From Maggie: March 2022 - Thanks to everyone for sticking with me… I have been proofing some of the older chapters and realized how horrible it reads. There are a few scene changes, not by much, more descriptive, an additional scene here and there to make things flow a bit better in a few places that just didn't translate from my brain to the page well.

I will be reposting each chapter as I finish the proof and re-write… Don't worry, I'm not changing the story plot… If you don't want to re-read, no problem, you aren't going to miss anything when I post brand new chapters.

Stay safe my friends… Maggie

Chapter 1 – The touch of Hell Fire's Kiss

The tips of his fingers feel the sensation of the cold dirt from the cave floor, his cheek is partly buried in the same centuries-old grounded mountain dust. He hasn't opened his eyes, yet he knows where he is. The pain is bearable, his mouth is dry, as he slowly opens his eyes the sight is blurry, he looks up. He blinks anxiously waiting for the images to clear, when they do, he sees Stefan's arm pinning Katherine's body to his and the other arm holding the dagger over Katherine's heart, he hears Stefan's voice say "Good Bye, Brother." He knows exactly what his martyr, stupid ass, amazing, loving, always there for him, little brother has done. Damon tries to vamp to him, and nothing happens. He uses every ounce of strength he has and still not one muscle moves in his body. Damon starts to panic, he tries harder and harder to move, he knows he has to get up… the more he tries, the more he realizes, he is paralyzed. Damon tries to focus on smaller areas, he tries to move just his arm, it won't, then a leg, nothing. Damon feels the cure spread throughout his blood, every vein is on fire, every muscle, and every part of his body is burning. All the while his eyes never left Stefan, helpless, Damon tries to speak to his brother, to tell him, 'Please, she isn't worth you, she was never worth you. We will find another way.' No words come out. Damon's thoughts race as the burning pain takes over his body, 'I have to move, Damn It, I have to get to Stefan, I have to save Stefan, Stefan must be saved, I must save Stefan, I can't lose Stefan. He doesn't deserve this, not here. Stefan and Elena are my heart, my life, my soul. They are the only parts of my life worth living for. I can't live without them.' Damon loses consciousness after feeling all his energy drain from his body.

Stefan sees the glow of the flames at the turn of the tunnel, they are getting closer. His mind is racing through thousands of memories of his life, each one challenging the next for importance, then one, just one, takes hold, it voids through the rest, it steadies his hand. He isn't scared or unsure of anything, he knows he has the strength to do it, to continue. He holds it tightly, he plunges the dagger into her heart, he feels the dagger go through Katherine's sternum, he knows the dagger reached her heart when she goes limp in his arms. He glances at Damon just one more time, his heart is full of love and peace as his eyes close he feels the fingers of hellfire heat touch his flesh, just as the pain sets in, and the heat is gone.