Disclaimer: The storyline and the characters are based on the book written by L.J. Smith. I do not own the characters and the world of Vampire Diaries. Furthermore, I have no intentions of having my work published as my own original work.

Vampire Diaries: Angel's Fury (#1 Dawn of the Past)

Chapter 4

-ELENA-

Dear Diary,

Last night was magical, Damon and I went out to watch the fireworks and it was fantastic how he made it extra special when he brought me on top of a billboard. It was a great experience but what made it special was because Damon was with me, body and soul. When we kissed, I felt him opening to me, allowing me pass through his defenses, like the Damon in that other life. I've never felt more alive than when I am with him, and now I know where my heart belongs. I loved him even when I wasn't supposed to, but that doesn't mean that my love for Stefan wasn't real. But in this life, I was never Stefan's and he was never mine. I can't let the things I did before to happen again. I can't jeopardize whatever peace we have by complicating things just because I loved them both. There were times that I still couldn't stop myself from thinking of where Stefan is, or what he could be doing in Italy. I still worry for him, but I know Stefan well. He is well capable of taking care of himself. Stefan's always been the logical thinker, I'm sure he is fine. I wonder when he will arrive here. I miss him and I feel sorry but I think it is best that he is away for now. Stefan deserves to find his own happiness even if that happiness is not with me.

"Elena! Elena!" The familiar voice of a man calling her name caught her attention. She instantly looked around and saw that she is in the middle of a forest. Elena shook her head while trying to remember how she got in that place.

"Elena!"

The agony and urgency in the voice scared her so much. She can feel her heart aching for the pain of the owner of that familiar voice. She quickly moved to look for him. Tears sprang from her eyes while searching the woods. She knows him, she knows who the owner of that voice is. Anxiously she searched around the forest, with her bare feet she ran around the muddy ground not caring of the small cuts she has. Her eyes were focused on finding him. The pain in his voice made her heart sink into sorrow. She has to find him no matter what, he needs her, he's calling her and she knew he is in so much suffering.

After several minutes of searching, she was struck when she finally saw him. There he is, tied in an oak tree with his agonized face and clothes drenched with his own blood. Her soul seemed to leave her body as rage rose from within her. He stared at her with his green but dull eyes and she wanted to rush to him and bring him comfort. Stefan, her Stefan is right there across her and is in so much pain. Again her eyes ware drowned with tears, she ran towards him and held his face between her hands. His face is paler than usual and he is as cold as a corpse.

"Stefan, I'm here! Please look at me, Stefan!" She cried out while trying to make him look at her. She couldn't breathe while waiting for him to finally look at her.

Slowly he looked up at her and stared straight in her eyes. His leafy green eyes turned grimmer when he saw her, and she couldn't explain the pain she felt when she saw contempt in his gaze towards her. It's as if he was accusing her of a grave crime she did to him, as if he hated her.

"What happened to you, Stefan? Tell me who did this to you?"

He didn't answer her and instead he just stared at her with his pair of hateful eyes. The way he stared at her made her step backwards.

"You are asking who did that to him?" A voice from behind her spoke out of nowhere. When Elena turned to look at its owner, she saw a man hiding in the shadows. His face is well hidden from her, but his voice is very familiar.

"Who are you?! Did you do this to him?!" The anger inside her was clearly shown in her eyes and voice. Her fists are trembling not because of fear but because of rage and hatred towards the man who tortured her Stefan.

"Me?" He laughed in a mocking tone at her question. "You are very much mistaken, Elena. I didn't do that to him". He paused at his words before he started stepping forward. Elena took a few steps backwards, trying to shield Stefan from harm.

"I didn't cause him the pain…" When he finally showed himself, Elena was stunned when she saw his face. He stood with nobility in front of her. With his high cheekbones, curly hair, and a face that resembles that of the face carved in a roman coin, he gazed at her with his green leafy eyes.

"S-Stefan? But h-how" She turned to the man behind her and saw the badly injured Stefan still tied in the tree.

"Wondering who the real Stefan is?" He chuckled with a grim sound that made her frightened.

"Stop pretending to be him!" She yelled angrily at him.

"I'm not pretending, Elena. I am Stefan Salvatore that is without a doubt. But please don't be mistaken, that Stefan over there is also the real Stefan. At least he is the pathetic version of me who was ruined by his so called humanity and love for his dearest Elena".

"What are you talking about?" She asked in confusion but still remained on her guard.

The man zapped in front of her and caught her by the waist, taking her against the sturdy and hard trunk of a tree across the injured Stefan. He looked at her with his green eyes but in a way that Stefan never did to her. There is no love or compassion in his eyes, only lust and desire, and hunger. His lips curved into a sinister smile while moving closer to her.

"I know what you did, Elena. You took something important to me and I want my revenge".

"W-what are you talking about?" She struggled to escape but his hold kept her still.

His eyes turned dark and murderous followed by his hands gripping her tighter.

"Look at what you did to him!" He cupped her cheeks harshly and forced her to look at the other Stefan. "You caused him that pain. When you toyed with us and treated us like some dispensable toy you enjoyed playing with, and then you threw us away like a tattered rug, you brought us so much pain, Elena". The pain in his voice is real; she felt it and her heart ached as she realized what he was referring to. "You spewed so much beautiful words of love, making me believe that you love me but what?! Even when we were together you wanted my brother! You always wanted to have him despite me offering you all my love!"

"No! No! That's not true! I loved you! I did and forever I will!" Her tears sprang and flowed in abundance. His words pierced through her and she couldn't look him in the eyes.

"Lies! You never loved me, because if you did, then why are we in this pain Elena?! Look at him! Look at my soul you destroyed!" His voice almost seemed like an angry growl and his face is filled with hatred and anger.

"That's not true Stefan! Please believe me! I truly loved you" Her sobs made her choke her own words. She couldn't stop crying while looking at the other Stefan.

"You did? Then why did you throw me away?" He laughed with bitterness before he released her. "There's no point trying to make a fool out of me, Elena. You chose to throw me away, now I'm choosing to take my revenge. Enjoy your remaining moments with my brother, because I will come for you and take everything away from you and from my brother. I will make you pay for every pain you caused me".

His threat echoed around them while he slowly disappears in front of her. She tried to hold onto him bit it was too late. He was gone. When she turned to look at the other Stefan, he was staring at her with sadness and longing before the tree slowly took him in. She ran towards him and tried to call him but she stumbled and fell down.

"Stefan!"

Elena woke up from her sleep. She looked around that she is in her room. She is covered with sweat and her face is drenched with tears. She sighed at the thought of it being just a dream but when she stepped out of her bed, she saw traces of mud in her feet. It wasn't just a dream.

"Why bother giving her a warning?" Myrtle appeared behind Stefan with her hand holding a goblet filled with blood and wine.

"I want her to be frightened. I want to torture her with the fear of losing everyone and everything she holds dear before I take them away from her". Stefan answered her before taking the goblet from her and drinking from it.

"I will take everything and I won't stop until I'm satisfied".