AN: Warnings, for those of you who can't bear the thought of a "mean" Damon (I mean awfully meaner than on the show), you probably shouldn't take your chances. He isn't going to be the main bad guy of the story, and the worst of his interactions with Elena are set prior to this first chapter. Just thought I'd warn you. Also, I am choosing to set this story out of Mystic Falls and in London, of all places. First because I think Europe is a rich enough place to imagine vampires and other nightmarish creatures, which leads me to my final point: this story is going to feature a lot of characters and creatures that aren't in the original show (and it may have a "Buffy" feel from time to time). I'm choosing to focus primarily on Elena, Damon and Stefan, though others may occasionally be mentioned. All right, this is getting awfully long: enjoy the story.

Prologue: Night

The worst of it aren't the nightmares but this moment of indetermination when Elena wakes up, her chest full of air that she can't let out, the thoughts running in loops to the mad rhythm of her racing heart.

When is this, where am I, is this a dream?

Is it his?

Cold sweat beads down her forehead, her hands clawing at the sheets. Damon's smile shines red as murder on her mind.

"Elena," Stefan's voice is a faraway whisper, his hands on her back failing to anchor her to the present. "Elena," his face is close to hers now and she leans into his embrace half-consciously, her body recognizing the familiar routine. "June 2010," the words in his mouth sound like a magical charm, a lullaby, appeasing her slowly. "This is June 2010," Stefan repeats.

He waits in silence, holding her gently, as her breathing returns to a normal rate. Elena's eyes get used to the dimness and she is struck by the strangeness of her environment –

The room is wooden, but the warm amber colors come out blue in the night, the sheets on the bed are white as soap, and through the window she can see the only thing unchanged – the stars hang bright in the darkness, but the sky is moonless.

Elena forgets.

It isn't only the time that's different.

"And this is London," Stefan finishes, penetrates her thoughts. "England, Elena. Europe. It's all right. Mystic Falls is far behind us." His hand brushes soothingly against her cheek. "This is our new start."

Right.

Elena remembers now, how important it felt to get away from there, as far as possible. Little good it did them, she thinks cynically. Her first night in England and she wakes up to the sound of her own screams.

There have been tough nights before, but tonight's the worst in a while.

How could she have thought that putting miles between her and Damon would help?

Dreams fly faster than airplanes, they go through walls and locked doors.

"We're away," Stefan resumes, "from everything."

He says everything instead of his name, the name that haunts them both, the name they can't speak to each other anymore.

For a moment, they're silent again, and Elena makes out the vague whisper of city sounds coming from the window, which are something of a reassurance. A change of air was the whole point. Not her beloved hometown, small and quaint and full of ghosts, but a capital. No room for the Gothic sights of lonesome streets or haunted houses. Nothing mystic about it at all.

"I'm sorry," she says.

"No." He only replies. Of course, he's the one who plays the sorry part.

"I thought that we could be done with this. That we could leave it behind –"

"We can." He tightens his hold around her, his hands wrapped below her chest, his front to her back. "Give it time," he plants a kiss to the top of her head. "This is only our first night."

Elena nods. She wants to believe that, far from Mystic Falls, they can have a new life that's free of demons, one demon in particular.

Stefan eases her back on the bed and, after a while, Elena's eyes are closed again, her mind is almost at peace.

Almost.

But for this strange, nagging feeling in the back of her mind. The atmosphere around her is still hostile from her dream, and through her eyelids, Elena watches out for danger lurking in the dark.

Stefan is right.

They came here for a new start and, nightmares or not, Elena is damn well going to give it her best try.

But she'd be damned if, outside the window, mingling with the city sounds, Elena doesn't hear a crow crying in the night.

…

End Notes: I know this feels short, but I really just wanted to set the tone of the story before diving in. Also, I've set the story in 2010 because I saw the events taking place somewhere during the second season (strange to think it's already been eight years). Please share your thoughts and reactions in the comment section.