Chapter 3 - The End

Damon POV 12/26 5:00pm-6:00pm

Out of nowhere, my phone rings and takes me by surprise, I look to see who it and answer it, “Yes, Bonnie?” But it’s not Bonnie whose voice I hear, its Elena’s.

      “Damon? Damon, are you okay?” Her voice sounds frantic. I take a deep breath before I talk.

      “Elena, you can’t call me.” My voice comes out broken because what I say is not really what I want. I hang up and stare at the call ended screen. I feel like I’m going to break down, but I won’t let that happen. I sit down and drink Whiskey, listening to previous voicemails from Elena.

“Damon.” I hear her pleading voice behind me and turn to see Elena standing there with a look of relief on her face. I stand up and she has already run into me, locking me in her embrace. It’s the only place I want to be, in her arms, but I know I can’t.

      “Elena, what are you doing here?” I ask, pushing her away and looking her in the eyes.

      “I- I- I just, I miss you.” Her face falls and her voice falls to a whisper. I stroke her face and look down, too scared to looSave & Publishk in her eyes after what I’m about to say. It obviously didn’t work before so I have to do it for real this time. I have to set her free.

      “Elena,” my voice comes out in a whisper and I have trouble finding the words to continue, “Elena. I- I can’t do this to you. Not anymore. I love you. More than life, and you know that. But that’s not fair to you. You are never going to be happy until I let you go.” I can’t hold it back any longer, my voice cracking and tears starting to well in my eyes. I can be strong through anything, but not this. Tears stream down Elena’s face and she can’t look me in the eyes. “Elena, I’m sorry-“

      “I love you, Damon. It’s not the sire bond, I know it’s not,” she begs me to stop talking, to let us be together, but she must know that we can’t. I’m taken aback by her confession and my face lights up for a brief moment, but then look down and continue.

      “Elena. You have to stop. Stop thinking about me,” the tears in my eyes start to trickle down, “Stop caring about me. You have to let me go.” I kiss her on the forehead and leave, rushing to the front of the lakehouse.

I regain my composure and turn to see a tall man dressed in black standing 20 feet away from me. “Can I help you?” I ask.

      The man smiles nods, “Yes actually, do you know where Elena Gilbert is?” I look at his hands, which are plunged deep into his pockets, but I see the base of a stake in his jacket with the Hunter’s insignia on it. He’s one of the Five. I tense up but look around as if I have no idea what he’s talking about.

      “Sorry, I don’t know any Elena, try the next isolated house in the woods.” I smirk and gesture to the open forest around me. He chuckles and looks down, shaking his head.

      “Really? Cause she’s sired to you. Isn’t that right, Damon Salvatore?” I look at him dumbfounded that he knows about all this, and he continues, “Well, if I’m wrong then let me know and I will spare you and she’ll be the one to take the fall. You can just leave here in one piece.”

      “I won’t let you touch her,” I growl, taking an aggressive stance.

      “Oh, alright then, I guess it’s your death sentence,” he shrugs and pulls out a stake. Elena comes running up from the back and jumps in front of me.

      “No, don’t hurt him, Vaughn! It’s- it’s not his fault,” Elena pleads with the Hunter to spare my life, but I push her behind me.

      “He’s not going to hurt anyone.” I charge at him but he moves out of the way and grabs Elena, stake poised over her heart. “No! No, no, don’t! Please don’t!” I’ve never sounded so desperate in my life, but I panicked. The hunter, Vaughn I guess, raises his voice.

      He yells, “Don’t move! I only need one more kill. One. More. Vampire, until I can escape this curse! This constant murderous rampage. All I need is one more. Only one of you needs to die. The other will be safe- but if you keep fighting me, I will kill you both and your friends stuck back on the road.” He eyes me and Elena. Terrified, I take a deep breath. I knew this would have to happen eventually, and I couldn’t think of a better reason to die than for Elena.

“Kill me. I’ll die voluntarily. But how can I know she’ll be safe?” I question, not taking any chances.

      Jeremy walks out of the house and speaks, “I’ll protect her, Damon. She’s my sister and I won’t let anything happen to her.”

   “Besides,” Vaughn continues, “After I kill one more, my Hunter’s mark will be complete and I won’t have the urge to kill anymore. I just need one to end this.” I take a deep breath and nod, he releases Elena and she runs up to me, trying to stop me.

      “No, Damon! Damon, don’t do this. You can’t do this!” She frantically begs me to stop, but I have to do this. I know I have to. I look to Jeremy and nod. “No, Damon no! Please!” She cries. I take Elena’s face in my hands and kiss her on the lips, one last kiss. To take with me.

      “I love you, Elena. Never forget that.” She is silent for a moment until Jeremy swoops in and locks her arms behind her, holding her in place.

      “No! Stop, please!” Elena frantically yells and flails, but Jeremy has her locked in place. I go over to Vaughn and he smiles subtly.

He poises the stake in front of my heart and holds my shoulder. I feel the wood puncture my heart and my body start to shut down. He lets me go and takes off into the works, letting me fall to the ground. I hear Elena scream and the last thing I see before slipping into death it Elena’s tear-stained face over me.