Chapter Fourteen:

"You sure you can't come with us Stefan? I know we're only going to help Jeremy not want to kill every vampire in town but it will be nice to get away too." I said.

"Since Klaus is back in town, someone needs to be here." He replied.

I was lying on the floor with my legs resting on the couch nearby. Since I was up extremely late filling Damon in on my history lesson with Dark, not that I had a choice not too, I had hardly gotten an appropriate amount of sleep for the day ahead. I was awoken by Elena's voice to meet her at the Boarding house so we could all leave for the Lake House together.

"What I want to know is: When you were planning on telling everyone about your cursed visions." Stefan stated suddenly while he took a seat.

My eyes widened and I sat up from my comfortable position just in time to see Elena freeze at the bottom of the stair case. My eyes narrowed at her in frustration.

"You couldn't have dropped that bomb on her a few minutes ago?" Elena laughed nervously.

"You told him?" I hissed quietly.

"You weren't saying anything! That was the deal, remember?" She defended.

Huffing, I laid back down with my arms behind my head. She was right. I was doing everything I could to avoid the sensitive topic. Even last night when I told Damon about my history, I left out key information.

"I was going too..." I lied.

"This is serious, Aria." Elena exaggerated as she took her place next to Stefan.

"I know, but Dark said that he may have found a way to save me from…that. I'm going to trust him. Maybe I'll have nothing to worry about."

"He may have or he did?" Stefan pried.

I smiled sheepishly at him with a shrug. Dark wasn't sure if his plan was going to work. He said he would not tell me anything about unless he knew it was certain which I respected and understood.

"Aria, there is something I want to say…and normally I wouldn't ask anyone this but your situation is different." Elena started as she fiddled with her hands. "What if you became a vampire?"

I used my arms to hold myself up and look the girl straight in the eyes. The look on Stefan's face told me that this was something that the two had talked about previously.

"Here me out: You said that you die and then you're reborn again. It's been a never ending cycle. You're basically going to live forever anyways." Elena whispered.

"The only difference is you won't have to die over and over too soon." Stefan finished for her.

It was an idea. The thought had come to mind once or twice only because I know I am absolutely terrified of dying.

"I'm not gonna say that I haven't thought about it." I muttered before lying back down to stare at the ceiling.

If I became a vampire, I could live a full life. I could do everything that I had ever wanted and more. It was tempting. There were so many things I wanted to accomplish, my dreams I wanted to see through. With these visions, I would be lucky if I was able to achieve one of them. However, there was still the chance that Dark would pull through. After seeing Elena struggle with the blood lust of being a vampire, it didn't help me any. If there was a chance that I could live a normal, full human life then I wanted to take it…but if there wasn't…I didn't really want to think that far ahead yet.

"I just don't know." I whispered.

"Why is it so gloomy in here?" Damon strutted into the parlor. "And why are you on the floor?" he quirked a brow at me.

"It's comfortable." I yawned.

My eyes darted over to the couple on the couch who was already masking our previous discussion. I smiled in gratitude. I had to be the one to tell Damon about everything but I wasn't going to just drop it on him now.

"Such a shame you're on hybrid slash vampire cure baby bro but don't worry; I'll take care of everything." Damon smirked.

"And I'm there to make sure that everything is good." I teased, rising from my spot on the floor.

Stefan knew that his brother had strong feelings for Elena. Actually it was no secret at all. Everyone knew. But Damon was doing better about it. From what I could see and from what I was told, Damon was no longer trying to win the girl over as much as he used to. His relationship with his brother was starting to become more important. However, that did not mean that he would stop trying to get under his brother's skin when it came to the newborn vampire.

"I have nothing to worry about." Stefan smiled and kissed Elena on her cheek causing the girl to grin.

"Let's get this show on the road. We need to drive by the Wonderland event though. I want to at least see it!" I beamed while munching on a cookie that my mother had baked.

"Nothing amazing about it." Damon shrugged and snatched the treat from my hand.

My jaw dropped and my eyes stared at my empty end.

"You did not just do that?" I pouted as I tried to get it back before he ate the whole thing. "Christmas is the best holiday ever. I want to see it." I explained, crossing my arms over the loss of my treat.

"Don't pout." He teased.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

When we pulled up to the Gilbert lake house, Jeremy was out front chopping wood. Immediately he noticed the two vampires in the car. Neither of them would move with Jeremy gazing at them as his next victim. Bonnie, Shane and Dark stood on the lake house porch.

"Who invited professor shady pants and crazy future man?" Damon scoffed.

"Bonnie invited Shane and I invited Dark. They both could help." I explained.

Still, no one made any movement.

"Nobody move at once." I smiled and stepped out of the car.

"What are they doing here?" Jeremy asked with narrowed eyes.

"They're here to help you Jeremy." I explained, slowly walking closer to him.

Bonnie appeared behind him and motioned for him to hand over the axe. It was better to be safe than sorry. Once Jeremy handed over the sharp, dangerous object, he nodded in approval. I waived over the two vampires signaling it was okay.

"Jeremy, we need to talk." I started, observing the teen. "Steroids are bad."

I hadn't seen Jeremy in a few days but his muscular structure now made it seem like it had been months.

"It's all this hunter energy." He smiled.

"Mmhmm." I teased while I followed him inside the beautiful home.

"This is your place now, Jeremy. You have to invite me in." Elena spoke slowly just outside the door.

His gaze was hard and firm. He was battling with himself on the inside. Everything was screaming that Elena was a vampire and she was the enemy but his true self was struggling. This was his sister. She was someone he could trust.

"You can come in." He finally managed.

Elena walked in with a small, grateful smile on her face. In a flash, Jeremy's break through was gone. Pulling out a wooden stake, he poised himself for the attack but Elena was much faster and seemed to have anticipated it.

"Seems like we have a lot of work to do." A velvet voice spoke.

"We might as well get started then. Elena, will you come with us." Shane smiled softly.

Damon stepped forward, still untrusting of either male. Bonnie gave him a reassuring gaze before locking her arm with Elena and pulling her forward.

"Go with them."

I encouraged Damon. Although there was a small but obvious tug of jealousy in my heart, I knew how much he cared and worried for Elena. That would always be there no matter what happened.

"How are you doing?" I asked while slipping my arms around Jeremy to bring him into a warm embrace.

"I'm dealing. Matt's been helpful." He muttered, his true self seeping through now that there were no vampires in the room. "What about you? Bonnie kinda filled me in."

Rolling my eyes, I seated myself on a window sill. Why was it that everyone was incapable of keeping a secret in this town?

"It is what it is. Dark thinks he's found a way to help. If not I have plenty of vampires nearby." I explained, staring off at the lake.

Jeremy tilted his head in deep thought. As he opened his mouth to speak, Damon appeared in the room with his arms crossed.

"They want to try hypnotism." He said as if he thought it was the worst idea ever made.

We all positioned ourselves in the living room. Dark strapped Jeremy to a chair just in case he made a move to harm anyone. Bonnie sat beside Elena straight across from Jeremy.

"If we can reach Jeremy, he can make the choice to take the detour and see you as his sister and not just a vampire." Shane explained confidently.

"Still stupid." Damon muttered under his breath.

Elbowing him in the side, I sat myself on an arm chair and motioned towards Elena. She needed support not snarky remarks on how it was a lost cause.

"Talk to him." Dark encouraged as Jeremy slipped under the hypnosis.

"We used to come here every holiday. It was family. When mom and dad died, Jenna made us come here and we couldn't figure out why. But it was right." Elena smiled at the found memory.

Jeremy's eyes glazed over and for a moment I could see the boy who was looking at his sister and not the hunter gazing at his next target.

"How do you feel about her?" Shane pried.

"She's a vampire. Not my sister but a monster. The very reason why I have lost everything that I have ever cared about." A dark shadow crossed into his normal warm eyes. "Everyone is better off dead than being an abomination. Even Alaric knew that. He chose death." He spat.

Shane slammed something on the table and Jeremy came out of his trance. He gazed at Elena hopefully.

"Did it work?"

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Elena and I had moved ourselves outside. We seated ourselves near the lake with our feet dangling close to the cool water.

"What that probably ranks close to number one on a list of failures." Elena sighed.

I nodded in agreement and let the tip of my shoe to cast ripples on the water below.

"They're gonna keep trying. Something is bound to work. We have a witch, a strangely informed professor and a man who has been on the planet for thousands of years. I'd say we have the upper hand." I smiled at her.

"It's hypocritical for me to say this; but don't take what Jeremy said in there too seriously. Even though what he said is partially true…Ric wouldn't hate you if..."

"Elena it's fine really. I'm fine." I cut her off.

I was thankful when heavy footsteps interrupted the next words that were about to come out of her mouth.

"I'll give that cocky vampire credit. We're going to use Bonnie as the connection point. It seems to be working." Dark said with a gentle smile.

Elena's face lit up and she sped off into the house. I patted the empty spot next to for Dark to take.

"Thank you for helping. I know vampires aren't your favorite but thank you." I smiled into his wonderful eyes.

Nodding, he pulled out a thick leather bound book from his coat. The pages were so rattled I could only assume that it had been through much.

"This is one of the many journals you've kept over the years. This one was your most recent past. Irelia Johnson. Born in Oregon in 1848." He smiled with fondness as he handed me the old book.

"I thought you'd want it. That's the only reason you ever started writing anyways. Each page she wrote knowing that you would be reading them one day." He finished before leaving me alone.

My past self had written in this. She knew that I would be reading the pages. My hands trembled at the thought. I unbound the book with my heart pounding loudly in my ears.

June 7, 1868

I have read many journals from the Cearess' that have come before me. When these visions started and I learned my fate, the only emotion I felt was fear and regret but now I find myself, strangely, at peace from the words I have read. I only hope that as you read these pages you will feel the same.

The day the visions started, I felt more terrified than I had ever felt. Mostly because I saw myself being forced into a marriage I did not want. I was a dreamer and like any girl I wanted to find love. Not have it chosen for me. So I ran. As fate would have it, Dark found me. I do not know where I would be now if it were not for him. I know he is different but do not fear him. He wants to help.

Today, my visions have started to increase. The future is constantly shifting and I can only wonder why. When I sleep, I am visited by the Cearess before me: Ashley. Every dream is the same. She questions me: "Will you choose to return?" I still do not understand what she means and every time I question her she only repeats what she has said. My time will soon end. I know this much for certain.

With love,

Irelia

With shaky breaths, I skimmed through the pages. What did her dreams with Ashley mean? It wasn't until the last few pages that she had written the answer to her cryptic dreams.

October 26, 1868

My body grows weaker. I do not know who I am writing this to you now. Ashley continues to question me but now she chooses to say more. "Every Cearess has a choice. To be reborn or to pass on. Which will you choose?"

Why have I chosen this path so many times? I am only nineteen years old. If I had stayed with my family and married the man they wanted me too, I may have fallen in love with him and maybe even had a child of my own. And here I am now: with neither of those. None of the Cearess' had been blessed enough to live that long. Why choose this path?

Because Dark speaks of a possible cure. Something that can break this horrid gift. But I fear the worst. My visions have grown cloudy. I sense something dangerous is in the works and every time I am close to solving the mystery: the future changes once more. I believe Dark is responsible. Have the years protecting me on this planet cast shadows over his once warm heart? How far is he willing to go for this cure? One future is for certain: Choosing to pass on will solve nothing. So I will choose to be reborn. This terrible evil must be stopped.

I only hope that in your life time you will be able to experience everything you most dream. Dark is a good person. I see the light in him and the journals I have read only prove that. I have chosen this life so many times so he will not be alone. So the shadows will not consume him. It's strange, knowing that I am writing this to my other self, but it gives me comfort. I know you will be the one to stop it. You may be the one to break this curse. Have faith.

-Irelia

There were only a few more entries before they just stopped. The words she wrote were comforting but they were an omen at the same time. In a few months the visions had taken a toll on her life. And in six months, they took it. The worst part is; she didn't manage to write down the visions that she had seen that were so terrible. Was Dark the reason?

"You know: You're lucky that I brought the bar with me. You're sulking." Damon said, taking a seat next to me with a bottle of bourbon in his hand.

Closing the leather book, I shook my head towards the liquor.

"What's with the diary?" He questioned before taking a swig of his drink.

"Dark gave it to me." Damon rolled his eyes. "My previous life, Irelia, wrote it so I would read it one day." I finished, ignoring his looks.

"Irelia. Sounds hot." He smirked. Now it was my turn to roll my eyes.

"She looks like me." I reminded him.

"Exactly."

I blushed and laughed a little. How was it that no matter what I was feeling, he always found a way to break through that?

"She write anything useful?"

Chewing my bottom lip, I nodded and stayed silent for a moment. Now was as good a time as any.

"She only clarified something Elena and I learned." I opened the book and flipped through it before handing it to him.

"Her visions started in 1967. She died in 1968." I muttered, letting him read the information for himself.

His brows furrowed while his eyes danced across the pages. The longer the silence lasted the more I so desperately wanted him to say something.

"How do you stop the visions?" he finally said but his eyes were still downcast on the pages.

"You don't. The only thing she can do is stick to the path of the future she sees. Change the past or our present really, than the future changes. More visions mean a shorter life." Dark explained from behind us with his arms crossed. He wasn't happy that I had shared this sentimental item with Damon apparently. That much was easy to deduce when his eyes landed on it. Perhaps he had never read the pages himself. It made sense. Irelia knew something was going on with Dark. He wouldn't have let me have it if he knew she freely wrote about it.

"It worked. Jeremy and Elena are going to be fine." Dark turned to me.

Nodding, I slowly rose from my seat and was going to head inside, but a firm hand on my wrist told me otherwise. Damon's blue eyes were so sharp I felt frozen. There were so many things he wanted to say. It felt like years had passed before he released me. Feeling cowardess, I nearly jogged into the lake house.

I walked in to see Elena and Jeremy in a warm embrace. The air that was radiating off the two was pure joy and relief. They had done it. Bonnie approached me with a triumphant smile and handed me her phone.

"Caroline wants to talk to you."

"Caroline?" I spoke into the phone.

"You're not gonna believe this Aria, its amazing!" Caroline cheered on the other end.

"What's going on?"

"Shane told Elena that he knows how to get to the cure. We don't need Klaus. Tyler can go through with his plan and everything will be fine!" She laughed.

"That's wonderful but still creepy." I eyed Shane.

"Yeah, well we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Jeremy's cured! It's a great day, Aria!"

"Yeah it is." I forced a smile. "Well, I learned something new too. Apparently I get to choose on whether or not I want to come back." I informed my blonde friend.

"Wow really? That's…" She grew silent. What more could be said really. "Anything more uplifting?"

"Nope. I just have to wait on Dark." I sighed.

"Well, if anything, you're friends with a bunch of vampires. We're going to be around for like…ever so we will have awesome future parties with you over and over!" Caroline said with a hint of her bubbly self. "Or you can just take up Elena's offer." She huffed.

"You know about that?" I questioned the girl with surprise.

"Duh. It was my idea."

Of course it was. That made a lot more sense than it being Elena's own thoughts. I turned around only to smack into a firm chest. Turning my face upwards, I smiled apologetically at Damon but that smile faded instantly when I noticed that hard look on his face.

"Care, I'll call you back later okay." I muttered quickly before hanging up. I didn't even give her a chance to respond.

"Hey." I managed to say.

"So how many other people knew?" He tilted his head to the side.

"I didn't want to say anything until I knew all the facts." I started.

"That means everyone." He cut me off before stalking away.

With a heavy sigh, I joined Elena, Jeremy and Bonnie on the floor around a box full of many Christmas decorations. Was it the bond that was making me feel so remorseful?

"Check this out." Bonnie said as she pulled mistletoe from the box.

"Jenna used to use that to make out with Logan Fell." Elena laughed.

Jeremy laughed along with her and it made joy spread in my heart. It was nice to see the two of them being normal once more. I out of all people understood the importance of a relationship with a brother. Pulling out my phone, I snapped a few pictures of everyone in the room. Caroline's words had comforted me a bit. Irelia had written in the journal to give me hope. I would do the same thing for the next Cearess but this time there would be something joyous to look back on. Photos of wonderful friends and memories I would always cherish. That way if I ever met them again in the future, I would know them.

"That is an image that can ruin the holiday." Bonnie's nose scrunched in disgust.

"Aw, nothing can ruin Christmas." I grinned, snapping another photo.

Elena poked me with the romantic plant and tweaked her head towards the patio. Following her gaze, my eyes landed on Damon who was sitting outside watching all of us. My eyes snapped back to Elena in surprise. What was she insinuating? She giggled and threw it at me. I was too shocked to say anything. Was she really pushing me to do what I think she was? I thought she had feelings for him. Her large grin was telling me otherwise and my face heated up instantly.

"Elena!" I scolded quietly.

"What? Go make peace. He's too stubborn to do it himself." She pointed out.

She was right. Why did she have to be right? Sighing, I rose to my feet but left the mistletoe behind. As I stood, a familiar haze washed over me and I tried to stop it but nothing I did ceased the images that began to flash before me.

With a dark, hateful but almost remorseful look, in his eyes, Klaus approached his hybrids with a long dangerous sword held firmly in his grasp. With great speed, he ripped out hearts, decapitated others and brutally tortured them before murdering each and everyone one of them in cold blood. Kim had managed to escape into shadowed tunnels but it was only a matter of time before Klaus found her. She backed up against a cage with tears streaming down her face.

"Please." She begged.

"Where is Tyler Lockwood?" Klaus spoke darkly.

Her silence only set more fuel to his raging fire.

"Where is he?" He screamed and pressed the cold blade against her neck.

"I don't know." Kim cried.

"Wrong answer." And with that, he pushed down on the blade until her neck was sliced clean off.

With great speed, Klaus found himself in the town square with Carol Lockwood.

"Please don't hurt him Klaus. He's all I have." Carol pleaded.

"And you're all he has."

Harshly, he gripped her neck and forced her into the fountain water. She thrashed and he did not release her until her heart stopped beating.

With trembling hands I found myself back in the present.

"We have to call Caroline. Klaus is going to…" I couldn't even finish the sentence.

There was so much blood. So many deaths that did not need to happen. I would not be able to sleep tonight if I didn't at least try to do something about it. I was thankful for speed dial. It took me forever to punch in one number as it is. Before I could hit send a strong force pulled the phone away from me.

"I will break your arm." Damon hissed when I tried to reach my mobile back from him.

"Klaus is going to kill the hybrids and go after Tyler. He's going to kill Mrs. Lockwood. We have to warn them." I fought against him.

Elena pulled out her phone and I could only assume that she was dialing Caroline. I was glad that she had my side on this. A pitch black shadow rose out our feet and did not stop until in embraced my friends. Their eyes widened in shock.

"You're frozen until I release you." Dark explained in a sinister tone.

"We can't just let them die!" I cried.

"We can't change the future." Dark said gently.

Knowing that Dark was a lost cause, I turned to Damon pleadingly.

"Thirteen lives aren't worth my one." I gripped his leather jacket so tight my knuckles turned a ghostly white. But he did not budge.

"Damon, please." I tried once more with my eyes watering.

My ringing phone in Damon's hands made me jump from my skin. Damon's strong grip held me back as he answered my phone. The look on his face said everything. I could hear Caroline's voice but I could not understand what she was saying. All I knew was that I was too late. The dark shadows in the room vanished and everyone found themselves able to move once more. Blinking, I let a few tears fall before I ripped out of Damon's grasp and stormed away with Elena quickly following.

Damon's passionate about the people he cares about…that passion sometimes leads to him doing things…hurtful things. He has good intentions. He just doesn't do it the right way.

Elena's words echoed in my mind over and over again. My angry steps stopped when the cold open air tickled my skin.

"You were right Elena." I breathed as she pulled me into a comforting embrace.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

I had done a great job of avoiding Dark and Damon. When the despair had finally settled rage took its place. To say I was only angry with the two would be an understatement. Damon was smart enough to stay clear of me. Dark was another story. He left the minute I was firm with my words. I didn't want to see him right now. That was the key. I made that clear as well. Right now I was going to be angry with him. I would be able to speak to him when I was ready. The fact that he was willing to respect that was a step in the right direction.

I was seated in the car with Bonnie and Shane waiting on Elena. We were going to head back to Mystic Falls so we could help with anything that we could. Jeremy and Damon were going to stay and work on the Hunter's Mark.

"You know if you leave everything like this you're going to regret it right." Bonnie spoke quietly.

I turned to her with a raised brow, unsure of what she meant. Bonnie sighed heavily.

"I'm not Damon's biggest fan. Honestly, I may hate him more than Caroline but if you leave things the way they are now you're going to mope around." She explained. She stumbled over her words and I knew that she really didn't want to help me in this situation but being my friend meant more to her than her feud with the vampire.

"Why is everyone right today?" I huffed as I opened the door just as Elena was approaching the car. She gazed at me questioningly.

"Someone needs to make sure Jeremy stays strong on the detour." I smiled. "And that Damon keeps his patience with him." I finished.

With a knowing smile, Elena nodded and hopped in the car. I watched it drive completely out of sight before I walked back into the warm home. Jeremy threw some logs into a burning fire prior to turning his attention towards me. His started at me in wonder and I responded with a shrug.

"Can't leave you two alone." I winked at him.

Zipping up my coat, I made my way to the back porch. Damon's reflection in the sliding doors made me stop in my tracks. I gave him a small smile before I opened the doors I stepped outside.

Sniffling from the cold, I wrapped my arms tighter around me in an attempt to stay warmer. My legs were dangling off the dock ledged so the edge of my boots skimmed the chilled water below. It looked breathtaking, the water. The sun was starting to peak over the hills so there was a pinky hue to the sky that reflected onto the water along with the few stars that remained in the sky. The crunching sound of shoes behind me brought a simple smile to my face.

"I've never stayed up for a sun rise before." As I spoke, my breath caused white clouds.

Damon sat beside me, a glass of whiskey in his hands. Honestly, I was glad someone was here with me even if I was still angry with him.

"Don't get all gloomy on me." He said.

"Have you ever been to Italy?" I asked suddenly.

"My last name is Salvatore and you're asking me if I've ever been to Italy?" He raised a brow.

"Do the movies do it justice?"

"Eh. The water's bluer and the girls are sexier."

I rolled my eyes but did not expect anything different from Damon.

"Enough with the doom and gloom thoughts. You're gonna be fine."

I tilted my head and chewed my bottom lip. That was a farfetched hope. Every vision I had caused my body to grow weaker. Every vision was one step closer to death and I had no way of controlling them. It was part of being a Cearess. A gift and curse. There were hundreds of other before me and all of them had the same fate. What made me the exception?

"Well, maybe I'll come back some bad ass Italian." I mused with pursed lips.

The sun had finally peered over the hills. I breathed in a large breath and basked in the beautiful colors that began to emerge in the sky. Turning to Damon, I found his blue irises locked on me.

"Caroline said we would have crazy future parties. Will you be there?" I asked him with a smile. "Everyone else already promised. It wouldn't be much of a party without you."

The corners of his lips twitched upward and even though his face was smooth, his eyes were so intense that I could practically see his thoughts swarming.

"You'll choose to come back?" His voice was almost surprised.

I nodded and turned back to the sun. Soon it would be too bright to gaze at. I had so many reasons to return. Elena, Stefan, Caroline, Tyler and Damon. All of them would be around forever if we never got a hold of the cure. They were more than enough reason to come back over and over again. Even though I would be reborn with a different personality, if I fought hard enough, then maybe my spirit would remember them.

But then that meant I would be asking them to deal with something as well. Something that Dark had been experiencing for who knows how long. I would live and then at some point during my life I would die. They would have to see that. Maybe it was horrible for me to ask them to do such a thing.

I leaned my head on Damon's shoulder and scooted a little closer once I felt the warmth of his body.

"With all of you around; coming back will be worth it." I explained lightly. "Don't take this as me forgiving you. I'm still pissed." I mumbled.

"I won't watch you die over and over." Damon practically whispered.

The air around us was changing. I could feel how tense he was. I had seen what was going to happen next. My heart skipped a beat at the memory.

"There is a way. You won't have to keep dying."

"I'll just stay dead." I was trying to make a joke but I don't think it was the best time. "But, like Dark said, I've never really had the chance to experience life…as a vampire I could."

I mused over the idea. What difference would it make honestly?

"So what would we do then? If I became a vampire." I challenged while swinging my legs back and forth over the edge of the dock.

"Anything you wanted too. That's the beauty of eternity." He cheered towards the sky and downed the remainder of his beverage.

"Hmm I can only imagine."

There were so many things that I wanted to do. I wanted to go to college in New York and fulfill my dream of dancing…then maybe go overseas and travel around Europe. Maybe even take part in a few Broadway shows. If I became a vampire, I would be able to do everything I wanted too but if there was the slightest chance out there that I could be freed from this curse and live a normal human life…I would take it. I had to know first. Dark said there might be a way…I had to know.

"But what if there was a way to get out of all this?" I whispered.

"Is there?"

"Dark says that he thinks he's finally found.."

"He thinks? Not good enough." He scoffed.

"So it's not even worth considering?" Anger was rising in my chest. He was pushing his luck with me.

"No! You could kill over at any given moment and you're acting like you have all the time in the world." He shot back.

Sighing in frustration, I knew that there was no point in arguing with him. I wanted to storm away from him but a firm grip on my wrist pulled me back.

"I will do it myself if I have too."

My eyes widened at those words. It was exactly what he had said in my vision but the whole scenario was different. Why? I had followed everything! I had not changed a single thing.

"I will change you myself." He repeated darkly as he stepped even closer.

Time was frozen. I wasn't breath, and he wasn't moving. Neither of us said a single word.

Damon is really passionate towards the people he does care about…

Elena's warnings echoed in my head over and over while Damon and I stood unflinching. I was angry with him. I wanted to storm away and not talk to the cocky vampire until we made it back to Mystic Falls. The only thing that kept me from doing so was the obvious…he cared about me. So much that he would be willing to make me a vampire so I would not die. Even if that meant that I would hate him. It was selfish yet unselfish at the same time. My narrowed eyes and scrunched features softened at that realization.

"Even if that makes me hate you?" I challenged.

"It's an eternity. You'll get over it."

My jaw clenched tight when I lost the resolve to stare into his eyes. His fingers lightly tracing my jaw bone made my breath stop while his tilted my face upward to gaze at him once more. With the sun beginning to shine behind him, he looked even more captivating than normal.

"I won't lose you." He said.

Every moment he leaned closer was another second that time seemed to slow. In my vision I had turned away but with his confession I found myself yearning for him to be closer. In the last second, he tilted his head so his lips gazed the corner of mine. My breathing returned when he stepped away but my skin begged me to touch him.

Neither one of us would back down tonight. There would be no winner. I knew it was a losing battle with Damon. But for now the choice would be mine.

A/N: I can't tell you how much I struggled with this chapter haha! But I am very happy with the result.

Oh my gosh all the reviews this last chapter got were amazing! I love you all! I am so happy that you like it so much! I really am trying to make this fic as much as my own as possible. You all have seen the show so I do not want to follow absolutely everything. Why read something you have already seen?

A Shout out to Aleema-Keto: Your reviews made me so happy! And I love Lindsey Sterling's Phantom of the Opera video! One of my favorites! Your reviews boosted my confidence! Thank you so much! I am more confident in writing scenes with Damon now Thank you so much for your kind words and I really hope you enjoyed this chapter