𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆: 𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐫

...🌺...

𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓, 𝑀𝑌𝑆𝑇𝐼𝐶 𝐹𝐴𝐿𝐿𝑆

𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟗

𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐧, 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐚'𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞, 𝐈 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐣𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬, 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬.

My phone buzzed in my hand, and I sighed before answering.

"You have to talk to me, eventually."

I rolled my eyes, even though she couldn't see it.

"Are you safe?"

"Yes, Mama." I muttered, feeling the familiar weight of her worry.

"I never meant to lie, Mija. But Elena's mom and dad...we were going to tell you both."

I glanced over at Jeremy, completely absorbed in his sketching, his pencil moving smoothly across the paper. I rose quietly, the floor creaking under my weight, and slipped into the bathroom around the corner.

Once inside, I locked the door behind me, the click sounding louder than it should in the small space. I twisted the faucet, letting the water run, its steady flow masking any chance of my conversation being overheard. The last thing I wanted was for Stefan to catch any part of this from upstairs.

"You lied to me, Mama. You told me I didn't have any family." I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Grayson thought it would be suspicious if Miranda randomly had twin girls, so he asked me if I would take one."

I rubbed my forehead, trying to process everything. "Is Elena a witch, too?"

"No, and I didn't think you were one either until you were five. Grams and I thought it might have something to do with your birth mother's family."

I mouth my mouth, but the doorbell rang, cutting me off. Jeremy's voice echoed through the house. "Elena, I need the money!"

"I've got to go, Mama," I said, my voice flat.

"Okay. Te quiero, Mija."

"Yo también." I ended the call, slipping my phone into my back pocket.

I left the bathroom and headed for the front door. My eyes landed on a pizza delivery guy in a black hoodie waiting on the porch. His breath fogged in the chilly air.

"Hey. It's gonna be $22," he said, pulling the pizza out of the bag.

"Uh, here. Come in. Just put it on the table," Jeremy said, walking back into the dining room.

I grabbed the money from my purse, watching him enter the house and place the pizza on the table. Elena headed down the stairs just as I handed him the cash.

"Thanks," he said, walking backward out of the house. "And you have yourself a good night."

I managed a small smile. "You too."

I shut the door, turning to find Elena smirking at me. "I think he likes you."

"Not interested, Lena," I replied, rolling my eyes as I grabbed the pizza from the table. "My life is way too complicated already."

...🌺...

I sat at the table in the Grill, where the familiar buzz of conversation and clinking cutlery provided a backdrop to my spiraling thoughts. I look at Elena and Bonnie, picking at my fries with little appetite.

"I can't believe Elena's adopted and you guys are sisters." Bonnie said, shaking her head in disbelief. "I never saw that coming."

"Tell me about it," I muttered, biting into a fry.

It tasted like cardboard, my appetite ruined.

Elena sighed, pushing her salad around on her plate. "And it gets weirder. I looked at Selene and my birth certificates. It lists Miranda and Grayson Gilbert as my birth parents and Celeste Hastings as Selene's. None of it makes any sense."

"Which is why you should ask Jenna and Celeste," Bonnie suggested, her tone practical.

Elena groaned, dropping her fork while I said, "I tried. It just gave me more questions."

I felt Bonnie's gaze on me. "I'm too pissed at her to talk."

"First of all, the Elena and Selene I know would always want the real truth, good or bad," Bonnie pointed out firmly.

Elena frowned. "And second of all?"

"You just found out your boyfriend is a—" Bonnie lowered her voice to a whisper, "vampire and your best friend turned sister is a witch. So unless your birth parents are aliens..." Elena laughed despite herself. "How bad could it be?"

"In our world...it could get pretty bad." I pointed out.

Bonnie rolled her eyes at me as Elena stood up, brushing imaginary crumbs off her jeans. "I have to go to the store. The accessories for our outfits for the dance are severely lacking."

I groaned, feeling Elena's gaze burning into me. I slumped in my chair. "Do I have to, Elena?"

"Yes," she said with a determined nod.

"I'll pay the bill," Bonnie offered, reaching for her purse.

"Bye, guys," Elena said, grabbing her purse and heading out.

We both got up, and I turned to leave. "Bye, Bon."

"Bye," Bonnie called after me.

I turned and paused when Damon approached, his presence as unsettling as ever. "What are you doing here?" I demanded.

"We need to talk, Sunshine," he said, his tone serious.

Bonnie looked up from the counter, concern etched on her face. "Selene, are you okay?"

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, Bon. I'll see you later."

Bonnie glared at Damon as I walked past him, feeling his eyes on me. "Don't follow me, Damon," I warned, quickening my pace.

I rushed out into the chilly night air, my breath forming clouds as I walked across the street to my car. I pulled my keys from my bag, my phone ringing just as I reached the driver's side door.

I answered it without thinking. "Hello."

"Hello, Selene," said a voice, smooth and unsettling.

I frowned. "Who is this?"

I unlocked my car and opened the door. The voice continued, sending a chill down my spine.

"You hit me with your car."

I froze, my blood turning to ice.

"Is that a new one?" the voice taunted.

My mouth went dry as I looked behind me, spotting a man in a hoodie approaching. Panic surged through me, and my magic swelled. The streetlights flickered around me, moving in time with the beating of my racing heart.

"You got away from me. You won't next time," he threatened.

I flinched as the streetlights shattered around me, raining down glass and sparks of light onto the street, leaving me in darkness.

I didn't think.

My instinct took over, and a name slipped from my lips. "Damon."

The wind rustled my hair, and suddenly, Damon stood between me and the man. My heart pounded as I stared at him, relief flooding me.

"Sunshine?" Damon asked, his voice steady.

Without thinking, I rushed into his arms, gripping him. He pulled me closer, and my fear loosen its hold on me.

"What's wrong?" he asked, concern lacing his words.

"I think he's here," I whispered, looking back into his eyes.

"Who?" Damon's gaze sharpened.

"The guy I hit," I said, my voice trembling.

Damon's eyes darkened with a promise of violence. "Give me your keys. I'm taking you home."

I handed over my keys without protest.

Damon shut the car door and scooped me into his arms. In a blur, we left the Grill behind, the chilly night air rushing past as he carried me away into the black night.

...🌺...

It's been two days since the unknown vampire called me, and Damon and Stefan still hadn't tracked him down. I would've preferred to stay locked in my room, but Elena insisted the Decade Dance would be a "distraction." Like music and cheap punch could erase the pit in my stomach.

It wouldn't.

Not that she gave me much of a choice.

A sigh escaped me as I stared at myself in the mirror, tying a pale blue silk ribbon into my hair. Half pulled up, the rest of my curls spill down my back like they had a mind of their own. The bow matches the soft blue silk of my dress, which stops just above the knee—a little too short for my comfort, but I wasn't in the mood to argue.

My fingers drift to my shoulders, bare and chilled, then trace lightly along the smooth fabric of the dress. The cherry blossom birthmark under my collarbone catches in the mirror's reflection.

Even dressed like this, I still felt exposed. Like wrapping myself in silk and ribbons could somehow distract from the knot of dread that's been building in my gut since that phone call.

And tonight, I have to pretend it doesn't exist.

The hum of the blow dryer reached my ears from the bathroom down the hall. I fluffed my curls and walked out of the bathroom into Elena's room. The hair dryer turned off, and I sat on Elena's bed, watching as she emerged from the bathroom and headed for her closet. My eyes caught the compass on her bed, dramatically whirring again.

"Um, Lena?" I called out.

"Hm?" Elena retrieved a pink scarf from a hanger and shut the closet.

"The compass," I said, pointing.

Elena frowned and walked over to the bed, quickly picking up the compass. The needle spun erratically. She grabbed her phone, dialing quickly.

"Where is he?" she murmured into the phone.

I got up, walked out of Elena's room, headed down the stairs, and stopped in the living room.

"Oh, thank God. This compass was spinning. Stefan must be here. Thank you,"

I turned slowly, a prickling sensation creeping up my spine. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched.

A figure dropped from the ceiling with predatory grace.

I spun around, gasping as I took in his feral eyes and menacing stance. His hand clamped around my arm with a bruising force, and his fangs elongated, glinting in the dim light as he lunged for my neck.

A surge of heat radiated from my core, and I pressed my heated palm against his cheek, desperately trying to ward him off. My teeth clenched as I poured every ounce of my energy into him.

My scream pierced the air, mingling with his own agonized howl. He recoiled, flinging me into the wall with a vicious snarl. Pain exploded in my back as I collided with the hard surface, but I pushed myself to scoot away, my eyes never leaving him.

I watched, breathless, as his skin bubbled and reformed where my touch had burned him, the raw flesh knitting itself back together with unnatural speed. The room spun slightly, the shock and adrenaline coursing through me, but I couldn't tear my gaze away from the sight of him.

"Selene!" Stefan's voice reached me as he hurled the guy over the couch with a strength that seemed effortless.

His green eyes, usually so calm, were filled with urgent worry as he looked down at me.

"Selene!" Elena's voice followed, frantic as she rushed down the stairs, her face pale with fear.

The guy groaned, scrambling to his feet.

He became a blur, moving so fast that the air seemed to ripple around him. Before I could process what was happening, he disappeared from the house, leaving only a faint gust of wind in his wake.

Elena knelt beside me, her hands steady and warm as she helped me up.

"Are you okay?" Stefan asked, his concern deepening the green of his eyes.

I shook my head, unable to tear my gaze from the front door.

"Selene—" Elena started, her voice gentle yet insistent.

"Damon," I interrupted, my breath coming in shaky bursts.

Stefan's brows knitted together. "What...?"

"I need Damon," I said, my voice trembling with desperation.

Elena and Stefan exchanged bewildered glances, but their confusion was secondary to my need for Damon.

Stefan pulled out his phone and quickly dialed. Elena wrapped her arms around me, trying to offer comfort.

"I'm at Elena's. You need to get here. It's Selene," Stefan spoke into the phone, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I clutched Elena's hand, my body trembling uncontrollably. The door flew open, and Damon appeared, his eyes zeroing in on me instantly. He crossed the room in a few long strides, his face etched with concern.

"What happened?" Damon asked his voice a blend of steadiness and urgency.

He guided me to the couch, gently sitting me down and pulling me close to his side. The tremors in my body began to subside as his fingers traced soothing circles on my bare thigh. His touch was cool and steady, grounding me.

I leaned into him, feeling his presence counter the icy fear that had gripped me moments before. Stefan and Elena settled on the adjacent couch, their eyes never leaving us.

"How did he get in?" Damon demanded, his voice hardening.

Elena frowned. "He was invited in."

Stefan elaborated, "He posed as a pizza delivery guy last night."

Damon raised an eyebrow, a flicker of dark amusement crossing his face. "Well, he gets points for that. Did he say what he wanted?"

I shook my head, the memory of the attack still vivid. "No."

Elena shot Damon a glare. "I think he was too busy trying to kill her."

Stefan looked at Damon skeptically. "And you have no idea who this is?"

Damon sighed, exasperation seeping into his voice. "No. Don't look at me like that. I told you we had company."

Elena's worry deepened. "You think there's more than one?"

Damon's gaze was steady, unflinching. "We don't know."

I lifted my gaze and found Damon's eyes.

His piercing blue softened as he looked at me, and I felt a strange sense of ease washing over me. Slowly, he moved his hand from my thigh, his fingers trailing warmth up my skin. He reached up and gently brushed a wisp of my curly hair behind my ear. His touch was unexpectedly tender, sending a shiver through me as if he were handling something fragile and precious.

Stefan's voice cut through, breaking Damon's gaze from mine. "Damon, he was invited in."

Damon turned to Stefan, nodding in understanding. "Then we go get him tonight." He looked back at me, his eyes intent. "You up for it, Sunshine?"

I took a deep breath, summoning my courage. "What do I need to do?"

"Go to the dance with Elena and Stefan. We'll see who shows up," Damon instructed.

Stefan protested, "That's a bad idea."

Damon shrugged, a determined glint in his eye. "Till we get him, this house isn't safe. For anyone who lives in it. It's worth a shot."

I nodded despite the fear gnawing at me. "Okay."

Elena grabbed Stefan's hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "We'll be with the two of you. We'll be safe."

Stefan nodded reluctantly, his worry still evident. Damon's grip on me tightened slightly. I leaned into him, finding a strange comfort in his touch.

...🌺...

The gym buzzed with life.

Students in their best '50s getups twirled and swayed to the oldies blasting from the speakers, their laughter and chatter filling the air. Poodle skirts and leather jackets spun under the colorful lights, creating a vibrant, nostalgic scene.

I walked in with Elena and the Salvatore brothers, trying to blend into the retro atmosphere. Elena and Stefan's arms were linked, their smiles forced as they navigated the crowd. I gripped the ends of my dress, my fingers twitching with unease as I scanned the dance floor. The cheerful facade couldn't mask the tension simmering beneath the surface.

Damon leaned in, his breath warm against my ear. "He's not going to get you."

I lifted my gaze, searching his eyes, seeing his resolve staring back at me.

"I won't let him, sunshine," he added, his voice firm yet gentle.

I felt lost in Damon's eyes for a moment, the crowded gym fading into the background as his gaze held me captive. The sounds of laughter and music dulled, leaving just the two of us in a cocoon of unspoken words. His piercing blue eyes seemed to see straight through me, uncovering secrets I wasn't even sure I knew.

But then, a hand tugged me away, snapping the thread that tethered us.

I blinked, disoriented, as Elena pulled me to a table near the punch bowl, breaking the spell.

"What's going on with you and Damon?" Elena asked, fidgeting with her earring, her eyes darting nervously around the room.

Her question hung in the air, a reminder of the confusion swirling in my mind. I sighed, glancing back at Damon. He was still watching me, his expression unreadable among the crowd of dancing students.

"Nothing," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant but failing miserably.

"Ever since Georgia, you two seem...close," she pressed, her tone laced with curiosity and concern.

I didn't have an answer for her.

My feelings for Damon were a tangled mess I wasn't ready to unravel, especially not here, not now.

I bit my lip, searching for a plausible explanation. But Caroline and Bonnie approached before I could find the words, their bright smiles a temporary distraction.

"Having fun?" Elena asked, her voice brightening.

"No, but this took about two hours, so I'm at least staying half of that," Caroline replied, laughing with Elena.

Bonnie's gaze drifted over to Damon, a frown creasing her brow. "What's Damon doing here?"

The rest of us turned to look at Damon, who was talking with Stefan across the room. I turned back quickly, not wanting to draw attention.

"I invited him," I said, trying to sound casual.

Caroline and Bonnie stared at me, disbelief etched on their faces.

"He wanted to come. He'll behave, I promise," I added, though I wasn't entirely sure myself.

Bonnie and Caroline stared at me, disbelief written all over their faces.

Caroline arched an eyebrow. "So what is this like, a foursome now? You, Elena, and the Salvatore brothers?"

Elena shook her head. "No, but if I'm gonna be with Stefan, then I have to learn to tolerate Damon. Not to mention the weird obsession Damon has with Selene. It's not like I can kill him."

Bonnie's eyes darkened. "There's a thought."

Caroline snorted. "Mmm. I'll help."

They clinked their glasses together, and Elena tried hard not to laugh. I just shook my head, smiling at my friends.

Elena left to join Stefan by the punch table. I stayed behind with Bonnie and Caroline, trying to push my worries aside.

Damon approached us, a predatory gleam in his eye. "Hi, Bonnie. Wanna dance?"

Bonnie scoffed, her disdain clear. "I'm out of here."

She walked away, Caroline following close behind. I rubbed my forehead, exasperated by Damon's audacity.

Stefan and Elena joined us, concern written on their faces. "Where did they go?" Elena asked.

"They left," I said, watching Bonnie and Caroline disappear into the crowd.

Stefan's eyes narrowed at Damon. "What did you say to them?"

"I was perfectly polite," Damon replied, feigning innocence. He turned to Elena. "Would you like to dance?"

Elena smiled, taking Stefan's arm. "I would love to." She looked up at Stefan, a mischievous glint in her eye. "May I have this dance?"

Stefan chuckled, leading her to the dance floor. Damon rolled his eyes, then turned to me.

"No," I said already, knowing what he was about to ask.

"Come on, sunshine," he coaxed.

"I'm not going to be your last choice, Damon," I retorted, crossing my arms.

He leaned closer, his icy finger sliding down my bare arm, sending a shiver through me. "I knew you would never say yes in front of your friends. So I had to get you alone."

He paused, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You're never my last choice, sunshine."

I bit my lip, feeling conflicted at the feelings he stirred in me. "One dance."

Damon nodded, and I sighed, giving in. I placed my hand in his, and he led me to the dance floor, pulling me close. My hands rested on his shoulders, and he grasped my waist, pulling me flush against him. A breath escaped my lips as our eyes locked.

"You look beautiful," he breathed.

"Thanks," I muttered, looking anywhere but at him.

"We need to talk about it," he said, his tone serious.

"What?" I asked, trying to feign ignorance.

He leaned in, his lips brushing my ear. "You kissing me on the cheek."

A shiver ran down my spine, and I pulled back slightly to meet his gaze. "What about it?"

"You've been avoiding me," he accused, his eyes narrowing.

"I've been busy. You know, finding out I have a sister and everything," I shot back, trying to deflect.

"I know," he said, his voice softening. I leaned back, furrowing my brows. "Vampire hearing."

Oh.

He must have overheard us that outside Elena's house.

"Damon...just let it go."

"Is that what you want?" he asked, his gaze piercing.

I looked up at him, my fingers playing with the edge of his hair. My heart pounded in my chest, my body betraying me. "I...I don't know what I want."

Damon grabbed my hand from his shoulder, slipping it into his as we swayed to the music.

Our gazes locked, and I couldn't look away despite my better judgment. His eyes were mesmerizing, a deep blue that seemed to see right through me. Every breath we took synchronized, every touch sending electric sparks through my skin.

My body moved with his, effortlessly in tune. His grip on my hand was firm yet gentle, his other hand resting possessively on my waist. The closeness was intoxicating, each look pulling me deeper into his orbit.

But my brain screamed at me.

Damon was trouble.

I knew it, and yet I couldn't resist the pull.

He came to Mystics Falls with a plan, one that could hurt anyone who stood in his way. Despite that, the way I felt for him was a tangled mess of emotions—attraction, fear, curiosity, and something deeper that I didn't want to acknowledge.

Being with him was like standing on the edge of a cliff, thrilling yet uncertain.

For every logical part of me warns against falling for him, but the emotional part—the part that craved something more—was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. The complications and dangers of our connection only made the allure stronger.

And as we danced, I couldn't deny that part of me didn't care about the danger.

"I don't think he's going to show," I said, trying to change the subject and glancing around the dance floor.

"He'll show," Damon replied, his tone certain.

I was about to turn back to him when I froze, spotting the guy in the hoodie lurking in the back corner of the gym.

"He's here," I whispered, my voice trembling.

"Where?" Damon asked instantly alert.

"Back corner," I said, my heart pounding.

"Find Elena and stay with her," he ordered.

I nodded, starting to move, but Damon caught my arm.

"Don't leave her side, sunshine," he said, his eyes serious.

"I won't," I promised.

I left Damon and crossed the dance floor, searching for Elena. I found her just as her cell phone rang. She took it out of her pocket and answered it.

I leaned in, listening to the conversation.

"Hello, Elena. Selene," a voice said, sending a chill down my spine. "Here's what you're going to do. There's an exit door behind you. You have five seconds."

"No," Elena said, her voice shaking.

"Or your brother dies," the voice threatened.

Elena's eyes darted to the punch bowl where Jeremy was serving punch. I frowned, spotting the vampire standing near Jeremy on his phone.

"I can snap his neck so fast I bet there's not even a witness. Now, start walking," the voice commanded.

Elena and I backed up towards the door, our steps shaky. "Don't you dare touch him," Elena hissed into the phone.

We kept walking across the gym, heading for the exit.

The vampire brushed past Jeremy without even glancing his way. Elena hung up her phone, and we bolted out of the gym, our boots slapping against the tile as we sprinted down the hall. My lungs burned, every breath sharp, panic clinging to me like a second skin.

We skidded around a corner, only the metal doors chained, blocking our exit. Elena rattled the handles in vain.

"No good," she said, breathless.

We turned and there he was.

The vampire approached, calm and deliberate. Elena yanked me down a different hall, and burst into the cafeteria, the echo of our footsteps bouncing off the walls. Tables and chairs blurred past as we ran, but the doors on the far end were locked, too.

The double doors behind us crashed open, the sound reverberating through the room, making us flinch.

"Oh, Selene," the vampire drawled, voice drenched in mockery.

In a breath, he lunged. His hand clamped around my arm, and he hurled me across the room. I crashed onto the table, the edge catching my ribs, knocking the breath from my lungs.

"Selene!" Elena screamed just before he grabbed her by the hair and slammed her to the ground. She hit the floor hard, gasping.

I rolled off the table, wincing, but forcing myself to my feet. My ribs ached, but he grabbed me again, slamming me into the wall, hand tightening around my throat. His fangs extended, inches from my skin.

A sharp yell echoed as the vampire reeled back. Elena stumbled back and my gaze turned to the three pencils embedded in his side. He roared in fury and backhanded Elena across the room.

That was his mistake.

Heat surged through my body, raw and unrelenting. My vision blurred as power pulsed beneath my skin, and I could feel the magic clawing its way out of me, desperate for release.

He turned back to me, fangs still bared—but stumbled, gripping his skull like something was slicing through it from the inside.

I stepped forward.

"You picked the wrong witch," I growled.

He lunged again, but I was already moving—grabbing Elena's arm, dragging her to her feet. We backed away together, my pulse thundering.

And then it happened.

Without thinking, I raised my hand—and a translucent, shimmering barrier flared into existence between us and him. Pale white, flickering with threads of silver, it pulsed like a heartbeat.

The vampire slammed into it, and a shockwave of pain split through my skull.

I gritted my teeth, anchoring my feet to the ground. "Stay behind me," I told Elena.

He struck the barrier again—this time harder. My knees buckled slightly from the force, but I didn't let go.

Elena clutched my arm. "What—how are you doing that?"

"I don't know," I admitted, brows furrowing. It was taking everything in me to keep it up.

"I'll break it," he snarled, hurling his body against the barrier.

I cried out, the pain in my head intensifying, something wet trickling from my nose. Just as he raised his hand to strike, Stefan appeared behind him, ripping him away and tossing him to the ground. The barrier dissipated, and I collapsed to the floor.

"Selene!" Elena cried, dropping beside me and helping me sit up.

"Hey, dickhead," Damon said, striding forward with a stake in his hand, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Nobody wants to kill you. We just wanna talk."

The vampire's eyes darted to me, and in an instant, he lunged. Damon reacted swiftly, tossing the stake to Stefan, who caught it with practiced ease and drove it into the vampire's stomach. The vampire grunted, collapsing to his knees, his face contorted in pain. Damon's expression darkened as he walked over, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

Elena helped me to my feet. I clung to her, my legs trembling.

"Now you feel like talkin'?" Stefan asked, his tone cold and menacing.

"Screw you," the vampire spat, his defiance barely masking his pain.

Stefan twisted the stake, eliciting a guttural groan. "Wrong answer. Why are you doing this?"

"Because it's fun," the vampire replied, his grin twisted.

Stefan's eyes narrowed. "What do you want with Selene?"

"Because she wants her. Not to forget her friend looks like Katherine," the vampire said, the revelation hitting us like a ton of bricks.

We all froze.

Damon leaned in closer, his expression a mix of surprise and suspicion. "You knew Katherine?"

The vampire laughed, a harsh, gasping sound. "Oh, you thought you were the only ones. You don't even remember me."

Damon's patience wore thin. "Tell me how to get into the tomb."

"No," the vampire said, his defiance unyielding.

Stefan drove the stake in deeper, making the vampire writhe in agony. "The grimoire," he gasped.

"Where is it?" Damon demanded, his voice like ice.

"The journal. Johnathan's journal. Johnathan Gilbert's," the vampire said, his voice weakening.

Stefan pulled the stake out slightly, only to plunge it, this time into the vampire's heart. Elena gasped as the vampire fell to the floor, his body desiccating rapidly, leaving only a withered husk.

"What do we...how are you gonna find the others now?" Elena's voice cracked, raw and uncertain.

"He had to die," Damon muttered, grimacing as if the act left a bitter taste.

"But—" Elena started, but Stefan cut her in, his voice sharp.

"Elena, he's been invited in."

Panic flickered across her face. I swayed on my feet, the edges of my vision dimming. My knees buckled.

Damon was there before I hit the ground.

His arms wrapped around me, solid, keeping me from collapsing completely.

"Go," Stefan said. "Get her out of here. Now."

Damon didn't argue. He effortlessly swept me into his arms. The world blurred as he sped out of the cafeteria and into the chilly night air.

...🌺...

I stepped out of the bathroom, towel-drying my hair as warm steam trailed behind me into the bedroom. The towel landed with a soft thud on the chair by my desk. My head throbbed, a low, insistent pulse behind my eyes.

"What you did was reckless."

I whipped around and went still.

Damon stood in the doorway, arms crossed, jaw tight. He wasn't supposed to be here, and yet, somehow, I wasn't surprised.

"Damon..." I began, but he cut me off, stepping closer.

"I told you not to leave her side," he said, his voice low and controlled, with a simmering edge.

"I didn't," I snapped, meeting his glare.

"That's not the point, sunshine," his voice was sharper now. He stopped directly in front of me. His eyes blazed with anger and something else—worry? "He could've killed you."

"But he didn't," I shot back, my anger matching his. I folded my arms across my chest defiantly. "I'm not helpless, Damon."

Damon groaned in frustration, running his fingers through his hair, tension radiating off him. "I never said you were. Just that you reckless."

I turned away, heading for my bed, needing space he never seemed to give. But he was faster. His hand clamped onto my shoulder, spinning me back around. I gasped, finding myself mere inches from him. His hand cupped the back of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Damon..." I breathed, warning or plea—I wasn't sure which.

His eyes searched mine as they darkened.

"God, why are you so difficult?" he muttered, voice strained. His other arm slid around my waist, pulling me flush against him. Cold skin met warm, and I couldn't breathe.

"I can't lose you, sunshine."

The words hit harder than I expected. Not because of what he said, but how he said it—like it wasn't just a possibility, but a nightmare he'd either lived or wasn't ready to live.

I blinked up at him, my heart racing in my chest. "This...all of this...Katherine, getting into the tomb—you said it was to protect me."

"It is."

"Why?" My voice came out quiet than I intended.

His hands moved, cupping my face, his touch surprisingly gentle, his eyes searching mine.

"Because keeping you safe is the only thing that makes sense anymore."

I shook my head, confusion burning behind my eyes. "I don't want people to die, Damon. Whatever you're trying to protect me from, please just...find another way."

"She has to pay for what she did, sunshine," he said, flatly.

He stared at me a second longer, his eyes unreadable, and then his eyes softened. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead, a gesture so tender it left me breathless.

My eyes fluttered shut, reeling from his touch.

But when I opened my eyes, he was gone.

The window was open, letting in a gust of chilly night air that fluttered the curtains. I walked over and shut it, the silence of the room settling heavily around me.

Why me Damon?

...🌺...

𝐀/𝐍: I'M BACK!!!

Selene and Damon are back!!!!

For those who are wondering when Selene and Damon will kiss (and not on the cheek or forehead)...it's coming soon.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the update!!!

𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒: How are we feeling about the rewrite? When do you think Damon and Selene will give in to each other? What are you looking forward to in the rest of this book?

-𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛𝑎 𝐵𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑘