Okay here's the new and improved first chapter! Hope you guys enjoy!


~ Mates ~


Damon grumbled, going over the last few days, no, weeks in his head. So far it had been a few days short of a month since he and Elena had finally gotten together. He'd finally got the girl. He should be on cloud nine delving heart first into his happily ever after with the girl of his dreams.

But so far, being with Elena was not going the way he had pictured. Instead of coming home and sweeping her off her feet, and allowing himself the comfort of her touch and love for hours on end. He felt himself pulling away from her, becoming more and more distant with each passing day.

It was starting to grate on his nerves. He was angry with himself for being discontent when he finally had everything he's ever wanted and he was angry with Elena for not noticing that he was unhappy and he was angry with the universe because why did everything good in his life have to come with a goddamn catch? He could have Katherine back in his life, but she would never love him. He could have Elena's heart and support, but he still wouldn't be happy.

Damon chuckled humorlessly, "Cheers.." He said, lifting his glass of bourbon up to the sky. The action making him feel slightly ridiculous. If Ric really was there surely he wouldn't be floating above him like a ceiling fan.

Damon's thoughts were interrupted as he felt the air in the grill shift, all the warmth and serenity shooting out the door, leaving a dark chillingly cold presence in it's place.

Damon sighed, recognizing the aura before it's owner could even reach him.

"Klaus." He greeted mockingly, not bothering to turn around even as he sensed the original standing just behind him.

Having his back to Klaus made Damon feel uneasy, but he wasn't exactly in the mood for a fight. He wasn't really in the mood for anything if he was honest, just wanted to sit get drunk and think in peace.

"Damon." Klaus replied stalely, voice clipped and heated as he pulled out the bar stool beside him and took a seat.

"Please, by all means.." Damon mumbled in irritation, glaring at the elder were-vamp. Klaus' obvious inner turmoil doing nothing for his mood.

Klaus returned the glare half heartedly before giving up and shaking his head. He too, had no interest in such petty games tonight.

Damon blinked, surprised at the lack luster response, "What sorry son of a bitch dared to piss in your Cheerios?" He asked sarcastically, curious to know what had the hybrid on edge.

Klaus' jaw tightened at the mention, the memory of how Caroline had looked at him still painstakingly fresh in his mind, her previous words from not so long ago coming back to ring hauntingly in his ears..

'people who do terrible things, are just terrible people.'

Damon nodded, recognizing the look on the other man's face, it was one he himself had worn too many times before, "Ah." he said.

"Blondie."

Klaus mentally sighed, he was tired of this. He was tired of chasing this girl only to be shot down and shoved away the moment he made a mistake. He was aware that he had done terrible things, but never to her. He showed emotion, compassion, forgiveness, all for her. Yet she continues to spit in his face and be ungrateful of his efforts.

"How did you do it Damon?" Klaus blurted, his eyes filled with aggressive curiosity.

"How is that you managed to get Elena to fall in love with you..inspite of every awful thing you've ever done.."

Damon shook his head, "I don't know.." He replied honestly, "just lucky I guess.." He tacked on, his words sounding dull even to his own ears before finishing the last of his drink in one swallow.

He'd been asking himself that same question since the moment it hit him that this was all reality. Elena chose him. Not Stefan. Stefan had accepted it all much easier than he'd expected and Elena and the others seemed to readjust to the news fairly easily themselves. But Damon couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about the whole ordeal. Elena choosing him, and he and her riding happily ever after into the sunset just couldn't seem to sit right with him. No matter how many times he kissed Elena or held her or heard her say 'I love you' he just could not find it in him to accept this as his future..

He shook his head roughly letting out an exasperated huff of confusion, "But whatever it is that's going on with you and Caroline I'd advise you to be open minded." he said, reaching over the counter and simply swiping the bottle up over to his own glass as the bartender's back was turned, "You never know.." he continued popping the cork top off and letting the liquid gold flow into his not big enough glass, "This thing your trying so hard to have with her? Just might not turn out as great as your cracking it up to be." he spat bitterly, downing the amber fluid.

Klaus' head turned, "What's the matter?" he asked, his voice turning sarcastic, "Trouble in paradise is it?"

"Come now Damon look at the brightside! After all these years of pining, Elena finally returns your affections.." he exclaimed, voice dripping with false excitement as he nudged Damon in the shoulder causing Damon's jaw to clench and his eyes to roll as he poured himself another glass.

"I would've guessed you'd be home right about now, enjoying the fruits of your labor.." he added snarkily, attempting to take his frustration out on the elder Salvatore.

Damon chuckled dryly, "You and me both.." He drawled, twirling the glass about with his finger tips, "But lately I've been wondering if the whole being with Elena thing is really meant to be.." he finished, sitting back and running his fingers through his hair.

Klaus sighed, "I know you feel.." He mumbled, stealing the drink Damon had left unattended, finishing it in one go. Damon scowled, snapping out a 'Hey!' before relenting and simply re-reaching over the counter to steal another glass, snickering under his breath about 'greedy hybrids' and 'the service in this town is almost as crappy as the company'.

For a while after that, the two sat in comfortable silence. Both too occupied by their own private thoughts to bother with conversation, while occasionally taking sips from their glasses. But not before long, Klaus decided he'd had enough.

Quickly he turned to Damon, grabbing him roughly by the shoulder, "I don't know about you but I'm quite finished brooding here like a couple of love sick idiots while the women we fancy are out enjoying themselves without a care.." He said bitterly, spitting the word 'fancy' with a venom that could kill.

"So," he continued, "How about you and I, go out and have a little fun of our own?" He suggested, his smile enough to tell Damon exactly what he was thinking.

Damon paused, mulling it over in his head. He could vaguely hear a voice in the far corner of his mind telling him to say no and go home to Elena or he would regret it, that Elena would be furious.

Damon grinned, a flicker of excitement flashing through his eyes as he nodded his head. Screw what Elena thought. He may be her boyfriend now, but first and foremost he was himself. And this was the perfect chance to see if she would be able to accept him for what, and who he is, with no repercussions.

Having made up his mind, he finally answered, "I'm in."


They had been walking for thirty minutes. Looking up, Damon could see the moon and the stars in clear visibility with how deep into the woods they'd managed to come in that time. He huffed, looking toward the hybrid who was now walking a few feet in front of him.

"Where the hell are we going?" he asked grumpily, if aimlessly hiking through the woods in the middle of the night was Klaus' idea of fun then it made perfect sense why he had absolutely zero friends.

Klaus turned his head, not bothering to stop as he answered, "Getting tired already?" he queried.

"I would have thought you'd have more stamina," he laughed, shaking his head in disappointment "Young vampires these days, so lazy and slow."

Damon scoffed, "I am not slow." he defended, "I just thought we were supposed to be having fun" he grumbled, smacking a tree branch out of the way, "And in my book, hiking through the woods in the middle of the night with no idea where you're going?" he griped, vamp speeding ahead so that he was standing directly infont of Klaus, blocking his path.

"Is not fun." he finished, turning and walking forward, taking the lead.

Klaus shrugged, "Very well." he said, putting his hands up and waiting for Damon to turn around before continuing, "How about we make this little trip a bit more interesting then shall we?" he said smiling brightly.

Damon looked at him suspiciously, "I'm listening."

Klaus took a few steps, folding his hands behind his back, "Well it's quite simple really, all you have to do is.." he trailed off surprising Damon by appearing just behind him, gripping his left shoulder tightly.

"Catch me. That is, if you can.." he finished, before disappearing out of sight.

Damon scoffed at the challenge, listening intently to locate where the original had run off to, he heard a faint rustle of leaves and ran for it; catching whiff of Klaus' scent as he arrived at the scene.

An echoed chuckle told him that the fake out had been planned. Damon pouted, trying to figure out where it was the hybrid was hiding. A quick flash of air gushed by him and he chased after it, only to watch it disappear as fast as it had come.

He shook his head, if he wanted to find Klaus he would have to lure him out. He quickly retreated, speeding off to hide in a large pile of boulders. He waited patiently, counting on Klaus' own impatience to be his ticket to victory.

Sure enough, Klaus emerged, jumping down from a tree branch and scouring the area, his steps light and cautious. After a moment or two Damon slowly moved in, being sure to keep his own footsteps inaudible.

He zoned in on Klaus, gaining his balance before speeding over to him and gripping his shoulder just as Klaus had done to him, "You're it." he joked, before hastily running off and away from the original.

Klaus smiled, chuckling at the cleverness of Damon's little trap but wasting no time in chasing after him. Damon could hear Klaus gaining behind him, and tried to push himself harder, faster. After a while it became clear that if he kept this up any longer he would grow tired very soon, so he started to bob and weave.

This frustrated Klaus immensely, he couldn't pinpoint him or find a pattern in his jerky movements, for Damon was doing them randomly on impulse. This worked for about five minutes before Klaus too decided to change tactics.

He disappeared, but still, Damon didn't stop running, just kept right along bobbing and weaving.

He made the mistake of checking behind him and almost ran face first into the waiting hybrid's arms. "Woah!" he said as Klaus reached forward to grab him, but Damon jumped back, landing just out of reach.

"Ha!" He chuckled in relief, "Missed me!" he blurted teasingly, but regretted it as soon as he saw the sneaky expression that bloomed on the were-vamps face.

"Oh crap." he muttered, taking off in the opposite direction, but he only got a few feet before he was side swept and tackled to the ground.

"umf!" he said the over grown hybrid now perched comfortably on his chest smiling down at him, his eyes bright with all the excitement "Looks like you're it now mate." he jabbed, mocking Damon's words from earlier.

Klaus quickly rose to his feet preparing to run when Damon shifted, reaching out reflexively with his hand and grabbing ahold of the elder vampires ankle, sending him crashing to the ground with a heavy thud.

Damon jumped into action, moving quickly to keep the hybrid in his sights. "Gotcha." he sneered, straddling the original and attempting to pin his hands down. Klaus simply kicked his leg up, shifting his weight and sending Damon tumbling backwards, taking the same straddling position Damon had been in before. Klaus had much better success with pinning his hands down though. But Damon, remaining ever true to his nature, still struggled, stubbornly trying to wriggle his arms free.

Klaus laughed, "You didn't think it'd be that easy now did you?" he chided.

Damon pouted, disappointed that his efforts at escape were going all but unnoticed by the hybrid. He opened his mouth to say something witty when Klaus covered it, muffling whatever words he had been about to say as he shushed him.

"Listen." he whispered, placing a finger on his lips to signal him to be quiet.

Damon was about to protest when he heard a giggle, he focused his hearing more, he could definitely hear a woman's voice.

Klaus moved from on top of him, standing and gesturing for Damon to follow as he walked, searching for the source of the sound.

Not too far off they discovered a small campsite, the crackling fire being enough to tell Damon that's what it was before it came into view. He reached out, tapping Klaus on the shoulder to gain his attention. The hybrid turned, and Damon pointed upwards, suggesting they get to higher ground so as not to be spotted.

Klaus nodded, reaching out and grabbing a handful of Damon's jacket before leaping up into a tree. Before Damon knew it they were crouched steadily on a high off branch.

Damon grumbled, "I could've done that myself you know." he whispered at him hoarsely, not gaining any response from the distracted hybrid. Damon rolled his eyes at the hybrid, resisting the urge to shove him out of the tree for good measure, instead choosing to let his attention fall on the noises below them.

It was a girl, and some guy sitting on a fallen tree log, smiling and talking hushedly to each other, giggling while making smores. They looked young, the guy obviously older, though neither of them looking any more than twenty nor any younger than eighteen. Damon watched as the guy reach over, bringing his smore to the waiting girls mouth before it fell apart, spilling everywhere and sending them into a laughing fit. He sighed at the couple, the obvious love they had for each other bringing a frown to his face. Why couldn't he have that with Elena? Why couldn't he just allow himself to be happy with her?

He looked to Klaus then, his mind quickly forgetting about his troubles with romance as he noticed the way Klaus was eyeing the couple down below. He was watching them the way a wolf does an unknowing and weaker animal, all his attention focused on them the way a predator would it's prey.

Klaus turned to him, smiling devilishly as his eyes turned a bright and burning golden color, his canines now becoming visible.

"Come one mate." he mused, nudging his head suggestively toward the unsuspecting couple below, "Whattaya say?"

Damon almost smiled right back, a part of him jumping at the chance for a real hunt. But, he hesitated, Elena's face flashing in his minds eye as she looked at him in her disappointed and furious way. He shook his head, no, he didn't do this anymore. He'd changed, he was a better man now.

"I can't.." he said, disappointment obvious in the sound of his voice as he declined, "Elena would be pissed." he grunted, sighing.

"She'd never forgive me.."

Klaus chuckled, shaking his own head, amusement clear on his face, "Elena.." he hummed, looking at Damon as though he'd made a joke.

"Does Elena realize that you, my friend are by your very definition a murderer?" he questioned, looking at Damon expectantly.

"Your brain, and your body, every part of you, conditioned to hunt." he continued, his tone growing darker.

"You crave it Damon," he stated, "The hunt, the exhilaration." he rants.

"The blood.." he adds.

Damon swallowed, fighting his instincts and resisting temptation had never been something he had any kind of success in. He could feel himself being swayed, the thought of seeing Elena's disappointed face the only thing keeping up his will of resistance.

Klaus was circling him now, eyeing him like the hunter he knew he was, the predatorial act setting off Damon's own predatory instincts, putting him on high alert as his hands clenched. He closed his eyes, trying harder and harder to keep a handle on the visual of Elena, imagining her whispering words of encouragement to stay strong and resist.

Klaus noticed the change, quickly nipping it in the bud as he pounced, shoving Damon out of the tree, pushing him a distance away and pinning him against another. Damon's eyes were open now, his equilibrium thrown off and his body caged in by Klaus' own.

"What the hell?"

Klaus ignored him, his voice steady if not a little heated as he continued, "You know Damon, I remember hearing about something a little familiar.." he started, pausing to block Damon as he tried to buck his knees up in an effort to escape, simply pressing in closer to keep the younger man restrained "Back in..oh now when was it?" he questioned, grabbing Damon's arms and pinning them above his head to stop his squirming, "The late seventies I believe.." he suggested.

Damon growled, glaring at Klaus in frustration, trying uselessly to get free, but Klaus' arms were like titanium, they wouldn't budge, but still he struggled for all he was worth, in the off chance he just might out think Klaus; pull a fast one on him. The thought almost made him laugh, the hybrid was always three steps ahead no matter how smart a person was, Klaus was always smarter. But still, he wasn't about to give up, especially with the direction Klaus was taking their little one sided conversation. His past was not a pretty one, and he really didn't feel like going down memory lane.

"Son of Sam.." Klaus whispered, leaning in closely to Damon's ear to be sure he heard, "one of the most renowned and successful serial killers the world has ever known.." he marveled.

Damon glared, though not at Klaus, but at something far off. He found that he was far more frustrated with the lack of leverage he had on the hybrid then he was with the glamorized mention of his psychopathic past at the moment, that thought causing him to pause in his plan to kick Klaus' feet out from under him; giving the original enough time to steady his stance and lock his knees. Great.

"Do you remember it?" Klaus inquired, looking at Damon expectantly.

"Remember what?" Damon snapped, his voice coming out just as frustrated as he felt, Klaus eyeing him knowingly.

"The rush of being a young vampire out in this great world," he responded, "Without care or conscience.."

Damon looked away, refusing to meet Klaus' eyes, the truth was he did remember. He could recall every second of it with remarkable detail. He'd never felt so free in his life and never had he felt such freedom since.

"Do you miss it?" Klaus continued, not missing a beat, "Can you still still taste the blood, on your tongue?.."

Damon layed his head back, his efforts of escaping becoming weaker as well as few and far between, "Can you still hear it?" Klaus continued.

"The sound of their hearts as you held all those lives in your hands?" he added, Damon's resolve quickly diminishing, hardly able to picture Elena in his mind, her face fading farther and farther until he was unable to think of anything at all.

He felt the veins protruding from his eyes as his true face began to take form, Klaus nodding at him in approval, "That's it..give in to it Damon.." he cooed.

"Show us what all the fuss was about.."

Damon's mouth opened, a mixed sound of strained relief coming forth as his teeth distended, a horrible crackling sound ending his fight, as his previous resistance was replaced by a thirst he'd never felt before.

Klaus smiled, gently releasing Damon from his trapping grasp, "There we go mate.." he approved.

"Much better."

But Damon hardly heard him, instead becoming rapidly focused on the pounding in his ear drums..blood

He quickly ran off, returning to the couple by following the steady rhythm in his ears.

He watched them, they were still in the same positions as before, the girl now snuggled up to her lover as he ran a gentle hand through her hair, the girl shifted, moving to look up at her boyfriend and smiling, "I love you.." she told him, bringing up a hand to cradle his neck.

He beamed down at her, gently brushing a thumb across her cheek and smiling, "I love you too.."

Damon smirked, running just out of sight of the couple, rustling some leaves as he passed, catching the attention of the girl.

"What was that?" she asked, her voice anxious as she looked about the site, her boyfriend doing the same unaffectedly and shrugging, "It was probably just the wind.." he prompted, dismissing her.

They began to bicker over the little sound and Damon smiled, if there was one thing he knew how to do, it was to make the feed fun.

A crack of a branch from across the site caught all three of their attention, the girl gripping onto her boyfriend in fear as he did the same to her, "Okay that time I definitely heard something.." she said, her voice shaky.

Damon then growled, becoming vastly territorial and defensive over his food, the feral noise catching the attention of the couple once again, putting them both on edge.

Damon quickly rushed to the area the noise had come from, searching and finding it empty, he growled again, trying to hear for a threat when two arms appeared, enveloping him from behind.

"Easy mate." Klaus shushed, being sure to keep Damon's arms securely trapped against his sides, whispering into his ear, "Remember, we're in this together." he said, squeezing the man reassuringly.

Damon shook his head, the firm grip of Klaus' hold setting off some sort of primal response, telling him to trust Klaus. Klaus squeezed him again, reminding him that Klaus wasn't in fact trying to steal his meal, but share it with him.

Damon nodded, decidedly okay with the partnership, after all there were two meals to be had, one for each of them.

Klaus released Damon slowly as he felt him relax, trying to be sure that Damon understood Klaus was indeed friend and not foe in this situation. Damon turned to him, nodding to him and they both turned to the couple who were now nervously chuckling at their seemingly silly anxiety.

Klaus smirked, rising a finger to his lips in a silencing motion and then disappearing. Damon blinked, idly searching for his partner when he heard a loud banging noise from where the couple was seated.

He turned just in time to see the door to their camper slammed shut by an invisible force, the couple practically jumping out of their skin at the inexplicable noise.

Damon smirked, watching as the man tried shakily to calm his nervous girlfriend, cooing at her while trying to convince himself it was all going to be okay.

Damon closed his eyes, listening as their pulses start to pound harder and faster. He could practically hear every last drop of blood in their systems rushing to different places in their bodies.

He took a breath, smelling the adrenaline pumping through their veins. He sighs allowing himself to enjoy it, finally letting himself be what we truly was. He finally, for the first time in years was able to truly feel alive.

A moment or two later Damon decided he'd waited long enough, and started to move in. Mindlessly he picked the boyfriend to zone in on, the man now on his feet, shouting in fear induced anger, "Who's out there!" he hollered, pausing in wait of a reply.

"This isn't funny man! You're freaking out my girlfriend!" he continued, gesturing to the girl behind him, who was shaking like a leaf.

"If this is some kind of lame ass joke I am going to kick some ass-"

Damon cut him off, grabbing him from behind and giving him a harsh squeeze, a satisfying crunch telling him he succeeded in breaking the mans spine. The girl gasped, her mind racing to catch up with the event as she screamed. The sound was like music to Damon's ears as he ravaged the mans neck.

He ripped open the jugular first, moaning as the warmth poured into his mouth, the sweet irony liquid flowing steady and strong. He could taste the fear in the mans blood, the tang absolutely delicious to his palate. He swirled it around in his mouth savoring the taste as he swallowed by the mouth full.

The girl simply stared on in horror, frozen in place from the shock to her nerve system, her fight or flight reaction taking a moment too long too kick in. She sobbed, jumping to her feet as she turned to run, but it was too late. Klaus was there in a second, blocking her way and grabbing her roughly by the shoulders. He smiled at her, his face menacing as he let out a roar, igniting a fierce scream from her lips as he ravaged her with the same ferocity Damon had.

Slowly but surely her screams quieted, dying out along with her pulse as Klaus continued drink, having no plans of stopping. Damon could feel the man wavering beneath him as well, he could feel his pulse slowly fading away, but he didn't stop, didn't want to. He simply drank deeper and deeper until there was nothing left.

He released his mouth from the mans neck, the action making a crude popping sound as he dropped the lifeless body to floor.

The man was dead.

Damon closed his eyes, allowing himself the joy of the rush the fresh feed was sending through him, he could feel his body practically vibrating with the thrill, a sadistic smile crawling its way onto his face.

He opened his eyes, finding Klaus staring at him, a matching grin resting on the elder hybrid's lips as he looked at Damon in impressed awe, his face now returned to normal as he stepped forward.

"Well.." he started, "I didn't believe them when they spoke of your skill Damon, but.." he chuckled, "Now I find it was actually a pathetic understatement.." he praised.

"Never in my entire immortal life, did I think there was anyone more savage than the ripper of Monterrey.." he trailed, shaking his head in disbelief.

"But no matter how terrible Stefan may believe his morbid, horrific unorganized blind acts of violence to be, " he laughed, "it is nothing to be compared to the elegant tactful and diabolical hunt of The son of Sam.." he breathed.

Damon tried to be insulted by the praise Klaus was throwing upon him, but all he could feel in that moment was satisfaction. He hadn't felt so satisfied in forever and the way Klaus called him savage made it sound like the highest compliment he'd ever heard.

He shivered as a sudden wash of unwanted and shameful pride ran through him and he licked his lips.

"Come on now mate." Klaus said, gesturing towards the woods "We should get back before the children start to worry where it is we've run off to."

Damon nodded taking a few steps forward when he kicked something, he cocked his head curiously, bending down to pick it up

He searched blindly with his hand in the dark before he feels something, picking it up and discovering a small black box. He opened it, raising his eyebrows as he looked at the contents. A ring.

An engagement ring to be exact, causing Damon to suddenly realize what he'd done.

Klaus turned his head, walking over and taking the box from Damon's hand, inspecting it. When it clicked in his mind, he simply chuckled, smirking to himself before stuffing it into his pocket.

"Well, it seems we did them a favor after all." he remarked, slapping Damon on the shoulder as they walked together.

Damon smirked back, chuckling and finding himself oddly undisturbed by the whole thing, instead he laughs with Klaus and looks up at the moon wishing the feeling could last.


Well! I hope you guys enjoyed! Four reviews for the next one!