I know I didn't update last week, its because I've lost the chapters that I write ahead because, my USB stick has broken and I need to find a data recovery company to retrieve my files before I can update again. Hopefully it won't take too long. Anyway here is chapter 8 please enjoy and leave a review.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

I look at him for a moment more, taking in his stiff posture and furrowed brows, taken aback by his confidence and openness. I stand back allowing him space to come inside.

"I think we should talk about this inside," I suggest and he nods before coming in and I shut the door behind him. I lead him into the lounge where I just was and take up residence in the same arm chair as well. I watch as little Gilbert sits on the leather sofa to my left observing me with intense eyes.

"So will you help me?" he asks and it's only now that he sounds more his age. I give him a long glare before declaring where I currently stand.

"At the moment I am undecided, until further explanation that is,"

"What more explanation do you need? Will you or will you not help me get rid of Mason?" the boy exclaims.

"What exactly do you mean by 'get rid of'?" I question listening intently to his motives

"I mean get him away from Elena. Get him out of her life." He tells me this with so much passion I already know that if I deny my participation in this he would do it anyway, but I need more info before I start to assist him in his plans.

"And how do you suggest we do that?"

"Does that mean you'll help me?" he perks up his eyes wide and bright.

"Answer my question first because, I need to know what role I'm going to play if I'm going to partake in anything," I answer watching as he deflates back into his seat.

"Elena's only recently started questioning Mason since you've been here. You kind of inspire her… I don't know exactly but you've stirred things up," he explains and I am all of a sudden intrigued.

"And…"

"And I know you are totally into her,"

"That's beside the point Little Gilbert what makes you all of a sudden want to remove Mason from Elena's life?" I ask and I watch as his brown eyes turn ebony and his jaw clenches tightly.

"She almost died because of him, he treats her like shit and makes her unhappy. I want to do this because my sister is too blind to see that the guy is manipulating her. I want to do this to protect her. I want to do this because she is my sister. Is that enough explanation for you?" he clarifies giving me look as if to say that he would try and knock me out if dare disagree.

"Enough for now Little Gilbert," I answer and he looks at me with an odd expression. "What do I get out of this then, I mean you want to be the almighty hero for your sister so what do I get?" I ask trying to gauge out more information.

"Well the plan is to make Elena realise that Mason doesn't actually love her,"

"Oh right and she's just magically going to come that conclusion isn't she!" I yell at his stupidity

"Well I'm 99.9% certain that he's cheating on her,"

"He's what!" I roar the anger building up inside of me. How could that prick do that to someone as remarkable as Elena Gilbert? How could he betray her in such a way and abuse her trust? Why would he even want to in the first place? The questions just keep bubbling up in my head until I feel like I'm about to explode. I want to hurt him like he's hurting her and show him what it's like. I want him dead. I want to watch as his pathetic life fades away from his eyes and listen as his heart beat slows till its non-existent. I want to kill Mason Lockwood. "I'm in," I confirm and a knowing smirk places itself on his face.

"Already? But I haven't even gotten to the best part," he beams knowing that he's won.

"And what part would that be Jeremy?"

"The part when Elena falls in love with you," he says with a shrug. Like he didn't just make my world stop spinning.

"What makes you think that Elena will fall in love with me?" I ask my voice low and dangerous, my heart on my sleeve. I can tell that he's all of a sudden scared by his expression and the way his heart rate picks up.

"Because Damon, she's already starting too," I am stunned by what he's said and am fascinated to know more.

"Right I've got to go at 8:50 and won't be too long, so we can order take out and you can sleep in a guest room and, together we can come up with the most diabolical plan to destroy Mason Lockwood the world has ever seen!"

"Damn right Salvatore you order I'll set up in… a room," he trails off and I laugh knowing that he doesn't even know where to start.

"There's a study down that hall to the right, we are going to use it as our headquarters,"

"Cool see in there," he says before walking out the room.

"Hey Jeremy what take out do you want?" I call out to him

"Any, I eat it no matter what it is," he shout back and I just shake my head, like brother like sister. I finish ordering Chinese before meeting Jeremy in the study, I see him running his fingers across the vast amount of books on the shelfs. God imagine his face when he sees the library.

"Right how do we catch him cheating on her then?" I ask whilst clearing old stuff from the pin board that hangs above the desks.

"We could stalk him," he suggests

"I do have a life Little Gilbert,"

"Really? A life besides fixing my sisters car and cooking her dinner and, dancing with her in bars," he teases me with a sarcastic grin and I just give him a dirty look.

"Yes Jeremy I do," I tell him and he winks back in return.

"So in that case I think that we need to access CCTV in public places that Mason hangs around in," Jeremy explains

"Are you stupid? How are we supposed to do that Little Gilbert?" I ask astounded.

"Well I have my contacts," he mumbles quietly

"Such as?"

"Such as the people who I deal to like the vice principle and the owners of many clubs that Mason goes to," he shrugs acting like it isn't a big deal for a 16 year old to be a drug dealer.

"So you're a drug dealer," I ask cautiously not wanting to wind him up. What kind of a kid is a drug dealer at 16 anyway?

"Kinda… only light stuff... but you can't tell Elena, or my parents," he says quickly a look of panic spreading across his face.

"How about this, I won't tell a soul if you come off it the moment we nail Lockwood," I offer and he eyes me up before leaving his hand in the air.

"Deal." I reach my hand up to shake his and we come to an understanding in that single moment. The only thing that matters is Elena.

"So we get all the CCTV footage we can get our hands on then we analyse it and collect more than 1 piece of evidence against Mason. We get pictures of him with all his whores and build up a bullet proof file showing every dirty little secret Mason Lockwood has, and we don't hold back no matter what it is. Then we send copies to every head of every founding family and have his name ruined. After that he won't ever step another foot in this town or go near Elena ever again."

My inspirational speech renders Jeremy speechless and he looks at me as if I'm a genius which, I don't think is too far off of the truth. His jaw is left open, his eyes staring in awe.

"What about Elena? She can't find out through a file from my Dad," he musters in a deflated way.

"I will tell Elena beforehand she shouldn't find out the way everyone else does, and I will have developed such a fine friendship with her that she will have no qualms with me comforting her and the spark will already have been set alight," I explain lifting the top of the decanter and pouring myself and Jeremy a glass and passing it to him. "To Mason Lockwood and every dirty secret he has buried," I raise my glass and Jeremy raises his as we clink glasses and drink the fine alcohol.

Not long after the food had arrived and we had set everything up for our master scheme. On the pin board we had Mason's ugly face and all of his top spots to hang out. We had also compiled a list of all places that Jeremy could get in touch with and obtain footage from. We had moved the desks together as well and ordered in several top of the range computers (at my expense) and, telephones so that we could call them. It was beautiful.

Jeremy has currently taken up residence on the left side of the study and is eating a chicken ball with his feet up and, a phone wedged between his head and shoulder. He is offering a club a cheap deal on his drug sales on the condition that they give us to all old and future CCTV and keeps a special eye out for Mason Lockwood and all his activities. The owners are practically eating out of the palm of his hand. I smile to myself knowing that I am getting one step closer to having Elena. One step closer to making her mine.

I check the clock and it reads 8:15pm and I rise from my chair going upstairs to get ready. I shave my stubble and wash my face before changing my clothes not wanting to smell of Chinese and, not having enough time to shower. I put on a black Armani shirt and jeans before spraying some after shave and heading back downstairs.

"Gilbert, we need to go soon, Mason's party is at 9 and its's half past now," I tell him as I walk into the study. He looks up to me and finishes his phone call telling them to think about his offer before opening the draw and reaching out for a recording device.

"I am going to attach this to you and I need you to get everything you can from him. Do you have a van or something which I can work from that we can park not far away from the falls?" he asks me and I think for a moment.

"I have a Volkswagen camper van with tinted windows," I suggest and he just looks at me as if I'm crazy.

"Yeah… I think that could work," he says and I give him a smirk before showing him to the garage. He take one look around and I can see him ogling all of my cars like they're a piece of meat. "You own all these?" he asks and I nod in return showing him towards the van. We then transport all the equipment that he reckons he's going to need and hooks me up with the listening device and then we're on the road. I drive to the falls with Jeremy in the back and park way off on the other side so that the car is concealed from any prying eyes, but still giving him direct access with a camera to record everything from afar.

"Right so you know what you're doing," I say more as a statement and he nods in affirmation, so I get out of the car and walk around to where I can hear people gathering. I walk past a few more trees their musty smell infiltrating my nose sharply. I make out the figures of 11 people including Mason and his brother Tyler who I had seen before. The rest I just assume make up the football team. When I get closer I notice the smirks on their face and I immediately know that this is no party.

Some had metal crow bars in their hands, others have baseball bats. A few had knives including Mason and, the reason I'm being lured out it becoming abundantly clear.

Little shits reckon they can beat me up!

"Well well well, Salvatore I did tell you to stop hanging around teenagers because you never know what trouble you're going to get into," Mason's voice carries through the air with an evil aurora.

"You fuck with one of us you fuck with us all," one of the hooded figures shout out and the rest nod and grin in approval.

"I haven't fucked with anyone however, I do believe that Mason is so self-conscious about his bedroom performance that he thinks that, his innocent girlfriend who by the way hasn't got a single bad bone in her body is fucking me. Or something along those lines," I say trying to sound guiltless but the smirk still appears on my face when I see that I have angered him.

"Oh I don't think you're fucking Elena, but I do think that you have every intention of doing so," he deadpans back at me and the others start to surround me in a wide open circle; giving them space to attack. Normally I would tear them all apart before they even got the chance however, Jeremy's recording this, so I can deliver a few good blows but I need them to see what a nasty piece of shit Mason really is.

"Why would Elena want to go anywhere near you, douche bag, when she has Mason, what makes you think she would even want anything to do with you?" a blond boy asks and I flash him my signature smirk.

"Because anything is better than that dick head," I reply

"Oh really? Is that why she's so interested in you? Wait a minute she doesn't give a shit about you," another brunette laughs and the rest join in as well.

"Well boys it's clear that this basted needs convincing, so how about we show him what it's like to play with the hotshots," Mason eggs on and then two of them grab either arm so that I am still. I resist the urge to just shake them off remembering the camera in the distance recording every single move they make.

"So what you're just going to beat me up for what? Being nice to a girl when her car was broken down?" I say turning do play the innocent pouty face.

"We're going to beat the shit out of you for hitting on my girlfriend, and putting your dirty hands on her and for trying to put stupid ideas in her head," he snarls getting right up in my face. "Tyler," he calls beckoning him with his fingers and the black haired boy with a white vest on approached me with, a baseball bat in his hand, sweat gathering on his forehead and a vicious growl escaped him. Before I knew it the wooden weapon connected with my face and, sent it flying to the other side with an intense force. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth but it would soon heal, I need to let them do some damage before I can fight back.

Their laughter echoes around me, the naked trees quivering silently as they stand witness to their evil. I have known worse evil then them however, it drives this animalistic instinct to protect Elena from these monsters. Despite the fact that they may not hurt her like they are trying to hurt me physically, they will hurt her mentally as well as emotionally. I cannot have that.

Another with a crow bar starts whacking me in the shins repeatedly whilst the other aims his bat for my stomach. I don't know whether or not the wire will survive this sort of beating but to be honest I didn't really think this is what Mason had planned for tonight. The basted. Others joined in chanting and egging them on to hit me more or, hit me harder. Then Mason told them to hold off and they stepped aside making way for him like a king and his hand that is holding a butterfly knife.

The weapon shines against what little light is provided, reflecting back the dirt and crumpled leaves on the ground. The crushing sound of the falls fill the empty silence as he steps towards me, crouching down bringing the knife to my face and applying slight pressure but not breaking the skin.

"You think you can come into my town and try to steal my girlfriend Salvatore," he snarls his breath reaching my face.

"No," I say spitting blood out so that I can talk without gargling, and he smiles in approval. Stupid idiot. "I simply intend to show her what a two-faced, lying, repulsive ass-hole her boyfriend is. Then if she's got any sense which I believe she does, she will leave you and find someone who will treat her properly," I growl with a fierce look on my face.

"You son of a bitch!" he screams at me

"My mother was a fine lady thank you very much and I don't appreciate you bad mouthing her name," I say in a calm yet patronising voice to piss him off some more.

"STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ELENA!" he hollers at me in antagonism.

"NO!" I bellow back at him

"She's mine you piece of shit. I am the one who she tells all of her pathetic problems too, I am the one who pleasures her in my bed and I will marry her someday, not you!" he seethes at me.

"And why will you be marrying her? Is it because you love her because, you have a seriously fucked up way of showing her?" I probe looking for him to say something bad, to get a rise out of him so I can show her what he truly is.

"Because she's a nice piece of ass. I don't care if she's a bitch or the most humble person ever all I care about is my reputation, that she's good in bed and, that she'll give me beautiful children. And do you know what creep, she'll do all that because I have her thinking that she loves me. She will do anything for me and I have her right where I want her," he explains and all I see is red.

"You want her as a fucking trophy wife! Your manipulating her you basted and, I won't let you hurt her anymore she doesn't deserve your bull shit!"

"YOU WON'T GO NEAR HER EVER AGAIN SHE BELONGS TO ME, SO STAY THE FUCK AWAY BEFORE YOU RUIN EVERYTHING!"

I look at him cold and hard, my features schooled into a mask of austere my eyes looking dead straight into his.

"I will never stop until she is safe from you." His eyes told me how unbelieving he found it, that I could go through his beatings and still fight for her. But I will with every fibre of my being because, she is a pure little angel who can do no harm and I won't let anyone taint her. Not even me. His arm raises in the air before it comes crashing down bringing the knife between my shoulder and collar bone. It slices deeply into the skin, creating a valley of blood. He looks surprised by his own actions but that did nothing to numb the dull pain. But it is this dull pain that sparks a rage inside of me.

The fury that had been building within in me bursts into my veins before I had a chance to stop it. I used basic simple moves to take out all of Mason's followers, I almost broke one guys arm by bending it back and twisting so hard he began to cry. I then sent him tumbling forward on the dirt.

But I left Mason till last.

He still had his knife in his hand with it slightly outstretched ready to use at any moment. I took a step forward and he lunged. I grabbed his arm and disabled it quickly so he no longer held the knife then, I kneed him in the stomach which sent his barrelling over. He tried to give me a punch but missed and I just threw him to the floor. My foot on his chest holding him down, his ribs expanding rapidly as he tried to catch his breath.

"Dearie me Mason, you were stupid enough to think that you and your band of merry men were enough for me. I played with the hotshots back in my military days and you have nothing on them. Just do me a favour and leave Elena alone before you really hurt her," I tell him and he looks up at me.

"You know she doesn't have feelings for you right?" he rasps hoarsely and I smile in return.

"I don't care if she has feelings for me. It's not about that. I just don't like it when controlling, possessive assholes hurt compassionate, defenceless people. Goodnight boys enjoy your party," I say airily before kicking him in the jaw and he cries out in pain. I turn my back on them all as they roll around on the ground either unconscious or clutching whatever body part has been hurt. I didn't do any damage and if Jeremy got that footage and the wire still works they would have nothing on me because it would be self-defence.

I walk over to the car already healing well from the injuries however, I still need a good bit of blood and help speed up the process. As I approach the car Jeremy opens the door and comes flying out. He runs up to me and gives me the manliest hug a kid can give. He pulls back and looks at me with admiration and respect.

"Thank you for doing that and for defending my sister," he says with a smile on his face.

"Anytime, did you get it all?" I ask and he nods his smile expanding to reveal his teeth.

"I have every word that was said and every move that was made. I can't believe that prick!"

"Yeah I know but that's not what matters. All that matters is that we keep Elena away from him," I say

"Agreed. Did he bust you up bad? I could take you to my Dad," he offers and I cringe knowing I will heal in a few hours and it will only be slow because I haven't had much blood. But it would stay open long enough for Mr Gilbert to see and patch it all up.

"Ur yeah just my shoulder though where he stabbed me, but um no hospitals," I say hesitantly

"Sure thing he's home by now anyway, Fridays are his shortest days he back by nine," he informs me whilst getting into the car and I follow suit, driving slowly to the Gilbert household.

No Delena I know but I wanted to encourage the Damon/Jeremy relationship. Please Review. :)