Hope ya'll enjoy! :)
A little bit more of Darker Damon here.
Elena was glad she had such strict training.
Otherwise, she would be screaming from boredom, as she sat alone on the bed, awaiting Damon's return.
But at least she was beginning to see just how important he was.
Not even half an hour after their discussion, a man had come for him, assuring that his presence was needed immediately.
Damon had acknowledged the summoning, before turning to Elena, and telling her to stay in this room, before leaving.
At first, she'd been a little relieved.
Alone time meant that she could snoop, and try to find as much information as possible.
Unfortunately for her, all of Damon's secrets must remain in his head, because his room was practically bare of anything useful.
There was little, other than the bed with it's side table, a dresser, and an impressive bookshelf.
She had skimmed through each of them, finding nothing of importance.
At least, nothing that was important to the Arc's, or their cause.
She had however, stumbled across a picture in his drawer.
It was of her.
He had actually taken it, in the gardens, behind the mansion where the Arcs had set up refuge.
The sky had been glowing with a full moon, and the torches had been lit.
They'd all enjoyed the hint of home for the limited time they had it.
She was surprised that he'd kept this, but then again, maybe she shouldn't be.
He did after all, confess to still having feelings for her.
No matter how cold they seemed to run.
It had been so long since she'd gotten to be with him this way though.
She didn't know what to think, and definitely didn't know what to expect.
But she knew what she felt, and she had to trust that.
Besides, if that picture was any indication, Damon hadn't truly given up either.
She had quit with the investigating after that, and switched to exploring.
The room, for what it held, was enormous in size, and had a few adjourning doors.
Two of them were closets, she'd realized, and had eagerly searched them as well.
Besides clothes, boots, and a bit of unfamiliar weaponry, there was nothing to be found.
So she moved on the the last door.
This had turned out to be the bathroom.
It was styled similarly to the bedroom, both holding a very Victorian Era flare, but certainly had been modified to Damon's preferences.
Giant tub, glass shower, pristine marble counters...all Damon.
She knew, because he'd done the same to their bathroom back at the Arc's hide out.
Not that it had taken long, with the abilities they'd possessed then.
She sighed, once again having to accept how weak they'd grown.
They were drained a little more each time they used their powers, like a battery without a charge.
But it didn't seem as if Damon was suffering the same fate, she reminded herself, thinking of how he'd pulled his mirror trick to observe Stefan.
She was almost sure that his acceptance of the Dark had given him a bit of a power boost, much like the Light did.
Only, she'd think that it would cause him to develop powers of a Darkling, not fuel his Arc abilities.
But then again, she'd never studied the inner workings of a transference case between the two.
It had never been necessary, before.
Now she wondered at the potential.
She also wondered, as she huffed, sinking onto the satin sheets, how long this week would really turn out to be.
And what did she even expect to come of it?
She had meant what she'd said to Damon, about being tired of not being with him, but clearly, she hadn't thought this through as well as she should have.
Her only concern had been to stop Stefan.
She had done so, and had landed herself right into Damon's arms.
These should both be wins, but now what?
Was she really willing to give up the Light, forever, just to be with Damon?
Or is that just what she had told him for argument's sake?
She was just staying long enough to convince him to return with her...right?
She wasn't so sure anymore.
Black and White had always been so simple.
Arcs were good, Darklings were bad.
She'd never needed an explanation further than that plain truth of existence.
But now, realizing that the Dark could give her Damon, it seemed more complicated.
She hated herself for considering it, of course.
But what else could she do?
Be an Arc, but protect Damon, and by association, his Darklings?
Somehow, she doubted that either side would be too happy with her riding the fence on this.
There was still a slight hope, though, that Damon would see reason soon, and agree return with her.
But it was very slim, and highly unlikely, especially after that speech he'd given her.
Or that the others would even accept his return.
But if there was any hope at all, she'd bank on it.
What could she say, she was a martyr.
That she did know.
She also knew that she was stubborn.
Stubborn enough not to sit in this room alone any longer.
If Damon wanted her to stay for a week to prove herself, she might as well see what she was trading for.
Damon grit his teeth as yet another argument broke out.
"We need to attack now! Why give them time to prepare?!" Kol was raging.
"Because we also need to be prepared, you ass," Rose countered.
"Well we are stronger than them," Kai noted.
"But they aren't weak," Rebekah chimed in.
"Matter of opinion," Kol smirked, "They are plenty weak. Let's kill them and be done with it."
"Enough," Damon called then, bringing the room to silence.
"I simply told you what the Arcs were doing so you'd be informed, not because I'm in need of advisement in handling the situation."
"And I'm sure the little Arc bitch being here has nothing to do with your wanting to postpone an attack?" Kol insisted.
Damon looked over at the Darkling.
Kol had been vocalizing his opposition to Damon for a while.
Perhaps now was the opportune time to deal with that problem.
"Are you insinuating something?" Damon asked slowly, threateningly.
Kol wasn't backing down so easily, "Merely stating the facts. You've let the enemy in through the front door, and her scent is all over your flesh. How are we expected to trust you?"
Damon smirked, taking full, deliberate steps toward the man.
"The ways I handle my guests are of no concern to you. Now, I will say this once, boy, and only once. You are under my command. You do as I say. No complaint, no commentary. And I allow you to live. Question my decisions, doubt me again, and I will take it as a personal offense."
He leaned in, holding Kol's gaze, "You're a mere child compared to my centuries of existence. You do not want to challenge me again."
Kol's eyes dropped to the floor, and Damon felt that his point had gotten across.
He turned, continuing his previous pacing, "So, if that's all that's weighing your conscience..."
"Actually, no," Kol cleared his throat, "It's not."
Damon faced him again, his agitation growing.
He took a breath, remaining calm, "You don't seem to like me very much."
Kol's ego forced his eyes to Damon's, "So?"
Damon rose a brow, "Tell me, is there something else I've done to worry you?"
"More like something you haven't," Kol spat, "You walk as if you possess the power to rule and smite, yet do nothing about the Arcs. I can't help but wonder if you even can."
"Funny," Damon pondered, looking around the room, "I hear no complaints from the others."
Kol looked around too, but nobody, not even Kai spoke up.
They just waited.
"Maybe not," Kol decided, "But I know that at least some are thinking it."
Damon considered that for half a second, "Well, I'll see if I can put their minds at ease."
He flashed, appearing directly in front of the Darkling.
A flicker of fear flashed in Kol's eyes, as Damon's fingers plunged into his chest.
With a hard pull, Kol fell to the ground, his heart still in Damon's hand.
Gasps filled the room, as he looked down at Kol's lifeless body.
"So..." He began, dropping the heart onto the corpse, before looking up, "Any more questions?"
Silence met him, and he smiled, "No? Good. Training will begin first thing in the morning. So I suggest you all get some rest. We'll want to be prepared."
Agreements sounded, and he stood back, letting the Darklings disperse.
He felt when Enzo came up behind him.
It was only when he looked over his shoulder at him, did the man speak.
"Was that necessary?"
Damon smirked, "Of course not. But I got my point across, didn't I?"
Enzo chuckled, "Some point. I'll get someone to dispose of his body."
Damon turned, "No, don't."
"He can't stay there," Enzo pointed out.
Damon's eyes steeled, "He can until tomorrow. I want the others to see him before their training. I want them to be reminded of what I'm capable of."
Enzo stiffened, looking into the distance behind Damon's head.
"Don't worry mate," he stated, pointing a finger, "I don't think anyone is questioning that."
Damon turned, following Enzo's indication to the staircase.
To his surprise, Elena stood there with wide eyes, her skin a little paler than he remembered.
Great.
"I'll speak with you later," he dismissed, and Enzo nodded, "Sure thing, brother."
He clasped Damon's shoulder as he passed, and Elena began descending the staircase.
He exhaled.
This should be interesting.
Bow Wow.
So review? Lol