-Revisiting Damon and Elena's second (for her first) meeting at the Salvatore house in 1x02. Insights into Damon's thoughts and feelings-

Damon knew that someone had entered the Salvatore house. And not just because the door creaked loudly, and a voice called his brother's name. He could almost feel the breath of this person, hear the beating of a heart. It was rare that someone strayed here and if they did, it usually ended badly for the person. Not for Damon, of course. For him, it always ended well. As a vampire, he often had to fortify himself and preferably with blood that was still warm in his veins. Damon did not suppress his grin and sat up in his large wooden bed. A little rest had not done him any harm, but now he was ready and would devote himself to the visitor. Or rather, the female visitor. Damon's gaze fell to the floor, as if he knew that she was just below him. He closed his eyes. There he was again, the pulsing heartbeat, there was the blood waiting for him. Abruptly he opened his eyes again and frowned. This human was not prey. Not today and probably not ever.

He recognised her and her heartbeat was like a rhythm that echoed in his mind. He recognised her and the feeling that surrounded her. Strangely enough, even without hearing her voice. He knew this person looked like Katherine. Elena.

Damon hardly noticed how he suddenly clenched his hands into fists and tensed up inside. Katherine was still gone. Locked in a crypt, out of his reach. Even if Damon seemed a little closer to his goal by now, she was still unreachable for him. In the place where she should be, there was only cold, dark emptiness and bitterness that he had not been able to save her. All those moments wasted for nothing. They had been meant for a lifetime together. The abrupt memory of that loss, triggered in him the urge to not only kill the image of Katherine, but to gleefully suck the blood from her veins until there was nothing left and she became the shadow she was. A shadow of Katherine. Nothing more. The veins under Damon's eyes instantly grew into a menacing mass. Katherine. One more time he let her name slide through his mind and then evaporate into dust. Down there was Elena.

Stefan had a crush on her and somehow Damon wanted to let him have his little fun. And besides, there was that feeling. A reverberation of a heartbeat and meeting on a road not far from Mystic Falls a few months ago when he had first seen Elena and mistaken her for Katherine.

Yeah, she reminded him of Katherine, that's why she couldn't be prey and that's why he had recognised her.

Either way, he could have his fun with her because, well, she was not Katherine. Damon straightened amost too enthusiastically and stroked his shirt. His crooked grin had returned. And how he would have his fun. Stefan would not be pleased.

As quick as he could be as a vampire and without Elena even seeing him, he slipped past her and teared open the door. The scene had not failed to have its effect and Elena turned around, startled. At the same moment Damon was standing behind here. That did not make it any less frightening for her. Elena backed up and winced noticeably. Her shoulders hunched and her hair moved slightly in the wind coming from outside. Damon just tilted his head a little to get a better look at her.

["I..I am sorry for barging in. The door was open."] She turned around and pointed at the door, which was now no longer open. She was confused. Damon did not take his eyes off her. He only blinked briefly.

[„You must be Elena. I am Damon. Stefan's brother."] He said in a controlled quiet voice.

Then he slightly backed away and saw her dark eyes glancing at him sceptically. Her gaze was no longer fearful. More curious, or almost... bold, challenging. Like Katherine's? Not exactly. Damon focused more strongly on Elena for a brief moment, making his facade of ease seem more ponderous. His eyes never left her. He scrutinised her, making her feel visibly uncomfortable. No, Katherine was a completely different dimension. She had been overwhelming, never insecure.

You want a love that consumes you.

Damon blinked again. That memory that just left a scar at the edge of his mind wasn't about Katherine. It was the moment he had first seen Elena and had first mistaken her for Katherine. Then he had given advice to Elena, for whatever reason. There had been this feeling inside him. He could not quite put his finger on it.

Elena looked unsettled now, but she smiled. And as she smiled, her eyes shone, despite all the pain she must have been in. Despite all this suffering. Something was missing in her that made Damon hesitate, even though his gaze remained piercing and his stance firm. Inside, something made him waver as he clung to his wall.

A shadow was missing in her. The shadow he would always welcome.

Damon almost shuddered. As a hint of warmth touched him.

He had recognised her now or then not because she was like Katherine, but because she was not like her at all.

She was not a reflection of Katherine. She did not resemble her in the least.

The strange feeling remained. But he would not let the wall tremble.

Not yet.

But certainly, he would enjoy the rest of this conversation, Damon thought as he invited her in.