Heyy. I'm back from vacation! This chapter is a little short, but it was a good place to end it.

I'll try to update again soon.

Hope ya'll enjoy! :)

Voices.

Elena shook off the haze in her mind by focusing on voices.

She blinked, her eyelids heavy.

When her sight came back to her, she realized she was still laying on the floor of the ballroom turned training center, but she'd been moved.

She was now next to Damon, who was on his knees, hands hovering over her body, a glowing energy radiating from his palms.

He was healing her.

She tried to sit up, but a weight on her shoulders made it impossible.

With a quick glance, she saw Enzo smirking down at her, his hands pinning her to the floor.

But the pain was subsiding, and when Damon had finished she was released.

Damon stood, facing the Darklings who were watching them hungrily.

"The Arcs are finally making a move," he told them, his voice echoing in the silence, "to challenge our hold on this realm. Elena joining us dwindles their ranks, and causes ours to swell. The Arcs don't stand a chance."

There were noises of agreement, but also apprehension.

Damon picked up on this as well.

"If anyone wishes to speak their minds, do so now. It will be your only chance."

Elena sat up, as all around the room, eyes flickered from her to Damon, until finally, a single Darkling stepped forward.

He seemed fearful, but lifted his chin as he spoke, "How do we know she is not a ploy sent by the Arcs? That she isn't a spy for them, meant to infiltrate us?"

"Because I believe that she speaks the truth," Damon answered, "And you trust me, don't you Malakai?"

"We did," the Darkling swallowed, "But it does not change the fact that you yourself are from the Light. And your decisions of late have been questionable. Forgive me, but would it not be more prudent to kill this Arc? Turned or not, it eliminates the risk, and is still one less warrior of the Light to deal with. If you are truly with us..."

Murmurs from the others ran a chill down Elena's spine.

Damon wouldn't kill her, would he?

No.

She had to trust him.

Damon was eyeing the Darkling that had spoken with a singular focus.

Then the dagger he'd used before appeared in his hand.

The Darkling tensed, as if expecting an attack, his wary eyes on the knife.

But instead, Damon brought the blade to his own skin, slicing it.

"You've seen the color of her blood," he addressed, "The color of Arc blood. Does this look as if my loyalty is with them?"

He held up his now bleeding wrist, from which blood ran, a red so dark it was nearly black.

The blood that had left her own body had been bright, so bright, as Damon's used to be.

This must be an effect of the Dark then.

It really did stain.

But a wave of relief passed through the room, like air from a balloon, as if this simple act had reassured the mass of Damon's commitment to them.

"And in time," he was saying, "Her blood will darken as well, and her Arc abilities will be fueled by the Darkness, making us invincible. We will eradicate the Light's warriors once and for all. That is our goal, is it not?"

Enzo stepped forward, also goading the crowd into a rally, "Has our power ever been doubted? There has only ever been one enemy for us, the Arcs...the Light warriors, who we can now destroy! Let us not turn on each other, but to them!"

"The Light has proclaimed you as abominations," Damon shouted, "That you are to be punished for the crime of existing. But we are the fallen. Each of us are of the Light, born from it, and casted away. We all want the same thing. And for it, the Light fears us! It can't control us, so it wishes to annihilate, a message sent by its Arcs….I say, we send a message of our own!"

Elena watched him, frozen as his voice burned, "We will not be punished for free will! We will not be destroyed so easily, as it's warriors. We are not warriors! WE ARE GODS! And this world is OURS!"

Claps, whistles, cries, and cheers echoed to the heavens, shaking the room, until nothing else existed but Damon's chest heaving, the Darklings excitement, and the tears pooling in Elena's eyes.

This was it, she thought.

There was no going back.

Damon walked the shadowed hallway, heading for his room, where Elena lay resting.

He'd sent her there, once training had resumed, the Darklings eased by his speech, and more inspired than ever to be prepared for an attack.

Tomorrow, Elena would join them, would train with them, and eventually find her place among them.

But for now, she needed to recover.

Having the Light drained from your body was an exhausting experience, as he well remembered.

He reached the door, and gave a short knock before reaching out to open it.

It was locked.

He sighed, before drawing his power, and materializing inside the room.

Elena was curled up on the bed, her back to him.

Her bare back.

The remnants of the uniform he'd given her were sprawled across the floor at the foot of the bed.

He knew she could feel his presence, but she continued to ignore him.

He didn't really blame her.

With another heavy exhale, he stripped himself of his weapons and then his shirt, before crawling onto the bed.

Elena didn't move as he settled in behind her, and he didn't speak.

He did place a hand on her waist though, which she also ignored, though he could feel the slight change in her breath.

He stroked her side, before moving his hands to her back.

His fingers traced around the slits that ran down her shoulder blades, catching hints of the silvery mist that formed her wings.

"I warned you," he stated, finally, still drifting his fingertips across her skin, "I warned you that you wouldn't like it."

When she still didn't answer, he gripped her shoulder, "Do you wish to leave?"

That got her attention, and she rolled over.

It was then that he saw the tear tracks streaming down her face, "No, I don't."

His chest clenched, "Elena…"

She shook her head, "I'm not leaving you."

Her voice was thick with pain, but was also certain.

She'd made her bed, and she intended to share it with him, come hell or high water.

"I'm sorry it has to be this way," he swallowed, "I'm sorry you have to hurt."

"I'm not sorry," she blinked her eyes clear, "If it's the price I must pay to protect you...no cost would be too high."

He stared at her, reaching up to touch her cheek.

She closed her eyes at the contact, and his followed.

"You don't want to go Dark."

She shook her head, then looked up at him, "Of course I don't...but it's not a choice anymore. Stefan won't take you back now, and I won't go back without you...and I won't let him kill you. Him or any of the others."

"You won't be able to kill them," he accused, pulling her into his arms, "You love them."

"But I love you more," she held his gaze, "You told Enzo as much, and it's true. I don't want to kill them, Damon. I'll hate it, I'll hate myself for doing so...but I know what I can survive, and what I can't."

Her hand was on his neck now, fingers twirling the end of his hair, "If I were to hesitate...and they killed you…" she shuddered, "Then they've killed me. If you don't exist, if your soul goes to the Empty...mine will follow. I cannot be where you are not. I tried, and I can't survive that anymore. So, yes, I can kill them if I need to, I can turn Dark, if I must...what I can't do is lose you. Ever. If this world is our destiny, so be it. I will spend eternity here, if here is where you dwell."

Damon had to remind himself to remain hard.

But it was difficult to be cold with Elena pledging her existence to his.

He loved her, god he did.

But to keep her, he had to make sure she could survive what he had to do to her.

Which mean he couldn't let guilt ease him into being gentle.

Into being weak.

But then Elena pulled his lips to hers, and thoughts abandoned him.

All that mattered was the two of them, together, in this moment.

He just wanted this forever, no Light, no Dark, no purpose outside of loving this woman for the rest of his existence.

But fate didn't align that for him.

No, instead, he had this moment with her, the bliss among his chaos.

They knew what they were in for, at least, and they'd endure together.

Because as surely as he breathed, a battle was coming.

And it would rip this world apart.

Review please! :)