Damon couldn't breathe. Literally never been able to breathe. But normally he could still pretend— he couldn't even pretend. He could feel, hear the fear that Amelia was feeling right now. 

She was panicking. Her heart was beating extremely fast and her palms were sweaty. He hated himself. Loathed himself. How could he try to be with her when he put her in such danger all the time? 

He took a sharp turn. He could hear the waterfall. It was meters away. He ran faster, even faster, his half dead heart beating faster and faster. He could hear the monsters following. They were several. Huge. The ground was scrunched under their feet. He knew he could probably fight them off, but not with Amelia. 

— Look. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry you had to be there. 

His voice was being stretched in the swift air: he was running way too quickly for her to properly hear. 

— I'm sorry Amy. 

He leaped into the air, almost flying. When he landed, they were at the waterfalls. The rocky edges of the mountains were soft brown and silky and the water was pristine and crystal-like. He gently put her on the sandy ground. 

She turned away from him and puked her breakfast and dinner out. 

— I... 

— Don't bother. You did the right thing. Whatever that noise came from— I didn't want to meet em'. 

They were getting closer. He could hear it. His throat tightened. 

— We need to leave. Now. 

Amelia sniffled. 

— You need to do that speedy thing again? 

— No. I need you to run away as fast as possible. I'll go see what they're doing here. Handle the situation. I can't let them see you. 

Pretty much a routine, at this point. They always encountered monsters. 

— O-okay. Please don't get hurt. 

Damon smiled what he knew to be a reassuring one. He hugged her and watched her as she ran away, not exactly in a straight line. Once he couldn't see her— well that's false, he still could but she couldn't see him anymore— he left, running towards the monster grumble. 

They were tall, red bloody creatures that looked like demons and monsters and horrid stinky things. He snarled at them in a non-threatening way. It was a hello in their language, he knew that. 

— Hello, Demons. What are you doing here? This territory is claimed by the Vampire County. 

One of the red creatures approached him, getting away from the clan of beasts. He had long silky hair and red eyes and dark red skin. He looked a tad bit more human than the rest of them. 

— Hello, Bloodsucker. We did not know it was taken, but we smelled delicious prey—  a woman. She was sleeping down from here in a small camping site with honey. Delicious sauce!

Damon clenched his teeth. It was incredibly hard not to just punch the leader of these filthy creatures, but he knew that would mean war. He didn't want to tempt it. 

— That prey is also claimed. She's Vampire clan. 

— Human? In a Vampire clan? 

— Yes. 

The demon laughed a loud, throaty laugh. 

— That is incredibly interesting! May I ask permission to devour her in your company? 

— She isn't food. 

— Oh. I'm sorry. I misunderstood— I thought she was portable canteen. 

Damon could feel his anger grow in his chest. He sure hoped they were the only demons in the forest. He hoped she was safe. 

— I'm going to ask you to leave this County. It's my territory and Count Vladimir won't like the fact that you trespassed. Your welcome has been overused. I'm sorry. 

The redhead growled. 

— I think I understand. This little human. It's your companion. You fell in love with a filthy little vermine. Now that's adorable. Really! Son of Vladimir, the great vampire of half of the States and you manage to fall in love with a less than nothing. 

                                                                                                -

Amelia was running up the hill, crying like a baby. She was used to monster attacks. That had happened five times over the past year, but it had never been that scary. She was overwhelmed, ashamed of the fear that was handicapping her. 

Her feet slammed on the floor. Rain had started pouring a little while ago whilst she ran higher and higher in the mountains. She was extremely afraid of seeing what the howling creatures looked like, and she knew Damon would find her eventually. Then it happened: her ankle twisted and she tumbled down a ravine, screaming her lungs out.

The pain was excruciating and the fall didn't seem to come to an end. Far away, Amelia could hear roars and howls of monsters. Her sight then left her and she closed her eyes, fear making her heart beat faster than the light. 

                                                                                               -

Damon's fist hit the last demon in a swift movement. The demon cried out and fell to the ground, Hell already claiming him back. The vampire boy had never felt so tired. He had put all his will in beating the crap out of these vicious monsters. 

Amelia. 

Her name cleared his mind in less than a second and he realized with horror that he didn't know if she was safe. 

Baby please tell me you're okay 

No answer. 

Amy 

AMY PLEASE ANSWER 

AMY 

AMY!!!!!!

His nerves couldn't take the stress of not knowing if she was okay. He ran towards the waterfalls, at the high speed he was capable of. He ran so quickly that he couldn't see his surroundings. He ran like the Flash. He ran faster and faster and then he saw it, the spot of color in a ravine deep under the waterfalls. And he smelt it. 

The sweet, delicious sugary blood.