The search

What is darkness? Is it just plain blackness in a coloured space? Is it something that blocks out everything good and pure? Is it the presence of shadows, evil and depression? Truth is, when darkness is there, it often goes along with fear. From a very early on, fairytales have scared humans of things that go bump in the night. Darkness is supposed to represent everything bad. Light is supposed to represent everything good. But the truth is, perfect light cannot be created without shadows….

Elena's eyes flew over the words she had just written down. Darkness. Two weeks ago, something dark had come over her. It had gripped her and had made her do things she had never even dreamed of doing. It scared her to think that it lived inside of her. But was it something to be scared of?

For 17 years, she had been surrounded by light. But the light had become too bright.. too hollow. It lacked beauty. Perfect light could not be without a little shadow around the corner. Sunsets were beautiful because darkness was trying to block out the sun. Sunrises were beautiful because darkness fought with impending light. Darkness could not be without a little light. Light could not be without some darkness.

Nothing was pure dark of pure light. Good people had to have some darkness. Bad people had to have some light hidden beneath the surface. Nothing was ever simple; black or white.

But if she believed in this theory, she needed to learn about Damon's darkness and Damon's light. She needed to know more, before she let him guide her into an unknown place. A place she wasn't ready to touch just yet.

She nodded at her train of thought, set on trying to learn why he was here. It was probably because of an evil plan. He let the darkness consume him. But there had to have been a time were he was good; a part of this society. He had to remember light.

She left the confines of her bedroom and descended the stairs. She knew he was here; she had seen him coming up towards her front door from a window. He had not seen her. The last time she had laid eyes on him was when his blood had been flowing through her system. It was gone now. She would not become a vampire.

Shivers coursed through her body as she stepped closer towards her father's office. She could hear the muffled voices behind the closed door. Carefully, she placed her ear against it and listened…

"We have not found it yet, Damon. This could be it; the answer to everything. I would never have to worry about the safety of this town again. But it is hidden where I cannot reach it," she heard her father say in an agitated voice.

Found what?

"But we have the biggest of them all. It is locked up. It was the master of everything. As long as it's trapped… I'll try to find it for you. But you have to tell me the location of the cell where you are keeping it," Damon could be heard bargaining.

Elena understood nothing of this all. Damon was trying to find someone her father had locked up? Maybe an old vampire friend? That would explain his presence here.

"Elena Gilbert! What on earth are you doing?" her mother suddenly yelled behind her. "Didn't I teach you at a very early age that your father's office was off limits to you? And then to eavesdrop!"

Elena slowly turned around and regarded her mother tensely.

"I don't know what has gotten into you lately, but I don't like it one bit. Your father will hear of this, young lady. Now go! And don't ever let me catch you here again," Miranda Gilbert warned.

Elena swallowed something.

"Yes, mother," she softly said and made herself scarce.

Well, that certainly made her feel like an errand child! But at least she had some more information. Damon was searching for something her father had. But it still didn't explain how she became involved in all this.

Why her? Why did he want her? And why on earth did he want to teach her about biting?

She wandered off into the library and petulantly sat down on the chaise there. She needed to be smart about this. Her parents were never going to tell her anything. They had kept her in the dark about vampires. Or at least her father had. She wasn't sure about her mother. And Damon was never going to reveal his secret agenda. But he definitely had a plan; a plan to find someone.

Suddenly she heard the front door slam shut. Had Damon left? Wait.. without seeing her? Well, he must have a new set of priorities now! Pouting, she crossed her arms over her chest. No orgasms today then.

Okay, now she WAS acting like a sullen child. She needed to show some initiative here. If she wanted information, she needed to do something about it! She needed to be resourceful. And she certainly needed to work around her parents.

She spotted Damon leaving her front lawn through the window and a thought came to mind. Quickly lifting up her skirts, she headed towards the front door. She would follow him…

Not even bothering to tell her parents she was going out, she stepped outside. They wouldn't notice she had left anyway. They were too busy preparing for her courtship and upcoming wedding.

Damon just disappeared around the corner, when Elena began her quest. As quickly as her legs could carry her, she went after him.

She made sure to remain a few feet away from him. He couldn't notice that she was there. The direction he was taking showed her he was going into town. Was he going to feed on someone? Was he going to drag some poor woman into an alley and rip into her throat?

Curiously, she watched him stride through town as if he owned the place. The man was quite sure of himself with the way he walked. Women eyed him with absolute fascination as they spotted him from behind their fans. It made her feel.. jealous.

She quickly pushed it aside. Jealousy was not a smart thing to be feeling when Damon Salvatore was involved.

Where was he going? She hoped he would at least take her to something interesting.

A man bumped into her, throwing her off track for a second.

"Sorry," he apologised.

Elena smiled sweetly at him, telling him it was okay. When her eyes tried to find Damon again, he was gone.

She looked all over, but nothing. He had managed to escape her.

Darn it!

She felt so stupid. It wasn't a very smart idea to begin with. What was she thinking following a vampire around? The smart thing to do would be to let it go. She needed to return back to her house and prepare for her future life with Master Lockwood. She needed to let Damon go. But he was part of her life now. He had wormed his way in. It was not like she could ignore him. He was up to something and she had this distinct feeling that she was a pawn in his plan.

She took one last glance around, before she desolately turned around and shuffled her way back through town.

Out of nowhere, an arm shot out of an alley she was just passing. It pulled her in, put a hand to her mouth to keep her from screaming and pushed her against a wall. She struggled with all her might, but the person containing her was too strong. This was what she got for leaving the house without a chaperone.

"Hold still!" a familiar voice hissed at her.

Elena blinked. It was Damon.

"What are you doing here, Elena? Is there a particular reason why you are following me?" he snapped at her.

His body kept her contained against the wall behind her. She could feel his hip bones digging into her. His eyes bore into hers.

Very carefully, he removed his hand from her mouth. Instead, the hand latched onto her wrists, pinning them against the wall above her. He wasn't going to let her go.

"What a foolish little girl you are, thinking you could stealthily follow a vampire around. I noticed you there as soon as you left the house. I felt your presence. I heard your heart pounding in your chest. There really is no way for you to get around me without me knowing, Elena," he explained menacingly.

Elena shivered. He was angry. Making a vampire angry was a stupid move. Still, she raised her chin defiantly and looked him square in the eye.

"It was worth a shot," she shot back at him.

Damon narrowed his eyes at her.

"And what exactly where you hoping to find?"

"Anything. I know nothing about you, Damon. You are constantly at my house. You are in cahoots with my father about something. You won't stop bothering me and make me feel insane things. I have to know who you are!" she told him.

Damon's menacing glare turned into a smirk. His free hand came up to touch Elena's face; his finger tracing the soft skin of her cheek. It made Elena's heart begin to pound in her chest.

"O I know I make you feel things. And you love it. You love it when I touch you…right there."

To get his point across, his hand slid down her body to gently cup her sex through her dress. It made Elena blush profusely.

"We are in the streets, Damon!" she protested against his actions.

Damon looked down the alley.

"No one is here, Elena. No one except you and me."

His fingers began to move now, massaging her now throbbing folds. Elena's eyes fluttered shut for a second, before she realised what he was doing here. He was trying to distract her with sex. She tried to struggle with his hold on her, trying to break free. It only amused Damon.

"Keep squirming like that, Elena."

Elena could feel what he meant by that. His erection poked her in the stomach.

"Why do you want me? What game are you playing? Why are you so determined to get me to cross over to the dark side?" she threw at him.

His fingers stopped and he wavered for a second. She had struck something here. She was sure of it. Unfortunately, Damon recovered quickly, his smirk back in place.

"O Elena. Because you would make such a powerful, dark temptress. I saw a glimpse of that two weeks ago. Can you imagine the intense sex? Your future husband would never know of that side of you. I could show you things he could never even do to you," he whispered seductively.

Elena's skin broke out in goose bumps unwillingly.

"That will never happen between us, Damon. You may have evoked some orgasms. I may have touched you. But I'm still pure. You will never go there," she snapped at him.

"But you've thought of it, haven't you? I'll bet you have thought about letting me do that to you. I know I have."

Elena swallowed harshly. Yes, she had…

Damon saw the answer in her eyes and he grinned triumphantly. His fingers went back to work on her, making her stomach clench in desire.

"I will find out about you, Damon Salvatore. One day, I will learn what you are trying to do," she warned him through her moans.

Damon leaned forward and brushed his lips against the shell of her ear.

"When you do find out, it will be too late," he whispered.

With those words, he pressed the heel of his palm against her clit and off she went. When she came down from her high, he had disappeared.

What had he meant by 'it will be too late'? Was he going to kill someone? Was someone dying? Was he going to kill her?

As she walked back home, it suddenly became clear to her that she had figured out one part of his plan. He wanted to turn her….

A/N: I know you all have been waiting a long time for my stories. Truth is, I have to take it easy. There are some current issues in my life right now that just have to come first. I hope you all understand.

As far as the story goes; I hope you like this update. I wanted a little more plot and intrigues added. Elena is desperate to find out what Damon is up to. She will not give into him before she knows she is not just part of a game he is playing. But is he really playing a game? Or are there genuine feelings involved here?

Please review!

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