Chapter 1: Self-Destruction

"Or how about I go after that Elena gilbert? I hear she's been nothing but trouble to everyone since she became aware of the supernatural" Vaughn taunted Damon.

"You dare attempt to go after Elena and I will rip your heart out" Damon replied, acid laced his words as he spoke through his gritted teeth. He had been unconscious for the past twenty minutes. That damned hunter must have vervained him when he separated from the group to find the wicked witch aka Bonnie Bennett.

"Oh good, your finally awake. I was getting tired talking to your unconscious body. What is it you love about the doppelgänger anyway, because she looks like Katherine?"

Damon looked genuinely confused, "What do you know about Katherine?"

"I know everything about her. I'm not some new, idiotic hunter. I know exactly what I hunt" Vaughn replied, a hint of smugness in his voice. "So answer my question, is it the looks?" Damon just glared at him, a look of disgust on his face. If he truly knew what happened between Katherine and him he would know that Elena was so much more to him than just Katherine's doppelgänger. Elena was selfless while Katherine was selfish. Elena was pure and good and honest to him, whilst Katherine lied and used him for her own amusement. The thought of Katherine's evil doings was beginning to make Damon's blood boil. He hated Katherine and he loved Elena. That was the difference. "I also hear she's sired to you. That must hurt." Damon's face turned into a pained expression but disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared. "How does it feel to know that she may not truly love you, that once again it's all been one big lie? It may have even been all to get back at Stefan?" Damon couldn't see well in the darkness with one flame torch to illuminate the damp cave he currently found himself in. But the light of the flames danced around Vaughn's face and he saw his mouth turn into a sly wicked smile. He might as well have been a vampire, the way he was torturing his prey before he killed it, enjoying the hunt more than the actual kill. He slowly stood up, slightly leaning on the wall of the cave behind him, he still felt a little dazed from the vervain currently running through his bloodstream.

"What exactly are you getting at?" Damon sneered at him, supressing a growl. All his muscles began to tighten in restraint to rip this Hunters jugular out. He could feel the cold, stone walls of the cave they were in pressed against his back as he tried to remain composed. He could even feel the dampness through his leather jacket, but he didn't care. How dare he talk about his sweet, loving Elena like that. Comparing her to Katherine and assuming they are exactly alike. She may not love him as a lover, but as a friend at the very least, and he could cope with that, knowing that even a small part for her truly felt for him. Truly enjoyed being with him. He would kill for her, die for her, even if she never wanted anything more but his friendship. A shoulder to cry on, somebody she could feel comfortable with to tell all her secrets to, somebody to cheer her up when she felt down. That was how much she meant to him. He would always be there for her, even if she used him sometimes, he didn't mind being used by her. It hurt like hell but he loved Elena no matter what she did to him. He would never judge her and make her feel bad. He would always love her unconditionally. Even if it was never returned.

"Well…" Vaughn interrupted his thoughts, he was lounging against the wall at the opposite side of the cave, "I figured it would hurt more never knowing the truth and just killing you, but then a better though came to me. I'll kill precious Elena Gilbert in front of you. You would be chained up and be completely helpless to save her. Then I would watch you beg for death and I would mercifully grant that wish. Therefore putting a stop to these annoying increasing numbers of hybrid's which are harder to kill and it gets rid of you, whom frankly, I just don't like"

That was it, Damon snapped, he would take the pain and torture of the hallucinations that came with killing a hunter if it meant he kept this deranged psychopath away from Elena. Damon lunged forward and shoved his hand into the Vaughn's ribcage. He could feel his heart struggle to beat around his grasp. Vaughn gasped for air, a look of shock on his face. Damon was revelling in the moment. He was about to end this monstrous being who threatened to kill his sole reason for existence.

"I warned you to not go after Elena" he said, and ripped his heart from his chest. The sheer satisfaction of the kill was exhilarating. He hadn't been able to truly enjoy it for a while. Vaughn's body slumped to the ground and blood began to pool around it. The aroma was filling Damon's nostrils and he felt a familiar pain in his gums. He allowed his fangs to elongate and he could feel the veins under his eyes throbbing. He dropped the hunter heart and it fell with a thud. Revelling in the sensations.

Damon's face returned to normal when he stepped out of the foot of the cave and the crisp cool air of the night hit him. It was invigorating. He felt empowered and every bit the sly predator he truly was. He ran through the forest as fast as his vampire speed would allow and headed back to Mystic Falls. The wind whistled by him, messing his hair that was flying in every direction. The trees and shrubbery blurred past him and he could sense the nocturnal creatures were beginning to awaken. He stopped momentarily and looked up to the sky. He felt the temperature drop and assumed it was about to rain. He was right, as usual. It started to rain heavily. He stood there like that for several minutes enjoying the feeling of each tiny, individual droplet falling on his face. The sound of the rain as it crashed against leaves that were rustling in the harsh winds that had started. He would see Elena soon and explain to her what had happened. Hopefully, before the hallucinations started. He remembered how he found Elena on Wickery Bridge. No daylight ring on, just standing there, crying, waiting for the sun to come up to turn her beautiful olive skin to nothing but a pile of ash. He would need to prepare for the emotional torture that was about to be bestowed upon him. He would never break his promise to Elena. She would be stuck with him for a while. "This is going to be a bundle of fun" he mumbled sarcastically to himself, just as he was arriving at Mystic Falls.