A/N: Okay, you guys may hate me for this chapter! Killing/not killing off a certain character! Well, you'll just have to read and find out! Thank you vamp-loving read and reviewers for all of the support, you make my writing dreams come true! - Leahlovessalvatore124

Chapter Twenty Nine – No Life After Death

Caroline choked down a scream.

"Tyler?" She cried, and flung herself into his arms. She was so glad he was okay, so glad he was awake. She didn't care that he smelt like blood and sweat, and that his clothes were damp and his hair was matted. She was just happy that she had him in her arms. He gave her a huge kiss and the warmth of it spread through Caroline all the way to the tips of her fingers. But after a couple of minutes, he pulled back, worried, confused.

"Why the hell are we even at the witch house?" He asked, his voice rough. Caroline explained everything to him that had happened while he'd been unconscious, about Bex and Emily, and the whole way through, Tyler eyed Damon who hadn't moved from his spot ever since he'd come downstairs. That wasn't like Damon. Tyler noted. He was always there to make a sarcastic remark or do something to wind him up. But he was just standing there like some kind of vampire statue. And his face was wild. He looked angry.

"What's his problem?" Tyler murmured to his girlfriend. Caroline stopped babbling and turned to look at the black haired vamp. Damon glared back at him. Tyler almost squealed. He was angry alright.

"Wow. Are you seriously this stupid?"

Damon practically growled.

Tyler shrank and looked confused.

"Huh? What are you even talking about?"

Damon rolled his eyes and paced towards them.

"While you two little love-birds were making a nest in each others mouths did you listen to anything Blondie even said?" Damon raised his eyebrows. "Specifically the bit about the encounter with 'mad witch from hell'?"

"Yeah! I was listening!" Tyler told him, taking a step towards him. He wasn't gonna let Damon push him around.

"Then let me ask you something. You woke up and you came inside the house. But no normal werewolf could have had the energy to actually come bounding down here like some kind of mutant were-bunny, not after you were tied up and stabbed with Wolfsbane, you moron." Damon took a step closer so that he was looking Tyler directly in the eyes. "Do you see where I'm going with this?"

Tyler frowned for a moment.

"Umm..I'm getting there." He answered. Damon was irritated as he tried to put the pieces together for Tyler.

"So the witches decided to give you a little help. You crawled to the door, then when you got inside, they must have spelled you with some kind of energy." Damon told both of them. "Darling Emily said that we'll pay one price for each of the injured. She already choked and cured Caroline, and she's agreed to help Elena, and now you!" Damon practically hissed, sarcasm about Emily and anger for Tyler dripping from his voice like hot venom. "Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to be in debt to a witch?"

Tyler half snorted.

"You're the one who agreed to it, so don't go pointing your leechy finger at me." He spat at him. Then quickly paused.

"No offence, Care."

Caroline shrugged.

"None taken."

Damon looked like he wanted to rip his head off. He grabbed Tyler by the collar, and Tyler took a swing at him. Caroline pulled at Damon's fists.

"Put him down! Seriously, let go. Guys, we need to stop with the fighting!"

Both guys ignored her.

"That's just bullshit. How do you know any of that..is even..true?" Tyler got out, finding it hard to breathe. "How do you know..I didn't heal when I was sleeping?"

Damon's eyes flashed.

"Your body was coping with enough trying to keep you alive, let alone trying to heal, you pumped-up little flea bag." Damon snarled. "I've seen were-wolves conscious and in more of a state then you , and still find it hard to heal."

Tyler stayed in an angry silence. But Damon was too mad to let it go.

"I killed your Uncle, remember? I tortured him and stuffed wolfsbane down his throat while he watched." Damon gave him one last tug, then let go and he dropped to the floor. Tears of rage streamed down the werewolf's face, and he gave a loud guttural cry and lunged. For a moment Damon thought he was going for him, but he wasn't, Tyler was lunging to the side. The werewolf landed half-way up the steps, and he wrenched at one of the wooden banisters. It came out with a satisfying crunch, the others toppled down after it, clattering to the floor, and it echoed through the witch house like brewing thunder. Tyler held the picket in his right hand and screeched, launching himself off into the air and at Damon like an angry tornado, eyes glowing gold, teeth bared, fingers curled into claws. Then it was as if everything was happening in slow motion. He saw the raging were-wolf and the makeshift stake in his hand, and then suddenly like lightning, he felt the air stir around him, and Caroline was crouching in-front of him, veins swirling around her eyes, hissing, fangs on show. Tyler's face transformed into shock and desperation. He needed to stop, but it was too late. He was already hurtling through the air at enormous speed, and there was no way he would be able to stop himself. Tyler shouted at his girlfriend to move, that he couldn't stop, but his words became garbled, he was moving to fast. Then time unfroze and Damon did something that he was sure would dent his reputation, something that he was sure as hell he would have never done, but he did it anyway. In one lithe movement he shot his hand out and pushed Caroline aside, positioning himself back into the firing line. He was a sitting duck, and there was nothing he could do about it. He raised his arms out in an attempt to block him, and then Tyler pounced. Damon closed his eyes. He didn't need to open them to know that he'd failed. That Tyler had been right on target. He could feel the stake protruding out of him like a gory axe out of someone in the horror movies without actually touching it with his hands. He could feel the wound around it, he could smell the blood. Damon fell to his knees, and managed to constrain a low whimper. Damon could feel the stake scraping at his heart. This death was strange. Nothing like the were-wolf bite. It would be quick. Peaceful. And in a way he felt as if he were floating away. He wondered if vampires went anywhere after they died. He didn't think they did. Apparently they just went out. Like blowing out a candle or switching off a light. That was it. For vampires, there was no life after death. Damon didn't believe in heaven anyway. He wasn't giving up hope though. Maybe he'd come back like Vicki and Anna. He'd like that. Maybe he'd be able to get a message to Elena, if she was alright after this. He knew there was something he had to tell her..something important, but his mind was all foggy and it was getting quite hard to remember. He could hear distant cries, Caroline probably, and the numb feeling of someone shaking him that was gradually beginning to disappear. At least it hadn't been for nothing. He knew it hadn't been all for Caroline, it had mostly been for Elena. If she woke up..Damon stopped. When she woke up, she wouldn't want her other best-friend dead too would she? Then another voice interrupted Damon's last moments of mind drama. It was like bells shimmering, twinkling in the wind. Angelic, almost, but he recognised it, and it was a lot less bitter than when he'd last heard it.

Emily's voice was almost like a whisper, but it was also vivid and clear.

But she wouldn't want you dead either would she?

A/N: Cliffhanger right? And what's up with Tyler? Is he peeved at Damon, or is it something more? Let me know what you think! Also I was wondering, anyone want me to bring back any other ghosts from the past? Maybe Lexy or Mason, or annoying John? - Leahlovessalvatore124