Damon POV

I swirled the light brown fluid around in the crystal glass. My eyes memorizing the way the scotch briefly clung against the transparent glass, only for it to melt back into the pool of liquid, with every smooth twirl of my wrist.

I brought the glass to my lips, knocking it back, welcoming the burning sensation that scorched my throat as the tepid liquid trailed down it.

I felt my cool flesh, warm as the alcohol absorbed deeper into me.

I placed the glass down, filling it once more. Never wanting this warm feeling to disappear.

I lazily trailed my fingers along the rim of the glass. Trying to retain my concentration solely on the scotch that lined it.

I've been going mad with boredom without Isobel. For brief moments I could focus on the drink in my hand, however that focus was always quickly broken with thoughts of her.

I missed her.

How the hell did I entertain myself before?

It's been two and a half weeks since Isobel and I had our minor quarrel, and I have been in a horrible mood for all of it. Stefan had realized I wasn't my usual chipper self by the first day, primarily because I tried to rip his throat out. He has avoided me since.

I thought she would have caved already and come barreling into my arms. I thought she would have finally come to the realization that I needed to protect her. I thought she would have called to apologize…or something…. but there were no calls…no apologizes…. I heard nothing from her.

Maybe I should just listen to her…lie and say I wouldn't crowd her any longer. I could do that. It was possible that we both could have our ways. She could be fooled into thinking that she was completely capable of herself, and well, all I would have to do is just be stealthier when I shadowed over her.

I tried to shove the thought of Isobel, once again, into the far corner of my mind.

I needed a distraction, a real one. Not just the measly buzz that a truckload of booze gave me.

Hmmmm, I could go to a bar. Find some beautiful girl and take her home with me. Surly that could entertain me for long enough, and as an added bonus I'll have a nice meal afterwards.

Suddenly my cell phone began to vibrate on the mahogany table, belting out the chorus of ACDC's Highway to Hell.

I rolled my eyes and sighed heavily when I saw the familiar name lightening up on my screen. I slid the unlock key of my iphone, and brought it up to my ear.

Elena POV

"Hey Damon." I chirped happily.

"And what the hell do you want?" He hissed vehemently. Initially I was startled by his tone, and began to question whether or not he knew it was me calling. Surly he must not have known, for he hardly ever speaks to me in such a tone.

"Ummm you know this is Elena right?" I queried innocently.

"What? Really? I am so sorry, please forgive me. When I glanced down at the caller ID and it read Elena I thought, well it couldn't be her. This must be some sick person who just wants to toy with my, ever so fragile, emotions." He began, sarcasm dripping off each of his words. "But you can't blame me for not knowing it was you. I mean after all the only time you ever call me, is when you want something. So what the fuck is it?" he snarled.

Asshole…he must really be having a bad day for him to be talking to me like this. And I knew what I was about to ask would only antagonize him further.

"Ok…. well ummm. I was just wondering about Stefan-"

"Of course, who else would you want to discuss other than my twit of a brother. " he sneered. "Why don't you call him yourself, instead of torturing me with relaying your lovesick banter."

"He hasn't been returning any of my calls for weeks now. I've been worried about him…. Can you just tell him to call me?" I pleaded.

"Well…here's the thing. Unfortunately for you, little Stefan's been steering clear from me lately. I haven't exactly been on my best behavior." He drawled.

"Can you please just tell Stefan to call me? Please Damon." I urged.

I continued to walk along the concrete, the chilled air breezing through my golden hair. Suddenly I smashed into a rock-hard body. I gazed up, to see a man towering over me, his face tilted away from mine.

"Sorry sir." I mumbled embarrassed.

"Why Elena, when did you get so formal?" Damon mocked, through the phone.

"I wasn't talking to you Damon." I snapped.

The aloof man didn't even acknowledge my presence. Which was odd because most men seized any chance to gawk at me longer. But not this guy, he just brushed past me and continued to stride along the sidewalk. Maybe he was gay. That had to be the answer.

In a daze by this stranger's odd behavior, my eyes flittered to the sidewalk. Catching the sight of a platinum watch glistening against the dull pavement.

I picked it up, turning it over in my hands. That man must have dropped it.

"H-e-l-l-o Elena you still there? Or can I finally hang up?" he snorted angrily. "I don't need you to fill my time. I've got women to fuck, people to kill-"

"Yeah-yeah, hold on a second Damon." I dismissed, trotting up to the man. I tapped on his shoulder, the smooth fabric brushing underneath my fingertips.

He immediately stopped, and twisted around. He was dressed in a black suit, his blonde hair was slicked back, and he had the iciest blue eyes I've ever seen.

"I-I'm sorry sir but you must have dropped this." I mumbled stretching my hand out towards him, fanning out my fingers that enclosed the watch.

I felt myself unconsciously itching towards him. This gorgeous man had an intoxicating quality about him…. yet their was something off. Something I couldn't place.

He glanced down at my palm, a wicked grin growing across his thin lips.

I stumbled backwards, his menacing features igniting my instinct to flee.

He lurched forward quickly, my cell phone slipping from my hand and clattering onto the ground. He clamped down onto my wrist in a bone-crushing grip. I yelped in pain. My bones felt like they were turning to dust, under his smoldering grasp. He wrenched me closer to him. I struggled helplessly against him, letting my screams rip through the air.

He was inhumanly strong, and it frightened me, because his strength seemed to be greater than both Stefan's and Damon's.

He drew back his elbow, and slammed it into my cheek.

I fell to the ground in agony, feeling the inflamed tissue almost instantaneously begin to swell with blood. My vision darkened, and within moments I disappeared into a black abyss.

Damon POV

Elena's distraught voice poured out of the speakers of my phone, dozens of helpless cries and whimpers flooded into my ears.

"Elena!" I bellowed, panic shooting through me.

There was nothing but her consistent cries. "Elena! Elena!" I continued to scream into the phone.

Within minutes her cries ceased, and all I heard was the brisk steps of shoes on pavement.

I heard muffled noises, and static, and then a steady breath on the other end.

My fists clenched tightly together, my knuckles turning an ashen white, as the rage and frustration surged through me.

"Whoever you are, I swear I will-"

The line went dead, leaving me with nothing but the deafening sound of silence.

My brow pulled together in disbelief. I glanced down angrily at the useless piece of technology lying in my hands. I slowly coiled my fingers around the phone, tightening it, allowing it to crush between my fingers. Little pieces of plastic and metal breaking off and falling to the floor in flakes. I swung my arm back and threw it against the wall, pushing my fingers up through my hair in confusion.

What the fuck was going on?

All I was sure of was that someone had taken Elena…or killed her-no she couldn't be dead-I erased that prospect immediately from my mind.

What stupid bastard would take her? They obviously didn't know me well enough, or they were just dumber than shit. Because if they did know me, they would be well aware that I would stop at nothing until I had the heart of her captor in my hands.

Whoever they were I would eventually find them, and when I do I will kill them.

Calogero POV

I sat nonchalantly in the passenger seat of the black van, silently waiting in the shadows.

I watched patiently, as she rounded the corner. Phone to her ear, her thoughts in a dream world. She was completely oblivious to the danger that lurked, mere feet away from her.

"You know what to do." I muttered, to the stocky man beside me. He was my faithful accomplice, Jim. He responded with a sharp nod of understanding, as I wrenched the door open, and began to glide down the sidewalk. The area was deserted, which would allow my plan to progress smoothly. Now there wouldn't be any unwanted complications.

Her annoying voice grew louder as I neared her. She was gazing at a nearby willow tree, still unaware of my presence, until I purposely bumped shoulders with her. As she sprung back from the impact, I let my watch fall to the ground.

"Sorry sir." She mumbled softly. "I wasn't talking to you Damon." She hissed into the phone.

I ignored her apology and continued to walk away.

A smug grin tugged at the edges of my mouth. So she was talking to my dear friend Damon Salvatore.

I have not yet had the pleasure to be introduced to the young fellow and personally meet him, however I know his deep involvement with my love Isobel. And I am not particularly fond of it.

And although the two haven't spoken in weeks, I know better than to get my hopes up and think that their relationship is over. Because I've seen first hand, just how strong their connection to one another is. How no matter what place on the earth they are, they always move towards each other. I have always stopped Isobel before she had the chance to reconnect with Damon, and it was my own mistake this time, for allowing them to come together again. But now seeing how this whole situation has been playing out, for the most part I'm glad for my mistake, for it is extremely entertaining.

Although lately Damon's been getting in my way with his constant hovering. It's actually quite sad, how he is relentlessly trying to save her, make sure that she stays alive forever.

It was just wasted effort on his part, after all I was in control of her life. I decided who could harm her, when she could die.

I heard the soft padding of footsteps hitting against the pavement. I chucked softly at the sheer gullibility of the human race.

I felt her fingertips hastily drum against my shoulder. "I-I'm sorry sir but you must have dropped this."

I stopped, and turned around. My eyes flickered down to her outstretched palm, which held the expensive watch.

I couldn't contain my amusement any longer. My mouth curled upwards into a sinister smile.

Finally realizing that I wasn't exactly an affable person, she staggered backwards. I darted my arms forward seizing her wrists, applying only a fraction of my strength to her fragile bones. I crushed her into my body, as she struggled feebly against me. Her lips emitting ear piercing screams.

A headache was blossoming at the back of my head, as a result from her shrieks.

Fed up with her infuriating behavior I brought my elbow back and slammed it hard into her cheek. I felt the delicate bone shatter on contact underneath with my arm.

She collapsed to the ground, finally becoming quiet.

Aaahhh how I relished the silence.

I starred down at the motionless body. She was a pretty little thing, but incomparable to my Isobel.

The black van rolled up beside me. Jim waddled out.

"Throw her into the back." I ordered, brushing my hands across the front of my suit, smoothing out the wrinkles.

He nodded, and his burly body ambled over to her. He wrapped his short muscular arms around her waist, and heaved her over his broad shoulder. He grasped the handle to the trunk, flinging it open, and tossing her into it. Her body thudding against the floor of the trunk. He slammed the metal door shut.

I heard the faint yells of a man. I looked down, only to see Elena's dropped cell phone.

I bent down, examining it in my hands before pressing it to my ear. "Whoever you are I swear I will-" I snapped the phone shut. Dropping it to the cement, lifting my foot up and crushing it underneath my black Italian loafers.

I was not big on threats, especially when they came from a certain Mr. Salvatore. I did not appreciate his arrogant behavior, how he believed he was the smartest and strongest thing out there, when clearly he was not.

I glided over to the car, sliding into the leather seat. Jim got in beside me, his hands gripping the steering wheel.

"You mind me askin' what you're gonna do with the girl." He asked curiously in a husky voice, coated in his jersey accent.

"I need to get some important information from her."

"About what boss?" he pressed, raising a black bushy eyebrow.

"Nothing that you need to worry about."

"Are you gonna kill her?"

"I don't know yet…but why would it matter to you?" I demanded. I hope he wasn't suddenly developing a conscience.

"Well- it's just that well…" he trailed off, rubbing his shoulder awkwardly. "It's just that well, you know I'm not exactly that good lookin' guy that gets all the ladies-and I was kind of hopin' you would let me have this one…or somethin'"

I snickered. Saying he wasn't a handsome man was an understatement. Jim was short, stocky, had thick curly black hair on his head as well as the rest of his body. He had a small square head, scruff along the contours of his jaw, black beady eyes which were nearly covered by his bushy eyebrows, and a large hawk shaped nose. He was definitely not a handsome man.

"Don't worry, I'll find you a beautiful young woman to entertain you during you're lonely nights." I drawled.

"Thanks boss." He signed in relief. There was a brief pause. "So what are you gonna' do with her when we get to the place."

"I don't know yet…. I'm hoping it will all just come to me. All I know is that I need to send my love a message. And well… I thought this was the perfect way to do so. Show Isobel just how quickly I can take her away, while infuriating the Salvatore's at the same time. It's a win win."

He smirked, turning the keys that were sticking out of the ignition and driving the car into the distance.