
"Same to you," she paused, "Salvatore, are you related to Stefan Salvatore at all?" Crap did she already meet him?
"He's my brother, do you know him?"
"No, just a lot of talk." She laughed.
Thank God for gossip.
"Oh well I hope its good talk." I smirked at her and she shrugged.
"It's high school talk, I'm not sure how good it gets." Her warm smile brightened up her face.
"Yeah." I was left speechless as I took in her beauty.
"Well I should go, it was nice meeting you." She grabbed her things and took one last look at me before she left.
"See you around!" I yelled after her
I just stood there, smiling like an idiot, as I realized I may have just changed the future.
I may have just saved Elena and that was all I wanted.
I stood there and remembered the night that Elena and I became a couple, the night she chose me.
"Elena just leave it alone, why can't you see that everything we had is gone." I heard Stefan yell as I made my way to the clearing.
"You're not a monster, you saved Damon. The old you is in there somewhere."
"Do you even hear yourself? I had nothing to lose and…"
"No, you had me!" She cried as tears stained her face.
"That's enough little brother." I stepped in front of Elena but Stefan quickly pushed me away.
"She has to get it through her head. Elena you have to move on!"Stefan yelled.
Elena flinched but she stood strong and stared back at him with determination in her eyes.
"Don't you see, I have moved on. I just don't want you dead. I still love you but what we had I know is gone." Stefan and I both stared at her with shocked expressions.
Elena looked over at me and I knew she was telling me that she did move on and she was moving on with me.
Stefan caught the look and turned around and gave me a hurt and confused look.
"You moved on with Damon?" Stefan whispered.
"I moved on with someone that has never abandoned me, has always been there for me, never gave up, and truly loved me. I made a choice." Stefan turned back and faced her.
"You did." His voice sounded defeated and the tension in the air became thick as the silence broke out.
"We need your help and we need to know we can trust you. Please be the Stefan that I loved." Elena pleaded while Stefan stared out into the vast darkness.
"I know what I'm doing Elena," he paused, "besides that Stefan is dead." He turned to give me one last look before disappearing into the night.
And that was the last time we saw him.
I shook my head clear of those memories and sought out for the new ones.
I got up and made my way to dear old Stefan.
When I arrived I realized Stefan would not be happy to see me, but hell I wasn't happy to see him either.
He left when we needed him most and became the coward I knew he was. I wasn't the villain in this movie, he was.
The door opened slowly and Stefan's eyes widened as he saw me.
"Hello brother." I wanted to punch him for abandoning Elena and I but I kept my calm.
"Damon what are you doing here?" I'm here to fix the mess you caused.
"Here to change some things." I walked past him into the house.
"Should have known it was you behind the animal attacks that everyone has been talking about." His disappointment in his voice was thick.
"That was the old me." It was true.
"Bull shit, why are you really here?" I sighed.
"I'm here to fix some things and then I am leaving." With Elena.
"That sounds really anti-climatic."
"Yeah well I'm not really into all of the theatrics anymore." Not since my lust for revenge go the better of me.
"Damon…"
"Stop there before I punch you. I'm not here to mess up your little pretending to be human thing, in fact I'm not here for you at all. I won't cause any harm and I will be out of your hair faster than you can make your little hero hairdo." I headed upstairs.
"If you're lying…"
"Fuck you Stefan!" I yelled behind me as I made my way to my room.
When I entered my room I couldn't help the tears of grief and happiness escaping my eyes.
I got another chance and I wouldn't screw it up.
Elena died and the memory of it still hung fresh in my mind, but here she was alive again.
I walked over to my bed and a small note lay on my pillow.
Damon,
When one door closes another opens. Enjoy your second chance.
Alice
I smiled as I threw out the note and laid on my bed waiting for the next day to come.
I would keep Elena safe and give her the life she deserved.
Even if it killed me.
A/N: Please review with your thoughts and if you want me to continue. Review!