Thanks for the reviews everybody, here's the next chapter x

Chapter 33

Damon fell to his knees beside Elena, he admired her angelic face that looked at peace, he hated to admit it to himself but Stefan was right, it was inevitable that Elena would turn into a vampire.

He felt a self-loathing feeling but this time he didn't shut off his emotions he endured it. He gathered Elena's fragile, broken body into his arms, placing her in his lap as tears formed in his eyes. He wiped them furiously, he hadn't cried since 1864 and he knew he needed to be strong for Elena because soon she would wake up but sitting here, looking at her eyelashes covering her beautiful eyes, he blamed himself.

He placed her gently on a soft mat, and walked over to Katherine, needing to get rid of her body, he pulled out the stake he had made, from her chest.

He gathered all the wood up in a pile, so he could start a fire, but before he got out his lighter from his pocket, he heard noises outside.

"Where are we supposed to go now?" a muffled voice said.

"I don't know, maybe we could have found her already if you didn't stop to get wine"

Damon recognised these voices, it was Robert and Judith. They were walking past the abandoned warehouse. Damon ran to Elena, picking up her body, he broke the lock on the window and climbed out. In a matter of seconds they were back at Damon's house.

He laid Elena's body in the bed; he hated leaving her, especially because she would be awake soon, but he had to go back to the warehouse and hide Katherine's body.

When he came back to the warehouse though Robert and Judith were looking in, curious to see why the door was broke down. Damon hid in the shadows in the corner of the warehouse.

"We could check in at a hotel and look for her in the morning" Robert said anxiously, not wanting to go in any further.

"It's only ten o'clock; she might still be at the festival"

"You can't be sure she even went to the festival though" he froze at the door; Judith looked over at him following his gaze. He was looking wide eyed at blonde haired girl lying on the ground of the warehouse.

"No" Judith said in a choked voice, "No!" she ran to Katherine's body, checking to see if she was breathing.

"Elena…please Elena wake up" she said shaking Katherine's shoulders, tears streaming down her face.

Robert was gripping onto the door for support, breathing in shallow gasps. Damon shook his head in disbelief, they were mourning the wrong girl they were mourning the girl who killed their niece.

He didn't think Katherine deserved their sympathy so he stepped out of the corner, Robert and Judith's heads' snapping up in shock and fear.

"You killed her!" Judith shouted hysterically, "Get away from us or I'll…I'll call the police"

Robert went swiftly to Judith's side, attempting to be protective.

"I didn't kill Elena" Damon's voice was hypnotic as Robert and Judith's pupils dilated, compelled.

"You didn't kill Elena" they repeated in unison.

"You're going to go back to Fell's church now, Elena's safe and alive, you're not worried" Damon's eyes darkened, Elena wouldn't want him compelling her family but it was easier this way.

Aunt Judith stood mechanically, dropping Katherine's shoulders back to the floor.

They walked out together leaving an eerie silence with their departure. Damon picked up Katherine's body, not as gently as he had picked up Elena's; he went out the window again and ran to the nearest forest.

He removed Katherine's ring, putting it in his back pocket. He left her by an oak tree, knowing that in the morning she would be burned in the sunlight, not that she would feel it anyway because she was dead. He thought it was appropriate since that was how she faked her death, resting beside a tree without wearing a ring in the daylight.

He turned away from her, and felt a weight being lifted of his shoulders; he only had enough love for one person now, Elena.

…

Elena's POV

I could feel a warm, comforting hand entwined with mine, but I wasn't ready to open my eyes yet. I wanted to look into his dark eyes, see his beautifully sculpted face, and kiss his perfectly blood red lips but I felt too weak to lift my eyelids, that was ok though because just knowing he was near me was all I needed.

My throat felt like it was on fire, my teeth were carving to bite into something, but I couldn't remember what it was that I needed. The last thing I remembered was being in Damon's arms at the carnival and then… nothing, my mind went blank after that.

I could hear Damon's deep breaths beside me; they were controlled and comforting that I felt myself drifting back into unconsciousness of my dreams…

I was at Robert E. Lee High, walking down the corridors, everyone was happy and chatting to each other, until they seen me. Their smiles disappeared, leaving looks of disgust and in some, fear. My pace quickened, feeling self-conscious, I breathed a sigh of relief as I seen Bonnie and Meredith standing by my locker.

As I walked over to them, I smiled brightly, only then realising how much I missed them. They looked around, smiling at me but they took a step away as soon as they saw my face. I was growing anxious now, what was wrong with everybody?

Meredith was the first to recover, "What's on your lips?" she hesitantly handed me a compact mirror. Instinctively I licked my lips, tasting something that tasted like the wine I had at a festival once… but it was a million times sweeter, more tempting.

I looked into the small mirror, my lips were covered with something red, and my canines were sharper, extended down further. I dropped the mirror, it shattered into pieces on the floor, and I then knew what was on my lips, blood.

I ran back up the corridors, towards the exit, that seemed to be getting further away from me, so I ran faster, pushing myself forward, finally I pushed my way through the doors, gasping for breath.

Damon appeared out of thin air in front of me, I fell into his arms, holding onto him tightly. He held me up running his fingers through my hair he whispered, "Its ok, you're dreaming" he said soothingly, "Can you try wake up for me, Princess?"

I nodded still clinging onto him; I forced myself to open my eyes properly, thinking of Damon so that I would be strong enough.

…

Elena's eyelashes fluttered, showing Damon glimpses of the eyes that he needed desperately to see.

"Damon" Elena's voice came out raspy, she again could feel her throat burning, her neck was throbbing, she didn't know why though.

"It's ok, Elena ,she can't hurt you anymore" Damon's hand traced the outline of her jaw, leading down to her neck, he could tell just by touching her neck it was healing already. They were quiet for a few minutes as they stared at each other, Elena tried to process Damon's words, who wouldn't hurt me anymore? Elena thought gravely.

Then it all came flooding down on her, she remembered everything that happened down to the last second before she died…She was now sitting in Damon's darkened room but she could see him clearly, and she could hear the music that was coming from the festival, half way across town, like she was right there beside the speakers.

Damon put a ring on her finger; it was exactly like his, except it was gold. She now knew that the burning in her throat was from the craving she felt for blood, and her neck was throbbing because it had only recently been broken.

"I'm a vampire" it wasn't a question, Elena knew that's what must of happened, that's what Katherine wanted to happen because she knew it would infuriate Damon.

"Not fully, not unless you drink human blood" Damon looked down, she would die if she didn't and he couldn't bare that but he had to let her make the choice, she didn't want her to be forced into her decision.

"Then I will" Elena said confidently, even though she couldn't make her voice go higher than a whisper. If drinking blood meant that she would be with Damon forever, then she was willing to do it…

I'll update soon, hope you liked it! Please review and let me know if you have any ideas, JGE xx