'Katherine.' Just the thought of her sent chills down his spine. The love of his life. And she was trapped. She was stuck in the tomb underneath Fell's Church. She was depending on him, and he was determined to save her. He's spent 145 years waiting for this exact moment. He had Bonnie Bennett in place undoing the spell that held her. In a matter of minutes, he'd be reunited with her. His love. His body tingled with excitement.
He could smell the blood in his hand. He'd brought a bag for her, to restore her former beauty. It broke his heart to think of what condition she must be in in that tomb; essentially a living corpse. He heard Bonnie utter the last few incantations.
"Is it done?" He called to her.
"Try it and see. I'm leaving." The sound of her footsteps faded in the distance.
'Here goes nothing,' he told himself. He pried away the door to the tomb. Before entering, he made sure to tuck the bag of blood away in his jacket. He searched the tomb for her. The others grabbed at him, but didn't have the strength to grip his clothing. He pushed them away easily. His eyes were pulled to a dark corner. It was her. His breath stopped short when he saw her. Her bouncy curls were dry and brittle. Her skin tore like parchment when she turned to look at him. Her eyes were dull, but shone when they met his.
He scooped her up in his arms and carried her quickly out of the tomb, his heart pounding. He set her down gently, but a hole in the bag of blood from his jacket, and held it to her lips.
"Drink, my love," he said tenderly. She took the bag from him, and he replaced the door to the tomb, sealing the others inside.
Katherine finished her blood and stood, leaning on the wall. She smiled weakly and looked up into his eyes.
"I knew you'd come for me. I've dreamt of this moment for over a century," she croaked, her vocal chords dry from years of non-use. His heart leapt at the sound of her voice. She swayed a bit, and he rushed to steady her. She reached up to stroke his cheek, "My sweet Damon."
