Chapter 14

Damon slumped over against the grave stone. His blood dripping slowly down the rough writing. They were in the oldest part of the cemetary, Damon could scarcely remember the names from when he lived in Fells Church, in 1873. These grave stones were older than that. His fathers grand father would be buried here, and his mother's old house maid would be laid here deep in the ground, probably dust now.

Damon tried to distract himself a moment longer, but then the red head was thrown to the ground next to him and Meredith after her. He didn't know what Shinichi was doing, but the red head did. If he could just make a tunnel from their thoughts to block out Shinichi ... But no, he wasn't strong enough for that. He wasn't even strong enough to turn into a bird, let alone transmit any thoughts! And he wouldn't be strong enough until he got a pretty maiden with alluring thoughts and rich blood.

"SILENCE!" Shinichi screamed in front of them- though no one was speaking.

Bonnie grunted next to Damon and he watched in awe as she slid onto her knees and then to her feet. "I won't help." She whispered. "And it won't work unless the witch is in consent. I won't do it."

Shinichi looked her over with a twinkle in his ruby eyes. "Ah, but, darling, you forgot the part where your of my property now, and you do as I say."

"Your property?" The red head hissed. "In which world are you living in."

Damon enjoyed watching her little display, but was also equally enraged.

"In my world, mahoutsukai." Shinichi smiled wickedly. Then paused for a moment, beginning to walk back and forth slowly, with every turn getting closer and closer. "But-" he continued. "Have you forgotten the time where we exchanged blood?"

Bonnie stiffened and Damon's insides froze. No! he thought. Never would Bonnie let Shinichi take her blood... Unless- she didn't have a choice. That set a new blaze off inside Damon and his nostrils flared aggressively.

Meredith's cool voice sounded in the dark cemetery. "What?" She snapped.

Bonnie shifted, ignoring Meredith. "You stole my blood, and a drop of my Powers. But that does not make me your property." She somehow managed to say it with an inflection that made it sound like a nasty word.

"Oh, yes, darling. It most certainly does."

Bonnie sputtered and looked to Damon.

"Kitsune-live a very-different life." He gasped, ignoring the pain in his chest when he spoke. "When one exchanges-anything-with a kitsune-well, that's basically-giving them a written invitation into your mind and-well, life."

Damon saw tears in Bonnie's wide brown eyes. Her bottom lip quivered and he knew she wanted to shout 'But that's not fair!', but something inside stopped her.

"I-I," She whispered, her eyes dropping and tears running down her pale face.

That was when Damon discovered his strength. He still needed to put up a fight, and nothing Shinichi would do could stop him. Meredith couldn't do anything against Shinichi, but he could. But, first, there was someone he needed to send a little message to.

Little brother, if you can hear me, I send my deepest apologies. I'm in the Old Wood Cemetery with Bonnie and Meredith. And you never believe who's here. Hurry- there's not much time.

And, just like that, Damon flicked off his telepathy and acted like nothing had just happened. To his surprise, tears still running down Bonnie's face, Shinichi still smirking cruelly, nothing had changed. No one knew, and Damon was still powerful. He could feel it in his muscles and hear it in his senses. He was Damon Salvatore. A savior. And he had just enough strength and wit to save them all.

.

Elena and Stefan drove down the bumpy road to the Old Wood. Elena wondered if Stefan really did know where they were going- but bit her tongue for a moment longer. Right now her best friends could be dead and Damon could be as well. Or they could be horribly injured or with the kitsune. Elena shuddered violently and looked at Stefan.

"We've been driving for a while now, Stefan."

"I know, Elena. But I know where I'm going. Patience."

Elena hated when Stefan talked to her like a child- especially in situations where she was already frustrated. "Sure, you do, but could you maybe go a bit faster?"

"I'm pushing it, Elena." Stefan said.

Elena glanced at the speed dial- 105. "Not fast enough- seeing as we're not there!"

"Patience," Stefan repeated.

"I'm done with patience! Being patient has gotten me no where!" Elena huffed. "So shut it."

Elena saw Stefan's Adam's apple bob up then down as he swallowed. He said nothing more, his hands clenched tightly around the steering wheel. Elena sighed, "I'm sorry for losing my temper." She paused, taking a breath. "It's just Bonnie or Meredith could be hurt, or-or d-dead-" Elena broke off, her breath coming in hitches and clear moisture touching her eyes.

Stefan pulled over then grabbed her hand and stroked it lovingly. "Shh," he gently coaxed her. "All is well, my little lovely love. All is well. I'm picking up Damon's mind right now. Him, Bonnie and Meredith are all together and they want us to meet them at ..." Stefan trailed off, then put the car in Drive. "At the Old Wood Cemetery."

Elena blinked away the tears. "What's wrong?" She asked as he sped back down the road towards the cemetery. She laid one hand on his forearm and looked with concerned dark blue eyes at the perfect planes of his face. "Stefan ..."

He didn't answer, his eyes kept flickering to her face, then quickly away. He watched the rough surface of the road, his eyes sometimes scanning the trees.

"Stefan, what's wrong?" Elena felt new tears in her eyes. "Is.. Is someone hurt."

He didn't answer.

Tears flooded out of her eyes and her mouth puckered. "Stefan!" She cried. "Why are you torturing me this way?"

He looked startled at her. "I'm doing no such thing."

"Is someone hurt, Stefan?" She asked, her eyes silently pleading him to tell her the truth.

He let out a breath, then his leaf-green eyes flashed to her face and bore into her eyes. "Shinichi is there."

Elena's breath caught in her throat. If Shinichi was there ... If they were in a cemetery ... If Damon was worried enough to tell his brother ... If Bonnie- a well crafted witch, Bonnie a girl who'd studied with her grandmother all summer about druids and their methods and spells- was there ... "We have to get there- now!" Elena gasped.

Stefan's eyes turned darker, and deadly. His tone was a deep gravelly sound, "Yes."

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A/N What do you guys think? :D Did I get it to you guys fast enough? Sorry if not! :/ Still been uber busy! But I think this Chapter is pretty long and satisfying! :) Please review or even message me! I love all sorts of criticism! :) XOXO- Simmy