Wow, you guys are amazing, as usual! So many positive reviews!

Here's the next chapter! It will explain a little more :)

"Elena! You're back!" A voice called as she made her way through the foyer.

Elena turned to see Caroline walking toward her.
"Safe and sound."

The blonde smiled at her, "So it seems. Anything new?"

"Not so much as a breath," she informed her, "The Darklings haven't been very active lately."

"Isn't that good?" Caroline questioned, her eyebrows drawing together.

"It's different. And with the Dark, different is suspicious."

Her friend nodded, "True. Though I presumed things would be safer this way."

Elena shrugged, "It doesn't feel right."

The two began to walk up the stairway, passing a few others on the way.
The place was even more crowded than usual, as Stefan had commanded the Arcs to remain indoors as much as possible. Safer...
As if any of them were truly safe.
The Dark had claimed Damon, and he was the best of them all.

So really, what chance did the rest of them have?
Were they to just hide out in this mansion?
Hope the security system would be enough to warn them of an oncoming attack?
They were sitting ducks...

"So, I suppose you didn't see him tonight?" Caroline continued as Elena opened the door to her room.

"I never do," she reminded her.

Caroline scoffed, "He's probably hiding. The double-crossing coward."

Elena turned around to face the girl.
"Watch your tongue."

Caroline held up her hands, "I only meant that-"

"I know what you meant," Elena cut her off, "And I'm telling you to watch your damn mouth."

"Elena, please. You know as well as I what he did."

"I also know what he was," Elena reminded her, "He was our leader, Caroline. He protected us, sacrificed his life time and time again to spare ours. You and every other Arc may be quick to judge what he has become, but he wasn't always that monster."
She sighed, closing her eyes, "He was one of us, once. The very best of us. Show some respect."

It was quiet for a moment, then Caroline sighed, "You're right. And I am sorry. I meant no offense."

Elena nodded, "Thank you."

"You believe it was the Dark that changed him?" Caroline pressed.

Again, Elena nodded, "I believe he can be saved."

"The Light would never have him back, Elena. Not after what he's done...you know that."

"The Light is blind to all that happens here...it matters not."

Caroline reached for her hand, forcing her whole attention to focus on the blonde's eyes.
"Elena...the Light is all that matters. Now, you have lost a great deal since we were sent here, and I am sorry for your pain, but that doesn't change what is...Damon has turned Elena. You know the laws. The only way Damon will ever see the Light again is for him to give up his wings...die as a mortal. And I think we both know that he'd never give up his power."

Elena pulled her hand away from Caroline's grip, turning her back on her.

"You can get upset at me, but you know it's true," the blonde reasoned.

"I'll find a way to save him," Elena hissed, moving to her dresser for a change of clothes.

Caroline moved to the door, then turned back, whispering, "I really hope so."

"Why does he have us do nothing?!" Kol insisted, pacing around while throwing dirty looks across the room.

"He has his reasons," Enzo answered, his eyes following Kol's, and focused on their leader.

Once again, Damon was staring into the mirror on the dresser, watching things that no one else could see.
A special talent the man possessed, courtesy of the Light.
He could make any reflecting object reveal to him his enemies.
Where ever they were, whatever they were doing.
And Damon spent a lot of time watching them.
And while it made some of the Darklings nervous, Enzo trusted the man.

He had spent years rallying up his followers, training them, preparing them, for their fight against the Arcs.
The damn creatures of the Light thought they could change the world.
But Enzo had proved them wrong, over and over.
He ran this world.
It was his, and the Dark was under his command. His power.
The Arcs had never stood a chance.
They were fools, coming here, to his kingdom, to wage war.
Here where the darkness seeped every corner, and the Light was a fading memory...completely unreachable.
Though he had to give it to them, Damon's strategies had been clever.
There had been many times when the Arcs claimed victory.
Until their connection with the Light started to fade, and they began growing weaker with each day.
He had found Damon then.

The glorious leader of the Arcs, out in the middle of the Dark, nearly defeated.
What a trophy it would have been, Enzo had thought, to kill him, and show his body to any Arc that dare challenge him again.
But that hadn't happened.
They had fought, and it had lasted for hours.
Damon never summoned help, never stopped to breathe...just relentless fighting, until the blast.
When their powers had collided, knocking them both unconscious.

Lucky for Enzo, his Darklings had taken them back to their hideout, a priceless mansion with marble floors, glass chandeliers, and an enormous spiral staircase.
When he recovered, he found that Damon had been strung up in the ballroom, having the Light drained from him by some of the Darklings.
It had proved to be a smart move.

Damon was the best warrior the Dark had ever won over.
Quickly excelling in ranks, he bested Enzo himself.
As the power of the Arc was still inside him, Damon had the abilities to lead the Darklings in a way Enzo was never able to.
Damon was smart, cautious, and had saved them from slaughter quite a few times already.

Enzo wasn't exactly sure when the former Arc had replaced him, and in all honesty, he feared to think too far into it.

Damon was strong, his Arc abilities fueled by the Dark's power.

A never ending source for him to draw from.

So when the former Arc decided that he now led the Darklings, no one was going to tell him otherwise.

Lucky for them, Damon was good at what he did.
Of course, they weren't killing as many Arcs as they had been, but they weren't dying off themselves either.
And the world was still under the Dark's power.

Under Damon's rule.
It was only a matter of time before the Light gave in, calling home it's warriors.

"Leave it be, Kol," he directed the Darkling, "Damon knows what he's doing. Trust him."

Kol's eyes narrowed, "I don't trust anyone...He's an Arc...what if he's protecting them?"

Kai, who'd been listening nearby, commented then, "It's reasonable to think so. Arcs always take care of their own."

"He's not...he's one of us, now," Enzo insisted, "He's turned, and he leads us well, so I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself, and find something useful to do."

With a low growl, Kol walked away. Kai clenched his jaw, but said nothing more on the matter.

She was praying again.

He wasn't sure why she still bothered. But every night...it was the same thing.

She would settle on top of the clock tower, just before midnight, wait a few hours, and go back to the sanctuary he and his brother had created across town.
Then she would pray.

As if the Light could be reached.

But his favorite time was when she would sleep.
He knew it was wrong to watch her like this, but something in his chest wouldn't let him stop.
Because she looked so peaceful in sleep, and sometimes, when he was lucky, she would whisper his name.

"Damon."
Enzo's voice cut through his concentration, and the image in the mirror flashed, her face disappearing.

He sighed, "What is it?"

"You need to plan another attack, soon. Some of the others are getting...impatient."

"You mean Kol is getting impatient," he corrected, and Enzo shrugged, "Tell him we will attack when I say we will, and if he doesn't like it, he can go fight the Arcs alone."

Enzo came to stand next to him, "He's only wondering why we don't take action. Many of them are. Kai is beginning to have doubts as well."

"I've told you. The Arcs are too weak to pose a threat to us, but they are still dangerous. They are staying out of our way, so we will leave them be. If they become an issue, then we will worry about attacks, but until then, I don't plan on losing anymore warriors."

Enzo held his gaze, "This is...wise. But some of the others believe you may have a different motive...that you're protecting them."

"And why would I do that?" Damon challenged.

"You did lead them once, as you now lead us," Enzo reminded him.

Damon hardened his gaze, "Tell anyone who doubts me to cast aside their worries."
Without warning, images of Elena filled his mind, making the next words acid on his tongue, "None among the Arc mean a thing to me anymore."

Elena awoke abruptly.

There were voices off in the distance...It must be morning.
She laid back against the bed, wiping her hair back from her forehead.

She'd had that dream again...the one that always haunted her thoughts.
Sighing, she turned her head.

The clock told her that it was just past seven. The morning was still young then.
Not that it mattered, given that the Darkness had swallowed everything.

Which made it even harder to find strength.

Something she always felt short of after these nightmares.
Always the same song.

Like a replay in her mind.

"Damon!" She screamed, "You can't just leave!"
She followed as he marched across the yard.
"Go back," he commanded.
She materialized in front of him, "Don't do this, Damon...they'll find you, they'll KILL you!
"Nothing less than what I deserve," he spat.
She reached for his arm, "Don't say such things!"
Finally he halted, "Why not? He's dead Elena! Alaric is dead, and it's my fault. He trusted me, and I got him killed."
"It was a casualty Damon. A great loss for us all, but you can't blame yourself."
"The hell I can't!" he hissed, pulling his arm away, "Go back to Stefan, Elena. He will lead you well."
"He isn't our leader, Damon. You are!" Elena continued to follow him, "The Light chose you! And stepping down isn't going to bring Alaric back."
"No, but I can at least avenge him."
"Then come back with me," she pleaded, "And we will all help you!"
He eyed her, stopping.
She thought maybe she had reached him, as he lifted a hand to her cheek, "Elena...no. Alaric trusted me to protect him. I let my guard down...and he paid the price. I have to deal with that. It was my fault."
"It wasn't," she assured him, "Damon, it's the humanity...these human emotions are ruling you. Clouding your thoughts..."
"The humanity has nothing to do with it, Elena...I know I am to blame for his death. And Stefan will be able to protect you all better...Go back to the others. I will find the Darkling who did this to Alaric, and avenge him."
She shook her head, "Don't leave me, Damon...They will kill you."
He eyed her gravely, then placed a short kiss to her lips.
As he pulled away he met her gaze, "I won't let you be my fault, too."
And he was gone, having dematerialized.

Elena let the water from the shower wipe away the last of the dream, and her memory.
There was no use in dwelling too much on it, as it would most likely return that night.
Reminding her that she could have done something, said something, to make him stay.
Maybe then the Dark wouldn't have gotten him.

But at least he was alive.
Because if an Arc was killed in mortal form, they were truly gone.

Even the soul died, and they would cease to exist.
The body was a life source for the Arc, since they were separated from the Light, and when the body is killed, there is nothing to be done.

And she could not imagine a world, Light or Dark, where Damon did not exist.
She had to save him.

Feeling freshly determined, she finished her shower and got dressed, before leaving the room.

She had just started down the hall when she heard her name being called.
Bonnie and Caroline were walking toward her.

"What's going on?" She asked, noticing their hurried expression.
"Stefan just called a meeting," Bonnie told her, tucking her short black hair behind her ear, "Sounded important."
Elena nodded, following them downstairs.

Stefan had everyone in the opened living room, the last of the Arcs making their way in.

"Is this everyone?" he questioned, looking around.

Elena followed his gaze.
Bonnie, Caroline, and herself were standing near the door by the stairway, Jeremy, Tyler, and Matt were by the entrance.
April, Anna, and Harper were on the couch, while Lexi stood with Elijah near Stefan.

A few others were scattered about.

It seemed everyone was present.

Stefan must have realized this too, and nodded.

"Alright, well, as you all know, it's been weeks since the Darkling's last attack."
There were some nods.

"They haven't made a move in too long. Which leads me to believe they are planning something. Something big...and I think we need to be proactive."

Elena's attention snapped at these words.

"What do you mean by proactive?" she asked, and Stefan's gaze lifted to her.

"I want to issue an attack against the Darklings."

Noises of shock, and even some agreements started, but Elena shook her head.
"Are you insane?"

"Elena-" Caroline cautioned, but she ignored her.

"Do you not think they would expect that? Or are you trying to get us all killed?"

Stefan stared at her, but remained so calm it annoyed her, "You believe it a dangerous move?"

"Yes," she admitted, matching his tone, "It would be idiotic to strike a match under them, even if we are well prepared. Hell, even if we had the element of surprise, we hardly compare to them in combat."

"We have trained hard," Stefan reminded her, "And in the Light of the next full moon, they'll grow weak as our strength rises."

"They'll be expecting us to come then."

"They'll expect us to cower," Stefan corrected.

"It's crazy!" she insisted, "We are not prepared for this!"

"And we can't keep doing nothing," Stefan told her.

Elena took a step closer to him, "You order an attack on them, you kill us all."

Stefan grew annoyed,"We have the advantage!"

"But they have Damon."

Silence followed as every eye turned to Stefan, waiting for the verdict.

They trusted his opinion, yet probably understood her point.

Damon had, after all, bested each of them.

Stefan's eyes stayed on her, but Elena refused to back down.

"True," he finally said, his gaze tracing her body before smirking, "But we have Damon's weakness."

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