Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I don't own the Vampire Diaries. I'm just borrowing.

Note: Thanks for the great reviews on the first chapter of "Cat and Mouse." I appreciate them greatly. With that in mind, I'm now going to venture forward with the next installment. No spoilers, just follow along.

Elena's Apartment – 2 Hours Later...

Elena sighed as she walked into her apartment, the memory of what that girl's body looked like still fresh in her mind. It sickened her to think that there were men out there in the world who thought that it was okay to take an innocent life. However, there was one thing Elena didn't quite understand and that was why did that girl have to die the way she did? Was Damon really trying to send a message and he was using her to do it? Whatever it was, it made Elena's stomach churn. This case was getting more and more perplexing by the minute, that was for sure.

"Another horrible night at work?"

The familiar voice of her roommate, Caroline Forbes, brought Elena out of her reverie. A horrible night was the understatement of the year. Tonight was more like a shitty night, and Elena had a feeling that she was going to see that girl's face in her sleep for weeks.

"That's putting it mildly," she replied. "There was another murder."

"Yeah, they just mentioned it on the news," said Caroline. "God, I can't imagine anyone being that cruel as to take that girl's life like that. The bastard that killed her has to be brought to justice."

"Believe me, Caroline, I'm working on it," said Elena. "Finding the asshole who did this has taken up most of my time these past few weeks." She sighed. "I just wish that he didn't elude me every time. Just once, I wish I could see what he looks like, you know? The only thing I know is his name, Damon Salvatore, and that his victims are young, mostly teenagers."

"That leaves women like you and me out, huh?" said Caroline. "We're in our twenties."

"Yeah, but don't be surprised if that changes," said Elena. "As bitter a taste it leaves in my mouth, Damon will eventually get bored with killing teenagers and seek girls who are past that age, like college age and above."

As she spoke, Elena hoped that wasn't going to happen, because she wouldn't be able to live with herself if Caroline got targeted. She was her best friend and if Damon ever hurt her...God, she didn't want to think about it.

Caroline noticed how quiet Elena became after a few minutes. "Are you okay, Elena?"

Elena nodded, even though she really wasn't. "Yeah, I'm just tired. This case is kicking my ass and the sooner it's solved, the sooner I can go back to the Special Victims Unit, even though that department is even more dangerous than Homicide."

Caroline nodded. She was dating Tyler Lockwood, who happened to work in the Special Victims Unit, and she knew exactly what Elena meant. There wasn't a night that went by that she didn't worry about him. In fact, she worried about Elena too, and what she was dealing with in her temporary spot in Homicide, which made her glad she worked in the District Attorney's office, even though she saw some weird shit there too.

"Well, I hope you nail Damon for what he did," she said. "He deserves to be locked up and never see the light of day again."

Elena forced a smile at her enthusiasm. "We'll get him, Caroline, I promise. The District Attorney's office is going to have a field day, if it isn't already."

Not giving Caroline a chance to answer, Elena went to her room to hopefully rest up before she got another call. As she entered the room, she couldn't help but get the feeling that she was being watched, but how could that be when she was the only one in the room? Ignoring the shiver that went up her spine, Elena took off her leather jacket and holster, placing the jacket on the hook on the door and the holster on her nightstand in case she had to defend herself.

No sooner did she do this than she felt that eerie feeling again, which made her heart hammer in her chest and another shiver up her spine.

"Relax, Elena," she said to herself. "Nobody's here, so there's no reason to think that you're being watched."

Damon's HQ...

Damon smirked as he was watching the footage on the screen. He had just tapped into the camera within the apartment complex that Elena and Caroline were living in and he had heard the self talk that Elena had just used.

"Ah, but Detective, you are being watched," he said. "You just don't know that you are." He licked his lips again. "You have no idea just how irresistible you are to me and that sooner or later, you will fall into my grasp." Chuckling, he added, "I just hope that the nightmares you have aren't too frightening, because I want to see you at your bravest when we meet."

As he continued to watch the screen, he was approached by his accomplice, Klaus, who also licked his lips at the image of Elena on the screen, even though he was already dating a stripper named Rose, whom he met a few months ago at his favorite gentleman's club.

"She's lovely, Damon," he said. "You have impeccable taste."

Damon smirked at the other man. "Why, thank you. Detective Gilbert is the perfect target for me. She may not know that I've been tracking her, but when our paths finally do cross, I guarantee that she'll know why I'm known as the Black Devil."

"Indeed," said Klaus. "So, should I keep placing the bodies of our victims in places where she can find them?"

"Yes," said Damon. "In order for my plan to work, Elena needs to find the presents I leave for her. It's a bit morbid, yes, but it's a necessary evil, so to speak. Though, it is a shame that those girls all have to meet such violent ends when they're at such pretty ages. The last one was exquisite, her hair as radiant as the flame that burns within Elena."

Klaus nodded. "So, when will we strike next?"

"Tomorrow night," said Damon. "We'll pick another beautiful young victim and leave her body where it can easily be found."

Klaus smiled. "Sounds like a plan to me. If all goes well, your path will cross with Detective Gilbert's sooner than you think."

Damon smirked and said nothing, watching the screen again. Elena had just stretched out onto her bed and was trying to get some sleep. As he watched her, Damon felt himself getting hard. God, she had a magnificent body and soon, he would get to run his hands all over it, touching her every curve and sample her sweet lips.

Note: Chapter 2 of "Cat and Mouse" is complete. Is it wrong that I wish that Damon was watching me?

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