So I had a few hours before my friend's plane landed and a few spare moments here and there to write this chapter. It's not as long as some of my others, but I figured that since I didn't know when I would get the time again that I should at least post what I had. I do have to warn you… there are no Delena moments this time around. Sorry!

Hope you guys enjoy it anyway!

Damon stood on the side of the training center as he partially observed Rose and Anna's attempts at de-weaponing the other. He hadn't really felt like dealing with the scene of another werewolf death after everything he had realized the night before and figured a perfect solution for this would be vamp on vamp combat.

Anna was in many ways superior to Rose and the battle was almost laughable, but Damon never let his satisfaction show through his well-established reserve. He had managed to keep his expression slightly threatening and his lips stretched tightly in a thin line across his face.

As Anna once again managed to dislodge Rose's machete from her grip, Damon closed his eyes and allowed himself a minute to rehash his thoughts. He couldn't ignore the stab of regret at how foolishly he had let his cockiness take over when dealing with Katherine this morning. It had been stupid considering his audience, but at the time it had felt way too good to get under her skin.

In the past, she had manipulated him in an attempt to weaken his state as a means of obtaining what he had earned; his position and hunting grounds. And although he honestly didn't give a shit about any of that now; she could have it and more than likely would once he departed with Elena, it had him brought way too much satisfaction making her feel weak for once to stop.

But the reality of who she was still clogged the air making it almost difficult to breath. Katherine was manipulative and Damon had successfully just moved Elena up on the vampire's hit list. The fear of what the bitch could accomplish consumed him for a moment before he reassured himself that Caroline was with Elena. His friend hated Katherine above anyone else and there was no doubt in his mind that she would protect Elena if the situation called for it. Hell, Caroline would revel in the opportunity to give Katherine what she rightfully deserved and it was this notion that settled his nerves a bit.

But what managed to vanquish his fear completely was the thought of escaping with Elena this evening. If Katherine had anything up her sleeve the two of them would be long gone before the bitch ever got the opportunity to execute her evil scheme.

Satisfied with his internal reassurance, Damon opened his eyes to see Rose heaped over on the floor with Anna's machete lodged halfway into her stomach. He crossed his arms over his chest and reprimanded, "Maybe if you'd pay more attention to the lessons instead of Trevor over there, this unfortunate situation wouldn't have happened."

Damon was sure that if Rose had the capability, her face would have flushed the darkest color of red. She hung her head and removed the weapon from the pit of her stomach evoking a high pitched whimper from her mouth. As the wound repaired itself, she handed the weapon back to a smirking Anna and they once again resumed their activities.

After a few minutes, Damon motioned for Trevor. The vampire walked around the edge of the training center before settling himself next to Damon's side. "I need to speak with Alaric for a few minutes. Just watch the girls and make sure Rose doesn't die in the process will you?"

Trevor nodded his head and Damon made his way to the weapons cellar. He waivered in the doorway and watched as Ric transferred a half forged blade from the burning fire and onto a stone slab. Once there, the human repeatedly beat the steel a few times before he finally lifted his gaze up to notice Damon.

A smile lit up the man's face and it was obvious that Alaric was genuinely excited to see Damon. "Got the girls training against each other, I see. That's a new tactic." He then lifted his eyebrows suspiciously in Damon's direction.

Not really wanting to get into the details of why he had chosen not to include a werewolf in today's lesson, Damon shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Figured I'd try out something new."

Ric evidently bought his vague excuse because he let out a laugh and asked, "What can I help you with, Damon?"

This was one of the reason's Damon appreciated Ric's company so much. The man always got right down to the point and it was refreshing really since Damon wasn't exactly in the mood for small talk. "Actually there's a specific weapon I'm interested in." He paused for a second and noticed that Alaric's eyes watched him intently before he clarified, "An exploding bow and arrow."

This seemed to have caught Ric off guard. The man placed his half sculpted hunk of metal onto the table and ran his hand through his hair. "How do you even know about that yet?"

Damon rubbed the back of his hand across his forehead before shooting Ric one of his signature smirks. "Let's just say a little birdie told me and leave it at that."

Ric let out a weak laugh and made his way to the back room. He disappeared for a moment before returning with what looked like a traditional bow and set of arrows. He set it gently on the table and said, "Well, I only have one finished right now. But you can take a look if you'd like."

Damon made his way to the table and lifted the weapon into the air to examine it. He'd never been specifically familiar with this particular type of weapon, much preferring the ease that came with handling a dagger or blade, but he could see the subtle differences that made this particular bow and arrow different from its standard predecessor.

After taking a few moments to study the weapon, Damon shook his head from side to side and finally spoke up. "I really have no idea how your mind comes up with this shit."

"It's a gift, man." Alaric pointed his index finger at the tip of the arrow and explained, "There are three different components that make this thing work and they're all located on the arrowhead. There are fine amounts of nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal on the tip here and when they come in contact with an object, the impact causes an explosion; thus engulfing your opponent in flames."

Damon shook his head in disbelief that Ric had been able to create such a tactical weapon. The man was seriously a genius, but there was a question that needed to be asked. "Who are you creating this for?"

Ric's eyes darted back and forth revealing that he was searching for the answer and his expression became confused as he confessed, "I don't think anyone. The idea popped into my head a couple of weeks ago and I just started working on it."

Damon narrowed his eyes, unsure of how to handle his friend's momentary mental lapse. "You think the idea just popped into your head?"

Ric's face had drained completely of its color and it was clear to see the man was having a difficult time accepting his own explanation of how the idea came about. His eyes finally refocused on Damon as he asked, "Weird, huh? I'm freaking you out aren't I?"

Damon released a soft chuckle and answered, "Honestly, after the shit I've seen over the past few days, nothing has the power to freak me out anymore. But would you mind if I take the weapon?"

Ric seemed to be mentally weighing the pros and cons of relinquishing his only finished prototype and Damon felt the need to speak up again. "I just need to borrow it for a couple of days to test the thing out. I promise to bring it back in one piece. You can trust me." He felt ashamed as soon as the words left his mouth, knowing full well that everyone had been a lie, but the weapon was important. Demetra wouldn't have mentioned it otherwise.

Ric let out a long sigh before nodding his head in agreement and Damon figured he was in the clear; mission successful. But as he turned to leave the room, Alaric placed a hand on his shoulder and asked, "What do you need it for anyway?"

Damon debated lying to Alaric again, but the idea left a bad taste in his mouth. This man had been nothing but warm and supportive since the day they'd met and it no longer felt right leaving him alone in this mess. He knew Ric was offered a few days a year to visit his wife and that the trip was planned for next month, but what was wrong with pushing that up a bit?

So he turned around to face Ric and placed his free hand on the man's shoulders. He inched his face forward so that his eyes rested directly in front of his friends and Damon felt his pupils dilate as he slowly ordered, "You won't remember giving me this weapon and as soon as I leave you're going to visit Elijah and ask to visit Jenna today. You received a letter; she's terribly sick and needs your attention, but you'll be back in a few days."

Damon then pulled his eyes from Alaric's before turning around and heading towards the door back to the training center. Right before he exited, Damon waved his hand through the air and acknowledged the man one last time. "Thanks for the weapon, Ric! And don't worry about Jenna, she'll be fine."

"You do realize that in two days you're going to have to handle yourself on your own down there don't you?" Caroline asked as she slid the door of Damon's bedroom open and motioned for Elena to step inside.

They had been in the slave's quarters for the past few hours allowing Elena the resources for a much needed warm bath, tasteless meal, and outfit change. The conditions were far from ideal and the idea of maneuvering down there without the company of her vampire bodyguard was downright chilling, but Elena thawed her frozen bones by reminding herself that it would never happen.

She and Damon would be leaving the city tonight and then she'd never have to bear the agony of being separated from him again. After six years of separation, they would finally be able to enjoy what Elena was so ready to embrace; each other. Of course they'd be running for their lives, but she'd done that for a good third of her life and with Damon by her side, Elena had no reason to be fearful. It wasn't going to be easy, she knew this, but Elena couldn't imagine a more accurate depiction of perfection.

"Did you hear me, Elena?" Caroline asked.

She shook her head and pulled the sensation of butterfly wings flapping against the lining of her stomach to the back of her mind. "Yeah sorry. I know I will and I'm not exactly thrilled about it, but I think I can manage myself."

Caroline ran her hand through her mass of blonde luxurious curls and assured, "There's no doubt in my mind that you can, but how are you going to hold up on your own when we go on three day hunting trips?"

Elena faked a gasp and widened her eyes for ultimate effect as she asked, "Three days?"

The vamp made her way to Damon's bed and sprawled herself across the top. "Yep, Damon's pretty intense when it comes to this werewolf slaying business. But then again, things may change now that he has you to come home to."

Elena felt the heat under her cheeks at Caroline's statement and immediately wanted to switch topics, but instead refocused the attention onto the vampire. "Don't you have anyone to come home to?"

Caroline rolled her eyes and replied, "I have Angelo." She then shrugged her shoulders and continued, "He's my designated slave, but he's not exactly what you're asking about. He's delivered to my room each night solely to keep me alive; that's it."

She knew Caroline was trying to hide it, but there was the slightest hint of anguish in her eyes and Elena couldn't help but feel pity on the vamp. She was about to say something reassuring when Caroline shook the sensitivity from her face and confessed, "The whole romance thing that you and Damon have got going on just isn't in the cards for me."

Elena knew it was entirely too cliché', but at the moment she was at a complete loss for something worldly. "Well maybe you just haven't found the guy yet."

Caroline scuffed and quipped, "Yeah, maybe there's a werewolf out there that will capture my interest because that's all I have left outside of these walls."

She then shook her head at the audacity of even mentioning such a disgraceful notion and concluded, "Elena darling, it's alright. Don't pity me because I've accepted that I'm a killer a long time ago. My relationship is with death and I'm perfectly fine with that."

Elena could see that past the perfectly established front, Caroline was the furthest from fine with her situation. The look made Elena's stomach churn because she knew that if Caroline stayed behind, she'd be taking the only relationship the female had. It wasn't a romantic one, but she'd come to realize it was an important one to her friend.

And it made Elena want nothing more than to just blurt out her and Damon's intentions for that night and throw Caroline the offer she so desperately wanted the vampire to accept. But she knew it wasn't her call to make. Still, the urge was there and it was gnawing at the back of her throat with each passing minute she spent with her new friend.

Caroline must have noticed her internal dilemma because her eyes suddenly filled with worry as she questioned, "Elena, are you alright?"

And Elena couldn't fight the urge anymore. Caroline was obviously Damon's friend, but damnit, she had become friends with her too. And since Elena had lost everyone else, she really wasn't prepared to lose one of the only two remaining presences in her life. She knew Damon would be furious, but she wasn't about to let him decide if Caroline deserved to know the truth or not. So, pushing Damon's opinions aside, Elena let out a breath of air to slow her hammering heart and opened her mouth when a knock on the door sounded through the air.

Caroline shot Elena a glance that asked Who the hell is that, like she had any idea who would be on the other side of that door, before crossing the room. The door slid open revealing a vampire Elena recognized, but couldn't remember the name of.

Caroline narrowed her eyes suspiciously and asked, "Lexie, what are you doing here? If you're looking for Damon he's got the girls in the training center."

"I'm not here to see Damon." Lexie then pointed in Elena's direction and clarified, "I'm actually here to collect her."

Caroline crossed her arms over her chest defensively and spat, "Excuse me? What are you talking about? I told you Damon has requested her indefinitely."

A weak smiled played on Lexie's lips as she said, "And normally that would stand true, but Klaus has taken an interest in the human."

A betraying gasp escaped from Elena causing both vampires to glance in her direction. Caroline shot her a look that said Don't worry, I'll handle this before she refocused her attention on Lexie. "You have got to be kidding me! I'm sure he's taken an interest in at least half a dozen other girls as well, so there's no need for him to have Elena. He won't even notice if she's not there."

"The number of slaves he has requested is none of your concern." Lexie then rolled her eyes and chastised, "I knew Damon had you wrapped around his finger, but is it really in your best interest to be fighting his battle for him? I don't think you want to make this difficult because you wouldn't want me informing Klaus of your opinions concerning his private matters now would you?"

As the undertone of Lexie's threat lingered in the air, Elena's felt her airways constrict and it took every ounce of her strength to keep the oxygen flowing in and out of her lungs. The reality of what was happening was too much to handle and she felt like her knees were going to give way any second. She was so close to her freedom; to her perfect life with Damon, and now everything was being ripped right out from underneath of her.

She watched Caroline intently, wasting no effort in hiding the fear streaming from her eyes, and internally begged for her friend to keep fighting on her behalf. But all of her hope diminished as she witnessed Caroline's previously angered face fall into one covered by remorse. The vamp then made her way across the room and laced her arm around Elena's before leading her back towards the door.

On the inside, Elena was selfishly screaming for Caroline to continuing fighting, but she kept her exterior as emotionless as possible. She was sure her friend could hear the jackhammer affect her heart was producing, but apparently it didn't matter as Caroline took the last step and positioned Elena in front of Lexie.

Caroline unlaced her arm from around Elena's and finally looked her in the eyes. Elena could almost see the formation of a tear in the corner of her friend's eye as Caroline apologized. "I'm so sorry, but there's nothing I can do. You have to go with her."

Elena's vision became fuzzy as the liquid formed in her own eyes. She choked back a small sob and replied, "It's not your fault. Just don't let Damon do something stupid like come after me." She then watched Caroline nod her head in understanding before Lexie led her out of the room.

After his visit with Alaric, the remainder of his very last training session had been painstakingly drawn out and Damon knew it was a result of a certain female waiting for him in his room. The minutes dragged and he'd attempted to pass the time by focusing on his decision regarding Caroline. He had spent most of the afternoon contemplating the pros and cons of letting her in on their mission. But after getting nowhere, he figured the right decision would come when he saw her. It was a cop out and Damon knew it, but he was instinctive and figured it best to take advantage of those particular instincts.

Now, Damon felt like he was floating as his weightless feet led him in the direction of his bedroom chamber. If his heart could beat, he was sure his pulse rate would register a million beats per minute; he was just that excited to see Elena. Only a few more turns until he'd see her radiant face and never again have to remove his eyes from it if he didn't want to.

But as he turned the corner, Damon felt the momentary rush of panic through his body at the thought of the obstacles they were going to have to face tonight. And that damn sense that Elena's life was up for grabs still weighed heavily on his shoulders. Obviously a few things still stood in their way before they would taste the freedom that hovered just beyond Tyrus' gates, but one glance at his newfound weapon vanquished those fears entirely.

Everything leading up to this point had fallen perfectly into place and Damon knew it was a result of Demetra's support. The witch was powerful and had obviously known this escape was in the works long before he or Elena had. She had pushed him towards it and as Damon rubbed his fingers across the wooden surface of the bow, he knew it would only help them in their escape. And there wasn't a doubt in Damon's mind that he would use it if the situation called for it.

Demetra had taken the liberty of planning everything for them and although Damon had no proof of this, he was absolutely certain it was the case. He took a moment and, uncertain if the witch could hear his thoughts from this distance, he mentally thanked her for everything. He wasn't sure if it was ungrateful, but he also begged for assistance in keeping Elena safe.

By the time Damon reached the last remaining corner before his corridor, his thoughts had managed to refocus themselves on the delicate curves of Elena's body. There was a cocky smile on his face as his mind contemplated how many times he could get her slender body to tremble in ecstasy before it was time to escape. And his whole body had begun to tingle in anticipation as Katherine came into focus.

The wicked vamp was leaning against the door of his bedroom chamber with one foot lifted and pressed against the stone. Her eyes were glittering in scheming satisfaction as he took the last remaining steps to her side.

Damon was about to force the bitch from her resting place, when she spoke up instead. "If that stupid smile is on your face because you're excited to see your human, then you're in for a huge disappointment. She won't be in there."

He dropped his weapon and quickly asked, "What are you talking about?" He then threw his door open to find the room void of the two females he was expecting to see. Damon quickly spun around and shouted, "What the hell did you do?"

A smirk lifted one side of Katherine's lips upward as she answered, "Just what I to. I'm sure you'll find Caroline in her room and she can fill you in on all the details."

Fury consumed Damon as he gripped onto Katherine's neck and slammed her into the wall. "Where is she?"

"You mean your human? She's not in your possession anymore, which leaves you free for me. And if this is any indication of what's to come, then I'm not sure if I can wait any longer." She then seductively lowered her lids and purred, "You know how much I like it when you take charge in the bedroom."

Damon slammed her body against the stone and screamed, "What the fuck did you do, Katherine?"

Katherine cocked her head to the side and back before she answered, "What needed to be done. I warned you that it wasn't smart refusing me of what I wanted. And all it took was a few words about your human's seductive appeal for someone else to take interest in her."

It was easy to see that the bitch was getting enjoyment from their intimate contact and Damon was finished with her games, but needed answers. Still, he wasn't about to smooth his temper and ask her nicely. So instead he slammed her against the wall a second time and heatedly demanded, "Tell me who!"

Katherine ignored his request and stretched out her arm so it latched onto the side of his waist. "All you had to do was give in to me, Damon, and none of this would have happened." Her voice came out light and sounded entirely too innocent considering who it was coming from. But then that innocent act disappeared and fire ignited behind her eyes as she added, "But since I'm not allowed to get what I want, neither do you."

"You manipulative bitch!" As the words fired from his mouth, Damon felt his demon break through the surface and his vision became red.

Katherine rolled her eyes at his new appearance and countered, "You know that look only manages to stimulate me more and say whatever compliment you want about me. It doesn't matter because in the end… I still won."

Not wanting to further Katherine with any pleasurable sensations like her arousal, Damon calmed his nerves and forced his face to transition back into its standard angelic state. And although the act pained him, Damon forced a smile out of necessity in showing Katherine how wrong she truly was. He then inched his lips forward so they hovered just slightly beside her ear and whispered, "But see you didn't because no matter what you do or how many people you remove from my life, you're still never going to have me. So in the end you still lose."

He then removed his hold and let her body slam against the cobblestone floor as it settled in a crumpled mess. Damon then turned and started to walk away before Katherine's anger-edged voice pierced into his eardrums. "Where are you going?"

Damon picked up the bow and arrow and continued his steps as his upper body turned slightly around to look in her direction. He didn't remove the disdain from his voice as he answered, "To fix the damage you've done."

And there was almost a hint of vulnerability in her voice as Katherine cried out, "It's pointless, Damon. You can't get her back!"

This time, he didn't even waste the energy to show her the common courtesy of turning around. Instead he kept his attention down the narrow passageway of the corridor in front of him and smugly disputed, "Fucking watch me."

Please read and review! :)

I'm sure a lot of you are waiting for the escape to finally happen and I can assure you that it starts in the next chapter. Also, there are a lot of things that I want to take place during their breakout, so I have a feeling it is going to spill over into two chapters.

I'll try and make time to write over the next few days, but like I said before, I can't guarantee anything.