A booming thud of the front door against the wall shook the entire house as he rushed inside, fangs still waiting in anticipation and eyes wide open with shock. It was growing immensely more difficult for him to process everything that had happened. And it was nearly impossible to keep himself from rushing back to lap up every last remaining drop of blood. He flung himself to the doorway of the common room of the estate, and gripping it for dear life he could not help his chest from heaving against the shear desire to kill, to feed. What had he unleashed? At that moment two curiously startled faces rounded the corner and took in the scene of his desperation.

"Stefan? What is wrong?" She looked him over frantically, hoping no one had followed him to their collective safe haven. His eyes and twisted face were immediate warnings, but it was the blood on his hand she smelled that worried her the most. "Oh, no...what have you done?" She questioned sympathetically, her voice trailing as she lifted her dress to walk towards him. Her eyes spoke differently as they burned into his, fierce with the intent to understand what caused his distress.

He opened his mouth to speak but no words escaped his lips. He was struggling to remain in control of himself and it was projecting heavily onto those who witnessed it. Like a deer in headlights Stefan remained trembling against the doorway, mouth ajar, unable to fully stimulate speech. The two figures remained cautious, awaiting some sort of response that seemed eternally drawn out. But in a moment hands were gripping Stefan's shoulders, urging him with force to come to some sort of calm and explain the situation he carried with him.

"Brother," He pleaded steadily, allowing his piercing eyes to break the trance he was so flustered by. ",tell us what has happened." Stefan looked up to find him scanning his face desperately and loosened his grip on the doorframe, the faint impression of his hands upon the wood was darkened with his own blood. He blinked rapidly, regaining a sense of reality and took a steady breath before meeting the eyes of her standing behind his brother. She returned his glance with a carefully reassuring nod.

"I-I'm not sure what I've seen was real..." He answered, almost inaudibly as he loosened his stance and began to rise on his own. He looked down to his hands then, realizing all traces of the woman who set fire to his tamed hunger was dissolved into a frantic stupor. The event left him questioning his sanity all together. Did he kill the poor girl and construe a fantasy in his mind? He looked up at his brother then, confused and afraid for what may have truly taken place.

"Damon, I stumbled upon something terrible in the woods. A girl-"

"Oh, Stefan!" She disrupted, her tone foreshadowing his presumed guilt. "Please tell me you have not taken a life tonight?"

"I think he's capable of explaining that himself, Alexia!" Damon pressured, turning to face the premature accusations. The entire ordeal was becoming an overwhelming guessing game of murderous intentions.

"Please, brother, I understand her worries." He said as he raised a hand to cease the heightening of voices. He took a moment to exchange glances to them both; equal proportions of frustration and worry blanketed their faces. "While hunting as usual, I discovered a strange object in a clearing of the woods. It was another-" He gulped then, closing his eyes in remembrance to the strange reoccurring phenomena. ",it was another cross." They shifted restlessly, and Damon stared at Stefan for further elaboration.

"This time there was a young woman tied to it. She was also staked."

"A vampire?" Alexia prodded, her eyebrow lifting slightly. This wasn't an uncommon feat in Mystic Falls with the vampiric cleansing still in process. Stefan cast his eyes downward, failing to hide his shame. Damon understood in that instant what happened, but unlike Alexia he accepted his brother's torment without much strain.

"No." He replied. Damon swallowed hard, wondering if he had become the killer again that he worked so hard to prevent. "She was staked at the limbs..." Alexia gasped. He raised his head to meet their eyes and outstretched his hands as if to explain his regrettable reasoning. "Her blood...I became transfixed in an instant, Alexia! The smell reached for miles, I-I could not help but taste-"

"Stop! Do not tell me anymore, Stefan, I have heard quite enough." Alexia said as she closed her eyes and raised her pearly, satin gloved hand for him to stop talking altogether. As she turned with her elegant royal blue dress to start up the stairs, she pointed towards the still opened doorway. "Please, assure no one has followed you." And with that, she disappeared, her curtain of blond curls trailing behind her.

Stefan was at a loss of words. He was a clear disgrace, and he hated himself for it. For wasting countless days conditioning himself to the customary diet of animals and becoming aware of his humanity instead of shunning it. For being irresponsible in the presence of a mentor, a friend. A light hand rested on his shoulder, and in that moment he became aware that he had downcast his face and shed a few tears in his state of resentment. He looked up to meet his brother's comforting expression, one of forgiving acceptance projected through icy blue eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, Stephan cut him short.

"Go." He stated starkly. A look of disorientation crossed Damon's calm demeanor. His brows furrowed as he studied his brother intently. "I have only tasted her stale blood, brother, what was left scattered on the ground; she is still alive out there." Stefan silently pleaded, his eyes falling downcast again. They both knew in that instant who had the ability to control their urgencies when faced with such a scenario.

He was entirely unsure that Stefan was telling the whole truth about what he'd seen or done, partly because it seemed so outlandish for him to have tasted her blood and suppressed his instinct to kill. But nevertheless, he regarded his brother with respectable subtlety and nodded an unseen goodbye, hastening towards the woods immediately after.

Note from author:
The Vampiric Cleanings are ongoing in Mystic Falls ever since the discovery of vampires existence in the town. The vampires are staked upon crosses and left as a reminder to others of their supposed abomination.
Ratings and Reviews are welcome,
Celic