Sorry it took so long to post the new chapter!
I was working on finishing up Do You Believe in Angels, which is only missing the epilogue now! :)
Anyway, I hope yall enjoy the chapter, and let me know what you think!
"Faster!" Stefan growled, and the tempo of the fighting sped up.
He'd been pushing his Arcs hard, relentlessly, and progress was showing.
Their abilities may be tied to the Light, but physically, they could only strengthen.
The harder they trained, the more they focused what power they had left, the better chance they stood.
His goal was clear now.
They needed only to take out two of the Darklings.
The one they called Lorenzo, the one who used to lead them.
And Damon.
Without their Commanders, the Dark would falter.
With Damon gone, Elena would come back to them.
And if she didn't?
Well, he'd destroy her too.
He'd warned her, after all, and she'd still chosen Damon, chosen death, and she'd have to deal with those consequences.
Stefan would mourn her loss once they were home, back in the Light.
They'd been gone from it for so long…
He closed his eyes, the sounds of sparrings in his ears.
Soon...soon, this would all be over.
Damon's voice directed from his view, atop the staircase, and Elena let out a rushed breath.
She'd fought against a handful of Darklings, non-lethally, of course, over the past few hours.
She was sore, and tired, but still, she pushed on.
Damon needed his warriors to accept her, and if she had to spar with each and every one of them to prove herself, she would.
Her new opponent was a female, short dark hair, with a smirk on her lips.
The others in the room lined up with their partners, and Damon nodded for them to begin.
"I was wondering when I'd get to have a go at you," the girl shot, dodging a punch Elena threw at her, and returning the favor, "Though I must admit, I didn't think he'd throw you to the dogs quite so soon."
Elena flipped away from a well aimed kick, and ducked in, catching the girl's side.
"He knows I can take care of myself," she gloated a little.
"I've noticed," the girl gave a short laugh, then lunged.
Elena barely missed a hit in the face, and swung her body around, as not to get caught by the Darklings recoil.
"You're not bad," the girl commented, "For an Arc."
Elena threw another hit, which was dodged.
"Though, I suppose I should say former Arc, given the circumstance. Tell me, why does a warrior leave the Light?"
Elena's eyes betrayed her at the question, and flickered up to Damon.
A second too long.
She felt herself being lifted, and landed promptly on her back, the Darkling above her.
"Love, is it? How sweet."
Elena pushed her off, and climbed back to her feet, "My emotions are none of your business."
"Actually, they are," the girl insisted, "Because if you love our leader, there's a good chance he loves you too, despite how hard he tries not to show it. Why else would he have brought you here?"
They danced around each other.
"Would it be so bad, if he did?" Elena challenged.
"I could care less," the Darkling stated, "But it bothers some of the others. If he loves you, he has a vulnerability. You could sway him back to the Light."
"The Light wants me dead as much as it does him, now," she admitted, "I betrayed my oath, to be with him. If anything, Damon will be more determined to defeat the Arcs, if only to keep them from me."
The girl paused, considering that.
Then she grinned, "Fair point."
"Take rest," Damon called, and the room relaxed, movements halting.
"I'm Rose," the girl said, as Elena leaned back against the nearest wall, breathing deeply, "And I look forward to seeing what else you can do."
She was gone before Elena could decide if that was a compliment or not.
She shook her head.
Either way, at least it was improvement.
She inhaled again.
With all the use her Light abilities were to her here, she may as well be mortal.
The draining of her blood, she realized, had left her powerless.
Completely emptied of the fuel she needed to work her Arc abilities.
She'd need to stand under the full moon to juice back up.
It was really the only source of the Light they had anymore.
"Elena."
She looked up from her musings to see Damon walking toward her, Enzo flanking him.
"I'm taking a group of Darklings out to scout the Arcs' proceedings. Enzo will lead in my absence. Training will continue when the moon peaks."
She straightened, "I'm not going with you?"
"Not this time."
"Why not?"
Damon sighed, "I'll explain once I've returned."
She wanted to argue, but the amused look on Enzo's face kept her from doing so.
Reputation. Right.
"Then I pray you hurry back," she said instead.
Damon smirked, "As quickly as I'm able."
Enzo watched Damon's little Arc curiously.
Since he and his group had departed, the woman had been standing against the wall, eyeing the room with contempt.
At least that's how it appeared.
She was clearly uncomfortable being alone among the Dark's warriors.
He could sense her fear, her hesitations, but also her thirst to be accepted.
It was the damnedest thing.
With a tilt on his head, he decided to appease his inquisition, and sauntered across the room to her.
As he approached, the Arc stiffened.
She sensed him before she saw him, which was impressive, considering how low her battery was running.
Her doll face turned to him, and she clenched her hands, as if preparing for a fight.
He chuckled, "Relax, Arc. I'm not going to harm you."
She didn't relax, "And I'm supposed to just take your word for it?"
He smirked.
The girl had spunk, he'd give Damon that much.
"Of course not. But you have your hands in the right pocket, so to speak. Or perhaps I should say in the right pants."
Her eyes rolled, "Do you have a point?"
He grinned, "Walk with me."
Her brow lifted in a perfect arch, "Why would I do that?"
"Because you need me, if you're going to fit in here."
She narrowed her gaze at him, but eventually nodded, pulling her back from the wall.
"Fine. But I'm warning you now, Darkling, one move I don't like, and I'll have your hands removed from your wrist."
Seeing as she now wore daggers in her thigh sheaths, Enzo didn't doubt it.
"Don't worry, little Arc. You're perfectly safe with me."
She hmphed, as he motioned his head toward the doors that led out of the training room.
"You really expect me to believe that?" she pressed, but followed him.
"Well, it's like I said," he told her, "You share a bed with our leader. He has commanded that no harm come to you. And because of that order, I would kill anything that so much as made you flinch."
She blinked, a little surprised.
Enzo opened the door, "Come little Arc, we have need to talk of other matters."
She studied him.
"Elena," she stated after a quick second, "My name is Elena. I no longer bare the title Arc."
Elena wasn't sure why the Darkling had brought her here, away from the others.
She remained tense as she followed behind him, still not fully trusting him not to hurt her, despite what he'd said.
"You are a strange being," Enzo stated, as they came to the end of the hall.
There was mostly silence in their wake, and it unsettled her.
"You brought me here to tell me that?"
He smirked, "I brought you here to talk, without risk of being overheard."
"So talk," she commanded, and he turned to look at her.
"You can not save him. You know that, don't you? So if that is your intent-"
"My intent has nothing to do with you," Elena snapped, "But you shouldn't worry. Damon has made it perfectly clear where he stands, or were you not there when he drained the Light from my blood?"
Enzo leaned against the nearby wall, his eyes roaming over her, "Yes. I was the one who taught him how to do so. Taking away your ability takes away the threat you present to us. And after tonight, you will be so much closer to wielding the Dark yourself."
Elena stared at him, confused, "What happens tonight?"
His smile stayed in place, "I didn't think he would have told you...but seeing as he did not command me not to…"
"What didn't Damon tell me?" she demanded, taking a threatening step forward.
Enzo straightened, "Tonight is more than just a simple scout. Do you honestly think Damon would have attended it personally, if it were. No…"
Elena considered what this could mean, "So if it's not a scout…"
He waited, letting her piece it together for herself.
"He's raiding them?" she hissed the question, and Enzo chuckled, "Fast one, aren't you? But yes, I do believe that was the plan. You see, if you wish to truly be accepted here, you must spill Arc blood. We had one of your kind in a hold cell. Damon planned on having you kill them, but unfortunately, they had already died. I suppose someone forgot to take them water...fragile things, these mortal bodies."
Hot tears had sprung to Elena's eyes, but she knew better than to let them fall, "Damon is bringing an Arc back tonight? For me to kill?"
"That was the plan," Enzo nodded, "A little harsh, I admit, but he seemed to think you'd be able to handle it. That your loyalty to him would overrule your Arc morals. I must admit, I have my doubts."
Elena shook her head, "Is my being here not enough? My willingness to give up the Light? To fight the Arcs in battle? There is no honor in killing the captured!"
"This isn't about honor," Enzo laughed, "You foolish girl. This is about what we need to defeat the Arcs. We need more power, more soldiers...like Damon. Like what you will become."
"What are you talking about?"
He sighed, "Surely you can understand it. Throughout the history of our war, Arc and Darkling have stood as equal. The power the Arcs possess are overwhelming. With the snap of a finger, you could have killed us all. Except you are weakened by the Darkness. By your disconnection to the Light. It evens the playing field, made it so neither of us could triumph over the other...until Damon turned. With the Dark running through his veins, fueling his Arc abilities, he is our salvation. He is the most powerful creature in this realm, and he does not even realize it. If Damon were to tap into his true power, he could control the Darkness itself. He would be untouchable, along with any who he allies with."
Elena swallowed harshly, "That's why he rules you?"
Enzo nodded, "And who would tell him no? He's barely tapped into the power the Dark provides him, and already he's gained control of my army. He is ruthless, killing anything who opposes him, unyielding in his plans, determined...he is a Darkling, true. But you, Elena...you are yet to turn."
"I've proven my loyalty," she argued.
"You've proven your willingness," he corrected, "Your loyalty to Damon...but not to us. Not to the Dark. Once you have, your blood will turn. You will be able to harness the Dark, as Damon does. You will be as powerful as he is, and with the two of you, we will not lose this war."
He reached over, and brushed a strand of Elena's hair back.
She tensed, as he exhaled, "With the two of you, the Light will finally be destroyed."
Review please!
Oh, and for those of you who read Hymn for the Broken, I'll be posting the first chapter of the sequel soon! :)