BLOODSHARED

Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries or any of the characters. I just like to play in their world:)

Chapter 18 ~ Darkness

I am running, it's dark and sweat is pouring off me and I'm trembling with fear. Trees and thick underbrush are everywhere. I stumble over something unseen and quickly right myself and I have an eery feeling, someone is chasing me but I don't know who. Every few seconds in panic, I turn to look behind me but I see no one, I hear nothing, just a deafening silence. I run as fast as my tired feet will carry me searching for a place to hide. I'm now in a cold clammy sweat from the crisp cool night air. My chest is heaving but I can't hear myself breathe, I fall down and look around and notice blood, my bare-feet are bleeding from cuts and scrapes. I feel a creepy chill run up my spine and despite my few seconds of distraction Fear takes hold again! I scramble to my feet with enough force that I topple forward back to the ground, from my knees I push up with all my might, I'm exhausted but I must get on my feet and run fast again until I find a place to hide! This is surreal, like a horror movie, out of the silence, other than my thoughts, I hear a bird Squawking, it flies right in front of my face, in one quick swoop. My hands are flailing away and I see it is a black crow. I change direction and increase my speed running as fast as I possibly can, as I look behind me to see if the crow is gone I slam hard into what I think is a tree! Dazed I turn around and I don't see a tree but it's Damon and his full on vamp face! Fangs fully extended, Red veins moving like little worms around his eyes, blood red eyes and there is a hissing sound so loud I cover my ears, Damon lunges at me! I scream so loud that I feel pain in my ear drums, then there is a tapping that I feel, my scream stops...tap...tap tap..tap tap..I open my eyes, confused, and there are crystal blue eyes staring at me, his eyes are full of emotion and Fear. I'm so confused, shouldn't I be the one afraid? Slowly I hear sound again but as If I am in a tunnel, it takes a few minutes to realize Damon is popping my face with his hand and saying over and over..

"Elena! Are you okay?"

After another minute or two I remember...the feed...the lightheaded feeling...passing out! I push with my hands to scoot myself upright against the wall and Damon is cupping my face with his hands. Why does he look so scared, I wonder? I try to talk and open my mouth but I feel faint again, Damon quickly vamps out and bites his inner wrist, I try to scoot away, suddenly fearful he is going to attack me but before I can get away he shoves his wrist against my mouth hard and in a stern voice...

"It's okay Elena, just Drink! You need Blood! I'm so sorry, I must of gotten carried away and took too much from you. Please drink!"

He has a worried tone to his voice and his eyes scream fear...pure fear! His wrist still pressed firmly against my mouth now It takes a minute for my brain to catch up and realize...he's right! I need Blood! I feel so faint. I start to press my lips to suck from the wound, which is smaller now that it's started to heal, so I have to really put force behind it. I suck and draw four or five mouthfuls, swallowing them quickly and a new strange feeling washes over me, it's a peaceful feeling...Bliss...all faintness and fear disappear along with the dizziness as well...it's now just pure Damon, as I drink my body begins to completely relax and a new feeling arises, it is a warm sensation like I've been blanketed in Love and Protection along with an invisible Ora around me and I just stare into his eyes.

As Damon pulls his wrist away, a small smile plays on my lips and I feel needy. Damon's eyes have lost there fear and now look glassy and soften with some tender emotion behind them and he too has a small smile on his lips, a crooked smile that I can see and feel in my soul and at the exact same time we both reach up and with the pad of our thumbs we gently swipe across one anothers bottom lip, letting my eyes drop to his soft lips and feeling that spark between us again in waves, then I look up and our eyes meet again and before I know it, our heads are leaning toward each other slowly of their own accord, as we get really close I close my eyes and feel his lips ever so gently touch mine, I'm stunned at the softness and there's also an electric current flowing between us. I feel a passion in me that is building, racing even but there is a holding back, like a dam holds back rushing water. I part my lips slightly, his tongue slides gently across my lips, my body begins to tremble on the inside. The electric current is still flowing but now concentrated at our lips, I close my lips onto his and deepen the kiss. I place my hands on his forearms to steady myself, Damon has one hand on each side of my head, he's gentle not forceful and as intense as the kiss is without any tongue, it's also simple...soft...slow. In this moment I feel so connected to him, I have never felt this connected to anyone in my entire life...in this sweet moment we are..one. I never want this to end. My eyes are closed and I see streamers inside my eyelids that flow in harmony with the current between us. Just as I truly surrender, fully letting the current take me...he pulls back...desperate to make sure I'm alright...

"How do you feel Elena?" he asks softly.

I want to say that I feel like I've died and went to heaven...but only one word comes out of my mouth...

"Fine." I say in a low small voice.

The pad of his thumb is caressing my cheek, his eyes are so intense, he has never looked more beautiful and more human...Never!...I am startled from my thoughts when his hand clamps over my mouth, I'm confused...surprised...I don't understand! Then he whispers...

"Stefan's home, quietly go to his room."

Damon stands me up too fast and I feel dazed, I look at him and suddenly he takes action and vamps me out of the room, a second later I'm in Stefan's room and with a light breeze he's gone...I hear Stefan coming up the steps and saying my name...

"Elena...Elena are you here?"

I quickly kick off my boots and lay on his bed, my heart is pounding and again I hear...

"Elena!" he calls, a little louder this time.

"I'm in here." answering in a low voice afraid it's too shaky.

"I thought you were going home." Stefan states as he enters his room.

"Oh..um..Jenna and Jeremy weren't home yet. So I just thought I'd come here. You don't mind...do you?" I add.

"Of coarse not Elena, I'm glad your here. How are you feeling?" concern in his voice.

"I was lightheaded, but I feel better now that I've rested." at least there is some truth in this answer.

"Do you need anything?" he asks.

"No, I'm fine, just very tired feeling." I say adding in a fake yawn.

"Okay, well I'm going to change and go hunt, I didn't get to go today and I should be back in an hour or so." he states.

"Sounds good, I'm gonna go to sleep now anyways." I say standing to get some night clothes I keep here.

I head to the bathroom to change and brush my teeth, hopefully before Stefan can smell or taste.. traces of Damon's blood in my mouth. Stefan gets some sweat pants and a t-shirt, so I brush my teeth first in case he comes in here to kiss me before he leaves..he has not come in so I wash up and change and when I come out of the bathroom he's already left the bedroom. I breathe out a sigh of relief and crawl into his bed, burying myself under the covers.

I'm so relieved Stefan left, I need some alone time to process this whole crazy night. I roll over to gaze out the window and realize the bedroom light is still on, I get up and shut it off quietly hoping that Damon does not hear me and want to talk. I know he heard that Stefan was leaving with his vamp hearing and that he will hear me no matter what, but I still run on my tip toes back to bed because a girl has to try...right? I turn on my side facing the window, I can star gaze and pretend I'm asleep if Damon walks by. My mind is racing, thoughts from every side, but as I close my eyes my lids feel so heavy and with all the Blood rushing, Loss, and drinking...I suddenly feel exhaustion taking over and I don't remember drifting off to sleep...

(Meanwhile Damon)

I'm pacing the floor and I know I'm in for another long night. I go downstairs to get some Bourbon and the dustpan to clean up the tumbler I broke earlier when she was in my room...Hmm...Elena in my room! I'm still shocked that she came here! I knew the very moment she busted through my door it was going to happen again! It took every ounce of my strength back at the Grill to get away, teasing her sent me into a frenzy. I needed that blonde badly, as much as I know I should of taken it out on her...she just isn't Elena! God I sound Whipped! This is crazy! Elena was so jealous, and even though I threw that fact at her like she did something wrong...I get it...watching her kiss Stefan earlier tonight at the Grill...was torture...like a toothpick being jabbed in my chest repeatedly, just missing my heart each time! Ugh! I know she's his...she belongs to Stefan and I know Elena knows I have feelings for her...ugh...this is Torture! Elena is not mine...but I want her to be so badly. Every second I was yelling at her tonight in my room I just wanted to grab her, kiss her, ….love her. It's driving me Mad and she's outta control too! I can't believe she came here like that! Everything in me wants to use this to my full advantage but Damn her! She is bringing my humanity back and I'm actually feeling guilty...I'm not really mad at her for wanting this, craving this...No! I'm mad at myself for ever agreeing to this in the first place!

Now we're connected and sharing this with her only makes me want her more and I can't have her! I need another drink. As I walk downstairs and pour another drink, I start thinking about the kiss. I have kissed a lot of women in my too long of existence and never have I ever felt the connection that I felt tonight and I wonder if she felt it to? She had to.

Stefan is gone hunting and I want to go talk to her but I know better, I know Elena, tomorrow she will wake up racked with guilt, if she can even sleep tonight. Then she will ignore me, pretend it never happened, then when she works up the nerve to speak to me..it will be...

(in my best woman impression) "Damon...you shouldn't have done that, this isn't right! We know it! I can't do this to Stefan...blah...blah...blah..."

I need to get away...Vacation...Trip...Distraction...anything...Yes..maybe I will figure out a plan and leave for awhile...

(A/N) Well there is chp 18 which totally went in a different direction than I intended lol. Anyway I realize there is 18 chapters and it has only been two days in the story so we need some time fast forward lol:) I would drop a hint on the next chapter but I am all caught up with what I had written so where it goes from here...we will have to see:) I promise to do my best to write and upload as often as I can though. Hope even in my inexperience and mistakes you are enjoying the story. Thanks for the reviews and thanks to those who are now following the story:) 3