Loving a Heartless

by ButcheredAngel

It's been one year since Elena transitioned and no one has seen or heard from Damon until Elijah returns to Mystic Falls claiming to have seen the older Salvatore. After convincing Damon to come back, something is different about him, and Elena, Stefan and the rest of their friends want to know why. But what is he hiding? And who is Eric Northman? (Eric/Damon slash).

10. Far From Paradise

Author's Note- OVER 100 REVIEWS! I can't believe it! Thanks coffeee for being my 100th reviewer, I'm glad my story makes you smile! It is all I aim for as an author! I also have to thank those who followed and favourited and those phantom readers out there! Thanks for the support.

Parts of this chapter takes place in Nova Scotia, which is awesome as I'm from Nova Scotia, I remember freaking out seeing that on the screen. Which is lame, but Nova Scotia isn't exactly a big province or talked about much.

I should mention this chapter follows the next few episodes of Vampire Diaries- just the basic plotline. It will be 99% my own dialogue, I borrowed from one scene to just explain some things. They did a better job than I could. So I do not own the dialogue- also it'll be on bold.

Also, this chatper is a tad dark, it mentions child abuse, and drinking blood from children. Just a warning, if that bothers you.

Anyway, thanks again. Enjoy! :)

Chapter 9- Far From Paradise

Everything was blurry as he ran, jumping the last steps and throwing open the door to safety. But he couldn't stop now. Not when he was behind him.

He heard the car horns as lights flashed about him but he wasn't paying attention, his eyes straight ahead. It was then he saw the thicket of trees illuminated by the moonlight and he bolted toward them. Trees flew by. The darkness encroached, shielding him from dangerous eyes.

But he kept going.

His lungs were screaming at him. His feet ached from the exertion. His heart was pounding. If it wasn't the sheer fear of death- he'd be unconscious.

There was a colossal tree ahead, shrewd in darkness and he willed himself further. As his hands touched the rough bark on the opposite side, he doubled over. His breath was ragged as he filled his lungs. His senses were on overdrive but there wasn't even a cricket.

Was he safe?

"You'll never escape me."

His heart flew to his throat as he swiveled, taking in the smaller, blond man behind him. All he could see was his silhouette, and as it moved, he did too. He could feel the fingers brush his clothing, missing him by inches as he escaped. But his foot caught on something hard, throwing him to the ground- feeling something sharp stab him in the side, as pine needles dug into every conceivable crevice of his body.

His attacker stalked slowly toward him, licking his lips as he edged away from him- each inch was pure agony.

He knew it was over. He was dead.

But, a shadow casted behind his hunter and he watched- mesmerized and petrified as blood sprayed the air as the body before him came apart in two. His savior held the head up for a moment, before tossing into the bushes.

Then the eyes of his defender were on him and his breath hitched in the back of his throat. They held power, wisdom, and drew him in. The shadows withdrew themselves from the man as a soft hue of light fell on him, like a natural spotlight.

Black pants. A black dress shirt. But the buttons were undone exposing the milky white skin underneath. Every inch of muscle was visible, inviting hip dents, chiseled chest that only God himself could have sculpted. The splatters of blood should have taken away from the appeal, but on him it just made him seductively dangerous.

His statuesque guardian angel continued to come toward him, with elegant poise and a manner of grace. Everything about him was superior, and imposing and he wondered in a passing thought if this beast was once a ruler. One of a great nation.

Those pale blues hadn't left his as he took a knee, taking him all in. He felt self conscious and he attempted to curl into himself, but a hand reached out for his shoulder and he found himself laying on the forest floor. He instinctively stretched out his legs as his savior towered over him, a strand of blond hair falling in his face.

He could feel the flush of his skin as the other hand took a handful of his tattered shirt, and with one small tug- it tore. And he found himself shirtless.

"You're injured."

He couldn't feel anything over his beating heart as his eyes were trained on those red, smooth lips like that of an apple.

He was paralyzed as they lowered, until they touched his fevered flesh. His fingers curled into the dirt as they ran down his skin, along his chest, and his torso until they paused, over the gaping wound in his side. It was almost obscene watching that tongue licking over those lips, eyes on his until they came in contact with blood.

He moaned out as his blood was engulfed, his body arching into those lips as his eyes fluttered shut. He was excruciatingly hard and sparks flashed about his eyelids as a hand closed around it.

It was then lips met his own, and he tasted copper from his own blood that stained the others. His hand flew up, grabbing the strong arm that held him down, wanting to touch any available skin. Teeth sunk into his lip gently, and it was then he realized the silky shirt he'd felt had disappeared. His eyes burst open to see his savior smirking below him knowing the little trick he'd just played.

The beast's head fell back ever so slightly, and long fangs gave way from his gums. He gasped, his heart hammering away as he watched him press his thumb into his tooth, then rubbing the blood along his lips. His tongue darted out, and lapped up the blood. He saw the effect he had- as his savior gasped and he went further as he licked around it, before putting his lips over it, and sucking.

With a soft pop, it disappeared and he found himself being held down- two hands held his own arms behind his head. And his lips found themselves on him again, along his neck, feeling his fangs nipping on his flesh, not breaking the skin. They went lower, as his hands too followed. He felt himself being manhandled, and like that, he'd lost his jeans.

Those damn eyes were staring up at him, daring him to watch as his boxers were peeled away so painfully slow- feeling himself springfree of that cotton prison. His lips twisted into a sadistic smile, and with one graceful movement, the God took the entirety of his cock in that glorious mouth.

"Fuck...Eric…"

He jerked awake, as the soft rocking ended with a sudden thud. He blinked a few times, taking in the small confines of the boat. The sun shone brightly, making the sand appear white, as he took in the long beach, that led to a forest, and a vast mountain.

He was grateful that there was only three passengers on theirs, except all eyes were on him.

"We're here sleepyhead."

Jeremy attempted to glare, but he instead found himself blushing as Damon just winked, giving him a knowing smile before jumping off the craft and up the beach. He couldn't even make eye contact with Bonnie as he scurried off the boat after Professor Shane.

When he did manage to take a glimpse of Bonnie, she was blushing too.

Did they know? Did he moan out that name in his sleep?

Even just thinking of it, made his erection twitch in the confines of his jeans and he conjured up images of sagging grandmothers to will it down.

What was happening to him? He'd never, ever dreamed of a man before. Nothing that sexual before anyway. Was he gay? Did he like men?

Did he like Eric?

What the fuck was happening? He liked Bonnie. Not some vampire. Some alluring, tall blonde man.

No. He needed to stop thinking about this.

"Couldn't this island have been somewhere fun, like Europe. Where did you take us?" Damon whined from a nearby log, sharpening a machete as he stared down Shane.

The entire trip here him and Professor Shane were at odds. It was clear Damon did not like him. He couldn't blame Damon, there was something off about him. Especially since he may have been the reason for the mass murder of 12 people at the Young farm.

"We're two hundred miles off the Nova Scotia coastline. The whole point was to hide Silas and the cure where no one would find it, so they hid it on the world's most obscure, desolate island." Shane replied, turning toward him, and Bonnie who now stood near him. "Bonnie will need an up close look at your hunter's mark. It might be best to take photos."

He felt his face go hot as Damon snorted. "Kinky."

Usually he wasn't one to shy away from being shirtless, but there was an audience, including his sister and he felt a little objectified as he tugged off his green t-shirt. Immediately Bonnie took out her cellphone, snapping pictures. She glanced up for a moment, giving him a sympathetic smile. "If there was a better way, I would do it. But it saves you from having to keep taking off your shirt for me to study the mark."

He attempted to give her a charming smile, knowing he should feel ecstatic about Bonnie admiring his body- but he kept going back to his dream.

"Doesn't bother me at all."

Bonnie's face flushed and she moved behind him, her hands gently running over his skin. "These symbols must have been left for the hunters, so they can find the cure. And this must be the story of Qetsiyah and Silas. According to Shane, Silas asked Qetsiyah for help making a spell for immortality. She helped make him immortal, only to learn that he planned to use the same spell on another woman, not her. When she found out, she freaked."

"So Qetsiyah killed the other woman?" He enquired, as his eyes went along the tattoo, piercing the tattoo together with Bonnie's story.

"Yeah, Silas was immortal. She couldn't kill him. So she trapped him in a cave, and buried him alive instead."

"Does it say the hunter's purpose in all this?"

Shane popped up beside them, giving him an eerie look as his eyes roamed over his body, and the tattoo making him increasingly uncomfortable so he put back on his shirt. "I was wondering when you'd ask. Qetsiyah created a cure for immortality, and then she buried it with Silas, hoping that he'd take it and die, and end up on the other side with her for all eternity. But he wouldn't give her the satisfaction. So, many centuries later, her descendants created the hunters to find him, cure him and kill him. You know what? I'll explain on the hike. " Shane's attention turned to the vast mountain in front of them, past the beach, and the forest. "Come on. We gotta get going."

Shane took off, as Stefan, Rebekah and his sister were making their way toward them, and they followed after Shane. Bonnie just shrugged at him as she passed him his backpack, then she took her own.

He jumped, startled as Damon came to stand in between them, his eyes trained on Shane. "Stay close Jer Bear. You too Sabrina. I don't trust him. There's more to this than meets the eye."

Usually he'd ignore Damon, or push him aside but he couldn't agree more with the elder Salvatore and he and Bonnie shared a look before they just nodded, and Damon nodded in understanding before they too followed the Professor.

---

Eric finished buttoning up his silver and black tapestry vest, tied the black tie around his neck and he then swung the black, glossy suit jacket over top. He did up the middle button, leaving the rest undone. He picked up the pocket square off the black dresser, of the same pattern as the vest, and folded it neatly into the front pocket. He then slipped into his black dress shoes, feel constricted in the skin tight black glossy pants that went along with the ensemble.

As he dressed he was eavesdropping on the commotion upstairs.

"Good evening Klaus. You look pathetic."

It was a voice he didn't recognize, but he clearly knew the Original.

"Tyler stop. You shouldn't be doing this. Let's just go home."

That one he knew. That was Barbie doll Caroline, who'd stayed with him in the Salvatore boarding house all day. They hadn't spent any time together, but he'd heard her walking about- not speaking a word to Niklaus, no matter how much he attempted to antagonize her.

"You should listen to your girlfriend mate. When this spell ends, I'll look different. Angier. Maybe I won't look like anything because I've gouged your eyes out. "

"All you will look like is human. Because my friends will be back with the cure. And one of us will shove it down your throat."

He shook his head as he made his way out of his room, and toward the basement stairs.

"I'd like to see you try Tyler. None of you are strong enough."

"Then we'll get Damon's friend Eric to. I heard he ripped your head off. That must have hurt your ego."

"He got lucky."

His smile widened as he burst through the door, strolling toward the living room. The room had gone silent as everyone turned their attention to him. "Did I Niklaus? Because I remember that night much differently."

"You're Eric?"

His eyes flickered from Niklaus, to the boy, barely a man standing next to Caroline. His scent is familiar, was he a hybrid too?

"Yes, Eric Northman." He answered, extending a hand to the dark haired kid as he came to stop in front of the couple. "You must be Tyler."

The hybrid kid nodded, grasping his hand in his own. "Love your work. I hear you actually took off Klaus' head. I am sorry I missed that."

"He was lucky."

"Well if Niklaus doesn't stop his incessant nattering, you might get to see me do it again." He promised, giving the Original a deadly smile, and a wink.

He watched as Klaus flinched, ever so slightly.

"So what are you doing here? Shouldn't you two kids be going on a date?" He asked, not caring in the least but he was a little curious.

"We were just about to leave actually." The blond girl insisted, attempting to drag the boy away, but he stayed put.

"Actually I'm here to gloat." The kid exclaimed, flopping down on to one of the couches facing toward the Original. "He killed my mother, and I'm going to sit here, and watch him suffer in his misery until our friends come home, and we'll shove the cure down his throat, and I'll get to snap his neck myself."

He shook his head, so young. So weak. "Is that wise?"

"What?"

"Antagonizing Niklaus without the cure in hand? We do not know if this cure actually exists, it is still very much a wives tale." He said, shaking his head at the boy. "Also, you are, what, a newly made vampire? I wouldn't say much older than a year, maybe two. What makes you sure you can take on Niklaus, and live?" He chuckled lowly. "Or what makes you think that spell will keep him? And if he breaks lose, what power do you have from stopping him from killing your pretty girlfriend? Your friends? Maybe another family member?"

He almost laughed as the hybrid child attempted to attack him, but he stepped out of the way, watching him fly into the wall. The girl stared at him, and back at Tyler, clearly unsure of what to do.

"He's right Tyler." The girl said softly.

"What? You're taking his side?" The kid exclaimed.

Well at least one of them was level headed.

"He killed your mother Tyler. And twelve of your hybrid friends. He's ruthless, and until we have the cure, maybe you should try to stay away from Klaus." The girl said, going over to the hybrid, offering to help him up but he ignored her- getting up on his own.

This was getting dull now, and he needed to leave to meet the King of West Virginia. He didn't think the King would appreciate him being late.

He stepped around the couple making his way toward the front door. "As much fun as this has been I'll be leaving now." He paused, his hand at the door knob, staring back at Caroline. "Do watch your boyfriend. And Niklaus.

---

Damon wasn't paying much attention as Shane was nattering on about his dead wife, and blood and the cave. Clearly the nutty Professor was missing a few marbles. For most it would be a touching story, and he knew his bleeding heart brother, and the rest of the scooby gang were just teary eyed but he wasn't buying it. This guy was the definition of creepy, and he didn't like the way he had his control over Sabrina and this entire expedition.

Who the fuck let this guy crawl into their little group?

"Hey Damon, I'm out of water. Can I have some of yours?"

The Gilbert boy was already reaching for his water bottle that was strapped on the side of his bag, but he slapped it away. "That one has bourbon." He stopped, unzipping his bag and passing him another bottle. "This one has water."

"You've been drinking all day?" The kid exclaimed.

"It's not like I need to hydrate to survive." He shrugged.

"So you believe Shane. A magic well? Seeing the dead?"

"I think the nutty Professor snacked on the poisonous wildlife."

"It's a nice thought though. Seeing dead loved ones." Jeremy said wistfully.

"Can't you already see dead people?" He snorted. "But I see you point. Though there's always a deadly price for seeing the dead."

"Yeah that's true."

He was lucky he saw the arrow in the corner of his eye, as he grabbed his hunter that could, pushing him to safety. He saw a set of eyes, and a darkened figure in the bushes, and before he could kill him himself, the mysterious killer fell face first. Dead. An axe in his back.

"What the hell was that?" He asked, not really to anyone in particular as he went over to observe the corpse, not seeing anyone in the thicket of trees.

"I don't know, but someone just saved our life." Jeremy exclaimed, coming closer to him.

He snorted, his eyes still trailing over the area. "Yeah hatchet man. Really makes me feel welcome to Silas Island."

---

"You Eric Northman? King Erasmus has been expecting you. You may pass."

He nodded to the large bouncer, and the red velvet rope was opened, and he strode through, and down the long stone corridor. As he made his way through the tall archway leading into the main room, he paused.

He'd only heard stories of Erasmus Crane, and his Kingdom but it was more grotesque than he'd expected. The entire palace was a gothic cathedral converted into a nightclub, though that was being generous. More like a brothel.

The decoration was tasteful, as there was a grandiose chandelier above him that provided most of the light to the room, hanging two stories above him. An expansive bar ran along the left hand side of the room, behind the vast columns- and in between those were tables, some occupied, others not. On the other side of the room, behind a half-wall of glass, was a white couch that wrapped around that entire three sides, round silver tables and chairs, with colossal columns that were made of black marble. On top of them was the white stone that arched, with smaller chandeliers hanging between each arch.

But the main attraction was clearly the center of the room, as the black marble tile walkway that separated both sections, led right to the altar.

And on top of that extravagant carved wooden altar, was currently a blonde women clinging to the edge, her hands chained together as she was fucked with vigour. She was covered in blood, her throat extensively bitten, as well as multiple other parts of her pale body. Behind her was none other than Erasmus Crane who was currently busy, and there were several women fawning over him, as they sat below the altar, and the few steps that led up to it, staring up, watching the display.

His eyes roamed the other patrons, as they were all in stages of sexual pleasure, open feeding, some dead bodies lay on the ground.

He shook his head in dismay, walking past the iron staircase, glancing up at the next floor which were a large balcony with small rooms, red curtains and a black pillar separating each one, with their own light source, and a couch, or a pair of chairs but they all opened and faced the altar- even the railings were just a simple iron pattern, completely see-through. In them, there were couples of all sorts, one male was handcuffed to the railing and was being brutally fucked by another man.

His attention drew back to the King, and above him, past the lengthy black curtains behind him, the balcony that hangs over the stage, which holds a metal table and chairs, though vacant, to the beautiful circular stained glass window, that was illuminated by the moonlight.

"Eric Northman!"

His focus is drawn back to the boy King as he waves him over, still inside the girl who, as he takes closer inspection, is currently now unconscious. As he comes toward them, she's thrown off, and his security comes around to collect her. His so called fan girls flock up, but he waves them down, and they stay put.

Erasmus Crane was for all intensive purposes everything he despised about their species. He was an old victorian vampire, from an aristocratic family as a human. His maker was a notirious pedephile who'd been banished from England centuries ago for his behavior but he'd hidden his perversion long enough to become King of West Virginia. It didn't stop him though from courting Erasmus, and turning him on his eighteenth birthday. However it was when he'd turned a small child a few decades ago, he was sentenced to death by the Vampire Authority, and his royal consort, Erasmus was made King.

Erasmus himself may on paper be eighteen, but he didn't look a day over sixteen. With his boyish looks, pouty lips and undeveloped face. He was appealing all the same, with his slicked back dirty blond hair, hairless and muscular body. It was just enough to show off his abdominal muscles, but not make him look large- still appearing scrawny.

The King slipped into a pair of black pants, loose on the top but tightened on the calf as he finally came to stop at the bottom of the stairs, the girls making space for him.

"Eric Northman, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. Queen Sophie Ann speaks highly of you, so does the Magistrate." Erasmus gestured for him to come up the steps, and he obeyed noticing the chains that hang above them, with cuffs on the ends and all. "I do hope your journey was successful to my Kingdom."

Erasmus extends his hand to him, and he accepted it- bothered a bit at how the boy King ogled him. As he let go, Erasmus gestured to the throne like chairs behind the altar and he took the closest seat, the King taking the other chair.

"Can I offer you something to drink?" Erasmus was already gesturing to his security who nod, disappearing into the shadows. "What's your preference? Boy? Girl? Foreign? Virgin? Children? I won't tell if you don't."

He's not necessarily a kind person, in fact most would consider him a psychopath but his one taboo was feeding from children. He only fed from them when they were dying- sparing them a slow, and painful death. But their blood was addictive, so pure. Many vampires fell to it, and died for it.

"I prefer foreign blood." He remarked, as he watched several humans being hauled onto the stage, forced to crawl on to the altar- to display themselves for purchase.

His eyes skimmed over the lot, it was a diverse group of humans, ten in all- all of whom were poorly dressed, with little to no clothing, and clear signs of torture, and bite marks. Obviously Erasmus liked to play with his food.

The boy King was pacing the altar, pointing at the first human. A black muscular man, well over six feet, close to his own height. "This is Adebisi, I acquired him on my trip to Africa. He's from Nigeria. African blood, found right can be quite pure." He moved on to two women, both who appeared to be maybe eighteen, with their young white faces, and long brown hair, and dark eyes. Identical twins. "These are Charlotte and Scarlet, from Alabama. Southern virgin blood, Or they were. I had my fun with them, but they still taste spectacular, I promise." They smiled and waved at him shyly and he nodded in return, watching as Erasmus moved to the next girl, in her twenties he'd estimate, with bright red hair, sharp blue eyes and a curvaceous body. She too smiled shyly at him.

"This is JJ, cute little Irish girl. She was a gift from a friend. There's something about redheads, they even taste fiery." He watched as the King stroked her cheek once, before moving onto another male- this one older, perhaps in his late twenties. He looked German, with his blonde hair, and blue eyes. "This is Alden, from Germany. A tourist to this fine church, and now he's mine." He walked past the next three girls, all caucasian, young, with varying colours of dirty blond, and brown hair, with average figures. "These are Nicole, Brittney and Rebecca. Nothing special, their blood is average. They are more fun playthings than anything- gifts from my sheriffs. Sad they don't ever get me anything exquisite."

He then moved again, stopping at the end of the altar, where a girl, perhaps sixteen or seventeen sits, a small boy clutched in her arms. There was a familial resemblance, with their light brown hair, and bright hazel eyes. The girl was stunning, with her pouty lips, and curvaceous body. The boy looks to be seven or eight, and he's just adorable. He's the only one who has an outfit- consisting of a t-shirt and shorts. A sharp pang of sorrow fills him, as he knows exactly what life is like for this boy under constant glamour by his tormentors. The boy was staring at him from the crook of his sister's arm, studying him. He smiled, giving a small wave, and the boy beamed, waving in return. "This is Kaarina and Kael, sister and brother. Both virgins. Another gift, from the Magistrate in fact on his trip from Russia. They're from a remote village in Russia. They are by far the finest in my collection."

Erasmus reached for the boy, and took him from his sister's arms, putting him on the ground. The girl looks devastated, but she remained still. The boy ran to him, climbing into his lap. His bloodlust was on overdrive as he kid snuggled into him, staring up at him with those innocent eyes, his little hands clinging to his arm. "Hi, I'm Kael Volkov. What's your name?"

"I'm Eric Northman" He replied, running his hand through the child's brown hair.

"Are you going to feed from me?" The little boy extended his arm to him, seeing the blade marks running along them. At least they had the decency not to bite the child. "I'm the King's favourite. He only lets us out when there's special guests. Are you special?"

"Kael stop asking questions. Eric does not want to talk to you." Erasmus snarled.

Immediately the child's face fell, and he produced a knife from his shorts pocket, offering it up to him.

"Please, sir. Feed from me instead. My brother has already been-"

He cringed, tightening his grip on the child as Kael clung to him as his sister is brutally slapped in the face by Erasmus, and he watched as she fell to the floor, clutching her cheek.

"Eric will have whatever he wants. None of you have any say." Erasmus began to pace about the altar, making each human on it shudder, all staring downward, not able to face their King then looked toward him, his anger disappearing immediately- instead a cheshire grin spread in his face. "I do apologize for my blood bags, sometimes they forget where they are."

"It's alright." Though in his mind, none of this was. His attention went back to the child in his arms, and he took the knife from him, slipping it back into Kael's pocket. "I appreciate the offer Kael, but it appears you've already been fed upon recently, and you should rest. Get your strength back."

"I don't mind, I like you." The child smiled up at him, even through this hell he still had his innocence.

"Eric, don't worry about Kael here. He has plenty of blood." Erasmus commented, patting Kael on the shoulder, before walking toward the girl, pulling her over by her hair. "Or if you prefer, have his sister, it is almost equal in taste. I insist, as my guest. That you have some. "

The boy King then threw the girl to his knees, and she immediately composed herself, resting on her knees, and displayed her long neck to him. Surprisingly it wasn't littered with bite marks like the others on the altar. But he could see others on her thighs and stomach.

"I don't mind. Please." The girl pleaded, running her hands over his legs.

The King, his security, and a few of the guests above them were all staring at him, and he knew he had to feed from her. It was customary. If he refused the King's offer, he'd pay dearly. It was against the law to go against the Authority, even the monarchs. But he wasn't sure if he wanted to feed from the girl in front of her own little brother. But it was better than feeding from the child.

He reached for one of her arms, and pulled gently closer to her, and he sunk his teeth in her neck. He outwardly moaned as it pooled inside of his mouth, and swallowed it down. Her blood was just how it smelled, exquisite. It reminded him of centuries of ago, the blood from the peasants. The purity. He could almost taste the Russian homeland.

It took a lot of will to release his fangs from her, wanting to drain her dry. He hadn't tasted blood that refined in a few years. It was full-flavoured, no wonder it was Erasmus' favourite. A sick part of him was curious to how the child would taste, but he'd never take blood from him. He was too innocent. Too young.

"Good. Right?" Erasmus beamed, pulling the girl to him, and he dragged her back to his seat, his fangs sinking exactly where his had been.

He shielded the child's eyes from watching his sister be fed upon, reaching into his pocket and produced his business card, giving it to Kael. "Here, something for you to play with."

He knew the child may not understand, but it had his phone number, and if his sister could find a phone, and escape- he'd help her and her brother leave this place.

"Take you brother, and sit with the others. We might want you later."

He picked up Kael, and handed him over to his sister, who gave him an appreciative smile, before going back to their place on the altar. He turned his attention back to the King. "Thank you, for everything your majesty."

"Call me Erasmus, please." The blond insisted, admiring him. "So where is your little whore the Magistrate has told me so much about? He does live in Mystic Falls, Damon is his name right?"

"Yes." He gritted through his teeth, it took him everything not to defend Damon's honour. "He's away with his brother. They needed to get something."

"Ah, a pity. I've heard he's a beauty. Do you share?"

"No, Damon is mine" He growled then, he never shared Damon. He was his.

The King chuckled, leaning back in his chair, wagging his finger at him. "We both know you can't claim one of them. An abomination, a mutation of our species. They're vile, disgusting- a stain on vampire existence. Of course, fucking them is okay. But anything else is frowned upon, we both know that."

"I don't care about the rules. I've never liked the Authority. Neither do you clearly, feeding from children is all but forbidden now, with their plan on mainstreaming with humans soon."

The king snorted, chuckling darkly. "Mainstreaming, what a vile idea. We should be making humans our pets, not trying to be seen as equal to them. They are nothing, but a food source, and who lets their food have any say?"

He nodded at the King, not sharing his enthusiasm. He was against mainstreaming, he did consider humans inferior creatures to them, but having them as pets? That seemed unnecessary cruel, and where would the fun be if you couldn't hunt them? Besides letting humans know they existed, just spelled trouble. There were already hunters, did they need more problems?

"So." deciding to change the subject. He'd come here for a reason. "In your note, you wanted to more about the other species."

There was that maniacal laugh again, as the Erasmus shook his head. "That was just an excuse to see you." The king turned, facing him again. And staring at him, with that dreadful lust in his eyes. "Sophie-Ann has told me so much about you. Same with the magistrate and I was curious. There aren't many vampires your age left. The King of Mississippi is, but he's crude, and his royal consort is a whiny bitch. But you." Erasmus smiled. "You're different. The last king, my maker, was a viking too" For the first time that night, he'd seen genuine emotion, as the King's face fell. "He met the true death, by the authority."

The blood was coming back up as he put the pieces together. Did Erasmus want him? He couldn't deny the similarities he, and Erasmus' maker barred, from the long blond hair to the blue eyes, to their height. Erasmus' maker, Bard, had been in a different clan than his, but he'd met the man as a human. Only once. Though he'd already been turned.

He needed to shut down whatever unpleasant thoughts Erasmus was having.

"So Eric, why Damon? Why not take a real vampire as a lover?" The boy king asked.

"I wanted Damon, I don't know how else to say it. I take what I want." He shrugged, feeling dread creep up his spine, guessing where this conversation was heading.

Erasmus dramatically sighed, giving him a pitying glance. "Don't you find him vile though? You deserve better."

"Do I?" His eyes raked over the king's body. "Are you offering yourself to me Erasmus."

"What if I was?"

He leaned back into his chair. "I'd say no."

"Because of your little whore?" The boy king snorted.

"Yes."

He flinched, wishing he'd been paying more attention as he found himself with a lap full of Erasmus, as he straddled each of his thighs. "So quick to reject me. You and Bard are so much alike. When I was human, Bard didn't want me at first either. But I changed his mind, I can change yours." He felt cool lips on his own frigid flesh, as Erasmus began to kiss along his neck, and he pushed the King off, ever so gently. He didn't need to find himself meeting the true death by the Magistrate because he'd upset the King.

"My liege, as tempting as this offer is, I will decline. You are not my type, as they say." He said, trying to be polite, but a part of him itched to throw the King off, and stake him right where he lay. "It's not like you are lacking in women."

"I do not want women!" Erasmus exclaimed, jumping from his lap, and stomped his foot. "I want you." He watched as the boy king fell to his knees, crawling to him again. "I can be whatever you want me to be. Punish me. Whip me. Spank me. Fuck me. Make me yours." Hands were sliding down his clothed thighs, as Erasmus smirked below him. "How often do you find a King, begging on his knees."

He can't attack the king. He can't attack the king. He can't attack the king.

He leaned forward, his lips to Erasmus' ear. "I am not Bard." He straightened up as he saw the sadness flash in his eyes. "I cannot begin to imagine the heartbreak of losing a maker, but I am a poor replacement. Find someone else Erasmus, I am happy with Damon. You should find someone to make you happy as well."

He stood then, the King's hands falling from his thighs and he made his way toward the altar. He wanted to get out of this dreadful palace.

"Alright I'll play."

His eyebrows rose as he turned back to the boy king, who just gave him a sultry smile. "Goodbye Eric, I will see you soon."

That was ominous he thought, be he wished to be back at the Salvatore boarding house, having a long bath and going to bed. Him and Damon would be leaving the state soon anyway, and this whole, awful experience would be behind him.

---

He could smell it.

He had to stop, his hand grasping the doorknob as the smell washed over him, invading his senses. The decay. The putrid smell of rotting flesh. But that distinct scent- it sent shivers through his spine and he burst through the front door, images of Damon, pale, cold and distant on that bed ever so present in his mind as he stalked toward to living room.

He first saw the hybrid kid on the couch, his back to him, and then Niklaus who has a deadly smile curled around his lips, though as their eyes meet- it wavered.

And then he saw her. Caroline. She was staring at him now, over the shoulder of her boyfriend, her fingers clutching her bleeding neck and he realized, somehow Niklaus had bitten her.

"You have to help her!"

He can't help as his eyes narrowed, staring at the insolent hybrid kid below him. Did he now?

Barbie doll rushed to her boyfriend, giving him a sympathetic look before clinging to the hybrid, and he stepped around them. "Tyler, please. Just take me home. I can't look at him."

"Car, I'm not going to let you die. Damon's friend can fix this. He saved Damon."

"We can't ask him to risk his life for me. We don't even know him."

He tensed, as the recent emptiness between him and the basement door was filled with the brazen brat who was all but furious, giving him an unworthy glare. "You will help Caroline."

"Will I now?"

He can't help the smile that spread on his face, and he headed back toward the living room, the werepup following behind him.

"You helped Damon, you can help Caroline. Just get Klaus' blood."

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the Original hybrid take a step back, but he ignored everyone, taking a seat on the couch, crossing his legs.

He cocked his head at the hybrid kid. "Why don't you get Niklaus' blood? I mean, when I left you were so cocky, so confident that you could end Niklaus yourself. So do it. You don't need me." He gestured toward the man himself, and Tyler looked just livid- he considered masking his smirk but he couldn't help himself. He'd warned the pup.

Caroline attempted to reach for Tyler, but he pushed her off- harsher than he'd expected. Her too, as her eyes narrowed behind the kid's back. "You're just as bad as him. Fine I'm weak. I can't take on Klaus. Is that what you want to hear?"

"Yes, it is," He paused, wiping off a speck of lint on his pants before returning his gaze to the kid. "See you remind me of the newborns. You think you can take on the world with this strength that has been blessed on you- but you never learn to respect your elders. It's why so many of you perish in the first few years."

"Tyler let's just go."

He honestly takes pity on the girl, but the kid is relentless as he continues to ignore her, coming closer toward him. "Fine, I'm weak. And stupid. But this is about her. She doesn't deserve to die!"

He's quickly getting bored of this predicament, and his eyes flickered to the girl. "And why should I help her?"

"Are you kidding me?" The kid snarled at him. "Are you fucking kidding me! She's dying, and you're asking why you should help her!"

"Tyler-"

"No Car, this is disgusting. He's almost worse than Klaus!"

The Original snorts behind all of them. "What can you expect? He's a vampire, their species doesn't experience human emotions. They don't care about life, they take it."

For once, he honestly agreed with the hybrid.

The kid's face flickered between a variety of emotions, but it settled on confusion. "But you saved Damon."

He shrugged. "He's family. I would do anything for my own."

He watched, noticing Niklaus watching too, as Tyler just paced in front of them, Caroline all but abandoned him as she took a seat on the couch, curling into end, her head resting on the arm- her eyes distant. The kid stopped, clearly becoming dejected. "Please, you are the only person who can save her."

"Perhaps I am. But what's in it for me?" This was just becoming fun as he watched Tyler seethe, and the kids took a lunge, but he was prepared, and he was off the couch- his hand constricting around the broad neck- watching the colour drain from his face.

He glanced back to see if Caroline would be a problem, but she doesn't even seem to notice.

He raised the kid higher, his legs kicking and struggling but he didn't let up- he wasn't having a good night. "Now that wasn't smart, was it?"

The kid's eyes look twice their size, as he clawed at his neck, seeing those eyes turn a few shades yellow. Was he going to turn? "Let...me...go."

He looked to the ceiling, dramatizing his contemplation before his eyes found Tyler's again. "You want me to help your girlfriend. You'll leave."

"No."

"Just do what he says Tyler. Please."

Both of them turned their heads as Caroline stood in the distance, her fingers still over her neck. He let the pup go, and made his way back toward the couch- wishing for anything to be bored somewhere else.

"You can't trust him Car! He's evil!"

He just shook his head as he took out his cellphone, how was he evil now? Wasn't he their only hope. His mood only soured more as Damon hadn't texted, or called. Where was this cure?

Hopefully he was okay.

"Look he's our only chance against Klaus. And you are angering him, like you angered Klaus. And somehow I'm in the middle. I'm tired of this."

"Car-"

"No Tyler, Somehow I don't matter. You chose your hybrids over me. You chose Hayley over me. You choose your obsession with Klaus over me. Why couldn't you just have run away with me?"

And why did she put up with the mutt? She could do better he thought.

"He killed my mom. My friends."

"I know Tyler, but that's what Klaus does. Why can't you just accept Klaus will always be stronger than you. Just let him win. You have me, that should be enough. We could have been happy, running away. Building a life together."

He glanced up from his phone to Klaus, who looked just as smug as ever. But when he hears the possibility of them running away like star crossed lovers, there's a clear hatred, and sadness. So Damon was speaking the truth of Klaus' love for the girl. Why did he bite her then? And not the pup? Clearly he didn't mind killing his progenies.

"It is but-"

"No Tyler, I can't listen to this. Just go. Okay."

He snags a glimpse of the couple, Caroline has all but turned away from Tyler, pushing away his hands from her. "But-"

"Please."

That's all it takes it seemed as the pup tucks his tail between his legs, and walked out of the Boarding house. The girl turned back to him, and she walked over to the couch, taking a seat across from him.

"Look I'm sorry about Tyler. Life hasn't been good to him lately, and he's just lashing out."

"Never apologize for someone like him. Come." He stood up, gesturing toward the stairs. "Let us speak upstairs, away from Niklaus. I'd like to hear your side of the story."

"Don't trust him Caroline."

"Why? What's he going to do that you haven't? Kill me?" The girl snorted as she twisted herself toward Niklaus, hand on her hip. "I am tired of people telling me what to do. You're just scared he'll actually take your blood again. Because poor immortal Klaus has finally met his match." She stormed off then, toward the stairs and he gave Niklaus his most predatory smile as he trailed behind.

The girl was on a mission as she navigated her way upstairs, clearly being here plenty of times. As she made her way toward Stefan's side of the house, a side he's never explored, did he reach for her, and pulled her gently towards Damon's bedroom. As they reached it, he let go, striding into the room, across from the bed to the fireplace that had a speakers on top of it. He took Damon's iPod, scrolling through his music before selecting the playlist- Music From Fangtasia.

"Eugh what is this? Can't we listen to some Taylor Swift or something?"

He eyebrows furrow in confusion, not even sure who that is- though he assumed it was some teenage pop musician. Girls like barbie doll were predictable in their music selection.

"It's just background noise, to stop curious ears from listening." He said as he slipped off his shoes, hanging his suit jacket from Damon's bedpost before throwing himself onto Damon's king size bed, making himself comfortable. He was looking forward to the night he'd get to defile Damon on this bed.

He eyed Caroline, who was still standing at the doorway, looking almost lost. "Come in Caroline, I don't bite. Or at least, I won't bite you."

She took a step into the room, clearly looking for something and he realized Damon didn't have any seating except his bed. He rolled his eyes, patting the comforter, signalling for her to take a seat. She came toward him slowly, and finally took a seat at the edge of the bed, her back against the bedframe.

"So, do tell. I'm curious, how is it you are the one bitten? And not that mangy mutt you call a boyfriend?"

The girl sighed, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "I got too close to Klaus and he was able to spear me with a lamp and bite me. He's trying to get us to call Bonnie to remove the spell. He was just insulting Tyler, and rubbing it in his face about killing his mother. His mother! But Tyler is just as relentless, and had to remind Klaus his brother is dead. I'm sick and tired of their little feud. Men and their egos, I swear."

He chuckled, he liked this girl. She was tenacious. He liked that in a woman. "So why do you put up with it?"

She looked at him, throwing her hands up in clear exasperation, and flopped onto the bed, wincing. It's then he noticed her skin was becoming more pale. "Honestly, I don't know anymore. I was considering breaking up with Tyler, when he was sneaking around with Hayley. With those hybrids. But I didn't want Klaus to somehow think he'd won. And then the bastard killed Tyler's mom and how can you break up with someone after their mother is murdered?" She bit her lip as her eyes found their way to his again. "Sometimes I think Tyler is the safe choice. I have.-" There was a pause, as the girl brushed her fingers over the ghastly bite on her neck. "I have feelings for Klaus." Her gaze drifted down to the dark comforter. "And I know that makes me the worst person."

He just shook his head, ever still so young. Not that he approved of Niklaus as a suitor, for anyone. Except maybe Stefan, those two in his mind almost deserved each other. He moved down the bed, cupping her face gently. "I know we have just met Caroline, but never feel guilty about your feelings. He's a vampire- a thousand year old vampire, I cannot begin to fathom to you how many humans, werewolves, vampires he's killed. For our kind, murder is a past time. You are still so young to understand. Murder does not make the vampire. It's the heart. Do you believe Niklaus loves you?"

She just nodded at him, noticing her gaze wavering from coherent, to incoherent. "He's kind to me. In a way he's not with others. There's a soul in there, but every time he lets me in, he does something like killing my boyfriend's mother and I lose faith in him."

He's tempted to snort, and roll his eyes at the obviousness of it all, but the girl is dying after all- she deserves some respect. But it's such a classic move. Bad boy is only good to the innocent wide-eyed girl he wants. Girls want to fix them, boys want to corrupt them. He wondered if this was a ploy, or if Niklaus really did have a heart under those fangs.

"Here's some advice I can give you, one I gave to Damon years ago. You either have to accept, and love every part of the man, or let him go. Niklaus will always be a killer. He'll always be selfish. That is ultimately who he is. So either accept his flaws, his evil, or embrace it. Be corrupted into it. It doesn't mean you have to be like him. But you might need to embrace the darkness that lingers inside you. The vampire part of you, that wants you to drink blood, kill and fuck. "

"But why can't he change?"

"He will, if he loves you. He'll bring out your darkness, and you will bring out his light. That is what a relationship is. Bringing out the best in each other, and ourselves." He said.

"How is being like Klaus, the best part of me?" Caroline asked him, her eyes wide.

"It'll teach to be strong. To be independent. To never rely on anyone else. To do whatever it takes to get what you want in this world. It's how you survive."

"You sound just like him." Caroline laughed lightly. "I can see why you and Damon get along so well"

She attempted to smile at him, but she fell into a coughing fit, seeing the pain flash over her face. He supposed he should do something about that. "Look I'm tired, and you're sort of becoming distorted. I just want to sleep."

He hummed. "Well then we'll just have to something about that, won't we?"

"Then you'll help me?' She asked him, her face brightening.

"I don't need to. You just need to help yourself."

Caroline furrowed her eyebrows at him. "I'm confused. Have I started hallucinating, or are you talking in riddles?"

"Do you think you can trust me?" He asked, rolling off the bed.

She shrugged. "I shouldn't but seeing what you did for Damon, and how protective you are of him, makes me think I can."

"Alright then." He said, and he scooped her up in his arms.

"Woah, where do you think you're taking me?"

"To Klaus." He began making his way out of the bedroom, and toward the stairs. "You say he loves you, then let him prove it to you. If he cares for you, he'll save you. No matter how cruel, how horrible you think him to be- the good in him will have to save you."

"I won't save her." Klaus called out as they'd found themselves back in the living room.

He bared his fangs, making Niklaus flinch, and he put the girl down in the spell bounded area."We'll see."

"Are you sure about this? He bit me." Caroline asked, her big eyes starring up at him.

"And he could have easily staked you." He replied, shrugging. "This is your chance to know the truth Caroline, because in my experience, no one can honestly love someone and let them die in front of them because of a little inconvenience."

"She'll die, and it will be on you Eric Northman." Niklaus called out as he went toward the basement.

He snorted, turning back to the hybrid. "We'll see Niklaus. And we all know it'll be on your conscience, she means nothing to me."

---

"We should have brought a guitar, get a sing song going. Invite the axe murderer."

Elena glanced across from the fire in front of her, seeing the silhouette of Damon as he took a swig from his water bottle, though from the scent, and the fact that Damon was clearly not sober anymore made her guess it was bourbon.

She felt left out as Rebekah and Stefan shared the log next to her, and Damon, Jeremy and Bonnie were sharing their own, though Damon was leaning his head against the bark, his feet outstretched toward the fire. Professor Shane had retired to one of the cabins for the evening, and they decided to stay up awhile longer.

Damon was still ignoring her. In fact he'd said maybe three words to her since their journey to Canada. Not that she tried much either, his friend's words were still a sharp pain in her heart. How could he attack her like that? Shouldn't it be Pam, Damon's girlfriend the one to criticize her. And how dare he say Damon never loved her? What did he know? She knew how Damon felt, she had the compelled memories to prove it. Who was Pam to Damon anyway? Or Eric? They knew each other, for what? A year. These people, the ones around this fire were his true friends. His family. The ones who truly loved him.

"So Damon, how do you know Eric?"

She perked up at her brother's question, seeing everyone else also stare in Damon's direction.

"Why does it matter?" Damon huffed.

"I have to say, I'm curious too. He's one of the original species of vampires, old too. They hate us, they think we're vile. Disgusting. A disgrace to their species." Rebekah said, rolling the tombstone between her thighs as she too was staring at Damon.

"It's a long story."

"Well brother, we're in front of a campfire. I think this may be the best place to tell a story." Stefan added. "Can't be that long, it's only been a year."

A mischievous smile crawled onto Damon's face. "Who said we've only known each other for a year?"

"I know all of your friends Damon, or lack of." Stefan insisted.

"Well then brother, and all, gather around as I tell you the great tale of Eric Northman and Damon Salvatore." Damon joked, though his expression went serious as he stared downward at his water bottle for a moment, before his eyes met hers. "Eric and I met in the 20's. At a bar, you might remember it Stefan, it's now called Gloria's"

"No." Stefan said slowly, confused.

"Yeah, I would have remembered someone as tall and handsome as your friend. And you for that matter." Rebekah insisted.

"Well Barbie Klaus, you were a little preoccupied with my brother to notice much of anything." Damon snorted, taking a drink before he continued. "Eric made a proposition with me. He knew I was worried about Stefan, and how your Original friends were corrupting you, bringing out the Ripper side of you. So he offered to contact a hunter, which I learned when Michael came, was daddy dearest, to come and kill them, in exchange for my knowledge of daylight rings."

"Wait-" Rebekah interrupted. "You're the reason Mikeal came. The reason we had to flee. The reason my brother daggered me in the 20's."

She watched as Stefan put a hand out, holding Rebekah back from Damon, who just shrugged at her. "I did what I thought I had to for my brother."

"But why you? Stefan had a daylight ring? Why not a witch?" Jeremy asked.

"You'd have to ask Eric, Jer Bear."

"You never asked?"

"I made a deal with him, that was it. And I told Eric everything I knew." Damon said simply.

There was something else, Damon was hiding something she thought, watching the man as there was something in his expression. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, sadness? Warmth? Sentiment?

"But how are you still together?" Jeremy asked, then a small gasp escaped her little brother as he seemed embarrassed. "As friends I mean."

Damon didn't seem at all offended by the idea, instead laughing at Jeremy. "We ended up travelling the world together. Eric taught me everything I know about being a vampire. I used to be this pathetic lost boy, who worried about my soul, my immortality, humans and killing them. But Eric taught me to revel in the kill. To enjoy feeding. To accept and live for my blood lust, because it makes me a superior species.'

"Wait-" Stefan leaned forward on the log, his face contorted into sheer discomfort. "So he's the reason you changed, when I saw you in the '40s."

Damon nodded, his face to the stars. "By then, I'd lost my humanity. Eric and I had travelled Europe together, we'd partied our way through World War II."

"Partied?" Bonnie gasped, she too was taken aback. How could anyone consider World War II a party?

"Sure. We both joined the military, Eric joined the SS, I was a soldier in the Italian army. They were mostly covers, as we drank, and fucked our way through towns in Germany, Italy, France, Austria. Name it, we went." Damon seemed wistful, a soft smile on his lips as he still stared up into the night sky. "World War meant we had our pick of bodies, and blood."

"I didn't know any of this." Stefan said, looking confused, and maybe a little disheartened.

"I never told you Stef. Eric and I have a... complicated relationship," Damon shrugged again. "I didn't think we'd still be together all these years. I thought after our decades of searching for the equivalent of daylight rings for his species, and coming up with nothing- he'd find no use for me. Like you said Rebekah, his species doesn't like ours. And Eric hasn't always been pro witch-made vampires."

"So how are you two still friends?" Jeremy asked.

She was getting a little concerned with Jeremy's clear curiosity about Eric. The whole trip he seemed to talk about the other vampire. And she didn't want him getting anywhere near her family- she didn't trust Eric. Not anymore.

"I guess everything changed when he saved me. In the 50's, one of Stefan and I's relatives called us home. I got there first, but he'd sold me out to this group called the Augustines, and Dr Whitmore to do experiments. For over a year, I remained their guinea pig, but Eric came for me. And since then, he promised to always protect me like his own. Eric considers me his progeny, and I consider him my maker." Damon answered, straightening up, putting his water bottle back into his bag. He seemed, uncomfortable all of a sudden. "As much fun as this is, I'm tired so I'm going to bed. Try not to wake me up Jeremy."

Damon stood up then, nodding at all of them before heading toward the cabin him and Jeremy were sharing for the night. It was clear Eric meant the world to Damon, but how did he never mention the man for the three years of knowing him?

"Damon never told you about Eric?" Jeremy asked, clearly to Stefan.

Stefan just shook his head, obviously discombobulated. "No, not once." Stefan leaned forward, his head in his hands, and she watched as Rebekah rubbed his back gently, making her seethe a little. "But honestly I spent a lot more time with Lexi, than I did with my own brother. And after the 20's he became a whole other man. And I couldn't be around him. And Damon disappeared for decades at a time sometimes. I can't believe I didn't know. What other things is my brother keeping from me." Stefan stared over at Damon's cabin. "Do I even know my own brother?"

If Stefan didn't know about Eric, did she even know Damon?

---

"It's gone."

"What?"

"The tombstone it's gone. And so is Shane!"

"I didn't find Jeremy on the trail, and his gear is still here. What are we going to do?"

Damon punched the nearby tree, as he watched everyone having a freak out. When he woke up this morning, somehow Jeremy disappeared from under his nose. They decided to split up to look for the kid, and now somehow Professor Nutty all but vanished from four vampires and a witch with the tombstone.

What the hell was happening?

He knew he should have just tortured the Professor until he got what he needed, and killed him. Then none of this would have happened in the first place.

"We need to split up again. Find that bastard, and rip out his throat." Rebekah snarled.

"I suggested torturing him yesterday," He shrugged.

"We have to stop wasting time and find my brother." Elena insisted, looking around frantically, still clutching her brother's pack.

"And Shane!" Rebekah reminded.

"I'll do a locator spell on Jeremy, hopefully it'll lead to Shane too." Bonnie said as she began to pull things out of her bag, presumably for the spell.

"I'm sticking with Sabrina. One of us has to protect her," He started, moving toward the witch in question.

"I'll stay with Bonnie, Damon, she's my friend."

"She needs a vampire a little bit older. So how about Original barbie, you and Stef go head up the search party. We'll come find you when we find Jeremy," He insisted, shooing them with his hand.

"Don't either of you think of betraying me!" Rebekah snarled, and she and Stefan headed back into the forest.

Elena looked between each group, until she bowed her head and headed slowly toward his brother and Rebekah and they disappeared into the thicket of trees.

"Alright," He turned to face Bonnie. "Let's get that juju going."

Sabrina seemed conflicted, her hands paused over the dirt, as she bit her lip, contemplating something, before looking up at him. "I don't know if I should do this. I can't exactly control my magic anymore. This expression, is dangerous. And Shane is the only one who knows how to keep me from going over the edge."

He sighed, hating this bastard even more as he knelt down- looking directly into Bonnie's eyes. "Listen to me Bonnie, I won't let it consume you, okay? I promise. Just focus on finding Jeremy, and we'll figure out the rest. You're stronger than he knows, and if you let him think he has control, then he does. Okay?" He smiled at her reassuringly, and she nodded, mumbling something under her breath.

He moved out of the way, and behind the witch waiting for something to happen, and he was started as the dirt was set on fire, and a path set out, into the trees.

"Is that normal?"

"No, not really." Bonnie said, and he offered his hand, helping her up. "But we should follow it right?"

"I guess, it's the only lead we have." He shrugged, taking his own bag, and swinging it over his shoulder, then grabbing Jeremy's too.

They both headed into the forest, following the fire as it would extinguish just enough in front of them as they followed it. It was silent as they continued on, there was something off about this but he trusted Bonnie's magic.

"Can I ask you something Damon?" Bonnie asked, taking him out of his thoughts.

"Why not?" He shrugged.

"Why didn't you ever tell your brother about Eric? You two seem close, didn't you want them to meet?"

He almost tripped over a stone as he was completely taken aback from her question. He wasn't sure how to answer, without giving it all away. He'd wanted them to meet, sure. But he didn't know how to explain his relationship with Eric. They were friends. Lovers. Family. But he'd never let himself believe they'd be together forever, he was going to be with Katherine. But now, everything changed, and his prospects with Eric changed. And soon he'd know. It's not like they could play their game forever- one day he'd slip up. And he wanted Stefan to know, he just wasn't sure how accepting his brother would be with him having a thousand year old vampire boyfriend.

"I guess I didn't think he'd approve. Actually I didn't think either of them would approve of each other. Eric and Stefan are two very different people, and they happen to both be the most important people in my life, and I didn't want to ever have to choose between them," He explained, as Bonnie just nodded along. "Besides, I wanted the two to meet in person, and every time I saw the one, the other wasn't around."

"You should still have told him Damon, he's your brother." Bonnie insisted, as she ducked under a tree branch. "Stefan seemed really upset last night."

"Well I don't know if you've noticed, but my brother and I have a complicated relationship."

Bonnie snorted, which turned into a laugh. "I've noticed." Her laugh started to die down as they both stepped over a large log infront of them. "So how does Pam factor into all of this? Were you two together before this year?"

He paused, for a moment, figuring out what lie to tell. He might as well stick closely to the truth. "We've been together on and off since the '30s. But I eventually left when I came back for Katherine, I always thought she was the girl for me."

"Wow, and she took you back?"

"It was like we were never broken up when I saw her again. I mean don't get me wrong, we fought. And she's worried about my feelings for Elena."

"Do you still love Elena?"

There was almost no doubt in his mind that he wasn't anymore. "No, not anymore. I learned my lesson with the petrova doppelgangers."

He stopped as Bonnie grabbed his arm, forcing him to face her. "I'm confused, so if you and Pam have been together for over 50 years, how could Stefan never have met her? Even know about her? And you've never talked about her. She doesn't even seem as important as Eric is to you. She isn't even here, it's hard to imagine her not coming for you when she thought you were dying."

He felt himself pale, he was impressed. Bonnie was seeing through this charade pretty well. "Bros before hoes Bonnie, bros before hoes."

"What?"

"My relationship with Pam is complicated, let's just leave it at that." He said, shrugging off her hand and continuing on the fire path, only to be burned and he jumped back. "Looks like you have to be ahead of me." He took a step back, looking over at the path behind him. "Wait, I swear the trees were different from those ones."

He pointed toward the thicket of trees behind him, and Bonnie followed his gaze, and she looked back at him- bewildered. "We better continue,"

He just nodded, following behind her, and as they passed through a bush did they see some figures in the distance. Bonnie began to run ahead, and he trailed behind her, worried about the fact there were three figures ahead of them.

"Jeremy!" Bonnie exclaimed, and he saw the kid turn toward them, smiling.

"Bonnie!"

The kid was all but tied and gagged, by some man, who looked like he's come from a native american movie- with paint on his face, and a surprisingly amount of fur for clothing. And Shane was just standing there, smug as ever until their eyes lock as he came out of the trees, his expression wavering.

"Massak, you were only supposed to guild Bonnie here, no one else was supposed to follow her." Shane snarled.

He ran past Bonnie, the kid, and the Professor's accomplice before his hands encased around the nutty Professor's throat, watching in delight as he gasped for air. "I guess today just isn't your day huh Professor. Now I'm going to ask real nice, and you're going to tell us where this cure is, and I'm going to snap your neck!"

It was then his head felt like it was on fire, and he was thrown back, his hand losing it's grip and he fell to the ground, clutching either side of his head. He was about to curse out Bonnie, only to notice it wasn't her. It was that weird accomplice, who apparently was a witch. Go figure.

"Stop!" Bonnie exclaimed, actually running over to him before turning back around to face the witch, the wind swirling around them. "Leave Damon alone!"

"Tell your vampire friend to stop. And I will leave him be." The witch said, all too calmly and Bonnie turned around to him, and he just nodded weakly.

The pain instantly disappeared, and a hand was eye level with his, and he took it, letting Bonnie help him up.

"What are you doing? Knock him unconscious, Damon was never part of my plan. He'll get in the way!" The professor exclaimed to his friend.

"This is not my problem. You wanted me to get the witch and the hunter away from their friends to you. I have delivered, mostly."

Jeremy stared at both of them, and Bonnie turned to him, and all of them shared a silent perplexed look. He knew they should have never trusted this maniac.

"Fine." The Professor rearranged his backpack, clearly not worried about his predicament. This guy seriously gave him the creeps. "Here's the thing. Massak here is a witch. A talented one at that. If any of you escape, you will not be able to find us, or your path back. And you need me to find Silas and the cure."

He shrugged, walking over to Jeremy- glaring at the witch until he let go of Jeremy's leash and he ripped each rope apart, freeing the kid. He clapped him on the shoulder, as he gave the kid a once over, to see if there were any marks on his body- but he seemed uninjured.

"Thanks Damon." Jeremy said as he took off his gag.

He nodded to the kid, his attention going back to the Professor. "Alright Shane, you have all the pieces, lead us to this cure. I'm itching to rip out your throat."

"Then you'll lose Bonnie. She'll need me to complete her expression, and without me she'll die." Shane exclaimed almost happily, and he watched from the corner of his eye as Sabrina paled.

"Let's make this real clear." He strolled over to the Professor, letting his fangs slide through his gums, feeling the veins beneath his eyes surge. "I may not usually give a crap about Bonnie Bennett, but we bonded on the fire yellow brick road, so once you become of no use, and you will, I'm going to kill you. Nice and slow. And I'll find a way, so you don't even get to see your dead wife, or child in the afterlife. So if I were you, I'd pray to whatever God you worship, and take us to this mystical cave,"

---

Dear Eric,

I hope you'll reconsider my offer. Until then, I thought I might provide the necessary equipment, though I suspect you already have some variation of what I have provided.

I do look forward to seeing you again, do bring Damon along next time. With any luck, the Magistrate, and your Queen will accept my offer, and you'll become one of my sheriffs.

Sincerely yours,

Erasmus.

His eye twitched, as his hand crumpled up the card, and he threw to the ground. Clearly the King was going to become more of a problem- he had no desire to become a sheriff to that sniveling, childish psychopath.

Clearly Erasmus was going to be a bigger problem than he'd originally thought.

"What is that?"

The voice was distinctly different from Niklaus' which he'd been tuning out since coming up from the basement for the night, only to see Caroline standing in the doorway of the living room, perfectly healthy in a fresh pair of clothes. He turned back to the black and red St Andrew's cross in front of him, made of metal, with cuffs attached to the top of each end, that could be easily adjustable. It was made of titanium he wagered, the strongest, and lightest metal- able to hold a vampire without it breaking.

"It's a St Andrew's cross." He stated simply, turning back to the blonde. "I see Klaus healed you."

Caroline gave him an easy smile, as she twirled for him, her waist high pleated green, black and grey plaid mini skirt rising, exposing her pale skin from the thigh high black tights she was wearing underneath. "You were right."

"I usually am." He smiled, glad to see her healthy again.

It would have been, almost sad to have seen her die.

"So what's a St Andrew's cross?" She asked him, strutting over, past him, examining the his gift.

"It's for BDSM play." Klaus answered for him.

"Was I talking to you?" Caroline snarled, a hand shooting to her hip as she glared at the hybrid. "If you ever want me to ever consider talking to you again, you'll shut up!"

He watched, amused as Niklaus just huffed, throwing himself into the chair by the window, his attention drawn outside.

"He's right though. It is for BDSM play," He stated.

"Like something out of Fifty Shades of Grey?" The girl stared wide-eyed at the Cross, then at the boxes wrapped in black wrapping paper underneath it. "Are you into BDSM?"

"I've heard the book is riddled with factual errors, and depicts the community in the wrong light, but I suppose to simplify, yes."

She cocked her head at him. "You didn't answer my question."

He wasn't sure if he wanted to go into detail of his sex life with her, and Niklaus but he wasn't ashamed of it either. "Yes, I do partake in the lifestyle. Most vampires do. Or at least older ones. Sex gets boring after a few decades, especially with the same partner. BDSM can add flavour to vanilla sex."

He took a seat on the faded red couch, as he watched the blonde blush, her eyes still examining the object in front of her before moving to him, taking a seat next to him.

"So why do you have one? Here?"

"It was a gift from the King of West Virginia. He's become, somewhat infatuated with me."

"And he wants to strap you to that thing?" Caroline gasped her eyes glancing from the Cross to him again.

He smirked, shaking his head. "It's the other way around."

Her lips formed an O as she grasped just exactly what he meant. "Wait...are you gay?"

"I don't identify myself as gay, but I've had male lovers. I prefer females however."

Though currently his lover was a male, but he kept that to himself. He wasn't about to lose the game now. He prefered, hopefully, being found, balls deep in Damon somewhere.

"Do you like the King. That way?" Caroline asked, her cheeks reddening.

Oh so, so very young.

"No." He said. "But he likes me. I remind him of his maker, we are both vikings. He met the true death a few decades ago. I think he's attempting to fill the void left by his death. And they were very active in the BDSM scene. In some ways I almost pity Erasmus, I can't imagine the anguish of losing his maker."

"So, you're a viking?"

"I was, as a human." He replied, knowing her next question and he decided to answer it before she asked. "And yes, that does make me over a thousand years old. I'd guess Niklaus and I relatively the same age, though I do believe I'm about a hundred years older."

There was silence then as the girl in front of him absorbed the information he'd provided, and he crossed his legs, his arm over the couch, toward her, and he watched the blonde. His eyes flickered to Niklaus who appeared to be ignoring them, but he knew the hybrid was consuming their conversation.

"So may I ask Caroline," His eyes were drawn to the front door. "Not that I don't appreciate your company, but why aren't you with that mutt of yours? I doubt being in the company of two, thousand year old vampires is your first choice. Especially one who bit you."

He regretted asking immediately as her entire face fell, her eyes watering and he watched a stray tear fall down her cheek. He didn't do sad, he didn't do consoling. But he didn't think leaving would be appropriate, especially since he didn't, dislike the girl.

"We broke up." Caroline's hand shook, wiping away a tear."That's actually sort of why I came over. It just happened, and I don't know what to do. I don't even know why I'm here."

Her big, blue doe eyes were just staring up at him, making him feel increasingly uncomfortable. He found himself looking anywhere else, seeing they'd captured Klaus' full attention as he was staring at them from his chair.

He didn't do teenage angst. The most time he spent around women, was Pam, and he appreciated her emotionless demeanor.

"Am I terrible person?" Caroline asked, her lip quivering, more tears threatening to burst. "It's just I went to see him, and we fought. Like we've been doing. About Klaus. About his obsession with killing him. About the hybrids. About Hayley. And I understand he's in pain, he lost his mom. But I just kept thinking about what you said about love yesterday. And how, when I was dying, I didn't hallucinate about him. I didn't even think of him. And I just couldn't take it anymore."

He nodded along, at this point wishing he was with the King, at least he could deal with a psychopath but this. Not his forte.

"Look Caroline, here's some advice. If you don't love him, no matter when you broke up with him, it will hurt. I imagine. Preferably best to do it sooner, rather than later." He patted her shoulder, an attempt to comfort. "How about this? I was going to go out, find someone to eat. Why don't you come with me, perhaps blood, and liquor will take your mind off of it. You don't seem like the worst company to have."

Her eyes went wide. "I don't feed from humans. Just blood bags."

"And what did I say about exploring your dark side." He shrugged at her, leaning back against the couch, his eyes holding hers. "Look, you can either wallow, cry, and do whatever else teenage girls do over heartbreak, or live a little. You almost died today. You should celebrate that. Go out, have fun. Feed. It's only one night."

"But I-"

"No buts. Come on. You don't really want to spend your night staring at Klaus, or doing homework, or watch lame romance movies do you?"

He could see he was wearing her down, as her face was completely expressive.

"Don't do it Caroline."

He snorted, as Klaus chimed into their conversation. He was standing now, staring over at them, and Caroline met the hybrid's eyes, her expression darkening.

She turned back to him. "Promise me you'll at least stop me if I go too far."

"Caroline don't-"

His smile widened, knowing he'd just won her over. Now tonight could potentially be fun. "Where would the fun be in that dear Caroline? But I'll help you clean up, if it comes to it."

Her expression wavered, but then he saw it. Just a ficker. Something dark in her eyes. Something primal.

"Okay. Just one night right?"

"First human is on me."

---

She should guilty. She knew that.

She'd just broken up with Tyler. Her friends were god know's where, risking their lives to get a cure. But here she was, at a nightclub. With Damon's friend Eric.

And she was actually having fun.

It was nice to have to think about the moral consequences of her decisions. Not thinking about her conflicting feelings for Klaus, a monster. Worrying about her friends.

No, instead she had a bottle of jack in her hands. Dancing on top of a bar with a bunch of human girls around her age, with blood running down her face.

And honestly, for a long while, she felt alive. Happy. Carefree.

They'd compelled the entire bar, flipped the closed sign and took over. She'd been hesitant at first, but Eric had pulled some brunette girl not much older than her to their booth. He'd bitten her neck, and offered her a taste. She should have said no, and she knew a lecture from Stefan, her sobriety sponsor about this was coming but she'd wanted to ignore the pain. Just for the night.

And maybe she shouldn't trust some thousand year old vampire she didn't know well, but she felt connected to him now, after he'd helped her. And she couldn't deny, she was curious about him. About his species. His relationship with Damon. And she couldn't deny either, he was attractive. And mysterious.

Where was Eric anyway she thought as she paused, surveying the nightclub, to see the

tall blond, in a booth off in the distance, surrounded by a group of girls, with his fangs deep in some redhead's neck.

She knelt down, grabbing a bottle of bourbon, before jumping off, heading over toward the occupied booth. As she got there, she compelled some to leave, except the one currently being fed upon, and she slid the bottle across the table, to Eric and she took her seat on the other side of the viking.

"I have to say, I'm actually having fun." She admitted.

Eric's fangs retracted from the girl, and he smiled wickedly at her. "I saw, nice show up there."

She blushed, taking a swig from her bottle, eyeing up the blond. "Aren't you going to drink?"

"I can't, the downside of my species, Though I have to say, I've always wondered what bourbon really tastes like, Damon tells me it's second best to blood. That's hard to believe." Eric commented.

"Can I ask? You and Damon. How did that happen?" She asked.

Eric's entire body changed in front of her, from dark, dangerous and content to something else. Something softer. Happier. But it disappeared, and his pale blues found hers again, his face returned to stone. "That's a long story."

"How long can it be?" She shrugged, taking the wrist of the girl that Eric was offering to her. "I told you my deepest, darkest secret. Can't you at least tell me how you met?"

Her fangs sank into the girl's skin as Eric spoke again. "We met at a bar, like this one. In Chicago, in the '20s."

She extracted her fangs, staring up at the man. "Wait, the 1920s? I thought Damon only met you like a year ago."

"Yes, the roaring '20s. We've been together for decades, almost a century now. Damon was different man then. Kinder. More human. A lot like you actually. Afraid to have a little fun. I wanted him to explain daylight rings to me, so I made a deal with him. I'd help his brother escape Niklaus and Rebekah by contacting a hunter a knew after them, Mikael. After that, well I liked Damon. He was, an enigma. And I wanted to corrupt him, what can I say." Eric said, clearly reminiscing and she felt the blood catch in her throat.

Corrupt?

"Is that, what you're doing? To me?" She felt heart heart sink and she started to furiously wipe the blood with a napkin from the table. Feeling betrayed.

Her hand froze as Eric' took hers, taking the napkin from her, and wiped his thumb along her lips. "You missed some." And he brought his thumb to his lips, sucking on it. "No Caroline, you're a bit different. I thought you should have some fun. Damon was self destructive. It's probably hard to believe, but Damon was disgusted with who he was. His brother convinced him into becoming a monster, killed their father, And then ran off, becoming a ripper. Damon lost his humanity, lost the girl he loved, lost his brother and Damon just sort of floated for decades. When I found him, he was close to stepping out into the sun without a ring. And someone as exotic, as compelling as Damon, didn't deserve to be so miserable. So I took Damon under my care, and I taught him how to embare who he was. I helped Damon accept, and embrace his vampirism, seeing it as a gift, rather than a burden."

She wasn't sure if she should feel touched, or disturbed. Damon was a psychopath, or at least he was sometimes. He was tricky to understand, he'd kill on a whim, but there was something selfless in Damon too. She knew he could care deeply too. It was hard to believe though, Damon once cursed his existence. Would he really have killed himself?

"But why not ask Stefan about daylight rings? What did you get out of helping him?"

"I got Damon."

Her eyebrows furrowed even more. This conversation had become more confusing, than helpful.

Her ears perked up as she heard the song change, to Super Bass by Nicki Minaj and she slid out of the booth. "Come, dance with me. We're having fun tonight right?"

The man just laughed at her. "Dance to this? What is this? Noise? I don't dance anyway. Besides, I'd rather watch you dance again."

She blushed, again as Eric licked his lips at her and she felt her phone vibrate against her thigh, and she thanked the Gods for the distraction.

"Elena?" She answered, seating next to Eric again.

"Hey Car,"

"What's wrong?" She asked immediately, hearing the worry in her best friend's voice.

"We need your help!" Elena said, hearing her sigh. "Look, it's a long story, but this morning Jeremy went missing, so we went looking for him. When we came back, Professor Shane and the tombstone up and vanished. So Damon and Bonnie stayed behind and did a locator spell, and Stefan, Rebekah and I went looking again but that was hours ago, and the sun's gone down and we can't find them. Any of them. We've tried calling Damon, Bonnie, Jer, but nothing."

Her heart leapt into her throat as panic for her best friends start amounting. Eric gave her a curious look but she couldn't tell him anything. Not until she knew everything. "Do you think Shane is behind it? I mean, he's shady."

"No, I mean I don't know. Not alone anyway. I mean, my brother is stronger than him, Bonnie is a witch and Damon's more powerful than all of them. He must have accomplices."

"I'm so sorry, I wish I could help."

"Well there might be something you could do from your end." Elena replied.

"Sure, anything." She said.

"Shane's looking for the cure right? And he has all the necessary pieces, so we need to find him with the sword. We have pictures of Jeremy's tattoo, we just need to translate it."

"Klaus isn't going to tell me where the sword is."

She could hear in the background Stefan and Rebekah arguing over the fact that Klaus would or wouldn't give up the sword. But it didn't matter, Klaus was trapped in the Salvatore boarding house, and she had a thousand year old vampire who would clearly do anything for Damon.

She decided to interrupt the little squabble going on, on Elena's end. "Don't worry, I'll find it. Just send me the pictures, and I'll figure out a way to translate it. I promise."

"Thank you Caroline."

"Bye."

She pressed end, and she glanced up to have Eric's face much closer to her's, clearly expecting her to explain. "Elena needs our help."

"Our help? Since she's currently attempting, rather poorly to seduce Damon, I'll pass. But you have fun." He smirked, leaning back against the couch, rather bored now.

"Damon's disappeared, with Bonnie and Jeremy and they could be in trouble." She explained further, watching the worry creep onto the viking's face.

"You should have led with that, what do we have to do?" Eric said, as he pushed the girl aside, and helped himself out of the booth.

She grinned, apparently Eric was easy to manipulate too. "We need to find a sword. It'll be in Klaus' house."

He looked confused for a moment, but just nodded, and she almost had to run to catch up to his long strides. "We better get going then, daylight will be in five hours, and we're already almost a half an hour out."

---

Damon almost jumped for joy as they, finally make their way to a large hole, in a monstrously sized cave. They'd been walking for hours, and since he was the only vampire, it was at the sluggish, most excruciatingly slow pace. It must have been almost all night, as he'd seen the sun speak over the horizon as they'd came to the entrance. Their mercenary witch friend, disappeared after that with the tombstone he'd thought was supposed to be important to this whole thing, but apparently it was just payment.

He watched as Jeremy was belaying down into the hole, Bonnie securing her harness as Professor Shane looked on. He didn't need one, so he jumped into the hole, landing several feet downward.

There was nothing spectacular down here, no Silas. No cure. Just more rocks, and darkness. He grabbed on of their battery powered lamps he'd tied to his bag and put it down, illuminating the area. Moments later, Jeremy landed, giving him a nod.

They stood in silence, watching Bonnie belay herself down, but her rope slipped, and she came hurling down, and he moved, catching her at the last second.

"Thanks" Bonnie said as he put her down.

"Hey guys, I'm coming down" Nutty professor yelled down to them.

Jeremy came in close to them. "So, guys what do you think is going to happen once we open this tomb, and he gets to Silas?"

"We kill him." He replied, and Bonnie and Jeremy gave him a stern look. "What, I'm serious. Best plan."

"Do you two trust me?"

Jeremy nodded immediately, and both of them turned to him. He sighed deliberately. "Fine, yes. I trust you."

"Then trust I won't let Shane anywhere near Silas."

Jeremy put an arm on Bonnie's shoulder, giving her a look and he wanted to roll his eyes and throw up at that level of concern, and devotion. Get a room already. "Don't do anything reckless though Bon. If your expression gets out of control, Shane is the only one who can help you."

"Don't worry about me. If he tries anything, Damon won't have to kill him, I'll do it myself."

He beamed, slapping her shoulder playfully. "Now that's the spirit."

"Did I miss something?"

His mood sourced 100% as Professor Shane landed, on two feet, coming toward them now. Snapping this guy's neck was becoming more and more on his to do list.

"Is this just amazing? Once we raise Silas, all our sacrifices will have been worthwhile, and we'll get what we want" The professor went on like they weren't even there.

If he didn't despise the man so much, he'd almost be impressed. Convincing that pastor to kill twelve people. And orchestrating the hybrid massacre. That took some psychopathic skill, he wondered if he realized that. This bringing them back bullshit was getting old. This mission was dangerous, if Silas raised the veil to the other side, there would be a lot of people aiming for his heart. And he wasn't sure if Eric could protect him. Hell, he bet the viking had more enemies than him.

"Isn't it what you want?" He snarled.

"And he could kill us all." Bonnie pointed out, and he gestured at the witch wildly, trying to get the nutty professor to see reason but he just ignored them as he was glancing around the cave.

The three of them shared a worried look.

"Listen." The professor was staring at them now. "Just so you don't get any ideas, if anything bad happens to me, something even worse will happen to all of you."

He snorted, not buying it fully but he wasn't will to risk his life either. He didn't want to die in some cave, in nowhere's land.

"Fine then." Jeremy exclaimed, throwing his hands up. "Where is this stupid magic passage Bonnie and I are supposed to open."

The determination in Shane's face falters, did he not know where it was? "Just look for anything else out of place. Something that's not occurring in nature." He watched, amused as the nutty professor went even more insane as he threw himself to the ground, wiping away the dirt. Who wipes away dirt in a cave? Seriously? "Like a geometrically perfect circle."

Well hot damn, maybe the professor still had a few marbles left as he noticed the circle too.

"This is it. This is the spot!" Shane exclaimed.

Him and Jeremy shared a smirk, and he moved into the shadows, leaning against the cave wall. He wasn't needed for the spell. And besides, he needed to honestly start planning on his kill plan. Maybe skinning him alive, that sounded fun.

"Alright Jeremy, you'll need to take off your shirt so Bonnie can begin the spell." The professor instructed, making him want to joke about Shane wanting to see the kid naked again, but he stopped himself, instead watching as Jeremy took off his shirt. Shane ushered the kid into the middle of the circle, Bonnie following along. She put his hand on his chest, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. "Alright just breathe. Focus on what you can do. Don't be afraid of what you can't do."

"You can do this Bon. Just like you taught me at the lakehouse. You're in control." Jeremy reassured.

He observed as Shane was staring at the grown, madness in his eyes. Then back at Jer Bear, and the tattoo. "That's it. It's just like drawing breath. Pull the power to you."

His eyes widened as the tattoo began to disappear, and it's then the cave began to rumble, rocks, and debri fell all around them. He wasn't sure what to do. The rocks were becoming larger, the tattoo disappeared. Above them, he saw a hunk of cave ceiling about the crumble, right over part of the scooby gang, and he reacted instantly, grabbing them both, and bringing them to safely.

As the debris settled, he let go of Jer Bear and Sabrina, turning around to see an opening in what was once the cave wall he'd been leaning on, and the nutty professor trapped under a massive boulder. And by the smell, and awkward angle of his leg pinned beneath, he broke his leg.

He turned back to the pair, looking them over. "You two okay?"

"Yeah." The kid replied, grabbing his discarded shirt from the ground. 'You did it Bonnie!'

"No, we did it!" Bonnie smiled.

"Hey guys, can I have some help." Shane called out to him. "I think my legs broken, I'll need your blood Damon. And for you to remove this boulder from my leg."

His smile turned murderous, as he stalked over to the professor, feeling the veins protrude from his eyes, as his fangs snapped out from his gums. "Looks like you've just become expendable."

---

...it's done. It's finally done. 30 pages later. I re-wrote this so many times I can't tell if it's good or terrible anymore.

I was surprised no one asked if Jeremy would dream of Eric because he had his blood in his system. If you don't know true blood well, their blood, if consumed by a human, gives the person sexual dreams of the other. If you have not see Jason's dream of Eric, stop reading this, and go watch it. It's really hot.

Anyway I just had to write Jeremy's sex dream of Eric. Had to add a bit of smut somewhere.

So what did you think? Like it? Hate it? Love it? Review!

I'm a little worried people are going to attack me with Caroline breaking up with Tyler Lockwood. I do not like Tyler, Caroline deserves better. I ship Klaroline anyway. And I like a little darker Caroline, I mean she likes Klaus, there must be something wicked in her.

Anyway, thank you for reading! Please review! Or follow. Or favourite. Whatever your heart desires.

'til next time :)

P.S Someone mentioned wanting to see (or read I guess) Damon stripping, and I've actuallly wrote a scene for that, but it got cut from a chapter. So I was thinking maybe a one-shot series of peices of flashbacks, random scenes. Would that be of interest? Just curious.