Elena's heart did the opposite of what she intended it to. It began to beat furiously, her fingers clutching the counter behind her to keep from fainting. Her eyes stayed frozen on the dark-skinned girl in front of her, hands folded in front of her with her eyes casted downwards. But Elena didn't dare move from her spot. Her breathing became easier but erratic as she creased her brow, eyes concentrating on her. "Bonnie?"

Her eyes flickered upwards intensely as the figure responded as if coming to life. She lifted her head with a calm smile, then nodded to acknowledge Elena's presence. "It's Emily, actually." She corrected with a quiet voice. A voice that didn't match Bonnie's. Dumbstruck, she stared at the figure before stuttering out her initial question. "Why are you here? What do you want?"

Emily's gaze left Elena and focused on the mirror in front of her. Her lips began moving, but no audible sounds were escaping them. Until her words began to get louder. "Caroline's fate is decided." A shiver ran up Elena's spine. From her tone of voice, she knew her fate was not a happy one. "The Salvatores are cursed. Where they go, the danger goes." Elena nodded quickly to show that she understood, but she couldn't have been more confused in her life. Was Stefan as dangerous as Damon? What curse was she talking about?

A blood-curdling scream erupted from Bonnie's small frame as her hands reached up and gripped her temples. She fell to her knees, her back heaving with heavy pants. Elena's fingers trembling gently, she reached over to touch her shoulder. Bonnie flinched, her eyes wide and confused. "What.. Elena, what happened?" She stared at the girl in front of her, hair half pinned up with light touches of make up on her face. She furrowed her brow in wonder, glancing out the door towards her room. A blue silk garment laid there, still crumpled from when Elena hit the mattress. "Bonnie, I think.. I think I just spoke to Emily." Bonnie's fearful eyes reached her as she stood from the floor, her hands gripping her friend's arms. "She.. she possessed me?"

Elena's nod was uncertain and shaky. "Bonnie, if we don't get Caroline away from Damon as soon as possible, she will die. If Emily did this just to prove that.. this is bigger than we thought."

"Take my doubts away?" Caroline's voice was doubtful itself. Damon turned to face her, his fingers skimming through his dark hair for a moment as he nodded. "Yes." She raised a brow, taking slow steps towards him before slipping her hands over his shoulders.

He smiled down at her, his fingers pushing aside her golden locks. His lips kissed along the faded outlines and bumps of the puncture wounds from his teeth. "I know you're nervous about the pageant, but I'm here to assure you there's no need."

Caroline giggled quietly at the feeling of his lips against her neck. His arms came around her as he nuzzled her neck gently, earning another laugh from the blonde. But his words began to falter as her smile fell, her actions less affectionate than usual. "I don't know anymore, Damon. Elena always seems to have every contest sewn up." Damon pulled away from her neck and looked down at her, ready to admit that she was right- Elena caught the heart of everybody she met. Along with a drop-dead gorgeous body, she was a shoo-in for the royal title.

But as Caroline stared up at him, her stone-green eyes that were usually slanted with mischief, were wide and vulnerable. He cocked his head slightly to the side, her gaze followed. Her fingers slid down his arms, fingering the material of his jacket. She continued before he could say anything. "I've always felt beneath her. I was always everybody's second choice." His eyes flickered away from her, finding it difficult to realize how much he knew what she was talking about. When had he been anybody's first choice?

"But you.." Her eyes flickered up to him again, this time brighter, showing flecks of gold and hazel embedded into the iris. "You made me feel wanted."

A muscle worked in Damon's jaw as he ran his fingers along her blonde hair, a crooked smile appearing on his lips. "Smile like that and there's no way you could lose."

Caroline's smile grew as she took his hand and led him into the living room, but he stopped in his tracks and pulled her to him. "I have a better idea." He murmured, pressing his lips to hers. He slid his hands along her hips as he slowly led her upstairs, then ghosted there within seconds. Caroline kissed back feverishly, collapsing onto the bed with him following close by.

She straddled over him, her fingers moving quickly to unbutton his shirt as Damon trailed kisses along her cheek, jawline, neck and collarbone. She groaned quietly at the feeling, her fingers slipping through his raven hair. His own hands moved against her hips, eager to rid her of the top that was obstructing him.

But his primal instincts won over his physical ones, and soon his eyes clouded with darkness and sharp incisors prodded at his gums, aching for release. He caught the skin of her neck with ease, and switched their positions so that she was underneath.

At first her body lay still, a wistful smile on her lips as her eyes fluttered closed. But her brow soon creased and her hands brushed against Damon's shoulders. "Damon, stop.." She grunted quietly, squirming in his grasp.

The pain that usually started out as no more than a pinch had escalated to the point of excruciating throbbing. It was like she could feel every movement of his teeth against her flesh, as sharp as knives themselves.

Her fingers clawed against his shoulders, but he gave no response that he heard or even noticed her pain.

But then his weight disappeared from her tiny frame, and the pain had decreased to a stinging sensation. Relieved at being released, she looked up at the man with an uncertain gaze. He stared down at her, and wiped the excess blood from his lips.

"It won't hurt again."

She nodded quietly, her fingers reaching up to skim the rough, shredded skin. She yelped in pain at the slightest pressure. Dropping her hands with a sigh, she shook her head. "Can't you just use blood bags? It's been getting worse everytime."

She frowned for a moment, her brow furrowing at the realization of her words. It felt as though a cloudy fog had covered up something she'd been trying to see. He had been biting her for days, drinking her blood. Each scar was more painful than the last. Her body shouted at her to move away from the man, and run away to Elena's for help immediately, but her mind refused. For some reason, it refused.

Damon sat down onto the bed and pulled the blonde into his lap delicately. "Don't worry your pretty little blonde head, Care." His fingers skimmed along the wound as well, but where Caroline's touch brought pain, Damon's brought a cool relief. "You just focus on putting Elena in her place."