Deep in the fathomless pupils that had held endless night skies full of stars, there was a glimmer — not of starlight, but of green. It seemed to glow with its own hellish luminescence.
Stefan looked at her with agony and compassion. And now, with one gentle pass, Stefan was closing those eyes — forever, she knew he was thinking.
Everything had become strange and dreamlike. Nothing made sense anymore.
Stefan was carefully laying Damon’s head down — he was letting Damon go.
Even in her fuzzy world of nonsense Elena knew she could never do that.
And then, a miracle happened. Elena heard a voice in her mind that wasn’t hers.
All this is rather unexpected. I acted, for once, without thinking. And this is my reward. The voice was a hum on their private frequency, Damon’s and hers.
Elena ripped herself away from Stefan, who was trying to restrain her, and fell, grasping Damon’s shoulders with her hands. I knew it! I knew you couldn’t be dead!
It was only then that she realized that her face was dripping wet, and she used her soft leather sleeve to wipe it. Oh, Damon, you gave me such a scare! Don’t you ever, ever do that again!
I think I can give my word on that, Damon sent — in different tones than his usual ones — sober but at the same time whimsical. But you have to give me something in return.
Yes, of course, Elena said. Just let me get some of my hair off my neck. It worked best like this when Stefan was lying down — when we were carrying him out on his pallet from the prisonNot that, Damon told her. For once, angel, I don’t want your blood. I need you to give me your most solemn word that you will try to be brave. If it helps at all, I know that females are better than males at this sort of thing. They’re less cowardly at facing — what you have to face now.
Elena didn’t like the tone of these words. The dizziness that was making her lips numb was traveling all over her body. There was nothing to be brave about. Damon could stand pain. She would find a Wings power that would obliterate all that wood that was poisoning him. It might hurt, but it would save his life.
Don’t talk to me like that! she snapped harshly, before she could remember to be gentle. Everything had begun to float, and she couldn’t even remember why she had to be gentle, but there was a reason. Still, it was difficult, when she was using every ounce of her concentration and strength to search for a Wings power she had never heard of. Purification? Would that take away the wood or would it just leave Damon without his wicked smile? There was no harm in trying it, anyway, and she was getting desperate — because Damon’s face was so pale.
But even the stance for Wings of Purification eluded her.
Suddenly, a huge shudder — a convulsion — went through Damon’s entire body.
Elena heard broken words behind her.
“Love, love — you really have to let him go. He’s living in — in intolerable pain, just because you’re keeping him here,” the voice said, and it was Stefan’s. Stefan, who would never lie to her.
For just an instant Elena wavered, but then a blazing rage came rushing up through her body. It gave her the strength to cry hoarsely, “I…won’t! I won’t ever let him go! Damn you, Damon, you have to fight! Let me help you! My blood — it’s special. It’ll give you strength. You drink it!”
She fumbled for her knife. Her blood was magical. Maybe if she gave enough, it would give Damon the strength to fight off the wooden fibers that were still spreading through his body.
Elena slashed at her throat. Maybe subconsciously she avoided doing more than nicking her carotid artery, but if so it was entirely subconsciously. She simply reached down, found a metal knife, and with one sweep set the blood to gushing out. Bright red arterial blood, that even in the semi-darkness was the color of hope.
“Here, Damon. Here! Drink this. As much as you want — all you need to heal yourself.” She got into the best position that she could, hearing but not hearing Stefan’s horrified gasp behind her at the recklessness of her slashing, not heeding his grip on her.
But — Damon didn’t drink. Not even the heady blood of his Princess of Darkness — and how did the phrase go? It was like rocket fuel compared to the gasoline found in other girls’ veins. Now it just ran out of the sides of his mouth. It flowed onto his pale face, soaking his black shirt and pooling in his leather jacket.
No…
Damon, Elena sent, please. I’m — begging you. Please. I’m begging you for me, for Elena. Please drink. We can do this — together.
Damon didn’t move. Blood spilled into the mouth she’d opened and it filled and spilled out again. It was as if Damon were taunting her, saying, “You wanted me to give up human blood? Well, I have — forever.”
Oh, dear God, please…
Elena was dizzier than ever now. Outside events passed dimly around her, like an ocean that only slightly bobbed a person out deep in the swells. She was entirely focused on Damon.
But one thing she did feel. Her bravery — Damon had been wrong about that.
Huge sobs were rising from somewhere deep inside her. She had made Stefan let go of her and now she couldn’t hold herself up any longer.
She fell right on top of her blood and Damon’s body. Her cheek fell against his cheek.
And his cheek was cold. Even under the blood, it was cold.
Elena never knew when the hysterics began. She simply found herself shrieking and sobbing, beating on Damon’s shoulders, cursing him. She had never properly cursed him before, not directly to his face. As for the shrieking, that wasn’t just a sound. She was once again screaming at him to find some way to fight.
And finally, she began the promises. Promises that deep in her heart, she now knew were lies. She was going to find a way to fix him in a moment. She already felt a new Wings power coming to save him.
Anything so as to not face the truth.
“Damon? Please?” It was an interlude in the shrieking, when she was talking softly in her new husky, hoarse voice. “Damon, just do one thing for me. Just squeeze my hand. I know you can do that. Just squeeze one of my hands.”
But there was no pressure on either of her hands. Only blood that was turning sticky.
And then the miracle happened and she once again heard Damon’s voice — very faintly — in her head.
Elena? Don’t…cry, darling. It’s not…as bad as Stefan said. I don’t feel much of anything, except on my face. I…feel your tears. No more weeping…please, angel.
Because of the miracle, Elena steadied herself. He’d called Stefan “Stefan” and not “little brother.” But she had other things to think about right now. He could still feel things on his face! This was important information, valuable information. Elena immediately cupped his cheeks with her hands and kissed him on the lips.
I just kissed you. I’m kissing you again. Can you feel that?
Forever, Elena, Damon said. I’ll…take that with me. It’s part of me now…do you see?
Elena didn’t want to see. She kissed his lips — icy cold — again. And again.
She wanted to give him something else. Something good to think about. Damon, do you remember when we first met? At school, after the lights went out, when I was measuring for the Haunted House decorations. I almost let you kiss me then — before I even knew your name — when you just came drifting out of the darkness.
Damon surprised her by answering immediately. Yes…and you…you astonished me by being the first girl I couldn’t Influence right away. We had…fun together — didn’t we? Some good times? We went to a party…and we danced together. I’ll take that with me too.
Through her daze, Elena had one thought. Don’t confuse him anymore. They’d gone to that “party” only to save Stefan’s life. She told him, We had fun. You’re a good dancer. Imagine us waltzing!
Damon sent slowly, fuzzily, I’m sorry…I’ve been so horrible lately. Tell…her that. Bonnie. Tell her…
Elena steadied herself. I’ll tell her. I’m kissing you again. Can you feel me kissing you?
It was a rhetorical question, so she got a shock, when Damon only answered slowly and sleepily. Did I…take a vow to tell you the truth?
Yes, Elena lied instantly. She needed the truth from him.
Then…no, to be honest…I can’t. I don’t seem to have…a body now. It’s comfortable and warm, and nothing hurts anymore. And — I almost feel as if I’m not alone. Don’t laugh.
You’re not alone! Oh, Damon, don’t you know that? I’ll never, ever let you be alone. Elena choked, wondering
