Okay guys, so I'm gonna try to keep the chapters coming regularly, every few days or so, but I'm mainly focusing on my other story (Lullaby for the Heart) at the moment.

So if I go a few days without updating this story, I'm not abandoning it! lol I'm just trying to work through some chapters for the other story.

So sorry in advance!

Thanks for the reviews, and I think ya'll will like this chapter!

:)

Elena did not know how long she sat in silence on the balcony which opened from Damon's bedroom.

The night above her was of no use, the sky empty of the moon in it's waning cycle.

Her hands trembled as she held the railing, looking into the vast blackness below, where she couldn't even make out the ground.

She wondered how far down it was...how badly it would hurt if she were to fall...or jump.

She shuttered.

It wasn't something she'd truly consider, knowing what it would mean for her soul, but the thought of what she would have to do in just a few hours time…

If what Enzo had said was true, she would have to kill one of her own.

Someone she'd trained with, drank with, laughed with, merely days before.

What was Damon thinking?!

Was this supposed to be a test? A punishment?

It felt like torture.

Like her insides were being twisted from shape and turned outward.

This was meant to be a simple mission.

But somehow "Save the lost" had become "Save Damon" and the Light had not trained her for that.

Nor had it shown her what to do when such evil could give her everything she wanted.

It wasn't right, any of it.

Tears filled her eyes as she considered her options.

She could leave.

Maybe Stefan would take her back, maybe he would kill her. Either way, it was certain that he would kill Damon, probably using her as leverage to do so.

She could go through with what Damon had planned.

Kill one of her own to prove her loyalty to the Darklings, who in fact, she didn't feel any loyalty towards at all.

It was the same choice she'd faced so many times lately.

The Arcs or Damon.

And had she not chosen Damon each and every time?

But that was before he'd practically put a blade in her hand and an Arc at her feet.

What could she do?

Option three...jump; but what would that solve?

She would just be gone, and the war would still go on, forgetting her as just another fallen soldier.

She wiped the tears from her cheek, angrily.

Wallowing in her dilemma wouldn't make it go away.

Once again, she had a choice to make.

Which was no choice at all, really.

The same truth held now, as it always had.

She knew what she had to do.

There was only one way she would survive the commitment of this murder.

She straightened as she absorbed what her choice meant.

What this would change.

Her eyes flickered up to the heavens, the stars, and somewhere out there, her home.

"Forgive me," she whispered, and breathed the night into her body, the Darkness with it.

Caroline had just left the shower, when she heard the commotion.

The Arc's mansion was alive with noise and panic.

She threw on some clothes, and hurried into the main hall, where it seemed most of the house had gathered.

"What's going on?" She demanded.

Stefan was holding an unconscious Bonnie, and Matt and Jeremy leaning over her, one of them dripping blood to the floor.

"There was an attack," Matt spat out, "A group of those bastards ambushed us on parole."

Stefan motioned Elijah over to Bonnie's body, "She's still alive, but she'll need healing. Take her to the infirmary. You go too, Jer."

Caroline swallowed, realizing the young Arc had also been wounded.

"What were the casualties?" she asked, afraid of the answer.

Stefan had looked past her though, commanding a few more Arcs to get by the entrances and stand guard.

"Stefan," she pleaded, touching his arm, "How bad was it? Which Darklings? Was Elena with them?"

He paused, letting out a sigh, "I only know what Matt managed to get out...Tyler was killed, but they took Lexi with them...I don't think Elena was among them."

Caroline closed her eyes in pain, "Tyler's dead?"

Stefan nodded, "And I'm sure Lexi is by now…"

He was shaking, his usual calm falling to pieces.

"We'll make them pay," she promised, leaning down to look at him, "That's the third Arc they've taken from us this week...we'll make them pay."

Stefan nodded, "Sooner rather than later. I wanted to give us time to prepare, but it's no use...we have to attack, before they kill us all, one by one."

She was going to hate him for this.

He knew she would, and that alone should have made him rethink his decision, but it was too late now.

Elena was going to realize the brutal truth of her choice soon, and he'd rather it be on his terms.

Whatever she chose to do with that truth...well, he'd protect her, regardless.

"The Arc is waking up," Kai noted, as the group of them entered the gateway to the Darkling's mansion.

"Take her to the round room, in the west wing," he commanded, "Use the claws to hold her up."

Rebekah grinned from beside him, "With pleasure."

Damon refused to acknowledge the delight his warriors were getting from this attack.

They'd killed an Arc, injured two more, and had captured the other.

It was a successful raid, but he could find no pleasure in it.

Not when he knew what Elena's reaction would be when he told her what she'd have to do to the female she'd once considered a friend.

At least he'd let Bonnie live.

Perhaps that would redeem him something.

Not that redemption was possible in battle, but he didn't like the idea of Elena angry with him.

They entered the house, his Darkling's dragging Lexi, half unconsciously, down the hall, as some surrounding warriors stared curiously.

He however, looked around for the one face he'd expected to see immediately.

But she wasn't near the foyer, or even in the open training room.

"You made it back," another voice called to him, and Enzo approached from near the staircase.

Damon forced a smile, "In one piece."

"I take it you were successful then?"

He nodded, "Two injured, one dead. The one we captured is being hung now."

Once again, he looked around for a head of dark hair.

"She went upstairs," Enzo informed him, "Not long after you left. She seemed upset."

Damon paused, focusing on him, "Did she?"

Enzo smirked slightly, "Might have had something to do with me letting slip your plans for tonight."

His expression hardened, "You what?"

"Oh, I'm sorry," Enzo crooked his head, "Was that meant to be a surprise?"

Damon grabbed him by the collar, and forced him back to the wall, "What are you playing at?"

The Darkling had enough sense to lose the joking tone, "I only thought that she should be prepared, considering the magnitude of what you'd have her do."

Damon's brow rose, "And you care what of the magnitude? When I first came here, you had me slaughter every Arc in your holding cell to turn my blood."

"And you were quite reluctant," Enzo reminded him, "You want your precious Elena here, Damon. What would happen if she were to refuse you in front of your army? Would you kill her for disobedience, as you would any of us? They will see your affection for her as a vulnerability. The girl needed some warning!"

With a growl, Damon released the man, "This will be hard enough on her, without the preamble."

Enzo's head shook, "You can't trust her instinct to fall on you. This is not a decision you need her to make in the moment. If you wish to prove that she has really chosen you, she needs to make the kill of her own validation."

The Darkling was right, and Damon hated it.

"I should have been the one to tell her," he argued lamely.

"Yes, you should have told me."

Damon span around to see Elena walking down the stairs.

He lifted his head, straightening as she made her way to his side, "Instead, you decided what I would do, and expected that I would go along with it."

He set his jaw, "And you will, unless you wish to return to the Arcs."

Strangely enough, she smirked at him, "You speak as if that's what you want."

When he didn't answer, she exhaled heavily, "So...who is it? I'm assuming you completed your purpose. The least you can do is tell me the verdict."

Damon knew she deserved as much, but something about her tone was off.

Unsettling.

"Enzo, leave us," he commanded, and with a chuckle, the Darkling did as he was told.

Once they were alone, Damon stepped closer to his lover's body.

"I know this will be difficult," he breathed, "And I'm sorry for that...but I need you with me, completely, and this is the only way."

She met his gaze, her own unwavering, "Who is it?"

"Lexi," he answered, gauging her reaction.

She didn't really have one, except to ask, "Were there more killings?"

He nodded, "Tyler. And Bonnie was injured, non fatally."

"When do you want it done?" she questioned, as though the answer was of no importance.

Damon blinked at her, "Elena…"
"What?" she rose a brow, "You said it had to be done. Let's be done with it."

Her mood perplexed him, "I expected more of a fight."

"But you knew I'd give you what you wanted in the end anyway," she accused, "Otherwise you wouldn't require me to do this."

He sighed, "I wish I didn't have to."

"But you do."

Elena knew, as she stared up into Damon's eyes that she'd made the right choice.

She could feel the emotions that she was supposed to be feeling gnawing at her mind, but they were easy to ignore.

Watered down to no more than an annoying hum.

And as she looked at her lover, she felt her devotion to him change.

The love was there, of course, the driving point.

But more than anything, she was filled with desire.

Powerful, and certain.

She wanted to please him, claim him, rip apart anyone who challenged him.

A smiled crossed her lips, "So are we going to do this?"

He was confused, and she couldn't blame him, after all, he wasn't aware of what she'd done yet.

But he would be.

She reached to his chest, where a pair of daggers were crossed in their leather holder across his pecs.

Grabbing the hilt of one, she pulled it free, and twirled it in her fingers.

"Elena…"

"You want Arc blood," she snapped, "If that is what it takes to earn your trust, and theirs, then why are you stalling?"

"Because you aren't," he pointed out, "Why aren't you fighting this?"

"I'm tired of fighting," she told him, "I just want this over."

Then she leaned up, to wrap her arms around his neck, "You should be happy."

She kissed him hotly on the lips, "After all, this is what you wanted."

I was really really tired writing this, so sorry if there are any mistakes.

I do my best to proof read, but I'm half asleep right now lol.

Anyway, till next time!