Chapter 23

"Get Elena out of here" Damon was already on his feet and looking out the window.

"It's too late, there getting close and have the hotel surrounded" Stefan spoke quickly as he read the vampires' minds.

Damon looked at Elena, considering his options, "I could take her out the window?"

"They would follow you and her"

"Then we'll hide her in the hotel until we get rid of them" Elena couldn't help but feel like she wasn't even in the room the way they were talking about her.

"What if they track her down?"

Damon punched the wall frustrated, making a large hole in it, "Then what are we supposed to do?"

"We can go to the roof, fight them up there, Elena could stay up there, she would be close enough to protect that way" Damon couldn't bear to have her so unprotected, so close to a death match but what else could he do?

He slid the window open as far as it would and pulled himself out of it to stand on the narrow window ledge. He stretched his hand back in through the window to Elena, "Hope your not scared of heights" he flashed a 100 watt smile at her. Elena grabbed his hand and he helped her out.

"Not scared, terrified" she laughed but it wasn't heights she was terrified for it was Damon's life.

"Close your eyes" Damon whispered into her ear she obeyed and relaxed in his arms, she felt a rush if wind surround her as her feet was lifted off the ground, but she didn't fell herself falling down, the next thing she knew her feet touched the ground gently and her eyes opened to see she was on top on the hotel.

She followed Damon as he walked along the flat roof space looking for somewhere for Elena to stay, he walked over to the shadows of two walls that had a small space.

"Elena, I want you to know…" Elena knew what was coming and cut him off before he could finish.

"Do not say good-bye, please" tears were forming in her eyes and threatening to spill.

"I wont, just remember that I love you and always will, and I want to thank you, I haven't been a saint all my life so I'm almost certain heaven wouldn't want me unless I repent until my last breath but you've been heaven to me, like an angel you've made me feel like no one else can, don't ever change" he kissed her forehead as her tears slipped from her eyelashes.

"Damon" Stefan's called from the other side of the roof, they were getting closer, Elena knew by the growing fear gnawing inside her.

"I love you too" Elena knew there was nothing left to say but that, Damon kissed her lips lightly leaving them tingling as he walked to stand by his brothers side.

They sky darkened and mist enveloped the roof space. Elena couldn't hear anything but out of nowhere a man jumped out from behind Damon. Elena nearly screamed but bit down on her tongue to stop herself. Damon's body jerked around before the man had even touched him, he stepped gracefully out of the way and the man's body crashed into the ground, Damon bent down and in a quick motion broke the vampire's neck, his body blocking Elena's view.

Elena felt a surge of relief flow through her but it didn't last long, as another vampire dressed all in black appeared and tried to sink his teeth into Damon's neck. Stefan tackled him to the floor as Damon went over to help another vampire came, they were all aiming there efforts into trying to kill Damon, like they were instructed to.

The vampire gripped Damon's neck as Damon pushed him backwards, Damon bite into his neck and ripped off his head. Stefan produced a vervain injection from his pocket and stabbed it into the vampire's chest.

The vampire body thrust forward then went still. Everything was still and quiet. Elena was about to run to Damon but she stopped herself as she heard clapping.

Another vampire was walking along the ledge of the roof, clapping his hands, but not looking too impressed. His hair was a dark brown, and hung down to his shoulders. His presence was malicious and spiteful. He jumped down from the ledge and onto the roof like a cat.

He was looking directly at Damon but his eyes flickered to Stefan for a second, in the second Stefan fell to the ground, his body not moving, this was what Silvestro did to Elena, because he was stronger Damon thought to himself releasing the amount of Power that this vampire must have.

He walked over to Damon with deliberate slowness, the tension filling the atmosphere. He pounced on Damon throwing him against the wall; he was in his side in an instant, he gripped Damon's hair and pulled it backwards, revealing his neck. Damon tried to pull away but the vampire's strength was overpowering. His teeth bit into Damon's necks, making him hiss with anger, there was no way Damon was willing going to give him blood, this was torturing him as the vampire drew out his blood.

Damon had said to Elena "don't ever change" and she wasn't going to, she always did what ever it took to protect people she loved, hearing Damon's screams was like being repeatedly stabbed in the gut. So she took a deep breath, untwined Damon's shirt from her still bleeding arm and stepped out of her hiding place…