Chapter 3

Caroline is in her element. This is what she is good at; this is her forte. She's in the centre of a crowded dance floor wearing the shortest, tightest, red dress that she could find. Her eyes are smoky and guarded as she watches those who surround her. They gaze upon her eagerly, observing her every move. The bolder ones move closer and she pulls them to her, grinding against them as she dances to the music blaring down from the speakers. She has broken dozens of hearts tonight with her flirtatious glances and shifting attention. She knows that she will break many more before the night is over.

Damon is in his element. This is what he is good at; this is his forte. He's sitting behind the bar, a glass of bourbon in one hand and a young woman's waist in the other. He pulls her towards him and murmurs in her ear. She laughs, too loud and too empty. Other women watch her enviously, hoping that the dark haired stranger will turn his attention to them as they push up their breasts and pull down their necklines to reveal at much cleavage as they dare. His eyes skim over them all appreciatively and he wonders how he'll choose. He glances at the blonde vampire on the dance floor and decides that it is time to begin her lessons.

He stands suddenly and the tipsy woman in his arms stumbles briefly, catching herself on the bar. He swallows the last of the amber liquid in his glass before setting it down and approaching Caroline. The other woman watch him leave in disappointment, none more so than the woman who had been the object of his affections for the last ten minutes. Damon pushes through the crush and grabs Caroline's wrist. She reacts instinctively, pulling away but his grip is too strong for her to break. Ironically, it is her inability to get free that causes her to relax as she knows that there's only one person in the room who is stronger than her. Damon steps closer to her,

"Lesson one. Choose your victim." The pair continue to dance with each other as their eyes skim over the crowd.

"There's so many possibilities," she murmurs in his ear. He grins,

"For an easy target choose someone who is here alone. Couples are more fun but we'll save that for another lesson. Choose someone young and fit, their blood is ideal. Choose someone eager for your attention, it makes it that much easier – no compulsion allowed for this part, only for afterwards and only if they're still alive." Damon's malicious smirk causes Caroline to momentarily shudder and he finishes, "And finally choose someone attractive." She looks at him in confusion,

"Attractive? Why?" He raises a brow,

"Because we have a reputation to maintain. Only the best." She grins and continues to scan the dance floor, eyeing each potential target. A young man catches her eye. He has been subtly watching her all night and seems to alone. She gestures to him and Damon scrutinises him for a moment before nodding with a vicious smile,

"Perfect." Caroline leaves Damon and beckons her victim towards her. He almost runs to her, eyes bright and excited. She pulls him close to her body, pressing against him. He's breathless as he watches the beauty before him. Caroline looks over his shoulder to see Damon sneaking out an emergency exit back door. After a few moments she follows him, towing her eager target behind her. In the alleyway Caroline pushes the man against the brick wall as she kisses him fiercely. His arms try to wrap around her body but she holds them above his head as she continues to push her lips against him. She nips his bottom lip and he yelps but she forces their mouths together once more. She can taste the sweet blood as it falls from the cut in his lip. She licks the wound and looks up into his eyes. Suddenly he starts struggling to get free, eyes wide and frightened. As she grins at him she can feel her fangs pushing through her gums and he tries to scream for help. A hand across his mouth silences him and he turns to see Damon sneering viciously.

"Now, now Caroline. Not so eager." With a great effort she quells her bloodlust slightly and pulls away. Damon continues, "Lessons two and three. Two – how to feed." She begins to protest that she knows how to feed but he silences her, "Not just pushing them up against a wall and drinking them dry. You should get some entertainment out of it as well as a meal. Remember, we are predators and we are not only superior in strength and agility but also intelligence." She nods, listening eagerly,

"And lesson three?" He grins,

"How to dispose of a body." The man struggles harder, crying in fear. Caroline's eyes widen momentarily,

"You're going to kill him? Not just compel him?" Damon rolls his eyes. Keeping one hand on the man, he uses the other to grab her chin, forcing her to stare at him.

"You are a vampire. You are a monster. You are a killer. You've been denying your inner nature for so long. You want me to teach you how to be a real vampire? I am teaching you." Caroline shakes her head,

"Damon… I can't." His eyes harden,

"Then I can't help you." She turns to walk away but he calls after her, "Stefan was right about you. They all were. You are weak and you aren't worthy to call yourself a vampire. I'm ashamed to be of the same species as you. You're as pathetic as him!" Suddenly Caroline remembers what they had said to her, what they had tried to force her to be. She moves to face him again,

"Can't I just sit in between? Why do I have to be one or the other? Why do I have to be like you or him? Isn't there a third option?" He shakes his head,

"No. Not forever. You're either in or out." Caroline's face darkens and she hardens her resolve. She pushes Damon away from the man pressed against the wall and their victim's face briefly shows relief which is quickly replaced by fear as she takes up Damon's hold on him. She leans close and whispers,

"Listen closely. We're going to play a game. I'm going to let you go and you're going to run. I'll give you ten seconds and you're going to run as fast as you possibly can. If you can reach the police station around the corner before I catch you, then you get to live. If I catch you," she smirks maliciously, "then you die." She loosens her hold on him and he stares at her in stunned shock. "Run," she whispers but he doesn't move, frozen in fear so she smiles sweetly and begins to count.

"One," he suddenly regains control of his senses.

"Two," he turns and flees the pair.

"Three," he runs as fast as he can towards the end of the alleyway.

"Four," Damon watches her, silently impressed.

"Five," his footsteps echo through the silence.

"Six," he exits the alley and turns right.

"Seven," he can see the police station in sight and speeds up.

"Eight," he nears the doors. He's going to make it. He's going to live. He's going to be… his thoughts stop as a body slams him to the ground and teeth tear out his throat. Caroline pulls him back to the alleyway before attacking him further to avoid unwanted attention from the police. In the darkness she begins to feed on the unmoving man. She savours the sweetness of the blood as it pours down her throat. Its richness nearly makes her squeal in ecstasy. As she feasts on her quarry, a deep voice sounds behind her,

"I though you said ten seconds." She turns to look at Damon and grins, dark red blood covering her teeth and surrounding her mouth,

"I lied."