## Chapter 24: A Risky Gambit
The next couple of days were a whirlwind of activity for Bella. Determined to outsmart Katherine, she poured over dusty grimoires and obscure websites, her mind racing with a hundred different plans. Sleep became a luxury she couldn't afford, fueled by a potent mix of coffee and adrenaline. She even missed Mayor Lockwood's funeral, much to Damon's amusement and Caroline's silent judgment.
When the others finally returned from their visit to John, they wore the weary air of those who had faced a formidable foe.
"So, the evil witch struck again?" Bella greeted them, already knowing the answer.
"Bingo," Damon confirmed, a hint of amusement in his voice despite the dark circles under his eyes. "A few threats, some more Elena impersonations, and a declaration of her undying love for Stefan, apparently."
Stefan shot his brother a withering look. "That's not quite how it happened."
Bella smirked, used to the Salvatore brothers' bickering. "Well, regardless of the specifics," she said, gesturing towards the sofa, "please, all have a seat. Because… I have a plan."
A collective look of surprise flitted across their faces. Here was Bella, the newest member of their motley crew, the one who had been on the receiving end of Katherine's cruelty, proposing a strategy.
"Really?" Elena asked, a flicker of hope igniting in her eyes. "You do? What is it?"
Bella straightened her shoulders, a hint of pride coloring her voice. "First, I'm going to need the deed to this house," she announced.
Damon and Stefan exchanged bewildered glances. "The deed?" Damon spluttered. "Why on earth would we need the deed?"
"Because," Bella continued, ignoring their confusion, "we're going to sign it over to Elena."
Elena's jaw dropped. "Wait, what?"
Bella, her voice brimming with newfound confidence, launched into the details of her plan. The house, imbued with Emily Bennett's protective spell, was their only true haven. By transferring ownership to Elena, they could potentially extend the spell's protection to her as well. Katherine, a mere vampire, wouldn't be able to breach the wards and harm Elena within the house.
"But what about Jeremy and Jenna?" Elena interjected, a wave of worry washing over her face.
Bella took a seat beside Elena, knowing the next part wouldn't be easy. "Jenna and Jeremy will have to leave," she said gently. "Compelled to forget about Mystic Falls and start fresh somewhere safe."
Elena recoiled, her eyes wide with disbelief. "No! I can't… I promised I wouldn't compel Jeremy again, and Jenna and Jeremy are all the family I have left. I can't just send them away."
A heavy silence descended upon the room. Stefan, ever the pragmatist, spoke up. "Elena, Bella has a point. Katherine is a ruthless manipulator. She won't hesitate to use Jenna and Jeremy against you. This might be the best way to keep them safe."
Tears welled up in Elena's eyes, but she shook her head stubbornly. "No, I won't do it. I can't." She rose abruptly and stormed out of the room, leaving the others staring after her in helpless frustration.
The slam of the front door echoed through the tense silence, the sound a stark contrast to the simmering anger that had filled the room moments before. Damon sauntered into the living room, a half-empty bottle of bourbon clutched loosely in his hand. He poured himself another generous serving, the amber liquid swirling in the glass mirroring the turmoil within him.
Just as he was about to head for the stairs, a flash of movement caught his eye. Katherine, perched on the edge of the sofa, a smirk playing on her lips, was the unwelcome visitor.
"Very brave of you to come here," he drawled, his voice laced with a dangerous calm.
Katherine's smirk widened. "Why, Damon," she purred, her voice dripping with faux innocence. "I just wanted to say goodbye. Thought I'd bid farewell to the little Mrs. Salvatore as well."
Damon's jaw clenched. "Even braver mentioning my wife in my presence," he said, his voice low and menacing. "What happened to that grand, diabolical plan you no doubt had cooked up before you graced us with your presence? Leaving so soon?"
Katherine feigned hurt. "Oh, come now," she said, batting her eyelashes. "I know when I'm not wanted."
A sardonic chuckle escaped Damon's lips. "Don't flatter yourself, Katherine," he said, taking a swig of his drink. "It's not about being wanted. It's about being tolerated. Which, in your case, is a very slim margin."
Katherine scoffed, the playful facade slipping for a moment. "Ouch," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Damon finished his drink and turned to leave, his patience wearing thin. But before he could take a step, Katherine was in front of him, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
"What, no goodbye kiss?" she purred, her voice barely a whisper.
"Why don't I just kill you instead?" Damon countered, his voice devoid of humor. "Guaranteed wouldn't need compulsion to want to do that."
A flicker of anger sparked in Katherine's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a predatory glint. "What are you doing here, Katherine?" he asked, his voice laced with a weariness that belied his curiosity.
She tilted her head, a playful smile gracing her lips. "Nostalgia, curiosity, et cetera," she said vaguely. "How's married life treating you? Still everything dreams are made of?"
Damon smirked, a genuine smile reaching his eyes. "Even better, actually," he admitted, a hint of pride in his voice. "And FYI, Katherine, cryptic one-liners are my forte now. So, I ask again, what are you really up to?"
Katherine leaned in close, the scent of her lavender perfume filling his senses. Close enough for their lips to almost touch. "Trust me, Damon," she breathed, her voice husky with barely contained desire. "When I'm up to something, you'll know it."
She moved in for a kiss, but Damon turned his head away at the last second. Katherine, her lips brushing against his cheek, let out a frustrated gasp.
"Come on, Damon," she pouted, her voice laced with mock disappointment. "Kiss me. Or kill me. Whichever tickles your fancy. We both know you're incapable of anything else."
With lightning speed, Katherine grabbed him by the throat, slamming him against the wall with a sickening thud. Straddling him, she pinned him to the floor, her eyes blazing with a feral hunger.
"Grind on me all you want," Damon rasped, his voice low and husky, "you still won't get it to stand."
Katherine growled, the sound raw and primal. She reached down and ripped the front of his shirt, exposing his bare chest.
Suddenly, a new voice sliced through the tension-filled room. "What the hell is going on here?"
Clara stood at the top of the stairs, her face contorted in a mask of fury. The sight of Katherine practically on top of Damon sent a primal surge of possessiveness through her.
"Actually," she said, her voice dripping with venom, "he's mine. And he's anything but sweet, especially in the bedroom... although we rarely limit ourselves to it. Shame you'll never get the full Damon Salvatore experience, Katherine. But I'm sure Stefan was at least polite, wouldn't you say?"
A cruel smile played on Damon's lips. "God, I love you," he murmured, his voice filled with amusement.
Katherine's face contorted in a snarl. With a final glare at Bella, she vanished in a blur of speed, leaving the air thick with unspoken threats
Bella turns to Damon, her gaze intense. "Grind on you, huh?" she questions, a playful glint in her eye.
Damon winces slightly. "Figure of speech?"
But Bella growls and attacks him, needing to assert her dominance. She speeds, pinning him against the wall and indulging in a passionate exchange. Clothes are torn off, buttons flying, as they give in to their desires. Damon surrenders control to Bella, letting her take the lead, selfish in her pursuit of pleasure. And though Damon's needs may go unfulfilled, he relishes in Bella's hunger, willing to let her use him however she pleases.
