A/N I hope you like it!

I'll Be Good

.

.

My past has tasted bitter for years now, so I wield an iron fist
Grace is just weakness, or so I've been told.

I've been cold, I've been merciless

But the blood on my hands scares me to death, maybe i'm waking up.

I'll be good, I'll be good, and i'll love the world like I should

I'll be good, i'll be good

.

.

1864

"Daniella!"

Damon ran through the woods, screaming at the top of his voice for his sister, eyes wide and fraught. He ground his teeth together, inhaling large amounts of air as he roamed through the woods, his newfound senses still fresh. Everything was brighter, louder. He'd never felt more alive yet somehow revived into something greater but it wasn't to last, not without Katherine.

He was going to die.

But not until he said goodbye.

"Daniella!"

Worry lacing his tone as the long seconds ticked by, Damon ignored the pain in his gums and sounds of nearby heartbeats in the town as he neared the road. He needed to find Daniella; she'd been missing since their father had fired bullets into each of his children. She'd been alone too long, and if Daniella Salvatore hated something, it was being by herself.

Wiping an exasperated hand down his face, Damon slowed his pace, bracing himself against a nearby tree as he stumbled.

"Dan—"

He snapped his mouth shut when a familiar growling sound caught his ears, nearby but, at the same time, so far away.

Using his vampire speed to flash in the direction of the sound, Damon caught himself before he tripped over his own feet, gasping in horror when he discovered a figure hovering over another. The growling sounds continued, the attacker's face hidden by the darkness as they pinned the body below them with their hands, face concealed in the darkness.

But, in spite of the darkness, Damon knew it was Daniella.

His sister was straddling a young man against a tree and was ripping into his throat. He gasped as his eyes darted from body to body surrounding her. Each one was covered in bites, mostly on their throats and wrists. He covered his mouth as the stench of corpses hit his nose, and he stumbled backward, staring at his sister.

"D-Dani?"

His sister snarled as she rose from the body, hastily spinning in his direction, staggering slightly. Her bloody eyes shifting to her usual pale blue, his sister's eyes met his own, but the light that had been there before was no longer. Her dress was almost in tattlers, sleeves pulled and torn from her victim's trying to fight and her cheeks were smeared with blood.

"My brother!"Daniella sing songed, holding out her arms as if expecting her usual hug, blood dripping from her chin."Finally, you have found me. You never were good at hide and seek."

His eyes widened at the grim tone she used and swallowed the lump in his throat as he finally met her gaze.

"I'm sorry, but there is no more food left to share."Daniella continued, feigning a remorseful tone when she turned to look at the man she'd been straddling."I may have finished them without you."

Wiping at her chin with the heel of her palm, Daniella's gaze lingered on the body for a brief moment before it skimmed over to the several others that lay beside him.

"But we can go looking for more."

Snapping out of the startled daze he'd been in, Damon took a cautious step forward, avoiding the corpses.

"You didn't."He mumbled as he advanced upon his sister, brows furrowed."You have fed?"

"Of course, silly. Katherine did say that if you don't feed you die."Daniella shook her head at him, clicking her tongue scoldingly."I do not want to die."

Damon instantly shook his head, refusing to indulge her.

"But without Katherine—"

Daniella's smile fell, and she held up a hand, cutting him off with a dismissive wave of her hand.

"Forget about her; we do not need her."Daniella reached out and took hold of her brother's face, ignoring his wince when she smeared blood on his face."What we need, Damon, is to leave and explore."

Despite her smile, despite how she stared at him as she once had as a child with such love, he knew this wasn't his sister.

Daniella was manipulative and roguish at times, much like her older brother. She'd been taught from the best, after all. But, despite her tendency to be somewhat curt and petulant at times, she was otherwise a sweet girl. Just like their mother and Stefan. But the young girl that stood before him now—coated from to head to toe in blood, a wicked twinkle splitting her face—was not his sister.

He did not recognize the girl beaming at him.

"I wish to die without Katherine!"Damon hissed in response, swatting her hands from his face and turning from her."This was all to be with her. How did you convince—"

"She never could say no to Stefan,"Daniella distantly explained, rubbing her bare arms with a proud sniff."much like myself. It's his eyes."

He casted a disdainful glance at her over his shoulder.

"You used her for her blood."

"Of course."Daniella nodded with a small smile, watching calmly as her brother paced him back and forth."What else would I want her for?"

Daniella skipped towards him, holding onto the bottom dress as she jumped over the bodies. She stopped in front of him with a dreamy smile and placed her hands on his shoulders, forcing him to come to a stop.

"Come with Stefan and I!"Daniella mirthfully urged, offering him her hand with a smile."Just us, just family. Forever."

Damon worried his bottom lip between his teeth, gaze roaming over her face, swallowing thickly. He took her hand from his shoulder with a sad, flash of a smile. Bust before Daniella could tug at him to follow her, Damon urged her to follow and pulled her in until there was no distance between them.

"I… I love you."

He held her hand to his chest, just over his heart. His larger hand caressed her bloodied, smaller one.

"But there is no family."Damon refused to meet her eyes as he spoke, and instead let his head drop to her shoulder. His words were muffled against the material of her dress."Not without Katherine."

"You're a silly, silly boy."Daniella coldly commiserated into his cheek, shaking her head disapprovingly. Damon flinched at the lack of emotion in her words and dared to burrow closer.

She indulged his need for solace and, for a split second Damon was convinced she would try and attempt to convince him once again. It passed quickly, however, when she shoved him away from her with frustrated sigh.

"Don't feel bad, Damon. There's time."She quietly averred, gambolling away with her arms spread wide."It's all we have."

Daniella slowed down far from her brother and dramatically bowed, laughter spilling from at her bloody lips, raising her head just an inch to wink.

"I suppose I love you, too."

Damon's eyes, much like her laughter, trailed after her as she danced away into the night.

Present—Mystic Falls

"Something has to bring him back, Damon. We just...We just can't give up."

"There is nothing, Elena. Stefan is gone! Ripper Stefan is who we're dealing with now!"Damon groaned, running a hand over his face."We just gotta to deal with it until he crawls back with his tail between his legs and begs for forgiveness at your funeral 'cause that's how long he's gonna be off the trails for. "

Feigning a cherry smile, Damon turned on his heels and jogged his way up the rest of the staircase, Elena at his heels. He bounded up the stairs three at the time, giving Elena little to no chance of catching up to keep up their conversation.

"Just because you think you're dealing with it doesn't mean I have to."Elena fired back with, voice cracking when Damon remained turned from her."I...I need hope. Just give me hope, Damon, 'cause I can't see him every day and knowing that Stefan—"

"Stefan, Stefan, Stefan."Damon cut in quietly, kicking open his brother's door with one foot and wincing when the redolence of dead bodies travelled to his his nose."Stefan's left a mess behind that i've got to clean UP.

Damon shrugged and sauntered inside, setting down all but one of the trash bags on his brother's desk. He entered Stefan's room, shaking out the one clutched in his hand.

Elena pinched her fingers over her nose, retreating to the doorframe when the stench became too much to bear, swallowing the lump in her throat as her mind flashed back to the happier times spent in the bedroom that were dampened by what she was witnessing.

This wasn't Stefan.

Sprawled across the bed, the bed Elena once shared with Stefan, was what was left of a young girl. A young, brunette around Elena's age with the lower half of her body intact but her head neatly decapitated and placed on one of the pillows.

"Oh, my—"Elena slumped against the doorframe, screwing her eyes shut as tightly as she could.

Damon, sighing like a father would if he found his son's bedroom untidy, rolled his eyes and walked over to the bed, grabbing the girl by her wrists and pulling her down onto the rug, ready to roll her up before he used the trash-bags for the head and the rest of the mess.

"Hey, at least he does some good work."

"Not funny."Elena glared at the elder Salvatore, back still turned to him, crossing her arms over her chest."This can't keep happening."

"I know. I didn't sign up to play maid."

"There has to be something."Elena carried on as if he hadn't spoken, fingers drumming against her arm as she tried to think clearly."Anything. Lexi wrote that there was always something to bring him back. What do you think?"

She got no response. Not even the scoff she'd been expecting.

"Damon?"

Elena turned on her heels, ready to chastise the Salvatore brother for not being any help at all but instead found herself frowning when she noticed that he seemed interested in something else. Damon was sat on the edge of the bed, trash-bag forgotten at his feet and turning to grab something that had apparently made him forget the task at hand.

"Huh, I thought i'd lost this."Damon murmured as he plucked something from Stefan's bedside table."Seriously, Stefan? I don't steal your stuff."

Elena slowly started to enter the bedroom when curiously got the better of her. She leaned over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of whatever it was he was staring at.

"Damon—"

Frowning after she cut herself off, Elena shook her head helplessly at the picture pinched between Damon's fingers. It was worn out at the edges, one of them torn slightly and the rest frayed. The photograph in the centre itself was, however, in good condition. It was a photograph of Stefan enveloping a woman Elena did not recognise into his arms.

Elena did not recognise her at all and it made something akin to anguish settle in her stomach. She swallowed a gasp as her eyes flickered from face to face, cautious of the delight twinkling in Stefan's eyes as he laughed at whatever the grinning woman said to him.

"Who is she?"Elena shakily demanded, unable to stop the question from passing her lips. Her eyes were drawn to the date scrawled in the corner of the photograph in Stefan's handwriting.

~Chicago, 1920

Damon blinked twice at the photograph as he was pulled out of his thoughts. He turned his head to look up at the woman, arching an unamused eyebrow.

"Nosy much?"

Elena offered up no explanation, uneasily shifting from foot to foot, her eyes lifting up to Damon when the vampire rose to his full height.

"Who is she, Damon?"Elena repeated in a sterner voice, hands clamping down on her hips.

"Hey, hey, keep the green-eyed monster at bay."Damon lazily scolded as he sauntered away from Elena. He side stepped over several streaks of blood."It's just Dani."

Elena was treading on his heels, confusion etched across her features. She followed him out of the room, struggling to keep up with his wide steps.

"Dani?"

"Daniella Lillian Salvatore."He declared on a hearty chuckle, fluttering the photograph in the air. His thumb brushed across her grinning face pensively."My sister."

"You have a sister?"Elena breathily asked in disbelief, unable to refrain from sounding indignant."You have a sister?!"

"Yes. I. Do."Damon imitated on a low laugh, drawing out the silence with a bemused shake of his head."What of it?"

He sharply turned into the drawing room, Elena skidding on the wooden floors as she battled with processing the information all the while trying to keep up with him. She marched into the room after him with her arms stretched out and lips parted in complete shock.

"You have a sister, Damon."Elena proclaimed as she stormed over to him, reaching out and snatching the picture from his grasp."You never told me!"

Damon's upper lip curled in slight annoyance as she waved the photograph around.

"You never asked."Damon responded with a casual lift of his shoulder. He snatched the photograph back and pointed at her."Seriously, you and Stefan gotta stop nabbing what's not yours."

"Why haven't you told me about her?"Elena demanded with an affronted sigh. She brushed her fingers through her long locks, shaking her head."Why...Why didn't Stefan tell me about her?"

Damon pressed his lips together as he cleared his throat, eyes drifting from Elena's. He offered another shrug as he made came up with a response.

"She's big on the whole privacy thing. Likes to keep herself to herself."Damon distantly replied, tucking the photograph into his back pocket."And we like to keep her to ourselves. It's a family thing."

In the matter of seconds, Elena's expression changed from dismay to hope. She let her hand fall from where her fingers had been tangled in her hair to cup a hand over her mouth.

"And so is Stefan flipping the switch. Don't you get it? Maybe she can help us. Help Stefan."Elena rushed out in relief, a small smile gracing her face."Dani—"

"Daniella."Damon corrected with a tut and a scolding wag of his index finger."Dani's also a family thing."

"Damon, stop deflecting. Listen to me. Please."Elena slowly made her way over to Damon, large doe eyes staring up at him in desperation."Call Daniella. Get her to come to Mystic Falls and maybe we can stop all of this."

Damon was prompt to shake his head. He did so adamantly and with a stern refusal.

"Nope."

Elena gaped at him."Why?"

"She's a pain in the ass. Drinks all of the milk, uses all of the hot water,"Damon gestured pointlessly, rolling his eyes heavenward."and refuses to share the remote. You know, a total control freak. The goody two shoes kind who's hiding from her past and trying to atone for her sins."

He willed himself to remain stone-faced as he met Elena's gaze."You're familiar with the type."

She grabbed his arm when he went to turn on her and pulled until he reluctantly complied.

"Damon."She breathed out when he looked down at her."What happened?"

"Family business. Point is to not open old wounds."Damon answered with a steely tone."That's the end of the story, Elena."

He stared at her until she released him and he sucked in a heavy breath as the tension abated. He draped his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

"But maybe you have a point. I'll call her. She was in Rome last I heard."Damon passed Elena with a feigned smile, rubbing his hands together."Why don't you help out and start cleaning up down here?"

Elena turned with him, eyes wide and swarming with questions.

"Damon—"

"I said that i'll call her, all right?"Damon interjected sharply, breathing harshly through his nose. Elena stiffly nodded with a forced smile.

1958—London

"Are you sure we should be doing this?"

"Very sure, El. It feels good, doesn't it?"

Ellen gasped as her boyfriend's lips dragged across her collarbone before they traced up her throat towards her ear. Her eyes fluttered as his hand crept up her leg that was hitched around his hips. She giggled as he whispered into her ear, things she would blush about later on.

Her father had never approved of her relationship with Henry, her father thought of him as a street rat. But she loved him which was why she had snuck to meet up with him.

They were breaking the rules.

"I-I should get back—"

"Not yet."He protested, pulling back from her neck and looking at her."Stay with me."

She just nodded without thought and leaned up, pressing her lips to his.

"Being naughty, are we?"

Ellen jumped away from the Henry, her eyes widening in shock. Her boyfriend jumped back too, almost stumbling over his feet at the sudden voice. His eyes also widened as his gaze landed on a young woman wearing all black, her shining blue eyes the only bright color on her as she gazed at them, a teasing smile on her lips.

Her long black hair was swept to one side, her bare neck exposed as she wore a thin necklace that seemed older than she was. He looked anywhere but her eyes, ashamed of himself as he waited to be scolded for his actions.

Ellen went red as she smoothed down her dress and shook her head, trying to seem put together.

"N-No, miss, we were just—"

"Doing something you shouldn't be?"The young woman cut off Ellen, her eyebrow arching in suspicion."Does your father know that you're out this late, young lady?"

"Please don't tell him. I'll give you anything."

The woman perked up at the plea and she tilted her head with an interested hum. Her full lips twitched as if she'd expected the pleading.

"I think we can come to an arrangement,"

Ellen gave a relieved gasp at her words, and she smiled a little, enthusiastically nodding.

"We can?"

The woman's smile finally found home on her face as her eyes flitted from one human to the other.

"Yes."

Her smile twisted into something wicked as red flooded her eyes. Her grinning lips parted to reveal her fangs.

Ellen screamed as the woman flashed forward, pushing her back against the wall and something sharp pierced her neck. She helplessly cried out for her Henry who was already bolding from the scene on a terrified yell.

"Henry, please!"

She fought violently against the woman but she was too strong, her hands were keeping her shoulders pinned to the wall as she drank hungrily from the younger girl.

"Pl-Please! You're hurting me."

This only seemed to urge the older woman on. She groaned hungrily, her head tipping back and her blood smeared lips parting for breath. She rasped her pleasure before burrowing back into Ellen's throat and piercing flesh again.

"HELP!"

The young woman suddenly stilled against her and released a pained gasp. Her fangs loosened from her neck, and she inhaled sharply against her before she fell backward. Ellen's eyes opened slowly, and her eyes landed on a young looking man standing in front of her holding the woman.

"Wh-Who are you?"

"Run!"He ordered as he gathered the woman up in his arms, glaring at her when she showed no sign of obeying, paralysed with fear."I SAID RUN!"

She barely spared him another glance before she broke out into a run down the alleyway, holding her hand to her wounded neck. He watched after her before he looked down at his sister, tossing away the syringe he had used on her.

"Dani?"

"S-Stefan?"Daniella gasped against her brother as she slumped into his arms, vision hazy."What are you doing?"

"What I should have done a long time ago."Stefan answered as he made his way down the street, avoiding anything and everything but the dark."I injected you with vervain."

"What? Let me go."She fought against her brother, but her weakened state didn't help her at all. She fell further into his embrace as he led her back towards the automobile parked a few meters away."You can't do this."

"I don't want to, but I have to."

He opened the back seat door and gently pushed her inside so that she was laying across the back seats.

"Stefan? Stefan, don't do this."

He took one last lingering look at his weakened sister before he slammed the door shut. His face was the last thing she saw before her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

Thank you for reading!

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