"I woke up with my feet nailed down,

And my head moving the speed of sound.

Had a dream I was caught in a maze,

And I couldn't find my way back out."

-Soundgarden

Chapter Three

THE HUNT

...

An incredible smirk of triumph working its way onto his stunning face, the dark haired homme swung his way round the bed and walked to a handsome drawer chest. Smoothly pulling open the leading chamber, he tugged out a silver bracelet emblazoned with a shiny blue colored rock and thrust the drawer shut, approaching with the accessory dangling across his fingers and offered it to her.

"And this is?" she asked.

"Lapis Lazuli," answered Damon, pointing to the blue crystal with his thumb as he handed it over. "Will protect you under the sun."

Narrowing her brows, Hermione examined the silver wristband before putting it on. "What happens when you go out in the sun without it?" she asked with mild interest, turning her adorned wrist about to analyze the effect.

"Burn to ash." He responded feebly as he picked up a bare glass from the bedside table and filled it with blended whiskey; missing the terrified look on her face. Awakening to her silent response, he added frowningly, "You hadn't known?"

"Had a hunch" she muttered distractedly after a minute, her brows furrowing further. Another one of the nefarious circumstances, or perhaps a payoff, for being a vampire. She had, of course, come across plenty theories; this being the most acclaimed of all. Yet she could distinctly feel the thought unpleasantly rousing something inside her…

"I didn't know vampires could have anything other than blood." She said dismally after a moment, eyeing the glass with slight revulsion.

Finishing the contents in a gulp, he responded hurriedly. "You're yet to find out a lot of things, honey. Time to go." He looked at his watch with a somber look which absconded as quickly as he thudded the glass on the round coffee table.

"But why even have it?" she questioned, dismissing the unnecessary need for robes; taking them off and dumping on a nearby leather chair. She was now clad in her precedent war attire, which stirred a great sense of nostalgia within her; though which she quickly dismissed.

"Curbs the cravings. Help yourself whenever you feel like. Can we get going, now." He wasn't waiting for an answer.

"No, thanks." she mumbled grumpily to the previous suggestion and followed him outside the huge oak doors of his manor.

As the girl entered the magnificent grassy field ravished by bright sunrays, her right hand instantly shielded her eyes; a little gasp escaping her mouth. Damon noticed and instantly walked up to her; gently wrapping his fingers around her raised arm, trying to get a peek of the hidden part of her face.

"It hurts a little." Croaked the witch and walked back into the shadow shortly; the pain immediately coming to a halt. "You said it would work." Disappointment poured through her words as she frowned upon the silver bracelet covering her wrist.

Damon pursed his lips. "It's not the bracelet. The pain, it does occur at the start. It would cease as soon as you get some blood into your system." He promised. "So, it's kind of crucial that we hurry up." He added as he observed her hesitating at the door step. There was a worried edge to his voice that Hermione couldn't quite fathom, but silently obeyed nonetheless; stepping out in the light and concealing her face right away.

Catching up with him, she continued to cloak her face from the harsh yellow rays, brows furrowed so deep it almost seemed as if her eyes were closed; her face not once daring to look ahead. Noticing him constantly checking her warily from her peripheral, she fastened her stride and said in a low voice "I just need to get done with this soon."

Just a few seconds had passed before she noticed him falling behind her pace. "You look so frail." Damon marked somberly, bringing her at a screeching halt. He had stopped walking, too. The brunette surveyed him before concluding doubtfully, "I hope it's nothing that can't be fixed by blood?" His sapphire-blue gaze remained steady as she continued to grow anxious. He didn't appear to have heard her. She was at a complete loss for words until Damon directed in his sudden normal voice, "Climb over my back."

"What? No, Mr. Salvatore. I'm fine, reall- aaaaaargh!" she yelped in shock as she was swept off her feet and swung on his back; her feet loosely locking around his navel by the strong set of arms, her hands instantly wrapping around his neck. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" she screamed, outraged, as he started walking again.

"Shhh, shut up. Hold on tight, and don't say a word." He said calmly and added with raised voice "and for Christ's sake, stop beating my head with your little damned fists if you want this to be over with."

"Fine!" she snarled, giving a last painful blow on Damon's head before burying her face in his neck as he transformed the walk into a run.

Were she to be human, she was dead sure she'd have suffered a cardiac arrest; the speed he'd procured was ludicrous, fantastic. It was electric, yet peculiarly appeared average. Though it might be owing to the fact that now she had phenomenal senses. She wondered if she could sprint identically after feeding. Even if she could, the thought was far from raising her spirits. The reality was crashing on her gradually, bitterly; like being dragged through a path of broken glass. She wanted to see her loved ones, save them from harm, but the primary deed to protect them was to stay away from them. The thought in itself tore at her insides as the shreds of glass managed to rip access within her. What was worse, she was stranded from any knowledge about them; if they'd all survived the battle, managed to kill You-Know-Who, captured the death eaters; Or if it all had somehow turned against them…
The deaths of Fred, Remus and Tonks were oppressive enough to cause a permanent bruise, she didn't reckon she could endure anything beyond that. Yet she hadn't inwardly confronted the worst of it all, her eyes shutting tight at the thought: the truth about her new existence. Something she considered more dreadful than being a Muggleborn and living in a world ruled over by death eaters and prejudiced purebloods. She was now a monster, one that was capable of sucking life out of beings; for one which merely blood could suffice. The terrible pool of dread, anxiety, and dismay experienced with astonishment a fresh inclusion: A lust for revenge. It was beyond unforgivable, dooming her for life. She was certain her human form would possibly be shaking by the wrath; the burning anger she'd never imagined she could possess. But irrelevant, it wasn't; it had a purpose.

"Are you alright?" Asked the dark-haired vampire; tilting his neck to look at her. She realized he'd stopped running. Now they stood amongst a clearing surrounded by trees, his angelic face the closest it had been to hers; instantly snapping her to reality.

She mumbled a 'sorry'; unwrapping herself from around his back, and dropped to the ground. Breathing out in apprehension, she paced till she was standing right next to him and asked mildly, "What now?" Her eyes wandered around the forest; taking in every minor detail. The green leaves of the peacefully proportioned summer trees spiraled to the ground, dancing majestically through the air; land seeming damp and trodden beneath their feet. The trees further bustled through the cool gust of wind as the leaves finally came to rest. It was beautiful.

"Mesmerizing, isn't it? Perfect season for hunting. Come on." The humor was far from uplifting her mood as she followed him, walking over the uneven field; the bustling of wind and crunching of leaves beneath their feet being all that could be heard. The walk seemed easier now. The sun was dominantly sheltered by the thick leaves, her eyes, too, getting customized with the sparse heat.

A few moments passed before he arrived at a halt and urged "Do you hear that?" Hermione stopped, too; beams of thrill and anxiety shooting through her veins as she strained her ears for any distant stirring…
And there it was. She could hear it distinctly; the rustling about within a distance of a few yards, causing her nerves to tremble. Damon looked pointedly at her before declaring "Your first prey."; brandishing his gorgeous smirk. Hermione nodded breathlessly and followed his swift stride. Barely 10 seconds had passed when they spotted a speck of grey not much farther away. Another few steps led to a closer look when she could plainly work out the living image of a wild goat, unessentially fostered to be the victim of her first hunt. The distress tramping inside her deepened more; her breath coming out in short breaths. As she reached closer, the comprehension of the act she was about to commit sunk in further and she realized she didn't even want to do this…

"You've got no other choice." He chimed in unexpectedly, as if he could read her thoughts. She noticed she'd stopped moving, and so had he. Hermione said nothing; merely returning his gaze with her own, which was undeniably troubled. Maintaining his now grave expression, he wrapped his fingers about her bare wrist and gently pulled her after him. She wouldn't have responded without the tug, but so obediently and unwillingly got dragged along the trail; her feet traipsing helplessly until they were refrained from stopping by the same set of hands and she finally looked ahead.
He trotted up to the animal before it could change its course and attacked: placing both his hands firmly about the goat and lowered to its other side, hiding his face in the process. Something he did caused the animal to writher and scream with pain, a scream that caused shivers to run down her spine, but the vampire's grip didn't falter against its struggle. She watched; simply appalled by the scene but her face remained impassive.

Half a minute had passed when Damon rose back up, panting lightly, his brows furrowed; a bright streak of crimson trailing down from his lower lip to chin. "Come on, now. Try and go ahead." He said softly. Hermione stared vacuously at the dead animal before her feet began moving on their own accord to cover the distance, ending her up beside Damon as she dropped to her knees; looking at the red puncture marks blemishing the furry, delicate skin of the goat. The hot soreness clenching at her throat worsened at the view of blood gushing out, while concurrently her own mind feeling repulsed from the strange arousal, which was getting stronger by every second…

"I can't do this." She sputtered suddenly, slightly backing away from the lifeless body of the goat; her face leaning away as her eyes sealed shut.

"Yes, you can." Said his voice, still soft but firm. She didn't reveal the acknowledgement of his words, brows still furrowed in agony and thirst, eyes closed. The scent of blood was getting to her; overdriving her senses yet the revulsion abstained her from crossing the thin white line distinguishing her from a savage.

A gentle sigh escaped Damon before he claimed calmly, "That's the only way for you to survive." Hermione remained silent. She didn't need to hear this. But he, on strong contrary to what she pleased, went on. "What if I'd left you there, at your school? You would have killed someone. Someone human. Think about how much worse it could have turned out for you." She squeezed her closed eyes even tighter. Didn't he know that was the last thing she wanted to hear right now? "Hermione," The use of her name had her eyes snapped open, but her face remained immobile; staring into empty space. "What about your friends, your family? I know it might be harsh, not being able to see them. But eventually you shall. As soon as you can repress your cravings; your urge to kill. And this is the only way for you to reach to that stage."

And right then Hermione knew he'd speak no more. His task was accomplished, precisely what she'd been striving to avert. She finally turned her face to the front, staring at her condemned fate. If she was to see her friends again; and to seek revenge for what'd happened: her soul might as well be damned. It was better than dying for nothing. And without having another thought, she leaned her head toward the bloody gash. Feeling revolted yet desperate, her tongue delicately wiped off a smear of red, dampening her lips. She inclined back slowly, savoring an obscure flavor and gulped. The moment it went down her throat, Hermione's eyes screwed up and she started gagging and coughing; her brain faintly screaming obscenities at her. It went on for about 5 seconds until everything turned around brashly: her dry-retching immediately ceased and the burning fire clinging to her throat turned atrocious; all thoughts instantaneously consigned to oblivion; her mind now beseeching for more blood as the monster inside her roared to life. Inconspicuously, she pierced her fangs in the soft flesh allowing a fresh stream of blood flooding in her mouth seeming to buy some final peace but more lust as the monster calmed and then ravened for more. She sucked frenziedly, and drained; restrain long forgotten; feeling as if she had been forced to starve for a decade. The weakness and fragility disguising her strength evaporated; her head feeling blissful as more blood flushed down her throat.

The obstructions beginning to occur in the steady flow went unnoticed by her until she sucked a mouthful of air; lastly compelled to break off and she leaned back to perch on the ground, feeling lightheaded. It took her a few moments to realize what the thirst had driven her to; but oddly she wasn't too perturbed. The remorse was still heavy on her bones for what she had done; for what she was to make out of life now; but certain deeds seemed more vital than pondering over herself and how she felt about her soul. Rancorously righting herself with that conviction, she stood up mechanically, her face impassive but her body quiet, until a hand gently held her wrist towing her ahead; her feet following without hesitation. Not discerning where she was being guided, not having the will to care, as her brain slowly swallowed the truth about the renewed purpose which had no room for Hermione Granger; not anymore.

A/N: Thank you for your kind words: mh21, AriannaM, purple, potterhead997, and other guest reviewers.

To answer some of your questions:
^Yes, I have a Vampire Diairies character in store for major appearance in later chapters; none other than our Katherine Pierce, of course. How would I get the spice, after all, that this beautiful show has us accustomed to.
^This whole thing is before the TVD timeline, of course; the year's 1997. Also, this story's post-wizarding war. Although Hermione's yet to learn about whether the war's over or still intact.
As for your other questions, you'll get to know everything else as the story progresses. Stay tuned, people.