"Damon is either the best thing for her, or the worst." Esther puts a spell on Elena that enables her to read Klaus's mind, not realising that she has also gave Elena access to every other vampires mind. Elena will now get to see firsthand exactly how Damon feels about her and the lengths that he will go to prove his love to her. Set during episode 3x14.

A/N – I couldn't help myself. I came up with this idea in work today and I had to write it. I have a lot of time to write so I know I will be keeping all my stories up to date regularly. I hope you enjoy the first chapter of my new story.

Please review to let me know it is worth continuing.

Chapter One – Mind Reader

"Why did you want me here Esther?" Elena asked her as she stood next to the door. Elena was too scared to get any closer to her. She knew Damon would be angry about what had happened, but she had to go and talk to her. Elena knew that even if she had came here tonight or not that Esther would come and find her anyway. She didn't have a choice.

"I have a proposition for you, Elena. Seeing as you are the doppelgänger, I believe that you would be the best person to carry out my plan," Esther replied nonchalantly. Elena watched as she poured different substances into a large bowl. Elena could tell that she was in the process of casting some sort of spell.

"What plan?" Elena walked a little closer to Esther, trying to decipher exactly what was going on. She suddenly felt as though Damon may have actually been right about tonight. She couldn't have come. It was too dangerous.

"Well, Niklaus always seems to be one step ahead of me. I can't have that anymore. I have decided to give you the power to read his mind. Unfortunately, I am not able to have the power myself, so you are my next choice. You will find out the information I need and if you don't I will make sure that every person you have ever loved will die. It's as simple as that." Esther smiled softly at Elena. Esther knew that she was taking this a bit far by threatening Elena's loved ones, but she had to find out what Niklaus's plan was. She couldn't stand by idly and let this abomination continue. She had started this and she had to end it.

"I thought you were supposed to bring balance? Why would you do this?" Elena was fed up of people threatening the people she loved. But, just like Esther, she knew that it was the one thing that would make Elena do anything that she wanted her to. She had lost too many people that were close to her. If he had to listen to Klaus's thoughts to protect her family then she would.

"I am bringing balance, once you give me the information I need, I can put a stop to this. Nobody can know, Elena. And don't be mistaken in thinking I won't notice if you are lying or not. I will and you will pay," Ester said firmly as she walked over and grabbed Elena's arm.

Elena didn't even bother trying to fight back. She did want rid of Klaus and if this was the way to do it then she would have to work alone.

"How am I going to get close to Klaus to find out what is even going on with him? I mean Damon and Stefan won't even let me near him," Elena protested.

"Well, you will find a way or I make it easier for you and dispose of both of them. You choose." Esther pulled Elena closer to the large bowl that was now bubbling.

"What are you going to do to me?" Elena was scared. She did want revenge on Klaus, but the thought of taking him on herself scared her.

"Nothing, you just have to drink this." Esther poured some of the concoction into a glass and handed it to Elena to drink.

Elena looked at her sceptically, "How can I trust that this actually is what you say it is?" Elena didn't know what to do. How could she trust Esther. It was pretty clear to her that this entire family were liars. They only looked out only for themselves.

"I know what you are thinking, Elena. But, think about it. I want Niklaus dead, so do you. He won't harm you as you are the doppelgänger. I need you to help me, Elena. Why wouldn't you want to? He has made your life hell. He killed your Aunt Jenna." Esther gave Elena a hard look. Elena knew that she was right. This was what she had been trying to do for months now. If Stefan or Damon had been asked to do this she knew also that they would have done it. Anything to get rid of Klaus.

"Okay, give me it." Elena picked up the glass and quickly drank the liquid over. She almost gagged at the taste but stopped herself from doing so. She placed the glass down after the drink was finished and wiped her mouth.

"I don't feel anything different?" Elena asked Esther, hoping that it didn't work and she would have to go through with this horrible plan.

"You won't. It just means that now you will be about to hear Niklaus's thoughts. You can leave now, I will contact you soon with your next instruction. Now, remember… You can't whisper a word of this to anyone, especially to the Salvatore's."

Elena nodded in response as she made her way back down to the big hall. She couldn't believe what had happened. She noticed Klaus standing talking to Caroline, she decided this would be the perfect test to see if this spell actually worked. She walked through the crowds of people and stood next to them both, attempting to join in their conversation without seeming too suspicious.

"Well if it isn't Miss Doppalicious coming to say hello," Klaus joked as he smiled towards Elena. She nodded in return and tried to focus all her energy into trying to hear his thoughts.

"Doppalicious? Really? Where did you come up with that one? One of your many fake hybrids tell you it?" Caroline scoffed at Klaus as they began to bicker for the hundredth time. Elena chose to ignore them both as she zoned in on Klaus again.

I can't help but just rile her up, she just radiates beauty.

Elena jumped back in horror at hearing his thoughts. It was a strange experience for her. She hadn't believed that it would actually work.

"Elena, are you okay?" Caroline asked as she held onto Elena's arm.

What is up with her? And why is Klaus always such a di-

"What the hell!" Elena shouted, staring at Caroline. She couldn't believe that she had just heard Caroline's thoughts too. This wasn't part of the plan.

"What is up with you, Elena? Are you okay?" Caroline asked again, worried at how her best friend was acting.

She really is not acting herself. Maybe I should go and get Stefan and Damon.

Caroline began looking around for the Salvatore brothers. She could tell that something was up with Elena, but it too dangerous to talk about anything in front of Klaus.

"No! I'm fine. I just need some air. I'll talk to you later, Caroline." Elena started to quickly walk away and make her way outside. She couldn't believe that she could hear Caroline's thoughts. She had to see Esther as soon as possible to get this spell removed. She felt like she was invading Caroline's privacy. Elena sat on the bench at the back of the house, hating how the night had turned out. As much as she did want Klaus out of her life she just hated being able to read his mind. She would hate if anyone could read her mind. Your own thoughts were private, everyone should at least be given that one luxury. Elena sat on the bench enjoying the cool breeze as she tried to process everything that had happened.

Why does she make it so hard?I can't stand the thought of her in any danger.

"Damon?" Elena turned round and noticed Damon standing behind her.

"How did you know I was here?" He asked as he took a seat next to her on the bench.

"What do you mean? Didn't you just speak?" Elena asked, knowing that her worst fears were about to be confirmed.

"Nope. Maybe you are just hanging about with us vampires too much that our wonderful powers are starting to rub off on you. Now, should I shout at you now or later for going to see Esther alone?" Damon asked, angry that she had to go behind his back tonight.

I don't know what I would do if anything happened to her. I can't live without her in my life now.

Elena looked down embarrassed, hearing what Damon was thinking about her was definitely unnerving. She knew she shouldn't be hearing this. Of course she knew that Damon had feelings for her, but he was never truly open about it. It was hard for Elena to hear, especially as she wasn't sure about how she felt for Damon. Sure, she knew that she did have feelings for him and strong feelings at that. But, she just wasn't ready to face them yet. They could change everything.

"It went fine. It was rather strange, actually. She just apologised for everything that Klaus has done. She said she felt it was her fault as she created him in the first place." Elena hated lying to Damon, but she knew she was actually just protecting him. She had to do exactly what Esther wanted her to if she wanted to protect the people that she loved and if that meant telling a little white lie to Damon then she would have to do it.

"Well it looks like the Original Witchy is having some regrets. As long as you are okay, Elena. I need you to stay safe." Damon took Elena's hand in his as he gave it a small squeeze.

If she only knew how I felt. I wish I hadn't compelled her that first night I met her. Things could have been so different.

Elena quickly pulled her hand away from his in complete shock. She was so confused by what Damon was thinking. She never thought that he had compelled her. She didn't know when he would have had the chance to. She suddenly felt betrayed. She was angry that he hadn't told her this. Something also inside of her was pushing to be let out to the surface. She knew if he had compelled her then the memory would be somewhere in her mind.

"Elena, what is wrong with you? You seem very jumpy…" Damon moved closed along the bench and held Elena's hand back in his. As much as she wanted to pull away again she couldn't, how could she explain it? She relaxed into his touch again and knew as soon as this was over she would ask Damon. She wanted to remember every moment between them.

"I'm fine. It's just been a long day. Could you possibly go get my car round the front while I go and get my coat? I just want to go home," Elena asked Damon as she stood up.

"Sure," Damon replied.

Anything for you.

Elena suddenly blushed again as she heard Damon's thoughts. She knew this was going to be the end of her. She had spent only 10 minutes with him and she felt like she hardly knew him. It didn't make it any easier that he was constantly throwing her compliments in his mind. She was supposed to be waiting till Stefan was better, but Damon's thoughts were only making her even more conflicted. She also felt guilty for betraying him. He would be so angry if he knew that she could hear him. If he felt anything for Elena he should be able to tell her when he wants to.

"Are you blushing? Damon asked as he stood in front of Elena.

Elena looked up and suddenly realised how close Damon was to her. His eyes were staring straight into hers, she felt like he was trying to see into her soul. His two hands came to hold her waist softly as he pushed her closer to him. His intense gaze was too much for her, her eyes started to move down as they honed in on Damon's lips. She knew what she wanted to do, but she also knew it would only complicate everything even more.

"I'm fine. I was just a little hot," Elena replied, scared to meet Damon's gaze again.

"Liar, I think I have this effect on you. I make you blush. It's fine, it happens," Damon teased Elena, not letting her go.

"You're hilarious, Damon. Now, can you please go get my car?" Elena was finding this all too much. He was breaking down her walls and there was nothing she could do about it. She knew it wasn't supposed to be this way.

"I will. But, I need you to know how beautiful you are tonight. I also need to tell you to not ever go behind me back again, Elena. I'm always going to protect you, but I can't do that if you're not honest with me." Damon was now serious as he spoke to her.

I love you.

Elena was so taken aback by what Damon had thought. She knew that he loved her. But, hearing him say it with so much intensity was something else entirely. Elena pushed closer to Damon and slowly gave him a small peck on the lips. She pulled back and smiled as she noticed him smiling too. She didn't know why she did it, but only knew that she wanted to. She was seeing a softer side to Damon and it was only making her feelings for him stronger.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that, Damon," Elena replied. She meant what she said. She didn't want to cause someone that she cared about any pain. Elena pulled out of Damon's embrace and walked back into the hall. She knew he was going to go around the side to get the car so this was her only chance to talk to Esther and get her to fix this spell. Elena looked around and noticed that everyone seemed to be busy. She quickly made her way up the marble staircase and knocked on the door at the top.

"You may come in, Elena," Esther said.

Elena opened the door and snuck into the room, the last thing she wanted was for anyone to see her here again.

"Why are you back so soon may I ask?" Esther was sitting on her chair watching Elena curiously.

"There is a problem with the spell. I can hear every vampire. Not just Klaus! I can hear Caroline and Damon's thoughts. It's killing me. I can't do this." Elena started to pace Esther's room.

"What do you mean?" Esther seemed confused. She was sure that the spell would have only tied Elena to Klaus thoughts.

"I mean I can hear every vampires thoughts! I can't bare it. I feel awful. I shouldn't be hearing their thoughts, they are private." Elena was still pacing the room. She could hardly take in everything that had just happened and she needed Esther to sort it now.

"I don't know what has happened, Elena. I will need to try and figure it out. You will just have to deal with it for now." Esther began looking through her spell book, confused as to what had happened.

"Deal with it for now? Really? That's your amazing advice? I came here because I need help after you messed things up!" Elena was furious.

"Elena, you need to calm down. There is nothing I can do. Once I work out what has went wrong I will be in touch with you, okay?" Esther asked Elena.

Elena replied with a sigh and walked out the room and down to the cloakroom.

"Why were you up there for a second time tonight?"

Elena jumped as she heard Stefan's voice behind her. She knew that he had been watching her. She watched as he walked over and helped her put on her coat.

"I was saying thank you for having us, but I have to leave early as I have a sore head." Elena replied, not really knowing what else to say to him.

Liar.

Elena's head shot up as she heard Stefan's thoughts. He was right, but she wasn't going to tell him that.

"I see. Well I hope your head gets better soon. How are you getting home?" He asked.

Like I even need to ask.

"Damon," Elena replied, not enjoying hearing Stefan's thoughts. There was something strange about them. They made him seem completely different.

"Okay, well get home safe then," Stefan said as he watched Elena nod then start to walk out the door.

I'm sorry.

"For what?" Elena asked as she turned round to face Stefan.

"What?" Stefan asked confused.

Elena realised that he hadn't actually said anything and blushed. She knew that she was going to have to be careful that she wasn't mixing up people's thoughts with them speaking. She had to make sure that no one worked out what was going on.

"Nothing. My sore head is just making me a bit crazy I guess," Elena joked as she turned back round and walked away. She shook her head, wondering if this would get any easier. She needed Esther to come up with something quick. It was all too much for her to handle on her own.

Elena noticed Damon looking frantically in the crowd for her. She walked over and notice him smile as soon as he laid eyes on her.

"You worry too much, I was just coming." Elena took Damon's arm as they started to make their way out of the mansion.

"Why did you kiss me earlier?" Damon suddenly said as soon as they were both seated in the car.

"What?" Elena asked, taken aback. She hadn't even heard him thinking. Elena suddenly realised that she hadn't heard him thinking since after she spoke with Stefan. She wondered if Esther had fixed the spell.

"Why did you kiss me?" Damon asked again. He knew it was only a small kiss that probably didn't mean anything to her. But, it meant everything to him and he wanted to know why she did it.

" I wanted to," Elena replied. She was too tired to lie. She did want to kiss him, in that moment there was nothing that she wanted to do more.

"Oh… I see. Good," Damon said as a massive smile erupted on his face. He didn't want to ruin the moment by saying anything else. He just drove Elena home, thinking over and over about the moment he had just shared with her.

The entire journey home Elena didn't hear one thought from Damon. She knew it was impossible for him not to be thinking anything, therefore she was sure that whatever went wrong was fixed. She was happy that she couldn't hear him anymore. It was dangerous for her. She knew that the more she heard the more she would feel for him.

"Well, that's you home. Don't worry I'm not going to kiss you. I like when you do it on your own," Damon said happily as he rushed out and opened the door for Elena. She smiled in return and jumped out the car. She was enjoying this side to Damon, it was as though something within him had changed slightly and he was being more of a gentleman.

"I'll see you later, Damon."

"Goodnight, Elena." Damon said as he watched her make her way into the house.

Elena made her way upstairs, thinking over and over about what had happened that night. She looked over as her phone starting ringing, she was confused when she noticed it was a blocked number.

"Hello?"

"Elena?" Esther's voice replied.

"Yes?"

"I'm so sorry."

"Esther what are you talking about?"

"When you came to me tonight saying that something was wrong and you could hear other vampire's thoughts I knew something with the spell wasn't right."

"And?"

"I don't know how to tell you this… but I've cast the wrong spell on you." Ester's voice rang through Elena's body as she tried to take in what she was saying.

"Wrong spell? What spell have you put on me?" Elena asked anxiously.

"You're not going to like this but…"

A/N - Drama, drama, drama. Please review and let me know what you think.