DPOV

I dashed upstairs at vamp speed and in less than twenty seconds I had every room checked, every nook and cranny, any place a person could hide. Or in this case, a vampire. I ran to my room and found a single piece of white parchment. It was wrapped with Elena's hair.

I bet you loved that, didn't you Damon? You must have been shattered to find out it was only me. You won't find Elena's necklace; I took it with me as a lasting reminder of that little game. Elena will wake up in a couple of hours. I will do worse next time, that is, if you don't call your annoying brother off. I hate being followed.

Cheerio then.

N. Darke

That bastard.

I hurried back down the stairs and picked up the phone.

"Stefan. Call it off." I snarled.

"What? Why?" Stefan asked, obviously confused.

"Because Darke came and attacked Elena. That's why."

"Oh my God! Is she okay? When I get my hands on him I'll-"

"No, Stefan! He'll hurt Elena again! He stole her vervain! I can't protect her if I can't tell if she's been compelled! You'll have to find another ring, Stefan, unless you want Elena to be hurt." I growled.

"Damon, you have to try to take care of her, because until I get my ring back, I won't be able to. I have to go now brother. I trust you with this."

"NO!" I shouted down into the phone, but Stefan was already gone. That idiot! He was going to get Elena killed!

I walked over to the couch and sat behind Elena. She was convulsing continually so it was all I could do to try and comfort her.

"There, there, princess. You'll be okay. I won't let anything else hurt you. Shhhh." I whispered to her whilst stroking her cheek methodically. "Everything will be all right."

EPOV

Everything burned. I saw the field around me, which used to be the place of my dreams so often, become the place of my nightmares. Everyone was screaming. Jenna, Bonnie, Stefan... Damon. All of my friends and family and neighbours were in absolute agony. All I could see for miles was fire and thick, acrid smelling smoke. I screamed and cried as the burning engulfed me.

DPOV

It had been a couple of hours since I called Stefan, and Elena was still shuddering. I had dressed her in jeans and a t-shirt and had looked into her mind quite a few times now and what I saw was always the same. Burning. Death. Pain. I'd even tried compelling her to dream of something else, but that just made her fits worse. I leant down to kiss her and felt her soft lips against mine. Then she opened her eyes.

EPOV

Suddenly, all my anguish stopped as I opened my eyes and saw/felt Damon kissing me. His eyes seemed to sparkle, and then I realised why. Damon was crying.

"Shh, shhhh." I hushed him. "What's the matter?" I cooed.

He angrily wiped his eyes. "I was so worried about you. I saw your dreams and your agony and every time I tried to help, it seemed only to make you worse..."

"That's not all, is it?" I whispered.

"...He tricked me. Darke. He compelled you... to say that you had... chosen me over Stefan. Then you collapsed and I realised that wasn't you..."

"Oh, Damon... Oh, I'm so sorry." I sobbed. I felt disgusted with myself.

"Don't be. It wasn't your fault." He replied angrily. "I just wish it could have been true."

"Maybe I should go..."

"No. I need to protect you from this guy. He won't stop trying to hurt you. I need to stay with me." He said, and then he took my face in his hands and kissed me tenderly. It was the sweetest thing Damon had ever done for me. I realised I shouldn't be doing this. What about Stefan? My mind shouted. But my hormones ruled. Stefan never gave you anything like this! They retaliated.

I began to kiss Damon back. I kissed him hard and passionately. He looked into my eyes and broke off the kiss.

"Elena-"

I pulled him back and let my hands run through his hair. He placed his hand on the small of my back and gently pushed me up against him. He then swiftly pulled his shirt off with his other hand. I moved my hands down from his hair and let them trace the planes of his rock hard, muscled chest. Damon picked me up bridal style and carried me up to his room, his lips never lifting of mine. I reclined my neck.

"Take me..." I shuddered. "I'm yours."

I didn't need to say it twice.