I stared into his eyes…they reminded me of a tiger as it's claws break the skin of its prey, they were hungry, arrogant, and, if I dug just a little deeper, scared.

"W-why?" I stammered, I could feel the rush of mummification. My lungs were starting to collapse, but I wanted my answer, I willed myself to stay alive, awake, and aware.

"It's all part of the plan…" He whispered, faking a determined frown.

I could see the Sheriff behind him, still holding the smoking gun, three of whose bullets were still lodged in my stomach, chest, and upper right thigh.

I glanced behind me and noticed Stefan and the Katherine-look alike, the Doppelganger, Elena.

Being 350 years old had some perks, like being able to send a message telepathically just before the stiffness of corpse-life ganged up on you.

Protect her, Stefan! She's the one, trust me, I know…

I saw him frown slightly, how cute that frown was…I gasped, feeling the spark of a flame burn under my skin, igniting from my lungs, I tried to scream but all that came out was my last grasp on life, my last rush of air…

Damon's smoky eyes and wind-ruffled hair was the last thing I saw; the opaque night sky behind his head and the Mystic Grill sign were rainbows of color.

I felt my body hit the ground with a sickening thud. At last I would be where I was supposed be 300 years ago…

Damon stared at Lexi's corpse with a look of disgust, hopefully he could pull off this masquerade long enough to fool the Sheriff and her deputy, then he would get back to finding Katherine.

He could see Stefan shielding Elena behind the bar, hoping not to be noticed by the humans. Damon wondered if his brother's stupidity would rub off on him one of these days…he sighed.

"Thank you Damon, you're really handy with that thing," Sheriff Forbes indicated the bloody stake in his right hand.

Damon tossed it into some shrubs and nodded, "Anything for the town's safety, Liz."

The Sheriff smiled and snapped for her deputy, "Grab it; we'll bury it in the cemetery…"

"Stefan, Stefan, stop!" Elena grabbed at his wrist, but the 162 year old vampire was far too strong.

"He killed her! He killed her Elena! For his own gain…he didn't need too!" Stefan stalked after his brother, who was heading for the town square.

"What are you gonna do Stefan? Kill him? He'd murder you too!" She grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. His face was tear-streaked and heartbreaking.

"He'll go after you too! I can't loose you, I CAN'T Elena! Everywhere I go, he follows me, and death follows him! I'm tired of living in fear, in sorrow!" Stefan ripped himself free and stalked after Damon's disappearing shadow.

Elena sighed and jogged after the irate vampire…