Ch. 1

"Are we there yet?"

"We're not exactly going anywhere, are we Mutt?" I mumbled, low enough for him not to hear.

My knuckles turned white on the steering wheel-yet once again. This was probably the millionth time Mutt had asked the same stupid question. Being stuck in the car with this impossible mortal is...unbearable. But on the other hand, sweet Elena was here as well...without Stefan...

Elena if he asks ONE more time, Don't expect to have him alive by the next pit stop...

Damon, could you at least put off your prejudice against humans for at least Matt?

Yeah, well the thing is Mutt here is starting to get on my nerves.

We had taken Elena's red jaguar for the 'road trip' and quite frankly, I had no idea why I agreed to go with them to look for Stefan anyways.

"Nobody, would know us here, right?" Max asked particularly to no one. I rolled my eyes and looked at him through the front mirror.

"Oh of course not, Mutt, we're just tourists who happen to have a slick car, a beautiful girl and driving 120 km per hour when the speed limit is 50."

Elena gave me one of those just-drop-it-and-let-it-go looks and turned in her seat to face Mark.

"Even if we do, we have to escape then, I will not leave Stefan in a rotten jail cell for eternity, even if I neither of us have an idea of what Misao's clues meant..."

My eyebrows furrowed as I tried to recall the days and nights that Elena was talking about. Unfortunately as much as I tried, it was to no avail. She looked at me cautiously and probably knew what I was thinking. She put a hand to my arm and forced me to look back with her eyes.

But I for one, was a safe driver. Okay, well not really. But hey, I gotta do what I have to do for my amusement. By all means, driving fast, getting girls and etc, etc.

I kept looking at the road, trying not to get pulled into her gaze.

"Damon," she started. "I know you want to find out what happened, but don't strain yourself. It'll come."

Mac snorted and I shot a deadly glare at him. He shut up.

The sky was starting to paint itself with glittering dots as the minutes ticked by. I was lounging in a tree when Elena had pulled up in the car with Mark in shotgun...

"Why do we have to take him?" I hissed at Elena.

"You know why! The police are searching everywhere for him back in Fell's church!" She whispered back.

"Then let them have him. It'll be like a diversion or something. Elena you know it'll just slow us down," I said finally.

She gaped at me and turned to face the window. I put a hand on her shoulder and shook her lightly.

"Elena," I said as she pulled away.

Fine. The cold shoulder and the silent treatment. Be my guest. Besides, two can play that game anyways.

By the time the second hour passed I grew sick and tired of the game and decided to play her way.

"Fine, I'll be nice." I mumbled. At least for now.

Elena turned and gave me a beautiful smile. My heart beat a sharp pang as I gave her an over-dramatic sigh.

And that's how I got stuck into this situation.

We eventually pulled over at a gas station and Matt went to 'do his stuff' inside. I stayed in the car with Elena, not wanting her out of my sight. Besides, being the beautiful angel she is to me, well, idiots who try to put the moves on her are gonna die. Literally.

Well, we were alone, here's my chance. What are you going to say Damon? What a wonderful night it is? Nah, that's something St. Stefan would blurt out. Maybe if I d-

"Do you think we'll find him?" Elena said suddenly.

Okay, never mind, I guess we are going to talk about him.

"I don't know," was the best I had.

Elena bit her lip and blew out a sigh. She looked out the window and suddenly froze. A burst of a little panic went through me.

"What?" I asked, grabbing onto her arm.

"It's Matt, he's not heading to the car!"

I gave her a weird face and looked out the window. Sure enough, I saw Mutt walking to the forest part of the stop. What the hell does the kid think he's doing? I shook my head vigorously and started the engine.

It purred to life as I stepped on it, leaving a smelly trail of burnt tar. The jaguar almost made it-but not quite. Mark was swallowed up by the towering trees and Elena dramatically hit her head on the dashboard.

"Lead in the forest, almost killed in the forest, more than once, and back to the forest again," she mumbled against the black leather.

I stifled a laugh cause I knew she'd get mad at me for 'laughing at a situation like this'. I unlocked my door and got out. I made it to her side in less than half a second and opened hers, the gentleman I am. Hah, did little brother ever do this? I don't think so.

Elena hopped out and almost broke into a sprint before I grabbed her from behind. I leaned in her ear and whispered in my silkiest voice, "I don't think so, I was assigned as your bodyguard, and that means I have the authority to keep you by my side at all times, Elena."

She shivered and stopped struggling to get away. She gave me her famous pouty look and rolled her eyes. I chuckled and started to walk ahead of her.

"What's going on?" She whispered to me.

I was about to say I don't know-again when the smell hit me. Blood. Fresh blood. I stiffened and tried to control the hunger that just came up. It wasn't as quite a delicious smell as Elena's but was human.

I pulled her in a bride style carry and lunged forward. My feet barely touched the ground as I ran through the forest, dodging the trees as I went. A short while later we caught up with Mutt.

I put Elena down gently as I could and ran over to the boy. My hands grabbed his shoulders and I whipped him around to face me.

"What the hell are you doing?" I growled.

"I...uhm...guy...there..." He stumbled. I couldn't believe it...he still was still Mortally Unable To Talk until today. Amazing what this one human can do.

I let go of him and followed the scent again. My instincts came quick and I was off. Max and Elena were quick enough to follow the speed and direction I was going in.

The source of the smell became stronger and I slowed down. Beyound the ferns and bushes in my sight, a boy who looked to be around seventeen or so was limping. Blood dripping from half of his left arm he stumbled and fell onto the ground.

I wasn't much of the hospitality type of guy so I slowly and casually walked up to him. I crouched down and tilted my head. I took in a small sharp breath and I felt my face go into expressionless mode. His face was covered with fresh bruises and cuts. He was already unconscious.

I was about to bring Elena and Mark when something caught my eye. On the side of his neck was a bite mark that seemed close to a vampire's but not quite. My jaw stiffened I realized a new danger was here. Who's up for round three?